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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for November 11, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Study finds new way in which plants control flower production- It's not just what you eat, but when you eat it
- Microsoft wins applause for tone-preserving translation (w/ Video)
- Making a better invisibility cloak
- How to 'supercharge' atoms with X-ray laser
- Early stress may sensitize girls' brains for later anxiety
- Atmospheric CO2 risks increasing space junk, study finds
- Touch-sensitive plastic skin heals itself
- Schizophrenia genetic networks identified: Connection to autism found
- Using rust and water to store solar energy as hydrogen
- Detection, analysis of 'cell dust' may allow diagnosis, monitoring of brain cancer
- A better brain implant: Slim electrode cozies up to single neurons
- Why Antarctic sea ice cover has increased under the effects of climate change
- 'Groundwater inundation' doubles previous predictions of flooding with future sea level rise
- Gene variations linked to lung cancer susceptibility in Asian women
Space & Earth news
French Guiana launches rocket with 2 satellites
(AP)—A rocket carrying European and Brazilian telecommunication satellites has been launched from French Guiana.
China 'plans manned space launch' in 2013
China is aiming to launch its next manned space mission as early as June 2013, state media reported Saturday, as the country steps up its ambitious exploration programme.
Research: Cultural dimensions of climate change are underestimated, overlooked and misunderstood
The impact of climate change on many aspects of cultural life for people all over the world is not being sufficiently accounted for by scientists and policy-makers. University of Exeter-led research by an international team, published on 11th November in Nature Climate Change, shows that cultural factors are key to making climate change real to people and to motivating their responses.
Climate change threatens giant pandas' bamboo buffet—and survival
China's endangered wild pandas may need new dinner reservations – and quickly – based on models that indicate climate change may kill off swaths of bamboo that pandas need to survive.
Why Antarctic sea ice cover has increased under the effects of climate change
The first direct evidence that marked changes to Antarctic sea ice drift have occurred over the last 20 years, in response to changing winds, is published this week in the journal Nature Geoscience. Scientists from NERC's British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena California explain why, unlike the dramatic losses reported in the Arctic, the Antarctic sea ice cover has increased under the effects of climate change.
'Groundwater inundation' doubles previous predictions of flooding with future sea level rise
Scientists from the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) published a study today in Nature Climate Change showing that besides marine inundation (flooding), low-lying coastal areas may also be vulnerable to "groundwater inundation," a factor largely unrecognized in earlier predictions on the effects of sea level rise (SLR).
Discovery of a giant gap in the disk of a sun-like star may indicate multiple planets
A large international team of astronomers led by Jun Hashimoto (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan) and Ruobing Dong (Princeton University) has used the High Contrast Instrument for the Subaru Next Generation Adaptive Optics (HiCIAO) to observe and examine PDS 70, a young star about 10 million years old with a mass similar to that of the Sun. Images captured from the observations clearly show a giant gap inside the protoplanetary disk, the largest ever found among lower mass stars similar to the Sun. A protoplanetary disk is where planets form, and the gravitational force of newborn planets may account for the huge gap between the inner edge of the disk and the central star. No single planet, regardless of how heavy or efficient it is in its formation, is sufficient to create such a giant gap. The researchers think that the gap in PDS 70's protoplanetary disk may have resulted from the birth of multiple planets. The high contrast images from the observations allowe! d the researchers to study the details of the disk, which then enabled them to directly reveal the site of formation of one and possibly more planets. The research team is now attempting to detect those planets.
Atmospheric CO2 risks increasing space junk, study finds
A build-up of carbon dioxide in the upper levels of Earth's atmosphere risks causing a faster accumulation of man-made space junk and resulting in more collisions, scientists said on Sunday.
Technology news
Pentagon moves to silence SEALs about missions
(AP)—The U.S. military is cracking down on special operations troops who share knowledge of their secret missions for profit, punishing seven Navy SEALs, including one involved in the mission to get Osama bin Laden, who moonlighted as advisers on a combat video game.
Singles Day: China's online shopping holiday
(AP)—Lei Shujie, a designer in Shanghai, piled up a wish list for Sunday, a quirky holiday dubbed "Singles Day" that has grown into China's—and possibly the world's—busiest online shopping day.
Zynga buys startup in move to more intense games
Zynga announced Friday its acquisition of the team at startup November Software as part of a move into "mid-core" games with more staying power than passing fad casual titles.
EU officials: We were hacked at Web conference
A European official says her staff members were hacked when they joined her for a conference on Internet security in Azerbaijan.
Fault under Japan nuclear plant 'may be active'
Japan's only working nuclear power plant sits on what may be a seismic fault in the earth's crust, a geologist has warned, saying it is "very silly" to allow it to continue operating.
Apple still perched high, but seems vulnerable
Apple, the world's biggest and perhaps most admired company, seems to have lost some of its luster.
Apple pays Swiss rail $21mn over clock dispute, report says
US tech giant Apple has dished out 20 million Swiss francs ($21 million, 17 million euros) to compensate Swiss national rail operator SBB for using its famous clock without permission, a Swiss daily reported Saturday.
Predicting presidents, storms and life by computer
Forget political pundits, gut instincts, and psychics. The mightier-than-ever silicon chip seems to reveal the future. In just two weeks this fall, computer models displayed an impressive prediction prowess.
HTC and Apple reach global settlement
Taiwan's leading smartphone maker HTC said Sunday it has reached a global settlement with technology giant Apple, bringing an end to all outstanding litigation between the two companies.
Japan's gadget failures: The futures that never happened
It gave us the Walkman, the pocket calculator and heated toilet seats, but Japan's path to innovative greatness is littered with failures such as the TV-shaped radio and the "walking" toaster.
Microsoft wins applause for tone-preserving translation (w/ Video)
(Phys.org)—Speech recognition in computers is an ongoing story with years of little progress in between. Even such programs as Siri have inspired derisive tales of how Siri renders flubs. Microsoft Chief Research Officer Rick Rashid recently presented an overview of where speech recognition at Microsoft stands today. His talk, delivered in October at the Tianjin, China at Microsoft Research Asia's 21st Century Computing, has captured the attention of technology watchers globally, as it makes the point that progress really is on a roll. Rashid made it clear, through his summary timeline of milestones and direct demo of text to spech capabilities, that the newer signs of progress are substantial and impressive.
Medicine & Health news
Autoimmune disease linked to pregnancy loss, stroke more often than you'd expect
For years, researchers have known that antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) can cause pregnancy loss and clotting, but they haven't known the true scope of the problem. Now a new study provides the first estimates of the prevalence of these antibodies in patients suffering from pregnancy loss, stroke, myocardial infarction, and deep vein thrombosis.
Expensive arthritis treatment no better than steroid therapy
A randomized, double-blind clinical trial by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery has revealed that corticosteroids are more effective than the more expensive treatment, hylan G-F 20 (Synvisc One, Genzyme Biosurgery), in providing pain relief to patients with thumb arthritis. The study also showed that both of these commonly used treatments provided clinically meaningful pain relief, but so did a placebo injection.
Hospital-based exercise programs benefit people with osteoarthritis
A low-cost exercise program run by Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City has significantly improved pain, function and quality of life in participants with osteoarthritis, according to new research.
Researchers identify impact of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus on joint replacement surgery outcomes
Two new studies by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery have overturned common beliefs about joint replacement in patients with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Study overturns common assumption about knee replacements in morbidly obese individuals
After total knee replacement (TKR) surgery, patients who are morbidly obese have similar pain and function outcomes as patients who do not fall into this weight category, according to a new study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery. The finding is surprising given that numerous studies have shown that obese patients have worse outcomes. The study will be reported at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals, to be held Nov. 9-14, in Washington D.C.
Statins have potential to treat an autoimmune clotting disorder called antiphospholipid syndrome
New research suggests that statins, traditionally used for cholesterol lowering, could be used in the management of individuals who are at risk for developing clotting because they have autoimmune antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). The research will be presented in two presentations at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ACR/ARHP). The meeting will be held Nov. 9-14, in Washington D.C.
Brain injury and stress disorder strong indicators of vision problems for veterans
Many veterans of the United States armed forces who have traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder also have undiagnosed, chronic vision problems, according to two studies presented today at the 116th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, jointly conducted this year with the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology.
Glaucoma-related vision loss may increase risk for auto accidents
The first study to compare accident rates for drivers who have advanced glaucoma − an eye disease that affects peripheral vision − with normal-vision drivers, found that the glaucoma group had about twice as many accidents. This study, which was conducted in Japan using a driving simulator, suggests that potential drivers should pass a visual field test to ensure adequate peripheral vision before a license is granted or renewed. 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.
Digital tablets improve speed and ease of reading for people with moderate vision loss
People who have eye diseases that damage their central vision can regain the ability to read quickly and comfortably by using digital tablets, according to a recent study. The research found that people with moderate vision loss could increase their reading speed by 15 words-per-minute, on average. Using a tablet with a back-lit screen resulted in the fastest reading speeds for all study participants, no matter what their level of visual acuity. 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.
India wages hi-tech war on ancient TB scourge
(AP)—Shammo Khan walks into a dusty courtyard that reeks of garbage, searching for the fingerprint of a man exhausted by HIV, drug withdrawal and the tuberculosis lesions hijacking his lungs.
Lower-income patients fare better than wealthier after knee replacement, study finds
Patients who make $35,000 a year or less report better outcomes after knee replacement surgery than people who earn more, research by Mayo Clinic and the University of Alabama at Birmingham shows. The lower-income patients studied reported less pain and better knee function at their two-year checkups than wealthier people did. The study was being presented at the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting in Washington.
Rheumatoid arthritis patients can get gout too, study finds
Refuting a belief long held by many physicians, a Mayo Clinic study found that rheumatoid arthritis patients also can get gout. The research is among several studies Mayo Clinic is presenting at the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting in Washington. Researchers also found that gut bacteria has potential to treat autoimmune disorders, rheumatoid arthritis patients are at higher risk for cancer, broken bones put rheumatoid arthritis patients in greater danger of heart disease and death, and corticosteroids are a mainstay of rheumatoid arthritis treatment even as new drugs emerge.
Fifth of US youth with HIV unaware during first-time sex
Twenty percent of young people born with HIV in the United States don't know they're infected when they have sex for the first time, according to a new study released Friday.
Review compares surgeries for sciatica due to herniated disc
(HealthDay)—No conclusions can be drawn with regard to the comparative efficacy of open, microscopic, and tubular discectomy surgical techniques to treat sciatica due to a herniated disc, according to the results of a systematic literature review published in the November issue of the European Spine Journal.
Higher pulse wave velocity seen in well-controlled diabetes
(HealthDay)—Pulse wave velocity is higher among patients with well-controlled type 2 diabetes when compared to controls, and is associated with white matter lesions, according to a study published online Nov. 5 in Diabetes Care.
Lean process methods expedite care in ischemic stroke
(HealthDay)—Use of lean process improvement methodology can reduce the time to stroke care without compromising patient safety, according to a study published online Nov. 8 in Stroke.
Steroid-meningitis toll now 32 dead, 438 sickened, CDC says
(HealthDay)—Thirty-two people have now died and 438 have been sickened in the fungal meningitis outbreak linked to tainted steroid injections, U.S. health officials reported Friday.
Fractional, ablative er:YAG laser akin for skin resurfacing
(HealthDay)—Multiple sessions of fractional laser treatment with erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) for facial resurfacing are comparable to a single ablative Er:YAG laser treatment, according to a small study published online Oct. 29 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Denmark to scrap world's first fat tax
Denmark said Saturday it would scrap a fat tax it introduced a little over a year ago in a world first, saying the measure was costly and failed to change Danes' eating habits.
Age-related macular degeneration treatment works even with other eye problem
The primary treatment for wet macular degeneration, a chronic eye condition that causes vision loss, is effective even if patients have macular traction problems, a Mayo Clinic study shows. The findings will be presented today at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in Chicago.
Compound in grapes, red wine could be key to fighting prostate cancer
Resveratrol, a compound found commonly in grape skins and red wine, has been shown to have several beneficial effects on human health, including cardiovascular health and stroke prevention. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has discovered that the compound can make prostate tumor cells more susceptible to radiation treatment, increasing the chances of a full recovery from all types of prostate cancer, including aggressive tumors.
Study ties obesity-related gene to weaker memory
(HealthDay)—In middle-aged people, a link may exist between weakened memory and genetic traits associated with obesity, raising the possibility that extra pounds change how our brains work, a new study suggests.
New form of brain plasticity: Research shows how social isolation disrupts myelin production
Animals that are socially isolated for prolonged periods make less myelin in the region of the brain responsible for complex emotional and cognitive behavior, researchers at the University at Buffalo and Mt. Sinai School of Medicine report in Nature Neuroscience online.
Mutations in genes that modify DNA packaging result in Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy
A recent finding by medical geneticists sheds new light on how Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy develops and how it might be treated. More commonly known as FSHD, the devastating disease affects both men and women.
Discovery shows medications can treat inflammation without increasing risk for infection
In a discovery that can fundamentally change how drugs for arthritis, and potentially many other diseases, are made, University of Utah medical researchers have identified a way to treat inflammation while potentially minimizing a serious side effect of current medications: the increased risk for infection.
Detection, analysis of 'cell dust' may allow diagnosis, monitoring of brain cancer
A novel miniature diagnostic platform using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology is capable of detecting minuscule cell particles known as microvesicles in a drop of blood. Microvesicles shed by cancer cells are even more numerous than those released by normal cells, so detecting them could prove a simple means for diagnosing cancer.
A better brain implant: Slim electrode cozies up to single neurons
A thin, flexible electrode developed at the University of Michigan is 10 times smaller than the nearest competition and could make long-term measurements of neural activity practical at last.
Gene variations linked to lung cancer susceptibility in Asian women
An international group of scientists has identified three genetic regions that predispose Asian women who have never smoked to lung cancer. The finding provides further evidence that risk of lung cancer among never-smokers, especially Asian women, may be associated with certain unique inherited genetic characteristics that distinguishes it from lung cancer in smokers.
Schizophrenia genetic networks identified: Connection to autism found
Although schizophrenia is highly genetic in origin, the genes involved in the disorder have been difficult to identify. In the past few years, researchers have implicated several genes, but it is unclear how they act to produce the disorder. A new study by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center identifies affected gene networks and provides insight into the molecular causes of the disease.
Early stress may sensitize girls' brains for later anxiety
High levels of family stress in infancy are linked to differences in everyday brain function and anxiety in teenage girls, according to new results of a long-running population study by University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists.
It's not just what you eat, but when you eat it
Fat cells store excess energy and signal these levels to the brain. In a new study this week in Nature Medicine, Georgios Paschos PhD, a research associate in the lab of Garret FitzGerald, MD, FRS director of the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, shows that deletion of the clock gene Arntl, also known as Bmal1, in fat cells, causes mice to become obese, with a shift in the timing of when this nocturnal species normally eats. These findings shed light on the complex causes of obesity in humans.
Biology news
Texas cotton getting a genetic 'tune-up'
Can you imagine trying to build a competitive race car with old parts? Chances are, the entry would not fare well at the Indy 500. Very much the same thing might be said about today's crops, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist.
China surveys Yangtze dolphin as extinction looms
Chinese scientists on Sunday began a survey of the dwindling population of an endangered porpoise in the country's longest river, as the animal edges towards extinction from man-made threats.
Fisheries nations set to discuss bluefin tuna
(AP)—After defeating a proposal in 2010 to ban the export of an endangered fish that is a key ingredient of sushi, Japan and Asian nations argued it should be left to quota-setting international fisheries bodies to bring the species back from the brink.
Scientists discover new method of gene identification
Scientists studying the genes and proteins of human cells infected with a common cold virus have identified a new gene identification technique that could increase the genetic information we hold on animals by around 70 to 80 per cent. The findings, published in Nature Methods, could revolutionise our understanding of animal genetics and disease, and improve our knowledge of dangerous viruses such as SARS that jump the species barrier from animals to humans.
Study finds new way in which plants control flower production
The timing of flowering in plants is critical. It can have profound effects on flower, fruit, and seed production, and consequently agricultural yields. This process is known to depend on daylight and temperature cues. However, a team led by CSHL Assistant Professor Zach Lippman, Ph.D. now reveals there is a second, previously unknown, mechanism that controls flowering.
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