Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 20, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Quantum dot LEDs get brighter, more efficient- Research team uses nanoparticles to make paper waterproof and magnetic
- New study suggests polar bears evolved earlier than previously thought
- Experiment shows visual cortex in women quiets when viewing porn
- Brain scans reveal differences in regret as people age
- Fermi uses gamma rays to unearth clues about
- Sonic screwdriver tightens up fundamental physics
- Bringing Mars back to Earth
- NASA wants your help in finding asteroids
- IBM research boosts long-range, air-powered electric battery project
- Warwick scientists uncover how 'checkpoint' proteins bind chromosomes
- Study finds that mild winters are detrimental to butterflies
- 'Seeing' cosmic rays in space
- Key genes that switch off with aging highlighted as potential targets for anti-aging therapies
- Finding the roots and early branches of the tree of life
Space & Earth news
Most detailed maps yet of Africa's groundwater
A scattergun approach to borehole drilling in Africa is likely to be unsuccessful.
UW introduces 'intelligent' kiosks for composting, recycling, garbage
Solar-powered. Wireless. Data-driven. You might not think of these terms when describing waste collection, but this traditionally low-tech field is about to become less dirty and more digital thanks to a new program at UW.
Earth's sister in the crosshairs
Earth’s sister is out there, somewhere, and scientists searching for planets that may support life believe they are closing in on finding just that.
First payload ready for next batch of Galileo satellites
The next Galileo navigation payload has been completed and is on its way to meet the satellite platform that will host it in orbit.
Russia launches cargo ship
The Russian cargo ship Progress M-15M was launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and successfully put into orbit on Friday, the mission control centre said.
A new way to get climate information
Climate scientists, environmental scientists, governmental officials, shipping companies, business owners, farmers—all need access to accurate information about the weather.
Bonn to house top UN panel on biodiversity
The former West German capital of Bonn has been chosen for the secretariat of a UN expert panel on biodiversity, the organisation announced on Thursday.
Doubts linger about space station's science potential
After more than 12 years and at least $100 billion in construction costs, NASA leaders say the International Space Station finally is ready to bloom into the robust orbiting laboratory that agency leaders envisioned more than two decades ago.
Marine scientists urge government to reassess oil spill response
On the second anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon blowout, a national panel of researchers including University of Georgia marine scientist Samantha Joye is urging the federal government to reassess how it would respond to similar oil spills that might occur in the future.
NASA sees slow-developing System 99P dogging Northern Australia
NASA satellites have been monitoring the slow-to-develop low pressure area called System 99P for four days as it lingers in the Arafura Sea, north Australia's Northern Territory. Satellite data indicates that System 99P is likely to continue struggling because of weak organization and nearby dry air.
Neutrinos put cosmic ray theory on ice
(Phys.org) -- A telescope buried beneath the South Pole has failed to find any neutrinos accompanying exploding fireballs in space, undermining a leading theory of how cosmic rays are born.
Cassini finds titan lake is like a Namibia mudflat
A new study analyzing data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft suggests that the lake, known as Ontario Lacus, behaves most similarly to what we call a salt pan on Earth.
Researchers develop method to fingerprint air pollution
A team of researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) collected emissions samples from several power plant stacks in the United States and developed a unique method for detecting the isotopic signatures of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions under different configurations. These isotopic signatures will be instrumental in helping to identify emission sources of air pollution across the nation.
New motor can cut space exploration costs
(Phys.org) -- A European team of researchers led by the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland has developed a prototype of a new, ultra-compact motor that will enable small satellites to journey beyond Earth's orbit. The objective of this new motor is to make space exploration less expensive. The result is an outcome of the MICROTHRUST ('Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based electric micropropulsion for small spacecraft to enable robotic space exploration and space science') project, which is supported under the Space Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), to the tune of EUR 1.9 million.
'Seeing' cosmic rays in space
Astronauts have long reported the experience of seeing flashes while they are in space, even when their eyes are closed. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin both reported these flashes during the Apollo 11 mission, and similar reports during the Apollo 12 and 13 missions led to subsequent Apollo missions including experiments specifically looking at this strange phenomenon. These experiments involved blindfolding crewmembers and recording their comments during designated observation sessions, and later missions had a special device, the Apollo Light Flash Moving Emulsion Detector (ALFMED), which was worn by the astronauts during dark periods to record of incidents of cosmic ray hits.
Fermi uses gamma rays to unearth clues about
The SLAC-built Large Area Telescope (LAT), the main instrument of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, has been studying the gamma-ray sky for almost four years. During that time, the LAT has identified hundreds of gamma-ray sources, including pulsars and active galactic nuclei. It has shown that the Crab Nebula isn't the steady emitter of gamma rays it's long been thought to be. The LAT has catalogued lightning in the Earth's atmosphere and flares on the sun.
NASA wants your help in finding asteroids
If you are an amateur astronomer who likes a challenge, NASA has a new project and is looking for a little help from their amateur astronomers friends. Called called “Target Asteroids!” the project is part of the upcoming OSIRIS-REx mission to improve basic scientific understanding of Near Earth Objects. NASA is hoping amateur astronomers can help in the mission by discovering new asteroids and studying their characteristics to help better characterize the population of NEOs. NASA says amateur contributions will affect current and future space missions to asteroids.
Bringing Mars back to Earth
The search for life should be an essential component of a sample return mission from Mars, according to a recent report examining the science behind such a venture.
Hinode and SOHO paint an asymmetrical picture of the sun
Approximately every 11 years the magnetic field on the sun reverses completely – the north magnetic pole switches to south, and vice versa. It's as if a bar magnet slowly lost its magnetic field and regained it in the opposite direction, so the positive side becomes the negative side. But, of course, the sun is not a simple bar magnet and the causes of the switch, not to mention the complex tracery of moving magnetic fields throughout the eleven-year cycle, are not easy to map out.
Technology news
A free product to measure carbon footprint
MiserWare, a spin-off company of Virginia Tech's College of Engineering, is launching a free product that allows companies or individuals to measure their carbon footprint in terms of total power usage.
Venture capital investments fall 19 percent in 1Q
(AP) -- Funding for startups fell 19 percent in the first three months of the year, as cautious venture capitalists funneled less money into fewer deals.
Apple to create 500 jobs in Ireland
US technology giant Apple intends to create 500 support jobs in Cork, southern Ireland, the government said on Friday.
Twitter, Facebook to steamroll French vote result rules
Widespread use of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter is set to steamroller France's laws restricting the announcement of the results of Sunday's first-round presidential election.
Researchers aim to lessen clash between raptors, wind turbines
Golden eagles love Pennsylvania's ridge-and-valley region. The hunched-up topography, with its long linear corridors running southwest to northeast, makes a perfect thruway for their spring and fall migrations. Sustained updrafts along the ridge crests are a particular boon to these and other large raptors, who rely on lift for soaring long distances.
Scanning the brain for impending error
(Phys.org) -- UA computer science doctoral student Federico Cirett is using new technology to predict, in advance, when people will make a mistake. He's been testing subjects taking the SAT exam in math.
Hollywood studios lose landmark download case
Top Hollywood film studios Friday failed in their attempt to stem the flow of illegal downloads when they lost a landmark appeal against an Australian Internet provider.
Save big on heating, cooling costs with efficiency controls
U.S. commercial building owners could save an average of 38 percent on their heating and cooling bills if they installed a handful of energy efficiency controls that make their heating, ventilation and air conditioning, also known as HVAC, systems more energy efficient, according to a recent report from the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The estimated savings were based on computer modeling and simulation of building energy usage. The controls that could provide these savings are not widely available commercially, but the report's authors hope their analysis will encourage manufacturers to expand their production.
Singapore PM finally taps into Facebook, Twitter
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong joined Facebook and Twitter on Friday to better connect with citizens who have increasingly vented their frustrations with his government on social media.
German rules against YouTube in rights case
(AP) -- A German court has ruled that online video platform YouTube must install filters to prevent users from uploading some music videos whose rights are held by a music-royalties collecting body.
Facebook IPO targeted for mid-May, source says
Citing "multiple sources close to the company," a popular technology blog has reported that Facebook Inc. officials have chosen May 17 as the date to launch their eagerly awaited initial public offering.
The psychology of the left-turn lane: How human behavior influences traffic patterns
University of Arizona traffic engineer Yi-Chang Chiu has embarked on a three-year traffic modeling research project to replace the 1950s model still used to forecast current transportation needs.
Md. becomes first to OK password protection bill
(AP) -- Maryland is poised to become the first state to ban employers from demanding applicants or workers hand over their log-in information for social media sites like Facebook.
Hackers target F1 websites over Bahrain GP
(AP) -- A hackers group has claimed responsibility for a denial-of-service attack on the official Formula One website in protest over the running of this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix.
Newspaper probing Pentagon alleges online harassment
The newspaper USA Today said Friday an editor and reporter probing Pentagon propaganda efforts have been targeted by an online "misinformation campaign."
Japan's Rakuten to shut China online shopping mall
Japan's top online retailer Rakuten said Friday that it was ending a shopping venture with Chinese Internet giant Baidu, blaming "intensified competition" in the growing e-commerce sector.
Researcher's waste-to-energy technology moves from the lab to the marketplace
(Phys.org) -- Technology invented by a University of California, Davis, researcher that converts solid waste into renewable energy is debuting today as the first commercially available, high-solid anaerobic digestion system in the United States.
IBM research boosts long-range, air-powered electric battery project
(Phys.org) -- IBM announced that two industry leaders -- Asahi Kasei and Central Glass -- will join its Battery 500 Project team and collaborate on far-reaching research with the potential to accelerate the switch from gasoline to electricity as the primary power source for vehicles.
Medicine & Health news
Use of drug reduces likelihood of progression to multiple sclerosis
People who received injections of the multiple sclerosis (MS) drug interferon beta-1a soon after their first signs of possible MS were less likely to progress to clinically definite MS than people who switched to interferon beta-1a from placebo, according to new phase three results of the three-year REFLEXION clinical trial that will be presented as part of the Emerging Science program (formerly known as Late-Breaking Science) at the American Academy of Neurology's 64th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, April 21 to April 28, 2012.
Eating low-fat dairy foods may reduce your risk of stroke
If you eat low-fat dairy foods, you may be reducing your risk of stroke.
Computer-designed molecules point to new therapy for cystic fibrosis
By developing software that uses 3-D models of proteins involved in cystic fibrosis, a team of scientists at Duke University has identified several new molecules that may ease the symptoms of the disease.
Kidney care reports don't line up with care billed by physicians
Information on a mandatory Medicare form meant to help officials assess the quality of care provided to older kidney disease patients is poorly representative of the actual care billed by physicians, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The findings indicate that better accuracy and consistency are needed when clinicians complete this form. Otherwise, the widely used form will have limited value for public health surveillance and planning.
Teen seat belt use is significantly higher in states with stronger laws
While most teens do buckle up when driving, new research shows that novice teen drivers who live in states with so-called "secondary enforcement" seat belt laws are less likely to use the life-saving devices than those in "primary enforcement" states. The research, conducted by The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and State Farm®, is published in the American Journal of Public Health. The research found seat belt use rates differed as teens moved through the probationary licensing process known as Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL).
Patients with Type 2 diabetes may not benefit from oral medication as well as insulin
Patients suffering from type 2 diabetes may not benefit from taking both an oral glucose lowering drug (metformin) and insulin instead of insulin alone, a study published on bmj.com claims.
Computer therapy works for young people with depression
Adolescents suffering from depression can benefit just as much from specialised computer therapy as they do from one-to-one therapy with a clinician, a study published on bmj.com finds.
Births at home and in midwifery units could signify cost savings for the NHS
Giving women who have previously given birth and who are at low risk of complications the opportunity to give birth at home or in a midwifery unit saves the NHS money, is safe for the baby and improves outcomes for the mother, a study published on bmj.com shows.
Could there be a link between Welsh rugby and papal deaths after all?
There may be some truth in the saying "every time Wales win the rugby grand slam, a Pope dies" after all, despite a 2008 BMJ article dismissing it as an urban myth, claims a doctor in a letter to this week's BMJ.
Omega-3 fatty acids may help to reduce the physical harm caused by smoking
Omega-3 fatty acids may help to reduce the physical harm caused by smoking, according to a new study presented at the World Congress of Cardiology.
Alcohol use in Bollywood movies impacting alcohol use among Indian adolescents
Alcohol use in Bollywood movies is directly influencing the drinking habits of India's adolescents, according to a new study presented at the World Congress of Cardiology in Dubai.
Body cooling cuts in-hospital cardiac arrest patient deaths nearly 12 percent
(Phys.org) -- Forced body cooling known as therapeutic hypothermia has reduced in-hospital deaths among sudden cardiac arrest patients nearly 12 percent between 2001 and 2009, according to a Mayo Clinic study being presented at the upcoming American Academy of Neurology 2012 Annual Meeting in New Orleans. The research is among several Mayo abstracts that will be discussed at the conference.
Largest-ever risk factor study in India identifies cardiovascular disease epidemic causes
(Medical Xpress) -- The Indian Heart Watch (IHW) study has revealed the truth behind the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of key risk factors that are driving the country's growing cardiovascular disease (CVD) epidemic, in a first-of-a-kind presentation of data at the World Congress of Cardiology today.
International panel recommends new model for breast cancer care
As the number of breast cancer survivors increases, now estimated at 2.8 million, more will be living with the chronic effects of cancer treatments or with advanced disease. An international panel of experts, including a UNC School of Nursing faculty and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center member, was convened by the American Cancer Society to review current practices and to make recommendations to improve surveillance and rehabilitation of breast cancer patients and survivors and published their results in the April 15, 2012 issue of the journal Cancer.
What price for a year of life? Cancer specialists offer contradictory advice
Cancer doctors prescribe medicines with little consideration of the cost, meaning they don't demand any more benefit (in months of survival) from a very expensive drug than from a less expensive one, a new research report says.
Researchers to hunt down a prime suspect in hospital infections
(Phys.org) -- The use of mechanical ventilation in hospital intensive care units is a suspect in a significant number of hospital-acquired infections, but its exact prevalence in Australia is unknown.
AIDS experts launch 'CNN of virology' in Canada
A new digital media service will foster the global collaboration of physicians and help them to share the latest advances in AIDS and other virus research, according to its Canadian promoters.
Women with heart disease more likely to have baby girls
Dubai (20 April 2012): Women with heart disease are more likely to give birth to female rather than male babies according to a new study presented today at the World Congress of Cardiology. The study found that three-quarters of the 216 children born to 200 pregnant women with diagnosed heart disease were female.
Cardiovascular disease risk of high normal blood pressure decreases in old age
High normal blood pressure becomes less of a risk factor for incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD) with age, according to a new study presented today at the World Congress of Cardiology.
A woman's main focus moves off her partner once grandchildren arrive
A new study suggests that a woman's most intense relationship in her 20s is with a member of the opposite sex, but after the age of 45 this relationship shifts to a much younger female who is likely to be her daughter.
Sports safety: Get geared up and always warm up
April is Youth Sports Safety Month. Each year, more than 3.5 million children under the age of 15 are treated for sports injuries nationwide. Roughly half of these injuries are sustained in solo activities, while approximately one out of four participants in youth soccer, football or baseball has been injured at least once.
Girls born in 2009 will have shorter lives than their mothers in hundreds of U.S. counties
Nationwide, women’s lifespans are improving at a much slower pace than men's. In hundreds of U.S. counties, women are living shorter lives today than they did two decades ago, according to new county-by-county estimates of life expectancy released today by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, an independent global health research center at the UW
Trial tests effectiveness of treatments for chronic neck pain
People with chronic neck pain in the York area are being offered the chance to take part in a major clinical trial into the effectiveness of Alexander Technique lessons and acupuncture sessions.
Depression linked to greater risk of peripheral artery disease
Depression may be associated with an increased risk of arterial narrowing in the legs and pelvis, a condition known as peripheral artery disease (PAD), according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 2012 Scientific Sessions in Chicago.
Researchers find cancer therapies affect cognitive functioning among breast cancer survivors
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center and colleagues at the University of South Florida and University of Kentucky have found that breast cancer survivors who have had chemotherapy, radiation or both do not perform as well on some cognitive tests as women who have not had cancer.
Many breast cancer survivors worry about cancer returning
"Cancer worry" is the fear that cancer will return, said researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center who studied cancer worry among breast cancer survivors and published their findings in Psycho-Oncology. They found that even three years after successful treatment, two-thirds of the 202 breast cancer survivors who participated in their study said they had "a moderate level of worry."
Soft drink cited as factor in N.Z. woman's death: reports
A New Zealand inquest has been told a woman's 10-litre (2.2 gallon) a day Cola-Cola habit may have contributed to her death, reports said Friday.
3D technology takes next step beyond traditional mammography
MILWAUKEE - After already having been through breast cancer treatment, Michelle Luckiesh did not think twice when doctors at Waukesha Memorial Hospital told her they had a new mammography device that may be able to detect tumors earlier than with conventional mammography.
Early treatment improves outcomes in rare, often undiagnosed form of encephalitis
A mysterious, difficult-to-diagnose, and potentially deadly disease that was only recently discovered can be controlled most effectively if treatment is started within the first month that symptoms occur, according to a new report by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Range of diagnostic spinal fluid tests needed to differentiate concurrent brain diseases
Teasing out the exact type or types of dementia someone suffers from is no easy task; neurodegenerative brain diseases share common pathology and often co-occur. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania are continuing efforts to differentiate diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) from frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), as FTLD is often clinically difficult to distinguish from atypical presentations of AD.
Internal medicine physician specialists release policy paper on reforming Medicaid
A dozen recommendations to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have access to high-quality, coordinated care were provided today by the American College of Physicians (ACP). The new policy paper, Reforming Medicare in the Age of Deficit Reduction, was released at Internal Medicine 2012, ACP's annual scientific meeting.
For some, glaucoma strikes at a young age
(HealthDay) -- Though only 15 when diagnosed with juvenile open-angle glaucoma, A.J. Esguerra said he's tried not to let the potentially devastating eye disease slow him down.
Men more prone to complications after brain, spine surgery
(HealthDay) -- Men are twice as likely as women to have complications after brain or spinal surgery, and also spend more time in the hospital after the operation, a new study finds.
Bedbugs can infest your office, too
(HealthDay) -- Add bedbugs to your list of potential occupational health hazards. A new report reveals nearly half of the employees of a U.S. government office in Tennessee were bitten by the blood-thirsty invaders while at work.
Uric acid levels predict death in acute coronary syndrome
(HealthDay) -- Elevated uric acid levels are predictive of one-year mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome, according to a study published in the May 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Study compares effectiveness of psoriasis treatments
(HealthDay) -- The effectiveness of therapies for psoriasis is variable, and may be lower in real-world settings than in trial settings, according to a study published in the April issue of the Archives of Dermatology.
QRS width on ECG linked to sudden cardiac arrest in CAD
(HealthDay) -- For patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), QRS width on electrocardiogram and echocardiographic evidence of heart failure are associated with out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), regardless of whether they have a history of previous myocardial infarction (MI), according to a study published in the May 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Skin experts call for assessment of new nickel-plated coins
In a letter published today on bmj.com, authors from St John's Institute of Dermatology and the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield look at The Treasury's plans to introduce Royal Mint nickel-plated coins.
Cellular 'glue' resists breast cancer
Early detection and advances in the treatment for breast cancer have improved the chances of survival, however new avenues for treatment are still needed in the battle against this disease. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Breast Cancer Research demonstrates that the protein Perp, associated with desmosomes (the glue that sticks cells together), is involved in suppressing breast cancer and provides a potential new target for future treatment.
Global ignorance of tobacco's harm to cardiovascular health costing lives
A report released today at the World Heart Federation World Congress of Cardiology in Dubai reveals significant gaps in public awareness regarding the cardiovascular risks of tobacco use and secondhand smoke. The report, entitled "Cardiovascular harms from tobacco use and secondhand smoke", was commissioned by the World Heart Federation and written by the International Tobacco Control Project (ITC Project), in collaboration with the Tobacco Free Initiative at the World Health Organization.
Single-neuron observations mark steps in Alzheimer's disease
Studying a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, neuroscientists at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen have observed correlations between increases in both soluble and plaque-forming beta-amyloid – a protein implicated in the disease process – and dysfunctional developments on several levels: individual cortical neurons, neuronal circuits, sensory cognition, and behavior. Their results, published in Nature Communications, show that these changes progress in parallel and that, together, they reveal distinct stages in Alzheimer's disease with a specific order in time.
Hope for the future is good for you, study finds
Two recent studies from The University of Queensland School of Economics, the University of New South Wales, the Australian National University, and Monash University, have found that optimistic expectations are the key to making people happy with their lot in life.
US scientists head to Mount Everest for research
(AP) -- A team of American scientists and researchers flew to the Mount Everest region on Friday to set up a laboratory at the base of the world's highest mountain to study the effects of high altitude on humans.
Vietnam asks WHO to help identify killer disease
(AP) -- Vietnam has asked international health experts to help investigate a mystery illness that has killed 19 people and sickened 171 others in an impoverished district in central Vietnam, an official said Friday.
Stopping smoking is hard despite success of smoke-free legislation
The successful implementation of smokefree legislation in Hong Kong has led to an overall decrease in the total number of smokers but the remaining smokers who are finding it difficult to quit are going on to become "hardcore" smokers, according to a new study from Hong Kong presented today at the World Congress of Cardiology.
A promising discovery for breast cancer therapy
(Medical Xpress) -- Could engineered human stem cells hold the key to cancer survival? Scientists at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN), the world's first bioengineering and nanotechnology research institute, have discovered that neural stem cells possess the innate ability to target tumor cells outside the central nervous system. This finding, which was demonstrated successfully on breast cancer cells, was recently published in leading peer reviewed journal, Stem Cells.
Migraine patients find pain relief in electrical brain stimulation
Chronic migraine sufferers saw significant pain relief after four weeks of electrical brain stimulation in the part of the brain responsible for voluntary movement, the motor cortex, according to a new study.
Changes in genetic function in the brain linked to Alzheimer's
Changes in the epigenome, a structure that controls the function of genes, were found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.
Training teens to handle emotions improves mental health
Teens who received emotional intelligence training in school had improved scores on several measures of emotional well-being, including less anxiety, depression and social stress, according to a new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Improvements from the training lasted up to six months after the program ended.
How our lives depend on immunology research
The life-saving work of researchers who explore our immune system to develop vaccines and fight diseases like HIV will be recognized as part of International Day of Immunology celebrations.
First study of screening for cognitive impairment in hospitals
Neither screening for cognitive impairment nor screening followed by computerized alerts to the health care team improved patient outcome according to the first randomized, controlled study of care provided to hospitalized patients with cognitive impairment.
Scientists find Achilles' heel in life-threatening malaria parasites
Scientists have identified a link between different strains of malaria parasites that cause severe disease, which could help develop vaccines or drugs against life-threatening cases of the infection.
Liver tells all and reveals truth about fat
Dr Barbara Fam from the University's Molecular Obesity Laboratory group at Austin Health with Associate Professor Sof Andrikopoulos have discovered that the liver can directly talk to the brain to control the amount of food we eat.
Parent diet choice knowledge doesn't prevent child obesity
A study of the families of 150 preschoolers suggests that parents of healthy-weight and overweight preschoolers are generally well aware of dietary risk factors that fuel childhood obesity.
New stem cell found in the brain
Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have discovered a new stem cell in the adult brain. These cells can proliferate and form several different cell types - most importantly, they can form new brain cells. Scientists hope to take advantage of the finding to develop methods to heal and repair disease and injury in the brain.
Alzheimer's plaques disrupt brain networks
Scientist studying the way Alzheimer's takes root in the brain have identified important new similarities between a mouse model and human Alzheimer's.
Your left side is your best side
Your best side may be your left cheek, according to a new study by Kelsey Blackburn and James Schirillo from Wake Forest University in the US. Their work shows that images of the left side of the face are perceived and rated as more pleasant than pictures of the right side of the face, possibly due to the fact that we present a greater intensity of emotion on the left side of our face. Their work is published online in Springer's journal Experimental Brain Research.
Study finds soda consumption increases overall stroke risk
Researchers from Cleveland Clinic's Wellness Institute and Harvard University have found that greater consumption of sugar-sweetened and low-calorie sodas is associated with a higher risk of stroke. Conversely, consumption of caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee was associated with a lower risk.
Fat outside of arteries may influence onset of coronary artery disease
Researchers at UC have confirmed that fat surrounding the outside of arteries in humans—particularly the left coronary artery—may influence the onset of coronary artery disease, or atherosclerosis, which is the leading cause of death in the U.S.
New genetic mechanism of immune deficiency discovered
Researchers at National Jewish Health have discovered a novel genetic mechanism of immune deficiency. Magdalena M. Gorska, MD, PhD, and Rafeul Alam, MD, PhD, identified a mutation in Unc119 that causes immunodeficiency known as idiopathic CD4 lymphopenia. Unc119 is a signaling protein that activates and induces T cell proliferation.
Prisoners at risk for non-communicable diseases
(HealthDay) -- The prevalence of obesity, inadequate exercise, and poor diet among prisoners may put them at risk for non-communicable diseases (NCDS), according to a review published online April 20 in The Lancet.
Impaired fasting glucose affects male sexual health
(HealthDay) -- Nearly 20 percent of men with sexual dysfunction have impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and are more likely than men with normal glucose levels to have severe erectile dysfunction (ED), reduced penile blood flow, and overt hypogonadism as well as increased overall cardiovascular (CV) risk, according to a study published online April 10 in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
New fat grafting procedures improve breast reconstruction
(HealthDay) -- Two autologous fat grafting procedures, enhanced stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) fat grafting, maintain breast volume and three-dimensional contour better than the standard fat grafting procedure, according to a study published online April 13 in Stem Cells Translational Medicine.
ALS patients differ on treatment choices in later phases of disease
Two new studies analyzing treatment decisions in late-stage amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients shed light onto treatments aimed to extend the duration and quality of life in this progressively debilitating neuromuscular disorder. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that waiting until the last minute to receive one treatment resulted in not living long enough to experience the benefits.
Key genes that switch off with aging highlighted as potential targets for anti-aging therapies
Researchers at King's College London, in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, have identified a group of 'ageing' genes that are switched on and off by natural mechanisms called epigenetic factors, influencing the rate of healthy ageing and potential longevity.
Warwick scientists uncover how 'checkpoint' proteins bind chromosomes
The development of more effective cancer drugs could be a step nearer thanks to the discovery, by scientists at Warwick Medical School, of how an inbuilt 'security check' operates to guarantee cells divide with the correct number of chromosomes.
Experiment shows visual cortex in women quiets when viewing porn
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers from the University of Groningen Medical Centre in the Netherlands have found that for women at least, watching pornographic videos tends to quiet the part of the brain most heavily involved in looking at and processing things in the immediate environment, suggesting that the brain finds arousal more important during that time than is processing what is actually being seen. The team has published a paper in The Journal of Sexual Medicine describing their findings.
Brain scans reveal differences in regret as people age
(Medical Xpress) -- New research using brains scans shows that many elderly people have over time either learned to not stew over things they regret or to not regret them at all. Those that don’t learn such skills tend to become depressed, say researchers from University Medical Center in Germany, who have been conducting research into regret and aging using brain scans. The team, led by Stefanie Brassen has published the results of their efforts in the journal Science.
Biology news
Mission to map 10 million species in 50 years
An incredible 18,000 new plant and animal species are discovered each year. But this number is dwarfed by the estimated 10 million more species yet to be discovered. It sounds like an impossible task, but it could be achieved in less than 50 years according to scientists.
Use caution when thinking about restocking after drought
Experts with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are advising beef cattle producers to use caution and strategic planning when thinking about restocking herds after drought.
Rains wreak havoc on South Texas onion crop
The late March storm that pelted McAllen with hail and most of the Lower Rio Grande Valley with rain also turned the area’s onion crop on its head, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service expert.
Wageningen UR investigates plant disease suppression by Lysobacter
Lysobacter bacteria were frequently found in disease-suppressive soils. Wageningen UR has started a project to study the diversity of Lysobacter populations and the mode of action of this bacterium to suppress plant diseases. The acquired knowledge will enable the development of alternative methods for the protection of plants against pathogens.
Catching vine weevils with odors
Catching the vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) is now possible with the identification of odours these weevils find attractive. Scientists of Plant Research International, part of Wageningen UR, discovered that vine weevils prefer three distinct odours. This research has been published in BioOne Online Journal.
Phenology gardens track ties between weather, nature
How strange has this spring been?
Fishermen blast premier dive sites off Indonesia
(AP) -- Coral gardens that were among Asia's most spectacular, teeming with colorful sea life just a few months ago, have been transformed into desolate gray moonscapes by fishermen who use explosives or cyanide to kill or stun their prey.
Orangutans sit still for heart ultrasound at zoo
(AP) -- The 9-year-old patient sits still, munching on popcorn and sipping grape juice while he gets an ultrasound of his heart.
Smartphone app now available to boost invasive species data collection
The new smartphone app for the Outsmart Invasive Species Project that lets people learn about, identify and report invasive species using an iPhone or Android is now available for free through iTunes and Google Play.
Chernobyl radiation fells female birds, making chirping more frequent from lonely bachelors
Birdsong is one of the joys of nature, but higher percentages of birds chirping near Chernobyl are a perverse indication of radiation contamination, according to a new study.
Freeing loggerhead turtles comes at a price
When loggerhead turtles are accidentally captured by humans, a recovery process follows, the complexity of which varies according to the turtle's injuries. Spanish researchers have analysed the process of reintegrating these animals into the environment and they have discovered that there are changes in the behaviour of the turtles that have a complicated recovery process.
Finding the roots and early branches of the tree of life
A study published in PLoS Computational Biology maps the development of life-sustaining chemistry to the history of early life. Researchers Rogier Braakman and Eric Smith of the Santa Fe Institute traced the six methods of carbon fixation seen in modern life back to a single ancestral form.
Pinpointing how antibiotics work
Penicillin and other antibiotics have revolutionized medicine, turning once-deadly diseases into easily treatable ailments. However, while antibiotics have been in use for more than 70 years, the exact mechanism by which they kill bacteria has remained a mystery.
Study finds that mild winters are detrimental to butterflies
The recent mild winter throughout much of the United States was a cause for celebration for many. However, butterfly aficionados shouldn't be joining in the celebration.
New study suggests polar bears evolved earlier than previously thought
(Phys.org) -- A new genetic analysis carried out by and international team of scientists has revealed that polar bears and brown bears may have diverged around 600,000 years ago, which is much earlier than the previous estimate of 150,000 years ago.
This email is a free service of Phys.org
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