Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for May 14, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Cellular secrets of plant fatty acid production understood; discovery could boost bioeconomy- New research may improve the efficiency of the biofuel production cycle
- Chinese group breaks distance record for teleporting qubits
- Scientists discover first ever record of insect pollination from 100 million years ago
- 37,000 years old: Earliest form of wall art discovered
- Economic growth in China has not meant greater life satisfaction for Chinese people: long-term study
- Researchers reveal different mechanisms of pain
- MRSA superbug spreads from big city hospitals to regional health centers, study suggests
- Research: Too much, too little noise turns off consumers, creativity
- Virus 'barcodes' offer rapid detection of mutated strains
- Nearly one-tenth of hemisphere's mammals unlikely to outrun climate change: study
- Sleepwalking more prevalent among US adults than previously suspected
- Measuring CO2 to fight global warming: Scientists develop way to enforce future greenhouse gas treaty
- Samsung defends Android Galaxy S3 PenTile display
- Wireless startup LightSquared files for bankruptcy
Space & Earth news
Worst drought in 50 years takes toll in northern Brazil
Severe drought gripping northeastern Brazil -- the worst in a half-century -- is taking its toll on more than 1,100 towns, even triggering fighting in rural areas, local media reported Sunday.
Economists list cheapest ways to save the world
Leading economists have ranked how to best and most cost-effectively invest to solve many of the world's seemingly insurmountable problems, a Danish think-tank said Monday, calling for a shift in global priorities.
The great exoplanet debate
The Great Exoplanet Debate, hosted by Astrobiology Magazine during the recent 2012 Astrobiology Science Conference, is now available for viewing online.
Snow hits Bosnian capital
The Bosnian capital and its surroundings were covered by snow on Monday, the first time in half a century snow has settled in Sarajevo at this time of year, as temperatures plunged to just above freezing.
Climate talks open in Bonn to tackle emissions targets
A new round of global climate talks opened in Bonn on Monday with rich and poor countries squaring off over greenhouse gas reduction targets to halt the pace of planet warming.
Mojave Desert tests prepare for NASA Mars Roving
(Phys.org) -- Team members of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission took a test rover to Dumont Dunes in California's Mojave Desert this week to improve knowledge of the best way to operate a similar rover, Curiosity, currently flying to Mars for an August landing.
MBARI discovers new deep-sea hydrothermal vents using sonar-mapping robot
“As the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) descended into the blue depths above the Alarcón Rise, the control room was abuzz with anticipation," wrote MBARI geologist Julie Martin in her April 22nd cruise log. "Today we [are] planning to dive on one of the strangest environments in the deep sea: a hydrothermal vent field.” Adding to the team’s excitement was the fact that this hydrothermal vent field had never been explored before. In fact, it had only just been discovered... by a robot.
Population pressure impacts world wetlands
(Phys.org) -- The area of the globe covered by wetlands (swamps, marshes, lakes, etc.) has dropped by 6% in fifteen years. This decline is particularly severe in tropical and subtropical regions, and in areas that have experienced the largest increases in population in recent decades. These are the conclusions of a study conducted by CNRS and IRD researchers from the Laboratoire d'étude du rayonnement et de la matière en astrophysique, Laboratoire d'études en géophysique et oceanography spatiales and the start-up Estellus. To obtain these results, the scientists performed the first worldwide mapping of the wetlands and their temporal dynamics, for the years 1993 to 2007. This study, which has just been published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, emphasizes the impact of population pressure on water cycles.
Engineer thinks we could build a real starship enterprise in 20 years
In Star Trek lore, the first Starship Enterprise will be built by the year 2245. But today, an engineer has proposed — and outlined in meticulous detail – building a full-sized, ion-powered version of the Enterprise complete with 1G of gravity on board, and says it could be done with current technology, within 20 years. “We have the technological reach to build the first generation of the spaceship known as the USS Enterprise – so let’s do it,” writes the curator of the Build The Enterprise website, who goes by the name of BTE Dan.
Iran to launch observation satellite on nuclear talks day
Iran will launch next week an experimental observation satellite, on the day of talks with world powers over its controversial nuclear programme, the official IRNA news agency reported on Monday.
EU physicists use 20 new satellites to forecast space weather
The northern lights interfere with radio communications, GPS navigation and satellite communications. Researchers are now going to launch 20 satellites containing world class instruments from the University of Oslo to find out why.
New diagnostic tool for climate change research enables better understanding of global patterns
(Phys.org) -- Scientists have developed a new diagnostic tool that will enable better understanding of global climate patterns.
Team observes rapid change in underwater volcano Monowai
(Phys.org) -- A research team out to perform routine mapping of the seafloor some 400 kilometers southwest of Tonga, found that one volcano, named Monowai, changed dramatically over just a two week time span. In an apparent underwater eruption, the volcano collapsed in one part and added almost 80 meters of height in another. The team has described their findings in a paper published in the journal Nature Geoscience.
Measuring CO2 to fight global warming: Scientists develop way to enforce future greenhouse gas treaty
If the world's nations ever sign a treaty to limit emissions of climate-warming carbon dioxide gas, there may be a way to help verify compliance: a new method developed by scientists from the University of Utah and Harvard.
Technology news
Canon seeks full automation in camera production
(AP) -- Canon Inc. is moving toward fully automating digital camera production in an effort to cut costs.
Researchers look for novel methods to defeat botnets
Dr. Narasimha Reddy, the J.W. Runyon, Jr. '35 Professor I in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University, had his research featured in ACM magazine, Communications of the ACM.
Got a pirate problem? There's even an app for that
The Department of Defense will begin funding an Office of Naval Research (ONR)-sponsored project aimed at developing Web applications to help multinational navies police the world's oceans, officials announced May 14.
Researchers map the city's heat
Steel – the traditional industry for which the UK city of Sheffield is so well known – could help provide a green alternative for heating the city's homes and businesses, alongside other renewable energy sources.
Want a piece of Facebook? Get in line
Facebook may be the year's hottest stock issue -- but try getting a piece of it. Small investors will find the line long and hurdles high to get even a handful of shares.
Web tool helps determine best energy storage options
(Phys.org) -- Sandia National Laboratories and the Department of Energy have released a new tool to help utilities, developers and regulators identify the energy storage options that best meet their needs.
Ousted Yahoo! CEO Scott Thompson has cancer: report
Ousted Yahoo! chief executive Scott Thompson told board members before his resignation that he has cancer, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
Pirate Bay founder to take case to EU court: lawyer
A founder of Swedish file-sharing site The Pirate Bay will take his case to Europe's top court after the Supreme Court in Sweden refused to hear his appeal, his lawyer said Monday.
Groupon shares soar ahead of earnings report
Groupon Inc.'s shares soared in trading Monday ahead of the online deals company's first-quarter financial report, which comes out after the market closes.
Revolving door: Yahoo ushers out another CEO (Update 4)
(AP) -- Yahoo still has credibility issues, even after casting aside CEO Scott Thompson because his official biography included a college degree that he never received.
Pair recreate 70's roulette-beating system
(Phys.org) -- A pair of university researchers has managed to duplicate the efforts of Doyne Farmer, who as a graduate student in the 1970’s devised a means for tilting the odds in favor of a gambler playing roulette at a casino using a small hidden computer that ran statistical and probability algorithms. The two new researchers, Michael Small and Chi Kong Tse, describe their approach in a paper uploaded to the preprint server arXiv. Because of this, Farmer has written a paper describing his own work which he has submitted to Chaos for publication.
Spider guitar dazzles with style and sound (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) -- Massey University mechatronics professor Olaf Diegel made his dream come true when he created a series of colourful 3D-printed electric guitars with latticed bodies adorned with spiders and butterflies.
Harnessing the awesome power of the ocean waves
MBARI engineer Andy Hamilton looks out his office window in Moss Landing and points at the waves crashing on the beach below. “Pretty impressive, aren’t they? You’d think there’d be a way to make use of all that energy.” Since 2009, Hamilton has led a team of engineers trying to do just that. Their goal is not to replace the hulking power plant that overlooks Moss Landing Harbor, but to provide a more generous supply of electricity for oceanographic instruments in Monterey Bay.
Real smart: Protective clothing with built-in A/C
(Phys.org) -- In order to test the new "smart" protective vest, an experimenter wearing one has jogged several kilometers on the treadmill in a climate-controlled chamber at Empa. During the jog he lost 544 grams in weight through sweating – but thanks to the vest‘s integrated cooling system this was still 191 grams less than if he had been wearing a conventional garment.
Wireless startup LightSquared files for bankruptcy
LightSquared Inc., which hoped to create an independent wireless broadband network in the U.S., filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday.
Medicine & Health news
Georgetown physician leads national resveratrol study for Alzheimer's disease
A national, phase II clinical trial examining the effects of resveratrol on individuals with mild to moderate dementia due to Alzheimer's disease has begun as more than two dozen academic institutions recruit volunteers in the coming months. R. Scott Turner, M.D., Ph.D., director of Georgetown University Medical Center's Memory Disorders Program, is the lead investigator for the national study.
Botswana makes new pitch for circumcision in AIDS fight
"Should I, shouldn't I?" That's the question that 31-year-old Kabo Moeti ponders as he waits outside a clinic in a Botswana village, where he's considering getting circumcised.
Measles kills 12 children in Pakistan tribal area
A measles outbreak has killed 12 children in one of Pakistan's lawless tribal districts and is spreading as fighting, power cuts and curfews cause a vaccine shortage, doctors said Monday.
Gambling not an addiction say University of Sydney researchers
Many people talk of problem gambling as an 'addiction' but work coming out of the University of Sydney's Gambling Treatment Clinic suggests that this may not be the case.
Can you exercise away your diabetes symptoms?
In this story writer Jenny Hall talks with Greg Wells about the relationship between type 2 diabetes and exercise.
Researchers launch Facebook site to monitor tobacco industry tactics
The University’s Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG) has identified several methods used by transnational tobacco companies in response to the changes within the global tobacco market.
Cross-reactivity between peanuts and other legumes can lead to serious allergic reactions
Many foods can lead to allergic reactions and this situation is further complicated by so-called cross-reactions, whereby an allergy to one particular food can trigger allergic reactions to another food. There are no treatments available for food allergies, but the establishment of two mouse models can be used to develop and test new forms of treatment, for example vaccines.
French trial opens in diabetes-diet drug scandal
(AP) -- The first French trial has begun over a diabetes drug that was also used to lose weight and is suspected in the deaths of at least 500 people.
Managing obesity in adults: Tips for primary care physicians
Managing adult obesity is challenging for primary care physicians, but a new review published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) aims to provide an evidence-based approach to counselling patients to help them lose weight and maintain weight loss.
Study examines retinal vessel diameter and CVD risk in African Americans with type 1 diabetes
Among African Americans with type 1 diabetes mellitus, narrower central retinal arteriolar equivalent (average diameter of the small arteries in the retina) is associated with an increased risk of six-year incidence of any cardiovascular disease and lower extremity arterial disease, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.
HIV prevention measures must include behavioral strategies to work, says APA
A drug that has been shown to prevent HIV infection in a significant number of cases must be combined with behavioral approaches if the U.S. health care establishment is to succeed in reducing the spread of the virus, according to the American Psychological Association.
Understanding why some people have propensity to disease
Aside from identical twins, no two individuals are completely identical genetically. Most differences between individuals are due to single nucleotide changes or polymorphisms (SNPs) – DNA sequence variations – in the genome.
Scotland sets minimum alcohol price
The Scottish government set out a minimum price for alcohol Monday, saying too many Scots were "drinking themselves to death" and it was time to tackle the country's relationship with booze.
Parents read lips of woman with flesh-eating bug
(AP) -- The parents of a young Georgia woman battling a flesh-eating bacterial infection said Monday they've learned to read lips and are communicating with their daughter despite a breathing tube in her throat.
Scientists grow bone from human embryonic stem cells
Dr. Darja Marolt, an Investigator at The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Laboratory, is lead author on a study showing that human embryonic stem cells can be used to grow bone tissue grafts for use in research and potential therapeutic application. Dr. Marolt conducted this research as a post-doctoral NYSCF – Druckenmiller Fellow at Columbia University in the laboratory of Dr. Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic.
Religion replenishes self-control
There are many theories about why religion exists, most of them unproven. Now, in an article published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, psychologist Kevin Rounding of Queen's University, Ontario, offers a new idea, and some preliminary evidence to back it up.
Reducing post-traumatic stress after intensive care unit
Women are more likely to suffer post-traumatic stress than men after leaving an intensive care unit (ICU), finds a new study published in BioMed Central's open access journal Critical Care. However, psychological and physical 'follow-up' can reduce both this and post-ICU depression.
Blood pressure drugs don't protect against colorectal cancer
A new study has found that, contrary to current thinking, taking beta blockers that treat high blood pressure does not decrease a person's risk of developing colorectal cancer. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study also revealed that even long-term use or subtypes of beta blockers showed no reduction of colorectal cancer risk.
1 in 3 autistic young adults lack jobs, education
(AP) -- One in 3 young adults with autism have no paid job experience, college or technical schooling nearly seven years after high school graduation, a study finds. That's a poorer showing than those with other disabilities including those who are mentally disabled, the researchers said.
Groundbreaking discovery of mutation causing genetic disorder in humans
Scientists at A*STAR’s Institute of Medical Biology (IMB), in collaboration with doctors and scientists in Jordan, Turkey, Switzerland and USA, have identified the genetic cause of a birth defect known as Hamamy syndrome. Their groundbreaking findings were published on May 13 in the journal Nature Genetics. The work lends new insights into common ailments such as heart disease, osteoporosis, blood disorders and possibly sterility.
New discovery in Alzheimer's protein puzzle
(Medical Xpress) -- A medical research team at the University of Alberta has made two related discoveries that could shed more light on Alzheimer’s disease.
New way to protect eyes from strong light damage
(Medical Xpress) -- Treating eyes with gentle infra-red light can help prevent the damage caused by subsequent exposure to bright light, new scientific research has found.
Thinking about health as an investor might
(Medical Xpress) -- A “proof-of-concept” study applying financial portfolio theory to U.S. biomedical research funding shows that the nation’s health might gain the largest benefit by increasing funding on heart, lung, and blood diseases, and might gain the quickest benefit by increasing spending on mental illness research.
Delivering better ways of preventing stillbirth
(Medical Xpress) -- Despite recent dramatic reductions in cot death rates in the UK, and the development of sophisticated screening for Down’s syndrome, preventing stillbirth is proving tougher to tackle. Now, a major study under way at Cambridge could change all that.
Umbilical cord can save lives
(Medical Xpress) -- The umbilical cord is of great importance to the health of newborns, even after they’ve left the womb. If it is left in place for a while after birth, the risk of iron deficiency drops radically, which can save thousands of lives.
Smart material can heal bone
How do get something to grow out of nothing? This is what the polymer chemistry team at the Department of Chemistry at Ångström Laboratory is discovering at great speed. Their findings mean that we soon will not have to be operated on to heal severe bone fractures or burn injuries. All we will need is an injection.
Let there be light: It's good for our brains
(Medical Xpress) -- Swiss scientists have proven that light intensity influences our cognitive performance and how alert we feel, and that these positive effects last until early evening.
Clean hands and keyboards cut health risks
(Medical Xpress) -- Using simple ethanol-based hand sanitisers and regular cleaning with ethanol wipes can dramatically reduce bacteria on shared computer keyboards.
Bacteria study of male adolescents reveals new insights into urinary tract health
(Medical Xpress) -- The first study using cultivation independent sequencing of the microorganisms in the adolescent male urinary tract has revealed that the composition of microbial communities colonizing the penis in young men depends upon their circumcision status and patterns of sexual activity.
Malaria discoveries could pave way for new therapies
(Medical Xpress) -- Half the world's population is at risk for contracting malaria. The deadly disease, spread by hungry mosquitoes that bite humans for their blood meals, affects more than 200 million people each year, and many people-mostly children-die.
Unhealthy diet and physical inactivity: Understanding these silent killers
Living a healthy lifestyle might seem like common sense, but the environment we live in can make healthy choices more difficult. Whether it’s how much access we have to green spaces, the transport we take to work, or our diet, each can have an impact on leading a long and healthy life.
Social networks influence flu shot decision among college students
College students' social networks influence their beliefs regarding the safety of influenza vaccines and decisions about vaccination, according to a new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
Britain bedeviled by binge drinking
(AP) -- The girls slumped in wheelchairs look barely conscious, their blond heads lolling above the plastic vomit bags tied like bibs around their necks.
Researchers say urine dipstick test is accurate predictor of renal failure in sepsis patients
Henry Ford Hospital researchers have found that the presence of excess protein in a common urine test is an effective prognostic marker of acute renal failure in patients with severe sepsis.
Sundown syndrome-like symptoms in fruit flies may be due to high dopamine levels
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania researchers have discovered a mechanism involving the neurotransmitter dopamine that switches fruit fly behavior from being active during the day (diurnal) to nocturnal. This change parallels a human disorder in which increased agitation occurs in the evening hours near sunset and may also be due to higher than normal dopamine levels in the brain. Sundown syndrome occurs in older people with dementia or cognitive impairment.
Preventing depression requires proactive interventions by health-care system
Major depressive episodes can be prevented, and to help ensure that they are, the health care system should provide routine access to depression-prevention interventions, just as patients receive standard vaccines, according to a new article co-authored by UCSF researcher Ricardo F. Muñoz, PhD.
Excess weight in pregnant women can have negative implications for offspring
That overweight during pregnancy can lead to overweight children and adolescents has been known for some time, but new research at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and in the US indicates that excess weight before and during pregnancy can have long-lasting health consequences for the offspring of such mothers even later in life.
Bio-hybrid device acts as 'thermostat' to control systemic inflammation in sepsis
A small, external bioreactor holding human cells pumped out an anti-inflammatory protein to prevent organ damage and other complications in a rat with acute inflammation caused by bacterial products in a model of sepsis, according to a report from researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine. The findings were published today in the inaugural issue of Disruptive Science and Technology.
Gastric feeding tubes may raise pressure ulcer risk
A new study led by Brown University researchers reports that percutaneous endoscopic gastric (PEG) feeding tubes, long assumed to help bedridden dementia patients stave off or overcome pressure ulcers, may instead make the horrible sores more likely to develop or not improve.
Smoked cannabis can help relieve muscle tightness and pain in people with multiple sclerosis
People with multiple sclerosis may find that smoked cannabis provides relief from muscle tightness — spasticity — and pain, although the benefits come with adverse cognitive effects, according to a new study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Back pain improves in first six weeks but lingering effects at one year
For people receiving health care for acute and persistent low-back pain, symptoms will improve significantly in the first six weeks, but pain and disability may linger even after one year, states a large study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Children's brain tumors more diverse than previously believed
Paediatric brain tumours preserve specific characteristics of the normal cells from which they originate – a previously unknown circumstance with ramifications for how tumour cells respond to treatment. This has been shown by Uppsala researcher Fredrik Swartling together with colleagues in the U.S., Canada and England in a study that was published today in the distinguished journal Cancer Cell.
Drug kills cancer cells by restoring faulty tumor suppressor
A new study describes a compound that selectively kills cancer cells by restoring the structure and function of one of the most commonly mutated proteins in human cancer, the "tumor suppressor" p53. The research, published by Cell Press in the May 15th issue of the journal Cancer Cell, uses a novel, computer based strategy to identify potential anti-cancer drugs, including one that targets the third most common p53 mutation in human cancer, p53-R175H. The number of new cancer patients harboring this mutation in the United States who would potentially benefit from this drug is estimated to be 30,000 annually.
Study examines exercise testing in asymptomatic patients after coronary revascularization
Asymptomatic patients who undergo treadmill exercise echocardiography (ExE) after coronary revascularization may be identified as being at high risk but those patients do not appear to have more favorable outcomes with repeated revascularization, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication. The article is part of the journal's Less is More series.
Acupuncture appears linked with improvement in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
According to a small clinical trial reported by investigators from Japan, acupuncture appears to be associated with improvement of dyspnea (labored breathing) on exertion, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a study published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.
Pay-to-play sports keeping lower-income kids out of the game
In an era of tight funding, school districts across the country are cutting their athletic budgets. Many schools are implementing athletic participation fees to cover the cost of school sports. But those fees have forced kids in lower-income families to the sidelines, according to a new poll that found nearly one in five lower-income parents report their children are participating less in school sports.
Researchers discover biomarkers for prostate cancer detection, recurrence
Alterations to the "on-off" switches of genes occur early in the development of prostate cancer and could be used as biomarkers to detect the disease months or even years earlier than current approaches, a Mayo Clinic study has found. These biomarkers — known as DNA methylation profiles — also can predict if the cancer is going to recur and if that recurrence will remain localized to the prostate or, instead, spread to other organs. The study, published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, is the first to capture the methylation changes that occur across the entire human genome in prostate cancer.
Begin early: Researchers say water with meals may encourage wiser choices
Water could change the way we eat. That's the conclusion of new research by T. Bettina Cornwell of the University of Oregon and Anna R. McAlister of Michigan State University. Their findings appear online this week ahead of regular publication by the journal Appetite.
Study sheds new light on importance of human breast milk ingredient
A new University of Illinois study shows that human milk oligosaccharides, or HMO, produce short-chain fatty acids that feed a beneficial microbial population in the infant gut. Not only that, the bacterial composition adjusts as the baby grows older and its needs change.
New study finds ovulating women perceive sexy cads as good dads
Nice guys do finish last at least when it comes to procreation according to a study from The University of Texas at San Antonio that answers the question of why women choose bad boys.
To avoid pain during an injection, look away
Health professionals commonly say, "Don't look and it won't hurt" before administering an injection, but is there any scientific basis for the advice? A group of German investigators has found that, in fact, your past experience with needle pricks, along with information you receive before an injection, shape your pain experience. Their research is published in the May issue of Pain.
Tilting cars on the assembly line: A new angle on protecting autoworkers
Letting autoworkers sit while they reach into a car's interior could help prevent shoulder and back strain - but another solution might be to tilt the entire car so that workers can stand up.
A microRNA prognostic marker identified in acute leukemia
A study has identified microRNA-3151 as a new independent prognostic marker in certain patients with acute leukemia. The study involves patients with acute myeloid leukemia and normal-looking chromosomes (CN-AML).
To get the full flavor, you need the right temperature
Can the temperature of the food we eat affect the intensity of its taste? It depends on the taste, according to a new study by Dr. Gary Pickering and colleagues from Brock University in Canada. Their work shows that changes in the temperature of foods and drinks have an effect on the intensity of sour, bitter and astringent (e.g. cranberry juice) tastes but not sweetness. Their work is published online in Springer's Chemosensory Perception journal.
A walk in the park gives mental boost to people with depression
A walk in the park may have psychological benefits for people suffering from depression.
Study finds number of battery-related emergency department visits by children more than doubles
In today's technology-driven world, batteries, especially button batteries, are everywhere. They power countless gadgets and electronic items that we use every day. While they may seem harmless, button batteries can be dangerous if swallowed by children. A new study conducted by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital found that the annual number of battery-related emergency department visits among children younger than 18 years of age more than doubled over the 20-year study period, jumping from 2,591 emergency department visits in 1990 to 5,525 emergency department visits in 2009. The number of button batteries swallowed by children also doubled during this period.
Study examines injuries with baby bottles, pacifiers and sippy cups in the US
A new study by researchers in the Center for Biobehavioral Health and the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital examined pediatric injuries associated with baby bottles, pacifiers and sippy cups. Researchers found that from 1991 to 2010, an estimated 45,398 children younger than three years of age were treated in U.S. emergency departments for injuries related to the use of these products. This equates to an average of 2,270 injuries per year, or one child treated in a hospital emergency department every four hours for these injuries.
Physical fitness may reduce hypertension risk in people with family history
If your parents have a history of high blood pressure, you can significantly reduce your risk of developing the disease with moderate exercise and increased cardiovascular fitness, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension.
Psychiatric patients wait average of 11.5 hours in ER
(HealthDay) -- Average emergency department wait times for adult patients with psychiatric emergencies is 11.5 hours, and can be even longer for those who are older, uninsured, or intoxicated, according to research published online May 4 in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
ECO: New weight loss drug effective in advanced obesity
(HealthDay) -- A new combination treatment of controlled-release phentermine/topiramate (PHEN/TPM CR) leads to significantly greater weight loss than a placebo even in individuals with significant obesity-related comorbidities, according to a study presented at the European Congress on Obesity, held from May 9 to 11 in Lyon, France.
Youth with ASD have poor postsecondary outcomes
(HealthDay) -- Youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are at high risk for not participating in postsecondary education or employment, particularly in the first two years after high school, according to a study published online May 14 in Pediatrics.
ECO: Behavioral treatment for obesity effective in children
(HealthDay) -- Behavioral treatment for obesity is much more effective for younger children than for adolescents, according to a study presented at the European Congress on Obesity, held from May 9 to 11 in Lyon, France.
Great recession reflux amounts to more hunger among seniors
A new study that looked at the hunger trends over a 10-year period found that 14.85 percent of seniors in the United States, more than one in seven, face the threat of hunger. This translates into 8.3 million seniors.
Brain circuitry is different for women with anorexia and obesity
Why does one person become anorexic and another obese? A study recently published by a University of Colorado School of Medicine researcher shows that reward circuits in the brain are sensitized in anorexic women and desensitized in obese women. The findings also suggest that eating behavior is related to brain dopamine pathways involved in addictions.
How to minimize stroke damage
Following a stroke, factors as varied as blood sugar, body temperature and position in bed can affect patient outcomes, Loyola University Medical Center researchers report.
Are people with HIV/AIDS more prone to sudden cardiac death?
What is the connection, if any, between sudden cardiac death and people with HIV/AIDS? And can that knowledge help prolong their lives?
Colon cancer risk when a first-degree relative has precancerous polyps is not clear
Current colorectal cancer screening guidelines for individuals with first-degree relatives with precancerous colon polyps are based on studies that were not properly designed or were too limited to shape those guidelines, according to a new systemic review of research on the topic. The review authors call for new studies to measure the risk and identify the factors that modify it.
Laxative-free CT colonography may be as accurate as colonoscopy in detecting high-risk polyps
A CT-scan-based form of virtual colonoscopy that does not require laxative preparation appears to be as effective as standard colonoscopy in identifying the intestinal polyps most likely to become cancerous. In the May 15 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)-based research team reports finding that the new technique, which uses computer-aided systems both to virtually cleanse and to analyze the images acquired, was able to identify more than 90 percent of the common polyps called adenomas that were 10 mm or larger.
Scientists successfully test first gene therapy against aging-associated decline
A number of studies have shown that it is possible to lengthen the average life of individuals of many species, including mammals, by acting on specific genes. To date, however, this has meant altering the animals' genes permanently from the embryonic stage – an approach impracticable in humans. Researchers at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), led by its director María Blasco, have proved that mouse lifespan can be extended by the application in adult life of a single treatment acting directly on the animal's genes. And they have done so using gene therapy, a strategy never before employed to combat ageing. The therapy has been found to be safe and effective in mice.
Secondhand smoke may harm heart function
(HealthDay) -- For nonsmokers, exposure to low levels of secondhand smoke for just 30 minutes can cause significant damage to the lining of their blood vessels, the results of a new study indicate.
FDA issues multiple sclerosis drug alert
(HealthDay) -- The multiple sclerosis drug Gilenya (fingolimod) should not be given to patients with certain pre-existing or recent heart conditions or stroke, or those taking certain medications to correct heart rhythm problems, says a U.S. Food and Drug Administration safety announcement issued Monday.
'Self-Managing' COPD might pose risks, study suggests
(HealthDay) -- In a finding that seems counterintuitive, a new study revealed that people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were more likely to die after receiving comprehensive education and self-management tools.
Brain oscillations reveal that our senses do not experience the world continuously
(Medical Xpress) -- It has long been suspected that humans do not experience the world continuously, but rather in rapid snapshots.
Genetic test identifies eye cancer tumors likely to spread
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a genetic test that can accurately predict whether the most common form of eye cancer will spread to other parts of the body, particularly the liver.
Looks matter more than reputation when it comes to trusting people with our money
(Medical Xpress) -- Our decisions to trust people with our money are based more on how they look then how they behave, according to new research from the University of Warwick.
Expectant mothers' saliva tells stories of stress
This weekend, many mothers-to-be celebrated Mother's Day, a welcome relief from the inherent stresses of pregnancy.
Novel drug candidates offer new route to controlling inflammation
Pursuing a relatively untapped route for regulating the immune system, an international team of researchers has designed and conducted initial tests on molecules that have the potential to treat diseases involving inflammation, such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke and sepsis.
Researchers reveal different mechanisms of pain
Researchers at the University of Leeds have found a previously unknown mechanism through which pain is signalled by nerve cells – a discovery that could explain the current failings in the drug development process for painkillers and which may offer opportunities for a new approach.
MRSA superbug spreads from big city hospitals to regional health centers, study suggests
Hospitals in large cities act as breeding grounds for the superbug MRSA prior to it spreading to smaller hospitals, a study suggests.
Sleepwalking more prevalent among US adults than previously suspected
What goes bump in the night? In many U.S. households: people. That's according to new Stanford University School of Medicine research, which found that about 3.6 percent of U.S. adults are prone to sleepwalking. The work also showed an association between nocturnal wanderings and certain psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety.
A little more education, a little longer life?
(HealthDay) -- It's graduation season, and new research offers yet another reason to congratulate someone who has completed at least nine years of education: They're likely to live longer.
Biology news
Spanish researchers monitor a chicken's brain
Researchers from Carlos III University in Madrid are part of a team that, for the first time ever, has been able to monitor the brain activity of a chicken embryo and to confirm that superior brain activity (carrying out complex tasks) begins long before the chick hatches.
Hitch-hiking with birds for life
Although chewing lice spend their entire lives as parasites on birds, it is difficult to predict patterns of lice distribution, new research from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, reveals.
New species of fish in Sweden
Reticulated dragonet have been found in Väderöarna – "Weather Islands" – off the west coast of Sweden. It is not often that a new species of fish is discovered in Sweden.
The gut could reveal effect of climate change on fish
As sea temperatures rise, stocks of some fish species can decline while others may grow, reveals new research from the University of Gothenburg looking at gastrointestinal function in fish.
Bee research breakthrough might lead to artificial vision
(Phys.org) -- An international research breakthrough with bees means machines might soon be able to see almost as well as humans.
Construction of new rock spawning reefs will help Great Lakes native fish
(Phys.org) -- The first of nine rock reefs is under construction in the St. Clair River delta northeast of Detroit. The goal of the project, which is led by Michigan Sea Grant, is to boost populations of lake sturgeon and other rare native fish by providing river-bottom rock structures where they can spawn.
Color of robins' eggs determines parental care
A male robin will be more diligent in caring for its young if the eggs its mate lays are a brighter shade of blue.
Growing risks from hatchery fish
A newly published collection of more than 20 studies by leading university scientists and government fishery researchers in Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, Russia and Japan provides mounting evidence that salmon raised in man-made hatcheries can harm wild salmon through competition for food and habitat.
Study reveals how ribosomes override their blockades
Ribosomes are "protein factories" in the cells of all living things. They produce proteins based on existing genetic codes stored on special nucleic acid molecules. These molecules, also called messenger RNA (mRNA) due to the genetic information encoded on them, are read by ribosomes in a stepwise manner. Defined start and stop signals on the mRNA direct this process. If a stop signal is missing, protein formation cannot be completed and the ribosome’s mode of operation is blocked.
Virus 'barcodes' offer rapid detection of mutated strains
Researchers at the University of Leeds are developing a way to 'barcode' viral diseases to rapidly test new outbreaks for potentially lethal mutations.
Genes underlying the key domestication process in sorghum and other cereals
A study by a team of university and government scientists led by a Kansas State University researcher, indicates that genes responsible for seed shattering -- the process by which grasses disseminate their seeds -- were under parallel selection during sorghum, rice and maize domestication.
Scientists discover first ever record of insect pollination from 100 million years ago
Amber from Cretaceous deposits (110-105 my) in Northern Spain has revealed the first ever record of insect pollination. Scientists have discovered in two pieces of amber several specimens of tiny insects covered with pollen grains, revealing the first record of pollen transport and social behavior in this group of animals. The results are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) dated 14-18 May 2012.
Nearly one-tenth of hemisphere's mammals unlikely to outrun climate change: study
A safe haven could be out of reach for 9 percent of the Western Hemisphere's mammals, and as much as 40 percent in certain regions, because the animals just won't move swiftly enough to outpace climate change.
Cellular secrets of plant fatty acid production understood; discovery could boost bioeconomy
(Phys.org) -- Research groups from Iowa State University and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have uncovered the function of three plant proteins, a discovery that could help plant scientists boost seed oil production in crops, thereby benefitting the production of food, biorenewable chemicals and biofuels.
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