Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for November 14, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Pig genome sequenced: Research could help combat animal and human disease- Researchers find way to boost WiFi performance 400-700 percent
- Tropical Indo-Pacific climate shifts to a more El Nino-like state, research finds
- Astronomers find 'homeless' planet wandering through space
- New metamaterial lens focuses radio waves: Device could improve satellite and molecular imaging
- Chronic exposure to light at night causes depression, learning issues, research shows
- Could poor sleep contribute to symptoms of schizophrenia?
- In financial ecosystems, big banks trample economic habitats and spread fiscal disease
- Scientists 'clone' carbon nanotubes to unlock their potential
- Bug repellent for supercomputers proves effective
- RIM offers free voice calls over Wi-Fi with BBM
- Review: Nexus 10 tablet showcases Google media play
- Climate change: drought benchmark is flawed, study says
- Even moderate drinking in pregnancy can affect a child's IQ, study shows
- Rare genetic mutation triples Alzheimer's risk
Space & Earth news
CA coastal panel mulls quake study near nuke plant
(AP)—California coastal regulators will decide whether to give a utility the go-ahead to use loud air cannons to map offshore earthquakes faults near a nuclear power plant.
State-of-the-art Earth explorer tracks storms before they hit, keeps up with increasing frequency of extreme events
Extreme weather phenomena are starting to show signs of a regular pattern: instead of taking place every 10 or 20 years, they are happening every 2 or 3 years. But technology can stay one step ahead, by predicting when these extreme weather events will occur. As in the case of the European Space Agency's (ESA) satellite, which was able to track Hurricane Sandy.
Preserve the services of mangroves—Earth's invaluable coastal forests, experts urge
Experts are urging policy makers to preserve mangroves and their essential services to nature and humanity alike, saying their replacement with shrimp farms and other forms of development is a bad economic tradeoff both short and long-term.
Student teams to build and fly rockets with onboard payloads for NASA rocketry challenge
Organizers of the NASA Student Launch Projects have announced the 57 student teams whose inventive creations will soar skyward in April during the space agency's 2012-13 rocketry challenge.
Radioactive leak in Finland prompts probe
(AP)—Finland's safety agency has begun an investigation into a leak from a nickel mine that polluted nearby waters with levels of radiation three times what is considered safe.
Finnish operator says it has plugged nickel mine leak
Leaks from a Finnish nickel mine that have dumped toxic metals into the environment were plugged on Wednesday, the mine operator said.
Climate change increases stress, need for restoration on grazed public lands
Eight researchers in a new report have suggested that climate change is causing additional stress to many western rangelands, and as a result land managers should consider a significant reduction, or in some places elimination of livestock and other large animals from public lands.
High-frequency flux transfer events detected near Mercury
The physical process that creates connections between the magnetic fields emanating from the Sun and a planet - a process known as magnetic reconnection - creates a portal through which solar plasma can penetrate the planetary magnetic field. The opening of these portals, known as flux transfer events (FTEs), takes place roughly every 8 minutes at Earth and spawns a rope of streaming plasma.
The 11-year solar cycle continues during prolonged sunspot minima
Streaming into the solar system at nearly the speed of light, galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) are a high-energy mix of protons, electrons, and atomic nuclei. As they pass into reach of the outflowing solar wind, the propagation of GCRs is inhibited. Galactic cosmic rays that make it to Earth interact with the atmosphere, creating a shower of heavy isotopes including beryllium-10. Beryllium-10 isotope concentrations recorded in ice cores provide a long-term, high temporal resolution record of galactic cosmic ray flux.
Clouds part, solar eclipse darkens north Australia
From boats bobbing on the Great Barrier Reef, to hot air balloons hovering over the rainforest, and the hilltops and beaches in between, tens of thousands of scientists, tourists and amateur astronomers watched as the sun, moon and Earth aligned and plunged northern Australia into darkness during a total solar eclipse Wednesday.
South Korea postpones rocket launch, official reports
South Korea has postponed a key satellite launch until the last week of November because of delays in the arrival of rocket parts from Russia, a senior official said Wednesday.
US to station powerful radar, space telescope in Australia
The United States military will station a powerful radar and a space telescope in Australia as part of a major refocusing of priorities towards Asia, the two countries announced Wednesday.
New bright and blue supernova in NGC 1365
A very bright supernova has shown up NGC 1365, the galaxy also known as the Great Barred Spiral Galaxy, visible now for southern hemisphere observers. This already elegant galaxy lies about 56 million light-years away in the constellation Fornax. The supernova, a type Ia, was discovered by Alain Klotz with the TAROT telescope at the La Silla Observatory in Chile on October 27, 2012. "The supernova is a very nice addition to the already highly photogenic galaxy," said Rolf Wahl Olsen, who took the gorgeous image above. "I'm amazed by how blue it is; it's really intense."
Melting glaciers raise sea level
Anthropogenic climate change leads to melting glaciers and rising sea level. Between 1902 and 2009, melting glaciers contributed 11 cm to sea level rise. They were therefore the most important cause of sea level rise. This is the result of a new assessment by scientists of the University of Innsbruck. They numerically modeled the changes of each of the world's 300 000 glaciers. Until 2100, glaciers could lead to an additional 22 cm of sea level rise.
Russia: Cable cut not affecting space station
A communications cable serving the Russian space agency's mission control was cut by construction workers but the accident has not affected the International Space Station or civilian satellites, the U.S. and Russian space agencies said Wednesday.
What lies beneath? New survey technique offers detailed picture of our changing landscape
A new surveying technique developed at The University of Nottingham is giving geologists their first detailed picture of how ground movement associated with historical mining is changing the face of our landscape.
Cut in Russian link to space station not serious: NASA
NASA minimized the impact of a cut in Russia's communications link with the International Space Station on Wednesday and said the problem would likely be fixed within the hour.
Total solar eclipse viewed from Australia
On Nov. 13, 2012, a narrow corridor in the southern hemisphere experienced a total solar eclipse. The corridor lay mostly over the ocean but also cut across the northern tip of Australia where both professional and amateur astronomers gathered to watch.
NASA satellite sees newborn Tropical Depression 25W raining on southern Vietnam
The twenty-fifth tropical depression of the western North Pacific Ocean season formed today and is already affecting southern Vietnam. NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Tropical Depression 25W and captured a visible image of the storm that showed its northern quadrant raining over the country.
Rover's 'SAM' lab instrument suite tastes soil
(Phys.org)— A pinch of fine sand and dust became the first solid Martian sample deposited into the biggest instrument on NASA's Mars rover Curiosity: the Sample Analysis at Mars, or SAM.
WISE discovers mystery dust around a dead star with a close companion
(Phys.org)—Astronomers using data from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, have discovered dust in an unusual place—just outside the reach of a binary star system with a short 3-hour orbit. The binary consists of a white dwarf with a red dwarf companion separated by a distance slightly larger than the radius of the Sun; an extremely small stellar orbit by astronomical standards.
Russia loses contact with satellites, space station (Update 4)
Russia on Wednesday lost the ability to send basic commands to most of its satellites and segment of the International Space Station following a vital cable failure near Moscow.
New dating of sea-level records reveals rapid response between ice volume, polar temperature
A new study has revealed a rapid response between global temperature and ice volume/sea-level, which could lead to sea-levels rising by over one metre.
The curious shape of a supernova remnant in a star-forming cloud
(Phys.org)—Data from two ESA missions combine in a new view of the peculiar supernova remnant W44. The filamentary shell-like structure, detected by the Herschel Space Observatory at far-infrared wavelengths, is filled with hot gas that shines brightly in X-rays, as seen by the XMM-Newton X-ray Observatory. This composite image highlights how the complex morphology of this remnant has been shaped by its interaction with its parent molecular cloud, the star-forming region W48.
Climate change: drought benchmark is flawed, study says
A scientific method used in a landmark UN report that said warming was intensifying global drought is badly flawed, a study published on Wednesday said.
Astronomers find 'homeless' planet wandering through space
(Phys.org)—A planet that is not orbiting a star, effectively making it homeless, has been discovered by a team of University of Montreal (UdeM) researchers working with European colleagues and data provided by the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) and the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLT). "Although theorists had established the existence of this type of very cold and young planet, one had never been observed until today," said Étienne Artigau, an astrophysicist at UdeM. The absence of a shining star in the vicinity of this planet enabled the team to study its atmosphere in great detail. This information will in turn enable astronomers to better understand exoplanets that do orbit stars.
Tropical Indo-Pacific climate shifts to a more El Nino-like state, research finds
Climate models predict a slowdown of the Walker circulation with global warming. Atmospheric models, however, have failed to reproduce the slowdown already observed over the last 60 years, casting doubt on their ability to simulate slow climate change. Now a study published in this week's issue of Nature has succeeded in simulating the slowdown and shows that changes in the sea surface temperature pattern across the Indo-Pacific are the cause.
Technology news
NY Times, union agree to new contract
Union members at The New York Times approved a new contract through 2016 which offers modest raises and a revamped pension, ending a deadlock of more than a year and a half.
China's Tencent quarterly profit rises 32%
Chinese Internet giant Tencent on Wednesday posted a third quarter net profit increase of 32 percent, benefiting from the popularity of its instant messaging services and online games.
Freescale: World's most advanced powertrain microcontroller, helping drive auto industry to 55 MPG
Freescale Semiconductor today announced the new Qorivva MPC5777M multicore microcontroller (MCU), the latest advancement in its extensive Qorivva product line. This advanced MCU family will help automakers worldwide address regional automotive fuel economy and safety trends by providing outstanding performance for a new generation of engine management solutions.
National cyber range rapidly emulates complex networks
Realistically and quickly replicating globally interconnected networks to securely test new cyber tools and capabilities is no longer an issue for cyber researchers thanks to the DARPA-developed National Cyber Range (NCR). The NCR, which transitioned in October to the Test Resource Management Center under the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Developmental Test and Evaluation, provides a secure, self-contained facility where complex defense and commercial networks can be rapidly emulated for cost-effective and timely validation of cyber technologies.
PNNL expertise highlighted at Supercomputing conference
From identifying common patterns in data to speeding up computers, researchers from the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will share their computational expertise at this year's Supercomputing conference.
Computer science helping the aged stay home
University of Adelaide computer scientists are leading a project to develop novel sensor systems to help older people keep living independently and safely in their own homes.
Austria court upholds Facebook ban for broadcaster
(AP)—A court in Austria has upheld a Facebook ban for state broadcaster ORF after the country' broadcast regulators ruled that its statutes do not allow it a presence on the social media site.
Governing economic growth in the cloud
Gross domestic product (GDP) can be boosted by cloud computing, the system in which remote computers on the Internet are used to store, manage and process data rather than the users' local machines. A report to be published in the International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management suggests that governments should collaborate to boost the adoption of cloud computing internationally.
New freeform standards to support scanning CMMs
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), the UK's National Measurement Institute, has developed a new range of three dimensional standards for verifying freeform coordinate measurement machines (CMMs). The standard allows the verification of portable and fixed non-contact coordinate measuring systems such as those employing laser scanning and fringe projection technologies, as well as those employing tactile sensors. It also helps evaluate the surface measurement capabilities of new scanning measurement technologies.
Lmod: The 'secret sauce' behind module management at TACC
Modules "set the table" for users of high performance computing system by loading the packages each user needs. Lmod, developed at TACC, protects users so they can't load mismatched compilers, libraries, and other parts of the software stack. This capability is part of our "secret sauce" that makes TACC systems easy to use.
Petraeus case fuels fresh debate on online privacy
The investigation that toppled CIA chief David Petraeus has sparked fresh debate over online privacy and the government's ability to snoop into private email accounts.
India's telecom auction raises 25% of target
India's government announced on Wednesday it had raised one-quarter of what it expected from an auction of mobile spectrum that telecom industry critics said had been overpriced.
Pinterest separates personal, business accounts
Pinterest is separating business accounts from personal ones, a move that could be an early step toward making money.
US panel urges more oversight of China investment
A congressional advisory panel on Wednesday urged tighter screening of investment by Chinese state-owned companies in the U.S., saying they present unfair competition to American firms.
Nokia buys 3D mapping firm in location services push
Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia announced plans to buy a California firm specializing in rendering the real-world in 3D as it beefed up mapping services for smartphone lifestyles.
Toyota recalls vehicles for steering, pump defects
Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 2.77 million vehicles around the world for a water pump problem and a steering shaft defect that may result in faulty steering—the latest in a spate of quality woes for Japan's top automaker.
Samsung plans no settlement with Apple, executive says
A top Samsung executive said that the South Korean electronics giant had no plans to follow Taiwanese firm HTC in seeking a settlement over its patent disputes with arch-rival Apple.
Infineon cuts costs as revenue falls
Semiconductor maker Infineon Technologies AG says it will cut back on investment plans and introduce short-time working as global economic uncertainty weighs on demand and revenue.
Study shows distractions may alleviate boredom and improve drone operators' performance
On its surface, operating a military drone looks a lot like playing a video game: Operators sit at workstations, manipulating joysticks to remotely adjust a drone's pitch and elevation, while grainy images from the vehicle's camera project onto a computer screen. An operator can issue a command to fire if an image reveals a hostile target, but such adrenaline-charged moments are few and far between.
Afghan women learn literacy through mobile phones
Afghanistan has launched a new literacy programme that enables Afghan women deprived of a basic education during decades of war to learn to read and write using a mobile phone.
Research shows texting a compulsion for young adults
(Phys.org)—Stroll through any U.S. college campus today, and you'll see a good percentage of students with noses buried in their smart phones. Many of them are texting.
Georgia Tech releases cyber threats forecast for 2013
The year ahead will feature new and increasingly sophisticated means to capture and exploit user data, escalating battles over the control of online information and continuous threats to the U.S. supply chain from global sources. Those were the findings made by the Georgia Tech Information Security Center (GTISC) and the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) in today's release of the Georgia Tech Emerging Cyber Threats Report for 2013.
Facebook jumps on biggest lock-up expiration day
(AP)—Facebook's stock is up more than 7 percent despite expectations that it would fall because more than 850 million additional shares in the company are being freed up for sale.
Traumatic brain injury patients, supercomputer simulations studied to improve helmets
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories and the University of New Mexico are comparing supercomputer simulations of blast waves on the brain with clinical studies of veterans suffering from mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) to help improve helmet designs.
San Francisco area drivers 1st with algae biofuel
Drivers in the San Francisco Bay Area are the first in the nation to fill up their gas tanks with an algae-based biofuel.
Apple and Samsung rule smartphone market, study says
Industry trackers crowned Apple and Samsung global smartphone market kings on Wednesday, saying they accounted for nearly half of handsets sold in the third quarter of the year.
Google offers free Internet to S.African mobile users
Google said on Wednesday it has entered into a deal with South Africa's giant telecoms operator Telkom to offer free Internet access to mobile phone subscribers that cannot afford data costs.
View Dynamic Glass system goes on public display (w/ Video)
(Phys.org)—Another step forward in the electrochromic glass trade is this week's announcement by the Milpitas, California,- company View that its self-tinting window solution, called View Dynamic Glass, is ready for deployment. View's team has also announced that the glass system is about to go on public display for the first time at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in San Francisco, running this week. Everyone likes to sit near a window until it gets too hot or bright, reminds View's leaders, and therein lies the appeal of a newer breed of "smart" windows that adjusts to surrounding conditions.
US urges safety technologies be made standard (Update 2)
The U.S. government should require automakers to make the latest collision prevention technologies standard equipment on all new cars and trucks, a move that could reduce fatal highway accidents by more than half, federal accident investigators said Wednesday.
Bug repellent for supercomputers proves effective
(Phys.org)—Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers have used the Stack Trace Analysis Tool (STAT), a highly scalable, lightweight tool to debug a program running more than one million MPI processes on the IBM Blue Gene/Q (BGQ)-based Sequoia supercomputer.
RIM offers free voice calls over Wi-Fi with BBM
BlackBerry users will be able to make free voice calls over a Wi-Fi network using the popular BBM messaging service.
The next interface: Electrical fields, MGC3130, and your hand (w/ Video)
(Phys.org)—Microchip Technology has been working in the "non-contact user interface" space, which is translating into gesture control over your next computing device. The company is using electrical fields to sense hand movements. They have announced a controller that transmits an electrical signal and calculates the three-coordinate position of a hand based on the disturbances to the field the hand creates. Chandler, Arizona, based Microchip Technology, in looking at electrical fields to sense hand movements, issued this week's announcement of "the world's first electrical field based 3-D gesture controller, the MGC3130." The new controller offers low-power, hand position tracking with gesture recognition. Its two promoted advantages are low cost and low power.
Researchers find way to boost WiFi performance 400-700 percent
As many WiFi users know, WiFi performance is often poor in areas where there are a lot of users, such as airports or coffee shops. But researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new software program, called WiFox, which can be incorporated into existing networks and expedites data traffic in large audience WiFi environments – improving data throughput by up to 700 percent.
Medicine & Health news
International action needed to ensure the quality of medicines and tackle the fake drugs trade
Their call comes just days before 100 World Health Organisation member states hold their first meeting to discuss the problem, and the authors hope it will help to influence the debate and lead to some concrete actions.
Mobile phone services help smokers quit
Support for quitting smoking via text and video messages can help smokers kick the habit according to a new Cochrane systematic review. The authors of the review found that people were more likely to stay away from cigarettes over a six month period if they received motivational messages and advice to their mobile phones.
Cancer: Exercise reduces tiredness
Aerobic exercise can help relieve the fatigue often associated with cancer and cancer treatment, according to Cochrane researchers. Their updated systematic review strengthens findings from an earlier version on cancer-related fatigue published in The Cochrane Library.
Liberal group outlines $385B in Medicare cuts
(AP)—A think tank allied with the White House is releasing a plan for Medicare cuts—hoping to stave off even bigger health care reductions in upcoming budget talks with Congress.
Polio cases down worldwide, trouble spots remain
The number of polio cases worldwide reached a record low in 2012, giving experts confidence that the disease can finally be eradicated, according to presentations made Tuesday at a major US conference.
ESC says don't forget to screen for diabetes in CAD patients
While it is well recognized that patients with diabetes are at risk of developing Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), on World Diabetes Day the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) highlights the fact that patients with CAD are also at great risk of developing diabetes mellitus (DM).
More than 33,000 childhood cancer survivors living in the UK
An estimated 33,000 long-term survivors of childhood cancer - the vast majority of whom are cured - will be living in the UK by the end of 2012, according to new figures from Cancer Research UK.
UK report: Care of people with schizophrenia and psychosis falling 'catastrophically short'
An independent inquiry into the state of care for people with schizophrenia and psychosis in England is calling for a widespread overhaul of the system.
Beginning of the end of hepatitis B in Australia?
(Medical Xpress)—A newborn vaccination program first introduced for Aboriginal babies in the Northern Territory has made significant inroads, significantly helping in the push to eradicate chronic hepatitis B infection in Australia.
Face-washing tips for healthier-looking skin
Washing your face is as simple as using soap and water, right? Not quite say dermatologists. How you wash your face can make a difference in your appearance.
Study to look at the impact of legal alternatives to illegal drugs
The use of legal substances that mimic the effects of illegal drugs appears to be on the rise in Australia, yet little is known about their long-term impact on users.
Study examines if out-of-network doctors are worth the cost
A Yale team of researchers has looked at the cost of seeking out-of-network medical care, and whether private insurance companies are transparent about the cost.
Diabetes mellitus and the life-threatening late complications of cardivascular disease
Between 600,000 and 800,000 Austrians have diabetes mellitus. This "sugar disease", as it is known, can itself already be treated very effectively. The later consequences of diabetes, however, which mostly affect the blood vessels and cause cardiovascular conditions such as myocardial infarctions or strokes, are more likely to be fatal. Diabetes expert Michael Resl from the University Department of Internal Medicine III at the MedUni Vienna, on the occasion of World Diabetes Day on 14th November, is keen to draw people's attention to this threat.
Micro-needle array: New method for delivering the drug into the body just by attaching it onto the skin
Fujifilm Corporation has developed the micro-needle array which is a new drug administration method that has gained attention for delivering the drug into the body just by attaching it onto the skin.
Ireland probes death of ill abortion-seeker (Update)
(AP)—The debate over legalizing abortion in Ireland flared Wednesday after the government confirmed that a woman in the midst of a miscarriage was refused an abortion and died in an Irish hospital after suffering from blood poisoning.
Risk of myocardial infarction and re-operation is greater than for drug-coated stents
If narrowed or blocked coronary vessels have to be widened or opened, a vascular support (stent) is usually inserted. Drug-coated stents are preferred for patients at high risk of renewed narrowing of vessels (restenosis). However, the use of antibody-coated stents has been increasing in recent years. Current studies provide indications that these new antibody-coated stents more frequently lead to myocardial infarction and make re-operation necessary. This is the conclusion reached in the rapid report of the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG), as published on 12 October 2012.
FDA chief seeks new powers to police pharmacies
(AP)—The country's top medical regulator is preparing to tell Congress that new laws are needed to police large specialty pharmacies like the one at the center of a deadly meningitis outbreak.
Research explores relationship-building program for male same-sex couples
(Medical Xpress)—University of Cincinnati research is examining the effectiveness of a relationship education program that was created to specifically address the needs of male same-sex couples. Details on the program and the study, led by Sarah Whitton, a UC assistant professor of psychology, will be presented Nov. 17, at the 46th annual convention of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) in National Harbor, Md.
Television: Chronicle of a death foretold?
Not only is TV not endangered, but it also has a unifying social impact on the nuclear family across the country. This is the main conclusion of a cross-Canada study—Are the Kids All Right?—on the television viewing habits of families with at least one child aged between 9 and 12 years. The study was conducted by a team of researchers led by André H. Caron, professor of communications at Université de Montréal and Director of the Centre for Youth and Media Studies (CYMS).
Feinstein announces submission of new drug application for diagnosing parkinsonian syndromes
The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research announced today the submission of a New Drug Application to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the Fluorodopa F 18 positron emission tomography (PET) scan used to diagnose parkinsonian syndromes. Earlier this year, the Feinstein Institute received FDA approval under an Expanded Access Investigational New Drug (IND) program, permitting the Feinstein Institute to receive reimbursement for the use of the diagnostic tool in clinical research studies. This was the first time the FDA approved payment for Fluorodopa F 18 PET studies in parkinsonian syndromes.
World's largest respiratory genetics study launches on World COPD Day
Researchers from the Universities of Nottingham and Leicester are leading the largest ever study of the genetics relating to lung disease.
Meningitis A vaccine breaks barrier: First to gain approval to travel outside cold chain
Signaling a potential breakthrough for immunization programs in resource-poor countries, researchers today announced at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) conference that regulatory authorities—after conducting a rigorous review of stability data—will for the first time allow a vaccine in Africa to be transported and stored for as long as four days without refrigeration or even an icepack.
EU OKs Bristol-Myers, AstraZeneca diabetes drug
(AP)—Drugmakers Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and AstraZeneca PLC say their experimental diabetes pill has gotten its first major approval, in the European Union.
New Ebola outbreak in Uganda kills 2
(AP)—Ugandan officials say a new outbreak of Ebola hemorrhagic fever has killed at least two Ugandans in a district near the capital.
MRSA outbreak mapped by DNA sequencing
Scientists have used DNA sequencing for the first time to effectively track the spread of, and ultimately contain, an outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), according to new research published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Drug shrinks brain tumors in children with tuberous sclerosis complex
A drug originally developed to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs has now been shown to dramatically reduce a particular kind of brain tumor in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)—a genetic disease that causes tumors to grow on vital organs.
Relatives of people dying suddenly from heart problems have increased risk of cardiovascular disease
Relatives of young people who have died suddenly from a heart-related problem are at greatly increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease according to a study published online today (Wednesday) in the European Heart Journal.
PCBs, other pollutants may play role in pregnancy delay
Couples with high levels of PCBs and similar environmental pollutants take longer to achieve pregnancy in comparison to other couples with lower levels of the pollutants, according to a preliminary study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions.
Timing of first menstrual cycle may be predictor of cardiovascular disease risk in women
Age at onset of menarche (first menstrual cycle) is associated with increased body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and overall obesity in adulthood, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
Diabetic patients have higher prevalence of hearing impairment
Patients with diabetes have a significantly higher prevalence of hearing impairment than patients without diabetes, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). Study authors note that the finding is likely to be independent of the effect of aging or a noisy environment.
BPA shown to disrupt thyroid function in pregnant animals and offspring
In utero exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) can be associated with decreased thyroid function in newborn sheep, according to a recent study accepted for publication in Endocrinology. Hypothyroidism is characterized by poor mental and physical performance in human adults and in children can result in cognitive impairment and failure to grow normally.
Metals versus microbes: The biocidal effect of metalloacid-coated surfaces
A new study published in BioMed Central's open access journal Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control reports of a phenomenon that could help control the spread of hospital-acquired infections: a surface-coating of metalloacids kills off microbial strains, even in multidrug-resistant microorganisms.
How threat, reward and stress come together to predict problem drinking
Having a drink after a stressful day at work may seem like a natural response for some, but can your neural circuits predict when a drink or two will become problem drinking? A study published in BioMed Central's open-access journal Biology of Mood & Anxiety Disorders suggests that may be the case. The study describes a highly novel mechanism predicting problem drinking in college students from fMRI data measuring individual differences in the functioning of reward and threat circuits in the brain.
Genotyping IDs long-term risk of macular degeneration
(HealthDay)—Genotyping of two genetic risk alleles can be used to estimate the long-term risk of early and late age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but knowing the phenotype is important in assessing risk when early AMD is present, according to a study published online Nov. 9 in the Archives of Ophthalmology.
Many Americans still in the dark about antibiotic resistance
(HealthDay)—Americans are not as smart about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance as they should be, a new poll shows.
Triclosan in cosmetics and personal care products can increase allergy risk
Triclosan - an antibacterial chemical found in toothpaste and other products - can contribute to an increased risk of allergy development in children. This comes from the Norwegian Environment and Childhood Asthma Study, in which the Norwegian Institute of Public Health is involved. Similar results are reported in the USA.
Targeting protein could prevent metastasis of cancer cells
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at King's College London have uncovered a protein required by cancer cells to spread to other parts of the body, highlighting it as a potential target for future treatments to prevent secondary cancers (metastases).
EEG provides insight into drug-related choice in addiction, potential implications for rehabilitation
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory, Stony Brook University, and collaborators may have found a way to predict drug-addicted individuals' responses to drug-related stimuli.
What is the psychology behind our desire to wait in line for the latest and greatest?
(Medical Xpress)—As the Black Friday sales start earlier and the smartphones play hard to get, a Kansas State University professor says psychology can explain why consumers wait in line for the latest sales, gadgets and experiences.
Smoking affects allergy-relevant stem cells, study finds
Environmental contaminants, such as smoking, are harmful to the human organism in relation to the occurrence of allergies. This is known. Until now, researchers had never investigated whether and to what extent environmental contaminants also affect allergy-relevant stem cells. For the first time a team at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) has found evidence for this: Smoking affects the development of peripheral allergy-relevant stem cells in the blood. In order to present this result Dr. Irina Lehmann and Dr. Kristin Weiße chose a new scientific path: The combination of exposure analysis and stem cell research.
'Missing link' discovered in the defense mechanism of the tuberculosis pathogen
Flemish biologists lead by Joris Messens (VIB / Vrije Universiteit Brussel) have discovered that Mycobacterium tuberculosis – the bacterium that causes tuberculosis – has an ingenious defence mechanism against oxygen. This knowledge is important in the search for a treatment for tuberculosis. 9.4 million people are infected with tuberculosis annually and 1.7 million people die as a result.
Evidence that respiratory exercises before heart surgery can prevent pneumonia
Patients who practice respiratory physical therapy exercises before elective cardiac surgery may reduce serious pulmonary complications later, finds a new evidence review from The Cochrane Library.
Cancer drug improves survival in patients with metastatic melanoma
(Medical Xpress)—Results of a University of Arizona Cancer Center's scientist-led clinical trial show that a drug already approved for breast and lung cancer improved progression-free survival in patients with metastatic melanoma.
Brain cancer breakthrough: Experimental vaccine trains immune system to target remaining tumor cells after surgery
UC Irvine oncologists are looking for new ways to treat glioblastoma multiforme, the deadliest type of brain cancer. While surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation is the current standard of care, it doesn't fully eliminate the cancer. The goal is to develop an additional therapy that seeks out and destroys the cancer cells that inevitably remain.
New study reveals more inspiring reasons to serve veggies at dinner
Parents may have some new motivations to serve their kids vegetables. A new study, funded by Pinnacle Foods' Birds Eye brand and published in Public Health Nutrition, found that adding vegetables to the plate led to more positive evaluations of both the main entrée and the cook. By simply serving vegetables with dinner, participants believed the main course would taste better and thought the server was more thoughtful and attentive.
Contraception could save world $5.7 bn, says UN report
The world economy would be boosted by billions of dollars if all women had access to contraception, the United Nations said on Wednesday in its annual State of World Population report.
Enhancing breast cancer detection
Straightforward imaging with an infrared, thermal, camera for detecting breast cancer early without the discomfort or inconvenience of mammography or biomolecular tests, according to a study to be published in the International Journal of Innovative Computing and Applications.
A risk gene for cannabis psychosis
The ability of cannabis to produce psychosis has long been an important public health concern. This concern is growing in importance as there is emerging data that cannabis exposure during adolescence may increase the risk of developing schizophrenia, a serious psychotic disorder. Further, with the advent of medical marijuana, a new group of people with uncertain psychosis risk may be exposed to cannabis.
Kicking the habit—New research examines the barriers to quitting smoking for smokers with asthma
(Medical Xpress)—A new University of Cincinnati study examines how anxiety sensitivity can thwart the efforts of smokers with asthma to quit smoking. This new direction of research from Alison McLeish, a UC assistant professor of psychology, will be presented on Nov.17, at the 46th annual convention of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) in National Harbor, Md.
Cancer therapy: Nanokey opens tumors to attack
There are plenty of effective anticancer agents around. The problem is that, very often, they cannot gain access to all the cells in solid tumors. A new gene delivery vehicle may provide a way of making tracks to the heart of the target.
New research gives fresh hope to couples with 'unexplained infertility'
New research from Queen's University Belfast has uncovered the cause of infertility for 80 per cent of couples previously diagnosed with 'unexplained infertility'.
New study examines why some people are afraid to relax
(Medical Xpress)—Are you one of those people who can't sit still? A UC researcher develops a questionnaire to explore the physical, cognitive and social issues surrounding the anxiety related to kicking back a little.
World diabetes day designed to raise awareness
(HealthDay)—Before her 12-year-old daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes a year ago, Michelle Moriarty knew very little about the blood sugar disease other than that there was more than one type of diabetes and one kind of diabetes required shots.
How safe are our roads for Bradley and the nation's cyclists?
A new government-funded study is to be carried out into how Britain's roads could be made safer for cyclists to reduce the risk of cycling injuries, encourage more people to use bikes and improve public health.
Tolerance to malaria by means of iron control
Malaria is a life-threatening condition that exposes approximately half of the world's population to the risk of developing a severe and often lethal form of disease. In a study published in the latest issue of the journal Cell Host & Microbe*, Miguel Soares and his team at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), Portugal, discovered that the development of severe forms of malaria can be prevented by a simple mechanism that controls the accumulation of iron in tissues of the infected host. They found that expression of a gene that neutralizes iron inside cells, named H Ferritin, reduces oxidative stress preventing tissue damage and death of the infected host. This protective mechanism provides a new therapeutic strategy against malaria.
Exploring the financial costs of sadness
Your emotions can certainly impact your decisions, but you might be surprised by the extent to which your emotions affect your pocketbook. New research from psychological scientist Jennifer Lerner of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and colleagues Yi Le and Elke U. Weber of Columbia University explores how impatience brought on by sadness can in turn produce substantial financial loss. The study is published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Researcher: Military should reassess reproductive health care for women
Noting that active-duty servicewomen have higher rates of unintended pregnancy than the general population and lower reported contraception use, one researcher at Women & Infants Hospital is suggesting the answer might be a review of the health care offered to females in the military and veterans.
Heart failure in older breast cancer patients linked to medication
Heart failure is a relatively common complication in older women with breast cancer, but the risk is even higher in those patients treated with adjuvant trastuzumab (Herceptin), Yale School of Medicine researchers report in the current issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Give pregnant women vitamin D supplements to ward off multiple sclerosis, research says
The risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) is highest in the month of April, and lowest in October, indicates an analysis of the available evidence, published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.
Discovery could lead to faster diagnosis for some chronic fatigue syndrome cases
For the first time, researchers have landed on a potential diagnostic method to identify at least a subset of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a complex disorder with no known definitive cause or cure.
Remixed brain waves reveal soundtrack of the human brain
Scientists have combined and translated two kinds of brain wave recordings into music, transforming one recording (EEG) to create the pitch and duration of a note, and the other (fMRI) to control the intensity of the music. The research, published November 14 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Jing Lu and colleagues from the University of Electronic Science and Technology, China, reveals an improved method to reflect the physiological processes of the scale-free brain in music.
People identify symptoms of depression more readily in women than men
The ability to correctly identify signs of depression depends on the gender of both the identifier and the person with depression, as well as individual psychological differences, according to research published November 14 by Viren Swami from the University of Westminster, UK.
Pancreas stem cell discovery may lead to new diabetes treatments
(Medical Xpress)—Stem cells in the adult pancreas have been identified that can be turned into insulin producing cells, a finding that means people with type 1 diabetes might one day be able to regenerate their own insulin-producing cells.
Doctors communicate with man assumed to be in vegetative state using fMRI
(Medical Xpress)—Doctors in Canada claim they have opened a communication channel, using fMRI, with a man assumed to be in a vegetative state for over twelve years. By asking the patient to envision two different types of mental exercises and assigning a value of yes or no respectively to each, while undergoing a brain scan, they believe car accident patient Scott Routley has informed them that he is not experiencing any pain.
Discovery of nitric oxide delivery mechanism may point to new avenue for treating high blood pressure
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have shed new light on blood pressure regulation with the discovery of an unexpected mechanism by which hemoglobin controls the delivery of nitric oxide. The findings may point to a new therapeutic target for treating high blood pressure and may have far-reaching implications for many organ systems and illnesses.
Researchers find that listening abilities depend on rhythms in the brain
(Medical Xpress)—Naturally, our brain activity waxes and wanes. When listening, this "oscillation" synchronizes to the sounds we are hearing. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute have found that this influences the way we listen. Hearing abilities also "oscillate" and depend on the exact timing of one's brain rhythms. This discovery that sound, brain, and behaviour are so intimately coupled will help us to learn more about listening abilities in hearing loss.
Chronic exposure to light at night causes depression, learning issues, research shows
For most of history, humans rose with the sun and slept when it set. Enter Thomas Edison, and with a flick of a switch, night became day, enabling us to work, play and post cat and kid photos on Facebook into the wee hours.
Could poor sleep contribute to symptoms of schizophrenia?
Neuroscientists studying the link between poor sleep and schizophrenia have found that irregular sleep patterns and desynchronised brain activity during sleep could trigger some of the disease's symptoms. The findings, published in the journal Neuron, suggest that these prolonged disturbances might be a cause and not just a consequence of the disorder's debilitating effects.
Research breakthrough could halt melanoma metastasis
In laboratory experiments, scientists have eliminated metastasis, the spread of cancer from the original tumor to other parts of the body, in melanoma by inhibiting a protein known as melanoma differentiation associated gene-9 (mda-9)/syntenin. More than 1 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the U.S., and melanoma is the deadliest form. With further research, the approach used by the scientists could lead to targeted therapies that stop metastasis in melanoma and potentially a broad range of additional cancers.
Engineering a photo-switch for nerve cells in the eye and brain
(Medical Xpress)—Chemists and vision scientists at the University of Illinois at Chicago have designed a light-sensitive molecule that can stimulate a neural response in cells of the retina and brain—a possible first step to overcoming degenerative eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration, or to quieting epileptic seizures.
Rare genetic mutation triples Alzheimer's risk
A gene so powerful it nearly triples the risk of Alzheimer's disease has been discovered by an international team including researchers from Mayo Clinic. It is the most potent genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's identified in the past 20 years. The findings were reported Wednesday in the online edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Even moderate drinking in pregnancy can affect a child's IQ, study shows
Relatively small levels of exposure to alcohol while in the womb can influence a child's IQ, according to a new study led by researchers from the universities of Bristol and Oxford using data from over 4,000 mothers and their children in the Children of the 90s study (ALSPAC) and published today in PLOS ONE.
Biology news
Vietnam may evict bears from 'protected' park land
(AP)—Bears, some of them blinded or maimed, play behind tall green fences like children at school recess. Rescued from Asia's bear bile trade, they were brought to live in this lush national park, but now they may need saving once more.
Biofactory introduces kits for assessment of protein-DNA interactions, targeting researchers and industry
The Biofactory, a leading innovator in incubating biomedical and life sciences related technologies, introduced today its ColoQuik line of label-free kits for the rapid colorimetric detection of protein-DNA interactions in biomedical research labs and the pharmaceutical industry. These kits are based on technology licensed from the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), a research institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore's lead government agency for fostering world-class scientific research. The Biofactory has three kits in its pipeline, each customized for the assessment of a well-known transcription factor in cancer: ERα, ERβ, and p53.
Dogs, humans team up to help eradicate Dyer's woad in Montana
A Labrador that's trained to find cadavers, and a Border collie plucked from a Bozeman animal shelter are now helping rid Montana of noxious weeds.
Studying resistant parasites in sheep in Norway
Sheep in the Norwegian counties of Rogaland and Hordaland have an increased risk of hosting gastrointestinal parasites which cannot be efficiently treated with benzimidazole – the most frequently used deworming agent for sheep in Norway.
Pacific fishing zones—lifeline for overfished tuna?
Marine zoning in the Pacific Ocean, in combination with other measures, could significantly improve numbers of heavily overfished bigeye tuna and improve local economies, a fish modelling study has found.
Study investigates headshaking in horses
Headshaking syndrome is when a horse shakes or jerks its head uncontrollably for no apparent reason. There are striking clinical similarities between facial pain syndromes in people, most notably trigeminal neuralgia, and headshaking in horses. Although some progress has been made towards both diagnosing and treating the condition in horses, the pathology of the disease remains unknown and further research is needed.
Venomous Aussie redback spiders zero in on Tokyo
Australia's venomous redback spider, first sighted in Japan 17 years ago, is crawling toward Tokyo, with at least one of the creepy-crawlies found in a neighboring city, officials said Wednesday.
Bulgaria to ban bear-hunting again
Bulgaria's government tabled on Wednesday a bill in parliament reinstating a ban on hunting brown bears that had been eased in 2010 after a man was mauled to death.
Grasshoppers change their tune to stay tuned over traffic noise
Grasshoppers are having to change their song – one of the iconic sounds of summer – to make themselves heard above the din of road traffic, ecologists have discovered. The study, published in the British Ecological Society's journal Functional Ecology, is the first to show that man-made noise affects natural insect populations.
Three rare Sumatran tiger cubs born at Indonesia zoo
A critically endangered Sumatran tiger has given birth to three cubs at an Indonesian zoo, a veterinarian at the facility said Wednesday.
Australia's devils to get fresh start on new island
A group of Tasmanian devils will be transferred to a small Australian island to start what is hoped will be a self-sustaining population, free from the facial tumour that has devastated their species.
Mountain gorillas now the only great ape with clear signs of increasing population despite continued pressure on habitat
A census of mountain gorillas released today has confirmed an increase in the population of the species.
Israeli mice sniff out bombs and vice
An Israeli company is aiming to revolutionise the way explosives, narcotics and even money are detected at airports, docks and border crossings with the help of specially trained covert agents.
Australian blue whales now call Antarctica home
(Phys.org)—New findings suggest that the ecology of blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) – the largest living animal – has recently changed due to human activities. A team lead by researchers at Macquarie University and Flinders University unexpectedly found, in the Antarctic, individuals from the pygmy blue whale subspecies (B. m. brevicauda) that inhabits Australian waters, and hybrids between Australian blue whales and the Antarctic blue whale subspecies (B. m. intermedia).
Sequencing a mini-pig: The whole story
The Wuzhishan miniature pig is one of 72 breeds native to China. New research published in BioMed Central and BGI's open access journal GigaScience provides the genome sequence of this rare mini-pig. An in-depth analysis of this sequence, along with comparison to human genes, has provided a wealth of knowledge for use in medical engineering and drug design.
Changing climate, not tourism, seems to be driving decline in chinstrap-penguin populations
(Phys.org)—The breeding population of chinstrap penguins has declined significantly as temperatures have rapidly warmed on the Antarctic Peninsula, according to researchers funded in part by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Rare parasitic fungi could have anti-flammatory benefits
Scientists at The University of Nottingham have discovered that a rare parasitic fungus that lives on hibernating caterpillars in Tibet could have a role to play in anti-inflammatory drugs for conditions such as asthma.
Feds: Lack of sea ice changes walrus behavior
Federal scientists say a lack of summer sea ice is changing the behavior of Pacific walruses, but they don't know what the effect will be.
Captive animals show signs of boredom, study finds
Wondering if your caged hamster gets bored? It's highly likely if the critter has nothing to do all day.
Why yawning is contagious in bonobos
Being socially close to another bonobo is more likely to make bonobo apes yawn in response to the other's yawns, according to research published November 14 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Elisabetta Palagi and Elisa Demuru from the University of Pisa, Italy.
Plant hormone could help produce biofuels, reduce demand on crops
(Phys.org)—Scientists at The University of Manchester have identified how a plant hormone can affect the rate of cell division in vascular tissue in plants. The findings demonstrate how the hormone controls plant growth to produce more biomass which could be used to make the next generation of biofuels.
The leggiest animal on Earth lives in the outskirts of Silicon Valley
With 750 legs, the millipede Illacme plenipes is the leggiest animal on Earth. Once believed extinct, scientists rediscovered the species in 2005—more than 80 years after it was first described. This exceedingly rare millipede is known from a single 4.5 km2 area in California, and based on new details recently published in the open access journal ZooKeys, the millipede has a beautifully intricate anatomy including the ability to spin silk from long hairs covering its back.
New brain gene gives us edge over apes, study suggests
Scientists have taken a step forward in helping to solve one of life's greatest mysteries – what makes us human?
Pig genome sequenced: Research could help combat animal and human disease
The pig and its cousin the wild boar have much in common with humans. They are world travelers. They're adaptable, invasive and often damage their own habitat. They are easy to seduce (with food) and susceptible to domestication, but when conditions allow, they revert to a feral lifestyle.
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