Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 16, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Armchair astronomers find planet in quadruple star system- Dark matter filament studied in 3-D for the first time
- Earth-sized planet found just outside solar system
- Physical Internet would increase profits, reduce carbon emissions, study finds
- Microsoft tablet Surface to start at $499
- Eating lots of carbs, sugar may raise risk of cognitive impairment, study finds
- Genomic hitchhikers in birds shed light on evolution of viruses
- Novel discovery links anti-cancer drugs to muscle repair
- FCC lets cable cos encrypt signals to foil theft
- Pluto's moons, possible rings may be hazards to New Horizons spacecraft
- What's baking on Saturn's moon Titan?
- New study reveals fundamental chemistry of plasma-liquid interactions
- New type of cosmic ray discovered after 100 years
- Fruit fly's 'sweet tooth' short-lived, research finds
- Cold viruses point the way to new cancer therapies
Space & Earth news
UN meet reviews steps to save global biodiversity
(AP)—Delegates from nearly 200 countries are working to implement an agreement for protecting Earth's ecosystems at a biodiversity conference in southern India.
High food prices top UN agenda on World Food Day
The United Nations focused World Food Day talks on Tuesday on lowering food prices in the face of droughts in Australia and the United States and a drop in harvests in Europe and the Black Sea region.
NASA commercial crew partner, Blue Origin, completes rocket engine thrust chamber test
NASA's Commercial Crew Program (CCP) partner Blue Origin has successfully fired the thrust chamber assembly for its new 100,000 pound thrust BE-3 liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen rocket engine. As part of Blue's Reusable Booster System (RBS), the engines are designed eventually to launch the biconic-shaped Space Vehicle the company is developing.
Pitt engineers to design affordable CO2 thickener to augment oil extraction
Crude oil extraction could be improved significantly and accessible domestic oil reserves could be expanded with an economical CO2 thickener being developed by University of Pittsburgh engineers, thanks to a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
NASA: How do you solve a problem like (Tropical Storm) Maria?
The song "How do you solve a problem like Maria?" from the famous film "The Sound of Music" comes to mind when looking at NASA satellite imagery of Tropical Storm Maria churning in the western North Pacific Ocean. The answer lies in increased wind shear and cool ocean temperatures – two factors that can weaken the storm, but won't be present over the next day or two.
Satellite sees large Hurricane Rafael battering Bermuda
Hurricane Rafael is a large hurricane and Bermuda has battened down for Rafael's battering today, Oct. 16. NOAA's GOES-14 satellite revealed Rafael's large span that covers several hundred miles and dwarfs Bermuda.
Antarctic rift subject of international attention
As NASA's Operation IceBridge resumed Antarctic science flights on Oct. 12, 2012, researchers worldwide had their eyes on Antarctica's Pine Island Glacier ice shelf, the site of a large rift measured during last year's campaign. This 18-mile-long crack is the start of a calving event that could potentially create a massive iceberg. The Pine Island Glacier broke large icebergs in 2001 and 2007, but the 2011 IceBridge survey marked the first time a rift has been measured in great detail from the air. IceBridge will be based out of Punta Arenas, Chile, in October and November.
Rewriting Himalayan History: Ancient oceans on the top of the world
(Phys.org)—The Himalayas could be 20 million years younger than we think, according to ongoing research at the University of Sydney's School of Geosciences.
The ultimate road trip: Cassini celebrates 15 Years
(Phys.org)—Today, NASA's Cassini spacecraft celebrates 15 years of uninterrupted drive time, earning it a place among the ultimate interplanetary road warriors.
Extreme solar systems: Why aren't we finding other planetary systems like our own?
Most planetary systems found by astronomers so far are quite different than our own. Many have giant planets whizzing around in a compact configuration, very close to their star. An extreme case in point is a newly found solar system that was announced on October 15, 2012 which packs five—count 'em—five planets into a region less than one-twelve the size of Earth's orbit!
An extremely brief reversal of the geomagnetic field, climate variability and a super volcano
41,000 years ago, a complete and rapid reversal of the geomagnetic field occured. Magnetic studies of the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences on sediment cores from the Black Sea show that during this period, during the last ice age, a compass at the Black Sea would have pointed to the south instead of north. Moreover, data obtained by the research team formed around GFZ researchers Dr. Norbert Nowaczyk and Prof. Helge Arz, together with additional data from other studies in the North Atlantic, the South Pacific and Hawaii, prove that this polarity reversal was a global event. Their results are published in the latest issue of the scientific journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters.
Bermuda prepares for Hurricane Rafael's wind, rain (Update)
(AP)—Hurricane Rafael is expected to unleash heavy winds and rain as it passes east of Bermuda late Tuesday en route to open sea, where it is expected to lose strength.
NASA sees rainfall pushed away from Tropical Storm Anais' center
Satellite imagery from NASA's TRMM satellite showed that wind shear is pushing the bulk of rainfall away from the center of Tropical Storm Anais.
NASA satellite indicates Tropical Storm Prapiroon's rains mostly south of center
Tropical Storm Prapiroon is still meandering in the western north Pacific Ocean, and NASA's TRMM satellite noticed that dry air and wind shear are adversely affecting rainfall north of the storm's center.
NASA sees Hurricane Paul 'eye' Mexico's Socorro Island, coastline
NASA's Aqua satellite captured a stunning image of Hurricane Paul in the eastern Pacific Ocean that revealed Mexico's Socorro Island was just outside of Paul's eye. Now, Paul is expected to track along the Baja California coast, triggering more warnings.
Science of global climate modeling confirmed by discoveries on Mars
(Phys.org)—Scientific modeling methods that predicted climate change on Earth have been found to be accurate on Mars as well, according to a paper presented at an international planetary sciences conference Tuesday.
Geochemical analysis of Chinese rocks used to better understand the Permian-Triassic mass extinction
(Phys.org)—University of Cincinnati professor Thomas J. Algeo, working with a team of Chinese scientists, has established a tight link between repeated episodes of volcanic activity and environmental degradation leading up to the deadliest extinction in Earth's history.
Scale of volcanic eruptions appears to hinge on first 10 seconds of bubble growth in magma, study shows
Volcanic eruptions vary from common, small eruptions that have little impact on humans and the environment to rare, large-to-gigantic eruptions so massive they can threaten civilizations.
Pluto's moons, possible rings may be hazards to New Horizons spacecraft
NASA's New Horizons spacecraft is now almost seven years into its 9.5-year journey across the solar system to explore Pluto and its system of moons. Just over two years from now, in January 2015, New Horizons will begin encounter operations, which will culminate in a close approach to Pluto on July 14, 2015, and the first-ever exploration of a planet in the Kuiper Belt.
What's baking on Saturn's moon Titan?
(Phys.org)—Radar images from NASA's Cassini spacecraft reveal some new curiosities on the surface of Saturn's mysterious moon Titan, including a nearly circular feature that resembles a giant hot cross bun and shorelines of ancient seas. The results were presented today at the American Astronomical Society's Division of Planetary Sciences conference in Reno, Nev.
New type of cosmic ray discovered after 100 years
(Phys.org)—Using the European X-ray astronomy satellite XMM-Newton, researchers from CNRS and CEA have discovered a new source of cosmic rays. In the vicinity of the remarkable Arches cluster, near the center of the Milky Way, these particles are accelerated in the shock wave generated by tens of thousands of young stars moving at a speed of around 700,000 km/h. These cosmic rays produce a characteristic X-ray emission by interacting with the atoms in the surrounding gas. Their origin differs from that of the cosmic rays discovered exactly a hundred years ago by Victor Hess, which originate in the explosions of supernovae. The findings are published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
Jelly-like atmospheric particles resist chemical aging
(Phys.org)—Atmospheric chemists at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have found that when it comes to secondary organic material in the atmosphere, there are two distinct breeds: liquids and jellies.
Ice sheet retreat controlled by the landscape
Ice-sheet retreat can halt temporarily during long phases of climate warming, according to scientists.
Armchair astronomers find planet in quadruple star system
(Phys.org)—A joint effort of citizen scientists and professional astronomers has led to the first reported case of a planet orbiting twin suns that in turn is orbited by a second distant pair of stars.
Dark matter filament studied in 3-D for the first time
(Phys.org)—Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have studied a giant filament of dark matter in 3D for the first time. Extending 60 million light-years from one of the most massive galaxy clusters known, the filament is part of the cosmic web that constitutes the large-scale structure of the Universe, and is a leftover of the very first moments after the Big Bang. If the high mass measured for the filament is representative of the rest of the Universe, then these structures may contain more than half of all the mass in the Universe.
Earth-sized planet found just outside solar system
(Phys.org)—European astronomers have discovered a planet with about the mass of the Earth orbiting a star in the Alpha Centauri system—the nearest to Earth. It is also the lightest exoplanet ever discovered around a star like the Sun. The planet was detected using the HARPS instrument on the 3.6-metre telescope at ESO's La Silla Observatory in Chile. The results will appear online in the journal Nature on 17 October 2012.
Technology news
UK to rule on extraditing alleged hacker to US
(AP)—Britain's Home Secretary is set to rule on whether to extradite a British hacker to America to face charges for breaking into sensitive computer networks at U.S. military and space installations.
iPhone manufacturer says underage interns found
(AP)—The company that manufactures Apple's iPhone says it has found underage interns as young as 14 working at one of its factories in China.
Exploring links between sustainable transportation and livable communities
(Phys.org)—Two research teams funded by the University of Michigan's Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute will spend the next 15 months investigating how different transportation policies, technologies and consumer travel choices can impact the sustainability and livability of communities.
UMaine in partnership to continue developing online offshore wind database
The University of Maine and the U.S. Offshore Wind Collaborative (USOWC) have announced a partnership to co-develop WindHUB, USOWC's new online resource for stakeholders interested in the emerging U.S. offshore wind industry.
Cost-effective titanium forming
Titanium is a material that offers excellent properties; however, it is costly and time-consuming to form. Fraunhofer researchers are now giving this multi-purpose metal another chance.
Fujitsu Semiconductor releases Interface Bridge SoC incorporating 10 different interfaces
Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited today announced the development of Interface Bridge SoC "MB86E631," which brings together a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor and a host of different interfaces, all on a single chip. Sample quantities of the new product will begin shipping in late December 2012.
Battery maker A123 files for bankruptcy protection
(AP)—The U.S. operations of electric car battery maker A123 Systems filed for bankruptcy protection and its automotive assets are being acquired by Johnson Controls for $125 million.
Shareholder unrest voiced at News Corp
Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch faced calls to give up some of his control at the News Corp. conglomerate at a shareholder meeting Tuesday that was unlikely to change the balance of power.
Amazon to hire 50,000 seasonal workers this year
(AP)—Amazon.com Inc. says it's hiring 50,000 temporary workers at order-fulfillment centers across the U.S. this holiday season.
Eye-tracking glasses look for airport navigation clues
(Phys.org)—Do you love planes, airports and technology? And perhaps you've been lost at an airport at some stage in your travels?
In London for dinner—with an Australian ceramic rocket
(Phys.org)—Melbourne researchers are literally doing rocket science with clay. They have developed a cheaper and more efficient way of making the complex, heat-resistant, ceramic parts needed to build tomorrow's rockets and hypersonic airliners.
Smart power station on wheels
It goes on a trailer and should supply remote areas in developing countries with electricity: the intelligent generator SMiG, which students from ETH Zurich developed within the scope of their Master's project.
Apple's Maps fiasco and the mobile arms race
A sense of vindication has most likely spread throughout the headquarters of Google in Mountain View, Calif., after reports surfaced that Apple's new Maps app contained glaring imperfections, such as removing the Statue of Liberty from its perch in New York harbor. Apple's decision to boot Google Maps from the list of pre-installed apps on the newest version of its mobile operating system, iOS6, replacing it with the company's own error-prone version, no doubt only added to Google's joy. Apple also kicked out another popular Google app, YouTube, in the same software update.
Better fuel economy: Billions and billions saved
(Phys.org)—As fuel economy of new vehicles improved 18 percent over the past five years, billions of gallons of gas and billions of pounds of emissions have been saved, University of Michigan researchers say.
UK blocks extradition of alleged hacker to US (Update)
(AP)—A British computer hacker's decade-long struggle to avoid trial in the U.S. over alleged breaches of military and NASA networks ended in success Tuesday, as the U.K. government ruled he was unfit to face charges there.
Thailand raises $1.4 bln in 3G mobile auction
Thailand raised 41.6 billion baht ($1.4 billion) Tuesday in a long-awaited auction of third-generation (3G) mobile telephone operating licences, regulators said.
RoF technology holds promise for wireless and wireline on a single platform
EU-funded scientists experimentally and theoretically validated technology for the future convergence of wireless and wireline communications into a common infrastructure.
Tech to drive US holiday spending: survey
New high-tech devices will get US consumers to open their wallets for the upcoming holiday season, driving retail spending higher, a survey showed Tuesday.
IBM's 3Q earnings flat, revenue slides 5 percent
IBM's third-quarter earnings held steady, despite the economic jitters that contributed to a steeper decline in revenue than Wall Street anticipated.
EU data bodies tell Google to fix privacy rules or face fine (Update)
European data protection agencies on Tuesday said Google's new privacy policy does not comply with EU laws and told the US Internet giant to fix it within months or face legal action.
FCC lets cable cos encrypt signals to foil theft
Federal regulators are letting cable companies scramble all their TV signals, closing a loophole that lets many households watch basic cable channels for free.
Google puts malware scanner in Google Play pipeline
(Phys.org)—A new version of the Google Play app store will enable scanning users' smartphones for malware, according to Android Police. The site's report, headlined "A Built-In Malware Scanner," said, "Yes, it's hard to believe, but Google is working on a malware scanner for the Play Store. The string file doesn't lie." The heads-up item said that there are two malware-fighting parts in the Google pipeline:"App Check" will allow Google to check out each application that has already been downloaded, while an application blocker will deliver a warning of any application that looks suspicious. Also according to Android Police, there will be a "shut up and download it" button for people who want to proceed anyway.
Intel 3Q profit down 14 pct, sees slow 4Q
Intel Corp., the world's largest chipmaker, said net income fell 14 percent from last year in the latest quarter, and it's looking at tough conditions in the new quarter.
Medicine & Health news
Sick doctors returning to work struggle with feelings of shame and failure
Doctors who have been on long term sick leave find it hard to return to work because they are overwhelmed with feelings of shame and failure, and fear the disapproval of colleagues, finds research published in the online journal BMJ Open.
Australian pain-killer switch affects hundreds
Hundreds of Australians were given water instead of pain-killing medication after thieves siphoned off the drugs from ambulance supplies and refilled the empty vials from the tap, officials said Tuesday.
3-D technology boosts project to aid heart surgery
(Medical Xpress)—Efforts to improve preparation for heart surgery are the focus of a collaboration of Arizona State University biomedical engineering researchers and physicians at Phoenix Children's Hospital and St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix.
Survey shows program boosts Latino parents' child knowledge, confidence
While many Latino children enter school hampered by weak preliteracy skills, a new program tied to Head Start successfully equips parents to close these gaps, according to findings out today from the University of California, Berkeley.
Report reveals nearly 31 percent of Hoosiers obese, ranking Indiana as eighth worst
(Medical Xpress)—Nearly 31 percent of the adult population of Indiana reports being obese, ranking the state eighth worst nationally in terms of percentage of population severely overweight, says a new study by Ball State University.
Researchers eliminate infectious bacteria from medical textiles
The Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology Group of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC) has improved the antimicrobial properties of medical textiles using an enzymatic pre-treatment combined with simultaneous deposition of nanoparticles and biopolymers under ultrasonic irradiation.
J&J Q3 net income drops 7 percent on higher costs
Johnson & Johnson's third-quarter profit fell 7 percent as increased research and production costs offset higher sales for its medicines and medical devices and new revenue from its biggest acquisition ever.
Medical marijuana advocates want drug reclassified
(AP)—A federal appeals court in Washington is considering whether marijuana should be reclassified from its current status as a dangerous drug with no accepted medical use.
New radiation treatment significantly increases survival rate
A novel drug that mimics a naturally occurring molecule found in coffee and blueberries has been developed to treat radiation exposure. Charles R. Yates, Pharm.D., Ph.D., and colleagues Duane Miller, Ph.D., and Waleed Gaber, Ph.D., from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Baylor College of Medicine, show that application of this drug, starting 24 hours after radiation exposure, increases survival in animal models by three-fold compared to placebo.
Envisioning novel approaches for eye disease: 'The new medicine' at UC Santa Barbara
By growing new retinal cells to replace those that have malfunctioned, scientists hope to one day create and fuse entire layers of fresh cells –– a synthetic patch akin to a contact lens –– as a treatment for age-related macular degeneration, the top cause of visual impairment among people over 60.
German doctors warn against Internet trade in breast milk
German pediatricians have warned new parents against obtaining breast milk to feed their babies via social networking sites such as Facebook, cautioning the milk could be harmful.
Findings reveal brain mechanisms at work during sleep
New findings presented today report the important role sleep plays, and the brain mechanisms at work as sleep shapes memory, learning, and behavior. The findings were presented at Neuroscience 2012, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
Patient-reported outcomes essential to comparative effectiveness research
Patient-reported outcomes should be a standard part of evaluating the comparative effectiveness of cancer treatments, according to recommendations put forward by a multi-institution research group.
Endoscopic mucosal resection before radiofrequency ablation is equally effective compared with RFA alone
A new study shows that endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) before radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with nodular Barrett's esophagus (BE) and advanced neoplasia. The performance of EMR before RFA was not associated with a diminished likelihood of success of therapy or an increased rate of stricture compared with those with advanced neoplasia undergoing RFA alone. The study appears in the October issue of GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE).
Nursing workloads multiply likelihood of death among black patients over white patients
Older black patients are three times more likely than older white patients to suffer poorer outcomes after surgery, including death, when cared for by nurses with higher workloads, reports research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. The large-scale study showed higher nurse workloads negatively affected older surgical patients generally and that the rate was more significant in older black individuals. When the patient-to-nurse ratio increased above 5:1, the odds of patient death increased by 3 percent per additional patient among whites and by 10 percent per additional patient among blacks.
Lower chloride use in intravenous fluids for critically ill patients may lower risk of kidney injury
In a pilot study assessing the effect of different levels of chloride in intravenous fluids administered to critically ill patients in an intensive care unit, restricting the amount of chloride administration was associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of acute kidney injury and the use of renal replacement therapy, according to a study in the October 17 issue of JAMA.
Scientists to EPA: Include women in reproductive health research
A team of Northwestern University scientists will meet with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrators in Washington D.C. Oct. 18 to advocate for important changes in the agency's guidelines for reproductive health research.
Blood from Yosemite workers could advance research
(AP)—Health officials are set to draw blood from hundreds of Yosemite National Park employees as part of a research project that aims to help scientists better understand a potentially deadly virus carried by deer mice that killed three park visitors and sickened six others this summer.
Experts list many ways funguses can taint drugs
(AP)—Experts say there are many ways funguses could have gotten inside the Massachusetts pharmacy at the center of the deadly U.S. outbreak of fungal meningitis.
EU health chief resigns in corruption scandal
(AP)—The European Union's health commissioner resigned Tuesday over corruption allegations involving tobacco laws but has denied any wrongdoing and has vowed to clear his name.
Lawmakers seeking Justice Dept. probe of pharmacy
(AP)—U.S. legislators want the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether the company linked to a nationwide meningitis outbreak violated federal laws or regulations.
Smoking in cars produces harmful pollutants at levels above WHO indoor air quality standards
Smoking during car journeys pumps harmful particulate matter into the indoor air space at levels that far exceed World Health Organization guidance—even when the windows are open or air conditioning is switched on—finds the largest study of its kind, in Tobacco Control.
Nearly 170 million years of healthy life lost due to cancer in 2008
The first detailed study to estimate the global impact of cancer on the number of healthy years of life lost by patients has revealed that nearly 170 million years of healthy life were lost because of cancer in 2008, according to an article published Online First in the Lancet.
Prognosis after cystectomy not affected by smoking
(HealthDay)—Despite the link between cigarette smoking and the development of bladder cancer, the prognosis of people with bladder cancer after undergoing a cystectomy is not affected by cigarette smoking, according to research published online Oct. 8 in Urology.
Cell saver not cost-effective in single-level lumbar surgery
(HealthDay)—Use of intraoperative blood salvage (cell saver) is not cost-effective for adult patients undergoing single-level posterior lumbar decompression and fusion (PLDF) surgery, according to research published online Oct. 5 in Spine.
Drop in illicit drug use in cities, uptick in prescription drug abuse
(HealthDay)—Illicit drug use has declined in most large U.S. cities in recent years, but prescription drug abuse has increased, a new study shows.
Fathers independently influence teen sexual behavior
(HealthDay)—In addition to mothers, fathers also have an independent influence on adolescent sexual behavior, according to research published online Oct. 15 in Pediatrics.
Proteins in DNA damage response network targeted for new therapies, researchers say
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center and colleagues at the University of South Florida; Duke University; Johns Hopkins University; the Brazilian National Cancer Institute; and the Rio de Janeiro Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology have discovered that an intricate system to repair DNA damage called the "DNA damage response" (DDR) contains previously unknown components, including proteins that could be targeted as sensitizers for chemotherapy. Some of these targets may already have drugs available that have unrecognized uses in cancer therapy, said the researchers.
Nearly one-third of kidney transplant patients readmitted to hospital within 30 days
Three in 10 patients receiving a kidney transplant require readmission to the hospital within 30 days of discharge following surgery, according to a Johns Hopkins analysis of six years of national data.
Zonisamide 400 mg enhances weight loss for obese
(HealthDay)—A prescription medication originally developed to treat epilepsy may help obese adults shed weight when combined with routine nutritional counseling, researchers say.
Patellofemoral disease features analyzed in osteoarthritis
(HealthDay)—For patients with osteoarthritis (OA), knees affected by more severe patellofemoral (PF) disease have distinct features from those of patients with tibiofemoral (TF) OA in isolation or in combination with mild PF disease, according to a study published online Oct. 8 in Arthritis Care & Research.
ADHD medication helps children make moral choices, does not turn them into 'robots'
(Medical Xpress)—Children living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tend to feel that they benefit from medication to treat the condition and do not feel that the medication turns them into 'robots', according to a report published today by researchers at King's College London.
Study targets sexual health and Rugby World Cup 2011
(Medical Xpress)—A new in-depth analysis of sexual health clinic attendance and diagnoses during last year's Rugby World Cup (RWC) reveals increased risk and harm for attendees who had sex related to this sporting event.
Comparing animal and human cancers for mutual benefit
(Medical Xpress)—A diagnosis of cancer once spelled the end for our animal companions but the launch today of a specialty cancer clinic, led by one of Australia's leading veterinary oncologists at the University of Sydney, offers new hope.
Peer influence: Facebook, Twitter, alcohol and drugs
(Medical Xpress)—When it comes to alcohol and drug use, peers can be just as influential online as they are in person, researchers at the University of Michigan School of Public Health say.
Study examines role of microglial cells as both defenders and fighters in the nervous system
(Medical Xpress)—In many pathologies of the nervous system, there is a common event - cells called microglia are activated from surveillant watchmen into fighters. Microglia are the immune cells of the nervous system, ingesting and destroying pathogens and damaged nerve cells. Until now little was known about the molecular mechanisms of microglia activation despite this being a critical process in the body.
Researchers reveal how Trop2 protein drives tumor growth in prostate, other epithelial cancers
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers led by Tanya Stoyanova and Dr. Owen Witte of UCLA's Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research have determined how a protein known as Trop2 drives the growth of tumor cells in prostate and other epithelial cancers.
Children at risk of eating disorders have higher IQ and better working memory, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—Children at risk for eating disorders on average have a higher IQ and better working memory but have poorer attentional control, according to researchers at the UCL Institute of Child Health (ICH). The study, published in the journal Psychological Medicine, looked at what characteristics might make some children more likely to develop an eating disorder later in life.
Researcher examines the relationship between gum disease and arthritis
Adelaide scientists have found that mice with gum disease develop worse arthritis.
Pacific Islanders, South Asians and Filipinos have higher rates of diabetes than all other ethnic groups
(Medical Xpress)—Rates of diagnosed diabetes are much higher among some Asian subgroups than is apparent when aggregating all Asians as a whole, according to a new study by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) which appears in the current online issue of Diabetes Care.
Outlining the risk factors to help prevent dementia
(Medical Xpress)—Research shows that managing and treating vascular disease risk factors are not only beneficial to preventing heart disease and stroke, but also common forms of dementia.
Transcription factor Prox1 controls hippocampal cellular diversity, researchers find
As is true of many brain structures, the hippocampus, which plays a central role in memory and learning, is made up of multiple cell types organized into domains controlling different functions. Distinct from many other brain regions, however, the hippocampus is a site of active neuronal generation in the adult. Its distinctive pyramidal neurons are contained mainly in the cornu ammonis (CA), while another hippocampal region called the dentate gyrus (DG) is characterized by granule cells. While it is known that the survival of these granule cells relies on the activity of specific transcription factors, how they arise during the differentiation of the hippocampus has remained unknown.
Scientists block stomach tumor growth
(Medical Xpress)—Monash Institute of Medical Research scientists may have discovered a way of blocking stomach tumours from growing and spreading, according to a paper published in the highly-prestigious journal Cancer Cell.
Menopause causes 'spare tyre' but no weight gain
Contrary to popular perception, menopause does not cause weight gain, although it does increase fat around the waist, a specialist journal reported Tuesday.
Young people driving epidemic of prescription drug abuse: Abuse of nonmedical analgesics up 40 percent
A new study by the University of Colorado Denver reveals that today's adolescents are abusing prescription pain medications like vicodin, valium and oxycontin at a rate 40 percent higher than previous generations.
New dissolvable oral strip provides instant pain relief for burns
A dissolvable oral strip has been developed to immediately relieve pain from burns caused by ingestion of hot foods and liquids, such as coffee, pizza, and soup. This research is being presented at the 2012 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Annual Meeting and Exposition, the world's largest pharmaceutical sciences meeting, in Chicago, Ill., on Oct. 14 – 18.
Non-coding antisense RNA can be used to stimulate protein production
While studying Parkinson's disease, an international research group made a discovery which can improve industrial protein synthesis for therapeutic use. They managed to understand a novel function of non-protein coding RNA: the protein synthesis activity of coding genes can be enhanced by the activity of the non-coding one called "antisense."
Less-invasive method of brain stimulation helps patients with Parkinson's disease
Electrical stimulation using extradural electrodes—placed underneath the skull but not implanted in the brain—is a safe approach with meaningful benefits for patients with Parkinson's disease, reports the October issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
Stat5 predicts outcomes for prostate cancer patients after radical prostatectomy
Men who had high levels of the activated Stat5 protein in their prostate cancer after a radical prostatectomy were more likely to have a recurrence or die from the disease compared to men who had little to no presence of the growth protein, according to a recent study published in Human Pathology by Jefferson's Kimmel Cancer Center researchers.
Genetic protection against arsenic
Evolution has not only controlled human development over millions of years, it also has an impact on modern man. This is one of the conclusions of a study of Argentinian villagers in the Andes, where the water contains high levels of arsenic. A gene variant that produces efficient and less toxic metabolism of arsenic in the body was much more common among the villagers than among other indigenous groups in South or Central America. The study was a collaborative effort by Karin Broberg from Lund University and Carina Schlebusch and Mattias Jakobsson from Uppsala University in Sweden.
Starvation hormone markedly extends mouse life span, researchers show
A study by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers finds that a starvation hormone markedly extends life span in mice without the need for calorie restriction.
Exercise may lead to better school performance for kids with ADHD
A few minutes of exercise can help children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder perform better academically, according to a new study led by a Michigan State University researcher.
Studies report early childhood trauma takes visible toll on brain
Trauma in infancy and childhood shapes the brain, learning, and behavior, and fuels changes that can last a lifetime, according to new human and animal research released today. The studies delve into the effects of early physical abuse, socioeconomic status (SES), and maternal treatment. Documenting the impact of early trauma on brain circuitry and volume, the activation of genes, and working memory, researchers suggest it increases the risk of mental disorders, as well as heart disease and stress-related conditions in adulthood.
Reprogramming cell identity in the pituitary gland
A team of researchers at the IRCM, supervised by Dr. Jacques Drouin, reprogrammed the identity of cells in the pituitary gland and identified critical mechanisms of epigenetic cell programming. This important discovery, published yesterday by the scientific journal Genes & Development, could eventually lead to new pharmacological targets for the treatment of Cushing's disease.
New noninvasive test for colorectal cancer shows promise
A new noninvasive test for colorectal cancer screening demonstrated high sensitivity for detecting colorectal cancer, in particular precancers that are most likely to develop into cancer, according to data presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held here Oct. 16-19, 2012.
Foot, knee and hip pain a problem in obese children
feet, ankles, knees and hips - contributes to both poor physical function and a reduced quality of life in obese children, according to a new study by Dr. Sharon Bout-Tabaku and colleagues, from Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University in the US. Their work shows that obese children with lower extremity pain have worse physical function and poorer psychological health than obese children without lower extremity pain. Their findings appear online in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®, published by Springer.
New diabetes screening guidelines released
Routine screening for type 2 diabetes in adults at low and moderate risk is not recommended, although it is recommended for people at high and very high risk of the disease, state new diabetes screening guidelines published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) http://www.cmaj.ca/content/184/15/1687.full. The guidelines suggest using a risk calculator and then screening based on the predicted risk of diabetes.
Marriage, education can help improve well-being of adults abused as children
Researchers investigating the long-term consequences of child abuse have identified some protective factors that can improve the health of victims during their adulthood.
New study sheds new light on the progression and invasiveness of ductal breast cancer
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is considered a precursor lesion for invasive breast cancer if untreated, and is found in approximately 45% of patients with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Patients with DCIS only (not accompanied by invasive disease) have a 5-year-survival of nearly 100%, compared to 89% for all stages of invasive breast cancer (24% for patients with distant metastasis). A new study has found that despite an enormous degree of intercellular heterogeneity in both DCIS and IDC, the evolution from noninvasive to invasive disease is determined by recurrent patterns of genomic imbalances in most cases. This study is published online in advance of the November issue of The American Journal of Pathology.
Many options available to help smokers kick the habit
Smokers who have tried to quit and failed may be tempted to just give up, particularly if they hear statistics like the fact that most quit attempts will be unsuccessful. But smokers today have many options to help them quit, and those who think they have "tried it all" usually have not. In a report in the Oct. 17 issue of JAMA, Nancy Rigotti, MD, director of the Tobacco Research and Treatment Center of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Medicine, outlines currently available resources and recommends strategies that can help smokers who are struggling to quit.
No benefit from high-dose multivitamins seen for HIV patients receiving antiretroviral therapy
A new study by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers suggests that, for HIV patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to treat HIV, there is no benefit from high- vs. standard-dose micronutrient supplementation—and that, in fact, high-dose supplements may cause harm. The study is the first large randomized trial to look at how high-dose multivitamin supplementation affects clinical outcomes among people on HAART.
Common medical screen predicts liver cancer risk in general population
Enzyme levels in the blood routinely monitored by physicians as liver function indicators are also the best predictor of liver cancer risk for the general population, a team of scientists in Taiwan and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reports today in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Novel intravaginal ring shows promise in HIV prevention
A new 90-day intravaginal ring has been developed—that for the first time—enables the long-lasting vaginal delivery of tenofovir (TFV), the only topical prophylactic shown to be effective at reducing the sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) when formulated in a short-lasting gel. This research is being presented at the 2012 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Chicago, Ill., Oct. 14 – 18.
Recovery of brain volumes with abstinence may vary for different brain regions
Chronic alcohol abuse can severely damage the nervous system, particularly cognitive functions, cerebral metabolism, and brain morphology. Building upon previous findings that alcoholics can experience brain volume recovery with abstinence, this study found that recovery of cerebral gray matter (GM) can take place within the first two weeks of abstinence, but may vary between brain regions.
Alcohol dependence seems to shorten life more than smoking, especially among women
While researchers and clinicians know that the mortality rates among alcohol dependent (AD) individuals are high, most of that knowledge is based on studies of clinical populations. A new study is the first to examine excess mortality and its predictors among AD individuals in the general population throughout a 14-year span, finding that annualized death rates were 4.6-fold higher for AD females and 1.9-fold higher for AD males when compared to the general population, indicating that females with AD merit particular attention.
A family history of alcoholism may add to damaging effects of prenatal alcohol exposure
Prenatal exposure to alcohol (PAE) can lead to serious deficiencies associated with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), such as impairments in general intelligence, adaptive function, verbal learning and memory, attention, executive function, and visual-spatial functioning. The role of family history of alcoholism (FHP) in the neurocognitive effects of PAE has not yet been studied. This study used neuroimaging to examine spatial working memory (SWM) in children with histories of heavy PAE and children with confirmed FHP but not PAE, finding that FHP may in fact have an impact on neural functioning of children with PAE.
Cholesterol levels improving among US adults
An analysis of nationally-representative data indicates that between 1988 and 2010 there has been a trend of declining average levels of total cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol for U.S. adults overall, according to a study in the October 17 issue of JAMA.
Study identifies strategy for improved screening for type of hereditary colorectal cancer
In a comparison of strategies to identify individuals with Lynch syndrome, the most common form of hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC), caused by mutations in certain genes (DNA mismatch repair [MMR] genes), universal tumor MMR testing among certain CRC patients had a greater sensitivity for the identification of Lynch syndrome compared with multiple alternative strategies, although the diagnostic improvement was modest, according to a study in the October 17 issue of JAMA.
Shape of urine stream can indicate prostate issues
Scientists at Queen Mary, University of London have discovered that the characteristic shape of a man's urine stream could be used to help diagnose urinary problems.
Targeting cancers' 'addiction' to cell-cycle proteins shuts down tumors in mice
In what they say is a promising and highly selective treatment strategy, scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have safely shut down breast cancer and a form of leukemia in mice by targeting abnormal proteins to which the cancers are "addicted," according to a new study.
Obese teen boys have up to 50 percent less testosterone than lean boys
A study by the University at Buffalo shows for the first time that obese males ages 14 to 20 have up to 50 percent less total testosterone than do normal males of the same age, significantly increasing their potential to be impotent and infertile as adults.
Rising eye injury rates seen with robotic prostate surgery
(HealthDay)—The number of eye injuries associated with robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy—complete removal of the prostate—increased nearly tenfold in the United States between 2000 and 2009, although the risk was still small, a new study finds.
Pain level after car crash could depend on your genes, studies say
(HealthDay)—The amount and severity of pain that you experience after an automobile accident may depend on your genes, early new research suggests.
Recent drop in post-discharge mortality after acute MI
(HealthDay)—For patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), post-discharge mortality rates decreased from 2001 to 2007, according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Direct link ID'd for sleep deprivation, insulin sensitivity
(HealthDay)—Even short-term sleep restriction results in an insulin-resistant state in adipocytes, according to research published in the Oct. 16 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Lexatumumab tolerated for pediatric solid tumors
(HealthDay)—Lexatumumab, an agonistic, full human monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor 2, is well tolerated and may lessen certain clinical symptoms in some pediatric patients with solid tumors, according to a study published online Oct. 15 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Common birth control device may be cost-effective treatment for early endometrial cancer
A common birth control device is effective in treating early-stage endometrial cancer in morbidly obese and high-risk surgery patients, said Georgia Health Sciences University Cancer Center researchers, and could lead to a cost-effective treatment for all women with this cancer type.
Abnormal involuntary eye movements in amblyopia linked to changes in subcortical regions of brain
Little is known about oculomotor function in amblyopia, or "lazy eye," despite the special role of eye movements in vision. A group of scientists has discovered that abnormal visual processing and circuitry in the brain have an impact on fixational saccades (FSs), involuntary eye movements that occur during fixation and are important for the maintenance of vision. The results, which raise the question of whether the alterations in FS are the cause or the effect of amblyopia and have implications for amblyopia treatment, are available online in advance of publication in the November issue of Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience.
Mother's touch could change effects of prenatal stress
Scientists at the Universities of Liverpool, Manchester, and Kings College, London, have found that mothers who stroke their baby's body in the first few weeks after birth may change the effects that stress during pregnancy can have on an infant's early-life development.
Researchers discover new blood vessel-generating cell with therapeutic potential
Researchers at the University of Helsinki believe they have discovered stem cells that play a decisive role in the growth of new blood vessels. If researchers learn to isolate and efficiently produce these stem cells found in blood vessel walls, the cells could offer new opportunities for developing therapeutics to treat diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. The study reporting the discovery of these stem cells is published in the open access journal PLOS Biology on October 16.
Muscle relaxants linked with increased risk of breathing problems after surgery
Muscle relaxants given to millions of patients during general anaesthesia are associated with an increased risk of serious breathing problems after surgery, finds a study published in BMJ today.
Immune response may link social rejection to later health outcomes
(Medical Xpress)—No matter which way you look at it, rejection hurts. Experiencing rejection from a boss, a friend, or a partner is difficult enough for many adults to handle. But adolescents, who are dealing with the one-two punch of biological and social change, may be the most vulnerable to its negative effects.
Two-gene test predicts which patients with heart failure respond best to beta-blocker drug, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—A landmark paper identifying genetic signatures that predict which patients will respond to a life-saving drug for treating congestive heart failure has been published by a research team co-led by Stephen B. Liggett, MD, of the University of South Florida.
Research could lead to new ways to ID women who have higher risk of breast cancer from low-dose radiation
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have identified tissue mechanisms that may influence a woman's susceptibility or resistance to breast cancer after exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation, such as the levels used in full-body CT scans and radiotherapy.
Genetic error linked to rare disease that causes chronic respiratory infections
(Medical Xpress)—Scanning the DNA of two people with a rare disease has led scientists to identify the precise genetic error responsible for their disorder, primary ciliary dyskinesia.
Large-scale study confirms link between creativity and mental illness
(Medical Xpress)—People in creative professions are treated more often for mental illness than the general population, there being a particularly salient connection between writing and schizophrenia. This according to researchers at Karolinska Institutet, whose large-scale Swedish registry study is the most comprehensive ever in its field.
Neuroscientists find Broca's area is really two subunits, each with its own function
A century and a half ago, French physician Pierre Paul Broca found that patients with damage to part of the brain's frontal lobe were unable to speak more than a few words. Later dubbed Broca's area, this region is believed to be critical for speech production and some aspects of language comprehension.
Prion protein hints at role in aiding learning and memory
Scientists from the University of Leeds have found that the protein called prion helps our brains to absorb zinc, which is believed to be crucial to our ability to learn and the wellbeing of our memory.
Eating lots of carbs, sugar may raise risk of cognitive impairment, study finds
People 70 and older who eat food high in carbohydrates have nearly four times the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, and the danger also rises with a diet heavy in sugar, Mayo Clinic researchers have found. Those who consume a lot of protein and fat relative to carbohydrates are less likely to become cognitively impaired, the study found. The findings are published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Novel discovery links anti-cancer drugs to muscle repair
Few drugs are available to treat muscle injury, muscle wasting and genetic disorders causing muscle degeneration, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy. A compelling discovery that may change this was made recently by a research group led by Dr. Robert Korneluk, distinguished professor at University of Ottawa's Faculty of Medicine and founder of the CHEO Research Institute's Apoptosis Research Centre, was reported today in Science Signaling.
Cold viruses point the way to new cancer therapies
Cold viruses generally get a bad rap—which they've certainly earned—but new findings by a team of scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies suggest that these viruses might also be a valuable ally in the fight against cancer.
Biology news
Squirrel population boom frustrates fruit growers
(AP)—A squirrel population boom is menacing fruit growers and others in some patches of the country.
Entomologist helps Asian farmers fend off papaya mealybug
A Virginia Tech researcher found sticky residue on a papaya leaf in Indonesia in the spring of 2008, a discovery that would help him save the livelihoods of thousands of farmers in Asia.
New biodegradable, linseed straw mat hoped to transform future of Australia's agriculture and farming industries
Made from linseed straw, the CSIRO mat is 100% organic, and unlike conventional black plastic matting, completely biodegrades.
Biodiversity conference mulls true cost of nature
Should European farmers pay for pollination provided by bees? Should city dwellers in Brazil pay for the abundant rain generated over the Amazonian forest? And if mangroves are a shield against tsunamis, shouldn't seaside resorts in Thailand be paying for them?
Carnegie Institution and UMASS Medical School granted broad US Patent related to RNA interference
The Carnegie Institution for Science and the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) have been granted United States Patent 8,283,329, entitled, "Genetic inhibition of double-stranded RNA." The patent, issued on October 9, 2012, is broadly directed to the use of RNA interference (RNAi) to inhibit expression of a target gene in animal cells, including mammalian cells.
Great apes, small numbers
Sumatran orangutans have undergone a substantial recent population decline, according to a new genetic study, but the same research revealed the existence of critical corridors for dispersal migrations that, if protected, can help maintain genetic diversity and aid in the species' conservation.
Poachers killed record 455 S. Africa rhinos in 2012
Poachers have slaughtered 455 rhinos in South Africa so far this year, surpassing the record annual tally for 2011, the government said Tuesday.
Aphid attacks weaken genetic defenses in soybeans, may open door for other pests
(Phys.org)—Aphids, the tiny insects that have become a primary threat to Iowa soybeans in recent years, possess a unique ability to block the genetic defense response of soybeans and may open the door for other pests to do even more damage to crops, according to a recent study by researchers at Iowa State University.
Green leaf volatiles increase plant fitness via biocontrol
To solve the acute, global problem of securing food resources for a continuously growing population, we must work constantly to increase the sustainability and effectiveness of modern agricultural techniques. These efforts depend on new insights from plant ecology, particularly from work on native plants that grow in the primordial agricultural niche. Based on field studies on wild tobacco plants in the Great Basin Desert, Utah, USA, researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, demonstrated that the release of volatiles which attract enemies of herbivores not only controls insect pests, but also increases the reproduction of infested plants. Transferred to the goals of integrated pest management, this means that these natural plant defences can be utilized to improve and increase agricultural yields in an environmentally friendly manner. These results are published on October 15, 2012, as part of the launch of the new open-access journal e! Life.
Researcher aims to understand magnetosomes and one of nature's strangest secrets
Her studies for a doctorate at the University of Huddersfield are enabling Amy Monnington (pictured below) to make a key contribution to research that will unlock the understanding of one of the most intriguing processes in nature.
Pollenizer research should help seedless watermelon farmers
Research from North Carolina State University on flower production and disease resistance in watermelon varieties should help bolster seedless watermelon harvests for farmers.
Scientists identify likely origins of vertebrate air breathing
University of Alaska Fairbanks scientists have identified what they think is the ancestral trait that allowed for the evolution of air breathing in vertebrates. They will present their research at the 42nd annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience Oct. 17 in New Orleans.
Arachnologists discover another giant of the animal world in Laos
A scientist at the Senckenberg Research Institute in Frankfurt has discovered a harvestman with a leg span of more than 33 centimetres. The creature found during a research trip to Laos is one of the largest representatives of the entire order worldwide. Experts have so far failed to properly identify it to species level.
Viral alliances overcoming plant defenses
Washington State University researchers have found that viruses will join forces to overcome a plant's defenses and cause more severe infections.
Genomic hitchhikers in birds shed light on evolution of viruses
The genomes of birds are riddled with DNA sequences from viruses, according to a study to be published on October 16 in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. Analysis of these viral sequences, known as endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), can provide insights into how both hosts and viruses have evolved over the eons.
Tree of life branches out online (w/ Video)
A new website makes exploring the evolutionary tree of life as easy as using an online mapping service.
Study shows butterfly wings contain same toxin as sea snail
(Phys.org)—A team of Austrian researchers has found that Hebomoia glaucippe, known as the great orange tip butterfly, has a toxin in its wing tips that is identical to a toxin used by a predatory sea snail to kill prey. They write in their paper describing their finding, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, that it appears the toxin in butterfly wings is used as a means of defense rather than as a weapon.
Researchers discover a giant virus in an amoeba that contains a provirophage
(Phys.org)—A team of researchers working out of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in France has discovered a new giant virus living in an amoeba found in an eye patient's contact lens fluid. And as they describe in their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they also found a new kind of virophage inside the virus which itself was harboring a previously unknown class of genetic parasite they've named transpovirons.
Research suggests bigger human brains may also explain higher incidence of cancer
(Phys.org)—Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology have published a paper in the journal PLOS ONE highlighting their study comparing the rate of cell apoptosis between humans, chimps and macaque. Their finding that human rates were the slowest of the group led them to suggest that such a slow rate may account for a larger brain size in humans and possibly increased rates of cancer.
Study: Boreal forest bends to development but there is a breaking point
Northern Alberta's boreal forest shows a surprising resiliency to human intrusion, but University of Alberta researchers warn the landscape has a definite breaking point.
Fruit fly's 'sweet tooth' short-lived, research finds
While flies initially prefer food with a sweet flavor, they quickly learn to opt for less sweet food sources that offer more calories and nutritional value, according to new research by University of British Columbia zoologists. The findings, published this week in the Journal of Neuroscience, are the first to measure the shift in food preference over time, and the first to find that flies opt for nutritious food more quickly when they're hungry.
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