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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for August 21, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Crystals take a chill pill: A thermomechanical theory of low-temperature melting- Curiosity rover stretches its arm for first time
- D-Wave uses quantum method to solve protein folding problem
- Researchers find evidence of photosynthesis-like process in aphids
- Thinking and choosing in the brain: Researchers study over 300 lesion patients
- UCLA's new transparent solar film could be game-changer
- New laboratory test assesses how DNA damage affects protein synthesis
- New study uncovers brain's code for pronouncing vowels
- IEEE forms group to confront network traffic swells
- Research identifies mechanism responsible for eye movement disorder
- Common antifungal drug decreases tumor growth and shows promise as cancer therapy
- Time flies when you're having goal-motivated fun
- Multiple factors, including climate change, led to collapse and depopulation of ancient Maya
- Sanctuary chimps show high rates of drug-resistant staph
- US, university test cars that can communicate
Space & Earth news
U.Va. institute assists Virginians with sea-level rise
Virginia's largest city may get up to 45,000 acres smaller over the next century, due to an anticipated 2.3 to 5.2 feet of relative sea-level rise expected in Virginia Beach – a rise that would also impact the entire Hampton Roads region and the Eastern Shore.
Philippines sets up climate change fund
Philippine President Benigno Aquino has signed a law creating a one billion peso (about $24 million) "survival fund" to combat the effects of climate change, a government official said Tuesday.
Typhoon Tembin forms fast in Philippines
NASA's Terra satellite captured the newest Typhoon in the western North Pacific Ocean, Tembin, as it moves parallel to Luzon, Philippines. Warm waters were the trigger in rapid intensification of the typhoon.
UBC researcher to help NASA peer deep into the centre of Mars
NASA has approved funding for the Mars InSight lander, a mission that will enable scientists, including UBC geophysicist Catherine Johnson, to gather the first seismic information from any planet other than Earth.
Back in style: Old names get new life in search for, well, new life
In 1605, Johannes Kepler announced his first law of planetary motion, essentially stating that planets move around the sun with an elliptical, rather than circular, orbit.
UN agency calls for global action plan on drought
The worst effects of drought could be avoided if countries had a disaster management plan to confront the problem, the UN World Meteorological Organization said Tuesday.
110 families evacuated in Ecuador eruption
(AP) — Ecuadorean authorities say 110 families have been evacuated from the vicinity of the Tungurahua volcano, which has been spewing molten rock, ash and lava since the weekend.
UI instruments aboard twin NASA spacecraft set for launch Aug. 24
On Aug. 24, NASA will launch two identical satellites from Cape Canaveral, Fla., to begin its Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) mission to study the extremes of space weather and help scientists improve space weather forecasts.
Earhart team says possible plane debris sighted
Researchers trying to unravel the mystery surrounding the 1937 disappearance of US aviator Amelia Earhart in the Pacific have said they spotted debris under water that may have come from her plane.
New forecasting tool would reduce health-related swimming closures at Great Lakes beaches
(Phys.org) -- Great Lakes beachgoers could spend a lot more time in the water if a beach forecasting tool under development by University of Michigan researchers and their colleagues is adopted throughout the region.
Voyager at 35: Break on through to the other side
(Phys.org) -- Thirty-five years ago today, NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft, the first Voyager spacecraft to launch, departed on a journey that would make it the only spacecraft to visit Uranus and Neptune and the longest-operating NASA spacecraft ever. Voyager 2 and its twin, Voyager 1, that launched 16 days later on Sept. 5, 1977, are still going strong, hurtling away from our sun. Mission managers are eagerly anticipating the day when they break on through to the other side - the space between stars.
Flood risk ranking reveals vulnerable cities
(Phys.org) -- A new study of nine coastal cities around the world suggests that Shanghai is most vulnerable to serious flooding. European cities top the leader board for their resilience.
Record radiation in fish off Japan nuclear plant
A pair of greenlings have shown the highest level of radioactive caesium detected in fish and shellfish caught in waters off Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, its operator said Tuesday.
Fantastic Phobos
(Phys.org) -- Some 135 years after its discovery, Mars’ largest moon Phobos is seen in fantastic detail – and in 3D – in an image taken by ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft as it passed just 100 km by.
New insight on Mars expected from new NASA mission
(Phys.org) -- On Aug. 20, NASA announced the selection of InSight, a new Discovery-class mission that will probe Mars at new depths by looking into the deep interior of Mars.
NASA sees an active tropical Atlantic again
The Atlantic Ocean is kicking into high gear with low pressure areas that have a chance at becoming tropical depressions, storms and hurricanes. Satellite imagery from NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites have provided visible, infrared and microwave data on four low pressure areas. In addition, NASA's GOES Project has been producing imagery of all systems using NOAA's GOES-13 satellite to see post-Tropical Storm Gordon, Tropical Depression 9, and Systems 95L and 96L.
Terra and Aqua satellites see two intensifying northwestern Pacific tropical cyclones
There's double trouble in the northwestern Pacific Ocean in the form of Typhoon Tembin and Tropical Storm Bolaven. NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites teamed up to provide a look at both storms in one view.
WiggleZ survey confirms the big picture of the Universe
(Phys.org) -- We know that stars group together to form galaxies, galaxies clump to make clusters and clusters gather to create structures known as superclusters. At what scale though, if at all, does this Russian doll-like structure stop? Scientists have been debating this very question for decades because clustering on large scales would be in conflict with our 'standard model' of cosmology. The current model is based on Einstein's equations assuming everything is smooth on the largest scales. If matter were instead clumpy on very large scales, then the entire model would need to be rethought.
Forest razing by ancient Maya worsened droughts, says study
(Phys.org) -- For six centuries, the ancient Maya flourished, with more than a hundred city-states scattered across what is now southern Mexico and northern Central America. Then, in A.D. 695, the collapse of several cities in present day Guatemala marked the start of the Classic Maya's slow decline. Prolonged drought is thought to have played a role, but a study published this week in the journal Geophysical Research Letters adds a new twist: The Maya may have made the droughts worse by clearing away forests for cities and crops, making a naturally drying climate drier.
Intense bursts of star formation drive fierce galactic winds
(Phys.org) -- Fierce galactic winds powered by an intense burst of star formation may blow gas right out of massive galaxies, shutting down their ability to make new stars.
Multiple factors, including climate change, led to collapse and depopulation of ancient Maya
A new analysis of complex interactions between humans and the environment preceding the 9th century collapse and abandonment of the Central Maya Lowlands in the Yucatán Peninsula points to a series of events — some natural, like climate change; some human-made, including large-scale landscape alterations and shifts in trade routes — that have lessons for contemporary decision-makers and sustainability scientists.
Mars rover Curiosity prepares for test drive (Update)
Scientists on Tuesday prepared to send Curiosity on its first test drive over the billion-year-old rocks of Mars and said a busted wind sensor won't jeopardize its mission of determining whether life could exist there.
Curiosity rover stretches its arm for first time
(Phys.org) -- NASA's Mars rover Curiosity flexed its robotic arm today for the first time since before launch in November 2011.
Technology news
Russian court website defaced in support of Pussy Riot
An unidentified computer hacker broke into the official website of a Moscow court that sentenced Pussy Riot band members to jail, defacing its front page with obscenities and an anti-Vladimir Putin slogan, a court spokeswoman said Tuesday.
India cracks down on Internet over migrant exodus
India has demanded social networking websites take down provocative messages and blocked some online content after anonymous threats sparked an exodus of migrants from southern cities.
Hackers claim to target UK Justice Ministry site
(AP) — Britain's Ministry of Justice said Monday it was looking into disruptions on its website, after online activists claimed they hacked into the site as part of a campaign to back WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
China says US energy projects violate free trade
(AP) — China's government has ruled that U.S. government support to six American solar and wind power projects violates free trade rules, adding to strains between Beijing and its trading partners over renewable energy.
Samsung to invest $4 billion in Austin plant
(AP) — Samsung Electronics co. will spend $4 billion renovating its plant in the U.S. to increase production of advanced chips used in smartphones and tablet computers.
Hands-on supercomputing
Almoutaz El Hassan, a researcher from The University of Texas at San Antonio, develops rainfall–runoff modeling tools to help officials manage issues like flood management and water conservation.
S.Leone, China sign $15mln fibre optic deal
Sierra Leone and China have signed a $15 million (12 million euro) loan agreement for the installation of a fibre optic cable which will boost Internet capabilities, national radio reported Tuesday.
Yap.TV tunes Internet Age viewing for the world
San Francisco startup Yap.TV went international with a hit service that helps people mine gems from junk in the growing mountain of shows, films and videos.
Facebook at half-price: which way now?
If you bought Facebook shares in the May IPO and held onto them, by Monday morning you would have lost more than half your investment -- and not see any encouraging signs of making your money back.
New Aerogel-based plaster provides better insulation
(Phys.org) -- Old buildings are beautiful – and hard to insulate. Empa and the Swiss render manufacturer Fixit AG together developed a new Aerogel-based plaster that provides twice the insulation of currently used insulating renders. The product should come onto the market next year.
Britain to get superfast 4G Internet by year-end
Britain will have access to superfast 4G mobile Internet services by the end of the year, communications watchdog Ofcom said on Tuesday after approving its launch by telecoms providers Orange and T-Mobile.
'Fifty Shades' helps Barnes & Noble in 1Q
(AP) — Barnes & Noble's fiscal first-quarter loss narrowed, lifted by sales of e-books and other digital content as well as sales of the "Fifty Shades of Grey" series at its bookstores.
Advances in decades-old dream of mining seawater for uranium
Scientists today reported progress toward a 40-year-old dream of extracting uranium for nuclear power from seawater, which holds at least 4 billion tons of the precious material. They described some of the most promising technology and an economic analysis showing uranium from the oceans could help solidify nuclear energy potential as a sustainable electricity source for the 21st century. Their reports were part of a symposium at the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society being held here through Thursday.
Apps now key to small-business savings
Theater design consultant Joshua Allen doesn't routinely travel the country with a laptop for work anymore. The Apple iPad has become Allen's go-to traveling companion. "At first I was hesitant," he said. But then, "My bag got so much lighter ... and my chiropractor bill went down."
GM's electric Spark: It's all about the batteries
Around this time next year, General Motors will unveil its first all-electric car since the EV-1. It's a battery version of the Spark mini-car that's hitting the showrooms now. In both gas and electric versions, the Spark is something of a pioneer. GM has never sold tiny A-Class vehicles in the American market, and it's never before gone mainstream with an electric - the EV1 never made it out of California and Arizona.
Apple-Samsung smartphone clash heads to jury
The mammoth Apple-Samsung patent trial moved to the jury Tuesday, setting the stage for a verdict that could have huge implications for the hot market in smartphones and tablet computers.
Patent trial over iPhone technology wraps up
(AP) — Closing arguments have started in the multibillion dollar patent trial involving the world's biggest smartphone companies, after last-minute talks between chief executives failed to resolve the dispute.
In US, 19 mn can't get high-speed Internet: study
Around six percent of the US population, or 19 million people, lack access to high-speed Internet even though deployment has improved in recent years, a government study said Tuesday.
Dell profit slumps on 'challenging' PC market
Dell said Tuesday profits for the second quarter fell as the US tech firm faced a "challenging" PC market and pursued efforts to shift into areas such as software and cloud computing.
Scientists make animated collisions sounds realistic
(Phys.org) -- Bang. Clatter. Tinkle. Jingle. When solid objects collide in the real world we hear a sharp impact sound, sometimes followed by a ringing aftershock. Creating sounds like that to accompany computer animation has long been a challenge. In a movie, you can plug in pre-recorded sound -- although it doesn't always fit perfectly. In virtual reality for games or training the sound must be created on the fly, based on what's happening in the animation.
IBM sets new efficiency mark for abundant material solar cell
(Phys.org) -- IBM’s Material Sciences team has reached a new level of efficiency for a thin film solar cell made from the easily accessible materials copper, zinc, tin, and selenium, known as CZTS. The team, in a report by photovoltaic researchers David Mitzi and Teodor Todorov, say they have bested the previous record by ten percent, bumping it to 11.1%.
Researchers create 'Frankenstein' malware made up of common gadgets
(Phys.org) -- In the ever ongoing struggle between good and evil, or in this case, the battle between those that create malware and those that seek to detect and destroy it, the good guys appear to have mimicked the bad by creating a computer virus that can evade detection by building itself from pieces of code that normally reside harmlessly on people’s computers. The result, the team of Vishwath Mohan and Kevin Hamlen of the University of Texas, say, is a cyber version of Frankenstein’s monster.
IEEE forms group to confront network traffic swells
(Phys.org) -- The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) is taking steps to come up with a new Ethernet standard capable of between 400Gbps and 1Tbps.The IEEE announced Tuesday it is forming a group focused on ringing wired Ethernet speeds up to where they will need to belong by 2015. Speeds which could peak at 1 Tbps. The announcement names the “IEEE 802.3 Industry Connections Higher Speed Ethernet Consensus Group” as the body now handed the mission to hammer out details of what will be the new standards for the next speed of Ethernet. The IEEE 802.3 Industry Connections Higher Speed Ethernet Consensus Group is to meet next month in Geneva from September 24 to September 25.
UCLA's new transparent solar film could be game-changer
One of the holy grails of solar cell technology may have been found, with researchers at UCLA announcing they have created a new organic polymer that produces electricity, is nearly transparent and is more durable and malleable than silicon.
US, university test cars that can communicate
In a few weeks, about 2,800 cars, trucks and buses will start talking to each other on the streets of Ann Arbor, Michigan, in a giant experiment that government officials are hoping will lead to safer roads.
Engineers develop 'electronic nose' prototype
(Phys.org) -- Research by Nosang Myung, a professor at the University of California, Riverside, Bourns College of Engineering, has enabled a Riverside company to develop an "electronic nose" prototype that can detect small quantities of harmful airborne substances.
Medicine & Health news
Distressing life events and poverty behind many abortions in US
The researchers, from the Guttmacher Institute in New York, base their findings on feedback data from almost 9,500 women who had an abortion in 2008 (Abortion Patient Survey), in the light of 11 "disruptive" events, and the links between these, poverty, and contraceptive use.
New survey: Women want to see breast reconstruction results before cancer surgery
A new survey released today by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) shows that 89 percent of women want to see what breast reconstruction surgery results would look like before undergoing treatment for breast cancer, prompting the world's largest group of board-certified plastic surgeons to launch a landmark show-and-tell event as part of Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day USA, October 17, 2012 in New Orleans.
Israeli clowns pioneer new medical treatments
(AP) — Doctors in Israel are beginning to believe in the power of clowning around.
Queensland researchers work towards better treatment of drug addiction
(Medical Xpress) -- The University of Queensland researchers are seeking to identify more effective ways of treating drug addiction to tackle the perceived prevalence of injecting drug use worldwide.
Study to evaluate zoning code reforms and physical activity
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have received a $1.5 million federal grant to examine the relationship between zoning code reforms, the physical environment, and physical-activity behavior in communities throughout the U.S.
Eating disorders flying under the radar
Eating disorders are increasingly overlooked in Australia because society is too focused on obesity prevention, a leading Flinders University psychologist says.
Southampton scientists to investigate ways to prevent life-threatening complications in transplant patients
Scientists from the University of Southampton have received a grant from the blood cancer charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research to explore ways of preventing life-threatening side effects in patients receiving bone marrow transplants.
UN warns over swine fever outbreak in Ukraine
The United Nations food agency on Tuesday warned that an outbreak of African swine fever in Ukraine could pose a risk for animal health in the region as a whole despite swift moves to limit its spread.
UK government wants hospitals to expand overseas
(AP) — The British government said Tuesday that it wants the country's state-funded hospitals to help support themselves by setting up profit-making branches in other countries.
New technology to transform blood processing
A pioneering surgical blood salvage technology developed at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, is set to transform the way major surgery is carried out by reducing blood loss in patients.
In your future: More healthful foods to nourish the non-human you
The focus of nutrition for good health is quietly shifting to include consumption of food ingredients specifically designed to nourish the non-human cells that comprise 80 percent of the cells in the typical person, an authority on the topic said here today.
'Alzheimer protein' seems to slow down neurotransmitter production
Researchers report how abnormal protein deposits in the brains of Alzheimer's patients disrupt the signaling between nerve cells. They varied the amount of APP protein and related proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease in cell cultures, and then analyzed how this manipulation affected other proteins in the cell. The result: The amount of APP present was related to the amount of an enzyme that is essential for the production of neurotransmitters and therefore for communication amongst nerve cells.
Researchers highlight treatment, research needs for homeless families
A new paper from North Carolina State University calls for more research on how to help homeless families with children who are facing mental-health problems, as well as changes in how shelters are treating these families.
Study shows long-term effects of radiation in pediatric cancer patients
For many pediatric cancer patients, total body irradiation (TBI) is a necessary part of treatment during bone marrow transplant– it's a key component of long term survival. But lengthened survival creates the ability to notice long term effects of radiation as these youngest cancer patients age. A University of Colorado Cancer Center study recently published in the journal Pediatric Blood & Cancer details these late effects of radiation.
Scientists find protein that promotes cancers, heart disease; create substance to block its effects
Strong scientific evidence suggests that high levels of a blood protein called galectin-3 may increase the risk of heart attacks, cancer and other diseases, and help forecast the outcome of those diseases, a scientist reported here today at the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society.
Targeting sugars in the quest for a vaccine against HIV -- the virus that causes AIDS
As a step toward designing the first effective vaccine against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, scientists are reporting new insights into how a family of rare, highly potent antibodies bind to HIV and neutralize it — stop it from infecting human cells. The antibodies were isolated from people infected with HIV and work against a wide range of HIV strains. The researchers described the study today at the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society.
US warns of drugs in Reumofan dietary supplements
(AP) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use Reumofan dietary supplements, after receiving reports of bleeding, stroke and death among Americans taking the Mexico-manufactured pills.
Carers and pharmacists confused about paracetamol doses for overweight kids
The correct therapeutic dose is important for this commonly used painkiller, say the authors, because it is potentially fatal to give too high a dose; and too low a dose may result in more serious illness.
Stem cell therapy shows promise in repairing stress urinary incontinence
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) can occur due to sneezing, coughing, exercising or even laughing and happens because the pelvic floor muscles are too weak causing leakage when the bladder is put under pressure. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Medicine shows that a new technique, using stem cells isolated from amniotic fluid, can regenerate damaged urethral sphincter muscles and prevent pressure incontinence in mice.
MRI findings shed light on multiple sclerosis
New magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research shows that changes in brain blood flow associated with vein abnormalities are not specific for multiple sclerosis (MS) and do not contribute to its severity, despite what some researchers have speculated. Results of the research are published online in the journal Radiology.
Chain of violence: Study shows impact on Palestinian and Israeli children
Children exposed to ethnic and political violence in the Middle East are more aggressive than other children, a new study shows. And the younger children are, the more strongly they are affected, in a "chain of violence" that goes from political and ethnic strife, to violence in communities, schools, and families, and ends with their own aggressive behavior.
Antibiotic use in infants before six months associated with being overweight in childhood
Treating very young infants with antibiotics may predispose them to being overweight in childhood, according to a study of more than 10,000 children by researchers at the NYU School of Medicine and the NYU Wagner School of Public Service and published in the online August 21, 2012, issue of the International Journal of Obesity.
Infants' avoidance of drop-off reflects specific motor ability, not fear
Researchers have long studied infants' perceptions of safe and risky ground by observing their willingness to cross a visual cliff, a large drop-off covered with a solid glass surface. In crawling, infants grow more likely to avoid the apparent drop-off, leading researchers to conclude that they have a fear of heights. Now a new study has found that although infants learn to avoid the drop-off while crawling, this knowledge doesn't transfer to walking. This suggests that what infants learn is to perceive the limits of their ability to crawl or walk, not a generalized fear of heights. The findings have implications for infants' safety.
For poorer children, living in a high-cost area hurts development
Young children in lower-income families who live in high-cost areas don't do as well academically as their counterparts in low-cost areas, according to a new study.
Sacrificing sleep to study can lead to academic problems
Regardless of how much a high school student generally studies each day, if that student sacrifices sleep in order to study more than usual, he or she is more likely to have academic problems the following day. Because students tend to increasingly sacrifice sleep time for studying in the latter years of high school, this negative dynamic becomes more and more prevalent over time.
Time with parents is important for teens' well-being
It's thought that children grow increasingly distant and independent from their parents during their teen years. But a new longitudinal study has found that spending time with parents is important to teens' well-being.
Post-polyp detection, CRC risk ID'd by colonoscopy factors
(HealthDay) -- In the community setting, after colonoscopic polyp detection, colonoscopy-related factors such as incomplete polyp removal and lack of surveillance colonoscopies are more important than polyp characteristics in predicting subsequent colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, according to a study published in the Aug. 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Increased stroke risk at 30-days post-CABG versus PCI
(HealthDay) -- The risk of stroke at 30 days is significantly higher in patients who undergo coronary revascularization with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery compared to those who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to research published in the Aug. 28 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Close relative's early death may raise your heart risk: study
(HealthDay) -- People with a parent or sibling who died young from heart disease have a much higher risk of developing early heart disease themselves, a new Danish study indicates.
Stroke risk higher after bypass than angioplasty: analysis
(HealthDay News) -- The potential for a stroke is far more common after a bypass than after angioplasty, new research reports, even though the risk after either heart procedure is still relatively low.
Scientists identify mechanisms in kidney disease that trigger heart attacks and strokes
(Medical Xpress) -- Up to 15 per cent of the population in the UK are affected by kidney disease. While a small number of individuals will develop kidney failure, a far greater number will develop circulatory diseases such as heart attacks and strokes. New research, led by academics at the University of Bristol, has now identified the underlying mechanisms that can contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Oxygen radicals defend the intestine against gastroenteritis
(Medical Xpress) -- The findings of new research from UCD Conway Institute and the National Children’s Research Centre shows oxygen radicals are the first line of defence against gastroenteritis caused by Campylobacter organisms.
Guilt verses gut: Assistant professor helps working mothers find balance with exercise, children
(Medical Xpress) -- Guilt is a major obstacle working mothers face for staying active, according to Emily Mailey. She is a Kansas State University assistant professor of kinesiology who researches and develops interventions to promote physical activity among working mothers.
When to choose sports drinks over water
(Medical Xpress) -- With all the different sports drinks on the market, it can be hard to decide whether to reach for a sports drink or water to quench your thirst. In most cases, water will meet your hydration needs, according to Brooke Schantz, a Loyola University Health System registered dietitian and certified specialist in sports dietetics.
Creativity and bipolar disorder are linked, but not by some mad genius
(Medical Xpress) -- Does some fine madness yield great artists, writers and scientists? The evidence is growing for a significant link between bipolar disorder and creative temperament and achievement.
Financial crisis to blame for increased number of suicides in Italy
(Medical Xpress) -- The global financial crisis has contributed to an increase in the rates of suicide and attempted suicide for economic reasons in Italy, new research shows.
This season's influenza strain among pigs and humans appears mild
(Medical Xpress) -- Increasing reports this month of humans infected by influenza after close contact with pigs at county and state fairs shouldn’t send pork producers – or anyone else, for that matter – scrambling for the panic button, veterinary and animal science experts at Iowa State University said this week.
Teens who smoke and drink may be more likely to abuse prescription opioids later
(Medical Xpress) -- Adolescents who smoke cigarettes or use alcohol or marijuana may be at greater risk for subsequent abuse of prescription opioids as young adults, according to a new study by Yale School of Medicine.
New attack on pain
A research team from the University of Melbourne is working on a new therapy that can potentially control the pain caused by diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
World's oldest siblings living in Sardinia: reports
The Melis siblings on the island of Sardinia are officially the world's oldest with nine brothers and sisters clocking up a total of 818 years between them, Italian newspapers reported on Tuesday.
Looking one cell at a time in the brain to better understand pain, learning, memory
Working with units of material so small that it would take 50,000 to make up one drop, scientists are developing the profiles of the contents of individual brain cells in a search for the root causes of chronic pain, memory loss and other maladies that affect millions of people.
Sleep improves memory in people with Parkinson's disease
(Medical Xpress) -- People with Parkinson's disease performed markedly better on a test of working memory after a night's sleep, and sleep disorders can interfere with that benefit, researchers have shown.
Older women may not benefit from radiotherapy after breast surgery
A Rhode Island Hospital radiation oncologist says in a new editorial that research exploring the impact of radiotherapy in older women with low risk of breast cancer recurrence has little effect on actual clinical decisions. The editorial written by David E. Wazer, M.D., chief of the department of radiation oncology, is published in the current issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Groundbreaking clinical trial looks at fecal transplant as treatment for C. difficile
For patients with Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), a persistent and potentially deadly bacterial illness, severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting are an everyday event. This particularly virulent infection is prone to recurrence, even after multiple courses of expensive antibiotics, and treatment options are limited for patients who continually relapse or develop antibiotic resistance.
Cancer prevalence set to treble
(Medical Xpress) -- The number of older people (aged 65 and over) living with cancer in the UK is set to more than treble by 2040 – from 1.3 million in 2010 to 4.1 million – according to a new study by King’s College London researchers.
RNA assays up sensitivity of urothelial carcinoma detection
(HealthDay) -- Cxbladder, a derivative of the RNA assay uRNA, may be an effective alternative to cytology and nuclear matrix protein 22 (NMP22) assays for the detection of urothelial carcinoma, according to a study published in the September issue of The Journal of Urology.
BMI, post-exercise knee laxity change tied to OA progression
(HealthDay) -- In patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, changes in knee joint laxity during stair climbing or other repetitive physical activity and baseline body mass index (BMI) are associated with disease progression, according to a study published online Aug. 8 in Arthritis & Rheumatism.
No benefit seen for adjuvant oxaliplatin in stage II colon CA
(HealthDay) -- For elderly patients with colon cancer or those with stage II disease, the addition of oxaliplatin to fluorouracil with leucovorin (FL) does not seem to offer any survival benefit, according to a study published online Aug. 20 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Azathioprine may benefit pediatric atopic dermatitis
(HealthDay) -- For pediatric patients with refractory atopic dermatitis (AD), oral azathioprine is associated with clinical improvement, and measurement of thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) activity seems useful for monitoring treatment, according to a study published online Aug. 13 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Resting heart rate predicts overall, cardiovascular mortality
(HealthDay) -- High resting heart rates seem to be predictive of increased risk for overall and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and shorter survival times, according to a study published in the Aug. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Factors tied to photoprotection ID'd for organ recipients
(HealthDay) -- For organ transplant recipients, patients factors, including sex and skin type, and receipt of advice from health care providers, are both associated with sun protective behaviors, according to a study published online Aug. 9 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
No truth to akin's claim that rape hinders pregnancy, experts say
(HealthDay) -- Health experts are strongly refuting the assertion by a Republican Congressman that pregnancy is much more unlikely if a woman is raped.
Researchers identified markers that predict progression of oral lesions to cancer
A group of molecular markers have been identified that can help clinicians determine which patients with low-grade oral premalignant lesions are at high risk for progression to oral cancer, according to data from the Oral Cancer Prediction Longitudinal Study published in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Many options, good outcomes, for early-stage follicular lymphoma
(Medical Xpress) -- A University of Rochester Medical Center study challenges treatment guidelines for early stage follicular lymphoma, concluding that six different therapies can bring a remission, particularly if the patient is carefully examined and staged at diagnosis.
Coronary artery calcium scan most effective in predicting risk of heart disease: research
Heart calcium scans are far superior to other assessment tools in predicting the development of cardiovascular disease in individuals currently classified at intermediate risk by their doctors, according to researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
LPA1 inhibition induces metastatic dormancy in mouse models of breast cancer
A lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPAR1) inhibitor, known as Debio-0719, suppresses the development of metastases in mice by inducing cancer cell dormancy, according to a study published August 21 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Study: statin therapy associated with lower risk of pancreatitis
Although some studies have suggested that use of lipid-lowering therapies may increase the risk of pancreatitis, an analysis that involved pooling of data from previous studies and included more than 150,000 participants found that statin therapy was associated with a reduction in the risk of pancreatitis in patients with normal or mildly elevated triglyceride levels, according to an article in the August 22/29 issue of JAMA.
Use of newer-generation drug-releasing stent results in lower rate of adverse cardiac events
Compared with a bare-metal stent, the use of a stent with a biodegradable polymer that releases the drug biolimus resulted in a lower rate of major adverse cardiac events at 1 year among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI; a certain pattern on an electrocardiogram following a heart attack) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; procedures such as balloon angioplasty or stent placement used to open narrowed coronary arteries), according to a study in the August 22/29 issue of JAMA.
Low oxygen levels may decrease life-saving protein in spinal muscular atrophy
Investigators at Nationwide Children's Hospital may have discovered a biological explanation for why low levels of oxygen advance spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) symptoms and why breathing treatments help SMA patients live longer. The findings appear in Human Molecular Genetics.
Low oxygen boosts stem cell survival in muscular dystrophy therapy
(Medical Xpress) -- Controlling the amount of oxygen that stem cells are exposed to can significantly increase the effectiveness of a procedure meant to combat an often fatal form of muscular dystrophy, according to Purdue University research.
Unconscious emotional memory remains intact during alcohol intoxication, may impact prevention and intervention
(Medical Xpress) -- Although certain memory processes are impaired during alcohol intoxication, the brain does appear to retain emotionally charged images, particularly in unconscious memory processes, a new study in the September issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs suggests. This finding may have implications for improving alcohol education and treatment programs.
Common antifungal drug decreases tumor growth and shows promise as cancer therapy
An inexpensive antifungal drug, thiabendazole, slows tumor growth and shows promise as a chemotherapy for cancer. Scientists in the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin made this discovery by exploiting the evolutionary relatedness of yeast, frogs, mice and humans.
Great expectations: Interpretation of positive or negative information is all a matter of anticipation, psychologist say
(Medical Xpress) -- Each month a new jobs report is issued in the United States. Each month the report is also met with criticism even if jobs are added.
Dont get mad, get creative: Social rejection can fuel imaginative thinking, study shows
It's not just in movies where nerds get their revenge. A study by a Johns Hopkins University business professor finds that social rejection can inspire imaginative thinking, particularly in individuals with a strong sense of their own independence.
Research identifies mechanism responsible for eye movement disorder
A research team from King's College London and the University of Exeter Medical School has identified how a genetic mutation acts during the development of nerves responsible for controlling eye muscles, resulting in movement disorders such as Duane Syndrome, a form of squint.
New study uncovers brain's code for pronouncing vowels
Scientists have unraveled how our brain cells encode the pronunciation of individual vowels in speech. The discovery could lead to new technology that verbalizes the unspoken words of people paralyzed by injury or disease.
Thinking and choosing in the brain: Researchers study over 300 lesion patients
The frontal lobes are the largest part of the human brain, and thought to be the part that expanded most during human evolution. Damage to the frontal lobes—which are located just behind and above the eyes—can result in profound impairments in higher-level reasoning and decision making. To find out more about what different parts of the frontal lobes do, neuroscientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) recently teamed up with researchers at the world's largest registry of brain-lesion patients. By mapping the brain lesions of these patients, the team was able to show that reasoning and behavioral control are dependent on different regions of the frontal lobes than the areas called upon when making a decision.
Time flies when you're having goal-motivated fun
Though the seconds may tick by on the clock at a regular pace, our experience of the 'fourth dimension' is anything but uniform. When we're waiting in line or sitting in a boring meeting, time seems to slow down to a trickle. And when we get caught up in something completely engrossing – a gripping thriller, for example – we may lose sense of time altogether.
Practicing music for only few years in childhood helps improve adult brain: research
A little music training in childhood goes a long way in improving how the brain functions in adulthood when it comes to listening and the complex processing of sound, according to a new Northwestern University study.
Biology news
Catalan researchers identify a key component of cell division
A study by the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) and the Center for Genomic Regulation (acronym in Catalan CRG) highlights the protein Nek9 as a decisive factor in cell division, a fundamental process for both the development of an organism and tissue maintenance. Headed by the researchers Joan Roig at IRB Barcelona and Isabelle Vernos at the CRG, the study describes that Nek9 is required for a cell to be able to divide the chromosomes into two identical groups in order to ensure efficient and accurate cell division. In fact, errors in the correct distribution of chromosomes cause many spontaneous miscarriages, some genetic defects such as trisomies, and are also related to the development of tumours.
The first ant methylomes uncover the relationship between DNA methylation and caste differentiation
An international team led by New York University School of Medicine and BGI, the largest genomics organization in the world, has completed the first genome-wide and single-nucleotide resolution DNA methylomes of two ant species: Camponotus floridanus and Harpegnathos saltator. It provides new insights into the relationship between epigenetic regulation and caste differentiation of ants and also shed light on the epigenetic mechanism involved in social behavior, neurobiology and life-span of other animals. The latest study was published in Current Biology.
Conservation Report reveals successes on the ground
Fauna & Flora International (FFI) has published its annual Conservation Report that summarises the key results from its conservation projects around the world in 2011.
TRAFFIC warns over 500 rhinos could perish this year
Global wildlife monitoring network TRAFFIC warned Tuesday that 515 rhinos could perish by the end of the year if no action is taken to stem the illicit trade in rhino horns.
Sea life facing major shock
(Phys.org) -- Life in the world's oceans faces far greater change and risk of large-scale extinctions than at any previous time in human history, a team of the world's leading marine scientists has warned.
Bonobo stone tools as competent as ancient human?
The great apes known as bonobos can make stone tools far more varied in purpose than previously known, reaching a level of technological competence formerly assigned only to the human lineage, according to researchers.
Viruses with integrated gene switch
Scientists of the German Cancer Research Center have developed "RNA switches" which allow them to specifically turn on and off genes in viruses. This will help to enhance regulation of gene therapy and viral therapy of cancer.
Research reveals unique solution to gene regulation
Research on a unique vertebrate called the sea lamprey shows that more than a thousand genes are shed during its early development. These genes are paradoxically lost all throughout the developing embryo except in a specialized compartment called "primordial germ cells" or PGCs. The PGCs can be thought of as embryonic stem cells and are used, ultimately, for making the next generation of lampreys. Based on computational analysis, a significant number of genes that are lost in the embryo have signatures of "pluripotency," which suggests that they could also have undesirable effects if they were inadvertently turned on in the body. In effect, by undergoing programmed genome rearrangement and gene loss during embryogenesis, the sea lamprey "seals" the genes away in the small germline compartment so they cannot be misexpressed and thereby create untoward problems (such as development of cancer, for example).
Rare forget-me-nots discovered in the mountains of New Zealand
Two rare species of forget-me-nots have been added to Flora of New Zealand. These new species were discovered in the mountains of the South Island during an expedition led by Dr. Carlos A. Lehnebach. These new species have been described and illustrated in an article published in the open access journal PhytoKeys.
Synthetic future: HMS professor leads effort to streamline biological engineering
Professor Pamela Silver of Harvard Medical School (HMS) believes in biology’s potential to change the world. She sees a future where scientists routinely wield microbes against disease, using computers to turn bacteria into microscopic drug factories rapidly assembled from off-the-shelf biological parts.
Kinetochore structure reveals how it takes hold
(Phys.org) -- With the first-ever three-dimensional image of an isolated kinetochore – the bulky molecular machine that connects a chromosome to the long, thin microtubules that tug it to one end of a dividing cell -- scientists can now see how the machine establishes and maintains its grip, even as the microtubule tip it holds onto shrinks away. Maintaining that grip is essential to ensure that new cells receive the appropriate allotment of chromosomes.
Great tits join forces to defend neighbours' nests
Great tits appear to have what might be described as their own neighbourhood watch scheme, the latest research suggests.
For a long and fruitful life, consult fruit flies
(Phys.org) -- Bewildered by the array of antioxidant fruit juices on display in the supermarket and the promises they make? To sort out the antioxidant properties of fruits and berries, scientists at Emory University School of Medicine turned to fruit flies for help.
Stem cells can become anything — but not without this protein
In a finding that could be important to the use of all kinds of stem cells in treating disease, scientists have discovered the crucial role of a protein called Mof in preserving the 'stem-ness' of stem cells, and priming them to become specialized cells in mice. It plays a key role in the "epigenetics" of stem cells -- that is, helping stem cells read and use their DNA.
Sanctuary chimps show high rates of drug-resistant staph
(Phys.org) -- Chimpanzees from African sanctuaries carry drug-resistant, human-associated strains of the bacteria Staphlyococcus aureus, a pathogen that the infected chimpanzees could spread to endangered wild ape populations if they were reintroduced to their natural habitat, a new study shows.
Researchers find evidence of photosynthesis-like process in aphids
(Phys.org) -- In plants, algae and some types of bacteria and fungi, sunlight is converted to chemical energy in a process we all know as photosynthesis; in that process water and carbon dioxide are also converted to oxygen. Now it appears that a type of aphid, a small insect, is able to do something similar, minus the water and carbon dioxide conversion. Researchers at the Sophia Agrobiotech Institute in France, have found that not only do aphids produce carotenoids, but the amount they produce seems to be directly influenced by the amount of sunshine they receive in their daily life. This the authors explain in their paper published in Scientific Reports, suggests the insects might be able to directly convert sunlight to energy, which would make it the only animal able to do so.
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