Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for August 14, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Researchers find high-resolution retina cells in mice only activate when birds fly over- Chilean team proposes theory on why early culture began to mummify their dead
- Intel sets sights on new Ultrabook SSD specs
- STEREO observes one of the fastest coronal mass ejections on record (w/ Video)
- A vaccine for heart disease? New discovery points up this possibility
- Impulsive micromanagers help plants to adapt, survive
- Scientists decode TREX which could see new treatments for cancer realized
- Hearing the telltale sounds of dangerous chemicals
- Success of engineered tissue depends on where it's grown
- New process doubles production of alternative fuel while slashing costs
- How do they do it? Predictions are in for Arctic sea ice low point
- NASA seeing sprites (w/ Video)
- Apple phones are AES-tough, says forensics expert
- Scientists plot driving routes for new Mars rover
- US military to test hypersonic vehicle over Pacific: X-51A to reach Mach 6
Space & Earth news
Alaskan North Slope climate: hard data from a hard place
Sandia National Laboratories’ researcher Mark Ivey and I (science writer Neal Singer) are standing on the tundra at an outpost of science at the northernmost point of the North American continent. We are five miles northeast of Barrow, an Alaskan village unreachable by roads, 320 miles north of the Arctic Circle and a mile south of the Arctic Ocean.
Hinode scientists' stellar effort keeps sun mission 'burning bright'
Whilst the most powerful earthquake since records began hit Japan in 2011, triggering a massive tsunami which devastated much of the country, space scientists involved in one of the 'brightest' international Sun missions continued working tirelessly at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science in Sagamihara, Japan, to capture new data from our turbulent star.
Ship-borne measurements show EU policies have improved air quality in harbors
Sulphur dioxide emissions from shipping have sharply decreased in EU ports thanks to an EU policy which limits sulphur content in fuels for ships at berth or at anchor in ports. Scientists at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre measured key air quality parameters in Mediterranean harbours before and after the entry into force of the low-sulphur requirements in January 2010. In European harbours they found an average decrease of 66% in concentrations of sulphur dioxide, a chemical compound that poses risks to health and the environment. Measurements taken in a non-EU port showed that levels of this noxious substance remained the same.
China risking water crisis due to coal: Greenpeace
Environmental campaigners Greenpeace urged China Tuesday to review plans for a huge expansion in coal mines and power plants, warning of a water crisis in the country's already arid north.
Aftershock rocks Iran quake zone
A sharp aftershock registering 5.3 on the Richter scale rocked rural areas around Iran's third city Tabriz on Tuesday just days after twin temblors caused deadly devastation, Iranian scientists said.
Environmentalists warn of risks of Arctic drilling
(AP) — Environmental activists warned Tuesday that drilling for oil in the Russian Arctic could have disastrous consequences because of a lack of technology and infrastructure to deal with a possible spill in a remote region with massive icebergs and heavy storms.
Dawn Engineers Assess Reaction Wheel
Engineers working on NASA's Dawn spacecraft are assessing the status of a reaction wheel -- part of a system that helps the spacecraft point precisely -- after onboard software powered it off on Aug. 8. Dawn's mission is to study the geology and geochemistry of the giant asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, the two most massive objects in the main asteroid belt. Dawn is now using its thrusters to point at Earth for communications. The rest of the spacecraft is otherwise healthy.
Test Stands Make Way for Reusable Robotic Lander
The landscape around two historic test stands at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., has changed and now features a free-flying robotic lander that will demonstrate automated rendezvous and capture technology.
Land locked (w/ Video)
A world-first project led by ANU researchers is looking at whether pristine rainforest can be preserved from oil extraction, writes SARINA TALIP.
Potent human toxins prevalent in Canada's freshwaters
Nutrient pollution, one of the greatest threats to our freshwater resources, is responsible for the algal blooms that blanket our lakes and waterways in summer months. Large blooms of cyanobacteria ('blue green algae') can cause fish kills, increase the cost of drinking water treatment, devalue shoreline properties, and pose health risks to people, pets, and wildlife. A new paper just published in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences shows that microcystin, a toxin produced by cyanobacteria, is present in Canadian lakes in every province.
How can you see a satellite view of your house?
Every now and then I go looking for a free aerial view of my home. It’s amazing what’s available through the internet now, totally free. Thanks to commercial Earth observation satellites, and internet tools that make these photos accessible through the internet, it’s easy to see your house from space.
Rooftop farms flourish in space-starved Hong Kong
On the rooftop of a tower block above the hustle and bustle of teeming Hong Kong, dedicated growers tend to their organic crops in a vegetable garden.
High-tech tool predicts fire behavior in bark beetle-ravaged forests
Fire fighters facing fast-moving wildfires need better tools to predict erratic fire behavior, especially in forests with dead trees caused by massive outbreaks of bark beetles whose predations create an abundance of dead fuel and changes in the tree canopy structure.
Nearly 1,000 earthquakes recorded in Arizona over 3 years
Arizona State University researchers use EarthScope data to build the first comprehensive earthquake catalog for Arizona.
US offers tentative plan to put pipeline across National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska
The U.S. Interior Department opened the door to the possibility of an oil pipeline across the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska and to oil and gas leasing on 11.8 million acres of it.
Widespread local extinctions in tropical forest 'remnants'
The small fragments of tropical forests left behind after deforestation are suffering extensive species extinction, according to new research led by the University of East Anglia (UEA).
TRMM Satellite sees a small area of heavy rain left in Tropical Storm Hector
Tropical Storm Hector is battling wind shear over the open waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean, and NASA satellite data shows that has been affecting its organization and rainfall rates.
NASA sees more rain for the Philippines from Tropical Storm Kai-Tak
An intensifying Tropical storm called Kai-Tak (locally known as Helen) is causing more rain in the Philippines as it passes over northern Luzon. The Philippines have had a very wet month with the capital of Manila experiencing massive flooding earlier this month. NASA's TRMM satellite identified where the heavy rain was falling.
Brazil court orders work on Amazon dam suspended
A federal court in Brazil has ordered the suspension of work on the huge Belo Monte hydro-electric dam in the Amazon, the third largest dam in the world, a court official said Tuesday.
Image: A whole new world for Curiosity
(Phys.org) -- This color-enhanced view -- taken by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter as the satellite flew overhead -- shows the terrain around the rover's landing site within Gale Crater on Mars. Colors were enhanced to bring out subtle differences, showing that the landing region is not as colorful as regions to the south, closer to Mount Sharp, where Curiosity will eventually explore. In reality, the blue colors are more gray.
ISS crew to embark on two spacewalks in August
Four International Space Station crew members will embark on two spacewalks to install new equipment and replace defective installations, the US space agency NASA said Tuesday.
STEREO observes one of the fastest coronal mass ejections on record (w/ Video)
On July 23, 2012, a massive cloud of solar material erupted off the sun's right side, zooming out into space, passing one of NASA's Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft along the way. Using the STEREO data, scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. clocked this giant cloud, known as a coronal mass ejection, or CME, as traveling between 1,800 and 2,200 miles per second as it left the sun.
Holocene warming regional
Research confirms regional — not global — climate change in New Zealand and European glaciers during the preindustrial Holocene
Marine research in the Brazilian rain forest
(Phys.org) -- Until recent decades the Atlantic Rainforest covered a large area of today’s Brazil from Amazonas to present-day Argentina. In the 1970s, after years of deforestation, this rain forest was almost completely destroyed, mainly replaced by cattle pastures. This study reveals an unexpected aspect of deforestation.
A star’s dying scream may be a beacon for physics
When a star suffered an untimely demise at the hands of a hidden black hole, astronomers detected its doleful, ululating wail — in the key of D-sharp, no less — from 3.9 billion light-years away. The resulting ultraluminous X-ray blast revealed the supermassive black hole’s presence at the center of a distant galaxy in March of 2011, and now that information could be used to study the real-life workings of black holes, general relativity, and a concept first proposed by Einstein in 1915.
How do they do it? Predictions are in for Arctic sea ice low point
It's become a sport of sorts, predicting the low point of Arctic sea ice each year. Expert scientists with decades of experience do it but so do enthusiasts, whose guesses are gamely included in a monthly predictions roundup collected by Sea Ice Outlook, an effort supported by the U.S. government.
NASA seeing sprites (w/ Video)
High above the clouds during thunderstorms, some 50 miles above Earth a different kind of lightning dances. Bursts of red and blue light, known as "sprites," flash for a scant one thousandth of a second. They are often only visible to those in flight above a storm, and happen so quickly you might not even see it unless you chance to be looking directly at it. One hard-to-reach place that gets a good view of sprites is the International Space Station. On April 30, 2012, astronauts on the ISS captured the signature red flash of a sprite, offering the world and researchers a rare opportunity to observe one.
Scientists plot driving routes for new Mars rover
Scientists are evaluating driving routes the rover Curiosity may take on its way to a Martian mountain.
Chilean team proposes theory on why early culture began to mummify their dead
(Phys.org) -- Researchers in Chile, led by Pablo Marqueta, an ecologist with Universidad Católica de Chile have come up with a new theory to explain why a civilization that thrived some seven thousand years ago suddenly began to mummify their dead. In their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Marqueta and his team suggest that it was due to constant exposure to dead bodies as the group lived in an area that was so dry, bodies didn’t decompose.
Technology news
A look at recent tech-industry earnings
Groupon became the latest company to report quarterly earnings, and its revenue growth fell short of analyst estimates.
A look at tech companies with recent IPOs
Groupon became the latest of the newly traded tech companies to report quarterly earnings. Zynga and Facebook reported quarterly earnings that disappointed investors, while Yelp and LinkedIn followed with stronger results. Groupon beat expectations on earnings, but disappointed investors on revenue.
Groupon stock slides despite quarterly profit
Online shopping deals giant Groupon posted a sound quarterly profit but saw its stock tumble nearly 20 percent due to a disappointing forecast for the months ahead.
A*STAR IME develops ultra low power analog-to-digital converter for medical devices and wireless sensor nodes
Researchers from A*STAR IME have developed an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that uses only 400 nW, the lowest power consumption reported to date amongst today’s standard processing technology.
SEMATECH achieves world-class defect reductions in EUV
SEMATECH announced today that researchers have reached a significant milestone in reducing tool-generated defects from multi-layer deposition of mask blanks used for extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL), bringing that technology a step closer to high-volume manufacturing.
Wal-Mart gets China approval for e-commerce deal
(AP) — Wal-Mart has received conditional approval from Beijing to acquire a majority stake in a Chinese e-commerce company.
European rabbis rap Apple over anti-Semitic app
(AP) — European rabbis said Tuesday that they were lobbying Apple Inc. to pull a mobile app version of "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion," a notorious anti-Semitic forgery.
Phone cos. lose broadband subscribers for 1st time
(AP) — Phone companies in the U.S. are losing the high-speed Internet game. In the second quarter, the landline phone industry lost broadband subscribers for the first time, as cable companies continued to pile on new household and small business customers, thanks to the higher speeds they offer in most areas.
Google social network adding verified accounts
Google announced that it will let users of its online social network have verified accounts with names or brands in a manner similar to that offered at Facebook and Twitter.
Researchers feed pigs, chickens high-protein fungus grown on ethanol leftovers
Initial studies show a fungus grown in the leftovers of ethanol production could be a good energy feed for pigs and chickens.
Research shows promise in quieting complex noise clusters
University of Cincinnati researcher Mingfeng Li, research associate in UC’s College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS), and his team are waging a war against noise pollution. Better yet, how to eliminate it.
UC discoveries could help quiet the world's cities
They’re sleek. They’re fast. They’re powerful. And, they are deafening. Furthermore, those Top Gun military jets need to be up in the air in the wee hours – over land – to simulate their landings on aircraft carriers. But innovations out of the University of Cincinnati’s Gas Dynamics and Propulsion Laboratory are showing promise in reducing the intense noise of these supersonic jets without impacting their power. It’s research that can help neighborhoods slumber a little more soundly, keep their windows rattling a little less loudly and also protect the hearing of military personnel.
Web 'blackout' in Malaysia to protest law
Malaysian NGOs, well-known bloggers and opposition politicians on Tuesday staged a one-day "Internet blackout" to protest a legal amendment that they say threatens free expression on the Web.
UC research promises quiet cars -- even when hitting unexpected bumps in the road
All noise is not necessarily equal – especially when it comes to sound minimization in automobiles.
3D movies in your living room -- without the glasses
New television screens will make it possible for viewers to enjoy three-dimensional television programming without those bothersome 3D glasses. Still, the content has been rather lacking – until now. A new technology will soon be adapting conventional 3D films to the new displays in real time. Researchers will unveil this technology in Berlin at this year’s IFA trade show.
Pressure sensor array made with polyamino acid
In recent years, sensor networks through which people can communicate with electronic devices from anywhere and at any time have been gaining attention. There is an expectation that a system will be developed in which unobtrusive sensors will provide the necessary information, such as movement of people, to the network. These sensors need to be applicable to a wide variety of uses, affordable, and mass-producible. Existing pressure sensors are very expensive and often not suitable for array fabrication. Also, the structures of these sensors make it difficult to increase the sensor array size, thereby preventing their widespread use in society.
The artificial finger
To touch something is to understand it – emotionally and cognitive. It's one of our important six senses, which we use and need in our daily lives. But accidents or illnesses can disrupt us from our sense of touch.
Social media tools can boost productivity
In this digital age, U.S. physicians still send and receive some 15 billion faxes a year. But not Dr. Howard Luks, chief of sports medicine and knee replacements at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, N.Y.
New study finds the US wind power market riding a wave that is likely to crest in 2012
Facing looming policy uncertainty beyond 2012, the U.S. remained one of the fastest-growing wind power markets in the world in 2011—second only to China—according to a new report released by the U.S. Department of Energy and prepared by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). Roughly 6.8 gigawatts (GW) of new wind power capacity were connected to the U.S. grid in 2011—more than the 5.2 GW built in 2010, but below the 10 GW added in 2009. Driven by the threat of expiring federal incentives, new wind power installations are widely expected to be substantially higher in 2012 than in 2011, and perhaps even in excess of 2009's record build.
New toilet technology after 150 years of waste
(AP) — These aren't your typical loos. One uses microwave energy to transform human waste into electricity. Another captures urine and uses it for flushing. And still another turns excrement into charcoal.
Samsung expands lead in smartphone market: Gartner
Samsung extended its lead over Apple in the smartphone market in the second quarter despite a slowing demand for mobile phones, according to figures released Tuesday.
Shelley, Stanford's robotic racecar, hits the track
Other than some decals and a few extra antennas, there's nothing outwardly remarkable about the white Audi TTS zipping around the track at Thunderhill Raceway, north of Sacramento, Calif. Its tires squeal as it zigs through chicanes. Its engine growls as it tops 120 mph on the straights. The car gets around the 3-mile course in less than 2-1/2 minutes, a time that rivals those posted by professional drivers.
'Crash test cow' helps prevent farmer death and injury
(Phys.org) -- A new type of cattle gate aimed at preventing farmer death and injury has completed rigorous testing and development by the CSIRO. SaferGate, designed by farmer and inventor Edward Evans, has been put to the test by a CSIRO-developed 'crash test cow'.
Photos reflect light like 3D objects with novel printing technology
A novel printing method yields photos that respond to different angles of light the same way a three-dimensional object does. The technique, which uses specially designed "reflectance paper" covered with thousands of tiny dimples, was developed by a team of researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, and 3M.
Apple phones are AES-tough, says forensics expert
(Phys.org) -- Monday's Technology Review carries a glowing tribute to Apple iPhone security according to its author, Simson Garfinkel, a contributing editor who works in computer forensics and is highly regarded as a leader in digital forensics. He says Apple has passed a threshold “Today the Apple iPhone 4S and iPad 3 are trustworthy mobile computing systems that can be used for mobile payments, e-commerce, and the delivery of high-quality paid programming,” thanks to Apple’s heavy investment in iPhone security. That is where “threshold” comes in. Apple has crossed it. Even law enforcement cannot perform forensic examinations of Apple devices seized from criminals, he said.
US military to test hypersonic vehicle over Pacific: X-51A to reach Mach 6
The US military plans to launch a hypersonic unmanned vehicle in a test flight Tuesday over the Pacific, with the X-51A due to reach mind-boggling speeds of Mach 6, a spokesman said.
Need an expert? Try the crowd
In 1714, the British government held a contest. They offered a large cash prize to anyone who could solve the vexing "longitude problem" — how to determine a ship's east/west position on the open ocean — since none of their naval experts had been able to do so.
Medicine & Health news
Scientists uncover strategy able to dramatically reduce chemotherapy's side effects
Researchers in Leuven (VIB/KU Leuven) have confirmed their hypothesis that normalizing blood vessels by blocking oxygen sensor PHD2 would make chemotherapy more effective. They also demonstrated for the first time that this strategy would reduce the harmful side effects of chemotherapy on healthy organs.
Taiwan museum fined for stopping breastfeeding mum
A top Taiwanese museum has been fined for preventing a woman from breastfeeding, the first such case since a law was enacted to protect the right to breastfeed in public, authorities said Tuesday.
Patients discharged without test results
Close to half of the tests ordered by doctors on the day of a patient's discharge from hospital are not looked at again, UNSW research has found.
Nurses struggle with moral distress - survey
(Medical Xpress) -- Almost 50 per cent of nurses surveyed in a New Zealand-first study have considered quitting after struggling with moral issues beyond their control.
Researchers aim to grow salivary glands using patient's own cells
Biologists, surgical oncologists and regenerative medicine specialists from Rice University, the University of Delaware and the Christiana Care Health System in Wilmington, Del., have begun a four-year program aimed at using cells to grow whole salivary glands that can replace those destroyed by cancer radiation therapy.
Can specialized HIV community pharmacies improve treatment?
Community pharmacies with specially trained staff to provide HIV services can help HIV-infected individuals be more compliant with their essential antiviral drug regimens and hence improve patient outcomes. Users of HIV-specialized Walgreen pharmacies across the U.S. had significantly greater adherence to and persistence with their therapeutic drug regimens according to a study published in AIDS Patient Care and STDs.
Studies seek better understanding and treatment of depression
Connecting the dots between two molecules whose levels are decreased in depression and increased by current antidepressants could yield new therapies, researchers say.
A hands-on approach to treating patients with pulmonary disease
Researchers at Michigan State University are working to show how a noninvasive, drug-free form of hands-on medical care can help patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease improve their breathing.
When do German children gain weight?
Scientists working with Professor Dr. Dr. Perikles Simon, head of the Sports Medicine division of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) in Germany, suggest in the light of recent analyses that German children gain weight soon after entering elementary school.
A recipe for increased colorectal cancer screening rates
Screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) is cost-effective and saves lives by early detection. The ability to screen large numbers of individuals is especially important for states with tight health insurance budgets dealing with aging populations. However, in 2010 only 65 percent of US adults between ages 50 and 75 got the recommended screening. A University of Colorado Cancer Center study recently published in the American Journal of Managed Care demonstrates a systematic approach to improve screening rates.
Med tech's arrest shows flaws in system
(AP) — Radiology technician David Kwiatkowski was a few weeks into a temporary job at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center-Presbyterian in 2008 when a co-worker accused him of lifting a syringe containing an addictive painkiller from an operating room and sticking it down his pants.
Upgraded Ekso to advance study of mobility in spinal cord injury
Kessler Foundation has begun testing the upgraded Ekso in individuals unable to walk due to spinal cord injury. Ekso, a wearable, battery-powered robotic exoskeletal device, has been undergoing clinical investigation at Kessler since October 2011, when the research team received the second commercial unit distributed by Ekso Bionics. Gail Forrest, PhD, assistant director of Human Performance and Engineering Research, directs Ekso research at the Foundation, in collaboration with Steven Kirshblum, MD, medical director at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation.
Cataract risk up for statin users with type 2 diabetes
(HealthDay) -- Statin use, which is substantially higher in patients with type 2 diabetes, correlates with an increased risk of age-related (AR) cataracts, according to a study published in the August issue of Optometry and Vision Science.
Vandetanib almost doubles progression free survival in patients with thyroid cancer
Results of a phase 2 randomised trial for patients with advanced differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) show that those treated with the oral targeted agent vandetanib survived without the disease getting worse for almost twice as long as patients given placebo (11.1 months vs 5.9 months). The findings, published Online First in The Lancet Oncology, are the first to show clear evidence of prolonged progression free survival (PFS) with a targeted agent for advanced DTC, a disease for which no effective treatment exists.
Deeply held religious beliefs prompting sick kids to be given 'futile' treatment
Parental hopes of a "miraculous intervention," prompted by deeply held religious beliefs, are leading to very sick children being subjected to futile care and needless suffering, suggests a small study in the Journal of Medical Ethics.
Double vision: hybrid medical imaging technology may shed new light on cancer
(Medical Xpress) -- Scientists from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and Washington University in St. Louis have developed a new type of medical imaging that gives doctors a new look at live internal organs.
Scientists solve key piece of prostate cancer puzzle
Cancer Research UK scientists have revealed a completely new route by which male androgen hormones fuel the growth of prostate cancer, raising the prospect that existing drugs could be used to treat the disease.
Study suggests patients should be screened before receiving vemurafenib
Different genetic mistakes driving skin cancer may affect how patients respond to the drug vemurafenib, providing grounds to screen people with melanoma skin cancer before treatment, a new study by Cancer Research UK scientists suggests
First GWAS studies of obsessive-compulsive disorder and Tourette syndrome published
Two papers that will appear in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, both receiving advance online release, may help identify gene variants that contribute to the risks of developing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or Tourette syndrome (TS). Both multi-institutional studies were led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators, and both are the first genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in the largest groups of individuals affected by the conditions.
Genetic clues for type 2 diabetes
Busselton residents and researchers from The University of Western Australia have contributed to a worldwide scientific collaboration that has identified new genetic links in the quest to map the biological pathways that cause diabetes.
Creating healthier habits: School meal program reforming to heighten nutritional standards
Schools will resume for many of the nation's youth over the coming weeks and one change parents may notice is healthier meals offered in their children's school meals program.
Making the grade: Tips on how parents can help make homework time more productive
Homework may be the last thing your child wants to do, but a Kansas State University education expert says encouraging the habit of homework is important.
Stanford researchers investigate the emotional side of autism
The diagnostic manual of the American Psychiatric Association defines autism in what seems to be a fairly comprehensive way: social impairment, difficulties with communication, repetitive behavior and restricted interests – the so-called "core symptoms" of the autism spectrum disorders.
Feedback can have a negative impact on performance, research shows
People who give positive encouragement and constructive criticism could be wasting their breath according to the latest research from a psychology expert at Queen Mary, University of London.
Girls with ADHD at risk for self-injury, suicide attempts as young adults, says new research
Girls with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are significantly more likely to attempt suicide or injure themselves as young adults than girls who do not have ADHD, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
Hope for patients with HIV-associated cognitive impairment
Current drug therapy for patients with HIV is unable to control the complete replication of the virus in the brain. The drugs therefore do not have any effect against the complications associated with neurocognitive impairment in patients with HIV. New research by Joseph Steiner and colleagues from Johns Hopkins University has discovered that a group of plant polyphenols known as catechins, which naturally occur in green tea and the seed of the cacao tree, may help in the prevention of these neurological complications. Their work is published online in Springer's Journal of NeuroVirology.
Launching a 'social networking war' against cancer
Experts agree that, more than ever before, modern wars will be fought in the cyber zone, targeting an enemy's communications technology to cause untold damage. Now a Tel Aviv University researcher is suggesting that the same tactics should be employed in the battle against one of the body's deadliest enemies — cancer.
FDA approves flu vaccine for coming season
(HealthDay) -- The formulation for the vaccine that will help protect against the flu this coming season was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday.
Dallas-fort worth brace for West Nile spraying
(HealthDay) -- The Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area -- the epicenter of the nation's worst outbreak of West Nile virus this year -- could see aerial spraying of insecticides as early as Thursday night to help control the potentially deadly mosquito-borne disease.
Overweight and obese women more likely to have large babies
Among pregnant women who did not develop gestational diabetes, overweight women were 65 percent more likely, and obese women 163 percent more likely, to have overly large babies than their healthy weight counterparts. In this study, an overly large infant was identified based on having a birth weight over the 90th percentile for their gestational age at delivery and gender. Gaining excess weight during pregnancy also contributed to having a large for gestational age baby, regardless of maternal weight or whether she developed gestational diabetes.
Denosumab superior to zoledronic acid for breast cancer patients with bone metastases
Treatment with denosumab resulted in a greater reduction in skeletal-related events in patients with breast cancer that spread to the bones compared with zoledronic acid, while also maintaining health-related quality of life, according to the results of a phase III study published in Clinical Cancer Research.
Blood type may influence heart disease risk
People with blood type A, B, or AB had a higher risk for coronary heart disease when compared to those with blood type O, according to new research published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, an American Heart Association journal.
Couple's therapy appears to decrease PTSD symptoms, improve relationship
Among couples in which one partner was diagnosed as having posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), participation in disorder-specific couple therapy resulted in decreased PTSD symptom severity and increased patient relationship satisfaction, compared with couples who were placed on a wait list for the therapy, according to a study in the August 15 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on violence and human rights.
Studies examine health consequences of meltdown, damage to Fukushima nuclear power plants in Japan
The results of two studies in the August 15 issue of JAMA report on the psychological status of workers at the Fukushima nuclear power plants in Japan several months after the earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, and the amount of internal radiation exposure among residents of a city north of the power plant that experienced a meltdown.
Computer-based screening program for partner violence does not significantly improve quality of life
In a study that included more than 2,700 women receiving care in primary care clinics, those who were screened for partner violence and received a partner violence resource list did not experience significant differences for several outcomes, including overall quality of life, general health, and recurrence of partner violence, compared to women who just received a partner violence resource list, according to a study in the August 15 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on violence and human rights.
Study pinpoints genes involved in diet-mediated life-extension
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have developed a new method to identify genes involved in diet-mediated life-extension which allowed them to find three novel genes that extend lifespan in yeast.
Scientists devise new strategy to destroy multiple myeloma
Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center are reporting promising results from laboratory and animal experiments involving a new combination therapy for multiple myeloma, the second most common form of blood cancer.
In some US states, not poor enough for health care
Sandra Pico is poor, but not poor enough. She makes about $15,000 a year, supporting her daughter and unemployed husband. She thought she'd get health insurance after the Supreme Court this year upheld President Barack Obama's health care law.
You could be sick ... but probably not
Do you automatically assume that a headache is a brain tumor? Do you worry that a minor cut could lead to flesh-eating bacteria ravaging a limb and requiring massive surgical intervention?
Team introduces new method to closely model diseases caused by splicing defects
A team led by scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has developed a new way of making animal models for a broad class of human genetic diseases – those with pathology caused by errors in the splicing of RNA messages copied from genes. To date, about 6,000 such RNA "editing" errors have been found in various human illnesses, ranging from neurodegenerative disorders to cancer.
Mindfulness meditation reduces loneliness, benefits immune system
Many elderly people spend their last years alone. Spouses pass and children scatter. But being lonely is much more than a silent house and a lack of companionship. Over time, loneliness not only takes a toll on the psyche but can have a serious physical impact as well.
Deep inside the body, tiny mechanical microscope
Tiny space age probes — those that can see inside single living cells — are increasingly being used to diagnose illness in hard-to-reach areas of the body.
'Strawberry' birthmarks grow rapidly when babies just weeks old, study finds
Strawberry-shaped birthmarks called infantile hemangiomas grow rapidly in infants much earlier than previously thought, Mayo Clinic and University of California, San Francisco, researchers found. Their study, published online in the journal Pediatrics, suggests that babies with complication-causing hemangiomas should be immediately referred to dermatologists for further evaluation.
Study finds that yo-yo dieting does not thwart weight loss efforts or alter metabolism long term
Yo-yo dieting – the repetitive loss and regain of body weight, also called weight cycling – is prevalent in the Western world, affecting an estimated 10 percent to 40 percent of the population. The degree to which weight cycling may impact metabolism or thwart a person's ability to lose weight in the long run has been unclear – until now.
Rat study shows chrysotile asbestos is strong carcinogen
(HealthDay) -- Chrysotile, a commercially used type of asbestos, induces malignant mesothelioma (MM) in the rat peritoneal cavity, with pathogenesis strongly linked to iron overload, according to a study published online Aug. 2 in The Journal of Pathology.
New technology delivers sustained release of drugs for up to six months
A new technology which delivers sustained release of therapeutics for up to six months could be used in conditions which require routine injections, including diabetes, certain forms of cancer and potentially HIV/AIDS.
Shining light on amyloid protein nanostructures
Scientists from the MESA+ and MIRA research institutes at the University of Twente have developed a new method to gain insight into the composition of large macromolecular protein assemblies. Their method allows the determination of the composition of potentially toxic amyloid protein assemblies involved in many human neurodegenerative diseases. The research team recently published their results in the leading scientific journal Angewandte Chemie, which highlighted this work on the cover of the journal.
A vaccine for heart disease? New discovery points up this possibility
Most people probably know that heart disease remains the nation's No. 1 killer. But what many may be surprised to learn is that cholesterol has a major accomplice in causing dangerous arterial plaque buildup that can trigger a heart attack. The culprit? Inflammatory cells produced by the immune system.
Scientists can now block heroin, morphine addiction; clinical trials possible within 18 months
In a major breakthrough, an international team of scientists has proven that addiction to morphine and heroin can be blocked, while at the same time increasing pain relief.
Success of engineered tissue depends on where it's grown
Tissue implants made of cells grown on a sponge-like scaffold have been shown in clinical trials to help heal arteries scarred by atherosclerosis and other vascular diseases. However, it has been unclear why some implants work better than others.
Biology news
Seeds of hope amidst Philippine floods
Amidst horrendous flooding around Manila and major rice-growing across Luzon in the Philippines, some good news has emerged for rice farmers – Submarino rice – rice that can survive around 2 weeks of being under water.
NIH backs Rice University study of delay in gene transcription networks
A Rice University researcher and his colleagues have received a National Institutes of Health grant to see how delays in gene transcription – life's most basic messaging system – affect cellular processes.
Scientists discover new type of virus responsible for a devastating disease in snakes
A novel virus has been identified as the possible cause of a common but mysterious disease that kills a significant number of pet snakes all over the world, thanks to research led by scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)—and three snakes named Juliet, Balthazar and Larry.
Fukushima 'caused mutant butterflies'
Genetic mutations have been found in three generations of butterflies from near Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, scientists said Tuesday, raising fears radiation could affect other species.
Australia's first bioherbicide approaching release
A simple one-dose pill could help end the scourge of woody weeds that are choking Australia's waterways, smothering native vegetation and robbing our farmers of agricultural land.
Rare golden mongoose found in Aceh
A recent short training session for community rangers conducted by Fauna & Flora International (FFI) in the Jantho Wildlife Reserve, Aceh, produced a surprise result.
Remaking history: A new take on how evolution has shaped modern Europeans
Investigators reporting in the Cell Press journal Trends in Genetics say that new analytical techniques are changing long-held, simplistic views about the evolutionary history of humans in Europe. Their findings indicate that many cultural, climatic, and demographic events have shaped genetic variation among modern-day European populations and that the variety of those mechanisms is more diverse than previously thought.
New insights into how vascular networks form in fish brains
How the intricate network of blood vessels forms within the brain has long fascinated biologists. Though the human brain comprises only 2 percent of body weight it receives up to 15 percent of the cardiac output through this network, or vessel vasculature. The vasculature in the human brain consists of a complex branching network of blood vessels, in total some several hundred miles in length. The network is formed so as to distribute blood efficiently to all brain regions, and abnormalities can lead to various neurological disorders, including strokes, learning difficulties and neurodegeneration. Yet our knowledge of just how the brain vasculature develops remains relatively limited.
Endangered status considered for Bicknell's thrush
(AP) — The Bicknell's thrush, a rare songbird that breeds atop mountains in the northeastern United States and winters in the Caribbean, is being considered for endangered species status, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday.
The scent of love: Decomposition and male sex pheromones
Young virgin female hide beetles (Dermestes maculatus) are attracted to cadavers by a combination of cadaver odour and male sex pheromones, finds a new study published in BioMed Central's open access journal Frontiers in Zoology. Neither cadaver scent, nor male sex pheromones alone, caught the fancy of the fussy females. This predilection ensures that there is both a waiting male and food for her larvae, and optimises the chances of reproductive success.
Researchers uncover reason that male moths can keep finding females
(Phys.org) -- A female moth sitting on a goal post could attract a male moth on the other end of a football field. And even if she switched her scent over time, the male could still find her because of a mutation to a single gene in his antenna.
Plants exhibit a wide range of mechanical properties, engineers find
From an engineer’s perspective, plants such as palm trees, bamboo, maples and even potatoes are examples of precise engineering on a microscopic scale. Like wooden beams reinforcing a house, cell walls make up the structural supports of all plants. Depending on how the cell walls are arranged, and what they are made of, a plant can be as flimsy as a reed, or as sturdy as an oak.
Researchers discover how cancer cells 'hijack' a mechanism to grow
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center and colleagues at the University of South Florida have discovered a mechanism that explains how some cancer cells "hijack" a biological process to potentially activate cell growth and the survival of cancer gene expression.
Scientists decode TREX which could see new treatments for cancer realized
University of Sheffield scientists have decoded the processes which create proteins in all forms of life which - for the first time - opens the door to fixing these problems which can cause fatal health problems like Motor Neuron Disease, myotonic dystrophy and cancer.
Impulsive micromanagers help plants to adapt, survive
Soil microbes are impulsive. So much so that they help plants face the challenges of a rapidly changing climate.
Researchers find high-resolution retina cells in mice only activate when birds fly over
(Phys.org) -- In the eye, the retina is the light sensitive tissue that lines its inner surface; packed with ganglion neurons, its job is to convert incoming information to something that the brain can understand. In some animals, such as people, cats and the macaque, the density of neurons in certain areas of the retina accounts for the highest resolution images sent to the brain. But some animals apparently reserve such areas for other jobs. Mice for example, according to new research by a team from Harvard, only use their high resolution areas when under threat from above. As they describe in their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team notes that high density neural areas in the retinas of mice are only activated when shadows from birds flying overhead are detected.
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