Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Jun 24

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Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for June 24, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Physicists observe magnetic 'devil's staircase'
- Spintronics advance brings wafer-scale quantum devices closer to reality
- World's first full-color, flexible, skin-like display developed
- Hubble sees a 'behemoth' bleeding atmosphere around a warm exoplanet (Update)
- ALMA detects carbon 'smog' permeating interstellar atmospheres of early galaxies
- Newly found ring of teeth uncovers what common ancestor of molting animals looked like
- Four hundred million year old fish fossil has earliest example of teeth
- Study hints at why parrots are great vocal imitators
- Mars crater wetter than thought, had water tracks in the last million years
- Silica 'spiky screws' could enhance industrial coatings, additive manufacturing
- Reenergizing antibiotics in the war against infections
- New polymer-piezoelectric hybrid creates potential for 'materials that compute'
- Analyzing ocean mixing reveals insight on climate
- Google data center to rise in former power plant
- How the brightest lights in the universe 'flicker'

Astronomy & Space news

	Mars crater wetter than thought, had water tracks in the last million years Mars is thought to have had a watery past, but when exactly it transitioned to its dry and dusty present is up for debate. Now, though, a team of scientists studying the marks on a young Martian crater has found signs that waterlogged debris flowed down the Red Planet's slopes surprisingly recently - within the last million years.
	Hubble sees a 'behemoth' bleeding atmosphere around a warm exoplanet (Update) Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have discovered an immense cloud of hydrogen dubbed "The Behemoth" bleeding from a planet orbiting a nearby star. The enormous, comet-like feature is about 50 times the size of the parent star. The hydrogen is evaporating from a warm, Neptune-sized planet, due to extreme radiation from the star.
	ALMA detects carbon 'smog' permeating interstellar atmospheres of early galaxies Astronomers study the elements scattered between the stars to learn about the internal workings of galaxies, their motion and chemistry. To date, however, attempts to detect the telltale radio signature of carbon in the very early Universe have been thwarted, perhaps—as some have speculated—by the need to allow a few billion years more for stars to manufacture sufficient quantities to be observed across such vast cosmic distances.
	How the brightest lights in the universe 'flicker' Active galactic nuclei are the brightest objects in the universe. They are not lit up permanently, but rather 'flicker' extremely slowly. This insight helps ETH researchers better understand the influence these nuclei and black holes have on their host galaxy.
	Astronomer Andrew Connolly discusses the promise of big data Andrew Connolly is a professor in the University of Washington Department of Astronomy. He is one of several UW professors working on the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, or LSST, which will begin scanning the sky in 2022 from its location atop Cerro Pachón, a mountain in northern Chile.
	How we found signs of 'recent' running water on Mars A hot topic in science over the past few decades has been whether liquid water is present or has been present on Mars in the past few millions of years. But despite a lot of research no conclusive answer has been put forward to date. Our international team has now hunted down another piece of evidence. By comparing satellite images of Mars with mud flows on Earth, we found that running water must have existed on the red planet relatively "recently", in the past million years.
	Soggy invaders from space Is there a water shortage out there? It's an important question if you're looking for biology beyond Earth. Experts will tell you that, while other fluids may be able to incubate life (ammonia and liquefied natural gas come to mind), water is always first choice. On Earth, we think that life first arose in the oceans, and was so content with its pelagic birthplace, it stayed there for more than 3 billion years.
	ULA's new Vulcan rocket Fierce commercial and international political pressures have forced the rapid development of the new Vulcan launcher family recently announced by rocket maker United Launch Alliance (ULA). Vulcan's "genesis" and development was borne of multiple unrelenting forces on ULA and is now absolutely essential and critical for its "transformation and survival in a competitive environment" moving forward, according to Dr. George Sowers, ULA Vice President for Advanced Concepts and Technology, in an exclusive interview with Universe Today.
	Telescope construction set to resume, but battle continues A battle is poised to unfold on a Hawaii mountain where one of the world's largest telescopes is set to be built.
	What's at stake in battle over Hawaii telescope Scientists hoping to build a telescope that will allow them to see 13 billion light years away, giving them a look into the early years of the universe, are facing opposition from Native Hawaiian groups who say the construction site is on sacred land. After a pause in construction to hold discussions on the issue, Thirty Meter Telescope plans to resume construction on the site Wednesday. Protesters are standing their ground and are prepared to be arrested to stop the construction.
	NASA image: Flying over an aurora NASA astronaut Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) captured photographs and video of auroras from the International Space Station on June 22, 2015.

Technology news

	Distributed technique for power scheduling advances smart grid concept Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a new technique for "scheduling" energy in electric grids that moves away from centralized management by tapping into the distributed computing power of energy devices. The approach advances the smart grid concept by coordinating the energy being produced and stored by both conventional and renewable sources.
	Engineers look to insects for robotic inspiration At a University of California, Berkeley laboratory, engineers are building cockroach-like robots with a noble purpose - search and rescue.
	Lexus unveils smoking hoverboard, uses magnetic levitation Meet the Lexus version of a hoverboard, a moving board of sorts with a magical look. This is the Slide hoverboard, the fourth project in the company's Amazing in Motion campaign. And what a way to brand. The Lexus hoverboard features the iconic Lexus spindle grille signature shape. A video shows smoke rising from the device. Sparse on detail so far, Lexus nonetheless revealed among other things (1) an inspirational quote from Haruhiko Tanahashi, Lexus chief engineer (2) key ingredients as liquid nitrogen-cooled superconductors and permanent magnets and (3) materials including natural bamboo. Above all, Lexus said that the Lexus hoverboard uses magnetic levitation to achieve frictionless movement.
	Microsoft makes Word available on Android phones Microsoft on Wednesday followed through on a promise to release versions of its widely used Word, Excel and PowerPoint programs for smartphones running on Google-backed Android software.
	Google data center to rise in former power plant Google on Wednesday announced it will convert a former coal-burning power plant in Alabama into a data center using renewable energy.
	Review: Apple has best smartwatch, but rivals have strengths As much as I wish the Apple Watch could do more, I find it the best smartwatch available, given its polished design and wide range of apps.
	Swedish malware creator jailed 57 months in New York A Swedish man who created a malware program that infected half a million computers around the world was jailed for 57 months in New York on Tuesday for computer hacking.
	Solar Impulse Japan take off postponed A solar-powered plane on a mission to fly around the world was back in its mobile hangar Wednesday, after take off from Japan was postponed at the 11th hour because of bad weather over the Pacific Ocean.
Uganda's 'Uber for motorcycle taxis' shows it pays to be safe When Silver Tumwesigye, a sharply-dressed Ugandan motorbike taxi driver known by his nickname 'Silverstone,' had an accident six years ago it was a double blow.
	Foreign fund's fight with Samsung galvanizes shareholders Thousands of South Korean investors are backing an American hedge fund's bid to thwart a business combination between Samsung companies that they argue will only enrich the country's wealthiest family.
	Personnel office not the worst in terms of lax cybersecurity The federal government has for years failed to take basic steps to protect its data from hackers and thieves, putting at risk everything from nuclear secrets to the private tax information of hundreds of millions of Americans, records show.
	Sensors and drones: Hi-tech sentinels for crops The precision agriculture sector is expected to grow at a high rate over the coming years. This new way of farming is already a reality in northwest Italy, where technologies are being used to keep plants in a good state of health but also to avert the loss of quality yield.
	New high-strength steel could help automakers improve fuel efficiency A high-strength steel being developed at Missouri University of Science and Technology could help auto manufacturers in their quest to meet future fuel efficiency requirements.
	Battery second use offsets electric vehicle expenses, improves grid stability Plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) have the potential to dramatically drive down consumption of carbon-based fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but the relatively high price of these vehicles—due in large part to the cost of batteries—has presented a major impediment to widespread market penetration. Researchers at the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are playing a crucial role in identifying battery second use (B2U) strategies capable of offsetting vehicle expenses while improving utility grid stability.
	Our love of technology risks becoming a quiet conspiracy against ourselves With memories of World War I still very much on his mind, in 1935 HG Wells wrote The Open Conspiracy, which advanced a new approach to the perennial problems of human aggression, national conflict and political inertia.
A hitch on the way to your smart home Thanks to increasingly accessible and affordable home automation systems, your house will soon be able to do a lot of neat tricks.
Techies who surf are stoked about Silicon Beach club Even in the frigid Pacific waters the group of techie surfers couldn't go gadget free.
	Review: Intel's computer-on-a-stick: Awesome idea, but its day hasn't arrived Are you interested in a Windows computer you could carry around in your pocket, plug into a television screen and do basic computing?
Martin Ford, on the robots coming for your job If you are reading this from the cubicle of your white-collar workplace, Martin Ford is pretty sure that a robot is coming to take your job.
	Google joins effort to boost genomics research Google announced Wednesday it was teaming up with university scientists to use its computing platform to accelerate efforts in genomics research.
Tech company finds stolen government log-ins all over Web A CIA-backed technology company has found logins and passwords for 47 government agencies strewn across the Web—available for hackers, spies and thieves.
Ford to support car-sharing with program for buyers Ford Motor is launching a test program for customers in six US cities and London to lease their cars in the growing car-sharing market.
Independents line up behind Apple Music Several independent music label groups, including those representing Adele, Arcade Fire and Radiohead, say they can now support Apple Music after Apple reversed a decision not to pay royalties during the 90-day free trial period and adjusted other terms.
	IT failure may have triggered Polish airline meltdown An IT failure may have triggered a computer systems meltdown at Polish flagship carrier LOT that grounded more than 1,400 passengers at Warsaw's Frederic Chopin Airport at the weekend, Polish prosecutors said Wednesday.
	Turkish cyberattack suspect appears in New York court A 33-year-old Turkish man extradited to New York appeared in court Wednesday on charges that he organized three cyber attacks costing the global financial system $55 million, prosecutors said.
	Alibaba investing in 'Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation' The film arm of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group said Wednesday it will invest in the next "Mission: Impossible" movie in its first Hollywood venture, adding to a flood of Chinese money into the global film business.
Deep-sea exploration will soon be an option for most archaeologists Benedetto Allotta, coordinator of the ARROWS project, discusses how the team has created underwater exploration vehicles tailored to the needs and expectations of deep-sea archaeologists.
	Big Earth data at your fingertips becomes a reality Pushing the boundaries of Big Earth Data processing, the EARTHSERVER project allows researchers access and analyse multi-dimensional data from a wide range of sources.
	Offshore wind farm revenues boost British Crown Estate Offshore wind farms have helped generate record profits for Britain's Crown Estate, which administers a vast land and property portfolio nominally owned by Queen Elizabeth II but controlled by the state.
	Carter: NATO must bolster cyberdefense NATO must improve its ability to defend itself against cyberattacks before it tries to build its offensive cyberwarfare capabilities, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told alliance leaders Wednesday amid rising tensions with Russia, which has proven its willingness to launch computer-based attacks against other nations.
Navy celebrates once-secret sub now on display in museum A once-secret submarine in U.S. military research and expeditions is being celebrated for its advanced technology, exploration of the ocean floor and role as a workhorse.
	UN wants Internet chiefs to crack down on 'digital terror' A UN report recommends that Internet and social media chiefs report to the United Nations on how they are combatting groups like Islamic State that use "digital terror."

Medicine & Health news

	Photo selection study reveals we don't look like we think we look Be careful when choosing your next passport photo or profile image as a new study suggests we are so poor a picking good likenesses of our face that strangers make better selections.
	Asian mushroom extract shows promise as treatment for obesity and its ills Maybe Alice in Wonderland was on to something, nibbling on a mushroom to make herself shrink. New research has shown that a liquid extract made from a mushroom used in traditional Asian medicine for more than 2,000 years protects against weight gain and reverses obesity-related inflammation and metabolic dysfunction in overfed mice.
	Artifical neuron mimicks function of human cells Scientists at Karolinska Institutet have managed to build a fully functional neuron by using organic bioelectronics. This artificial neuron contain no 'living' parts, but is capable of mimicking the function of a human nerve cell and communicate in the same way as our own neurons do.
	Tumors' mechanical properties affect protein production Tissues stiffen with age, poor diet, disease and for natural reasons, and when they do, a new study shows, proteins produced by such cells can be altered, which in turn affects downstream processes.
	Targeting telomeres, the timekeepers of cells, could improve chemotherapy Telomeres, specialized ends of our chromosomes that dictate how long cells can continue to duplicate themselves, have long been studied for their links to the aging process and cancer. Now, a discovery at the Salk Institute shows that telomeres may be more central than previously thought to a self-destruct program in cells that prevents tumors, a function that could potentially be exploited to improve cancer therapies.
	Three Ebola virus variants identified in Guinea Sequencing the genome of Ebola virus strains circulating in Guinea has allowed scientists at the Institut Pasteur in Dakar and in Paris, the CNRS and the University of Sydney to retrace the spread of the virus and monitor its evolution in the country where the outbreak started. This research reveals the co-circulation in Guinea, particularly in the urban regions of the capital and neighboring towns, of three distinct variants of the virus whose mutations are described in an article published in Nature. Characterization of the genetic variations of the virus is crucial to ensure the continued efficacy of diagnostic tools and for the development of effective treatments and vaccines.
	Study reveals how our brains can form first impressions quickly A study of how people can quickly spot animals by sight is helping uncover the workings of the human brain.
	Tiny particles in blood useful for early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer A protein encoded by the gene glypican-1 (GPC1) present on cancer exosomes may be used as part of a potential non-invasive diagnostic and screening tool to detect early pancreatic cancer, potentially at a stage amenable to surgical treatment, according to a study at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
	DNA shed from head and neck tumors detected in blood and saliva On the hunt for better cancer screening tests, Johns Hopkins scientists led a proof of principle study that successfully identified tumor DNA shed into the blood and saliva of 93 patients with head and neck cancer. A report on the findings is published in the June 24 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
	Norepinephrine aids brain in sorting complex auditory signals For neuroscientists studying the intricate mechanisms of hearing in the brain's auditory cortex, a major question has been how a listener can focus in a noisy environment, and how neurochemicals help neurons convey as much embedded information as possible for the rest of the brain to act on.
	Three-five cups of coffee per day may reduce CVD mortality risk by up to 21 percent, report says Drinking 3-5 cups of coffee per day could cut an individual's cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risk by up to 21%, according to research highlighted in a EuroPRevent session report published by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC), a not-for-profit organisation devoted to the study and disclosure of science related to coffee and health1.
	Road traffic noise linked to deaths and increased strokes Living in an area with noisy road traffic may reduce life expectancy, according to new research published in the European Heart Journal.
New colon cancer culprit found in gut microbiome Changes in the gut bacteria of colon cancer patients indicate that some virulent bacteria could be linked to the progression of the disease, according to research published in the open access journal Genome Medicine. The findings could eventually be used to identify a virulence signature in these cancers and help doctors predict how bacterial changes in patients' guts could affect their prognosis.
	Whooping cough resurgence due to vaccinated people not knowing they are infectious? Whooping cough has made an astonishing comeback, with 2012 seeing nearly 50,000 infections in the U.S. (the most since 1955), and a death rate in infants three times that of the rest of the population. The dramatic resurgence has puzzled public health officials, who have pointed to the waning effectiveness of the current vaccine and growing anti-vaccine sentiment as the most likely culprits.
	Could 'virtual reality' treat alcoholism? A form of 'virtual-reality' therapy may help people with alcohol dependence reduce their craving for alcohol, a new study suggests.
	Ebola epidemic was disaster for malaria control, study finds Untreated malaria in Guinea surged as a result of the Ebola scare and probably caused far more deaths than the dreaded haemorrhagic fever itself, doctors reported Wednesday.
S. Korean hospitals suspend services as MERS outbreak spreads Two major hospitals in South Korea's capital suspended services to patients on Wednesday in a bid to stop the spread of MERS after four new cases of the deadly virus were reported.
	Researchers study how marijuana impacts driving A new study conducted at the University of Iowa's National Advanced Driving Simulator has found drivers who use alcohol and marijuana together weave more on a virtual roadway than drivers who use either substance independently. However, the cocktail of alcohol and marijuana does not double the effect of the impairment.
	Improved ability to control attention could lead to reduced worry The report, published today in journal Clinical Psychological Science, reports on results of two studies involving people with a high tendency to worry.
	Brain study may lead to more precise treatments for OCD Tens of millions of Americans—an estimated 1 to 2 percent of the population—will suffer at some point in their lifetimes from obsessive-compulsive disorder, a disorder characterized by recurrent, intrusive, and disturbing thoughts (obsessions), and/or stereotyped recurrent behaviors (compulsions). Left untreated, OCD can be profoundly distressing to the patient and can adversely affect their ability to succeed in school, hold a job or function in society.
	Diagnosing prostate cancer—PSA testing, biomarkers and beyond A central challenge in diagnosing and treating prostate cancer is distinguishing fast from slow, aggressive from indolent. Consider the experience of Gerald Alexander.
	Researcher discusses the spread of MERS In parts of the Arabian Peninsula and in South Korea, a disease called Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) has claimed lives. MERS has been diagnosed in at least 25 countries worldwide, including a few isolated cases in the United States. In South Korea, up to 6,500 people have been quarantined. The newness of the disease, its familiar sounding symptoms, and the fear it has engendered are strikingly similar to both Severe Acute Respiratory Disease (SARS) and Ebola, which have also been in the news in recent years.
	Study exposes historical barricades to health in tobacco-growing states The major tobacco-growing states lag behind the rest of the nation in adopting measures effective in reducing tobacco use. Consequently, these five states—Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina and Tennessee—are disproportionately affected by tobacco related disease, the leading cause of preventable death.
	Word recognition 'could be the key' to early diagnosis of Alzheimer's Scientists say they have a better understanding of why people with Alzheimer's struggle to recognise and understand words - and their research has the potential to be developed into a test which could help clinicians make an early diagnosis.
	Childhood adversities, including witnessing parental domestic violence, linked to later migraines Adults who were exposed to childhood adversity, including witnessing parental domestic violence, childhood physical and sexual abuse have higher odds of experiencing migraine headaches in adulthood, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Toronto.
	A family found to have a self-healing skin cancer offers hope for better treatments Members of a Tunisian family with tumors on their hands, feet and eyes may provide helpful information for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma, a common skin cancer.
	An oral antidiabetic drug shows promise for treating tuberculosis The drug metformin, already used in the USA to treat type 2 diabetes, also enhances the body's immune response to tuberculosis, according to A*STAR researchers.
	Viral elements originating from human ancestors are systematically activated in the early development of embryos Viruses incorporated into the human genome millions of years ago may now play a role in the early stages of human embryo development, according to researchers at A*STAR.
	Scientists identify the skin immune cells targeted by the dengue virus Cells in the skin immune system that act as 'gateways' enabling the dengue virus to spread through the body have been identified by A*STAR researchers.
Long-term benefits of mindfulness psychotherapy in diabetes In the last issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic, a group of Dutch investigators headed by professor Paul Emmelkamp reports on the long-term outcome of a psychotherapy study in diabetes. Depressive symptoms are very common in patients with diabetes, and this comorbidity negatively influences the patients' medical outcomes and mortality. The burden of depression is intensified by its chronic course trajectory, as a substantial number of patients show a relapse of their symptoms after having recovered. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a potential effective psychological intervention for treating current depressive symptoms and also for relapse prevention treatment.
New mechanism that regulates tumour initiation and invasion in skin basal cell carcinoma Researchers at the Université libre de Bruxelles, ULB uncover a new mechanism that regulates tumour initiation and invasion in skin basal cell carcinoma.
Pet ownership and its potential benefits for older adults Research published in Activities, Adaption & Aging calls for increased understanding about older adults, the relationship between pet ownership and health, and the current barriers which limit older adults' chances to own a pet. The study, Fostering the Human-Animal Bond for Older Adults, goes into detail about physical and financial risks for older adult pet ownership and how it can be diminished.
	Autistic children improved reading and brain activity after 10-week reading intervention Ten weeks of intensive reading intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder was enough to strengthen the activity of loosely connected areas of their brains that work together to comprehend reading, University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers have found. At the same time, the reading comprehension of those 13 children, whose average age was 10.9 years, also improved.
	Experts offer little tips to make big changes in work health When it comes to taking a physical activity break at work, it's more about the frequency than duration. That's advice Kansas State University experts in human nutrition and kinesiology are offering to employees working in a sedentary environment who are looking to improve their health.
Analysis reveals link between suicide and inflammation One American dies from suicide every 12.8 minutes, making suicide the tenth leading cause of death in the United States according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. There is consensus that if we could better predict who was at risk for suicide, then we could more effectively intervene to reduce this terrible burden on individuals, families and public health.
	Expert explains origins, treatment of MERS Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and has since become a concern in South Korea, where at least 20 deaths have been confirmed. Cases of MERS have also been reported recently in the Philippines, China and Thailand.
	Geography is destiny in deaths from kidney failure, study shows The notion that geography often shapes economic and political destiny has long informed the work of economists and political scholars. Now a study led by medical scientists at Johns Hopkins reveals how geography also appears to affect the very survival of people with end-stage kidney disease in need of dialysis.
	For vitiligo patient, arthritis drug restores skin color A medication for treating rheumatoid arthritis has restored skin color in a patient suffering from vitiligo, according to dermatologists at Yale School of Medicine. The disfiguring condition is best known as the disease that plagued late pop star Michael Jackson.
	Study examines cesarean section delivery and autism spectrum disorder The initial results of a study suggested that children born by cesarean section were 21 percent more likely to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder but that association did not hold up in further analysis of sibling pairs, implying the initial association was not causal and was more likely due to unknown genetic or environmental factors, according to an article published online by JAMA Psychiatry.
	Atlas of older brains could help diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease A digital map of the ageing brain could aid the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders in older people, a study suggests.
Low-field synchronized transcranial magnetic stimulation effective for major depressive disorder The results of a study assessing safety and efficacy of sTMS therapy with the NEST device in adult patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) have been published in the journal Brain Stimulation .
	Rare neurons enable mental flexibility Behavioral flexibility—the ability to change strategy when the rules change—is controlled by specific neurons in the brain, Researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) have confirmed. Cholinergic interneurons are rare—they make up just one to two percent of the neurons in the striatum, a key part of the brain involved with higher-level decision-making. Scientists have suspected they play a role in changing strategies, and researchers at OIST recently confirmed this with experiments. Their findings were published in The Journal of Neuroscience.
	Oh, to have Dr. Facebook on call! If it were up to Internet-savvy Americans, more of them would be emailing or sending Facebook messages to their doctors to chat about their health. That's the result of a national survey led by Joy Lee of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the US. The findings appear in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
	Girls suffer more overuse injuries in teen sports A new study performed by researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center shows that when it comes to overuse injuries in high school sports, girls are at a much higher risk than boys. Overuse injuries include stress fractures, tendonitis and joint pain, and occur when athletes are required to perform the same motion repeatedly.
Diabetic blindness: Team IDs best source of stem cells to block vision loss University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers have taken a significant step forward in their efforts to use stem cells to block vision loss caused by diabetic retinopathy, a condition that affects millions of people with diabetes. The researchers have evaluated the best potential sources for adult stem cells to be used for that purpose, determining that cells taken from donors who do not suffer diabetes likely will be more effective than cells taken from patients' own bodies.
Detroit patients' contributions to national study re-define low-grade brain tumor diagnosis Sixty-seven patients from the Hermelin Brain Tumor Center at Henry Ford Hospital and their families made important contributions to a national cancer study that proposes a change in how some brain tumors are classified - and ultimately treated.
Future physicians more inclined to embrace genomic medicine than practicing physicians Medical students showed a greater acceptance of using approaches in genomic medicine, a key element in the practice of precision medicine, to treat patients as compared to physicians currently in practice according to a Brief Communication in the journal Medical Science Educator.
	Partnering of PD researchers with patient groups needed to improve effectiveness of clinical trials Despite an urgent need for new medications, clinical trials in Parkinson's disease (PD) have a relatively low rate of success. The reasons for this are complex, prompting a group of investigators from PD advocacy groups to conduct a survey of the principle stakeholders, PD scientists, patients, and caregivers, to determine some of the underlying barriers. Their results are published in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease.
Nearly half of Hispanics unaware they have high cholesterol; less than a third treated Nearly half of Hispanic adults were unaware they have high cholesterol, and less than a third receive any kind of cholesterol treatment, in a new study in Journal of the American Heart Association.
	Got acne? Lay off the B12 Vitamin B12 tweaks how genes behave in the facial bacteria of some people who normally enjoy clear skin. The activity changes of the facial bacteria promote inflammation and lead to pimples.
Panel gives weak endorsement of new meningitis shots A federal panel has given a weak endorsement to two expensive new meningitis shots, declining to recommend the vaccines for all teens and leaving the decision to parents and doctors.
	Needle exchanges can prevent more HIV outbreaks like one in Indiana Congress needs to immediately lift the ban on federal funding for needle exchange programs to counter the threat of HIV outbreaks among injection drug users like the one that has seen an alarming number of new cases erupt in a single rural Indiana county.
	As smoking declines, more are likely to quit Smokeless tobacco and, more recently, e-cigarettes have been promoted as a harm reduction strategy for smokers who are "unable or unwilling to quit." The strategy, embraced by both industry and some public health advocates, is based on the assumption that as smoking declines overall, only those who cannot quit will remain. A new study by researchers at UC San Francisco has found just the opposite.
BMJ investigation examines bitter dispute over e-cigarettes in the public health community An investigation published by The BMJ today reveals how the controversial concept of "harm reduction", embraced enthusiastically by the tobacco industry, has sharply divided the public health community.
	Many hospital patients not asked about supplements: study (HealthDay)—Most hospitalized Americans aren't asked if they take dietary supplements, such as multivitamins, a new study suggests.
	Exercise benefits people with Parkinson's disease: study (HealthDay)—Parkinson's disease patients who begin regular exercise earlier have a much slower decline in quality of life than those who start exercising later, a new study finds.
	Oxygen chamber therapy may ease fibromyalgia, study suggests (HealthDay)—The majority of women with fibromyalgia who underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy—best known for treating "the bends" in scuba divers—experienced relief from pain and other symptoms, a small study found.
	Dermatologist tutorial helps minimize acne Rx side effects (HealthDay)—For Korean patients with acne, fixed-dose combination adapalene 0.1 percent and benzoyl peroxide 2.5 percent gel (A-BPO) is more efficacious than benzoyl peroxide (BPO), with similar skin irritation levels that can be improved with dermatologists' tutorials for A-BPO application, according to a study published online June 20 in the Journal of Dermatology.
	Review: colposcopy linked to adverse psychological outcomes (HealthDay)—For women with abnormal cervical cytology, colposcopy and related procedures are associated with adverse psychological outcomes, especially anxiety, according to a systematic review published online June 22 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
	Low rate of ICD implantation in elderly, despite good results (HealthDay)—Fewer than one in 10 older myocardial infarction (MI) survivors receive a potentially lifesaving implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), according to a new study published in the June 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Factors released following stem cell transplantation therapeutically impact serious burns Cell transplantation researchers have successfully used bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to treat a variety of diseases and conditions. Now, using injections of MSCs, a research team in Brazil has successfully treated laboratory rats modeled with severe burns. They found that the MSCs accelerated healing, enhanced local blood supply, affected the immune system in a positive way, secreted beneficial growth factors with anti-inflammatory properties, and ultimately provided higher survival rates than in control animals not treated with MSCs.
In ERs, UTIs and STIs in women misdiagnosed, even mixed up nearly half the time Urinary tract and sexually transmitted infections in women are misdiagnosed by emergency departments nearly half the time, according to a paper in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, a publication of the American Society for Microbiology. These misdiagnoses result in overuse of antibiotics, and increased antibiotic resistance, according to Michelle Hecker, MD, an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, and her collaborators.
Cystic fibrosis deadlier for Hispanic than non-Hispanic patients, study finds Cystic fibrosis is more deadly for Hispanic than non-Hispanic patients, a disparity that is not explained by differences in their access to health care, according to a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine.
	Memory, thinking tests may hint at Alzheimer's risk (HealthDay)—Mistakes made on memory and thinking tests may be early warning signs of Alzheimer's disease, researchers report.
	In teens, sedentary behavior independently tied to adiposity (HealthDay)—For adolescents, sedentary behavior is associated with markers of adiposity, independent of dietary intake, according to a systematic review published online June 22 in Obesity Reviews.
Uninterrupted NOAC therapy during AF ablation is safe Uninterrupted treatment with novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) during catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is safe, reveals research presented today at EHRA EUROPACE - CARDIOSTIM 2015 by Dr Carsten Wunderlich, senior consultant in the Department of Invasive Electrophysiology, Heart Centre Dresden, Germany.1 Continuation of NOAC therapy was not associated with periprocedural bleeding or thromboembolic complications.
	Smoking may impact survival after a breast cancer diagnosis Researchers have found that smoking may increase the risk of dying early in premenopausal women with breast cancer.
Unemployed are in poorer health than they say they are In an international context, Norway stands as an egalitarian country with only small class and income disparities, in which everyone basically has equal access to universal health care. Yet research on self-reported health and mortality data has shown that Norway has social inequalities on par with many other countries in Western Europe.
	Breaking teens free from substance abuse Almost half of grade eight students in Québec have consumed alcohol—an alarming statistic considering that alcohol and drug abuse at a young age can affect the brain, push teenagers to drop out of school, trigger mental illness and lead to long-term addiction. But science has a solution: cognitive and behavioural therapy workshops for at-risk teenagers.
Unique consensus paper on patient preferences for arrhythmias management published A unique consensus paper on patient preferences for arrhythmias management is presented today1 at EHRA EUROPACE – CARDIOSTIM 2015 and published in EP Europace.
Ebola setback for Sierra Leone as capital records new cases (Update) Sierra Leone's capital Freetown has suffered a fresh outbreak of Ebola, dashing hopes that health authorities in the densely-populated city of 1.2 million had beaten the deadly epidemic.
First ESC recommendations for arrhythmias and chronic kidney disease published The first ESC recommendations for patients with cardiac arrhythmias and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are presented today1 at EHRA EUROPACE - CARDIOSTIM 2015 and published in EP Europace.2
New Zealand blackcurrants good for the brain Research has shown that New Zealand blackcurrants are good for keeping us mentally young and agile, a finding that could have potential in managing the mental decline associated with aging populations, or helping people with brain disorders such as Parkinson's disease or depression.
Study identifies characteristics of patients likely to have a potential living liver donor New research published in Liver Transplantation, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society, reports that younger patients, those who are married, and those with Child-Pugh C disease—the most severe measure of liver disease—are more likely immigrants, divorced patients and those at the lowest income levels were less likely to have a potential live donor volunteer for liver donation.
What's new in contact lenses? Prescribing trends reflect new lens materials and designs More Americans are using soft contact lenses—especially daily disposable lenses—and taking advantage of new designs targeting vision problems that were difficult to correct with previous contact lenses, reports the July issue of Optometry and Vision Science, official journal of the American Academy of Optometry.
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria kills 4 in Brazil Brazilian health authorities say an antibiotic-resistant bacteria has infected a hospital in the southeastern city of Guarulhos and has killed four people.
Judge to consider blocking Kansas ban on abortion method An abortion rights group is asking a Kansas judge to block the state's first-in-the-nation ban on what it says is the most common method for terminating second-trimester pregnancies, contending that the new law would force women to either accept higher medical risks or forgo abortions.
	Republicans push back against proposed dietary guidelines Congressional Republicans are pushing back against proposed dietary guidelines that urge Americans to consider the environment when deciding what foods to eat.
Stockholm rape clinic opens doors to male victims A Stockholm rape clinic will open its doors in October to male and transgender victims in addition to the women it already treats, a sexologist at the clinic said Wednesday.
Patient outcomes could improve by preparing nursing homes for health information exchange When older adults transfer between nursing homes and hospitals, inefficient and unclear communication between the organizations can hinder patient care. Now, a team of MU researchers is working to improve patients' health outcomes by increasing efficient, secure communication between nursing homes and hospitals using an electronic communication system called a health information exchange (HIE).
	Five things to know about US public opinion on health care case Most Americans want the Supreme Court to side with the government when it decides whether the feds can continue subsidizing insurance premiums in all 50 states under President Barack Obama's health care law, according to polls in recent months.
Innovative male circumcision device for HIV prevention receives WHO prequalification The ShangRing, a novel medical device for voluntary medical male circumcision, has received prequalification from the World Health Organization (WHO) for use. The prequalification indicates that the ShangRing meets international standards of safety and has the potential to rapidly increase access to the device in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions where the burden of HIV is highest. Conclusive clinical research demonstrates that circumcision can reduce male acquisition of HIV through vaginal intercourse by up to 60 percent.

Biology news

	Study hints at why parrots are great vocal imitators An international team of scientists led by Duke University researchers has uncovered key structural differences in the brains of parrots that may explain the birds' unparalleled ability to imitate sounds and human speech.
	Single gene controls fish brain size and intelligence A single gene called Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) drives brain size and intelligence in fish according to a new study by researchers at UCL, Stockholm University and University of Helsinki.
	Study concludes that racehorses are getting faster Despite a general consensus among scientists and in the racing industry that racehorse speed has plateaued, a new study from the University of Exeter has found that racehorses are getting quicker. Further research is required to determine whether the increased speeds have a genetic basis or are the result of improved training, jockey tactics or other environmental factors.
	People and primates share chewing adaptations Scientists have gained insights into how primate species have evolved through space and time by studying the anatomy of their lower jaws in relation to diet.
	Unlocking fermentation secrets open the door to new biofuels Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have, for the first time, uncovered the complex interdependence and orchestration of metabolic reactions, gene regulation, and environmental cues of clostridial metabolism, providing new insights for advanced biofuel development.
	Reenergizing antibiotics in the war against infections Antibiotics are the mainstay in the treatment of bacterial infections, and together with vaccines, have enabled the near eradication of infectious diseases like tuberculosis, at least in developed countries. However, the overuse of antibiotics has also led to an alarming rise in resistant bacteria that can outsmart antibiotics using different mechanisms. Some pathogenic bacteria are thus becoming almost untreatable, not only in underdeveloped countries but also in modern hospital settings.
	First species of yeti crab found in Antarctica named after British deep-sea biologist The first species of Yeti Crab from hydrothermal vent systems of the East Scotia Ridge in the Southern Ocean, Antarctica, has been described by a team of British scientists.
	Lovebird rotates head 2700 degrees per second while turning, minimizing blind spots High-speed videos of lovebirds making quick in flight turns reveal how they improve sight and shorten blur by rotating their head at speeds of up to 2700 degrees per second, according to a study published June 24 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Daniel Kress from Stanford University, and colleagues.
	Australian fishermen catch rare basking shark (Update) Fishermen off Australia who accidentally caught a whopping basking shark have provided scientists with a rare opportunity to study the second-biggest fish on the planet.
	High vitamin C levels are required to overcome photo-inhibition in plants Vitamin C (ascorbate) is an antioxidant and coenzyme for a number of metabolic reactions in living organisms. In plant chloroplasts, high vitamin C levels are required to overcome photo-inhibition caused by strong light.
	Protein structure reveals how cells regulate their skeletons Insight into the regulation of cell skeleton structure has come from a study conducted by A*STAR researchers. The work, which solved a protein structure that has eluded scientists for 20 years, should lead to further insights into many cellular processes and could even help to combat cancer.
	Porcupines can't jump: Camera traps in the forest canopy reveal dwarf porcupine behavior A team of scientists, led by Dr. Tremaine Gregory from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, worked with a pipeline construction company to preserve the branches of large trees that connected over the pipeline clearing forming natural canopy bridges in the Lower Urubamba Region of Peru. For a year, the researchers used camera traps in the bridges to monitor their use, and it didn't take long for an unexpected animal to appear in the photographs: a tiny porcupine weighing just 770g. Curiously, the small mammals appeared to be unable to leap across canopy gaps, choosing only well-connected bridges. The finding was published in the open-access journal ZooKeys, and funding and logistical support for this canopy bridge study were provided by Repsol Exploración Perú.
Professor discovers new lichen species in city of Boulder A University of Colorado Boulder scientist unexpectedly discovered two lichen species new to science in the same week while conducting research in Boulder Colorado, near the city's eastern limits.
	To the rescue: Helping threatened Mediterranean sea turtles Researchers Ullmann and Stachowitsch critically review the current state of sea turtle rescue centres and first-aid stations in relation to the mortality trends for two charismatic yet endangered flagship species - the Mediterranean loggerhead and green turtle populations. Their findings were published in the open-access journal Nature Conservation.
	Researchers mass-producing stem cells to satisfy the demands of regenerative medicine Steve Oh had been growing stem cells by conventional means at the A*STAR Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI) for seven years, when in 2008 his colleague Shaul Reuveny proposed an idea for speeding up the process.
	Single-cell technologies advance the value of genomics Biologists are looking to extract as much information as possible from small amounts of valuable biological material, and to understand biological responses at higher levels of resolution. The Genome Analysis Centre has been working to reduce the input requirements for DNA and RNA sequencing projects down to the single-cell level by introducing the Fluidigm C1 single-cell system, FACs-in-a-petri CellSorter and the Labcyte Echo microscopic liquid handler.

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