Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for April 18, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- New soft motor more closely resembles real muscles (w/ video)- Researchers create super-small transistor, artificial atom powered by single electrons
- Less is more: Researchers pinpoint graphene's varying conductivity levels
- New kid on the plasmonic block
- Simple injection could limit damage from heart attacks and stroke
- Missing the gorilla: Why we don't see what's right in front of our eyes
- Zoom-up star photos poke holes in century-old astronomical theory
- Research shows Type-2 diabetes may have an immune system link
- For testing skin cream, synthetic skin may be as good as the real thing
- Bridgestone is demonstrating its AeroBee e-reader
- Semiconductor revenue up 31 percent: Gartner
- Television 'breakups' cause some viewers distress: study
- Nuclear still main alternative to oil: ex-IAEA chief
- Report cites 'liquefaction' as key to much of Japanese earthquake damage
- Office 365 goes into public beta
Space & Earth news
Arctic coasts on the retreat
The coastline in Arctic regions reacts to climate change with increased erosion and retreats by half a metre per year on average. This means substantial changes for Arctic ecosystems near the coast and the population living there.
Possible to have same power with less damage with alternative Mekong dams
A new study by WWF on aquatic ecosystem connectivity reveals that the Mekong region could have equivalent power but dramatically less damage to river functioning by opting for tributary rather than main channel dams.
Unsung bedrock of prosperity
Modern agriculture would be inconceivable without phosphate fertilizers - and it needs more and more of them. Experts warn of an imminent phosphorus shortage. But not Roland Scholz from the Institute of Environmental Decisions. For him, the main problems are the open phosphorus cycle and non-sustainable resource management.
Scientists: Gulf health nearly at pre-spill level
(AP) -- Scientists judge the overall health of the Gulf of Mexico as nearly back to normal one year after the BP oil spill, but with glaring blemishes that restrain their optimism about nature's resiliency, an Associated Press survey of researchers shows.
Ocean warming detrimental to inshore fish species
(PhysOrg.com) -- Australian scientists have reported the first known detrimental impact of southern hemisphere ocean warming on a fish species.
New pollutants detected in peregrine falcon eggs
Flame retardants are chemical compounds added to fabrics and plastics to keep them from burning easily, but these can be toxic. Now a team of researchers from Spain and Canada has detected some of these emerging pollutants for the first time in peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) eggs in both countries.
How do you manage US oceans? Look at local successes
Policymakers are very familiar with land-use planning. But what is the best approach for planning uses of America's coastal waters and oceans? That question has gained importance since President Obama formed the National Ocean Council last summer and charged it with developing an ecosystem-based stewardship policy for the nation's oceans, coastal waters and the Great Lakes.
New research shows using leaves' characteristics improves accuracy measuring past climates
A study led by Baylor University geologists shows that a new method that uses different size and shape traits of leaves to reconstruct past climates over the last 120 million years is more accurate than other current methods.
Oxygenation at a depth of 120 meters can save the Baltic Sea
Oxygenation brings dead sea bottoms to life. This creates the necessary conditions for the establishment of new ecosystems that enable nature itself to deal with eutrophication. By conducting pilot studies in two fjords in Sweden, researchers at the University of Gothenburg have demonstrated that pumping oxygen-rich surface water down to sea bottoms is effective. A large wind-driven pump is now to be tested in open water in the Baltic.
15-state tornado outbreak deadliest since 2008
(AP) -- The devastation is stunning - homes and lives shattered as the deadliest swarm of twisters in three years battered up to 15 states.
GOES-13 satellite animation shows US severe storms and tornado outbreak
The GOES-13 satellite captured images of the powerful weather system that triggered severe weather in the southern U.S. this weekend, and NASA created an animation to show its progression. GOES-13 satellite data showed the strong cold front as it moved eastward from Saturday through Monday and generated tornadoes before moving off-shore into the Atlantic Ocean. NASA's Aqua satellite also captured data from the system and took the temperature of the cold front's cloud tops and revealing severely cold temperatures of some of the thunderstorms.
Aqua satellite sees weaker Tropical Depression Errol crossing West Timor
NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image of Tropical Depression Errol's warming cloud temperatures as it was crossing the southern tip of West Timor today.
NASA awards $270 million in spaceship contracts
NASA on Monday announced it has awarded nearly 270 million dollars to four companies, including Boeing and SpaceX, to help their pursuit of making a spacecraft to replace the US space shuttle.
Despite Gulf tragedy, more spills possible: Allen
The United States cannot rule out another oil disaster in its waters, the official who led the response to last year's Gulf of Mexico spill told AFP, as the country marks one year since the tragedy.
'Royal star' was a supernova, say astronomers
One of the abiding legends of Britain's royal family is that a noon-day star appeared at the birth in 1630 of King Charles II, who was to restore the English monarchy after the execution of his father.
Imaging a multiple star
(PhysOrg.com) -- Multiple stars - binaries, triplets, or perhaps more stars, that orbit each other - are unique laboratories into the interactions between stars and their early environments.
Zoom-up star photos poke holes in century-old astronomical theory
(PhysOrg.com) -- The hottest stars in the universe spin so fast that they get a bit squished at their poles and dimmer around their middle. The 90-year-old theory that predicts the extent of this "gravity darkening" phenomenon has major flaws, according to a new study led by University of Michigan astronomers.
Report cites 'liquefaction' as key to much of Japanese earthquake damage
(PhysOrg.com) -- The massive subduction zone earthquake in Japan caused a significant level of soil "liquefaction" that has surprised researchers with its widespread severity, a new analysis shows.
Rings reveal extensive yearly climate record
A new study of the oldest trees in Mexico provides the first ever detailed, year-by-year look at the climate of Mesoamerica over a thousand-year span. The data, gathered from the annual growth rings in trees, supplies precise dates for the duration of three historically important droughts, including one that was previously unknown.
Technology news
Comparing high-resolution photographs from past, present could hold key to restoring Hastings' fire-damaged pier
On the 5th October 2010 the historic Hastings Pier was set on fire, destroying 95% of the Grade II listed building, leading to concerns over its future. Now scientists from the UK's National Physical Laboratory (NPL) are helping to show that the future of the pier is more positive than expected.
Sony to ship new 1.2kWh energy storage modules
Starting in the end of April 2011, Sony will begin volume shipments of energy storage modules that use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries made with olivine-type lithium-ion iron phosphate as the cathode material (hereafter referred to as ‘olivine-type lithium-ion iron phosphate cell’). These energy storage modules have a lifespan of over 10 years, excellent safety performance, rapid recharging capabilities and high scalability. Sample shipments of the new module began in June last year and Sony decided to begin volume shipments after rigorous testing and experimentation with various applications.
The New Cultural Form: Perfection versus Mortality in Games and Simulation at Rensselaer
Willy Nilly’s Surf Shack offers a cure for the idealized virtual world of Second Life. The online shop, a project of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Associate Professor of Arts Ben Chang and collaborators, endows otherwise flawless avatars with real-world foils like clumsiness. A project allowing avatars to visibly age over time is in the works.
Learn to run a biorefinery in a virtual control room developed by Iowa State researchers
David Grewell flipped on the augers that carry corn from a truck to a biorefinery.
Ыtudents develop thought-controlled, hands-free computer for the disabled
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev software engineering students have developed innovative technology that could enable people to operate a computer without using a keyboard or mouse – only their brainwaves.
Winklevoss twins seek another Facebook hearing
Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss asked Monday for a rehearing of a court ruling that they can't back out of the settlement deal they made in a lawsuit charging that Mark Zuckerberg stole their idea for Facebook.
Gannett net profit down 23 percent on ad slide
USA Today publisher Gannett said Monday that net profit fell 23 percent in the first quarter as a double-digit boost in digital revenue failed to make up for a continued print advertising slide.
ProPublica wins Pulitzer with digital-only series
ProPublica, a non-profit news startup, scooped up a Pulitzer Prize on Monday, its second in two years and the first ever for a series of stories that were not also published in print.
Match.com to check users in sex offender registry
(AP) -- Singles website Match.com said Sunday that it will begin screening its users against the national sex offender registry after a woman filed a lawsuit against the company saying she had been assaulted by someone she met through the dating service.
Philips first-quarter net income down
Dutch electronics giant Philips said Monday that first-quarter net income had fallen 31.3 percent and announced a joint venture with Hong Kong-based TPV for its flagging television business.
S. Korea bank probed over 'cyber-attack' shutdown
Regulators launched an inquiry on Monday into South Korea's largest banking network after a suspected cyber-attack left many customers unable to access their money for three days.
ORNL rifle sighting system uses sensors to score bull's-eye
Military and police marksmen could see their rifle sights catch up with the 21st century with a fiber-optic laser-based sensor system that automatically corrects for even tiny barrel disruptions.
Europe worried but still divided on nuclear energy
Twenty-five years after the Chernobyl disaster, Europe is still divided on the use of nuclear energy. But the Fukushima crisis stirred new fears that could slow down nuclear expansion.
One in five European kids dodge Facebook age limit: survey
Three-quarters of Europe's children have a profile on a social networking website, while one in five under 13 manage to dodge Facebook's age restriction, a survey showed Monday.
Yahoo plans to keep search records for 18 months
(AP) -- Yahoo plans to extend the amount of time it retains user search records to 18 months from 90 days. The company says it will consider keeping other types of information about its users for longer durations, too.
ONR's digital tutors give Naval recruits, high school students an academic edge
When President Obama underscored the importance of a college education to eighth-graders during their April 11 visit to the White House, he was echoing the collective sentiment among the nation's educators and organizations that graduates must be prepared for the world's technological challenges and opportunities.
Asia nuclear reactors face tsunami risk
(AP) -- The skeleton of what will soon be one of the world's biggest nuclear plants is slowly taking shape along China's southeastern coast - right on the doorstep of Hong Kong's bustling metropolis. Three other facilities nearby are up and running or under construction.
Nuclear still main alternative to oil: ex-IAEA chief
The former head of UN atomic agency voiced confidence Sunday in nuclear energy as the only real alternative to oil despite a potential "setback" in the sector due to Japan's current disaster.
Tabula garners $108 million in support of its virtual 3-D reprogrammable chips
(PhysOrg.com) -- In what many are describing as a game-changer, Tabula Inc. has closed on $108 million in investment funds from Greylock, NEA, Benchmark Capital and others, to bring to market its 3PLD ABAX programmable chips that have thus far proven to be both faster and less costly than competitors, Xilinx and Altera, makers of the larger, more cumbersome, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).
Semiconductor revenue up 31 percent: Gartner
Worldwide semiconductor revenue grew by 31 percent last year and Intel held the top spot for the 19th consecutive year although its market share dipped slightly, technology research company Gartner said Monday.
Office 365 goes into public beta
(PhysOrg.com) -- Microsoft has released its latest product for business, Office 365, into public beta. The program, which is limited in its participants, allows users to try out the new software in exchange for feedback about the software.
Medicine & Health news
Persistence of stuttering into teenage years predicted by simple model
Wellcome Trust researchers have developed a model that can correctly predict whether a child will recover from a stutter in four out of five cases. The model should allow clinicians to target interventions at those children most in need of speech therapy.
Noninvasive extenders are better than surgery for men who want a longer penis
Surgeons should encourage men who request penile lengthening surgery to try non-invasive methods first and, in some cases, consider therapy to help them feel more positive about their body.
Man's best friend: A joint tumor marker in man and dog
The dog may be man's best friend but even so it comes as a surprise that the two species share a common tumor marker. This finding comes from a joint study between scientists of the Vetmeduni Vienna and the MedUni Wien. The researchers uncovered a molecule, the CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) receptor, that is almost identical in the two species. The result could lead to the rapid development of new therapies for dogs and humans.
New legal model proposed to counter red tape, boost participation in DNA sample research
Healthy people who contribute DNA samples for medical research see their relationship with researchers as sharing a trade secret, rather than participation in traditional medical research, according to a new study.
High-deductible health plans pose no special risks to the medically vulnerable, study finds
People who are medically vulnerable -- those with low incomes or chronic health problems -- who enroll in high-deductible health plans are at no more risk for cutting back on needed health care than other people who enroll in the plans, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
Enhanced cord blood stem cell transplants safe in long-term studies
An innovative experimental treatment for boosting the effectiveness of stem-cell transplants with umbilical cord blood has a favorable safety profile in long-term animal studies, report scientists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), and Children's Hospital Boston (CHB).
Obesity not always protective following surgery
Obese patients with high blood pressure and diabetes are at much higher risk for major complications following non-cardiac surgery compared to otherwise healthy obese patients and patients of normal weight.
Study sheds light on NHL concussions
A major University of Calgary study of concussions, conducted over seven National Hockey League seasons and led by sports medicine researchers within the Faculty of Kinesiology, indicates that while the rate of injuries leveled out over the study period, the number of days lost per concussion has increased.
Newer oral contraceptive as safe for gall bladder as older birth-control pills: research
Drospirenone, the top-selling oral contraceptive marketed as Yaz or Yasmin in the U.S. and Canada, doesn't carry any more risk of gall bladder disease than the older generation of birth control pills, despite claims by some consumers and lawyers in both countries, according to a new study by University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute researcher Mahyar Etminan.
Move over Prozac: New drug offers hope for depression
The brain chemistry that underlies depression is incompletely understood, but research suggests that aberrant signaling by a chemical called Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor through its receptor TrkB, may contribute to anxiety and depression. Here, researchers describe a screen for stable small molecules that could specifically inhibit TrkB action. They identified one they dubbed ANA-12, which had potent behavioral effects when administered to mice that suggest it will have antidepressant and anti-anxiety activity in humans.
Health status of migrant workers in Canada
International migrant workers entering Canada generally arrive healthy but their low-skilled occupations may put them at risk of health issues and they may face barriers to health care, states an analysis in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Ban bodychecking in youth hockey to prevent concussions
Bodychecking in youth hockey leagues should be banned to prevent concussions which can cause serious repercussions, states an analysis in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Climate change psychology: Coping and creating solutions
Psychologists are offering new insight and solutions to help counter climate change, while helping people cope with the environmental, economic and health impacts already taking a toll on people's lives, according to a special issue of American Psychologist, the American Psychological Association's flagship journal.
NIDA raises the curtain on addiction
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) announced today the launch of its Addiction Performance Project, an innovative continued medical education program designed to help primary care providers break down the stigma associated with addiction. The program includes dramatic interpretation of a family's struggle with addiction, followed by a dialogue among participants aimed to foster compassion, cooperation, and understanding for patients living with this disease.
Surgeon resigns leadership post over editorial
(AP) -- A University of Michigan surgeon has resigned a leadership post with the American College of Surgeons after writing an editorial in the organization's newspaper that critics say demeaned women.
Results on national study of parental concerns about childhood vaccines announced
A new study led by Allison Kempe, MD, MPH, professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and director of the Children's Outcomes Research (COR) Program at The Children's Hospital, reports the results of a national survey of primary care physicians who deliver vaccinations to children. Major findings include a majority of physicians think that parents' level of concern about vaccines has either greatly or moderately increased in the past five years and that they are spending a significant amount of time at well child visits discussing vaccine safety with parents. Relying only on discussion of vaccines at visits where vaccines are needed may be too time-consuming and inadequate and may compromise providers' ability to focus on other important health care topics.
Immediate treatment can alleviate future back problems
Immediate treatment by a physiotherapist, bypassing a waiting list, can reduce problems with recurring low back pain, reveals a thesis from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
CMAJ calls on federal government to protect Canadians from unsafe drugs
Canada needs to modernize its pharmaceutical drug laws to ensure that new drugs as well as older drugs are safe for Canadians, states an editorial in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
FDA approval of brain aneurysm device gives Jefferson neurosurgeons another life-saving tool
The recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a brain aneurysm device has opened the door for neurosurgeons at Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience (JHN) to offer advanced treatment to patients suffering from large or giant aneurysms who otherwise have limited, effective options.
Do-not-resuscitate orders associated with poor surgical outcomes even for non-emergency procedures
Surgical patients with do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders appear to be at higher risk for poor surgical outcomes, according to a report published online today by the Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. The study will appear in the August print issue of the journal.
Virtual surgery shows promise in personalized treatment of nasal obstruction
A preliminary report suggests that virtual nasal surgery has the potential to be a productive tool that may enable surgeons to perform personalized nasal surgery using computer simulation techniques, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the September print issue of Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Airway abnormalities appear uncommon in well-appearing babies with apparent life-threatening events
Airway abnormalities were uncommon among well-appearing infants hospitalized with apparent life-threatening events, and pediatric otolaryngology service was involved in their care only a small proportion of the time during five years after the episode, according to a report in the April issue of Archives of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Researchers recommend 'dual citizenship' on social media
With ubiquitous social media sites like Facebook and Twitter blurring private and professional lines, there is an increasing need for physicians to create a healthy distance between their work and home online identities, two Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center physicians assert.
Study links social environment to high attempted suicide rates among gay youth
In the wake of several highly publicized suicides by gay teenagers, a new study finds that a negative social environment surrounding gay youth is associated with high rates of suicide attempts by lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth. The study, "The Social Environment and Suicide Attempts in a Population-Based Sample of LGB Youth," appears in the April 18 issue of Pediatrics. It was conducted by by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholar Mark L. Hatzenbuehler at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.
L-lysine may help schizophrenia sufferers cope
Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that currently affects about one in every 200 people. Most patients find some relief from their symptoms by treatment with antipsychotics, however they may still suffer from cognitive and negative symptoms. These include poor concentration and memory, apathy, or a reduced ability to cope in social situations. Preliminary research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Medicine shows that patients who received L-lysine alongside their normal medication found some reduction in the severity of their symptoms.
Minorities born with heart defects at higher risk of dying in early childhood than whites
Non-Hispanic black infants born with heart defects are more likely to die within the first five years of life than their non-Hispanic white and Hispanic peers. For certain types of congenital heart abnormalities, Hispanic children as well as non-Hispanic black children fare worse than non-Hispanic white children.
Study: Parents likely to embrace predictive genetic testing for their children if offered
Parents offered genetic testing to predict their risks of common, adult-onset health conditions say they would also test their children. That is the finding of a new study published in the May issue of Pediatrics (published online April 18). The study authors note these and other findings should put pediatricians on alert that parents may chose predictive genetic tests for themselves and for their children, and seek guidance from doctors about what to do with the information.
Obesity, diabetes: expanding India faces big problem
Indian housewife Sujata Budarapu was shocked when she was told that her two sons were on the verge of developing Type 2 diabetes.
One in ten kids have taste problems
The prevalence of taste disorders in Australian children could be three times above the level defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a major public health crisis, new UNSW research has found.
Several cancers underrepresented in clinical trials
(PhysOrg.com) -- Several cancers with a high burden of disease are not receiving the clinical trial investment they require, according to a University of Sydney study.
New procedure at UMC replaces pulmonary valve, avoids open-heart surgery
(PhysOrg.com) -- Veronica Smith, 26, of Sierra Vista was the first person in Arizona to receive a new pulmonary valve without having open-heart surgery. The procedure took place at University Medical Center.
New research shows men tend to leap to judgement where women see more shades of grey
(PhysOrg.com) -- An experiment by researchers at the University of Warwick has found the first real evidence that men tend to make black-or-white judgements when women are more prone to see shades of grey in choices and decisions.
Another reason not to binge drink
A Loyola University Health System study has found another reason to not binge drink alcohol.
Scientists identify genes involved in embryonic heart development
Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have identified networks of genes that play an important role in embryonic-heart development, advancing knowledge of how healthy hearts develop—and offering clues about how to combat a common birth defect known as congenital heart disease.
Brain bypass surgery sparks restoration of lost brain tissue
Neurosurgeons at the Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, have for the first time, initiated the restoration of lost brain tissue through brain bypass surgery in patients where blood flow to the brain is impaired by cerebrovascular disease. The study, which involved 29 patients, was published online in the journal Stroke.
Breast cancer prognosis goes high tech
Cancer researchers at the University of Calgary are investigating a new tool to use for the prognosis of breast cancer in patients. This new digital tool will help give patients a more accurate assessment of how abnormal and aggressive their cancer is and help doctors recommend the best treatment options.
Genetic mutation linked to lethal disease
Researchers have identified a genetic mutation found in the Ohio Amish population as the cause of a fatal developmental disease in fetuses and infants, according to research published in the April 8, 2011, issue of Science.
A screening test for cognitive therapy?
The scientific foundation of psychiatry is growing rapidly, yet it is a branch of medicine distinctive for the relative absence of biological tests in routine clinical practice.
Intellectual disability is frequently caused by non-hereditary genetic problems
'Bird brains' are smart on Alzheimer's
(PhysOrg.com) -- Tel Aviv University research says our feathered friends may hold the key to a treatment for brain-related diseases
AIDS prevention pill study halted; no benefit seen
Researchers are stopping a study that tests a daily pill to prevent infection with the AIDS virus in thousands of African women because partial results show no signs that the drug is doing any good.
New link between mother's pregnancy diet and offspring's chances of obesity found
Scientists have discovered that a mother's nutrition during pregnancy can strongly influence her child's risk of obesity many years later.
Fertility options move way beyond traditional sperm and embryo banks
The joy of motherhood - to twin boys, no less - more than overshadows Ewelina Saputo's diagnosis of leukemia seven years ago .
Overdose deaths down 35 percent after opening of Vancouver's supervised injection site: study
Illicit drug overdose deaths in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside dropped by 35 per cent after the establishment of Insite, North America's first supervised injection facility, according a new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia and the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS.
Predicting premature birth possible through markers in mother's blood
Though more than one in 10 American babies are born prematurely, there have been few clues to predict whether a particular baby is going to arrive too early – until now.
How the bilingual brain copes with aging
Older bilingual adults compensate for age-related declines in brainpower by developing new strategies to process language, according to a recent study published in the journal Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition.
Elderly diabetes patients with very low glucose levels have slightly increased risk of death
A new study of older diabetes patients has found that well-controlled blood sugar levels were associated with a lower risk of major complications such as heart attacks, amputation and kidney disease, but the very lowest blood sugar levels were associated with a small but significant increased risk of death. The study published in the June 2011 issue of the journal Diabetes Care, followed more than 70,000 type 2 diabetes patients from Kaiser Permanente who were over 60 years of age for four years.
Уxperts: Gym gone but not forgotten? Parents want more physical activity at school for kids
Childhood obesity affects 1 of every 6 kids in the United States, in part due to a lack of physical activity. Schools can play a key part in offering elementary-age kids lots of chances to be active—on the playground during recess and when they're in gym.
New study examines brain processes behind facial recognition
When you think you see a face in the clouds or in the moon, you may wonder why it never seems to be upside down.
New biomarker allows early detection of adverse prognosis after acute kidney injury
A new biomarker-based diagnostic test is more effective than the current best practice for early detection of adverse outcomes after acute kidney injury (AKI), which can be fatal for an estimated 50 percent of the critically ill patients who get the condition.
Study: Common virus + low sunlight exposure may increase risk of MS
New research suggests that people who are exposed to low levels of sunlight coupled with a history of having a common virus known as mononucleosis may be at greater odds of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) than those without the virus. The research is published in the April 19, 2011, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Previous-day alcohol consumption appears to affect surgical skills on virtual reality simulator
Excessive alcohol consumption appears to be associated with changes in some surgical skills performed on virtual reality simulator testing the following day, according to a report in the April issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Patients appear to adjust and learn to cope with loss or reduced sense of smell
Most patients who have a reduced ability to smell or detect odors seem to attach less importance to the sense of smell in their daily lives than people with a normal olfactory function, according to a report in the April issue of Archives of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery.
Dietary, lifestyle changes can significantly reduce triglycerides
Dietary and lifestyle changes significantly reduce elevated triglycerides (a type of blood fat) -- which is associated with heart, blood vessel and other diseases -- according to an American Heart Association scientific statement.
Healthier Easter egg hunt
A few simple tips and maneuvers may help reduce potential negative effects of the traditional holiday hidden eggs search.
Breakthroughs help brain surgeons remove nearly all of a tumor, raise survival rates
Donna Vinson suddenly felt she "couldn't think well." She was far off from choosing the right words, even pointing to a garbage can once as she asked a family member to pass the potatoes.
Watchdog group makes 2nd push to ban diet pill
(AP) -- For the second time in five years, public health advocates are calling on the Food and Drug Administration to ban a fat-blocking drug sold over-the counter and via prescription, pointing to new reports of kidney stones and pancreatic damage.
Studies document widespread, risky use clotting drug on non-hemophilia patients
In fact, the studies estimate that only 4 percent of the powerful drug's use in U.S. hospitals from 2000 through 2008 was for treating hemophilia patients, while an enormous 96 percent involved cases of heart surgery, trauma, intracranial hemorrhages (bleeding in or near the brain) and a host of other surgical and medical problems. There are few studies examining these broader uses of the drug, known as recombinant factor 7a, and what little evidence does exist reveals a serious problem: The drug can increase the risk of blood clots, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
Mutant gene linked to ADHD
(PhysOrg.com) -- In a recent study published in Nature Medicine, Dr. Eunjin Kim from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology uncovers a genetic fault that triples the chances of a child having ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Their research identifies the gene GIT1 (G protein-coupled receptor kinase-interacting protein - 1) and the fact that a mutation changing just one letter in the code affects a brain protein that works to balance inhibition and excitability.
Scientists identify gene that could hold the key to muscle repair
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers have long questioned why patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) tend to manage well through childhood and adolescence, yet succumb to their disease in early adulthood, or why elderly people who lose muscle strength following bed rest find it difficult or impossible to regain. Now, researchers at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), part of the National Institutes of Health, are beginning to find answers in a specialized population of cells called satellite cells. Their findings, reported in the journal Genes & Development, suggest a potential therapeutic target for conditions where muscle deterioration threatens life or quality of life.
Womb cancer genome scan reveals prostate cancer link
The first genome scan for womb cancer has revealed a genetic region that is associated with a reduced risk of the disease. The same region, called HNF1B, has been linked previously to lower prostate cancer risk in men.
Scientists develop compound that effectively halts progression of multiple sclerosis
Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have developed the first of a new class of highly selective compounds that effectively suppresses the severity of multiple sclerosis in animal models. The new compound could provide new and potentially more effective therapeutic approaches to multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases that affect patients worldwide.
Anti-depressants boost brain cells after injury in early studies
Anti-depressants may help spur the creation and survival of new brain cells after brain injury, according to a study by neurosurgeons at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Research shows Type-2 diabetes may have an immune system link
(PhysOrg.com) -- New research led by the twins Daniel and Shawn Winer, both of the University of Toronto, in conjunction with Lei Shen, research assistant at Stanford, has shown, in a paper published in Nature Medicine, a possible link between immune cell attacks and fat cell insulin resistance, the underlying cause of type-2 diabetes.
New scientific model tracks form of ovarian cancer to origins in fallopian tube
High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), the fifth-deadliest cancer among American women, is thought by many scientists to often be a fallopian tube malignancy masquerading as an ovarian one. While most of the evidence linking HGSOC to the fallopian tubes has so far been only circumstantial, a new Dana-Farber Cancer Institute study suggests there is a direct connection, a finding that could aid in the development of better treatments for the cancer.
Tinnitus caused by too little inhibition of brain auditory circuits, study says
Tinnitus, a relentless and often life-changing ringing in the ears known to disable soldiers exposed to blasts, unwary listeners of too-loud music and millions of others, is the result of under-inhibition of key neural pathways in the brain's auditory center, according to scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in this week's early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The discovery, which used a new technique to image auditory circuits using slices of brain tissue in the lab, points the way to drug development and effective treatment for a condition that currently has no cure.
Missing the gorilla: Why we don't see what's right in front of our eyes
University of Utah psychologists have learned why many people experience "inattention blindness" – the phenomenon that leaves drivers on cell phones prone to traffic accidents and makes a gorilla invisible to viewers of a famous video.
Simple injection could limit damage from heart attacks and stroke
(PhysOrg.com) -- This weeks Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) will publish a fascinating new milestone achievement in the search for novel clinical therapies to significantly reduce the loss of tissue and organ-functions following the loss of blood supply in widespread and serious human pathologies such as heart attacks (myocardial infarction) and strokes (cerebral ischemia). This new therapy was also shown to significantly improve the outcome of transplant surgery and of any surgical procedure that involves the temporary loss of blood supply.
Biology news
Birds digest plastic faster than believed
Seabirds appear to process plastic faster than scientists hitherto believed.
Conservation policies 'impaired by over-confident predictions'
Inappropriate conservation policies may be implemented as a result of scientists failing to sufficiently acknowledge the uncertainty of their models, according to Dr. Colin Beale, of the University of York.
Change strategy to save diversity of species
Active efforts are required to preserve biodiversity in the seas – that far most people are in agreement. But in our enthusiasm to save uncommon species, we sometimes miss the common species that form the basis of marine ecosystems. 'Change strategy' is the challenge to the authorities from researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
New Cornell organic corn available for sale
It took Cornell breeder Margaret Smith years to perfect her new variety of organic corn but only six weeks to get its seeds licensed and available for sale.
Australia's biodiversity under increasing threat from multiple fronts
(PhysOrg.com) -- New research on the extent of Australia's biodiversity's decline has found that threatened species are impacted by multiple stressors, especially too little — or too much fire, and introduced plants and animals.
Mutated gene found in dog disease the same in humans, researchers find
University of Missouri researchers believe both man and animal will benefit from their discovery that the same gene mutation found in Tibetan Terrier dogs can also be found in a fatal human neurological disorder related to Parkinson's disease.
Mercury on the rise in endangered Pacific seabirds
Using 120 years of feathers from natural history museums in the United States, Harvard University researchers have been able to track increases in the neurotoxin methylmercury in the black-footed albatross (Phoebastria nigripes), an endangered seabird that forages extensively throughout the Pacific.
Habitat restoration could help species to cope with climate change
Animals and plants may need extra habitats to survive the challenge of climate change, according to research by scientists at the University of York.
Too many relatives ruining your picnic? Be glad the flies don't invite their cousins
When your family members gather at a picnic in your backyard, there may be 10 to 20 people -- maybe more -- enjoying your barbecue.
Ancestors of land plants revealed
It was previously thought that land plants evolved from stonewort-like algae. However, new research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Evolutionary Biology shows that the closest relatives to land plants are actually conjugating green algae such as Spirogyra.
Plankton fossils tell tale of evolution and extinction
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists studying the fossils of tiny ocean-dwelling plankton, called foraminifera, have uncovered another piece in the puzzle of why species evolve or become extinct.
The great Dodo weight debate
(PhysOrg.com) -- The Dodo (Raphus cucullatus), a pigeon type bird that went extinct over 300 years ago is raising debate these last few months on just how slender or plump it really was. When the Dodo bird was first discovered by Dutch ships on the island of Mauritius, the drawings of the birds that were brought back showed a slender bird. However, over the years, the drawings showed a gradual plumping of the Dodo and this has been a big debate for years.
Plant hormone auxin triggers a genetic switch
(PhysOrg.com) -- During the development of organisms, a particular event repeatedly occurs: a signal appears temporarily, but the processes it triggers must be maintained – for example, when the fate of cells in the embryo is established. The plant hormone auxin plays an important role as a signalling molecule during embryo development of the thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), a model plant widely used in genetic studies. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology and the University of Tübingen were already familiar with important components, through which auxin exerts its influence, and some of their interactions. They have now combined several of these components in a regulatory network such that an increasing concentration of auxin can “switch on” genes for the embryo’s normal development. Once a certain point has been reached, the genes do not halt their increased activity, or only do so gradually, even if the auxin concentration declines. Similar switching mechanisms are also known from the animal kingdom.
Big personality birds find the best homes
(PhysOrg.com) -- Birds willing to move around and take risks are better at finding the best places to live, researchers have found. Those with ‘fast-exploring’ personalities – birds tending to be hyperactive – are far more likely to end up in areas providing enough food, shelter and reproductive opportunities, a new study shows.
Pacific salmon may be dying from leukemia-type virus
In Canada's Fraser River, a mysterious illness has killed millions of Pacific salmon, and scientists have a new hypothesis about why: The wild salmon are suffering from viral infections similar to those linked to some forms of leukemia and lymphoma.
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