Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Jul 22

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COMSOL News: The Multiphysics Simulation Magazine

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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for July 22, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Google Glass is closing in on work environments
- Testing shows using microwaves to propel a craft into space might work
- Changing environment caused some isolated kangaroos to evolve separately
- Security experts demonstrate ability to remotely crash a Jeep Cherokee
- Perceive this: The human brain controls alpha-band oscillation phase to effect temporal predictions
- A general model for optimizing the electrolyte used in lithium-air batteries
- Boosting gas mileage by turning engine heat into electricity
- Pulsar punches hole in stellar disk
- Researchers identify the source of the debilitating memory loss in people with psychosis
- Twisted wasps: Two new unique parasitoid wasp species sting the heart of Europe
- It's not all about aliens – listening project may unveil other secrets of the universe
- Static synapses on a moving structure: Mind the gap!
- New battery technologies take on lithium-ion
- Atomic view of cellular pump reveals how bacteria send out proteins
- Resolving social conflict is key to survival of bacterial communities

Astronomy & Space news

	Japan space scientists hunting for new asteroid name Japanese space scientists are on the hunt for a new name for an asteroid that may contain the secret of life, with a public competition beginning Wednesday.
	Image: NASA's New Horizons finds second mountain range in Pluto's 'Heart' A newly discovered mountain range lies near the southwestern margin of Pluto's Tombaugh Regio (Tombaugh Region), situated between bright, icy plains and dark, heavily-cratered terrain. This image was acquired by New Horizons' Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) on July 14, 2015 from a distance of 48,000 miles (77,000 kilometers) and sent back to Earth on July 20. Features as small as a half-mile (1 kilometer) across are visible.
	What is the status of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence? The search for extraterrestrial intelligence elsewhere in the universe has leapt to prominence once again, with the announcement of the Breakthrough Listen initiative.
	If we are to find life beyond Earth, we need to be explorers, not hunters The news that the search for extraterrestrial intelligence is to receive increased funding and data through the $100m (£64m) Breakthrough Listen project is welcome news for astrobiologists like myself. Launched by Stephen Hawking, it particularly helps to allay growing concerns in the field about having too narrow a focus in our search for life in the universe.
	ALMA witnesses assembly of galaxies in the early universe for the first time When the first galaxies started to form a few hundred million years after the Big Bang, the Universe was full of a fog of hydrogen gas. But as more and more brilliant sources—both stars and quasars powered by huge black holes—started to shine they cleared away the mist and made the Universe transparent to ultraviolet light. Astronomers call this the epoch of reionisation, but little is known about these first galaxies, and up to now they have just been seen as very faint blobs. But now new observations using the power of ALMA are starting to change this.
	It's not all about aliens – listening project may unveil other secrets of the universe The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project got a $100 million boost this week from Russian billionaire Yuri Milner. While this may seem like a lot of money to spend on a nearly impossible task, many astronomers welcome the investment. The cash will go some way to help save some observatories from closure and allow astronomers to continue to use the facilities for astrophysics research alongside SETI.
	Pulsar punches hole in stellar disk A fast-moving pulsar appears to have punched a hole in a disk of gas around its companion star and launched a fragment of the disk outward at a speed of about 4 million miles per hour. NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory is tracking this cosmic clump, which appears to be picking up speed as it moves out.
	Starry surprise in the bulge: encounter of a halo passerby A team led by Andrea Kunder from the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) measured the velocity of a sample of 100 old RR Lyrae stars thought to reside in the Galactic bulge, the central group of stars found in most Galaxies.
N. Korea prepares to launch new long-range rocket: Yonhap North Korea is preparing to launch a new, long-range rocket, possibly in October, having completed an upgrade at its main satellite launch base, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported Wednesday.
	Image: Concordia Antarctic research station in winter This modified container in Antarctica is part of the Franco–Italian Concordia research station and is used to store snow samples –and with temperatures regularly below –70°C no extra refrigeration is required. The environment around the mountain plateau does not get much more alien than this.
	A guide to observing the moons of the solar system Like splitting double stars, hunting for the faint lesser known moons of the solar system offers a supreme challenge for the visual observer.
	Image: Heat testing on Mercury-bound antenna The antenna that will connect Europe's BepiColombo with Earth is being tested for the extreme conditions it must endure orbiting Mercury.
	NOAA's GOES-S sensor gets clean bill of health from hospital One of the sensors that will fly aboard NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-S was recently given a clean bill of health from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The sensor, known as EHIS, was successfully tested using the hospital's proton accelerator and deemed to be in good working order.

Technology news

	Security experts demonstrate ability to remotely crash a Jeep Cherokee A pair of cybersecurity experts has demonstrated to a writer for Wired magazine, an ability to remotely hack into a Jeep Cherokee and take over some of its functions, and at least in one case, to cause the vehicle to run into a ditch. The demonstration was staged by security hackers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek and Wired writer Andy Greenberg—the purpose was to showcase the increasing vulnerability of modern cars and trucks to hacking.
	Testing shows using microwaves to propel a craft into space might work A team of researchers at Colorado based Escape Dynamics is reporting that initial tests indicate that it might really be possible to launch space-planes into space using microwaves sent from the ground, to allow for a single stage spacecraft. If the idea pans out, the cost savings for sending satellites (or perhaps humans) into orbit could be considerable.
	A general model for optimizing the electrolyte used in lithium-air batteries Metal-air batteries are attractive prospects for creating a battery that is light-weight, high-powered, and long-lasting. However, one of the problems keeping lithium-air batteries from practical use is the accumulation of solid material on the carbon cathode.
	Google Glass is closing in on work environments With all the Google-related headlines focused on Chrome, maps and self-driving cars, memories of Google Glass as poised to become the next big thing for consumers at large have faded, until this week, when Google Glass has resurfaced in headlines in many tech-watching sites.
	Ashley Madison breach reveals the rise of the moralist hacker There's value in more than just credit card data, as Avid Life Media (ALM), parent company of the extramarital affair website Ashley Madison, has found out after being raided for millions of their customer's details.
	Where is solar power headed? Most experts agree that to have a shot at curbing the worst impacts of climate change, we need to extricate our society from fossil fuels and ramp up our use of renewable energy.
	Boosting gas mileage by turning engine heat into electricity Automakers are looking for ways to improve their fleets' average fuel efficiency, and scientists may have a new way to help them. In a report in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, one team reports the development of a material that could convert engine heat that's otherwise wasted into electrical energy to help keep a car running—and reduce the need for fuels. It could also have applications in aerospace, manufacturing and other sectors.
	New battery technologies take on lithium-ion Lithium-ion batteries remain the technology-of-choice for today's crop of electric cars, but challengers are revving up to try to upset the current order. An article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, takes a look at two of the top contenders vying to erode lithium-ion's dominance.
	Smarter window materials can control light and energy Researchers in the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin are one step closer to delivering smart windows with a new level of energy efficiency, engineering materials that allow windows to reveal light without transferring heat and, conversely, to block light while allowing heat transmission, as described in two new research papers.
	Drone seized in Poland after near-collision with plane Polish authorities confiscated a drone and questioned a man after a Lufthansa passenger plane approaching Warsaw's international airport nearly collided with a flying object, police said Wednesday.
	Time will tell if Apple Watch catches on, as Apple fans wait For all those who hailed the iPhone as the "Jesus Phone" in 2007, the Apple Watch's arrival has hardly been the second coming.
	Researchers develop process that allows industry to quantify metal particles Specialists from the Center of Research and Technological Development in Electrochemistry (CIDETEQ) in Mexico have developed a software called Proimpart, its function is to quantify metallic and nonmetallic particles from pieces going through cleaning processes and that have been machined or processed and are required in industries such as automotive or metalworking.
	As US relations thaw, hopes grow in Cuba for a faster, freer internet With the re-opening of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the US, the world is watching to see where in Cuba changes will be seen first. Many hope that it will be the country's 1990s-era internet access.
	Project brings more eyes to climate change The options for how to spend your free time are almost endless, whether it's working out at the gym, curling up with a good book, or relaxing in front of the TV. But have you ever considered taking part in scientific research?
Video: Researchers unveil augmented reality teaching sandbox Gary Glesener, director of UCLA's Modeling and Educational Demonstrations Laboratory, gives us a tour of the lab's Augmented Reality Sandbox. The video was produced by Sebastian Hernandez of the UCLA Broadcast Studio.
Majority prefer driverless technology While only a small percentage of drivers say they would be completely comfortable in a driverless car, a sizable amount would have no problem as long as they retain some control, according to a University of Michigan report.
	What is the best solution to universalize 30 Mbps broadband? Researchers from the Group of Information Technology and Communications at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid have carried out a techno-economic assessment to define the most cost-efficient technology to supply 30 Megabit per second broadband to municipalities with less than 5000 inhabitants. By using this so-called "rocket model," the research group has found that LTE (a standard for wireless communication) is the most suitable technology to ensure the investment return of rural areas in Spain.
	History is the key to making sense of nuclear weapons In the early days of his first term, US president Barack Obama gave a speech in Prague in which he called for a world without nuclear weapons. His argument was based on a risk assessment:
	Sandia's new vibration table promises different ways of testing It took decades for technology to catch up with the math David Smallwood worked out to control vibration table shakers.
Rhapsody tops 3 million paying music subscribers globally Rhapsody International, the operator of the Rhapsody and Napster streaming music services, says it has surpassed 3 million paying subscribers globally as more consumers realize the benefits of offline listening.
Computer security tools for journalists lacking in a post-Snowden world Edward Snowden's leak of classified documents to journalists around the world about massive government surveillance programs and threats to personal privacy ultimately resulted in a Pulitzer Prize for public service.
	Fiat Chrysler says it has a software fix to prevent hacking Fiat Chrysler said Wednesday that it has a software fix that will prevent future hacking into the Jeep Cherokee and other vehicles.
	Microsoft joins effort to curb 'revenge porn' Microsoft announced Wednesday it was joining an effort to curb so-called "revenge porn," by helping victims remove links to sexually explicit images of them posted without their consent.
Battle between NY mayor, Uber heats up on eve of vote On the eve of a City Council vote that could limit the number of Uber vehicles on New York City streets, parties on both sides of the debate sharpened their attacks to sway public opinion, if not actual votes.
	Apple Watch rules growing smartwatch market: research Apple shares took a bruising Wednesday following a disappointing quarterly report, while an analyst report showed the US tech giant's freshly launched smartwatch rules the growing market.
	Google lets users map their steps Google on Wednesday began letting smartphone users automatically map where they have been.
Snapchat drives trend toward vertical videos Whether it's in a movie theater, on TV or on a computer screen, the videos you watch have almost always been horizontal.
	I-10 at washed out bridge in California to reopen Friday The main route connecting Los Angeles and Phoenix, which was closed when a surge of floodwater damaged several bridges spanning small desert gullies, is set to partially reopen Friday—far sooner than officials first estimated.
US regulators back AT&T-DirecTV megadeal US regulators said Tuesday they were set to back the $49 billion merger of AT&T and DirecTV, clearing the way for a powerful player in Internet and television.
Smart building monitoring to respond to all climate conditions The energy consumption of buildings is on the rise in Europe. This is due to ageing housing stock. Now the idea is to use a high-tech kind of retrofitting approach using several types of modules that allow real-time monitoring through multiple sensors to optimise energy consumption.
	Turkey briefly blocks access to Twitter over bombing images Turkey briefly blocked access to Twitter on Wednesday to prevent images of Monday's deadly bombing from being broadcast and to stop Twitter users from calling for protests against the government, which they blamed for not doing enough to prevent the attack, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
	Why transferring sustainable transport ideas is a winning concept The EU-funded TIDE project, which aims to introduce cities to new sustainable transport technologies, recently won the 2015 European Platform on Mobility Management Award for best international policy transfer. Special recognition was given to the towns of Groningen, the Netherlands and Donostia/San Sebastian, Spain for their cooperation in promoting parking for cyclists.
	What are London's fave tunes? Sydney's? Rio's? Spotify maps the music London is partial to local hip hop duo Krept and Kronan and art rock band Everything Everything. Sydney lends its ears to electro dance producer Golden Features. Rio loves funk singer MC Nego do Borel.
BlackBerry to buy crisis-communications software firm AtHoc BlackBerry Ltd. has signed a deal to buy California-based software company AtHoc, which develops emergency alert systems for government agencies, military bodies, and other organizations.
Qualcomm to cut jobs, costs Qualcomm says it will cut jobs, update its board and review its business structure options as part of an effort to improve its performance.

Medicine & Health news

	Perceive this: The human brain controls alpha-band oscillation phase to effect temporal predictions Standard models of perception are stimulus-driven, meaning that the external perceptual event drives the brain's perception-related activity. However, the tide may be turning: recent ideas suggest that our perceptual experiences and visually guided behaviors are influenced by top-down processes in the brain – specifically, the brain's predictions about the external world. Recently, scientists at University of Wisconsin–Madison demonstrated that perceptual expectations about when a stimulus will appear are instantiated in the brain by optimally configuring prestimulus alpha-band oscillations in order to optimize the effectiveness of subsequent neural processing. The researchers state that their findings provide direct evidence that forming temporal predictions about when a stimulus will appear can bias the phase of ongoing alpha-band oscillations (one of the dominant oscillations in the human brain) toward an optimal phase for ! visual processing, and so may be the means for the top-down control of visual processing guided by temporal predictions.
	Ten years after the de Menezes killing, we're no better at identifying faces It was ten years ago that the Metropolitan Police killed Jean Charles de Menezes at Stockwell station in south London in a case of mistaken identity. The family of the Brazilian electrician are still fighting for justice at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Police procedures were overhauled, but an uncomfortable truth will not go away. We have not learned much about face recognition since then. It is hard to be confident that the same thing could not happen again.
	Static synapses on a moving structure: Mind the gap! In biology, stability is important. From body temperature to blood pressure and sugar levels, our body ensures that these remain within reasonable limits and do not reach potentially damaging extremes. Neurons in the brain are no different and, in fact, have developed a number of ways to stabilise their electrical activity so as to avoid becoming either overexcitable, potentially leading to epilepsy, or not excitable enough, leading to non functional neurons. A new study published in PNAS by researchers from the MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology characterises a novel way in which neurons remain electrically stable when confronted with chronic increases in neuronal activity.
	Zebrafish reveal drugs that may improve bone marrow transplant Using large-scale zebrafish drug-screening models, researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have identified a potent group of chemicals that helps bone marrow transplants engraft or "take." The findings, published in the July 23 issue of Nature, could lead to human trials in patients with cancer and blood disorders within a year or two, says senior investigator Leonard Zon, MD.
Modified DNA building blocks are cancer's Achilles heel In studying how cells recycle the building blocks of DNA, Ludwig Cancer Research scientists have discovered a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer. They found that normal cells have highly selective mechanisms to ensure that nucleosides—the chemical blocks used to make new strands of DNA—don't carry extra, unwanted chemical changes. But the scientists also found that some types of cancer cells aren't so selective. These cells incorporate chemically modified nucleosides into their DNA, which is toxic to them. The findings, published today in the journal Nature, indicate that it might be possible to use modified nucleotides for specific killing of cancer cells.
	Long-sought discovery fills in missing details of cell 'switchboard' A biomedical breakthrough published today in the journal Nature reveals never-before-seen details of the human body's cellular switchboard that regulates sensory and hormonal responses. The work is based on an X-ray laser experiment at the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.
Researchers identify the source of the debilitating memory loss in people with psychosis As disabling as its delusions and hallucinations, psychosis' devastating toll on memory arises from dysfunction of frontal and temporal lobe regions in the brain that rob sufferers of the ability to make associative connections, a UC Davis study has found, pinpointing potential target areas for treatments to help the more than 3.2 million Americans for whom medication quells the voices and visions, but not the struggle to remember.
	Eye drop gives hope for knifeless cataract cure An eye drop tested on dogs suggests that cataracts, the most common cause of blindness in humans, could one day be cured without surgery, a study said Wednesday.
	Progressively reducing the nicotine content of cigarettes may not lead smokers to quit The US Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, passed in 2009, permits the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to set standards for cigarette nicotine content. The FDA is accordingly supporting research into how very low nicotine content (VLNC) cigarettes might function as a regulatory measure to make cigarettes non-addictive, reduce smoke exposure, and improve public health, even among people who don't want to quit smoking.
Low birth weight combined with unhealthy adult lifestyle may increase type 2 diabetes risk People who are a low weight at birth and have unhealthy habits as adults, such as eating nutritionally poor diets or smoking, may have a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes than people born at an average weight who live similar lifestyles, according to a new study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. In the first study to comprehensively assess how early development interacts with adult behavior to influence type 2 diabetes risk, the researchers found that 18% of cases were attributable to the combined effect of low birth weight and unhealthy adult lifestyles.
Doctors and medical students in India should stop wearing white coats Doctors and medical students in India should stop wearing white coats, argues a doctor in The BMJ this week.
Commercial ties may be fueling unnecessary and potentially harmful osteoporosis treatment A complex web of interactions between industry, advocacy organisations, and academia may be fuelling enthusiasm for calcium and vitamin D supplements to prevent and treat osteoporosis, despite evidence of lack of benefit, warn doctors in The BMJ this week.
HIV treatment has social and socioeconomic benefits, as well as improved health, study finds New research shows that HIV treatment for illicit drug users improves their social and socioeconomic wellbeing as well as their health. While the health benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV are well documented, less is known about possible secondary benefits.
	Identifying biomarkers key to early intervention in Alzheimer's disease Although the term didn't surface until the 1980s, the concept of biomarkers has been around for almost a century. Today, doctors routinely test blood for signs of anemia or the antigen associated with prostate cancer. Urine samples can hint at the presence of infection or diabetes, and EEGs diagnose electrical abnormalities in the brain.
Targeting the strain of bacteria that causes ulcers may help prevent stomach cancer A new review published in the Cochrane Library indicates that eradicating Helicobacter pylori bacterium— the main cause of stomach ulcers - with a short course of therapy comprising two commonly used medicines may help to reduce the risk of gastric cancer. Stomach, or gastric, cancer is the third most common cause of death from cancer worldwide, and people who are infected with the Helicobacter pylori bacterium are more likely to develop the disease.
US sees big declines in teen sex over past 25 years Less than half of US teenagers today are sexually active, far fewer than in the late 1980s, a US government report said Wednesday.
	Rhode Island capital considering ban on smoking downtown A new law being mulled in Providence would tell smokers to butt out.
	Having wealthy neighbors may skew beliefs about overall wealth distribution Wealthy people may be likely to oppose redistribution of wealth because they have biased information about how wealthy most people actually are, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The findings indicate that people use their own neighborhoods and communities as a gauge of how much wealth other people possess, leading wealthy people to perceive the broader population as being wealthier than it actually is.
	Loss of a gene can be compensated by another gene New methods for modifying the genome are currently widely discussed: Using CRISPR/Cas for instance, scientists can remove parts of the genetic code of a gene, thereby knocking it out. Furthermore, there are ways to inhibit translation of a gene into a protein. Both methods have in common that they impede production of a protein and should therefore have comparable consequences for an organism. However, it has been shown that consequences can differ, after a gene is either knocked, out or only blocked. Scientist from the MPI for Heart and Lung Research in Bad Nauheim now found that additional genes compensate for a knocked out gene and either attenuate consequences or completely compensate deficits. The results suggest caution when interpreting data from molecular biological studies or developing gene therapies to treat various diseases.
Large rise in suicide among male patients in mental health care There has been a 29% rise in suicide since 2006 among men under the care of mental health services in the UK, a report by The University of Manchester's National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness (NCISH) out on Wednesday 22 July shows. The number of suicides in male patients has now reached 1,239 per year.
	Eastern poultry producers brace for avian flu this fall as waterfowl migrate Right now, in the vast prairie pothole region of southern Canada and the United States' upper Midwest, waterfowl are mingling, raising their young and instinctively preparing to migrate, some leaving as early as August.
	Mobile app uses sound alone to diagnose respiratory conditions The cough is the single most common reason for a trip to the doctor, placing enormous strain on Australia's healthcare system, but a new mobile health tool being developed by The University of Queensland could ease pressure on doctors and lower consumers' health bills.
Co-infected HCV and HIV patients receive more effective treatments Researchers have found that using a combination of sofosbuvir and a new drug agent known as daclastasvir is highly successful in treating co-infected hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV patients.
Finding may aid diagnosis of learning disabilities linked to brain tumor syndrome​​ New insight into one of the most common inherited causes of brain tumors may help physicians diagnose and treat the learning disabilities that often accompany the condition.
	The science of 'hangry', or why some people get grumpy when they're hungry Have you ever snapped angrily at someone when you were hungry? Or has someone snapped angrily at you when they were hungry? If so, you've experienced "hangry" (an amalgam of hungry and angry) – the phenomenon whereby some people get grumpy and short-tempered when they're overdue for a feed.
	Major feeding trial will improve long-term health of premature babies A national research project that will improve the long-term health of premature babies has met its recruitment target nearly a year early.
Current dietary protein recommendations need updating New research based on modern techniques suggests that recommendations for protein intake in healthy populations may be incorrect. In a paper just published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, an NRC Research Press journal (a division of Canadian Science Publishing), researchers put the focus on protein as an essential component of a healthy diet. Protein helps people stay full longer, preserve muscle mass, and when combined with adequate physical activity, has the potential to serve as a key nutrient for important health outcomes and benefits.
	Engineers to transform genomic medicine with deep learning startup Evolution has altered the human genome over hundreds of thousands of years—and now humans can do it in a matter of months.
Bionic eye helps UK pensioner see in world first A partially sighted British pensioner has had most of his vision restored thanks to a "bionic eye"—a device that converts video images from a miniature camera installed in his glasses to his brain.
	Supplement mix boosts female athlete performance Loading caffeine and sodium phosphate has been shown to improve female athlete's repeated-sprint abilities, even during periods of late-match fatigue.
	Public interest has 'medicalised' vitamin D yet benefits remain uncertain Persistent public interest in vitamin D, plus widespread testing of vitamin D status and prescribing by doctors, has led to a significant increase in people taking supplements despite limited evidence of any health benefits – according to new NIHR-funded research from Queen Mary University of London and published in BMJ Open.
	"Men's Sheds" boost members' mental health Health researchers say the popularity, geographical spread and proven ability of Men's Sheds to relieve depression in older men makes them a perfect vehicle to deliver other life-saving health messages.
Businesses can benefit by using "gamification" techniques, according to study New research from Simon Fraser University's Beedie School of Business reveals that businesses could benefit from unprecedented levels of consumer and employee engagement by turning traditional processes into game-like experiences.
	"Cancer driver gene" reduces metastasis in prostate cancer A gene that is responsible for cancer growth plays a totally unexpected role in prostate cancer. The gene Stat3 is controlled by the immune modulator interleukin 6 and normally supports the growth of cancer cells. The international research team led by Prof. Lukas Kenner from the Medical University of Vienna, the Veterinary University of Vienna, and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institiute for Cancer Research (LBI-CR) discovered a missing link for an essential role of Stat3 and IL-6 signalling in prostate cancer progression.
Community-living older adults with dementia at high risk of having pain Older adults with dementia who live at home are at high risk of having pain, according to UC San Francisco researchers, and creative interventions and programs such as home-based palliative care are needed to manage their pain adequately.
	Study: Popular new anticoagulants drive increase in atrial fibrillation treatment More adults than ever are visiting their doctors' offices for a prescription to treat atrial fibrillation, according to a study led by the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center.
	MoveSense app makes cellphone an oxygen saturation monitor for heart and lung patients Patients suffering from chronic cardiopulmonary diseases could soon have a solution to help them accurately monitor their health and warn doctors at the first sign of trouble.
Screening in pregnancy key to eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission Canada has almost eliminated mother-to-child HIV transmission, known as vertical transmission, in recent years by ensuring that all women have the opportunity to be screened for HIV in pregnancy and that women with the disease receive treatment before giving birth.
Poor survival in multiple myeloma patients linked to genetic variation As part of a multi-institutional effort, researchers with Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah have found that multiple myeloma patients with a genetic variation in the gene FOPNL die on average 1-3 years sooner than patients without it. The finding was identified with a genetic mapping technique, genome wide association studies (GWAS), and verified in patient populations from North America and Europe. This was the first study to survey the entire human genome for genetic variation influencing survival, and included a total of 1,635 patients.
Menopause associated with more fat around heart, raising risk for heart disease Late- and post-menopausal women have significantly greater volumes of fat around their hearts - a risk factor for heart disease - than their pre-menopausal counterparts, a University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health study has shown for the first time.
Job services lacking for young people with autism As autism becomes more prevalent, the need grows for services that help young people with the disorder to find and keep jobs, indicates new research led by Michigan State University education scholars.
Researchers identify genetic mutation causing lethal condition in infants Newborn children born with a mutation in the Plasmalemma Vesicle Associated Protein (PLVAP) gene develop severe protein losing enteropathy, according to a case study1 published in Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the basic science journal of the American Gastroenterological Association. Protein losing enteropathy is a condition of the GI tract that results in loss of protein from the body, and often leads to severe abdominal swelling, malnutrition and early death in affected infants
New research from Lawson uncovers important molecule in ovarian cancer Scientists at Lawson Health Research Institute have uncovered an important new target for ovarian cancer therapy. Contrary to current research this new study found that LKB1, a molecule that regulates the metabolism of many adult cells, is an important molecule in the cancer's promotion and survival.
	From 30 days to 30 minutes: 3-D digital scanning shortens denture-fitting time Dentures, known as false teeth, are prosthetics constructed to replace missing teeth. Fitting removable dentures is a long and painful process in which a patient has to visit the clinic multiple times so that soft and hard plastic material, resembling silly putty, can be used to take exact measurements of her mouth. Failure to take exact measurements causes discomfort and pain.
Serum biomarkers can predict women at risk of pre-eclampsia Levels of biomarkers in the blood of pregnant women can be used to predict which women are at risk of pre-eclampsia, finds a study published today (22 July) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (BJOG). ADMA and Hcy, both known to be raised in women with pre-eclampsia, are present in the blood in higher than normal concentrations a month before the onset of the condition.
	E-cigarettes may be as addictive as traditional ones Electronic cigarettes or "e-cigs" have been touted as a tool smokers can use to wean themselves off of traditional cigarettes, which many believe are more harmful than their "e" counterparts. But because e-cig liquid also contains nicotine and emits carcinogens, is that perception really true? One team now reports in the ACS journal Chemical Research in Toxicology that much of the nicotine in e-cigarettes is the addictive form of the compound.
	Eli Lilly: Experimental Alzheimer's drug shows some benefit Eli Lilly & Co. reported Wednesday that an experimental medication might slow mild Alzheimer's if people take it early enough, one of a handful of drugs in late-stage testing in the frustrating hunt for a better treatment.
	Cannabis psychosis, gender matters There has been much research exploring the nature of the relationship between cannabis and psychosis, however the role of gender in relation to cannabis psychosis is less well explored and understood.
New study uncovers mechanism responsible for pollen-induced allergies A new study from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston has uncovered a mechanism that is central to becoming allergic to ragweed pollen and developing allergic asthma or seasonal nasal allergies. The findings are currently available online in the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology.
	Molecular mechanisms contributing to addiction resistance uncovered Growing up in West Virginia, Jill Turner saw firsthand the kind of havoc that drug addiction can wreak.
Researchers find Massachusetts schools are improving food options In 2012, Massachusetts adopted comprehensive standards to improve the healthy food options available in middle schools and high schools. One year after implementation, a research team that includes Northeastern associate professor Jessica Hoffman examined compliance with the standards in 74 schools across the commonwealth.
	Mowing dry detention basins makes mosquito problems worse, team finds A study of the West Nile virus risk associated with "dry" water-detention basins in Central Illinois took an unexpected turn when land managers started mowing the basins. The mowing of wetland plants in basins that failed to drain properly led to a boom in populations of Culex pipiens mosquitoes, which can carry and transmit the deadly virus, researchers report.
Study finds some Vietnam vets currently have PTSD 40 years after war ended While it has been 40 years since the Vietnam War ended, about 271,000 veterans who served in the war zone are estimated to have current full posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) plus subthreshold (meeting some diagnostic criteria) war-zone PTSD and more than one-third have current major depressive disorder, according to an article published online by JAMA Psychiatry.
	Increasing prevalence of autism is due, in part, to changing diagnoses The greater than three-fold increase in autism diagnoses among students in special education programs in the United States between 2000 and 2010 may be due in large part to the reclassification of individuals who previously would have been diagnosed with other intellectual disability disorders, according to new research. In a paper to be published online in the American Journal of Medical Genetics on July 22, 2015, scientists at Penn State University report their analysis of 11 years of special-education enrollment data on an average of 6.2 million children per year. The researchers found no overall increase in the number of students enrolled in special education. They also found that the increase in students diagnosed with autism was offset by a nearly equal decrease in students diagnosed with other intellectual disabilities that often co-occur with autism. The researchers conclude that the large increase in the prevalence of aut! ism is likely the result of shifting patterns of diagnosis that are complicated by the variability of autism and its overlap with other related disorders.
Majority of Breivik victims' parents too traumatised to work: study Over half the parents of the victims of Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik remain too traumatised to return to full-time work, a study showed Wednesday as Norway marked the fourth anniversary of the attacks.
On-demand doctor apps bring Uber approach to medicine It was 8 o'clock on a weeknight and Brooklyn resident Sarah Sheehan was reeling from a painful earache.
New study indicates ankle-brachial index associated with mild cognitive impairment In a large population-based study of randomly selected participants in Germany, researchers found that mild cognitive impairment (MCI) occurred significantly more often in individuals diagnosed with a lower ankle brachial index (ABI), which is a marker of generalized atherosclerosis and thus cumulative exposure to cardiovascular risk factors during lifetime. Interestingly, this strong association was only observed in patients with non-amnestic MCI, but not amnestic MCI. There also was no independent association of MCI and intima media thickness (IMT) or coronary artery calcification (CAC), two other surrogate markers of cardiovascular risk. Examination of differences by gender revealed a stronger association of a decreasing ABI with non-amnestic MCI in women. This study is published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Diagnostic test developed for enterovirus D68 Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a diagnostic test to quickly detect enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), a respiratory virus that caused unusually severe illness in children last year. The outbreak caused infections at an unprecedented rate, with over 1,000 confirmed cases and 14 reported deaths nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Women's sexual risk-taking focus of new study Relaxing beach vacations are perfect for sexual experimentation with a steady partner, while group tours and sightseeing trips are the ultimate contexts for casual sex with acquaintances or strangers, women said in a new survey.
	New smart drug targets and reduces site-specific inflammation Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and University of Colorado researchers have developed a dynamic "smart" drug that targets inflammation in a site-specific manner and could enhance the body's natural ability to fight infection and reduce side effects.
	Researchers discover how to cut worrying levels of arsenic Researchers at Queen's University Belfast have made a breakthrough in discovering how to lower worrying levels of arsenic in rice that is eaten all over the world.
	Preserving photoreceptor cells following retinal injury Vision researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School (HMS) Department of Ophthalmology have taken a first step in solving a vexing problem: how to preserve photoreceptor cells and avoid irreversible vision loss in patients following retinal detachment.
	Gene mutation contributes to liver disease in patients of normal weight A gene mutation has been found to contribute to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a form of liver disease closely linked to obesity, in normal weight subjects. Carriers of the PNPLA3 mutant genotype were found to be at a greater risk for NAFLD and other health problems compared to non-carriers even when the carrier was not obese. This influence of weight status on the interaction between the mutant gene and NAFLD was clarified by researchers at Kumamoto University and the Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Hospital in Japan.
	Soybean oil causes more obesity than coconut oil and fructose A diet high in soybean oil causes more obesity and diabetes than a diet high in fructose, a sugar commonly found in soda and processed foods, according to a just published paper by scientists at the University of California, Riverside.
Testing for malaria reduces overprescription by more than 70 percent Using malaria rapid diagnostic tests in registered drug shops in a highly endemic region in Uganda substantially reduced overdiagnosis of malaria, improving the use of valuable malaria drugs, according to a new study published in PLOS ONE.
Low levels of hormone linked to social deficit in autism, study finds A brain-chemistry deficit in children with autism may help to explain their social difficulties, according to new findings from the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Researchers link HIV susceptibility to little-understood immune cell class High diversity among certain cells that help fight viruses and tumors is strongly associated with the likelihood of subsequent infection by HIV, Stanford University School of Medicine researchers have found.
Coping by avoidance in making decisions for relatives in ICU may lead to PTSD Family members who make major medical decisions for relatives in an intensive care unit (ICU) may suffer posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) if they cope by avoiding the situation, according to a new study by scientists at Case Western Reserve University's Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing.
Research with dolphins provides hope for prevention of diabetes in humans For decades, the public has been told to avoid foods high in saturated fats and cholesterol. A new study led by the National Marine Mammal Foundation (NMMF) and published in PLOS ONE today discovered a saturated fat, called heptadecanoic acid, that may help reverse prediabetes in humans.
Using low-dose irradiation, researchers can now edit human genes For the first time, researchers have employed a gene-editing technique involving low-dose irradiation to repair patient cells, according to a study published in the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine. This method, developed by researchers in the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, is 10 times more effective than techniques currently in use.
Teeth reveal lifetime exposures to metals, toxins Is it possible that too much iron in infant formula may potentially increase risk for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's in adulthood—and are teeth the window into the past that can help us tell? This and related theories were described in a "Perspectives" article authored by researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the University of Technology Sydney and Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health in Australia, and published online recently in Nature Reviews Neurology.
	Is your favorite grocery store making you fat? Is your favorite grocery store making you fat? According to new research findings, a Grocer Retailer Scorecard may be an effective, healthy shopping tool that benefits both grocers and shoppers. "Grocers can benefit from encouraging healthy shopping practices because they can sell more perishable items like fruits and vegetables rather than tossing them in the dumpster after a few days," says lead researcher Brian Wansink, PhD, director of the Food and Brand Lab at Cornell University and author of the new book, Slim by Design: Mindless Eating Solutions for Everyday Life, "The benefit to shoppers is obvious; healthier groceries result in healthier eating!"
New analysis points the way to earlier diagnosis of chest tumors Researchers led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have developed new diagnostic criteria to enable clinicians to distinguish malignant cancerous chest cavity masses from those caused by fungal histoplasmosis infection.
Hospitals often overestimate their ability to deliver fast stroke care Hospitals often overestimate their performance in providing fast delivery of anti-clotting medication to stroke patients, according to new research in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
New checklist helps identify children, teens with bereavement disorder Everybody grieves the death of a loved one, and the process helps most mourners adjust to their loss.
	High soda intake may boost diabetes risk, even without obesity (HealthDay)—Whether you are slim or obese, if you drink lots of sugary soda or other sweetened drinks you are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, a new analysis reveals.
	Blood glucose meter accuracy unclear at low glycemic range (HealthDay)—The accuracy of blood glucose meters (BGMs) in the low glycemic range is questionable, according to an observation letter published online July 15 in Diabetes Care.
	~40 percent undergo stress testing after PCI in VA system (HealthDay)—In the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system, nearly 40 percent of patients undergo stress testing in the two years following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to a study published online July 21 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
Researchers find key player in diabetic kidney disease through power of metabolomics Tapping the potential of metabolomics, an emerging field focused on the chemical processes of metabolism, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified a new and pivotal player in diabetic kidney disease.
Pros and cons of treatment options for gallbladder disease More than 25 million Americans have gallstones, and each year about 1 million new cases are diagnosed. Each year about 1.8 million people develop abdominal pain as a result of gallstones and go see a doctor about it. About 40 percent of these, more than 725,000 people a year, ultimately have surgery to resolve the problem.
Antiviral compound protects nonhuman primates against Marburg virus An experimental drug that protected monkeys from the deadly Marburg virus appears to have potential for treating people who have been exposed to the virus, according to a study published in the July 23 edition of The New England Journal of Medicine. Marburg virus is closely related to Ebola virus and also causes a severe hemorrhagic fever.
Additional radiation reduces breast-cancer recurrence for some patients A study has found no increase in overall survival but a reduction in breast cancer recurrence when additional radiation is given to the lymph nodes as well as the standard treatment of whole-breast irradiation after breast-conserving surgery.
Wheelchairs for Nigeria: getting polio survivors on the move Six new wheelchairs are lined up near the entrance of the Beautiful Gate Handicapped People's Centre in the central Nigerian city of Jos.
Teen girl, mother lose challenge against UK abortion ruling A teenage girl and her mother have lost a legal challenge against a rule that prevents women from Northern Ireland from receiving free abortions in England.
What makes kids aggressive later in life? A University at Buffalo developmental psychologist has received a $550,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study possible pathways that might lead young children toward different types of aggressive behavior later in life.
	Trustees rating health of Social Security, Medicare The federal government's two largest benefit programs face short- and long-term financial problems as they close in on milestone anniversaries. The magnitude of those problems will become clearer when the trustees for Social Security and Medicare issue their annual report cards.
US appeals court rules against strict state abortion law A U.S. appeals court affirmed a ruling Wednesday that struck down one of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the country: a North Dakota law that bans abortions when a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which can be as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.
	The parent-kid pot talk from inside the industry Soon after Colorado legalized recreational cannabis, Todd Mitchem's son proposed using the plant for a horticulture project at his Montessori school in Denver.
DNA damage seen in patients undergoing CT scanning, study finds Using new laboratory technology, scientists have shown that cellular damage is detectable in patients after CT scanning, according to a new study led by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
	Don't make me wait: Doctor appointment availability went up after Michigan Medicaid expansion Getting access to health insurance, and getting access to a doctor, are two very different things.

Biology news

	Changing environment caused some isolated kangaroos to evolve separately A team of researchers with the University of Queensland in Australia has found that a group of kangaroos living along the Sunshine Coast in that country have some distinct genetic variations—they are not a separate species from the other kangaroos (they are still close enough that they can interbreed when given the chance) but instead have genes that show they evolved separately from others in other parts of the country. In their paper published in PLOS ONE, the team describes the genetic studies they undertook and their hopes that additional study of the unique kangaroos will offer some insights into how such animals adapted to a changing environment.
	Selfishness lasts a lifetime, according to mongoose study Researchers studying wild banded mongooses in Uganda have discovered that these small mammals have either cooperative or selfish personalities which last for their entire lifetime. The findings of the 15-year study are published today in the journal Animal Behaviour.
	New evidence of cultural diversification between neighboring chimpanzee communities For centuries it has been thought that culture is what distinguishes humans from other animals, but over the past decade this idea has been repeatedly called into question. Cultural variation has been identified in a growing number of species in recent years, ranging from primates to cetaceans. Chimpanzees, our closest living relatives, show the most diverse cultures aside from humans, most notably, in their use of a wide variety of tools.
A dictionary of the language of cells In their struggle to survive and prosper, multicellular organisms rely on a complex network of communication between cells, which in humans are believed to number about 40 trillion. Now, in a study published in Nature Communications, a research group led by scientists from the RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies (CLST) has published an overall map of how the cells in the human body communicate by systematically analyzing the relationship between ligands—substances such as insulin and interferon that embody messages between cells, and receptors—the proteins on cell surfaces that receive these messages when bound by the ligands.
	Rising seas could drown turtle eggs, according to new research Immersion in seawater kills sea turtle eggs, suggesting that sea turtles are increasingly at risk from rising seas, according to research published today in Royal Society Open Science.
	Cleaning up bunker oil with white rot fungi Researchers evaluated the potential capabilities of six white rot fungi to break down oil in contaminated canal waters.
Resolving social conflict is key to survival of bacterial communities Far from being selfish organisms whose sole purpose is to maximize their own reproduction, bacteria in large communities work for the greater good by resolving a social conflict among individuals to enhance the survival of their entire community.
	Atomic view of cellular pump reveals how bacteria send out proteins Bacteria have plenty of things to send out into world beyond their own boundaries: coordinating signals to other members of their species, poisons for their enemies, and devious instructions to manipulate host cells they have infected. Before any of this can occur, however, they must first get the shipments past their own cell membranes, and many bacteria have evolved specialized structures and systems for launching the proteins that do these jobs.
	Space-eye-view could help stop global wildlife decline Conservation scientists need to collaborate with space agencies, such as NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), to identify measures which help track biodiversity declines around the world. Scientists, led by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), UK, and University Twente, Netherlands, are calling for urgent cooperation, according to a comment published today (22 July 2015) in Nature.
	Twisted wasps: Two new unique parasitoid wasp species sting the heart of Europe Much to his own surprise, Hannes Baur from the Natural History Museum Bern not only reports on whole two new parasitoid wasps at the heart of Europe, the Swiss Alps and Swiss Central Plateau. While the common discovery usually involves cryptic, or "camouflaging" within their groups species, his stand out. Baur's work is published in the open-access journal ZooKeys.
	Japan zoo takes on cockroach PR role A Japanese zoo is trying to do the impossible—improve the image of cockroaches, putting on an exhibition of one of the world's most hated insects.
	Brigitte Bardot slams Australia's plan to kill 2 million feral cats French actress Brigitte Bardot has condemned an Australian plan to cull two million feral cats to stop them harming native animals, a proposal animal rights groups said Wednesday was unlikely to be successful.
	Project aims to use probiotic bacteria to protect algal crops and increase ecosystem resilience A Lawrence Livermore team has received an additional $1 million to protect algal crops by developing "probiotic" bacteria to combat pond infestation and increase ecosystem function and resilience.
Scientists bolster 'phage' weapons in food safety battle In the war to keep food safe from bacteria, Cornell food scientists examine a class of weaponry called bacteriophages – an all-natural biological enemy for the nasty Listeria monocytogenes, which threatens meat, produce, cold-smoked seafood and dairy products.
	Cancer biologists find a key that may unlock how tumors form and progress An international team of scientists, led by a Virginia Tech researcher, determined that the number of chromosomes in a cell may be a key to understanding how cancer forms and progresses – a finding that could help inform new treatments.
	Understanding human cooperation in a changing world Deep into the Arctic Circle in the far north of Norway, Finland, Sweden and north-west Russia, a few thousand indigenous minority people known as the Saami continue to follow a lifestyle of reindeer husbandry. But their profession is increasingly under threat from a number of developments ranging from climate change to globalisation.
	Citizen science documents species in southern California This June, I walked the wilds of Los Angeles looking for lizards. And snakes. And turtles. And because I was finally looking for them, I also began seeing them—and isn't that a basic truth of life as well as citizen science?
	Image: Device captures thousands of images and spectra simultaneously A new microscope capable of capturing nearly 17 billion pixels in a single image has been developed by Antony Orth PhD '14, now of RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, and Ethan Schonbrun of Harvard's Rowland Institute. The microscope speeds up cellular imaging, making it easier to observe how cells respond to drug treatments. The research was published in the journal Optica.
	Attack on white fringetree by emerald ash borer likely to be widespread Emerald ash borer is an invasive green beetle laying waste to ash trees in the United States and Canada.
Unlocking mints' secrets could advance medicine, spices, more Michigan State University has netted a $5.1 million National Science Foundation grant to explore the diverse world of mints.
Programming adult stem cells to treat muscular dystrophy and more by mimicking nature Stem cells hold great potential for addressing a variety of conditions from spinal cord injuries to cancer, but they can be difficult to control. Scientists are now reporting in the journal ACS Nano a new way to mimic the body's natural approach to programming these cells. Using this method, they successfully directed adult stem cells to turn specifically into muscle, which could potentially help treat patients with muscular dystrophy.
New material forges the way for 'stem cell factories' If you experience a major heart attack the damage could cost you around five billion heart cells. Future stem cell treatments will require this number and more to ensure those cells are replaced and improve your chances of survival.
	The unexpected one: A new pale nectar-feeding bat species found in Brazil A new species of nectar-feeding bat froM brazil was discovered unexpectedly amid a research into the whole genus of lonchophylla. the study is available in the open-access journal zookeys.
	Banned chemical pollutant lowers fertility in UK porpoises A collaborative study led by international conservation charity the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has found that harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) are struggling to successfully reproduce as a result of chemical pollutants found in European waters.
Official orca census: 81 whales, including 4 babies The annual July tally of endangered orcas is complete, and researchers have counted 81 whales, including four babies born since last winter.
	Dark plumage helps birds survive on small islands Animal populations on islands tend to develop weird traits over time, becoming big (like Galapagos tortoises) or small (like extinct dwarf elephants) or losing the ability to fly (like the flightless parrots of New Zealand).
Crushing snakes kill by blood constriction, not suffocation Death by suffocation seems like an awfully protracted way to go and death by suffocation in the grip of a boa constrictor's coils is the stuff of nightmares. Yet Scott Boback from Dickinson College, USA, wasn't so sure that suffocation was all there was to the boa constrictor's technique.
	Two anti-whaling activists arrested in the Faroe Islands Militant conservation group Sea Shepherd said Wednesday that two of its volunteers had been arrested in the Faroe Islands for allegedly interfering with the territory's traditional whale hunt.

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