Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for January 24, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Blunt nanostructures could make high-efficiency solar cells easier to fabricate- Elusive matter found to be abundant far above Earth
- BMW shows hands-free driving on Autobahn (w/ video)
- Chemists find new material to remove radioactive gas from spent nuclear fuel
- Rice lab mimics Jupiter's Trojan asteroids inside a single atom
- Bilayer graphene works as an insulator
- Improving crops from the roots up
- Scientific plagiarism: A growing problem in an era of shrinking research funding
- Membrane fusion a mystery no more
- Research team applies mathematical modeling and algorithms to learning process
- Decline in solar output unlikely to offset global warming: study
- Monogamy reduces major social problems of polygamist cultures: study
- Entry point for hepatitis C infection identified
- A hint of frog in the air: Macrolides are volatile pheromones from Madagascar frogs
- Nano form of titanium dioxide can be toxic to marine organisms
Space & Earth news
Climatic warming-induced change in timings of 24 seasonal divisions in China since 1960
Changes of seasonal cycles are important to social and economic activities, agricultural planning in particular. Qian et al. quantified changes in the timings of 24 seasonal divisions conventionally known in China as the "24 Solar Terms," based on a recently developed homogenized dataset of daily temperature observations dating to 1960. The results provide quantitative guidance for adaptation to global warming in the region.
Expansion of the Panama Canal has knock-on effect for the environment
Expansion of one of the world's most important shipping routes brings with it a unique opportunity to reduce the carbon footprint of the marine industry, experts claim.
Space Shuttle Discovery headed to the Smithsonian
(AP) -- The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum is preparing to welcome the space shuttle Discovery into its collection.
Earth's mantle: New numerical tool describes rock deformation
Although solid, the rocks of the Earth's mantle deform very slowly. Professor Patrick Cordier's team at the Materials and Transformation Unit (Université Lille, France) has developed a model that makes it possible, over timescales of several million years, to link the deformation of these rocks with mantle convection, the fundamental driver of plate tectonics. Until now, no experimental method in the laboratory had achieved the real conditions of deformation of mantle rocks. By applying this model to magnesium oxide, a solid present in the Earth's mantle, the scientists were able to show how atomic-scale defects in this mineral could be transmitted on a larger scale and over long periods of time.
Scientists aboard Iberian coast ocean drilling expedition report early findings
(PhysOrg.com) -- Mediterranean bottom currents and the sediment deposits they leave behind offer new insights into global climate change, the opening and closing of ocean circulation gateways and locations where hydrocarbon deposits may lie buried under the sea.
Bacteria to the rescue
At several U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sites, uranium mining, milling, and processing have led to groundwater contamination that persists above drinking water standards—in spite of natural flushing and the removal of contaminated sediments. A multi-institutional research team, including researchers at DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), is investigating the use of bioremediation to treat the subsurface uranium plumes and remove pollutants. Research conducted by the team at the Integrated Field Research Challenge (IFRC) site in Rifle, Colorado has shown that indigenous bacteria can be stimulated to immobilize the uranium, resulting in groundwater concentrations below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standard.
NRL's SoloHI instrument selected for flight on solar orbiter mission
The Naval Research Laboratory's Solar Orbiter Heliospheric Imager (SoloHI), part of the Solar Orbiter mission, is headed for space. The European Space Agency (ESA) has chosen the Solar Orbiter mission as the first mission in its Cosmic Vision Program, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has approved SoloHI to proceed to the next phase in the flight instrument development - to develop the preliminary design and to finish the technology development. The Solar Orbiter spacecraft will study the sun from a closer distance than any mission has ever done. Launch is planned for 2017 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., aboard an expendable launch vehicle.
The Northern Lights dance over northern England
(AP) -- The Northern Lights have lit up the skies above Scotland, northern England and northern parts of Ireland after the biggest solar storm in more than six years bombarded Earth with radiation.
Can solar flares hurt astronauts?
Solar flares, coronal mass ejections, high-energy photons, cosmic rays… space is full of various forms of radiation that a human wouldn’t want to be exposed to for very long. Energized particles traveling into and through the body can cause a host of nasty health problems, from low blood count to radiation sickness to cataracts and cancer… and potentially even death. Luckily Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere protects us on the surface from much of this radiation, but what about the astronauts aboard the Space Station? How could events such as today’s powerful near-X-class solar flare and last week’s CME affect them, orbiting 240 miles above Earth’s surface?
Space image: Dione flyby
Saturn's moon Mimas peeks out from behind the night side of the larger moon Dione in this Cassini image captured during the spacecraft's Dec. 12, 2011, flyby of Dione.
Swiss duo win award for spotting distant planets
A pair of Swiss astrophysicists who were the first to discover a planet from beyond our solar system were honoured Tuesday with a major Spanish science award.
Cassini sees the two faces of Titan's Dunes
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new analysis of radar data from NASA's Cassini mission, in partnership with the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency, has revealed regional variations among sand dunes on Saturn's moon Titan. The result gives new clues about the moon's climatic and geological history.
Curtin geologists make a 'shocking' discovery
Research led by Curtin University geologists has uncovered a wealth of new evidence in the mineral zircon from lunar rock samples recovered during NASA’s Apollo missions, revealing indisputable proof of meteorite collisions on the Moon.
Earth's cloudy past could reveal exoplanet details
The pattern of clouds on Earth is largely determined by the arrangement of the continents below. Now, astronomers are modeling the clouds at different periods in Earth's past to better understand what alien worlds might look like.
Decline in solar output unlikely to offset global warming: study
(PhysOrg.com) -- New research has found that solar output is likely to reduce over the next 90 years but that will not substantially delay expected increases in global temperatures caused by greenhouse gases.
Solar storm expected to fire up northern lights
Stargazers were out in force in northern Europe on Tuesday, hoping to be awed by a spectacular showing of northern lights after the most powerful solar storm in six years.
Elusive matter found to be abundant far above Earth
(PhysOrg.com) -- Cold plasma has been well-hidden. Space physicists have long lacked clues to how much of this electrically charged gas exists tens of thousands of miles above Earth and how the stuff may impact our planet's interaction with the sun. Now, a new method developed by Swedish researchers makes cold plasma measurable and reveals significantly more cold, charged ions in Earth's upper altitudes than previously imagined.
Technology news
Verizon posts $2B 4Q loss on pension adjustment
(AP) -- Verizon paid dearly to put iPhones in the hands of subscribers in the latest quarter, holding back its profits in the hope that its customers will rack up higher monthly bills and stay loyal.
Using Hollywood technology to unlock the secret of pianist's sounds
University of Southampton academics are pioneering a new way of using motion capture technology to examine the way pianists play the piano.
Sony develops next-generation back-illuminated CMOS image sensor
Sony today announced that it has developed a new next-generation back-illuminated CMOS image sensor which embodies the continuous evolution of the camera. This image sensor layers the pixel section containing formations of back-illuminated structure pixels onto chips containing the circuit section for signal processing, which is in place of supporting substrates for conventional back-illuminated CMOS image sensors. This structure achieves further enhancement in image quality, superior functionalities and a more compact size that will lead to enhanced camera evolution.
Julian Assange says he's launching TV talk show
(AP) -- You've read his leaks. Now watch his show.
Young Indians in social network 'fatigue'
India's urban youth are suffering social-media "fatigue," prompting a number to delete their Facebook and other accounts, according to a new study.
For most Mexicans, the digital age is still out of reach
Israel Vasquez, 12, has no computer or Internet access at home, but he needs both to do his homework.
US publisher Meredith buys Allrecipes.com
Meredith Corp., publisher of Better Homes and Gardens and other magazines, announced Tuesday it has bought Allrecipes.com from The Reader's Digest Association Inc. in a $175 million transaction.
Texas Instrument to close plants in Houston, Japan
(AP) -- Texas Instruments plans to close computer-chip factories in Houston and Japan in a cost-cutting move that will lay off about 1,000 workers.
Google to allow some nicknames on Plus service
Google is relaxing a requirement that real names be used on its Plus social network.
Decision due in Megaupload founder's N.Z. bail bid
Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom is set to learn Wednesday if he will remain behind bars in New Zealand while US authorities seek his extradition on allegations of massive copyright theft.
Google hit by new anti-trust complaint in Europe
The French online shopping website Twenga has filed a complaint against Google at the European Commission, accusing the Internet search giant of abusing its dominant position to eliminate any competition.
Polish websites to go dark to protest ACTA
(AP) -- Several popular Polish websites are planning to go dark for an hour Tuesday evening to protest the government's plan to sign an international copyright treaty.
Elpida Memory develops resistance RAM prototype
Elpida Memory, the world's third largest Dynamic Random Access Memory ("DRAM") manufacturer, today announced the development of its first-ever high-speed non-volatile resistance memory (ReRAM) prototype. As the ReRAM prototype was made using a 50-nanometer process technology it has a memory cell array operation of 64 megabits, one of the highest densities possible for ReRAM. The prototype was jointly developed with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), a Japanese-funded public institution. Further work on ReRAM development is being conducted with Sharp Corporation, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST, another Japanese public institution) and the University of Tokyo.
Philips develops efficient solar powered LED street lighting
Philips has developed what is said to be the world’s most efficient and cost effective solar powered LED street lighting solution per km of road.
Fold-up car of the future unveiled at EU
A tiny revolutionary fold-up car designed in Spain's Basque country as the answer to urban stress and pollution was unveiled Tuesday before hitting European cities in 2013.
Social-networking rivals offer workaround for Google social search
Google's social-networking rivals have apparently teamed up to offer users a tool that allows them to avoid the integration of Google's core search business and Google+.
Analyst: Apple sold more than 350,000 e-textbooks in 3 days
Apple's foray into the e-textbook business started off with a bang, according to a Monday report: The company sold more than 350,000 textbooks through its new version of iBooks in its first three days of availability, an analyst said.
Dutch nab Estonian in Megaupload case: prosecutors
Dutch police have arrested an Estonian man in connection with the Megaupload case into massive online piracy, Dutch prosecutors said Tuesday.
Dutch court refuses to ban sales of Samsung tablet
Dutch appeals judges ruled Tuesday that Samsung's Galaxy Tab tablet is not a copy of Apple's popular iPad, handing the Korean consumer electronics maker its latest legal victory over its American rival.
Yahoo delivers another listless performance in 4Q
Yahoo's latest financial results show the Internet company is still losing ground in the battle for online advertising.
Google to merge user data across more services
Google Inc. is overhauling the way it treats user data, linking information across its array of email, video and social-networking services so that information gathered in one place can be used in another.
Apple doubles iPhone sales in 1Q
After uncharacteristically tepid sales in the July-to-September quarter, Apple came back with a vengeance in last three months of 2011, vastly exceeding analyst estimates and setting new records.
'Genetic programming': The mathematics of taste
The design of aromas — the flavors of packaged food and drink and the scents of cleaning products, toiletries and other household items — is a multibillion-dollar business. The big flavor companies spend tens of millions of dollars every year on research and development, including a lot of consumer testing.
Jumpstarting computers with 3-D chips
EPFL scientist are among the leaders in the race to develop an industry-ready prototype of a 3D chip as well as a high-performance and reliable manufacturing method. The chip is composed of three or more processors that are stacked vertically and connected together—resulting in increased speed and multitasking, more memory and calculating power, better functionality and wireless connectivity. Developed at the Microelectronics Systems Laboratory (LSM), Director Yusuf Leblebici is unveiling these results to experts on Wednesday the 25th of January in Paris, in a keynote presentation at the 2012 Interconnection Network Architectures Workshop.
Aero-engineers debut open-source fluid dynamics design application
Each fall at technical universities across the world, a new crop of aeronautical and astronautical engineering graduate students settle in for the work that will consume them for the next several years. For many, their first experience in these early months is not with titanium or aluminum or advanced carbon-fiber materials that are the stuff of airplanes, but with computer code.
BMW shows hands-free driving on Autobahn (w/ video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Move over, Google, or better still, stay off the Autobahn, best not to interfere with the main show, which now stars BMW and its technology feats with self-driving cars. BMW has been drawing press interest in its recent show of what will be possible in self-driving cars 10 to 15 years from now. BMW had announced in August its “ConnectedDrive Connect (CDC) system. This week, a video was released showing a BMW on CDC realtime. BMW put it on the Autobahn, along with a human driver who nonetheless kept hands off the wheel of the car, a BMW 5 series model.
Medicine & Health news
Commonly used drug for enlarged prostate slows growth of early-stage prostate cancer
Dutasteride, a drug that is commonly used to treat enlargement of the prostate, might also slow the growth of early-stage prostate cancer and reduce the need for potentially debilitating treatments that carry risks of impotence and incontinence, according to an article published Online First in the Lancet.
Preoperative MRI may reduce risk of nerve damage in prostate cancer surgeries
Preoperative MRI helps surgeons make more informed decisions about nerve-sparing procedures in men with prostate cancer, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.
Non-certified providers provide initial care in Bangladesh
(Medical Xpress) -- In rural Bangladesh, non-certified providers such as village doctors and untrained birth attendants are the first-line providers for women with severe obstetric complications, according to a new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Decisions on care-seeking for obstetric emergencies were largely made by husbands and in-laws. The study, published in the January 3 edition of BioMed Central Pregnancy and Childbirth, analyzed the factors associated with health care decision making during obstetric emergencies.
Georgetown University Medical Center licenses 'theranostic' for development
Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) has licensed worldwide rights of a potential novel cancer therapy and diagnostic, or "theranostic," to BioMetrx, LLC. The agent was invented by two Georgetown researchers.
New migraine clinical trial guidelines
Experts from the International Headache Society (IHS) have developed new recommendations for conduct of acute and preventive migraine clinical trials. The third edition of Migraine Clinical Trials Guidelines is now available in the IHS journal Cephalalgia, which is published by SAGE.
Understanding causes of obesity in Aboriginal children
To fully understand the causes of the obesity epidemic in Aboriginal children requires an understanding of the unique social and historical factors that shape the Aboriginal community. A review article published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism emphasizes that early childhood obesity prevention efforts should begin focusing with the parents before and during pregnancy and on breastfeeding initiatives and nutrition in the early childhood development stages.
HPV testing: Indications of a benefit in primary screening
Studies currently available provide indications and a "hint" that precursors of cervical cancer can be detected and treated earlier, and consequently tumours occur less often, in women who underwent testing for human papillomavirus (HPV). In this context, an HPV test can be used alone or in addition to a Papanicolaou test (Pap smear). However, both screening procedures also carry a risk of harm in the form of unnecessary treatments after testing (over-treatment). This is the result of a final report published by the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) on 24th of January 2012.
Gene therapy is a 'disruptive science' ready for commercial development
The time for commercial development of gene therapy has come. Patients with diseases treatable and curable with gene therapy deserve access to the technology, which has demonstrated both its effectiveness and feasibility, says James Wilson, MD, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of Human Gene Therapy in a provocative commentary and accompanying videocast. Human Gene Therapy and Human Gene Therapy (HGT) Methods are peer-reviewed journals published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc..
Brown fat burns calories in adult humans
Brown adipose tissue (often known as brown fat) is a specialized tissue that burns calories to generate body heat in rodents and newborn humans, neither of which shiver.
Global AIDS Fund head to quit
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS announced on Tuesday that its head Michel Kazatchkine will quit but denied media reports that it was connected to his links with French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.
Availability and use of sanitation reduces by half the likelihood of parasitic worm infections
Access to sanitation facilities, such as latrines, reduces by half the risk of becoming infected by parasitic worms that are transmitted via soil (soil-transmitted helminths) according to a study published in this week's PLoS Medicine. These findings are important as infection with parasitic worms can cause diarrhea, weakness, and malnutrition, which in turn can impair physical and mental development in children; they reinforce the importance of increased access to sanitation (a Millennium Development Goal target) to improve health outcomes.
More on legal remedies for ghostwriting
In an Essay that expands on a previous proposal to use the courts to prosecute those involved in ghostwriting on the basis of it being legal fraud, Xavier Bosch from the University of Barcelona, Spain and colleagues lay out three outline specific areas of legal liability in this week's PLoS Medicine.
Lifestyle counseling reduces time to reach treatment goals for people with diabetes
Lifestyle counseling, practiced as part of routine care for people with diabetes, helps people more quickly lower blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels and keep them under control, according to a large, long-term study published in the February issue of Diabetes Care.
Anaphylactic shock after vaccination 'extremely rare'
A sudden, serious allergic reaction -- known anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock -- following vaccination, is "extremely rare," concludes research published online in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Enriched skimmed milk may curb frequency of gout flare-ups
A daily dose of skimmed milk, enriched with two components found in dairy products, may help to curb the frequency of painful gout flare-ups, indicates research published online in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Generation X: How young adults deal with influenza
Only about one in five young adults in their late 30s received a flu shot during the 2009-2010 swine flu epidemic, according to a University of Michigan report that details the behavior and attitudes of Generation X.
Typhoid outbreak hits Zimbabwe
At least 90 people were admitted to hospital and over 600 affected in a typhoid outbreak in the Zimbabwean capital Harare, a health official said on Tuesday.
Vision improves modestly in patients after human embryonic stem cells transplants
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers at UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute and colleagues who successfully transplanted specialized retinal cells derived from human embryonic stem cells into the eyes of two legally blind patients report that the transplants appear safe and that both patients have experienced modest improvement in their vision.
Study explores autism co-occurring conditions and diagnosis change
(Medical Xpress) -- In a new Pediatrics article, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health examined the relationship between the co-occurring conditions in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), and whether the children’s ASD diagnosis remained stable or changed.
Bionic leg makes amputee faster on his feet
Craig Hutto considers himself part bionic man. In 2005, doctors amputated his leg after a shark attacked him during a fishing trip off the Florida Gulf Coast.
Team finds new way to image brain tumors, predict recurrence
After people with low-grade glioma, a type of brain cancer, undergo neurosurgery to remove the tumors, they face variable odds of survival — depending largely on how rapidly the cancer recurs. Even though their doctors monitor the tumor closely with sophisticated imaging, it is difficult to determine with certainty whether cancer has returned in a more malignant state that requires aggressive treatment.
Why men 'exhibit warrior tendencies'
A new study has looked into how our psychology concerning war and conflict may have been shaped by our evolutionary past.
Exercise has charms to soothe a savage boss
lying, making fun of you in public and generally putting you down, he or she may benefit from some exercise, according to a new study by James Burton from Northern Illinois University in the US and his team. Their work shows that stressed supervisors, struggling with time pressures, vent their frustrations on their employees less when they get regular, moderate exercise. The research is published online in Springer's Journal of Business and Psychology.
Study finds religion helps us gain self-control
Thinking about religion gives people more self-control on later, unrelated tasks; according to results from a series of recent Queen's University study.
The impact of deleting 5 personality disorders in the new DSM-5
A newly published paper from Rhode Island Hospital reports on the impact to patients if five personality disorders are removed from the upcoming revision to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th edition (DSM-5). Based on their study, the researchers believe these changes could result in false-negative diagnoses for patients. The paper is published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry and is now available online in advance of print.
Scientists report first step in strategy for cell replacement therapy in Parkinson's disease
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) are a promising avenue for cell replacement therapy in neurologic diseases. For example, mouse and human iPSCs have been used to generate dopaminergic (DA) neurons that improve symptoms in rat Parkinson's disease models. Reporting in the current issue of the Journal of Parkinson's Disease, a group of scientists from Japan evaluated the growth, differentiation, and function of human-derived iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in a primate model, elucidating their therapeutic potential.
Foot and ankle structure differs between sprinters and non-sprinters
The skeletal structure of the foot and ankle differs significantly between human sprinters and non-sprinters, according to Penn State researchers. Their findings not only help explain why some people are faster runners than others, but also may be useful in helping people who have difficulty walking, such as older adults and children with cerebral palsy.
GABA deficits disturb endocannabinoid system
Changes in the endocannabinoid system may have important implications for psychiatric and addiction disorders. This brain system is responsible for making substances that have effects on brain function which resemble those of cannabis products, e.g., marijuana.
Cocoa could prevent intestinal pathologies such as colon cancer
A new study on living animals has shown for the first time that eating cocoa (the raw material in chocolate) can help to prevent intestinal complaints linked to oxidative stress, including colon carcinogenesis onset caused by chemical substances.
Teen passengers: 'The other distraction' for teen drivers
A pair of studies by The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and State Farm® identify factors that may lead teens to drive with multiple peer passengers and, then, how those passengers may affect their driver's behavior just before a serious crash. The studies were published today in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
Alzheimer's: French scientists focus on key target
French scientists said on Tuesday that lack of a key brain protein was linked to Alzheimer's, a finding that threw up a tempting target for drugs to fight the disease.
Saliva HIV test passes the grade
A saliva test used to diagnose the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is comparable in accuracy to the traditional blood test, according to a new study led by the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) and McGill University. The meta-analysis, which compared studies worldwide, showed that the saliva HIV test, OraQuick HIV1/2, had the same accuracy as the blood test for high-risk populations. The test sensitivity was slightly reduced for low risk populations. The study, published in this week's issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases, has major implications for countries that wish to adopt self-testing strategies for HIV.
Possible new pathway can overcome glioblastoma resistance
Glioblastoma, a lethal brain cancer, is one of the most resistant to available therapies and patients typically live approximately 15 months.
High fructose consumption by adolescents may put them at cardiovascular risk
Evidence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk is present in the blood of adolescents who consume a lot of fructose, a scenario that worsens in the face of excess belly fat, researchers report.
Genetic variation increases risk of metabolic side effects in children on some antipsychotics
Researchers have found a genetic variation predisposing children to six-times greater risk of developing metabolic syndrome when taking second-generation anti-psychotic medications. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The study showed a close association with two conditions in particular: high blood pressure and elevated fasting blood sugar levels, which is a precursor to diabetes. The research is published today in the medical research journal Translational Psychiatry.
Walking in place during commercials offers a good calorie burn
Fitness experts are always telling us that incorporating movement into our day is a good way to burn calories. But is it effective? A study finds that walking in place during commercials while watching TV actually provides a pretty good workout.
Study: Off-campus college party hosts drink more than attendees
On any given weekend, at least 10 percent of students at a single college could be hosting a party, and on average, party hosts who live off campus are drinking more and engaging in more alcohol-related problem behaviors than are the students attending their bashes, research suggests.
No whooping cough deaths in California last year
No Californian died from whooping cough in 2011, the first year since 1991 that there have been no deaths in the state from the highly infectious illness.
Acid reflux drug does not improve asthma in children
Children without symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux whose asthma was being poorly controlled with anti-inflammatory treatment did not have an improvement in symptoms or lung function with the added treatment of the proton pump inhibitor lansoprazole, compared to patients who received placebo, according to a study in the January 25 issue of JAMA. Use of lansoprazole was associated with increased adverse events.
PFCs, chemicals in environment, linked to lowered immune response to childhood vaccinations
A new study finds that perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), widely used in manufactured products such as non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, and fast-food packaging, were associated with lowered immune response to vaccinations in children. It is the first study to document how PFCs, which can be transferred to children prenatally (via the mother) and postnatally from exposure in the environment, can adversely affect vaccine response.
Women with certain type of ovarian cancer and BRCA gene mutation have improved survival at 5 years
Among women with invasive epithelial ovarian cancer, patients having a germline (gene change in a reproductive cell that could be passed to offspring) mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes was associated with improved 5-year overall survival, with BRCA2 carriers having the best prognosis, according to a study in the January 25 issue of JAMA.
Tobacco smoking and high blood pressure are biggest killers of Japanese adults
The life expectancy of a person born in Japan is among the highest in the world (82.9 years) yet tobacco smoking and high blood pressure are still the major risk factors for death among adults in Japan, emphasizing the need to reduce tobacco smoking and to improve ongoing programs designed to help people manage multiple cardiovascular risk factors, including high blood pressure, according to a study published in this week's PLoS Medicine.
Black tea reduces blood pressure: study
(Medical Xpress) -- Drinking a cup of black tea three times a day may significantly reduce your blood pressure.
CDC: Diabetes amputations falling dramatically
Foot and leg amputations were once a fairly common fate for diabetics, but new government research shows a dramatic decline in limbs lost to the disease, probably due to better treatments.
Shoulder pain from using your iPad? Don't use it on your lap
The sudden popularity of tablet computers such as the Apple iPad has not allowed for the development of guidelines to optimize users' comfort and well-being. In a new study published in Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation, researchers from Harvard School of Public Health, Microsoft Corporation, and Brigham and Women's Hospital report that head and neck posture during tablet computer use can be improved by placing the tablet higher to avoid low gaze angles, and through the use of a case that provides optimal viewing angles.
Researchers develop computer model that can predict cholera outbreaks 11 months in advance
(Medical Xpress) -- A new University of Michigan computer model of disease transmission in space and time can predict cholera outbreaks in Bangladesh up to 11 months in advance, providing an early warning system that could help public health officials there.
research shows health inequalities imprinted on DNA
(Medical Xpress) -- New research from the University of Glasgow shows that the health of the city’s most deprived residents could be impaired before they are even born.
Researchers find negative social interactions can lead to increased amounts of internal inflammation
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers from the University of California have found that negative social interactions can cause internal inflammation that may over time lead to possible health consequences. In the study, the results of which the team has published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team writes that stressful events can lead to increased production of cytokines, molecules that are produced when inflammation occurs.
Babies are born with 'intuitive physics' knowledge, researcher says
While it may appear that infants are helpless creatures that only blink, eat, cry and sleep, one University of Missouri researcher says that studies indicate infant brains come equipped with knowledge of "intuitive physics."
It's evolution: Nature of prejudice, aggression different for men and women
Prejudice is linked to aggression for men and fear for women, suggests new research led by Michigan State University scholars.
Entry point for hepatitis C infection identified
A molecule embedded in the membrane of human liver cells that aids in cholesterol absorption also allows the entry of hepatitis C virus, the first step in hepatitis C infection, according to research at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine.
Biology news
Malaysia saves endangered pygmy elephant on Borneo
Malaysian wildlife authorities said they had rescued a pygmy elephant calf on Borneo island and expressed hope a planned sanctuary would provide protection for the endangered animals.
Rich Asians threaten high-value fish: experts
The growing ranks of wealthy Asians and their increasing appetite for more expensive fish are threatening stocks, potentially causing wider environmental damage, experts at a UN conference said on Tuesday.
Horseshoe crabs are one of nature's great survivors
It may look like something out of a science fiction movie, but the horseshoe crab is definitely real. In fact it is one of nature’s great survivors, lasting through 3 of the Earth’s major extinction events.
Straight from the horse's mouth -- study reveals owners supplement choices
Horse owners are most likely to use their vet to guide the choice of nutritional supplements they feed their animal, but also rely heavily on recommendations from other riders, a unique study has revealed.
High-tech models help guide restoration efforts to save threatened plants
A team of scientists from the USDA Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW) and two universities will begin research using sophisticated topographic models to identify areas within dry forests that have the most potential for ecological restoration.
Therapeutically useful stem cell derivatives in need of stability
Human stem cells capable of giving rise to any fetal or adult cell type are known as pluripotent stem cells. It is hoped that such cells, the most well known being human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), can be used to generate cell populations with therapeutic utility. In this context, neural derivatives of hESCs are being tested in clinical trials. However, Natalie Lefort and colleagues, at the Institute for Stem cell Therapy and Exploration of Monogenic diseases, France, have now generated cautionary data that suggest that additional quality controls need to be put in place to ensure that neural derivatives of human pluripotent stem cells are not genomically unstable, a common characteristic of cancer cells.
Marine mammals on the menu in many parts of world
The fate of the world's great whale species commands global attention as a result of heated debate between pro and anti-whaling advocates, but the fate of smaller marine mammals is less understood, specifically because the deliberate and accidental catching and killing of dolphins, porpoises, manatees, and other warm-blooded aquatic species are rarely studied or monitored.
Tartan fit for a panda in Scotland
Two pandas gifted to Edinburgh zoo by China received the ultimate Scottish honour on Tuesday when a special tartan designed for them was unveiled.
Sumatran elephants could be extinct in 30 years
The Sumatran elephant could be extinct in the wild within three decades unless immediate steps are taken to slow the breakneck pace of deforestation, environmentalists warned Tuesday.
Pilot whales strand again on New Zealand beach
A pod of about 40 beached pilot whales re-stranded themselves in New Zealand Tuesday after volunteers worked for hours to get them back into the sea, officials said.
How the European conquest affected Native Americans
Researchers from Germany and the United States suggest that the European conquest triggered the loss of more than half the Native American population. The results of their study provide new insight into the demise of the indigenous population. Experts recognise that Native Americans died while at war or due to diseases when Europeans first arrived in the Americas; the question this latest study addresses is how the overall population was impacted by the conquest. Extensive genetic analysis proved that a transient contraction in population sizes by some 50% occurred approximately 500 years ago. The findings substantiate historical records indicating how the European settlers impacted the peoples of North and South America: diseases, wars, famine and slavery all played a part. The study was presented in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Wasp found in upstate New York shows up in Southern California
In August 2010, an entomologist at the University of California, Riverside discovered a tiny fairyfly wasp in upstate New York that had never been seen in the United States until then. Nearly exactly a year later, he discovered the wasp in Irvine, Calif., strongly suggesting that the wasp is well established in the country.
'Speed gene' in modern racehorses originated from British mare 300 years ago
Scientists have traced the origin of the 'speed gene' in Thoroughbred racehorses back to a single British mare that lived in the United Kingdom around 300 years ago, according to findings published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.
Membrane fusion a mystery no more
The many factors that contribute to how cells communicate and function at the most basic level are still not fully understood, but researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have uncovered a mechanism that helps explain how intracellular membranes fuse, and in the process, created a new physiological membrane fusion model.
Improving crops from the roots up
Research involving scientists at The University of Nottingham has taken us a step closer to breeding hardier crops that can better adapt to different environmental conditions and fight off attack from parasites.
Fungi-filled forests are critical for endangered orchids
When it comes to conserving the world's orchids, not all forests are equal. In a paper to be published Jan. 25 in the journal Molecular Ecology, Smithsonian ecologists revealed that an orchid's fate hinges on two factors: a forest's age and its fungi.
Restored wetlands rarely equal condition of original wetlands
Wetland restoration is a billion-dollar-a-year industry in the United States that aims to create ecosystems similar to those that disappeared over the past century. But a new analysis of restoration projects shows that restored wetlands seldom reach the quality of a natural wetland.
This email is a free service of PhysOrg.com
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
http://www.physorg.com/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment