Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 4, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Explosion of galaxy formation lit up early universe- Electronics play by a new set of rules at the molecular scale
- 67-attosecond extreme ultraviolet laser pulse is the world's shortest
- Team reports brain-controlled ambulation in robotic leg test
- Every atom counts in graphene formation
- Biohybrid solar cells—Spinach power gets a big boost
- Binding sites for LIN28 protein found in thousands of human genes
- Spin waves revealed in two-dimensional high-temperature superconductors
- Vibrating armband helps athletes make the right moves
- Scientists unlock the mechanism behind improved water-splitting catalysts
- Gardener's delight offers glimpse into the evolution of flowering plants
- 35 years later, Voyager 1 is heading for the stars (Update)
- Waste silicon gets new life in lithium-ion batteries
- Human impact felt on Black Sea long before industrial era
- Gadget makers jockey for edge in holiday lineups
Space & Earth news
Philippine gold mine struggles to plug waste spill
The Philippines' largest gold mine said Tuesday it was struggling to contain a waste spillage from its tailings dam which has forced it to suspend operations for the past month.
Research aircraft—Measuring atmospheric trace gases at 15K
GLORIA, the innovative imaging infrared spectrometer of Karls-ruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), will take part in the first atmospheric science mission of the new German HALO research aircraft from the Arctic to the Antarctic. On August 20, HALO will be handed over to the scienctific community by Germany's Federal Minister Professor Annette Schavan. GLORIA, a novel and worldwide unique infrared imaging spectrometer developed jointly by research groups from KIT and Forschungszentrum Jülich, has been installed on board of HALO in a bellypod, a dedicated compartment mounted underneath the aircraft fuselage,. During TACTS, the first atmospheric science mission of HALO , GLORIA will measure climate-relevant atmospheric trace gases with unprecedented spatial coverage and resolution.
Stirred up by storms: Scientists measure impact on river pollution
A team of scientists have won over £1 million to monitor the effect of storms on pollution in a river – estuary in Hampshire.
Indonesia warns of eruption on Anak Krakatau isle
(AP)—Indonesia has warned tourists and fishermen to stay from Anak Krakatau after a minor eruption on the volcanic island over the weekend.
Africa eyes joint space agency
African nations would work together in peaceful research under a proposal for a space agency being considered Wednesday at a meeting in Sudan of the continent's communications and IT ministers.
Spain: More than 70% of electronic waste management is uncontrolled
Almost three quarters of disposed electrical household appliances in Spain are processed out of the Integrated Waste Management System (SIG). A study at the University of Salamanca exposes how many manufacturers are not registered in the established waste management system and avoid payment.
Peru villagers allege neglect after toxic spill
(AP)—More than a month after toxic slurry from a major copper mine sickened scores of people in one of Peru's highland communities, villagers complain that the mining company and the government have done little to help and have even failed to tell some parents that tests showed their children had been poisoned.
Rapidly rotating white dwarf stars can solve missing companion problem for type Ia supernovae
The research group from the University of Tokyo and Keio University discovered that a Type Ia supernova occurs after its companion star evolves into a faint helium white dwarf in many cases, given the fact that the white dwarf is spinning in the progenitor system.
Study throws cold water on Arctic oil, gas dreams
The Arctic, often presented as the promised land by oil companies, is likely to play only a marginal role in providing for the planet's future energy needs, a Norwegian study claimed Tuesday.
"Green walls" against air pollution
(Phys.org)—Planting vegetation along streets in the city might reduce air pollution better than assumed so far, that is by up to 30 percent instead of one to two percent. This finding was made by Dr. Thomas Pugh, now working at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), and his colleagues from the universities of Birmingham and Lancaster. The scientists published their results in the Environmental Science and Technology journal.
SMART crater on the Moon
(Phys.org)—On the morning of 3 September 2006, a brief flash illuminated the Moon's 'Lake of Excellence' as ESA's SMART-1 mission met its fate on the dusty surface.
Capturing a 'blue' Moon
(Phys.org)—Europe's latest weather satellite got a glimpse of the Moon before our celestial neighbour disappeared from view behind Earth on Friday. Since its launch two months ago, MSG-3 has been working well and is on its way to entering service.
South Europe cities 'face 50 days above 35 degrees'
The European Environment Agency (EEA) on Tuesday unveiled an interactive map indicating the heatwave risk for European cities six decades from now on the basis of likely global warming trends.
Astronomy star gets his due for discovering the Kuiper Belt
Dressed as usual in jeans and Velcro-secured sneakers, University of California, Los Angeles astronomer David Jewitt sat at his desk recently and feigned concern: What, exactly, does one wear when accepting gold medals from the king of Norway and a Chinese billionaire-philanthropist?
New model: Coastline erosion due to sea level rise greater than previously thought
A new model allows researchers at UNESCO-IHE, Delft University of Technology and Deltares to much more accurately predict coastline erosion due to rising sea levels. It would appear that the effects of coastline erosion as a result of rising sea-level rise in the vicinity of inlets, such as river estuaries, have until now been dramatically underestimated. The scientists have published their research in the online edition of Nature Climate Change on Sept. 2, 2012.
Birth of a planet
The Earth and the planets of our solar system are not alone in the universe. Over the past few decades, the hunt for extrasolar planets has yielded incredible discoveries, and now planetary researchers have a new tool—simulated models of how planets are born.
NASA satellites showed little change in Tropical Storm Leslie
Over the weekend of Aug. 31 to Sept. 2, Tropical Storm Leslie's maximum sustained winds were pretty constant and satellite imagery from NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites confirm the steadiness of the storm. That story is expected to change later this week however, as Leslie nears Bermuda and is expected to reach hurricane strength. Meanwhile, Leslie is still about the same strength today, Sept. 4 because of wind shear.
NASA sees the short life of Tropical Depression John
Tropical Storm John had about one day of fame in the Eastern Pacific. Born Tropical Depression 10, it intensified into Tropical Storm John on Sept. 2 at 5 a.m. EDT and maintained maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kmh) until it weakened back into a depression on Monday, Sept. 3 at 11 p.m. EDT.
Newborn Tropical Storm Michael struggling like Leslie and Isaac
Tiny Tropical Storm Michael formed today, Sept. 4, from the thirteenth tropical depression in the Atlantic Ocean, but it seems that wind shear will make Michael struggle to intensify over the next couple of days like his "sister" Tropical Storm Leslie. Isaac's remnants blanket the U.S. east coast.
35 years later, Voyager 1 is heading for the stars (Update)
Thirty-five years after leaving Earth, Voyager 1 is reaching for the stars.
Climate change: More carbon dioxide leads to fewer clouds
(Phys.org)—The warmer the air, the more water can evaporate: a simple relationship familiar to us from everyday life. Researchers from Germany and the Netherlands have now established that this is not always the case: although an increase in the greenhouse gas CO2 makes the climate warmer, it also allows less water to evaporate. Plants, with their billions of tiny leaf pores, are the cause of this apparent contradiction. They influence the gas and moisture content of the air around them. Using new calculations of an atmospheric model, the researchers found that this sets in motion a cascade of processes, finally resulting in global warming.
Human impact felt on Black Sea long before industrial era
(Phys.org)—Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution geologist Liviu Giosan and an international team of collaborators including environmental engineers, modelers, paleogeographers, and paleobiologists have pieced together a unique history of the Danube River delta and watershed that ultimately provides evidence for a transformative impact of humans on the Black Sea over hundreds, if not thousands of years.
Mystery of dark matter may be near to being deciphered
(Phys.org)—The universe is comprised of a large amount of invisible matter, dark matter. It fills the space between the galaxies and between the stars in the galaxies. Since the prediction of the existence of dark matter more than 70 years ago, all sorts of researchers – astronomers, cosmologists and particle physicists have been looking for answers to what it could be. With the latest observations from the Planck satellite, researchers from the Niels Bohr Institute, among others, may be closer than ever to a solution to the origin of the mysterious dark matter.
Explosion of galaxy formation lit up early universe
(Phys.org)—New data from the South Pole Telescope indicates that the birth of the first massive galaxies that lit up the early universe was an explosive event, happening faster and ending sooner than suspected.
Technology news
P3i – the future of innovative design
Intelligent self-repairing clothing and sensors that can detect the potential onset of an epileptic seizure sound like the stuff of science fiction but Northumbria University designers and engineers are turning them into reality.
Remotely Piloted Aircraft will help in fight against bushfires
With much of Australia looking like reverting to a dry bushfire-prone weather pattern avionics engineers at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) are pulling out all stops to develop the technology to enable remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) to become airborne.
New chip for high-frequency RFID tags with industry-leading 9 KB FRAM
Fujitsu Semiconductor Europe (FSEU) today announced a new arrival to its FerVID family of chips for RFID tags. As with all members of the FerVID family, the MB89R112 series uses ferroelectric memory (FRAM) for fast write speeds, high-frequency rewritability, radiation tolerance and low-power operation. With industry-leading 9 KB memory, the series offers tailored solutions for factory automation and medical equipment as well as for embedded and industrial applications.
China's Baidu releases new mobile browser
(AP)—Baidu Inc., which operates China's most popular search engine, has released a mobile browser and says it will invest in a cloud computing center as growth in Internet use shifts to mobile phones.
Oracle appeals $306 mn settlement in SAP lawsuit
US software giant Oracle is appealing a $306 million settlement in its marathon copyright infringement lawsuit against German rival SAP, court documents show.
Cambodia set to expel Pirate Bay founder to Sweden
(AP)—Cambodian police said Tuesday they will deport a Swedish founder of the popular file-sharing site The Pirate Bay as soon as the country's interior minister gives his approval.
Samsung to audit all of its suppliers in China
(AP)—Samsung said it plans to examine all of its Chinese suppliers for possible violations of labor policies.
Social networks a tool to energize politics: US study
Social networks such as Facebook and Twitter are playing a growing role in US politics by helping users stay informed and energizing activists, a study showed Tuesday.
Amazon gets Epix video rights to challenge Netflix (Update)
(AP)—Amazon.com's Internet video library is gaining more box-office appeal under a licensing deal with Epix that threatens to undercut Netflix leadership in a growing market that's transforming the entertainment industry.
Tesco buys e-book company Mobcast for £4.5 mln
British supermarket giant Tesco said Tuesday that it has agreed to buy London-based e-book firm Mobcast for £4.5 million ($7.1 million, 5.7 million euros).
UK Police: More than 1,000 likely hacking victims
(AP)—The police officer leading Britain's inquiries into the tabloid phone hacking scandal says there were more than 1,000 likely victims—up from an estimate of 702 she gave in July.
After 'Angry Birds' success, Rovio to launch 'Bad Piggies'
Rovio, the Finnish makers of the world's most-downloaded mobile app, "Angry Birds", will launch a new game called "Bad Piggies" on September 27, the company said Tuesday.
Microsoft releases Windows Server 2012
(AP)—Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday is releasing the first major update to its server operating system since 2009, a prelude to releasing Windows 8 to consumers in October.
Thermal imaging camera scans for drunks
Thermal imaging technology might one day be to identify drunks before they become a nuisance in bars, airports or other public spaces. Georgia Koukiou and Vassilis Anastassopoulos of the Electronics Laboratory, at University of Patras, Greece, are developing software that can objectively determine whether a person has consumed an excessive amount of alcohol based solely on the relative temperature of different parts of the person's face.
Virus origin in Gulf computer attacks in question
(AP)—Security technicians are beginning to suspect that highly targeted virus attacks were behind the recent crippling of computer systems at two major Gulf energy companies, even as questions swirl about the source of the strikes.
Hackers claim 12 million Apple IDs from FBI (Update 2)
A hacker group has claimed to have obtained personal data from 12 million Apple iPhone and iPad users by breaching an FBI computer, raising concerns about government tracking, but the FBI said it never had the data.
Nokia launches mobile streaming music in US
Nokia said Tuesday it was launching a free music streaming service for US customers with its Lumia handsets, without ads, as the Finnish firm seeks to gain traction in the smartphone market.
Vibrating armband helps athletes make the right moves
(Phys.org)—An engineering team from Imperial College London have come up with a vibrating armband tagged Ghost that can train a person's muscles and teach the user how to swing like Nadal, or play golf like Tiger, or help improve moves in other sports. The vibrating device, in prototype stage, is called Ghost because it can copy another person's movement. The user can download the movements of Wimbledon tennis players, for example, and the device will teach the user how to copy the stars' movements. Arm motion can be digitally recorded from the player of choice, and that arm motion is uploaded to the armband from the computer.
Team reports brain-controlled ambulation in robotic leg test
(Phys.org)—Spinal cord injury victims may be able to look forward to life beyond a wheelchair via a robotic leg prosthesis controlled by brain waves. Individuals with paraplegia due to spinal cord injury who are wheelchair-bound face serious health problems, or in medical terminology, comorbidities, such as metabolic derangement, heart disease, osteoporosis, and pressure ulcers. New research efforts are being directed toward restoring brain-controlled ambulation for those who suffer from spinal cord injuries.
Medicine & Health news
Use of regional PACS network associated with lower repeat rates, costs and less radiation exposure
According to a study in the Sept. issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology, using a combination of the Internet and compact discs (CD) to transfer images during inter-hospital transfer is associated with much lower repeat imaging rates, suggesting that regional PACS networks may be useful for reducing cost and radiation exposure associated with trauma.
Dengue fever makes deadly comeback in Greece
An elderly Greek man has died from complications of dengue fever, marking a reappearance of the mosquito-borne disease 85 years after its eradication from Greece, officials said Tuesday.
Drug company Merck to cut 1 jobs in 10 in Germany
(AP)—German drug maker Merck KGaA is to eliminate one out of every 10 jobs in its home country.
Ovarian cancer cells hijack surrounding tissues to enhance tumor growth
Tumor growth is dependent on interactions between cancer cells and adjacent normal tissue, or stroma. Stromal cells can stimulate the growth of tumor cells; however it is unclear if tumor cells can influence the stroma.
PharmaNet system dramatically reduced inappropriate prescriptions of potentially addictive drugs
A centralized prescription network providing real-time information to pharmacists in British Columbia, Canada, resulted in dramatic reductions in inappropriate prescriptions for opioid analgesics and benzodiazepines, widely used and potentially addictive drugs. The findings are reported in a study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
EU approves Novartis-Incyte blood cancer drug
Novartis AG and Incyte Corp. said Tuesday that European Union regulators approved their blood cancer drug Jakavi.
One dead in Serbian West Nile virus outbreak
An outbreak of the West Nile virus in Serbia has killed an elderly woman and infected 20 other people with the mosquito-borne disease, health officials said Tuesday.
Parental problems prevent children taking much-needed asthma medication
Vienna, Austria: Parental problems and a chaotic home environment could be preventing children from taking their prescribed asthma medication.
Improved diagnosis of lung disease: New global benchmarks
New research has established the first global benchmarks for assessing lung function across the entire life span. The lung growth charts will help healthcare professionals better understand lung disease progression and help raise awareness of lung disease, which is the world's leading cause of death.
Pakistan claims progress in tribal polio vaccination
Pakistan Tuesday claimed progress in vaccinating thousands of children against polio in a tribal area bordering Afghanistan which had been inaccessible due to unrest for about three years.
Southeast Asian ovalocytosis protects against P. vivax malaria
A multinational group of authors, led by Ivo Mueller from the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute, Australia and the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, have found a strong association between Southeast Asian ovalocytosis, an inherited disorder that affects the shape of red blood cells, and protection against malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax.
Overcoming barriers to point-of-care testing in low-resource settings
In a Policy Forum article in this week's PLOS Medicine Madhukar Pai from McGill University, Canada and colleagues discuss a framework for how point-of-care testing can be applied to infectious diseases in low- and middle-income countries.
Smoking and natural disasters: Christchurch residents increase tobacco consumption post-earthquake
The prevalence of smoking in Christchurch, New Zealand, increased following the 2010 earthquake, according to a new study.
Weight loss groups back NYC's sugary drinks plan
(AP)—Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig and other diet groups say they are supporting New York City's proposed crackdown on super-sized, sugary drinks.
FTC sending refunds over CVS business overcharging
(AP)—The Federal Trade Commission says it is mailing refund checks to 13,000 Medicare beneficiaries who were overcharged for drugs because a CVS Caremark Corp. business understated the price of the products.
Ebola caseload soars in eastern DR Congo
The number of people with Ebola, a rare haemorrhagic disease, in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo has tripled since mid-August, the World Health Organisation said Tuesday, after 14 patients died in two weeks.
Pretreatment PET/CT imaging of lymph nodes predicts recurrence in breast cancer patients
Disease-free survival for invasive ductal breast cancer (IDC) patients may be easier to predict with the help of F-18-fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scans, according to research published in the September issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. New data show that high maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) of F-18-FDG in the lymph nodes prior to treatment could be an independent indicator of disease recurrence.
Preeclampsia poses a significant long-term health risk: study
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers have determined that preeclampsia is a significant risk factor for long-term health issues, such as chronic hypertension and hospitalizations later in life. The findings from the retrospective cohort study were just published in the Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine.
Health-care costs hit the elderly hard, diminish financial wellbeing
The protection of the savings of the elderly—one of the primary goals of Medicare—is under threat from a combination of spiraling healthcare costs and increased longevity. As the government attempts to reduce Medicare costs, one suggestion is that the elderly could pay a larger proportion of the costs of their healthcare. But exactly how much would this be and what impact would it have on their finances? A new study by Amy Kelley at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and her colleagues, funded by the National Institute on Aging, aims to identify the portion of wealth Medicare beneficiaries spend on healthcare costs in the last five years of life. Their work appears online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
FDA approves Pfizer drug for rare blood cancer
Pfizer Inc. says the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved its new drug to treat a rare form of blood and bone marrow cancer.
New long-term antimicrobial catheter developed
A novel antimicrobial catheter that remains infection-free for up to twelve weeks could dramatically improve the lives of long-term catheter users. The scientists who have developed the new technology are presenting their work at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn Conference at the University of Warwick.
TB outbreaks could be 'solved' by DNA tracking
Reconstructing the spread of killer diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) from person to person using DNA sequencing quickly identifies the origin and movement of pathogens. This approach is directly informing public health strategies to control infectious disease outbreaks, says a scientist speaking at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn Conference at the University of Warwick.
Plain packaging reduces the appeal of smoking: study
While Australia has recently passed legislation to ban logos from cigarette packages and to make plain packaging mandatory, other countries are still considering whether or not to take similar measures. New research published in Biomed Central's open access journal BMC Public Health provides a report on the appeal of plain cigarette packs, compared to branded packs, among women in Brazil, and finds that plain packs reduce the appeal of their contents.
Research finds heart remodeling rapidly follows cardiac injury
Cardiac injury leads to significant structural changes in the heart, including enlargement, excess formation of fibrous growth tissue, and abnormalities of the coronary vasculature. While associated factors have been targeted for therapeutic intervention, the results have been conflicting. Most studies have investigated these changes after six days of injury. However, advanced stages of remodeling have already begun by day seven following injury. New research reveals that morphological changes in response to cardiac injury occur rapidly, with implications for the development of therapeutic strategies. The results are published in the October issue of The American Journal of Pathology.
Non-invasive diagnostic imaging costs to Medicare Part B down significantly since 2006
According to a study in the Sept. issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology, overall non-invasive diagnostic imaging (NDI) costs to Medicare Part B dropped 21 percent from 2006 to 2010. The study reveals that medical imaging is not a driver of escalating Medicare costs.
Does gallows humor among physicians encourage accusations of murder and euthanasia?
In a recent survey of palliative care medicine practitioners, nearly three quarters of the sample reported having been "humorously" accused of promoting death; for example, being called "Dr. Death." Most of the remarks came from fellow physicians and other health care professionals. At the same time, the survey found that a third of investigations into accusations of murder or euthanasia against physicians are instigated by fellow members of the health care team. A commentary in the September issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings suggests that whether real or in jest, such accusations are grounded in the same societal beliefs.
Colleges find sleep is key to grade average
As U.S. college students return to campus in the coming weeks, they'll be showered in the usual handouts of coupons, condoms and credit cards. But some schools are also giving students what a growing body of research reveals could make a huge difference in their college careers: ear plugs, sleep shades and napping lessons.
Yosemite open despite virus that killed two
The deadly virus raising fears at California's Yosemite National Park does not spread easily, and, despite two recent deaths, does not warrant closing the park, a spokeswoman said Monday.
Increased role of pharmacists—safer medication use
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at The University of Queensland's School of Pharmacy are making medication use safer by incorporating pharmacists into general practice medical centres.
High respiratory burden found in ageing population
(Medical Xpress)—People aged 85 years and over have a high burden of respiratory disease, according to new findings from Newcastle University. The research has shed light on the health problems likely to be encountered by the ageing population.
Potential drug for treating deadly brain cancer
(Medical Xpress)—A*STAR scientists have identified a biomarker of the most lethal form of brain tumours in adults − glioblastoma multiforme. The scientists found that by targeting this biomarker and depleting it with a potential drug, they were able to prevent the progression and relapse of the brain tumour. The research findings were published on Aug 23 in the scientific journal, Cell Reports from Cell Press.
A sad legacy—Victims of childhood asbestos exposure
(Medical Xpress)—"Wittenoom kids" who spent their childhoods exposed to asbestos in the north-west of Western Australia are now developing a range of cancers or dying at a rate well above the average population, according to a new study by researchers from The University of Western Australia for the UWA-affiliated Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR).
Memory in older men saved by 'Ram'
(Medical Xpress)—Having access to a personal computer lowers or decreases the risk of cognitive decline and dementia in older men by up to 40 per cent, according to researchers at The University of Western Australia.
Gambling addiction—working to understand
Odds are that you imagine gamblers as people simply trying to get lucky and win a big payoff. But when Natasha Schull, an associate professor in MIT's Program in Science, Technology, and Society (STS), began researching the lives of gamblers in Las Vegas, she found a very different motivation at work.
Marathon running could trigger pulmonary oedema development in the lungs
A new study has found evidence that marathon running could trigger pulmonary oedema, where fluid builds up in the lungs.
Study: Rest periods crucial to allow soldiers' brains to heal from trauma
Soldiers should be given regular periods of respite to recover from combat exposure, experts argue, following the findings of a Dutch study of NATO soldiers returning from deployment in Afghanistan.
Broader approach reveals genetic complexity behind diabetes genes
(Medical Xpress)—Using a new method, diabetes researchers at Lund University, Sweden, have been able to reveal more of the genetic complexity behind type 2 diabetes. The new research findings have been achieved as a result of access to human insulin-producing cells from deceased donors and by not only studying one gene variant, but many genes and how they influence the level of the gene in pancreatic islets and their effect on insulin secretion and glucose control of the donor.
Researchers identify stem cells responsible for tissue repair
The skin, which is an essential barrier that protects our body against the external environment, undergoes constant turnover throughout life to replace dead cells that are constantly sloughed off from the skin surface. During adult life, the number of cells produced must exactly compensate for the number of cells lost. Different theories have been proposed to explain how this delicate balance is achieved.
Late motherhood—a matter of choice?
(Medical Xpress)—When women give birth in their late thirties or in their forties, it is not necessarily the result of a lifestyle choice – putting off motherhood for career reasons or from a desire to "have it all". Nor should they be accused of selfishness or taking undue health risks.
Biologic therapy for rheumatoid arthritis not significantly linked with increased malignancy risk
Although there are concerns regarding the potential development of malignancies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who are receiving treatment with biologic response modifiers (BRMs), pooled results from more than 60 randomized controlled trials did not find a statistically significant increased risk of any type of cancer with use of BRMs for at least 6 months compared with traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or with placebo, according to the results of a meta-analysis published in the September 5 issue of JAMA.
Canada should remove section of Criminal Code that permits physical punishment of children
To promote good parenting, Canada should remove section 43 of its Criminal Code because it sends the wrong message that using physical punishment to discipline children is acceptable, argues Dr. John Fletcher, Editor-in-Chief, CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) in an editorial.
Cardiac study evaluates prevalence of unrecognized heart attacks among older adults
Using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging among older adults in Iceland, researchers estimated the prevalence of unrecognized heart attacks, which was associated with an increased risk of death, according to a study in the September 5 issue of JAMA.
Vitamin D supplement fails to lower cholesterol in short term
Taking vitamin D supplements to compensate for vitamin D deficiency didn't improve cholesterol—at least in the short term, according to new research in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, an American Heart Association journal.
Medicare kidney spending reaches crucial moment
Amid a presidential campaign and facing the "fiscal cliff," Americans hear a lot about federal spending, particularly for Medicare. But few probably know of either the history or the present watershed moment in the program's 40-year struggle to contain costs and finance quality treatment for Americans with end-stage renal disease. In a timely new paper in the September edition of the journal Health Affairs, researchers chronicle the history of how Medicare has provided one of its most costly services, and point out that a new strategy, if successful, could become a fiscal model for the entire program.
Introducing decision aids may lower surgery for arthritis
After Group Health Cooperative introduced video-based "decision aids" for people with knee and hip arthritis, rates of knee and hip replacement surgeries dropped sharply: by 38 and 26 percent, respectively, over six months. The cost of caring for those patients also declined: by 12 percent to 21 percent, according to an article in the September Health Affairs.
Greater alcoholism risk for bar, eatery staff: Swedish study
Bar and restaurant workers in Sweden run a higher risk of alcoholism than the rest of the population, with young women at greatest risk, a study published Tuesday showed.
Smoking history can predict survival time in COPD
Vienna, Austria: Identifying an individual's the smoking history could help doctors to predict survival time in people with COPD.
Study finds increase in number of non-smokers being diagnosed with lung cancer
There has been an increase in the number of non-smokers being diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer, according to new findings.
Neural signature of affiliative experience identified in human brain
How would you respond if someone told you that you have a very dedicated son and that he got the scholarship he most wished? Or that the company you worked for made great profits and you will receive a good salary raise?
Longer resuscitation attempts could improve survival after in-hospital cardiac arrest
New research published Online First in The Lancet suggests that increasing the duration of resuscitation efforts could improve survival in patients who arrest in hospital, challenging the common belief that extending resuscitation in patients who do not respond immediately is often futile.
Increased mortality in HIV-positive South African men versus women is unrelated to HIV/AIDS
In South Africa, HIV-infected men who are receiving treatment with anti-HIV drugs (antiretroviral therapy) are almost a third more likely to die than HIV-positive women who are receiving similar treatment: however, these differences are likely to be due to gender differences in death rates in the general population rather than related to HIV, according to a study by a team of international researchers published in this week's PLOS Medicine.
New target found for cancers resistant to Iressa and Herceptin
A more-sensitive method to analyze protein interactions has uncovered a new way that cancer cells may use the cell-surface molecule HER3 to drive tumor progression following treatment with HER1 and HER2 inhibitors.
Seniors' creativity can thrive despite dementia
(HealthDay)—No one thought Sherry S., a 91-year-old former sociologist with dementia-related short-term memory loss, could write.
Sleep apnoea linked with increased risk of cancer death
Sleep apnoea severity has been associated with increased cancer mortality in a new study.
Increase in respiratory symptoms following volcanic eruption
Exposure to volcanic ash can increase respiratory symptoms such as an extreme cough, or phlegm, according to a new study.
Anchoring proteins influence glucose metabolism and insulin release
Scientists from the United States and Sweden have discovered a new control point that could be important as a drug target for the treatment of diabetes and other metabolic diseases. A-kinase anchoring proteins or AKAPs are known to influence the spatial distribution of kinases within the cell, crucial enzymes that control important molecular events related to the regulation of glucose levels in the blood. In a new study published in The EMBO Journal, the team of researchers led by Simon Hinke and John Scott reveal for the first time that AKAPs influence the levels of glucose in the body by coordinating the spatial positioning of phosphatases, naturally occurring enzymes that counteract the effects of kinase enzymes.
Magazine articles jeopardize and empower young women's sexuality
Los Angeles, CA (September 4, 2012) While the effects of sexualized media on young women has long been debated, a new study finds that women who read sex-related magazine articles from popular women's magazines like Cosmopolitan are less likely to view premarital sex as a risky behavior. Additionally, the women who are exposed to these articles are more supportive of sexual behavior that both empowers women and prioritizes their own sexual pleasure. This study was published in a recent article from Psychology of Women Quarterly (published by SAGE).
Review finds some evidence for 'chemo brain' in breast cancer survivors
(Medical Xpress)—A large meta-analysis conducted by researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center has concluded that breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy are at risk for mild cognitive deficits after treatment. The meta-analysis, or analytic review of previously published studies, found that study participants on average had mild impairments in verbal abilities (such as difficulty choosing words) and visuospatial abilities (such as getting lost more easily). The study noted that cognitive functioning varies across survivors, with some reporting no impairments and others reporting more severe or pervasive deficits.
Experts propose 'cyber war' on cancer
In the face of mounting evidence that cancer cells communicate, cooperate and even engage in collective decision-making, biophysicists and cancer researchers at Rice University, Tel Aviv University and Johns Hopkins University are suggesting a new strategy for outsmarting cancer through its own social intelligence.
Rapid response in cases of smoke poisoning
Smoke poisoning can be caused by a number of things, including cyanides, the salts of hydrocyanic acid. Because the quick diagnosis and treatment of victims with cyanide poisoning is critical and often lifesaving, it is very surprising that a cyanide test for emergency situations is not yet available. Now, chemists at the University of Zurich have developed a simple and reliable procedure to detect blood cyanide in less than two minutes.
Simple tool may help inexperienced psychiatrists better predict violence risk in patients
Inexperienced psychiatrists are less likely than their veteran peers to accurately predict violence by their patients, but a simple assessment checklist might help bridge that accuracy gap, according to new research from the University of Michigan.
Repeated exposure to traumatic images may be harmful to health
(Medical Xpress)—Repeated exposure to violent images from the terrorist attacks of Sept ember 11 and the Iraq War led to an increase in physical and psychological ailments in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults, according to a new UC Irvine study.
A blueprint for 'affective' aggression
A North Carolina State University researcher has created a roadmap to areas of the brain associated with affective aggression in mice. This roadmap may be the first step toward finding therapies for humans suffering from affective aggression disorders that lead to impulsive violent acts.
Millions of Americans have uncontrolled high blood pressure: CDC
(HealthDay)—One-third of Americans have high blood pressure and only half of them have it under control, dramatically increasing their risk for possibly fatal heart attacks and strokes, a new government report shows.
Sleep problems in young children tied to special ed need
(HealthDay)—A history of either sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) or behavioral sleep problems (BSPs) through the age of 5 years is associated with an increased likelihood of special educational need (SEN) at 8 years of age, according to a study published online Sept. 3 in Pediatrics.
Healing cuts for Medicare
Medicare payment reforms mandated in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for postacute care have great potential to lower costs without harming patients, a new study reports.
Pulmonary artery enlargement predicts exacerbation in COPD
(HealthDay)—For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), computed tomographic (CT) measurement of pulmonary artery enlargement, as determined by a ratio of the diameter of the pulmonary artery to the diameter of the aorta (PA:A) of >1, correlates with severe exacerbations, according to a study published online Sept. 3 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with presentation at the annual meeting of the European Respiratory Society, held from Sept. 1 to 5 in Vienna.
Addition of tiotropium effective in poorly controlled asthma
(HealthDay)—For patients with poorly controlled asthma, the addition of tiotropium to standard therapy is beneficial, according to a study published online Sept. 3 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with presentation at the annual meeting of the European Respiratory Society, held from Sept. 1 to 5 in Vienna.
Elderly discharged home do well after heart valve surgery
(HealthDay)—People over the age of 80 generally do well after aortic or mitral valve replacement surgery, especially if they are discharged home, according to a study published in the September issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Rare genetic disease offers insight into common cancers
Fanconi anemia is a recessive genetic disorder affecting 1 in 350,000 babies, which leaves cells unable to repair damaged DNA. This lack of repair puts Fanconi anemia patients at high risk for developing a variety of cancers, especially leukemias and head and neck cancer. Cruelly, the condition also nixes the use of an entire class of cancer drugs, namely drugs like mitomycin C that act by encouraging DNA to crosslink together like sticky strands of bread dough – generally, healthy cells can repair a few crosslinks whereas cancer cells cannot and so are killed. However, Fanconi anemia patients are unable to repair the damage done to healthy or cancerous cells done by these drugs and so treatment with mitomycin C is frequently fatal.
Your dinner date could make you put on weight
(Medical Xpress)—If your dinner date chooses unhealthily from a restaurant menu, you are less likely to stick to healthy options, according to University of Birmingham research published in the British Journal of Nutrition.
Measuring glucose without needle pricks
Pricking a finger everyday is just part of everyday life for many diabetes patients. A non-invasive measurement approach could release them from the constant pain of pin pricks. The linchpin is a biosensor engineered by Fraunhofer researchers: A tiny chip combines measurement and digital analysis – and can be radioed to a mobile device.
New molecule with anti-cancer and anti-metastatic properties
A new molecule with anti-cancer and anti-metastatic properties has been discovered by teams from CNRS, CEA, the Institut Curie and Inserm, in collaboration with Australian and British researchers. This anticancer drug acts on cells resistant to conventional chemotherapy thanks to an entirely novel action mechanism. It targets not only the multiplication of cells but also their mobility and thus could prevent the formation of metastases. Published in Cancer Research, the results obtained in vitro and on animals could, in the medium term, lead to the development of alternative anti-cancer treatments.
The eyes have it: Men do see things differently to women
The way that the visual centers of men and women's brains works is different, finds new research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Biology of Sex Differences. Men have greater sensitivity to fine detail and rapidly moving stimuli, but women are better at discriminating between colors.
Brain imaging reveals reduced brain connections in people with generalized anxiety disorder
(Medical Xpress)—A new University of Wisconsin-Madison imaging study shows the brains of people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have weaker connections between a brain structure that controls emotional response and the amygdala, which suggests the brain's "panic button" may stay on due to lack of regulation.
Study: Statins may stem tumor growth
(Medical Xpress)—One of the world's top selling drugs potentially also acts against the growth of new lymphatic vessels, with potential implications for cancer therapy. This surprising finding was brought forward by Swiss researchers with their newly developed three-dimensional cell culture system.
Stiffening of aortic wall linked with increased risk of high blood pressure
An analysis of the relationship between several vascular function measures and blood pressure levels finds that certain measures including higher aortic stiffness were associated with a higher risk of new hypertension; however, initial blood pressure was not independently associated with risk of progressive aortic stiffening, suggesting that vascular stiffness may be a precursor rather than the result of hypertension, according to a study in the September 5 issue of JAMA.
Doctor calls for debate on using frozen versus fresh embryos for IVF procedures
(Medical Xpress)—New evidence from a study done by Aberdeen University showing that using frozen embryos implanted in the womb instead of those implanted fresh tends to reduce the risks for both mother and child, have led to calls for a debate on whether all embryos should be frozen before use in all IVF procedures. The study, conducted by examining the records of 13,000 pregnancies that came about as the result of IVF procedures, has been printed in the journal Fertility and Sterility, and is to be presented at an upcoming science festival by lead researcher Dr Abha Maheshwari
'Benign' malaria key driver of human evolution in Asia-Pacific
The malaria species rampant in the Asia-Pacific region has been a significant driver of evolution of the human genome, a new study has shown. An international team of researchers has shown that Plasmodium vivax malaria, the most prevalent malaria species in the Asia-Pacific, is a significant cause of genetic evolution that provides protection against malaria.
New genetic clues to why most bone marrow transplant patients develop graft-versus-host disease
A team of scientists led by a bone marrow transplant researcher at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has shed new light on why most bone marrow transplant patients who receive tissue-matched cells from unrelated donors still suffer acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The answer appears to lie in the discovery of previously undetected genetic differences in the DNA of patients and unrelated marrow donors.
New gene variants raise risk of neuroblastoma, influence tumor progression
Researchers have discovered two gene variants that raise the risk of the pediatric cancer neuroblastoma. Using automated technology to perform genome-wide association studies on DNA from thousands of subjects, the study broadens understanding of how gene changes may make a child susceptible to this early childhood cancer, as well as causing a tumor to progress.
Binding sites for LIN28 protein found in thousands of human genes
A study led by researchers at the UC San Diego Stem Cell Research program and funded by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) looks at an important RNA binding protein called LIN28, which is implicated in pluripotency and reprogramming as well as in cancer and other diseases. According to the researchers, their study – published in the September 6 online issue of Molecular Cell – will change how scientists view this protein and its impact on human disease.
Biology news
Super-trawler cleared to fish in Australian waters
A huge Dutch super-trawler was Tuesday given the go-ahead to fish in Australian waters but with tough conditions to minimise by-catch such as dolphins, seals and sea lions.
Birds far from angry in Cuban vet's sanctuary
A retired Cuban veterinarian has found a new direction rescuing rare birds, breeding parrots and peacocks, winning enough feathered-world fame to swap fowl with Venezuela's Hugo Chavez.
Zoologists are no longer restricted to publish new species on paper
In a highly debated decision, the rules for publication of scientific zoological names have changed to allow purely digital publications to meet the requirements of the stringent Code of Zoological Nomenclature. On 4th of September, the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) has passed an amendment that considers a publication in a digital scientific journal 'legitimate' if meeting archiving criteria and the publication is registered at the ICZN's official online registry, ZooBank. The Amendment was published simultaneously in the journals ZooKeys and Zootaxa.
Shark rules need teeth, groups tell IUCN
The Wildlife Conservation Society and over 35 government agency and NGO partners participating in IUCN's World Conservation Congress this week are urging the world's governments to take urgent steps to save the world's sharks and rays from the relentless pressure of over-fishing for international trade.
'Gentler devil' hope for threatened marsupial
Could the Tasmanian devil, a ferocious marsupial threatened by facial tumours spread by biting, be saved by a change of character? Zoologists think there's a chance.
Chinese dust cloud 'improves smelly Japanese dish'
Natto, the Japanese breakfast dish of fermented soybeans, has a smell likened to sweaty feet but researchers have come up with an unlikely way of making it less whiffy—using bacteria from Chinese dust clouds.
Fungi play role in the fight against toxins
Fungi play an important role in the ecosystem, but scientists are still finding out just how big a role they really play in nature. Some fungi are easily recognisable, like mushrooms, most of which stick up out of the ground. Other fungi, however, exist beneath the Earth's surface where they extend, creating fungal threads through the soil. These fungal threads operate in a manner similar to road networks allowing bacteria to travel across them. Scientists from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Germany are only now discovering another important traveller on these fungal highways: contaminants that would have otherwise remained immobile in the ground. These networks contribute to the restoration of impacted areas. Published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, this study was funded in part by the BIOGRID ('Biotechnology information and knowledge grid') project, which received almost EUR 835 000 under the Information Society Technologies ! (IST) Thematic area of the EU's Fifth Framework Programme (FP5).
Hormone therapy for fruit flies means better pest control
Released en masse, sterile Mexican fruit flies can undermine a wild population of the fruit-damaging pests so that fewer applications of insecticide are needed. But the irradiation used to sterilize the flies weakens them, hindering their ability to outcompete wild-type males for female mates.
New Danish fungal species discovered
A new fungal species, called Hebelomagriseopruinatum, has now officially been included in the list of species. The fungus, whose name can be translated into 'the grey-dewy tear leaf', was discovered on Zealand in Denmark during a mushroom-hunting tour headed by postdoc Jacob Heilman-Clausen from the University of Copenhagen.
For the rooster, size matters—Pleiotropic genes affect comb size and egg production
A lone rooster sees a lot of all the hens in the flock, but the hen with the largest comb gets a bigger dose of sperm - and thus more chicks. This sounds natural, but behind all this is humanity's hunger for eggs.
Research finds antimicrobials altering intestinal bacteria composition in swine
Researchers from the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine, concerned about the use of antibiotics in animal production, have found that antimicrobial growth promoters administered to swine can alter the kind of bacteria present in the animal's intestinal track, resulting in an accelerated rate of growth and development in the animals.
Planet of the Apes: Furry mammals evolved a tuned spin dry
When a wet dog shakes himself dry, he does something amazing. He hits just the right rhythm to maximize the drying effect with minimal effort. The seemingly casual jiggle imparts enough centrifugal force to expel 70 percent of the water in his coat in a fraction of a second.
Gardener's delight offers glimpse into the evolution of flowering plants
Double flowers—though beautiful—are mutants. The genetic interruption that causes that mutation previously helped scientists pinpoint the genes for normal development of flower sexual organs in Arabidopsis thaliana. Now scientists have proved the same class of genes at work in a representative of a more ancient plant lineage, offering a glimpse further back into the evolutionary development of flowers.
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