Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for January 4, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Magnetic shell provides unprecedented control of magnetic fields- Atoms at negative absolute temperature: The hottest systems in the world
- Locata positioning hits ground at New Mexico missile range
- Testing Einstein's E=mc2 in outer space
- Earliest evidence of life found: 3.49 billion years ago
- Scientists reveal new 2D material for next generation high-speed electronics
- Photosynthesis: The last link in the chain
- Ways to make driving easier, safer born at BMW idea factory
- Scientists link climate change and gray snapper
- New search engine tailors its results for tablets (Update)
- Waste removal in worms reveals new mechanism to regulate calcium signaling
- When will genomic research translate into clinical care—and at what cost?
- Pronunciation of 's' sounds impacts perception of gender, researcher finds
- Shifting the balance between good fat and bad fat
- Researchers find long-term consequences for those suffering traumatic brain injury
Space & Earth news
Robot captures life, litter in the Gowanus with the help of citizen scientists
As NYU-Poly associate professor of mechanical engineering Maurizio Porfiri and assistant professor of technology management Oded Nov launched their submersible robot, Brooklyn Atlantis 1, into the polluted Gowanus Canal, the two professors and their four students also launched a rare collaboration—underwater robotics and public participation.
Researchers team up with some 'locals' in Greenland to study rising sea levels
David Holland, a professor in NYU's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, has been studying changes in the sea level off the coast of Greenland for years. His work involves collecting data on glacier formation, then developing computer models to project future global sea level change due to melting ice.
scientist selected to help guide next USGS, NASA Landsat Mission
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has named Justin Huntington, Desert Research Institute assistant research professor, to the National Science Team supporting the new Landsat Data Continuity Mission Satellite, scheduled to launch in February from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
Fire destroys Ghost Gum trees beloved by Aboriginal artist
Two iconic Ghost Gum trees painted many times by famed Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira have been burnt down just as they were being considered for inclusion on a heritage register.
Drainage ditches can help clean up field runoff
Vegetated drainage ditches can help capture pesticide and nutrient loads in field runoff, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists report. These ditches—as common in the country as the fields they drain—give farmers a low-cost alternative for managing agricultural pollutants and protecting natural resources.
Australia's Hobart experiences hottest day
Australia's southern island of Tasmania has experienced its hottest day since records began, with the capital Hobart sweltering at 41.8 Celsius (107.2 Fahrenheit) on Friday.
Solar ballet on the Sun
A solar eruption gracefully rose up from the sun on December 31, 2012, twisting and turning.
Cooking up clean air in Africa: Reducing air pollution and meningitis risk in Ghana
They're little more than a pile of burning sticks with a stewpot atop them. But these open fires or basic cookstoves have been linked to the premature deaths of 4 million people annually, many of them young children.
Station spinal ultrasounds seeking why astronauts grow taller in space
(Phys.org)—Did you ever wish you could be just a teensy bit taller? Well, if you spend a few months in space, you could get your wish—temporarily. It is a commonly known fact that astronauts living aboard the International Space Station grow up to 3 percent taller while living in microgravity. They return to their normal height when back on Earth. Studying the impact of this change on the spine and advancing medical imaging technologies are the goals of the Spinal Ultrasound investigation.
Shell's foundering ship has some questioning wisdom of Arctic drilling
Critics want a halt to offshore Arctic drilling in the wake of Shell's latest mishap in the waters off Alaska, but there's no sign the Obama administration and key members of Congress are backing off their support for drilling in the sensitive region.
NASA catches Tropical Storm Sonamu in South China Sea
Sonamu has left the Philippines and Palawan behind and NASA satellite imagery showed the storm intensified into a tropical storm while moving through the easternmost South China Sea.
NASA sees Cyclone Dumile moving over open ocean
Cyclone Dumile is on a solo journey in a southeasterly direction over the open waters of the Southern Indian Ocean over the weekend of Jan. 5 and 6. NASA's Aqua satellite captured a stunning visible image of Dumile as it left La Reunion and Mauritius behind.
Spaceport wants protections from tourist lawsuits
Spaceport America has been urging legislators to limit potential lawsuits from wealthy outer space tourists who take off from New Mexico, saying such a bill is crucial to the future of the project.
Geologists theorize early Earth was kept warm by hydrogen-nitrogen collisions
(Phys.org)—Geologists Robin Wordsworth and Raymond Pierrehumbert of the University of Chicago, suggest in a paper published in the journal Science that early Earth was kept warm enough for life to develop by collisions between hydrogen and nitrogen molecules in the atmosphere. In a perspective piece in the same journal, fellow geologist James Kasting of Pennsylvania State University comments on the work Wordsworth and Pierrehumbert have been doing and suggests their theories seem plausible.
Researchers explore climate impacts on Wyoming's Bighorn Basin populations over the last 13,000 years
(Phys.org)—During the past 13,000 years, Wyoming's Bighorn Basin has experienced significant increases in population growth—due primarily to periods of high effective moisture and moderate temperatures—according to three University of Wyoming professors. By contrast, when water levels were lower and temperatures higher, the state's populations of hunter-gatherers decreased or may have even disappeared altogether, they concur.
Studying permafrost soil, above and below ground: Research could lead to a better understanding of the Arctic ecosystem
(Phys.org)—What does pulling a radar-equipped sled across the Arctic tundra have to do with improving our understanding of climate change? It's part of a new way to explore the little-known world of permafrost soils, which store almost as much carbon as the rest of the world's soils and about twice as much as is in the atmosphere.
New study questions link between warming and past droughts
(Phys.org)—A series of recent droughts from Australia to the United States has led some scientists to warn that global warming has already begun to increase worldwide drought. But new research from Princeton and the Australian National University in Canberra has found that this might not be the case.
Earliest evidence of life found: 3.49 billion years ago
(Phys.org)—A group of US researchers studying some of the oldest rocks in the world in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, say they have found the oldest traces of life on Earth, dated at 3.49 billion years old.
Technology news
'Green' issues weigh increasingly on sport
The Dakar rally gets under way in South America this weekend, amid concern about the potential damage that the 8,400-kilometre (5,200-mile) trek through Peru and Chile could cause to the local environment.
Steve Jobs bio film set for April release
The first film based on the life of legendary Apple co-founder Steve Jobs will be released in April, according to a distribution deal for "jOBS" announced on Thursday.
China closes liberal website after reform call
A liberal Chinese journal had its website shut down on Friday, it said, after it urged the country's Communist leaders—who regularly promise reform—to follow the constitution.
Lens maker Cooke Optics to receive technical Oscar
(AP)—The first Oscar recipients of the new year were announced Thursday by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Building a better machine: Students use creativity to improve the heat engine
When Roman Berens signed up for the "Physics and Applied Physics Research Freshman" Seminar, he wasn't sure what to expect.
Adele, Swift soar as US digital music sales sing
Music sales in the United States hit a new high in 2012 powered by demand for digital downloads, according to figures released Friday by industry tracker Nielsen.
Town near US shooting scene plans video game buyback
While other US cities are buying back guns, a New England town not far from the December 14 mass shooting of 20 first-grade pupils is urging the public to turn in violent video games.
Kilar to quit as CEO of Hulu by March
(AP)—Jason Kilar is stepping down as the chief executive of Hulu, the online video service owned by the parents of ABC, NBC and Fox.
Capt Kirk, Canadian astronaut swap tweets... and prosper
"Star Trek" fans rejoiced Friday after Captain James Kirk of the starship Enterprise, or rather the actor who played him on the iconic sci-fi series, swapped tweets with a Canadian astronaut.
China fines LG, Samsung in flat panel price case
China fined South Korean and Taiwanese makers of LCD display screens $56 million on Friday for price-fixing, joining the United States and Europe in a crackdown on the industry.
German minister says 'never again' to nuclear power
German Environment Minister Peter Altmaier said Friday his country would never again return to nuclear energy, hitting back at a top EU official who doubted Berlin's commitment to phase out nuclear power.
India's Infosys denies reports of 5,000 job cuts (Update)
Indian software outsourcing giant Infosys said Friday it was weeding out under-performing staff and would be asking some to leave, but denied a media report saying 5,000 workers were to be sacked.
Taiwan city to appeal in Google app refund case
The Taipei city government said Friday it will appeal a court ruling which revoked a fine it imposed on the US Internet giant Google in a dispute over its mobile phone apps.
Keeping tabs on chemicals in the air: New state-of-the-art samplers, analytical capabilities improve tracer measurements
(Phys.org)—How do pollutants move through different kinds of environments? How far would toxic chemicals released in a terror attack travel? These are the kinds of questions that have motivated "atmospheric dispersion studies" of the Tracer Technology Group (TTG) within Brookhaven's Environmental Sciences Department for more than 30 years.
Researchers use data from traffic app to identify high frequency accident locations
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers reveal that data culled from geosocial networks like the GPS traffic app Waze can help prevent traffic incidents with better deployment of police resources at the most accident prone areas.
A technology wish list for 2013
As we ring in the new year, let's raise a virtual glass to all the tech that is yet to come.
Deal on 'fiscal cliff' gives wind industry a lifeline
The wind industry spent most of 2012 begging Congress to extend the production tax credit for utility-scale wind turbines.
2013 sees cleaner trucks and buses across EU
Under new European Union rules to combat pollution, trucks and buses rolling off assembly lines this year will produce significantly less harmful exhaust fumes.
US Google ruling has no impact on EU probe: Brussels
The decision by US authorities to close down an 18-month anti-trust investigation into Internet giant Google has no bearing on what the EU will do with its own probe, the European Commission said Friday.
Irish newspapers on defence over sharing links
The body representing Ireland's leading newspapers was forced to defend the way it enforces copyright law on Friday after revelations that it charges websites that link to its articles.
CES show to see changing of guard in tech sector
The inexorable push for mobility in gadgets has reshaped the electronics industry, a shift that reflects a changing of the guard at the world's biggest consumer technology show.
Researchers seek longer battery life for electric locomotive
(Phys.org)—Norfolk Southern Railway No. 999 is the first all-electric, battery-powered locomotive in the United States. But when one of the thousand lead-acid batteries that power it dies, the locomotive shuts down. To combat this problem, a team of Penn State researchers is developing more cost-effective ways to prolong battery life.
Ways to make driving easier, safer born at BMW idea factory
Those iPod and iPhone adapters that are now standard equipment in nearly every modern car were born out of a "what if" idea by BMW engineers in Silicon Valley in 2003.
New search engine tailors its results for tablets (Update)
The makers of Blekko believe they've built a great alternative to Google, but they're also realistic. They know their two-year-old Internet search engine won't ever supplant Google as the most popular place to search on laptop and desktop computers.
Wikipedia losing editors, study says
Wikipedia, one of the world's biggest websites, is losing many of its English-language editors, crippling its ability to keep pace with its mission as a source of knowledge online, a study says.
Locata positioning hits ground at New Mexico missile range
(Phys.org)—A new positioning system can take on where GPS leaves off. An Australia-based company, Locata, is featuring a ground-based system using stronger signals than GPS for pinpointing a person's location indoors or outdoors. In place of satellites, Locata has developed technology that features ground-based equipment to project a radio signal over a localized area. A Locata network of small, ground-based transmitters blankets a chosen area with strong radio-positioning signals. This is a "terrestrially" based system capable of powerful signals, which can work in both internal and external environments.
Medicine & Health news
Indian court to rule on generic drug industry
(AP)—From Africa's crowded AIDS clinics to the malarial jungles of Southeast Asia, the lives of millions of ill people in the developing world are hanging in the balance ahead of a legal ruling that will determine whether India's drug companies can continue to provide cheap versions of many life-saving medicines.
Pakistan resumes polio vaccines under tight security
Pakistan is providing paramilitary and police support to polio vaccinations being resumed discreetly in the northwest after a series of attacks on medical workers, officials said Friday.
Influenza on the increase in Norway
The 2012-2013 influenza season in Norway is emerging and above the epidemic threshold. The activity at the moment is of medium intensity. The three different influenza viruses that are circulating are all covered by the seasonal influenza vaccine. People with risk factors are advised to take the seasonal influenza vaccine. There are no changes in the risk groups. The situation is being continuously monitored and recommendations may change if required. So far most confirmed cases are A (H1N1) (swine influenza) and influenza B viruses, with fewer A (H3N2), but the picture may change during the winter.
Study examines why motivation comes and goes
Whether you have a business goal of increasing market share, hope to lose 20 pounds, or have vowed to read Moby Dick, you may have noticed that somewhere around midway to your goal, motivation wanes. According to new research by Stern School of Business assistant marketing professor Andrea Bonezzi, this sort of fourth-inning slump is a common, predictable pattern.
Eli Lilly 2013 profit forecast tops expectations
(AP)—Eli Lilly and Co. said Friday its 2013 earnings will grow more than Wall Street expects, even though the drugmaker will lose U.S. patent protection for two more key products this year.
Binge drinking: A new approach needed
A new study from the Journal of Marketing Management suggests that the UK's alcohol problem will continue to worsen until the availability and cultural presence of alcohol is subject to stricter controls.
Induction of adult cortical neurogenesis by an antidepressant
The production of new neurons in the adult normal cortex in response to the antidepressant, fluoxetine, is reported in a study published online this week in Neuropsychopharmacology.
Brazilian crack addicts to be forcibly committed
(AP)—Officials in Brazil's most populous state say they will start forcing adult crack addicts to go to rehabilitation centers in an effort to curb growing use of the drug.
Argentina to hand out 82 mln free condoms
Argentina plans to give out 82 million condoms nationwide in 2013 in a campaign against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, the health ministry said Friday.
For texas man, bariatric surgery led to diabetes-free life
(HealthDay)—Paul Garcia, 54, came from a family that loved to eat. "We always had a lot of food at home, and whenever we ate, it was like a feast," said Garcia.
Mass. Gov. proposes new compounding pharmacy rules
(AP)—Gov. Deval Patrick is proposing tighter regulations on compounding pharmacies following last year's deadly meningitis outbreak linked to a Massachusetts company.
NY homes for elderly under scrutiny after Sandy
(AP)—A nursing home and an assisted living facility in New York are under scrutiny after The Associated Press disclosed that hundreds of elderly and disabled people forced to evacuate by Superstorm Sandy were still sleeping on cots in cramped and sometimes oppressive conditions two months later.
Poll: Americans split on government role on fat (Update)
A new poll finds that Americans blame too much cheap fast food for fueling the nation's fat epidemic, but they're split on how much the government should do to save them from themselves.
Natural birth a tough sell in China's caesarean boom
As an automatic piano chimed a wedding march, new mother Wang Dan walked down a red carpet towards a hospital room called the "White House", minutes after giving birth in a candlelit water pool.
Americans' heart health varies significantly from state to state
Americans' cardiovascular health varies greatly from state to state, according to new research in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA).
New research shows naming things quickly and accurately more difficult from our fifties
(Medical Xpress)—A study of adults from the ages of 25 to 70-plus revealed that our ability to spontaneously and accurately name common objects starts to decline when we hit our 50s and accelerates throughout our 60s and 70s.
Cognitive behavioral therapy adds no value to drug treatment for opioid dependence
(Medical Xpress)—In a surprise finding, Yale researchers report that adding cognitive behavioral therapy to the most commonly used drug treatment for opioid dependence does not further reduce illicit drug use by patients. The study, which could change how such dependence is viewed and treated in the U.S. healthcare system, appears online in the American Journal of Medicine.
The 'bystander effect' in crime also applies to medicine
(Medical Xpress)—The "bystander effect," which refers to people standing by and doing nothing while an emergency situation takes place, can also apply to medical care, according to two Yale doctors. Their "Perspectives" piece appears in the Jan. 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
How to keep your weight-loss resolutions real
With the start of a new year, many of us make resolutions to lose weight and exercise more often. But why don't our New Year's resolutions have staying power?
Updated 'Partin Tables' tool now available to predict prostate cancer spread
Prostate cancer experts at Johns Hopkins have developed an updated version of the Partin Tables, a tool to help men diagnosed with prostate cancer and their doctors to better assess their chance of a surgical cure. The updated tool, based on a study of more than 5,600 men treated at The Johns Hopkins Hospital from 2006 to 2011, is published in the Jan. 3 issue of the British Journal of Urology International.
Scientists identify genetic mutation behind rare disease
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers from Queen Mary, University of London, and Barts Health NHS Trust have identified the genetic mutation behind a devastating disease of the small intestine.
Neuroscience study reveals new link between basic math skills and PSAT math success
(Medical Xpress)—New research from Western University provides brain imaging evidence that students well-versed in very basic single digit arithmetic (5+2=7 or 7-3=4) are better equipped to score higher on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT), an examination sat by millions of students in the United States each year in preparation for college admission tests. In findings published today in The Journal of Neuroscience (http://www.jneurosci.org/content/33/1.abstract.pdf) research led by Daniel Ansari, Associate Professor in Western's Department of Psychology and a principal investigator at the Brain and Mind Institute, showed by utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on high school seniors that there was a significant link between their brain responses while solving extremely basic, single digit calculation problems and standard scores on the PSAT.
Faster help for stroke victims
Scientists have developed a quick, easy and cheap vision test to find out which part – and how much – of the brain of a stroke victim has been damaged, potentially enabling them to save more lives.
Landmark study in blood stem cell transplant
(Medical Xpress)—Before all the excitement about embryonic stem cells, doctors were using hematopoetic – that is, blood-forming—stem cells. Hematopoetic stem cells can replenish all the types of cells in the blood, and are the centerpiece of transplantation as treatment for diseases such as multiple myeloma or leukemia. They can come from two different places: directly from the marrow of a donor's hip bone, or indirectly from the donor's blood after a drug nudges the stem cells out of the bone marrow.
Rainfall, brain infection linked in sub-Saharan Africa
(Medical Xpress)—The amount of rainfall affects the number of infant infections leading to hydrocephalus in Uganda, according to a team of researchers who are the first to demonstrate that these brain infections are linked to climate.
Chronic migraine headache relief possible with outpatient surgery
When medications fail to eradicate debilitating migraine headaches, surgery could provide relief for certain patients.
Prenatal exposure to fish beneficial to child development: New study adds to evidence that 'good' outweighs the 'bad'
(Medical Xpress)—A study published recently in the Journal of Nutrition adds to the growing scientific evidence that when expecting mothers eat fish often, they are giving their future children a boost in brain development even though they are exposing their children to the neurotoxin, methyl mercury, present in fish.
Staking out unknown genomic territory
Scientists have long known that the human genome is incredibly complex. However, after almost 10 years of hard work, a team of more than 400 scientists at 32 research institutions worldwide has finally made serious headway in beginning to understand the structure, function and internal logic of the approximately 3.2 billion bases found within every cell of our body.
Just 10 minutes of physical activity multiple times a day improves health
Despite the importance of physical activity, many people feel they don't have enough time to exercise. An active lifestyle that includes engaging in physical activity for less than 10 minutes multiple times a day can have the same health benefits as more structured exercise, finds a new study in the American Journal of Health Promotion.
Breast milk contains more than 700 bacteria: Microbes taken from breast milk by the infant are identified
Spanish researchers have traced the bacterial microbiota map in breast milk, which is the main source of nourishment for newborns. The study has revealed a larger microbial diversity than originally thought: more than 700 species.
Flu cases rise across U.S., severe season feared
(HealthDay)—In Chicago, a hospital employee describes the emergency department as "knee-deep in flu and pneumonia cases."
High-dose flu vaccine better protects HIV-infected adults
(HealthDay)—HIV-infected adults achieve higher rates of seroprotection when immunized with a high-dose of the influenza trivalent vaccine compared to the standard dose, according to a study published in the Jan. 1 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Measures recommended to prevent gun-related injuries
(HealthDay)—Following the tragic shooting on Dec. 14 in Newtown, Conn., measures should be implemented to prevent further gun-related injuries, according to a perspective piece published online Dec. 28 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Social withdrawal, isolation should be addressed in young
(HealthDay)—Following the Newtown, Conn., shooting on Dec. 14 by Adam Lanza, the question of social withdrawal and isolation needs to be addressed, according to a perspective piece published online Dec. 28 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Virtual patient may help future doctors prevent suicide
A virtual patient named Denise may help future physicians feel more comfortable and capable assessing suicide risk.
Disinfecting robots help prevent superbug infections at Hopkins
Even as epidemiologists worry about a shrinking arsenal of antibiotics to fight potentially deadly drug-resistant bacteria, researchers at Johns Hopkins Hospital are betting on another weapon to prevent infections: robots.
Outsourced radiologists perform better reading for fewer hospitals
(Medical Xpress)—Experience working for a particular hospital matters when it comes to the performance of radiologists who work for outsourcing teleradiology companies, according to a team of researchers, whose finding could have important implications, given the growing use of telemedicine.
Why good resolutions about taking up a physical activity can be hard to keep
Physical inactivity is a major public health problem that has both social and neurobiological causes. According to the results of an Ipsos survey published on Monday 31 Dec., the French have put "taking up a sport" at the top of their list of good resolutions for 2013. However, Francis Chaouloff, research director at Inserm's NeuroCentre Magendie (Inserm Joint Research Unit 862, Université Bordeaux Ségalen), Sarah Dubreucq, a PhD student and François Georges, a CNRS research leader at the Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience (CNRS/Université Bordeaux Ségalen) have just discovered the key role played by a protein, the CB1 cannabinoid receptor, during physical exercise. In their mouse studies, the researchers demonstrated that the location of this receptor in a part of the brain associated with motivation and reward systems controls the time for which an individual will carry out voluntary physical exercise. These results were published in the journal Biological Psychiatry.
US proposes sweeping new food safety rules (Update)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday proposed the most sweeping food safety rules in decades, requiring farmers and food companies to be more vigilant in the wake of deadly outbreaks in peanuts, cantaloupe and leafy greens.
Scripps physicians call for change in cancer tissue handling
Genetic sequencing technology is altering the way cancer is diagnosed and treated, but traditional specimen handling methods threaten to slow that progress.
2012 was worst year for whooping cough since 1955
Health officials say 2012 was the nation's worst year for whooping cough in nearly six decades.
Angola cholera outbreak sickens nearly 200
At least 194 cases of cholera have been detected in one province of southern Angola since December 20, local media reported Friday.
UCSB researchers perform pioneering research on Type 2 diabetes
– While legions of medical researchers have been looking to understand the genetic basis of disease and how mutations may affect human health, a group of biomedical researchers at UC Santa Barbara is studying the metabolism of cells and their surrounding tissue, to ferret out ways in which certain diseases begin. This approach, which includes computer modeling, can be applied to Type 2 diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases, among others.
Weight-loss surgery is new diabetes foe
(HealthDay)— Though it began as a treatment for something else entirely, gastric bypass surgery—which involves shrinking the stomach as a way to lose weight—has proven to be the latest and possibly most effective treatment for some people with type 2 diabetes.
Functional MRI can improve prediction of CBT success
(HealthDay)—Results of functional brain imaging can greatly improve prediction of which patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD) will benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), according to a study published in the January issue of JAMA Psychiatry.
Program benefits children with functional abdominal pain
(HealthDay)—Both children with persistent abdominal pain and their parents still benefit from a short social learning and cognitive behavioral therapy intervention a year later, according to a study published online Dec. 31 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Nurse-led monitoring improves cancer-related fatigue
(HealthDay)—For patients with advanced cancer, nurse-led monitoring and optimized treatment of physical symptoms significantly improves cancer-related fatigue, according to research published online Jan. 2 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Nifedipine-maintained tocolysis no benefit in perinatal outcomes
(HealthDay)—For women threatened with preterm labor, maintenance tocolysis with nifedipine is not associated with a significant reduction in adverse perinatal outcomes, according to a study published in the Jan. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Tomosynthesis ups accuracy of digital mammography
(HealthDay)—Using a combination of tomosynthesis, which produces a three-dimensional reconstruction of the breast, with digital mammography increases radiologists' diagnostic accuracy and significantly lowers the number of recalls for non-cancer cases, according to research published in the January issue of Radiology.
Improved staffing cuts medicare patient readmissions
(HealthDay)—Hospital nurses with good work environments who are caring for fewer patients have significantly fewer elderly Medicare patients with heart failure, acute myocardial infarction (MI), and pneumonia who are readmitted to the hospital within the first 30 days, according to research published in the January issue of Medical Care.
How prostate cancer therapies compare by cost and effectiveness
The most comprehensive retrospective study ever conducted comparing how the major types of prostate cancer treatments stack up to each other in terms of saving lives and cost effectiveness is reported this week by a team of researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).
Website launched to help patients prepare for complex medical decisions
A new patient-friendly online resource called PREPARE has been developed to help people make complex medical decisions. The website was developed by researchers from the San Francisco VA Medical Center, UCSF, and NCIRE - The Veterans Health Research Institute.
Gene therapy reprograms scar tissue in damaged hearts into healthy heart muscle
A cocktail of three specific genes can reprogram cells in the scars caused by heart attacks into functioning muscle cells, and the addition of a gene that stimulates the growth of blood vessels enhances that effect, said researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College, Baylor College of Medicine and Stony Brook University Medical Center in a report that appears online in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Pesticides and Parkinson's: Researchers uncover further proof of a link
(Medical Xpress)—For several years, neurologists at UCLA have been building a case that a link exists between pesticides and Parkinson's disease. To date, paraquat, maneb and ziram—common chemicals sprayed in California's Central Valley and elsewhere—have been tied to increases in the disease, not only among farmworkers but in individuals who simply lived or worked near fields and likely inhaled drifting particles.
When will genomic research translate into clinical care—and at what cost?
Genomic research is widely expected to transform medicine, but progress has been slower than expected. While critics argue that the genomics "promise" has been broken – and that money might be better spent elsewhere—proponents say the deliberate pace underscores the complexity of the relationship between medicine and disease and, indeed, argues for more funding.
Pronunciation of 's' sounds impacts perception of gender, researcher finds
(Medical Xpress)—A person's style of speech—not just the pitch of his or her voice—may help determine whether the listener perceives the speaker to be male or female, according to a University of Colorado Boulder researcher who studied transgender people transitioning from female to male.
Shifting the balance between good fat and bad fat
In many cases, obesity is caused by more than just overeating and a lack of exercise. Something in the body goes haywire, causing it to store more fat and burn less energy. But what is it? Researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute have a new theory—a protein called p62. According to a study the team published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, when p62 is missing in fat tissue, the body's metabolic balance shifts—inhibiting "good" brown fat, while favoring "bad" white fat. These findings indicate that p62 might make a promising target for new therapies aimed at curbing obesity.
Researchers find long-term consequences for those suffering traumatic brain injury
Researchers from the University of South Florida and colleagues at the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital studying the long-term consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI) using rat models, have found that, overtime, TBI results in progressive brain deterioration characterized by elevated inflammation and suppressed cell regeneration. However, therapeutic intervention, even in the chronic stage of TBI, may still help prevent cell death.
Biology news
Hong Kong seizes huge haul of smuggled ivory
Hong Kong said Friday it had seized more than a tonne of ivory worth about $1.4 million in a shipment from Kenya, the city's third big seizure in less than three months.
HYPOX project examines why fish populations are running out of oxygen
Scientists hope to gain a better understanding of the causes of oxygen depletion among fish populations with an EU-funded project called HYPOX.
Structural studies of a toxin from Bacillus cereus that causes diarrhea
Food poisoning caused by Bacillus cereus can lead to diarrhea which is probably caused by a 3-component toxin which is produced by this bacteria strain and which perforates and kills cells.
Uncovering the role of sperm RNA in early post-fertilization development
Sperm give new embryos more than just a copy of their genes: they also contribute RNAs, molecules similar to DNA that play many essential roles in switching genes on or off, and in regulating how much protein is produced from each gene. However, very little is known about sperm RNAs or their functions. Now, a RIKEN team led by Mitsuoki Kawano of the Omics Science Center, Yokohama, Japan, has identified two novel RNAs that may influence the early development of the embryo.
Worms hijack development to foster cannibalism, study finds
(Phys.org)—Conventional wisdom holds that genes determine the shape and structure (morphology) of animals, but something else may be at play. A new study shows that a roundworm (P. pacificus) regulates its offspring's morphology by using a potent cocktail of small-molecule signals. Exposure to trace quantities of these chemically unusual molecules can turn genetically identical juveniles into very different types of adults.
Scientists link climate change and gray snapper
(Phys.org)—NOAA scientists continue to develop and improve the approaches used to understand the effect of climate change on marine fisheries along the U.S. east coast. Their latest study projects that one common coastal species found in the southeast U.S., gray snapper, will shift northwards in response to warming coastal waters.
Waterfall-climbing fish use same mechanism to climb waterfalls and eat algae
Going against the flow is always a challenge, but some waterfall-climbing fish have adapted to their extreme lifestyle by using the same set of muscles for both climbing and eating, according to research published January 4 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Richard Blob and colleagues from Clemson University.
Photosynthesis: The last link in the chain
For almost 30 years, researchers have sought to identify a particular enzyme that is involved in regulating electron transport during photosynthesis. A team at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in Munich has now found the missing link, which turns out to be an old acquaintance.
Waste removal in worms reveals new mechanism to regulate calcium signaling
Calcium is so much more than the mineral that makes our bones and teeth strong: It is a ubiquitous signaling molecule that provides crucial information inside of and between cells. Calcium is used to help our hearts beat regularly, our guts to function appropriately and even for fertilization to occur. It is also needed to help muscles and blood vessels contract, to secrete hormones and enzymes and to send messages throughout the nervous system.
This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
http://phys.org/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment