Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 4, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Ferroelectric memristors may lead to brain-like computers- Scientists explain how ketamine vanquishes depression within hours
- Astronomers discover star racing around black hole at Milky Way center
- Fossilized teeth—Duck-bill dinosaurs had plant-pulverizing teeth more advanced than horses
- Hackers throw campus info caution to the wind
- What makes self-directed learning effective?
- Researchers find ancient carbon resurfacing in lakes, challenge current models of long-term carbon storage
- Insects a prime driver in plant evolution and diversity, study finds
- Study find electricity in biological clock
- Researchers create a universal map of vision in the human brain
- SpaceX encore: 2nd private space station shipment (Update)
- Maths sheds light on what delays in getting pregnant means for prospects of having a baby
- Dating encounters between modern humans and Neandertals
- BPA's real threat may be after it has metabolized
- Curiosity rover prepares to study martian soil
Space & Earth news
New 3D camera for space missions—better imaging with less energy
On behalf of European Space Agency (ESA), Thales Alenia Space, SINTEF and Terma are now completing a study identifying alternatives to the cameras currently deployed on spacecrafts and space rovers.
'Voyager' interactive online mapping platform available to ocean users
(Phys.org)—The Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) has released a flexible, interactive online mapping platform named "Voyager." Available at http://pacioos.org/voyager, Voyager allows ocean users to dynamically combine, view, download and query thousands of data layers without the need for proprietary software. This powerful, yet easy-to-use interface serves as a decision-making portal throughout the Pacific Islands.
Book about Indiana coal mine reclamation compiles years of research
The Indiana Geological Survey has published an extensive collection of research papers about the reclamation of abandoned Indiana coal mine lands and the effects reclamation has on ground and surface water.
Studying the chemistry of protoplanetary disks now possible
According to the nebular hypothesis, star formation produces a gaseous protoplanetary disk around it, providing the environment and material for planet formation. Studying these systems can generate information regarding how and when planets formed, and is a hot topic in astrophysics.
Study finds Southern Hemisphere becoming drier
A decline in April-May rainfall over south-east Australia is associated with a southward expansion of the subtropical dry-zone according to research published today in Scientific Reports, a primary research journal from the publishers of Nature.
ASKAP: 36-dish Australian telescope array opens for business
The Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) is now standing tall in the outback of Western Australia, and will officially be turned on and open for business on Friday, October 5, 2012 . This large array is made up of 36 identical antennas, each 12 meters in diameter, spread out over 4,000 square meters but working together as a single instrument. ASKAP is designed to survey the whole sky very quickly, and astronomers expect to do studies of the sky that could never have been done before.
Curiosity's "Bootprint" on Mars
Looking very similar to the iconic first footprint on the Moon from the Apollo 11 landing, this new raw image from the Curiosity rover on Mars shows one of the first "scuff" marks from the rover's wheels on a small sandy ridge. This image was taken today by Curiosity's right Navcam on Sol 57 (2012-10-03 19:08:27 UTC).
Connecting kids to science: SpaceX Dragon to carry 23 student experiments to space station
(Phys.org)—Twenty-three microgravity experiments designed by participants of the Student Spaceflight Experiment Program (SSEP) will become part of space history Oct. 7. They will be launched to the International Space Station aboard the SpaceX Dragon, the first commercially developed and built American spacecraft to fly a resupply cargo resupply mission to the station.
Climate scepticism highest in US, Britain
Awareness of climate change is high in many countries, especially the tropics, but in Britain, Japan and the United States many are doubtful about the cause, a poll published on Thursday said.
New technique to counter the effects of solar activity on GNSS, will be valuable across range of industries
(Phys.org)—It's long been known that increased activity related to the 11-year solar cycle may disrupt Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). As we approach the 2013 solar maximum, researchers at the Nottingham Geospatial Institute (NGI) have developed a new technique which retains a high degree of accuracy under adverse ionospheric conditions.
Air Force launches latest GPS satellite into orbit
(AP)—The Air Force has launched a satellite from Cape Canaveral to be part of the existing navigation system for the military.
NASA sees Tropical Storm Maliksi put final touches on Japan
Tropical Storm Maliksi is putting the final touches on Japan, that is, the edge of the storm was seen brushing the country's northern coast as it pulled away on NASA satellite imagery.
NASA sees Tropical Storm Gaemi's heaviest rainfall around center
Some of the most powerful thunderstorms in a tropical cyclone surround the center of circulation, and NASA's TRMM satellite noticed that rainfall is heaviest in that area of Tropical Storm Gaemi.
NASA gets 2 infrared views of tropical storms Nadine, Oscar
NASA's Aqua satellite provided two different infrared views of the two tropical storms swirling in the Atlantic Ocean. Oscar is battling wind shear that appears destined to tear it apart, while Nadine is merging with a cold front.
Comet crystals found in a nearby planetary system, thanks to Herschel
(Phys.org)—Pristine material that matches comets in our own Solar System have been found in a dust belt around the young star Beta Pictoris by ESA's Herschel space observatory.
The Helix nebula: Bigger in death than life
(Phys.org)—A dying star is refusing to go quietly into the night, as seen in this combined infrared and ultraviolet view from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX), which NASA has lent to the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. In death, the star's dusty outer layers are unraveling into space, glowing from the intense ultraviolet radiation being pumped out by the hot stellar core.
Lakes react differently to warmer climate, study finds
A future warmer climate will produce different effects in different lakes. Researchers from Lund University in Sweden have now been able to explain that the effects of climate change depend on what organisms are dominant in the lake. Algal blooms will increase, especially of toxic blue-green algae.
SpaceX encore: 2nd private space station shipment (Update)
A private company is headed back to the International Space Station.
Researchers find ancient carbon resurfacing in lakes, challenge current models of long-term carbon storage
(Phys.org)—A new study reveals that a significant amount of carbon released into the atmosphere from lakes and rivers in Southern Québec, Canada, is very old – approximately 1,000 to 3,000 years old – challenging the current models of long-term carbon storage in lakes and rivers.
Curiosity rover prepares to study martian soil
(Phys.org)—NASA's Curiosity rover is in a position on Mars where scientists and engineers can begin preparing the rover to take its first scoop of soil for analysis.
Astronomers discover star racing around black hole at Milky Way center
UCLA astronomers report the discovery of a remarkable star that orbits the enormous black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy in a blistering 11-and-a-half years—the shortest known orbit of any star near this black hole.
Technology news
Using social and web technologies in disaster responses
Developing software and solutions to real-world problems was the aim of the h4d2 hackathon event held at Aston University.
FTC to fine Warner unit $1M over kids privacy
(AP)—The Federal Trade Commission is proposing to fine a unit of Warner Music Group Corp. $1 million for violating a child privacy law in the operation of fan websites for artists including Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato and Rihanna.
Improved wind tunnel testing of aircraft models
When testing numerical predictions regarding performance of aircraft, wind tunnels are still the next best thing to actual flight. EU-funded researchers improved the accuracy of test measurements with important implications for future aircraft design.
Storage technology developed for fused silica glass to record and read digital data in the order of CD recording density
Hitachi today announced the development of technology for the semi-perpetual storage of digital data in fused silica glass which is known for its high resistance to heat and water, in collaboration with the laboratory of Professor MIURA Kiyotaka of the School of Engineering, Kyoto University. The data is recorded using a laser, and can be read using an optical microscope. High recording density was achieved by creating multiple recording layers within the fused silica by changing the focal point of the laser. In the current research, a recording density comparable to that of a compact disc (henceforth, CD) was successfully achieved with 4 layers.
Study exposes the negative effects of increasing computerized surveillance
Researchers at the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology HIIT finish the first longitudinal study on the effects of ubiquitous surveillance in the home.
Man accused of being Russian agent set for court
(AP)—The allegations that a naturalized U.S. citizen obtained military technology through his Texas export firm for Russia have the makings of a 1980s spy film.
'Portable Sign Language Traslator': Automated translation of sign language into text is now a reality
Imagine holding your smartphone at someone using sign language and then their words start scrolling across the screen.
Russia denies sending high-tech spies to US
Russian diplomats and security chiefs denied Thursday sending their spies to the United States to purchase high-tech military electronics and detonators in faked civilian deals.
2012 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough awardees announced
Popular Mechanics has announced its 2012 Breakthrough Awards. Awardees include three teams whose work received critical support from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Sandia Labs benchmark helps wind industry measure success
Sandia National Laboratories published the second annual 2012 Wind Plant Reliability Benchmark on Monday, and the results should help the nation's growing wind industry benchmark its performance, understand vulnerabilities and enhance productivity.
Far, far beyond wrist radios: At Homeland Security's think tank, first responders imagine high-tech future
What kinds of gear will be needed by future firefighters, EMTs, and cops? To find out, the Department of Homeland Security asked a DHS think tank to ask the experts, then apply sophisticated math to discover unlikely patterns. The results are detailed in an intriguing report.
Cisco elevates 2 execs to president role
(AP)—Cisco Systems Inc. hasn't had a president since CEO John Chambers gave up the title in 2006. Now, as the San Jose, Calif., company thinks about a successor to the long-serving CEO, it's appointing two presidents—twice the number most companies have.
Lenovo bucks trend with decision to manufacture in US
Lenovo is portraying its relatively modest plans to manufacture personal computers in North Carolina - creating 115 jobs and investing $2 million - as a first step that could lead to much more.
Network of obscure Asian suppliers powers Apple's success
On a November afternoon two years ago, a taxi pulled up to the gate of Ta Liang Technology, one of countless nondescript companies that make up the global gadget supply chain.
Motorola buys face-recognition firm Viewdle
Mobile phone-maker Motorola said Wednesday it had purchased facial recognition firm Viewdle for an undisclosed amount.
US presidential debate an online sensation
From YouTube to Xbox videogame consoles, people tuned into the US presidential debate online and weighed in so intensely that it became Twitter's hottest US political event.
NY judge gives poker money man jail for bank fraud
(AP)—A man who processed money illegally for three Internet poker companies whose U.S. operations eventually were shut down was sentenced on Wednesday to five months in prison by a judge who said he played a "catch me if you can" game with the government.
US: Immigrant stole military technology for Russia
(AP)—An American success story of an immigrant from Kazakhstan who made millions off his Texas export firm took a Cold War-era turn on Wednesday when U.S. authorities accused him of being a secret agent who's been stealing military technology for the Russian military.
Complete feel of user interfaces with vibrotactile feedback
Touchscreen mobile devices, phones and tablet computers, have gained prominence in our everyday life in the past years. Their user interfaces, however, make quite crude use of touch and the somatosensory system. Teemu Ahmaniemi has studied in his dissertation for the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Computational Science in Aalto University, how the tactile feedback in these devices could be improved.
Australia's first bushfire resistant straw house to be built
With bushfire season fast approaching, construction of the first bushfire resistant straw bale house tested by CSIRO has begun in rural Victoria.
Innovative designer re-thinks the refrigerator, aims to save energy
Third-year industrial design student Ben de la Roche has been shortlisted for the international Electrolux Design Lab 2012 Award for his design of an open refrigeration wall.
Job cuts in more regions for Google's Motorola (Update)
(AP)—Google is broadening job cuts from its Motorola Mobility unit outside the U.S. and will take $390 million in severance costs and other charges related to the layoffs.
Report says EU nuclear plants need better safety
(AP)—The cost of needed improvements to the 145 nuclear reactors in the European Union could run as high as €25 billion ($32 billion) over the coming years, the bloc's energy commissioner said Thursday.
OECD says IT sector resisting economic crisis
The information and communication technology (ICT) sector has resisted the economic crisis and is becoming a key infrastructure for the world's economy, the OECD said Thursday.
Brazil's vibrant high-tech industry urged to go global
Boosted by strong government incentives, Brazil's high-tech industry is showing solid domestic growth but experts say the country's startup entrepreneurs must go global and shun copycat solutions.
US needs offensive weapons in cyberwar: general
The United States needs to develop offensive weapons in cyberspace as part of its effort to protect the nation from cyber attacks, a senior military official said Thursday.
Zynga to report 3Q net loss, take charge
(AP)—Zynga expects a loss for the third quarter and says its preliminary results reflect weak demand for some games. It's also taking a charge related to its acquisition of OMGPop, a mobile game maker.
Google has designs on flip-up wristwatch
(Phys.org)—While futurists have generally enthused about the coming age of wearable computing, showcase items among the top vendors have focused on prototypes for heads-up displays. Reactions have included disappointment that smartphone information alternatives in the form of eyeglasses with little screens and oversized goggles have to be so awkward-looking for daily use. In step with the potential success of something other than "goggles," Google has filed a patent on a wearable-computing wristwatch. First filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Google in October 2011, the patent is called "Smart-watch including flip up display," which is proof that Google is at least thinking beyond an eyeglass form factor.
Facebook now home to 1 billion monthly users (Update 2)
More than a billion people now log into Facebook each month to check up on old friends, tag photos of new ones and post about politics, religion, cats or what their kids are doing.
Google, publishers shelve book-scanning suit (Update 2)
(AP)—Google and major book publishers have settled a lengthy legal battle over digital copyrights, but a bigger dispute still looms with thousands of authors who allege that Google is illegally profiting from their works.
Smart robotic drones advance science (w/ Video)
(Phys.org)—Chengyu Cao sees a day in the not-so-distant future when intelligent robots will be working alongside humans on a wide range of important tasks from advancing science, to performing deep sea rescues, to monitoring our natural habitats.
Hackers throw campus info caution to the wind
(Phys.org)—For 53 universities, this was the week that brought a line of enquiry they could well do without: How much damage are we dealing with? Hackers on Monday threw thousands of personal records from 53 universities online, posted to Pastebin. Affected schools included Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, Princeton, Johns Hopkins and University of Zurich. Identify Finder reported the exploit involved e-mail addresses and names of students, faculty and staff along with usernames and passwords. Only some were encrypted while others were in plain text. Although the hackers claim to have posted 120,000 accounts, Identity Finder could confirm less than that.
Medicine & Health news
Feds charge 91 people in $429M Medicare fraud
(AP)—A federal strike force has charged 91 people, including doctors and nurses, in seven cities with Medicare fraud schemes involving $429 million in false billings.
Secret Cold War tests in US city raise concerns
(AP)—Doris Spates was a baby when her father died inexplicably in 1955. She has watched four siblings die of cancer, and she survived cervical cancer.
Taiwan may not sustain popular health insurance
(AP)—A government official says Taiwan might be unable to support its highly-praised health insurance program because of a growing elderly population.
Researchers study Chagas disease—aim to prevent transmission
EU funding has supported a major initiative designed to promote research collaboration to support control programmes for Chagas disease in central and southern America.
Movement breaks help learning, well-being
Jill Cressy was three hours into a six-hour class when she realized that her shoulders were tense, her back was aching and she was beginning to lose her focus. The issue wasn't the subject – Educational Finance and Economics. It was the sitting.
Researchers to study the developmental implications of toddlers' sleep patterns
ZZZs don't always come easy for children still learning their ABCs.
Young indigenous females at highest risk of assault-related injuries
A new study has placed young indigenous females at the highest risk of sustaining assault-related injuries in Queensland.
Good planning keeps older people on the move
(Medical Xpress)—A guide has been developed to help local councils take the needs of older people into account when developing new or redeveloping existing neighbourhoods.
Study examines well-being of Latino immigrant families
(Medical Xpress)—The American dream is alive and well in Illinois' rural communities among Latino immigrant families, who demonstrate considerable resilience in the face of multiple challenges, a new study indicates.
Argentina heart attack death rate nearly halved over 15 years
The 38th Argentine Congress of Cardiology takes place 5 to 7 October 2012 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The event is organised by the Argentine Society of Cardiology, which is an affiliated member of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)(2). The ESC will present a full day of scientific sessions at the event, on Saturday 6 October, as part of its Global Scientific Activities (GSA) programme. ESC Past-President Michel Komajda will head the European delegation.
Uganda Ebola outbreak over: government
Uganda on Thursday declared an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus that killed 17 people dead to be over, officials said.
Outbreak spotlights safety of custom-mixed drugs
Custom-mixed medicines like the steroid shots suspected in a meningitis outbreak have long been a source of concern, and their use is far wider than many people realize.
Better battlefield triage, transport may raise severely wounded soldiers' survival rates
Wounded soldiers who sustained chest injuries in Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq) had higher mortality rates than soldiers in Korea and Vietnam, according to a military trauma study presented at the 2012 American College of Surgeons Annual Clinical Congress. However, better battlefield triage and transport may have meant that severely wounded soldiers whom would have been considered killed in action in previous conflicts are more likely to get sent to trauma centers in the United States sooner in their course of care, study authors explained.
New patent on virtual guided-bronchoscopy system to help diagnose lung cancer
A team of researchers from the Institute of Industrial and Control Engineering (IOC) of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC) and the Pulmonology Research Group of the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) has patented an improved virtual bronchoscopy system designed to enhance endoscopic examination of peripheral lung lesions, that is, small nodules located in more distal branches of the bronchi. The system, designed to improve lung cancer diagnosis, aids physician decision making regarding whether a bronchoscopy is necessary and so avoids possible risks and discomfort for the patient.
A molecular scissor related to Alzheimer's disease
An international research team led by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and researchers from Kiel University revealed the atomic‐level structure of the human peptidase enzyme meprin β (beta). The study was published online in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Shoulder dislocation in older patients poses different challenges in diagnosis, treatment
Although shoulder dislocation can occur at about the same rates in both younger and older patients, injuries in older patients are more likely to be overlooked or misdiagnosed, resulting in years of persistent pain and disability. A new study published in the October 2012 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons examines the differences in dislocation injuries between older and younger patients and suggests an approach to evaluate older patients that could help improve diagnosis and management of interrelated injuries.
EU unveils measures to combat biopiracy
The European Union on Thursday set out proposals aimed at thwarting the illegal use of genetic resources and traditional medicine, a practice known as bio-piracy.
Two dengue cases confirmed on Portuguese Atlantic island
Portuguese health authorities on Thursday reported two cases of full-blown mosquito-borne dengue on the popular tourist archipelago of Madeira and said another 22 people were suspected of carrying the virus that causes the fever.
There's no place like home—for dialysis
Most patients with chronic kidney disease who undergo hemodialysis put up with a grueling treatment regimen that involves going into a clinic several days a week and sitting through a three-to-four hour dialysis session at each visit. Home hemodialysis is more accessible than ever, though, with the advent of newer systems that are easier for patients to learn, use, and maintain, according to a review appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). The authors offer suggestions for how to overcome barriers and establish a successful home hemodialysis program.
ProDisc-C device doesn't change facet joint pressures
(HealthDay)—Local facet joint contact pressures are not significantly altered during sagittal bending after the implantation of a ProDisc-C device at the C5 to C6 level in cadaveric human cervical spines, according to a study published online Sept. 12 in The Spine Journal.
Lasting efficacy for minimally-invasive spinal fusion
(HealthDay)—For patients undergoing spinal fusion by minimally-invasive lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF), the procedure is safe and effective based on a follow-up of at least two years, according to research published online Sept. 6 in the Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques.
Profs aim to track drug reactions via social media
Experiencing nausea, headaches or other side effects from prescriptions or over-the-counter medicines? Researchers say tweeting about it or posting your concerns online could one day help alert drug companies and federal regulators to problems more quickly—potentially saving lives and money.
Aspirin may temper brain power decline in elderly women at risk of heart disease
Daily low dose aspirin could slow the decline in brain power among elderly women at high risk of heart disease, indicates observational research published in the online journal BMJ Open.
Healthcare professionals as bad as patients at good respiratory inhaler technique
Healthcare professionals are as bad as patients when it comes to knowing how to use inhalers prescribed for asthma and other respiratory conditions correctly, says an editorial in Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB).
Diabetes screening study finds no reduction in mortality rates
The randomised trial, which is the first ever study evaluating the effect of type 2 diabetes screening programmes on overall mortality rates in a population, assessed the number of deaths over ten years in a group of more than 20 000 patients across 32 general practices in Eastern England. The patients were all aged between 40 and 69 years, and were assessed as being at high risk of diabetes.
BPA linked to thyroid hormone changes in pregnant women, newborns
Bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogen-like compound that has drawn increased scrutiny in recent years, has been linked to changes in thyroid hormone levels in pregnant women and newborn boys, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.
Researchers a step closer to controlling inflammation in MS
(Medical Xpress)—A University of Adelaide researcher has published results that suggest a possible new mechanism to control multiple sclerosis (MS).
Recent decrease seen in U.S. high school drinking and driving
(HealthDay)—The national prevalence of drinking and driving among high school students decreased by 54 percent from 1991 to 2011, with a national prevalence of 10.3 percent noted in 2011, according to a study published in the Oct. 2 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report.
Limiting the problem of missing data urged for clinical trials
(HealthDay)—Data missing from clinical trials can undermine the credibility of those trials, and little attention has been focused on this issue until recently, experts say.
Blood tests for inflammation could help prevent heart attack, stroke
(HealthDay)—Among people at high risk for cardiovascular disease, knowing their blood levels of two specific markers for inflammation might help prevent a heart attack or stroke, according to British investigators.
Animation used to help explain the impact of genetics for patients
Meet Ossie: a friendly green popsicle who has already been fired through the LHC and frozen to absolute zero in a bid to explain cutting edge science.
Vaccines ready for 50 million in Africa's 'Meningitis Belt'
A huge vaccination campaign to protect 50 million people against meningitis has been launched in seven African countries aiming to stamp out the deadly virus, health officials said Thursday.
Breakthrough on physical cause of vegetative state, other 'disorders of consciousness'
(Medical Xpress)—By exploring parts of the brain that trigger during periods of daydreaming and mind-wandering, neuroscientists from Western University have made a significant breakthrough in understanding what physically happens in the brain to cause vegetative state and other so-called "disorders of consciousness." Vegetative state and related disorders such as the minimally conscious state are amongst the least understood conditions in modern medicine because there is no particular type of brain damage that is known to cause them. This lack of knowledge leads to an alarmingly high level of misdiagnosis.
Moderate iPad use won't keep teens up at night
(Medical Xpress)—Teenagers who use an iPad for an hour before bed are still likely to get a good night's sleep, new research from Flinders University shows.
Differences in treatment for advanced ovarian cancer could explain why UK survival lags behind other countries
The main reason women are less likely to survive ovarian cancer in the UK than in other comparable countries appears to be due to very low survival in those with more advanced stages of the disease, shows new research published in the journal Gynecologic Oncology.
New gene variants increase risk of paediatric cancer
Two new gene variants have been discovered by researchers from Italy and the United States that increase the risk of neuroblastoma, a paediatric cancer. This discovery was made using automated technology to perform genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on DNA from thousands of subjects. The study has effectively broadened our understanding of how gene changes may make a child susceptible to this early childhood cancer, as well as causing a tumour to progress.
New gene test detects early mouth cancer risk
Researchers from Queen Mary, University of London have developed a new gene test that can detect pre-cancerous cells in patients with benign-looking mouth lesions. The test could potentially allow at-risk patients to receive earlier treatment, significantly improving their chance of survival.
Olympic legacy: Tackling the 'East London Diabetes Belt' is a major challenge
A study by Queen Mary, University of London researchers has shown the scale of the challenge facing those in charge of delivering the Olympic legacy. In three London boroughs they have found that, overall, as many as one in ten of the local population has a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes within the next ten years. In some areas close to the Stratford Olympic Park up to one in six adults are at high risk.
'Humanized' mice advance study of rheumatoid arthritis
Researchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine have developed the first animal model that duplicates the human response in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an important step that may enable scientists to discover better medicines to treat the disease.
Chewing ability linked to reduced dementia risk
Can you bite into an apple? If so, you are more likely to maintain mental abilities, according to new research from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.
New study links caffeinated coffee to vision loss
A new study suggests caffeinated coffee drinkers should limit their intake to reduce their chances of developing vision loss or blindness. According to a scientific paper in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, heavy caffeinated coffee consumption is associated with an increased risk of developing exfoliation glaucoma, the leading cause of secondary glaucoma worldwide.
Rare US fungal meningitis outbreak grows; 5 dead (Update)
(AP)—A fifth person has died in a growing outbreak of a rare form of meningitis that has sickened more than two dozen people in five U.S. states.
Study shows benefits, drawbacks, for women's incontinence treatments
Oral medication for treating a type of incontinence in women is roughly as effective as Botox injections to the bladder, reported researchers who conducted a National Institutes of Health clinical trials network study, with each form of treatment having benefits and limitations.
Progress reported in tackling initial, recurrent bouts of health care-associated infection
Surgeons are making progress toward preventing initial and recurrent episodes of clostridium difficile colitis (C. difficile or C. diff), a vicious bacterial infection that is estimated to affect about 336,000 people each year, typically patients on antibiotics. Using mouse models, researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Boston, found that an oral medication may prevent C. difficile infections (CDI). Also, surgeons at Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, examined human patients to detect a genetic mutation that could steer treatments to prevent repeat infections. The findings from these two separate novel studies were recently presented at the 2012 Annual American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress in Chicago.
New function of a protein involved in colon cancer is identified
Researchers from IMIM, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, have succeeded in determining the function of a new variant of enzyme IKKalpha (IKKα) to activate some of the genes taking part in the tumor progressions of colorectal cancer. In the future, this fact will make it possible to design new drugs that inhibit this enzyme specifically and are less toxic for the remaining body cells, hence improving the treatment for this disease.
Clot-busting enzymes are working two jobs
The body's blood clot-busting enzymes are much busier than previously imagined, with new research showing that they also dispose of every cell that dies prematurely from disease or trauma.
In cancer, an embryonic gene-silencing mechanism gone awry
There are some genes that are only activated in the very first days of an embryo's existence. Once they have accomplished their task, they are shut down forever, unlike most of our genes, which remain active throughout our lives. EPFL scientists have unveiled part of this strange mechanism. The same process, accidentally initiated later in life, could be responsible for many kinds of cancer. The discovery is described in a recent article in the journal Cell Reports.
Genetic risk for uterine fibroids discovered
Uterine fibroids are the most common type of pelvic tumors in women and are the leading cause of hysterectomy in the United States. Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) are the first to discover a genetic risk allele (an alternative form of a gene) for uterine fibroids in white women using an unbiased, genome-wide approach. This discovery will pave the way for new screening strategies and treatments for uterine fibroids.
New human neurons from adult cells right there in the brain
Researchers have discovered a way to generate new human neurons from another type of adult cell found in our brains. The discovery, reported in the October 5th issue of Cell Stem Cell, a Cell Press publication, is one step toward cell-based therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Team finds 14 new biomarkers for type 2 diabetes
A research team led by Anna Floegel of the German Institute of Human Nutrition (DIfE) and Tobias Pischon of the Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) has identified 14 novel biomarkers for type 2 diabetes. They can serve as basis for developing new methods of treatment and prevention of this metabolic disease. The biomarkers can also be used to determine diabetes risk at a very early point in time. At the same time the markers enable insight into the complex mechanisms of this disease, which still have not been completely elucidated.
Increased weight cuts death risk in rheumatoid arthritis
(HealthDay)—Being overweight or obese reduces the risk of all-cause mortality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, according to a study published in the October issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
Nonprescription medication abuse underestimated
Nonprescription medications are just as likely a cause of poisoning as prescription drugs, according to a new study by Timothy Wiegand, M.D. from the University of Rochester Medical Center in the US and colleagues. Their work, which analyzes the data from the second annual report of the Toxicology Investigators Consortium (ToxIC), is published online in Springer's Journal of Medical Toxicology.
Medication use higher among overweight, obese kids
Overweight children are far more likely to take prescription medications than children of a normal weight—a trend that adds to already higher health-care costs for treating childhood obesity, according to new research from the University of Alberta.
Risk factors for tracheostomy in spinal cord injury identified
(HealthDay)—Patient age, severe neurological impairment, and forced vital capacity (FVC) are useful for predicting the need for tracheostomy in the management of patients with cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) in the acute care setting, according to research published online Sept. 19 in Spine.
BMI and lean body mass decline after allogeneic HSCT
(HealthDay)—In survivors of childhood hematologic malignancies who have received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT), body mass index (BMI) decreases significantly, mainly due to a reduction in lean, not fat, body mass, according to research published online Oct. 1 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Lower-extremity amputations in diabetes down in scotland
(HealthDay)—In Scotland, from 2004 to 2008, the incidence of all lower-extremity amputations (LEAs) due to diabetes was significantly reduced by about 30 percent, and the rate of major LEAs was reduced by about 40 percent, according to a study published online Sept. 25 in Diabetes Care.
Little U.S. flu activity so far, CDC says
(HealthDay)—Flu activity in the United States remains at low levels, federal health officials said Thursday.
Lung function recovery seen in people exposed to World Trade Center site
(HealthDay)—Some workers and residents exposed to dust and fumes after the 2001 collapse of the World Trade Center towers have shown gradual improvement in lung function, according to a new study.
Postoperative program prevents respiratory complications: study
(HealthDay)—A simple and inexpensive program can reduce the risk of life-threatening and costly respiratory complications that are common after surgery, according to a new study.
Improving confidence keeps breast cancer survivors exercising
(Medical Xpress)—More than 40 percent of older breast cancer survivors are insufficiently active after leaving a supervised program. But new research shows that those women who developed behavioral skills such as self-confidence and motivation during their program were far more likely to continue exercising on their own.
Кesearcher identifies factors to help parents and professionals recognize teens in distress
Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for teens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Now, a University of Missouri public health expert has identified factors that will help parents, medical professionals and educators recognize teens at risk for self injury and suicide.
US: Avoid drugs from company tied to meningitis (Update)
U.S. health officials ramped up warnings Thursday about a specialty pharmacy linked to a widening outbreak of a rare kind of meningitis, urging doctors and hospitals not to use any products from the company.
Abortion rates plummet with free birth control
Providing birth control to women at no cost substantially reduced unplanned pregnancies and cut abortion rates by 62 percent to 78 percent over the national rate, a new study shows.
Compassion meditation may boost neural basis of empathy, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—A compassion-based meditation program can significantly improve a person's ability to read the facial expressions of others, finds a study published by Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. This boost in empathic accuracy was detected through both behavioral testing of the study participants and through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans of their brain activity.
Babies learning to stand more stable when holding object, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—Babies learning to stand may look wobbly, but they are really in more control than they appear, especially when they focus and hold on to an object like a toy, according to Purdue University research.
Researchers create a universal map of vision in the human brain
Nearly 100 years after a British neurologist first mapped the blind spots caused by missile wounds to the brains of soldiers, Perelman School of Medicine researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have perfected his map using modern-day technology. Their results create a map of vision in the brain based upon an individual's brain structure, even for people who cannot see. Their result can, among other things, guide efforts to restore vision using a neural prosthesis that stimulates the surface of the brain. The study appears in the latest issue of Current Biology.
What makes self-directed learning effective?
In recent years, educators have come to focus more and more on the importance of lab-based experimentation, hands-on participation, student-led inquiry, and the use of "manipulables" in the classroom. The underlying rationale seems to be that students are better able to learn when they can control the flow of their experience, or when their learning is "self-directed."
Research on mice suggests new fertility treatments
Japanese scientists have turned mouse skin cells into eggs that produced baby mice—a technique that, if successfully applied to humans, could someday allow women to stop worrying about the ticking of their biological clocks and perhaps even help couples create "designer babies."
BPA's real threat may be after it has metabolized
Bisphenol A or BPA is a synthetic chemical widely used in the making of plastic products ranging from bottles and food can linings to toys and water supply lines. When these plastics degrade, BPA is released into the environment and routinely ingested.
Scientists explain how ketamine vanquishes depression within hours
(Medical Xpress)—Many chronically depressed and treatment-resistant patients experience immediate relief from symptoms after taking small amounts of the drug ketamine. For a decade, scientists have been trying to explain the observation first made at Yale University.
Biology news
Rare tiger dies after Indonesia flight switch
A rare Sumatran tiger has died after his transferral to an Indonesia park was aborted and he was put on a second flight because passengers complained about the smell, an official said.
Australia hits out at Japan at whale research launch
Australian Environment Minister Tony Burke Thursday hit out at Japan's "alleged" scientific whaling as researchers hailed the testing of new acoustic tracking technology for the endangered blue whale.
The determining factors of cell shape examined
A European team is investigating the role of the bacterial cell wall and the cytoskeleton in mediating cell shape. Results are expected to have broader implications for cell biology.
Molecular motors of nucleic acid: Researchers work to improve screening of helicase-targeting drugs
European scientists investigated the dynamic unfolding of DNA during replication by generating a tool that could subsequently be applied to screen helicase-targeting drugs for infection and oncologic applications.
Are we justified in our fights to save endangered species?
Even under the most optimistic climate-change scenarios, species loss may reach 30 percent by the end of the century, according to Ronald Sandler, associate professor of philosophy in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities.
EU rejects French scientist report linking GM corn to cancer
The European Food Safety Authority said Thursday it cannot accept an "inadequate" report by a French scientist on a link between cancer and genetically modified corn.
Male Gouldian finches select mates using only left side of brain, study finds
Choosing a mate is one of the most important decisions an individual of any species will make in its life. It is therefore perhaps a surprise that a new study, of which I'm a co-author, has revealed a bird puts only half its mind into the mate-selection process.
How better financing could help create new cancer drugs
The pharmaceuticals industry presents a quandary for potential investors: Major investments in drug development pay off handsomely in a relatively small number of cases, but many other projects deliver no returns at all. The evident difficulty of picking winners can deter investors from putting money into individual companies.
No evidence for 30-nm chromatin fibers in the mouse genome
Scientists in Canada and the United States have used three-dimensional imaging techniques to settle a long-standing debate about how DNA and structural proteins are packaged into chromatin fibres. The researchers, whose findings are published in EMBO reports, reveal that the mouse genome consists of 10-nm chromatin fibres but did not find evidence for the wider 30-nm fibres that were previously thought to be important components of the DNA architecture.
New research shows how bacterium in Mono Lake survive high arsenic concentrations
(Phys.org)—A team of Israeli, French and Swiss biologists have discovered how a strain of the bacterium Halomonas known as GFAJ-1, manages to survive in California's Mono Lake despite arsenic levels that would kill most other living things. As explained in their article, published in the journal Nature, this phenomenon is due to the differences in the ion bonding angle between proteins in the bacteria and arsenate as compared to phosphate, which results in weaker bonding with the arsenate and a preference for phosphate.
Fox squirrels show long-term investment savvy when hoarding nuts
(Phys.org)—Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, are gathering evidence this fall that the feisty fox squirrels scampering around campus are not just mindlessly foraging for food, but engaging in a long-term savings strategy. Humans could learn something about padding their nest eggs from squirrels' diversification efforts.
Sesearchers unravel life cycle of blue-crab parasite
Professor Jeff Shields and colleagues at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science have succeeded in their 15-year effort to unravel the life history of Hematodinium, a single-celled parasite that afflicts blue crabs and is of growing concern to aquaculture operations and wild fisheries around the world.
Babies learn mum's unique odour
Researchers show for the first time that a mammal begins to suckle its mother's milk through a learned response built on learning her unique combination of smells. When it is born, the newborn is exposed to the smell of its mother's amniotic fluid and the baby then responds to those smells to feed.
Study find electricity in biological clock
Biologists from New York University have uncovered new ways our biological clock's neurons use electrical activity to help keep behavioral rhythms in order. The findings, which appear in the journal Current Biology, also point to fresh directions for exploring sleep disorders and related afflictions.
Insects shape the genetic landscape through plant defenses
As restaurant patrons' diverse food preferences give rise to varied menu offerings, so plant-eating insects' preferences play an important role in maintaining and shaping the genetic variation of their host plants in a geographic area, reports an international team of researchers that includes a plant scientist at the University of California, Davis.
Insects a prime driver in plant evolution and diversity, study finds
Take a good look around on your next nature hike. Not only are you experiencing the wonders of the outdoors – you're probably also witnessing evolution in action.
Northern conifers youngest of the species
Dramatic shifts in the planet's climate and geography over millions of years changed the course of evolutionary history for conifer trees, according to a Yale paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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