Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Jun 14

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 14, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Quantum 1, classical 0: Bell nonlocality universally confirmed in any large communication complexity advantage

New xenon oxides may provide clues to the missing xenon paradox

Naps can boost memory, study shows

Curiosity rover finds possible evidence of ancient explosive volcanoes on Mars

Life's first handshake: Chiral molecule detected in interstellar space

Unknown alien rock found in Swedish quarry

Happiness equation: New equation reveals how other people's fortunes affect our happiness

Starving cancer cells by blocking their metabolism

Good fathers sing simple songs

HDK2 open source VR headset is set for next month

Discovery of gold nanocluster 'double' hints at other shape changing particles

Electronic sensor that distinguishes dead bacteria from live by measuring 'osmoregulation'

Planet-devouring star reveals possible limestone crumbs

Dwarf protoplanetary disk detected around distant young star

Smaller stars pack big X-ray punch for would-be planets

Astronomy & Space news

	Curiosity rover finds possible evidence of ancient explosive volcanoes on Mars (Phys.org)—A large team of researchers from across the U.S. studying data sent back from Mars by the Curiosity rover has found evidence of tridymite, a type of mineral associated with explosive volcanoes here on Earth. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes how the rover found the sample, the testing it underwent, and why it might lead to rethinking the early history of the Red planet.
	Life's first handshake: Chiral molecule detected in interstellar space Like a pair of human hands, certain organic molecules have mirror-image versions of themselves, a chemical property known as chirality. These so-called "handed" molecules are essential for biology and have intriguingly been found in meteorites on Earth and comets in our Solar System. None, however, has been detected in the vast reaches of interstellar space, until now.
	Unknown alien rock found in Swedish quarry A morsel of never-before-seen alien rock has been dug up in a limestone quarry in Sweden, where it had lain deeply buried for about 470 million years, scientists said Tuesday.
	Planet-devouring star reveals possible limestone crumbs A group of researchers using the W. M. Keck Observatory have discovered a planet-like body that may have been encrusted in limestone and is having its surface layers devoured by its deceased host star. In addition to extending a relatively new method of determining the chemical composition of planets to examine their internal structure, the team found that the rocky material being accreted by the star could be comprised of minerals that are typically associated with marine life processes here on Earth. The team – comprised of Carl Melis of University of California, San Diego and Patrick Dufour of the Universitie de Montreal – is announcing their findings at the 228th meeting of the American Astronomical Society this week.
	Dwarf protoplanetary disk detected around distant young star (Phys.org)—A dwarf transitional protoplanetary disk was found around the young star XZ Tau B, located some 460 light years away. According to a research paper published online on June 9 on arXiv.org, this disk of dust is much smaller than ordinary disks observed around other stars. The newly discovered feature could be a testbed for future studies regarding the evolution of transitional disks as it showcases attributes characteristic for these objects but on a much smaller scale.
	Smaller stars pack big X-ray punch for would-be planets Young stars much less massive than the Sun can unleash a torrent of X-ray radiation that can significantly shorten the lifetime of planet-forming disks surrounding these stars. This result comes from a new study of a group of nearby stars using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes.
	Curiosity Mars rover descends plateau, turns toward mountain NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has analyzed its 12th drilled sample of Mars. This sample came from mudstone bedrock, which the rover resumed climbing in late May after six months studying other features.
	Gluttonous star may hold clues to planet formation In 1936, the young star FU Orionis began gobbling material from its surrounding disk of gas and dust with a sudden voraciousness. During a three-month binge, as matter turned into energy, the star became 100 times brighter, heating the disk around it to temperatures of up to 12,000 degrees Fahrenheit (7,000 Kelvin). FU Orionis is still devouring gas to this day, although not as quickly.
Video: Tim Peake's dizziness experiment aboard ISS ESA astronaut Tim Peake set out to discover if he could make himself dizzy on board the International Space Station. His NASA crewmate Tim Kopra lent a hand to put Tim in a spin.
	How citizen scientists discovered a giant cluster of galaxies It used to be that you had to have years of training before you could participate in cutting-edge science.
	How cold can you go? Cooler tested for NASA telescope A first-of-its-kind cooler for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, scheduled to launch in 2018, has completed testing at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
	CubeSat satellite testing takes off at Mount Stromlo Researchers from around Australia have begun testing satellites at the ANU Mount Stromlo space testing facilities ahead of a mass satellite launch from the International Space Station later this year.
Burning for knowledge: Researchers set to ignite fire in space Researchers from Case Western Reserve University, NASA John H. Glenn Research Center and around the world will perform the largest fire-safety experiment ever in space when the unmanned Cygnus cargo module backs a safe distance from the International Space Station (ISS), scheduled for this afternoon.
	Cygnus space capsule departs International Space Station Orbital ATK's unmanned Cygnus space capsule departed from the International Space Station on schedule Tuesday, three months after delivering 7,500 pounds (3,400 kilos) of supplies, material for scientific experiments and equipment to the orbiting outpost.
Video: Sentinel-1B timelapse from final preparations to liftoff This timelapse video shows Sentinel-1B, from final preparations to liftoff on a Soyuz launcher from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, on 25 April 2016 at 21:02 GMT (23:02 CEST).

Technology news

	HDK2 open source VR headset is set for next month A head mounted display to arrive next month got all the attention on Monday. Numerous sites got busy posting items about the open source VR headset.
	Aggressive, sparkplug-free gasoline auto engines with high efficiency Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories' Combustion Research Facility are helping to develop sparkplug-free engines that will help meet ambitious automotive fuel economy targets of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.
	Electric cars and home solar storage capacity increased with simple pre-treatment The next-gen battery to enable electric cars to run longer and increase the storage capacity for solar energy is on its way thanks to QUT, CSIRO and RMIT researchers' discovery of a simple salt-bath process for rechargeable lithium batteries.
	How insights into human learning can foster smarter artificial intelligence Recent breakthroughs in creating artificial systems that outplay humans in a diverse array of challenging games have their roots in neural networks inspired by information processing in the brain. In a Review published June 14 in Trends in Cognitive Sciences, researchers from Google DeepMind and Stanford University update a theory originally developed to explain how humans and other animals learn - and highlight its potential importance as a framework to guide the development of agents with artificial intelligence.
	'Net neutrality' rules for fair internet access win in court (Update) A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld the government's "net neutrality" rules, preserving regulations that force internet providers such as Comcast and AT&T to treat all online traffic—everything from Netflix and cat videos to games and downloads—equally.
	Spider-Man, Batman coming to PlayStation The Dark Knight and Spidey are among the heroes swinging onto the PlayStation.
	Is it Internet or internet? Debate rages on downshift Are you on the Internet or the internet?
	Tech entrepreneur unveils plan for new stock market A Silicon Valley entrepreneur said Monday he has begun working on a new kind of stock exchange which he says is better adapted to the fast-moving world of tech startups.
	Chinese tech firms invest in augmented reality startup Chinese tech giants Lenovo and Tencent have joined a funding round for US-based augmented reality startup Meta, developing systems to touch and move digital objects.
Ubisoft to let game players join 'Star Trek' crew French video game giant Ubisoft is poised to satisfy a longtime geek fantasy by letting fans virtually join the crew of a "Star Trek" ship exploring the cosmos.
PlayStation VR headset to hit market in October Sony Interactive Entertainment on Monday said its keenly awaited PlayStation virtual reality headset will hit the market on October 13 at a price of $399.
Apple to add Siri to Macs Apple announced Monday that it is bringing Siri, its intelligent assistant technology, to its Mac line of computers as part of an update to the Mac operating system.
	Indoor location technology made simpler Accurate indoor localization has the potential to transform the way people navigate indoors in a similar way that GPS transformed the way people navigate outdoors. Over the last 15 years, several indoor localization technologies have been proposed and experimented by both academia and industry. A major problem is that the proposed solutions are evaluated in different conditions, which makes hard any comparison of their performance.
	Why you should get ready to say goodbye to the humble lightbulb Lightbulbs are disappearing. The traditional incandescent bulbs that revolutionised daily life in the 20th century have largely already gone and the energy efficient fluorescent bulbs that replaced them are now also on their way out. In their place, we now have highly efficient light emitting diodes (LEDs), which are small semiconductor devices that produce light when an electric current is passed through them.
	Fighting virtual reality sickness Columbia Engineering Professor Steven K. Feiner and Ajoy Fernandes MS'16 have developed a method of combating virtual reality (VR) sickness that can be applied to consumer head-worn VR displays, such as the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Sony PlayStation VR, and Google Cardboard. Their approach dynamically, yet subtly, changes the user's field of view (FOV) in response to visually perceived motion, as the user virtually traverses an environment while remaining physically stationary. The study showed that by strategically and automatically manipulating FOV, the degree of VR sickness experienced by participants can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, the researchers accomplished this without decreasing the participants' sense of presence in the virtual environment, and without the majority of the participants even being aware of the intervention.
	Google chief says Israeli tech second only to Silicon Valley A top Google official on Tuesday hailed Israel's tech sector, saying it trailed only Silicon Valley in the United States when it comes to "initiatives".
	China, US hold talks to bridge cybersecurity differences Chinese and American officials said Tuesday they're committed to bridging their differences on cybersecurity and moving to implement recent agreements, as they held talks amid complaints over China-based hacking operations that the U.S. says may have already cost U.S. companies tens of billions of dollars.
	EU project helps boost 'organic' electronics Light-up clothing, medical sensors and electronic wallpaper are just a few of the possible future applications that may be enabled by flexible and printable electronics using carbon-based materials.
	Saving energy through a user-friendly experience Living or working in energy-efficient buildings can be a great opportunity, but users need to feel empowered. This means making them aware of the building features and allowing them to manage some of the appliances by themselves. In this way, disorientation or annoyance is avoided and people feel more in control.
German firm complains about UEFA over goal-line technology Germany's anti-cartel agency says it has received a complaint from a German manufacturer of goal-line technology over UEFA's choice of rival equipment for the European Championship in France.
The Netherlands not ready for smart and sustainable energy system The Netherlands is lagging hopelessly behind in implementing European obligations for a transition to smart and sustainable energy. According to Professor Saskia Lavrijssen, this is the current state of affairs in the Netherlands, as she observes in her inaugural address on Friday, June 17th, at Tilburg University.
EU to target internet as part of counter-radicalization plan The European Union plans to target the internet in its efforts to try to stop young people developing extremist views.
	Democratic Party's computers breached by Russian hackers Sophisticated hackers linked to Russian intelligence services broke into the Democratic National Committee's computer networks and gained access to confidential emails, chats and opposition research on presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, people familiar with the breach said Tuesday.
	Air, land, sea, cyber: NATO adds cyber to operation areas NATO agreed Tuesday to make cyber operations part of its war domain, along with air, sea and land operations, and to beef up the defense of its computer networks.
	Q&A: What is net neutrality and why does it matter? An appeals court on Tuesday upheld "net neutrality" rules that treat the Internet like a public utility and prohibit blocking, slowing and creating paid fast lanes for online traffic. They have been in effect for a year.
	'Legend of Zelda': 5 ways 'Breath of the Wild' is different Nintendo is putting all of its faith in Link at the Electronic Entertainment Expo.

Medicine & Health news

	Naps can boost memory, study shows A team of sleep researchers at the University of California, Riverside, led by psychology professor Sara C. Mednick, has found that the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for control of bodily functions not consciously directed (such as breathing, heartbeat, and digestive processes) plays a role in promoting memory consolidation – the process of converting information from short-term to long-term memory – during sleep.
	Starving cancer cells by blocking their metabolism Scientists at EPFL have found a way to starve liver cancer cells by blocking a protein that is required for glutamine breakdown—while leaving normal cells intact. The discovery opens new ways to treat liver cancer.
	Empathy for others' pain rooted in cognition rather than sensation The ability to understand and empathize with others' pain is grounded in cognitive neural processes rather than sensory ones, according to the results of a new study led by University of Colorado Boulder researchers.
	Pituitary tissue grown from human stem cells releases hormones in rats Researchers have successfully used human stem cells to generate functional pituitary tissue that secretes hormones important for the body's stress response as well as for its growth and reproductive functions. When transplanted into rats with hypopituitarism—a disease linked to dwarfism and premature aging in humans—the lab-grown pituitary cells promoted normal hormone release. The study, which lays the foundation for future preclinical work, appears June 14 in Stem Cell Reports, a publication of the International Society for Stem Cell Researchers.
	Research reveals pain and pleasure of sad music Sad music can provide enjoyment, comfort or pain to different people, according to new research looking at the effects of melancholy songs on the emotions.
	Drug treatment of hyperactivity in kids may have levelled off in UK The tendency to treat childhood hyperactivity (ADHD) with drugs may have reached a plateau in the UK, following a steep rise in the number of prescriptions for these medicines over the past 20 years, reveals research published in the online journal BMJ Open.
	Middle-aged more likely to be diagnosed with advanced lung cancer Younger patients - aged 50 to 64 - are more likely to be diagnosed with late stage lung cancer than older patients according to new data being presented at the Cancer Outcomes and Data Conference in Manchester today.
	Adolescent alcohol and marijuana use leads to poor academic performance, health problems Adolescents who use both marijuana and alcohol during middle school and high school are more likely to have poor academic performance and mental health during high school, according to a new study by the nonprofit RAND Corporation that followed a group of students over a seven-year period.
	Study confirms that breast is best for premature babies' hearts Breastfeeding premature babies improves long-term heart structure and function, an Oxford University study has found.
Neuroscientists find out how vertebrates terminate locomotion Neuroscientists of the universities of Cologne and Montreal have discovered neural mechanisms that control the termination of locomotion. In a study, which was published in the journal Cell Reports, they have identified 'stop cells' in brainstem neurons and characterized their cellular features and specific activity patterns. The study is the result of a long-term international collaboration between the working groups of Professors Ansgar Büschges and Réjean Dubuc, who both research neural activity.
Selling controversial Zika-fighting plan to the public will take work As federal authorities weigh a plan to release genetically modified mosquitoes to help control the spread of the Zika virus, they need to overcome public fears about the risks and potential unintended consequences.
Exoskeletons are new tool for spinal, stroke patients Robotic technology is helping Doug Eckhoff recover from a spinal cord injury caused by a motorcycle crash that, a decade or so earlier, might have left him unable to walk.
	Malnutrition becoming 'new normal' amid obesity boom: study Malnutrition is becoming the "new normal" as rising rates of obesity across the world coincide with persistent undernutrition in many poorer countries, according to a major study released Tuesday.
	Body's early immune response aids cancer growth Queensland researchers have discovered that the first-stage response of the immune system can contribute to melanoma, colon and breast cancer growth, rather than helping the body to fight it.
	Nutrition expert says new food labels will show real calorie picture Sabrina Trudo, a registered dietitian and associate professor of human nutrition in the University of Arkansas' Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, says upcoming changes to nutrition facts on food labels will make it easier for consumers to find how many calories they are eating.
Curing 'bubble baby' disease—from the lab to the clinic For the last several decades, scientists worldwide have been seeking to harness the power of stem cells to develop therapies for human diseases and conditions. At UCLA's Broad Stem Cell Research Center, the potential to bring stem cell therapies to patients is now a reality.
	Study shows regional, demographic and educational differences in health information Americans share online Most Americans go online for information and support about health-related issues. But what exactly are they looking for? Researchers at the University of California, Riverside shed light on this in a new study that examines how different people in different places use the internet to discuss their health. Titled "Demographic-Based Content Analysis of Online Health-Related Social media," the study was published today (June 13) in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
Using mindfulness to lower stress Many chronic conditions, like high blood pressure, insomnia or heartburn, can be traced to a single common problem: stress.
	Study finds ultrasound is reliable, inexpensive way to measure health To explore the relationship between the percentage of fat in muscle and overall health, University of Georgia graduate student Hui-Ju Young began looking into ways to use ultrasound to measure muscle health. She had no idea her research would be based on cattle—and cuts of beef.
	Inherited mutation doubles the risk of death from malignant melanoma People with malignant melanoma with an inherited mutation in a certain gene are twice as likely to die of the disease, according to a new study carried out by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Lund University in Sweden. The finding, which is published in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, suggests that individuals with familial melanoma who have the mutation should be monitored particularly closely.
	Race impacts how our perceptions about control over life influences mortality Having a sense of control over our lives has an impact on when we die, but only if we are white and not black, according to research from the University of Michigan.
	Low-tech system overcomes barriers preventing doctor-patient chat about drinking habits Primary care doctors are reluctant to talk to patients about their drinking habits, for fear of being perceived as judgmental. But a simple, intervention that encourages discussion could resolve this issue, according to a recent study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
	Messing with the genetic recipe: Fresh clues to why we're short, average or tall How tall we are is not simply governed by the genes written in our DNA – it's also got to do with how that DNA is folded inside our cells.
Fifteen minutes daily exercise may be reasonable target in older adults Fifteen minutes of daily exercise is associated with a 22% lower risk of death and may be a reasonable target for older adults, reveals research presented today at the EuroPRevent 2016 meeting by Dr David Hupin, a physician in the Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, University Hospital of Saint-Etienne in Saint-Etienne, France.1
	Study finds that most visits to ER for chest pain are not life-threatening Chest pain is one of the most common reasons to visit the emergency room, but a new UC San Francisco study shows that only a fraction of all cases actually lead to a diagnosis of a life-threatening condition.
Targeting pancreatic cancer through signalling Researchers have identified a new way to tailor treatments for patients with pancreatic cancer, one of the most deadly forms of cancer. Currently only five per cent of people with pancreatic cancer survive longer than five years after their diagnosis. The most common type of pancreatic cancer is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, making up 85 per cent of cases.
	In the fight to control glucose levels, this control algorithm comes out on top The so-called artificial pancreas—an automated insulin delivery system for people with type 1 diabetes mellitus—uses an advanced control algorithm to regulate how much insulin a pump should deliver and when. Regulating glucose is challenging because levels respond to a wide-array of variables, including food, physical activity, sleep, stress, hormones, metabolism and more.
	Putting your heart and brain into meditating Want to get better at meditating? Try taking a selfie.
Researchers discover heart drug could reduce diabetes related blindness Researchers at Queen's University Belfast and University College London have discovered that a drug, originally developed to treat cardiovascular disease, has the potential to reduce diabetes related blindness.
	Oxytocin plays a role in facial mimicry Studies have demonstrated that oxytocin (which acts as an hormone and also as a neurotransmitter in the brain) plays a role in facilitating the perception of emotions in other people's facial expressions. An international study conducted by Sebastian Korb (researcher in the SISSA's Neurosciences area) and colleagues has tested the idea that this phenomenon is related to facial mimicry. According to embodied cognition theory, in fact, the recognition of others' emotions is facilitated by their imitation and reproduction with our own face. The study confirms this facilitating effect, which proves to be more pronounced for expressions conveying negative emotions (anger, distress), especially when seen on the face of a child.
Sleep hormone melatonin helps breast cancer drug kill more cancer cells Tiny bubbles filled with the sleep hormone melatonin can make breast cancer treatment more effective, which means people need a lower dose, giving them less severe side effects. In a new study published in Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, researchers show that the bubbles, called nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), made tamoxifen stronger and help it kill cancer cells.
	microRNAs help to predict disease progression in brain tumors Scientists at the Helmholtz Zentrum München and the Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich (LMU) have developed a new method of predicting disease progression in gliobastoma patients who have undergone standard treatment. Their findings, published in the journal Oncotarget, show that four miRNAs may hold the vital clue. An application for the corresponding patent has already been filed.
	Researchers uncover how environmental pollutant dioxin alters brain development in mice Researchers centered at the University of Tsukuba have unveiled key processes involved in the toxicity of dioxin, an environmental pollutant that has been linked to impaired brain development. In the body, dioxin forms a complex with the protein AhR, which leads to disruption of normal brain development. Further studies on the topic will deepen understanding of the mechanism of environmental-pollutant-related toxicity.
Why are so many of us over-sensitive? When a gentle glow feels like a spotlight and everyday sounds hurt your ears, life can gets anxious and painful. But, discovers Emma Young, there may be an upside to being highly sensitive.
Gun researchers see a public health emergency in Orlando mass shooting. Here's why. Editor's note: We turned to two public health researchers on gun violence to help us understand the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Florida. Sandro Galea is the dean of Boston University's School of Public Health. Ziming Xuan is an assistant professor at the school who recently led a study of state gun laws and youth gun-carrying in the United States. We originally spoke to the researchers in the wake of the mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Oregon in October 2015.
	Ob-gyns should promote HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (HealthDay)—Obstetrician-gynecologists can play a critical role in reducing HIV transmission by promoting pre-exposure prophylaxis, according to a commentary published in the July issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Genome sequencing helps determine end of tuberculosis outbreak Using genome sequencing, researchers from the University of British Columbia, along with colleagues at the Imperial College in London, now have the ability to determine when a tuberculosis (TB) outbreak is over.
How to diagnose systemic infections much more quickly and reliably To date, there are no methods that can quickly and accurately detect pathogens in blood to allow the diagnosis of systemic bloodstream infections that can lead to life-threatening sepsis. The standard of care for detecting such blood-borne infections is blood culture, but this takes days to complete, only identifies pathogens in less than 30% of patients with fulminant infections, and it is not able to detect toxic fragments of dead pathogens that also drive the exaggerated inflammatory reactions leading to sepsis.
	Opioids increase risk of death when compared to other pain treatments Long-acting opioids are associated with a significantly increased risk of death when compared with alternative medications for moderate-to-severe chronic pain, according to a Vanderbilt study released today in JAMA.
Study finds increase in severity of firearm injuries, in-hospital fatality rate In a study appearing in the June 14 issue of JAMA, Angela Sauaia, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, and colleagues examined patterns of gunshot wound-associated severity and mortality at a Colorado urban trauma center.
Study compares effectiveness of weight-loss drugs In an analysis that included nearly 30,000 overweight or obese adults, compared with placebo, orlistat, lorcaserin, naltrexone-bupropion, phentermine-topiramate, and liraglutide were each associated with achieving at least 5 percent weight loss at 52 weeks, and phentermine-topiramate and liraglutide were associated with the highest odds of achieving at least 5 percent weight loss, according to a study appearing in the June 14 issue of JAMA.
	Maps reveal where rats, monkeys, and other mammals may pass diseases on to humans The majority of infectious diseases currently emerging as human epidemics originated in mammals. Yet we still know very little about the global patterns of mammal-to-human pathogen transmission. As a first step, researchers at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies and the University of Georgia have assembled summative world maps of what's on record about mammal-to-human diseases. The work, which aims to question whether it is possible to predict the emergence of new zoonotic diseases, appears June 14 as part of a Review in Trends in Parasitology.
	Bone hormone boosts muscle performance during exercise but declines with age When we exercise, our bones produce a hormone called osteocalcin that increases muscle performance, according to a study publishing June 14 in a Cell Metabolism special issue on aging. Osteocalcin naturally declines in humans as we age, beginning in women at age 30 and in men at age 50. This study describes the first bone-derived hormone known to affect exercise capacity and shows that osteocalcin injections can reverse the age-related exercise capacity decline in mice.
	Healthy plant-based diet linked with substantially lower type 2 diabetes risk Consuming a plant-based diet—especially one rich in high-quality plant foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes—is linked with substantially lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
	Researchers discover why stress leads to increased seizures in epilepsy patients For epilepsy patients, stress and anxiety can exacerbate their condition; increasing the frequency and severity of seizures. Until now, it was unclear why this happened and what could be done to prevent it.
Community-based program improves depression in chronic pain patients A community-based pain management programme for patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain has improved depression and social integration, according to a study led by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL).
Taking PDE5 inhibitors for erectile dysfunction unlikely to increase risk of skin cancer Three drugs widely prescribed for erectile dysfunction are unlikely to increase risk of malignant melanoma, according to a study published in the journal PLOS Medicine.
A new business model is needed to drive antibiotic development The current business model for antibiotics is plagued by market failures and perverse incentives that both work against conservation efforts and provide insufficient rewards to drive the development of much-needed new treatments for resistant infection according to Kevin Outterson, from Boston University School of Law, Boston, US and Chatham House, UK, and colleagues in an Essay published in PLOS Medicine.
	Overcome strength-training plateau with accentuated eccentric loading Hitting a plateau in strength training? The answer to overcoming it might lie in accentuated eccentric loading (AEL).
New study shows nighttime sleep-aid helps people experiencing occasional sleeplessness New research shows that an over-the-counter sleep aid helps people suffering from occasional sleep difficulties fall asleep in less than 20 minutes, on average, and improves their reported quality of sleep. The study is the first-of-its-kind to characterize the sleep benefits of diphenhydramine HCI (DPH), marketed for decades as a sleep-aid. This new study demonstrates (via both objective and subjective measures) that the liquid product ZzzQuil, helped people with occasional sleeplessness achieve significantly better sleep on nights they used the medicine.
	As Olympics near, study finds low levels of physical activity in Brazil As Brazilians make final preparations to host the world's premier showcase of athleticism, the Olympics, a new paper in the Journal of the American Heart Association reports that many citizens of the host country are not taking enough advantage of the health benefits of exercise.
	Brain in a dish to learn more about Alzheimer's disease Researchers at the Babraham Institute have found a way to replicate one of the earliest changes in Alzheimer's disease in a dish. This means that it should now be possible to find out a lot more about why it happens - and how to stop it. The new findings are published in the journal Molecular Neurodegeneration and supported by the charity Alzheimer's Research UK.
	Origin of a myth: The second trauma cure for amnesia Quick, when Fred Flintstone had a bowling ball fall on his head that made him forget who he was, what was the way to fix him again?
Migraine as a risk marker for stroke and heart attack Women who suffer from migraine headaches have a slightly increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease in later life. A team of researchers led by Prof. Tobias Kurth, Head of the Institute of Public Health (IPH) at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, has now been able to establish the following: female migraine patients have a higher risk of stroke or heart attacks than women without migraine. Their findings are based on an analysis of data collected as part of the US-based Nurses' Health Study II, and have been published in the British Medical Journal.
MicroRNA may help control arterial thrombosis The dangers of arterial thrombosis - the formation of blood clots that can block arteries and cause illness or death - can escalate through a vicious cycle of coagulation and inflammation. But microRNAs - single-stranded, non-coding small RNAs that can tamp down signaling from specific genes - may be able to break this cycle. In previous studies, researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that microRNA-181b (miR-181b) could regulate acute and chronic vascular inflammation.
Preparing medical students for the 'third science' Penn State College of Medicine faculty are helping shape the "third science" of medical education by defining what health systems science is and how student perception of it should be addressed in designing curriculum.
	Scientists detect gray matter changes in brains of teenagers with type 2 diabetes Teenagers with type 2 diabetes have significant changes in total brain gray matter volume and in regions of gray matter involved in seeing and hearing, memory, emotions, speech, decision making, and self-control.
	'Traffic-light' and numeric calorie labels cut calorie consumption by 10 percent Imagine you're ordering lunch from your favorite online delivery spot, and just before submitting your order, you notice that the club sandwich in your cart is marked with a red stop light signifying high calorie content. Would you keep it in your cart? New research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania suggests you might switch to a lower-calorie option. When researchers added color-coded or numeric calorie labels to online food ordering systems, the total calories ordered was reduced by about 10 percent when compared to menus featuring no calorie information at all. The study is the first to evaluate the effect of "traffic-light" calorie labeling - where green labels signal low calorie content, yellow labels signal medium calorie content, and red labels signal high calorie content - in the increasingly common setting of ordering meals online. Results are published online in the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing.
	Zika's potential threat to world blood supply deserves study—and action Blood safety researchers say it is highly likely that the mosquito-borne Zika virus can be transmitted through blood transfusions and are calling for an evidence-based approach to protecting the blood supply from the threat of Zika virus according to a commentary in the journal Transfusion.
Sleepiness and fatigue linked to brain atrophy in cognitively normal elderly A new study found that normal older adults who experience excessive sleepiness during the day or significant fatigue may have more brain atrophy than expected for their age, particularly in areas of the brain that are more susceptible to aging and Alzheimer's disease.
Young African-American adults are less susceptible to delirium in ICU than Caucasians The first study to evaluate the relationship between race and intensive care unit delirium has found that African-American ICU patients age 18 to 50 are less susceptible to delirium than similarly aged Caucasians or than either African-American or Caucasian ICU patients age 50 or older.
NFL, NBA, and NHL teams have a disadvantage when traveling west A new study found that the NFL, NBA and NHL teams traveling from west to east had a higher winning percentage compared to teams traveling in the opposite direction.
	New insights uncovered into Prader-Willi syndrome A study published in the journal Human Molecular Genetics by researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) provides novel insights into the brain mechanisms underlying the insatiable hunger and subsequent obesity in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome.
	Study shows that plasma protein supplementation helps prevent cell death in diabetes Diabetes continues to be a global health problem, with the number of cases projected to rise from 285 million in 2010 to nearly 400 million by the year 2030. Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide.
	Five diet drugs: which ones work? (HealthDay)—Any of the prescription weight-loss drugs on the market can help obese people shed pounds, although some seem more effective than others, a new study finds.
	Shouting? The 'silent treatment'? How spouses argue linked to physical ills (HealthDay)—How spouses disagree may predict which ones are more likely to develop certain ailments down the road, new research suggests.
	Even short-term T2DM remission reduces risk of microvascular Dz (HealthDay)—For patients with type 2 diabetes, remission after bariatric surgery is associated with a reduced risk of microvascular disease, even after subsequent relapse, according to a study published online June 6 in Diabetes Care.
Even when help is just a click away, stigma is still a roadblock Stigma is a major barrier preventing people with mental health issues from getting the help they need. Even in a private and anonymous setting online, someone with greater self-stigma is less likely to take that first step to get information about mental health concerns and counseling, according to a new Iowa State University study.
US researchers call for re-evaluation of microbial testing of Cannabis A new US study suggests that some of the medicinal benefits of dispensary grade Cannabis could be compromised because the flowers host potentially harmful yeasts and toxic molds, which cannot be detected by industry standard culturing techniques.
	Researchers link specific enzyme to process of metabolic dysfunction in aging Researchers at Mayo Clinic have identified the enzyme, called CD38, that is responsible for the decrease in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) during aging, a process that is associated with age-related metabolic decline. Results demonstrated an increase in the presence of CD38 with aging in both mice and humans. The results appear today in Cell Metabolism.
FDA approves stomach-draining obesity treatment (Update) A new weight loss device offers a novel approach to cutting calories: draining them from the stomach before they are fully digested.
	Home-based primary care model can produce medicare savings (HealthDay)—The home-based primary care (HBPC) model at the core of the Independence at Home (IAH) demonstration has the potential to produce considerable savings for Medicare and Medicaid, according to research published online May 31 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Chronic kidney disease adversely affects digestive function (HealthDay)—Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has an adverse effect on digestive function, according to a study published online May 25 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	Treatment options reviewed for herpes simplex viral keratitis (HealthDay)—There is a need for development of new anti-herpetic compounds with different mechanisms of action for herpes simplex viral keratitis (HSVK), according to a review published online June 6 in Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology.
	Abnormal pap posthysterectomy for 30 percent of HIV+ women (HealthDay)—About one-in-three HIV-infected women with no prehysterectomy history of abnormal Pap results have abnormal vaginal Pap results after hysterectomy, according to a study published in the July issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Anaphylaxis risk up for siblings of peanut allergic children (HealthDay)—The risk of anaphylaxis is increased upon peanut introduction in siblings of children with peanut allergy, according to a study published online June 13 in Allergy.
	Lift ban on CDC research into gun violence, doctors' group says (HealthDay)—On the heels of yet another senseless gun massacre in the United States, the nation's leading physicians' organization is urging more research into gun violence.
	Researchers develop accurate way to measure growth factor linked to aging Researchers at Mayo Clinic have developed an accurate way to measure a circulating factor, called GDF11, to better understand its potential impact on the aging process. They found that GDF11 levels do not decline with chronological age, but are associated with signs of advanced biological age, including chronic disease, frailty and greater operative risk in older adults with cardiovascular disease. Results appear today in Cell Metabolism.
	Senior moments explained: Older adults have weaker clutter control A new study from the Georgia Institute of Technology finds that older people struggle to remember important details because their brains can't resist the irrelevant "stuff" they soak up subconsciously. As a result, they tend to be less confident in their memories.
Bariatric surgery significantly improves lipid profile in obese patients Fifty years after the first reported partial-ileal bypass, metabolic surgery has an established role in achieving weight loss and reducing cardiovascular death in obese patients. Scientists have now demonstrated that it can significantly benefit the lipid profiles of these patients a year and more after surgery, according to a new report published in The American Journal of Medicine.
Laws limiting alcohol sales may have measurable public health effects Residents in Texas counties that permit the sale of alcohol have a higher incidence and prevalence of alcohol misuse, liver disease and some heart problems, but fewer heart attacks, compared to residents in counties with alcohol restricting laws, finds a study published by The BMJ today.
Researchers apply new analytical technology to quantitate amount of anti-cancer drugs inside individual cancer cells University of Oklahoma researchers will apply a new analytical technology that could ultimately provide a powerful tool for improved treatment of cancer patients in Oklahoma and beyond. Using mass spectrometry, an analytical instrument for sensitive detection and accurate identification of molecules, the team will quantitate the amount of anti-cancer drugs present in individual cancer cells, including those in bladder cancer cells isolated from patients undergoing chemotherapy. The method will provide a means to establish ideal dosing regimens that delivers effective chemotherapeutic concentrations to patients with minimal toxicities.
	US plan for Zika includes special CDC teams to help states Health officials have put together a plan to combat Zika that includes a special team of experts that can be dispatched to states if the virus spreads in the U.S.
Olympics: WHO committee says low risk of Zika spread There is a "very low risk" of the Zika virus spreading further internationally as a result of the Olympic Games in Brazil, the World Health Organization's emergency committee on the disease said Tuesday.
Try self-care steps for relief from hemorrhoids Dear Mayo Clinic: Every few months, I develop hemorrhoids that are quite painful, but, after a few days, they seem to go away on their own. Is there a way to avoid getting them altogether? Do I need to see my doctor the next time the hemorrhoids return?
Study suggests federal standard may be thwarting some transplant patients For the roughly 15,000 people who need a liver transplant, it's a waiting game. With demand for donated livers far outstripping supply, patients may spend months or years on a transplant waitlist, their position in the line gradually improving as they get sicker. A recent study suggests this system may be changing but not necessarily for the better.
	First–time blood donors: waiting for the roller coaster Have you ever bought a ticket to ride a roller coaster? Was your initial bravado overtaken by creeping doubt as the long queue moved slowly towards the gate?
	Video: Babies are language sponges—even with sign language Just like early exposure to any other language, early exposure to sign language will support learning language later, whether it's sign or spoken It's widely believed that the younger you are, the easier it will be for you to learn a new language, and new research is finding that holds true for sign language as well. University of California, San Diego (UCSD), psychologist Rain Bosworth says that by five months old, babies are universal language "sponges," attracted to language in their environment, and this includes sign language.
	Why the FDA should lift the blood donation ban on sexually active gay men On June 12, following the mass shooting at Pulse, a gay dance club in Orlando, Florida, sexually active gay men were denied the chance to donate blood to members of their community, because of the FDA's arbitrary and unnecessary ban on blood donation by any man who has had sexual contact with another man in the previous year.
	Better health for Aboriginal youth Life expectancy for Aboriginal people is approximately ten years lower than other Australians. The generational transference of past trauma and hardship continues to impact the mental and physical well-being of Aboriginal youth.
Lifestyle habits linked to pain conditions already in childhood Poor physical fitness and sedentary behaviour are linked to increased pain conditions in children as young as 6-8 years old, according to the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children Study ongoing at the University of Eastern Finland. The findings were published in the Journal of Pain.
Infectious disease risks at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic and Paralympic Games Visitors to the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will be most at risk of gastrointestinal illness and vector-borne infections concludes ECDC's updated rapid risk assessment on the Games. Therefore, visitors to the Games should pay attention to standard hygiene measures to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal illness and protect themselves against mosquito/other insect bites using insect repellent and/or by wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers.
	Antibiotics against severe salmonella infections in Africa increasingly ineffective Salmonella infections in the bloodstream, caused by Salmonella enterica bacteria, are still the cause of many deaths in southern regions and Southeast Asia. Children between the age of two and five years are particularly affected. Treating these infections could become a growing problem owing to increasing antibiotic resistance. DZIF scientists from the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine have now confirmed that even the newer generations of antibiotics are becoming less and less effective.
Blood pressure medications reduce stroke and heart attack in peritoneal dialysis patients Two classes of blood pressure medications, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), are associated with a 16% lower risk of strokes, heart attacks and death in patients with end-stage renal disease who are undergoing peritoneal dialysis, a new study in the journal, Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, reports.
Direct-to-consumer marketing to people with hemophilia The manner in which pharmaceutical companies market their products to people who have hemophilia appears unprecedented and direct-to-consumer marketing should be examined by regulators, say researchers who reviewed documents, including consumer-oriented materials, produced by the makers of hemophilia treatment products.
Alcohol dependent individuals show greater risk of suicide in evening hours A new study found that there is a circadian pattern of peak and nadir in the incidence of suicides committed in alcohol dependent individuals.
Childhood abuse, parental death and divorce are linked to adult insomnia symptoms According to a new study, child adversities, which are known to play an important role in mental and physical health, are also associated with poor sleep.
Surgeon general calls for greater investment in opioid fight U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is calling for more investment in addressing the nation's opioid epidemic, saying only half of the 2 million people who need drug treatment in the country have access to it.

Biology news

	Good fathers sing simple songs The female Chinese Hume Warbler is attracted to males who sing simple songs, as opposed to the more common preference among birds of choosing males who sing the most complex songs. This preference for males with inconspicuous songs may be related to nesting behavior and driven by the threat of predation, according to research published in the open access journal Avian Research.
	Rodent with a human-like menstrual cycle found (Phys.org)—A team of researchers working at Monash University in Australia has found an example of a rodent that has a human-like menstrual cycle. As the team notes in their paper uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv, such a find is exciting because it offers the possibility of using the rodent for research projects involving the human female reproductive system.
	Chill coffee beans for a more flavorsome brew, say scientists In the lead up to the World Barista Championships, University of Bath scientists say brewing more flavoursome coffee could be as simple as chilling the beans before grinding.
	Cats seem to grasp the laws of physics Cats understand the principle of cause and effect as well as some elements of physics. Combining these abilities with their keen sense of hearing, they can predict where possible prey hides. These are the findings of researchers from Kyoto University in Japan, led by Saho Takagi and published in Springer's journal Animal Cognition.
	Eukaryote process of programmed fork arrest determined A research collaboration between the Medical University of South Carolina, the Institute of Human Genetics in France, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Rockefeller University has revealed the means by which cells accomplish programmed DNA replication arrest. Their results in the June 13, 2016 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences describe the conditions that require a replication fork to stop, and in doing so explain why terminator sites on DNA don't always successfully stop a replication fork. It is a matter of different proteins working together to calibrate fork movement.
	Protein structures pave the way for broad-spectrum antifungals Fungal infections can be devastating to human health, killing approximately 150 people every hour, resulting in over a million deaths every year, more than malaria and tuberculosis combined.
	Why do women live longer than men? Women live longer than men. This simple statement holds a tantalizing riddle that Steven Austad, Ph.D., and Kathleen Fischer, Ph.D., of the University of Alabama at Birmingham explore in a perspective piece published in Cell Metabolism on June 14.
	New plant engineering method could help fill demand for crucial malaria drug A new and inexpensive technique for mass-producing the main ingredient in the most effective treatment for malaria, artemisinin, could help meet global demands for the drug, according to a study to be published in the journal eLife.
	Australian rodent species first victim of climate change? Climate change appears to have driven to extinction an Australian Great Barrier Reef rodent, according to a new study, which suggests the species may be the first mammal lost to the global phenomenon.
New insights on how bees battle deadly varroa mite by grooming In a new study published in the Journal of Apicultural Research, scientists have compared the ability of two strains of honey bees to defend themselves against the parasitic mite varroa by grooming the mites from their bodies.
	What is CRISPR? And how can it be used to turn genes 'off'? CRISPR systems have been a hot research topic since they were shown to have utility as genetic engineering tools in 2012. And they're often explained in a way that most folks can understand. But those explanations often overlook key details – like the fact that scientists are still in the process of discovering the fundamental rules of how these systems work.
	Discovery of a new mating position in frogs Six mating positions (amplexus modes) are known among the almost 7,000 species of frogs and toads found worldwide. However, the Bombay night frog (Nyctibatrachus humayuni), which is endemic to the Western Ghats Biodiversity hotspot of India, mates differently. In a new study, scientists have described a new (seventh) mode of amplexus—now named as dorsal straddle.
	Potato parasite's 'toolkit' revealed Parasitic nematode worms are the `hidden enemy' of farmers world-wide, causing billions of pounds worth of crop damage every year.
	No giant leap for mankind: why we've been looking at human evolution in the wrong way Understanding exactly how and why humans evolved is clearly one of the most important goals in science. But despite a significant amount of research to date, these questions have remained a bit of a mystery. Of course, there is no shortage of theories – it has even been suggested that humans are just visiting aliens. However, most of the credible models tend to take something that is unique to humans – such as language – and show how all the other bits of being human derive from that.
	Pythons and boas shed new light on reptile evolution A new study into pythons and boas has for the first time found the two groups of snakes evolved independently to share similar traits, shedding new light on how the reptiles evolved.
Virus uses 'stolen' CRISPR to hack its host's immune system A virus that infects major freshwater bacteria appears to use stolen bits of immune system DNA to highjack their hosts' immune response.
	Microbes in pressed grapes may predict flavor metabolites in the finished wine The microbial mix found in grape juice during the winemaking process may help shape the terroir of a finished wine, report food scientists at the University of California, Davis. In a study published in the May/June issue of mBio, an online open-access journal from the American Society of Microbiology, the researchers found that the microorganisms found in must - freshly-pressed grape juice, before fermentation - can be used as biomarkers to predict which metabolites will be found in the finished wine. Metabolites are chemical compounds that help shape the flavor and texture of a wine.
	Antiphonal singing in indris "How to get noticed as a singer?" isn't only a concern for young people aspiring to a career in the music industry. Young indris, critically endangered lemurs from Madagascar, sing in antiphony with their choirmates to increase their chances of getting noticed by rival groups, according to a new study in Frontiers in Neuroscience.
	Islands and their ecosystems A few weeks ago, the biologist Juliano Sarmento Cabral (33) celebrated a handsome success. Together with former colleagues from the University of Göttingen, he published an article in the journal Nature. One finding: In order to understand the diversity of species on islands such as Hawaii, Galapagos or the Canary Islands, you have to look far back into the past - at least as far as the last ice age 21,000 years ago.
A new framework for inferring community assembly processes in ecology One of the most fundamental goals in ecology - determining the community assembly processes that have structured local communities - has been increasingly studied through the analysis of functional and phylogenetic diversity. Addressing growing evidence that inferences from these measures are often ambiguous to interpret, a new study published in the open access journal One Ecosystem, presents a conceptual framework integrating three approaches which reduces the likelihood of drawing incorrect conclusions.
	Garlic mustard populations likely to decline Invasive plants are often characterized as highly aggressive, possessing the power to alter and even irreversibly change the ecosystems they invade. But a recent University of Illinois study shows that one such invader, garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), actually becomes less aggressive over time.
	Sunflower pollen protects bees from parasites Plant pollens vary in quality as food sources for bees, and pollen from the sunflower family (the family that includes dandelions, daisies, and thistles) is known to have some unpleasant qualities. Bees fed exclusively sunflower pollen often develop poorly, slowly, or not at all. Yet many bee species collect pollen exclusively from this family; in fact, specialization on sunflower pollen has evolved multiple times in bees. Research by Dakota Spear and colleagues suggests that parasites could be part of the explanation.
	Spiders are among most effective predators of plant pests Although many people have a built-in aversion to them, spiders rank as one of the gardener's best tools for biological pest control.
	After legal-ivory experiment, black markets thrive from greater demand, less risk To curb the destructive illegal ivory trade, the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) announced in 2008 that it would suspend its ban on the international trade in ivory to allow a one-time legal sale of 108 metric tons of stockpiled ivory to China and Japan from four African nations. This partial-legalization was intended to flood the Asian market with legal ivory, driving black-market purveyors and the poachers who supply them out of business.
	Researchers release 'Frankenturtles' into Chesapeake Bay It was a dark and stormy night in the laboratory, and jagged bolts of lightning lit the sky as Dr. Kaplan and his assistant Bianca stitched the pieces of the lifeless creature back together.
Genetic secrets of algae provide vital insight into coral bleaching A UNSW Australia-led team of researchers has identified genes that allow some algae living in corals to tolerate higher ocean temperatures than others. The genes could act as markers to understand the risk of coral bleaching in different areas of tropical reefs including the Great Barrier Reef.
	Exotic animals from Italy's underworld get second chance In ancient Rome, they would have been pitted against gladiators or served up at banquets.
	Wheat sequencing consortium releases key resource to the scientific community Following the January 2016 announcement of the production of a whole genome assembly for bread wheat, the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC), having completed quality control, is now making this breakthrough resource available for researchers via the IWGSC wheat sequence repository at URGI-INRA-Versailles, France.
	End of an era: New sixth volume Research on Chrysomelidae the last with its original editors The new and sixth volume of Research on Chrysomelidae consists of five research articles devoted to the latest findings about the amazing family of over 37,000 leaf beetle species from more than 2,500 genera. Among the studies, conducted by authors from all around the world, there is a new species of potentially dangerous legume-feeding pest, as well as new information regarding the life cycle, ecological interactions, species richness factors and taxonomy of some leaf beetles.
A call for consensus standards to ensure the quality of cell lines Mainstays of biomedical research, permanent lines of cloned cells, are used to study the biology of health and disease and to test prospective medical therapies. Yet, all too often, these apparent pillars of bioscience and biotechnology crumble because they are crafted from faulty starting materials: misidentified or cross-contaminated cell lines.
	FAA asks US pilots to be considerate of walruses US pilots need to beware of flying too low and scaring walruses forced onto land in northern Alaska by global warming, the Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday.

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