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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 17, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Bus service for qubits: Spin-orbit qubits are right at home in electrical circuits- Google trumpets Dart release as first stable version
- New study proves Moon was created in massive planetary collision
- Archaeoastronomers claim Alexandria was built to align with Alexander the Great's birth date
- Looking for the evolutionary origins of our pretty smile
- Israeli inventor has backers for cardboard bicycle
- Chemist develops process that allows iron to serve as platinum catalyst
- The barley genome unravelled… and it's bigger than yours
- Method uses cosmic rays to gather detailed information from inside damaged Fukushima nuclear reactors
- Research shows negative impact of nutrients on coastal ecosystems
- Does true love wait? Age of first sexual experience predicts romantic outcomes in adulthood
- Researchers engineer microscale optical accelerometer
- Epigenetic analysis of stomach cancer finds new disease subtypes
- Might lefties and righties benefit differently from a power nap?
- Keck observations bring weather of Uranus into sharp focus
Space & Earth news
Plan for sustainable food production and consumption part of U.N.'s 'Avoiding Future Famines' report
A United Nations report, published to coincide with World Food Day, has warned that unless there is more action to preserve the ecological foundation of the world's food system we will witness serious food shortages as the planet's population rises to over nine billion by 2050.
Seeking the earliest galaxies with cosmic telescopes
(Phys.org)—With a recent NSF award, UA scientists will use galaxy clusters as astronomical lenses to peer farther into the depths of space than any manmade telescope is capable of viewing - to the time when the universe's earliest stars and galaxies still were forming from the gravitational collapse of gas and dark matter.
Military safety is blowing in the wind
A command doctrine used by the US military and NATO designed to warn personnel of Nuclear, Chemical and Biological (NBC) hazards could be overly conservative and degrade war fighting effectiveness or, under certain conditions, risk lives because it is susceptible to changes in wind direction and speed that happen in periods shorter than its two-hourly updates.
Coral reefs and food security: Study shows nations at risk
A new study co-authored by the Wildlife Conservation Society identifies countries most vulnerable to declining coral reef fisheries from a food-security perspective while providing a framework to plan for alternative protein sources needed to replace declining fisheries.
Cleaner fracking
The technology that opened a wealth of new natural gas resources in the U.S. is producing millions of gallons of dirty water—enough from one typical gas well to cover a football field to a depth of 9-15 feet. Cleaning up that byproduct of "fracking" is the topic of the cover story of the current issue of Chemical & Engineering News. C&EN is the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.
Rare quake rattles northeastern US
A 4.0-magnitude earthquake struck the northeastern US state of Maine and was felt as far south as Boston and throughout New England, shocking residents unaccustomed to such tremors.
Half of all wetlands destroyed since 1900, report says
An alarming 50 percent of the world's wetlands have been destroyed in the last 100 years, threatening human welfare at a time of increasing water scarcity, a new report said.
'Giant erector set' supports Webb Telescope test component
(Phys.org)—A new photograph taken inside the giant clean room at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., shows what looks like a giant Erector Set supporting a test component of the James Webb Space Telescope.
Study confirms sea-level rise is accelerating along northeast U.S. coast
(Phys.org)—A new study by emeritus professor John Boon of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science shows that the rate of sea-level rise is increasing at tidal stations along the Atlantic coast of North America, including those in Norfolk, Baltimore, New York, and Boston.
Ecosystem changes in tropics linked to declining upwelling of nutrient-rich waters, long-term study finds
(Phys.org)—Reports of declining ice coverage and drowning polar bears in the Arctic illustrate dramatic ecosystem responses to global climate change in Earth's polar regions. But in this first-ever account of a long-term project in the southern Caribbean, a Stony Brook professor and his colleagues report in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. that tropical ecosystems are also affected by global climatic trends - and with accompanying economic impacts.
The J-2X: A powerful line up
(Phys.org)—Two J-2X engines and a power pack, developed for NASA by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, sit side-by-side at John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi as work continues on the Space Launch System.
An interview with Voyager 2: At the edge of the solar system
Interviewing a spacecraft isn't something one does every day. It certainly wasn't an option back in the late 1970s, when Voyager 1 and 2 set off on a mission like no other before or since: to visit some of the most mysterious planets in the solar system, and then to continue out and on, into the galaxy.
Five acres of mats for Tahoe Asian clam project
Rubber barriers bound for the lakebed of Lake Tahoe's Emerald Bay are being assembled at the University of California, Davis, as part of the biggest Asian clam control project in the lake's history. UC Davis scientists, staff and students are unfolding the long, black mats and enhancing them with rebar, brass grommets and valves that will hold the barriers in place underwater and enable scientific analysis of the project.
Too late to stop global warming by cutting emissions: Scientists argue for adaption policies
Governments and institutions should focus on developing adaption policies to address and mitigate against the negative impact of global warming, rather than putting the emphasis on carbon trading and capping greenhouse-gas emissions, argue Johannesburg-based Wits University geoscientist Dr Jasper Knight and Dr Stephan Harrison from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom.
New model reconciles the Moon's Earth-like composition with the giant impact theory of formation
The giant impact believed to have formed the Earth-Moon system has long been accepted as canon. However, a major challenge to the theory has been that the Earth and Moon have identical oxygen isotope compositions, even though earlier impact models indicated they should differ substantially. In a paper published today in the journal Science online, a new model by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), motivated by accompanying work by others on the early dynamical history of the Moon, accounts for this similarity in composition while also yielding an appropriate mass for Earth and Moon.
Research shows negative impact of nutrients on coastal ecosystems
LSU's John Fleeger, professor emeritus in LSU's Department of Biological Sciences, is part of a multi-disciplinary national research group that recently discovered the impact of nutrient enrichment on salt marsh ecosystems is marsh loss and that such loss is seen much faster than previously thought. Globally between a quarter and half of the area of the world's tidal marshes has already been lost, and although multiple factors – sea-level rise, development, loss of sediment supply – are known to contribute to marsh loss, in some locations the causes have remained unexplained.
Keck observations bring weather of Uranus into sharp focus
(Phys.org)—In 1986, when Voyager swept past Uranus, the probe's portraits of the planet were "notoriously bland," disappointing scientists, yielding few new details of the planet and its atmosphere, and giving it a reputation as a bore of the solar system.
Giant impact scenario may explain the unusual moons of Saturn
Among the oddities of the outer solar system are the middle-sized moons of Saturn, a half-dozen icy bodies dwarfed by Saturn's massive moon Titan. According to a new model for the origin of the Saturn system, these middle-sized moons were spawned during giant impacts in which several major satellites merged to form Titan.
Elevated indoor carbon dioxide impairs decision-making performance
(Phys.org)—Overturning decades of conventional wisdom, researchers at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have found that moderately high indoor concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) can significantly impair people's decision-making performance. The results were unexpected and may have particular implications for schools and other spaces with high occupant density.
Radioactive decay of titanium powers supernova remnant
(Phys.org)—The first direct detection of radioactive titanium associated with supernova remnant 1987A has been made by ESA's Integral space observatory. The radioactive decay has likely been powering the glowing remnant around the exploded star for the last 20 years.
New study proves Moon was created in massive planetary collision
(Phys.org)—It's a big claim, but Washington University in St. Louis planetary scientist Frédéric Moynier says his group has discovered evidence that the Moon was born in a flaming blaze of glory when a body the size of Mars collided with the early Earth.
Technology news
Foxconn admits employing underage interns in China
Taiwan's Foxconn has admitted employing children as young as 14 on assembly lines at a plant in China, a fresh blow to the tech giant that has been attacked over its treatment of staff after several suicides.
Seeking tools for identifying hidden explosives at standoff
The threat to U.S. warfighters from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) is as varied as the makers of IEDs are resourceful in how they design and conceal the explosives. The Department of Defense has developed and deployed detection and counter-measures for many types of IEDs, but as the threat evolves, new defenses are required to keep warfighters safe. DARPA created the Methods of Explosives Detection at Standoff (MEDS) program to confront a specific class of IEDs: those deeply embedded in substances such as mud, meat or animal carcasses—i.e., opaque substances with high water content that cannot be safely and effectively probed with current technology.
New NIST software checks performance of biometrics applications against 2011 standard
A new software test suite developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) allows local and federal agencies and other users of the NIST's revised biometric standard to gain higher confidence that the correct biometric information can be shared between agencies accurately and rapidly.
Semiconductors with electric and magnetic properties
European scientists developed solid-state semiconductor components with magnetic properties, a prerequisite for a new generation of electronic devices exploiting both the charge and the spin of electrons.
The Internet of Things will transform our everyday
Information technology and electronics are becoming entwined with our everyday lives in industry, the service sector, transport, logistics, health care, housing, education, and our leisure time, almost without our noticing it.
Tuesday's debate a hit on social media
(AP)—Tuesday's presidential debate was a big hit on social media.
IBM stock falls on signs of slowdown in demand
(AP)—IBM's stock fell more than 5 percent Wednesday, after the company reported disappointing third-quarter revenue and suggested that demand in key markets may be slowing.
Review: Jay-Z scores as 'NBA 2K13' delivers again
It's tough to improve a video game that has been so excellent for the past several years, but 2K Sports has found ways to make "NBA 2K13" (for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, $59.99) even better—with some help from the league's most famous owner.
News Corp. shareholder protest votes defeated (Update)
(AP)—News Corp. managed to avoid rowdy protests at its annual shareholders meeting Tuesday, but that didn't stop stockholders from voicing complaints about the grip on the company held by founder and CEO Rupert Murdoch and his family.
ASML microchips says paying 1.95 bn euros for US Cymer
Dutch microchip manufacturing equipment maker ASML said on Wednesday it was acquiring US company Cymer for 1.95 billion euros to develop equipment for making the next generation of processors.
Worldwide smartphone users top 1 bn, says new report
Five years after the release of the iPhone, there are now over a billion smartphone users worldwide, according to a report released Wednesday.
Two-year study finds households manage plug-in hybrids without help from online tools
(Phys.org)—Households with plug-in hybrid vehicles, or PHVs, and smart meters actively managed how, when and where they charged their cars based on electricity rates but rarely took advantage of online feedback, a University of Colorado Boulder study found.
Image analysis might allow pathologists to expedite diagnoses
(Phys.org)—For pathologists, identifying damaged or diseased tissue is a time-consuming process of poring over samples under a microscope. But collaborative research between veterinarians and electrical engineers at Penn State could significantly speed up the process.
Knight Capital posts 3Q loss on software glitch
(AP)—Knight Capital Group Inc. reported a large loss in its third quarter because of the fallout from a disastrous software glitch.
3D printing to transform the economy, UK report claims
The Government needs a plan for the arrival of 3D printing, to ensure that the UK can reap the full economic benefits of this revolutionary technology and to address risks such as illegal gun production.
Aereo, TV over Internet service, expands to PCs
(AP)—Billionaire Barry Diller's Aereo is broadening availability of its service even as broadcasters challenge the legality of the startup's live television transmissions over the Internet.
EU, US should abandon biofuels: UN rapporteur
The European Union and the United States should stop using biofuels as they are hampering food production, the UN's special rapporteur for the right to food Olivier De Schutter told AFP on Wednesday.
EU cuts use of food-based biofuels
The European Commission said Wednesday that it was cutting targets for the use of biofuels so as to reduce the negative impact on food production and prices.
Car-packed Sofia sets EU example with solar car charger
Bulgaria's car-packed capital Sofia has set an EU example in the fight against greenhouse gas emissions by installing its first state-of-the-art solar-powered charger for electric cars, the project's managers said Wednesday.
US approves AT&T spectrum deal
US regulators approved a plan Wednesday allowing telecom giant AT&T to expand its network with under-utilized spectrum from satellite radio operator Sirius XM.
Study shows rapid growth of high-definition TV
High-definition televisions have rapidly become the norm in U.S. homes.
EBay posts higher 3Q earnings, revenue
EBay says its third-quarter net income grew 22 percent, helped by higher revenue at its PayPal payments service and the marketplaces business that includes eBay.com.
Nissan shows safety features, electronic steering
Electronically managed steering that completely bypasses the mechanical link of a clutch is among the new safety technology from Japanese automaker Nissan. Other vehicles are smart enough to park themselves. And some swerve automatically to avoid pedestrians.
Microsoft becomes friend and foe to PC partners
With the launch of its Surface tablet computer, Microsoft is becoming a genuine "frenemy"—part friend, part enemy—to its longtime manufacturing partners.
Google opens window into secretive data centers
Google is opening a virtual window into the secretive data centers where an intricate maze of computers process Internet search requests, show YouTube video clips and distribute email for millions of people.
Israeli inventor has backers for cardboard bicycle
(Phys.org)—Don't tell Izhar Gafni that a bicycle can't be made of cardboard. An Israeli engineer working in industrial design, he was always fascinated by the potential that comes from the interplay of technologies applied to materials. Gafni was too curious about turning materials into new uses and he could not take no for an answer. What's more, bicycles, he said, went beyond "hobby." With him, it was "in my soul." That might explain his three years of efforts in coming up with a fully functioning bicycle made of cardboard, which has been accorded ample research and development to reach final stages and readiness to show the world.
Google trumpets Dart release as first stable version
(Phys.org)—Google on Tuesday released its first stable version of Dart SDK. Dart is a programming language for Web applications that Google thinks will offer an improved, easy to learn, high performance environment for web developers. A year ago, Google unveiled Dart and the news outside Google was largely seen as Google's rival to JavaScript. The assumption was that Google was out to fix what's wrong with that powerful lingua franca of the Web. Google however carefully said at the time that Dart was not intended to be "another JavaScript" per se but rather a way to address a fragmented mobile platform environment.
Medicine & Health news
First ever objective analysis of elderly falls could lead to improvements in fall prevention
Researchers have completed the first ever objective, real-life analysis of the causes and circumstances of falls in elderly people, which could lead to improvements in the understanding and prevention and of falls in this group.
Investigators visit Mass. firm in meningitis case
(AP)—Criminal investigators from the Food and Drug Administration have visited a Massachusetts company whose steroid medication has been linked to a deadly meningitis outbreak.
Cruise ship crew member dies of meningitis in Italy
An Indonesian cruise ship crew member died of meningitis on Tuesday, nine days after being hospitalised with three colleagues in the western Italian port city of Livorno, health sources said.
The latest exercise trend: "Get Fit in 60 Seconds" researchers publish user-friendly how-to guide
The team behind the recent "Get Fit in 60 Seconds" headlines have taken their research out of the lab and put it into a user-friendly, how-to guide.
Daily sedation interruption for critically ill patients does not improve outcomes
For critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation, daily sedation interruption did not reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation or appear to offer any benefit to patients, and may have increased both sedation and analgesic use and nurse workload, according to a study appearing in JAMA. The study is being published early online to coincide with its presentation at the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine Annual Congress.
Report cites urgent need for revision of HIV prevention practices
Trends in the sexual practices of gay men in Australia show that HIV prevention remains firmly embedded in gay communities. However, to curb the epidemic and start driving down numbers of new infections, "a re-invigoration of prevention approaches is now needed for Australia to continue its role as global leader in the HIV response," says Professor John de Wit, lead editor of the Annual Report of Trends in Behaviour 2012 (ARTB 2012).
Collaborative care teams improve mental health outcomes
Collaborative care, a model that involves multiple clinicians working with a patient, significantly improves depression and anxiety outcomes compared to standard primary care treatment for up to two years, finds a new review by The Cochrane Library.
EPFL and Harvard join forces to diagnose hearing loss
Researchers at EPFL and Harvard Medical School have joined forces to develop an imaging technique that can provide in situ observations of the internal ear, an area which has until now been inaccessible. This groundbreaking work may finally make it possible to understand the mechanisms underlying hearing loss.
Active surveillance provides a viable alternative to surgery for small kidney masses
Active surveillance of small kidney masses is a safe and effective alternative to immediate surgery, with similar overall and cancer specific survival rates, according to a study published in the November issue of the urology journal BJUI.
Study finds vegetable-derived compound effective in treating triple-negative breast cancer
A new compound created from a rich source in vegetables including broccoli and brussel sprouts has been developed to combat triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). 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, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Doctors who go digital provide higher quality healthcare
The use of electronic health records is linked to significantly higher quality care, according to a new study by Lisa Kern and her team, from the Health Information Technology Evaluation Collaborative in the US. Their work appears online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, published by Springer.
Researchers study 'ACT TIL' approach to treating metastatic melanoma
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have carried out a clinical trial in which patients with metastatic melanoma were given chemotherapy and an immunotherapy of adoptive cell transfer (ACT) with tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). Tumor tissues were surgically removed from patients, minced and grown in culture. The treatment combined chemotherapy, then ACT with TIL, followed by interleukin-2 (IL-2). The combination therapy drew a high response rate from some patients.
One million Pakistani children miss polio vaccination
Almost one million Pakistani children were left out of a polio vaccination drive which ended Wednesday, officials said, as unrest and flooding limited access and some parents viewed the campaign as a Western "conspiracy".
Washington tailors HIV and AIDS talk to seniors
(AP)—Officials in the nation's capital are asking senior citizens to think about HIV and AIDS.
Meningitis outbreak deaths rise to 19
(AP)—Health officials say four more people have died in the national meningitis outbreak, bringing the number of deaths to 19.
Race, socioeconomics had impact on emergency colorectal cancer diagnosis
Twenty-nine percent of patients with colorectal cancer in a nationally representative sample were diagnosed after an emergency, such as an obstruction or perforation of the bowel, according to data presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held here Oct. 16-19, 2012. In addition, African-Americans and those living in high-poverty areas were more likely to present with an emergency diagnosis.
Adhering to lifestyle guidelines reduced mortality in elderly female cancer survivors
Achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight, staying physically active and maintaining a healthy diet improved survival after cancer diagnosis in an elderly female cancer survivor population, according to data presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held here Oct. 16-19, 2012.
Bloodstream infections cut by 44 percent in sickest hospital patients, study concludes
A sweeping study on the issue of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospitals shows that using antimicrobial soap and ointment on all intensive-care patients significantly decreases bloodstream infection. The results, which are being presented for the first time at IDWeek 2012TM, may suggest a major change in health care practice that could help save lives.
Plant-based diets can remedy chronic diseases
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 63 percent of the deaths that occurred in 2008 were attributed to non-communicable chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, Type 2 diabetes and obesity—for which poor diets are contributing factors. Yet people that live in societies that eat healthy, plant-based diets rarely fall victim to these ailments. Research studies have long indicated that a high consumption of plant foods is associated with lower incidents of chronic disease. In the October issue of Food Technology magazine, Senior Writer/Editor Toni Tarver discusses recent discoveries in nutritional genomics that explain how plant-based diets are effective at warding off disease.
Gluten and lactose-free ingredient substitute found for low-fat white sauces
Consumers are increasingly demanding the development of ready-to-eat gluten and lactose-free food products that meet their needs and help improve their health. A recent study in Journal of Food Science, published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), shows how new white sauce formulations are being created to meet these demands.
Uproar as top EU official quits in tobacco-linked fraud case
The EU executive faced a growing scandal Wednesday after its top health official resigned on being cited in a tobacco-linked influence-peddling fraud probe.
Lance Armstrong resigns as chairman of cancer foundation
(HealthDay)—A week after the release of more allegations of involvement in illegal blood doping in professional cycling, Lance Armstrong announced Wednesday that he is stepping down as chairman of LIVESTRONG, the cancer charity he founded.
Drugs used to immobilize patients during surgery raises risk of respiratory complications
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers have found that medications currently used to immobilize patients during surgery can increase the risk of postoperative respiratory complications. Their study being published online in the journal BMJ also found that the agent most commonly used to reverse the action of the immobilizing drug does not prevent and may possibly increase the risk that patients will need to receive postoperative respiratory support.
Clinical trials: Around half of new treatments perform better than existing treatments
On average, new treatments perform better in clinical trials only slightly more often than existing treatments, according to a new systematic review published in The Cochrane Library. The fact that experimental treatments are not more effective may seem disappointing, but the authors of the review say their findings satisfy an important ethical requirement for clinical trials.
Cranberry juice now unlikely to prevent cystitis
Cranberry juice is unlikely to prevent bladder and kidney infections, according to an updated systematic review published in The Cochrane Library. The authors analysed the most up-to-date evidence and concluded that any benefit, if present at all, is likely to be small and only for women with recurrent UTI.
Cochrane Review finds no benefit from routine health checks
Carrying out general health checks does not reduce deaths overall or from serious diseases like cancer and heart disease, according to Cochrane researchers. The researchers, who carried out a systematic review on the subject for The Cochrane Library, warn against offering general health checks as part of a public health program.
Vitamin D supplements may benefit lupus patients
A new clinical study published in BioMedCentral's open access journal Arthritis Research and Therapy provides preliminary evidence that vitamin D supplementation could be considered an immunomodulatory agent for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a debilitating autoimmune disease characterized not only by skin, joint, neurological and renal symptoms, but also by inflammation of tissue linings in the body.
Concern as HIV cases rise 8% in Australia
Research on Wednesday showed HIV infections in Australia jumped eight percent last year and 50 percent in the past decade, which health activists said was a "call to action".
Painless skin rash predicts survival benefit from latest lung cancer drug, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—Elderly patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who developed a rash within 28 days of receiving the targeted drug erlotinib (Tarceva) survived on average 6.2 months, compared to 4.1 months for patients who were given a placebo, results from a major phase III Cancer Research UK-funded trial show today.
Researchers develop milk that protects against HIV
Melbourne researchers have developed cows' milk that protects human cells from HIV.
Biodiesel emissions shown to contain respiratory disease-linked compounds
Compounds that affect respiratory health have been found in biodiesel exhausts. This might lead to restrictions on the use of this form of biofuel as an alternative to fossil fuel, according to researchers from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
New study finds efforts to establish exercise as a vital sign prove valid
Kaiser Permanente has created a new electronic Exercise Vital Sign initiative to systematically record patients' physical activity in their electronic health records. The new feature is successfully compiling accurate and valuable information that can help clinicians better treat and counsel patients about their lifestyles, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
Look beyond drug makers to avoid tragedies like meningitis outbreak, expert says
(Medical Xpress)—A Purdue University medication safety expert said it is important to look at the larger system surrounding medication use, as well as the facilities where drugs are made to avoid tragedies like the meningitis outbreak that has claimed 15 lives.
Men, women have different stress reactions to relationship conflict
(Medical Xpress)—Men and women who are expectant parents have different stress reactions to relationship conflict, according to researchers at Penn State, who studied couples expecting their first child. In addition, recovery from the initial reaction to conflict also can be different for men and women, depending on individual difficulties, such as anxiety, or relationship difficulties, such as chronic relationship conflict.
Psychological interventions could reduce mental health problems after intensive care
(Medical Xpress)—A study by UCL researchers at University College Hospital's intensive care unit has suggested that psychological interventions could reduce the mental health problems experienced by many patients.
Review confirms value of combined approach to quitting smoking
Smokers who try to quit would be more successful if they combined medication or nicotine-replacement therapy with behavioral counseling, finds a new review in The Cochrane Library. Few lifestyle changes deliver as many positive health benefits as quitting smoking, including improved circulation, lowered blood pressure and a decreased risk of cancer and heart disease.
Shingles vaccine prevents painful disease in older adults
Older adults who get the shingles vaccine have a nearly 50 percent reduced risk of developing the often debilitating disease, finds a new evidence review from The Cochrane Library.
Ethical, legal issues when people travel to other nations for health care
Harvard Law School (HLS) Assistant Professor I. Glenn Cohen lay on a table in a South Korean hospital and tried to relax as a worker wearing a white shirt and black pants methodically drove his elbow into Cohen's back.
Overcoming memories that trigger cocaine relapse
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) have identified mechanisms in the brain responsible for regulating cocaine-seeking behavior, providing an avenue for drug development that could greatly reduce the high relapse rate in cocaine addiction.
Multivitamin use among middle-aged, older men results in modest reduction in cancer
In a randomized trial that included nearly 15,000 male physicians, long-term daily multivitamin use resulted in a modest but statistically significant reduction in cancer after more than a decade of treatment and follow-up, according to a study appearing in JAMA. The study is being published early online to coincide with its presentation at the Annual American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research meeting.
Novel chewing gum formulation helps prevent motion sickness
A new prototype for medicated chewing gum has been developed for motion sickness that may offer many advantages over conventional oral solid dosage forms. About 33 percent of people are susceptible to motion sickness in mild circumstances and 66 percent are affected in more severe conditions. This research is being presented at the 2012 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Chicago, Ill., Oct. 14 – 18, an international event anticipating more than 8,000 attendees.
Prolonged formula feeding, delay in solid foods associated with increased risk for pediatric ALL
Results of one study indicate that the risk for developing pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia increased the longer a baby was fed formula and the longer solid foods were delayed.
An epigenetic difference in twins explains different risk of breast cancer
Monozygotic twins have the same genome, that is, the same DNA molecule in both siblings. Despite being genetically identical, both twins may have different diseases at different times. This phenomenon is called "twin discordance". But how can people who have the same genetic sequence present different pathologies and at different ages? The explanation partly lies in the fact that the chemical signals added in the DNA to "switch off" or "switch on" genes can be different. These signals are known as epigenetic marks.
TB fight making progress, but more funds needed, WHO reports
The war on tuberculosis is getting new weapons for the first time in decades, offering hope for controlling the deadly disease but major funding shortfalls threaten progress, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.
Use of anti-psychotic drugs by people with dementia 'under reported'
The scale of the challenge to reduce the use of anti-psychotic drugs by people with dementia may be under-estimated, according to researchers from Aston University and the University of East Anglia, working with NHS Kent and Medway.
Antidepressants linked to increased risk of stroke, but risk is low
Research shows that use of popular antidepressants is linked to an increased risk of some strokes caused by bleeding in the brain, but that the risk is low, according to a multi-study analysis published in the October 17, 2012, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Study identifies pathology of Huntington's disease
A study led by researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) provides novel insight into the impact that Huntington's disease has on the brain. The findings, published online in Neurology, pinpoint areas of the brain most affected by the disease and opens the door to examine why some people experience milder forms of the disease than others.
Infertility: How can the ovulation function be restored?
One of the most frequent is the existence of tumours that induce an over-secretion of this hormone. These women present with chronic infertility due to anovulation. Thanks to the work of the Inserm researchers from unit 693 "Steroid receptors: endocrinian and metabolic physiopathology", the intimate mechanism of the hyperprolactinaemia alterations affecting reproduction in mice has been discovered.
New malaria drug requires just one dose and appears twice as effective as existing regimen
Scientists are reporting development of a new malaria drug that, in laboratory tests, has been twice as effective as the best current medicine against this global scourge and may fight off the disease with one dose, instead of the multiple doses that people often fail to take. A report on the drug appears in ACS' Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.
Breech births cause more problems for moms and babies when water breaks early
(Medical Xpress)—Breech births increase the risk of complications for the mother and baby when the amniotic sac ruptures early. These findings were presented today by a researcher from Loyola University Health System at the 79th Annual Meeting of the Central Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Chicago.
Study: Nearly 4 out of 10 lesbians not routinely screened for cervical cancer
Nearly 38 percent of lesbians polled in a national survey were not routinely screened for cervical cancer, putting them at risk of developing a highly preventable cancer, according to a University of Maryland School of Medicine study being presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research. Cervical cancer is caused by a sexually transmitted virus, the human papillomavirus (HPV), and can be detected through regular Pap smears.
Depression and shortened telomeres increased bladder cancer mortality
The combination of shortened telomeres, a biological marker of aging associated with cancer development, and elevated depression significantly impacted bladder cancer mortality, according to data presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held here Oct. 16-19, 2012.
Two components of red meat combined with alteration in DNA repair increase risk for bladder cancer
Two components of red meat—dietary protein and dietary iron—may combine to form powerful carcinogens, N-nitroso compounds, which increase risk for bladder cancer. Moreover, individuals with reduced ability to reverse the effects of N-nitroso compounds because of a genetic variation in their RAD52 gene could be at particularly high risk.
Study finds association between rare neuromuscular disorder and loss of smell
Changes in the ability to smell and taste can be caused by a simple cold or upper respiratory tract infection, but they may also be among the first signs of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Now, new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has revealed an association between an impaired sense of smell and myasthenia gravis (MG), a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by fluctuating fatigue and muscle weakness. The findings are published in the latest edition of PLOS ONE.
Study finds potential new drug therapy for Crohn's disease
Ustekinumab, an antibody proven to treat the skin condition psoriasis, has now shown positive results in decreasing the debilitating effects of Crohn's Disease, according to researchers at the University of California San Diego, School of Medicine. The study will appear in the October 18, 2012 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).
Study shows overeating impairs brain insulin function, can lead to diabetes and obesity
New research from Mount Sinai School of Medicine sheds light on how overeating can cause a malfunction in brain insulin signaling, and lead to obesity and diabetes. Christoph Buettner, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease) and his research team found that overeating impairs the ability of brain insulin to suppress the breakdown of fat in adipose tissue.
Children with autism can identify misbehavior but have trouble putting it in words
Children with autism have difficulty identifying inappropriate social behavior, and even when successful, they are often unable to justify why the behavior seemed inappropriate. New brain imaging studies show that children with autism may recognize socially inappropriate behavior, but have difficulty using spoken language to explain why the behavior is considered inappropriate, according to research published Oct. 17 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Elizabeth Carter from Carnegie Mellon University and colleagues.
Impact of autism may be different in men and women
Men and women with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) may show subtle but significant differences in the cognitive functions impacted by the condition, according to new research published Oct 17 by Meng-Chuan Lai and colleagues from the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge, UK in the open access journal PLOS ONE.
Physical activity shown to help young and elderly alike with lower-leg coordination
An Indiana University study that examined the effect of age and physical activity on lower leg muscle reflexes and coordination concluded that participation in physical activity was beneficial for lower leg muscle coordination across both sides of the body in both young and older study participants. Lower limb muscle communication is essential for everyday tasks, such as walking, balancing, and climbing stairs.
Leading bone marrow transplant expert recommends significant change to current practice
One of the world's leading bone marrow transplant experts is recommending a significant change to current transplant practice for patients who need marrow or adult stem cells from an unrelated donor to treat hematologic malignancies. Fred Appelbaum, M.D., director of the Clinical Research Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, asserts that bone marrow – not circulating, peripheral blood, which is the current norm – should be the source for unrelated donor adult stem cells for most patients who require a transplant. The reason: because there is less incidence of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which can be a debilitating side effect of transplantation.
Weight loss does not improve fertility
(Medical Xpress)—Losing weight does not lead to improved fertility in women, but does improve sexual function, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.
Delays in diagnosis, variations in treatment for morphea
(HealthDay)—Patients with localized scleroderma (morphea) often experience delay in diagnosis and variability in treatment that is based more on the specialty of the provider than disease characteristics, according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
West Nile cases pass 4,500 mark nationwide: CDC
(HealthDay)—The number of West Nile virus cases this year has surpassed 4,500, U.S. health officials reported Wednesday, and the number of deaths has reached 183, up from 168 last week.
Quick, cheap retina scan can predict brain damage caused by multiple sclerosis
An inexpensive, five-minute eye scan can accurately assess the amount of brain damage in people with the debilitating autoimmune disorder multiple sclerosis (MS), and offer clues about how quickly the disease is progressing, according to results of two Johns Hopkins studies.
Survival reflex sparks male perception bias, study finds
You glimpse a stranger standing in the street. The light is hazy and the person's face and clothing are indistinct. Who is it? Chances are you will think it is a man—and the reason for this is a survival reflex, according to an unusual study published on Wednesday.
Study shows people return smiles based on feelings of status and power
(Medical Xpress)—A study conducted to learn more about mimicry of facial features has found that people tend to mimic smiles directed at them by other people based on their own feelings of status and power. The team, led by Evan Carr of the University of California presented its findings at this year's Society for Neuroscience conference in New Orleans.
Study examines how Alzheimer's kills brain cells
(Medical Xpress)—Exactly how Alzheimer's disease kills brain cells is still somewhat of a mystery, but University of Michigan researchers have uncovered a clue that supports the idea that small proteins prick holes into neurons.
Study clarifies process controlling night vision
On the road at night or on a tennis court at dusk, the eye can be deceived. Vision is not as sharp as in the light of day, and detecting a bicyclist on the road or a careening tennis ball can be tough.
Research discovers two opposite ways our brain voluntarily forgets unwanted memories
If only there were a way to forget that humiliating faux pas at last night's dinner party. It turns out there's not one, but two opposite ways in which the brain allows us to voluntarily forget unwanted memories, according to a study published by Cell Press October 17 in the journal Neuron. The findings may explain how individuals can cope with undesirable experiences and could lead to the development of treatments to improve disorders of memory control.
Calcium reveals connections between neurons
A team led by MIT neuroscientists has developed a way to monitor how brain cells coordinate with each other to control specific behaviors, such as initiating movement or detecting an odor.
Epigenetic analysis of stomach cancer finds new disease subtypes
Researchers at the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School in Singapore have identified numerous new subtypes of gastric cancer that are triggered by environmental factors.
Might lefties and righties benefit differently from a power nap?
People who like to nap say it helps them focus their minds post a little shut eye. Now, a study from Georgetown University Medical Center may have found evidence to support that notion.
Does true love wait? Age of first sexual experience predicts romantic outcomes in adulthood
It's a common lament among parents: Kids are growing up too fast these days. Parents worry about their kids getting involved in all kinds of risky behavior, but they worry especially about their kids' forays into sexual relationships. And research suggests that there may be cause for concern, as timing of sexual development can have significant immediate consequences for adolescents' physical and mental health.
New vaccine strategy may fight genital herpes, mouse study suggests
(HealthDay)—A new vaccination approach may provide protection against genital herpes as well as other sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, according to a new study involving mice.
Biology news
Ministers meet for crunch biodiversity talks
More than 70 environment ministers meet in India on Wednesday for key talks on halting the depletion of Earth's natural resources, under pressure to put up money to match their political pledges.
Classical music calms shelter dogs, new study says
(Phys.org)—Dogs in animal shelters were less likely to bark and more likely to sleep to classical music than heavy metal, music specially formulated for animals, or no music, according to a new study by a Colorado State University associate professor.
Shark migrations studied with underwater robot along Delmarva Peninsula
University of Delaware researchers are using an underwater robot to find and follow sand tiger sharks that they previously tagged with transmitters. The innovative project is part of a multi-year partnership with Delaware State University to better understand the behavior and migration patterns of the sharks in real time.
Where the deer and the antelope cross
The locations of the structures completed this fall were informed by data collected by WCS, the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and identified the pronghorn's preferred migration routes and highway crossing points.
A European-wide network for systematic GMO impact assessment
The authors of this paper propose a framework for a European-wide network for systematic GMO impact assessment. This network aims at improving the regulatory system by enhancing and harmonizing the environmental risk assessment process and post-market environmental monitoring of GM crops in the EU.
Choosing the right mango for the right product
With over a thousand different varieties of mangoes to choose from, selecting the right variety for mango products can be a daunting task. A new study in the Journal of Food Science, published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), explores the impact that processing has on the flavor and texture of mango varieties. Findings suggest that processing plays an important role in determining the flavor and texture of the final product.
Conference seeks to curb exploitation of high seas
Long spared because of their remoteness, the high seas have become an important hunting ground for fish trawlers and oil prospectors, putting at risk many marine species that call these waters home.
Research finds that lizards are fast learners
(Phys.org)—An Australian lizard, the Eastern Water Skink, has dispelled a long held myth that reptiles are slow learners. Researchers studying the lizard have found they do have the ability for rapid and flexible learning, challenging previous work that has suggested reptiles are less cognitively sophisticated than other vertebrates.
To preserve forest health, the best management decision may be to do nothing, study finds
(Phys.org)—In newscasts after intense wind and ice storms, damaged trees stand out: snapped limbs, uprooted trunks, entire forests blown nearly flat.
Madagascar's palm trees at risk of extinction
An environmental group said Wednesday that a vast swath of Madagascar's unique palm tree species was threatened with extinction. Their dying out would harm the livelihoods of local people as well as endanger several animal species.
Monk parakeets: Immigrants to New York via Argentina
They appear as invaders, taking over a neighborhood and erecting tall dwellings seemingly overnight. Offspring and relatives soon follow, and their ensuing racket is not to be spoken of in polite company.
Searching for a silver bullet: Measuring biodiversity to inform species conservation
(Phys.org)—Ecologists in the University of Georgia Odum School of Ecology have found that evolutionary diversity can be an effective method for identifying hotspots of mammal biodiversity. In a paper published Oct. 17 in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, they report that evolutionary diversity can be an effective proxy for both the sheer number of species as well as their characteristics and ecological roles. Their findings could help conservation organizations better protect threatened species across the globe.
Crows don't digest prions, may transport them to other locations
Crows fed on prion-infected brains from mice can transmit these infectious agents in their feces and may play a role in the geographic spread of diseases caused by prions, such as chronic wasting disease or scrapie.
Steps in the right direction for conservation
As the climate changes, conservationists are divided over the most effective way to preserve animal and plant diversity because they cannot simply preserve the status quo. Ensuring species can shift to track the climate to which they are suited is a complex problem, especially when there are competing demands on land use. A simple prediction is that more habitat would help species to shift, but it is not obvious what the best spatial locations for habitat would be.
Dolphins can remain alert for up to 15 days at a time with no sign of fatigue
Dolphins sleep with only one half of their brains at a time, and according to new research published Oct. 17 in the open access journal PLOS ONE, this trait allows them to stay constantly alert for at least 15 days in a row. Brian Branstetter from the National Marine Mammal Foundation and colleagues found that dolphins can use echolocation with near-perfect accuracy continuously for up to 15 days, identifying targets and monitoring their environment.
Protecting native birds by manipulating rats' sense of smell
(Phys.org)—Rats' keen sense of smell can be exploited to dramatically reduce their attacks on native birds, researchers from the University of Sydney have shown. The technique could be adapted to protect vulnerable species worldwide.
Global warming: Changing interactions between species may be more dangerous than high temperatures alone
(Phys.org)—Climate change causes extinctions not only as a result of species intolerance to high temperature, but more commonly via a variety of related factors that alter a species' interactions with other species, according to a new review published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Contrary to expectations given global warming, researchers from Stony Brook University found little evidence that many species have gone locally extinct or declined due to direct effects of higher temperatures. Instead, climate change was found to typically lead to local extinctions and declines by influencing interactions between species, such as reducing prey populations for predators.
Long-term study examines social network, 'freindships' of 45 female baboons
(Phys.org)—Some pairs of female baboons form relationships that look a lot like "friendships," a group of researchers has found.
Extreme 'housework' cuts the life span of female Komodo Dragons
Extreme 'housework' cuts the life span of female Komodo Dragons
The barley genome unravelled… and it's bigger than yours
An international consortium of scientists has published a high resolution draft of the barley genome. The research, published in the journal Nature, will help to produce new and better barley varieties that are vital for the beer and whisky industries.
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