Science X Newsletter Thursday, Jul 9

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for July 9, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Physicists propose new definition of time crystals—then prove such things don't exist
- Radio astronomers see black hole come to life
- 3-D-printed robot is hard at heart, soft on the outside (w/ Video)
- Neuroscientists establish brain-to-brain networks in primates, rodents
- Volcanic rocks resembling Roman concrete explain record uplift in Italian caldera
- A graphene-based sensor that is tunable and highly sensitive
- Scientists catch a previously unknown neural culprit involved in reading
- Global sea levels have risen six meters or more with just slight global warming
- With acoustic reflector, carnivorous pitcher plants advertise themselves to bats
- Researchers develop basic computing elements for bacteria
- Where does water go when it doesn't flow?
- Ancient black hole defied rules of galaxy formation
- Scientists hack one of the most common bacteria in human intestines
- Managing mining of the deep seabed
- Review: Microsoft Office in a world of multiple devices

Astronomy & Space news

	Radio astronomers see black hole come to life 42 million light years away, 20 million times the mass of the Sun, and coming back to life. A team of radio astronomers, led by Dr Megan Argo of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, are watching a previously dormant black hole wake up in a dramatic display as material falls on to it for the first time for perhaps millions of years. Dr Argo reported their work today (9 July) at the National Astronomy Meeting at Venue Cymru, in Llandudno, Wales.
	NASA data shows surfer-shaped waves in near-Earth space The universe overflows with repeating patterns. From the smallest cells to the largest galaxies, scientists are often rewarded by observing similar patterns in vastly different places. One such pattern is the iconic surfer's waves seen on the ocean - a series of curled hills moving steadily in one direction. The shape has a simple cause. A fast fluid, say wind, moving past a slower one, say water, naturally creates this classic shape. Named Kelvin-Helmholtz waves in the late 1800s after their discoverers, these waves have since been discovered all over the universe: in clouds, in the atmospheres of other planets, and on the sun. Now two recently published papers highlight these shapely waves at the boundaries of near-Earth space.
	Colliding red giant prime suspect for luminous red nova outburst Observations of a rare astronomical phenomenon, called a luminous red nova, suggest that this bright outburst was caused by a red giant colliding with another star. Astronomers used the Liverpool Telescope to track the outburst over several months and hunted through the Hubble Space Telescope archive to identify possible progenitors. Dr Steven Williams will present the results at the National Astronomy Meeting 2015 in Llandudno on Thursday 9th July.
	Bricks to build an Earth found in every planetary system Earth-like planets orbiting other stars in the Milky Way are three times more likely to have the same type of minerals as Earth than astronomers had previously thought. In fact, conditions for making the building blocks of Earth-like rocks are ubiquitous throughout the Milky Way. The results of a new study of the chemical evolution of our galaxy are being presented today by Prof Brad Gibson, of the University of Hull, at the National Astronomy Meeting in Llandudno.
	Irregular heartbeat of the Sun driven by double dynamo A new model of the Sun's solar cycle is producing unprecedentedly accurate predictions of irregularities within the Sun's 11-year heartbeat. The model draws on dynamo effects in two layers of the Sun, one close to the surface and one deep within its convection zone. Predictions from the model suggest that solar activity will fall by 60 per cent during the 2030s to conditions last seen during the 'mini ice age' that began in 1645. Results will be presented today by Prof Valentina Zharkova at the National Astronomy Meeting in Llandudno.
	Best-candidate supernova erupting every year and on the brink of catastrophe Using the robotic Liverpool Telescope, an international team of scientists has found what looks like the best pre-explosion candidate yet for a 'type 1a' supernova, where a massive and extremely dense star in the Andromeda Galaxy is dragging material away from its companion. This star is set to be completely destroyed in the (astronomical) near future in a catastrophic explosion. Matt Darnley of Liverpool John Moores University presented their results today (9 July) at the National Astronomy Meeting at Venue Cymru, in Llandudno, Wales.
	Huge new survey to shine light on dark matter The first results have been released from a major new dark matter survey of the southern skies using ESO's VLT Survey Telescope (VST) at the Paranal Observatory in Chile. The VST KiDS survey will allow astronomers to make precise measurements of dark matter, the structure of galaxy halos, and the evolution of galaxies and clusters. The first KiDS results show how the characteristics of the observed galaxies are determined by the invisible vast clumps of dark matter surrounding them.
	Ancient black hole defied rules of galaxy formation Black holes can be found at the centres of most galaxies. Most have little mass compared with their host galaxy. ETH researchers, however, have discovered a particularly massive black hole, which clearly grew so quickly that the host galaxy was not able to keep pace. This calls into question previous thinking on the co-evolution of galaxies and their central black holes.
	Swift satellite reveals a black hole bull's-eye What looks like a shooting target is actually an image of nested rings of X-ray light centered on an erupting black hole. On June 15, NASA's Swift satellite detected the start of a new outburst from V404 Cygni, where a black hole and a sun-like star orbit each other. Since then, astronomers around the world have been monitoring the ongoing light show.
	Scientists study atmosphere of Venus through transit images Two of NASA's heliophysics missions can now claim planetary science on their list of scientific findings. A group of scientists used the Venus transit - a very rare event where a planet passes between Earth and the sun, appearing to us as a dark dot steadily making its way across the sun's bright face - to make measurements of how the Venusian atmosphere absorbs different kinds of light. This, in turn, gives scientists clues to exactly what elements are layered above Venus's surface. Gathering such information not only teaches us more about this planet so close to our own, but it also paves the way for techniques to better understand planets outside our solar system.
	Second instrument delivered for OSIRIS-REx mission An instrument that will explore the surface of a primitive asteroid in search of water and organic materials has arrived at Lockheed Martin for installation onto NASA's Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx).
	How neutron stars can break up clusters A supernova explosion at the end of a large star's life can leave the collapsed core, or neutron star, hurtling away from its dust and gas envelope at hundreds of kilometres per second. Now, astronomers have found that even a tiny number of these neutron star 'natal kicks' can have a dramatic effect on the lifetime of surrounding star clusters. The fast-moving neutron stars can cause star clusters to lose mass and break apart up to four times more quickly. The discovery will be presented by Filippo Contenta at the National Astronomy Meeting in Llandudno.
	Pluto's 'heart' revealed as New Horizons probe starts flyby campaign Emotions are rising exponentially with the rousing revelation that Pluto has a huge 'Heart' as revealed in stunning new imagery received just today (July 8) from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft – which has also officially started its intensive flyby campaign merely 5 days out from humanity's history making first encounter with the last unexplored planet in our solar system on Tuesday, July 14.
	Once around the sun with Jupiter For Jupiterians (Jovians?) a trip around the sun takes 12 Earth years. If you were born today on the planet or one of its moons, you'd turn one year old in 2027 and reach the ripe old age of 12 in 2111.
	We could find aliens any day now—SETI scientists discuss extraterrestrial life hunting ET phone Earth! We could be on the verge of answering one of the essential questions of humanity that has captivated our minds for centuries. As we advance in technology the search for extraterrestrial life becomes more sophisticated and promising. But the real frosting on the cake would be finding any signs of an intelligent alien civilization. The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project is looking carefully for these signs, listening to the Universe that may be full of potential ET signals. In an interview with astrowatch.net, key figures of alien life hunting discuss the ongoing search for extraterrestrial life. SETI's Seth Shostak, Paul Shuch, Douglas Vakoch and Gerry Harp talk the odds of finding ETs, explain the famous "Wow!" signal received in 1977 and unveil the future of the search for aliens.
	Cutting through Martian history This colourful image resembles an abstract watercolour, but it is in fact a colour-coded topographic map of one of the most geologically diverse regions on Mars.
	ESA teams ready for Europe's next weather satellite Ground control teams are ready to shepherd Europe's next weather satellite through its critical first days in orbit, ensuring it is working and healthy in the harsh environment of space.
	A galaxy in bloom: New Hubble snap of ESO 381-12 The ghostly shells of galaxy ESO 381-12 are captured here in a new image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, set against a backdrop of distant galaxies. The strikingly uneven structure and the clusters of stars that orbit around the galaxy suggest that ESO 381-12 may have been part of a dramatic collision sometime in its relatively recent past.
	NASA picks four astronauts to fly first commercial spaceflights NASA has selected four veteran astronauts to lead the way back into orbit from U.S. soil.

Technology news

	3-D-printed robot is hard at heart, soft on the outside (w/ Video) Engineers at Harvard University and the University of California, San Diego, have created the first robot with a 3D-printed body that transitions from a rigid core to a soft exterior. The robot is capable of more than 30 untethered jumps and is powered by a mix of butane and oxygen. Researchers describe the robot's design, manufacturing and testing in the July 10 issue of Science magazine.
	End of US oversight role 'strengthens' Internet The US government's stepping away from a key oversight role of the Internet will strengthen its governance and ease political pressures, the top Internet administrator said Wednesday.
	DeepStereo: Google quartet has method for new-view synthesis Four researchers from Google have been turning to deep networks—not for classification purposes in computer vision but this time for application in graphics problems. Their work has shown interesting results, as evidenced in their paper, now on the arXiv server, titled "DeepStereo: Learning to Predict New Views from the World's Imagery."
	Wave energy device is watched for clean power in Hawaii The U.S. government continues its interest in wave energy, saying it is "committed to supporting the growth of this emerging technology." Supporters of wave energy hope that it will one day be an important source of clean energy, providing low-carbon electricity to places.
	Study finds that future deployment of distributed solar hinges on electricity rate design Future distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) deployment levels are highly sensitive to retail electricity rate design, according to a newly released report by researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). The study also explores the feedback effects between retail electricity rates and PV deployment, and suggests that increased solar deployment can lead to changes in PV compensation levels that either accelerate or dampen further deployment.
	Whether "backdoor" or "front-door," government access imperils your data, experts say In recent months, government officials in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries have made repeated calls for law-enforcement agencies to be able to access, upon due authorization, encrypted data to help them solve crimes.
	Neuroscience-based algorithms make for better networks When it comes to developing efficient, robust networks, the brain may often know best. Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have, for the first time, determined the rate at which the developing brain eliminates unneeded connections between neurons during early childhood.
	Researchers produce industry's first 7nm node test chips An alliance led by IBM Research today announced that it has produced the semiconductor industry's first 7nm (nanometer) node test chips with functioning transistors. The breakthrough, accomplished in partnership with GLOBALFOUNDRIES and Samsung at SUNY Polytechnic Institute's Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (SUNY Poly CNSE), could result in the ability to place more than 20 billion tiny switches—transistors—on the fingernail-sized chips that power everything from smartphones to spacecraft.
	Review: Microsoft Office in a world of multiple devices Microsoft's new Office apps do a good job of helping us navigate a world in which we frequently switch from one device to another—from a Mac to a Windows PC, with a smartphone or tablet along the way.
	Strong sales, but high abandonment for fitness trackers Deepak Jayasimha's fitness tracker is now with his father-in-law in India, where it sits unused. Annabel Kelly foisted hers off on the kids. Virginia Atkinson took hers off to charge the battery and hasn't picked it up since February.
	US warns encryption hampering anti-terror fight US law enforcement officials warned Wednesday that criminals and terror suspects would benefit from stronger data encryption, and called for service providers to retain access to such protected data.
	Bad day for geeks: Tech disruptions plague United, NYSE, WSJ It was a rough day for tech: The nation's biggest airline, its oldest stock exchange, and its most prominent business newspaper all suffered technology problems that upended service for parts of the day.
Yahoo enters daily fantasy sports market Tech company Yahoo is entering the realm of daily fantasy sports contests with a new product called Yahoo Sports Daily Fantasy.
	Brazil judges fine Google, Facebook over dead singer pics Brazilian judges have fined Facebook and Google thousands of dollars for failing to remove gruesome photos and videos showing the body of a popular singer killed last month in a car crash.
Estonia citizen pleads guilty in NYC to cyberfraud charge A man portrayed as a ringleader in an international cyber scam that infected more than 4 million computers in over 100 countries pleaded guilty Wednesday.
	Deepening dependency on technology raises risk of breakdowns When technology breaks down now, people's lives go haywire, too.
	In Mexico City, once beloved VW Beetle is nearly extinct It was a symbol of the Mexico City landscape, zooming, honking and fuming in the mega-capital's infamously dense traffic. But the beloved Volkswagen Beetle is nearly extinct, a victim of anti-pollution campaigns.
Survey: Many consumers worry about safety of financial info While the safety of their private financial information is a big deal for a lot of people, when it comes to protecting it, many are actually pretty lax, a new survey says.
	Student's research could hasten the dawn of hybrid rocket engines Hybrid rocket fuel research being done by a University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) mechanical engineering doctoral student could hasten the day when a simpler, safer, more economical rocket engine propels space missions.
	India's TCS reports strong profits on US, Europe deals India's biggest IT outsourcing firm Tata Consultancy Services on Thursday reported better-than-expected quarterly profits on the back of growth in its key markets of the United States and Europe.
T-Mobile US calling plans to cover Canada and Mexico (Update) T-Mobile will now let its U.S. customers call, text, use apps and browse the Internet within North America without paying extra charges.
Study determines why organizations fight data breaches differently In the wake of recent high-profile security breaches at retail stores such as Target and Neiman Marcus, a new study from The University of Texas at Dallas determines why differences exist in the level of information security control resources among organizations.
EU lawmakers reject restrictions on right to post photos It is still OK to post photos of the London Eye—or other modern buildings or artworks in the European Union—online.
	Looking for other Japanese speakers in Paris? There's an app for that Paris, the city of light, love, and tourists, has released a new mobile app called "Yes I speak touriste" to help foreigners struggling with their French find some respite.
	Facebook hands some news feed controls back to users Facebook unveiled a new tool Thursday giving users more control of what they see in their news feeds, allowing them to override the choices made by algorithm.
Spike making series on computer pioneer McAfee The Spike television network says it is making a six-part TV series based on the life of anti-virus software entrepreneur John McAfee, centered around interviews with him.
	Team leads Google expedition to create 'Internet of Things' technology Carnegie Mellon University will turn its campus into a living laboratory for a Google-funded, multi-university expedition to create a robust platform that will enable Internet-connected sensors, gadgets and buildings to communicate with each other.

Medicine & Health news

	Scientists catch a previously unknown neural culprit involved in reading (Medical Xpress)—The Triangle Model is a widely accepted theoretical framework that comprises the basis for a number of cognitive models of word reading. It is built around three primary cognitive units that encode different types of information: semantics, orthography and phonology. Neuroscientists seek to map such cognitive models to actual neural architecture, an endeavor made possible in the last several decades by MRI technologies.
	Neuroscientists establish brain-to-brain networks in primates, rodents Neuroscientists at Duke University have introduced a new paradigm for brain-machine interfaces that investigates the physiological properties and adaptability of brain circuits, and how the brains of two or more animals can work together to complete simple tasks.
	Rare genetic mutations occur more often in schizophrenia patients, researchers find A new study by UCLA scientists adds to the understanding of the genetic architecture of schizophrenia.
	New technique for precise light-activated chemotherapy drugs A new technique that uses light to activate chemotherapy drugs in specific cells shows promise as a way to improve the effectiveness of cancer therapies while preventing severe side effects, according to a study published July 9 in Cell. The so-called photopharmacology approach could be used to treat a broad range of tumors with unprecedented precision simply by making existing cancer drugs sensitive to light—an approach that requires less time and effort compared with traditional drug discovery programs.
	Mutations in a single gene underlie vulnerability to two unrelated types of infections When a genetic error weakens a child's immunity, otherwise nonthreatening microbes can sicken and sometimes kill. In work published July 9 in Science, researchers at The Rockefeller University and their colleagues identify one surprising case in which mutations in a single gene render children vulnerable to two very different diseases: aggravating, but treatable fungal infections, as well as invasive and potentially fatal bacterial disease.
	Scientists separate medical benefits of cannabis from unwanted side effects Scientists at the University of East Anglia in collaboration with the University Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona have found a way to separate the medical benefits of cannabis from its unwanted side effects.
	'Conjunction junction' for brain's navigation function Ever wake at night needing a drink of water and then find your way to the kitchen in the dark without stubbing your toe? Researchers at the University of California, San Diego say they have identified a region of the brain that enables you to do that - and generally helps you navigate the world.
	A new wrinkle: Geometry of brain's outer surface correlates with genetic heritage Researchers at the University of California, San Diego and the School of Medicine have found that the three-dimensional shape of the cerebral cortex - the wrinkled outer layer of the brain controlling many functions of thinking and sensation - strongly correlates with ancestral background. The study, published online July 9 in Current Biology, opens the door to more precise studies of brain anatomy going forward and could eventually lead to more personalized medicine approaches for diagnosing and treating brain diseases.
	How accurate are symptom checkers? Hundreds of millions of times every year many of us turn to a new kind of online software called symptom checkers to try to self-diagnose our symptoms and to get advice on whether we should seek further medical care or just rest at home until we feel better.
Mothers who smoke and give birth preterm more than triple their CVD risk Mothers who smoke and have a preterm birth more than triple their risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to research in more than 900 000 mothers published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. The risk of maternal CVD increased in a dose response relationship with the number and severity of preterm births.
	Cultural and economic factors affect European antidepressant use Public attitudes towards mental illness and levels of healthcare spending may explain the huge variation in antidepressant use across Europe, according to a new study by researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London.
Money spent on community-based HIV prevention translates into treatment savings Every $1 spent on community-based HIV prevention programs in Ontario saves $5 in treatment costs, a new study has found.
	Cost of low-risk childbirth varies widely among hospitals The cost of having a baby can vary by almost $10,000 depending on which hospital is chosen, Yale School of Medicine researchers have found in a study published in the July issue of the journal Health Affairs.
	First real-life trial finds oral cholera vaccine protects against endemic disease, could speed up global control efforts An oral cholera vaccine (Shanchol) given as part of routine health services is safe and protects against severe cholera in children and adults in urban Bangladesh where the disease is endemic, according to the first real-life trial of this vaccine published in The Lancet. The findings lend support to the use of the vaccine in routine mass vaccination programmes to help to control cholera in endemic countries.
California lawmaker drops bill to regulate e-cigarettes A California lawmaker was forced to forsake his own tobacco bill Wednesday after a legislative panel gutted its key provision calling for electronic cigarettes to be regulated as a tobacco product.
	Many overweight teenagers do not recognize they are too heavy More than a third of overweight or obese teenagers don't see themselves as being too heavy and think their weight is about right, according to a Cancer Research UK study published today in the International Journal of Obesity.
	Prion protein protects against epilepsy In the most systematic and rigorous study conducted thus far in its field, the prion protein (PrPC) was clearly shown to play a role in preventing the onset of epileptic seizures. PrPC is perhaps best known in its 'degenerate' form, the prion, and an infectious agent behind dangerous neurodegenerative diseases such as mad cow disease. SISSA contributed to the study, which was published in the journal Scientific Reports.
	Hearing test pinpoints middle-ear problems in newborns Screening newborn babies who are in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) using a testing process called high-frequency tympanometry can help identify middle-ear problems earlier, according to newly published research from a local team of researchers.
	Researchers uncover motivations for the high level of prescribed antibiotics for children's coughs Researchers from the University of Bristol have investigated what leads to high use of antibiotics for children with coughs and found the motives for their use are complex but centre around children being vulnerable.
	Want to help stop violence? Don't 'like' it online It's common for parents to wonder whether regular exposure to violent acts in the news can influence their children.
	Study sheds light on LGBT youth and homelessness ouths, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, experience many similar issues leading to homelessness, but providers of homeless youth services indicate some of these issues are exacerbated for youths who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning (LGBTQ), according to a report released recently by researchers at the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law and the True Colors Fund.
	Simply listening prompts speech practice before an infant's first words Infants take in the sounds of various languages indiscriminately until about 8 months of age, when their brains start to focus only on the predominant language they hear around them, according to researchers. But, they say, the causes for this transition are less clear.
	Gender differences play key role in supporting healthy diets for seniors Strategies to support healthier diets among seniors need to take into account differences between elderly men and women, according to UBC research.
	Religious exemptions for vaccines endanger us all The measles epidemic in the western United States earlier this year provides a good reminder that it is time to end the religious exemption for vaccination. It may also be time for physicians to change the way they educate their patients about vaccines.
Less intensive chemo avoids irreversible side effects in children's cancer Children with a rare type of cancer called Wilms' tumour who are at low risk of relapsing can now be given less intensive treatment, avoiding a type of chemotherapy that can cause irreversible heart problems in later life.
	Secondhand smoke increases stroke risk by 30 percent for nonsmokers Nearly 800,000 people in the U.S. suffer a stroke each year. Stroke is responsible for one out of every 19 deaths in the U.S. and it is a leading cause of disability. A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that secondhand smoke (SHS) increases the risk of stroke by about 30 percent for nonsmokers.
Opioids may not spell relief for chronic back pain sufferers with depression, anxiety Although opioids are frequently prescribed to treat chronic lower back pain, new research suggests these powerful medications may be less effective in some patients. A study published in the Online First edition of Anesthesiology, the official medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), found patients who were prescribed opioids to treat chronic lower back pain experienced significantly less pain relief and were more likely to abuse their medication when they had psychiatric disorders such as depression or anxiety.
Aggressive cancer treatment near end of life persists despite rise in advance planning efforts In a review of nearly 2,000 surveys with people whose loved ones died of cancer, researchers led by Johns Hopkins experts say they found a 40 percent increase over a 12-year period in the number of patients with cancer who participated in one form of advance care planning—designating durable power of attorney privileges to a loved one—but no corresponding impact on their rates of aggressive medical care received in the last weeks of life.
Two-thirds of teen and young adult cancer patients facing end of life use aggressive measures More than two-thirds of adolescents and young adults dying of cancer utilized one or more aggressive interventions in the last month of life, according to a retrospective study from researchers at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Kaiser Permanente Southern California. The results of the largest study to date of this population, published today in JAMA Oncology, suggest the need for more research into whether patients have been adequately supported to contemplate their end-of-life options or whether the pattern reflects their well-considered wishes, the authors note.
	Biologist discusses the brain's dimensional odor sensitivity Blindfolded and asked to distinguish between a rose and, say, smoke from a burning candle, most people would find the task easy. Even differentiating between two rose varieties can be a snap because the human olfactory system—made up of the nerve cells in our noses and everything that allows the brain to process smell—is quite adept. But just how sensitive is it to different smells?
Technology researcher discusses tracking disease outbreaks via social media Today, when there is an outbreak of disease, the first reports of it are likely to be online, through Facebook or Twitter. And as word in cyberspace goes viral, it can map closely to the spread of the actual virus in the physical world. That's the conclusion of NYU researcher Rumi Chunara (BS '04), whose paper analyzing Twitter and other online activity surrounding the 2010 outbreak of cholera in Haiti made waves in the public health world. So much so that in 2014 she was named to MIT Technology Review's "35 Innovators Under 35" list for her work in digital disease detection. Ben Tomlin from Caltech's Alumni Association spoke with Chunara about her research and the emerging area of crowdsourced health data.
Nutritional health message is not getting across, and terms get hijacked for commercial marketing The general public is confused about how foods provide a mix of nutrients, what the body needs and what a 'nutritionally balanced' or nutritionally complete diet is, according to a new study.
How a green building influences the health of its occupants Green buildings are indeed healthy buildings. So says Dr. Joseph Allen and fellow researchers of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in the US. They conducted the first comprehensive review of studies that focused on green buildings and summarized the health benefits for the people who work and live in them. The review is published in Springer's journal Current Environmental Health Reports.
	New guidelines for treating diabetic retinal degeneration Around 600,000 Austrians suffer from diabetes. This condition is frequently associated with serious retinal disorders. Along with age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinal degeneration is one of the most common causes of blindness. The Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry at MedUni Vienna was chosen by the European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA) to coordinate the development of up-to-date treatment and diagnostic guidelines.
Testosterone therapy fails to treat ejaculatory dysfunction Men who have ejaculatory disorders and low testosterone levels did not experience improved sexual function after undergoing testosterone replacement therapy, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
New program using CT technology helping doctors better detect lung cancer Long-time smokers and past smokers now have a more accurate way of detecting whether or not they have lung cancer thanks to a comprehensive lung cancer screening program that uses CT scan technology at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City.
	Overhydration potentially deadly for athletes, experts warn While the risks of dehydration are well known, new international guidelines seek to protect athletes from the serious health risks associated with drinking too many fluids while exercising.
Researchers link liver disease and drug metabolism Researchers at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy have discovered that nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), an increasingly common but often undiagnosed liver disease, could have significant medical implications for people with type 2 diabetes.
	Uric acid may lessen women's disability after stroke Uric acid - a chemical at high levels can lead to serious illness - may lessen women's disability after stroke, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Stroke.
	Towards an HIV vaccine Neutralizing antibodies (Nabs) are immune proteins that recognize, bind to, and trigger the elimination of virus before it can establish a chronic infection. How to elicit a potent Nab response capable of protecting against different HIV subtypes and against different modes of infection is critical to the development of an AIDS vaccine. Two studies published on July 9th in PLOS Pathogens provide results on Nabs that could help guide vaccine design. One shows what type of Nab "repertoire" can be generated following superinfection, and the second one examines the efficacy of Nabs in blocking direct cell-to-cell transmission of HIV.
Modeling a nervous pathway involved in touch-induced behavior Many animals actively touch objects in their environment and respond to them by appropriate movement sequences. Jan Ache and Volker Dürr from Bielefeld University in Germany present a model in PLOS Computational Biology that captures key properties of a wide variety of descending neurons that are part of an "active touch system".
	Promising drug for childhood acute leukemia—where to next? A new Australian study shows that a recently-developed drug, already used safely in adult leukaemia clinical trials, holds great promise for some children with an aggressive form of cancer known as acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).
Blood pressure levels and prevalence among US children and adolescents declined in past decade Childhood high blood pressure (HBP) is a serious public health challenge worldwide due to associated increases in risk of end organ damages and correlation with HBP in adulthood. The prevalence of elevated blood pressure (BP) has been reported to increase significantly among United States children and adolescents from 1988-1994 to 1999-2008, but little is known about recent trends in BP values and elevated BP. The authors of a new study, "Trends in elevated blood pressure among US children and adolescents: 1999-2012," published today by the American Journal of Hypertension, examined recent trends in BP levels and prevalence of elevated BP.
Social work researchers links prenatal cocaine exposure to adolescents engaging in sex by age 15 Since 1994, researchers at Case Western Reserve University have studied mothers—some who used cocaine while pregnant and others who did not—to understand how the drug affected their children's cognitive and social development.
	Study finds it's not what you do, but how you get yourself to exercise that matters Developing any habit—good or bad—starts with a routine, and exercise is no exception. The trick is making exercise a habit that is hard to break. According to a new Iowa State University study, that may be easier to accomplish by focusing on cues that make going for a run or to the gym automatic.
	Painkiller overdoses often involve 'pharmacy shopping' (HealthDay)—Nearly half of all deaths resulting from an overdose of narcotic painkillers involved Medicaid recipients who used multiple pharmacies to fill their prescriptions, a new study finds.
	Rituximab retreatment at clinical relapse cost-effective in RA (HealthDay)—Rituximab retreatment at clinical relapse is at least as cost-effective as a more intensive regimen in longstanding rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a study published in the July issue of Arthritis Care and Research.
	Study finds link between inherited DNA sequences and heart disease A study to examine recessively inherited genome-wide DNA sequences has for the first time discovered a potential link with Britain's biggest killer - Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).
Researchers find potential link between fat in blood and blood vessel recovery in ischemia The buildup of fat in the blood makes a bad situation worse - it not only raises a person's risk for heart attack or stroke but also impairs the growth of new blood vessels. How excess fat in the blood - a condition known as hyperlipidemia - blocks vessel growth was unclear, but new work by researchers at Temple University School of Medicine (TUSM) shows that a molecule known as caspase-1 plays a central role and that preventing its activity could be the key to building new blood vessels and restoring blood supply to oxygen-starved tissues.
	What makes us more likely to take the stairs? Death rates due to health problems like obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease are on the rise. According to the World Health Organization, that's due to our increasingly sedentary lifestyles.
Genetic differences may help explain inconsistent effectiveness of anti-HIV drug Research with human tissue and cells suggests that genetic variations, in addition to failure to comply with treatment regimens, may account for some failures of an anti-HIV drug to treat and prevent HIV infection.
	Kid swagger: How children react to winning and losing A group of preschoolers were given one shot to beat the world's fastest builder of block towers.
	New research: Coffee not associated with lifestyle diseases Danish researchers are the first in the world to have used our genes to investigate the impact of coffee on the body. The new study shows that coffee neither increases nor decreases the risk of lifestyle diseases.
	Study finds vitamin A directs immune cells to the intestines A key set of immune cells that protect the body from infection would be lost without directions provided by vitamin A, according to a recent study.
Researchers identify new spectrum disorder called ALPIM syndrome The relationship between mental and physical health is well established. But when mental and physical illnesses co-occur, patients' accounts of physical illness are sometimes arbitrarily discredited or dismissed by physicians.
	Study finds violent video games provide quick stress relief, but at a price A study authored by two University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate students indicates that while playing video games can improve mood, violent games may increase aggressive outcomes.
Researcher finds men strip for self-esteem boost A new study from the University of Colorado Denver finds that male exotic dancers, or strippers, remain committed to stripping because it enhances their self-concept.
	Specific biomarkers ID cardiac dysfunction, mortality risk in HIV (HealthDay)—Specific biomarkers correlate with cardiovascular dysfunction and all-cause mortality among HIV-infected individuals, according to a study published online July 8 in JACC: Heart Failure.
	Farm-related immunoregulation tied to dendritic cell subset (HealthDay)—Lower levels of circulating myeloid dendritic cell subtype 2 (mDC2) in children who live on farms may contribute to a protective effect against asthma, according to research published online June 27 in Allergy.
	IGF2 variant affects prenatal and postnatal growth (HealthDay)—An IGF2 variant (c.191C—>A, p.Ser64Ter) affects postnatal as well as prenatal growth among those who have inherited the variant through paternal transmission, according to a report published online July 8 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Herpes simplex virus can mimic premature rupture of membranes (HealthDay)—Unique presentation of herpes simplex virus infection in pregnancy can be misdiagnosed as premature rupture of membranes (PROM), according to a case report published in the August issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	CDC: most Americans in favor of raising legal smoking age to 21 (HealthDay)—Three-quarters of American adults favor raising the legal smoking age to 21, according to a report published online July 6 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
	Exotic squirrels transmit deadly virus to breeders in Germany (HealthDay)—After the mysterious deaths of three German variegated squirrel breeders, researchers have identified a deadly new virus that can be transmitted from variegated squirrels to humans. Details of the findings were published in the July 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Everyday access to nature improves quality of life in older adults Natural environments are known to promote physical, mental, and spiritual healing. People can attain health benefits by spending time outside, often in remote places to "get away from it all." Now research conducted by a University of Minnesota graduate student with a team in Vancouver, B.C., shows that green and "blue" spaces (environments with running or still water) are especially beneficial for healthy aging in seniors.
Researchers call for support for data in the cloud to facilitate genomics research Today in the journal Nature prominent researchers from Canada, Europe and the U.S. have made a powerful call to major funding agencies, asking them to commit to establishing a global genomic data commons in the cloud that could be easily accessed by authorized researchers worldwide.
Early HIV treatment improves survival in some patients with newly diagnosed TB Starting anti-HIV treatment within two weeks of the diagnosis of tuberculosis, or TB, improved survival among patients with both infections who had very low immune-cell counts, according to an analysis by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Health. Those with strong immune systems, however, might benefit from waiting until after the end of the six-month TB treatment before initiating anti-HIV therapy, they found.
	Study advances potential of tumor genome sequencing and DNA-based blood tests in precision treatment In a genome-sequencing study of pancreatic cancers and blood in 101 patients, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center scientists say they found at least one-third of the patients' tumors have genetic mutations that may someday help guide precision therapy of their disease. Results of blood tests to detect DNA shed from tumors, they say, also predicted cancer recurrence more than half a year earlier than standard imaging methods.
Spinal cord injuries increasing, especially among older individuals Traumatic spinal cord injuries are increasing with the population, and incidence is higher in older individuals, according to a Vanderbilt study that was published in the June 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Nutrition researchers develop the healthy beverage index Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a new scoring method for assessing beverage intake, the Healthy Beverage Index (HBI). In a report published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics they describe how this tool can be used to more accurately evaluate dietary consumption of all types of fluids. They found that higher HBI scores were associated with more favorable lipid profiles, decreased risk of hypertension; and, among men, better C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.
New recommendations addresses the diagnosis and management of testosterone deficiency An expert panel convened by the International Society for Sexual Medicine has developed a detailed "Process of Care" for the diagnosis and management of testosterone deficiency in men.
Team identifies recurrent fusion genes in gastric cancers Studying the gastric cancers of 15 Southeast Asian patients, researchers at The Jackson Laboratory, the Genome Institute of Singapore and other institutions identified five recurrent fusion genes, one of which appears to lead to cellular changes involved in acute gastritis and cancer.
Researchers identify critical genes responsible for brain tumor growth After generating new brain tumor models, Cedars-Sinai scientists in the Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute identified the role of a family of genes underlying tumor growth in a wide spectrum of high grade brain tumors.
FDA strengthens heart risk warning in popular pain relievers Federal health regulators are bolstering warning labels for popular pain relievers, adding information about the risk of heart attack and stroke in the short term.
	Medicare's end-of-life counseling policy may find acceptance Six years ago, a proposal for Medicare to cover end-of-life counseling touched off a political uproar that threatened to stall President Barack Obama's health care law in Congress. Wednesday, when Medicare finally announced it will make the change, reaction was muted.
Source of new Liberian Ebola outbreak a mystery: WHO The source of a new outbreak of Ebola in Liberia remains a mystery, experts said on Wednesday, describing the cluster as "separate" from the epidemic that killed thousands.
Sierra Leone extends Ebola curfews indefinitely Ebola-hit Sierra Leone said on Wednesday it will extend curfews placed on its worst-affected communities last month until the deadly virus has been eradicated.
World Bank warns of rising maternal deaths post-Ebola The World Bank warned Wednesday that the loss of health care workers amid the Ebola epidemic in western Africa could increase women's deaths from complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
	Food politics hits India's most malnourished children Clutching battered metal plates, the children waited patiently in a remote central Indian village for the two small flat pieces of bread and scoop of boiled potato curry that would be their only full meal that day.
	Researchers to study dangers of diver dehydration for US Navy Researchers at the University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions will study the dangers that dehydration presents for U.S. Navy divers, examining diver physiology both during and after underwater activities.
Studies focus on teens, adults at end of life A related package of articles published online by JAMA Oncology focuses on end-of-life care for teens and young adults and advance care planning for patients with cancer. The package of articles includes two original investigations, an invited commentary, an editorial, an accompanying editor's note and an author audio interview.
New study shows ankle sleeves and lace-up braces can benefit athlete performance An athlete's use of silicone ankle sleeves (SAS) and lace-up ankle braces (LAB) during sports participation can improve neuromuscular control, according to research presented today at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's (AOSSM) Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL.
Bone-tendon-bone grafts not necessarily a better choice for ACL reconstruction Surgeons making reconstruction choices for an injured ACL can consider both bone-tendon-bone grafts and hamstring autografts as equally viable options in regards to healing, as reported in research today at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's (AOSSM) Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL.
Call for breastfeeding guidance for babies with Down's syndrome Despite compelling evidence about the benefits of breastfeeding little is known about the breastfeeding experiences of mothers of infants with Down's syndrome. In the UK, clinical commissioning groups and practitioners have a vital role in empowering and enabling these women to access help and support as soon as the child is born.
Diabetes complications linked to rising risk of dementia People who have diabetes and experience high rates of complications are more likely to develop dementia as they age than people who have fewer diabetic complications, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Liberia announces two new Ebola cases Two more people have been infected by Ebola in Liberia, the government said Thursday, sparking fears that an epidemic which killed thousands before being eradicated is gaining a hold once again.
ECG scans predict kidney disease patients' risk of dying from heart disease Several common measures obtained from electrocardiograms (ECGs) may help clinicians determine a kidney disease patient's risk of dying from heart disease. The findings, which are published in a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), may be important for preserving kidney patients' heart health.
	New brain atlas opens up alternative means for studying brain disorders A new study, led by Jesús M. Cortés, an Ikerbasque lecturer at the Biocruces Institute for Healthcare Research and an academic collaborator in the Department of Cell Biology and Histology of the UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country, has shed some light on the brain's organization and functions.
Federal Agency: Calories on menus delayed until 2016 Diners will have to wait until the end of 2016 to find calorie labels on all chain restaurant menus.
	Biomaterial scaffold implanted after spinal cord injury promotes nerve regeneration Researchers from the Mayo Clinic demonstrated that implantation of a biomaterial scaffold designed to bridge the lesion caused by a spinal cord injury creates a tissue environment more favorable for nerve regeneration. The desirable tissue reaction to the implant did not appear to depend on whether the scaffold was seeded with tissue-specific cells, according to the study published in Tissue Engineering, Part A.
	Researcher detects traces of HIV in the city Since the treatment has become available, HIV is often described as "undetectable" and the risk of transmission has been drastically reduced. However, the epidemic is still quite present in the lives of many gay and bisexual men... and in public spaces. This often overlooked dimension of the disease has been brought to light by Gabriel Girard of the University of Montreal's Public Health Research Institute (IRSPUM) - HIV is still alive in the city, especially in the Village, Montreal's gay district. "Urban traces are significant as they shed light on the social and historical realities, in this case the realities of the HIV epidemic, at a time when AIDS is less present in the news," Girard explained. A sociologist and post-doctoral fellow, he presented his research on May 28 at the AMADES (Anthropologie Médicale Appliquée au Développement et à la Santé) conference in Ottawa.
	Doctors to get better access to digital data The National Institutes of Health has awarded a $1.3 million grant to researchers at the University of Arizona to develop open-source software that will enable health care professionals and scientists to manage biomedical big data in digital form.
Liberia confirms two new Ebola cases Two new cases of Ebola have emerged from the same Liberian community where the virus resurged the other week, the acting head of the country's Ebola Case Management Team said Thursday.

Biology news

	Researchers discover how bacteria sweet-talk their way into plants A University of Otago researcher is part of an international team of scientists that has discovered how legumes, which include important agricultural species such as white clover, are able to tell helpful and harmful invading bacteria apart.
	Researchers show how historical contingencies constrained evolution of a yeast regulatory network A team of researchers with the University of California has found a way to show how historical contingencies constrained the evolution of a gene regulatory network. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes how they conducted a genetic analysis of brewer's yeast in a way that allowed them to gain a new perspective on the regulatory network that led to the current genome of the group of fungi. Aaron New and Ben Lehner of Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Spain, offer a News & Views piece on the work done by the team in the same journal issue.
	Study offers hints on why some bird hosts reject parasitic eggs while others do not (Phys.org)—A pair of researchers with Australia National University has conducted a study of parasitic egg laying with birds and as a result has found some hints on why it is that some hosts reject parasitic eggs while others do not. In their paper published in The Royal Society - Biology Letters, Iliana Medina and Naomi Langmore describe the study they conducted and what they learned as a result.
	Rooting about with circadian rhythms The circadian clock drives our physical, mental and behavioural changes. In fact most living things respond to the solar and lunar cycle – day and night. And plants are no different. But scientists at The University of Nottingham have discovered how plants manipulate their biological clock to encourage the growth of lateral roots.
	Researchers develop basic computing elements for bacteria The "friendly" bacteria inside our digestive systems are being given an upgrade, which may one day allow them to be programmed to detect and ultimately treat diseases such as colon cancer and immune disorders.
	Scientists hack one of the most common bacteria in human intestines One of the most common bacteria in the human gut, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, can now be engineered with new functions and re-introduced into the intestinal tract of a mouse. The work, appearing July 9 in the new journal Cell Systems, is a starting point for designing microbes that could eventually deliver drugs or detect long-term changes in the intestines that lead to inflammatory bowel disease or other illnesses.
	With acoustic reflector, carnivorous pitcher plants advertise themselves to bats In Borneo, some insectivorous bats have developed a rather intriguing relationship with carnivorous pitcher plants. The plants offer the bats a relatively cool place to roost, free of parasites and competition from other bats. In return, the bats keep the plants well fertilized with their droppings. Now, researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on July 9 show that the plants rely on special structures to reflect the bats' ultrasonic calls back to them. That adaptation of the plants makes it easier for bats to find their plant partners in the cluttered forest.
	Scientists don't turn a blind eye to bias Scientific journals should insist on more robust experimental processes, say biologists after reviewing nearly 900,000 experiments.
	Buzz the alarm: Climate change puts squeeze on bumblebees Global warming is putting the squeeze on bumblebees. In the most comprehensive study ever conducted of the impacts of climate change on critical pollinators, scientists have discovered that global warming is rapidly shrinking the area where these bees are found in both North America and Europe.
	Research shows that genomics can match plant variety to climate stresses A new study led by a Kansas State University geneticist has shown that genomic signatures of adaptation in crop plants can help predict how crop varieties respond to stress from their environments.
	Bacteria use DNA replication to time key decision In spore-forming bacteria, chromosomal locations of genes can couple the DNA replication cycle to critical, once-in-a-lifetime decisions about whether to reproduce or form spores. The new finding by Rice University bioengineers and colleagues at the University of California at San Diego and the University of Houston appears this week in the journal Cell.
	Under-active pandas save energy, much like sloths Giant pandas are the new couch potatoes of the animal world, according to a study Thursday that found the bears are just as sluggish as slow-moving sloths.
	Stress from heat, drought on fish spurs push to reduce kills Drought and record hot weather are producing lethal conditions for salmon and trout in rivers across the West.
	Researchers show the risk of shark attacks is way down We are in the midst of a shark frenzy.
	Human activities, shifts in local species reshaping coastal biodiversity While human activities have caused extinctions across the globe, your favourite beach or diving site may actually be home to as many, or more, species then it was a few decades ago.
	Butterfly eggs alert mustard plant to voracious caterpillars Mustard plants are able to defend themselves against voracious caterpillars before these emerge from their eggs. As butterflies lay eggs, a substance is released that the plant recognises, thus activating a series of defence mechanisms. Caterpillars develop less well on plants where eggs have been laid than on plants where no eggs were present. The plant remains fitter too. These are the results of research conducted by entomologists at Wageningen University. The research was published online in Ecology Letters on 6 July.
	Helping plants fight off pathogens by enhancing their immune systems Civilization as it is known today could not have evolved, nor can it survive, without an adequate food supply. – Norman Borlaug
	Organisms in streams and rivers shed light on quality of waters The quality of waters can be assessed using of the organisms occurring therein. This approach often results in errors, because many species look alike. Therefore, new methods focus on DNA analyses instead. Biologists at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) have optimised the process so that they are now able to identify many organisms at once in a quick and reliable manner using short DNA sequences. The results have been published in the PLOS ONE magazine.
	The secret of the world's smelliest flower By happy coincidence and far from its native home in western Sumatra, titum arum, the world's smelliest bloom, flowered at Paignton Zoo in Devon and at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh. It's a rare event, but not to be outdone, in New York, Cornell University's titan arum has also been showing off.
	Global trends show seabird populations dropped 70 percent since 1950s UBC research shows world's monitored seabird populations have dropped 70 per cent since the 1950s, a stark indication that marine ecosystems are not doing well.
	How flowers use scent and nectar to manipulate pollinators and herbivores Some pollinators not only provide fertilization services for flowering plants, they also lay their eggs on the plants' leaves after they have visited the flowers. Voracious caterpillars hatch from these eggs and their enormous appetite can easily kill the plants. So when plants advertise for pollinators they frequently also attract herbivores. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, demonstrated in field trials that the flowers of the coyote tobacco Nicotiana attenuata are able to solve this dilemma.
Cells help viruses during cell entry Adenoviruses cause numerous diseases, such as eye or respiratory infections, and they are widely used in gene therapy. Researchers from the University of Zurich have now discovered how these viruses penetrate the cells, a key step for infection and gene delivery The cell unwillingly supports virus entry and infection by providing lipids that are normally used to repair damaged membranes.
	DNA protection, inch by inch DNA within reproductive cells is protected through a clever system of find and destroy: new research published in Cell Reports today lifts the veil on how this is done.
	Call to citizen scientists to track wildebeests SFI Omidyar Fellow Andrew Berdahl and his colleagues need help mapping wildebeest migration. Can you spare a few minutes to be a citizen complexity scientist and interpret their movements in images from an array of camera traps in the Serengeti?

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