Science X Newsletter Thursday, Jun 23

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 23, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Genetic algorithms can improve quantum simulations

K2-39b: A planet that shouldn't be there at all

Driverless cars: Who gets protected? Study shows public deploys inconsistent ethics on safety issue

Fix for 3-billion-year-old genetic error could dramatically improve genetic sequencing

Solar Impulse 2 lands in Spain after 70-hour transatlantic flight

Can Google Glass help autistic children read faces?

Drug-resistant malaria strain contained in Asia: scientists

GraphExeter material illuminates bright new future for flexible lighting devices

Google collaborates with others over Artificial Intelligence safety

Researchers find more uses for immune system's 'Swiss army knife'

Loss of essential protein in the choroid plexus epithelium linked to hydrocephalus

Successful first observations of galactic center with GRAVITY

Unexpected findings reveal insight into how cancer spreads in the body

Researchers find a possible solution to 'faint young sun paradox' in primordial asteroid impacts

Ocean forecast offers seasonal outlook for Pacific Northwest waters

Astronomy & Space news

	K2-39b: A planet that shouldn't be there at all (Phys.org)—An international team of astronomers has reported the discovery of a new giant extrasolar planet orbiting a subgiant star so closely that it should be destroyed due to tidal interactions. However, against all odds, the planet has survived and is the shortest-period alien world orbiting a subgiant star known to date. The findings were reported in a paper published on May 31 on arXiv.org.
	Successful first observations of galactic center with GRAVITY The GRAVITY instrument is now operating with the four 8.2-metre Unit Telescopes of ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) , and even from early test results it is already clear that it will soon be producing world-class science.
	Researchers find a possible solution to 'faint young sun paradox' in primordial asteroid impacts In the first billion years of Earth's history, the planet was bombarded by primordial asteroids, while a faint sun provided much less heat. A Southwest Research Institute-led team posits that this tumultuous beginning may have ultimately fostered life on Earth, particularly in terms of sustaining liquid water.
	Computer models predict how the first clumps of matter formed – and what our universe's future holds Our universe came to life nearly 14 billion years ago in the Big Bang—a tremendously energetic fireball from which the cosmos has been expanding ever since. Today, space is filled with hundreds of billions of galaxies, including our solar system's own galactic home, the Milky Way. But how exactly did the infant universe develop into its current state, and what does it tell us about our future?
	Dutch crops grown on 'Mars' soil found safe to eat Dutch scientists said Thursday crops of four vegetables and cereals grown on soil similar to that on Mars have been found safe to eat, amid plans for the first manned mission to the planet.
	Hubble confirms new dark spot on Neptune New images obtained on May 16, 2016, by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope confirm the presence of a dark vortex in the atmosphere of Neptune. Though similar features were seen during the Voyager 2 flyby of Neptune in 1989 and by the Hubble Space Telescope in 1994, this vortex is the first one observed on Neptune in the 21st century.
	How CSIRO is turbocharging the world's largest radio telescopes The world's largest single-dish radio telescope, FAST (the Five hundred metre Aperture Spherical Telescope), is rapidly taking shape in China.
	Getting to sleep in space is hard – and not exactly restful for the mind and body We've learned a lot about the effects on the human body of going into space by studying astronauts such as British astronaut Tim Peake, who has recently returned to Earth. Muscles wither, bones become lighter just as they do during the process of ageing and the cardiovascular system and vision are affected – all from the human body's lack of adaptation to microgravity. No wonder: we have evolved over millions of years on Earth with its comforting gravitational pull. But what effects does microgravity in space have on sleeping humans?
	The complex material engineering of NASA's Webb Telescope sunshield The shiny silver material of the five-layer sunshield that will fly aboard NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is a complex and innovative feat of material science and engineering. Each layer is made from a unique composite material, each has a specific thickness and size, and they must be precisely separated in space. There are even special seams and reinforcements to limit meteorite damage.
	Image: Sentinel-2B entering LSS ESA's Sentinel-2B Earth-observing satellite being lowered into Europe's largest vacuum chamber, at the start of a test campaign to ensure it is ready to serve in space.
	Pancaked SpaceX Falcon pulls into port after trio of spectacular landings The pancaked leftovers of a SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage from last week's successful commercial launch but hard landing at sea, pulled silently and without fanfare into its home port over the weekend – thereby ending a string of three straight spectacular and upright soft ocean landings over the past two months.

Technology news

	Driverless cars: Who gets protected? Study shows public deploys inconsistent ethics on safety issue Driverless cars pose a quandary when it comes to safety. These autonomous vehicles are programmed with a set of safety rules, and it is not hard to construct a scenario in which those rules come into conflict with each other. Suppose a driverless car must either hit a pedestrian or swerve in such a way that it crashes and harms its passengers. What should it be instructed to do?
	Solar Impulse 2 lands in Spain after 70-hour transatlantic flight The Solar Impulse 2 landed in Spain on Thursday morning after completing a 70-hour flight from New York in the first solo transatlantic crossing in a solar-powered airplane.
	Can Google Glass help autistic children read faces? Like many autistic children, Julian Brown has trouble reading emotions in people's faces, one of the biggest challenges for people with the neurological disorder.
	Google collaborates with others over Artificial Intelligence safety (Tech Xplore)—The Google Research Blog on Tuesday posted a message from Chris Olah of Google Research. He said, " today we're publishing a technical paper, Concrete Problems in AI Safety, a collaboration among scientists at Google, OpenAI, Stanford and Berkeley."
	Standardizing communications for the Internet of Things The fast-growing Internet of Things (IoT) consists of millions of sensing devices in buildings, vehicles and elsewhere that deliver reams of data online. Yet this far-flung phenomenon involves so many different kinds of data, sources and communication modes that its myriad information streams can be onerous to acquire and process.
	Mapping coal's decline and the renewables' rise Even as coal-fired power plants across the U.S. are shutting down in response to new environmental regulations and policy mandates, defenders of the emissions-heavy fuel still have cost on their side. Coal, after all, is cheap—or so it seems. This perception makes it difficult for alternative, low-carbon energy sources like solar and wind to compete.
	Emissions testers find diesel cars in Europe pollute more in cool weather (Tech Xplore)—The BBC is reporting that a company called Emissions Analytics has found that many car makers have programmed their cars to turn off (or down) emissions control systems at approximately 18 degrees Celsius, which some might consider as "cool" rather than the "cold" being reported by automobile makers. Representatives for EA suggested that many car makers appear to be taking advantage of a rule that allows for turning off, or reducing emissions controls during cold weather to prevent unreasonable wear and tear on motors parts, in order to give drivers more miles per gallon of gas.
	New method detects human activity in videos earlier and more accurately Researchers at Disney Research and Boston University have found that a machine learning program can be trained to detect human activity in a video sooner and more accurately than other methods by rewarding the program for gaining confidence in its prediction the longer it observes the activity.
	Computer vision system studies word use to recognize objects it has never seen before Computer vision systems typically learn how to recognize an object by analyzing images of thousands of examples. But scientists at Disney Research have shown that computers also can learn to recognize objects they have never seen before, based in part on studying vocabulary.
	Electric racing car breaks world record The Formula Student team at the Academic Motorsports Club Zurich (AMZ) accomplished its mission today: the grimsel electric racing car accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h in just 1.513 seconds and set a new world record. It reached the speed after covering less than 30 m of track at the Dübendorf air base near Zurich. The previous world record stood at 1.779 seconds and was set last year by a team at the University of Stuttgart.
	Japan firm rolls out smile-rating app How do you know if you've got that winning smile? There's an app for that.
	Engineers look for a cool way to make AC units an affordable snap Engineers Chuck Booten and Jon Winkler experienced their first "Ah-ha!" moment together about three years ago as they were testing window air conditioners for an Energy Department project. The two National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) senior engineers were trying to figure out how to model window air conditioners (ACs) in residential buildings in hopes of understanding competing technologies.
	Elon Musk says we're probably living in a computer simulation – here's the science In a recent interview at the Code Conference in California, technology entrepreneur Elon Musk suggested we are living inside a computer simulation. On first hearing, this claim seems far-fetched. But could there be some substance to Musk's thinking?
	Autonomous shuttles start giving rides in Sion Autonomous shuttles will make history in Switzerland today when they begin carrying passengers in the historical district of Sion, the largest city in the Canton of Valais. Two vehicles will wend their way along the edge of town and through the pedestrian area, and stops will include the Place de la Planta and the Place du Midi. This pilot project, which is part of the Mobility Lab Sion Valais initiative, is an opportunity for EPFL researchers to test and improve their traffic and fleet-management algorithms.
	A green transport revolution for Venice Engineers from the University of Southampton are helping to develop an electric-hybrid engine for Venice water taxis this summer to provide cleaner, greener transport.
	Securely resetting passwords The number of passwords that each of us has to memorise is continuously on the increase. A password is easily forgotten. But watch out: if a new password is generated after the old one was lost, the information might be intercepted by third parties.
	Japan's pension fund sues Toshiba over accounting scandal Japan's national pension fund, the world's biggest, said Thursday it is suing Toshiba over a profit-padding scandal that slashed the value of its stock, as its new boss pledged to overhaul the vast conglomerate.
	Pilot Piccard says solar flight is dream come true Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard, 58, has just realised his dream of crossing the Atlantic ocean solo aboard the Solar Impulse 2 plane, with the Sun as his only source of power.
Object and scene recognition software work together to understand video content Researchers from Disney Research and Shanghai's Fudan University have used deep learning techniques to train computer software to recognize events in videos, even categories of events that the software has not previously seen.
	Instagram to allow users to translate posts with button Instagram is aiming to increase interaction with users across the globe through a new translation button it plans to roll out in the next month.
	Researchers unveil new ATV virtual reality simulator A new virtual reality simulator will help University of Iowa researchers study how and why people lose control while driving all-terrain vehicles.
Agency hopes apps will keep drones away from wildfires Federal authorities are seeking a high-tech solution for the increasing problem of hobby drones flying over active wildfires and endangering airplane and helicopter pilots trying to put out blazes.
	Exploring the global flow of digital labour An international research team is investigating who benefits from the globalisation of online work, hoping to identify how government policies can help to avoid the creation of digital sweatshops.
	Coherent energy policy needed across EU The need to maintain a stable and affordable energy supply, coupled with growing demands to switch to renewable 'green' sources, are placing increasing pressure on EU electric utilities. To help companies effectively juggle these multiple and often conflicting demands, policymakers should adopt a more coherent approach in their energy policy. These are the main findings of PhD research conducted by Francesca Ciulli, who will obtain her doctorate from the University of Amsterdam (UvA) on Tuesday, 5 July.
Tech company Twilio soars over 70 pct in stock market debut Twilio shares soared more than 70 percent after the technology company's stock market debut Thursday.
BlackBerry sales fall, losses pile up Blackberry continued bleeding red in the three months ending May 31, extending a two-year losing streak as the Canadian smartphone maker restructures, according to quarterly financials filed Thursday.

Medicine & Health news

Drug-resistant malaria strain contained in Asia: scientists A parasite resistant to the top anti-malaria drug is confined to Southeast Asia and has not yet spread to sub-Saharan Africa as feared, said researchers Wednesday.
Researchers find more uses for immune system's 'Swiss army knife' Oxford University research has found that a little-studied and relatively unknown part of the human immune system could be twice as important as previously thought.
	Loss of essential protein in the choroid plexus epithelium linked to hydrocephalus A team led by researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital report that mice lacking the protein Alix develop hydrocephalus or "water on the brain." Alix ensures that epithelial cells of the choroid plexus are oriented correctly with respect to one another to prevent compromise of the epithelial barrier. The research appears online today in the scientific journal Nature Communications.
	Unexpected findings reveal insight into how cancer spreads in the body Cancer cells appear to depend on an unusual survival mechanism to spread around the body, according to an early study led by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). The discovery could help with future development of novel treatments to prevent metastasis and secondary tumours.
	Fitness bands undervalue your effort, study finds Popular wrist-worn fitness monitors underestimate energy expenditure with variances of more than 40 per cent, University of Queensland researchers have found.
	Intestinal fungi may aid in relief of inflammatory disease Fungi that live in a healthy gut may be as important for good health as beneficial intestinal bacteria, according to new research conducted at Weill Cornell Medicine.
	Discovery of an epigenetic regulator of tumorigenesis suggests new strategies against breast cancer Mount Sinai scientists have identified a previously unknown mechanism by which a protein called CBX8 promotes tumor growth in the most lethal forms of breast cancer. The study, published today in the journal Cell Reports, underscores the need for cancer researchers to pay more attention to "epigenetic" factors, meaning chemical and biological processes that control gene expression without changing the underlying DNA sequence of the cells that are running amok.
	New study provides unprecedented insight into the fine details of neuronal communication There are three main functions of the nervous system: sensory function, which detects changes in the body; integrative function, which makes decisions based on information it receives; and motor function, which carries electrical impulses to stimulate a response. In particular, the integrative functions of the brain bring sensory information together, add to memory, produce thoughts, and make decision.
	Precise control of brain circuit alters mood By combining super-fine electrodes and tiny amounts of a very specific drug, Duke University researchers have singled out a circuit in mouse brains and taken control of it to dial an animal's mood up and down.
	Running releases protein associated with improved memory in mice The reason why treadmill training can boost memory recall remains an active area of investigation. A couple of proteins have been shown to fuel exercise-induced neuron growth, but a June 23 study in Cell Metabolism presents a new candidate, cathepsin B—one that can be directly traced from the muscles to the brain in mice. Also, after a run, protein levels increased in blood in mice, monkeys, and humans.
	Scientists reveal single-neuron gene landscape of the human brain A team of scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) and Illumina, Inc., has completed the first large-scale assessment of single neuronal "transcriptomes." Their research reveals a surprising diversity in the molecules that human brain cells use in transcribing genetic information from DNA to RNA and producing proteins.
	New findings challenge current view on origins of Parkinson's disease The neurodegeneration that occurs in Parkinson's disease is a result of stress on the endoplasmic reticulum in the cell rather than failure of the mitochondria as previously thought, according to a study in fruit flies. It was found that the death of neurons associated with the disease was prevented when chemicals that block the effects of endoplasmic reticulum stress were used.
	Dose of nature is just what the doctor ordered People who visit parks for 30 minutes or more each week are much less likely to have high blood pressure or poor mental health than those who don't, according to new research by Australian and UK environmental scientists.
	Do you know what you're smoking? Research suggests that you don't There is little awareness of the chemical components of cigarette smoke amongst US adults, even though many of them report having looked for relevant information. In a study published in the open access journal BMC Public Health, researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill suggest that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expand its messaging activities so that information about these constituents reaches all segments of the US population, especially those most vulnerable to tobacco product use and its associated health risks.
	Providing bite count feedback helps lower calorie intake New wearable technology is helping to provide novel weight loss tools. One way is by providing bite count feedback, which allows users to keep track of the number of bites during a meal. Researchers at Clemson University wanted to analyze how providing bite count feedback might influence eaters in different situations and determine its efficacy in the presence of environmental cues linked to overeating. The study found that people who received bite count feedback ate less and reduced their overall intake during a meal. The full results are published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Adherence to cancer prevention guidelines may reduce risk "Behaviors such as poor diet choices, physical inactivity, excess alcohol consumption and unhealthy body weight could account for more than 20 percent of cancer cases, and could, therefore, be prevented with lifestyle modifications," Kohler said, adding that when tobacco exposure is considered, these modifiable issues are believed to be factors in two-thirds of U.S. cancer deaths.
Scientists find two ways to limit the number of heat-related deaths from climate change By the 2080s, as many as 3,331 people could die every year from exposure to heat during the summer months in New York City. The high estimate by Columbia University scientists is based on a new model—the first to account for variability in future population size, greenhouse gas trajectories, and the extent to which residents adapt to heat through interventions like air conditioning and public cooling centers. Results appear online in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
	New targeted drug effectively dissolves blood clots, has fewer side effects Critical conditions associated with the blockage of blood vessels comprise a primary health concern worldwide. The main objective of emergency assistance in such conditions is to induce thrombolysis, i. e., to quickly dissolve the clot. To this end, scientists from ITMO University in cooperation with Mariinsky Hospital in Saint Petersburg have developed a magnetically controlled drug that can be condensed on a blood clot by means of a magnetic field. The new drug is safe for intravenous injection and can dissolve clots up to 4000 times more efficiently than ordinary enzyme-based drugs. The new study will also help reduce drug dosage, thus avoiding numerous side effects. The results of the research were published in Scientific Reports.
	Study shows nanofiber scaffolds could treat lymphedema by rerouting lymphatic system around blockages Researchers at the School of Medicine have developed a possible treatment for lymphedema, the severe swelling of an arm or leg that can occur when the lymph system is blocked. Using scaffolding composed of specially patterned collagen nanofibers, the researchers coaxed lymph vessels to grow around lymph blockages.
	Runners' feet have power of adaptation A study led by Dr Luke Kelly of The University of Queensland's School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences has explored the intimate relationships between our feet and running shoes.
	New technology could improve diabetes management A newly developed method for detecting glucose based on how it absorbs a specific type of light could spell the end of the painful, invasive finger-prick tests diabetics rely on to monitor their condition, says a Texas A&M University biomedical engineer who is developing the technology.
	Breakthrough in predicting premature birth A blood test developed by a team of scientists, including researchers from The University of Western Australia, can identify women who are at risk of having a premature birth but are not displaying symptoms, as early as 18 weeks as into their pregnancy. The breakthrough builds on previous work by the researchers who developed a similar test for women who presented to hospital with early contractions.
Can cycling help with grief and depression? My father Lindsay Fry passed away suddenly eight months ago. He had end stage cancer, which was found well advanced on his lung and spine. Sadly, my father died just seven weeks after his diagnosis. He was two weeks short of his 70th birthday.
	Mycobacterium in olive oil for cancer treatment Researchers at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona announced one year ago that the cells of the Mycobacterium brumae offer an improved alternative to current bladder cancer treatments such as BCG, an immunotherapy based on the Mycobacterium bovis, which can cause infections.
	Scientists use 'virtual heart' to model heart failure A team of researchers have created a detailed computational model of the electrophysiology of congestive heart failure, a leading cause of death. This "virtual heart" could help medical researchers study new drug therapies - according to the study published in PLOS Computational Biology.
	Easy integration of biological knowledge improves understanding of diseases Researchers have improved the integration of disparate sources and types of data which will advance scientists' understanding of disease using Wikipathways. This study, published in PLOS Computational Biology, will help other scientists better utilize open data and will aid the discovery of new therapeutic targets for disease.
	Evaluation of commercially sold rapid rabies tests reveals serious problems with accuracy Rabies virus (RABV) transmitted by dogs is responsible for an estimated 60,000 human deaths per year, especially in Asia and Africa. If humans bitten by a rabid animal are treated quickly, the disease can usually be prevented. Such post-exposure prophylaxis is expensive and should be reserved for bites from animals with confirmed infection, but testing dogs for rabies in resource-poor settings is challenging. A study published in PLOS NTDs reports that six commercially available rapid rabies tests—which could make testing dogs much easier—fail to reproducibly yield accurate results.
Pioneering use of diabetic drug to treat heart disease Researchers at the University of Dundee have launched a series of projects to determine whether a new class of anti-diabetes drugs could also be used to treat heart disease.
	Breastfeeding protects children from ear disease Breastfeeding can have a positive effect on a child's hearing and language development, after being found to protect them from ear disease otitis media.
Weekly injections could be used as a standalone treatment for HIV patients Research being presented at the ASM Microbe meeting looks at a humanized monoclonal antibody, PRO 140, as a standalone treatment for patients with an HIV infection. Data from a phase 2b trial of PRO 140 will be presented that suggests an alternative to the current standard of care, which is antiretroviral therapy or ART.
	How the government limits valid scientific research on cannabis sativa The use of medical marijuana for millions of patients suffering from a wide range of health conditions and the subsequent therapeutic benefits has long been documented. Twenty-three states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam, have determined that Cannabis sativa (a.k.a. marijuana) can benefit patients suffering from a wide range of conditions, including cancer, epilepsy, chronic pain, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
	How to read the new nutrition label—six things you need to know As Americans struggle with obesity and diabetes, help is on the way.
	Genetic clue to how patients respond to treatment for Parkinson's Disease Researchers have identified a gene variant which explains why some patients with Parkinson's Disease respond well to drug treatment and other do not.
People with learning difficulties in danger of isolation Research by the University of Southampton has shown adults with learning difficulties are being left to organise their own support networks, following changes to the provision of care services.
UN: World drug abuse, deaths pretty stable over recent years An estimated quarter of a billion people between the ages of 15 and 64 years, abused at least one drug in 2014 but that figure and the number of drug-related deaths have remained relatively steady over recent years, according to a U.N. report published Thursday.
WHO plans urgent yellow fever vaccinations in Angola, Congo The World Health Organization is planning emergency vaccination campaigns along the border between Angola and Congo amid the worst yellow fever outbreak in decades that already is blamed for more than 400 deaths, health officials said Thursday.
	U.K. case of throat gonorrhea resists antibiotics (HealthDay)—In an alarming development, British public health experts have confirmed a case of throat gonorrhea that proved untreatable with the standard antibiotic regimen.
	Vitamin K antagonists appear to be well tolerated (HealthDay)—Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) are well tolerated and have a minimal effect on quality of life, according to a study published online June 21 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
	25(OH)D levels linked to survival in pancreatic cancer (HealthDay)—Prediagnostic 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels are associated with survival in pancreatic cancer, according to a study published online June 20 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Materials in vitreous seen in about half of phaco cases (HealthDay)—Materials in the vitreous (MIV) are identified in approximately half of phacoemulsification cataract surgery (phaco) cases, in Berger's space or the anterior vitreous (AV), according to a study published online June 17 in Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology.
	Daily steps in children with T1DM tied to early atherosclerosis (HealthDay)—For children with type 1 diabetes, the number of daily steps is associated with early signs of atherosclerosis and adverse cardiovascular risk, according to a study published online June 15 in Diabetes Care.
	High glycemic index/load diet linked to acne vulgaris (HealthDay)—Patients with acne vulgaris have significantly higher glycemic index and glycemic load levels and significantly lower serum adiponectin levels, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
	Broccoli sprout extract may protect against oral cancer recurrence Potent doses of broccoli sprout extract activate a "detoxification" gene and may help prevent cancer recurrence in survivors of head and neck cancer, according to a trial by the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, partner with UPMC CancerCenter, confirming preliminary results presented last year at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting.
	Malaria—a mapping of artemisinin resistance confirms that resistance is confined to Asia The first global mapping of artemisinin resistance (the KARMA study) has definitively confirmed that resistance to the main drug currently used in the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria is for the moment confined to Southeast Asia and has not spread to sub-Saharan Africa. Led by researchers from both the Institut Pasteur in Paris and the Institut Pasteur in Cambodia, KARMA gathers a large consortium of institutions including 13 members of the Institut Pasteur International Network. The findings were published on the 22nd of June in the New England Journal of Medicine.
A crisis in the treatment of osteoporosis The remarkable progress made over the past 30 years to reduce fractures and dramatically improve the quality of life for millions of osteoporosis patients is rapidly being reversed, say two bone health experts in a Journal of Bone and Mineral Research (JBMR) article published online today.
Could wearable biosensors become part of drug rehab programs? There is merit in looking at the use of wearable biosensors to detect whether opioid users stay focused on their rehabilitation programs. This follows a preliminary study in Springer's Journal of Medical Toxicology led by Stephanie Carreiro of the University of Massachusetts Medical School in the US. Her team tested the use of wristband sensors worn by a group of patients in an emergency room who were receiving opioids for severe pain relief.
	Scientists learn more about how star-shaped brain cells help us learn A molecule that enables strong communication between our brain and muscles appears to also aid essential communication between our neurons, scientists report.
State opioid laws appear to have no impact on prescribing for 1 vulnerable population A new study by researchers from The Dartmouth Institute of Health Policy and Clinical Practice and UCLA School of Law found state laws aimed at curbing prescription opioid abuse have had no measurable effect on opioid use by a vulnerable population with high rates of use.
Dengue virus exposure may amplify Zika infection Previous exposure to the dengue virus may increase the potency of Zika infection, according to research from Imperial College London.
	Not only trauma but also the reversal of trauma is inherited Traumatic experiences in childhood increase the risk of developing behavioral and psychiatric disorders later in life. It is also known that the consequences of a trauma can likewise be observed in the children of people affected even if those children have themselves not experienced any trauma. However, childhood trauma in some conditions can also help individuals deal better with difficult situations later in life. This ability, too, is passed onto following generations. These findings have recently been uncovered by Isabelle Mansuy, Professor of Neuroepigenetics at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, during investigations carried out in mice.
A better way to predict diabetes An international team of researchers has discovered a simple, accurate new way to predict which women with gestational diabetes will develop type 2 diabetes after delivery. The discovery would allow health care providers to identify women at greatest risk and help motivate women to make early lifestyle changes and follow other strategies that could prevent them from developing the disease later in life.
	Researchers discover why photodynamic therapy for skin cancer can cause pain Severe paleness and photosensitivity are two symptoms of a rare group of hereditary diseases that affect haem, a substance in the blood. While these metabolic disorders - known as the porphyrias - are extremely rare, a similar effect is often deliberately triggered by dermatologists in localised areas during the treatment of pre-cancerous skin lesions and skin cancers. This treatment is called photodynamic therapy and involves using a special cream which stimulates haem production in the diseased cells. This produces several photosensitive molecules known as porphyrins. When the skin is exposed to light, these molecules form highly aggressive free oxygen radicals. The diseased skin cells are not able to defend themselves against these free radicals as effectively as healthy cells, causing them to die. Although this form of treatment is very effective, it can also be severely painful and cause inflammation - discouraging patients from undergoing the therapy again if it is needed in other locations. What causes the pain and inflammation was previously a mystery to researchers.
	New research uncovers why an increase in probability feels riskier than a decrease Probability estimates are constantly changing. A 20 per cent chance of rain suddenly goes to 30 per cent and we start thinking about packing an umbrella.
Novel gene-hunting method implicates new culprit in pancreatic cancer Using an innovative approach to identify a cancer's genetic vulnerabilities by more swiftly analyzing human tumors transplanted into mice, researchers have identified a new potential target for pancreatic cancer treatment, published online in Cell Reports.
	Some viruses could survive on children's toys for hours and cause infection, study finds Certain viruses, such as influenza, could survive on children's toys long enough to result in exposures, placing children at risk for getting infectious diseases, according to researchers at Georgia State University.
The silencer: Study reveals how a cancer gene promotes tumor growth A Yale-led study describes how a known cancer gene, EGFR, silences genes that typically suppress tumors. The finding, published in Cell Reports, may lead to the development of more effective, individualized treatment for patients with lung cancer and other cancer types.
WHO'S TB care advice violated standards, researchers say The World Health Organization (WHO) violated sound standards of medical care and human rights by nudging poorer countries to follow less expensive, untested and largely ineffective treatment protocols for tuberculosis patients, a new paper by researchers at Duke, Brandeis and Harvard universities argues.
Overdose deaths overwhelm medical examiner, coroner offices Soaring numbers of overdose deaths are adding to woes already plaguing medical examiner and coroner offices, resulting in a shortage of spots to store bodies and long delays in autopsies and toxicology testing.
	Health-care providers do not fully understand cancer risk from CT scans Computed tomography (CT) scans are an invaluable diagnostic tool in modern medicine, but they do come at a price: exposing patients to potentially dangerous ionizing radiation. Doctors and other healthcare professionals may not be fully aware of a CT scan's effect on lifetime malignancy risk. A new study in the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences surveyed doctors, radiologists, and imaging technologists regarding their beliefs about radiation exposure from CT. The survey found that while most respondents recognized there is an increased risk of cancer from CT, many underestimated the actual radiation dose.
Index could help identify women at risk for rapid bone loss Researchers have developed an index to better predict which women may experience faster bone loss across the menopause transition, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
	Dallas confirms 10 zika cases in pregnant women (HealthDay)—At least 10 pregnant women in the Dallas area have been infected with Zika, Texas officials confirmed Wednesday.
	Sprained ankle could pose longer-term harms to health (HealthDay)—Many Americans have suffered through an ankle break or sprain, but new research suggests these injuries might have a larger effect on health.
	Guidelines stop heat stroke deaths in high school athletes (HealthDay)—There have been no deaths among high school football players during preseason practice in states with guidelines to help students get used to the heat over time, a new study says.
	Superior hypogastric plexus block beneficial after hysterectomy (HealthDay)—For women undergoing abdominal hysterectomy, superior hypogastric plexus block with ropivacaine is associated with reduced opioid consumption, according to a study published online June 12 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
	Adverse outcomes up with kidney retransplant in HIV+ (HealthDay)—Primary HIV+ kidney transplant recipients who lose their graft and seek retransplantation (re-KT) have an increased risk of death and graft loss, according to a study published online June 15 in the American Journal of Transplantation.
	Decrease in nevus biopsies with total body photography (HealthDay)—Total body photography (TBP) is associated with a reduction in nevus biopsies, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
	Early antibiotic treatment can be beneficial in cystic fibrosis (HealthDay)—For patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), early treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) may be beneficial, according to a study published online June 16 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
	Failure of dual antimicrobial therapy for gonorrhea reported (HealthDay)—In a case report published in the June 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, dual antimicrobial therapy failure is described in the treatment of gonorrhea.
	Salmonella in meat products reduced by 90 percent in new research An old technology that uses natural bacteria predators, called bacteriophages, is the focus of new research at the University of Nevada, Reno. The technique is being used to reduce salmonella bacteria in meat products.
	Nanotechnology and math deliver two-in-one punch for cancer therapy resistance Math, biology and nanotechnology are becoming strange, yet effective bed-fellows in the fight against cancer treatment resistance. Researchers at the University of Waterloo and Harvard Medical School have engineered a revolutionary new approach to cancer treatment that pits a lethal combination of drugs together into a single nanoparticle.
Visual cloud computing methods could help first responders in disaster scenarios In natural or man-made disasters, the ability to process massive amounts of visual electronic data quickly and efficiently could mean the difference between life and death for survivors. Visual data created by numerous security cameras, personal mobile devices and aerial video provide useful data for first responders and law enforcement. That data can be critical in terms of knowing where to send emergency personnel and resources, tracking suspects in man-made disasters, or detecting hazardous materials. Recently, a group of computer science researchers from the University of Missouri developed a visual cloud computing architecture that streamlines the process.
Developing countries fuel west Africa as cocaine hub Developing markets are fuelling an increase in cocaine trafficking through west Africa, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said Thursday in a new report.
People with low birthweight due to genetic factors are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes New research published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes) shows that a genetically lowered birthweight increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The study is by Dr Tiange Wang and Dr Lu Qi, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA, and colleagues.
Huge opium production fall won't stop heroin glut: UN (Update) Global opium production plunged almost 40 percent last year but the world remains awash with heroin, the narcotic that still kills the most people worldwide, the United Nations said Thursday.
	Research to help prevent child sex abuse A researcher looking into how to help prevent people who are sexually attracted to children from acting on this attraction is surveying adults who feel the attraction but have never sexually abused a child.
Diabetes and kidney disease may increase African-Americans' cardiovascular-related risks New research indicates that diabetes and kidney disease may increase African Americans' risk of stroke and coronary heart disease, as well as their risk of dying from cardiovascular causes. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN), suggest that assessing kidney function, especially among African Americans with diabetes, may be helpful for identifying individuals with elevated cardiovascular risks.
Hate crimes against LGBTQ people are a public health issue The terrible tragedy that occurred in Orlando was an attack driven by hatred toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated instance. Hate against the LGBTQ community is more widespread than many choose to believe.
Dutch activists seek to stub out smokers' corner in cafes Dutch anti-cigarette campaigners Thursday launched a lawsuit against the government calling for an end to spaces reserved for smokers in cafes and bars.
Study explores impact of early dementia screening of older adults on their family members A new grant to the Indiana University Center for Aging Research from the National Institute on Aging funds the first study to assess the potential benefits and harms to family members of early dementia screening of older adults.
	Gamma-ray irradiation improves safety of cell therapy for Parkinson's disease New Rochelle, NY, June 23, 2016 -Replacing dopamine-producing cells in the brain represents a promising therapeutic approach in Parkinson's disease, and a new study shows how post-transplantation gamma-ray irradiation can reduce the risk of tumor formation. The study, in which human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-derived neural progenitor cells were grafted into rat brains, is published in Stem Cells and Development.
Despite House OK, Zika aid bill faces long odds to passage A $1.1 billion compromise measure to combat the Zika virus made it through the House on Thursday, but faces a filibuster from Senate Democrats and opposition from the White House over spending cuts and GOP provisions on health care and the environment.

Biology news

	Fix for 3-billion-year-old genetic error could dramatically improve genetic sequencing For 3 billion years, one of the major carriers of information needed for life, RNA, has had a glitch that creates errors when making copies of genetic information. Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have developed a fix that allows RNA to accurately proofread for the first time. The new discovery, published June 23 in the journal Science, will increase precision in genetic research and could dramatically improve medicine based on a person's genetic makeup.
	Chemical exacerbates common bacterial infection, study says A naturally produced chemical exacerbates infection by a common bacteria, rendering the infection significantly harder for the body to clear, according to new Cornell research.
	Eye size found to account for some diversity among mammalian direction detection cells (Phys.org)—A team of researchers affiliated with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in Maryland and the University of Pennsylvania, has found that eye size might have more to do with neurological differences in the retinas of mammals than has been previously thought. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes their studies of selective retinal neuronal circuits called starburst amacrine cells (SACs), in mice, compare them to those in rabbits and then offer some reasons for the differences they found.
	'Smoke alarm' one of 36 genes newly found to play role in pain sensation Indiana University researchers have that found a suite of genes in both fruit flies and humans—including one dubbed "smoke alarm"—plays a role in nerve sensitivity. The study could help lead to new drug targets in pain management.
	Smell tells intruder mice how to behave Male mice appear to be precisely wired to know when they are intruders in another male's territory, according to a study published June 23 in Cell Reports. The smell gives it away. But this study found that a genetically specific cluster of hypothalamic cells is wired to the olfactory system and responds only when a male mouse enters another male's cage.
	Monkeys get more selective with age As people get older, they become choosier about how they spend their time and with whom they spend it. Now, researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on June 23 find, based on a series of experimental and behavioral studies, that similar changes take place in Barbary macaques. The findings offer an evolutionary perspective on why aging humans behave as they do, according to the researchers.
	The arms race at the plant root: How soil bacteria fight to escape sticky root traps Soil is full of microbes. Specialized border cells at the outer surface of plant roots fight off these microbes as the roots penetrate the soil in search of water and nutrients. A study published on June 23rd in PLOS Pathogens reveals how plant pathogens fight back against entrapment by sticky root border cell secretions.
	Cockatoos make economic decisions about tool use depending on the current 'market' situation As animal tool use events are extremely rare, is often quickly rated as intelligent. Nevertheless, some types of tool use can be controlled by much simpler processes that are a part of the respective animal's inborn behavioural repertoire. Intelligent tool use requires the ability to flexibly adapt a behaviour to changing environmental situations. The Indonesian Goffin's cockatoo has even the rare capacity to use two different types of tools (sticks for probing and raking food into reach as well dropping stones/balls into tubes to knock out a reward inside). The same birds also previously showed a solid performance in the classic "marshmallow" experiment from human psychology: They controlled their impulse to consume an immediate lower quality food item in the prospect of gaining a better food type after a time delay.
	How molecules can do statistics Mobile phones have become commonplace. Modern communication devices like mobile phones need to exchange huge amounts of information. However, what is hidden underneath the elegantly shaped plastic casings is quickly forgotten: Complex signal processors constantly fighting against noise and steadily adapting themselves to changing environment.
	Sex with the lights on: Sexual selection increases the number of species and impacts global diversity When you're a firefly, finding "the one" can change the world. Literally. A new study by UCSB evolutionary biologists Todd Oakley and Emily Ellis demonstrates that for fireflies, octopuses and other animals that choose mates via bioluminescent courtship, sexual selection increases the number of species—thereby impacting global diversity. Their results appear in the journal Current Biology.
	Sea star death triggers ecological domino effect A new study by SFU marine ecologists Jessica Schultz, Ryan Cloutier and Isabelle Côté reveals that the mass mortality of sea stars has resulted in a domino effect on Howe Sound marine ecology.
	The rise of border security fences forces reconsideration of wildlife conservation strategies in Eurasia Between 25,000 and 30,000 kilometres of wire fencing and walls surround the borders of many countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. This is killing wildlife that becomes entangled and acts as a barrier to wildlife movement, cutting off species from important seasonal habitats. The long-term consequences are a lower viability of wildlife populations, and a reduction in their ability to respond to climate change. This situation forces a re-think of transboundary conservation strategies.
	Science detectives investigate a 'mitey' big problem U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists are hot on the trail of a honey bee killer, and their detective work has taken them from hives in Tucson, Arizona, to those in Bismarck, North Dakota.
	New discoveries on evolution can save endangered species Traditionally, the evolutionary development of an insect species has been explained by the notion that the female insect chooses her male partner based on size and other factors, so-called assortative mating. These mating patterns have also been believed to partially explain how the isolation between different species is maintained. However, new research from Lund University in Sweden shows just the opposite: assortative mating breaks down the sexual barrier between species rather than preserves it, which could lead to species becoming extinct. This discovery can be of significance within nature and species conservation.
	How yeast cells regulate their fat balance Not only humans but also each of their body cells must watch their fat balance. Fats perform highly specialised functions, especially in the cell membrane. A research group at the Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (BMLS) of Goethe University in Frankfurt, together with colleagues at the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, has now discovered how yeast cells measure the availability of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in foodstuffs and adapt their production of membrane lipids to it. This opens up new possibilities to understand the production and distribution of fatty acids and cholesterol in our body cells and make them controllable in future, report the researchers in the latest issue of the Molecular Cell journal.
	Maternal social status and sibling rivalry shape milk transfer in spotted hyenas Females of low social status often have limited access to food resources. As a result, their offspring are nursed infrequently and may experience long fasting periods that can seriously compromise their growth and survival. In particular when they have to share their milk intake with a littermate, milk shortage can be very detrimental. Yet researchers from the German Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) and the German Max-Planck-Institute for Behavioral Physiology found that low-ranking spotted hyenas were able to compensate to some extent for their low nursing frequency. They do this by transferring more milk of superior nutritional quality to their offspring than high-ranking mothers during nursing bouts. The results also reveal that the socially dominant offspring in twin litters efficiently uses aggression against its subordinate littermate to skew milk transfer in its favour. The study has been published in the scientific journal Behavioural Ecology.
	Preparing for a new relationship: Coral and algae interactions explored Coral cannot survive on its own for long. It needs to create a symbiotic relationship with algae to survive. Algae provides approximately 90 percent of the energy coral needs, which means that their partnership must be preserved in order to keep the coral healthy. In order to protect coral, algae, and the marine species that live in reef environments, scientists need to know more about how the symbiotic relationship between coral and algae begins. In collaboration with Amin Mohamed and Prof. David Miller at James Cook University, Prof. Noriyuki Satoh and Dr. Chuya Shinzato of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), found changes in coral gene expression when introduced to algae. They have recently published their results in Molecular Ecology.
	Migratory bears down in the dumps University of Utah biologists working in Turkey discovered two surprising facts about a group of 16 brown bears: First, six of the bears seasonally migrated between feeding and breeding sites, the first known brown bears to do so. Second, and more sobering, the other 10 bears stayed in one spot all year long: the city dump.
Mysterious 'zombie bee' scourge reaches southern US The mysterious "zombie bee" parasite that kills honeybees has reached the southern United States after scientists confirmed a case in Virginia about an hour outside Roanoke, researchers announced this week.
	Starving stem cells may enable scientists to build better blood vessels Researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine have uncovered how changes in metabolism of human embryonic stem cells help coax them to mature into specific cell types—and may improve their function in engineered organs or tissues.
	Comfort dogs bring healing in times of tragedy Twelve golden retrievers recently arrived in Orlando, Florida, to bring comfort to the survivors and those grieving after the mass shooting at the gay nightclub Pulse. Tim Hetzner, president of the Illinois-based K-9 Comfort Dogs team, which sent the goldens to Orlando, told The New York Times that when people who couldn't get out of bed pet the dogs they "start smiling and in a couple cases, they started talking as much as they could." We asked Northeastern's Lisa Feldman Barrett, University Distinguished Professor of Psychology, to explain why the dogs had that effect and what made them helpful after this particular tragedy.

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