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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 24, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Making a molecular micromap: Imaging the yeast 26S proteasome at near-atomic resolution- Nanotubes used to create smallest ever hologram pixels
- Using precisely-targeted lasers, researchers manipulate neurons in worms' brains, take control of their behavior
- In birds' development, researchers find diversity by the peck
- BPA harms human reproduction by damaging chromosomes, disrupting egg development
- Large bacterial population colonized land 2.75 billion years ago
- Slow-moving rocks better odds that life crashed to Earth from space
- Similar organisms deal with life in the extreme differently, research finds
- A clock that will last forever: Researchers propose a way to build the first space-time crystal
- Chandra shows Milky Way is surrounded by halo of hot gas
- A cheaper way to produce nickel ferrite thin films
- Where is Mars's moon Deimos?
- Tissues tell the tale: Non-invasive optical technique detects cancer by looking under the skin
- Antibiotics in childhood may increase bowel disease risk: study
- Human brains outpace chimp brains in the womb
Space & Earth news
UN, other experts warn of 'water bankruptcy' for many regions after reviewing 200 major global projects
A study of almost 200 major international water-related projects over the past 20 years has identified a suite of existing and emerging challenges and how science can offer remedies.
Researchers study cyanobacteria infestations in waterways
Cyanobacteria are among the oldest organisms on earth—they were the original oxygen-producing species and are thought to be responsible for the direction life has taken on earth. Nonetheless, they aren't the friendliest of species. Cyanobacteria produce neurotoxins, which can kill mammals in a matter of hours if ingested.
Climate expert: Record loss of arctic ice could impact Wisconsin
Ice covering the Arctic Ocean melted to the smallest areal extent ever recorded this year, falling to 1.3 million square miles at its lowest point on Sept. 16, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. That's less than half of the normal area covered by ice at summer's end.
A worthy endeavor
The space shuttle Endeavour's final flight ended Friday, September 21, when it landed at Los Angeles International Airport en route to its new life as an exhibit at the California Science Center. But without Caltech professors Christopher Brennen and Allan Acosta and alumnus Sheldon Rubin, the entire endeavor might not have been possible.
How the bomb could help us predict next month's weather
Technology first used to listen for secret H-bomb tests could now help forecasters tell us what the weather's going to be like up to a month in advance.
Glacial youth therapy for the Scandinavian landscape
The high elevation flat surfaces characteristic of the Norwegian landscape are in geologically terms young, according to a paper in Nature Geoscience.
A third of urban Europeans exposed to polluted air: EU
Nearly a third of Europe's urban population is exposed to air particles that breach European Union limits, an official report said Monday.
A windshield wiper for Mars dust developed
A team of researchers at Universidad Carlos III in Madrid has developed a device that works as a windshield wiper to eliminate Mars dust from the sensors on the NASA spacecrafts that travel to the red planet.
Managing soil copper in crops irrigated with cattle footbath wastewater
Getting a head start on stopping soil copper buildup will now be a bit easier, thanks to studies by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists. This research could help Pacific Northwest farmers develop long-term irrigation management strategies to protect crops from potentially dangerous soil copper levels.
Melting Arctic ice cap at record
With Arctic ice cap at record low this summer, University of Calgary geography professor John Yackel predicts serious consequences for the planet.
Frigid cloudtop temperatures indicate strength in Super Typhoon Jelawat and Tropical Storm Ewinar
Tropical Storm Jelawat had been moving toward the Philippines since the week of Sept. 17 and on Sept. 24 it became a super typhoon east of the country. Meanwhile, the nineteenth tropical depression formed just east of Jelawat in the western North Pacific Ocean and quickly strengthened into a tropical storm. Both storms were captured on one infrared image from NASA's Aqua satellite.
East Coast weather satellite fails, spare used
(AP)—The U.S. weather satellite that tracks the East Coast and Atlantic hurricanes is broken.
In half century, Brazil lost 80% of coral reef: study
In just five decades, Brazil has lost 80 percent of the coral reef once found along 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) of its northeastern coast, according to a study cited by local media Sunday.
Expedition to study methane gas bubbling out of the Arctic seafloor
(Phys.org)—In the remote, ice-shrouded Beaufort Sea, methane (the main component of natural gas) has been bubbling out of the seafloor for thousands of years. MBARI geologist Charlie Paull and his colleagues at the Geological Survey of Canada are trying to figure out where this gas is coming from, how fast it is bubbling out of the sediments, and how it affects the shape and stability of the seafloor. Although Paull has been studying this phenomenon for a decade, his research has taken on new urgency in recent years, as the area is being eyed for oil and gas exploration.
Discovery of an ancient celestial city undergoing rapid growth: A young protocluster of active star-forming galaxies
Using the Multi-Object Infrared Camera and Spectrograph (MOIRCS) mounted on the Subaru Telescope, a team of astronomers led by Dr. Masao Hayashi (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan or NAOJ) and Dr. Tadayuki Kodama (Subaru Telescope, NAOJ) has discovered a protocluster of galaxies in the midst of a vigorous process of formation. It is the densest and most active protocluster ever identified at so great a distance, 11 billion light years away from Earth. The star formation rate in the protocluster is intense, sometimes reaching a rate over 100 times greater than that of the Milky Way Galaxy. Although old, inactive elliptical galaxies dominate present-day galaxy clusters, the recently discovered protocluster is a site where progenitors of clusters of current elliptical galaxies were just forming and growing rapidly. It will serve as an ideal laboratory for investigating how a cluster develops and how a special, dense environment can influence the formation and evoluti! on of galaxies.
Hubble Catches Glowing Gas and Dark Dust in a Side-On Spiral
(Phys.org)—The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has produced a sharp image of NGC 4634, a spiral galaxy seen exactly side-on. Its disk is slightly warped by ongoing interactions with a nearby galaxy, and it is crisscrossed by clearly defined dust lanes and bright nebulae.
Weird Mars rock has interesting back story
The Mars Science Laboratory team has identified their target for the first full-up contact science investigations using all the instruments attached to the Curiosity rover's robotic arm. And 'target' is the operative word here, as this rock will be shot with Curiosity's laser to help determine it chemical makeup. Interestingly, it has an unusual pyramid shape, and it was described as a "cool-looking rock sitting out on the plains of Mars," by MSL project scientist John Grotzinger. But the rock now has a name, and while we don't know everything about it yet, like its namesake, this rock likely has a very interesting back story.
What caused the recent explosion at Jupiter?
A bright flash was spotted on Jupiter early on the morning of September 10, 2012, and astronomers were hoping to later see an impact "scar" which would provide more information about the object that slammed into the giant gas planet. Was it a comet, asteroid or a smaller meteor? But alas, no impact scar or debris field showed up on Jupiter's face and the nature of this explosion may remain a mystery.
Climate is changing the Great Barrier Reef
Satellite measurement of sea surface temperatures has yielded clear evidence of major changes taking place in the waters of Australia's Great Barrier Reef over the past 25 years, marine scientists have found.
Curiosity shows off its credentials
Curiosity drops a few rather big names in recent images taken with its MAHLI (Mars Hand Lens Imager) camera: here we see a plaque affixed to its surface bearing the names and signatures of U.S. President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Office of Science and Technology Director John Holdren, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and other key figures responsible for making the Mars Exploration Program possible.
NASA's satellite saw 'power-trigger' around Hurricane Miriam's center
ASA's Aqua satellite revealed a large area of powerful thunderstorms around the center of Tropical Storm Miriam on Sept. 23 as it tracked through the Eastern Pacific Ocean. That power was the trigger that helped Miriam rapidly intensify into a major hurricane on Sept. 24.
NASA's Global Hawk and satellites see tropical storm Nadine turning around
Tropical Storm Nadine is turning around in two ways. When NASA's Global Hawk flew over the storm it learned that the storm was not transitioning into an extra-tropical storm. Now, NASA satellites see that Nadine is physically turning its direction, and heading back to the west-northwest and away from land.
First 2 Webb Telescope flight mirrors delivered to NASA
(Phys.org)—The first two of the 18 primary mirrors to fly aboard NASA's James Webb Space Telescope arrived at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
Mars-Like places on Earth give new insights into rover data and conditions for life
Life thrives on Planet Earth. In even the most inhospitable places – the freezing Antarctic permafrost, sun-baked saltpans in Tunisia or the corrosively acidic Rio Tinto in Spain – pockets of life can be found. Some of these locations have much in common with environments found on Mars, as discovered by orbiters and rovers exploring the surface. Researchers from the Centro de Astrobiología (CAB) in Madrid have made a series of field trips to the most Mars-like places on Earth. Today, they presented some of their findings during a press conference at the European Planetary Science Congress in Madrid.
Tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea have intensified due to earlier monsoon onset
The tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea during the pre-monsoon season (May – June) have intensified since 1997 compared to 1979 - 1997. This has been attributed to decreased vertical wind shear due to the dimming effects of increased anthropogenic black carbon and sulfate emissions in the region. The decrease in vertical wind shear, however, is not the result of these emissions, but due to a 15-day on average earlier occurrence of tropical cyclones, according to a study spearheaded by Bin Wang at the International Pacific Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa and published in "Brief Communications Arising" in the September 20, 2012, issue of Nature.
Why Curiosity matters
Adam Steltzner doesn't sound much like an ordinary engineer.
Scientists predict major shifts in Pacific ecosystems by 2100
What if you woke up every day to find that the closest grocery store had moved several miles farther away from your home? Over time, you would have to travel hundreds of extra miles to find essential food for yourself and your family. This is potentially a scenario faced by thousands of marine animals affected by climate change.
Using artificial intelligence to chart the universe
(Phys.org)—Astronomers in Germany have developed an artificial intelligence algorithm to help them chart and explain the structure and dynamics of the universe around us with unprecedented accuracy. The team, led by Francisco Kitaura of the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics in Potsdam, report their results in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Chandra shows Milky Way is surrounded by halo of hot gas
(Phys.org)—Astronomers have used NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory to find evidence our Milky Way Galaxy is embedded in an enormous halo of hot gas that extends for hundreds of thousands of light years. The estimated mass of the halo is comparable to the mass of all the stars in the galaxy.
Yale researchers call for specialty metals recycling
An international policy is needed for recycling scarce specialty metals that are critical in the production of consumer goods, according to Yale researchers in Science.
Where is Mars's moon Deimos?
(Phys.org)—Despite more than a century of observations, the orbit of the Martian moon Deimos is still not known to a high degree of accuracy, but a new study using images taken by ESA's Mars Express orbiter has provided the best orbital model to date.
Large bacterial population colonized land 2.75 billion years ago
(Phys.org)—There is evidence that some microbial life had migrated from the Earth's oceans to land by 2.75 billion years ago, though many scientists believe such land-based life was limited because the ozone layer that shields against ultraviolet radiation did not form until hundreds of millions years later.
Slow-moving rocks better odds that life crashed to Earth from space
(Phys.org)—Microorganisms that crashed to Earth embedded in the fragments of distant planets might have been the sprouts of life on this one, according to new research from Princeton University, the University of Arizona and the Centro de Astrobiología (CAB) in Spain.
Technology news
Students' yurt-style design embraced by Pinoleville Pomo Nation
What started as a six-week project for engineering freshmen is helping to create culturally sensitive and energy-efficient housing for a small California Indian tribe.
Atomic layer deposition passivation for high-efficiency i-PERC silicon solar cells
At this week's European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (27th EUPVSEC, 24/08-28/08), imec, RENA and SoLayTec present thin (165µm), large area (156x156mm2) i-PERC-type Silicon solar cells with ALD (atomic layer deposition) passivation achieving a cell efficiency of 19.6% without selective emitter using an industrial screen printing process flow.
Ultra-thin PERC-based PV module that achieves Class A module efficiencies
At this week's European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (27th EU PVSEC, 24/08-28/08), imec and SolarWorld will present ultra-thin (100µm), large-area (156x156mm2) PERC-type mono-silicon solar cells integrated in a 255Wp class A module. The PERC-based modules, developed by imec and SolarWorld, were manufactured on SolarWorld's fully automated production line without significant wafer breakage. This feat proves the robustness of the PERC technology and the high quality of SolarWorld's module manufacturing. PERC-type silicon solar cells are promising candidates for next generation solar cell concepts for mass production because of their high conversion efficiencies combined with a reduced amount of silicon.
Innovative metallization process for reliable, high-efficiency solar cells
Imec today announced that it has developed an innovative process for plated front contact formation of silicon solar cells using only one sequence to plate several metals. The large-area solar cells were processed in imec's labs and combine an excellent reliability with a conversion efficiency of 20.3% (certified at Fraunhofer ISE-Callab). The full plating sequence has been transferred to an in-line plating tool enabling high throughput.
Curtiss-Wright buying Spirent unit for $64 million
(AP)—Aerospace and defense supplier Curtiss-Wright is buying a division of Britain's Spirent Communications PLC that makes controllers and drives for electric-powered vehicles for $64 million in cash.
Apple supplier halts China factory after violence (Update)
(AP)—The company that makes Apple's iPhones suspended production at a factory in China on Monday after a brawl by as many as 2,000 employees at a dormitory injured 40 people.
Russia's Yandex turns 15 hoping for iPhone deal
Russia's ambitious search engine Yandex turned 15 on Sunday having staved off a challenge from Google and is now coveting the elusive prize of becoming the default map provider of Apple's iconic iPhones.
Iran blocks access to Gmail
Iran blocked access to Google's popular and relatively secure Gmail service Monday amid first steps by the Islamic republic to establish a walled-off national intranet separate from the worldwide Internet.
Study outlines supply chain challenges for lithium future
(Phys.org)—As demand increases for lithium, the essential element in batteries for everything from cameras to automobiles, a researcher at Missouri University of Science and Technology is studying potential disruptions to the long-term supply chain the world's lightest metal.
New instrument that measures LED intensity could help cities with traffic light maintenance
(Phys.org)—In many of the nation's traffic lights, light-emitting diodes or LEDs with their brighter light and longer life have replaced standard bulbs. But knowing when to replace the signal heads has remained a guessing game, says Dr. Suzanna Long, assistant professor of engineering management and systems engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology. That's because LED traffic lights don't burn out - they just lose brightness over time.
Researchers announce world record efficiency for organic photovoltaic module
Imec and the chemicals company Solvay have announced an organic photovoltaic module with a world-record certified efficiency of 5.5 percent. An optimum performance at module-level is a crucial step towards upscaling the production process and successful commercialization of organic photovoltaic cells. This result was achieved using a novel inverted bulk heterojunction architecture developed by imec in close collaboration with Solvay and a proprietary ActivInkTMsemiconductor from Polyera.
iPhone 5 sales top five million, but shy of forecasts (Update 3)
The new iPhone 5 broke records in its launch weekend with sales above five million, Apple said Monday, but the figures were below some forecasts and pressured the company's share price.
TiVo settles lawsuit against Verizon for $250.4M
(AP)—Verizon will pay Tivo at least $250.4 million to settle a patent lawsuit related to its DVR technology, and the two have a licensing deal.
Two-thirds of the world's new solar panels were installed in Europe in 2011
Europe accounted for two thirds of the world-wide newly installed photovoltaic (PV) capacity in 2011, with 18.5 GW. Its overall PV capacity totalled 52 GW. The yearly electricity produced by PV could power a country with the electricity demand of Austria, which corresponds to 2% of the EU's electricity needs. These are some of the highlights of the 2012 Photovoltaics Status Report published today by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre.
Fueling the fleet, Navy looks to the seas
Scientists at the US Naval Research Laboratory are developing a process to extract carbon dioxide and produce hydrogen gas from seawater, subsequently converting the gases into jet fuel by a gas-to-liquids process.
Saudi-led consortium wins Morocco solar energy bid (Update)
(AP)—Morocco awarded a $1 billion contract to build a solar power plant to a Saudi-led consortium on Monday, as part of this country's ambitious plans to harness the sun's energy and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Facebook tumbles on negative comments
Facebook shares plunged nearly 11 percent Monday after an influential markets publication said the stock is only worth $15.
US digital news venture hits the Web
A digital news venture from Atlantic Media launched Monday, promising "bracingly creative and intelligent journalism" for reading on devices such as tablets and mobile phones.
Facebook denies reports of private messages made public
Facebook Monday denied reports that it displayed some users' old private messages in public "timelines" at the social network.
Google shares hit new high
Google shares rose nearly two percent to a new high of $748.90 on Monday.
Groupon snags online restaurant platform
Online US daily deals firm Groupon said Monday it had acquired the restaurant reservation company Savored for undisclosed terms.
Toyota plans expanded range of hybrids (Update)
Toyota Motor Corp. is boosting its green vehicle lineup, with plans for 21 new hybrids in the next three years, a new electric car later this year and a fuel cell vehicle by 2015 in response to growing demand for fuel efficient and environmentally friendly driving.
Data that lives forever is possible: Japan's Hitachi
As Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones prove, good music lasts a long time; now Japanese hi-tech giant Hitachi says it can last even longer—a few hundred million years at least.
Automatic building mapping could help emergency responders
MIT researchers have built a wearable sensor system that automatically creates a digital map of the environment through which the wearer is moving. The prototype system, described in a paper slated for the Intelligent Robots and Systems conference in Portugal next month, is envisioned as a tool to help emergency responders coordinate disaster response.
Most biofuels are not 'green', researchers show
(Phys.org)—First tops, then flops. That is one way of summing up the history of biofuels so far. A new study led by Empa gives an up-to-date picture of the ecobalance of various biofuels and their production processes. Only a few are overall more environmentally friendly than petrol.
Microsoft faces fine over browser commitment: EU (Update)
US software giant Microsoft faces yet more heavy fines after it promised to offer clients a choice of web browser but then failed to do so, the EU's competition commissioner said Monday.
Medicine & Health news
Sports physician advises against recreational trampoline use in new AAP report
Susannah Briskin, MD, a pediatric sports medicine specialist with University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, is the co-author of an updated report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly cautioning against home trampolines. The report provides updated data on the number of and types of injuries caused by trampolines.
Urgent need for integrated oncology and palliative care
The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) has awarded ESMO Designated Center of Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care accreditation to 16 new oncology centers. The centers will receive the acknowledgment at the ESMO 2012 Congress, in Vienna, Austria, 28 September – 2 October. The ESMO 2012 Congress will also highlight two new Italian studies demonstrating how palliative care works in practice in Italy. The first study explores use of analgesics; the second looks at different models for organization of the integration of palliative care with oncology.
Young cancer survivors often forgo medical care due to costs
Many survivors of adolescent and young adult cancers avoid routine medical care because it's too expensive, despite the fact that most have health insurance. That is the conclusion of a new study published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The results indicate that expanding insurance coverage for young cancer survivors may be insufficient to safeguard their long-term health without efforts to reduce their medical cost burdens.
French trial opens on cancer radiation scandal
Two doctors and a radiophysicist went on trial Monday on manslaughter charges arising from radiation overdoses given to nearly 450 cancer patients in a French hospital.
Mass media responsible for education of genetics well before yr 10
Children gain much of their knowledge of genes and DNA from the mass media before genetics concepts are introduced at school, new research suggests.
Revealing the 'silent epidemic' of coal's health hazards
(Phys.org)—Coal kills. That's the message of "The Silent Epidemic: Coal and the Hidden Threat to Health" by Alan H. Lockwood, MD, University at Buffalo emeritus professor of neurology.
Morning-after pills available at 13 NYC schools
(AP)—The New York City Department of Education is making the morning-after-pill available to high school girls at 13 public schools.
Blood salvage technology could transform surgery
Having received approval for sale in Europe and Canada, HemoSep is set to revolutionise the healthcare sector. HemoSep is a revolutionary surgical blood salvage technology which was developed at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow in the United Kingdom. Its developers believe that it has the potential to radically transform the way major surgery is carried out by reducing blood loss in patients.
Hepatitis risk a concern for baby boomers
(Medical Xpress)—Older adults are asking more questions about liver health now that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has formally called for baby boomers to get tested for Hepatitis C, says Dr. Luis Balart, chief of gastroenterology and hepatology at Tulane Medical Center.
'Foreign' proteins are also implicated in Alzheimer's disease, implications for differentiated treatments
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's are characterised by the loss of nerve cells and the deposition of proteins in the brain tissue. A group of researchers led by Gabor G. Kovacs from the Clinical Institute of Neurology at the MedUni Vienna has now demonstrated that Alzheimer's disease does not just – as previously believed – involve the proteins that are attributed to Alzheimer's, but instead the condition can involve a mixture of interacting proteins from different neurodegenerative diseases.
For a health reform model, try Brazil
With the 2015 deadline to meet the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDG) approaching, scholars and government officials gathered at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) on Tuesday to search for lessons in the dramatic progress that Brazil has made in recent decades.
Heart health starts earlier than you think
A new multi-national survey reveals the extent of misconceptions about when is the right time to start taking action to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD). In a four-country survey sample of 4,000 adults, 49 per cent answered age 30 years or older when asked at what age they believe people should start to take action about their heart health to prevent conditions such as heart disease and stroke. The fact is that CVD can affect people of all ages and population groups, and the risk begins early in life through unhealthy diets, lack of physical activity and exposure to tobacco. On World Heart Day, 29th September, the World Heart Federation is calling for people – specifically mothers who are gatekeepers to the home – to take action now to protect their own heart health, as well as that of their children and families to safeguard future generations.
What does the feminization of family medicine mean?
With more women in family medicine in Canada, what does this mean for the specialty and the profession, for patients and for society, asks a Salon opinion piece in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Education, psychological support key for defibrillator patients
Improved patient education and ongoing psychological support will help people cope with the psychological distress of having an implanted defibrillator, according to a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.
Secrets in small blood vessels could reveal the risks of heart disease and diabetes
Researchers at the University of Southampton together with colleagues at King's College London have embarked on a unique study that will shed new light on the risk of heart disease and diabetes in later life.
Therapeutic impact of cell transplantation aided by magnetic factor
Two studies in the current issue of Cell Transplantation (21:6), now freely available on-line, demonstrate how the use of magnetic particles are a factor that can positively impact on the targeted delivery of transplanted stem cells and to also provide better cell retention.
AIDS patients face risk for esophageal, stomach cancers
People with AIDS are at increased risk for developing esophageal and stomach carcinoma as well as non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs), according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association.
UH Case Medical Center offers novel scarless procedure for rare condition
University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center is one of five institutions nationwide performing a novel scarless procedure that restores swallowing function in some patients with achalasia, a rare condition where the esophagus is unable to move food into the stomach. Per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a state-of-the-art technique to treat patients without any external incisions or outside scars. With POEM, surgeons enter through the mouth and tunnel an endoscope down the esophagus to cut the muscle fibers to open the esophagus, allowing food to enter the stomach.
Breast cancer treatment brings sexual difficulties for postmenopausal women
Women treated for breast cancer after menopause with aromatase inhibitors have very high levels of sexual difficulties, including low interest, insufficient lubrication, and pain with intercourse. It is an important and underestimated problem, say the authors of a study published online in Menopause, the journal of the North American Menopause Society.
Albertsons recalls some ground beef in 3 states
(AP)—Alberstons is recalling a number of ground beef products sold at stores in Oregon, Washington and Idaho, due to risk of E. coli contamination. No illnesses have been reported.
NIH launches trial for rare degenerative muscle disease treatment
Researchers have launched a clinical trial to evaluate the drug candidate DEX-M74 as a treatment for a rare degenerative muscle disease, hereditary inclusion body myopathy (HIBM). National Institutes of Health scientists from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) will conduct the clinical trial at the NIH Clinical Center.
MRI helps identify patients with prostate cancer who may benefit from active surveillance
PSA screening has resulted in improved prostate cancer survival, but the high rate of diagnosis and treatment side effects raise concerns about overtreatment. In the quest to prevent overtreatment, "active surveillance" has emerged as a plausible option, encouraged for men whose tumors may not need immediate treatment and may never progress to more serious illness. Appropriate criteria for selecting patients for active surveillance are continuously debated. A group of investigators from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York report that adding endorectal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to the initial clinical evaluation of men with clinically low prostate cancer risk helps assess eligibility for active surveillance. Their results are published in The Journal of Urology.
Danish sperm donor passes genetic disorder to five children
A Danish sperm donor has passed a potentially severe genetic disorder to five children after a screening test failed to catch that he had the disease, health officials said Monday.
New York City hospitals cracking down on junk food
(AP)—New York City's hospitals are ditching their deep fryers and swapping cookies for fruit as they join Mayor Michael Bloomberg's quest for a health-conscious city.
Fluorescent protein helps scientists with heart, stem cell research
(Medical Xpress)—A fluorescent protein from a deep-sea jellyfish has helped scientists isolate heart cells in the laboratory, creating an invaluable aid to work on heart disease treatments and extraordinary opportunities for stem cell researchers around the world.
Acne easier to treat than some adolescents might think
(Medical Xpress)—For teenagers struggling with acne, Sophia Yen, MD, has a simple message: Your doctor can help.
For elderly patients, nearly 1 in 3 cancer diagnoses result from ER admissions
Almost a third (31 per cent) of cancers in the over 70s – around 38,300 a year in England – are diagnosed through emergency admission to hospital, according to new research by the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN), published in the British Journal of Cancer (BJC).
Vaginal delivery safe for head-first births before 32 weeks, study says
(Medical Xpress)—Infants born to mothers attempting to deliver vaginally before the 32nd week of pregnancy are as likely to survive as those delivered by a planned cesarean, provided the fetus is in the head-first position, according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health.
Non-caloric beverages can help teens avoid excessive weight gain, study shows
A new study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that adolescents who eliminated sugar-sweetened beverages for one year gained less weight than those who didn't, shedding light on an effective intervention to help combat adolescent obesity.
No scientific basis to idea that homosexuality causes psychological harm, researchers emphsize
(Medical Xpress)—Academic staff in the Research School of Psychology at The Australian National University have strongly rejected the view reported in the media today that homosexuality carries with it psychological or biological harm.
Gene linked to age-related degeneration of intervertebral discs identified
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at King's College London have for the first time identified a gene linked to age-related degeneration of the intervertebral discs in the spine, a common cause of lower back pain.
Kids who get gifts of scratch lottery tickets gamble earlier in life
(Medical Xpress)—Youngsters who receive instant lottery tickets as a gift tend to begin gambling earlier in life—a possible risk factor for more severe gambling disorders later, Yale School of Medicine researchers report Sept. 19 in the journal Adolescent Health.
Do family meals really make a difference for child academics or behavior?
(Medical Xpress)—A shared meal has consistently been valued for its social and health benefits—it's recognized as a door to academic excellence and as the ceremonial event that helps cement family relationships, no matter how you define "family." However, a new study co-authored by Boston University School of Social Work Assistant Professor Daniel P. Miller has found that the perceived benefits may not be as strong as once thought.
Chronic exposure to dim light may raise depression risk
Two years ago, Randy Nelson, Ph.D., chair of neuroscience at Ohio State University, doctoral student Tracy Bedrosian, and colleagues reported that dim-light exposure at night was capable of triggering depressive-like behaviors in animals. The dim-light exposure, they explained, was comparable to having a television on in a darkened room.
Blood tests pick up early 'silent' heart disease
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) at the University of Dundee have found that a combination of blood tests could effectively pick up 'silent' heart disease in thousands of people. (1)
New study shows PTSD symptoms reduced in combat-exposed military via integrative medicine
Healing touch combined with guided imagery (HT+GI) provides significant clinical reductions in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms for combat-exposed active duty military, according to a study released in the September issue of Military Medicine.
Study uncovers mechanism by which tumor suppressor MIG6 triggers cell suicide
Death plays a big role in keeping things alive. Consider the tightly orchestrated suicide of cells—a phenomenon essential to everything from shaping an embryo to keeping it free of cancer later in life. When cells refuse to die, and instead multiply uncontrollably, they become what we call tumors. An intricate circuitry of biochemical reactions inside cells coordinates their self-sacrifice. Tracing that circuitry is, naturally, an important part of cancer research.
Pacific Islanders have high obesity, smoking rates
In the first study to detail the health of Pacific Islanders living in the United States, University of Michigan researchers have found alarmingly high rates of obesity and smoking.
Vitamin D deficiency increases risk of heart disease
New research from the University of Copenhagen and Copenhagen University Hospital shows that low levels of vitamin D are associated with a markedly higher risk of heart attack and early death. The study involved more than 10,000 Danes and has been published in the well-reputed American journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology.
Fragile X study offers new drug hope
(Medical Xpress)—An experimental drug can improve sociability in patients with fragile X syndrome and may be helpful as a treatment for autism, according to a study.
Fly neurons could reveal the root of Alzheimer's disease
(Medical Xpress)—Although they're a common nuisance in the home, fruit flies have made great contributions to research in genetics and developmental biology. Now a Tel Aviv University researcher is again turning to this everyday pest to answer crucial questions about how neurons function at a cellular level—which may uncover the secrets of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
New IVF breakthrough
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have discovered that a chemical can trigger the maturation of small eggs to healthy, mature eggs, a process that could give more women the chance of successful IVF treatment in the future. The results have been published in the revered journal PloS ONE.
Fish eaters run lower risk of heart attack – despite some mercury content
Eat fish, but avoid fish with the most pollutants. This is the conclusion drawn by a group of researchers at Umeå University in Sweden after having weighed the risks of mercury content against the advantages of healthful fatty acids. The work was done as part of an international collaborative effort.
Heritability of avoidant and dependent personality disorder traits
(Medical Xpress)—A new twin study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health shows that the heritability of avoidant and dependent personality disorder traits might be higher than previously reported. People with avoidant personality disorder are often anxious in the company of others, while people with dependent personality disorder feel more secure.
Immune system molecule affects our weight
Researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have identified a molecule in the immune system that could affect hunger and satiety. The researchers hope that new treatments for obesity will benefit from this finding.
Model confirms active surveillance as viable option for men with low-risk prostate cancer
A new research model has estimated that the difference in prostate cancer mortality among men with low-risk disease who choose active surveillance versus those who choose immediate treatment with radical prostatectomy is likely to be very modest, possibly as little as two to three months.
Preterm birth of mother increases risk of pregnancy complications
Women who were born preterm are at increased risk of complications during pregnancy compared to those born at term, and the risk almost doubles for mothers born before 32 weeks, according to a study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Small proteins in the cornea protect against bacterial infection
When it comes to germ-busting power, the eyes have it, according to a discovery by University of California, Berkeley, researchers that could lead to new, inexpensive antimicrobial drugs.
Eunuchs outlive other men
Castrated men living in Korea centuries ago outlived other men by a significant margin. The findings, reported in the September 25 issue of Current Biology, suggest that male sex hormones are responsible for shortening the lives of men, the researchers say.
Study examines delayed, misdiagnosis of sporadic Jakob-Creutzfeldt disease
A medical record review study of 97 patients with the fatal, degenerative brain disorder sporadic Jakob-Creutzfeldt disease (sCJD) suggests that a correct diagnosis of the disease was often delayed by a variety of misdiagnoses, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Neurology.
Duke policy provides ethical foundation for managing drug shortages
Hospitals and health systems faced with ongoing shortages of key drugs for cancer and other diseases should develop firm rationing policies based on transparency and fairness, researchers at Duke University Medical Center report.
Study analyzes variations in antibiotic prescribing among older patients
A study of Medicare data suggests there was wide variation in antibiotic prescribing for older patients based on geography and the season in which the prescriptions for the medication were written, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine.
Study links active video gaming with higher energy expenditure in children
Compared with rest and sedentary video game play, active video gaming with dancing and boxing were associated with increased heart rate, oxygen uptake and energy expenditure in a study of 18 school children in England, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Three-year, 676-child trial shows effectiveness of low-cost intervention to improve sun protection
A blistering sunburn during childhood or adolescence more than doubles the adult risk of skin cancer. The accumulation of long-term sun exposure may be equally dangerous. A study from the Colorado School of Public Health and the University of Colorado Cancer Center recently published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine shows one way to reduce this exposure: a double-blind randomized clinical trial of mailed sun protection packets led to higher frequency of sun protective behaviors including the use of long clothing, hats, shade, sunscreen, and midday sun avoidance.
Research lacking on drugs for older children with autism, study finds
(HealthDay)—More and more children are growing up with autism, and although many treatments and interventions are now available, clinical studies on the use of medications in teens and young adults are lacking, according to new research.
Newly discovered molecule could deliver drugs to treat diseases
Kansas State University researchers have discovered a molecule that may be capable of delivering drugs inside the body to treat diseases.
When they do not all look alike: Using identity to reduce own-race bias
People often remark that people of a different race "all look alike." However, when we have trouble recognizing people from another race, it may actually have little to do with the other person's race. Instead, new research finds that that we can improve our memory of members of another race by identifying ourselves as part of the same group. Such identification could improve everything from race relations to eyewitness identification.
Treating ovarian cancer: New pathways through genetics
A new discovery that sheds light on the genetic make up of ovarian cancer cells could explain why some women survive longer than others with this deadly disease. A multi-disciplinary team led by the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI MUHC), in collaboration with the Lady Davis Institute of the Jewish General Hospital and the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre, has identified genetic patterns in ovarian cancer tumours that help to differentiate patients based on the length of their survival after initial surgery. The study was published in the journal PLOS ONE.
Progeria: First-ever treatment for rare childhood aging disease shows improvement in all trial participants
Results of the first-ever clinical drug trial for children with Progeria, a rare, fatal "rapid-aging" disease, demonstrate the efficacy of a farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTI), a drug originally developed to treat cancer. The clinical trial results, completed only six years after scientists identified the cause of Progeria, included significant improvements in weight gain, bone structure and, most importantly, the cardiovascular system, according to The Progeria Research Foundation (PRF) and Boston Children's Hospital. The study results were published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Daily breather may ease hot flashes
Regular, daily practice of calm or paced breathing may ease hot flashes, shows a new study published online in Menopause, the journal of the North American Menopause Society.
Prostate cancer diagnosis and surgery can lead to anxiety, depression and reduced quality of life
Men who undergo surgical removal of prostate cancer can experience significant levels of anxiety one year after surgery, and higher levels of anxiety appear to be linked to poor sexual satisfaction and depression, say researchers at Mayo Clinic's campus in Florida. Their recent study, published in the online edition of Psycho-Oncology, suggests that men who experience high levels of "cancer-specific anxiety" following surgery for prostate cancer could likely benefit from counseling designed to address their worries and improve their quality of life.
Bone marrow holds secrets for treating colitis and Crohn's
(Medical Xpress)—Michigan State University researchers have unlocked secrets in bone marrow that could lead to improved treatments for colitis and Crohn's disease.
White matter, old dogs, and new tricks
Most people equate "gray matter" with the brain and its higher functions, such as sensation and perception, but this is only one part of the anatomical puzzle inside our heads. Another cerebral component is the white matter, which makes up about half the brain by volume and serves as the communications network.
Feeling guilty versus feeling angry—who can tell the difference?
When you rear-end the car in front of you at a stoplight, you may feel a mix of different emotions such as anger, anxiety, and guilt. The person whose car you rear-ended may feel angered and frustrated by your carelessness, but it's unlikely that he'll feel much guilt.
New SARS-like virus detected in Middle East (Update 3)
Global health officials are closely monitoring a new respiratory virus related to SARS that is believed to have killed at least one person in Saudi Arabia and left a Qatari citizen in critical condition in London.
Near-roadway air pollution a major contributor to asthma in Los Angeles County
Research conducted at the University of Southern California (USC) indicates that at least 8 percent of the more than 300,000 cases of childhood asthma in Los Angeles County can be attributed to traffic-related pollution at homes within 75 meters (a little less than 250 feet) of a busy roadway.
Study suggests women with severe forms of endometriosis are more attractive
(Medical Xpress)—In a truly odd study undertaken by a group of OB/GYN researchers in Italy, volunteer women were judged to determine if a medical condition known as endometriosis causes those afflicted to be viewed as more attractive by other people. The team found, as they describe in their paper published in the journal Fertility and Sterility, that women with a severe form of the disorder were far more likely to be seen as attractive than women in the general population.
Discovery may shed light on why some HIV-positive patients have more virus
(Medical Xpress)—Biologists at UC San Diego have unraveled the anti-viral mechanism of a human gene that may explain why some people infected with HIV have much higher amounts of virus in their bloodstreams than others.
Dark matter DNA active in brain during day-night cycle
(Medical Xpress)—Long stretches of DNA once considered inert dark matter appear to be uniquely active in a part of the brain known to control the body's 24-hour cycle, according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health.
Like prostate cancer, bladder cancer patients may benefit from anti-androgen therapy
Bladder cancer patients whose tumors express high levels of the protein CD24 have worse prognoses than patients with lower CD24. A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that CD24 expression may depend on androgens – and that anti-androgen therapies like those currently used to treat prostate cancer may benefit bladder cancer patients.
Antibiotics in childhood may increase bowel disease risk: study
(HealthDay)—Use of certain antibiotics may put children at higher risk for developing bowel diseases, new research has found.
Scientists reverse Alzheimer's-like memory loss in animal models by blocking EGFR signaling
A team of neuroscientists and chemists from the U.S. and China today publish research suggesting that a class of currently used anti-cancer drugs as well as several previously untested synthetic compounds show effectiveness in reversing memory loss in two animal models of Alzheimer's' disease.
Using precisely-targeted lasers, researchers manipulate neurons in worms' brains, take control of their behavior
In the quest to understand how the brain turns sensory input into behavior, Harvard scientists have crossed a major threshold. Using precisely-targeted lasers, researchers have been able to take over an animal's brain, instruct it to turn in any direction they choose, and even to implant false sensory information, fooling the animal into thinking food was nearby.
BPA harms human reproduction by damaging chromosomes, disrupting egg development
A Washington State University researcher has found new evidence that the plastic additive BPA can disrupt women's reproductive systems, causing chromosome damage, miscarriages and birth defects.
Biology news
A warm, wet fall would dampen foliage colors
This summer was notable because of drought conditions in June and July, and searing heat in July, but that won't limit the beauty of Pennsylvania's fall foliage.
Elephant born in Banda Aceh conservation camp
A Sumatran elephant in the Conservation Response Unit (CRU) in Aceh Jaya district, Aceh gave birth to a female calf early Tuesday morning.
ISA virus infects salmon from within
New findings on the interaction between an influenza-related virus and the host provide a significant contribution to understanding disease mechanisms behind the serious fish disease Infectious salmon anemia (ISA).
DR Congo conflict puts endangered mountain gorillas in peril
Home to the famed mountain gorillas, Africa's oldest national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been overrun by armed groups who have slaughtered wildlife and scared off much-needed tourists.
Beetles used as biological control against invasive exotic plant in Florida
(Phys.org)—U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists teamed with Broward County students today to release beneficial beetles that are proving to be an effective biological control against the air potato vine, an aggressive, invasive exotic plant that is displacing native plant species and disrupting ecological functions throughout Florida. The event at the Long Key Natural Area and Nature Center was hosted by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the chief intramural scientific research agency of USDA.
Study clarifies diversity, distribution of cutthroat trout in Colorado
A novel genetic study led by the University of Colorado Boulder has helped to clarify the native diversity and distribution of cutthroat trout in Colorado, including the past and present haunts of the federally endangered greenback cutthroat trout.
New research shows bees decrease their food intake when given compound found in red wine
The idea that drinking red wine may provide health benefits – or possibly even extend your life—is an appealing thought for many people. Now, there may be added attraction. Researchers have found that when given resveratrol, a compound found in red wine, bees consume less food.
Washington state's first 'zombie bees' reported
The infection is as grim as it sounds: "Zombie bees" have a parasite that causes them to fly at night and lurch around erratically until they die.
Cellular eavesdropping made easy: New method for identifying and measuring secreted proteins over time
(Phys.org)—It is much harder to keep up with a conversation in a crowded bar than in a quiet little café, but scientists wishing to eavesdrop on cells can now do so over the laboratory equivalent of a noisy room. A new method devised by scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in collaboration with the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), both in Heidelberg, Germany, provides a new approach for studying the proteins cells release to communicate with each other, react to changes, or even to help them move. Published online today in Nature Biotechnology, the work also opens new avenues for drug and biomarker screening.
Ants share decision-making, lessen vulnerability to 'information overload'
Scientists at Arizona State University have discovered that ants utilize a strategy to handle "information overload." Temnothorax rugatulus ants, commonly found living in rock crevices in the Southwest, place the burden of making complicated decisions on the backs of the entire colony, rather than on an individual ant.
Human brains outpace chimp brains in the womb
Humans' superior brain size in comparison to their chimpanzee cousins traces all the way back to the womb. That's according to a study reported in the September 25 issue of Current Biology that is the first to track and compare brain growth in chimpanzee and human fetuses.
In relationships based on mutuality, number of individuals involved can determine rate at which species evolve
(Phys.org)—The relationship between species determines how rapidly they evolve. Parasites and their hosts coevolve more rapidly, and partners in a mutualistic relationship can evolve more slowly. But this view is obviously too simplistic. The rate of evolution in a mutualistic relationship does not depend only on the type of interactions, but also on the number of individuals involved, according to a model developed by researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön, Germany. Therefore, while partners can benefit from slow evolution if only two individuals interact, a higher rate of evolution may be favoured if several individuals are involved.
3-D time-lapse imaging captures twisted plant root mechanics for first time (w/ Video)
Using an advanced 3-D time-lapse imaging system, a group of physicists and plant biologists from Cornell University and the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research have discovered how certain plant roots exhibit powerful mechanical abilities while navigating their environment.
Viruses help scientists battle pathogenic bacteria and improve water supply
(Phys.org)—Infectious bacteria received a taste of their own medicine from University of Missouri researchers who used viruses to infect and kill colonies of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, common disease-causing bacteria. The viruses, known as bacteriophages, could be used to efficiently sanitize water treatment facilities and may aid in the fight against deadly antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Similar organisms deal with life in the extreme differently, research finds
Life in extreme environments – hot acids and heavy metals, for example – can apparently make very similar organisms deal with stress in very different ways, according to new research from North Carolina State University.
In birds' development, researchers find diversity by the peck
(Phys.org)—It has long been known that diversity of form and function in birds' specialized beaks is abundant. Charles Darwin famously studied the finches on the Galapagos Islands, tying the morphology (shape) of various species' beaks to the types of seeds they ate. In 2010, a team of Harvard biologists and applied mathematicians showed that Darwin's finches all actually shared the same developmental pathways, using the same gene products, controlling just size and curvature, to create 14 very different beaks.
Making a molecular micromap: Imaging the yeast 26S proteasome at near-atomic resolution
(Phys.org)—Biological systems are characterized by a form of molecular recycling – and proteins do not escape this fate. In particular, unneeded or damaged proteins biochemically marked for destruction undergo controlled degradation by having their peptide bonds broken by proteasomes. Recently, scientists at the Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Germany used cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) single particle analysis and molecular dynamics techniques to map the Saccharomyces cerevisiae 26S proteasome. (Cryo-EM is a form of transmission electron microscopy where the sample is studied at cryogenic temperatures, which unlike X-ray crystallography allows researchers to observe specimens in their native environment without the need for staining or fixing. S. cerevisiae is the yeast species commonly known as baker's or brewer's yeast.) The researchers then used this map to build a near-atomic resolution structural model of the proteasome. The Max Planck team showed that cryo-electron microscopy allowed them to successfully model the 26S core complex where X-ray crystallography studies conducted over the past 20 years have not.
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