Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 29, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- The shape of things, illuminated: Metamaterials, surface topology and light-matter interactions- Hotmail in hot water over password flaw, rushes fix
- Robot arm at MIT will weave its own web (w/ Video)
- Research shows rats have best bite of rodent world
- Scientists find gene that inhibits pancreas cancer spread
- Single nanomaterial yields many laser colors
- Huge study finds brain networks connected to teen drug abuse
- Pacific islands may become refuge for corals in a warming climate, study finds
- Calif. rescuers hope dolphin finds way back to sea
- Pirate party makes a raid on German politics
- The JCMT celebrates 25 years on top of the world
- Hubble images searchlight beams from a preplanetary nebula
- Samsung coyness puts smartphone crown in dispute
- Facebook billionaire shuns luxury for startup life
Space & Earth news
Moscow swelters in record heat
Moscow sweltered in unseasonable heat on Sunday, with temperatures of nearly 29 degrees Celsius (84.2 Fahrenheit), a record for April since data collection began 130 years ago, authorities said.
Hubble images searchlight beams from a preplanetary nebula
(Phys.org) -- The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has been at the cutting edge of research into what happens to stars like our sun at the ends of their lives. One stage that stars pass through as they run out of nuclear fuel is called the preplanetary or protoplanetary nebula stage. This Hubble image of the Egg Nebula shows one of the best views to date of this brief but dramatic phase in a star’s life.
The JCMT celebrates 25 years on top of the world
The James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, is celebrating its 25th birthday this week. It first turned its dish to the heavens this week in 1987, and now, a quarter of a century later, the JCMT continues to lead the world in submillimetre astronomy.
Pacific islands may become refuge for corals in a warming climate, study finds
Scientists have predicted that ocean temperatures will rise in the equatorial Pacific by the end of the century, wreaking havoc on coral reef ecosystems. But a new study shows that climate change could cause ocean currents to operate in a surprising way and mitigate the warming near a handful of islands right on the equator. As a result these Pacific islands may become isolated refuges for corals and fish.
Technology news
Yahoo! paid ex-chief $16 mn in final year
Former Yahoo! chief executive Carol Bartz received a $16.4 million compensation package during her last year on the job in 2011, the company said in a regulatory filing.
Japan, Kazakhstan to jointly develop rare earths: report
Japan will jointly develop rare earths with Kazakhstan as part of its efforts to secure supplies of the key minerals now controlled by China, a newspaper said Sunday.
Amazon, Texas reach deal to settle sales tax spat
(AP) -- Online retailer Amazon.com reached an agreement with Texas officials Friday to settle a sales tax dispute by expanding operations in the state and starting to collect sales taxes.
FCC: TV stations must post rates for campaign ads
(AP) -- The Federal Communications Commission voted Friday to require broadcast TV stations to post online the advertising rates they charge political candidates and advocacy groups.
Apple 'avoiding billions in global taxes,' report claims
Gadget giant Apple is avoiding billions of dollars in taxes by setting up small offices around the world to collect and invest the company's profits, according to The New York Times.
Regulators eye Google in Argentina, South Korea
Google's online search and advertising services are under scrutiny by regulators in Argentina and South Korea, the company has confirmed.
Samsung coyness puts smartphone crown in dispute
Smartphones are the hottest gadgets in the world. But who's the biggest smartphone maker? We don't really know.
Pirate party makes a raid on German politics
(AP) -- Pirates are capturing Germany's political system. The party with the outlaw name started as a marginal club of computer nerds and hackers demanding online freedom, but its appeal as an antiestablishment movement has lured many young voters to the ballot boxes, catapulting it into two state parliaments in less than a year.
Facebook billionaire shuns luxury for startup life
(AP) -- Facebook co-founder and former Mark Zuckerberg roommate Dustin Moskovitz is by many accounts the world's youngest self-made billionaire. But the 27-year-old isn't sipping champagne in the Caribbean.
Hotmail in hot water over password flaw, rushes fix
Hackers tried to get the best of Hotmail by figuring out how to reset Hotmail user passwords for e-mail accounts this month. Locking hotmail users out of their own accounts when trying to key in their passwords was something like a bad-dream scenario, trying to open your front door only to find your key does not work and thieves are inside. This could have turned into a big-time nightmare if Microsoft, after being notified of the weakness, had not rushed out a patch for its troubled password reset system. The Redmond company reportedly closed the loophole, so that hackers trying to manipulate data would now get an error message.
Medicine & Health news
Unruly kids may have a mental disorder
When children behave badly, it's easy to blame their parents. Sometimes, however, such behavior may be due to a mental disorder.
Researchers: Quality of life as important as quantity of life
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have placed new emphasis on gathering data on cancer patient quality of life during both treatment and survivorship. Their focus is on gathering and using that data to develop interventions to improve the quality of life for patients in treatment and for cancer survivors.
Moffitt researchers find adolescents with cancer concerned about their future reproductive health
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center and colleagues have found that adolescents newly diagnosed with cancer have strong concerns about their ability to have children as cancer survivors. They also found that standard health-related quality-of-life survey tools used to elicit answers from teens with cancer did not accurately reflect these concerns. Parents, who often answer survey questions as proxies, often inaccurately relayed their child's reproductive concerns.
Researchers creating "designer lymph nodes"
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center are in the first phase of creating "designer lymph nodes." Designer lymph nodes are built with specialized gene-modified cells that are injected into patients and produce a pre-planned immunologic response for cancer patients locally and then throughout their bodies. The researchers are examining a cancer vaccine "boosting" effect of the manufactured lymph nodes in patients with advanced melanoma.
Children neglected in clinical drug trials
Although children are more likely than adults to suffer from many diseases, few clinical trials are being conducted to test drugs in pediatric patients, according to a study to be presented Saturday, April 28, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Boston.
New imaging protocols help improve systemic functioning for living renal donors
(Medical Xpress) -- A new study from UCLA shows how magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and computed tomography angiography (CTA) are equivalent in delineating anatomy in living renal donors.
Radiologists play key role in successful bariatric procedures
With the increase of obesity in the last 50 years, bariatric surgeries are becoming a common solution for tackling this epidemic. A new exhibit shows how radiologists play a key role in ensuring the success of these procedures.
Racial differences found in care of children in ED
Black children are less likely than white children to receive medication for abdominal pain in the emergency department (ED) even when they report severe pain, according to a study presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Boston.
Study supports allowing family members in ED during critical care
Contrary to what many trauma teams believe, the presence of family members does not impede the care of injured children in the emergency department, according to a study presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Boston.
Computers aid in collecting sensitive information from teens (w /Video)
More than 1 million youths ages 15-24 have sexually transmitted infections (STIs) caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhea. Many others, however, are unaware they are infected because they have not been tested.
New standards for treating traumatic shoulder injuries improve patient care
Shoulder injuries are among the most frequently encountered musculoskeletal injuries treated in emergency departments. One new study shows how radiologists can more effectively identify these injuries and improve patient outcomes.
TV alcohol advertising may play role in underage drinking
Minors who were familiar with television alcohol advertisements were more likely to have tried alcoholic beverages and binge drink than those who could not recall seeing such ads, according to a study presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Boston.
Driven to distraction
It's well-known that using a cell phone while driving can lead to motor vehicle crashes. New research — presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Boston — shows that even anticipating calls or messages may distract drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Teen-led study highlights dangers of texting and driving
Some people have questioned whether a ban on texting while driving will actually lead to more crashes because drivers will conceal their cell phones, making it more dangerous to read and type messages. Research led by high school students, however, shows that texting while driving is unsafe regardless of where the phone is positioned.
Automated breast volume sonography improves screening and diagnosis of breast cancer for Asian women
A new study from researchers at the Bangkok Breast Center shows significant improvement in the detection of breast cancer in Asian women using automated breast volume sonography (ABVS) as compared to hand-held ultrasound (HHUS).
Taiwan to step up checks on US beef after mad cow case
Taiwan plans to step up checks of US plants that process beef exported to the island, the government said Sunday, following the discovery of a new mad cow disease case in the United States.
US approves new treatment for ancient plague
Hardly anyone succumbs to the bubonic plague these days, but US health authorities on Friday approved a new treatment for it and other forms of the potentially deadly bacterial infection.
Overweight teens who are satisfied with their bodies are less depressed, less prone to unhealthy behaviors
A study to be published in the June 2012 issue of Journal of Adolescent Health looking at the relationships between body satisfaction and healthy psychological functioning in overweight adolescents has found that young women who are happy with the size and shape of their bodies report higher levels of self-esteem. They may also be protected against the negative behavioral and psychological factors sometimes associated with being overweight.
US watchdog warns on fitness stimulant
The US Food and Drug Administration on Friday questioned the safety of DMAA, a stimulant used in dietary supplements, alleging that marketers were illegally selling the chemical.
Parents' poor math skills may lead to medication errors
Many parents cringe when their child asks for help with math homework. New research shows that poor math skills can cause another difficulty for caregivers — measuring the right amount of medicine.
Low-income moms under stress may overfeed infants
Efforts to prevent obesity among low-income infants should focus not only on what babies are being fed but also the reasons behind unhealthy feeding practices, according to a study presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Boston.
Apartment dwellers often subjected to neighbors' tobacco smoke
Noisy neighbors and broken-down elevators are common downsides of apartment living. You also can add unwanted tobacco smoke to the list of hazards, according to research presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Boston.
Being left out puts youths with special needs at risk for depression
The challenges that come with battling a chronic medical condition or developmental disability are enough to get a young person down. But being left out, ignored or bullied by their peers is the main reason youths with special health care needs report symptoms of anxiety or depression, according to a study presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Boston.
Mom's stress during pregnancy can affect baby's iron status
Newborns whose mothers are under stress during the first trimester of pregnancy may be at risk for low iron status, which could lead to physical and mental delays down the road, according to a study presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Boston.
Fight or flight: Violent teens may be following parents' lead
While it may be cute when a 3-year-old imitates his parent's bad behavior, when adolescents do so, it's no longer a laughing matter.
Familiarity with television fast-food ads linked to obesity
There is a long-held concern that youths who eat a lot of fast food are at risk for becoming overweight. New research presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Boston shows that greater familiarity with fast-food restaurant advertising on television is associated with obesity in young people.
Study: Heavy teens have trouble managing diabetes
(AP) -- New research sends a stark warning to overweight teens: If you develop diabetes, you'll have a very tough time keeping it under control.
Huge study finds brain networks connected to teen drug abuse
Why do some teenagers start smoking or experimenting with drugs—while others don't?
Scientists find gene that inhibits pancreas cancer spread
Scientists have identified a gene that slows the spread of pancreatic cancer tumours, paving the way for targeted treatment of one of the deadliest forms of the disease, said a paper published Sunday.
Biology news
New avocado rootstocks are high-performing and disease-tolerant
Avocado, a significant fruit crop grown in many tropical and subtropical parts of the world, is threatened by Phytophthora root rot (PRR), a disease that has already eliminated commercial avocado production in many areas in Latin America and crippled production in Australia and South Africa. Just in California the disease is estimated to cost avocado growers approximately $30-40 million a year in production losses.
Research shows rats have best bite of rodent world
Scientists at the University of Liverpool have found that mice and rats have evolved to gnaw with their front teeth and chew with their back teeth more successfully than rodents that 'specialise' in one or other of these biting mechanisms.
Calif. rescuers hope dolphin finds way back to sea
(AP) -- A wayward dolphin that has spent two days in a narrow wetlands channel along the southern California coast was on its way out to the ocean Saturday when it suddenly turned tail and swam back to shallow waters.
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