Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 15, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Forensic speciation: Splicing genetic and phylogenic trees of life- Accelerators can search for signs of Planck-scale gravity
- Linux camp has key to Windows 8 boot lockout
- Researchers replicate white dwarf photospheres in lab using X-ray machine
- Neuroscientists isolate molecular 'when' and 'where' of memory formation
- Another advance on the road to spintronics: Researchers unlock ferromagnetic secrets of promising materials
- Freezing electrons in flight
- Breakthrough nano-technology solar cell achieves 18.2% efficiency, eliminates need for anti-reflection layer
- Language structure arises from balance of clear and effective communication
- Magic Finger device suggests new day for calling up content (w/ Video)
- WISE colors in unknowns on Jupiter asteroids
- Claim of supersolid helium disproved by original researcher
- New study finds evolution mostly driven by brawn, not brains
- Ebola antibody treatment, produced in plants, protects monkeys from lethal disease
- New study moves researchers closer to lung cancer blood test
Space & Earth news
Judge scraps Amazon dam hearing
A federal judge has suspended a planned hearing for fishermen and indigenous people occupying a disputed dam in Brazil's Amazon after they failed to vacate the site, developers said.
Research shows legume trees can fertilize and stabilize maize fields, generate higher yields
Inserting rows of "fertilizer trees" into maize fields, known as agroforestry, can help farmers across sub-Saharan Africa cope with the impacts of drought and degraded soils, according to a 12-year-long study by researchers at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF).
NASA signs agreement to develop nasal spray for motion sickness
NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and Epiomed Therapeutics Inc. of Irvine, Calif., have signed an agreement to develop and commercialize a NASA-crafted, fast-acting nasal spray to fight motion sickness.
Unraveling galactic, stellar evolution through study of supermassive stars
European research is identifying and quantifying properties of massive stars in our galaxy and nearby. This research should provide important insight into the formation of galaxies and stellar evolution.
ESA deploys first orbital debris test radar in Spain
(Phys.org)—A new radar designed to test methods for finding orbital debris that can be hazardous to space navigation has been installed in Spain. The radar will be used to develop future debris warning services, helping boost safety for European satellite operators.
U-M, other universities launch Great Lakes protection project
The University of Michigan and 20 other U.S. and Canadian universities will join forces to propose a set of long-term research and policy priorities to help protect and restore the Great Lakes and to train the next generation of scientists, attorneys, planners and policy specialists who will study them.
NASA sees Tropical Cyclone Anais headed near La Reunion Island
Tropical Cyclone Anais, the first tropical cyclone of the Southern Indian Ocean's tropical cyclone season, has strengthened over the weekend of Oct. 13 and 14 and by Oct. 15, the storm was packing sustained winds near 100 knots (115 mph/185 kph).
Austrian freefaller inspires awe in watching millions
The world looked on in fear and awe as Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner jumped from the edge of outer space on Sunday, breaking a slew of records and winning millions of instant fans.
Cookie Monster crater on Mercury
Big Bird has been grabbing the headlines lately, and its time for another Muppet to get a little face time. So, here's Cookie Monster's face, plastered across the surface of Mercury. Well, it looks like it, anyway. This is an image from the MESSENGER spacecraft, orbiting Mercury, and the folks at Goddard Space Flight Center suggested this superposition of younger craters on older craters (in this case two smaller and shadowed craters that look like googly eyes placed on the rim of an older crater) appears to resemble everyone's favorite blue, Sesame Street, cookie-loving monster.
Orionids, planets, constellations brighten October skies
The 2012 Orionid meteor shower peaks on the night of Oct. 20-21, and that night's almost-new moon favors a good show. The moon's absence from the pre-dawn sky during the Orionids' peak also means that bright moonlight won't be a problem.
Curiosity preparing for second scoop
On Sol 65 (Oct. 11, 2012) of the Mars Science Laboratory mission, NASA's Mars rover Curiosity completed several activities in preparation for collecting its second scoop of soil. Like the first scoop, the next will come from a ripple of sand and dust at "Rocknest," and will be used for cleaning interior surfaces of the sample-handling chambers on the arm.
Operation IceBridge resumes Antarctic flights
(Phys.org)—Scientists and flight crew members with Operation IceBridge, NASA's airborne mission to study Earth's changing polar ice, are beginning another campaign over Antarctica. Now in its fourth year, IceBridge's return to the Antarctic comes almost a year after the discovery of a large rift in the continent's Pine Island Glacier.
One of most protected rivers in nation is still in decline
The Wekiva River, which has been in failing health for a long time, is getting sicker despite being one of the most protected waterways in the nation and the most treasured in the Orlando, Fla., area.
Baumgartner feat boosts hopes for imperilled astronauts
Daredevil Felix Baumgartner's record-breaking jump raises hopes that pilots and even astronauts can be saved from accidents in the stratosphere, experts said on Monday.
Antibiotic contamination a threat to humans and the environment
Researchers from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, spend August in Sisimiut on the west coast of Greenland studying the prevalence of antibiotic resistance and the effects of antibiotic emissions on communities of bacteria living in marine sediments. More specifically, they were investigating how communities of bacteria in sediment and clay on the seabed are affected by exposure to antibiotics.
World matched record for hottest September—again (Update)
The world last month matched a record for the hottest September, and some scientists point to global warming as a cause.
Daredevil's sky jump provides global moment of awe
(AP)—Felix Baumgartner stood poised in the open hatch of a capsule suspended above Earth, wondering if he would make it back alive. Twenty four miles (38 kilometers) below him, millions of people were watching on the Internet and marveling at the moment.
NASA eyes Tropical Storm Rafael battering the Leeward Islands
While the Leeward Islands continue to get battered by Tropical Storm Rafael, a Tropical Storm Watch is posted for Bermuda as Rafael continues to move through the eastern Atlantic Ocean. NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Rafael on Oct. 14 and noticed the bulk of showers and thunderstorms were being pushed north and east of the storm's center.
NASA watching Hurricane Paul, warnings up for Baja California
Tropical cyclones seem to love forming over weekends, Rafael formed over the weekend in the Atlantic, Anais in the Southern Indian Ocean and Hurricane Paul in the eastern Pacific Ocean. NASA's Terra satellite kept on top of Paul, however, and provided forecasters with a visible look at the newborn storm.
NASA satellite reveals some strong rainfall in meandering Typhoon Prapiroon
Typhoon Prapiroon has been meandering in the western North Pacific Ocean over the weekend of Oct. 13 and 14, and NASA's TRMM satellite was able to identify where the strongest rainfall was occurring in the storm.
NASA sees mostly moderate rainfall in Tropical Storm Maria
Tropical Storm Maria was born in the western North Pacific Ocean and has a large area of moderate rainfall, as NASA's TRMM satellite revealed today, Oct. 15. NASA's TRMM satellite noticed that most of Maria's rainfall was occurring northeast of the storm's center. Maria is the twenty-third tropical cyclone of the western North Pacific season.
Lost, potentially hazerdous asteroid rediscovered
(Phys.org)—A potentially hazardous asteroid once found but then lost has been rediscovered and its orbit confirmed by a determined amateur astronomer working with ESA's space hazards programme. The half-kilometre object will not threaten Earth anytime soon.
The Orionid meteor shower
Usually, waking up before sunrise is a good way to get a head start on the day. On Oct. 21st, waking up early could stop you in your tracks.
Study: Tropical cyclones are occurring more frequently than before
Are there more tropical cyclones now than in the past? – or is it just something we believe because we now hear more about them through media coverage and are better able detect them with satellites? New research from the Niels Bohr Institute clearly shows that there is an increasing tendency for cyclones when the climate is warmer, as it has been in recent years. The results are published in the scientific journal PNAS.
Recent droughts could be new normal, may lead to massive tree death, study suggests
Evidence uncovered by a University of Tennessee, Knoxville, geography professor suggests recent droughts could be the new normal. This is especially bad news for our nation's forests.
Scientists provide window on space radiation hazards
Astrophysicists from the University of New Hampshire's Space Science Center (SSC) have created the first online system for predicting and forecasting the radiation environment in near-Earth, lunar, and Martian space environments. The near real-time tool will provide critical information as preparations are made for potential future manned missions to the moon and Mars.
Study: Climate negotiations relying on 'dangerous' thresholds to avoid catastrophe will not succeed
The identified critical threshold for dangerous climate change saying that the increase in global temperature should be below 2 degrees Celsius seems not to have helped the climate negotiations so far. New research from the University of Gothenburg and Columbia University shows that negotiations based on such a threshold fail because its value is determined by Nature and is inherently uncertain. Climate negotiators should therefore focus on other collective strategies.
Curiosity rover's second scoop discarded, third scoop commanded
(Phys.org)—Commands will be sent to Curiosity today instructing the rover to collect a third scoop of soil from the "Rocknest" site of windblown Martian sand and dust. Pending evaluation of this Sol 69 (Oct. 15, 2012) scooping, a sample from the scoopful is planned as the first sample for delivery—later this week—to one of the rover's internal analytical instruments, the Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) instrument. A later scoopful will become the first solid sample for delivery to the rover's other internal analytical instrument, the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument.
WISE colors in unknowns on Jupiter asteroids
(Phys.org)—Scientists using data from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, have uncovered new clues in the ongoing mystery of the Jovian Trojans—asteroids that orbit the sun on the same path as Jupiter. Like racehorses, the asteroids travel in packs, with one group leading the way in front of the gas giant, and a second group trailing behind.
Technology news
Biden won debate, student-developed app finds
Six in 10 college students say Joe Biden outperformed Paul Ryan in Thursday's vice presidential debate, according to a nationwide poll conducted with a smartphone application co-developed at the University of California, Davis.
Thermal imaging-based technology to identify those injection-moulded parts likely to fail
Non-destructive testing (NDT) technology developed with EU funding should boost the competitiveness of numerous European plastics manufacturers by decreasing lost money and time due to part failures.
Recapturing Baroque organ sound
The warmth and beauty of old organ music can once again be heard in Europe's historic churches, thanks to high-tech efforts that can accurately reproduce this unique sound.
Taiwan probing allaged theft of technology for China
Taiwan is investigating the alleged theft by two former executives of sensitive technology from leading flat-panel maker AU Optronics and its sale to a Chinese rival, officials said Monday.
Vivendi looking to unload SFR mobile unit: report
French media and telecom group Vivendi is in talks to merge its embattled mobile and internet unit SFR with cable operator Numericable, news media reported.
Dear Digital Diary: 'Wimpy Kid' e-books coming
(AP)—The "Wimpy Kid" is returning to his digital roots.
NY Times to launch Portuguese-language website for Brazil
The New York Times will launch a Portuguese-language website next year as part of plans to expand its global reach into Brazil, its publisher said here Monday.
More than three million Austrians tuned in live to Austrian space jumper
More than three million television and internet viewers in Austria tuned in live to watch Austrian Felix Baumgartner jump from the edge of space on Sunday and become the first man to break the sound barrier unaided by a vehicle.
Cycling app that tracks riders' routes to assist city of Atlanta
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed joined Georgia Tech President G.P. "Bud" Peterson in announcing several citywide cycling initiatives. Among them was Cycle Atlanta, a Georgia Tech-developed iPhone application that tracks cycling routes and is designed to help the city with future cycling decisions.
Kindle customers may get credit via settlements (Update)
Amazon has alerted its Kindle customers in the U.S. that they are entitled to a credit on prior electronic book purchases as part of settlements between some major e-book publishers and the government.
Traditional courtyards: An example of eco-efficiency for architects
Researchers from the University of Seville (Spain) have used mathematical tools to assess what has been known for centuries: the temperature inside the typical Mediterranean courtyard is cooler than that of the street. Though seemingly common sense, understanding such information in detail helps to save energy and money, which is the objective of eco-efficient buildings.
Sources: PayPal planning layoffs
(AP)—EBay's PayPal unit is planning layoffs in the coming weeks as it tries to refocus and operate more like an agile startup than a large company, according to people familiar with the matter.
App cuts up news into digestible bytes
Offering a new way to read the news on a mobile device, an app launched Monday delivers content in "flash card" segments in an effort to optimize new formats.
Yahoo CEO raids Google to hire top lieutenant
(AP)—Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has lured away one of Google's top advertising executives to help engineer a turnaround at Yahoo.
Xbox Music to offer on-demand music free on tablet
Buyers of tablets that run Microsoft's newest operating system, Windows 8, are in for a pleasant musical surprise: they'll be able to handpick from a selection of millions of songs and stream them for free as long as they put up with an audio ad every 15 minutes.
Softbank to buy 70 percent of Sprint for $20 bln (Update)
Softbank Corp. has reached a deal to buy 70 percent of U.S. mobile carrier Sprint Nextel Corp. for $20.1 billion in the largest ever foreign acquisition by a Japanese company.
Germans face hefty bill to end nuclear power (Update 2)
There were cheers around Germany when Chancellor Angela Merkel announced last year, in the wake of the Fukushima disaster in Japan, a swift end to nuclear power in favor of renewable energy sources like wind and solar.
Federal plan designed to create large solar energy plants
The Obama administration has formally adopted a plan to help create large-scale solar energy plants, offering incentives for solar developers to cluster projects on 285,000 acres of federal land in the western U.S and opening an additional 19 million acres of the Mojave Desert for new power plants.
New version of Flame virus uncovered: researchers
A new cyberespionage tool linked to the Flame virus has been infecting computers in Lebanon, Iran and elsewhere, security researchers said Monday.
Linux camp has key to Windows 8 boot lockout
(Phys.org)—Microsoft's rocky reputation with the open source community was not exactly obliterated with hardware news surrounding the upcoming launch of the operating system, Windows 8. Systems will come with Secure Boot enabled in the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI). Only operating systems with an appropriate digital signature will be able to boot. The worry was that only Windows 8 will run on these systems. Users would find it hard to boot non-Microsoft operating systems. UEFI stands for Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)and it defines a software interface between an operating system and platform firmware.
Magic Finger device suggests new day for calling up content (w/ Video)
(Phys.org)—You can swipe and tap away for content on mobile device screens. What if you didn't have to touch the screen? A group from University of Alberta, Toronto, and Autodesk Research presented their answer at the ACM Symposium that took place from Oct. 7-12 in Cambridge, Mass. Their Magic Finger is a thimble-like device worn on the user's finger and allows the user's gestures to control smart devices like phones or tablets. "If I am walking down the street and the cellphone is in my pocket, I can make a swiping gesture and execute a function like making a call," Tovi Grossman, a scientist at Autodesk Research, told Discovery. Magic Finger is placed on the fingertip using an adjustable Velcro ring. As a demo video shows, commands can be placed on a variety of surfaces for content to be displayed on the screen.
Medicine & Health news
Extra cash helps patients cope with cancer
Welfare rights advice has been shown to help patients with cancer and their carers receive millions in unclaimed benefits to help cope with the disease.
Study raises awareness of need for cyclist safety measures
With the 'Wiggins effect' in full swing after London 2012 and people taking up cycling for sport or recreation like never before, the safety of the country's cyclists has never been more important.
Edible seaweed provides an alternative protein source
Teagasc researchers are looking to seaweed for proteins with health benefits for use as functional foods. Historically, edible seaweeds were consumed by coastal communities across the world and today seaweed is a habitual diet in many countries, particularly in Asia. Indeed, whole seaweeds have been successfully added to foods in recent times, ranging from sausages and cheese to pizza bases and frozen-meat products.
Finding the origins of infant leukaemia
Leukaemia arises as a result of genetic or epigenetic alterations in blood cells, leading to an aberrant accumulation of undifferentiated blasts. Understanding the molecular pathogenesis and aetiology of infant leukaemia induced by the MLL-AF4 fusion gene was the subject of the Leukaemogenesis project.
Scottish textile technology helps cancer patients
Micro-encapsulated textiles, which offer added comfort as well as aroma-therapeutic benefits to cancer patients, are now being used in a luxury handmade headwear range, Asha.
From emergency care through rehab: Advancing treatment for head and neck injury
Improving treatment and outcomes for people with life-threatening head and neck injuries is the aim of a comprehensive new book by one of Australia's eminent neurosurgeons.
Nepal culls chickens amid bird flu outbreak
Health workers in Nepal on Monday culled hundreds of chickens and destroyed eggs following an outbreak of bird flu in the capital Kathmandu, a government official said.
Urgent need for tuberculosis vaccines; experts report progress, obstacles in growing drug resistance
Drawing on recent findings of a significant rise in cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis in the UK and globally, top TB researchers at a briefing today in London called for greater focus on the quest for new vaccines—a crucial long-term, cost-effective method for addressing the growing threat.
Traumatic injury research working to improve the lives of citizens and soldiers
New studies presented today offer vivid examples of how advances in basic brain research help reduce the trauma and suffering of innocent landmine victims, amateur and professional athletes, and members of the military. The research was presented today at Neuroscience 2012, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
An immunosuppressive drug could delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases
Rapamycin, a drug used to prevent rejection in transplants, could delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. This is the main conclusion of a study published in the Nature in which has collaborated the researcher Isidro Ferrer, head of the group of Neuropathology at the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) and the Bellvitge University Hospital and Full Professor of Pathological Anatomy at the University of Barcelona. The research was led by researchers from the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) in Trieste (Italy).
Programs for treating addiction in doctors pose ethical issues
State physician health programs (PHPs) play a key role in helping doctors with substance abuse problems. But the current PHP system is inconsistent and prone to potential conflicts of interest and ethical issues, according to a review available as publish ahead of print content from the December 2012 issue of Journal of Addiction Medicine, the official journal of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
New merciful treatment method for children with brain tumors
Children who undergo brain radiation therapy run a significant risk of suffering from permanent neurocognitive adverse effects. These adverse effects are due to the fact that the radiation often encounters healthy tissue. This reduces the formation of new cells, particularly in the hippocampus – the part of the brain involved in memory and learning.
The tomboy in manga for teens: Kaleidoscopic bodily styles
Ylva Sommerland, from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, has studied the tomboy in manga, a girl manoeuvring in masculine situations. The study concerns sports manga and fantasy manga for teens – genres that offer plenty of tomboy stories.
Study to test pneumococcal vaccine in older adults
Researchers plan to see if a higher dose of a pneumococcal vaccine will create a stronger immune response in older adults who received an earlier generation vaccine against pneumonia and other pneumococcal diseases.
Study shows revisions in MPM staging system might be needed in future
The International Mesothelioma Interest Group (IMIG) staging system has been widely used, however, widespread concerns exist about the validity of the current malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) staging system. Concerns include that the system is derived from analysis of small, retrospective surgical series; it can be difficult to apply to clinical staging; and uses descriptors for lymph node involvement, which may not be relevant to MPM. Therefore, in collaboration with IMIG, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) has decided to update the staging system for MPM by developing a large international database.
Study shows fit elderly patients should be considered for therapy
Until there are more validated biomarkers to direct treatment decisions, many physicians use patient age to decide what therapy to give their patients. Literature data report that older patients often go undertreated because of concerns for limited tolerance to toxic therapies. A study, published in the November 2012 issue of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer's (IASLC) Journal of Thoracic Oncology, says that fit elderly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients should be considered for salvage targeted therapy.
New research reveals more about how the brain processes facial expressions and emotions
Research released today helps reveal how human and primate brains process and interpret facial expressions, and the role of facial mimicry in everything from deciphering an unclear smile to establishing relationships of power and status. The findings were presented at Neuroscience 2012, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
Study says VeriStrat predicts response but not survival benefit from erlotinib
A study, published in the November 2012 issue of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer's (IASLC) Journal of Thoracic Oncology, showed the plasma test VeriStrat can predict response but not survival benefit from erlotinib. The study was conducted on a subset of patients enrolled in the NCIC Clinical Trials Group, BR.21 phase III trial of erlotinib versus placebo in previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients.
Can vaccines be delivered via the lungs instead of by injection?
In addition to the obvious benefit of eliminating the need for an injection, new vaccine delivery methods via the lungs offer particular advantages for protecting against infectious agents that enter the body through the respiratory track. A comprehensive review article that presents the current status, challenges, and opportunities of pulmonary vaccine delivery is published in Journal of Aerosol Medicine and Pulmonary Drug Delivery.
Wide discrepancy in surveillance and control of infections in ICUs
Screening practices for multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in intensive care units (ICUs) vary widely from hospital to hospital, according to a new study by researchers at Columbia University School of Nursing and published in the October 2012 issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.
Chicago-area hospitals collaborate to form first network for adults with congenital heart disease
Seven major academic medical centers and teaching hospitals in the Chicago area have joined together to form the Chicago Adult Congenital Heart Network (CATCH), which is the first patient-centered, inter-institutional network in Chicago established to ensure all adults with congenital heart disease in the area receive appropriate follow-up care.
New guide helps providers make effective connection with senior patients
"Communicating With Older Adults: An Evidence-Based Review of What Really Works," the latest report from The Gerontological Society of America (GSA), provides 40 pages of recommended guidelines for health care providers interacting with the fastest growing age segment of America's population.
Substandard, non-approved drugs put patients at risk
and the subsequent deaths of 15 individuals—has renewed scrutiny on the contemporary practice of pharmacy compounding. The risks to patients, and associated liability risk to prescribing physicians, largely outweigh the benefits when the practice goes beyond the traditional, extemporaneous role, according to Sarah Sellers from q-Vigilance LLC and Wulf Utian from Case Western Reserve University in the US. Sellers and Utian's opinion piece appears online in the journal Drugs, published by Adis.
Realizing the potential of stem cell therapy
New animal studies provide additional support for investigating stem cell treatments for Parkinson's disease, head trauma, and dangerous heart problems that accompany spinal cord injury, according to research findings released today. The work, presented at Neuroscience 2012, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health, shows scientists making progress toward using stem cell therapies to repair neurological damage.
New tools for Alzheimer's may aid early diagnosis and treatment
Curtailing the imminent rise in Alzheimer's disease (AD) will require early, accurate diagnostic tests and treatments, and researchers are closer to achieving these two goals. New findings in medical imaging, molecular analysis of neurological diseases, and development of treatments using mouse models were presented at Neuroscience 2012, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
New findings could help speed recovery, alleviate pain associated with spinal cord injury
Research released today demonstrates how new scientific knowledge is driving innovative treatments for spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord damage is debilitating and life-altering, limiting or preventing movement and feeling for millions worldwide, and leading to chronic health conditions and pain. The new studies suggest potential therapies for managing the aftermath of pain and pressure sores, repairing nervous system damage, and speeding recovery. The findings were presented at Neuroscience 2012, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
Developing brain is source of stability and instability in adolescence
The brain's "reward system," those brain circuits and structures that mediate the experience and pursuit of pleasure, figured prominently in several studies. The studies shed light on adolescents' ability to control impulsivity and think through problems; reveal physical changes in the "social brain;" document connections between early home life and brain function in adolescence; and examine the impact of diet on depressive-like behavior in rodents.
US meningitis cases climb to 205 as outbreak worsens
Fungal meningitis tied to a contaminated steroid has affected 205 people in a worsening outbreak of the infection that has killed 15 people in the United States, officials said Sunday.
Sitting for protracted periods increases risk of diabetes, heart disease and death
A new study led by the University of Leicester, in association with colleagues at Loughborough University, has discovered that sitting for long periods increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease and death.
HPV vaccination not associated with increased sexual activity among girls, new study says
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine known as Gardasil is not associated with an increase in pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, or contraceptive counseling, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published online today in the journal Pediatrics.
Breakthrough could help sufferers of fatal lung disease
Pioneering research conducted by the University of Sheffield is paving the way for new treatments which could benefit patients suffering from the fatal lung disease pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
Report reveals key concerns of UK's aging society
One in six people in England aged over 50 are socially isolated. They have few socially orientated hobbies, little civic or cultural engagement with society, and may have very limited social networks. This was a key finding from the most recent report of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), a comprehensive study that aims to understand the economic, social, psychological and health concerns of an ageing society. The multidisciplinary ELSA research team showed that the least wealthy over-fifties suffer the most social isolation, with the wealthier over 50's half as likely to become socially isolated compared to the least wealthy.
Adding up autism risks
The causes of autism and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are complex, and contain elements of both nature (genes) and the environment. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Molecular Autism shows that common genetic polymorphisms (genetic variation) can add up to an increased risk of ASD.
Study sheds light on role of exercise and androgens such as testosterone on nerve damage repair
A study by researchers from Emory University and Indiana University found that the beneficial effects daily exercise can have on the regeneration of nerves also require androgens such as testosterone in both males and females. It is the first report of both androgen-dependence of exercise on nerve regeneration and of an androgenic effect of exercise in females.
Bicycle helmets prevent fatal head injuries
Cyclists who died of a head injury were three times as likely to not be wearing a helmet compared with those who died of other injuries, according to a study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
'Mother's kiss' safe and effective for removing foreign objects from children's noses
A technique called the "mother's kiss" for removing foreign objects from the nasal passages of young children appears to be a safe and effective approach, found a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Study supports link between obesity and higher incidence of cancer, poorer prognosis
Researchers may have discovered a new explanation as to why obese patients with cancer often have a poorer prognosis compared with those who are lean. The potential explanation is based on data reported in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Swimming pools don't help Indigenous children's hearing, contradiction of previous study
(Medical Xpress)—Swimming pools are not the answer to solving the horrific prevalence of middle ear disease afflicting Indigenous children in remote communities, a ground-breaking report from Flinders University reveals.
Severe allergic asthma linked to gene variation
(Medical Xpress)—A new study from the University of Alberta shows that your genes could be the reason your allergic asthma or hay fever is so severe.
Whole black carrots reveal the key to gut health, reduced cancer risk
Black carrots have revealed how fruit and vegetables help maintain gut health and reduce the risk of developing cancer.
New approaches in the treatment of alcohol dependence
Based on expanding neurobiological knowledge, intriguing research is under way to use brain findings to develop innovative treatments including not only novel pharmacological interventions but also non-pharmacological treatment strategies such as motor rehabilitation, environmental enrichment, and Deep Brain Stimulation.
Does motherhood dampen cocaine's effects?
Mother rats respond much differently to cocaine than female rats that have never given birth, according to new University of Michigan research that looks at both behavior and brain chemistry.
People with severe psoriasis nearly twice at risk for diabetes
An analysis of 27 studies linking psoriasis in 314,000 individuals with diabetes has found strong correlation between the scaly skin rash and the blood sugar disorder that predisposes patients to heart disease, say UC Davis researchers who led the review.
Plaque build-up in your brain may be more harmful than having Alzheimer's gene
A new study shows that having a high amount of beta amyloid or "plaques" in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease may cause steeper memory decline in mentally healthy older people than does having the APOE ɛ4 allele, also associated with the disease. The study is published in the October 16, 2012, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Preventing deadly blood clots: Study finds computerized checklist better at finding best preventive strategy
A computerized checklist system designed to help physicians identify and use the best methods of preventing potentially deadly blood clots in hospitalized trauma patients dramatically reduced the number of these dangerous venous thromboembolisms (VTEs), new Johns Hopkins research suggests.
Study identifies characteristics of sunbed users, motivation for tanning
A telephone survey of 4,851 individuals in Germany suggests the overall prevalence of sunbed use was nearly 40 percent for participants who had ever used one and 14.6 percent had used a tanning bed within the last 12 months, according to a study published Online First by Archives of Dermatology.
Weight loss surgery may be associated with increased substance use following surgery
Patients who undergo bariatric weight loss surgery may be at increased risk for substance use (drug use, alcohol use and cigarette smoking) following surgery, particularly among patients who undergo laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery who appear to be at increased risk for alcohol use following surgery, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Surgery.
Study suggests men diagnosed with ADHD as children had worse outcomes as adults
Men who were diagnosed as children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) appeared to have significantly worse educational, occupational, economic and social outcomes in a 33-year, follow-up study that compared them with men without childhood ADHD, according to a report published Online First by Archives of General Psychiatry.
Kids who sleep a bit longer behave better in school, study finds
(HealthDay)—When children can get just a little more sleep each night, their school behavior and alertness levels improve, new research suggests.
Of mice and men
The use of carefully chosen animal models often underlies crucial medical advances. A perfect example is provided by the recent demonstration that a known drug, imatinib, can be used to treat a rare but highly aggressive type of lymphoma. The work was largely undertaken in the group of Lukas Kenner at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cancer Research and the Medical University of Vienna with the support of Karoline Kollmann and Veronika Sexl at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, together with a number of national and international collaborators. The findings are published in the current issue of the prestigious journal Nature Medicine.
Soccer scores a health hat trick for hypertensive men
Playing soccer (football) could be the best way for people with high blood pressure, known as hypertension, to improve their fitness, normalise their blood pressure and reduce their risk of stroke. Research from Universities of Exeter and Copenhagen, and Gentofte University Hospital in Denmark, published today (October 15, 2012) in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, suggests that soccer training prevents cardiovascular disease in middle-aged men with hypertension and is more effective than healthy lifestyle advice currently prescribed by GPs.
Replicating risk genes in bipolar disorder
One of the biggest challenges in psychiatric genetics has been to replicate findings across large studies.
Exposure to 'Prestige' fuel causes short-term damage to rat DNA
An experiment carried out on rodents exposed to fuel similar to that of the Prestige tanker oil spill – which took place nearly a decade ago – shows that inhalation of the fuel causes damage to genetic material. According to the study, led by the University of A Coruña, the results could be used in relation to people who carry out the industrial cleaning of coasts.
Protein could be key for drugs that promote bone growth
Georgia Health Sciences University researchers have developed a mouse that errs on the side of making bone rather than fat, which could eventually lead to better drugs to treat inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
DNA method can provide more effective treatment of childhood cancer
After leukaemia and brain tumours, neuroblastoma is the most common form of cancer to affect children. A thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, has studied a DNA method which is now used for all cases of neuroblastoma in Sweden, and which has led to more effective treatment at individual level.
Space station and space flight gravity influence immune system development
New research findings recently published in The FASEB Journal, show that immune system development is affected by gravity changes, as reported by researchers from the University of Lorraine and University of Luxembourg. Astronauts are exposed to stresses, during launch and landing, which disrupts their body's natural defenses against infection. Changes to the immune system need to be investigated before astronauts undergo longer space missions.
Abbott Labs rises on hepatitis C drug data (Update)
Abbott Laboratories said Monday that its experimental hepatitis C drug regimen cured 99 percent of patients in a midstage study with the most common and hardest-to-treat type of the disease.
Study: Privatized Medicare would raise premiums
A study out Monday says most Medicare recipients—59 percent—would pay higher premiums under a hypothetical privatized system, with wide regional differences leading to big hikes in some states.
Computers less helpful on college drinking
Computer-delivered and face-to-face interventions both can help curb problematic college drinking for a little while, but only in-person encounters produce results that last beyond a few months, according to a new analysis of the techniques schools use to counsel students on alcohol consumption.
Medication beliefs strongly affect individuals' management of chronic diseases, expert says
(Medical Xpress)—Nearly half of patients taking medications for chronic conditions do not strictly follow their prescribed medication regimens. Failure to use medications as directed increases patients' risk for side effects, hospitalizations, reduced quality of life and shortened lifespans. Now, a University of Missouri gerontological nursing expert says patients' poor adherence to prescribed medication regimens is connected to their beliefs about the necessity of prescriptions and concerns about long-term effects and dependency.
School-wide interventions improve student behavior
An analysis of a school behavior strategy—known as School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS)—found that these types of programs significantly reduced children's aggressive behaviors and office discipline referrals, as well as improved problems with concentration and emotional regulation. The study, conducted by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, is the first randomized control trial to examine the impact of SWPBIS programs over multiple school years. The results were published October 15 in the journal Pediatrics as an eFirst publication.
Study finds missing link between mental health disorders and chronic diseases in Iraq war refugees
Wayne State University School of Medicine researchers may have discovered why people exposed to war are at increased risk to develop chronic problems like heart disease years later. And the culprit that links the two is surprising.
Higher-dose use of certain statins often best for cholesterol issues
(Medical Xpress)—A comprehensive new review on how to treat high cholesterol and other blood lipid problems suggests that intensive treatment with high doses of statin drugs is usually the best approach.
Social contact can ease pain related to nerve damage, animal study suggests
Companionship has the potential to reduce pain linked to nerve damage, according to a new study.
Researcher pieces together AML prognosis puzzle
When patients suffering from Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) express high levels of the gene, MN1, an already aggressive leukemia is accelerated and shortens survival time. While that's a known fact, the mechanisms involved aren't well understood which is why a Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center researcher decided to take a closer look.
Prebiotic may help patients with intestinal failure grow new and better gut
Adding the right prebiotic to the diets of pediatric patients with intestinal failure could replace intravenous feeding, says a new University of Illinois study.
'Biggest Loser' study finds modest diet and exercise can sustain weight loss
Exercise and healthy eating reduce body fat and preserve muscle in adults better than diet alone, according to a study funded and conducted by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. The study was recently published online in Obesity and will be in a future print edition.
Comparing family history and genetic tests for predicting complex disease risk
In a new theoretical study, 23andMe, the personal genetics company, developed a mathematical model which shows that family history and genetic tests offer different strengths. The study results suggest that both family history and genetics are best used in combination to improve disease risk prediction. The full results of the study have now been published online in the journal PLOS Genetics.
US: Pharmacy's other drugs may be causing illness
Two more drugs from a specialty pharmacy linked to a meningitis outbreak are now being investigated, U.S. health officials said, as they urged doctors to contact patients who got any kind of injection from the company.
Personalized genomic medicine: How much can it really empower patients?
Personalized genomic medicine is hailed as a revolution that will empower patients to take control of their own health care, but it could end up taking control away from patients and limiting their treatment choices, concludes an article in the Hastings Center Report. A commentary responding to the article, by the editorial director of Health and Family at Consumer Reports, also appears in the journal.
Researchers shed new light on cancer risks associated with night work
Night work can increase cancer risk in men, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology by a research team from Centre INRS–Institut Armand-Frappier and Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal. The study is one of the first in the world to provide evidence among men of a possible association between night work and the risk of prostate, colon, lung, bladder, rectal, and pancreatic cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
New rapid and point of care hepatitis C tests could be global game changers
Timely screening and diagnosis is critical to the success of new treatments and ultimately to the survival of hepatitis C patients. A new study led by the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI MUHC) is the first to show that hepatitis C rapid and point of care tests with a quick turnaround time are highly accurate and reliable as conventional first-line laboratory tests. This head-to-head analysis, published in the current issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, will lead to changes in screening practices and ultimately impact the control of hepatitis C infection worldwide.
1 dead, 37 sickened from E. coli tied to NC fair
(AP)—Health officials say one child has died and 37 others have been sickened in an E. coli outbreak tied to a North Carolina county fair.
Fluoro-less ureteral stent placement deemed feasible
(HealthDay)—The placement of ureteral stents following uncomplicated ureteroscopic stone removal, without fluoroscopy for image guidance, is feasible and has comparable accuracy and complication rates to that of conventional ureteral stent placement with fluoroscopy, according to research published online in the October issue of Urology.
Device data can ID heart failure patients at readmission risk
(HealthDay)—The use of device diagnostics to risk stratify patients during the first seven days after discharge can help identify patients at greatest risk of readmission for heart failure, according to research published online Oct. 4 in The American Journal of Cardiology.
Secondhand smoke ups babies' risk of asthma, study says
(HealthDay)—Babies exposed to cigarette smoke are at increased risk for developing childhood respiratory diseases such as asthma, according to a new study.
Mice at risk of asthma, allergies can fight off skin cancer
A molecule involved in asthma and allergies has now been shown to make mice resistant to skin cancer, according to scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Researchers' discovery revives hope in promising lymphoma treatment
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have discovered the mechanism by which an experimental drug known as GCS-100 removes from lymphoma cells a protein that prevents the cells from responding to chemotherapy.
Need a reason to recognize Global Handwashing Day? Research shows money and credit cards contain faecal matter
(Medical Xpress)—One in 10 bank cards and one in seven notes are contaminated with faecal organisms, research from Queen Mary, University of London has revealed.
Claim by researcher of injecting iPS cells into heart failure patients found to be fraudulent
(Medical Xpress)—Shortly after it was announced that Japanese researcher Shinya Yamanaka had won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work in seeking alternatives to embryonic cells for use in stem cell research, fellow Japanese researcher Hisashi Moriguchi claimed that he and a team had injected iPS cells into the hearts of six human patients at Harvard Medical Center. Now it appears that such claims were false. In a recent press conference, Moriguchi changed his story and insisted that the procedure had taken place at a Boston hospital, and that just one patient was involved, not six – the other five were still in the planning stages.
Bacterial protein in house dust spurs asthma, according to new study
A bacterial protein in common house dust may worsen allergic responses to indoor allergens, according to research conducted by the National Institutes of Health and Duke University. The finding is the first to document the presence of the protein flagellin in house dust, bolstering the link between allergic asthma and the environment.
Intermittent binge drinking could cause significant brain impairment within months, research shows
A study of binge-drinking rodents suggests that knocking back a few drinks every few days may swiftly reduce one's capacity to control alcohol intake. Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) found signs of cognitive impairment in rats similar to that seen in established alcoholism after the animals had only a few months of intermittent access to alcohol.
Scientists identify compounds that could thwart post-traumatic stress disorder
A brain pathway that is stimulated by traumatic or fearful experiences can be disrupted by two compounds that show promise for preventing post-traumatic stress disorder, Indiana University researchers reported.
New study shows that even your fat cells need sleep
In a study that challenges the long-held notion that the primary function of sleep is to give rest to the brain, researchers have found that not getting enough shut-eye has a harmful impact on fat cells, reducing by 30 percent their ability to respond to insulin, a hormone that regulates energy.
New study moves researchers closer to lung cancer blood test
Early signs of lung cancer could be diagnosed using a simple blood test following a new discovery by scientists at the University of York.
Ebola antibody treatment, produced in plants, protects monkeys from lethal disease
A new Ebola virus study resulting from a widespread scientific collaboration has shown promising preliminary results, preventing disease in infected nonhuman primates using monoclonal antibodies.
Developing stem cell model for Gaucher disease, neurodegenerative conditions
A new method of using adult stem cells as a model for the hereditary condition Gaucher disease could help accelerate the discovery of new, more effective therapies for this and other conditions such as Parkinson's, according to new research from the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Calling Miss Congeniality—do attractive people have attractive traits and values?
We've all been warned not to "judge a book by its cover," but inevitably we do it anyway. It's difficult to resist the temptation of assuming that a person's outward appearance reflects something meaningful about his or her inner personality.
Big, rapid gains made in human lifespan: study
(HealthDay)—It's said that life is short. But people living in developed countries typically survive more than twice as long as their hunter-gatherer ancestors did, making 72 the new 30, according to new research.
Neuroscientists isolate molecular 'when' and 'where' of memory formation
Neuroscientists from New York University and the University of California, Irvine have isolated the "when" and "where" of molecular activity that occurs in the formation of short-, intermediate-, and long-term memories. Their findings, which appear in the journal the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, offer new insights into the molecular architecture of memory formation and, with it, a better roadmap for developing therapeutic interventions for related afflictions.
Biology news
Mission to revive Malta's olive oil production
A green-fingered ex-jeweller with a mission to revive Malta's olive oil production practically from scratch, Sam Cremona munches on a tiny black "Bidni" olive and shows it off to visitors.
Penn researcher part of $1.5 million grant to reduce gene sequencing costs
A collaboration between researchers at Columbia University and Marija Drndić of the University of Pennsylvania has been awarded a three-year, $1.5 million grant for a project aimed at reducing the cost of genome sequencing. The grant was made by the National Human Genome Research Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health.
Predicting protein binding sites on DNA
In silico prediction of protein folding has the potential to reveal the specificity of a given protein sequence for DNA. Such methods are particularly promising as they could open the road to the rational design of novel regulatory molecules.
Sumatran orangutan rescued in western Indonesia
(AP)—A conservationist group says a Sumatran orangutan has been rescued from an isolated area of forest in western Indonesia.
Madagascar lemurs top endangered primates list
In the hit cartoon film "Madagascar", the island's lemurs are a lovable bunch of extroverts, but they are also among the world's most threatened primates, conservationists warned on Monday.
Small bacteria helping big things grow in the ocean
Around 71 per cent of the Earth's surface is made up of salt-water oceans - that's 98 per cent of all water. The ecosystems that exist beneath their surface are diverse and vibrant. Their sheer scale, however, means that there is still a lot to be discovered. And that is exactly what an international team comprising scientists from Europe and the United States have done. Their new discovery - of a symbiosis between tiny single-celled algae and highly specialised bacteria in the ocean - will help scientists to better understand oceans and the important role they play in our lives.
Native plant fares well in pilot green roof research study
As the implementation of green roofs increase, a University of Cincinnati pilot study examined which plants best thrive on the region's roofs during the dry, hot conditions of summer.
Indoor mould's toxicity explained
A team of researchers at the University of Helsinki has discovered how indoor mould makes people sick. The only remedy is to heal the living environment.
Offshore bluefin tuna bigger, healthier than their nearshore counterparts, study finds
Port Lincoln tuna are bigger, healthier and happier when they are kilometres offshore, according to a study by University of Tasmania researchers.
Evidence of fall spawning by Atlantic sturgeon in Virginia river
Scientists studying the Atlantic sturgeon, one of the oldest species of fish in the world, have found evidence that the James River population in Virginia spawns in the fall, according to scientists at the Virginia Commonwealth University Center for Environmental Studies and VCU Rice Center.
Global warming brings southern Ohio trees to northern areas
For the first time, two tree species more commonly found in warmer southern Ohio are being planted in a northern county's park.
Gene suppression can reduce cold-induced sweetening in potatoes
(Phys.org)—Preventing activity of a key enzyme in potatoes could help boost potato quality by putting an end to cold-induced sweetening, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists.
New study finds evolution mostly driven by brawn, not brains
The most common measure of intelligence in animals, brain size relative to body size, may not be as dependent on evolutionary selection on the brain as previously thought, according to a new analysis by scientists.
Genetic 'remix' key to evolution of bee behavior
Worker bees have become a highly skilled and specialized work force because the genes that determine their behaviour are shuffled frequently, helping natural selection to build a better bee, research from York University suggests.
Mystery of nematode pest-resistant soybeans cracked
For 50 years, the world's soybean crop has depended on the use of cyst nematode resistant varieties of beans, but no one knew how these plants fought off the nematode pests. Now, the secrets of resistant soybean plants are finally coming to light. Surprisingly, one of the genes related to nematode resistance in soybeans also has been associated with human diseases including lymphocytic leukemia, spina bifida and cardiovascular disease, according to a team of University of Missouri researchers and their colleagues whose breakthrough was recently published in the journal Nature.
Forensic speciation: Splicing genetic and phylogenic trees of life
(Phys.org)—The Tree of Life is a beautiful and elegant metaphor that has proven deceptively difficult to reconstruct. The main culprit may be the overwhelming reliance on so-called concatenation methods, which combine different genes into a single matrix and so force all genes to conform to the same topology. Since these methods do not take into account differences between alternative gene trees, they have been thought to lead to uncertainty or incongruence in the phylogenic tree of the eutherian (placental) mammals. While historically this incongruence had not previously been confirmed by empirical studies, scientists at Shenyang Normal University, Tsinghua University, University of Georgia and Harvard University have recently demonstrated that this is indeed the case – and that concatenation-derived uncertainty may be found in other clades (biological groups derived from a common ancestor) as well. Moreover, the authors suggest that such uncertainty can be resolved by augmenting phylogenomic data with coalescent methods – that is, techniques for dealing with differences in genomic ancestral trees.
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