Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 19, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Security experts sound medical device malware alarm- Surprising trend in galaxy evolution (w/ Video)
- Air Fuel Synthesis shows petrol from air has future
- Society of Automotive Engineers adopts J1772 combo plug as standard for electric vehicles
- Researchers identify lynchpin to activating brown fat cells
- New study finds brain tumors can arise from neurons
- Medical myth: Reading from a screen harms your eyes
- Life on Mars? Scientists hope to find it by decoding Martian DNA
- Ancient DNA sheds light on Arctic whale mysteries
- Cholera discovery could revolutionize antibiotic delivery
- Woes with iPhone 5 go beyond Maps
- Early look at Windows 8 baffles consumers
- Why whale sharks need to swim near the surface
- Science reveals the power of a handshake
- Freezing eggs for fertility works, caution urged (Update)
Space & Earth news
Minimizing food waste could have significant impact on global resources, study finds
New research from Europe suggests that it would be possible to give people's lives a boost and to maintain the planet's natural resources if we reduce food waste and make the food production chain more efficient.
Verdict set for Monday in Italy quake scientists trial
A verdict in the trial of seven top Italian scientists for manslaughter for underestimating the risks of an earthquake which killed 309 people in L'Aquila, central Italy, in 2009, is expected on Monday.
Brazil resumes work on major dam after protests
Work has resumed on the massive Belo Monte Dam in Brazil's Amazon after the public consortium reached a deal with indigenous groups and fishermen who had occupied one of its building sites.
Researchers recover recorder from Antarctic waters containing critical baseline on acidification
(Phys.org)—A research team supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) has retrieved data from a sensor in Antarctic waters that will provide critical baseline data on the changes in chemistry or acidification in those remote seas.
Heliophysics nugget: Gradient sun
(Phys.org)—Heliophysics nuggets are a collection of early science results, research techniques and instrument updates that further our attempt to understand the sun and the dynamic space weather system that surrounds Earth.
Satellite servicing capabilities being developed
(Phys.org)—With satellites playing increasingly important roles in everyday life, NASA is developing the technology to build Earth-orbiting, roving "service stations" capable of extending the life of these spacecraft. Engineers at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida are assisting the space agency's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., in developing the concept for bringing a high-technology gas pump, robotic mechanic and tow truck to satellites in space.
Scientists participate in ShakeOut exercises
(Phys.org)—On Thursday, Oct. 18, at 10:18 a.m. PDT, more than 9.3 million Californians, including employees at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., "dropped, covered and held on" during the 5th annual Great California ShakeOut, the world's largest earthquake drill. The purpose of the ShakeOut is to encourage people and organizations to be prepared to survive and recover when the next big earthquake happens.
NOAA's GOES-13 returns to full operations, GOES-14 to remain orbital spare
The GOES-13 spacecraft, which had its sounder and imager instruments taken out of service because of technical trouble in late September, will return to full operations on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 as NOAA's GOES East satellite, NOAA officials said.
Hong Kong to tighten power plant emission limits
Hong Kong on Friday announced new targets in its bid to cut emissions from power plants, part of an ongoing effort to tackle air pollution in the Chinese city that is regularly covered in smog.
NASA sees extra-large, now extra-tropical storm Prapiroon fading
Prapiroon is both extra-large and now extra-tropical in the western North Pacific Ocean. NASA's Terra satellite captured an image of the large storm after Prapiroon became extra-tropical.
Elusive El Nino challenges NOAA's 2012 US winter outlook
(Phys.org)—The western half of the continental U.S. and central and northern Alaska could be in for a warmer-than-average winter, while most of Florida might be colder-than-normal December through February, according to NOAA's annual Winter Outlook announced today from the agency's new Center for Weather and Climate Prediction in College Park, Md.
Life on Mars? Scientists hope to find it by decoding Martian DNA
Apparently, there just aren't enough genomes for Craig Venter to sequence here on Earth, so he's making plans to send a DNA sequencer to Mars.
Surprising trend in galaxy evolution (w/ Video)
(Phys.org)—A comprehensive study of hundreds of galaxies observed by the Keck telescopes in Hawaii and NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has revealed an unexpected pattern of change that extends back 8 billion years, or more than half the age of the universe.
Technology news
Thai finance ministry urges 3G auction probe
Thailand's finance ministry on Friday called for a corruption investigation into the country's auction of third-generation (3G) mobile telephone operating licences because of fears of collusion.
Facebook blocks Swiss newspaper for showing nude image
The Swiss daily Tribune de Geneve said Friday it had its Facebook account blocked by the social networking giant after publishing an explicit image of a woman's genitals.
Google blames contractor for early release of data
Google became the latest company Thursday to release its financial results earlier than scheduled, after which its stock price dropped 9 percent before trading was suspended.
Japan's NEC revises up profit forecast
Japanese information technology firm NEC said Friday it has revised its half year forecast from a loss to a healthy net profit, with reports saying demand for iPhones was helping the company.
Roof and attic design proves efficient in summer and winter
(Phys.org)—A new kind of roof-and-attic system field-tested at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory keeps homes cool in summer and prevents heat loss in winter, a multi-seasonal efficiency uncommon in roof and attic design.
Cloud computing for developing world economies: Crucial for global connectedness
(Phys.org)—As the world prepares to convene for the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT 2012), the role of cloud computing in creating economic opportunity and enabling the rapid flow of information in the developing world continues to gain momentum. This according to a new report, "Unlocking the Benefits of Cloud Computing for Emerging Economies—A Policy Overview" by Peter F. Cowhey and Michael Kleeman of the University of California San Diego, which examines the critical benefits to lower and middle-income economies, in particular those of India, Mexico and South Africa, from international and domestic adoption of cloud computing.
Yahoo to exit South Korea by end of year
(AP)—Yahoo Inc. said it will close its South Korean web portal and an Internet advertising business, cutting its losses in a market where it has struggled for over a decade.
After lawsuit threat, Twitter to pull racist posts
(AP)—Twitter agreed to pull racist and anti-Semitic tweets under a pair of French hash tags after a Jewish group threatened to sue the social network for running afoul of national laws against hate speech, the organization said. The decision came a day after Twitter bowed to German law and blocked an account of a banned neo-Nazi group there.
HSBC websites hit by cyber attack
Banking giant HSBC said Friday some of its websites had been hit by a "large scale" cyber attack that disrupted online services, but it assured customers that their data were not compromised.
Kosovo group claims hack of US weather service
The US National Weather Service computer network was hacked this week, with a group from Kosovo claiming credit and posting sensitive data, security experts said Friday.
Italian court blames benign brain tumor on phone
(AP)—Italy's top court has ruled that a businessman developed a benign brain tumor because he held a cellphone to his ear for hours daily for his job and deserves worker's compensation.
Venture funding, number of deals decline in 3Q (Update)
Funding for startups declined 12 percent in the July-September period as venture capitalists spent less money on fewer deals, according to a new report. Companies in the early stages of funding saw declines as investors stayed cautious and life sciences funding remained lackluster.
Smart technology can help conserve energy use at home
Our homes are getting smarter. Smart technology that automates our homes' devices is becoming mainstream, making it convenient for us to rein in our energy use and cut our energy bills.
India's TCS says profit jumps 44%, beats estimates
India's biggest software exporter TCS said Friday its quarterly net profit jumped 44 percent, beating estimates, as outsourcing orders rose despite economic troubles in the firm's major markets.
Social media growing in US politics, study finds
Nearly two out of five US adults use social media to get involved in politics, with the younger crowd and the ideologically committed especially active, a study showed Friday.
Japan's once-mighty tech industry has flagged
In the 1980s, Sony co-founder Akio Morita fired a verbal missile across the Pacific at Silicon Valley: Japan's supremacy in business and technology would overwhelm U.S. competitors and lead to America's decline.
A plan for big plants in the Mojave Desert balances renewable energy and conservation needs
Should we save the desert tortoise, or plow over its habitat to build solar power plants that can help us save ourselves? It's a question that has arisen frequently in recent years as solar developers have flocked to California's Mojave Desert in search of generous federal incentives to turn the sun's heat into electricity, raising conflicts with conservationists and Native American tribes who think all this "progress" will ravage natural and cultural resources.
Balsa bridges, with a twist
(Phys.org)—How much weight can a bridge made of balsa wood carry? When encased in a layer of fiber-reinforced resin, much more than you would expect, say engineers from EPFL. On October 12th, a composite bridge deck with a balsa wood core replaced an almost 100 year old concrete bridge in Bex, Switzerland. The new bridge, one lane wider than its predecessor and designed to last a century, was ready to carry traffic only a few days later, after having been covered by a layer of asphalt. The road will, however, be closed for construction work until October 24.
Scientists use solar power to study elephants in Africa
A team of elephant researchers from Stanford University has transformed a remote corner of southern Africa into a high-tech field camp run entirely on sunlight. The seasonal solar-powered research camp gives scientists a rare opportunity to quietly observe, videotape and photograph wild elephants at Mushara waterhole, an isolated oasis in Etosha National Park in Namibia.
Early look at Windows 8 baffles consumers
The release of Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system is a week away, and consumers are in for a shock. Windows, used in one form or another for a generation, is getting a completely different look that will force users to learn new ways to get things done.
Security experts sound medical device malware alarm
(Phys.org)—Speakers at a government gathering revealed more reasons for nervous patients to get out their worry beads over future hospital stays. Besides staph infections, wrong-side surgeries and inaccurate dosages, there is a serious problem with medical devices and malware that can harm their performance. Malware, too, can be turned into life or death enablers inside U.S. hospitals nationwide. According to health and security experts at a government panel in Washington, at the National Institute of Standards and Technology Information Security and Privacy Advisory Board, there is a lot of medical equipment running old operating systems.
Society of Automotive Engineers adopts J1772 combo plug as standard for electric vehicles
(Phys.org)—The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has voted to adopt the J1772 Revision B combo plug as the standard plug for use in electric and hybrid vehicles sold worldwide. The design allows for both AC and DC charging and its adoption means all car manufacturers except Tesla and several Japanese companies including Nissan and Mitsubishi, will begin using the new standard on all new vehicles.
Air Fuel Synthesis shows petrol from air has future
(Phys.org)—Petrol from air at first glance from this week's headlines, claiming scientists have turned fresh air into petrol, looked as if this was yet another over the top claim about a killer solution to solve the environmental crisis and specter of global warming. Still, engineers in the UK believe a small UK company may be on to something real, a synthetic replacement for fossil fuel. A small company in the north of England, Air Fuel Synthesis (AFS), has developed air capture technology to create synthetic petrol. The company has been running a demonstration plant in Stockton-on-Tees where it has produced five liters of petrol since August, manufacturing gasoline from carbon dioxide and water vapor.
Medicine & Health news
Founder of adaptive sports organization speaks about impact of sports on people with disabilities
Ashley Thomas was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair. She also holds a position on the U.S. national para-kayak team, and founded and runs a successful nonprofit organization called "Bridge II Sports." The North Carolina-based organization develops programs that provide opportunities for children and adults with physical disabilities to play team and individual sports.
Study outlines common risky behaviors of children struck by motor vehicles
An abstract presented Friday, Oct. 19, at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition in New Orleans highlights the risky behavior of child pedestrians who are struck by cars – including darting into the street, crossing in the middle of the block, and crossing while using an electronic device.
Collective violence and poverty on the Mexican-US border affects child mental health
Collective violence attributed to organized crime and poverty are adversely affecting the mental health of children living near the Texas-Mexico border, according to a poster presented Oct. 19 at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition in New Orleans.
Animal contact cited in E. coli cases at NC fair
(AP)—State health officials say contact with animals is the likely source of an E. coli outbreak linked to North Carolina county fair.
Condom drive stirs S.African worries
A drive that would put more condoms in South Africa's classrooms has critics warning it will only stimulate sexual activity, a charge the country's health minister tells AFP is unfounded.
Afghan children seeking asylum in the UK: PTSD symptoms minimized for those children placed in foster care
(Medical Xpress)—A new study indicates that about one-third of asylum-seeking Afghan children who arrive in the UK without their parents or a guardian are likely to be experience symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. However, they also found those in foster care were less likely to be suffering from PTSD than those in shared accommodation with other asylum-seekers and refugees.
Public health stats reveal issues in Australia's most disadvantaged areas
People in Australia's most disadvantaged areas experience lower attendance at high school, greater financial stress and a higher risk of bowel cancer.
Immune dysfunction possibly linked to schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a complex illness; among other characteristics, sufferers often find it difficult to tell the difference between what is real and not real and have trouble thinking clearly. Its symptoms could develop over months or years and mental health experts are still not entirely sure what causes it, though it is suspected that genes play a role.
New report identifies connection between brain injury and crime in young people
Psychology Professor Huw Williams has authored a major new report, published today, on the impact that acquired brain injuries can have on young people in childhood and in their transition to adulthood, and outlines the criminal justice consequences if these injuries go untreated.
Enhanced minimum-pricing strategy on alcohol could result in less harm for consumers
(Medical Xpress)—Consumers tend to switch to less potent alcoholic beverages when minimum prices are raised for cheap, strong drinks, new research from the University of Victoria's Centre for Addictions Research of BC (CARBC) shows.
Swedish Match says EU bribes totalled 60 million euros
Tobacco producer Swedish Match claimed Friday it was offered the opportunity to pay 60 million euros ($78 million) to thwart new EU tobacco legislation in a scandal that has cost Europe's top health official his job.
Young people who go out drinking start earlier and consume more and more alcohol, Spanish study shows
Teenagers and university students are unaware of the negative consequences of alcohol consumption or the chances of developing an addiction as a result. In addition, they start at a younger and younger age and drink more and stronger alcohol according to a study headed by the University of Valencia.
Marburg fever kills four in Uganda: ministry
An outbreak of Marburg haemorrhagic fever in a remote region in western Uganda has so far killed four people, the health ministry said in a statement.
Studies target high rates of HIV medication errors among hospitalized patients
Research presented at IDWeek 2012 concludes that despite advances in electronic medical records, mistakes are still commonly made in the prescription of antiretroviral medications for hospitalized HIV-positive patients. At the same time, a trio of studies suggests however, that electronic records in combination with increased clinical education can help to greatly decrease medical errors.
Sierra Leone joins eight West African states in polio eradication
Over 70.000 health workers and community volunteers were combing the streets and jungle paths in Sierra Leone Friday at the start of a vaccination programme targetting young children in the West African country.
Aggressive ads keep abortion in campaign spotlight
(AP)—Polls show that abortion isn't the top issue for most Americans as the presidential election looms next month. But both sides are rallying emotions on the passionate subject in the hopes of making a difference in what remains a tight race.
Review: Autism the focus of thoughtful 'Falling'
(AP)—It's hard enough to imagine the everyday tension created by the mood swings of a child with special needs, let alone one who keeps getting bigger and more volatile.
Questions for Medicare in outbreak
(AP)—Questions are being raised about Medicare in the meningitis outbreak that has rekindled doubts about the safety of the nation's drug supply.
Banana Boat recalls sunscreen due to fire risk
(AP)—The maker of Banana Boat sunscreen is recalling some of its spray-on products after reports that a handful of people have caught on fire after applying the lotion and coming in contact with an open flame.
Low calcium diet linked to higher risk of hormone condition in women
A low calcium diet is associated with a higher risk of developing a common hormone condition in women, known as primary hyperparathyroidism, suggests a study published on BMJ website today.
Radiotherapy after surgery has lasting benefits for prostate cancer patients
New research confirms that giving radiotherapy immediately after surgery to remove the prostate has long-term benefits for preventing the biochemical progression of the disease. After 10 years, 61 percent of men who received immediate radiotherapy treatment remained disease free compared with 38 percent who did not, according to the follow-up of the randomized EORTC trial 22911 published Online First in The Lancet.
Few teens undergo pregnancy testing in the emergency department
Few adolescent females undergo pregnancy testing in the hospital emergency department (ED), even when they complain of lower abdominal pain, or before they are exposed to radiation for tests or examinations, according to an abstract presented Friday, Oct. 19, at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition in New Orleans.
No survival advantage with peripheral blood stem cells versus bone marrow
(Medical Xpress)—Claudio Anasetti, M.D., chair of the Department of Blood & Marrow Transplant at Moffitt Cancer Center, and colleagues from 47 research sites in the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network conducted a two-year clinical trial comparing two-year survival probabilities for patients transplanted with peripheral blood stem cells or bone marrow stem cells from unrelated donors. The goal was to determine whether graft source, peripheral blood stem cells or bone marrow, affects outcomes in unrelated donor transplants for patients with leukemia or other hematologic malignancies.
Understanding the biomechanics of traumatic brain injury to find treatments for the injured
Barclay Morrison, an associate professor of biomedical engineering, compares the brain's physical response to traumatic brain injury to, of all things, a gelatin dessert.
An expanded Heathrow Airport would lead to 100 more pollution-related early deaths annually in the U.K. by 2030
According to the U.K.'s Department for Transport, demand for air travel in the country will more than double by 2030, from 127 million to 300 million passengers per year. A debate over how to accommodate this rising demand has revolved around two main proposals: adding a third runway to London's Heathrow Airport, or replacing Heathrow with a new airport in the Thames Estuary. Over the years, concerns over cost and environmental impacts have fueled both sides of the debate.
Breastfeeding could save the NHS millions, says new report
(Medical Xpress)—Low rates of breastfeeding in the UK are costing the NHS millions of pounds, reveals a report compiled by British academics, including researchers from Oxford University.
Foster kids do equally well when adopted by gay, lesbian or heterosexual parents
(Medical Xpress)—High-risk children adopted from foster care do equally well when placed with gay, lesbian or heterosexual parents, UCLA psychologists report in the first multi-year study of children adopted by these three groups of parents.
Participating in large-crowd event could have physical, mental benefits
(Medical Xpress)—Being stuck in a crowd of a million people doesn't sound like much fun, but according to the latest research, being with others – even during difficult conditions - can actually be good for well-being.
New mechanism for antibiotic tolerance found
(Medical Xpress)—Many antibiotics can lose their ability to kill bacteria – Duke University bioengineers believe they can explain one of the reasons why.
Compound's dual action inhibits oral cancer without observable side effects
The compound licofelone inhibited oral cancer growth by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase pathways, with no observable side effects, according to data from a rat study presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held here Oct. 16-19, 2012.
Study finds green tea reduces inflammation, may inhibit prostate cancer tumor growth
Men with prostate cancer who consumed green tea prior to undergoing prostatectomy had reductions in markers of inflammation, according to data presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held here Oct. 16-19, 2012.
Researchers use community-based approach to fighting dengue fever
(Medical Xpress)—Developing community consultation strategies based on local expectations and concerns can overcome misgivings about programs of biological control, even if that community was the place where the cane toad was first released.
Current genetic tests unlikely to improve antidepressant treatment, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—Genetic markers cannot predict which patients with major depression will respond to anti-depressant drugs, according to a large collaborative study led by researchers at King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry.
Researchers discover way to save blood from ravages of chemo treatment
(Medical Xpress)—Chemotherapy kills blood cells as well as cancer cells, often with fatal results. Now Yale stem cell researchers have identified a method they hope one day will help cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy maintain a healthy blood supply, they report in the Oct. 18 issue of the journal Cell Reports.
Pap smears a must to protect against cervical cancer
(Medical Xpress)—An alarming number of women don't understand that the common sexually transmitted infection human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer, a Queensland University of Technology (QUT) researcher has found.
Satiation hormone, neurotensin, linked to increased risk of disease, premature death in women
Researchers in Sweden have discovered that neurotensin, a satiation hormone produced in the human brain and intestine that circulates in the blood, could raise the risk of heart attack, breast cancer and diabetes in women.
Study reveals Australian children overdosing on sugar
More than half of young Australians are consuming too much sugar, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Wollongong and University of Sydney.
Study finds ADHD under- and over-diagnosed
(Medical Xpress)—Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is both under and over diagnosed. That's the result of one of the largest studies conducted on ADHD in the United States, published in the Journal of Attention Disorders.
Repeated job strain is a risk factor for depression, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—Overworked employees with little power in the workplace are at an increased risk of developing major depressive disorder (MDD), according to a new study from researchers at Queen Mary, University of London, published today in the American Journal of Public Health.
Medical expenses for men with metabolic syndrome higher than those for women, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—Men with the metabolic syndrome (MetS), a condition which often leads to cardiovascular, cerebrovascular disease or diabetes, are more likely to incur greater health care costs than women with similar conditions, new research has found.
Researcher's surprising finding could lead to glanders vaccine
(Medical Xpress)—Apichai Tuanyok dedicated several years to working on a bacterial pathogen in Canada, but his breakthrough occurred in Flagstaff with an unexpected finding on a routine lab report.
Set of criteria for 'hypersexual disorder' proposed as new mental health condition
(Medical Xpress)—The idea that an individual might suffer from a sexual addiction is great fodder for radio talk shows, comedians and late night TV. But a sex addiction is no laughing matter. Relationships are destroyed, jobs are lost, lives ruined.
'Apple allergy': Symptoms could be significantly reduced with apple-allergen treatment
The food allergy associated with birch pollen is a condition commonly found alongside an allergy to birch pollen. Sufferers are plagued by swelling and reddening or itching in the mouth and throat area, for example when they eat certain foods, especially apples, but also nuts, peaches or kiwis. A group of researchers at the Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research at the MedUni Vienna, led by Barbara Bohle, has now discovered that the "apple allergy" can be treated effectively with an apple allergen (Mal d 1) and this helps to significantly reduce the symptoms of the condition.
Taking race out of the equation in measuring women's risk of osteoporosis and fractures
(Medical Xpress)—For women of mixed racial or ethnic backgrounds, a new method for measuring bone health may improve the odds of correctly diagnosing their risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures, according to a UCLA-led study.
Teens increasingly abuse prescription painkillers
Today's teens and young people are abusing prescription painkillers more than any other age group or any other youth in history. Availability of these drugs from their parents' medicine cabinets may be to blame, according to new research in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
Drug approved for symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion
(HealthDay)—Jetrea (ocriplasmin) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat an eye condition called symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion (VMA).
Morphology of bicuspid aortic valve influences outcomes
(HealthDay)—The morphology of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) malformations plays an important role in outcomes, according to a study published in the Nov. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
First micro-structure atlas of the human brain completed
A European team of scientists have built the first atlas of white-matter microstructure in the human brain. The project's final results have the potential to change the face of neuroscience and medicine over the coming decade.
Sharp rise in children admitted to hospital with throat infections since 1999
The number of children admitted to hospital in England for acute throat infections increased by 76 per cent between 1999 and 2010, according to new research published today in Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Weight loss does not lower heart disease risk from type 2 diabetes
Intervention stopped early in NIH-funded study of weight loss in overweight and obese adults with type 2 diabetes after finding no harm, but no cardiovascular benefits
New contraceptive methods change birth control patterns
The birth control pill and sterilization are still the most common forms of contraception, but new federal data released Thursday show that long-acting methods are gaining ground while condom use for birth control is declining.
Study: Optimal treatment duration for MRSA-related pneumonia
The national practice guideline for treating MRSA-related pneumonia is seven to 21 days. A Henry Ford Hospital study found that effective treatment can be done in half the time.
Using human stool to treat C. diff is safe, effective
A novel therapy that uses donated human stool to treat the deadly and contagious C.diff infection is safe and highly effective, according to a Henry Ford Hospital study.
Pediatric studies show the flu's deadly danger, the benefits of school vaccinations
New data being presented at IDWeek 2012 shows the fatal risk that influenza poses even for children without underlying health conditions and the effectiveness of school-based vaccination programs in protecting student populations. Together, these findings support the crucial public health message that families should take the flu virus seriously every year.
Daily vibration may combat prediabetes in youth
Daily sessions of whole-body vibration may combat prediabetes in adolescents, dramatically reducing inflammation, average blood glucose levels and symptoms such as frequent urination, researchers report.
US state's outbreak has likely peaked (Update)
(AP)—Tennessee's chief medical officer says the rate of new infections from fungal meningitis appears to be declining in the state where it was first discovered.
Team studies connection between child, mother mortality
The death of a child is a tragic event for a family, bringing with it feelings of numbness, anger, guilt and denial. And, unfortunately, for many families, the loss becomes too much to bear.
Researchers develop procedure for reducing fear response in sleeping mice
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at Stanford University have developed a procedure that reduces a fear response in mice. It involves, team lead Asya Rolls said as she presented the groups' findings at this year's meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, injecting a protein synthesis inhibitor into the brain and then exposing the mice to a fear trigger while they sleep.
Medical myth: Reading from a screen harms your eyes
The time most of us spend looking at a screen has rapidly increased over the past decade. If we're not at work on the computer, we're likely to stay tuned into the online sphere via a smart phone or tablet. Shelves of books are being replaced by a single e-book reader; and television shows and movies are available anywhere, any time.
Research group finds blood transfusions from young mice to old improves brain function
(Medical Xpress)—A research team from Stanford University has found that injecting the blood of young mice into older mice can cause new neural development and improved memory. Team lead Saul Villeda presented the groups' findings at this year's Society for Neuroscience conference.
Freezing eggs for fertility works, caution urged (Update)
Freezing human eggs can be successful in treating infertility—but U.S. guidelines issued Friday still urge caution for women hoping to pause a ticking biological clock.
Science reveals the power of a handshake
(Medical Xpress)—New neuroscience research is confirming an old adage about the power of a handshake: strangers do form a better impression of those who proffer their hand in greeting. The study was led by Beckman Institute researcher Florin Dolcos and Department of Psychology postdoctoral research associate Sanda Dolcos.
Study explores how the brain perceives direction and location
(Medical Xpress)—The Who asked "who are you?" but Dartmouth neurobiologist Jeffrey Taube asks "where are you?" and "where are you going?" Taube is not asking philosophical or theological questions. Rather, he is investigating nerve cells in the brain that function in establishing one's location and direction.
New study finds brain tumors can arise from neurons
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers from the US and Japan have shown that an aggressive type of brain tumor can arise from normal cells in the central nervous system such as neurons. The cells revert to an earlier, undifferentiated stem cell stage, which can then reproduce prolifically.
Researchers identify lynchpin to activating brown fat cells
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have identified the lynchpin that activates brown fat cells, which burn fat molecules instead of storing them, making them the focus of pharmaceutical research aimed at fighting obesity.
Biology news
WA apple farmers may see boon from bad weather
(AP)—First, warm spring weather in the Northeast and Midwest tricked apple trees into budding earlier. Then an untimely frost damaged the delicate blossoms.
Indian farmers cotton on to sustainable farming
When Indian icon Mahatma Gandhi took up the baton for home-grown cotton a century ago, he may not have realised the devastating impact its cultivation would have on the land he so loved.
D-Day for crunch biodiversity talks (Update)
Negotiators sought Friday to persuade wealthy nations to bankroll ambitious targets for stemming the loss of Earth's dwindling natural resources.
Animal welfare group pushes for dolphins' release
A Singapore casino resort's acquisition of dolphins from the Solomon Islands for its marine park contributed to the depletion of the species there, an animal welfare group said Friday.
Yeast models of cell death and survival mechanisms
European scientists investigated differences in the genomes of various distantly-related yeast and their effects on cell survival. Results may provide insight into cell death induced by free radicals.
Shark finning hitting Gulf sharks hard
Armed with a clip board and wearing bright yellow waders, Rima Jabado looked the part of a government inspector at the Dubai fish market as workers sawed the fins off hundreds of dead sharks from Oman and bagged them for export to Asian restaurants.
Virus exploitscellular waste disposal system
ETH Zurich researchers demonstrate how vaccinia virus manipulates the cellular waste-disposal system and thereby cleverly tricks the cell into assisting the intruders replication. Now, the virologists have turned the tables, using inhibitors of this cellular waste-disposal system as a way to block virus infection.
Jerusalem olive trees linked to Christ's time, experts claim
Olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane come from cuttings of a tree dating back to when Jesus is believed to have prayed on the hill in Jerusalem before his death, scientists said on Friday.
Directing evolutionary changes
Since 1859, when Darwin's classic work "On the Origin of Species" was published, we have known that populations change over the course of time. The ability to adapt to changing surroundings is the basis for evolution and is crucial for animals and plants to come to terms with new environmental conditions, for example as a consequence of climate change. Despite the obvious importance of the process, however, we still do not understand the underlying mechanisms. It is clear that organisms change their DNA in response to selection pressures. But how? Important clues come from the work of Pablo Orozco-terWengel in the group of Christian Schlötterer at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna. The results are published in the current issue of the journal Molecular Ecology.
Recession drives down national park visitation, study finds
A national recession doesn't just affect Americans' wallets. It also impacts their travel to national parks, a new University of Georgia study has found.
Fish once thought extinct in Grand Canyon found in Colorado River
Researchers in Grand Canyon National Park have discovered a prehistoric-looking sucker fish once thought to be extinct from the area.
Beneficial mold packaged in bioplastic
(Phys.org)—Aflatoxins are highly toxic carcinogens produced by several species of Aspergillus fungi. But not all Aspergillus produce aflatoxin. Some, in fact, are considered beneficial. One such strain, dubbed K49, is now being recruited to battle these harmful Aspergillus relatives, preventing them from contaminating host crops like corn with the carcinogen.
Brazil: Saving endangered monkey helps forest
(AP)—Three tiny flaming orange monkeys crouched on a tree branch, cocking their heads as if to better hear the high-pitched whistles and yaps that came from deep within the dense green foliage. Then they answered in kind, rending the morning with their sharp calls and cautiously greeting each other in the forest.
Why whale sharks need to swim near the surface
(Phys.org)—Whale sharks, the world's biggest fish, can dive to chilly waters hundreds of metres deep but they need to return to the surface to warm up, according to a new study led by researchers from The University of Western Australia's Oceans Institute.
Six French academies dismiss study linking GM corn to cancer (Update 2)
A controversial study that linked genetically modified corn to cancer in lab rats is a "scientific non-event," six French scientific academies said on Friday.
Ancient DNA sheds light on Arctic whale mysteries
Scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society, the American Museum of Natural History, City University of New York, and other organizations have published the first range-wide genetic analysis of the bowhead whale using hundreds of samples from both modern populations and archaeological sites used by indigenous Arctic hunters thousands of years ago.
Cholera discovery could revolutionize antibiotic delivery
(Phys.org)—Three Simon Fraser University scientists are among six researchers who've made a discovery that could help revolutionize antibiotic treatment of deadly bacteria.
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