Fwd: Science X Newsletter Monday, May 25

HOT!

Dyslexia and sight: the wider view

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Tue, May 26, 2015 at 4:55 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Monday, May 25
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for May 25, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Like Sleeping Beauty, some research lies dormant for decades, study finds
- Demonstration of room temperature spin transport in germanium
- Best of Last Week—Increasing antihydrogen production, converting waste heat to electricity and video game brain impact
- Researchers first to create a single-molecule diode
- The monopoly of aluminium is broken
- DNA double helix does double duty in assembling arrays of nanoparticles
- Complex signaling between blood and stem cells controls regeneration in fly gut
- Climate engineering may save coral reefs, research shows
- Researchers unveil new gene subgroup in prostate cancer
- Birds dig deep in carving out Proteaceae evolution
- Ophthalmologist claims Ocumetics Bionic Lens to revolutionize vision correction
- Birds time breeding to hit 'peak caterpillar'
- Study pinpoints genes that make plant stem cells, revealing origin of beefsteak tomatoes
- Asian family research answers questions on fatty acid in brain
- Ovarian cancer-specific markers set the stage for early diagnosis, personalized treatments

Nanotechnology news

	Researchers first to create a single-molecule diode Under the direction of Latha Venkataraman, associate professor of applied physics at Columbia Engineering, researchers have designed a new technique to create a single-molecule diode, and, in doing so, they have developed molecular diodes that perform 50 times better than all prior designs. Venkataraman's group is the first to develop a single-molecule diode that may have real-world technological applications for nanoscale devices. Their paper, "Single-Molecule Diodes with High On-Off Ratios through Environmental Control," is published May 25 in Nature Nanotechnology.
	Table-top extreme UV laser system heralds imaging at the nanoscale Researchers at Swinburne University of Technology have discovered a new way to generate bright beams of coherent extreme UV radiation using a table-top setup that could be used to produce high resolution images of tiny structures at the nanoscale.
	Engineering phase changes in nanoparticle arrays Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have just taken a big step toward the goal of engineering dynamic nanomaterials whose structure and associated properties can be switched on demand. In a paper appearing in Nature Materials, they describe a way to selectively rearrange the nanoparticles in three-dimensional arrays to produce different configurations, or phases, from the same nano-components.
	DNA double helix does double duty in assembling arrays of nanoparticles In a new twist on the use of DNA in nanoscale construction, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and collaborators put synthetic strands of the biological material to work in two ways: They used ropelike configurations of the DNA double helix to form a rigid geometrical framework, and added dangling pieces of single-stranded DNA to glue nanoparticles in place.
	Graphene and diamonds prove a slippery combination Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have found a way to use tiny diamonds and graphene to give friction the slip, creating a new material combination that demonstrates the rare phenomenon of "superlubricity."

Physics news

	Demonstration of room temperature spin transport in germanium (Phys.org)—A team of researchers working in Japan has demonstrated that it is possible to conduct a spin current through a short segment of germanium at room temperature. In their paper published in the journal Physical Review Letters, the team describes their technique which could help lead to the development of spintronic devices.
	Like Sleeping Beauty, some research lies dormant for decades, study finds Why do some discoveries fade into obscurity while others blaze a new trail the moment they are published? More mysteriously, why do some research papers remain dormant for years and then suddenly explode with great impact upon the scientific community?
Team finds the 'key' to quantum network solution Scientists at the University of York's Centre for Quantum Technology have made an important step in establishing scalable and secure high rate quantum networks.
	The monopoly of aluminium is broken Discovering Majorana's was only the first step, but utilizing it as a quantum bit (qubit) still remains a major challenge. An important step towards this goal has just been taken, as shown by researchers from TU Delft in today's issue of Nature Physics.
The art of hand-polishing precision optics Growing up in a household of artists and engineers, Peter Thelin was destined for a career in which artistry mattered. Only for him, art has come in the form of manipulating the shapes, sizes and qualities of optics. And now, as one of the few remaining practitioners of hand-polishing optics, Thelin is passing his artistry along to the next generation of optics specialists.
	Defining a national standard for dynamic pressure waves In recent years, the physical damage done by pressure waves – such as traumatic brain injuries from explosives sustained by military personnel in the Middle East – has become an increasingly urgent public concern.
	Shedding light on untapped information in photons Conventional optical imaging systems today largely limit themselves to the measurement of light intensity, providing two-dimensional renderings of three-dimensional scenes and ignoring significant amounts of additional information that may be carried by captured light. For example, many photons traverse complex paths punctuated by multiple bounces prior to entering the aperture of a camera or other imager—a process through which these photons pick up information about their surroundings. Beyond such directional variability, light enjoys other aspects or degrees of freedom—including variations in propagation time, polarization state and spectral content, as well as wave-related properties such as coherence, diffraction and interference—all of which provide potential mechanisms by which light can acquire and convey information. Most of this information remains untapped today.

Earth news

	Deciphering clues to prehistoric climate changes locked in cave deposits When the conversation turns to the weather and the climate, most people's thoughts naturally drift upward toward the clouds, but Jessica Oster's sink down into the subterranean world of stalactites and stalagmites.
	Climate engineering may save coral reefs, research shows Geoengineering of the climate may be the only way to save coral reefs from mass bleaching, according to new research.
	Location matters in the lowland Amazon You know the old saying: Location, location, location? It turns out that it applies to the Amazon rainforest, too. New work from Carnegie's Greg Asner illustrates a hidden tapestry of chemical variation across the lowland Peruvian Amazon, with plants in different areas producing an array of chemicals that changes across the region's topography. His team's work is published by Nature Geoscience.
	UN chief seeks 'global action' on climate change this year UN chief Ban Ki-Moon on Monday called for "global action" this year to limit climate change as international weather experts began a quadrennial congress in Geneva.
	California looks to Australia for tips on surviving drought California has turned to the world's driest inhabited continent for solutions to its longest and sharpest drought on record.
With new EPA water rule, Obama again takes executive action on environment In April 1989, a Michigan developer named John Rapanos dumped fill on 54 acres of wetlands he owned to make way for a shopping center. He did not have a permit, and when the state told him to stop, he refused. Courts found him in violation of the federal Clean Water Act. Prosecutors wanted to send him to prison.
Unsafe levels of toxic pollutants in heavily fracked Ohio county Emissions from fracking operations may be exposing people to some toxic pollutants at levels higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers safe for long-term exposure, according to scientists from Oregon State University and the University of Cincinnati.
	California oil spill harder to clean up in choppy waters A 10-square-mile oil slick off the California coast is thinner than a coat of paint and it's becoming harder to skim from choppy waters, officials said as more dead animals were discovered.
Japan pledges climate change aid to Pacific island nations Japan pledged Saturday 55 billion yen ($450 million) in aid to Pacific island nations that are battling rising sea levels and natural calamities as a result of global warming.
	Pacific-Atlantic railroad will respect environment: Chinese premier Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has said that the Beijing-funded project to build a vast railroad between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, across Peru, would respect the region's environment including the Amazon basin.
	California farmers agree to drastically cut water use California farmers who hold some of the state's strongest water rights avoided the threat of deep mandatory cuts when the state accepted their proposal to voluntarily reduce consumption by 25 percent amid one of the worst droughts on record.
	China readies national carbon market to fight climate change At first, the numbers and company names flashing on a big board in Beijing's financial district suggest a booming market.
	Pipeline that leaked wasn't equipped with auto shut-off The pipeline that leaked thousands of gallons of oil on the California coast was the only pipe of its kind in the county not required to have an automatic shut-off valve because of a court fight nearly three decades ago, a county official said.
	'Health cards' to find out the condition of agricultural ecosystems In order to provide farmers and anyone else involved in managing agricultural ecosystems with a tool enabling them to assess the impact of their farming practices on the health of their crops and soils, the Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development NEIKER-Tecnalia has created its new TSEAs or 'Agricultural Ecosystem Health Cards'. These handbooks are an improved version of the cards created in the 1980s by the United States Department of Agriculture. The R&D centre is holding various meetings to make these handbooks known to various groups (growers, technicians, scientists and the administration) linked to the agricultural sector and who will receive them free of charge.

Astronomy & Space news

	NASA image: Hubble revisits tangled NGC 6240 Not all galaxies are neatly shaped, as this new NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image of NGC 6240 clearly demonstrates. Hubble previously released an image of this galaxy back in 2008, but the knotted region, shown here in a pinky-red hue at the center of the galaxies, was only revealed in these new observations from Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3 and Advanced Camera for Surveys.
	Curiosity rover adjusts route up Martian mountain NASA's Curiosity Mars rover climbed a hill Thursday to approach an alternative site for investigating a geological boundary, after a comparable site proved hard to reach.
	A curious family of giant exoplanets There are 565 exoplanets currently known that are as massive as Jupiter or bigger, about one third of the total known, confirmed exoplanet population. About one quarter of the massive population orbits very close to its star, with periods of less than ten days (the Earth takes about 365 days to orbit the Sun). Heated by the nearby star's radiation, these giants are often called hot Jupiters.
	United Arab Emirates launches national space agency strategy The United Arab Emirates on Monday laid out a strategic framework for a newly created space agency that aims to integrate various arms of the Gulf federation's burgeoning space industry.
	Space station module relocation makes way for commercial crew spacecraft The International Space Station Program will take the next step in expanding a robust commercial market in low-Earth orbit when work continues Wednesday, May 27, to prepare the orbiting laboratory for the future arrival of U.S. commercial crew and cargo vehicles. NASA Television will provide live coverage of the activity beginning at 8 a.m. EDT.
	Image: Coronal loops over a sunspot group The Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) instrument aboard NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) images the solar atmosphere in multiple wavelengths to link changes in the surface to interior changes. Its data includes images of the sun in 10 wavelengths every 10 seconds.
	How we found the source of the mystery signals at the Dish Everyone likes solving a mystery, and the hunt for the source of strange signals detected by Australia's Parkes radio telescope is a classic. Although how "aliens" became involved in the story is more of a media mystery.
	Why roundworms are ideal for space studies Humans have long been fascinated by the cosmos. Ancient cave paintings show that we've been thinking about space for much of the history of our species. The popularity of recent sci-fi movies suggest that the human mind just might be coming to grips with theharsh environment "out there."
	How long will our spacecraft survive? There are many hazards out there, eager to disrupt and dismantle the mighty machines we send out into space. How long can they survive to perform their important missions?
	Rosetta's view of a comet's "great divide" The latest image to be revealed of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comes from October 27, 2014, before the Philae lander even departed for its surface. Above we get a view of a dramatically-shadowed cliff separating two regions on 67P, the high, smooth plateaus of Babi and the boulder-strewn, slumped valley of Aten. Both are located on the larger lobe of the comet, while parts of the Ma'at region on the smaller "head" lobe can be seen in the distance at upper left. (You can see a regional map of comet 67P here.)
	What are extrasolar planets? For countless generations, human beings have looked out at the night sky and wondered if they were alone in the universe. With the discovery of other planets in our solar system, the true extent of the Milky Way galaxy, and other galaxies beyond our own, this question has only deepened and become more profound.
	Ceres bright spots sharpen but questions remain The latest views of Ceres' enigmatic white spots are sharper and clearer, but it's obvious that Dawn will have to descend much lower before we'll see crucial details hidden in this overexposed splatter of white dots. Still, there are hints of interesting things going on here.
	Astrobiology students explore alien environment on Earth Sonny Harman never thought he'd be able to travel far enough to do field work. That's because the Penn State doctoral student studies atmospheres on other planets. But to his surprise, Harman recently stepped into an alien world—complete with environments and life unlike just about anything he'd seen on Earth. And he didn't have to go to Mars to do it. Harman was among a group of graduate students who recently traveled to Italy for an annual astrobiology field course.
	100 days to Andreas Mogensen's mission The 100-day countdown begins today for ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen's visit to the International Space Station. Following launch on 1 September, he will test new technologies and deliver a fresh spacecraft for the long-stay crew already aboard the orbital complex.

Technology news

	Google aims to patent child toy that pays attention Google has filed a patent for toys that pay attention to who is in a room and can interact with other media devices.
	Apple may deliver ways to rev up the iPad, report says MacRumors last month said that the latest numbers from market research firm IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker revealed Apple stayed on as the largest vendor in a declining tablet market. The iPad in 2010 looked as if this was to be a big step for Apple in enjoying leadership of an in-demand form factor but growth slowed down.
	Architects to hatch Ecocapsule as low-energy house Where people call home depends on varied factors, from poverty level to personal philosophy to vanity to community pressure. Ecocapsule appears to be the result of special factors, a team of architects applying their skills and imaginations to make investors and consumers re-think what can be a home.
	As antitrust case looms, 'Peak Google' debated As Google faces an antitrust probe from European regulators, some analysts are questioning whether the California tech giant's dominance has already peaked.
	Cool alternative to electric kettle avoids excess water A Berlin-based team is proposing you exercise your sensitivity to all that can be sustained by paying attention to their Miito device, which can cut down on your daily use of excess water and energy.
	Finger gestures will tell your smartwatch what to do Gesture control for smartwatches is the key mission for a startup called Deus Ex Technology. They have devised a module which can fit into a smartwatch band and behave as a gesture controller for your timepiece. Let your fingers do the talking to tell the watch what you want to view.
	Logjam isn't the only reason your computer might be more vulnerable to internet threats There's a hole in the protection surrounding some of the internet's supposedly secure websites. A group of researchers has discovered that cyber criminals and other hackers can attack websites that use the "https" security encryption using a method known as "Logjam". This attack, which is thought to work on around 8% of the top one million websites, allows hackers to see important information that should be protected, such as payment details or private communication.
	Bus sets speed record, runs on biomethane compressed natural gas Reading Buses in the UK has pulled off a successful land speed world record for a regular service bus. After several practice laps, the bus made news as it completed a track run in 76.785 mph. The bus is normally speed-limited to 56 mph. That was not the only bit of news about the record; it is significant as the bus was powered by biomethane compressed natural gas.
	French adventurer seeks Pacific record with 'flying' boat Skimming across the surface of the vast Pacific, Alain Thebault scans the horizon with his blue Breton eyes. He is feeling good. A record is there to be broken.
	Senate blocks House surveillance bill, two-month extension The Senate struggled unsuccessfully to prevent an interruption in critical government surveillance programs early Saturday, blocking a House-passed bill and several short-term extensions of the USA Patriot Act.
	Uber drivers fined in Hungary The Hungarian tax authority fined Uber drivers in its first probe against the ride-sharing service which the economy ministry said Saturday "ignores passenger safety" and must be made to follow regulations.
Struggling BlackBerry announces new round of layoffs BlackBerry is laying off an unspecified number of workers around the world as the struggling smartphone manufacturer tries to make its device business profitable.
NSA winds down once-secret phone-records collection program The National Security Agency has begun winding down its collection and storage of American phone records after the Senate failed to agree on a path forward to change or extend the once-secret program ahead of its expiration at the end of the month.
	YouTube's first decade shows sharing free content pays off YouTube's legacy extends beyond its pioneering role in the Internet's video revolution. The 10-year-old site provided a stage for exhibitionists, narcissists and activists to broadcast their opinions, show off their talents, expose abuses or just pass along their favorite clips of movies, TV shows, music, cute kittens and other interests.
	New device could spell the end of no balls Foot fault no balls could be eliminated from cricket thanks to a new device that aims to stop bowlers overstepping the mark.
	'Deep web search' may help scientists When you do a simple Web search on a topic, the results that pop up aren't the whole story. The Internet contains a vast trove of information—sometimes called the "Deep Web"—that isn't indexed by search engines: information that would be useful for tracking criminals, terrorist activities, sex trafficking and the spread of diseases. Scientists could also use it to search for images and data from spacecraft.
	Hyperconnectivity and the future of internet communication "Hyperconnectivity and the Future of Internet Communication" (Lambert Academic Publishing, May 2015) is the title of a new book edited by City University London Professor of Pervasive Computing, Professor Adrian Cheok.
	No, the rise of the emoji doesn't spell the end of language The emoji has become one of the fastest growing forms of communication in history. But those who are worried that its growth could see the death of written language are wrong – emojis are being used to enhance, rather than replace words in our digital communications.
	Latest in food-track tech: Swipe a code, meet your fisherman After eyeing a piece of haddock on the supermarket counter, a customer scans a code and finds out the fish was caught in the waters of Georges Bank and learns the name of the fishing boat—and maybe even sees a picture of the smiling, rain-slickened fisherman who reeled it in. Welcome to the future of buying New England seafood.
Yik Yak's frat-bro founders shrug off growing pains The most popular post of all time on Yik Yak is a dirty joke. Less than 2 years old, the Atlanta-based social network is geared mostly toward college students who access and post unsigned announcements through an app on their smartphones. At best it's a local forum for public conversations that might otherwise only occur in private. At worst it's a platform for immaturity, racism and cyber-bullying.
	Charter nears deal for Time Warner Cable Charter Communications Inc. is close to buying Time Warner Cable for about $55 billion, according to two people familiar with the negotiations.
	After a decade online, YouTube is redefining celebrity It's a meet-and-greet worthy of an A-list star.

Chemistry news

	Faster, portable microbial analysis in the field Until recently, it took hours – sometimes days – to analyze biological samples after they were frozen in the field and brought back to the laboratory. But now there is a faster, cheaper and smaller way for researchers to bring gold-standard analysis to the field.
	Engineer develops real-time listeria biosensor prototype A Texas A&M AgriLife Research engineer and a Florida colleague have developed a biosensor that can detect listeria bacterial contamination within two or three minutes.

Biology news

	11 new species come to light in Madagascar Madagascar is home to extraordinary biodiversity, but in the past few decades, the island's forests and associated biodiversity have been under greater attack than ever. Rapid deforestation is affecting the biotopes of hundreds of species, including the panther chameleon, a species with spectacular intra-specific colour variation. A new study by Michel Milinkovitch, professor of genetics, evolution, and biophysics at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), led in close collaboration with colleagues in Madagascar, reveals that this charismatic reptilian species, which is only found in Madagascar, is actually composed of eleven different species. The results of their research appear in the latest issue of the Molecular Ecology journal. They also discuss the urgent need to protect Madagascar's habitats.
	Researchers combat bias in next-generation DNA sequencing Ever since scientists completed mapping the entire human genome in 2003, the field of DNA sequencing has seen an influx of new methods and technologies designed to help scientists in their search for genetic clues to the evolution of disease and other biological mysteries.
	Birds time breeding to hit 'peak caterpillar' When oaks burst into life in spring populations of oak-leaf-eating caterpillars boom: this offers a food bonanza for caterpillar-munching birds looking to raise a family.
	Birds dig deep in carving out Proteaceae evolution Australian and South African scientists have found pollinators are driving evolutionary divergence in members of the Proteaceae family including the Leucospermum tottum.
	The most complete functional map of an entire enzyme family Researchers at two Department of Energy-funded Scientific User Facilities collaborated with one of three Bioenergy Research Centers to develop and analyze high-resolution crystal structures of an enzyme from the cellulose-degrading GH55 family. They then went further and were able to apply a variety of techniques that resulted in the "most complete functional mapping of an entire GH family available to date."
	Study pinpoints genes that make plant stem cells, revealing origin of beefsteak tomatoes A team of scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has identified a set of genes that control stem cell production in tomato. Mutations in these genes explain the origin of mammoth beefsteak tomatoes. More important, the research suggests how breeders can fine-tune fruit size in potentially any fruit-bearing crop. The research appears online today in Nature Genetics.
	Complex signaling between blood and stem cells controls regeneration in fly gut Having a healthy gut may well depend on maintaining a complex signaling dance between immune cells and the stem cells that line the intestine. Scientists at the Buck Institute are now reporting significant new insight into how these complex interactions control intestinal regeneration after a bacterial infection. It's a dance that ensures repair after a challenge, but that also goes awry in aging fruit flies—the work thus offers important new clues into the potential causes of age-related human maladies, such as irritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut and colorectal cancer.
	North American weed poses hay fever problem for Europe Itchy eyes, sneezing and wheezing are likely to spread in Europe in coming decades as a notorious allergy-causing North American weed goes on the rampage, scientists said on Monday.
	DNA tests, technology and justice: A brave and uncertain new world The power of DNA evidence to put someone behind bars or keep an individual free is a staple of television shows like "Law & Order" and "CSI." But not all DNA evidence is so straightforward.
	Birds 'weigh' peanuts and choose heavier ones Many animals feed on seeds, acorns or nuts. The common feature of these are that they have shells and there is no direct way to know what's inside. How do the animals know how much and what quality of food is hidden inside? A simple solution would be to break the shells, which often takes time and effort—it would be a big disappointment to know that it's rotten or bad after the hard effort of opening the nuts!
	Thousands worldwide march against Monsanto and GM crops Thousands of people hit the streets in cities across the world Saturday to protest against the American biotechnology giant Monsanto and its genetically modified crops and pesticides.
	Saved from Sandy: Shorebird efforts are declared a success A crash program to restore New Jersey bay and ocean beaches wrecked by Superstorm Sandy appears to have succeeded in saving tens of thousands of shorebirds that otherwise might have died after the 2012 storm wiped out their feeding grounds.
	Rare albino sparrow spotted in Australia A rare pure white sparrow has been spotted in Australia, leaving ornithologists all aflutter.
	Mineral supplements spices up sheep feeding options Sheep can be taught to graze their paddocks more evenly via the use of mineral supplement licks which also entice them to eat the wheat nearby.
	Chinese researchers present de novo assembly of a haplotype-resolved diploid genome Researchers from BGI reported the most complete haploid-resolved diploid genome (HDG) sequence based on de novo assembly with NGS technology and the pipeline developed lays the foundation for de novo assembly of genomes with high levels of heterozygosity. The latest study was published online today in Nature Biotechnology.
	Fewer students study botany, more plant collections closing The teeming plant world could become a virtual mystery in the coming decades as college students increasingly shy away from studying botany and universities across the U.S. shutter their long-standing herbaria.
	Fears for pink iguanas as Galapagos volcano erupts A volcano in the Galapagos islands erupted for the first time in more than 30 years Monday, sending streams of lava flowing down its slopes and potentially threatening the world's only colony of pink iguanas.

Medicine & Health news

	Can you see what I hear? Blind human echolocators use visual areas of the brain Certain blind individuals have the ability to use echoes from tongue or finger clicks to recognize objects in the distance, and some use echolocation as a replacement for vision. Research done by Dr. Mel Goodale, from the University of Western Ontario, in Canada, and colleagues around the world, is showing that echolocation in blind individuals is a full form of sensory substitution, and that blind echolocation experts recruit regions of the brain normally associated with visual perception when making echo-based assessments of objects. Dr. Goodale's latest results were presented at the 9th Annual Canadian Neuroscience Meeting, on May 24th 2015 in Vancouver British Columbia.
	High altitude may boost babies' risks for SIDS deaths, study finds Lofty living may make babies vulnerable to sudden infant death syndrome, according to a Colorado study that found higher risks above 8,000 feet (2,400 meters).
	How a risk gene for schizophrenia affects the brain Scientists have for the first time shown how the disruption of a key gene involved in mental illness impacts on the brain.
	How the brain makes decisions Some types of decision-making have proven to be very difficult to simulate, limiting progress in the development of computer models of the brain. EPFL scientists have developed a new model of complex decision-making, and have validated it against humans and cutting-edge computer models, uncovering fascinating information about what influences our decision-making and ability to learn from it.
	The coming merge of human and machine intelligence For most of the past two million years, the human brain has been growing steadily. But something has recently changed. In a surprising reversal, human brains have actually been shrinking for the last 20,000 years or so. We have lost nearly a baseball-sized amount of matter from a brain that isn't any larger than a football.
	Ultrasound-activated bubbles could help make cancer drugs more effective and less nasty Despite extraordinary advances in new drugs and biotechnology, cancer is still one of the leading causes of death worldwide.
	Peeking into healthy brains to see if Alzheimer's is brewing Sticky plaque gets the most attention, but now healthy seniors at risk of Alzheimer's are letting scientists peek into their brains to see if another culprit is lurking.
	Ophthalmologist claims Ocumetics Bionic Lens to revolutionize vision correction (Medical Xpress)—British Columbia optometrist, inventor and CEO of Ocumetics Technology Corp, Dr Garth Webb is claiming in meetings with the press that his new Ocumetics Bionic Lens is set to revolutionize vision correction. He outlined his new lens at a recent American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting, suggesting that the technology that he and his team has developed will cause corrective, regular and contact lenses along with Lasik surgery to become obsolete. He says his lens will also eliminate the possibility of a person getting cataracts.
	Asian family research answers questions on fatty acid in brain New research conducted in a rural community in Pakistan highlights the crucial role that essential fatty acids play in human brain growth and function.
	'Pain sensing' gene discovery could help in development of new methods of pain relief A gene essential to the production of pain-sensing neurons in humans has been identified by an international team of researchers co-led by the University of Cambridge. The discovery, reported today in the journal Nature Genetics, could have implications for the development of new methods of pain relief.
	Researchers unveil new gene subgroup in prostate cancer Prostate cancer researchers have drawn a molecular portrait that provides the first complete picture of localized, multi-focal disease within the prostate and also unveils a new gene subgroup driving it.
	Ovarian cancer-specific markers set the stage for early diagnosis, personalized treatments Ovarian cancer is notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat, making it an especially fatal disease. Researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center have now identified six mRNA isoforms (bits of genetic material) produced by ovarian cancer cells but not normal cells, opening up the possibility that they could be used to diagnose early-stage ovarian cancer. What's more, several of the mRNA isoforms code for unique proteins that could be targeted with new therapeutics. The study is published the week of May 25 by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Study suggests new way of preventing diabetes-associated blindness Reporting on their study with lab-grown human cells, researchers at The Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland say that blocking a second blood vessel growth protein, along with one that is already well-known, could offer a new way to treat and prevent a blinding eye disease caused by diabetes.
Depression associated with five-fold increased mortality risk in heart failure patients Moderate to severe depression is associated with a 5-fold increased risk of all cause mortality in patients with heart failure, according to research presented today at Heart Failure 2015. The results from OPERA-HF show that risk was independent of comorbidities and severity of heart failure. Patients who were not depressed had an 80% lower mortality risk.
German woman, 65, gives birth to quadruplets A 65-year-old teacher from Berlin has given birth to quadruplets after a pregnancy that was widely criticized by medical professionals because of her age, RTL television said Saturday.
Cognitive impairment predicts worse outcome in heart failure Cognitive impairment predicts worse outcome in elderly heart failure patients, reveals research presented today at Heart Failure 2015 by Hiroshi Saito, a physiotherapist at Kameda Medical Centre in Kamogawa, Japan. Patients with cognitive impairment had a 7.5 times greater risk of call cause death and heart failure readmission.
New survey shows 36-percent increase in pediatric patients treated with proton therapy Results from a new nationwide survey announced today indicate a steady increase in the number of pediatric patients who are being treated with proton radiation therapy for cancerous and non-cancerous tumors.
	In study, new swab reveals one-third of babies with severe diarrhea had undiagnosed, treatable infection With Canadian government funding, medical scientists have created and demonstrated a new tool that could dramatically lower the tragic annual toll of 760,000 infants and children killed, and millions more stunted, due to severe diarrhea.
Sierra Leone marks grim Ebola anniversary On May 24 last year a pregnant woman and an older housewife staggered into Kenema hospital in eastern Sierra Leone and were diagnosed within a day as the country's first Ebola cases.
	Study examines increase in calls to emergency services As calls to emergency services increase, there is an urgent need for a reliable and consistent method of measuring whether or not these calls are appropriate. These are the findings from a University of Bristol study, published in BMJ Open, which explored ambulance use among patients with problems that could potentially be managed by their GP or other primary care health services.
	Researchers developing ground-breaking therapeutic cancer vaccine A novel way of treating cancer using immunotherapy has been discovered in a joint research venture between Victoria University and the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, and is on track to being tested on cancer patients.
	The Ebola outbreak highlights shortcomings in disease surveillance and response – and where we can do better Right now the World Health Organization (WHO) is holding its annual World Health Assembly (WHA). At this time last year, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) was rapidly spreading through West Africa, and the outbreak is rightly a major item on this year's assembly agenda. Attention will be paid to the decisions made in response to the outbreak and what this tells us about how best to respond to the next one, including for advance preparation and early warning.
	Auditory deprivation from hearing loss may cause cognitive decline A University of Arizona collaborative study among the Departments of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery; Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences; and Psychology received approval in early May to begin accepting human subjects in an effort to determine whether older adults suffering from prolonged hearing loss receive a cognitive boost after cochlear implant surgery.
	Reflections on using Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) to treat neuropsychiatric disorders One of my most fascinating experiences as a doctoral student of neuroscience began with an early morning trip to the university hospital. Upon arrival, my laboratory colleagues and I met with one of the clinical neurologists, who introduced us to a patient suffering from advanced Parkinson's Disease. Medications were no longer working effectively, and the patient's motor symptoms were severe and debilitating. The day that we arrived, the patient was to have electrodes implanted deep into the brain circuitry that was misbehaving in his disease, the first step in a revolutionary therapeutic approach known as deep brain stimulation (DBS).
	When fitness bands become student–tracking devices A "nightmarish" vision of a future in which technology makes physical education more boring, judgmental and narrow is driving a new study by a University of Queensland academic.
Pharmacologist's book discusses the science of aging for the rest of us You don't need a doctorate in pharmacology to write a book about aging, but these days, when the average senior citizen takes multiple medications, it does come in handy. That's evident in "Optimal Aging: A Guide to Your First Hundred Years," by Jerrold Winter, PhD, a professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology in the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Science.
	Glancing at a grassy green roof significantly boosts concentration A University of Melbourne study shows that glancing at a grassy green roof for only 40 seconds markedly boosts concentration.
	Heart failure drugs beneficial even in presence of kidney disease A novel study from Karolinska Institutesuggests that RAS-antagonists, common drugs for patients with heart failure, may benefit also patients who have concomitant kidney disease, a group previously not studied.
	Cancer waiting time targets – simply not good enough We've known for some time that NHS cancer services are at a tipping point.
	Experts discuss new trend of eating out vs. eating at home It happened this year for the first time ever: Americans spent more money in restaurants and bars than in grocery stores, according to a recent article published by Yahoo! News.
	Genetically engineered athletes could be heading this way soon A team from China grabbed the headlines last month when it announced it had edited DNA in the nucleus of human embryos. Whatever the ethics of such research, the breakthrough raises the question of just how far we will take tampering with our genetic make-up?
	Paralysed patient makes natural movements using robotics and the power of thought Erik Sorto, 34, has been paralysed from the neck down for the past 13 years. However, thanks to a ground-breaking clinical trial, he has been able to smoothly drink a bottle of beer using a robotic arm controlled with his mind. He is the first patient to have had a neural prosthetic device implanted in a region of the brain thought to control intentions. The technology created surprisingly natural movements and has the potential to work for multiple robotic limbs.
	Earthquakes prove to be an unexpected help in interpreting the brain activity of very premature babies University of Helsinki researchers have partnered with Swedish and Australian researchers to create a "brainstorm barometer", which allows computers to calculate the brain functions of very premature babies during their first hours of life. The new research method is based on the hypothesis that the brainstorms generated by the billions of neurons inside a baby's head are governed by the same rules as other massive natural phenomena, such as earthquakes, forest fires or snow avalanches.
	Extreme athletes gain control through fear – and sometimes pay the price The death of famed "daredevil" climber and base jumper Dean Potter has once again raised the idea that all high-risk sportspeople are hedonistic thrill seekers. Our research into extreme athletes shows this view is simplistic and wrong.
	Word choice impacts eating disorder sufferers People affected by eating disorders (ED) are drawn towards food-related information but away from body-shape information.
Audiologist offers tips for better speech and hearing The Memorial Day parade. Road and building construction. Fourth of July fireworks. Outdoor rock concerts.
Good speech leads to stronger reading and writing skills, says speech-language therapist Reading and writing skills, or literacy skills, begin to develop before a child can even read or write. Emergent literacy skills develop from birth to preschool age, around 3 years old. "During the preschool period, children see and interact with a variety of print at home, in the community and at daycare or school," says Kaitlin Vogtner Trainor, Speech language-pathologist at Loyola University Health System. "This exposure to print builds phonological awareness skills, the recognition that words are made up of separate speech sounds, which leads to stronger reading and writing skills later in life."
	Dyslexia and sight: the wider view There is widespread belief in the scientific community that dyslexia, which affects around 375,000 UK children and has a lifelong impact on learning, is not caused by sight problems. However, many practitioners and professional bodies offer dyslexic children eye treatments and routine eye checks to ensure glasses are offered if necessary and then that no further testing is needed. A new study, led by the universities of Bristol and Newcastle, which analysed the eye test results of 5,822 children found that the majority of the dyslexic children had perfect vision.
Re-hospitalization rates for traumatic brain injury higher than previously reported A new, Ontario-wide study shows that rates of hospital readmission following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are greater than other chronic diseases and injuries and are higher than previously reported.
Frailer older patients at higher risk of readmission or death after discharge from hospital Frailer older patients are at higher risk of readmission to hospital or death within 30 days after discharge from a general internal medicine ward, but health care professionals can assess who is at risk using the Clinical Frailty Scale, according to a study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Patterns of brain activity reorganize visual perception during eye movements Scientists measuring brain activity have found that in many regions, such as the sensory or motor cortex, activity sometimes oscillates at different frequencies, forming wave-like patterns. Despite the fact that such oscillations are frequently observed, and present in many brain regions, their functional role remains unclear. Research done by Dr. Christopher Pack, from McGill University, who looked at such waves occurring in a region of the visual cortex of the brain, suggests these oscillations could have a role in resetting the sensitivity of neurons after eye movements. Further results suggest these waves could also have a role in supporting the brain's representation of space. These results were presented at the 9th Annual Canadian Neuroscience Meeting, on May 25th 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
	Motherhood permanently alters the brain and its response to hormone therapy later in life Hormone therapy (HT) is prescribed to alleviate some of the symptoms of menopause in women. Menopausal women are more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease but not other forms of dementia, and HT has been prescribed to treat cognitive decline in post-menopausal women with variable degrees of effectiveness. New research by Dr. Liisa Galea, at the University of British Columbia, suggests the form of estrogens used in HT and previous motherhood could be critical to explain why HT has variable effects.
	Large practices focused on small selection of EHR products (HealthDay)—Sixty percent of clinicians in practices with 26 or more clinicians report use of one of 10 electronic health record (EHR) products, according to a report published by AmericanEHR Partners.
	ACOG urges expedited partner therapy for some STIs (HealthDay)—For patients with sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as gonorrhea and chlamydia, whose partners are unable or unwilling to seek care, expedited partner therapy can be used to prevent reinfection, according to a Committee Opinion published in the June issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Front desk staff has key role in managing practice cash flow (HealthDay)—Three steps that can be implemented by front desk staff can help increase practices' cash flow, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
	CDC: Raw tuna suspected as Salmonella source in outbreak (HealthDay)—Raw tuna is suspected as the source of a Salmonella outbreak that has infected 53 people in nine states, according to U.S. health officials.
Ohio bill would allow patients to get STD meds for partners A bill in Ohio seeks to expand access to treatment for certain sexually transmitted diseases by allowing doctors to prescribe medication to their patients' partners without first examining them.
	Road traffic noise linked to heightened risk of mid-riff bulge Road traffic noise is linked to a heightened risk of developing a mid-riff bulge, indicates research published online in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.
Bacteria blamed in indigenous Mexican baby deaths Bacteria—and not a contaminated vaccine as initially suspected—were to blame for the recent deaths of two Mexican babies and for sickening 29 others, according to an official investigation.
MSF fighting cholera outbreak in Tanzania refugee camps Medical charity Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF, Doctors Without Borders) said Sunday it had launched emergency treatment centres in Tanzania, where thousands of Burundians fleeing unrest have been hit by cholera.
	Aspirin to improve leg ulcers Researchers are looking at whether aspirin can improve the healing rates of leg ulcers in older adults.
	Tips to be more active Here are 10 tips to help you aim for 150 minutes of physical activity in a week, and to help you live a healthy lifestyle.

Other Sciences news

	Best of Last Week—Increasing antihydrogen production, converting waste heat to electricity and video game brain impact (Phys.org)—It was another good week for physics as a team of researchers found some ways to increase antihydrogen production—having more of the stuff could lead to better experiments to learn more about antimatter in general.
	Facebook status updates reveal low self-esteem and narcissism People who post Facebook status updates about their romantic partner are more likely to have low self-esteem, while those who brag about diets, exercise, and accomplishments are typically narcissists, according to new research.
	John Nash, wife, 'A Beautiful Mind' inspiration, die in NJ John Forbes Nash Jr., a mathematical genius whose struggle with schizophrenia was chronicled in the 2001 movie "A Beautiful Mind," has died along with his wife in a car crash on the New Jersey Turnpike. He was 86.
	New technology allows archaeologists to easily map excavation sites in 3D Mapping archaeological digs takes plenty of time and a lot of measuring, photographing, drawing and note taking. Now, most of this work can be done with a technique called photogrammetry.
	Probing Question: Is art an essential school subject? For decades, "reading, writing, and 'rithmetic" were considered the most fundamental subjects in American K-12 schools. These days, in order to boost our nation's global competitiveness, many schools and colleges are emphasizing STEM subjects—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math—over the liberal and fine arts. The White House has even announced the goal of increasing by one million the number of students who receive undergraduate degrees in STEM subjects over the next decade.
	Why Aboriginal people need autonomy over their food supply Access to affordable and nutritious food is an ongoing problem in remote Indigenous communities. These areas have an artificially inflated cost of living due to cycles of mining boom and bust, and suffer from a general unavailability of fresh fruit and vegetables and other high-quality foods.
Study links credit default swaps, mortgage delinquencies Researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas recently published the first empirical investigation connecting credit default swaps to mortgage defaults that helped lead to the 2007-2008 financial crisis.
	Research duo examines reasons for low participation in weatherization assistance program As Midwest temperatures dip in October, ash and maple trees flaunt bronze and flaming red leaves, and college football fans launch into super-zeal mode. It's a great time to be outdoors. Not necessarily so in winter. In Chicago or Des Moines, the warmest part of the day is often below freezing. Nights drop down another 20 or 30 degrees.

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