Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for December 13, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Microbial Munificence: Iron acquisition strategies in natural bacterioplankton populations- Reality check for DNA nanotechnology: Lowering barriers to DNA-based nanomanufacturing
- Common physics among black holes
- 12 matter particles suffice in nature
- Using light to remotely trigger biochemical reactions
- Pheromone helps mice remember where to find a mate
- For every species of mammal, 300 arthropod species lurk in the rainforest
- Building better structural materials: Nickel nanocrystals under pressure
- Congenital heart defects could have their origin during very early pregnancy
- Study suggests the bacterial ecology that lives on humans has changed in the last 100 years
- 'Two-faced' cells discovered in colon cancer: Immune cells can suppress or promote tumor growth
- Study sheds light on how cells transport materials along crowded intercellular 'highways'
- Scientists identify a new layer of complexity within colon cancer
- US banks face 'credible' hacker threat, researchers say
- Brain cells activated, reactivated in learning and memory
Space & Earth news
Chilean town shaken by reminders of deadly quake
(AP)—One jolt hit in the middle of the night. Another caught fishermen at a nearby beach. Then the ground shook at supper. And then again, and again: More than 170 tremors were felt in Navidad in just five weeks. The strongest struck during a funeral, and sent panicked mourners fleeing into the street.
EPA finds contamination at former rocket test site
(AP)—Federal environmental regulators say they have found lingering radioactive contamination at a rocket engine test site outside of Los Angeles.
Research project uses real-time data assimilation to predict path of wildfires
Using real-time data to more quickly predict the movement of wildfires is the objective of a National Science Foundation-funded research project at the University of Colorado Denver.
Seafood Christmas lunch made more sustainable by chef and marine biologist
Just in time to help plan the Christmas lunch menu, a University of Melbourne zoologist and a Melbourne chef have teamed up to produce a sustainable seafood website.
Shadows on ice: Proba-1 images Concordia south polar base
(Phys.org)—ESA's Earth-observing microsatellite Proba-1 has glimpsed one of the loneliest places on Earth – Concordia research base in the heart of Antarctica.
Lessons for the next Sandy: Rapid response should be followed by thoughtful rebuilding
Don't just replace what was lost. Rebuild better, because another storm is coming.
New understanding of soil quality throughout Africa
The Africa Soil Information Service (AfSIS) Online Map Tool is an interactive mapping application that can display more than 30 maps of soil and related environmental characteristics for the continent of Africa. The tool creates a clickable map that lets users zoom in and examine soil characteristics from existing, legacy soil maps and data as well as a new collection of soil samples gathered by AfSIS over the past four years.
NASA celebrates 50 years of planetary exploration
(Phys.org)—Fifty years ago on a mid-December day, NASA's Mariner 2 spacecraft sailed close to the shrouded planet Venus, marking the first time any spacecraft had ever successfully made a close-up study of another planet. The flyby, 36 million miles (58 million kilometers) away from Earth, gave America its first bona fide space "first" after five years in which the Soviet Union led with several space exploration milestones. Designed and built by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., the successful Mariner 2 spacecraft ushered in a new era of solar system exploration.
Hurricane Sandy: What caused the recent superstorm and how to prepare for the next one
It has been just over a month since Hurricane Sandy devastated the coastal communities of New York and New Jersey, causing billions of dollars in damages and affecting tens of millions of people. According to scientific experts, next time the results could be far worse. And there will be a next time, say Queens College Earth and Environmental Sciences professors Nicholas K. Coch and Stephen Pekar.
National Weather Service tests new, simpler winter hazard communications: Public invited to comment during test period
NOAA's National Weather Service is testing new language to communicate winter weather hazards in its forecasts. From now through March 31, 2013, alternative messages in winter hazard forecasts will run on a test website for 26 weather forecast offices throughout the country.
Unique CO2 monitoring technology streamlines process
A made-in-Nova Scotia technology to allow for long-term automated monitoring of greenhouse gases is transforming the task into a practical process, even underground. Developed by Professor David Risk, of St. Francis Xavier University's (StFX) Department of Earth Sciences, the patented sensor-housings function throughout cold winters and without using much power—two significant benefits that competing technologies do not provide.
Finding life in the volcanic systems of the Antarctic Polar Front
Volcanic waters in the cold Southern Ocean are the destination for RRS James Cook's current expedition. Scientists are exploring a two-mile deep water system of hydrothermal vents, calderas and cold seeps on the seabed off the coast of Antarctica.
Study finds the insurance industry paying increasing attention to climate change
The insurance industry, the world's largest business with $4.6 trillion in revenues, is making larger efforts to manage climate change-related risks, according to a new study published today in the journal Science.
NASA photo error puts Everest in India
The world's highest mountain should not be hard to spot but American space agency NASA has admitted it mistook a summit in India for Mount Everest, which straddles the border of Nepal and China.
UK government lifts ban on gas 'fracking'
The British government on Thursday ended the suspension of the controversial shale gas extraction method known as fracking in Britain.
Trade in live corals may help preserve reef ecosystems, study finds
(Phys.org)—The international trade in corals used to be primarily a curio trade of dried skeletons, but now focuses on live corals for the marine reef aquarium trade. A team of Roger Williams University (RWU), Boston University (BU), Conservation International(CI), and the New England Aquarium (NEAq) researchers has been studying this relatively new development and have published their findings about this unique trade and its long-term implications. The article, "Long-term trends of coral imports into the United States indicate future opportunities for ecosystem and societal benefits," appears in the December issue of the journal Conservation Letters.
Stirred, not shaken, lake mixing experiment shows promise
(Phys.org)—The question is simple: can a lake be cleansed of a pernicious invader by simply raising the water temperature?
Benefits, risks of using geoengineering to counter climate change
If they wanted to, nations around the world could release globe-cooling aerosols into the atmosphere or undertake other approaches to battle climate change, an authority on environmental law said Monday. He recommended international discussions on a regulatory scheme to govern such geoengineering approaches.
Providing a clearer view of our early Universe
(Phys.org)—A new data analysis tool will be used by researchers of the ARC Centre of Excellence for All-sky Astrophysics (CAASTRO) at Curtin University to handle large quantities of data coming in from the new low frequency radio telescope, the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA).
Geminid meteors set to light up winter sky
(Phys.org)—On the evening of 13 and the morning of 14 December, skywatchers across the world will be looking up as the Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak, in potentially one of the best night sky events of the year.
Asteroid Toutatis tumbles by Earth
While Asteroid 4179 Toutatis was never a threat to hit Earth during its quite-distant pass on Dec. 11-12, astronomers were keeping their instruments and eyes on this space rock to learn more about it, as well as learning more about the early solar system. Even at closest approach, 4179 Toutatis was 7 million km away or 18 times farther than the Moon. But that is close enough for radar imaging by NASA's Goldstone Observatory, which has recently upgraded to a new digital imaging system, as well as optical imaging by other astronomers. Already, there are some preliminary findings from this 4.5-kilometer- long (3-mile-long) asteroid's flyby.
Long, uncertain path ahead for Gulf restoration after oil spill
In the coming years, unprecedented billions will be spent on restoration in the Gulf of Mexico, a vital American ecosystem damaged by the most catastrophic oil spill in U.S. history.
'Curiosity' can be positioned with eclipses
Observations from 'Curiosity' when Mar's moon Phobos crosses in front of the sun, like in September, help us to understand exactly where the rover is on the red planet. Researchers at the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain) have developed a method for achieving precisely this.
NASA sees intensifying tropical cyclone moving over Samoan Islands
NASA satellites have been monitoring Tropical Cyclone Evan and providing data to forecasters who expected the storm to intensify. On Dec. 13, Evan had grown from a tropical storm into a cyclone as NASA satellites observed cloud formation, height and temperature, and rainfall rates.
New study suggests Earth's lower mantle penetrated by metallic blobs
(Phys.org)—Researchers from Yale University have found that molten iron is able to penetrate into rock samples in a unique way under certain conditions. Geophysicist Shun-ichiro Karato and student Kazuhiko Otsuka together have found that when molten iron is brought into contact with magnesium-iron oxide crystals under high pressures and temperatures, metal blobs form inside the crystals – suggesting that it might be possible that the Earth's lower mantle might consist of a similar metal heavy material. They present their findings in a joint paper published in the journal Nature.
Twin NASA spacecraft prepare to crash into moon
(Phys.org)—Twin lunar-orbiting NASA spacecraft that have allowed scientists to learn more about the internal structure and composition of the moon are being prepared for their controlled descent and impact on a mountain near the moon's north pole at about 2:28 p.m. PST (5:28 p.m. EST) Monday, Dec. 17.
Alcohol constrains physical constant in the early universe
(Phys.org)—Radio-astronomical observations of a distant galaxy indicate that the ratio of the proton's mass to that of the electron has hardly changed over cosmic history. This fundamental constant of nature has changed by 10-7 or less, equivalent to a maximum of one hundred thousandth of a percent, in the past 7 billion years. Scientists from VU University Amsterdam and the Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie (MPIfR) used the Effelsberg 100-m radio telescope to obtain accurate measurements of methanol absorption at several characteristic frequencies. Methanol, the simplest form of the family of alcohol molecules, was observed in a distant galaxy at redshift z = 0.89 toward the quasar system PKS 1830-211. The resulting stringent limit on the proton-to-electron mass ratio shows that molecules and molecular matter are, with high accuracy, the same now as 7 billion years ago. The work is published online in Science Express on 13 Dec. 2012.
Common physics among black holes
(Phys.org)—Black holes range from modest objects formed when individual stars end their lives to behemoths billions of times more massive that rule the centers of galaxies. A new study using data from NASA's Swift satellite and Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope shows that high-speed jets launched from active black holes possess fundamental similarities regardless of mass, age or environment. The result provides a tantalizing hint that common physical processes are at work.
Technology news
Microgrid powers 'World Green City'
The Office of Naval Research (ONR), a leader in the exploration of renewable power, played a major role in the development of a new "World Green City" unveiled here on Dec. 12 as a prototype community powered by alternative energy sources.
How to stay digitally connected in a natural disaster
If you live in a disaster-prone area, you likely have an emergency kit that includes a medical kit, flash lights and extra batteries.
US diplomacy goes virtual with youth video game
The United States expanded its e-diplomacy efforts Wednesday with the launch of a video game aimed at helping young people get a better understanding of American language and culture.
Same laws must apply to bloggers, tweeters: Leveson
The man who led the inquiry into Britain's phone-hacking scandal has warned that bloggers and tweeters should be subject to the same laws as traditional media outlets to prevent a decline in standards of journalism.
Review: PlayStation icons join in 'Battle Royale'
The holiday season is a good time to catch up with old friends. If you're an Xbox fan, you're probably getting reacquainted with galactic warrior Master Chief in his new adventure, "Halo 4." If you're a Nintendophile, you're probably frolicking with Mario on your new Wii U.
French mobile operators hit with antitrust fines
France's competition watchdog has slapped €183 million ($239 million) in fines on the country's two top mobile operators for anti-competitive pricing policies between 2005 and 2008.
Social simulation techniques applied to business settings support better decisions
Fujitsu Laboratories Limited announced that it has developed a simulation technology that models customers' behavior as they shop, making it possible to visualize the complex circumstances surrounding crowding in stores.
Nuclear power emerges as new Japan campaign issue
The future of nuclear power in Fukushima-scarred Japan has emerged as a major campaign issue for the first time in weekend polls, but experts warn little thought has gone into how to replace atomic energy.
Warner Music says 4Q revenue grew, losses shrank
(AP)—Warner Music Group Corp., the third largest recording company in the U.S., says quarterly revenue grew for the first time in five quarters in the three months through September as sales grew of both digital music and CDs.
Adele, Carly Rae top iTunes; Birds rule 2012 apps
(AP)—It may be 2012, but it's a repeat of 2011 for Adele: Once again, she has the year's top-selling album on iTunes.
French-language Belgian papers hail Google copyright deal
French-language Belgian newspapers Thursday hailed a compromise deal reached with Google to end a six-year legal dispute over copyright as "the most reasonable choice".
NY Times jumps into mini digital book market
The New York Times is getting into the business of selling bite-sized digital books based on its reporters' work, giving it entree into a growing market for inexpensive "e-singles" that can be read in a couple of hours.
United Tech sees sales rising with Goodrich buy
United Technologies Corp. says its purchase of aircrafts parts maker Goodrich Corp. will drive revenue growth next year, helping overcome Europe's weak economy and less U.S. defense spending.
Yahoo! seeks slice of smartphone photo-sharing pie
Yahoo! joined the fray over smartphone photo-sharing Wednesday by making it more enticing for iPhone users to use its Flickr service amid a rift between Twitter and the popular photo app Instagram.
Li-ion king: New Ford test for hybrid vehicle batteries simulates 10 years of use in 10 months' time
Ford is putting the equivalent of 10 years and 150,000 miles of wear and tear on hybrid vehicle batteries using a new lab test that takes less than a year to complete.
EU ends ebook probe after pledges from publishers
The European Commission said Thursday major ebook publishers and Apple have provided sufficient commitments for it to end a probe into price fixing in the booming electronic publishing business.
New NIST document offers guidance in cryptographic key generation
(Phys.org)—Protecting sensitive electronic information in different situations requires different types of cryptographic algorithms, but ultimately they all depend on keys, the cryptographic equivalent of a password. A new publication from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) aims to help people secure their data with good keys no matter which algorithm they choose.
New STT-MRAM memory element cuts power consumption of mobile processor by two-thirds
Toshiba Corporation today announced that the company has developed a prototype memory element for a spin transfer torque magnetoresistive random access memory (STT-MRAM) that achieves the world's lowest power consumption yet reported, indicating that it has the potential to surpass the power consumption efficiency of SRAM as cache memory.
Students put mettle to the pedal to build bike-powered charging station
People power has become a new form of alternative energy at Northern Arizona University.
Sprint to pay $2.1B for the rest of Clearwire (Update)
(AP)—Sprint Nextel has offered to buy out the minority shareholders of Clearwire for $2.1 billion in a deal that would give it total control of the flailing company and also more space on the airwaves for data services.
Bolivia's eco-friendly trans-oceanic ships
The Limachi family specializes in building eco-friendly reed ships at this shipyard on the top of the world with pre-Columbian technology. But don't be fooled—these ships can sail across vast oceans.
Google Maps app rockets up iTunes store list
Google Maps have found their way back to the iPhone, and the new alternative was already the top-ranking free app in Apple's iTunes store Thursday.
Google users must now be more explicit to find porn
US Google users on the prowl for erotic images needed to be more explicit on Thursday after the search engine was tuned to avoid delivering porn in results for "ambiguous" queries such as "boobs."
Smartphones can soon be used to 'e-hail' NYC taxis
New York City's Taxi and Limousine Commission has approved a plan that will let riders use their smartphones to "e-hail" yellow cabs.
US warns of treaty snub over Internet rules
(AP)—The chief American delegate at a U.N. conference weighing possible Internet rules says the U.S. may snub the final document over proposals interpreted as giving governments greater oversight over the Web.
US agency gives BlackBerry a second chance
A US government agency will give Research in Motion's new smartphone a second look after announcing last month it was dumping the BlackBerry and supplying its workforce with iPhones instead.
Yahoo adds 1 director as 2 board members exit
Yahoo is adding a new director and parting ways with two other board members in the latest shake-up of the Internet company's hierarchy.
Microsoft scores win with Santa Claus tracking
In the battle for Christmas, Microsoft has scored a win over Google as the official maps partner for Santa and his reindeer.
Apple, e-book publishers, EU find competition deal
(AP)—The European Union's competition watchdog has accepted proposals by four publishers and Apple to end agreements that set retail prices for e-books—a practice the EU feared violated competition rules.
Engineer looks to dragonflies, bats for flight lessons
(Phys.org)—Ever since the Wright brothers, engineers have been working to develop bigger and better flying machines that maximize lift while minimizing drag.
Comcast app to let viewers store, replay movies
Comcast, the country's largest cable company, says its tablet and phone app now lets subscribers download and store movies and TV shows from some channels for offline viewing.
Google Maps return to iPhone with new mobile app (Update)
Google Maps has found its way back to the iPhone.
US leads Western snub of UN telecoms treaty (Update 2)
A disappointed American delegation led a Western snub of a U.N. telecommunications treaty Thursday after rivals, including Iran and China, won support for provisions interpreted as endorsing greater government control of the Internet.
Duo create GravityLight: Lamp that runs off of gravity (w/ video)
(Phys.org)—London based designers Martin Riddiford and Jim Reeves have created what they are calling the GravityLight, an LED lamp that runs off of nothing but gravity. The purpose of the lamp is to provide people in third world countries with an alternative to kerosene lamps which cause burns and lung ailments to millions of people too poor to afford any other source of light.
Follow the eyes: Head-mounted cameras could help robots understand social interactions
(Phys.org)—What is everyone looking at? It's a common question in social settings because the answer identifies something of interest, or helps delineate social groupings. Those insights someday will be essential for robots designed to interact with humans, so researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute have developed a method for detecting where people's gazes intersect.
US Senate bill targets cyberstalking software
For around $50, a jealous wife or husband can download software that can continuously track the whereabouts of a spouse better than any private detective. It is frighteningly easy and effective in an age when nearly everyone carries a cellphone that can record every moment of a person's physical movements. But it soon might be illegal.
US banks face 'credible' hacker threat, researchers say
Dozens of US banks face a "credible" threat from hackers based in Eastern Europe who are planning large-scale attacks next year, a security firm said in a report released Thursday.
Jury rules Apple iPhone violated MobileMedia patents
A federal jury on Thursday found Apple guilty of infringing on smartphone call handling and camera patents held by a licensing firm in which rivals Sony and Nokia hold stakes.
Medicine & Health news
Survivors of breast cancer more likely to develop diabetes, and should be screened more closely
A major new study shows that post-menopausal survivors of breast cancer are more likely to develop diabetes than controls without breast cancer. Furthermore, the relationship between breast cancer and diabetes varies depending on whether a breast cancer survivor has undergone chemotherapy. The study is the largest to explore this relationship so far, and is published in Diabetologia, the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).
UN: 'Worrying' increase in global child trafficking
Children—most of them girls—now make up 27 percent of all human trafficking cases, marking an alarming increase in recent years, a UN agency said Wednesday.
Millions of patients still waiting for medical 'breakthroughs' against neglected diseases
Despite important progress in research and development (R&D) for global health over the past decade, only a small fraction of new medicines developed between 2000 and 2011 were for the treatment of neglected diseases, highlighting the 'fatal imbalance' between global disease burden and drug development for some of the world most devastating illnesses, said Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), in an analysis to be presented today at an international conference aimed at spurring medical innovations for these diseases.
Shocking disparities in child obesity now exist in New Zealand
(Medical Xpress)—Public health researcher Professor Tony Blakely from the University of Otago, Wellington says the time for prevaricating about obesity is over with the release of latest child obesity figures by the Ministry of Health.
Pediatric program for brain injuries saves lives, reduces disabilities
Children with traumatic brain injuries are more likely to survive and avoid long-term disabilities when treated aggressively as part of a designated neurocritical care program that brings together neurologists, neurosurgeons, trauma and other critical-care specialists, according to a new study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Scientists identify new biomarker for cancer in bone marrow: Promise for patients of multiple myeloma
Singapore scientists have identified FAIM, a molecule that typically prevents cell death, as a potential biomarker to identify an incurable form of cancer in the bone marrow. Patients with this form of cancer usually do not get cured with current standard treatments such as chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation, with an average survival of only about four years. FAIM could thus be a therapeutic target in these patients, as drugs developed to target the molecule could destroy multiple myeloma cells and hence eradicate the cancer.
Christmas Island detention centre sees spike in demand for mental health services
The "prison-like" immigration detention facilities on Christmas Island are not appropriate for asylum seekers, and there has been a rise in the demand for mental health services at the facility, according to a damning report released today by the Human Rights Commission.
Mathematics: The key to better and cheaper healthcare
Efforts to achieve higher efficiency in healthcare delivery are often assumed to be forced by budget cuts that are in the end harmful to patients. However, quality improvements and cost savings can in fact go side-by-side, argues Nikky Kortbeek in his thesis on which he was recently awarded a PhD with distinction.
In media coverage of nursing homes, negative stories predominate
Analysis of media portrayals of nursing homes finds that negative stories outnumber positive stories by five to one, reports a study in the December issue of Medical Care.
Study helps bridge gap in understanding of suicide risk for African-American women
Three University of Kentucky (UK) sociologists have co-authored a study that helps to fill a gap in our understanding of suicide risk among African-American women.
France told to hike prices to stub out smoking
France's efforts to stub out smoking have been a complete failure, a spending watchdog said Thursday in a damning report that warned only sustained price hikes will curb the country's love affair with Gauloises and Gitanes.
Enzymes may point toward better therapies for prediabetes
Two enzymes that are elevated in prediabetes could hold clues to helping the 79 million Americans with the condition avoid serious vascular complications and maybe even identify those most at risk for full-blown diabetes, researchers say.
New policy brief examines impact of occupational injuries and illnesses among low-wage workers
Low-wage workers, who make up a large and growing share of the U.S. workforce, are especially vulnerable to financial hits that can result from on-the-job injuries and illnesses, according to a policy brief released today by researchers at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS). The policy brief, "Mom's off Work 'Cause She Got Hurt: The Economic Impact of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses in the U.S.'s Growing Low-Wage Workforce," was released along with a white paper showing that such workplace injuries and illnesses cost the nation more than $39 billion in 2010.
Hospital-based neurologists worry about career burnout
A survey has identified career burnout as a significant problem among neurologists who predominantly work with hospital inpatients.
Durbin: White House won't increase Medicare age
(AP)—One of President Barack Obama's Senate allies said Thursday that an increase in the Medicare eligibility age is "no longer one of the items being considered by the White House" in negotiations with top Republicans on avoiding the so-called fiscal cliff.
Child abuse in U.S. declines for 5th straight year
(HealthDay)—The number of child abuse and neglect cases reported in the United States in 2011 fell for the fifth consecutive year, according to a new federal government report.
Researchers identify target to help protect kidney patients' heart health
Blocking the receptor for proteins that constrict blood vessels reduces markers of heart-related problems in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings might be used to improve the health of patients with CKD, who most often die from cardiovascular disease.
Problems with mineral metabolism linked with kidney disease progression
Abnormalities of mineral metabolism worsen with progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD) and are linked with a higher risk for kidney failure among African Americans, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings suggest that measuring mineral metabolites may be a useful way to determine a CKD patient's prognosis, and targeting mineral metabolites may help slow progression of the disease.
No strong evidence to back use of cannabis extract in multiple sclerosis
There is no strong evidence to back the use of cannabis extract in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), concludes a review of the available evidence on the first licensed preparation, published in the December issue of Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB).
Workplace bullying ups risk of prescriptions for anxiety, depression, insomnia
Witnessing or being on the receiving end of bullying at work heightens the risk of employees being prescribed antidepressants, sleeping pills, and tranquillisers, finds research published in BMJ Open.
Almost one in three pedestrians 'distracted' by mobiles while crossing street
Almost one in three pedestrians is distracted by mobile devices while crossing busy road junctions, finds an observational study published online in Injury Prevention.
HPV in older women may be due to reactivation of virus, not new infection
A new study suggests that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in women at or after menopause may represent an infection acquired years ago, and that HPV infections may exist below limits of detection after one to two years, similar to other viruses, such as varicella zoster, which can cause shingles. The study, published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases and available online, highlights the need for additional research to better understand HPV infections and the role of HPV persistence and reactivation, particularly in women of the baby boomer generation.
U.S. lifestyles thwarting heart health progress: report
(HealthDay)— Although significant progress has been made in the United States in terms of decreasing smoking and lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels, a new report warns that cardiovascular disease—including heart disease and stroke—still causes the death of one American every 40 seconds.
Fainting in healthy people may be first sign of heart trouble
(HealthDay)—Fainting isn't fun. For those who have ever suddenly and briefly lost consciousness, it's a disconcerting situation that typically triggers a thorough medical workup. Unfortunately, it's often tough for physicians to determine just what caused a first fainting episode.
New hormone therapy shows promise for menopausal symptoms in animal model
Investigators at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have concluded research on a new postmenopausal hormone therapy that shows promise as an effective treatment for menopausal symptoms and the prevention of osteoporosis without increasing the risk for heart disease or breast cancer.
New computer model to speed development of drugs for heart failure
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at the University of Virginia have developed a new model of how the heart reacts to stresses such as high blood pressure, shedding light on a common cause of heart failure and facilitating the development of new drugs to treat and prevent it.
Study finds the cheapest emergency food to stockpile
(Medical Xpress)—Storage foods for an emergency such as an earthquake that meet all daily energy requirements can cost as little as $2.22 per day according to a new study by the University of Otago, Wellington. The identified foods were: flour, rice, pasta, vegetable oil, whole grain oats, sugar, and peanut butter.
Why is the flu more common during the winter season?
(Medical Xpress)—Influenza, commonly known as the flu, has distinct transmission patterns around the world. In temperate regions, influenza's occurrence peaks during the winter season, while in some tropical regions, the disease's occurrence tends to correspond with the rainy season.
New discovery makes early diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome a reality for the first time
(Medical Xpress)—Patients suffering from the painful autoimmune disease, Sjogren's Syndrome, will soon be able to be properly diagnosed much earlier, thanks to the discovery of novel antibodies by researchers at the University at Buffalo and Immco Diagnostics, Inc. The breakthrough, described in a paper in the December issue of Clinical Immunology, will allow patients to be treated sooner when they are much more likely to benefit.
Predicting risk of arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death: Virtual hearts help understand real-world patients
A computer model of the heart wall predicted risk of irregular heart rhythms and sudden cardiac death in patients, paving the way for the use of more complex cardiac models to calculate the consequences of genetic, lifestyle and other changes to the heart.
'Tis the season: Family expert says parents should let kids' beliefs about Santa develop naturally
(Medical Xpress)—When it comes to Santa Claus, a Kansas State University expert says let children believe in the jolly old elf as long as they want.
France bans contested chemical BPA in food packaging
The French parliament voted Thursday to ban the use of bisphenol A, a chemical thought to have a toxic effect on the brain and nervous system, in baby food packaging next year and all food containers in 2015.
Cancer stem cells isolated from kidney tumors
Scientists have isolated cancer stem cells that lead to the growth of Wilms' tumours, a type of cancer typically found in the kidneys of young children. The researchers have used these cancer stem cells to test a new therapeutic approach that one day might be used to treat some of the more aggressive types of this disease. The results are published online in EMBO Molecular Medicine.
A finding that could help Alpha-1 sufferers breathe more easily
Scientists have identified a new mutation in the gene that causes the inherited disease known as Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1), which affects roughly one in 2,500 people of European descent.
MicroRNA-218 targets medulloblastoma, most aggressive childhood brain cancer
Between the blueprint of the genome and the products of its expression lie microRNAs, which can boost or lower the rate at which genes become stuff. In fact, many cancers use microRNA to magnify the expression of faulty genes or shrink the expression of helpful genes that would otherwise suppress tumors. A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published in the December issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry shows that in medulloblastoma, a malignant brain tumor of children, microRNA-218 is especially low. The article also shows that adding microRNA-218 to neural stem cells engineered to develop medulloblastoma decreases the development of the cancer.
New screening approach identified potential drug combos for difficult-to-treat melanomas
A novel approach to identifying potential anticancer drug combinations revealed that pairing cholesterol-reducing drugs called statins with cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors might provide an effective approach to treating intractable melanomas driven by mutations in the NRAS and KRAS gene.
Aerobic exercise boosts brain power
The physical benefits of regular exercise and remaining physically active, especially as we age, are well documented. However, it appears that it is not only the body which benefits from exercise, but the mind too. The evidence for this is published in a new review by Hayley Guiney and Liana Machado from the University of Otago, New Zealand, which focuses on the importance of physical activity in keeping and potentially improving cognitive function throughout life.
Stop-smoking drug Chantix may carry heart risks, FDA warns
(HealthDay)—People who take the prescription quit-smoking drug Chantix may be at higher risk for cardiovascular problems, and doctors should weigh the risks of the drug against it benefits, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.
Current health costs pushing docs to make urgent choices
(HealthDay)—The current growth in health care's share of the gross domestic product (GDP) and need to implement learning health systems is forcing physicians to make important choices, according to a perspective piece published online Dec. 12 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Saving carbs for dinnertime might help control weight
(HealthDay)—When it comes to eating pasta, bread and potatoes, timing could be everything.
Does no-calorie mean no-worry when it comes to sodas? Not necessarily
In Laura West's household, a 24-pack of Diet Coke lasts about a week. She drinks two or three a day, her 15-year-old-son Michael at least that many.
World population gains more than a decade's life expectancy since 1970
In the first Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 paper, published in The Lancet, the authors present new estimates of life expectancy for the last four decades in 187 different countries. While overall life expectancy is increasing globally, the gap in life expectancy between countries with the highest and lowest life expectancies has remained similar since 1970.
Intestinal immune cells play an unexpected role in immune surveillance of the bloodstream
A type of immune cell found in the small intestine plays a previously unsuspected role in monitoring antigens circulating in the bloodstream. The findings from a team of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers clarify how dendritic cells in the intestinal lining collect antigens from both intestinal contents and the circulation, leading to the generation of T cells that suppress inflammation. Disruption of that regulatory system may lead to the development of autoimmune disorders, inflammatory bowel disease or food allergies.
Two new genetic mutations associated with Cowden syndrome
Cleveland Clinic researchers from the Lerner Research Institute have uncovered two new genes associated with Cowden syndrome (CS) according to a new study, published today in the online version of the American Journal of Human Genetics.
Study finds years living with disease, injury increasing globally
No matter where they live, how much education they have, or what their incomes are, people have very similar perceptions on the impact of diseases and injuries.
Blood pressure, smoking and alcohol: The health risks with the biggest global burden
Over 9 million people died as a consequence of high blood pressure in 2010, making it the health risk factor with the greatest toll worldwide, say experts.
Massive shifts reshape the health landscape worldwide
Globally, health advances present most people with a devastating irony: avoid premature death but live longer and sicker.
Psychosocial distress associated with increased stroke risk
People over age 65 with high psychosocial distress face increased risk of stroke, according to new research in the American Heart Association journal Stroke.
Time restrictions on TV advertisements ineffective in reducing youth exposure to alcohol ads
Efforts to reduce underage exposure to alcohol advertising by implementing time restrictions have not worked, according to new research from the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Dutch Institute for Alcohol Policy. The report, published in the Journal of Public Affairs, confirms what Dutch researchers had already learned in that country: time restrictions on alcohol advertising actually increase teen exposure, because companies move the advertising to late night.
Researchers discover new potential chemotherapy
Medical researchers at the University of Alberta have discovered that knocking out a particular "partner" gene is the Achilles' heel of some cancers.
New technique for minimally invasive robotic kidney cancer surgery
Urologists at Henry Ford Hospital have developed a new technique that could make minimally invasive robotic partial nephrectomy procedures the norm, rather than the exception for kidney cancer patients. The technique spares the kidney, eliminates long hospital stays and provides better outcomes by giving the surgeon more time to perform the procedure.
Uncovering a flaw in drug testing for chronic anxiety disorder
Pre-clinical trials—the stage at which medications or therapies are tested on animals like laboratory mice—is a crucial part of drug development. It's only then that scientists can assess benefits and side effects before a drug is administered to patients.
Regenstrief study finds that generic drugs often have incorrect safety labeling
Despite U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations requiring generic medications to carry identical warnings to those on corresponding brand-name products, a study by Regenstrief Institute researchers has found that more than two-thirds of generic drugs have safety-warning labels that differ from the equivalent brand-name drug.
Pursuing literary immortality illuminates how the mind works, researcher finds
The initial excitement of hearing a new song fades as it's replayed to death. That's because the brain naturally functions as a kind of ticking time bomb, obliterating the thrill for artistic sounds, images and words by making them familiar over time.
Immunogenicity strongly impacts response to adalimumab in RA
(HealthDay)—For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), long-term clinical outcomes are good with etanercept and adalimumab; but for adalimumab, treatment response is strongly dependent on the presence or absence of anti-adalimumab antibodies, according to research published in the December issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
40 percent of cancer patients receive opioids at end of life
(HealthDay)—For patients with one of five common cancers, 43.6 percent receive at least one prescription of opioids in the last three months of life, according to a study published in the Dec. 10 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Despite cART, anal cancer risk still high for HIV-infected
(HealthDay)—For HIV-infected patients, despite combined antiretroviral treatment (cART), the risk of anal cancer is still much higher than in the general population, according to a study published in the Dec. 10 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Despite hype, costly prostate cancer treatment offers little relief from side effects
Prostate cancer patients receiving the costly treatment known as proton radiotherapy experienced minimal relief from side effects such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction, compared to patients undergoing a standard radiation treatment called intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), Yale School of Medicine researchers report in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
More signs of the benefits of marriage?
There's new evidence about the benefits of marriage. Women who are married suffer less partner abuse, substance abuse or post-partum depression around the time of pregnancy than women who are cohabitating or do not have a partner, a new study has found.
Researchers find age not factor in immunity to viruses
Our immune system does not shut down with age, says a new study led by McMaster University researchers.
Ebola virus uses a protein decoy to subvert the host immune response
In a study published today in the Open Access journal PLOS Pathogens, researchers at Emory University have discovered a potentially important mechanism by which the Ebola virus alters and evades the immune response of its infected host.
Experts warn of misbehaving tooth fairy
Opinions of the tooth fairy as kind and giving may need to be revised following "mounting reports of less child-friendly activity", says a paper published in the BMJ Christmas edition and appearing online today.
Pricey cigarettes, strict schools help curb teen smoking
(HealthDay)—Strong school smoking-prevention programs and high cigarette prices can reduce smoking among high school students, according to a new study.
Legal unions, including marriage, boost mental health for gay people, study finds
(HealthDay)—As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to enter the debate about gay marriage, a new study suggests that being in a legally recognized relationship of any kind may reduce feelings of nervousness, hopelessness and depression.
Ability to sit and rise from the floor is closely correlated with all-cause mortality risk
A simple screening test of musculo-skeletal fitness has proved remarkably predictive of all-cause mortality in a study of more than 2000 middle-aged and older men and women. The study, performed in Brazil by Dr Claudio Gil Araújo and colleagues at the Clinimex - Exercise Medicine Clinic in Rio de Janeiro, is reported today in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention.
Research finds a connection between bonding and matched movements
(Medical Xpress)—Humans have a tendency to spontaneously synchronize their movements. For example, the footsteps of two friends walking together may synchronize, although neither individual is consciously aware that it is happening. Similarly, the clapping hands of an audience will naturally fall into synch. Although this type of synchronous body movement has been observed widely, its neurological mechanism and its role in social interactions remain obscure. In a new study, led by cognitive neuroscientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), researchers found that body-movement synchronization between two participants increases following a short session of cooperative training, suggesting that our ability to synchronize body movements is a measurable indicator of social interaction.
More than 200 genes identified for Crohn's Disease
More than two hundred gene locations have now been identified for the chronic bowel condition Crohn's Disease, in a study that analysed the entire human genome.
New study brings long-sought vaccines for deadly parasite closer to reality
One major cause of illness from food-borne diseases is the parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). New insights into how the immune system combats T. gondii are provided in a study published by Cell Press December 13th in the journal Immunity. The findings could lead to the development of long-sought vaccines to protect against T. gondii and related parasites.
Scientists identify a new layer of complexity within colon cancer
Cancer scientists led by Dr. John Dick at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre have found a way to follow single tumour cells and observe their growth over time. By using special immune-deficient mice to propagate human colorectal cancer, they found that genetic mutations, regarded by many as the chief suspect driving cancer growth, are only one piece of the puzzle. The team discovered that biological factors and cell behaviour – not only genes – drive tumour growth, contributing to therapy failure and relapse.
'Two-faced' cells discovered in colon cancer: Immune cells can suppress or promote tumor growth
Northwestern Medicine researchers have discovered a "two-faced" group of cells at work in human colon cancer, with opposing functions that can suppress or promote tumor growth. These cells are a subset of T-regulatory (Treg) cells, known to suppress immune responses in healthy individuals
Researchers find new culprit in castration-resistant prostate cancer
Scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have discovered a molecular switch that enables advanced prostate cancers to spread without stimulation by male hormones, which normally are needed to spur the cancer's growth. They say the finding could lead to a new treatment for prostate cancers that are no longer controlled by hormone-blocking drugs.
Brain cells activated, reactivated in learning and memory
(Medical Xpress)—Memories are made of this, the song says. Now neuroscientists have for the first time shown individual mouse brain cells being switched on during learning and later reactivated during memory recall. The results are published Dec. 13 in the journal Current Biology.
Congenital heart defects could have their origin during very early pregnancy
The origins of congenital heart defects could be traced right back to the first stages of embryonic development, according to University of East Anglia (UEA) research.
Biology news
Peru's winged wonders stir birders' competitive passions
Competitive birdwatching might sound like an oxymoron. Try telling that to ornithologists from around the world racing around Peru on a six-day marathon vying to become best birder.
2013 grain prices will be dictated by weather, economist predicts
Grain prices for 2013 will hinge on favorable weather patterns following the devastating 2012 drought in the Midwest, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist.
Chicago's Hispanic neighborhoods have less green than other Chicago areas, study finds
Residents of Chicago's Hispanic neighborhoods live farther from nature and its benefits than do residents of the city's non-Hispanic neighborhoods, University of Illinois at Chicago researchers say.
Researcher works to ensure Delaware's wild turkey population proliferates
In colonial times, the Eastern wild turkey was abundant in Delaware. But by the late 1800s, wild turkeys were gone, eradicated by over-zealous market hunters and habitat destruction.
Illegal hunting in the Serengeti ecosystem: Social and molecular genetic methods of combating crimes against fauna
Tanzania has many different and diverse wildlife populations spread across a network of protected areas extending over the whole country.
The health and growth of calves in Tanzanian smallholder dairy farms
Milk production is a major source of income for many farmers in Tanzania and therefore an important factor in combating poverty in the region. But the health and growth of the calves and the milk production rate is often poor.
Measuring dispersal: How well are soft-sediment invertebrate communities connected on the seafloor?
Different types of disturbances to the seafloor can affect both the invertebrates inhabiting them and the critical ecosystem functions they provide us (e.g. nutrient cycling, oxygenation, food for fish). Sebastian Valanko working at the Marine Research Centre of the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) has together with colleagues investigated dispersal of invertebrates, critical in both the recovery process following a disturbance and in maintaining patterns of diversity on the seafloor. Sebastian's PhD thesis will be defended at 12.00 on Wednesday 19.12.2012 at Åbo Akademi University in Finland. The research project has partly been funded by the Academy of Finland.
Better tools for saving water and keeping peaches healthy
Peach growers in California may soon have better tools for saving water because of work by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists in Parlier, Calif.
Protein signaling between soybean root hairs, bacteria reveals core cellular processes
(Phys.org)—Understanding what happens to a soybean root hair system infected by symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, could go a long way toward using this symbiosis to redesign plants and improve crop yields, benefitting both food and biofuel production. Because of their extensive genomes, it is especially difficult to use conventional proteomic technologies to get meaningful information from plants. With the availability of a complete soybean genome, soybean root hairs represent an excellent model for the study of single-cell systems biology.
Scientists develop novel method to study parasite numbers in wild seabirds
Scientists have developed a new method for studying parasite numbers in the stomachs of individual seabirds in the wild. The technique enables the recording of video footage of worms inside seabird stomachs and is an important step forward in understanding the impact of parasites on seabird populations. The research is published today (13 December 2012) in the scientific journal Methods in Ecology and Evolution.
Disaster map predicts bleak future for mammals
Mammals could be at a greater risk of extinction due to predicted increases in extreme weather conditions, states a paper published today by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
Your Christmas tree and its genome have remained very much the same over the last 100 million years
A study published by Université Laval researchers and their colleagues from the Canadian Forest Service reveals that the genome of conifers such as spruce, pine, and fir has remained very much the same for over 100 million years. This remarkable genomic stability explains the resemblance between today's conifers and fossils dating back to the days when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Details of this finding are presented in a recent issue of the journal BMC Biology.
Lynx back in Hungary after 100 years
After more than a century, lynxes have returned to northern Hungary thanks to a ban on hunting the wild cats in neighbouring Slovakia, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said Thursday.
Ridding Galapagos of rats to preserve its famed tortoises
Efforts are underway to save the famed giant tortoises of the Galapagos Islands by wiping out the rodents that prey on their eggs and hatchlings, environmentalists here said.
Rhesus monkeys cannot hear beat in music
(Phys.org)—Beat induction, the ability to pick up regularity – the beat – from a varying rhythm, is not an ability that rhesus monkeys possess. These are the findings of researchers from the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), which have recently been published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE.
Warming climate unlikely to cause extinction of ancient Amazon trees, study finds
New genetic analysis has revealed that many Amazon tree species are likely to survive man-made climate warming in the coming century, contrary to previous findings that temperature increases would cause them to die out.
Prickly holly reveals ability to adapt genetics to environmental change
Prickly holly leaves are a traditional Christmas decoration, from wreaths adorning homes, to greeting card scenes. Yet, look closer at a holly tree and while some leaves are prickly, others are not. Scientists writing in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society believe variations within a single tree are the combined result of herbivore activity and molecular responses to environmental change.
Discovered: The new species of Borneo's enigmatic primate with a toxic bite
An international team of scientists studying the elusive nocturnal primate the slow loris in the jungles of Borneo have discovered an entirely new species. The team's analysis of the primate's distinctive facial fur markings, published in the American Journal of Primatology, reveals the existence of one entirely new species, while two of species, previously considered as possible sub-species, are being officially recognized as unique.
Surprising discovery about weta ears reveals similarity with whales
(Phys.org)—Research in the iconic, and some say maligned, New Zealand weta is challenging ideas about how a large group of insects including crickets and katydids hear, and has revealed an unexpected similarity to whale hearing.
Cloud forest trees drink water through their leaves, researchers find
(Phys.org)—Tropical montane cloud forest trees use more than their roots to take up water. They also drink water from clouds directly through their leaves, University of California, Berkeley, scientists have discovered.
Beaks show why 'sister' species don't live together
(Phys.org)—A study of closely-related bird species has found that they do not coexist in the same region because they remain too ecologically similar and will out-compete each other, not because of geographical barriers or unsuitable habitats.
Viruses cooperate or conquer to cause maximum destruction, study finds
Scientists have discovered new evidence about the evolution of viruses, in work that will change our understanding about the control of infectious diseases such as winter flu.
For every species of mammal, 300 arthropod species lurk in the rainforest
A new study from the rainforests of Panama provides an unprecedented level of detail regarding the diversity and distribution of arthropod species from the soil to the forest canopy. Yves Basset, scientific coordinator of the CTFS Arthropod Initiative at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, led an international team on Project IBISCA-Panama to sample, sort, catalogue, and finally estimate that a 6,000 hectare forest hosts a total of around 25,000 arthropod species – a figure vastly outnumbering that of better-studied organisms. The study will be published online on Dec. 13 in the journal Science.
Pheromone helps mice remember where to find a mate
Scientists at the University of Liverpool have found that male mice produce a pheromone that provokes females and competitor males to remember a preference for the place where the pheromone was previously encountered.
Study sheds light on how cells transport materials along crowded intercellular 'highways'
The interior of an animal cell is like a small city, with factories—called organelles—dedicated to manufacturing, energy production, waste processing, and other life functions. A network of intercellular "highways," called microtubules, enables bio-molecular complexes, products, and other cargo to move speedily about the cell to keep this vital machinery humming. A new paper published online in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences sheds new light on how cells manage to keep traffic flowing smoothly along this busy transportation network that is vital to the survival of cells and whose failure can lead to a variety of diseases, including Alzheimer's and cancer.
Study suggests the bacterial ecology that lives on humans has changed in the last 100 years
A University of Oklahoma-led study has demonstrated that ancient DNA can be used to understand ancient human microbiomes. The microbiomes from ancient people have broad reaching implications for understanding recent changes to human health, such as what good bacteria might have been lost as a result of our current abundant use of antibiotics and aseptic practices.
Huge DNA code of the Christmas tree being revealed
To millions of people, the Christmas tree is a cheerful sight. To scientists who decipher the DNA codes of plants and animals, it's a monster.
Dark Ages scourge enlightens modern struggle between man and microbes
The plague-causing bacteria Yersinia pestis evades detection and establishes a stronghold without setting off the body's early alarms. New discoveries reported this week help explain how the stealthy agent of Black Death avoids tripping a self-destruct mechanism inside germ-destroying cells.
Team solves mystery associated with DNA repair
Every time a human or bacterial cell divides it first must copy its DNA. Specialized proteins unzip the intertwined DNA strands while others follow and build new strands, using the originals as templates. Whenever these proteins encounter a break – and there are many – they stop and retreat, allowing a new cast of molecular players to enter the scene.
Microbial Munificence: Iron acquisition strategies in natural bacterioplankton populations
(Phys.org)—Of the many microbes that – like almost all life – require iron, some live in iron-limited environments. What to do? Secrete siderophores, of course: small, high-affinity iron chelating compounds that scavenge the poorly-soluble Fe3+ iron ion from the environment and make it available to cells through active transport – a process in which a cell moves a substance across a membrane from a region of lower concentration to a one of higher concentration. Interestingly, iron-carrying siderophores can be seen in an economic context as diversification-supporting public goods that can be used advantageously by bacterial populations. (In economic terms, public goods can be consumed by additional consumers without additional cost.) Historically, it's been unclear whether or not wild microbial communities can be stable enough for evolutionary diversification to be influenced by social interaction between them. Recently, however, scientists at the Massachusetts Inst! itute of Technology demonstrated that game theory can provide mathematical expectations consistent with the observation that groups of siderophore-nonproducing Vibrionaceae marine bacteria not only still had siderophore transport capability, but tended to associate with siderophore-producing populations. The researchers suggest that the non-producers have evolved a cheating strategy in which they and the siderophore-producing populations have evolved to be co-dependent.
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