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Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for August 24, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Study shows deepwater oil plume in Gulf degraded by microbes- The world is running out of helium: Nobel prize winner
- Secrets of the gecko foot help robot climb (w/ Video)
- Richest planetary system discovered (w/ Video)
- SETI may be looking in the wrong places: astronomer
- Smallest U-M logo demonstrates advanced display technology
- System uses electrical trickery on the brain to induce realistic spaceflight effects (w/ Video)
- New architectures for nano brushes: Bitty structures can be tailored in many shapes
- A new way to weigh planets
- New study sheds light on painkilling system in brain
- Robots learning from experience (w/ Video)
- Cement, the glue that holds oyster families together
- Dell launches $100 smart phone in US on AT&T
- Researchers use nanobiotechnology-manipulated light particles to accelerate algae growth
- Atmospheric pressure plasma jet from a grounded electrode
Space & Earth news
New sun images from NJIT's Big Bear Solar Observatory
NJIT Distinguished Professor Philip R. Goode and the Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO) team have achieved "first light" using a deformable mirror in what is called adaptive optics at Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO).
The growth of 'green IT'
(PhysOrg.com) -- Emerging field helps create a more sustainable future, though information technology itself is part of the problem.
Pulsar survey could help find gravitational waves
With a recently announced $6.5 million grant over five years from the National Science Foundation (NSF), an international consortium of researchers and institutions hopes to find and use the galaxy's most precise pulsars as tools for detecting gravitational waves.
Geo-engineering and sea-level rise over the 21st century
Scientific findings by international research group of scientists from England, China and Denmark just published suggest that sea level will likely be 30-70 centimetres higher by 2100 than at the start of the century even if all but the most aggressive geo-engineering schemes are undertaken to mitigate the effects of global warming and greenhouse gas emissions are stringently controlled.
Danielle now a Category 2 hurricane, NASA satellites working in high gear
NASA's Aqua, Terra and TRMM satellites are providing data on Hurricane Danielle daily, and forecasters are using that data to help determine Danielle's behavior and movement. At 5 p.m. EDT yesterday, August 23, when Danielle became a hurricane, these NASA satellites fed forecasters data on cloud extent and formation, cloud top temperatures, pressure, sea surface temperatures, rainfall rates within the storm and more factors.
NASA satellite sees Tropical Storm Mindulle make landfall in Vietnam
Tropical Storm Mindulle came ashore in central Vietnam today, August 24 and brought heavy rainfall and gusty winds with it. NASA's Aqua satellite captured strong convection and thunderstorms in Mindulle's center before it made landfall close to the city of Vinh, south of the capital. Now, Mindulle is encountering rugged, mountainous terrain as it continues to move inland.
NASA satellites see Tropical Storm Frank powering back up near Mexico
Tropical Storm Frank was wavering overnight in the eastern Pacific Ocean, just off the southwest Mexican coast, and recent satellite data has confirmed that convection has strengthened within the storm. GOES-11 captured an infrared image of Tropical Storm Frank early this morning and it appeared that the cloud cover was disorganized, but NASA's TRMM satellite looked "under the hood" of the storm and saw Frank powering back up.
Project seeks a better image inside Earth
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists are installing underground seismographs across the US to glean better information about the Earth's interior, and Michigan Tech is deeply into it.
Thousands of dead fish reported at mouth of Mississippi
Thousands of fish have turned up dead at the mouth of Mississippi River, prompting authorities to check whether oil was the cause of mass death, local media reports said Monday.
New study shows how giant tortoises, alligators thrived in High Arctic 50 million years ago
A new study of the High Arctic climate roughly 50 million years ago led by the University of Colorado at Boulder helps to explain how ancient alligators and giant tortoises were able to thrive on Ellesmere Island well above the Arctic Circle, even as they endured six months of darkness each year.
System uses electrical trickery on the brain to induce realistic spaceflight effects (w/ Video)
What does it feel like to return to Earth after a long stay in space? Until now, it has been difficult during astronaut training to realistically simulate the dizzying effects the human body can experience.
A new way to weigh planets
An international CSIRO-led team of astronomers has developed a new way to weigh the planets in our Solar System - using radio signals from the small spinning stars called pulsars.
SETI may be looking in the wrong places: astronomer
(PhysOrg.com) -- A senior astronomer with the Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute, Dr Seth Shostak, has reported in an article published online that perhaps we should be seeking alien "life forms" that are thinking machines instead of concentrating the search on biological life forms.
Richest planetary system discovered (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Astronomers using ESO's world-leading HARPS instrument have discovered a planetary system containing at least five planets, orbiting the Sun-like star HD 10180. The researchers also have tantalising evidence that two other planets may be present, one of which would have the lowest mass ever found. This would make the system similar to our Solar System in terms of the number of planets (seven as compared to the Solar System's eight planets). Furthermore, the team also found evidence that the distances of the planets from their star follow a regular pattern, as also seen in our Solar System.
Study shows deepwater oil plume in Gulf degraded by microbes
In the aftermath of the explosion of BP's Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, a dispersed oil plume was formed at a depth between 3,600 and 4,000 feet and extending some 10 miles out from the wellhead. An intensive study by scientists with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) found that microbial activity, spearheaded by a new and unclassified species, degrades oil much faster than anticipated. This degradation appears to take place without a significant level of oxygen depletion.
Technology news
Noble gas detection system reaches maturity
The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization certified the first noble gas detection system at its radionuclide station in Charlottesville, Va., United States, on Aug. 19, 2010. The system is part of a global verification regime to monitor the planet for nuclear explosions. Of the 80 planned radionuclide monitoring stations, 40 are envisaged to be equipped with noble gas detection systems. They can provide conclusive evidence of a well-contained underground nuclear explosion.
State AGs: Craigslist should drop adult services
(AP) -- State attorneys general nationwide are demanding that Craigslist remove its adult services section because they say the website cannot adequately block potentially illegal ads.
Epson Toyocom develops new absolute pressure sensor
Japanese Epson Toyocom Corp. today announced it has developed an extremely small absolute pressure sensor that provides excellent accuracy and resolution.
Nokia and Intel launch joint research lab
US computer chip giant Intel and Finland's Nokia, the world's leading mobile phone maker, said Tuesday they had opened a joint research laboratory on Finland's northwestern coast.
Study: Blacks and women talk and text more
(AP) -- Blacks talk twice as much as whites on their cell phones, and women talk and text more than men, according to an analysis of wireless bills by the Nielsen Co.
Researchers work to protect, restore vulnerable networks
(PhysOrg.com) -- Alon Efrat, a University of Arizona associate professor of computer science, is working with a team of researchers on a project intended to help prevent a telecommunications meltdown in the event of an attack or natural disaster.
Research creates internet privacy tool
University of Arkansas at Little Rock researchers have developed a new model to manage the "vast ocean" of user-generated content being generated by the ever-growing social networking sites including Facebook and Twitter.
Can the world be powered mainly by solar and wind energy?
Continuous research and development of alternative energy could soon lead to a new era in human history in which two renewable sources -- solar and wind -- will become Earth's dominant contributor of energy, a Nobel laureate said here today at a special symposium at the American Chemical Society's 240th National Meeting.
Microsoft finally fueling Yahoo's search engine
(AP) -- Microsoft Corp.'s technology is now processing all the search requests on Yahoo Inc.'s website in the U.S. and Canada, completing a long-awaited leap that creates a more formidable challenger to Google Inc. in the most lucrative part of the online advertising market.
Exclusive e-deal with Amazon is cut back
(AP) -- An exclusive e-book deal between Amazon.com and the agent for such Random House classics as "Invisible Man" and "Lolita" is no longer exclusive, and no longer a deal.
China's Tencent buys Google-backed social networking firm
Mainland Internet company Tencent Holdings has bought Google-backed Chinese social networking firm Comsenz for more than 60 million dollars, the companies and a media report said.
'Super bus' could cure Beijing traffic woes
China's capital Beijing, recently named along with Mexico City as having the worst traffic jams in the world, is looking for solutions. One could be the elevated "super bus".
Prius gets sound option to protect pedestrians
(AP) -- Toyota's Prius hybrid is becoming a little less quiet with a new electronic humming device that is the automaker's answer to complaints that pedestrians can't hear the top-selling car approaching.
Americans using less energy, more renewables: report
Americans are using less energy overall and making more use of renewable energy resources.
Driverless vehicles go manual in Moscow
A pair of fender-benders, two technology-loving hitchhikers and 22 hours blocked at the Russian border. That's the balance sheet so far for a team of driverless vehicles on a 13,000-kilometer (8,000-mile) roadtrip from Europe to China.
Secrets of the gecko foot help robot climb (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- The science behind gecko toes holds the answer to a dry adhesive that provides an ideal grip for robot feet. Stanford mechanical engineer Mark Cutkosky is using the new material, based on the structure of a gecko foot, to keep his robots climbing.
Medicine & Health news
Researchers study cinnamon extracts
A study led by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) chemist Richard Anderson suggests that a water soluble extract of cinnamon, which contains antioxidative compounds, could help reduce risk factors associated with diabetes and heart disease.
Immunity to the pandemic virus A (H1N1): Norway is probably well-prepared for major new outbreaks
By autumn 2009, almost half of the population of Norway had been vaccinated against the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus. Many had also been infected by the virus during the summer and autumn outbreaks. The majority of those who were vaccinated or were infected are expected to have developed immunity to the virus. A study of the Norwegian population's immune status to the pandemic virus in January 2010 was recently published in the journal Eurosurveillance.
Survey of American women finds STD vaccine viewed positively
Cost but not convenience plays a significant role in attitudes about vaccination for common human papillomaviruses for women over the age of 26, according to the authors of a recent article in the journal Sexual Health.
Johnson & Johnson gets FDA warning on marketing
(AP) -- A Johnson & Johnson business that makes joint replacements has been warned by the Food and Drug Administration that it is illegally marketing two products.
Genetic variations linked with development of ESRD in Chinese patients with diabetes
Examination of a gene involved in cell signaling finds that four common variants of this gene are associated with the development of end-stage renal disease in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study in the August 25 issue of JAMA.
Alcoholic liver disease is more aggressive than other chronic liver diseases
Many diagnostic and treatment options have been developed for chronic liver disease during the last 40 years, yet their influence on survival remain unclear. A new study of the prognosis for patients hospitalized for liver diseases between 1969 and 2006, and of differences in mortality and complications between patients with alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver diseases, has found that the general prognosis for patients hospitalized with chronic liver diseases has not improved.
People at 'intermediate risk' of heart disease with elevated hsCRP benefit from statin therapy
Women and men with a 10-year cardiovascular disease risk of 5 percent or more and normal cholesterol levels but high levels of hsCRP, a protein associated with inflammation, could reduce their risk substantially with statin therapy, according to new research.
Heart transplant patients with common disorder have high survival rates
Transplant surgery to correct the most common type of genetic heart disease yields similar short-term and potentially greater long-term survival rates as transplant surgery for other heart diseases, according to research reported in Circulation: Heart Failure, an American Heart Association journal.
Eating a sensible diet improves lung health, research shows
Steering clear of full-fat, fried, and processed foods is not just good for overall health, it could help prevent chronic lung conditions, a large UK study has revealed.
Can probiotics help ward off flu?
University of Reading researchers are recruiting volunteers for an important new study aiming to discover whether probiotics boost the immune system of older people.
IT can help CVD management
Robyn Whittaker from the University of Auckland and colleagues argue that information technology (IT)-based programs can improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) management and patient empowerment, but must be accompanied by supportive social and political environments and active patient and clinician engagement.
Better interventions are needed to reduce HIV risk among men who have sex with men
Although a cognitive-behavioral intervention to encourage men who have sex with men to reduce their substance use and sexual risk behavior (as both are linked) was partially successful, a similar reduction was achieved in comparison groups who did not receive the intervention suggesting that better methods for changing behaviors are needed. These are the findings of a paper by Gordon Mansergh from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia, USA, and colleagues and published in this week's PLoS Medicine.
Giant Chinese 'Michelin baby' startles doctors: reports
Doctors in central China are puzzling over a 10-month-old baby boy who weighs 20 kilos (44 lbs) -- about as much as a normal child of six years -- but is otherwise healthy, state media reported.
Study suggests oxytocin makes people trusting, but not gullible
Oxytocin (OT) is a hormone that plays an important role in social behavior—it has even been nicknamed "the love hormone" and "liquid trust." Increased levels of OT have been associated with greater caring, generosity, and trust. But does OT increase people's trust in just anybody or does it act more selectively?
Engineering shorter wait times in the ER
Emergency room waiting times could be cut by over one third and patients' length of stay by almost two-thirds, thanks to a new approach to the triage process of sorting patients for further assessment and treatment, according to research published in the International Journal of Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage this month.
Human umbilical cord blood cells aid lab animal brain cell survival after simulated stroke
Human umbilical cord blood cells (HUCB) used to treat cultured rat brain cells (astrocytes) deprived of oxygen appear to protect astrocytes from cell death after stroke-like damage, reports a team of researchers from the University of South Florida (USF) Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair.
Mama wears Prada: Ovulating women buy sexier clothing
In an unconscious attempt to outdo female rivals, ovulating women buy sexier clothing, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.
Atrazine herbicide causes prostate inflammation in male rats and delays puberty
A new study shows that male rats prenatally exposed to low doses of atrazine, a widely used herbicide, are more likely to develop prostate inflammation and to go through puberty later than non-exposed animals. The research adds to a growing body of literature on atrazine, an herbicide predominantly used to control weeds and grasses in crops such as corn and sugar cane. Atrazine and its byproducts are known to be relatively persistent in the environment, potentially finding their way into water supplies.
Fat distribution plays a role in weight loss success in patients at risk of diabetes
Why is it that some people lose weight and body fat when they exercise and eat less and others don't? German researchers say MRI and magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy can provide the answer -- and help predict who will benefit from lifestyle changes. Results of the study are published online and will appear in the November issue of the journal Radiology.
Mothers abused by partners see decline in mental health even after relationship ends
Even after leaving a violent or controlling relationship, the mental health of mothers may actually get worse before it gets better, a new study suggests.
Salmon baby food? Babies need omega-3s and a taste for fish, scientist says
Has your toddler eaten fish today? A University of Illinois food science professor has two important reasons for including seafood in your young child's diet, reasons that have motivated her work in helping to develop a tasty, nutritious salmon baby food for toddlers.
Double-therapy approach effectively inhibited brain cancer recurrence
Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Medical School have identified a novel approach of combining chemotherapy with a targeted therapy to decrease the recurrence of glioblastoma multiforme, the most common and aggressive brain tumor.
Spanish oil spill workers suffered chromosome damage: study
Spanish fishermen who took part in a clean-up operation after the Prestige oil tanker spill in 2002 have shown symptoms of chromosomal damage and respiratory problems, a study released Tuesday said.
Study finds federal school lunches linked to childhood obesity
With children going back to school, parents are concerned that their youngsters are staying fit and eating right, especially those who dine in a school cafeteria.
Mumps vaccine coverage should be improved, study finds
Although immunity to mumps is high in the United States, mumps vaccine coverage must be maintained and improved to prevent future outbreaks, according to a new study, now available online, in the September 1, 2010 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Study shows zinc salts offer rapid relief from gastric reflux
(PhysOrg.com) -- In a study that could revolutionize how millions of people are treated for painful gastric acid-related diseases, a team led by Yale School of Medicine researchers has shown that zinc salts offer rapid, prolonged suppression of gastric acid secretion. Further, they do so without the side effects that sometimes accompany the use of the popular proton pump inhibitor (PPI) class of drugs. The paper appears online in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Moderate drinking: Health benefits or not?
While moderate drinking - one to less than three drinks per day - is linked to a decrease in mortality in middle-aged and older adults, there is also concern that the health benefits of moderate drinking have been overestimated. A new study of the association between drinking and mortality during a 20-year period, which controlled for confounding factors such as previous problem drinking, confirms an association of moderate drinking and reduced mortality among older adults.
Placement of type of pump within the aorta prior to PCI not associated with improved outcomes
High-risk patients undergoing a coronary procedure such as placement of a stent who electively received an intra-aortic balloon pump (a device that can help improve blood flow) prior to the procedure did not experience a significantly lower overall rate of events such as heart attack, revascularization or death, according to a study in the August 25 issue of JAMA.
Cognitive behavioral therapy appears beneficial for adults with ADHD
Adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who received medication and individual sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) showed greater improvement in symptoms through 12 months compared to patients who did not receive CBT, according to a study in the August 25 issue of JAMA.
Alcohol dependence damages both episodic memory and awareness of memory
Alcohol dependence (AD) has negative effects on cognitive processes such as memory. Metamemory refers to the subjective knowledge that people have of their own cognitive processing abilities, such as their monitoring and control of memory. A new study has found that AD has a negative impact on both episodic memory as well as metamemory.
Study compares risk with 2 diabetes drugs
In contrast to previous reports, the risks of the composite endpoint of heart attack, heart failure, both, or death were the same - about 4 percent - for patients taking the diabetes drugs rosiglitazone or pioglitazone, according to a study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
Chronic drinking can disrupt circadian rhythms
Circadian rhythmicity is regulated by circadian clock genes, and animal studies have shown that chronic drinking can alter expressions in these genes. A new study has found that significantly lower levels of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) - a molecule of RNA that helps to manufacture proteins - in circadian clock genes in alcohol-dependent (AD) patients support a relationship between circadian clock gene dysregulation and drinking in humans.
Use of certain antiviral drugs during pregnancy not linked with higher risk of major birth defects
An analysis of data from Denmark finds no associated increased risk of major birth defects for mothers who were exposed during the first trimester of pregnancy to the antiviral drugs acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir, often used to treat herpes simplex and herpes zoster infections, according to a study in the August 25 issue of JAMA.
Fluoride in water prevents adult tooth loss
Children drinking water with added fluoride helps dental health in adulthood decades later, a new study finds.
Antiviral gene helps suppress jumping of AIDS viruses between host species
The human AIDS viruses (HIV-1 and HIV-2) originated as viruses of apes and monkeys, respectively, yet little is known about whether or how these invaders adapted to the new genetic "environment" encountered in humans. One group of host genes, collectively known as restriction factors, is thought to influence the ability of such viruses to move between different primate species. A study conducted by Andrea Kirmaier and Welkin Johnson of Harvard Medical School, together with Dr. Vanessa Hirsch of the National Institutes of Health, provides direct evidence in apes and monkeys of a restriction factor gene called TRIM5 acting as a genetic barrier to cross-species transmission of a primate immunodeficiency virus related to HIV-2. The findings will publish next week in the online, open access journal PLoS Biology.
A case for exercising
There is now another good reason to exercise. Besides burning calories, exercise restores the sensitivity of neurons involved in the control of satiety (feeling full), which in turn contributes to reduced food intake and consequently weight loss. This is the conclusion of a study led by Brazilian researchers at the University of Campinas, and the findings will be published next week in the online, open access journal PLoS Biology. This disclosure may bring hope to over 40% of the population that suffers from weight problems and obesity around the world.
New study sheds light on painkilling system in brain
Repeatedly boosting brain levels of one natural painkiller soon shuts down the brain cell receptors that respond to it, so that the painkilling effect is lost, according to a surprising new study led by Scripps Research Institute and Virginia Commonwealth University scientists. The study has important implications for drug development.
Biology news
Mighty predatory mite and oil sprays may save eggplant production in Micronesia
Guam has been an important military, communication, aviation, and shipping hub of Micronesia for many years. The importation of vegetables from Korea and the Philippines has resulted in the arrival of several invasive mite species.
Darwin's family tree rediscovered
The Galton-Darwin-Wedgwood pedigree, first exhibited in 1932, has been found in the archives of Truman State University.
Second panda born in Vienna zoo
Another panda has been born in Vienna's Schoenbrunn Zoo, the second in Europe to be conceived naturally in captivity, the zoo said Tuesday.
Waiting for the right moment: Bacterial pathogens delay their entry into cells
(PhysOrg.com) -- Pathogens make themselves feel at home in the human body, invading cells and living off the plentiful amenities on offer. However, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, together with colleagues at Harvard University, reveal an opposite strategy used to ensure infection success. Pathogens can actually delay their entry into cells to ensure their survival. Upon cell contact, bacteria trigger a local strengthening of the cellular skeleton with the aid of signalling molecules, allowing them to remain outside the cell. The researchers also show that this strategy, unknown until now, is used by certain intestinal pathogens as well. (PLoS Biology, 24th of August 2010)
Facebook campaign to save Canadian bears caught in drug bust
An international campaign with the help of social networking site Facebook hopes to save the lives of some 14 black bears used to guard an illegal marijuana farm in western Canada.
Study shows carnivore species shrank during global warming event
A new University of Florida study indicates extinct carnivorous mammals shrank in size during a global warming event that occurred 55 million years ago.
Genetic structure of first animal to show evolutionary response to climate change determined
Scientists at the University of Oregon have determined the fine-scale genetic structure of the first animal to show an evolutionary response to rapid climate change.
Whale sharks may produce many litters from one mating, paternity test shows
How do female whale sharks meet their perfect mates and go on to produce offspring? While little is known about the reproductive behavior of these ocean-roaming giants, a newly published analysis led by University of Illinois at Chicago biologist Jennifer Schmidt reveals new details about the mating habits of this elusive, difficult-to-study fish.
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