Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for July 25, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- New hybrid material simplifies organic transistor design- Security team sees evolution of skinny slot-fitting ATM skimmers
- Newfound gene may help bacteria survive in extreme environments
- Researchers find a clue to how life turned left
- Researchers examining birds' control, behavioral processes as model for small, highly maneuverable aircraft
- Skydiver Fearless Felix jumps from 18 miles up
- Scientists explore new class of synthetic vaccines
- Ancient mummy had lung infection, according to novel proteomics analysis
- Key function of protein discovered for obtaining blood stem cells as source for transplants
- AAQ chemical makes blind mice see; compound holds promise for treating humans
- Security flaws could taint 2012 US election: report
- Hidden rift valley discovered beneath West Antarctica reveals new insight into ice loss
- Pioneering research shows drug can purge dormant HIV
- Hunter-gatherers, Westerners use same amount of energy, contrary to theory
- Aesop's Fable unlocks how we think
Space & Earth news
Strong quake rocks waters off Indonesia; 1 killed
(AP) — A powerful earthquake jolted western Indonesia early Wednesday, killing a man and sending panicked residents fleeing from homes in towns and villages across Sumatra island's northern tip. No tsunami was generated and there were no reports of damage.
CSU researching High Park Fire's effect on mercury levels
(Phys.org) -- Although the destruction caused by the High Park Fire is tragic, the fire’s aftermath is providing a rare opportunity for researchers to better understand how fire transports mercury across the landscape and into the environment. Researchers from the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology at Colorado State University’s Warner College of Natural Resources are studying the High Park Fire’s effect on mercury levels in water and potential increases of mercury in the food chain.
MSU's computer system for space attracts NASA attention
(Phys.org) -- Two Montana State University graduate students who are building a radiation-proof computer system for use in space have received an extra boost from NASA.
Professor's essay is 1 of 10 in special issue of Daedalus
Bren professor David Tilman's essay on the role of biodiversity in environmental sustainability is one of only ten essays in a new volume of the journal Daedalus, titled "Science in the 21st Century. Released on July 19 by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the issue included the thoughts of ten prominent scientists, each exploring emerging advances in their fields and respond to the question, "What secrets will science unlock in the coming decades?"
Forest carbon monitoring breakthrough in Colombia
Using new, highly efficient techniques, Carnegie and Colombian scientists have developed accurate high-resolution maps of the carbon stocks locked in tropical vegetation for 40% of the Colombian Amazon (165,000 square kilometers/64,000 square miles), an area about four times the size of Switzerland. Until now, the inability to accurately quantify carbon stocks at high spatial resolution over large areas has hindered the United Nations' Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) program, which is aimed at creating financial value for storing carbon in the forests of tropical countries. In addition to providing a key boost for implementing REDD+, the results from the Carnegie/Colombian partnership is a boon to tropical forest management and conservation.
Climate research with maximum added value
The sun is the driving force of life on earth. How much of its energy reaches the earthÂ’s surface is being recorded by BSRN, a worldwide network of 54 radiation measurement stations. Their data are not only of interest to climate researchers. Photovoltaic installations, for example, generate more energy if the manufacturers consider BSRN measurements. The potential still provided by the measurement results will be discussed next week during an international workshop in Potsdam, Germany.
Public strongly supports programs helping farmers adapt to climate change
A survey conducted by Michigan State University reveals strong public support for government programs to assist farmers to adapt to climate change.
EU should scrap airline emissions tax: IATA
The European Union should scrap a controversial carbon tax on air travel and seek a global solution to the emissions problem, the global aviation industry's chief said on Wednesday.
Brussels bids to rescue carbon-trading scheme
The European Commission made a bid Wednesday to fix the EU's sickly Emissions Trading Scheme, calling for a delay in the auction timetable over 2013 to 2020 in order to prop up prices.
Alpharetta graduate seeking 'Holy Grail' of rocket propulsion system
(Phys.org) -- Can a device formerly used to test nuclear weapons effects find a new life in rocket propulsion research? That is the question in which researchers at The University of Alabama in Huntsville seek an answer.
A summer of records for NASA engine testing
(Phys.org) -- As Olympic athletes converge on London with dreams of winning gold in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, NASA is also setting records while testing the J-2X powerpack at the Stennis Space Center. The first time was June 8, when engineers went the distance and set the Test Complex A record with a 1,150-second firing of the developmental powerpack assembly. On July 24, engineers surpassed that record with a 1,350-second test of the engine component on the A-1 Test Stand at Stennis. The powerpack is a system of components on the top portion of the J-2X engine. On the complete J-2X engine, the powerpack feeds the thrust chamber, which produces the engine fire and thrust. The advantage of testing the powerpack without the thrust chamber is to operate over a wide range of conditions to understand safe limits.
Where North meets South in the sea
(Phys.org) -- The Atlantic Ocean off Nova Scotia ... and off Florida. Along some 2,000 miles, its waters go from icy to steamy. Can a marine species live in both temperatures--and everywhere in between?
Predictions by climate models are flawed, says invited speaker at Sandia
(Phys.org) -- Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Richard Lindzen, a global warming skeptic, told about 70 Sandia researchers in June that too much is being made of climate change by researchers seeking government funding. He said their data and their methods did not support their claims.
Argentina, China ink space cooperation deal
China plans to build an antenna for deep space observation in Argentina's southern Patagonia region, Argentina's foreign ministry announced Wednesday.
Mars Odyssey orbiter repositioned to phone home Mars landing
(Phys.org) -- NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft has successfully adjusted its orbital location to be in a better position to provide prompt confirmation of the August landing of the Curiosity rover.
Pollution weakens monsoon's might
(Phys.org) -- Over 1.5 billion people in South Asia depend on the summer monsoon rains. Now, pollution exhaust threatens this primary water source for crops and daily living, according to new research at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Researchers found that pollution spewed from local and remote sources such as motorcycles and coal-fired power plants reduce summer monsoon rainfall in South Asia. Such pollution increases cloud cover to cool the Earth's surface, reduces evaporation and, in turn, slows the momentum of air current bands that drive the global climate. This research was published in the Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres.
Two Solar System puzzles solved
Comets and asteroids preserve the building blocks of our Solar System and should help explain its origin. But there are unsolved puzzles. For example, how did icy comets obtain particles that formed at high temperatures, and how did these refractory particles acquire rims with different compositions? Carnegie's theoretical astrophysicist Alan Boss and cosmochemist Conel Alexander are the first to model the trajectories of such particles in the unstable disk of gas and dust that formed the Solar System. They found that these refractory particles could have been processed in the hot inner disk, and then traveled out to the frigid outer regions to end up in icy comets. Their meandering trips back and forth could help explain the different compositions of their rims. The research is published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters.
Skydiver Fearless Felix jumps from 18 miles up
Skydiver "Fearless Felix" Baumgartner has done it again.
Hidden rift valley discovered beneath West Antarctica reveals new insight into ice loss
Scientists have discovered a one mile deep rift valley hidden beneath the ice in West Antarctica, which they believe is contributing to ice loss from this part of the continent.
Alpine Fault study shows new evidence for regular magnitude 8 earthquakes
A new study published in the prestigious journal Science, co-authored by University of Nevada, Reno's Glenn Biasi and colleagues at GNS Science in New Zealand, finds that very large earthquakes have been occurring relatively regularly on the Alpine Fault along the southwest coastline of New Zealand for at least 8,000 years.
Technology news
NY judge sentences online poker worker to prison
(AP) — A former Internet poker company employee who returned to the United States from Costa Rica to face charges he helped process illegal gambling proceeds has been sentenced to a year and two months in prison by a judge who says too many people in business are willing to break the law to get ahead.
Social media spotlight shines on London Olympics
The London Olympics are set to be liked, tweeted, pinned and shared with more people than ever before as athletes, fans and organisers interact online in the first-ever social media Summer Olympics.
ARM and TSMC collaborate to optimize next-generation 64-bit processors for FinFET process technology
TSMC and ARM today announced a multi-year agreement extending their collaboration beyond 20-nanometer (nm) technology to deliver ARM processors on FinFET transistors, enabling the fabless industry to extend its market leadership in application processors. The collaboration will optimize the next generation of 64-bit ARM processors based on the ARMv8 architecture, ARM Artisan physical intellectual property (IP), and TSMC’s FinFET process technology for use in mobile and enterprise markets that require both high performance and energy efficiency.
Indian outsourcer HCL reports 67% jump in quarterly profit
India's fourth-biggest outsourcing company, HCL Technologies, reported on Wednesday a 67 percent jump in quarterly net profit from a year earlier as client orders surged.
Print newspapers alive and kicking in Brazil: editors
Print newspapers are alive and kicking in Brazil, where circulation continues to grow despite the economic crisis, but editors here warn they must offer readers deeper perspective and analysis.
Peugeot Citroen in H1 loss as Europe hits business
(AP) — Europe's economic crisis pushed carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen into a first-half loss of €819 million ($990 million), just as the company is set to clash with the French government over its restructuring plan.
UK watchdog: Stop recording taxi conversations
(AP) — Britain's information watchdog on Wednesday ordered a city council to stop the mandatory recording of people's conversations in taxis, saying the policy breaches the Data Protection act.
Apple shares retreat after rare earnings miss
(AP) — Apple's stock fell Wednesday after the company did something un-Apple-like: posting results below Wall Street expectations.
Zynga shares shed 38% after earnings disappointment
Zynga shares plunged more than a third in after-hours trade on Wednesday as the online social games maker badly missed earnings expectations.
Netflix's 2Q numbers disappoints, stock tumbles
(AP) — Netflix is making money again, but its recovery wasn't impressive enough to soothe investors worried about rising licensing fees and stiffer competition confronting the video subscription service.
LG Electronics' profit falls as mobile loses money
(AP) — LG Electronics reported a lower quarterly profit as its mobile phone division sank to a loss and forecast its earnings to deteriorate further, underlining the challenges for its smartphone business as it struggles with competition from Apple and Samsung.
Electric motorcycle team races to next level of worldwide competition
A team of Virginia Tech College of Engineering undergraduate students this week will take its self-built electric-powered motorcycle to the third-round race of the North American TTXGP eGrandPrIx competition. If the team finishes in one of the top slots as it did at the second round in late June, the Battery Operated Land Transportation team could be on the path toward a world champion race at Daytona International Speedway this fall.
Australia to catch the wave and hang ten (per cent that is)
(Phys.org) -- Australia’s oceans hold a bounty of energy and could produce 24-hour power, either from the tides, currents or waves.
AOL posts profit in 'milestone' quarter
AOL on Wednesday posted a profit for the second quarter of $970.8 million, boosted by a big sale of patents, while citing signs of progress in turning around the struggling Internet firm.
New method to encourage virtual power plants for efficient renewable energy production
Researchers from the University of Southampton have devised a novel method for forming virtual power plants to provide renewable energy production in the UK.
France plans to save car industry by going green
(AP) — Green technology is the answer to the declining fortunes of France's auto industry, according to a new government plan to turn the sector around.
Newsweek likely to become digital magazine
The company operating the US magazine Newsweek indicated Wednesday the venerable publication is likely to go digital to stem its losses and could undergo other changes by next year.
Better technology driving credit card fraud down: ECB
Improved technology has driven down credit card fraud in Europe dramatically, the European Central Bank said Wednesday in its first-ever report on the issue.
Facebook's day of reckoning: 2Q earnings report
(AP) — It's showtime for Facebook. Call it the second act after its rocky initial public offering two months ago. On Thursday, the company will take the spotlight once again to announce its first earnings report as a public company.
Researchers examining birds' control, behavioral processes as model for small, highly maneuverable aircraft
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is looking at birds' perceptual and maneuvering abilities as inspiration for small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) autonomy.
Security flaws could taint 2012 US election: report
Security flaws in voting technology in a number of US states could taint the outcome of the 2012 election, a study concluded Wednesday, saying it was "highly likely" some systems will fail.
Finnish firm says new cyber attack may have targeted Iran
A scientist claiming to work for the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran told a Finnish cyber-security group that Tehran's nuclear programme had been the victim of a new cyber attack, the group said Wednesday.
Security team sees evolution of skinny slot-fitting ATM skimmers
(Phys.org) -- Yet another ATM card-reading heist technique to worry about: Thieves have evolved their ATM techniques in coming up with skinny skimmers to work inside the ATM that are so small they can be fitted inside the credit card insertion slot. They record the data stored on the magnetic stripe on the back of the card as it is slid into a compromised ATM. The skimmers when equipped with a secondary component also record ATM customers entering their PINs, such as with a PIN pad overlay or hidden camera. The news was revealed, as police in an unidentified European nation retrieved the wafer-thin skimmers.
Medicine & Health news
Children of 'The Troubles' more prone to suicide
People who grew up in the worst years of 'The Troubles ' are more prone to suicide in Northern Ireland, according to new research carried out at Queen's University Belfast.
Mobile phones help bolster Uganda's fight against HIV
Stella Nayiga clutches her mobile phone as she describes the messages that she received punctually every morning and evening for over a year, reminding her to take her antiretroviral (ARV) drugs regularly.
Using songs and shame to restore India's gender balance
The no-frills maternity ward in Nawanshahr district public hospital offers a rare sight in India; parents cooing over newborn girls -- lots of them.
Being cured of HIV is 'wonderful,' US man says
The only person believed to have been cured of HIV infection through a bone marrow transplant said Tuesday he feels wonderful and is launching a new foundation to boost research toward a cure.
Budget office: Obama's health law reduces deficit
(AP) — President Barack Obama's health care overhaul will shrink rather than increase America's huge federal deficits over the next decade, Congress' nonpartisan budget scorekeepers said Tuesday, supporting Obama's contention in a major election-year dispute with Republicans.
First major scientific study into rare inflammatory skin condition
Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare, disfiguring and very painful skin condition which affects around 360 people each year in the UK.
New law will help train new doctors for underserved communities in California
Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law a measure that broadens UCLA’s International Medical Graduate (IMG) program by allowing graduates of approved foreign medical schools to engage in "hands-on" training while being instructed in patient care by licensed California physicians.
Top five myths about protecting your skin from the sun
(Medical Xpress) -- With summer in full swing and everyone heading outdoors, it is important to know the ins and outs of keeping your skin healthy and protected from the sun. Applying sunscreen should be part of everyone’s daily regimen, but there are many misperceptions regarding what it does and how to use it. Here are a few of the most important myths debunked.
Mediterranean diet improves health
Associate Professor Catherine Itsiopoulos of the Centre for Dietetics at La Trobe University highlights the benefits of a Mediterranean diet and lifestyle in a new La Trobe University podcast.
Seattle researchers to engineer kidney tissue chip for predicting drug safety
(Medical Xpress) -- Seattle researchers will be part of the new federal initiative to engineer 3-dimensional chips containing living cells and tissues that imitate the structure and function of human organs. These tissue chips will be used for drug safety testing.
Zebrafish help researchers identify promising drugs
(Medical Xpress) -- “Jaws” it isn’t, but the tiny striped zebrafish is helping Tulane University scientists take a big bite out of a tough question — what drugs might be beneficial for treating psychological disorders?
GlaxoSmithKline profits up on lower tax
British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline on Wednesday said its second quarter net profit rose 13.3 percent from a year earlier to £1.25 billion ($1.94 billion, 1.59 billion euros).
Medical follow-up in celiac disease is less than optimal
Follow-up exams for patients with celiac disease are often inadequate and highly variable, according to a new study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA).
Women have a poorer quality of life after a stroke or mini stroke than men
Having a stroke or mini stroke has a much more profound effect on women than men when it comes to their quality of life, according to research published in the August issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
US 'bath salts' ban aimed at violence-linked drugs
(AP) — People are inventing so many new, legal ways to get high that U.S. lawmakers can't seem to keep up.
How the fluid between cells affects tumors
There are many factors that affect tumor invasion, the process where a tumor grows beyond the tissue where it first developed. While factors like genetics, tissue type and environmental exposure affect tumor metastasis and invasion, physical forces like fluid flow remain a poorly understood component of tumor invasion.
Ageless education: Researchers create guide for intergenerational classrooms at nursing homes
A Kansas State University researcher and writing team are developing ways for nursing home residents and elementary school students to learn in a shared setting: an intergenerational classroom.
AIDS Experts: Focus on pregnant women not enough
(AP) — Tackling the female side of the AIDS epidemic means going far beyond today's global focus on pregnant women, specialists told the world's largest AIDS meeting Wednesday.
Scientists explore molecular link between arsenic exposure and lung cancer
Arsenic is a natural element in the environment, sometimes found in air, soil and water. Arsenic contaminated water is a global threat, currently affecting more than 100 million people. Both genetic and epigenetic changes drive arsenic-induced carcinogenesis and lung cancer is one of the main consequences of this process.
Scientists looking for second-line defense for patients with NSCLC
DENVER- In lung cancer, patients who benefit from drugs like erlotinib will inevitably develop drug resistance. This is heralded by cancer growth and increasing tumor-related symptoms. Now scientists are investigating a second line of defense by studying the use of the novel AKT inhibitor MK-2206 in combination with erlotinib for patients whose benefit from erlotinib has begun to wane. Results of a Phase II trial will be presented during the 5th Latin American Conference on Lung Cancer.
AIDS experts: Women need more help in AIDS battle
(AP) -- AIDS specialists heard fresh appeals Wednesday to expand assistance for women far beyond a global focus on pregnancy.
ACR: Medical imaging study in health affairs incomplete and potentially misleading
In response to a study published in the August issue of Health Affairs regarding declining medical imaging use in recent years, the American College of Radiology (ACR) released a statement explaining that physician education efforts and quality assurance steps have resulted in more efficient use of imaging, but that arbitrary Medicare cuts are damaging patient access to care.
High blood sugar, obesity increase risk for surgical site infection
Two recent studies in the July issues of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS) looked at surgical site infections and hyperglycemia, the technical term for high blood glucose, or high blood sugar. According to the first study "Relationship of Hyperglycemia and Surgical-Site Infection in Orthopaedic Surgery," high blood sugar is a concern during the post-traumatic and post-operative period and it may help to preoperatively identify a population of patients with musculoskeletal injuries who are at significant risk for infectious complications.
Study reveals substantial misdiagnosis of malaria in parts of Asia
Substantial overdiagnosis and mistreatment of malaria is evident in south and central Asia, warns a study published in the British Medical Journal today.
Concerns over accuracy of tools to predict risk of repeat offending
Tools designed to predict an individual's risk of repeat offending are not sufficient on their own to inform sentencing and release or discharge decisions, concludes a study published in the British Medical Journal today.
Bioactive protein from ancient medicinal plant may help combat melanoma and other cancers
(Medical Xpress) -- An international team of scientists led by Gary Goldberg, PhD, of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Osteopathic Medicine (UMDNJ-SOM), has found that a protein from the seeds of a plant used for centuries in traditional medicines may be able to halt the spread of melanoma, a lethal form of skin cancer. The National Cancer Institute estimates that melanoma will cause more than 9,000 deaths in the United States this year. On average, melanoma kills one person nearly every hour in the USA, and many more in other countries.
Use of sunbeds leads to 3000+ cases of melanoma a year in Europe
Of 63,942 new cases of cutaneous melanoma (a form of skin cancer) diagnosed each year in Europe an estimated 3,438 (5.4%) are related to sunbed use. Sunbed users are at a 20% increased relative risk of skin cancer compared with those who have never used a sunbed. This risk doubles if they start before the age of 35 and experts warn that "tougher actions" are needed to reduce this risk.
Large breasts a cancer risk: study
(Medical Xpress) -- Women with large breasts have a higher incidence of breast cancer than those with average-sized breasts, according to a study by medical students and researchers at The University of Western Australia and BreastScreen WA.
Seeing certain foods prompts kids to eat healthier
(Medical Xpress) -- Just because healthful foods are available in school cafeterias doesn't mean children are going to eat them, but in some cases, the very presence of such foods as whole fruit may actually prompt kids to make healthier choices, even if fruit is never selected.
Sickle cell trait can cause sudden cardiac death in black athletes: Why is this controversial?
While some published research has hinted at the connection between the sickle cell trait and sudden cardiac death among young, athletic African-American males, which was initially observed in black military recruits 25 years ago, a new study with the first sizeable patient series definitively confirms this risk for these individuals during competitive sports.
UN agency launches action plan against 'hidden' hepatitis
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Wednesday measures to fight the "hidden epidemic" of hepatitis which kills more than one million people a year.
Bowel cancer patients diagnosed through screening more likely to survive
(Medical Xpress) -- Bowel cancer patients whose disease was found through screening have a better chance of beating their disease than those diagnosed after developing symptoms, new research shows today.
Violent news bad for children
(Medical Xpress) -- Television coverage of the shooting at a cinema in Colorado last week may traumatize children who watch it, according to a leading psychiatrist at The Australian National University.
Obese teens have fewer friends, especially whites
Obese adolescents tend to have fewer friends at school than their peers, finds a new study in Ethnicity & Disease. However, the impact of obesity on friendships varies by ethnic group, with White students faring worse than Black or Hispanic students.
Is there such a thing as eating too many fruits and vegetables?
(Medical Xpress) -- It may make you scratch your head, but in fact it is possible to overeat healthy foods, according to Loyola University Health System registered dietitian Brooke Schantz.
Patients with disassociative identity disorder do remember separate identity
(Medical Xpress) -- An exchange of knowledge is possible between the separate identities of people with an disassociative identity disorder (DID). This is apparent from experiments by NWO researcher Rafaele Huntjens from the University of Groningen. Although the patients investigated stated that they remembered nothing of other identities, objective data revealed the contrary. The research results have important implications for the treatment and diagnosis of the disorder. The clinical psychologist published her research on July 18 in the open access journal PLoS ONE.
Vitamins in pregnancy review
With the high rate of unplanned pregnancy in the UK and an increasingly obese pregnant population, vitamin supplementation is an important public health issue with potential significant impact on maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, says a new review published today in The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist (TOG).
Study links alcohol/energy drink mixes with casual, risky sex
(Medical Xpress) -- A new study from the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) has found a link between the consumption of caffeinated energy drinks mixed with alcohol and casual -- often risky -- sex among college-age adults.
Copper kills harmful bacteria, researchers find
(Medical Xpress) -- Each year a tiny, rod-shaped species of bacteria with a fondness for proliferating on human food causes numerous cases of food poisoning around the world, sometimes leading to severe illness and even death.
Progress reported with candidate dengue vaccine
Trials in Thailand with a candidate vaccine for dengue, a potentially fatal mosquito-borne disease, have shown it to protect against three of the four virus strains, its French maker said Wednesday.
Researchers shed light on new multiple myeloma therapy
Researchers from John Theurer Cancer Center at HackensackUMC, one of the nation's 50 best hospitals for cancer, played leading roles in three separate multi-center studies with the new proteasome inhibitor carfilzomib published in Blood, a major peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Contrary to belief, crucial protein for peripheral nerve repair is manufactured within the axon near the injury site
Several years ago, Prof. Michael Fainzilber and his group in the Biological Chemistry Department made a surprising discovery: Proteins thought to exist only near the cell nucleus could also be found in the far-off regions of the body's longest cells – peripheral nerve cells that extend processes called axons, reaching up to a meter in length in adult humans.
New research seeks to improve survival for myeloma and lymphoma patients
Researchers at the University of York are launching a major study of lymphoma and myeloma aimed at promoting earlier diagnosis and improving survival for patients with these cancers, which are among the most common in the UK.
Force of habit: Stress hormones switch off areas of the brain for goal-directed behaviour
Cognition psychologists at the Ruhr-Universität together with colleagues from the University Hospital Bergmannsheil (Prof. Dr. Martin Tegenthoff) have discovered why stressed persons are more likely to lapse back into habits than to behave goal-directed. The team of PD Dr. Lars Schwabe and Prof. Dr. Oliver Wolf from the Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience have mimicked a stress situation in the body using drugs. They then examined the brain activity using functional MRI scanning. The researchers have now reported in the Journal of Neuroscience that the interaction of the stress hormones hydrocortisone and noradrenaline shut down the activity of brain regions for goal-directed behaviour. The brain regions responsible for habitual behaviour remained unaffected.
Women who give birth after age 30 lower their risk of endometrial cancer
Women who last give birth at age 40 or older have a 44 percent decreased risk of endometrial cancer when compared to women who have their last birth under the age of 25, according to strong evidence in a new, international study led by a researcher at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC).
Piglets in mazes provide insights into human cognitive development
Events that take place early in life almost certainly have consequences for later cognitive development. Establishing the connections is difficult, however, because human infants cannot be used as laboratory subjects.
Women with diabetes more likely to experience sexual dissatisfaction
Women with diabetes are just as likely to be interested in, and engage in, sexual activity as non-diabetic women, but they are much more likely to report low overall sexual satisfaction, according to a UCSF study.
Researchers urge physicians to ask younger men about erectile dysfunction symptoms
Although erectile dysfunction (ED) has been shown to be an early warning sign for heart disease, some physicians – and patients – still think of it as just as a natural part of "old age." But now an international team of researchers, led by physicians at The Miriam Hospital, say it's time to expand ED symptom screening to include younger and middle-aged men.
In muscular dystrophy, what matters to patients and doctors can differ
Complex, multi-system diseases like myotonic dystrophy – the most common adult form of muscular dystrophy – require physicians and patients to identify which symptoms impact quality of life and, consequently, what treatments should take priority. However, a new study out this month in the journal Neurology reveals that there is often a disconnect between the two groups over which symptoms are more important, a phenomenon that not only impacts care but also the direction of research into new therapies.
Biologists prove ZOLOFT packs potential to fight fungal meningitis
New research conducted by biologists at Texas A&M University suggests that ZOLOFT, one of the most widely prescribed antidepressants in the world, also packs a potential preventative bonus — potent mechanisms capable of inhibiting deadly fungal infections.
Increasing dopamine in brain's frontal cortex decreases impulsive tendency: research
Raising levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the frontal cortex of the brain significantly decreased impulsivity in healthy adults, in a study conducted by researchers at the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco.
How a low-protein diet predisposes offspring to adulthood hypertension
Studies have shown that the offspring of mothers on a low-protein diet are more likely to develop hypertension as adults. Now, Drs. Gao, Yallampalli, and Yallampalli of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston report that in rats, the high maternal testosterone levels associated with a low-protein diet are caused by reduced activity of an enzyme that inactivates testosterone, allowing more testosterone to reach the fetus and increase the offspring's susceptibility to adulthood hypertension.
Shortened telomere length tied to dementia, mortality risk
(HealthDay) -- Shortened telomere length (TL) is associated with risks for dementia and mortality in a population of older adults, according to a study published online July 23 in the Archives of Neurology.
Pramlintide improves glucose control in type 1 diabetes
(HealthDay) -- The addition of pramlintide, an analog of the naturally-occurring β-cell peptide amylin, before meals improves blood glucose control in patients with type 1 diabetes receiving insulin through an external closed-loop artificial pancreas system, according to a study published online June 18 in Diabetes Care.
Curettage alone not advised for sacral giant cell tumors
(HealthDay) -- For patients with sacral giant cell tumors (GCTs), curettage alone is not recommended for surgical management, according to a study published online July 16 in The Spine Journal.
Researchers find new gene mutation associated with congenital myopathy
University of Michigan researchers have discovered a new cause of congenital myopathy: a mutation in a previously uncharacterized gene, according to research published this month in the American Journal of Human Genetics.
Basal cell carcinoma risk can be chronic
In the powerful sunlight of July, newly published results from a large study of people at high risk for basal cell carcinoma support the emerging view of the nation's most common cancer as a chronic ailment that often repeatedly afflicts older people but for which the seeds may be planted in youth. The research also found a new association with eczema.
Adult stem cells from liposuction used to create blood vessels in the lab
Adult stem cells extracted during liposuction can be used to grow healthy new small-diameter blood vessels for use in heart bypass surgery and other procedures, according to new research presented at the American Heart Association's Basic Cardiovascular Sciences 2012 Scientific Sessions.
Heart CT scans may help emergency room personnel more quickly assess patients with chest pain
Adding computed tomography (CT) scans to standard screening procedures may help emergency room staff more rapidly determine which patients complaining of chest pain are having a heart attack or may soon have a heart attack, and which patients can be safely discharged, according to a study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health.
Expanding Medicaid to low-income adults leads to improved health, fewer deaths: study
A new study from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) finds that expanding Medicaid to low-income adults leads to widespread gains in coverage, access to care, and—most importantly—improved health and reduced mortality. It is the first published study to look specifically at the effect of recent state Medicaid expansions on mortality among low-income adults, and the findings suggest that expanding coverage to the uninsured may save lives.
A quarter of our very elderly have undiagnosed treatable heart problems, research reveals
The very oldest in our society are missing out on simple heart treatments which can prolong and improve their quality of life, Newcastle heart experts say.
Decoding the secrets of balance
(Medical Xpress) -- New understanding of how the brain processes information from inner ear offers hope for sufferers of vertigo.
Mind vs. body? Dualist beliefs linked with less concern for healthy behaviors
(Medical Xpress) -- Many people, whether they know it or not, are philosophical dualists. That is, they believe that the brain and the mind are two separate entities. Despite the fact dualist beliefs are found in virtually all human cultures, surprisingly little is known about the impact of these beliefs on how we think and behave in everyday life.
Starr collaboration illuminates mysterious pathway to immortality in cancer cells
(Medical Xpress) -- Cancer cells are immortal because they circumvent failsafe mechanisms that stop out-of-control cell proliferation. One of these mechanisms – the progressive shortening of chromosomes – is prevented by replenishment of telomeres, the protective elements at the ends of chromosomes. Most cancer cells do this with an enzyme called telomerase, but approximately 10 to 15 percent of human cancers use a different pathway called ALT (alternative lengthening of telomeres). Whether or not a tumor has ALT makes a difference. For example, people with glioblastoma live twice as long if the tumor uses ALT.
UCSF team engineers 'safety switches' for immune therapies
(Medical Xpress) -- A UCSF team has harnessed a natural protein in bacteria to create a “pause switch” in immune cells, potentially leading to more effective and safer immune therapies for diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis.
Study shows people view women as a collection of body parts
(Medical Xpress) -- A small group of researchers has found that true to stereotype, people really do tend to look at women as a collection of body parts, rather than as a whole person. What’s perhaps most surprising though, is that the phenomenon is not confined to men, women do it too. The research team made up of Sarah Gervais, Theresa Vescio, Jens Förster, Anne Maass and Caterina Suitner, set out to see if the commonly held belief that women are objectified by others was true or if it was just myth. They set up experiments using undergraduate student volunteers of both genders using photographs and found, as they describe in their paper published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, that not only does the belief hold true, but that the conventional mode of viewing can be switched off given the right circumstances.
AAQ chemical makes blind mice see; compound holds promise for treating humans
A team of University of California, Berkeley, scientists in collaboration with researchers at the University of Munich and University of Washington in Seattle has discovered a chemical that temporarily restores some vision to blind mice, and is working on an improved compound that may someday allow people with degenerative blindness to see again.
Gene therapy holds promise for reversing congenital hearing loss
A new gene therapy approach can reverse hearing loss caused by a genetic defect in a mouse model of congenital deafness, according to a preclinical study published by Cell Press in the July 26 issue of the journal Neuron. The findings present a promising therapeutic avenue for potentially treating individuals who are born deaf.
Spatial skills may be improved through training, new review finds
Spatial skills--those involved with reading maps and assembling furniture--can be improved if you work at it, that's according to a new look at the studies on this topic by researchers at Northwestern University and Temple.
Key function of protein discovered for obtaining blood stem cells as source for transplants
Researchers from IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute) have deciphered the function executed by a protein called β-catenin in generating blood tissue stem cells. These cells, also called haematopoietic, are used as a source for transplants that form part of the therapies to fight different types of leukaemia. The results obtained will open the doors to produce these stem cells in the laboratory and, thus, improve the quality and quantity of these surgical procedures. This will let patients with no compatible donors be able to benefit from this discovery in the future.
Pioneering research shows drug can purge dormant HIV
Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have published pioneering research showing that a drug used to treat certain types of lymphoma was able to dislodge hidden virus in patients receiving treatment for HIV.
Rapamycin effective in mouse model of inherited heart disease and muscular dystrophies
Rapamycin, an immunosuppressant drug used in a variety of disease indications and under study in aging research labs around the world, improved function and extended survival in mice suffering from a genetic mutation which leads to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and rare muscular dystrophies in humans. There are currently no effective treatment for the diseases, which include Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy and Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. The familial form of DCM often leads to sudden heart failure and death when those affected reach their 40's and 50's.
Aesop's Fable unlocks how we think
Cambridge scientists have used an age-old fable to help illustrate how we think differently to other animals.
Hunter-gatherers, Westerners use same amount of energy, contrary to theory
Modern lifestyles are generally quite different from those of our hunter-gatherer ancestors, a fact that some claim as the cause of the current rise in global obesity, but new results published July 25 in the open access journal PLoS ONE find that there is no difference between the energy expenditure of modern hunter-gatherers and Westerners, casting doubt on this theory.
Biology news
India's top court clamps down on tiger tourism
India's top court has suspended tourism in core areas of tiger reserves as the country struggles to stem the dwindling numbers of the endangered wild cats, a lawyer said.
Corn, grain prices push to record highs
(Phys.org) -- The future of corn prices and the impact on fed livestock continues to be an unfolding, tumultuous situation, but some degree of clarity should be coming to the story in the next few weeks, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service economist.
Oral drops for dog allergies pass another hurdle
(Phys.org) -- A study reported today at the World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology in Vancouver, British Columbia, shows that placing allergy drops under a dog's tongue can be as effective as allergy injections for controlling skin allergies.
'Tis the season for bites from 'invisible' snakes, experts warn
Experts on venomous creatures at the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center advise gardeners, hikers, youngsters and other citizens to be especially cautious about rattlesnakes in the weeks ahead.
Citizen science helps unlock European genetic heritage
A University of Sheffield academic is helping a team of citizen scientists to carry out crucial research into European genetic heritage.
Southern French worms wriggle as far north as Ireland
A community of French earthworms has been discovered stealthily colonising a farm in Ireland, possibly aided by global warming to thrive so far north of their natural habitat, a study said.
Contaminant transport in the fungal pipeline
Leipzig. Fungi are found throughout the soil with giant braiding of fine threads. However, these networks have surprising functions. Only a few years ago researchers from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) discovered that bacteria travel over the fungal threads through the labyrinth of soil pores, much the same as on a highway. Now, together with British colleagues from the University of Lancaster, the UFZ researchers have come upon another phenomenon. Accordingly, the fungal networks also transports contaminants which are otherwise largely immobile in the ground. These living pipelines can therefore contribute to the restoration of impacted areas, write the researchers in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
'Darwinian Agriculture' explains how evolution can improve agriculture
The largest drought in 50 years has severely damaged much of the nation's "corn belt" and is threatening the viability of Minnesota's 2012 corn crop. While an extreme, this summer's condition is a reminder of a larger challenge facing agriculture – to use limited resources like water in an effective and sustainable manner.
International regulation curbs illegal trade of caviar
Research that used mitochondrial DNA-based testing to compare the extent of fraudulent labeling of black caviar purchased before and after international protection shows conservation benefits. A team of scientists from the Institute for Conservation Science at Stony Brook University and the Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) repeated a market survey of commercially available caviar in the New York City area that was conducted before the protection was put in place, and the results showed nearly a 50 percent decrease in fraudulently labeled caviar.
Darker wings for monarch butterflies mean better flight
For monarch butterflies, redder wings are correlated with better flight performance, according to research published July 25 in the open access journal PLoS ONE.
Lace plants explain programmed cell death
Programmed cell death (PCD) is a highly regulated process that occurs in all animals and plants as part of normal development and in response to the environment. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Plant Biology is the first to document the physiological events in the lace plant (Aponogeton madagascariensis) which occur via PCD to produce the characteristic holes in its leaves.
Protected areas face threats in sustaining biodiversity: report
Establishing protection over a swath of land seems like a good way to conserve its species and its ecosystems. But in a new study, University of Pennsylvania biologist Daniel Janzen joins more than 200 colleagues to report that protected areas are still vulnerable to damaging encroachment, and many are suffering from biodiversity loss.
The amazing amphioxus: Evolutionary leap over 500 million years ago gives new insights into human diseases
(Phys.org) -- An evolutionary leap made at the bottom of the ocean over 500 million years ago gives new insights into the causes of human diseases such as diabetes, cancer and neurological disorders, according to newly published research from scientists at the Universities of St Andrews and Dundee.
Sheep backpacks reveal flocking strategy
UK researchers have shown for the first time that instead of fleeing randomly when faced with danger, sheep head straight for the center of the flock.
Science puts snakes on a plain
Snakes evolved their curious body shape on land, not in water, and are probably the descendants of small burrowing lizards, scientists have deducted from 70-million-year-old fossil remains.
It's a bird, not a plane: Migrating songbirds depart on time
A new study by York University researchers finds that songbirds follow a strict annual schedule when migrating to their breeding grounds – with some birds departing on precisely the same date each year.
Newfound gene may help bacteria survive in extreme environments
In the days following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, methane-eating bacteria bloomed in the Gulf of Mexico, feasting on the methane that gushed, along with oil, from the damaged well. The sudden influx of microbes was a scientific curiosity: Prior to the oil spill, scientists had observed relatively few signs of methane-eating microbes in the area.
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