Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for October 11, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Nanowire lens can reconfigure its imaging properties- Time reversal: A simple particle could reveal new physics
- Research shows how life might have survived 'snowball Earth'
- Mole rat dental structure similar to a shark
- New equation predicts molecular forces in hydrophobic interactions
- New form of superhard carbon observed
- Physicists turn liquid into solid using an electric field
- Most vertebrates -- including humans -- descended from ancestor with sixth sense
- Astrophysicists find evidence of black holes' destruction of stars
- Android suited up for C-level security
- Uncharted territory: Scientists sequence the first carbohydrate biopolymer
- New drug target for Alzheimer's, stroke discovered
- The strange rubbing boulders of the Atacama
- 'Ghostwriting' the Torah? New algorithm distinguishes contributors to the Old Testament with high accuracy
- New technique unlocks secrets of ancient ocean
Space & Earth news
Six years and 12,000 holes: Cyprus mapped
It was a marathon project that took six years and the collection and analysis of some 12,000 soil samples, but an international team of geologists has managed to create the Geochemical Atlas of Cyprus.
Fresh oil spills in N.Z's worst sea pollution disaster
New Zealand on Tuesday declared its worst maritime pollution disaster, as oil gushed into a pristine bay from a stranded container ship which was being pounded in heavy seas.
Changes in rainfall patterns are projected for next 30 years
Manoa have projected an increased frequency of heavy rainfall events but a decrease in rainfall intensity during the next 30 years (2011-2040) for the southern shoreline of Oahu, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research.
Carbon sequestration policy must balance private property, public good
The lack of a settled legal framework that balances private property rights while maximizing the public good ultimately hinders the large-scale commercial deployment of geologic carbon sequestration, according to published research by a University of Illinois expert in renewable energy law.
New program to expand, enhance use of LIDAR sensing technology
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a new system that will enable highway construction engineers in the field to immediately analyze soil movements caused by active landslides and erosion and use the powerful tool of LIDAR to better assess and deal with them.
Luminous grains of sand determine year of historic storm flood
Scientists at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft, The Netherlands) have successfully matched a layer of sediment from the dunes near Heemskerk to a severe storm flood that occurred in either 1775 or 1776. This type of information helps us gain more insight into past storm floods and predict future surges more accurately. The scientists' findings have been be published in the online edition of the scientific magazine Geology, and will be cover story of the November paper edition.
Mercury pollution in the Great Lakes region -- nearly forgotten, but not gone
The scope and intensity of mercury pollution in the Great Lakes region is much greater than previously reported, but additional mercury controls should bring needed improvement, according to a new summary of scientific research on the subject.
The Baltic Sea contributes carbon dioxide to the atmosphere
The Baltic Sea emits more carbon dioxide than it can bind. Local variations have increased the exposure of the Bay of Bothnia. These are the results from a study of how carbon dioxide flows between the water of the Baltic Sea and the atmosphere, carried out by scientists at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
New computer program promises to save the whales
Researchers at the University of Montreal have developed a computer programme that enables regulators to evaluate the ecological and economic tradeoffs between marine mammal conservation, whale watching and marine transportation activities in the Saint Lawrence Estuary.
Astronomers find bounty of failed stars
A University of Toronto-led team of astronomers has discovered over two dozen new free-floating brown dwarfs, including a lightweight youngster only about six times heftier than Jupiter, that reside in two young star clusters. What's more, one cluster contains a surprising surplus of them, harbouring half as many of these astronomical oddballs as normal stars.
NASA signs over shuttle title to California museum
(AP) -- NASA has transferred ownership of the retired space shuttle Endeavour to a California museum.
NASA gets an icy cold wink from Hurricane Jova's eye
Several NASA satellites have been following Hurricane Jova since birth and over the last day, Jova's eye has "winked" at them.
NASA sees large Tropical Storm Banyan stretched over southern Philippines
Tropical Storm Banyan's center may still be at sea, but NASA satellite data today shows the western edge of the storm already over the southern Philippines.
New view of Vesta mountain from Dawn mission
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new image from NASA's Dawn spacecraft shows a mountain three times as high as Mt. Everest, amidst the topography in the south polar region of the giant asteroid Vesta.
Discovery refutes previous theory about galaxies
(PhysOrg.com) -- The world’s largest optical telescope has allowed University of Florida astronomers to see new details about deep space galaxies, finding new clues to explain the evolution of galaxies like our own.
Video documents three-year trek on Mars by NASA rover
(PhysOrg.com) -- While NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity was traveling from Victoria crater to Endeavour crater, between September 2008 and August 2011, the rover team took an end-of-drive image on each Martian day that included a drive. A new video compiles these 309 images, providing an historic record of the three-year trek that totaled about 13 miles (21 kilometers) across a Martian plain pocked with smaller craters.
How ammonia affects city's air
(PhysOrg.com) -- Motor vehicles and industry are primary producers of ammonia in Houston's atmosphere, and cars and trucks appear to boost their output during the winter, according to a new study by researchers at Rice University and the University of Houston (UH).
Natural processes can limit spread of arsenic in water, study says
(PhysOrg.com) -- Many people in Bangladesh and other parts of Asia have been poisoned by drinking groundwater laced with arsenic—not introduced by humans, but leached naturally from sediments, and now being tapped by shallow drinking wells. In recent years, to avoid the problem, deeper wells have been sunk 500 feet or more to purer waters—but fears have remained that when deep water is pumped out, contaminated water might filter down to replace it. Now, a study has shown that deep sediments can grab the arsenic and take it out of circulation—a finding that may help to keep wells safe elsewhere, including in the United States. The study, led by researchers at Columbia University’s Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, appears in the current online edition of the journal Nature Geoscience.
The strange rubbing boulders of the Atacama
A geologist's sharp eyes and upset stomach has led to the discovery, and almost too-close encounter, with an otherworldly geological process operating in a remote corner of northern Chile's Atacama Desert.
New technique unlocks secrets of ancient ocean
Earth's largest mass extinction event, the end-Permian mass extinction, occurred some 252 million years ago. An estimated 90 percent of Earth's marine life was eradicated. To better understand the cause of this "mother of all mass extinctions," researchers from Arizona State University and the University of Cincinnati used a new geochemical technique. The team measured uranium isotopes in ancient carbonate rocks and found that a large, rapid shift in the chemistry of the world's ancient oceans occurred around the extinction event.
Suspects in the quenching of star formation exonerated
Supermassive black holes millions to billions times the mass of our Sun lie at the heart of most, maybe all large galaxies. Some of these power brilliantly luminous, rapidly growing objects called active galactic nuclei that gather and condense enormous quantities of dust, gas and stars.
Astrophysicists find evidence of black holes' destruction of stars
Astrophysicists have found evidence of black holes destroying stars, a long-sought phenomenon that provides a new window into general relativity. The research, reported in the latest issue of the Astrophysical Journal, also opens up a method to search for the possible existence of a large population of presently undetectable "intermediate mass" black holes which are hypothesized to be precursors to the super-massive black holes at the centers of most large galaxies.
Research shows how life might have survived 'snowball Earth'
Global glaciation likely put a chill on life on Earth hundreds of millions of years ago, but new research indicates that simple life in the form of photosynthetic algae could have survived in a narrow body of water with characteristics similar to today's Red Sea.
Technology news
Hong Kong Apple tribute designer denies plagiarism
A Hong Kong design student whose sombre tribute to Steve Jobs became an overnight Internet sensation denied Tuesday that he had copied another artist's work.
Visualizing the future: Lab team develops better, simpler, cheaper display technologies
It appears that Aditi Majumder really can be in two places at once. On a late September afternoon, she stands in Arches National Park, its signature red rock and blue sky unfurling around her. But Majumder is not in Utah; she’s in the Visualization Lab she manages at UC Irvine’s division of the California Institute for Telecommunications & Information Technology (Calit2).
Imec unveils innovative technology for an ECG patch
Imec and Holst Centre announce an innovative body patch that integrates an ultra-low power electrocardiogram (ECG) chip and a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio. This unique combination fuses power-efficient electronics and standardized communication, opening new perspectives for long-term monitoring in health, wellness and medical applications. The system integrates components from imec and Holst Centre’s Human++ R&D program. It is designed in collaboration with DELTA and integrated in DELTA’s ePatch platform.
Where will the next Steve Jobs come from?
We Americans like to congratulate ourselves for producing great thinkers, business leaders, artists and brain-on-fire innovators. Last week, we lost one of our very best in Steve Jobs.
Imec demonstrates CMOS integrated poly-SiGe piezoresistive pressure sensor
Imec realized an integrated poly-SiGe-based piezoresistive pressure sensor directly fabricated above 0.13 µm copper (Cu) -backend CMOS technology. This represents not only the first integrated poly-SiGe pressure sensor directly fabricated above its readout circuit, but also the first time that a poly-SiGe MEMS device is processed on top of Cu-backend CMOS.
Imec implements multi-mode digital TV receiver on reconfigurable processor with record area efficiency
Imec developed a reconfigurable receiver for highly diversified digital video broadcasting standards (DVB-T, ISDB-T and ATSC). The receiver is realized using algorithm-architecture co-optimization of imec’s reconfigurable processor ADRES. The solution combines better area efficiency than reference dedicated ASICs with state-of-the-art performance. The optimizations were realized in the context of Panasonic's partnership in IMEC's green radio research program.
Jobs death caused by respiratory arrest, cancer
A copy of Steve Jobs' death certificate made public Monday indicates that the Apple Inc. co-founder died of respiratory arrest resulting from pancreatic cancer that had spread to other organs.
Wal-Mart to localize offers for Facebook fans
(AP) -- Just in time for the crucial winter holidays, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. aims to recreate the feel of a local store for its more than 9 million Facebook fans.
NYSE site hobbled by outages, firm reports
(AP) -- The New York Stock Exchange's website was apparently hobbled twice Monday, possibly the result of computer attacks as part of the anti-Wall Street protests, according to a company that monitors website response times.
Philippines sees outsourcing boom
The Philippines outsourcing industry will grow strongly over the next five years despite global economic concerns and threats to its call centre sector, industry officials said Tuesday.
Solar-powered air-conditioning system for vehicles
Great news for drivers! They can now continue to keep the air-conditioning system on during the hot sunny days even when they stop the vehicle and switch off the engine. In collaboration with Green Power Industrial Ltd, PolyU's Department of Electrical Engineering has developed an innovative air-conditioning system for vehicles that can turn scorching summer heat into cool air without a single drop of gasoline.
Kicking hybrids out of carpool lanes backfires, slowing traffic for all
(PhysOrg.com) -- The end of a California program granting free access to carpool lanes by solo drivers of hybrid cars has unintentionally slowed traffic in all lanes, according to transportation engineers at the University of California, Berkeley.
China's Tencent launches English microblog site
Chinese Internet giant Tencent has launched an English version of its Twitter-like microblogging service in a push to tap the overseas market, the official Xinhua news agency reported Tuesday.
BlackBerry services hit for second day
(AP) -- BlackBerry users across Europe, the Middle East and Africa were hit with service disruptions to their smartphones for a second day after an unexplained glitch cut off Internet and messaging services for large numbers of users around the world.
Social media companies 'friend' politics
(AP) -- Social media companies have "friended" the 2012 presidential contest at a level almost unimaginable just four years ago, hosting debates and sponsoring presidential town halls while remaining indispensable tools for candidates looking to connect with voters in the digital sphere.
Young S. Africans 'use MXit to talk to strangers'
Three quarters of young people regularly talk to strangers on the South African social network MXit, raising concerns about the risks for young people on the mobile Internet, according to a study Tuesday.
Imec demonstrates extremely high-speed heterojunction bipolar transistors
Imec realized a fT/fMAX 245GHz/450GHz SiGe:C heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) device, a key enabler for future high-volume millimeter-wave low-power circuits to be used in automotive radar applications. These HBT devices also pave the way to silicon-based millimeter wave circuits penetrating the so-called THz gap, enabling enhanced imaging systems for security, medical and scientific applications
Georgia Tech releases cyber threats forecast for 2012
The year ahead will feature new and increasingly sophisticated means to capture and exploit user data, as well as escalating battles over the control of online information that threatens to compromise content and erode public trust and privacy. Those were the findings announced by the Georgia Tech Information Security Center (GTISC) and the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) in today's release of the 'Georgia Tech Emerging Cyber Threats Report for 2012.' The report was released at the annual Georgia Tech Cyber Security Summit, a gathering of industry and academic leaders who have distinguished themselves in the field of cyber security.
HBO Go comes to TV, through Roku players
(AP) -- HBO's Internet streaming service, which gives subscribers access to its shows on PCs, smartphones and tablets, is going back to where it all started: the TV.
Notre Dame computer vision experts develop 'questionable observer detector'
It's become a standard plot device of television detective shows: criminals always return to the scene of the crime. And law enforcement officials believe that perpetrators of certain crimes, mostly notably arson, do indeed have an inclination to witness their handiwork. Also, U.S. military in the Middle East feel that IED bomb makers return to see the results of their work in order to evolve their designs.
World's biggest publishers' fair eyes safe future for books
The world's biggest book fair, which opened Tuesday, wants to put paid to fears for the survival of the book in its traditional, bound form in the face of its digital rival's growing popularity.
Zynga adding more ways to play games as IPO looms
(AP) -- Zynga is adding more ways for people to play its Web games as it grooms its business for an initial public offering of stock.
BlackBerry woes caused by 'core switch failure'
(AP) -- Email and messaging glitches that have plagued BlackBerry users around the world for a second day were caused by a core switch failure, the smartphone's maker said Tuesday.
Studios' view-everywhere system has soft launch
(AP) -- A Hollywood initiative that aims to revive home video sales by enabling you to watch your purchased movies on multiple devices had a soft start Tuesday as Warner Bros. released "Horrible Bosses" without many of the hoped-for partnerships in place.
Internet firm fought court order in WikiLeaks case
A small California-based Internet provider is the second company to confirm it fought back against a court demanding a customer's account information as part of a criminal investigation into the release of documents by WikiLeaks.
Hacker group accuses German government of using illegal Trojan horse
(PhysOrg.com) -- Governments all over the world are wrestling with the legalities of computer snooping in their efforts to catch people doing illegal things, or to prove that wrongful acts have been committed after the fact. Now comes a blog posting by a well-known hacker group that calls itself the Chaos Computer Club (CCC), accusing the German government of overstepping its bounds by infecting suspected criminal’s computers with a Trojan horse program that allows it to do more than has been granted by law.
'Ghostwriting' the Torah? New algorithm distinguishes contributors to the Old Testament with high accuracy
In both Jewish and Christian traditions, Moses is considered the author of the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. Scholars have furnished evidence that multiple writers had a hand in composing the text of the Torah. Other books of the Hebrew Bible and of the New Testament are also thought to be composites. However, delineating these multiple sources has been a laborious task.
Android suited up for C-level security
(PhysOrg.com) -- Android is enterprise-ready, with this week's announcement of a new security platform for Android, from Motorola Mobility's subsidiary, 3LM (stands for Three Laws Mobility). This is a potential milestone for Android because Android smartphones can now be more of a factor within a trend where enterprise employees take their own smartphones to work and for work.
Medicine & Health news
Experts question merits of extending competition to improve hospital care
More research is needed before conclusions can be drawn about the effect of recent reforms on hospital quality, let alone about the merits of the coalition government's proposals to extend competition, warn experts on British Medical Journal website today.
Men with disabilities 4 times more likely to be sexually abused than men without disabilities
Previous studies have documented that women with disabilities are more likely to be sexually assaulted than women without disabilities. A new study published online today in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine is the first population-based investigation to examine sexual violence victimization against men with disabilities. Researchers report that men with disabilities are more than four times more likely to be victimized by sexual assaults compared to men without disabilities.
Herbal supplements may cause dangerous drug interactions in orthopaedic surgery patients
Complementary and alternative medical (CAM) treatments such as herbal supplements have become increasingly popular in the United States, especially among older patients and those with chronic pain. However, many of these products can have serious and potentially harmful side effects when combined with medications prescribed during and after surgery, according to a review article in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS).
Chronic dialysis for kidney disease patients now started substantially earlier
It has become increasingly clear that patients in the United States are starting dialysis at higher and higher levels of kidney function. A team of researchers, led by Dr. Ann O'Hare, University of Washington associate professor of medicine and affiliate investigator at Group Health Research Institute, set out recently to find out what this means for patients, and how much earlier patients are starting dialysis compared with past practices.
A safer vaccination for Alzheimer's disease?
The research shows that in addition to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, which present the antigen vaccine to the immune cells, genetic factors, that control some immune cells, influence the quality of response to vaccinations. The results could make it possible to prevent neuroinflammatory reactions, which are major obstacles preventing the use of the vaccination in humans. This study has just been published in the Journal of Immunology.
Greater support is needed to tackle the serious emotional consequences of whistleblowing
Whistleblowing incidents can have a serious, long-term impact on people's emotional well-being and their colleagues and employers have a responsibility to provide them with the support they need, according to a study in the October issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
Ticagrelor: Considerable added benefit for specific patients
Since the start of 2011, the active ingredient ticagrelor can be prescribed in Germany in addition to acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) to avoid blood clots in patients with acute ischaemia of the cardiac muscle. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has now examined whether ticagrelor offers advantages to patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in comparison with conventional drugs. This is the first co-called "early benefit assessment" that IQWiG has performed on the basis of a dossier provided by the manufacturer, in accordance with the new legal regulations.
Media habits of young people may make them drink more -- what should be done?
Media companies are increasingly targeting adolescents with TV shows that feature violence, alcohol and drugs. An interdisciplinary research project with researchers from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and colleagues from the U.K. is looking closer at how society and other actors should react to the link between young people's media habits and their alcohol consumption.
Quicker testing for viral infections saves money and lives
A new method for quickly identifying individual viruses and recognising how they bind to host cells may become a vital tool in the early control of winter vomiting disease and other virus-based diseases. In the west, this means saving money and reducing stress on health-care systems. In developing countries, this means saving lives. The method has been jointly developed by researchers at Chalmers and the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Tooth movement an alternative to bone transplants
Although replacing lost teeth often involves artificially building up the jaw, researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, are now showcasing a new method whereby teeth are instead moved into the toothless area using a brace, giving patients the chance of having more teeth.
New strategy to accelerate blood vessel maturation has therapeutic potentials for ischemic diseases
Belgian researchers describe a new mechanism to enhance the restoration of the blood flow in ischemic diseases, which are among the leading causes of death worldwide. The team of Massimiliano Mazzone demonstrates that blocking the protein PhD2 in white blood cells accelerates the maturation of blood vessels. This leads to a better blood perfusion to organs that had been deprived from blood supply by ischemia. This might become a new therapeutic approach in ischemic diseases.
Swedish heart test saves lives of newborns with heart defects
The US Secretary of Health recently supported a recommendation that all babies born in the US are to be screened for critical heart defects, before leaving hospital. Behind this decision is a study from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, and the West Götaland Region's maternity units in Sweden which shows that a simple test can save the lives of newborns with these heart defects. Other countries too are set to make the test mandatory.
The next stage of heart function testing
A new non-invasive technique for measuring how well the heart and blood vessels function in patients already suffering from coronary artery disease could, in a single test, identify which abnormally narrowed blood vessels are the most likely to lead to further cardiovascular complications. According to Dr. Aaron So, at Lawson Health Research Institute and Robarts Research Institute in London, Canada, and colleagues, their technique could reveal functional problems in the circulatory system below the limit of detection of the currently most sensitive method, invasive angiography (or blood vessel x-ray). The work is published online in Springer's journal European Radiology.
Almost half of cancer survivors have ill health in later years
Forty-five per cent of cancer survivors in Northern Ireland suffer from physical and mental health problems years after their treatment has finished, according to new research from Macmillan Cancer Support and Queen's University Belfast.
Inhaler treatment for lung cancer
Lung cancer patients could receive safer and more efficient treatment through a system being developed by researchers at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.
Hispanic women have higher incidence of rare breast tumor
According to a study published in the October issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, phyllodes tumors – rare breast malignancies accounting for 0.5 to one percent of all breast tumors – tend to be more prevalent in Hispanic patients. Population-based estimates indicate that the incidence of malignant phyllodes tumors is 2.1 cases per million women, with the highest frequencies in Hispanic women.
Evidence points to potential roles for cognitive rehabilitation therapy in treating traumatic brain injury
There is some evidence about the potential value of cognitive rehabilitation therapy (CRT) for treating traumatic brain injury (TBI), but overall it is not sufficient to develop definitive guidelines on how to apply these therapies and to determine which type of CRT will work best for a particular patient, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.
Researchers track number of doctors disciplined and why
A total of 606 Canadian physicians were disciplined by their provincial medical licensing authorities between 2000 and 2009, researchers at St. Michael's Hospital found.
New testing program improves scores, knowledge retention for third-year internal medicine residents
An analysis by University of Cincinnati (UC) faculty members shows that a multiple-choice testing program coupled with a novel year-long clinical experience helps internal medicine residents improve their scores on the Internal Medicine In-Training Exam (IM-ITE).
Experts find continuous glucose monitoring beneficial in maintaining target blood glucose levels
Patients with diabetes face daily challenges in managing their blood glucose levels, and it has been postulated that patients could benefit from a system providing continuous real-time glucose readings. Today, The Endocrine Society released a clinical practice guideline (CPG) providing recommendations on settings where patients are most likely to benefit from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).
New project examines medical safety net for undocumented patients
The Hastings Center is exploring the ethical challenges that clinicians and organizations face when providing medical care to undocumented immigrants in the United States. The project is supported by a grant from the Overbrook Foundation Domestic Human Rights Program.
Burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe
Hospital associated infections (HAI) are often in the headlines, but what is the burden of mortality, morbidity and costs due to HAIs? In this week's PLoS Medicine, Marlieke de Kraker, Peter Davey and Hajo Grundmann, on behalf of the BURDEN (Burden of resistance and disease in European nations) study group, report the results of a prospective clinical investigation into the societal burden of HAIs from 31 European countries.
Pinkwashing for breast cancer awareness questioned
(AP) -- The country is awash in pink for breast cancer awareness month - and some women are sick of it.
Study: Gates project spared 100K Indians from HIV
(AP) -- An estimated 100,000 people in India may have escaped HIV infection over five years thanks to one of the world's biggest prevention programs, an encouraging sign that targeting high-risk groups remains vital even as more donors focus on treatment, a new study suggests.
Gene signature predicts oral cancer recurrence
Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is responsible for nearly a quarter of all head and neck cancers. It is one of the leading causes of cancer death - largely due to the failure of current histological procedures in predicting the recurrence of the disease. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Cancer shows that a four-gene signature may accurately predict which patients are at higher risk of OSCC recurrence.
Battle between the placenta and uterus could help explain preeclampsia
A battle that brews in the mother's womb between the father's biological goal to produce the biggest, healthiest baby possible vs. the mother's need to live through delivery might help explain preeclampsia, an often deadly disease of pregnancy. The fetus must be big enough to thrive, yet small enough to pass through the birth canal. In a new study, Yale researchers describe the mechanism that keeps these conflicting goals in balance.
West, central Africa in one of worst cholera epidemics: UN
The west and central Africa region is facing one of the worst cholera epidemics in its history, with over 85,000 cases reported leading to 2,466 deaths this year, the UN children's agency warned Tuesday.
Physicians treating Latinos have high hurdles to jump, study shows
Experts have written about health care disparities between Latinos and non-Latino whites, mostly from a policy standpoint. They've also looked at the same disparities from the perspective of the patient, in terms of access, use and the quality of health care.
The case of the missing monocyte: Scientists investigate gene that appears to protect against rheumatoid arthritis
(Medical Xpress) -- An estimated 1.3 million people in the United States suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. The causes behind this chronic disease — which can exhibit itself as pain, swelling, stiffness, deformation, and loss of function in the joints — have eluded scientists for centuries. A new study by UNC researchers offers tantalizing glimmers about the roles of a gene called CCR2, an immune system cell called Th17 cell, and a missing monocyte.
'Get vaccinated,' says HPV expert at UB Medical School
(Medical Xpress) -- A University at Buffalo microbiologist whose lab has been studying the human papilloma virus for years, says that parents should have their children vaccinated with Gardasil, the HPV vaccine.
Finding may lead to treatments for obesity, type 2 diabetes
Activating a specialized type of fat, known as brown adipose tissue, may help combat obesity as well as result in better glucose control for type 2 diabetes, according to new research conducted by scientists at the UC Metabolic Diseases Institute.
Study questions value of glycemic index
(Medical Xpress) -- Potatoes and other reportedly high-GI foods might not be the dietary villains that recent publicity, books and health-based programmes would claim them to be, a new University of Otago study suggests.
Tuberculosis cases decline worldwide: WHO
For the first time on record, fewer people worldwide are getting sick from tuberculosis, but cash is short in the fight against drug-resistant forms of the disease, the World Health Organization said Tuesday.
Common medications can contribute to lower urinary tract symptoms in men
Use of selected prescription medications, including antidepressants, antihistamines, bronchodilators, anticholinergics, sympathomimetics, and diuretics contribute to 10 percent of lower urinary tract symptoms among men according to a Kaiser Permanente study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Kids more accepting of peers who try to change undesirable trait than those faulted for it
A psychology team at Kansas State University is studying how elementary and middle school youths perceive and anticipate interacting with peers who have various characteristics seen as undesirable, such as being a poor student or being extremely aggressive.
Women chocoholics run smaller risk of strokes: Swedish study
Have a sweet tooth? It could protect you from a stroke, according to a large Swedish study published Tuesday on women chocolate-lovers.
Health benefits of broccoli require the whole food, not supplements
New research has found that if you want some of the many health benefits associated with eating broccoli or other cruciferous vegetables, you need to eat the real thing – a key phytochemical in these vegetables is poorly absorbed and of far less value if taken as a supplement.
Peanut allergy turned off by tricking immune system
Researchers have turned off a life-threatening allergic response to peanuts by tricking the immune system into thinking the nut proteins aren't a threat to the body, according to a new preclinical study from Northwestern Medicine. The peanut tolerance was achieved by attaching peanut proteins onto blood cells and reintroducing them to the body -- an approach that ultimately may be able to target more than one food allergy at a time.
Researchers say some youth too immature to stand trial
Research from Aaron Kivisto, clinical psychology program graduate at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and current post-doctoral fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital; Todd Moore, assistant professor of psychology at UT; and Bruce Seidner, clinical assistant professor in the psychology clinic at UT, found that unlike adults, most children and adolescents who are found incompetent to stand trial are not psychotic; rather, they have cognitive impairments. And, they are often too immature to understand the magnitude of the situation.
Study: Delays in video calls may not always hurt communication
A new study reveals how the delay computer users sometimes experience when making video calls over the internet can actually help communication in some circumstances, even though it is frustrating in many others.
Improved method for detecting mutant DNAs
Molecular DNA testing methods offer clinicians powerful tools that serve to confirm or identify disease diagnoses. High sensitivity and high specificity, however, are frequently a challenge to achieve with these methods. In a study scheduled for publication in the November issue of The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, researchers describe a new, robust technique that holds promise for identifying trace mutant DNA sequences (signals) in an overwhelming population of unmutated DNA (noise).
Mushroom compound appears to improve effectiveness of cancer drugs
A compound isolated from a wild, poisonous mushroom growing in a Southwest China forest appears to help a cancer killing drug fulfill its promise, researchers report.
Advances in brain imaging can expedite research and diagnosis in Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common problem that is becoming progressively burdensome throughout the world. A new supplement to the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, Imaging the Alzheimer Brain, clearly shows that multiple imaging systems are now available to help understand, diagnose, and treat the disease.
Link shown between environmental toxicants and atherosclerosis
Environmental toxicants such as dioxins, PCBs, and pesticides can pose a risk for cardiovascular disease. For the first time a link has been demonstrated between atherosclerosis and levels of long-lived organic environmental toxicants in the blood. The study, carried out by researchers at Uppsala University, is being published online this week in ahead of print in the prestigious journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
Fall market jitters a SAD thing, suggests paper from the Rotman School of Management
It's no surprise to researcher Lisa Kramer that financial market dips and crashes typically happen in the fall.
Common antibiotic can have serious adverse reactions
trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole – that has been used since 1968 can cause serious adverse reactions and physicians need to be aware of these in prescribing, states a review in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Ginger root supplement reduced colon inflammation markers
Ginger supplements reduced markers of colon inflammation in a select group of patients, suggesting that this supplement may have potential as a colon cancer prevention agent, according to a study published in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
More intersections mean less outdoor activity for children
High intersection density and well-connected streets in towns and cities may discourage children from being active and exercising outdoors, according to a Queen's University study.
Test helps reduce risk of death in advanced lung cancer
Researchers at the University of Colorado Cancer Center have developed a test that identifies key biomarkers in advanced lung cancer that helped reduce the risk of death by 36 percent over a 30- month period in a recent clinical trial.
The perils of polite misunderstandings
Your friend debuts a questionable haircut and asks what you think of it. Brutal honesty would definitely hurt his feelings, so what do you say? Most people in this situation would probably opt for a vague or evasive response, along the lines of "It's really unique!" or "It's so you!" Politeness helps us get through awkward social situations like these and makes it easier for us to maintain our relationships. But a new article published in the October issue of Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, suggests that this kind of politeness can have disastrous consequences, especially in high-stakes situations.
Emerging pharmaceutical platform may pose risks to retinal health
According to new research by University of Kentucky investigators, an emerging pharmaceutical platform used in treating a variety of diseases may produce unintended and undesirable effects on eye function. The paper, "Short-interfering RNAs Induce Retinal Degeneration via TLR3 and IRF3", appears in the current online edition of the journal Molecular Therapy, a publication of the Nature Publishing Group and the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy.
Laser removal of heart device wires safe for older patients
Using a laser to remove wires connecting implanted pacemakers and defibrillators to the heart is as safe in people age 80 or older as it is in younger patients, according to research reported in Circulation: Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology, an American Heart Association journal.
BRCA2 genetic mutation associated with improved survival, chemotherapy response in ovarian cancer
Among women with a certain type of high-grade ovarian cancer, having BRCA2 genetic mutations, but not BRCA1, was associated with improved overall survival and improved response to chemotherapy, compared to women with BRCA wild-type (genetic type used as a reference to compare genetic mutations), according to a study in the October 12 issue of JAMA.
Folic acid in early pregnancy associated with reduced risk of severe language delay in children
Use of folic acid supplements by women in Norway in the period 4 weeks before to 8 weeks after conception was associated with a reduced risk of the child having severe language delay at age 3 years, according to a study in the October 12 issue of JAMA.
Ovarian cancer patients survive longer with BRCA2 mutated in tumors
Women with high-grade ovarian cancer live longer and respond better to platinum-based chemotherapy when their tumors have BRCA2 genetic mutations, researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Institute for Systems Biology report in the Oct. 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Eating your greens can change the effect of your genes on heart disease, say researchers
A long-held mantra suggests that you can't change your family, the genes they pass on, or the effect of these genes. Now, an international team of scientists, led by researchers at McMaster and McGill universities, is attacking that belief.
Melatonin delays onset, reduces deaths in mouse model of Huntington's disease
Melatonin, best known for its role in sleep regulation, delayed the onset of symptoms and reduced mortality in a mouse model of Huntington's disease, say researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School. Their findings, published today in the Journal of Neuroscience, show for the first time that certain receptors for the hormone reside in the mitochondria, and that there are fewer of them both in affected mice and human brains.
Stem cells, signaling pathways identified in lung repair
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers at National Jewish Health have identified cells and signaling molecules that trigger the repair of injured lungs. Stijn De Langhe, PhD, and his colleagues report October 10, 2011, online in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, that destruction of lung tissue in mice induces smooth muscle cells surrounding the airways to secrete a protein known as fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10), which induces surviving epithelial cells in the airways to revert to a stem-cell state, proliferate, repair and repopulate the lining of the lungs.
Neuroscientists pinpoint specific social difficulties in people with autism
(Medical Xpress) -- People with autism process information in unusual ways and often have difficulties in their social interactions in everyday life. While this can be especially striking in those who are otherwise high functioning, characterizing this difficulty in detail has been challenging. Now, researchers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have isolated a very specific difference in how high-functioning people with autism think about other people, finding that—in actuality—they don’t tend to think about what others think of them at all.
Rare form of temporary amnesia highlights role of CA1 neurons in accessing memories
(Medical Xpress) -- German researchers working out of the Institute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, University of Kiel, have found through the study of a rare form of temporary amnesia, that impairment of the CA1 neuron clusters in the Hippocampus appears to cause a loss of so-called autobiographical memories. The team has published its results in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Researchers develop new way to screen for brain cancer stem cell killers
Researchers with UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have developed and used a high-throughput molecular screening approach that identifies and characterizes chemical compounds that can target the stem cells that are responsible for creating deadly brain tumors.
Study identifies earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease
Addressing the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease, before a patient shows outward signs of cognitive problems, has sometimes been a challenge for physicians and researchers, in part because they have not been using common and specific terms to describe the disease's initial phases. A Mayo Clinic study recommends adding categories to more effectively identify and treat people and give researchers standard definitions to work with. The study is published in this month's issue of the Annals of Neurology.
New drug target for Alzheimer's, stroke discovered
A tiny piece of a critical receptor that fuels the brain and without which sentient beings cannot live has been discovered by University at Buffalo scientists as a promising new drug target for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Use of vitamin E associated with increased risk of prostate cancer
In a trial that included about 35,000 men, those who were randomized to receive daily supplementation with vitamin E had a significantly increased risk of prostate cancer, according to a study in the October 12 issue of JAMA.
Biology news
Winterization tips offered for pesticide application equipment, supplies
As winter approaches, it is time to store pesticides and prepare sprayers for long-term storage, says Montana State University Pesticide Education Specialist Cecil Tharp.
BGI develops first monkey exome sequencing platform for biomedical research
BGI, the world's largest genomics organization, has developed the first exome sequencing platform for the monkey, based on next-generation sequencing technology and monkey exome capturing array (MECA). MECA is a proprietary exome capture array designed by BGI for capturing the entire monkey exome. The combination of this revolutionary array and BGI's high-throughput sequencing technology not only can simplify the workflow of exome sequencing experiments, but also improve cost-effectiveness and turnaround time.
Which direction are herbicides heading?
2,4-D is coming back. What many might consider a "dinosaur" may be the best solution for growers fighting weed resistance today, said Dean Riechers, University of Illinois associate professor of weed physiology.
Fungus could wipe out Philippine bananas: growers
A disease that has ravaged banana plantations across Southeast Asia could wipe out the Philippine industry in three years unless the government finds a cure, a growers' group warned Monday.
Gut microbiome shapes change in human health and disease research
World class scientist Professor Willem M. de Vos will explain next Monday how the microbes that are closest to our hearts – gut microbes – could underpin a new way of thinking about human biology. As well as looking at our own genes, we can now include those of our microbes in studies of human health and disease. This is a significant shift in the way we approach human biology.
Secret of safe sprout production is very clean seeds, expert says
A University of Illinois study that uses new technology to assess and compare the safety of radish, broccoli, and alfalfa sprouts concludes that the secret to keeping sprouts free of foodborne pathogens lies in industry's intense attention to cleanliness of seeds.
Oranges and mandarins are inspected using artificial vision
Scientists at the Valencian Institute of Agrarian Research (IVIA, Spain) have created a machine that detects and separates rotten oranges, another that classifies mandarin segments according to their quality and another that helps citrus fruit pickers out in the field. All prototypes use computer vision to automatically inspect the fruits.
ISU plant pathologist updates science community on TAL effector proteins groundbreaking research
In the two years since Iowa State University's Adam Bogdanove, along with student Matthew Moscou, published their groundbreaking gene research in the cover story of the journal Science, researchers around the world have built on those findings to explore further breakthroughs.
Super-tough seed coat keeps Michaux's sumac on critically endangered list
It is one of the rarest shrubs in the southeastern United States, and for scientists trying to save it, the critically endangered Michaux's sumac (Rhus michauxii) is not cooperating.
Dating drought or purple patch? How males choose mates
(PhysOrg.com) -- Males decide how much effort they put into courtship and which females to court based on how many others they have recently encountered and how attractive they were, according to a new study into the mating tactics of tropical fish.
New 'genome mining' technique streamlines discovery from nature
A newly developed method for microscopically extracting, or "mining," information from genomes could represent a significant boost in the search for new therapeutic drugs and improve science's understanding of basic functions such as how cells communicate with one another.
Mutant maize genes increase viability of switch grass for biofuel
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals how the use of mutant maize genes inserted into switch grass may increase their biofuel viability.
New discovery could change the face of cell-biology research
Rewrite the textbooks and revisit old experiments, because there's a new cog in our cellular machinery that has been discovered by researchers from the University of Alberta and the University of Cambridge Institute for Medical Research.
Mole rat dental structure similar to a shark
(PhysOrg.com) -- Sharks are capable of continually growing new teeth. As the teeth age, they fall out and new ones move forward similar to that of a tooth conveyor belt. Humans, and most mammals, on the other hand are only given two sets of teeth and must make them last. However, researchers have found there are exceptions to this rule and a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that the silvery mole rat is one of the exceptions.
Most vertebrates -- including humans -- descended from ancestor with sixth sense
People experience the world through five senses but sharks, paddlefishes and certain other aquatic vertebrates have a sixth sense: They can detect weak electrical fields in the water and use this information to detect prey, communicate and orient themselves.
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