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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 21, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- To dial, perchance to group: Statistical analysis reveals clustered telephony patterns- New way to probe Earth's deep interior using particle physics proposed
- Bees and flowers communicate using electrical fields, researchers discover
- Researchers find Jurassic strashilids not a parasite after all
- Time reversal findings may open doors to the future
- Mercury may have harbored an ancient magma ocean, paper reveals
- Protein 'passport' helps nanoparticles get past immune system
- Black hole simulations on XSEDE supercomputers present new view of jets and accretion disks
- Caves point to thawing of Siberia
- Coldness triggers northward flight in migrating monarch butterflies, study shows
- Circadian clock linked to obesity, diabetes and heart attacks
- Misled by macronutrients? Researchers suggest alternative diet design
- New flu drug stops virus in its tracks
- Sony unveils social-focused PlayStation 4
- Eliminating malaria has longlasting benefits for many countries
Space & Earth news
Centre for Carbon Measurement set to deliver large carbon reductions
The Centre for Carbon Measurement at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) will deliver eight megatonnes of carbon emissions reductions and over half a billion pounds in economic benefit over the next decade, according to an independent report. This is a level of carbon saving is equivalent to 2% of the UK's annual carbon footprint.
Biologists lead international team to track Arctic response to climate change
Biologists Jackie Grebmeier and Lee Cooper from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science's Chesapeake Biological Laboratory have been visiting the chilly area north of Alaska near the Bering Strait for more than 20 years, but it's only in the last few years that they have seen things really start to change. And fast. Last summer was the highest ice retreat in the Arctic record, and eight of the last ten years have seen the lowest ice on record.
Monitoring soil contamination over large areas, long periods of time possible thanks to geophysical measurements
Large amounts of industrial contaminants, such as mineral oil, chlorinated hydrocarbons and heavy metals, are hidden in the soil and ground water across Europe. Until now, there was no easy way of mapping their distribution and follow their development in the ground. Under the SoilCAM project, funded by the EU, scientists have explored a combination of methods to gain a reliable and accurate understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological behaviour of these soil contaminants. These methods could eventually be used to study the distribution and monitoring of bioremediation and geo-chemical processes over a long period of time.
Laboratory experiments reproduce statistical behavior of earthquakes
Mechanical failure of materials is a complex phenomenon underlying many accidents and natural disasters ranging from the fracture of small devices to earthquakes. Despite the vast separation of spatial, temporal, energy, and strain-rate scales, and the differences in geometry, it has been proposed that laboratory experiments on brittle fracture in heterogeneous materials can be a model for earthquake occurrence.
Science synthesis to help guide land management of nation's forests
A team of more than a dozen scientists from the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Southwest (PSW) and Pacific Northwest research stations, universities and Region 5 Ecology Program recently released a synthesis of relevant science that will help inform forest managers as they revise plans for the national forests in the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades of California. The three most southern national forests in the Sierra Nevada—Inyo, Sequoia and Sierra—will be among the first of the 155 national forests to update their management plans. The new planning rule requires the forests to consider the best available science and encourages a more active role for research in plan development.
Abandoned Russian ship located 2,400 km from Ireland
A Russian cruise ship abandoned and adrift in the North Atlantic has been located about 2,400 kilometers off the west coast of Ireland, according to a US intelligence agency.
Six years in space for THEMIS: Understanding the magnetosphere better than ever
(Phys.org)—On Earth, scientists can observe weather patterns, and more importantly can predict them, through the use of tens of thousands of weather observatories scattered around the globe. Up in the space surrounding Earth—a space that seethes with its own space weather made of speeding charged particles and constantly changing magnetic fields that can impact satellites – there are only a handful of spacecraft to watch for solar and magnetic storms. The number of observatories has been growing over the last six years, however. Today these spacecraft have begun to provide the first multipoint measurements to better understand space weather events as they move through space, something impossible to track with a single spacecraft.
India plans mission to Mars in 2013
India said on Thursday it will send a $70 million space mission to Mars this year to study the red planet's atmosphere.
Time for Europe to beef up asteroid vigilance, ESA says
Europe must strengthen its watch for dangerous space rocks, the head of the European Space Agency's asteroid surveillance programme said Thursday, a week after a meteor struck Russia in a blinding fireball.
Discovering the birth of an asteroid trail
Unlike comets, asteroids are not characterised by exhibiting a trail, but there are now ten exceptions. Spanish researchers have observed one of these rare asteroids from the Gran Telescopio Canarias (Spain) and have discovered that something happened around the 1st July 2011 causing its trail to appear: maybe internal rupture or collision with another asteroid.
Study of world's richest marine area shows size matters
A new study of Asia's Coral Triangle, which contains nearly 30 percent of the world's reefs, shows that when it comes to ensuring a rich and diverse range of species, size matters.
Geoengineering by coalition
Solar geoengineering is a proposed approach to reduce the effects of climate change due to greenhouse gasses by deflecting some of the sun's incoming radiation. This type of proposed solution carries with it a number of uncertainties, however, including geopolitical questions about who would be in charge of the activity and its goals.
Europe bids to tighten offshore drilling rules
Europe moved Thursday towards agreement on new rules governing offshore oil and gas drilling in response to a major environmental disaster off the United States, but environmentalists criticised the omission of terms covering Arctic exploration.
ASU Mars education program wins science-teaching award from Science magazine
Letting secondary school students use an operating NASA spacecraft to take images of Mars is about as hands-on as science education can get. Nor are the students just aiming the space camera randomly. Instead, they are targeting an image on the Red Planet's surface to answer a scientific question about Mars that the students themselves have developed.
Comet Pan-STARRS will be visible in northern hemisphere in March
(Phys.org)—Comet Pan-STARRS C/2011 L4, discovered by the Pan-STARRS 1 telescope on Haleakala in June 2011, is expected to become visible to the naked eye in the Northern Hemisphere in March.
Ancient wood from La Brea tar pits shows how trees respond to long-term carbon dioxide change
(Phys.org)—Say "La Brea Tar pits," and most people imagine the saber-tooth cats and woolly mammoths that were trapped on sticky asphalt (now in modern-day Los Angeles), only to have their bones preserved for the ages. But other forms of life were also preserved in the asphalt, including the wood of ancient trees.
Study finds nitrogen pollution a growing problem in China
(Phys.org)—A team of researchers with members from several countries around the world, and led by Chinese agriculturalist Fusuo Zhang has found that nitrogen deposition over China has increased by over 60 percent over the past 30 years, leading to widespread environmental damage. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes how nitrogen pollutants such as ammonia and nitrogen oxides are converted to ammonium and nitrates which then fall to Earth as part of natural precipitation. The result, they say, is the widespread deposition of nitrogen pollutants across large swaths of the country.
Black hole simulations on XSEDE supercomputers present new view of jets and accretion disks
Voracious absences at the center of galaxies, black holes shape the growth and death of the stars around them through their powerful gravitational pull and explosive ejections of energy.
Caves point to thawing of Siberia
Evidence from Siberian caves suggests that a global temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius could see permanently frozen ground thaw over a large area of Siberia, threatening release of carbon from soils, and damage to natural and human environments.
Stellar motions in outer halo shed new light on Milky Way evolution
(Phys.org)—Peering deep into the vast stellar halo that envelops our Milky Way galaxy, astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have uncovered tantalizing evidence for the possible existence of a shell of stars that are a relic of cannibalism by our Milky Way.
Mercury may have harbored an ancient magma ocean, paper reveals
By analyzing Mercury's rocky surface, scientists have been able to partially reconstruct the planet's history over billions of years. Now, drawing upon the chemical composition of rock features on the planet's surface, scientists at MIT have proposed that Mercury may have harbored a large, roiling ocean of magma very early in its history, shortly after its formation about 4.5 billion years ago.
New way to probe Earth's deep interior using particle physics proposed
Researchers from Amherst College and The University of Texas at Austin have described a new technique that might one day reveal in higher detail than ever before the composition and characteristics of the deep Earth.
Technology news
China steps up defence on hacking allegations
Chinese state media stepped up the war of words Thursday over allegations of sophisticated cyberattacks on US firms, branding the accusations a "commercial stunt" and accusing Washington of ulterior motives.
Changing the way we fly
An airplane roaring down the runway and into the air is a familiar sight to most travellers today. In fact, this image has not changed much in 50 years. While significant advances have been made in terms of fuel economy, engine design and noise reduction techniques, the basic tube and wing shape of airplanes, and the material used to build these aircraft, has remained largely the same for years.
Self-organizing network software support for QorIQ Qonverge base station-on-chip portfolio
Wireless infrastructure technology leaders Freescale Semiconductor and AirHop Communications are establishing solutions that integrate Freescale's high-performance QorIQ Qonverge processors with AirHop's eSON advanced self-organizing network (SON) software to speed deployment of heterogeneous networks (HetNets) around the world.
TD-LTE breakthroughs showcased at Mobile World Congress 2013
Nokia Siemens Networks is highlighting TD-LTE innovation at Mobile World Congress 2013 in Barcelona. This includes a demonstration of data traffic offloading between TD-LTE and FDD-LTE using the company's Single RAN Advanced Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station and a commercially available dual-mode (FDD and TDD) end-user device. The demonstration, and the company's commercial momentum in TD-LTE, will be highlighted by Rajeev Suri in a keynote address to the Global TD-LTE Initiative (GTI) Summit on February 26, the second day of the Barcelona event.
Review: Sci-fi cliches mar beauty of 'Crysis 3'
"Crysis 3" (Electronic Arts, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, $59.99) is a gorgeous game. Its creator, the German studio Crytek, has lived up to its promises that it will set a new benchmark for computer graphics. On a state-of-the-art PC, it's spectacular.
United Technologies CEO sees sequester impact
(AP)—The chief executive of United Technologies expects automatic federal budget cuts will take effect in eight days, cutting slightly into earnings of the aerospace giant.
Software boosts marines civilian operations at fleet exercise
New software that takes advantage of mobile devices to streamline civilian assistance operations has received encouraging feedback from Marines who tested it this month during one of the largest annual multinational military exercises.
Pakistani facing extradition from UK to US over hacking
A Pakistani student failed Thursday in a High Court bid to avoid extradition from Britain to the United States on computer hacking allegations stemming from an FBI "sting".
Solar energy to get boost from cutting-edge forecasts
Applying its atmospheric expertise to solar energy, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is spearheading a three-year, nationwide project to create unprecedented, 36-hour forecasts of incoming energy from the Sun for solar energy power plants.
Facebook co-founder Saverin says Asia is the place to be
Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin said on Thursday the success of the social networking site would be hard to match but he hoped to make an impact as an Asia-based technology investor.
Sony shares slide after PlayStation 4 announcement
Sony shares fell on Thursday after the Japanese electronics giant announced its next-generation PlayStation 4 in New York, but without unveiling the console or saying how much it would cost.
Ultra-low power processor operates at near-threshold voltage
At this week's International Solid State Circuits Conference (ISSCC 2013), imec and Holst Centre presented an ultra-low power processor that operates reliably at near-threshold voltages. The processor delivers clock speeds up to 1MHz at voltages down to 0.4 V. In tests based on a Fast Fourier Transform use case, it consumed only 79 µW – a fraction of the power consumption at standard voltages.
FIRESENSE: New system could be best protection for cultural heritage monuments against fire, other hazards
The village of Olympos, located near the ancient city of Rhodiapolis, in the Antalya region of Turkey, escaped a wild fire, on 2 September 2012. This happened thanks to a network of cameras coupled to an intelligent video-based smoke detection algorithm that raised the alarm. This automatic early warning system is being tested as part of a multi-sensor fire detection network developed by an EU funded project called FIRESENSE. Its aim is to protect ancient heritage sites, such as the ancient Olympia in Greece. In the absence of such detection system, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, was only just saved from forest fires, on 26 August 2007, after a three-day fire fight that cost 60 lives.
Locust's visual system inspiring new technology
The way in which the locust's distinctive visual system could be transferred into technology for state of the art vehicle collision sensors, surveilance technology and video games has been detailed as part of robotics research being carried out by an academic from the University of Lincoln (UK).
Global tablet sales up 78% in 2012
The global market for tablet computers surged 78.4 percent last year, with 128 million of the devices shipped, a survey showed Thursday.
Writing without keyboard: Handwriting recognition on the wrist
Typing text messages on the mobile phone via the tiny soft keyboard is very cumbersome. How about simply writing it into the air! This idea drove the development of "airwriting" made by computer scientists of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Sensors attached to a glove record hand movements, a computer system captures relevant signals and translates them into text. For the further development of mobile interfaces based on these ideas Professor Tanja Schultz and Dipl.-Inform. Christoph Amma received the "Google Faculty Research Award."
Nielsen to begin counting broadband viewing homes
The company that measures television viewership will soon begin counting people who watch programming through broadband instead of a traditional broadcast or cable hook-up.
Google effort fails to curb music piracy
Google's revamping of its search formula last year has failed so far to live up to its promise of discouraging consumers from visiting illegal music websites, an industry group says.
Estonia plugs electric cars as power prices soar
It brought the world Skype, Europe its first capital with free public transport, and now Estonia is touting the globe's first fast-charging network for electric vehicles.
HP's 1Q offers glimmer of hope, stock surges (Update)
Slumping personal computer maker Hewlett-Packard Co.'s latest quarterly results provided a glimmer of hope after months of gloomy news.
More top universities to offer free online courses
More of the world's elite universities are joining the rush to offer "massive open online courses," but it's still uncertain whether so-called MOOCs will help more students earn college degrees.
US regulators give Wi-Fi more breathing space
US telecom regulators have moved to expand the capacities for Wi-Fi Internet access with more room on the broadcast spectrum and "more flexible" rules.
Medicine & Health news
Hemodiafiltration reduces risk of dying over the course of a 3-year study
A technique that removes additional toxins during dialysis may prolong kidney failure patients' lives, according to a clinical trial appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology. In light of these results, the technique may become standard for dialysis patients.
Staff satisfaction at hospitals may affect the quality of patient care
The satisfaction levels among a hospital's staff are closely linked to the quality of healthcare it provides, say a team of doctors from Imperial College London.
'I'm not just fat, I'm old!'
Similar to talking about being fat, talking about being old is an important an indicator of body dissatisfaction, shows research in BioMed Central's open access journal Journal of Eating Disorders.
Text messages help cholera fight in Mozambique
As Mozambique struggles to recover from the worst flooding in more than a decade, aid agencies are pioneering the use of mobile phones to distribute aid and, they hope, cut the cost of logistics in disaster zones.
Persuading moms to breastfeed: Study examines effects of government nutrition program on choice to use infant formula
One of the federal government's goals in tweaking the content of its food packages for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program was to encourage more new mothers to breastfeed. The changes, which took effect in 2009, produced mixed results, however.
Sunbed users are twice as likely to use anti-ageing products as non-sunbed users
Over two fifths (43 per cent) of people in the UK who have used sunbeds – which are proven to prematurely age the skin – are using anti-ageing products. This compares with only a fifth (20 per cent) of those who have not used a sunbed, according to a new Cancer Research UK survey.
Researcher gives subjects their voice
Stephen Hawking and a 9-year-old girl with a speech disorder most likely use the same synthetic voice. It's called Perfect Paul and it's easy to understand, especially in acoustically chaotic environments like classrooms full of children. While new, more natural-sounding voices are available, Perfect Paul remains the most oft-used synthetic voice in the community of disordered speakers.
Protecting health care workers
(Medical Xpress)—Health care workers who consistently wear special fitted face masks while on duty are much less likely to get clinical respiratory and bacterial infections, according to new research led by University of New South Wales (UNSW) academics.
Attacking HIV/AIDS with economic change
Poverty and disease are a deadly combination.
Study shows cost-effectiveness and benefits to patients of early hip replacement
Early access to hip replacement is cost-effective and provides significant benefits for patients' quality of life, a study has shown.
Health risks were not consumers' first concern over horse meat contamination, study finds
Days after the initial announcement by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) on the 15th January that horse and pig DNA were found in beef burgers, researchers conducted an online consumer study, as part of the EU-funded project FoodRisC. This study took place before the latest developments about the widespread presence of horsemeat in certain beef products within some European countries.
Patients get little advice about effect of gynaecological cancer on sexuality, study says
A study in Ireland found that women recovering from gynaecological cancer received little advice from healthcare professionals about the effects of the disease on sexuality. This was not as important in initial stages of diagnosis and treatment where patients were dealing with life and death issues. However, it became much more important as they entered the recovery phase and had to deal with the effect of the disease on their relationships with partners.
Inhaled betadine leads to rare complication
A routine step in preparing for cleft palate surgery in a child led to an unusual—but not unprecedented—case of lung inflammation (pneumonitis), according to a report in the The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery.
Toddler is Cambodia's 7th bird flu death this year
(AP)—A 20-month-old boy has become Cambodia's seventh bird flu fatality this year, as authorities warn the virus remains a serious health threat, especially to children.
Researchers study barriers, resources to physical activity in Texas towns
Obesity, diabetes and other ailments plague impoverished communities at higher rates than the general United States population. In rural Texas border towns, or colonias, Mexican-American residents are at an even greater risk for chronic health problems.
FDA approves new silicone gel-filled breast implant
(HealthDay)—The Natrelle 410 Highly Cohesive Anatomically Shaped Silicone-Gel Filled Breast Implant has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for breast augmentation in women aged 22 years or older and for reconstruction in women of all ages.
Report discusses impact of ACGME 2011 requirements
(HealthDay)—Although many residency program directors approve of individual components within the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Common Program Requirements introduced in 2011, less than half express overall approval, according to a perspective piece published in the Feb. 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
UN rejects Haiti cholera damages claim
The United Nations on Thursday formally rejected a multi-billion-dollar damages claim for a cholera epidemic in Haiti that has been widely blamed on UN peacekeepers.
US government to announce new policies for dual use research
The U.S. government today released two new documents to guide researchers in carrying out dual use research of concern.
Catheters linked with high risk of infections, heart problems, and death in dialysis patients
Dialysis patients using catheters to access the blood have the highest risks for death, infections, and cardiovascular events compared with patients using other types of vascular access, according to an analysis appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The authors note that more research is needed to determine individual patients' risks, however.
Certain mutations affect kidney disease risk and prognosis
Certain gene mutations affect individuals' risk of developing a serious kidney condition, as well as their prognosis after being diagnosed with the disease, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings may help in diagnosing and treating patients with the disease, and in determining the risks that patients' relatives face for developing it as well.
Americans frequent victims of 'seafood fraud', report says
Fish sold in the United States is often deliberately mislabeled, making American consumers the unwitting victims of "widespread seafood fraud," according to a report out Thursday.
Scrap 'unwinnable' drugs war and divert funds into curbing global antibiotic misuse
Governments around the world should stop squandering resources fighting an "unwinnable war" against illegal drugs, such as cocaine and heroin. Instead, they should use the cash to curb antibiotic misuse, which poses a far more serious threat to human health, claims a leading ethicist in the Journal of Medical Ethics.
Human heart tissue development slower than other mammals
The walls of the human heart are a disorganised jumble of tissue until relatively late in pregnancy despite having the shape of a fully functioning heart, according to a pioneering study.
Study shows psychotropic drug dispensing increases on entry to care homes
A study by Queen's University Belfast has found that the dispensing of psychotropic drugs to older people in Northern Ireland increases on entry to care homes.
Creeping epidemic of obesity hits Asia Pacific region
Over eating, sedentary lifestyles, cultural attitudes, and lack of prevention programmes are to blame for the rising epidemic of obesity in the Asia Pacific region. Overweight and obesity has quadrupled in China and societies still label people of healthy weight as poor.
Redefinition of positive CT result for lung cancer explored
(HealthDay)—Increasing the threshold for defining a positive result in computed tomography (CT) screening for lung cancer could reduce the need for further work-up but must be weighed against the potential for delayed diagnosis, according to a study published in the Feb. 19 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
New blood thinner beats older drug for vein clots
(HealthDay)—People who need to take a blood thinner because they've had a clot in the deep veins of their legs appear to do better with the new drug Pradaxa (dibigatran) than with the older drug warfarin, researchers report.
Traffic light system for activity could redefine how we exercise
(Medical Xpress)—The traffic light system used as a guide to health information in food could be used in a similar way to help people become more active.
New website helps parents manage children's pain after surgery
(Medical Xpress)—When a young child has surgery, parents rely on doctors and nurses for advice on how to prepare and support children during the procedure and immediately afterwards. But once that child gets home, parents are left with little guidance on how to best help their children cope with pain.
Discovery spurred by unique twist of fate
(Medical Xpress)—As people age, or as a result of poor nutrition, heart valves can become damaged by the accumulation of calcium deposits within the tissue. This calcification causes a thickening and hardening of the tissue to the point that it limits normal blood flow.
Unlimited source of human kidney cells: Applications include in vitro toxicology, disease models, regenerative medicine
Researchers at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) have successfully generated human kidney cells from human embryonic stem cells in vitro. Specifically, they produced the renal cells under artificial conditions in the lab without using animals or organs. This has not been possible until now.
Life scientists identify drug that could aid treatment of anxiety disorders
(Medical Xpress)—The drug scopolamine has been used to treat a variety of conditions, including nausea and motion sickness. A new study by UCLA life scientists suggests that it may also be useful in treating anxiety disorders.
Plant-based diets come with many benefits: Prevent and cure disease and reduce medication intake all through diet
Plant-based diets have received much attention recently, with more celebrities making the change, and countless books touting their benefits. Recent research has shown that plant-based diets are associated with lower incidence of stroke, heart attack and many forms of cancer as well as increased life expectancy and fertility.
Poor kids' heaviness linked to less access to yards, parks
(Medical Xpress)—Low-income children may be overweight in part because they have less access to open green space where they can play and exercise, reports a Cornell study of obesity in Europe published in Social Science and Medicine (December 2012; Vol. 75).
New rabies vaccine could reduce cost, risk
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at the University of Georgia used a common dog disease-canine parainfluenza-to build a new vaccine to protect humans and animals from the rabies virus. Developers hope the new treatment will reduce costs and increase accessibility to a vaccine for a disease that currently kills 55,000 people a year.
Cooling treatment for acute ischemic strokes shows promising preliminary results
(Medical Xpress)—A limited time window to administer therapy for ischemic stroke means every second counts. Now doctors may be able to slow down the hands of time in this critical time frame by using hypothermia - cooling the body to halt reperfusion injury of brain tissue.
Scientists identify molecular system that could help develop potential treatments for neurodegenerative diseases
Scientists from the University of Southampton have identified the molecular system that contributes to the harmful inflammatory reaction in the brain during neurodegenerative diseases.
Microbubbles improve myocardial remodelling after infarction
German scientists from the Bonn University Hospital successfully tested a method in mice allowing the morphological and functional sequelae of a myocardial infarction to be reduced. Tiny gas bubbles are made to oscillate within the heart via focused ultrasound - this improves microcirculation and decreases the size of the scar tissue. The results show that the mice, following myocardial infarction, have improved cardiac output as a result of this method, as compared to untreated animals.
Cancer drug a possible treatment for multiple sclerosis
(Medical Xpress)—A drug that is currently used for cancer can relieve and slow down the progression of the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis (MS) in rats, according to a new study published in PLOS ONE. The discovery, which was made by researchers at Karolinska Institutet, might one day lead to better forms of treatment for patients with MS.
More than just looking: Role of tiny eye movements explained
Have you ever wondered whether it's possible to look at two places at once? Because our eyes have a specialized central region with high visual acuity and good color vision, we must always focus on one spot at a time in order to see our environment. As a result, our eyes constantly jump back and forth as we look around.
Early life stress may take early toll on heart function
Early life stress like that experienced by ill newborns appears to take an early toll of the heart, affecting its ability to relax and refill with oxygen-rich blood, researchers report.
Omega-3s inhibit breast cancer tumor growth, study finds
A lifelong diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids can inhibit growth of breast cancer tumours by 30 per cent, according to new research from the University of Guelph.
Schizophrenia genes increase chance of IQ loss
People who are at greater genetic risk of schizophrenia are more likely to see a fall in IQ as they age, even if they do not develop the condition.
Biomarker may identify neuroblastomas with sensitivity to BET bromodomain inhibitors
Neuroblastoma, the most common malignant tumor of early childhood, is frequently associated with the presence of MYCN amplification, a genetic biomarker associated with poor prognosis. Researchers have determined that tumors containing MYCN amplification are sensitive to a new class of drugs, BET bromodomain inhibitors.
In rich and poor nations, giving makes people feel better than getting, research finds
Feeling good about spending money on someone else rather than for personal benefit may be a universal response among people in both impoverished countries and rich nations, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.
Sniffing out the side effects of radiotherapy may soon be possible
Researchers at the University of Warwick and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust have completed a study that may lead to clinicians being able to more accurately predict which patients will suffer from the side effects of radiotherapy.
The age from when children can hop on one leg
Motor development in children under five years of age can now be tested reliably: Together with colleagues from Lausanne, researchers from the University Children's Hospital Zurich and the University of Zurich have determined normative data for different exercises such as hopping or running. This enables parents and experts to gage the motor skills of young children for the first time objectively and thus identify abnormalities at an early stage.
Research discovers gene mutation causing rare eye disease
Research conducted by Dr. Jayne S. Weiss, Professor and Chair of Ophthalmology at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, and colleagues has discovered a new mutation in a gene that causes Schnyder corneal dystrophy (SCD.) The gene was found to be involved in vitamin K metabolism suggesting the possibility that vitamin K may eventually be found useful in its treatment. The findings are published in the February 2013 issue of the peer-reviewed journal, Human Mutation.
Activation of cortical type 2 cannabinoid receptors ameliorates ischemic brain injury
A new study published in the March issue of The American Journal of Pathology suggests that cortical type 2 cannabinoid (CB2) receptors might serve as potential therapeutic targets for cerebral ischemia.
Aspirin and omega-3 fatty acids work together to fight inflammation
Experts tout the health benefits of low-dose aspirin and omega-3 fatty acids found in foods like flax seeds and salmon, but the detailed mechanisms involved in their effects are not fully known. Now researchers reporting in the February 21 issue of the Cell Press journal Chemistry & Biology show that aspirin helps trigger the production of molecules called resolvins that are naturally made by the body from omega-3 fatty acids. These resolvins shut off, or "resolve," the inflammation that underlies destructive conditions such as inflammatory lung disease, heart disease, and arthritis.
Modeling Alzheimer's disease using iPSCs
Working with a group from Nagasaki University, a research group at the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) at Japan's Kyoto University has announced in the Feb. 21 online publication of Cell Stem Cell has successfully modeled Alzheimer's disease (AD) using both familial and sporadic patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and revealed stress phenotypes and differential drug responsiveness associated with intracellular amyloid beta oligomers in AD neurons and astrocytes.
Flu shot did poor job against worst bug in seniors
Health officials say this season's flu shot is only 9 percent effective in protecting seniors against the most common and dangerous flu bug.
Backs bear a heavy burden
Trudging from place to place with heavy weights on our backs is an everyday reality, from schoolchildren toting textbooks in backpacks to firefighters and soldiers carrying occupational gear. Muscle and skeletal damage are very real concerns. Now Tel Aviv University researchers say that nerve damage, specifically to the nerves that travel through the neck and shoulders to animate our hands and fingers, is also a serious risk.
Endocrine disorder is most common cause of elevated calcium levels
Unusually high calcium levels in the blood can almost always be traced to primary hyperparathyroidism, an undertreated, underreported condition that affects mainly women and the elderly, according to a new study by UCLA researchers.
Study reveals new clues to Epstein-Barr virus
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) affects more than 90 percent of the population worldwide and was the first human virus found to be associated with cancer. Now, researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) have broadened the understanding of this widespread infection with their discovery of a second B-cell attachment receptor for EBV.
Why living against the clock is a risky business
Living against the clock—working late-night shifts or eating at inappropriate times, for example—can come with real health risks, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and diabetes among them. Now, researchers reporting in Current Biology, a Cell Press publication, on February 21 have new evidence to explain why it matters not just what mice (or by extension, people) eat, but also when they eat it.
'Green' homes save money but can trap air pollution indoors
In an effort to protect the environment and save on energy costs, we are in the midst of a "green" home boom in this country. While that may bode well from an energy-efficiency standpoint, the trend certainly doesn't have everyone breathing easier.
New guidelines issued for genetic screening in newborns, children
(HealthDay)— New guidelines on testing newborns and children for genetic diseases recommend screening for childhood diseases but note that testing for diseases that strike in adulthood may not be worthwhile.
US kids consuming fewer calories, report finds
(HealthDay)—Finally, some good news in the war on childhood obesity: Kids in the United States now consume fewer calories each day than they did 12 years ago, according to a new government report.
FDA panel to consider brain stimulator for epilepsy
(HealthDay News) - A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel will weigh on Friday the merits of a new therapy for some people with epilepsy who have seizures that don't respond to medication.
Fast food makes up 11 percent of calories in US diet, CDC reports
(HealthDay)—Fast food fare from restaurants such as McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's and Pizza Hut accounted for more than 11 percent of the calories in American adults' daily diets in recent years, federal health officials reported Thursday.
Medical marijuana: Voodoo or legitimate therapeutic choice?
(HealthDay)—Imagine a 68-year-old woman with advanced breast cancer, looking for a better way to ease her chronic pain, low appetite, fatigue and nausea. Should she or shouldn't she be prescribed marijuana?
Opioids involved in most medical overdose deaths
(HealthDay)—Opioid analgesics are involved in the majority of pharmaceutical-related overdose deaths, frequently involving drugs prescribed for mental health conditions, according to a research letter published in the Feb. 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Scientists make older adults less forgetful in memory tests
Scientists at Baycrest Health Sciences' Rotman Research Institute (RRI) and the University of Toronto's Psychology Department have found compelling evidence that older adults can eliminate forgetfulness and perform as well as younger adults on memory tests.
New therapy for heart failure may enhance body's stem cell response at cardiovascular injury site
Cardiovascular disease specialists at Florida Hospital Pepin Heart Institute and Dr. Kiran C. Patel Research Institute affiliated with the University of South Florida announced they have enrolled their first patients into a clinical trial testing a novel gene therapy for the treatment of heart failure after ischemic injury. The therapy may promote the regeneration of heart tissue by encouraging the body to deploy more stem cells to the injury site.
Why some soldiers develop PTSD while others don't
Pre-war vulnerability is just as important as combat-related trauma in predicting whether veterans' symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will be long-lasting, according to new research published in Clinical Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Stem cell 'homing' signal may help treat heart failure patients
In the first human study of its kind, researchers activated heart failure patients' stem cells with gene therapy to improve their symptoms, heart function and quality of life, according to a study in the American Heart Association journal Circulation Research. Researchers delivered a gene that encodes a factor called SDF-1 to activate stem cells like a "homing" signal.
Promising new method for next-generation live-attenuated viral vaccines against Chikungunya virus
Researchers have successfully applied a novel method of vaccine creation for Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) using a technique called large scale random codon re-encoding. Using this approach, a group from the UMR_D 190, Emerging viruses Department in Marseille, France in collaboration with the University of Sydney, Australia, demonstrated that the engineered viruses exhibit a stable phenotype with a significantly decreased viral fitness (i.e., replication capacity), making it a new vaccine candidate for this emerging viral disease. This new report publishes on February 21 in the Open Access journal, PLOS Pathogens.
New death from SARS-like virus in Saudi, WHO reports
Another person suffering from a SARS-like virus has died in Saudi Arabia, the World Health Organization said Thursday, bringing the worldwide number of fatalities from the mystery illness to seven.
For embolism patients, clot-busting drug is worth risk
When doctors encounter a patient with a massive pulmonary embolism, they face a difficult choice: Is it wise to administer a drug that could save the patient's life, even though many people suffer life-threatening bleeding as a result?
Codeine risky for kids after certain surgeries, FDA says
(HealthDay)—Children who are given codeine for pain relief after surgery to remove tonsils or adenoids are at risk for overdose and death, U.S. health officials said Thursday.
'Chemo brain': Study finds fog-like condition related to chemotherapy's effect on new brain cells and rhythms
(Medical Xpress)—It's not unusual for cancer patients being treated with chemotherapy to complain about not being able to think clearly, connect thoughts or concentrate on daily tasks. The complaint – often referred to as chemo-brain – is common. The scientific cause, however, has been difficult to pinpoint.
Clear-sighted research identifies genes for eye problems
(Medical Xpress)—More than 45,000 people of European and Asian ancestry have taken part in a big study to gain a better understanding of the genetics behind the world's most common eye disorder.
Cooling may prevent trauma-induced epilepsy
(Medical Xpress)—In the weeks, months and years after a severe head injury, patients often experience epileptic seizures that are difficult to control. A new study in rats suggests that gently cooling the brain after injury may prevent these seizures.
Hypnosis study unlocks secrets of unexplained paralysis
(Medical Xpress)—Hypnosis has begun to attract renewed interest from neuroscientists interested in using hypnotic suggestion to test predictions about normal cognitive functioning.
Circadian clock linked to obesity, diabetes and heart attacks
Disruption in the body's circadian rhythm can lead not only to obesity, but can also increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Misled by macronutrients? Researchers suggest alternative diet design
The search for the perfect diet—one that promotes weight loss and optimal health—has left many people empty handed. A Perspectives article written by University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers and appearing in the Feb. 22, 2013, edition of Science suggests that a broad focus on the negative effects of high-fat or processed carbohydrate-rich diets could be misplaced.
New flu drug stops virus in its tracks
A new class of influenza drug has been shown effective against drug-resistant strains of the flu virus, according to a study led by University of British Columbia researchers.
Scale-up of HIV treatment in rural South Africa dramatically increases adult life expectancy
The large antiretroviral treatment (ART) scale-up in a rural community in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, has led to a rapid and dramatic increase in population adult life expectancy—a gain of 11.3 years over eight calendar years (2004-2011)—and the benefit of providing ART far outweighs the cost, according to new research from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH).
Eliminating malaria has longlasting benefits for many countries
Many nations battling malaria face an economic dilemma: spend money indefinitely to control malaria transmission or commit additional resources to eliminate transmission completely.
Biology news
Japan vows to keep whale hunt after activist clash
Japan vowed to continue its whale hunt in the Southern Ocean after clashes with the militant conservationist Sea Shepherd group, which claimed Tokyo had been forced to end the mission.
Exposing the secrets of costly viruses
Researchers are making headway in discovering how two harmful viruses – ISAV and IPNV – sidestep the salmon immune system. Effective viral vaccines are now in sight.
Incy wincy spider?
Whether it's two lions fighting over a pride or two butterflies fighting over a sunny spot, decades of nature shows have led the average watcher to conclude that bigger, stronger males win competitions.
Scientists develop mouse model that can advance research on iPS cells to the next step
VIB scientists associated to the UGent have developed a mouse model that can advance the research on iPS cells to the next step.
Wildlife groups urge sanctions for ivory offenders
Conservationists on Thursday called for sanctions against the world's top offender nations in the illegal ivory trade to tackle a surge in poaching of African elephants.
19 baby Siamese crocs released in Laos
The Wildlife Conservation Society announced today the successful release of 19 critically endangered baby Siamese crocodiles into a local wetland in Lao PDR, where they will be repatriated into the wild.
Sad end for 'Happy Feet Jr.' in New Zealand
A penguin dubbed Happy Feet junior that washed up in New Zealand 2,000 kilometres (1,250 miles) from his home has died despite intensive efforts to save him, Wellington Zoo said Friday.
Salt-tolerant plant could benefit aquaculture and agriculture
Murdoch University researchers are leading a project to develop a salt-tolerant perennial crop capable of filtering fish farm waste water while providing feed for livestock.
Foraging bees prefer contrasting colors rather than stripes when they select flowers, study finds
Flower colors that contrast with their background are more important to foraging bees than patterns of colored veins on pale flowers according to new research, by Heather Whitney from the University of Cambridge in the UK, and her colleagues. Their observation of how patterns of pigmentation on flower petals influence bumblebees' behavior suggests that color veins give clues to the location of the nectar. There is little to suggest, however, that bees have an innate preference for striped flowers.
Where does our head come from?
A research team at the Sars Centre in Norway and the University Vienna has shed new light on the evolutionary origin of the head. In a study published in the journal PLoS Biology they show that in a simple, brainless sea anemone, the same genes that control head development in higher animals regulate the development of the front end of the swimming larvae.
Common swifts make mysterious twilight ascents
Common swifts climb to altitudes of up to 2.5 km both at dawn and dusk. This unexpected behaviour was discovered by geo-ecologist Dr Adriaan Dokter of the University of Amsterdam's (UvA) Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) together with colleagues from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), the Royal Netherlands Air Force and Lund University. The research results were published as a featured article in the March issue of the scientific journal Animal Behaviour.
Life's tiniest architects pinpointed
If a genome is the blueprint for life, then the chief architects are tiny slices of genetic material that orchestrate how we are assembled and function, Yale School of Medicine researchers report Feb. 21 in the journal Developmental Cell.
Why sourdough bread resists mold
Sourdough bread resists mold, unlike conventionally leavened bread. Now Michael Gaenzle and colleagues of the University of Alberta, Edmonton, show why. During sourdough production, bacteria convert the linoleic acid in bread flour to a compound that has powerful antifungal activity. The research, which could improve the taste of bread, is published online ahead of print in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
Study documents conversion of grassland to crops
A new study documents a loss of 1.3 million acres of grassland over a five-year period in the Western Corn Belt - a rate not seen since the 1920s and 1930s.
Bleach and antifreeze integral to arctic animal survival
Bleach and antifreeze are natural chemicals that help one creature survive the Arctic winter by triggering cryogenic preservation, say scientists.
Antibacterial protein's molecular workings revealed
(Phys.org)—On the front lines of our defenses against bacteria is the protein calprotectin, which "starves" invading pathogens of metal nutrients.
Coldness triggers northward flight in migrating monarch butterflies, study shows
Each fall millions of monarch butterflies from across the eastern United States begin a southward migration in order to escape the frigid temperatures of their northern boundaries, traveling up to 2,000 miles to an overwintering site in a specific grove of fir trees in central Mexico. Surprisingly, a new study by scientists at the University of Massachusetts Medical School published in Current Biology, suggests that exposure to coldness found in the microenvironment of the monarch's overwintering site triggers their return north every spring. Without this cold exposure, the monarch butterfly would continue flying south.
Teamwork against mutant free riders
(Phys.org)—Pathogenic salmonellae rely on a division of labour: some of them see to the common wellbeing, while others are able to stand up to free rider salmonellae better. This teamwork bears certain similarities to that of bee and ant colonies and is the salmonellae's recipe for success in colonising the gut.
Bees and flowers communicate using electrical fields, researchers discover
Flowers' methods of communicating are at least as sophisticated as any devised by an advertising agency, according to a new study, published today in Science Express by researchers from the University of Bristol. The research shows for the first time that pollinators such as bumblebees are able to find and distinguish electric signals given out by flowers. However, for any advert to be successful, it has to reach, and be perceived by, its target audience.
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