Science X Newsletter Thursday, Aug 25

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for August 25, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

New method developed for producing some metals

Scientists discover a 'dark' Milky Way: Massive galaxy consists almost entirely of dark matter

Premiere: Watch the development of a larva into an adult worm

By mid-century, more Antarctic snowfall may help offset sea-level rise

Seismic shield: Large-scale metamaterials combat earthquakes in 3-D model

Fish oil pills reverse the effects of a fatty diet

Elevating brain protein allays symptoms of Alzheimer's and improves memory

Graphene under pressure

Study challenges long-standing scientific theory: Ant genomics declare 'checkmate' to red king theory

World's first self-driving taxis debut in Singapore

An effective and low-cost solution for storing solar energy

Research identifies protein that promotes the breakdown of fat

Diet, exercise, both: All work equally to protect heart health, study finds

Scientists begin to unravel summer jet stream mystery

Auto, aerospace industries warm to 3D printing

Astronomy & Space news

	Scientists discover a 'dark' Milky Way: Massive galaxy consists almost entirely of dark matter Using the world's most powerful telescopes, an international team of astronomers has found a massive galaxy that consists almost entirely of dark matter.
	35 years on, Voyager's legacy continues at Saturn Saturn, with its alluring rings and numerous moons, has long fascinated stargazers and scientists. After an initial flyby of Pioneer 11 in 1979, humanity got a second, much closer look at this complex planetary system in the early 1980s through the eyes of NASA's twin Voyager spacecraft.
	First test of Breakthrough Starshot interstellar probe highlights likely damage due to gas and dust (Phys.org)—A small team of researchers at Harvard University who are part of the Breakthrough Starshot team has been testing the likely damage to an interstellar spacecraft traveling at approximately one-fifth the speed of light as it makes its way to the Alpha Centauri star system. As they note in a paper describing their testing and results, which was uploaded to the arXiv preprint server, such damage could be catastrophic, but they believe they have a solution.
	ALMA finds unexpected trove of gas around larger stars Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) surveyed dozens of young stars—some Sun-like and others approximately double that size—and discovered that the larger variety have surprisingly rich reservoirs of carbon monoxide gas in their debris disks. In contrast, the lower-mass, Sun-like stars have debris disks that are virtually gas-free.
	Rosetta captures comet outburst In unprecedented observations made earlier this year, Rosetta unexpectedly captured a dramatic comet outburst that may have been triggered by a landslide.
	Video: Using VR in ESA's Orbital Robotics Lab Danish ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen during a summer visit to ESTEC's Orbital Robotics Laboratory, experiencing weightless motion in 2D – courtesy of a friction-free air-bearing platform combined with a virtual reality headset.
	Image: Ariane 5's fourth launch this year An Ariane 5, operated by Arianespace, has delivered two telecom satellites, Intelsat-33e and Intelsat-36, into their planned orbits.
	Jeff Williams new NASA record holder for cumulative days in space Station Commander Jeff Williams passed astronaut Scott Kelly, also a former station commander, for most cumulative days living and working in space by a NASA astronaut (520 days and counting). Williams is scheduled to land on Sept. 6, for a record total of 534 days in space.

Technology news

	World's first self-driving taxis debut in Singapore The world's first self-driving taxis are picking up passengers in Singapore.
	An effective and low-cost solution for storing solar energy How can we store solar energy for period when the sun doesn't shine? One solution is to convert it into hydrogen through water electrolysis. The idea is to use the electrical current produced by a solar panel to 'split' water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. Clean hydrogen can then be stored away for future use to produce electricity on demand, or even as a fuel.
	Auto, aerospace industries warm to 3D printing New 3D printing technology unveiled this week sharply increases the size of objects that can be produced, offering new possibilities to remake manufacturing in the auto, aerospace and other major industries.
	Will superfast 'quantum' computers mean the end of unbreakable encryption? There is a computing revolution coming, although nobody knows exactly when. What are known as "quantum computers" will be substantially more powerful than the devices we use today, capable of performing many types of computation that are impossible on modern machines. But while faster computers are usually welcome, there are some computing operations that we currently rely on being hard (or slow) to perform.
	Researchers find vulnerabilities in iPhone, iPad operating system An international team of computer science researchers has identified serious security vulnerabilities in the iOS - the operating system used in Apple's iPhone and iPad devices. The vulnerabilities make a variety of attacks possible.
	Team introduces 'Braidio' technology, lets mobile devices share power In a paper presented today at the Association for Computing Machinery's special interest group on data communication (SIGCOMM) conference in Florianópolis, Brazil, a team of computer science researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst led by professor Deepak Ganesan introduced a new radio technology that allows small mobile devices to take advantage of battery power in larger devices nearby for communication.
	Desalination pipe for clean drinking water is a competition finalist (Tech Xplore)—Khalili Consultant Engineers is an engineering and consulting firm. Their business targets the food, beverage and packaging industries. The firm's special focus though has to do with fruit juice processing plants and water purification and packaging facilities.
	Facebook, Twitter failing on extremist content: UK MPs Facebook, Twitter and Google are not doing enough to prevent their social networks from being used by extremists for a recruitment drive, a panel of British MPs said Thursday.
	EU rejects US concerns of bias in company tax investigations The European Union's executive branch rejected Thursday the U.S. government's complaint that its probes into sweetheart tax deals between EU governments and big companies are hitting U.S. firms hardest.
	Researchers license technology to prevent injury in wheelchair users Wheelchair users facing persistent shoulder strain or injury will soon have assistance thanks to a device recently developed by University of Alberta researchers and partnered with help from TEC Edmonton's Technology Management team.
	Space robots help clear the road for self-driving cars Nissan's first fully self-driving car will be based on technology that NASA developed for planetary exploration.
	Electric airplanes (batteries included) If there were no need for massive batteries, electric propulsion could dramatically reduce aviation's contribution to climate change from carbon dioxide emissions. But what if the plane, itself, were the battery?
	Speech recognition faster at texting Smartphone speech recognition software gets a bad rap. Most users find the nascent technology to be frustratingly slow, and there are entire blogs dedicated to documenting examples of its biggest – and sometimes hilarious – mistakes.
	How virtual reality can manipulate our minds It is often said that you should not believe everything you see on the internet. But with the advent of immersive technology – like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) – this becomes more than doubly true.
	Clever car racking and intelligent software double number of cars in shipping containers Shipping cars could be safer and more efficient than ever before, thanks to innovative solutions developed by WMG at the University of Warwick for Trans-Rak International (TRI).
Designing better ways to let go of digital memories than 'delete' Researchers are looking at better ways of helping grieving people let go of emotionally-charged digital content after the death of loved ones or the break-up of relationships.
	How cooperative behaviour could make artificial intelligence more human Cooperation is one of the hallmarks of being human. We are extremely social compared to other species. On a regular basis, we all enter into helping others in small but important ways, whether it be letting someone out in traffic or giving a tip for good service.
	WhatsApp is going to share your phone number with Facebook Global messaging service WhatsApp says it will start sharing the phone numbers of its users with Facebook, its parent company. That means WhatsApp users could soon start seeing more targeted ads and Facebook friend suggestions on Facebook based on WhatsApp information—although not on the messaging service itself.
	What digital divide? Seniors embrace social technology Contrary to popular belief, older adults enjoy emailing, instant messaging, Facebook and other forms of social technology. Not only that, but such online networking appears to reduce seniors' loneliness and even improve their health.
	Louisiana Tech University uses underground radar to locate post-Katrina damage An innovative underground radar technology developed at Louisiana Tech University is helping the City of Slidell in south Louisiana to identify and document underground infrastructure damage that had gone undetected in the months and years following Hurricane Katrina.
	Auto, technology industries clash over talking cars Cars that wirelessly talk to each other are finally ready for the road, creating the potential to dramatically reduce traffic deaths, improve the safety of self-driving cars and someday maybe even help solve traffic jams, automakers and government officials say.
	Why the EU's tax probe of multinationals is raising US ire The European Union's campaign to crack down on tax avoidance by multinationals has drawn unusually public criticism from the U.S., which says it is unfairly targeting American companies.
	Apple boosts iPhone security after Mideast spyware discovery A botched attempt to break into the iPhone of an Arab activist using hitherto unknown espionage software has trigged a global upgrade of Apple's mobile operating system, researchers said Thursday.
Amazon starts car research and review site Amazon is starting a site offering research, reviews and other information on new and used cars.
	The robots are coming – and they are here to help As Europe's population ages, the number of people requiring rehabilitation following neurological diseases such as stroke is expected to rise. Specialist care from physiotherapists and occupational therapists offers a chance of regaining independence by recovering lost movement.
	Secure networks for the Internet of the future Two new projects at the University of Würzburg's Institute of Computer Science receive nearly EUR 750,000 worth of funding. The institute is working to make secure and efficient networks for the Internet of the future happen.
	What do you do when hackers threaten to shut down an oil platform? Espionage, sabotage and blackmailing threaten commercial enterprises as well as governmental agencies when all computer systems are interconnected. Countering this is complex and challenging, but possible.
Yosemite, and President Obama, head into virtual reality In a new project with National Geographic, Barack Obama becomes the first sitting U.S. president to project himself into virtual reality—in this case, a 360-degree representation of Yosemite National Park.
	UTA physicists to upgrade Titan supercomputer software for extreme scale applications Physicists at The University of Texas at Arlington have been awarded a new $1.06 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to upgrade the software that runs on the Titan supercomputer at Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility in Tennessee to support extremely data-heavy scientific applications such as advanced biology and materials science simulations.
Volkswagen, dealers reach tentative deal in cheating scandal Volkswagen has reached a tentative deal with its U.S. dealers to compensate them for losses they said they suffered as a result of the company's emissions cheating scandal, attorneys for the carmaker and dealers told a federal judge Thursday.
	Homeland Security investigating Leslie Jones website hack The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Thursday it is investigating the hack of Leslie Jones' website that revealed several private details of the actress-comedian's life.
India: French submarine data leak no security threat India said Wednesday that the leak of documents from a leading French builder of Scorpene submarines designed for India's navy was investigated and did not pose any security compromise because sensitive information was blacked out.

Medicine & Health news

	Fish oil pills reverse the effects of a fatty diet Scientists have found that fish oil supplements can reverse the effects of a high fat diet according to a study published in the Journal of Physiology.
	Elevating brain protein allays symptoms of Alzheimer's and improves memory Boosting levels of a specific protein in the brain alleviates hallmark features of Alzheimer's disease in a mouse model of the disorder, according to new research published online August 25, 2016 in Scientific Reports.
	Research identifies protein that promotes the breakdown of fat Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that a protein often located on the surface of fat droplets within cells - and especially abundant in the muscles of endurance athletes - can kick-start the more efficient and healthful breakdown of fat.
	Diet, exercise, both: All work equally to protect heart health, study finds Which works better to improve the cardiovascular health of those who are overweight - dieting, exercise or a combination of both? A Saint Louis University study finds it doesn't matter which strategy you choose - it's the resulting weight loss that is the protective secret sauce.
	New avenue for understanding cause of common diseases A ground-breaking Auckland study could lead to discoveries about many common diseases such as diabetes, cancer and dementia. The new finding could also illuminate the broader role of the enigmatic mitochondria in human development.
Strict diet combats rare progeria aging disorders Mice with a severe aging disease live three times longer if they eat thirty percent less. Moreover, they age much healthier than mice that eat as much as they want. These are findings of a joint study being published today by Erasmus MC and RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) in the leading scientific journal Nature. The results can be very important for children with an aging disease who now still die very young. These findings may eventually facilitate unraveling the causes of other age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
	Coffee drinking habits can be written in our DNA, study finds Researchers have identified a gene that appears to curb coffee consumption.
	New method creates endless supply of kidney precursor cells Salk Institute scientists have discovered the holy grail of endless youthfulness—at least when it comes to one type of human kidney precursor cell. Previous attempts to maintain cultures of the so-called nephron progenitor cells often failed, as the cells died or gradually lost their developmental potential rather than staying in a more medically useful precursor state.
	Scientists map brain's action center When you reach for that pan of brownies, a ball-shaped brain structure called the striatum is critical for controlling your movement toward the reward. A healthy striatum also helps you stop yourself when you've had enough.
	Memory activation before exposure reduces life-long fear of spiders Many people suffer from anxiety and fears, and a common treatment for these problems is exposure therapy. In a new study published in Current Biology, researchers at Uppsala University have shown how the effect of exposure therapy can be improved by disrupting the recreation of fear-memories in people with arachnophobia.
	Zika virus may persist in the vagina days after infection The Zika virus reproduces in the vaginal tissue of pregnant mice several days after infection, according to a study by Yale researchers. From the genitals, the virus spreads and infects the fetal brain, impairing fetal development. The findings suggest that the Zika virus may replicate more robustly in the female reproductive tract than at other sites of infection, with potentially dire consequences for reproduction, said the researchers.
	The brain uses backward instant replays to remember important travel routes You're shipwrecked on a desert island. You wander from your base camp in desperation, searching for water. Suddenly, a stream appears! The water is fresh and clear, the best you've ever tasted. There's just one problem: There's no trace of how you got there, and you're not sure you can find it again next time.
	Solving a 48 year old mystery: Scientists succeed at growing noroviruses in human intestinal cell cultures in the lab Human noroviruses – the leading viral cause of acute diarrhea around the world – have been difficult to study because scientists had not found a way to grow them in the lab. Now, more than 40 years after Dr. Albert Kapikian identified human noroviruses as a cause of severe diarrhea, scientists at Baylor College of Medicine have, for the first time, succeeded at growing noroviruses in laboratory cultures of human intestinal epithelial cells. This work, published today in Science, represents a major step forward in the study of human gastroenteritis viruses because it establishes a system in which a number of norovirus strains can be grown, which will allow researchers to explore and develop procedures to prevent and treat infection and to better understand norovirus biology.
Psychosis associated with low levels of physical activity A large international study of more than 200,000 people in nearly 50 countries has revealed that people with psychosis engage in low levels of physical activity, and men with psychosis are over two times more likely to miss global activity targets compared to people without the illness.
	Study: Unconventional natural gas wells associated with migraine, fatigue New research suggests that Pennsylvania residents with the highest exposure to active natural gas wells operated by the hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") industry are nearly twice as likely to suffer from a combination of migraine headaches, chronic nasal and sinus symptoms and severe fatigue.
	Breakthrough in understanding of brain development: Immune cell involvement revealed Microglia are cells that combat various brain diseases and injuries by swallowing foreign or disruptive objects and releasing molecules that activate repair mechanisms. Recent findings have suggested these brain cells are also active under normal conditions, where they can contribute to maturation and sculpting of neuronal circuits. Researchers centered at the National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS) have now revealed new mechanisms by which microglia sculpt neural circuits. They show that microglia directly contact neurons to induce the formation of new neuron projections that eventually will connect with other neurons and thereby increase and/or strengthen brain connectivity. These new findings could deepen understanding of how developmental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia may occur.
New study questions timing in mitral valve repairs A new study recently published in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery questions whether patients with isolated moderate to severe mitral valve regurgitation should receive treatment in earlier stages instead of waiting until symptoms appear.
MRI-guided focused ultrasound effective to treat essential tremor Treatment with MRI-guided focused ultrasound significantly improves tremors and quality of life in patients with essential tremor (ET), the most common movement disorder, according to a study published in the August 25 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM), were among an international group of investigators studying this new noninvasive treatment, which was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), based on this research.
Smokers with newly discovered genetic markers have higher lung cancer risk University of Hawai'i Cancer Center researchers have discovered new genetic markers associated with a fast rate of nicotine metabolism, which potentially leads smokers to smoke more, thereby increasing their risk for lung cancer.
	Some breast cancer patients with low genetic risk could skip chemotherapy, study finds Early-stage breast cancer patients whose tumors carry genetic markers associated with a low risk of disease recurrence may not need to undergo chemotherapy, suggests a new study that employed a test devised by a UC San Francisco researcher.
	The race to develop a super alarm to combat alarm fatigue in ICUs The technology in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU) is extraordinary in its ability to pick up the slightest alterations in bodily functions and recognize when they slip out of the "normal" range. But as most ICU nurses understand all too well, having all of that clinical information does not always translate into improvements in patient care.
Sports nutrition products no longer just for hard-core athletes Several trends are fueling mainstream consumer interest in the $33 billion sports nutrition sector. These include new fitness-focused lifestyles and a desire for faster results from weight loss, energizing, and performance products. There is also a shift in health concerns (especially among women and Millennials), with more emphasis placed on those issues that affect everyday performance. Energy, stress, mental alertness, muscle/joint aches, and immunity were among the everyday performance issues consumers were very or extremely concerned about in 2015, according to HealthFocus.
Research highlights 7 essential ingredients for healthy adolescents This month's article hits close to home for me as there are currently both a teen and a tween living in my house. And like the majority of this age group, my teen and tween are active in sports and academics, hungry throughout the entire day, and experiencing growth spurts right before my eyes.
The bottom line benefits of corporate wellness programs Nearly 90 percent of companies in the United States use some form of employee wellness program – from gym memberships to health screenings to flu shots – all designed to improve health. Yet past research mostly measured cost benefits for companies via lower insurance and absentee rates.
	Artificial retinas—promising leads towards clearer vision A major therapeutic challenge, the retinal prostheses that have been under development during the past ten years can enable some blind subjects to perceive light signals, but the image thus restored is still far from being clear. By comparing in rodents the activity of the visual cortex generated artificially by implants against that produced by "natural sight", scientists from CNRS, CEA, Inserm, AP-HM and Aix-Marseille Université identified two factors that limit the resolution of prostheses. Based on these findings, they were able to improve the precision of prosthetic activation. These multidisciplinary efforts, published on 23 August 2016 in eLife, thus open the way towards further advances in retinal prostheses that will enhance the quality of life of implanted patients.
	Probing the secrets of cell identity Though organisms have drastically evolved since climbing out of the primordial soup, one scientific fact has remained the same for epochs: cells are the most basic structural units of all living things.
One million Australians living in "unhealthy" housing New research led by the University of Adelaide has highlighted the link between poor living conditions and health, and estimates that more than one million Australians are living in sub-standard housing.
	Low testosterone thresholds established for type 2 diabetes Research into type 2 diabetes conducted by Western Sydney University has for the first time established a range of clinical thresholds for testosterone levels in men associated with developing diabetes.
	Research using game technology to improve social communications in autistic teens The eyes play a vital role in communication and are thought to influence social behavior. But for children diagnosed with autism, interpreting eye contact is one of the most difficult challenges in social communications.
Breast cancer survivors left with lifelong financial burden A Macquarie University study into the financial cost of lymphoedema borne by women who have survived breast cancer has highlighted significant out-of-pocket, life-long financial costs adding further burden to women who have already faced so much.
Researchers use genetics to probe immune system's role in fighting cancer To better understand the immune system's role in the fight against cancer, University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers have searched thousands of tumors for genetic signatures that might serve as clues for whether immune cells had invaded tumors to stage a defense.
Obesity surgery increases the risk of preterm birth Babies of women who have undergone bariatric surgery for obesity run a higher risk of preterm birth, according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Can omega-3 intake aid in concussion recovery? The treatment of concussions and traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a clinical challenge. Clinical studies thus far have failed to identify an effective treatment strategy when a combination of targets controlling aspects of neuroprotection, neuroinflammation, and neuroregeneration is needed. According to emerging science and clinical experience, aggressive intake of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3FA) seems to be beneficial to TBI, concussion, and post-concussion syndrome patients. This research is presented in Concussions, Traumatic Brain Injury, and the Innovative Use of Omega-3s, a review article from the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, official publication of the American College of Nutrition.
Feedback for GPs helps to reduce high-risk prescription rates, study shows Regular feedback to GP practices reviewing the safety of their prescribing of drugs to patients can help significantly lower the risk of adverse drug reactions, a new study co-led by the University of Dundee and University of Strathclyde, in collaboration with NHS Scotland, has shown.
	Robotic surgery technique for lung cancer provides more precision, shorter recovery Sitting at a console that looks like a video game, Gary Chmielewski, MD, is performing complex lung surgery.
Number of tuberculosis cases in India is double current estimates, says new study The number of cases of tuberculosis (TB) in India may be up to two to three times higher than current estimates, suggests a new study.
	The world's largest bacterial study of baby poo Daily samples of baby poo taken throughout a full year will reveal how the bacterial community changes in the gut of infants.
	Neuroscientists show how nerve cells communicate with each other in neural networks Thinking, feeling, acting - our brain is the control center in the head that steers everything we do. A network of about 100 billion nerve cells linked together by around 100 trillion synapses provides the basis for these mechanisms. Neuroscientists at the German Primate Center (DPZ) – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research examined for the first time how this neural network is organized and how the flow of information between different brain areas is coordinated at the level of individual nerve cells. Through studies with rhesus monkeys, they have found that the nerve cells in the different brain areas that control our hand movements strongly interact with each other and are organized in cross-area functional groups.
	Researchers identify possible pathway to reboot immune system after bone-marrow transplants New research has shown how a cell surface molecule, Lymphotoxin β receptor, controls entry of T-cells into the thymus; and as such presents an opportunity to understanding why cancer patients who undergo bone-marrow transplant are slow to recover their immune system.
	The real reason the EpiPen and other off-patents are so expensive The rising price for EpiPens, a drug delivery system that is crucial for persons experiencing potentially life-threatening allergic reactions, has resulted in outrage. The price increase, from about US$94 for a two-pack of injectable epinephrine to more than $600 in just nine years, has members of Congress calling for investigations in how Mylan, the drug's manufacturer, can justify this increase. In the last year alone, the price has climbed by $200.
Asia's ageing population to cost $20 trillion: study Asia's population is ageing faster than anywhere in the world, a study said Thursday, warning the swelling ranks of the elderly will cost the region $20 trillion in healthcare by 2030.
	High-tech alternative to brain surgery proves effective for most common movement disorder A study published today in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine offers the most in-depth assessment yet of the safety and effectiveness of a high-tech alternative to brain surgery to treat the uncontrollable shaking caused by the most common movement disorder. And the news is very good.
Key substance for treatment of visceral leishmaniasis identified A study shows that stimulating the production of interleukin-17A (IL-17A), one of the cytokines released by cells of the immune system, can be an effective strategy for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis, considered one of the six most important parasitic diseases affecting humans.
Is prehospital stroke treatment associated with better outcomes? When treating a patient with stroke, every minute counts. A specialized stroke ambulance (Stroke Emergency Mobile or STEMO) allows physicians to start specific treatment, such as thrombolysis, at scene. A recent study conducted by researchers from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin investigated whether this earlier response time leads to an improved prognosis. Patients who received the appropriate treatment during transfer to the hospital were less likely to have a disability three months after their stroke than patients who received conventional treatment. Although the difference in surviving without any disability slightly failed to reach the predefined level of significance, other outcomes such as severe disability or death were also more favorable in the STEMO group. Results from this study have been published in the journal The Lancet Neurology.
	How easy is it to spot a lie? Researchers look at the art of deception during group interviews "Who broke Grandma's favorite vase?" As you listen to a chorus of "I don't know" and "Not me," how will you determine the culprit? Conventional wisdom says, divide and conquer, but what does scientific research show us about questioning a group of people at one time? Unfortunately, very little.
Study finds links between physicians setting cancer care guidelines and drug industry Nearly nine out of 10 physicians and researchers who helped develop a leading set of cancer care guidelines in the United States reported financial ties to the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, a University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center study found.
Recommended daily treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis underused Topical intranasal steroid therapy continues to be underused for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) despite practice guidelines that recommend daily use, according to a study published online by JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Men perceived as younger, more attractive after hair transplant for baldness Does how much hair a man has matter in how he is perceived? The answer is yes, according to a new article published online by JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
	New technique takes guesswork out of IVF embryo selection Researchers at the University of Adelaide have successfully trialed a new technique that could aid the process of choosing the "best" embryo for implantation, helping to boost the chances of pregnancy success from the very first IVF cycle.
	Researchers find new role for cannabinoids in vision A multidisciplinary team including researchers from the Montreal Neurological Institute has improved our understanding of how cannabinoids, the active agent in marijuana, affect vision in vertebrates.
Researchers question process for reviewing coverage of 'off label' cancer drug use A group of University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers is calling for an overhaul of the process that determines which cancer drugs used off-label—or beyond their approved use—are reimbursed by federally-funded health insurance in the United States.
	Immune system infighting explains pancreatic cancer's aggression Internal conflict between cell types explains why the immune system struggles to recognize and attack pancreatic cancer. Curbing this infighting has the potential to make treatment more effective, according to a study led by researchers from NYU Langone Medical Center and its Perlmutter Cancer Center.
	New research reveals cancers need a 'perfect storm' of conditions to develop Scientists have demonstrated for the first time the 'perfect storm' of conditions that cells need to start forming cancer, helping to explain why some organs are more susceptible to developing the disease, according to a new study published in Cell today.
	Research reveals how PSD forms and why defects can cause autism All neurons in our brain are wired via a micron-sized connection unit called synapse, and each synapse contains a layer of densely-packed, protein rich compartment called postsynaptic density (PSD), which is responsible for brain signal processing and transmission. Mutations of genes encoding PSD proteins are major causes of psychiatric disorders including autisms, schizophrenia, and intellectual disabilities (ID). While the existence of PSDs has been known to scientists for 60 years, how PSDs form and change in response to brain activities are poorly understood.
	Oxygen can impair cancer immunotherapy in mice Researchers have identified a mechanism in mice by which anticancer immune responses are inhibited within the lungs, a common site of metastasis for many cancers. This mechanism involves oxygen inhibition of the anticancer activity of T cells. Inhibiting the oxygen-sensing capability of immune cells, either genetically or pharmacologically, prevented lung metastasis. This research was conducted by Nicholas Restifo, M.D., Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI) and others at NCI as well as colleagues at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, both parts of the National Institutes of Health. The findings appeared August 25, 2016, in the journal Cell.
Study shows protein complex essential to creating healthy blood cells A group of proteins best known for helping to activate all mammalian genes has been found to play a particularly commanding role in the natural development of specialized stem cells into healthy blood cells, a process known as hematopoiesis.
Calorie-burning 'good' fat can be protected, says study UC San Francisco researchers studying beige fat—a calorie-burning tissue that can help to ward off obesity and diabetes—have discovered a new strategy to cultivate this beneficial blubber.
Feast or famine: The switch that helps your liver adapt Scientists at the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) have identified a previously unknown way that stress hormones (glucocorticoids) shut off genes in the liver to help the body adapt to the fasting state. The study, published today in Cell Metabolism, describes an obscure protein, SETDB2, that's increased during times of fasting and alters the genome to help turn on genes needed to adjust to the absence of food.
Stem cell propagation fuels cancer risk in different organs The idea that stem cells - special cells that divide to repair and generate tissues - might be the major determinant of cancer risk has provoked great debate in the scientific community. Some researchers maintain that environmental carcinogens are more important in determining cancer risk. Now a team of researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the University of Cambridge, England, has performed a large systematic, organism-wide study that confirms the crucial contribution of stem cells to the origins of cancer in different organs of mice. The results appear online today in the journal Cell.
Opioid receptors outside the brain targeted in rats; new direction for painkillers Opioid abuse is a growing public health crisis, affecting up to 36 million people worldwide. Many of these individuals first get hooked on prescription painkillers that target mu opioid receptors in the brain. A study in rats published August 25 in Cell Reports suggests that a different approach that targets delta opioid receptors on sensory neurons in peripheral tissues might avoid the side effects and high abuse potential of currently available pain relievers.
Fracking chemicals exposure may harm fertility in female mice Prenatal exposure to chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, may threaten fertility in female mice, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's journal Endocrinology.
	Face shape is in the genes Many of the characteristics that make up a person's face, such as nose size and face width, stem from specific genetic variations, reports John Shaffer of the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, and colleagues, in a study published on Aug. 25 in PLOS Genetics.
Hong Kong reports first case of Zika virus Hong Kong authorities reported the city's first Zika virus infection Thursday, which they described as an imported case of the disease blamed for birth defects.
Children with food allergies predisposed to asthma, rhinitis Children with a history of food allergy have a high risk of developing asthma and allergic rhinitis during childhood as well. The risk increases with the number of food allergies a child might have, say researchers from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in a new study recently published in BMC Pediatrics.
Risk of adolescents being overweight impacted by neighborhood education, income levels A new Kaiser Permanente study found an increased risk for becoming overweight or obese among normal-weight 18-year-olds who lived in neighborhoods with lower education or income levels. The study, published today in Pediatric Obesity, found that over a four-year period, 25 percent of these young adults became overweight or obese.
Targeting low-oxygen patches inside lung cancer tumors could help prevent drug resistance With the right treatment schedule, medications known as hypoxia-activated prodrugs (HAPs) could help prevent drug resistance in a subtype of lung cancer, according to a study published in PLOS Computational Biology.
	Broadly neutralizing HIV antibodies engineered to be better vaccine leads One approach to HIV vaccine development relies on broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) that protect against different circulating HIV strains. bnAbs have been isolated from HIV-infected individuals, but they are highly evolved and unusual antibodies. A study published on August 25th in PLOS Pathogens reports on a rational approach to identify the essential features of bnAbs, come up with simplified versions that might be more suitable leads for HIV vaccine design, and then use analysis of the simplified bnAbs to guide design of vaccine proteins to elicit similar antibodies.
	Fighting penicilliosis—identification of fungal protein Mp1p as virulence factor Penicilliosis, caused by the fungus Talaromyces marneffei, is a major opportunistic infection in Southeast Asia. A study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases reports that the fungal protein Mp1p is responsible for the pathogen's ability to cause disease in mice, and that it does so by allowing survival of the fungus in macrophages.
US teens more likely to vape for flavorings than nicotine in e-cigarettes US teens are more likely to vape for the flavourings found in e-cigarettes rather than nicotine, suggests research published online in the journal Tobacco Control.
	Music therapy helps preemie babies thrive (HealthDay)—The soothing sound of mom singing may help premature newborns breathe easier, a new review finds.
	Serious heart problem a family matter (HealthDay)—A potentially deadly heart problem can run in families and occur at similar ages, a new study suggests.
	Vonoprazan-based triple tx feasible for H. pylori (HealthDay)—The potassium-competitive acid blocker vonoprazan-based triple therapy seems safe and effective compared with conventional proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based triple therapy as first-line treatment against Helicobacter pylori, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in the Journal of Digestive Diseases.
	Obese women have greater adipose stores of vitamin D (HealthDay)—Obese women have significantly greater total vitamin D stores than normal-weight women, although the pattern of distribution of the stores is similar, according to a study published online Aug. 20 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
	Posttraumatic growth for parents post-NICU 'under-evaluated' (HealthDay)—For parents of infants previously hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), posttraumatic growth (PTG) is related to factors such as posttraumatic stress symptoms, positive reinterpretation and growth, and infant survival, according to a study published online Aug. 18 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
	Decision support tools cut CT use in pediatric appendicitis workup (HealthDay)—For pediatric patients, passive and active decision support tools can reduce unnecessary computed tomography (CT) imaging among pediatric patients undergoing workup for appendicitis, according to a study published online Aug. 23 in Pediatrics.
	Trans-obturator tape cost-effective for urinary incontinence (HealthDay)—For women with stress urinary incontinence, use of trans-obturator tape (TOT) is cost-effective compared with tension-free vaginal tape (TVT), according to a study published online Aug. 10 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
	Higher incidence of edema with bacteriuria in C1-INH-HAE (HealthDay)—For patients with hereditary angioedema due to C1-inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE), those with bacteriuria have a higher number of edematous attacks, according to a study published online Aug. 22 in Allergy.
'Unprecedented' overdose epidemic from fentanyl in US Painkillers containing illegally made fentanyl, a synthetic drug up to 100 times more potent than morphine, are responsible for a surge in overdose deaths in the United States, health authorities said Thursday.
Researchers find roots of modern humane treatment Researchers at Barrow Neurological Institute have traced the roots of humane medical practices to a pioneering French physician who treated people with deformities as humans instead of "monsters," as they were commonly called.
New study finds low transfer rates of pediatric burn patients in the US According to a new study from researchers in the Center for Pediatric Trauma Research and the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital, nearly 127,000 kids in the U.S had burn injuries in 2012. Over half or 69,000 of these children had burns that are considered significant injuries by the American Burn Association (ABA). That's about 1 kid every 8 minutes with a significant burn, or 189 kids per day.
	Finding new targets to treat vascular damage Diabetes heightens the risk of vascular damage to heart and limbs, and impairs the ability to repair damage with new growth of blood vessels, called angiogenesis. There are no established drugs to improve angiogenesis in diabetes. However, researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center now have identified a gene called CITED2 in a molecular pathway that may offer targets for drugs that treat these conditions by strengthening angiogenesis.
Baby simulator program may make teenage girls more, not less, likely to become pregnant A teenage pregnancy prevention programme involving a baby simulator does not appear to have any long-term effect on reducing the risk of teenage pregnancy, according to the first randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of this intervention, published in The Lancet today. In fact, the study found that teenage girls who took part were more, not less, likely to become pregnant compared to girls who did not take part. Similar programmes are reportedly delivered in 89 countries, and the authors of this Australian trial warn that the intervention is likely to be an ineffective use of public funds to prevent teenage pregnancy.
Arab uprising has had long-term effect on health, lowering life expectancy in several countries The Arab uprising in 2010 and subsequent wars in the eastern Mediterranean region have had serious detrimental effects on the health and life expectancy of the people living in many of the 22 countries in the region, according to a major new analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 (GBD 2013), published in The Lancet Global Health journal. In particular, the downward turns in life expectancy experienced by Syria, Yemen, Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt since 2010 are threatening to jeopardise health gains over the past two decades, warn the authors.
	You want shorter ER stays? Bring in the nurses Protocols allowing nurses to administer certain types of treatment in the emergency department can dramatically shorten length of stay for patients with fever, chest pain, hip fractures and vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, according to the results of a study published earlier this month in Annals of Emergency Medicine.
	In Iran, unique system allows payments for kidney donors The whirling hum of a dialysis machine could have been the soundtrack to the rest of Zahra Hajikarimi's life but for an unusual program in Iran that allows people to buy a kidney from a living donor.
	Perinatal psychiatry, birth trauma and perinatal PTSD It is now blatantly clear that a woman's increased vulnerability to developing PTSD is closely linked to that fact that, when compared to a man, she is much more likely to be the victim of the toxic traumas of childhood sexual abuse, rape, and intimate partner violence. More recently another type of trauma that women are uniquely vulnerable to enduring is garnering increasing attention—the psychological trauma associated with giving birth.
Indian IVF doctors slam move to ban commercial surrogacy Leading Indian fertility doctors and surrogate mothers Thursday criticised a move to ban commercial surrogacy, saying it will severely limit options for childless couples and women who carry others' babies as a way out of poverty.
	Mylan boosts EpiPen patient programs, doesn't budge on price Mylan is bulking up programs that help patients pay for its EpiPen emergency allergy treatment after weathering heated criticism about an average cost that has soared over the past decade.
	Digital forms of dating violence are on the rise—what school nurses need to know Many teens experience physical or sexual abuse within their romantic relationships and now dating violence can also be perpetrated digitally by harassing, stalking or controlling a romantic partner via technology and social media.

Biology news

	Premiere: Watch the development of a larva into an adult worm Researchers from FOM institute AMOLF have developed a microscopy technique for the live tracking of development in the individual cells of a growing, eating and moving organism, the worm Caenorhabditis elegans. The next step is to find out how environmental factors affect development. The researchers published their findings in Nature Communications on August 25, 2016.
	Study challenges long-standing scientific theory: Ant genomics declare 'checkmate' to red king theory In Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking-Glass," the Red Queen explains to Alice how a race works in Wonderland, stating, "Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place." So, too, does this statement hold true in nature. Competitive species are under constant pressure to evolve as rapidly as possible so as to outgun their competition, and this is often referred to as the Red Queen Theory. The rabbit needs to outrun the fox to avoid being killed, whereas the fox needs to catch the rabbit in order to avoid starvation. Well, statistical modeling has also suggested the inverse since 2003: the Red King Theory. If two species are mutualists—that is, each benefits from the activity of the other—they should evolve at a slower rate, so as to avoid interrupting their partnership. Makes sense, right? Think again! In a new study published in Nature Communications, comparative genomic analysis shows that the complete opposite may actually be true.
	An unbalance in nutrients threatens plant biodiversity An unnatural balance of nutrients threatens biodiversity in a survival of the fittest scenario, according to the results of a world-first global experiment published in the prestigious Nature journal.
	Engineered yeast helps produce fragrances and flavors more efficiently Biology is the world's greatest manufacturing platform, according to MIT spinout Ginkgo Bioworks.
	Behavioral phenotypes may provide a way to identify individuals who disproportionally contribute to spread of disease (Phys.org)—A trio of zoologists with Southern Illinois University has found that behavioral phenotypes may be used to predict disease susceptibility and infectiousness. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, Alessandra Araujo, Lucas Kirschman and Robin Warne describe experiments they conducted with wood frog larvae and the disease that has been decimating amphibian populations around the globe, what they found and why they believe their research may help to identify people most at risk when diseases spread.
	'Butterbutt' warbler is likely three different species, DNA reveals One of North America's most beloved songbirds – the yellow-rumped warbler – may need to be considered at least three separate species, says a study published Aug. 24 in The Auk. This discovery contradicts how ornithologists classified the bird for almost five decades.
	Mapping pluripotency differences between mice, monkeys, and humans Not too shabby, humans. New research shows that certain primate stem cells have pluripotency superior to some types derived from mice. The study, published in Nature, maps how pluripotency differs among mice, monkeys, and humans, and illustrates for the first time a developmental counterpart of primate stem cells.
	Looking to saliva to gain insight on evolution There's no need to reinvent the genetic wheel.
Hormone activation of genes takes teamwork The forward march of science often blunders into the realization that nature's way of doing things is a lot more complicated than we thought.
	How Lyme disease bacteria spread through the body Researchers have developed a live-cell-imaging-based system that provides molecular and biomechanical insights into how Lyme disease bacteria latch onto and move along the inside surface of blood vessels to reach key destinations in the body where they may be able to persist longer and avoid treatment. Ironically, the same strategies that these bacteria use to spread through the body are also used by immune cells to protect against infectious disease. The study appears August 25 in Cell Reports.
	Conservation ecologists lay out a set of guidelines for how de-extinction can be made more ecologically responsible Can the woolly mammoth be brought back from the dead? Scientists say it's only a matter of time.
	Thai farmers launch (bee) sting operation to stop elephants To stop wild elephants from rampaging through their produce, farmers in Thailand put up electric fences, set off firecrackers and even switched their crops from pineapples to pumpkins, which the pachyderms don't relish much. Nothing worked, so the villagers decided on Plan Bee.
	Researchers spread the buzz about bee viruses linked to colony collapse disorder Researchers at Montana State University have published an informational paper in a scholarly journal summarizing what's known about the role that viruses play in honey bee health.
	Scientist learns population size of scallops affects fertilization success Scallop gonads may seem like fun and games to Skylar Bayer given that her missing samples landed her on "The Colbert Report" in 2013.
Understanding mosquitoes can help us find better ways to kill them Astronomer Royal Dr. Martin Rees wrote in 1999: "What makes things baffling is their degree of complexity, not their sheer size… a star is simpler than an insect."
	The rapid and highly sophisticated adaptation of asexual pathogens How can fungi that only multiply vegetatively adapt so quickly to in the immune system of plants? The answer appears to lie in the way how the DNA of an asexual pathogen can rapidly adapt due to 'jumping genes' and also genetic modification that is prevalent in nature.
A look at the molecular quality assurance within cells Proteins fulfill vital functions in our body. They transport substances, combat pathogens, and function as catalysts. In order for these processes to function reliably, proteins must adopt a defined three-dimensional structure. Molecular "folding assistants", called chaperones, aid and scrutinize these structuring processes. With participation from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), a team of researchers has now revealed how chaperones identify particularly harmful errors in this structuring process. The findings were published in the scientific journal Molecular Cell.
	New strategy to fight mosquitoes in a more efficient and sustainable way Mosquitoes continue to build resistance to existing pesticides. Research has now shown that the chemical substances emitted by one of the mosquito's natural enemies - the backswimmer - makes the biological pesticide Bti more deadly. These so-called predator cues also impair the mosquito's immune system. Scientists at KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Belgium, argue that a cocktail of biological pesticides and synthetic predator cues very well be the future of mosquito control.
	Well-wrapped feces allow lobsters to eat jellyfish stingers without injury Lobsters eat jellyfish without harm from the venomous stingers due to a series of physical adaptations. Researchers from Hiroshima University examined lobster feces to discover that lobsters surround their servings of jellyfish in protective membranes that prevent the stingers from injecting their venom. The results are vial for aquaculture efforts to sustainably farm lobsters for diners around the world.
	Successful recycling: Protein quality control in the cell A team led by MDC researcher Annika Weber has pinpointed the efficient mechanism used by cells to label faulty proteins. The findings, which provide important insights into the functioning of protein quality control in the cell, have now been published in the journal Molecular Cell.
	Scientists discover structural clues to calcium regulation in cells Inside almost every cell in the human body, tiny mitochondria are continuously generating energy to power countless cellular activities. That process of energy generation also happens to be closely tied to intracellular calcium regulation by a membrane gateway inside mitochondria known as the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU), which has critical roles in both bioenergetics and cell death. How MCU regulates calcium uptake has been unclear, but the recent structural discovery of a key MCU domain by scientists at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University points toward the involvement of not one, but two ions - calcium and magnesium - opening new paths to the development of MCU-modulating agents for the treatment of diseases involving mitochondrial dysfunction.
	Newly discovered multicomponent virus is the first of its kind to infect animals For the first time, a multicomponent virus—which contains different segments of genetic material in separate particles, rather than a single strand of genetic material—has been found that is capable of infecting animals, an international team led by the U.S. Army reports August 25 in Cell Host & Microbe. The Guaico Culex virus (GCXV), a type of Jingmenvirus, was isolated from mosquitoes, and opens up a new avenue of research into potentially infectious agents. The virus does not appear to infect mammals.
	Moon is key to when jellyfish hit beach, study finds Swimmers wanting to avoid being stung by jellyfish may want to watch the sky as much as the sea after Israeli researchers found a link between their arrival and the phase of the moon.
	Worms point way toward viral strategies Rice University structural biologist Yizhi Jane Tao and geneticist Weiwei Zhong have won a prestigious National Institutes of Health R01 grant to study how the Orsay virus infects a specific worm.
	Sustainable alternative to methyl bromide for tomato production Following the phase out of methyl bromide, scientists continue to explore effective, viable, and more sustainable options for vegetable crop production. Among nonchemical alternatives, anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) is considered to be one of the most promising methods. ASD has been determined to be effective with a range of crops and environments against several soilborne fungal and bacterial plant diseases, plant-parasitic nematodes, and weeds.
	Purslane production practices enhance nutritional value Although purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is considered a problematic weed in the United States, it is grown and consumed as a leafy vegetable throughout much of Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Mexico. Valued for its nutritional qualities, purslane contains important phytochemicals such as omega-3 fatty acids, organic acids, and important flavonoids. The succulent annual can also contain high concentrations of carotenoid and chlorophyll pigments. The authors of a study in the June 2016 issue of HortScience say there is increasing support for the role of dietary carotenoids and chlorophylls in the protection against harmful chemical mutagens and carcinogens.

---

This email is a free service of Science X Network
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
https://sciencex.com/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com