Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 12, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Internet temptation at work lowers employee productivity- How to prevent earthquake damage: make buildings invisible
- German student builds electromagnetic harvester to recharge a battery
- Swimming-pool ships make waves in modular robotics (w/ Video)
- Japan to field test rehabilitation robots
- Researchers developed cheap, strong lithium-ion battery
- Gene breakthrough boosts hopes for sorghum
- Neuroprosthesis gives rats the ability to 'touch' infrared light
- New world record efficiency for thin film silicon solar cells
- Using light to control cell clustering
- Song sparrows escalate territorial threats (w/ Video)
- Building a biochemistry lab on a chip
- Explosive breakthrough in research on molecular recognition
- Long memories in brain activity explain streaks in individual behaviour
- Biological connections in microelectronics
Space & Earth news
New panel to scrutinise ocean governance
Senior politicians on Monday launched an independent panel into management of the world's oceans, which are facing unprecedented overfishing, pollution and habitat loss.
Activists press Obama to move on climate
Activists are stepping up pressure on US President Barack Obama to issue concrete plans to battle climate change, with a major rally planned in Washington following his annual address to Congress.
NASA targets water recycling system for rapid development
Water is one of the most crucial provisions an astronaut will need to live and work in space. Whether orbiting Earth, working at a lunar base or traveling to Mars, astronauts must save as much water as possible. That's why NASA has targeted its water recycling technology for rapid development.
Report: Sandy's winds felt as far west as Wis.
(AP)—Superstorm Sandy not only caused destruction up and down the East Coast, it also created wind gusts as far west as Wisconsin and as far north as Canada.
Middle East river basin has lost Dead Sea-sized quantity of water
Already strained by water scarcity and political tensions, the arid Middle East along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers is losing critical water reserves at a rapid pace, from Turkey upstream to Syria, Iran and Iraq below.
Philippine development sparks 'sunset' protest
Hundreds of Filipinos converged on the Philippine capital's main bayfront Tuesday for a unique "sunset watch" protest aimed at stopping what they said would be a disastrous reclamation project.
Heavy metal movers
Juvenile wood frogs emigrating from their birthplaces in vernal pools into the terrestrial ecosystem may transfer mercury they accumulated during larval development into the food web, according to a team of University of Maine researchers.
Recent Nor'easter was a storm of historic proportions, says climate scientist
Last week's Nor'easter will go down in the record books as a once-in-a-lifetime event for residents across much of central New England, with record snowfall at locations from southern Connecticut to eastern Maine, says Michael Rawlins, manager of the Climate System Research Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Coastal activities examined in new study
Researchers have embarked on the first comprehensive study of human activity along the west Kimberley coast.
Influence of cosmic rays on cloud droplet formation explored in a global climate model
A research team from the State University of New York-Albany and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory used a global atmospheric model to estimate that charged ions produced by cosmic rays in the atmosphere increase new atmospheric particles formed by a factor of ten when compared with particles formed by a corresponding neutral, non-charged, mechanism. Though cosmic rays ionization is important in forming aerosol particles and altering the make-up of clouds, the team determined that the changes during the solar cycle are insufficient to produce a measurable change in the Earth's energy balance.
Mega tyre dump blights Spanish countryside
On a dry hillside near Madrid, a black mass has taken over: stacks of discarded tyres, piling up for years in an environmental nightmare for the small town nearby.
Super telescope costs inflate
The estimated cost of the first construction phase of the world's largest radio telescope has jumped to 400 million euros ($530 million), the project's director general said Tuesday.
Cities can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent
Cities around the world can significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by implementing aggressive but practical policy changes, says a new study by University of Toronto Civil Engineering Professor Chris Kennedy and World Bank climate change specialist Lorraine Sugar, one of Kennedy's former students.
Gone with the wind: French scheme targets farting cows
A French cattle feed company on Tuesday unveiled a novel form of carbon credits aimed at incentivising farmers to stop cows from emitting climate-changing farts.
Report: Sandy was USA's 2nd-costliest hurricane
(AP)—The National Hurricane Center says Superstorm Sandy was the deadliest hurricane to hit the northeastern U.S. in 40 years and the second-costliest in the nation's history.
NASA sees Cyclone Gino wind up to wind down later
NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Cyclone Gino as the storm continues to wind up in the southern Indian Ocean, consolidating and strengthening. Infrared data shows the storm has strengthened but it is headed for cooler waters which will weaken it in coming days.
NASA provides satellite views of nor'easter lifespan
NASA and NOAA satellites have provided animations and images of the coupling of two low pressure areas that created the now historic winter-time nor'easter that brought more than two feet of snow to portions of the New England states on Feb. 8 and 9, 2013. NASA released an animation of NOAA satellite imagery that shows the lifetime of the historic nor'easter.
NASA's LRO featured in Journal of Geophysical Research Planets special edition
Scientific observations made by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission are the subject of the latest special edition volume of Journal of Geophysical Research Planets, a scientific peer-reviewed journal.
NASA Goddard team to participate in dark energy mission
The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected three NASA-nominated science teams to participate in their planned Euclid mission, including one led by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
Rising acid in oceans is worsening industry toxins
Acidification of UK waters may make industrially-contaminated sediments more toxic over time, say scientists.
Picky eater fish clean up seaweeds from coral reefs (w/ Video)
(Phys.org)—Using underwater video cameras to record fish feeding on South Pacific coral reefs, scientists have found that herbivorous fish can be picky eaters – a trait that could spell trouble for endangered reef systems.
Technology news
China denounces US sanctions against companies
(AP)—China on Tuesday denounced U.S. sanctions against a leading state arms maker and other companies over alleged illicit dealings with North Korea, Syria and Iran.
Crew rotation and passenger connections spread flight delays
A study led by researchers of the Spanish National Research Council and the University of the Balearic Islands asserts that crew rotation and passengers connections systematically spread flight delays due to a domino effect. The work, that proposes a new methodology to assess the degree of air traffic congestion, is published on the latest issue of Scientific Reports.
Apple CEO Cook says lawsuit is 'silly sideshow'
Apple CEO Tim Cook calls a shareholder lawsuit against the company a "silly sideshow" but says he is open to looking at the shareholder's proposals for sharing more cash with investors.
Lenovo, PayPal, and Validity lead an open industry alliance to revolutionize online authentication
(Phys.org)—Leading Internet companies, system integrators and security providers have formed the FIDO Alliance (Fast Identity Online) to revolutionize online authentication with an industry supported standards-based open protocol. FIDO Alliance founding member organizations Agnitio, Infineon Technologies, Lenovo, Nok Nok Labs, PayPal, and Validity are developing the specification and FIDO-compliant products.
Comcast 4Q net income jumps 18 percent
(AP)—Comcast says its fourth-quarter net income rose 18 percent, helped by improvements in its broadcast business and growth in its high-speed Internet services.
North Korea apparently conducts third atomic test
(AP)—North Korea apparently conducted a widely anticipated nuclear test Tuesday, strongly indicated by an "explosion-like" earthquake that monitoring agencies around the globe said appeared to be unnatural.
Cheap yen a boon and a risk for Japan companies
(AP)—As the yen weakens, famous Japanese exporters from Toyota to Nintendo are getting a boost but the favorable exchange rate also carries risks by insulating some companies from pressure to overhaul their businesses.
No need to leave the room: Bet by TV at US casino
(AP)—Guests at one U.S. casino won't even have to get out of bed in order to place a bet.
American Express card users can shop at Twitter
American Express began letting users of its payment cards make purchases with messages fired off at Twitter as the popular social network dabbles with making money from e-commerce.
Study analyzes electric vehicle industry
A new study suggests the economic impact of the electric vehicle industry is already growing in Oregon.
A new 'virtual moderator' helps reach consensus in troubled negotiations
A group of researchers have designed a new fuzzy ontology-based system to help people in disagreement reach consensus. This system, which acts as a virtual moderator, is a step forward in the field on Artificial Intelligence. This tool can be useful in making everyday decisions –such as choosing a wine in a restaurant–, but it can also be helpful in complex negotiations between countries fighting for their interests in the European Union framework.
Nextdoor renovates before taking on the world
Neighborhood social networking service Nextdoor.com rolled out home improvements on Tuesday along with word it is flush with new funding and eyeing community-minded cultures around the world.
Amazon seeks relaxation of India e-commerce rules
US online retail giant Amazon said Tuesday it had asked New Delhi to consider relaxing a law that stops its Indian subsidiary from selling directly to customers.
Spotting the invisible cracks in wind turbines
(Phys.org)—A significant percentage of the costs of wind energy is due to wind turbine failures, as components are weakened under turbulent air flow conditions and need to be replaced. The challenge for the team was to find a method for detecting fatigue in the wind turbines' parts without having to remove each of the components and while the turbine is in operation.
India IT exports picking up steam
Exports by India's flagship IT outsourcing industry are set to grow by 12 to 14 percent in the next financial year, an industry group said on Tuesday, suggesting signs of recovery.
A system that improves the precision of GPS in cities by 90 percent (w/ Video)
Researchers at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid have developed a new system which improves the ability of a GPS to determine a vehicle's position as compared to that of conventional GPS devices by up to 90 percent, and which can be installed in any vehicle at a very low cost.
Yahoo! buys iPhone app maker Alike
Yahoo! on Tuesday said it acquired the startup behind an iPhone application that lets people know if nearby venues are like places that suit their tastes.
Intel working on TV set-top box to replace cable
Intel Corp. said Tuesday that it will sell a set-top box that brings Internet-delivered movies and shows to a TV set this year.
US plan aimed at keeping China out of US networks
(AP)—The White House is expected to unveil a new cybersecurity executive order Wednesday. It's being described as the most comprehensive plan yet for confronting electronic attacks on America's computer networks, or at least a good-faith effort amid an alarming tide in industrial espionage in the past year that experts blame mostly on China.
Apple still has 'magic,' innovation, says CEO Cook
Apple remains ahead of its rivals in the ability to innovate and "create magic" despite tougher competition in key sectors like smartphones and tablets, chief executive Tim Cook said Tuesday.
More evidence needed for scale up of mobile device technology in health
Despite the hundreds of pilot studies using mobile health—also known as 'mHealth'', which describe medical and public health practice supported by mobile devices— there is insufficient evidence to inform the widespread implementation and scale-up of this technology, according to international researchers writing in this week's PLOS Medicine.
New world record efficiency for thin film silicon solar cells
The Photovoltaics-Laboratory (PV-Lab) of EPFL's Insitute of Microengineering (IMT), founded in 1984 by Prof. Arvind Shah and now headed by Prof. Christophe Ballif, is well known as a pioneer in the development of thin-film silicon solar cells, and as a precursor in the use of microcrystalline silicon as a photoactive material in thin-film silicon photovoltaic (TF-Si PV) devices. A remarkable step was achieved by the team led by Dr. Fanny Meillaud and Dr. Matthieu Despeisse with a new world record efficiency of 10.7% for a single-junction microcrystalline silicon solar cell, independently confirmed at Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE CalLab PV Cells) in Freiburg (Germany).
German student builds electromagnetic harvester to recharge a battery
Dennis Siegel, a student at the University of the Arts in Bremen, Germany has built what he calls an electromagnetic harvester—it converts electromagnetic fields in the immediate environment into electricity to recharge a common AA battery. He's won a 2nd place award in the HfK Bremen Hochschulpreis 2013 competition for Digitale Medien, for his efforts.
Medicine & Health news
Most NCDs could be treated with small number of cheap generic drugs and within existing budgets
In the fifth Series paper, researchers led by Professor Hans Hogerzeil from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands say that most NCDs could be treated with a small range of inexpensive, off-patent medicines, and suggest that substantial improvements in availability of life-saving drugs in poorer nations could be achieved within existing budgets by more careful selection and sourcing of generic versions, and better targeting of people at highest risk.
Harmful effects of ultra-processed food and drink industries should be regulated
An international analysis of food, drink, and alcohol industry involvement in NCD policies shows that despite the common reliance on industry self-regulation and public-private partnerships to improve public health, there is no evidence to support either their effectiveness or safety. On the contrary, the study, led by Professor Rob Moodie from the University of Melbourne in Australia, found startling evidence that these "unhealthy commodity" industries use similar strategies to the tobacco industry to undermine public health policies and programmes.
Yearly rise in emergency admissions for kids in England since 2003
The number of children admitted to hospital as emergencies has steadily increased every year since 2003, with the largest rises seen among the under 5s, indicates research published online in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Stage at diagnosis only partly explains wide international variation in lung cancer survival
Stage at diagnosis only partly explains the wide variation in lung cancer survival rates among different developed countries, indicates a large study of nearly 60,000 patients, published online in Thorax.
Poisoned lotto winner's brother sought more tests
(AP)—The brother of a Chicago man poisoned with cyanide shortly after winning the lottery said Monday he is the family member who asked authorities to reconsider the initial finding that his sibling had died of natural causes.
Medication: Take it, leave it or sometimes forget
Patients on medication for long-term conditions can often face difficulties with taking their medication as directed by their doctor. In addition to the potentially detrimental effect on their health, the cost to the NHS of people not taking their medicines properly is estimated at more than £500 million per year.
Can a sensor prevent diabetic foot amputation?
In the global effort to prevent diabetic foot amputations, one of the most effective tools is a fairly simple, comfortable boot.
3 Nigeria journalists charged after polio killings
(AP)—Police in northern Nigeria arrested and charged three radio journalists for allegedly sparking the killings of at least nine women gunned down while trying to administer polio vaccines, officials said Tuesday. Police claimed on-air comments about a vaccination campaign in the area inflamed the region and caused the attacks.
Slow headway for food safety
(Medical Xpress)—Despite the availability of new and preventive methods against foodborne diseases, their uptake throughout the entire chain of food production appears to be slow.
Long-term success rates for eradication of Barrett's esophagus after endoluminal therapies, study shows
A new study from researchers at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania reports that endoluminal (endoscopic) therapies, combining resection and ablation techniques, for patients with Barrett's esophagus and high-grade dysplasia or early mucosal cancer have a high success rate, with durable results and a low risk of complications. The researchers noted that endoscopic surveillance after successful eradication is required. The study appears in the February issue of GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE).
Depression risk among women in the military deployed after childbirth
(Medical Xpress)—About 16,000 women on active duty in the U.S. military give birth each year. Most return to service after 6 weeks and can be deployed after 4 months. The potential for an increased risk of depression among new mothers who deploy and are exposed to combat experience is presented in a study published in Journal of Women's Health, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Journal of Women's Health website.
Statin use linked to reduced risk of hepatocellular cancer
(HealthDay)—Statin use is associated with a reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), most strongly in Asian populations, according to a meta-analysis published in the February issue of Gastroenterology.
Most cardiac patients report using alternative treatments
(HealthDay)—The majority of patients with cardiovascular disease receiving outpatient cardiology evaluations report using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Urban school-based asthma treatment cost-effective
(HealthDay)—A program to administer asthma medication each day to urban children with asthma reduces symptoms and is cost-effective, according to research published online Feb. 11 in Pediatrics.
Youths with autism spectrum disorder need help transitioning to adult health care
Health care transition (HCT) services help young people with special health care needs such as asthma or diabetes move from pediatric to adult health care. However, youths with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have less access to these services, which are designed to prevent gaps in care and insurance coverage. A University of Missouri researcher recommends that the medical community develop HCT services for individuals with ASD as a way to ensure consistent and coordinated care and increase their independence and quality of life.
Major clinical trial finds no link between genetic risk factors and 2 top wet AMD treatments
New findings from a landmark clinical trial show that although certain gene variants may predict whether a person is likely to develop age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a potentially blinding eye disease that afflicts more than nine million Americans, these genes do not predict how patients will respond to Lucentis™ and Avastin, the two medications most widely used to treat the "wet" form of AMD. This new data from the Comparison of AMD Treatment Trials (CATT), published online in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, found no significant association between four gene variants and outcomes that measured the patients' responses to treatment.
UK food agency raids abattoir in horsemeat scandal
(AP)—Britain's police and food safety regulator on Tuesday raided a slaughterhouse and a meat processing firm suspected of selling horsemeat labeled as beef for kebabs and burgers.
EU says too early to impose meat labelling
The European Commission said Tuesday it is too early to require labelling on meat used in processed foods despite growing uproar over horse meat being passed off as beef in frozen hamburgers and lasagne.
ACR supports patients' access to treatments act of 2013
(HealthDay)—The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has joined the Coalition for Accessible Treatments, in support of the Patients' Access to Treatments Act of 2013, which will reduce the out-of-pocket expenses for medications, including biologics.
Use of evidence-based meds increasing for STEMI, NSTEMI
(HealthDay)—Evidence-based therapies are increasingly being used to treat patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), according to research published in the Feb. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Breast cancer research needs more focus on environment: report
(HealthDay)—Efforts to prevent breast cancer need to focus more aggressively and coherently on environmental factors.
Newer, shorter-course antibiotic shows similar effectiveness for treating skin infection
Treatment with a newer antibiotic, tedizolid phosphate, once daily for 6 days was statistically noninferior (no worse than) in efficacy to the antibiotic linezolid twice daily for 10 days for both early (at day 2 to 3) and sustained (at day 11) clinical responses in patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, according to a study appearing in the February 13 issue of JAMA.
Gaps in mental health infrastructure for youth identified in many US communities
Mental health facilities that provide outpatient specialty services for youth are a critical element of the mental health care infrastructure, especially for youth who are uninsured or publically insured.
Lower proportion of Medicare patients dying in hospitals
A study published Feb. 6 in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that while more seniors are dying with hospice care than a decade ago, they are increasingly doing so for very few days right after being in intensive care. The story told by the data, said the study's lead author, is that for many seniors palliative care happens only as an afterthought.
African-American, Caucasian women should take identical vitamin D doses
African-American women battling vitamin D deficiencies need the same dose as Caucasian women to treat the condition, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
Birth order linked to increased risk of diabetes, metabolic disorders
–Long a source of sibling rivalry, birth order may raise the risk of first-born children developing diabetes or high blood pressure, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
High hormone levels signal increased likelihood of pregnancy, birth
–Women with a high concentration of anti-Müllerian hormone stand a better chance of giving birth after in vitro fertilization, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
Negative stereotypes about boys hinder their academic achievement
Negative stereotypes about boys may hinder their achievement, while assuring them that girls and boys are equally academic may help them achieve. From a very young age, children think boys are academically inferior to girls, and they believe adults think so, too. Even at these very young ages, boys' performance on an academic task is affected by messages that suggest that girls will do better than they will.
New study examines victims and cyberstalking
(Medical Xpress)—Victims of cyberstalking take more self-protective measures, pay higher out-of-pocket costs to combat the problem and experience greater fear over time than traditional stalking victims, said Matt Nobles of Sam Houston State University.
Alcohol abusers' depression often related to drinking
For problem drinkers, bouts of depressive symptoms are often the direct result of their heavy alcohol intake, according to a study in the March issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
Cardiovascular risk may remain for treated Cushing's disease patients
Even after successful treatment, patients with Cushing's disease who were older when diagnosed or had prolonged exposure to excess cortisol face a greater risk of dying or developing cardiovascular disease, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
Differential parenting found to affect whole family
Parents act differently with different children—for example, being more positive with one child and more negative with another. A new longitudinal study has found that this behavior negatively affects not only the child who receives more negative feedback, but all the children in the family. The study also found that the more risks experienced by parents, the more likely they will treat their children differentially.
Teaching teens that people can change reduces aggression in school
Teenagers from all walks of life who believe people can't change react more aggressively to a peer conflict than those who think people can change. And teaching them that people have the potential to change can reduce these aggressive reactions.
Parents' praise predicts attitudes toward challenge 5 years later
Toddlers whose parents praised their efforts more than they praised them as individuals had a more positive approach to challenges five years later. That's the finding of a new longitudinal study that also found gender differences in the kind of praise that parents offer their children.
Consumers have few negative reactions to the results of genetic testing for cancer mutations
A 23andMe study of consumers' reactions to genetic testing found that even when the tests revealed high-risk mutations in individuals, those individuals had few negative reactions to the news. Instead of inducing serious anxiety, the test results prompted people to take positive steps, including follow-up visits with a doctor and discussions with family members who could also be at risk.
Study shows promise, offers hope for brain hemorrhage patients
A new endoscopic surgical procedure has been shown to be safer and to result in better outcomes than the current standard medical treatment for patients who suffer strokes as a result of brain hemorrhages, UCLA neurosurgeons have announced.
Parents of teen girls more accepting of birth control pills than other contraceptive methods
Parents are more accepting of their teenage daughters using birth control pills than any other form of contraception, including condoms, according to a recent study from UC San Francisco (UCSF).
Scientists revisit biochemical basis for depression
Symptoms of depression and anxiety can be induced in mice by increasing levels of acetylcholine, suggesting that depression may have different biochemical roots than previously believed, Yale School of Medicine researchers report the week of Feb. 11 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Early results show two drugs may be better than one to treat most deadly skin cancer
Adding lung cancer drugs to targeted melanoma treatment could increase survival for certain patients, according to research published in Cancer Discovery today.
Researchers find new clue to clinical trial failures of MMP cancer therapies
Proposed cancer therapeutic drugs based on blocking the catalytic activities of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which profoundly remodel the environment surrounding a breast cell, have performed poorly in clinical trials. In mouse studies of MMP14, an enzyme that is often highly expressed in breast cancer, Berkeley Lab researchers have found a possible clue as to why. If confirmed for other MMPs, the finding could point the way to new strategies for future MMP-based cancer therapies.
Gene is marker only for mild cognitive impairment
Defying the widely held belief that a specific gene is the biggest risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, two Cornell developmental psychologists and their colleagues report that people with that gene are more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment—but not Alzheimer's.
Video tool could help active workers avoid injury
Using just video of workers performing tasks such as assembling a manufactured part or packing boxes, a system developed by University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers might soon be able to automatically assess the likelihood that workers will develop common repetitive-motion injuries.
Technique moves practical Alzheimer diagnosis one step closer to reality
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health are moving closer to a significant milepost in the battle against Alzheimer's disease: identifying the first signs of decline in the brain.
Scientists advance the art of magic with a study of Penn and Teller's 'cups and balls' illusion
Cognitive brain researchers have studied a magic trick filmed in magician duo Penn & Teller's theater in Las Vegas, to illuminate the neuroscience of illusion. Their results advance our understanding of how observers can be misdirected and will aid magicians as they work to improve their art.
Young children may go above and beyond when helping adults
Even very young children understand that adults don't always know best. When it comes to helping, 3-year-olds may ignore an adult's specific request for an unhelpful item and go out of their way to bring something more useful, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.
Fallout from nuclear testing shows that the Achilles tendon can't heal itself
Notorious among athletes and trainers as career killers, Achilles tendon injuries are among the most devastating. Now, by carbon testing tissues exposed to nuclear fallout in post WWII tests, scientists have learned why: Like our teeth and the lenses in our eyes, the Achilles tendon is a tissue that does not repair itself. This discovery was published online in The FASEB Journal.
Scopolamine: An old drug with new psychiatric applications
Scopolamine is an anticholinergic drug with many uses. For example, it prevents nausea, vomiting, and motion sickness.
Clinical trial looks to improve pancreatic cancer survival rates
Researchers at Georgia Regents University Cancer Center are investigating a new avenue of treatment to help boost poor pancreatic cancer survival rates.
Modern growing methods may be culprit of 'coffee rust' fungal outbreak
A shift away from traditional coffee-growing techniques may be increasing the severity of an outbreak of 'coffee rust' fungus that has swept through plantations in Central America and Mexico, according to a University of Michigan ecologist who studies the disease.
Russia parliament votes to ban smoking in public places
Russian lawmakers on Tuesday passed on third and final reading a bill banning smoking in public places, a major pillar of a Kremlin drive to improve health in the nicotine-addicted country.
Can therapy dogs be beneficial for children with autism spectrum disorder?
About 1 in 150 children are affected by an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by difficulty with language, communication, and social interaction. A critical review of several published studies evaluating the potential for therapy or assistance dogs to help children with ASD overcome some of these challenges is published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.
Progressive exercise training may benefit diabetic neuropathy
(HealthDay)—In a rat model of diabetes, exercise is associated with decreased diabetes-associated neuropathic pain, which correlates with increased expression of heat shock protein 72 (Hsp72), according to a study published in the February issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
Brain activity linked to TNF inhibitor response in RA
(HealthDay)—Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who respond to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) show changes in activity in pain-related areas of the brain before clinical signs of improvement are observed, according to a study published in the February issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Obstetric outcomes for women with asthma evaluated
(HealthDay)—Women with asthma have significantly higher odds for nearly all obstetric complications, according to a study published in the February issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Creatinine excretion rate linked to higher mortality in T2DM
(HealthDay)—In patients with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy, a lower creatinine excretion rate (CER) is associated with higher all-cause mortality, according to research published online Jan. 8 in Diabetes Care.
Opioid prescription is on the increase
More and more opioids are being prescribed for pain relief in Germany. This is the conclusion arrived at by Ingrid Schubert, Peter Ihle, and Rainer Sabatowski, whose study of a sample of inhabitants of the state of Hesse with health insurance from a large statutory provider is published in the latest issue of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International.
Helping or hovering? A parent's dilemma
When is it time for parents to back away? A new study shows that college students with overcontrolling parents are more likely to be depressed and less satisfied with their lives. This so-called helicopter parenting style negatively affects students' well-being by violating their need to feel both autonomous and competent. The work, by Holly Schiffrin and colleagues from the University of Mary Washington in the United States, is published online in Springer's Journal of Child and Family Studies.
Identification of abnormal protein may help diagnose, treat ALS and frontotemporal dementia
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are devastating neurodegenerative diseases with no effective treatment. Researchers are beginning to recognize ALS and FTD as part of a spectrum disorder with overlapping symptoms. Now investigators reporting online February 12 in the Cell Press journal Neuron have discovered an abnormal protein that first forms as a result of genetic abnormalities and later builds up in the brains of many patients with either disease.
New study finds neither HFCS nor table sugar increases liver fat under 'real world' conditions
A study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism presented compelling data showing the consumption of both high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and sucrose (table sugar) at levels consistent with average daily consumption do not increase liver fat in humans, a leading cause of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The findings also add to an already well-established body of science that high fructose corn syrup and table sugar are metabolically equivalent.
Problem-solving training helps mothers cope with child's cancer diagnosis, study shows
A multi-site clinical trial including the University of Colorado Cancer Center shows that the benefit of Bright IDEAS problem-solving skills training goes beyond teaching parents to navigate the complex medical, educational, and other systems that accompany a child's diagnosis of cancer – the training also leads to durable reduction in mothers' levels of anxiety and symptoms of posttraumatic stress, and improves overall coping with a child's illness. Results of the study were published online last week in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Molecular master switch for pancreatic cancer identified, potential predictor of treatment outcome
A recently described master regulator protein may explain the development of aberrant cell growth in the pancreas spurred by inflammation
Naltrexone linked to reduction in pain in fibromyalgia
(HealthDay)—Low-dose naltrexone treatment is associated with significant reductions in pain in patients with fibromyalgia, according to a study published in the February issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Most ob-gyns still perform bimanual exam but reasons vary
(HealthDay)—The majority of obstetrician-gynecologists perceive bimanual pelvic examinations as important for adult women of all ages, although the reasons cited for performing the exam vary widely, according to a study published in the February issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Synthetic marijuana use linked to kidney damage
(HealthDay)—Synthetic marijuana products, also known as Spice or K2, are potentially very dangerous for the kidneys, new research suggests.
Do some anti-microbial soaps do more harm than good?
If co-workers and family members are coming down with infections this winter, you may be tempted to turn to an anti-bacterial soap for protection.
Hospitals are easing the cancer battles of young patients
It's been a weekly routine for years at the Jolley household in Independence, Mo. - crushing chemotherapy pills and mixing them with fruit juice so that 6-year-old Trevor, who is under treatment for leukemia, can gulp them down.
Lower autism risk with folic acid supplements in pregnancy
Women who took folic acid supplements in early pregnancy almost halved the risk of having a child with autism. Beginning to take folic acid supplements later in pregnancy did not reduce the risk. This is shown in new findings from the ABC Study and Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study published in the Journal of The American Medical Association (JAMA).
Study examines malaria preventive therapy during pregnancy and outcomes for infants in Africa
Among pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa, intermittent preventive therapy for malaria with 3 or more doses of the drug regimen sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine was associated with a higher birth weight and lower risk of low birth weight than the current standard 2-dose regimen, according to a review and meta-analysis of previous studies published in the February 13 issue of JAMA.
Study examines hospital readmission and mortality rates for Medicare patients
In a study that included data on nearly 3 million hospital admissions for Medicare beneficiaries with heart attack, pneumonia or heart failure, researchers failed to find evidence that a hospital's performance on the measure for 30-day mortality rates was strongly associated with performance on 30-day readmission rates, findings that may lessen concerns that hospitals with lower mortality rates will have higher readmission rates, according to a study appearing in the February 13 issue of JAMA.
Study identifies factors associated with eradication of bacteria linked to gastric cancer
In an analysis of the results of interventions to eradicate the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (a risk factor for gastric cancer) in seven diverse community populations in Latin America, researchers found that geographic site, demographic factors, adherence to initial therapy and infection recurrence may be as important as the choice of antibiotic regimen in H pylori eradication interventions, according to a study appearing in the February 13 issue of JAMA.
Research finds protein that prevents light-induced retinal degeneration
Research led by Minghao Jin, PhD, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Neuroscience at the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans Neuroscience Center of Excellence, has found a protein that protects retinal photoreceptor cells from degeneration caused by light damage. This protein may provide a new therapeutic target for both an inherited retinal degenerative disease and age-related macular degeneration. The paper is published in the February 13, 2013 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.
In some dystonia cases, deep brain therapy benefits may linger after device turned off
Two patients freed from severe to disabling effects of dystonia through deep brain stimulation therapy continued to have symptom relief for months after their devices accidentally were fully or partly turned off, according to a report published online Feb. 11 in the journal Movement Disorders.
Some autism behaviors linked to altered gene
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a genetic mutation that may underlie common behaviors seen in some people with autism, such as difficulty communicating and resistance to change.
Synthetic circuit allows dialing gene expression up or down in human cells
Scientists who built a synthetic gene circuit that allowed for the precise tuning of a gene's expression in yeast have now refined this new research tool to work in human cells, according to research published online in Nature Communications.
Early music lessons boost brain development, researchers find
If you started piano lessons in grade one, or played the recorder in kindergarten, thank your parents and teachers. Those lessons you dreaded – or loved – helped develop your brain. The younger you started music lessons, the stronger the connections in your brain.
Neuroprosthesis gives rats the ability to 'touch' infrared light
Researchers have given rats the ability to "touch" infrared light, normally invisible to them, by fitting them with an infrared detector wired to microscopic electrodes implanted in the part of the mammalian brain that processes tactile information. The achievement represents the first time a brain-machine interface has augmented a sense in adult animals, said Duke University neurobiologist Miguel Nicolelis, who led the research team.
Long memories in brain activity explain streaks in individual behaviour
(Medical Xpress)—Even with a constant task, human performance fluctuates in time-scales from seconds to minutes in a fractal manner. In a recent study a Finnish research group found that the individual variability in the brain dynamics as indexed by the neuronal scaling laws predicted the individual behavioral variability and the conscious detection of very weak sensory stimuli. These data indicate that individual neuronal dynamics underlie the individual variability in human cognition and performance. Results may also have a strong impact in understanding the neuronal mechanism of neuropsychiatric diseases in which behavioral dynamics are abnormal.
Biology news
Anti-whaling group takes battle to top US court
The Sea Shepherd conservation group asked the US Supreme Court on Monday to lift an order forcing it to steer clear of Japan's whalers, who are seeking legal reprisals over harassment at sea.
Autopsy carried out on giant Philippines crocodile
Philippine veterinarians conducted an autopsy on the world's largest saltwater crocodile ever caught, amid concerns it died of mistreatment in a small pen where it was on show for tourists.
Study highlights link between poor welfare and meat quality
A recent scientific study has shown that pre-stun shocks in commercial broiler processing significantly affect carcase and meat quality as well as bird welfare.
African elephant fares better in countries with good education than in countries with newly created nature
Elephants are rare in African countries where poor schooling, a failing economy and widespread corruption are rife. Countries where these factors are well-organised have larger populations of elephants. It would appear that elephants enjoy better protection in African countries boasting a good education system and solid social-economic development than in countries where the wildlife parks have been expanded to accommodate them.
Low-arsenic rice discovered in Bangladesh could have major health benefits
Millions of people worldwide are regularly exposed to arsenic through drinking water and eating rice grown in soil and water containing high amounts of arsenic. Long-term exposure can lead to the development of different types of cancer as well as serious cardiovascular, neurological, and other health problems. Scientists have now identified aromatic rice from Bangladesh that has far lower arsenic concentrations than found in non-aromatic rice. The other important benefit is that it contains higher amounts of selenium and zinc. The discovery is reported in Biomedical Spectroscopy and Imaging.
Zimbabwe faces crayfish crisis in water ecosystem
(AP)—Scientists in Zimbabwe say a fresh water crayfish brought from Australia is breeding out of control in the northern Lake Kariba, devouring the food sources of other fish and putting the nation's entire aquatic ecosystem at risk.
Southwest regional warming likely cause of pinyon pine cone decline, study says
(Phys.org)—Creeping climate change in the Southwest appears to be having a negative effect on pinyon pine reproduction, a finding with implications for wildlife species sharing the same woodland ecosystems, says a University of Colorado Boulder-led study.
Artificial legs boost limbless loggerhead turtle
A sea turtle that lost her front legs to a shark attack was bidding to match "Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius on Tuesday, as she donned the latest in artificial flipper technology in Japan.
New wheat resists stripe rust, bakes well
With the baking industry in mind, Oregon State University has developed a higher-yielding soft white winter wheat that's also resistant to the disease stripe rust.
Research pinpoints region of plant genome where rising CO2 controls flowering time
Henry David Thoreau obsessively recorded the flowering time of plants around Concord, Mass., in the 1850s, while Japanese naturalists took keen note of the flowering time of cherry blossom trees for centuries before that. For hundreds of years, naturalists and scientists have tracked flowering time, because it marks the transition between vegetative and reproductive growth, and it is highly influenced by climate change.
Ice age extinction shaped Australian plant diversity, study finds
Researchers have shown that part of Australia's rich plant diversity was wiped out by the ice ages, proving that extinction, instead of evolution, influences biodiversity.
How to start a termite 'orgy'
There are more than 3,000 species of termites in the world, all living in social colonies with distinct hierarchies. They can be devastating pests, with the ability to destroy entire buildings. But they're also an important component of natural ecosystems, with much to teach us about soil nutrient recycling. Still, neither of these facts is what gets Rebeca Rosengaus, an associate professor of biology in the department of marine and environmental sciences, out of bed in the morning. As she put it, "I'm interested in them because they're neat."
Scientist uncovers the reproductive workings of a harvester ant dynasty
Ants are just about everywhere you look, and yet it's largely unknown how they manage to be so ubiquitous. Scientists have understood the carnal mechanism of ant reproduction, but until now have known little of how successful the daughters of a colony are when they attempt to found new colonies.
Gene breakthrough boosts hopes for sorghum
Agricultural researchers on Tuesday said they had found a gene that boosts the digestibility of sorghum, transforming a humble grain into a potential famine-beater.
Using light to control cell clustering
A new study from engineers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the University of California, Berkeley, pairs light and genetics to give researchers a powerful new tool for manipulating cells. Results of the study, published in the journal Nature Methods, show how blue light can be used as a switch to prompt targeted proteins to accumulate into large clusters.
Song sparrows escalate territorial threats (w/ Video)
Territorial song sparrows use increasingly threatening signals to ward off trespassing rivals. First an early warning that matches the intruder's song, then wing waving – a bird's version of "flipping the bird" – as the dispute heats up, and finally, if all other signals have failed, attack.
Biological connections in microelectronics
Miniaturization of electronic components is reaching a physical limit. While the solution of three dimensional assembly has the advantage of reducing bulk, the manufacture of electrical connections in these new products remains a technological challenge. Biologists and physicists from the CEA, CNRS, Université Joseph Fourier and Inra in Grenoble have developed a system of self-assembled connections using actin filaments for 3D microelectronic structures. Once the actin filaments become conductors, they join the various components of a system together. The results are published in the February 10, 2013 issue of Nature Materials.
Climate change affects the flight period of butterflies in Massachusetts
In a new study, Boston University researchers and collaborators have found that butterflies show signs of being affected by climate change in a way similar to plants and bees, but not birds, in the Northeast United States. The researchers focused on Massachusetts butterfly flight periods, comparing current flight periods with patterns going back more than 100 years using museum collections and the records of dedicated citizen scientists. Their findings indicate that butterflies are flying earlier in warmer years.
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