Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 25, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- New LED packaging technology improves performance- Uh-oh, Intel. Globalfoundries to fast-forward into 14nm
- Researchers use new statistical method to show fraudulent voting in Russian election
- Researchers use magnetic pulses to brain to reduce overly optimistic tendencies
- Study says people are inclined to help others
- Skydiver aims for supersonic plunge on Oct. 8
- California governor signs driverless cars bill (Update 3)
- Complex oxides become multifunctional at ultimate quantum limit
- Encoding collagen: Program defines stable sequences for synthesis
- Hubble goes to the eXtreme to assemble the deepest ever view of the universe
- Hotter might be better at energy-intensive data centers
- Toshiba launches two hybrid drives
- Urban coyotes never stray: New study finds 100 percent monogamy
- What can the water monster teach us about tissue regeneration in humans?
- Biologists uncover dynamic between biological clock and neuronal activity
Space & Earth news
Plant managers on trial for Hungarian toxic mud spill
The head of an alumina plant that caused a massive toxic spill in western Hungary in 2010 went on trial Monday along with 14 employees, accused of negligence.
Amnesty, Greenpeace urge prosecution in I.Coast dumping
Britain must launch a criminal probe into the multinational firm Trafigura and its role in the 2006 deadly dumping of toxic waste in Ivory Coast's economic capital Abidjan, Amnesty International and Greenpeace said Tuesday.
Researching possible links between the Indonesian throughflow and Australia's climate
(Phys.org)—Almost two years ago CSIRO oceanographers deployed moorings in one of Australia's and globally important ocean currents, the Indonesian Throughflow, which connects the Pacific and Indian Oceans through the complex system of islands.
Studying soil ecological processes in the name of a sustainable environment
For most of us it's just dirt, but for ecologists soil is the key to meeting some of the most daunting challenges facing our planet.
Daytime storms more likely to develop over drier soils
During the day, storms develop more frequently over drier land surfaces surrounded by wetter areas than elsewhere. This is the result of a study carried out by a European team represented in France by the National Center for Meteorological Research, using a statistical analysis of ten years' worth of satellite data covering every continent. According to the study, published on 12 September 2012 on the Nature website, current climate models do not reflect this phenomenon well and even frequently give opposite results, which is likely to flaw their scenarios for the development of drought. It would therefore seem important to take greater account of this phenomenon in models, so as to improve understanding of continental climate change at the regional scale.
France court upholds Total convictions over spill
France's top court on Tuesday upheld energy giant Total's conviction for negligence in a 1999 shipwreck and oil spill that blackened much of the country's Atlantic coastline.
Work begins on the world's largest cosmic ray observatory
Construction has just begun at the Tunka Valley near Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia on an observatory that, once completed, will consist of an array of up to 1,000 detectors covering 100 square kilometres. Its size will allow scientists to investigate cosmic rays—the space radiation emitted from gamma rays and heavier nuclei—which are accelerated to energies higher than those achieved in the Large Hadron Collider. With the new observatory, called HiSCORE (Hundred Square-km Cosmic ORigin Explorer), scientists hope to solve the mystery of the origins of cosmic rays, and perhaps probe dark matter too
A look inside a burning rocket engine
Here's a bit of pretty amazing hobby rocket porn. Ben Krasnow walks us through—in a rather matter-of-fact way—of how he built a hybrid rocket engine in his shop using a piece of acrylic so he could see inside and watch the gaseous oxygen burn. As one commenter on You Tube described it, "Hey guys, I was bored, so I built a transparent rocket engine in my garage. No big deal."
A new, automatic 3-D moon
Who doesn't love 3-D images, especially of objects in space? But creating them can be a bit time-consuming for scientists, especially for images from orbiting spacecraft like the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter that takes images from just one angle at a time. Usually, it is "amateur" enthusiasts who take the time to find and combine images from different orbital passes to create rich, 3-D views.
Dropsondes—Work horses in hurricane forecasting
(Phys.org)—Inside a cylinder that is about the size of a roll of paper towels lives a circuit board filled with sensors. It's called a dropsonde, or "sonde" for short. It's a work horse of hurricane forecasting, dropping out of "Hurricane Hunter" airplanes right into raging storms. As the sonde falls through the air, its sensors gather data about the atmosphere to help us better understand climate and other atmospheric conditions.
Research looks at hydrology, soil constraints to shale-gas development
(Phys.org)—Across the Appalachian Plateau in Pennsylvania, 50 to 70 percent of shale-gas pads are being developed on slopes that could be prone to erosion and sedimentation problems, according to researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.
El Nino may soon return: UN weather agency
The El Nino weather phenomenon could return within days but will be relatively weak compared with past episodes, the UN's weather agency said Tuesday.
Satellites see Tropical Storm Nadine 'refuse to go away'
Nearly two weeks after becoming a tropical storm in the central Atlantic back on September 11th, NASA satellites confirm that Nadine is still spinning away south of the Azores as a minimal tropical storm. One of those satellites called TRMM has been providing forecasters with rainfall rates and cloud heights.
NASA infrared data compares Super Typhoon Jelawat with Tropical Storm Ewiniar
NASA's Aqua satellite has been obtaining infrared, visible and other data everytime it passes over Typhoon Jelawat and Tropical Storm Ewiniar in the western North Pacific, and a combination of two images from Aqua's AIRS satellite puts the storms in perspective.
Cutting-edge technology makes NASA's hurricane mission a reality
(Phys.org)—Cutting-edge NASA technology has made this year's NASA Hurricane mission a reality. NASA and other scientists are currently flying a suite of state-of-the-art, autonomously operated instruments that are gathering difficult-to-obtain measurements of wind speeds, precipitation, and cloud structures in and around tropical storms.
Category 2 Hurricane Miriam Seen in East Pacific by NASA satellite
The MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites provide some of the most clear and stunning imagery of tropical cyclones, and captured a visible image of Category 2 hurricane Miriam off the western coast of Mexico.
New research findings consistent with theory of impact event 12,900 years ago
(Phys.org)—New research findings published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) are consistent with a controversial theory that an extraterrestrial body – such as a comet – impacted the Earth approximately 12,900 years ago, possibly contributing to the significant climatic and ecological changes that date to that time period.
Curiosity's weather report from Mars reveals 'truly enormous' daily atmospheric pressure swings
(Phys.org)—Curiosity, the NASA rover that landed on Mars last month, is sending us remarkable weather observations from the Martian surface that are attracting interest from scientists. "From a weather point of view, Mars is the most 'Earth-like' of the other planets in our solar system, and many features of the weather there are similar to Earth," says Kevin Hamilton, a pioneer in the area of computer modeling of the Martian atmosphere.
Skydiver aims for supersonic plunge on Oct. 8
(AP)—The countdown is on for skydiver Felix Baumgartner. In just two weeks, the Austrian parachutist will attempt to go supersonic when he jumps from a record altitude of 23 miles (37 kilometers) over the U.S.
Hubble goes to the eXtreme to assemble the deepest ever view of the universe
(Phys.org)—Like photographers assembling a portfolio of their best shots, astronomers have assembled a new, improved portrait of our deepest-ever view of the Universe. Called the eXtreme Deep Field, or XDF, the photo was assembled by combining ten years of NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope observations taken of a patch of sky within the original Hubble Ultra Deep Field. The XDF is a small fraction of the angular diameter of the full Moon.
Liquid water near Europa's surface a rarity
(Phys.org)—Europa, the enigmatic moon of Jupiter, is believed to be home to a subsurface ocean of liquid water. However, future missions to explore Europa's ocean may need to dig deep. Research suggests that water does not stay in a liquid state near Europa's surface for longer than a few tens of thousands of years—the blink of an eye in geological terms. Klára Kalousová will present this work at the European Planetary Science Congress in Madrid on Tuesday 25 September 2012.
The mysterious case of asteroid Oljato's magnetic disturbance
(Phys.org)—Back in the 1980s, the arrival of asteroid 2201 Oljato inside the orbit of Venus heralded a flurry of magnetic activity. Now, results from ESA's Venus Express spacecraft suggest that Oljato has lost its magnetic mojo. Dr Christopher Russell will present an explanation for Oljato's strange behaviour at the European Planetary Science Congress in Madrid on Tuesday 25th September.
Technology news
Your right size without measuring for online shopping
A group of PHD students from the Computer Vision Centre (Universitat Autònoma de Bacelona) have developed an app called Verisize with which you can know your right size for any brand and garment when buying online. This app can be easily integrated in any online store to help their customers estimate their sizes.
Internet: strong marketing tool for Brazilian soccer clubs
With sales of exclusive products, online games and contests about who has the greatest number of fans on social networks, Brazilian soccer clubs are battling it out on the Web to reap the bonanza of online marketing.
US firm bars lead at China plant after poison claims
US battery giant Johnson Controls will stop lead processing at a plant in China's commercial hub Shanghai, the firm said, after the city found high levels of the metal in children living nearby.
France summons Facebook over private messages rumour
The French government on Tuesday summoned Facebook managers to explain rumours that some users' privacy had been breached with private messages posted publicly on the social network.
Apple supplier's factory back up after China brawl
(AP)—A factory in China owned by the manufacturer of Apple's iPhones resumed production Tuesday after a brawl by workers highlighted tensions that labor groups say were worsened by the pressure of a new iPhone launch.
Technology enables system use in a power outage
Honda Motor announced it will begin sales of a new model for its household MCHP (Micro Combined Heat and Power) gas engine cogeneration unit in November 2012, through gas utilities across Japan. Building on its well-received predecessors that have served as the core unit in the ECOWILL household cogeneration system,which runs by burning natural gas or LPG (liquefied propane gas) for electricity generation and using the exhaust heat for hot water supply and heating, the new model has an autonomous operation function that enables system use in a power outage or other emergencies.
Special grout required for effective sealing of old nuclear reactors
When Savannah River Nuclear Solutions Area Completions Projects personnel sealed the site's massive P and R reactors, a suite of technologies and services from DOE's Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) was critical to a closure that DOE Site Manager Dave Moody called "a precedent-setting activity in the nuclear industry."
Music in the digital age
The evolution of technology has changed the way we listen to our favorite songs and interact with music. Apple, for example, recently announced plans to launch a custom-radio service. Pop star Justin Bieber got discovered through YouTube and became one of the top-selling artists of all time. And his tweet trumpeting Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" turned a small-time Canadian artist into an international sensation. Northeastern University news office asked Patrik Wikström, a newly appointed associate professor of music in the College of Arts, Media and Design, to weigh in on the changing face of music in today's digital age.
Huffington Post launches Italian edition
US news website The Huffington Post launched its Italian edition "L'Huffington Post" on Tuesday as part of an international expansion that has has already taken it to Britain, Canada, France and Spain.
Troubled BlackBerry maker sees Africa potential
(AP)—The company that makes BlackBerry smartphones is looking to Africa to help its troubled sales.
Brazil judge orders arrest of Google president
(AP)—A judge has ordered the arrest of the president of Google's operations in Brazil for failure to remove You Tube videos that attacked a mayoral candidate.
Staples to speed up closure of 15 stores in US
(AP)—Staples is speeding up the closure of about 15 of its U.S. stores and plans to close 45 stores and some delivery businesses in Europe.
Grant to help computer scientists understand the world of cybercrime
Computer scientists at the University of California, San Diego, the International Computer Science Institute at Berkeley and George Mason University have received a $10 million, five-year grant from the National Science Foundation to map out the illicit activities taking place in the cybersecurity underworld and to understand how the mind of a cybercriminal works.
Del. bankruptcy judge approves Digital Domain sale
(AP)—A Delaware bankruptcy judge has approved the sale of a digital production company founded by film director James Cameron.
Yahoo says Ken Goldman will become CFO Oct. 22
(AP)—Internet company Yahoo says Chief Financial Officer Tim Morse is leaving the company and will be replaced in October by Ken Goldman.
Einstein's brain is now interactive iPad app (Update)
(AP)—The brain that revolutionized physics now can be downloaded as an app for $9.99. But it won't help you win at Angry Birds.
Myspace gives peek at website redesign
Myspace provided a glimpse at a major overhaul of the music-centric online community striving to reclaim lost glory.
Troubled BlackBerry maker sees Africa potential (Update)
(AP)—In a film recently made in Nigeria, a man stops a beautiful woman, suavely trying to get her to talk to him. Instead she pouts her lips and looks down at her hands, barely able to hold all of the BlackBerry phones she owns.
Improved solar variability software in high demand
Engineers at the University of California, San Diego, have released a new, more accurate version of a software program that allows power grid managers and solar power plant developers to easily model fluctuations in solar power output caused by changes in the cloud cover. The program uses a solar variability law discovered by graduate student Matthew Lave, in the lab of Jan Kleissl, a professor at the Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego.
Barnes & Noble Nook launches video service
US bookseller Barnes & Noble said on Tuesday it would launch a video service with films and television programs which can be purchased by owners of its Nook tablet in the United States and Britain.
Who paid for that political ad? An app will tell you
In the nasty world of US politics, voters want to know: who is behind some of the ads they see on TV. Now, there's an app for that.
CEO of BlackBerry maker makes case for comeback (Update)
(AP)—Research In Motion CEO Thorsten Heins is convinced the company's BlackBerry phone is poised to regain its stature as a trailblazing device even as many investors fret about its potential demise.
Online freedom sees setbacks, a few gains: study
Online freedom has suffered setbacks in many countries, but also some gains, amid the Arab Spring uprisings and political upheaval in parts of the world, a new study showed.
New tools will make sharing research data safer in cyberspace
The real-time data of cyberspace, detailing every like, dislike, spur of the moment thought—and more—provide unprecedented opportunities for research by scientists from all areas.
NY Times sells stake in jobs website for $100 mn
The New York Times Co. said Tuesday it would sell its stake in the jobs-listing website Indeed.com, and record a gain of $100 million.
Islamist group warns of new cyber attacks on US banks
An Islamist group on Tuesday said it will carry out new cyber attacks on US banking targets, according to SITE Intelligence Group, following similar attacks last week in response to an anti-Islam film.
US panel approves uranium enrichment plant (Update)
(AP)—A nuclear power partnership of General Electric Co. and Tokyo-based Hitachi Ltd. received federal approval Tuesday to build the first plant to enrich uranium for use in commercial reactors using a classified laser technology.
IBM CEO Virginia Rometty takes on chairman title
(AP)—IBM President and CEO Virginia Rometty is taking on the added role of chairman, as Samuel Palmisano prepares to retire at the end of this year.
Tesla taps sun for free electric car fuel (Update)
Tesla on Tuesday opened the first part of what it said would be a large network of stations that will provide free charges to its electric cars courtesy of the sun.
Sixth-grader's barking-dog app wins AT&T $20,000 prize
(Phys.org)—Not bad for an 11-year old who likes math. In fact, not bad for an adult agency creative director who liked the 11-year-old's idea and sat alongside her for some serious collaboration. They both won a $20,000 prize for the best don't-text app. AT&T recently held a hackathon in Los Angeles to promote its don't text-while driving "It Can Wait" campaign. Participants were asked to develop an app that discourages people from texting and driving.
California governor signs driverless cars bill (Update 3)
California's governor signed legislation Tuesday that will pave the way for driverless cars in the state.
Hotter might be better at energy-intensive data centers
New research examines the issue of temperature management in data centers, and suggests that allowing warmer temperatures than are normally recommended might be justifiable.
Fast algorithm extracts, compares document meaning
A computer program could compare two documents and work spot the differences in their meaning using a fast semantic algorithm developed by information scientists in Poland.
Uh-oh, Intel. Globalfoundries to fast-forward into 14nm
(Phys.org)—Globalfoundries has made an announcement that amounts to a direct challenge to Intel, in the latter's race to get further ahead in the mobile device ecosystem. Both Globalfoundries and Intel will be racing for a more dominant position with higher performing and power efficient systems for smartphones and other devices. In short, Globalfoundries announced Thursday that it is accelerating its technology roadmap. Its newest design achievement for the mobile market is in the form of 14nm chip technology. The company provided some details about its 14nm-XM ("extreme mobility") process.
New LED packaging technology improves performance
(Phys.org)—Many researchers have reported improvements in LED technology by enhancing the properties of the LED itself. But the packaging that secures and protects the LED also impacts its overall performance. In a new study, researchers from Taiwan have designed a "flip glass substrate" for packaging LEDs, and demonstrated improvements in terms of a wider viewing angle, better color uniformity, and earlier identification of flaws during production compared with other LED packaging methods.
Medicine & Health news
Treatment for alcoholism dramatically reduces the financial burden of addiction on families
The financial effects of alcoholism on the family members of addicts can be massive, but little is known about whether treatment for alcoholism reduces that financial burden. A study of 48 German families published online today in the journal Addiction reveals that after twelve months of treatment, family costs directly related to a family member's alcoholism decreased from an average of €676.44 (£529.91, US$832.26) per month to an average of €145.40 (£113.90, $178.89) per month. Put another way, average costs attributable to alcoholism decreased from 20.2% to 4.3% of the total pre-tax family income.
Report: Premium hikes for top Medicare drug plans
(AP)—A study says seniors in seven of the 10 most popular Medicare prescription drug plans will be hit with double-digit premium hikes next year if they don't shop for a better deal.
Obama administration warns hospitals on fraud
(AP)—Computerized medical records were supposed to cut costs. Now the Obama administration is warning hospitals that might be tempted to use the technology for gaming the system.
Benefits of therapeutic riding for children with autism extend to classroom
Jennifer Anderson remembers when she began to see the effects of therapeutic horseback riding for her daughter, Claire.
Study to assess impact of sleep on cognitive and emotional well-being
Over the past decade, scientists have learned that sleep is one of the best memory aids available, but Mark Gluck wants to take that research further. The Rutgers professor, an expert in cognitive and computational neuroscience, is seeking to answer important questions about the complex interactions between natural fluctuations in sleep and their influence on cognitive and emotional wellbeing.
Radioactive 'seeds' save time, may improve outcomes for breast cancer patients
(Medical Xpress)—Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC is the first and only hospital in western Pennsylvania to offer radioactive seed localization, an innovation allowing breast tumors that cannot be felt to be precisely located before surgery.
Researchers seek to understand brain's immune response to metastasized cancer
Brain metastases are common secondary complications of other types of cancer, particularly lung, breast and skin cancer. The body's own immune response in the brain is rendered powerless in the fight against these metastases by inflammatory reactions. Researchers at the MedUni Vienna have now, for the first time, precisely characterised the brain's immune response to infiltrating metastases. This could pave the way to the development of new, less aggressive treatment options.
Montreal technology uses cold to treat heart condition
A team of cardiologists from the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI) specializing in cardiac arrhythmias has used for the very first time in Canada, a technology developed in Montreal to treat a patient with atrial fibrillation. Recently licenced by Health Canada, this sophisticated device is a balloon inserted by catheter that uses extreme cold to burn malfunctioning heart tissue. This medical milestone is excellent news for hundreds of Canadians as one in 20 people will suffer from atrial fibrillation at some point in their lives.
New study uses video cards to bring effective, inexpensive supercomputing to hospitals for safer CT scans
Video gamers are generally the biggest consumers of computer graphics cards, using the devices to boost the speed and resolution of their digital quests to fend off invading extraterrestrials or outwit hostile dragons. But researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute seek to harness the power of these computer graphics cards to solve one of the world's most pressing health care technology challenges: radiation exposure from X-ray and CT imaging scans.
Excitotoxicity and nerve cell death
Neural excitotoxicity can be involved in spinal cord injury, traumatic hearing loss and Alzheimer's. The Stressprotect project has gathered data on this often devastating phenomenon at biochemical, genomic and physiological levels.
Stem cell therapy for spinal cord injury
Stem cells are considered promising agents for the recovery of spinal cord injuries. European scientists explore their abilities and plan future therapeutic strategies.
Spring is the season for vitamin D deficiency, Australian study shows
September marks the start of spring but new research reveals it is also the month when Australians' vitamin D levels are at their lowest ebb.
Nothing fishy about fish oil fortified nutrition bars
In today's fast-paced society, consumers often reach for nutrition bars when looking for a healthy on-the-go snack. A new study in the September issue of the Journal of Food Science published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) found that partially replacing canola oil with fish oil in nutrition bars can provide the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids without affecting the taste.
Minority children at higher risk for weight problems in both US and England
With ties to diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, childhood obesity in wealthy countries is certainly of growing concern to researchers. A new study explores the ties between childhood weight problems, socioeconomic status, and nationality and finds that race, ethnicity, and immigrant status are risk factors for weight problems among children in the US and England. This new study was published in the September issue of The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (a SAGE journal) titled "Migrant Youths and Children of Migrants in a Globalized World."
Cuba's prenatal program improves low birth weights, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—Comprehensive prenatal care can decrease the rate of low birth weights, according to a study led by Dr. Yasmin Neggers, a University of Alabama researcher and professor of human nutrition and hospitality management.
Study spotlights ESBL bacteria in Danish chicken meat
Over 50 % of the chicken meat that Denmark imports contains extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL), enzymes produced by some bacteria that make them resistant to certain antibiotics that are important in the treatment of severe infections in humans, a new study from the Technical University of Denmark shows. It is the first time that the level is this high in Danish chicken meat.
Palliative care experts call for better home care
Improved home care resources for people with conditions such as dementia, who would prefer to die at home, are key to providing better end of life care and reducing the strain of the UK's ageing population on the NHS, according to researchers at King's College London.
Impaired protein degradation causes muscle diseases
New insights into certain muscle diseases, the filaminopathies, are reported by an international research team led by Dr. Rudolf Andre Kley of the RUB's University Hospital Bergmannsheil in the journal Brain. The scientists from the Neuromuscular Centre Ruhrgebiet (headed by Prof. Matthias Vorgerd) at the Neurological University Clinic (Director: Prof. Martin Tegenthoff) cooperated with colleagues from eleven institutes in seven countries. Among other things they found that protection mechanisms to combat abnormal protein deposits do not work properly in filaminopathy patients. This opens up new starting points for therapies that the team aims to test on cell cultures.
Pediatricians should provide support for adoptive families
(HealthDay)—As more children are adopted each year, pediatricians must be knowledgeable about adoption issues and model positive language for adoptive families, according to a clinical report published online Sept. 24 in Pediatrics.
Advances in the development of an early detection kit for bowel cancer
Rubén Armañanzas and Pedro Larrañaga, researchers of the Computational Intelligence Group at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid's Facultad de Informática have used advanced statistical and data mining techniques to filter information about the activity of over 22,000 genes and have managed to separate tumoural from non-tumoural samples with a precision of 94.45%.
Self-regulating networks dictate the genetic program of tumor cells
Scientists at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin could explain a yet unknown regulatory network that controls the growth of tumor cells. Understanding such networks is an important task in molecular tumor biology in order to decode the relationships between the determinants defining which molecules are produced and in what quantities, in both normal and tumor cells. The study is published in the journal Molecular Systems Biology.
Georgia Tech creating high-tech tools to study autism
Researchers in Georgia Tech's Center for Behavior Imaging have developed two new technological tools that automatically measure relevant behaviors of children, and promise to have significant impact on the understanding of behavioral disorders such as autism.
Study shows steps to isolate stem cells from brain tumors
A new video protocol in Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE) details an assay to identify brain tumor initiating stem cells from primary brain tumors. Through flow cytometry, scientists separate stem cells from the rest of the tumor, allowing quick and efficient analysis of target cells. This approach has been effectively used to identify similar stem cells in leukemia patients.
Images reveal potential for NIR imaging to detect success of breast reconstruction
In 2010 breast reconstruction entered the Top Five list of reconstructive procedures in the US, with 93,000 procedures performed, up 8% from 2009, and 18% from 2000. This is among the most common skin flap procedure performed.
Uruguay poised to legalize abortion
(AP)—Uruguay's congress appeared ready on Tuesday to legalize abortion, a groundbreaking move in Latin America, where no country save Cuba has made abortions accessible to all women during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Improved communication could reduce STD epidemic among black teenagers
(Medical Xpress)—Black urban teenagers from low-income families face a rate of sexually transmitted disease up to 10 times higher than their white counterparts, but recent studies at Oregon State University have identified approaches to prevention programs that might reduce this problem.
Population aging will have long-term implications for economy
The aging of the U.S. population will have broad economic consequences for the country, particularly for federal programs that support the elderly, and its long-term effects on all generations will be mediated by how—and how quickly—the nation responds, says a new congressionally mandated report from the National Research Council. The unprecedented demographic shift in which people over age 65 make up an increasingly large percentage of the population is not a temporary phenomenon associated with the aging of the baby boom generation, but a pervasive trend that is here to stay.
Incorporating safety into design important for active living and injury prevention
Designing or modifying buildings and communities to facilitate physical activity must include strategies to maximize safety. A new report released today, Active Design Supplement: Promoting Safety, by the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy, New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene's Built Environment and Healthy Housing Program, and the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) provides explicit guidelines for urban planners, architects, public health advocates, and others to consider when promoting active designs. Experts from New York City's departments of Transportation, Buildings, and Design and Construction, and the Mayor's Office of People with Disabilities also contributed to the report. It is the first time a publication has been produced to bridge the two disciplines of injury prevention and active design, and contains information for designers, architects, planners, public health professionals and engineers.
PLOS Medicine editors comment on progress of World Health Report 2012
In this month's editorial, the PLOS Medicine Editors comment on the World Health Organization's (WHO) latest World Health Report, originally planned for publication in 2012, and the outcomes of the journal's collaboration with WHO on the intended theme of "no health without research."
Large donors are forcing the World Health Organization to reform
The current practice of large donors is forcing the World Health Organization and the World Bank to reflect on how to reform to remain more appealing to the wider set of stakeholders and interests at play, according to Devi Sridhar from the University of Oxford writing in this week's PLOS Medicine.
Cryopreservation of induced pluripotent stem cells improved the most by one product
In a study to determine the best cryopreservation (freezing) solution to maintain induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, a team of researchers from Japan compared 12 kinds of commercially prepared and readily available cryopreservation solutions and found that "Cell Banker 3" out-performed the other 11 solutions by allowing iPS cells to be preserved for a year at −80°C degrees C in an undifferentiated state.
Obesity promotes prostate cancer by altering gene regulation
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men and early treatment is usually very successful. However, like other cancers, obesity increases the risk of aggressive prostate disease. New research, published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Medicine, finds that the fat surrounding the prostate of overweight or obese men with prostate cancer provides a favorable environment to promote cancer growth.
Study finds lack of education widens gap in life expectancy
(Medical Xpress)—The MacArthur Research Network on Aging, chaired by Dr. John W. Rowe, has published its latest research showing a widening gap in life expectancy between Americans with higher education and those without a high school diploma.
Qatari with mystery virus still in critical condition: WHO
A Qatari man suffering from a new respiratory virus from the same family as the deadly SARS remains in critical condition, the World Health Organisation said Tuesday.
How often people can give blood may be guided by new national study
(Medical Xpress)—Blood donors are being invited to take part in a large study which could shape the future of blood donation nationally and internationally, providing a personalised service for donors.
Antioxidants: Is the hype justified?
Twenty-five years ago the term "antioxidant" was new to the public. Today it's big business, with sales of products making antioxidant-related claims reaching $65 billion in the U.S. in 2011.
Ketamine—an established cancer-pain drug—may do more harm than good
(Medical Xpress)—A drug which for decades has been widely used to treat pain related to cancer has no net clinical benefit, researchers in the Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative (PaCCSC) based at Flinders University have found.
New method of resurfacing bone improves odds of successful grafts
(Medical Xpress)—Coating a bone graft with an inorganic compound found in bones and teeth may significantly increase the likelihood of a successful implant, according to Penn State researchers.
Ten years gone to waist: Scots have become fatter
(Medical Xpress)—A study by Human Nutrition researchers at the University of Glasgow has revealed that Scots' waistlines have become bigger in the last 10 years.
Taking Ginkgo Biloba does not improve memory
Taking Ginkgo Biloba supplements does not improve memory, attention or problem solving in healthy individuals, according to researchers from the University of Hertfordshire.
Cancer death rates set to drop 17 per cent by 2030
(Medical Xpress)—The rates of people dying from cancer are predicted to fall by 17 per cent (16.8) in the UK by 2030 according to new statistics released today by Cancer Research UK.
Cutting through the genomic thicket in search of disease variants
(Medical Xpress)—In the early stages of that vast undertaking known as the Human Genome Project, enthusiasm ran high. The enterprise would be costly and laborious but the clinical rewards, unprecedented. Once the complete blueprint of life was unlocked, the genetic underpinnings for a broad range of human maladies would be laid bare, allowing custom-tailored diagnosis and treatment and revolutionizing the field of medicine.
Novel therapy helps ease pain and suffering for sickle cell patients
Chronic, debilitating pain and potential organ failure are what approximately 100,000 sickle cell patients in the United States live with each day. Yutaka Niihara, M.D., M.P.H. - lead investigator at The Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed) and co-founder of Emmaus Medical, Inc., an LA BioMed spin-off company - is developing a low-cost, noninvasive treatment that helps provide relief for patients suffering from the debilitating effects of sickle cell disease.
Saudi downplays impact of mystery virus on Hajj
Saudi health authorities downplayed Tuesday the impact of a possible outbreak of a virus from the family of deadly SARS on its forthcoming Hajj pilgrimage, stressing that the cases remain rare.
ATA: mutation in X-linked gene tied to central hypothyroidism
(HealthDay)—Mutations in the X-linked immunoglobulin superfamily member 1 (IGSF1) gene, which encodes a pituitary-enriched plasma membrane glycoprotein, may play a role in central hypothyroidism, testicular enlargement, and variable prolactin deficiency, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Thyroid Association (ATA), held from Sept. 19 to 23 in Montreal.
Effect of behavioral intervention on alcohol misuse evaluated
(HealthDay)—Behavioral counseling interventions may be beneficial for adults with risky drinking behaviors, according to a review and meta-analysis published online Sept. 25 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Grief stages can be likened to pinball machine workings, researcher says
Moving through the traditional stages of grief can be as unpredictable as playing a pinball machine, with triggers of sorrow acting like pinball rudders to send a mourner into a rebound rather than an exit, according to a case study by a Baylor University researcher and a San Antonio psychologist.
Spirituality key to Chinese medicine success, study finds
Are the longevity and vitality of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) due to its holistic approach? Indeed, Chinese medicine is not simply about treating illness, but rather about taking care of the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. According to an analysis¹ of TCM's origins and development by Lin Shi from Beijing Normal University and Chenguang Zhang from Southwest Minzu University in China, traditional Chinese medicine is profoundly influenced by Chinese philosophy and religion. To date, modern science has been unable to explain the mechanisms behind TCM's effects. The study is published online in Springer's journal Pastoral Psychology, in a special issue² dedicated to the psychology of religion in China.
Canadian hospitalized with new swine flu
A Canadian man has been hospitalized in southwestern Ontario with a new variant of the swine flu virus that caused a 2009 pandemic, a public health official announced Tuesday.
Mechanism that leads to sporadic Parkinson's disease identified
Researchers in the Taub Institute at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) have identified a mechanism that appears to underlie the common sporadic (non-familial) form of Parkinson's disease, the progressive movement disorder. The discovery highlights potential new therapeutic targets for Parkinson's and could lead to a blood test for the disease. The study, based mainly on analysis of human brain tissue, was published today in the online edition of Nature Communications.
Study of cigarette and waterpipe tobacco smoking shows knowledge gap in perceived health risks
People who smoke both cigarettes and waterpipes – dual users – lack sufficient knowledge about the risks of tobacco smoking and are at considerable risk for dependence and tobacco-related diseases, such as cancer, heart disease and stroke later in life, according to findings of a new study by Virginia Commonwealth University.
Oropharyngeal cancer patients with human papillomavirus have more robust response to radiation therapy
(Medical Xpress)—UC Davis cancer researchers have discovered significant differences in radiation-therapy response among patients with oropharyngeal cancer depending on whether they carry the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted virus. The findings, published online today in The Laryngoscope Journal, could lead to more individualized radiation treatment regimens, which for many patients with HPV could be shorter and potentially less toxic.
Starting to snore during pregnancy could indicate risk for high blood pressure, study says
Women who begin snoring during pregnancy are at strong risk for high blood pressure and preeclampsia, according to research from the University of Michigan.
Qatari with SARS-like virus on artificial lung: UK hospital
A Qatari man suffering from a mystery respiratory virus from the same family as the deadly disease SARS is on an artificial lung to keep him alive, a British hospital said Tuesday.
That may not be a cold, could be fall allergies
(HealthDay)—Many parents complain that as soon as school starts, their child inevitably catches a cold. But, while kids do swap their fair share of germs during the school day, not every runny nose stems from a cold—often, those sneezy symptoms are the result of fall allergies.
Study examines prevalence of local allergic rhinitis
(HealthDay)—Local allergic rhinitis (LAR) is prevalent among patients with rhinitis, affecting about one in four, and is often associated with childhood onset and persistent, severe conjunctivitis and/or asthma, according to a study published in the October issue of Allergy.
New tool for CSI? Geographic software maps distinctive features inside bones
(Medical Xpress)—A common type of geographic mapping software offers a new way to study human remains.
Disparity in breast cancer between black and white women can be eliminated by regular screening
Regular mammography screening can help narrow the breast cancer gap between black and white women, according to a retrospective study published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment in August.
Self-image and social interaction help to explain the link between exercise and mental health
We've heard it time and time again: exercise is good for us. And it's not just good for physical health – research shows that daily physical activity can also boost our mental health. But what actually accounts for the association between exercise and mental health?
Chronic kidney disease a warning sign independent of hypertension or diabetes
Two new studies from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Chronic Kidney Disease Prognosis Consortium found that the presence of chronic kidney disease itself can be a strong indicator of the risk of death and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) even in patients without hypertension or diabetes. Both hypertension and diabetes are common conditions with chronic kidney disease with hypertension being the most prevalent. The studies were released online in advance of publication in The Lancet.
Pre-op steroids to prevent nausea do not significantly increase post-op bleeding
Tonsillectomy is exceedingly common, with a reported increase in tonsillectomy rates in children younger than 15 years from 287,000 to 530,000 per year over the past decade. Although safe, adenotonsillectomy can result in significant complications, such as aspiration and bleeding. Complications are infrequent, but because tonsillectomy is so common, the absolute number of children experiencing tonsillectomy complications is formidable.
Study examines usage, outcomes of knee replacement procedures among Medicare patients
There has been an increase in total knee arthroplasty (TKA; knee replacement) procedures over the past 20 years that has been driven by both an increase in the number of Medicare enrollees and increase in per capita utilization, according to a study in the September 26 issue of JAMA. There has also been a decrease in hospital length of stay for TKA, but increased hospital readmission rates and increased rates of infectious complications.
Change in treatment regime for cryptococcal meningitis may be needed
The most cost-effective treatment for cryptococcal meningitis (a serious infection of the brain membranes, usually in people with AIDS or other immune system deficiencies) is different to that currently recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), warranting a review of policy, according to the findings of a study published in this week's PLOS Medicine.
Hypertension not so simple
A recently published editorial in the Journal of the American Society of Hypertension (JASH), "Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Should Be Included in the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES)," recognizes the importance of this national survey instrument but questions the efficiency of its diagnostic methods in assessing hypertension in the population.
Mouse pancreatic stem cells successfully differentiate into insulin producing cells
In a study to investigate how transplanted islet cells can differentiate and mature into insulin-producing pancreatic cells, a team of Japanese researchers found that using a specific set of transcription factors (proteins that bind to specific DNA sequences) could be transduced into mouse pancreatic stem cells (mPSCs) using Sendai virus (SeV), a mouse influenza virus, as a carrier, or vector. The study is published in a recent issue of Cell Medicine [3(1)], now freely available on-line.
NYC schools dispensing morning-after pill to girls
(AP)—New York City is handing out the morning-after pill to girls as young as 14 at more than 50 public high schools, sometimes even before they have had sex. The campaign is believed to be unprecedented in its size and aggressiveness.
Research funding slump alarms head of US cancer institutes
The head of the US National Cancer Institute warned Tuesday that the United States could lose its global leadership in research into the disease because of lower spending.
Born to lead? No sweat
(HealthDay)—It's good to be the boss. How good? New research suggests that leaders suffer from less stress than people in less powerful positions.
Study says people are inclined to help others
Feeling generous? Think it over a little and then see how you feel.
Researchers find myelin development differences between chimps and humans
(Medical Xpress)—A mixed background group of US researchers has found in studying chimpanzee brains, that development of myelin, the fatty sheath that covers the connections between nerve cells, occurs at a different rate than for humans, and as they write in their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the differences might account for the greater instance of mental disorders in people than in both chimpanzees and other primates, such as macaques.
Imaging of retinal development provides more clues to neural complexities (w/ Video)
(Medical Xpress)—With an incredible diversity of cell types, the central nervous system (CNS), comprising the brain, spinal cord and retina, can be considered to be the most complex organ in the body. Professor Bill Harris, an experimental biologist and Head of the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, is fascinated by how this complex and sophisticated system is built out of a collection of undifferentiated cells. By putting an advanced technology to novel use, he has been able to observe for the first time the entire process of retinal development at the cellular level in zebrafish embryos. This has achieved a long-sought goal in developmental neurobiology: a complete analysis of the building of a vertebrate CNS structure in vivo.
LIFR protein suppresses breast cancer metastasis
A receptor protein suppresses local invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells, the most lethal aspect of the disease, according to a research team headed by scientists from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Making it easier to make stem cells
The process researchers use to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)—a special type of stem cell that can be made in the lab from any type of adult cell—is time consuming and inefficient. To speed things up, researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) turned to kinase inhibitors. These chemical compounds block the activity of kinases, enzymes responsible for many aspects of cellular communication, survival, and growth. As they outline in a paper published September 25 in Nature Communications, the team found several kinase inhibitors that, when added to starter cells, help generate many more iPSCs than the standard method. This new capability will likely speed up research in many fields, better enabling scientists around the world to study human disease and develop new treatments.
Boosting natural marijuana-like brain chemicals treats fragile X syndrome symptoms
American and European scientists have found that increasing natural marijuana-like chemicals in the brain can help correct behavioral issues related to fragile X syndrome, the most common known genetic cause of autism.
Researchers prevent heart failure in mice
(Medical Xpress)—Cardiac stress, for example a heart attack or high blood pressure, frequently leads to pathological heart growth and subsequently to heart failure. Two tiny RNA molecules play a key role in this detrimental development in mice, as researchers at the Hannover Medical School and the Göttingen Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry have now discovered. When they inhibited one of those two specific molecules, they were able to protect the rodent against pathological heart growth and failure. With these findings, the scientists hope to be able to develop therapeutic approaches that can protect humans against heart failure.
Researchers use magnetic pulses to brain to reduce overly optimistic tendencies
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists have known for many years that human beings, as a general rule, are an overly optimistic bunch. We close our eyes to statistics suggesting our eating habits may be killing us, ignore warnings about texting while driving and almost always believe things will come out all right in the end if we'll just hang in there, despite sometimes obvious indications to the contrary. Research has suggested that two specific symmetrically opposite parts of the brain influence our optimism or pessimism, but until now haven't been able to offer direct proof. Now however, new research by a group of neuroscientists has found, as they describe in their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, that turning off one of these areas via magnetic pulses dramatically reduces overly optimistic tendencies.
Biology news
Virtual reality cow simulator goes global
A virtual reality cow, invented by a University of Bristol graduate, will soon be used to educate future vets around the world.
Using computer models to help our fragile ecosystem
Global warming is well-known for its effect on the climate. But it also poses a threat to the world's ecosystems. University of Toronto researcher Benjamin Gilbert wants to know more about that process.
Accidental dog poisoning on the rise: Rodenticides to blame
(Phys.org)—Veterinarians at the University of California, Davis, warn pet owners to be careful about using rat poisons and similar compounds.
Cost-efficient method developed for maximizing benefits from wine waste
A new study in the Journal of Food Science, published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), shows that grape skin and seeds generated from winemaking—known as wine pomace—are a good source of antioxidant dietary fiber and can be used to fortify various food products such as yogurts and salad dressings with enhanced nutritional value and extended shelf-life.
Monitoring marine mammals
A new instrument to detect whales, dolphins and other marine mammals, and provide immediate alerts during the development of offshore wind, wave and tidal installations, will be showcased to an international audience at the University of St Andrews on Thursday 27 September.
Researchers looking to exploit bacterial immune system for medicine and industry
Bacteria and archaea are among the smallest forms of life on the planet, but don't let their size fool you. These simple creatures have persevered for billions of years, thanks in part to a recently discovered immune-like defense system that protects them from marauding infectious agents like viruses and plasmids.
International project aims to develop water-efficient biofuel crops
Scientists from the University of Liverpool are part of an international research project to apply the properties of drought-adapted desert plants, like agave, to poplar trees, a recognised biofuel crop.
By improving pain treatment, therapy in dogs, research offers medical insight for humans
A Kansas State University professor's research improving post-surgery pain treatment and osteoarthritis therapy in dogs may help develop better ways to treat humans for various medical conditions.
Scientist discovers UK's rarest bat in East Devon
University of Exeter scientist Dr Fiona Mathews has discovered one of Britain's rarest mammals living in East Devon.
Rare Sumatran tiger gives birth to three cubs
A rare Sumatran tiger has given birth to three cubs at an Indonesian zoo, an official there said Tuesday, giving hope for the survival of the endangered species.
Talin links cytoskeleton and cell membrane in migrating and dividing cells, researchers find
Cells can show a remarkable range of motility, creeping over substrates using a variety of pushes, pulls, stretches, and drags to get from A to B. This range of motion is achieved through the concerted efforts of motor proteins and structural complexes collectively known as the cytoskeleton. In addition to propulsion, however, cells also need to find footholds on surfaces in order to get the traction needed to advance or withdraw. Mobile single-celled organisms, such as the amoeba Dictyostelium, provide excellent living models for studying the molecular basis of such mechanisms, as they spend much of their lives solitary and on the crawl.
Making and breaking heterochromatin
To fit the two-meter long DNA molecule into a cell nucleus that is only a few thousandths of a millimetre in size, long sections of the DNA must be strongly compacted. Epigenetic marks maintain these sections, known as heterochromatin. Scientists of the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg have now discovered two further mechanisms necessary for the formation of heterochromatin. The research group, led by Thomas Jenuwein, describes two novel enzymes, Prdm3 and Prdm16, which attach a methyl group to a particular packaging protein of the DNA. These epigenetic marks assure that heterochromatin, and with it the structure of the cell nucleus, remain intact. Moreover, in an additional study they have determined that transcription factors bind within heterochromatin and repress the output of non-coding RNA. In contrast to less densely compacted regions known as euchromatin, in which the transcription factors accumulate at specific sites, the binding s! ites of transcription factors in heterochromatin are much more randomly distributed.
New study shows river turtle species still suffers from past harvesting
(Phys.org)—University of Florida researchers studying river turtles in Missouri found populations of the northern map turtle have not recovered from harvesting in the 1970s.
Species richness and genetic diversity do not go hand in hand in alpine plants
An international team of researchers led by the University of Grenoble and the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) has demonstrated for the first time that a high level of species diversity in alpine plants does not necessarily go hand in hand with a high level of genetic diversity. This finding suggests that new future strategies are needed to protect biodiversity in the Alpine region. The results of the study were published online in Ecology Letters.
Could viruses be used to treat acne?
Watch out, acne. Doctors soon may have a new weapon against zits: a harmless virus living on our skin that naturally seeks out and kills the bacteria that cause pimples.
Hundreds of biochemical analyses on a single device
(Phys.org)—Scientists at EPFL and the University of Geneva have developed a microfluidic device smaller than a domino that can simultaneously measure up to 768 biomolecular interactions.
New technique for IDing proteins secreted by cells developed
(Phys.org)—Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a new technique to identify the proteins secreted by a cell. The new approach should help researchers collect precise data on cell biology, which is critical in fields ranging from zoology to cancer research.
Urban coyotes never stray: New study finds 100 percent monogamy
(Phys.org)—Coyotes living in cities don't ever stray from their mates, and stay with each other till death do them part, according to a new study.
What can the water monster teach us about tissue regeneration in humans?
Based on two new studies by researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, regeneration of a new limb or organ in a human will be much more difficult than the mad scientist and supervillain, Dr. Curt Connors, made it seem in the Amazing Spider-man comics and films.
Biologists uncover dynamic between biological clock and neuronal activity
Biologists at New York University have uncovered one way that biological clocks control neuronal activity—a discovery that sheds new light on sleep-wake cycles and offers potential new directions for research into therapies to address sleep disorders and jetlag.
This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
http://phys.org/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment