Fwd: Science X Newsletter Monday, Aug 29

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Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System launches new website

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From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Tue, Aug 30, 2016 at 12:30 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Monday, Aug 29
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for August 29, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Tiny 3-D structures nanoimprinted on the end of an optical fiber

Physicists propose first method to control a single quanta of energy

Conquering the lysosomal storage disorders with genetic engineering

Study investigates mechanism of nanomaterial clearance by liver

Isolation of Fe(IV) decamethylferrocene salts

Best of Last Week—Converting CO2 to fuel, rocky planet found orbiting nearest star and possible remedy for a fatty diet

Research outlines cellular communication processes that make life possible

Did fall from tree kill famous human ancestor Lucy?

Inferring urban travel patterns from cellphone data

Bot tech controls drug release when needed

Scientists exit Hawaii dome after yearlong Mars simulation

Apple patent application shows ideas for capturing info to identify device thieves

The brain performs feats of math to make sense of the world

Parkinson's study could pave way for early detection test

New solar cell is more efficient, costs less than its counterparts

Nanotechnology news

	Tiny 3-D structures nanoimprinted on the end of an optical fiber (Phys.org)—Scientists have developed a method for imprinting tiny yet complex 3-D structures on the tip of an optical fiber, whose 125-µm diameter is roughly the thickness of a human hair. The 3-D optical structures can manipulate the light's properties, such as its phase and wavefront, which enables a variety of integrated optics applications including laser machining, lab-on-a-fiber, and biomedical sensors. One of the biggest advantages of the new nanoimprinting method is that it is much less expensive than previous fabrication methods, opening the doors to more widespread use.
	Study investigates mechanism of nanomaterial clearance by liver (Phys.org)—One of the biggest challenges to realizing the potential of targeted therapies is keeping nanomaterials from accumulating in the liver or spleen. The liver and spleen are part of the mononuclear phagocyte system. Its job is to filter toxins from the blood stream. Unfortunately, in doing its job, it is also preventing nanotherapies from reaching their target.
	Researchers develop method to speed up detection of infectious diseases, cancer A team of UCLA researchers has found a way to speed and simplify the detection of proteins in blood and plasma opening up the potential for diagnosing the early presence of infectious diseases or cancer during a doctor's office visit. The new test takes about 10 minutes as opposed to two to four hours for current state-of-the-art tests.
	Device to control 'color' of electrons in graphene provides path to future electronics A device made of bilayer graphene, an atomically thin hexagonal arrangement of carbon atoms, provides experimental proof of the ability to control the momentum of electrons and offers a path to electronics that could require less energy and give off less heat than standard silicon-based transistors. It is one step forward in a new field of physics called valleytronics.
	Graphene key to growing 2-D semiconductor with extraordinary properties A newly discovered method for making two-dimensional materials could lead to new and extraordinary properties, particularly in a class of materials called nitrides, say the Penn State materials scientists who discovered the process. This first-ever growth of two-dimensional gallium nitride using graphene encapsulation could lead to applications in deep ultraviolet lasers, next-generation electronics and sensors.
	A novel method of making high-quality vertical nanowires Researchers at Hokkaido University describe a novel method of making high quality vertical nanowires with full control over their size, density and distribution over a semi-conducting substrate. The findings are reported in the Japanese Journal of Applied Physics.
	Continuous roll-process technology for transferring and packaging flexible LSI A research team led by Professor Keon Jae Lee from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and by Dr. Jae-Hyun Kim from the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) has jointly developed a continuous roll-processing technology that transfers and packages flexible large-scale integrated circuits (LSI), the key element in constructing the computer's brain such as CPU, on plastics to realize flexible electronics.

Physics news

	Physicists propose first method to control a single quanta of energy (Phys.org)—Physicists have proposed what they believe to be the first method to control the transport of energy at the level of single energy quanta (which are mostly phonons). They show that it's theoretically possible to control the flow of single energy quanta through a quantum magnet using lasers with carefully controlled frequencies and intensities.
	Lab team uses pulsed ion beams to probe radiation defect dynamics in nuclear materials Materials scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have developed a novel experimental method to access the dynamic regime of radiation damage formation in nuclear and electronic materials.
	Photographing sneezes at high speed may help find ways to reduce spread of disease (Phys.org)—A team of researchers at MIT led by Lydia Bourouiba has discovered some new properties of sneeze clouds by photographing them with high speed cameras and then studying the footage. In their paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the researchers note that the physics of a sneeze cloud are more complicated than might be expected from such a simple event.
	Counting down to the new ampere After it's all over, your lights will be just as bright, and your refrigerator just as cold. But very soon the ampere—the SI base unit of electrical current—will take on an entirely new identity, and NIST scientists are at work on an innovative, quantum-based measurement system that will be consistent with the impending change.
	Simple equation predicts force needed to push objects through granular and pasty materials For those of you who take sandcastle building very seriously, listen up: MIT engineers now say you can trust a very simple equation to calculate the force required to push a shovel—and any other "intruder"— through sand. The team also found that the same concept, known as the resistive force theory, can generate useful equations for cohesive materials like muds.
	Electron anions impart unconventional properties in a unique cement semiconductor Simple cements are everywhere in construction, but researchers want to create novel construction materials to build smarter infrastructure. The cement known as mayenite is one smart material—it can be turned from an insulator to a transparent conductor and back. Other unique properties of this material make it suitable for industrial production of chemicals such as ammonia and for use as semiconductors in flat panel displays.
	Researchers develop a fast switching, all-solid-state, wavelength-dependent bipolar photodetector Researchers at Toyota Central R&D Labs describe the first all solid-state wavelength-dependent bipolar photodetectors with fast response times and tunable switching wavelengths. The findings are reported in Applied Physics Express.
	Meteorite impact on a nano scale A meteorite impacting the earth under a grazing angle of incidence can do a lot of damage; it may travel a long way, carving a trench into the ground until it finally penetrates the surface. The impact site may be vaporized, there can be large areas of molten ground. All that remains is a crater, some debris, and an extensive trail of devastation on both sides of the impact site.
Scientists experimentally realize optomechanically induced non-reciprocity Light has reciprocity with bidirectional transmission in ordinary media. Circulators and isolators are indispensable components in classical and quantum information processing in an integrated photonic circuit. Therefore, all-optical controllable non-reciprocal devices are always a hot topic in the research of photonic chips. Normal non-reciprocal devices are based on magnetic-optical material. However, incorporating low optical-loss magnetic materials into a photonic chip is technically challenging.
	Electrons with no mass acquire a mass in the presence of a high magnetic field An international team of researchers have for the first time, discovered that in a very high magnetic field an electron with no mass can acquire a mass. Understanding why elementary particles e.g. electrons, photons, neutrinos have a mass is a fundamental question in Physics and an area of intense debate. This discovery by Prof Stefano Sanvito, Trinity College Dublin and collaborators in Shanghai was published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications this month.

Earth news

	Leaded emissions from piston engine aircraft pose a significant health threat They may seem innocuous enough, those small planes used for weekend getaways, flight training, small freight deliveries, and other civilian purposes. But collectively, the more than 167,000 piston-engine aircraft that comprise the majority of the U.S. general aviation (GA) fleet may pose a significant health threat. That's because these vehicles, which rely on leaded fuel to operate safely, constitute the nation's largest remaining source of lead emissions. Those exposed to low levels of lead, especially children, have been shown to suffer neurological and cognitive impairment, including IQ loss.
	The Anthropocene is here: scientists The human impact on Earth's chemistry and climate has cut short the 11,700-year-old geological epoch known as the Holocene and ushered in a new one, scientists said Monday.
	Researchers unravel process for the formation of rainstorms Violent thunderstorms can often cause torrential rain, which pose a threat for both humans and the infrastructure. Until now such extreme weather phenomena have been very poorly understood. However, using advanced simulations for cloud systems, researchers also from the Niels Bohr Institute have determined how complex cloud systems build up in the atmosphere, which then interact with each other and strengthen the further build up of heavy rain and severe thunderstorms. The results are published in the scientific journal, Nature Geoscience.
	Climate change has less impact on drought than previously expected As a multiyear drought grinds on in the Southwestern United States, many wonder about the impact of global climate change on more frequent and longer dry spells. As humans emit more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, how will water supply for people, farms, and forests be affected?
	60 percent of key S.Asian water basin not usable: study Sixty percent of the groundwater in a river basin supporting more than 750 million people in Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh is not drinkable or usable for irrigation, researchers said Monday.
	Wildfire blocking Yellowstone entrance smolders on Firefighters chopped down trees and searched for hotspots on steep hillsides Sunday as they battled a wildfire that has blocked an entrance to Yellowstone National Park.
	Integrating user-collected data in city planning "It's the community engagement that's most important," says Lily Bui, a recent graduate of MIT's Comparative Media Studies program and a PhD candidate in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning. She has long been interested in how to engage people in technology-driven change.
	Harmful algal blooms in their true colors Explosive growth of cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, is nothing new. In fact, such cyanobacteria probably produced the original oxygen in Earth's atmosphere billions of years ago.
Amazon forests: Biodiversity can help mitigate climate risks A forest with greater diversity of plants can better adjust to climatic stress. Now for the first time, a team of scientists can show this in computer simulations of the Amazon region by accounting for its amazing diversity of trees. Biodiversity can hence be an effective means to mitigate climate risks and should not only be seen in the context of nature conservation.
	Infrastructure, shallow earthquake contribute to Italian towns' destruction On Wednesday morning, central Italy was rocked by a devastating 6.2 magnitude earthquake that killed at least 250 people and injured more than 365 others.
	Image: Land shifts in Italy Combining two Sentinel-1 radar scans from 20 August (Sentinel-1B) and 26 August 2016 (Sentinel-1A), this interferogram shows changes that occurred during the 24 August earthquake that struck central Italy.
	Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System launches new website The Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) has launched a new website at http://www.pacioos.org.  Its goal is to further PacIOOS' mission to empower ocean users, decision-makers and stakeholders across the Pacific Islands with accurate and reliable coastal and ocean information, data and services.
	Satellites and high-tech solutions help African farmers face historic drought African and European researchers are employing high-tech water management research methods to help low-tech South African smallholders improve food security. Additionally, extremely high levels of Microcystin toxicity and uranium contamination in important river systems spark calls for extra research on bioaccumulation through the human food chain
	A changing sun, a changing climate? The sun's impact on our planet's climate has recently been a hotly debated topic in the context of climate change. The controversy around this issue has led scientists across Europe to dig deeper into the claim that solar activity could be a major cause of global warming.
Provisional recommendations on a potential new geological time interval The Anthropocene Working Group is about to present its preliminary findings and recommendations at the International Geological Congress in Cape Town, at the same time indicating the range of voting opinion within the group on the major questions surrounding the Anthropocene. It will also map out a route towards a formal proposal on formalization, and indicate work that still needs be done to effect this.
Forming Atlantic Tropical Depression 8 seen by NASA The Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM core satellite passed over Tropical Depression 8 as it formed off the coast of North Carolina in the Atlantic Ocean. GPM measured rainfall rates and analyzed the heights of storm cloud tops to assess the storm's strength.
	NASA eyes powerful Hurricane Gaston almost 600 miles from Bermuda NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Hurricane Gaston as it was strengthening into a major hurricane, almost 600 miles away from Bermuda in the Atlantic Ocean. Aqua provided a visible look at the powerful hurricane.
	NASA sees Lester strengthening into fourth major Eastern Pacific hurricane When NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite passed over hurricane Lester it was on the verge of becoming a major hurricane. That happened less than 12 hours later.
Iceland's Met Office: Two earthquakes rock large volcano Iceland's Meteorological Office says two earthquakes early Monday rocked the caldera of Katla, one of the country's largest volcanos.
	NASA spots Central Pacific's Madeline strengthening into a hurricane As Hurricane Lester in the Eastern Pacific Ocean strengthened into a major hurricane, Tropical Storm Madeline in the Central Pacific became a hurricane. NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured an image as Madeline was transitioning and organizing.
	NASA peers into Tropical Depression 9 in the Gulf of Mexico The Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM core satellite analyzed Tropical Depression 9 after formed in the Gulf of Mexico after a slow crawl over the last week.
	NASA sees Typhoon Lionrock approaching Japan Tropical Storm Lionrock continued crawling toward the main island of Honshu, Japan, as NASA's Aqua and NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellites passed overhead and gathered data on the storm.

Astronomy & Space news

	Scientists exit Hawaii dome after yearlong Mars simulation Six scientists have completed a yearlong Mars simulation in Hawaii, where they lived in a dome in near isolation.
	The proliferation of Jupiter-like worlds Our galaxy is home to a bewildering variety of Jupiter-like worlds: hot ones, cold ones, giant versions of our own giant, pint-sized pretenders only half as big around.
	NASA's Juno successfully completes Jupiter flyby NASA's Juno mission successfully executed its first of 36 orbital flybys of Jupiter today. The time of closest approach with the gas-giant world was 6:44 a.m. PDT (9:44 a.m. EDT, 13:44 UTC) when Juno passed about 2,600 miles (4,200 kilometers) above Jupiter's swirling clouds. At the time, Juno was traveling at 130,000 mph (208,000 kilometers per hour) with respect to the planet. This flyby was the closest Juno will get to Jupiter during its prime mission.
	Hubble spots an irregular island in a sea of space This image, courtesy of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS), captures the glow of distant stars within NGC 5264, a dwarf galaxy located just over 15 million light-years away in the constellation of Hydra (The Sea Serpent).
	Milky way had a blowout bash six million years ago The center of the Milky Way galaxy is currently a quiet place where a supermassive black hole slumbers, only occasionally slurping small sips of hydrogen gas. But it wasn't always this way. A new study shows that 6 million years ago, when the first human ancestors known as hominins walked the Earth, our galaxy's core blazed forth furiously. The evidence for this active phase came from a search for the galaxy's missing mass.
	Hunt for ninth planet reveals new extremely distant solar system objects In the race to discover a proposed ninth planet in our Solar System, Carnegie's Scott Sheppard and Chadwick Trujillo of Northern Arizona University have observed several never-before-seen objects at extreme distances from the Sun in our Solar System. Sheppard and Trujillo have now submitted their latest discoveries to the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center for official designations. A paper about the discoveries has also been accepted to The Astronomical Journal.
	Boredom was hardest part of yearlong dome isolation: NASA crew Monotony was the hardest part of a yearlong NASA experiment about the mental and psychological rigors of longterm spaceflight, crew members said after the test ended.
	'Strong signal' stirs interest in hunt for alien life A "strong signal" detected by a radio telescope in Russia that is scanning the heavens for signs of extraterrestrial life has stirred interest among the scientific community.
	NASA team probes peculiar age-defying star For years, astronomers have puzzled over a massive star lodged deep in the Milky Way that shows conflicting signs of being extremely old and extremely young.
	NASA probe set to make closest approach yet to Jupiter NASA's Juno space probe on Saturday was set to pass the closest it will get to the planet Jupiter during the main phase of its planned mission to the gas giant, the US space agency's officials said.
	First satellite-based wildlife monitoring tool for airports Wildlife habitats close to airports pose a serious risk to safety at takeoff and landing. Thanks to ESA, a new service lets airports use satellites to identify and manage these areas.
	Year-long Mars isolation experiment in Hawaii ends Six people who were isolated on a remote site in Hawaii for one year to help NASA plan for a mission to Mars emerged from their dome Sunday, happy to breathe fresh air and meet new people.
	SwRI to demonstrate low-cost miniature solar observatory Southwest Research Institute will flight test a miniature solar observatory on a six-hour high-altitude balloon mission scheduled for the end of August. The SwRI Solar Instrument Pointing Platform (SSIPP) is a complete, high-precision solar observatory about the size of a mini fridge and weighing 160 pounds.

Technology news

	Inferring urban travel patterns from cellphone data In making decisions about infrastructure development and resource allocation, city planners rely on models of how people move through their cities, on foot, in cars, and on public transportation. Those models are largely based on surveys of residents' travel habits.
	Bot tech controls drug release when needed (Tech Xplore)—A study shows that that nanobots can release drugs inside your brain. The nanorobots, reported New Scientist on Thursday, are built out of DNA. Drugs can be tethered to their shell-like shapes.
	Apple patent application shows ideas for capturing info to identify device thieves (Tech Xplore)—Some consumers as we know are brand-crazy, or in more polite terms, brand-conscious. Apple has done a magnificent job over the years to build its name as a coveted brand. Small wonder that many people scream for iPhones.
	New solar cell is more efficient, costs less than its counterparts The cost of solar power is beginning to reach price parity with cheaper fossil fuel-based electricity in many parts of the world, yet the clean energy source still accounts for just slightly more than 1 percent of the world's electricity mix.
	Driverless taxi firm eyes operations in 10 cities by 2020 A US software firm which chose Singapore for the world's first public trial of driverless taxis hopes to be operating in 10 Asian and US cities by 2020, an executive said Monday.
	How machine learning can help with voice disorders There's no human instinct more basic than speech, and yet, for many people, talking can be taxing. 1 in 14 working-age Americans suffer from voice disorders that are often associated with abnormal vocal behaviors - some of which can cause damage to vocal cord tissue and lead to the formation of nodules or polyps that interfere with normal speech production.
	Facebook makes trending news feature more automated Facebook said it is further automating its "trending" stories feature, a move that will scale back human input to prevent personal bias from influencing which stories get highlighted.
Appeals court rules NYC can use GPS to track taxi drivers A federal appeals court ruled Friday that New York City can track taxi drivers by using their cabs' GPS systems.
	Feds turn to space experts NASA for small-drone traffic plan America's space agency is entering the second phase of a four-step plan to draw up rules of the road for small drones that fly under 500 feet.
	Autism a Silicon Valley asset with social quirks Corey Weiss may not be adept at body language or social cues, but he knows software.
Uber, rival Careem suspend services in UAE capital Abu Dhabi Ride-hailing service Uber said Sunday that it and competitor Careem have abruptly suspended services in the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi due to "unforeseen circumstances," suggesting potential difficulties with local regulators.
Kim Dotcom wants to livestream legal fight against the US Internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom wants to livestream his legal battle against the United States on YouTube.
	In drought, drones help California farmers save every drop A drone whirred to life in a cloud of dust, then shot hundreds of feet skyward for a bird's-eye view of a vast tomato field in California's Central Valley, the nation's most productive farming region.
	Train windows that combine mobile reception and thermal insulation EPFL researchers have developed a type of glass that offers excellent energy efficiency and lets mobile telephone signals through. And by teaming up with Swiss manufacturers, they have produced innovative windows. Railway company BLS is about to install them on some of its trains in order to improve energy efficiency.
	The winners and losers in the race for driverless cars The ridesharing service Uber is pretty close to getting the go-ahead in almost all states and territories in Australia, with Victoria set to follow Queensland in introducing new legislation.
	How shipping containers are changing infrastructure We often take for granted our access to vast quantities of inexpensive goods manufactured overseas. And we often overlook the unassuming innovation that has made this global industrial revolution possible: the shipping container.
	iPhone spyware spotlights Israel's secretive surveillance industry The discovery of sophisticated spyware to infiltrate and remotely take control of iPhones without leaving a trace has put a spotlight on Israel's secretive surveillance industry, considered among the world's most advanced.
	Fitbit makes exercise even more of a game (Update) Fitbit wants to help you exercise more by making you think you're hiking famous trails instead of strolling around your neighborhood.
Pokemon, just go: France doesn't want creatures in schools Attention, legendary Pokemon creatures: You may soon be expelled from the schools of France.
Apple expected to show new iPhone at event next week Apple is expected to show off a new iPhone next week when the company holds its fall product launch event in San Francisco.
	FBI warns of possible state election-system hacks The FBI is warning state officials to boost their election security in light of evidence that hackers breached related data systems in two states.
	FAA forecast: 600,000 commercial drones within the year There will be 600,000 commercial drone aircraft operating in the U.S. within the year as the result of new safety rules that opened the skies to them on Monday, according to a Federal Aviation Administration estimate.
	3-D printed tool for building aircraft achieves Guinness World Records title A 3D printed trim-and-drill tool, developed by researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory to be evaluated at The Boeing Company, has received the title of largest solid 3D printed item by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS.
Race for Facebook data center raises tax-break questions The race between a small town on the Rio Grande in New Mexico and a Salt Lake City suburb to entice a new Facebook data center with millions of dollars in tax breaks and subsidies is raising questions about public investments in a booming cloud-computing economy that typically brings few local jobs.
Breach in fishing license system exposes data in Northwest A breach in a vendor's system that processes online sales of hunting and fishing licenses in Idaho, Oregon and Washington state exposed several million records containing buyers' personal information, officials said Friday.
Researchers investigate user behaviour when unknown messages are received online Most people know that e-mails and facebook messages from unknown senders can contain dangerous links. However, many users still click on them - and Dr. Zinaida Benenson from the Chair of Computer Science 1 at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) has investigated why. The results of the experiment were clear: up to 56 percent of e-mail recipients and around 40 percent of facebook users clicked on a link from an unknown sender although they knew of the risks of their computer becoming infected with a virus. And the main reason? Curiosity.

Chemistry news

	Isolation of Fe(IV) decamethylferrocene salts (Phys.org)—Ferrocene is the model compound that students often learn when they are introduced to organometallic chemistry. It has an iron center that is coordinated to the π electrons in two cyclopentadienyl rings. (C5H5- or Cp). Ferrocene is often used as a standard in electrochemical experiments because of its characteristic reversible oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III).
	Simple polymer could unlock more effective bone regeneration treatments A new technique developed by biomedical engineers could help to unlock the full potential of a promising treatment for bone regeneration, creating better therapies for spinal injuries, bone grafts and other orthopaedic surgeries.
	Bringing artificial enzymes closer to nature Scientists at the University of Basel, ETH Zurich, and NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering have developed an artificial metalloenzyme that catalyses a reaction inside of cells without equivalent in nature. This could be a prime example for creating new non-natural metabolic pathways inside living cells, as reported today in Nature.
	Researchers find thin layers of water can become ice-like at room temperature New research by scientists at The University of Akron (UA) shows that a nanometer-thin layer of water between two charged surfaces exhibits ice-like tendencies that allow it to withstand pressures of hundreds of atmospheres. The discovery could lead to better ways to minimize friction in a variety of settings.
	Protector against air pollution is vulnerable to air Catalyst research aims to make gasoline less polluting. It turns out that during experiments, it is actually necessary to protect catalysts from the air itself.
	Chemists make rapid developments in antibacterial drug research Dr Xuechen Li of HKU Department of Chemistry and his research team, together with his collaborators in University of Central Florida (Dr Yu Yuan), USA and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Dr Sheng Chen), reported their studies on the synthesis of a newly discovered "game-changing" antibiotic, Teixobactin, in Nature Communications recently. This underlies potential application and development of the next-generation teixobactin-based antibacterial drugs.

Biology news

	Research outlines cellular communication processes that make life possible Researchers have discovered a mechanism of intercellular communication that helps explain how biological systems and actions - ranging from a beating heart to the ability to hit a home run - function properly most of the time, and in some scenarios quite remarkably.
	Interactive map shows where animals will move under climate change Scientists predict that as Earth warms and climate patterns morph in response, animals will be forced to move to survive. That usually means hightailing it to higher latitudes as equatorial areas become too hot and dry.
	Why mole rats are more flexible than we previously thought One of the most interesting facts about mole rats - that, as with ants and termites, individuals specialise in particular tasks throughout their lives - turns out to be wrong. Instead, a new study led by the University of Cambridge shows that individuals perform different roles at different ages and that age rather than caste membership accounts for contrasts in their behaviour.
	Purest yet liver-like cells generated from induced pluripotent stem cells A research team including developmental biologist Stephen A. Duncan, D. Phil., SmartState Chair of Regenerative Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), has found a better way to purify liver cells made from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Their efforts, published August 25, 2016 in Stem Cell Reports, will aid studies of liver disease for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)'s $80 million Next Generation Genetic Association Studies (Next Gen) Program. The University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) and the Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwaukee) contributed to the study.
	Sickly humpback whale spotted in Hawaii waters Hawaii humpback whale experts are reporting the sighting of a sickly humpback whale off Maui.
	Mussels disappearing from New England waters, scientists say New England is running out of mussels.
	Diverse fungi secrete similar suite of decomposition enzymes Soil fungi secrete a wide range of enzymes that play an important role in biofuel production and bioremediation of metal-contaminated soils and water. A recent study reveals different fungal species secrete a rich set of enzymes that share similar functions, despite species-specific differences in the amino acid sequences of these enzymes.
	Drone success in expedition measuring Southern right whales The University of Otago's RV Polaris II returned to Otago last week having completed an extraordinarily successful expedition to the subantarctic Auckland Islands. "Our focus was on documenting the status of the right whales which breed in Port Ross," says expedition leader Professor Steve Dawson.
	Birds in an urban environment have fewer and smaller offspring than in rural settings A study by researchers at Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) and the Max Planck Institute of Ornithology showed that birds in an urban environment have fewer and smaller offspring than in rural settings.
	Lab discovery a breakthrough for koalas infected with chlamydia Scientists have made a breakthrough in their urgent quest for a new drug to treat koalas at risk of infertility, blindness, pneumonia and even death caused by chlamydia.
	Researchers develop new monomer fluorescent protein for SR imaging To understand the cell, it is necessary to study its dynamics at high resolution in space and time using techniques that do not adversely affect it. Recently developed superresolution (SR) microscopy breaks the diffraction limit and offers the requisite spatial resolution but usually at the cost of slow imaging speed and excessive damage. Applying reversibly switchable fluorescent proteins (RSFPs) greatly reduces the illumination intensity, thus enabling live-cell SR imaging while using saturated depletion-based SR techniques such as nonlinear structured illumination microscopy (SD NL-SIM) or reversible saturable optical fluorescence transition (RESOLFT) microscopy.
New research sheds light on how aged wine gets its aroma Researchers have discovered an enzyme that plays a leading role in the formation of compounds that give aged wines their sought-after aroma.
A monumental task: Getting Mainers to support a new park Among the empty storefronts on once-bustling Penobscot Avenue, longtime resident Jean McLean stood in her art gallery, the sole employee left at a business that once had three.
EU forum to take stance on Sweden's call for lobster ban An arm of the European Union is expected to weigh in on a request from Sweden to deem American lobsters an invasive species in much of Europe.
	Lightning strike kills more than 300 reindeer in Norway More than 300 wild reindeer have been killed by lightning in central Norway.
Miracle fruit's flowering, fruiting behaviors revealed Miracle berry (Synsepalum dulcificum), also known as miracle fruit, is a valuable horticultural species indigenous to West Africa. The authors of a study in the June 2016 issue of HortScience say that miracle fruit is "a very promising species" that has not been adequately studied. "Miracle fruit is a rare fruit crop with high economical value in the medical and food industry," they explained. The fleshy pulp of the miracle fruit contains miraculin, a glycoprotein that has an extraordinary effect on taste buds in the tongue: it makes sour or acidic food taste sweet. The authors said that miraculin could "possibly help diabetics to eat sweet food without taking in sugar," and they noted that the fruit has already been investigated as for its potential as a natural food sweetener.
Propagation protocols determined for two Nyssa species The genus Nyssa L. includes several woody species with traits valued by horticulturists, but only black gum (Nyssa sylvatica Marsh.) is prevalent in the nursery trade. Considered among the most beautiful trees native to North America, cultivars of black gum provide outstanding foliage color in autumn. The authors of a new study (HortScience, June 2016) say that another Nyssa species, swamp tupelo (Nyssa biflora Walt.), which is indigenous to swamps and bottomlands of the southeastern United States, might also be a marketable shade tree. "Its beauty and potential resistance to extremes in soil moisture justify exploring the potential for using swamp tupelo in horticulture," they explained.
	Double your genes: Stepping stones for the next century of understanding plant polyploidy We might think of living organisms as typically having two sets of chromosomes—-one from mom and one from dad. But there are lots of variations out there. Polyploidy, or having more than two chromosome copies, is especially common in plants, including some of the tasty ones we eat, such as potatoes, wheat, and strawberries. In fact, polyploidy is a major driver of plant diversity both on our plates and in the wild.

Medicine & Health news

	Conquering the lysosomal storage disorders with genetic engineering (Medical Xpress)—The motivation by fear, anger, and love to preserve self, kin, and others perches near the pinnacle of our existence. Triumph in the face of a seemingly insurmountable medical adversity by the creation of some tangibly successful treatment, virtually out of thin air, invariably strings together countless moments of courage and heroism to cut a continuous path of sheer human elegance through time that is a privilege to behold. The movie 'Lorenzo's Oil', and the book 'My Brother's Keeper', are two such popular accounts of families who brought the fight and won the fight against rare neurodegenerative disorders; a third is the now unfolding story of a family fighting against a debilitating lysosomal storage diseases known as Sanfilippo Syndrome, or MPSIIIa (mucopolysaccharidosis IIIa).
	The brain performs feats of math to make sense of the world Even if we find it difficult to calculate complicated probabilities on the spot, our brains constantly carry out these sorts of computations without our awareness—and they're remarkably good at it.
	Parkinson's study could pave way for early detection test A test that can detect Parkinson's disease in the early stages of the illness has moved a step closer.
	Breakthrough in understanding Parkinson's disease Research from The University of Queensland could lead to a new treatment for Parkinson's disease, with future potential applications to nearly 50 other disorders.
	A new window to understanding the brain Scientists in recent years have made great strides in the quest to understand the brain by using implanted probes to explore how specific neural circuits work.
	Single gene mutation causes severely debilitating disease of brain blood vessels The cause of a disease that targets blood vessels in the brain - leading to multiple debilitating symptoms and, often, to early death - has been tracked to a single mutated gene, opening up the immediate possibility of improved patient care through genetic testing, and of future treatments.
	Breast cancer researchers look beyond genes to find more drivers of disease development Breast cancer researchers have discovered that mutations found outside of genes that accumulate in estrogen receptor positive breast tumours throughout their development act as dominant culprits driving the disease.
	Ode to recall: To remember events in order, we rely on the brain's 'symphony' To remember events in the order they occur, the brain's neurons function in a coordinated way that is akin to a symphony, a team of New York University scientists has found. Their findings offer new insights into how we recall information and point to factors that may disrupt certain types of memories.
Special nerve cells cause goose bumps and nipple erection The sympathetic nerve system has long been thought to respond the same regardless of the physical or emotional stimulus triggering it. However, in a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the Nature Neuroscience, scientists show that the system comprises different neurons that regulate specific physiological functions, such as erectile muscle control.
	Team makes Zika drug breakthrough A team of researchers from Florida State University, Johns Hopkins University and the National Institutes of Health has found existing drug compounds that can both stop Zika from replicating in the body and from damaging the crucial fetal brain cells that lead to birth defects in newborns.
	Scientists report on safe, non-addictive opioid analgesic in animal model Since the isolation of morphine from opium in the 19th century, scientists have hoped to find a potent opioid analgesic that isn't addictive and doesn't cause respiratory arrest with increased doses.
	Vesicles that trap amyloid appear to also contribute to Alzheimer's Vesicles, fluid-filled sacs that brain cells make to trap amyloid, a hallmark of Alzheimer's, appear to also contribute to the disease, scientists report.
	Radiologists detect breast cancer in 'blink of an eye' A new study by investigators at Brigham and Women's Hospital in collaboration with researchers at the University of York and Leeds in the UK and MD Andersen Cancer Center in Texas puts to the test anecdotes about experienced radiologists' ability to sense when a mammogram is abnormal. In a paper published August 29 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, visual attention researchers showed radiologists mammograms for half a second and found that they could identify abnormal mammograms at better than chance levels. They further tested this ability through a series of experiments to explore what signal may alert radiologists to the presence of a possible abnormality, in the hopes of using these insights to improve breast cancer screening and early detection.
Researchers identify characteristic chemical signature for chronic fatigue syndrome Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a mysterious and maddening condition, with no cure or known cause. But researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, using a variety of techniques to identify and assess targeted metabolites in blood plasma, have identified a characteristic chemical signature for the debilitating ailment and an unexpected underlying biology: It is similar to the state of dauer, and other hypometabolic syndromes like caloric restriction, diapause and hibernation.
	Tiny changes in Parkinson's protein can have 'dramatic' impact on processes behind onset Specific mutations in the protein associated with Parkinson's Disease, in which just one of its 140 building blocks is altered, can make a dramatic difference to processes which may lead to the condition's onset, researchers have found.
Vitamin C may boost effectiveness of acute myeloid leukemia treatment A simple adjustment to patients' therapeutic regimen may improve the effectiveness of the standard epigenetic treatment for myeloid dysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
	Molecular switch may sensitize triple-negative breast cancers to immunotherapy Previous studies at the University of Colorado Cancer Center show that the experimental drug AMPI-109 potently kills triple-negative breast cancer cells. But even the most compelling evidence of cell death in a dish isn't enough to push a drug into human clinical trials, even for triple-negative breast cancer, which has a high mortality rate and remains largely without targeted treatment options. Clinical trials are commonly guided by the knowledge of how a drug works - an understanding that can allow researchers to tweak a drug's effectiveness or explore rational combinations of multiple drugs to maximize antitumor responses. Now a study published in the journal Oncogenesis offers compelling evidence that AMPI-109 works by flipping the switch on an enzyme called PRL-3 that initially puts cancer cells to "sleep" or senescence, and shortly thereafter leads to their death, or apoptosis.
	The first epigenetic test to diagnose tumors of unknown origin In patients with cancer, initial diagnosis most often includes the detection of the primary or original tumor and the presence or absence of metastases, ie cells from the original tumor that have escaped from their original location and are growing into other tissues of the patient. However, in between 5% and 10% of human tumors this process is done otherwise: metastasis is diagnosed, but the primary tumor is not detected despite various diagnostic testing. This situation is called Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP). As the type of tumor is not known, the survival of these patients it is very limited.
ESC/EAS guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias launched today European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) Guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias are published online today in European Heart Journal and on the ESC Website.
ESC launches novel paper on tackling cardiac toxicity of anticancer therapies The European Society of Cardiology has launched a novel position paper, under the auspices of its Committee for Practice Guidelines, on tackling the cardiac toxicity of anticancer therapies. The cardio-oncology paper is published online today in European Heart Journal and on the ESC Website.
ESC and EACTS launch first collaborative atrial fibrillation guidelines The first European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines on Atrial Fibrillation developed in collaboration with the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) are published online today in European Heart Journal and the European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, and on the ESC Website.
Smartphone detects atrial fibrillation with existing hardware Smartphones can be used to detect atrial fibrillation with existing hardware, according to research presented at ESC Congress 2016 today. A low-cost application (app) has been developed that uses the phone's own accelerometer and gyroscope to check for atrial fibrillation.
Low socioeconomic status associated with higher risk of second heart attack or stroke Low socioeconomic status is associated with a higher risk of a second heart attack or stroke, according to research presented at ESC Congress 2016 today. The study in nearly 30 000 patients with a prior heart attack found that the risk of a second event was 36% lower for those in the highest income quintile compared to the lowest and increased by 14% in divorced compared to married patients.
20 cent school intervention stops unhealthy weight gain in children A school intervention costing less than 20 cents per child has stopped unhealthy weight gain. The randomised study is presented at ESC Congress 2016 today by Ms Daniela Schneid Schuh, a nutritionist at the Institute of Cardiology of Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Moderate physical activity linked with 50 percent reduction in cardiovascular death in over-65s Moderate physical activity is associated with a greater than 50% reduction in cardiovascular death in over-65s, according to research presented at ESC Congress 2016 today. The 12 year study in nearly 2500 adults aged 65 to 74 years found that moderate physical activity reduced the risk of an acute cardiovascular event by more than 30%. High levels of physical activity led to greater risk reductions.
Activity tracker uses heart rate to personalize amount of exercise needed to prevent death A novel activity tracker has been developed that uses heart rate data to personalise the amount of exercise needed to reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. The science behind the tracker is presented for the first time today at ESC Congress 2016.
New oral anticoagulants provide same stroke prevention as warfarin but cause less bleeding The new oral anticoagulants provide the same stroke prevention as warfarin but cause less intracranial bleeding, reports an observational study in more than 43 000 patients presented at ESC Congress 2016 today by Dr Laila Staerk, a research fellow at Herlev and Gentofte University Hospital, Denmark.
Alcohol-related hospitalization associated with doubled stroke risk in atrial fibrillation Alcohol related hospitalisation is associated with a doubled risk of ischaemic stroke risk in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, according to a study presented at ESC Congress 2016 today by Dr Faris Al-Khalili, cardiologist, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. The observational study was conducted in more than 25 000 non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients at low risk of stroke.
Direct catheter-based thrombectomy equal to bridging thrombolysis in ischemic stroke Direct catheter-based thrombectomy is equally effective to bridging thrombolysis in the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke, according to results from the observational PRAGUE-16 registry study presented at ESC Congress 2016 today.
Nicaragua has first Zika-related case of microcephaly Officials in Nicaragua say the first baby with the birth defect of microcephaly has been born to a mother infected with the Zika virus.
Singapore reports first locally transmitted Zika case Singapore on Saturday reported the first locally-transmitted case of the Zika virus, with three other suspect infections pending confirmation.
Singapore reports 41 locally transmitted Zika cases Singapore on Sunday confirmed 41 locally transmitted cases of the Zika virus, which can cause deformities in unborn babies, and said more infections are likely.
Increased risk of death for heart failure patients with each NHS hospital admission Heart failure patients have a 2% increased risk of dying with each admission to NHS hospitals, according to research presented at ESC Congress 2016 today. The 15 year study in more than 450 000 patients from the ACALM Study Unit, Birmingham, UK included 13 416 patients with heart failure.
Sudden death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy rarely associated with exercise Sudden death in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is rarely associated with exercise, according to research presented at ESC Congress 2016 today by Dr Gherardo Finocchiaro, a cardiologist at St George's University of London, UK. Nearly 80% of patients in the study had no symptoms and only one in five had been diagnosed with HCM before their death.
Traffic accidents increased by 50 percent in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator The risk of traffic accidents is increased by 50% in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) compared to age and gender matched controls, according to a Danish nationwide registry study presented at ESC Congress 2016 today.
Up to 80 percent of heart failure patients denied therapy to reduce hospitalization and death A study in nearly 15 000 heart failure patients has found that up to 80% may not be receiving treatment at doses proven to reduce hospitalisations and improve survival. The research presented at ESC Congress 2016 today highlights the need for doctors to ensure patients are treated appropriately so that the high levels of serious illnesses and death associated with heart failure can be reduced.
Nebivolol prevents anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity Nebivolol prevents anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity, according to research presented at ESC Congress 2016 today by Professor Mirela Cleopatra Tomescu, a cardiologist at Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
Mediterranean diet associated with lower risk of death in cardiovascular disease patients The Mediterranean diet is associated with a reduced risk of death in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, according to results from the observational Moli-sani study presented at ESC Congress 2016 today.
Defibrillators could save many more lives if associated with basic life support education Automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) fail to save lives when the public does not have basic life support education, according to research presented today at ESC Congress 2016. The study found that public access defibrillation (PAD) programmes are unevenly deployed across France, with an obvious impact on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival rate.
Heart failure in the elderly set to triple by 2060 Heart failure in the elderly is set to triple by 2060, according to new data from the Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility (AGES) - Reykjavík study presented at ESC Congress 2016 today.
iPads as effective as sedatives for children before operations New research presented at this year's World Congress of Anaesthesiologists (WCA) in Hong Kong (Aug. 28 - Sept. 2) shows that allowing children to use iPads to distract them before surgery requiring general anaesthesia is as effective at lowering their anxiety as conventional sedatives. Furthermore, parental satisfaction and quality of anaesthesia induction was higher in children using iPads. The study is by Dr Dominique Chassard, EPICIME, Hopital Mere Enfant, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France, and colleagues.
Playing with sports concussion doubles recovery time: study Continuing to play despite a concussion doubles recovery time for teen athletes and leads to worse short-term mental function than in those immediately removed from action, a study found.
	Asthma care costs UK at least GBP1.1 billion each year, study shows Asthma costs the UK health service at least £1.1 billion each year, researchers have estimated.
Singapore battles mosquitoes as Zika cases reach 50 Singapore on Monday confirmed more Zika infections, bringing the total number of cases past 50 as mosquito-fighting teams saturated the scene of the outbreak amid growing public alarm.
Study examines unnecessary angiography rates among strategies to guide care of suspected CHD In a study published online by JAMA, John P. Greenwood, Ph.D., of the University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom, and colleagues examined whether among patients with suspected coronary heart disease (CHD), cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)-guided care is superior to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines-directed care and myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS)-guided care in reducing unnecessary angiography. The study is being released to coincide with its presentation at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2016.
Melanoma—mechanisms of BRAF-inhibitor resistance deciphered BRAF mutation occurs in between 40% and 50% of metastasising melanomas (skin cancers), boosting tumour growth. Patients with metastasising melanomas and who display BRAF mutation can be treated with an inhibitor that acts specifically against BRAF mutation (BRAF inhibitor in combination with MEK inhibitor). Initially the treatment is extremely effective but, after a maximum of 11 months, the patient becomes resistant to it. Verena Paulitschke from MedUni Vienna's Department of Dermatology has now identified some of the mechanisms that might cause this resistance. This could well lead to new treatment concepts and predictive biomarkers, as well as an improved general understanding of the pathomechanisms leading to the disease.
	EpiPen's pricing debacle and its impact on patients, insurers A firestorm erupted this week in response to the pharmaceutical company Mylan's steep increase in the price of its EpiPen, a life-saving treatment for severe allergic reactions, with consumers and politicians expressing outrage over the device's now $600-plus price tag. Currently there is no generic version of the medication and just one, infrequently used, competitor. On Thursday, in response to the furor, the company announced it would issue coupons covering up to $300 of the cost to users whose insurance plans have high deductibles and also increase the income level for those eligible for its patient assistance program, which provides the EpiPens for free.
	Opinion: What can you eat to help ease 'morning' sickness in pregnancy? Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is mistakenly known as "morning" sickness. Mistakenly, because it doesn't occur only in the morning. One Canadian study reported 80% of its sample of pregnant women experienced nausea that lasted all day, compared to only 1.8% who reported it occurring just in the morning. However, half of pregnant women in a British study did vomit in the morning, between 6am and 12pm.
Physical therapy is best choice for pain management According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sales of prescription opioids have quadrupled in the United States since 1999, even though there has not been an overall change in the amount of pain reported.
	Researchers release global sleep apnoea study The largest sleep study ever undertaken has found that the leading therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), does not reduce recurrent strokes and heart attacks in people with cardiovascular disease – but does significantly improve their quality of life and severe depression.
	Fiscal health trends reversing in some Michigan communities After five years of steady statewide improvement, fewer Michigan communities report that they are better able to meet their fiscal needs this year.
	Low back pain sufferers experience relief with new treatment Millions of Americans suffering from low back pain could soon have a quick, cost-effective and permanent solution for the debilitating ailment. The solution, an injectable liquid called Réjuve, was pioneered by University of Kentucky researcher Tom Hedman and has received promising early results from a recent clinical study.
Could the Paleo diet benefit heart health? The popular Paleo diet is based on eating foods thought to be available to our ancestors during the Paleolithic era, before the advent of dairy or processed grains. Findings from a small study suggest that people who followed the Paleo diet for only eight weeks experienced positive effects on heart health. Preliminary findings from this research will be presented at the American Physiological Society's Inflammation, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease conference.
MicroRNAs may link inflammation and heart disease in obese people Inflammation likely plays a role in the increased risk of heart disease that comes with obesity, but scientists don't fully understand how obesity leads to heart disease. Results from a new study suggest that small molecules known as microRNAs may be part of the pathway connecting inflammation with increased heart disease risk in obese people. The new findings will be presented at the American Physiological Society's Inflammation, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease conference.
Researchers target gut bacteria to reduce weight gain A new therapy that involves engineered gut bacteria may one day help reduce the health problems that come with obesity. Incorporating the engineered bacteria into the guts of mice both kept them from gaining weight and protected them against some of the negative health effects of obesity. Researchers will present their findings today at the American Physiological Society's Inflammation, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease conference.
'Multiplicative' benefit of cholesterol and blood pressure-lowering on cardiovascular risk Long-term exposure to the combination of even modestly lower LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) has the potential to "dramatically reduce" a person's lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease, according to new findings reported at ESC Congress 2016.
OPTICARE trial enhanced cardiac rehab programs help heart attack patients, but do not decrease cardiovascular risk Enhanced cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs that include a year of group or personal lifestyle and fitness coaching did not improve cardiovascular risk scores more than a standard 3-month program in patients recovering from a heart attack.
Alirocumab cuts apheresis rates in familial hypercholesterolemia Patients who have heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH), a condition that causes abnormally raised low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and premature cardiovascular disease, can significantly reduce or even eliminate their need for expensive and time-consuming apheresis treatments with the PCSK9 inhibitor alirocumab.
Lipoprotein apheresis a possible new approach to refractory angina Lipoprotein apheresis, a therapy normally used to filter excess cholesterol from the blood of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia, may have a new role in patients with refractory angina.
Research finds no benefit to detecting and treating extra-coronary lesions In patients with high-risk coronary artery disease (CAD), an active strategy of detecting and treating asymptomatic multisite artery disease (MSAD) combined with intensive medical therapy did not improve 2-year outcomes compared to a more traditional approach of managing only symptomatic coronary and extracoronary lesions, new research shows.
Invasive imaging sheds more light on percutaneous coronary intervention An invasive imaging technique called optical coherence tomography (OCT) can visualize the coronary arteries in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and lead to better outcomes compared to standard angiography-guided PCI, according to new findings reported here.
	Why science says you should have more sex On a health kick? Forget the juice cleanse—there is scientific evidence that a loving relationship and sex can be good for your wellbeing.
Study finds female triathletes at higher risk for pelvic floor disorders A study led by Loyola Medicine researchers found that female triathletes are at higher risk for pelvic floor disorders, among other health issues.
	Selective protection of genetic information by epigenetic system DNA is replicated to pass genetic information to the daughter cells during cell proliferation. Replication errors, if not repaired, can lead to genetic mutations. For an individual organism, some DNA mutations may cause disease, even lethality. Robust DNA repair system exists in cells to ensure efficient correction of replication errors, and thus safeguard genetic fidelity. However, a small percentage of replication errors escape DNA repair, and provide an important basis for evolution. Epigenetics studies heritable phenotype changes that are not attributed to changes in DNA sequences. In fact, epigenetic systems can also directly impact DNA sequences.
Head-to-head comparison of non-invasive coronary artery imaging For patients presenting for the first time with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) clinicians have had a number of non-invasive diagnostic tests to choose from, but little evidence for which is best.
Researchers unmaks lobbyists' model legislation Since 2005, about two dozen states have created "Stand Your Ground" laws authorizing deadly force in self-defense. And nearly all of those laws have similar language.
How a particular gene protects against psoriasis There is currently no cure for the skin disease psoriasis. However, in a new study conducted at Karolinska Institutet and published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, scientists show that the miR-146a gene can be a "chronicity factor" , that mediate the resolution of inflammation and may prevent the disease from becoming chronic.
SAVE - sleep apnea treatment: No cardiovascular benefit More than 3 years of nightly treatment with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine did not reduce cardiovascular risk more than usual care among patients with cardiovascular disease and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
The REM-HF trial: Remote monitoring of implantable cardiac devices: No added benefit For heart failure patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), remote monitoring of their condition does not improve outcomes compared to usual care, according to Hot Line results presented at ESC Congress 2016 and to be simultaneously published in JAMA.
	A few extra pounds can't hurt you—or can they? Being overweight increases the chances of premature death, according to a USC researcher.
ANTARCTIC trial antiplatelet monitoring: No benefit in elderly patients Monitoring platelet function in order to individualize antiplatelet therapy did not improve outcomes for elderly patients after a heart attack compared to a standard, unmonitored approach, results of the ANTARCTIC trial show.
Shorter dual antiplatelet duration holds up in NIPPON A short-term course of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is non-inferior to a longer course in patients who have undergone placement of a particular kind of drug-eluting stent (DES), researchers reported here.
	Telemedicine could improve eye exam access for people with diabetes Electronic eye exams could become popular in the U.S. among patients who see them as an easy way to visit the eye doctor.
Infused stem cells in heart failure: Improved health status but not cardiac function A single dose of mesenchymal stem cells delivered intravenously to patients with chronic non-ischemic cardiomyopathy was not associated with significant cardiac structural or functional improvements, but did result in several clinically relevant benefits, according to results from a phase II-a randomized trial.
Traffic deaths rose a whopping 7.2 percent in 2015 Government officials say traffic fatalities rose 7.2 percent in 2015 compared to the previous year. That's the largest single-year increase in a half century.
	Mylan launching cheaper, generic version of EpiPen The maker of EpiPens will start selling a cheaper, generic version of the emergency allergy shots as the furor over repeated U.S. price hikes continues—and looming competition threatens its near-monopoly.
US regulators issue emergency authorisation for Roche Zika test: company Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche said Monday that US regulators had issued emergency authorisation to use its not-yet-approved diagnostic test for detecting the Zika virus in certain circumstances.
	Drug-dispensing contact lens effectively lowers eye pressure in glaucoma model A contact lens designed to deliver medication gradually to the eye could improve outcomes for patients with conditions requiring treatment with eye drops, which are often imprecise and difficult to self-administer. In a study published online today in Ophthalmology, a team of researchers have shown that a novel contact lens-based system, which uses a strategically placed drug polymer film to deliver medication gradually to the eye, is at least as effective, and possibly more so, as daily latanoprost eye drops in a pre-clinical model for glaucoma.
	Less than one-third of adults with depression receive treatment New findings suggest that most Americans with depression receive no treatment, while raising the possibility that overtreatment of depression is also widespread. Less than a third of American adults who screened positive for depression received treatment for their symptoms, whereas over two-thirds of adults receiving treatment for depression did not report symptoms of depression or serious psychological distress, according to a study from Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) and the University of Pennsylvania.
Cost savings possible from reducing use of low-value health services, study says The first national study to examine spending on a wide array of low-value health services among adults with commercial health insurance finds that while use of such services is modest, there is considerable potential for cost savings.
Identifying and treating thyroid disorders in kids Primary care physicians are critical in identifying children and adolescents who have thyroid disorders and early identification and treatment helps to optimize growth and development.
	Artificial intelligence expedites breast cancer risk prediction Researchers at Houston Methodist have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) software that reliably interprets mammograms, assisting doctors with a quick and accurate prediction of breast cancer risk. According to a new study published in Cancer (early online Aug. 29), the computer software intuitively translates patient charts into diagnostic information at 30 times human speed and with 99 percent accuracy.
	Fair or unfair? Facial cues influence how social exclusion is judged People are often excluded from social groups. As researchers from the University of Basel in Switzerland report in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, whether uninvolved observers find this acceptable or not may depend on the facial appearances of those excluded. The exclusion of cold and incompetent looking people is more likely to be accepted.
Intensive cholesterol-lowering treatment: No significantly better outcomes Survival and other cardiovascular outcomes were not significantly reduced with intensive treatment using a second-line cholesterol-lowering medication on top of a standard statin, compared to statin treatment alone in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and dyslipidemia, investigators reported here.
	Study may explain why people with type O blood more likely to die of cholera People with blood type O often get more severely ill from cholera than people of other blood types. New research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis may explain why.
Outpatient bloodstream infections costly for pediatric transplant and cancer patients Pediatric stem cell transplant and cancer patients often are discharged from the hospital with an external central venous line for medications that parents or other caregivers must clean and flush daily to avoid potentially life-threatening infections. If an outpatient develops a bloodstream infection associated with the central line, research from Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center finds, the median charges to treat it total $37,000 for a hospital stay of six days for young patients whose disease treatments have weakened their immune systems and infection-fighting abilities.
	Alzheimer's: Nicotinic receptors as a new therapeutic target Several scientific studies have indicated that nicotine may be beneficial for memory function. Scientists from the Institut Pasteur and the CNRS set out to shed further light on the properties attributed to nicotine - which is known to have an adverse effect on health - by determining the precise structure of the nicotinic receptors in the hippocampus region of the brain. Using mouse models for Alzheimer's disease, they identified the β2 subunit of the nicotinic receptor as a target that, if blocked, prevents the memory loss associated with Alzheimer's. These results were published in Neurobiology of Aging on August 12, 2016.
Noninvasive imaging can guide more selective invasive coronary angiograph In stable symptomatic patients with suspected coronary artery disease, a strategy of using non-invasive computed tomography (CT) to guide the selective use of invasive coronary angiography was safe, and less expensive compared with direct invasive angiography.
First European standards for management of heart attack patients launched today The first European standards for the management of heart attack patients are launched today by the European Society of Cardiology-Acute Cardiac Care Association (ESC-ACCA). The quality indicators for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are published in European Heart Journal: Acute Cardiovascular Care, ACCA's official journal, and presented at ESC Congress together with the results of the inaugural implementation.
First study examines PTSD and cognitive impairment in World Trade Center responders New research published by the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring confirms the connection between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and cognitive impairment - in this case, among those who helped with search, rescue and cleanup efforts following the 2001 World Trade Center (WTC) attacks.
Study: A majority of older adults in jail have distressing health symptoms More than 550,000 adults 55-years-old and older are arrested and detained every year—and that number is increasing rapidly. Yet we know very little about the special health burdens in this population. In a first of its kind study, researchers report that two-thirds of incarcerated older adults experience at least one health-related distressing symptom, such as a chronic disease, physical pain, or emotional suffering.
Fewer cardiovascular drugs being studied in clinical trials The number of cardiovascular drugs in the research pipeline has declined across all phases of development in the last 20 years even as cardiovascular disease has become the number one cause of death world-wide, according to research published today in JACC: Basic to Translational Science.
Blinding disease in canines and humans shares causative gene, pathology Ciliopathies are diseases that affect the cilia, sensory organelles that most mammalian cells possess and which play a critical role in many biological functions. One such disease is Senior Løken Syndrome a rare condition that can involve both a severe kidney disease and the blinding disease Leber congenital amaurosis, or LCA.
	Use it or lose it: Study shows that stopping exercise decreases brain blood flow We all know that we can quickly lose cardiovascular endurance if we stop exercising for a few weeks, but what impact does the cessation of exercise have on our brains? New research led by University of Maryland School of Public Health researchers examined cerebral blood flow in healthy, physically fit older adults (ages 50-80 years) before and after a 10-day period during which they stopped all exercise. Using MRI brain imaging techniques, they found a significant decrease in blood flow to several brain regions, including the hippocampus, after they stopped their exercise routines.
	Tight focus on blood sugar narrows options for diabetes The glucocentric focus on lowering blood sugar in Type 2 diabetes may have short-circuited development of new diabetes therapies, according to a new paper published by Mayo Clinic researchers in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
'Internal astigmatism' doesn't compensate for changes in the eye over time For people with nearsightedness (myopia), the lens doesn't compensate for growth or other changes in the structure of the eye, according to a long-term follow-up study in the September issue of Optometry and Vision Science, official journal of the American Academy of Optometry.
Standing up for weight management Alternating positions between standing and sitting while performing deskwork could make the difference in whether the thin red needle in your bathroom scale tilts to the left or the right of your goal weight.
Pennsylvania firm launches Zika vaccine trial in Puerto Rico A Pennsylvania drug company announced Monday that it has launched a clinical trial of an experimental Zika vaccine in Puerto Rico, the part of the U.S. hardest hit by the mosquito-borne virus.
	Study finds shark fins and meat contain high levels of neurotoxins linked to Alzheimer's disease In a new study, University of Miami (UM) scientists found high concentrations of toxins linked to neurodegenerative diseases in the fins and muscles of 10 species of sharks. The research team suggests that restricting consumption of sharks can have positive health benefits for consumers and for shark conservation, since several of the sharks analyzed in the study are threatened with extinction due to overfishing.
Folic acid fortified food linked to decline in congenital heart defects Food fortified with folic acid, a B vitamin required in human diets for numerous biological functions, was associated with reduced rates of congenital heart defects, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.
	New research finds female mosquitoes can transmit Zika virus to their eggs and offspring As the recent Miami outbreak of Zika virus, transmitted by the bite of female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, prompts an all-out war on the pest, new research reveals that female mosquitoes can pass the virus on to their eggs and offspring, bolstering the need for larvicide use as an integral part of the effort to stop the spread of the virus.
Togo announces campaign to combat bird flu outbreak The Togo government said it is taking urgent measures to combat an outbreak of the avian flu virus, the country's state broadcaster said on Saturday.
Egypt seeks tougher penalties for female circumcision Egypt's government said on Sunday it will ask parliament to approve a draft law that would increase jail terms for those who perform female circumcision.
DANISH: No overall survival benefit with ICDs in non-ischemic heart failure Placement of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) in patients with non-ischemic systolic heart failure did not improve overall survival compared to usual clinical care - although a secondary outcome, risk of sudden cardiac death, was halved with ICD placement, according to new research reported here.
MORE-CARE: No clinical benefit for cardiac device remote monitoring Heart failure patients fitted with biventricular defibrillators (CRT-D) fared no better with remote monitoring (RM) of their condition compared to those whose devices were monitored during in-clinic visits, according to results of the MORE-CARE study.
CHART-1: Largest cardiac regenerative therapy trial brings new insights A therapy that uses bone-marrow stem cells to promote heart repair did not significantly improve the primary outcome over a sham procedure among patients with congestive heart failure. However, it revealed critical new insights, according to investigators of the CHART-1 trial.
	Clinton proposes plan to address mental health treatment Hillary Clinton rolled out a comprehensive plan to address millions of Americans coping with mental illness, pointing to the need to fully integrate mental health services into the nation's health care system.
	Osteopathic manipulative treatment improves outcomes for elderly pneumonia patients An analysis of multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial found osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) for pneumonia reduced length of hospital stay in adults 50 to 74 years old and lowered in-hospital mortality rates for patients 75 and older. The study results published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
	ERs after Obamacare: More patients, fewer on-call specialists The average monthly emergency department visit increased by 5.7 percent in Illinois after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), although the population remained essentially flat. In Massachusetts, while visits to emergency departments climbed steadily between 2005 and 2014, availability of on-call specialists (surgeons, psychiatrists and other specialists) declined "significantly." The results of two state-specific studies were published online last Thursday in Annals of Emergency Medicine ("Increased Emergency Department Use in Illinois After Implementation of the Affordable Care Act" and "Decline in Consultant Availability in Massachusetts Emergency Departments: 2005 to 2014").
Patients with moderate to severe TBI twice as likely to die from an unintentional injury Research examining adults with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) who participated in rehabilitation showed that they were twice as likely to die from an unintentional injury that occurred following their TBI. This was in comparison to individuals in rehabilitation of similar age, sex, and race but without TBI. People who have had a moderate to severe TBI may experience changes in cognition and balance, which may put them at greater risk of subsequent unintentional injuries. In the current issue of NeuroRehabilitation, experts focus on the issues and risks associated with unintentional injuries following TBI and strategies to mitigate these risks.
Pointing the way to fewer invasive angiograms Initial investigation of patients with suspected coronary heart disease (CHD) using functional imaging - rather than guideline-directed care - resulted in significantly less unnecessary angiography, according to results of the CE-MARC 2 trial.
Study identifies potential targets for treating triple negative breast cancer No specific treatments are currently available for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), a type of tumor that lacks the receptors targeted by many breast cancer therapies. Although many TNBC tumors lack two tumor suppressors, RB1 and p53, the specific downstream pathways that can be targeted as potential treatments for these tumors have not been identified.
Sacubitril-valsartan cost-effective for treating reduced ejection fraction heart failure Sacubitril-valsartan is reasonably cost effective compared to widely-used therapies for reducing mortality and morbidity in patients with reduced ejection fraction heart failure. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Other Sciences news

	Best of Last Week—Converting CO2 to fuel, rocky planet found orbiting nearest star and possible remedy for a fatty diet (ScienceX)—It was a good week for physics and technology development as a team with Rice University found that light and matter merge in quantum coupling—they described research into a way to create a new condensed matter state in which all of the electrons in a material could be made to act as one.
	Did fall from tree kill famous human ancestor Lucy? The famous human ancestor known as Lucy walked the Earth, but it was her tree climbing that might have led to her demise, a new study suggests.
	Ancient dental plaque sheds new light on the diet of Mesolithic foragers in the Balkans The study of dental calculus from Late Mesolithic individuals from the site of Vlasac in the Danube Gorges of the central Balkans has provided direct evidence that Mesolithic foragers of this region consumed domestic cereals already by c. 6600 BC, i.e. almost half a millennium earlier than previously thought.
	Isotope study determines fish were more prominent in early Alaskans' diets Ice age inhabitants of Interior Alaska relied more heavily on salmon and freshwater fish in their diets than previously thought, according to a newly published study.
	Ready for kindergarten? Gap between rich and poor narrows, study finds On the first day of kindergarten, poor children are already behind.
Tool helps minority students improve math word problem solving by boosting reading skills Students rarely study math and reading at the same time, and it's not often considered that a student needs to excel at one to be successful with the other. But reading plays a vital role in math as students are presented increasingly difficult word problems throughout their schooling. A University of Kansas professor has developed and verified the effectiveness of an intervention that helps minority students at risk of math difficulties to better solve word problems by boosting both their reading and math abilities.
	The value of the open science movement Research creates its own problems. Articles may be withdrawn because of irregularities, results can be impossible to reproduce, methods are often non-standardised, and publications may not be accessible (See 'Fixing science', Horizons September 2015). The search is now on for solutions.
	Sophisticated maths simplifies appraisals The immense challenges in delivering a fair, transparent and objective performance appraisal process in large organisations can be made much easier with a new approach developed by University of Portsmouth Business School researchers.
	Austrian experts recover giant tusks of rare mammoth breed An Austrian museum team has recovered two giant tusks and other remnants of what experts say are apparently the remains of a rare mammoth breed, after construction crews unearthed them while working on an Austrian freeway.
Calm or fiery? Study says candidate language should match the times Potential voters who see the nation as being in dire economic straits view a presidential candidate as more "presidential" when he or she uses high-intensity, emotional language, a new study suggests.
	America's wars take uneven toll, study finds In today's wars, Americans who die or are wounded in battle are disproportionately coming from poorer parts of the country, according to a new study released this week.
How gay men navigate the corporate world Recent sociology research at the University of Cincinnati looked closely at the various strategies gay men use to manage both their gendered and sexual identities in the workplace.
	Study suggests NZ children's family lives often complex and fluid Conventional notions of family life that underpin New Zealand's social policies do not match the reality of many young New Zealanders' lives, new University of Otago research suggests.

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