Science X Newsletter Monday, Aug 22

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for August 22, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Physicists propose method for braiding light

Music tempo carries hidden information

One of the most inflated giant planets discovered

Best of Last Week: Possible fifth force of nature found, purifying carbon nanotubes, possible replacement for opiods

Jellyfish proteins used to create polariton laser

Stem cell therapy heals injured mouse brain

Sponge creates steam using ambient sunlight

New flexible material can make any window 'smart'

Refining optogenetic methods to map synaptic connections in the brain

Facebook aims for video-loving teenagers with new app

From Solo Cup to an asteroid: NASA's newest space mission

Is divorce seasonal? Study shows biannual spike in divorce filings

Squid, jellyfish and wrinkled skin inspire materials for anti-glare screens and encryption

Astronomers identify a young heavyweight star in the Milky Way

Sleep makes relearning faster and longer-lasting

Astronomy & Space news

	One of the most inflated giant planets discovered (Phys.org)—An international team of astronomers has detected a highly inflated giant planet orbiting a mildly evolved star. According to a research paper published Aug. 16 on the arXiv pre-print server, the newly found exoplanet, designated KELT-12b, is one of the most inflated "hot Jupiters" known to date.
	From Solo Cup to an asteroid: NASA's newest space mission The idea for a device that could unveil the origins of life in our solar system began with a Solo cup.
	Astronomers identify a young heavyweight star in the Milky Way Astronomers have identified a young star, located almost 11,000 light years away, which could help us understand how the most massive stars in the Universe are formed. This young star, already more than 30 times the mass of our Sun, is still in the process of gathering material from its parent molecular cloud, and may be even more massive when it finally reaches adulthood.
	Image: Hubble Investigates Stellar Shrapnel Several thousand years ago, a star some 160,000 light-years away from us exploded, scattering stellar shrapnel across the sky. The aftermath of this energetic detonation is shown here in this striking image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field Camera 3.
	Study reveals meteorological impact of 2015 solar eclipse A pioneering study by the University of Sheffield has revealed the meteorological impact of the 2015 UK solar eclipse across three countries.
	Proba-3: Seeing through shadow to view Sun's corona Every 18 months or so, scientists and sensation-seekers gather at set points on Earth's surface, to await awe-inspiring solar eclipses. The Moon briefly blocks the Sun, revealing its mysterious outer atmosphere, the corona. Though what if researchers could induce such eclipses at will?
	Full-circle vista from NASA Mars rover Curiosity shows 'Murray Buttes' Eroded mesas and buttes reminiscent of the U.S. Southwest shape part of the horizon in the latest 360-degree color panorama from NASA's Curiosity Mars rover.
	NASA successfully test fires Mars mega-rocket engine with modernized 'brain' controller NASA engineers successfully carried out a key developmental test firing of an RS-25 rocket engine along with its modernized 'brain' controller at the Stennis Space Center on Thursday, Aug. 18, as part of the ongoing huge development effort coordinating the agency's SLS Mars mega rocket slated for its maiden blastoff by late 2018.
	New visualization of waves in Saturn's rings Fans of astronomy are no doubt familiar with the work of Kevin Gill. In the past, he has brought us visualizations of what the Earth would look like if it had a system of rings, what a "Living Mars" would look like – i.e. if it was covered in oceans and lush vegetation – and an artistic rendition of the places we've been in our solar system.
	World's biggest telescope meets world's second fastest supercomputer A prototype part of the software system to manage data from the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope has run on the world's second fastest supercomputer in China.
	Iron found in fossils suggests supernova role in mass dying Outer space touches us in so many ways. Meteors from ancient asteroid collisions and dust spalled from comets slam into our atmosphere every day, most of it unseen. Cosmic rays ionize the atoms in our upper air, while the solar wind finds crafty ways to invade the planetary magnetosphere and set the sky afire with aurora. We can't even walk outside on a sunny summer day without concern for the Sun's ultraviolet light burning out skin.

Technology news

	Music tempo carries hidden information Who could even dream of thinking, period, when in a small dance club where the pulsating floodgates of club music are being let loose. Here's a thought, though. What if you could hide messages in the tempo of that pounding music? It's being done.
	Sponge creates steam using ambient sunlight How do you boil water? Eschewing the traditional kettle and flame, MIT engineers have invented a bubble-wrapped, sponge-like device that soaks up natural sunlight and heats water to boiling temperatures, generating steam through its pores.
	Facebook aims for video-loving teenagers with new app Facebook took direct aim at video-loving adolescents, and Snapchat, with the release of a new iPhone app that allows teens to watch clips about the lives of their classmates.
	Scientists set solar thermal record Scientists at The Australian National University (ANU) have set a world record for efficiency for a solar thermal dish generating steam that could be used for power stations.
	Patent talk looks at Disney audience interaction idea involving lightsabers (Tech Xplore)—A lightsaber to deflect lasers? And you? In a special room where you can do battle? What kind of stairway to heaven is this? For Star Wars fans, divine news: there has been a patent filed which focuses on how to make lightsabers work, not in a special-effects Hollywood lab but in a Disney environment.
	Apple boosts health while Microsoft revs machine smarts Microsoft on Monday announced it bought a startup to boost its artificial intelligence capabilities, and rival Apple confirmed it has boosted its health focus with an acquisition of its own.
'I miss you so much': How Twitter is broadening the conversation on death and mourning Death and mourning were largely considered private matters in the 20th century, with the public remembrances common in previous eras replaced by intimate gatherings behind closed doors in funeral parlors and family homes.
	Fungi recycle rechargeable lithium-ion batteries Although rechargeable batteries in smartphones, cars and tablets can be charged again and again, they don't last forever. Old batteries often wind up in landfills or incinerators, potentially harming the environment. And valuable materials remain locked inside. Now, a team of researchers is turning to naturally occurring fungi to drive an environmentally friendly recycling process to extract cobalt and lithium from tons of waste batteries.
	Natural scale caterpillar soft robot is powered and controlled with light Researchers at the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw, using the liquid crystal elastomer technology originally developed in the LENS Institute in Florence, demonstrated a bio-inspired micro-robot capable of mimicking caterpillar gaits in natural scale. The 15-millimeter-long soft robot harvests energy from green light and is controlled by spatially modulated laser beam. Apart from traveling on flat surfaces, it can also climb slopes, squeeze through narrow slits and transport loads.
How cars could meet future emissions standards: Focus on cold starts Car emissions is a high-stakes issue, as last year's Volkswagen scandal demonstrated. Pressure to meet tightening standards led the carmaker to cheat on emissions tests. But wrongdoing aside, how are automakers going to realistically meet future, tougher emissions requirements to reduce their impact on the climate? Researchers report today that a vehicle's cold start—at least in gasoline-powered cars—is the best target for future design changes.
Cybersecurity student researches how to keep cars safe from hacking In 2015, two researchers remotely hacked a Jeep Cherokee being driven by a reporter who documented how the researchers controlled everything from the car's radio and media console to its brakes and steering.
	After the NSA hack: Cybersecurity in an even more vulnerable world It is looking increasingly likely that computer hackers have in fact successfully attacked what had been the pinnacle of cybersecurity – the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA). A few days ago, reports began emerging of claims by a hacking group called the Shadow Brokers that it had breached the network of, and accessed critical digital content from, computers used by the Equation Group. This attracted more than the usual amount of attention because the Equation Group is widely believed to be a spying element of the NSA.
	Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution announces innovative wind turbine monitor Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) announces the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 9,395,338 for self-regulating terrestrial turbine control through environmental sensing.
	Novel chemical sensor six-times faster than alternatives Tragic events such as the recent Brussels Airport bombing have enlightened the need for stronger security measures and improved technologies. This is one of the applications the MIRPHAB project team had in mind, as they unveiled a chemical sensor capable of detecting the likes of drugs and explosives from a distance of 30m.
	Carnegie Mellon and Near Earth Autonomy robots and drones put on a show at Clemson A rumbling robot and several high-flying drones recently made an on-site appearance at Clemson University to burrow through and buzz above 15 acres of experimental sorghum plots containing more than 2,800 replicated entries.

Medicine & Health news

	Stem cell therapy heals injured mouse brain Permanent brain damage from a stroke may be reversible thanks to a developing therapeutic technique, a USC-led study has found.
	Refining optogenetic methods to map synaptic connections in the brain Optogenetics is a technique that combines genetics and optics to control neuronal activity, which is based on the discovery of light-sensitive membrane channels within pond algae that control movement in response to light. When genes that produce one such light-sensitive membrane channel, called channelrhodopsin (ChR), are inserted into neurons and subsequently exposed to light, they regulate the flow of ions across cell membranes, increasing the neuron's activity. This allows scientists to discretely control neuronal activity by using pulses of light to activate specific populations of neurons.
	Sleep makes relearning faster and longer-lasting Getting some sleep in between study sessions may make it easier to recall what you studied and relearn what you've forgotten, even 6 months later, according to new findings from Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
	After the heart attack: Injectable gels could prevent future heart failure During a heart attack, clots or narrowed arteries block blood flow, harming or killing cells within the tissue. But the damage doesn't end after the crushing pain subsides. Instead, the heart's walls thin out, the organ becomes enlarged, and scar tissue forms. If nothing is done, the patient can eventually experience heart failure. But scientists now report they have developed gels that, in animal tests, can be injected into the heart to shore up weakened areas and prevent heart failure.
	Study suggests ways to improved immunity in older people A study from Oxford and Basel universities may point the way to maintaining our immune systems as we get older.
New study shows esophageal cancers driven by 'marginal gain' rather than speed Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute scientists have shown that unexpectedly, oesophageal cancer cells do not divide faster than their normal neighbours. But unlike normal cells, the tumour cells produce slightly more dividing daughter cells than non-dividing ones, forming a tumour.
New types of African Salmonella associated with lethal infection The first global-scale genetic study of Salmonella Enteritidis bacteria, which is a major cause of blood poisoning and death in Africa and food poisoning in the Western World, has discovered that there are in fact three separate types. Scientists at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and University of Liverpool found two novel African types, which looked the same, but were genetically different from the Western type.
	Antibiotic treatment increased risk for type 1 diabetes in animal study In doses equivalent to those used regularly in human children, antibiotics changed the mix of gut microbes in young mice to dramatically increase their risk for type 1 diabetes. That is the finding of a study led by researchers from NYU Langone Medical Center, supported by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), and published Aug. 22 in Nature Microbiology.
Two key proteins preserve vital genetic information Cancer is often driven by various genetic mutations that are acquired through changes to a person's DNA over time. These alterations can occur at the chromosome level if the proteins are not properly organized and segregated as our cells divide and multiply.
	Gene therapy via ultrasound could offer new therapeutic tool Combining ultrasound energy and microbubbles to poke holes in cells may prove to be a new tool in the fight against cardiovascular disease and cancer, according to researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC. A study on this gene therapy approach, called sonoporation, appears today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
	Stroke-like brain damage is reduced in mice injected with omega-3s Researchers from Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) found that omega-3 fatty acids reduced brain damage in a neonatal mouse model of stroke.
	New drug target could prevent tolerance and addiction to opioids, neuroscience study finds Researchers have identified a brain mechanism that could be a drug target to help prevent tolerance and addiction to opioid pain medication, such as morphine, according to a study by Georgia State University and Emory University.
	Research reveals how melanoma spreads to other organs in the body In a landmark discovery, researchers at Tel Aviv University have unraveled the metastatic mechanism of melanoma, the most aggressive of all skin cancers.
	Study finds novel molecular clues behind nocturnal behavior Research from University of California, Irvine scientists and their colleagues offers new insights into why many animals sleep at night and are active during the day, while others do the reverse.
	New discovery in genetic research could lead to treatments for mitochondrial diseases A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) from the University of Missouri has succeeded in creating embryos with "heteroplasmy," or the presence of both maternal and paternal mitochondrial DNA. This new innovation will allow scientists to study treatments for mitochondrial diseases in humans as well as the significance of mitochondrial inheritance for livestock.
Novel MRI technique distinguishes healthy prostate tissue from cancer using zinc A novel MRI method that detects low levels of zinc ion can help distinguish healthy prostate tissue from cancer, UT Southwestern Medical Center radiologists have determined.
	Researchers discover otulipenia, a new inflammatory disease National Institutes of Health researchers have discovered a rare and sometimes lethal inflammatory disease - otulipenia - that primarily affects young children. They have also identified anti-inflammatory treatments that ease some of the patients' symptoms: fever, skin rashes, diarrhea, joint pain and overall failure to grow or thrive.
Teens in therapeutic boarding school adopt atypical gender behaviors to reassert dominance While studying the rapid growth of the therapeutic boarding school industry, Jessica A. Pfaffendorf observed that troubled young men in at least one program most often displayed a type of "hybrid masculinity."
Study finds better definition of homelessness may help minimize HIV risk Being homeless puts people at greater risk of HIV infection than those with stable housing, but targeting services to reduce risk behaviors is often complicated by fuzzy definitions of homelessness.
Youth cyberbullying most common among current or former friends and dating partners Youth cyberbullying is dramatically more likely to occur between current or former friends and dating partners than between students who were never friends or in a romantic relationship, suggests a new study that will be presented at the 111th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association (ASA).
	Stopping scars before they form Most people start racking up scars from an early age with scraped knees and elbows. While many of these fade over time, more severe types such as keloids and scars from burns are largely untreatable. These types of scars are associated with permanent functional loss and, in severe cases, carry the stigma of disfigurement. Now scientists are developing new compounds that could stop scars from forming in the first place.
Citrus fruits could help prevent obesity-related heart disease, liver disease, diabetes Oranges and other citrus fruits are good for you—they contain plenty of vitamins and substances, such as antioxidants, that can help keep you healthy. Now a group of researchers reports that these fruits also help prevent harmful effects of obesity in mice fed a Western-style, high-fat diet.
Lousy jobs hurt your health by the time you're in your 40s Job satisfaction in your late 20s and 30s has a link to overall health in your early 40s, according to a new nationwide study.
Color-graded pictogram label to reduce medicine-related traffic crashes found ineffective A new study questions the effectiveness of using pictogram message on the labels of anxiety and sleep medications that interfere with driving - an approach this is currently implemented across France. The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology study found that the risk of being responsible for a crash associated with these medicines did not decrease long-term after the pictogram was introduced.
Socioeconomic factors—not race or ethnicity—influence survival of younger patients with multiple myeloma Advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma, a cancer that forms in a type of white blood cell, have led to improved survival predominantly among young and white patients, with less of an increase in survival observed in patients of other ethnicities. A new study indicates that this gap is mostly due to socioeconomic differences between whites and ethnic minorities, not race itself. The findings are published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.
More psychiatrists will not improve access to mental health care, Canadian study suggests Increasing the supply of psychiatrists in Ontario, Canada has not significantly improved access to psychiatric care, according to a new study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES).
One approach can prevent teen obesity, eating disorders, new guidelines say A single approach can prevent both obesity and eating disorders in teenagers, according to new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Sub-Saharan Africans satisfied with their sex lives, with 18 percent rating them a perfect 10 People in Africa's Sub-Sahara region, a relatively undeveloped area, are generally satisfied with their sex lives, with the most common rating—reported by 18 percent of respondents—being a perfect "10," according to Baylor University research that will be presented at the 111th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association (ASA).
	Study says knees, hips – but not ankles – power the fastest Olympic sprinters As fans around the world have marveled at the athletic feats performed in the 2016 Summer Olympics, University of Virginia biomedical engineer Silvia Blemker and her research team are investigating how differences in musculature can help lead to Olympic gold.
	Have we misunderstood post-traumatic stress disorder? In understanding war-related post-traumatic stress disorder, a person's cultural and professional context is just as important as how they cope with witnessing wartime events, which could change the way mental health experts analyse, prevent and manage psychological injury from warfare.
	Unravelling the biology of parkinsonism Scientists have taken another step towards understanding the causes of parkinsonism by identifying what's happening at a cellular level to potentially help develop future treatments.
	An emerging view of evolution is informing cancer research Cancer cells can be as cooperative as a flock of birds, making individual decisions yet somehow acting in unison. A Stanford researcher is using this insight to make a computer model of cancer.
Survey shows lower levels of youth e-cigarette use, but experts still concerned The 26th Indiana Youth Survey, conducted by the Indiana Prevention Resource Center at Indiana University's School of Public Health-Bloomington, highlights a decrease in the use of e-cigarettes among students in Grades 7 to 12. But experts say more needs to be done to curb use among youth.
	Expert says opioid epidemic is even worse than we thought In the last two decades, drug overdoses have slowly overtaken motor vehicle fatalities as the leading cause of death in the United States. In Virginia alone, the Office of the Attorney General estimates that more than 900 residents died from overdoses of heroin or prescription drugs in 2015.
	Genes are not destiny: Environment and education still matter when it comes to intelligence Recent research has suggested that academic performance, reading ability and IQ have a genetic basis. This reinforces the popular notion that intelligence and related cognitive capacities are somehow "in our genes".
	Scientists explain why Russian tuberculosis is the most infectious A collaborative of Russian researchers conducted a large-scale analysis of the proteins and genomes of mycobacterium tuberculosis strains that are common in Russia and countries of the former Soviet Union and found features that provide a possible explanation for their epidemiological success. A paper detailing the results has been published in the prestigious journal Scientific Reports.
Treatments available for drug-resistant epilepsy One in 26 people will develop epilepsy – a chronic disease characterized by unpredictable seizures—in their lifetime.
	Cough app targets US success Resapp Health, the developer of a cough-interpreting smartphone app that diagnoses some respiratory conditions better than a stethoscope-armed specialist, aims to replicate the success of its West Australian clinical trials in the US.
	Diabetes drug could help reduce cardiovascular disease The world's most commonly used Type 2 diabetes drug, Metformin, may be 'repurposed' to treat non-diabetic conditions according to researchers from the University of Dundee.
	Machine learning to unlock Parkinson's disease mystery Researchers at the Australian National University (ANU) will use machine learning to help solve the mystery of how to determine the progression of Parkinson's disease.
	Study explores unemployment-depression links The increased risk of mental illness for people who are unemployed is due to more than just financial hardship, a new study from The Australian National University (ANU) has found.
	Scientists challenge recommendation that men with more muscle need more protein Sports nutrition recommendations may undergo a significant shift after research from the University of Stirling has found individuals with more muscle mass do not need more protein after resistance exercise.
	New global migration mapping to help fight against infectious diseases Geographers at the University of Southampton have completed a large scale data and mapping project to track the flow of internal human migration in low and middle income countries.
	Opinion: It's no wonder women opt for caesareans over natural birth when they are not given a real choice The announcement that women may be routinely warned of the risks of "normal" vaginal birth, along with those of caesarean section, has sparked some fascinating debates, specifically about what "informed choice" means. A recent article on The Conversation argued that it may be worth informing at least those with particular risks from vaginal birth, such as older women, about the different options.
	Is it your second cousin? Cotton swabs may tell you The precision of DNA testing portrayed on mystery television shows could soon become reality. With a new technique developed at Kyoto University, a simple swab sample can accurately confirm relatedness between two individuals as distant as second cousins. With more DNA datasets at hand, the method could be utilized to identify disaster victims in mass floods and tornadoes that destroy entire communities.
Guarana found to have higher antioxidant potential than green tea The millions of people who consume green tea all over the world benefit from the catechins it contains. Catechins are a class of chemical compounds with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, among other healthy ingredients. Researchers at the University of São Paulo's Public Health School (FSP-USP) have discovered that guarana (Paullinia cupana) is a worthy competitor, at least as far as catechins are concerned: the seeds of the tropical shrub, used in fizzy drinks that are among the most popular in Brazil, as well as in over-the-counter supplements, contain more than ten times the amount of catechins found in green tea.
After a fracture, it's time to rethink medications With half of all women and a quarter of all men over fifty expected to suffer a fracture in the years ahead, the number of such injuries exceeds the incidence of heart attack, stroke, and breast cancer combined. By discouraging the use of medications that can cause dizziness or loss of balance and prescribing medications known to prevent bone loss, clinicians can help patients lower their risk of falls and fractures.
Rx associated with fracture risk infrequently reduced after fracture occurrence Is the occurrence of a fragility fracture - where Medicare beneficiaries broke a hip, wrist or shoulder - a missed opportunity to reduce exposure to prescription drugs associated with fracture risk?
	Tunneling nanotubes between neurons enable the spread of Parkinson's disease via lysosomes Scientists from the Institut Pasteur have demonstrated the role of lysosomal vesicles in transporting α-synuclein aggregates, responsible for Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases, between neurons. These proteins move from one neuron to the next in lysosomal vesicles which travel along the "tunneling nanotubes" between cells. These findings were published in The EMBO Journal on Aug. 22, 2016.
Protecting plain tobacco packaging against industry influence Canada's public consultation on plain packaging for tobacco requires strict guidelines to protect against interference by the tobacco industry, and media must also be wary, according to a commentary in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Severe obesity revealed as a stand-alone high-risk factor for heart failure A study by Johns Hopkins researchers of more than 13,000 people has found that even after accounting for such risk factors as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, so-called morbid obesity appears to stand alone as a standout risk for heart failure, but not for other major types of heart disease.
	A clear view of the nervous system A new and versatile imaging technique enables researchers to trace the trajectories of whole nerve cells and provides extensive insights into the structure of neuronal networks.
	Fragments of cell powerhouse trigger immune response that leads to kidney damage, failure after trauma Following major trauma like a car crash, debris from the powerhouses of damaged cells appear to make their way to an immune system outpost in the kidneys, setting in motion events that can permanently damage or destroy the organs.
New understanding of pulmonary hypertension leads to promising drug targets A groundbreaking new study led by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC has identified a new group of compounds that could have robust effects in treating pulmonary hypertension (PH), an enigmatic but sometimes fatal disease of the blood vessels of the lungs that currently has no cure. The findings, which were published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, highlight the use of these drugs to alter vessel stiffness and its downstream control of metabolism, a link previously unknown for people suffering from the progressive disease.
	Children should eat less than 25 grams of added sugars daily Children ages 2 to 18 should eat or drink less than six teaspoons of added sugars daily, according to the scientific statement recommending a specific limit on added sugars for children, published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
Monkeys with Sudan ebolavirus treated successfully Scientists funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have successfully treated monkeys several days after the animals were infected with Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV). The study is important, according to the researchers, because no proven treatments against SUDV exist and little is known about the window of opportunity for treating the infection.
	Food, even water can spoil when the power goes out (HealthDay)—Power outages can be more than an inconvenience. They can cause problems with your food and water that could put your family's health at risk.
	TV ratings for parents let violence, drinking slip through (HealthDay)—Parents should take industry television ratings with a grain of salt, since they don't always reflect the true amount of violence, smoking and drinking in TV shows, a new study warns.
Soluble corn fiber can help young women build bone, and older women preserve bone Supplementing with soluble corn fiber at two critical times in a woman's life - adolescence and post-menopause - can help build and retain calcium in bone, according to new research from Purdue University.
	Drug-coated balloon cuts TLR in femoropopliteal artery disease (HealthDay)—For femoropopliteal artery disease, use of drug-coated balloon (DCB) is associated with reduced risk of target lesion revascularization (TLR) compared with conventional plain balloon (PB), with no effect of all-cause mortality, according to a review published in the August 22 issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.
	Modified checklist with follow-up valid for autism in toddlers (HealthDay)—The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) with Follow-up Interview (M-CHAT/F), which can be administered by minimally trained primary care physicians (PCPs) is valid and reliable, according to a study published online Aug. 19 in Pediatrics.
	Decision regret uncommon after radical prostatectomy, IMRT (HealthDay)—For patients with prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) and post-prostatectomy image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IG-IMRT), decision regret (DR) is uncommon and occurs more often after RP, according to research published online Aug. 16 in the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology.
	Laryngoscopy skills worsen after month without practice (HealthDay)—Laryngoscopy skill performance levels change after one month without practice, with worse consistency for C-MAC and A.P. Advance, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in Anaesthesia.
	Slight decline in U.S. prevalence of latent TB from 2000 to 2011 (HealthDay)—From 2000 to 2011 there was a slight decline in the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in the United States, according to a study published in the Aug. 15 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
	Truth or fib? When kids say they're too sick for school (HealthDay)—It's only a matter of time after school begins before parents have to deal with a child who doesn't feel well enough to go.
	Postpartum depression can be ID'd during infant hospitalization (HealthDay)—Postpartum depression screening conducted during infant hospitalization can identify depression among previously unscreened women, according to a study published online Aug. 16 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
	Albuminuria linked to higher nighttime SBP in hypertension (HealthDay)—For patients with hypertension, albuminuria is associated with higher nighttime systolic blood pressure (SBP), according to a study published online Aug. 11 in Diabetes Care.
	Barrier-specific care significantly improves glycemic control (HealthDay)—For patients with type 2 diabetes, barrier categories to glycemic control include psychological/support, socioeconomic, and accessibility, and addressing these barriers improves glycemic control, according to a study published online Aug. 11 in Diabetes Care.
U.S. Olympians taking part in health and wellness study After they've finished competing here in the Olympics, some Americans will be getting another measure of their health and fitness.
	Blocking release of the hormone ghrelin may mediate low blood sugar effect Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a previously unknown role of a cellular signaling molecule involved in release of the "hunger hormone" ghrelin, a finding that could have implications for optimal treatment of children taking beta blockers.
	Study validates new tool for diagnosing dehydration in children To properly treat young children with severe diarrhea, caregivers in clinics long on patients and short on resources need a quick and accurate way to assess the severity of dehydration. After a study testing it with nearly 500 children in Bangladesh, the four-symptom "DHAKA" score is now the most tested method.
	Umbilical cells shed light on how obesity may pass from mother to child Scientists have long known that infants born to women who are obese show higher risks of obesity, but they don't fully understand what boosts those risks. Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center now have demonstrated that umbilical cells from children of obese or overweight mothers show impaired expression of key genes regulating cell energy and metabolism, compared to similar cells from babies of non-obese mothers.
Health-care consumer advocates chose moderation, won some successes in Medicaid debate In 2013, Kansas became the first state to completely privatize its Medicaid system. Known as KanCare, the new program drew skepticism from healthcare consumer advocates who worked to ensure Medicaid consumers received the care they need.
	Watching thoughts—and addiction—form in the brain More than a hundred years ago, Ivan Pavlov conducted what would become one of the most famous and influential psychology studies—he conditioned dogs to salivate at the ringing of a bell. Now, scientists are able to see in real time what happens in the brains of live animals during this classic experiment with a new technique. Ultimately, the approach could lead to a greater understanding of how we learn, and develop and break addictions.
	Pfizer buying Medivation in deal valued at about $14B (Update) Pfizer will pay about $14 billion in cash for the cancer drug company Medivation, a deal that will add the pricey late-stage prostate cancer treatment Xtandi to its oncology portfolio.
	Australia's longest–running women's health study to add children's data Research linking two decades of data on Australian women with outcomes for their children will provide an unparalleled insight into child health and development.
Three gene therapy trials report good news "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras," beginning med students learn. Ultrarare diseases are more like unicorns.
For an experienced research participant, a potentially life-saving personal discovery On the first of May, 2015, Angelique Bell waited in a hair salon, reading the weekend section of the newspaper. She noticed an ad for a health research study that needed participants who had risk factors for diabetes. Since she met the criteria and had some time to pass, she decided to call about the study right then, from the salon chair. It was her 45th birthday.
	The trials and tribulations of being left-handed As 13 August is recognised worldwide as International Left-Handers Day, there has been an increased focus over the past week on the biological and genetic causes of left-handedness in humans, as well as the health, social and economic ramifications of being a 'southpaw'.
Greece: Blood donations curbed after malaria cases reported Greece's health ministry says blood donations have been suspended at hospitals in several parts of the country following a spike in cases of malaria, linked to a high number of migrants traveling through the country.
AGA answers call for quality colorectal cancer patient info Patients depend on the internet for health information, but when it comes to colorectal cancer, currently available resources are not meeting their needs. A new study finds that there is a notable variation in accuracy, quality and readability of patient-oriented web information on colorectal cancer. Further, most websites lack important information regarding polyps and their importance for future follow-up surveillance colonoscopies. These findings were recently published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA).
Using science to reduce health consequences of early childhood adversity How early experiences are built into the body with lasting effects on learning, behavior and health may be made clearer through advances in science.
	Many stroke patients experience delays in seeking and receiving care A new study reveals that many patients are not aware that they are having a stroke when they are experiencing symptoms.
Major changes needed to improve palliative care in Canada Canada's approach to palliative care must be broadened to offer support to people with serious chronic illnesses other than cancer, states an analysis in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Low protein diets may improve blood sugar regulation in obesity Diets that are very high in protein are linked to an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and high protein levels have been correlated to poor insulin regulation. However, few studies have investigated whether decreasing protein intake could be an effective strategy for lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related metabolic disorders.
Breast density and risk may be useful for guiding mammography screening frequency Women between the ages of 50 and 74 may benefit from more or less frequent mammography screening than is generally recommended, depending on breast density and risk. For average-risk women with lower breast density, which comprises a large proportion of the population, triennial screening offers about the same or better balance of benefits and harms as biennial screening and is also cost-effective. Higher-risk women with dense breasts may fare better with annual screening. Findings from a collaborative modeling study are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Researcher who led fight to eradicate smallpox dies at 87 (Update) The American epidemiologist whose unwavering leadership resulted in the eradication nearly 40 years ago of smallpox, one of the world's most feared contagious diseases, has died.
	Clinton edges Trump on health care, survey finds (HealthDay)—More Americans trust Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to do a good job on health care issues than Republican rival Donald Trump, a new HealthDay/Harris Poll reports.
	Too few female urologists to meet aging patients' demand (HealthDay)—Women prefer to see female urologists, but there are far too few to meet a growing demand, a new study reports.

Biology news

	The flight of fruit flies under the microscope A fruit fly can change its flight direction in less than one hundredth of a second. But how does it do that? A firm understanding of how fruit flies hover has emerged over the past two decades, whereas more recent work focussing on understanding how flight manoeuvres are performed. In a review article, as part of the special theme edition of Philosophical Transactions B, Florian Muijers of Wageningen University and Michael Dickinson of California Institute of Technology, describe how flies manipulate wing movement to control their body motion during active manoeuvres, and how these actions are regulated by sensory feedback.
	Sick animals limit disease transmission by isolating themselves from their peers Sick wild house mice spend time away from their social groups, leading to a decrease in their potential for disease transmission according to a new study by evolutionary biologists from the University of Zurich in collaboration with the ETH Zurich. The results can improve models focused on predicting the spread of infectious diseases like influenza or Ebola in humans.
	Hibernating pygmy-possums can sense danger even while dormant What happens to hibernating or torpid animals when a bushfire rages? Are they able to sense danger and wake up from their energy-saving sleep to move to safety? Yes, says Julia Nowack of the University of New England in Australia, lead author of a study in Springer's journal The Science of Nature about the reaction of pygmy-possums in such instances. The study is the first to investigate in detail the physical response of hibernating animals to smoke and fire.
	Single-celled fungi multiply, alien-like, by fusing cells in host Microsporidia cause diarrhea, an illness called microsporidiosis and even death in immune-compromised individuals.
	How cell nuclei squeeze into tight spaces As cells move throughout our bodies, they often have to squeeze through tight nooks and crannies in their environment, reliably springing back to their original shape. The structures involved in this process are still a mystery, but in a study published August 22 in Developmental Cell, a research team reports one protein responsible for giving a cell's nucleus its durable, deformable nature. These results, the authors say, may explain the invasiveness of certain cancer cells.
New research solves a mystery behind the gunk that sticks to the bottoms of boats The coating of barnacles and other growth along the bottoms of boats is more than just an eyesore. Biofouling, as it is known, slows down ships and impedes the readiness of emergency response and military vessels.
	Chimpanzees choose cooperation over competition: Study challenges distinctiveness of human cooperation When given a choice between cooperating or competing, chimpanzees choose to cooperate five times more frequently Yerkes National Primate Research Center researchers have found. This, the researchers say, challenges the perceptions humans are unique in our ability to cooperate and chimpanzees are overly competitive, and suggests the roots of human cooperation are shared with other primates. The study results are reported in this week's early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	In the ocean, clever camouflage beats super sight In a matchup of animal superpowers, a clever form of camouflage might beat super sight—at least in the ocean.
	New England drought means bolder bears, stressed fish Bears are bolder, mosquitoes are multiplying and stream-dwelling fish are stressed. Beyond hurting crops and helping the tourism industry, New England's hot, dry summer also is affecting the region's wildlife.
	Plant disease clinic identifies new case of oak wilt Earlier this year, the Cornell University Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic (CU-PDDC) used a new rapid test they developed to identify a small number of oak trees with oak wilt disease on Long Island, in the town on Central Islip.
	Canine hereditary disorders are more widespread than previously indicated Genoscoper Ltd. has published in cooperation with the researchers of University of Helsinki and Pennsylvania (USA) so far the most comprehensive study on canine hereditary disorders. The research brings new information about genetic disorders causing diseases in different dog breeds. The results can be utilized both in dog breeding and veterinary diagnostics. The study was published on PLOS ONE on 15 August 2016.
	New 'butterfly of the sea' species discovered A case of mistaken identity that took more than 16 years to detect recently culminated in a new species of vibrant sea creature confirmed in WA's North West.
	Elongation by contraction – pulling forces drive changes in cell shape Scientists from the Mechanobiology Institute (MBI) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have discovered a new mechanism of cell boundary elongation. Elongation and contraction of the cell boundary is essential for directing changes in cell shape, which is required for the correct development of tissues and organs. The study was published in Current Biology on 11 August 2016.
	City centre seagulls could help plan drone flight paths Seagulls are the bane of many city dwellers' lives. From snatching sandwiches, to tearing up rubbish bags, for many they are far worse than traditionally unpopular pigeons or rats. The issue of gulls in cities is an interesting one, as populations of herring gulls and lesser black-backed gulls are declining in many rural areas, while increasing in many urban locations.
	New mechanism clarifies how cells migrate Similarly to cars, cells need a steering mechanism that guides them towards a certain target or direction. Scientists at the Center for Cognition and Sociality (Institute for Basic Science, IBS), and KAIST, led by Prof. HEO Won Do, have discovered the function of a key protein involved in cells' movement and clarified how cells migrate. These findings recently published in PNAS provide a deeper understanding of cells' movement and can benefit several biological fields, such as cancer, immunological and neurological research.
Flooding in South puts a damper on US rice harvest Heavy rain that brought record flooding to Louisiana recently has put a damper on the nation's harvest of rice, a food staple that usually likes water as it grows but can't be gathered by machine if fields are inundated.
	Russian and US scientists collaborate to map migration paths of Arctic breeding birds Conservation of intertidal habitat—65 percent of which has been lost over the last 50 years— is critical to the survival of countless birds during migration on the East Asian Australasian Flyway.

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