Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for December 3, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Goodbye, fluorescent light bulbs: New lighting technology won't flicker, shatter or burn out- Search for life suggests solar systems more habitable than ours
- The self-improvement of lithium-ion batteries
- It's complicated: Hidden protein folding complexity revealed by simple Markov state models
- Unique properties of two-dimensional crystal bring potential for optoelectronics, solar cells, valleytronics
- 'Junk DNA' drives embryonic development
- Why older adults become fraud victims more often: Brain shows diminished response to untrustworthiness
- Biophysicists unravel cellular 'traffic jams' in active transport
- How 'transparent' is graphene?
- Voyager 1 encounters new region in deep space, NASA says
- Squirrels and birds inspire researchers to create deceptive robots (w/ video)
- Scientists develop indium-free organic light-emitting diodes
- Physicist happens upon rain data breakthrough
- Oil and water: An icy interaction when oil chains are short, but steamy when chains are long
- Murdoch iPad daily failure a lesson for digital news
Space & Earth news
New Zealand: Forget Kyoto, write new climate deal
Highlighting a rift between the rich countries and emerging economies like China, New Zealand's climate minister staunchly defended his government's decision to drop out of the emissions pact for developed nations, saying it's an outdated and insufficient response to global warming.
Fractious climate talks enter second week
Countries entered a second week of UN climate talks in Doha deeply divided on key issues even as fresh warnings were issued that rising greenhouse gas levels are putting our planet in peril.
Science key to reducing impacts of future natural hazards in developing countries
The use of science to reduce the effects of future natural hazards such as floods, droughts and earthquakes must be stepped up and adopted more widely according to a newly published Foresight report.
Clean energy 'more urgent', energy watchdog says
The need for a more sustainable global energy system is more urgent than ever, energy watchdog, the International Energy Agency warned on Monday as UN climate talks went into a second week.
'Come out of the forest' to save the trees
Forestry experts have called for a new approach to managing land and tackling climate change – challenging the ongoing debate that forests have to be sacrificed for the sake of rural development and food security.
Sea Launch rocket lofts Eutelsat satellite
(AP)—Sea Launch AG says it has placed a communication satellite into orbit for global provider Eutelsat.
Fossil fuel subsidies in focus at climate talks
(AP)—Hassan al-Kubaisi considers it a gift from above that drivers in oil- and gas-rich Qatar only have to pay $1 per gallon at the pump.
S. Korea postpones rocket launch to 2013
South Korea has postponed its third bid to put a satellite in orbit until next year, after a technical problem forced the cancellation of last week's scheduled launch, an official said Monday.
Why study plants in space?
(Phys.org)—Why is NASA conducting plant research aboard the International Space Station? Because during future long-duration missions, life in space may depend on it.
Rough guide to Super-TIGER watching: How to participate vicariously in a cosmic-ray experiment
(Phys.org)—It's November 30 and a scattering of people in St. Louis, Missouri, Pasadena, California, and Greenbelt, Maryland, are getting antsy, clicking repeatedly on http://www.csbf.nasa.gov/antarctica/ice.htm to see whether anything is up yet.
Titan shines in latest Cassini shots
Last Thursday, November 29, Cassini sailed past Titan for yet another close encounter, coming within 1,014 kilometers (603 miles) of the cloud-covered moon in order to investigate its thick, complex atmosphere. Cassini's Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS), Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) and Imaging Science Subsystems (ISS) instruments were all busy acquiring data on Titan's atmosphere and surface… here are a couple of color-composites made from raw images captured in visible light channels as well as some of the more interesting monochrome raw images. Enjoy!
Glitter galaxy through Hubble's eye
(Phys.org)—The brilliant cascade of stars through the middle of this image is the galaxy ESO 318-13 as seen by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.
Research, response for future oil spills: Lessons learned from Deepwater Horizon
A special collection of articles about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill provides the first comprehensive analysis and synthesis of the science used in the unprecedented response effort by the government, academia, and industry. Papers present a behind-the-scenes look at the extensive scientific and engineering effort—teams, data, information, and advice from within and outside the government—assembled to respond to the disaster. And, with the benefit of hindsight and additional analyses, these papers evaluate the accuracy of the information that was used in real-time to inform the response team and the public.
NASA satellites see Super-Typhoon Bopha closing in on the Philippines
Two NASA satellites gathered data as the passed over Bopha when it was a Super Typhoon on Dec. 2, gathering valuable data for forecasters. Since Dec. 2, Bopha's maximum sustained winds have fluctuated up and down from its previous high of 155 mph and today, Dec. 3, the storm has reached its strongest point so far as a Category 5 typhoon on the Saffir-Simpson scale with sustained winds of 161 mph. Warnings are up for the Philippines as Bopha approaches.
Missing Pacific island riddle solved, researcher says
A New Zealand researcher Monday claimed to have solved the riddle of a mystery South Pacific island shown on Google Earth and world maps which does not exist, blaming a whaling ship from 1876.
Have Venusian volcanoes been caught in the act?
(Phys.org)—Six years of observations by ESA's Venus Express have shown large changes in the sulphur dioxide content of the planet's atmosphere, and one intriguing possible explanation is volcanic eruptions.
At last, how many alien civilizations are there?
During the space age, 1961 was a special year: the Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to orbit Earth, while the American astronomer Frank Drake developed the now famous Drake Equation. This equation estimates the number of detectable extraterrestrial civilizations in our Milky Way galaxy, supposing our present electromagnetic detection methods. The Drake equation states:
Hubble spots a peculiar compact Blue Dwarf Galaxy
(Phys.org)—The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope captured an impressive image of the irregular galaxy NGC 5253.
Canopy structure more important to climate than leaf nitrogen levels, study says
Claims that forest leaves rich in nitrogen may aid in reflecting infrared radiation—helping cool the atmosphere—have been challenged by new research that shows that the structure of tree canopies is a more important factor in infrared reflection.
Mercury releases contaminate ocean fish: Study publishes major findings
In new research published in a special issue of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives and in "Sources to Seafood: Mercury Pollution in the Marine Environment"— a companion report by the Dartmouth-led Coastal and Marine Mercury Ecosystem Research Collaborative (C-MERC), scientists report that mercury released into the air and then deposited into oceans contaminates seafood commonly eaten by people in the U.S. and globally.
Curiosity rover shakes, bakes, and tastes Mars with SAM (w/ video)
NASA's Curiosity rover analyzed its first solid sample of Mars in Nov. with a variety of instruments, including the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite. Developed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., SAM is a portable chemistry lab tucked inside the Curiosity rover. SAM examines the chemistry of samples it ingests, checking particularly for chemistry relevant to whether an environment can support or could have supported life.
Russian Far East holds seismic hazards that could threaten Pacific Basin
(Phys.org)—For decades, a source of powerful earthquakes and volcanic activity on the Pacific Rim was shrouded in secrecy, as the Soviet government kept outsiders away from what is now referred to as the Russian Far East.
DNA analysis of microbes in a fracking site yields surprises
(Phys.org)—Researchers have made a genetic analysis of the microbes living deep inside a deposit of Marcellus Shale at a hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," site, and uncovered some surprises.
Curiosity rover: No big surprise in first soil test
(Phys.org)—NASA's Mars Curiosity rover has used its full array of instruments to analyze Martian soil for the first time, and found a complex chemistry within the Martian soil. Water and sulfur and chlorine-containing substances, among other ingredients, showed up in samples Curiosity's arm delivered to an analytical laboratory inside the rover.
Physicist happens upon rain data breakthrough
(Phys.org)—A physicist and researcher who set out to develop a formula to protect Apollo sites on the moon from rocket exhaust may have happened upon a way to improve weather forecasting on Earth.
Search for life suggests solar systems more habitable than ours
(Phys.org)—Scattered around the Milky Way are stars that resemble our own sun—but a new study is finding that any planets orbiting those stars may very well be hotter and more dynamic than Earth.
Voyager 1 encounters new region in deep space, NASA says
(Phys.org)—NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft has entered a new region at the far reaches of our solar system that scientists feel is the final area the spacecraft has to cross before reaching interstellar space.
Technology news
Whipping Swiss cottages into green shipshape
By making Strickbau wood log building more energy efficient while restoring them in line with conservation principles, scientists are participating to their revival and use for modern living.
Pope joins tweeting masses with Pontifex handle (Update 2)
(AP)—Benedict XVI, the pope known for his hefty volumes of theology, is now trying brevity—spreading the faith through his own Twitter account.
New program seeks to reveal backdoors and other hidden malicious functionality in commercial IT devices
The scenario is one that information security experts dread: widespread dissemination of commercial technology that is secretly wired to function in unintended ways or even spy on its users. From this vantage point, mobile phones, network routers, computer work stations and any other device hooked up to a network can provide a point of entry for an adversary.
How NVIDIA's Tegra processor can help land a plane in an emergency
You know the routine: Board a flight. Put your seat in the upright position. Tuck away your tray table. Turn off all your portable electronic devices.
New York art museum to display video games
Are video games a form of art? New York's Museum of Modern Art thinks so, and starting in March several games will become an integral part of the museum's collection.
News Corp split in motion. Murdoch names unit chief
Rupert Murdoch put the future of his newspaper and publishing empire in the hands of a fellow Australian on Monday as he set in motion the split of his media-entertainment conglomerate, News Corp.
Clashes over Internet rules to mark Dubai meeting
The U.N.'s top telecommunications overseer sought Monday to quell worries about greater Internet controls emerging from global talks in Dubai, but any attempts for major Web regulations will likely face stiff opposition from groups led by a high-powered U.S. delegation.
Sender of first text message 'amazed' 20 years on
The British software engineer who sent the world's first text message 20 years ago said on Monday that he is amazed at how the technology has developed.
'SSKEP,' highly accurate, high-speed skin analyzing technology
Sony Corporation today announced the development of "SSKEP (Smart Skin Evaluation Program), " a highly accurate, high speed technology for analyzing various elements of the skin, including texture, blemishes, pores, brightness and coloring. "SSKEP" is Sony's own skin analyzing technology which is comprised of back-illuminated CMOS image sensors that achieve high sensitivity and low noise, multiple wavelength light source controls, and skin-analyzing algorithms. The combination of advanced sensing technologies and high-speed image processing technologies will enable the quantitative and multilateral measuring and analysis of various elements of the skin.
Researchers find social networking sites Facebook and Google+ are prime targets for easy attacks
The law created to protect children's online privacy actually increases risk, according to new research from Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU-Poly).
Study shows growth in second screen users (Update)
(AP)—Many U.S. viewers are becoming more active while watching television, judging by the findings in a new report that illustrates the explosive growth in people who watch TV while connected to social media on smartphones and tablets.
New York Times offers 30 newsroom buyouts
The New York Times said Monday it was offering buyouts to 30 newsroom managers and other journalists as part of an ongoing cost-cutting drive in a difficult environment for the newspaper industry.
Second African nation gets Google street view
Botswana on Monday became the second African country to be featured on Google Maps' Street View, allowing users to explore landmarks such as the Okavango Delta.
Internet freedom not to be curbed, UN telecoms head says
Internet freedom will not be curbed or controlled, the head of the UN telecommunications body, Hamadoun Toure, said as a meeting to review the 24-year-old telecom regulations kicked off Monday.
Study finds social networking taking up toilet time
Blame social media the next time it feels like forever for your turn to use the toilet.
Staples customers can get a head and more with 3-D printing
(Phys.org)—Given the curiosity and novelty factors, if not utility, of 3-D printers. was it not just a matter of time? A speeded-up trend is in the works of getting 3-D printing into the hands of all consumers, from agency creatives to industrial product designers, to architects, to health professionals, to students, to gift-givers with a sense of flair and humor. 3-D printing is coming to Staples. A partnership between Staples Printing Systems Division and Mcor Technologies has resulted in the launch of a 3-D printing service, "Staples Easy 3D."
UC team pursues hot idea: Solar-powered cold food storage
Spoilage of harvests on their way to market contributes to food shortages in India. A UC-industry partnership has produced an innovative solar chiller container and distribution plan to change that.
Hacker worm burrows into Tumblr blogs
A software "worm" evidently unleashed by hackers burrowed through Tumblr on Monday, defacing pages at the popular blogging platform with a vitriolic, expletive-laden message.
Murdoch iPad daily failure a lesson for digital news
The failure of Rupert Murdoch's pioneering iPad newspaper The Daily underscores the problems of the news industry as it seeks a paid model for the digital age, analysts said.
Goodbye, fluorescent light bulbs: New lighting technology won't flicker, shatter or burn out
Say goodbye to that annoying buzz created by overhead fluorescent light bulbs in your office. Scientists at Wake Forest University have developed a flicker-free, shatterproof alternative for large-scale lighting.
Medicine & Health news
Grief is not a disease, but cancer is: What about erectile dysfunction or gambling addiction?
"Understanding peoples' attitudes about whether states of being should be considered diseases can inform social discourse regarding a number of contentious social and health public policy issues," says Kari Tikkinen, MD, PhD, corresponding author of the FIND Survey.
FDA pledges support for med tech initiative
(AP)—The Food and Drug Administration says it will collaborate with medical device manufacturers on a public-private partnership designed to speed up the development of new medical technology.
Lithium restores cognitive function in Down syndrome mice
Down syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is the leading cause of genetically defined intellectual disability. In the brain, Down syndrome results in alterations in the connections between neurons and a reduction in the development of new neurons (neurogenesis) that usually occurs during learning.
American Society of Clinical Oncology issues annual report on state of clinical cancer science
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has just released its annual report on the top cancer advances of the year. Clinical Cancer Advances 2012: ASCO's Annual Report on Progress Against Cancer, highlights major achievements in precision medicine, cancer screening and overcoming treatment resistance.
Clinical trial targets advanced prostate cancer
Select patients with advanced prostate cancer may benefit from a Georgia Health Sciences University Cancer Center clinical trial that looks to improve survival rates of the FDA-approved prostate cancer drug Provenge.
Awareness is key to preventing heat- and cold-induced athletic injuries
Extreme heat or cold can cause dangerous and potentially fatal side effects in athletes. A literature review appearing in the December 2012 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS) provides an overview of the risk factors, signs and symptoms, and management of various conditions related to excessive heat and cold exposure.
PET imaging used to more accurately manage treatment, predict survival for patients with gliomas
In the management of gliomas—or tumors that originate in the brain—precise assessment of tumor grade and the proliferative activity of cells plays a major role in determining the most appropriate treatment and predicting overall survival. Research published in the December issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM) highlights the potential of imaging with 3'-deoxy-3'-F-18-fluorothymidine (F-18-FLT) positron emission tomography (PET) to noninvasively and accurately provide tumor-specific details to guide management of patients with gliomas.
Common diabetes drug may help treat ovarian cancer
A new study suggests that the common diabetes medication metformin may be considered for use in the prevention or treatment of ovarian cancer. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study found that ovarian cancer patients who took the drug tended to live longer than patients who did not take it.
Advice needed for parents on risk of poisoning in toddlers, research says
GPs and other primary care professionals need to warn parents about safely storing medicines and other hazardous household products in an effort to cut the number of poisonings among pre-school children, a study has said.
Treating childhood cancer in developing countries less expensive than believed
(Medical Xpress)—The assumption that childhood cancer in developing countries is prohibitively expensive to treat is challenged by new research contributed to by the University of Sydney.
Ideal body size identified
(Medical Xpress)—The ideal male and female bodies according to each of the sexes have been identified by researchers at Newcastle University using a special 3D design programme. The findings, published today in the journal PLOS One, reveal the remarkable similarities and differences in what men and women find attractive but also what they perceive to be attractive in their own sex. The research is part of a bigger project looking at the causes of, and possible treatments for, anorexia.
'Stem cell tourism' growing trend: Panel decries overseas clinics that provide treatments devoid of scientific validity
Internet sites offer help for people suffering from a dizzying array of serious conditions, including: Alzheimer's, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, atherosclerosis, autism, brain damage, cancer, cerebellar ataxia, cerebral palsy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Crohn's, diabetes, diseases of the eye, genetic disorders, Huntington's, kidney disease, lupus, muscular sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson's, rheumatoid arthritis, spinal cord injury, spinal muscular atrophy, stroke, and Tay-Sachs disease.
Encouraging news for hip surgeries: New hip prosthesis lasts over 20 years
A team of researchers at the University Department of Orthopaedics at the MedUni Vienna / Vienna General Hospital has for the first time investigated the durability of Zweymüller hip prostheses, which were developed at the end of the 1970s, over a period of 20 years. The result: the stem of the endoprosthesis, which was named after the Professor of Orthopaedics at the Vienna General Hospital and developed over 30 years ago, lasts for at least 20 years. "This shows that the fear over hip prostheses is unfounded. It is better to live with a prosthesis and without pain than to live without one and be in pain," says Reinhard Windhager, Head of Orthopaedics at the MedUni Vienna / Vienna General Hospital.
Heart-warming memories: Nostalgia can make you feel warmer, researchers find
(Medical Xpress)—As the nights draw in and the temperature begins to drop, many of us will be thinking of ways to warm up on the dark winter nights. However, few would think that remembering days gone by would be an effective way of keeping warm.
Researchers discover how the deadly malaria parasite evades the immune system, make progress toward developing a cure
(Medical Xpress)—More than a million people die each year of malaria caused by different strains of the Plasmodium parasite transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito. The medical world has yet to find an effective vaccine against the deadly parasite, which mainly affects pregnant women and children under the age of five. By figuring out how the most dangerous strain evades the watchful eye of the immune system, researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have now paved the way for the development of new approaches to cure this acute infection.
Less wait for travel could reduce drinking and driving in people with 'urgency' personality trait
Saving bar patrons' time on their commute home could save lives. A pair of studies by University of Missouri psychologists found that people who reported drinking and driving also exhibited "urgency," or a lack of emotional self-control, especially while drinking. This suggests that some people when intoxicated may be more likely to choose the convenience of driving themselves home instead of waiting for a taxi, said Denis McCarthy, associate professor of psychology at MU.
Shifting the safety balance for overnight workers
An international team of sleep researchers has developed the world's first screening tool to help reduce workplace accidents and illnesses, including cardiovascular disease and cancer, caused by shift work.
Largest coronary artery disease study shows evidence of link between inflammation and heart disease
The University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) participated in the largest genetic study of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) to date. Researchers from the CARDIoGRAMplusC4D Consortium report the identification of 15 genetic regions newly associated with the disease, bringing to 46 the number of regions associated with CAD risk.
ACOG: Delaying cord clamping advised for preterm infants
(HealthDay)—Evidence supports the benefits of delayed umbilical cord clamping for preterm infants, while for term infants, the evidence is unclear, according to a Committee Opinion published in the December issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Managing erectile dysfunction, comorbid diseases linked
(HealthDay)—Diagnosis and management of erectile dysfunction (ED) improves health outcomes for men with comorbid diseases, and vice versa, according to research published online Nov. 15 in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Cabozantinib active in castration-resistant prostate cancer
(HealthDay)—The orally bioavailable tyrosine kinase inhibitor cabozantinib (XL184) has clinical activity in men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), according to a study published online Nov. 19 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Respiratory symptoms vary throughout menstrual cycle
(HealthDay)—The frequency of respiratory symptoms, including wheeze, shortness of breath, and cough, varies throughout the menstrual cycle, according to a study published online Nov. 29 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
'Hiding' cigarettes in stores might keep kids from smoking: study
(HealthDay)—U.S. teens are much less likely to buy cigarettes if they are hidden from view, new research suggests.
More U.S. kids get high-radiation scans, study says
(HealthDay)—Increasing numbers of U.S. children undergo diagnostic imaging tests such as MRIs and CT scans, and higher-radiation tests account for a growing proportion of these procedures, researchers report.
Clinical trial hits new target in war on breast cancer
Breast cancers are defined by their drivers – estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER and PR) and HER2 are the most common, and there are drugs targeting each. When breast cancer has an unknown driver, it also has fewer treatment options – this aggressive form of breast cancer without ER, PR or HER2, which was thought not to be driven by hormones, is known as triple negative. A decade ago, work at the University of Colorado Cancer Center added another potential driver to the list – the androgen receptor – and this week marks a major milestone in a clinical trial targeting this cause of breast cancer growth.
Stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons rescue motor defects in Parkinsonian monkeys
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that is characterized by tremors, rigidity, slowness of movement, and difficulty walking. It is caused by loss of the neurons that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine (known as dopaminergic neurons). One of the primary goals in Parkinson's disease research is to develop a replacement for dopaminergic neurons.
Rules limiting aggression should reduce hockey injuries
Mandatory rules such as restricting body checking can limit aggression and reduce injuries in ice hockey, making the game safer for young people, a new study has found.
Risk of blood clots two-fold for women with polycystic ovary syndrome on combined pill
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who are taking combined oral contraceptives have a 2-fold risk of blood clots compared with women without the disorder who take contraceptives, states a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
New findings on glucagon synthesis
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have shown that the cells that produce glucagon are stimulated by the hormone itself. A previous study by the same group demonstrated that this principle also applies to insulin. This means that a feedback system is at work in the body, whereby hormone secreting cells receive an immediate signal to produce more of the hormone.
Mexican immigrants to the US not as healthy as believed, study finds
Immigrants who come to the United States from Mexico arrive with a significant amount of undiagnosed disease, tempering previous findings that immigrants are generally healthier than native-born residents, according to a new study.
US health security research not balanced enough to meet goals, study suggests
Federal support for health security research is heavily weighted toward preparing for bioterrorism and other biological threats, providing significantly less funding for challenges such as monster storms or attacks with conventional bombs, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
Study describes 68 CTE cases in veterans, high school, college and pro athletes
A study done by investigators at the Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy (CSTE) and the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, in collaboration with the Sports Legacy Institute (SLI), describes 68 cases of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) among deceased athletes and military veterans whose brain and spinal cords were donated to the VA CSTE Brain Bank. Of the 68 cases, 34 were former professional football players, nine had played only college football, and six had played only high school football. The results, which will be published in the December issue of the scientific journal, Brain, represent the largest case series of CTE published to date, doubling the number of published CTE cases internationally.
Emigration of children to urban areas can protect parents against depression
Parents whose children move far away from home are less likely to become depressed than parents with children living nearby, according to a new study of rural districts in Thailand. The study, led by scientists at King's College London, suggests that children who migrate to urban areas are more likely to financially support their parents, which may be a factor for lower levels of depression.
Study examines psychotropic medication use among US adolescents with mental disorders
A survey finds that 14.2 percent of adolescents ages 13 to 18 years with any mental disorder reported being treated with a psychotropic medication in the last 12 months, which researchers suggest challenges concerns about widespread overmedication and misuse of psychotropic medications among young people in the U.S., according to a study published Online First by Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Longer treatment for male UTI not associated with reduced early or late recurrence risk
A study of more than 33,000 outpatient male veterans suggests that a longer duration of antimicrobial treatment of more than seven days for a urinary tract infection (UTI) appeared not to be associated with a reduced risk of early or late recurrence compared to a shorter duration (seven days or less) of treatment, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.
Social media may help fight childhood obesity
Social media may be an effective tool to help children overcome obesity, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement.
Healthy diet may help prevent recurrent heart attacks, strokes
If you have cardiovascular disease, a heart-healthy diet may help protect you from recurrent heart attacks and strokes, according to new research in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
Upper endoscopy is overused in patients with heartburn
Heartburn is one of the most common reasons for people to see a doctor, and some physicians often use upper endoscopy to diagnose and manage gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). But most patients do not require the procedure unless other serious symptoms are present, according to the American College of Physicians (ACP) Clinical Guidelines Committee in a new evidence-based clinical policy paper published today in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Experts urge rapid evaluation for swallowing and voice problems after brain surgery
Johns Hopkins experts are recommending early post-surgical assessment—preferably within 24 hours—for trouble chewing and swallowing food, or speaking normally, among patients who have had benign tumors removed from the base of the brain.
New research opens new pathway for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
Scientists from VIB and KU Leuven have discovered a new target molecule for the development of a treatment against Alzheimer's disease. There is currently no cure for this disease. Many candidate drugs fail because they also target proteins essential to life. This discovery from Leuven could form a target for a treatment against Alzheimer's disease with fewer side effects and that suppresses the very first symptoms of the disease. This research will be published in the leading journal Nature Medicine.
New 'pipeline' device offers new option for difficult-to-treat aneurysms
A new technology called the Pipeline embolization device (PED) shows encouraging results in patients with certain types of difficult-to-treat brain aneurysms, reports the December issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
College students report low flu vaccine rate
College football and basketball games may provide more than a way for students to show school spirit – they could help prevent the flu.
Iron deficiency and cognitive development: New insights from piglets
University of Illinois researchers have developed a model that uses neonatal piglets for studying infant brain development and its effect on learning and memory. To determine if the model is nutrient-sensitive, they have done some research on the effects of iron-deficient diets.
Study shows BPA exposure in fetal livers
New research from the University of Michigan School of Public Health found BPA, or bisphenol A, in fetal liver tissue, demonstrating that there is considerable exposure to the chemical during pregnancy.
Women with sleep apnea have higher degree of brain damage than men, study shows
Women suffering from sleep apnea have, on the whole, a higher degree of brain damage than men with the disorder, according to a first-of-its-kind study conducted by researchers at the UCLA School of Nursing. The findings are reported in the December issue of the peer-reviewed journal Sleep.
Gender and race: How overlapping stereotypes affect our personal and professional decisions
Racial and gender stereotypes have profound consequences in almost every sector of public life, from job interviews and housing to police stops and prison terms. However, only a few studies have examined whether these different categories overlap in their stereotypes. A new study on the connections between race and gender – a phenomenon called gendered race – reveals unexpected ways in which stereotypes affect our personal and professional decisions.
Baby's health is tied to mother's value for family
The value that an expectant mother places on family—regardless of the reality of her own family situation—predicts the birthweight of her baby and whether the child will develop asthma symptoms three years later, according to new research from USC.
Listen up, doc: Empathy raises patients' pain tolerance
A doctor-patient relationship built on trust and empathy doesn't just put patients at ease – it actually changes the brain's response to stress and increases pain tolerance, according to new findings from a Michigan State University research team.
Researchers find new target for Alzheimer's drug development
Researchers at the University of Minnesota's Center for Drug Design have developed a synthetic compound that, in a mouse model, successfully prevents the neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers make breakthrough in arthritis research
Researchers at Western University have made a breakthrough that could lead to a better understanding of a common form of arthritis that, until now, has eluded scientists.
Alzheimer's researcher reveals a protein's dual destructiveness—and therapeutic potential
A scientist at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health has identified the molecule that controls a scissor-like protein responsible for the production of plaques – the telltale sign of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Children with autism arrive at emergency room for psychiatric crisis nine times more than peers
In the first study to compare mental health-related emergency department (ED) visits between children with and without autism spectrum disorders (ASD), researchers found that ED visits are nine times more likely to be for psychiatric reasons if a child has an ASD diagnosis. Published in the journal Pediatric Emergency Care (Epub ahead of print), the study found externalizing symptoms, such as severe behaviors tied to aggression, were the leading cause of ED visits among children with ASD. Importantly, the likelihood of a psychiatric ED visit was higher if a child carried private health insurance rather than medical assistance.
Managing care and competition: Efficiencies of integrated care and improved risk assessment seen in Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage (MA), with more than 10 million enrollees, is the largest alternative to traditional Medicare. MA's managed care approach was designed to provide coordinated, integrated care for patients and savings for taxpayers, but since the program launched as Medicare Part C in 1985, critics have said that the system limited enrollee freedom of choice without significant benefit or savings to the Medicare program. They also pointed to the tendency of some private payers to design benefit plans and marketing campaigns that attracted healthier patients, leaving sicker, moreexpensive patients in traditional Medicare— a process known as favorable selection.
Declining air pollution levels continue to improve life expectancy in US
A new study led by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) has found an association between reductions in fine particulate matter and improved life expectancy in 545 counties in the U.S. from 2000 to 2007. It is the largest study to date to find beneficial effects to public health of continuing to reduce air pollution levels in the U.S.
US flu season starts early, could be bad, CDC says
Health officials say flu season is off to its earliest start in nearly 10 years—and it could be a bad one.
Antidepressants may lead to fewer seizures in people with epilepsy
(HealthDay)—Besides helping to boost mood, antidepressants may also reduce seizure frequency for people with epilepsy, a new study suggests.
Children's seizures not always damaging, study finds
(HealthDay)—Not all prolonged seizures permanently hurt children with epilepsy, according to preliminary findings from a long-term follow-up study.
What doctors don't know about treating kids with epilepsy
(HealthDay)—Many American doctors lack knowledge about the proper diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy in children, according to a new study.
Psychiatry gets revised diagnostic manual
(HealthDay)—The long-awaited revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has been approved, bringing with it a series of revisions, additions and subtractions to the tome that is considered the Bible of psychiatry.
Fetal NSAID exposure not tied to persistent pulmonary HTN
(HealthDay)—There appears to be no association between persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) and gestational exposure to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen, according to a study published online Dec. 3 in Pediatrics.
Recent increase in adverse TMP-SMX reactions in children
(HealthDay)—There has been a significant increase in adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with use of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) for treatment of skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) in children, according to research published online Dec. 3 in Pediatrics.
Despite FDA warning, sports supplements still available online, study reports
(HealthDay)—DMAA sports supplements have been linked to at least two deaths and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent warning letters to 10 manufacturers last spring about a lack of data on their safety, but a new study finds these supplements can still be purchased online.
Food allergies? Pesticides in tap water might be to blame
Food allergies are on the rise, affecting 15 million Americans. And according to a new study published in the December issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), pesticides and tap water could be partially to blame.
Increases in personal income important for happiness worldwide, new study says
For people living in both rich and poor countries, the average person's happiness is based on a combination of individual wealth, possessions and optimism, according to an analysis of new worldwide survey findings published by the American Psychological Association.
New Alzheimer's drug studies offer patients hope (Update)
For Alzheimer's patients and their families, desperate for an effective treatment for the epidemic disease, there's hope from new studies starting up and insights from recent ones that didn't quite pan out.
Dopamine not about pleasure (anymore)
(Medical Xpress)—To John Salamone, professor of psychology and longtime researcher of the brain chemical dopamine, scientific research can be very slow-moving.
Super-resolution microscope shows how human T-cells make life or death decisions
(Medical Xpress)—Using a super-resolution fluorescent microscope, medical scientists are a step closer to understanding why and how human immune cells decide to activate or not, thus enabling or preventing disease taking hold in the body.
Study explains why some teenagers more prone to binge drinking
New research helps explain why some teenagers are more prone to drinking alcohol than others. The study, led by King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry (IoP) and published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) provides the most detailed understanding yet of the brain processes involved in teenage alcohol abuse.
Research explores markers of depression from childhood to adulthood
Although several studies have followed the course of depression throughout the lifespan, the characteristics of depression at different developmental stages haven't been clearly identified. New research published in Clinical Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, presents a unique longitudinal investigation of depression across four critical developmental periods from childhood to adulthood.
Novel antibodies for combating Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease
Antibodies developed by researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are unusually effective at preventing the formation of toxic protein particles linked to Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, as well as Type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.
Under similar stress, rich live longer than poor, study reports
(HealthDay)—Money may not buy you happiness, but it can help you avoid the ill effects of unhappiness and stress. That's the upshot of a new British study that finds stressed-out rich people live longer than the stressed-out poor.
'Junk DNA' drives embryonic development
An embryo is an amazing thing. From just one initial cell, an entire living, breathing body emerges, full of working cells and organs. It comes as no surprise that embryonic development is a very carefully orchestrated process—everything has to fall into the right place at the right time. Developmental and cell biologists study this very thing, unraveling the molecular cues that determine how we become human.
Why older adults become fraud victims more often: Brain shows diminished response to untrustworthiness
Why are older people especially vulnerable to becoming victims of fraud? A new UCLA study indicates that an important clue may lie in a particular region of the brain that influences the ability to discern who is honest and who is trying to deceive us.
Biology news
Latest hatchery technology, 'fish treadmill' help to reveal Deepwater Horizon's physiological impacts
Scientists at the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science are helping to shed light on the impact of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill on marine life in the Gulf of Mexico. The School, a leader in the field of marine toxicology used its state-of-the-art hatchery to study the effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on various species of fish, including cobia and mahi mahi. PAH's are toxic components of oil that are released from oil into the water column. The team also studied the effects of photo-enhanced toxicity, or the impact of sunlight on the potency of the toxic compounds found in the oil from the DWH spill.
Dressing US troops to safeguard against insect attacks
Outfitting soldiers with clothing that effectively repels or kills insects is one of the strategies U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists are using to help protect U.S. military personnel deployed overseas against disease-transmitting mosquitoes and sand flies.
Blind, scaleless cave fish species discovered in Vietnam
Could there be more biological treasures awaiting discovery in Asia's limestone cave systems?
A pathway to bypass DNA lesions in the replication process is experimentally shown
DNA lesions are really common —about one million individual molecular lesions per cell per day— because its long strands usually have one missing base or are damaged. These lesions can stall the DNA replication process, what can lead to the cell death. To avoid it, there are several pathways to bypass lesions in order to continue with the process of DNA replication. One of these processes has been entirely reproduced in vitro using some techniques of manipulation of single-molecules in a study published today in Science, led by the researcher of the University of Barcelona Maria Mañosas.
Key pathological mechanism found in plague bacterium
(Phys.org)—A more than 50-year-old question has now been answered. Chemists and microbiologists at the Biological Chemistry Center at Umeå University in Sweden are now able to describe in detail the role of calcium in the ability of the plague bacterium Yersinias to cause disease.
Researchers investigate one of the oldest mysteries of plant breeding
Hybrid plants provide much higher yield than their homozygous parents. Plant breeders have known this for more than 100 years and used this effect called heterosis for richer harvests. Until now, science has puzzled over the molecular processes underlying this phenomenon. Researchers at the University of Bonn and partners from Tübingen and the USA have now decoded one possible mechanism in corn roots. More genes are active in hybrid plants than in their homozygous parents. This might increase growth and yield of the corn plants. The results are published in the renowned scientific journal Genome Research.
Male chimpanzees choose their allies carefully
Study finds male chimpanzees may increase their chances of siring offspring by recognizing the importance of third-party relationships.
Team develops innovative gene-silencing biotechnology to advance aquaculture with prawns
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) has developed an advanced gene-silencing biotechnology for aquaculture that changes the sex of prawns and yields the faster-growing all male populations, resulting in greater output and farmer income.
Upon further review, giant sequoia tops a neighbor
Deep in the Sierra Nevada, the famous General Grant giant sequoia tree is suffering its loss of stature in silence. What once was the world's No. 2 biggest tree has been supplanted thanks to the most comprehensive measurements taken of the largest living things on Earth.
Songbirds adapt to new urban environs thanks to rapid genetic evolution
(Phys.org)—Indiana University researchers have found evidence that a species of songbird that recently colonized an urban environment exhibits less stress and bolder behavior as compared to counterparts living in the forest. They conclude that adaptation to city life is connected to rapid genetic evolution of both behavior and corresponding hormonal responses.
Pygmy mole crickets don't just walk on water, they jump on it
Pygmy mole crickets are known to be prodigious jumpers on land. Now, researchers reporting in the December 4th issue of Current Biology, a Cell Press publication, have found that the tiny insects have found an ingenious method to jump from the water, too. Their secret is a series of spring-loaded, oar-like paddles on their back legs.
New study shows probiotics help fish grow up faster and healthier
(Phys.org)—Probiotics like those found in yogurt are not only good for people—they are also good for fish. A new study by scientists at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology found that feeding probiotics to baby zebrafish accelerated their development and increased their chances of survival into adulthood.
New Jamaica butterfly species emphasizes need for biodiversity research
(Phys.org)—University of Florida scientists have co-authored a study describing a new Lepidoptera species found in Jamaica's last remaining wilderness.
Plant organ development breakthrough
Plants grow upward from a tip of undifferentiated tissue called the shoot apical meristem. As the tip extends, stem cells at the center of the meristem divide and increase in numbers. But the cells on the periphery differentiate to form plant organs, such as leaves and flowers. In between these two layers, a group of boundary cells go into a quiescent state and form a barrier that not only separates stem cells from differentiating cells, but eventually forms the borders that separate the plant's organs.
It's complicated: Hidden protein folding complexity revealed by simple Markov state models
(Phys.org)—Complex systems often exhibit metastable dynamical behavior – that is, the systems appears to be in an equilibrium state but are actually confined to part of the phase space, while at much longer time scales transition between other such metastable states. (Water provides two well-known examples of metastable dynamical behavior: the delays in both the evaporation of overheated water and the freezing of under-cooled water.) Analysis of this behavior has often focused on stochastic – and more recently, Markov – processes. In particular, Markov State Models (MSMs) have been particularly successful, due largely to their ability to model high-dimensional state spaces, biomolecules, and – again more recently – protein folding kinetics.
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