Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for June 2, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Method for creating single-crystal arrays of graphene developed- Quantum physics first: Researchers observe single photons in two-slit interferometer experiment
- Largest biochemical circuit built out of small synthetic DNA molecules
- Long live the qubit!
- New inorganic semiconductor layers hold promise for solar energy
- Phase change memory-based 'moneta' system points to the future of computer storage
- The curious case of germanium-72: An unusual isotope changes phases as temperature rises
- Groupon files for IPO, seeks to raise $750 million
- Color red increases the speed and strength of reactions
- Climate projections don't accurately reflect soil carbon release
- A robot that can juggle five balls (w/ video)
- Non-independent mutations present new path to evolutionary success
- Hunting for transits of Super-Earth GJ 581e
- Rett protein MeCP2 needed for proper adult neuron function
- Revamped college science course improves student performance -- in spite of cuts
Space & Earth news
Keeping the power on in space
All space missions have one inescapable dependency: the electricity flowing through their systems to keep them alive. Take away its power and a spacecraft is nothing more than space debris – an eventuality the space power professionals strive to avoid.
Forecasting Endeavour's voyages into space, from start to finish
(PhysOrg.com) -- After 12 missions to the International Space Station, the space shuttle Endeavour has returned to Earth. This mission’s conclusion is bittersweet for Texas Tech University graduate Joel Tumbiolo.
'Big Rig' arrives in Newcastle for final phase of borehole
A pioneering project to drill deep under the heart of Newcastle in search of geothermal energy is about to enter its final phase.
Ocean acidification and coral reefs
(PhysOrg.com) -- Natural carbon dioxide (CO2) seeps in Papua New Guinea have given scientists rare insights into what tropical coral reefs could look like if human-induced atmospheric CO2 concentrations continue to rise unabated. At present rates of increase, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) forecasts atmospheric CO2 levels of about 750ppm or more by 2100.
With feedlot manure, it pays to be precise
The same precision farming techniques that work with crops can work with manure management on cattle feedlots, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists.
Building a better dam map
Humans have been building reservoirs and dams for thousands of years. Over the past few decades, their construction has spiked as our need to harness water – critical in flood control, irrigation, recreation, navigation and the creation of hydroelectric power – has grown. And while dams and reservoirs have important benefits, they can also be disruptive and costly to both humans and the environment.
Eye on the environment
The Canadian Arctic. The Amazonian jungle. The fringes of an African rainforest.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution leads expedition to measure radioactive contaminants in Pacific
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) will lead the first international, multidisciplinary assessment of the levels and dispersion of radioactive substances in the Pacific Ocean off the Fukushima nuclear power plant—a research effort funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
Curtain call at home for Endeavour's final crew
(AP) -- The final crew of the space shuttle Endeavour has arrived home in Houston to a cheering crowd of hundreds of co-workers and families.
Understanding stellar birth using old star clusters
It is now known that most, if not all, of the stars in our Galaxy were born in star clusters. These spherical groupings contain anywhere from a few tens to several million members all milling about under the influence of gravity. But their fate is sealed. All star clusters slowly dissolve over time. "The net effect of this is that their stars eventually become redistributed throughout the Galaxy," said Nathan Leigh, a PhD student at McMaster University and lead author for a study being presented this week at the CASCA 2011 meeting in Ontario, Canada. "This is how we think most of the stars in the Milky Way came to be found in their currently observed locations."
Dramatic display forecast for 2011 Draconid meteor shower
The Draconid meteor shower is expected to produce unusually high peak meteor rates of 1,000 per hour on October 8, 2011.
Just one flight: Impending loss in shuttle family
And now there is only one. With Wednesday's landing of Endeavour, just one more space shuttle flight remains, putting an end to 30 years of Florida shuttle launches and more than 535 million miles of orbits controlled at Houston's Johnson Space Center. Now a sense of melancholy has permeated the community that calls itself "the space shuttle family."
Microscopic worms could help open up travel into deep space
(PhysOrg.com) -- A space flight by millions of microscopic worms could help us overcome the numerous threats posed to human health by space travel. The Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) have also given experts an insight into how to block muscle degradation in the sick and elderly.
Farmer networks hold key to agricultural innovation in developing countries, study finds
New technologies can improve agricultural sustainability in developing countries, but only with the engagement of local farmers and the social and economic networks they depend on, say Stanford University researchers. Their findings are published in the May 23 online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
LOFAR creates deeper images of universe than ever before
An international team led by astronomers at ASTRON and the Kapteyn Institute of the University of Groningen have used the LOFAR telescope, designed and constructed by ASTRON, to make the deepest wide-field images of the sky in the relatively unexplored part of the spectrum around 150 MHz. It reveals faint radio sources never seen before.
This is what the margins of the Ebro looked like 6 million years ago
A Spanish research team, using 3D reflection seismology, has for the first time mapped the geomorphological features of the Ebro river basin between five and six million years ago. The images obtained show that the surface analysed is today 2.5 or 3 kilometres below the sea bed.
Microbes that immobilize
Using a model organism isolated from a uranium seep of the Columbia River, scientists recently quantified how extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in subsurface environments can be used to immobilize heavy metal and radionuclide contaminants such as uranium [U(VI)].
'Oddball' star cluster is a hybrid, astronomer finds
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists will tell you that the romantic idea is factually true: we are made of the same stuff as stars. In fact, all chemical elements heavier than helium are made in the stars, and research into how the universe became enriched in these “metals” is the focus of much current research in astronomy. Astronomers tend to call these elements “metals,” though many are not metals in the usual sense.
Better hearing with spaced-apart ears
(PhysOrg.com) -- Detectors in the US, Germany and Italy are lying in wait to gather evidence that would unveil one of Albert Einstein’s last secrets: gravitational waves. Up to now, it has not been possible to detect these ripples in the curvature of space-time directly. However, if the available detectors were to be distributed differently across the globe, the chance of detecting the gravitational waves would increase more than twofold. This is the conclusion reached in a new study by Bernard F. Schutz, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) in Golm. A further improvement in the detection process could also be achieved through the construction of additional gravitational wave observatories.
Climate projections don't accurately reflect soil carbon release
A new study concludes that models may be predicting releases of atmospheric carbon dioxide that are either too high or too low, depending on the region, because they don't adequately reflect variable temperatures that can affect the amount of carbon released from soil.
Hunting for transits of Super-Earth GJ 581e
(PhysOrg.com) -- An international team of astronomers has ruled out transits of a water-rich or hydrogen-helium atmosphere planet for Gliese 581e. The host star itself is relatively quiet which means good news for the potential habitability of at least one of its planets.
Technology news
No evidence US government accounts hacked: official
The White House has no reason to believe that Gmail accounts of senior government officials were hacked in a cyber spying campaign originating in China, an official said Wednesday.
Photos from stolen laptop lead to man's arrest
(AP) -- When he couldn't get help from police, Joshua Kaufman went online and used Twitter and a blog to help track down his stolen laptop.
Malaysia defamation case: 100 apologies on Twitter
(AP) -- A Malaysian social activist will apologize 100 times on Twitter in an unusual settlement with a magazine publisher in a defamation case, his lawyer said Thursday.
China says it's not behind Google email hacking
(AP) -- China denied it supports hacking activities and said it is part of global efforts to combat computer security threats Thursday, a day after Google disclosed some of its email users suffered hacking attacks that orginated within the country.
HP recalls nearly 80,000 laptop batteries in China
China's quality watchdog said Thursday that US computer maker Hewlett-Packard plans to recall about 78,740 laptop batteries in China for some HP and Compaq laptops as they pose a fire hazard.
Smarter software development
(PhysOrg.com) -- Victoria scientists are combining their expertise with collaborators at universities around New Zealand to come up with faster, more flexible and more affordable ways of developing software.
Robotic mine vehicles successfully reanimated by UA engineering students
In just 10 weeks, a group of University of Arizona engineering students took five crates of surplus hardware and two heavy-duty test vehicles, which didn't run, and mixed them with youthful enthusiasm, tenacity and many long hours to build two robotic vehicles that successfully drove themselves around UA's test mine.
New temperature sensor sounds good
Temperature scientists at NPL are developing a thermometer that uses sound waves to measure temperature.
A brainy innovation takes flight
A team of Northeastern University engineering students has developed a system that allows a pilot to fly a simulated airplane using nothing more than his or her brainwaves — a program that has piqued military and private-sector interest.
US investigating Google claim of China hacking
(AP) -- Authorities in the United States are investigating a Google claim that hackers in China stole email details of senior U.S. government officials - an issue that illustrates the problem of attribution in cyberspace, the coordinator for cyber issues at the U.S. State Department said Thursday.
Disney CEO defends use of 3-D in movies
(AP) -- Disney CEO Bob Iger defended the company's production of 3-D films Thursday after 3-D ticket sales for several recent movies lagged their predecessors.
Google given more time to reach book settlement
A US judge on Wednesday allowed Google and US authors and publishers more time to seek a new settlement over the Internet giant's plan to create a massive online library and bookstore.
HP sets sights on rivals with webOS software
(AP) -- Hewlett-Packard Co. will soon include its webOS system for smartphones on all its PCs, upcoming tablet computers and higher-end printers, putting it in competition with operating software from Apple, Google and Microsoft.
Google hoping other sites like recommendation tool
Google Inc. is hoping other websites will like its recently introduced system for recommending online content and ads.
Alibaba CEO: Yahoo knew of plan to divest pay unit
(AP) -- The head of the Chinese Internet company that has become tangled in a boardroom battle with major stakeholder Yahoo Inc. said his decision to split off a key online payment service into a separate entity controlled only by Chinese citizens should not have come as a surprise.
Microsoft demos new Windows '8' for tablets, PCs
Microsoft gave a sneak preview of Windows 8, a next-generation operating system designed to work on both personal computers and touchscreen tablets.
Sony PlayStation Network restored in US, Europe
(AP) -- Sony Corp. says it is restoring its PlayStation Network in the U.S., Europe and parts of Asia today after hackers stole customer data and sent services offline in April.
Andreessen says no new high tech bubble
Netscape co-founder turned Silicon Valley venture capitalist Marc Andreessen on Wednesday rejected recent speculation about a new high-tech bubble.
New thermal battery manufacturing method to be industrialized
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new thin-film coating process for manufacturing thermal batteries used in nuclear weapons and other munitions that was invented at Sandia National Laboratories will be industrialized under a new corporate partnership with a Maryland company. The process could lead to create lighter batteries in a variety of shapes for future applications.
Google, shareholders to meet
(AP) -- Google Inc. will hold its first shareholders meeting since co-founder Larry Page took over as the Internet search leader's CEO.
Sony, Epsilon execs to testify
(AP) -- Executives from Sony and online marketing firm Epsilon will go before lawmakers on Thursday to try to explain recent data breaches at their companies that have exposed email addresses, credit card numbers and other personal information belonging to millions of consumers.
IBM's Watson named 'person' of the year by Webbys
(AP) -- The "Jeopardy"-playing IBM computer Watson has been named person of the year by the Webby Awards.
Gov't says no official email hacked; FBI on case
(AP) -- The FBI is investigating allegations that computer hackers in China broke into Google's email system, but no official government email accounts have been compromised, the Obama administration said Thursday.
Sony, Epsilon execs support data breach bill
(AP) -- Top executives from Sony and online marketing firm Epsilon told lawmakers Thursday that they support federal legislation that would require companies to promptly notify consumers if their personal information is stolen or exposed by a data breach.
Nokia dismisses Microsoft takeover report
Nokia chief executive Stephen Elop on Wednesday dismissed as "baseless" a report that Microsoft had agreed to purchase the Finnish company's mobile business.
Facebook wants contract, emails in ownership case
Facebook on Thursday demanded that a New York man who claims he is entitled to 50 percent of the social network immediately produce the purported contract and emails on which he is basing his case.
Search giants make websites easier to find
Google, Bing and Yahoo are working together to enable websites to tag content in a way that lets search engines better categorize and prioritize the information in results.
Hackers claim stealing SonyPictures.com passwords
Hackers claimed on Thursday to have stolen more than one million passwords, email addresses and other information from SonyPictures.com in the latest cyberattack on the Japanese electronics giant.
Sony probes new claim that hackers stole user data
(AP) -- Sony Pictures said Thursday it is investigating a statement from hackers claiming to have stolen more than 1 million pieces of user information.
Fluid game development keeps Zynga one step ahead
In a quiet outpost near Marina del Rey, Zynga Inc. has been building an empire.
Internet traffic to quadruple by 2015: Cisco
Global online traffic will quadruple by 2015 as the number of gadgets linked to the Internet climbs to 15 billion, according to a forecast by networking colossus Cisco.
Leakage of private information from popular websites is common, new study finds
A study of more than 100 popular websites used by tens of millions of people has found that three quarters directly leak either private information or users' unique identifiers to third-party tracking sites. The study, co-authored by Craig Wills, professor of computer science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), also demonstrated how the leakage of private information by many sites, including email addresses, physical addresses, and even the configuration of a user's web browser -- so-called browser fingerprints -- could permit tracking sites to link many disparate pieces of information, including browsing histories contained in tracking cookies and the contents of searches on health and travel sites, to create detailed profiles of individuals.
Groupon files for IPO, seeks to raise $750 million
Rapidly growing online coupon seller Groupon Inc. is offering its most tantalizing deal yet - an initial public offering of stock likely to intensify a debate about whether an investment bubble is forming around promising but still unproven Internet companies.
Phase change memory-based 'moneta' system points to the future of computer storage
A University of California, San Diego faculty-student team is about to demonstrate a first-of-its kind, phase-change memory solid state storage device that provides performance thousands of times faster than a conventional hard drive and up to seven times faster than current state-of-the-art solid-state drives (SSDs).
Medicine & Health news
An age old cure
The answer to treating painful arthritis could lie in an age old herbal remedy - frankincense, according to University research.
Russia bans vegetable imports from EU
(AP) -- Russia on Thursday extended its ban on vegetable imports to all of the EU in a bid to prevent a deadly European bacterial outbreak that has left 17 people dead from spreading into the country.
British health system must reform or face crisis: minister
Britain's National Health Service faces a "financial crisis" in the next few years unless the government presses ahead with its under-fire reform plans, the health minister warned Thursday.
Sexual health of men with chronic heart failure significantly improves with CRT
A new study published in the journal Clinical Cardiology reveals that in men with chronic heart failure, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves patients' libido, erectile dysfunction, and sexual performance.
Researchers characterize epigenetic fingerprint of 1,628 people
Until a decade, it was believed that differences between people were due solely to the existence of genetic changes, which are alterations in the sequence of our genes. The discoveries made during these last ten years show that beings with the same genetics like the twins and cloned animals may have different characteristics and disease due to epigenetic changes.
'Octomom' doctor stripped of medical license
The fertility doctor who helped a woman give birth to octuplets in 2009 will be stripped of his license by the California Medical Board because of "gross negligence."
New research: Post-exercise recovery advantages of lowfat chocolate milk
New research suggests an effective recovery drink may already be in your refrigerator: lowfat chocolate milk. Grabbing lowfat chocolate milk after a tough workout helped give both trained and amateur athletes a post-exercise training advantage, according to three new studies presented at the American College of Sports Medicine and published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research this month. Athletes in the studies who had a post-exercise lowfat chocolate milk– with the right mix of carbs and high-quality protein – had improved training times, better body composition (more muscle, less fat) and were in better shape than their peers who drank typical sports beverages with carbohydrates only.
A drug combination extends survival in refractory lung cancer patients
Scientists have identified a drug combination, when used in advanced lung cancer patients, shows a survival advantage in patients who no longer respond to existing therapies. They found that bexarotene and erlotinib can each repress the critical cell cycle regulator: cyclin D1. The drug combination also broadened the reach to include a specific subset of patients, such as those resistant due to the presence of a ras mutation in their cancer. The study was published in the June issue of Cancer Prevention Research.
Higher doses of radiation in fewer treatments proved safe, effective for low-risk prostate cancer
In a multicenter clinical trial, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found that higher doses of stereotactic radiation therapy requiring fewer treatments are safe and effective for patients with low-to-intermediate-risk prostate cancer.
Safer sex: Study examines sexual communication in transgender community
A new study from North Carolina State University shows that talking about safer sex is a complicated process for individuals in the transgender community. The finding may help efforts to promote safer sex practices in a community facing high HIV rates – and also sheds light on broader questions related to safer sex for everyone.
Geography matters to your health, researchers say
Believing geography matters significantly to the health of Canada's next generation, researchers at The University of Western Ontario are using innovative technology to measure and monitor the physical activities of 1200 children in 60 elementary schools across Southwestern Ontario.
'Dream Factory' body images are nightmare for most
In her new book, “Body Shots: Hollywood and the Culture of Eating Disorder,” Emily Fox-Kales, an instructor in Northeastern University's cinema studies program, argues that popular culture — especially movies — promotes unhealthy body images that cause an audience to alter their behavior in a way that could become harmful.
Antifungal drug delays need for chemo in advanced prostate cancer
The oral antifungal drug itraconazole, most commonly used to treat nail fungus, may keep prostate cancer from worsening and delay the need for chemotherapy in men with advanced disease. Details of the finding, from a clinical trial led by Johns Hopkins experts, are scheduled for presentation on Saturday, June 4 at the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting (abstract #4532).
Will neuroscience challenge the legal concept of criminal responsibility?
Just before 10:00 a.m. on June 20, 2001, a uniformed police officer was dispatched to do what he thought was a routine welfare check at a home in Houston, Texas. When the officer met Andrea Yates at the door, she immediately told him, "I just killed my kids." When Yates was later asked why she drowned her five children, she claimed she had to in order to save them from hell. The police would learn that Yates had been suffering from long-term post-partum depression and psychosis.
Noninvasive diagnostics may offer alternative to liver biopsy for assessing liver fibrosis
Patients who are evaluated for liver diseases such as hepatitis C (HCV) are typically recommended for liver biopsy to determine the extent of disease progression. For patients who question whether less invasive testing is available, clinicians now have alternatives options to consider. Elastography and serum markers are two such diagnostic options reviewed in an editorial published in the June issue of Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.
U of A researchers hope to stop heart disease
Researchers in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry are trying to reverse a devastating trend: cancer survivors developing cardiovascular disease, one of the top two killers in Canada.
Reforms needed for compassionate release of prison inmates
The nation's system of freeing some terminally ill prisoners on grounds of compassionate release is so riddled with medical flaws and procedural barriers that many potentially medically eligible inmates are dying behind bars, say UCSF researchers in a new study.
FDA finds no cancer link with blood pressure pills
(AP) -- The Food and Drug Administration says there is no link between a popular group of blood pressure medications and cancer, despite a recent paper suggesting a slightly higher risk in patients taking the drugs.
Her next-best friend is a robot
Shannon Dargenzio knew well what thyroid surgery usually entailed. When her mother’s cancerous gland was removed in the 1990s, she’d endured an extremely painful recovery that required months off work and left her with a scar at the base of her throat.
ASCO: Experimental vaccine made from frozen immune cells shows promise for prostate cancer patients
Metastatic prostate cancer patients who received an investigational vaccine made from their own frozen immune cells lived 10 months longer than those not treated with it, according to data being presented by researchers from the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson at the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago on Saturday, June 4.
Glioblastoma in the 21st century: Wealthier patients living longer than poorer patients
Survival rates of wealthier patients and those younger than 70 with glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive malignant brain tumor, have improved since 2000, whereas rates for those living in poorer areas and older than 70 have remained stagnant, according to an abstract being presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago by Thomas Jefferson University Hospital researchers on Saturday, June 4.
Emerging trends in radiation therapy for women over 70 with early stage breast cancer
Patterns of radiation usage in breast conserving therapy for women 70 years and older with stage I breast cancer are changing: more women are opting for radioactive implants and those with estrogen positive tumors are opting out of radiation therapy, according to an abstract being presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago by Thomas Jefferson University Hospital researchers on Saturday, June 4. The abstract (#6094) received an ASCO Merit Award.
Surgery deaths drop nationwide for high-risk surgeries: study
Surgery death rates have dropped nationwide over the past decade, according to a University of Michigan Health System study that reveals cancer surgeries have seen the most dramatic improvement in safety.
Physicians call for new approach to address national 'epidemic of mass incarceration'
With 2.3 million people behind bars and an estimated 10 million Americans cycling in and out of correctional facilities each year, the United States is in the midst of an "epidemic of mass incarceration," say researchers from the Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights, a collaboration of The Miriam Hospital and Brown University.
Smoking gun elusive in deadly E. coli outbreak
(AP) -- European health officials tracking one of the worst E. coli outbreaks on record might never know where it came from. It's a sad fact of life in food poisoning cases: There often is no smoking gun.
Mother's body size and placental size predict heart disease in men
Researchers investigating the foetal origins of chronic disease have discovered that combinations of a mother's body size and the shape and size of her baby's placenta can predict heart disease in men in later life. The research is published online today in the European Heart Journal.
Low-energy diet can improve sleep disorder
Sufferers of the sleep disorder obstructive sleep apnoea could benefit from following a low energy diet to lose weight, finds research published in the British Medical Journal today.
Overuse of antimicrobials in livestock risks human health, warn experts
Excessive use of antimicrobials in livestock promotes resistance and risks the future health of both animals and humans, warn experts in an editorial published by Student BMJ today.
Fear of dying during a heart attack is linked to increased inflammation
Intense distress and fear of dying, which many people experience when suffering the symptoms of a heart attack, are not only fairly common emotional responses but are also linked to biological changes that occur during the event, according to new research published online today in the European Heart Journal [1]. These changes, in turn, are associated with other biological processes during the following weeks that can predict a worse outcome for patients.
Long emergency waiting times linked to increased risk of adverse events
Long emergency department waiting times are associated with an increased risk of hospital admission or death within seven days among non-admitted patients, finds a study published in the British Medical Journal today.
People who have had head injuries report more violent behavior
(PhysOrg.com) -- Young people who have sustained a head injury during their lifetime are more likely to engage in violent behavior, according to an eight-year study from the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
Patients with bowel disease eager to test 'fecal' therapy
The first study of the social and ethical issues associated with a provocative approach to treatment for ulcerative colitis has found that the majority of potential patients are eager for what is now called "fecal microbiota transplantation" to become available, although many have concerns about donor selection, screening, and methods of delivery.
Silencing a deadly conversation in breast cancer
While it is already known that breast cancer cells create the conditions for their own survival by communicating their needs to the healthy cells that surround them, Australian researchers have identified a new way of turning off that cellular cross talk.
BGI sequences genome of the deadly E. coli in Germany and reveals new super-toxic strain
The recent outbreak of an E. coli infection in Germany has resulted in serious concerns about the potential appearance of a new deadly strain of bacteria. In response to this situation, and immediately after the reports of deaths, the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf and BGI-Shenzhen began working together to sequence the bacterium and assess its human health risk. BGI-Shenzhen has just completed the sequence and carried out a preliminary analysis that shows the current infection is caused by an entirely new super-toxic E. coli strain.
Therapeutic melanoma vaccine improves response rate, progression-free survival
A vaccine for one of the most lethal cancers, advanced melanoma, has improved response rate and progression-free survival for patients when combined with the immunotherapy drug Interleukin-2, according to research led by scientists from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Indiana University Health Goshen Center for Cancer Care.
Iron key to brain tumor drug delivery
Brain cancer therapy may be more effective if the expression of an iron-storing protein is decreased to enhance the action of therapeutic drugs on brain cancer cells, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.
Cause and potential treatment found for cancer drug's kidney toxicity
Scientists may have a way to make the powerful cancer drug cisplatin less toxic to the kidneys and more effective against some cancers.
New sound synchronization technology holds the key to earlier diagnosis of heart disease
Innovative UK technology is contributing to the development of a revolutionary digital stethoscope that could make it easier for GPs to spot the first signs of heart disease.
Cognitive impairment seen in preschool children with epilepsy
A recent study has shown that cognitive impairment is evident early on in preschool children with epilepsy, consistent with results of similar studies in older children. Age of onset of first seizure is a significant predictor of cognitive impairment according to this study—the first to evaluate cognitive impairment in children age three to six. The report is available in Epilepsia, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).
Interest in shock treatment is growing despite decades-old controversy
Recently, actress and writer Carrie Fisher told Oprah Winfrey that she receives electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) regularly to treat depression caused by her bipolar disorder. Taken aback, Winfrey asked, "They still do that?"
Chemo-induced nausea remains big problem, study says
A large, phase III study of four commonly used drug regimens to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea concluded that while two regimens were better at managing patients’ queasiness, none were totally effective – prompting researchers to advise oncologists that more and better treatments are badly needed.
Stronger hips improved running mechanics, lessened knee pain
Hip strengthening exercises performed by female runners not only significantly reduced patellofemoral pain -- a common knee pain experienced by runners -- but they also improved the runners' gaits, according to Indiana University motion analysis expert Tracy Dierks.
Whole grape - seed and skin - may be perfect colon cancer fighting food
(Medical Xpress) -- Colorado State University researchers may have unlocked the secret to why drinking wine and eating grapes can fight colon cancer. The study looks at how two grape compounds work in conjunction to kill colon cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed.
Is cleanliness wiping out our immune system?
(Medical Xpress) -- Too much cleanliness has been linked to the alarming rise in auto-immune and allergic diseases in the Western world, says Professor Barbara Fazekas de St Groth from the Centenary Institute. But the answer to this dilemma could lie in our gut.
Swearing may help with pain, but at a social cost
(Medical Xpress) -- A new study indicates that swearing might initially make you feel better, but it's at the risk of alienating those around you.
New bitter blocker discovered
Although bitterness can sometimes be desirable – such as in the taste of coffee or chocolate – more often bitter taste causes rejection that can interfere with food selection, nutrition and therapeutic compliance. This is especially true for children. Now, scientists from the Monell Center and Integral Molecular describe the discovery of a compound that inhibits bitterness by acting directly on a subset of bitter taste receptors.
Depression: Not just for adults
From a distance, Callie (not her real name) appears to be a normal if quiet 5-year-old girl. But when faced with a toy that blows large soap bubbles—an activity that makes the vast majority of kindergarteners squeal and leap with delight—she is uninterested in popping the bubbles or taking a turn with the gun herself. When offered dolls or other toys, she is equally unmoved. When groups of children congregate to play, Callie does not join them. Even at home, she is quiet and withdrawn. While Callie's mother explains this lack of interest in play as simple "shyness," researchers are now discovering that children as young as 3 years of age can meet the clinical criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD). What's more, they demonstrate patterns of brain activation very similar to those seen in adults diagnosed with the disorder.
Is the description-experience gap in risky choice limited to rare events?
Psychology researchers at the University of Alberta have found an interesting wrinkle in the decision- making process people use when gambling: People confronted with risky choices respond differently when they rely on past experiences, rather than when they just focus on the odds of winning or losing.
Combination therapy shows promise for rare, deadly cancer caused by asbestos
Pleural mesothelioma patients who undergo lung-sparing surgery in combination with photodynamic therapy (PDT) show superior overall survival than patient treated using the conventional therapy of extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) (or en bloc removal of the lung and surrounding tissue) with PDT, indicates new research from the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The research is published in the June 2011 issue of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Researchers suggest cholera vaccination strategies for Zimbabwe
Mathematical models analyzing how a cholera outbreak spread in Zimbabwe are providing new insights into the most effective vaccination strategies for preventing future cholera epidemics, according to University of Florida researchers.
Partnership between autism experts, pediatricians identifies toddlers at risk for autism
Parents and health care providers can't always tell whether toddlers display signs of autism syndrome disorder (ASD), but new research from the University of Utah shows that a significant portion of at-risk children between 14-24 months can be identified through systematic screening by autism experts and providers working together.
Study finds copper proves effective against new E. coli strains
As the World Health Organisation suggests the E. coli outbreak in Germany is a strain never before seen in an outbreak – O104:H4 – laboratory science conducted at the University of Southampton indicates a role for copper in preventing the spread of such infections.
Stem cell treatment to prevent leukemia returning is a step closer, say scientists
Researchers at King's College London have identified a way of eliminating leukaemic stem cells, which could lead to new treatments that may enable complete remission for leukaemia patients. An early study in mice has shown that leukaemic stem cells can be abolished by suppressing two proteins found in the body.
Scientists discover drug candidate for Alzheimer's, Huntington's disease
Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have identified a drug candidate that diminishes the effects of both Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease in animal models, offering new hope for patients who currently lack any medications to halt the progression of these two debilitating illnesses.
Researchers uncover mechanism in saliva production
University of Louisville researchers are one step closer to helping millions of people whose salivary glands no longer work because of disease or damage from treatment of diseases.
Mechanism discovered for health benefit of green tea, new approach to autoimmune disease
One of the beneficial compounds found in green tea has a powerful ability to increase the number of "regulatory T cells" that play a key role in immune function and suppression of autoimmune disease, according to new research in the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University.
Scientists identify mutations that cause congenital cataracts
New research identifies genetic mutations that cause an inherited form of cataracts in humans. The study, published online June 2 by Cell Press in the American Journal of Genetics, provides new insight into the understanding of lens transparency and the development of cataracts in humans.
New clinical trial to test novel approach to treat triple-negative breast cancer
A multicenter clinical trial led by a researcher at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center will evaluate a new approach to treat triple-negative breast cancer, an often-aggressive type of cancer that is more common among African-Americans and young women. The study will help researchers determine if an experimental drug, entinostat, can reprogram tumor cells to express a protein called an estrogen receptor to make them sensitive to hormone therapy.
Study reveals how high-fat diet during pregnancy increases risk of stillbirth
Eating a high-fat diet during pregnancy increases the chance of stillbirth, according to new research at Oregon Health & Science University. The new data show eating a typical American diet, which is high in fat, decreases blood flow from the mother to the placenta, the temporary organ that nourishes the unborn fetus. Prior to this study, exactly how a fatty diet contributes to stillbirth was unclear. The findings are published in the June edition of the journal Endocrinology.
Therapies to improve biochemical functions hold promise as treatments for autism
Two promising new treatments to aid people with autism have shown effectiveness in pilot studies conducted by an Arizona State University professor and private researchers.
Bees yield clues to unlocking brain disorders
(Medical Xpress) -- Queensland Brain Institute researchers are a step closer to unlocking the mysteries of disorders like schizophrenia and autism – through peering into the brains of bees.
Eating dirt can be good for the belly, researchers find
Most of us never considered eating the mud pies we made as kids, but for many people all over the world, dining on dirt is nothing out of the ordinary. Now an extensive meta-analysis forthcoming in the June issue of The Quarterly Review of Biology helps explain why.
Research reveals effectiveness of seizure treatments for children with autism
Physicians will have a better guide for more effectively managing treatment of children experiencing seizures related to autism with the results of a study by researchers at Arizona State University and the University of Texas-Houston.
Depression and negative thoughts
We all have our ups and downs—a fight with a friend, a divorce, the loss of a parent. But most of us get over it. Only some go on to develop major depression. Now, a new study, which will be published in an upcoming issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, suggests part of the reason may be that people with depression get stuck on bad thoughts because they're unable to turn their attention away.
Use of clot busters for stroke increased from 2005 to 2009, but still low
The use of clot-busting drugs to treat acute ischemic stroke increased from 2005 through 2009 — but is still low, according to research reported in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.
In the lab and clinic, researchers develop a new therapy for blood cancers
Clinical researchers at VCU Massey Cancer Center have successfully completed a Phase I clinical trial evaluating a combination of the drugs Bortezomib and Alvocidib in patients with relapsed or refractory blood cancers, paving the way for a Phase II clinical trial to test the safety and effectiveness of the new therapy.
Developmental disease is recreated in an adult model
A new study published today in the journal Science has shown that the childhood disorder Rett syndrome, can be reestablished in adult animals by "switching off" a critical disease causing gene in healthy adult animals. The gene was "switched off" in adult mice by use of a sophisticated genetic trick, resulting in the appearance of behaviors typically seen in Rett syndrome. The leading author Christopher McGraw, MD/PhD student, carried out the study in the laboratory of Dr. Huda Zoghbi, a renowned neuroscientist based at Baylor College of Medicine, and director of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston TX.
Examining the brain as a neural information super-highway
An article demonstrating how tools for modeling traffic on the Internet and telephone systems can be used to study information flow in brain networks will be published in the open-access journal PLoS Computational Biology on 2nd June 2011.
Many ways food can get tainted from farm to fork
(AP) -- On the path from farm-to-fork, there are many ways that foods can pick up nasty germs like the E. coli bug sickening more than 1,600 people across Europe. But there are steps consumers can take to avoid getting infected.
Researchers announce Huntington's disease breakthrough
(Medical Xpress) -- Medical researchers may have uncovered a novel approach to treat an incurable and ultimately fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects hundreds of thousands of people.
New technology could inspire brain implant for detecting and treating seizures
(Medical Xpress) -- Tiny electrodes have been coated with a drug-loaded polymer in an attempt to design an implant capable of detecting a number of neurological symptoms, such as those associated with an epileptic seizure, and treating them simultaneously.
Outbreak in Europe blamed on 'super-toxic' strain (Update 2)
(AP) -- Scientists on Thursday blamed Europe's worst recorded food-poisoning outbreak on a "super-toxic" strain of E. coli bacteria that may be brand new.
New development could increase flu vaccine supply
(Medical Xpress) -- Scientists from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the pharmaceutical company Novartis announced today in the journal Science Translational Medicine that they have developed a new adjuvant, or compound that increases the immune response, to add to the current flu vaccines. This adjuvant will allow flu vaccine producers to cut the antigen needed in half and allow for more flu vaccines to be made. This adjuvant would aid in the effectiveness of the flu vaccine while also creating a way to double the U.S. flu vaccine supply.
Monkeys might be more logical than we think
You see a big cat nursing a kitten, and you assume Cat A is Cat B’s mother. Then you see a bird dropping worms in a smaller bird’s mouth. Different content, different context, but same relationship—you conclude that Big Bird is Little Bird’s mom. This is an analogy—a relationship between relationships.
New type of MRSA in hospitalized patients probably of animal origin
A distinctly new type of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that is not detected by traditional genetic screening methods has been discovered in patients in Irish hospitals according to research to be published in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. These findings provide significant insights into how new MRSA strains emerge and highlight the potential for the transmission of infectious agents from animals to humans.
A promising new approach to autoimmune diseases
Researchers from Harvard Medical School and MIT have developed a new approach for identifying the "self" proteins targeted in autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.
Placing landmarks on the genome map
Supercomputers and next-generation gene sequencers allow researchers to explore DNA and heredity.
Color red increases the speed and strength of reactions
What links speed, power, and the color red? Hint: it's not a sports car. It's your muscles.
Rett protein MeCP2 needed for proper adult neuron function
The protein MeCP2 is porridge to the finicky neuron. Like Goldilocks, the neuron or brain cell needs the protein in just the right amount. Girls born with dysfunctional MeCP2 (methyl-CpG-binding protein 2) develop Rett syndrome, a neurological disorder. Too much MeCP2 can cause spasticity or developmental delay with autism-like symptoms in boys.
Role of gene regulator in skeletal muscles demonstrated
Fast muscles, such as the thigh muscle in a sprinter, deliver energy quickly but fatigue quickly. Slow muscles, such as the soleus muscle in the lower calf, are less forceful but important for posture and endurance. Researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Virginia Tech have discovered one gene regulator that maintains the fast muscle type and inhibits the development of a slow muscle type.
US replaces food pyramid with 'healthy plate'
The US government on Thursday ditched its two-decade old "pyramid" model for healthy eating and introduced a new plate symbol half-filled with fruits and vegetables to urge better eating habits.
'Feeling' sound: The sense of hearing and touch may have evolved together
Lying in bed at night, one of the worst sounds a person can hear is the buzz of a nearby mosquito. Concentrating on the buzzing might keep you from falling asleep, but it also seems to heighten the awareness of your skin to that inevitable moment when the critter actually lands. Scientists have now gathered information about why our sense of touch can be influenced by our sense of hearing.
Biology news
Thailand seizes hundreds of turtles in air luggage
Thai customs have discovered hundreds of live turtles and other rare animals in luggage at Bangkok's main airport, the latest in a series of wildlife seizures in the kingdom, an official said on Thursday.
Portable ultrasound now available for horses
Healing for horses has gone portable.
Pomegranates could become new cash crop for Florida, researcher says
Supplies of a nutritious and popular fruit could increase in Florida in the next few years, thanks to the research of a University of Florida professor emeritus.
Managing forests requires a bird's-eye view
Managers of northern Michigan forests may not see the birds for the trees – or at least are in danger of losing sight of songbird neighborhoods when looking out for timber harvests.
For stressed bees, the glass is half empty
When people are depressed or anxious, they are much more likely to see their glass as half empty than half full. In tough times, evidence of that same pessimistic outlook can be seen in dogs, rats, and birds. Now, researchers reporting online on June 2 in Current Biology, a Cell Press publication, show that bees, too, share those very same hallmarks of negative emotion.
Worms from hell identified far below the Earth's surface
(PhysOrg.com) -- In a study published this week in Nature, researchers Gaetan Borgonie from Ghent University in Belgium and Tullis Onstott from Princeton University announced the discovery of new nematode species living kilometers below the earth in several South African mines. Nematodes had been previously found much closer to the surface, but this discovery of deep-dwelling nematodes, or roundworms, are the first multicellular organisms to ever be found at these depths.
Copper butterfly folds wings to avoid unwanted male advances
(PhysOrg.com) -- In a move that females of any species would likely recognize, the small copper female butterfly has evolved a strategy of dissuading amorous males that is both effective and energy conserving; she simply closes her wings whenever they come near.
Researchers decode date palm genome
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) have identified a region of the date palm genome linked to gender, making it possible for the first time to quickly and easily identify male and female trees. The finding provides a crucial piece of information for more efficient cultivation and propagation, as well as additional genetic studies.
Mass extinction victim survives! Snail long thought extinct, isn't
(PhysOrg.com) -- Think "mass extinction" and you probably envision dinosaurs dropping dead in the long-ago past or exotic tropical creatures being wiped out when their rainforest habitats are decimated. But a major mass extinction took place right here in North America in the first half of the 20th century, when 47 species of mollusk disappeared after the watershed in which they lived was dammed.
Non-independent mutations present new path to evolutionary success
Mutations of DNA that lead to one base being replaced by another don't have to happen as single, independent events in humans and other eukaryotes, a group of Indiana University Bloomington biologists has learned after surveying several creatures' genomes.
Evolutionary biology experiment may one day help with chronic diseases
Working to better predict general patterns of evolution, a University of Houston (UH) biologist and his team have discovered some surprising things about gene mutations that might one day make it possible to predict the progression of chronic disease.
Small change makes a big difference for ion channels
Using a high-resolution single-molecule study technique, University of Illinois researchers have seen the very subtle differences between two branches of an important family of neurotransmitter-gated ion channels.
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