Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for January 9, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Magma in mantle has deep impact: Study suggests rocks melt at a greater depth than once thought- Researchers create super-repellant surface material (w/ video)
- Dark energy alternatives to Einstein are running out of room
- 'Standard quantum limit' smashed, could mean better fiber-optic comms
- The farthest supernova yet for measuring cosmic history
- New algorithm for message dissemination in decentralized networks faster than its predecessors and guarantees delivery
- Newly found 'volume control' in the brain promotes learning, memory
- Optimal population size allows maximum predictability of evolution
- New tool to help brain surgeons, one step closer to operating room
- Herschel intercepts asteroid Apophis
- Expert suggests tried-and-true strategies to strengthen your relationship
- New study identifies significance of co-infection in disease control
- Chemical modules that mimic predator-prey and other behaviors
- Sensory hair cells regenerated, hearing restored in mammal ear
- Drug-resistant melanoma tumors shrink when therapy is interrupted
Space & Earth news
Astronaut captures incredible images of Australian bush fires
Intense wild fires, or bush fires as they are called in Australia, are burning out of control across southeast Australia with authorities describing the condition as "catastrophic." The huge fires were easily visible from the International Space Station on Tuesday and onboard, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield has been watching from above.
Australia: Call for merit-based funding as bushfire research money runs out
Funding to support breakthrough research into fires is due to run out before Australia's next bushfire season kicks in, despite the research being recognised for its social, environmental and economic impact.
NASA's green aviation research throttles up into second gear
NASA has selected eight large-scale integrated technology demonstrations to advance aircraft concepts and technologies that will reduce the impact of aviation on the environment over the next 30 years, research efforts that promise future travelers will fly in quieter, greener and more fuel-efficient airliners.
New telescopes to give researchers glimpse of the beginning of time
(Phys.org)—Where do we come from? What is the universe made of? Will the universe exist only for a finite time or will it last forever? These are just some of the questions that University of California, San Diego physicists are working to answer in the high desert of northern Chile. Armed with a massive 3.5 meter (11.5 foot) diameter telescope designed to measure space-time fluctuations produced immediately after the Big Bang, the research team will soon be one step closer to understanding the origin of the universe. The Simons Foundation has recently awarded the team a $4.3 million grant to build and install two more telescopes. Together, the three telescopes will be known as the Simons Array.
OSHA: Sandy contamination below permissible limits
(AP)—Tests done at Superstorm Sandy cleanup sites show that the level of contaminants does not exceed federal workplace exposure limits.
Our plastics will pollute oceans for hundreds of years
(Phys.org)—Australia's plastic garbage has made its way into every ocean in the world. New research shows that it doesn't matter where in the world plastic garbage enters the ocean, it can end up in any of the five ocean basins.
Four cool views of the hot, loopy, spotty sun
A few sunspots are now 'peppering" the surface of our Sun—Spaceweather.com lists about 12 different sunspot groups today. Yesterday (January 7, 2013), astrophotographer John Chumack stepped outside over his lunch break and captured some cool-looking views of the Sun from his observatory in Ohio, using different filters.
Scientists will assess health of New York-Long Island barrier protection in wake of Sandy
A rapid response science team from the University of Texas at Austin's Institute for Geophysics will help map the impact of Hurricane Sandy on the beach/barrier systems off the south shore of Long Island.
UN climate panel denounces fresh data leaks (Update)
The UN's climate science panel bemoaned Wednesday a fresh leak of data from a landmark report on global warming that it will start releasing this year.
Next-generation adaptive optics brings remarkable details to light in stellar nursery
A new image released today reveals how Gemini Observatory's most advanced adaptive optics (AO) system will help astronomers study the universe with an unprecedented level of clarity and detail by removing distortions due to the Earth's atmosphere. The photo, featuring an area on the outskirts of the famous Orion Nebula, illustrates the instrument's significant advancements over previous-generation AO systems.
NASA sees Tropical Cyclone Narelle intensifying
Infrared and near-infrared NASA satellite imagery provided signs to forecasters that Tropical Cyclone Narelle is intensifying as it moves southwest paralleling Western Australia coastline. Warnings have been posted as Narelle nears.
Telescopes find evidence for asteroid belt around Vega
(Phys.org)—Astronomers have discovered what appears to be a large asteroid belt around the star Vega, the second brightest star in northern night skies. The scientists used data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and the European Space Agency's Herschel Space Observatory, in which NASA plays an important role.
Spitzer and Hubble telescopes see weather patterns in brown dwarf
(Phys.org)—Astronomers using NASA's Spitzer and Hubble space telescopes have probed the stormy atmosphere of a brown dwarf, creating the most detailed "weather map" yet for this class of cool, star-like orbs. The forecast shows wind-driven, planet-sized clouds enshrouding these strange worlds.
SOFIA spots recent starburst in the Milky Way galaxy's center
(Phys.org)—Researchers using the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) have captured new images of a ring of gas and dust seven light-years in diameter surrounding the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, and of a neighboring cluster of extremely luminous young stars embedded in dust cocoons.
Improving flood predictions in developing nations
(Phys.org)—When deadly floodwaters devastated Pakistan in early September, Georgia Institute of Technology Professor Peter Webster and Research Associate Kristofer Shrestha weren't surprised. They had forecasted the disaster ten days in advance using a new hydrological model developed on campus. Webster has now sent that model to the World Bank, along with recommendations for saving Pakistani lives and infrastructure during future flooding disasters. His comments on how to assist developing and emerging countries prior to natural disasters are also included in the current edition of Nature.
Herschel intercepts asteroid Apophis
(Phys.org)—ESA's Herschel space observatory made new observations of asteroid Apophis as it approached Earth this weekend. The data shows the asteroid to be bigger than first estimated, and less reflective.
New earthquake fault models show that 'stable' zones may contribute to the generation of massive earthquakes
In an earthquake, ground motion is the result of waves emitted when the two sides of a fault move—or slip—rapidly past each other, with an average relative speed of about three feet per second. Not all fault segments move so quickly, however—some slip slowly, through a process called creep, and are considered to be "stable," or not capable of hosting rapid earthquake-producing slip. One common hypothesis suggests that such creeping fault behavior is persistent over time, with currently stable segments acting as barriers to fast-slipping, shake-producing earthquake ruptures. But a new study by researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) shows that this might not be true.
Mapping the Milky Way: Radio telescopes give clues to structure, history
(Phys.org)—Astronomers have discovered hundreds of previously-unknown sites of massive star formation in the Milky Way, including the most distant such objects yet found in our home Galaxy. Ongoing studies of these objects promise to give crucial clues about the structure and history of the Milky Way.
The supernova that cried wolf
(Phys.org)—Astronomers are announcing today that a massive star, which they have watched repeatedly mimic a supernova since 2009, has finally exploded for real. The report is being presented to the American Astronomical Society meeting in Long Beach, CA, by Dr. Jon Mauerhan of Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona, in collaboration with Dr. Nathan Smith, also of the University of Arizona, and Dr. Alex Filippenko of the University of California, Berkeley. The result is of special interest because it provides new critical information on the final death throes of massive stars in the years leading up to their explosion. The work has been accepted for publication in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Magma in mantle has deep impact: Study suggests rocks melt at a greater depth than once thought
Magma forms far deeper than geologists previously thought, according to new research at Rice University.
The farthest supernova yet for measuring cosmic history
In 2004 the Supernova Cosmology Project based at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory used the Hubble Space Telescope to find a tantalizing supernova that appeared to be almost 10 billion light-years distant. But researchers had to wait years until a new camera was installed on the Hubble before they could confirm the spectrum and light curve of supernova SCP-0401—the supernova furthest back in time useful for precise measures of the expansion history of the universe.
Technology news
The challenge of Googling North Korea
What is one of the world's most prominent advocates of Internet freedom doing in a country where unregulated access to information is generally either impossible or criminal?
Taiwan's Foxconn reviews buying in China after bribe claims
Taiwan technology giant Foxconn said Wednesday it was investigating and reviewing its acquisition procedures in China after allegations that some of its managers had solicited bribes from suppliers.
Game not over for retro games
Generations of children around the world were weaned on computer games like 'Pac-man', 'Galaga' and 'Donkey Kong', to name just a few. Indeed many of today's first-rate computer programmers, scientists and researchers took their first computer steps on such games. As with many toys, they were put aside and replaced with new ones.
Lockheed Martin completes MUOS waveform to improve secure communications capabilities
Lockheed Martin has completed and delivered the software waveform for the U.S. Navy's Mobile User Objective System (MUOS). The new waveform will enable military satellite communications terminal providers to deploy equipment that takes full advantage of enhanced MUOS capabilities.
Oscar-worthy smoke signals: Researchers awarded for special effect software
Top honour for ETH Zurich professor and Disney director Markus Gross: he is to receive a "Tech Oscar" from the Academy of Motion and Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) along with three other computer scientists.
Google exec in NKorea openness call
(AP)—A private delegation including Google's Eric Schmidt is urging North Korea to allow more open Internet access and cellphones to benefit its citizens, the mission's leader said Wednesday in the country with some of the world's tightest controls on information.
King.com reigns over social gaming on Facebook
King.com is beating Zynga, EA, Disney and others at their own games. While competitors are reeling, retrenching or redefining themselves in an estimated $12.1 billion casual-gaming market, King has side-stepped the carnage by making mobile games that can be played simultaneously - the industry buzzword is synchronized - on multiple computing platforms such as the Facebook website, Apple iPhones, Android devices, and iPad tablets.
Dish Network makes $5.15B bid for Clearwire
Wireless network operator Clearwire, which agreed to sell itself to Sprint in December, says satellite TV provider Dish Network Corp. is offering to buy the company for $3.30 per share, or $5.15 billion.
Chinese buyer says solar firm MiaSole will expand
(AP)—The Chinese company that bought MiaSole, a California producer of thin-film solar panels, says it can make the emerging technology successful where others have suffered huge losses.
Driverless car concept gains traction at CES
Automakers and technology firms are jumping on the bandwagon of the driverless car, which remains a concept as well as a platform for new technologies to improve safety on the road.
Cyber-attack could knock out British military
The British military's dependence on information technology means it could be "fatally compromised" by a cyber-attack but the government seems unprepared for such an event, lawmakers warned Wednesday.
2012: A record year for fuel economy
(Phys.org)—Although fuel economy of all new vehicles sold in the United States dipped slightly last month, 2012 was the best year ever for fuel efficiency, say researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.
EU unveils cybercrime unit in bid to turn criminal tide
In a bid to seize the initiative from increasingly sophisticated online criminals, the European Union unveiled a new cybercrime centre Wednesday.
Study examines how news spreads on Twitter
Nearly every major news organization has a Twitter account these days, but just how effective is the microblogging website at spreading news? That's the question University of Arizona professor Sudha Ram set out to answer in a recent study of a dozen major news organizations that use the social media website as one tool for sharing their content.
Skype to replace Microsoft Messenger in March
Microsoft on Wednesday sent out word that it will "retire" its Messenger online chat feature on March 15 and replace it with the Skype Internet telephony service it bought last year.
Career-focused LinkedIn tops 200 mn members
LinkedIn on Wednesday announced that more than 200 million people have joined the career-focused online social network since its launch nearly a decade ago.
Facebook to hold press event, stock passes $30
Shares of Facebook are pushing above $30 for the first time since July after it sent out invitations to "come and see what we're building" Tuesday at its headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif.
In 'augmented reality,' toy makers see a way to compete with apps
Unable to resist the "Try me!" sign, 8-year-old Julian Rivas held up a box containing the Star Wars Death Star Lego set in front of a yellow kiosk and was blown away.
Hollywood studios questioning their friendship with Facebook
Hollywood's friendship with Facebook is showing signs of strain. The entertainment industry was among the first to embrace the Silicon Valley phenomenon. Studio executives thought the giant social network held great promise in reaching moviegoers for less money than traditional advertising such as trailers and TV ads. Facebook's origins even became fodder for the 2010 Academy Award-winning movie "The Social Network."
Spear phishing: Researchers work to counter email attacks that gain recipients' trust
(Phys.org)—The email resembled the organization's own employee e-newsletter and asked recipients to visit a website to confirm that they wanted to continue receiving the newsletter. Another email carried an attachment it said contained the marketing plan the recipient had requested at a recent conference. A third email bearing a colleague's name suggested a useful website to visit.
'Yolk-shell' design leads to world-record battery performance
(Phys.org)—SLAC and Stanford scientists have set a world record for energy storage, using a clever "yolk-shell" design to store five times more energy in the sulfur cathode of a rechargeable lithium-ion battery than is possible with today's commercial technology. The cathode also maintained a high level of performance after 1,000 charge/discharge cycles, paving the way for new generations of lighter, longer-lasting batteries for use in portable electronics and electric vehicles.
New algorithm for message dissemination in decentralized networks faster than its predecessors and guarantees delivery
Ad hoc networks—communication networks set up on the fly by mobile sensors—pose problems that ordinary office networks don't. Ad hoc networks are usually decentralized, meaning that no one node knows what the network as a whole looks like.
Medicine & Health news
Perceived benefits of joint commissioning lag behind reality, new study shows
A major new report on joint commissioning in health and social care has found the perceived benefits of collaborative working, such as efficiency savings and improvements to services, often lagged behind the reality.
Economics research promotes malaria testing
In poor countries where malaria is prevalent but access to health care is limited, many people mistakenly treat the common cold or other serious illnesses such as pneumonia with medications for the mosquito-borne disease.
Hernia repair, revolutionized
Each year, more than one million patients in the U.S. undergo hernia repair surgery, the most common form of which takes place in the abdomen. The injury presents itself as a weakness in the abdominal wall until ultimately the tissue gives way, leaving an open hole.
Virtual learning iPad app to help train future neurosurgeons
A new mobile 'app', downloadable free of charge, will assist with the training of future neurosurgeons, and is just one of a stream of programmes being developed, adapting visual computing and three dimensional realities to provide cost-effective virtual learning for a range of medical procedures.
Not all stem cells are equally efficient for use in regenerative medicine
Scientists at the University of Granada and Alcalá de Henares University have found out that not all isolated stem cells are equally valid in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. In a paper recently published in the prestigious journal Tissue Engineering the researchers report that, contrary to what was thought, only a specific group of cord blood stem cells (CB-SC) maintained in culture are useful for therapeutic purposes.
Poll of psychologists cites emotions as top obstacle to successful weight loss
When it comes to losing weight, a popular New Year's resolution for many, people often focus on eating less and exercising more. But results of a new survey of psychologists suggest dieters should pay attention to the role emotions play in weight gain and loss if they hope to succeed.
Why are children at higher risk for negative health effects of environmental toxins?
More than 85,000 synthetic chemicals are registered for commercial use with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and only about half of those produced in large quantities are tested for their potential toxic effects on humans. Children are particularly vulnerable to environmental toxins and a detailed look at how and why, and what can be done to protect children's health, is presented in a two-part article published in Alternative and Complementary Therapies from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.
Small peptide ameliorates autoimmune skin blistering disease in mice
Pemphigus vulgaris is a life-threatening autoimmune skin disease that is occurs when the body's immune system generates antibodies that target proteins in the skin known as desomogleins. Desmogleins help to form the adhesive bonds that hold skin cells together and keep the skin intact. Currently, pemphigus vulgaris is treated by long-term immune suppression; however, this can leave the patient susceptible to infection.
Study finds routine tests done on patients with microscopic blood in urine can be avoided
The presence of microscopic hematuria – blood found in urine that can't be seen by the naked eye – does not necessarily indicate the presence of cancer, according to a Kaiser Permanente Southern California study published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The study suggests that tests routinely done on patients with this condition could be avoided and has led to the creation of a screening tool to better diagnose certain types of cancers.
Fusion gene contributes to glioblastoma progression
Fusion genes are common chromosomal aberrations in many cancers, and can be used as prognostic markers and drug targets in clinical practice.
A new treatment for kidney disease-associated heart failure?
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients frequently suffer from mineral bone disorder, which causes vascular calcification and, eventually, chronic heart failure. Similar to patients with CKD, mice with low levels of the protein klotho (klotho hypomorphic mice) also develop vascular calcification and have shorter life spans compared to normal mice.
Hispanics leery of health care providers, often avoid cancer screenings, study shows
When researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center and colleagues conducted a random telephone survey among blacks, whites and Hispanics in New York, Baltimore and San Juan, Puerto Rico, they found that Hispanics are nearly twice as likely to report that fear of being used as a "guinea pig" and lack of trust in medical professionals contribute in being unwilling to participate in cancer screenings. The researchers concluded that health care providers need to do a better job of instilling trust and dispelling certain fears, particularly among Hispanics, to improve cancer screening rates for lower-income minorities.
US health disadvantage spans age and socioeconomic groups
On average, Americans die sooner and experience higher rates of disease and injury than people in other high-income countries, says a new report from the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. The report finds that this health disadvantage exists at all ages from birth to age 75 and that even advantaged Americans—those who have health insurance, college educations, higher incomes, and healthy behaviors—appear to be sicker than their peers in other rich nations.
MEPs want inquiry into EU tobacco scandal
Leading lawmakers from Europe's Greens called Wednesday for an inquiry into a tobacco lobby scandal that cost the bloc's top health official his job late last year.
Unnecessary antimicrobial use increases risk of recurrent infectious diarrhea
The impact of antibiotic misuse has far-reaching consequences in healthcare, including reduced efficacy of the drugs, increased prevalence of drug-resistant organisms, and increased risk of deadly infections. A new study featured in the February issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, found that many patients with Clostridium difficile infection (C. difficile) are prescribed unnecessary antibiotics, increasing their risk of recurrence of the deadly infection. The retrospective report shows that unnecessary antibiotics use is alarmingly common in this vulnerable patient population.
Flooding preparedness needs to include infection prevention and control strategies
Flooding can cause clinical and economic damage to a healthcare facility, but reopening a facility after extensive flooding requires infection prevention and control preparedness plans to ensure a safe environment for patients and healthcare workers. In a study published in the February issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, clinical investigators report key findings and recommendations related to the closure and re-opening of hospitals impacted by black-water floods. The guidance builds on lessons learned from Thailand and the United States. The findings come as many flood-damaged healthcare facilities in New York and New Jersey look to reopen in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
Deal in US suit on pregnancy drug
(AP)—Four sisters who claimed in a lawsuit their breast cancer was caused by synthetic estrogen their mother took during pregnancy in the 1950s have reached a settlement with the drug company Eli Lilly and Co.
Israeli law aims to make ultrathin models obsolete
(AP)—When Margaux Stelman began modeling a few months ago, she always had her sister Simone in mind.
Pot opponents regroup after US state votes
Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy, a son of late Sen. Ted Kennedy who has struggled with alcohol and drug addiction, has teamed up with other opponents of legal marijuana to renew their campaign now that voters have made it legal in two states.
Reduction in air pollution from wood stoves associated with significantly reduced risk of death
Male deaths from all-causes, but particularly cardiovascular and respiratory disease, could be significantly reduced with a decrease in biomass smoke (smoke produced by domestic cooking and heating and woodland fires), a paper published today in BMJ suggests.
BMJ raises concerns over the effectiveness of a costly and invasive procedure for melanoma
A special report published by the BMJ today finds that thousands of melanoma patients around the world are undergoing an expensive and invasive procedure called sentinel node biopsy, despite a lack of clear evidence and concerns that it may do more harm than good.
Cancer screening unlikely to benefit patients with a short life expectancy
Breast and colorectal cancer screening should be targeted towards patients with a life expectancy greater than 10 years: for any shorter life expectancy the harms are likely to outweigh the benefits, concludes a study published in BMJ today.
Triple mix of blood pressure drugs and painkillers linked to kidney problems
Patients who take a triple combination of blood pressure drugs and common painkillers are at an increased risk of serious kidney problems, especially at the start of treatment, finds a study published in BMJ today.
Lung cancer patients live longer if they use beta-blockers while receiving radiotherapy
Patients with non-small-cell lung cancer survive longer if they are taking beta-blockers while receiving radiotherapy, according to a study of 722 patients published in the cancer journal Annals of Oncology today.
Synthetic 'poop' can cure C. difficile infection, study finds
A synthetic "poop" developed at the University of Guelph can cure nasty gastrointestinal infections caused by Clostridium difficile, a toxin-producing bacterium.
Nobel laureate publishes novel hypothesis on curing late-stage cancers
In a new paper he regards "among my most important work since the double helix," Nobelist James Watson sets forth a novel hypothesis regarding the role of oxidants and antioxidants in cancers that are currently incurable, notably in late-stage metastatic cancers.
Disappearing bacterium may protect against stroke
A new study by NYU School of Medicine researchers reveals that an especially virulent strain of the gut bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) isn't implicated in the overall death rate of the U.S. population, and may even protect against stroke and some cancers. The findings, based a nationwide health survey of nearly 10,000 individuals over a period of some 12 years, are published online, January 9, in the journal Gut.
Intensive training for aphasia: Even older patients can improve
Older adults who have suffered from aphasia for a long time can nevertheless improve their language function and maintain these improvements in the long term, according to a study by Dr. Ana Inés Ansaldo, PhD, a researcher at the Research Centre of the Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (University Geriatrics Institute of Montreal) and a professor in the School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology at the Faculty of Medicine of Université de Montréal. The study was published in Brain and Language.
Body weight and gender influence judgment in the courtroom
(Medical Xpress)—In a study that offers insight into the depth of stigmatization of overweight and obese people, researchers at the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity found that weight stigma extends to the courtroom. Published online in the International Journal of Obesity, the study shows that a defendant's body weight and gender impact jurors' perceptions of guilt and responsibility.
First Alzheimer's case has full diagnosis 106 years later
(Medical Xpress)—More than a hundred years after Alois Alzheimer identified Alzheimer's disease in a patient an analysis of that original patient's brain has revealed the genetic origin of their condition.
Scientists shed light on mystery surrounding hepatitis B virus: Discovery is decades in the making
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), part of the National Institutes of Health, and the University of Oxford, U.K., have shed light on a long-standing enigma about the structure of a protein related to the Hepatitis B virus. Their findings, reported in Structure, could lead to new therapeutic strategies for chronic liver disease.
Women with less education than their mothers risk poor mental health
(Medical Xpress)—Women with significantly lower levels of education than their parents are at higher risk of poor mental health, a new University of Queensland study has found.
The 'Death panel' myth hard to correct: Researchers examine the effectiveness of fact checking
(Medical Xpress)—More than three years after she coined the phrase "death panel," Sarah Palin's remark continues to inflame the debate over health care.
Adaptable prosthetics for amputees
(Medical Xpress)—Approximately one in every 1,000 people in the UK is an amputee. Many lose their limbs as the result of tragic accidents or due to active military combat and for some amputees losing a limb is a loss of freedom.
Study finds Nutrisystem improves arterial function in obese, postemenopausal women
(Medical Xpress)—Arturo Figueroa, a researcher in the Florida State University College of Human Sciences, has confirmed with a team of researchers that Nutrisystem, with or without low intense resistance exercise, improves arterial function in obese, postmenopausal women.
Family thought to play part in reducing stress for young Mexicans, study shows
(Medical Xpress)—Family members may play a unique and influential role in buffering Mexican youth against the negative effects of stress as they transition into adulthood, suggests a new study by an interdisciplinary group of researchers at universities in Mexico and the U.S.
Age and gender predict participation in employer-sponsored health coaching programs, study finds
Employers, in an effort to help drive down health care costs, have increasingly offered work-sponsored health promotion programs but have had limited success with encouraging workers to participate. A new study in American Journal of Health Promotion finds that whether or not workers enroll and participate in health coaching programs depends more on the worker than on an employer's motivational tactics.
Fruit and veg flavanoids give cardioprotective effects
A study published in the journal of Biochemical Pharmacology suggests major flavonoid quercetin is beneficial in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Scientists identify three 'types' of triathletes
The popularity of triathlon - competitive athletic events involving running, cycling and swimming - is on the rise. Knowing who trains for and takes part in such events is important for sports managers, event organisers and others. Now, researchers in Germany have pinned down triathlon participants to three types of people: serious pursuiters (SPs), sport lovers (SLs), and social triathletes (STs).
Multiple sclerosis drug may one day treat colorectal cancer
After uncovering a mechanism that promotes chronic intestinal inflammation and the development of colorectal cancer, scientists from Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center have found that fingolimod, a drug currently approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, could potentially eliminate or reduce the progression of colitis-associated cancer (CAC).
Passive smoking increases risk of severe dementia, according to study in China
Passive smoking, also known as 'second-hand' smoke or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), is known to cause serious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including coronary heart disease and lung cancer. However, until now it has been uncertain whether ETS increases the risk of dementia, mainly due to lack of research. Previous studies have shown an association between ETS and cognitive impairment, but this is the first to find a significant link with dementia syndromes.
BPA linked to potential adverse effects on heart and kidneys
Exposure to a chemical once used widely in plastic bottles and still found in aluminum cans appears to be associated with a biomarker for higher risk of heart and kidney disease in children and adolescents, according to an analysis of national survey data by NYU School of Medicine researchers published in the January 9, 2013, online issue of Kidney International, a Nature publication.
How the brain stays receptive: Channel protein Pannexin1 is critical for memory and orientation
The channel protein Pannexin1 keeps nerve cells flexible and thus the brain receptive for new knowledge. Together with colleagues from Canada and the U.S., researchers at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum led by the junior professor Dr. Nora Prochnow from the Department of Molecular Brain Research describe these results in PLoS ONE. In the study, mice comprising no Pannexin1 in memory-related brain structures displayed symptoms similar to autism. Their nerve cells lacked synaptic plasticity, i.e. the ability to form new synaptic contacts or give up old contacts based on the level of usage.
Researchers reveal most effective treatment for common kidney disorder
The results of a pioneering UK-wide clinical trial that compared treatments for patients with a common type of kidney disease has found one to be significantly more effective. The results of the study, published online in The Lancet today, will be recommended to clinicians worldwide as the most effective approach to treating the condition.
E-games boost physical activity in children; might be a weapon in the battle against obesity
Video games have been blamed for contributing to the epidemic of childhood obesity in the United States. But a new study by researchers at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS) suggests that certain blood-pumping video games can actually boost energy expenditures among inner city children, a group that is at high risk for unhealthy weight gain.
R U eating healthy 2day? New study highlights effectiveness of healthy lifestyle text messages for teens
According to the Nielsen consumer research group, teens receive an average of 3,417 text messages per month (that's 114 texts per day!). Couple this with CDC's report that high school students' consumption of fruit and vegetables is, on average, 1.2 times per day (much lower than the recommended 5 a day) and it makes sense to start using text messages to inform teens about health. In a new study released in the January/February 2013 issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, it was found that, in order to inform and motivate teens, text messages should address the reality of today's adolescent lifestyles.
Researchers foresee new therapies and diagnostics for deadly fibrotic diseases
A team of scientists has developed a playbook for ending the devastating impact of fibrotic diseases of the liver, lung, kidney, and other organs, which are responsible for as many as 45 percent of all deaths in the industrialized world. Despite the prevalence of these illnesses, which are caused by buildup of scar tissue, there are no approved antifibrotic drugs on the market in the U.S. A top fibrosis expert from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and three other institutions have described drug targets and compounds they hope will prove broadly effective in an article, "Therapy for Fibrotic Diseases: Nearing the Starting Line," appearing in the January 9 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
Scientists use Pap test fluid to detect ovarian, endometrial cancers
Using cervical fluid obtained during routine Pap tests, scientists at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have developed a test to detect ovarian and endometrial cancers. In a pilot study, the "PapGene" test, which relies on genomic sequencing of cancer-specific mutations, accurately detected all 24 (100 percent) endometrial cancers and nine of 22 (41 percent) ovarian cancers. Results of the experiments are published in the January 9 issue of the journal, Science Translational Medicine.
Eliminating useless information important to learning, making new memories
As we age, it just may be the ability to filter and eliminate old information – rather than take in the new stuff - that makes it harder to learn, scientists report.
Smaller radiation fields can spare brain when treating tumors
New research from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center shows that patients suffering from aggressive brain tumors can be effectively treated with smaller radiation fields to spare the rest of the brain and preserve cognition.
Violence plays role in shorter US life expectancy (Update 2)
The United States suffers far more violent deaths than any other wealthy nation, due in part to the widespread possession of firearms and the practice of storing them at home in a place that is often unlocked, according to a report released Wednesday by two of the nation's leading health research institutions.
Flu season has Boston declaring health emergency
Massachusetts public health officials are reporting 18 flu-related deaths in the state already this season, and Boston has declared a public health emergency.
Stem cells may hold promise for Lou Gehrig's disease
Apparent stem cell transplant success in mice may hold promise for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease. The results of the study were released today and will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 65th Annual Meeting in San Diego, March 16 to 23, 2013.
Measuring genomic response to infection leads to earlier, accurate diagnoses
Duke researchers are looking to genomic technologies – not the isolation of bacteria or viruses – to quickly detect and diagnose infectious diseases such as the flu and staph.
Sickle cells show potential to attack aggressive cancer tumors
By harnessing the very qualities that make sickle cell disease a lethal blood disorder, a research team led by Duke Medicine and Jenomic, a private cancer research company in Carmel, Calif., has developed a way to deploy the misshapen red blood cells to fight cancer tumors.
Small price differences can make options seem more similar, easing our buying decisions
(Medical Xpress)—Some retailers, such as Apple's iTunes, are known for using uniform pricing in an effort to simplify consumers' choices and perhaps increase their tendency to make impulse purchases. But other stores, like supermarkets, often have small price differences across product flavors and brands.
Online message boards provide outlets for mothers' concerns, researcher says
Parenting infants and toddlers can be challenging, and for generations, mothers have turned to other moms for advice. Now, with the availability of the Internet, mothers are consulting each other using modern venues: online message boards. Research from the University of Missouri indicates online discussion boards provide safe environments for mothers to anonymously express child-rearing concerns and receive support from other moms.
Study: Americans less healthy than others
Americans are in worse health, die earlier and suffer from more disease than residents of other wealthy nations, according to a new study out Wednesday.
Meniscal repair failure about 23 percent after five years
(HealthDay)—The long-term rate of failure after meniscal repair is similar for all techniques, with a pooled rate of 23.1 percent, according to a review published in the Dec. 19 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Many U.S. teens at risk for suicide despite treatment
(HealthDay)—A new study casts doubt on the value of current professional treatments for teens who struggle with mental disorders and thoughts of suicide.
Most teens support tough smoking bans, survey shows
(HealthDay)—North Carolina, a tobacco-growing state, does a lot to protect smoking: Its cigarette taxes are nearly the lowest in the country, and it only banned smoking in most restaurants, bars and hotels in 2010. But a newly reported survey suggests that its teenagers aren't fans of tobacco.
Deal or no deal: 5 year olds make smart decisions in games of risk
You may have to be over a certain age to be a contestant on "Deal or No Deal", but children as young as five start to maximize their profits - in cookies - when making decisions similar to those on the show, according to research published January 9 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Valerie Dufour and colleagues from the National Center for Scientific Research in France.
High fiber diet prevents prostate cancer progression
(Medical Xpress)—A high-fiber diet may have the clinical potential to control the progression of prostate cancer in patients diagnosed in early stages of the disease.
Protective communities may reduce risk of drinking in teens
Living in a caring community may help curb teenage alcohol use, while hanging out with antisocial peers can have the opposite effect, according to Penn State researchers studying substance abuse patterns.
After hospital discharge, other ills may land seniors back in again
(HealthDay)—The days and weeks after hospital discharge are a vulnerable time for people, with one in five older Americans readmitted within a month—often for symptoms unrelated to the original illness.
IUD might ease heavy menstrual bleeding, study suggests
(HealthDay)—Women with heavy menstrual bleeding may find some relief using an intrauterine device, or IUD, containing the hormone levonorgestrel, according to new research.
Overactive brain keeps autistic teens from adjusting to social situations
(Medical Xpress)—A new University of Michigan study finds that an overactive part of the brain hinders autistic teens from coping in unfamiliar social settings, leaving them feeling overwhelmed and anxious.
Study uncovers details of early stages in muscle formation and regeneration
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have identified proteins that allow muscle cells in mice to form from the fusion of the early stage cells that give rise to the muscle cells.
New drug for bipolar disorder may offer fewer side effects
(Medical Xpress)—A drug for bipolar disorder that works like lithium, the most common and effective treatment for the condition, but without lithium's toxicity and problem side-effects has been identified by Oxford University researchers in a study in mice.
Sensory hair cells regenerated, hearing restored in mammal ear
Hearing loss is a significant public health problem affecting close to 50 million people in the United States alone. Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common form and is caused by the loss of sensory hair cells in the cochlea. Hair cell loss results from a variety of factors including noise exposure, aging, toxins, infections, and certain antibiotics and anti-cancer drugs. Although hearing aids and cochlear implants can ameliorate the symptoms somewhat, there are no known treatments to restore hearing, because auditory hair cells in mammals, unlike those in birds or fish, do not regenerate once lost. Auditory hair cell replacement holds great promise as a treatment that could restore hearing after loss of hair cells.
New study identifies significance of co-infection in disease control
Becoming infected with one parasite could change your chances of becoming infected with another according to new research from Cardiff University. The new study analyses data from school aged children in Tanzania infected with the most common forms of worms.
Expert suggests tried-and-true strategies to strengthen your relationship
What are you doing to keep your relationship alive? A University of Illinois study highlights the importance of five relationship maintenance strategies that couples can use to preserve or improve the quality of an intimate relationship.
New tool to help brain surgeons, one step closer to operating room
(Medical Xpress)—A new tool that could allow for faster, more comprehensive testing of brain tissue during surgery successfully identified the cancer type, grade and tumor margins in five brain surgery patients, according to a new Brigham and Women's Hospital and Purdue University study. The paper detailing the results will be published in an upcoming issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and was published online this week.
Newly found 'volume control' in the brain promotes learning, memory
Scientists have long wondered how nerve cell activity in the brain's hippocampus, the epicenter for learning and memory, is controlled—too much synaptic communication between neurons can trigger a seizure, and too little impairs information processing, promoting neurodegeneration. Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center say they now have an answer. In the January 10 issue of Neuron, they report that synapses that link two different groups of nerve cells in the hippocampus serve as a kind of "volume control," keeping neuronal activity throughout that region at a steady, optimal level.
Drug-resistant melanoma tumors shrink when therapy is interrupted
Researchers in California and Switzerland have discovered that melanomas that develop resistance to the anti-cancer drug vemurafenib (marketed as Zelboraf), also develop addiction to the drug, an observation that may have important implications for the lives of patients with late-stage disease.
First image of insulin 'docking' could lead to better diabetes treatments
A landmark discovery about how insulin docks on cells could help in the development of improved types of insulin for treating both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
A history lesson from genes: Using DNA to tell us how populations change
When Charles Darwin first sketched how species evolved by natural selection, he drew what looked like a tree. The diagram started at a central point with a common ancestor, then the lines spread apart as organisms evolved and separated into distinct species.
Brown eyes appear more trustworthy than blue
People view brown-eyed faces as more trustworthy than those with blue eyes, except if the blue eyes belong to a broad-faced man, according to research published January 9 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Karel Kleisner and colleagues from Charles University in the Czech Republic.
Biology news
US airline halts transport of monkeys for lab tests
Animal rights activists claimed a major victory Tuesday in their campaign to stop global airlines from transporting monkeys for use in laboratory experiments.
Orchid adding bird perch for crossing ensures reproduction
Chinese researchers have solved the mystery of the function of sheaths in flowering orchids. In a paper published in PLOS ONE, the team led by Zhong-Jian Liu at the Orchid Conservation & Research Center of Shenzhen and Laiqiang Huang at Tsinghua University found the perch to be essential to orchid reproduction.
Study shows promise for East Coast broccoli industry
Chefs and home cooks in the eastern U.S. could soon have easier access to a local "super food," thanks to a Cornell-led team of researchers working to expand broccoli's availability at farms, farmer's markets and grocery stores from Maine to Florida.
New Australia-China centre to map entire wheat protein genome
A new joint research centre at Murdoch University is aiming to improve international competitiveness for Australian grain growers by mapping the entire wheat protein genome.
Accelerating the tempo of the segmentation clock by reducing the number of introns in the Hes7 gene
Somites, precursors for the segmental structures such as the vertebral column, ribs and skeletal muscles, form periodically by segmentation of the rostral parts of the presomitic mesoderm (PSM). This periodic event is regulated by the somite segmentation clock, which is composed of Notch signaling molecules. In the PSM, the Notch components such as the basic helix-loop-helix gene Hes7 are cyclically expressed, and this cyclical expression leads to segmentation of a bilateral pair of somites (Figure 1). While Hes7 plays an important role in the segmentation clock, it was not known whether Hes7 is the fundamental pacemaker or whether it acts downstream of another oscillator.
Killer whales trapped in Quebec sea ice
A community in Quebec's Far North is calling for outside help to free about a dozen killer whales trapped under a vast stretch of sea ice.
Whales' foraging strategies revealed by new technology
Marine biologists are beginning to understand the varied diving and foraging strategies of filter-feeding whales by analyzing data from multisensor tags attached to the animals with suction cups. Such tags, in combination with other techniques such as echolocation, are providing a wealth of fine detail about how the world's largest creatures find and trap their prey.
Scientists use marine robots to detect endangered whales
(Phys.org)—Two robots equipped with instruments designed to "listen" for the calls of baleen whales detected nine endangered North Atlantic right whales in the Gulf of Maine last month. The robots reported the detections to shore-based researchers within hours of hearing the whales (i.e., in real time), demonstrating a new and powerful tool for managing interactions between whales and human activities.
Low extinction rates made California a refuge for diverse plant species
The remarkable diversity of California's plant life is largely the result of low extinction rates over the past 45 million years, according to a new study published in the journal Evolution. Although many new species have evolved in California, the rate at which plant lineages gave rise to new species has not been notably higher in California than elsewhere, researchers found.
Tree seeds offer potential for sustainable biofuels
Tree seeds, rather than biomass or fuel crop plants, could represent an abundant source of renewable energy, according to research published in the International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management. The study suggests that seeds from the Indian mahua and sal trees have almost as good a thermal efficiency as biodiesel but would produce lower emissions of carbon monoxide, waste hydrocarbons and NOx (nitrogen oxides).
Researchers find variation in foot strike patterns in predominantly barefoot runners
A recently published paper by two George Washington University researchers shows that the running foot strike patterns vary among habitually barefoot people in Kenya due to speed and other factors such as running habits and the hardness of the ground. These results are counter to the belief that barefoot people prefer one specific style of running.
Invading species can extinguish native plants despite recent reports
Ecologists at the University of Toronto and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) have found that, given time, invading exotic plants will likely eliminate native plants growing in the wild despite recent reports to the contrary.
Baby sharks stay still to avoid being detected by predators
Baby sharks still developing in their egg cases can sense when predators are near, and keep very still to avoid being detected, according to research published January 9 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Ryan Kempster from the University of Western Australia and colleagues.
Cheating slime mold gets the upper hand
A 'cheater' mutation (chtB) in Dictyostelium discoideum, a free living slime mould able to co-operate as social organism when food is scarce, allows the cheater strain to exploit its social partner, finds a new study published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Evolutionary Biology. The mutation ensures that when mixed with 'normal' Dictyostelium more than the fair share of cheaters become spores, dispersing to a new environment, and avoiding dying as stalk cells.
Networking ability a family trait in monkeys
Two years of painstaking observation on the social interactions of a troop of free-ranging monkeys and an analysis of their family trees has found signs of natural selection affecting the behavior of the descendants.
Science gets a grip on finger wrinkles
Getting "pruney fingers" from soaking in the bath is an evolutionary advantage, for it helps us get a better grip on objects under water, scientists suggest.
Harnessing plant-invading fungi for fuel
(Phys.org)—As gas prices rise around the world, researchers are seeking a potential solution from endophytic fungi—fungi that live inside plants.
Study shows stressed-out cells halt protein synthesis
(Phys.org)—Cells experience stress in multiple ways. Temperature shifts, mis-folded proteins and oxidative damage can all cause cellular stress. But whatever the form of the stress, all cells quickly stop making proteins when under pressure.
Scientists learning how multiple-genome plants reproduce
(Phys.org)—A study out of Harvard and Purdue universities is starting to unravel the genetic mechanisms that allow some plants to duplicate their entire genomes and continue to reproduce.
Biologists study carrion fly DNA to derive mammalian diversity
(Phys.org)—A research team from Germany has found a new way to study animal diversity in the wild – capture carrion flies and analyze the DNA found in their digestive tracks. The team discovered the new technique, they write in their paper published in Molecular Ecology, as part of a study that involved capturing a large number of carrion flies in two remote locations looking for evidence of anthrax.
Nursing gerbils unravel benefit of multiple mothers in collective mammals
In mammals such as rodents that raise their young as a group, infants will nurse from their mother as well as other females, a dynamic known as allosuckling. Ecologists have long hypothesized that allosuckling lets newborns stockpile antibodies to various diseases, but the experimental proof has been lacking until now.
Bugs need symbiotic bacteria to exploit plant seeds
Aggregations of the red and black colored firebugs are ubiquitous under linden trees in Central Europe, where the bugs can reach astounding population densities. While these insects have no impact on humans, their African, Asian, and American relatives, the cotton stainers, are serious agricultural pests of cotton and other Malvaceous plants.
Optimal population size allows maximum predictability of evolution
(Phys.org)—Evolution in very large populations of plants, animals or fungi can be predicted far less easily than one would expect. This has been shown by research at the Institute for Theoretical Physics of the University of Cologne and the Laboratory of Genetics at Wageningen University (published in the January 9 issue of PNAS, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences). The researchers combined genetic information from a fungus with computer models which simulate the course of evolution. They concluded that, while evolution in small populations is known to be unpredictable, this is also the case for very large populations. There is an optimal population size for predicting evolutionary outcomes in every situation.
Minor mutations can lead to big improvements in antibiotic resistance
Rice University scientists have found that mutations of small effect can turn out to be game changers in the bacterial fight against antibiotic drugs.
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