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Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for August 4, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Autonomous quantum error correction technique proposed for quantum memories- For the First Time Ever, Scientists Watch an Atom's Electrons Moving in Real Time
- Computer Scientists Help Police Apprehend Internet Child Pornographers
- Image of new antibiotic in action opens up new opportunities to combat antibacterial resistance
- Deep Brain Stimulation shows promise for patients with Alzheimer's
- Tiny fish evolved to tolerate colder temperature in three years: study
- Germany warns of Apple security problem
- Looking for the oil? NOAA says it's mostly gone
- China to invest 15 billion dollars in green cars
- Criminals, spies swamp cyber world: experts
- Iron-regulating protein is strong predictor of breast cancer prognosis, study shows
- Vonage makes free Facebook phone call app
- Gaming for a cure: Computer gamers tackle protein folding
- Unprecedented look at oxide interfaces reveals unexpected structures on atomic scale
- Dish to stream live TV on iPad, other devices
Space & Earth news
Homes of the poor and the affluent both have high levels of endocrine disruptors
Homes in low-income and affluent communities in California both had similarly high levels of endocrine disruptors, and the levels were higher in indoor air than outdoor air, according to a new study believed to be the first that paired indoor and outdoor air samples for such wide range (104) of these substances. The study appears in ACS' Environmental Science & Technology.
Traveling by car increases global temperatures more than by plane, but only in long term
Driving a car increases global temperatures in the long run more than making the same long-distance journey by air according to a new study. However, in the short run travelling by air has a larger adverse climate impact because airplanes strongly affect short-lived warming processes at high altitudes. The study appears in ACS' Environmental Science & Technology.
Bedrock is a milestone in climate research
After years of concentrated effort, scientists from the North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling (NEEM) project hit bedrock more than 8,300 feet below the surface of the Greenland ice sheet last week. The project has yielded ice core samples that may offer valuable insights into how the world can change during periods of abrupt warming.
Biofuel study looks at cost to wildlife and environmental diversity
Whether we can grow bio-energy crops such as switchgrass and forage sorghum isn't the question, said a Texas AgriLife Research scientist.
Hundreds of New Views from Telescope Orbiting Mars
(PhysOrg.com) -- The most powerful telescopic camera ever to orbit Mars reveals a fresh crater, an ice mound, climate-recording layers and many other views in 314 newly released observations.
Discovery of Saturn's auroral heartbeat
(PhysOrg.com) -- An international team of scientists led by Dr Jonathan Nichols of the University of Leicester has discovered that Saturn's aurora, an ethereal ultraviolet glow which illuminates Saturn's upper atmosphere near the poles, pulses roughly once per Saturnian day.
NASA Lightning Research Happens in a Flash
(PhysOrg.com) -- Lightning's connection to hurricane intensification has eluded researchers for decades, and for a riveting 40 days this summer, NASA lightning researchers will peer inside storms in a way they never have before.
Seeing a Stellar Explosion in 3D (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Astronomers using ESO's Very Large Telescope have for the first time obtained a three-dimensional view of the distribution of the innermost material expelled by a recently exploded star. The original blast was not only powerful, according to the new results. It was also more concentrated in one particular direction. This is a strong indication that the supernova must have been very turbulent, supporting the most recent computer models.
Looking for the oil? NOAA says it's mostly gone
(AP) -- With a startling report that some researchers call more spin than science, the government said Wednesday that the mess made by the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is mostly gone already.
Recreating Venus in the Lab
Scientists are reproducing the environment of Venus so that they can interpret observations of the planet's surface and atmosphere. Studying environmental processes on Venus can help astrobiologists better understand the climate systems of Earth and the habitability of rocky planets.
Technology news
New NIST report advises: Securing critical computer systems begins at the beginning
Nothing beats the feeling of starting up a new computer - be it a laptop, desktop or a major, custom-designed computing system. A new system is a blank slate with no worry of botnets, viruses or any other cybersecurity hazards.
Siemens to cut 2,000 IT jobs in Germany
German industrial giant Siemens said Wednesday it would cut 2,000 jobs in its German IT solutions and services (SIS) unit, part of a broader cost-cutting programme initially unveiled in March.
Time Warner profits top forecasts
Media and entertainment giant Time Warner on Wednesday reported better-than-expected profits of 560 million dollars in the second quarter.
Indonesian Internet use booming
So you've looked up sexy spy Anna Chapman's Facebook photos and you've cried along with Lindsay Lohan as she was sent to the slammer, but what about Peterporn, Sinta and Jovita? Ever heard of them?
Google loosens Europe ad trademark controls
Google shook up its lucrative online advertising service in Europe on Wednesday, saying it would allow sellers to register other companies' brand names as search "keywords" when shopping on the Internet.
Point and peek iPhone app for Aussie househunters
One of Australia's four major banks launched a bold new smartphone application Wednesday, offering househunters a virtual peek into their dream home and instant data simply by pointing their iPhone at it.
Taiwan Acer's second-quarter profit up 54 percent
Taiwan's Acer Inc, the world's second biggest PC vendor by revenue, said Wednesday its net profit in the three months to June surged 54 percent despite the eurozone debt crisis.
AOL execs, some analysts see changes taking hold
(AP) -- AOL Inc. reported a $1 billion-plus second-quarter loss and tumbling revenue, yet the dismal-sounding numbers appear to belie a more positive reality: The troubled Internet company is actually chugging along on its long road to recovery.
Indonesia joins countries mulling BlackBerry ban
(AP) -- Indonesia said Wednesday it is considering following the lead of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in banning BlackBerry services, adding to pressure on device maker Research in Motion Ltd. to give governments greater access to data.
China hosts meeting on cyberspace security
Hundreds of hackers, computer programmers and online security experts met in Beijing Wednesday to discuss ways to defend against an increasing number of cyberattacks.
Japan's DoCoMo ties up with publisher to launch e-books
Japan's top mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo said Wednesday it would tie up with a major publisher to launch an electronic book service, as it aims to compete with Apple and its hugely popular iPad.
US to pump $1.2 bln to expand broadband access
The US administration unveiled plans Wednesday to spend 1.2 billion dollars to expand broadband or high-speed Internet access to dozens of under-served rural communities.
New Study Sheds Light on U.S. Wind Power Market
(PhysOrg.com) -- The U.S. was one of the fastest-growing wind power markets in the world in 2009, second only to China, according to a report released today by the U.S. Department of Energy and prepared by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Leap Wireless' Cricket hops on to national stage
(AP) -- Leap Wireless International Inc. is taking its Cricket prepaid cellular service from a regional to a national player through a deal with Sprint Nextel Corp.
Study: TV king in US, Asians rely on mobile video
(AP) -- The Chinese watch half as much television each day as Americans do, but they are more likely to catch video on computer or mobile phones.
Review: New Web music services offer tons of tunes
(AP) -- If you're itching to hear whatever you want, whenever you want, without breaking the bank on songs from Apple's iTunes store, your best bet is an online subscription music service.
Pentagon says WikiLeaks has not contacted them for help
The Pentagon on Wednesday said it had not received any request from the WikiLeaks group to help delete the names of Afghan informants in the 15,000 leaked documents still awaiting publication.
Career networking service LinkedIn buys mSpoke
LinkedIn, the social networking service for business professionals, said Wednesday it is buying a startup specializing in digging valuable information from mountains of digital data.
Computer Scientists Help Police Apprehend Internet Child Pornographers
Thanks to powerful new software developed by University of Massachusetts Amherst computer scientists Brian Levine and Marc Liberatore, state law enforcement officers across the country including the Massachusetts State Police now have an extraordinarily effective tool for collecting evidence against people who possess and share illegal images and produce child pornography for the Internet.
FTC says computer buyers benefit from Intel deal (Update 2)
(AP) -- The Federal Trade Commission is trumpeting its settlement with Intel Corp. as a victory for consumers who have overpaid for computer chips for a decade, though computer buyers shouldn't expect a sudden drop in prices.
China to invest 15 billion dollars in green cars
China plans to invest more than 100 billion yuan (14.8 billion dollars) over the next decade to boost the development of energy-saving vehicles, state media reported Wednesday.
Criminals, spies swamp cyber world: experts
Finally the world has a hacker-proof communications device. The bad news? It's a brick in a glass case. The joke, told to a cyber conference Tuesday in New York, illustrates what top US experts describe as the dire state of online security.
Vonage makes free Facebook phone call app
(AP) -- Vonage, a pioneer of home phone service over the Internet, has a new application for the iPhone and Android phones that provides free calls between Facebook users.
Medicine & Health news
ASTRO publishes whole breast irradiation guidelines
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has released evidence-based guidelines to define appropriate fractionation of whole breast irradiation (WBI), finding that hypofractionated (HF) WBI is effective for many patients with early-stage breast cancer. These guidelines are published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology•Biology•Physics, the official journal of ASTRO.
Understanding Infant Language Learning
(PhysOrg.com) -- University of Arizona professor LouAnn Gerken has earned a grant to study the accuracy of a fairly new theory that explains how infants aquire knowledge.
Childhood Personality Traits Predict Adult Behavior
(PhysOrg.com) -- Personality traits observed in childhood are a strong predictor of adult behavior, a study by researchers at UC Riverside, the Oregon Research Institute and University of Oregon suggests.
FDA moves toward tighter medical device oversight
(AP) -- Makers of X-ray machines, drug pumps and other medical devices would have to submit more safety information to win federal approval under a proposal designed to tighten regulation of thousands of products reviewed each year.
More detailed picture of asthma may yield dramatically improved treatment
For many people afflicted by asthma, treatment can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience. After their initial diagnosis, asthmatics find themselves caught in a trial and error process that can last for months, as doctors gradually escalate their medications to treat their condition effectively with minimal side effects. And until the right medicine and dosage are found, patients continue to suffer attacks that strike without warning and can leave them struggling for breath for hours or even days.
Solving the mystery of bone loss from drug for epilepsy and bipolar disorder
Scientists are reporting a possible explanation for the bone loss that may occur following long-term use of a medicine widely used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and other conditions. The drug, valproate, appears to reduce the formation of two key proteins important for bone strength, they said. Their study, which offers a solution to a long-standing mystery, appears in ACS' monthly Journal of Proteome Research.
Researchers look to the future for defeating blindness
Neurobiologists funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) have discovered a potential cure for degenerative vision diseases leading to terminal blindness.
Marfan, a 'look-alike' disorder, or neither?
Johns Hopkins researchers have compiled what they believe are reliable lists of tell-tale physical signs to help doctors recognize children with Marfan and Loeys-Dietz syndromes. Timely and early diagnosis of both genetic disorders can mean the difference between life and death, but some of the most common physical features are also found in people with neither of the syndromes, which can cause confusion.
New drug shown safe, effective in treating hereditary angioedema
Clinical trials from two international research teams have shown that icatibant, a new drug that blocks the action of an inflammatory protein known as bradykinin, is safe and effective in treating acute attacks of hereditary angioedema, a potentially life-threatening condition. In their report in the August 5 New England Journal of Medicine, the authors note that - while the results of one trial did not reach statistical significance - the drug is safe and effective and further study will help clarify the patients and symptoms best treated with icatibant.
Doctors hard to find for patients in Massachusetts' first for-profit health plan
The first for-profit insurance company approved to offer government-subsidized coverage under Massachusetts' health reform has dangerously restricted access to primary care, according to data reported in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers say the findings raise troubling concerns about the Obama administration's new health law, which is modeled after the Massachusetts plan.
Genetic clue to chronic pain could lead to new treatments for the condition
Chronic pain is a serious medical problem, afflicting approximately 20% of adults. Some individuals are more susceptible than others, and the basis for this remains largely unknown. In a report published online today in Genome Research, researchers have identified a gene associated with susceptibility to chronic pain in humans, signaling a significant step toward better understanding and treating the condition.
MicroRNA molecule increases number of blood stem cells, may help improve cancer treatment
Investigators have identified a new mechanism that controls the number of hematopoietic stem cells - cells that give rise to all blood and immune system cells. In a report in the online Early Edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute identify a tiny RNA molecule that increases the number of these blood stem cells, an advance that may improve treatment of blood system cancers.
EEG predicts response to medication for schizophrenia
A commonplace electroencephalography (EEG) test may hold the key to predicting whether a person will respond to certain prescribed drugs, particularly those related to psychiatric conditions.
New Findings Imply Exercise in Adolescence May Help Prevent Drug Abuse
(PhysOrg.com) -- Daily physical exercise during adolescence decreases cocaine-seeking behavior in young adult rats, implying that exercise may protect against cocaine abuse later in life.
The Medical Minute: The worry with warts
Common warts are harmless skin lesions that are usually found on the hands or soles of the feet, the latter referred to as plantar warts. Warts have a fleshy and hard feel to them, can be associated with skin thickening, and often are described as having a cauliflower-like appearance. Warts, especially plantar warts and those developing near fingernails are sometimes painful. Plantar warts are also slow to spontaneously heal and can be more difficult to treat.
Researchers Generate Mature Egg Cells From Early Ovarian Follicles
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers supported by the National Institutes of Health have for the first time activated mouse egg cells at the earliest stage of their development and brought them to maturity. In a related experiment, the researchers replicated the finding by also bringing human eggs to maturity in the laboratory.
Researchers discover new way to boost vaccines, seeks patent
As the medical community searches for better vaccines and ways to deliver them, a University of Rochester scientist believes he has discovered a new approach to boosting the body's response to vaccinations.
Compact microscope a marvel
A compact microscope invented at Rice University is proving its potential to impact global health. In a paper published online today in the journal PLoS ONE, Rice alumnus Andrew Miller and co-authors show that his portable, battery-operated fluorescence microscope, which costs $240, stacks up nicely against devices that retail for as much as $40,000 in diagnosing signs of tuberculosis.
Gain and Loss in Optimistic Versus Pessimistic Brains
Our belief as to whether we will likely succeed or fail at a given task -- and the consequences of winning or losing -- directly affects the levels of neural effort put forth in movement-planning circuits in the human cortex, according to a new brain-imaging study by neuroscientists at the California Institute of Technology.
Brain study shows that thinking about God reduces distress -- but only for believers
Thinking about God may make you less upset about making errors, according to a new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The researchers measured brain waves for a particular kind of distress-response while participants made mistakes on a test. Those who had been prepared with religious thoughts had a less prominent response to mistakes than those who hadn't.
Study: Ovulating women unconsciously buy sexier clothing to outdo attractive women
Ovulating women unconsciously buy sexier clothes, says new research from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. The study finds that ovulating women unconsciously dress to impress - doing so not to impress men, but to outdo rival women during the handful of days each month when they are ovulating.
Image of new antibiotic in action opens up new opportunities to combat antibacterial resistance
Detailed pictures published today reveal how a new type of experimental antibiotic can kill bacteria that are already resistant to existing treatments. The findings could ultimately help scientists to develop new antibiotics to tackle the bacteria responsible for many hospital and community-acquired infections.
Deep Brain Stimulation shows promise for patients with Alzheimer's
In a world first, Dr. Andres M. Lozano and his team at Toronto Western Hospital has shown using Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) on patients with early signs of Alzheimer's disease is safe and may help improve memory.
Iron-regulating protein is strong predictor of breast cancer prognosis, study shows
A new study by researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (WFUBMC) may soon help to spare some women with breast cancer from having to undergo invasive and toxic treatments for their disease.
Biology news
Private support helps public plant research
The private sector and an Austrian research institute are chipping in to help support one of the most widely used public biological databases in the world. Although the majority of funding continues to come from the National Science Foundation, The Arabidopsis Information Resource (TAIR) database is now receiving support from other organizations as well. Almost 40,000 researchers worldwide use it monthly to study everything from crop engineering and alternative energy sources to human disease. Although Arabidopsis thaliana is an experimental plant, it shares many of its genes and basic biological processes with other species of plants and animals including humans.
Bee pastures may help pollinators prosper
Beautiful wildflowers might someday be planted in "bee pastures," floral havens created as an efficient, practical, environmentally friendly, and economically sound way to produce successive generations of healthy young bees.
Bali Declaration hopes to save Indonesia's biodiversity from deforestation
Indonesia has some of the richest biological diversity of any nation on Earth; however, it is threatened with losing it to forest destruction. In reaction, more than 900 scientists from around the world, including those from the Smithsonian Institution, recently came together as members of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation to release "The Bali Declaration," which calls for urgent efforts to slow rampant deforestation in Indonesia.
UF researchers identifying, developing noninvasive ornamental plant varieties
Plants from around the world beautify America's yards, and to minimize the chance that exotic species will grow where they shouldn't, University of Florida researchers are identifying and developing varieties with a low risk of running wild.
Brain size determines whether fish hunters or slackers
Whether a fish likes to hunt down its food or wait for dinner to arrive is linked to the composition of its brain, a University of Guelph researcher has revealed.
Preserving sperm vital to saving 'snot otter' salamanders
The hellbender salamander -- known affectionately as a snot otter or devil dog -- is one of America's unique giant salamander species. For unexplained reasons, most hellbender populations have rapidly declined as very little reproduction has occurred in recent decades.
Biologists discover microRNAs that control function of blood stem cells
Hematopoietic stem cells provide the body with a constant supply of blood cells, including the red blood cells that deliver oxygen and the white blood cells that make up the immune system. Hematopoietic -- or blood -- stem cells must also make more copies of themselves to ensure that they are present in adequate numbers to provide blood throughout a person's lifetime, which means they need to strike a delicate balance between self-renewal and development into mature blood-cell lineages. Perturb that balance, and the result can be diseases such as leukemia and anemia.
First nearshore survey of Antarctic krill reveals high density, stable population in shallow waters
Using smaller vessels that allow access to shallow, nearshore waters, researchers from Stony Brook University and the Southwest Fisheries Science Center conducted the first multi-year survey of the population of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) in coastal waters near Livingston Island and discovered that nearshore waters had significantly higher krill biomass density than offshore waters. They also found that the nearshore waters had less interannual variation than offshore waters. These findings were published in the July issue of the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.
Academy's mollusk collection plays key role in Gulf oil impact study
Unknown to most non-scientists, the nation's oldest mollusk collection resides four floors above one of Philadelphia's busiest tourist areas and is now being pressed into action to determine the impact of the nation's worst oil spill.
The origin of animals and disease found on The Great Barrier Reef
(PhysOrg.com) -- Professor Bernard Degnan from University of Queensland's School of Biological Sciences has led an international team of scientists to sequence the genome of the first marine animal from Australian waters.
Researchers find metabolic pathway in malaria parasites; possible drug targets
A newly described metabolic pathway used by malaria-causing parasites may help them survive inside human blood cells. The finding, by researchers supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, clarifies the picture of parasite metabolism and provides clues to potential weak points in the pathway that might be attacked with drugs.
Smell the love
(PhysOrg.com) -- Mandrills can use body odour to identify potential mates, researchers have found, in a study which lends new support to the theory that humans also have the ability to "sniff out" suitable partners.
Bad Bacteria and Their Harmless Kin Share, Swap Genes
(PhysOrg.com) -- Comparing the genomes of disease-causing and harmless bacteria, University of Arizona microbiologists found no clear genetic demarcation between the two groups. The bacteria have swapped genes in the past, suggesting they can switch roles fairly easily.
Kangaroo evolution linked to climatic change
(PhysOrg.com) -- The evolution of kangaroos is intricately tied to Australia's changing climate, according to new research.
Tiny fish evolved to tolerate colder temperature in three years: study
University of British Columbia researchers have observed one of the fastest evolutionary responses ever recorded in wild populations. In as little as three years, stickleback fish developed tolerance for water temperature 2.5 degrees Celsius lower than their ancestors.
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