Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for November 15, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- New coating technique finds application in next-generation lithium battery anodes- Super-sensory hearing? Newly identified hearing organ in bushcrickets' ears could create new technologies
- Physicists skirt thermal vibration, transfer optical signal via mechanical oscillator
- Candidate for most distant object in the Universe yet observed
- Curiosity providing new weather and radiation data about Mars
- Controlling heat flow through a nanostructure
- Jamming LTE base stations easier than you may think
- Wax-filled nanotech yarn behaves like powerful, super-strong muscle (w/ video)
- Rare meteorites created in violent celestial collision
- Archaeologists identify spear tips used in hunting a half-million years ago
- Samsung rowing harder and faster for flexible screen production
- At least one-third of marine species remain undescribed, study says
- Study finds how bacteria inactivate immune defenses
- Bioprinting has promising future
- Airborne particles smuggle pollutants to far reaches of globe
Space & Earth news
Coastal panel rejects quake study near nuke plant
(AP)—California coastal regulators have rejected a proposal by a utility to map earthquake faults near a nuclear power plant by firing air cannons offshore.
BP near settlement with US over Gulf spill
British oil company BP said Thursday it is in advanced talks with U.S. agencies about settling criminal and other claims from the Gulf of Mexico well blowout two years ago.
Astrophysicist set to launch rocket experiment: Instrument will observe spiral galaxy near Big Dipper's handle
Astrophysicist Timothy Cook loves to build things, particularly small scientific satellites and instruments, putting them on a sounding rocket and then shooting them into space.
DARPA Space Surveillance Telescope headed to Australia to improve space situational awareness
DARPA's ground-based Space Surveillance Telescope (SST) may soon head to Australia. An agreement reached this week with Australia's Department of Defense will allow DARPA to take the 180,000 lb. three-mirror Mersenne-Schmidt telescope to Australia to track and catalogues space debris and objects unique to the space above that region of the world that could threaten DoD satellites. In the joint agreement, the U.S. and Australia have decided to work towards the establishment of the Space Surveillance Telescope (SST) on Australian soil.
Climate change action focuses on tourist traps, say researchers
Efforts to help Queensland's tourism industry to adapt to the effects of climate change are likely to be focused on areas that attract the most tourist dollars rather than those with the greatest need, according to new UQ research.
3Qs: How cities prepare for the next Sandy
Several weeks after Hurricane Sandy made landfall on the East Coast, the devastation is still being felt—particularly in hard-hit sections of New York and New Jersey. The storm has also raised questions about how major cities can prepare for the next major weather event of its kind. Jane Amidon, professor of architecture and director of the urban landscape program in the College of Arts, Media and Design, looks at what urban design lessons can be learned from Hurricane Sandy, and why researchers must take an interdisciplinary approach to preparing for another natural disaster.
BP to pay record $4.5 bn fine over US oil spill
BP agreed Thursday to pay a record $4.5 billion in US fines for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill and will plead guilty to obstruction and criminal negligence in the deaths of 11 workers.
Degraded military lands to get ecological boost from CU-led effort
Some arid lands in the American West degraded by military exercises that date back to General George Patton's Word War II maneuvers in the Mojave Desert should get a boost from an innovative research project led by the University of Colorado Boulder.
Calif debuts landmark program to cap emissions
(AP)—California began auctioning permits Wednesday for greenhouse gas emissions, launching one of the world's most ambitious efforts to cut heat-trapping gases from industrial sources.
Russia restores space contact after cable rupture
Russia on Thursday restored its communications with the International Space Station and satellites after repairing a cable in Moscow that had been damaged during road works.
Researchers tap into CO2 storage potential of mine waste
It's time to economically value the greenhouse gas-trapping potential of mine waste and start making money from it, says mining engineer and geologist Michael Hitch of the University of British Columbia (UBC).
Weather data from nation's largest wind farms could improve US models, forecasts
Two of the nation's largest producers of wind-generated electric power will share privately-collected weather data with NOAA, providing agency scientists with additional observations from wind farms across the nation for research and operations.
Explore the stellar neighborhood with new Milky Way visualization
Want to explore the Milky Way? A new visualization tool from Google called 100,000 Stars lets you take a tour of our cosmic neighborhood, and with a few clicks of your mouse you can zoom in, out and around and do a little learning along the way. Zoom in to learn the names of some of the closest stars; click on the names to find out more information about them.
Streams show signs of degradation at earliest stages of urban development
The loss of sensitive species in streams begins to occur at the initial stages of urban development, according to a new study by the USGS. The study found that streams are more sensitive to development than previously understood.
Mars rover Curiosity set to hit the road again (Update)
After playing in the sand, the Curiosity rover is poised to trek across the Martian landscape in search of a rock to drill into, scientists reported Thursday.
NASA catches small area of heavy rain in fading Tropical Depression 25W
Tropical Depression 25W was raining on southern Vietnam on Nov. 14 when NASA's TRMM satellite passed overhead and measured rainfall rates within the storm. TRMM noticed that the heaviest rainfall was limited to a small area and was located over open waters.
Hinode views two solar eclipses
Observers in Australia and the South Pacific were treated to a total solar eclipse on Nov. 13, 2012. The orbit of Hinode resulted in two eclipses this time, each with a somewhat different perspective. The first eclipse was total. During the second, the moon skimmed the left limb of the sun for a partial eclipse.
Australia declares world's largest marine reserves
Australia Friday officially declared the creation of the world's largest network of marine reserves, protecting more than 2.3 million square kilometres (0.89 million square miles) of ocean environment.
Astrophysicist suggests planetary misalignment due to multiple star impact
(Phys.org)—Astrophysicist Konstantin Batygin has published a paper in the journal Nature arguing that the reason some planets lie in a tilt off the equatorial plane of their sun is because of the prior existence of another star that impacted their orbit. He suggests that systems that once hosted more than one star, but now do not, could also explain the existence of "Hot Jupiters" that have an orbit opposite of their host star.
Kepler wraps prime mission, begins extension
(Phys.org)—NASA is marking two milestones in the search for planets like Earth; the successful completion of the Kepler Space Telescope's three-and-a-half-year prime mission and the beginning of an extended mission that could last as long as four years.
Meteorites reveal warm water existed on Mars
New research by the University of Leicester and The Open University into evidence of water on Mars, sufficiently warm enough to support life, has been published this week in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters.
Abell 30: X-rays from a Reborn Planetary Nebula
(Phys.org)—These images of the planetary nebula Abell 30, (a.k.a. A30), show one of the clearest views ever obtained of a special phase of evolution for these objects. The inset image on the right is a close-up view of A30 showing X-ray data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory in purple and Hubble Space Telescope (HST) data showing optical emission from oxygen ions in orange. On the left is a larger view showing optical and X-ray data from the Kitt Peak National Observatory and ESA's XMM-Newton, respectively. In this image the optical data show emission from oxygen (orange) and hydrogen (green and blue), and X-ray emission is colored purple.
USA's ancient hurricane belt and the US-Canada equator
The recent storms that have battered settlements on the east coast of America may have been much more frequent in the region 450 million years ago, according to scientists.
Airborne particles smuggle pollutants to far reaches of globe
Pollution from fossil fuel burning and forest fires reaches all the way to the Arctic, even though it should decay long before it travels that far. Now, lab research can explain how pollution makes its lofty journey: rather than ride on the surface of airborne particles, pollutants snuggle inside, protected from the elements on the way. The results will help scientists improve atmospheric air-quality and pollution transport models.
Rare meteorites created in violent celestial collision
A tiny fraction of meteorites on earth contain strikingly beautiful, translucent, olive-green crystals embedded in an iron-nickel matrix. Called pallasites, these "space gems" have fascinated scientists since they were first identified as originating from outer space more than 200 years ago.
Candidate for most distant object in the Universe yet observed
(Phys.org)—By combining the power of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and one of nature's zoom lenses, astronomers have found what is probably the most distant galaxy yet seen in the Universe. The object offers a peek back into a time when the Universe was only 3 percent of its present age of 13.7 billion years.
Curiosity providing new weather and radiation data about Mars
(Phys.org)—Observations of wind patterns and natural radiation patterns on Mars by NASA's Curiosity rover are helping scientists better understand the environment on the Red Planet's surface.
Technology news
Texas Instruments to cut 1,700 jobs in reorganization
US tech firm Texas Instruments said Wednesday it was cutting 1,700 jobs worldwide as it cuts back on chips for mobile phones.
SKorean presidential hopeful vows freer Internet (Update)
(AP)—A South Korean presidential candidate has promised to get rid of encryption technology that has tied South Korean Internet users to a single web browser—Microsoft's Internet Explorer —for online financial transactions.
In UK, Twitter, Facebook rants land some in jail
(AP)—One teenager made offensive comments about a murdered child on Twitter. Another young man wrote on Facebook that British soldiers should "go to hell." A third posted a picture of a burning paper poppy, symbol of remembrance of war dead.
Germany: Parents win appeal over son's downloads
(AP)—A German court has ruled that the parents of a 13-year-old boy weren't liable for his illegal file sharing.
Verizon, AT&T say cell network back up after Sandy
(AP)—Verizon and AT&T say their wireless networks are fully back up after Superstorm Sandy blew into the New York and New Jersey on Oct. 29.
Viacom 4Q earnings up 13 pct despite revenue drop
(AP)—Viacom says net income grew 13 percent in the most recent quarter even as revenue fell more than Wall Street expected with the lack of a strong theatrical release.
Revolution in Mexico City, one lettuce at a time
A green revolution is sweeping across the car and concrete jungle of Mexico City, an infamously smoggy capital that was once dubbed "Makesicko City" by novelist Carlos Fuentes.
US in tough debate on UN Internet rules
The US faces a tough debate with emerging nations such as India and Brazil at an upcoming UN conference discussing global rules for the Internet, the US delegation chief said Wednesday.
New technology for semiconductor film production on highly liquid-repellent surfaces
Japanese researchers have developed a manufacturing technology for highly uniform thin films of organic polymer semiconductors without material losses by applying the semiconductor solution on a highly hydrophobic surface that strongly repels the solution. The technology allows remarkably simple production of high performance thin-film transistors (TFTs) that are indispensable building blocks for information terminal devices such as electronic papers.
Trend survey 2012: 'The Dutch are online any time, any place'
The internet has secured an increasingly prominent place in the everyday lives of the Dutch population, whether at home or at work. Nearly every section of the population is spending more time online and reaping more of the benefits. Having said this, the younger generation and highly qualified people seem to be benefiting the most and a new digital gap is looming on the horizon. The gap does not concern whether or not people are online, but whether they benefit from the internet or not.
Only nine nations own national Twitter handles, study finds
Only nine out of 193 UN member states own Twitter accounts bearing their country name, and only three of those accounts have been officially verified by the micro-blogging site, according to a report published Thursday.
Thermogenerator from the printer
Wireless sensor networks monitor machinery and equipment in factories, cars and power stations. They increasingly "harvest" the energy they need to transmit measurement data from the environment, thus making them self-sufficient. At the Electronica 2012 trade fair, Fraunhofer researchers will present a printed thermogenerator, which in the future will be able to generate energy supply for sensors through temperature differences.
Google invests $75 million in Iowa wind farm
Google is investing $75 million in an Iowa wind farm as part of its effort to encourage development of cleaner energy sources.
White House mulls move as cybersecurity bill fails (Update)
The White House said Thursday it was considering an executive order on cybersecurity after legislation on infrastructure protection failed again in the Senate.
Crowdfunding gears up for a fresh start
Ben Edwards hasn't always depended on the kindness of strangers. Now he wishes he'd started doing it sooner.
Facebook app helps people in US find jobs
Facebook Inc. is launching a new application to help its users in the United States hunt for jobs.
Hybrid social networks help users connect online, meet up offline
Not too long ago, friending someone involved more than just clicking a button on Facebook.
Profits slide, but Dell says new strategy on track
Dell said Thursday its third-quarter profit slid 47 percent from a year ago, but claimed its new strategy emphasizing software and cloud computing was paying off.
These bots were made for walking: Cells power biological machines
They're soft, biocompatible, about 7 millimeters long – and, incredibly, able to walk by themselves. Miniature "bio-bots" developed at the University of Illinois are making tracks in synthetic biology.
The race is on in 2nd Atacama solar challenge
Fifteen solar cars from Chile, Argentina, Venezuela and India set off Thursday on a 1,300-kilometer (800-mile) race through the uber-dry Atacama Desert in the second Atacama Solar Challenge.
Medical vital-sign monitoring reduced to the size of a postage stamp
Electrical engineers at Oregon State University have developed new technology to monitor medical vital signs, with sophisticated sensors so small and cheap they could fit onto a bandage, be manufactured in high volumes and cost less than a quarter.
Samsung rowing harder and faster for flexible screen production
(Phys.org)—Is Samsung getting ready to release a line of flexible displays made of glass-replacing plastic? The right words in response may be "well, finally," or "well, maybe." The Wall Street Journal has talked to a source who said that Samsung, in the words of the WSJ subheading, "Plans to Mass Produce Flexible Mobile-Device Screens" in the first half of next year. The source was not named and was only described as "a person familiar with the situation." Samsung has tantalized techies and consumers with its futuristic videos showing a beautiful-life day using wearable wrist computers, auto dashboard display screens, location-finding smartphones, and wall mounted computer screens of plastic rather than glass.
Jamming LTE base stations easier than you may think
(Phys.org)—This much everyone knows: As technologies break new ground in speed and performance, mischief-makers also break new ground in finding ways to disrupt. Now an academic research group has warned a U.S. government agency of their findings, which show that the LTE high-speed wireless data networks of today and tomorrow are vulnerable to a jamming technique that could destroy service across a city. They say it could take nothing more complex than a laptop and $650 battery-operated radio unit aimed at portions of the LTE signal, to knock out an LTE base station, affecting large numbers of city residents.
Medicine & Health news
Survey: 69 percent of US primary care doctors now have electronic medical records
Two-thirds (69%) of U.S. primary care physicians reported using electronic medical records (EMRs) in 2012, up from less than half (46%) in 2009, according to findings from the 2012 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey, published as a Web First online today in the journal Health Affairs. Primary care physicians in the U.S.—the only country in the study without universal health coverage—stand out in the survey for reporting that their patients often cannot afford care (59%). By comparison, between 4 percent and 25 percent of physicians reported affordability problems for their patients in Norway (4%), the U.K. (13%), Switzerland (16%), Germany (21%), and Australia (25%). Moreover, more than half of U.S. doctors (52%) said insurance restrictions on their care decisions are a major time concern—by far the highest rate in the 10-country survey. U.S. physicians also were the most negative about their country's health system, with only 15 percent agreeing th! e health care system works well.
Congress slams US health officials on tainted drugs
US lawmakers slammed federal and state health officials Wednesday for failing to properly police a pharmacy whose tainted drugs caused a deadly fungal meningitis outbreak.
Two dead in new outbreak of Ebola in Uganda (Update)
A fresh outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in central Uganda has killed at least two people, the health minister said Thursday.
CDC: breast cancer mortality higher in black women
(HealthDay)—With earlier detection and better treatment, the mortality rate from breast cancer has fallen over the last two decades; black women, however, still die from the disease at a disproportionately higher rate than white women, according to research published in the Nov. 13 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report.
Dutch hospital to lead organ trafficking probe
(AP)—A Dutch academic hospital is taking the lead in a major international investigation into the illegal trafficking in human organs for transplants.
An experiment gone horribly awry: US researchers helped to infect Guatemalans with syphilis to study disease
In the late 1940s, U.S. researchers used Guatemalan prisoners, mental patients, and soldiers as laboratory animals, infecting them with syphilis without their knowledge in order to test new treatments for the disease.
ACL knee injuries much more likely in female athletes: Simple techniques can reduce injury risk, surgeon says
Female athletes are far more likely than males to suffer serious ACL knee injuries.
Research looks at impact of asthma, social deprivation and ethnicity on educational performance
Research led by Queen Mary, University of London has found that having asthma is not linked to poorer scores in national school examinations. In contrast, ethnicity and social deprivation were associated with poorer educational outcomes in the study, published in the journal PLOS ONE.
Calcium supplements remain a valuable tool for maintaining bone health
Individuals who do not obtain recommended intake levels of calcium through dietary sources can safely utilize calcium supplements to achieve optimal bone health, an expert panel concludes. These findings appear in the November online edition of Advances in Nutrition, a journal that highlights the significance of recent research in nutrition and illustrates the central role of nutrition in the promotion of health and prevention of disease.
Researchers discover plant derivative
Researchers at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have discovered that tanshinones, which come from the plant Danshen and are highly valued in Chinese traditional medicine, protect against the life-threatening condition sepsis. The findings are published in the December issue of Biochemical Pharmacology.
New study finds milk-drinking kids reap physical benefits later in life
Starting a milk drinking habit as a child can lead to lifelong benefits, even improving physical ability and balance in older age, according to new research. A new study published in Age & Aging found an increase of about one glass of milk a day as a child was linked to a 5% faster walking time and 25% lesser chance of poor balance in older age. The researchers suggest a "public health benefit of childhood milk intake on physical function in old age" – a finding that has huge potential for adults over 65, a population expected reach more than 70 million by the year 2030, doubling over just 30 years.
Transporting hypothermia victims to advanced heart and lung care facilities 'worth the trip'
Hypothermia victims whose hearts have stopped functioning should be transported to a medical facility with advanced heart and lung support equipment, even if that means longer travel time, according to a new study by a University of British Columbia medical resident.
More than a million women could gain access to potentially life saving tests for cancer
A study by researchers at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS) indicates that full implementation of the Affordable Care Act would expand health insurance coverage for more low-income women, enabling more than a million women to obtain potentially life-saving screening for breast and cervical cancer. The study, "Health Care Reform and Women's Insurance Coverage for Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening," was published in a recent issue of the journal Preventing Chronic Disease.
Study shows different approach after progression in non-small cell lung cancer patients
Right now, the best known treatment for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene rearrangements (ALK) or epidermal growth factor receptor mutations (EGFR) is crizotinib or EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as erlotinib, respectively. However, progression inevitably occurs. When it does, having no clear guidelines and/or indications, most patients are treated with chemotherapy. A new study published in the December 2012 issue of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer's (IASLC) Journal of Thoracic Oncology, shows that other approaches to overcome acquired resistance should be considered.
Study shows bone metastases treatment can improve overall survival
It is common for patients initially diagnosed with lung cancer to have the cancer spread to sites like the liver, brain and bone. One of the most frequent sites of metastases is the bone, with an estimated 30 to 40 percent of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) developing bone loss. A study published in the December 2012 issue of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer's (IASLC) Journal of Thoracic Oncology, shows that the bone metastases drug denosumab was associated with improved overall survival compared with zoledonic acid (ZA).
Study shows large-scale genomic testing feasible, impacts therapy
Targeted cancer therapy has been transforming the care of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is now standard practice for tumor specimens from NSCLC patients to be examined for EGFR mutations and ALK rearrangements to identify patients for therapy with EGFR and ALK inhibitors, respectively. Now, researchers say large-scale genomic testing is feasible within the clinical workflow, impacting therapeutic decisions. The study is published in the December 2012 issue of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer's (IASLC) Journal of Thoracic Oncology.
Doctors, others demand clearer Irish abortion law
(AP)—Pressure mounted Thursday for the Irish government to draft a law spelling out when life-saving abortions can be performed—a demand that came after a pregnant woman who was denied an abortion died.
Nigeria must clear lead poison soil to avoid 'disaster', MSF says
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) on Thursday urged Nigeria to release funds promised to clean up an area where lead poison killed hundreds of children, warning that further delays could be "disastrous."
FDA: Company shipped tainted peanut butter
(AP)—The Food and Drug Administration says a New Mexico peanut company linked to a recent salmonella outbreak distributed peanut and almond butters even after testing showed the products were contaminated.
Arginine and proline enriched diet may speed wound healing in diabetes
Chronic wounds such as foot ulcers are a common problem for diabetics and are the cause of more than 80 percent of the lower leg amputations in these patients. There is currently no effective way to improve healing of these types of wounds, but new research offers hope.
Low levels of donor-specific antibodies increase risks for transplant recipients
Kidney transplant recipients who have even very low levels of preformed antibodies directed against a donated kidney have a significantly increased risk of organ rejection and kidney failure, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings could help clinicians provide better donor-recipient matches and tailor recipients' immunosuppressive therapy after transplantation.
Letter from doctor boosts cholesterol medication use
In a new study, Northwestern Medicine researchers found that patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) are more likely to receive a prescription for cholesterol-lowering medication, and to achieve lower long-term cholesterol levels, when doctors use electronic health records (EHRs) to deliver personalized risk assessments via mail.
Innovative sobriety project reduces DUI and domestic violence arrests, study finds
An innovative alcohol monitoring program imposed upon thousands of alcohol-involved offenders in South Dakota helps reduce repeat DUI arrests and domestic violence arrests, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
WHO eases rules on meningitis vaccine, researchers say
In a breakthrough for the fight against meningitis in poor countries, researchers say the WHO has ruled that a key vaccine can be transported or stored for up to four days without refrigeration.
Tuberculosis's genetic 'family tree' may hold the key to tackling outbreaks quickly and effectively
Researchers, led by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, the Health Protection Agency in Birmingham and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridge, have pioneered the whole genome sequencing (WGS) method through a study of 254 TB cases in the Midlands.
Dietary glucose affects the levels of a powerful oncogene in mice
An animal study conducted by researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center raises questions about the consequences of diet—specifically glucose, the plant-based sugar that fuels cell life—on increased activity of an oncogene that drives tumor growth.
Potential new technique for anticancer radiotherapy could provide alternative to brachytherapy
A promising new approach to treating solid tumors with radiation was highly efficacious and minimally toxic to healthy tissue in a mouse model of cancer, according to data published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Flame retardants linked to neurodevelopmental delays in children
Prenatal and childhood exposure to flame retardant compounds are linked to poorer attention, fine motor coordination and IQ in school-aged children, a finding by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, that adds to growing health concerns over a chemical prevalent in U.S. households.
Appetite suppressant for scavenger cells: Influenza curbs part of the immune system and abets bacterial infections
When infected with influenza, the body becomes an easy target for bacteria. The flu virus alters the host's immune system and compromises its capacity to effectively fight off bacterial infections. Now, a team of immunologists at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and cooperation partners has discovered that an immune system molecule called TLR7 is partly to blame. The molecule recognizes the viral genome – and then signals scavenger cells of the immune system to ingest fewer bacteria. The researchers published their findings in the Journal of Innate Immunity.
Higher proportion of California children uninsured than in US, analysis shows
Compared to the nation, a higher proportion of children in California are uninsured, one in every 10 children or more than 1.1 million in 2011. More of California's children have public health insurance and fewer through their parents' employer. And, over the past three years, a decade of advances in California children's public insurance enrollment has stalled, as coverage in Healthy Families (California's children's health insurance program) declined as a result of reductions in state government funding.
Lyme rash reappearance probably signals new infection, study says
(HealthDay)—If you've had Lyme disease in the past and you develop another bull's-eye rash—the hallmark of Lyme disease—you probably have a new infection rather than a relapse of your initial infection, according to a small new study.
Patients more likely to survive in-hospital cardiac arrest today, study finds
(HealthDay)—A new study finds that survival after in-hospital cardiac arrest improved substantially from 2000 to 2009 in U.S. medical centers, probably because established guidelines were followed.
Bone marrow biopsy adds little to PET/CT staging of Hodgkin's
(HealthDay)—For patients with treatment-naive Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) staged using [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), routine bone marrow biopsy (BMB) has little or no therapeutic consequence, according to research published online Nov. 13 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Venous thromboembolism risk up with cisplatin-based chemo
(HealthDay)—Patients with advanced solid tumors receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimens have a significantly higher risk of having a venous thromboembolic event (VTE) compared with those who do not receive a cisplatin-based regimen, according to research published online Nov. 13 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Predictors ID'd for mortality in elderly with cervical spine injury
(HealthDay)—Preexisting comorbidities (PECs), spinal cord injury (SCI), and age are all strong predictors of mortality in elderly patients with trauma-related cervical spine injury (CSI), although the evidence is not conclusive, according to research published online Nov. 2 in Spine.
Booze calories nearly equal soda's for US adults
Americans get too many calories from soda. But what about alcohol? It turns out adults get almost as many empty calories from booze as from soft drinks, a government study found.
Newly discovered enzyme implicated in the spreading of cancer
Enzyme hunters at UiO have discovered the function of an enzyme that is important in the spreading of cancer. Cancer researchers now hope to inhibit the enzyme.
Changing hormones and nerve activity during menstrual cycle predispose women to knee injuries, researchers find
(Medical Xpress)—Hormone changes during a woman's menstrual cycle and the resulting fluctuations in nerve activity may be a major reason female athletes have more knee injuries than their male counterparts, according to a new study from The University of Texas at Austin's College of Education.
Study finds essential-oil blend reduces salmonella contamination
(Medical Xpress)—Oil and water may not mix, but a University of Georgia study found feeding chickens a blend of plant-based oils in their drinking water can help prevent salmonella contamination before the meat reaches the dinner table—or even the grocery store.
Unkindness linked to alcohol, drug abuse in black populations, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—Blacks who feel mistreated and discriminated against are more likely to abuse alcohol and illegal drugs, and a new study from Purdue University shows this usage can become a problematic pattern.
Power, work struggles in Bangladesh households linked to domestic violence
(Medical Xpress)—In Bangladesh as elsewhere, women are empowered by working outside the home. But new research from the University of Washington shows such work can also increase the threat of domestic violence for some Bangladeshi wives.
Fevers can be a child's friend: Pediatrician shares what parents need to know about fevers
For many parents, discovering their child has a fever can be unnerving. It's one of the most common reasons parents call their doctor or bring their child in for medical care. Fevers are just a natural part of many illnesses and, in fact, can be helpful as a child battles an illness.
Dietitian weighs in on controversy about arsenic in food: Eating a balanced diet will limit exposure to element
(Medical Xpress)—Recent reports about arsenic in rice have sparked a great deal of panic among U.S. consumers. However, the average American who eats a variety of whole grains doesn't need to stress about arsenic, according to Loyola University Health System registered dietitian Brooke Schantz, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN.
Broad analysis of many radiation studies finds no exposure threshold that precludes harm to life
(Medical Xpress)—Even the very lowest levels of radiation are harmful to life, scientists have concluded in the Cambridge Philosophical Society's journal Biological Reviews. Reporting the results of a wide-ranging analysis of 46 peer-reviewed studies published over the past 40 years, researchers from the University of South Carolina and the University of Paris-Sud found that variation in low-level, natural background radiation had small, but highly statistically significant, negative effects on DNA as well as several measures of health.
RSV study shows potential for vaccine strategies to protect babies
(Medical Xpress)—Research by the University of Warwick indicates that vaccinating families could protect young babies against a common winter virus which can be fatal for infants under six months.
When the going gets tough, the tough get... more relief from a placebo?
Are you good at coping when life gets tough? Do people call you a straight-shooter? Will you help others without expecting anything in return?
Canada lab probes pig link to Ebola virus
Could pigs be an unexpected source for transmitting the deadly Ebola virus?
Genetics point to serious pregnancy complication
New research at the University of Adelaide has revealed a genetic link in pregnant mums - and their male partners - to pre-eclampsia, a life-threatening complication during pregnancy.
A new way of looking at Prader-Willi Syndrome
An Australian study reveals that people with the rare genetic disorder known as Prader-Willi Syndrome may have an impaired autonomic nervous system. This discovery opens up a new way of looking at the insatiable appetite experienced by all sufferers, as well as their very high risk of cardiovascular disease.
Eating more fish could reduce postpartum depression
Low levels of omega-3 may be behind postpartum depression, according to a review lead by Gabriel Shapiro of the University of Montreal and the Research Centre at the Sainte-Justine Mother and Child Hospital.
Early 50s may be key time to reach baby boomers with health messages
For baby boomers, the peak interest in health issues comes at about age 51, with a second peak coming near age 65, according to a new study.
This is your brain on freestyle rap: Study reveals characteristic brain patterns of lyrical improvisation
Researchers in the voice, speech, and language branch of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study the brain activity of rappers when they are "freestyling" – spontaneously improvising lyrics in real time. The findings, published online in the November 15 issue of the journal Scientific Reports, reveal that this form of vocal improvisation is associated with a unique functional reallocation of brain activity in the prefrontal cortex and proposes a novel neural network that appears to be intimately involved in improvisatory and creative endeavors.
Cash cuts increase smoking death risk for world's poor, study says
Proposed funding cuts within the international body responsible for tobacco control will leave the world's poorest countries more vulnerable to smoking-related diseases, a study suggests.
Positive mental health boosts lifespan, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—People who are flourishing – both feeling happy and functioning well in their lives – are 60 percent less likely to die prematurely, finds a major study that followed more than 3,000 U.S. adults over 10 years.
Protein tug of war points toward better therapies for cardiovascular disease
Two proteins are in a tug of war that determines how much the body makes of superoxide, a highly reactive and potentially destructive product of oxygen that's dramatically elevated in cardiovascular disease, researchers report.
Umbilical cord cells outperform bone marrow cells in repairing damaged hearts
A study published this month by researchers at the University of Toronto and Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital has shown that cells derived from the umbilical cord, "Human Umbilical Cord PeriVascular Cells" (HUCPVCs), are more effective in restoring heart function after an acute myocardial infarction (in common parlance, a heart attack) in a pre-clinical model than a similar cell population derived from bone marrow.
Study reveals insights that could aid in therapeutic use of mesenchymal stem cells
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), are a newly emerging cellular therapy being tested in approximately 250 clinical trials worldwide to help repair damaged tissues, such as injured heart muscle following a heart attack. The problem is that when culture-expanded MSCs are injected into the circulation, they have trouble gaining access to the inflamed tissues—exactly where their help is needed.
Youth with autism gravitate toward STEM majors in college—if they get there
It's a popularly held belief that individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) gravitate toward STEM majors in college (science, technology, engineering mathematics).
Studies investigate oxygen's impact as a factor in transplantation
Two studies published in the current issue of Cell Transplantation (21:7), now freely available on-line, investigate the role of oxygen in cell transplantation.
How honest are you at work?
(Medical Xpress)—A new study has revealed we are basically honest. The research by the University of Oxford and the University of Bonn suggests that it pains us to tell lies, particularly when we are in our own homes.
Scores isolated after new Ebola outbreak in Uganda
(AP)—Scores of Ugandans were isolated on Thursday to prevent the spread of a new outbreak of Ebola which has already killed three people.
Simplifying heart surgery with stretchable electronics devices
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at the McCormick School of Engineering are part of a team that has used stretchable electronics to create a multipurpose medical catheter that can both monitor heart functions and perform corrections on heart tissue during surgery.
Young gamers offer insight to teaching new physicians robotic surgery (w/ Video)
What can high school and college-age video game enthusiasts teach young surgeons-in-training?
Diabetes rates rocket in Oklahoma, South
The nation's diabetes problem is getting worse, and health officials say the biggest changes have been in Oklahoma and a number of Southern states.
Great American Smokeout isThursday
(HealthDay)—The American Cancer Society launches its annual Great American Smokeout event Thursday as anti-smoking advocates push to reverse a slowdown in the decline of tobacco use in the United States.
Pilates is beneficial adjunctive therapy in heart failure
(HealthDay)—Pilates exercises may be a beneficial adjunctive treatment for patients with heart failure, offering functional capacity improvements, according to a study published in the December issue of Cardiovascular Therapeutics.
Exercise protects against heart failure even at advanced ages
(HealthDay)—Among older adults, physical activity may protect against heart failure, as indicated by lower levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT), according to a study published online Nov. 14 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
White matter microstructural integrity altered in T1DM
(HealthDay)—Youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) exhibit a pattern of regional diffusion tensor imaging differences that is suggestive of axonal injury or degeneration and may be related to episodes of severe hypoglycemia, according to a study published online Nov. 8 in Diabetes.
Tests don't predict outcome after spine fusion for back pain
(HealthDay)—Currently, there is no test available to reliably predict which patients with chronic low back pain (LBP) will achieve a good clinical outcome after spinal fusion surgery, according to the results of a literature review published online Nov. 5 in The Spine Journal.
Diabetes prevention: Start small, experts say
(HealthDay)—Diabetes robs people of their lives—their vision, their mobility, even their limbs—if it is not controlled, yet the real tragedy of this modern-day scourge is that its most common form, type 2, is largely preventable.
More Americans buckling up than ever before, report says
(HealthDay)—Seat belt use by American drivers and passengers reached an all-time high of 86 percent in 2012, a new federal government study finds.
Majority of biggest U.S. cities now smoke-free
(HealthDay)—Thirty of the 50 largest cities in the United States are now smoke-free, a new report shows.
Researchers outline effective strategies to prevent teen depression and suicide
(Medical Xpress)—Untreated depression is one of the leading causes of teen suicide, and signs of depression can also be a warning that a teen is contemplating suicide. In an article published this week in the quarterly journal, The Prevention Researcher, University of Cincinnati researchers are describing how positive connections can help offset these tragedies.
Probiotic worm treatment may improve symptoms of colitis by restoring gut bacteria to healthy state
A new study on monkeys with chronic diarrhea that were treated by microscopic parasite worm (helminth) eggs has provided insights on how this form of therapy may heal the intestine. This condition in monkeys is similar to the inflammatory bowel diseases that affects up to 1.4 million Americans.
First European randomized trial confirms new pneumococcal vaccine highly effective in infants
A new conjugate vaccine is highly effective (93%) at preventing invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD; meningitis, sepsis, bacteremic pneumonia, and other blood-borne infections) in infants younger than 2 years who are the most vulnerable to infection, according to new research published Online First in The Lancet. The nationwide study is the first to confirm the effectiveness of the three-dose (2+1) schedule that is already used in many national programs.
A class of RNA molecules protects germ cells from damage, researchers show
Passing one's genes on to the next generation is a mark of evolutionary success. So it makes sense that the body would work to ensure that the genes the next generation inherits are exact replicas of the originals.
Vitamin D deficiency linked to Type 1 diabetes
A study led by researchers from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine has found a correlation between vitamin D3 serum levels and subsequent incidence of Type 1 diabetes. The six-year study of blood levels of nearly 2,000 individuals suggests a preventive role for vitamin D3 in this disease. The research appears the December issue of Diabetologia, a publication of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).
FDA investigates possible energy drink-linked deaths
The US Food and Drug Administration is investigating 13 deaths that may be linked to consumption of an energy drink called 5-hour Energy, an FDA spokeswoman said Thursday.
One neuron has huge impact on brain behaviour
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers from Australia and the USA have made a unique discovery about how the brain computes sensory information.
Chronic fatigue syndrome—a system under stress
Australian researchers have discovered for the first time that reduced heart rate variability – or changes in heart beat timing – best predicts cognitive disturbances, such as concentration difficulties commonly reported by people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). This adds to the growing body of evidence linking autonomic nervous system imbalance to symptoms of this poorly understood disorder.
Surprising genetic link between kidney defects and neurodevelopmental disorders in kids
About 10 percent of kids born with kidney defects have large alterations in their genomes known to be linked with neurodevelopmental delay and mental illness, a new study by Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers has shown.
Parkinson's disease protein causes disease spread and neuron death in healthy animals
Understanding how any disease progresses is one of the first and most important steps towards finding treatments to stop it. This has been the case for such brain-degenerating conditions as Alzheimer's disease. Now, after several years of incremental study, researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania have been able to piece together important steps in how Parkinson's disease (PD) spreads from cell to cell and leads to nerve cell death.
Bioprinting has promising future
Writing in the journal Science, Professor Derby of The School of Materials, looks at how the concept of using printer technology to build structures in which to grow cells, is helping to regenerate tissue.
Neurons made from stem cells drive brain activity after transplantation in laboratory model
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers and patients look forward to the day when stem cells might be used to replace dying brain cells in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. Scientists are currently able to make neurons and other brain cells from stem cells, but getting these neurons to properly function when transplanted to the host has proven to be more difficult. Now, researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) have found a way to stimulate stem cell-derived neurons to direct cognitive function after transplantation to an existing neural network. The study was published November 7 in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Researchers report potential new treatment to stop Alzheimer's disease
Last March, researchers at UCLA reported the development of a molecular compound called CLR01 that prevented toxic proteins associated with Parkinson's disease from binding together and killing the brain's neurons.
Discovery of ways to optimize light sources for vision could lead to billions of dollars in energy savings
Vision researchers at Barrow Neurological Institute have made a groundbreaking discovery into the optimization of light sources to human vision. By tuning lighting devices to work more efficiently with the human brain the researchers believe billions of dollars in energy costs could be saved.
Biology news
Rat kill in Galapagos Islands targets 180 million
(AP)—The unique bird and reptile species that make the Galapagos Islands a treasure for scientists and tourists must be preserved, Chilean authorities say—and that means the rats must die, hundreds of millions of them.
American Samoa bans shark fishing to save species
(AP)—American Samoa is banning shark fishing in its waters in hopes of stopping the population's decline.
Fire logs made from lawn clippings offer earth-friendly option
Artificial logs that create a cheerful and welcoming blaze in your fireplace can be made from a perhaps surprising source: grass clippings.
Video-article shows how to purify magnetic bacteria
Magnetotactic bacteria, like Magnetospirillum magneticum, have evolved cellular processes that allow them to take up iron molecules to produce magnetic nanocrystals like magnetite. Since they were first discovered and isolated in 1975 by Robert Blakemore, scientists continue to be fascinated by these unique bacteria, whether as a means to isolate biogenic magnetite or to understand the evolutionary advantages of producing these minerals. A new video-article in JoVE (Journal of Visualized Experiments) details a procedure to purify and enrich samples of magnetotactic bacteria from aquatic environments, developed in the laboratory of Dr. Brian Lower at The Ohio State University.
Brazil eyes cloning to bolster endangered species
Scientists in Brazil will try cloning endangered animal species like the jaguar, a researcher said Wednesday.
Pilot whales stranded on New Zealand beach
A pod of 28 pilot whales that were left stranded on a New Zealand beach on Thursday are likely be put down as there is little chance of refloating them, wildlife officials said.
Robot-fish interact with live fish
Scientists have developed robot-fish that can interact intelligently with live zebrafish according to a study published in Journal of the Royal Society Interface today.
Puggle baby boom boosts hopes for endangered echidnas
The impossible became the possible with the birth of four baby echidnas over the past two months at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast.
Structure of enzyme unravelled providing basis for more accurate design of chemotherapeutic drugs
A group of researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have for the first time described the structure of the active site core of topoisomerase II alpha, an important target for anti-cancer drugs.
Passenger pigeons help to navigate
Many animals travel long distances in groups but little is known about how this may influence the navigational skills of individuals.
Researchers uncover some good news for BC's troubled salmon populations
A University of Alberta led research team has some positive news for British Columbia's pink salmon populations, and the salmon farming industry that has struggled to protect both captive and wild salmon from sea lice infestations.
Scientists show protein-making machinery can switch gears with a small structural change process
For the past several years, Min Guo, an assistant professor at The Scripps Research Institute, has focused on the intricate actions of an ancient family of catalytic enzymes that play a key role in translation, the process of producing proteins.
Human umbilical cord blood cell co-culture supports embryonic stem cell expansion
Researchers in Taiwan have developed a "safe, feasible and robust co-culture system" supplied by human umbilical cord mensenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs) to feed the sustained culture used for human embryonic stem cell (hESC) expansion prior to cell transplantation. The co-culture, said the researchers, "appears to eliminate the most feared characteristic of transplanted hESCs," which is their propensity to form tumors.
Scientists find new way for antibiotic resistance to spread
Washington State University researchers have found an unlikely recipe for antibiotic resistant bacteria: Mix cow dung and soil, and add urine infused with metabolized antibiotic. The urine will kill off normal E. coli in the dung-soil mixture. But antibiotic-resistant E. coli will survive in the soil to recolonize in a cow's gut through pasture, forage or bedding.
How cells in the nose detect odors
The human nose has millions of olfactory neurons grouped into hundreds of different neuron types. Each of these neuron types expresses only one odorant receptor, and all neurons expressing the same odorant receptor plug into one region in the brain, an organization that allows for specific odors to be sensed.
Researchers gain new insights into the behaviour of the coconut crab Birgus latro
(Phys.org)—Researchers from Jena and Greifswald used GPS satellites for a long-term behavioural monitoring of land crab migration on Christmas Island. In cooperation with colleagues from the Zoological Institute at the University of Greifswald, scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, used a GPS-based telemetric system to analyze movements of freely roaming robber crabs, which is the first large-scale study of any arthropod using GPS technology to monitor behaviour.
New study decodes molecular mechanisms underlying stem cell reprogramming
Fifty years ago, British researcher John Gurdon demonstrated that genetic material from non-reproductive, or somatic, cells could be reprogrammed into an embryonic state when transferred into an egg. In 2006, Kyoto University researcher Shinya Yamanaka expanded on those findings by expressing four proteins in mouse somatic cells to rewind their genetic clocks, converting them into embryonic-like stem cells called induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells.
At least one-third of marine species remain undescribed, study says
At least one-third of the species that inhabit the world's oceans may remain completely unknown to science. That's despite the fact that more species have been described in the last decade than in any previous one, according to a report published online on November 15 in the Cell Press publication Current Biology that details the first comprehensive register of marine species of the world—a massive collaborative undertaking by hundreds of experts around the globe.
Study tracks brain gene response to territorial aggression
With a mate and a nest to protect, the male threespined stickleback is a fierce fish, chasing and biting other males until they go away.
Study finds how bacteria inactivate immune defenses
A new study by researchers at Imperial College London has identified a way in which Salmonella bacteria, which cause gastroenteritis and typhoid fever, counteract the defence mechanisms of human cells.
How insects domesticate bacteria: Symbiotic microbes' origin discovered after man impales hand on branch
Two years ago, a 71-year-old Indiana man impaled his hand on a branch after cutting down a dead crab apple tree, causing an infection that led University of Utah scientists to discover a new bacterium and solve a mystery about how bacteria came to live inside insects.
DNA 'ingesting': A tenth of quirky creature's active genes are foreign
Up to ten per cent of the active genes of an organism that has survived 80 million years without sex are foreign, a new study from the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London reveals. The asexual organism, the bdelloid rotifer, has acquired a tenth of its active genes from bacteria and other simple organisms like fungi and algae. The findings were reported today in the journal PLoS Genetics.
Researchers discover why typhoid fever pathogen targets only humans
(Phys.org)—Salmonella typhi is a particularly nasty bacterium that targets only humans and causes typhoid fever, which kills hundreds of thousands of people annually. In a new study appearing in the Nov. 16 issue of the journal Science, Yale scientists explain how evolution shaped the pathogen to be so selective.
Super-sensory hearing? Newly identified hearing organ in bushcrickets' ears could create new technologies
The discovery of a previously unidentified hearing organ in the South American bushcrickets' ear could pave the way for technological advancements in bio-inspired acoustic sensors research, including medical imaging and hearing aid development.
This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
http://phys.org/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment