Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for August 17, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Self-charging battery both generates and stores energy- DNA used to encode a book and other digital information
- Paleobiologist argues that earliest land dwelling amniotes were likely egg layers
- Research team finds way to use photon shape to encode messages
- Lithium-ion battery is fast-charged in minutes
- Spider version of Bigfoot emerges from caves in the Pacific Northwest
- A urine based 'potion' can act as a CO2 absorbent (w/ Video)
- Constructive conflict in the superconductor
- Iconic Darwin finch genome sequenced in Genome 10K international collaboration
- Battery team gets a charge out of lignin
- Photonic-plasmonic microcavity for ultrasensitive protein detection
- Molecular code cracked
- How offshore wind turbines could be more efficient
- US carbon emissions in surprise drop
- ChemCam laser sets its sights on first Martian target
Space & Earth news
Shuttles come nose to nose
NASA's space shuttles Endeavour and Atlantis switched locations today at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and in the process came "nose-to-nose" for the last time in front of Orbiter Processing Facility 3.
NASA sees wind shear affecting Tropical Storm Gordon
NASA's Terra satellite passed over Tropical Storm Gordon as it continues to spin up in the North central Atlantic Ocean, and revealed the storm has become less symmetric, indicating it is being battered by wind shear.
Sea-surfing 'wave glider' robot deployed to help track white sharks in the Pacific
A sleek, unmanned Wave Glider robot has been deployed off the US coast near San Francisco -- the latest addition to an arsenal of ocean observing technologies revealing in real time the mysterious travels of great white sharks and other magnificent marine creatures.
Two hurricane Global Hawks, two sets of instruments
NASA's Hurricane Severe Storm Sentinel Mission, or HS3, will be studying hurricanes at the end of the summer, and there will be two high-altitude, long-duration unmanned aircraft with different instruments flying over the storms.
'Mighty Eagle' robotic lander finds its target
NASA's "Mighty Eagle" successfully found its target during a 32-second free flight Aug. 16 at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. This small, versatile robotic lander prototype demonstrates technologies applicable for the final descent of an autonomous controlled landing on the moon, asteroids or other celestial bodies.
From grave mounds to Facebook
Similarities in the way the dead are remembered in spiritualism and social media today and among Viking-age Norwegians have been identified by a specialist in religion at the University of Stavanger (UiS).
Accidental breakthrough on the puzzle of atmospheric acids
In a classic example of an accidental scientific breakthrough a University of Sydney research team may have solved the mystery of why there is more non-industrial acid in air than anyone can explain.
MIT-developed 'microthrusters' could propel small satellites
A penny-sized rocket thruster may soon power the smallest satellites in space.
Magnetic turbulence trumps collisions to heat solar wind
(Phys.org) -- New research, led by University of Warwick physicist Dr Kareem Osman, has provided significant insight into how the solar wind heats up when it should not. The solar wind rushes outwards from the raging inferno that is our Sun, but from then on the wind should only get cooler as it expands beyond our solar system since there are no particle collisions to dissipate energy. However, the solar wind is surprisingly hotter than it should be, which has puzzled scientists for decades. Two new research papers led by Dr Osman may have solved that puzzle.
A urine based 'potion' can act as a CO2 absorbent (w/ Video)
The ocean, the ground, rocks and trees act as carbon drains but are far from places where greenhouses gases are concentrated, especially CO2. A Spanish researcher has proposed human, agricultural and livestock waste, such as urine, as a way to absorb this gas.
US carbon emissions in surprise drop
US emissions of carbon dioxide blamed for climate change fell in 2011 and have slipped to a 20-year low this year as the the world's largest economy uses more natural gas and less coal, data shows.
ChemCam laser sets its sights on first Martian target
Members of the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover ChemCam team have received the first photos from the instrument's remote micro imager. The successful capture of ChemCam's first 10 photos sets the stage for the first test bursts of the instrument's rock-zapping laser in the near future.
Technology news
US blogger accuses Filipino senator of plagiarism
(AP) — An American woman has accused a Filipino senator of plagiarizing her blog during an acrimonious debate on a contraceptives bill that has divided this predominantly Roman Catholic nation.
In UK threat to Ecuador, experts see mistake
(AP) — It was a warning meant to remind Ecuador that Britain's patience has limits. But as the stalemate over Julian Assange settled in Friday, it appeared London's veiled threat that it could storm Ecuador's embassy and drag Assange out has backfired — drawing supporters to the mission where the WikiLeaks founder is holed up and prompting angry denunciations from Ecuador and elsewhere.
Uganda tightens net security after pro-gay hack
Uganda is tightening its Internet security after hackers attacked the prime minister's website to post statements supporting gay rights, the country's Internet regulator said Friday.
Sharp shares jump on asset sale, investment reports
Sharp Corp. shares jumped on Friday after a frenzy of reports said the troubled Japanese consumer electronics giant would sell key operations -- and court new investment -- as it struggles to survive.
Facebook hits new low as IPO lock-up ends (Update 3)
(AP) — Facebook's stock plunged to a new low Thursday as some of the social networking leader's early backers got their first chance to sell their shares since the company's initial public offering went awry.
Robotic system to inspect underground pipes
EU-funded researchers developed a high-tech robotic imaging system for inspecting underground pipes. Commercialisation should facilitate use of corrosion-resistant materials for transport of hazardous chemicals.
Aerospace materials to build endless pipeline
Mo Ehsani, Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering at the University of Arizona, has designed a new, lightweight underground pipe he says could transform the pipeline construction industry.
Kickstarter projects generate millions of dollars
(AP) — A funny thing happens on Kickstarter, the website where people ask for money to finance their projects. Sometimes, they get more money than they ask for.
Apple stock hits new high after 4-month dip
(AP) — Apple's stock hit a new high Friday after a four-month swoon, as investors look ahead to the release of a new iPhone and possibly a smaller iPad.
EBay bans sales of supernatural items: magic spells, potions, hexes
Making a profit on the occult arts? Cultivating a loyal customer base for potions, magic spells and psychic readings? Not on eBay, you're not.
Taking the edge off a pipe bomb — literally
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate's (S&T) new low-cost device for dismantling dangerous pipe bombs may look like a tinkerer's project, but that's no accident. The Semi Autonomous Pipe Bomb End-cap Remover (SAPBER) is unassuming in appearance, but sophisticated enough to preserve the forensic evidence needed to track down the perpetrator.
How offshore wind turbines could be more efficient
A Cambridge University study suggests that offshore wind farms could be 100 per cent more efficient in terms of energy payback if manufacturers embraced new methods for making the structures that support the turbines.
Lithium-ion battery is fast-charged in minutes
(Phys.org) -- A lithium-ion battery that can charge 120 times faster than normal is reportedly the work of scientists from Korea at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) The scientists lay claim to a technology that enables a recharge 30 to 120 times faster than conventional li-ion batteries, according to the Korean news agency, Yonhap.
Medicine & Health news
What's best for very low birth weight babies
While the health benefits of breast feeding baby are well known, a new study published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Pediatrics finds that, for very low birth weight (VLBW) babies, a small amount of fortification can improve growth rates without sacrificing the benefits associated with mother's milk.
Most parents think social media not a bad thing: survey
(HealthDay) -- A new survey finds that an overwhelming majority of parents think social media isn't necessarily a bad thing for their children.
Colombia drug treatment center plans spark debate
A proposal to open treatment centers in the Colombian capital for drug addicts is causing a stir in this cocaine-producing Latin American country.
Trained NHS therapists can help insomniacs
Insomnia sufferers in England could have greater access to successful treatment, thanks to a training programme developed as part of trials of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi), funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
Diaspora doctors heed homeland calling on Aleppo front line
A few days ago, Hazem left his wife and 11-month-old son in England and flew to Turkey with another Syrian-born doctor from Manchester to offer help on the front line in Aleppo.
Trial launch of urgently-needed combination treatment for oesophago-gastric cancer
Cancer Research UK’s Drug Development Office (DDO), in collaboration with academia and industry, has announced a new trial to open in Oxford.
People with few assets less likely to plan for end-of-life health care
Socioeconomic status is a big predictor of how likely people are to have living wills, a power of attorney for health care decisions or to participate in informal discussions about treatment preferences with loved ones. People with few assets were half as likely as those of more means to plan for these end-of-life concerns, a new study in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior finds.
Regular patient/clinician interaction can help increase follow-up cancer screening
The line “talk to your doctor,” which appears in so many medical-related advertisements, is apparently right. An analysis of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients who maintained regular contact with their clinicians (doctors, nurses, specialists) indicates those patients are more likely to follow recommendations for detecting cancer recurrence than patients who do not. In fact, researchers found CRC patients were more than twice as likely to adhere to medical follow up procedures if they had regular patient clinician information engagement (PCIE).
Study: Racial socialization reduces effects of racial discrimination on crime
A new study, published in this month’s American Sociological Review, showed how experiencing racial discrimination increases the risk of crime among young African-American males. More importantly, results found that those risks are reduced by adaptive parenting practices in African American families known as racial socialization.
Regions vary in paying prisoners to participate in research
When members of the public participate in research studies, they are often given incentives – such as cash or gift cards for food – as compensation or reimbursement for their time and effort. Not so for Canada's prison population. A new analysis shows that there is inconsistency in how and when incentives are used for research participants under criminal justice supervision.
Photographic cholesterol test
Researchers in India have developed a total cholesterol test that uses a digital camera to take a snapshot of the back of the patient's hand rather than a blood sample. The image obtained is cropped and compared with images in a database for known cholesterol levels.
War is not necessarily the cause of post-traumatic stress disorder
Recent research carried out at Business and Social Sciences, Aarhus University, shows that surprisingly, the majority of soldiers exhibiting symptoms of post-traumatic stress syndrome were suffering from poor mental health before they were posted to a war zone.
Chronically fatigued patients face huge inequalities in accessing specialist services
New research has identified the true extent of inequalities faced by adults who require access to specialist Chronic Fatigue Syndrome [CFS] or Myalgic Encephalopathy [ME] services in England. The findings, published in the journal BMJ Open, reveal a ‘postcode lottery’ whereby patients from more affluent postcode districts are more likely to be referred to specialist services than those from more deprived areas.
Teens with ADHD may need help making transition to college
(HealthDay) -- For students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, making the transition to college can be especially difficult. But by adopting certain strategies, such as sticking to a structured daily schedule and tapping into the university's disability support services, freshman with ADHD can do well, according to experts and teens with the condition.
Good transplant outcomes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
(HealthDay) -- Post-heart transplant survival does not differ significantly between patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) and those with other types of heart disease, according to a study published in the Aug. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Medical debate: Should autism block a man from getting a heart transplant?
Twenty-three-year-old Paul Corby has a bad heart and a flawed mind.
Brazil worker survives bar through skull
(AP) — A 24-year-old construction worker survived after a 6-foot metal bar fell from above and pierced his head, doctors said Friday.
Elderly SuperAgers have brains that look and act decades younger than their age
Researchers have long chronicled what goes wrong in the brains of older people with dementia. But Northwestern Medicine researcher Emily Rogalski wondered what goes right in the brains of the elderly who still have terrific memories. And, do those people – call them cognitive SuperAgers --- even exist?
Treatment for cervical disease is not linked to increased risk of preterm births
Treatment for cervical disease does not appear to increase the risk of subsequently giving birth prematurely, according to a study of over 44,000 women in England. The study, published online in the British Medical Journal today, is the largest in the UK to investigate this and contradicts previous research suggesting treatment could be linked to an increased risk.
World's largest tobacco use study: Tobacco control remains major challenge
An international survey of tobacco use in three billion individuals, published in the current issue of The Lancet, demonstrates an urgent need for policy change in low- and middle-income countries, according to the University at Buffalo professor who led the research.
New treatment offers hope to patients with chronic lung disorder bronchiectasis
Researchers have identified a promising new treatment for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, a long-term lung disorder which causes persistent coughing and breathlessness. The results, published in the Lancet, could represent an important advance in the treatment of this debilitating disease, for which very few evidence-based treatments are currently available.
Mepolizumab almost halves exacerbations in patients with severe asthma
The largest study of patients with severe asthma to date, published in the Lancet special issue on respiratory medicine, shows that those treated with the monoclonal antibody mepolizumab experienced an almost 50 percent reduction in severe exacerbations, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations compared with patients given placebo.
Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of wheeze and asthma in preschool children
Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with wheeze and asthma inpreschool children, even among children who were not exposed to maternal smoking late inpregnancy or after birth, according to a new study.
Older americans living longer, but becoming more obese
(HealthDay) -- Older Americans are living longer, healthier lives than in past generations, according to new government research. However, rising obesity rates and high housing costs could take a toll on these gains in longevity, the report found.
New Yorkers against super-size soda ban
An overwhelming majority of New Yorkers oppose Mayor Michael Bloomberg's unprecedented proposal for banning super-sized sweet drinks and his support for breastfeeding, a poll found Thursday.
To fight West Nile, Dallas launches aerial defense
(AP) — Dallas County launched an aerial assault on the mosquito population for the first time in 45 years Thursday to combat the nation's worst outbreak of West Nile virus, which has killed 10 people and sickened at least 230 others.
Researchers identify which sensory nerve cells contribute to chronic nerve pain
(Medical Xpress) -- New research from the University of Bristol has identified the subtypes of sensory nerve cells that are likely to contribute to long-term nerve pain from partial nerve injury. It is hoped this will aid in the development of more effective painkillers.
New discoveries in skin cancer: protein inhibits formation of metastases
The danger of melanomas lies in the fact that they encourage the formation of new lymph vessels (lymphangiogenesis) at a very early stage and can therefore produce metastases very early on.
Gypsy study unravels a novel ataxia gene
A WA study of an isolated population of Eastern European Gypsies known as "Bowlmakers" has unlocked clues about a serious developmental disease - congenital cerebellar ataxia.
Pinpointing the origins of arthritis
(Medical Xpress) -- A large, RIKEN-led, international team of genome researchers has found nine new associations of gene regions or loci with the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis. The loci, found in ethnically Japanese populations, had been undetected in previous European studies. Three of the loci are also associated with other autoimmune conditions in the Japanese, one with systemic lupus and two with Graves’ disease.
Should we tax soft drinks?
Jack Winkler's commentary on a report by Ng et al., challenges the proposal of a 10% tax on 'sugar-sweetened beverages' (SSB). Both articles appear in the current issue of British Journal of Nutrition and raise important questions about soft drink taxation and consumption.
Making sense of memory
It happens to all of us: We think we learned of the Sept. 11 attacks from a radio report, when, in fact, the news came from a co-worker; we’re sure the robber running from the bank was tall, when actually he was short; we remember waking up at 7 yesterday, when 8 is closer to the truth. Such “false memories,” unavoidable in everyday life, can have disastrous consequences in courtrooms and other settings where exactitude matters.
Space bugs for blood testing — and more
Thanks to ideas of putting swarms of tiny robot bugs to work on a future space station, patients being medicated for blood clots may soon get a simple, home-use testing kit, here on Earth.
It must be important but what does it do? The strange case of UCP2
When uncoupling proteins are active, mitochondria produce heat instead of ATP. This may be useful under certain circumstances, such as when an animal is hibernating. But non-hibernating animals also have them. Particularly poorly understood is the uncoupling protein UCP2. Elena Pohl and colleagues at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, show that the protein occurs mainly in cells of the immune system. The group's highly provocative findings are published in the online journal PLOS ONE.
Texas outbreak of West Nile virus prompts aerial spraying
Aircraft have begun spraying pesticide over parts of Dallas, Texas to combat an outbreak of mosquito-borne West Nile Virus blamed for 17 deaths this year, authorities said Friday.
Safe sun advice may help to raise vitamin D in Scottish mums-to-be
Too many women in Scotland are failing to follow current advice on vitamin D supplement use in pregnancy. This is leading to very low levels in some mothers and newborns, particularly in the winter months, and the problem is greatest in mothers from the poorest areas.
Study into benefits of singing proves positive impact on health
A pioneering research project to measure the value of singing for older people has revealed a consistently higher measure of health for those involved in community singing programmes.
One in 20 hospital beds used to treat smoking-related illnesses
(Medical Xpress) -- One in every 20 hospital beds is occupied by someone with a smoking-related illness, according to new NHS figures.
Solving the medical mystery of cold feet
(HealthDay) -- If you've ever been booted out of bed because of your icy feet, new research may help explain your plight.
Healthy-looking pigs at state fair found to have swine flu
(HealthDay) -- They were being shown off as healthy porcine specimens, but several of the show pigs at the Minnesota State Fair in 2009 actually were infected with swine flu, according to a new study.
Pathologists tend to reclassify prior nonmalignant diagnoses
(HealthDay) -- For dermatopathologists there is a trend toward reclassification of prior nonmalignant diagnoses of severely atypical dysplastic nevi as malignant, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Considerable variation in outcomes for cleft lip/Palate
(HealthDay) -- There is considerable variation in the neuropsychological, behavioral, and academic outcomes of individuals with cleft lip and palate, as the outcomes are affected by developmental level, sex, and cleft type, according to a study published in the July issue of The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal.
'Organic' study of live pancreatic tissue yields new opportunities for diabetes research
An 'all-natural' method for studying pancreatic islets, the small tissues responsible for insulin production and regulation in the body, has recently been developed by researchers at the University of Toronto's Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME) to try to track metabolic changes in living tissues in 'real time' and without additional chemicals or drugs.
Molecular 'movies' may accelerate anti-cancer drug discovery
Using advanced computer simulations, University of Utah College of Pharmacy researchers have produced moving images of a protein complex that is an important target for anti-cancer drugs. This advancement has significant implications for discovering new therapies that could attack cancer without damaging the DNA of healthy cells, according to an article published July 31, 2012 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Research study shows men find dancing women more attractive during most fertile time
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers from the University of Göttingen in Germany have found that men viewing videos of silhouettes of dancing women were more likely to describe those who were ovulating at the time as more attractive than women at other stages of their menstrual cycle, which goes contrary to the longstanding theory of “concealed” ovulation in humans. The team led by Bernhard Fink reports on their findings in a paper published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences.
Princeton study reveals the brain's mysterious switchboard operator
A mysterious region deep in the human brain could be where we sort through the onslaught of stimuli from the outside world and focus on the information most important to our behavior and survival, Princeton University researchers have found.
Biology news
Fujitsu uses image analysis technology to generate rice paddy parcel maps from satellite images and aerial photos
Fujitsu today announced that, in collaboration with the Federation of Hokkaido Agricultural Mutual Aid Association (Hokkaido NOSAI) and the Kamikawa Chuo Agricultural Mutual Aid Association (Kamikawa Chuo NOSAI), it will aid in creating maps of rice paddy parcels using proprietary Fujitsu image analysis technology. The technology will utilize satellite images and aerial photographs to recognize the boundaries between rice paddies and the embankments that separate them. From August 9 to October 31, Fujitsu will be conducting a field test to evaluate the technology's usefulness in confirming the crop area of new members when they join NOSAI, as well as other applications.
Wild pollinators support farm productivity and stabilize yield
Most people are not aware of the fact that 84% of the European crops are partially or entirely dependent on insect pollination. While managed honeybees pollinate certain crops, wild bees, flies and wasps cover a very broad spectrum of plants, and thus are considered the most important pollinators in Europe.
Two new owls discovered in the Philippines (w/ Video)
Two new species of owls have been discovered in the Philippines, and a Michigan State University researcher played a key role in confirming their existence.
Vecmap tracks the Asian bush mosquito
Under the watchful eye of ESA’s Vecmap initiative, the Asian bush mosquito is about to get bitten in Belgium. First observed in Belgium in 2002, the Asian bush mosquito can spread viruses such as Chikungunya, Dengue, and West Nile.
Iconic Darwin finch genome sequenced in Genome 10K international collaboration
Scientists have sequenced the genome of one of the iconic Galapagos finches first described by Charles Darwin. The genome of the medium ground finch (Geospiza fortis) is among the first of a planned 100 genomes of vertebrate species to be sequenced and released by an international collaboration between the Genome 10K project and BGI.
Spider version of Bigfoot emerges from caves in the Pacific Northwest
The forests of the coastal regions from California to British Columbia are renowned for their unique and ancient animals and plants, such as coast redwoods, tailed frogs, mountain beavers and the legendary Bigfoot (also known as Sasquatch).
Molecular code cracked
(Phys.org) -- Scientists have cracked a molecular code that may open the way to destroying or correcting defective gene products, such as those that cause genetic disorders in humans.
Paleobiologist argues that earliest land dwelling amniotes were likely egg layers
(Phys.org) -- Animals that generate a protective layered environment in which their offspring develop are known as amniotes, regardless of whether they give birth to them or lay them as eggs. This group includes mammals and reptiles. But because of scant archeological evidence, no one really knows whether the first land dwelling amniotes were egg layers or whether they gave birth to their offspring. And while evidence of late has suggested that it might be the latter, paleobiologist Martin Sander from the University of Bonn, argues in a perspective piece in the journal Science, that it’s more likely they were egg layers.
DNA used to encode a book and other digital information
(Phys.org) -- A team of researchers in the US has successfully encoded a 5.27 megabit book using DNA microchips, and they then read the book using DNA sequencing. Their experiments show that DNA could be used for long-term storage of digital information.
This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
http://phys.org/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment