Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 25, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Mechanical motion rectifier leads to better energy harvesting- Does the quantum wave function represent reality?
- Splatters of molten rock signal period of intense asteroid impacts on Earth
- Tiny 'spherules' reveal details about Earth's asteroid impacts
- Physicists benchmark quantum simulator with hundreds of qubits
- Stealth game steals info from Android sensors
- Physicists show standard 'quasiparticle' theory breaks down at 'quantum critical point'
- Shedding light on debate over organic vs. conventional agriculture: Study calls for combining best of both approaches
- Nano nod for lab-on-a-chip
- Beyond stain-resistant: New fabric coating actively shrugs off gunk
- Growing up as a neural stem cell: The importance of clinging together and then letting go
- DNA from heart's own cells plays role in heart failure by mistakenly activating immune system
- Research finds autumn advantage for invasive plants in Eastern United States
- Study finds warm ocean currents cause majority of ice loss from Antarctica
- Learned, not innate human intuition: Study finds twist to the story of the number line
Space & Earth news
Shuttle Enterprise flight over New York City metro area moved to April 27
NASA managers, in coordination with Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum officials, tentatively are targeting Friday, April 27, for the ferry of space shuttle Enterprise from Washington Dulles International Airport to John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in New York.
Fracking requires a minimum distance of at least 0.6 kilometers from sensitive rock strata
The chances of rogue fractures due to shale gas fracking operations extending beyond 0.6 kilometres from the injection source is a fraction of one percent, according to new research led by Durham University.
Latest CryoSat result revealed
(Phys.org) -- After nearly a year and a half of operations, CryoSat has yielded its first seasonal variation map of Arctic sea-ice thickness. Results from ESA’s ice mission were presented today at the Royal Society in London.
Ice mission shows precise changes in Arctic sea-ice thickness
Scientists have produced the first map which shows the changes in the thickness of Arctic sea ice through the entire winter season. The map is the most accurate and extensive yet.
There's no one-size-fits-all green roof, studies show
Green roofs – rooftops covered with a layer of vegetation–are getting a lot of credit for providing environmental benefits. They have been found to reduce storm water runoff from buildings, conserve energy by moderating rooftop temperatures, restore fragile ecosystems and beautify urban spaces. From Toronto to New York, cities are investing billions in green infrastructure programs that rely on this kind of technology and ongoing research is helping refine its application.
Rapid tsunami warning by means of GPS
For submarine earthquakes that can generate tsunamis, the warning time for nearby coastal areas is very short. Using high-precision analysis of GPS data from the Fukushima earthquake of 11 March 2011, scientists at the German Research Centre for Geosciences GFZ showed that, in principle, the earthquake magnitude and the spatial distribution can be determined in just over three minutes, allowing for a rapid and detailed tsunami early warning.
Air quality improving in many U.S. cities: report
(HealthDay) -- Air quality in America's most polluted cities has improved significantly over the past decade, according to a new report from the American Lung Association.
Signs of three major Japan quakes before 2011
Three major earthquakes seem to have occurred in northern Japan before it was hit in March 2011 by a massive quake and tsunami, researchers said Wednesday based on new evidence.
Wind pushes plastics deeper into oceans, driving trash estimates up
While working on a research sailboat gliding over glassy seas in the Pacific Ocean, oceanographer Giora Proskurowski noticed something new: The water was littered with confetti-size pieces of plastic debris, until the moment the wind picked up and most of the particles disappeared.
Researchers give long look at who benefits from nature tourism
Using nature's beauty as a tourist draw can boost conservation in China's valued panda preserves, but it isn't an automatic ticket out of poverty for the human habitants, a unique long-term study shows.
SpaceX plans historic first flight on May 7
SpaceX confirmed it plans to launch a rocket and capsule on May 7 in a historic first flight of a private spaceship to the International Space Station.
Japan astronomers find most distant galaxy cluster
Japanese astronomers said Wednesday they had found a cluster of galaxies 12.72 billion light-years away from Earth, which they claim is the most distant cluster ever discovered.
Spitzer finds galaxy with split personality
(Phys.org) -- While some galaxies are rotund and others are slender disks like our spiral Milky Way, new observations from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope show that the Sombrero galaxy is both. The galaxy, which is a round elliptical galaxy with a thin disk embedded inside, is one of the first known to exhibit characteristics of the two different types. The findings will lead to a better understanding of galaxy evolution, a topic still poorly understood.
A cluster within a cluster
(Phys.org) -- The star cluster NGC 6604 is shown in this new image taken by the Wide Field Imager attached to the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at the La Silla Observatory in Chile. It is often overlooked in favour of its more prominent neighbour, the Eagle Nebula (also known as Messier 16), that lies a mere wingspan away. But the framing of this picture, which places the star cluster in a landscape of surrounding gas and dust clouds, shows what a beautiful object NGC 6604 is in its own right.
J-2X engine ready for second test series
(Phys.org) -- The next-generation engine that will help carry humans deeper into space than ever is back, bigger and better. The J-2X engine is currently on the A-2 Test Stand at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi for an extensive round of tests to build on last year's successful test firings. The engine will provide upper-stage power for NASA's evolved Space Launch System (SLS), a new heavy-lift rocket capable of missions to deep space.
Fireball over California/Nevada: How big was it?
(Phys.org) -- A bright ball of light traveling east to west was seen over the skies of central/northern California Sunday morning, April 22. The former space rock-turned-flaming-meteor entered Earth's atmosphere around 8 a.m. PDT. Reports of the fireball have come in from as far north as Sacramento, Calif. and as far east as North Las Vegas, Nev.
Do the Milky Way's companions spell trouble for dark matter?
(Phys.org) -- Astronomers from the University of Bonn in Germany have discovered a vast structure of satellite galaxies and clusters of stars surrounding our Galaxy, stretching out across a million light years. The work challenges the existence of dark matter, part of the standard model for the evolution of the universe. PhD student and lead author Marcel Pawlowski reports the team’s findings in a paper in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Study finds warm ocean currents cause majority of ice loss from Antarctica
Reporting this week in the journal Nature, an international team of scientists led by British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has established that warm ocean currents are the dominant cause of recent ice loss from Antarctica. New techniques have been used to differentiate, for the first time, between the two known causes of melting ice shelves - warm ocean currents attacking the underside, and warm air melting from above. This finding brings scientists a step closer to providing reliable projections of future sea-level rise.
Splatters of molten rock signal period of intense asteroid impacts on Earth
New research reveals that the Archean era — a formative time for early life from 3.8 billion years ago to 2.5 billion years ago — experienced far more major asteroid impacts than had been previously thought, with a few impacts perhaps even rivaling those that produced the largest craters on the Moon, according to a paper published online today in Nature.
Tiny 'spherules' reveal details about Earth's asteroid impacts
(Phys.org) -- Researchers are learning details about asteroid impacts going back to the Earth's early history by using a new method for extracting precise information from tiny "spherules" embedded in layers of rock.
Technology news
Hollywood, Silicon Valley need unity, leader says
(AP) -- Chris Dodd, the head of the Motion Picture Association of America, said Tuesday that Hollywood and Silicon Valley must work together to protect intellectual property.
At inquiry, Rupert Murdoch defends 50-year record
(AP) -- News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch said Wednesday that his globe-spanning TV and newspaper empire doesn't carry as much political sway as is often believed, telling a British inquiry into media ethics that he wasn't the power behind the throne often depicted by his enemies.
China shuts 'rumour' blogs in Internet crackdown
One of China's most popular microblogging services has shut several accounts for spreading "malicious" rumours, as Beijing tightens control over the Internet after the ouster of a top leader.
SingTel-owned US mobile ad firm looks to Asia
The chief executive of Amobee, the US mobile advertising start-up recently acquired by Singapore Telecom (SingTel), said Wednesday the company is set to aggressively expand its Asian operations.
First wizards, now pirates for online game maker
(AP) -- For one online game maker, pirates evolved from wizards.
Hong Kong film industry furious at YouTube 'piracy'
Hong Kong filmmakers on Wednesday urged YouTube to do more to protect copyright, claiming losses of $308 million due to pirated movie clips posted on the American video-sharing site.
Spidey foes to rattle 'Amazing Spider-Man' game
(AP) -- Spider-Man must contend with more than just a lizard in his latest video game adventure.
India's Wipro Q4 profit up 7.7% but forecast muted
India's third-largest software company Wipro on Wednesday posted a 7.7 percent year-on-year rise in net profit for the January-March period, but gave a muted forecast that sent its shares tumbling.
Siemens abandons profit target after weak second quarter
German engineering and technology giant Siemens warned Wednesday that full-year profits would fall short of original targets following a difficult second quarter.
SAP says profits up in first quarter
German software giant SAP said Wednesday it was sticking to its full-year targets for 2012 after net profit rose 10 percent in the first three months.
Sales of handset arm lifts Sweden's Ericsson in QI
(AP) -- LM Ericsson, the world-leading wireless equipment maker in terms of market share, saw its first quarter profits more than double, largely on the back of proceeds made from the sale of its stake in handset maker Sony Ericsson.
LG Electronics returns to profit on mobiles, TVs
(AP) -- LG Electronics Inc. posted its first profit in three quarters, beating expectations thanks to a revival in its mobile business and demand for high-end TVs.
Sprint loss widens on Nextel, iPhone lifts sales
(AP) -- The impending shutdown of the Nextel network doubled Sprint Nextel Corp.'s loss in the first quarter, it said Wednesday, as it wrote down the value of the network and subscribers kept leaving it.
Solar panels cause clashes with homeowner groups
(AP) -- The government wants you to install solar panels at your house, and will even give you a tax break to do it. But your neighbors? Maybe not.
Researchers use weather model to recommend East Coast offshore wind farms
Most energy experts agree that cheap, clean, renewable wind energy holds great potential to help the world satisfy energy needs while reducing harmful greenhouse gases. But how can fluctuating wind power be made more consistent to match our power needs?
New harvesting approach boosts energy output from bacteria
A team of scientists from University of Colorado Denver has developed a novel energy system that increases the amount of energy harvested from microbial fuel cells (MFCs) by more than 70 times. The new approach also greatly improves energy efficiency. MFCs are emerging as a way to use bacteria to directly harvest electricity from biodegradable materials, such as wastewater or marine sediments.
Nokia chairman indicates company no longer leader
Nokia chairman Jorma Ollila indicated in an interview with Finnish media Wednesday that his company was no longer the world's biggest mobile phone maker after 14 years at the top.
Review: 4 camera app alternatives to Instagram
(AP) -- I'm one of the millions of smartphone owners addicted to Instagram, the free camera app that makes tweaking and sharing photos miraculously easy. While it's wildly popular and the target of Facebook's $1 billion takeover deal, Instagram isn't the only camera app worth having.
Facebook strengthens security with partnerships
(AP) -- Facebook is strengthening its security controls in an attempt to protect its 900 million users from spam and malicious content.
China enjoying fruit of Apple's labor
People in China are not only making coveted Apple gadgets, they are snapping them up as the booming nation becomes a top market for the trend-setting California company.
Apple CEO Tim Cook emerges from Steve Jobs' shadow
(AP) -- Apple CEO Tim Cook has long seen as the humorless and unemotional guy running the show from behind the scenes. But he is beginning to reveal a more assertive and eloquent side, hinting that he's learning to shoulder more of Steve Jobs' role as a front man and leader.
White House threatens veto of cybersecurity bill
(AP) -- The Obama administration on Wednesday threatened to veto a House bill designed to defend critical U.S. industries and corporate networks from electronic attacks by foreign governments, cybercriminals and terrorist groups, arguing the measure falls short in protecting civil liberties.
Stealth game steals info from Android sensors
(Phys.org) -- No joke. A proof-of-concept application for phones running Android pretends to be a fun challenge asking the user to identify identical icons from a bunch of images. All the while the app monitors sensors to identify user information such as PINs and SS numbers. In brief, you are looking at a Trojan that can track what you type into your phone using your phone's motion sensors. The Trojan’s final feat is uploading the info on to the attacker’s controlled computer. The sensor-snooping app is called TapLogger and it was designed to prove a point: Android has yet another security design weakness that allows installed apps free access to motion sensor readings.
Mechanical motion rectifier leads to better energy harvesting
(Phys.org) -- Mechanical energy is all around us, whether in the form of a vehicle's vibrations, ocean waves, or vibrating train tracks. However, much of this energy is irregular and oscillatory - for example, road bumps cause a vehicle to move up and down at random intervals - but energy harvesting works best with regular, unidirectional motion. To address this problem, a team of engineers from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook has developed a new type of energy harvester that converts irregular, oscillatory motion into regular, unidirectional motion, in the same way that an electric voltage rectifier converts AC voltage into DC. Among its applications, the energy harvester could be used in regenerative shock absorbers, which have the potential to save US drivers billions of dollars per year in fuel costs.
Medicine & Health news
Many athletes with asthma may be using the wrong treatment
Many athletes with asthma may not be using the best treatment for their condition and could be putting their long term health at risk, according to a roundup by journalist Sophie Arie published by the BMJ today.
Single scan could safely rule out pregnancy-related deep vein thrombosis
A single ultrasound scan (known as compression ultrasonography) may safely rule out a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in women during pregnancy or in the first few weeks after giving birth (post-partum period), finds a study published in the British Medical Journal today.
Sexually transmitted infections in adolescents in countries of all incomes remain great concern
In a Comment linked to The Lancet Series on Adolescent Health, Professor Robert W Blum (Chair of the Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD) and colleagues highlight some of the major challenges facing adolescents today.
10 percent of total funding for children should be moved to preventive interventions within 5 years
A Comment linked to The Lancet Series on Adolescent Health calls for major investments in adolescent health, including moving 10% of total funding for children and adolescents towards preventive interventions in communities and schools within 5 years. It also calls for at least 30% of countries produce their own reports on adolescent health and development compared with the less than 5% that currently do so. The Comment is by Professor Michael Resnick, Division of Adolescent Health and Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA, and lead authors from each of the four Series papers already mentioned in this press release.
A report card on adolescents from UNICEF
In a Comment with The Lancet Series on Adolescent Health, Dr Tessa Wardlaw, Chief of Statistics and Monitoring, UNICEF, New York, USA, and colleagues discuss the forthcoming UNICEF publication Progress for Children: A Report Card on Adolescents.
A tide of health risks engulfs the largest generation of adolescents in the world's history
There is wide variation between and within regions in the profile of adolescent health. The highest death rates remain in low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC). Alarmingly, adolescents in these countries are rapidly acquiring western health risks including high rates of tobacco and alcohol use, obesity and physical inactivity. The authors of the fourth and final paper in The Lancet Series on Adolescent Health call better coordination across UN agencies and their surveys to fill data gaps, as well as calling on each country around the world to produce a regular report on the health of its adolescents. The paper is by Professor George C Patton, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, and University of Melbourne, Australia and Dr Claudia Cappa, UNICEF, New York, USA, and colleagues.
Stopping adolescent problems progressing to adulthood: Proven prevention programs must be embraced
The burden of disease in adolescents worldwide is now much more centred on injuries and non-communicable disease, since infectious disease rates fell long ago in developed countries and are falling in most low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC). Problem behaviours implicated in most of this burden (alcohol, tobacco, drug misuse, mental health problems, unsafe sex, unsafe driving, and violence) are largely preventable. Evidence exists on a wide range of prevention policies and programmes, but as in other parts of health care, policy makers and parents are yet to embrace prevention programmes as useful and cost-effective. The challenges are discussed in the third paper in The Lancet Series on Adolescent Health, written by Professor Richard F Catalano, Director of the Social Development Research Group, School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA, and colleagues.
Improving access to education and employment, reducing injuries are among best ways to improve adolescent health
The second paper in The Lancet Series on Adolescent Health addresses the social determinants that affect health in this age group. It concludes that the most effective interventions to improve adolescent health are likely to be structural changes to improve access to education and employment for young people and to reduce the risk of transport-related injury. But a wide range of other factors are also at play, including a country's national wealth, income inequality, and the presence of safe and supportive families and schools. The second paper is by Professor Russell Viner, UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK, and Professor Sir Michael Marmot, University College London, London, UK, and colleagues.
Today's adolescents more exposed to harmful alcohol consumption, STDs, and other risks than in the past
There are some 1.8 billion adolescents (those aged 10-24 years) in the world today, comprising more than a quarter of the world's population. However, the first paper in The Lancet Series on Adolescent Health says that the health status of this age group has improved far less than that of children aged under 10 years in the past 50 years. Indeed, evidence suggests that adolescence is not the healthiest time in life, as is often assumed. With longer periods in education, and significant delays to marriage or settling down, the period during which young people are exposed to the risks of adolescence has extended significantly. Such behaviours include harmful alcohol consumption and illicit drug use with peers, and sex with more casual partners, increasing the risk of sexually transmitted infections.
Ophthalmologists urged to be alert for signs of child abuse
It has been estimated that roughly 4% to 6% of child abuse victims present first to an ophthalmologist. In a case study in the April issue of the Journal of American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, doctors at the University of Washington and the Seattle Children's Hospital describe a case of a 13-month-old girl who was initially diagnosed with corneal abrasion and a mild infection. She was eventually identified as a victim of child abuse.
US moves to contain mad cow fallout
The United States scrambled on Wednesday to contain the fallout from the discovery of mad cow disease in California as the top beef exporter insisted the outbreak posed no threat to consumers.
On-the-job deaths hold steady; number of burn injuries underreported
The rate of workplace deaths in Michigan remained steady in 2011, as 141 workers died on the job compared with 145 in 2010, according to an annual report from Michigan State University.
Medical bills: Sticker shock and confused consumers
You're enjoying a quiet weekend at home when suddenly you double over in pain. You need emergency appendectomy surgery. How much should it cost? And how much price shopping are you able to do?
GlaxoSmithKline says net profits drop 13% in Q1
British drugsmaker GlaxoSmithKline said Wednesday that its net profits dropped 13 percent to £1.325 billion (1.616 billion euros, $2.134 billion) in the first quarter from a year earlier.
Why is type 2 diabetes on the rise?
The Canadian Diabetes Association reports that nine million Canadians live with diabetes or prediabetes and that 20 new cases are diagnosed every hour. “We are currently in the middle of a global epidemic of type 2 diabetes,” says Dr. Bernard Zinman, professor of medicine at U of T and senior investigator at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital “Canada is similarly affected and this tsunami of diabetes will have a devastating impact on the patients affected, their families and the health care system.”
'Health care deserts' more common in black neighborhoods
New research into "health care deserts" finds that primary-care physicians are especially hard to find in predominantly Black and/or low-income Hispanic metropolitan neighborhoods.
Malaria bed net strategies will save global community estimated $600 million over the next 5 years
The universal coverage campaign for bed nets succeeded in dramatically extending access to these life-saving products, though recent gains may be in jeopardy unless rapid action is taken. Over 560 million long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) are required through 2015 alone to achieve and maintain universal coverage in Africa, at a total global cost of $2.4 billion.
Intensive kidney dialysis indicates better survival rates than conventional dialysis
Patients suffering with end-stage renal disease could increase their survival chances by undergoing intensive dialysis at home rather than the conventional dialysis in clinics. A new study by Lawson Health Research Institute shows the potential of more intensive dialysis completed in a home setting.
Stanford and MIT scientists win Perl-UNC Neuroscience prize
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has awarded the 12th Perl-UNC Neuroscience prize to Karl Deisseroth, MD, PhD of Stanford University and Edward Boyden, PhD and Feng Zhang, PhD of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
One in three households misreports smoke alarm coverage
One in three households in Baltimore misreports its smoke alarm coverage, with the vast majority of errors due to over-reporting coverage, according to a study by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy. Reasons for over-reporting included study participants incorrectly assuming all of their alarms were working because they weren't beeping, and not having alarms on every level of the home. While previous research has found varying validity for self-report of smoke alarm coverage, this study is unique for also examining the reasons why individuals misreport. The report is available online in advance of publication in the journal Injury Prevention.
Chronicling pink slime's fall from grace
The process for producing what has become known as "pink slime" actually seemed like a triumph of technology in an industry haunted by the specter of food poisoning and, at one point, even got rave reviews in the news media, according to an article in the current issue of Chemical & Engineering News. C&EN is the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.
New embryonic stem cell line will aid research on nerve condition
The University of Michigan's second human embryonic stem cell line has just been placed on the U.S. National Institutes of Health's registry, making the cells available for federally-funded research. It is the second of the stem cell lines derived at U-M to be placed on the registry.
Gabon research centre says antimalarial drug within reach
A scientist at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital's medical research unit said Wednesday that trials of a new antimalarial drug were encouraging and paved the way for licensing.
Is it time for regional cardiovascular emergency care systems across the US?
Experts are proposing a new model of care collaboration to diagnosis, treat and follow patients who present with various emergent cardiovascular conditions which require rapid, resource-intensive care and confer a high risk of mortality, in an article published April 24 in Circulation. Specifically, cardiovascular emergencies, such as ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-STEMI/unstable angina, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), acute aortic dissection (AAD), abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), stroke and acute decompensated heart failure, may benefit from regionalized systems of care.
Study examines effects of Ibudilast and metamphetamines
John W. Tsuang, M.D., principal investigator at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed), in conjunction with Steven J. Shoptaw, Ph.D., from the UCLA Department of Family Medicine, is spearheading a Phase I clinical safety trial that for the first time examines the effects of Ibudilast when administered with metamphetamine (MA), an addictive stimulant that is closely related to amphetamine. Ibudilast is a non-selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor known as a modulator of glial activation in the central nervous system; the role of these glial cells is to regulate the repair of neurons after an injury, such as the neurocognitive deficits caused by long-term MA addiction. The study is being funded by the National Institutes of Health National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
Health care debate: high stakes for those with HIV
(AP) -- For many HIV-positive Americans, and those who advocate on their behalf, these are days of anxious waiting as the Supreme Court ponders President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.
Global health priorities should shift to preventing risky behaviors in adolescence: UW professor
As childhood and adolescent deaths from infectious diseases have declined worldwide, policymakers are shifting attention to preventing deaths from noncommunicable causes, such as drug and alcohol use, mental health problems, obesity, traffic crashes, violence and unsafe sex practices.
Early menopause linked to higher risk of osteoporosis, fracture and mortality
Women who go through the menopause early are nearly twice as likely to suffer from osteoporosis in later life, suggests new research published today (25 April) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Study confirms anatomic existence of the elusive G-spot
For centuries, women have been reporting engorgement of the upper, anterior part of the vagina during the stage of sexual excitement, despite the fact the structure of this phenomenon had not been anatomically determined.
Mad cow case in Calif. found in USDA testing
(AP) -- The discovery of mad cow disease in a dead dairy cow came soon after it arrived at a non-descript building in the heart of California's dairy country.
High survival with surgery in low-risk neuroblastoma
(HealthDay) -- Surgery alone results in high five-year event-free and overall survival (EFS and OS) rates for patients with low-risk stage 2a and 2b neuroblastoma (NBL), according to research published online April 23 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Lasting benefit for rotating-Platform knee arthroplasty
(HealthDay) -- After at least 10 years of follow-up, total knee replacement using a second-generation, cemented, rotating-platform, posterior-stabilized total knee prosthesis offers excellent and durable clinical and radiologic results in active patients, according to a study published in the April 4 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Scientists take a step towards better sleeping sickness treatment
(Medical Xpress) -- Scientists at the University of Glasgow have taken a major step forward in the quest to develop new, safer drugs for the treatment of sleeping sickness.
New insight into pain mechanisms
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers in the UCL Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research have made a discovery which could help the development of analgesic drugs able to treat nerve damage-related pain.
MRSA tailors virulence mechanisms to the hospital setting
(Medical Xpress) -- In the hospital environment where antibiotic usage is extremely high, it seems that healthcare associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has cleverly adapted for survival.
Rio declares dengue epidemic
Rio de Janeiro has declared a dengue epidemic after diagnosing more than 50,000 cases of the tropical mosquito-borne infection this year and over 500 in the last week alone.
'Anti-alcoholism' drug cleared for use in France
French health authorities have approved the use of a drug, originally designed to treat nervous spasms, for the treatment of alcoholism on a "case by case" basis.
Human skin model shows signaling pathway effects from low dose exposure
(Medical Xpress) -- In studies on a human skin tissue model, researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory used a systems biology approach to show that an ionizing radiation dose mimicking that received during a CT scan is sufficient to alter genes in two cell layers. The epidermis is the outer skin layer, and the dermis is beneath it. The researchers found 1452 genes altered in the dermis and 428 genes altered in the epidermis. Genes altered in the two layers showed little overlap, but the affected signaling pathways were similar.
Teaching old cells new tricks
Much hyped by the media, stem cells have tremendous power to improve human health. As part of the Cambridge Stem Cell Initiative, Dr Ludovic Vallier’s research in the Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine shows how stem cells can further our understanding of disease and help deliver much-needed new treatments.
Taking it all in: Revealing how we sense things
McGill physiology research team sheds light on how the brain processes what we sense.
EU approves Novartis drug Signifor for Cushing's disease
European Union regulators have given Swiss pharmaceutical group Novartis a green light to market its drug Signifor as a treatment for Cushing's disease, the company said Wednesday.
Risk of future emotional problems can be identified during well-child visits
A new study suggests clinicians might be able to identify children at risk of later emotional or behavioral problems by paying attention to a few key signs during early well-child check-ups. Researchers found that boys with early sleep problems and girls with language and speech delays tended to have more emotional problems in adolescence.
Scientists find evidence of a biological trigger for high blood pressure
(Medical Xpress) -- Scientists have identified what could be a biological tipping point in the development of high blood pressure, in a discovery that could one day lead to new treatment.
Vitamin D deficiency shown to increase rejection rates in lung transplant patients
(Medical Xpress) -- Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increase in lung transplant rejection and infections, according to research conducted at Loyola University Health System (LUHS). Researchers also found that recipients who remained deficient for one year following the transplant had a higher mortality rate than those who had normal vitamin D levels. These data were published in the latest issue of The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation.
TV ads entice kids to drink alcohol: study
(Medical Xpress) -- Efforts to reduce alcohol-related harm in Australia are being frustrated by high levels of alcohol advertising on television, particularly at times when children are likely to be watching, according to new research led by The University of Western Australia.
Protecting your brain: 'Use it or lose it'
The findings of a new study suggest that the protective effects of an active cognitive lifestyle arise through multiple biological pathways.
Scientists uncover strong support for once-marginalized theory on Parkinson's disease
University of California, San Diego scientists have used powerful computational tools and laboratory tests to discover new support for a once-marginalized theory about the underlying cause of Parkinson's disease.
Switching subject categories could improve test scores
Students of all ages could improve their test scores if the category of information changed abruptly midway through the test, according to a new study on memory by researchers from Syracuse University, the University of South Florida and Indiana University. The study was recently published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
New diagnostic tool determines aggressiveness of prostate cancer
One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, the second leading cause of death among men in the United States.
Bone metabolism, vitamin D key in postkyphoplasty breaks
(HealthDay) -- For postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, bone metabolism and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels are associated with postkyphoplasty recurrent vertebral compression fractures, according to a study published online April 12 in The Spine Journal.
New tests monitor brain health during children's heart surgery
A new monitoring method and blood test may provide early warnings when a child's brain isn't getting enough blood during heart surgery, according to new research presented during the American Heart Association's Emerging Science Series webinar.
Stroke risk high when anti-clotting drugs stopped
Some patients with irregular heartbeats who are taken off anti-clotting medication face a high risk of stroke or blood clotting within a month, according to new research presented at the American Heart Association's Emerging Science Series webinar.
List of the top 10 toxic chemicals suspected to cause autism and learning disabilities
An editorial published today in the prestigious journal Environmental Health Perspectives calls for increased research to identify possible environmental causes of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in America's children and presents a list of ten target chemicals including which are considered highly likely to contribute to these conditions.
Agent reduces autism-like behaviors in mice
National Institutes of Health researchers have reversed behaviors in mice resembling two of the three core symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). An experimental compound, called GRN-529, increased social interactions and lessened repetitive self-grooming behavior in a strain of mice that normally display such autism-like behaviors, the researchers say.
Intense light prevents, treats heart attacks
There are lots of ways to treat a heart attack – CPR, aspirin, clot-busters and more. Now CU medical school researchers have found a new candidate: Intense light.
Obesity epidemic fueling rise in rheumatoid arthritis among women
Obesity and the painful autoimmune disorder rheumatoid arthritis are each becoming more common, raising a logical question: Could one have something to do with the other? For women, it appears there is a link, Mayo Clinic researchers say. They studied hundreds of patients and found a history of obesity puts women at significant risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Their findings are published online in the American College of Rheumatology journal Arthritis Care & Research.
Regular exercise could reduce complications of sickle cell trait
Sickle cell disease (SCD), an inherited condition that causes red blood cells to sometimes deform into a crescent shape, affects an estimated 100,000 Americans, typically those of African descent. However, far more have sickle cell trait (SCT), caused when individuals carry just a single copy of the disease-causing mutation in their genes. Rather than all their red blood cells being affected, those with SCT carry a mix of affected red blood cells and normal ones. Previously, researchers and physicians had assumed that those with SCT were immune from the increased burden of sickness and death that those with SCD carry. However, recent research suggests that the same morbidity and mortality that follow SCD patients at an increased rate also affect those with SCT to a lesser extent.
New mouthpiece found to reduce stress levels after strenuous exercise
Mouthguards are used by almost everyone participating in sports. These devices, typically purchased over-the-counter and used on the upper teeth, are designed to protect against broken teeth and an injured tongue. Recently, researchers in South Carolina found that a customized device which rests on the lower jaw can decrease levels of serum cortisol following exercise. The reduction of this steroid hormone indicates less stress following strenuous activity and may provide a more rapid recovery after intense muscle exertion.
Supplements and cancer prevention: A cautionary tale
Government regulators and the scientific community should work to ensure that they give clear guidance to the public about dietary supplements and cancer risk, according to a commentary published April 25 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Genetic variants, tobacco exposure and lung cancer risk
There is an association between the rs1051730-rs16969968 genotype and objective measures of tobacco exposure, which indicates that lung cancer risk is largely, if not entirely, mediated by level of tobacco exposure, according to a study published April 25 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Kidney transplanted twice in two weeks
For the first time, a kidney that had been donated to a patient in need was removed and implanted into a new patient, the third individual to have the organ, after it failed in the first transplant recipient. Ray Fearing, a 27-year-old Arlington Heights resident received the organ from his sister, Cera, after a long battle with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a disease in which scar tissue develops on the part of the kidney that filters waste out of the blood, ultimately causing kidney failure. When signs of his illness reoccurred just days after he received the organ and posed life-threatening symptoms, doctors informed Fearing that they would have no choice but to remove the failing kidney. They also informed Fearing that he could potentially save someone else's life by donating the organ and allowing doctors to re-implant it into another patient in need of transplant, something that had never successfully been done before with a kidney.
In developing world, economic benefits trump expense of C-sections
Surgery, often thought to be too expensive for wholesale global health delivery, can be a highly cost-effective means of improving health in the developing world.
Anxiety increases cancer severity in mice, research finds
Worrywarts, fidgety folk and the naturally nervy may have a real cause for concern: accelerated cancer. In a new study led by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine, anxiety-prone mice developed more severe cancer then their calm counterparts.
Leaded gas exposure linked to later violence: study
(HealthDay) -- Urban areas contaminated decades ago by airborne lead dust now face an increased incidence of aggravated assault, according to a new study.
From feast to famine: A metabolic switch that may help diabetes treatment
Humans are built to hunger for fat, packing it on during times of feast and burning it during periods of famine. But when deluged by foods rich in fat and sugar, the modern waistline often far exceeds the need to store energy for lean times, and the result has been an epidemic of diabetes, heart disease and other obesity-related problems.
Small 'neural focus groups' predict anti-smoking ad success
Brain scans of a small group of people can predict the actions of entire populations, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Michigan, the University of Oregon and the University of California at Los Angeles.
Research shows how PCBs promote dendrite growth, may increase autism risk
New research from UC Davis and Washington State University shows that PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, launch a cellular chain of events that leads to an overabundance of dendrites — the filament-like projections that conduct electrochemical signals between neurons — and disrupts normal patterns of neuronal connections in the brain.
Researchers find thinking in a foreign language causes people to make more rational decisions
(Medical Xpress) -- While at first glance it might seem irrational, researchers from the University of Chicago have found that people who speak two languages tend to make more rational decisions when thinking in their non-native tongue. They came to this conclusion after conducting a series of experiments, the results of which they have published in a paper in the journal Psychological Science.
A striking link is found between the Fragile-X gene and mutations that cause autism
A team led by scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) publishes research today indicating a striking association between genes found disrupted in children with autism and genes that are targets of FMRP, the protein generated by the gene FMR1, whose dysfunction causes Fragile-X syndrome. The new study appears online April 25 in the journal Neuron.
Growing up as a neural stem cell: The importance of clinging together and then letting go
Can one feel too attached? Does one need to let go to mature? Neural stem cells have this problem, too.
DNA from heart's own cells plays role in heart failure by mistakenly activating immune system
DNA from the heart's own cells plays a role in heart failure by mistakenly activating the body's immune system, according to a study by British and Japanese researchers, co-funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF). Scientists from King's College London and Osaka University Medical School in Japan showed that during heart failure – a debilitating condition affecting 750,000 people in the UK – this 'rogue DNA' can kick start the body's natural response to infection, contributing to the process of heart failure.
Just a few cell clones can make heart muscle
Just a handful of cells in the embryo are all that's needed to form the outer layer of pumping heart muscle in an adult zebrafish.
Biology news
Hong Kong to return rare Philippine turtles
Thirty-six live turtles seized from a smuggler, including 20 of one of the world's rarest species, are to be returned from Hong Kong to the Philippines, officials said on Wednesday.
Genetic markers for tracking species
At the supermarket checkout, hardly anybody enters prices manually anymore. Using scanners that can read the barcodes is much faster. Biologists now want to use a similar procedure for identifying domestic animal and plant species more efficiently. German Barcode of Life is the name of an initiative on which zoologists and botanists are collaborating in Germany. Botanists from the University of Bonn have taken the lead for the flora.
Researchers announce GenomeSpace environment to connect genomic tools
Researchers from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have announced that GenomeSpace, a software environment that seamlessly connects genomic analysis tools, is now available to the scientific community. During her keynote address at Bio-IT World Conference and Expo on Tuesday, Jill Mesirov, director of computational biology and bioinformatics at the Broad Institute, invited biomedical researchers and tool developers to explore this beta release of the new resource and to use it in their work.
Dogs turn down extra food if a human provides the right cues
Dogs can be manipulated to choose against their preference by human cues, opting to turn down extra food in order to follow the human's choice, according to results published Apr. 25 in the open access journal PLoS ONE. The work was led by Sarah Marshall-Pescini of the University of Milan.
Connecting cilia: Cellular antennae help cells stick together
Primary cilia are hair-like structures which protrude from almost all mammalian cells. They are thought to be sensory and involved in sampling the cell's environment. New research, published in BioMed Central's open access journal Cilia, launched today, shows that cilia on cells in the retina and liver are able to make stable connections with each other - indicating that cilia not only are able to sense their environment but are also involved in cell communication.
Climate right for Asian mosquito to spread in N. Europe
The climate in northwestern Europe and the Balkans is becoming suitable for the Asian tiger mosquito, a disease-spreading invasive species, scientists said on Wednesday.
Compound from wild tomatoes is natural, effective herbicide
(Phys.org) -- A naturally occurring compound derived from wild tomato plants is also a fast-acting, nontoxic herbicide, according to researchers at North Carolina State University.
Genomes of two champion bulls sequenced
(Phys.org) -- With more than 60,000 descendants in six generations, Pawnee Farm Arlinda Chief and his son Walkway Chief Mark cast a long genetic shadow. New research on the genomes of the two bulls show how portions of their DNA that control important traits such as disease resistance or milk production have spread throughout the contemporary Holstein breed, the world’s highest-producing dairy animal.
Inspired by insects: For treatment of vocal fold disorders, researchers look to insect protein
A one-inch long grasshopper can leap a distance of about 20 inches. Cicadas can produce sound at about the same frequency as radio waves. Fleas measuring only millimeters can jump an astonishing 100 times their height in microseconds. How do they do it? They make use of a naturally occurring protein called resilin.
Evolution in an island, the secret for a longer life
ICP researchers published today in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B one of the first fossil-based evidences supporting the evolutionary theory of ageing, which predicts that species evolving in low mortality and resource-limited ecosystems tend to be more long-lived.
Salmonella infection, but not as we know it
Researchers at Cambridge University have shed new light on a common food poisoning bug. Using real-time video microscopy, coupled with mathematical modelling, they have changed our assumptions about Salmonella and how it infects human cells. The research was published in Interface.
8 species of wild fish have been detected in aquaculture feed
Researchers from the University of Oviedo have for the first time analysed a DNA fragment from commercial feed for aquarium cichlids, aquaculture salmon and marine fish in aquariums. The results show that in order to manufacture this feed, eight species of high trophic level fish have been used, some of them coming directly from extractive fisheries.
Flies process attractive and deterrent odors in different brain areas
In collaboration with colleagues from Portugal and Spain, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, have developed an apparatus that automatically applies odors to an airstream, while filming and analyzing the behavior of insects simultaneously. The system is called Flywalk and consists of glass tubes, airstream regulators, and a video camera. The reactions of 15 flies to up to eight different odorant signals can be tested at the same time. A first series of tests revealed that male and female fruit flies responded differently to attractant substances. The tests confirmed that male flies were no longer attracted to females that had already mated with another male because of the particular odor, cis-vaccenyl acetate, surrounding these females.
First camera trap photos of rare leopard in China
The first-known camera trap photos of an Amur leopard in China have recently been taken by protected area staff in Hunchun Amur Tiger National Nature Reserve in Jilin Province according to the Wildlife Conservation Society. Coupled with Jilin Province's recent announcement of a survey estimating 8-11 leopards across that northern province, the photographs suggest that leopards may be returning to China.
Antibiotic resistance flourishes in freshwater systems
The author Dr. Seuss may have been on to something when he imagined that microscopic communities could live and flourish on small specs of dust, barely visible to the naked eye. In fact, such vibrant communities exist – in a material with a Seussical sounding, yet scientific name called 'floc'.
Study shows developing organisms can identify and fix abnormalities in head and face
Developmental biologists at Tufts University have identified a "self-correcting" mechanism by which developing organisms recognize and repair head and facial abnormalities. This is the first time that such a mechanism has been reported for the face and the first time that this kind of flexible, corrective process has been rigorously analyzed through mathematical modeling.
Mother knows best, among wild vervet monkeys
Among vervet monkeys, social learning is strongly influenced by matrilineal family members, according to a study published Apr. 25 in the open access journal PLoS ONE.
Mantis males engage in riskier mating behavior if deprived of female access
Male praying mantises are more likely to engage in risky mating behavior if they have not had recent access to females, as reported Apr. 25 in the open access journal PLoS ONE. Female praying mantises are known for their cannibalistic behavior toward their mates, and males take a large risk when they attempt to reproduce.
Discerning males remain faithful
Discerning males remain faithful ... if you are a spider. Sex for male orb web spiders (Argiope bruennichi) is a two shot affair since the act of mating destroys their genitalia. If they survive being eaten during their first encounter with a female, they have two choices – to mate again with the same female (monogynous) or try to find a new partner (bigynous). New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Frontiers in Zoology shows that choice of mating behavior for A. bruennichi depends on the size and age of the first female they mate with.
Bean bugs found to harbor bacteria that keep them safe from an insecticide
(Phys.org) -- Conventional wisdom says that in order for a species of insect to develop resistance to an antibiotic, several generations have to pass, whereby genes from those that have some natural resistance pass them on to their offspring. But sometimes conventional wisdom fails to take into account how some bugs can find a work around. In this case, it’s the bean bug. Researchers in Japan have found that for Riptortus pedestris, the common bean bug, there is a much quicker path. All they have to do is ingest the Burkholderia bacteria. Doing so, the team says in their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, makes them nearly impervious to the insecticide fenitrothion, which has historically been used to treat soy bean plants to protect them from the bugs that dine on them.
Selenium impacts honey bee behavior and survival
(Phys.org) -- Entomologists at the University of California, Riverside have a “proof of concept” that selenium, a nonmetal chemical element, can disrupt the foraging behavior and survival of honey bees.
Research finds autumn advantage for invasive plants in Eastern United States
Much like the fabled tortoise and the hare, the competition between native and invasive plants growing in deciduous forests in the Eastern United States is all about how the plants cross the finish line in autumn.
Shedding light on debate over organic vs. conventional agriculture: Study calls for combining best of both approaches
Can organic agriculture feed the world?
Researchers have a natural sidekick that may resolve the antibiotic-resistant bacteria dilemma
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria continue to be a global concern with devastating repercussions, such as increased healthcare costs, potential spread of infections across continents, and prolonged illness.
Blood samples show deadly frog fungus at work in the wild
The fungal infection that has killed a record number of amphibians worldwide leads to deadly dehydration in frogs in the wild, according to a new study by University of California, Berkeley and San Francisco State University researchers.
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