Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for November 19, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Time's quantum arrow has a preferred direction: BaBar experiment confirms time asymmetry- Quantum teleportation between atomic ensembles demonstrated for first time
- Experimental compound improves memory in mice with multiple sclerosis
- Study finds great apes can experience a 'midlife crisis' similar to humans
- Researchers report major advance in using sunlight to produce steam without boiling water
- Lava dots: Scientists make hollow, soft-shelled quantum dots
- Researchers stretch C-O bond to record length
- Failed explosions explain most peculiar supernovae
- Ban 'killer robots,' rights group urges
- Bigger babies have bigger brains as teens: study
- 'Different kind of stem cell' possesses attributes favoring regenerative medicine
- Body may be able to 'coach' transplanted stem cells to differentiate appropriately
- Estrogenic plants linked to altered hormones, possible behavior changes in monkeys
- Hold the ice: Research reveals behavior of antifreeze molecules
- Study: Happy youngsters more likely to grow into wealthy adults
Space & Earth news
Massive deforestation risks turning Somalia into desert
Hassan Hussein cuts down 40 trees every month to fuel his charcoal business, fully aware of the impact his action has on the environment.
Darkened fjord waters mean fewer fish, more jellyfish
The seawater in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, and Norway's coastal waters and fjords is gradually getting darker. Researchers are observing signs similar to those from overproduction of organic compounds. The result may be fewer marine areas with fish, and more jellyfish.
Iowa scientists: Drought a sign of climate change
More than 130 scientists from Iowa colleges and universities say this year's drought is consistent with a warmer climate predicted as part of global climate change and more droughts can be expected.
Superstorm shines light on federal beach program
(AP)—The Jersey shore is a lot less sandy after the superstorm of the same name barreled through.
Eruption fears rise at New Zealand's 'Mount Doom'
A New Zealand volcano that featured as Mount Doom in "The Lord of the Rings" movies is in danger of erupting as pressure builds in a subterranean vent, officials said on Monday.
World Bank fears devastating 4.0 degree warming
The World Bank warned that global temperatures could rise by four degrees this century without immediate action, with potentially devastating consequences for coastal cities and the poor.
Double trouble on the Sun
(Phys.org)—The Sun erupted with two prominence eruptions, one after the other over a four-hour period on Nov. 16, 2012, between the hours of 1 and 5 a.m. EST. The red-glowing looped material is plasma, a hot gas made of electrically charged hydrogen and helium. The prominence plasma flows along a tangled and twisted structure of magnetic fields generated by the sun's internal dynamo. An erupting prominence occurs when such a structure becomes unstable and bursts outward, releasing the plasma.
Researchers studying 'fingerprint' left on seafloor by Hurricane Sandy
Beneath the 20-foot waves that crested off Delaware's coast during Hurricane Sandy, thrashing waters reshaped the floor of the ocean, churning up fine sand and digging deep ripples into the seabed. Fish, crustaceans and other marine life were blasted with sand as the storm sculpted new surfaces underwater.
Are dust devils whirling around the Curiosity rover?
In this latest update from the MSL team, Ashwin Vasavada, the Deputy Project Scientist, explains how Curiosity has been monitoring the winds and radiation levels in Gale Crater. Curiosity has also been looking for dust devils—the small dust storms that have been seen by other spacecraft as they whirl around Mars. While Curiosity hasn't been able to 'see' them by taking images directly, other instruments indicate dust devils may be whirling right over the rover.
'Spiders' on Mars
Eek, spiders! All right, so it's not actually little green arachnids we're talking about here, but they are definitely spidery features. Called araneiform terrain, these clusters of radially-branching cracks in Mars' south polar surface are the result of the progressing spring season, when warmer temperatures thaw subsurface CO2 ice.
Can humans live on Mars?
Metallic robots constructed by ingenious humans can survive on Mars. But what about future human astronauts?
Fine-tuning galaxies with Herschel and Spitzer
(Phys.org)—Galaxies come in all shapes and sizes: from those with compact fuzzy bulges or central bars to galaxies with winding spiral arms. Astronomer Edwin Hubble classified these different breeds of galaxies by means of a diagram known as the Hubble Tuning Fork.
Instrument delivered for NASA's upcoming Mars mission
(Phys.org)—A remote sensing instrument that will peer into the ultraviolet to offer clues to how Mars might have lost its atmosphere has arrived at Lockheed Martin for integration into NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft.
Meteorite samples provide definitive evidence of water and rock types on Mars
Researchers at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, NASA's Johnson Space Center, Lunar Planetary Institute, and Carnegie Institute of Washington report on geochemical studies that help towards settling the controversy that surrounds the origin, abundance, and history of water on Mars.
CCNY landscape architect offers storm surge defense alternatives
The flooding in New York and New Jersey caused by Superstorm Sandy prompted calls from Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other officials to consider building storm surge barriers to protect Lower Manhattan from future catastrophes. But, such a strategy could make things even worse for outlying areas that were hit hard by the hurricane, such as Staten Island, the New Jersey Shore and Long Island's South Shore, a City College of New York landscape architecture professor warns.
Ah, that new car smell: NASA technology protects spacecraft from outgassed molecular contaminants
Outgassing—the physical process that creates that oh-so-alluring new car smell—isn't healthy for humans and, as it turns out, not particularly wholesome for sensitive satellite instruments, either. But a team of NASA engineers has created a new way to protect those instruments from its ill effects.
Australian scientists find excess greenhouse gas near fracking
Environmental researchers have detected excess greenhouse gas levels near the site of Australia's biggest coal seam gas field, prompting calls for halting expansion of hydraulic fracturing until scientists can determine whether it might be contributing to climate change.
Astronauts touch down in chilly Kazakhstan steppe
Three astronauts touched down in the dark, chilly expanses of central Kazakhstan onboard a Soyuz capsule Monday after a 125-day stay at the International Space Station.
Scientists simulate Earth's creation to solve core problem
(Phys.org)—Using computer simulations, researchers from the University of California, Davis, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing have helped to solve a mystery that scientists have puzzled over since the early 1950s: What accounts for Earth's core density?
Rare image of Super-Jupiter sheds light on planet formation
Astronomers using infrared data from the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii have discovered a "super-Jupiter" around the bright star Kappa Andromedae, which now holds the record for the most massive star known to host a directly imaged planet or lightweight brown dwarf companion.
Scientists pioneer method to predict environmental collapse
Scientists at the University of Southampton are pioneering a technique to predict when an ecosystem is likely to collapse, which may also have potential for foretelling crises in agriculture, fisheries or even social systems.
Astronomers pin down origins of 'mile markers' for expansion of universe
(Phys.org)—A study using a unique new instrument on the world's largest optical telescope has revealed the likely origins of especially bright supernovae that astronomers use as easy-to-spot "mile markers" to measure the expansion and acceleration of the universe.
Failed explosions explain most peculiar supernovae
Supercomputer simulations have revealed that a type of oddly dim, exploding star is probably a class of duds—one that could nonetheless throw new light on the mysterious nature of dark energy.
Technology news
Motion sensor: Increase your activity for a healthier lifestyle
People are increasingly leading a sedentary lifestyle that may lead to weight gain issues; efforts are being made across Europe to encourage people to become more active and as a result, healthier. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany have taken up the challenge and have now developed an interactive learning system that aims to encourage and motivate the user to move about more - but in a playful way. The researchers have combined a sensor mat with an activity monitor into a system that both children and adults can use to stay fit and learn at the same time. The highlight: the system records the intensity of the physical activity and immediately displays it.
Naturalistic driving study is a life-saving reality show
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and its research partners are transitioning lessons learned about conducting naturalistic driving research to China.
World's first stream aggregation technology to rapidly process both historical and incoming data
Fujitsu Laboratories announced development of the world's first stream aggregation technology able to rapidly process both stored historical data and incoming streams of new data in a big data context.
Artists channel their inner CALM through 3D printing
Unique works of art created using specialist equipment at the University of Exeter are on display in an exhibition which showcases the diverse potential of the technology.
BCE resubmits Astral bid to broadcast regulator
(AP)—Canada's largest telecommunications company, BCE Inc., resubmitted a bid to the country's broadcast regulator to buy Astral Media Inc. for $3.38 billion, the companies said Monday.
IEA: Australia coal, gas exports 'to surge'
Australia's coal and gas exports will surge as its resource sector booms, but it faces challenges such as labour shortages and infrastructure bottlenecks, the International Energy Agency said Monday.
Apple climbs after share sell-off called 'insane'
(AP)—Shares of Apple jumped nearly 6 percent Monday, with one analyst calling a two-month sell-off in shares of the world's most valuable company "insanely insane."
New energy technologies promise brighter future
In three studies published in the current issue of Technology and Innovation – Proceedings of the National Academy of Inventors, innovators unveil creative technologies that could change our sources of energy, change our use of energy, and change our lives.
Armchair skippers race virtual Vendee Globe
Navigating stormy seas by day and night, hundreds of thousands of virtual skippers are sailing the Vendee Globe while safe and dry at home thanks to an online version of the round-the-world yacht race.
Shale energy production spike revolutionising energy sector
A spike in shale oil and gas production is revolutionising the energy sector and risks weighing on prices of conventional crude, according to industry experts.
Japan high-tech toilet maker eyes global throne
They are found in more than two-thirds of Japanese households and visitors to the country have marvelled at their heated seats, posterior shower jets and odour-masking function.
Samsung hits back at LG in patents row
South Korea's Samsung has hit back at rival LG in a patents row over next-generation display panels, with both firms accusing the other of stealing technology and senior staff to grab a lead in the market.
Cisco to acquire Meraki for $1.2 billion
American information technology firm Cisco said it will acquire Meraki Inc., a leader in cloud networking, in a deal worth $1.2 billion.
Thanksgiving driving patterns increase risk for fatal crashes
(Phys.org)—Thanksgiving often means more food for Americans, but it also means more traffic on the road that brings a greater chance for fatal crashes, according to a recent study of traffic data by The University of Alabama Center for Advanced Public Safety.
Measuring 'the Cloud': Performance could be better
(Phys.org)—Storing information "in the Cloud" is rapidly gaining in popularity. Yet just how do these services really work? Researchers from the University of Twente's Centre for Telematics and Information Technology (CTIT) have completed the first comprehensive analysis of Dropbox, a popular service that already has 100 million users. One shortcoming of this service is that performance is greatly dependant on the physical distance to the Dropbox servers. The researchers will present their findings in a major forum, the Internet Measurement Conference (IMC2012) in Boston.
Advanced manufacturing venture highlights region's economic prospects
Printed electronics and related advanced manufacturing technologies have the potential to be a $45 billion global industry, according to business analysts.
Intel CEO Paul Otellini to retire in surprise move (Update)
Intel CEO Paul Otellini is retiring in May, giving the world's largest maker of microprocessors six months to find a new leader as it confronts two major challenges: a shaky economy and a shift toward mobile devices that is reducing demand for its PC chips.
Google strikes deal with European music publishers
Google Inc. has reached a licensing deal with representatives of European music publishers, artists and composers in which the U.S. online giant and its customers will gain access to 5.5 million musical works across 35 countries from artists including Lady Gaga and Rihanna.
Pilot facility launched in Ghana to transform human waste into renewable biodiesel fuel
To celebrate World Toilet Day on November 19, researchers at Columbia University's Engineering School, working in Ghana with Waste Enterprisers Ltd., the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, are launching a pilot facility to convert fecal sludge into biodiesel fuel, thereby addressing a ubiquitous societal problem and concurrently producing renewable, cost-effective sustainable energy. The team is scaling up its research efforts initiated in a Columbia Engineering lab, and expects this working facility to become a revolutionary new model in sanitation.
Comments, traffic statistics help empower bloggers
Whether bloggers are writing to change the world, or just discussing a bad break-up, they may get an extra boost of motivation from traffic-measuring and interactive tools that help them feel more connected to and more influential in their communities, according to researchers.
Disney to shutter online movie store, website
(AP)—The Walt Disney Co. is shutting down its Web movie service, Disney Movies Online, saying the site wasn't keeping up with user demands.
Morocco solar plant secures 300-mln-euro loan
Morocco's pioneering 160-megawatt solar power plant took a step forward on Monday, securing European financing agreements worth 300 million euros ($385 million), or nearly half of the project's cost.
Smartphones to play bigger role in shopping
You've just entered the mall to do some holiday shopping, and your phone buzzes with alerts for coupons at nearby stores.
Microsoft sends SkyDrive SDKs and IFTTT tie-in to developers
(Phys.org)—Microsoft has announced new tools for developers related to its SkyDrive file-sharing and cloud storage service—namely, SkyDrive SDKs for .NET and Windows Phone 8. SkyDrive is an important integrator for software and hardware coming out of the Microsoft universe; the new developer tools will push SkyDrive further into prominence. A Technology Evangelist for Microsoft, Jim O'Neil, said that the cloud serves up the "connection" experience and within Windows 8 that experience is not "bolted on."
Software enables avatar to reproduce our emotions in real time
(Phys.org)—You move, he moves. You smile, he smiles. You get angry, he gets angry. "He" is the avator you chose. Faceshift, from EPFL's Computer Graphics and Geometry Laboratory, now offers a software program that could save time for the designers of animation or video games. Thibaut Weise, founder of the start-up, smiles and nods. On the screen his avatar, a fantasy creature, directly reproduces his gestures. This system could enhance the future of video games or even make video chats more fun.
Solar power to eclipse nuclear in Romania by 2016
Solar power will eclipse nuclear energy in 2016 in Romania if investment in photovoltaic plants continues at the current pace, official figures released on Monday showed.
Medicine & Health news
The best way to avoid overeating for the holidays? Stop dieting
Thanksgiving ushers in the long season of holiday treats. While many look forward to gobs of stuffing and plates piled high with cookies, others view the smorgasbords with dread. For them, holiday eating means blown diets, expanding waistlines and a lingering sense of guilt. Rutgers-Camden psychologist Charlotte Markey studies America's conflicted relationship with food and how eating habits are shaped by family and cultural norms. She talked to Rutgers Today about the key to avoiding holiday overindulgence and the futility of dieting.
Local shops vital for age-friendly communities, researchers find
(Medical Xpress)—Local shops play an important role in older people's daily lives and, for many, are an integral part of their social network, new research shows.
Tefina, a 'female Viagra', currently being studied
Tefina, the first testosterone based intranasal gel, has been in part developed by the ULg's Galenic Pharmacy Laboratory. It is currently at the stage of testing before being marketed by the Canadian company, Trimel Pharmaceuticals.
Sudan to vaccinate against yellow fever outbreak
(AP)—Sudan has launched a massive vaccination campaign to immunize 2.4 million people against an outbreak of yellow fever in the restive region of Darfur, the U.N. said Monday.
Toward competitive generic drug prices in Canada
The commitment of Canadian premiers to lower generic drug prices is a major change in how the country prices generic drugs, and government should learn from past attempts, states an article published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Immune cell migration is impeded in Huntington's disease
Huntington disease (HD) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease caused by a mutation in the huntingtin gene (htt). Though most of the symptoms of HD are neurological, the mutant HTT protein is expressed in non-neural cells as well.
A code of silence in acute myeloid leukemia
The development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with a variety of genetic changes. Some of these alterations are epigenetic, wherein the sequence of the genes is unchanged, but chemical modifications to the DNA alter gene expression.
New technology for more efficient treatment of Pompe disease, other metabolic disorders
VIB researchers from UGent and Vrije Universiteit Brussel , together with a team of the firm Oxyrane have developed a new technology that can lead to a more efficient and possibly also cheaper therapy for diseases such as Pompe disease. Oxyrane will now start developing a clinical program for this therapy in Pompe disease.
Gerontologists say research and data should drive policy, budget decisions
America's top authorities on aging spent the last week at The Gerontological Society of America's Annual Scientific Meeting in San Diego detailing workable solutions to the challenges presented by a rapidly aging population, including the demand for affordable health care, high rates of disease, and retirement security.
Researchers find that most Medicare patients wait weeks before breast cancer surgery
Although patients may feel anxious waiting weeks from the time of their first doctor visit to evaluate their breast until they have breast cancer surgery, new findings from Fox Chase Cancer Center show that these waits are typical in the United States. Results were published on Monday, November 19 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Researchers excel in predicting cancer drug sensitivity
Researchers from Helsinki Institute for Information Technology HIIT and Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland FIMM have developed a triumphant solution for predicting responses of breast cancer cells to a set of cancer drugs. The prediction is based on the genomic profiles of the cancer cells. Harnessing genomic profiles of cells in choosing the best treatment is considered the holy grail of personalised medicine.
Method for assessing hand bone density may prevent hip fractures
A new study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden shows, that a technique for measuring bone density called digital X-ray radiogrammetry (or DXR) used on standard hand radiographs can help to identify patients with a higher risk of hip fracture. The researchers believe that DXR, which is fully comparable with other, more costly methods, can be used preventively to identify people in the risk zone for osteoporosis – a disease estimated to effect some 200 million women worldwide.
Limiting neurosurgery residents' work hours hasn't decreased complication rates
Limits on duty hours for residents in training haven't increased the safety of one common brain operation, concludes a study in the November issue of Neurosurgery.
Portable bed rails aren't safe: Groups ask FTC to ban false advertising
Portable bed rails marketed to "make any bed safer" actually increase the risk of injury and death, according to an article in the November 15 issue of Biomedical Safety & Standards (BS&S).
Phase III worldwide study of new drug for patients with pancreatic cancer
A new cancer drug combination demonstrated significant improvement in overall survival of late-stage pancreatic cancer patients compared to those receiving standard treatment, according to results of a Phase III clinical trial led by physicians from Scottsdale Healthcare's Virginia G. Cancer Center Clinical Trials, a partnership with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).
Researchers use computer simulations to find true cost of HIV screenings
Introducing HIV screenings into the nation's emergency departments (EDs) leaves some doctors worrying about longer wait times, disrupted operations, and possible interference with necessary emergency services. Are their concerns unfounded? New research at the University of Cincinnati will use computer-based simulation modeling to determine how screening for HIV in the emergency department will affect how those departments operate.
Texas Biomed files patent for a novel HIV vaccine strategy
The Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio has applied for a patent for a genetically-engineered vaccine strategy to prevent HIV infection that targets the outer layers of body structures that are the first sites of contact with the virus.
Network's 'it takes a village' approach improves dementia care and informs research, study shows
The approach of the Indianapolis Discovery Network for Dementia—with contributions from family members, community advocates, health care systems and researchers—improves dementia care and informs dementia research, according to a new study by researchers from the Regenstrief Institute and the Indiana University Center for Aging Research.
Nephron sparing surgery has excellent lasting outcomes
(HealthDay)—For patients with bilateral renal masses, nephron sparing surgery (NSS) results in excellent long-term oncological and functional outcomes and survival rates, according to a study published in the December issue of The Journal of Urology.
New study review examines benefits of music therapy for surgery patients
(Medical Xpress)—A new study review published by the University of Kentucky found that music therapy can be beneficial to patients before, during and after a surgical procedure and may reduce pain and recovery time.
Study examines surgical outcomes after head and neck cancer at safety-net hospitals
Safety-net hospitals appear to provide head and neck cancer surgical care to a vulnerable population, without an increase in short-term mortality, morbidity, or costs, according to a report in the November issue of Archives of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery.
Researchers predict hidden epidemic of neurological disability for India
The 'Global Perspectives' published in the Nov. 20, 2012 issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, features "Neurologic Disability: A Hidden Epidemic for India". The authors, a team of US and Indian scientists, detail three emerging trends contributing to this public heath problem and outline measures to stem its growth. Abhijit Das, MD, DM, Amanda Botticello, PhD, MPH, and Glenn Wylie, DPhil, are researchers at Kessler Foundation in West Orange, New Jersey. Kurupath Radhakrishnan, MD, DM, FAAN, is the director and professor of neurology at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology in Trivandrum, India.
New tumor tracking technique may improve outcomes for lung cancer patients
Medical physicists at Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson's Kimmel Cancer Center are one step closer to bringing a new tumor-tracking technique into the clinic that delivers higher levels of radiation to moving tumors, while sparing healthy tissue in lung cancer patients.
Senate questions pharmacy boards after outbreak
(AP)—A Senate committee investigating a deadly outbreak of meningitis wants to know how regulators in all 50 states oversee specialty pharmacies like the one that triggered the illness.
Case study validates teleconcussion
A program at Mayo Clinic using telemedicine technology is showing promise for patients with concussions in rural Arizona. A case study published in the December 2012 issue of Telemedicine and e-Health validates "teleconcussion" as a useful means to assess concussed patients.
Inpatient sleeping drug quadrupled fall risk
A drug commonly prescribed to help patients sleep in hospitals has been associated with an increased risk of falls, according to a study published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Decreased kidney function leads to decreased cognitive functioning
Decreased kidney function is associated with decreased cognitive functioning in areas such as global cognitive ability, abstract reasoning and verbal memory, according to a study led by Temple University. This is the first study describing change in multiple domains of cognitive functioning in order to determine which specific abilities are most affected in individuals with impaired renal function.
Does your job increase your breast cancer risk?
Is there a link between the risk of breast cancer and the working environment? A study published in BioMed Central's open access journal Environmental Health provides further evidence on this previously neglected research topic, confirming that certain occupations do pose a higher risk of breast cancer than others, particularly those that expose the worker to potential carcinogens and endocrine disrupters.
Dengue vaccine to be tested in India
French health care giant Sanofi Pasteur will soon test a vaccine against dengue fever in India amid concerns about the increasingly global spread of the disease, reports said Monday.
Internal tobacco company documents reveal multinational effort to block strong warnings to smokers
(Medical Xpress)—Health warning labels have adorned cigarette packages since 1966, when they first appeared in the United States. And in the decades since, they have spread steadily around the world – in many instances, becoming more strongly worded, more prominently placed and more graphic over time.
Looking at art with a neurobiologist's eye
Her enigmatic expression has been the topic of artistic debate for hundreds of years. But the reason the Mona Lisa's mouth—part smile, part pursed lip—is so confounding has to do with the eyes, according to one Harvard scientist.
Washing turkey, not using thermometer can be recipe for food poisoning
(Medical Xpress)—When it comes to your Thanksgiving turkey, a Kansas State University food safety expert has two tips that could help keep your holiday meal safer.
Smoking in pregnancy tied to lower reading scores, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—Yale School of Medicine researchers have found that children born to mothers who smoked more than one pack per day during pregnancy struggled on tests designed to measure how accurately a child reads aloud and comprehends what they read.
Researchers find link between higher Medicare spending and joblessness
(Medical Xpress)—National economic events, like the Great Recession of 2007-09, can have a far-reaching ripple effect through the economy. In a recent study, researchers at the College of William & Mary found that healthcare is not immune. Their findings are featured in the November issue of Health Affairs.
Web info on 'designer vagina' procedures poor and often inaccurate
(Medical Xpress)—The quality of internet information available for women opting for "designer vagina" procedures is "poor," and in some cases, inaccurate, reveals a small study led by academics at the UCL Institute of Women's Health.
Study finds guided imagery helps manage symptoms of fibromyalgia
(Medical Xpress)—Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing researchers have discovered that guided imagery significantly decreases stress, fatigue, pain and depression in women with fibromyalgia.
Epilepsy in children: Surgery can eliminate the need for medication
Around one in every hundred people worldwide is affected by epilepsy, with 40 per cent of them developing the condition before the age of 15. If patients with epileptic fits do not respond to antiepileptic drugs, epilepsy surgery can be used to remove the part of the brain that is responsible for the fits so that the patient can be free of them. Afterwards, the prompt discontinuation of medication is of significant therapeutic interest. Until now, it was not known when the most favourable time was for this without running an increased risk of further fits. Now, an international team of researchers, with collaboration from the MedUni Vienna, has discovered that discontinuing medication even immediately after the operation represents a promising approach.
Breastfeeding study finds need for iodine
(Medical Xpress)—A study involving researchers from Murdoch University, Curtin and Flinders universities has examined the use of nutritional supplements by pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and found potential deficiencies for babies – most notably in iodine.
Skin cancer bill to skyrocket by 2015, Australian study finds
Taxpayers will be spending over $700m annually to treat Australia's most common skin cancers by the year 2015, with over-65s making up the bulk of patients, a new study has found.
Making earlier diagnoses when memories begin to fade
Susan Harvell's daughter, Claire, can't list specific moments when her mother, a longtime human resources executive in her early 50s, seemed to be off her game. "It wasn't anything drastic," she said. "She could tell you a million stories about when I was 3 years old, but if I told her I was going to do something, she'd ask me five minutes later if I was going to do something."
Many seniors' sleep habits are similar to those of young adults, study suggests
More than half of all retired people aged 65 and over report sleeping at least 7.5 hours per night, and between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7:30 a.m., contrary to commonly held assumptions that most elderly go to bed early and have trouble sleeping through the night, according to a study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh's Sleep and Chronobiology Center (SCC) and University Center for Social and Urban Research (UCSUR).
No elevated 10-year risk of heart disease for people who become ill during a large E. coli outbreak
According to a new study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), people who became ill during the Walkerton, Ontario, Escherichia coli O157:H7outbreak were not at greater risk of heart disease or stroke 10 years later.
Skin cells reveal DNA's genetic mosaic
(Medical Xpress)—The prevailing wisdom has been that every cell in the body contains identical DNA. However, a new study of stem cells derived from the skin has found that genetic variations are widespread in the body's tissues, a finding with profound implications for genetic screening, according to Yale School of Medicine researchers.
Optimal dose suggested for dasatinib in ovarian cancer
(HealthDay)—A phase I trial of dasatinib combined with paclitaxel and carboplatin has determined the optimal dose of dasatinib and suggested some efficacy in women with advanced or recurrent ovarian cancer, according to research published in the Oct. 1 issue of Clinical Cancer Research.
Muscle-building teens may go to extremes, study finds
(HealthDay)—Many teenagers want a toned physique, and some use unhealthy tactics to get one, new research finds.
Youngest kids in class may be more likely to get ADHD diagnosis
(HealthDay)—A new study from Iceland adds to existing evidence that kids are more likely to be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder if they're among the youngest in their grade at school.
Uninsured brain cancer patients may be more likely than insured to die after surgery to remove tumor
Uninsured patients who undergo surgery to remove a brain tumor could be twice as likely to die in the hospital as those who have the same operation but are privately insured, new Johns Hopkins research suggests. In teaching hospitals, where most neurosurgical procedures take place, those with government-subsidized insurance in the form of Medicaid were found in the same study to have rates of survival closer to those who are privately insured.
High Vitamin D levels in pregnancy may protect mother more than baby against MS
Pregnant women who have higher levels of vitamin D in their blood may have a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) than women with lower levels, while their babies may not see the same protective effect, according to a study published in the November 20, 2012, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Kids with psoriasis likely to be obese or overweight
The largest study of physician-treated children with psoriasis around the world shows children with the skin disease are about twice as likely to be overweight or obese as children who don't have the disease, according to new Northwestern Medicine research.
Electronic visits offer accurate diagnoses, may lead to overprescribing of antibiotics
One of the first studies to compare patients who see their doctors in person to those who receive care through the Internet, known as an e-visit, underscores both the promise and the pitfalls of this technology.
Stress management counselling in the primary care setting is rare
While stress may be a factor in 60 to 80 percent of all visits to primary care physicians, only three percent of patients actually receive stress management counseling, say researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
First study of eating disorders in teen ER patients suggests an opportunity to spot hidden problems
Could the emergency room be a good place to spot undiagnosed eating disorders among teens, and help steer them to treatment? A new study from the University of Michigan suggests that could be the case.
Is that nervous feeling social anxiety disorder, or is it simply a case of being shy?
Most people are faced with embarrassment or humiliation at some point in their lives. Maybe they get nervous before a big presentation to the bosses at work. Maybe they get a bit anxious thinking about approaching an attractive stranger at a party. But where is the line between normal shyness and social anxiety disorder?
Less than half of youth with mental illness received adequate follow-up care, study finds
Youth with mental illness are among the most vulnerable, but new research from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has found that less than half of Ontario youth aged 15 to 19 hospitalized with a psychiatric diagnosis received follow-up care with a primary care doctor or psychiatrist within a month after being discharged.
A myth debunked: The full moon does not increase the incidence of psychological problems
Contrary to popular belief, there is no connection between lunar phases and the incidence of psychological problems. This is the conclusion reached by a team of researchers directed by Professor Geneviève Belleville of Université Laval's School of Psychology after having examined the relationship between the moon's phases and the number of patients who show up at hospital emergency rooms experiencing psychological problems. Details on the study can be found on the website of the scientific journal General Hospital Psychiatry.
Study: Alcohol provides protective effect, reduces mortality substantial
Injured patients were less likely to die in the hospital if they had alcohol in their blood, according to a study from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health—and the more alcohol, the more likely they were to survive.
Can't stop? Smoking less helps: Forty-year study shows benefit from reduction
Countless studies demonstrate the virtues of complete smoking cessation, including a lowered risk of disease, increased life expectancy, and an improved quality of life. But health professionals acknowledge that quitting altogether can be a long and difficult road, and only a small percentage succeed.
Embattled childhoods may be the real trauma for soldiers with PTSD
New research on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in soldiers challenges popular assumptions about the origins and trajectory of PTSD, providing evidence that traumatic experiences in childhood - not combat - may predict which soldiers develop the disorder.
One week at a health spa improves your health, study shows
Take off those Thanksgiving pounds with a week at a spa retreat. A new study shows that not only are they relaxing and nourishing, but they are safe and a week-long spa stay can correspond with changes in our physical and emotional well-being.
Pulmonary complications often fatal in systemic JIA
(HealthDay)—Pulmonary complications are under-recognized in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA), and are often fatal, according to a study published online Nov. 8 in Arthritis Care & Research.
Arthritis cartilage shows mitochondrial dysfunction
(HealthDay)—Cartilage from osteoarthritis patients shows greater oxidative damage and mitochondrial dysfunction than healthy cartilage, which is associated with the downregulation of the superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) gene, according to a study published online Nov. 8 in Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Education program delivered in routine care beneficial in T1DM
(HealthDay)—A structured education intervention delivered through routine care correlates with lasting improvements in glycemic control and quality of life among adults with type 1 diabetes, according to study published online Nov. 8 in Diabetes Care.
Pediatrician adoption of EHR systems lagging behind
(HealthDay)—Pediatricians' adoption of fully functional electronic health record (EHR) systems is lagging and fraught with financial and productivity concerns, according to a study published online Nov. 19 in Pediatrics.
Study assesses bidirectional link for diabetes, depression
(HealthDay)—There is a bidirectional relationship between type 2 diabetes and depression, with a stronger correlation for depression predicting diabetes onset, according to research published online Nov. 12 in Diabetes Care.
Chronic pain in parents appears associated with chronic pain in adolescents, young adults
Chronic pain in parents appears to be associated with chronic nonspecific pain and chronic multisite pain in adolescents and young adults, according to a study published Online First by Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Study examines postdischarge complications after general surgery
A study of postdischarge (PD) complications after general surgery procedures found that overall, 16.7 percent of patients experienced a complication and 41.5 percent of complications occurred PD, according to a report published in the November issue of Archives of Surgery.
Study suggests repeat testing common among medicare beneficiaries
A study suggests that diagnostic tests are frequently repeated among Medicare beneficiaries, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine.
New clinical recommendations for diagnosing and treating stable ischemic heart disease
Six organizations representing physicians, other health care professionals, and patients today issued two new clinical practice guidelines for diagnosing and treating stable ischemic heart disease (IHD), which affects an estimated one in three adults in the United States. The guidelines and patient summaries appear in the November 20 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, published by the American College of Physicians (ACP).
Medications are being discontinued—and the pharmacist may not know
More than 85,000 medications are discontinued each year by physicians, yet while physicians share this information with their patients, it is too often not shared with the pharmacists. This communication gap, identified by researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, allows discontinued medications continue to be dispensed at pharmacies, representing an important patient safety concern.
Faulty development of immature brain cells causes hydrocephalus
Researchers at the University of Iowa have discovered a new cause of hydrocephalus, a devastating neurological disorder that affects between one and three of every 1,000 babies born. Working in mice, the researchers identified a cell signaling defect, which disrupts immature brain cells involved in normal brain development. By bypassing the defect with a drug treatment, the team was able to correct one aspect of the cells' development and reduce the severity of the hydrocephalus. The findings were published online Nov. 18 in the journal Nature Medicine.
Testosterone gel fails to boost Viagra's effects
(HealthDay)—Men who have erectile dysfunction and low testosterone may get no extra benefit from adding the hormone to their Viagra prescription, a new study suggests.
New push for most in US to get at least one HIV test
There's a new push to make testing for the AIDS virus as common as cholesterol checks.
Brain displays an intrinsic mechanism for fighting infection
(Medical Xpress)—White blood cells have long reigned as the heroes of the immune system. When an infection strikes, the cells, produced in bone marrow, race through the blood to fight off the pathogen. But new research is emerging that individual organs can also play a role in immune system defense, essentially being their own hero. In a study examining a rare and deadly brain infection, scientists at The Rockefeller University have found that the brain cells of healthy people likely produce their own immune system molecules, demonstrating an "intrinsic immunity" that is crucial for stopping an infection.
'Different kind of stem cell' possesses attributes favoring regenerative medicine
A research team at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center say the new and powerful cells they first created in the laboratory a year ago constitute a new stem-like state of adult epithelial cells. They say these cells have attributes that may make regenerative medicine truly possible.
Body may be able to 'coach' transplanted stem cells to differentiate appropriately
Pluripotent stem cells are nature's double-edged sword. Because they can develop into a dizzying variety of cell types and tissues, they are a potentially invaluable therapeutic resource. However, that same developmental flexibility can lead to dangerous tumors called teratomas if the stem cells begin to differentiate out of control in the body.
Study: Happy youngsters more likely to grow into wealthy adults
The first in-depth investigation of whether youthful happiness leads to greater wealth in later life reveals that, even allowing for other influences, happy adolescents are likely to earn more money as adults.
Protein test is first to predict rate of progression in Lou Gehrig's disease
(Medical Xpress)—A novel test that measures proteins from nerve damage that are deposited in blood and spinal fluid reveals the rate of progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in patients, according to researchers from Mayo Clinic's campus in Florida, Emory University and the University of Florida.
Genetic factor holds key to blood vessel health
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have identified a genetic factor that prevents blockages from forming in blood vessels, a discovery that could lead to new therapies for cardiovascular diseases.
Unemployment may be associated with increased heart attack risk
Unemployment, multiple job losses and short periods without work may be associated with increased risk for acute myocardial infarction (AMI, heart attack), according to a report published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine.
Multiple sclerosis 'immune exchange' between brain and blood is uncovered
DNA sequences obtained from a handful of patients with multiple sclerosis at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center have revealed the existence of an "immune exchange" that allows the disease-causing cells to move in and out of the brain.
Study identifies a potential cause of Parkinson's disease
Deciphering what causes the brain cell degeneration of Parkinson's disease has remained a perplexing challenge for scientists. But a team led by scientists from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has pinpointed a key factor controlling damage to brain cells in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease. The discovery could lead to new targets for Parkinson's that may be useful in preventing the actual condition.
Bigger babies have bigger brains as teens: study
(HealthDay)—Newborns who weigh around 9 pounds or more at birth tend to have bigger brains as teens than those who weigh less at birth, a new study finds.
Experimental compound improves memory in mice with multiple sclerosis
Johns Hopkins researchers report the successful use of a form of MRI to identify what appears to be a key biochemical marker for cognitive impairment in the brains of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). In follow-up experiments on mice with a rodent form of MS, researchers were able to use an experimental compound to manipulate that same marker and dramatically improve learning and memory.
Biology news
National beef quality audit reveals trends in beef production, industry
Continued expansion of branded beef programs and cattle herds with black hides are several trends identified in the 2011 National Beef Quality Audit, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Research meat scientist.
Antimicrobial resistance in fish pathogenic bacteria and other bacteria in aquatic environments
Little attention has been paid to the use of antibiotics in the aquaculture industry as one reason for the increase in bacteria resistant to antibiotics and the spread of such resistance to other bacteria.
Australia imposes two-year ban on supertrawlers
Australia banned supertrawlers fishing in its southern waters for two years on Monday, saying there was uncertainty about the impact of such large vessels on species such as dolphins and seals.
American Oak Skeletonizer moth invades Europe
The North American Oak Skeletonizer, a very small moth, has invaded North West Europe since 1989, and feeds commonly on planted Northern Red Oaks in the Netherlands, Belgium and adjacent Germany. This is only the second North American insect ever found in Europe on the American Red Oaks.
Global rice production 'to outpace consumption'
Global rice production for 2012 is forecast to outpace consumption this year and next because of a better-than-expected 2012 crop season, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said Monday.
Protecting US troops against sand flies
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists are helping deployed American troops protect themselves against sand flies, which are major pests in Afghanistan, Africa and the Middle East.
Atlantic bluefin tuna quota to rise slightly
Annual catches of Atlantic bluefin tuna will rise slightly from next year, green groups said Monday at a meeting of countries that hunt the much-prized but threatened species.
Violent dolphin deaths a mystery for scientists
(AP)—Dolphins are washing ashore along the northern Gulf Coast with bullet wounds, missing jaws and hacked off fins and federal officials are looking into the mysterious deaths.
Researchers study links between conflict and fisheries in East Africa
Dr. Sarah Glaser, a visiting professor at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, has received a two-year, $243,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to continue her study of the links between armed conflict and fishery resources in East Africa's Lake Victoria basin.
Beargrass, a plant of many roles, is focus of new report
Beargrass is an ecologically, culturally, and economically important plant in the Western United States and, for the first time, landowners, managers, and harvesters now have a comprehensive report about the species.
Genome-wide methylation map of disease-causing E. coli reveals surprises
(Phys.org)—A new DNA sequencing technique has enabled researchers to map for the first time the influential chemical modifications known as methylation marks throughout the genome of a pathogenic bacterium. By comparing these patterns between related strains of the bacteria, they stumbled upon a way that viruses that infect bacteria (known as bacteriophages) can dramatically alter their host.
How bacteria can survive in acidic, metal rich environments
Acid-loving bacteria thrive in sour, acidic places and can help to dissolve metal. Therefore they are often used for industrial metal extraction. In her doctoral thesis "Growth and Survival of Acidithiobacilli in Acidic, Metal Rich Environments" Stefanie Mangold, Umeå University, has explored basic mechanisms of these very special bacteria.
Study: New species literally spend decades on the shelf
Many of the world's most unfamiliar species are just sitting around on museum shelves collecting dust. That's according to a report in the November 20th issue of Current Biology showing that it takes more than 20 years on average before a species, newly collected, will be described.
Building bird-friendly cities
(Phys.org)—Australian cities can keep their native wildlife – but only if they can kick their habit of urban sprawl.
Pear genome provides new insight into breeding improvement and evolutionary trace analysis
An international research team led by Nanjing Agricultural University and BGI, has completed the first genomic sequence of pear by an approach using the combination of BAC-by-BAC strategy and next-gen sequencing. The pear genome not only provides an invaluable new resource for breeding improvement of this important crop, but also sheds new light on the genome evolution and other genome-wide comparative studies. The results were published online in Genome Research.
Vision stimulates courtship calls in the grey tree frog
Male tree frogs like to 'see what they're getting' when they select females for mating, according to a new study by Dr. Michael Reichert from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the US. His work, which is one of the first to test the importance of vision on male mating behaviors in a nocturnal anuran (frog or toad), is published online in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.
Deadly sea snake has a doppelganger
(Phys.org)—Scientists have discovered that the lethal beaked sea snake is actually two species with separate evolutions, which resulted in identical snakes.
Fruit fly studies guide investigators to misregulated mechanism in human cancers
Changes in how DNA interacts with histones—the proteins that package DNA—regulate many fundamental cell activities from stem cells maturing into a specific body cell type or blood cells becoming leukemic. These interactions are governed by a biochemical tug of war between repressors and activators, which chemically modify histones signaling them to clamp down tighter on DNA or move aside and allow a gene to be expressed.
Some cells don't know when to stop
Certain mutated cells keep trying to replicate their DNA—with disastrous results—even after medications rob them of the raw materials to do so, according to new research from USC.
Estrogenic plants linked to altered hormones, possible behavior changes in monkeys
Eating certain veggies not only supplies key nutrients, it may also influence hormone levels and behaviors such as aggression and sexual activity, says a new study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, that could shed light on the role of diet in human evolution.
Study finds great apes can experience a 'midlife crisis' similar to humans
Chimpanzees and orangutans can experience a midlife crisis just like humans, a study suggests.
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