Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for April 7, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- New horseshoe orbit Earth-companion asteroid discovered- New research suggests strong Indian crust thrust beneath the Tibetan Plateau
- Nano fit-ness: Helping enzymes stay active and keep in shape
- US atom smasher may have found new force of nature (Update 4)
- Replacing batteries may become a thing of the past, thanks to 'soft generators'
- Two dying stars reborn as one (w/ video)
- Biologists pinpoint a genetic change that helps tumors move to other parts of the body
- World's information consumption: 9,570,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes per year
- NASA, Roscosmos to discuss nuclear powered rocketry
- Researchers develop battery-less chemical detector
- Chimpanzees' contagious yawning evidence of empathy, not just sleepiness, study shows
- Researchers find link between common dietary fat, intestinal microbes and heart disease
- New study solidifies role of DISC1 in risk for schizophrenia and other mental illness
- Brain development switch could affect schizophrenia, other conditions
- Control the cursor with power of thought
Space & Earth news
Climate change threatens global security, warn medical and military leaders
Medical and military leaders have come together today to warn that climate change not only spells a global health catastrophe, but also threatens global stability and security.
Ghost city symbolises cost of nuclear disaster
"Careful -- do not touch anything with your bare hands!" warned the guide as we entered the kindergarten and our Geiger counter hissed like an angry rattlesnake.
Wildlife still largely absent from red sludge area: WWF
Wildlife has still not returned to the area in western Hungary that was devastated by the country's worst chemical accident six months ago, the World Wildlife Fund said Wednesday.
UCL researchers depart for Arctic to test satellite mission
(PhysOrg.com) -- A team of researchers from UCL Earth Sciences departed today for the Arctic to test how well sea-ice thickness is measured by the European Space Agency’s ice satellite CryoSat-2, which originated at UCL.
Commemorative space shuttle cartoon created
Comic strip artist Brian Basset has created a drawing depicting his characters, Red and Rover, racing alongside the space shuttle as it lands for the final time. After 30 years and more than 130 missions, NASA's space shuttle fleet will retire later this year.
Seismologists urge creation of earthquake early warning system along Pacific Coast
Following a closed-door summit at UC Berkeley, leading West Coast seismologists recommended in a news conference today (Tuesday, April 5) the establishment of an earthquake early warning system in California, Oregon and Washington.
Australian students capture dancing galaxies
For the second consecutive year, high school students from across Australia joined in a competition to obtain scientifically useful (and aesthetically pleasing) images using the Gemini Observatory. The spectacular result of this contest, organized by the Australian Gemini Office (AusGO), is revealed here. As the 2010 winning student team suggested, Gemini targeted an interacting galaxy pair which, they assured, “would be more than just a pretty picture.”
Clyde Tombaugh's ten special commandments for planet hunters
Back in 1989, amateur astronomer Toney Burkhart found out that Clyde Tombaugh was going to be giving a talk in San Francisco, just a short distance from Burkhart’s home. Trouble was, he found out only about 10 minutes before the presentation was going to start, so he rushed over and arrived just in time to hear Tombaugh’s talk, where he told amusing stories of how he found Pluto, and what he went through with night after night in a cold observatory taking photographs and comparing the glass plates, looking for a planet in the outer solar system.
Low fertilizer use drives deforestation in West Africa, imperils REDD implementation says new study
Low-input farming for cocoa, cassava and oil palm has resulted in widespread deforestation and degredation of West Africa's tropical forest area, according to a new study by researchers at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). The study was published online this week in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Management.
Koreas to hold 2nd round of rare volcano talks
(AP) -- South Korea's Unification Ministry says experts from the two Koreas will meet again for rare talks about research into an active volcano touted in the North as leader Kim Jong Il's birthplace.
Branson unveils 'flying' sub to plumb ocean depths
British billionaire Richard Branson unveiled plans to pilot a "flying" mini-submarine down to the furthest depths of the oceans, in his latest record-breaking adventure.
Where will the debris from Japan's tsunami drift in the ocean?
The huge tsunami triggered by the 9.0 Tohoku Earthquake destroyed coastal towns near Sendai in Japan, washing such things as houses and cars into the ocean. Projections of where this debris might head have been made by Nikolai Maximenko and Jan Hafner at the International Pacific Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Maximenko has developed a model based on the behavior of drifting buoys deployed over years in the ocean for scientific purposes. What this model predicts about the tsunami debris can be seen in Figure 1.
Top 40 science questions from US conservation policy makers
A wide-ranging group of experts has published a set of 40 key environmental questions to help align scientific research agendas with the needs of natural resource decision makers.
US forecasters predict busy 2011 hurricane season
Last year's record hurricane season will be followed by another unusually busy one, with 16 named storms expected this year, US weather forecasters predicted on Wednesday.
High levels of toxic compounds found on coasts of West Africa
An international team of scientists has found very high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) along the coasts of West Africa. Production of these extremely toxic compounds has been banned in Europe and the United States for years. These harmful substances could come from the illegal dumping of waste or from an enormous ship breaking yard in Mauritania.
NASA's Global Hawks mark year of science flights
This week marks the first anniversary of the NASA Global Hawk project’s initial science mission. On April 7, 2010, Global Hawk No. 872 took off from NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center on Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., for its first science foray over the Pacific Ocean in the Global Hawk Pacific 2010 - or GloPac - science campaign.
Watch how curiosity will land on Mars
Entry, descent and landing is the big moment for any Mars lander mission, and the big honkin’ Mars Science Lab and its sky-crane landing system will truly be unique. This brand new video from the Jet Propulsion Lab shows how MSL, a.k.a Curiosoity will land on the Red Planet in August of 2012. Doug Ellison, part of the team who worked on this computer generated video told Universe Today that the scenes from Mars shown here were created from real elevation data from the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and the outcrop of rock that Curiosity visits is based on Burns Cliff, visited by Opportunity in 2004.
Nobel winner, NASA astrobiologist Blumberg dies
Baruch Blumberg, who won the Nobel Prize for helping identify the Hepatitis B virus and who served as the first chief of NASA's Astrobiology Institute, has died at the age of 85, NASA said Wednesday.
Spaceship 'Gagarin' docks with ISS
A Soyuz craft carrying two Russians and an American on Thursday docked with the International Space Station, ahead of celebrations marking half a century since Yuri Gagarin's trail-blazing flight.
UK astrophysicist wins $1.6 million religion prize
(AP) -- A British astrophysicist known for his theories on the origin and the destiny of the universe has been honored with one of the world's leading religion prizes.
Scientists find new type of mineral in historic meteorite
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA and co-researchers from the United States, South Korea and Japan have found a new mineral named "Wassonite" in one of the most historically significant meteorites recovered in Antarctica in December 1969.
Researchers ID microbe responsible for methane from landfills
Researchers have long known that landfills produce methane, but had a hard time figuring out why – since landfills do not start out as a friendly environment for the organisms that produce methane. New research from North Carolina State University shows that one species of microbe is paving the way for other methane producers.
Russia marks 50 years since Gagarin triumph
Half a century ago, a Russian carpenter's son named Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space, carving an indelible mark in human history and scoring the greatest Soviet Cold War success.
New horseshoe orbit Earth-companion asteroid discovered
(PhysOrg.com) -- Apostolos Christou and David Asher from the Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland announced the discovery of an asteroid near Earth called Asteroid 2010 SO16 and their findings were published on arXiv.org. While finding near-Earth asteroids is not unusual, there is something quite rare about this particular asteroid in that it orbits the sun in what is referred to as a horseshoe orbit.
NASA, Roscosmos to discuss nuclear powered rocketry
(PhysOrg.com) -- Anatoly Perminov, director of the Russian Space agency Roscosmos, has announced plans for an upcoming meeting between the Russian space agency, and it’s counterparts in the United States, France, Germany and Japan (countries with a high level of nuclear engineering capability) on April 15. The meeting is being held to discuss the possibility of cooperation between the nations in building a nuclear powered rocket.
New research suggests strong Indian crust thrust beneath the Tibetan Plateau
For many years, most scientists studying Tibet have thought that a very hot and very weak lower and middle crust underlies its plateau, flowing like a fluid. Now, a team of researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is questioning this long-held belief and proposing that an entirely different mechanism is at play.
Two dying stars reborn as one (w/ video)
White dwarfs are dead stars that pack a Sun's-worth of matter into an Earth-sized ball. Astronomers have just discovered an amazing pair of white dwarfs whirling around each other once every 39 minutes. This is the shortest-period pair of white dwarfs now known. Moreover, in a few million years they will collide and merge to create a single star.
Technology news
Cephalon biotech rejects $5.7 billion Valeant bid
US biotech group Cephalon has rejected a hostile, $5.7 billion acquisition bid from its Canadian rival Valeant, which counter-attacked by seeking to replace the firm's board of directors.
Russian bloggers accuse authorities of cyberwar
The LiveJournal blogging site, hugely popular in Russia, on Wednesday fell victim to a major cyber attack that bloggers said appeared an attempt to to silence political discussion ahead of elections.
Research into batteries will give electric cars the same range as petrol cars
Li-air batteries are a promising opportunity for electric cars. "If we succeed in developing this technology, we are facing the ultimate breakthrough for electric cars, because in practice, the energy density of Li-air batteries will be comparable to that of petrol and diesel, if you take into account that a combustion engine only has an efficiency of around 30 percent," says Tejs Vegge, senior scientist in the Materials Research Division at Risø DTU, Denmark. If batteries with an energy density this great become a reality, one could easily imagine electrically powered trucks.
NXP unveils UCODE I2C RFID chip
NXP Semiconductors today unveiled its groundbreaking UCODE I2C chip, which features an integrated I2C interface and a large 3,328-bit user memory. The UCODE I2C IC brings the power of Gen2 UHF to embedded systems, enabling bidirectional communication between a wireless reader and a microprocessor via an I2C bus. Using UCODE I2C, electronic devices can be configured and customized remotely, enabling wireless data exchange and product provisioning even while the device is powered down. NXP will showcase UCODE I2C at RFID Journal LIVE! next week in Orlando, Florida.
Toshiba introduces new embedded-NAND flash memory in 24nm process
Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has enhanced its NAND flash portfolio with the introduction of next-generation 24-nanometer (nm) generation "SmartNAN," which integrate robust error management into the NAND package. The new chips will support simplified host-side design and application of advanced NAND process generation in consumer applications, including digital audio players, tablet PCs, information equipment, digital TVs, set-top boxes and other applications that require high-density, non-volatile memory.
Hit show 'Mad Men' will be streamed on Netflix
(AP) -- Netflix will start streaming the hit TV series "Mad Men" in a multi-year deal the online movie rental company struck with Lions Gate, the show's producer.
Scavenging pensioner 'cut off Georgia-Armenia Internet'
Georgian police arrested a 75-year-old woman who single-handedly cut off Internet connections in Georgia and neighbouring Armenia, the interior ministry in Tbilisi said on Wednesday.
Can we fix it -- yes we can
Scientists at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), the UK's National Measurement Institute are working on a project to develop a new, lighter weight beverage can punch with improved wear resistance. The target reduction of a can wall thickness of only 1 micrometre (0.001 mm) could save up to 800 tonnes of aluminium a year.
Engineers test for damage to commercial aircraft
Hail, ice, and ground service equipment vehicles can cause severe — but hard to detect — damage to components of commercial aircraft made of composite materials.
Website maps what Americans look for in love
In the cosmopolitan US capital, singles are seeking everything from "Morocco" to "Ethiopia", "Kazakhstan" and "steppes", to "Ascot" and "Bourgogne."
Messi Facebook page draws over 6 million
Following tens of millions of other social media fans worldwide, Barcelona midfield star Lionel Messi set up a Facebook page on Wednesday.
Cisco's CEO vows 'bold changes' as investors worry
(AP) -- Cisco Systems Inc. CEO John Chambers is calling his company's recent missteps "unacceptable" and is vowing to take "bold steps" to narrow Cisco's focus.
San Francisco lawmakers approve Twitter tax break
City lawmakers approved a tax break Tuesday to keep Twitter Inc. from fleeing San Francisco.
Facebook launches page for journalists
Facebook has launched a media resource page to help journalists use the social network as a reporting tool and better connect with their audience.
Reppler helps Facebook users look good online
Startup Reppler launched a service Tuesday to help people shine on Facebook pages that have become resources checked by employers, college recruiters and even potential mates.
Twitter hits some technical turbulence
Twitter appeared to be grappling with technical troubles on Tuesday, disabling a new home page as well as a "Trends" feature at the popular microblogging service.
Japan nuclear scare boosts renewables lobby
A global scare sparked by Japan's stumbling efforts to contain a nuclear crisis is encouraging promoters of renewable energy, but defenders of atomic power insist it has a long-term future.
Paper iPads hot sellers as Chinese honour dead
Death is no barrier to Chinese ancestors receiving the latest gadgets, with paper iPads, laptops and LCD TVs burned at gravesides across Asia to mark the Ching Ming festival this week.
Freescale to keep Sendai plant closed
Freescale Semiconductor has decided against reopening its plant in Sendai after the massive earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan left it severely damaged.
Planned wireless Internet network threatens GPS
A new, ultra-fast wireless Internet network is threatening to overpower GPS signals across the U.S. and interfere with everything from airplanes to police cars to consumer navigation devices.
Dish Network buys Blockbuster for $320mn
The once-dominant US video chain Blockbuster was sold at auction to satellite TV chain Dish Network for just $320 million Wednesday after mismanagement and on-line competition pushed it into bankruptcy.
A glimpse of the archives of the future
How does an archivist understand the relationship among billions of documents or search for a single record in a sea of data? With the proliferation of digital records, the task of the archivist has grown more complex. This problem is especially acute for the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the government agency responsible for managing and preserving the nation's historical records.
Micro aircraft IMPULLS improves avionic systems and sensors
Myriad sensors and systems provide modern aircraft with data for flight control. But a bird's eye perspective is also of great benefit when measuring pollutants, searching for missing persons and even in archaeological research. Postgraduate students at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen have now developed an unmanned aerial vehicle that can be deployed for many such tasks. It successfully completed its maiden flight yesterday.
Weird and wacky: Inventors show off their devices
They say there's a gadget for just about everything. That now includes boots which detect radiation and a kangaroo tail for weary humans who'd like a rest but can't be bothered to sit down.
IEA calls for scrapping $312 bln in fuel subsidies
The International Energy Agency is calling for 312 billion dollars in fuel subsidies to be scrapped in a bid to promote clean energy sources, according to a report presented in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
Facebook tries out targeted ads
Facebook is testing a new system that instantly targets ads based on the content of members' wall posts and status updates, as the social network joins a growing list of Internet companies working with advertisers to market products related to a person's interests or online activities at that moment.
Sprint to take lead in cellphone-payment technology
Will that be cash, credit, debit or, um, phone?
Off the hook! Who gets phished and why
Communication researchers at four major universities have found that if you receive a lot of email, habitually respond to a good portion of it, maintain a lot of online relationships and conduct a large number of transactions online, you are more susceptible to email phishing expeditions than those who limit their online activity.
Shopping online, privacy, data protection and third-party tracking
In the wake of yet another e-commerce data breach in which the names and email addresses of millions of online shoppers and credit card users have been accessed illegally, researchers in the US suggest that privacy discussions, and ultimately legislation must urgently focus on the expanding roles of third-parties handling pervasive online customer profiles.
Microsoft to power Toyota cars on Internet highway
Microsoft and Toyota Motor Corp. (TMC) on Wednesday announced they will work together to infuse the Japanese auto maker's cars with digital capabilities hosted in the Internet "cloud."
Two charged with huge insider trading in tech deals
A corporate attorney and a Wall Street trader used insider information to earn millions dealing in the stocks of some of the biggest tech-sector M&A deals in the past five years, the government said Wednesday.
Security firm learns limits of security tech
(AP) -- Top-level data breaches often start at the bottom of the ladder. That's a lesson RSA, one of the world's premier computer security firms, learned the hard way.
Networks work to master new era of sports in 3-D
(AP) -- The camera is affectionately known as WALL-E, its two lenses reminiscent of the eyes on the animated movie robot.
Sophisticated cyber thieves behind Epsilon attack
An online marketing firm hit by what may be one of the biggest data thefts ever was the victim of "highly sophisticated cyber thieves," according to its parent company.
Under fire, US eyes Internet to reach Chinese
The US broadcasting agency said it saw the Internet as the future for reaching China despite its firewall, as it came under fire from lawmakers for slashing short-wave radio service.
Samsung Electronics suffers fall in 1Q earnings
(AP) -- Samsung Electronics has suffered a sharp fall in first quarter earnings as competition in the tablet computer market and weakness in its liquid crystal display business offset strength in semiconductors.
FBI wants public to help break murdered man's code
A lifelong fan of codes, Ricky McCormick wrote out two pages of letters, numbers and symbols and stuck them in his pocket. His body was found in a Missouri cornfield in the summer of 1999, those two sheets of paper still in his pants.
Cell carriers to roll out 'mobile wallets' in Utah
A joint venture between three of the nation's four largest cell phone carriers will soon offer the United States' first commercially available mobile fare payment program to a public transportation system.
Jetpacks + dummy tests = seven minutes in heaven (w/ video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- The jetpack has been a staple of the science fiction lovers dreams since before the early days of space travel. The idea that one can get from place to place with a big rocket strapped to your back has appealed to the human sense of possibility. It is a kind of freedom that, as yet, humans have been unable to enjoy. Sure, hopping on a jet plane may get you there, once you have endured the long lines and the potentially invasive customs check, but strapping of a jet pack is much, much cooler.
Control the cursor with power of thought
The act of mind reading is something usually reserved for science-fiction movies but researchers in America have used a technique, usually associated with identifying epilepsy, for the first time to show that a computer can listen to our thoughts.
World's information consumption: 9,570,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes per year
Three scientists at UC San Diego have rigorously estimated the annual amount of business-related information processed by the world's computer servers in terms that Guttenberg and Galileo would have appreciated: the digital equivalent of a 5.6-billion-mile-high stack of books from Earth to Neptune and back to Earth, repeated about 20 times a year.
Medicine & Health news
New survey: 72 percent of Americans think health-care system needs major overhaul
Seven of 10 adults think the U.S. health care system needs to be fundamentally changed or completely rebuilt, according to a Commonwealth Fund survey released today. The concerns reflect widespread experiences with access barriers, poorly coordinated care and growing costs. The survey also reveals strong support for more patient-centered care systems and innovative use of teams and information systems.
Obesity increases the risk of fetal and infant death, and the risk of complications after hysterectomy
Women who are obese during early pregnancy have a significantly increased risk of their baby dying before, during or up to one year after birth, according to research published in Europe's leading reproductive medicine journal Human Reproduction today [1]. A second paper [2] also published in the journal today shows that obesity increases the risk of complications, such as bleeding and infections, during and after a hysterectomy operation.
Overseas doctors more likely to face serious GMC action
General Medical Council (GMC) decisions about doctors who qualified outside the UK are more likely to have far reaching consequences (high impact decisions), finds research published in the British Medical Journal today.
Resistance to antibiotics requires commitment from world governments
Half a year ago a first common step was taken toward global concerted action to combat resistance to antibiotics in bacteria. Ahead of World Health Day on April 7, the network ReAct, which is led from Uppsala University, Sweden, is urging the world to redouble its efforts. For the first time in many years, there are initiatives to start developing new drugs that have to be available when the old ones have completely stopped working.
Abortion foes' tactics highlight high NYC rate
(AP) -- Ciara Guernon was in a troubled relationship and working three jobs when she learned she was pregnant. The 22-year-old began calling people to see if they would lend her money for an abortion. "I didn't think I'd be a good mom," she said.
Fox Chase researchers report that naproxen reduces tumors in a mouse model of colon cancer
Numerous studies show that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce the risk of colon cancer. However, animal studies testing the NSAID naproxen or its derivative, NO-naproxen, have focused primarily on chemically-induced tumor formation. Now, researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center find that naproxen and NO-naproxen reduce tumor formation in a strain of mutant mice that spontaneously develop colon tumors. The data also suggest that naproxen blocks a gatekeeper step that initiates tumor formation.
Physical health scores predict breast cancer outcomes
Breast cancer survivors with poor physical health scores had an elevated risk of poorer cancer outcomes, including recurrence and death, according to the results of an observational study presented at the AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011, held April 2-6.
An international study in China finds strawberries may slow precancerous growth in the esophagus
Eating strawberries may be a way to help people at risk of esophageal cancer protect themselves from the disease, according to a new study by researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) and researchers in China.
GOLFIG increased progression-free survival in colorectal cancer patients
Oncologists can use colorectal cancer patients' own immune system to boost the effects of chemotherapy and increase progression-free survival, according to Phase III study results presented at the AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011, held here April 2-6.
Hypothermia proven to improve survival and outcomes following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
The successful use and evaluation of therapeutic hypothermia to improve survival and reduce the risk of neurological consequences following an out-of-hospital heart attack are explored in the premier issue of Therapeutic Hypothermia and Temperature Management, a new quarterly peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. This groundbreaking new publication covers all aspects of hypothermia and temperature considerations relevant to this exciting field, including its application in cardiac arrest, spinal cord and traumatic brain injury, stroke, myocardial ischemia, neurogenic fever, emergency medicine, ICU management, anesthesiology, pediatrics, and much more. The inaugural issue is available free online at www.liebertpub.com/ther
New discovery proves cause of weight problems in Huntington's disease
The study, which has been published in the scientific journal Cell Metabolism, shows significant changes in the brain's hormone control centre, the hypothalamus. In a series of experiments on mice, which had the mutated Huntington's protein injected into this area of their brains, the animals soon demonstrated a reduced ability to regulate their metabolism.
Refusal skills help minority youths combat smoking, study finds
Youths identified as American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) have the greatest lifetime smoking rate of all racial groups, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Nearly half of the 1.2 million AI/AN youths in the U.S. smoke cigarettes. A University of Missouri study found that public health strategies to combat smoking should teach refusal skills to help youths combat smoking influences, including family members and peers.
Robotic surgery put to the test for bowel cancer
A robotic system that promises to improve the quality of 'keyhole' bowel cancer surgery is being put to the test for the first time.
Most recent mammography recommendations confuse public
When the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent panel of experts in primary care and prevention, released its recommendations on mammography screenings for US women on November 16, 2009, there was immediate and considerable controversy. In a study published in the May 2011 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, investigators report that these new recommendations confused women (30.0%) more than they helped them understand when to get a mammogram (6.2%). Confusion was greatest among women aged 40-49 years and women who had never had a mammogram or who had one more than 2 years ago.
Researchers explore ways to boost immunization rates
Brightly-coloured fridge magnets could help to boost infant immunisation rates, say researchers.
Quality health care delivery key election issue, says CMAJ
Delivering quality health care rather than health care sustainability is a key issue for Canada's federal election, and Canadians need a vision from federal leaders to radically transform our health care system, states an editorial in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Development of protocols for future disasters urgently called for
Dr. Howard Osofsky, Professor and Chair of Psychiatry at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Medicine, is an author of a review article published in the April 7, 2011 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine that urgently calls for the development of protocols to deal with the health effects of disasters – before the next one occurs. One year after the largest and most devastating oil spill in United States history, the magnitude of the impact of the Deepwater Horizon Gulf Oil Spill on human health, the environment, and the economy remains unknown. Along with the 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attack and Hurricane Katrina, this most recent US catastrophe underscores both the lack of knowledge about long-term effects as well as the need for better plans to improve interventions and services to deal with the consequences of such crises.
Some diabetes drugs are better than others, according to new study
New research suggests that several commonly prescribed drugs for type 2 diabetes may not be as effective at preventing death and cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks and stroke, as the oral anti-diabetic drug, metformin.
Synthetic drugs send thousands to ER
(AP) -- Until he tried a marijuana look-alike product called "K2," David Rozga's most dubious decision was getting a Green Bay Packers tattoo on his shoulder.
Hong Kong moves to restrict mainland babies
Hong Kong says it will restrict the number of mainland Chinese women allowed to give birth in the city's hospitals which are struggling to cope with the tens of thousands who arrive each year.
Better a sprint than a marathon: Brief intense exercise better than endurance training for CVD
Exercise is important for preventing cardiovascular disease, especially in children and adolescents, but is all exercise equally beneficial? New research published today in the American Journal of Human Biology reveals that high intensity exercise is more beneficial than traditional endurance training.
Using MRI, researchers may predict which adults will develop Alzheimer's
Using MRI, researchers may be able to predict which adults with mild cognitive impairment are more likely to progress to Alzheimer's disease, according to the results of a study published online and in the June issue of Radiology.
Fish offer clues to spinal cord renewal
(PhysOrg.com) -- Spinal cord injuries are devastating, but fish may be the key to finding a cure.Research shows adult fish that sustain a spinal cord injury have the miraculous ability to not only regenerate the spinal cord, but to recover function as well — meaning they are able to perform tasks they were able to do prior to the injury.
Childhood obesity peaks between ages 7 and 11
(PhysOrg.com) -- Childhood obesity is common and hard to prevent but by identifying when it is most likely to occur, measures can be taken at key stages of childhood or adolescence to prevent it developing.
Worried about a radioactive ocean? A reality check
(AP) -- This week, workers at the stricken Japanese nuclear plant dumped radioactive water into the ocean to make room for storing even more highly contaminated water on the site. The water dumping came after earlier leaks of radioactive water that had already raised concerns about its effects in the ocean, raising questions about health and safety. Here are answers to some of those questions.
Researchers use novel methods to identify how cigarette smoke affects smokers
Smoke from cigarettes can affect nearly every organ in the body by promoting cell damage and causing inflammation, but no one has understood which smoker is or is not susceptible to disease development.
Researchers find that fish oil boosts responses to breast cancer drug tamoxifen
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women, with more than 200,000 women diagnosed each year. Being exposed to estrogen over a long period of time is one factor that can increase a woman's risk of developing the disease. One way a woman can combat this risk factor is by taking the breast cancer drug tamoxifen, which interferes with the activity of estrogen. Now, researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center have found that omega-3 fatty acids—abundant in fish—could be a safe and beneficial booster for tamoxifen therapy.
Human taste cells regenerate in a dish
Following years of futile attempts, new research from the Monell Center demonstrates that living human taste cells can be maintained in culture for at least seven months. The findings provide scientists with a valuable tool to learn about the human sense of taste and how it functions in health and disease.
Convenience leads to corpulence
Two of the biggest influences on children — parents and schools — may unintentionally contribute to childhood obesity. That's the observation of Susan Terwilliger, clinical associate professor in the Decker School of Nursing at Binghamton University, who studies the problem.
Genetic variants associated with caffeine intake identified
Two genes in which variation affects intake of caffeine, the most widely consumed stimulant in the world, have been discovered. A team of investigators from the National Cancer Institute, Harvard School of Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill examined genetic variation across the entire genome of more than 47,000 individuals from the U.S., as described in the open-access journal PLoS Genetics.
Neural guidance gene regulates liver development
Scientists of the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch (Germany) have demonstrated for the first time that a gene regulating neuronal cell migration during embryogenesis also plays a role in the development of the liver.
New drug shrinks cancer in animals, study shows
A study led by researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center showed in animal studies that new cancer drug compounds they developed shrank tumors, with few side effects.
Having trouble sharing or understanding emotions? MU researcher believes affection could help
Every person has some level of alexithymia, as it is the personality trait which keeps people from sharing or even understanding their own emotions. Now, one University of Missouri researcher's latest study indicates that affectionate communication, such as hugging, could help those who have high levels of alexithymia lead more fulfilling lives.
Sniffing out lymphoma by turning dogs into humans
Researchers at North Carolina State University are narrowing the search for genes involved in non-Hodgkin lymphoma – by turning dogs into humans.
Progesterone reduces rate of early preterm birth in at-risk women
A National Institutes of Health study has found that progesterone, a naturally occurring hormone, reduced the rate of preterm birth before the 33rd week of pregnancy by 45 percent among one category of at risk women.
Here's looking at you! Psychologist uses new approach to understand infants' patterns of communication
Learning how babies communicate can teach us a lot about the development of human social interactions. Psychologist Daniel Messinger, from the University of Miami (UM), studies infants' interactions and has found that babies are not simply living in the moment. Instead, infants seem to have particular interests that create historical footprints reflected in the infants' visual engagement over time. The findings were published today, in a study titled, 'Are You Interested, Baby?' Young Infants Exhibit Stable Patterns of Attention during Interaction." in the journal Infancy.
New prostate cancer test gives more accurate diagnosis
In a large multi-center clinical trial, a new PSA test to screen for prostate cancer more accurately identified men with prostate cancer -- particularly the aggressive form of the disease -- and substantially reduced false positives compared to the two currently available commercial PSA tests, according to newly published research from Northwestern Medicine.
Better treatment sought for blinding traumatic optic nerve damage
Scientists want to protect the optic nerve when the eye takes a blow on the battlefield or in a car wreck.
Chronic consumption of antipsychotic drugs incites further drug use
(PhysOrg.com) -- Almost half of all schizophrenics consume narcotics, nicotine or alcohol. The reason for this addiction could be the very treatments these patients are undergoing, according to a new preclinical study published in Neuropsychopharmacology.
New mobile app gives a voice to those with communications challenges
For those living with aphasia, autism, and other conditions that affect speech ability, communicating with friends and loved ones can be a challenge. MyVoice, a mobile app and server system that operates on iPhone and Android devices, gives users with these conditions a voice by simply tapping words and pictures on a screen.
Novel association between Parkinson's disease and prostate cancer
University of Utah School of Medicine researchers have found compelling evidence that Parkinson's disease is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer and melanoma, and that this increased cancer risk also extends to close and distant relatives of individuals with Parkinson's disease. Although a link between Parkinson's disease and melanoma has been suspected before, this is the first time that an increased risk of prostate cancer has been reported in Parkinson's disease.
Some people's climate beliefs shift with weather
Social scientists are struggling with a perplexing earth-science question: as the power of evidence showing manmade global warming is rising, why do opinion polls suggest public belief in the findings is wavering? Part of the answer may be that some people are too easily swayed by the easiest, most irrational piece of evidence at hand: their own estimation of the day's temperature.
Substance in tangerines fights obesity and protects against heart disease
New research from The University of Western Ontario has discovered a substance in tangerines not only prevents obesity, but also offers protection against type 2 diabetes, and even atherosclerosis, the underlying disease responsible for most heart attacks and strokes. Murray Huff, a vascular biology scientist at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, along with Erin Mulvihill, a PhD student, studied the effects of a flavonoid in tangerines called Nobiletin. Their research is published in the journal Diabetes.
Healthy welders may be at increased risk for early brain damage
New research suggests that workers exposed to welding fumes may be at risk for developing brain damage in an area of the brain also affected in Parkinson's disease. The study is published in the April 6, 2011, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Breast cancer patients' persistent fatigue is real, may actually speed up aging
The persistent fatigue that plagues one out of every three breast cancer survivors may be caused by one part of the autonomic nervous system running in overdrive, while the other part fails to slow it down.
Epileptic seizures linked to significant risk of subsequent brain tumor
Epileptic seizures can precede the development of a subsequent brain tumour by many years, suggests research published online in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.
Regular retail therapy prolongs life
A spot of regular retail therapy really does seem to help people live longer, suggests research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Long-term users of ecstasy risk structural brain damage
Long term users of the popular recreational drug ecstasy (MDMA) risk structural brain damage, suggests preliminary research published online in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.
Chinese ministry, WHO warn of antibiotic overuse
(AP) -- Drug-resistant forms of diseases such as tuberculosis are on the rise in China because of the overuse of antibiotics and urgent action is needed to reverse the problem, the Health Ministry and the World Health Organization warned Thursday.
Australia proposes tough cigarette packaging rules
(AP) -- Tobacco companies in Australia will be forced to strip all logos from their cigarette packages and replace them with graphic images such as cancer-riddled mouths and sickly children under legislation unveiled Thursday - a move the government says will make Australia the world's toughest country on tobacco advertising.
Older age memory loss tied to stress hormone receptor in brain
Scientists have shed new light on how older people may lose their memory with a development that could aid research into treatments for age-related memory disorders.
Study reveals how the eye is formed
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists at King’s College London have discovered specific cells responsible for ensuring that different parts of the eye come together during development, according to a paper published in Nature Communications.
Gene linked to severity of autism's social dysfunction
With the help of two sets of brothers with autism, Johns Hopkins scientists have identified a gene associated with autism that appears to be linked very specifically to the severity of social interaction deficits.
Researchers find link between common dietary fat, intestinal microbes and heart disease
A new pathway has been discovered that links a common dietary lipid and intestinal microflora with an increased risk of heart disease, according to a Cleveland Clinic study published in the latest issue of Nature.
New study solidifies role of DISC1 in risk for schizophrenia and other mental illness
Johns Hopkins researchers report the discovery of a molecular switch that regulates the behavior of a protein that, when altered, is already known to increase human susceptibility to schizophrenia and mood disorders.
Brain development switch could affect schizophrenia, other conditions
An international team of scientists lead by researchers from Duke University and Johns Hopkins University have discovered a key "switch" in the brain that allows neurons to stop dividing so that these cells can migrate toward their final destinations in the brain.
Amount of AIDS virus in genital secretions predicts risk of heterosexual transmission
Higher concentrations of the AIDS virus in genital secretions are linked to a greater risk of virus transmission between opposite-sex couples. The effect is independent of blood level of the virus.
New fusion gene plays role in some stomach cancers
A newly discovered hybrid gene appears to play a direct role in some stomach cancers, according to an international team of scientists led by researchers at Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore.
Body mass index in adolescence associated with early occurrence of diabetes and heart disease
A new 17 year follow-up study of 37,000 Israeli teenagers found that diabetes risk is mainly associated with increased body mass index (BMI) close to the time of diagnosis at early adulthood, while coronary heart disease risk is associated with elevated BMI both at adolescence and adulthood. The findings are published in the April 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Freeway air bad for mouse brain
If mice commuted, their brains might find it progressively harder to navigate the maze of Los Angeles freeways.
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Indian public water supply
Disease-causing bacteria carrying the new genetic resistance to antibiotics, NDM-1, have been discovered in New Delhi's drinking water supply.
Biologists pinpoint a genetic change that helps tumors move to other parts of the body
MIT cancer biologists have identified a genetic change that makes lung tumors more likely to spread to other parts of the body. The findings, to be published in the April 6 online issue of Nature, offers new insight into how lung cancers metastasize and could help identify drug targets to combat metastatic tumors, which account for 90 percent of cancer deaths.
Biology news
To help rice farmers, geneticists study how nature produces a weed
As rice farmers across the south prepare to plant their crop this month, University of Massachusetts Amherst evolutionary geneticist Ana Caicedo and a research team are beginning a major new study of how weeds evolve in general and of weedy rice in particular, one of the prime threats to rice production worldwide and in the United States.
Latin American effort to rejuvenate crop collections rooted in the origins of agriculture
Crop specialists in Central America announced today that a major rescue effort is underway in one of the heartlands of ancient agriculture to regenerate thousands of unique varieties of coffee, tomatoes, chili peppers, beans and other major crops through a partnership between the Global Crop Diversity Trust and 19 Latin American genebanks.
Toad task force
An army of volunteers will be wading into ponds across the UK this spring to map the spread of a killer amphibian fungus.
Climate change is making our environment 'bluer'
The "colour" of our environment is becoming "bluer", a change that could have important implications for animals' risk of becoming extinct, ecologists have found. In a major study involving thousands of data points and published this week in the British Ecological Society's Journal of Animal Ecology, researchers examined how quickly or slowly animal populations and their environment change over time, something ecologists describe using "spectral colour".
Face time with a female aids males bent on monkey business
Male monkeys looking for a good time might benefit from spending a bit longer getting to know a potential mate, according to a new study published online in the scientific journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
British bluebells to bloom a month earlier this year
Bluebells across Britain may bloom more than a month earlier than last year following the mild and dry start to 2011, the National Trust predicts.
Scientists develop 2-component polymer scaffolds for controlled 3-D cell culture
At Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), researchers of the DFG Center for Functional Nanostructures (CFN) succeeded in specifically cultivating cells on three-dimensional structures. The fascinating thing is that the cells are offered small "holds" in the micrometer range on the scaffold, to which they can adhere. Adhesion is possible to these holds only, not to the remaining structure. For the first time, cell adhesion and, hence, cell shape are influenced precisely in three dimensions. The team headed by Professor Martin Bastmeyer thus has achieved big progress in the field of biomaterial engineering.
Treating newborn horses: A unique form of pediatrics
Like any other newborn, the neonatal horse can be a challenging patient. Its immune system is still under construction, its blood chemistry can vary wildly, and – like most infants – it wants to stay close to mom.
Seeing rice with X-rays may improve crop yields
Most people experience X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanners when they are evaluated for a suspected tumor or blood clot. But in the lab of Dr. Quin Liu, PhD., in Wuhan China, rice plants were the patients in a novel use of CT scanners as part of an agriculture study to increase rice yield.
Huge rooftop greenhouse is Montreal's local farm
A Montreal company is eagerly awaiting a crop of tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs grown in a vast greenhouse perched on top of an office building, and billed as the world's first rooftop garden farm.
Bears may hold key to osteoporosis treatment
All it takes is a few days of bed rest for human bones to start to weaken. Stretch that out many weeks, and we risk full-blown osteoporosis and its attendant woes of broken hips, wrists and vertebrae. Bears hibernate for months on end. Yet, when they wake up in spring, their bones are just as strong as before they settled down for their long winter’s nap.
Female deer confirm bigger is not always better when choosing a mate
Female deer do not always choose the bigger and dominant males to mate with, scientists from Queen Mary, University of London and Hartpury College have found.
Fish farm waste can drift to distant shores
Concentrated waste plumes from fish farms could travel significant distances to reach coastlines, according to a study to be published in an upcoming issue of the journal Environmental Fluid Mechanics, available online now. Roz Naylor, Oliver Fringer and Jeffrey Koseff of the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University found that relatively high concentrations of dissolved waste from fish pens do not consistently dilute immediately.
Birds must choose between mating, migrating, study finds
Sex or nice weather. That's the agonizing choice some birds face, according to a new University of Guelph study.
Cockatoos' family history revealed through DNA
Murdoch University researchers have used new DNA sequencing techniques to help give them a better understanding of how cockatoo species have evolved and how they fit together in a family tree.
Biodiversity improves water quality in streams through a division of labor
Biologically diverse streams are better at cleaning up pollutants than less rich waterways, and a University of Michigan ecologist says he has uncovered the long-sought mechanism that explains why this is so.
The self-made eye: Formation of optic cup from ES cells
Groundbreaking research from the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology (CDB) shows how mouse stem cells spontaneously form into optic cups, the precursors of eyes. A report on this research, published this week in Nature, sheds light on the embryonic development of complex tissues.
Chimpanzees' contagious yawning evidence of empathy, not just sleepiness, study shows
Contagious yawning is not just a marker of sleepiness or boredom. For chimpanzees, it may actually be a sign of a social connection between individuals.
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