Science X Newsletter Monday, Jun 6

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 6, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

New nanoparticle-based contrast agent that is pH dependent

Best of Last Week – Verifying Heisenberg's principle, revealing Pluto's secrets and brain damage due to stress

The truth is out there: Scientists unlock X-Files DNA mystery

Physicists predict previously unseen phenomena in exotic materials

Scientists discover magma buildup under New Zealand town

Google AI team looks to music makers to make some noise

Secrets revealed from Pluto's 'Twilight Zone'

Simple blood tests can help detect, target cancer: study

Precision medicine can widen cancer care options: studies (Update)

Airbus presents 3D-printed mini aircraft

Russian hi-tech spy devices under attack over privacy fears

When an exosuit becomes even more wearable

'Wasteful' galaxies launch heavy elements into surrounding halos and deep space

Almost all food and beverage products marketed by music stars are unhealthy

Women and people under the age of 35 at greatest risk of anxiety

Astronomy & Space news

	Secrets revealed from Pluto's 'Twilight Zone' NASA's New Horizons spacecraft took this stunning image of Pluto only a few minutes after closest approach on July 14, 2015. The image was obtained at a high phase angle -that is, with the sun on the other side of Pluto, as viewed by New Horizons. Seen here, sunlight filters through and illuminates Pluto's complex atmospheric haze layers. The southern portions of the nitrogen ice plains informally named Sputnik Planum, as well as mountains of the informally named Norgay Montes, can also be seen across Pluto's crescent at the top of the image.
	'Wasteful' galaxies launch heavy elements into surrounding halos and deep space Galaxies "waste" large amounts of heavy elements generated by star formation by ejecting them up to a million light years away into their surrounding halos and deep space, according to a new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder.
	Private lunar mission 'seeks US approval' The US government, in a first, is preparing to approve a private commercial space mission beyond the Earth's orbit, the Wall Street Journal has reported.
	An algorithm to image black holes Researchers from MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and Harvard University have developed a new algorithm that could help astronomers produce the first image of a black hole.
	Image: Hubble spots heavy-metal stars in head-banging spherical cluster This 10.5-billion-year-old globular cluster, NGC 6496, is home to heavy-metal stars of a celestial kind! The stars comprising this spectacular spherical cluster are enriched with much higher proportions of metals—elements heavier than hydrogen and helium are curiously known as metals in astronomy—than stars found in similar clusters.
	Alien life on most exoplanets likely dies young Astronomers have found a plethora of planets around nearby stars. And it appears that Earth-sized planets in habitable zones are probably common.
	A blazing gamma-ray source Blazars are galaxies whose central, supermassive black holes are accreting material from surrounding regions. Although black hole accretion happens in many galaxies and situations, in the case of a blazar the infalling material erupts into a powerful, narrow beam of high velocity charged particles that, fortuitously, is pointed in our direction. The charged particles produce gamma ray photons, each photon packing over a hundred million times the energy of the highest energy X-ray photon seen by the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The electron beam produces many other effects, and in blazars these include rapid, strong, and incessant variability. They sometimes also include the ability to generate high-energy gamma rays.
	Astronauts enter world's first inflatable space habitat (Update) Space station astronauts opened the world's first inflatable space habitat Monday and floated inside.
	Monitoring pipelines from space Dutch company Orbital Eye has developed a service that uses satellites to monitor gas and oil pipelines. A major African pipeline operator has already signed up for the service.
	Researcher explores microbes in space On May 11, a sealed capsule containing fungi and bacteria fell from the sky and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. Microbiologist Kasthuri Venkateswaran could hardly wait to see what was inside it.
	The other way to find life out there In the three-way horse race to prove that biology is not just a terrestrial aberration, there's one steed that many people ignore: sampling the air of distant planets to see if they contain the exhaust gases of life, or in the jargon of astrobiologists, biosignatures.
	A stolen exoplanet that will kill us all? Here's what we do know about 'Planet Nine' Ever since a study suggested that a "Planet Nine" could be lurking in the outskirts of our solar system, astronomers have been busy trying to pin it down.
	Mars 'colonists' to undergo five days of tests The 100 candidates on the shortlist to establish a human colony on the planet Mars are to undergo tests as part of a new phase of the selection process, the project organisers said Monday.

Technology news

	Google AI team looks to music makers to make some noise (Tech Xplore)—Where art meets AI—or, more specifically, where AI takes on the challenge of creating "art"—is now in the active stage within the Google project tagged Magenta. And now Magenta, with all its dedication and focus on machine learning, has a melody to show for its efforts.
	Airbus presents 3D-printed mini aircraft Dwarfed by huge jets all around, the mini-plane Thor was nonetheless an eye-catcher at the Berlin air show this week—the small Airbus marvel is the world's first 3D-printed aircraft.
	Russian hi-tech spy devices under attack over privacy fears New Russian technologies, including phonecall interception and a facial recognition app, have stirred a fierce debate about privacy and data monitoring.
	When an exosuit becomes even more wearable (Tech Xplore)—Menlo Park, California-based SRI International has news about its robotics project known as Superflex, which is a suit to enhance the human musculoskeletal system.
	Google team taking upper hand if misbehaving AI agent attempts anything terribly smart (Tech Xplore)—The twin effects of popular fiction (machines turning into killer squadrons) and scientific progress (machine learning) have made AI both exciting and scary in its future potential.
	Microgrids, not always economically efficient in regulated electricity markets Installing a microgrid within a regulated electricity market will sometimes, but not always, provide an economic benefit to customers, investors and utilities involved, according to new research led by Chiara Lo Prete, assistant professor of energy economics, Penn State.
	Virtual assistant Alexa boasts 1,000 'skills': Amazon Amazon on Friday boasted that its virtual assistant Alexa is capable of 1,000 "skills," as the online retail giant bolsters defenses against rivals such as Google and Apple.
	Nest CEO flies coop 2 years after $3.2B sale to Google Nest Labs CEO Tony Fadell is flying the coop two years after selling the smart-thermostat maker to Google for $3.2 billion.
Union: New airport towers must be remodeled before opening (Update) Two state-of-the-art airport towers due to go into operation this fall in San Francisco and Las Vegas are designed for electronic tracking of planes as they taxi and takeoff. But union officials say the towers will have to be extensively remodeled before they can open to accommodate older technology that uses paper strips to track planes.
	Valkyrie robot meets the public Valkyrie landed at Northeastern on Wednesday, marking the first time that the 6-foot-2-inch, 275-pound humanoid robot has interacted with the public.
	Why is the black box not stored in the cloud? Professor David Stupples, City's Professor of Electronic and Radio Systems, says the time has come for the flight data recorder (FDR) and the cockpit data recorder (CDR) - the black box found on aircraft - to be stored in the cloud. The usually orange-coloured flight recorder is an electronic recording device used in the event of an aviation accident (or incident) investigation.
	The robot Thymio is finding its niche in French schools Thymio, the teaching robot designed by EPFL and widely used in French-speaking Switzerland, is now making inroads elsewhere in Europe. In France, it has been incorporated in an important initiative to teach digital sciences in nursery and primary schools.
	Navy engineers develop futuristic next generation HUD for diving helmets Summer 2016 is heating up with new and upcoming advances in Navy diving technologies at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD).
	The story of the nosebleed decline of the newspaper industry told in pictures The impact of the Internet on the newspaper industry has been starkly highlighted by a graph released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. It shows how employment in that industry in the US has declined by 60% over the past 25 years, from 458,000 in 1990 to 183,000 in March 2016.
	Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg loses control of social media Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg briefly found his Twitter account hijacked, as were at least two of his other social media accounts.
High court rejects Google's appeal in class action lawsuit The Supreme Court won't hear an appeal from Google over a class action lawsuit filed by advertisers who claim the internet company displayed their ads on "low quality" web sites.
	EU ignoring diesel pollution despite VW scandal: NGO European governments are turning a blind eye to over-polluting cars, an NGO report said on Monday, nine months after a scandal exposed emission test cheating by Volkswagen, Europe's biggest carmaker.
	Zuckerberg hacking serves as reminder to change passwords Mark Zuckerberg can be hacked and so can you.
	Facebook gets in game-streaming with Blizzard Facebook on Monday announced that it is getting into the eSports game, jumping into the field of video games as spectator sports against Amazon-owned Twitch and Google's YouTube Gaming.
	New synthetic models with the electromagnetic properties of human tissues Researchers at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) have developed new synthetic models of human tissues that simulate the electromagnetic properties of different tissues and organs.  Known as phantoms, these models may be of interest for the development of new technologies for use in medical screening, as well as for the evaluation of 5G mobile communication devices. The researchers have also devised a methodology for creating these phantoms.

Medicine & Health news

	Simple blood tests can help detect, target cancer: study Blood samples can be just as effective as invasive tissue biopsies in monitoring cancer and can help doctors better prescribe treatment, a study revealed Saturday.
	Precision medicine can widen cancer care options: studies (Update) Using a patient's individual tumor biomarkers to determine the best treatment can improve success rates, studies showed Saturday.
	Almost all food and beverage products marketed by music stars are unhealthy Recording artists are frequently the face of commercial products—and children and adolescents are frequently their target audience. Now, a new study by researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center finds that the vast majority of the food and beverage products marketed by some of the most popular music stars are unhealthy.
	Women and people under the age of 35 at greatest risk of anxiety Women are almost twice as likely to experience anxiety as men, according to a review of existing scientific literature, led by the University of Cambridge. The study also found that people from Western Europe and North America are more likely to suffer from anxiety than people from other cultures.
	Evidence of hearing damage in teens prompts researchers' warning New research into the ringing-ear condition known as tinnitus indicates an alarming level of early, permanent hearing damage in young people who are exposed to loud music, prompting a warning from a leading Canadian researcher in the field.
	Happy couples experience perceptual downgrading of attractive alternate partners Men and women cheat on their partners. That's no surprise. But how is it that many couples stay faithful?
	How the brain merges the senses Utilizing information from all the senses is critical for building a robust and rich representation of our surroundings. Given the wealth of multisensory information constantly bombarding us, however, how does our brain know which signals go together and thus need to be combined? And how does it integrate such related signals? Scientists from the Cluster of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC) at Bielefeld University and the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics have proposed a computational model that explains multisensory integration in humans utilizing a surprisingly simple processing unit. This research, funded by the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, appears in the current issue of Nature Communications.
	New gene shown to cause Parkinson's disease Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered a new cause of Parkinson's disease—mutations in a gene called TMEM230. This appears to be the third gene definitively linked to confirmed cases of the common movement disorder.
	Two kinds of Medicare—two kinds of patients? Findings may mean a lot for health policy Nearly one in three American senior citizens choose to get their government-funded Medicare health coverage through plans run by health insurance companies. The rest get it straight from the federal government.
	Epigenomic alterations contribute to obesity-associated diabetes Obesity is a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, yet not all obese humans develop the disease. In a new study, researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and from the Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) in France have identified epigenomic alterations that are associated with inflammation and type 2 diabetes. The findings, which are published in the journal Nature Medicine, help to explain how alterations of the epigenome during the progression of obesity can trigger insulin resistance and diabetes.
	Researchers create genetic blueprint of cunning tuberculosis bacteria The rise in multi-drug resistant (MDR) and extremely drug resistant (XDR) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is becoming a major cause of global health concern for treating tuberculosis, which affects a third of the global population. In fact, the number of worldwide deaths caused by tuberculosis has surpassed HIV/AIDS, and there is greater sense of urgency than ever before to find effective drug cocktails to outsmart MTB.
	Novel imaging model helps reveal new therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the most common of pancreatic cancers, is extraordinarily lethal, with a 5-year survival rate of just 6 percent. Chemotherapy treatments are poorly effective, in part due to a high degree of drug-resistance to currently used regimens.
	Study finds wide geographic differences in treatment of diabetes, hypertension, depression An international observational study led by Columbia University researchers has uncovered widespread differences in the treatment of patients with common chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and depression. Using data from 250 million patient records in four countries, the study demonstrates the feasibility of performing large-scale observational research to obtain information about clinical practice among diverse groups of patients.
	Long after heart attack, chymase inhibitors could extend cell survival Cardiologists generally agree that if someone has a heart attack, the window of opportunity to intervene closes within hours, because heart muscle dies and doesn't come back.
	Study describes a better animal model to improve HIV vaccine development Vaccines are usually medicine's best defense against the world's deadliest microbes. However, HIV is so mutable that it has so far effectively evaded both the human immune system and scientists' attempts to make an effective vaccine to protect against it. Now, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have figured out how to make a much-improved research tool that they hope will open the door to new and better HIV vaccine designs. George M. Shaw, MD, PhD, a professor of Hematology/Oncology and Microbiology, and Hui Li, MD, a research assistant professor of Hematology/Oncology, published their results in the early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Lean gene discovery could lead to new type 2 diabetes therapies People with type 2 diabetes could be helped by the discovery of a gene linked to leanness.
	Babies don't just look cute, scientists find What is it about the sight of an infant that makes almost everyone crack a smile? Big eyes, chubby cheeks, and a button nose? An infectious laugh, soft skin, and a captivating smell? While we have long known that babies look cute, Oxford University researchers have found that cuteness is designed to appeal to all our senses.
Scientists develop protein with potential to modify brain function, memory in mice and fish Scientists at USC have developed a new tool to modify brain activity and memory in targeted ways, without the help of any drugs or chemicals.
	Genetic variations linked with social and economic success Psychological characteristics link genes with upward social mobility, according to data collected from almost 1000 individuals over four decades. The data suggest that various psychological factors play a role in linking a person's genetic profile and several important life outcomes, including professional achievement, financial security, geographic mobility, and upward social mobility.
Radiation therapy with pembrolizumab, bevacizumab safe for glioma patients Patients with recurrent high-grade glioma brain tumors have few effective treatment options and the majority of available therapies do not improve survival. Moffitt Cancer Center will present preliminary results from a phase 1 study testing whether the addition of pembrolizumab to radiation therapy and bevacizumab is safe and can control tumor growth for these patients. The findings will be discussed Saturday, June 4, during the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago.
Study shows why immune-boosting therapy doesn't work for everyone with widespread melanoma Patients who don't respond to treatments that use their own immune cells to destroy tumors, called tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, share changes in mechanisms that switch genes on or off in those cells, according to study results presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) on June 4, 2016 in Chicago.
	Two-drug regimen shows promise against pancreatic cancer A combination of two chemotherapy drugs has shown promising results in fighting pancreatic cancer, significantly improving five-year survival rates, according to a European study presented Friday.
WHO to weigh Rio Olympics impact on Zika spread The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has asked a panel of experts to consider whether the Rio Summer Olympics should be held as scheduled due to concerns it could spread the Zika virus.
	Wnt stem cell signaling pathway implicated in colorectal cancer in patients under 50 While increased screening continues to drive down overall colorectal cancer rates, the rate of colorectal cancer in patients under age 50 is increasing, and the disease is commonly more aggressive in these young patients. A University of Colorado Cancer Center study presented at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2016 shows one possible reason for the increased danger of colorectal cancers (CRCs) found in younger patients: while many genetic changes are shared between younger and older CRC patients, younger patients are more likely to have alterations in genes involved in what is known as the Wnt signaling pathway, a system of communication that drives the growth, survival and proliferation of cancer stem cells.
	Researchers find up to one-quarter of lung cancer patients ineligible for immunotherapy A significant proportion of lung cancer patients also have autoimmune disease, which may make them unsuitable for increasingly popular immunotherapy treatments, a team of researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center's Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center has found.
Rucaparib shows clinical benefit in pancreatic cancer patients with BRCA mutation The targeted therapy rucaparib, which has demonstrated robust clinical activity in ovarian cancer patients with a BRCA mutation, also showed promise in previously treated pancreatic cancer patients with the mutation, according to results from a phase II clinical study presented by Susan M. Domchek, MD, executive director of the Basser Center for BRCA at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. (Abstract # 4110)
Hispanic and black young adult cancer patients more likely to die of their disease Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black cancer patients between ages 15 and 29 may be more likely than same-aged white patients to die of their disease, according to a University of Colorado Cancer Center study presented at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2016. The finding is partially but not wholly explained by socioeconomic status, meaning that in addition to the health risks associated with low socioeconomic status or stage of presentation, there are additional health risks associated specifically with these racial/ethnic identities.
Study identifies significant cost differences between breast cancer chemotherapy regimens Costs associated with different breast cancer chemotherapy regimens can vary significantly, regardless of effectiveness, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Understanding cost differences should help guide informed discussions between patients and physicians when considering chemotherapy options.
Twice a day radiotherapy halves treatment time and is equally good at treating small cell lung cancer Having radiotherapy once a day for six and a half weeks or twice a day for three weeks—when combined with chemotherapy—is equally good at treating small cell lung cancer that hasn't spread.
New pre-surgery technique may make colostomy bags redundant for emergency bowel cancer patients An expandable tube that unblocks the bowel before surgery could lead to fewer cancer patients—diagnosed as emergencies—needing a colostomy bag.The Cancer Research UK-funded CReST trial presented at the 2016 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago today (Sunday) found that less than half (45 per cent) of those who had their bowel unblocked by the tube, which uses body heat to expand, needed a colostomy bag.
New drug 'retrains' immune system to fight aggressive bladder cancer A new drug that harnesses the immune system to attack tumors is highly effective against advanced bladder cancer, according to the results of an international clinical trial to be presented June 5 at the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
	Decade of hormone therapy reduces breast cancer recurrence: study Doubling the duration of hormone therapy for women with early-stage breast cancer from five to 10 years reduces the risk of recurrence and developing tumors in the other breast, a study showed Sunday.
	Success with immunotherapy in handling hard to treat cancer Results of several clinical trials released Sunday show the revolutionary potential of immunotherapy in treating advanced cases of hard to treat types of cancer, such as bladder and lung cancer.
	Researchers uncover new mode of action for HUMIRA in rheumatoid arthritis patients Researchers from University College London have discovered that the widely used antiinflammatory drug HUMIRA doesn't just work by inhibiting its target protein, TNF, but by enhancing a particular function of TNF in rheumatoid arthritis patients. The study, "Anti-TNF drives regulatory T cell expansion by paradoxically promoting membrane TNF-TNF-RII binding in rheumatoid arthritis," which will be published online June 6 in The Journal of Experimental Medicine, may help explain the divergent efficacies of different TNF-targeting drugs.
	Skin cancer detection technology promises early diagnosis New technology that helps detect skin cancers early could be transformed into a commonplace tool for clinicians, thanks to research at The University of Queensland.
Cholesterol-lowering drug kills melanoma cells if messenger substance is present Special cholesterol-lowering drugs can hamper the growth of metastasising melanoma cells if the cellular messenger substance Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is present. This link was observed in a research project funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF, the results of which were recently published in the journal Melanoma Research.
Direct patient engagement through social media speeds recruitment to cancer research study A crowd-sourcing strategy aimed at accelerating research into metastatic breast cancer has connected advocacy groups, social media, and a dedicated web site to register more than 2,000 patients from all 50 states in its first seven months, say researchers from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.
	In the war against antibiotic resistance, scientists fear the bacteria are winning—but not for long Penicillin was hailed as a "miracle drug" when it went into widespread use in the early 1940s, and with good reason. Before then, even simple infections frequently led to more serious illness, even death. But with the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in recent years, medical science could find itself back at square one again—but a group of Emory researchers is determined to prevent that from happening.
	Q&A: Psychologist on nature interaction, wildness in cities University of Washington professor Peter Kahn recently co-authored an opinion piece in the journal Science about the importance of interacting with nature in urban areas. UW Today asked Kahn a few more questions about the broader implications of his work. Read about the Science piece here.
	'Healthy bodies' best for men, but for women, thin is beautiful A new study from Macquarie University being published in PLOS ONE has found that both genders consider an unhealthily low body fat content for women as attractive, however for men, a healthy body type with a normal body fat content, is considered more attractive.
Immunotherapy effective against some types of sarcoma An existing cancer immunotherapy drug reduces tumor size in some types of rare connective tissue cancers, called sarcomas, report researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI). Additional analyses of tumor biopsies and blood samples, which will help the researchers better understand which sarcoma subtypes will benefit most from the new treatment, are underway.
	Study: Long-term marijuana use changes brain's reward circuit Chronic marijuana use disrupts the brain's natural reward processes, according to researchers at the Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas.
	New method reveals possible prostate cancer therapy The steroid dexamethasone could potentially deter the growth of a prostate cancer subtype that was previously thought to be difficult to treat with medications, Weill Cornell Medicine researchers report. Their findings were published in the June 2 issue of Cell Reports.
Understanding risks, refining treatments can reduce heartbreak of infertility About 15 percent of couples in the United States suffer from infertility, which is when a couple has tried to become pregnant for a year without success. Infertility comes as a shock to many couples that have spent years preventing pregnancy.
	'Emotional blindness'—not autism—linked to impaired perception of internal sensations A new study by researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) has identified a link between impaired interoception - the ability to perceive internal sensations such as hunger, pain, disgust or fear - and alexithymia or 'emotional blindness.'
	Link found between stomach infection and Parkinson's symptoms Researchers report that a common bacterium infecting the human stomach has significant links with worsened symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
	Ground beef may need higher cooking temperature to be safe That hamburger you dutifully grilled to the temperature recommended by government health agencies may not be as safe to eat as you think.
	Responding to child maltreatment When children experience traumatic events at a young age, the effects can be devastating and long-lasting. However, new research is helping to develop better ways of parenting and helping at-risk children.
	So this is 30: Study maps how men deal with the challenges that come with turning 30 Crossing the threshold into the thirties is often marked with life changing moments, with starting a family up there as the most momentous for women and men alike.
	Researchers work to speed prostate cancer detection During the earliest stages of cancer, physicians often have difficulty detecting it because there are too few circulating tumor cells to find in the blood. Cancer can give hints of its presence through specific proteins that appear in the bloodstream, but even then, these cancer "signatures" may be so few in number – about a million to a billion times lower than other proteins in the blood – that they can go undetected.
	Reduce cyberslacking and increase physical activity with a tap, a click or a kick An innovative wearable technology for standing desks that creates a new way of interacting with your computer could reduce cyberslacking and increase healthy movement.
	When to give up: Treatment or comfort for late-stage cancer? Two months before Joe Clark died of colon cancer at age 31, a doctor gently told him it was time to stop treatment.
	Computing helps the study of infections on a global and local scale Millions of people suffer each year from infectious diseases which are responsible for about a quarter of all deaths worldwide. But tracking the cause of such illness and trying to avoid their spread is always a challenge.
	Better info needed for gamblers on self exclusion A study into a process used for minimising harm for problem gamblers has found little information in the community about self-exclusion or how people can access it.
	New implantable device eases sleep apnea Mike Freeman's backpacking buddies did not want their tents near his, and his wife was tired of waking in the middle of the night to get him to roll over and stop snoring. Mike has sleep apnea, a pretty dramatic case, he has been told. But an online ad that led him to a University of Alabama at Birmingham ENT surgeon has helped.
	Weak evidence for prescribed alcohol drug, say scientists A drug being used to treat alcohol problems in the UK was licensed for use despite insufficient evidence to prove its effectiveness, new research led by the University of Stirling has found.
	Scientists working to develop new brain tumour vaccine Scientists have embarked on a new study aimed at developing a vaccine to target the most deadly form of brain tumour.
Social networks could revolutionise patient care Facebook-style online health communities are helping to improve patient care and provide rich data for new health innovations, a study has found.
Researchers elucidate dynamic intermolecular interactions of DNA with anti-DNA antibodies Antibodies to native double-stranded DNA are present in the blood of healthy people, but their level is increased many times in patients with autoimmune diseases in which the human immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissues. Symptoms of these diseases can affect many body systems, including joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart and lungs.
Progression-free survival triples in select metastatic lung cancer patients with surgery or radiation after chemotherapy Lung cancer patients with oliogometastases, defined as three or fewer sites of metastasis, may benefit from aggressive local therapy, surgery or radiation, after standard chemotherapy, according to research led by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. If validated in larger studies, the findings could represent a dramatic shift in clinical care for thousands of lung cancer patients.
Electroacupuncture may help relieve pain from carpal tunnel syndrome Electroacupuncture combined with nighttime splinting may help alleviate pain from chronic carpal tunnel syndrome, according to a randomized controlled trial published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
As colorectal cancer rate falls, diagnosis of late-stage cancer in young patients is up The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends that colorectal cancer (CRC) screening begin at age 50. This means that less is known about the occurrence of the disease in people under age 50. Unfortunately, one thing that is known is that while the overall rate of colorectal cancer continues to decrease, the incidence of the disease in patients under 50 is, in fact, on the rise. A University of Colorado Cancer Center study presented at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2016 seeks to understand this rise in a regional sample of 39,575 patients, finding that in Colorado patients over 50, the rate of CRC is falling at 2.5 percent per year while the rate of CRC in patients under 50 is rising at 0.8 percent per year. The increase in incidence appeared to be driven mostly by an increase in late-stage CRC in the under-50 population with an increase of 2.4 percent per year from 2003 through 2013.
Combination therapy cures tick-borne illness in mice A novel combination therapy cures an emerging infectious disease, babesiosis, which is transmitted by the same ticks that transmit the agents of Lyme disease, said Yale researchers. This "radical" therapy not only clears the infection but also prevents the recurrence that often occurs with existing treatments.
	Novel protein inhibitors engineered as alternative approach to potentially treat cancer Researchers from the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University have engineered endogenous protein inhibitors of protein-degrading enzymes as an alternative approach to synthetic inhibitors for potentially treating cancer and other diseases. Results of their study, titled "Thermodynamics of Selectivity in N-TIMP/MMP Interactions," were recently published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
	Expansion of kidney progenitor cells toward regenerative medicine Research into kidney regeneration, an organ that has been extremely difficult to regenerate, has taken a great stride forward with research coming out of a collaboration between Kumamoto University, Japan and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the US. The research demonstrates a method of increasing kidney progenitor cell proliferation in vitro. These progenitor cells contribute to the formation of kidney tissues but normally disappear before or soon after birth. The research is the first in the world to establish methods for culturing kidney progenitor cells that maintain their ability to form the glomerulus, one of the most important elements of the kidney.
	IL-33 ameliorates Alzheimer's-like pathology and cognitive decline Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating condition with no known effective treatment. The disease is characterized by memory loss as well as impaired locomotor ability, reasoning, and judgment. Emerging evidence suggests that the innate immune response plays a major role in the pathogenesis of AD.
Dual stem-cell transplant improves outlook for children with high-risk neuroblastoma Children with high-risk neuroblastoma whose treatment included two autologous stem-cell transplants were more likely to be free of cancer three years later than patients who underwent a single transplant, a Phase 3 clinical trial has found. The results of the Children's Oncology Group trial, led by investigators at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Seattle Children's Hospital, were presented today at a plenary session at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. (Abstract LBA3).
Late-term birth associated with better school-based cognitive functioning Better measures of school-based cognitive function were associated with late-term infants born at 41 weeks but those children performed worse on a measure of physical functioning compared with infants born full term at 39 or 40 weeks, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
	Pictures warning of smoking dangers on cigarette packs increased quit attempts: study Affixing pictures on cigarette packets to illustrate the danger of smoking increased attempts by smokers to quit, according to the results of a clinical trial published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Intensive treatment of glucose levels can lead to serious complications With a more-is-better mindset common in society, frequent commercials encouraging checks of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels, and ads for new diabetes medications to lower HbA1C in adults with Type 2 diabetes, Mayo Clinic researchers were not too surprised to find overtesting occurring.
	New compound shows promise against malaria Malaria parasites cause hundreds of millions of infections, and kills hundreds of thousands of people annually, mostly in Africa. And in recent years the most dangerous malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, has become increasingly resistant to the main anti-malarial drugs. Now, an international team of researchers shows that some members of a class of compounds called oxaboroles, which contain the element, boron, have potent activity against malaria parasites. The research is published ahead of print June 6 in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
	Gene study to shed light on how some people stay sharp in old age More than one thousand people have had their entire genetic make-up decoded as part of a long-term study to gain insight into why some people's brains age better than others.
	Doctors unleash new weapon to fight pediatric neuroblastoma For seven months, three-year-old Emil Abbasov underwent chemotherapy to fight the tangerine-sized, cancerous tumor growing in his abdomen. But each time, the tumor resisted harder. Each time, he felt more side effects.
	Increases in life expectancy accompanied by increase in disability-free life expectancy, study shows For those worried about the burden of old age, a recent Harvard study has some good news.
	Intervention reduces rates of overweight tots by half Mothers who practiced responsive parenting—including reacting promptly and appropriately to hunger and fullness cues—were less likely to have overweight babies at their one-year checkup than those who did not, say health researchers.
Shorter patient consent forms, video formats improve comprehension When patients participate in a clinical trial, they are required—for legal and ethical reasons—to complete consent forms that are typically long, complicated and filled with technical language. Some experts fear these forms can lead some patients to enroll in studies without fully understanding them and others to miss valuable opportunities.
Residents concerned about use of genetically modified mosquitoes to curb insect population A small survey of residents of a Florida Keys neighborhood where officials hope to release genetically modified mosquitos to potentially reduce the threat of mosquito-borne illnesses such as Zika finds a lack of support for the control method, according to new research from former and current students at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Essential aspects of the regulation of the anti-tumor protein p53 The RNA Molecular Biology Laboratory headed by Professor Denis Lafontaine at the Université libre de Bruxelles has just published a study in Nature Communications revealing essential aspects of the regulation of the anti-tumor protein p53.
Hearing problems reduce the quality of life of older people Research has found that hearing loss has wide-ranging impacts not only on older people's ability to communicate, but also on their ability to move about and participate in different hobbies and activities. This has been revealed in studies funded by the Academy of Finland whose results have been published in international scientific journals.
Study finds one-third of women taking bisphosphonates remain at risk for fracture More than 53 million Americans age 50 and older, primarily women, have osteoporosis or are at high risk for the condition due to low bone density. A recent study of oral bisphosphonates, the most commonly prescribed osteoporosis treatment, found that approximately a third of women prescribed these drugs continue to be at elevated risk for bone fracture, an outcome that may have several origins.
Advanced cancer patients receive aggressive care at high rates at the end of life In the last month of their lives, younger cancer patients continued to be hospitalized and receive other aggressive treatment at high rates, a University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center-led study found.
Researchers develop a new method to transparently measure health care value In the United States, the transition from volume to value dominates discussions of health care reform. While shared decision making might help patients determine whether to get care, transparency in procedure- and hospital-specific value measures would help them determine where to get care.
A family-based weight management program improved self-perception among obese children Battling the childhood obesity epidemic is a priority for many researchers, as obesity during adolescence increases the risk of chronic diseases throughout life. Because obese children have lower quality of life and self-esteem, greater levels of depression and anxiety, and also face more teasing and bullying than normal-weight peers, including mental health in any intervention is necessary. To that end, researchers studied the self-perception of children participating in the Fit Families program.
Immunotherapy improves survival, quality of life in rapidly progressing head and neck cancer Immunotherapy doubles overall survival and improves quality of life, with fewer side effects, in a treatment-resistant and rapidly progressing form of head and neck carcinoma, reports a large, randomized international trial co-led by investigators at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI). The new trial was considered so successful that it was stopped early to allow patients in the comparison group to receive the new drug.
	Childhood vaccinations rarely spur seizures, study finds (HealthDay)—Certain vaccines can trigger fever-related seizures in young children, but the risk is so low that pediatricians might see one case every five to 10 years, a new study estimates.
	Superior results for myeloma drug that's added earlier in treatment (HealthDay)—A recently approved immunotherapy drug for a blood cancer called multiple myeloma can provide even better benefits if patients receive it earlier in their treatment, new clinical trial results show.
	U.S. pays highest prices for cancer meds: study (HealthDay)—The United States pays the highest prices in the world for generic and brand-name cancer drugs, a new study has found.
	Antibody-based therapy shows promise against stomach cancer (HealthDay)—An experimental therapy based on immune-system antibodies is helping some people with advanced stomach cancer live longer, a new study finds.
	Two-pronged chemo helps some with advanced ovarian cancer (HealthDay)—Some women with advanced ovarian cancer may fare better if chemotherapy is dripped directly into their abdomens as well as introduced into their bloodstream through traditional IV, a new study finds.
Cancer drug trial success The successful results of a University of Liverpool led drug trial aimed at developing new therapeutic approaches to cancer have been presented at two American medical conferences.
	Study may help reassure women taking tamoxifen for breast cancer A study led by Loyola Medicine researchers may help reassure patients who worry the breast cancer drug tamoxifen could increase their risk of uterine cancer.
Videoconferencing between hospital clinicians, nursing home staff offers new dementia treatment Nursing homes in the United States care for increasing numbers of people with dementia, yet many lack access to geriatric psychiatrists, behavioral neurologists and other specialists who may help manage symptoms associated with dementia, including behavioral issues. As a result, nursing home staff may resort to physical restraints or antipsychotic medications to manage behavioral challenges, which can significantly compromise a patient's health, autonomy and dignity.
	Study details stress-diabetes link A Rice University study has found a link between emotional stress and diabetes, with roots in the brain's ability to control anxiety.
Blood-born molecules could predict those who will develop liver cancer Hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer, is increasing in incidence in the United States, and infection with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes about 50 percent of cases. However, it can be difficult to identify who is most likely to develop this cancer. Although earlier research had discovered molecular signatures associated with HBV-driven liver cancer, new research from Thomas Jefferson University has proven that this panel of microRNAs can also predict the patients at high risk for developing the disease before the cancer develops, via a blood test.
Personalized medicine leads to better outcomes for patients with cancer In a meta-analysis of hundreds of clinical trials involving thousands of patients, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine report that therapeutic approaches using precision medicine, which emphasizes the use of individual genetics to refine cancer treatment, showed improved response and longer periods of disease remission, even in phase I trials.
New method seeks to diminish risk, maximize investment in cancer 'megafunds' Recognizing the high research and development costs for drugs to combat cancer, a team of researchers has devised a method to maximize investment into these undertakings by spotting which efforts are the most scientifically viable.
	Methotrexate exposure impacts cognitive processes cancer survivors need to multitask Research from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital suggests that pediatric leukemia patients exposed to higher concentrations of the chemotherapy drug methotrexate are more likely to struggle with mental flexibility, organization and related skills as long-term survivors. The findings appear online today in an early release article in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Targeting B-cell malignancies with kappa-specific T cells can lead to complete clinical responses Treating B cell malignancies with the patients' own T cells modified so as to target specific B cell markers has shown clinical success.
Obesity and gestational diabetes in mothers linked to early onset of puberty in daughters Daughters of overweight mothers who develop gestational diabetes are significantly more likely to experience an earlier onset of one sign of puberty, according to new Kaiser Permanente research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
	Study of 81,000 adults examines mental illness, gun violence and suicide People with serious mental illnesses who use guns to commit suicide are often legally eligible to purchase guns, despite having a past record of an involuntary mental health examination and brief hospitalization, according to a new Duke Health analysis.
	Insufficient sleep cycle—especially for shift workers—may increase heart disease risk The body's involuntary processes may malfunction in shift workers and other chronically sleep-deprived people, and may lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension.
News stories often wrongly link violence with mental illness, study says Nearly four in 10 news stories about mental illness analyzed by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers connect mental illness with violent behavior toward others, even though less than five percent of violence in the United States is directly related to mental illness.
New approach could make bone marrow transplants safer Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) scientists have taken the first steps toward developing a treatment that would make bone marrow - blood stem cell - transplantation safer and, as a result, more widely available to the millions of people living with blood disorders like sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and AIDS.
	War and peace in the human gut: Probing the microbiome Human well being often flourishes under conditions of cooperation with others and flounders during periods of external conflict and strife.
Spiders put the bite on irritable bowel syndrome pain Spiders have helped researchers from Australia and the US discover a new target for irritable bowel syndrome pain.
	Just a few more bites: Defining moderation varies by individual, study finds Though eating in moderation might be considered practical advice for healthy nutrition, a new University of Georgia study suggests the term's wide range of interpretations may make it an ineffective guide for losing or maintaining weight.
	Possible benefit for cannabinoids in rheumatic conditions (HealthDay)—Cannabinoids may have limited benefits in rheumatic conditions, with some potential benefit in terms of pain relief and effect on sleep, according to a review published in the May issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
	Few engage in five behaviors for preventing chronic disease (HealthDay)—Few U.S. adults engage in all five health-related behaviors recommended for chronic disease prevention, according to a study published online May 26 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.
	Ventricular ectopic QRS interval may be useful post-MI marker (HealthDay)—The ventricular ectopic QRS interval (VEQSI) can identify post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients with prior serious ventricular arrhythmia, according to a study published online June 1 in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.
	Beware of bleeding risks with antacids containing aspirin (HealthDay)—Antacids that contain aspirin may cause stomach or intestinal bleeding in rare cases, U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials said Monday.
	Vaccination in pregnancy may offer protection for preemies (HealthDay)—A combination vaccine offered to mothers from 28 weeks of gestation may offer protection for infants born prematurely, according to a study published online June 2 in Pediatrics.
Indiana sees 70 percent surge in syphilis cases in one year Indiana's syphilis cases surged 70 percent in a single year, a state health official said Monday, urging health care providers to aggressively test patients for the sexually transmitted disease.
Study of procedure-free gastric balloon shows they are safe, lead to similar weight loss as other balloon procedures New research on the first procedure-free gastric balloon, presented at this year's European Obesity Summit (EOS) in Gothenburg, Sweden (June 1-4) shows it is safe and results in similar weight loss to other balloon procedures that use endoscopy. The study is by Dr Ioannis Raftopoulos, Weight Management Program, Holyoke Medical Center, Holyoke, MA, USA, and colleagues.
Overweight very young children consume larger meals, say data from UK survey Data from a large UK survey on the eating habits of very young children (aged 4-18 months) show that overweight children consume larger meals, but do not eat more frequently, than healthy weight children. This study of the UK Diet and Nutrition Survey of Infants and Young Children (DNSIYC) is presented at the European Obesity Summit in Gothenburg (1-4 June) by Hayley Syrad, University College London, UK, and colleagues.
Obesity continues to increase in Sweden, even in the last few years Sweden, the country hosting this year's European Obesity Summit in Gothenburg (1-4 June) has always been associated with good health indicators. However new research presented at the summit shows that obesity has continued to increase across mid-Sweden since the start of the new millennium. The study is by Dr Anu Molarius, Competence Centre for Health, Västmanland County Council, Västerås, Sweden, and colleagues.
Nivolumab immunotherapy helps patients with advanced bladder cancer The immune checkpoint blockade drug nivolumab reduced tumor burden in 24.4 percent of patients with metastatic bladder cancer, regardless of whether their tumors had a biomarker related to the drug's target, according to clinical trial results from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The study will be presented Sunday, June 5, 2016 at the 2016 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.
Unwed Indian women targeted in 'black-market baby scam' In an intensive care unit, a nurse soothes a crying baby rescued in a raid on a private Indian hospital that police suspect was selling abandoned newborns on the black market.
Nivolumab shows promise in first-ever trial for patients with refractory, metastatic anal cancer In the first-ever clinical trial for metastatic patients previously treated for the disease, research led by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that the immune checkpoint blockade nivolumab shows promise for the majority of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCCA).
Improving health care for transgender patients Transgender patients face unique challenges and stressful situations when they engage with health care providers. That's why Rutgers New Jersey Medical School – which is exploring opening a transgender surgery center – is bringing together practitioners to discuss gender identity and the complexities of working with transgender patients, including transgender adolescents.
Health and self When women receive a breast cancer diagnosis they face choices not only about their immediate treatment, but also about how to manage the risk of recurrence. For a growing number of women that involves surgery to remove a healthy breast.
	Six tips to keep your family fit and healthy this summer Summer is a great time to kick-start healthy habits but finding time to stay fit and make healthy choices as a family can seem overwhelming.
Law reform in Canada may help curb organ transplant tourism Creating a confidential reporting system in Canada about organ transplant tourism could help reduce the practice and disrupt international networks, argues a commentary published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Novel targeted drug shows promise against advanced small cell lung cancer The experimental "smart-bomb" drug rovalpituzumab tesirine (Rova-T) appears safe and shows efficacy in treating patients with advanced small cell lung cancer (SCLC), according to results from a first-in-human clinical trial to be presented today by a Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) researcher at the 2016 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago. (Abstract #LBA8505)
	'Listening to Prozac' doctor: antidepressants work "Ordinarily Well: The Case for Antidepressants" (Farrar, Straus and Giroux), by Peter D. Kramer
	Biden unveiling public database for clinical data on cancer Vice President Joe Biden unveiled a public database for clinical data on cancer on Monday that aims to help researchers and doctors better tailor new treatments to individuals.
MPs want academic 'match-making' service to help inform policy MPs have expressed an overwhelming willingness to use a proposed new service to swiftly link them with academics in relevant areas to help ensure policy is based on the latest evidence.
Pembrolizumab elicits significant antitumor activity in head and neck cancer patients Treating head and neck cancer patients with recurrent or metastatic disease with the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab resulted in significant clinical responses in a fifth of the patients from a phase II clinical trial, researchers at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania and other institutions reported at the 2016 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting. (Abstract #6011)
Assisted dying about to be legal in Canada Doctor-assisted dying is about to become legal in Canada without clear legislation on how it would work.
Researchers present phase 1 study results of selinexor combination therapy; multiple myeloma Moffitt Cancer Center will present results from a phase 1 study of selinexor in combination with liposomal doxorubicin and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. The findings will be discussed Monday, June 6, during the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago.
Combo immunotherapy for advanced melanoma: Two therapies may be better than one A new metastatic melanoma study suggests that a combination of two immunotherapies may be better than one:
Increases in sFLT1 predict the onset of preeclampsia symptoms in mice Preeclampsia is a life-threatening pregnancy complication associated with high blood pressure and increased sensitivity to angiotensin II, a hormone that elevates blood pressure.
Among active duty military, Army personnel most at risk for violent suicide A study of rates and predictors of suicide among active duty enlisted service members found that Army personnel were most at risk for violent suicide. Firearms were determined to be the primary cause of suicide death across all branches of service. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
NHS England needs to stop stalling and make HIV preventing treatment available An effective treatment that can prevent HIV infection and reduce the human and financial costs of the preventable condition is taking too long to be commissioned and made available on the NHS, warns Deborah Gold, chief executive of the National Aids Trust, in an article published by The BMJ today.
Is your hearing at risk? Protect your ears Hearing loss is a natural part of the aging process. But noise-induced hearing loss is on the rise.
New study will examine link between head injuries, degenerative brain disorders Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, UPMC and Carnegie Mellon University are putting together a study of degenerative brain disorders that have been linked to head injuries, the first project of its kind among the institutions and among the first in the country to use a novel tool in the search for treatments.
Study concludes that ultralow-dose CT may substitute for standard-dose CT in some COPD patients A Japanese retrospective study that reviewed the CT data of 50 emphysema patients found that ultralow-dose CT (ULDCT) can substitute for standard-dose CT (SDCT) in disease quantification if both iterative reconstruction (IR) and filtered back projection are used.
Genomic Data Commons at University of Chicago launches new era of cancer data sharing The Genomic Data Commons (GDC), a next-generation platform that enables unprecedented data access, analysis and sharing for cancer research, publicly launched at the University of Chicago on June 6, opening the door to discoveries for this complex set of diseases.

Biology news

	The truth is out there: Scientists unlock X-Files DNA mystery Scientists have unlocked a crucial part of the mystery as to how our DNA can replicate and repair itself - something which is essential for all life forms.
	Deadly fungus uses unexpected system to control its virulence A research team led by UC San Francisco scientists has discovered a cellular signaling system that regulates the virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungus that has been estimated to cause nearly a million cases of meningitis worldwide per year, about 625,000 of which are fatal. C. neoformans infections are a particular threat to individuals whose immune systems are compromised—meningitis caused by this fungus is responsible for as much as 40 percent of all deaths related to HIV/AIDS.
Scientists find new roles for old RNAs An international team of researchers has discovered unexpected functions of small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) that explains the cause of some diseases. The research, led by Prof. Stefan Stamm from the University of Kentucky and Prof. Ruth Sperling from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, appears in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Eddies enhance survival of coral reef fish in sub-tropical waters Swirling eddies in the ocean have long been thought to be beneficial to organisms such as larval fishes residing within them because of enhanced phytoplankton production. However, direct evidence for this hypothesis has been hard to come by.
	Electric eels make leaping attacks In a legendary account the famous 19th century explorer and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt recounted a dramatic battle between horses and electric eels that he witnessed on a field trip to the Amazon. In the following 200 years, however, there have been no scientific reports of similar behavior on the part of the eels, suggesting that perhaps von Humboldt exaggerated.
'Pristine' landscapes haven't existed for thousands of years due to human activity 'Pristine' landscapes simply do not exist anywhere in the world today and, in most cases, have not existed for at least several thousand years, says a new study in the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). An exhaustive review of archaeological data from the last 30 years provides details of how the world's landscapes have been shaped by repeated human activity over many thousands of years. It reveals a pattern of significant, long-term, human influence on the distribution of species across all of the earth's major occupied continents and islands.
	In CRISPR genome editing, Cpf1, proved its marked specificity and produced a mutant mouse As a new tool in CRISPR genome editing, Cpf1 has sparked an explosion of interest for its attributes that differ from Cas9: It requires only a single RNA that CRISPR RNA assembly is simpler; its staggered cleavage patterns may facilitate substituting existing DNA with desired sequences; and it recognizes thymidine-rich DNA sequences, which has been less explored than the guanosine-rich sequences recognized by Cas9. In sum, Cpf1 is expected to broaden the scope of CRISPR genome editing target sites with enhanced efficiency. Despite Cpf1's vast potential as a powerful genome editing tool, little has been demonstrated as to how, specifically, the new tool finds its targets. In a series of two papers published online on June 6 in Nature Biotechnology, researchers at the IBS Center for Genome Editing in South Korea showed Cpf1 as a highly specific programmable tool that is suitable for precision genome editing and reported generation of mutant mice using CRISPR-Cpf1.
	Pandas don't like it hot: Temperature, not food is biggest concern for conservation Although a new Drexel study found that the metabolism of giant pandas is higher than previously reported, there is more than enough bamboo in nature to keep pandas healthy and happy for years.
	This desert moss has developed the ultimate water collection toolkit Finding water in the desert is a relatively easy task for a species of moss that seems to flourish in even the most arid regions. That's according to a new study by a team of scientists and engineers who wanted to understand how Syntrichia caninervis succeeds despite its limited and inconsistent water supplies.
	Wild parents' genomes reveal complex genetic past for garden variety petunias When gardeners look at a petunia, they see the vibrant and versatile blooms of the most popular bedding plant in the U.S. But when plant scientists look at a petunia, they see an important model plant species—one that just became more useful with the release of its parents' genomes.
	Distinguishing deadly Staph bacteria from harmless strains Staphylococcus aureus bacteria are the leading cause of skin, soft tissue and several other types of infections. Staph is also a global public threat due to the rapid rise of antibiotic-resistant strains, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA. Yet Staph also commonly colonize our nasal passages and other body sites without harm. To better understand these bacteria and develop more effective treatments, University of California San Diego researchers examined not just a single representative Staph genome, but the "pan-genome"—the genomes of 64 different strains that differ in where they live, the types of hosts they infect and their antibiotic resistance profiles.
	Researcher affirms 86-year-old hypothesis A Washington State University biologist has found what he calls "very strong support" for an 86-year-old hypothesis about how nutrients move through plants. His two-decade analysis of the phenomenon has resulted in a suite of techniques that can ultimately be used to fight plant diseases and make crops more efficient.
	To fight lionfish invasion, Cuba learns to cook them If you can't beat your enemies, eat them: That's the strategy Cuba has adopted to respond to an invasion of lionfish, a poisonous predator that has strayed far from its home waters in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Ships flagged for illegal fishing still able to get insurance, study finds New research from the University of British Columbia finds that rogue fishing vessels are able to secure insurance including those that have been flagged by international watchdogs for unlawful activity.
	Hairy future for Australia's beloved koala A sweet, sickly smell filled the air as Sherwood Robyn, a 12-year-old koala, was brought into a small examination room at Australia's first hospital for the furry marsupials.
	Algae building blooms A multi-disciplinary team bringing together science, sustainable building design and architecture may soon develop the first living algae buildings in Australia. Their unique collaboration has seen a comprehensive feasibility study conducted on behalf of the City of Sydney, with plans to create the first flat facade algae panel this year.
Is Myrtle Rust the new threat to native fauna? QUT scientists have begun a world-first study using unmanned aircraft (UA) to determine the impact the spread of the fungus Myrtle Rust will have on Australian native animals as well as the environmental conditions that encourage the pest to spread.
Genome engineering of quantifiable protein tags Cell biologists' most notorious approach to detect and semi-quantify proteins, western blotting, could well be on its way down. Professor Sven Eyckerman (VIB/UGent) and colleagues developed a set of universal protein tags that warrant protein quantification via targeted proteomics techniques. The development and applications of these new tags - named Proteotypic peptides for Quantification by SRM (PQS) - are described in the online, open access journal Scientific Reports.
	The diversity and number of soil animals determine leaf decomposition in the forest Small animals that decompose fallen leaves in the forest form complex food webs and are essential to a functioning ecosystem. A study comprising over 80 forests in Germany and on Sumatra (Indonesia) has now shown that two factors particularly influence this function when examined over larger landscapes: the number of animals and their species diversity. In previous studies, the connection between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning had been investigated mostly in small test areas.
Males were saved by agriculture Around 12,000 years ago, settlers in the Fertile Crescent of West Asia domesticated a few wild plant and animal species. The emergence of agriculture is believed to have driven extensive human population growths, because food production by agriculture can support far higher population densities than hunting and foraging. Nevertheless, there is a "chicken or the egg" dispute between agriculture and initial population expansion in the Neolithic era.
	A protective shield against the heavy metal uranium Microorganisms can better withstand the heavy metal uranium when glutathione is present, a molecule composed of three amino acids. Scientists from the German based Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) and the University of Bern in Switzerland have now proven this resilience by closely examining cell heat balance. They discovered that glutathione is an effective decontamination agent. The studies provide important insights into bioremediation of mining waste piles and other contaminated areas with the help of bacteria or plants.
	Marine invertebrate larvae actively respond to their surroundings Many marine invertebrates have complex life histories in which the planktonic larval phase acts as the vehicle to connect otherwise disjointed benthic adult populations which are mostly non-mobile. Larval swimming behaviors in response to various chemical, biological and physical cues have important implications for the adult populations, but to date, most studies on larvae-flow interactions have focused on competent larvae near settlement.
Roads 'a serious threat' to rare bats Roads present a serious threat to bat populations, indicating that protection policies are failing.
News about the light-dependent magnetic compass of birds Birds have a light-dependent compass in their eyes. This compass gives them information about the direction of the Earth's magnetic field. Prof. Roswitha Wiltschko's research group at Goethe University Frankfurt, together with French colleagues, has elucidated how this compass works at the molecular level.
Ocean 'dandruff' a new tool for marine biologists Police officers solve crimes with it. Doctors use it to predict the risk of certain cancers. Dog lovers find out the breeds of their mutts with it.
	Mutilated rhino in South Africa on long road to recovery Sedated, blindfolded, her ears plugged with cotton-wool, "Hope" the rhino breathes heavily as veterinarians work to repair a gaping wound left by poachers who hacked off her horns.
Veterinarian offers travel tips for pets going on vacation If you're planning to take your pet along on a family vacation this summer, there are several steps you should take to get your cat or dog ready to travel.
Veterinary researchers patent methods for detecting, treating a bacterial infection A team of researchers from Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine has received a U.S. patent to control and treat fusobacterial infections in humans and animals.
	More than just hippos and crocs: The hidden biodiversity of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the sub-tropical north-eastern corner of South Africa has become famous for its birdlife, crocodiles and hippopotamuses that frolic in the warm estuarine waters of Lake St Lucia. However, there's more to the park than the "big and hairy", according to aquatic ecologist Prof Renzo Perissinotto at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) in Port Elizabeth, whose research is published in the open access journal ZooKeys.
Government criticizes European proposal to ban US lobster The U.S. government has told the European Commission a proposal to ban imports of American lobster isn't supported by science.

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