Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for July 31, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Roll-to-roll process prints thousands of cheap, flexible memory elements- Adding a '3D print' button to animation software
- Chip and pin terminals shown to harvest customer info
- Humans might be hard-wired to 'love thy neighbor'
- Mathematicians find solution to biological building block puzzle
- Critically endangered whales sing like birds; new recordings hint at rebound (w/ audio)
- X-rays pave way for low cost, large scale carbon capture
- From microns to centimetres: Researchers invent new tissue engineering tool
- Microsoft Research shapes future of HD displays
- When we forget to remember -- Failures in prospective memory range from annoying to lethal
- New technology for monitoring 150,000 aging US highway bridges
- Samsung copied 'every element' of iPhone: Apple
- Microsoft announces new email client, launches Outlook.com preview
- Protein-based coating could help rehabilitate long-term brain function
- Dolphins sponge up culture: study
Space & Earth news
Field-proven meter rapidly determines carbon dioxide levels in groundwater
NETL and West Virginia University collaborators discovered that a standard beverage industry carbonation meter used with a modified field protocol accurately determined the amount of CO2 dissolved in natural springs and mine waters within the range of 0.2 - 35 millimole (a mole is a measurement for chemicals, thus a millimole is one thousandth of a mole) of CO2.
Scripps and SoCalGas system to use algae to capture carbon dioxide
Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego (Scripps) and Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) have entered into an agreement focusing on the design of an innovative system in which algae consume carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from natural gas combustion and cost-effectively convert it into valuable byproducts such as biomethane, biodiesel and animal feed.
'Only you can prevent forest fires' ... with your smartphone
An app that prevents forest fires by identifying hazardous areas and that was developed by researchers at the University of British Columbia is getting tested in the BC Okanagan this summer.
Astronaut Sally Ride biography scheduled for 2013
(AP) — An authorized biography of U.S. astronaut Sally Ride, written by longtime ABC correspondent Lynn Sherr, is scheduled for publication next year.
China to build first polar-expedition icebreaker
China is set to construct its first icebreaker for polar expeditions, state media said Tuesday, in a move it described as greatly boosting its ability to explore the strategic Arctic.
Testing at Goddard: 'The chamber of horrors'
(Phys.org) -- With pipe-covered ceilings three stories high, catwalks lining the walls, and wires covering every surface, the Environmental Test Engineering and Integration facility—affectionately nicknamed the “Chamber of Horrors”—looks uncannily like a level from Valve’s “Portal 2” video game. In reality, it’s NASA’s premier preflight testing ground for instruments and spacecraft.
Sun emits a medium-intensity solar flare
(Phys.org) -- The sun emitted a mid-level flare, peaking at 4:55 PM EDT on July 28, 2012.
William Shatner and Wil Wheaton narrate new NASA Mars Curiosity Rover video
(Phys.org) -- As NASA prepares for next week's Curiosity rover landing on Mars, William Shatner and Wil Wheaton share this thrilling story of NASA's hardest planetary science mission to date. The video titled, "Grand Entrance," guides viewers from entry through descent, and after landing.
The hustle and bustle of our solar system
(Phys.org) -- This diagram illustrates the differences between orbits of a typical near-Earth asteroid (blue) and a potentially hazardous asteroid, or PHA (orange). PHAs are a subset of the near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) and have the closest orbits to Earth's orbit, coming within 5 million miles (about 8 million kilometers). They also are large enough to survive passage through Earth's atmosphere and cause damage on a regional, or greater, scale.
Strange but true: Curiosity's Sky Crane
On August 5th at 10:31 p.m. Pacific Time, NASA will gently deposit their new, 2000-pound Curiosity rover on the surface of Mars, wheels-first and ready to roll. Quite a feat – because it will come screaming through the Martian atmosphere at 13,000 mph.
Ecosystems reveal radiation secrets
A new study by Tiina Tuovinen, from the University of Eastern Finland, and her colleagues casts doubt over the validity of models used to assess the impact of radiation on human health. Their work is published online in Springer's journal Hydrobiologia.
New York's Times Square to broadcast Mars landing
The highly anticipated landing of NASA's sophisticated $2.5 billion rover on Mars will be broadcast on a large screen in New York City's Times Square, NASA said on Tuesday.
Shear layers in solar winds affect Earth's magnetosphere
Human society is increasingly reliant on technology that can be disrupted by space weather. For instance, geomagnetic storms can cause high-latitude air flights to be rerouted, costing as much as $100,000 per flight; induce errors of up to 46 meters (151 feet) in GPS systems; and affect satellites and the International Space Station. Space weather is determined by how the solar wind, a stream of hot plasma from the Sun, interacts with Earth’s magnetic field. In studying space weather, scientists have largely neglected the fact that the solar wind contains layers of very strong velocity shear. Scientists understand very little about how these wind shears affect space weather.
China to land first moon probe next year (Update)
China has said it will land an exploratory craft on the moon for the first time next year, as part of an ambitious space programme that includes a long-term plan to put a man on the moon.
Soil sucks up 65,000 tonnes of CO2
(Phys.org) -- A city-centre site earmarked to become the heart of sustainability research in Newcastle is already playing a key role in mitigating the effects of climate change.
X-rays discovered from young supernova remnant
(Phys.org) -- Over fifty years ago, a supernova was discovered in M83, a spiral galaxy about 15 million light years from Earth. Astronomers have used NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory to make the first detection of X-rays emitted by the debris from this explosion.
X-rays pave way for low cost, large scale carbon capture
(Phys.org) -- Diamond Light Source is being used to improve low cost methods for carbon capture. Scientists from the University of Leeds are using the UK's national synchrotron to investigate the efficiency of calcium oxide (CaO) based materials as carbon dioxide (CO2) sorbents. Their results, published in the journal of Energy & Environmental Science, provide an explanation for one of the key mechanisms involved. This new knowledge will inform efforts to improve the efficiency of this economically viable method of carbon capture and storage.
Technology news
Philippine police arrest SKorean cellphone hackers
(AP) — Philippine police have arrested eight South Koreans who allegedly hacked into one of the country's biggest telecommunications companies to lower the cost of international cellphone calls for other Koreans in the Philippines.
Researchers provide framework to evaluate and drive down the energy consumption of mobile networks by 70%
After two and a half years, the EARTH research project, partially funded by the European Union's Seventh Framework Program (FP7), has reached a successful conclusion.
Drinking water from the sea using solar energy
One of the main ways to obtain drinking water in hot, dry countries surrounded by sea or ocean is through desalination. European researchers developed a high-efficiency and low-cost desalination technology by exploiting solar energy.
Never again a flat vehicle battery: Researchers develop early warning system
A flat battery can turn an unsuspecting car driver into an unintentional pedestrian. The fact that vehicle batteries go flat all of a sudden is a well-known problem, but one that can also be avoided in future. Scientists from the Ruhr-Universitaet-Bochum working group for Energy Systems Technology and Power Mechatronics headed by Professor Dr. Constantinos Sourkounis and Philip Dost have now developed an effective early warning system.
Twitter sparks concern over journalist ban
Twitter has come under fire for its handling of the account of a British journalist critical of US broadcaster NBC's Olympics coverage, with their commercial ties under the spotlight.
France orders Google to hand over Street View data
France's data-protection authority said Tuesday it wants Google to hand over data secretly collected from Internet users by its Street View mapping cars which it failed to delete as promised.
Olympics video reflects Internet's tension with TV
(AP) — The progression of Olympics video online is a reflection of the Internet's battle with television.
Jury picked in blockbuster Apple-Samsung case
A 10-member jury was chosen Monday to hear the Silicon Valley blockbuster trial with Apple and Samsung battling over patent infringement for hot-selling smartphones and tablet computers.
Yahoo! number two exec quits after passed over
Yahoo! on Monday announced the departure of Ross Levinsohn, who served as interim chief executive and was seen as a favorite for the top job before the firm named Marissa Meyer to the post.
Panasonic returns to profit in 1Q on cost cutting
(AP) — Panasonic Corp. said Tuesday it returned to the black in the April-June quarter, logging a net profit of 12.8 billion ($163 million) mainly on lower costs after cutting more than 38,000 jobs over the last year.
China's online dating market 'booming'
Revenues from China's online dating market are forecast to top two billion yuan ($315 million) in 2014 as work-stressed Chinese struggle to find partners, a new report said Tuesday.
Fiery research: Sandia computers model rocket fuel fires
(Phys.org) -- Walt Gill of Sandia National Laboratories’ Fire & Aerosol Sciences Department calls it a pancake — a disk more than a foot in diameter covered with what looks like the debris you’d scrape off a particularly messy barbecue grill. It’s actually a crunchy, baked-on mixture of aluminum, aluminum oxide, carbon and other chemicals that coats everything after a rocket propellant fire.
Computers may need patterns to think better
(Phys.org) -- Patterns needed to help computers think better have been investigated by an international research group including a Charles Sturt University (CSU) expert, with the results reported in the latest issue of the international journal Nature Scientific Reports.
Testimony expected in iPhone, iPad patent trial
(AP) — Opening statements were expected to begin Tuesday to decide the merits of Apple Inc.'s claims that Samsung Electronics Co.'s smartphones and computer tablets are illegal knockoffs of the iPhone and iPad.
Internet poker deals aim to repay customers
(AP) — Settlement deals reached between federal prosecutors and three Internet poker companies call for more than a half billion dollars to be paid to the government, enabling U.S. poker players to recover several hundred million dollars lost when the companies shut down U.S. operations last year, authorities said Tuesday.
No slowdown in sight for cyber attacks, experts say
Cyber attacks are accelerating at a pace that suggests the Internet - already a risky environment - is likely to pose a steadily growing threat to individuals and companies for years to come.
Google buys social ad firm Wildfire
Google said Tuesday it was buying Wildfire, a startup specializing in advertising on social media such as Facebook and Twitter.
Verizon settles FCC probe into 'tethering' block
(AP) -- In the first move of its kind, the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday said it's accepting a $1.25 million settlement from Verizon Wireless to end an investigation into whether the company asked Google Inc. to withhold so-called "tethering" software for Internet sharing.
New technology for monitoring 150,000 aging US highway bridges
On August 1, 2007, without warning, the roadway suddenly disappeared beneath drivers on Minneapolis' I-35W Bridge. The collapse sent more than 100 cars into the Mississippi River, killing 13 and injuring 145.
Samsung copied 'every element' of iPhone: Apple
Samsung executives at the highest level made a decision to copy "every element" of the iPhone to compete in the smartphone market, a lawyer for Apple said as arguments began in a huge patent trial.
Microsoft announces new email client, launches Outlook.com preview
Microsoft introduced a new email client Tuesday called Outlook.com, a personal version of its already widely used brand.
Chip and pin terminals shown to harvest customer info
(Phys.org) -- For all customers, merchants and restaurant owners making use of card readers for transactions, well, this is not the best of news. Experts have found a security flaw in chip and PIN terminals that allows thieves to download customers’ card details. According to a UK-based security firm, MWR InfoSecurity, hackers can steal details from chip and PIN machines. MWR was able to prove how easily it can be done. According to a report on Sunday, thousands of credit and debit card readers, such as those sitting in shops and restaurants, will need to be reprogrammed following revelations that they can be hacked into and used to steal cardholders' details.
Adding a '3D print' button to animation software
(Phys.org) -- Watch out, Barbie: omnivorous beasts are assembling in a 3D printer near you.
Medicine & Health news
New University of Houston research focuses on treatment for perpetrator, not victim
A new UH experiment takes an unconventional look at the treatment for domestic violence, otherwise known as intimate partner violence (IPV), by focusing on changing the perpetrators' psychological abuse during arguments rather than addressing his sexist beliefs.
The Medical Minute: What juvenile idiopathic arthritis means for kids
July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness month, and a great opportunity to learn about a disease that you may not have much exposure to, or perhaps a chance to learn more about a condition that affects a friend or family member.
The good, the bad and chronic hepatitis
Today is World Hepatitis Day and it brings good news and bad news. The bad news is that hepatitis is still a serious condition which affects nearly 400,000 Australians putting them on a course to serious liver disease. “The good news is that treatment is now less invasive, of shorter duration, much more effective—and diagnosis doesn’t involve humongous needles,” says Dr Nick Shackel from the Centenary Institute.
Most with celiac disease unaware of it, others go gluten-free without diagnosis
Roughly 1.8 million Americans have celiac disease, but around 1.4 million of them are unaware that they have it, a Mayo Clinic-led analysis of the condition's prevalence has found. Meanwhile, 1.6 million people in the United States are on a gluten-free diet even though they haven't been diagnosed with celiac disease, according to the study published Tuesday in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Pfizer 2Q net income rises 25 pct on lower costs
Drugmaker Pfizer Inc.'s second-quarter net income jumped 25 percent as sharply lower costs for production, marketing and restructuring more than offset a plunge in revenue from cholesterol fighter Lipitor due to increasing generic competition.
Wide variation in number of patients GPs refer with suspected cancer
Information published today by the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) reveals wide variation across England in the numbers of patients with suspected cancer that GP practices refer to secondary care.
Few regular users of strong painkillers: Norwegian study
Each year roughly 10 per cent of the Norwegian population are given a prescription for opioids. Until recently, the number of these who can be considered regular users of such medications was unknown.
Brain workout: Older adults can take part in a USF study that is showing benefits in fight against cognitive decline
(Medical Xpress) -- If physical exercise can strengthen muscles, can mental exercise strengthen brains? And if so, for how long?
Teaching parents about weight while they wait
(Medical Xpress) -- Want to teach parents about healthy lifestyles for their children? There’s going to be an app for that, thanks to researchers in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta.
Asthma is the most common chronic disease among Olympic athletes
Based on data from the last five Olympic games, a study by the University of Western Australia has identified those athletes with asthma and airway hyper-responsiveness. With a prevalence of around 8% they are the most common chronic conditions among Olympic athletes, and could be related to intense training.
Ebola scare strikes Kampala
Kampala residents have been urged to avoid contact after the deadly Ebola virus hit the city but security guard Joseph Karuba's job is to frisk people and he doesn't have gloves.
Health, fads drive America's gluten-free eating
(AP) — It sounds like an unfolding epidemic: A decade ago, virtually no one in the U.S. seemed to have a problem eating gluten in bread and other foods. Now, millions do.
Cognitive behavioral therapy helps nurses manage stress
(HealthDay) -- A once-weekly cognitive behavioral intervention (CBI) significantly reduces nurses' occupational stress and fatigue and increases vigor, according to research published in the August issue of Applied Nursing Research.
Protein involved in DNA replication, centrosome regulation linked to dwarfism, small brain size
Research published Aug. 1 by scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) links gene mutations found in some patients with Meier-Gorlin syndrome (MGS) with specific cellular dysfunctions that are thought to give rise to a particularly extreme version of dwarfism, small brain size, and other manifestations of abnormal growth which generally characterize that rare condition.
Blocking the effects of amyloid b in Alzheimer's disease
During Alzheimer's disease, 'plaques' of amyloid beta (Ab) and tau protein 'tangles' develop in the brain, leading to the death of brain cells and disruption of chemical signaling between neurons. This leads to loss of memory, mood changes, and difficulties with reasoning. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Alzheimer's Research & Therapy, has found that up-regulating the gene Hes1 largely counteracted the effects of Ab on neurons, including preventing cell death, and on GABAergic signaling.
Dying of cold: Hypothermia in trauma victims
Hypothermia in trauma victims is a serious complication and is associated with an increased risk of dying. A new study published in BioMed Central's open access journal Critical Care has found that the key risk factor was severity of injury. However, environmental conditions and medical care, such as the temperature of the ambulance or temperature of any fluids administered intravenously, also increased risk.
New guidelines say no to screening EKGs for low-risk patients
(HealthDay) -- A top U.S. advisory panel has recommended against preventive electrocardiography (EKG) screening for people at low risk of heart disease.
'Obese' label may not apply to heavy ex-NFL players
(HealthDay) -- Standard definitions of obesity, which are based on height and weight, may not apply to former National Football League players and other groups with greater muscle mass, according to a new study.
Alcohol is a social lubricant, study confirms
(HealthDay) -- You've seen those commercials with fun-loving people sharing a laugh over a cold brew. Now, a new study lends scientific support to the notion of alcohol as a social icebreaker.
HPV test beats pap long-term: study
(HealthDay) -- Testing for HPV, the human papillomavirus linked to cervical cancer, can predict which women will stay cancer-free for a decade or more, a new study shows.
Computer game aims to zap teen depression
Long viewed as a contributing factor in teenage isolation, computer games are now being used to treat adolescent depression in an innovative New Zealand programme.
Drug prescribing system could boost patient safety
(Medical Xpress) -- Research led by the University of Birmingham has shown that a specialised drug prescribing system could help to prevent a repetition of the notorious 2002 killings of elderly patients by nurse Colin Norris.
A fresh look at mental illness: Researcher points toward a new way to classify disorders
Ask Assistant Professor of Psychology Joshua Buckholtz to explain his research into mental disorders, and he’ll likely start with a question that’s got more to do with basic medicine: When is the flu appendicitis?
Microfibers help virus fool the body's immune system
A key challenge in virus-based gene therapy is avoiding detection by the human immune system so that the virus would not be deactivated before it reaches its intended target. Now, researchers at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) have succeeded in circumventing the body’s own defense mechanism by combining two IBN innovations.
Look at smoking preferences reveals 'left-digit' price effects
(Medical Xpress) -- Georgia sold 544 million packs of cigarettes in 2010, earning $201 million in state tax revenue. New research from the University of Georgia suggests a $1 tax increase would decrease consumption by 20 percent and almost triple revenues. The same tax is estimated to have similar effects in nine other states.
The RHAU helicase: A key player in blood formation
Scientists at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research have discovered that the helicase RHAU, a protein that can resolve complex structures in both DNA and RNA molecules, is essential for early embryonic development. Mice that specifically lack RHAU in haematopoietic stem cells – which ultimately give rise to all cellular components of blood – develop severe anaemia. The underlying causes are a dramatically reduced half-life of red blood cells as well as impaired cell division of haematopoietic progenitor cells.
No difference in development with childcare
Parents who have feared sending their babies to childcare too early can rest a little easier, according to a research project led by a Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic.
Reconnecting nerves to their target muscles
European researchers are working toward restoration of mobility in neuromuscular disease and trauma. Using miniature scaffolds to guide nerve regeneration, they are seeking to ensure proper functional connections between peripheral nerves and their target muscles.
Alcohol abuse after weight loss surgery?
A small group of scientists gathered last week at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study to share ideas about a medical mystery: the increasing evidence that some types of weight loss surgery affect not just the stomach, but the brain as well.
Allergies? Your sneeze is a biological response to the nose's 'blue screen of death'
Who would have thought that our noses and Microsoft Windows' infamous blue screen of death could have something in common? But that's the case being made by a new research report appearing online in The FASEB Journal. Specifically, scientists now know exactly why we sneeze, what sneezing should accomplish, and what happens when sneezing does not work properly. Much like a temperamental computer, our noses require a "reboot" when overwhelmed, and this biological reboot is triggered by the pressure force of a sneeze. When a sneeze works properly, it resets the environment within nasal passages so "bad" particles breathed in through the nose can be trapped. The sneeze is accomplished by biochemical signals that regulate the beating of cilia (microscopic hairs) on the cells that line our nasal cavities.
'Flightless' molecule may prevent cancer from spreading from one tissue to another
Thanks to the "flightless" molecule, the spread of cancer from one tissue to another may one day be grounded. In a new report published in the August 2012 print issue of The FASEB Journal, laboratory experiments show that "flightless" (named after its effects on fruit flies) increases the "stickiness" that causes cells, including cancer cells, to attach to underlying tissue, which in turn, slows their movement throughout the body.
Mental disorders impair economic success in developed countries
Mental disorders that emerge in childhood and adolescence, including attention-deficit disorder, depression, anxiety and substance abuse, constitute significant challenges to cognitive, emotional, and social development. As a result, it is perhaps not surprising that earnings and income are substantially reduced among people diagnosed with mental disorders.
Adolescents in substance abuse treatment report using someone else's medical marijuana
A study published in the July 2012 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that diverted medical marijuana use among adolescents receiving treatment for substance abuse is very common.
Anxiety and depression increase risk of sick leave
Long-term sick leave is a burden for individuals and society at large, yet very little is known about the underlying reasons for it. Researchers at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, in collaboration with Australian and British institutes, have identified anxiety as a more important risk factor than previously thought.
IL-10 from donor skin cells helps the body incorporate skin grafts
Scientists have found that the anti-inflammatory molecule, IL-10, may improve success rates of skin autografts (skin moved from one site of the body to another). This information provides a valuable drug target that may benefit burn and accident victims. Specifically, researchers from Portugal and Brazil show that IL-10 plays an important role in whether or not an isogenic skin graft (skin from one individual grafted into another genetically identical) is successful and that the cells responsible for this effect are from the donor skin and not from any tissue of the recipient. This finding appears in the August 2012 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology.
Men with large waists face an increased risk of frequent urination
Men with large waists urinate more frequently than their slimmer counterparts, according to research in the August issue of the urology journal BJUI.
Opioid receptors as a drug target for stopping obesity
Imagine eating all of the sugar and fat that you want without gaining a pound. Thanks to new research published in The FASEB Journal, the day may come when this is not too far from reality. That's because researchers from the United States and Europe have found that blocking one of three opioid receptors in your body could turn your penchant for sweets and fried treats into a weight loss strategy that actually works. By blocking the delta opioid receptor, or DOR, mice reduced their body weight despite being fed a diet high in fat and sugar. The scientists believe that the deletion of the DOR gene in mice stimulated the expression of other genes in brown adipose tissue that promoted thermogenesis.
Stress during pregnancy leads to abdominal obesity in mice offspring
A new report involving mice suggests that a relationship exists between maternal metabolic or psychological stress and the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome in her offspring. What's more, the report shows that if the stress cannot be reduced or eliminated, manipulating the neuropeptide Y (NPY) system in visceral fat may prevent maternal stress-induced obesity from occurring in the next generation. This discovery is reported in the August 2012 issue of The FASEB Journal.
Sick from stress? Blame your mom... and epigenetics
If you're sick from stress, a new research report appearing in the August 2012 issue of The FASEB Journal suggests that what your mother ate—or didn't eat—may be part of the cause. The report shows that choline intake that is higher than what is generally recommended during pregnancy may improve how a child responds to stress. These improvements are the result of epigenetic changes that ultimately lead to lower cortisol levels. Epigenetic changes affect how a gene functions, even if the gene itself is not changed. Lowering cortisol is important as high levels of cortisol are linked to a wide range of problems ranging from mental health to metabolic and cardiovascular disorders.
Autoantibodies damage blood vessels in the brain -- important factor in development of dementia
The presence of specific autoantibodies of the immune system is associated with blood vessel damage in the brain. These findings were made by Marion Bimmler, a graduate engineer of medical laboratory diagnostics at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine Berlin-Buch and Dr. Peter Karczewski of the biotech company E.R.D.E.-AAK-Diagnostik GmbH in studies on a rat model. The researchers' results suggest that autoimmune mechanisms play a significant role in the pathogenesis and progression of Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.
Depression triples between ages 12 and 15 in girls in U.S.
(HealthDay) -- An average of 12.0 percent of girls aged 12 to 17 years have experienced a major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year, with the rates tripling for girls between the ages of 12 and 15, according to a report published July 19 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Cadmium linked to plaque development in older women
(HealthDay) -- Cadmium levels in blood and urine are independently associated with the development of atherosclerotic plaques in older women, according to a study published online July 20 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
Early mediterranean diet benefits arteries in adulthood
(HealthDay) -- Adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern in early life is associated with lower arterial stiffness in adulthood, according to a study published online July 19 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
Love knows no gender difference
(HealthDay) -- Think married men and women show their love in vastly different ways? Not necessarily.
Canadians super-sizing Canada's Food Guide servings: study
Think you know what one serving of food looks like? You may want to think again, according to a new study from York University.
Computational analysis identifies drugs to treat drug-resistant breast cancer
Researchers have used computational analysis to identify a new Achilles heel for the treatment of drug-resistant breast cancer. The results, which are published in Molecular Systems Biology, reveal that the disruption of glucose metabolism is an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of tumours that have acquired resistance to front-line cancer drugs such as Lapatinib.
Study of zebra fish mouth formation may speak to Fraser syndrome hearing loss
Using mutant zebra fish, researchers studying the earliest formation of cartilage of the mouth believe they may have gotten a look at a mechanism involved in a genetic defect linked to Fraser syndrome deafness in humans.
Childhood obesity may affect timing of puberty, create problems with reproduction
(Medical Xpress) -- A dramatic increase in childhood obesity in recent decades may have impacts that go beyond the usual health concerns – it could be disrupting the timing of puberty and ultimately lead to a diminished ability to reproduce, especially in females.
Seniors with serious illness find smoking, drinking tough habits to break
A recent study of adults age 50 to 85 found that only 19 percent of those diagnosed with lung disease quit smoking within two years. Furthermore, the research showed that the vast majority of older adults who learn they have a chronic condition do not adopt healthier behaviors, according to data presented in the Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences.
Human papilloma virus with Epstein Barr virus: Two-virus link to prostate cancer
Two common viruses known to be associated with human cancers are both present – and may even be collaborating with each other - in most male prostate cancers, a new study suggests.
Are cold feet plaguing your relationship? Physiologists identified biological mechanism that could be responsible
Cold feet -- those chilly appendages that plague many people in the winter and an unlucky few all year round -- can be the bane of existence for singles and couples alike. In a new study, scientists led by Selvi C. Jeyaraj of the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital have identified a biological mechanism that may be responsible for icy extremities: an interaction between a series of molecules and receptors on smooth muscle cells that line the skin's tiny blood vessels.
Professor develops tool that helps dietitians deliver info clients need, can understand
If you've consulted with a nutrition educator about how best to lose weight or manage your diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, you may not have learned as much as you could have, said a University of Illinois professor of nutrition extension.
Immune responses can be generated locally within human melanoma skin metastases
In many types of cancer, activated immune cells infiltrate the tumor and influence clinical outcome. It is not always clear where these cells are activated, but results reported in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, indicate that in a subset of patients with metastatic melanoma, they can be activated in the tumor microenvironment.
Hey, I'm over here: Men and women see things differently
USC researchers show that men and women focus on different things when paying attention and are drawn away by different types of distractions.
Concussions and head impacts may accelerate brain aging
Concussions and even lesser head impacts may speed up the brain's natural aging process by causing signaling pathways in the brain to break down more quickly than they would in someone who has never suffered a brain injury or concussion.
Drug duo turns on cancer-fighting gene in kidney, breast cancers
A potentially powerful new approach to treating two lethal metastatic cancers — triple negative breast cancer and clear cell renal cell carcinoma, the most common form of kidney cancer — has been discovered by researchers at Mayo Clinic in Florida. In the online issue of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, they report that two drugs, romidepsin and decitabine, work cooperatively to activate a potent tumor suppressor gene that is silenced in these cancers. Once the gene, secreted frizzled related protein one or sFRP1, went to work after the drugs were used, the laboratory tumor cells stopped growing and died.
Study finds people have difficulty controlling multiple chronic conditions
Most people who have diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol have difficultly managing all three conditions; indeed, success is fleeting for those who do manage all three, according to a Kaiser Permanente Institute for Health Research study that appears online in the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
Study allays concerns about endoscopic vein harvesting during heart surgery
Using an endoscope to guide the removal of leg veins used in heart surgery is as safe as using large, ankle-to-groin incisions, according to a study by Duke University Medical Center researchers.
Exercise boosts mental and physical health of heart failure patients
Moderate exercise helps ease depression in patients with chronic heart failure, and is also associated with a small but significant reduction in deaths and hospitalizations, according to a large, international study lead by researchers at Duke University Medical Center.
Study finds correlation between number of colorectal polyps and genetic mutations
Among patients with multiple colorectal polyps, the prevalence of certain gene mutations varied considerably by polyp count, according to a study in the August 1 issue of JAMA.
Older patients have lower risk of hip fracture after cataract surgery
Medicare patients 65 years and older who underwent cataract surgery had a lower odds of hip fracture 1 year after the procedure when compared with patients with cataract who did not have cataract surgery, according to a study in the August 1 issue of JAMA.
Concerns over minimally invasive heart valve surgery
Hans Van Brabandt from the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre and colleagues describe the procedure as "risky and costly" and call for better regulation and transparency around the use of such high risk medical devices.
Research team finds possible clue to progression of multiple sclerosis
Wayne State University School of Medicine researchers, working with colleagues in Canada, have found that one or more substances produced by a type of immune cell in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) may play a role in the disease's progression. The finding could lead to new targeted therapies for MS treatment.
Anesthesia regimen linked to post-orthognathic op pain
(HealthDay) -- Patients undergoing orthognathic maxillofacial surgery experience more pain postoperatively if they receive anesthesia with propofol and remifentanil versus inhalational agents and longer-acting opioids, according to a study published in the Summer 2012 issue of Anesthesia Progress.
Donepezil found helpful in dementia with lewy bodies
(HealthDay) -- For patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), treatment with 5 or 10 mg/day donepezil is associated with significant cognitive, behavioral, and global function improvements, according to research published in the July issue of the Annals of Neurology.
Menstrual cycles may affect women's shopping patterns
(HealthDay) -- The hormonal fluctuations associated with women's menstrual cycles could color their shopping habits, research suggests.
The olympics for the rest of us: How ping-pong can help your brain
The physical benefits of the Olympic sports are pretty obvious: strength, endurance and agility, to name a few. But did you know they also can help the brain?
New avian flu virus jumps from birds to mammals, kills New England's baby seals
A novel avian influenza virus has acquired the ability to infect aquatic mammals and was responsible for an outbreak of fatal pneumonia that recently struck harbor seals in New England, according to scientists at the Center for Infection & Immunity (CII) at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, New England Aquarium, USGS National Wildlife Health Center, SeaWorld and EcoHealth Alliance.
Rejected Alzheimer's drug shows new potential
An international team of scientists led by researchers at Mount Sinai School Medicine have discovered that a drug that had previously yielded conflicting results in clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease effectively stopped the progression of memory deterioration and brain pathology in mouse models of early stage Alzheimer's disease. The findings, published July 31, 2012 in Molecular Psychiatry, demonstrate renewed potential for this compound and could lead to clinical trials in patients with early stages of the disease.
Study: Heart repairs very early in life, but not as adults
(Medical Xpress) -- In a two-day-old mouse, a heart attack causes active stem cells to grow new heart cells; a few months later, the heart is mostly repaired. But in an adult mouse, recovery from such an attack leads to classic after-effects: scar tissue, permanent loss of function and life-threatening arrhythmias.
Clinical trial for OVA1 blood test showing promising results for detecting ovarian cancer
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers at Vermillion, a medical diagnostics company have announced that clinical trials for its OVA1® blood test diagnostic tool have shown promising results. The tool, part of Vermillion’s OVA500 program is aimed at developing tests that provide doctors and patients with better information regarding whether ovarian growth’s (tumors) are cancerous or simply benign cysts, prior to surgery.
Protein-based coating could help rehabilitate long-term brain function
Brain-computer interfaces are at the cutting edge for treatment of neurological and psychological disorder, including Parkinson's, epilepsy, and depression. Among the most promising advance is deep brain stimulation (DBS) — a method in which a silicon chip implanted under the skin ejects high frequency currents that are transferred to the brain through implanted electrodes that transmit and receive the signals. These technologies require a seamless interaction between the brain and the hardware.
When we forget to remember -- Failures in prospective memory range from annoying to lethal
A surgical team closes an abdominal incision, successfully completing a difficult operation. Weeks later, the patient comes into the ER complaining of abdominal pain and an X-ray reveals that one of the forceps used in the operation was left inside the patient. Why would highly skilled professionals forget to perform a simple task they have executed without difficulty thousands of times before?
Vaccine research shows vigilance needed against evolution of more-virulent malaria
Malaria parasites evolving in vaccinated laboratory mice become more virulent, according to research at Penn State University. The mice were injected with a critical component of several candidate human malaria vaccines that now are being evaluated in clinical trials. "Our research shows immunization with this particular type of malaria vaccine can create ecological conditions that favor the evolution of parasites that cause more severe disease in unvaccinated mice," said Andrew Read, Alumni Professor of Biological Sciences at Penn State.
Biology news
Glyphosate-resistant tumbleweed found in Montana
A researcher for the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station's Southern Agricultural Research Center in Huntley has identified glyphosate-resistant kochia populations in fields north of Gildford and Hingham in Montana.
Indonesia seizes 85 endangered pangolins
Indonesian police have intercepted 85 endangered pangolins, most of them alive despite being stuffed into sacks by suspected smugglers, an official said Tuesday.
Endless research possibilities for remarkable native plant
(Medical Xpress) -- The exceptional research potential of a native Australian plant has been accelerated by the release of both its DNA and RNA sequence by University of Sydney researchers and their partners.
Introduction of Asian ladybirds into Europe serious mistake
In retrospect, introducing the Asian ladybird into Europe was a serious mistake. The insect was introduced some twenty years ago in a conscious attempt to combat aphids. But research carried out at Wageningen UR (University & Research centre) into the invasion of this foreign insect has shown that the disadvantages far outweigh this single advantage. The Asian species is displacing the native European ladybird and has become a pest that can contaminate homes and spoil the taste of wine. The researchers concerned have reported their findings in the latest edition of the scientific journal Plos One.
Despite global amphibian decline, number of known species soars
Publicity over the past 25 years about the decline of amphibians worldwide has had one positive effect: More and more biologists began scouring the planet for new or lost species of frogs and salamanders and found thousands more. Nearly 3,000 new ones have been discovered, raising the number of known species to 7,000, an increase of nearly 75 percent.
Bats hang out in the burbs
The greatest diversity of small insect-eating microbats in the Sydney region is not in the national parks that ring the city but in its western suburbs, according to a new study.
To know a tiger is at least to start tolerating them, study shows
To protect a dangerous and endangered animal -- be it a tiger in Nepal or a wolf in Michigan - you really do have to ask people "how do you FEEL about your predatory neighbor?"
Camouflage of moths: Secrets to invisibility revealed
Moths are iconic examples of camouflage. Their wing coloration and patterns are shaped by natural selection to match the patterns of natural substrates, such as a tree bark or leaves, on which the moths rest. But, according to recent findings, the match in the appearance was not all in their invisibility.
Report: Captive lion reintroduction programs in Africa operate under 'conservation myth'
A new report published in the international conservation journal Oryx concludes that commercial 'wildlife encounter' operations across Africa promoting the reintroduction of captive lions do little to further the conservation of African lions in the wild.
'Superbird' stuns researchers
A team of researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the National Research Council of Argentina recently fitted a South American sea bird called an imperial cormorant with a small camera, then watched stunned as it became "superbird" – diving 150 feet underwater in 40 seconds, feeding on the ocean floor for 80 seconds where it eventually caught a snakelike fish, before returning to the surface 40 seconds later.
Enzyme characterization brings biochemists closer to mosquito drug targets
(Phys.org) -- Researchers from Virginia Tech, the Brookhaven National Laboratory, and the University of Wisconsin Madison have identified key structural components of an enzyme that plays many roles in insects, including cuticle and melatonin synthesis and biogenic amine detoxification. This enzyme is especially active in the Aedes aegypti mosquito, a vector known for transmitting yellow fever and dengue fever.
Researchers find wasps are the key to yeast's ability to survive through winter
(Phys.org) -- For over nine thousand years people have been relying on various yeast strains to carry out fermentation of food and drink products resulting in the flavorful breads and alcohol fueled beverages we consume, but until now, no one really knew how it was that the yeast managed to appear on schedule every year to help us out, especially in places where freezing winter temperatures would seem to make that impossible. Now, thanks to new research by a combined team of French and Italian researchers, the answer seems to have been found, and as they write in their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, it appears that we have the wasp to thank.
A flash of light changes cell activity - and understanding of disease
(Phys.org) -- With a milliseconds long flash of blue light, Yale University researchers regulated a critical type of signaling molecule within cell membranes, another illustration of the power of light-based techniques to manipulate cell functions and thus to study mechanisms of disease.
Dolphins sponge up culture: study
Bottlenose dolphins that have learnt to use sea sponges as hunting tools form cliques with others that do the same -- the first evidence of animal grouping based on mutual interest, a study said Tuesday.
Critically endangered whales sing like birds; new recordings hint at rebound (w/ audio)
(Phys.org) -- When a University of Washington researcher listened to the audio picked up by a recording device that spent a year in the icy waters off the east coast of Greenland, she was stunned at what she heard: whales singing a remarkable variety of songs nearly constantly for five wintertime months.
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