Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 8, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- 'Building block' of quanutm networks created- Google aims to win developers over to new image format WebP
- First 'directed' SETI search comes up empty
- Energy from new Australian wind farms cheaper than from new coal or gas plants, report shows
- Raspberry Pi user shows home-automation feats using iPhone
- Researchers create reusable adhesive that liquefies under UV light
- Tiny robot made to jump by causing explosions inside its body (w/ video)
- Evaluating evolutionary rates could shed light into functions of uncharacterized genes
- Watson's medical expertise offered commercially
- Blocking infinity in a topological insulator
- Transistor made from vanadium dioxide could function as smart window for blocking infrared light
- Earth-observing satellite to launch from Calif. (Update)
- Villain stomach bug may have a sweet side: Researchers reveal how 'bad' gut bacteria may help control diabetes
- MAVEN mission completes assembly, begins environmental testing
- Implants make light work of fixing broken bones
Space & Earth news
Malaysian state scales back Borneo dam plans
A Malaysian state minister Friday said the government would not push ahead with controversial plans to build 12 dams on Borneo island, after outrage from local tribes and environmentalists.
UK needs defending against space weather 'superstorm'
(Phys.org)—Researchers here at Bath are part of a national study that is highlighting the security risk posed to the UK by extreme space weather events.
Japan study implications for under-sea zones around New Zealand
A new study about the 2011 Japan tsunami in the internationally respected journal Science has implications for New Zealand, says a University of Otago scientist who contributed to the study, Dr Virginia Toy.
Undergrad's research image makes cover of Astronomical Journal
Valerie Marchenko '13 was a competitive figures skater for most of her life before Brandeis. She says it would have been nice to make the cover of Skating Magazine.
Ariane 5's first liftoff of 2013
(Phys.org)—The first Ariane 5 heavy-lift mission of the year has delivered the Azerspace/Africasat-1a and Amazonas-3 telecom satellites into their planned transfer orbits.
SDSU scientists help retrieve more ice from West Antarctica
(Phys.org)—A slice of ice from 17,500 years ago can help scientists figure out how the Earth came out of the Ice Age and how climate change can happen in the future, according to South Dakota State University Professor Jihong Cole-Dai of the chemistry and biochemistry department.
Lilliput forests, global certification
As global demand for timber certified as being sustainable is growing, European small forest owners are still reluctant to gain certification. But increasing economic advantages may shift their position.
Japan proposes pollution meeting with China
The foreign ministry in Tokyo on Friday proposed a meeting with Chinese officials about the choking smog over Beijing that is now being seen in Japan.
Alphasat experiences heaven on Earth
(Phys.org)—Tucked away in a vacuum chamber for several months, Europe's largest telecom satellite has faced the harsh conditions it will deal with once it is launched into space this summer.
Stranger in the night: space rock to make close Earth flyby
(Phys.org)—A little-known asteroid will skim past Earth on 15 February, passing just 28 000 km from our planet. The 50 m-diameter chunk of space rock was discovered last year by ESA-sponsored amateur astronomers in Spain.
Direct infrared image of an arm in disk demonstrates transition to planet formation
(Phys.org)—An international team of astronomers led by Satoshi Mayama (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Japan) and Ruobing Dong (Princeton University) has made observations with the Subaru Telescope and captured the first vivid infrared image of a curved arm of dust extending over a hole on a disk around a young star—2MASS J16042165-2130284 (J 1604). This feature indicates the probable existence of unseen planets within the hole. The image shows the dynamic environment in which planets may be born and gives information about constraints on the distance at which planets can form from a central star.
Violent Nabro eruption shown to pierce stratosphere
(Phys.org)—Researchers from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Ocean and Atmospheric Science and Technology Directorate report conclusive evidence that volcanic gases and aerosols from the explosive 2011 eruption of the East Africa Nabro Volcano breached the stratosphere, unassisted by the seasonal Asian monsoonal flow.
Lake Michigan hits record low level
Lake Michigan has officially sunk to an all-time low.
Super-TIGER lying low for the Southern Hemisphere winter
(Phys.org)—Late Friday, Feb. 2, an overcast day in St. Louis, the twitter feed for the Super-TIGER cosmic ray experiment burst into life, as the Super-TIGER team received word that NASA's Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility, which provides operations support for scientific ballooning in Antarctica, had decided to terminate the flight of the balloon carrying their detector aloft in the polar vortex.
Team finds new way to identify which El Nino events will have biggest impact on U.S. winter weather
(Phys.org)—Weather forecasters have long known that El Niño events can throw seasonal climate patterns off kilter, particularly during winter months. Now, new research from NOAA and the University of Washington suggests that a different way to detect El Niño could help forecasters predict the unusual weather it causes.
No hype with storm; experts call it the real thing
Don't call it hype. The new director of the National Weather Service says some may be getting carried away in describing the winter storm bearing down on the Northeast. But he says the science is simple and chilling.
New NASA mission to help us better estimate asteroid impact hazard
(Phys.org)—Every year, sensors designed to detect nuclear explosions see harmless bursts in Earth's upper atmosphere from the breakup of an asteroid a few yards across. Tiny asteroids are much more numerous than big ones, so destructive hits to Earth are very rare. However, because of their potential for devastation, NASA's Near-Earth Object (NEO) observations program supports surveys which are undertaking sustained searches to find the largest objects and predict their impact threat to Earth.
Earth-observing satellite to launch from Calif. (Update)
A new Earth-observing satellite is set to provide another watchful eye over our planet's glaciers, forests, water resources and urban sprawl.
MAVEN mission completes assembly, begins environmental testing
NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft is assembled and is undergoing environmental testing at Lockheed Martin Space Systems facilities, near Denver, Colo. MAVEN is the next mission to Mars and will be the first mission devoted to understanding the Martian upper atmosphere.
First 'directed' SETI search comes up empty
(Phys.org)—Researchers working on the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project have completed their first "directed" search of a part of space and report in a paper they've uploaded to the preprint server arXiv that they've found no signs of life emanating from another planet. The search focused on a patch of sky that included 86 stars over a period of three months in 2011.
Technology news
Toshiba starts sample shipment of industry's first embedded NAND flash memory modules
Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has started sample shipments of a 64-gigabyte (GB) embedded NAND flash memory module, the first in the industry equipped with a UFS I/F. The module is fully compliant with the JEDEC UFS Ver.1.1 standard and is designed for application in a wide range of digital consumer products, including smartphones, tablet PCs.
Crowdfunding gets personal with GoFundMe
Brenda Lynn says her autistic 3-year-old son, Kaleo, hardly speaks, and his inability to express himself frustrates him - except when using his speech therapist's iPad.
Hacker gains access to Bush family emails, photos (Update)
A hacker apparently accessed private photos and emails sent between members of the Bush family, including both former presidents, and the Secret Service is investigating.
Instrument handle with integrated electronics facilitates surgical procedures
Surgeons must operate with absolute precision; the handling of surgical tools requires the utmost sensitivity. A new kind of instrument handle will soon be supporting physicians in the OR. Fraunhofer researchers will present the first prototype at the 2013 Medtec trade show in Stuttgart, Germany, from 26 to 28 February.
Panasonic develops 12V energy recovery system with Ni-MH battery for automobiles
Panasonic Corporation has developed a 12V Energy Recovery System for idle-stop vehicles that uses nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries for automobiles. This system allows the energy generated during braking to be stored in the batteries and use the stored energy to power the vehicle's electrical components, thus ensuring power availability even when the engine is not being used. In addition, as the system is designed to supply power to the drive assist motor as well, it helps improve the vehicle's fuel economy.
Microsoft wins latest round in Motorola patent case
A federal judge on Thursday tossed out more than a dozen patent infringement claims filed against Microsoft by Google-owned Motorola Mobility.
Facebook software slip sidelines host of websites
A Facebook software problem on Thursday temporarily sidelined websites synched to a feature that lets people's identities at the leading social network follow them around the Internet.
Ancient board game offers insight into military, cyber threats
(Phys.org)—As the United States faces increasing cyber and physical threats, both foreign and domestic, intelligence analysts must be able to predict their adversaries' moves and defeat them at their own games. At Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), Stan Aungst is employing the ancient Chinese game of Go to help students gain new insight and new methods for countering attacks and to hone new cognitive skills for the 21st century.
People in disaster areas are not helpless victims but useful informants
Use people in disaster areas as sources of information instead of seeing them solely as helpless victims. That is better for all parties involved. This is the claim made by Lucy Gunawan, who received her doctorate for research on this subject at TU Delft on February 4.
All-terrain technology for developing countries
EPFL is launching "EssentialTech," a unique program in which engineers will in particular produce medical devices custom-designed for the difficult conditions encountered in developing countries.
Scientist spans disciplines by looking at networks probabilistically and probabilities as networks
Devavrat Shah arrived at Stanford University as a graduate student in computer science in 1999, just a few months after a couple of other students in the department, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, received $25 million in financing for a company that they'd started in a friend's garage, which they called Google. "The first time I met someone from outside Stanford," Shah says, "the guy said, 'Oh, so you're a PhD in the computer science department? What's the name of your startup?'"
AOL shows signs of revival on advertising growth
AOL is showing signs of revival with gains in advertising, a key toward the reinvention of the former Internet star as a media firm.
Options explode for consumers seeking TV content via Web
Not too long ago, TV viewers had three programming options: satellite, cable or the good ol' antenna if you just wanted to watch free broadcast channels and DVDs.
Social-media engagement set record for Super Bowl
They let their fingers do the talking. They did it while Beyonce mesmerized the audience during halftime at the Super Bowl. They did it during the blackout at the Superdome. Users of social media - mostly on mobile devices - generated a record-setting number of posts, "likes," check-ins, mentions and comments about the big game, say two firms that monitor social-media activity.
Quality control at the point of a finger
For production operations, quality assurance over the process chain is indispensible: it is the only way to detect problems at an early stage and lower additional costs. Fraunhofer researchers developed an efficient type of quality control: With a pointing gesture, employees can input any detected defects to car body parts into the inspection system, and document them there. The non-contact gesture-detection process will be on display at the 2013 Hannover Messe from April 8 to 12.
US settles with final publisher in Apple e-book case
US authorities said Friday they reached a settlement with Macmillan, the last of five publishing firms accused of colluding with Apple in an e-book price-fixing conspiracy.
HP tightens worker rules for China suppliers (Update)
ELGAUS computer maker Hewlett-Packard said Friday it is cracking down on abuses of student workers and temporary labor used by its suppliers in China.
Using Twitter to predict the influence of lifestyle on health (w/ video)
(Phys.org)—Researchers at the University of Rochester showed last year how Twitter can be used to predict how likely it is for a Twitter user to become sick. They have now used Twitter to model how other factors – social status, exposure to pollution, interpersonal interaction and others – influence health.
Raspberry Pi user shows home-automation feats using iPhone
(Phys.org)—The latest hacker enthusiast who is out to demonstrate Raspberry Pi's potential has a system that pairs SiriProxy with Raspberry Pi to perform numerous home automation feats, just by speaking commands into the iPhone. "Elvis Impersonator" has shown in a YouTube video how he can change Siri from a glamorous job as Concierge to a role as domestic helper. With the Pi running SiriProxy, his commands via iPhone result in his desired reactions based on his predefined instructions. "Elvis Impersonator" can order garage doors to open and close; he can adjust a thermostat, and can change channels on his TV, among other feats.
Watson's medical expertise offered commercially
The Watson supercomputer is graduating from its medical residency and is being offered commercially to doctors and health insurance companies, IBM said Friday.
Energy from new Australian wind farms cheaper than from new coal or gas plants, report shows
(Phys.org)—A new study has found that in Australia electricity from new wind farms will be cheaper than that from new coal or gas power plants, which overturns the common presumption that renewables are more expensive than coal or gas.
Google aims to win developers over to new image format WebP
(Phys.org)—In 2011, news circulated over Google's enhancements to WebP, the image format set to outdistance JPEG and, with more features in a newer version, to take on Portable Network Graphics, another graphics format. The promotional point has been that WebP can create smaller, better-looking images that can help make the web faster. Now, a Thursday posting on The Chromium Blog shows how Google is actively promoting WebP, hoping that developers and other allies will see its edge. Google announced that it started using WebP in its Chrome Web Store, with impressive results. "The Chrome Web Store uses many large promotional images and tiles on its home page, making it a very heavyweight page," wrote Stephen Konig, Product Manager, in the blog, "Using WebP to Improve Speed."
Medicine & Health news
Bronchiectasis increases mortality risk in moderate-to-severe COPD
Bronchiectasis is independently associated with an increased mortality risk in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD, according to a new study from researchers in Spain.
Premiums for public health insurance affect coverage
Requiring individuals to pay a premium for public health insurance coverage can counteract the coverage effects of expanding eligibility for public health insurance programs to higher income families.
Mexican 'nine-year-old mother' vanishes, may be older
A Mexican girl said to have given birth last month at the age of nine has disappeared with her baby, and authorities now suspect she may be older, a top prosecutor said Thursday.
Assisted suicide on agenda in several US states (Update)
(AP)—A push for the legalization of physician-assisted suicide is under way in a half-dozen U.S. states where proponents say they see strong support for allowing doctors to prescribe mentally competent, dying individuals with the medications needed to end their own lives.
Bird flu claims fifth Cambodian victim this year
A five-year-old Cambodian girl has died from bird flu, bringing the country's toll from the deadly virus to five so far this year, the World Health Organization said on Friday.
New hope for dementia sufferers
(Medical Xpress)—Research that aims to rid dementia sufferers' brains of toxins could lead to a new treatment that reverses the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in the future.
DNA chip for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Is your child like this? "He does not sit still, he makes you crazy always tapping or moving his leg, he cannot do one thing at a time, he is unable to remain seated at the table during dinner, he goes up and down in the chair without stopping, it's like he's got a motor in him, he doesn't stop talking " In school you hear the teachers say things like "does not listen, does not pay attention, loses everything, unable to do his own work, takes so much time to do, makes so many mistakes'. This is called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Early healthy nutrition vital for later life
What a mother eats before and during pregnancy can impact on her offspring in many ways, a University of Aberdeen researcher will tell a conference in Edinburgh today (February 7).
Bevacizumab significantly improves survival for patients with recurrent and metastatic cervical cancer
(Medical Xpress)—Patients with advanced, recurrent, or persistent cervical cancer that was not curable with standard treatment who received the drug bevacizumab (Avastin) lived 3.7 months longer than patients who did not receive the drug, according to an interim analysis of a large, randomized clinical trial.
New prostate cancer test could change treatment
Thousands of men face a prostate biopsy following higher-than-normal results from their annual prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, the traditional screening for prostate cancer. But recent studies have shown three in four of these biopsies were unnecessary, leading to 165,000 unnecessary procedures and 6,930 related hospitalizations each year.
URMC introduces new treatment for life-threatening aneurysms
Surgeons at the University of Rochester recently introduced a new device to treat potentially deadly aortic aneurysms in the abdomen, reducing the need for invasive surgery and a lengthy recovery. URMC's Heart and Vascular Center is one of just 30 centers in the United States to use a custom-made, fenestrated endovascular graft for the most challenging cases.
Physicians' belief about obesity causes impacts advice and care
How physicians view the causes of obesity may impact the advice they give their patients. The findings are from a new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who compared the relationship between primary care physicians' beliefs about the causes of obesity with the frequency of nutritional counseling. They found that physicians who believed over consumption of food to be a major contributor to obesity were significantly more likely to counsel their patients to modify nutritional habits. The results are featured in the February 2013 issue of Preventive Medicine.
Surveillance system can identify and track emerging infectious diseases
A team of researchers have developed a method to identify the cause of infectious disease outbreaks based on online reports about the symptoms, the season, and the ratio of cases to fatalities. Using data from the Internet outbreak reporting system ProMED-mail, the researchers applied this method to more than 100 outbreaks of encephalitis in South Asia, recently identified as an emerging infectious disease "hotspot," to determine which of 10 infectious diseases was causing symptoms of encephalitis, and whether Nipah—a serious emerging infection—could be reliably differentiated from the others.
Forensic pathology: Tracing the origin of the Usutu Virus
It is generally a mystery how new diseases arise and how the pathogens that cause them first enter countries. However, clues may come from examination of specimens from similar outbreaks. Scientists at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna have recently traced the origin of the virus that caused a sudden decrease in the number of blackbirds in Vienna in 2001. The results are published in the current issue of the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.
New insight into RASopathy-associated lymphatic defects
The RAS pathway is a cellular signaling pathway that regulates growth and development in humans. RASopathies are a group of diseases characterized by defects in RAS signaling.
Horsemeat scandal reaches Sweden (Update)
Sweden on Friday became the newest European country to be hit by a widening meat products scandal, as frozen-food company Findus said it was recalling beef lasagna meals there after tests confirmed the products contained horsemeat.
Winter storm hazard: Snowblower injuries
(HealthDay)—The massive winter storm battering the northeastern United States means that many people will be using snowblowers to clear snow from their driveways and sidewalks.
Bishops reject latest proposal on controversial contraception mandate
FRIDAY, Feb. 8 (HealthDay News) —Revised rules on birth control coverage under the Affordable Care Act have been rejected by the group that represents Roman Catholic bishops across the United States.
SUVmax provides valuable indicator of progression-free survival in stage I NSCLC patients
SUVmax (Maximum Standardized Uptake Value) may be a significant and clinically independent marker to indicate progression-free survival in stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), according to research being presented at the 2013 Cancer Imaging and Radiation Therapy Symposium. This Symposium is sponsored by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the Radiological Society of North American (RSNA).
DAI provides potential imaging biomarker to indicate brain tumor response to RT
Diffusion abnormality index (DAI) shows promise as an imaging biomarker to measure brain tumor response to radiation therapy, according to research being presented at the 2013 Cancer Imaging and Radiation Therapy Symposium. This Symposium is sponsored by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
CT texture analysis of tumors may be a valuable biomarker in localized esophageal cancer
CT texture analysis of primary tumors may be a potential imaging biomarker in localized esophageal cancer following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, according to research being presented at the 2013 Cancer Imaging and Radiation Therapy Symposium. This Symposium is sponsored by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
New study highlights Chagas disease as a growing health and socio-economic challenge
Today, The Lancet Infectious Diseases published a new report that examines the global economic burden of Chagas disease. In the first study of its kind, researchers measured the health and economic impact of Chagas disease and found that the total economic burden of Chagas disease matches or exceeds that of many more well-known diseases such as rotavirus, Lyme disease and cervical cancer.
Witness the fitness: Look for DNA in Valentine's Day
She wore a tight red dress, a new pair of high heels and a matching handbag. He wore a suit, bright tie and a chunky watch.
Study prompts rethink of how ovaries develop
(Medical Xpress)—New research from the University of Adelaide will rewrite the text books on how an ovary is formed, as well as providing new insights into women's health and fertility.
Adding endovascular therapy to tPA didn't improve recovery after stroke
Adding endovascular therapy to clot-busting therapy for stroke did not significantly improve stroke recovery at three months, according to a study presented in a special symposium at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2013.
Decade long study shows educating parents key to preventing emotional disorders
(Medical Xpress)—In the longest running study of its kind, researchers have evaluated the long-term effects of early intervention on the prevention of internalising disorders in children, such as anxiety or depression.
Worm offers clues to obesity
(Medical Xpress)—As obesity rates continue to rise, experts are searching for answers in the clinic and at the lab bench to determine the types and amounts of food that people should eat.
Poorer patients with lung cancer less likely to receive treatment than wealtheir patients
Poorer lung cancer patients in the developed world are significantly less likely to receive treatment than richer patients, researchers from Newcastle University have found. This inequality in treatment may contribute to the higher death rates for lung cancer in poorer patients.
Friends and family say doctors should give lifestyle advice to cancer patients
(Medical Xpress)—Over 80 per cent of cancer patients' close friends and family think that doctors should give their cancer patients lifestyle advice on eating habits, weight-loss and exercise, according to a new stud* published today in the British Journal of Cancer.
Bringing a new perspective to infectious disease
Studying infectious diseases has long been primarily the domain of biologists. However, as part of the Ragon Institute, MIT engineers and physical scientists are joining immunologists and physicians in the battle against HIV, which currently infects 34 million people worldwide.
Natural killer cells played a vital role in human evolution
(Medical Xpress)—Natural killer cells – a vital part of the immune system – have a dual role in protecting against infection and ensuring reproduction. Scientists suggest that the multi-tasking ability of these cells helped humans to spread out of Africa.
Fluctuations in size of brain waves contribute to information processing
Cyclical variations in the size of brain wave rhythms may participate in the encoding of information by the brain, according to a new study led by Colin Molter of the Neuroinformatics Japan Center, RIKEN Brain Science Institute.
New brain-test app
Two years ago, researcher Josef Bless was listening to music on his phone when he suddenly had an idea.
Few pregnant women treated for sexually transmitted infections
Many pregnant women with sexually transmitted infections aren't getting the treatment they need when they visit emergency rooms, according to a new Michigan State University study that highlights a wholly preventable risk to unborn children and raises questions about current medical guidelines.
New insight on relationship between parents, preschoolers and obesity
While sugary drinks, lack of exercise and genetics contribute to a growing number of overweight American children, new research from Washington State University reveals how a mom's eating habits and behavior at the dinner table can influence her preschooler's obesity risk.
Combining plasma screening methods better identifies diagnostic and therapeutic targets
For the first time, scientists have combined genomic and proteomic analysis of blood plasma to enhance identification of genetically regulated protein traits. This could be applied to any large association study of civilization diseases where blood plasma has been collected, vastly improving a clinician's ability to identify disease susceptibility in individuals and populations. This advance is published in the February 2013 issue of the journal Genetics.
Babies born to immigrant women in Ontario bigger than those born in their mothers' native countries
Women who immigrate to Ontario have babies who are bigger than those born in their native countries, new research has shown.
Findings support link between hsCRP, macular degeneration
(HealthDay)—Pooled results from five cohorts confirm that high levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) correlate with increased future risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to research published online Feb. 7 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Less benefit for obese with lumbar disc herniation tx
(HealthDay)—Obese patients derive less benefit from both operative and non-operative lumbar disc herniation treatment, according to a study published in the Jan. 2 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
n-3 PUFA may reduce markers of kidney disease in T2DM
(HealthDay)—In patients with type 2 diabetes and evidence of kidney injury, supplementation with n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) does not reduce urine albumin excretion but is associated with a reduction in certain markers of kidney injury, according to research published online Dec. 28 in Diabetes Care.
Yoga helps the heart, researchers say
The same kind of exercise that can bring peace to your mind may bring peace to your heart as well.
Smartphone application can assist with concussion detection and treatment
An entrepreneur with close ties to Wichita State University has developed an iPhone application that researchers say could revolutionize how a key symptom of concussions can be quickly and accurately detected within minutes.
Support needed for children losing parent at early age
A study exploring the impact of early parental death has revealed the long-term damage and suffering that can be experienced by individuals in adult life if appropriate levels of support are not provided at the time of bereavement. The new research, published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, describes the low self-esteem, loneliness, isolation and inability to express feelings of some individuals who lost a parent in childhood, with the effects felt for as long as 71 years after the bereavement.
New strategy prevents rheumatoid arthritis in mice
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists have demonstrated a new strategy for treating autoimmune disease that successfully blocked the development of rheumatoid arthritis in a mouse model. They say it holds promise for improved treatment of arthritis and other autoimmune disorders in people.
Comparing mechanical clot removal and standard medical therapy for severe stroke
Results of the first randomized controlled study to evaluate a procedure that removes blood clots in the brain from patients experiencing severe strokes will be presented at the International Stroke Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii on Feb. 8. The study also evaluates if imaging techniques were helpful in identifying patients who potentially would benefit most from clot removal.
Team describes findings from BCI study in spinal cord-injured man in PLoS One
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC describe in PLoS ONE how an electrode array sitting on top of the brain enabled a 30-year-old paralyzed man to control the movement of a character on a computer screen in three dimensions with just his thoughts. It also enabled him to move a robot arm to touch a friend's hand for the first time in the seven years since he was injured in a motorcycle accident.
Imaging acute ischemic stroke patients' brains did not lead to improved outcomes
The use of advanced imaging shortly after the onset of acute stroke failed to identify a subgroup of patients who could benefit from a clot-removal procedure, a study has found.
Study drug is first to help patients with recurrent low-grade ovarian cancer
Low-grade serous ovarian cancer is less common and aggressive than the high-grade variety, yet exceptionally difficult to treat when frontline therapy fails.
New genetic test can predict man's risk of developing prostate cancer
Researchers in Japan have created a genetic test that will help doctors diagnose prostate cancer. When given together with testing for prostate specific antigen (PSA), a widely used diagnostic biomarker for prostate cancer, the new assay could spare men from undergoing needless prostate biopsies.
Anesthesia assistance used in 8.7 percent of colonoscopies
(HealthDay)—Anesthesia assistance is used in 8.7 percent of outpatient colonoscopies, with wide regional variation, but its use does not affect patient risk or outcomes, according to research published in the February issue of Gastroenterology.
High doses of saw palmetto don't impact serum PSA
(HealthDay)—Compared with placebo, saw palmetto, even at a dose as high as 960 mg, does not affect serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in men with lower urinary tract symptoms, according to research published in the February issue of The Journal of Urology.
Mohs surgery OK in seniors aged 90 years or older
(HealthDay)—Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is safe in seniors aged 90 years or older, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
High hsCRP may up risk of macular edema in T1DM
(HealthDay)—For patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, elevated levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) are associated with an increased risk of clinically significant macular edema (CSME) and with the development of retinal hard exudates, according to a study published online Feb. 7 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Seizures in half peds patients with intracranial hemorrhage
(HealthDay)—Acute symptomatic seizures occur in about half of pediatric patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and are often a presenting symptom, according to a study published online Feb. 7 in JAMA Neurology.
Most youth with type 1 diabetes don't meet HbA1c goals
(HealthDay)—Most children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values above target levels, according to a study published online Jan. 22 in Diabetes Care.
A pill so people with celiac disease can eat freely?
(HealthDay)—For people with celiac disease, everyday foods such as bread, pizza crust and muffins are potential enemies. But scientists anticipate that some day a simple pill could help prevent the digestive upsets caused by ingesting the gluten in wheat, rye or barley products.
Health officials: Worst of flu season may be over
Health officials say the worst of the flu season appears to be over.
Hepatic function testing can assist in treatment planning for liver cancer patients
Monitoring the hepatic function of unresectable liver cancer patients, measured by 99mTc-labeled iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) via single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) prior to and during radiation therapy, provides vital information that could guide more customized treatment plans and reduce risks of liver injury, according to research being presented at the 2013 Cancer Imaging and Radiation Therapy Symposium. This Symposium is sponsored by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the Radiological Society of North American (RSNA).
Got to go? Harvard scientists figure out how you know
If you have an overactive bladder or incontinence, help could be on the way. A new research report published online in the FASEB Journal, shows that the epithelium, a thin layer of cells which line the surface of the bladder, is able to sense how full the bladder is through the action of a family of proteins called integrins. As the bladder becomes full, the cells in the epithelium stretch and become thinner, which activates the integrins to send that information to nerves and other cells in the bladder. As a result of this new knowledge, researchers may one day be able to design drugs that target this mechanism to treat conditions like incontinence and overactive bladder, both of which are common, serious, problems affecting millions of people.
Fear factor: Study shows brain's response to scary stimuli
(Medical Xpress)—Driving through his hometown, a war veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder may see roadside debris and feel afraid, believing it to be a bomb. He's ignoring his safe, familiar surroundings and only focusing on the debris; yet, when it comes to the visual cortex, a recent study at the University of Florida suggests this is completely normal.
Deadly virus discovered in bats also jumps species
(Medical Xpress)—Four new forms of hantavirus, one of the most virulent pathogens transmitted from animals to humans, have been identified by international research contributed to by the University of Sydney.
Villain stomach bug may have a sweet side: Researchers reveal how 'bad' gut bacteria may help control diabetes
A stomach bacterium believed to cause health problems such as gastritis, ulcers, and gastric cancer may play a dual role by balancing the stomach's ecosystem and controlling body weight and glucose tolerance, according to immunologists at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute of Virginia Tech.
Biology news
Australia rejects heritage listing for Tasmanian rainforest
Australia Friday rejected a bid for blanket heritage listing of Tasmania's Tarkine rainforest, angering environmentalists who said it would allow mining and could threaten the Tasmanian devil.
Malaysian jailed over major seizure of tiger parts
Activists Friday slammed a two-year jail term handed to a Malaysian man over the country's biggest seizure of illegally trafficked tiger parts as too short and a "demoralising finale" to the case.
Peru: At least 50 sea lions intentionally poisoned
Peruvian authorities say at least 50 sea lions have been intentionally poisoned with fish laced with insecticides since mid-January off a single beach.
Malaysia seeks more tests for dead pygmy elephants (Update)
An initial chemical analysis on 14 Borneo pygmy elephants that died mysteriously could not conclusively determine if they were poisoned, and more tests will be conducted abroad, an official said Friday.
Scientists make groundbreaking discovery of cell nucleus structure crucial to understanding diseases
Genes relocated from their correct position in the nucleus cause them to malfunction and this may lead to the heart, blood vessels and muscles breaking down. This new discovery by A*STAR scientists may be the key to finding new cures in the future.
Social media abuzz about how to breed super queen bees
(Phys.org)—While honey bee populations dwindle across the globe, Penn State researchers aim to use communication technologies to spread revolutionary beekeeping techniques that will help offset the effects of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).
Guatemala to aid growers battling coffee fungus
Guatemala decreed an agricultural emergency Friday because of a coffee tree fungus that is ravaging crops and could cost the sector up to $400 million this year.
Cellular alchemy caught in action
One of the most critical biological advances in the past decade was the discovery that the introduction of four simple genetic factors can turn a fully mature adult cell back into an embryonic-like state, a process called reprogramming.
Professor uses evolution, informatics to uncover secrets of the genome
What patterns exist in the evolutionary design of living things? What particular processes produced these patterns? And how might this information be used to untangle the complexities of health and disease, coded in human genes? These are among the central questions examined by Sudhir Kumar in his path-breaking research.
Computer modeling breaks new ground in study of root architecture
(Phys.org)—The UN estimates that one in every seven people around the world are hungry. Fortunately, Jonathan Lynch uses Information Technology (IT) to get to the root of this problem.
Christianity influencing biodiversity in the Amazon, scientists find
(Phys.org)—Religious missionaries have been transforming the belief systems of indigenous peoples deep within the Amazon since the 1700s, but the outsiders might be influencing more than just prayer. Research by Stanford biologists suggests that the introduction of Western religions is altering the biodiversity in the region.
Yellowstone ecosystem needs wolves and willows, elk and... beavers?
(Phys.org)—Wolves and Yellowstone. In the public mind, and in nature, the two are inextricably linked. Now, it turns out, they aren't alone on the ecological dance floor.
Putting our heads together: Canines may hold clues to human skull development
Man's best friend may touch our hearts with their empathy, companionship, playfulness and loyalty, and they may also lead us to a deeper understanding of our heads.
At age 62, albatross hatches a chick
The world's oldest-known wild bird-a 62-year-old albatross on Midway Atoll in the Pacific Ocean-is also a new mother.
Scientists using holiday snaps to identify whale sharks
Holidaymakers' photos could help scientists track the movements of giant endangered sharks living in the waters of the Indian Ocean. A new study, led by a researcher from Imperial College London, is the first to show that these publically sourced photographs are suitable for use in conservation work.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a squid
A species of oceanic squid can fly more than 30 metres (100 feet) through the air at speeds faster than Usain Bolt if it wants to escape predators, Japanese researchers said Friday.
Birds of a feather... track seven neighbors to flock together
Watching a flock of thousands of starlings take to the sky is a spectacular sight. As the flock changes direction, it looks like a formation of suspended iron filings guided by an invisible magnet in the sky.
Evaluating evolutionary rates could shed light into functions of uncharacterized genes
Genes that have roles in the same biological pathways change their rate of evolution in parallel, a finding that could be used to discover their functions, said a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in the February issue of Genetics.
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