Science X Newsletter Monday, Jun 27

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 27, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Ford casts focus on driver behavior, calculates scores

Seeds of black holes could be revealed by gravitational waves detected in space

Two of Milky Way's globular clusters found to have halo stars

Researchers trace Mercury's origins to rare meteorite

Fastest-spinning brown-dwarf star is detected by its bursts of radio waves

Best of Last Week – Dark spot on Neptune, China tops supercomputer speed list and brain tumors in highly educated people

New, better way to build circuits for world's first useful quantum computers

Serpentine plants survive harsh soils thanks to borrowed genes

Fifty-four mouse testis-enriched genes are not needed for male fertility

US Navy keeps electromagnetic cannon in its sights

Study: Rotting trees caused mysterious holes in huge dunes

Remains of mammoth uncovered in Mexico

China on schedule for launch this year of 2nd space station

Proposal for travel forms to have optional field for online presence info

Neuron cell death may be caused by overactive immune system: Opening new path of discovery in Parkinson's disease

Astronomy & Space news

	Seeds of black holes could be revealed by gravitational waves detected in space Scientists led by Durham University's Institute for Computational Cosmology ran the huge cosmological simulations that can be used to predict the rate at which gravitational waves caused by collisions between the monster black holes might be detected.
	Two of Milky Way's globular clusters found to have halo stars (Phys.org)—Australian astronomers have uncovered evidence of halo stars in two globular clusters residing in the Milky Way galaxy. According to a new study published on June 21 on the arXiv pre-print server, the globular clusters known as Messier 3 and Messier 13, have extratidal halo stars. The new findings suggest that both clusters could be surrounded by extended stellar halos.
	Researchers trace Mercury's origins to rare meteorite Around 4.6 billion years ago, the Solar System was a chaos of collapsing gas and spinning debris. Small particles of gas and dust clumped together into larger and more massive meteoroids that in turn smashed together to form planets. Scientists believe that shortly after their formation, these planets—and particularly Mercury—were fiery spheres of molten material, which cooled over millions of years.
	Fastest-spinning brown-dwarf star is detected by its bursts of radio waves Astronomers have detected what may be the most-rapidly-rotating, ultra-cool, brown-dwarf star ever seen. The super-fast rotation period was measured by using the 305-meter Arecibo radio telescope—the same telescope that was used to discover the first planets ever found outside our solar system.
	China on schedule for launch this year of 2nd space station China on Sunday recovered an experimental probe launched aboard a new generation rocket, marking another milestone in its increasingly ambitious space program that envisions a mission to Mars by the end of the decade.
	Spectacular VLT images of Jupiter presented just days before the arrival of the Juno spacecraft In preparation for the imminent arrival of NASA's Juno spacecraft, astronomers have used ESO's Very Large Telescope to obtain spectacular new infrared images of Jupiter. They are part of a campaign to create high-resolution maps of the giant planet. These observations will inform the work to be undertaken by Juno over the coming months, helping astronomers to better understand the gas giant ahead of Juno's close encounter.
	NASA weighs use of rover to image potential Mars water sites Ever since it was announced that there may be evidence of liquid water on present-day Mars, NASA scientists have wondered how best to further investigate these long, seasonally changing dark streaks in the hope of finding evidence of life—past or present—on the Red Planet.
	When it comes to brown dwarfs, 'how far?' is a key question Brown dwarfs are sometimes called failed stars. They're stars' dim, low-mass siblings and they fade in brightness over time. They're fascinating to astronomers for a variety of reasons, but much about them remains unknown. New work from a Carnegie-led team reports the distances of a number of brown dwarfs, as well as low-mass stars, in The Astronomical Journal.
	ChemCam findings hint at oxygen-rich past on Mars The discovery of manganese oxides in Martian rocks might tell us that the Red Planet was once more Earth-like than previously believed. A new paper in Geophysical Research Letters reveals that NASA's Curiosity rover observed high levels of manganese oxides in Martian rocks, which could indicate that higher levels of atmospheric oxygen once existed on our neighboring planet. This hint of more oxygen in Mars' early atmosphere adds to other Curiosity findings—such as evidence of ancient lakes—revealing how Earth-like our neighboring planet once was.
	Team discovers moon over Makemake in the Kuiper Belt A Southwest Research Institute-led team has discovered an elusive, dark moon orbiting Makemake, one of the "big four" dwarf planets populating the Kuiper Belt region at the edge of our solar system. The findings are detailed in the paper "Discovery of a Makemakean Moon," published in the June 27 issue of Astrophysical Journal Letters.
China launches new carrier rocket: state media China blasted off its "Long March-7" new generation carrier rocket on a successful inaugural voyage Saturday from a new launch centre, state media reported, as the country races ahead with an ambitious space programme.
	Lisa Pathfinder completes first operations phase On Saturday 25 June, the LISA Technology Package (LTP) – a European payload on ESA's LISA Pathfinder – completes its nominal operations phase, passing the baton to the Disturbance Reduction System, an additional experiment provided by NASA. This won't be the last time the European experiment is run – the recently approved mission extension will see the LTP back in action for seven months starting in November this year.
	DSCOVR is the linchpin of next-generation space weather forecasts NOAA's first space weather satellite, DSCOVR, has completed instrument validation and will go operational on July 27, when it will take over the role of monitoring potentially damaging space weather storms as they approach Earth.
	A star is about to go 2.5% the speed of light past a black hole Since it was first discovered in 1974, astronomers have been dying to get a better look at the Supermassive Black Hole (SBH) at the center of our galaxy. Known as Sagittarius A*, scientists have only been able to gauge the position and mass of this SBH by measuring the effect it has on the stars that orbit it. But so far, more detailed observations have eluded them, thanks in part to all the gas and dust that obscures it.
A water detection technique to shortlist potentially-habitable exoplanets So far, NASA's Kepler has led to the discovery of 2 325 exoplanets. But clearly not all of them are habitable. To help detect suitable candidates, identify the range of atmospheric conditions on planets with water and shed light on how planetary magnetic fields originate and evolve, the HOTMOL project is devising new tools relying on spectro-polarimetry.
	Interstellar greenhouses: how a single molecule could be key to growing plants in microgravity In the film The Martian, Matt Damon's character survives being stranded on another planet by growing potatoes in his own faeces. And if we want to visit or maybe even settle on other planets for real, we'll have to find a way to grow plants outside the safe environment of the Earth. On long space voyages in particular, plants will provide a vital source of food and oxygen.
	Jupiter awaits arrival of Juno A team led by Leigh Fletcher of the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom are presenting new images of Jupiter at the UK's Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting in Nottingham.
Video: SDO watches twisting solar material over sun's surface Solar material twists above the sun's surface in this close-up captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on June 7-8, 2016, showcasing the turbulence caused by combative magnetic forces on the sun.
	Image: A test version of the booster for NASA's new rocket A test version of the booster for NASA's new rocket, the Space Launch System, will fire up for the second of two qualification ground tests at 10:05 a.m. EDT (8:05 a.m. MDT) Tuesday, June 28 at prime contractor Orbital ATK's test facility in Promontory, Utah.

Technology news

	Ford casts focus on driver behavior, calculates scores A video about the Driver Behavior Project was posted earlier this month. The steering wheel says Ford so that gives you an idea about who is in the project driver's seat—Ford.
	US Navy keeps electromagnetic cannon in its sights The US Navy is quietly pushing ahead with a radical new cannon that one day could transform how wars are fought, even though some Pentagon officials have voiced concerns over its cost and viability.
	Proposal for travel forms to have optional field for online presence info (Tech Xplore)—It's all there: political views, favorite pets; film viewing habits; and much, much more. Social media now holds a garden of information about users and government people evidently feel that for security reasons that information may be quite valuable.
	3-D printing produces cartilage from strands of bioink Strands of cow cartilage substitute for ink in a 3D bioprinting process that may one day create cartilage patches for worn out joints, according to a team of engineers. "Our goal is to create tissue that can be used to replace large amounts of worn out tissue or design patches," said Ibrahim T. Ozbolat, associate professor of engineering science and mechanics. "Those who have osteoarthritis in their joints suffer a lot. We need a new alternative treatment for this."
	Beyond video games: New artificial intelligence beats tactical experts in combat simulation Artificial intelligence (AI) developed by a University of Cincinnati doctoral graduate was recently assessed by subject-matter expert and retired United States Air Force Colonel Gene Lee - who holds extensive aerial combat experience as an instructor and Air Battle Manager with considerable fighter aircraft expertise - in a high-fidelity air combat simulator.
Computer model demonstrates how human spleen filters blood Researchers, led by Carnegie Mellon University President Subra Suresh and MIT Principal Research Scientist Ming Dao, have created a new computer model that shows how tiny slits in the spleen prevent old, diseased or misshapen red blood cells from re-entering the bloodstream. Members of this multidisciplinary team include specialists in mathematics, supercomputing, clinical medicine, engineering and computational biology.
	Browse free or die? New Hampshire library is at privacy fore A small library in New Hampshire sits at the forefront of global efforts to promote privacy and fight government surveillance—to the consternation of law enforcement.
	Apparent conflicts of interest may dog Tesla-SolarCity deal It's a proposal that would unite two companies on shaky financial ground as they plow into relatively new markets. One makes electric cars, the other installs solar panels. There are few obvious synergies.
	Alco Electronics' David Leung on making gadgets in China A look inside Alco Electronics Ltd.'s factory in China shows what it takes to succeed as a maker of gadgets for the rest of the world—human precision in tiny tasks and increasingly automated manufacturing, but also flexible thinking and perks to keep the best employees.
	Rise of the machines: Pakistani roboteers hunt global soccer glory The little striker wearing a crescent moon and star jersey lines up his penalty and kicks right, netting his goal as the keeper dives the wrong way and hits the ground yelping in pain.
	Dried sewage sludge could be recycled by adding it to cement to make concrete Disposing sludge left over from treating sewage water is a major challenge for wastewater plants in Malaysia. While studies show that the volume of sludge is expected to rise, disposal options are limited due to strict environmental regulations, including a ban on burying sludge in soil due to its high heavy metal content. Meanwhile, the construction sector seeks economic and ecological cement replacement materials in order to meet an increasing demand for concrete.
	Towards 100% renewable energy for Kangaroo Island Can Australia's iconic Kangaroo Island be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy? This is the focus of a new study announced today by the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in partnership with the Kangaroo Island Council.
	Artificial intelligence plus common sense In the future, a new generation of autonomous robots is set to complete tasks autonomously, even if something unforeseeable happens. With the support of the Austrian Science Fund FWF, information technology experts in Graz are working to advance the development of artificial intelligence and equip robots with common sense.
	Meet the biohackers letting technology get under their skin For some people, the human body isn't a temple. Instead they see it as a source of frustration thanks to the considerable limitations compared to the powerful technology available today. In the last few years, a new community of biohackers or "grinders" has sprung up to experiment with enhancing the human body with technology. Largely outside of the mainstream disciplines of science or philosophy, it is a raw, exciting field that turns longstanding ethical beliefs on their head.
	Bartering for science—using mobile apps to get research data There's a transaction that happens every time you load a website, send an email, or click "like" on a friend's post: You get something you want in exchange for some data about your actions and interests. Entire business models depend on the premise that the data we generate in this way have value, and massive databases have been assembled with this in mind.
	Imitation neurones, genuine potential In March 2016, the world Go champion Lee Sedol lost 1-4 against the artificial intelligence AlphaGo. For many, this was yet another defeat for humanity at the hands of the machines. Indeed, the success of the AlphaGo software was forged in an area of artificial intelligence that has seen huge progress over the last decade. Deep learning, as it's called, uses artificial neural networks to process algorithmic calculations. This software architecture therefore mimics biological neural networks.
	Robots come to each other's aid when they get the signal Sometimes all it takes to get help from someone is to wave at them, or point. Now the same is true for robots. Researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden have completed work on an EU project aimed at enabling robots to cooperate with one another on complex jobs, by using body language.
	LED bulbs can both light a room and provide communications link Researchers at Disney Research and ETH Zurich have demonstrated that consumer-grade light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs can, with some modifications, do double duty—both illuminating a room and providing a communications link for devices in that room.
Court dismisses Snowden request for safe travel to Norway A Norwegian court has dismissed a lawsuit that sought a legal guarantee to allow Edward Snowden to travel to Norway without risk of being extradited to the United States.
Uber in harmony with Pandora for driver music streaming Uber said Monday it was teaming with online music service Pandora to allow drivers of the ridesharing service to stream their favorite playlists.
	Qatar using 3D printers to find perfect pitch Following concerns over poor quality pitches at Euro 2016, Qatar has employed a high-tech solution to avoid similar criticisms of its World Cup in 2022—3D printers and wind tunnels.
	Half of US households have streaming TV services: survey Streaming television services from companies like Netflix, Amazon and Hulu have reached a key milestone—half of US households are now subscribing, a survey showed Monday.
	China tells search engines to ID paid results after man died China issued new regulations on Saturday demanding that search engines clearly identify paid search results, months after a terminally ill cancer patient complained that he was misled by the giant search engine Baidu.
Governor hones art of elevator pitch to rebuild Rhode Island After enticing General Electric to plant a new software engineering office in Rhode Island, Gov. Gina Raimondo is setting her sights on PayPal, SolarCity and other firms she hopes could transform the smallest state's lagging economy into a high-tech hub.
	Why megaprojects often have megapitfalls While the new Bay Bridge is finally functional, it stands more as a symbol of dysfunction than anything else. From the start it seemed born under a bad sign, down since it began to crawl—like, if it wasn't for bad luck, it wouldn't have no luck at all.
	Britain's exit could make Europe less friendly to US tech Silicon Valley's biggest businesses could face tougher regulations following Britain's decision to withdraw from the European Union, and some might have to leave London to attract the best employees.

Medicine & Health news

Fifty-four mouse testis-enriched genes are not needed for male fertility Infertility affects about 15 percent of couples around the world. A couple's fertility depends on both the female's and male's ability to reproduce, which relies on thousands of genes working properly. In the male mouse, more than 1,000 genes are predominantly expressed in the testis, but their particular functions in reproduction are still a mystery. In a report published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from Baylor College of Medicine, Osaka University, University of Oulu and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute have discovered that 54 of the mouse testis-enriched genes, that also are expressed in humans, are not necessary for male fertility.
	Neuron cell death may be caused by overactive immune system: Opening new path of discovery in Parkinson's disease A team of scientists led by Dr. Michel Desjardins from the University of Montreal and Dr. Heidi McBride from the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (MNI) at McGill University have discovered that two genes associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) are key regulators of the immune system, providing direct evidence linking Parkinson's to autoimmune disease.
	Silly talk directed at infants may be more educational than imagined Many experts on infant learning have suggested that the best way to teach adult language to a tiny baby is to speak as if the infant is another adult – because adult sounds, cadence and tone of voice are what the child is eventually supposed to learn. But newly published research using mathematical models finds the best way to help a baby learn might actually be to follow many parents' instincts and use "motherese," a sing-songy voice that exaggerates the sounds the baby hears.
	Indicator of chronic fatigue syndrome found in gut bacteria Physicians have been mystified by chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition where normal exertion leads to debilitating fatigue that isn't alleviated by rest. There are no known triggers, and diagnosis requires lengthy tests administered by an expert.
	Alcohol consumption contributes to cancer, even in moderate drinkers Drinking alcohol increases the risk of several types of cancer, and was responsible for 236 cancer deaths under 80 years of age in New Zealand in 2012, according to a new study at the University of Otago.
	Scientists transform lower-body cells into facial cartilage Caltech scientists have converted cells of the lower-body region into facial tissue that makes cartilage, in new experiments using bird embryos. The researchers discovered a "gene circuit," composed of just three genes, that can alter the fate of cells destined for the lower bodies of birds, turning them instead into cells that produce cartilage and bones in the head.
	Scientists find new cancer drug target in dual-function protein Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have identified a protein that launches cancer growth and appears to contribute to higher mortality in breast cancer patients.
	Epigenetics: New tool for precision medicine Four new papers, co-published by an international consortium of biomedical researchers, mark the feasibility of epigenetic analysis for clinical diagnostics and precision medicine. Epigenetic analysis addresses key limitations of genetic testing, helping to ensure that patients are accurately diagnosed and treated with the right drug at the right time.
	Disrupted immunity in the fetal brain is linked to neurodevelopmental disorders Disrupted fetal immune system development, such as that caused by viral infection in the mother, may be a key factor in the later appearance of certain neurodevelopmental disorders. This finding emerges from a Weizmann Institute study published in Science on June 23, 2016.
	Pain medicine helps preserve vision in model of inherited retinal degeneration A pain medicine that potently activates a receptor vital to a healthy retina appears to help preserve vision in a model of severe retinal degeneration, scientists report.
	Researchers devise tool to improve imaging of neuronal activity in the brain In a partnership melding neuroscience and electrical engineering, researchers from UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State University have developed a new technology that will allow neuroscientists to capture images of the brain almost 10 times larger than previously possible - helping them better understand the behavior of neurons in the brain.
	Anti-anxiety medication limits empathetic behavior in rats Rats given midazolam, an anti-anxiety medication, were less likely to free trapped companions because the drug lessened their empathy, according to a new study by University of Chicago neuroscientists.
	Researchers discover a new way to keep the heart pumping, which could lead to new drugs for heart disease About 5.7 million Americans have heart failure, half of whom will die from the disease within 5 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Two processes help drive the disease: a weakened heart muscle that is less able to pump, and the death of heart cells that irreparably damage the heart. Beta-blockers, commonly used to treat heart disease, work by blocking the beta-adrenergic receptors in the heart, saving heart cells from cell death. But beta-adrenergic receptors also help keep the heart pumping, a function that this medication also blocks.
	Antibodies to dengue may alter course of Zika virus infection Scientists at Emory Vaccine Center, in collaboration with investigators from Thailand, have found that people infected with dengue virus develop antibodies that cross-react with Zika virus.
	Researchers develop method to map cancer progression A team of scientists has developed a computational method to map cancer progression, an advance that offers new insights into the factors that spur this affliction as well as new ways of selecting effective therapies.
Research connects discrimination, thoughts of death among African-Americans Racial discrimination, whether it's derogatory language or unequal treatment, impacts communities and individuals in different ways. For children, the effects are sometimes emotional scars, and as a University of Houston researcher discovered, even thoughts of death.
	Genetic signatures expose drug susceptibility in breast cancer cells Drug treatments for breast cancer patients might soon be designed based on the unique genetic autograph of their tumor.
	Mortality up with no revascularization in STEMI (HealthDay)—Mortality is increased for patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) who do not undergo coronary revascularization, according to a study published in the July 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Recommendations developed for managing obstetric lacerations (HealthDay)—Recommendations have been developed for the prevention and repair of obstetric lacerations during vaginal delivery. The new Practice Bulletin was published in the July issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Candesartan doesn't prevent trastuzumab cardiotoxicity (HealthDay)—In patients with early breast cancer, candesartan does not protect against trastuzumab-related cardiotoxic effects, according to a study published online June 23 in JAMA Oncology.
	Pilocarpine expands schlemm canal in healthy eyes, glaucoma (HealthDay)—Pilocarpine expands the Schlemm canal in eyes with and without glaucoma, according to a study published online June 23 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
	Nerve transposition technique successful in facial paralysis (HealthDay)—After facial paralysis, mobilization and transposition of the intratemporal segment of the facial nerve for end-to-side coaptation to the hypoglossal nerve can restore facial tone and symmetry, according to research published online June 23 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
	Novel lipid mediators may play role in omega-3 PUFA effects (HealthDay)—Novel lipid mediators may be involved in the beneficial effects associated with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in obesity, according to a study published online June 16 in Diabetes.
	Variation in ER visit use for the five most populous states (HealthDay)—There is variation in the number of emergency department visits and expected source of payment for visits in the five most populous states (California, Florida, Illinois, New York, and Texas), according to two June data briefs published by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
	High-fiber diet may promote healthy, disease-free aging (HealthDay)—A diet inclusive of foods rich in fiber may fuel more successful aging, according to research published online June 1 in the Journals of Gerontology.
Researchers launch real-time study of smartphone fertility app use In what is believed to be the first study of its kind, researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center's Institute for Reproductive Health (IRH) are recruiting as many as 1,200 women to study, in real time, a smartphone app that calculates a woman's chance for pregnancy on a daily basis.
	Study examines quality of end life care for patients with different illnesses Families reported better quality of end-of-life care for patients with cancer or dementia than for patients with end-stage renal disease, cardiopulmonary failure or frailty because patients with cancer or dementia had higher rates of palliative care consultations and do-not-resuscitate orders and fewer died in hospital intensive care units, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Improvements needed in end-of-life care for patients with organ failure Historically, efforts to improve end-of-life care have focused primarily on patients with cancer. But few studies have looked at the quality of end-of-life care for patients with other serious illnesses, such as lung, kidney or heart failure or dementia. In a study of patients who died at 146 inpatient facilities within the Veteran Affairs health system, a research team led by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital has found that family-reported end-of-life care was significantly better for patients with cancer or dementia than for patients with other serious illnesses. The team's findings were presented today at AcademyHealth's Annual Research Meeting and simultaneously published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Study shows women lack confidence in maternity care providers Every woman who has ever had a baby shower has had to sit through the gruesome war stories about labor and childbirth.
Electronic medical practice environment can lead to physician burnout The growth and evolution of the electronic environment in health care is taking a toll on U.S. physicians. That's according to a national study of physicians led by Mayo Clinic which shows the use of electronic health records and computerized physician order entry leads to lower physician satisfaction and higher rates of professional burnout. The findings appear in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
	Cell phone use prevalent among drowsy drivers, distracted drivers Despite warnings, many of us continue to drive distracted. We pick up the cell phone to take that one important call or send a quick text.
	Alzheimer's genetics point to new research direction A University of Adelaide analysis of genetic mutations which cause early-onset Alzheimer's disease suggests a new focus for research into the causes of the disease.
	Unlocking brain treatment potential from MRI data Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a vital role in medical and neuroscience research as a non-invasive, highly sensitive way of imaging both physical structures and activity inside the human brain. The data from each MRI scan contain a vast amount of information, which is divided up into a three-dimensional grid comprising individual 'voxels'.
	Is it ethical to purchase human organs? Organ transplantation saves lives. People with end-stage kidney disease who receive a transplant tend to live much longer than those who undergo dialysis. A kidney from a living donor will last from 12 to 20 years, on average, compared to eight to 12 years for a kidney from a deceased donor.
	Delirium at nursing home admission a risky sign for seniors Brown University public health researchers who analyzed the medical records of more than 5.5 million seniors admitted to nursing homes between 2011 and 2014 found that approximately 240,000 had delirium. Those patients faced serious additional health risks compared to those without the condition.
	Prognostic factor indicates risk of cancer recurrence following radical prostatectomy Slightly more than 10% of all patients who undergo successful surgery for prostate cancer have an elevated risk of tumor recurrence afterwards – especially as metastases. Under the microscope, it is possible to identify invasion of the tumour into the lymph and blood vessels, this being the tumour behaviour responsible for the formation of metastases, so that it can be used as a prognostic factor. This has now been demonstrated by Harun Fajkovic of MedUni Vienna's Department of Urology in a study involving 7,000 patients in "Urologic Oncology". Fajkovic will also report on the latest research findings at the largest international congress on prostate cancer "PROSCA", currently taking place in Vienna.
	Revealing the global burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis in children A new study examining the burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) across the globe has highlighted the importance of the disease among children.
	Extensive scientific review finds benefits of drinking coffee outweigh risks Coffee is enjoyed by millions of people every day and the 'coffee experience' has become a staple of our modern life and culture. While the current body of research related to the effects of coffee consumption on human health has been contradictory, a study in the June issue of Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, which is published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), found that the potential benefits of moderate coffee drinking outweigh the risks in adult consumers for the majority of major health outcomes considered.
	This is what happens to footballers' brains when they miss penalties It's that time again: the possibility of penalty shoot-outs looms large in Euro 2016 now that we are entering the knockout phases. We kick off on Saturday June 25 with Switzerland v Poland and Wales v Northern Ireland, though those with a taste for bloodsports might prefer to look forward to the possibility of another England v Germany penalty showdown in the semi-finals.
	Regardless of weight, mannose levels point to diabetes risk Even if you are not overweight, your mannose levels may indicate whether you're at risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D) or insulin resistance (IR), a Swedish study shows.
Scientists measure how baby bump changes the way women walk, make future safety studies possible Movie sets are normally the home of three-dimensional motion caption systems, but researchers used the same video recording system in a lab to measure the way pregnant women walk.  This is the first research study to use 3D motion capture to create a biomechanical model of pregnant women.  The results verify the existence of the "pregnancy waddle" and should enable future studies on how to make everyday tasks safer and more comfortable for pregnant women.
Scientists develop a drug for the treatment of multiple sclerosis A team of scientists has created a new form of a vaccine used for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, one of the most severe neurodegenerative autoimmune diseases. The drug has successfully passed pre-clinical trials and two clinical stages. If the results of the third stage are positive, the drug will be approved for the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis. The results are published in the Neurotherapeutics journal.
	Study showcases poisoning risk to small children from laundry pods Laundry pod detergents are far more likely to cause poisoning injuries in young children than are nonpod laundry detergents, and are four times more likely to lead to hospitalization, according to findings published today from researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
	No association between 'bad cholesterol' and elderly deaths, new study says A University of South Florida professor and an international team of experts have found that older people with high levels of a certain type of cholesterol, known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), live as long, and often longer, than their peers with low levels of this same cholesterol.
	High Internet, video game use linked to mental health issues Teenagers who use the Internet, social media or electronic games excessively are more likely to experience mental health issues and engage in risk-taking behaviour, research suggests.
	NASA technology applied in breast cancer study Getting spacecraft ready for launch may have more to do with medical research than you think. For a new study on microbes that may be associated with a history of breast cancer, researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, employed the same sequencing and analysis methods used for examining bacteria in spacecraft assembly rooms. Those techniques were designed for planetary protection—ensuring that NASA spacecraft do not contaminate other worlds.
	Brain mechanism that links memory and location now proven You arrive at a certain location and you suddenly remember what you were doing when you were there years ago. Memory and location are closely linked. Researchers at Radboud University's Donders Institute have revealed the brain mechanism that makes this link. The Current Biology journal published their results on June 24.
Children consuming sports drinks unnecessarily A high proportion of 12- to 14-year olds are regularly consuming sports drinks socially, increasing their risk of obesity and tooth erosion, concludes a Cardiff University School of Dentistry survey.
	How is food represented in the brain? Despite the central role of food in our lives, research has done little to discover how food concepts are organized in our brain. A review carried out at the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) of Trieste sorts out the knowledge gained so far, relating it to the current theories of semantic categorization. This in-depth analysis provides a useful conceptual framework for future research and for putting the different theories to the test. The paper has just been published in Psychonomic Bulletin Review.
	Text messaging with smartphones triggers a new type of brain rhythm Sending text messages on a smartphone can change the rhythm of brain waves, according to a new study published in Epilepsy & Behavior.
	Strengthening immune defence may be solution for treating tuberculosis Researchers at Linköping University have made a discovery that could contribute to developing new vaccines and treatment alternatives for tuberculosis in the future. The results have been published in Scientific Reports, a sister journal to the highly respected periodical Nature.
Diabetes sniffer dogs? 'Scent' of hypos could aid development of new tests A chemical found in our breath could provide a flag to warn of dangerously-low blood sugar levels in patients with type 1 diabetes, according to new research from the University of Cambridge. The finding, published today in the journal Diabetes Care, could explain why some dogs can be trained to spot the warning signs in patients.
Intervening during scar process could help cardiac patients, reviewers say Literal heartbreak, from illness or injury, triggers the body's natural healing mechanisms. The result of such mending is often a scar. It's a patch that works, but fibrotic scar tissue replaces healthy heart muscle, a problem that has led scientists across the world to ponder ways to modify the wound-healing process for the benefit of patients.
In first-ever survey, 36 percent of water polo players report concussions A first-of-its-kind survey has confirmed what some water polo players - especially goalies - have long suspected: Concussions seem to be prevalent in the sport.
	Heading to the hospital? Even with insurance, it may cost $1,000 or more, study finds Even if you have what you might think of as good health insurance, your next hospital stay could cost you more than $1,000 out of your own pocket.
State medical home initiative slashes healthcare costs for complex Medicaid patients Providing Medicaid patients with a primary care "medical home" cut costs of their care by as much as $4,100 a year and lowered their number of doctors visits and hospitalizations, according to a Perelman School of Medicine-led study published today in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. The research analyzed claims from Pennsylvania Medicaid patients who had both a chronic illness and a substance abuse or psychiatric condition.
	Genome technology boosts malaria control efforts While most malaria research has focused on the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which is common in Africa, another parasite, Plasmodium vivax (P.vivax) is responsible for the majority of malaria infections outside this region, causing an estimated 15.8 million clinical malaria cases each year. The parasite is becoming increasingly resistant to common antimalarial drugs, posing challenges for malaria elimination.
	Changes to mitochondrial metabolism allow the immune system to adapt to infection The immune system is equipped with the mechanisms to adapt to bacterial infection, and one of the keys to this efficient reaction is rooted in changes that take place in the metabolism of mitochondria. These changes are important for adaptation of the response of immune cells to live or dead bacteria. The discovery was made by scientists at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), led by Johan Garaude, Rebeca Acín-Pérez, José A. Enríquez and David Sancho, and is published in Nature Immunology. The study findings could help in the design of vaccines and provide new pharmacological targets for the treatment of infections and inflammatory metabolic disorders.
Lower levels of coenzyme Q10 in blood associated with multiple system atrophy The neurodegenerative disease known as multiple system atrophy (MSA) affects both movement and involuntary bodily functions. Questions have been raised about the potential role of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) insufficiency in the development of MSA. Little is known about blood levels of CoQ10 in patients carrying either COQ2 mutations or no mutations.
Study examines health, risks for gay, bisexual adults New national data suggest lesbian, gay and bisexual adults were more likely to report impaired physical and mental health and heavy drinking and smoking, which may be the result of stressors they experience because of discrimination, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
	Consumption of omega-3s linked to lower risk of fatal heart disease Blood levels of seafood and plant-based omega-3 fatty acids are moderately associated with a lower risk of dying from heart attacks, according to a new epidemiological study, published today in JAMA Internal Medicine, led by Liana C. Del Gobbo, Ph.D., a postdoctoral research fellow in the division of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine and senior author Dariush Mozaffarian, M.D., Dr.P.H., dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University in Boston.
	Researchers uncover global, evolving, and historic make-up of malaria species A team of scientists has uncovered the global, evolving, and historic make-up of Plasmodium vivax, one of the five species of malaria that infect humans. The research, which links the spread of the parasite back to colonial seafaring, among other phenomena, underscores the challenges health experts face in controlling the parasite.
Anthrax capsule vaccine completely protects monkeys from lethal inhalational anthrax Vaccination with the anthrax capsule—a naturally occurring component of the bacterium that causes the disease—completely protected monkeys from lethal anthrax infection, according to a study published online this week in the journal Vaccine. These results indicate that anthrax capsule is a highly effective vaccine component that should be considered for incorporation in future generation anthrax vaccines.
	Researchers look into the brains of music fans As soon as social considerations also play a part in economic decisions, our brain seems to switch to a different processing mode. At least this is indicated by the results of a current study that was conducted at the University of Bonn. In it the participants were able to purchase pieces of music but could themselves set the price to be paid. During the process, the researchers recorded the brain activity of the participants. The work will soon appear in the prestigious journal Frontiers in Psychology but can already be called up online.
Global analysis finds unnecessary end-of-life treatment in hospitals is widespread The largest systematic review of the care of elderly patients hospitalised at the end of their life has found more than a third received invasive and potentially harmful medical treatments.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy under-appreciated cause of sudden cardiac death in male minority athletes Sudden deaths in young, seemingly healthy competitive athletes are tragic events, often with wide media coverage and high public visibility. There is substantial interest in establishing the cause of these deaths and the roles that race and gender may play. In a new study published in The American Journal of Medicine, investigators report that more than one-third of recorded cardiovascular deaths were caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the majority in young male minority athletes. Sudden deaths due to genetic and/or congenital heart diseases are uncommon in females, but relatively common in African-American and other minorities compared to whites.
Unproven claims run rampant in e-cigarette business Electronic cigarette makers and sellers are making all kinds of health claims, many of which likely won't stand up to scrutiny under recently announced FDA regulation, a new study has found.
New insight into cancer genes could lead to personalized treatments Research, involving scientists and doctors at the University of Southampton and Royal Bournemouth Hospital, has identified a network of genes that are likely to be shared by all patients who have chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).
	Researchers find link between gut bacteria and MS If asked to list problems that bad gut bacteria can cause, most would likely name digestive issues: constipation, excessive gas, or diarrhea.
Researchers discover potential genetic trigger of autoimmune disease Researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) have uncovered a potential genetic trigger of systemic autoimmune disease. The study, the culmination of more than 10 years of research and published online in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology in June, discovered virus-like elements within the human genome linked to the development of two autoimmune diseases: lupus and Sjogren's syndrome.
	Why KID Syndrome patients experience different sets of symptoms A team of New York-based researchers has compared the effects of two disease-causing mutations, potentially explaining why patients with the rare genetic disorder keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness (KID) syndrome can experience different sets of symptoms. The study, "Syndromic deafness mutations at Asn 14 differentially alter open stability of Cx26 hemichannels," will be published online June 27, 2016 in The Journal of General Physiology.
Improvements in epigenomic sequencing technologies could enhance cancer diagnostics An international research collaboration led by UCL scientists has developed ways to improve the quality and accuracy of information harvested from epigenome sequencing datasets in two new research papers published jointly in Nature Biotechnology and Nature Communications today. According to the studies, epigenome sequencing technologies can allow for more comprehensive analysis of cancers - a key component in the development of targeted approaches to combat cancer.
	Virtual tissue technology reveals new drug target in polycystic kidney disease Using virtual tissue technology, researchers at Indiana University have identified a potential new drug target in the fight against polycystic kidney disease, an illness with no effective FDA-approved treatment that affects 200,000 people per year in the United States.
Gene hunters find rare inherited mutations linked to bipolar disorder Using so-called next-generation genome sequencing, researchers at Johns Hopkins have identified 84 potential inherited gene mutations that may contribute to the most severe forms of bipolar disorder. About 5.6 million Americans are estimated to have bipolar disorder.
Women with early stage breast cancer experience functional decline after treatment In a study of older women with newly diagnosed stage I to III breast cancer, approximately one in five lost the ability to complete some of the basic tasks necessary for independent living within one year of initiating treatment. The study also found that a simple survey can help identify which women are at risk of such functional decline. The findings are published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.
Political pitfalls in handling Ebola may carry over to Zika If the United States responds to Zika the way it did to Ebola—and early indications are that in many ways it is—the country can expect missteps brought about by a lack of health care coordination and a lot of political finger pointing, according to an analysis by the University of Michigan.
Foot wrap offers alternative to medication for patients with restless legs syndrome Authors from Lake Erie Research Institute in Pennsylvania report an adjustable foot wrap caused to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS) is 1.4 times more effective than the standard pharmaceutical treatment. The pilot study published today in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
Novel study shows twisting of the heart may predict mitral valve surgery outcomes A simple preoperative echocardiographic measurement of the amount of torsion - a twisting motion - of the heart predicted outcomes of mitral valve surgery in some heart failure patients, according to a novel study published today in JACC: Basic to Translational Science.
	Mobile, phone-based microscopes work well in the field with minimal training Handheld, mobile phone-based microscopes can be used in developing countries after minimal training of community laboratory technicians to diagnose intestinal parasites quickly and accurately.
Teaching an old drug new tricks to fight cytomegalovirus Researchers at Johns Hopkins have found that an old drug once mostly used to treat amebiasis—a disease caused by a parasite—and induce vomiting in cases of poisoning appears to also halt replication of cytomegalovirus (CMV), a herpesvirus that can cause serious disease in immunocompromised individuals, including those with HIV or organ transplant recipients.
Study finds testicular cancer survivors may have hearing loss after cisplatin therapy Many testicular cancer survivors experience hearing loss after cisplatin-based chemotherapy, according to researchers at Indiana University.
	Researchers discover the 2009 swine flu pandemic originated in Mexico The 2009 swine H1N1 flu pandemic—responsible for more than 17,000 deaths worldwide—originated in pigs from a very small region in central Mexico, a research team headed by investigators at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is reporting.
	Blocking key enzyme halts Parkinson's disease symptoms in mice Researchers at Johns Hopkins say they have gleaned two important new clues in the fight against Parkinson's disease: that blocking an enzyme called c-Abl prevents the disease in specially bred mice, and that a chemical tag on a second protein may signal the disorder's presence and progression. Their work, described online June 27 in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, suggests both a promising target for drug research and a tool that could speed Parkinson's disease research more broadly, they say.
Researchers find a likely cause of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs)—masses of immune cells— are benign, but poorly understood. Current IMT treatments often have side effects and surgery is sometimes not an option due to the tumor's proximity to vital organs. A better understanding of how IMTs form could spur the development of more effective therapeutics. Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have now found that a likely cause of IMT is deficiency in nonsense-mediated RNA decay (NMD), a system cells use to control which genes are activated.
Prehypertension during pregnancy could lead to cardiovascular risks Pregnant women who experience persistent blood pressure elevations in the upper ranges of normal may be at high risk of developing metabolic syndrome and increased cardiovascular risk after giving birth, according to research published in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension.
	Researcher develops new, non-invasive method to wipe out cancerous tumors Matthew Gdovin, an associate professor in the UTSA Department of Biology, has developed a newly patented method to kill cancer cells. His discovery, described in a new study in The Journal of Clinical Oncology, may tremendously help people with inoperable or hard-to-reach tumors, as well as young children stricken with cancer.
Physical activity boosts kids' brain power and academic prowess Exercise boosts kids' and young people's brain power and academic prowess, says a consensus statement on physical activity in schools and during leisure time, published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Scientists decode how anthrax toxin proteins might help treat cancerous tumors Scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), all parts of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), describe how combining engineered anthrax toxin proteins and existing chemotherapy drugs could potentially yield a therapy to reduce or eliminate cancerous tumors. The findings, based on testing in mice, will appear this week in the Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Getting overdose antidote with painkillers may cut ER visits Overdoses don't happen just to heroin addicts—patients who legally use strong painkillers called opioids are at risk in the nation's epidemic, too. A new study says when patients were prescribed an overdose antidote along with those medications, they made fewer painkiller-related visits to the emergency room.
	Chile seeks to fight obesity with new food labeling law Chile implemented a new food labeling law Monday in hopes of lowering the country's childhood obesity rate, which is one of the highest in the world.
	Looks-conscious teens trying risky supplements (HealthDay)—Many teens are turning to risky, unregulated supplements to boost their looks, warns a leading group of U.S. pediatricians.
	Donated blood won't transmit Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease (HealthDay)—People who've received a blood transfusion can breathe a bit easier: A new study finds no evidence that degenerative brain disorders can be transmitted via donated blood.
	Those baby 'milestones' may have longer-term importance (HealthDay)—Babies who learn to stand up relatively early may also do a bit better with attention, memory and learning by the time they are preschoolers, a new study suggests.
	Lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate seen in syphilis, HIV co-infection (HealthDay)—Skin biopsies from patients co-infected with HIV and syphilis have moderate to extensive lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, according to research published online June 14 in the Journal of Cutaneous Pathology.
	Catheter reduction programs do reduce use of catheters (HealthDay)—Catheter reduction programs are associated with a reduction in the number of catheter days per 100 patient-days, according to a research letter published online June 17 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
	ALT levels within normal range linked to cardiovascular events (HealthDay)—Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels within normal range are associated with cardiovascular event risk, according to a study published in the July 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Daily calcium intake of 1,000 or 2,000 mg best for rickets (HealthDay)—For children with rickets, radiographic healing is more rapid with 1,000 mg and 2,000 mg daily calcium intake compared with 500 mg, according to a study published online June 17 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
	ADT plus radiotherapy ups survival in metastatic prostate CA (HealthDay)—For men with metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa), overall survival (OS) is improved for those treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and prostate radiotherapy (RT), compared with ADT alone, according to a study published online June 20 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Vaginal pessary beneficial in pelvic organ prolapse (HealthDay)—For women with symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (POP), use of vaginal pessary in addition to pelvic floor exercises is associated with improvements in prolapse symptoms and quality of life, according to a study published in the July issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Haiti launches new AIDS testing, information campaign Haiti's Ministry of Health and the United Nations launched a new anti-HIV/AIDS campaign Friday, providing information and rapid testing to help thwart the spread of the epidemic.
	2017 will bring premium rate increases under ACA (HealthDay)—Health insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act will rise in 2017, analysts and insurance brokers say.
Procedures meet practice in community pharmacies High workload, rigid rules, and conflicting pressures from their employers are all leading to community pharmacy staff deviating from standard procedures at times to ensure patients receive the tailored care they require, a new study from The University of Manchester has found.
Model of applicator for intracavitary brachytherapy of liver created Liver cancer is an unfortunately widespread oncological disease of the abdominal cavity. Currently, the most effective method of treatment is hepatectomy. But the treatment carries a high possibility of tumor recurrence because of residual malignant tissue. To reduce this risk, intracavitary brachytherapy of the liver is proposed via incorporation of an applicator with radioactive medicine in proximity to residual tissue. The main task for realization of this technique is designing the applicator and its parameters.
	A new hope for treating severe pneumonia A biotech company involved in the PNEUMONP project – and responsible for the development of the antimicrobial peptide M33 – recently confirmed that the molecule at the heart of the project was now robust enough for industrial production. The new drug is hoped to help treat difficult lung infections like pneumonia.
	E-wheelchair should weigh less Whilst the advantages of a wheelchair with auxiliary drive are self-evident, they do not always outweigh the disadvantages. The weight of the construction can pose a physical burden on a certain group of wheelchair users, according to research from the University of Twente in The Netherlands.
Brexit—what might it mean for global health? This week, the United Kingdom (UK) has made the unprecedented move of leaving the European Union (EU), an economic and political union of 28 member countries. After a close result, the Leave campaign won the referendum with 52% of the votes compared to 48% for the Remain campaign, with a 72.2% voter turnout. As the country now grapples to come to terms with the consequences of this election, this rejection of EU membership threatens to have a great impact on the health of people both within the UK as well as internationally.
E-consults increase access to specialty care, reduce need for face-to-face appointments According to research presented today at AcademyHealth's Annual Research Meeting, use by physicians of electronic consultations (e-consults) increases access to specialists' care for patients who often have the hardest time getting a specialist, including the uninsured, underinsured and those living in rural areas. E-consults leverage electronic health records or web-based platforms to streamline communication between primary care providers and specialists. Studies focused on four health systems in the U.S. and Canada highlight how e-consults can decrease wait times, improve clinical care and reduce the need for face-to-face appointments.
Rheumatology leaders respond to MACRA proposed rule In comments submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) proposed rule, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) praised the agency for recognizing the important role qualified clinical data registries (QCDRs) will play in the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) payment pathway, but expressed a number of concerns regarding the complexity and timing of requirements for small and solo practices, the absence of key cost data in the Resource Use category of MIPS, and the formidable barriers that exclude many rheumatologists from participating in the Alternative Payment Model (APM) track.
Justices reject appeal over medical marijuana in Montana The Supreme Court won't hear an appeal challenging a Montana law that limits medical marijuana providers to selling the drug to a maximum of three patients each.
Low socioeconomic status associated with risk of death in patients with diabetes Access and use of health care resources in Sweden is equitable and affordable and the management of those resources is well developed.
Communication skills training for orthopedic surgery residents has positive impact A program to improve orthopedic surgery residents' communication skills with older adults is having a positive impact, according to a new study. The program at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) seeks to enhance third-year residents' interactions with older adults by sensitizing the residents to their needs and dispelling negative misconceptions.
Performance, quality measures updated for patients with atrial fibrillation The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association today released updated clinical performance and quality measures for treating adult patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. This document updates the previous measure set that was released in 2008 and for which implementation notes were issued in 2011.
	Abortion ruling may not open door for new Texas clinics Abortion providers celebrating the U.S. Supreme Court striking down major Texas abortion restrictions Monday also begrudgingly acknowledged a daunting reality: The damage is done, and no time soon are women likely to see new clinics start replacing dozens that have folded since 2013.
Internists offer practical alternatives to simplify implementation of MACRA The American College of Physicians (ACP) offered its recommendations for improvements to the proposed rule to implement the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) in a letter submitted today to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Acting Administrator, Andy Slavitt. If accepted by CMS, the College's recommendations would replace an unnecessarily complex quality scoring system with a much simpler and understandable approach, revamp how use of health information technology is reported to make it less burdensome and more relevant to clinicians, offer safe harbors for smaller practices until a "virtual reporting" system is established, and provide expanded choices and opportunities for physician-led models to qualify for higher payments as "alternative Advanced Payment Models"—including three new pathways for Patient-Centered Medical Home Practices.

Biology news

	Serpentine plants survive harsh soils thanks to borrowed genes Scientists from the John Innes Centre have analysed the genomes of plants that grow in harsh, serpentine soils to find out how they survive in such conditions. It appears that they have used two strategies: adapting to their environment through natural selection that acted on genetic variants which arose locally, as well as by borrowing useful variants from a related plant growing nearby.
	Cancer-causing virus mimics host signal to drive cell growth, protein production As scientists identify ways that viruses exploit their host cells to make more copies of themselves, they are also uncovering clues to how these viral invaders can trigger cancerous cell growth.
	Paper challenges current hypotheses for the gain and loss of heavy pigmentation in humans over evolutionary time Popular theories of why our human ancestors gained and then lost dark skin over the course of evolution may be incorrect, according to a new paper by UC San Francisco authors, who suggest that heavily pigmented skin evolved because it forms a stronger barrier against a host of environmental challenges. Because deeply pigmented skin requires more energy to produce, they propose, our ancestors shed some of these pigments through natural selection as they moved north and needed less protection against these threats.
	Monitoring malaria parasite reveals evolving drug resistance and infection history Scientists have discovered that the malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax is evolving rapidly to adapt to conditions in different geographical locations, in particular to defend itself against widely-used antimalarial drugs. The study, published in Nature Genetics today, provides a foundation for using genomic surveillance to guide effective strategies for malaria control and elimination.
	Could ancient wheat be the future of food? Researchers believe untapped consumer markets exist for ancient foods such as einkorn, emmer, and spelt, which fed large swaths of the world's population for thousands of years but disappeared almost completely during the rise of industrial farming and the green revolution. In an Opinion published June 27 in Trends in Plant Science, two plant breeders argue that the consumer demand in the US and Europe for high-quality, healthy food specialties presents an opportunity to reintroduce ancient wheat varieties and other plant species by creating "farm to fork" supply chains that satisfy consumer demand; provide niche markets for small farmers, millers, and bakers; and increase agricultural biodiversity.
	Picky eaters: Bumble bees prefer plants with nutrient-rich pollen Bumble bees have discriminating palettes when it comes to their pollen meals, according to researchers at Penn State. The researchers found that bumble bees can detect the nutritional quality of pollen, and that this ability helps them selectively forage among plant species to optimize their diets.
	Ladykiller: Artificial sweetener proves deadly for female flies Continuing their research into potential ingredients for human-safe pesticides, Drexel University researchers recently found an artificial sweetener that, while harmless for male fruit flies, proved particularly lethal for females.
	Getting a grip on slippery cell membranes Within each of our cells is a distribution system that uses molecular motors and filaments to move proteins, organelles, and other tiny bits of cargo along its inner framework, or cytoskeleton. To achieve this feat, the motors and filaments must tug on flexible membranes that surround the cargo packages, but these membranes, made of fatty molecules called lipids, are extremely slippery. Scientists have long wondered how the molecular transport machinery is able to maintain its grip.
	Four newly-identified genes could improve rice A Japanese research team have applied a method used in human genetic analysis to rice and rapidly discovered four new genes that are potentially significant for agriculture. These findings could influence crop breeding and help combat food shortages caused by a growing population. The paper was published on June 21, 2016 (Japan Standard Time) in the online edition of Nature Genetics.
Newly-discovered signal in the cell sets protein pathways to mitochondria Mitochondria are often described as the powerhouse in the cells of humans, plants and animals; but they also fulfill a number of other vital functions. These "organs" within the cell have an interesting past: They arose more than a billion years ago as a bacterium, which was adopted into a primeval cell. In the course of evolution, nearly all the genes of the original bacterium have become part of the cell nucleus. One result of this is that most of the protein building-blocks in mitochondria are produced in the cell plasma and put in place via complex importation processes.
	Seagrass a crucial weapon against coastal erosion A seagrass commonly found along WA's coast could be an important tool in a decades-long battle against erosion in Albany, a preliminary study by UWA has found.
Researchers investigate what causes cattle to shed shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are foodborne pathogens spread largely by cattle, that can cause hemorrhagic colitis and kidney failure. In an effort to find ways of reducing this problem, Michigan State University investigators show that stress, and the negative energy balance associated with lactation appear to encourage the shedding of STEC, especially in summer. The research is published ahead of print June 24 in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
	SharkCam tracks great whites into the deep On the first trip to study great white sharks in the wild off Guadalupe Island in 2013, the REMUS SharkCam team returned with an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) tattooed with bite marks and some of the most dramatic footage ever seen on Discovery Channel's Shark Week: large great white sharks attacking the underwater robot, revealing previously unknown details about strategies sharks use to hunt and interact with their prey at depth.
Study of canine genetics holds clues to better human health Could dogs hold the key to better medical treatments for people? Elinor Karlsson, PhD, assistant professor of molecular medicine, is studying canine genetics to better understand human health.
	Less fish in the future Baltic Sea In the northern parts of the Baltic Sea both precipitation and river discharge are expected to increase as a result of climate changes. The increased river discharge will lead to a higher inflow of river-borne dissolved organic matter to the coastal zone, which in turn will promote bacterial production. Simultaneously, the phytoplankton production will decrease as a result of both competition with bacteria for nutrients and the deteriorating light conditions. A glance into the future shows us a shift towards more bacterial-based marine food webs, and thereby a decrease in fish production.
	Gene mutation causes juvenile mortality in calves Respiratory diseases are among the most common ailments in calves. Hubert Pausch from the Chair of Animal Breeding at the Technical University of Munich and his team have now been able to trace a gene mutation responsible in both Braunvieh and Fleckvieh: a recessive mutation that alters the structure of the cilia of the airways is the culprit. It only manifests in homozygous animals. This means that both parents were carriers of the mutation.
A new tool for forecasting the behavior of the microbiome A team of investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital and the University of Massachusetts have developed a suite of computer algorithms that can accurately predict the behavior of the microbiome - the vast collection of microbes living on and inside the human body. In a paper published in Genome Biology, the authors show how their algorithms can be applied to develop new treatments for serious diarrheal infections, including Clostridium difficile, and inflammatory bowel disease. The team also shows how to identify bacteria most crucial for a healthy and stable microbial community, which could inform the development of probiotics and other therapies.
New software improves ability to catalog bacterial pathogens Washington State University researchers have developed a new software tool that will improve scientists' ability to identify and understand bacterial strains and accelerate vaccine development.
	Humans are greater threat to sharks, not the other way around Fans of Shark Week are sinking their teeth into a whole new slate of programming focused on one of the world's most fascinating predators. While Shark Week often delves into the sensational aspects of sharks, Florida International University (FIU) biologists are quick to remind people that sharks aren't exactly the voracious predators we often fear. In fact, shark attacks on humans are rare.
	Fading fishermen: A historic industry faces a warming world The cod isn't just a fish to David Goethel. It's his identity, his ticket to middle-class life, his link to a historic industry.
	Researchers have documented the first known instance of insects moving prey by forming chains In 2010, ant researchers Christian Peeters and Stéphane De Greef spotted chains of bluish ants dragging a huge millipede in Phnom Kulen National Park, Cambodia. Each ant bit on a constriction on the abdomen of the ant ahead of it, while the first ant bit tight on the millipede's antenna. Walking backwards, the ants heaved the millipede away.
	Oak wilt, other tree diseases examined at program in San Antonio Tree diseases, with oak wilt taking center stage, were the focus of the Tree Disease Identification and Management program held recently at the Urban Ecology Center at Phil Hardberger Park in San Antonio.
	Machine Learning techniques and the future of Ecology and Earth Science Research Increasingly becoming a necessity in Ecology and Earth Science research, handling complex data can be a tough nut when traditional statistical methods are applied. As its first publication, the new technologically-advanced Open Access journal One Ecosystem features a review paper describing the benefits of using machine learning technologies when working with highly-dimensional and non-linear data.
How cool-season turfgrasses respond to elevated UV-B radiation In the northern hemisphere, peak ultraviolet radiation exposure is predicted to occur between 2010 and 2020. Decreases in ozone lead to increased exposure to wavelengths in the ultraviolet range, and ultraviolet radiation in turn affects plants' ability to effectively use photosynthesis for growth and development. Scientists say large land areas could be affected by UV-B exposure on turfgrasses that are typically cut high, such as those grasses used for residential lawns, so identifying grasses that can grow in evaluated UV-B conditions is crucial.
Fertilizer used during plants' production adds value for consumers Producers of container-grown landscape plants often use fertilizers to ensure that consumers take home healthy, vigorous plants. This "residual fertilizer" adds value to plants by extending the benefits beyond the greenhouse. A new study recommends the best fertilizer strategies to give plants staying power and add value for consumers.

---

This email is a free service of Science X Network
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
https://sciencex.com/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com