Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for April 12, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Ink with tin nanoparticles could print future circuit boards- Alcohol helps the brain remember, says new study
- Researchers discover the cause of irradiation-induced instability in materials surfaces
- First galaxies were born much earlier than expected (w/ video)
- Researchers show how to use portable devices' built-in motion sensors to improve data rates on wireless networks
- Magnetic fields prevent editor from talking (w/ video)
- Rainbow-trapping scientist now strives to slow light waves even further
- US senators introduce online privacy 'bill of rights'
- Europe may be slowly disappearing under Africa: research
- Report provides NASA with direction for next 10 years of space research
- Weight loss improves memory: research
- Circadian rhythms spark plants' ability to survive freezing weather
- Mars rover's 'Gagarin' moment applauded exploration
- Older adults spot phoney smiles better, study shows
- Silver saver: Nanotechnology keeps the shine on silver
Space & Earth news
First full set of Webb telescope flight mirrors begin final tests
The first six of 18 flight mirror segments for the next-generation premier space observatory, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, are ready to begin final cryogenic tests in the X-ray and Cryogenic Facility at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., to verify they meet mirror test program requirements. The flight mirrors about to undergo cryogenic tests are the first full set to have fully completed the mirror manufacturing process.
Scots carbon emissions could be halved in decades, study suggests
Cutting Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions by a half within 20 years is achievable, a study suggests.
Medvedev: Space will remain a key Russian priority
(AP) -- Russia must preserve its pre-eminence in space, President Dmitry Medvedev declared Tuesday on the 50th anniversary of the first human spaceflight by cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.
Gagarin's widow fetes space flight with US astronauts
Legendary astronauts, including a veteran of the US Apollo programme and the first man to walk in space Tuesday joined the widow of Yuri Gagarin in the Kremlin to remember his space flight 50 years ago.
Volcanologists have eye on the sky
(PhysOrg.com) -- Volcanologists from Massey University and the University of Hamburg in Germany will soon be able to record every explosive burst out of Mt Ruapehu in rain or shine, day or night, with a new high-speed Doppler Radar system.
3 Questions: Jeffrey Hoffman on the Space Shuttle at 30
Thirty years ago, on April 12, 1981, the U.S. Space Shuttle made its first voyage into space. Four years later, on the same date, rookie astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman made the first of his five flights as a shuttle astronaut. MIT News asked Hoffman, now Professor of the Practice of Astronautics at MIT, to reflect on the shuttle’s history and influence.
Europe faces drought and flood burden: climate scientist
A leading climate scientist warned Tuesday that Europe should take action over increasing drought and floods, stressing that some climate change trends were clear despite variations in predictions.
Greenhouse gases from forest soils
Reactive nitrogen compounds from agriculture, transport, and industry lead to increased emissions of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) from forests in Europe. Nitrous oxide emission from forest soils is at least twice as high as estimated so far by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This is one of the key messages of the first study on nitrogen in Europe (European Nitrogen Assessment, ENA) that is presented this week at the International Conference "Nitrogen and Global Change 2011" in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Louisiana, Florida residents differ on views of long-term effects of oil spill
One year after the BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion on the Gulf Coast, new research from the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire shows that despite the roughly equivalent economic compensation, Louisiana and Florida residents differ in perceptions about the current and long-term effects of the largest marine oil spill in U.S. history.
And now the good news about oil rigs
(PhysOrg.com) -- It might seem surprising that marine scientists are proposing a way for the oil and gas industry to save billions of dollars decommissioning old offshore rigs, but it's a plan where the main beneficiary is intended to be the environment.
Transocean claims record sea depth for oil drilling
Offshore oil drilling group Transocean claimed Tuesday that it had a set a world record for deep water drilling at an ocean depth of 3,107 metres (10,194 feet) off the coast of India.
Space shuttles going to Fla., Calif., suburban DC
NASA's three remaining space shuttles will go to Cape Canaveral, Los Angeles and suburban Washington when the program ends this summer, the space agency said Tuesday.
1961 Soviet space capsule selling at NYC auction
A 1961 Soviet space capsule is being auctioned in New York City.
Russia celebrates Gagarin's conquest of space
Russia on Tuesday marked a half century since Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space, the greatest victory of Soviet science which expanded human horizons and still remembered by Russians as their finest hour.
Fracking leaks may make gas 'dirtier' than coal
(PhysOrg.com) -- Extracting natural gas from the Marcellus Shale could do more to aggravate global warming than mining coal, according to a Cornell study published in the May issue of Climatic Change Letters (105:5).
New explanation postulated for Fermi paradox
(PhysOrg.com) -- Enrico Fermi, the famous Italian physicist, once asked the question; if intelligent life has come to exist many times in our galaxy, why is there no sign of it? It’s a clearly valid point, when you consider the number of planets and solar systems that exist out there. If there are other intelligent beings out there somewhere, how come they haven’t responded to our messages?
Europe may be slowly disappearing under Africa: research
(PhysOrg.com) -- At the European Geosciences Union (EGU) meeting last week, lead researcher Rinus Wortel from the University of Utrecht presented the findings that Europe is slowly moving under Africa, creating a new subduction zone.
Mars rover's 'Gagarin' moment applauded exploration
(PhysOrg.com) -- A flat, light-toned rock on Mars visited by NASA's Mars Exploration Rover in 2005 informally bears the name of the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin, who rode into orbit in the Soviet Union's Vostok-1 spacecraft on April 12, 1961.
Report provides NASA with direction for next 10 years of space research
During the past 60 years, humans have built rockets, walked on the moon and explored the outer reaches of space with probes and telescopes. During these trips in space, research has been conducted to learn more about life and space. Recently, a group of prominent researchers from across the country published a report through the National Academy of Sciences that is intended as a guide as NASA plans the next 10 years of research in space. Rob Duncan, the University of Missouri Vice Chancellor for Research, led the team that developed a blueprint for fundamental physics research in space for the next 10 years.
First galaxies were born much earlier than expected (w/ video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Using the amplifying power of a cosmic gravitational lens, astronomers have discovered a distant galaxy whose stars were born unexpectedly early in cosmic history. This result sheds new light on the formation of the first galaxies, as well as on the early evolution of the Universe.
Technology news
'Brink' videogame release edges closer
Bethesda Softworks said Monday that its new "Brink" videogame set in an Earth flooded due to climate change will be released on May 10, a week ahead of schedule.
Low-cost wireless sensor networks open new horizons for the Internet of things
A new European project enables high effective networking based on cheap wireless sensors in a wide range of business applications -- from more comfortable and energy-efficient environmental controls to precision monitoring of agricultural resources.
Novel in-motion train weighing system
Weighing loads exceeding 20 tons - such as trucks or trains - while in motion is no mean feat. French engineers from the Centre d'Etudes Nucléaires de Bordeaux-Gradignan have developed a novel weighing technology using steel beams with in-built instrumentation serving as a weighbridge. Easy to operate, accurate and efficient, this weighing system was patented on 6 April 2011. A first patent license has just been signed in the railways sector.
World markets lower on Japan nuclear worries
Stocks fell Tuesday after Japan said the crisis at a stricken nuclear plant is as severe as the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
Google doodle pays tribute to Gagarin mission
Google paid tribute to Russia's Yuri Gagarin on Tuesday, replacing the logo on its homepage with an image of the first man in space and a rocket that a visitor can launch with a cursor.
S.Africa to invest $3.7 bln in green energy
South Africa will invest 25 billion rand ($3.7 billion, 2.6 billion euros) to support a plan to ramp up renewable energy and the green economy, the economic development minister said Tuesday.
Wii key to helping kids balance
By cleverly linking five Wii Balance Boards, a team of Rice University undergraduates has combined the appeal of a video game with the utility of a computerized motion-tracking system that can enhance the progress of patients at Shriners Hospital for Children-Houston.
Robotic camera technology inspires virtual exploration by students around the world
In 2008, students at the private middle school Fanny Edel Falk Laboratory School in Pittsburgh, Pa. exchanged high-resolution photographs of their city with shots taken by students from a school located in Soweto, South Africa. This intercontinental exchange was part of a global project that teaches students to capture and explore highly detailed digital images to raise their awareness of the environment while exposing them to other cultures.
China's ZTE sues Swedish rival Ericsson
Chinese telecom equipment supplier ZTE said Tuesday it was suing a unit of Swedish mobile network giant Ericsson for patent infringement, escalating a legal dispute between the two rivals.
Bieber, Angry Birds, NY Times get Webby nods
Pop star Justin Bieber, game sensation Angry Birds and The New York Times were among the nominees on Tuesday for the 15th annual Webby Awards.
Aviation safety: New computer tool forecasts icing hazards
Aircraft safety is getting a boost from a new computer-generated forecast that provides pilots with critical weather information on the likelihood of encountering dangerous in-flight icing conditions.
Facebook saga grows with new legal drama
The drama of the Facebook story heightened on Tuesday as a man with a shady past used old emails and a powerful law firm to press his claim to half the online social networking firm.
Huffington Post, AOL face lawsuit from blogger
(AP) -- A blogger and labor activist has filed a lawsuit against AOL and the Huffington Post for not paying freelance bloggers while benefiting financially from the content they create.
Honda's 'greenest' Civic to hit US showrooms
The greenest car you've likely never heard of will soon be hitting Honda showrooms across the United States as the Japanese automaker expands sales of its compressed natural gas powered Civic.
Former Dutch astronaut leads development of Superbus (w/ video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Former Dutch astronaut Wubbo Ockels, once a mission specialist on the Challenger, has of late been working with a design team from TU Delft University, in Delft, to come up with a new kind of vehicle for public transportation. What they’ve come up with might just change how people view the lowly bus. Instead of a tall box-like cabin with an aisle and hard wide seats, the Superbus is aerodynamic, low and sleek, with eight gull-wing side doors and luxurious cushioned seats and can travel at speeds of up to 155 mph.
Cisco plans to shut its Flip camcorder business
(AP) -- Cisco Systems Inc., one of the titans of the technology industry, on Tuesday said it is killing the Flip Video, the most popular video camera in the U.S., just two years after it bought the startup that created it.
Real-time search market worth more than $30 million a day
All of those Twitter tweets and Facebook friends may have value after all, according to Penn State researchers.
US senators introduce online privacy 'bill of rights'
US senators John Kerry and John McCain introduced an online privacy bill Tuesday that seeks to strike a balance between protecting the personal information of Web users and the needs of businesses to conduct electronic commerce.
Hi3G Access releases a video and still image sharing system for e-commerce
(PhysOrg.com) -- Hi3G Access, a Swedish-based phone company, has developed a video chat system that allows users to shuffle images on the screen with their hands. The system, which you can see in the video below, is known as 3LiveShop. 3LiveShop is a Flash-based multitouch system that is, at the current moment, being used as a sales tool for Hi3G Access.
Cesar Herada designs oil sucking drones to help clean the seas after a spill
(PhysOrg.com) -- Oil spills represent a significant danger to the oceans of the world. Many of us watched the DeepWater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico and wished that there was a simple way to clean it up.
Researchers show how to use portable devices' built-in motion sensors to improve data rates on wireless networks
For most of the 20th century, the paradigm of wireless communication was a radio station with a single high-power transmitter. As long as you were within 20 miles or so of the transmitter, you could pick up the station.
Medicine & Health news
New compounds show promise against hepatitis C infection
Two bioflavonoids, catechin and naringenin, have displayed antiviral activity on tissue culture infected with Hepatitis C.
New national study finds increase in football-related injuries among youth
A new study conducted by researchers in the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital found that an estimated 5.25 million football-related injuries among children and adolescents between 6 and 17 years of age were treated in U.S. emergency departments between 1990 and 2007. The annual number of football-related injuries increased 27 percent during the 18-year study period, jumping from 274,094 in 1990 to 346,772 in 2007.
Beautiful creatures: Lainson and his parasites
In 1965, Ralph Lainson left London for Brazil with a three-year Wellcome Trust grant. He never came back. What was it about tropical Brazil that appealed to the young man? The parasites, of course.
Device launched to improve weight loss surgery
Irish company Crospon have announced the launch of a new tool, an imaging catheter called the EF-620, to improve the outcome of weight loss surgery.
Fish oil may prevent muscle loss in breast cancer survivors
(PhysOrg.com) -- Fish oil supplements may help prevent muscle loss in breast cancer survivors, according to new University of Queensland research.
How do life-threatening medical conditions in children impact quality of life?
How do we assess the current and future quality of life (QoL) for infants and children with life-threatening conditions? In the April issue of Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care, "The Quality of Life of Young Children and Infants with Chronic Medical Problems," presents a collection of essays in which physicians, medical ethicists, parents, and caregivers address one of the most contentious topics in pediatric and clinical ethics today, the assessment of QoL). They share their professional and personal experiences and knowledge about this complex topic.
Changing trends in hip fracture incidence around the world
Osteoporosis constitutes a major public health problem through its association with age-related fractures, most notably those of the hip. As life expectancy rises around the world, along with the number of elderly people in every geographic region, the incidence of hip fractures is estimated to reach 6.3 million in 2050 - assuming a constant age-specific rate of fracture in men and women. A new review paper by a scientific working group of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) shows however that age-specific hip fracture rates have changed during recent decades – decreasing in some countries or regions while increasing in others. The review examines some possible reasons for these trends and calls for further research.
Use of combination drug regimen for treating TB may represent an effective treatment option
In patients with newly diagnosed tuberculosis (TB), use of a combined 4-drug fixed-dose regimen was found to have comparable outcomes to drugs administered separately, according to a study in the April 13 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on infectious disease and immunology.
Mayo Clinic finds tool to predict disability timeline for progressive MS patients
Many patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) worry how quickly the disease will progress. Now, by noting the presence of certain markers in a commonly performed diagnostic test, Mayo Clinic researchers can predict whether patients will suffer a faster onset of disability and counsel them to help ease anxiety. The research is being presented at the American Academy of Neurology meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Pediatric-specific research needed to reduce health care-associated infections among children
There are differences between adult and pediatric patients regarding the appropriate treatment and prevention efforts for health-care associated infections, highlighting a need for pediatric-specific quality measures to guide infection prevention and treatment practices, according to a commentary in the April 13 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on infectious disease and immunology.
Allen Institute for Brain Science announces first comprehensive gene map of the human brain
The Allen Institute for Brain Science has released the world's first anatomically and genomically comprehensive human brain map, a previously unthinkable feat made possible through leading-edge technology and more than four years of rigorous studies and documentation. The unprecedented mappings are the foundation for the Allen Human Brain Atlas, an online public resource developed to advance the Institute's goal to accelerate understanding of how the human brain works and fuel new discovery among the global research community.
UT Southwestern pediatricians launch landmark children's health study
Recruitment for the largest long-term study of children's health ever undertaken in the U.S. is now under way in Lamar County, about 100 miles northeast of UT Southwestern Medical Center, along the Texas-Oklahoma border.
Web site to aid veterans with PTSD
(PhysOrg.com) -- A Montana State University Native American Studies professor has launched a new Web site that he hopes will help veterans cope with post-traumatic stress disorder through forums that discuss ceremonies.
New educational booklet helps patients prepare for a colonoscopy
UCLA and Veterans Affairs researchers have developed an educational booklet that can help patients better prepare for a colonoscopy, potentially saving their lives. One out of every 16 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer, the leading non-smoking–related cancer killer in the U.S.
Radiation at time of lumpectomy may offer faster, more precise treatment for breast cancer patients
Northwestern Medicine physicians are currently utilizing a new treatment option for breast cancer that allows women to receive a full dose of radiation therapy during breast conserving surgery. Traditionally, women who opt to have a lumpectomy must first have surgery then undergo approximately six weeks of radiation. This schedule can be challenging for women who have busy schedules or do not have access to a center offering radiation therapy. In some cases, the demanding schedule causes women to not comply with the recommended course of treatment, increasing their risk for cancer recurrence. Intraoperative radiation therapy combines lumpectomy and the full course of radiation during a two and half hour operation.
Iraqi refugees at high risk of brain and nervous system disorders
New research suggests that a high number of Iraqi refugees are affected by brain and nervous system disorders, including those who are victims of torture and the disabled. The late-breaking research will be presented at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, April 9 – 16, 2011, in Honolulu.
Jury convicts Mass. mom who withheld cancer meds
(AP) -- A Massachusetts woman who withheld at-home chemotherapy medications from her autistic, cancer-stricken son was convicted of attempted murder Tuesday by jurors who dismissed her claim that she thought the side effects of the treatment could kill him.
Male menopause: The lowdown on 'low T'
Is there such a thing as male menopause? In women, menopause is characterized by a cessation of fertility and a sharp drop in certain hormone levels at midlife. In that sense, men don't go through their own version of menopause. Instead, men generally experience a slow but steady decline in testosterone over the decades, mostly after age 50. If a man's testosterone level drops substantially (and especially if this causes adverse effects), it's often called andropause or late-onset hypogonadism -- though there’s much controversy about how to define this and thus how common it is.
Comprehensive study reveals patterns in firefighter fatalities
While the number of fires is on the decline, firefighter deaths are not —and a new University of Georgia study helps explain why.
Urgent need to improve quality of outpatient care in public and private sector in poorer countries
The overall poor quality of outpatient healthcare in both the formal private and public sector in low and middle income countries is worrying—especially given the increasing volume of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, which require relatively sophisticated, long-term outpatient medical care.
Corporate links of global health foundations may conflict with philanthropic interest
Major philanthropic foundations in global health, which often influence and shape the international global health agenda, have links with food and pharmaceutical corporations that could constitute a conflict of interest to the foundations' philanthropic work, reveals a new analysis published in this week's PLoS Medicine.
Nasal spray vaccines more effective against flu
Nasal vaccines that effectively protect against flu, pneumonia and even bioterrorism agents such as Yersinia pestis that causes the plague, could soon be a possibility, according to research presented at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Conference in Harrogate. Professor Dennis Metzger describes how including a natural immune chemical with standard vaccines can boost their protective effect when delivered through the nose.
New target for developing effective anti-depressants
For the first time in a human model, scientists have discovered how anti-depressants make new brain cells. This means that researchers can now develop better and more efficient drugs to combat depression.
Smokers believe 'silver', 'gold' and 'slim' cigarettes are less harmful
Despite current prohibitions on the words 'light' and 'mild', smokers in Western countries continue falsely to believe that some cigarette brands may be less harmful than others. In fact, all conventional brands of cigarette present the same level of risk to smokers, including 'mild' and 'low-tar' brands.
Drop in positive emotions -- rather than jump in negative -- linked to poorer health in widowhood
(PhysOrg.com) -- When a spouse or life partner dies, the survivor experiences more illness, mental health issues and earlier death than non-widowed counterparts, research has found. Now, a new Cornell prospective study reports that the culprit is not bereavement's negative emotions -- grief, distress, fear and anger -- that disrupt the stress response system and cause harmful biological changes. The study finds that it is the steep drop in positive emotions that does the damage.
Study shows how discrimination hurts: Lack of fair treatment leads to obesity issues
(PhysOrg.com) -- People, especially men, who feel any kind of discrimination, are likely to see their waistlines expand, according to research from Purdue University.
Gene find could aid nerve repair
Scientists have pinpointed a gene that controls how quickly a person’s nerves can regenerate after injury or disease.
Study suggests age divide in cost-effectiveness of IVF treatment options
(PhysOrg.com) -- The findings of a study led by the University of Aberdeen could put IVF treatment 'on a more equal footing' with chronic diseases when it comes to making decisions about the cost effectiveness of treatment options.
Prenatal exposure to certain pollutants linked to behavioral problems in young children
Mothers' exposure during pregnancy to pollutants created by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and other organic material may lead to behavioral problems in their children, according to a new study. Researchers found that within a sample of 215 children monitored from birth, those children with high levels of a pollution exposure marker in their cord blood had more symptoms of attention problems and anxiety/depression at ages 5 and 7 than did children with lower exposure.
Japan paves way for first child organ transplant
Japan prepared on Tuesday to undertake its first organ transplant from the body of a child aged under 15, made possible by a legal amendment aiming to save the lives of many children.
Study links heart disease risk factors to some cognitive decline
Older adults at risk for stroke have significantly increased risk for some types of cognitive decline, according to a multicenter study led by University of California scientists.
New diagnostic strategy reveals many missed cases of kidney disease
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new strategy for diagnosing kidney disease proved significantly more accurate than the current standard approach, indicating that there are potentially millions of Americans with undiagnosed – and misdiagnosed – kidney disease, according to a large, multi-center study led by researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco.
Lengthening dosing schedule of HPV vaccine may provide effective option for expanding use of vaccine
Administration of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine doses over a longer period of time to adolescent girls in Vietnam resulted in antibody concentration levels that were comparable to the standard vaccine schedule, according to a study in the April 13 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on infectious disease and immunology.
Closely monitoring low-risk prostate cancer, with biopsy, does not raise risk of death
A Johns Hopkins study of 769 men from across the United States recently diagnosed with low-grade prostate cancer shows that forgoing immediate surgery to remove the tumor or radiation poses no added risk of death. Delaying treatment is fine, the results show, so long as the cancer's progression and tumor growth are closely monitored through "active surveillance" and there is no dramatic worsening of the disease over time.
A 'Pacman strategy' to boost the immune system to fight cancer
A molecule that lies dormant until it encounters a cancer cell, then suddenly activates and rouses the body's immune system to fight cancer cells directly, marks the latest step in scientists' efforts to tap the body's own resources to fight the disease.
Three new studies link eating red to a healthy heart
Tart cherries have a unique combination of powerful antioxidants that may help reduce risk factors for heart disease, according to new research presented at the Experimental Biology annual meeting in Washington, DC.
Persons with herpes simplex virus type 2, but without symptoms, still shed virus
Persons who have tested positive for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) but do not have symptoms or genital lesions still experience virus shedding during subclinical (without clinical manifestations) episodes, suggesting a high risk of transmission from persons with unrecognized HSV-2 infection, according to a study in the April 13 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on infectious disease and immunology.
Home-safety devices reduce childhood injuries
(PhysOrg.com) -- Simon Fraser University researcher Bruce Lanphear says Canadian policymakers and health agencies should review the findings of the first study internationally to quantify the effectiveness of home safety devices to safeguard children.
Health costs huge risk to advanced economies: IMF
The cost of health care poses a burden to developed countries that could spark immense financial crises if not contained, the International Monetary Fund warned Tuesday.
Researchers argue 'addiction' a poor way to understand the normal use of drugs
A new review from UK and German researchers claims that the vast majority of people who routinely use drugs are using them to achieve their goals and cope better with the stresses of modern life.
Why your diet makes you angry
(PhysOrg.com) -- Did you just decide to eat an apple instead of a candy bar? You should be feeling happy because you’re doing what’s good for you, right? Well, according to researchers at UC San Diego and Northwestern University, you’re actually more likely to be angry.
Health benefits of expressive writing do not apply equally across all cultures, study finds
(PhysOrg.com) -- Freud practically invented it and Oprah has made a career out of it, but not everyone embraces talking their way to mental health. The role that culture plays in determining whether or not treatment will be successful prompted UC Irvine researchers to study a popular psychotherapy tool: expressive writing.
Questions and answers: Japan, Chernobyl disasters
(AP) -- Japan raised the assessment of its nuclear crisis to the most severe rating Tuesday, on the same level as the Chernobyl disaster, the world's worst to date.
'Apple a day' advice rooted in science
Everyone has heard the old adage, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." We all know we should eat more fruit. But why apples? Do they contain specific benefits?
Investigational drug may reduce involuntary movements
Results of the first randomized, placebo-controlled long-term clinical trial show the investigational drug safinamide may reduce dyskinesia or involuntary movements in mid-to-late stage Parkinson's disease. The findings will be presented as late-breaking research at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, April 9, 2011, in Honolulu.
Maternal stress during pregnancy may affect child's obesity
There is increasing evidence from human and animal studies that offspring of parents who were physically or psychologically stressed are at higher risk of developing obesity, and that these offspring may in turn "transmit" that increased risk to the next generation. Now research conducted at the University of Minnesota and Georgetown University suggests that a mother's nutritional or psychological stress during pregnancy and lactation may create a signature on her child's genes that put the child at increased risk for obesity later in life, especially if the child is female.
Moderate exercise improves brain blood flow in elderly women
Research conducted at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital's Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine in Dallas suggests that it's never too late for women to reap the benefits of moderate aerobic exercise. In a 3-month study of 16 women age 60 and older, brisk walking for 30-50 minutes three or four times per week improved blood flow through to the brain as much as 15%.
Social context matters in medical teaching and health care
Medical educators need to be aware of the cultural context in which they teach because these outside forces can affect what is taught and how information is received by students. Drawing upon their experiences teaching medical students the same formal curriculum, researchers at the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York and in Doha, Qatar, urge other educators to pay attention to cultural patterns outside their medical schools to be sure that their lesson plans don't go astray because of missed cross-cultural signals.
Loss of cell adhesion protein drives esophageal and oral cancers in mice
Squamous cell cancers of the oral cavity and esophagus are common throughout the world, with over 650,000 cases of oral cancer each year and esophageal cancer representing the sixth most common cause of cancer death in men. Research by University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine investigators has shown that a protein that helps cells stick together is frequently absent or out of place in these cancers, but it's unclear if its loss causes the tumors.
Scientists identify abnormal disease pathway in dystonia
Scientists tried creating a laboratory model of idiopathic torsion dystonia, a neurological condition marked by uncontrolled movements, particularly twisting and abnormal postures. But the genetic defect that causes dystonia in humans didn't seem to work in the laboratory models that showed no symptoms whatsoever.
Study: Omega-3 consumed during pregnancy curbs risk for postpartum depression symptoms
Women in the treatment group had significantly lower total Postpartum Depression Screening Scale scores, with significantly fewer symptoms common to postpartum depression.
Study finds benefit of low-intensity exercise for walking in Parkinson's patients
Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Baltimore VA Medical Center found that Parkinson's patients who walked on a treadmill at a comfortable speed for a longer duration (low-intensity exercise) improved their walking more than patients who walked for less time but at an increased speed and incline (high-intensity exercise). The investigators also found benefits for stretching and resistance exercises. The study results will be presented April 12 at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology meeting in Honolulu.
Hunger hormone enhances sense of smell
An appetite-stimulating hormone causes people and animals to sniff odors more often and with greater sensitivity, according to a new study in the April 13 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. The findings suggest ghrelin may enhance the ability to find and identify food.
Psychologists closing in on causes of claustrophobic fear
We all move around in a protective bubble of "near space," more commonly known as "personal space." But not everyone's bubble is the same size. People who project their personal space too far beyond their bodies, or the norm of arm's reach, are more likely to experience claustrophobic fear, a new study finds.
Disinhibition plus instruction improve brain plasticity
(PhysOrg.com) -- The healthy brain has balance of excitatory and inhibitory signals that stimulate activity but also keep it under control. Some brain diseases, like autism and Down's syndrome, have too much inhibition, which impairs cognitive functions. Reducing inhibition appears to improve cognition, and it can restore juvenile plasticity in the adult brain, making it more adaptable. Scientists want to recapture this plasticity to enhance recovery from stroke or brain injury and to treat people suffering from developmental or degenerative brain disorders. Now, a new MIT study using a common antidepressant that coincidentally reduces neural inhibition shows how this "disinhibition" works in ways that might be used therapeutically.
Scientists explore new link between genetics, alcoholism and the brain
Researchers at the University of Michigan Health System have uncovered a new link between genetic variations associated with alcoholism, impulsive behavior and a region of the brain involved in craving and anxiety.
Discovery of two new genes provides hope for stemming Staph infections
(PhysOrg.com) -- The discovery of two genes that encode copper- and sulfur-binding repressors in the hospital terror Staphylococcus aureus means two new potential avenues for controlling the increasingly drug-resistant bacterium, scientists say in the April 15, 2011 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Older adults spot phoney smiles better, study shows
(PhysOrg.com) -- Your great aunt may be slowing down as she grows older, but a study created in a Brandeis laboratory reveals that she’s probably better than you are at perceiving a genuine smile.
Hormones tied to elderly sleep problems
(PhysOrg.com) -- Have you ever wondered why grandma and grandpa head to bed early but are up with the sun every morning? A new study by Lucia Pagani and Steven A. Brown of the University of Zurich recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences may have the answers.
Weight loss improves memory: research
John Gunstad, an associate professor in Kent State University's Department of Psychology, and a team of researchers have discovered a link between weight loss and improved memory and concentration. The study shows that bariatric surgery patients exhibited improved memory function 12 weeks after their operations.
New clue found for Fragile X syndrome-epilepsy link
Individuals with fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited form of intellectual disability, often develop epilepsy, but so far the underlying causes are unknown. Researchers have now discovered a potential mechanism that may contribute to the link between epilepsy and fragile X syndrome.
Alcohol helps the brain remember, says new study
Drinking alcohol primes certain areas of our brain to learn and remember better, says a new study from the Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research at The University of Texas at Austin.
Magnetic fields prevent editor from talking (w/ video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- By holding an electromagnet close to a person’s skull, researchers can alter the neuron activity in the person’s brain. This technique, called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), can be used for a variety of reasons, such as improving visual memory, impairing the brain’s activity to make moral judgments, and treating ADHD and severe depression. To demonstrate the kind of immediate and powerful impact that TMS can have, New Scientist editor Roger Highfield tried to recite the nursery rhyme "Humpty Dumpty," but found that his speech was interrupted by a magnetic field.
Biology news
Scientists aim to improve photosynthesis to increase food and fuel production
(PhysOrg.com) -- Two new initiatives at the University of Cambridge aim to address the growing demand on the Earth’s resources for food and fuel by improving the process of photosynthesis.
Tiger-parrots show their true evolutionary stripes
Recently released genetic research from CSIRO and New Mexico State University in the US is helping scientists better understand how Australian birds evolved.
Bacteria in wasp antennae produce antibiotic cocktails
Bacteria that grow in the antennae of wasps help ward off fungal threats by secreting a 'cocktail' of antibiotics explains a scientist at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Conference in Harrogate.
Combating plant diseases is key for sustainable crops
Climate change is likely to make plants more vulnerable to infectious disease, which will threaten crop yield and impact on the price and availability of food. Dr Adrian Newton, presenting his work at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Conference in Harrogate, explains how exploiting diversity in crops is the best option to improve food security in a changing climate.
Scientists track pronghorn by satellite
The pronghorn were captured in a helicopter netting operation on February 28, fitted with the collars, and released. The collars are scheduled to "drop off" of the animals at a future date through an automated release mechanism.
Species unique to single island should not be rare there
Animal and bird species found only on a single island should still be common within that island.
Lesser-known Escherichia coli types targeted in food safety research
Almost everyone knows about Escherichia coli O157:H7, the culprit behind many headline-making outbreaks of foodborne illness in the United States. But the lesser-known relatives of this pathogenic microbe are increasingly of concern to food safety scientists.
Researchers resurrect ancient enzymes to reveal conditions of early life on Earth
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists from Columbia University, Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Granada have for the first time reconstructed active enzymes from four-billion-year-old extinct organisms. By measuring the properties of these enzymes, they can examine the conditions in which the extinct organisms lived. The results shed new light on how life has adapted to changes in the environment from ancient to modern Earth.
Poor plant defenses promote invasive beetle's success
(PhysOrg.com) -- Invasive species cost more than $100 billion a year in damages in the United States, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. While most researchers attribute their success to a lack of natural predators in their new territory, Cornell researchers offer proof for a less popular explanation: Invasive species fare so well in their new digs because their host species lack an evolutionary history with -- and defenses against -- the new invaders, making the hosts especially vulnerable to attack.
Circadian rhythms spark plants' ability to survive freezing weather
Just as monarch butterflies depend on circadian cues to begin their annual migration, so do plants to survive freezing temperatures.
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