Fwd: Science X Newsletter Thursday, May 21

RESPEKT!

Three important things you didn't know about diabetes

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Fri, May 22, 2015 at 3:40 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Thursday, May 21
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

*FREE* Webinar >> Simulating Food Industry Processes: http://goo.gl/LDYJu1

Processes such as cooking, freezing, and drying are used by the food industry for packaging and preparation. Learn the simulation techniques used in food production applications with this free webinar. Register today!

***************************************************

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for May 21, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- New device may make converting waste heat to electricity industrially competitive
- WISE spacecraft discovers most luminous galaxy in universe
- Modern alchemy: Chemists devise synthesis of valuable exotic compounds
- Clinical trial shows intuitive control of robotic arm using thought (w/ Video)
- Turn that defect upside down: Twin boundaries in lithium-ion batteries
- How to make continuous rolls of graphene
- Researchers theoretically demonstrate the detection of a single nuclear spin at room temperature
- Mosquito sex-determining gene could help fight dengue fever
- Sudden onset of ice loss in Antarctica detected
- NSA planned hack of Google app store
- Mission possible: This device will self-destruct when heated
- Bacteria cooperate to repair damaged siblings
- Thunder god vine used in traditional Chinese medicine is a potential obesity treatment
- Why you need one vaccine for measles and many for the flu
- Partly human yeast show a common ancestor's lasting legacy

Nanotechnology news

	New device may make converting waste heat to electricity industrially competitive (Phys.org)—Currently, up to 75% of the energy generated by a car's engine is lost as waste heat. In theory, some of this waste heat can be converted into electricity using thermoelectric devices, although so far the efficiency of these devices has been too low to enable widespread commercialization.
	Researchers theoretically demonstrate the detection of a single nuclear spin at room temperature For the first time, a researcher at the University of Waterloo has theoretically demonstrated that it is possible to detect a single nuclear spin at room temperature, which could pave the way for new approaches to medical diagnostics.
	How to make continuous rolls of graphene Graphene is a material with a host of potential applications, including in flexible light sources, solar panels that could be integrated into windows, and membranes to desalinate and purify water. But all these possible uses face the same big hurdle: the need for a scalable and cost-effective method for continuous manufacturing of graphene films.
	Turn that defect upside down: Twin boundaries in lithium-ion batteries Most people see defects as flaws. A few Michigan Technological University researchers, however, see them as opportunities. Twin boundaries—which are small, symmetrical defects in materials—may present an opportunity to improve lithium-ion batteries. The twin boundary defects act as energy highways and could help get better performance out of the batteries.
	Carbon nanotubes and inorganic nanoparticles enhance photosynthetic activity and stability A new process has been developed for spontaneously incorporating and assembling carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and oxygen scavenging nanoparticles into chloroplasts, the part of plant cells that conduct photosynthesis – converting light into energy. Incorporation of CNTs enhanced electron flow associated with photosynthesis by 49% in extracted chloroplasts and by 30% in leaves of living plants, and incorporation of cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) into extracted chloroplasts significantly reduced concentrations of superoxide, a compound that is toxic to plants.
	Development of gold nanoparticles that control osteogenic differentiation of stem cells Tissue Regeneration Materials Unit at MANA, NIMS successfully developed gold nanoparticles that have functional surfaces and act on osteogenic differentiation of stem cells.
	Simulations predict flat liquid Computer simulations have predicted a new phase of matter: atomically thin two-dimensional liquid.

Physics news

	First images of LHC collisions at 13 TeV Last night, protons collided in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at the record-breaking energy of 13 TeV for the first time. These test collisions were to set up systems that protect the machine and detectors from particles that stray from the edges of the beam.
	SLAC gears up for dark matter hunt with LUX-ZEPLIN Researchers have come a step closer to building one of the world's best dark matter detectors: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently signed off on the conceptual design of the proposed LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment and gave the green light for the procurement of some of its components. DOE's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, a key member of the LZ collaboration, is setting up a test stand for the detector prototype and a facility to purify liquid xenon, which will be the detector's "eye" for dark matter.
	World's largest particle collider busts record The world's largest particle smasher broke the record for energy levels late Wednesday in a test run after a two-year upgrade, CERN announced Thursday.
	How supercooled water is prevented from turning into ice Water behaves in mysterious ways. Especially below zero, where it is dubbed supercooled water, before it turns into ice. Physicists have recently observed the spontaneous first steps of the ice formation process, as tiny crystal clusters as small as 15 molecules start to exhibit the recognisable structural pattern of crystalline ice. This is part of a new study, which shows that liquid water does not become completely unstable as it becomes supercooled, prior to turning into ice crystals. The team reached this conclusion by proving that an energy barrier for crystal formation exists throughout the region in which supercooled water's compressibility continues to rise. Previous work argued that this barrier vanished as the liquid gets colder.

Earth news

	Study shows Colorado's biggest storms can happen any time In a state known for its dramatic weather and climate, Colorado's history of extreme precipitation varies considerably by season and location, according to a new study led by the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science, a partnership between the University of Colorado Boulder and NOAA.
	Surviving harsh environments becomes a death-trap for specialist corals The success of corals that adapt to survive in the world's hottest sea could contribute to their demise through global warming, according to new research.
	What would it take to limit climate change to 1.5 C? Limiting temperature rise by 2100 to less than 1.5°C is feasible, at least from a purely technological standpoint, according to the study published in the journal Nature Climate Change by researchers at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), and others. The new study examines scenarios for the energy, economy, and environment that are consistent with limiting climate change to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and compares them to scenarios for limiting climate change to 2°C.
	Sudden onset of ice loss in Antarctica detected A group of scientists, led by a team from the University of Bristol, UK has observed a sudden increase of ice loss in a previously stable region of Antarctica. The research is published today in Science.
	New insights into global ocean microbe-virus interactions, drivers of Earth's ecosystems Hidden among Earth's vast oceans are some of the tiniest and most vital organisms to the health of delicate ecosystems. Ocean microbes produce half of the oxygen we breathe, and are important drivers in chemical reactions and energy transfers that fuel critical ecological processes.
	Planktonic world: First scientific results from the Tara Oceans expedition When you mention rich ecosystems that are vital for life on Earth, people tend to think of rainforests, but ocean plankton are actually just as crucial. The microscopic beings that drift on the upper layer of the oceans are globally referred to as "plankton"; together they produce half of our oxygen, act as carbon sinks, influence our weather, and serve as the base of the ocean food web that sustains the larger fish and marine mammals that we depend upon or draw delight from.
	Researchers use seismic signals to track above-ground explosions Lawrence Livermore researchers have determined that a tunnel bomb explosion by Syrian rebels was less than 60 tons as claimed by sources.
	The advance of Hubbard Glacier Since measurements began in 1895, Alaska's Hubbard Glacier has been thickening and steadily advancing into Disenchantment Bay. The advance runs counter to so many thinning and retreating glaciers nearby in Alaska and around the world.
	Study assesses climate change vulnerability in Georgia New research from the University of Georgia assesses the communities in the state most vulnerable to changes in temperature and precipitation.
	Crowdsourcing climate strategy As world climate leaders prepare for the international climate talks in Paris later this year, the MIT Center for Collective Intelligence's Climate CoLab has launched a new set of contests that give citizens a chance to create their own regional climate action plans and evaluate their effectiveness.
	How climate change is making California's epic drought worse California is undergoing a record-setting drought that began in 2012, the worst in at least 1,200 years. It can be seen in many ways: most of the freshwater reservoirs are drying up, crops are wilting in the fields and groundwater is rapidly depleting.
Contaminated green waste has 'catastrophic' implications for historic environment Archaeologists are calling for better regulation of the control and use of green waste in order to protect the historic environment. Research carried out at Newcastle University has highlighted that the level of metallic contaminants within green waste is having a detrimental effect on geophysical surveys – a vital tool used by archaeologists to survey an area of historical interest. This has potentially 'catastrophic' implications for understanding the hidden history across large parts of the UK, the researchers say.
	Thousands of gallons of oil sopped up from California coast More than 7,700 gallons of oil has been raked, skimmed and vacuumed from a spill that stretched across 9 miles of California coast, just a fraction of the sticky, stinking goo that escaped from a broken pipeline, officials said.
	A look at how California spill compares with 1969 disaster An oil slick stretched across 9 miles of coastal waters Thursday after a pipeline rupture spilled thousands of gallons of sticky, stinking crude just north of Santa Barbara. Crews are working around the clock to rake, skim and vacuum it up.
Savannahs slow climate change Tropical rainforests have long been considered the Earth's lungs, sequestering large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and thereby slowing down the increasing greenhouse effect and associated human-made climate change. Scientists in a global research project now show that the vast extensions of semi-arid landscapes occupying the transition zone between rainforest and desert dominate the ongoing increase in carbon sequestration by ecosystems globally, as well as large fluctuations between wet and dry years. This is a major rearrangement of planetary functions.
	NASA sees Extra-Tropical Storm Dolphin moving toward Sea of Okhotsk Tropical Storm Dolphin transitioned into an extra-tropical storm and NASA's Aqua satellite captured an image of the storm on its way toward the Sea of Okhotsk.
	Latest on California oil spill: Up to 105,000 gallons leaked Cleanup crews fanned out Wednesday along a stretch of scenic California coastline stained by thousands of gallons of crude oil that spilled from broken pipe and flowed into the Pacific Ocean.
	Canada can't curb oil sands emissions fast enough: document Emissions from Canada's oil sands will likely increase faster than new technologies can be developed to curb them, says a government document cited Wednesday by public broadcaster CBC.
	Europe's bathing waters cleaner, says Brussels European beach and river bathing sites have cleaned up their acts, with 95 percent now meeting water quality standards in time for the summer holiday season, the EU said Wednesday.
	California water cuts move to those with century-old rights California farmers who hold rights to water that date as far back as the Gold Rush are bracing for their first state-ordered conservation in decades, as a record drought prompts some of the deepest cuts yet in the country's most productive agricultural state.
	The hidden potential of landfill A recent study carried out by Cranfield University has demonstrated the potential value of extracting rare earth elements (REE) and valuable metals from landfill sites.
Professor explains importance of animals in global food security Larry Reynolds, University Distinguished Professor of animal sciences, and colleagues from around the country, recently published "Importance of Animals in Agricultural Sustainability and Food Security" in the Journal of Nutrition.
	Peat moss, a necessary bane The temperature balance on Earth may be dependent on a conspicuous creation that sours life for everyone around, guzzles more than a sponge and produces lots of offspring that behave likewise. And you thought your neighbours were bad.
	Agricultural standards can do more to mitigate risk in commodity production Standards designed to improve sustainability of production of agricultural commodities could do more to help address root causes of water-related risk, according to a new WWF report.
	CloudSat analyzed the eye of Typhoon Dolphin When Dolphin was a typhoon on May 16, NASA's CloudSat satellite completed a stunning eye overpass of Typhoon Dolphin in the West Pacific at 0412 UTC (12:12 a.m. EDT). By May 22, Dolphin's remnants were moving through the Northern Pacific.
	Image: Agricultural fires in Angola, West Africa The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite collected this natural-color image which detected dozens of fires burning in southwestern Africa on May 21, 2015. The location, widespread nature, and number of fires suggest that these fires were deliberately set to manage land. Farmers often use fire to return nutrients to the soil and to clear the ground of unwanted plants.

Astronomy & Space news

	WISE spacecraft discovers most luminous galaxy in universe A remote galaxy shining with the light of more than 300 trillion suns has been discovered using data from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). The galaxy is the most luminous galaxy found to date and belongs to a new class of objects recently discovered by WISE—extremely luminous infrared galaxies, or ELIRGs.
	Galaxy's snacking habits revealed A team of Australian and Spanish astronomers have caught a greedy galaxy gobbling on its neighbours and leaving crumbs of evidence about its dietary past.
	SpaceX cargo ship returns to Earth in ocean splashdown SpaceX's unmanned Dragon supply ship left the International Space Station Thursday and hours later splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, NASA said.
	Hubble observes one-of-a-kind star nicknamed 'Nasty' Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have uncovered surprising new clues about a hefty, rapidly aging star whose behavior has never been seen before in our Milky Way galaxy. In fact, the star is so weird that astronomers have nicknamed it "Nasty 1," a play on its catalog name of NaSt1. The star may represent a brief transitory stage in the evolution of extremely massive stars.
	Failed launches cast shadow over Russian space program Back-to-back rocket launch failures have dealt Russia one of the heaviest blows to its space industry since the Soviet collapse—with national pride and billions of dollars at stake.
	NASA's CubeSat initiative aids in testing of technology for solar sails in space With help from NASA, a small research satellite to test technology for in-space solar propulsion launched into space Wednesday aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, as part of the agency's CubeSat Launch Initiative.
	Giant mirror presents a unique, oversize load After years of polishing to perfection, the mirror slated to form the heart of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, expected to revolutionize our view of the cosmos as a place of constant change, has left the UA's Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab.
	SpaceX cargo ship begins journey back to Earth (Update) SpaceX's unmanned Dragon supply ship left the International Space Station Thursday and began its journey back to Earth where it will splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, NASA said.
	Los Alamos' sky-scanning software gives insight on events of astrophysical origin An automated software system developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory played a key role in the discovery of supernova iPTF 14atg and could provide insight, a virtual Rosetta stone, into future supernovae and their underlying physics.
	Impact crater or supervolcano caldera? At first glance, the region covered by this latest Mars Express image release appears to be pockmarked with impact craters. But the largest structure among them may hold a rather explosive secret: it could be remains of an ancient supervolcano.
	Naval Research Laboratory patents compact orbital debris sensor The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), Geospace Science and Technology Branch, has received a U.S. patent for the Optical Orbital Debris Spotter, a compact, low power, low cost, local space debris detection concept that can be integrated into larger satellite designs, or flown independently on-board nano-satellite platforms.
	UK to host biggest ever Soviet space show outside Russia A new exhibition on the Soviet Union's space programme opening in London this year will be the biggest of its kind ever held outside Russia, organisers said on Thursday.
	GOES-R satellite begins environmental testing The GOES-R satellite, slated to launch in 2016, is ready for environmental testing. Environmental testing simulates the harsh conditions of launch and the space environment once the satellite is in orbit. The GOES-R satellite and its instruments will undergo a variety of rigorous tests which includes subjecting the satellite to vibration, acoustics and temperature testing as part of this process.
	Image: Asteroid Impact Mission spacecraft ESA's Asteroid Impact Mission, being studied for a 2022 arrival at the Didymos double asteroid, involves not just one but four spacecraft.

Technology news

	Hycopter stores energy in form of hydrogen, not air Singapore-based Horizon Unmanned Systems (HUS) this month introduced the hycopter, which they said is the world's first hydrogen fuel cell-powered multi-rotor UAV. It uses refillable hydrogen tubes as part of its structure.
	Researchers assess uniqueness, collectability, permanence of method for ERP biometrics Security researchers continue to explore what can be measured as successful alternatives to passwords, and the effort requires alternatives to make authentication easy but safe and reliable. We are already witnessing advances in iris recognition and fingerprints; might security systems experts use brainwaves as a means for personal identification? A research team has been working on a special approach that involves brainwaves and words—as words mean different things to different people, and the brain waves which words provoke could serve as identifiers to replace traditional passwords. Bas den Hond in New Scientist on Tuesday told the story about that research.
	Toward noninvasive identification of objects' structural defects Last summer, MIT researchers published a paper describing an algorithm that can recover intelligible speech from the analysis of the minute vibrations of objects in video captured through soundproof glass.
	Engineers design car seat accessory to save children left in dangerously hot cars It's a tragedy that happens multiple times every year: An average of 38 children die each year after being left in hot cars. Five recent Rice University graduates have designed a new car seat accessory that can not only protect infants accidentally left in hot cars but can also notify caregivers and emergency personnel.
	Oculus Rift teams with researchers to produce ability to capture and display facial expressions The Oculus Rift (now owned by Facebook) is very well known in the virtual reality world—the headsets let gamers play in virtual 3D worlds, and interact using avatars. Now, it appears the team is ready to take the idea to another level by allowing facial expressions of the wearer to be captured and then displayed on the face of an avatar for others in the virtual world to see—in real time.
	New 'deep learning' technique enables robot mastery of skills via trial and error UC Berkeley researchers have developed algorithms that enable robots to learn motor tasks through trial and error using a process that more closely approximates the way humans learn, marking a major milestone in the field of artificial intelligence.
	Mission possible: This device will self-destruct when heated Where do electronics go when they die? Most devices are laid to eternal rest in landfills. But what if they just dissolved away, or broke down to their molecular components so that the material could be recycled?
	NSA planned hack of Google app store The US National Security Agency developed plans to hack into data links to app stores operated by Google and Samsung to plant spyware on smartphones, a media report said Thursday.
	Mobile input device Phree invites you to jot, sketch, take notes A Kickstarter campaign is heating up over a device called Phree. It's for writing on nearly any surface you want to and seeing your writing instantly appear on your screen. In a promotional video, a presenter says, "In 2015 we love our touchscreeens." Only, there's one problem: "They are not a perfect input device." Users need better precision and more space, and so Phree was created, taking you way beyond the screen.
Shopify IPO raises $131M, valuing company at more than $1B Shopify said Wednesday that its initial public offering raised $130.9 million, and the IPO values the e-commerce company at $1.27 billion.
Lenovo's annual revenue up 20% but profits miss target (Update) China's Lenovo said Thursday revenue rose 20 percent in its past fiscal year, helped by its purchase of Motorola, but net profit growth slowed to just one percent.
	How alternative currencies could catch on and cash in Alternatives to cash, like Bitcoin and Uber, may never replace the coins in our pockets or paper bills in our wallets, but they are creating significant social and economic impacts, and with some design adjustments, could have even greater impact.
	Studenty helps model improved coolant flow inside the core of a nuclear reactor After tinkering for months with thousands of lines of computer code, Benjamin L. Magolan believes he is finally getting somewhere: "I've had a breakthrough with my implementation and now everything is coming together," he says. "I'm capturing the appropriate turbulence trends in my model."
	Designing microwave devices from scratch using computer simulations For decades, the fundamental design of microwave devices, such as antennas for mobile communication and waveguides used in radars, has essentially relied on the inventiveness of a professional designer. Computer simulations are usually used only in final design stages to fine-tune details in the design. This classical approach to microwave device design is challenged in the PhD thesis of Emadeldeen Hassan, which he defends at Umeå University, 26 May.
	An education for the 21st century means teaching coding in schools Bill Shorten's recent announcement that, if elected, a Labor Government would "ensure that computer coding is taught in every primary and secondary school in Australia" has brought attention to an increasing world trend.
	Harvesting usable fuel from nuclear waste – and dealing with the last chemical troublemakers Nuclear energy provides about 11% of the world's total electricity today. This power source produces no carbon dioxide during plant operation, meaning it doesn't contribute to climate change via greenhouse gas emissions. It can provide bulk power to industry and households around the clock, giving it a leg up on the intermittent nature of solar and wind.
	ICANN chief stepping down in early 2016 The head of the group that oversees all Internet addresses will step down early next year, after a plan to end US oversight of the key nonprofit organization.
	HP sells stake in China unit for $2.3 billion Hewlett-Packard announced Thursday it was selling a 51 percent stake in its China-based server business, creating a joint venture with Tsinghua Holdings that will be a sector leader in China.
	Amazon adds one-hour store delivery in New York City Amazon will begin offering one-hour delivery from local stores in New York City as competition in the delivery arena increases.
US State Dept. employee faces cyberstalking, hacking charges A U.S. State Department employee is accused of sending threatening emails to college-aged women in the U.S. from his computer at the U.S. Embassy in London, authorities said.
Ready for liquor bottles smart enough to talk smart phones? The message-in-a-bottle routine is going Wi-Fi. And that means pretty soon you'll have your very own mini Times Square at the bar, right on the bottle.
	ONR tests new glasses for augmented reality system with Marines Marines were able to turn a lush golf course into a hostile battleground complete with tanks, mortar fire and smoke at a demonstration on May 21 using an augmented reality training system from the Office of Naval Research (ONR).
	Cooling the cloud: Ph.D. student sets sights on improving data-center efficiency Data centers—large clusters of servers that power cloud computing operations, e-commerce and more—are one of the largest and fastest-growing consumers of electricity in the United States.
PayPal's new chief promises new services for a mobile world As PayPal prepares to split from its corporate parent, its new chief executive is promising to expand the popular online payment system, adding a variety of services for consumers to use when shopping on their phones or in traditional stores.
Racist search term points to White House in Google Maps Google Maps apologized Wednesday after it emerged that searches using racist language pinpointed the White House, home of President Barack Obama.
Domestic surveillance fate unclear after lengthy Senate talk The fate of the government's bulk collection of Americans' phone records is unclear following an FBI warning, House-Senate disagreements and more than 10 hours of criticisms by a GOP presidential candidate.
Students learn first-hand about energy efficiency at school Improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings is a formidable sustainability challenge. And demonstrating it isn't that easy either.
New methods to study sound generated by wind power plants A new two-year research project on sound produced by wind power plants was launched at Lappeenranta University of Technology, LUT in May. In the study, the formation and dissemination of sound from wind power generators, and people's experiences of it in Finnish climatic conditions, will be modelled and experimented with.
House presses Senate to pass domestic surveillance changes The White House and House leaders urged the Senate on Thursday to take up a bill that would end the National Security Agency's collection of American phone records while preserving other surveillance powers set to expire June 1.

Chemistry news

	Modern alchemy: Chemists devise synthesis of valuable exotic compounds Chemists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have discovered a broad and strikingly inexpensive method for synthesizing "amines," a class of organic compounds prominent in drugs and other modern products.
	Zirconium-based metal-organic framework rapidly and efficiently degrades nerve agents Despite extensive research efforts, there is still a lack of materials that can render chemical warfare agents harmless quickly and efficiently. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, American scientists have now introduced a highly promising material for use in protective equipment and in the disposal of large stockpiles of nerve toxins. The material is based on a zirconium–organic framework structure, and it hydrolyzes a nerve agent simulant within 30 seconds—faster than all other catalysts developed to date.
	Textiles with metal-organic framework materials adsorb and degrade chemical warfare agents Air filters, such as those used in masks, for protection against chemical weapons are mainly based on the adsorption of toxins. Such filters have a limited capacity to capture the toxins and once they are contaminated can become a dangerous source of emissions themselves. Spanish scientists have now introduced a new approach for making self-detoxifying filters that can degrade the chemical weapons. As reported in the journal Angewandte Chemie, these filters are based on air-permeable textiles that are impregnated with special, catalytically active metal–organic framework materials.

Biology news

	Study demonstrates that octopus's skin possesses same cellular mechanism for detecting light as its eyes do The octopus has a unique ability. It can change the color, pattern and even texture of its skin not only for purposes of camouflage but also as a means of communication. The most intelligent, most mobile and largest of all mollusks, these cephalopods use their almost humanlike eyes to send signals to pigmented organs in their skin called chromatophores, which expand and contract to alter their appearance.
	Crows, like humans, store their tools when not in use Researchers at the University of St Andrews have discovered that crows, like humans, store their tools when they don't need them. The study published today in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B is the first to examine how non-human animals avoid accidental tool loss.
	Social structure 'helps birds avoid a collision course' The sight of skilful aerial manoeuvring by flocks of Greylag geese to avoid collisions with York's Millennium Bridge intrigued mathematical biologist Dr Jamie Wood. It raised the question of how birds collectively negotiate man-made obstacles such as wind turbines which lie in their flight paths.
	Thunder god vine used in traditional Chinese medicine is a potential obesity treatment An extract from the thunder god vine, which has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine, reduces food intake and causes up to a 45% decrease in body weight in obese mice. The weight-loss compound, called Celastrol, produces its potent effects by enhancing the action of an appetite-suppressing hormone called leptin. The findings, published May 21 in Cell, are an early indicator that Celastrol could be developed into a drug for the treatment of obesity.
	Our bond with dogs may go back more than 27,000 years Dogs' special relationship to humans may go back 27,000 to 40,000 years, according to genomic analysis of an ancient Taimyr wolf bone reported in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on May 21. Earlier genome-based estimates have suggested that the ancestors of modern-day dogs diverged from wolves no more than 16,000 years ago, after the last Ice Age.
	Bacteria cooperate to repair damaged siblings A University of Wyoming faculty member led a research team that discovered a certain type of soil bacteria can use their social behavior of outer membrane exchange (OME) to repair damaged cells and improve the fitness of the bacteria population as a whole.
	Partly human yeast show a common ancestor's lasting legacy Despite a billion years of evolution separating humans from the baker's yeast in their refrigerators, hundreds of genes from an ancestor that the two species have in common live on nearly unchanged in them both, say biologists at The University of Texas at Austin. The team created thriving strains of genetically engineered yeast using human genes and found that certain groups of genes are surprisingly stable over evolutionary time.
	Mosquito sex-determining gene could help fight dengue fever Males aren't relevant—at least when it comes to disease transmission by mosquitoes.
	Beyond average: New platforms genetically barcode tens of thousands of cells at a time Imagine someone hands you a smoothie and asks you to identify everything that went into it.
	'Measuring stick' standard for gene sequencing now available from NIST The world's first reference material to help ensure laboratories accurately "map" DNA for genetic testing, medical diagnoses and future customized drug therapies is now available from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
	Lowly 'new girl' chimps form stronger female bonds Low-ranking "new girl" chimpanzees seek out other gal pals with similar status, finds a new study of social relationships in the wild apes.
	Study reveals how eastern US forests came to be Plant hunters traveling between North America and Asia in the 1800s noticed a bizarre pattern: collections they brought back from China and Japan were strikingly similar in their leaves, flowers and fruits to plants from southern Appalachia. A new analysis of DNA studies shows that over half of all the trees and shrubs in the southern Appalachians can trace their ancestry to relatives a half a world away in Asia.
	Arctic ducks combine nutrients from wintering and breeding grounds to grow healthy eggs It takes a lot of nutrients to build an egg. One of the big questions among researchers who study the eggs of migratory birds is where those nutrients come from—does the mother make the egg directly out of what she eats during the breeding season, or does she save up nutrients consumed on her wintering grounds? The answer appears to be both for Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima), large, sea-going ducks that breed in the Arctic.
	New antibody insecticide targets malaria mosquito Malaria is a cruel and disabling disease that targets victims of all ages. Even now, it is estimated to kill one child every minute. Recent progress in halting the spread of the disease has hinged on the use of insecticide-treated bed nets and spraying programmes that target the insect that spreads the disease, the African malaria mosquito (Anopheles gambiae). However, the insects are fighting back, developing resistance to insecticides such as pyrethroid that control their numbers, forcing Brian Foy and Jacob Meyers from Colorado State University to think of alternative control strategies. Wondering if they could defeat the mosquitoes by developing a new insecticide, the duo decided to try to make blood meals toxic for mosquitoes. They decided to test whether antibodies targeted at a key component of the malaria mosquito's nervous system could be fed to the insects in a blood meal to kill them.
	New insight into lethal fungus infection in wildlife The introduction of a lethal fungus infection that could threaten the UK's amphibian populations has not been caused by exposure to infected colonies of African clawed frogs, according to new research from the Universities of Bristol and Portsmouth.
	Research team heads to Antarctic to get icy insight into how brain adapts to temperature change At the southernmost extremes of the planet lives a fish different from all other vertebrates on Earth.
	Supercomputer unlocks the secrets of plant cells to create more resilient crops Scientists from he Universities of Melbourne and Queensland and IBM Research have moved a step closer to identifying the nanostructure of cellulose – the basic structural component of plant cell walls that provide fibre in our diet.
	Scientists announce top 10 new species for 2015 A cartwheeling spider, a bird-like dinosaur and a fish that wriggles around on the sea floor to create a circular nesting site are among the species identified by the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) as the Top 10 New Species for 2015.
	Orchid seductress ropes in unsuspecting males A single population of a rare hammer orchid species known as a master of sexual deception appears to have recently evolved to seduce a new and wider-spread species of impressionable male wasps.
The Neanderthal dawn chorus A new study focusing on the birds of the Ice Age has shed light on the long term response of birds to climate change.
	Field study shows how a GM crop can have diminishing success at fighting off insect pest A new study from North Carolina State University and Clemson University finds that the toxin in a widely used genetically modified (GM) crop is having little impact on the crop pest called corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) – which is consistent with predictions made almost 20 years ago that had been largely ignored. The study may be a signal to pay closer attention to warning signs about the development of resistance in agricultural pests to GM crops.
	Plant receptors with built-in decoys make pathogens betray themselves Receptors carrying built-in decoys are the latest discovery in the evolutionary battle between plants and pathogens. The decoy domains within the receptor detect pathogens and raise the cell's alarm when there is an infection.
New biotechnology for high efficiency purification of live human cells Cell therapies require a purification step that isolates the desired cell types from contaminating cells. Normally cell surface receptors are used as markers to distinguish cell types, but undesired cell types also show these receptors, compromising purification. Evidence suggests microRNA may be a better marker. New biotechnology, miRNA switches, purifies different cell types based on miRNA markers at levels suggesting applicability to patient care.
	Genetic maps help conservation managers maintain healthy bears Last year, researchers at the University of Missouri published a study on genetic diversity in American black bears in Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma and determined that conservation management is needed to maintain healthy populations in the region. Now, those scientists have expanded the study to include black bears throughout North America. They discovered that black bears in Alaska are more closely related to bears in the eastern regions of the U.S. and Canada than those located in western regions. Details from the study revealed ancient movement patterns of black bears and provide detailed "genetic maps" that could help conservation management officials maintain healthy bear populations throughout North America.
	Snake-charmed: Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes' quest for fire Two words that arouse immediate fear in some people inspire something else altogether in Jennifer Fill.
	For pollock surveys in Alaska, things are looking up Shelikof Strait, in the Gulf of Alaska, is an important spawning area for walleye pollock, the target of the largest—and one of the most valuable—fisheries in the nation. This year, a team of NOAA Fisheries scientists went there to turn their usual view of the fishery upside-down.
	New model predicts fish population response to dams, other ecological factors Researchers have developed a model to assess how dams affect the viability of sea-run fish species that need to pass dams as they use both fresh and marine waters during their lifetimes. NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) and Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) have partnered on this project to test how varying passage efficiency at dams related to survival rates for these species.
	Alaska's popular walrus cam streams again after a decade A popular webcam showing large male Pacific walruses lying on the beach with a Hitchcockian number of seabirds flying overhead is once again streaming to the Internet.
	Case on rights of orangutan moving in Argentina court The fate of an orangutan named Sandra is inching through a court in Argentina, after another court ruled she was entitled to certain human rights, including the right to be freed from the Buenos Aires Zoo.
NZ ancestry study to sample DNA of ex-pats in London A University of Otago biological anthropologist will head to London in June to collect 200 DNA samples from ex-pats to complete sampling for study of the genetic origins of New Zealanders.

Medicine & Health news

	Clinical trial shows intuitive control of robotic arm using thought (w/ Video) Paralyzed from the neck down after suffering a gunshot wound when he was 21, Erik G. Sorto now can move a robotic arm just by thinking about it and using his imagination.
	Ossur to announce clinical trials for implanted myoelectric sensors for brain-controlled prosthetics Ossur, an Icelandic based prosthetics development company is set to announce the beginning of clinical trials for its Proprio foot, a new kind of brain controlled prosthetic ankle and foot. Instead of trying to connect the device to nerves, the robotic limb uses sensors to detect nerve signals in muscles near the point where the limb was removed. The limb then analyses those signals and converts them to movement in real time, which is reportedly very close to that of natural limbs.
	Scientists turn blood into neural cells Scientists at McMaster University have discovered how to make adult sensory neurons from human patients simply by having them roll up their sleeve and providing a blood sample.
	Scientists unveil prostate cancer's 'Rosetta Stone' Almost 90 per cent of men with advanced prostate cancer carry genetic mutations in their tumours that could be targeted by either existing or new cancer drugs, a landmark new study reveals.
	Switching off brain circuit renders mice 'out of touch' with environment The sense of touch is important but often taken for granted in daily life because it seems simple and automatic. New research suggests that the apparent simplicity of tactile sensation comes from a clever two-stage brain circuit. By manipulating this circuit with light-driven optical genetic tools, researchers made laboratory mice literally "lose touch" with their surroundings as their feet became unable to sense rough or smooth surfaces.
	Memories influence choice of food The stronger our memory is of a certain food, the more likely we are to choose it - even if it is the more unattractive option. Psychologists at the University of Basel conducted a study on how memory influences our choices by offering various foods and using scans to track brain activity. The researchers were able to show that the influence of memory is mediated by increasing communication between the relevant brain areas. The study has been published in the scientific journal Neuron.
	Why you need one vaccine for measles and many for the flu While the influenza virus mutates constantly and requires a yearly shot that offers a certain percentage of protection, old reliable measles needs only a two-dose vaccine during childhood for lifelong immunity. A new study publishing May 21 in Cell Reports has an explanation: The surface proteins that the measles virus uses to enter cells are ineffective if they suffer any mutation, meaning that any changes to the virus come at a major cost.
	New chemical technology boosts potency of targeted cancer therapy In work that heralds a new, more potent form of targeted therapy for cancer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists have devised a chemical technology that doesn't just disable malevolent proteins in tumor cells, as current agents do, but destroys them.
	Using healthy skin to identify cancer's origins Normal skin contains an unexpectedly high number of cancer-associated mutations, according to a study published in Science. The findings illuminate the first steps cells take towards becoming a cancer and demonstrate the value of analysing normal tissue to learn more about the origins of the disease.
	Researchers show that mental 'map' and 'compass' are two separate systems If you have a map, you can know where you are without knowing which way you are facing. If you have a compass, you can know which way you're facing without knowing where you are. Animals from ants to mice to humans use both kinds of information to reorient themselves in familiar places, but how they determine this information from environmental cues is not well understood.
New music strategy shows 70 per cent increase in exercise adherence The use of personalized music playlists with tempo-pace synchronization increases adherence to cardiac rehab by almost 70 per cent—according to a study published in Sports Medicine -Open.
	Study finds biomarker may boost ovarian cancer chemotherapy response A molecule that helps control gene expression may play a role in controlling chemotherapy resistance among patients with the most common form of ovarian cancer.
	Common mutation linked to heart disease A common mutation in a gene that regulates cholesterol levels may raise the risk of heart disease in carriers, according to a new UConn Health study.
	New study challenges claims on aldehyde content of third generation e-cigarettes In January 2015 a report published as a research letter to the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) found that a 3rd generation e-cigarette (an e-cigarette with variable power settings) set to the maximum power and long puff duration generated levels of formaldehyde that, if inhaled in this way throughout the day, would several times exceed formaldehyde levels that smokers get from cigarettes. Media worldwide accordingly reported this new health hazard of e-cigarettes.
	International study reveals that cold weather kills far more people than hot weather Cold weather kills 20 times as many people as hot weather, according to an international study analysing over 74 million deaths in 384 locations across 13 countries. The findings, published in The Lancet, also reveal that deaths due to moderately hot or cold weather substantially exceed those resulting from extreme heat waves or cold spells.
BMJ investigation reveals how big tobacco is able to woo parliamentarians An investigation by The BMJ today asks to what extent is the tobacco industry able to reach out and influence parliamentarians?
	Study: 23 pct of US adults with health coverage underinsured Nearly a quarter of U.S. adults who were insured all last year lacked adequate protection from big medical bills based on their income, according to Commonwealth Fund research.
	Study: Fewer kids have severe mental problems; more get help Contrary to public perception and horrific cases that make headlines, serious mental problems are declining among the nation's youth, and there has been a big rise in how many are getting help, a new study finds.
Study: Local lockups can be more pricey to run than thought It turns out running a jail can be even more expensive than previously thought.
	South Korea confirms three cases of Mideast respiratory virus South Korea said Thursday it has confirmed three cases of a respiratory virus that has killed hundreds of people in the Middle East.
Diet linked to asthma severity in pregnancy A University of Adelaide study has found asthmatic women who eat a high-fat, high-sugar diet are more likely to have uncontrolled asthma while pregnant.
	Shining a new light on the immune system Scientists at the University of St Andrews have developed a revolutionary method of identifying cells of the immune system with "molecular fingerprints" which could pave the way for the rapid detection of conditions such as leukaemia and lymphoma from a small blood sample.
	Researchers identify mechanisms linking early adversity, disease later in life Early socioeconomic adversity, such as poverty, low education and disadvantaged community, has both direct and indirect long-term effects on young adults' cardio-metabolic disease risk, according to researchers within the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
	Study adds diabetes drug with anti-cancer effect to ovarian cancer treatment Several recent studies have suggested that metformin, an established drug developed to treat patients with type II diabetes, may provide significant benefits, including increased survival, to patients being treated for advanced cancers. An analysis of combined results from these earlier studies found that metformin use was associated with a significant decrease in cancer risk, tumor burden and cancer mortality.
	Study links camping to happy, healthy children Children who camp in the great outdoors at least once a year go on to do better at school, as well as being healthier and happier, according to their parents.
	Experts call for earlier diagnosis of bipolar disorder Delays in the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, particularly in those with alcohol and substance misuse disorders, could be preventing people from receiving effective treatment for the condition, according to a new study by researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London, and the NIHR.
	Are sleep apps useful for assessing children's sleep problems? Smartphone applications are not the best tool to assess sleep problems, according to research by Monash University.
	Helping doctors predict what's next for patients diagnosed with Hepatitis C A team of researchers at the University of Michigan Health System has developed a risk prediction model that helps identify which hepatitis C patients have the most urgent need for new anti-viral drugs.
	Genetic marker in children may indicate future psychological problems Researchers studying a healthy population of young children have uncovered evidence for an association between a genetic marker that modulates the uptake of a particular brain chemical ('neurotransmitter'), serotonin (5-HTTLPR), and patterns of activation in the right and left frontal lobes of the brain, that have previously been associated with increased susceptibility for later psychological problems, including depression and anxiety.
Targeted drug delivery could transform therapies A world expert in biomedical engineering will today argue that medical science has been focusing on the wrong problem for 30 years. Instead of inventing new drugs, making better use of the drugs we already have available by targeting them to the affected part of the body could hold the answer to tackling many of today's life threatening diseases.
	Owning a pet dog can help parents of children with autism A new study has highlighted the potential for pet dogs to reduce stress in parents of children with autism.
Obesity and weight loss change splicing pattern of obesity and type 2 diabetes genes Alternative splicing of obesity and type 2 diabetes related genes may contribute to the pathophysiology of obesity, according to research from the University of Eastern Finland. Obesity leads to changes in the splicing pattern of metabolically relevant genes such as TCF7L2 and INSR, resulting in impaired insulin action. However, weight loss, induced by either obesity surgery or a very low-calorie diet, reverses these changes. The findings, presented by Dorota Kaminska, MSc, in her doctoral dissertation, increase our understanding of splicing dysregulations in obesity and can result in a new, more targeted treatment and more accurate diagnostics of metabolic disorders.
Study questions beneficial effects of a Nordic diet on cardiovascular events A new study led from Sweden's Karolinska Institutet shows that although individual components of a healthy so-called Nordic diet previously have been linked to beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, as well as to other health effects, there is no evidence of an association with cardiovascular events in a general population. The study, which was conducted in in over 40,000 Swedish women, is being published in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
	Three important things you didn't know about diabetes When we think of diabetes, we tend to think of rich people with poor lifestyles. A chronic disease linked with obesity, heart disease and worse outcomes for some infectious diseases, diabetes tends to be associated in our minds with wealth, excess and over-consumption.
	Fertility treatments and mental health among the wealthy Choosing in vitro fertilisation (IVF) over other infertility treatments has been linked to lower rates of mental health hospitalisation for women who don't conceive.
	Vaccines developed for H5N1, H7N9 avian influenza strains A recent study with Kansas State University researchers details vaccine development for two new strains of avian influenza that can be transmitted from poultry to humans. The strains have led to the culling of millions of commercial chickens and turkeys as well as the death of hundreds of people.
	Can a little loving kindness improve our mental health? Mindfulness - an ancient Buddhist approach to meditation - is attracting increasing attention in the 21st century as a non-invasive treatment for stress and depression. But can it improve mental wellbeing in young people? View the video to find out more.
Growing up with smokers doubles risk for adult smoking among Hispanics For Hispanics/Latinos living in the United States, growing up in a home with a regular smoker nearly doubled their chances of becoming an adult smoker. The findings are based on data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), the largest ongoing study of this ethno-culturally diverse population in the U.S.
Pliability, elasticity of skin increase following wrinkle treatment with Botox Skin pliability and elasticity improved after treatment with onabotulinum toxin (Botox) for mild facial wrinkles and the effect lasted for up to four months, according to a report published online by JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
Personalized care during eye visits didn't lower HbA1c levels for diabetics Providing personalized education and risk assessment for patients with diabetes when they visit the ophthalmologist did not improve glycemic control as measured by hemoglobin A1c levels compared with patients who received usual care, according to a study published online by JAMA Ophthalmology.
	Researchers discover molecular approach to promote cancer cell death Lung cancer researchers at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University have discovered a novel strategy to exploit apoptosis, a form of programmed cell death, for the treatment of lung cancer. The protein Bcl-2 is a known target for cancer treatment since it allows cancer cells to evade cell death via apoptosis.
	How our gut changes across the life course Scientists and clinicians on the Norwich Research Park have carried out the first detailed study of how our intestinal tract changes as we age, and how this determines our overall health.
	Development of face perception in Japanese children Face perception plays an important role in social communication. There have been many studies of face perception in human using non-invasive neuroimaging and electrophysiological methods, but studies of face perception in children were quite limited. Here, a Japanese research team led by Dr. Miki Kensuke and Prof Ryusuke Kakigi, in the National Institute for Physiological Sciences, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, investigated the development of face perception in Japanese children, by using an electroencephalogram (EEG). The team also compared their results for Japanese children with the previous findings for Western children. The team reported that the face perception in Japanese children almost matured by the age of 13 years, earlier than that in Western children.
	Infections can affect your IQ New research shows that infections can impair your cognitive ability measured on an IQ scale. The study is the largest of its kind to date, and it shows a clear correlation between infection levels and impaired cognition.
Some 30 nations have dangerously weak health systems: WHO About 30 countries have health systems that are as dangerously weak as the ones that allowed Ebola to ravage Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the World Health Organization warned Thursday.
	Team publishes findings about compound with potential for treating rheumatoid arthritis Montana State University researchers and their collaborators have published their findings about a chemical compound that shows potential for treating rheumatoid arthritis.
	Fine particulate air pollution associated with increased risk of childhood autism Exposure to fine particulate air pollution during pregnancy through the first two years of a child's life may be associated with an increased risk of the child developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a condition that affects one in 68 children, according to a University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health investigation of children in southwestern Pennsylvania.
	Brain tumors: Mapping of motor areas in the brain by magnetic stimulation A method known as navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) has been gaining importance in neurosurgery for some time now. Among other applications, it is used to map brain tumors before an operation and to test whether important regions of the brain, for example motor and language areas, are affected. Doctors at the Technische Universität München (TUM) have now shown that preoperative nTMS analysis of motor areas improves the prognosis of patients with malignant brain tumors.
Experts map surgical approaches for auditory brainstem implantation A technique called auditory brainstem implantation can restore hearing for patients who can't benefit from cochlear implants. A team of US and Japanese experts has mapped out the surgical anatomy and approaches for auditory brainstem implantation in the June issue of Operative Neurosurgery.
Dental researchers find some immune cells change to prolong inflammation Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine have unraveled one of the mysteries of how a small group of immune cells work: That some inflammation-fighting immune cells may actually convert into cells that trigger disease.
Odds are that chronic gamblers are often also depressed If a young man is a chronic gambler, the chances are extremely high that he also suffers from depression. This is one of the findings from a study led by Frédéric Dussault of the University of Quebec at Montreal in Canada. Published in Springer's Journal of Gambling Studies, it is the first to investigate the extent to which gambling and depression develop hand-in-hand from the teenage years to early adulthood.
	Hiding your true colors may make you feel morally tainted The advice, whether from Shakespeare or a modern self-help guru, is common: Be true to yourself. New research suggests that this drive for authenticity—living in accordance with our sense of self, emotions, and values—may be so fundamental that we actually feel immoral and impure when we violate our true sense of self. This sense of impurity, in turn, may lead us to engage in cleansing or charitable behaviors as a way of clearing our conscience.
Workplace intervention improves sleep of employees' children A workplace intervention designed to reduce employees' work-family conflict and increase schedule flexibility also has a positive influence on the sleep patterns of the employees' children.
	Snacking on protein can improve appetite control and diet quality in teens Although eating high-protein, afternoon snacks can aid appetite control in adults, little information exists to guide parents on what types of snacks might benefit their adolescent children. Now, MU researchers have found that afternoon snacking, particularly on high-protein-soy foods, reduces afternoon appetite, delays subsequent eating and reduces unhealthy evening snacking in teenagers.
	Premature aging: Scientists identify and correct defects in diseased cells Scientists from the Institut Pasteur and CNRS, in collaboration with scientists from the Institut Gustave Roussy and CEA, have succeeded in restoring normal activity in cells isolated from patients with the premature aging disease Cockayne syndrome. They have uncovered the role played in these cells by an enzyme, the HTRA3 protease.
	Anti-stroke drug effective treatment for middle-ear infections, researchers say An existing anti-stroke drug is an effective treatment for middle-ear infections, showing the ability to suppress mucus overproduction, improve bacterial clearance and reduce hearing loss, according to researchers at Georgia State University and the University of Rochester.
	Over 4 million working Americans suffer from anxiety disorders (HealthDay)—A new study finds that 4.3 million Americans with full-time jobs had an anxiety disorder in the past year.
	Optimal mechanical ventilation strategy identified for obese (HealthDay)—For obese patients, the optimal mechanical ventilation strategy may be volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) with higher positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and single recruitment maneuvers (RMs), according to a meta-analysis published in the June issue of Obesity Reviews.
	CV autonomic neuropathy predicts urological issues (HealthDay)—For men with type 1 diabetes, cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy is associated with erectile dysfunction and/or lower urinary tract symptoms, according to a study published in the June issue of The Journal of Urology.
	Complication rate relatively low for anterior lumbar surgery (HealthDay)—For patients undergoing anterior lumbar surgery (ALS), complications occur relatively infrequently, with a complication rate of 14.1 percent overall, according to a review published in the May 1 issue of The Spine Journal.
	Novel algorithm can classify chronic rhinosinusitis (HealthDay)—A novel scoring system and algorithm can be used to classify eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (ECRS) by disease severity, according to a study published online May 6 in Allergy.
	Gender differences in receipt of end-of-life care (HealthDay)—There are gender differences in receipt of end-of-life (EoL) care among terminally ill cancer patients, with male patients more likely to receive intensive care unit (ICU) care, according to a study published online May 14 in Cancer.
	EBV co-infection may boost malaria mortality in childhood Many people who live in sub-Saharan Africa develop a natural immunity to malaria, through repeated exposure to Plasmodium parasites. Even so, the disease kills close to half a million children per year, according to the World Health Organization.What factors can interfere with the development of immunity?
Study on neurogenesis in the olfactory bulb A new study published by the team of Naguib Mechawar, Ph.D., a researcher at the Douglas Institute (CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'île-de-Montréal) and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University, suggests that the integration of new neurons in the adult brain is a phenomenon more generally compromised in the brains of depressed patients.
	Obese teens' brains unusually susceptible to food commercials, study finds A Dartmouth study finds that TV food commercials disproportionately stimulate the brains of overweight teen-agers, including the regions that control pleasure, taste and—most surprisingly—the mouth, suggesting they mentally simulate unhealthy eating habits.
Countries vow to all but eradicate malaria by 2030: WHO Countries have agreed to rid the world of malaria almost completely over the next 15 years, the World Health Organization said Thursday.
Study finds significant cost savings in pediatric telemedicine consults Researchers at UC Davis have conducted a comprehensive study to determine whether pediatric telemedicine consultations with rural emergency departments save money compared to telephone consults. The answer is a resounding yes. While telemedicine systems are expensive to install and maintain, they more than pay their way, saving an average $4,662 per use. The study was published in the journal Medical Decision Making.
	Breath-holding games are killing swimmers, CDC warns (HealthDay)—As more adults and kids head to swimming pools, lakes and the ocean this Memorial Day weekend, U.S. health officials are warning about accidental drownings from underwater breath-holding games and exercises.
	Smoking rates continue to drop in many states: CDC (HealthDay)—Cigarette smoking continues to decline in about half of American states, according to the latest U.S. government estimates.
	UAlberta creates DNA bank to unlock genetic clues about stuttering Scientists at the University of Alberta's Institute for Stuttering Treatment and Research (ISTAR) want Albertans to give a spit—five millilitres to be precise—to help find the cause and a cure for stuttering.
Analysis compares stent expansion achieved with guidance from OCT versus IVUS Data from the ILUMIEN II trial found that guidance from optimal coherence tomography (OCT) was associated with comparable stent expansion as guidance from intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Results from the study were presented today at EuroPCR 2015, the official annual meeting of the European Association for Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions.
	FDA expedites development of hepatitis C drugs The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted amended Breakthrough Therapy Designation for an investigational combination of drugs that show great promise for treating the sickest hepatitis C patients—those with advanced cirrhosis and those who have had a liver transplant but the virus has returned.
American College of Cardiology registry aims to improve cardiovascular care in India Despite challenges, it is feasible to collect and study the quality of outpatient cardiovascular care in a resource-limited environment like India, according to a pilot study published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Researchers used the American College of Cardiology's PINNACLE India Quality Improvement Program registry to examine performance measures and outline areas for further improvement in cardiovascular care delivery.
Sierra Leone berates Ebola quarantine escapees as cases surge Sierra Leone on Wednesday berated the "selfish and shameful" behaviour of people risking a resurgence of the Ebola virus by flouting quarantine restrictions, as authorities announced a spike in cases.
	Big gains in number of California children with health insurance and regular dental care An impressive 3 in 4 California children ages 2 to 5 had a regular dental checkup in 2012, including those from poorer households, according to a new policy brief by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
Homicides have life-changing impacts on young black men in Baltimore As Baltimore continues to face increased violence since the death of Freddie Gray in police custody, new research by the University of Michigan paints a picture of the individual toll of homicide in the beleaguered city.
New data clarify leaflet thickening in TAVI and surgical aortic prostheses New data released today at EuroPCR 2015 suggest that thickening of the valve leaflets following implantation of a transcatheter or surgical aortic valve bioprosthesis is relatively rare, not linked to short-term clinical events, and not unique to any one type of valve. Longer-term follow-up and larger studies looking specifically at this issue are warranted, experts said here at a special session devoted to the emerging understanding of the phenomenon.
	What I learned about health from reporting it Some people find themselves nodding along with articles like 25 Struggles Only People Addicted to Diet Coke Will Understand. Me, I got that same feeling from reading this Vox piece by Julia Belluz and Sarah Kliff: No more dieting, and 7 other things we do differently after reporting on health care.
Expert says participation in adult cancer clinical trials needs to rise Toni Kay Mangskau has worked at the Mayo Clinic for the past 28 years. Her current position of clinical trials referral coordinator for the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center was created in 2005 after a need was identified for providing clinical trial information and resources to internal and external patients, family members, and referring health care providers. Mangskau oversees the clinical trials referral office for the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center's sites in Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota. Nationally, Mangskau has served as a steering committee member for the Summit Series on Cancer Clinical Trials, and was co-chair of the infrastructure/funding subcommittee to develop a nationwide training program for research staff on communicating with patients about clinical trials. Mangskau's prior work experiences include the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Research Program, various community mental health and corrections programs, state legislative analyst,! and a volunteer caseworker for a local immigrant and refugee agency.
	Cultural stressors increase risk of smoking, binge drinking and poor mental health among Hispanic teens Researchers at FIU's Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work have found that social interactions such as ethnic discrimination and other cultural stressors can have a negative effect on a range of outcomes such as smoking tobacco, binge drinking and mental health among Hispanic teens.
Cholera outbreak kills 27 Burundi refugees in Tanzania: UN At least 27 Burundian refugees fleeing weeks of political violence have died of cholera in Tanzania, the United Nations said Thursday, warning more could die without urgent action.
Health care policy should not focus on finance, says research Focusing on finance could jeopardize the long-term survival of our health care systems, according to a study published in Value in Health. The researchers, from Bocconi University, Milan, Italy, urge policy makers to consider social and political sustainability when building universal health care systems.
	CVS to spend $10.4 B in cash on drug distributor Omnicare CVS Health will spend more than $10 billion to buy pharmacy services provider Omnicare and tap a growing target for prescription drug distribution: care for the elderly.
Continuous glucose monitoring with real-time measurement devices has added benefit Patients with insulin-dependent diabetes can better control their HbA1c value with a combination of blood glucose self-monitoring (BGSM) and continuous interstitial glucose monitoring (CGM) using a real-time measurement device (real-time CGM) than with BGSM alone without severe or serious hypoglycaemia occurring more frequently.
Mayo Clinic, Phoenix Children's Hospital study highlighted Prior studies have shown that most dog bite injuries result from family dogs. A new study conducted by Mayo Clinic and Phoenix Children's Hospital shed some further light on the nature of these injuries.
Low stent thrombosis rates with primary PCI, regardless of antithrombotic choice Stent thrombosis following urgent angioplasty for acute heart attack occurred in less than 1% of patients in a large, "real-world" registry, regardless of whether the antithrombotic treatment used during the procedure was bivalirudin, heparin alone, or a GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor (typically in combination with heparin).*
	Researchers to look for patterns in patient data from ManagingLife's pain diary app A digital journal of pain occurrences maintained by the users of an innovative Manage My Pain app will be the key source for their upcoming study, York University psychology researchers say. The mobile app's developer ManagingLife will provide the large database to York U in this collaborative effort.
European court to rule on right-to-die case Europe's human rights court will on June 5 rule on whether a man in a vegetative state can be taken off life support, a case that has ignited a fierce euthanasia debate in France, a spokesman said Thursday.
	Listeria: FDA finds problems at Ohio ice cream plant A government investigation of Ohio-based Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams found inadequate testing and cleaning in its Columbus plant that had become contaminated with listeria.

Other Sciences news

	The Bronze Age Egtved Girl was not from Denmark The Bronze Age Egtved Girl came from far away, as revealed by strontium isotope analyses of the girl's teeth. The analyses show that she was born and raised outside Denmark's current borders, and strontium isotope analyses of the girl's hair and a thumb nail also show that she travelled great distances the last two years of her life.
	Protest activity can be predicted by social media, study finds High levels of social media activity can be used to forecast increases in protest participation – but successful prediction may depend on location, a study has found.
	Requiem for ancient tongue worm: New species of intruder discovered Researchers have discovered the 425-million-year-old fossil remains of a new species of parasite, still attached to the host animal it invaded long ago.
Professor seeks retraction of Science article he co-authored Citing irregularities on the part of his colleague, a prominent Columbia University professor has asked Science magazine to retract a study he co-authored last year about the ability of openly gay canvassers to shift voters' views toward support for same-sex marriage.
US House Republicans vote to restrict research funding US House Republicans voted Wednesday to place limits on funding for scientific research, including climate change studies, as they passed legislation that more narrowly defines their priorities.
	A handful of Bronze-Age men could have fathered two thirds of Europeans For such a large and culturally diverse place, Europe has surprisingly little genetic variety. Learning how and when the modern gene-pool came together has been a long journey. But thanks to new technological advances a picture is slowly coming together of repeated colonisation by peoples from the east with more efficient lifestyles.
	The maths of congestion—springs, strings and traffic jams It's not been a good year so far for major transport projects in Australia's capital cities.
	Publisher pushback puts open access in peril Delegates at the The Higher Education Technology Agenda (THETA) conference on the Gold Coast last week heard from futurist Bryan Alexander about four possible scenarios for the future of knowledge.
We have difficulty understanding the world map's edge Where do the aircraft pop up again? A new study shows that we have difficulty understanding how the edges of a world map are connected. Both adults and children have great difficulties to accurately indicate where an aircraft passing the world map's edge comes back to the map.
The flight of the oryx: Doha, an emerging, well-connected knowledge hub Qatar's capital city, Doha, is set to emerge as a major knowledge hub, with its educated, high-tech workforce and its international connectivity. However, the lack of a cohesive plan for development and the mobility of that workforce in and out of Qatar could stymie its success on the global stage.
	Emoticons may signal better customer service Online customer service agents who use emoticons and who are fast typists may have a better chance of putting smiles on their customers' faces during business-related text chats, according to researchers.
	Study: Hey, advertising and marketing pros! Before you 'go thin,' think again Here's the skinny: Not all women will buy products because the models in the advertisements are thin, according to a new study of a diverse group of 239 women by a Baylor University marketing professor.
Researchers release new version of global economic database The Center for Global Trade Analysis based at Purdue University released the latest version of its GTAP Data Base of worldwide economic transactions Tuesday (May19).
Researchers help people with disabilities raise employment expectations After completing schoolwork, individuals with disabilities may be directed to a life of sheltered employment or a group home setting. University of Kansas researchers have been battling that type of guidance by proving that it is possible for individuals with disabilities to hold meaningful employment and live independently. Those researchers are sharing resources and training community members to spread the message, and now, they're taking it to other states.
	Digging deep to unearth success in mining ventures New light has been shone on the pathway to success for mineral exploration ventures in Australia.
	Religious feeling influences new product uptake Companies introducing new products or services could face significant delays in adoption if they ignore the religious status of their target market.
	Feeling the pain and joys of commuting Long hours commuting to and from work can generate fear, distrust and depression and can change the way people interact with their families and work colleagues, a new study from The Australian National University (ANU) has found.
Cost of wages and lack of competence the greatest obstacles to productivity improvement According to small and medium-sized enterprises, sizable social security and other wage-related costs still form the single greatest obstacle for improving productivity. Additionally, a lack of competence among supervisors was also seen as an obstacle for productivity. This information is from a newly published survey by the Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT), which is a follow-up to a study on the obstacles that restrain the productivity of companies published in 1997. A total of 239 representatives from Finnish small and medium-sized enterprises responded to the new survey. The survey looked into both the external and internal obstacles for productivity improvement experienced by companies.
	Report on expanded success initiative points to changes in schools A new report on New York City's Expanded Success Initiative (ESI), which is designed to boost college and career readiness among Black and Latino male students, finds that the schools involved are changing the way they operate and offering students opportunities they would not otherwise have.
	Case of Guatemalans at Iowa plant reflects desperation amid globalization Many undocumented workers from Latin America risk migrating to the United States to take jobs in which they will be exploited because they are fleeing from desperate situations and see opportunities to help their families.
Seven projects to make progress on ethics and global food security in five years Johns Hopkins experts lead an international group that has issued an ambitious five-year agenda to tackle some of the most complex ethical issues involved in ensuring the global population has enough sustainably produced safe and nutritious food.

---

This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
(....)
You are subscribed as pascal.alter@gmail.com