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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for November 22, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Researchers describe elusive replication machinery of flu viruses- Magnesium oxide: From Earth to super-Earth
- Study solves birth and migration mysteries of cortex's powerful inhibitors, 'chandelier' cells
- Cartilage made easy with novel hybrid printer
- Professor designs shape shifters
- Researchers find fly receptor neurons able to communicate without synapse connections
- Capturing living cells in micro pyramids
- Cut-and-paste zeolites: New, faster method for developing custom microporous materials
- Nordic countries tell Facebook to stop ads
- Research identifies a genetic cause of hypertension
- Scientists discover carnivorous plant using sticky catapulting tentacles
- Researchers find trees worldwide more sensitive to drought than previously thought
- Muscle powers spearing mantis shrimp attacks
- Blind patient reads words stimulated directly onto the retina
- Aussie scientists un-discover Pacific island
Space & Earth news
Qatar set to host major climate talks
(AP)—When the tiny desert nation of Qatar was chosen to host the latest round of United Nations climate change negotiations, environmentalists were stunned.
UN: El Nino unlikely to hit by end of 2012
There is little chance the potentially devastating El Nino weather phenomenon will return before the end of the year, the UN's weather agency said.
NASA scientists eyeing regional dust storm on Mars
NASA is tracking a regional dust storm on Mars, but says it has not affected the operations of its two rovers on the surface.
More eruptions tipped as N. Zealand volcano disrupts flights
Lingering ash from a volcanic eruption in New Zealand disrupted flights across parts of the North Island on Thursday, as scientists warned the mountain could blow again at any time.
Australia approves plan to save vital river system
Australia approved an "historic" plan Thursday to save an ailing river system vital to the nation's food bowl by returning the equivalent of five Sydney Harbour's worth of water to the network each year.
S. Korea rocket launch set for Nov 29
South Korea plans to go ahead with a delayed rocket launch on Thursday next week in its third bid in four years to put a satellite into orbit, officials said.
I am SAM
Yesterday Mars Science Laboratory principal investigator John Grotzinger set the entire space science world abuzz with a tantalizing promise of "earthshaking" news on the horizon—literally "one for the history books," as he put it in an interview with NPR. It seems one of Curiosity's main science tools, the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument, has discovered… something… within recently-gathered samples, possibly in windblown-material scooped at a site called "Rocknest" earlier this month.
New NASA video serves 'COCOA' to test Webb Telescope component
(Phys.org)—The Center of Curvature Optical Assembly, or COCOA, is a piece of equipment that will measure the accuracy of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope's primary mirror, to ensure the mirrors are perfectly shaped and will work in the frosty environment of space. Viewers can now learn about a certain type of "COCOA" from an engineer in a new behind-the-scenes NASA video that explains the purpose of COCOA and how it is used in testing the mirrors.
Researchers head to coldest place on earth for global warming insight
Reed Scherer has heard the question: Why in the world does he devote his career to studying Antarctica, the coldest, windiest place on earth, a place that is 98 percent solid ice? Even his wife jokes that he could pursue his research in the Caribbean.
Aussie scientists un-discover Pacific island
A South Pacific island identified on Google Earth and world maps does not exist, according to Australian scientists who went searching for the mystery landmass during a geological expedition.
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter monitoring dust storm
(Phys.org)—A Martian dust storm that NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has been tracking since last week has also produced atmospheric changes detectable by rovers on Mars.
Could chlorofluorocarbons someday provide evidence of alien life?
Hairspray might one day serve as the sign that aliens have reshaped distant worlds, researchers say. Such research to find signs of alien technology is now open to funding from the public.
Magnesium oxide: From Earth to super-Earth
The mantles of Earth and other rocky planets are rich in magnesium and oxygen. Due to its simplicity, the mineral magnesium oxide is a good model for studying the nature of planetary interiors. New work from a team led by Carnegie's Stewart McWilliams studied how magnesium oxide behaves under the extreme conditions deep within planets and found evidence that alters our understanding of planetary evolution. It is published November 22 by Science Express.
Technology news
US roads, airports unready for extreme weather
(AP)—America's lifelines—its roads, airports, railways and transit systems—are getting hammered by extreme weather beyond what their builders imagined, leaving states and cities searching for ways to brace for more catastrophes like Superstorm Sandy.
GaN power devices: Researchers achieve high output of 2.5kW in power supply units for servers
Fujitsu Semiconductor announced that it achieved high output power of 2.5kW in server power supply units equipped with gallium-nitride (GaN) power devices built on a silicon substrate. Fujitsu Semiconductor aims to start volume production of the GaN power devices in the second half of 2013. These devices will enable Fujitsu Semiconductor to propose their use in a wide variety of value-enhancing power supply applications, significantly contributing to the realization of a low-carbon society. Fujitsu Semiconductor is aiming to achieve approximately 10 billion yen in sales of GaN power devices in fiscal 2015.
3Qs: Internet, small businesses giving Black Friday a run for its money
To families across America, Thanksgiving represents a day filled with togetherness and turkey. To American retailers, the holiday kicks off a shopping bonanza with Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. These days have proven to be profitable for retailers in the past, though their growing practice of opening shop as early as Thanksgiving evening has this year led to consumer and worker outrage. Northeastern University news office asked Bruce Clark, associate professor of marketing in the D'Amore-McKim School of Business, to talk about the potential pros and cons of each of these shopping days.
British student on trial over Anonymous PayPal hacking
A British student went on trial in London on Thursday accused of a series of cyber-attacks by the hacking group Anonymous that cost the US online payments giant PayPal millions of dollars.
Apple products at top of kids' wish lists, survey finds
In 2012, 48 percent of children age 6 to 12 will ask Santa for an iPad, according to a new survey from Nielsen.
Swiss nuclear reactor back up after closure over defect
A reactor at a Swiss nuclear plant that automatically shut down due to a defect was brought back online Thursday evening, the operator said.
Smartphone holdouts have their reasons for defying high-tech trend
Joe Kelso and his wife, Teresa, were out for pizza in Chesterfield earlier this year when they noticed a family of six sitting nearby in complete silence.
Cartilage made easy with novel hybrid printer
The printing of three-dimensional tissue has taken a major step forward with the creation of a novel hybrid printer that simplifies the process of creating implantable cartilage.
Firefox OS Simulator offers playpen for primetime
(Phys.org)—Mozilla is inviting developers to play around with its experimental Firefox OS Simulator. The Firefox OS Simulator is a Firefox add-on for web developers who would be interested in building apps for Mozilla's coming mobile Firefox operating system. The simulator will make it easier for developers to stay current with future updates to Firefox OS. Mozilla has talked for a while about a mobile operating system of its own, Firefox OS, and in July this year boasted of growing global industry support behind such an idea of a fully open mobile ecosystem based on HTML5. The advantage was seen by the likes of Deutsche Telekom, Etisalat, Smart, Sprint, Telecom Italia, Telefónica and Telenor who were backing the open Firefox OS as an "exciting new entrant" to the smartphone marketplace.
Professor designs shape shifters
(Phys.org)—Craig Lusk's job takes on many shapes.
Nordic countries tell Facebook to stop ads
Facebook should stop unsolicited advertising to users in Nordic countries or face legal action, the Norwegian consumer agency said on Thursday.
Medicine & Health news
UK Flusurvey set to go viral
Does "man flu" exist? How effective is the flu vaccine? And do pets keep you healthy? These are just some of the questions scientists from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine want to explore as they launch a nationwide flu survey.
China to stop relying on prisoner organs: minister
China will no longer rely on executed prisoners as a source of transplant organs within two years, a health minister said according to state media Thursday.
Yellow fever shots begin in Sudan's Darfur
Health workers in Sudan's Darfur region have begun vaccinating more than two million people against a rare yellow fever outbreak suspected of killing 124 since late September, medics said on Thursday.
New drug overcomes resistance in patients with rare sarcoma
A new targeted drug demonstrated its ability to control metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor, an uncommon and life-threatening form of sarcoma, after the disease had become resistant to all existing therapies, report investigators at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute who led the worldwide clinical trial.
New pill could offer hope to bowel cancer and gastrointestinal stromal tumor patients after failure of standard treatmen
Two phase 3 trials, published in The Lancet, have shown that a novel oral drug called regorafenib could offer survival benefits to people with bowel cancer or gastrointestinal stromal tumor following failure of existing treatments.
Worldwide incidence of traumatic brain injury could be six times higher than previous estimates
The first study to estimate rates of traumatic brain injury, without relying on official figures, suggests the worldwide incidence of TBI could be six times higher than previously estimated.
Poor and often inaccurate web info on 'designer vagina' procedures
The quality of internet information available for women opting for "designer vagina" procedures is "poor," and in some cases, inaccurate, reveals a small study published in the Obstetrics & Gynaecology edition of the online only journal BMJ Open.
Just 10 minutes in a car with a smoker boosts harmful pollutants by up to 30 percent
Just 10 minutes spent in the back seat of a car with a smoker in the front, boosts a child's daily exposure to harmful pollutants by up to 30%, reveals research published online in Tobacco Control.
Continued use of ADHD drugs may reduce criminal behavior, study says
(HealthDay)—For teens and adults who don't grow out of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, staying on ADHD medications may help them stay out of trouble.
Number of U.S. kids with diabetes could skyrocket, study finds
(HealthDay)—If the current trends in diabetes for young people stay the same, rates of type 2 diabetes will rise by 49 percent by 2050, and rates of type 1 diabetes will increase by 23 percent, according to new government estimates.
A more complicated network than generally accepted may control maturation of B cells in the immune system
The process of blood cell development, known as hematopoiesis, gives rise to numerous different immune cell subtypes. Each of these in turn matures through a stepwise process governed by the action of transcription factors—specialized proteins that coordinate activation and deactivation of specific target genes.
Delaying treatment for advanced breast cancer more than 60 days has 'profound effect', researchers find
(Medical Xpress)—Results from a new study conducted by researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC-James) show women who wait more than 60 days to begin treatment for advanced breast cancer face significantly higher risks of dying than women who start therapy shortly after diagnosis.
Researchers work to improve efficacy of blood transfusions for preterm babies
(Medical Xpress)—Results of new research from the University of Adelaide are a promising step forward in helping to improve the quality of life-saving blood transfusions for preterm babies, by reducing the likelihood of adverse inflammatory responses to the blood.
For kids to be healthy, physical activity even more important than diet, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—Physical activity rather than food has the biggest impact on children's weight according to new data from the Lifestyle of our Kids (LOOK) longitudinal study.
Helpful hints, and an illusion, for healthy holiday eating
(Medical Xpress)—The average person consumes about 4,000 calories on Thanksgiving, two times the amount that an average person needs. And that's just the start of a holiday season full of parties, dinners and get-togethers.
Researchers to develop new diagnostic test for Chagas disease
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at the University of Georgia will soon begin a study designed to identify new ways of determining treatment efficacy in Chagas disease, a potentially fatal tropical disease that infects approximately 8 million people worldwide and is the leading parasitic killer in the Americas.
Think before you shop: A guide to safe holiday gift buying
(Medical Xpress)—At this time of year, most of us are busy planning the holiday experience for families and loved ones. For the kids, it's about the anticipation and the toys.
Scientists report a potential new treatment to prevent strokes
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists may have discovered a new way to prevent strokes in high risk patients, according to research from the University of Warwick and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW).
Genome packaging: Key to breast cancer development
Cancer is a complex disease and only thanks to advances in genomic techniques have researchers begun to understand, at a cellular and molecular level, the mechanisms which are disrupted in cancer cells. This knowledge is a key prerequisite for developing effective treatment strategies.
Tips for holiday heartburn relief
(HealthDay)—It might be a good idea to take stock of the heartburn products in your medicine cabinet before heading out to any holiday parties, an expert advises.
Dial down your holiday stress
(HealthDay)—From crowded shopping malls to unpaid bills to an onslaught of out-of-town guests, the holidays can cause overwhelming stress. One way to remain calm is to manage unrealistic expectations, experts advise.
Soy-rich diets may not prevent hot flashes in most menopausal women
(HealthDay)—Consuming soy products doesn't prevent hot flashes and night sweats in most women, a large study suggests.
CDC: Yosemite hantavirus outbreak has killed 3, sickened 10
To date, 10 people have fallen ill - and three have died - in the hantavirus outbreak at Yosemite National Park's "signature" cabins in Curry Village, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
An easier way to go: Making colonoscopy prep easier, more palatable
The most dreaded part of a colonoscopy is prepping for it. The day before the exam, patients often drink large amounts of a vile-tasting liquid, then it's off to the throne for the better part of the day and night.
A grateful state: Gratitude is vital to well-being, research shows
Before we eat Thanksgiving dinner at my house, along with saying grace, each of the 20 or so people at the table takes a turn lighting a candle and expressing gratitude. The appreciation can be lighthearted - for mashed potatoes or a day off from school. Or the thankfulness may be accompanied by a heavy heart - for the memories of a loved one recently passed.
Endovascular, open aneurysm repair long-term survival akin
(HealthDay)—For repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms, endovascular repair and open repair result in similar long-term survival, according to a study published in the Nov. 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Blind patient reads words stimulated directly onto the retina
For the very first time researchers have streamed braille patterns directly into a blind patient's retina, allowing him to read four-letter words accurately and quickly with an ocular neuroprosthetic device. The device, the Argus II, has been implanted in over 50 patients, many of who can now see color, movement and objects. It uses a small camera mounted on a pair of glasses, a portable processor to translate the signal from the camera into electrical stimulation, and a microchip with electrodes implanted directly on the retina. The study was authored by researchers at Second Sight, the company who developed the device, and has been published in Frontiers in Neuroprosthetics on November 22.
Research identifies a genetic cause of hypertension
(Medical Xpress)—A multinational research project led by the Universities of Dundee and Glasgow has identified a genetic determinant of hypertension (or high blood pressure), which could inform treatment of the condition for thousands of patients.
Researchers find fly receptor neurons able to communicate without synapse connections
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at Yale University have found that neural receptors in a fly's antenna are able to communicate with one another despite a lack of synaptic connections. They suggest in their paper published in the journal Nature that the communication between the neurons occurs via electrical signals transported by shared fluids.
Researchers describe elusive replication machinery of flu viruses
Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have made a major advance in understanding how flu viruses replicate within infected cells. The researchers used cutting-edge molecular biology and electron-microscopy techniques to "see" one of influenza's essential protein complexes in unprecedented detail. The images generated in the study show flu virus proteins in the act of self-replication, highlighting the virus's vulnerabilities that are sure to be of interest to drug developers.
Study solves birth and migration mysteries of cortex's powerful inhibitors, 'chandelier' cells
A team at CSHL for the 1st time reveals the birth timing and embryonic origin of a critical class of inhibitory brain cells called chandelier cells, tracing the specific paths they take during early development into the cerebral cortex of the mouse brain. The work sheds light on the genetically programed, or "nature" part of the nature/nurture question of human development.
Biology news
Dolphin bound for Singapore oceanarium dies
One of 25 dolphins being transferred to a Singapore oceanarium despite protests from activists died during its flight to the city-state on Thursday, the resort said.
EU finally ends shark finning
The European parliament on Thursday called a definitive halt to shark finning, the long contested practice of fishermen slicing off fins and throwing the live body overboard to drown.
Muscle powers spearing mantis shrimp attacks
Mantis shrimps pack a powerful punch, whether they smash or spear their victims. According to Maya deVries and Sheila Patek from University of California, Berkeley, smasher mantis shrimps power their claws' ballistic blows using a catapult mechanism, but how do spearers deploy their weapons? Analyzing the movements of large Lysiosquillina maculata, the duo found that they unexpectedly use muscle power to launch their claw spears although smaller Alachosquilla vicina use a catapult mechanism like smashers.
Scientists discover carnivorous plant using sticky catapulting tentacles
The first detailed analysis of a WA native carnivorous plant by a group of German scientists has confirmed the presence of a unique mechanism for trapping prey.
Researchers find trees worldwide more sensitive to drought than previously thought
(Phys.org)—A multinational team of researchers has found that trees worldwide are more sensitive to drought than scientists realized. By analyzing data on trees around the world, the teams has, as they write in their paper published in the journal Nature, found that even small changes in precipitation can lead to large numbers of tree deaths. In a perspective piece in the same journal, German researcher Bettina Engelbrecht says the teams' results indicate that trees of all regions could be in trouble as global temperatures rise, not just those in drier climates.
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