Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 10, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Optical microscopy enters a new phase: 3D measurement through tomographic bright field imaging- Crows react to threats in human-like way: Neural basis of crows' knack for face recognition
- Higgs boson: Landmark announcement clears key hurdle
- Babies' ability to detect complex rules in language outshines that of adults: study
- Model shows wind could meet many times world's total power demand by 2030
- Researchers make first all-optical nanowire switch
- Placebo response, pain experience occur at nonconscious level: study
- Research finds key molecules involved in forming long-term memories
- African fruit 'brightest' thing in nature but does not use pigment to create its extraordinary colour
- Cocaine withdrawal: Emotional 'brakes' stay on after cocaine wears off
- Prototype represents a step toward enhanced soft-tissue tomography
- Reversible oxygen-sensing 'switching' mechanism discovered
- How breast cancer spreads: Researchers find key to lymph node metastasis in mice
- Ants have an exceptionally 'hi-def' sense of smell
- Low cost pain drug can kill resistant tuberculosis
Space & Earth news
Weather satellite to be delivered in orbit to Eumetsat
Later this month, Europe's newest meteorology satellite, MetOp-B, will blast into space from Baikonur Cosmodrome. For mission control teams at ESA, liftoff marks the start of 72 hours of intense focus during the mission's critical launch and early orbit phase.
Calculating the global risk to our health
A physicist turned soil expert calculating the journey of food from the ground to our kitchen tables says understanding this relationship in context with things like corruption and climate change will help us solve complex issues related to health and food security.
Nicaragua volcano spews tons of ash
Nicaragua's San Cristobal volcano shot tons of ash into the sky after forcing evacuations of nearby towns, officials said.
Space shuttle Endeavour to make historic final ferry flight
(Phys.org)—Space shuttle Endeavour, mounted atop NASA's modified 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), will make the final ferry flight of the Space Shuttle Program era when it departs Monday, Sept. 17, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida headed to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Habitable planets: Model considers possibility of underground life
A new scientific model to understand the amount of our universe which is habitable developed by University of Aberdeen scientists is being announced today at the British Science Festival.
Ancient Alaskans' experience with 'Little Ice Age' may inform climate change coping strategies
In a scientific first, chemical analysis of ancient Eskimo hair found in Western Alaska could reveal how people in the region lived through times of climate change over the last 1000 years.
'Touching the Sun': Sunita Williams on spacewalk
(Phys.org)—NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, Expedition 32 flight engineer, appears to touch the bright sun during the mission's third session of extravehicular activity (EVA) on Sept. 5, 2012.
Discovery of the "Pigtail" molecular cloud
A research team of the Department of Physics, Keio University, has discovered a molecular cloud with a peculiar helical structure by observation with the NRO 45m Telescope at Nobeyama Radio Observatory, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ). The team named it a "pigtail" molecular cloud from its morphology. The "pigtail" molecular cloud is located in the Galactic center, approximately 30,000 light years away from the solar system. Giant molecular clouds in this region orbit around the Galactic center along two closed orbits. At the bottom of the pigtail molecular cloud, these two orbits intersect. The research team analyzed multiple molecular spectral lines in detail. The researchers have revealed that the two giant molecular clouds collide with one another at exactly the bottom of the "pigtail" molecular cloud. These findings suggest that the helical structure of the "pigtail" molecular cloud formed when the two molecular clouds with different orbits frictionally collided and the magnetic tube was twisted.
JPL's space simulator today
(Phys.org)—You could call it the Ultimate Evil Tanning Bed—a stainless-steel torture chamber 47 feet tall and 25 feet in diameter that's expressly designed to deliver a fatal sunburn, if at all possible, to anything placed within. The chamber mimics the incredibly intense sunlight found in the vicinity of Venus, and it was built to see whether a spacecraft could withstand being seared on one side and frozen on the other. Would electronics fry as the solder melted? Would struts snap from the stress of plunging from dazzle to darkness and back again? Could you insulate your way to safety, or would you have to go back and find clever ways to get rid of the excess heat?
Curiosity snaps evocative self portrait
Curiosity has snapped an evocative new color self-portrait – and it's totally unique, being the 1st head shot pose, showing the top of the Remote Sensing Mast (RSM).
NRL researchers use unmanned aircraft to probe hurricane outflow jets
Researchers at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Marine Meteorology Division (MMD), Monterey, Calif., will take part in a new three-year NASA field campaign aimed at observing hurricanes from a unique vantage point 65,000 feet above the Atlantic, an altitude not previously attainable by hurricane research aircraft.
NASA catches Tropical Storm Leslie and Hurricane Michael in the Atlantic
Satellite images from two NASA satellites were combined to create a full picture of Tropical Storm Leslie and Hurricane Michael spinning in the Atlantic Ocean. Imagery from NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites showed Leslie now past Bermuda and Michael in the north central Atlantic, and Leslie is much larger than the smaller, more powerful Michael.
Salt seeds clouds in the Amazon rainforest
It's morning, deep in the Amazon jungle. In the still air innumerable leaves glisten with moisture, and fog drifts through the trees. As the sun rises, clouds appear and float across the forest canopy ... but where do they come from? Water vapor needs solid surfaces to condense on. Airborne particles are the seeds of liquid droplets in fog, mist, and clouds.
Increase in metal concentrations in Rocky Mountain watershed tied to warming temperatures
(Phys.org)—Warmer air temperatures since the 1980s may explain significant increases in zinc and other metal concentrations of ecological concern in a Rocky Mountain watershed, reports a new study led by the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Colorado Boulder.
Glycolaldehyde—the simplest sugar—discovered around newly developing star
(Phys.org)—Astronomers have detected about 180 molecules in interstellar space, from simple ones like carbon monoxide (one atom of carbon and one of oxygen) to complex species like buckminsterfullerene (sixty atoms of carbon) or anthracene (fourteen atoms of carbon and ten of hydrogen). These chemicals are found in a wide variety of environments in the galaxy, and in principle can provide the backbone for the subsequent production of the molecules essential to life.
Droughts render trees less able to ward off disease, insects
(Phys.org)—Droughts in the Southwest made more severe by warming temperatures are putting plants in stressful growing conditions, a new study has found, identifying an increasingly water-thirsty atmosphere as a key force that sucks moisture from plants, leading to potentially higher stress - especially in mid and low elevations.
Technology news
Emma Watson named most 'dangerous' cyber celebrity
(AP)—Emma Watson is the favorite celebrity bait for cyber criminals trying to lure Internet users.
More Aussies online, but digital divide remains
Five out of every six Australians are now online and regard the internet as a central part of their lives – but people who don't have access are at a deepening disadvantage as the digital gap widens, researchers have warned.
Slow websites a source of irritation
Slow websites are a major source of irritation; we simply cannot be bothered to wait. But according to PhD student Marcel Harkema from the University of Twente, there is no longer any excuse for them. "Too many IT systems are built without first considering the quality of the service. A slow website caused by capacity problems, for example, will damage the owner's image." Marcel Harkema carried out research into the factors primarily responsible for software performance, and collated his data into performance models to be used for solving preliminary problems like this.
Research: Decreasing cabin noise and vibration
Passenger comfort within the cabin is critical to maintenance of a competitive position. EU-funded researchers modified patented vibration-damping technology for use in aircraft.
DOCSIS 3.0-based high-speed cable modem SoC for full-HD multimedia and internet-TV services
STMicroelectronics is going to demonstrate a cable modem meeting the latest DOCSIS 3.0 specifications at IBC 2012, Amsterdam, September 7 to 11.
Cambodia deports Pirate Bay co-founder
(AP)—Cambodia has deported a Swedish founder of the popular file-sharing site The Pirate Bay who is wanted in his homeland for copyright violations.
Zynga chief marketing, revenue officer resigns
(AP)—Zynga's chief marketing and chief revenue officer has become the latest executive to leave the struggling online company behind "FarmVille" and other games.
India's Infosys pays $350 mn for Swiss consultancy
Indian IT outsourcing giant Infosys said Monday it had agreed to buy Zurich-based consulting firm Lodestone for $350 million as part of its strategy to move into higher value services.
Palestinian inventor builds Gaza's first electric car
The boxy little white and blue vehicle draws plenty of curious stares as it chugs down the street. But this is no golf cart—it's Gaza's first hand-built electric car.
Radar technology: Now housed within thumbtack-sized chip
Today's parking assistant systems enable drivers to safely park their cars even in the narrowest of gaps. Such sophisticated parking aids, and also manufacturing robots which, to move about in unknown environments, require millimeter precision control, rely on precise all-around radar distance measurement. Together with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the SUCCESS Consortium now has succeeded in integrating the necessary radar technology into millimeter-sized chip housings.
Investigation of 'cognitive fingerprints' to bolster computer passwords
(Phys.org)—It won't make passwords passé, but a team led by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) intends to use "cognitive fingerprints" to make sure you are you, and not an imposter.
Computer, read my lips: Emotion detector developed using a genetic algorithm
A computer is being taught to interpret human emotions based on lip pattern, according to research published in the International Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Soft Computing. The system could improve the way we interact with computers and perhaps allow disabled people to use computer-based communications devices, such as voice synthesizers, more effectively and more efficiently.
Hewlett-Packard expands job cuts by 2,000
(AP)—Hewlett-Packard plans to cut about 2,000 more jobs than previously announced, as CEO Meg Whitman tries to turn the company around. Last month, HP posted the largest loss in its 73-year history.
Global IT spending set to grow 6 pct in 2012: survey
Worldwide spending on information technology is expected to grow six percent this year in constant currency, a slight dip from 2011, a research firm said Monday.
Perfecting email security
Millions of us send billions of emails back and forth each day without much concern for their security. On the whole, security is not a primary concern for most day-to-day emails, but some emails do contain personal, proprietary and sensitive information, documents, media, photos, videos and sound files. Unfortunately, the open nature of email means that they can be intercepted and if not encrypted easily read by malicious third parties. Even with the PGP - pretty good privacy - encryption scheme first used in 1995, if a sender's private "key" is compromised all their previous emails encrypted with that key can be exposed.
Homeland Security's 'narco sub' PLUTO mimics the real thing
The erstwhile planet Pluto (now officially an asteroid) was known for decades as a small, dark planet—hidden, difficult to spot, and on a quiet, determined course all its own. And so, when the DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) needed a target semi-submersible to detect the hidden but determined maritime smuggling operations of the South American drug cartels, it created its own vessel and called it "PLUTO," after the planet that is so difficult to spot. S&T's PLUTO is a small, semi-submersible that is representative of what are popularly called "narco subs," and serves as a realistic practice target for the detection systems of DHS and its national security community partners.
Computer program to deal with patients who fail to keep appointments
A problem faced by patients seeking medical attention is often getting a clinic appointment at a time convenient to them. Conversely, cancellations and more crucially "no-shows" by patients can disrupt the day-to-day scheduling of a medical practice leading to frustration for patients and staff alike as well as affectively efficiency in a negative manner and leading to lost revenue.
Kodak to cut more jobs in bankruptcy plan
US photography pioneer Eastman Kodak said Monday it would cut 1,000 more jobs by the end of this year as it restructures in an effort to emerge from bankruptcy protection.
T-Mobile launches campaign to lure iPhone users
(AP)—T-Mobile USA, the only "Big 4" phone company that doesn't sell the iPhone, now wants to snag used ones from AT&T.
Predicting wave power could double marine-based energy
In the search for alternative energy, scientists have focused on the sun and the wind. There is also tremendous potential in harnessing the power of the ocean's waves, but marine energy presents specific challenges that have made it a less promising resource.
Turn your dreams into music
Computer scientists in Finland have developed a method that automatically composes music out of sleep measurements. The composition service works live on the Web at sleepmusicalization.net.
Facebook co-founder Moskovitz sells more stock
(AP)—Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz has sold 5.7 million shares of the company's stock, a small fraction of his total holdings.
Microsoft to launch pop-up stores to help tablet sales
Microsoft said Monday it is launching more than 30 pop-up holiday shops in the United States and Canada as it gears up to sell its new Surface tablet computer.
Startup enlists 'the crowd' to expose knock-offs
Tech startup BrandBounty on Monday sought to enlist smartphone users around the world in a "crowd-sourced" battle against knock-off goods and pirated digital content.
FBI steps up to $1B next-gen ID program
(Phys.org)—The good news is that the FBI is crawling out of the fingerprint age. They are moving up into a $1 billion project that will enable criminal searches and accurate identifications using updated technologies including a range of biometrics. The bad news, at least for privacy advocates, is one and the same. Privacy groups are asking, biometrics, at what price? How will they be used and who is to guarantee against their abuse? Nonetheless, the FBI is set to witness significant improvements to their existing fingerprint identification services, and there is an ambitious title behind their resolve, the $1 billion Next Generation Identification (NGI) program. Eventually this program is to encompass facial recognition, iris scans, DNA analysis and voice identification.
Researchers craft program to stop cloud computer problems before they start
(Phys.org)—Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a new software tool to prevent performance disruptions in cloud computing systems by automatically identifying and responding to potential anomalies before they can develop into problems.
App firm say it may be source of Apple breach
A digital publisher said Monday it was likely the source of a data breach which resulted in the leak of personal data from as many as 12 million Apple iPhone and iPad users.
Hacker claims credit for outage at major Web host
A member of a hacker collective claimed credit Monday for downing the Web hosting firm GoDaddy, which manages millions of websites around the world.
Silicon Valley isn't sharing Facebook's misery (Update)
Silicon Valley, it turns out, doesn't revolve around the stock prices of Facebook and its playful sidekick, Zynga.
ORNL roof and attic design proves efficient in summer and winter
(Phys.org)—A new kind of roof-and-attic system field-tested at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory keeps homes cool in summer and prevents heat loss in winter, a multi-seasonal efficiency uncommon in roof and attic design.
Developing new computing approach to materials science
Krishna Rajan of Iowa State University and the Ames Laboratory thinks there's more to materials informatics than plotting a thick cloud of colorful data points. As he sees it, managing computing tools to discover new materials involves harnessing the key characteristics of data: volume, velocity, variety and veracity (the four V's).
Model shows wind could meet many times world's total power demand by 2030
In 2030, if all energy is converted to clean energy, humans will consume about eleven-and-a-half terawatts of power every year, all sources combined. If there is to be a clean-energy economy based on renewable energy, wind power will no doubt have to help meet much of that demand.
Medicine & Health news
New drug has potential to treat broader range of cancers
(Medical Xpress)—ImmuNext, founded by scientists at King's College London, has announced a research and drug development agreement with Janssen Biotech Inc to develop a new cancer drug to trigger the body's own immune system to fight the disease.
Research: How fertilisation clinics address 'welfare of the child' pre-conception
New research from the University of Kent has revealed the concerns of conception clinic staff involved in welfare of the child (WOC) assessments under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Act.
Tracing the molecular causes of preeclampsia
Preeclampsia is one of the most dangerous conditions for the expectant mother and the unborn child and is characterized by elevated blood pressure and protein in the urine in the last trimester of pregnancy. The cause for this life-threatening disease has long remained elusive. Recently however, Dr. Ananth Karumanchi (Associate Professor of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center & Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA) has identified a new molecular pathway that leads to preeclampsia in humans and thus creating new avenues for the development of a therapy, he reported at the 1st ECRC "Franz-Volhard" Symposium on September 8, 2012 at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch.
Researchers iron out the link between serum ferritin and diabetes
Iron overload increases the risk for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes; however, the exact mechanisms that link the two are unknown.
Most prescription drugs manufactured overseas—are they safe?
Most pharmaceutical drugs in Canada are manufactured overseas in countries such as India, China and others, yet how can we be confident the drug supply is safe, writes a drug policy researcher in an opinion piece in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Flu vaccination rates vary widely by ethnicity in Canada
Influenza vaccination rates vary widely in Canada by ethnicity, with black and white Canadians being the least likely to be vaccinated, found a new study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
India's patent laws under pressure: The Lancet special report
In a special report in The Lancet, researchers from Queen Mary, University of London (UK) argue that pending cases against India's patent laws threaten public health and misinterpret international intellectual property agreements.
Study looks at benefits of progestogens to prevent early childbirth
Pregnant women who have had prior preterm births may avoid a subsequent early birth if given progestogens, which are natural or synthetic forms of progesterone, a female hormone that naturally increases during pregnancy, a Vanderbilt analysis shows.
Mayo Clinic suicide prevention expert outlines new steps to tackle military suicide
The suicide rate in the U.S. Army now exceeds the rate in the general population, and psychiatric admission is now the most common reason for hospitalization in the Army. These concerning trends are described by Timothy Lineberry, M.D., a Mayo Clinic psychiatrist and suicide expert for the Army, in the September edition of Mayo Clinic Proceedings. In the article, he also outlines steps to assess and address military suicide—an issue he calls a major public health concern. Dr. Lineberry proposes greater use of gun locks, improving primary care for depression, and better monitoring for sleep disturbances, among other steps.
No proof that patients lose weight after joint replacement surgery
Hip and knee replacements are now a common surgical procedure with more than 700,000 total joint arthroplasties (TJAs) performed in the US every year. Due to the reduction in pain and increases in mobility experienced after having a TJA, it could be expected that weight loss may occur as a by-product of the surgery. But is this the case? This is the question posed by Maria Inacio, a doctoral candidate from the San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego, who is employed at Kaiser Permanente, and her colleagues at those institutions. They conducted a review of the current literature to find out. Their results appear online in the journal Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research.
Govt urges new focus on preventing suicides
(AP)—The Obama administration is urging a new focus on preventing suicides, especially among military veterans—and is beefing up the nation's crisis hotline to help.
CWRU nurse researchers find effort takes its toll on unpaid family caregivers
According to AARP, the annual cost of unpaid elder caregiving – work that falls mainly on the backs of family members – runs about $450 billion.
GEN reports on ocular therapeutics targeting the retina
Therapies for retinal diseases are expected to overtake those for glaucoma by 2014, reports Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN). Because current retinal disease treatments only improve vision for six to eight weeks, there is a critical need for new remedies, according to a recent issue of GEN.
9/11 WTC health program adds 50 types of cancer
(AP)—The federal government will include about 50 types of cancer on the list of Sept. 11 World Trade Center-related illnesses covered by a program to pay for health coverage.
Annals of Internal Medicine commentary urges public to take precautions against West Nile Virus
West Nile virus (WNV) has become endemic in North America, with cases in 2012 exceeding that of any other year. As of August 28, the United States has seen 1,590 cases, 65 deaths, and 303 viremic blood donors.
Older overweight children consume fewer calories than their healthy weight peers
A new study by University of North Carolina School of Medicine pediatrics researchers finds a surprising difference in the eating habits of overweight children between ages 9 and 17 years compared to those younger than 9.
Surprising methods heal wounded troops
(AP)—Scientists are growing ears, bone and skin in the lab, and doctors are planning more face transplants and other extreme plastic surgeries. The most advanced medical tools that exist are now being deployed to help America's newest veterans and wounded troops.
New approach needed to tackle emerging zoonotic diseases
(Medical Xpress)—A more coordinated approach to surveillance is required if emerging diseases which can spread from animals to humans are to be tackled, say scientists.
Epigenetics may reveal insights into anorexia
Flinders University's Professor Tracey Wade and a team of researchers at Melbourne's Murdoch Childrens Research Institute are only months from what may be an important turning point in the treatment of anorexia.
Study: Heart catheter procedures facilitated by MRIs
(Medical Xpress)—Heart catheter procedures guided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are as safe as X-ray-guided procedures and take no more time, according to a pilot study conducted at the National Institutes of Health. The results of the study indicate that real-time MRI-guided catheterization could be a radiation-free alternative to certain X-ray-guided procedures.
Study: Self-motivation superior to pleasing others in battle to maintain healthy weight
(Medical Xpress)—Middle-aged women who are self-motivated to eat healthily have a lower body mass index (BMI) than those who do so in order to keep others happy, new University of Otago research suggests.
This summers' return of West Nile
In 2002, much of North America became acquainted with an infection that few people had heard of – West Nile Virus. Governments and public health offices launched massive awareness programs to get people to take up practices that would help to avoid the virus. It seemed to work – after that summer, we rarely heard about West Nile Virus.
Teens' diabetes management supported by family problem-solving
(Medical Xpress)—A clinic-based program for adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their families helped the teens develop the healthy behaviors needed to control their blood sugar levels, researchers at the National Institutes of Health have found.
HIV-infected women susceptible to malnutrition during pregnancy, even with good antiretrovirol care
Malnutrition is common among HIV-infected pregnant women even when they receive antiretroviral therapy, leading to low birth weight and other health problems in their infants, according to a recent study conducted by a Cornell University faculty member working with the Makerere University-UCSF Research Collaboration.
Thickening of heart's right ventricle could foreshadow heart failure and cardiovascular death in heart-healthy patients
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania report in a new study that thickening of the heart's right ventricle is associated with an increased risk of heart failure and cardiovascular death in patients without clinical cardiovascular disease at baseline. The study is published online ahead of print in the journal Circulation.
Fish oil key in preventing sarcopenia in the elderly?
Presented last week at the British Science Festival, a new study by University of Aberdeen scientists will examine if the consumption of fish oil combined with weight training exercises could help protect the elderly against muscle deterioration.
Skill set key to sticking to a healthy diet
Executive functions are psychological skills we use to achieve goals – for example planning actions in advance, solving problems and ignoring distractions. People with less efficient 'executive functions' are less able to adhere to healthy diet intentions. Scientists behind the research are using the information to develop interventions to help people eat as they intend.
Quantifying the risk of pandemics created through air travel: Creating models for efficient response
A viral disease is contracted abroad and transported unknowingly by a human host. Discrete symptoms linger beneath the skin as the person boards their flight home, delivering the virus across oceans and borders to a previously unexposed and susceptible region.
Pigs' cells used to create first 'living football'
(Medical Xpress)—The world's first 'living football' using cells from a pig's bladder has been created by an artist working with scientists in the University's Clinical Engineering laboratories.
7 scientists win prestigious Lasker medical awards
(AP)—Seven scientists have won prestigious medical awards for development of liver transplantation, discoveries about the inner workings of cells, and leadership in biomedical science.
The value of literature, now supported by MRI imaging
(Medical Xpress)—The inside of an MRI machine might not seem like the best place to cozy up and concentrate on a good novel, but a team of researchers at Stanford are asking readers to do just that.
Perception of exertion during exercise an accurate, useful tool
When it comes to exercise, our brain's sense of effort can be as good a measure of effectiveness as a heart monitor, according to research undertaken by University of South Australia Professor Roger Eston.
RV144 vaccine efficacy increased against certain HIV viruses
Scientists used genetic sequencing to discover new evidence that the first vaccine shown to prevent HIV infection in people also affected the viruses in those who did become infected. Viruses with two genetic "footprints" were associated with greater vaccine efficacy. The results were published today in the online edition of the journal Nature.
Private school vaccine opt-outs rise
Parents who send their children to private schools in California are much more likely to opt out of immunizations than their public school counterparts, an Associated Press analysis has found, and not even the recent re-emergence of whooping cough has halted the downward trajectory of vaccinations among these students.
Swim training plus healthy diet factor in cancer fight: study
A new study just published in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism (APNM) reaffirms the crucial role exercise along with good nutrition play in maintaining health and fighting disease.
Molecule shows effectiveness against drug-resistant myeloma
A molecule that targets the cell's machinery for breaking down unneeded proteins can kill multiple myeloma cancer cells resistant to the frontline drug Velcade, researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have found.
Maternity program results in fewer cesarean sections, shorter hospital stays for mothers
A program delivering collaborative maternity care resulted in fewer cesarean deliveries, shorter average hospital stays and higher breast-feeding rates for mothers, according to a study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Rare brain blood vessel disease carries higher risks in females
Women and girls are at increased risk of adverse outcomes after surgical treatment for moyamoya disease, an uncommon but serious disease of the brain blood vessels, reports a study in the September issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.
Physician's empathy directly associated with positive clinical outcomes, confirms large study
Patients of doctors who are more empathic have better outcomes and fewer complications, concludes a large, empirical study by a team of Thomas Jefferson University and Italian researchers who evaluated relationships between physician empathy and clinical outcomes among 20,961 diabetic patients and 242 physicians in Italy.
New classification of fat grafting techniques proposed
(HealthDay)—As the use of fat grafting in plastic surgery continues to evolve, a new way of classifying fat grafting techniques has been proposed that aims to match the technique to the specific clinical situation, according to research published in the September issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Not all docs/nurses want to be asked about hand hygiene
(HealthDay)—Although most health care workers (HCWs) appreciate the role of patients in preventing health care-associated infection, a considerable proportion are uncomfortable with patients asking about their hand hygiene, according to a letter published online Sept. 3 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Fetal well-being generally fine after strenuous exercise
(HealthDay)—In general, fetal well-being is fine after strenuous exercise in both active and inactive pregnant women, according to a study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Imaging device quantifies change in port wine stains
(HealthDay)—A newly developed spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI) device can be used to quantify biochemical compositional changes in port wine stain (PWS) lesions after laser therapy, according to a study published online Aug. 21 in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
Postpartum depression may lead to shorter kids: study
(HealthDay)—Children of mothers who suffer from persistent postpartum depression are more likely to be very short at ages 4 and 5, new research finds.
New strep throat guidelines tackle antibiotic resistance
(HealthDay)—Doctors need to accurately diagnose and treat strep throat in order to avoid inappropriate use of antibiotics that can lead to drug-resistant bacteria, according to updated guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
Pediatricians' group urges flu shot for kids aged six months and up
(HealthDay)—The leading pediatricians' group in the United States is again urging parents to get all children aged 6 months or over immunized in preparation for the coming flu season.
Multiple methods can safely help babies get to sleep, study shows
(HealthDay)—Getting some babies to sleep can test a parent's sanity, but bleary-eyed mothers and fathers can be reassured that popular sleep training techniques have no long-lasting positive or negative effects on children's sleep quality, mental and behavioral health, or parent-child attachment, a new study suggests.
Neurocognitive deficits seen in survivors of pediatric Hodgkin's
(HealthDay)—Adult long-term survivors of childhood Hodgkin's lymphoma are at risk for neurocognitive impairment, according to research published online Sept. 4 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Executive function tests key to early detection of Alzheimer's
By the time older adults are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, the brain damage is irreparable. For now, modern medicine is able to slow the progression of the disease but is incapable of reversing it. What if there was a way to detect if someone is on the path to Alzheimer's before substantial and non-reversible brain damage sets in?
Cancer-causing gene alone doesn't trigger pancreatic cancer, study finds
More than a cancer-causing gene is needed to trigger pancreatic cancer, a study led by Mayo Clinic has found. A second factor creates a "perfect storm" that allows tumors to form, the researchers say. The study, published in the Sept. 10 issue of Cancer Cell, overturns the current belief that a mutation in the KRAS oncogene is enough to initiate pancreatic cancer and unrestrained cell growth.
Researchers reveal a chemo-resistant cancer stem cell as cancer's 'Achilles' heel'
Scientists at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have discovered a subpopulation of cells that display cancer stem cell properties and resistance to chemotherapy, and participate in tumor progression. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new tests for early cancer diagnosis, prognostic tests, and innovative therapeutic strategies, as reported in Cancer Cell.
Tight blood sugar control for pediatric cardiac surgery patients does not improve outcomes
Tight blood sugar control in the intensive care unit for pediatric cardiac surgery patients does not improve patients' infection rate, mortality, length of stay or organ failure when compared to standard care, new research shows.
Metabolic engineer synthesizes key breast milk ingredient, makes research possible
A University of Illinois microbial engineer has synthesized a sugar in human milk that is thought to protect babies from pathogens. That's important because 2FL, the shorthand scientists use to describe this human milk oligosaccharide (HMO), has not been added to infant formula because HMOs are incredibly expensive.
Study reveals extent of type 2 diabetes problem in black and minority ethnic populations
Half of all people of South Asian, African and African Caribbean descent will develop diabetes by age 80 according to a new study published today. The study is the first to reveal the full extent of ethnic differences in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and also provides some answers as to the causes of the increased risk.
Balint's syndrome: Her vision is 20/20, but she can't make sense of what she sees
It was a quiet Thursday afternoon when AS, a 68-year-old woman from a suburb of Chicago, awakened from a nap to the realization that something was terribly wrong.
Heavy drinking may lead to stroke earlier in life
A new study shows that people who have three or more alcoholic drinks per day may be at higher risk for experiencing a stroke almost a decade and a half earlier in life than those who do not drink heavily. The research is published in the September 11, 2012, print issue of Neurology.
More pregnant women taking high blood pressure drugs, yet safety unclear
Nearly 5 percent of pregnant women are prescribed drugs to treat high blood pressure, including some drugs that aren't considered safe for mothers or their babies, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension.
Taking painkillers increases death risk, second heart attacks in survivors
Heart attack survivors who take common painkillers after a heart attack have a higher long-term risk of dying or having a second heart attack, according to a new study published in Circulation, an American Heart Association journal.
Study links hyponatremia with increased risk of death, complications following surgery
An observational study of nearly 1 million patients who underwent surgery suggests that preoperative hyponatremia (an electrolyte disorder in which sodium levels in the blood are low) was associated with an increased risk of complications and death within 30 days of surgery, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine.
Study suggests acupuncture may be better than no acupuncture, sham acupuncture for chronic pain
An analysis of patient data from 29 randomized controlled trials suggests that acupuncture may be better than no acupuncture or sham acupuncture for the treatment of some chronic pain, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine.
Vigorous physical activity associated with reduced cardiometabolic risk factors in youth
A study of Canadian youth suggests that vigorous physical activity was associated with reduced cardiometabolic risk factors, such as body mass index z score (BMI-z), waist circumference, systolic blood pressure and increased cardiorespiratory fitness, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Too soon? Too late? Psychological distance matters when it comes to humor
Joking around can land us in hot water. Even the professionals often shoot themselves comedically in the foot. Last month, comedian Jeffrey Ross's routine at a roast of Rosanne Barr was censored when he joked about the shooting in Aurora, Colorado. "Too soon!" everyone said.
Computer simulations could lead to better cardiac pump for children with heart defects
Structural and mechanical engineers at the University of California, San Diego, are working together to create blood flow simulations that could lead to improvements in the design of a cardiac pump for children born with heart defects. They hope that the design changes will improve young patients' outcomes.
'Humanized' mice enable malaria research breakthrough
A novel human liver-chimeric mouse model developed at Oregon Health & Science University and Yecuris Corporation has made possible a research breakthrough at Seattle Biomedical Research Institute that will greatly accelerate studies of the most lethal forms of human malaria.
Two gene mutations drive adrenal cancer
Two different genetic mutations cooperate to induce adrenal cancer, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center and University of Sao Paulo in Brazil.
Study shows wine has more cardiovascular benefits than vodka
The next time you call someone a drunken pig, remember this study. Rhode Island Hospital researcher Frank Sellke, M.D., chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Rhode Island and The Miriam hospitals, and his colleagues studied the effects of red wine and vodka on pigs with high cholesterol and found that the pigs with a penchant for pinot noir fared better than their vodka swilling swine counterparts. The paper is published in the September issue of the journal Circulation.
Researchers closer to understanding actions of cells involved in atherosclerosis
Researchers at St. Michael's Hospital are one step closer to understanding why plaque bursts in coronary arteries and causes heart attacks.
Neonatal heart stem cells may help mend kids' broken hearts
Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, who are exploring novel ways to treat serious heart problems in children, have conducted the first direct comparison of the regenerative abilities of neonatal and adult-derived human cardiac stem cells. Among their findings: cardiac stem cells (CSCs) from newborns have a three-fold ability to restore heart function to nearly normal levels compared with adult CSCs. Further, in animal models of heart attack, hearts treated with neonatal stem cells pumped stronger than those given adult cells. The study is published in the September 11, 2012, issue of Circulation.
LifeSkills training helps teens manage anger, lower blood pressure
A 10-week program that fits easily into the high school curriculum could give students a lifetime of less anger and lower blood pressure, researchers report.
Improved diagnostic test benefits children with acute myeloid leukemia
Early treatment response is a powerful predictor of long-term outcome for young patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The information can help physicians decide whether a more intensive approach is needed. Research led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators has identified the best test for measuring that response and guiding therapy.
Early prophylactic tx beneficial for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
(HealthDay)—Beta blockers (BBs) are effective as an early prophylactic pharmacologic treatment for patients with mild hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) who have exercise-induced left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction, according to a study published in the Sept. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Marijuana use may increase risk of testicular cancer: study
A new study from the University of Southern California (USC) has found a link between recreational marijuana use and an increased risk of developing subtypes of testicular cancer that tend to carry a somewhat worse prognosis. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings suggest that the potential cancer-causing effects of marijuana on testicular cells should be considered not only in personal decisions regarding recreational drug use, but also when marijuana and its derivatives are used for therapeutic purposes in young male patients.
Supplementing with Omega-3 fatty acids might improve reading and behaviour for some children
(Medical Xpress)—A new study by the University of Oxford has shown that daily supplements of omega-3 fatty acids (Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA) improved the reading and behaviour of underperforming children in mainstream primary schools.
Researchers find protein induces non-shivering muscle heat generation
(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers working in Ohio has found evidence that suggests that the protein sarcolipin, normally a calcium regulator pump, also serves as a means of causing muscles to generate body heat independent of shivering. In their paper published in Nature Medicine, the team says their results show that energy heat derived from brown fat burning white fat stores, or muscle shivering, are not the only means the body has of keeping warm.
Uncovering the genome's regulatory code
Since the sequencing of the human genome in 2001, all our genes – around 20,000 in total – have been identified. But much is still unknown – for instance where and when each is active. Next to each gene sits a short DNA segment, and the activity of this regulatory segment determines whether the gene will be turned on, where and how strongly. These short regulatory segments are as – if not more – important than the genes, themselves. Indeed, 90% of the mutations that cause disease occur in these regulatory areas. They are responsible for the proper development of tissues and organs, determining, for instance, that eye cells – and only eye cells – contain light receptors, while only pancreatic cells function to produce insulin. Clearly, a deeper understanding of this regulatory system – its mechanisms and possibilities for malfunction – may lead to advances in biomedical research, especially in developing targeted therapies for individual patients.
Double drug combo could shut down abnormal blood vessel growth that feeds disease
A new study by researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College shows combining two already-FDA approved drugs may offer a new and potent punch against diseases in which blood vessel growth is abnormal—such as cancer, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and rheumatoid arthritis.
New genetic mechanism for controlling blood cell development and blood vessel integrity found
The protein GATA2 is known as a "master regulator" of blood cell development. When a mutation occurs in the gene that makes GATA2, serious blood diseases such as acute myeloid leukemia can result.
Wnt signaling pathway plays key role in adult nerve cell generation: study
Researchers from the University of Utah have gained new insight into the regulation of adult nerve cell generation in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates many aspects of behavior, mood, and metabolism. In the Sept. 10, 2012, issue of Developmental Cell they report that a cell-to-cell communication network known as the Wnt signaling pathway plays an important role in both the production and specialization of nerve cell precursors in the hypothalamus.
Cocaine withdrawal: Emotional 'brakes' stay on after cocaine wears off
Washington State University researchers have found a cellular mechanism that contributes to the lack of motivation and negative emotions of a cocaine addict going through withdrawal. Their discovery, published in the latest Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, offers a deeper look into the cellular and behavioral implications of addiction.
How breast cancer spreads: Researchers find key to lymph node metastasis in mice
The invasion of cancer cells into the lymph vessels that connect the breast to surrounding lymph nodes is the first step leading to the metastasis, or spread, of cancer throughout the body. Metastasis is the primary cause of breast cancer deaths. Surprisingly little is known about the control of this process and how it might be interrupted to prolong the lives of women with breast cancer. In a study to be reported Sept. 10 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Online Early Edition, researchers at Johns Hopkins describe their discovery of how a protein responsible for cell survival in low oxygen can trigger the spread of cancer cells into the lymphatic system in a mouse model of breast cancer.
Researchers create short-term memories in-vitro
Ben W. Strowbridge, PhD, Professor of Neurosciences and Physiology/Biophysics, and Robert A. Hyde, a fourth year MD/PhD student in the neurosciences graduate program at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, have discovered how to store diverse forms of artificial short-term memories in isolated brain tissue.
Low cost pain drug can kill resistant tuberculosis
An off-patent anti-inflammatory drug that costs around two cents for a daily dose in developing countries has been found by researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College to kill both replicating and non-replicating drug resistant tuberculosis in the laboratory—a feat few currently approved TB drugs can do, and resistance to those is spreading.
Psychopathic boldness tied to US presidential success
(Medical Xpress)—The fearless dominance associated with psychopathy may be an important predictor of U.S. presidential performance, suggests an analysis published this week in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
Monitoring brain activity during study can help predict test performance
(Medical Xpress)—Research at Sandia National Laboratories has shown that it's possible to predict how well people will remember information by monitoring their brain activity while they study.
Researchers find powerful swine flu strain in Korea
(HealthDay)—A new report shows that a deadly swine flu virus can infect ferrets, highlighting the importance of continuous surveillance of emerging flu strains.
Research finds key molecules involved in forming long-term memories
How does one's experience of an event get translated into a memory that can be accessed months, even years later? A team led by University of Pennsylvania scientists has come closer to answering that question, identifying key molecules that help convert short-term memories into long-term ones. These proteins may offer a target for drugs that can enhance memory, alleviating some of the cognitive symptoms that characterize conditions including schizophrenia, depression and Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.
Placebo response, pain experience occur at nonconscious level: study
With the discovery that the unconscious mind plays a key role in the placebo effect, researchers have identified a novel mechanism that helps explain the power of placebos and nocebos.
Babies' ability to detect complex rules in language outshines that of adults: study
New research examining auditory mechanisms of language learning in babies has revealed that infants as young as three months of age are able to automatically detect and learn complex dependencies between syllables in spoken language. By contrast, adults only recognised the same dependencies when asked to actively search for them. The study by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig also highlights the important role of basic pitch discrimination abilities for early language development.
Biology news
Continuing management needed for most threatened and endangered species
The Endangered Species Act (ESA)—the key US law protecting species listed as threatened or endangered—focuses on boosting species' numbers until they reach recovery thresholds and so can be taken off the ESA list. Almost 1400 species are now listed. Yet as many as 84 percent of currently listed species with management plans will face threats to their biological recovery even after they are considered "recovered" under the act, according to an article by Dale D. Goble and his colleagues in the October issue of BioScience. These species will require continuing management actions. Goble and colleagues argue that individual, formal conservation agreements are the best way to help such "conservation-reliant species."
Improved diagnostic tools to detect re-emerging disease in pigs
Veterinary researchers at Iowa State University are developing improved methods to diagnose a re-emerging swine disease that was essentially a non-issue five years ago but has become increasingly more common since then.
Judge: Navy can train near rare Atlantic whales
(AP)—The Navy can build a $100 million offshore range for submarine warfare training, despite environmentalists' fears that war games would threaten endangered right whales, a federal judge ruled.
Sustainable farming part of larger ecological picture
(Phys.org)—A larger-scale approach to sustainable farming could be more beneficial for wildlife than our current system of farm-based payments, according to University of Leeds researchers.
Leaf wax may prevent heat stress in wheat
(Phys.org)—Wax build-up is not always a bad thing, according to a Texas A&M University soil and crop scientist.
Reduction in fish harvesting necessary to protect healthy stocks in future
(Phys.org)—Fish populations around the world could soon be full of slow growing, unproductive 'couch potatoes' if the current levels of intensive fishing continue, according to Deakin University research.
Finding suitable sites for large-scale algal biofuel plants
(Phys.org)—Scientists have for the first time identified a number of WA sites capable of producing large quantities of commercial biofuel from microalgae.
Study provides first-time analysis of 3 distinct contributions of forage fish worldwide
A just-published study provides a first-time analysis of the value of forage fish, which are small, schooling species such as sardines, herring, and anchovies. Three kinds of contributions of forage fish were estimated: as direct catch, as food for other commercially important fish, and as an important link in the food web in marine ecosystems. The analysis showed these small fish contribute a total of $16.9 billion, as both direct catch and food for larger fish, to global fisheries annually, representing 20 percent of the global catch values of all marine fisheries combined. Additionally, the scientists found in 75 percent of the ecosystem models analyzed, at least one of the highly dependent predator species of forage fish, such as seabirds, marine mammals, depended on these fish for half or more of its diet, and in 30 percent of the models analyzed, forage fish made up three-quarters of the diet for at least one predator species.
Researchers use 'banker plants' to help battle whitefly pests
A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientist is showing growers how to combat whiteflies and other crop pests by using plants as storehouses for predatory insects that can migrate to cash crops and feed on the pests attacking those crops.
Mushroom-derived compound lengthens survival in dogs with cancer
Dogs with hemangiosarcoma that were treated with a compound derived from the Coriolus versicolor mushroom had the longest survival times ever reported for dogs with the disease. These promising findings offer hope that the compound may one day offer cancer patients—human and canine alike—a viable alternative or complementary treatment to traditional chemotherapies.
UF researchers name new cusk-eels useful for understanding environment
(Phys.org)—A study by University of Florida and University of Kansas researchers describing eight new cusk-eel species provides data for better understanding how disasters like the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill impact biodiversity and the environment.
Researchers discover unexpected patterns in evolution of frog life cycles
All tadpoles grow into frogs, but not all frogs start out as tadpoles, reveals a new study on 720 species of frogs to be published in the journal Evolution.
Wolf mange part of nature's cycle
Mange and viral diseases have a substantial, recurring impact on the health and size of reintroduced wolf packs living in Yellowstone National Park, according to ecologists.
Young sharks get by with a little help from their friends
(Phys.org)—In a recent experiment conducted at the Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation, Bahamas, researchers designed a novel foraging task to determine that juvenile lemon sharks could learn from each other.
Examining trinucleotide repeats: Study cites implications for human disease
(Phys.org)—A study of more than 6,000 genes in a common species of yeast has identified the pathways that govern the instability of GAA/TTC repeats. In humans, the expansions of these repeats is known to inactivate a gene – FXN – which leads to Friedreich's ataxia, a neurodegenerative disease that is currently incurable. In yeast, long repeats also destabilize the genome, manifested by the breakage of chromosomes.
Reversible oxygen-sensing 'switching' mechanism discovered
Bacteria that cause disease in humans have a 'reversible switching mechanism' that allows them to adapt to environments lacking oxygen, scientists at the University of East Anglia (UEA) have found.
Scientists put a pox on dog cancer
Researchers report that myxoma – a pox virus that afflicts rabbits but not humans, dogs or any other vertebrates so far studied – infects several different types of canine cancer cells in cell culture while sparing healthy cells. The study adds to the evidence that viruses or modified viruses will emerge as relatively benign cancer treatments to complement or replace standard cancer therapies.
Ants have an exceptionally 'hi-def' sense of smell
The first complete map of the ants' olfactory system has discovered that the eusocial insects have four to fives more odorant receptors—the special proteins that detect different odors—than other insects.
Expanding database enables discoveries in emerging field of metabolomics
(Phys.org)—Over the last decade, metabolomics has emerged as the newest of the "omic" sciences (following genomics and proteomics) to provide comprehensive biochemical information about cellular metabolism. This new field has revealed that many of the chemicals involved in or produced through metabolism are currently unknown, but may play vital and previously unappreciated roles in human health and disease.
African fruit 'brightest' thing in nature but does not use pigment to create its extraordinary colour
(Phys.org)—The 'brightest' thing in nature, the Pollia condensata fruit, does not get its blue colour from pigment but instead uses structural colour – a method of reflecting light of particular wavelengths- new research reveals. The study was published today in the journal PNAS.
Crows react to threats in human-like way: Neural basis of crows' knack for face recognition
(Phys.org)—Cross a crow and it'll remember you for years. Crows and humans share the ability to recognize faces and associate them with negative, as well as positive, feelings. The way the brain activates during that process is something the two species also appear to share, according to new research being published this week.
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