Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Jul 8

Mechanical Simulation Showcase

The analysis of mechanical systems and designs is crucial for optimizing your designs throughout the product life cycle. Check out this newly developed online resource to see different examples from a wide variety of mechanical applications: http://goo.gl/hnFjOH

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Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for July 8, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- 'Straintronic spin neuron' may greatly improve neural computing
- Training Schrodinger's cat: Controlling the quantum properties of light
- Dynamics of genetic admixture in Brazilian populations
- World record: Most powerful high-energy particle beam for a neutrino experiment ever generated
- Biggest explosions in the universe powered by strongest magnets
- Large volcanic eruptions were responsible for cold temperature extremes recorded since early Roman times
- Gene therapy restores hearing in deaf mice
- New horned dinosaur reveals evolution of nose horn in Triceratops family
- Testing shows 3-D movies do not impact balance or coordination
- Nerves found to exist in male spider genitalia
- Why do puddles stop spreading? Simple everyday phenomenon was unexplained by physics—until now
- Patent filings by women have risen fastest in academia
- Hybrid cells cause chaos around cancers
- Learning categorical information gives children a feeling of deja vu
- Exploring the moon today to learn more about Earth's youth billions of years ago

Astronomy & Space news

	Biggest explosions in the universe powered by strongest magnets Observations from ESO's La Silla and Paranal Observatories in Chile have for the first time demonstrated a link between a very long-lasting burst of gamma rays and an unusually bright supernova explosion. The results show that the supernova was not driven by radioactive decay, as expected, but was instead powered by the decaying super-strong magnetic fields around an exotic object called a magnetar. The results will appear in the journal Nature on July 9, 2015.
	Cosmology looks beyond the standard model What are the mysterious dark matter and dark energy that seem to account for so much of our Universe? Why is the Universe expanding? For the past 30 years, most cosmologists have looked to the 'standard model' to answer these questions, and have had wide-ranging success in simulating formation in the universe and matching observational data. But not everything quite fits the predictions. Are these discrepancies down to the interpretation of observations, or is a more fundamental rethink required? On Tuesday 7th July, a special session at the National Astronomy Meeting (NAM) 2015 has been convened for astronomers to take stock of the evidence and stimulate further investigation of cosmology beyond the standard model.
	NASA mission chases Pluto's shadow to catch details of its atmosphere As NASA's New Horizons spacecraft closes in on Pluto—scheduled to make its closest approach on July 14—another mission much closer to Earth has caught sight of the dwarf planet's shadow: On June 29, SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy), a high-altitude NASA plane carrying a 100-inch-diameter telescope, raced over New Zealand to catch a stellar occultation—a rare celestial alignment in which Pluto passes directly between Earth and a distant star, casting a faint shadow on Earth. The way in which Pluto blocks starlight may tell scientists about the dwarf planet's atmospheric composition.
	Neptune's badly behaved magnetic field Combining 26-year old data with supercomputer simulations, a team of scientists at Imperial College London have modelled Neptune's magnetic field in detail for the first time. The researchers find that the furthest planet from the Sun has a badly behaved magnetic field, but one that may help us understand the risks from 'space weather' around Earth. Lars Mejnertsen, of Imperial College London, presented their findings in a presentation today (8 July) at the RAS National Astronomy Meeting at Venue Cymru, in Llandudno, Wales.
	A five star, doubly-eclipsing star system Astronomers at the Open University have discovered the first quintuple star system containing two eclipsing binary stars. Details of the five star system, the first of its kind to be found, will be presented by Marcus Lohr of the Open University in a talk on Wednesday 8 July at the National Astronomy Meeting at Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Wales.
	Does the solar magnetic field show a North-South divide? A study of jets travelling through the sun's corona at speeds between 200-500 kilometres per second has shown that the fast-moving columns of plasma are deflected much more strongly by the sun's magnetic field in the northern hemisphere than in the southern hemisphere. A north-south asymmetry would have profound implications on our understanding of the solar dynamo that generates the sun's magnetic field. The results will be presented by Dr Giuseppe Nisticò at the National Astronomy Meeting in Llandudno on Wednesday 8th July.
	The dark side of galactic radio jets Cosmic microwave radiation points to invisible 'dark matter', marking the spot where jets of material travel at near light speed, according to an international team of astronomers. Lead author Rupert Allison of Oxford University presented their results yesterday (6 July) at the National Astronomy Meeting in Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Wales.
	Searing sun seen in X-rays X-rays light up the surface of our sun in a bouquet of colours in this new image containing data from NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR. The high-energy X-rays seen by NuSTAR are shown in blue, while green represents lower-energy X-rays from the X-ray Telescope instrument on the Hinode spacecraft, named after the Japanese word for sunrise. The yellow and green colours show ultraviolet light from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. Dr Iain Hannah, of the University of Glasgow, will present the image today at the National Astronomy Meeting in Llandudno.
	With one year to Jupiter, NASA's Juno team prepares With just one year remaining in a five-year trek to Jupiter, the team of NASA's Juno mission is hard at work preparing for the spacecraft's expedition to the solar system's largest planet. The mission aims to reveal the story of Jupiter's formation and details of its interior structure. Data from Juno will provide insights about our solar system's beginnings, and what we learn from the mission will also enrich scientists' understanding of giant planets around other stars.
	Exploring the moon today to learn more about Earth's youth billions of years ago The surface of the Earth preserves little or no information about its distant past. Constant tectonic activity has recycled Earth's crust and shifted landmasses. Rainfall, wind, ice and snow have weathered away surface features over billions of years. Most of the craters formed by the impacts of asteroids and comets have been erased from the geologic record, with just over 100 known craters remaining on the continents.
	Image: ISS moon transit This image of the moon was taken by amateur photographer Dylan O'Donnell as the International Space station passed by at 28 800 km/h. At such speeds the weightless research laboratory was visible for only about a third of a second before returning to the dark skies.
	Seeking Earth-like planets with the James Webb Space Telescope Almost 2000 exoplanets have been discovered to date, ranging from rocky Earth-like planets to hot-Jupiters, and orbiting every type of star. But how many of these distant worlds are habitable? Today's technology means that we currently have very little information about what exoplanets are like beyond their presence, size and distance from star. With the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), we may have our first glimpses into atmospheres of Earth-like exoplanets, according to the results of a study by Dr Joanna Barstow presented at the National Astronomy Meeting in Llandudno on Wednesday 8th July.
	Heliophysicist waits nearly 10 years for Pluto flyby When NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto flies past the distant, icy world on July 14, NASA heliophysicist Nikolaos Paschalidis will be one happy man: he created a mission-enabling technology that will help uncover details about the atmosphere of the never-before-visited dwarf planet.
	'Jedi' astronauts say 'no fear' as they gear for ISS trip (Update) Three astronauts set to travel to the International Space Station this month Wednesday voiced faith in Russia's space programme despite a delay to their trip caused by the failed launch of a cargo ship.
	There's no evidence to suggest there is life on Comet 67P As far as underwhelming headlines go: "No Alien Life Found on Comet" must rank very close to the top. An article with this title appeared in the Guardian on July 6 in response to a story claiming that there could be life on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
	Are the ancient planets discovered around Kapteyn's Star for real? As the saying goes, all that glitters isn't gold, and the same could be said in the fast-paced hunt for exoplanets. In 2014, we reported on an exciting new discovery of two new exoplanets orbiting Kapteyn's Star. The news came out of the American Astronomical Society's 224th Meeting held in Boston Massachusetts, and immediately grabbed our attention. The current number of exoplanet discoveries as of July 2015 sits at 1,932 and counting.
	Astronomers teach a machine to analyse galaxy images A team of astronomers and computer scientists at the University of Hertfordshire have taught a machine to 'see' astronomical images. The technique, which uses a form of artificial intelligence called unsupervised machine learning, allows galaxies to be automatically classified at high speed, something previously done by thousands of human volunteers in projects like Galaxy Zoo. Masters student Alex Hocking led the new work and presented it for the first time in a paper today (July 8) at the National Astronomy Meeting at Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Wales.
	Space weather warning system scans our skies for solar storms Physicists from Trinity College Dublin have developed a space weather warning system to help safeguard electricity and communications systems from solar and geomagnetic storms.
Book shows how space station research offers "benefits for humanity" A new book from NASA is showing how research aboard the International Space Station helps improve lives on Earth while advancing NASA's ambitious human exploration goals.
	Image: July 7, 2003, NASA's Opportunity rover launches to Mars On July 7, 2003, NASA launched its second Mars Exploration Rover, Opportunity, aboard a Delta II launch vehicle. Opportunity's dash to Mars began with liftoff at 11:18:15 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

Technology news

	A beautiful algorithm? The risks of automating online transactions The online ad that led you to your new favorite pair of shoes might seem innocuous, but according to University of Virginia Associate Professor of Economics and Computer Science Denis Nekipelov, the algorithms behind such ads could lead to an unforeseen financial crash – something he hopes his research will prevent.
	China's Uber-style taxi app raises $2 bn China's top taxi hailing app Didi Kuaidi announced Wednesday it raised $2.0 billion in two weeks, after reports said US rival Uber planned to invest $1.1 billion in the country this year.
	Americans ditch smartphones when buying online: survey They might be so popular as to be almost an extension of people's arms, but most Americans ditch their smartphones and return to the trusty computer when buying online.
	New tamper-detecting seal is tough to fool A critical area of security is ensuring that something inside a container stays there. Sandia National Laboratories has made the job easier with an innovative technology that detects signs of tampering.
New solar energy plan will broaden its appeal, affordability, professor says An Obama administration plan to help lower- and middle-income Americans gain access to solar energy would help introduce the renewable energy source to a segment of the population that typically can't afford installation costs or has little incentive to do so, a University of Kansas researcher said.
	FBI, Justice Dept. take encryption concerns to Congress Federal law enforcement officials warned Wednesday that data encryption is making it harder to hunt for pedophiles and terror suspects, telling senators that consumers' right to privacy is not absolute and must be weighed against public-safety interests.
China mulls privacy protection, further curbs on Internet Chinese authorities have proposed a sweeping but vaguely worded Internet security law that would strengthen protection of private information, ban hacking activities and also allow authorities to restrict Internet access to maintain public order.
Breach at Italian surveillance vendor prompts security alert Software maker Adobe says it is fixing a critical flaw revealed by the spectacular attack on Italian surveillance company Hacking Team.
	Jet engines are getting quieter With no sign of our appetite for air travel diminishing, we need to create quieter aircraft that are easier to live with. In fact, while those living near airports may beg to differ, data included in the Airports Commission report into a new runway for London shows a very significant reduction in aircraft noise over several decades.
How the London bombings showed the need for tomorrow's mobile tech One aspect of the London bombings of 7/7 that many who were there remember is that their phones went dead. Mobile phone coverage in parts of central London was almost unavailable. This was not due to damage; the emergency services had shut down public access to the networks.
	Bundesbank warns banks against cyber risks The German central bank, or Bundesbank, warned Wednesday that banks do not seem to be sufficiently aware of the dangers of cyber attacks, and urged them to strengthen their defences.
	Dutch people not in favour of humanoid robots Most Dutch people feel that the ideal social robot should not resemble a human being too much, as is the case with robots currently being produced in Japan. People do expect a robot to have certain human traits, but the distinction between human and robot must remain clear. Moreover, a social robot with an overly human appearance creates an unrealistic sense of expectation, according to Maartje de Graaf, who recently earned her PhD from the University of Twente based on research into this topic. Not surprisingly, De Graaf also found that people are especially keen to welcome a butler robot into the domestic environment.
	Workload handling software has broad potential to maximize use of available supercomputing resources With the successful restart of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), now operating at nearly twice its former collision energy, comes an enormous increase in the volume of data physicists must sift through to search for new discoveries. Thanks to planning and a pilot project funded by the offices of Advanced Scientific Computing Research and High-Energy Physics within the Department of Energy's Office of Science, a remarkable data-management tool developed by physicists at DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory and the University of Texas at Arlington is evolving to meet the big-data challenge.
	GrabCar becomes Philippines' first authorised ride-sharing app Philippine transport authorities authorised GrabCar as the first company to operate under new rules governing ride-sharing apps, state and company officials said Wednesday.
	Microsoft cuts 7,800 jobs, reorganizes phone unit Microsoft announced plans Wednesday to cut 7,800 jobs, most from the struggling mobile phone division acquired last year from Nokia.
	Cost-saving ultrasound degassing now possible in continuous processing of aluminum melt Having proved that ultrasound degassing of molten aluminium alloys is cleaner, greener and cheaper than current methods, a team of scientists from Brunel University London working within a European consortium has now taken the breakthrough a step further.
	United suffers second major grounding in two months United Airlines grounded flights across the country for part of Wednesday after experiencing computer problems.
Surveillance company loses control of flagship spy program Italian surveillance company Hacking Team said Wednesday that it had lost control of its custom-built spy software, unleashing a new threat onto the Internet and depriving the company of its top selling point.
Facebook to add more computing power with Texas data center Facebook is building a massive data center in Texas to provide more computing capacity for the online social network's 1.4 billion users to share tidbits of their lives with friends and family.
Going Green: Nottingham's hi-tech transport becomes EU model Keeping growing populations moving in urban areas, while limiting environmental damage, is a major challenge across Europe. But the English city of Nottingham is speeding ahead with success thanks to its innovative use of green transport technologies - and it's now a model for others to follow.
	Homes with heart for Sendai When the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit Japan and wiped out much of Sendai, the hometown of UCLA architecture and urban design chair Hitoshi Abe, he resolved to make the reconstructed city more people-friendly than the one that was destroyed. UCLA Magazine editor Mary Daily talked to the world-famous architect about his work there and the group he and his colleagues formed to help Japan rebuild.
FBI Director Comey's false dilemma—"ban encryption or accept terrorism" James Comey, Director of the FBI is the latest to add his voice to the call for a ban on the use strong encryption. In a blog post, Comey outlines the potential costs to public safety that come with security services not being able to intercept communications. In particular, he uses the threat of ISIL (ISIS) recruiting "troubled" US citizens and convincing them, over encrypted messaging apps, to "kill people".
	China's new cybersecurity law sparks censorship concerns China has released a draft cybersecurity law which immediately sparked concerns that it is too vague and could signal Beijing's widespread censorship of the Internet becoming even more far-reaching.
	PRAISE—a social network for online music learning Community feedback and advanced analytics, combined with lesson planning and monitoring tools for teachers make this social learning platform, PRAISE, a step forward in collaborative online learning.
Heating and cooling with waste heat from industry Heating and cooling in the future will utilise energy gained from waste heat which will be distributed at low temperature using district heating and cooling networks. It will thus make use of the heat wasted by cooling systems in supermarkets and fruit storage facilities which up to now has simply been released untapped into the atmosphere. South Tyrol's EURAC Institute for Renewable Energy is exploring this new technology in the "FLEXYNETS" project which is financed to the tune of two million euros by the European research programme "Horizon 2020". Yesterday, on the 7th July, the project partners finally met at EURAC to set things in motion.
Land Rover recalls 65,000 SUVs in US for door latch problem Jaguar Land Rover is recalling about 65,000 SUVs in the U.S. because the doors may not latch properly and could open while being driven.

Medicine & Health news

	Testing shows 3-D movies do not impact balance or coordination (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers with Newcastle University in the U.K. has found no evidence of balance or coordination impairments in people watching a stereoscopic (3D) movie on a television screen. In their paper published in Royal Society Open Science, the group describes a test they carried out with volunteers and their results.
	Gene therapy restores hearing in deaf mice Using gene therapy, researchers at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School have restored hearing in mice with a genetic form of deafness. Their work, published online July 8 by the journal Science Translational Medicine, could pave the way for gene therapy in people with hearing loss caused by genetic mutations.
	Dice loaded for patients with late-stage MS, study shows People living with multiple sclerosis have the dice loaded against them when it comes to their decision-making ability as their neurological disease progresses, according to a new study from the University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.
	Research provides evidence of learning and memory six weeks prior to birth If you've ever been pregnant, did you have a saying you'd repeat to yourself—something about taking things one day at a time, or maybe even wishing that men could know what it's like to carry a child? Or did you have a favorite song you'd listen to obsessively? Well, if you said or heard something like that over and over again during pregnancy, your newborn may remember it too.
	Hybrid cells cause chaos around cancers Rice University researchers have built a simulation to show how cancerous tumors manipulate blood-vessel growth for their own benefit.
	Learning categorical information gives children a feeling of deja vu During development, children must learn both broad facts about the world (that dogs have four legs, for example) and information that is more specific (that the family dog is scared of snow). While research in developmental psychology suggests that young children should have an easier time learning specific, concrete facts, a new study reveals that they learn general facts so effortlessly that they often can't tell that they learned anything new at all.
	Treating breast cancer with progesterone could aid survival A special technique where breast cancer cells are "rescued" for research has been developed at the University of Adelaide. Coupled with advanced scientific technologies pioneered by Cambridge University this has provided a unique insight into the hormone regulation of breast cancers, which is expected to lead to new treatments for the disease.
	Overnight experiment creates social brain lab, yields new insights about 'speed of learning' changes in the brain Neuroscientists in Toronto have shown that crowdsourcing brain data with hundreds of adults in a short period of time could be a new frontier in neuroscience and lead to new insights about the brain.
Lack of education as deadly as smoking: Study estimates number of deaths attributed to low levels of education A new study by researchers at the University of Colorado, New York University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill estimates the number of deaths that can be linked to differences in education, and finds that variation in the risk of death across education levels has widened considerably.
	Genetic test may help spot male fertility problems A new genetic test for sperm could help determine whether a couple should resort to in vitro fertilization to conceive a child, researchers say.
	Disrupting cells' 'powerhouses' can lead to tumor growth, study finds Cancer cells defy the rules by which normal cells abide. They can divide without cease, invade distant tissues and consume glucose at abnormal rates.
Healthy diets for youth with type 1 diabetes can be hard for parents to obtain Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) often need to modify their eating habits, but many youths with T1DM do not consume a healthful diet. To learn more about the challenges their parents may face in providing them with a more healthful diet, researchers set out to discover the availability of healthier food options and the price difference of the food items at stores frequented by families in northeastern Kansas and western Missouri.
Mammography benefits overestimated, review says An in-depth review of randomised trials on screening for breast, colorectal, cervical, prostate and lung cancers, published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, shows that the benefits of mammographic screening are likely to have been overestimated.
Patients consistently treated by one primary care doctor visit the ER less often Patients who are treated by the same primary care doctor on a regular basis go to the emergency room and are hospitalized less frequently than those who bounce between multiple providers, according to new research by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
Australian gets fatal 'one-in-a-million' brain disease An Australian has been diagnosed with a deadly "one-in-a-million" degenerative brain condition, but authorities Wednesday stressed it was unrelated to mad cow disease and not contagious.
	Moving tiles as an unintrusive way to handle flashbacks (Medical Xpress)—In a highly uncertain environment of floods, train, plane and car accidents, earthquakes, terrorist bombings and community displacement, one thing is certain: psychological trauma can result and does not discriminate in affecting people all over the world.
Hospital readmissions for sepsis are highly common, extremely costly The Affordable Care Act created several national initiatives aimed at reducing hospital readmission rates for heart attacks, congestive heart failure and other common high-risk conditions. But there is still no national program intended to address sepsis, a potentially life-threatening illness caused by infection.
	More mental health provision needed for mothers during pregnancy and after birth More research is needed to improve the identification and treatment of women with perinatal mental health issues, according to a new editorial co-authored by Professor Susan Ayers, the lead of the Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research at City University London.
	Researchers identify cause of heart damage in sepsis patients Researchers at the University of Liverpool's Institute of Infection and Global Health (IGH) have discovered a common cause of heart damage in patients with sepsis.
	Human disease epigenomics 2.0 The study of how genes are regulated and how their regulation affects human disease has the potential to generate insights into mechanisms that aren't based on variation in DNA sequence, and could even show that temporally remote events can be "remembered" by the cell. Currently the method used by epigeneticists to examine these regulatory processes is an epigenome-wide-association study (EWAS). However, it is increasingly clear that the isolated EWAS is not sustainable as a robust means of gaining desired insights, and needs to be re-thought substantially. The human disease epigenomics 2.0 approach is a way of thinking about increasing the interpretability and value of these studies.
	Partnership reduces underage alcohol supply in small community A clamp down on bottle shops selling alcohol to underage customers and a commitment by parents not to supply or allow their teens to use alcohol has been successful in reducing underage alcohol supply in Geelong.
	Researchers sniffing out factors affecting staph germs An NAU professor and a team of researchers are seeking to better understand staph bacteria, information that could lead to reductions of the potentially lethal pathogen.
	Wasting of Indian children during the recession 'linked to food price spikes' A study co-authored by Oxford researchers says spikes in food prices during the last global recession can be linked with the increase in malnutrition among children in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh in 2009.
Expanding state Medicaid stems growth of uncompensated care On the heels of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld a key part of the Affordable Care Act, new research from the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation offers the first comprehensive look at how well a key part of the ACA—state Medicaid expansions—is working.
	Cancer researchers ID potential treatment for deadly lymphoma New research from the University of Southern California (USC) Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center has identified a potential treatment for a rare but previously incurable form of lymphoma that is observed primarily in patients with HIV/AIDS infection.
Researchers find online program helps people with chronic pain Washington State University researchers have found that people can manage chronic pain and reduce their reliance on opioids through an Internet-based program that teaches non-medical alternatives like increased physical activity, thinking more positively and dealing with emotions.
Study details army suicide attempts, risk profiles for enlisted soldiers, officers A new analysis of U.S. Army data details rates of suicide attempts during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and researchers have identified risk factors for suicide attempts by enlisted soldiers and officers, according to an article published online by JAMA Psychiatry.
Lymphoma: How the tumor escapes the immune response Natural killer cells of the immune system can fend off malignant lymphoma cells and thus are considered a promising therapeutic approach. However, in the direct vicinity of the tumor they lose their effect. Scientists of Helmholtz Zentrum München have now elucidated which mechanisms block the natural killer cells and how this blockade could be lifted. The results were recently published in the European Journal of Immunology.
	A glimmer of hope for patients with leukodystrophies Leukodystrophies are deadly neurodegenerative diseases that affect one in 7,000 children and remain incurable. These genetic diseases attack myelin or the "insulating rubber sheath" surrounding neurons, which leads to deteriorating health for affected children. Today, nearly 20 types of leukodystrophies have been characterized, but many other forms remain undefined, leaving nearly 40 per cent of families awaiting a diagnosis. An international research team, led by Dr. Geneviève Bernard from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) and Dr. Benoit Coulombe from the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), has identified a new gene associated with 4H leukodystrophy, one of the common forms of the disease. Their findings have been published in Nature Communications this week.
	Research links intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy with liver cancer and other diseases later in life In a new study of more than 125,000 pregnant women in Sweden, researchers found that the risk of hepatobiliary cancer and immune-mediated and cardiovascular diseases later in life is higher in women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) than in women without this condition. Their results are published in the Journal of Hepatology.
3-D views reveal intricacies in intestines that could lead to discoveries for inflammatory bowel disease A technology whose roots date to the 1800s has the potential to offer an extraordinary new advantage to modern-day medicine. In findings published this month in Nature Communications, Case Western Reserve scientists detail how stereomicroscopy can provide physicians an invaluable diagnostic tool in assessing issues within the gastrointestinal tract.
Study suggests that medication could improve gastric bypass results New findings about the mechanisms involved - or not involved - in the effects of the most common form of bariatric surgery suggest that combining surgery with a specific type of medication could augment the benefits of the procedure. In a report that has been published online in the journal Endocrinology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators report that the effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) do not utilize neurologic pathways controlled by the serotonin 2C receptor. Since that receptor is a proven target for the FDA-approved anti-obesity drug lorcaserin, the findings imply that the two methods could have complementary effects, producing even more weight loss than achieved with either one alone.
	3D model to help researchers study pelvic floor disorder linked to childbirth It's a mysterious condition often linked to childbirth that causes distress and discomfort and requires surgery for more than 200,000 women a year - but there's no good way to study it.
Impact of smoking on California's economy in decline at $18.1 billion per year Today Nicotine & Tobacco Research publishes the third in a series of studies on the cost of smoking in California, one of the first US states to implement a comprehensive tobacco control program. Researchers estimated expenditures for smoking-attributable costs (healthcare, lost productivity from illness, and lost productivity from premature mortality) for the year 2009. The total cost came to $18.1 billion, amounting to $487 per California resident and $4,603 per smoker.
Targeting bacteria in the gut might help burn and trauma patients A study published in PLOS ONE has found that burn patients experience dramatic changes in the 100 trillion bacteria inside the gastrointestinal tract.
'Safer' replacements for harmful chemical in plastics may be as risky to human health, studies suggest According to a new series of studies out of NYU Langone Medical Center, two chemicals increasingly used during manufacturing to strengthen plastic wrap, soap, cosmetics, and processed food containers have been linked to a rise in risk of high blood pressure and diabetes in children and adolescents.
Study shows long-term effects of type 2 diabetes on the brain, thinking In just two years, people with type 2 diabetes experienced negative changes in their ability to regulate blood flow in the brain, which was associated with lower scores on tests of cognition skills and their ability to perform their daily activities, according to a new study published in the July 8, 2015, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
New psoriasis drug is more effective than current treatment A phase II clinical trial led by Northwestern Medicine investigators shows that a new psoriasis drug called guselkumab has greater efficacy than the current standard of care for the chronic skin condition.
The arts improve medical care through learned observation The visual and narrative arts can help physicians hone their observational skills—a critical expertise increasingly needed in today's medicine, contends a Georgetown University Medical Center family medicine professor.
Some SSRI antidepressants may be associated with increased birth defect risk Some antidepressants known as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) taken during early pregnancy may indeed be associated with an increased risk of birth defects, finds a study published in The BMJ this week.
	Designed drug candidate significantly reduces HIV reactivation rate HIV-infected patients remain on antiretroviral therapy for life because the virus survives over the long-term in infected dormant cells. Interruption of current types of antiretroviral therapy results in a rebound of the virus and clinical progression to AIDS.
	Muscle strength fades after just two weeks of inactivity (HealthDay)—It takes just two weeks of physical inactivity for those who are physically fit to lose a significant amount of their muscle strength, new research indicates.
	Colon cancer deaths falling, but three US regions lag behind (HealthDay)— There's reason to celebrate declines in deaths from colon cancer in the United States—unless you live in three areas that are still lagging behind, a new report finds.
	Asbestos found in kids' crayons, toy kits: report (HealthDay)—Asbestos fibers have been found in crayons and other toys sold in the United States, according to a new report from an environmental health advocacy group.
	No single effective treatment for cellulite identified (HealthDay)—A comprehensive literature review analyzed the range of available treatments for cellulite reduction. The results were published online July 6 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
	Misunderstanding of term 'Hypertension' impacts med use (HealthDay)—Misunderstanding of the term hypertension may impact antihypertensive medication use and adherence, according to a perspective piece published online July 7 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
	ACIP recommends MenB vaccine for 16- to 23-year-olds (HealthDay)—The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has voted to issue a category B recommendation for use of two serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) vaccines in patients aged 16 to 23 years for short-term disease prevention, according to a report published by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
	Clinical rebounding triad after corticosteroid discontinuation (HealthDay)—A subgroup of patients with dermatitis who discontinue topical corticosteroids (TC) after long-term treatment have clinical rebounding triad manifestations, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of Dermatology.
The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist review examines strategies to prevent stillbirth A review in The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist (TOG) finds that reducing the risk of stillbirth calls for better monitoring of women during their pregnancy to help find those whose babies' lives could be saved by early delivery.
	Right-to-die advocates call California loss a brief setback California dealt the national right-to-die movement a huge blow when legislation allowing doctors to prescribe life-ending drugs stalled, but advocates aren't conceding defeat.
Advice for older people on staying safe in hot weather Summer weather can pose special health risks to older adults and people with chronic medical conditions. It is critically important that adults particularly susceptible to hyperthermia and other heat-related illnesses know how to safeguard against problems. The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has some tips to help avoid the hazards of hot weather.
Ludwig Cancer Research and the Cancer Research Institute evaluate immunotherapies Ludwig Cancer Research (Ludwig) and the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) have launched clinical trials evaluating an immunotherapy for the treatment of the brain cancer glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), and a combination of immunotherapies for a variety of solid tumors.
ESC statement on trans fatty acids The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers trans fatty acids (TFA) unsafe for consumption. The FDA is providing a three-year compliance period to allow industry to gradually phase out their use in processed food. This step is expected to reduce cardiovascular disease and prevent thousands of fatal heart attacks every year in the US.
Reform to resident physicians' work hours does not improve surgical patient safety Work hour restrictions for resident physicians, revised nationally four years ago largely to protect patients against physician trainees' fatigue-related errors, have not had the desired effect of lowering postoperative complication rates in several common surgical specialties, according to new study results. The study was published as an "article in press" on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website in advance of print publication later this year.
	Vaccines: Practices and hesitancy among general physicians in France At population level, vaccines contribute to reducing mortality associated with infectious diseases such as measles, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B or bacterial meningitis. The community general physician, at the centre of this preventive strategy, remains the main source of information for families. In an article published in the journal Ebiomedecine, Pierre Verger (Inserm Unit 912, "Economics and Social Sciences Applied to Health and Analysis of Medical Information - SESSTIM") and his collaborators present and analyse the attitudes and practices of over 1,500 general physicians in France, in a context of distrust toward vaccines.
TBI study shows brain activity changes after cognitive rehabilitation Kessler Foundation researchers published results of their TBI-MEM trial, the first study to demonstrate significant changes in cerebral activation after memory retraining in individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The article, "Examining the efficacy of the modified Story Memory Technique (mSMT) in persons with TBI using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI): The TBI-MEM Trial" was published on July 8 by the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. The authors are Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD, Ekaterina Dobryakova, PhD, Glenn Wylie, DPhil, and John DeLuca, PhD, of Kessler Foundation.

Biology news

	Dynamics of genetic admixture in Brazilian populations (Phys.org)—Human genomic diversity studies provide a window to population movements across regions and societies throughout history. Generally, South America has been underrepresented in such studies, but recognizing that Brazil provides a classical model of population admixture, an international group of researchers recently conducted a population-based, genome-wide analysis of three Brazilian populations.
	Nerves found to exist in male spider genitalia (Phys.org)—A trio of researchers working in Germany has discovered that male spiders do indeed have nerves in their genitalia, overturning prior research that has suggested otherwise. In their paper published in The Royal Society Biology Letters, Elisabeth Lipke, Jörg Hammel and Peter Michalik describe the various techniques they used to discover nerves in the arachnid palpal organ and their ideas on what purpose they serve.
	First images of dolphin brain circuitry hint at how they sense sound Neuroscientists have for the first time mapped the sensory and motor systems in the brains of dolphins. Proceedings of the Royal Society B is publishing the results, showing that at least two areas of the dolphin brain are associated with the auditory system, unlike most mammals that primarily process sound in a single area.
	Animals' infections can impact most on relatives, study finds Disease in wild animals can have a greater impact on the health of others than on the infected animals themselves, a study suggests.
	Fishing ban rescues Robben Island penguin chicks Survival of endangered African penguin chicks increased by 18% following a trial three-year fishery closure around Robben Island in South Africa, a new study from the University of Exeter has found.
	Unlocking lignin for sustainable biofuel Turning trees, grass, and other biomass into fuel for automobiles and airplanes is a costly and complex process. Biofuel researchers are working to change that, envisioning a future where cellulosic ethanol, an alcohol derived from plant sugars, is as common and affordable at the gas station as gasoline.
Strain of living with competitive males: Males age faster than females due to brawling in early adulthood Male badgers that spend their youth fighting tend to age more quickly than their passive counterparts according to new research from the University of Exeter.
Finding an off switch in wood formation The same process plants use to respond to environmental stress acts as an on/off switch for a key enzyme in wood formation, NC State researchers have found.
	Cuttlefish choose their battles wisely Male cuttlefish can evaluate the likelihood of winning a fight by assessing their competition, according to a new study.
	Study shows defensive poison in cone snails repurposed for use in catching fish (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with Australia's University of Queensland has found that a toxin produced by a species of cone snail appears to have evolved from a defensive purpose to an offensive weapon. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group describes their study of conotoxins in Conus suturatus and why their results indicate an evolutionary shift occurred for the species.
	Study finds recent agricultural pest stems from one fly generation's big genetic shift A new study involving a Kansas State University entomologist reveals that the genes of a fruit fly that has plagued American apple producers for more than 150 years is the result of an extremely rapid evolutionary change.
	Male koalas raise their voices to avoid conflict A team of international scientists has tracked the love lives of koalas, uncovering some curious behaviours and finding that male koalas make their distinct bellows to avoid confrontation with competitors.
	There's little to fear from fearsome-looking cicada killer wasps, says entomologist The expression that things are bigger in Texas certainly applies to one of its scarier-looking summer insects—the cicada killer wasp, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologist in Austin.
	Advancing the science of native species reintroduction Although New Zealand has a long history of attempting to reintroduce native species into their former habitats, projects have been poorly conceived, poorly monitored and had poor success say New Zealand's leading reintroduction biologists.
Wild fish ecosystems may be masking serious rapid decline in fish production potential New mathematics model shows that as the fish diversity of complex marine food webs declines, fish production resists the change, masking ultimate rapid loss
	The artificial enzyme that "acts" natural Certain genetic diseases arise from a deficit of specific genes. An enzyme that amplifies gene transcription could be a viable therapy in these cases, as long as genes are not stimulated to work on the wrong part of the body. SISSA scientists have created synthetic "intelligent" enzymes which are able to differentiate between active and inactive genes and selectively stimulate the former ones.
	Single lady bees load up on perfume Few species have a more harrowing mating experience than WA's gladiatorial, ground-burrowing Dawson's bee (Amegilla dawsoni).
	Omega-3 breakthrough could help fish farms: UK scientists Omega-3 fish oils can be grown in fields using genetically modified oilseed crops, British researchers said as they released trial results this week.
	Production of iPS cells: Discovery of the fifth element Since 2006, research has succeeded in generating, from specialised adult cells, induced pluripotent cells (iPS cells), with huge potential applications, particularly for regenerative medicine. However, the process has still not been completely mastered. Two teams of researchers from Inserm, CNRS, Centre Léon Bérard and Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University have discovered a molecule that may favour the production of these induced stem cells. Their work is published in Nature Communications, on 8 July 2015.
	Researchers develop antibodies to fight chikungunya virus In late 2013 the Caribbean had its first case of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus. Today there have been almost 1.2 million cases in 44 countries or territories, including 177 cases in 31 U.S. States.
	Probiotics—for plants: Helpful bacteria promote growth, less fertilizer on crops July 8, 2015- Recent research (and commercials) tell us probiotic products are good for our health, with benefits ranging from improved digestion to managing allergies and colds, Just as humans can benefit from the good bacteria of probiotics, plants can benefit from certain microbes. And that benefit is also good for the environment.
Hibernating bears protect bones by reducing resorption Even a short period of inactivity can be extremely bad for our bones, and for astronauts facing months in zero gravity, the risks are serious. But there is an animal that has already solved all of the problems faced by immobile humans. Black bears routinely hibernate for 6 months without stirring, and although it can take several weeks for them to regain their full metabolic vigour, their bones seem largely unaffected by the lengthy period of inactivity. Yet, how these impressive beasts protect their bones was a mystery, with previous studies yielding contradictory results.
	Chameleons' eyes are not so independent Famed for their ability to change colour, chameleons have yet another mind-boggling talent: their eyes appear to swivel completely independently. This means that they can simultaneously track two completely different views of the world, which is quite impressive from our primate perspective.
	Diving dolphins are exhalation champions Every air-breathing marine mammal faces a multitude of challenges as it dives beneath the waves: carbon dioxide and nitrogen accumulation in the blood can cause intoxication and decompression sickness, while low internal pressures in rigid lungs can force blood into the delicate airways. Yet, whales, dolphins and seals rarely seem to suffer these ill effects. Andreas Fahlman from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, USA, says, 'It had been assumed that the respiratory systems of all marine mammals are similar with a stiff upper airway and collapsible lungs'. However, there was little evidence to support the assumption and Fahlman was repeatedly told that the measurements couldn't be made because of the incredibly high flow rates generated by exhaling dolphins.
	Indonesia arrests man selling protected eagles on Facebook Indonesian police posing as wildlife buyers have arrested a suspected trafficker for selling protected eagles on Facebook, an official said Wednesday.
	Langsat peel a potential source of natural antioxidants Langsat (Lansium domesticum) is a tropical fruit that is commonly cultivated in Southeast Asia. The fruit is rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals, while the peel of langsat contains phenolics and carotenoids, and is traditionally used as an anti-diarrhoea medicine. Anti-oxidative components found in medicinal fruits such as langsat are natural alternatives to synthetic antioxidants (such as butylated hydroxytoluene and tertiary butylhydroquinone), which are added to food as preservatives despite being potentially carcinogenic. Past research has shown that some tropical fruits have higher antioxidant activity in their peel than in their pulp, but the literature on the presence of antioxidant in the peel of langsat has been scarce in Malaysia.
	Divers attempt to solve mystery of sevengill shark sightings on the Pacific Coast The first thing the divers noticed upon reaching the bottom was that there were absolutely no fish—anywhere. The lighting, also being strange, lent everything a deserted, eerie feel. But, says diver Mike Bear, "We continued deeper into this spooky, yellowish-green 'ghost forest' with its odd, dearth of fish—failing to make the obvious connection in our minds: where had they all the fish gone and why? The previous week, this same area was overflowing with life. Sometimes the fish sense something you don't."

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