Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Jul 5

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for July 5, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Quantum fingerprinting surpasses classical limit

Warming pulses in ancient climate record link volcanoes, asteroid impact and dinosaur-killing mass extinction

Active asteroid 324P/La Sagra observed by Hubble

An equation to quantify the origins of life on other planets

Simulation suggests non-water based life could exist on Saturn's moon Titan

Researchers determine fundamental limits of invisibility cloaks

Wind River Tiny Homes and Walden Studio seek to satisfy living-smaller vibes

Welcome to Jupiter: NASA spacecraft Juno reaches giant planet

Study exposes major flaw in classic artificial intelligence test

Genetic mutations found linked to rare cases of multiple bowel tumors

Bouncing droplets remove contaminants like pogo jumpers

Higher consumption of unsaturated fats linked with lower mortality

Scientists investigating nanoparticles conduct experiment while free falling

Laser-printed patterns on cellulose paper as a structural support for biochemical functionalization schemes

Signaling molecules can make neuronal extensions retract at a distance

Astronomy & Space news

	Active asteroid 324P/La Sagra observed by Hubble (Phys.org)—The renowned Hubble Space Telescope (HST) plays a leading role in uncovering distant locations of the universe, but it could be also a helpful tool for studying nearby objects, like space rocks whizzing through our solar system. Recently, a team of astronomers used Hubble to get a glimpse of the active asteroid 324P/La Sagra in order to unravel dynamic processes occurring on its surface. Their findings, published June 28 in a paper on arXiv.org, could improve our understanding of active asteroids.
An equation to quantify the origins of life on other planets (Phys.org)—A pair of researchers, one with the Columbia Astrobiology Center in New York, the other with the University of Glasgow in the U.K. has come up with a mathematical equation that when solved is meant to offer a means for estimating how often life begins on other planets. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Caleb Scharf and Leroy Cronin describe their equation, how they came up with it and why they believe it might become more useful as scientists learn more about the true nature of other planets and solar systems.
	Simulation suggests non-water based life could exist on Saturn's moon Titan (Phys.org)—A team of researchers at Cornell University has built and run a simulation that showed prebiotic reactions could possibly occur on the surface of one of Saturn's moons, Titan, suggesting the possibility of life evolving in a place where it is too cold for water to be a factor. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes the simulation they created in response to the discovery (by the Huygens probe) that polymers such as polyimine might have already developed on the moon's surface.
	Welcome to Jupiter: NASA spacecraft Juno reaches giant planet Braving intense radiation, a NASA spacecraft reached Jupiter on Monday after a five-year voyage to begin exploring the king of the planets.
	What we know about Jupiter Look towards the north-west after sunset (south-west in the northern hemisphere) and there is currently one bright point of light that easily stands out relative to everything around it. That is the planet Jupiter, shining with an intense and steady glow.
	Lush Venus? Searing Earth? It could have happened If conditions had been just a little different an eon ago, there might be plentiful life on Venus and none on Earth.
	Jupiter has new visitor—a solar-powered spacecraft Soaring over Jupiter's poles, a NASA spacecraft arrived at the solar system's largest planet on a mission to peek behind the cloud tops.
	What is the goal of Juno's mission to Jupiter? NASA's Juno spacecraft on Tuesday began circling Jupiter on a 20-month mission to learn more about the origin of the solar system's most massive planet.
Surrey Space Centre to lead test mission to clear up space junk in 2017 Surrey Space Centre is leading a test mission, RemoveDEBRIS, to test the world's first low-cost space litter-picking technology to remove the 7,000 tonnes of space junk orbiting the Earth. University of Surrey scientists will be showcasing the technology at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition opening today.
	China finishes construction of world's largest radio telescope After more than five years of construction, the world's largest single-dish radio telescope is finally getting ready to open its eye. On July 3, 2016, with the installation of the last of its 4,450 reflecting panels - equivalent to the size of 30 soccer fields - the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) is counting down to first light in two to three months' time.
Video: Rosetta's second year at Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko Rosetta describes the exciting discoveries she made during her second year at Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, after the comet made its closest approach to the Sun along its orbit.
	NASA's Juno spacecraft in orbit around mighty Jupiter After an almost five-year journey to the solar system's largest planet, NASA's Juno spacecraft successfully entered Jupiter's orbit during a 35-minute engine burn. Confirmation that the burn had completed was received on Earth at 8:53 p.m. PDT (11:53 p.m. EDT) Monday, July 4.

Technology news

	Wind River Tiny Homes and Walden Studio seek to satisfy living-smaller vibes (Tech Xplore)—Years back, a tiny structure in the woods evoked words like "hovel" or "shack" but tiny homes in the news now suggest that engineers, craftsmen and designers are on to a new train of thought about little houses, taking all they know about morphing furniture to accommodate small spaces and energy-saving techniques to their work tables.
	Study exposes major flaw in classic artificial intelligence test A serious problem in the Turing test for computer intelligence is exposed in a study published in the Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Artificial Intelligence.
	Apple urges organ donation via new iPhone software (Update) Apple wants to encourage millions of iPhone owners to register as organ donors through a software update that will add an easy sign-up button to the health information app that comes installed on every smartphone the company makes.
	Too dangerous to talk? Some cities explore 911 texting With gunshots ringing out just feet away, Eddie Justice hid in a bathroom in the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and frantically texted his mother for help.
	Ethicist cites five considerations for a transforming society New technology often raises new ethical questions—and those questions only multiply as technology advances.
	Cass academics design an algorithm that can detect lies in emails The algorithm works by identifying linguistic cues of deception found within a computer-mediated communication (CMC) system such as emails.
	Using servers for home heating For his Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Karim Ziadé assessed the feasibility of putting data centers into residential buildings for heating purposes.
	Could we upload a brain to a computer – and should we even try? People have always dreamed about going beyond the limitations of their bodies: the pain, illness and, above all, death. Now a new movement is dressing up this ancient drive in new technological clothes. Referred to as transhumanism, it is the belief that science will provide a futuristic way for humans to evolve beyond their current physical forms and realise these dreams of transcendence.
	How energy is hidden in colours—can we use it to power a renewable future? 'Roses are red and violets are blue' – so says the old poem.
	Students produce pedal powered cinema A team of engineering students has produced a bicycle powered generator which could power a 55 watt projector for the time required to watch a movie.
	Affair site Ashley Madison reboots as 'open' dating hub Ashley Madison, the website for cheaters that was hit by a massive hack that exposed millions, is rebooting under new leadership as an "open-minded dating" service.
	BlackBerry kills off its Classic smartphone (Update) BlackBerry on Tuesday said that it is killing off its Classic smartphone with a physical keyboard as part of an effort to modernize its lineup.
	You might be overpaying for streaming music When Lauren Higgins tried to sign up for Spotify's premium plan on her iPhone, she was irked that the music service asked for $13 a month, $3 more than the gift subscription she had given her boyfriend.
	Germany may wait 100 years for nuclear waste storage site Germany may not have a final storage facility for its nuclear waste up and running until the next century, an expert report released on Tuesday suggested.
	Berlin aims to lure British startups fearful over Brexit When Cornelia Yzer woke to the news that Britain had voted to leave the European Union her initial reaction was disappointed. As an anglophile she was saddened by the thought of Britain leaving the club.
	Google to create virtual tours of Loire Valley chateaux Google has signed up with 18 Loire Valley chateaux to create virtual tours of the former royal dwellings, the Internet giant's Cultural Institute said Tuesday.
	As streaming booms, audio overtakes video in US Americans have for the first time streamed more music on audio services such as Spotify than through videos, in a welcome shift for the industry, a study said Tuesday.
Netflix to make debut on Comcast's X1 box later this year Comcast is going to add Netflix to its X1 set-top boxes in the latest deal to blur the lines separating cable TV from Internet video services.
	Despite experts' fears, Australia should be moving to electronic online voting Australia's current election proves that there has never been a greater need for online electronic voting. The country has come to a political standstill as the laborious process of manual counting of ballot papers is conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). The AEC employs around 75,000 people to manage the voting and counting process. An intensely manual process has been further complicated by steps that have been introduced to avoid mishaps that occurred with the counting process in previous elections. During the 2013 election, 1,375 ballot papers went missing in Western Australia forcing WA to go back to the polls.
	Social robot interacts naturally with young children In cooperation with a consortium of European universities and companies, researchers at the Tilburg center for Cognition and Communication (TiCC) at Tilburg University are developing a social robot that is designed to interact naturally with young children to help them learn English or Dutch. The experiment that was launched in Tilburg is the first in the world in which a social robot offers a language program for toddlers from various cultural and language backgrounds. The ultimate aim of the project is to develop a series of language programs in various domains, for instance, numbers and spatial concepts.
	On the right track for quieter rail infrastructure The EU QUIET-TRACK project offers a noise reduction and track monitoring system which is demonstrated to be a valuable and cost effective resource for rail infrastructure planning authorities.
A new airport system to save time, money and carbon emissions Aviation engineering specialists have secured a £1 million research grant to develop a pioneering new aircraft routing and scheduling system that could see operations increase by 50% at some of the world's busiest airports.
New York Lottery to offer new instant game using cellphones The New York Lottery has created a new instant game allowing players to use mobile phones in conjunction with a traditional scratch game—something lottery officials say is a first in the nation.
	Real-time visualization tool reveals behavioral patterns in Bitcoin transactions A novel visualization method for exploring dynamic patterns in real-time Bitcoin transactional data can zoom in on individual transactions in large blocks of data and also detect meaningful associations between large numbers of transactions and recurring patterns such as money laundering. The information and insights made possible by this top-down visualization of Bitcoin cryptocurrency transactions are described in an article in Big Data.

Medicine & Health news

	Genetic mutations found linked to rare cases of multiple bowel tumors Researchers have identified genetic mutations affecting the immune system which may lead to the development of more than one bowel tumour at the same time. Understanding how these cancers develop could improve targeting of therapies, according to the study published in Nature Communications.
	Higher consumption of unsaturated fats linked with lower mortality Consuming higher amounts of unsaturated fats was associated with lower mortality, according to a study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. In a large study population followed for more than three decades, researchers found that higher consumption of saturated and trans fats was linked with higher mortality compared with the same number of calories from carbohydrates. Most importantly, replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats conferred substantial health benefits. This study provides further support for the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans that emphasize the types of fat rather than total amount of fat in the diet.
	Why do aged muscles heal slowly? As we age, the function and regenerative abilities of skeletal muscles deteriorate, which means it is difficult for the elderly to recover from injury or surgery. New work from Carnegie's Michelle Rozo, Liangji Li, and Chen-Ming Fan demonstrates that a protein called b1-integrin is crucial for muscle regeneration. Their findings, published by Nature Medicine, provide a promising target for therapeutic intervention to combat muscle aging or disease.
	New brainstem model reveals how brains control breathing Scientists from Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, have discovered how the brain controls our breathing in response to changing oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood.
	Sac to the future: Cellular vessels predict likelihood of developing dementia Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine say tiny micro-vesicle structures used by neurons and other cells to transport materials internally or dispose of them externally carry tell-tale proteins that may help to predict the likelihood of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) developing into full-blown Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Study investigates whether it is safe for GPs to prescribe fewer antibiotics A new study has found that reducing antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections - such as coughs, colds, sore throats and ear infections - is not linked to an increase in the most serious bacterial complications, such as bacterial meningitis. The study, published in the BMJ, investigated whether reducing antibiotic prescribing for people attending their GP with respiratory tract infections could have an effect on safety.
CT follow-up sufficient for some lung nodules Annual low-dose computed-tomography (CT) screening can eliminate the need for biopsy or surgery in nonsolid lung nodules, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.
One small step for babies, one giant leap for mankind Even before they stand up, infants have a rough idea of how to walk; they just need some time to lay down the right neural wiring. Understanding how babies take their first steps can also help us to improve the rehabilitation of patients recovering from spinal cord injury, and children with cerebral palsy.
	Want kids to eat their veggies? Turn squash into a superhero Convincing kids to choose vegetables becomes easier when you deploy a team of animated characters to sell them on the good stuff, new research has found.
Study provides clue to better treatment options for frontotemporal dementia A new study has revealed that the functional impairments experienced by people with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) may provide insight into effective behavioural management techniques to help them continue to look after themselves for longer.
Chorea reduced by deutetrabenazine in study People with Huntington disease (HD) experienced improvements in chorea while taking deutetrabenazine (SD-809) compared to placebo, according to a paper published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Although the topline results of the trial have been released previously, the complete peer-reviewed publication about the First-HD clinical trial is now published in a premier medical journal.
No association found between contrast agents used for MRIs and nervous system disorder In a study appearing in the July 5 issue of JAMA, Blayne Welk, M.D., M.Sc., of Western University, London, Canada, and colleagues conducted a study to assess the association between gadolinium exposure and parkinsonism, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system characterized by tremor and impaired muscular coordination.
Palliative care-led meetings do not reduce anxiety, depression of families of patients with chronic critical illness Among families of patients with chronic critical illness, the use of palliative care-led informational and emotional support meetings compared with usual care did not reduce anxiety or depression symptoms, according to a study appearing in the July 5 issue of JAMA.
More calories consumed from subsidized food commodities linked to cardiometabolic risks Current federal agricultural subsidies focus on financing production of food commodities, a large portion of which are converted into high-fat meat and dairy products, refined grains, high-calorie juices and soft drinks (sweetened with corn sweeteners), and processed and packaged foods.
	Maternal vaccination again influenza associated with protection for infants How long does the protection from a mother's immunization against influenza during pregnancy last for infants after they are born?
Despite increasing global legalization of physician-assisted suicide, use remains rare Despite increasing legalization of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS) worldwide, the practice remains relatively rare and, when carried out, is primarily motivated by psychological factors such as loss of autonomy or enjoyment of life, rather than physical pain.
Enjoying meals prepared at home: AQ short-cut to avoiding diabetes? People who often consume meals prepared at home are less likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes than those who consume such meals less frequently, according to new epidemiological research reported by Qi Sun, of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Heath, Boston, USA and colleagues as part of PLOS Medicine's special issue on Preventing Diabetes.
Energy-dense food consumption declines after Mexico's tax Mexico's household consumption of energy-dense food declines following 2014 nonessential food tax
	Now pasta is good for your diet? (HealthDay)—Pasta may have gotten a bad rap. New research suggests pasta—specifically noodles in this study—might actually help you lose weight.
Extra 1000 steps a day benefit children with type 1 diabetes Keeping count of daily steps and boosting physical activity can really pay off for children with type 1 diabetes, according to new research from the University of Adelaide and the Women's and Children's Hospital.
	Personality disorders have long-term effects on mental health and social relationships People with personality disorder (PD) have enduring relationship difficulties. The condition affects about one in 20 people in the UK and up to 40 per cent of adult mental health service users.
	Researchers find that children's brains develop faster with music training Music instruction appears to accelerate brain development in young children, particularly in the areas of the brain responsible for processing sound, language development, speech perception and reading skills, according to initial results of a five-year study by USC neuroscientists.
	Drug that targets multiple drug-resistant strains of HIV and other viruses is ready for clinical trials A research team spanning four continents has detailed the anti-viral capabilities of OSU-03012, also known as AR-12, a drug currently used in clinical trials to treat certain cancer tumors. The present study confirms that AR-12 is effective in treating a host of viral infections in the laboratory and in animal models, including multiple strains of drug-resistant HIV, Ebola, influenza, mumps and measles.
New microdevice replicates embryonic spinal cord development Researchers at the University of Maine MicroInstruments and Systems Laboratory (MISL), in collaboration with The Jackson Laboratory, have developed a new microfluidic tool that reproduces in the laboratory the same physiochemical environment that instructs embryonic stem cells to develop into organized tissue.
	Research suggests increase in abuse and neglect of adolescents New research from the universities of East Anglia (UEA) and Warwick reveals an increase in adolescents who died or were seriously injured in which abuse or neglect is thought to be involved.
	Resistant starch may benefit people with metabolic syndrome The secret ingredient is in the flour, but its impact lies within the gut.
	Removal of point-of-sale tobacco displays working A new study led by University of Otago researchers suggests that July 2012 legislation that removed all point-of-sale tobacco displays from shops selling cigarettes has helped reduce smoking among New Zealand school students to record low levels.
Students need better access to sexual health resources A national youth health study indicates that youth are delaying sexual activity until they are older; however those who are sexually active are less prepared and less likely to access sexual health services.
	Antidepressants boost CBT for social anxiety Treatments for social anxiety disorder often include either selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), but new research from Uppsala University indicates that social anxiety disorder is best treated with the combination of SSRI and CBT, which also improves emotion processing in the brain.
	Grouping young tennis players according to physical maturity rather than chronological age could develop champions Grouping young tennis players according to their physical maturity rather than their chronological age could help us develop our future tennis champions, says research by the University of Bath.
	Can't sleep? Here's some science-based advice A few weeks ago, thousands of researchers gathered in Denver, Colorado for the SLEEP 2016 meeting. Skimming over the abstracts, one can find diverse research topics like "Need better sleep? Consider the cognitive shuffle," and "Sleepiness and fatigue associated with brain atrophy in cognitively normal elderly," showcasing the many questions that remain unanswered regarding sleep.
	New detection method paves the way for 100% detection of esophageal cancer Recognizing the early stages of esophageal cancer is difficult because it can easily be missed. TU Eindhoven has therefore been working with the Catharina Hospital in Eindhoven to develop a method to enable a computer to scan esophagus images for signs of esophageal cancer. With exceptional results: the computer recognizes early cancer with almost as much accuracy as top specialists, of which there is only a handful. The results are published in the July issue of the scientific journal Endoscopy.
Extra fat does not act as an insulator Carrying excess fat does not contribute to a warmer body in obese mice, a new study on the insulating effects of fat finds. The article is published in the American Journal of Physiology—Endocrinology and Metabolism.
	Can we predict who will become mass shooters? The Orlando nightclub attack on June 12 was among the deadliest in American history, and it was the 133rd mass shooting to take place in the United States in 2016 alone.
	Regulatory T cells' involvement in the progress of colon cancer Researchers at Osaka University, clarified that T-lymphocytes expressing FOXP3 at a low level found in colorectal cancers (CRCs) facilitated cancer immunity. FOXP3 is a master gene of Regulatory T (Treg)  cells that suppress various immune responses including cancer immuity. They found that a certain intestinal bacteria species was involved in the induction of such FOXP3-low T cells enhancing tumor immunity. These findings suggest new potentials in the treatment of CRCs via regulation of intestinal bacteria.
Junk food advertising is too tempting for children Children describe junk food advertising as 'tempting' and 'addictive', and say they could 'lick the screen', according to a new report from Cancer Research UK published today (Tuesday).
	Patient complaint procedures leave doctors emotionally distressed, finds new study Complaints against doctors can impact on their psychological wellbeing, according to a new study from Imperial College London.
	A 'time switch' in the brain improves sense of smell When the brain processes olfactory stimuli, it differentiates between similar smells using subtly modulated signals. Brain examinations and behavioral studies in mice have now shown that neurons with inhibiting characteristics play a key role in this process.
	A fluorescent protein from Japanese eel muscles used to detect bilirubin in newborns A research group led by Project Professor Morioka Ichiro (Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics) and Assistant Professor Iwatani Sota (Kobe University Hospital, Center for Perinatal Care) in collaboration with Doctor Miyawaki Atsushi (team leader at the Brain Science Institute, RIKEN) have clinically proven that a fluorescent protein sourced from Japanese eel muscles can be used to accurately detect unconjugated bilirubin in newborns. This detection method is ideal for newborn patients who can only give limited blood samples, and could revolutionize ways of monitoring jaundice in newborn infants. The findings were published on June 21, 2016 in the online edition of Scientific Reports.
Study shows that some, but not all, premenstrual symptoms are linked with inflammation Certain premenstrual symptoms, such as mood changes, breast pain and abdominal cramps, are linked with inflammation, but headache is not, according to new research from UC Davis Health System.
	New study examines Freud's theory of hysteria New research from King's College London has studied the controversial Freudian theory that Hysteria, a disorder resulting in severe neurological symptoms such as paralysis or seizures, arises in response to psychological stress or trauma. The study, published today in Psychological Medicine, found supportive evidence that stressors around the time of onset of symptoms might be relevant for some patients.
Changes in brain networks may help youth adapt to childhood adversity A new study in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging reports a neural signature of emotional adaptation that could help researchers understand how the brain adapts to childhood adversity and predict which kids may be vulnerable to developing later psychopathology.
Day-biting invasive mosquito species spreading its range in Austria Until a few years ago the Asian bush mosquito, Aedes japonicus, was not yet present in Europe. Now it is spreading its range in several European countries, including Switzerland, Germany and Austria. Ae. japonicus no longer is an exotic guest – it is here to stay.
Parent-focused treatment effective in combatting anorexia nervosa Experts have identified a new treatment option that can be used to support adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN).
New recommendations to stop antibiotics sooner The systematic review into the duration of intravenous antibiotics for children with bacterial infections, and when it is safe and appropriate to change to oral antibiotics has developed recommendations that will help doctors to make more informed assessments around the best timing of when to make the switch.
	Living longer associated with living healthier, study of centenarians finds Research has shown that the human lifespan has the potential to be extended. But would this merely mean people living longer in poor health? The upbeat findings from a new study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society indicate that those extra years could well be healthy ones. In a study of nearly 3,000 people, the onset of illness came decades later in life for centenarians than for their younger counterparts.
The 'gay cure' experiments that were written out of scientific history For the first hour, they just talked. He was nervous; he'd never done this before. She was understanding, reassuring: let's just lie down on the bed together, she said, and see what happens. Soon, events took their course: they were enjoying themselves so much they could almost forget about the wires leading out of his skull.
	Link between stress hormone and obesity in depressed and bipolar patients Low levels of the stress hormone cortisol are linked to obesity, high levels of fat in the blood and metabolic syndrome among patients with recurrent depressions or bipolar disorder. This according to a study at Umeå University in Sweden published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
Scientists identify an essential role of the immune receptor CD69 in psoriasis Scientists at the Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC) have defined the key role of an immune-system receptor in the development of psoriasis, suggesting that it could serve as a therapeutic target for the control of this disease. The study was carried out by Dr. Danay Cibrián and directed by Dr. Francisco Sánchez-Madrid, who heads the Intercellular Communication group at the CNIC. The study establishes the role of the leukocyte activation receptor CD69 in the control of aminoacid uptake, activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), and the expression of inflammatory interleukins such as IL-22 in gamma delta and Th17 T cells, indicating that CD69 contributes to the development of psoriasis. The study, published in Nature Immunology, also indicates that CD69 might also participate in other inflammatory diseases such as aterosclerosis.
	Conventional marketing techniques can increase children's vegetable selection If you think it's too challenging to get young kids to willingly take vegetables, think again! The same methods that fast food and candy companies use to market food to children - colorful banners, exciting characters, and catchy video ads— can be used to increase the number of children that take vegetables in school cafeterias. In fact, Cornell researchers found that 239% more students lined up at the salad bar when it was decorated using colorful banners with vegetable cartoon-characters and fun, nutrition education videos.
Children make poor dietary choices following unhealthy foods ads Ads for unhealthy foods and beverages high in sugar or salt have an immediate and significant impact on children and lead to harmful diets, according to research from McMaster University.
	FDA approves first dissolving stent for US patients A medical implant that slowly dissolves into the body could be the answer to long-standing safety concerns with devices used to treat clogged arteries.
New targeted gene therapy could lead to improved treatment for emphysema Researchers have developed a new strategy using lung-targeted gene therapy that may lead to improved treatments for inherited diseases including emphysema.
	Study shows effectiveness of brief, simple test to screen for cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease For the first time, researchers have determined that a brief, simple number naming test can differentiate between cognitively healthy elderly individuals and cognitively impaired people with Alzheimer's disease (AD), including those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), as well as those with AD dementia. The study appears online in the journal Alzheimer's Disease and Associated Disorders, and was conducted by researchers at Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center (BU ADC), with collaborators from Harvard Medical School and New York University School of Medicine.
	Protein target may block deadly arterial remodeling in pulmonary hypertension Pulmonary hypertension is a highly lethal disease that transforms the thin, flexible vasculature of the lungs into thick, dysfunctional blood vessels that can kill.
	Professor finds positive effects from bringing physical activity to the desk A Clemson University psychology professor has published research revealing a positive link between mood, motivation and physical activity during work and study.
Some genetic causes of ALS may need an epigenetic trigger to activate the disease A new research report appearing online in The FASEB Journal shows why, for some people, having a genetic predisposition to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may not be enough to actually guarantee having the disease. In short, researchers examined identical twins—one afflicted with familial ALS and one not—and found that environmental factors were likely necessary to alter the expression of some immune genes (epigenetic changes) before the disease could take hold. This discovery may pave the way toward developing preventive strategies for those who are at risk for ALS.
	Few elderly patients discuss driving with primary physicians (HealthDay)—A minority of older adults who visit primary care providers have documented discussions about driving, according to research published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Outpatient vascular labs no more efficient than inpatient labs (HealthDay)—There seems to be little difference in efficiency between inpatient vascular laboratories (IPVL) and outpatient vascular laboratories (OPVL), according to a study published online June 28 in the Journal of Clinical Ultrasound.
	Variation in workload for pediatric residents (HealthDay)—There is considerable variation in workload intensity among pediatric residents, according to a study published online June 29 in Pediatrics.
	Elevated risk of death for osteogenesis imperfecta (HealthDay)—Patients with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) have an elevated risk of death, according to a study published online June 27 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
	Policymakers fall short on global agreement to reduce the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children The current obesity epidemic is so grave that 2.7 billion people—nearly a third of the world's population—are estimated to be obese by 2025, making the branding and marketing of foods that are high in salt, sugar, and fat an especially dangerous proposition for consumers.
	Study: How we explain things influences what we think is right New research focuses on a fundamental human habit: When trying to explain something (why people give roses for Valentine's Day, for example), we often focus on the traits of the thing itself (roses are pretty) and not its context (advertisers promote roses). In a new study, researchers found that people who tend to focus on "inherent traits" and ignore context also are more likely to assume that the patterns they see around them are good.
	Parkinson's disease biomarker found in patient urine samples For more than five years, urine and cerebral-spinal fluid samples from patients with Parkinson's disease have been locked in freezers in the NINDS National Repository, stored with the expectation they might someday help unravel the still-hidden course of this slow-acting neurodegenerative disease.
	Mixing cannabis with tobacco increases dependence risk, suggests study Tobacco and cannabis are two of the world's most popular drugs, used respectively by 1 billion and 182 million people worldwide (World Health Organization; United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime). The adverse health effects of tobacco are well known. Short-term effects of cannabis are transient impairments in motor function and working memory, planning, and decision-making, while possible long-term health effects of heavy cannabis use include physical and psychological dependence, permanent reductions in cognitive performance, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and some cancers (WHO).
New 'game plan' for oncologists reflects rapid advances and need for immediate information The field of oncology is rapidly changing, thanks to new discoveries and treatments, and patients with cancer are living longer, often juggling multiple chronic conditions. An article in the July 5, 2016 Journal of Clinical Oncology, lays out a "game plan" for the American Society of Clinical Oncology that helps set the stage for incorporating new therapies and approaches into clinical guidelines as quickly—and as accurately—as possible.
Study released on effects of supervision variables in treating ASD Leading autism treatment provider, Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD), announced today a joint study with Chapman University about the effects of variables in treating autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The evaluation provides the most up-to-date, scientifically sound evidence to CARD and other autism therapy specialists in order to provide the best treatment to those with ASD.
	Modern lifestyle primary culprit for obesity epidemic: study (HealthDay)—It looks like the primary culprit behind the obesity epidemic may be the modern-day environment, and not genes, new U.S. research suggests.
	Many men ignore testicular cancer symptoms for months (HealthDay)—Early detection and treatment of testicular cancer is key to beating the disease, a urology specialist says.
Health effects of egg donation not well studied Maggie Eastman considers it the worst decision she ever made.
Medicaid, private insurers begin to lift curbs on pricey hepatitis C drugs After legal battles and lobbying efforts, tens of thousands of people with hepatitis C are gaining earlier access to expensive drugs that can cure this condition.
In yellow fever outbreak, WHO plans smaller doses to stretch limited vaccine supply Faced with the worst yellow fever outbreak in parts of Africa in decades and running low on vaccine, the World Health Organization plans to use only fractional doses of the vaccine in some areas when it launches an emergency immunization campaign this month.
Increasing number of US adults living with congenital heart defects More adults are living with congenital heart defects in the United States, creating the need for more health services and tracking systems to collect data across all ages, not just at birth, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.
Study identifies new trigger mechanism for fragile X syndrome in mice A study published today in the Journal of Neuroscience led by Yongjie Yang of Tufts University School of Medicine identifies an astroglial trigger mechanism as contributing to symptoms of fragile X syndrome in mice.
It's time for NHS England to 'do the right thing' and fund PrEP for HIV prevention It is time for NHS England to "do the right thing" and fund pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, argue two senior public health doctors in The BMJ today.
	No two kinds of retroviruses look—or act—the same In the most comprehensive study of its kind, researchers in the Institute for Molecular Virology and School of Dentistry at the University of Minnesota report that most types of retroviruses have distinct, non-identical virus structures.
New hope in search for migraine cure Migraine attacks are suffered by millions of people worldwide but despite significant progress in treatment in recent years an effective cure continues to elude scientists.
A short period of bed rest after intrauterine insemination makes no difference to pregnancy rates Despite the positive results of small studies and a widely held belief in its benefit, the practice of keeping female patients immobilised after intrauterine insemination has no beneficial effect on pregnancy rates, according to results of a large randomised study presented here at the Annual Meeting of ESHRE in Helsinki. "Indeed," said investigator Joukje van Rijswijk from the VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, "it even tends to the opposite."
Stem cell and genetic editing may unlock treatments for heart disease Heart muscle diseases are a leading cause of disability and death in children and adults but the causes remain poorly understood. The genetic changes that cause heart muscle disease are in the early stages of discovery. Identifying the genetic cause of heart disease is crucial in improving understanding of these conditions and for developing new drugs and therapies.
Helping people with spinal cord injury return to work University of Adelaide researchers are calling for participants for a national study aimed at assisting Australians with a spinal cord injury to return to work.
Ticagrelor for prevention after myocardial infarction: Indication of minor added benefit The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) assessed the added benefit of ticagrelor for patients with acute coronary syndrome already in 2011 in its very first dossier assessment, just after the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG) had come into force. It was shown then that the drug provided considerable added benefit to patients with mild myocardial infarction without the typical changes in the ECG or with unstable angina pectoris. There was no corresponding proof for severe myocardial infarction.
Necitumumab in NSCLC: Indication of minor added benefit for patients with metastases The monoclonal antibody necitumumab has been approved since February 2016 for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expressing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have not received prior chemotherapy for this condition. The drug is used in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin.
PREVAIL treatment trial for men with persistent Ebola viral RNA in semen opens in Liberia The Partnership for Research on Ebola Virus in Liberia (PREVAIL), a U.S.-Liberia joint Clinical Research Partnership, today announced the opening of PREVAIL IV, a treatment trial for men who have survived Ebola virus disease (EVD) but continue to have evidence of Ebola virus genetic material, RNA, in their semen. The trial is sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, in partnership with the Ministry of Health of Liberia and the pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences. The six-month study will enroll 60 to 120 EVD survivors whose semen has evidence of Ebola virus RNA prior to their enrollment. Participants in the double-blind trial will receive either investigational drug GS-5734, manufactured by Gilead Sciences, Inc., or a placebo.
NIH funds study of Zika infections in US Olympic athletes Researchers will study some U.S. athletes for Zika during the summer Olympics and Paralympics in Brazil, to better understand how the virus infects.
English junior doctors reject new contract in long-running row Junior doctors in England on Tuesday rejected a new government contract, ramping up a long-running row that has already led to an all-out strike.
	Genetically modified foods and the fight It's a food fight in Congress over genetically modified foods.
	Improving LGBT healthcare for military veterans The U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA), which is likely the largest provider of LGBT healthcare in the world, is implementing various system-wide changes aimed at improving LGBT care, including transgender e-consultations to aid interdisciplinary providers and the addition of a self-identified gender identity field to all veteran record systems. These actions and other planned VHA system changes are discussed in an Editorial published in LGBT Health.
	Amid Zika fears, bug repellent supplier named for Rio Games Consumer products maker SC Johnson says its OFF! brand has been named the official insect repellent supplier for next month's Olympic Games, to be held in Rio de Janeiro amid ongoing fears about the mosquito-borne Zika virus.
	Aviragen Therapeutics licenses Georgia State Technology to develop antiviral therapies The Georgia State University Research Foundation (GSURF) has entered into a licensing and sponsored research agreement with Aviragen Therapeutics, Inc., a Georgia-based pharmaceutical company developing the next generation of antivirals, to develop and commercialize respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) replication inhibitors.

Biology news

	Signaling molecules can make neuronal extensions retract at a distance Eph receptors and their partner proteins, the ephrins, are vital for intercellular communication. In the developing brain, they guide young neurons to the right partner cells by repulsion. They also play important roles in cell migration, regeneration, neurodegenerative diseases and the development of cancer. Until recently, scientists assumed that ephrin/Eph signal transmission could only occur through direct cell-cell contact. However, Rüdiger Klein and his team at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology have now shown that cells can also pack and release active ephrins and Eph receptors through extracellular vesicles. Not only does this discovery improve our understanding of this communication system, it may also pave the way for new therapeutic strategies.
	Viruses turbo-charge bacterial evolution in cystic fibrosis infections Scientists in the UK have found new evidence that tiny viruses called bacteriophages turbo-charge the evolution of bacteria that cause lung infections in Cystic Fibrosis patients.
	Scientists isolate, culture elusive Yellowstone microbe A microbial partnership thriving in an acidic hot spring in Yellowstone National Park has surrendered some of its lifestyle secrets to researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
	A decade of plant biology in space On this day 10 years ago, Space Shuttle Discovery was launched to the International Space Station carrying ESA's European Modular Cultivation System – a miniature greenhouse to probe how plants grow in weightlessness.
	Bees abuzz with climate change While climate change threatens the future of agriculture and ecosystems, scientists have discovered one of Australia's common native bees is in fact thriving since the last Ice Age.
	Ecologists compile huge soil fungi database Forest ecologist Justine Karst is a co-author of a significant new resource—the world's largest database of research analyzing how mycorrhizal fungi affect plant productivity.
	Finding the first fungus farmers The development of farming was a key milestone in human history, but as a species we were quite late to the party. Insects got there first! One of the best documented examples happens in the termite world, where some species "farm" fungus as a food source. Although many termites simply use their guts and gut bacteria to extract nutrients, an African group called macrotermitines grow fungus on excreted pellets of partly digested plant matter. The termites then eat these fungi, which provide a nice dose of more easily accessible goodies.
Multiple infection helps malaria thrive Scientists have discovered why infections with two types of malaria parasite lead to greater health risks.
	Prawns return to Perth rivers Prawns are returning to WA's beloved Swan and Canning Rivers thanks to a recent restocking program that has now seen 4.5 million juvenile western school prawns (Metapenaeus dalli) released into the iconic waterways.
	New bandicoot species among museum treasures Many people visit the WA Museum to see displays without being aware of its vast research collection that can help us to understand and conserve endangered species.
A new tool to study plant cell biomechanics We know that within every living plant there are millions of cells working together in a wonderfully complex harmony. But what we don't know is, within each of these cells, what exactly is going on. Scientists have known for some time that cell biomechanics plays a significant role in plant development, but have lacked the tools to advance our knowledge. Researchers from the University of Vermont have developed a method that promises to shed light on single cell biomechanics—by capturing individual cells in microscopic gel beads.
	To these flies, cicada sounds are like love songs In the insect world, smells are important. Insects of course do not have noses, but they do have receptors on their antennae, feet, and other body parts that allow them to sense chemicals and odors.
Study finds sensing mechanism in food poisoning bug UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have uncovered a mechanism that a type of pathogenic bacteria found in shellfish use to sense when they are in the human gut, where they release toxins that cause food poisoning.
Evolutionary split up without geographic barriers A fundamental question in evolutionary research is: is a geographic barrier dividing the original population into two genetically separated populations required for the origin of new species? Or is so-called sympatric speciation also possible - the evolutionary divergence of a population within the same geographical area? Only few examples of sympatric speciation are known worldwide, and even these are not without controversy. Evolutionary biologists in Konstanz now have completed the most extensive study of sympatric speciation so far. They used around 20,000 characteristics of 450 fish to document the parallel evolution of cichlid fish in two crater lakes, Apoyo and Xiloá, in Nicaragua. The research carried out by the team of biologists around Professor Axel Meyer and Dr Andreas Kautt found conclusive evidence for possible evolutionary mechanisms of sympatric speciation. At the same time, the researchers underpinned the empirical evidence that had resulted from Axel Meyer's previous study on the sympatric speciation of these cichlids, published in 2006 in the scientific journal Nature. The current research findings were published in PLOS Genetics on 30 June 2016.
	New Chinese leaf-roller weevil does not know how to roll leaves A long-term project on insect-seed interactions, currently being carried out by researchers of the Institute of Zoology (Chinese Academy of Sciences) in a subtropical forest near Dujiangyan City, Sichuan, China, revealed the presence of larvae of an unknown weevil species eating the seeds in the pods of a shrubby legume.
	Mammals diversified only after dinosaur extinction left space QUT evolutionary biologist Dr Matthew Phillips used molecular dating from DNA sequences to challenge the dominant scientific theory that placental mammals diversified 20 million years before dinosaurs became extinct.
Army site's new owner plans to preserve rare white deer herd A rare herd of ghostly white deer that multiplied at a World War II weapons depot under the protection of the U.S. Army is now being nurtured by the site's new owner.
	The story of how a touch screen helped a paralyzed chimp walk again The case of Reo, a male chimpanzee that learned to walk again after being paralyzed due to illness, shows how much can be done to rehabilitate animals injured in captivity. So says lead author Yoko Sakuraba of Kyoto University, in an article in Primates, the official journal of the Japan Monkey Centre published by Springer.
	Potential phage therapy virus massively alters RNA metabolism during infection Using metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses, a research group led by Rob Lavigne of the University of Leuven in Belgium and Laurent Debarbieux of the Institut Pasteur in France reveals that a bacteriophage that infects the opportunistic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, metabolizes host RNA to replicate itself inside the cell. The findings are published on July 5, 2016 in PLOS Genetics.
	Characteristics improving bean resistance to drought identified The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important food legume in the tropics. It is an inexpensive source of proteins and minerals for almost 400 million people, mainly from Africa and Latin America. It is generally cultivated by small farmers and subject to conditions limiting their productivity. Drought affects 60% of bean crops around the world and can cause from 10% in productivity losses to a total of 100% in some cases.
	Learning about the hummingbirds and the bees in floral diversity The beautiful flowers and impressive diversity of a large genus of roughly 250 species North American and East Asian flowering plants have inspired scientists and gardeners alike. The North American genus of perennial herbs and sub-shrubs (Penstemon) have diversified in their vegetative and habitat specialization, but perhaps most impressive is the floral diversity.
	Researchers tally huge number of venomous fishes, tout potential for medical therapies Upon hearing the word "venom," most people probably think of a snake's fang.
	LobeFinder technology quantifies changes in shape-shifting plant cells Purdue University researchers have developed an algorithm that quantifies and analyzes shape changes in puzzle piece-shaped plant cells, providing insights into the small-scale processes that control leaf size and crop yield.
	The snow leopard—world's most mysterious big cat—may be more common than thought The snow leopard has long been one of the least studied - and therefore poorly understood - of the large cats. No longer.
	Drug lord's pet hippos roam Colombian village More than 20 years after Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar died in a gunfight with police, a strange legacy survives him: his pet hippos.
	Is intentional extinction ever the right thing? Consider this. It may be possible to eliminate some of the world's deadliest diseases, save 2.7 million human lives per year, and save millions more from getting sick…all that is needed is to cause the extinction of a couple of species. Should we?

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