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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 5, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Fujifilm shows off bendable 'Beat' diaphragm speaker- Does probability come from quantum physics?
- Green tea and red wine extracts interrupt Alzheimer's disease pathway in cells
- A spiral galaxy with a secret
- Newly discovered plant structure may lead to improved biofuel processing
- Fighting fat with fat: Stem cell discovery identifies potential obesity treatment
- Achilles heel: Popular drug-carrying nanoparticles get trapped in bloodstream
- When the cell's two genomes collide
- Evidence that at least one mammal can smell in stereo
- Using single quantum dots to probe nanowires
- New 'retention model' explains enigmatic ribbon at edge of solar system
- Next-gen e-readers: Improved 'peacock' technology could lock in color for high-res displays
- Light-emitting triangles may have applications in optical technology
- Giving transplanted cells a nanotech checkup
- Plants cut the mustard for basic discoveries in metabolism
Space & Earth news
Intense rain in the Ebro basin is becoming more and more uncommon
Researchers from CSIC's Aula Dei Experimental Station in Zaragoza, Spain have confirmed that the frequency of intense rainfall has been decreasing in the Ebro basin since 1955.
Crumbling bores 'jeopardise nation's water'
Fifteen thousand collapsing bores – and a half-billion dollar repair bill – are endangering the future of Australia's largest and most precious resource, its groundwater.
Survey reveals fault lines in views on climate change
Climate change is a hotly debated issue among many scientists, but a new study published by a University of Alberta researcher notes that geoscientists and engineers also become embroiled in the issue—and for some, it can get surprisingly personal.
Paper giant APP promises no Indonesia deforestation
The world's third-largest paper producer Asia Pulp and Paper said Tuesday it had stopped using logs from Indonesia's natural forests, after fierce campaigning by green groups against the company.
Colombia probes Drummond over alleged coal dump
Colombian authorities are investigating US mining company Drummond over allegedly dumping coal into the Caribbean, officials said Tuesday.
Blowing hot and cold: US belief in climate change shifts with weather
A University of British Columbia study of American attitudes toward climate change finds that local weather – temperature, in particular – is a major influence on public and media opinions on the reality of global warming.
Furry crabs may be healing Great Barrier Reef
Furry crabs once thought to be damaging the Great Barrier Reef may in fact be helping save the coral by stopping the spread of disease, a researcher said.
Cleaning 'produced water' from natural gas wells, potential for improved desalination plants for developing countries
Increased natural gas production is seen as a crucial step away from the greenhouse gas emissions of coal plants and toward U.S. energy independence. But natural gas wells have problems: Large volumes of deep water, often heavily laden with salts and minerals, flow out along with the gas. That so-called "produced water" must be disposed of, or cleaned.
Understanding the Earth's climate prior to the industrial era
Tree-rings, ice-cores, and speleothems are all used to reconstruct climate of the past millennia. But are these records reliable? Researchers of the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, the University of Bern's Oeschger Center, and the University of Mainz have found out that yearly temperature and precipitation variation and extremes have previously been underestimated in comparison to longer-term climatic trends. These findings were just published in an early release issue from the renowned journal Nature Climate Change.
Curiosity hammers into Mars rock in historic feat
A robot from Earth has successfully drilled into a Martian rock for the first time ever and exposed pristine alien material for high powered science analysis.
Finding the key to immunity, ESA way
Living in space weakens astronauts' immune systems, researchers have discovered. The findings are providing clues on how to tackle diseases on Earth before symptoms appear.
2012: The Webb telescope's big year of progress
The James Webb Space Telescope marked another year of significant progress in 2012 as flight instrumentation was completed and delivered to NASA.
Super-TIGER balloon breaks records while collecting data
(Phys.org)—A large NASA science balloon has broken two flight duration records while flying over Antarctica carrying an instrument that detected 50 million cosmic rays.
Biofuels may damage health, researchers find
Concern is growing about finding alternatives to fossil fuels, but the negative impact of one of these—biofuels—may be greater than we first thought, say scientists.
Researchers use attenuation between cell towers to measure rainfall
(Phys.org)—Researchers in the Netherlands have devised a means to use the attenuation that results with radio signals when rain falls between cellular towers, to measure the amount of rain that falls in an area. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes how they were able to use cell phone tower data to create an accurate map of rainfall across the Netherlands twice over 12 day periods in 2011.
Research group suggests Chicxulub crater may have been caused by binary asteroids
(Phys.org)—A team of researchers from the U.K. and Australia has published a paper in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters, suggesting that the crater Chicxulub, off the coast of Mexico, may have come about due to the impact of binary asteroids (those that travel in pairs), rather than just a single one. The crater is thought by many scientists to be evidence of an asteroid strike that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Cassini sees Titan cooking up smog
(Phys.org)—A paper published this week using data from NASA's Cassini mission describes in more detail than ever before how aerosols in the highest part of the atmosphere are kick-started at Saturn's moon Titan. Scientists want to understand aerosol formation at Titan because it could help predict the behavior of smoggy aerosol layers on Earth.
First evidence discovered that water once dissolved the surface of Mars
(Phys.org)—Scientists at the University of Glasgow together with the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre and the Natural History Museum (London) have discovered the first evidence of water dissolving the surface of Mars.
Global worming: Earthworms add to climate change
(Phys.org)—Earthworms are long revered for their beneficial role in soil fertility, but with the good comes the bad: they also increase greenhouse gas emissions from soils, according to a study published Feb. 3 in Nature Climate Change by a research team that includes a University of California, Davis, soil scientist.
New 'retention model' explains enigmatic ribbon at edge of solar system
(Phys.org)—The vast edges of our solar system—the boundary at the edge of our heliosphere where material streaming out from the sun interacts with the galactic material—is essentially invisible. It emits no light and no conventional telescope can see it. However, particles from inside the solar system bounce off this boundary and neutral atoms from that collision stream inward. Those particles can be observed by instruments on NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX). Since those atoms act as fingerprints for the boundary from which they came, IBEX can map that boundary in a way never before done. In 2009, IBEX saw something in that map that no one could explain: a vast ribbon dancing across this boundary that produced many more energetic neutral atoms than the surrounding areas.
A spiral galaxy with a secret
(Phys.org)—The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope – with a little help from an amateur astronomer – has produced one of the best views yet of nearby spiral galaxy Messier 106. Located a little over 20 million light-years away, practically a neighbour by cosmic standards, Messier 106 is one of the brightest and nearest spiral galaxies to our own.
Antarctic ice core contains unrivaled detail of past climate
A team of U.S. ice-coring scientists and engineers in Antarctica, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), have recovered from the ice sheet a record of past climate and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that extends back 68,000 years.
Research station on skis withstands Antarctic ice and snow
(Phys.org)—The world's first completely transportable research station officially opened in Antarctica on February 5. The Halley VI Antarctic Research Station, designed by Hugh Broughton Architects, utilizes a modular design that incorporates hydraulic legs fitted with skis. This design allows Halley VI to survive in conditions that have destroyed its five predecessors.
WISE feels the heat from Orion's sword
(Phys.org)—The tangle of clouds and stars that lie in Orion's sword is showcased in a new, expansive view from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE.
Comet debuting in new Deep Impact movie expected to star this winter
(Phys.org)—The newly discovered comet ISON, which late this year could give sky watchers one of the brightest shows ever, shines in a new movie made by a University of Maryland-led team of scientists. The team recently began tracking and studying the comet with NASA's historic Deep Impact spacecraft.
Technology news
Kim Jong-Un and the mystery smartphone
A picture of North Korea's Kim Jong-Un with a smartphone has triggered fevered speculation about which brand is favoured by the leader of one of the world's most repressive nations.
NBCUniversal gathers cable channels under one exec
(AP)—NBCUniversal has united its cable channels under the command of long-time executive Bonnie Hammer, leaving Lauren Zalaznick, who previously controlled Bravo, Oxygen, Style and Sprout, to focus on innovation and emerging technology initiatives.
Rising gas prices may make public transportation more attractive
Rising gas prices over the coming decade may make public transportation significantly more attractive to Hoosiers, say three new reports from Ball State University.
Pioneering videogame firm Atari gets lifeline
Atari, the pioneering video game company mired in bankruptcy proceedings in both France and the US, said on Tuesday it had found a last minute buyer after the latest leading shareholder gave up on turning the company around.
New waterjets could propel LCS to greater speeds
The Navy's fifth Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), Milwaukee, will be the first to benefit from new high-power density waterjets aimed at staving off rudder and propeller damage experienced on high-speed ships.
Search engine Baidu says profit up 36 percent
Baidu Inc., which operates China's most popular search engine, said Tuesday its quarterly profit rose 36 percent as an economic rebound helped to boost advertising spending.
New keyboard BlackBerry in US could take months (Update 3)
A modern BlackBerry with a physical keyboard might not arrive in the U.S. until May or June, a month or two behind other parts of the world, the chief executive of the smartphone maker suggested in an interview.
Jawbone adds muscle for fitness push
UP fitness wristband maker Jawbone on Monday announced the acquisition of a pair of young mobile app firms that add muscle to its push make smartphone lifestyles healthier.
Dell near $23 bn mega-deal to take company private, report says
Dell is near sealing a $23-billion-dollar megadeal to take private the cash-rich but struggling computer giant as its retools for the post-PC era, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
KPN posts fourth quarter loss; to issue new shares
Royal KPN NV, the largest telecommunications company in the Netherlands, said Tuesday it plans to issue €4 billion ($5.4 billion) in new shares to regain financial stability after a bad year that finished with the company posting a fourth quarter loss of €162 million.
Microsoft, Huawei eye smartphone push into Africa
Microsoft announced on Tuesday it had teamed up with Chinese manufacturer Huawei to launch an affordable smartphone across Africa.
Lighting experts push for LED quality standard
(Phys.org)—It is not enough to be energy efficient; LED lighting also must be consistently high quality and reliable to win over consumers.
Hydro beats nuclear and coal, beats oil and gas
Researchers in Italy and the UK have reviewed the economic, social and environmental impact of hydro, coal, oil, gas and nuclear power. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, but of these conventional electricity generation technologies, hydroelectric power appears to be the most sustainable and acceptable environmentally and economically. Nuclear and coal run a close second place but oil or gas-fired power stations are revealed to be the worst choice when considering the various factors overall.
Solar thermal energy cost expected to halve: CSIRO
Solar thermal energy will halve in cost by 2020, the new director of the CSIRO's Australian Solar Thermal Research Initiative said today.
Cargo container research to improve buildings' ability to withstand tsunamis
Anyone who has seen the movie "Impossible" or watched footage from the Japanese tsunami has learned the terror that can strike with little warning. In those cases, when there is no time to flee, there may still be time to reach higher ground, called vertical evacuation.
Mitsubishi recalls electric cars for brake problem
Mitsubishi is recalling 14,700 of its i-MiEV (EYE-meev) electric cars worldwide because a brake pump can fail.
Researchers developing faster video streaming
In the smartphones and tablet era, more and more users are watching videos on the move—with a resulting strain on mobile networks. The combination of the HEVC video compression standard with LTE brings networks welcome relief.
Pew: Most Facebook users take a break (Update)
Too much drama, boredom and scads of irrelevant information are just some of the reasons Facebook users give for taking a break from the world's biggest social networking site for weeks at a time, according to a new study.
Global ecommerce sales topped $1 tn in 2012
Global Internet retail sales topped $1 trillion for the first time in 2012 with the United States holding the top spot but China rising fast, a market research firm said Tuesday.
Nine Facebook features we want
Although it feels like it's been around forever, Facebook turned 9 years old Monday.
Researchers pushing boundaries of virtual reality
UT Dallas researchers are extending the borders of virtual reality, going beyond virtual spaces in which people can see and hear each other to an environment that adds the sense of touch.
Amazon virtual coin entices Kindle Fire app makers
Amazon unveiled a virtual currency Tuesday to enhance the potential for developers to make real money in games and other "apps" tailored for Kindle Fire tablet computers.
Instagram website frames users' pictures
Facebook-owned Instagram on Tuesday began letting a freshly launched website serve as a gallery for images taken by users of the smartphone photo-sharing service.
Zynga shares climb as game maker cuts losses
Zynga, the struggling social games pioneer, showed signs it is getting a grip on spending with an earnings report Tuesday revealing narrowing losses, which sparked an after-hours rally in shares.
Dell's founder strikes deal to turn it around (Update)
It's easy to forget now, but Michael Dell was the Mark Zuckerberg of his day.
NREL connects EVs and grid integration
Engineers working at the Vehicle Testing and Integration Facility (VTIF) enjoy a stunning view of the Denver skyline. However, some days the view includes Denver's 'brown cloud'—air pollution caused in part by vehicle emissions. While disheartening, the brown cloud helps the engineers focus on future technologies that will drastically reduce—and ultimately eliminate—those emissions.
US Energy Department was hacking victim
The US Department of Energy on Monday confirmed it was the target of a cyber attack in January, which stole employee and contractor data, but said no classified data was compromised.
Kaspersky warns phone users of PC-infecting malware
(Phys.org)—Kaspersky Lab has a new warning for smartphone and tablet users. Yes, it's all about Android. No, it's not like anything you've been warned about before. Lab Expert Victor Chebyshev has discovered a new attack vector in the form of nasty apps (DroidCleaner and Superclean) posing as system cleaners for freeing up memory, and boosting performance by cleaning out old data. The apps are malware. The Superclean and DroidCleaner are the apps that transfer malware. Instead of just infecting the phone they are designed to move across, infecting both the smartphone and PC.
Solar reactor can produce solar hydrogen, but how much?
(Phys.org)—Last spring University of Delaware doctoral candidate Erik Koepf and research associate Michael Giuliano spent two months in Switzerland testing a novel solar reactor Koepf developed to produce hydrogen from sunlight.
Dell to go private in $24.4B deal led by founder (Update 3)
Slumping personal computer maker Dell is bowing out of the stock market in a $24.4 billion buyout that represents the largest deal of its kind since the Great Recession dried up the financing for such risky maneuvers.
UK: Surveillance devices to monitor Web traffic (Update)
The U.K. plans to install an unspecified number of spy devices along the country's telecommunications network to monitor Britons' use of overseas services such as Facebook and Twitter, according to a report published Tuesday by Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee.
Fujifilm shows off bendable 'Beat' diaphragm speaker
(Phys.org)—Japanese film maker Fujifilm has unveiled a new kind of bendable speaker at this year's Nanotech 2013 tradeshow, currently running in Tokyo. It's based on a thin bendable diaphragm the company calls "Beat."
Medicine & Health news
Electronic nicotine delivery systems could help reduce smoking
Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), or e-cigarettes, debuted in China in 2003 and have since become available globally, particularly through the Internet. While they resemble traditional tobacco cigarettes, they produce fewer toxins in the vapor for the smoker. Still, these novel products have unknown long-term health and addiction consequences, are of varying nicotine content and delivery, and may appeal to nonusers and youth. ENDS have been banned by health authorities in Canada and Australia.
Benefits of CT outweigh cancer risks in young adults
The underlying medical conditions facing young adults who undergo computed tomography (CT) exams represent a significantly greater health risk than that of radiation-induced cancer from CT, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.
Chinese clinic suspected of infecting 95 patients
(AP)—Chinese state media say 95 people have been hospitalized after a private clinic gave them injections suspected to be contaminated with hepatitis C.
Drinking milk can prevent garlic breath, study finds
If you're planning a romantic Italian dinner this Valentine's Day, you may want to consider drinking a glass of milk along with your meal.
New approaches to combating rheumatic fever in children
Leading international researchers and doctors are meeting at the University of Otago, Wellington this week to identify new approaches to reducing the very high levels of rheumatic fever in New Zealand and Australia.
Alternative hip replacement technique results in faster recovery
(Medical Xpress)—University of California, San Diego Health System is one of only a few hospitals in the nation to offer computer-assisted navigation technology with the direct anterior hip replacement technique, potentially resulting in less pain, faster recovery and fewer dislocations for patients with osteoarthritis and other forms of degenerative joint disease.
Nonsurgical treatment of osteoarthritis discussed
Osteoarthritis is a progressive joint disease that affects approximately one third of individuals age 65 and older. The disorder causes gradual loss of joint cartilage and bony degeneration while simultaneously creating new bone formation, or bone spurs. The end result of this cascade is joint stiffness, loss of motion and pain. In addition, some individuals also experience irritation of the joint lining, synovitis, which causes painful accumulation of excess joint fluid.
Health: From national duty to private matter
Today health is a matter of living a risk-conscious lifestyle and being in control of one's body and life. Yet 100 years ago, health was not a private matter but rather a national duty. This is found in a new doctoral thesis in religious studies from the University of Gothenburg.
Cancer in African Americans: Gap closing for some sites, widening for others
The cancer death rate for men declined faster among African Americans than among whites in the latest time period, narrowing the racial disparity in overall cancer death rates, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society. But while gaps are closing for some cancers, such as lung and other smoking-related cancers and for prostate cancer, the racial disparity has widened for colorectal cancer and female breast cancer, cancers that are most affected by screening and treatment. The findings are published in Cancer Statistics for African Americans, 2013 which appears in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. The report and its consumer version, Cancer Facts & Figures for African Americans 2013-2014, provide current data on cancer incidence, mortality, survival, screening test use, and risk factors for African Americans.
Kaiser Permanente's anti-obesity interventions in schools show signs of success
Community-based efforts to change the environment are proving to be an effective way of encouraging more physical activity and nutrition among school-age children, according to findings announced today from Kaiser Permanente. Researchers examined a series of Kaiser Permanente community-based obesity prevention interventions in adults and children and found that the more effective obesity prevention interventions were those that were "high dose" – reaching large populations with greater strength – and those that focused specifically on changing child behaviors within the school environment.
Mass. shuts 11 pharmacies following inspections (Update)
(AP)—Massachusetts officials have ordered 11 pharmacies to completely or partially shut down after a series of inspections prompted by a deadly fungal meningitis outbreak.
American Indians are at much greater risk of suicide following acute alcohol intoxication
In 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide ranked as the 10th leading overall cause of death in the United States. Prior research has also shown that alcohol use disorders confer increased risk for suicide, and are second only to mood disorders as common among individuals who have committed suicide. A study of the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of suicide involving acute alcohol intoxication among U.S. ethnic minorities has found that American Indians are at much greater risk than other groups.
Report: Family and medical leave law working
(AP)—The Labor Department says just 16 percent of eligible workers took time off last year under the Family and Medical Leave Act to recover from an illness, care for a new child or tend to a sick relative.
Extra-couple HIV transmission a major driver of Africa's HIV epidemic
New research suggests that heterosexual couples in long-term relationships who have sexual encounters outside their established partnership (extra-couple relationships) are one of the main drivers of the HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa.
Sunlight may help ward off rheumatoid arthritis in women
Regular exposure to sunlight—specifically ultraviolet B (UVB)—may reduce the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, indicates a large long term study published online in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Around 1 in 10 young mentally ill teens drinks, smokes, and uses cannabis
Around one in 10 young teens with mental health issues also drinks alcohol, smokes cigarettes, and uses cannabis on a weekly basis, indicates Australian research published in the online only fully journal BMJ Open.
Mutations in ASXL3 cause problems similar to Bohring-Opitz syndrome
Mutations which affect the gene ASXL3 cause a novel syndrome similar to Bohring-Opitz syndrome, finds a study published in BioMed Central's open access journal Genome Medicine. This molecular definition distinguishes these children from those with Bohring-Opitz, and other similar syndromes, and highlights a technique able to help define rare diseases.
Wearable cameras provide new insight into lifestyle behaviors and health
Understanding the relationships between lifestyle behaviors and health outcomes can be enhanced by the use of wearable cameras, concludes a collection of studies in a special theme issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Three studies report on the latest preventive medicine research using Microsoft's wearable camera, the SenseCam.
Third world is swamped with fake TB drugs, study finds
Africa, India and other developing countries are awash in fake or sub-standard drugs for tuberculosis, fuelling the rise of treatment-resistant strains of TB, according to a survey published on Tuesday.
War veterans say meditation could solve PTSD
US war veterans on Monday suggested meditation to help heal the post-war mental disturbances that afflict a growing number of American soldiers, including possibly the ex-Marine who gunned down the country's most famous sniper over the weekend.
Many students diet, few seek treatment for eating disorders
(Medical Xpress)—A University of Michigan campus survey on attitudes and behaviors around eating found that students diet regularly, dislike their bodies, fear gaining weight and seldom seek help for eating disorders.
Study finds missed opportunities for underage alcohol screening
Physicians often fail to ask high school-aged patients about alcohol use and to advise young people to reduce or stop drinking, according to a study led by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health.
Expert says sport and food connection too strong to ignore
Spectator sports and food—often high-calorie or low-nutrition—have long gone hand-in-hand, yet FDA regulations geared toward calorie transparency at restaurant chains ignore this relationship. Popular fast-food restaurants soon will be required to post calorie counts, but concession stands at major sports facilities and many sports bars will not.
Public health researcher connects rise in obesity to generational 'knowledge gap'
A growing generational disconnect between adults and children is putting thousands of years of cultural tradition and culinary knowledge in southern Arizona in jeopardy, according to a recent study by a researcher in the University of Georgia College of Public Health. The impact of this "knowledge gap" could help to explain the rise of childhood obesity, Type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease in Native American and Mexican-American populations in Arizona.
I will if you will: What motivates spouses to get fit, manage illness
(Medical Xpress)—Before spouses take their first step toward fitness, their partner's interest or willingness to participate can sway them, says a Purdue University family studies expert.
Two minds can be better than one: Thought-controlled virtual spacecraft
Scientists at the University of Essex have been working with NASA on a project where they controlled a virtual spacecraft by thought alone.
Researchers find exposure to pesticides in food, air and water increases risk of type 2 diabetes
A study conducted at the University of Granada has revealed that there is a direct relationship between exposure to pesticides (Persistent Organic Pollutants, CPOs) in food, air and water and prevalence of type 2 diabetes in adults, regardless of age, gender and body mass index. These substances tend to concentrate in body fat, and they might be one of the reasons why obese people are more likely to develop diabetes, since the more fat the higher the COP concentrations in the body.
A step towards better understanding of pancreatic cancer
(Medical Xpress)—An international team of scientists has observed that the well-studied protein Sirtuin-1, known for helping cells live longer, also appears to play an important role in pancreatic cancer.
Olive oil component alleviates intestinal ischemia and reperfusion
Here's another reason why you should include olive oil in your diet: A new research report published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology suggests that at least one compound in olive oil significantly reduces intestinal ischemia (restricted blood supply) and the resulting reperfusion injury (tissue damage caused when blood supply returns). The compound, called "oleuropein aglycone," is the most prominent polyphenol found in olive oil and could become a novel therapeutic target aimed at treating intestinal ischemia and reperfusion injury in humans. Ultimately, this research could lead to therapeutic benefits for patients with spinal cord injuries, arthritis and pleurisy, as well as those suffering from intestinal ischemia/reperfusion.
Mini stroke symptoms quickly fade, but patients remain at risk
Each year, as many as 500,000 Americans experience mini strokes called transient ischemic attacks (TIAs).
Zebrafish reveals central regulator for development of brain histamine system
Research has shown that mutations in the psen1 gene are common in the familial forms of Alzheimer's disease, and the Presenilin-1 protein that the gene encodes is known to be involved in the cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein. In Alzheimer's disease the amyloid precursor protein is not cleaved the normal way, and the protein accumulates in the brain damaging neuronal tracts and neurons. It is still unknown if the psen1 gene is involved in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease via another mechanism.
Chest pain prior to a heart attack can protect the heart
Patients who experience chest pain in the 24 hours preceding a heart attack, also called preinfarction angina, have smaller heart attacks and improved cardiac function in the contemporary cardiac stenting era, researchers found in a study published Jan. 22 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions.
Researchers spot attention deficits in babies who later develop autism
Researchers at Yale School of Medicine are able to detect deficits in social attention in infants as young as six months of age who later develop Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Published in the current issue of Biological Psychiatry, the results showed that these infants paid less attention to people and their activities than typically developing babies.
RNA promotes metastasis in lung cancer
The vast majority – approximately 80 percent – of our DNA does not code for proteins, yet it gets transcribed into RNA. These RNA molecules are called non-coding and fulfill multiple tasks in the cell. Alongside a well-studied group of small RNAs, there is also a class of so-called long non-coding RNAs consisting of more than 200 nucleotides.
MicroRNA molecule may serve as biomarker, target for brain metastases in breast cancer patients
Researchers have identified two molecules that could potentially serve as biomarkers in predicting brain metastases in patients with breast cancer, according to data published in Cancer Research, a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Mammogram every two years has same benefit as yearly mammogram for older women, study finds
Among older women, getting a mammogram every two years was just as beneficial as getting a mammogram annually, and led to significantly fewer false positive results, according to a study led by UC San Francisco.
Self-rated low physical capacity tied to low back pain
(HealthDay)—Women health care workers who rate their physical capacity as low are significantly more likely to develop non-chronic and persistent low back pain (LBP) compared with those who assess their physical capacity as high, according to research published in the Feb. 1 issue of Spine.
Breast CA diagnostic errors major cause of malpractice suits
(HealthDay)—The most common reason for medical malpractice suits against radiologists in the United States is diagnostic errors, particularly breast cancer and non-vertebral and spinal fractures, according to research published in the February issue of Radiology.
Higher midlife fitness linked to lower all-cause dementia risk
(HealthDay)—Individuals with higher midlife cardiorespiratory fitness levels are significantly less likely to develop all-cause dementia later in life, according to research published in the Feb. 5 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Single-question low back pain severity assessment accurate
(HealthDay)—Patient-reported chronic low-back pain (CLBP) severity, based on answering a single question, provides an accurate indicator of patient-reported health status, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques.
21 minutes to marital satisfaction: Study shows how minimal intervention can preserve marital quality over time
Marital satisfaction—so critical to health and happiness – generally declines over time. A brief writing intervention that helps spouses adopt a more objective outlook on marital conflict could be the answer.
Samoan obesity epidemic starts at birth
As some Pacific island cultures have "westernized" over the last several decades, among the changes has been a dramatic increase in obesity. Researchers don't understand all the reasons why, but even a decade ago in American Samoa 59 percent of men and 71 percent of women were obese. A new Brown University study finds that the Samoan epidemic of obesity may start with rapid weight gain in early infancy.
Record number of children covered by health insurance in 2011
A record number of U.S. children were covered by health insurance in 2011, mostly due to substantial increases in the enrollment rates of public insurance, according to new research from the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire.
Old age offers no protection from obesity's death grip
Obesity kills, giving rise to a host of fatal diseases. This much is well known. But when it comes to seniors, a slew of prominent research has reported an "obesity paradox" that says, at age 65 and older, having an elevated BMI won't shorten your lifespan, and may even extend it. A new study takes another look at the numbers, finding the earlier research flawed. The paradox was a mirage: As obese Americans grow older, in fact, their risk of death climbs.
Some omega-3 oils better than others for protection against liver disease
(Medical Xpress)—Research at Oregon State University has found that one particular omega-3 fatty acid has a powerful effect in preventing liver inflammation and fibrosis – common problems that are steadily rising along with the number of Americans who are overweight.
Vitamin D, omega-3 may help clear amyloid plaques found in Alzheimer's
A team of academic researchers has pinpointed how vitamin D3 and omega-3 fatty acids may enhance the immune system's ability to clear the brain of amyloid plaques, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease.
Diabetes drug may offer 'modest' weight loss for very obese teens
(HealthDay)—The drug Byetta, approved for adults with type 2 diabetes, appears to help severely obese teens lose some weight, a small study found.
Health-plan, employer-based programs studied for diabetes
(HealthDay)—Health plan-initiated, employer-based wellness programs are being implemented to test new approaches to help reduce diabetes risk and, more broadly, to prevent chronic illness, according to research published online Jan. 31 in Preventing Chronic Disease.
Guidelines updated for young CA survivors' fertility follow-up
(HealthDay)—Current recommendations for the assessment and management of female reproductive complications following treatment of cancers in childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood have been updated, according to a review published online Feb. 4 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Pre-op physiatry consultation reduces spinal surgery rates
(HealthDay)—Requiring patients interested in spinal surgery to first see a rehabilitation physician reduces the number of spinal surgeries, reduces costs, and leaves patients largely satisfied, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of Spine.
Alternative PSA screening strategies could reduce harm
(HealthDay)—Compared with standard screening, alternative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening strategies could maintain good prostate cancer detection rates while reducing overdiagnoses and unnecessary biopsies, according to research published in the Feb. 5 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Smoking rates much higher among the mentally ill
(HealthDay)—The smoking rate for American adults with mental illness is 70 percent higher than for those without such problems, U.S. health officials reported Tuesday.
Children of battered parents more likely to have ADHD
(HealthDay)—Children of parents reporting intimate partner violence (IPV) and depressive symptoms within the first three years of a child's life are significantly more likely to have a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, according to a study published online Feb. 4 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Study: Ritalin treats apathy in patients with Alzheimer's disease
Leslye Nathe did not realize the profound effect that Ritalin was having on her mother's Alzheimer's disease until a doctor stopped the prescription.
Are deaf and hard-of-hearing physicians getting the support they need?
Deaf and hard of hearing (DHoH) people must overcome significant professional barriers, particularly in health care professions. A number of accommodations are available for hearing-impaired physicians, such as electronic stethoscopes and closed-captioning technologies, but are these approaches making a difference?
Study finds potential to match tumors with known cancer drugs
When it comes to gene sequencing and personalized medicine for cancer, spotting an aberrant kinase is a home run. The proteins are relatively easy to target with drugs and plenty of kinase inhibitors already exist.
New modeling approach transforms imaging technologies
Researchers are improving the performance of technologies ranging from medical CT scanners to digital cameras using a system of models to extract specific information from huge collections of data and then reconstructing images like a jigsaw puzzle.
Scientists debate CDC recommendations during meningitis outbreak
A pair of commentaries to appear in an upcoming issue of the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy highlight a debate within the public health community surrounding Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for treatment of exposed individuals during last year's fungal meningitis outbreak. Manuscripts of the commentaries were published ahead of print today on the journal's webpage.
Corticosteroid injection, physiotherapy do not provide significant improvement for 'tennis elbow'
Among patients with chronic unilateral lateral epicondylalgia ("tennis elbow"), a single injection of corticosteroid medication was associated with poorer outcomes after one year and higher recurrence rates compared with placebo, while eight weeks of physiotherapy did not significantly improve long-term outcomes, according to a study appearing in the February 6 issue of JAMA.
Use of ACE inhibitor by patients with peripheral artery disease may improve pain-free walking
Among patients with peripheral artery disease and intermittent claudication (pain in the calf that comes and goes, typically felt while walking), 24 weeks of treatment with the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor ramipril was associated with improvement in pain-free and maximum walking times and the physical health aspect of quality of life, according to a study appearing in the February 6 issue of JAMA.
'Alcohol and diet drinks' may increase intoxication more than 'alcohol and regular drinks'
An individual's breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) following alcohol intake is influenced by several factors, including food. While it is known that food delays the stomach emptying, thus reducing BrAC, only recently has the role of nonalcoholic drink mixers used with alcohol been explored as a factor influencing BrAC. A new comparison of BrACs of alcohol consumed with an artificial sweetener versus alcohol consumed with a sugared beverage has found that mixing alcohol with a diet soft drink can result in a higher BrAC.
Childhood emotional abuse dramatically strong among male alcohol-dependent individuals
Individuals who drink excessively or are alcohol dependent (AD) have reduced central serotonergic neurotransmission, which can have an impact on planning, judgment, self-control, and emotional regulation. Childhood maltreatment has also been found to have a negative impact on central serotonergic neurotransmission. A new evaluation of the impact of childhood maltreatment on central serotonergic dysfunction in AD individuals has found that self-reported childhood emotional abuse is associated with a 90-percent reduction in central serotonergic neurotransmission in male AD individuals.
Both heavy and incompatible drinking can increase the chances of divorce
High levels of drinking have repeatedly been shown to predict divorce. The most cited explanation for this is that excessive alcohol use disrupts daily tasks and functioning, and increases spousal conflicts. A study of the effects of drinking among husbands versus wives, and of similar versus dissimilar drinking in couples, has found that both level of drinking and compatibility in drinking can have an influence on divorce.
Steroids help reverse rapid bone loss tied to rib fractures
New research in animals triggered by a combination of serendipity and counterintuitive thinking could point the way to treating fractures caused by rapid bone loss in people, including patients with metastatic cancers.
Obesity leads to vitamin D deficiency
Obesity can lead to a lack of vitamin D circulating in the body, according to a study led by the UCL Institute of Child Health (ICH). Efforts to tackle obesity should thus also help to reduce levels of vitamin D deficiency in the population, says the lead investigator of the study, Dr Elina Hypponen.
Reflex control could improve walking after incomplete spinal injuries
A training regimen to adjust the body's motor reflexes may help improve mobility for some people with incomplete spinal cord injuries, according to a study supported by the National Institutes of Health.
Study raises questions about dietary fats and heart disease guidance
Dietary advice about fats and the risk of heart disease is called into question in BMJ today as a clinical trial shows that replacing saturated animal fats with omega-6 polyunsaturated vegetable fats is linked to an increased risk of death among patients with heart disease.
Bionic eye gives hope to the blind
After years of research, the first bionic eye has seen the light of day in the United States, giving hope to the blind around the world.
Messi agility is all in the mind, scientists report
Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi may owe his trademark feints and body swerves to the fact his brain is busier than that of a less gifted player, according to a study into footballers' minds.
Response and recovery in the brain may predict well-being
(Medical Xpress)—It has long been known that the part of the brain called the amygdala is responsible for recognition of a threat and knowing whether to fight or flee from the danger.
Sleeping sickness by stealth
(Medical Xpress)—Stealth is a well-known concept in military tactics. Almost since the invention of radar, the hunt began for counter-technologies to hide aircraft and missiles from detection – most successfully by modifying the composition and shape of surfaces to confound detection. In a biological parallel, the African sleeping sickness parasite Trypanosoma brucei also has a stealth-like trick for altering its surface to confound recognition by the human immune system.
Human memory study adds to global debate
(Medical Xpress)—An international study involving researchers from the University of Adelaide has made a major contribution to the ongoing scientific debate about how processes in the human brain support memory and recognition.
Researchers use new molecular inhibitors to successfully hit difficult cancer target
Early laboratory tests are the first to successfully use an experimental molecular therapy to block a hard-to-target part of a protein complex linked to several types of invasive cancer.
Stroke damage in mice overcome by training that 'rewires' brain centers
Johns Hopkins researchers have found that mice can recover from physically debilitating strokes that damage the primary motor cortex, the region of the brain that controls most movement in the body, if the rodents are quickly subjected to physical conditioning that rapidly "rewires" a different part of the brain to take over lost function.
Fighting fat with fat: Stem cell discovery identifies potential obesity treatment
Ottawa scientists have discovered a trigger that turns muscle stem cells into brown fat, a form of good fat that could play a critical role in the fight against obesity. The findings from Dr. Michael Rudnicki's lab, based at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, were published today in the prestigious journal Cell Metabolism.
Green tea and red wine extracts interrupt Alzheimer's disease pathway in cells
Natural chemicals found in green tea and red wine may disrupt a key step of the Alzheimer's disease pathway, according to new research from the University of Leeds.
Biology news
Researchers learn from nature
A research team of scientists from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory of Grenoble and the Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC) in Strasbourg have now, for the first time, succeeded in describing in molecular detail the architecture of the central scaffold of human TFIID, the protein complex essential for transcription from DNA to mRNA. The Human TFIID is a megadalton-sized multiprotein complex composed of TATA-box-binding protein (TBP) and 13 TBP-associated factors (TAFs). Despite its crucial role, the detailed architecture and assembly mechanism of TFIID remain elusive.
Caring for dogs to reduce spread of parasite eggs harmful to humans
The UK dog population is estimated to be around ten million, with dogs producing approximately 1,000 tonnes of excrement each day. New research has shown that dogs act as a major source of the parasite egg, Toxocara, which can potentially contaminate the public environment and infect humans.
Nepal launches census of Royal Bengal tiger
Hundreds of conservationists have begun a major survey of the number of endangered Royal Bengal tigers living in a vast forest region bordering Nepal and India, officials said Tuesday.
Stewie the world's longest cat dies in Nevada
(AP)—Stewie the Cat, the longest domestic cat in the world at more than 4 feet (1.2 meters) long from nose to tail, has died.
Birds may need a hand to weather climate change
A new study led by Durham University and BirdLife International, shows that many bird species are likely to suffer under future climate change, and will require enhanced protection of important sites, better management of the wider countryside, and in some of the most extreme cases may need to be physically moved to climatically suitable areas to help them survive.
Cormorants cannot capture the benefits of global warming
(Phys.org)—Even though cormorants seem ideally placed to benefit from global warming, by expanding their breeding range into the far north, the darkness of the polar night is likely to keep them firmly in their place, according to research published this week by scientists at the University of Birmingham in the Journal of Zoology.
New finds from the deep sea off New Zealand
Scientists have returned from a two-week survey to the north of New Zealand, near the Kermadec Islands, with photos and footage of new-to-science fish.
Healthy seeds: Treated environmentally friendly
Farmers treat seeds chemically in order to rid them of pest infestation. Now researchers have developed a method that kills pathogens without harming the environment. Pioneering seed suppliers are already implementing the procedure commercially.
Research suggests meerkat predator-scanning behaviour is altruistic
In order to spot potential predators, adult meerkats often climb to a higher vantage point or stand on their hind legs. If a predator is detected, they use several different alarm calls to warn the rest of the group. New Cambridge research shows that they are more likely to exhibit this behaviour when there are young pups present, suggesting that the predator-scanning behaviour is for the benefit of the group rather than the individual.
3D printing breakthrough with human embryonic stem cells
A team of researchers from Scotland has used a novel 3D printing technique to arrange human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) for the very first time.
Pitch perfect: How fairy-wrens identify other species' alarm calls
When you're a 10-gram fairy-wren living with the constant threat of being killed and eaten it's important to stay alert, and understanding which calls of other species signal danger can help you stay one step ahead of predators.
Evidence that at least one mammal can smell in stereo
Most mammals, including humans, see in stereo and hear in stereo. But whether they can also smell in stereo is the subject of a long-standing scientific controversy. Now, a new study shows definitively that the common mole (Scalopus aquaticus) – the same critter that disrupts the lawns and gardens of homeowners throughout the eastern United States, Canada and Mexico – relies on stereo sniffing to locate its prey. The paper that describes this research, "Stereo and Serial Sniffing Guide Navigation to an Odor Source in a Mammals," was published on Feb. 5 in the journal Nature Communications.
When the cell's two genomes collide
(Phys.org)—Plant and animal cells contain two genomes: one in the nucleus and one in the mitochondria. When mutations occur in each, they can become incompatible, leading to disease. To increase understanding of such illnesses, scientists at Brown University and Indiana University have traced one example in fruit flies down to the individual errant nucleotides and the mechanism by which the flies become sick.
Newly discovered plant structure may lead to improved biofuel processing
When Li Tan approached his colleagues at the University of Georgia with some unusual data he had collected, they initially seemed convinced that his experiment had become contaminated; what he was seeing simply didn't make any sense.
Scientists discover protein that allows safe recycling of iron from old red blood cells
Humans survive by constantly recycling iron, a metal that is an essential component of red blood cells, but which is toxic outside of those cells. More than 90 percent of the iron in an adult human's 25 trillion life-sustaining red blood cells is recycled from worn-out cells.
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