Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for July 27, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Oil-based color pixels could let you watch videos on e-paper- Multifunctional nanoparticle enables new type of biological imaging
- Good conversation results in a 'mind meld'
- Fermilab experiments narrow allowed mass range for Higgs boson
- First step toward electronic DNA sequencing: Translocation through graphene nanopores
- Negative stereotypes shown to affect learning, not just performance
- Plans for an international linear electron smasher - the ILC
- Untouched meteorite impact crater found via Google Earth
- Nanoparticles Increase Intensity of Quantum Dots' Glow
- Biologists find that red-blooded vertebrates evolved twice, independently
- Muscle gene may provide new treatments for obesity and diabetes
- Proteins linked to longevity also linked to Alzheimer's
- China says air pollution worsening
- iPhone 'faces rising challenge' from Android handsets
- New Titanic expedition will create 3D map of wreck
Space & Earth news
In midst of river cleanup, supporters are divided
(AP) -- Once a dumping ground for chemicals, a stretch of the Housatonic River that winds near this Berkshires hamlet is being scoured in a lengthy, expensive cleanup. Now, dredging other parts of the riverbed is under consideration, but the fishers, bird watchers and swimmers who would benefit are wondering how much effort is too much.
'Plastiki' bottle ship completes epic Pacific voyage
A boat crafted from thousands of empty plastic bottles sailed into Sydney Harbour on Monday, completing an epic trans-Pacific voyage to highlight the benefits of recycling.
Arctic studies show dire effect of ocean acidity
The icy Arctic waters around Norway's archipelago of Svalbard may seem pristine and clear, but like the rest of the world's oceans they are facing the threat of growing acidity.
Hot topic: Improving communications to fight wildfires
Wildfires can be deadly, as well as causing millions of dollars worth of damage to homes, businesses and natural resources. Efforts to control wildfires often include a staggering array of federal, state and local government agencies. New research from North Carolina State University is shedding light on how these agencies can better communicate with each other in order to respond more efficiently and effectively to wildfire disasters.
Scientists test Moreton Bay as coral 'lifeboat'
An international team of scientists has been exploring Moreton Bay, close to Brisbane, as a possible 'lifeboat' to save corals from the Great Barrier Reef at risk of extermination under climate change.
Mars Curiosity Takes First Baby Steps (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Like proud parents, mission team members gathered in a gallery above a clean room at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to watch the Mars Curiosity rover roll for the first time.
Curiosity Rover Grows by Leaps and Bounds
(PhysOrg.com) -- In one week, Curiosity grew by approximately 1 meter (3.5 feet) when spacecraft technicians and engineers attached the rover's neck and head (called the Remote Sensing Mast) to its body.
Lord Rees says Earth-type planets will be found within years
Astronomer Royal Martin Rees believes that planets resembling Earth may be discovered in the next two to three years - although it may take a further 20 years before we are able to capture an image of them.
NASA Simulates Space Exploration at Remote Arctic Crater Site
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA personnel are among a group of international researchers who are in the Canadian Arctic assessing concepts for future planetary exploration as part of the Haughton-Mars Project, or HMP-2010.
Russian Spacewalkers to Work on International Space Station Tonight
The members of the International Space Station's Expedition 24 crew shifted their sleep schedule Monday in preparation for their mission's first spacewalk, waking up at about 2:40 p.m. EDT.
Two Russian cosmonauts complete spacewalk
(AP) -- Two Russian cosmonauts on Tuesday completed a nearly 7-hour-long spacewalk to replace a video camera and improve cable connections to the orbiting laboratory's newest module.
Converging weather patterns caused last winter's huge snows
The memory of last winter's blizzards may be fading in this summer's searing heat, but scientists studying them have detected a perfect storm of converging weather patterns that had little relation to climate change. The extraordinarily cold, snowy weather that hit parts of the U.S. East Coast and Europe was the result of a collision of two periodic weather patterns in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, a new study in the journal Geophysical Research Letters finds.
Scots engineers prove space pioneer's 25-year-old theory
When American space pioneer, Dr Robert L Forward, proposed in 1984 a way of greatly improving satellite telecommunications using a new family of orbits, some claimed it was impossible.
Predictions of Coal, CO2 Production Flawed, Says Latest Research
(PhysOrg.com) -- The CO2 emission estimates used for government policy decisions assume unlimited coal and fossil fuel production for the next 100 years, an unrealistic premise which skews climate change models and proposed solutions, according to new research published by Tad Patzek, chair of the Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering Department at The University of Texas at Austin.
New findings explain the mystery behind the development of the Banda arc
(PhysOrg.com) -- The Banda arc - a gigantic 1,000km long, 180-degree curve in eastern Indonesia - has puzzled geologists for many years, with much debate and controversy surrounding its complex origin and evolution. A solution to this enigma, resolving many of the previous problems, has finally been found by scientists at Royal Holloway, University of London and Utrecht University, and is published in Nature Geoscience this week.
Climate change could spur Mexican migration to US: study
Global warming could drive millions more Mexicans into the United States in search of work by 2080 due to diminishing crop yields in Mexico, a study released Monday showed.
China says air pollution worsening
China's air pollution increased this year for the first time since 2005, the environmental protection ministry has said, due to sandstorms, a rise in construction and industrial projects, and more cars.
Potentially hazardous asteroid might collide with the Earth in 2182
The potentially hazardous asteroid, (101955) 1999 RQ36, has a one-in-a-thousand chance of impacting the Earth, and more than half of this probability indicates that this could happen in the year 2182, based on a global study in which Spanish researchers have been involved. Knowing this fact may help design in advance mechanisms aimed at deviating the asteroid's path.
Untouched meteorite impact crater found via Google Earth
(PhysOrg.com) -- A pristine meteorite impact crater has been found in a remote area of the Sahara desert in southwest Egypt. The crater was originally noticed on Google Earth images, and is believed to be only a few thousand years old.
Technology news
Wikileaks founder defends release of Afghan war files
The founder of a website which published tens of thousands of leaked military files about the war in Afghanistan said Monday they showed that the "course of the war needs to change".
Military Adoption of Open-Source Software May Increase Flexibility and Lower Cost
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology are helping the U.S. military analyze and develop the advantages of open-source software -- programs that make their source code open to others so it can be changed and improved.
Facebook launches Web page devoted to online safety
Facebook on Monday launched a Web page devoted to staying safe on the Internet.
New center to create models, simulations to improve solar cells
Purdue University will lead a new research center to improve photovoltaic solar cells as part of a national effort to bring alternative energy technologies to the marketplace.
UAE says BlackBerry is potential security threat
(AP) -- Emirati officials have declared BlackBerry smartphones a potential threat to national security because users' data is stored overseas, where local laws don't apply and where analysts say it could be harder for authorities to monitor.
EU probes IBM over 'abuse' of market power
European competition enforcers announced on Monday they were probing computer giant IBM on two separate cases relating to antitrust infringements.
WTO rules against EU on hi-tech products: source
The World Trade Organization has ruled in favour of the United States, Japan and Taiwan in their complaint against EU duties on high-technology products, a source close to the dispute told AFP on Monday.
Researchers Develop Unique Method to Improve Testing for Small Delay Defects in Semiconductors
Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC), the National Science Foundation and researchers from the University of Connecticut and Duke University have found a new way to significantly improve the screening of small delay defects (SDDs) commonly found in semiconductors.
New research seeks to improve sensors that monitor diesel fuel quality
Sensors currently used to monitor the quality of diesel fuel and biodiesel blended fuels during engine operation are unable to adequately detect certain important fuel quality concerns. Alan Hansen, professor of agricultural and biological engineering at the University of Illinois, and his colleagues are working to develop new technologies to improve these commercially-available sensors.
Verizon phone outage hits part of Manhattan
(AP) -- Landline and cell phones are unable to complete calls in part of New York because of a malfunction in Verizon's network.
Keeping trains on track
Thousands of people around the world have died in train wrecks caused by natural disasters. In 2004, the tsunami in Southeast Asia derailed a Sri Lankan train, killing 1,700 people. But with modern advances, these tragedies can be avoided ― and a Tel Aviv University researcher, working in collaboration with teams from seven countries, is leading the way.
Citigroup says iPhone banking app stored data
(AP) -- Citigroup Inc. said Monday that its iPhone banking program has been saving customer account information in hidden files on users' smart phones and computers.
Wikileaks case puts focus on digital security challenges
The massive release of secret Pentagon documents by Wikileaks highlights the security challenges of the digital age, when gigabytes of stolen data can be shared in one click, analysts said Monday.
Yahoo! Japan adopts Google search engine
Japan's top Internet portal Yahoo! Japan on Tuesday announced a search alliance with Google, in a deal that would see both giants dominate the Japanese market in a possible blow to Microsoft.
Foxconn shuts India plant after 250 workers hospitalised
Taiwan's troubled IT giant Foxconn has suspended operations at a factory in India after 250 workers were hospitalised in an incident thought to be linked to spraying of pesticide.
S.Korea telecom firm to spend 4.3 billion dollars on network
South Korea's KT Corp said Tuesday it would spend 5.1 trillion won (4.3 billion dollars) until 2014 expanding its network to meet fast-growing demand from smartphones and other digital devices.
Taiwan smartphone maker HTC unveils brand in China
Taiwan's HTC said Tuesday it plans to sell smartphones in China under its own brand name as it looks to the huge market as a critical growth engine for its products.
Cut-and-paste simplicity for computer animation
Tools developed by European researchers bring cut-and-paste simplicity to gaming and animation. Users will be able to cut-and-paste complex elements like emotion, tone of voice and facial expression, making compelling new content, cheaply and quickly.
Students Test Dive Mechanical Dolphin Tails (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Ten University of Cincinnati design students recently tested prosthetic tails that hold promise in revolutionizing sea diving. That experience was part of an innovative UC studio course linking design students with entrepreneurs, and it will be the subject of a presentation at an international design conference in August.
Facebook helps Philippine cops nab murder suspect
(AP) -- Philippine police tracked down a suspect in a series of grisly robberies and killings with the help of his Facebook account, officials said Tuesday.
Sweden's Larsson first to sell one million Kindle books
Sweden's Stieg Larsson is the first author to sell more than one million books in Amazon's Kindle electronic bookstore, the online retail giant said Tuesday.
Apple to deliver cut-price computers to Taiwan after error
US computer giant Apple agreed on Tuesday to deliver computers to customers at massive discounts after mistakenly offering them at bargain prices, according to a Taipei consumer watchdog.
Mobile data 'to drive SE Asian telecom sector'
Data services will drive earnings growth in Southeast Asia's telecommunications sector as cellphone subscriptions hit saturation levels, an industry report said Tuesday.
Internet warriors hone skills at Black Hat - DefCon
Internet warriors are gathering this week to explore chinks in the armors of computers, bank teller machines, mobile phones, power grids, and other "smart" devices intrinsic to modern life.
New gov't rules allow unapproved iPhone apps (Update 3)
(AP) -- Owners of the iPhone will be able to legally unlock their devices so they can run software applications that haven't been approved by Apple Inc., according to new government rules announced Monday.
Engineers use rocket science to make wastewater treatment sustainable
Within the sludge of wastewater treatment plants is an invisible world teeming with microbes. Here, diverse species of bacteria convert solid and liquid wastes into gases, some of which contribute to global warming.
Invention enables severely disabled people to communicate and steer a wheelchair by sniffing
A unique device based on sniffing -- inhaling and exhaling through the nose -- might enable numerous disabled people to navigate wheelchairs or communicate with their loved ones. Sniffing technology might even be used in the future to create a sort of 'third hand,' to assist healthy surgeons or pilots.
Google eyes more government deals for online apps
(AP) -- Google Inc. is gearing up to sell its e-mail and other Web-hosted applications to a wider range of government agencies after winning a prized security clearance.
Data sorting world record falls: Computer scientists break terabyte sort barrier in 60 seconds
Computer scientists from the University of California, San Diego broke "the terabyte barrier" - and a world record - when they sorted more than one terabyte of data in just 60 seconds. During this 2010 "Sort Benchmark" competition - the "World Cup of data sorting" - the computer scientists from the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering also tied a world record for fastest data sorting rate. They sorted one trillion data records in 172 minutes - and did so using just a quarter of the computing resources of the other record holder.
Oil-based color pixels could let you watch videos on e-paper
(PhysOrg.com) -- By rapidly manipulating colored oil droplets stacked on top of each other, a new electrowetting (EW) technique could lead to the development of electronic paper displays that can produce high-resolution color video. Displays that use the EW effect could have several advantages over today's e-readers and other portable flat panel displays, most of which are based on electrophoretic (EPh) technology.
Medicine & Health news
Small investment could save 11 million African lives
In the next five years, 11 million African women and children could be saved by creating near-universal availability of key life-saving interventions, according to The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health and the Countdown to 2015 Decade Report (2000-2010).
New approach which can help to predict neurodegenerative diseases
New investigations, initiated by research workers at CIC bioGUNE and led by Dr. Aitor Hierro, have opened possibilities for making progress in the knowledge and prediction of neurodegenerative diseases such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), according to the prestigious journal of The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
Predicting drug responsiveness in cancer patients
Drugs such as everolimus that target the protein mTOR are used to treat several forms of cancer, but not all patients respond to the treatment. A team of researchers, led by Alberto Bardelli, at the University of Turin Medical School, Italy, has now identified a way to help predict which patients will respond to such drugs.
New perspectives on local calcium signaling
The latest Perspectives in General Physiology series introduces the newest technologies in the field of calcium signaling, which plays a central role in many cellular processes. The Perspectives appear in the August issue of the Journal of General Physiology.
One-size-fits-all approach to child custody can endanger moms and kids
Do child custody evaluators' beliefs about domestic violence sometimes put divorced women and children in danger? A new University of Illinois study reveals that evaluator's beliefs generally fall into two categories, and one group is far more likely to prioritize safety for women and children when making custody decisions.
ISHLT issues new guidelines for the care of heart transplant recipients
Since the dawn of heart transplantation in the 1960s, medical care of heart transplant recipients has varied from center to center and been guided by the experience of individual clinicians. The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) has made an unprecedented commitment by convening experts in all areas of heart transplantation to develop practice guidelines for the care of heart transplant recipients. The Executive Summary of those guidelines is being published as a special featured article in the August issue of The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation.
Higher risk of infection and death in First Nations people on peritoneal dialysis
First Nations people in Canada on peritoneal dialysis are at increased risk of peritonitis and death, irrespective of whether they live in a rural or urban location, found a study published in CMAJ.
Reducing the health risks of obesity without serious side effects
The drug rimonabant was developed as a treatment for obesity and its myriad of serious health consequences (for example, type 2 diabetes). Despite having its desired effects on weight, which it decreased, and on levels of glucose and fats in the blood, rimonabant was never approved for use in the US because of serious neurological side effects including depression and anxiety.
Most men with low-risk prostate cancer receive aggressive treatment
Most men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer appear to under undergo aggressive therapy, even if they have a low prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level and low-risk disease, according to a report in the July 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Emergency care may be failing to spot future suicidal patients
Emergency care may be failing to spot patients at risk of suicide, many of whom use these services in the year leading up to their death, suggests a small study published online in Emergency Medicine Journal.
The more frequently you log on, the more weight you can keep off
The more people used an interactive weight management website, the more weight loss they maintained, according to a Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research study published online today in the open access Journal of Medical Internet Research.
New book offers cutting-edge perspective on causes of schizophrenia; related disorders
About 1 in 10 people have the potential to develop schizophrenia, but only 1 in 100 actually end up with this devastating illness. The challenge is in knowing why some do and some don't.
UNC physician authors editorial on cost-effectiveness study for colon cancer screening
A UNC physician authored an editorial in the July 27 online issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI) commenting on results of an analysis of the cost effectiveness of colonoscopy versus computed tomographic colonography (CTC).
Women in their 40s have lower mammographic tumor detectability
The reduced effectiveness of mammographic screening in women in their forties is primarily due to lower detectability instead of faster tumor growth rate, according to a study published online July 27 in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Scientists to test new eczema cream
(PhysOrg.com) -- Skin experts are to test a new cream for the treatment of eczema after trials of an oral version of the drug reduced patients' symptoms by 35% within a month.
UCLA launches first West Coast human hand transplantation program
The UCLA Health System has launched the new UCLA Hand Transplantation Program, the first of its kind on the West Coast and only the fourth such center in the United States.
Breaching the blood-brain barrier to create powerful new tools for fighting cancer
One of the human body's most powerful defensive tools, the blood-brain barrier is a chemical labyrinth that prevents toxins and viruses in the bloodstream from reaching the brain. This foolproof security system, however, limits the ability of physicians to deliver drugs directly to the brain, making it difficult to treat brain tumors. Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are endeavoring to solve this problem by investigating new methods for bypassing the blood-brain barrier and combating the spread of brain cancer.
Smaller hospitals can provide safe and high-quality surgical care comparable to larger counterparts
Smaller, rural hospitals may be quicker and more efficient at implementing surgical safety initiatives than their larger, urban counterparts, and are capable of providing a standard of surgical care that is at par with major hospitals that provide a comprehensive array of care services, according to an 18-month series of studies led by researchers from the University of Louisville Department of Surgery.
Medical device problems hurt 70,000+ kids annually
(AP) -- More than 70,000 children and teens go to the emergency room each year for injuries and complications from medical devices, and contact lenses are the leading culprit, the first detailed national estimate suggests.
FDA approves generic blood thinner
In a closely watched decision, the Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved an application by German drug-maker Sandoz and Momenta Pharmaceuticals of Cambridge, Mass, to make the first generic version of the widely used blood thinner Lovenox.
Japanese people living longer than ever: govt
Japanese people are living longer than ever, with the average life expectancy now a world-record 86.44 years for women and 79.59 years for men, the health and welfare ministry said Monday.
Full face transplant Spaniard displays new look
(AP) -- A Spanish man who underwent the world's first full face transplant appeared before TV cameras Monday for the first time since his surgery, thanking his doctors and the family of the donor.
Our children aren't sleeping and we're medicating them
A new survey of child psychiatrists indicates that insomnia is a major problem among children in mental health treatment and at least a quarter of these patients are given sleep medication. The results of the survey, conducted by Judith Owens, MD, a sleep expert with Hasbro Children's Hospital, and colleagues, suggests that management of insomnia in this population is a common practice, although the clinical approach varies widely. The study is published in the August 2010 edition of Sleep Medicine.
Family feud: US parents more likely to have conflict with adult children than European parents
Tolstoy wrote that every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way, and a new study in the August 2010 issue of the Journal of Marriage and Family finds significant national differences in the degree of conflict between older parents and their adult children.
Preventing heart problems while keeping a cool head
Cholesterol influences the health of our hearts and blood vessels. Conventional treatment attempts to reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, in the blood plasma. The opposite approach, which involves increasing the concentration of "good" HDL cholesterol using nicotinic acid, has proven unpopular among patients up to now.
Scientists explain the neurological process for the recognition of letters and numbers
"We analyzed the influence of the context given by a word when linking the physical traits of its components to the abstract representations of letters," explains to SINC Nicola Molinaro, main author of the study and researcher of the Basque Research Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL).
Doctors don't 'get' their patients
US physicians are often poor judges of their patients' health beliefs, according to a new study by Dr. Richard Street from Texas A&M University and Paul Haidet from The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, USA. However, physicians' understanding is better the more patients are involved by asking questions, expressing concerns, and stating their beliefs and preferences for care. Their analysis1 of how patients' health beliefs differ from their physicians' perception of these beliefs was just published online by Springer in the Journal of General Internal Medicine2.
New mathematical model could aid studies of cardiac muscle
Researchers have developed a new mathematical model that may provide a simpler and better way of predicting ventricular function during the cardiac cycle. The new model could help researchers improve treatment options for patients with heart disease. The article appears in the August issue of the Journal of General Physiology.
Seeing the forest and the trees reveals heart problems
A statistical analysis of publicly available heart rate data using three classification tools - Random Forests, Logistic Model Tree and Neural Network - could lead to a rapid and precise way to diagnose heart problems, according to research in the International Journal of Electronic Healthcare.
Scent explained mathematically
(PhysOrg.com) -- An interdisciplinary team of neurobiologists and mathematicians from the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI, Switzerland) has managed to mathematically describe an important basic computation in the brain: pattern decorrelation. Their mathematical model provides a sound explanation for former observations in the olfactory bulb. The results have been published recently in the renowned scientific journal Nature Neuroscience.
Children with brain injuries have problems with story-telling
Children with brain injuries have difficulty developing story-telling skills even though other language abilities, such as vocabulary, tend to catch up with other children as they mature, research at the University of Chicago shows.
Childhood cancer survivors may have abnormal long-term cardiac function
Childhood cancer survival is associated with increased risk of long-term abnormalities in cardiac function, according to a report in the July 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Certain epilepsy drugs may increase risk of suicide
While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires a warning of an increased risk of suicide for all epilepsy drugs, a new study shows that only certain drugs may increase the risk. The study is published in the July 27, 2010, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Heart failure care improved by performance intervention at outpatient cardiology practices
A study led by UCLA tested a new performance intervention to help improve adherence to national guideline-recommended therapies for heart failure patients in an outpatient setting.
Treatments for blocked carotid arteries vary by US region
Medicare beneficiaries in some parts of the United States appear more likely to receive carotid endarterectomy, a surgical procedure to clear blockages in the artery supplying blood to the head, whereas those in other regions more often receive stents for the same condition, according to a report in the July 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Study confirms benefit and safety of extending treatment window for stroke to 4.5 hours
Extension of the timeframe for alteplase treatment after acute stroke from 3 hours up to 4.5 hours is a safe option and has not resulted in delayed treatment of patients. The longer time window offers an opportunity to patients who cannot be treated earlier, but the benefits quickly lessen with time, and patients should be treated as early as possible. These are the conclusions of an Article published Online First and in the August edition of the Lancet Neurology, written by Professor Nils Wahlgren from Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden and international colleagues.
International formula milk marketing code mired in 3 decades of dispute
An international marketing code for formula milk, intended to foster global cooperation among governments, industry, and aid agencies, has instead been mired in three decades of often bitter dispute, claims a child nutrition expert in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Plentiful maternal affection in early infancy boosts adult coping skills
Mums who shower their infants with affection equip them to cope well with life stressors as adults, indicates research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
New Compound Improves Obesity-Related Health Complications
(PhysOrg.com) -- An experimental compound appears to improve metabolic abnormalities associated with obesity, according to a preliminary study led by researchers at the National Institutes of Health, A report of the study, which was conducted with obese mice, appears online today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Many knee and hip replacement patients experience weight decrease after surgery
A Mount Sinai School of Medicine study has found that patients often exhibit a significant decrease in weight and body mass index (BMI) after undergoing knee or hip replacement surgery (arthroplasty). The study is the first of its type to correct for the annual increase in BMI typically found in North Americans between the ages of 29 to 73 years. The study was recently published in Orthopedics.
Early Puberty Tied to Obesity in Girls
A review of more than 100 studies found overweight girls tend to reach puberty earlier than their peers do.
Browse online for beautiful sperm and eggs
Ever worried about having an ugly baby? Fret not, a popular dating website exclusively for beautiful people has branched out to provide a fertility forum aimed at creating beautiful babies.
Delirium in older patients associated with greater risk of death, dementia and institutionalization
A review and analysis of previous research indicates that delirium in elderly patients is associated with an increased risk of death, dementia, and institutionalization, independent of age, co-existing illnesses or illness severity, according to a study in the July 28 issue of JAMA.
Study examines hospital complication rates of bariatric surgery
An examination of hospital complication rates of bariatric surgery for more than 15,000 patients in Michigan finds that the frequency of serious complications is relatively low and is inversely associated with hospital and surgeon procedural volume, according to a study in the July 28 issue of JAMA.
Genetic risk score associated with breast cancer risk; predictive of type of disease
Women with higher risk scores that consisted of having certain genetic variants most strongly linked to breast cancer had an associated higher risk of breast cancer, with these scores also highly predictive of estrogen receptor-positive disease, according to a study in the July 28 issue of JAMA.
Late preterm births associated with increased risk of respiratory illnesses
An analysis of more than 200,000 deliveries finds that compared to infants born at full term, those born between 34 weeks and 37 weeks are more likely to have severe respiratory illness, and this risk decreases with each added week of gestational age during the late preterm period, according to a study in the July 28 issue of JAMA.
CTC screening for colorectal cancer not cost-effective when reimbursed at same rate as colonoscopy
Computed tomographic colonography, also known as virtual colonoscopy, is not cost-effective if reimbursed at the same rate as colonoscopy, according to a study published online July 27 in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Reform of primary care could reduce diagnostic errors
Errors in diagnosis place a heavy financial burden on an already costly health care system and can be devastating for affected patients. Strengthening certain aspects of a new and evolving model of comprehensive and coordinated primary care could potentially address this highly relevant, but underemphasized safety concern, said health researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and Stony Brook University Medical Center.
New program rebuilding faces of soldiers, veterans
(AP) -- Master Sgt. Todd Nelson lost his right eye and ear in a flash when a car bomb in Afghanistan exploded, sending fire up his arm and over his head.
Obesity rise linked to disability increase among elderly in Latin America and the Caribbean
Thanks to rising obesity rates in Latin America and the Caribbean, elderly people there are becoming more likely to suffer from disabilities, according to a paper recently published by University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston researchers in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
63 percent of women report sexual problems with orgasm proving biggest issue in teens and 20s
Almost two-thirds of females attending a general urology practice reported that they suffered from sexual dysfunction, according to a paper in the August issue of BJUI.
Tests aim to settle if fresher blood works better
(AP) -- Facing surgery? You could receive blood that's been stored for a week, or three weeks, or nearly six - and there's growing concern that people who get the older blood might not fare as well.
Abusive mothers improve their parenting after home visits, classes, emotional support from therapists
(PhysOrg.com) -- Mothers who live in poverty and who have abused their children can stop if they are taught parenting skills and given emotional support.
Researchers identify risks of hypertension in young adults
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers reveal in a new, large-scale study that "normal" blood pressure at age 17 can still predict hypertension at early adulthood and that teenage boys are three to four times more likely to develop high blood pressure in early adulthood than girls.
Adherence to recommended exercise improves physical function, reduces pain for OA patients
Patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee or hip who adhere to the recommended home physical therapy exercises and physically active lifestyle experience more improvement in pain, physical function, and self-perceived effect according to a study from researchers in The Netherlands. Research also shows that maintenance of exercise behavior and physically active lifestyle after discharge of physical therapy improves the long-term effectiveness of exercise therapy in patients with knee or hip OA. Details of the study are available online and will publish in the August print issue of Arthritis Care & Research, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology.
Few people are doing it, so why should I? Motivating men to seek cancer screening
In Germany, several national health campaigns promote cancer screening by announcing that only one in five German men gets screened. This is supposed to motivate men to have an examination. But a new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, finds that this well-meaning message has the exact opposite effect: it makes men less likely to choose to get screened.
Exposure to early evening sunlight in spring creates teenage night owls
In the spring, later sunset and extended daylight exposure delay bedtimes in teenagers, according to researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Lighting Research Center (LRC).
Remembering to forget: The amnesic effect of daydreaming
When your mind drifts, it's hard to remember what was going on before you stopped paying attention. Now a new study has found that the effect is stronger when your mind drifts farther - to memories of an overseas vacation instead of a domestic trip, for example, or a memory in the more distant past.
Scientists Discover Brain's Guardian Protein
Hopkins scientists who have spent years killing off brain cells to figure out why and how they die now say their investigations have also shed light on how the brain defends itself.
Surgery or stenting for carotid artery disease? Question remains
A review of scientific studies that compares two treatments for preventing strokes due carotid artery disease provides no clear answer on which treatment is better, a UT Southwestern Medical Center physician reports in an editorial in today's issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Researchers uncover biological rationale for why intensive lupus treatment works
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have uncovered the biological rationale for why large doses of corticosteroids given repeatedly over several weeks may help individuals with lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease that affects more than 1 million people in the U.S.
Attention deficit medication helps drug addicts: study
The active ingredient in Ritalin, a medication used to control the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, could help boost self-control in cocaine addicts, a study published Monday showed.
Study shows infectious prions can arise spontaneously in normal brain tissue
In a startling new study that involved research on both sides of the Atlantic, scientists from The Scripps Research Institute in Florida and the University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology in England have shown for the first time that abnormal prions, bits of infectious protein devoid of DNA or RNA that can cause fatal neurodegenerative disease, can suddenly erupt from healthy brain tissue.
Cervical cancer virus found in head and neck cancers
A virus known to cause cervical cancer in women is increasingly being identified in head and neck cancers, leading to suspicion that the route of infection may be oral sex.
Proteins linked to longevity also linked to Alzheimer's
Over the past 20 years, scientists have learned that proteins called sirtuins play a vital role in longevity and stress response in organisms as diverse as humans, yeast and mice. A new paper from MIT biologists now reveals a surprising additional role for sirtuins: They appear to suppress the production of amyloid beta proteins, which form plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.
Background music can impair performance, cites new study
For decades research has shown that listening to music alleviates anxiety and depression, enhances mood, and can increase cognitive functioning, such as spatial awareness. However, until now, research has not addressed how we listen to music. For instance, is the cognitive benefit still the same if we listen to music whilst performing a task, rather than before it? Further, how does our preference for a particular type of music affect performance?
ADHD, conduct disorder and smoking most strongly related to dropping out of high school
Teens with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) — the most common childhood psychiatric condition in the United States — are less likely to finish high school on time than students with other mental-health disorders that often are considered more serious, a large national study by researchers at the UC Davis School of Medicine has found. The study found that nearly one third of students with ADHD, twice the proportion as students with no psychiatric disorder, either drop out or delay high school graduation.
Negative stereotypes shown to affect learning, not just performance
Negative stereotypes not only jeopardize how members of stigmatized groups might perform on tests and in other skill-based acts, such as driving and golf putting, but they also can inhibit actual learning, according to a new study by Indiana University researchers.
Good conversation results in a 'mind meld'
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers studying human conversation have discovered the brains of listeners and speakers become synchronized, and this "neural coupling" makes for effective communication. In essence, the participants' brains connect in a kind of "mind meld."
Biology news
Without oxygen, 'nothing goes' -- Marine biologists get to the bottom of dead zones
The behaviour of marine bottom dwellers can now, for the first time, be used to predict the development of so-called dead zones in the sea. Animals fight for what little oxygen there is in these zones - but the battle is often in vain: such oxygen crises, now increasingly common, usually end in mass mortalities.
Palm trees may be not be native to Australia: study
(PhysOrg.com) -- University of Queensland research has found cabbage palms have not always called Australia home.
Protein identified that can result in fragile bones
Too little of a protein called neogenin results in a smaller skeleton during development and sets the stage for a more fragile bone framework lifelong, Medical College of Georgia researchers report.
Giant panda pair headed for Tokyo zoo
A pair of Chinese giant pandas are soon headed for Tokyo's Ueno Zoo, where the fluffy bamboo eaters are set to delight the crowds from early next year.
A new tool for improving switchgrass
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have developed a new tool for deciphering the genetics of a native prairie grass being widely studied for its potential as a biofuel. The genetic map of switchgrass, published by Christian Tobias, a molecular biologist at the ARS Western Regional Research Center in Albany, Calif., and his colleagues, is expected to speed up the search for genes that will make the perennial plant a more viable source of bioenergy.
New hydrolysis model promising tool in cellulosic biofuel studies
Scientists are working hard to develop the tools and find the organisms to break down the complex structure of plant cellulose into its component sugars - the key step toward fermentation of those sugars into usable biofuel. This process needs to be simple and economically efficient before cellulosic biofuels can compete with fossil fuels for transportation energy use.
Once bitten, twice shy -- a temperature switch triggers aversive memory
Neurobiologists can now activate specific nerve cells to study the association between sensations and negative experiences.
Research reveals how monarchs fly away home
Monarch butterflies -- renowned for their lengthy annual migration to and from Mexico -- complete an even more spectacular journey home than previously thought.
A collaboration solves the herpes virus protein structure providing new drug therapy directions
The mechanism by which a herpes virus invades cells has remained a mystery to scientists, but now research from Tufts University and the University of Pennsylvania reveals the unusual structure of a key member of the protein complex that allows a herpes virus to invade cells.
Scientists 'reprogram' mouse fat cells into clinically useful stem cells
Australian scientists from the Monash Institute of Medical Research have "reprogrammed" adult mouse fat cells and neural cells to become stem cells that can differentiate into a variety of different cells (pluripotency). The cells, called "induced pluripotent stem cells" (iPS), are nearly identical to the naturally occurring pluripotent stems cells, such as embryonic stem cells, which are highly pluripotent, in short supply and their access restricted in the U.S.
Shade-coffee farms support native bees that help maintain genetic diversity in remnant tropical forests
(PhysOrg.com) -- Shade-grown coffee farms support native bees that help maintain the health of some of the world's most biodiverse tropical regions, according to a study by a University of Michigan biologist and a colleague at the University of California, Berkeley.
Biologists find that red-blooded vertebrates evolved twice, independently
(PhysOrg.com) -- Nature, in all its glory, is nothing if not thrifty.
In the 'neck' of time: Scientists unravel another key evolutionary trait
By deciphering the genetics in humans and fish, scientists now believe that the neck - that little body part between your head and shoulders - gave humans so much freedom of movement that it played a surprising and major role in the evolution of the human brain, according to New York University and Cornell University neuroscientists in the online journal Nature Communications (July 27, 2010.)
Engineered coral pigment helps scientists to observe protein movement
Scientists in Southampton, UK, and Ulm and Karlsruhe in Germany have shown that a variant form of a fluorescent protein (FP) originally isolated from a reef coral has excellent properties as a marker protein for super-resolution microscopy in live cells. Their findings have been published online by Nature Methods and will appear in print in the upcoming August issue of that journal.
Calcium connections: Basic pathway for maintaining cell's fuel stores
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine researchers have described a previously unknown biological mechanism in cells that prevents them from cannibalizing themselves for fuel. The mechanism involves the fuel used by cells under normal conditions and relies on an ongoing transfer of calcium between two cell components via an ion channel. Without this transfer, cells start consuming themselves as a way of to get enough energy.
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