Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 29, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Quantum communication without entanglement could perform faster than previously thought possible- Boeing CHAMP weapon passes test in sci-fi style (w/ Video)
- Honeybee secretion may find use as local anesthetic
- Sweden wants Norway's trash (and lots of it)
- Life, and death, of Triceratops: Fossilized tooth marks shed light on T.Rex's gruesome hunting practices
- Surveillance tech from Carnegie Mellon can watch and predict
- The law of hydrodynamics governing the way internally driven systems behave could explain their complex structure
- Super-massive black hole inflates giant bubble
- Beam me to my meeting!
- New study sheds light on how and when vision evolved
- A molecular glance on solar water splitting: The hunt for electron holes
- NGC 3738: Hubble sees violent star formation episodes in dwarf galaxies
- Simple method for flexible, conductive carbon nanotube sheets shows promise for touchscreens
- A new class of extragalactic objects
- Scientists in sleep-wake tests decode dreams
Space & Earth news
US shale gas drives up coal exports
US CO2 emissions from domestic energy have declined by 8.6% since a peak in 2005, the equivalent of 1.4% per year.
Space shuttle Endeavour goes on public display
(AP)—The final home of space shuttle Endeavour is opening its doors to the public.
Whizzing asteroid turns rocket scientists' heads
(Phys.org)—International leaders in asteroid and comet research are gathering at the University of Central Florida in Orlando Friday, Feb. 15, for a special "viewing party" that will climax with asteroid 2012 DA14 zipping between Earth and orbiting communication satellites (within 14,000 miles of Earth).
UK to ban ash tree imports to halt disease spread
(AP)—Britain's government will start banning the importation of ash trees on Monday to stop the spread of a disease that has killed many such trees elsewhere in Europe.
Hungry black hole: Astronomers poised for galactic chow-down
The super-massive black hole at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy has a healthy appetite, frequently snacking on asteroids and comets. Now, a cloud of gas and dust called G2 is on a dangerous course to become its next meal.
NASA satellite sees ghostly remains of vanishing Arctic Sea ice
Spooky spectral swirls of last season's sea ice drift in currents off the coast of eastern Greenland in this image from NASA's Aqua satellite, acquired on October 17. Although sea ice in the Arctic will start forming again after September's record low measurements, these ghostly wisps are likely made up of already-existing ice that has migrated south.
Studying the Sun in 3-D: STEREO reaches new milestone at its sixth anniversary
On the evening of Oct. 25, 2006, the twin Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft launched into space, destined for fairly simple orbits: both circle the sun like Earth does, STEREO-A traveling in a slightly smaller and therefore faster orbit, STEREO-B traveling in a larger and slower orbit. Those simple orbits, however, result in interesting geometry. As one spacecraft gained an increasing lead over Earth, the other trailed further and further behind. In February of 2011, each STEREO spacecraft was situated on opposite sides of the sun, and on Sept. 1, 2012, the two spacecraft and and the Solar Dynamics Observatory (at Earth) formed an equal-sided triangle, with each observatory providing overlapping views of the entire sun.
Upcoming eclipse inspires travel to Australia
(AP)—When Linda Bugbee's husband suggested traveling to the South Pacific to see a total solar eclipse, she was more enthusiastic about the cruise and visiting Tahiti than she was about seeing a celestial phenomenon.
Voyager observes magnetic field fluctuations in heliosheath
As they near the outer reaches of the solar system, for the past several years the two Voyager spacecraft have been sending back observations that challenge scientists' views of the physics at the edge of the heliosphere, the bubble created by charged particles flowing outward from the Sun. A new study looks at magnetic field fluctuations and cosmic ray intensity observed by Voyager I.
La Nina caused global sea level drop
The 2011 La Niña was so strong that it caused global mean sea level to drop by 5 millimeters (0.2 inches), a new study shows. Since the early 1990s, sea level has been rising by about 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) per year, satellite data show. But between the beginning of 2010 and the middle of 2011, sea level fell by 5 millimeters (0.2 inches).
Decompression wave caused eruption chain reaction
The 2010 eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull proceeded through fits and starts. A new analysis by Tarasewicz et al.suggests that a downward propagating decompression wave triggered a cascade of explosive eruptions from sequentially deeper magma reservoirs. Drawing on detailed seismic measurements, the authors find that earthquake activity under the volcano propagated deeper into the subsurface as the eruption progressed.
Global precipitation variability decreased from 1940 to 2009
One of the strongly held assumptions of climate change is that the variability of precipitation will grow with an increase in temperature. Storms will become heavier but less frequent. Flash floods and droughts will increase. Regions that see extensive rainfall will get even more while arid regions will dry out.
Extreme-pressure research explores how Earth's mantle solidified
During the earliest stages of the Earth's formation, the planet's mantle may have taken the form of a giant magma ocean, being fully or partially molten all the way down to the core-mantle boundary. Though today mantle material is predominantly solid, some scientists suggest that regions of anomalously low seismic wave velocity deep within the mantle, known as ultralow velocity zones (ULVZs), may be indicative of a remnant magma ocean or of partial melting of minerals near the core-mantle boundary. To understand how the early mantle solidified, or whether modern melt could be the source of ULVZs, scientists need to know how various minerals and melts behave under the extreme conditions found near the center of the Earth.
Century-long trend of global ocean warming identified
One of the largest sources of uncertainty in reconstructing the warming of the past century stems from problems with historical ocean temperature records. Inconsistencies in method or technology or gaps in observation caused by two world wars mean that long-term records of sea temperature need to be interpreted with care.
S. Korea sets new window for rocket launch
South Korea said Monday it would make another attempt to send a satellite into space next month after a scheduled rocket launch last week was cancelled because of a technical glitch.
Outdoor wear often coated in harmful chemicals: Greenpeace
Outdoor clothing from top manufacturers is frequently contaminated with chemicals that are harmful to health and the environment, Greenpeace warned Monday.
Additional Kepler data now available to all planet hunters
The Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Md., is releasing 12 additional months worth of planet-searching data meticulously collected by one of the most prolific planet-hunting endeavors ever conceived, NASA's Kepler Mission.
Many views of the storm from Internet webcams
Americans got an unparalleled view of the unprecedented storm hitting the eastern United States from the dozens of live webcams set up in the region.
Uncertainty of future South Pacific Island rainfall explained
With greenhouse warming, rainfall in the South Pacific islands will depend on two competing effects – an increase due to overall warming and a decrease due to changes in atmospheric water transport – according to a study by an international team of scientists around Matthew Widlansky and Axel Timmermann at the International Pacific Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa. In the South Pacific, the study shows, these two effects sometimes cancel each other out, resulting in highly uncertain rainfall projections. Results of the study are published in the 28 October online issue of Nature Climate Change.
Biggest threat from Frankenstorm: Too much water
(AP)—Meteorologists and disaster experts say water is what worries them most with the upcoming monster storm, spawning from Hurricane Sandy.
Full Dragon exits space station, Earth next stop
(AP)—An unmanned Dragon freighter left the International Space Station on Sunday with a stash of precious medical samples and aimed for a Pacific splashdown to end the first official shipment under a billion-dollar contract with NASA.
Tsunami hit Geneva in AD 563: scientists
Nearly 1,500 years ago a tsunami triggered by a rockfall swept Lake Geneva, engulfing its shores with a wall of water up to 13 metres (42 feet) high, Swiss scientists reported on Sunday.
Modern alchemy leaches gold from water
A small French start-up company is selling a technology with a hint of alchemy: turning water into gold.
Dragon ship back on Earth after space station trip
(AP)—An unmanned Dragon freighter carrying a stash of precious medical samples from the International Space Station parachuted into the Pacific Ocean on Sunday, completing the first official shipment under a billion-dollar contract with NASA.
A molecular glance on solar water splitting: The hunt for electron holes
Hydrogen production by solar water splitting in photoelectrochemical cells (PEC) has long been considered the holy grail of sustainable energy research. Iron oxide is a promising electrode material. An international team of researchers led by Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, have now gained in-depth insights into the electronic structure of an iron oxide electrode – while it was in operation. This opens up new possibilities for an affordable hydrogen production from solar energy.
A new class of extragalactic objects
A blazar is a galaxy with an intensely bright central nucleus containing a supermassive black hole, much like a quasar. The difference is that a blazar can emit light with extremely high energy gamma rays that are sometimes over a hundred million times more energetic than the highest energy X-rays that the Chandra X-ray Observatory studies. The overall emission of a blazar also varies dramatically with time and all known blazars are bright at radio wavelengths.
NGC 3738: Hubble sees violent star formation episodes in dwarf galaxies
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has imaged the faint irregular galaxy NGC 3738, a starburst galaxy. The galaxy is in the midst of a violent episode of star formation, during which it is converting reservoirs of hydrogen gas located in the galaxy's center into stars. Hubble spots this gas glowing red around NGC 3738, one of the most distinctive signs of ongoing star formation.
Not-so-permanent permafrost
As much as 44 billion tons of nitrogen and 850 billion tons of carbon stored in arctic permafrost, or frozen ground, could be released into the environment as the region begins to thaw over the next century as a result of a warmer planet according to a new study led by the U.S. Geological Survey. This nitrogen and carbon are likely to impact ecosystems, the atmosphere, and water resources including rivers and lakes. For context, this is roughly the amount of carbon stored in the atmosphere today.
Super-massive black hole inflates giant bubble
Like symbiotic species, a galaxy and its central black hole lead intimately connected lives. The details of this relationship still pose many puzzles for astronomers. Some black holes actively accrete matter. Part of this material does not fall into the black hole but is ejected in a narrow stream of particles, traveling at nearly the speed of light. When the stream slows down, it creates a tenuous bubble that can engulf the entire galaxy. Invisible to optical telescopes, the bubble is very prominent at low radio frequencies. The new International LOFAR Telescope - designed and built by ASTRON in an international collaboration - is ideally suited to detect this low frequency emission.
Curiosity on Mars sits on rocks similar to those found in marshes in Mexico
Millions of years ago fire and water forged the gypsum rocks locked in at Cuatro Ciénegas, a Mexican valley similar to the Martian crater where NASA's Rover Curiosity roams. A team of researchers have now analysed the bacterial communities that have survived in these inhospitable springs since the beginning of life on Earth.
Technology news
World's first super-wide-angle 3D laser radar with a horizontal and vertical range of 140 degrees
Fujitsu Laboratories Limited today announced that it has developed a super-wide-angle 3D laser radar with more than double the range (140 degrees both horizontally and vertically) of conventional radars.
Exeter scientists key to creating one of UK's greenest schools
Scientists at the University of Exeter have been heavily involved in developing a school which is in the national top ten for energy efficiency.
Romania gov't will SMS travelers to warn of risks
(AP)—In Romania, where many people travel overseas in search of work, the government has launched a text message service to advise citizens about nations that it considers too dangerous to visit.
Google chief to meet French president amid pay row
Google's executive chairman Eric Schmidt will meet with French President Francois Hollande on Monday as the Internet giant wrangles with Paris over a bill that would force search engines to pay for content, a government source said.
Slide left, slide right with Microsoft election site
US voters can slide their political orientation and news to the left, right or center with an elections website launched Friday by Microsoft search engine Bing.
US, Canada launch joint cybersecurity plan
Canada and the United States announced Friday they were launching a joint cybsersecurity plan to protect their digital infrastructure from online threats.
Former tech exec settles insider trading charges
(AP)—A former executive at a technology firm in Silicon Valley is settling charges lodged by federal regulators that he provided insider information to convicted Galleon hedge fund manager Raj Rajaratnam.
Iran: Drone hit by Israel not 'latest' technology
(AP)—Iran's defense minister says his country has drones far more advanced than the unmanned aircraft launched by Lebanon's Hezbollah and downed by Israel earlier this month.
EuroMillions blasted as 'devil's work' as French site hacked
The French site for the EuroMillions lottery was hacked on Sunday with warnings denouncing gambling as impure and the work of the devil.
Spain's empty highways lead to bankruptcy
At the Leganes toll booth outside Madrid, the workers scan the horizon for cars. In Spain's recession, the stream of paying drivers has slowed to a trickle and the toll road is all but bankrupt.
Slovenia shuts nuclear plant after Sava river swells
Slovenia preventively shut down production Sunday at its only nuclear power plant after a steep increase in the flow of the Sava river used for cooling the system, the Krsko nuclear plant said in a statement.
Poll: Scant demand for Microsoft's Windows 8
(AP)—Microsoft bills Windows 8 as a "re-imagining" of the personal computer market's dominant operating system, but the company still has a lot of work to do before the makeover captures the imagination of most consumers, based on the results of a recent poll by The Associated Press and GfK.
Facebook used to kidnap, traffic Indonesian girls
(AP)—When a 14-year-old girl received a Facebook friend request from an older man she didn't know, she accepted it. It was the beginning of a story that is repeating itself as sexual predators find new ways to exploit Indonesia's growing obsession with social media.
Smartphones drive complaints spike in Australia
Complaints about mobile phones to Australia's telecoms watchdog jumped nine percent in a year, accounting for two-thirds of all gripes received due to growing smartphone use, a study said on Monday.
Researchers develop new packaging technology enabling 90% power combining efficiency
Fujitsu Laboratories today announced the development of a new packaging technology that enables the development of millimeter-wave power amplifiers that can be employed in applications such as automotive radar and wireless communications devices.
Recyclable electronics: Just add hot water
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), along with partners In2Tec Ltd (UK) and Gwent Electronic Materials Ltd, have developed a printed circuit board (PCB) whose components can be easily separated by immersion in hot water. The work was part of the ReUSE project, funded by the UK government's Technology Strategy Board.
Electric vehicles now able to roam between London and eastern England
Electric vehicle owners who are members of Source London or Source East can now roam between the capital and the East of England secure in the knowledge they will be able to charge their vehicles across both schemes.
Seat technology aims to cut fatigue, improve long trips for drivers (w/ Video)
Nissan is developing "fatigue-free seats" to cut driver and passenger fatigue and make long periods of driving a pleasant experience.
Phone companies prepare for Sandy
(AP)—Phone companies on the eastern seaboard are preparing Monday for the onslaught of Hurricane Sandy by topping up fuel for backup generators and lining up disaster recovery trailers to move into flooded areas after the storm passes.
Google cancels Monday event due to Sandy
(AP)—Google is canceling its press event in New York on Monday because of Hurricane Sandy.
Verizon to sell Nokia phone; opening in US market
(AP)—Verizon Wireless, the largest cellphone carrier in the U.S., said Monday it will sell a Nokia phone for the first time in years, lending support to the embattled Finnish company's turnaround effort.
Social media helps out as Hurricane Sandy approaches
Locating the nearest emergency shelter or chatting live with forecasters—social networks were abuzz with the latest news, tips and reassurance Sunday as Americans hunkered down for Hurricane Sandy.
In Vietnam, US relies on pirate site to network
(AP)—It's a wildly popular website laden with unlicensed songs and Hollywood movies, a prime exhibit of the digital piracy that is strangling the music industry in Asia and eroding legitimate online sales around the world.
France eyes 'Google Tax' for French websites
(AP)—French President Francois Hollande is considering a pushing for a new tax that would see search engines such as Google have to pay each time they use content from French media.
Showdown set on bid to give UN control of Internet
It is expected to be the mother of all cyber diplomatic battles. When delegates gather in Dubai in December for an obscure UN agency meeting, fighting is expected to be intense over proposals to rewrite global telecom rules to effectively give the United Nations control over the Internet.
Microsoft-Apple redux: the empire strikes back
It used to be that Microsoft was the evil empire, and Apple the scrappy underdog.
Snow helps solar cells sometimes, research shows
Snow and solar cells aren't mutually exclusive, according to a Michigan Technological University scientist. Photovoltaic panels can be well worth the investment even if you live in a winter wonderland.
Nissan exploring premium-feel interior concept for cars
(Phys.org)—Nissan Motor Company has begun work on what it calls a premium-feel interior concept. The aim of the initiative is to create coverings for the interior of a vehicle that the company describes as delivering "…more joy in driving." Put another way, they want people who buy their cars to experience pleasurable sensations when they touch different parts of the interior. To further that goal they have been studying what people find pleasurable when they touch things.
Researchers invent 'remote magnetic gears'—safe wireless vehicle-charging technology
University of British Columbia researchers have invented a safe, efficient technology to wirelessly charge electric vehicles using "remote magnetic gears" – and successfully tested it on campus service vehicles.
Toyota on top in latest Consumer Reports survey
(AP)—And the winner is ... Japan. Japanese brands took the top seven spots in Consumer Reports' annual reliability rankings, pushing aside their U.S. and European rivals. Toyota Motor Corp.'s Scion, Lexus and Toyota brands took the top three spots and the Toyota Prius C, a subcompact hybrid, got the best overall score. Mazda, Subaru, Honda and Acura were close behind.
Engineers study how to improve high-speed rail ties against freezing
A Kansas State University-led research project is helping high-speed rail systems handle the stress of freezing and thawing weather conditions.
Boeing CHAMP weapon passes test in sci-fi style (w/ Video)
(Phys.org)—The Boeing "non-kinetic" missile passed its test flight earlier this month. The company reported that CHAMP, which stands for Counter-electronics High-powered Advanced Missile Project, has proven its ability to defeat electronic targets "with little or no collateral damage." Translation: CHAMP can zap an enemy's electronics and data systems via fired bursts of high-power microwaves structures with little to no harm to people or buildings. The test was carried out in the Western Utah desert. Team members from Boeing, the US Air Force, and Raytheon KTech, suppliers of the microwave source, watched the performance on a television monitor.
Surveillance tech from Carnegie Mellon can watch and predict
(Phys.org)—Yet another flavor of surveillance technology belongs to devices that can not only eyeball but perform "activity forecasting." At Carnegie Mellon, the Mind's Eye program is creating intelligent software that will recognize human activities in video and predict what might happen next. Earlier this week, new research from Carnegie Mellon presented a security camera system that can watch and predict what a person will do next with specially programmed software. The system would eventually sound an alarm if it recognized that an action was not permitted, detecting anomalous behaviors. One example of such a scenario would be the cameras at an airport or bus station, flagging a bag abandoned for more than a few minutes.
Sweden wants Norway's trash (and lots of it)
(Phys.org)—Sweden is hungry for trash and has turned to Norway for an offer it would find hard to refuse, no pun intended. Sweden is asking its neighbor for trash. Sweden's success is Sweden's problem. Sweden is a model recycler. Thanks to a highly efficient waste management system in Sweden, the vast majority of this household waste can be recovered or reused. As a result, Sweden has run short of garbage. Since it does not produce enough burnable waste for its energy needs, Sweden is suffering a downside to being such an enviable model of recycling. The average in Europe of trash that ends up as waste is 38 percent. Sweden's is 1 percent.
Medicine & Health news
Drop in testosterone tied to prostate cancer recurrence
Men whose testosterone drops following radiation therapy for prostate cancer are more likely to experience a change in PSA levels that signals their cancer has returned, according to new research from Fox Chase Cancer Center. The findings will be presented on October 29 at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's 54th Annual Meeting.
Multifocal/multicentric breast cancer connected to a patient's risk of local recurrence
Not all women diagnosed with operable breast cancer present with a single tumor; some have multifocal disease appear in the breast, which means multiple tumors found in the same breast quadrant, while others have multicentric disease, where multiple tumors are found in separate breast quadrants. Multifocal or multicentric disease is not a standard indication to receive radiation after mastectomy. For patients who undergo lumpectomy, radiation dose and extent is not altered based on multifocal or multicentric disease compared to patients presenting with a single tumor.
Black patients received less clinical trial information than white patients
A study comparing how physicians discuss clinical trials during clinical interactions with black patients versus white patients further confirms racial disparities in the quality of communication between physicians and patients.
Minorities most likely to have aggressive tumors, less likely to get radiation
Women with aggressive breast cancer were more likely to receive adjuvant chemotherapy, but at the expense of completing locoregional radiation therapy, according to recently presented data. This was especially true in minorities, who were the most likely to present with moderate- to high-grade and symptomatically detected tumors.
Greater effort needed to move local, fresh foods beyond 'privileged' consumers
An Indiana University study that looked at consumers who buy locally grown and produced foods through farmer's markets and community-supported agriculture programs found the venues largely attract a "privileged" class of shoppers.
Women in less affluent areas of Chicago less likely to reside near mammography facility
Women in socioeconomically disadvantaged and less affluent areas of Chicago were less likely to live near a mammography facility with various aspects of care compared with women in less socioeconomically disadvantaged and more affluent areas. This finding could be a contributing factor to the association between disadvantaged areas and late-stage breast cancer diagnosis, according to data presented at the Fifth AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities, held Oct. 27-30, 2012.
More doctors use ultrasound to diagnose, manage rheumatic diseases
More rheumatologists are embracing musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) to diagnose and manage rheumatic diseases. In response, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) assembled a task force to investigate and determine best practices for use of MSUS in rheumatology practice. The resulting scenario-based recommendations, which aim to help clinicians understand when it is reasonable to integrate MSUS into their rheumatology practices, now appear online in Arthritis Care & Research.
Genetic research may advance understanding of ethnic differences in breast cancer
For the first time, researchers have provided a direct comparison of gene expression profiles from African-American and East African breast tissue samples, according to results presented at the Fifth AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities, held Oct. 27-30, 2012.
Hispanic breast cancer survivors' perception of health affected by English-language proficiency
Hispanic breast cancer survivors who considered their English-language proficiency as limited were less likely to rate their own health as good, very good or excellent, according to data presented at the Fifth AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities, held here Oct. 27-30, 2012. However, the association between English-language proficiency and self-rated health was not found in women who had higher spiritual well-being, as measured by their sense of peace or meaning.
Gaining trust key to telling health-care provider about intimate partner violence
A recent study led by Ryerson University found that women who have experienced domestic violence stand a far greater chance of disclosing this information in an emergency department setting if they feel they can trust their health-care provider and have control over their decision to tell a nurse or physician.
Only 5 percent of prostate cancer websites written below high school reading level, study finds
Ninety million American adults read below high school levels, so the National Institutes of Health recommends that patient-education materials be written at the fourth-through-sixth grade level.
Dietary supplements can cause liver injury, warns expert
Dose-dependent (acetaminophen) and idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injuries (DILI) are the leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States and are responsible for approximately 50 percent of all reported cases.
Antidepressant eases radiation-related mouth pain in head, neck cancer
An oral rinse of the antidepressant doxepin significantly eased pain associated with oral mucositis in patients receiving radiation therapy for cancers of the head and neck, a study led by Mayo Clinic found. The findings were presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology annual meeting in Boston.
Mom of slain Mo. girl sues mental health provider
(AP)—The mother of a slain 9-year-old Missouri girl has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a mental health clinic that provided services to the teenager who killed her daughter.
Burden of gastrointestinal disease in U.S. substantial
(HealthDay)—Gastrointestinal diseases account for substantial morbidity, mortality, and cost in the United States, according to research published in the November issue of Gastroenterology.
Buspirone improves symptoms in functional dyspepsia
(HealthDay)—Buspirone, a 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptor agonist, improves symptom severity in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD), according to a proof-of-concept study published in the November issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Pediatricians key in rural emergency medical services
(HealthDay)—In rural areas, pediatricians can play a key role in the development, implementation, and ongoing supervision of emergency medical services for children (EMSC), according to a policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published online Oct. 29 in Pediatrics.
Spine society assesses adoption of conflicts of interest policies
(HealthDay)—The North American Spine Society (NASS) has adopted strict divestment and disclosure policies with no detrimental effects, according to research published online Oct. 22 in The Spine Journal.
No long-term heart risks from breast radiation, study suggests
(HealthDay)—A new study allays concerns that early-stage breast cancer patients who receive radiation treatment might have a long-term increased risk for heart problems.
Many mistakenly think radiation might cure terminal lung cancer
(HealthDay)—Many people with incurable lung cancer mistakenly believe that radiation therapy meant to ease their pain and other symptoms may cure their disease, researchers report.
US firm found mold long before shipping tainted drugs
A pharmacy tied to a meningitis outbreak repeatedly found bacteria and mold in its facility long before shipping tainted drugs to patients, US officials said Friday as the death toll rose to 25.
Canadian scientists discover cause of high cholesterol
Canadian scientists have discovered that a protein called resistin, secreted by fat tissue, causes high levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein or LDL), increasing the risk of heart disease.
Routine electrocardiograms predict health risks for patients with atrial fibrillation
Canadian scientists have determined that routine electrocardiogram (ECG) results for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF)—the most common form of irregular heart beat—can help doctors identify those at higher risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including death. This knowledge will help doctors improve the treatment and prognosis of atrial fibrillation.
Increased risk for breast cancer death among black women greatest during first 3 years postdiagnosis
Non-Hispanic black women diagnosed with breast cancer, specifically those with estrogen receptor-positive tumors, are at a significantly increased risk for breast cancer death compared with non-Hispanic white women.
Age tied to spread of rectal cancer to lymph nodes
Rectal cancer is more likely to spread to the lymph nodes in younger patients, according to new findings that Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers will be presenting on October 29 at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's 54th Annual Meeting. The results—which are the first of their kind—suggest that doctors should search for spreading more aggressively in these patients.
Obese moms give birth to heart healthier kids following bariatric surgery
Kids born to moms who have lost a substantial amount of weight after undergoing bariatric surgery have fewer cardiovascular risk factors than their siblings who were born before the weight loss surgery.
Language, immigration status of hispanic caregivers impacted care of children with cancer
Language barriers and the immigration status of caregivers appear to impact the care of Hispanic children with cancer and affect the experience of the families within the medical system, according to data presented at the Fifth AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities.
Sudden cardiac death in Ontario under age 40: is exercise dangerous?
It's a tragic news story that often makes headlines – a young, healthy, fit athlete suddenly collapses and dies of cardiac arrest while playing sports.
Research team proves peer pressure can be used for good
Using peer mentors to enhance school-day physical activity in elementary aged students has been given an A+ from Nova Scotia researchers.
Insights into a new therapy for a rare form of cystic fibrosis
Scientists at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto have established that a drug recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat a rare form of cystic fibrosis works in an unconventional way. Their results reveal new possibilities for treating various forms of cystic fibrosis.
Two-thirds of Australians overweight: study
Two-thirds of Australia's adult population are overweight or obese, a key study found Monday, with rates continuing to climb despite a drop in smoking and drinking.
Neutrons help explain why antibiotics prescribed for chemotherapy cause kidney failure
Neutron scattering experiments have provided new insights into the origin of the side effects of an antifungal drug prescribed all over the world. The analysis conducted by scientists at King's College London and the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble, and published in Scientific Reports, follows 40 years of debate and could help drug developers reduce these harmful complications.
Research reveals new aspect of platelet behavior in heart attacks: Clots can sense blood flow
The disease atherosclerosis involves the build up of fatty tissue within arterial walls, creating unstable structures known as plaques. These plaques grow until they burst, rupturing the wall and causing the formation of a blood clot within the artery. These clots also grow until they block blood flow; in the case of the coronary artery, this can cause a heart attack.
Discovery of new type of RNA could have implications for some congenital disorders
State funding of stem cell research at the UConn Health Center has led one research team to the discovery of a new type of RNA that could one day result in the successful treatment of devastating congenital disorders such as Prader-Willi syndrome.
Hunting for the last remaining tumour cell
The 7.5 millilitres of blood contained in a standard sample tube is not nearly enough to detect circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in the blood of patients with metastatic breast cancer, prostate cancer, or colorectal cancer with a high enough degree of reliability. These CTCs are the cause of metastases in cancer patients. If they can be effectively characterized, it is possible to arrive at a prognosis and to determine the most effective course of treatment. However, the only way to detect "that one particular cell" is to subject the patient's entire blood volume to a kind of dialysis. This was the conclusion reached by Dr Frank Coumans in an article published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research. Dr Coumans works at the University of Twente's MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine. He was recently awarded a PhD (with distinction) on this topic.
Genes involved in vitamin D generation and destruction may influence colorectal cancer risk in African-Americans
African-Americans are more likely than non-Hispanic whites to have and die from colorectal cancer. Changes in the DNA sequence of genes that affect how the body makes and destroys vitamin D modify the risk for colorectal cancer in African-Americans, according to data presented at the Fifth AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities, held here Oct. 27-30, 2012.
'Viagra for women' being trialed
Reaching orgasm remains elusive for nearly 30 per cent of women, but a new ad hoc treatment currently under trial, may drastically reduce that number.
Scientists identify progenitor cells, potential new 'roots' of breast cancer
Scientists have discovered new types of early cells in mammary glands, uncovering clues to the origins of different breast cancers - and potential new drug targets, according to findings published in Breast Cancer Research.
Biomarkers of behavior, therapeutic targets for adult B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia identified
New insight into the aggressive behavior of certain adult B-acute lymphoblastic leukemias has provided researchers with a potential new prognostic biomarker and a promising new therapeutic target.
Prostate cancer prognosis hope
Cancer of the prostate – the most common male cancer in the UK – presents in two distinct ways: a low-risk type, which may never cause any symptoms, and a high-risk form that needs treatment to prevent it spreading to other parts of the body.
Mass. shuts down another compounding pharmacy
(AP)—Massachusetts officials say they have shut down a compounding pharmacy after a surprise inspection prompted by the nationwide meningitis outbreak linked to a different state company.
New UN "atlas" links climate change, health
(AP)—Two U.N. agencies have mapped the intersection of health and climate in an age of global warming, showing that there are spikes in meningitis when dust storms hit and outbreaks of dengue fever when hard rains come.
Mandatory flu vaccine for health care workers to protect patients
All health care workers in health care institutions should be vaccinated with the annual influenza vaccine to protect patients, argues an editorial in CMAJ.
Systematic pain management needed for children in ER
(HealthDay)—Steps to manage pain and stress in pediatric emergency medical care are recommended, according to a clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published online Oct. 29 in Pediatrics.
More intensive chemo ups survival in ewing sarcoma
(HealthDay)—More intensive chemotherapy (every two weeks versus every three weeks) improves event-free survival for patients with localized Ewing sarcoma, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Potty-training method won't affect tot's health, study finds
(HealthDay)—One less thing for toddlers' parents to stress over: A new study finds that toilet-training methods aren't the cause of urinary problems in children.
Viagra can help prostate cancer patients maintain sex lives
(HealthDay)—Prostate cancer patients who received Viagra before and after their radiation therapy had improved sexual function, according to a new study.
Docs make push to lower kids' pain, stress in ER
(HealthDay)—A trip to the emergency room often means a child is in pain, and it's a near certainty that the visit will also be fraught with anxiety.
Eye movements and the search for biomarkers for schizophrenia
(Medical Xpress)—There is a long history of research on impaired eye movements associated with schizophrenia. Using a series of simple viewing tests, researchers of a new paper in Biological Psychiatry explored the ability of these eye movement tests to distinguish people with and without the diagnosis of schizophrenia.
Meet Mr Happy: French geneticist turned Tibetan monk
As he grins serenely and his burgundy robes billow in the fresh Himalayan wind, it is not difficult to see why scientists declared Matthieu Ricard the happiest man they had ever tested.
Smoking bans reduce hospitalizations
(HealthDay)—Bans on smoking in public areas and workplaces have significantly reduced hospitalizations for heart attacks, strokes and asthma around the world, a new study finds.
Obese teens face higher risk for kidney disease: study
(HealthDay)—Obese and overweight teens may be at higher risk for developing advanced kidney disease as adults, Israeli researchers report.
Migraine in children may affect school performance
Children with migraine are more likely to have below average school performance than kids who do not have headaches, according to new research published in the October 30, 2012, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Women smokers who quit before 40 gain nine years in lifespan
Women can add nine years to their lives by quitting smoking before the age of 40 but still face a 20-percent higher death rate than those who never smoked, a study said Saturday.
Influenza vaccine may reduce risk of heart disease and death
Getting a flu shot may not only protect you from getting sick, it might also prevent heart disease. Two Toronto-based researchers presented studies at the 2012 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress which found that the influenza vaccine could be an important treatment for maintaining heart health and warding off cardiovascular events like strokes and heart attacks.
US and Australia chefs tackle global obesity at Italy fair
As the world struggles with a growing obesity epidemic, Slow Food gurus from the US and Australia are urging international campaigners gathered in Italy to join a revolution in the way children eat.
Scientists block toxic protein that plays key role in Lou Gehrig's disease
October 28, 2012— Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes and the Stanford University School of Medicine have discovered how modifying a gene halts the toxic buildup of a protein found in nerve cells. These findings point to a potential new tactic for treating a variety of neurodegenerative conditions, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease)—a fatal disease for which there is no cure.
Mechanism found for destruction of key allergy-inducing complexes, researchers say
Researchers have learned how a man-made molecule destroys complexes that induce allergic responses—a discovery that could lead to the development of highly potent, rapidly acting interventions for a host of acute allergic reactions.
Primates' brains make visual maps using triangular grids
Primates' brains see the world through triangular grids, according to a new study published online Sunday in the journal Nature.
Key discovered to how chemotherapy drug causes heart failure
Doxorubicin, a 50-year-old chemotherapy drug still in widespread use against a variety of cancers, has long been known to destroy heart tissue, as well as tumors, in some patients.
Researchers identify novel genes that may drive rare, aggressive form of uterine cancer
Researchers have identified several genes that are linked to one of the most lethal forms of uterine cancer, serous endometrial cancer. The researchers describe how three of the genes found in the study are frequently altered in the disease, suggesting that the genes drive the development of tumors. The findings appear in the Oct. 28, 2012, advance online issue of Nature Genetics. The team was led by researchers from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the National Institutes of Health.
Test developed to detect early-stage diseases with naked eye
Scientists have developed a prototype ultra-sensitive sensor that would enable doctors to detect the early stages of diseases and viruses with the naked eye, according to research published today in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
Study shows that high-intensity training boosts cognitive function
A regular exercise routine can make you fitter than ever – mentally fit.
Stay-at-home transcription factor prevents neurodegeneration
A study in The Journal of Cell Biology shows how a transcription factor called STAT3 remains in the axon of nerve cells to help prevent neurodegeneration. The findings could pave the way for future drug therapies to slow nerve damage in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers invent a quick-release medical tape that minimizes neonatal skin injury
Commercial medical tapes on the market today are great at keeping medical devices attached to the skin, but often can do damage—such as skin tissue tearing—once it's time to remove them.
Researchers engineer cartilage from pluripotent stem cells
A team of Duke Medicine researchers has engineered cartilage from induced pluripotent stem cells that were successfully grown and sorted for use in tissue repair and studies into cartilage injury and osteoarthritis.
Scientists in sleep-wake tests decode dreams
What's in a dream? For Yukiyasu Kamitani, the question is important. He has been testing how dreams relate to brain activity and what really is the function of dreaming, He leads a team of researchers at the ATR Computational Neuroscience Laboratories in Kyoto, Japan. The labs work toward exploring the function of the brain through computational neuroscience.
Biology news
Research provides new insights into dogs' natural feeding behavior
An international team of researchers has shed new light on the natural feeding behaviour of domestic dogs and demonstrated that they will naturally seek a daily dietary intake that is high in fat. The study also showed that some dogs will overeat if given excess food, reinforcing the importance of responsible feeding to help ensure dogs maintain a healthy body weight.
Thai man nabbed with 16 tiger cubs in truck
A Thai man has been arrested with 16 tiger cubs in his pick-up truck while driving near the kingdom's border with Laos, police said Saturday.
Beetle declines increase concerns about wider insect trouble
Lift a rock or log anywhere in the country and chances are you'll see beetles from many species scurrying beneath it. These unassuming creatures are often overlooked as more glamorous insects hog the spotlight.
France 2012 wines include both beauties and beasts
There will be some beauties to be found—but you may first need to kiss a few toads.
How to make stem cells: nuclear reprogramming moves a step forward
The idea of taking a mature cell and removing its identity (nuclear reprogramming) so that it can then become any kind of cell, holds great promise for repairing damaged tissue or replacing bone marrow after chemotherapy. Hot on the heels of his recent Nobel prize Dr John B. Gurdon has published today in BioMed Central's open access journal Epigenetics & Chromatin research showing that histone H3.3 deposited by the histone-interacting protein HIRA is a key step in reverting nuclei to a pluripotent type, capable of being any one of many cell types.
New species of lizard found in Australia
Scientists announced Monday the discovery of a new species of lizard fighting to survive among the sand dunes outside Perth in Western Australia.
Single-DNA images give clues to breast cancer
For the first time, researchers at the University of California, Davis, have watched single strands of DNA being prepped for repair. The research, published this week in the journal Nature, has implications for understanding the origins of breast cancer.
Metals in the genetic forge: Detailed views of RNA splicing
Scientists at Yale University have described in the greatest detail yet aspects of the chemical processes by which RNA carries out the expression of our genes.
Mass extinction study provides lessons for modern world
The Cretaceous Period of Earth history ended with a mass extinction that wiped out numerous species, most famously the dinosaurs. A new study now finds that the structure of North American ecosystems made the extinction worse than it might have been. Researchers at the University of Chicago, the California Academy of Sciences and the Field Museum of Natural History will publish their findings Oct. 29 online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
New study sheds light on how and when vision evolved
The study, which used computer modelling to provide a detailed picture of how and when opsins evolved, sheds light on the origin of sight in animals, including humans.
Honeybee secretion may find use as local anesthetic
(Phys.org)—Bees can bite. Biologists from universities in Greece and France have discovered that, besides a tail sting, the honeybee is capable of packing a paralyzing bite. The bee uses its bite weapon on targets too small to be stung, such as wax moth larva and varroa mites. The intruders can infiltrate beehives and eat wax and pollen. The bee delivers a bite that can paralyze them for up to nine minutes, enough time for them to be ejected from the hive. The honeybee uses its mandibles to bite its enemy and then secretes 2-heptanone into the wound. In their paper, the authors explain that this defense weapon is produced in the mandibular glands, released by the mandible pore of a reservoir and through the groove flows at the sharp edge of mandibles.
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