Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for April 2, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Lenses can bend light and sound in almost any direction- Fermi observations of dwarf galaxies provide new insights on dark matter
- Understanding photosynthesis: How plants use catalytic reactions to split oxygen from water
- How stress influences disease: Research reveals inflammation as the culprit
- Researchers discover new quantum encryption method to foil hackers
- Human ancestors used fire one million years ago, archaeologist find
- New method offers control of strain on graphene membranes
- Self-sculpting sand could allow spontaneous formation of new tools, duplication of broken mechanical parts
- How black holes grow: New study indicates they eat binary star partners
- What do ADHD and cancer have in common? Variety
- Discovery of the first evidence for Pre-Columbian sources of Maya Blue
- Research brings new understanding to past global warming events
- Scientists find slow subsidence of Earth's crust beneath the Mississippi delta
- Team releases findings from 2011 cruise to measure the concentration, distribution, and impacts of Fukushima radiation
- Study: Epstein Barr virus protects against autoimmune disease
Space & Earth news
US firm to make pay-out for China oil spill: report
ConocoPhillips and its Chinese partner will pay around 305 million yuan ($48 million) to fishermen in a northern port city over a major oil spill last year, a state-backed newspaper said Monday.
Trees tell their own story to satellites
Communications via satellite are changing the way the forest industry harvests trees. A new approach being tested by ESA combines satcoms and cellular services to relay important information almost immediately so that fewer trees are used to produce more timber.
Meet Kimberly Casey: Studying how debris influences glaciers
Kimberly Casey is a glaciologist who spends a fair amount of time in the office analyzing satellite data. But when she talks about her fieldwork on remote glaciers, one suspects she could do pretty well in a triathlon, too. Casey has carried 70-pound backpacks up mountain crossings in the Himalayas and waded ice-cold streams in the European Alps to collect samples and take measurements for her research on glacier debris pollution.
Space launch system program completes step one of combined milestone reviews
America's next heavy-lift launch vehicle -- the Space Launch System -- is one step closer to its first launch in 2017, following the successful completion of the first phase of a combined set of milestone reviews.
The role of physics in the sinking of the Titanic
A century on from the sinking of the Titanic, Physics World science writer Richard Corfield takes a look at the cascade of events that led to the demise of the 'unsinkable' ship, taking into account the maths and physics that played a significant part.
Laboratory astrophysics
(PhysOrg.com) -- The term "laboratory astrophysics" might sound like an oxymoron; after all, how can equipment in a small room possibly simulate cosmic effects seen in the vastness of space. But in fact, much of modern astrophysics relies heavily on conclusions reached in the small setting of a controlled laboratory. Both a better understanding of the physical mechanisms at work in the universe, and the development of tools used to observe the universe, have their roots in the laboratory. Moreover, laboratory astrophysics as a discipline includes a theoretical as well as an experimental basis.
Assessing protected area effectiveness
A new study published in Conservation Letters aims to measure whether parks and reserves in the tropics succeed in protecting forests.
Supersonic snowballs in hell: How comets explode, fizzle out, or survive a flight through the Sun's atmosphere
(PhysOrg.com) -- Since the 1980s astronomers have seen thousands of comets falling towards the Sun, most of them too small to survive a close approach, let alone to re-emerge. Until recently no such objects had been seen very close to the Sun as the glare of sunlight made them impossible to observe. Now a team of scientists led by Professor Emeritus John Brown, Astronomer Royal for Scotland and former Regius Professor of Astronomy at Glasgow University, have worked out which comets make it through this fiery journey, which fizzle out high up and which explode just above the surface. Prof. Brown will present this new work in a paper at the National Astronomy Meeting in Manchester on Friday 30 March.
Solar eruptions cause sunquakes
(PhysOrg.com) -- A study led by UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory has shown for the first time that sunquakes can be produced during eruptions of magnetic field and charged particles, as the immense magnetic structure blasts off into the Solar System. The results were presented by Dr. Sergei Zharkov at the National Astronomy Meeting 2012 in Manchester on Friday 30th March 2012.
Scientists track radioactive iodine from Japan nuclear reactor meltdown
Using a new investigative methodology, Dartmouth researchers have found and tracked radioactive iodine in New Hampshire from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.
Hubble spies a spiral galaxy edge-on
(PhysOrg.com) -- The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has spotted the "UFO Galaxy." NGC 2683 is a spiral galaxy seen almost edge-on, giving it the shape of a classic science fiction spaceship. This is why the astronomers at the Astronaut Memorial Planetarium and Observatory, Cocoa, Fla., gave it this attention-grabbing nickname.
The sounds of Mars and Venus are revealed for the first time
In a world first, the sounds of Mars and Venus are revealed as part of a planetarium show in Hampshire this Easter.
Agency stops seismic tests; worries about dolphins
(AP) -- With sick and dead dolphins turning up along Louisiana's coast, federal regulators are curbing an oil and natural gas exploration company from doing seismic tests known to disturb marine mammals.
Feds: 'Meterological March madness' mostly random
(AP) -- Freak chance was mostly to blame for the record warm March weather that gripped two-thirds of the country, with man-made global warming providing only a tiny assist, a quick federal analysis shows.
Solar 'climate change' could cause rougher space weather
(PhysOrg.com) -- Recent research shows that the space age has coincided with a period of unusually high solar activity, called a grand maximum. Isotopes in ice sheets and tree rings tell us that this grand solar maximum is one of 24 during the last 9300 years and suggest the high levels of solar magnetic field seen over the space age will reduce in future. This decline will cause a reduction in sunspot numbers and explosive solar events, but those events that do take place could be more damaging. Graduate student Luke Barnard of the University of Reading presented new results on ‘solar climate change’ in his paper at the National Astronomy Meeting in Manchester.
Astronomers detect vast amounts of gas and dust around black hole in early universe
(PhysOrg.com) -- Using the IRAM array of millimetre-wave telescopes in the French Alps, a team of European astronomers from Germany, the UK and France have discovered a large reservoir of gas and dust in a galaxy that surrounds the most distant supermassive black hole known. Light from the galaxy, called J1120+0641, has taken so long to reach us that the galaxy is seen as it was only 740 million years after the Big Bang, when the universe was only 1/18th of its current age. Team leader Dr. Bram Venemans of the Max-Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg, Germany presented the new discovery at the National Astronomy Meeting in Manchester.
How interstellar beacons could help future astronauts find their way across the universe
(PhysOrg.com) -- The use of stars, planets and stellar constellations for navigation was of fundamental importance for mankind for thousands of years. Now a group of scientists at the Max-Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching, Germany have developed a new technique using a special population of stars to navigate not on Earth, but in voyages across the universe. Team member Prof. Werner Becker presented their work at the National Astronomy Meeting in Manchester on Friday 30 March.
South Pole Telescope hones in on dark energy, neutrinos
Analysis of data from the 10-meter South Pole Telescope is providing new support for the most widely accepted explanation of dark energy — the source of the mysterious force that is responsible for the accelerating expansion of the universe.
Some corals could survive a more acidic ocean
Corals may be better placed to cope with the gradual acidification of the world's oceans than previously thought – giving rise to hopes that coral reefs might escape climatic devastation.
New finding affects understanding of formation of the solar system
(PhysOrg.com) -- A global collaboration including five University of Notre Dame researchers has revised the half-life of samarium-146 (146Sm), reducing it to 68 million years from 103 million years. The finding is published in the journal Science.
Team releases findings from 2011 cruise to measure the concentration, distribution, and impacts of Fukushima radiation
An international research team is reporting the results of a research cruise they organized to study the amount, spread, and impacts of radiation released into the ocean from the tsunami-crippled reactors in Fukushima, Japan. The group of 17 researchers and technicians from eight institutions spent 15 days at sea in June 2011 studying ocean currents, and sampling water and marine organisms up to the edge of the exclusion zone around the reactors.
Research brings new understanding to past global warming events
A series of global warming events called hyperthermals that occurred more than 50 million years ago had a similar origin to a much larger hyperthermal of the period, the Pelaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), new research has found. The findings, published in Nature Geoscience online on April 1, 2012, represent a breakthrough in understanding the major "burp" of carbon, equivalent to burning the entire reservoir of fossil fuels on Earth, that occurred during the PETM.
Scientists find slow subsidence of Earth's crust beneath the Mississippi delta
The Earth's crust beneath the Mississippi Delta sinks at a much slower rate than what had been assumed.
Fertilizer use responsible for increase in nitrous oxide in atmosphere
University of California, Berkeley, chemists have found a smoking gun proving that increased fertilizer use over the past 50 years is responsible for a dramatic rise in atmospheric nitrous oxide, which is a major greenhouse gas contributing to global climate change.
How black holes grow: New study indicates they eat binary star partners
A study led by a University of Utah astrophysicist found a new explanation for the growth of supermassive black holes in the center of most galaxies: they repeatedly capture and swallow single stars from pairs of stars that wander too close.
Fermi observations of dwarf galaxies provide new insights on dark matter
(PhysOrg.com) -- There's more to the cosmos than meets the eye. About 80 percent of the matter in the universe is invisible to telescopes, yet its gravitational influence is manifest in the orbital speeds of stars around galaxies and in the motions of clusters of galaxies. Yet, despite decades of effort, no one knows what this "dark matter" really is. Many scientists think it's likely that the mystery will be solved with the discovery of new kinds of subatomic particles, types necessarily different from those composing atoms of the ordinary matter all around us. The search to detect and identify these particles is underway in experiments both around the globe and above it.
Technology news
Comprehensive security of built structures
How safe are buildings and tunnels in the event of fire, or if there’s an explosion or a plane crash? Are escape routes still accessible? Can people be rescued? Fraunhofer-Researchers and the Schüßler-Plan Group, an engineering consultancy, are together developing new concepts for the design and construction of bridges, tunnels and buildings.
Detecting material defects in ship propellers
Ship propellers are as large as a single-family home – and manufacturing them is quite a challenge. During the casting process, pores and miniscule cracks can form that in the worst case may cause a blade to break. Now these massive components can be inspected for defects in a non-invasive manner, using a new kind of ultrasound process.
Customised computing clouds on the horizon
Cloud services currently on the market do not provide sufficient security. According to one Norwegian research scientist, users are better off forming cloud computing ties among their circle of friends, family, town or municipality.
'Texting lane' just for laughs, but issue serious
(AP) -- The sidewalk lanes for the digitally distracted may be a joke but officials in Philadelphia want the public to know the issue is no laughing matter.
'Avengers' arrives early for Facebook fans
(AP) -- Facebook fans are getting an early shot to see the all-star superhero tale "The Avengers."
Kim Dotcom allowed back online in New Zealand
(AP) -- The founder of file-sharing website Megaupload, Kim Dotcom, is being allowed back online.
RI to get $230M from $500M Google forfeiture
(AP) -- Rhode Island law enforcement agencies that participated in an investigation that resulted in Google Inc. forfeiting $500 million last year will receive $230 million of that money, federal officials said Monday.
Ashton Kutcher to play Steve Jobs in new film
Ashton Kutcher is to play Steve Jobs in a new independent film about the late Apple chief's life, a spokeswoman for the "Two and a Half Men" actor said Monday.
Japan Inc. faces 'tectonic changes': analysts
Sharp's announcement that it will team up with Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision on a liquid-crystal display deal is the latest example of the "tectonic changes" rippling through hard-hit Japan Inc.
Earth Institute researchers develop interactive map of NYC's energy use
Midtown Manhattan is red hot; Greenpoint a cool yellow and beige. It’s all a matter of energy: A new interactive, color-coded map created by a team at Columbia’s engineering school allows viewers to pinpoint and compare estimated energy usage, building lot by building lot, throughout New York City.
China vows faster, cheaper Internet
China has said it will aim to bring faster and cheaper Internet access to more people, following complaints that a near monopoly by state-backed firms had hurt service.
Shooting at ceramics
Producing thin ceramic components has until now been a laborious and expensive process, as parts often get distorted during manufacture and have to be discarded as waste. Researchers are now able to reshape the surfaces of malformed components by bombarding them with tiny pellets.
Power without the cord
Cell phones and flashlights operate by battery without trouble. Yet because of the limited lifespan, battery power is not a feasible option for many applications in the fi elds of medicine or test engineering, such as implants or probes. Researchers have now developed a process that supplies these systems with power and without the power cord.
British PM faces backlash over 'snooping' plans
British Prime Minister David Cameron is facing a growing backlash from within his own party over plans to extend the government's powers to monitor people's email exchanges and website visits.
Listening to the radio even with an electric drive
To enable radio reception in electric vehicles, manufacturers must install filters and insulate cables, since electrical signals will otherwise interfere with music and speech transmissions. Now, using new calculation methods, researchers are paving the way for pure listening pleasure while also helping to lower the associated costs.
3D planning tool for the city of tomorrow
Noise levels, fine particulate matter, traffic volumes – these data are of interest to urban planners and residents alike. A three-dimensional presentation will soon make it easier to handle them: as the user virtually moves through his city, the corresponding data are displayed as green, yellow or red dots.
Many US police use cell phones to track: study
Many US police departments use cell phone tracking, often without court orders, to find suspects and investigate criminal cases, according to a study released Monday.
Data breach put 1.5M numbers at risk
(AP) -- A company that processes credit card transactions said Monday that as many as 1.5 million card numbers were compromised in a data breach early last month.
Can cold cash, social game relieve rush hour traffic?
Cash prizes for getting to campus late or leaving early? Even Stanford University's hard-working employees and students may be tempted to participate in a new study.
Groupon restatement sparks more worries
(AP) -- Groupon's announcement that its revenue and earnings were lower than what it reported in February is sparking fresh worries about its business model.
Analyst sets $1,001 price target on Apple shares
(AP) -- A Wall Street analyst is setting the highest price target yet for Apple shares, valuing them at $1,001 each, or 63 percent more than their current price.
Cyber-defence slow due to generation gap: US official
Sluggish moves to counter the rising threat of cyber-attacks can be blamed on a generation of policymakers out of touch with rapid technological change, a senior US official said Monday.
Flying car a 'step closer': Terrafugia
Drivers hoping to slip the surly -- and traffic congested -- bonds of Earth moved a step closer to realizing their dream Monday, as a US firm announced the successful test flight of a street-legal airplane.
Dell buys 'cloud' computing company Wyse
Dell on Monday said it is buying Wyse Technology to expand its business offerings in the Internet "cloud" in the face of softening demand for traditional computing hardware.
Interest in 1940 US census paralyzes website
(AP) -- Interest in the newly released 1940 U.S. census is so great that the government website with the information is nearly paralyzed.
Google tries new approach with real time traffic estimates for Google Maps
(PhysOrg.com) -- It used to be when using Google Maps to plan your route, i.e. driving from one destination to another, Google Maps would also try to give you an estimate for how long it would really take you to make that trip using historical data trends it had built up over time. The problem was, real world travel times often varied greatly from the historical data, leaving drivers frustrated with the results. Because of that, Google finally pulled the plug on the feature altogether last summer. Now, it appears Google is ready to try again, though this time it’s taking a much different approach, using data generated in real time via third party reports and data it obtains via drivers who have phones running Android and who also choose to opt in to Google’s "My Location” feature by enabling it voluntarily on their phones.
Computer scientists form mathematical formulation of the brain's neural networks
As computer scientists this year celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the mathematical genius Alan Turing, who set out the basis for digital computing in the 1930s to anticipate the electronic age, they still quest after a machine as adaptable and intelligent as the human brain.
In tech first, US puts entire 1940 census online
The National Archives opened a treasure trove to genealogists and historians on Monday, releasing the 1940 national census in its entirety -- and doing so for the first time online.
Self-sculpting sand could allow spontaneous formation of new tools, duplication of broken mechanical parts
Imagine that you have a big box of sand in which you bury a tiny model of a footstool. A few seconds later, you reach into the box and pull out a full-size footstool: The sand has assembled itself into a large-scale replica of the model.
Medicine & Health news
Preliminary findings about whole-genome sequencing of triple-negative breast cancer presented
Because cases of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) are so genetically different, whole-genome sequencing is needed to detect the subtle molecular differences that might point to specific treatments for individual patients.
Metformin may lower risk for oral cancer development
New findings published in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, suggest that metformin may protect against oral cancer.
Novel technology allows for noninvasive imaging of prostate cancer
Use of a novel, noninvasive imaging tool allowed researchers to measure free prostate-specific antigen in prostate cancer models and to visualize bone metastasis in a tumor-specific manner, according to results published in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Obesity helps drive kidney cancer cases to record high
(Medical Xpress) -- The number of cases of kidney cancer diagnosed each year in Great Britain has risen over 9,000 for the first time, new figures from Cancer Research UK show today.
Older patients with certain breast cancer subtype may not benefit from radiation therapy
Local breast radiation therapy may not be necessary for women with the luminal A subtype of breast cancer, particularly those aged older than 60, according to study results presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2012, held here March 31 – April 4.
Preschoolers tend to have negative perceptions of overweight children: Canadian study
(Medical Xpress) -- A new Ryerson University study has found that some preschoolers may perceive overweight children to be not as “nice”.
French firm blamed for Italy frozen embryo accident
An Italian hospital director on Monday blamed French industrial gas giant Air Liquide for an accident in an assisted reproduction lab last week that destroyed 94 embryos frozen in liquid nitrogen.
Grant to fuel baking soda cancer therapy research
A $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health will enable University of Arizona biomedical engineering researchers to improve the way doctors measure the effectiveness of drinking baking soda to fight breast cancer.
Cambodian girl dies from bird flu: WHO
A six-year-old Cambodian girl has died from bird flu, the World Health Organization said Monday, in the country's second fatality from the virus this year.
Researchers identify a gene that predicts recurrence in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck—which typically arises from thin, flat cells that line moist surfaces inside the mouth, nose and throat—is the sixth most common type of cancer worldwide, and it has a relatively low five-year survival rate and a high recurrence rate. Recently, the disease has become even more prevalent among adults 40 years of age or younger. These statistics underscore the need for a greater understanding of the molecular underpinnings of this form of cancer. Toward this goal, Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers have identified a gene that predicts disease recurrence in individuals with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
Researchers find little secondary cancer risk from multi-detector CT scans in Medicare population
The secondary cancer risk from multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) scans is low among older adults, according to a study from Stanford University in the April issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology. MDCT is a high-speed imaging technique that is commonly used to diagnose a variety of diseases and conditions.
Radiology department develops smartcard to communicate radiation risks of adult radiologic exams
According to a study in the April issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology, the department of radiology at the University of Colorado in Denver has developed a convenient, pocket-sized reference card to communicate the effective doses and radiation risks of common adult radiologic exams to referring physicians and patients. The Adult Dose-Risk Smartcard is part of the department's ongoing efforts to ensure safe medical imaging.
Cancer patients under-referred for orthopedic oncology services
There is a disconnect between the number of cancer patients estimated to have bone metastases and the number of patients who are sent for orthopedic care each year, states an article in the Canadian Journal of Surgery (CJS).
ACR endorses standardized measures to determine rheumatoid arthritis disease activity
A working group convened by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has evaluated more than 60 disease activity measures for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The group narrowed the number of RA disease activity measures and the recommended six for use in U.S. clinical practice are detailed in Arthritis Care & Research, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the ACR.
ACR updates guidelines for use of DMARDs and biologic drugs in treating rheumatoid arthritis
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has released the 2012 recommendations for the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologic agents in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The guidelines published today in the ACR journal, Arthritis Care & Research, are an update to the 2008 recommendations and address the issues of initiating and switching drugs, screening for tuberculosis (TB) reactivation, immunization, and the use of biologics in high-risk RA patients.
New signaling pathway linked to breast cancer metastasis
Lymph nodes help to fight off infections by producing immune cells and filtering foreign materials from the body, such as bacteria or cancer cells. Thus, one of the first places that cancer cells are found when they leave the primary tumor is in the lymph nodes. The spread of cancer cells to the lymph nodes, lymphatic metastasis, is known to indicate a poor prognosis in many types of cancers; how tumor cells reach the lymph nodes, however, is not well understood.
Osteoporosis drugs may increase risk of serious eye disease
Drugs that are commonly used to prevent osteoporosis may increase the risk of serious inflammatory eye disease in first-time users, found an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
In defense of older drivers
The notion that senior drivers have higher rates of crashes because they are poorer drivers is largely a misconception, according to a commentary in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Graduated drivers' licenses for seniors
Introducing graduated drivers' licenses for seniors in Canada might help improve road safety, states an editorial in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Phase III research represents potential shift in standard of care for bladder cancer
Use of the Connaught strain of bacillus Calmette-Guérin, an adjuvant immunotherapy used in the treatment of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, significantly reduced cancer recurrence compared with the Tice strain of bacillus Calmette-Guérin, according to data presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2012, held here March 31 - April 4.
Hypnosis provides effective treatment for IBS
Hypnosis can be a highly effective treatment for the bowel disorder IBS. Studies involving a total of 346 patients conducted by researchers at The Sahlgrenska Academy of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, showed that hypnotherapy alleviated symptoms in 40 per cent of those affected – and that the improvement is long-term.
Walking can help alleviate fatigue after a cancer operation
Researchers have affirmed that pancreatic cancer patients can literally take a step-by-step approach to combat fatigue. A study published in the April issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons reports that patients who underwent an operation as part of their cancer treatment and then started a regular walking regimen experienced less fatigue than cancer survivors who did not do the walking program.
Researchers questioning the link between violent computer games and aggressiveness
There is a long-lasting and at times intense debate about the possible link between violent computer games and aggressiveness. A group of researchers from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, are now questioning the entire basis of the discussion. In a recently published article, they present a new study showing that, more than anything, a good ability to cooperate is a prerequisite for success in the violent gaming environment.
New clinical trial explores novel noninvasive colon cancer screening test
In a first-of-its-kind clinical trial, physician-scientists at University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center's Seidman Cancer Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine are studying a promising new non-invasive technology for colon cancer screening. The five-year study is recruiting patients to compare the effectiveness of stool DNA (sDNA) testing with colonoscopy for detecting large colon polyps.
New research could stop tumor cells from spreading
Researchers from the Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Gothenburg have managed for the first time to obtain detailed information about the role of the protein metastasin in the spread of tumour cells. Published recently in the renowned Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the study paves the way for the development of new drugs.
Face transplant patient can feel daughter's kisses
(AP) -- The nation's first full face transplant recipient says he can feel his daughter's kisses now, a year after the procedure.
Patients want immediate access to radiology test results
You've been experiencing severe back pain and weakness in your right leg. Your doctor orders a spinal MRI to help determine the cause. The radiology report diagnoses cancer.
Early PET response to neoadjuvant chemo predicts increased survival in sarcoma patients
An early Positron Emission Tomography (PET) response after the initial cycle of neoadjuvant chemotherapy can be used to predict increased survival in patients with soft tissue sarcomas, according to a study by researchers with UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Combative Obama warns Supreme Court on health law
US President Barack Obama on Monday challenged the "unelected" Supreme Court not to take the "extraordinary" and "unprecedented" step of overturning his landmark health reform law.
Heart failure's effects in cells can be reversed with a rest
Structural changes in heart muscle cells after heart failure can be reversed by allowing the heart to rest, according to research at Imperial College London. Findings from a study in rats published today in the European Journal of Heart Failure show that the condition's effects on heart muscle cells are not permanent, as has generally been thought. The discovery could open the door to new treatment strategies.
Measles-containing vaccines not linked with increased risk of febrile seizures in kids 4-6
Vaccines for measles were not associated with an increased risk of febrile seizures among 4-6 year olds during the six weeks after vaccination, according to a study by the Kaiser Permanente Vaccine Study Center that appears in the current issue of Pediatrics.
Cancer stem cell vaccine in development shows antitumor effect
Scientists may have discovered a new paradigm for immunotherapy against cancer by priming antibodies and T cells with cancer stem cells, according to a study published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Aging accelerates brain abnormalities in childhood onset epilepsy patients
New research confirms that childhood onset temporal lobe epilepsy has a significant impact on brain aging. Study findings published in Epilepsia, a peer-reviewed journal of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), show age-accelerated ventricular expansion outside the normal range in this patient population.
Diabetes treatment doubles skin cancer drug's effectiveness
Combining the experimental drug Avastin (bevacizumab) with the diabetes drug Metformin almost doubles its ability to reduce skin cancer growth, according to a study in Cancer Discovery.
Long-term use of estrogen hormone therapy linked to higher risk for breast cancer
In a landmark study, researchers have linked the long-term use of estrogen plus progesterone and estrogen-only hormone therapy with a higher risk for developing breast cancer.
SU2C partnership results in new, potent epigenetic drug for myelodysplastic syndromes, leukemia
As a result of collaboration between academic and pharmaceutical scientists, made possible by a Stand Up To Cancer research grant, researchers may have discovered a new, potent epigenetic drug that could safely alter the way cancer cells function within the body, according to data presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2012, held here March 31 – April 4.
New high-tech system improves out of hours care for hospital patients
(Medical Xpress) -- An award-winning high-tech replacement for the traditional hospital doctor paging system could free up nurses to spend more time with patients on the wards and significantly reduce in-patient stays, researchers have found.
Gay college students may be at increased risk for drinking problems because of how they, their peers are treated
(Medical Xpress) -- Gay, lesbian, and bisexual college students who experience subtle discrimination are at increased risk of having a problem with alcohol compared to heterosexual students, a new University of Michigan study finds.
'Druggable' protein complex identified as a therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukemia
Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have identified a candidate drug target for treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a white blood cell cancer that proliferates out of control in the bone marrow. The team, led by Assistant Professor Chris Vakoc, M.D., Ph.D., shows that blocking a protein called PRC2 halts this uncontrolled proliferation in the bone marrow of mice with AML.
Study reveals insight into how key protein protects against viral infections
Scientists from the University of Utah School of Medicine have discovered that a mouse protein called IFITM3 contributes to the body's defense against some types of viral infections by binding to an enzyme responsible for regulating the pH of a cell's waste disposal system. This finding, published in the March 30, 2012, issue of Innate Immunity, sheds light on the cellular mechanisms involved in flu resistance and opens up potential new avenues of research for anti-viral medications.
Accentuating the positive memories for sleep
Sleep plays a powerful role in preserving our memories. But while recent research shows that wakefulness may cloud memories of negative or traumatic events, a new study has found that wakefulness also degrades positive memories. Sleep, it seems, protects positive memories just as it does negative ones, and that has important implications for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Estrogen is responsible for slow wound healing in women
Estrogen causes wounds in women to heal slower than in men - who have lower levels of estrogen - says a new study published in the April 2012 issue of the FASEB Journal. In the report, scientists from the University of California, Berkeley, provide the first evidence that mild injury response in the eye is fundamentally different in males and females because of estrogen. This discovery provides new clues for successfully treating a wide range of inflammatory diseases such as dry eye disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and scleroderma.
Combination drug treatment can cut malaria by 30 percent
Malaria infections among infants can be cut by up to 30 per cent when antimalarial drugs are given intermittently over a 12 month period, a three-year clinical trial in Papua New Guinea has shown.
Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God
New research suggests that when non-religious people think about their own death they become more consciously skeptical about religion, but unconsciously grow more receptive to religious belief.
Scientists discover special class of natural fats stimulates immune cells to fight diseases
An international research team led by scientists from Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) under the Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) discovered that a special class of fatty molecules is essential for activating a unique group of early-responding immune cells. This study sheds light on how recognition of fatty molecules by immune cells could protect from infection, allergic reactions, autoimmune diseases and cancer. More importantly, it offers new opportunities to exploit the use of these stimulatory fatty molecules in therapeutic interventions, such as the development of new vaccines and drugs targetted for autoimmune diseases.
Researchers uncover new clues to the development of blood and other cancers
Scientists at Fox Chase Cancer Center have uncovered more details about how defects in components of the machinery that makes new proteins can lead to blood and other cancers. The findings, which will be presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2012 on Monday, April 2, may one day lead to new targeted therapies that address those problems.
Strong oral carcinogen identified in smokeless tobacco
The chemical (S)-N'-nitrosonornicotine, or (S)-NNN, which is present in smokeless tobacco products, is a strong oral carcinogen, according to results presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2012, held here March 31 - April 4.
Exploring the antidepressant effects of testosterone
Testosterone, the primary male sex hormone, appears to have antidepressant properties, but the exact mechanisms underlying its effects have remained unclear. Nicole Carrier and Mohamed Kabbaj, scientists at Florida State University, are actively working to elucidate these mechanisms.
Death cap mushroom poison to arrest pancreatic cancer in mice
The mere thought of an identification error sends a chill down the spine of any mushroom lover: The death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides), which resembles the common white button mushroom, contains one of the most deadly poisons found in nature, α-amanitin. This substance kills any cell without exception, whether it be healthy or cancerous. At the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) and the National Center for Tumor Diseases Heidelberg, immunologist Dr. Gerhard Moldenhauer, jointly with biochemist Professor Dr. Heinz Faulstich, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, has now developed a method for destroying cancer cells using the dreaded fungal toxin without harming the body.
Extending the hands of the endoscopic surgeon
More precision and less cost for endoscopic surgeries: the tool developed by DistalMotion, a spin-off of EPFL, will allow surgeons to reproduce their exact movements. The prototype was just released from the lab, and on the 29th of March, the start-up received 130,000 Swiss francs in the final phase of the Venture Kick prize.
Newly found protein helps cells build tissues
As they work together to form body parts, cells in developing organisms communicate like workers at a construction site. The discovery of a new signaling molecule in flies by Brown University biologists not only helps explain how cells send many long-haul messages, but also provides new clues for researchers who study how human development goes awry, for instance in cases of cleft lip and palate.
Stimulating the brain to improve speech, memory, numerical abilities
One of the most frustrating challenges for some stroke patients can be the inability to find and speak words even if they know what they want to say. Speech therapy is laborious and can take months. New research is seeking to cut that time significantly, with the help of non-invasive brain stimulation.
Scientists uncover liver's role in preventing dissemination of lung infection
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have discovered the regulation and functional significance of the acute phase response during a lung infection. The findings, which will be published in the May edition of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, demonstrate that the liver responds in order to increase defenses in the blood that prevent localized infections from spreading throughout the body.
Getting down to the heart of the (gray) matter to treat Parkinson's disease
An agent under consideration for use in PET imaging combats neuronal death to relieve Parkinsonian symptoms in animal models, according to a study published on April 2nd in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.
Study links breast cancer resistance with timing of soy consumption
Studies exploring the relationship between soy consumption and breast cancer have been mixed, but new research introduces a new thought: Could women with breast cancer who began eating soy as an adult develop a tumor more resistant to treatment?
Suicide rates in Canada increasing in girls aged 10-19
Suicide rates in Canada are increasing for girls but decreasing for boys, with suffocation now the most common method for both sexes, according to an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Two specific agents worse than one in treating endocrine resistant breast cancer cells
A new class of agents known as c-Src inhibitors is being tested in a number of different ways to treat breast cancer, but researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center caution that they should not be used in combination with estrogen to treat endocrine resistant breast cancer.
Guidelines-based CPR saves more non-shockable cardiac arrest victims
People who have a cardiac arrest that can't be helped by a defibrillator shock are more likely to survive if given CPR based on updated guidelines that emphasize chest compressions, according to research reported in the American Heart Association journal, Circulation.
Climate model to predict malaria outbreaks in India
Scientists from the University of Liverpool are working with computer modelling specialists in India to predict areas of the country that are at most risk of malaria outbreaks, following changes in monsoon rainfall.
Surgery cuts costs, improves outcomes for children with perforated appendicitis
Pediatric surgeons can lower health care costs if they remove a young patient's perforated appendix sooner rather than later, according to new study results published in the April issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
Whole genome sequencing not informative for all, study shows
With sharp declines in the cost of whole genome sequencing, the day of accurately deciphering disease risk based on an individual's genome may seem at hand. But a study involving data of thousands of identical twins by Johns Hopkins investigators finds that genomic fortune-telling fails to provide informative guidance to most people about their risk for most common diseases, and warns against complacency born of negative genome test results.
Gene mapping for everyone? Study says not so fast
Gene scans for everyone? Not so fast. New research suggests that for the average person, decoding your own DNA may not turn out to be a really useful crystal ball for future health.
In Taiwan, diabetes linked to increased Parkinson's risk
(HealthDay) -- Individuals with diabetes in Taiwan have a significantly increased risk of Parkinson's disease (PD), which is robust across most age and gender stratifications, according to a study published online March 19 in Diabetes Care.
Six developmental trajectories ID'd in children with autism
(HealthDay) -- Six longitudinal developmental trajectories have been identified among children with autism, with significant heterogeneity seen in developmental pathways within these trajectories, according to a study published online April 2 in Pediatrics.
Maternal caffeine intake doesn't affect infant sleep: study
(HealthDay) -- Heavy caffeine consumption by nursing mothers does not increase the number of nighttime awakenings in 3-month-old infants, according to a study published online April 2 in Pediatrics.
Malodorous urine often reported for infants with UTI
(HealthDay) -- Parental reports of malodorous urine increase the likelihood of a diagnosis of a urinary tract infection (UTI) in young children being evaluated for a suspected infection, according to a study published online April 2 in Pediatrics.
Study examines immunotherapy and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in patients with Alzheimer's disease
Immunotherapy with the antibody bapineuzumab in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease resulted in decreases in a cerebrospinal fluid biomarker, which may indicate downstream effects on the degenerative process, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Neurology.
Study links intrauterine antipsychotic medication exposure to lower scores on infant neuromotor test
Among 6-month-old infants, a history of intrauterine antipsychotic medication exposure was associated with significantly lower scores on a standard test of neuromotor performance, according to a report published Online First by Archives of General Psychiatry.
Study examines use of waist measures among overweight and obese adolescents
Waist measures (waist circumference, waist to height ratio) in conjunction with body mass index appear to be associated with lipid and blood pressure assessments among overweight and obese adolescents, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Teen alcohol and illicit drug use and abuse examined in study
A survey of a nationally representative sample of U.S. teenagers suggests that most cases of alcohol and drug abuse have their initial onset at this important period of development, according to a report published in the April issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.
Nearly half of preschoolers lack one parent-supervised playtime per day
Parents reported that about half of the preschoolers in a nationally representative sample did not have at least one parent-supervised outdoor playtime per day, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Routine mammograms may result in significant overdiagnosis of invasive breast cancer
New Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) research suggests that routine mammography screening—long viewed as an essential tool in detecting early breast cancers—may in fact lead to a significant amount of overdiagnosis of disease that would otherwise have proved harmless. Based on a study of women in Norway, the researchers estimate that between 15% and 25% of breast cancer cases are overdiagnosed.
Obesity epidemic in America found significantly worse than previously believed
The scope of the obesity epidemic in the United States has been greatly underestimated, according to a study published Apr. 2 in the open access journal PLoS ONE. Researchers found that the Body Mass Index (BMI) substantially under-diagnoses obesity when compared to the Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scan, a direct simultaneous measure of body fat, muscle mass, and bone density.
Empathy doesn't extend across the political aisle
When we try to put ourselves in someone else's shoes, we usually go all the way, assuming that they feel the same way we do. But a new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, finds that we have limits: we don't extend this projection to people who have different political views, even under extreme circumstances.
Partner aggression in high-risk families affects parenting beginning at birth
Bickering spouses may need to clean up their act. New research at the University of Oregon finds that the level of aggression between partners around the time when a child is born impacts how a mom will be parenting three years later.
Genetically modified mice to visualize in vivo inflammation and metastasis
One of the major routes of tumor cell dissemination to form metastasis at distant organs in the body is the lymphatic system. To study this process, still poorly understood, and to gain information on which tumors prefer this route for dissemination and how to block it, researchers of the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), led by researcher Sagrario Ortega, have created transgenic mice in which, for the first time, the growth of the lymphatic vessels can be visualized in the whole animal, by a light-emitting reaction, as tumor progresses and forms metastasis. The technique is so sensitive that it allows monitoring those lymph nodes that are going to be invaded by tumor cells. The work is published today in the journal PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences).
Seeing double: 1 in 30 babies born in US is a twin
Women having children at older ages and the growing availability of fertility treatments has led to a marked increase in the birth of twins: In 2009, one in every 30 babies born in the United States was a twin compared with one in every 53 in 1980.
Caloric moderation can reverse link between low birth weight and obesity, early study indicates
Babies who are born small have a tendency to put on weight during childhood and adolescence if allowed free access to calories. However, a new animal model study at UCLA found when small babies were placed on a diet of moderately regulated calories during infancy, the propensity of becoming obese decreased.
Study finds doctors have exaggerated fears when starting patients on insulin
Doctors are more reluctant to start their patients on insulin than the patients are themselves, according to a new study led by researchers at St. Michael's Hospital.
Molecular imaging links systemic inflammation with depression
New research published in the April issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine reveals that systemic inflammation causes an increase in depressive symptoms and metabolic changes in the parts of the brain responsible for mood and motivation. With this finding, researchers can begin to test potential treatments for depression for patients that experience symptoms that are related to inflammation in the body or within the brain.
Fewer deaths, complications with robotic bladder cancer surgery, but cost is higher
With technological advancements opening the door to less invasive medical procedures, robotic-assisted surgery is becoming increasingly popular, despite being more expensive than traditional surgery. Robotic-assisted surgical removal of the bladder due to cancer is a new approach to the traditional "open" — or more invasive — operation called a radical cystectomy.
New boost for pancreatic cancer therapy
Scientists at Fox Chase Cancer Center are developing a new way to treat pancreatic cancer by boosting the effects of gemcitabine (Gemzar)—the chemotherapy drug that is considered standard therapy for the disease. Although gemcitabine is the first line of defense against pancreatic cancer, many cells find ways to evade the treatment. The new research, which will be presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2012 on Monday, April 2, found several compounds that appear to improve the cancer-killing effect of gemcitabine.
Post-traumatic stress disorder genes identified: Findings could lead to targeted therapies
Why do some persons succumb to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while others who suffered the same ordeal do not? A new UCLA study may shed light on the answer.
Study finds dramatic rise in skin cancer in young adults
Even as the rates of some cancers are falling, Mayo Clinic is seeing an alarming trend: the dramatic rise of skin cancer, especially among people under 40. According to a study by Mayo Clinic researchers published in the April issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, the incidence of melanoma has escalated, and young women are the hardest hit.
Study shows difficulty in ability to discern facial symmetry helps explain 'beer goggles' effect
(Medical Xpress) -- It's a part of modern lore that doesn’t reflect well on our species, the idea that as people consume alcoholic beverages, they see those around them as becoming more attractive. It’s known as the “beer goggles” effect, and has been used by members of both genders to help explain sexual escapades with another person that under normal circumstances would not be someone they would consider for such activities. Now new research helps to explain how and why this happens. L.G Halsey, J.W Huber, and J.C Hardwick have published the results of their research on the topic in the journal Addiction, and suggest that one reason people find others more attractive when drinking is because alcohol impairs a person’s ability to detect facial symmetry.
Scientists achieve breakthrough in understanding sense of touch
(Medical Xpress) -- A research team including University of Wyoming neurobiologist Jeff Woodbury has discovered a new technique to determine how the touch sensory system is organized in hairy skin, providing a new understanding of the sense of touch.
Rare immune cells could hold key to treating immune disorders
The characterisation of a rare immune cell's involvement in antibody production and ability to 'remember' infectious agents could help to improve vaccination and lead to new treatments for immune disorders, say researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute.
Compound that halts growth of malaria parasite created
A drug candidate that has shown promise for neutralizing dangerous bacteria also prevents the parasite that causes malaria from growing, new research by a Yale University team headed by Nobel laureate Sidney Altman shows.
Study: Epstein Barr virus protects against autoimmune disease
To the surprise of investigating researchers, an animal model of Epstein Barr virus protected lupus-prone mice against development of the autoimmune disease. Earlier work had suggested that EBV might promote the development of autoimmunity.
New research finds cause of morphine side effects
A University of Colorado Boulder-led research team has discovered that two protein receptors in the central nervous system team up to respond to morphine and cause unwanted neuroinflammation, a finding with implications for improving the efficacy of the widely used painkiller while decreasing its abuse potential.
Researchers link neural variability to short-term memory and decision making
A team of University of Pittsburgh mathematicians is using computational models to better understand how the structure of neural variability relates to such functions as short-term memory and decision making. In a paper published online April 2 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the Pitt team examines how fluctuations in brain activity can impact the dynamics of cognitive tasks.
What do ADHD and cancer have in common? Variety
According to new research conducted at Oregon Health & Science University, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is more than one disorder. It's an entire family of disorders, much like the multiple subtypes of cancer.
Scientists shed light on age-related memory loss and possible treatments
Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have shown in animal models that the loss of memory that comes with aging is not necessarily a permanent thing.
How stress influences disease: Research reveals inflammation as the culprit
Stress wreaks havoc on the mind and body. For example, psychological stress is associated with greater risk for depression, heart disease and infectious diseases. But, until now, it has not been clear exactly how stress influences disease and health.
Biology news
Organic farming without cabbage flies
When cabbage root flies lay their eggs on freshly planted vegetables, organic farmers often lose their entire crop. In the future, pellets made of cyanobacteria and fermentation residues from biogas plants will repel these insects in an ecologically compatible manner – and simultaneously fertilize the plants. Researchers are presenting the pellets at the Hannover Messe from April 23–27.
Gray seals consume as much fish as the fishing industry catches
The grey seals in the Baltic Sea compete for fish with the fishing industry. The seals locally eat about the same quantities of cod, common whitefish, salmon, sea trout and eel as those taken by fishermen. This is the conclusion from research carried out at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Warm winters may be nice for humans but not so much for butterflies
(PhysOrg.com) -- It was a relatively inexpensive winter for heating in central North America, with mild temperatures reducing the need to warm our houses, but the mild, fluctuating temperatures will cause butterflies to suffer severe energy shortages this spring. A new study published in the journal PLoS One (http://www.plosone.org/home.action) by researchers from Western University and the University of Notre Dame reveals that these kinds of winters are energetically expensive, even for butterflies that can shift gears to reduce their energy use.
Like humans, dogs engage in riskier behaviors when their self-control is depleted
How do dogs behave when their ability to exert self-control is compromised? Are they more likely to approach dangerous situations or stay well away? According to a new study by Holly Miller, from the University of Lille Nord de France, and colleagues, dogs that have 'run out' of self-control make more impulsive decisions that put them in harm's way. The work was just published online in Springer's Psychonomic Bulletin & Review.
Ovastacin cuts off sperm binding
A study in The Journal of Cell Biology describes how a secreted enzyme helps egg cells avoid being fertilized by more than one sperm.
Mission critical: Species explorers propose steps to map biosphere
An ambitious goal to describe 10 million species in less than 50 years is achievable and necessary to sustain Earth's biodiversity, according to an international group of 39 scientists, scholars and engineers who provided a detailed plan, including measures to build public support, in the March 30 issue of the journal Systematics and Biodiversity.
Ancient Egyptian cotton unveils secrets of domesticated crop evolution
Scientists studying 1,600-year-old cotton from the banks of the Nile have found what they believe is the first evidence that punctuated evolution has occurred in a major crop group within the relatively short history of plant domestication.
First study to show that pesticides can induce morphological changes in vertebrate animals
(PhysOrg.com) -- The world’s most popular weed killer, Roundup, can cause amphibians to change shape, according to research published today in Ecological Applications.
From beaker to bits: Collaboration creates computational model of human tissue
Computer scientists and biologists in the Data Science Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a rare collaboration between the two very different fields to pick apart a fundamental roadblock to progress in modern medicine. Their unique partnership has uncovered a new computational model called "cell graphs" that links the structure of human tissue to its corresponding biological function. The tool is a promising step in the effort to bring the power of computational science together with traditional biology to the fight against human diseases such as cancer.
Sparrows change their tune to be heard in noisy cities
Sparrows in San Francisco's Presidio district changed their tune to soar above the increasing cacophony of car horns and engine rumbles, details new George Mason University research in the April edition of Animal Behaviour.
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