Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 7, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Smallest, fastest-known RNA switches provide new drug targets- Sleeping brain behaves as if it's remembering something, study shows
- Ten-minute online test estimates 'Face-Name Memory IQ'
- Genome-wide study identifies eight new susceptibility loci for atopic dermatitis
- Discovery of gatekeeper nerve cells explains the effect of nicotine on learning and memory
- Breathe in, breathe out: New way of imaging lungs could improve COPD diagnosis, treatment
- Scientists show oil palm plantations are clearing carbon-rich tropical forests in Borneo
- Whether we like someone affects how our brain processes movement
- Robot firefighters help mitigate hazardous conditions
- 'God particle' discovery poses Nobel dilemma
- Li-Fi: Edinburgh prof seeds LEDs for communication
- SpaceX set for first NASA-contracted supply mission
- Mexico finds 50 skulls in sacred Aztec temple
- Study investigates genetic variants' role in increasing Parkinson's disease risk
- Hubble sees cosmic riches
Space & Earth news
S. Korea probes toxic leak as impact worsens
South Korea on Friday launched a full inquiry into a toxic chemical leak in the southeastern city of Gumi, as officials considered designating the affected area a "disaster zone".
Beijing to give clearer indication of air quality
(AP)—Beijing authorities have completed a network of monitors that will more accurately measure air quality in the smog-ridden city after being pushed into it by public pressure and pollution reports from the U.S. embassy.
NASA's HS3 mission thoroughly investigates long-lived Hurricane Nadine
NASA's Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel or HS3 scientists had a fascinating tropical cyclone to study in long-lived Hurricane Nadine. NASA's Global Hawk aircraft has investigated Nadine five times during the storm's lifetime.
Getting Solar Dynamic Observatory into focus
From Sept. 6 to Sept. 29, 2012, NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO) moved into its semi-annual eclipse season, a time when Earth blocks the telescope's view of the sun for a period of time each day. Scientists choose orbits for solar telescopes to minimize eclipses as much as possible, but they are a fact of life -– one that comes with a period of fuzzy imagery directly after the eclipse.
CU-Boulder hardware to fly on first-ever NASA-contracted resupply mission to space station
A University of Colorado Boulder space center is providing hardware and technical support for scientific experiments aboard the first-ever NASA-contracted resupply flight to the International Space Station, slated for launch Oct. 7 from Cape Canaveral, Fla.
NASA to upgrade vital communications link
Technicians and engineers are completing final system checks and spacecraft inspections on the first of NASA's third-generation Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS). Boeing Space Systems will ship TDRS-K from its satellite assembly facility in El Segundo, Calif., to Cape Canaveral, Fla., in November. The December launch of TDRS-K will be aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.
NASA sees very strong wind shear battering Tropical Storm Gaemi
It is easy to see the effect of the strong northeasterly wind shear battering Tropical Storm Gaemi in satellite imagery from NASA. Visible imagery on Oct. 5 shows a large oval-shaped area of showers and thunderstorms associated with the storm, southwest of the exposed center of circulation.
Wind delays Austrian's edge of space jump in US (Update)
US organizers of an Austrian daredevil's record-breaking attempt to jump from the edge of space have delayed the mission by a day due to forecast wind, they said Friday.
Private space station delivery to launch Sunday
A private company is on the verge of launching another cargo ship to the International Space Station.
SpaceX Dragon set to blast off to space station
A privately owned rocket was poised to blast off Sunday night on the first of a dozen space station supply missions under a mega-contract with NASA.
SpaceX set for first NASA-contracted supply mission
US firm SpaceX aims for its next big launch into orbit Sunday—the first of 12 flights in its $1.6 billion contract with NASA to bring supplies to and from the international space station.
Scientists show oil palm plantations are clearing carbon-rich tropical forests in Borneo
Expanding production of palm oil, a common ingredient in processed foods, soaps and personal care products, is driving rainforest destruction and massive carbon dioxide emissions, according to a new study led by researchers at Stanford and Yale universities.
Hubble sees cosmic riches
(Phys.org)—This dazzling image shows the globular cluster Messier 69, or M 69 for short, as viewed through the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. Globular clusters are dense collections of old stars. In this picture, foreground stars look big and golden when set against the backdrop of the thousands of white, silvery stars that make up M 69.
Technology news
Foxconn denies report of strike at iPhone plant
(AP)—Foxconn Technology Group said Saturday that production at its central Chinese factory that makes Apple's iPhones was continuing without interruption, denying a labor watch group's report that thousands of workers at the plant had gone on strike.
Philippines appeals to hackers to cease attacks
Hackers incensed by the Philippines' controversial cybercrime law have attacked government sites that deliver emergency information during natural disasters, an official said Saturday.
Swedish Internet sites unreachable after warning from Anonymous
Several Swedish government websites could not be accessed Friday after they had received a warning the evening before from a group claiming to be the Anonymous collective, which supports fugitive WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Facebook and Twitter more tempting than sex: study
A study arousing interest online Friday found that checking Facebook or Twitter is more alluring than sex for those immersed in Internet Age lifestyles.
'No politics' tool seeks to keep media 'social'
For people fed up with politics on their social Web feeds as the US election race hots up—online and elsewhere—in its final few weeks, help is on the way.
Hacking group activist's posts land him in trouble
Barrett Brown has, at times, called himself an author, a freedom fighter and a spokesman for the movement of hacker-activists known as Anonymous.
Square payment system to arrive in Starbucks next month
Beginning in early November, Starbucks customers will be able to pay for their cup of coffee at 7,000 U.S. corporate-run stores using mobile-payment technology developed by San Francisco startup Square.
At 68, Oracle's flamboyant CEO still going strong
Rising from a college dropout who was derided as a failure by his adopted dad to the world's sixth richest man, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison has earned the right to retire after shepherding his company for 35 years into one of the biggest tech enterprises on Earth.
Li-Fi: Edinburgh prof seeds LEDs for communication
(Phys.org)—"We believe wireless communications should be as reliable as lighting." That is a company motto of startup PureVLC (Visible Light Communication), which aims to connect the two—communications and light. They have an approach that could be an alternative to radiofrequency spectrum, as there are worries about "running out of gas" because demand grows for space. "We talk about the Internet of Things where every device is interconnected, but without more bandwidth it will be impossible to provide reliable communications to all of these 'things,'" say company sources.
Medicine & Health news
UK health secretary backs 12-week abortion limit
(AP)—Britain's new health secretary has said he favors reducing the limit for women to have abortions from 24 weeks of pregnancy to 12, reigniting a divisive political debate and sparking criticism from women's rights activists Saturday.
Novartis chief sees sales dip until mid-2013
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis said Sunday the expiry of a US patent for its leading hypertension drug Diovan caused a drop in turnover that could last into the first half of 2013.
US pharmacy linked to outbreak issues wide recall
(AP)—The pharmacy that distributed a steroid linked to an outbreak of fungal meningitis has issued a voluntary recall of all of its products, calling the move a precautionary measure.
HIV drug shows efficacy in treating mouse models of HER2+ breast cancer
The HIV protease inhibitor, Nelfinavir, can be used to treat HER2-positive breast cancer in the same capacity and dosage regimen that it is used to treat HIV, according to a study published October 5 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
HIV helps explain rise of anal cancer in US males
The increase in anal cancer incidence in the U.S. between 1980 and 2005 was greatly influenced by HIV infections in males, but not females, according to a study published October 5 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Superheroes needed to tackle timebomb of public health challenges
Public health 'superheroes' are needed to help tackle the growing challenges posed by obesity, alcohol, smoking and other public health threats, according to new research published today.
Germany: Frozen fruit blamed in vomiting sickness
(AP)—Authorities say a single batch of deep-frozen strawberries appears to have been behind an outbreak of gastroenteritis in eastern Germany that hit more than 11,000 people, mostly children at schools and day-care centers.
CDC: Meningitis outbreak death toll rises to 7
(AP)—Health officials say the death toll in a rare fungal meningitis outbreak across several states has risen to seven.
US initiative will test appetite for GMO food
(AP)—Calories. Nutrients. Serving size. How about "produced with genetic engineering?" California voters will soon decide whether to require certain raw and processed foods to carry such a label.
A novel oncogenic network specific to liver cancer initiation
Researchers headed by Erwin Wagner, the Director of the BBVA Foundation-CNIO Cancer Cell Biology Programme at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), have deciphered how a stress-inducible gene regulator, AP-1, controls the survival of liver tumor-initiating cells. These results, published in the online edition of Nature Cell Biology, could provide new preventive strategies and identify potentially targetable molecules to prevent liver cancer.
Monoclonal antibody effective therapy for diabetic retinopathy
(HealthDay)—An antibody can reduce retinal vascular leakage and inflammation in rat models of diabetic retinopathy, according to a study published online Oct. 1 in Diabetes.
Dysphagia not tied to post-anterior cervical op swelling
(HealthDay)—Although significant soft-tissue swelling can occur after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) procedures, the width of the prevertebral soft-tissue swelling on radiographic analysis does not correlate with the severity of postoperative dysphagia, according to research published in the August issue of The Spine Journal.
Potential new colorectal cancer treatment target identified
(HealthDay)—The cell surface marker carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 6 (CD66c) is a novel marker for colorectal cancer stem cell isolation, which halts tumor growth when silenced, according to research published online Oct. 1 in Cancer.
3-D mammograms offer clearer view of breast cancer
Bringing life-like detail to a hospital near you: the 3-D mammogram, which doctors say is detecting breast cancer earlier and more accurately than traditional tests.
Additional medicines can reduce recurrence risk, but come with their own issues
After surgeons removed the tumor from her breast last November, Karen Hajiaskari, of Hamburg, N.Y., was deemed cancer-free. But for the next five years she will take a drug called tamoxifen, a medication that's commonly used to prevent a breast cancer recurrence.
CDC: More than 90 people ill with meningitis
(AP)—Health officials say they have now confirmed more than 90 cases of a rare fungal meningitis that has been linked to a steroid commonly used to ease back pain.
Whether we like someone affects how our brain processes movement
Hate the Lakers? Do the Celtics make you want to hurl? Whether you like someone can affect how your brain processes their actions, according to new research from the Brain and Creativity Institute at USC.
Study investigates genetic variants' role in increasing Parkinson's disease risk
Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) investigators have led the first genome-wide evaluation of genetic variants associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). The study, which is published online in PLOS ONE, points to the involvement of specific genes and alterations in their expression as influencing the risk for developing PD.
Breathe in, breathe out: New way of imaging lungs could improve COPD diagnosis, treatment
A new approach to lung scanning could improve the diagnosis and treatment of a lung disease that affects approximately 24 million Americans and is the country's third-highest cause of death.
Discovery of gatekeeper nerve cells explains the effect of nicotine on learning and memory
Swedish researchers at Uppsala University have, together with Brazilian collaborators, discovered a new group of nerve cells that regulate processes of learning and memory. These cells act as gatekeepers and carry a receptor for nicotine, which can explain our ability to remember and sort information.
Genome-wide study identifies eight new susceptibility loci for atopic dermatitis
Japanese researchers at the RIKEN Center for Genomic Medicine (CGM) and their colleagues have identified 8 new loci associated with susceptibility to atopic dermatitis in the Japanese population. The findings, which appear in the journal Nature Genetics, advance our understanding of the genetic basis of the skin disorder, which affects millions of children and adults around the world.
Ten-minute online test estimates 'Face-Name Memory IQ'
(Medical Xpress)—How skillful are you at remembering faces and names? Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis are inviting the world to take part in an online experiment that will allow participants to see how their individual scores on a face-name memory test compare with those of other test takers.
Sleeping brain behaves as if it's remembering something, study shows
UCLA researchers have for the first time measured the activity of a brain region known to be involved in learning, memory and Alzheimer's disease during sleep. They discovered that this part of the brain behaves as if it's remembering something, even under anesthesia, a finding that counters conventional theories about memory consolidation during sleep.
Biology news
Sneezing sea lion dies after treatment at NY zoo
(AP)—A sea lion that had been receiving treatment for sneezing has died unexpectedly at a New York zoo.
Smallest, fastest-known RNA switches provide new drug targets
A University of Michigan biophysical chemist and his colleagues have discovered the smallest and fastest-known molecular switches made of RNA, the chemical cousin of DNA. The researchers say these rare, fleeting structures are prime targets for the development of new antiviral and antibiotic drugs.
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