Science X Newsletter Monday, Jun 13

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 13, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

DNA shaping up to be ideal framework for rationally designed nanostructures

Physicists observe behavior of quantum materials in curved space

Best of Last Week – Packing more into light, turning CO2 to stone and happy couples seeing others as less attractive

Kepler-1647b: New planet is largest discovered that orbits two suns

Research gives new meaning to the term 'bird brain'

Technique for 'phase locking' arrays of tiny lasers could lead to terahertz security scanners

Scientists amplify light using sound on a silicon chip

Natural quasicrystals may be the result of collisions between objects in the asteroid belt

FDA approves vaccine for cholera

Sun-powered Solar Impulse 2 aircraft reaches Statue of Liberty

Bluetooth 5 awaited; good news regarding range and speed

Archaeologist points to hidden monument in Jordan's Petra (Update)

Herring spawn in NY tributary for 1st time in 85 years

Car giants see road to riches in sharing

High waves during storm? New forecast model tries to predict

Astronomy & Space news

	Kepler-1647b: New planet is largest discovered that orbits two suns If you cast your eyes toward the constellation Cygnus, you'll be looking in the direction of the largest planet yet discovered around a double-star system. It's too faint to see with the naked eye, but a team led by astronomers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and San Diego State University used the Kepler Space Telescope to identify the new planet, Kepler-1647b. The discovery was announced today in San Diego, at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society.
	Musk explains his 'cargo route' to Mars SpaceX chief Elon Musk shed light on his new plan to send an unmanned spaceship to Mars as early as 2018, as part of his quest to some day colonize the Red Planet.
	T-Tauri Stars A newborn star typically goes through four stages of adolescence. It begins life as a protostar still enshrouded in its natal molecular cloud, accreting new material and developing a proto-planetary disc. Slowly, stellar winds and radiation blow away the surrounding shell of gas and dust, and the third stage, when the surrounding envelope has cleared, is called the T-Tauri phase. T-Tauri stars (the class is named after the first star of this type that was so identified) are less than about ten million years old, and provide astronomers with promising candidates in which to study the early lives of stars and planets. They were among the first young stars to be identified because the earlier stages, still embedded in their birth clouds, were blocked from optical observations by the dust. In the fourth stage, the disk stops accreting and the source's radiation comes from the star's photosphere. T-Tauri stars produce strong X-rays, primarily by what is thought to be coronal activity much like the coronal activity in our own Sun, although in some cases a component might be coming from hot material in the dusty disk.
	Image: Hubble uncovers a mysterious dwarf galaxy The drizzle of stars scattered across this image forms a galaxy known as UGC 4879. UGC 4879 is an irregular dwarf galaxy—as the name suggests, galaxies of this type are a little smaller and messier than their cosmic cousins, lacking the majestic swirl of a spiral or the coherence of an elliptical.
	Researchers gear up galaxy-seeking robots for a test run A prototype system, designed as a test for a planned array of 5,000 galaxy-seeking robots, is taking shape at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab).
	23-million-year-old brown dwarf flashes brighter than the sun's most powerful flares Although astronomers often refer to brown dwarfs as "failed stars," scientists at the University of Delaware have discovered that at least one of these dim celestial objects can emit powerful flashes of light.
	Writing their name in the stars: Citizen scientists discover huge galaxy cluster Two volunteer participants in an international citizen science project have had a rare galaxy cluster that they found named after them.
	Europe develops self-removal technology for spacecraft A new European project has an ambitious goal of cleaning up space for future generations. The Technology for Self-Removal of Spacecraft (TeSeR) program, introduced in May 2016, will develop a prototype for a module that will ensure that a defunct spacecraft pose no danger to other vehicles in space.
	Astronomer helping NASA spacecraft explore beyond Pluto The computer found it first – Kuiper Belt Object 2014 MU69  – but University of Virginia astronomer Anne Verbiscer was the "human backup" who found it next. She confirmed the finding for NASA by using the same technique that astronomer Clyde Tombaugh used to discover Pluto back in 1930: blinking two images of star fields to see if any tiny points of light moved.
	Image: Young star offers a glimpse of the sun's past It may look like a star, it may be called a star, but it does not yet generate energy like a normal star. This is because this star is still being formed.
	Extreme trans-Neptunian objects lead the way to Planet Nine In the race towards the discovery of a ninth planet in our solar system, scientists from around the world strive to calculate its orbit using the tracks left by the small bodies that move well beyond Neptune. Now, astronomers from Spain and Cambridge University have confirmed, with new calculations, that the orbits of the six extreme trans-Neptunian objects that served as a reference to announce the existence of Planet Nine are not as stable as it was thought.
	Triple barreled powerhouse plows dazzling path to orbit for clandestine NRO eavesdropper A top secret eavesdropping satellite constructed to support America's national defense plowed a dazzling path to orbit Saturday riding atop the immense firepower of the mightiest rocket in the world – the triple barreled Delta IV Heavy powerhouse.

Technology news

	Sun-powered Solar Impulse 2 aircraft reaches Statue of Liberty The Solar Impulse 2 aircraft flew by the Statue of Liberty early Saturday, ending the US portion of its bid to circle the globe using only solar power.
	Bluetooth 5 awaited; good news regarding range and speed (Tech Xplore)—Why would there not be a lot of bubbly feelings over "the next major iteration of one of the most popular wireless standards," as PhoneArena described Bluetooth 5.
	Car giants see road to riches in sharing Auto giants are racing to invest in car- and ride-sharing services, lured by the prospect of fat profits yet to be tapped from a billion cars on the world's roads.
	Lenovo shows off smart shoe prototype, counts, steps to games You can blame computer hardware for making you fall into a chair for hours and turning into a user potato surrounded by all your desktop and entertainment products, but many people will allow themselves to be hopelessly out of shape for just so long.
	Social Vyo adjusts temps, frets over unplugged irons, reacts to physical icons We see there is another member of the growing crop of "social" robots that are being engineered to help you through your domestic tasks: Meet Vyo. This is a home robot for controlling smart home devices. It's the result of a collaboration between Milab IDC Herzliya, Cornell University and SK Telecom.
	Coming later today: Apple's next big software improvements With sales of Apple's flagship iPhone slowing, the spotlight is on the company's hunt for its next big thing. Apple's annual software developers conference, which kicks off Monday, will be its next big opportunity to show the world what's coming next.
	Systems that bank energy can add value to solar and wind projects Utility companies or others planning to install renewable energy systems such as solar and wind farms have to decide whether to include large-scale energy storage systems that can capture power when it's available and release it on demand. This decision may be critical to the future growth of renewable energy.
	Artificial intelligence produces realistic sounds that fool humans For robots to navigate the world, they need to be able to make reasonable assumptions about their surroundings and what might happen during a sequence of events.
	Microsoft shifts to social with huge LinkedIn deal (Update 3) Microsoft on Monday shifted its focus to social networking with a massive $26.2 billion deal for professional social network LinkedIn.
	Cheap gas, coal won't hobble renewables: energy report Weak coal and gas prices will not stop record investment in renewables over the coming decades as the cost of generating clean energy drops, a key energy report said Monday.
	Researchers work to create methods for rapid robot customization In the future, we may be able to design and print our own robots that we can control with a smartphone and ... oh wait, we can do that today?
	Apple opens up Siri, other systems to woo developers Apple said Monday it was opening up its Siri digital assistant to outside applications, stepping up its artificial intelligence efforts to compete against rival services from Amazon, Google and Microsoft.
Video game industry shoots for momentum at E3 show Virtual reality, streaming play and titles tailored for smartphones are expected to generate buzz at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) video game extravaganza kicking off in Los Angeles.
GM's Canada labs to develop self-driving car technology General Motors announced plans Friday to hire 1,000 engineers and software developers at its Canadian research facilities near Toronto over the coming years to design new self-driving cars.
	Solar-powered pilots' globe-circling flight arrives in NYC (Update) The pilots of a solar-powered airplane on a globe-circling voyage that began more than a year ago said their flight over the Statue of Liberty before landing in New York inspired them on their mission to promote a world free from reliance on fossil fuels.
	From virtual reality to androids, five expectations for E3 E3 is at a crossroads.
	'Star Trek' actors take series' first VR game for a spin It looks like the trippiest episode of "Star Trek" ever created.
	Los Alamos app allows users to visit 1940s 'Atomic City' Los Alamos, a once secret city where scientists participated in the nation's classified World War II nuclear development program, can now be experienced much like it was then with a new app.
	Pioneering solar pilots 'make sci-fi a reality' The Swiss pilot readying to cross the Atlantic in a solar-powered plane on the next leg of a record-breaking, round-the-world mission says he is making science fiction reality.
Tech, beauty intersect in Silicon Valley The beauty industry has long relied on creating a sense of mystery, magic even, around its creams, powders and potions. But now it has something else up its sleeve: high technology.
Channels go dark for millions of Dish customers Millions of Dish TV subscribers lost access to one or more channels Sunday night because of a fight over how much the satellite TV company should pay for the channels.
	Jakarta's traffic trials give rise to a tech success The Indonesian capital's reputation as one of the most congested cities is typically not an advantage with investors. But one company has become the country's most visible technology success with an app that relieves some of the pain of its maddening traffic.
	Roach-like robots run, climb and communicate with people Insects make themselves at home in the most unwelcoming terrain: on steep inclines, in dark crevices, under shaky rubble.
	Computers may be evolving but are they intelligent? The term "artificial intelligence" (AI) was first used back in 1956 to describe the title of a workshop of scientists at Dartmouth, an Ivy League college in the United States.
	Fighting malevolent AI—artificial intelligence, meet cybersecurity With the appearance of robotic financial advisors, self-driving cars and personal digital assistants come many unresolved problems. We have already experienced market crashes caused by intelligent trading software, accidents caused by self-driving cars and hate speech from chat-bots that turned racist.
	Solar power home storage systems put to test Home storage systems for electricity produced by photovoltaics facilities are gaining attractiveness, as their costs are declining. However, standardized, verifiable criteria for the end client to assess their performance are still lacking. Now, scientists have launched the largest German study so far to analyze commercial systems with respect to safety, quality, and grid suitability and to derive recommendations for manufacturers, standardization bodies, and authorities. The "SafetyFirst" project is funded with EUR 4 million by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and scheduled for a duration of three years.
	Replacing nuclear power with wind power doesn't make sense in Sweden, study shows The Swedish power supply is largely free of carbon emissions. Indeed, it is mainly based on a combination of hydroelectric and nuclear power combined with power exchange with neighbouring Scandinavian countries.
	Symantec builds web security with purchase of Blue Coat US cybersecurity leader Symantec will expand its web security capabilities and get a new chief executive with the $4.65 billion purchase of Blue Coat Inc.
Businesses can save 30 percent on electrical bills by adjusting production schedules Industrial manufacturing businesses can save over 30 percent on electrical bills, and cut greenhouse gas emissions by over 5 percent, by adjusting production schedules, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.
	The Latest: Siri updated in artificial-intelligence rivalry The Latest on Apple (all times local):
	Apple makes Siri smarter, rolls out software improvements Apple kicked off its annual software developer conference with an artificial intelligence upgrade for Siri, its digital assistant, as well as new software features for other devices and an overhaul of its music service.
	Belgian hospitals introduce robot receptionists His diction is still a little odd, and his movements sometimes a bit hesitant, but Pepper the robot is all geared up to help patients at two Belgian hospitals.
Leaner, cheaper Xbox One model plays for gamers Microsoft on Monday unveiled a leaner, lower-priced Xbox One model and a lineup of coming games as it strived to make up lost ground on Sony's market-leading rival PlayStation 4.
	Glance: Apple unveils messaging app, improvements to Siri Apple unveiled improvements to maps, messaging and its Siri voice assistant. It's also bringing an "SOS" feature to its watch to automatically call for help in an emergency.
	Industry 4.0 allows manufacturers to see inside precision glass molding machine When manufacturing optical lenses, every detail counts. In order to stabilize and optimize the manufacturing process, Fraunhofer researchers are using digitalized processes. At the Optatec trade fair in Frankfurt from June 7 to 9, Fraunhofer experts will be showing how Industry 4.0 approaches can improve the development and manufacture of glass optics (hall 3.0, booth D50).
The sound of old music In addition to their shape, the material that brass instruments are made of determines their sound. This was demonstrated by acousticians in a project funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF on reconstructing the sound of historical trombones.
	Intelligent Vehicles at the starting line for safer roads and improved traffic flow A milestone in the ADAPTIVE project was recently reached, with the announcement that its demonstrator vehicles had all been successfully equipped and are now ready for test scenarios. Eight vehicles in all, seven passenger cars and one truck, were fitted with their respective hardware.
	Hungary votes to allow blocks on ride-sharing apps Hungary's parliament on Monday approved legislation allowing authorities to block ride-sharing apps and websites like Uber for up to a year if they continue to operate without the necessary permits after being fined.
	The EU commits to research into ultra-efficient aero engines The EU is investing over EUR 3 million in innovative aero-engine technologies in the three-year "Ultimate" project, short for "Ultra Low emission Technology Innovations for Mid-century Aircraft Turbine Engines". The project targets radical concepts for new aero engines, in line with the EU's long-term emissions reduction target for 2050. The project is being presented at a conference in South Korea this week.
	Beyond Microsoft and LinkedIn: Biggest tech acquisitions Microsoft's plan to buy professional-networking service LinkedIn for about $26.2 billion ranks as one of the biggest acquisitions ever in the tech industry.
Johnson Controls to spend $245M on N. America battery plants Auto parts supplier Johnson Controls says it will sink $245 million into building automotive batteries to handle increasing demand for electrical devices in cars and trucks.
	Siri could have big role at Apple conference Apple's wisecracking digital assistant Siri could have a big role as the company's annual software conference opens in San Francisco.

Medicine & Health news

	Research gives new meaning to the term 'bird brain' The macaw has a brain the size of an unshelled walnut, while the macaque monkey has a brain about the size of a lemon. Nevertheless, the macaw has more neurons in its forebrain - the portion of the brain associated with intelligent behavior - than the macaque.
	FDA approves vaccine for cholera In a milestone years in the making, a vaccine to prevent cholera, invented and developed by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine's Center for Vaccine Development, was approved today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
	Kids' sleep guidelines spell out shut-eye guidance by age Parental warning: Don't lose sleep over new guidelines on how much shut-eye your kids should be getting.
	Predicting disease outbreaks using environmental changes A model that predicts outbreaks of zoonotic diseases—those originating in livestock or wildlife such as Ebola and Zika—based on changes in climate, population growth and land use has been developed by a UCL-led team of researchers.
	Study points to an active role for dendrites in cortical processing Scientists at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) have provided strong evidence that the arrangement of synaptic connections within the dendritic field supports an active role for dendrites in cortical processing and that these dendritic computations shape how neurons encode visual information.
	Study of individual neurons in flies reveals memory-related changes in gene activity Researchers at Princeton University have developed a highly sensitive and precise method to explore genes important for memory formation within single neurons of the Drosophila fly brain. With this method, the researchers found an unexpected result: certain genes involved in creating long-term memories in the brain are the same ones that the eye uses for sensing light.
	Tweaked deep sequencing technique allows for profiling microRNA in mice (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers working at the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a means for tweaking a deep sequencing technique that allows for profiling mouse oocytes and early embryos. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the team describes the tweaks they made and also what they found when they used their new technique on mice.
	Boosting immunity in older adults: Study unmasks new infection-fighting T cells Sixty-five is the age when many people retire, kick back and take it easy. And so it often is with the human immune system.
	Success in second language learning linked to genetic and brain measures If you've had disappointing results in learning a new language as an adult, your struggle may have to do with your genes and brain structure.
	Eating more whole grains linked with lower mortality rates Eating at least three servings of whole grains every day could lower your risk of death, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.
	Children less likely to trust ugly people Is beauty only skin deep? Children don't seem to think so, like adults and babies, children think the uglier you are, the less trustworthy you are.
	Probing proteins' 3-D structures suggests existing drugs may work for many cancers Examining databases of proteins' 3-D shapes, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified more than 850 DNA mutations that appear to be linked to cancer. The information may expand the number of cancer patients who can benefit from existing drugs.
	An unexpected origin for calming immune cells in the gut Biologically speaking, we carry the outside world within us. The food we ingest each day and the trillions of microbes that inhabit our guts pose a constant risk of infection—and all that separates us from these foreign entities is a delicate boundary made of a single layer of cells.
Older Americans with diabetes living longer without disability, study shows Older Americans with diabetes born in the 1940s are living longer and with less disability performing day to day tasks than those born 10 years earlier, according to new research published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal.
	Florida health warriors deploy in war on Zika Carlos Varas inspects the front yards of Miami homes armed with larvicide, pesticide and what looks like a long-armed eyedropper. His mission: destroy the Aedes aegypti mosquito that spreads the Zika virus.
	Eye study underscores the long-lasting benefits of controlling diabetes People with type 2 diabetes who intensively controlled their blood sugar level during the landmark Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) Trial Eye Study were found to have cut their risk of diabetic retinopathy in half in a follow-up analysis conducted four years after stopping intensive therapy. Investigators who led the ACCORD Follow-on Eye Study (ACCORDION) announced the results today in New Orleans at the American Diabetes Association annual meeting. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health's National Eye Institute (NEI).
	Global study shows diabetes and heart disease can be a deadly combination The combination of type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease can be deadly.
Antibody-based drug helps 'bridge' leukemia patients to curative treatment In a randomized Phase III study of the drug inotuzumab ozogamicin, a statistically significant percentage of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) whose disease had relapsed following standard therapies, qualified for stem cell transplants.
Rethink rehabilitation to reverse frailty One in four patients with COPD referred for exercise rehabilitation are frail, but nevertheless can respond favourably to rehabilitation and their frailty can be reversed, finds a new study led by King's College London and Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust. The findings have wider implications for treating frailty, which affects one in ten over-65s, where adapting other rehabilitation programmes could potentially benefit more patients.
Many family physicians have inaccurate knowledge about lung cancer screening Although clinical trials have shown that lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) can detect lung cancers early and reduce lung cancer mortality, less than half of family physicians in a recent survey agreed that screening reduces lung cancer-related deaths. Most were also unaware of current recommendations on lung cancer screening in high risk patients. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings indicate that there are gaps physicians' knowledge about appropriate lung cancer screening.
	Being born small or stress during pregnancy can lead to greater disease risk in mothers Low birth weight or stress during pregnancy can lead to long-term health problems in women, according to a study published today in The Journal of Physiology.
	New research provides hope for patients with hard-to-treat breast cancer UK scientists have found a new way to slow the growth of the most aggressive type of breast cancer, according to research published in the journal Oncogene today.
	Blocking PRMT5 might force resistant brain-tumor cells into senescence, study suggests A new study suggests that blocking an enzyme called PRMT5 in tumor cells could be a promising new strategy for the treatment of glioblastoma (GB), the most aggressive and lethal form of brain cancer.
What are risk factors for dementia after intracerebral hemorrhage? Larger hematoma size and location were risk factors associated with dementia after an intracerebral hemorrhage when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, according to an article published online by JAMA Neurology.
Breastfeeding, antibiotics before weaning and BMI in later childhood Breastfeeding in children who had received no antibiotics before weaning was associated with a decreased number of antibiotic courses after weaning and a decreased body mass index (BMI) later in childhood, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
Hospital or outpatient care when patients present with hypertensive urgency? Do ambulatory patients who present in office settings with hypertensive urgency - systolic blood pressure (BP) at least 180mm HG and diastolic BP at least 110 mm Hg - do better when they are referred to the hospital or when they have their BP managed in an outpatient setting?
	Study, research letter examine aspects of opioid prescribing, sharing Pain-relieving prescription opioids are the subject of a new original investigation and research letter published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Six in ten adults prescribed opioid painkillers have leftover pills In the midst of an epidemic of prescription painkiller addiction and overdose deaths, a new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health survey suggests that more than half of patients prescribed opioids have leftover pills—and many save them to use later.
	Military members with PTSD/depression can be treated successfully in primary care settings Military members who visited a primary care clinic while suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression reported fewer symptoms and better mental health functioning a year after enrolling in a treatment program that included specially trained care managers and telephone therapy options, according to a new study.
	Proper maternal folate level may reduce child obesity risk Proper maternal folate levels during pregnancy may protect children from a future risk of obesity, especially those born to obese mothers, according to a study led by researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Opioid unknowns: US hospitals vary nearly twofold in opioid prescribing rates Nearly 15 percent of opioid-naïve patients hospitalized under Medicare are discharged with a new prescription for opioids, according to a study published today in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Autologous stem cell transplant should be standard care for HIV-associated lymphoma New research published online today in Blood Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), challenges the generally held belief that individuals with HIV and aggressive lymphoma are not candidates for standard treatment.
Aspirin may increase survival after colon cancer It is well known that aspirin has analgesic and fever-reducing properties. However, this drug may also increase the likelihood of surviving colon cancer.
Magnetic cancer detecting system moves towards commercialisation An improved system for detecting cancers that uses magnetic rather than radioactive tracers has taken a major step towards commercialisation.
Training helps those with mild cognitive impairment New research from the Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas shows that strategy-based reasoning training can improve the cognitive performance for those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a preclinical stage of those at risk for Alzheimer's disease.
	Is flag football a safer alternative to tackle? Reports of serious head and neck injuries to football players, especially young football players, have caused some parents to hesitate to let their children play tackle football. In some places, such as Bergen County, New Jersey, youth flag football leagues seem to be attracting more players, while tackle leagues are drawing fewer. In flag football, players don't tackle each other, but snatch a piece of fabric – a "flag" – from an opponent's belt in lieu of tackling. Flag football is not a non-contact sport; players still block each other. But it's played without helmets and body armor and places an emphasis on speed and skill, rather than force.
	Low levels of regenerative cells can lead to peripheral arterial disease An Emory study published online this week in Circulation Research suggests that a disruption in the body's own regenerative capacity, measured by levels of circulating progenitor cells, may contribute to the development of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
Finding a fiber that fits Have you given much thought to the fiber in your diet? Probably not, if you are like most Americans. While recommended intakes of dietary fiber range from 21-25 grams per day for women to 30-38 for men (depending on age), average intake in this country is about 15 grams for both genders. It may be a bigger deal than you think.
Neurologic symptoms common in early HIV infection much more extensive, though milder than previously thought A team led by researchers from UC San Francisco and Yale has found that half of people newly infected with HIV experience neurologic issues. These neurologic findings are generally not severe and usually resolve after participants started anti-retroviral therapy.
	Tailored treatments to fight superbugs New research from Monash University and the University of Queensland could change the way critically ill patients across the world are treated.
	How makeup makes other women jealous Imagine you're sitting at an important job interview. You're suitably dressed and have taken the time to do your hair and apply some makeup. You're smiling, answering questions, and attempting to appear competent, and, obviously, hireable.
	Revolutionary app to help people quit smoking Scientists at the University of St Andrews have developed a revolutionary "mobile health buddy" app to help people quit smoking.
	Walking down stairs could help prevent dementia We're pretty familiar with the notion that exercise is good for our health. But new WA research suggests that something as simple as encouraging the elderly to walk down a flight of stairs could help prevent cognitive decline, a precursor to diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's.
Report calls for action on cancer services in Wales A new hard-hitting report into cancer services in Wales - produced by the University of Glasgow's Institute for Health and Well-being - calls for an ambitious new plan to cope with growing numbers of people being diagnosed with the disease.
	Expert warns of new tick-borne disease As spring awakens here in UConn country, so do the ticks. UConn veterinarian, researcher, and tick-borne disease expert Dr. Sandra Bushmich recently answered questions about ticks and the diseases they carry in this area, especially some lesser known and emerging diseases.
Miniature scaffolding could support fight against superbugs Tiny molecular scaffolding that joins molecules together could be the key to our battle against antibiotic resistance. Research published in Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters shows that carbon nanodot scaffolding assembled with small molecules called polyamines can kill some dangerous drug-resistant bacteria, including Acinetobacter baumanii and Klebsiella pneumonia.
Young cancer survivors are more likely to smoke than people without cancer history Researchers at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have found that cancer survivors who were diagnosed at adolescent and young adult ages are more likely to be current cigarette smokers than people who have not had cancer. The findings of this study are currently available in Cancer.
Shorter time in bed may protect against chronic insomnia Twenty to 50 percent of Americans suffer from acute insomnia each year, defined as difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, three or more nights per week, for between two weeks and three months. Roughly 10 percent of Americans experience chronic insomnia lasting longer than three months. The effects of chronic insomnia (and/or sleep loss) include impaired physical and mental performance, increased risk for mental health disorders (such as, depression and substance abuse), and increased risk for medical diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
	Researchers find stroke damages blood-spinal cord barrier A team of researchers at the University of South Florida investigating the short and long-term effects of ischemic stroke in a rodent model has found that stroke can cause long-term damage to the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB), creating a "toxic environment" in the spinal cord that might leave stroke survivors susceptible to motor dysfunction and disease pathology.
	Roadmap for advanced cell manufacturing shows path to cell-based therapeutics An industry-driven consortium has developed a national roadmap designed to chart the path to large-scale manufacturing of cell-based therapeutics for use in a broad range of illnesses including cancer, neuro-degenerative diseases, blood and vision disorders and organ regeneration and repair.
Canada needs essential medicines list to ensure supply Canada needs to create a list of essential medicines to help protect against drug shortages, argues an analysis in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal)
	Household air pollution linked to higher risk of heart attacks, death Long-term exposure to household air pollution from lighting, cooking or heating with fuels, such as kerosene or diesel, may increase the risk of heart attacks and death, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.
Possible psoriasis drug target identified Psoriasis is one of the most common human skin diseases. People with severe cases sometimes resort to immunosuppressive treatment to quell the skin scaling, itching and joint arthritis that are hallmarks of the disorder. But long-term administration of the medication can leave them vulnerable to infection and other unwanted side effects.
Radiation and vaccination can magnify effects of immunotherapy By combining local radiation therapy and anti-cancer vaccines with checkpoint inhibitors, researchers from the University of Chicago, working with mice, were able to increase the response rate for these new immunotherapy agents.
Teva stops selling migraine patch after reports of burns Teva Pharmaceutical said Monday that it will stop selling its migraine patch treatment Zecuity after users reported burns and scars where it was applied. The company advised that anyone who has its patch should not use it.
Insights into the ecology of the microbiome The microbiome is like a fingerprint: every person's community of microbes is complex and unique. But the underlying dynamics, the interactions between the microbes that shape these microbial ecosystems, may have something in common. To investigate, researchers from the Channing Division of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, led by Amir Bashan, PhD, and Yang-Yu Liu, PhD, analyzed data from large metagenomic datasets (e.g. the Human Microbiome Project and Student Microbiome Project) to look at the dynamics of the gut, mouth and skin microbiomes of healthy subjects.
Central line infection prevention bundles reduce number of deadly infections in newborns Infection prevention bundles, a package of evidence-based guidelines implemented in unison, are effective for reducing central line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSI) in critical care newborn infants, according to a new study published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. The bundle helped reduce the number of lines placed, the duration of time used and the number of infections.
	Topical application of antiretroviral drug combination prevents transmission of (S)HIV Researchers are edging ever closer to discovering the perfect combination of drugs and drug delivery system that will stop the sexual transmission of HIV. Findings published last week in the journal PLOS ONE confirm that researchers from the Oak Crest Institute of Science, located in Monrovia, CA, have demonstrated for the first time that two powerful antiretroviral (AVR) drugs can provide complete protection against HIV when delivered topically by a sustained release intravaginal ring (IVR) device.
Receptor in nasal cavity may be linked to preference for high-fat food A paper by Brazilian researchers published in the journal Scientific Reports describes a study showing that a subgroup of olfactory neurons in the nasal cavity express a cellular receptor specializing in the transport of lipid molecules.
Study suggests another look at common treatments for hemophilia Families of children with severe hemophilia A may want to take a fresh look at treatment options from human plasma. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on May 26 showed that participants who received a recombinant therapy— the present standard in the United States—developed antibodies or "inhibitors" to the treatments at almost twice the rate as those whose treatments were made from human plasma.
Researchers discover new therapeutic approach for cardiorenal syndrome type 2 A study in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology suggests a new therapeutic approach to treat the development of chronic kidney disease secondary to chronic heart failure, known as cardiorenal syndrome type 2.
Diabetes drug lowers risk of cardiovascular complications, kidney disease Researchers have shown that the glucose-lowering drug liraglutide safely and effectively decreases the overall risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death for people with type 2 diabetes. These patients are at high risk for cardiovascular disease, which is the number one killer of people with type 2 diabetes. Liraglutide was also associated with a reduction in kidney disease and death from all causes.
	Caffeine has little to no benefit after three nights of sleep restriction A new study found that after restricting sleep to 5 hours per night, caffeine use no longer improved alertness or performance after three nights.
Lack of transportation hampers hungry children from getting free summer meals, study finds Lack of transportation is a hurdle for many families in Texas whose children could benefit from free summer meals from a federally funded program administered by Texas Department of Agriculture, according to a study by Texas Hunger Initiative at Baylor University.
Culture crash: How common pediatric diseases affect the healthy intestinal microbiome Tracy C. Grikscheit, MD, pediatric surgeon and principal investigator at The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles, treats a large number of young patients who require surgery for various intestinal diseases. Since the intestinal microbiome is an important regulator of gut health and immune function, Grikscheit and her team investigated how surgical treatment of certain pediatric intestinal diseases have a long-term impact on intestinal flora.
Rolling on Molly: US high school seniors underreport ecstasy use when not asked about Molly National surveys suggest ecstasy (the street name for the drug MDMA) use has decreased substantially among adolescents and young adults in the US since 2001; however, the recent phenomenon of "Molly" (ecstasy marketed as "pure MDMA") may be leading to underreporting of use as not all users are aware that "Molly" is a form of ecstasy.
Sleep duration varies by alcohol drinking patterns, race, and sex A new study found that alcohol-sleep relationship differed importantly by race and sex.
	Video game playing negatively influences adequate sleep and bedtimes A new study found that gamers will push off obtaining adequate sleep in order to continue video gaming.
	Experimental antibiotic treats deadly MRSA infection A new experimental antibiotic developed by a team of scientists at Rutgers University successfully treats the deadly MRSA infection and restores the efficacy of a commonly prescribed antibiotic that has become ineffective against MRSA.
Physical activity builds stronger bones, even in children with genetic risk Exercise, particularly high-impact activity, builds stronger bones in children, even for those who carry genetic variants that predispose them to bone weakness, according to new research. The scientists say their findings underscore that genetics does not necessarily equate to destiny, and reinforce the importance of physical activity as a key factor to improve the bone health of children in the present and into later life.
	In MS, can better sleep improve cognition? People with multiple sclerosis often have trouble with memory, attention and mental processing. New research shows some of these issues could stem from sleep disorders.
Mouse model shows that Notch activation can drive metastatic prostate cancer Notch signaling is involved in prostate cancer and, in a paper published today in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and other institutions have shown that, in a mouse model of the disease, Notch promotes metastasis, or the ability of the tumors to spread to other organs.
Screening strategy may predict lethal prostate cancer later in life Prostate cancer screening with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has been shown to reduce death and the spread of prostate cancer to other parts of the body, but the PSA test remains highly controversial as it frequently leads to over diagnosis and over treatment of men who may not be at risk. Smarter screening strategies that can improve the accuracy of diagnosing lethal prostate cancer are urgently needed. Through a prospective study of US men, investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have found that measuring PSA levels in younger men (between the ages of 40 and 59) could accurately predict future risk of lethal prostate cancer later in life. Their findings suggest that screening PSA levels in men at mid-life may help identify those who are at greater risk and should be monitored more closely.
	Fewer injured workers getting opioid prescriptions in some states (HealthDay)—As the United States continues to grapple with the painkiller addiction epidemic, a new study reports that fewer injured workers are getting prescriptions for opioids in most of the 25 states included in the research.
	Kids gain from more 'dad time' (HealthDay)—Fathers play a unique and important role in their children's development, a new report shows.
	Antibiotics may blunt breast-feeding's benefits (HealthDay News) —Early use of antibiotics may dampen some of the benefits of breast-feeding, a new study suggests.
	E-cigarettes a gateway to smoking for teens: study (HealthDay)—Teens in the United States who use electronic cigarettes are six times more likely to move on to traditional cigarettes compared to kids who never use the devices, a new study reports.
	SBRT, proton beam therapy use increasing for prostate CA (HealthDay)—For men with prostate cancer, the use of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and proton beam therapy increased from 2004 to 2011, according to a study published online May 25 in Cancer.
	Type of shaving impacts body image in elective cranial sx (HealthDay)—For patients undergoing elective cranial surgery, the rate of surgical site infections is similar for regional and strip hair shaving, but regional shaving negatively affects patient body image, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
	Ultrasound beats palpation for femoral artery catheterization (HealthDay)—For children undergoing heart surgery, real-time ultrasound guidance is superior to a palpation technique for femoral artery catheterization, according to a study published online June 1 in Pediatric Anesthesia.
	Report describes primary clear cell sarcoma of head, neck (HealthDay)—Three cases of primary clear cell sarcoma of the head and neck have been described in three male patients, according to a review published online June 6 in the Journal of Cutaneous Pathology.
	Review links H. pylori infection with metabolic syndrome (HealthDay)—Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with metabolic syndrome, according to a review and meta-analysis published online June 7 in the Journal of Digestive Diseases.
	Persistent depression linked to increased CAC scores in women (HealthDay)—Persistent depressive symptoms are associated with increased coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores among middle-aged women without cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a study published in the June 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Proposed premium hikes rattle consumers paying their own way Millions of people who pay the full cost of their health insurance will face the sting of rising premiums next year, with no financial help from government subsidies.
Travel costs for kidney donors to be reimbursed by insurer Travel costs that could dissuade potential kidney donors from volunteering for life-saving transplants will be reimbursed by the nation's biggest insurer starting next year in a move designed to encourage more donations.
Diabetes portal adds data, more powerful search tools The AMP Type 2 Diabetes Knowledge Portal (link is external) online library and discovery engine has greatly expanded data and search capabilities to accelerate the pace of scientific advancement. Customizable and simplified navigation, along with aggregated data from more than 100,000 DNA samples from research supported by NIH and other institutions, encourage new understanding of diabetes by increasing users' ability to share and evaluate content.
Thailand warns fans of Euro 2016 heart attack threat Thailand's health authorities have urged football fans to avoid getting overly excited while watching Euro 2016 lest those heart-stopping moments literally prove fatal.
	The therapeutic potential of health data In the future, doctors won't be concerned about treating just a diseased organ – they'll be using a mass of data to get a holistic view of the state of their patients." This is how the Swiss Centre for Technology Assessment describes the dream of personalised medicine. In this scenario, drugs will no longer be prescribed only according to a diagnosis, because gene variants and self-generated data will be consulted before decisions are made.
	Finding a primary care physician is an important step for millennials According to a recent survey by FAIR Health, a nonprofit organization that gathers information on health data, more than 50 percent of millennials use means such as retail clinics, urgent care centers or emergency rooms for nonemergency medical care.
	Improving perinatal outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families Three investigators from Murdoch University's School of Psychology and Exercise Science, will pilot an early intervention program which aims to close the gap in perinatal care between Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people, improving the outcomes for future generations.
PET/CT reveals adaptations of the alcoholic brain Alcoholism is a devastating disorder that too often leads to a perpetual cycle of abuse. An emerging molecular imaging technique may provide a way to break that cycle. It could signal patients' heightened risk and lead to targeted drug treatments that reduce the compulsion to drink, say researchers presenting at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).
	Pretargeted radioimmunotherapy may eliminate colorectal cancer An emerging cancer therapy has colorectal tumors surrounded. Presenters at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) are unveiling a novel radioimmunotherapy that combines a cancer-seeking antibody with potent radionuclide agents, resulting in complete remission of colorectal cancer in mouse models.
	Blood test predicts success of neuroendocrine cancer therapy Malignant neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are relatively rare, notoriously difficult to treat, and associated with poor long-term survival. According to research presented at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), an investigative blood test could predict how patients will respond to peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) before they commit to a course of treatment.
	PET detects neuroinflammation in multiple sclerosis The triggers of autoimmune inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS) have eluded scientists for many years, but molecular imaging is bringing researchers closer to identifying them, while providing a means of evaluating next-generation therapies for MS, say researchers introducing a study at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).
Diabetes Collaborative Registry releases baseline, quality of care data Clinicians submitting data to the Diabetes Collaborative Registry regularly adhere to 4 out of 7 diabetes quality metrics when treating patients with diabetes, according to the first presented results from the registry. Registry data will be presented and published in two abstracts at the American Diabetes Association's 76th Scientific Sessions, June 10-14 in New Orleans.
Study identifies a potential therapeutic target for lung cancer Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is one of the deadliest types of cancer, and it has been several decades since new treatment options have been approved for this disease. Although recent advances in cancer treatments have focused on promising therapies that trigger the immune system to attack cancer cells, no immunological approaches have been developed to treat SCLC.
New York poised to expand access to breast cancer screening New York is poised to expand access to breast cancer screening under an agreement reached by top state lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who made combating the cancer a priority after the successful cancer treatment of his girlfriend, Food Network star Sandra Lee.
	Scientists work to protect the kidneys from powerful cancer drug Cisplatin is a common, powerful chemotherapy agent used for a wide range of cancers such as breast, ovarian and lung, that in a handful of days can also permanently damage or destroy patients' kidneys.
	Adjuvant chemotherapy improves overall survival in patients with stage IB non-small cell lung cancer The use of adjuvant chemotherapy in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients improves overall survival (OS) and 5-year OS in patients with tumor sizes ranging from 3 - 7 cm.
Chronic sleep restriction negatively affects athletic performance A new study found that chronic sleep restriction negatively affects athletic performance.
The most prolific perpetrators of elder abuse may be living among them Researchers studying the prevalence of resident-to-resident mistreatment in nursing homes found that at least one in five elderly residents had experienced some form of verbal or physical mistreatment from other residents during a one-month surveillance period. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Multi-center trial to test new treatment for chronic cough The National Institute for Health Research has today announced its participation in a clinical trial to test a promising new treatment for chronic cough. If approved, this would be the first new cough drug in 50 years and offer hope to the millions of people living with chronic cough for whom few, if any, effective treatments exist.
	Molecular imaging of neuroendocrine tumors optimizes radiotherapy dose Aggressive neuroendocrine cancer is something of a dark horse—a rare, elusive and persevering force linked to discouraging long-term survival rates. Researchers at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) are presenting a molecular imaging technique that allows oncologists to set patients' radiotherapy doses right at that critical limit of delivering the most powerful kill to neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) while protecting vulnerable vital organs.
'Body shaming' ads banned from London transport Adverts that are likely to cause people to have "body confidence issues" will be banned from London's public transport network from next month, mayor Sadiq Khan announced on Monday.
Medical marijuana becomes legal in Macedonia Marijuana-derived medicines became legal on Monday in Macedonia, which joined over a dozen European countries that have already authorised the products for certain patients.
	PET points to tau protein as leading culprit in Alzheimer's Alzheimer's is a devastating and incurable disease marked by beta-amyloid and tau protein aggregations in the brain, yet the direct relationship between these proteins and neurodegeneration has remained a mystery. New molecular imaging research is revealing how tau, rather than amyloid-deposition, may be more directly instigating neuronal dysfunction, say presenters at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).
FDG PET evaluates immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) have a collective reputation for not responding very well to chemotherapy. Researchers at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) are presenting a means of evaluating an immunotherapy that fights off NSCLC by strengthening a patient's own immune system.

Biology news

	Herring spawn in NY tributary for 1st time in 85 years A few days after a long-abandoned industrial dam was removed from the mouth of a Hudson River tributary this spring, hundreds of river herring swarmed up into the shallow waters to spawn for the first time in 85 years.
	Botox's sweet tooth underlies its key neuron-targeting mechanism The Botox toxin has a sweet tooth, and it's this craving for sugars - glycans, to be exact - that underlies its extreme ability target neuron cells in the body ... while giving researchers an approach to neutralize it.
	Reclaiming the immune system's assault on tumors One of the major obstacles with treating cancer is that tumors can conscript the body's immune cells and make them work for them. Researchers at EPFL have now found a way to reclaim the corrupted immune cells, turn them into signals for the immune system to attack the tumor, and even prevent metastasis.
	By organizing chromosomes into many tiny loops, molecular motors play key role cell division Human cells contain 23 pairs of chromosomes that form a loosely organized cluster in the cell nucleus. When cells divide, they must first condense these chromosomes—each of which when fully extended is a thousand times longer than the cell's nucleus and physically indistinguishable from the others—into compact structures that can be easily separated and packaged into their offspring.
	Risk-taking in birds is more contagious at certain times, research shows Birds copy one another when trying new foods but will take more risks when doing so at different times of year, scientists at the University of Exeter have found.
	Where were you born? Origin matters for species interactions An oft-quoted proverb says it takes a village to raise a child, and new research from ecologists at Rice University and Louisiana State University suggests that a similar concept may be at work in natural ecosystems. The research, which appears in this week's Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, finds that the early life experiences of individual animals can have wide-reaching impacts on entire species.
	Eastern US needs 'connectivity' to help species escape climate change For plants and animals fleeing rising temperatures, varying precipitation patterns and other effects of climate change, the eastern United States will need improved "climate connectivity" for these species to have a better shot at survival.
	Watching 'jumping genes' in action "Jumping genes" are ubiquitous. Every domain of life hosts these sequences of DNA that can "jump" from one position to another along a chromosome; in fact, nearly half the human genome is made up of jumping genes. Depending on their specific excision and insertion points, jumping genes can interrupt or trigger gene expression, driving genetic mutation and contributing to cell diversification. Since their discovery in the 1940s, researchers have been able to study the behavior of these jumping genes, generally known as transposons or transposable elements (TE), primarily through indirect methods that infer individual activity from bulk results. However, such techniques are not sensitive enough to determine precisely how or why the transposons jump, and what factors trigger their activity.
	New discovery may improve future mosquito control Major rainfall across most of Texas triggering hordes of mosquitos coupled with seemingly constant mosquito-related Zika virus media reports from around the globe may have set the stage perfectly for what one researcher deems as a very significant discovery in man's war against earth's leading human disease carrier.
	Scientists confirm reprogrammed adult stem cells identical to embryonic stem cells Researchers from the Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Research Institute of Physical Chemical Medicine and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) have concluded that reprogramming does not create differences between reprogrammed and embryonic stem cells. The results have been published in the journal Cell Cycle.
	Tracking the evolutionary path of animals thriving in human-dominated environments An evolutionary framework aiming to track the pathways wild organisms followed to survive and thrive in environments dominated by humans has been developed for the first time.
	50-year-old observation leads to the most successful seagrass restoration in the world When Geoff Bastyan noticed seagrass disappearing from harbours in Albany nearly 50 years ago, he would never have predicted his observation would lead to the most successful seagrass restoration in the world.
	Humans could learn something from pigeons to improve their efficiency Humans could become better at switching between tasks – such as shifting from emailing to taking a phone call – if they behaved more like pigeons and stopped thinking about what they are doing, research by psychologists at the University of Exeter suggests.
	Researchers can tell the history of a wildebeest by looking at its tail Researchers have developed techniques to recreate a personalised diary of an animal's lifetime.
Unraveling the food web in your gut Despite recent progress, the organization and ecological properties of the intestinal microbial ecosystem remain under investigated. Using a manually curated metabolic module framework for (meta-)genomic data analysis, Sara Vieira-Silva, Gwen Falony and colleagues from the Jeroen Raes lab (VIB/KU Leuven) studied species-function relationships in gut microbial genomes and microbiomes. The team of the Flemish Gut Flora Project observed that half of the bacteria in the human gut were metabolic generalists, while others were specializing and feeding on specific substrates, such as carbohydrates, proteins, or lipids.
	How females store sperm: Fertility study in chickens examines fatty acids The science of breeding chickens has revealed part of the mystery of how certain female animals are able to store sperm long-term. Droplets of fat transferred from female cells to sperm cells may contribute to keeping sperm alive.
New research uses novel approach to study plant mimicry Batesian mimicry is a common evolutionary tool where unprotected species imitate harmful or poisonous species to protect themselves from predators. To date, nearly all examples of Batesian mimicry have come from studies on animals. A new study published today in Botany, provides a compelling example of plant mimicry between two New Zealand plants, Alseuosmia pusilla (known locally as small toropapa) and Pseudowintera colorata (commonly known as horopito or as a pepper tree).
	A gene called Prkci helps organize organisms and their organs A gene called Prkci can point cells in the right direction, according to a new study in Developmental Biology.
	Singapore destroys tonnes of illegal ivory Singapore on Monday crushed and burnt almost eight tonnes of ivory confiscated over two years to try to deter smugglers as activists called for tighter enforcement.
	Creating human genomes and synthetic people, destroying entire species with gene drives Researchers have a plan to link together chunks of synthetic DNA, making a researcher-created human genome that can control a cell in a lab dish. This, the 25 researchers advocating it in an open-access Science paper say, will be called Human Genome Project-Write. That's in contrast with the first HGP, completed in stages earlier in this century, which they call Human Genome Project-Read.  Find a list of the "stepping stone" projects the researchers are proposing at GEN.
Darwin's 'true century' was delayed until animal biographies illuminated social evolution Over the last fifty years, long-term studies following individual animals over entire lifespans have allowed insight into the evolutionary influence of social behaviour – finally fulfilling the holistic approach to evolution first suggested by Darwin, argues the author of a new milestone work on mammal societies.
	A common enemy: Through clinical trials, veterinarian fights cancer in animals, humans Raelene Wouda's passion for improving cancer treatment starts with our four-legged friends.

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