Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for May 15, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- AMD's Trinity is out to rattle Intel's Ivy Bridge- Research group creates highly sensitive photodetector from graphene and quantum dots
- The elusive capacity of data networks
- Ultrasensitive biosensor promising for medical diagnostics
- Beyond the high-speed hard drive: Topological insulators open a path to room-temperature spintronics
- A supernova cocoon breakthrough
- Oxygen-separation membranes could aid in CO2 reduction
- New evidence that many genes of small effect influence economic decisions and political attitudes
- Big-mouthed babies drove the evolution of giant island snakes
- Ancient plant-fungal partnerships reveal how the world became green
- Why omega-3 oils help at the cellular level: Findings suggest possibility of boosting their health benefit
- Early biomarker for pancreatic cancer identified
- Sugar makes you stupid: Study shows high-fructose diet sabotages learning, memory
- 'Modern Portfolio Theory' optimizes conservation practices: study
- Forget Segway: Honda introduces new UNI-CUB personal mobility device (w/ Video)
Space & Earth news
US launches air pollution data in Shanghai
The United States consulate in Shanghai has begun issuing its own pollution statistics, giving a much more pessimistic assessment of the city's air quality than official Chinese data.
Brisbane dam opposition fostered an 'unusual' alliance, researcher finds
Opposition to a major dam north of Brisbane divided communities and also brought them together, a researcher from The University of Queensland discovered.
Testing for Dream Chaser Space System completed
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., successfully completed wind tunnel testing for Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) Space Systems of Louisville, Colo. The test will provide aerodynamic data that will aid in the design of the new Dream Chaser Space System.
Amateur astronomers boost ESA's asteroid hunt
A partnership with the UK’s Faulkes Telescope Project promises to boost the Agency’s space hazards research while helping students to discover potentially dangerous space rocks.
Warhol crater gets its 15 minutes of fame
As pop art icon Andy Warhol said, “In the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes,” and so here’s an image of the crater on Mercury that now bears his name, set up in the style of one of his multicolored silkscreens.
A practical guide to green products and services
A new report published today by the European Commission's in-house science service, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), provides key information for policy makers and business managers on how to assess the environmental impacts of products and services. It helps to pave the way towards a resource-efficient Europe and aims to help design more sustainable products, which are indispensable in a world of 7 billion people and limited resources.
Three-man Soyuz crew departs for space station
(AP) -- A three-man crew blasted off from a space center in southern Kazakhstan Tuesday morning on board a Russian-made Soyuz craft for a four-and-half-month stay at the International Space Station.
Gold rush sweeps Latin America, Amazon suffers
A new gold rush is sweeping through Latin America with devastating consequences, ravaging tropical forests and dumping toxic chemicals as illegal miners fight against big international projects.
WWF says over-consumption threatens planet
The spiralling global population and over-consumption are threatening the future health of the planet, according to conservation group WWF.
Secret soil cracks linger underground
(Phys.org) -- Deep cracks in soil that appear during long dry spells can remain open underground even after they have visibly sealed on the surface, a new study has found.
You just got a haircut from Asteroid 2012 JU
OK, we admit that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but an asteroid about the size of a school bus did come fairly close to Earth yesterday! On May 13, Asteroid 2012 JU passed harmlessly between Earth and Moon. This space rock is somewhere between 8 and 17 meters across, and it came within about 190,000 kilometers (118,000 miles) from Earth — about a half a Lunar Distance (LD), or 0.0014 AU. Its looping orbit is currently closely aligned with Earth’s (click image to see JPL’s orbit diagram applet) and will be moving rather slowly away from us over the next few weeks. There are two other known space rocks that will be making somewhat close passes by Earth later this month: 2010 KK37, which might be about 43 meters wide, will come within 2.3 LD (880,000 km) on May 19, and 2001 CQ36, which might be as big as 170 meters wide, will go by at 10 LD (3.8 million km) on May 30. There is no threat of any of these asteroids hitting our planet.
Former astronaut criticizes NASA's current course
Former NASA astronaut Story Musgrave is neither happy nor excited about the current state of the space administration or about the commercial COTS (Commercial Orbital Transportation Services) program. He’s not happy, and he’s not afraid to say so.
Mercury's magnetic field measured by MESSENGER orbiter
Researchers working with NASA's Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft report the frequent detections of Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) waves at the edge of the innermost planet's magnetosphere.
April 2012 heats up as 5th warmest month globally
(AP) -- Unseasonable weather pushed last month to the fifth warmest April on record worldwide, federal weather statistics show.
Study shows trees absorb less carbon than earlier thought; leaf activity drops during summer
(Phys.org) -- On the first day of summer – the longest day of the year – tree leaves are lush and green, luminous in the June sunlight.
Scientists sound acid alarm for plankton
The microscopic organisms on which almost all life in the oceans depends could be even more vulnerable to increasingly acidic waters than scientists realised, according to a new study.
Statistical analysis projects future temperatures in North America
For the first time, researchers have been able to combine different climate models using spatial statistics - to project future seasonal temperature changes in regions across North America.
A supernova cocoon breakthrough
(Phys.org) -- Observations with NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have provided the first X-ray evidence of a supernova shock wave breaking through a cocoon of gas surrounding the star that exploded. This discovery may help astronomers understand why some supernovas are much more powerful than others.
Astrophysicists discover new heating source in cosmological structure formation
(Phys.org) -- So far, astrophysicists thought that super-massive black holes can only influence their immediate surroundings. A collaboration of scientists at the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS) and in Canada and the US now discovered that diffuse gas in the universe can absorb luminous gamma-ray emission from black holes, heating it up strongly. This surprising result has important implications for the formation of structures in the universe. The results have just been published in The Astrophysical Journal and Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
New finding may hold key to Gaia hypothesis
Is Earth really a sort of giant living organism as the Gaia hypothesis predicts? A new discovery made at the University of Maryland may provide a key to answering this question. This key of sulfur could allow scientists to unlock heretofore hidden interactions between ocean organisms, atmosphere, and land -- interactions that might provide evidence supporting this famous theory.
Technology news
Study: Phone co customer satisfaction evens out
(AP) -- Improvements in customer satisfaction at Sprint Nextel Corp. and AT&T Inc. have narrowed differences among the Big 4 wireless carriers to the point that they're basically even in terms of pleasing their subscribers, according to a study released Tuesday.
'Hydrogen is tomorrow's biofuel' say scientists
Researchers from the University of Birmingham are creating clean hydrogen from food waste paving the way for a bioenergy alternative for the future.
London faces up to 'greenest' Games pledge
London has pledged to host the greenest Olympic Games ever staged, but it could take years before the promises start to flower.
Fujitsu develops high-speed thin client technology for 10-fold improvement in responsiveness
Fujitsu Laboratories Limited today announced that it has developed technology for high-speed thin clients that will respond as much as ten times faster to user operations, even in low-quality network environments.
Undersea warriors, undersea medicine: The future force
U.S. Navy divers take on dangerous tasks every day—and starting this week, they will be part of a multinational effort near Estonia to help clear the Baltic Sea of underwater mines left over from as long ago as the First and Second World Wars.
London 2012 security: 'Sonic weapon' to be used
Britain's Defense Ministry says an acoustic device that can be used as a "sonic weapon" will be deployed during the London Olympics.
Facebook IPO shares tough task for small investors
(AP) -- Hoping to get in on Facebook's hotly anticipated public stock offering? You'll need Facebook friends at very high levels - or a lot of money.
Groupon reports smaller 1Q loss, higher revenue
(AP) -- Online deals company Groupon Inc. posted a smaller net loss and sharply higher revenue in the first quarter, helped by increased demand from a growing customer base.
Poll: Half of Americans call Facebook a fad
(AP) -- Half of Americans think Facebook is a passing fad, according to the results of a new Associated Press-CNBC poll. And, in the run-up to the social network's initial public offering of stock, half of Americans also say the social network's expected asking price is too high.
Yahoo soap opera features new cast of leaders
(AP) -- Yahoo's dysfunctional turnaround efforts have morphed into a Silicon Valley soap opera, one that has taken another strange twist with the Internet company's ousting of CEO Scott Thompson just four months after his arrival.
Sony, Panasonic eye next generation TV tie up
Japan's cash-bleeding electronics giants Sony and Panasonic are looking to join forces to produce next generation televisions in a bid to claw back market from South Korean rivals, according to a report.
Software piracy costs record $63.4 billion in 2011: study
Software piracy cost the industry a record $63.4 billion globally in 2011 with emerging economies listed as the main culprits, an annual study said Tuesday.
At least half of S.Korea cellphone users on smartphones
Smartphones now account for more than half of all South Korea's mobile phones following the iPhone's belated debut in the tech-savvy country in late 2009, according to industry figures.
Privacy worries dog Facebook ahead of IPO
Some 900 million people like Facebook. But when they realize their private information is being bought and sold, some don't like it so much.
Facebook IPO to bring cash and change
Facebook makes its hotly anticipated stock market debut this week in a history-making move promising wealth for insiders and change for users of the online social network.
Researcher develops personalized search engines
(Phys.org) -- With little more than basic information about Web users’ behavior – that is, the hyperlinks they click on daily and the content at those sites – Susan Gauch can build a better search engine. In information systems research, this work is known as “implicit” user profiling, meaning there are basic assumptions about user interest and intent based on the sites they frequent and the content they view.
NREL simulates shade conditions in repeatable test for solar arrays
The DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released a new repeatable test protocol that simulates real shade conditions and can predict with much greater precision the effects of shade on a solar array.
Saverin dumps US citizenship ahead of Facebook IPO
(AP) -- Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin has renounced his U.S. citizenship, a move expected to save him hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes stemming from the company's impending initial public offering.
Facebook raises IPO price as offering nears
(AP) -- Facebook on Tuesday increased the price range at which it plans to sell stock to the public, as investor enthusiasm in the offering continued to mount and boost the potential value of the world's most popular social network.
19th-century iPhone app
Modern technology has allowed us to communicate in ways that would have been unfathomable to Victorian-age English poets. Yet Alfred Tennyson, Lewis Carroll and Edgar Allan Poe — among others — would likely cringe if they heard most of us recite their work.
This 'mousetrap' may save lives: Students create mechanism to regulate IV fluids for children
Instead of building a better mousetrap, a team of Rice University freshmen took a mousetrap and built a better way to treat dehydration among children in the developing world.
GM to pull ads from Facebook: report
General Motors plans to stop advertising on Facebook because it determined paid ads had little impact on consumers, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
US class-action ebook price-fixing suit can proceed
A judge Tuesday allowed a class-action case to proceed against Apple and six publishing houses alleging a price-fixing scheme for electronic books, citing "ample" indications of a conspiracy.
Getting in tune: Researchers solve tuning problem for wireless power transfer systems
Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a new way to fine-tune wireless power transfer (WPT) receivers, making the systems more efficient and functional. WPT systems hold promise for charging electric vehicles, electronic devices and other technologies.
Forget Segway: Honda introduces new UNI-CUB personal mobility device (w/ Video)
Honda Motor today unveiled the new UNI-CUB personal mobility device. Featuring a compact design and comfortable saddle, UNI-CUB offers the same freedom of movement in all directions that a person enjoys while walking.
The elusive capacity of data networks
In its early years, information theory — which grew out of a landmark 1948 paper by MIT alumnus and future professor Claude Shannon — was dominated by research on error-correcting codes: How do you encode information so as to guarantee its faithful transmission, even in the presence of the corrupting influences engineers call "noise"?
Medicine & Health news
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound monitors aortic aneurysm treatment
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound is an effective, noninvasive method for monitoring patients who undergo endovascular repair for abdominal aortic aneurysms, according to a new study published in the journal Radiology.
Study examines BI-RADS and MRI in predicting breast cancer
A large, multicenter study found that the Breast Imaging and Reporting Data Systems (BI-RADS) terminology used by radiologists to classify breast imaging results is useful in predicting malignancy in breast lesions detected with MRI. Results of the study are published online in the journal Radiology.
Gaps in sexual health care for male teens
He was 17 and had come to Johns Hopkins’ Harriet Lane Clinic for a routine physical.
Injury prevention for children with special needs
Injuries are both predictable and preventable and the leading cause of death and disability for all children 1 to 14 years of age. All children and their families need information on keeping their children safe as they grow and wherever they are – for example at a babysitter’s home, school, a playground or staying with grandparents.
53 million Americans might have diabetes by 2025, according to new study
The Diabetes 2025 Model for the U.S. projects a continuous and dramatic increase in the diabetes epidemic and makes it possible to estimate the potential effects of society-wide changes in lifestyle and healthcare delivery systems.
Modest alcohol intake associated with less inflammation in patients with common liver disease
NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) is the most common type of liver disease in the developed world, affecting up to one-third of the US population. NAFLD is often associated with obesity and other parameters of the so-called "metabolic syndrome," which is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. In a well-done study among subjects with NAFLD, the investigators have demonstrated that modest alcohol consumption (an average of up to 20 grams of alcohol per day and no binge drinking) is associated with less evidence of inflammation of the liver (steatohepatitis), a condition known to markedly increase the risk of progression of liver disease to cirrhosis.
Video-assisted thoracic surgery valuable tool in lung cancer screening
The most recent research released in June's Journal of Thoracic Oncology says video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is a valuable tool in managing lesions detected in a lung cancer screening program. The primary objective of lung cancer screening with low dose computer tomography (CT) is to detect lung cancer at an early stage and thus amenable to a complete surgical resection, the only established cure for lung cancer. Lung cancer currently has no standard screening program and less than one third of lung cancer patients present with early stage disease amenable to cure. One of the concerns regarding lung cancer screening is how to manage detected lung nodules, the majority of which are benign.
A marker in the lining of the lungs could be useful diagnostic technique for lung cancer screening
The most recent research released in June's Journal of Thoracic Oncology says molecular biomarkers in the tissue and fluid lining the lungs might be an additional predictive technique for lung cancer screening.
Chemotherapy's effect on overall survival seems to increase based on tumor size
The most recent research released in June's Journal of Thoracic Oncology indicates there might be a positive correlation between tumor size and adjuvant platinum based chemotherapy in surgically resected patients with node negative non-small cell lung cancer. The study, published in the June 2012 issue of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer's (IASLC) Journal of Thoracic Oncology, analyzed the effect of tumor size and KRAS mutations on survival benefit from adjuvant platinum based chemotherapy in patients with node negative non-small cell lung cancer.
An international treaty is needed to improve medical research worldwide
An international treaty is a promising tool for improving the coherence, fairness, efficiency, and sustainability of the global health research and development system according to international experts writing in this week's PLoS Medicine.
World Health Assembly should adopt an international convention on global health R&D: Expert group
The expert working group advising WHO on research and development has recommended the May 2012 World Health Assembly adopt an international convention on research and development (R&D) that will bind member states to action and catalyze new knowledge for diseases that primarily affect the global poor but for which patents provide insufficient market incentives.
Safer kidney cancer surgery under-used for poorer, sicker Medicare, Medicaid patients
An increasingly common and safer type of surgery for kidney cancer is not as likely to be used for older, sicker and poorer patients who are uninsured or rely on Medicare or Medicaid for their health care, according to a new study by researchers at Henry Ford Hospital.
Fewer prostate cancer surgery complications found in teaching hospitals with fellowship programs
Patients who undergo radical surgery for prostate cancer may expect better results, on average, if they're treated in accredited teaching hospitals with residency programs, and better still if the hospitals also have medical fellowships, according to a new study by Henry Ford Hospital.
Higher hospital volume more important than surgeon experience in outcome of prostate cancer surgery
Older, sicker, high-risk patients who undergo one of the most common treatments for prostate cancer get better results in larger, busier hospitals, according to new research by Henry Ford Hospital.
Most people brush their teeth in the wrong way
Almost all Swedes brush their teeth, yet only one in ten does it in a way that effectively prevents tooth decay. Now researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, are eager to teach Swedes how to brush their teeth more effectively.
Drugs from lizard saliva reduces the cravings for food
A drug made from the saliva of the Gila monster lizard is effective in reducing the craving for food. Researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, have tested the drug on rats, who after treatment ceased their cravings for both food and chocolate.
Women fare better than men, but need more blood after kidney cancer surgery
Women do better than men after surgical removal of part or all of a cancerous kidney, with fewer post-operative complications, including dying in the hospital, although they are more likely to receive blood transfusions related to their surgery.
Quality of care, other issues may cause worse results in black prostate cancer surgery patients
Black prostate cancer patients may not be getting the same quality of care as white patients, according to a first-of-its-kind study by researchers at Henry Ford Hospital who found racial disparities in the results of surgery to remove diseased prostates.
Prenatal micronutrient, food supplementation intervention in Bangladesh decreases child death rate
Pregnant women in poor communities in Bangladesh who received multiple micronutrients, including iron and folic acid combined with early food supplementation, had substantially improved survival of their newborns, compared to women in a standard program that included usual food supplementation, according to a study in the May 16 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on Global Health.
Robot-assisted surgery now favored treatment for kidney cancer
Robot-assisted surgery has replaced another minimally invasive operation as the main procedure to treat kidney cancer while sparing part of the diseased organ, and with comparable results, according to a new research study by Henry Ford Hospital urologists.
'Fertilizing' bone marrow helps answer why some cancers spread to bones
Researchers found that administering a common chemotherapy drug before bone tumors took root actually fertilized the bone marrow, enabling cancer cells, once introduced, to seed and grow more easily.
Clock ticking with new plan to fight Alzheimer's
(AP) -- The clock is ticking: The first National Alzheimer's Plan sets a deadline of 2025 to finally find effective ways to treat, or at least stall, the mind-destroying disease.
Delivery system for gene therapy may help treat arthritis
A DNA-covered submicroscopic bead used to deliver genes or drugs directly into cells to treat disease appears to have therapeutic value just by showing up, researchers report.
Sumatriptan/Naproxen helpful in treating teens' migraines
(HealthDay) -- Treatment with sumatriptan and naproxen sodium (suma/nap) is well tolerated and effective in reducing migraine pain in adolescents, according to a study published online May 14 in Pediatrics.
Does your child have seasonal allergies or a cold?
(HealthDay) -- It can be difficult during the spring months for parents to determine whether their children have a cold or seasonal allergies, but an expert outlines how to tell the difference.
SCAI: Ixmyelocel-T studied for dilated cardiomyopathy
(HealthDay) -- For patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, treatment with an autologous bone marrow-derived, expanded multi-cell product, ixmyelocel-T, is well tolerated and associated with improved symptoms at one year, according to a study presented at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions 2012 Scientific Sessions, held from May 9 to 12 in Las Vegas.
Active lifestyle in elderly keeps their brains running
(Medical Xpress) -- New research from Uppsala University, Sweden, suggests that an active lifestyle in late life protects grey matter and cognitive functions in humans. The findings are now published in the scientific journal Neurobiology of Aging.
Edible 'stop signs' in food may halt overeating
(Medical Xpress) -- Once you pop the top of a tube of potato chips, it can be hard to stop munching its contents. But Cornell researchers may have found a novel way to help: Add edible serving size markers that act as subconscious stop signs.
Binge drinking increases risk of later sexual assault for first-year female college students
(Medical Xpress) -- A new study by University of Georgia researchers demonstrates that several months before a female victim is sexually assaulted, her pattern of drinking alcohol influences her risk for unwanted sexual contact, ranging from unwanted kissing to rape.
Scientists uncover potential treatment for painful side effect of diabetes
(Medical Xpress) -- Why diabetics suffer from increased pain and temperature sensitivity is a step closer to being understood and effectively treated.
Palpitations are predictive of future atrial fibrillation: large population study
A large cohort study has found that the strongest risk factors for atrial fibrillation in both men and women were a history of palpitations and hypertension. While hypertension is a well known risk factor for AF, the investigators note that "the impact of self-reported palpitations on later occurrence of AF has not been documented earlier".
Study finds chronic child abuse strong indicator of negative adult experiences
(Medical Xpress) -- Child abuse or neglect are strong predictors of major health and emotional problems, but little is known about how the chronicity of the maltreatment may increase future harm apart from other risk factors in a child’s life.
Mice with big brains provide insight into brain regeneration and developmental disorders
Scientists at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) and the University of Ottawa (uOttawa) have discovered that mice that lack a gene called Snf2l have brains that are 35 per cent larger than normal. The research, led by Dr. David Picketts and published in the prestigious journal Developmental Cell, could lead to new approaches to stimulate brain regeneration and may provide important insight into developmental disorders such as autism and Rett syndrome.
Reducing off-label use of antipsychotic medications may save money
Reducing the non-FDA-approved use of antipsychotic drugs may be a way to save money while having little effect on patient care, according to a Penn State College of Medicine study.
Reported increase in older adult fall deaths due to improved coding
The recent dramatic increase in the fall death rate in older Americans is likely the effect of improved reporting quality, according to a new report from the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy. The report finds the largest increase in the mortality rate occurred immediately following the 1999 introduction of an update to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), suggesting a major change in the way deaths were classified. Several research studies, including one by the report's authors, found that rates of fatal falls among seniors had risen as much as 42 percent between 2006 and 2006. The results are published in the May-June issue of Public Health Reports.
People see sexy pictures of women as objects, not people
Perfume ads, beer billboards, movie posters: everywhere you look, women's sexualized bodies are on display. A new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, finds that both men and women see images of sexy women's bodies as objects, while they see sexy-looking men as people.
Steroid nasal sprays show small benefit for sinusitis: study
(HealthDay) -- Corticosteroid nasal sprays apparently are not a silver bullet when it comes to symptom relief for acute sinusitis patients, a new review suggests.
Protein inhibitor points to potential medical treatments for skull and skin birth defects
Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York have found new clues in the pathogenesis of skull and skin birth defects associated with a rare genetic disorder, Beare-Stevenson cutis gyrata syndrome (BSS). Using a mouse model, investigators found that by inhibiting the protein p38, previously associated with cancer and certain autoimmune conditions, they were able to interrupt development of specific birth defects associated with it: craniosynostosis, or the premature fusion of certain bones of the skull, and acanthosis nigricans, a hyperpigmentation skin disorder that often makes the skin look dirty and rough.
Colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy may be used to predict Parkinson's
Two studies by neurological researchers at Rush University Medical Center suggest that, in the future, colonic tissue obtained during either colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy may be used to predict who will develop Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder of aging that that leads to progressive deterioration of motor function due to loss of neurons in the brain that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter essential to executing movement.
Cancer vaccine combination therapy shows survival benefit in breast cancer
A vaccine that targets cancer cells in combination with the drug letrozole, a standard hormonal therapy against breast cancer, significantly increased survival when tested in mice, a team of UC Davis investigators has found.
New biomarker test predicts arthritis at much earlier stage
More than 27 million adults currently suffer from osteoarthritis, which is the most common form of arthritis. In the past, doctors have been unable to diagnose patients with arthritis until they begin to show symptoms, which include joint pain and stiffness. By the time these symptoms are present, it is often too late for preventive and minimally invasive treatment options to be effective. Now, a research team from the University of Missouri's Comparative Orthopaedic Laboratory has found a way to detect and predict arthritis before patients begin suffering from symptoms.
New inflammation hormone link may pave way to study new drugs for Type 2 diabetes
A new link between obesity and type 2 diabetes found in mice could open the door to exploring new potential drug treatments for diabetes, University of Michigan Health System research has found.
Study highlights need for coordination of care in stage 2 and 3 rectal cancer treatment
(Edmonton) Research from the University of Alberta provides new insight into treatment patterns for people with stage two and three rectal cancer—information that ultimately will help physicians improve care strategies for patients provincewide.
Cancer cells: Some types control continued tumor growth, others prepare the way for metastasis
A study from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers suggests that specific populations of tumor cells have different roles in the process by which tumors make new copies of themselves and grow. In their report in the May 15 issue of Cancer Cell, researchers identify a tumor-propagating cell required for the growth of a pediatric muscle tumor in a zebrafish model and also show that another, more-differentiated tumor cell must first travel to sites of new tumor growth to prepare an environment that supports metastatic growth.
Dietary supplements increase cancer risk
Beta-carotene, selenium and folic acid – taken up to three times their recommended daily allowance, these supplements are probably harmless. But taken at much higher levels as some supplement manufacturers suggest, these three supplements have now been proven to increase the risk of developing a host of cancers.
PET more sensitive than CT for merkel cell carcinoma
(HealthDay) -- Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) is significantly more sensitive and equally specific compared with traditional computed tomography (CT) imaging for evaluation of the regional lymph node basin in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), according to research published online May 2 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Peptide level ups diagnosis of heart failure in primary care
(HealthDay) -- For patients presenting with dyspnea, the additional measurement of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels increases the certainty of diagnosis of heart failure and accelerates initiation of appropriate treatment, but does not reduce medical costs, according to a study published online May 2 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
New treatment could tackle preventable causes of death for newborns in sub-Saharan Africa
Clinical trials are urgently needed to test a new treatment that could jointly tackle leading causes of death for babies in sub-Saharan Africa, according to researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
Beijing Olympics study reveals biological link between air pollution, cardiovascular disease
Using the 2008 Beijing Olympics as their laboratory, University of Southern California (USC) researchers and colleagues have found biological evidence that even a short-term reduction in air pollution exposure improves one's cardiovascular health.
740,000 lives saved: Study documents benefits of AIDS relief program
The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the government's far-reaching health-care foreign aid program, has contributed to a significant decline in adult death rates from all causes in Africa, according to a new study by Stanford University School of Medicine researchers.
Resiliency during early teen years can protect against later alcohol/drug use
Resiliency is a measure of a person's ability to flexibly adapt their behaviors to fit the surroundings in which they find themselves. Low resiliency during childhood has been linked to later alcohol/drug problems during the teenage years. A new study has examined brain function and connectivity to assess linkages between resiliency and working memory, finding that higher resiliency may be protective against later alcohol/drug use.
On-premise alcohol outlets have stronger links to crime than off-premise alcohol outlets
Prior research has shown that neighborhoods with higher densities of alcohol outlets are more likely to have higher rates of violent crimes. This study examined the effects of different types of alcohol outlets – on-premise such as bars and restaurants, and off-premise such as liquor and convenience stories – on four different categories of crime in urban neighborhoods. Results show a stronger relationship between density of outlets and crime for on- than off-premise outlets.
Substance use reduces educational achievement even when educational benefits are assured
Although various kinds of substance use are associated with reduced educational attainment, these associations have been mixed and may also be partially due to risk factors such as socioeconomic disadvantages. A study of substance use and education among male twins from a veteran population has found a strong relationship among early alcohol use, alcohol dependence, daily nicotine use, and fewer years of educational attainment.
Examining adaptive abilities in children with prenatal alcohol exposure and/or ADHD
Prenatal exposure to alcohol often results in disruption to the brain's cognitive and behavioral domains, which include executive function (EF) and adaptive functioning. A study of these domains in children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), non-exposed children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and children without PAE or ADHD has found that, despite similarities in the relation between EF and adaptive abilities among children with ADHD or PAE, the patterns of abilities in these children were different.
Study discovers unexpected source of diabetic neuropathy pain
Nearly half of all diabetics suffer from neuropathic pain, an intractable, agonizing and still mysterious companion of the disease. Now Yale researchers have identified an unexpected source of the pain and a potential target to alleviate it.
Anti-HIV drug tenofovir is safe to take during pregnancy
Pre-birth exposure to the anti-HIV drug tenofovir does not adversely affect pregnancy outcomes and does not increase birth defects, growth abnormalities, or kidney problems in infants born to African women who are HIV positive, supporting the use of this drug during pregnancy, according to a study by a team of international researchers published in this week's PLoS Medicine.
Plavix's new generic status could be boon for patients
(HealthDay) -- The blockbuster drug Plavix (clopidogrel), used to prevent clotting in some heart patients, will go off patent in the United States on Thursday, making it considerably more affordable.
U.S. task force issues blood pressure guidelines
(HealthDay) -- "Team-based care" should be used to improve patients' blood pressure control, the U.S. Task Force on Community Preventive Services recommended on Tuesday.
FDA panel backs first rapid, take home HIV test
(AP) -- A panel of HIV specialists is recommending that U.S. regulators approve the first over-the-counter HIV test designed to quickly return a result in the privacy of a person's own home, a new option which could expand testing for the virus that causes AIDS.
Early biomarker for pancreatic cancer identified
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center have identified a new biomarker and therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer, an often-fatal disease for which there is currently no reliable method for early detection or therapeutic intervention. The paper will be published May 15 in Cancer Research.
Researchers identify key genes and prototype predictive test for schizophrenia
An Indiana University-led research team, along with a group of national and international collaborators, has identified and prioritized a comprehensive group of genes most associated with schizophrenia that together can generate a score indicating whether an individual is at higher or lower risk of developing the disease.
Researchers find genetic link to PTSD
(Medical Xpress) -- A team of Swiss and German researchers has found that a certain gene allele can be linked to increased emotional memory retention and because of that appears to be a factor in people who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The team, as they describe in their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, conducted emotional memory tests on a large random group of people and then again on a sample of people in a Rwandan refugee camp who had survived atrocities committed during the genocide that occurred there in 1994, and found a common genetic link between emotional memory retention and the likelihood of developing PTSD after experiencing a traumatic event.
New look at prolonged radiation exposure: Study suggests that at low dose-rate, radiation poses little risk to DNA
A new study from MIT scientists suggests that the guidelines governments use to determine when to evacuate people following a nuclear accident may be too conservative.
Surgeons restore some hand function to quadriplegic patient
Surgeons at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have restored some hand function in a quadriplegic patient with a spinal cord injury at the C7 vertebra, the lowest bone in the neck. Instead of operating on the spine itself, the surgeons rerouted working nerves in the upper arms. These nerves still "talk" to the brain because they attach to the spine above the injury.
Mystery gene reveals new mechanism for anxiety disorders
A novel mechanism for anxiety behaviors, including a previously unrecognized inhibitory brain signal, may inspire new strategies for treating psychiatric disorders, University of Chicago researchers report.
New evidence that many genes of small effect influence economic decisions and political attitudes
Genetic factors explain some of the variation in a wide range of people's political attitudes and economic decisions – such as preferences toward environmental policy and financial risk taking – but most associations with specific genetic variants are likely to be very small, according to a new study led by Cornell University economics professor Daniel Benjamin.
Why omega-3 oils help at the cellular level: Findings suggest possibility of boosting their health benefit
For the first time, researchers at the University of California, San Diego have peered inside a living mouse cell and mapped the processes that power the celebrated health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. More profoundly, they say their findings suggest it may be possible to manipulate these processes to short-circuit inflammation before it begins, or at least help to resolve inflammation before it becomes detrimental.
Study IDs gene variants that speed progression of Parkinson's disease
UCLA researchers may have found a key to determining which Parkinson's disease patients will experience a more rapid decline in motor function, sparking hopes for the development of new therapies and helping identify those who could benefit most from early intervention.
Sugar makes you stupid: Study shows high-fructose diet sabotages learning, memory
Attention, college students cramming between midterms and finals: Binging on soda and sweets for as little as six weeks may make you stupid.
Biology news
Poaching puts pressure on Malayan tiger
A Malaysian government plan to double its population of endangered Malayan tigers to 1,000 through tighter protection is under threat due to persistent poaching, a conservation group warned Tuesday.
Soybean trials help producers find earlier maturing varieties
Soybeans aren’t something new for Texas producers, but one Texas AgriLife Extension Service expert is trying to help develop a production system that will help combat the drought and includes varieties that mature earlier.
Scientist: when it comes to energy crops, do the math
The successful conversion of crops to fuel is all about the math, according to a Texas AgriLife Research scientist.
New research offers roadmap towards sustainable pole-and-line-caught tuna
Research conducted at the University of York offers a blueprint for the long-term sustainability of tuna caught using the pole-and-line method.
Finding an alternative to feeding fish fish
Scientists at the University are developing a new plant-based product that could replace fishmeal, reducing the need for farmers to feed fish to other fish at a time when more than 90% of EU waters are at risk from overfishing.
Biodiversity declines as global consumption reaches all-time high
Our ever-growing demand for resources is putting huge pressure on the planet’s biodiversity according to the Living Planet Report 2012, released today by WWF in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London and the Global Footprint Network.
When the soil holds not enough phosphorus: Scientists describe new transporter in cells of plant roots
Plants cannot survive without phosphorus. It forms the backbone of many crucial molecules (such as DNA) and is a key player in energy transfer reactions. Low availability of phosphorus is a major environmental stress for plants and can lead to great losses in crop production. But plants can't make their own phosphorus; they get all they need at the root-soil interface, in the form of inorganic phosphate (Pi), so one way to maximise the amount of phosphorus in the plant is to turn up Pi uptake by root cells.
Balding disease killing Australia's wombats
A mystery liver disease thought to be caused by introduced weeds is causing hairy-nosed wombats in southern Australia to go bald and die, researchers said Tuesday.
Algae cultivation could boost UK industry
UK companies could cash in on the massive opportunities available from producing biofuels and other products from cultivated algae, say scientists.
Sea lions fuel ocean life
Like whales, sea lions are contributing to marine ecosystems in the most fundamental way possible, research by a Flinders graduate has found.
Arctic seabirds adapt to climate change
The planet is warming up, especially at the poles. How do organisms react to this rise in temperatures? An international team led by a CNRS researcher from the Center for Functional and Evolutionary Ecology has shown that little auks, the most common seabirds in the Arctic, are adapting their fishing behavior to warming surface waters in the Greenland Sea. So far, their reproductive and survival rates have not been affected. However, further warming could threaten the species. This research, supported in particular by the French Polar Institute (IPEV) and a US-Norwegian program, is published in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series dated May 21, 2012.
What makes a worm say 'yuck'
Researchers at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) say they have uncovered a way that animals detect pathogens in their bodies that allows their systems to respond before cellular damage occurs.
Questions about incredible sea turtle migration answered
Immediately after emerging from their underground nests on the lush beaches of eastern Florida, loggerhead sea turtles scramble into the sea and embark alone on a migration that takes them around the entire North Atlantic basin. Survivors of this epic migration eventually return to North America's coastal waters.
Tiny plants could cut costs, shrink environmental footprint
Tall, waving corn fields that line Midwestern roads may one day be replaced by dwarfed versions that require less water, fertilizer and other inputs, thanks to a fungicide commonly used on golf courses.
Maps of Miscanthus genome offer insight into grass evolution
Miscanthus grasses are used in gardens, burned for heat and energy, and converted into liquid fuels. They also belong to a prominent grass family that includes corn, sorghum and sugarcane. Two new, independently produced chromosome maps of Miscanthus sinensis (an ornamental that likely is a parent of Miscanthus giganteus, a biofuels crop) are a first step toward sequencing the M. sinensis genome. The studies reveal how a new plant species with distinctive traits can arise as a result of chromosome duplications and fusions.
Ancient plant-fungal partnerships reveal how the world became green
Prehistoric plants grown in state-of-the-art growth chambers recreating environmental conditions from more than 400 million years ago have shown scientists from the University of Sheffield how soil dwelling fungi played a crucial role in the evolution of plants.
Big-mouthed babies drove the evolution of giant island snakes
Some populations of tiger snakes stranded for thousands of years on tiny islands surrounding Australia have evolved to be giants, growing to nearly twice the size of their mainland cousins. Now, new research in The American Naturalist suggests that the enormity of these elapids was driven by the need to have big-mouthed babies.
Elephant seal tracking reveals hidden lives of deep-diving animals
Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, who pioneered the use of satellite tags to monitor the migrations of elephant seals have compiled one of the largest datasets available for any marine mammal species, revealing their movements and diving behavior at sea in unprecedented detail.
Mixed bacterial communities evolve to share resources, not compete
New research shows how bacteria evolve to increase ecosystem functioning by recycling each other's waste. The study provides some of the first evidence for how interactions between species shape evolution when there is a diverse community.
'Modern Portfolio Theory' optimizes conservation practices: study
While climate change is likely to alter the spatial distributions of species and habitat types, the nature of those changes is uncertain, making it more difficult for conservationists to implement standard planning models. Research from applied economists at the University of Illinois shows that adapting a theory from the world of finance could help to optimize conservation activities.
This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
http://phys.org/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment