Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for March 21, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Researchers engineer molecular magnets to act as long-lived qubits- NIF facility fires record laser shot into target chamber
- Physicists demonstrate quantum plasmons in atomic-scale nanoparticles
- Mercury's surprising core and landscape curiosities
- Hungarian wins top mathematics prize
- Alzheimer's disease spreads through linked nerve cells, brain imaging studies suggest
- Study shines light on brain mechanism that controls reward enjoyment
- Researchers discover drug target for stimulating recovery from stroke
- How the alphabet of data processing is growing: Research team generates flying 'qubits'
- Far higher potential for wind energy in India than previously estimated: study
- Study solves structure of 'salvia receptor', reveals how salvinorin A interacts with it
- Will you have a heart attack? New test can possibly predict
- Research identifies inhibitor causing male pattern baldness and target for hair-loss treatments
- Scientists open new window into how cancers override cellular growth controls
- Scientists find protein critical for tissue regeneration
Space & Earth news
Through MoonMappers, the public is offered a chance to be part of NASA Lunar Science
The MoonMappers citizen science project at CosmoQuest.org invites the public to become part of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter’s science team. Through this project, the public is invited to explore high-resolution Lunar images and map out scientifically interesting features. People can get engaged at http://cosmoquest.org/moonmappers
Space Image: Sunspots and solar flares
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captured this image of an M7.9 class flare on March 13, 2012 at 1:29 p.m. EDT. It is shown here in the 131 Angstrom wavelength, a wavelength particularly good for seeing solar flares and a wavelength that is typically colorized in teal. The flare peaked at 1:41 p.m. EDT. It was from the same active region, No. 1429, that produced flares and coronal mass ejections the entire week. The region has been moving across the face of the sun since March 2, and will soon rotate out of Earth view.
Chemical pollution in Europe's seas: The monitoring must catch up with the science
According to a recent poll of more than 10,000 citizens from ten European countries, pollution is the primary concern of the public at large among all issues that threaten the marine environment. A new position paper of the Marine Board-ESF shows that such public concern is not misplaced and is supported by scientific evidence.
USDA Forest Service and NASA release Web-based forest disturbance monitoring tool
The USDA Forest Service's Eastern Forest and Western Wildland Environmental Threat Assessment Centers recently unveiled a product that helps natural resource managers rapidly detect, identify, and respond to unexpected changes in the nation's forests by using web-based tools. ForWarn, a satellite-based monitoring and assessment tool, recognizes and tracks potential forest disturbances caused by insects, diseases, wildfires, extreme weather, or other natural or human-caused events. The tool, available at http://www.forwarn.forestthreats.org, complements and focuses efforts of existing forest monitoring programs and potentially results in time and cost savings.
Illegal toxic waste dump sparks anger in Russia
Russian authorities on Wednesday announced plans to clean up more than 160 tonnes of highly toxic waste that was illegally dumped close to a town after outraged residents appealed to the Kremlin.
SpaceX, NASA readies for April 30 launch to ISS
Preparations for the April 30 launch of the SpaceX's Dragon commercial spacecraft to the International Space Station are underway without major problems, a top NASA official said Tuesday.
Ocean climate change damage to cost $2 trillion
Greenhouse gases are likely to result in annual costs of nearly $2 trillion in damage to the oceans by 2100, according to a new Swedish study
Space observations of Mercury transits yield precise solar radius
(PhysOrg.com) -- A group of scientists from Hawaii, Brazil and California has measured the diameter of the Sun with unprecedented accuracy by using a spacecraft to time the transits of the planet Mercury across the face of the Sun in 2003 and 2006.
'Weather in a tank' demonstration helps students grasp fluid dynamics
Fluid dynamics plays a central role in determining Earth’s climate. Ocean currents and eddies stir up contents from the deep, while atmospheric winds and weather systems steer temperature and moisture around the globe. As the planet spins on its axis, this rotation can significantly affect fluid motion. To fully understand how climate works, researchers at MIT say students must first understand how Earth’s rotation affects winds and currents. “Rotating fluids are not intuitive,” says Lodovica Illari, a meteorologist and senior lecturer in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS).
Amount of coldest Antarctic water near ocean floor decreasing for decades
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists have found a large reduction in the amount of the coldest deep ocean water, called Antarctic Bottom Water, all around the Southern Ocean using data collected from 1980 to 2011. These findings, in a study now online, will likely stimulate new research on the causes of this change.
Study of Patagonian Glacier's rise and fall adds to understanding of global climate change
(PhysOrg.com) -- Glaciers play a vital role in Earth’s climate system, and it’s critical to understand what contributes to their fluctuation.
Speca -- An intriguing look into the beginning of a black hole jet
Its catalog number is NGC 3801, but its name is SPECA – a Spiral-host Episodic radio galaxy tracing Cluster Accretion. That’s certainly a mouthful of words for this unusual galaxy, but there’s a lot more going on here than just its name. “This is probably the most exotic galaxy with a black hole, ever seen. It has the potential to teach us new lessons about how galaxies and clusters of galaxies formed in the early Universe,” said Ananda Hota, of the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA), in Taiwan and who discovered this exotic galaxy. “We find this merger-remnant early-type galaxy to have an intriguing spiral-wisp of young star forming regions.”
Orion Crew capsule targeted for 2014 leap to high orbit
NASA is on course to make the highest leap in human spaceflight in nearly 4 decades when an unmanned Orion crew capsule blasts off from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on a high stakes, high altitude test flight in early 2014.
Electricity from trees
Plants have long been known as the lungs of the earth, but a new finding has found they may also play a role in electrifying the atmosphere.
Scientists use rare mineral to correlate past climate events in Europe, Antarctica
The first day of spring brought record high temperatures across the northern part of the United States, while much of the Southwest was digging out from a record-breaking spring snowstorm. The weather, it seems, has gone topsy-turvy. Are the phenomena related? Are climate changes in one part of the world felt half a world away?
Artificial comet contains building blocks of life
The first molecules of life form naturally in comets, reveals a French-German study led by Uwe Meierhenrich and Cornelia Meinert at the Institut de Chimie de Nice and by Louis Le Sergeant d'Hendecourt at the Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (CNRS/France). The researchers produced an artificial comet and, using a technique that is the only one of its kind in the world, they analyzed its chemical composition. For the first time ever, it appeared that comets may contain molecules that made up the earliest genetic material: diamino acids. At the interface of chemistry, biology and astrophysics, this work lends support to the hypothesis that the basic building blocks of life did not appear on Earth but in space. These findings have just been published in the journal ChemPlusChem.
VISTA stares deep into the cosmos: Treasure trove of new infrared data made available to astronomers
(PhysOrg.com) -- ESO's VISTA telescope has created the widest deep view of the sky ever made using infrared light. This new picture of an unremarkable patch of sky comes from the UltraVISTA survey and reveals more than 200 000 galaxies. It forms just one part of a huge collection of fully processed images from all the VISTA surveys that is now being made available by ESO to astronomers worldwide. UltraVISTA is a treasure trove that is being used to study distant galaxies in the early Universe as well as for many other science projects.
Mercury's surprising core and landscape curiosities
(PhysOrg.com) -- On March 17, the tiny MESSENGER spacecraft completed its primary mission to orbit and observe the planet Mercury for one Earth-year. The bounty of surprises from the mission has completely altered our understanding of the solar system's innermost planet. As reported in one of two papers published today on Science Express, scientists have found that Mercury's core, already suspected to occupy a greater fraction of the planet's interior than do the cores of Earth, Venus, or Mars, is even larger than anticipated. The companion paper shows that the elevation ranges on Mercury are much smaller than on Mars or the Moon and documents evidence that there have been large-scale changes to Mercury's topography since the earliest phases of the planet's geological history.
Technology news
Zuiker to debut 'Cybergeddon' movie on Yahoo
(AP) -- "CSI" creator Anthony Zuiker is making a movie destined for the small screen.
NIST releases technical guidance for evaluating electronic health records
An important aspect of any product is how easily someone can use it for its intended purpose, also known as usability. Electronic health records (EHR) that are usable have the potential to improve patient care, which is why the National Institute of Standards and Technology has outlined formal procedures for evaluating the usability of EHR systems.
Yahoo shareholder pushes for its board nominees
(AP) -- One of Yahoo's major investors is urging shareholders to vote its four nominees on to the Internet company's board, launching a potentially nasty fight to transform the Internet company's board.
Disney sketches sequel to 'Epic Mickey' video game
(AP) -- Warren Spector realizes that he made a mistake with "Epic Mickey," his 2010 action-adventure game starring the world's most famous mouse
Hewlett Packard Romania hit by anti-trust probe
The Romanian unit of US computer giant Hewlett Packard is under investigation for possible abuse of its dominant market position, the Romanian anti-trust watchdog said on Wednesday.
3 online date sites agree to screen for predators
(AP) -- Three online dating giants agreed to screen for sex offenders and take other safety steps after a woman was assaulted on a date, the California attorney general's office announced Tuesday.
India's Tech Mahindra announces Satyam merger
India's Tech Mahindra announced its long-awaited buyout of IT outsourcer Satyam Computer on Wednesday, creating a new force in the sector with annual revenue of $2.26 billion.
Japan, US, and EU to meet on rare earths
Japan said Wednesday it will host the European Union and United States at a meeting on developing alternatives for rare earths as Chinese controls on the key minerals raise fears of a supply squeeze.
Swedish parliament passes controversial data storage bill
Sweden's parliament on Wednesday overwhelmingly voted through an EU-backed law obliging telecom and Internet operators to store data traffic information for at least six months.
China passes US in smartphone activations: report
China has passed the United States when it comes to how many people are adopting smartphones and tablets powered by Apple or Google software, mobile analytics firm Flurry said Wednesday.
Major Yahoo shareholder launches board challenge
(AP) -- A major Yahoo shareholder has launched a campaign to win four seats on the Internet company's board, setting the stage for a nasty battle that could drag on for months.
Zynga buys startup behind hit "Draw Something" game
Social games star Zynga on Wednesday said it has bought the young company behind a playful "Draw Something" application that rocketed in popularity in recent weeks.
Google opens Amazon wilds to armchair explorers
Google's free online map service on Wednesday began letting people explore portions of the Amazon Basin from the comfort of their homes.
Jellyfish inspires latest ocean-powered robot (w/ video)
American researchers have created a robotic jellyfish, named Robojelly, which not only exhibits characteristics ideal to use in underwater search and rescue operations, but could, theoretically at least, never run out of energy thanks to it being fuelled by hydrogen.
Green jail to demonstrate power of microgrids
(PhysOrg.com) -- When the next “big one” hits northern California, chances are good that the power will be knocked out across large swaths of the Bay Area. But one place that is likely to stand unaffected is Alameda County’s Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, California, the third largest jail in the state and fifth largest in the country. If all goes according to plan, this “mega-jail,” housing about 4,000 inmates, will seamlessly disconnect itself from the electric grid and switch over to its own microgrid, powering itself for the duration.
Summit Group announces bid to build carbon capture and storage plant in Scotland
(PhysOrg.com) -- For several years the government of the United Kingdom has been trying to build a low-carbon coal fired power plant by means of competitions between companies seeking the £1 billion reward that would go along with such a contract. The last go-round wound up with just one competitor, Scottish Power whose bid faltered in the end due to it being too expensive. This time an American conglomeration called the Summit Power Group has jumped into the fray by partnering with the National Grid, an electric and gas company that provides service to customers in the United Kingdom and parts of the United States and petroleum company Petrofac. Their idea is to build a Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) coal fired power plant to be located in Scotland’s Port of Grangemouth, that Summit says will release 90% less carbon emissions than conventional plants.
HP combines printer, PC units in turnaround effort
(AP) -- Hewlett-Packard Co. is combining its printer and PC divisions as it tries to overcome dragging profits, growing competition and the absence of a focused identity.
Far higher potential for wind energy in India than previously estimated: study
A new assessment of wind energy in India by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has found that the potential for on-shore wind energy deployment is far higher than the official estimates— about 20 times and up to 30 times greater than the current government estimate of 102 gigawatts. This landmark finding may have significant impact on India's renewable energy strategy as it attempts to cope with a massive and chronic shortage of electricity.
Medicine & Health news
Pregnancy is safe for women with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer
New research has shown for the first time that it is safe for women who have been diagnosed with oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer to become pregnant, despite doctors' previous fears that pregnancy could boost levels of oestrogen in the body and cause the cancer to return.
Dense breasts can nearly double the risk of breast cancer recurrence
Women aged 50 and over with breasts that have a high percentage of dense tissue are at greater risk of their breast cancer recurring, according to Swedish research presented at the eighth European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-8) in Vienna today.
Food guidelines for pregnant women need review
A University of Newcastle study has identified a major diet dilemma for pregnant women and those trying to conceive – avoiding potentially ‘risky’ foods while maintaining an adequate nutrient intake.
Australia: Vaccine-resistant whooping cough takes epidemic to new level
A new strain of whooping cough that appears to be resistant to vaccination could take Australia’s four-year epidemic into a dangerous new phase, researchers have warned.
Young adults drink more in the company of a heavy drinker
Young adults drink more alcohol if they are in the company of peers who drink heavily. NWO researcher Helle Larsen has scientifically confirmed this link for the first time by observing young adults in a research lab converted into a cafe. She defended her PhD thesis on 19 March 2012 at Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
70,000 children dying every year from tuberculosis: WHO
As many as 70,000 children are dying every year from tuberculosis, as the curable disease often goes unnoticed due to a failure by health workers to recognise the symptoms, the WHO said Wednesday.
MRI screening for women with a family history of breast cancer but no genetic predisposition
Adding magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to standard breast cancer screening approaches is expensive, though it could be cost effective for a group of women who may not have inherited the breast cancer susceptibility genes, but who have a familial risk of developing the disease. This is the conclusion of research presented at the eighth European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-8) today.
Breast cancer screening and better treatment both help to save significant numbers of lives
A Dutch study of the effectiveness of breast cancer screening shows that, even with improved treatments for the disease, population-based mammography programmes still save a significant number of lives.
20-year results from breast cancer screening program show a significant drop in deaths, limited harm and reasonable cost
Results from one of the longest-running national breast cancer screening programmes have shown that it has contributed to a drop in deaths from the disease, that any harm caused by the screening, such as false positives and over-diagnosis, has been limited, and that the costs have been reasonable.
Paramedics can play a key role in speedy care for heart attack patients
Health care practitioners have long understood the importance of "door to balloon" time for heart attack patients—the faster they can get the patient from the door of the hospital to a catheterization lab to open a clogged artery, the better the patient will do.
New study shows vast geographic variation in hip fracture risk
An extensive study of country-specific risk of hip fracture and 10-year probability of a major fragility fracture has revealed a remarkably large geographic variation in fracture risk. Even accounting for possible errors or limitations in the source data, there was an astonishing 10-fold variation in hip fracture risk and fracture probability between countries.
Checks and balances for medical practitioners?
USC Marshall study finds video capture and other automated systems cut down medical errors and minimize the tendency to operate outside normal procedures.
Researchers validate new drug use consequences test for primary care
Researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) have conducted a study on a modified version of the Short Inventory of Problems (SIP) to help promote early intervention and treatment for patients with drug use in primary care. The findings, which validate this modified version of the SIP in a primary care setting, will appear online in the American Journal on Addictions in the March issue.
Study may lead to new treatments for prostate cancer
A recent study conducted at Marshall University may eventually help scientists develop new treatments for prostate cancer, the most common malignancy in American men.
Bioethicists contribute to consensus opinion on the responsibility of biobanks
Bioethicists at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics are co-authors on a consensus article placing "significant responsibility" on biobanks to report individual research results (IRRs) and incidental findings (IFs) to the contributors of genetic material.
Researchers uncover new evidence of cancer-causing agent present in gaseous phase of cigarette smoke
A team of researchers led by A. K. Rajasekaran, PhD, Director of the Nemours Center for Childhood Cancer Research, has shown that a key protein involved in cell function and regulation is stopped by a substance present in cigarette smoke. Their work is published online in the American Journal of Physiology - Lung Cell and Molecular Physiology.
Brazil temporarily suspends breast implant imports
Brazil said Wednesday it has temporarily suspended the import of breast implants pending quality control tests in the wake of last December's health scare over defective French-made implants.
Study demonstrates tomosynthesis effective in diagnosing knee osteoarthritis
A recent study done by researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) shows that tomosynthesis may be more beneficial in diagnosing knee osteoarthritis than X-ray imaging. In the study, which is published online in the journal Radiology, tomosynthesis detected more osteophytes (abnormal bony spurs) and subchondral cysts (small collection of fluid within the bone) in the knee joint than conventional X-ray imaging .
Autism risk gene linked to differences in brain structure
Healthy individuals who carry a gene variation linked to an increased risk of autism have structural differences in their brains that may help explain how the gene affects brain function and increases vulnerability for autism. The results of this innovative brain imaging study are described in an article in the groundbreaking neuroscience journal Brain Connectivity, a bimonthly peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
Middle school teacher support lowers risk for early alcohol use
Anxiety, depression, stress and social support can predict early alcohol and illicit drug use in youth, according to a study from Carolyn McCarty, PhD, of Seattle Children's Research Institute, and researchers from the University of Washington and Seattle University. Middle school students from the sixth to the eighth grade who felt more emotional support from teachers reported a delay in alcohol and other illicit substance initiation. Those who reported higher levels of separation anxiety from their parents were also at decreased risk for early alcohol use. The study, "Emotional Health Predictors of Substance Use Initiation During Middle School," was published in advance online in Psychology of Addictive Behaviors.
Weight gain linked to hot flashes after breast cancer
(HealthDay) -- Early-stage breast cancer survivors who gain at least 10 percent of their pre-diagnosis weight are significantly more likely to report hot flashes than those who remain weight stable, according to a study published online March 19 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Aspirin to prevent and treat cancer: The evidence continues to build
A collection of three papers (two published in The Lancet and one in The Lancet Oncology) add to the growing evidence base suggesting that daily aspirin can be used to help prevent and possibly treat cancer. All three papers are by Professor Peter M Rothwell, University of Oxford and John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, and colleagues.
Difference in left and right arm blood pressure indicates survival chances
Patients suffering from high blood pressure who have different blood pressure (BP) readings in each arm are at a reduced chance of survival over 10 years, claims a study published today in the British Medical Journal.
Study highlights risks from arm difference in blood pressure
In January a research team from the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry reported the first systematic review of findings related to the risk factors associated with a difference in blood pressure between arms.
Evidence mounts for link between opioids and cancer growth
Opioid drugs used to relieve pain in postoperative and chronic cancer patients may stimulate the growth and spread of tumors, according to two studies and a commentary in the 2012 annual Journal Symposium issue of Anesthesiology, the academic journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
How the smell of food affects how much you eat
Bite size depends on the familiarly and texture of food. Smaller bite sizes are taken for foods which need more chewing and smaller bite sizes are often linked to a sensation of feeling fuller sooner. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Flavour, launched today, shows that strong aromas lead to smaller bite sizes and suggests that aroma may be used as a means to control portion size.
Double whammy: RNAi enhances lung cancer therapy
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common form of lung cancer, is usually treated with surgery and chemotherapy. However, a small group of patients can also be helped by treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Medicine, shows that blocking production of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) using RNAi, alongside TKI (or antibody therapy), could enhance the effect of TKI on NSCLC cell death, and slow cell growth.
Most sinus infections don't require antibiotics
The vast majority of sinus infections are caused by viruses and should not be treated with antibiotics, suggest new guidelines released by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).
Portuguese designer becomes 'hero' for the colourblind
Identifying lines on a colour-coded metro map is tricky for those who can't see some colours. Choosing clothes or telling a green from a red apple can be just as baffling.
Scientists study effects of caffeine on exercise performance
(Medical Xpress) -- Whether you are an elite athlete trying to gain a competitive edge, or a regular bike commuter, consuming caffeine one hour prior to exercise has the potential to improve your performance.
Blood vessel 'inflator' could be 'game-changer' for pancreatic cancer treatment
(Medical Xpress) -- Cancer Research UK scientists have shown that an enzyme can re-expand the insides of blood vessels allowing more drugs and large antibody molecules to reach pancreatic tumors, according to research published in GUT today.
Doctors in U.S. overuse pap smears
A new study finds U.S. physicians are performing Pap smears far more often than needed to prevent cervical cancer. The study, published in The Milbank Quarterly, examines Pap smear usage alongside cervical cancer mortality data in the U.S. and the Netherlands between 1970 and 2007. While American doctors performed about three or four times as many Pap smears as Dutch doctors did, the rates at which women developed or died from cervical cancer were roughly equal for the two nations.
Non-traditional reproductive health resources reach at-risk youth
Many youth at risk for unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and HIV do not seek preventive health care services at traditional health clinics. A new research review finds that if reproductive health services were more easily accessible, youth would be more likely to use them.
Study shows vision is necessary for spatial awareness tasks
(Medical Xpress) -- People who lose their sight at a later stage in life have a greater spatial awareness than if they were born blind, according to scientists at Queen Mary, University of London.
Research provides new hope for those suffering from Crohn's disease
Researchers from the Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI) and the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Medicine have discovered a pathway that may contribute to the symptoms related to Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). This research is a major milestone in developing future drug therapies for those living with these debilitating disorders.
Unexpected discovery reveals a new mechanism for how the cerebellum extracts signal from noise
Research at the University of Calgary's Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI) has demonstrated the novel expression of an ion channel in Purkinje cells – specialized neurons in the cerebellum, the area of the brain responsible for movement. Ray W. Turner, PhD, Professor in the Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy and PhD student Jordan Engbers and colleagues published this finding in the January edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Have I got cancer or haven't I? Medical staff confuse women with ductal carcinoma in situ
Women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) need clear communication and tailored support to enable them to understand this complex breast condition, which has divided the medical profession when it comes to its perception and prognosis. That is the key finding of a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Advanced Nursing.
Key to immune system disease could lie inside the cheek
Powerful new cells created by Cardiff University scientists from cheek lining tissue could offer the answer to disorders of the immune system.
Brain's involvement in processing depends on language's graphic symbols
Readers whose mother tongue is Arabic have more challenges reading in Arabic than native Hebrew or English speakers have reading their native languages, because the two halves of the brain divide the labor differently when the brain processes Arabic than when it processes Hebrew or English. That is the result of a new study conducted by two University of Haifa researchers, Dr. Raphiq Ibrahim of the Edmond J. Safra Brain Research Center for the Study of Learning Disabilities and the Learning Disabilities Department, and Prof. Zohar Eviatar of the Department of Psychology.
What makes a successful pregnancy?
Fertility problems, recurrent miscarriages, and pregnancy complications can occur when maternal immunological tolerance of the fetus is impaired. Gérard Chaouat and colleagues from Inserm et Assistance Publique et Université Paris Sud Orsay, Hopital Antoine Bèclère, Clamart Cedex, France (now in Hopital Saint Louis, Paris), trace the evolution of the science of reproductive immunology to show how the current understanding of maternal-fetal tolerance/dialogue has developed, and its implications for the treatment of infertility disorders. Their study appears in a topical issue of Advances in Neuroimmune Biology on maternal-fetal interactions.
Stress management for breast cancer patients may affect disease course
A team of researchers led by Michael H. Antoni, director of the Center for Psycho-Oncology Research at the University of Miami (UM) has shown that a stress management program tailored to women with breast cancer can alter tumor-promoting processes at the molecular level. The new study recently published in the journal Biological Psychiatry is one of the first to link psychological intervention with genetic expression in cancer patients.
Study: Stress-induced cortisol facilitates threat-related decision making among police officers
Research by Columbia Business School's Modupe Akinola, Assistant Professor, Management, and Wendy Berry Mendes, Associate Professor, Sarlo/Ekman Endowed Chair of Emotion, University of California San Francisco in Behavioral Neuroscience examines how increases in cortisol, brought on by an acute social stressor, can influence threat-related decision making. The researchers studied a group of police officers completing a standardized laboratory stressor and then afterwards the group completed a computer simulated threat-related decision making task designed to examine accuracy in decisions to shoot or not shoot armed and unarmed black and white targets.
Study into safety of common over-the-counter drugs reaches milestone
An international study into the safety of some of the most widely used medicines has reached a significant milestone by recruiting its 6,000th patient.
U.S. health systems not ready for catastrophes: report
(HealthDay) -- In many parts of the United States, the infrastructure and systems to deliver health care during or after catastrophic disasters such as major earthquakes or widespread disease outbreaks are rudimentary at best, experts warn.
Imaging study reveals differences in brain function for children with math anxiety
Scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine have shown for the first time how brain function differs in people who have math anxiety from those who don't.
Seeing movement: Why the world in our head stays still when we move our eyes
Scientists from Germany discovered new functions of brain regions that are responsible for seeing movement.
Memory problems may increase after being hospitalized
A new study suggests that older people may have an increased risk of problems with memory and thinking abilities after being in the hospital, according to research published in the March 21, 2012, online issue of Neurology.
To promote lasting impact, cancer drugs should force dying cells to alert immune response
A new finding in basic science should trigger a "change in thinking" about how cancer drugs might be developed and tested for maximum effectiveness, says Louis M. Weiner, M.D., director of the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, in a "Clinical Implications of Basic Research" article titled Tumor-Cell Death, Autophagy, and Immunity published in the March 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).
As industry funding for medical education fades, new opportunities for improvements arise
Public scrutiny and the threat of government regulation are leading to a decline in industry-sponsored funding of accredited continuing medical education (CME) for physicians, and this decline represents an opportunity to make CME more relevant, cost-effective and less open to bias, wrote a group of physicians from the San Francisco VA Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco.
People without a sense of smell have enhanced social insecurity
People born without a sense of smell experience higher social insecurity and increased risk for depression, according to a study published Mar. 21 in the open access journal PLoS ONE.
15 percent of American physician workforce trained in lower income countries
Fifteen percent of the American active physician workforce was trained in lower income countries, which is beneficial for the United States both clinically and economically but may have negative impacts on the countries of origin that are losing their educational investment, according to a report published in the open access journal PLoS ONE.
Listen to neurons in your own backyard with the SpikerBox
Amateurs have a new tool for conducting simple neuroscience experiments in their own garage: the SpikerBox.
Mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii parasite show Alzheimer's improvements
The parasite Toxoplasma gondii has some favorable effects on the pathogenesis and progression of a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, reports a Mar. 21 study in the open access journal PLoS ONE.
Brains of frequent dance spectators exhibit motor mirroring while watching familiar dance
Experienced ballet spectators with no physical expertise in ballet showed enhanced muscle-specific motor responses when watching live ballet, according to a Mar. 21 report in the open access journal PLoS ONE.
Low bone density medications may have protective effect on endometrial cancer
Low bone density medications, such as Fosamax, Boniva and Actonel, may have a protective effect for endometrial cancer, according to a study at Henry Ford Hospital.
'Obscurins' in breast tissue may help physicians predict and detect breast cancer
A new discovery published online in The FASEB Journal may lead to a new tool to help physicians assess breast cancer risk as well as diagnose the disease. In the report, researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, explain how proteins, called "obscurins," once believed to only be in muscle cells, act as "tumor suppressor genes" in the breast. When their expression is lost, or their genes mutated in epithelial cells of the breast, cancer develops. It promises to tell physicians how breast cancer develops and/or how likely it is.
Computer model of spread of dementia can predict future disease patterns years before they occur
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have developed a computer program that has tracked the manner in which different forms of dementia spread within a human brain. They say their mathematic model can be used to predict where and approximately when an individual patient's brain will suffer from the spread, neuron to neuron, of "prion-like" toxic proteins -- a process they say underlies all forms of dementia.
Off-the-charts pollen spreads allergy misery
(AP) -- Allergy season has come early and hit with a wheezing vengeance in parts of the South and Midwest this year, thanks largely to an unusually warm winter. Abundant pollen is causing watery eyes, sniffles and sneezing.
US Supreme Court rejects blood monitoring patents
Biotechnology industry officials are warning that a US Supreme Court ruling on patent rights this week could have a chilling effect on the development of personalized medicine.
Discovery offers insight into treating viral stomach flu
Twenty million Americans get sick from norovirus each year according to data released last week by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Often called vomiting illness, it can spread rapidly on cruise ships, and in dormitories and hospitals. Recent data from the CDC shows deaths from gastrointestinal infections have more than doubled and have become a particular threat to the elderly. The virus is shed in the stool of the infected individual, has a short incubation period and can spread quickly if proper hand washing and other measures are neglected.
U.s. underestimates long-term costs of obesity, experts say
(HealthDay) -- The costs of the obesity epidemic to the United States and the economic value of curbing it are not captured fully by current methods, according to a new report.
Coffee, caffeine not linked to psoriasis in U.S. women
(HealthDay) -- Coffee and caffeine are not associated with psoriasis incidence after adjustment for smoking, according to a research letter published in the March issue of the Archives of Dermatology.
Fatty meals could trigger inflammation for diabetics
(HealthDay) -- High-fat meals might boost inflammation in people with type 2 diabetes, a new study says.
Alternative medicine may help ease chronic sinusitis
(HealthDay) -- When used in tandem with standard Western treatments, alternative therapies such as acupuncture, acupressure and dietary changes may spell significant relief for patients battling chronic sinusitis, a new pilot study suggests.
Genetic mutation found in familial chronic diarrhea syndrome
When the intestines are not able to properly process our diet, a variety of disorders can develop, with chronic diarrhea as a common symptom. Chronic diarrhea can also be inherited, most commonly through conditions with genetic components such as irritable bowel syndrome. Researchers in Norway, India, and at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology have identified one heritable DNA mutation that leads to chronic diarrhea and bowel inflammation.
Puzzling over links between monkey research and human health
Studies in monkeys are unlikely to provide reliable evidence for links between social status and heart disease in humans, according to the first ever systematic review of the relevant research.
Research identifies the beginnings of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
The third most deadly disease in the U.S., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), appears to be partly driven by the action of immune cells circulating in the blood entering into the tissues of the lungs. UC Davis scientists have discovered that this key process begins in the blood vessels around the large airways in the center of the lung. The discovery helps clarify how smoking can bring about this severe respiratory condition.
Low socioeconomic status means worse health -- but not for everyone
Poverty is bad for your health. Poor people are much more likely to have heart disease, stroke, and cancer than wealthy people, and have a lower life expectancy, too. Children who grow up poor are more likely to have health problems as adults.
Scientists find protein critical for tissue regeneration
A flatworm known for its ability to regenerate cells is shedding more light on how cancer could be treated and how regenerative medicine could better target diseases, according to researchers at the University of California, Merced.
Alzheimer's disease spreads through linked nerve cells, brain imaging studies suggest
Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia may spread within nerve networks in the brain by moving directly between connected neurons, instead of in other ways proposed by scientists, such as by propagating in all directions, according to researchers who report the finding in the March 22 edition of the journal Neuron.
Study shines light on brain mechanism that controls reward enjoyment
What characterizes many people with depression, schizophrenia and some other mental illnesses is anhedonia: an inability to gain pleasure from normally pleasurable experiences.
Researchers discover drug target for stimulating recovery from stroke
Investigators at the Stanford University School of Medicine have shown that removing a matched set of molecules that typically help to regulate the brain's capacity for forming and eliminating connections between nerve cells could substantially aid recovery from stroke even days after the event. In experiments with mice, the scientists demonstrated that when these molecules are not present, the mice's ability to recover from induced strokes improved significantly.
Will you have a heart attack? New test can possibly predict
Too often, people pass a cardiac checkup only to collapse with a heart attack days later. Now scientists have found a clue that one day may help doctors determine if a heart attack is imminent, in hopes of preventing it.
Research identifies inhibitor causing male pattern baldness and target for hair-loss treatments
Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have identified an abnormal amount a protein called Prostaglandin D2 in the bald scalp of men with male pattern baldness, a discovery that may lead directly to new treatments for the most common cause of hair loss in men. In both human and animal models, researchers found that a prostaglandin known as PGD2 and its derivative, 15-dPGJ2, inhibit hair growth. The PGD2-related inhibition occurred through a receptor called GPR44, which is a promising therapeutic target for androgenetic alopecia in both men and women with hair loss and thinning. The study is published in Science Translational Medicine.
Study solves structure of 'salvia receptor', reveals how salvinorin A interacts with it
At the molecular level, drugs like salvinorin A (the active ingredient of the hallucinogenic plant Salvia divinorum) work by activating specific proteins, known as receptors, in the brain and body. Salvinorin A, the most potent naturally occurring hallucinogen, is unusual in that it interacts with only one receptor in the human brain — the kappa opioid receptor (KOR). Scientists know of four distinct types of opioid receptors, but until now the structure of the 'salvia receptor', and the details about how salvinorin A and other drugs interact with it, was a mystery.
Biology news
Australian zoo probes mystery rhino deaths
An Australian outback zoo was Wednesday investigating the sudden and mystifying deaths of four white rhinos who showed "neurologic abnormalities" like stumbling.
Australian study reveals unacceptable use of whips in racing
Evidence of the unacceptable use of whips in thoroughbred racing and the inability of stewards to adequately police Australian whip rules has been documented in University of Sydney research.
Wolves eating less than 1% of German livestock, study finds
Despite the reappearance of wolves in Germany, local farmers should not worry about these creatures attacking and eating their livestock. Less than 1% of farm animals are on the wolves' menu, new research shows. Presented in the journal Mammalian Biology, the study highlights how wolves will not risk confrontation with guard dogs or hazardous objects in order to secure food.
Study: Distiller's grain safe for pigs, even with sulfur content
University of Illinois research reports that swine producers can feed distiller's dried grain with solubles (DDGS) to their pigs without concern for sulfur content.
Specialization for underwater hearing by the tympanic middle ear of the turtle
A group of biologists from Denmark and the US led by Jakob Christensen-Dalsgaard, University of Southern Denmark, and Catherine Carr, University of Maryland, have shown that the turtle ear is specialized for underwater hearing.
Contact with 'rivals' changes male behavior
Males consistently change their mating behaviour depending on whether they have spent time with other males before mating, according to new findings by scientists at the University of East Anglia (UEA).
Biologists use genetic analysis to pinpoint source of cheese contamination
By carefully analyzing the genetics of specific bacteria killers, a BYU research team has been able to pinpoint where cheese contamination starts.
Energy requirements make Antarctic fur seal pups vulnerable to climate change
A new study suggests that climate change could pose a risk for Antarctic fur seals in their first few months of life.
A new take on the games people play in their relationships
Human nature has deep evolutionary roots and is manifested in relationships with family members, friends, romantic and business partners, competitors, and strangers more than in any other aspects of behavior or intellectual activity, contends a University of Chicago behavioral biologist.
Why spring is blooming marvelous (and climate change makes it earlier)
With buds bursting early, only for a mild winter to turn Arctic and wipe them out, we are witnessing how warm weather can trigger flowering, even out of season, and how important it is for plants to blossom at the right time of year.
Baboons, infants show similar gesturing behavior, suggesting shared communication systems
Both human infants and baboons have a stronger preference for using their right hand to gesture than for a simple grasping task, supporting the hypothesis that language development, which is lateralized in the left part of the human brain, is based on a common gestural communication system.
Diet may be affecting rhino reproduction
Southern white rhinoceros populations, once thriving in zoos, have been showing severely reduced reproductivity among the captive-born population. San Diego Zoo Global researchers have a possible lead into why the southern white rhinoceros population in managed-care facilities is declining: phytoestrogens in their diet might be contributing to reproductive failure in the females.
Monarch butterflies down again this year as decline continues: expert
Unlike their colorful wings, the future of Monarch butterflies may not be too bright and their numbers are expected to be alarmingly down again this year, says a Texas A&M University researcher.
Not just for the birds: Man-made noise has ripple effects on plants, too
A growing body of research shows that birds and other animals change their behavior in response to manmade noise, such as the din of traffic or the hum of machinery. But human clamor doesn't just affect animals. Because many animals also pollinate plants or eat or disperse their seeds, human noise can have ripple effects on plants too, finds a new study.
Indonesian 'Eves' colonised Madagascar 1,200 years ago
Several dozen Indonesian women founded the colonisation of Madagascar 1,200 years ago, scientists said on Wednesday in a probe into one of the strangest episodes in the human odyssey.
Black bears found to have surprising wound healing capabilities during hibernation
(PhysOrg.com) -- For most mammals, small cuts and scrapes to the skin during times of low body temperature or slowed metabolism usually means a reduced ability to heal and a higher incidence of infection. This is why a discovery by a team of scientists studying bears in Minnesota is so surprising. They have found, as they describe in their paper published in the journal Integrative Zoology that black bears who incur small cuts to the skin have an adaption that allows for wound healing during hibernation that results in little to no infection and hardly any scarring.
Scientists open new window into how cancers override cellular growth controls
Rapidly dividing cancer cells are skilled at patching up damage that would stop normal cells in their tracks, including wear and tear of telomeres, the protective caps at the end of each chromosome.
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