Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 6, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Researchers develop technique to remotely control cockroaches (w/ Video)- Birds do it—Passenger planes will fly in formation too
- Scientists create germ cell-supporting embryonic Sertoli-like cells from skin cells
- 'I knew it all along.. didn't I?'—Understanding hindsight bias
- Mining the blogosphere—Researchers develop tools that make sense of social media
- Master gene affects neurons that govern breathing at birth and in adulthood
- Researchers optimize photoluminescent probes to study DNA and more
- Wnt5a protein critical to gut lining repair
- Common nutritional supplement offers promise in treatment of unique form of autism with epilepsy
- Ultracold atoms reveal surprising new quantum effects
- Amazon unveils new, larger Kindle Fire models (Update 3)
- Weapon-wielding marine microbes may protect populations from foes
- Visible from space: Curiosity tire tracks on Mars
- NOvA: Crews complete first block of North America's most advanced neutrino experiment
- Favorite TV reruns may have restorative powers: researcher
Space & Earth news
Australia abandons coal power plant closure plans
The Australian government Wednesday walked away from talks to close down some of the nation's highest-polluting, coal-fired, power stations, in a move condemned by its key coalition partner the Greens.
Atsa team successfully fits observatory camera in XCOR spacecraft
Planetary Science Institute scientists and undergraduate students from The Citadel and other South Carolina colleges visited XCOR Aerospace in Mojave, Calif., to fit the Atsa Suborbital Observatory Mark I camera in an engineering model of the Lynx Mark I spacecraft.
Huge eruption on the Sun revisited in spectacular HD
This one may truly knock your socks off. Remember the spectacular filament eruption on the Sun on August 31 that we posted last week? The folks from NASA Goddard's Scientific Visualization Studio now have put out a video of the eruption in high definition, and it is definitely worth watching to witness the awesome power of the Sun. The new video also includes data from STEREO and SOHO—as well as the data from the Solar Dynamics Observatory—so the tremendous Coronal Mass Ejection is visible as it travels outward from the Sun. Wow.
Ongoing water quality monitoring essential in age of hydraulic fracturing
The recent large-scale increase in hydraulic fracturing related to oil and gas exploration and production represents a potential source of groundwater contamination in Texas. Effective monitoring of groundwater quality must be tailored to the characteristics of individual aquifers.
Back to the future: A new science for a changing planet
Mars rover Curiosity is doing it. School children strolling through the woods with binoculars are doing it. Charles Darwin was doing it. Observing the natural world around them was how the early naturalists started what would later become known as ecology – the science of how living things interact, depend on each other and how their habitats and communities change over time.
New NASA space technology app educates users at hypersonic speeds
Want to try your hand at landing an inflatable spacecraft? All you need is a smart phone, a computer or a tablet.
EU satellite navigation system opens headquarters in Prague
(AP)—The EU's industry and entrepreneurship commissioner says the bloc's long-delayed satellite navigation program is expected to be partly operational by the end of 2014.
Neil Armstrong to be buried at sea
(AP)—Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, will be buried at sea.
Mount Fuji 'under more pressure than last eruption'
Pressure in the magma chamber of Japan's Mount Fuji is now higher than it was the last time the volcano erupted more than 300 years ago, scientists say, according to a report Thursday.
Tiny, super cold atoms and the Earth's remaining oil sources
Ground-breaking space exploration technology is being used to develop an innovative new sensor for the subsea industry. Dr Charles Wang, an astrophysicist at the University of Aberdeen who is leading the development of the technology discussed his work at the British Science Festival today.
Voyage to explore link between salinity and climate
(Phys.org)—A NASA-sponsored expedition is set to sail to the North Atlantic's saltiest spot to get a detailed, 3-D picture of how salt content fluctuates in the ocean's upper layers and how these variations are related to shifts in rainfall patterns around the planet.
Comet Pan-STARRS: How bright will it get?
Early next year, a comet will come fairly close to Earth and the Sun—traveling within the orbit of Mercury—and it has the potential to be visible to the naked eye. Amateur and professional astronomers alike have been keeping watch on Comet C/2011 L4 PANSTARRS (or PANSTARRS for short), trying to ascertain just how bright this comet may become. It will come within 45 million kilometers (28 million miles) of the Sun on March 9, 2013, which is close enough for quite a bit of cometary ice to vaporize and form a bright coma and tail.
Groundwater conservation through development of a drought plan
(Phys.org)—The goal of a drought plan is to sustain water availability by reducing water use in response to drought or emergency conditions. Because emergency conditions can develop rapidly, responses must be enacted quickly. Consequently, drought plans need to be prepared in advance, considering conditions that will initiate and terminate the conservation measures.
Chikyu sets a new world drilling-depth record of scientific ocean drilling
Scientific deep sea drilling vessel Chikyu sets a world new record by drilling down and obtains rock samples from deeper than 2,111 meters below the seafloor off Shimokita Peninsula of Japan in the northwest Pacific Ocean. The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), the implementing organization for scientific expedition aboard the Chikyu, announced this achievement on 6th September, 2012.
'Mighty Eagle' lander aces major exam
(Phys.org)—Completing this round of flight test objectives, the "Mighty Eagle," a NASA robotic prototype lander, flew to an altitude of 100 feet and descended gently to a controlled landing during a successful free flight Sept. 5 at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.
Fungi discovered to be source of methane
(Phys.org)—Some six years ago scientific textbooks had to be updated because of the surprising discovery made by the research group led by Frank Keppler that plants produce methane in an oxygen-rich environment. At that time this was unthinkable, since it was commonly accepted that biogenic methane could only be formed during the decomposition of organic material under strictly anoxic conditions. His group has now made another fascinating new observation: fungi produce methane.
NASA analyzes Isaac's rainfall: Drought relief and flooding
As it passed through the northern Caribbean, around south Florida, and into Louisiana and the Middle Mississippi Valley, Hurricane Isaac brought lots of rain, some of it beneficial, and some of it not. Using data from the TRMM satellite, NASA created images of rainfall totals generated along Hurricane Isaac's path.
NASA satellite captured Hurricane Leslie's picture perfect moment
NASA's Aqua satellite flew over Tropical Storm Leslie on Sept. 5 during a picture perfect moment, just as it was being re-classified as a hurricane, and captured two images of the storm.
NASA saw Michael become an Atlantic hurricane, wind speed more than doubled
The Atlantic Ocean hurricane season spawned two hurricanes this week and NASA satellites have been monitoring them and providing valuable data to forecasters. NASA's TRMM satellite saw very heavy rainfall and powerful towering thunderstorms in Michael when the storm became a hurricane. Michael's wind speeds more than doubled in 24 hours and it is now a major hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
Mars rover Curiosity begins arm-work phase
(Phys.org)—After driving more than a football field's length since landing, NASA's Mars rover Curiosity is spending several days preparing for full use of the tools on its arm.
Mystery over apparent dearth of lithium 7 in universe deepens
(Phys.org)—Researchers studying the cosmos have been stumped by an observation first made by Monique and François Spite of the Paris Observatory some thirty years ago; they noted that in studying the halos of older stars, that there should be more lithium 7 than there appeared to be in the universe. Since that time many studies have been conducted in trying to explain this apparent anomaly, but thus far no one has been able to come up with a reasonable explanation. And now, new research has deepened the mystery further by finding that the amount of lithium 7 in the path between us and a very young star aligns with would have been expected shortly after the Big Bang, but doesn't take into account the creation of new amounts since that time. In their paper published in the journal Nature, Christopher Howk and colleagues suggest the discrepancy is troubling because it can't be explained with normal astrophysics models.
Noise reduction necessary for more accurate study of Earth's plate movements
(Phys.org)—The mystery of erratic changes in the history of Earth's past and current plate motions has been cracked by academics from The Australian National University.
Triton: A subsurface ocean?
Neptune's largest moon Triton is most likely a captured Kuiper Belt Object. The capture of icy Triton and the subsequent taming of its orbit likely led to the formation of a subsurface ocean through tidal heating. New research suggests that this ocean could still exist today.
A family portrait of galaxies
(Phys.org)—Two very different galaxies feature in this family portrait taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, together forming a peculiar galaxy pair called Arp 116. The image shows the dramatic differences in size, structure and colour between spiral and elliptical galaxies.
Mars's dramatic climate variations are driven by the Sun
On Mars's poles there are ice caps of ice and dust with layers that reflect to past climate variations on Mars. Researchers from the Niels Bohr Institute have related the layers in the ice cap on Mars's north pole to variations in solar insolation on Mars, thus established the first dated climate history for Mars, where ice and dust accumulation has been driven by variations in insolation. The results are published in the scientific journal, Icarus.
Destroyed coastal habitats produce significant greenhouse gas
Destruction of coastal habitats may release as much as 1 billion tons of carbon emissions into the atmosphere each year, 10 times higher than previously reported, according to a new Duke led study.
Visible from space: Curiosity tire tracks on Mars
NASA's robotic rover Curiosity is making its mark on Mars, in a way so big that it can be seen from space.
Technology news
US probe over possible theft of Romney tax data
The US Secret Service said Wednesday it had opened a probe into the possible theft of copies of Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney's tax returns.
Steve Jobs' widow joins Stanford governing board
(AP)—The widow of Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Jobs is joining Stanford University's governing board.
TU Delft's promising water-treatment technologies combined
Thanks to research by Mari Winkler, it should now be possible to integrate two successful TU Delft technologies for the treatment of waste water with bacteria, Nereda and Anammox, into a single plant. On Wednesday 5 September, Winkler was awarded her PhD at TU Delft for her work on the subject.
A better way to store data
These days, nearly everyone stores things in the "cloud"—business-critical documents, personal photos, e-mail accounts … everything.
Fujitsu demonstrates ultra high-speed short-reach data transmission based on multi-level signalling, advanced ADC/DAC
Fujitsu Semiconductor Europe has demonstrated the transmission of >100Gbps over a single CEI-28G-VSR channel, effectively quadrupling the data rate throughput defined by the Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) for this chip-to-chip electrical interface. This serves as a benchmark for what can be achieved over short-reach electrical channels using the same field-proven CMOS converter technology deployed in long-haul optical transport systems today. Key to the study is a comparison of the relative advantages and disadvantages of PAM (Pulse-amplitude Modulation) encoding versus DMT (Discrete Multi-Tone) over this particular channel. FSEU's test and demonstration platform is based on the test chips and evaluation boards for the family of 40nm, 65GSps CMOS converters ("LEIA" DAC for transmit and "LUKE" ADC for receive).
Virtual engineering leading to faster results
Together with the specialty chemicals company LANXESS, Fraunhofer researchers have engineered and built a system in record time, which produces reverse osmosis membrane elements for water treatment. Virtual engineering allowed research and development to proceed simultaneously.
Mind control will shape future of gaming and cell phones: professor
Future technological breakthroughs are occurring so rapidly, it's nearly impossible to keep up with all the innovative improvements coming the next 10 years, 5 years, or next year.
Lawyer: October decision for hacker wanted by US
(AP)—The lawyer for a British hacker wanted in America for breaking into sensitive computer networks at U.S. military and space installations says that officials will rule on the case by next month.
Estonian first graders to learn computer code
Tech-savvy Estonia has launched a project encouraging public schools to teach pupils, including first graders, to write computer code, the project's authors said Thursday.
'Cool' idea may potentialy cut one-third in tropical data centers' energy bills
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Toshiba have developed an advanced cooling technology that will enable data centres in tropical countries to be more energy efficient, cutting energy bills by one-third.
Longest fiber-optic sensor network developed
In her PhD thesis, Montserrat Fernández-Vallejo, a telecommunications engineer and graduate of the UPNA-Public University of Navarre, has experimentally developed various fibre-optic sensor networks for the remote monitoring of large infrastructures. Specifically, she has managed to develop the largest network so far in existence —measuring 250 km—which is equipped with a multiplexing capability (which enables two or more information channels to be combined within a single transmission medium).
How consumer-electronics makers are faring
Makers and sellers of consumer-electronics devices have been releasing their earnings reports for the latest quarter. Here's a look at selected companies that report unit sales on phones, tablet computers and other devices. Some companies including Samsung Electronics Co. do not release data on unit sales.
Google picks Chile for its Latin America servers
(AP)—Google Inc. has chosen a site just outside the capital of Chile for its first data center in Latin America.
Nokia apologises for embarrassing PR gaffe
Beleaguered telecom giant Nokia apologised on Thursday for a video demonstration that led viewers to believe it had been filmed with its new smartphone but was in fact made with other equipment.
'Green' products trade gains momentum in APEC
A push to boost Asia Pacific trade in environmentally friendly goods gained momentum Thursday as officials agreed to cut tariffs on bamboo floor panels, solar batteries and dozens of other "green" products.
Top 5 makers of tablets, led by Apple; Amazon 3rd
On Thursday, Amazon.com Inc. unveiled new Kindle Fire tablet computers, the latest effort to compete with Apple's dominant iPad.
EU clears UK 'mobile phone wallets' venture
The European Commission said Wednesday that it has cleared a joint venture between operators Telefonica of Spain and Vodafone and Everything Everywhere in Britain in mobile phone commerce.
Microsoft adding staff, R&D in China mobile push
(AP)—Microsoft Corp. will hire more than 1,000 additional employees in China this year and boost research and development spending by 15 percent as it tries to catch up with Apple and Google in the fast-growing mobile Internet market, executives said Thursday.
SKorean antitrust watchdog probing Samsung
(AP)—South Korea's antitrust watchdog said Thursday it has launched an investigation into whether Samsung Electronics Co. is abusing its dominant position in the wireless market to disadvantage Apple Inc.
In fall Apple season, rival phone makers struggle
(AP)—It's shaping up to be a cold fall for smartphone makers other than Apple, as the trendsetter of the phone industry gears up to release the next iPhone.
Samsung says Galaxy S III sales hit 20 million
(AP)—Samsung says global sales of its Galaxy S III smartphone have surpassed 20 million in a little more than three months.
Japan's Sony hit by fresh cyberattack
Sony said Thursday that hackers stole details belonging to hundreds of its mobile unit clients, the latest in a string of cyberattacks to hit the embattled Japanese electronics giant.
EU probes Chinese solar panel 'dumping' claim
The European Commission launched an anti-dumping probe into Chinese solar panel imports Thursday, upping the ante in a major trade dispute Beijing insists should be solved by discussion.
Welding of steel and aluminum a first on frames of mass-produced vehicles
Honda Motor today announced that it has newly developed a technology for the continuous welding of the dissimilar metals of steel and aluminum and applied it for the first time in the world to the subframe of a mass-production vehicle, a key component of a vehicle body frame. Honda will adopt this technology first to the North American version of the all-new 2013 Accord, which will go on sale in the United States on September 19, 2012, and will expand application sequentially to other models.
New process to prevent cold cracking in high-strength steel
Cold cracking in high-strength steel presents major quality assurance challenges for the automotive and machine-building industries, since cracks are difficult to predict – until now. A new process can determine, as early as the design stage, if critical conditions for such damage can be prevented. This lowers development times and costs.
Smart fabric signals presence of intruders, triggers alarm
Researchers have developed a new kind of anti-theft system, based on a woven fabric that triggers an alarm when penetrated by intruders. The smart fabric enables the exact location of the break-in to be identified, and is significantly cheaper than other burglary detection systems. It is also suitable as an invisible means of protecting entire buildings.
More accurate wind energy forecasts
Wind power is one of the most important forms of renewable energy. In order to exploit inland wind as effectively as possible, turbines must be optimally positioned and dimensioned. A 200-meter high wind measuring mast delivers precise data that can also be used to forecast energy yields.
Fast and flexible: Electronics for the next generation
(Phys.org)—This year's thin, powerful smartphone quickly becomes yesterday's underperforming battery hog in today's consumer electronics market.
Nokia's slide continues after Windows 8 launch
(AP)—Nokia Corp.'s share price is continuing to fall after the unveiling of the company's first Windows Phone 8 smartphones failed to impress markets and analysts.
Twitter tops Facebook in mobile ads: survey
Twitter is outpacing Facebook in US mobile advertising revenue this year, according to a survey released Thursday showing a market dominated by Google.
US judge OKs partial settlement in e-book case
A US judge approved a partial settlement Thursday in a lawsuit over e-book price-fixing, allowing three publishers to end a deal with Apple that became the target of a government probe.
New technology: Ultra-fast boriding saves time, cleaner
(Phys.org)—Growing up in Turkey, Ali Erdemir and Osman Eryilmaz would sometimes play with the borax deposits near the mountains by their homes—but only later would they discover that borax would underlie one of their crowning achievements as scientists.
Applying algorithm to social networks can reveal hidden connections criminals use to commit fraud
Fraudsters beware: the more your social networks connect you and your accomplices to the crime, the easier it will be to shake you from the tree.
ElcomSoft has discovered a security hole in UPEK fingerprint reader software
(Phys.org)—Russian security firm ElcomSoft has posted a blog entry, courtesy of Marketing Director Olga Koksharova, claiming that UPEK software that was preloaded on laptops and other computers to run hardware fingerprint readers, has a huge security hole in it. In the blog entry, Koksharova says her company has found that the UPEK code saves user passwords in the Windows registry in a "barely scrambled" form, and thus is obviously not encrypted, meaning those that gain physical access to the computer can very easily circumvent the fingerprint login process and gain access to all user files.
Mining the blogosphere—Researchers develop tools that make sense of social media
Can a computer "read" an online blog and understand it? Several Concordia computer scientists are helping to get closer to that goal.
Birds do it—Passenger planes will fly in formation too
(Phys.org)—Toulouse-based Airbus, a world-leading aircraft manufacturer, has issued its "vision" of what truly smart flying—smart, that is, as in sustainable rather than smart as in sensor-packed—will be like in 2050. The presentation is designed to address making passenger flying more comfortable, safer, more reliable, and, as key, to address the need to curb aviation emissions that pollute the environment. In all, Airbus has ideas for sustainable aviation in 2050 and beyond. If global air transport is to grow as projected, the company knows there is work ahead to cut emissions and institute ways that flying can be less burdensome to the environment. They are suggesting ways to minimize noise, reduce fuel emissions and potentially shorten flight times.
Researchers develop technique to remotely control cockroaches (w/ Video)
Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a technique that uses an electronic interface to remotely control, or steer, cockroaches.
Medicine & Health news
Minimally invasive surgery works well for abdominal aortic aneurysms, Mayo finds
A minimally invasive procedure known as endovascular repair used for abdominal aortic aneurysms has a low rate of complications, even in high-risk patients such as those with kidney, heart or lung problems, a Mayo Clinic study shows. Researchers found that even when aneurysms ruptured, endovascular repair had lower mortality rates than open-abdominal surgery, the other treatment option. The findings are being presented at the Midwestern Vascular Surgical Society Annual Meeting, Sept. 6-8, in Milwaukee, Wis.
Themes identified for improving end-of-life care in ER
(HealthDay)—Major and minor themes have been identified by emergency nurses who often provide end-of-life (EOL) care in the emergency department setting, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Emergency Nursing.
More white blood cells in cardiac patients with depression
(Medical Xpress)—Cardiac patients suffering from depression are at greater risk for new cardiac events or cardiac death than patients without depression. It is still unclear which underlying mechanisms play a role in this adverse relationship. Researchers from Tilburg University, the Veterans Affair Hospital in San Francisco, and VU University Medical Center in the Netherlands suggest that inflammatory processes could be involved (Psychoneuroendocrinology, August 2012).
Children raised in inter-ethnic families better adjusted than children in mono-ethnic families
A study on the emotional and behavioural adjustments of children from inter-ethnic and mono-ethnic families in Malaysia challenges traditional assumptions about inter-ethnic families.
Concussions can happen in all kids, not just athletes
(Medical Xpress)—The gridiron is back in action. From little leagues to professional teams, football frenzy has begun, and with it, concerns about concussions. But it's not just jarring tackles that can lead to concussions in kids. According to Dr. Ryan Coates, a pediatric neurologist at Loyola University Health System, there are many ways kids are exposed to concussion risks.
Emergency medicine: heart-lung machine brings clinically dead patients back to life
Young people especially who suffer acute heart failure can be saved with the prompt use of a heart-lung machine. And the number of patients that can be saved could be even higher, according to a current study by the University Department of Emergency Medicine at the Medical University of Vienna.
Married lung cancer patients survive longer than single patients after treatment
Married patients with locally advanced lung cancer are likely to survive longer after treatment than patients who are single, according to a study by researchers at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center in Baltimore. The results of the retrospective study are being presented at the 2012 Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology.
EACPR and AHA statement empowers health care professional to use Clinical Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing
The European Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (EACPR), a registered branch of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), and the American Heart Association (AHA) have today issued a joint scientific statement that sets out to produce easy-to-follow guidance on Clinical Cardiopulmonary Exercise (CPX) testing based on current scientific evidence. The document, which has been published simultaneously online in the European Heart Journal and Circulation, is intended to stimulate greater uptake of clinically warranted CPX assessments and potentially open the way for the initiation of multi-centre international trials utilising the technology.
Almost one in five young children with cancer suffers from a trauma disorder
The diagnosis and treatment of cancer does not only trigger posttraumatic stress disorder in adults and older children; infants and toddlers with cancer also suffer from trauma disorders, as researchers from the University of Zurich and the University Children's Hospital Zurich show for the first time. This discovery should be taken into account while treating children to prevent them from developing long-term psychological disorders.
Report: US health care system wastes $750B a year
(AP)—A new report says the U.S. health care system squanders $750 billion a year—roughly 30 cents of every medical dollar.
Survival 'excellent' following living donor liver transplantation for acute liver failure
Patients in Japan who underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for acute liver failure (ALF) were classified as having excellent outcomes, with ten-year survival at 73%. The findings, published in the September issue of Liver Transplantation, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), suggest that the type of liver disease or treatment plan does not affect long-term patient survival following LDLT. Donor and patient age, however, does impact long-term outcome post-transplant.
Advocacy toolkit launched to halt the 'runaway train' of cancer in Africa
Cancer kills more than seven million people a year throughout the world. This is more than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined, and African countries, which carry a large part of the burden, are the least able of all developing countries to cope with the challenges it presents, says a consortium of international cancer organizations.
Report: Strategies to prevent noise-induced hearing loss, tinnitus in soldiers
Antioxidants, dietary supplements and high-tech brain imaging are among some of the novel strategies that may help detect, treat and even prevent noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus among American troops, according to researchers at Henry Ford Hospital.
Transformation of health system needed to improve care and reduce costs
America's health care system has become too complex and costly to continue business as usual, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. Inefficiencies, an overwhelming amount of data, and other economic and quality barriers hinder progress in improving health and threaten the nation's economic stability and global competitiveness, the report says. However, the knowledge and tools exist to put the health system on the right course to achieve continuous improvement and better quality care at lower cost, added the committee that wrote the report.
Stage I NSCLC patients who receive radiation therapy are surviving longer
Stage I, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who received radiation therapy have an increased median survival of 21 months compared to 16 months, and the percentage of patients who receive no treatment declined from 20 percent to 16 percent, respectively, when comparing the two eras evaluated, 1999-2003 and 2004-2008, according to detailed analysis of the SEER-17 (Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results, National Cancer Institute) national database presented at the 2012 Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology. This symposium is sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) and The University of Chicago.
Adding bavituximab to second-line chemotherapy doubles response rate
Adding the monoclonal antibody bavituximab to docetaxel chemotherapy doubles overall response rate and improves progression-free survival and overall survival in late-stage non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer (NS-NSCLC) patients who have already received one prior chemotherapy regimen, according to research presented at the 2012 Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology. This symposium is sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) and The University of Chicago.
Brain radiation after lung cancer treatment reduces risk of cancer spreading
Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with surgery and/or radiation therapy have a significantly reduced risk of developing brain metastases if they also receive prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI); however, this study did not show an improvement in overall survival with PCI, according to research presented at the 2012 Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology. This symposium is sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) and The University of Chicago.
Hispanic lung cancer patients have higher survival than non-Hispanic white patients
Analysis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient records in the California Cancer Registry (CCR) database during the 20-year period of 1988-2008 indicates that Hispanics/Latinos with NSCLC have a higher overall survival compared to non-Hispanic white patients, according to research presented at the 2012 Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology. This symposium is sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), and The University of Chicago.
Standard chemotherapy provides higher survival rate than experimental in lung cancer patients
Treatment with pemetrexed, carboplatin and bevacizumab followed by maintenance pemetrexed and bevacizumab (Pem+Cb+B) is no better than standard therapy with paclitaxel, carboplatin and bevacizumab followed by bevacizumab (Pac+Cb+B) in patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NS-NSCLC), according to research presented at the 2012 Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology. This symposium is sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) and The University of Chicago.
Marital status, race increase survival rate significantly for Stage III non-small cell lung cancer patients
A study of survival data for Stage III, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients at the University of Maryland's Greenebaum Cancer Center in Baltimore indicates that marital status and race can significantly impact patient survival rates, according to research presented at the 2012 Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology. This symposium is sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), and The University of Chicago.
Crizotinib reduces tumor size in patients with ALK positive lung cancer
Crizotinib is effective in shrinking tumors in patients with anaplastic lymphoma receptor tyrosine kinase (ALK) positive non-small cell lung cancer, a cancer commonly found in people who never smoked, and should be the standard of care for advanced stages of this disease, according to research presented at the 2012 Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology. This symposium is sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) and The University of Chicago.
Simple blood tests detect autoimmune kidney disease, help predict prognosis
Simple blood tests could help physicians decide which patients with a particular autoimmune kidney disease can forgo potentially toxic medications and which need to be treated, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).
Some patients with common kidney disease can skip standard treatments
For patients with a common kidney disease who have normal kidney function and only minor urinary abnormalities at the time of diagnosis, the long-term prognosis is excellent and no special treatments are needed, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings contrast with earlier, smaller studies and suggest that patients can avoid taking potentially toxic immunosuppressive medications often used to treat the disease.
W.Va. health officials report hantavirus death
(AP)—Health officials say a West Virginia resident has died from the outbreak of a rodent-borne illness linked to Yosemite National Park.
Even the very elderly and frail can benefit from exercise
A study carried out by Dr. Louis Bherer, PhD (Psychology), Laboratory Director and Researcher at the Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (IUGM), an institution affiliated with Université de Montréal, has shown that all seniors, even those considered frail, can enjoy the benefits of exercise in terms of their physical and cognitive faculties and quality of life and that these benefits appear after only three months.
Ginkgo biloba extract does not prevent Alzheimer's dementia
Ginkgo biloba extract does not significantly reduce the likelihood of diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in older people, according to the results of the largest ever Alzheimer's prevention study in Europe, published in Lancet Neurology.
Tests for silent neck artery narrowing to curb stroke risk—Waste of resources
Tests to screen for "silent" neck artery narrowing in a bid to curb the risk of a stroke result in many unnecessary and costly surgical procedures, and ultimately save very few lives, concludes an editorial in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery.
Most English football teams don't follow international guidelines on concussion
Most professional English football teams don't comply with international guidelines on concussion among players, which ensure they are safe to return to play, indicates research published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Toddlers increasingly swallowing liquid detergent capsules
Doctors are calling for improved safety warnings and childproof packaging for laundry and dishwasher detergent liquitabs, following a cluster of incidents in which toddlers have inadvertently swallowed the capsules.
Popular kids in US and Mexico more likely to smoke, studies show
Be warned, popularity may cause lung cancer, heart disease, and emphysema.
Assisted listening devices benefit children with dyslexia
(HealthDay)—For children with dyslexia, the use of assistive listening devices (classroom frequency modulation [FM] systems) reduces auditory processing variability, with concomitant improvements in reading and phonological awareness, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Quitting smoking cuts elevated subarachnoid hemorrhage risk
(HealthDay)—Cigarette smoking increases the risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in a dose-responsive manner, and cessation correlates with a reduction in SAH risk, according to a study published online Aug. 30 in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
Researchers find acidic pH microenvironments in tumors aid tumor cell survival
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center and colleagues at the University of South Florida and Wayne State University have discovered that tumor cell survival relies on adaptation to acidic conditions in the tumor microenvironment. Their research investigating the effects of acidity on breast and pancreatic cancer cell lines revealed the importance of autophagy in acidic microenvironments and suggests that a successful treatment strategy might be based on this autophagic dependence.
US cases of West Nile virus soaring: CDC
Infections and fatalities from West Nile virus have risen to new record levels in the United States in the first week of September, the Centers for Disease Control said Wednesday.
Stem cell research: Method to identify origins of new Leydig cells in males
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have developed a new way to identify and study the stem cells that are capable of giving rise to new Leydig cells in adult testes.
Study: Breast cancer screening does save lives
(Medical Xpress)—Women who undergo screening halve their risk of dying from breast cancer, a new study from the University of Melbourne has found. The study, published today in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention is the largest of its kind in Australia and one of the largest in the world. It followed about 4,000 women in a study of the BreastScreen program in Western Australia.
Short, intense bursts of exercise could be better for our health than longer intervals
Spending 2 minutes 30 seconds exercising at a high level of intensity, could be better at protecting the body against risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) than longer sessions of less intense exercise, claimed experts at the British Science Festival today.
Balanced diet required in prevention of cancer
(Medical Xpress)—Balancing your diet with protective foods rich in fibre and vitamin C can help prevent the formation of cancer causing compounds in the gut, the British Science Festival will hear today.
Sex and sewage
Environmental endocrine disruptors are man-made chemicals that have been shown to have adverse effects on animal and human health and fertility. Aberdeen scientists told the British Science Festival today their effects on ecosystems and human health could be as significant as climate change.
Human genome far more active than thought
The GENCODE Consortium expects the human genome has twice as many genes than previously thought, many of which might have a role in cellular control and could be important in human disease. This remarkable discovery comes from the GENCODE Consortium, which has done a painstaking and skilled review of available data on gene activity.
Better sleep for students dependent upon schedule change from school districts
(Medical Xpress)—Back-to-school time for many U.S. high school students may mean heading back into a Catch-22 of sleep. Teens are naturally inclined to stay up late, but are forced to wake up early, says Mary Carskadon, professor of psychiatry and human behavior and a noted advocate of later school starting times.
New approach for efficient analysis of emerging genetic data
(Medical Xpress)—With the ability to sequence human genes comes an onslaught of raw material about the genetic characteristics that distinguish us, and wading through these reserves of data poses a major challenge for life scientists. Researchers at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) and the Center for Human Genome Variation at Duke University Medical Center (DUMC) have developed an approach for analyzing data that can help researchers studying genetic factors in disease to quickly cull out relevant genetic patterns and identify variants that lead to particular disorders.
Cancer researchers discover gene defect responsible for cancer syndrome
University of Hawai'i Cancer Center researchers have discovered germline BAP1 mutations are associated with a novel cancer syndrome characterized by malignant mesothelioma, uveal melanoma, cutaneous melanoma and atypical melanocytic tumors. Germline mutations are hereditary gene defects that are present in every cell.
Novel therapeutic targets identified for small cell lung cancer
Newly discovered molecular differences between small cell lung cancer and nonsmall cell lung cancer have revealed PARP1 and EZH2 as potential therapeutic targets for patients with small cell lung cancer, according to the results of a study published in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
HIF gene mutation found in tumor cells offers new clues about cancer metabolism
For the first time, a mutation in HIF2α, a specific group of genes known as transcription factors that is involved in red blood cell production and cell metabolism, has been identified in cancer tumor cells.
Presence of common infection—cytomegalovirus—helps to explain increased other virus susceptibility in aging adults
(Medical Xpress)—The first experimental proof that long-term infection with cytomegalovirus, or CMV, may impair the aging immune system's response to unrelated viruses – such as West Nile or the flu – has been published in the journal PLoS Pathogens.
Increasing percentage of patients aware of link between atrial fibrillation and stroke
(Medical Xpress)—Findings from a recent American Heart Association/American Stroke Association survey noted the increased awareness in patients suffering from atrial fibrillation and the correlation between this condition and stroke.
Charting locations of marijuana dispensaries in L.A.
(Medical Xpress)—With the debate over medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles still in full fury, Bridget Freisthler, an associate professor of social welfare at UCLA's Luskin School of Public Affairs, has found that there are far fewer dispensaries open for business in the city than officials claim.
Advanced maternal age not harmful for children in adulthood
(Medical Xpress)—Previously existing ideas on how advanced maternal age affects adult health of children have to be reconsidered. It had been thought that mothers delivering later in life have children that are less healthy as adults, because the body of the mother had already degenerated due to physiological effects like decreasing oocyte quality or a weakened placenta. In fact, what affects the health of the grown-up children is not the age of their mother but her education and the number of years she survives after giving birth and thus spends with her offspring. This is the conclusion of a new study by Mikko Myrskylä from the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Rostock, Germany carried out with data from 18,000 US children and their mothers.
Family literacy project exceeds expectations
A unique approach to early literacy work with families where children develop their language skills and their ability to read and write from an early age has had a huge success.
Immune cell death safeguards against autoimmune disease
Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have discovered that a pair of molecules work together to kill so-called 'self-reactive' immune cells that are programmed to attack the body's own organs. The finding is helping to explain how autoimmune diseases develop.
Stem-cell-protecting drug could prevent the harmful side effects of radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is one of the most widely used cancer treatments, but it often damages normal tissue and can lead to debilitating conditions. A class of drugs known as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors can prevent radiation-induced tissue damage in mice by protecting normal stem cells that are crucial for tissue repair, according to a preclinical study published by Cell Press in the September issue of the journal Cell Stem Cell.
Non-alcoholic red wine may help reduce high blood pressure
Men with high risk for heart disease had lower blood pressure after drinking non-alcoholic red wine every day for four weeks, according to a new study in the American Heart Association journal Circulation Research.
Earlier treatment for young patients with chronic hepatitis B more effective in clearing virus
Scientists from A*STAR's Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), together with clinical collaborators from London , discovered for the first time that children and young patients with chronic Hepatitis B Virus infection (HBV carriers) do have a protective immune response, contrary to current belief, and hence can be more suitable treatment candidates than previously considered.
Multi-functional anti-inflammatory/anti-allergic developed
A synthetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic family of drugs to combat a variety of illnesses while avoiding detrimental side effects has been developed by a Hebrew University of Jerusalem researcher.
A brain filter for clear information transmission
Every activity in the brain involves the transfer of signals between neurons. Frequently, as many as one thousand signals rain down on a single neuron simultaneously. To ensure that precise signals are delivered, the brain possesses a sophisticated inhibitory system. Stefan Remy and colleagues at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and the University of Bonn have illuminated how this system works.
Face-down position may be safer during radiation for breast cancer: study
(HealthDay)—Changing the position of a patient while receiving radiation therapy for breast cancer may reduce the later risks of heart and lung problems, according to a new study.
Vets' readjustment issues may spur PTSD treatment
(HealthDay)—The stress of readjusting to civilian life is a major reason some U.S. soldiers seek treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, a new study finds.
Storm of 'awakened' transposons may cause brain-cell pathologies in ALS, other illnesses
A team of neuroscientists and informatics experts at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) reports important progress in an effort to understand the relationship between transposons – sequences of DNA that can jump around within the genome, potentially causing great damage – and mechanisms involved in serious neurodegenerative disorders including ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease), FTLD (frontotemporal lobar degeneration) and Alzheimer's disease.
Noisy surroundings take toll on short-term memory
Have you ever noticed how tiresome it can be to follow a conversation at a noisy party? Rest assured: this is not necessarily due to bad hearing – although that might make things worse. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig have found that adverse listening situations are difficult for the brain, partly because they draw on the same, limited resources supporting our short-term memory. The new findings are particularly relevant to understanding the cognitive consequences of hearing damage, a condition that affects an increasing number of people.
Childhood sexual abuse linked to later heart attacks in men
(Medical Xpress)—Men who experienced childhood sexual abuse are three times more likely to have a heart attack than men who were not sexually abused as children, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Toronto. The researchers found no association between childhood sexual abuse and heart attacks among women.
In Rochester, a tale of tainted tattoos
(Medical Xpress)—If you end up with a rash on a new tattoo, you should probably think twice before brushing it off as an allergic reaction or a normal part of the healing process.
Genetic discovery for hereditary spastic ataxia—rare disease in Newfoundland
Researchers from the Guy Rouleau Laboratory affiliated with the CHUM Research Centre and the CHU–Sainte-Justine Research Centre have discovered the genetic cause of a rare disease reported only in patients originating from Newfoundland: hereditary spastic ataxia (HSA).
Social psychologists espouse tolerance and diversity—do they walk the walk?
Every ten years or so, someone will make the observation that there is a lack of political diversity among psychological scientists and a discussion about what ought to be done ensues. The notion that the field discriminates against and is skewed toward a liberal political perspective is worthy of concern; scholars, both within and outside the field, have offered various solutions to this diversity problem.
Parents' skin cancer concern doesn't keep kids inside
Pick your poison: sun exposure that leads to skin cancer or low physical activity that leads to obesity? In fact, a University of Colorado Cancer Center study published this week in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease shows that parents' concern about skin cancer doesn't make them keep their kids indoors.
Childhood virus RSV shows promise against adult cancer
RSV, a virus that causes respiratory infections in infants and young children, selectively kills cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone, researchers from the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio said.
New blood test detects potentially deadly calcium deposits
A new test could help identify and treat individuals at risk of developing potentially deadly calcium deposits in their tissues and blood vessels, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). Heart disease is the number one killer of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and vascular calcification is thought to play a major role.
Alcoholics Anonymous participation promotes long-term recovery
A new study published in a special issue of Substance Abuse finds that recovering alcoholics who help others in 12-step programs furthers their time sober, consideration for others, step-work, and long-term meeting attendance.
Even small weight gains raise blood pressure in college students
As a college student, you may be happy simply not to have gained the "Freshman 15." But a University of Illinois study shows that as little as 1.5 pounds per year is enough to raise blood pressure in that age group, and the effect was worse for young women.
Biopsies may overlook esophagus disease—Study reveals limitations in detecting allergic disorder
University of Utah engineers mapped white blood cells called eonsinophils and showed an existing diagnostic method may overlook an elusive digestive disorder that causes swelling in the esophagus and painful swallowing.
Modeling sepsis in newborns
Sepsis, or bacterial infection of the bloodstream, is a grave, hard-to-diagnose threat in premature newborns in the NICU. Even when it's detected and treated with antibiotics, its inflammatory effects can harm fragile babies' development. Now, researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have modeled the effects of sepsis on the unique newborn immune system, using mice. They and others have begun using the model to identify diagnostic markers and better treatments.
Brain scans could help doctors choose treatments for people with social anxiety disorder
A new study led by MIT neuroscientists has found that brain scans of patients with social anxiety disorder can help predict whether they will benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy.
Researchers devise a way to manipulate a rat's dreams
(Medical Xpress)—Cognitive scientists working at MIT have devised a means for not only altering the dreams of rats, but of demonstrating a way of testing what they've achieved, offering evidence that it can be done, and in so doing have offered a glimpse into what may lie ahead for people who wish to manipulate their own dreams. Daniel Bendor and Matthew Wilson, working out of MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory have, as they describe in their paper published in Nature Neuroscience, used audio sounds to influence the dreams of rats they were studying.
Missing MicroRNAs may be significant in resisting obesity
(Medical Xpress)—Tiny strands of RNA affect how our cells burn fat and sugar—a finding that gives biologists a place to start in the quest for therapies to treat obesity and related health problems, said scientists at Virginia Tech and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.
Master gene affects neurons that govern breathing at birth and in adulthood
When mice are born lacking the master gene Atoh1, none breathe well and all die in the newborn period. Why and how this occurs could provide new answers about sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), but the solution has remained elusive until now.
Common nutritional supplement offers promise in treatment of unique form of autism with epilepsy
An international team of researchers, led by scientists at the University of California, San Diego and Yale University schools of medicine, have identified a form of autism with epilepsy that may potentially be treatable with a common nutritional supplement.
Wnt5a protein critical to gut lining repair
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a protein essential to repairing the intestine's inner lining.
'I knew it all along.. didn't I?'—Understanding hindsight bias
The fourth-quarter comeback to win the game. The tumor that appeared on a second scan. The guy in accounting who was secretly embezzling company funds. The situation may be different each time, but we hear ourselves say it over and over again: "I knew it all along."
Favorite TV reruns may have restorative powers: researcher
(Medical Xpress)—We hear all the time that we need to get off the couch, stop watching TV and get moving. But what if watching TV under specific conditions could actually provide the mental boost you need to tackle a difficult task?
Biology news
Wild bees: Champions for food security and protecting our biodiversity
Pollinating insects contribute to agricultural production in 150 (84%) European crops. These crops depend partly or entirely upon insects for their pollination and yield. The value of insect pollinators is estimated to be €22 billion a year in Europe. Declines in managed pollinators, such as honeybees, and wild pollinator such bumblebees, solitary bees and hoverflies, are therefore of growing concern as we need to protect food production and the maintain wildflower diversity.
'Lonely heart' water voles crucial to population survival
Young males and females can spend weeks crossing heather moors, bog lands and mountains, often putting themselves in grave danger in a bid to bag a mate. Their quest can see them embark on journeys of up to 15km from their birth place. Extraordinary for an animal not much bigger than a hamster and much further than was previously thought.
Late blight in Delaware tomatoes confirmed
Late blight, a disease caused by the fungus-like organism Phytophthora infestans, has been confirmed in New Castle County, Del., this week on tomato fruit.
Extinction fears shadow global conservation forum
The world's largest conservation forum opened in South Korea Thursday with warnings that reckless development was ruining the planet's natural health, pushing thousands of species towards extinction.
Singapore gives VIP welcome to Chinese pandas
Singapore on Thursday gave a VIP welcome to a pair of giant pandas loaned by China for 10 years to mark two decades of close diplomatic relations.
Changes in water chemistry leave lake critters defenseless
Imagine that the players on your favourite football team were smaller than their opponents, and had to play without helmets or pads. Left defenseless, they would become easy prey for other teams. Similarly, changes in Canadian lake water chemistry have left small water organisms vulnerable to their predators, which may pose a serious environmental threat, according to a new study.
UF Guantanamo Bay Lepidoptera study sets baseline for future research
University of Florida scientists publishing the first study on butterflies and moths of Guantanamo Bay Naval Station have discovered vast biodiversity in an area previously unknown to researchers.
Deep-sea crabs grab grub using UV vision
(Phys.org)—Crabs living half-a-mile down in the ocean, beyond the reach of sunlight, have a sort of color vision combining sensitivity to blue and ultraviolet light. Their detection of shorter wavelengths may give the crabs a way to ensure they grab food, not poison.
Study: Bacteria on marine sponges can develop capacity to move and inhibit biofilm formation
(Phys.org)—A new study shows that when enough bacteria get together in one place, they can make a collective decision to grow an appendage and swim away. This type of behavior has been seen for the first time in marine sponges, and could lead to an understanding of how to break up harmful bacterial biofilms, such as plaque on teeth or those found on internal medical devices like artificial heart valves.
Proteins barge in to turn off unneeded genes
(Phys.org)—The sorcerer's apprentice started a water-carrying system, but couldn't stop it, and soon he was up to his neck in water, and trouble. Living cells have a better design: When they activate a gene, they have a system in reserve to turn it off. The cell does not want to waste energy making proteins it no longer needs. Cornell researchers have identified two mechanisms cells use and found they are designed to be quick.
Scientists create germ cell-supporting embryonic Sertoli-like cells from skin cells
Using a stepwise trans-differentiation process, Whitehead Institute researchers have turned skin cells into embryonic Sertoli-like cells.
Weapon-wielding marine microbes may protect populations from foes
Competition is a strong driving force of evolution for organisms of all sizes: Those individuals best equipped to obtain resources adapt and reproduce, while others may fall by the wayside. Many organisms—mammals, birds and insects, for instance—also form cooperative social structures that allow resources to be defended and shared within a population.
Genome of Plasmodium vivax malaria-causing parasite sequenced
Scientists at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute have discovered that the parasite that causes the most common form of malaria share the same genetic variations – even when the organisms are separated across continents.
Biologists tag 'zombees' to track their flight
After last year's accidental discovery of "zombie"-like bees infected with a fly parasite, SF State researchers are conducting an elaborate experiment to learn more about the plight of the honey bees.
Study shows clathrin protein moonlights, playing key role in cell division
A protein called "clathrin," which is found in every human cell and plays a critical role in transporting materials within them, also plays a key role in cell division, according to new research at the University of California, San Francisco.
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