Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for November 12, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Is dark energy static or dynamic?- Conductance measurements on graphene nanoribbons tell researchers how molecular wires can be optimised
- Study suggests humans are slowly but surely losing intellectual and emotional abilities
- Scientists discover key process that allows colon cancer to metastasize
- CERN collider to become the world's fastest stopwatch?
- Study discovers a new live vaccine approach for SARS and novel coronaviruses
- Genome sequencing of Burkitt Lymphoma reveals unique mutation
- Anthropologist finds large differences in gait of early human ancestors
- Researchers unravel the mystery of marine methane oxidation
- New cause of thyroid hormone deficiency discovered
- Cray supercomputer named world's fastest
- Team demonstrates new hybrid nanomaterial for power generation
- A better route to xylan: Researchers find new access to abundant biomass for advanced biofuels
- Meditation produces enduring changes in emotional processing in the brain, study shows
- Erosion has a point—and an edge, researchers find
Space & Earth news
Enhanced melting of Northern Greenland in a warm climate
In a new study from the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, scientists show how the northern part of the Greenland ice sheet might be very vulnerable to a warming climate.
Do a doubletake: Jupiter and Europa
Here's a recent view of Jupiter, with its moon Europa just coming into view from behind the planet, as seen by Efrain Morales of the Jaicoa Observatory in Puerto Rico. Why two images? This is a different way to see it in 3-D—just focus on the center between the 2 images and kind of cross your eyes. Not everyone can see the effect, but its pretty cool when it works. Click the image for a larger version.
Students get rover-building experience at NASA Marshall
More than 40 community college students from across the United States recently accepted quite a challenge—and have the prototype rovers to prove it.
DARPA unveils SpaceView program to engage amateur astronomers in helping to protect satellites
NASA estimates more than 500,000 pieces of hazardous space debris orbit the earth, threatening satellites that support peacekeeping and combat missions. These objects include spent rocket stages, defunct satellites and fragments from other spacecraft that are the result of erosion, explosion and collision. A collision between one of these small pieces of debris and a satellite could release more than 20,000 times the energy of a head-on automobile collision at 65 mph. To help address the threat, DARPA created SpaceView, a space debris tracking project that provides amateur astronomers with the means to make a difference. Amateur astronomers will have their first opportunity to sign up in person for the program at the Arizona Science and Astronomy Expo in Tucson, November 10-11, 2012.
Crocodile eggs measure river health: New land management tool using Aboriginal knowledge
Ngan'gi speakers know it's time to look for freshwater crocodile eggs when the red kapok trees near the Northern Territory's Daly River burst into flower.
Sun releases slow moving CME
On Nov. 9, 2012, at 10:24 a.m. EST, the sun emitted an Earth-directed coronal mass ejection (CME). A CME is a solar phenomenon that can send billions of tons of solar particles into space and can reach Earth one to three days later. CMEs can affect electronic systems in satellites and on the ground.
EU ready to suspend CO2 air travel tax for a year
The European Union executive on Monday offered to "stop the clock" on its controversial carbon tax on air travel by suspending the measure for a year on flights to and from non-European nations.
Expert: Ky. earthquake not from mining
(AP)—Geologists say the 4.3 magnitude earthquake that shook eastern Kentucky over the weekend was too deep to be induced by the region's underground mining activity.
6.5-magnitude quake rattles Guatemala's coast
A 6.5-magnitude earthquake shook Guatemala's Pacific coastline on Sunday, just four days after a major quake killed dozens and left thousands without homes in the region.
Researchers unlock ancient Maya secrets with modern soil science
After emerging sometime before 1000 BC, the Maya rose to become the most advanced Pre-Columbian society in the Americas, thriving in jungle cities of tens of thousands of people, such as the one in Guatemala's Tikal National Park. But after reaching its peak between 250 and 900 AD, the Maya civilization began to wane and exactly why has been an enduring mystery to scientists.
Intelligent Earth: Researchers explain how post-tilt planet finds its way back
What would happen if the Earth's axis suddenly tilted by 50 degrees or more? It may sound like the plot of a bad science fiction movie, but scientists say it's not an academic question—geological records show such shifts have happened several times throughout the planet's history, with dramatic effects on climate and sea level.
SPoRT captures scope of Hurricane Sandy outages
(Phys.org)—NASA's Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center has been applying enhanced, multispectral image analysis techniques to NASA satellite data to support the monitoring of SuperStorm Sandy's impacts, and assisting in ongoing disaster assessment and relief efforts.
Researchers find undersea gas leaks off Israel's coast
(Phys.org)—The terms "gas" and "sea" for many will invoke associations of reserves, business, and a lot of money. Whatever the association, most of the efforts in Israel's energy field are being directed at gas buried deep under the Mediterranean seabed. Now a new geophysical study, the first of its kind in Israel, has uncovered a system of active gas springs in the Haifa Bay seabed, at relatively shallow depths, only a few dozen meters below the surface.
At least six major earthquakes on the Alhama de Murcia fault in the last 300,000 years
Enjoying Spanish participation, an international group of researchers have analysed the most recent history of the Alhama de Murcia fault. They discovered that it has experienced six major earthquakes above 7 on the Richter scale. According to the scientists, this provides "convincing evidence" that the maximum earthquake magnitudes in the area are higher than originally thought.
More scientific research of 'fracking' urged in Pennsylvania
Mercyhurst University public health scholar David Dausey, Ph.D., says Pennsylvania has opened its doors to fracking without doing the scientific research necessary to ensure the public's safety.
Study offers new tool for incorporating water impacts into policy decisions
(Phys.org)—If you've eaten fish, gone for a boat ride or even taken a drink from the tap, you know clean water is a valuable commodity. But just how valuable? That's always been a tough question for policy makers to answer as they weigh the worth of clean water against societal needs that compromise it, such as the need to grow food or produce fossil fuels. Now, however, their ability to do so has been greatly enhanced by a new policy-making framework developed by a team of scientists led by Bonnie Keeler, research associate at the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment.
Thousands to watch rare total eclipse in Australia
Tens of thousands of people were flocking to Australia's tropical north Monday to watch a rare total solar eclipse, a phenomenon officials say has not been seen in the region in 1,300 years.
The Van Allen probes: Honoring the origins of magnetospheric science
(Phys.org)—Earth's magnetism has captured human attention since the first innovator noticed that a freely moving piece of magnetized iron would always align itself with Earth's poles. Throughout most of history, the origins and physics of this magnetism remained mysterious, though by the 20th century certain things had been learned by measuring the magnetic field at Earth's surface. These measurements suggested that Earth's magnetic field was consistent with that of a giant bar magnet embedded deep inside Earth. However, the magnetic field observed at the surface of our planet is constantly fluctuating. During the 1930s scientists pioneered explanations that such fluctuations were due to streams of particles from the sun striking and becoming entrapped within Earth's magnetic field.
Interstellar dust and the sun
(Phys.org)—The space between stars is not empty. It contains copious but diffuse amounts of gas and dust; in fact about 5-10% of the total mass of our Milky Way galaxy is in interstellar gas. About 1% of the mass of this interstellar material, quite a lot in astronomical terms, is in the form of tiny dust grains made predominantly of silicates (sand too is made of silicates), though some grains are also composed of carbon and other elements. Dust grains are important. They block visible light while emitting infrared light, and thus help determine what astronomers can see while controlling much of the energy balance in the interstellar medium (ISM) by virtue of the absorption and subsequent re-emission at longer wavelengths of light from stars. Dust is also essential to the chemistry that takes place in the ISM because it provides gas molecules with a surface on which to react with other molecules. Not least, dust contains a large fraction of many important elements in the universe like silicon, carbon, and iron. Moreover, astronomers think that at some stage in the evolution of new stars the dust around them will coagulate into large clumps—the first step towards forming planets.
NASA's cure for a common phobia
NASA has found a cure for a common phobia—the fear of asking "stupid" questions. It's not a pill. No therapy is required. The cure is a rubber chicken.
Research explores hidden benefits of intensive rainfall in East Africa
(Phys.org)—New research by Martin Todd, Professor in Climate Change at the University of Sussex, Dr Richard Taylor (University College London) and colleagues from the Tanzanian government and British Geological Survey in semi-arid Tanzania has found that very heavy rainfall that accompanies the El Niño phenomenon is vital for recharging underground aquifers in the region.
Hubble spots a colorful lenticular galaxy
(Phys.org)—The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured a beautiful galaxy that, with its reddish and yellow central area, looks rather like an explosion from a Hollywood movie. The galaxy, called NGC 5010, is in a period of transition. The aging galaxy is moving on from life as a spiral galaxy, like our Milky Way, to an older, less defined type called an elliptical galaxy. In this in-between phase, astronomers refer to NGC 5010 as a lenticular galaxy, which has features of both spirals and ellipticals.
Researchers unravel the mystery of marine methane oxidation
(Phys.org)—Microbiologists and geochemists from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, along with their colleagues from Vienna and Mainz, show that marine methane oxidation coupled to sulfate respiration can be performed by a single microorganism, a member of the ancient kingdom of the Archaea, and does not need to be carried out in collaboration with a bacterium, as previously thought. They published their discovery as an article in the renowned scientific journal Nature.
Erosion has a point—and an edge, researchers find
Erosion caused by flowing water does not only smooth out objects, but can also form distinct shapes with sharp points and edges, a team of New York University researchers has found. Their findings, which appear in the latest edition of the journal the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), reveal the unexpected ways that erosion can affect landscapes and artificial materials.
Technology news
Telecom Italia confirms tycoon interest in stake
(AP)—Telecom Italia shares rose 6 percent after the former monopoly confirmed that an Egyptian tycoon has expressed interest in investing in the Italian company.
New software to help organizations build smarter products
IBM today announced new software to help organizations bring intelligence to the products, systems and applications people use everyday. From creation to development and delivery, the new software simplifies the entire process enabling organizations to reduce costs, address compliance and regulatory requirements and ultimately get innovative products to market quickly.
Researchers examines the true state of artificial intelligence
Artificial Intelligence has come a long way since the invention of the programmable digital computer in the 1940s, but its ability to ever simulate human intelligence remains debatable.
NY Times in spotlight as ex-BBC chief takes reins
Former BBC chief Mark Thompson assumed his new role at The York Times Co. Monday amid questions about whether the crisis engulfing the British broadcaster would spill over to the US news organization.
Plan to turn farm waste into paper earns students $15,000
Johns Hopkins engineering students won $15,000 in a national competition for adapting a traditional Korean paper-making technique into a low-tech method that impoverished villagers can use to make paper for their children's underequipped schools.
Petraeus case shows FBI's authority to read email
(AP)—Your emails are not nearly as private as you think.
Australian wins $208k from Google for defamation
Google was ordered to pay Aus$200,000 (US$208,000) in damages to an Australian Monday after a jury found the Internet giant defamed him by publishing material linking him to mobsters.
Odour-eliminating pants are hot seller in Japan
Underpants which are claimed to neutralise the smell of flatulence are proving a hit in Japan, whose hard-working businessmen seem to like the idea of breaking wind without getting rumbled.
Shares in Taiwan's HTC up by daily limit on Apple deal
Shares in Taiwan's leading smartphone maker HTC surged by their daily 7.0 percent limit Monday after it announced it had reached a global patent settlement with US technology giant Apple.
Nasscom: India's IT industry to grow 11% in fiscal year
Sales by India's flagship outsourcing industry are likely to grow by 11 percent this fiscal year to at least $75 billion in the face of a challenging business environment, an industry lobby group said Monday.
McLaren backs electric Grand Prix venture
McLaren is backing a new venture to produce grand prix cars powered exclusively by electric energy ahead of the launch of a Formula E world championship in 2014.
Google, Amazon and Starbucks face questions on tax (Update)
(AP)—British lawmakers on Monday accused major multinational companies of aggressive tax avoidance, amid calls by the U.K. government for a global crackdown on firms that seek to evade taxes.
A year on, YouTube's channels not yet must-see TV
(AP)—When Google announced plans to fund some 100 new channels of original programming on YouTube, many expected a transformation in television.
LED replacements hit stores empty of 100W bulbs
(AP)—The first LED bulbs that are about the same size and brightness as regular 100-watt bulbs are reaching stores. They provide an alternative to compact fluorescents after the federal government banned the production of regular 100-watt bulbs at the start of the year because they're energy-inefficient.
Online marketplace eBay courts China shoppers
Leading Internet marketplace eBay on Monday took aim at China with the launch of a website aimed at enticing fashion-conscious shoppers there with "the very best" of its offerings.
Google's review by FTC nearing critical point
After an 18-month investigation into Google's business practices, the Federal Trade Commission is nearing a critical decision on allegations that the Internet giant has unfairly tweaked its popular search engine to tout some of its online services over those of competing firms.
DayStar to buy technology to make solar power available at night
DayStar Technologies has struck a deal to buy a company whose technology could solve a problem that has chilled the solar energy industry: How to make solar power available for electricity usage at night when the sun is gone.
Toyota tests cars that communicate with each other (Update)
Toyota Motor Corp. is testing car safety systems that allow vehicles to communicate with each other and with the roads they are on in a just completed facility in Japan the size of three baseball stadiums.
Bluetooth-enabled bicycle has automatic gearbox
(Phys.org)—Oh, no. Not another reason to count your smartphone blessings? To feel so lucky to have a phone loaded with accelerometer and GPS? Oh, yes. Engineers at UK-based Cambridge Consultants have developed electronic automatic gear shifting for bikes, in a system that relies on smartphones. The company has been working on a wireless automatic gearbox that does the gear-changing, not the rider. The system is controlled by an app on a handlebar-mounted iPhone, Also part of the system is a Shimano Di2 electronic gear-shifting system for road bicycles, wheel rotation sensors that reveal road speed, and a pedaling (cadence) sensor. This prototype is not yet in the shops, and has no estimated pricetag, but its creators would be interested in business partners.
RIM to unveil new BlackBerry phones on Jan. 30. (Update)
(AP)—Research In Motion said Monday that it will hold an official launch event for its new BlackBerry 10 smartphones on Jan. 30. The new phones are seen as critical to RIM's survival.
Medicine & Health news
Survey of ER docs and pediatricians highlights need for training, tools to manage kids' concussions
While general pediatricians and pediatric emergency physicians value their role in concussion management, a study of their self-reported knowledge, practices and attitudes points to the need for improved concussion-specific training and infrastructure to support optimal patient care. The study, released today in the journal Pediatrics, served as a catalyst for The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to create a new "medical home" model for managing pediatric and adolescent concussion.
2 Calif. deaths from mushrooms despite warnings
(AP)—The deaths of two residents of a Northern California assisted living facility and the hospitalization of four others come despite warnings from health officials not to eat mushrooms picked in the wild.
Green light for Obamacare: Panelists assess road ahead, including potential bumps
After three major scares, President Obama's health care reform law is now part of the nation's legal and health care landscape, Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) panelists said Thursday, though its effects will vary depending on where you live.
Need to learn from incidents and near misses in the health care chain
Approximately 1,735 patients a year on average die in the Netherlands as a result of mistakes. Health care professionals try to learn from these incidents and near misses, but the learning process is often confined within the individual organizations and the individual links in the health care chain. But incidents and near misses occur just as much when patients are referred from one link to another. Research into communication between the various links on incidents and near misses shows up the weak spots in the learning process within the chain. On 9 November 2012 Greet van der Kaap, research lecturer at Windesheim University of Applied Sciences in Zwolle, is to receive her PhD from the University of Twente on 'The Weakest Link, inter-organisational communication about (near) incidents in the health care chain'.
Study shows veterans are becoming more segregated in the US
Veterans are becoming more geographically isolated as they migrate to smaller, more rural counties surrounding military bases finds a recent article in Armed Forces & Society, a SAGE journal published on behalf of the Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society.
German lawmakers want circumcision ban under 14
(AP)—Left-wing lawmakers in Germany are threatening to oppose government efforts to keep male infant circumcision legal.
Children's headaches rarely indicate a need for eyeglasses
A new study provides the first clear evidence that vision or eye problems are rarely the cause of recurring headaches in children, even if the headaches usually strike while the child is doing schoolwork or other visual tasks. Many parents assume that frequent headaches mean their child needs glasses, so they ask their doctor to refer their child for an eye exam. This study was conducted by pediatric ophthalmologists who wanted to find reliable answers for parents, family doctors and pediatricians facing this common health question. The research is being presented today at the 116th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, conducted jointly this year with the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology.
Soothing sounds during cataract surgery reduces patient anxiety
New research shows that the use of an audio therapy known as binaural beats can significantly reduce patients' anxiety during cataract surgery. The 141-patient study, conducted in Thailand, is the first of its kind in cataract surgery, which is one of the most frequently performed procedures worldwide, with more than 3 million performed annually in the United States. The research is being presented today at the 116th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, jointly conducted this year with the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology.
Good quality of life for couples who adopt
Couples who adopt after unsuccessful IVF treatment have a better quality of life than both childless couples and couples without fertility problems, reveals a study from the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Pneumonia remains the leading killer of children despite decline in global child deaths
Marking the fourth annual World Pneumonia Day, November 12th, world leaders and the Global Coalition Against Child Pneumonia are calling for major efforts in the fight against childhood pneumonia, which remains the number one killer of children under age five. Pneumonia claimed 1.3 million lives in 2011 alone, and was responsible for nearly one in five global child deaths.
Obesity epidemic threatens health of all social groups equally
It is often assumed that those on low incomes and with low levels of education are overly represented in the major increase in obesity of recent decades.
Ultrasound gel and infections: Researchers propose guidelines to reduce risk
In the December issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, guidelines have been proposed by epidemiologists from Beaumont Health System to reduce the risk of infection from contaminated gels. The recommendations are based on the authors' own experiences with an outbreak traced to contaminated ultrasound transmission gel.
Patients shy away from asking healthcare workers to wash hands
According to a new study published online today, most patients at risk for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) agree that healthcare workers should be reminded to wash their hands, but little more than half would feel comfortable asking their physicians to wash. The study is published in the December issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. The study points to the need for patient empowerment to improve hand hygiene of healthcare workers.
Psychiatric wait times in emergency departments
Patients with mental illness visiting emergency departments in Ontario have shorter waits to see a doctor during crowded periods and only slightly longer waits during less busy periods, found a study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Robots enable scar-free hysterectomies for some women
The precision and three-dimensional view provided by robots can enable essentially scar-free surgery for some women needing hysterectomies, physicians report.
HIV-1 vaccine development: Pinning down a moving target
HIV-1 is a genetically diverse collection of viruses, making it a moving target in vaccine development.
Home field advantage: Intravaginal immunization may help protect against infection
Sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) enter the body through the mucosal epithelial cells and the ability to direct pathogen-clearing T-cells to points of infection may be the critical element in developing successful vaccines against these infections.
National study shows protective eyewear reduces eye, head, and facial injuries
A new study conducted by researchers at Hasbro Children's Hospital, the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Fairfax (VA) County Public Schools, and Boston Children's Hospital has found that high school field hockey players competing in states with mandated protective eyewear have significantly lower rates of head, eye, and facial injuries when compared to players who compete in states without protective eyewear mandates.
List of diseases spread by deer tick grows, along with their range
An emerging tick-borne disease that causes symptoms similar to malaria is expanding its range in areas of the northeast where it has become well-established, according to new research presented today at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH).
'Social environmental factors' affect rehospitalization risk in home healthcare patients
For elderly patients receiving home healthcare after a hospital stay, "social environmental factors"—particularly care provided by a family member or other informal caregiver—have a significant impact on the risk of repeated hospital admissions, reports a study in the October-December issue of Advances in Nursing Science.
New Red Cross website for families scattered by crises
The Red Cross is preparing to launch a new website to help reunite families ripped apart by conflicts and natural disasters all around the world, it said Monday.
Smartphone app helps mentally ill persons
"On top of the world, or in the depths of despair" describes what doctors denote as Bipolar Disorder. Patients' moods change between episodes of depression and mania. The Cluster of Excellence "Cognitive Interaction Technology" (CITEC) at Bielefeld University presents an application at the world's largest medical fair "Medica" in Düsseldorf, Germany, from 14 to 17 November: Smartphone-embedded sensors monitor mood changes in Bipolar Disorder patients and send data to the consulting doctors.
Nurse practitioners: The right prescription to ease doctor shortage
Reports indicate that Michigan faces a physician shortage much larger than the national average, and it will grow as millions of Americans qualify for insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
FDA finds contamination concerns at Ameridose
(AP)—Federal health inspectors have found more than a dozen sterility problems, including insects, at a drugmaking facility with the same founders as the specialty pharmacy linked to a deadly meningitis outbreak.
Systematic incarceration of African American males is a wrong, costly path
Mental health experts from Meharry Medical College School of Medicine have released the first comprehensive report on the correlation between the incarceration of African American males and substance abuse and other health problems in the United States. Published in Frontiers in Psychology on the 12th of November, the report looks at decades of data concerning the African American population rates of incarceration and subsequent health issues. The authors conclude that the moral and economic costs of current racial disparities in the judicial system are fundamentally avoidable, especially if more resources are spent on education and treatment.
Report offers new guidance on family involvement of child abuse case reviews
Child protection professionals are to be offered new guidance on how best to involve families in the case reviews that follow the death or serious injury of a child as a result of abuse or neglect.
Did wild birds cause the 2010 deadly West Nile virus outbreak in Greece?
In 2010, 35 people in Greece died from a West Nile virus (WNV) outbreak, with a further 262 laboratory-confirmed human cases. A new article published in BioMedCentral's open access journal Virology Journal examines whether wild or migratory birds could have been responsible for importing and amplifying the deadly virus.
Black patients with kidney cancer have poorer survival than whites
Among patients with the most common form of kidney cancer, whites consistently have a survival advantage over blacks, regardless of patient and tumor characteristics or surgical treatment. That is the conclusion of a new study published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The study's results suggest that additional efforts are needed to prolong the survival of all patients with kidney cancer.
Expert: Time to break the beta blocker habit?
First developed in the 1950s, beta blockers have been a mainstay in medicine for decades, used to treat everything from heart disease to stage fright to glaucoma. But some older classes of beta blockers are causing new concerns.
Helmets save lives of skiers and snowboarders
The use of helmets by skiers and snowboarders decreases the risk and severity of head injuries and saves lives, new Johns Hopkins-led research suggests. The findings debunk long-held beliefs by some that the use of helmets gives athletes a false sense of security and promotes dangerous behavior that might increase injuries.
Physicians fail to disclose conflicts of interest on social media
As the use of Twitter and other social media by physicians and patients rises, more and more physicians seem to forget to do what many consider crucial for building doctor-patient trust: disclose potential conflicts of interest. However, physicians are not entirely at fault: prominent medical societies have failed to lay out comprehensive guidelines for physicians on when and how to disclose a conflict of interest when utilizing social media.
Global pact adopted to curb illicit tobacco trade
More than 170 countries Monday adopted what World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Margaret Chan called a "game-changing" global pact to combat the illegal tobacco trade.
British medical journal slams Roche on Tamiflu (Update)
A leading British medical journal is asking the drug maker Roche to release all its data on Tamiflu, claiming there is no evidence the drug can actually stop the flu.
Woman benefits from precision-guided needle to glue shut dangerous and disfiguring blood vessel growth
(Medical Xpress)—Using a technique performed at Johns Hopkins but rarely elsewhere, imaging specialists and surgeons have successfully used precision, image-guided technology to glue shut a tangle of abnormal blood vessel growths in a 43-year-old woman's upper lip, face and nose. Surgery had earlier been ruled out because traditional approaches were considered too risky.
Why are asthma rates higher among children now than in the past?
(Medical Xpress)—Doug Brugge, a professor of public health and community medicine at Tufts, assesses the possible reasons.
Children raised with corporal punishment at greater risk of developing cancer and heart disease
(Medical Xpress)—Parents who smack or shout at their children could be placing them at greater risk of developing cancer, heart disease and asthma.
Social exclusion and binge drinking in young people attracted to more than one gender
A report by the University of Otago, Wellington shows that many young people attracted to more than one gender tend to binge drink because they feel stigmatised and socially excluded.
New antibody conjugate drug improves survival in older patients with acute myeloid leukaemia
(Medical Xpress)—Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) patients given a new type of 'smart drug' in addition to chemotherapy treatment are 22 per cent less likely to relapse and around 13 per cent less likely to die from their disease, results from a major phase III Cancer Research UK-funded trial led by Cardiff University show today.
Study examines link between poverty and childhood obesity
(Medical Xpress)—Children living in poorer neighborhoods are nearly 30 percent more likely to be obese than children in more affluent residences, according to a new study from Rice University.
When eating for two becomes a weighty issue
Two-thirds of Australian mums-to-be are in the dark when it comes to how much weight they should gain during pregnancy.
Researchers examine the importance of a mother's soothing touch
Mothers who stroke their newborn infants in the first few weeks of their life could change the effects that stress during gestation has on early-life development, new research from the United Kingdom shows. Increasing maternal depression has been linked with decreasing physiological adaptability and with increasing negative emotionality when mothers do not stroke their babies enough. The study, recently presented in the journal PLOS ONE, could help increase our understanding of this issue and in turn provide better information services for pregnant women and their partners.
PI3-kinase and PARP inhibitor combo may offer new treatment option for triple-neg breast cancers
The simultaneous inhibition of two separate and seemingly unrelated pathways could potentially provide an effective treatment for women with triple-negative breast cancer, according to results of two studies published in the November issue of Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Study justifies L-DOPA therapy for Angelman syndrome
Last year a clinical trial of L-DOPA—a mainstay of Parkinson's disease therapy—was launched for Angelman syndrome, a rare intellectual disorder that shares similar motor symptoms such as tremors and difficulty with balance. The clinical trial is based on a 10-year-old case report showing benefit with the drug, but few studies since have explored the neurological justification for using L-DOPA to treat parkinsonian features in Angelman syndrome.
Study shows how chronic inflammation can cause cancer
A hormone-like substance produced by the body to promote inflammation can cause an aggressive form of leukemia when present at high levels, according to a new study by researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James).
Early clinical observations in the fungal meningitis outbreak
A new article being published early online in Annals of Internal Medicine describes the diagnosis and treatment protocol established in a Roanoke, Va. hospital to care for dozens of patients presenting with suspected fungal meningitis related to contaminated epidural spinal injections. This unprecedented surge of patients seeking care for a rare central nervous system (CNS) infection required physicians to react quickly with little data to guide treatment decisions. The authors suggest that the data collected from these cases may fill information gaps and inform current and future therapy for fungal meningitis patients.
Genetic link between pancreatitis and alcohol consumption
A new study published online today in Nature Genetics reveals a genetic link between chronic pancreatitis and alcohol consumption. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and more than 25 other health centers across the United States found a genetic variant on chromosome X near the claudin-2 gene (CLDN2) that predicts which men who are heavy drinkers are at high risk of developing chronic pancreatitis. This finding enables doctors to identify people with early signs of pancreatitis or an attack of acute pancreatitis who are at very high risk for progressing to chronic pancreatitis, allowing them to take preventative action to slow the development of the disease, and give the pancreas a chance to heal. Once an individual develops pancreatitis it takes several years for the pancreas to deteriorate.
Job stress and mental health problems contribute to higher rates of physician suicide
Doctors who commit suicide appear to be under-treated for mental health problems, despite their seemingly good access to health care, a new University of Michigan study shows.
Gene sequencing project identifies abnormal gene that launches rare childhood leukemia
Research led by the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital – Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project has identified a fusion gene responsible for almost 30 percent of a rare subtype of childhood leukemia with an extremely poor prognosis.
Head injury + pesticide exposure = Triple the risk of Parkinson's disease
A new study shows that people who have had a head injury and have lived or worked near areas where the pesticide paraquat was used may be three times more likely to develop Parkinson's disease. The study is published in the November 13, 2012, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Paraquat is a herbicide commonly used on crops to control weeds. It can be deadly to humans and animals.
Saving lives could start at shift change: A simple way to improve hospital handoff conversations
At hospital shift changes, doctors and nurses exchange crucial information about the patients they're handing over—or at least they strive to. In reality, they might not spend enough time talking about the toughest cases, according to a study led by the University of Michigan.
Fasting time prior to blood lipid tests appears to have limited association with lipid levels
Fasting prior to blood lipid tests appears to have limited association with lipid subclass levels, suggesting that fasting for routine lipid level determinations may be unnecessary, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine.
Dance intervention improves self-rated health of girls with internalizing problems
A dance intervention program improved the self-rated health of Swedish girls with internalizing problems, such as stress and psychosomatic symptoms, according to a report of a study published Online First by Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Emotional disconnection disorder threatens marriages, researcher says
(Medical Xpress)—Communication can be challenging for any married couple, but a personality trait called alexithymia that keeps people from sharing or even understanding their own emotions can further impede marital bliss. University of Missouri interpersonal communication researchers found when one spouse suffers from alexithymia, the partners can experience loneliness and a lack of intimate communication that lead to poor marital quality.
Housing quality associated with children's burn injury risk
A new study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy finds many children may be at heightened risk for fire and scald burns by virtue of living in substandard housing. Researchers surveyed the homes of 246 low-income families in Baltimore with at least one young child, and found homes with more housing quality code violations were less likely to have a working smoke alarm and safe hot water temperatures. The report is published in the December issue of the journal Pediatrics.
Divorce costs thousands of women health insurance coverage
(Medical Xpress)—About 115,000 women lose their private health insurance every year in the wake of divorce, according to a University of Michigan study.
Many smokers light up with kids in car, study says
(HealthDay)—Only one-quarter of smoking parents adopt a strict smoke-free car policy, and nearly half who don't enforce such a ban light up while driving with their children, a new study indicates.
Study: Rheumatoid arthritis plus depression may be deadly
(HealthDay)—People with rheumatoid arthritis have higher-than-normal rates of depression, which could increase their risk of death, according to a new study.
Extra pounds linked to rheumatoid arthritis risk in women
(HealthDay)—Overweight and obese women are at increased risk for rheumatoid arthritis, a new study suggests.
Moderately dysplastic nevi re-excision not necessary
(HealthDay)—Re-excision of mildly or moderately histologically dysplastic nevi (HDN) that approach a microscopic border may not be necessary, as favorable long-term outcomes are achieved without re-excision, according to a study published online Nov. 5 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Neural circuit in the songbird brain that encodes representation of learned vocal sounds located
(Medical Xpress)—Although less than half the size of a walnut and weighing one gram, the brain of a songbird is fully capable of generating complex learned behaviors. Songbirds are one of the few groups of animals other than humans that actually learn the sounds used for their vocal communication and for that reason are fascinating to study.
Genome sequencing of Burkitt Lymphoma reveals unique mutation
In the first broad genetic landscape mapped of a Burkitt lymphoma tumor, scientists at Duke Medicine and their collaborators identified 70 mutations, including several that had not previously been associated with cancer and a new one that was unique to the disease.
Study discovers a new live vaccine approach for SARS and novel coronaviruses
Rapid mutation has long been considered a key to viral adaptation to environmental change. But in the case of the coronavirus responsible for deadly severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), collaborating researchers at the University of North Carolina and Vanderbilt University have found that accelerating the rate of mutations cripples the virus's ability to cause disease in animals. In addition, they say this finding may allow scientists to explore a new option for creating safer live vaccines.
Study suggests humans are slowly but surely losing intellectual and emotional abilities
Human intelligence and behavior require optimal functioning of a large number of genes, which requires enormous evolutionary pressures to maintain. A provocative hypothesis published in a recent set of Science and Society pieces published in the Cell Press journal Trends in Genetics suggests that we are losing our intellectual and emotional capabilities because the intricate web of genes endowing us with our brain power is particularly susceptible to mutations and that these mutations are not being selected against in our modern society.
Scientists discover key process that allows colon cancer to metastasize
A team of 17 researchers, led by scientists Eduard Batlle and Elena Sancho in the Colorectal Cancer Laboratory at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), have determined that the ability of colon cancer to metastasize lies in the healthy cells, called stroma, that surround the tumour. Although the stroma has long been hypothesized to be complicit in this process, this study marks the first time that healthy cells in the microenvironment have been observed to play a fundamental role in allowing metastasis to occur in a specific tumour type.
New cause of thyroid hormone deficiency discovered
International researchers, including a team at McGill University, have discovered a new cause for thyroid hormone deficiency, or hypothyroidism. This common endocrine disorder is typically caused by problems of the thyroid gland, and more rarely, by defects in the brain or the pituitary gland (hypophysis). However, a new cause of the disease has been discovered from an unsuspected source and is reported in the journal Nature Genetics. The scientists, led by McGill Professor Daniel Bernard, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics in the Faculty of Medicine, identified a new hereditary form of hypothyroidism that is more prevalent in males than in females. This sex bias shone a light on where to look for the underlying cause.
Meditation produces enduring changes in emotional processing in the brain, study shows
A new study has found that participating in an 8-week meditation training program can have measurable effects on how the brain functions even when someone is not actively meditating. In their report in the November issue of Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Boston University (BU), and several other research centers also found differences in those effects based on the specific type of meditation practiced.
Jellyfish inspire scientists to invent a device that can detect, capture and release rare cancer cells
Tumor cells circulating in a patient's bloodstream can yield a great deal of information on how a tumor is responding to treatment and what drugs might be more effective against it. But first, these rare cells have to be captured and isolated from the many other cells found in a blood sample.
Cilia guide neuronal migration in developing brain
A new study demonstrates the dynamic role cilia play in guiding the migration of neurons in the embryonic brain. Cilia are tiny hair-like structures on the surfaces of cells, but here they are acting more like radio antennae.
Study explores possible tie between fever, flu in pregnancy and autism
(HealthDay)—Children of mothers who contract the flu or have a prolonged fever while pregnant may have a very slight increased risk of developing autism spectrum disorder, a new study suggests.
Biology news
Bluefin tuna quotas up for renewal
Fishing nations meet in Morocco this week to thrash out tuna quotas as experts urge maintaining bluefin catch limits amid promising signs of the decimated species making a comeback.
European fish stocks to be counted
Counting every single fish in the European seas may sound as likely as finding a mermaid, but it seems the world of technology has no boundaries.
New study shows effects of climate conditions on bark beetle outbreaks
A recent study by a team of scientists from the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Southwest and Pacific Northwest research stations, and the University of Idaho confirms the important role climate plays on bark beetle outbreaks. Based on three decades of bark beetle outbreaks in Oregon and Washington, the researchers developed a statistical probability model to quantify the contribution of various climate conditions, such as temperature and precipitation, on outbreak levels and to estimate expected amounts of damage to lodgepole pine forests (e.g. total area with beetle outbreaks).
Call for global monitoring of infectious diseases in dogs and cats
Most emerging infectious diseases of humans come from animals. International health agencies monitor these diseases, but they do so only for humans and livestock, not for companion dogs and cats. A new study recommends a global system is needed to monitor infectious diseases of companion dogs and cats.
Greenpeace warns of overfishing 'crisis' in Indian Ocean
The environmental group Greenpeace on Monday said there was an "overfishing crisis" in the Indian Ocean and urged better monitoring of trawlers.
Sumatra elephants probably poisoned for revenge, official says
Three critically-endangered Sumatran elephants found dead in Indonesia's Riau province were probably poisoned in a revenge attack by palm oil plantation workers, an official said Monday.
S.Asian vultures stable after near-extinction, study finds
The population of South Asian vultures, which suffered a 99 percent drop since the 1990s, has stabilised for the first time, a study said, offering a glimmer of hope that the birds could be saved.
Nobel laureate: Ethics debate unstilled by stemcell success
Newly-crowned Nobel laureate Shinya Yamanaka on Monday cautioned that stem cells could still spur sharp debate, despite his achievement in creating cells that are not derived from embryos.
Viruses are capable of outmanoeuvring the ability of bacteria to commit 'suicide,' new research shows
(Phys.org)—In an extraordinary example of altruistic behaviour, bacteria are capable of giving up their lives rather than allowing a viral infection to spread through their population. Now, new research has shown that viruses have evolved a mechanism that blocks bacteria from killing themselves.
Researchers document new species of carnivorous sponge (w/ Video)
(Phys.org)—Researchers working with a team from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute have confirmed that a species of sponge first spotted off the coast of California in 2000 by a team of geologists, is indeed new. They describe their work in studying the sponge – Chondrocladia lyra – in their paper published in the journal Invertebrate Biology.
A better route to xylan: Researchers find new access to abundant biomass for advanced biofuels
(Phys.org)—After cellulose, xylan is the most abundant biomass material on Earth, and therefore represents an enormous potential source of stored solar energy for the production of advance biofuels. A major roadblock, however, has been extracting xylan from plant cell walls. Researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) have taken a significant step towards removing this roadblock by identifying a gene in rice plants whose suppression improves both the extraction of xylan and the overall release of the sugars needed to make biofuels.
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