Fwd: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Jul 30

HOT!

On the crest of the wave: Electronics on a time scale shorter than a cycle of light

RESPEKT!

The body and the brain: The impact of mental and physical exertion on fatigue development

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Fri, Jul 31, 2015 at 4:12 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Jul 30
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for July 30, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Model shows how surge in wealth inequality may be reversed
- Scientists urge ban on salamander imports to fend off deadly fungus
- New polymer able to store energy at higher temperatures
- Sol-gel capacitor dielectric offers record-high energy storage
- Robotic insect mimics nature's extreme moves
- Astronomers find star with three super-Earths
- Earth's magnetic shield is much older than previously thought
- Drought's lasting impact on forests
- Non-surgical approach helps people with paralysis voluntarily move their legs
- Researchers discover that aspartate is a limiter of cell proliferation
- How to look for a few good catalysts
- A cheaper, high-performance prosthetic knee
- Electric fields affect wing movement, leading to agitation and changes in brain chemistry
- 'Golden jackals' of East Africa are actually 'golden wolves'
- 'Plasmonic' material could bring ultrafast all-optical communications

Nanotechnology news

A cost-effective solution to tuned graphene production Graphene has been called the miracle material but the single-atomic layer material is still seeking its place in the materials world. Now a method to make 'defective' graphene could provide the answer.

Physics news

	Robotic insect mimics nature's extreme moves The concept of walking on water might sound supernatural, but in fact it is a quite natural phenomenon. Many small living creatures leverage water's surface tension to maneuver themselves around. One of the most complex maneuvers, jumping on water, is achieved by a species of semi-aquatic insects called water striders that not only skim along water's surface but also generate enough upward thrust with their legs to launch themselves airborne from it.
	On the crest of the wave: Electronics on a time scale shorter than a cycle of light Physicists from Regensburg and Marburg, Germany have succeeded in taking a slow-motion movie of speeding electrons in a solid driven by a strong light wave. In the process, they have unraveled a novel quantum phenomenon, which is reported in the recent edition of Nature.
	The sound of music, according to physicists Joshua Bodon is sick of hearing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." More specifically, he's sick of hearing one 25-second clip of the song repeated more than 550 times.
	New insight on how crystals form may advance materials, health, basic science research Scientists have long worked to understand how crystals grow into complex shapes. Crystals are important in materials from skeletons and shells to soils and semiconductor materials, but much is unknown about how they form.
	'Plasmonic' material could bring ultrafast all-optical communications Researchers have created a new "plasmonic oxide material" that could make possible devices for optical communications that are at least 10 times faster than conventional technologies.

Earth news

	Fish teeth and tectonic plates tell a new story about world's largest ocean current Fossil fish teeth recovered from the ocean floor around Tasmania have shed new light on the origins of the world's largest ocean current, according to a paper released in Nature this week.
	Drought's lasting impact on forests In the virtual worlds of climate modeling, forests and other vegetation are assumed to bounce back quickly from extreme drought. But that assumption is far off the mark, according to a new study of drought impacts at forest sites worldwide. Living trees took an average of two to four years to recover and resume normal growth rates after droughts ended, researchers report today in the journal Science.
	New study exposes negative effects of climate change on Antarctic fish Scientists at University of California Davis and San Francisco State University have discovered that the combination of elevated levels of carbon dioxide and an increase in ocean water temperature has a significant impact on survival and development of the Antarctic dragonfish (Gymnodraco acuticeps). The research article was published today in the journal Conservation Physiology.
	How much coral reef does the world have? A global perspective needed Coral reefs are struggling in many areas of the world due to overfishing, pollution, climate change, and other stressors. Despite the best efforts of scientists and conservation practitioners worldwide to assess and quantify these declines, how the total amount of coral reef area, or 'reef structure', is changing remains unknown.
	2014 earthquake study looked at tsunami risks A study published in 2014 found Queensland was relatively safe from the threat of a devastating tsunami, but southern states on the east coast might not be so lucky.
	Just say 'No' to drugs—in water Remember the science fair? For some of us it was an exciting time of creative experimentation. For others it was a time of botched and badly displayed data. For 16-year-old Maria Elena Grimmett, it's a blast. And she isn't peddling baking soda and vinegar volcanoes.
	Philippine capital holds drill to prepare for killer quake Filipinos poured out of buildings and shopping malls in a massive drill across Manila on Thursday to brace for a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that experts fear could kill tens of thousands and displace millions.
	Unique environmental remediation project on steep canyon successfully completed A multi-disciplinary team recently completed a unique remediation project at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) that involved removing contaminated rock and soil from a steep canyon slope that was only accessible from the parking lot of a busy shopping center.
New study narrows the gap between climate models and reality A new study led by a University of York scientist addresses an important question in climate science: how accurate are climate model projections?
	Bering Sea hotspot for corals and sponges North of the Aleutian Islands, submarine canyons in the cold waters of the eastern Bering Sea contain a highly productive "green belt" that is home to deep-water corals as well as a plethora of fish and marine mammals.
	California 'rain debt' equal to average full year of precipitation A new NASA study has concluded California accumulated a debt of about 20 inches of precipitation between 2012 and 2015—the average amount expected to fall in the state in a single year. The deficit was driven primarily by a lack of air currents moving inland from the Pacific Ocean that are rich in water vapor.
	Olympic teams to swim, boat in Rio's filth Athletes competing in next year's Summer Olympics here will be swimming and boating in waters so contaminated with human feces that they risk becoming violently ill and unable to compete in the games, an Associated Press investigation has found.
	Keystone pipeline's fate to be decided during Obama's term President Barack Obama plans to decide before leaving office whether to approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline that would send Canadian crude oil to US refineries.
	Robotic gliders herald sea of change in ocean survey work Robotic underwater Seagliders used by the Oban-based Scottish Association for Marine Science have now gathered the equivalent of five years of oceanographic data, most of which was collected in the past 18 months.
	Scientists look five million years into the past to predict Australia's climate future Has Australia's climate always been so dry? Have the tropical reefs around Australia always been there? What will happen to Australia's climate and reefs in the future? The answers lie deep under the ocean, five million years in the past.
	Treating ships' ballast water: filtration preferable to disinfection Untreated ballast water discharge from ships can spread living organisms and even pathogens across the world thereby introducing non-native or invasive species into the local environment. Scientists at Helmholtz Zentrum München therefore recommend using physical treatment processes such as filtration rather than electrochemical disinfection, which creates countless potentially toxic compounds. These are the findings of a recent study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.
	Piecing together the Pangea puzzle Two hundred and fifty million years ago, all the major continents were joined together, forming a continent called Pangea (which means "all land" in Greek). The plate thickness of continents can now be measured using seismology, and it is surprisingly variable, from about 90 km beneath places like California or Western Europe, to more than 200 km beneath the older interiors of the U.S., Eastern Europe, and Russia.
	Scientist: Oil slick likely from natural seafloor seepage Coast Guard officials were still trying to determine the source of a mysterious miles-long oil slick off California's Santa Barbara County shoreline, but a scientist said Thursday that it's likely the result of naturally occurring seepage from the sea floor.

Astronomy & Space news

	Earth's magnetic shield is much older than previously thought Since 2010, the best estimate of the age of Earth's magnetic field has been 3.45 billion years. But now a researcher responsible for that finding has new data showing the magnetic field is far older.
	Astronomers find star with three super-Earths Astronomers said Thursday they had found a planetary system with three super-Earths orbiting a bright, dwarf star—one of them likely a volcanic world of molten rock.
	Unusual red arcs spotted on icy Saturn moon Tethys Like graffiti sprayed by an unknown artist, unexplained arc-shaped, reddish streaks are visible on the surface of Saturn's icy moon Tethys in new, enhanced-color images from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.
	New Horizons data hint at underground ocean Pluto wears its heart on its sleeve, and that has scientists gleaning intriguing new facts about its geology and climate. Recent data from NASA's New Horizons probe—which passed within 7,800 miles of the surface on July 14—have revealed striking features on Pluto's heart-shaped region that indicate the icy dwarf planet may harbor an ocean deep in its interior, according to mission scientists during a July 24 press briefing. They also provided new information about Pluto's thin atmosphere.
	Rosetta shows how comet interacts with the solar wind Rosetta is making good progress in one of its key investigations, which concerns the interaction between the comet and the solar wind.
	Hubble image: Stormy seas in Sagittarius Some of the most breathtaking views in the Universe are created by nebulae - hot, glowing clouds of gas. This new NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image shows the centre of the Lagoon Nebula, an object with a deceptively tranquil name. The region is filled with intense winds from hot stars, churning funnels of gas, and energetic star formation, all embedded within an intricate haze of gas and pitch-dark dust.
	Telescopes team up to find distant Uranus-sized planet through microlensing NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the W.M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii have made independent confirmations of an exoplanet orbiting far from its central star. The planet was discovered through a technique called gravitational microlensing.
	Philae probe finds evidence that comets can be cosmic labs Scientists say the Philae space probe has gathered data supporting the theory that comets can serve as cosmic laboratories in which some of the essential elements for life are assembled.
	Space Kombucha in the search for life and its origin You might know it as a drink for hipsters or as an ancient brew drunk for centuries in Eurasia, but the culture that ferments sugary tea into Kombucha is going around the world. Bolted to the outside of the International Space Station are the same bacteria and yeasts that are used in making Kombucha.
	It's alive, it's alive! On June 3, 2015, more than a month before New Horizons, flying faster than speeding bullet, reached its rendezvous with the Pluto system, an astronomer at the Southwest Research Institute who is also a space artist posted a "final guess" at what the planet might look like.
	Weather reports on the Sun could lead to safer space travel Astronauts could one day tune in to the morning's space weather report to see whether they should take that trip to Mars, thanks to research led by Northumbria University, Newcastle.
	NASA's second crash test harvests valuable data to improve emergency response With a thunderous rattle, the Cessna 172 aircraft plowed into the soil as its windshield shattered, its wings wrenched off and its fuselage flipped—tail over nose—onto its back.
	Blue moon? Friday's celestial event comes with a catch This is an astronomy story that comes up only once in a blue moon, like on Friday. Maybe.

Technology news

	Toyota robot can pick up after people, help the sick Toyota's new robot that glides around like R2-D2 is devoted to a single task: picking things up.
	Startup team signals time for affordable smartwatch for blind Blind people can read using their fingers to tell the letters; the tactile system, Braille, is thanks to Louis Braille. Learning to read and write in Braille means literacy and having access to publications in Braille means a lifeline for those with vision impairments; the problem is that many needing such lifelines do not have them; access to Braille education and content available in Braille are lacking for many with vision impairments.
	IBM's Watson computing technology learns Japanese The IBM Watson super-brainy computing technology, which has helped organize massive data as well as beaten champions on the Jeopardy TV show, is now learning Japanese.
	Power grid forecasting tool reduces costly errors Accurately forecasting future electricity needs is tricky, with sudden weather changes and other variables impacting projections minute by minute. Errors can have grave repercussions, from blackouts to high market costs. Now, a new forecasting tool that delivers up to a 50 percent increase in accuracy and the potential to save millions in wasted energy costs has been developed by researchers at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
	Hackers used Twitter to target US systems: researchers Russian-based hackers are using malicious software concealed in Twitter images to relay commands and steal data from US computer networks, security researchers said this week.
	Facebook ready to test giant drone for Internet service Facebook says it will begin test flights later this year for a solar-powered drone with a wingspan as big as a Boeing 737, in the next stage of its campaign to deliver Internet connectivity to remote parts of the world.
	Galaxy S6 fails to reverse profit decline at Samsung Samsung Electronics suffered a fifth straight drop in quarterly earnings as the Galaxy S6 failed to reverse its declining fortunes in global smartphone sales.
Sony quarterly profit up 3-fold on currency gains, sensors Sony said quarterly profit rose threefold as foreign exchange gains and sales of image sensors and Playstation 4 software helped offset declines elsewhere.
	Nokia profit grows as networks division leads turnaround Nokia enjoyed a solid 60 percent rise in net profit in the second quarter, with a good performance in its core networks division suggesting the Finnish company is succeeding in turning its business around since selling its handsets operation to Microsoft in 2013.
Virtual reality helps make sense of complex scientific data Virtual reality (VR) is a billion-dollar industry familiar to gamers but recently VR technology has been used to make sense of the enormous scientific dataset that is the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parent and Children (ALSPAC).
NEC posts April-June loss on weak telecom sales Japan's NEC said Thursday it remained stuck in the red during its fiscal first quarter largely owing to weakness in its telecom division, but was still on track for a full-year profit.
	No-one saw apps coming, but their future will be unmissable It might be hard to believe, but the first iPhone was unleashed on the world less than 10 years ago.
Why we should welcome 'killer robots', not ban them The open letter signed by more than 12,000 prominent people calling for a ban on artificially intelligent killer robots, connected to arguments for a UN ban on the same, is misguided and perhaps even reckless.
	New database could make airport ground movements quicker, greener and cheaper A new system for calculating the quickest and most fuel efficient routes for moving aircraft on the ground could transform the way our airports operate, according to new research.
	Auto industry must tackle its software problems to stop hacks as cars go online Many companies producing software employ people as penetration testers, whose job it is to find security holes before others with less pure motives get a chance. This is especially common in the finance sector, but following the recent demonstration of a drive-by hack on a Jeep, and parent company's Fiat Chrysler's huge recall of 1.4m vehicles for security testing, perhaps it's time the auto industry followed its lead.
	New semiconductor material made from black phosphorus may be candidate to replace silicon in future tech Silicon Valley in Northern California got its nickname from the multitude of computer chip manufacturers that sprung up in the surrounding area in the 1980's. Despite its ubiquity as a chip building material, silicon may be facing some competition from a new version of an old substance.
Ocean currents may trace origins of MH370 debris There are two main Indian Ocean currents which may have caused debris from missing flight MH370 to wash up on the French island of La Reunion, experts said Thursday.
	Angry Birds back in sequel to save game maker Rovio Finnish game maker Rovio launched Angry Birds 2 on Thursday, a sequel to what the company claims to have been the most downloaded mobile game series of all time.
	Samsung announces mass production of industry's first mobile image sensor with 1.0μm pixels Samsung Electronics announced the industry's first 1.0μm-pixel-based 16 megapixel (Mp) CMOS image sensor for use in advanced mobile devices.
	Ultra-local 'Facebook' turning city neighbours into friends Perched on makeshift seats next to a buffet with fresh fruit, elderflower cordial and homemade muffins, neighbours laugh and chat on a leafy patch amid modern apartment blocks in Vienna's 15th district.
	China search engine Baidu plans $1.0 bn share buy-back Chinese search engine Baidu, listed on the US Nasdaq market, said Thursday it is planning a $1.0 billion share buy-back programme over the next 12 months.
	Modern mugging: Sweden thieves demand money via mobile app In a tale of a very modern mugging, thieves in Sweden forced their victim to give them his money via an electronic transfer, making the police investigation a no-brainer, Swedish media reported Thursday.
	Argonne works with marine industry on new fuel The battle for cleaner, greener fuels isn't fought solely on land - America's rivers, lakes and surrounding seas are home to 17 million recreational boats keeping more than 75 million weekend warriors afloat each year.
German prosecutors probe website for treason over spy story Germany's federal prosecutors are investigating whether a website that covers digital rights issues committed an act of treason for reporting on plans to expand the country's domestic surveillance of online communication.
	Google rejects French demand over global right to be forgotten Google on Thursday rejected a French demand to globally apply the so-called right to be forgotten, which requires the company to remove links to certain information about users if asked.
From passive to active: Face lifting facades The biggest current innovation in façade design stems from a modular façade with smart materials that act as an active skin to make old buildings energy efficient.
	Drones being honed to help farmers grow better crops Farmers will be using drones in the near future to monitor and improve their crops to help feed a hungry world, say Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists who are now developing the technology.
	Powerful patents: Navy outranks all government agencies in yearly report Predicting the risk of pirate attacks on vital shipping lanes could soon be easier, thanks to a data system that's just one of 364 technologies patented by the U.S. Navy (DoN) in 2014.
Reproducible research for biofuels and biogas New research in the Open Access journal GigaScience presents a virtual package of data for biogas production, made reusable in a containerized form to allow scientists to better understand the production of biofuels.
	LinkedIn bucks week's downward trend among social media It hasn't been a good week for social media companies, not even for the usually reliable professional networking service LinkedIn Corp.

Chemistry news

	Sol-gel capacitor dielectric offers record-high energy storage Using a hybrid silica sol-gel material and self-assembled monolayers of a common fatty acid, researchers have developed a new capacitor dielectric material that provides an electrical energy storage capacity rivaling certain batteries, with both a high energy density and high power density.
	New polymer able to store energy at higher temperatures (Phys.org)—A team of researchers at the Pennsylvania State University has created a new polymer that is able to store energy at higher temperatures than conventional polymers without breaking down. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes how they created the polymer and why they believe it could be useful in many products. Harry Ploehn with the University of South Carolina offers a brief history of polymers created for use in electronics, in a News & Views piece in the same journal issue, and describes the work done by the team on this new effort—he also offers an opinion on the prospects for the newly development polymer.
	How to look for a few good catalysts Two key physical phenomena take place at the surfaces of materials: catalysis and wetting. A catalyst enhances the rate of chemical reactions; wetting refers to how liquids spread across a surface.
Sugar in your cuppa... not just about a sweet tooth New research by scientists at the University of York has given tea and coffee drinkers new information about why their favourite drinks taste as they do.

Biology news

	Scientists urge ban on salamander imports to fend off deadly fungus Five California amphibian experts warn that a recently discovered fungus already devastating salamanders in Europe could imperil American salamanders, and urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to immediately halt salamander imports until there is a plan to detect and prevent the spread of the fungus.
	Researchers solve mystery of how AkT 'moves' from cytosol to cell membrane Jialing Xiang, professor of biology at Illinois Institute of Technology, and her collaborators have solved a longtime mystery: how protein kinase (Akt), a key player in cell signaling, "moves" from the cytosol (fluid inside of the cells) to the cell membrane.
	Closer look offers clues on how DNA strands are separated during replication (Phys.org)—A team of researchers working in China has used newly developed cryo-electron technology to get a closer look at the mechanism involved in separating DNA strands necessary for natural replication of DNA. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes their study, what they were able to observe, and their theory on how the separation actually takes place. Mathew Bochman with Indiana University and Anthony Schwacha with the University of Pittsburgh offer a News & Views piece on the work done by the team in the same journal issue.
	Evolutionary war between microorganisms affecting human health, biologist says Health experts have warned for years that the overuse of antibiotics is creating "superbugs" able to resist drugs treating infection.
	Changing clocks and changing seasons: Scientists find role for neuronal plasticity A team of scientists has linked changes in the structure of a handful of central brain neurons to understanding how animals adjust to changing seasons. Its findings enhance our understanding of the mechanisms vital to the regulation of our circadian system, or internal clock.
	Researchers resurrect ancient viruses in hopes of improving gene therapy Researchers have recreated the evolutionary lineage of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) to reconstruct an ancient viral particle that is highly effective at delivering gene therapies targeting the liver, muscle, and retina. This approach, published July 30 in Cell Reports, could be used to design a new class of genetic drugs that are safer and more potent than those currently available.
	How a single molecule turns one immune cell into another All it takes is one molecule to reprogram an antibody-producing B cell into a scavenging macrophage. This transformation is possible, new evidence shows, because the molecule (C/EBPa, a transcription factor) "short-circuits" the cells so that they re-express genes reserved for embryonic development. The findings appear July 30 in Stem Cell Reports, the journal of the International Society for Stem Cell Research.
	'Golden jackals' of East Africa are actually 'golden wolves' Despite their remarkably similar appearance, the "golden jackals" of East Africa and Eurasia are actually two entirely different species. The discovery, based on DNA evidence and reported in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on July 30, increases the overall biodiversity of the Canidae—the group including dogs, wolves, foxes, and jackals—from 35 living species to 36.
	Electric fields affect wing movement, leading to agitation and changes in brain chemistry A new piece of research led by the University of Southampton has found that the behaviour of fruit flies, which are commonly used in laboratory experiments, is altered by electric fields.
	Researchers discover that aspartate is a limiter of cell proliferation Mitochondria are well known for their role as powerhouses in our cells, using respiration to release the energy in the food we eat and trapping that energy in the molecule adenosine triphosphate, or ATP.
	Root radar: Researchers discover how parasitic plants know when to attack An international team of researchers led by scientists at the University of Georgia has discovered how parasitic plants, which steal their nutrients from another living plant, evolved the ability to detect and attack their hosts. Their findings, published recently in the journal Science, could lead to new techniques to control the thieving weeds.
	Unanimous international consensus recommends specific measures for responsible conduct of gene drive research Gene drives are genetic elements - found naturally in the genomes of most of the world's organisms - that increase the chance of the gene they carry being passed on to all offspring, and thus, they can quickly spread through populations. Looking to these natural systems, researchers around the world, including some Wyss Institute scientists, are developing synthetic gene drives that could one day be leveraged by humans to purposefully alter the traits of wild populations of organisms to prevent disease transmission and eradicate invasive species.
Cell aging slowed by putting brakes on noisy transcription Working with yeast and worms, researchers found that incorrect gene expression is a hallmark of aged cells and that reducing such "noise" extends lifespan in these organisms. The team published their findings this month in Genes & Development.
Aquariums deliver health and wellbeing benefits People who spend time watching aquariums and fish tanks could see improvements in their physical and mental wellbeing, according to new research published in the journal Environment & Behavior.
Afro-Brazilians search DNA for pre-slavery origins More than a century after slavery officially ended in Brazil, DNA tests are giving Afro-Brazilians the intriguing chance to find out who they are beyond mere skin color.
	Why bacteria could be the answer to a future without oil Chemicals are all around us. They are crucial in all manner of industries, from agriculture to food to cosmetics. Most people give little thought to how these chemicals are made – and certainly very few would consider the chemical industry as a contributor to our society's dependence on oil. But it is.
	Habitat prediction model created to protect piping plovers Beach walkers along the East Coast often share the sand with several kinds of birds that scavenge the shore just out of the reach of waves. Among these shorebirds is the piping plover—a tiny, busy bird that nests in open areas along the beach.
	Breeding a better peanut butter Peanuts are big - big business that is. According to the National Peanut Board, Americans spend about $800 million a year on peanut butter, and peanuts contribute more than $4 billion a year to the US economy.
	Rescued turtles turn up new parasite A wild turtle, left tethered to a stake through a hole stabbed into her neck, is one of five rescued western long-necked turtles (Chelodina colliei) subsequently found to host an entirely new species of Eimeria parasite.
	Rottnest marine sanctuaries inadequate for prized fish A three-year survey of fish species off Rottnest Island has found marine sanctuaries around the popular tourist destination are inadequate for high-risk targeted species.
	The bold and the shy one: Could woodlice have personalities? Unlike larger animals and even other invertebrates, the theory for the presence of personality traits in terrestrial isopods had not been studied before the research conducted by Dr. Ivan Tuf's team.
	I think I found a new species, now how do I illustrate it? When aiming to express a concept or convey a message, the use of visual material is certainly a clearer and more understandable method compared to a text-only description.
	Studying killer whales with an unmanned aerial vehicle Last year, for the first time, scientists used an unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV, to study killer whales from above. In an article published this month in the Journal of Unmanned Vehicle Systems, scientists describe how they configured their UAV, turning it into a precision scientific instrument.
Research could lead to protective probiotics for frogs In research that could lead to protective probiotics to fight the "chytrid" fungus that has been decimating amphibian populations worldwide, Jenifer Walke, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, and her collaborators have grown bacterial species from the skin microbiome of four species of amphibians. The research appears July 10 in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
Endangered pallid sturgeon larvae found in Missouri River Three fish larvae captured from the Missouri River last year have been confirmed as those of the endangered pallid sturgeon, the U.S. Geological Survey said Thursday.
	Study could play major role in curbing illegal ivory sales A new automated data mining system researched and developed at the University of Kent could lead to a dramatic increase in the detection of potentially illegal online sales of elephant ivory through eBay.
	Milkweed, monarchs, men, and madness The iconic monarch butterfly is known for its annual migration from Canada and the US to Mexico where they overwinter then fly north again in spring. University of Guam (UOG) entomologists Aubrey Moore and Ross Miller facilitated a recent visit from a trio of researchers interested in studying the island's monarch butterflies hoping to answer some questions that may help unravel stateside monarch migration mysteries.
Group calls for more transparency of experiments on primates Thousands of nonhuman primates continue to be confined alone in laboratories despite 30-year-old federal regulations and guidelines mandating that social housing of primates should be the default. A new article co-authored by PETA scientists and Marymount University researchers, published in Perspectives in Laboratory Animal Science, argues that many laboratories cage primates alone—a harmful practice often done for convenience—and that the U.S. government isn't doing enough to address this growing problem.
	Countering pet obesity by rethinking feeding habits 190 million Americans share the luxuries of human life with their pets. Giving dogs and cats a place in human homes, beds and—sometimes even, their wills—comes with the family member package.
	UN adopts resolution to fight wildlife trafficking The UN General Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution to tackle illegal smuggling of endangered wildlife like elephants and rhinoceros.

Medicine & Health news

	Promising progress for new treatment of type 1 diabetes New research from Uppsala University shows promising progress in the use of anti-inflammatory cytokine for treatment of type 1 diabetes. The study, published in the open access journal Scientific Reports, reveals that administration of interleukin-35 (a protein made by immune cells) to mice with type 1 diabetes, reverses or cures the disease by maintaining a normal blood glucose level and the immune tolerance.
	Discovery prompts rethink on metals and Alzheimer's disease Researchers at the University of Melbourne have discovered that a protein involved in the progression of Alzheimer's disease also has properties that could be helpful for human health.
	Strange circular DNA may offer new way to detect cancers Strange rings of DNA that exist outside chromosomes are distinct to the cell types that mistakenly produced them, researchers have discovered. The finding raises the tantalizing possibility that the rings could be used as an indicator of different types of cancer.
Gene variants modifying Huntington's symptom onset may lead to new therapeutic strategies A study that took a novel approach to investigating factors affecting the emergence of symptoms of Huntington's disease (HD) has identified at least two genome sites that house variants that can hasten or delay symptom onset. In their report in the July 30 issue of Cell, the multi-institutional research team describes how genome-wide association analysis of samples from more than 4,000 HD patients found that particular variants on two chromosomes were more common in individuals who first exhibited HD-associated movement disorders either earlier or later than would otherwise have been expected
	Genetic tug of war in brain subregions influences parental control over offspring behavior Not every mom and dad agree on how their offspring should behave. But in genetics as in life, parenting is about knowing when your voice needs to be heard, and the best ways of doing so. Typically, compromise reigns, and one copy of each gene is inherited from each parent so that the two contribute equally to the traits who make us who we are. Occasionally, a mechanism called genomic imprinting, first described 30 years ago, allows just one parent to be heard by completely silencing the other.
	Newly identified mechanism of p53-induced cell death could aid cancer therapy Researchers have identified a new mechanism that the tumor suppressor protein p53 uses to trigger cell death via apoptosis and have shown how the process could be harnessed to kill cancer cells. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists led the study, which appears today in the scientific journal Molecular Cell.
	Take a trip through the brain (w/ Video) A new imaging tool developed by Boston scientists could do for the brain what the telescope did for space exploration. In the first demonstration of how the technology works, published July 30 in the journal Cell, the researchers look inside the brain of an adult mouse at a scale previously unachievable, generating images at a nanoscale resolution. The inventors' long-term goal is to make the resource available to the scientific community in the form of a national brain observatory.
	Newly identified molecular mechanism plays role in type 2 diabetes development New research from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health describes a molecular mechanism that helps explain how obesity-related inflammation can lead to type 2 diabetes. The findings describe a surprising connection between two molecular processes that are known to be involved in the development of metabolic disease—inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dysfunction—and suggest that targeting this connection could aid in the development of new therapies.
	Waking up HIV: Two compounds show great potential to rouse latent virus Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) has helped millions survive the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Unfortunately, HIV has a built-in survival mechanism, creating reservoirs of latent, inactive virus that are invisible to both HAART and the immune system.
A cheaper, high-performance prosthetic knee In the last two decades, prosthetic limb technology has grown by leaps and bounds. Today, the most advanced prostheses incorporate microprocessors that work with onboard gyroscopes, accelerometers, and hydraulics to enable a person to walk with a normal gait. Such top-of-the-line prosthetics can cost more than $50,000.
	Non-surgical approach helps people with paralysis voluntarily move their legs In a study conducted at UCLA, five men who had been completely paralyzed were able to move their legs in a rhythmic motion thanks to a new, noninvasive procedure that stimulates the spinal cord. It is believed to be the first time voluntary leg movements have ever been relearned in completely paralyzed patients without surgery. The results are reported in the Journal of Neurotrauma.
	HVTN 505 vaccine induced antibodies nonspecific for HIV A study by researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Duke University helps explain why the candidate vaccine used in the HVTN 505 clinical trial was not protective against HIV infection despite robustly inducing anti-HIV antibodies: the vaccine stimulated antibodies that recognized HIV as well as microbes commonly found in the intestinal tract, part of the body's microbiome. The researchers suggest that these antibodies arose because the vaccine boosted an existing antibody response to the intestinal microbiome, which may explain why the HVTN 505 vaccine candidate did not perform well. Understanding why the candidate vaccine did not protect against HIV infection will inform ongoing vaccine research efforts against HIV and other infectious diseases.
	How to become a T follicular helper cell Follicular helper Tcells (TFH cells), a rare type of immune cell that is essential for inducing a strong and lasting antibody response to viruses and other microbes, have garnered intense interest in recent years but the molecular signals that drive their differentiation had remained unclear. Now, a team of researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology has identified a pair of master regulators that control the fate of TFH cells.
	Prostate cancer is five different diseases Cancer Research UK scientists have for the first time identified that there are five distinct types of prostate cancer and found a way to distinguish between them, according to a landmark study published today in EBioMedicine.
Black men are at double the risk of prostate cancer compared to white men Black men in England are at double the lifetime risk of being diagnosed with, and dying from, prostate cancer compared with white men in England, according to research published in the open access journal BMC Medicine.
Mouth rinse could help predict recurrence of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers Oropharyngeal cancer patients who were found to have detectable traces of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) in their saliva following cancer treatment are at an increased risk for recurrence, a study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has found.
	Expanding the brain: Research identifies more than 40 new imprinted genes It's among the cornerstones of biology: All mammals inherit two copies ― one from their mother, the other from their father—of every gene, in part to act as a backstop against genetic problems. If a gene is damaged or malfunctions, its double can pick up the slack.
	Inadequate hydration can lead to impaired cognitive, emotional function More than half of all children and adolescents in the United States are under-hydrated—probably because they're not drinking enough water—and that could have significant repercussions for their physical health and cognitive and emotional functioning, according to the first national study of its kind from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
	Gut bacteria hold the key to infant liver development and drug metabolism The liver plays a critical role in human metabolism. As the gatekeeper of the digestive track, this massive organ is responsible for drug breakdown and is therefore the first to be injured due to overdose or misuse. Evaluating this drug-induced liver injury is a critical part of pharmaceutical drug discovery and must be carried out on human liver cells. Regretfully, human liver cells, called hepatocytes, are in scarce supply as they can only be isolated from donated organs.
	Drinking at conception boosts diabetes risk for baby Babies conceived by women who drink alcohol around the time of conception face dramatically increased risks of type 2 diabetes and obesity in early middle age, a University of Queensland study has found.
	Super, natural cows make the best sports recovery drink A recent study conducted by the University of Maryland School of Public Health found milk outperformed top commercial products in aiding post-exercise recovery.
	First reports of robotic surgery for advanced vena cava tumor thrombus due to kidney cancer Surgery is required when cancer of the kidney causes a Level III thrombus, or clot, to develop in the major vein leading back to the heart. Traditionally this complicated procedure, inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombectomy, is performed using a large open incision, primarily because the vein is often difficult to reach. In an article published in The Journal of Urology, a team of surgeons describe the first cases in which this procedure has been successfully performed robotically, using only seven small incisions and four robotic tools.
	Preventable onset of myocardial infarction through coadministration of two drugs Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of death in the world and second in Japan behind cancer. It causes blood vessels to become clogged or narrowed through the buildup of cholesterol plaque along the inside of artery walls. This plaque buildup restricts blood flow to the heart and leads to heart damage or heart attack. The development of a drug treatment has long been anticipated.
Most adolescents feel better after gastric bypass Teenagers suffering from severe obesity generally feel worse than their peers, but after undergoing gastric bypass nearly all experience improved mental health. One in five, however, still suffers from symptoms of depression - some quite seriously. These are the results of a new study from Lund University in Sweden, published in Obesity.
Blood test predicts prognosis for traumatic brain injuries A new blood test could help emergency room doctors quickly diagnose traumatic brain injury and determine its severity. The findings, published July 10 in the Journal of Neurotrauma, could help identify patients who might benefit from extra therapy or experimental treatments.
	Seniors get mental health drugs at twice the rate of other adults, see psychiatrists less Older Americans receive prescriptions for mental health medications at more than twice the rate that younger adults do, a new study finds.
	Researchers identify key factor for stability of capillaries in the brain The brain needs a lot of oxygen – so every last corner of the brain's tissue is served by a dense network of fine blood vessels. When these capillaries are damaged by high blood pressure or age, doctors call the condition cerebral small vessel disease. They estimate this is the cause of around one in five strokes, and that the condition may also lead to certain forms of dementia.
	Pharmacists help patients with hypertension If you have hypertension, it pays to include a pharmacist in a medical care team.
	Trying to quit smoking? First strengthen self-control The desire to quit smoking—often considered a requirement for enrolling in treatment programs—is not always necessary to reduce cigarette cravings, argues a review of addiction research published July 30 in Trends in Cognitive Sciences. Early evidence suggests that exercises aimed at increasing self-control, such as mindfulness meditation, can decrease the unconscious influences that motivate a person to smoke.
	Computer model forecasts flu outbreaks in a subtropical climate Scientists at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the School of Public Health of Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong have shown for the first time that it is possible to predict the timing and intensity of influenza outbreaks in subtropical climates like Hong Kong where flu seasons can occur at different times and more than once during a year. Results appear online in the journal PLOS Computational Biology.
New candidate genes for immunodeficiency identified by using dogs as genetic models IgA deficiency is one of the most common genetic immunodeficiency disorders in humans and is associated with an insufficiency or complete absence of the antibody IgA. Researchers led from Uppsala University and Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have now performed the first comparative genetic study of IgA deficiency by using the dog as genetic disease model. Novel candidate genes have been identified and the results are published in PLOS ONE.
Generally accepted tools used to select patients for aneurysm treatment in need of further evaluation A study released today at the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery 12th Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California, indicates that strict adherence to two commonly-used tools to weigh the risk of treating unruptured aneurysms may not prevent the majority of morbidity-mortality outcomes associated with ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Thus, the International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms (ISUIA) criteria and the PHASES score require additional research to determine their effectiveness.
Why female physicians are paid less than men In a survey of hospital medical physicians across the United States, women made nearly $15,000 less than their male counterparts, with a portion of this disparity explained by female doctors' tendency to prioritize collegiality and control over personal time, rather than substantial pay. The figure was determined after controlling for a number of factors, including age, geography, specialty, and amount and type of clinical work.
Liver plays role in pneumonia, sepsis susceptibility New evidence highlights the importance of the liver in immunity against bacterial pneumonia. The study is the first of its kind to directly show such a link between liver-produced molecules and pneumonia susceptibility during sepsis.
	Job stress might make you sick, study says (HealthDay)—High levels of job stress may increase the risk of sick leave due to mental health disorders, a new study suggests.
	In rare cases, infection may be at root of back pain (HealthDay)—People with back pain that doesn't improve with treatment could have a rare type of spine infection, new guidelines suggest.
	Study finds drinking may ease fibromyalgia pain, but doctors wary (HealthDay)—Moderate to heavy drinking might cut the likelihood of disability for people with chronic widespread pain such as that related to fibromyalgia, new Scottish research suggests.
	Higher risk for depression with psoriasis (HealthDay)—There is an increased risk of depression among women with psoriasis, according to a study published online July 17 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
	Docs report patient safety often at risk in ER to inpatient handoff (HealthDay)—Physicians report that patient safety is often at risk during the emergency department admission handoff process due to ineffective communication. The findings were published online July 22 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
	LVEF improvement for many with primary prevention ICDs (HealthDay)—Forty percent of patients with primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) experience improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), according to a study published in the Aug. 4 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Home-based device beneficial for obese patients with knee OA (HealthDay)—For obese individuals, a novel, biomechanical, home-based gait-training device is associated with improvements in gait parameters at three and 12 months, according to a study published online July 28 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
	Cranberry juice capsules cut UTI risk after gynecological surgery (HealthDay)—Cranberry juice capsules reduce the rate of urinary tract infection (UTI) in women undergoing elective benign gynecological surgery involving urinary catheterization, according to a study published in the August issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Chocolate consumption shows no impact on risk of A-fib (HealthDay)—Among U.S. male physicians, chocolate consumption is not associated with risk of incident atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a study published in the Aug. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	Hippocampal insulin resistance linked to neuroplasticity (HealthDay)—Hippocampal insulin resistance may be a key mediator of cognitive deficits, independent of glycemic control, according to an experimental study published online July 27 in Diabetes.
	US medical groups fighting prescription opioid abuse (HealthDay)—Led by the American Medical Association (AMA), a group of 27 major U.S. medical organizations are banding together to tackle the continuing epidemic of opioid abuse.
	Positive reinforcement plays key role in cognitive task performance in ADHD kids, according to new study A little recognition for a job well done means a lot to children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - more so than it would for typically developing kids.
Canada approves abortion pill, joining 60 other countries Canada has approved the use of the abortion pill mifepristone after three years of tests, the ministry of health said Thursday.
	The body and the brain: The impact of mental and physical exertion on fatigue development Do you ever notice how stress and mental frustration can affect your physical abilities? When you are worried about something at work, do you find yourself more exhausted at the end of the day? This phenomenon is a result of the activation of a specific area of the brain when we attempt to participate in both physical and mental tasks simultaneously.
	Novel model developed to predict the amount of nicotine emitted from e-cigarettes Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center researchers at the VCU Center for the Study of Tobacco Products (CSTP) have developed the first ever, evidence-based model that can predict with up to 90 percent accuracy the amount of nicotine emitted by an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette). The study was published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.
Brilinta? Brintellix? FDA warns of drug name mix-ups The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday that some doctors and pharmacies are getting confused by the similar names of an antidepressant and a blood-thinning medicine.
	When surgeons listen to their preferred music, their stitches are better and faster A new study from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston shows that when plastic surgeons listen to music they prefer, their surgical technique and efficiency when closing incisions is improved. The study is currently available in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
Only small increase in US girls getting cervical cancer shot More U.S. girls are getting a controversial vaccine, but the increase last year was only slight.
	Depressed females have over-active glutamate receptor gene Numerous genes that regulate the activity of a neurotransmitter in the brain have been found to be abundant in brain tissue of depressed females. This could be an underlying cause of the higher incidence of suicide among women, according to research at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Study questions presence in blood of heart-healthy molecules from fish oil supplements The importance of a diet rich in fish oils - now a billion dollar food-supplement industry—has been debated for over half a century. A few large clinical trials have supported the idea that fish oils confer therapeutic benefits to patients with cardiovascular disease. Researchers think that hearts and blood vessels may benefit in part from their anti-inflammatory properties.
New national study finds COPD knowledge severely lacking, impacts quality of life and care In a new national survey of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, Health Union reveals a surprising lack of awareness of risk factors and knowledge of diagnosis stage among patients. Results demonstrate a severe impact on quality of life, employment, and ability to afford treatment.
	Asian-American heart failure patients more likely to develop chronic conditions New research from the University at Albany shows that Asian-American heart failure patients are more likely than their white counterparts to have chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and renal disease.
Depressive ruminations and the idling brain: New analysis explores neural processes behind depressive rumination Depressed people often find themselves preoccupied with guilty, shameful, or self-defeating thoughts for large parts of their day. These thoughts not only distract from other activities but also fail to resolve the underlying life issues. Further, the ideas that receive focused attention in these depressive ruminations are frequently quite distorted and lead to distress.
	Every country in the world can afford to support its smokers to stop That is the conclusion of a major new review, written by leading world experts and published in the medical journal, Addiction. The review examined a wide range of measures that healthcare systems in different countries can adopt to help smokers to stop. It reviewed how effective they are and how much they cost, and offers a new tool to help governments and healthcare administrators calculate the cost - and affordability - of stop smoking treatments.
	How unravelling the mystery of food allergies could benefit millions A study supported by two EU-funded projects has found that mothers predisposed towards developing certain allergic reactions (a condition known as atopy) and high fat mass in newly born babies are key factors that increase the risk of atopic dermatitis in infants.
Plastic surgeons urged to 'embrace the change' to single-stage implant breast reconstruction Some women with breast cancer can now undergo a "one and done" approach combining nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate single-stage implant (SSI) breast reconstruction in a single procedure, according to a report in the July issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
'Mommy makeover' combines procedures for postpartum body contouring More women are expressing interest in plastic surgery to restore a more youthful figure after having children. An update on combined procedures for postpartum body contouring—addressing the abdomen, breasts, and other problem areas—is presented in the August issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
	Gestational diabetes can be prevented in high-risk women The prevalence of overweight and obesity are increasing worldwide. Up to 60 percent of women of reproductive age are overweight or obese in the developed countries. Obesity is a risk factor for pregnancy complications such as GDM, which in turn is a well-known predictor of future diabetes. Gestational diabetes and maternal obesity may also increase the offsprings' predisposition to obesity and impaired glucose regulation. Thus there is a need for effective interventions aiming at preventing GDM. The results of previous GDM prevention studies have, however, been inconsistent and the effect on GDM incidence has been minor.
Kicking latent HIV: New strategies to reactivate reservoirs of latent infection In cells with latent HIV infection, the virus is dormant, and such cells are therefore not attacked by the immune system or by standard antiretroviral therapy. To eradicate the virus from the human body and truly cure a patient, reservoirs of latently infected cells need to be activated and eliminated "the so-called "kick-and-kill" approach. Two studies published on July 30th in PLOS Pathogens report encouraging results on the use of a combination of several drugs to efficiently reactivate HIV in cells with latent infection.
New amfAR report highlights priority actions to help states achieve national HIV/AIDS strategy goals Major achievements have been made in the domestic HIV/AIDS response as a result of increased realignment and coordination of efforts at the federal level. However, that level of consistent coordination and alignment has yet to take place in most states. In an effort to identify what needs to be done, amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, in collaboration with the National HIV/AIDS Initiative at the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown Law, has released a set of recommendations for how states across the U.S. can improve HIV prevention and care outcomes in an effort to achieve the goals identified within the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.
Sierra Leone faces Ebola setback; 500 under quarantine Authorities in Sierra Leone said Thursday they had quarantined 500 people after a man died from Ebola in an area where the deadly virus had been gone for months, in another setback for the fight against the disease.
Byproduct of intestinal bacteria may jeopardize heart health in kidney disease patients In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), atherosclerosis is exceedingly common and contributes to the development of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in this group. New research suggests that an organic byproduct generated by intestinal bacteria may be responsible for the formation of cholesterol plaques in the arteries of individuals with decreased kidney function. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), suggest that targeting this byproduct may be a novel strategy for safeguarding the heart health of patients with CKD.
Feds release updated strategy against AIDS in America U.S. health officials have updated their strategic plan for fighting AIDS, setting new goals for reducing infections and deaths.

Other Sciences news

	Model shows how surge in wealth inequality may be reversed (Phys.org)—For many Americans, the single biggest problem facing the country is the growing wealth inequality. Based on income tax data, wealth inequality in the US has steadily increased since the mid-1980s, with the top 10% of the population currently owning about 73% of the country's wealth. In a new paper published in PLOS ONE, researchers have quantitatively analyzed several of the major factors that affect wealth inequality dynamics, and found that the most crucial factor associated with the recent surge in wealth inequality since the '80s has been the dramatic decrease in personal savings, followed closely by a large increase in the dominance of capital income over labor income.
With racial segregation declining between neighborhoods, segregation now taking new form Recent research has shown that racial segregation in the U.S. is declining between neighborhoods, but a new study indicates that segregation is manifesting itself in other ways—not disappearing.
As power grows, so does generosity The saying "power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely" is so pervasive it's taken as fact.
Online loans likely to lead to the payday debt spiral Resorting to the mobile phone for a quick injection of cash is on the rise as more online lenders join the market, a trend likely to lead more Australians into a spiral of debt, says QUT poverty researcher Professor Greg Marston.
	Opinion: Dangerous to leave humans in charge of their financial futures Much standard economics research is based on the "homo economicus" decision-maker. This is an entirely rational being. An unbiased, unemotional, non-psychological maximiser of the expected usefulness of things and events. Furthermore, this perfect decision-maker is far-sighted, and has complete self-control.
Rotten tomatoes and two thumbs up: How retailers can interpret and utilize variations in online reviews If the technical features of a new camera delight the tech experts but leave consumers scratching their heads, how should a retailer's website present those views and what sales results could it expect?
	Stanford historian analyzes the history of America's preoccupation with China Stanford historian Gordon H. Chang says that Americans have long placed China as pivotal in shaping America's self-identity and destiny, despite highs and lows in that relationship over the last 300 years.
UW-led group launches plan to reduce youth problems by 20 percent in a decade A national coalition of experts that includes two University of Washington researchers has a bold plan to reduce behavioral health problems such as violence and depression among young people across the country by 20 percent in a decade.

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