Science X Newsletter Thursday, Aug 6

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for August 6, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Printable holograms could make holograms more widespread
- Chemists find new way to do light-driven reactions in solar energy quest
- Hippocampal neuron responses associated with memory distinctions
- Car hack reveals peril on the road to Internet of Things
- Mutant cells that can't copy DNA somehow keep dividing when they shouldn't—with disastrous consequences
- The heads of these Brazilian frogs are venomous weapons
- Scientists show how aging cripples the immune system, suggesting benefits of antioxidants
- Chemical-only cell reprogramming transforms human and mouse skin cells into neurons
- New research tool tracks real-time DNA-protein binding in cells
- Scientists discover how key proteins segregate vital genetic information during mitosis
- Hubble finds evidence of galaxy star birth regulated by black-hole fountain
- New algorithm aimed at combating science's reproducibility problem
- One size does not fit all when it comes to marrow fat, scientists say
- Single dose Ebola vaccine is safe and effective in monkeys against outbreak strain
- Chemists report nicotine-chomping bacteria may hold key to anti-smoking therapy

Astronomy & Space news

	New record: Keck Observatory measures most distant galaxy A team of astrophysicists using the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii has successfully measured the farthest galaxy ever recorded and more interestingly, captured its hydrogen emission as seen when the Universe was less than 600 million years old. Additionally, the method in which the galaxy called EGSY8p7 was detected gives important insight into how the very first stars in the Universe lit-up after the Big Bang. The paper will be published shortly in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
	Hubble finds evidence of galaxy star birth regulated by black-hole fountain Astronomers have uncovered a unique process for how the universe's largest elliptical galaxies continue making stars long after their peak years of star birth. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope's exquisite high resolution and ultraviolet-light sensitivity allowed the astronomers to see brilliant knots of hot, blue stars forming along the jets of active black holes found in the centers of giant elliptical galaxies.
	Gravitational constant appears universally constant, pulsar study suggests Gravity, one of the four fundamental forces of nature, appears reassuringly constant across the Universe, according to a decades-long study of a distant pulsar. This research helps to answer a long-standing question in cosmology: Is the force of gravity the same everywhere and at all times? The answer, so far, appears to be yes.
	New online exploring tools bring NASA's journey to Mars to new generation On the three-year anniversary of the Mars landing of NASA's Curiosity rover, NASA is unveiling two new online tools that open the mysterious terrain of the Red Planet to a new generation of explorers, inviting the public to help with its journey to Mars.
	Image: Testing hardware for growing plants and vegetables in space Astronauts on the International Space Station continue testing the VEGGIE hardware for growing vegetables and plants in space. VEGGIE provides lighting and nutrient supply for plants in the form of a low-cost growth chamber and planting "pillows"—helping provide nutrients for the root system. It supports a variety of plant species that can be cultivated for educational outreach, fresh food and even recreation for crew members on long-duration missions.
	Could we terraform Jupiter? So just what would it take to terraform Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system?
	Technique enables scientists to search for traces of life on exoplanets in reflected light A new approach to searching for life on other planets: An international team has discovered that biopigments of plants, so-called biological photosynthetic pigments, leave behind unique traces in the light they reflect. Prof. Dr. Svetlana Berdyugina from the Institute of Physics of the University of Freiburg and the Freiburg Kiepenheuer Institute for Solar Physics studied these biosignatures together with researchers from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, USA, and the University of Aarhus, Denmark, with the help of polarization filters: If biopigments were present as a sign of life on a planet, they would leave behind a detectable polarized signature in the reflected light. The scientists have now published their findings in the International Journal of Astrobiology.
	Celebrating a year at the comet It's been a long but exciting journey for Rosetta since its launch in 2004, featuring Earth, Mars and two asteroid flybys before arriving at its ultimate destination on 6 August 2014. Over the following months, the mission became the first ever to orbit a comet and the first to soft land a probe – Philae – on its surface.
	The planet Mercury Mercury is the closest planet to our sun, the smallest of the eight planets, and one of the most extreme worlds in our solar systems. Named after the Roman messenger of the gods, the planet is one of a handful that can be viewed without the aid of a telescope. As such, it has played an active role in the mythological and astrological systems of many cultures.

Technology news

	Car hack reveals peril on the road to Internet of Things A software glitch that allows hackers commandeer a Jeep Cherokee while on the move is just a glimpse of dangers on the road ahead for the Internet of Things.
	Ultra-rapid air vehicle proposed in Airbus patent Two inventors have had a vision of a hypersonic rocket-powered jetliner. A 17-page patent document has described that vision, titled "Ultra-rapid air vehicle and related method for aerial locomotion." Inventors are listed as Marco Prampolini and Yohann Coraboeuf.
	Making a better nitrate test kit The dull black plastic of the device on Joshua Pearce's desk belies its usefulness. Pearce picks up the box, which has a switch on the side and a small opening on top. A handful of vials sit in a bag nearby, and each would fit snugly in the opening. The set-up seems generic, even bland, except that it could radically change how we deal with water quality issues.
	New algorithm aimed at combating science's reproducibility problem Big data sets are important tools of modern science. Mining for correlations between millions of pieces of information can reveal vital relationships or predict future outcomes, such as risk factors for a disease or structures of new chemical compounds.
	Hackers turn Square readers into crime tools Hackers on Thursday showed how to turn the latest model Square mobile payments readers into crime tools.
Stanford VR expert on the new tech's promise and limitations Jeremy Bailenson may be one of the foremost experts on virtual reality. But, as he puts it, he's no evangelist.
	Pay TV industry shows cracks in media earnings Further cracks emerged this week in the pay TV bundle as media companies and distributors indicated that more people are cutting the cord and ditching pricey channel packages. Meanwhile, media company executives did damage control, putting a positive spin on the prospect of selling individual channels online.
Apple Music has more than 11 million members Apple says more than 11 million people have signed up for a trial of its music streaming service since it launched on June 30.
	A supercomputer in the palm of your hand The same professor who received national attention for discovering that PlayStation 3 (PS3) technology could be configured into low-cost supercomputers has now demonstrated that the processor found in hundreds of millions of cell phones has enormous scientific computing potential. The impact of this discovery could have far-reaching impacts for scientists around the world, who have a wealth of curiosity and ingenuity but sometimes lack access to expensive standard supercomputing technology.
NREL report examines energy use in cities and proposes next steps for energy innovation What U.S. cities are doing to reduce their energy use is outlined in a new report from the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) that sets the stage for broader discussion and analysis. Given increasing urbanization and their large energy footprint, cities are a prime focal point for establishing a clean energy future.
	Researchers are looking to wind power for the next generation of ships In many ways, it's an obvious solution. For many centuries, world trade over the oceans was propelled by wind power alone. Now that we're seeking an alternative to the fossil fuel-burning vehicles that enable our modern standard of living, some people are turning again to renewable solutions such as wind to power our tankers, bulk carriers and container ships. Globalisation and economic growth might mean a direct reversion to the wooden sailing boats of yore makes no sense, but there are several 21st-century ideas that could make wind-powered shipping commonplace again.
	US teens tune into online friendships The online world is where it's at for teens looking to make friends.
	Artificially evolved robots that efficiently self-organize tasks Darwinian selection can be used to evolve robot controllers able to efficiently self-organize their tasks. Taking inspiration from the way in which ants organise their work and divide up tasks, Eliseo Ferrante and colleagues evolved complex robot behaviors using artificial evolution and detailed robotics simulations.
	IBM acquires medical imaging firm to help Watson 'see' (Update) IBM said Thursday it was boosting the capacity of its Watson supercomputer, acquiring the medical imaging group Merge Healthcare for $1 billon.
	Pioneering air traffic management system aims for safer drone air traffic Researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno are now working on a new, low-altitude traffic management system to keep fast-moving flyers safer as they cruise through increasingly crowded skies.
	Homeland official asks Black Hat crowd to build trust A top Obama administration official says the government and the data security community need to focus on building trust so information about cyber threats can be shared between them for the greater good.
More employers dangling unusual benefits to hook workers Netflix's decision to give its workers up to a year of paid leave after the birth or adoption of a baby is the latest example of the unusual benefits that companies have been dangling as they try to attract and retain people with highly coveted skills.
China orders homemade sex videos removed from social media China's top anti-pornography office on Thursday announced its latest mission: a campaign to remove amateur sex videos from China's social media.
	The Compound Eye lossless digital imaging system The imaging process is often affected by the field of view, wavefront aberration, ambient light, as well as the resolution of the optical imaging system and detector. In such cases, the image information of the object cannot be accurately transferred to the image plane, resulting in distortion, deviation and noise convolution that affect the ultimate image quality.
	Opinion: Embrace technology without dooming humanity to death The world today is facing some serious global challenges: creating sustainable development in the face of climate change, safeguarding rights and justice, and growing ethical markets, for a start. All of these challenges share some connection with science and technology – some more explicitly than others.
The self-printing advertisement board with reusable ink Advertising is something impossible to avoid. Outdoor advertising is one way of approaching the public, and it has two main categories: the 'classic' paper and glue based, and the 'modern' based on digital technology. Both have pros and cons, but the same problem appears on both sides: they need a lot of resources to operate (paper, glue, electricity, etc.). With the combination of existing and new technologies, SPABRINK was developed to bridge the gap between static and dynamic advertising…
Spain to buy four US surveillance drones: defence ministry Spain has decided to buy four Reaper surveillance drones, the defence ministry said Thursday, making it the fifth European nation to equip itself with the US-made devices.
	Increased use of renewables results in growing GHG emission savings in the EU Greenhouse gasses (GHG) emission savings due to final renewable energy consumption in electricity, cooling/heating and transport sectors rose at a compound annual growth rate of 8.8% from 2009 to 2012, confirming the renewables' great potential in climate change mitigation, according to a new JRC report. Nearly two thirds of the total savings came thanks to renewable energy development in Germany, Sweden, France, Italy and Spain.
	Women tweet ilooklikeanengineer, among week's tech chatter Thousands of female engineers, coders, self-described science nerds and other tech superstars joined a Twitter campaign this week to break down stereotypes about what engineers should look like.

Medicine & Health news

	Hippocampal neuron responses associated with memory distinctions (Medical Xpress)—Human memory is remarkably adaptive and specific, enabling the crucial distinction between two similar events—for instance, recalling where you parked your car this morning as opposed to where you parked it yesterday. It has been largely established that the medial temporal lobe forms declarative memories of facts and events, but researchers have noted that damage specific to the hippocampus can lead to deficits in recognition characterized by the impaired discrimination of similar items.
	Experimental gel could prevent genital herpes infection (HealthDay)—A drug applied as a vaginal gel may substantially cut women's risk of contracting genital herpes, a common and incurable sexually transmitted infection.
	Scientists grow human serotonin neurons in petri dish Serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood and mental states, has been linked to numerous neurological and mental illnesses, including depression. But because there has been no way to obtain live human serotonin neurons to study these diseases, most serotonin research has been done on lab animals.
	Could body posture during sleep affect how your brain clears waste? Sleeping in the lateral, or side position, as compared to sleeping on one's back or stomach, may more effectively remove brain waste and prove to be an important practice to help reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurological diseases, according to researchers at Stony Brook University.
	Ebola drug triallist advocates international cooperation to beat the next outbreak A team that set up a clinical trial of a drug in record time as part of efforts to beat Ebola say that researchers, health authorities and the UN need research to be planned in to the response at the outset if we want to beat disease outbreaks.
	Scientists show how aging cripples the immune system, suggesting benefits of antioxidants Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have shown how aging cripples the production of new immune cells, decreasing the immune system's response to vaccines and putting the elderly at risk of infection. The study goes on to show that antioxidants in the diet slow this damaging process.
	Scientists pinpoint how a single genetic mutation causes autism Last December, researchers identified more than 1,000 gene mutations in individuals with autism, but how these mutations increased risk for autism was unclear. Now, UNC School of Medicine researchers are the first to show how one of these mutations disables a molecular switch in one of these genes and causes autism.
	Researchers identify drug candidate for skin, hair regeneration in scarred burn and trauma victims Johns Hopkins researchers have identified a novel cell signaling pathway in mice through which mammals—presumably including people—can regenerate hair follicles and skin while healing from wounds.
	Scientists report explanation for protein clumps in brain cells of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Autopsies of nearly every patient with the lethal neurodegenerative disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and many with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), show pathologists telltale clumps of a protein called TDP-43. Now, working with mouse and human cells, Johns Hopkins researchers report they have discovered the normal role of TDP-43 in cells and why its abnormal accumulation may cause disease.
Researchers identify new vitamin B3 pathway Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) have identified a new vitamin B3 pathway that regulates liver metabolism. The discovery provides an opportunity to pursue the development of novel drug therapies to address obesity, type 2 diabetes and related metabolic diseases.
	Single dose Ebola vaccine is safe and effective in monkeys against outbreak strain National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists report that a single dose of an experimental Ebola virus (EBOV) vaccine completely protects cynomolgus macaques against the current EBOV outbreak strain, EBOV-Makona, when given at least seven days before exposure, and partially protects them if given three days prior.
	One size does not fit all when it comes to marrow fat, scientists say While most of us worry about the fat cells building up on the fleshy parts of our bodies, scientists have started to pay serious attention to another kind of fat cell deep inside our bones, in what's called the marrow.
Normalization of testosterone level after testosterone replacement therapy Patients with low testosterone levels who have then gone on to have testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) could be at lower risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke, according to research published today in the European Heart Journal.
Targeting the early-teens for extra exercise could cut diabetes risk A study has found that physical activity provides the greatest benefits to adolescent insulin resistance - a risk factor for type 2 diabetes - when the condition peaks at age 13, but provides no benefit to it at age 16. The findings, published today, could help design more effective interventions for children by targeting the early-teens.
	Brain scans show why reading to kids is good for them (HealthDay)—Brain scans reveal that preschoolers whose parents read to them regularly show more activity in key areas of their brains.
	A man's meat intake might influence his fertility: study (HealthDay)— Attention, men: Your favorite meats might be helping or harming your fertility, a new study suggests.
	Combo treatment may boost survival with advanced prostate cancer (HealthDay)—Chemotherapy at the start of hormone therapy can extend the lives of men with prostate cancer that has spread beyond the gland, a new study finds.
	Too few heart attack patients get cardiac rehab, study finds (HealthDay)—Cardiac rehabilitation programs are considered a key part of recovering from a heart attack—but only a small minority of patients ever attend one, a new study finds.
Receptor activation mechanism revealed for opioid and morphinan analgesics The most powerful analgesic and addictive properties of opiate alkaloids are mediated by the m-opioid receptor (mOR). As the receptor primarily responsible for the effects of opium, the mOR is one of the oldest drug targets within the pharmacopeia.
	Young social smokers more likely to become adult daily smokers Young people who have a cigarette occasionally—even just at weekends— have almost four times the odds of becoming a daily smoker by their late 30s compared to their non-smoking peers, according to new University of Otago research.
Children not immunised due to socioeconomic barriers Almost one in 10 Australian infants are at risk of severe infections because they are not up-to-date with their immunisations. According to new research at the University of Adelaide, infants from socially disadvantaged backgrounds are at greater risk of not being fully immunised.
	Man or woman? Age affects sex perception While the human brain takes a fraction of a second to categorise a face as male or female based on cues like a chiselled jawline it seems the brain also takes into account another factor when determining gender—the age of a face.
	Deworming debunked? Or good science gone bad? Most scientists want to tell the truth. We want to help people by answering important questions, and sharing what we learn. But the research endeavor is big and messy. And as we've learned from the climate change and HIV/AIDS debates, there will always be folks who favor controversy, dogma, and press coverage over scientific consensus.
	Are we on the cusp of A physician shortage? Not really, says one expert A George Washington University researcher is challenging the prevailing wisdom that the U.S. is facing a major physician shortage.
	Setting the odds for those with MS Both the doctors who treat multiple sclerosis and the people who experience it agree that the disease is highly unpredictable.
Treatment guidelines for twin pregnancies A monochorionic twin pregnancy, a pregnancy in which identical twins share one placenta, faces unique complications that can threaten the health and life of both babies, requiring an increased understanding of treatment techniques for the mother. Today, in work led by Stephen Emery, M.D., a maternal-fetal medicine surgeon with Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, the North American Fetal Therapy Network published evidence-based and consensus-driven recommendations for the management of such pregnancies in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.
	Development of brain-friendly interfaces ecent research published in the journal Microsystems & Nanoengineering could eventually change the way people living with prosthetics and spinal cord injury lead their lives.
	Choice of method in attempted suicides reflects risk of subsequent suicide The risk of completed suicide is high among people with previous attempts, particularly during the first few years after the attempt. In a study, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have shown how the method used for the attempt plays a role in the risk of a subsequent suicide death. Some psychiatric diagnoses also entail an increased risk. The study is published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
Legionnaires' disease has always been around, infectious disease expert says Even as New York faces the largest outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in the city's history, John A. Sellick, Jr., DO, University at Buffalo associate professor of medicine, does not believe there is an epidemic.
Picking up the phone to improve mental health in seniors As Baby Boomers age, meeting their health needs—including mental health care—will become more and more challenging.
Diabetes drug modulates cholesterol levels Besides affecting the blood sugar levels, the substance Metformin, also has an impact on blood fat levels. This was elucidated by an interdisciplinary team of the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) headed by Dr. Rui Wang-Sattler of the Helmholtz Zentrum München. Especially the harmful LDL cholesterol can be reduced. The results have recently been published in the journal Diabetes Care.
	Warmer office temperatures could lower food intake, pilot study finds University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers have found preliminary evidence of effects of thermal environment on food intake.
	Researchers claim modern living may contribute to dementia Researchers at the University of Bournemouth have published research using death statistics from a group of Western countries suggesting that more people are dying with neurological conditions now than twenty years ago, particularly among the over 75s. Rates in the US appeared to be growing faster than other US countries. In contrast, deaths from cancer and heart disease had dropped. The findings are published in the journal Surgical Neurology International.
	Study finds that feeling awe makes us more generous to other humans What do the Grand Canyon, Sistine Chapel, and gazing at distant stars all have in common?
Bacteria that prevent type 1 diabetes Our bodies have ten times more microbes than human cells. This set of bacteria is called microbiota. In some instances, bacteria known as pathogens can cause infectious diseases. However, these micro-organisms can also protect us from certain diseases. Researchers from Inserm, Paris Descartes University and the CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research), in collaboration with teams from China and Sweden, have recently shown how microbiota protects against the development of type 1 diabetes in mice. This research is published in the Immunity journal.
	Believing you are overweight may lead to further weight gain People who recognise they are overweight or obese are more likely to put on weight than those who are unaware that they may be heavier than doctors would advise, according to research by the University of Liverpool.
It takes a lot of nerve: Scientists make cells to aid peripheral nerve repair Scientists at the University of Newcastle, UK, have used a combination of small molecules to turn cells isolated from human skin into Schwann cells - the specialised cells that support nerves and play a role in nerve repair. This new method generates large and pure populations of Schwann cells and hence is a promising step forward for the repair of peripheral nerve injuries. This research has just been published in the scientific journal Development.
Even if severe allergic reaction is in doubt, epinephrine should be used There are times when emergency physicians can't be 100 percent sure a person is suffering from a severe allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis, and may hesitate to use epinephrine. A new article says when in doubt - administer the epinephrine.
	Shorter course of radiation improves quality of life for breast cancer patients Women who receive a shorter course of whole breast radiation therapy for early stage disease experience less toxicity and improved quality of life compared to those who undergo a longer course of treatment, researchers report from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Online support groups for substance abuse not as effective as meetings for maintaining sobriety Despite the growing use of online support groups such as those on Facebook to help curb substance abuse, attending traditional face-to-face meetings may continue to be more effective for people trying to maintain sobriety, according to research presented at the American Psychological Association's 123rd Annual Convention.
	Hypofractionation vs. Conventional fractionation in breast cancer radiotherapy JAMA Oncology will publish two studies, a commentary and an author audio interview examining outcomes in women with breast cancer who had breast-conserving surgery and were treated with hypofractionated radiation therapy (shorter courses of radiation treatment administered in larger daily fraction sizes) compared with longer courses of conventionally fractionated radiation therapy.
	Long-term ovarian cancer survival higher than thought Combing data collected on thousands of California ovarian cancer patients, UC Davis researchers have determined that almost one-third survived at least 10 years after diagnosis.
Study finds association between blood levels of trace metals and risk of glaucoma In an analysis that included a representative sample of the South Korean population, a lower blood manganese level and higher blood mercury level were associated with greater odds of a glaucoma diagnosis, according to a study published online by JAMA Ophthalmology.
	Punishing a child is effective if done correctly While recently published parenting books have preached the effectiveness of positive parenting and "no drama" discipline, psychologists presenting at the American Psychological Association's 123rd Annual Convention said don't put timeout in timeout yet.
When fat is the solution: Using adipose cells to attenuate chagasic cardiomyopathy Rio de Janeiro -It could be a plot for a vampire story: In the middle of the night, blood-sucking creatures feed on peoples' faces and spread a deadly disease to the hearts of millions, who are then fated to endure a painful death.
Excessive workout supplement use: An emerging eating disorder in men? In an effort to build better bodies, more men are turning not to illegal anabolic steroids, but to legal over-the-counter bodybuilding supplements to the point where it may qualify as an emerging eating disorder, according to research presented at the American Psychological Association's annual convention.
	Siblings of children with schizophrenia show resilience to the condition as they grow up Fundamental differences between how the brain forms during adolescence have been discovered in children with schizophrenia and their siblings, a new study shows.The study opens up new avenues for researchers to explore when developing treatment for the illness, which can be hugely debilitating for children.
	US infant deaths at lowest rate ever: CDC (HealthDay)—The number of U.S. infants who die before their first birthday continues to decline and is at a historic low, health officials reported Thursday.
Why it's hard to make a bunny mad: Examining prion disease resistance in rabbits Rabbits have long been considered immune to prion disease, but recently scientists have shown that they can—under certain circumstances—get transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (or TSE, the scientific term for the fatal brain disease caused by prions). Two studies published on August 6th in PLOS Pathogens address what makes rabbits hard to infect with prions and how their resistance can be overcome.
Very little evidence for cutting out certain carbs to ease irritable bowel There is very little evidence to recommend avoiding certain types of dietary carbohydrate, known as the FODMAP diet, to ease the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS for short, concludes a review of the available data in Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB).
	Why the human heart cannot regenerate The results of their research have recently been published in the high-profile journal eLife.
	Neutrophil and cancer cell 'crosstalk' underlies oral cancer metastasis An abnormal immune response or "feedback loop" could very well be the underlying cause of metastases in oral cancers, according to Dr. Marco Magalhaes, Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Dentistry and lead researcher in a study published in the journal Cancer Immunology Research. Magalhaes has unearthed a significant connection between the inflammatory response of a very specific form of immune cells, neutrophils, and the spread of this deadly disease.
	Genders differ dramatically in evolved mate preferences Men's and women's ideas of the perfect mate differ significantly due to evolutionary pressures, according to a cross-cultural study on multiple mate preferences by psychologists at The University of Texas at Austin.
	Women hurt more by breakups but recover more fully Women experience more emotional pain following a breakup, but they also more fully recover, according to new research from Binghamton University.
Patient-funded trials may do more harm than good, ethicists warn In the era of launching Kickstarter campaigns to pay for just about anything, Carnegie Mellon University ethicists warn that the trend of patients funding their own clinical trials may do more harm than good.
Abusive men put female partners at greater sexual risk, study finds Abusive men put female partners at greater sexual risk, study finds
	Topical gel proves safe, effective treatment for patients with skin T cell lymphoma Results of a phase one trial show that an investigational topical drug, resiquimod gel, causes regression of both treated and untreated tumor lesions and may completely remove cancerous cells from both sites in patients with early stage cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) - a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects the skin. Currently, there is no cure for CTCL aside from a bone marrow transplant. However, the new study from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, shows that the topical gel can eliminate malignant T cells, leading to diminished lesions. Results, which build upon previous research, are giving hope to patients who have not responded to other modalities, including certain types of topical chemotherapy, phototherapy and even systemic treatment with interferon alpha and oral bexarotene.
Childhood physical and sexual abuse linked to ulcerative colitis Adults who were exposed to childhood physical or sexual abuse were approximately twice as likely to have ulcerative colitis, according to a new nationally representative study from four researchers at the University of Toronto.
	Novel fly model of motor neuron degeneration provides new avenues for exploration in humans Researchers at the Babraham Institute and University of Massachusetts Medical School in the United States have developed a new model to study motor neuron degeneration and have used this to identify three genes involved in the neurodegeneration process. These findings could have relevance for understanding the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other forms of motor neuron disease (MND). ALS is the most common form of adult-onset motor neuron disease and kills over 1,200 people a year in the UK.
Domestic violence coalitions can reduce intimate partner violence The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) announces the publication of a Health Education & Behavior theme section devoted to the latest research on domestic violence prevention and the effectiveness of community coalitions in 19 states to prevent and reduce intimate partner violence. The theme section "DELTA PREP" (Domestic Violence Prevention Enhancement and Leadership Through Alliances and Preparing and Raising Expectations for Prevention) presents findings from a multi-site project supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to build infrastructure to address intimate partner violence as a public health issue.
High blood sugar of diabetes can cause immune system malfunction, triggering infection Case Western Reserve scientists may have uncovered a molecular mechanism that sets into motion dangerous infection in the feet and hands often occurring with uncontrolled diabetes. It appears that high blood sugar unleashes destructive molecules that interfere with the body's natural infection-control defenses.
Five ways to improve health information exchange in ERs An emergency physician-led workgroup has published five primary and seven secondary recommendations about how to maximize the value of health information exchange (HIE) in emergency departments. The recommendations were published online Tuesday in Annals of Emergency Medicine.
Urban ERs see high rates of hepatitis C infection An urban emergency department that set up a hepatitis C testing protocol saw high rates of infection among intravenous drug users and Baby Boomers, with three-quarters of those testing positive unaware they were infected. The results of a screening and diagnostic testing program for hepatitis C were reported online Tuesday in Annals of Emergency Medicine.
Many seniors overestimate their mobility Many seniors who visit emergency departments require more assistance with physical tasks than they think they do, which may lead to hospital readmission later on. The results of the study were published online Friday in Annals of Emergency Medicine.
'Finish the fight against Ebola,' MSF head urges All the ingredients for the west African Ebola outbreak are still there one year after a public health emergency was declared, the head of medical charity Doctors Without Borders said Wednesday.
Death toll in New York Legionnaires' outbreak hits eight The death toll in New York's outbreak of Legionnaires' disease has risen to eight, out of a total of 97 cases of infection, city authorities said Wednesday.
Kellogg's to scrap artificial flavors, colors in cereals Kellogg's will ban artificial flavors and colors from all of its cereals worldwide including Special K and Frosted Flakes, it said Wednesday.
Shire bid for Baxalta highlights orphan drug's appeal Faced with expiring patents and growing competition from generics, pharmaceutical companies increasingly view orphan drugs as a key pathway to growth.
Food industry asks for exemptions to trans fat phase out Shortening, pie crusts, brownies and microwave popcorn may be partially exempt from a government phase out of artificial trans fats—if the food industry gets its way.
Kidney impairment decreases blood flow to the brain, boosting risk of brain disorders Impaired kidney function may lead to decreased blood flow to the brain, and ultimately to the occurrence of stroke or dementia. The findings, which come from a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), suggest that maintaining optimal kidney health can provide benefits to the brain.
Dasabuvir and ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir: Hint of added benefit in further patients Dasabuvir (trade name Exviera) and the fixed-dose drug combination ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir (trade name Viekirax) have been available since January 2015 for the treatment of adults with chronic hepatitis C infection. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) had examined their added benefit in a dossier assessment completed in April 2015.
Sierra Leone Ebola head says country has four cases Sierra Leone has only four recorded cases of Ebola, the West African nation's head of Ebola said Thursday, adding that he is hopeful the countdown to zero can soon begin.
Researcher to examine why some patients ignore doctors' orders Taking medications as prescribed is challenging for many patients, and following doctors' orders regarding medication often varies over time and among different patients. The consequences of failing to follow the prescribed medication regimen range from mild to life-threatening, depending on the medication and the illness or condition being treated.
Conjoined twin girls separated in Afghan first: doctors Doctors in Kabul have separated 15-day-old conjoined twin sisters—a surgical first for Afghanistan, medical charity Chain of Hope said Thursday.
Some radiation okay for expectant mother and fetus According to a new study in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS), imaging studies necessary to diagnose traumatic injuries sustained by pregnant women are safe when used properly.

Biology news

	The heads of these Brazilian frogs are venomous weapons Utah State University biologist Edmund "Butch" Brodie, Jr. is among a team of scientists who've made a startling discovery about at least two species of helmeted tree frogs found in regions of Brazil: they're venomous.
	Antibiotic pollution of waterways may create superbugs of tomorrow A team from Macquarie University has proved for the first time that even low concentrations of antibiotics are polluting waterways, according to a study published today in Frontiers in Microbiology.
	Researchers find mistargeted mitochondrial proteins set off a proteostatic response in cytosol (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with members from several research centers in Poland and Germany has found that certain mitochondrial proteins can set off a proteostatic response in cell cytosol. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes their research results and suggests that if a means can be found to assist such responses, many diseases may be prevented. Cole Haynes with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center offers a News & Views piece on the work done by the team in the same journal edition.
	Chinese gazetteers documented decline of Hainan gibbons for over 400 years (Phys.org)—A trio of researchers, two with the Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London and the other with the University of Queensland in Australia, has found they were able to trace the decline of the Hainan gibbon over the course of 400 years, by reading commissioned historical records. In their paper, published on the open access site Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Samuel Turvey, Jennifer Crees and Martina Di Fonzo describe what they found in the literature, what they learned about the demise of the Hainan gibbon, and why they believe what they learned might help the monkey-looking apes make a comeback.
	Natural selection, key to evolution, also can impede formation of new species An intriguing study involving walking stick insects led by the University of Sheffield in England and the University of Colorado Boulder shows how natural selection, the engine of evolution, can also impede the formation of new species.
New research tool tracks real-time DNA-protein binding in cells Researchers have developed a new technology that precisely marks where groups of regulatory proteins called transcription factors bind DNA in the nuclei of live cells.
	Scientists discover how key proteins segregate vital genetic information during mitosis Chromosomes are responsible for carrying our genes and essentially protecting the information that helps ensure normal, healthy growth, with vital instructions being passed on from cell to cell by a process known as mitosis. While this copying mechanism has been well understood for decades, scientists have been unable to describe exactly how genetic information is protected and properly segregated as mitosis is happening.
	Chemical-only cell reprogramming transforms human and mouse skin cells into neurons Two labs in China have independently succeeded in transforming skin cells into neurons using only a cocktail of chemicals, with one group using human cells from healthy individuals and Alzheimer's patients, and the other group using cells from mice. The two studies reinforce the idea that a purely chemical approach is a promising way to scale up cell reprogramming research that may avoid the technical challenges and safety concerns associated with the more popular method of using transcription factors. Both papers appear on August 6 in the journal Cell Stem Cell.
	Animal-eye view of the world revealed with new visual software New camera technology that reveals the world through the eyes of animals has been developed by University of Exeter researchers. The details are published today in the journal Methods in Ecology and Evolution.
	Mutant cells that can't copy DNA somehow keep dividing when they shouldn't—with disastrous consequences Researchers at USC have developed a yeast model to study a gene mutation that disrupts the duplication of DNA, causing massive damage to a cell's chromosomes, while somehow allowing the cell to continue dividing.
	World's first ant map launched in Hong Kong The world's first ever ant map showing the distribution of the tiny industrious creatures around the globe was launched Thursday by the University of Hong Kong in a bid to shed more light on the insect world.
	Scientists discover molecular cell cycle clock that controls stem cell potency Singapore scientists from A*STAR's Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) have, for the first time, found further evidence of how the differentiation of pluripotent cells is tied to and controlled by the cell cycle clock. This deeper understanding of how cells become differentiated is extremely important when considering therapeutic potentials.
	Cells repair damaged DNA by a different mechanism than assumed Defects in DNA can cause serious harm to an organism, including cell death or the development of cancer. Efficient repair mechanisms are therefore of vital importance. LMU chemist Professor Christian Ochsenfeld, Chair of Theoretical Chemistry at LMU, and Dr. Keyarash Sadeghian from his group have explained for the first time in detail how a human DNA repair enzyme works. Their computer simulations show that the repair process is different from what was previously thought. The scientists have reported their results in the current issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
	Hiking in the Appalachian Mountains? Here's how you can contribute to science while you're at it A few years ago I read the book "Following Atticus" by Tom Ryan. It's a true story about a man and his dog and the adventures they had climbing the Appalachian Mountain Range to qualify for membership in the Appalachian Mountain Club's prestigious "Four Thousand Footer Club."
	Is human noise pollution affecting our sharks? Human made noise, also called anthropogenic noise, is rising in many environments due to the increase in transportation and the exploration for and exploitation of energy sources.
	First public resource for secondary metabolites searches The wealth of genomic and metagenomic datasets for microbes, particularly from previously unstudied environments, within the Integrated Microbial Genomes (IMG) system is being applied in a new public database to the search for novel secondary metabolites that could be used in a wide range of applications from bioenergy to health.
Important regulation of cell invaginations discovered Lack of microinvaginations in the cell membrane, caveolae, can cause serious diseases such as lipodystrophy and muscular dystrophy. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have now discovered a "main switch" that regulates the formation of these invaginations.
	Dark and marked: Strikingly colored new fleshbelly frog from the Andean cloud forest Carrying itself around with a dark brown mask on its face and a broad shapeless white mark on its chest and belly, a frog had been jumping across the Peruvian cloud forests of the Andes unrecognised by the scientific world. Now, this visibly distinguishable species has been picked up by Dr. Catenazzi of Southern Illinois University and his team from its likely only locality, a cloud forest near Cusco in Peru, at 2350 m elevation by Drs. Catenazzi, Uscapi and May. Their research is published in the open-access journal ZooKeys.
	Observing live energy production by malignant cells To be able to function, cell mitochondria import "fuel" using a carrier, the Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier (MPC). In order to determine whether the MPC is still functional in malignant cells, the team of Professor Jean-Claude Martinou, at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, has just developed a biosensor to measure its live activity. The biologists observed that the MPC displays a very low activity in tumor cell lines, with respect to healthy cells. They then treated the cancer cells with a new kind of antitumoral product, which restored a normal activity of the MPC. These results are published in the journal Molecular Cell.
	Predator from a tank: New water mite genus from bromeliad phytotelmata An extensive sampling effort in bromeliad aquatic fauna in Brazilian subtropical area of the Atlantic rainforest, revealed a new water mite genus and a new species in the Atlantic rainforests in São Paulo, Brazil. This research is published in the open-access journal ZooKeys.
New family of glycerol transporters may help to explain why insects are the most successful group of organisms In an article published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers from the University of Bergen (Norway), IRTA Institute of Marine Sciences (CSIC) and Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC) presented the discovery and evolutionary origin of a new subfamily of molecular channels that they suggest may have allowed insects to become the dominant species on earth.
	Pesticides: More toxic than previously thought? Insecticides that are sprayed in orchards and fields across North America may be more toxic to spiders than scientists previously believed. A McGill research team reached this conclusion after looking at changes in the behaviour of individual Bronze Jumping Spiders both before and after exposure to Phosmet, a widely used broad spectrum insecticide. It is a finding with far-reaching implications for agricultural production and ecosystem health.
	Warming climate leaves Alaskans with fewer walrus to hunt Anna Oxereok grew up eating walrus in the western Alaska village of Wales. Today it's such a rare treat she can't bring herself to part with the plastic gallon bag of meat in her freezer.
Science journal letter highlights salmon vulernability Simon Fraser University scientist Jonathan Moore has authored new research suggesting that a proposed controversial terminal to load fossil fuels in the Skeena River estuary has more far-reaching risks than previously recognized.
Big brains needed carbs—The importance of dietary carbohydrate in human evolution Understanding how and why we evolved such large brains is one of the most puzzling issues in the study of human evolution. It is widely accepted that brain size increase is partly linked to changes in diet over the last 3 million years, and increases in meat consumption and the development of cooking have received particular attention from the scientific community. In a new study published in The Quarterly Review of Biology, Dr. Karen Hardy and her team bring together archaeological, anthropological, genetic, physiological and anatomical data to argue that carbohydrate consumption, particularly in the form of starch, was critical for the accelerated expansion of the human brain over the last million years, and coevolved both with copy number variation of the salivary amylase genes and controlled fire use for cooking.
	Brazil probes contagious horse disease near Olympic site Brazilian officials said Wednesday they are investigating an outbreak of the highly contagious disease glanders among horses stabled close to the site of next year's Olympic riding contests.
	Growing high-value lettuce with 85 to 90 percent water savings   Even with the recent rains, vegetable producers in Southwest Texas know it's just a matter of time before another drought.
	Protein identified that favors neuroprotective glial cell formation from stem cells An international team of researchers has shown that NFIX, a protein that regulates neuronal stem cell activity (NSC), also has a role in driving NSC differentiation toward oligodendrocytes, a type of glial cell. These cells produce the myelin that surrounds and protects neurons. Evidence supporting this mechanism in mice and its potential in the development of NSC-based therapy for brain injury, demyelinating diseases, and brain tumors are discussed in a study published in Stem Cells and Development.
	Biologists fear repeat of 2002 salmon kill in Klamath River The drought in the West could be creating conditions in the Klamath River straddling Oregon and California for a repeat of a 2002 fish kill that claimed tens of thousands of adult salmon, biologists said.

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