Fwd: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Aug 18

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From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Fri, Aug 19, 2016 at 12:30 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Aug 18
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for August 18, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Neuromorphic computing mimics important brain feature

A practical synthesis for benzazetidine compounds

Carbon molecular sieve membranes could cut energy in hydrocarbon separations

Engineers program human cells to store complex histories in their DNA

Classical nova captured before, during and after exploding

Hybrid system designed to harvest 'full spectrum' of solar energy

Unhealthy diet during pregnancy could be linked to ADHD

Researchers identify gene associated with age-related hearing loss

How did phosphate get into RNA?

Largest collection of human exome sequence data yields unprecedented tool for diagnosing rare disease

Zika infection may affect adult brain cells

Heart muscle made from stem cells aid precision cardiovascular medicine, study shows

More evidence that 'healthy obesity' may be a myth

Study shows how mutations disrupt ALS-linked protein

New clues found to how norovirus gets inside cells

Nanotechnology news

Neuromorphic computing mimics important brain feature (Phys.org)—When you hear a sound, only some of the neurons in the auditory cortex of your brain are activated. This is because every auditory neuron is tuned to a certain range of sound, so that each neuron is more sensitive to particular types and levels of sound than others. In a new study, researchers have designed a neuromorphic ("brain-inspired") computing system that mimics this neural selectivity by using artificial level-tuned neurons that preferentially respond to specific types of stimuli.

Tracing barnacle's footprint In infection diseases, membrane fouling, interaction with bacteria, as well as in rapid healing of wounds for example, the way proteins interact with a surface plays an important role. On a surface, they function in a different way than in solution. On a ship hull, the larvae of the barnacle will leave tiny traces of proteins to test if the surface is attractive for long-term attachment. If we get to know more about this interaction, it will be possible to develop surface conditions that are less attractive for the barnacle. Large amounts of barnacles on a ship will have a destructive effect on flow resistance and will lead to more fuel consumption. The new measuring method makes use of a modified Atomic Force Microscope: a tiny ball glued to the cantilever of the microscope will attract protein molecules.

Physics news

	An optical method of sorting nanoparticles by size NIST scientists have devised and modeled a unique optical method of sorting microscopic and nanoscopic particles by size, with a resolution as fine as 1 nanometer (nm) for particles of similar composition.
Researchers attempt to explain superconductive phenomenon Superconductivity with a high critical temperature (high Tc) presents a theoretical mystery. While this phenomenon is experimentally well established, science has not explained its mechanism. In the late 1990s, the British physicist Anthony Leggett proposed a scenario based on Coulomb energy. Today, researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, in collaboration with Leggett and his group, tested this scenario. Their findings challenge Leggett's conjecture, opening new avenues for the explanation of high Tc superconductivity. These results are available in the journal Physical Review X.
	X-ray optics on a chip Waveguides are widely used for filtering, confining, guiding, coupling or splitting beams of visible light. However, creating waveguides that could do the same for X-rays has posed tremendous challenges in fabrication, so they are still only in an early stage of development.
	Innovative device simulates cataract replacement experience Today, patients with cataracts can choose from several types of artificial lenses, which are surgically implanted in the eye to replace cloudy lenses that obstruct vision. A new vision simulator could help these patients see how the world would look with each type of implanted artificial lens, before they have surgery.

Earth news

	Cut phosphorus to reduce algae blooms, say scientists Several prominent Canadian and American scientists are urging governments around the world to focus on controlling phosphorus to decrease the frequency and intensity of algal blooms in freshwaters. Their recommendation follows this week's publication of a feature article in a leading environmental science journal, Environmental Science & Technology. The article reviews the results of whole-lake studies where phosphorus, nitrogen or both elements had been controlled.
	Carbon levels in soil affected by climatic conditions Researchers from The University of Western Australia and the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia have discovered that hot and dry climatic conditions can limit the organic carbon build up in soil, which can decrease crop productivity and limit measures to offset greenhouse emissions.
	New research shows past gold mining activity near Yellowknife detrimentally impacted area lakes A lake ecosystem was severely affected by past arsenic contamination from a gold mine near Yellowknife, according to a new collaborative study undertaken by Queen's University researcher John Smol and his colleagues at the University of Ottawa, Joshua Thienpont and Jules Blais.
	By 2050, the US wildfire season will be three weeks longer, up to twice as smoky Research by environmental scientists at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) brings bad news to the western United States, where firefighters are currently battling dozens of fires in at least 11 states.
	Mussel flexing: Bivalve save drought-stricken marshes, research finds As coastal ecosystems feel the heat of climate change worldwide, new research shows the humble mussel and marsh grass form an intimate interaction known as mutualism that benefits both partner species and may be critical to helping these ecosystems bounce back from extreme climatic events such as drought.
	Pacific sea level predicts global temperature changes The amount of sea level rise in the Pacific Ocean can be used to estimate future global surface temperatures, according to a new report led by University of Arizona geoscientists.
	90 years of monitoring change in arid zone A 400 hectare piece of land in South Australia's outback, 400 kilometres north-east of Adelaide, is providing important data to help researchers and land and environmental managers understand arid zone ecology and the impacts of grazing by sheep and pests.
	New green method could unlock bauxite deposits North Queensland has some of Earth's largest known bauxite deposits, but their potential has largely remained locked in the ground, until now.
	Brazil's environmental licensing under threat In a paper published in Science this week, Philip M. Fearnside of Brazil's National Institute for Research in Amazonia (INPA) explains how the country's environmental licensing is under threat from a flurry of proposed laws and constitutional amendments.
	Lava meets the sea, puts on fire-spitting show in Hawaii For the first time in three years, lava from a volcano on Hawaii's Big Island has crept down miles of mountainside and is dripping into the Pacific Ocean, where it's creating new land and putting on a crackling, hissing, fire-spitting show.
	New study shows logging, not fire, is degrading our national forests Monica Bond has spent the past 15 years studying spotted owls and forest fire. This week, Bond published an article summarizing existing science about what happens to spotted owls when forests burn, in the hope of averting a major US forest management policy disaster.
	Image: Rail fire in Oregon still burning bright The Rail Fire in Oregon began on July 31, 2016 and the cause of the blaze is unknown. It is located 5 miles west of Unity, Oregon. This fire has grown to 18,600 acres and is only 12% contained. The Suomi NPP satellite captured this image of the fire on August 16, 2016 using the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) instrument onboard. According to Inciweb the hot and dry conditions in the area are expected to persist today and last into the night. Night time humidity will continue to be low. The fire is expected to continue to actively burn with this weather pattern in place. Smoke conditions are being monitored daily. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between very unhealthy and hazardous in the Unity area.
	Image: Blue Cut Fire, California The Blue Cut fire was first reported just after 10:30 a.m. PDT on Aug. 16, 2016, north of San Bernadino, Calif. Smoke and the heat from the fire was detected just three hours later by NASA's Aqua satellite.
	As Louisiana floods, measuring the climate change effect The current flooding in Louisiana is turning into quite an awful event. Even for a low-lying gulf state where flooding is historically chronic, this is extreme. As much as 30 inches of rain fell in some places last week—New York City's average annual precipitation is about 40—and the disaster has spread since then as floodwaters have surged downstream.
	Blue Cut Fire in California spreads quickly The Blue Cut Fire, just outside of Los Angeles, is a quickly growing fire that is currently an imminent threat to public safety, rail traffic and structures in the Cajon Pass, Lytle Creek, Wrightwood, Oak Hills, and surrounding areas. An estimated 34,500 homes and 82,640 people are being affected by the evacuation warnings that have been issued. This wildfire started on August 16, 2016 and the cause is unknown. In the last two days the fire has grown to 31,689 acres with 1584 personnel on scene. 178 engines, 26 crews, 10 air tankers, 2 Very Large Air Tankers (VLATS), and 17 Helicopters, including night flying helicopters. Additional firefighters and equipment have been ordered and will be responding directly to the fire. An unknown number of structures are damaged and destroyed. A smoke advisory has been issued for portions of San Bernardino Country.
	NASA sees formation of Atlantic Ocean's Tropical Storm Fiona NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite passed over Tropical Storm Fiona as it developed in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and captured a visible image of the strengthening storm.
	NASA sees Tropical Storm 12W over the open Northwestern Pacific Ocean Tropical Storm 12W formed over the open waters of the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, far southeast of the big island of Japan. NASA's Aqua satellite captured an image of the small storm on Aug. 18, 2016.
	NASA sees Tropical Depression 10W form near Guam NASA's Terra satellite captured an infrared image of the developing Tropical Storm 10W in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean near Guam.

Astronomy & Space news

	Classical nova captured before, during and after exploding (Phys.org)—A team of researchers affiliated with the Warsaw University Observatory has captured for the first time the events that led to a classical nova exploding, the explosion itself and then what happened afterwards. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes how they happened to capture the star activity and why they believe it may help bolster the theory of star hibernation.
	Venus-like exoplanet might have oxygen atmosphere, but not life The distant planet GJ 1132b intrigued astronomers when it was discovered last year. Located just 39 light-years from Earth, it might have an atmosphere despite being baked to a temperature of around 450 degrees Fahrenheit. But would that atmosphere be thick and soupy or thin and wispy? New research suggests the latter is much more likely.
	Boeing Starliner crew access arm's 'awesome' launch pad installation A new 'Stairway to Heaven' which American astronauts will soon stride along as "the last place on Earth" departure point aboard our next generation of human spaceships, was at long last hoisted into place at the ULA Atlas rocket launch pad on Florida's Space Coast on Monday Aug 15, at an "awesome" media event witnessed by space journalists including Universe Today.
	Looking from space for nuclear detonations Sandia National Laboratories' Jaime Gomez was too busy to celebrate the successful launch of the latest nuclear detonation detection system—he was already deep into the next generation.
Video: Massive rocket fuel tank built in a minute It took a lot longer than 60 seconds to weld the massive 130-foot rocket fuel tank. This time-lapse video shows the construction and rotation of the liquid hydrogen tank for the core stage of NASA's Space Launch System rocket—the new heavy-lift rocket being built in the Vehicle Assembly Center at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.
	Star and planetary scientists get millions of hours on EU supercomputers The universe is full of mysteries. Mysteries that cannot be solved by observation alone, but researchers can examine them using modelling. However, this requires enormous processing power and is very expensive. Now researchers from Astrophysics and Planetary Science at the Niels Bohr Institute have just been granted 91 million CPU hours on European supercomputers for three major research projects.
	Specialized cameras capture the Perseid meteor shower from points around the globe Time-lapse images captured during the peak of this summer's Perseid meteor shower have been released by the SkySentinel project, in which students at Florida Institute of Technology monitor the night sky from a network of up-looking, wide-angle cameras around the globe.

Technology news

	Hybrid system designed to harvest 'full spectrum' of solar energy A new concept could bring highly efficient solar power by combining three types of technologies that convert different parts of the light spectrum and also store energy for use after sundown.
	Self-driving Uber cars to carry passenger soon in Pittsburgh In a few weeks, Uber will start using self-driving cars to carry passengers in Pittsburgh, raising the stakes in the fast-track race to deploy autonomous vehicles.
	'Mr. Robot' mobile game launches as phony messaging app "Mr. Robot" is now a video game.
	'Auction' of NSA tools sends security companies scrambling The leak of what purports to be a National Security Agency hacking tool kit has set the information security world atwitter—and sent major companies rushing to update their defenses.
Railway research into safety at level crossings reaches next stage Networks of tiny wireless sensors could not only improve safety at railway crossings but would also be much less costly to install and maintain, drawing their electrical power from track vibration. These are among the findings of a UK Government-funded project carried out by rail experts at the University of Huddersfield.
	Can photos on social media lead to mistaken identity in court cases? When it comes to identifying someone allegedly involved in a crime there can be risks associated with seeing photos of people on Facebook and other social media, as the recent case involving convicted killer Adrian Bayley highlights.
	Algorithms can be more fair than humans Amazon recently began to offer same-day delivery in selected metropolitan areas. This may be good for many customers, but the rollout shows how computerized decision-making can also deliver a strong dose of discrimination.
	Volvo and Uber form driverless car venture Sweden-based manufacturer Volvo Cars said on Thursday it would team up with ride-sharing service Uber in a $300 million (265 million euro) joint venture to develop driverless automobiles.
	Twitter axes 235,000 more accounts in terror crackdown Twitter on Thursday announced that it has cut off 235,000 more accounts for violating its policies regarding promotion of terrorism at the global one-to-many messaging service.
	No new rate hints as Federal Reserve joins Facebook The Federal Reserve expanded its communications strategy Thursday by launching a Facebook page, but there were no fresh hints on the direction of interest rates.
Self-driving car race sees flurry of partnerships Uber announced Thursday that it will partner with Volvo to make autonomous vehicles. The tie-up is the latest between automakers and tech companies hoping to speed driverless cars to market. Here's a rundown of who's working with whom:
	Image: Margaret Hamilton's Apollo code Half a century ago, MIT played a critical role in the development of the flight software for NASA's Apollo program, which landed humans on the moon for the first time in 1969. One of the many contributors to this effort was Margaret Hamilton, a computer scientist who led the Software Engineering Division of the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory, which in 1961 contracted with NASA to develop the Apollo program's guidance system. For her work during this period, Hamilton has been credited with popularizing the concept of software engineering.
Discovering electric mobility in a playful way How can services help encourage the spread of electric mobility, and how can they be systematically developed? Using four case studies from Finland, Estonia, Denmark and Norway, Fraunhofer IAO presents various approaches to developing e-mobility projects. One of the key research findings was that using game-like methods to involve customers in the development of e-mobility projects helps those business ventures become accepted.
	T-Mobile phasing out data limits—but will you save money? T-Mobile is phasing out data limits and pushing people toward unlimited data plans—which will mean higher prices for many new customers.
	Harley-Davidson in $15m pollution settlement with US Motorcycle giant Harley-Davidson on Thursday entered a $15 million settlement with US authorities who accused the company of making and selling illegal devices that increased air pollution from its bikes.
New York Times shuts down NYT Now smartphone app The New York Times is shutting down its NYT Now smartphone app because the company says it hasn't lived up to its hopes in the two years since it was launched in an effort to reach a younger audience.
	Gawker.com dies next week, killed by an unhappy subject Gawker.com, the brash New York website that broke new ground with its gossipy, no-holds-barred coverage of media, culture and politics, is shutting down after 14 years, brought low by an unhappy, but deep-pocketed, subject.

Chemistry news

	A practical synthesis for benzazetidine compounds (Phys.org)—A key chemical component to antibiotics, such as penicillin is the beta-lactam, a four-membered amide ring that is fused to another heterocycle. Researchers in drug design would like to explore compounds using a similar structure. One avenue may be found in the four-member azetidine ring. Similar to the beta-lactam ring, it is a four-membered amine heterocycle. However, less progress has been made for benzazetidines, an azetidine fused to a benzene ring, due to the significant ring strain in these four-membered scaffolds.
	Carbon molecular sieve membranes could cut energy in hydrocarbon separations A research team from the Georgia Institute of Technology and ExxonMobil has demonstrated a new carbon-based molecular sieve membrane that could dramatically reduce the energy required to separate a class of hydrocarbon molecules known as alkyl aromatics.
	How did phosphate get into RNA? The phosphate ion is almost insoluble and is one of the most inactive of Earth's most abundant phosphate minerals. So how could phosphate have originally been incorporated into ribonucleotides, the building blocks of RNA, which are considered to be among the earliest constituents of life? American and Spanish scientists have now identified reasonable conditions to mobilize phosphate from insoluble apatite minerals for prebiotic organophosphate synthesis, including ribonucleotides. The pivotal role of urea in this process is also described in their article in the journal Angewandte Chemie.
	Researchers identify possible catalyst for converting methane to methanol at room temperature (Phys.org)—A team of researchers from Belgium and the U.S. has identified the active site of an iron-containing catalyst that has raised hopes for designing a practically useful catalyst that might make converting methane to methanol a possibility. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the researchers describe their efforts, what they discovered and why they believe their findings may lead to a practical way to convert methane to a more efficient energy resource. Jay Labinger, with the California Institute of Technology offers a News & Views piece outlining the work done by the team in the same journal issue.
	A rare iodine polymer discovery is key to starch-iodine mystery In the pursuit of a new class of photovoltaic materials, researchers at UC Santa Barbara happened upon an entirely different discovery that addresses a centuries-old mystery of chemistry: Why does an iodine solution turn blue-black when starch is added to the mix?
	A new way to display the 3-D structure of molecules Researchers at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and UC Berkeley have created a sort of nanoscale display case that enables new atomic-scale views of hard-to-study chemical and biological samples.
Software to more accurately predict structure of a drug, reduce drug discovery losses A Purdue-based startup is developing molecular modeling simulation software that could help pharmaceutical companies more accurately predict the crystal structure of a drug once produced, helping maintain a consistent drug quality and save costs when developing new drugs.
	Extracting heavy metals with vegetable oils Dangerous lead levels in drinking water in cities across the nation have recently made national headlines. Water contaminated with lead, mercury, or other heavy metals poses serious problems for not only our health but also for our environment.
	New technique matches gunshot residue with specific ammunition brands In a global game changer for gun crime, Flinders University forensic scientists have for the first time matched gunshot residue with specific brands of ammunition.
Innovative food packaging extends shelf life, reduces footprint Completed in April 2016, the BIO4MAP project is now bringing a new type of sustainable food packaging to the market. The consortium promises a significant increase in shelf life for fresh pasta and cheese, a cost 25 percent lower than alternatives, and an environmental and carbon footprint reduced by up to 29 percent.
	Video: The science of spotting fake foods There's not much that can top a big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs—except, of course, for what belongs on top: parmesan cheese. But, it turns out, what we're eating might not be parmesan at all—the Food and Drug Administration recently found that several sellers in the U.S. were filling their batches with lower-cost cheeses or even cellulose, also known as wood pulp.

Biology news

	Engineers program human cells to store complex histories in their DNA MIT biological engineers have devised a way to record complex histories in the DNA of human cells, allowing them to retrieve "memories" of past events, such as inflammation, by sequencing the DNA.
	A biofortified rice high in iron and zinc is set to combat hidden hunger in developing countries Rice is the staple food for billions of people throughout the developing world. But beyond easing hunger pains and providing carbohydrates for energy, it has little nutritional value.
	Most island vertebrate extinctions could be averted, new study concludes Eight of every ten species extinctions has occurred on islands, and invasive mammals are the leading reason for those losses. Currently, 40 percent of species at risk of global extinction are island inhabitants.
	New technologies show how cancer cells protect chromosomes from decay As the rope of a chromosomes replicates, it frays at the ends. No problem: A chromosome's ends have extra twine so that fraying doesn't reach into the body of the rope where the important information resides. This extra twine is called a "telomere". Over time and across replications, this telomere twine breaks down until the chromosome loses its protective ends and this "fraying" reaches into the rope, wrecking the chromosome and resulting in the death of the cell.
	Neural stem cells control their own fate To date, it has been assumed that the differentiation of stem cells depends on the environment they are embedded in. A research group at the University of Basel now describes for the first time a mechanism by which hippocampal neural stem cells regulate their own cell fate via the protein Drosha. The journal Cell Stem Cell has published their results.
	'Baby, it's hot outside': Why birds sing to eggs Much like parents who talk to a pregnant woman's belly, some birds sing to their eggs before they hatch, and the reason may be to prepare them for a warming world, researchers said Thursday.
	Researchers create information technology tool for pest management The heat of summer brings to mind various timeless activities: diving into the crisp waters of a lake, sunning on the sandy shores of a beach and, for many, shucking green husks to reveal golden ears of sweet corn.
	Genetic influence in juvenile songbird babblings Researchers from Hokkaido University have discovered familial differences in the earliest vocal babblings of juvenile songbirds, suggesting a possible genetic basis for the variations.
	Wildlife in hedgerows suffers when next to roads or pavements A citizen science study has revealed that being next to just one hard surface reduces the diversity of plants and animals in hedgerows.
	Game of catfish and mouse in Pilbara river Large catfish in a desert river in the Pilbara are eating native mice when available, Murdoch University researchers have found.
	Homosexual termite regicide Termites not only raid people's homes, but also the humble abodes of other happy termite couples.
Canine babesiosis outbreak in UK under control—but needs monitoring Scientists at the University of Liverpool are using the health records of dogs to monitor the status of a potentially fatal tick-borne disease that appears to have been imported into the UK.
	Urbanization affects diets of butterflies A study led by researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) revealed that most tropical butterflies feed on a variety of flower types, but those that are 'picky' about their flower diets tend to prefer native plants and are more dependent on forests. These 'picky' butterflies also have wings that are more conspicuous and shorter proboscis. The reduction in native plants due to urbanisation affects the diet of such butterflies, and researchers suggest that intervention may be needed to manage their preferred flower resources.
Bee rescue mounted after hospital breaks out in hives It was a sticky situation.
	Biologists remove dead conjoined twin from endangered turtle Marine biologists in southern Italy have separated conjoined twin loggerhead turtles and released the surviving newborn into the Mediterranean Sea.

Medicine & Health news

	Unhealthy diet during pregnancy could be linked to ADHD New research led by scientists from King's College London and the University of Bristol has found that a high-fat, high-sugar diet during pregnancy may be linked to symptoms of ADHD in children who show conduct problems early in life.
	Researchers identify gene associated with age-related hearing loss A large screening programme has identified several genes associated with age-related conditions including hearing loss, retinal degeneration and osteoarthritis. The animal study, published in Nature Communications, may lead to studies of the equivalent human gene and help develop screening programmes to identify the risk of developing an age-related condition many years before symptoms appear.
	Largest collection of human exome sequence data yields unprecedented tool for diagnosing rare disease Based on the largest resource of its kind, members of the Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAC) led by scientists at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard report scientific findings from data on the exome sequences (protein-coding portions of the genome) from 60,706 people from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Containing over 10 million DNA variants – many very rare and most identified for the first time – the ExAC dataset is a freely available, high-resolution catalog of human genetic variation that has already made a major impact on clinical research and diagnosis of rare genetic diseases.
	Zika infection may affect adult brain cells Concerns over the Zika virus have focused on pregnant women due to mounting evidence that it causes brain abnormalities in developing fetuses. However, new research in mice from scientists at The Rockefeller University and La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology suggests that certain adult brain cells may be vulnerable to infection as well. Among these are populations of cells that serve to replace lost or damaged neurons throughout adulthood, and are also thought to be critical to learning and memory.
	Heart muscle made from stem cells aid precision cardiovascular medicine, study shows Heart muscle cells made from induced pluripotent stem cells faithfully mirror the expression patterns of key genes in the donor's native heart tissue, according to researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. As a result, the cells can be used as a proxy to predict whether a patient is likely to experience drug-related heart damage.
	More evidence that 'healthy obesity' may be a myth The term "healthy obesity" has gained traction over the past 15 years, but scientists have recently questioned its very existence. A study published August 18 in Cell Reports provides further evidence against the notion of a healthy obese state, revealing that white fat tissue samples from obese individuals classified as either metabolically healthy or unhealthy actually show nearly identical, abnormal changes in gene expression in response to insulin stimulation.
	Study shows how mutations disrupt ALS-linked protein In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, aggregates of the protein TDP-43 are almost always found in afflicted neurons and glial cells. Meanwhile, about 50 ALS-linked mutations are known to affect a particular region of TDP-43. Yet scientists have never understood how those two associations connect. A new study in the journal Structure shows how ALS mutations disrupt the protein at the atomic level, preventing it from executing its proper function and instead leading to those aggregates.
	New clues found to how norovirus gets inside cells Norovirus is the most common viral cause of diarrhea worldwide, but scientists still know little about how it infects people and causes disease. Research has been hindered by an inability to grow the virus in the lab.
	Team identifies genes responsible for CMD risk In a study being published in the August 19 issue of Science, researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in collaboration with scientists from Tartu University Hospital in Estonia, the Karolinska Institutet and Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab) in Sweden, and AstraZeneca, have identified a profound new level of complexity and interaction among genes within specific tissues responsible for mediating the inherited risk for cardiometabolic diseases, including processes that lead to heart attack and stroke.
Team identifies strategy to reverse the disease dyskeratosis congenita Dyskeratosis congenita, or DC, is a rare, inherited disease for which there are limited treatment options and no cure. Typically diagnosed in childhood, the disorder causes stem cells to fail, leading to significant problems including bone marrow failure, lung fibrosis, dyskeratosis of the skin and intestinal atrophy and inflammation. Patients are also at heightened risk of several types of cancer.
	Olympic stomach upsets—leaky gut symdrome? A number of competitors at the Rio Olympics have reported stomach problems. Team GB officials have denied that athletes have fallen victim to food poisoning at the Olympic athletes' village in Rio, despite a number complaining of upset stomachs.
	MRI offers 100% screening certainty for diagnostic exclusion of breast cancer MedUni Vienna researchers from the Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy have conducted a meta analysis of more than 2,300 patients from 14 international studies and have been able to show, for the very first time, that if performed as a follow-up procedure in the event of equivocal breast cancer screening findings, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is able to rule cancer out with 100 percent certainty. "If the MRI scan does not reveal a tumour, any further risk can be virtually excluded. The affected women can then sleep peacefully once again – their fears are allayed," explain molecular biologist and radiologist Barbara Bennani-Baiti and radiologist Pascal Baltzer.
Cognitive offloading—how the internet is increasingly taking over human memory Our increasing reliance on the Internet and the ease of access to the vast resource available online is affecting our thought processes for problem solving, recall and learning. In a new article published in the journal Memory, researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz and University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign have found that 'cognitive offloading', or the tendency to rely on things like the Internet as an aide-mémoire, increases after each use. We might think that memory is something that happens in the head but increasingly it is becoming something that happens with the help of agents outside the head.Benjamin Storm, Sean Stone & Aaron Benjamin conducted experiments to determine our likelihood to reach for a computer or smartphone to answer questions. Participants were first divided into two groups to answer some challenging trivia questions - one group used just their memory, the other used Google. Participants were then given the option of answering subsequent easier questions by the method of their choice.
	Breakthrough in cancer cell screening advances personalised treatment of childhood leukaemia Researchers at Newcastle University have been able to accurately predict how children whose cancer returns after treatment for leukaemia are likely to respond to further treatment.
	Critics: UK plan to cut child obesity lacks muscle Britain unveiled a plan Thursday to battle rising child obesity by taxing sodas, urging food manufacturers to cut down on sugar and getting schoolchildren to exercise more.
	Study identifies how Zika virus infects the placenta In a new study, Yale researchers demonstrate Zika virus infection of cells derived from human placentas. The research provides insight into how Zika virus may be transmitted from expectant mother to fetus, resulting in infection of the fetal brain.
Rates of early prostate cancer continue decline after USPSTF recommendation Incidence rates of early prostate cancer have continued to drop since the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation against routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in all men, according to an article published online by JAMA Oncology.
Greater intake of dietary omega-3 fatty acids associated with lower risk of diabetic retinopathy In middle-aged and older individuals with type 2 diabetes, intake of at least 500 mg/d of dietary long-chain ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, easily achievable with 2 weekly servings of oily fish, was associated with a decreased risk of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy, according to a study published online by JAMA Ophthalmology.
	New flu strains and old antibodies: How sinful is 'original antigenic sin'? Immune memory ensures a quick and specific response to previously encountered pathogens. However, for rapidly evolving pathogens like influenza virus, there is concern that recalled ('old') antibodies dominate and compromise the response against a changed ('new') infectious strain. A study in mice published on August 18th in PLOS Pathogens reports that while influenza exposure history does influence the antibody response to a circulating flu virus, this does not appear to compromise the defense against the new strain.
	Insecticide treatment of cattle to kill sand flies and combat leishmaniasis With an estimated 500,000 human infections and 50,000 deaths annually, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is the second most prevalent parasitic killer, behind malaria. Leishmania parasites are transmitted through the bite of phlebotomine sand flies. A study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases makes the case that fighting the insects by treating cattle with the long-lasting insecticide, fipronil, could substantially reduce VL in areas where people and cattle live in close proximity.
Gallstone disease may increase heart disease risk A history of gallstone disease may increase your risk of coronary heart disease, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology.
	Study shows standing up for beliefs in face of group opposition is worth the effort Going with the flow might appear easier than sticking up for yourself when confronted with unanimous disagreement.
Expert discusses MDMA research Neuroscientist Robert Malenka, MD, PhD, the Nancy Friend Pritzker Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, has conducted trailblazing inquiries into the nature of the brain's reward circuitry. This archipelago of interacting brain structures is responsible for generating sensations of pleasure in connection with survival-enhancing behaviors, such as mating and eating, but also with self-destructive behaviors, such as the use of addictive drugs.
	Professional golfers more likely to have hip joints shaped differently than most of the population Lack of success on the fairway may not be due to your swing – it could be your hips that are to blame.
Novel therapy holds promise of remission in relapsed patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma A phase 2 clinical trial of a novel therapy for patients who have experienced a relapse of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) resulted in extended remission, averaging 14.5 months, and longer than three years in exceptional cases. The drug, which targets histone-modifying enzymes (HME), was shown to be effective against a particular genetic mutation. The trial was initiated, designed, and coordinated by Dr. Sarit Assouline, a hematologist oncologist at the Segal Cancer Centre at the Jewish General Hospital and clinician-scientist at the Lady Davis Institute. The results were published in Blood.
	Doctors paid by drug companies more likely to use those companies' meds Ophthalmologists who receive money from pharmaceutical companies are more likely to prescribe medications promoted by those companies than similar drugs that are less costly, a new study shows.
Concussion rates rising significantly in adolescents The number of Americans diagnosed with concussions is growing, most significantly in adolescents, according to researchers at UC San Francisco. They recommend that adolescents be prioritized for ongoing work in concussion education, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
Childhood adversity looms large for older homeless adults A new UC San Francisco report on an understudied population – older homeless adults – reveals that adverse childhood experiences have long-lasting effects. The researchers found that childhood adversities, such as abuse, neglect and parental death, have a strong association with mental health outcomes in a group of 350 homeless adults over the age of 50 in Oakland, Calif. The results indicate that early life challenges have a persistent ripple effect, even in an already challenged population.
	New study finds homebound, elderly patients missing out on in-home care The saying goes that "what is old is new again." Many elderly Americans are hoping that proves true.
New study shows LSD's effects on language The consumption of LSD, short for lysergic acid diethylamide, can produce altered states of consciousness. This can lead to a loss of boundaries between the self and the environment, as might occur in certain psychiatric illnesses. David Nutt, professor of Neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College, leads a team of researchers who study how this psychedelic substance works in the brain.
	Personalised wearable tech can help adults diagnosed with autism manage anxiety Personalised wearable digital technology can help adults diagnosed with autism understand and manage their anxiety.
Digitally simulating sun damage and premature ageing is most effective at promoting sun safe behaviour, new study finds In a new study published today in the journal Cogent Psychology, researchers from the University of Surrey examined the way sun safe messages are conveyed to young women, and found that visual communication using technology to age participant's faces to emphasis sun damage and premature ageing is most effective.
	Detecting hearing loss, vertigo via blood tests There are more than 30 blood tests in clinical practice today to confirm disease. For heart attacks, cardiologists test the blood for cardiac enzymes; for osteoporosis, proteins in the blood can signal thinning bones.
	Scientists find potential treatment for 'painful blindness' form of dry eye A new study in animal models, led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), suggests that the eye's lacrimal glands can be repaired by injecting a kind of regenerative "progenitor" cell.
	Eye test may detect Parkinson's before symptoms appear A new low-cost and non-invasive eye test could detect Parkinson's disease before symptoms including tremors and muscle stiffness develop, according to new research in rats led by scientists at UCL.
	Natural compound from a deep-water marine sponge found to reduce pancreatic tumor size Scientists at Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute found that a deep-water marine sponge collected off of Fort Lauderdale's coast contains leiodermatolide, a natural product that has the ability to inhibit the growth of cancer cells as well as block cancer cells from dividing using extremely low concentrations of the compound.
	Not all tumor cells are equal A new study led by Dr. Manel Esteller, Director of the Epigenetics and Cancer Biology Program (PEBC) of Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), ICREA researcher and Professor of Genetics at University of Barcelona (UB) discovers that colorectal tumors present epigenetic heterogeneity that relates to the clinical course of the disease. The paper describing this finding has been published in the journal Gastroenterology.
Thyroid cancer 'epidemic' down to overdiagnosis: study A reported epidemic of thyroid cancer in rich countries is in fact mainly due to overdiagnosis driven by new technologies, the UN's cancer research agency said Thursday.
Polyunsaturated fat in adipose tissue linked to lower mortality In a study from Uppsala University, published in the American journal JAMA Cardiology, the fatty acid linoleic acid (Omega 6) in subcutaneous adipose tissue was linked to lower mortality among older men followed over a 15-year period.
Study highlights importance of regular lung cancer screenings for those at high risk Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for men and women. It is also one of the most complex cancers, both at the molecular level and through its clinical behavior. Screening is paramount as it helps physicians diagnose and treat the disease in its earliest stages.
	Diabetes drug may also offer vascular protection Obesity and Type 2 diabetes are associated with vascular stiffening and the development of cardiovascular disease. Obese and diabetic premenopausal women are most at risk - even more than men of the same age who have similar health issues. A study by University of Missouri School of Medicine researchers found that a diabetes medication offered protection against arterial stiffness in overweight female mice, a finding that may have future implications for disease prevention in humans.
	Volunteers sought as race to develop a Zika vaccine heats up Wanted: Volunteers willing to be infected with the Zika virus for science.
Postoperative telephone clinic can be used in lieu of in-person care for some patients Implementation of a telephone postoperative clinic at a Veterans Affairs facility significantly improved utilization of surgeon and facility resources while maintaining satisfactory patient outcomes, according to study results published as an "article in press" on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website ahead of print publication.
Unexplained developmental disorder linked to gene involved in essential cellular processes A neurodevelopmental disorder for which there was no known cause has been linked to SON, a gene that is involved in essential mechanisms a cell uses to translate DNA into protein, as well as in DNA replication and cell division. A multidisciplinary, international team of researchers from 10 institutions published the results in today's issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics.
	How genomic sequencing may be widening racial disparities in cancer care As scientists learn more about which genetic mutations are driving different types of cancer, they're targeting treatments to small numbers of patients with the potential for big payoffs in improved outcomes.
	Study supports new strategy to fight cocaine addiction An international team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has found strong evidence supporting a new strategy against drug addiction. The researchers showed that a compound that inhibits the activity of certain brain-cell receptors can reverse signs of cocaine dependency in rodents.
	Fruit flies could be key to fighting cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the United States and has been identified as a primary cause of cervical cancer in women. Now, an international team of researchers led by the University of Missouri has completed studies on fruit flies with a condition that mimics a form of HPV-induced cancer. The fly models the team developed may help scientists understand the underlying mechanism by which this virus can cause cancer as well as identify potential drug treatments. The study appears in today's issue of PLoS Pathogens.
Over-the-counter laser pointers a threat to eyesight Laser pointers bought legally for less than $AU30 are a threat to eyesight - with one pointer found to be 127 times over the Australian legal limit.
New oral diabetes drugs may also protect patients' kidney health A recent study indicates that a new class of oral diabetes drugs may help protect patients' kidney health in addition to lowering their blood sugar levels. The findings appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).
	Researchers provide recommendations to stop violence against clinicians in China Chen Zhongwei, the retired Director of Oral Health at Guangdong General Hospital in China, was attacked this spring and killed by a patient whom he treated more than two decades earlier. The former patient, who claimed that he should receive compensation for a discolored tooth, followed the dentist home where he stabbed him over 30 times. This tragic story is the latest of a number of episodes in which Chinese patients kill health professionals.
	Study confirms long-term effects of 'chemobrain' in mice Women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer have long complained of lingering cognitive impairments after treatment. These effects are referred to as "chemobrain," a feeling of mental fogginess. A new study from the University of Illinois reports long-lasting cognitive impairments in mice when they are administered a chemotherapy regimen used to treat breast cancer in humans.
	Smoking marijuana provides more pain relief for men than women Researchers from Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) found that men had greater pain relief than women after smoking marijuana.
	In cells, some oxidants are needed Within our bodies, high levels of reactive forms of oxygen can damage proteins and contribute to diabetic complications and many other diseases. But some studies are showing that these reactive oxygen species (ROS) molecules sometimes can aid in maintaining health—findings now boosted by a surprising discovery from Joslin Diabetes Center researchers.
	After years of war, Afghans wary to talk of mental health Soheila Hashemi has hardly slept since a suicide bomber targeted a rally in the Afghan capital last month, killing more than 80 people and wounding scores in the deadliest attack in Kabul since the war with the Taliban began 15 years ago.
	Why parental leave is more than a perk—it's a necessity I recently became a father to a beautiful little girl. As an ECR and first time parent living in Sweden, this means that I am now entitled to parental benefits, i.e. money that I receive from the government to subsidize my expenses so I am able to be at home with my child instead of working, applying for a new job, or studying. Therefore, I did not have to make a choice between prioritizing my family and my professional development, but instead could let the two develop simultaneously and benefit each other. In spite of strong evidence that supports the overwhelming benefits paid parental leave affords families, these policies are not universal. I hope that by sharing my positive experience with parental leave (which, granted is a special case), it can help other ECRs factor this in to the considerations they make when building a career.
	Researchers successfully use Parsortix system in ovarian cancer drug trials ANGLE plc's Parsortix, which was granted a European patent in March 2016, harvests circulating cancer cells from blood for further medical analysis. Its use is an essential step in research under the GANNET53 project, which bets on a second generation Hsp90 inhibitor to improve metastatic ovarian cancer survival rates.
	Opinion: Government's Childhood Obesity Strategy 'disappointing' Dr Emma Boyland is a Lecturer in appetite and obesity at the University of Liverpool's Institute of Psychology, Health and Society and Trustee of the UK Association for the Study of Obesity.
Haiti cholera victims welcome UN recognizing role in outbreak The United Nations' belated acknowledgement it played a role in a cholera epidemic in Haiti that has killed nearly 10,000 people was hailed by victims' advocates Thursday as vindication of their efforts to hold the world body accountable.
An imaging method to quantify dermal fat Mammals contain two main varieties of fat: white adipose tissue (WAT), which is used to store energy, and brown adipose tissue (BAT), which is involved in the regulation of body temperature, particularly in infants. Dermal WAT (dWAT) is the layer of WAT is immediately adjacent to the dermis and is known to accumulate in response to ambient cold, hair growth, and exposure to bacteria in mice, but little is known about this tissue in humans.
Cell therapy promotes axon remyelination in a mouse model Demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and leukodystrophy, are characterized by damage to the protective myelin sheath that surrounds the axons of neurons. This demyelination can be caused by an autoimmune response or impaired myelin production by oligodendrocytes.
Afatinib in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the lung: Added benefit not proven Afatinib (trade name: Giotrif) has been approved since April 2016 for the treatment of adults with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) of squamous histology who have already received chemotherapy. In an early benefit assessment, the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has now examined whether in these patients this drug offers advantages over the appropriate comparator therapy. According to the findings, an added benefit of afatinib for these patients is not proven.
New report presents bundled payment model for breast cancer screening According to a new report by the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute, mammography may present an opportunity for the expanded use of bundled payments in radiology. The study, published online in the Journal of the American College of Radiology (JACR), reports that breast cancer screening provides a framework for radiologist-led bundled payment models, and can be implemented with different services included in the bundle depending upon a practice's specific patient panel.
Ramucirumab in stomach cancer: Added benefit not proven Ramucirumab (trade name: Cyramza) is a monoclonal antibody, which blocks a receptor, reducing the growth of blood vessels and so reducing blood supply to the tumours. This aims to slow the growth of the tumours. As a so-called orphan drug, i.e. a drug for the treatment of rare diseases, ramucirumab was initially exempt from proof of an added benefit. With several expansions of the therapeutic indication, it has lost this special status.
	Regenstrief project assembles health information from different electronic medical records If you are rushed to a hospital in an emergency, is your complete medical record available to those caring for you? Will they know all medications you have been prescribed and whether you are taking them as directed? Does your primary care physician know your complete medical history?
Emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide in HIV infection: Added benefit not proven The drug combination emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide is approved in combination with other antiviral agents for the treatment of adults and adolescents infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). In an early benefit assessment, the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has now examined whether in these patients this combination offers advantages over the appropriate comparator therapy. According to the findings, such an added benefit is not proven: No data were available for two of four research questions; the studies submitted for the third research question deviated from the appropriate comparator therapy; greater harm for certain patients was shown in the fourth research question.
Brivaracetam in epilepsy: Added benefit still not proven Brivaracetam (trade name: Briviact) has been approved since January 2016 as add-on therapy for adults and adolescents from 16 years of age with epileptic seizures. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) had already examined the drug in an early benefit assessment published in May. For several reasons, the indirect comparisons presented by the drug manufacturer were unsuitable to assess an added benefit in comparison with the appropriate comparator therapy. Among other things, the manufacturer had not analysed all relevant outcomes. In the commenting procedure, the manufacturer presented a further indirect comparison.
Nivolumab in advanced lung cancer: Indication of major added benefit Nivolumab has been approved since April 2016 as a checkpoint inhibitor for the treatment of adults with locally advanced or metastatic nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have already undergone chemotherapy. In an early benefit assessment, the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has now examined whether in these patients this monoclonal antibody offers advantages over the appropriate comparator therapy.
	Researchers find prenatal infection may create risk for later disorders The Zika virus now active in numerous countries, and the severe birth defects associated with it, makes it clear that infection in pregnant women can have immediate and devastating effects on the developing baby.
Osteoblastic metastases distinguished from enostoses using CT attenuation measurements A team of Boston researchers found that CT attenuation measurements can be used to distinguish untreated osteoblastic (bone-related) metastases from enostoses (benign bone lesions). Based on this conclusion, some biopsies and additional radiologic studies could be avoided, according to a paper published in the August 2016 issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.

Other Sciences news

	Scientists combine satellite data and machine learning to map poverty One of the biggest challenges in providing relief to people living in poverty is locating them. The availability of accurate and reliable information on the location of impoverished zones is surprisingly lacking for much of the world, particularly on the African continent. Aid groups and other international organizations often fill in the gaps with door-to-door surveys, but these can be expensive and time-consuming to conduct.
	Reinterpreting the fossil record on jaws Scientists use the fossil record to make judgments on the physiology and behavior of species. But are those interpretations correct? New research from a team of researchers led by Matthew Ravosa, professor of biology and concurrent professor of both aerospace and mechanical engineering and anthropology at the University of Notre Dame, puts into question how we interpret the behavior of extinct organisms from their fossil remains, and the greater role of plasticity—or the adaptive fine-tuning of the link between anatomy and behavior—in determining evolution diversity.
	Buying high vs. bargain hunting Purchasing and pricing has always been a dance between buyers and sellers. Before deciding to make a purchase, buyers spend varying amounts of time and effort searching for price information. These searches can and do affect the pricing strategies of sellers: Where should they set their prices? Should they offer sales or discounts, or keep their product prices at a high margin?
	Was 'Iceman Otzi' a Copper Age fashionista? The 5,300-year-old Alpine mummy known as the Tyrolean Iceman died wearing leather clothes and accessories harvested from no less than five wild or domesticated species, a DNA analysis published Thursday revealed.
	Paleontologists discover major T. rex fossil (Update) Paleontologists with the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture and the University of Washington have discovered a Tyrannosaurus rex, including a very complete skull. The find, which paleontologists estimate to be about 20 percent of the animal, includes vertebrae, ribs, hips and lower jaw bones.
	Parents still urging teens to choose traditional subjects even though newer degrees are more likely to lead to a job Parents across the country continue to encourage their children to pick traditional degree subjects, according to new research by the University of Derby.
	Study discerns elements of successful diversity training New research from Cornell's School of Hotel Administration (SHA), which evaluated a variety of diversity training programs offered by business organizations and institutions, sheds some light on developing training that has a significant impact in addressing stereotyping and other biases in work environments.
Gender discrimination—social bias in the workplace Research by James Westphal, a strategy professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, suggests women executives face social discrimination in the workplace, making their jobs harder.
	Easter Island not destroyed by war, new analysis shows A new study led by a Binghamton University archaeologist contradicts the belief that the ancient civilization of Rapa Nui, Chile, was destroyed by warfare.
	Expedition finds remains of fortified Roman port are much larger than previously thought An international team, co-directed by a University of Southampton archaeologist, has made a significant discovery at an underwater location in Albania – revealing that the submerged remains of a major ancient fortress and port are far larger than previously known.
Flexitime works better for men than women, study finds Flexitime and having autonomy over working hours - known as schedule control - impacts differently on men and women and may increase the gender pay gap.
High-tech imaging reveals precolonial Mexican manuscript hidden from view for 500 years Researchers from the University of Oxford's Bodleian Libraries and from universities in the Netherlands have used high-tech imaging to uncover the details of a rare Mexican codex dating from before the colonization of the Americas. The newly revealed codex, or book, has been hidden from view for almost 500 years, concealed beneath a layer of plaster and chalk on the back of a later manuscript known as the Codex Selden, which is housed at the Bodleian Libraries. Scientists have used hyperspectral imaging to reveal pictographic scenes from this remarkable document and have published their findings in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.
	Female forensic scientists more stressed than males Women may be at the forefront of the fast-growing forensic science field, but they're also more stressed than their male counterparts, indicates new research led by a Michigan State University criminologist.
	Tool or weapon? New research throws light on stone artifacts' use as ancient projectiles A team of psychologists, kinesiologists and archaeologists at Indiana University and elsewhere are throwing new light on a longstanding archaeological mystery: the purpose of a large number of spherical stone artifacts found at a major archaeological site in South Africa.
	Fabricating science—discussing fraud can rebuild community confidence and deepen understanding of how science works It's an exceptionally rewarding, and also challenging, time to be practising science.
	Are urban black males shortchanged in classroom? Giving special treatment to young urban black males in the high school classroom runs the risk of shortchanging these students academically once they get to college, indicates a new study by a Michigan State University education scholar.
	Turning textbook highlighting into time well-spent College students love highlighting textbook passages while they study, and a team of researchers in three states will apply the latest techniques from machine learning and cognitive science to help turn that habit into time well-spent.

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