Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 20, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Multijunction solar cell could exceed 50% efficiency goal- Scientists develop new therapeutics that could accelerate wound healing
- Searching for the solar system's chemical recipe
- Researchers develop new technique to scale up production of graphene micro-supercapacitors
- Network theory expert sees Web pages as 19 clicks apart
- Secrets of human speech uncovered: Study shows brain exerts symphony-like control of vocal tract during act of speaking
- Researchers build Quad HD TV chip
- Fragile X makes brain cells talk too much, research shows
- Human cognition depends upon slow-firing neurons
- Molecules assemble in water, hint at origins of life
- Tiny exoplanet smaller than Mercury: Smallest planet yet found outside solar system (Update)
- Google to sell Internet glasses to contest winners (Update 2)
- New injectable hydrogel encourages regeneration, improves functionality after heart attack
- Solar Dynamics Observatory shows a little rain on the Sun (w/ Video)
- Brains of fetuses 'build a bridge' between regions, images show
Space & Earth news
Climate change a concern, not a priority to coastal leaders, survey finds
Many Oregon coast public officials and community leaders believe their local climate is changing and that the change will affect their communities. But overall, they say, addressing the changing climate is not an urgent concern.
Shedding light on the earthquake situation
Researchers from the Swiss Seismological Service have worked together with the Seismology and Geodynamics group at ETH Zurich and with local support in Bhutan to install a temporary seismological network. They plan to use the network to close a gap in geophysical research of the Himalayas.
Weather warning: Study examines climate change as a national security issue
Harvard researcher is pointing toward a new reason to worry about the effects of climate change—national security.
Landmark carbon assessment developed for Australia
The Australian landscape soaked up one third of the carbon emitted by fossil fuels in Australia over the past twenty years, according to a new CSIRO study released last week.
Russian ship adrift in Atlantic an 'environmental hazard'
The Lyubov Orlova, a Russian-built cruise ship adrift in the Atlantic after a failed bid to tow it to a scrapyard, poses an "imminent" environmental threat, a French green group warned Wednesday.
China considers BBQ ban to combat smog
China is considering a ban on barbecues to help reduce air pollution in built-up areas after heavy smog recently choked large swathes of the country, state media reported Wednesday.
Merkel cautious on 'fracking' in Germany
Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday expressed caution over whether the revolutionary oil and gas technique of "fracking" could be introduced in Germany, saying public safety was the main concern.
Nature follows a number pattern called Fibonacci
What do pine cones and paintings have in common? A 13th century Italian mathematician named Leonardo of Pisa.
Searching for organics in a nibble of soil
You might call it a high-tech panhandler, with its design for sifting through sprinkles of dirt to find tiny specks of organic material. Or you might think of it as a soil-eating-micro-espresso machine that could potentially brew up the smallest hints of martian life.
Scientists trace particulate air pollution to its source
(Phys.org)—Scientists at the University of California, Davis, have, for the first time, developed a system that can determine which types of air particles that pollute the atmosphere are the most prevalent and most toxic.
Research team uses innovative techniques to map water beneath Antarctic ice shelf
(Phys.org)—Antarctica's recent summer season was a success for the Penn State researchers who camped out on the ice for nearly two months. Their efforts are part of a National Science Foundation-funded project to better understand melting that is happening on the Pine Island Glacier ice shelf, an extension of the Antarctic ice sheet. The Penn State team is in charge of mapping the ocean cavity beneath the ice shelf.
Moon mining a step closer with new lunar soil simulant
Australian researchers have developed a substance that looks and behaves like soil from the moon's surface and can be mixed with polymers to create 'lunar concrete', a finding that may help advance plans to construct safe landing pads and mines on the moon.
Researchers successfully replicate ice crystal icing formation in aircraft engine
For the first time ever, researchers are demonstrating ice crystal icing formation in a full scale engine test facility this month at NASA's Glenn Research Center.
NASA satellites see wide-eyed Cyclone Haruna
Cyclone Haruna strengthened into a cyclone and quickly developed an eye that became apparent on visible and infrared imagery from NASA's Aqua satellite. NASA's TRMM satellite analyzed Haruna's heavy rainfall, and NASA and NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured a night-time image that verified the strongest areas of the storm.
NASA's SDO observes fast-growing sun spot
As magnetic fields on the sun rearrange and realign, dark spots known as sunspots can appear on its surface.
Report: Failure of Glory climate satellite unknown
A group of experts investigating the launch failure of a NASA climate satellite has failed to come up with a reason.
Space likely for rare earths search, scientists say
The quest for rare earths vital to some of modern life's most indispensable technologies may see mining robots jet to the stars within decades, a world-first conference in Australia was told Wednesday.
Astronomers suggest new telescopes could detect biomarker gasses in exoplanet atmospheres
(Phys.org)—Astronomers in the Netherlands write in a paper published in The Astrophysical Journal, that construction of new ground based telescopes could allow for discerning if small exoplanets have biomarker gasses in their atmospheres, and by extension some form of life existing on them. They propose that using newly developed techniques to separate out possible atmospheric gasses from exoplanets, from the oxygen in our own atmosphere using data from the planned European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), or by building large arrays of cheaper to develop flux collector telescopes, could allow for the detection of such biomarkers from land based telescopes.
Cassini sheds light on cosmic particle accelerators
(Phys.org)—During a chance encounter with what appears to be an unusually strong blast of solar wind at Saturn, NASA's Cassini spacecraft detected particles being accelerated to ultra-high energies. This is similar to the acceleration that takes place around distant supernovas.
Sweeping the dust from a cosmic lobster
(Phys.org)—A new image from ESO's VISTA telescope captures a celestial landscape of glowing clouds of gas and tendrils of dust surrounding hot young stars. This infrared view reveals the stellar nursery known as NGC 6357 in a surprising new light. It was taken as part of a VISTA survey that is currently scanning the Milky Way in a bid to map our galaxy's structure and explain how it formed.
A cool discovery about the Sun's next-door twin
(Phys.org)—ESA's Herschel space observatory has detected a cool layer in the atmosphere of Alpha Centauri A, the first time this has been seen in a star beyond our own Sun. The finding is not only important for understanding the Sun's activity, but could also help in the quest to discover proto-planetary systems around other stars.
Tiny exoplanet smaller than Mercury: Smallest planet yet found outside solar system (Update)
An international team of astronomers has used nearly three years of high precision data from NASA's Kepler spacecraft to make the first observations of a planet outside our solar system that's smaller than Mercury, the smallest planet orbiting our sun.
Solar Dynamics Observatory shows a little rain on the Sun (w/ Video)
Eruptive events on the sun can be wildly different. Some come just with a solar flare, some with an additional ejection of solar material called a coronal mass ejection (CME), and some with complex moving structures in association with changes in magnetic field lines that loop up into the sun's atmosphere, the corona.
Simple view of gravity does not fully explain distribution of stars in crowded clusters
(Phys.org)—Gravity remains the dominant force on large astronomical scales, but when it comes to stars in young star clusters the dynamics in these crowded environments cannot be simply explained by the pull of gravity.
Curiosity rover confirms first drilled Mars rock sample
(Phys.org)—NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has relayed new images that confirm it has successfully obtained the first sample ever collected from the interior of a rock on another planet. No rover has ever drilled into a rock beyond Earth and collected a sample from its interior.
Searching for the solar system's chemical recipe
(Phys.org)—By studying the origins of different isotope ratios among the elements that make up today's smorgasbord of planets, moons, comets, asteroids, and interplanetary ice and dust, Mark Thiemens and his colleagues hope to learn how our solar system evolved. Thiemens, Dean of the Division of Physical Sciences at the University of California, San Diego, has worked on this problem for over three decades.
Technology news
Chinese portal Sina says profits tumble
(AP)—Chinese portal Sina Corp.'s quarterly profit tumbled 75 percent on relatively small revenue for its microblog service.
Vodafone asks India court to halt spectrum auction
Vodafone has petitioned an Indian court to stop the government from auctioning off rights to the cellphone spectrum it now uses for 18.7 million customers in three cities, the company said Wednesday.
Low-power chip for intra-cardiac ventricular fibrillation detection
Imec demonstrated a low-power (20µW), intra-cardiac signal processing chip for the detection of ventricular fibrillation at this week's International Solid State Circuits Conference (ISSCC 2013) in San Francisco with Olympus. An important step toward next-generation Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy solutions, the new chip delivers innovative signal processing functionalities and consumes only 20µW when all channels are active, enabling the miniaturization of implantable devices.
Imec demonstrates low power beamforming transceiver chipset for 60GHz multi-Gbit wireless communication
Imec, in collaboration with Panasonic Corporation, has presented at the IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC2013) a 60GHz radio transceiver chipset with low power consumption, that delivers high data rates over short distances. Imec drastically boosted the link budget of the system by introducing beamforming into the radio architecture. This multi-Gbit 60GHz chipset paves the way toward small size, low-power, low-cost, high-data rate solutions for battery-operated consumer devices, such as smart phones and tablets.
Targeted video surveillance in the soccer stadium
At the end of 2012 the German Soccer League's paper on safety was adopted. It envisages, among other things, improving video surveillance in stadiums. The second-generation Vigilant Eye System can help achieve this aim. This enhanced product from Fraunhofer FIT uses synchronized fixed surveillance cameras and rapid zoom cameras which provide detailed images to clearly identify culprits. Specialized image analysis algorithms allow the system to automatically detect the use of flares at an early stage and pick out other salient events. The system points out critical situations to surveillance personnel and automatically records high-resolution video footage that can be used in evidence.
Review: Sony's rascally raccoon Sly Cooper returns
It's been seven years since ring-tailed master thief Sly Cooper has headlined a video game—about three times the lifespan of a typical wild raccoon. The guy's been on Sony's bench since his creators, Sucker Punch Productions, moved on to the "InFamous" series, so you could forgive him if his skills are rusty.
Nation could double energy productivity
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have long understood that using energy more efficiently can be just as beneficial as finding new ways to produce energy more efficiently.
NREL helps communities assess their readiness for electric vehicles
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has launched a new tool to help local and regional leaders assess the readiness of their communities for the arrival of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs).
US woman, 104, forced to lie about age on Facebook
Marguerite Joseph can be forgiven for lying about her age on Facebook.
New York Times puts Boston Globe up for sale
The New York Times, facing a difficult environment for newspapers in the digital age, announced Wednesday a plan to sell The Boston Globe and other New England assets.
White House announces anti-theft trade strategy
The Obama administration announced a broad new effort Wednesday to fight the growing theft of American trade secrets following fresh evidence linking cyberstealing to China's military.
Ubisoft sells rivals' games in online shop
French videogame maker Ubisoft began selling computer games made by Electronic Arts, Warner Brothers and other rivals at its online Uplay shop.
US ready to strike back against China cyberattacks
(AP)—As public evidence mounts that the Chinese military is responsible for stealing massive amounts of U.S. government data and corporate trade secrets, the Obama administration is eyeing fines and other trade actions it may take against Beijing or any other country guilty of cyberespionage.
Entertainment memorabilia gets stage at Amazon.com
As this year's Academy Awards ceremony nears, Internet retail colossus Amazon.com has launched an online shop stocked with film, music, and television show memorabilia.
Commercial cyberspying offers rich payoff (Update)
For state-backed cyberspies such as a Chinese military unit implicated by a U.S. security firm in a computer crime wave, hacking foreign companies can produce high-value secrets ranging from details on oil fields to advanced manufacturing technology.
Review: Microsoft email better, not revolutionary (Update)
Longtime users of Hotmail, MSN and other Microsoft email services will start noticing a big change: When they sign in to check messages, they'll be sent to a new service called Outlook.com.
China military rejects hacking allegations
China's defence ministry Wednesday rebuffed a report linking its People's Liberation Army to sophisticated cyberattacks on US firms, saying there was no internationally agreed definition of hacking.
Administration developing penalties for cybertheft
Evidence of an unrelenting campaign of cyberstealing linked to the Chinese government is prompting the Obama administration to develop more aggressive responses to the theft of U.S. government data and corporate trade secrets.
German antitrust probe into Amazon pricing policy (Update)
Online retailer Amazon may have broken antitrust laws in Germany by banning third-party traders from selling their products cheaper elsewhere, officials said Wednesday.
New analysis of Genesis reveals 'death sandwich' literary theme
An online tool has, for the first time, revealed a common literary technique in the Book of Genesis that has remained hidden in the text for millennia.
Yahoo redesign aims to make site more inviting (Update 2)
Yahoo is renovating the main entry into its website in an effort to get people to visit more frequently and stay longer.
UK raises less than hoped from 4G mobile auction
The British government raised a less-than-expected amount from its 4G mobile auction that will result in five companies providing the country with super-fast mobile Internet services, a watchdog said Wednesday.
Tool boosts success of online collaborations by redistributing the burdens of leadership
The Web makes it possible for lots of people to collaborate on projects, but it doesn't make it easy to lead them. A Carnegie Mellon University researcher has developed a new tool that helps leaders see complex, collaborative projects through to completion by redistributing leadership responsibilities.
Small but mighty Xenon flash for mobile phones: Great shots in the dark soon to be a reality
A Singapore invention looks set to equip mobile phones with a built-in, small yet powerful Xenon flash, allowing consumers to take great photos even in low-light conditions.
Amid China row, US to help firms guard trade secrets
Amid rising concern over alleged cyber crime originating from China, the White House will unveil a new plan Wednesday to help US firms thwart the theft of billions of dollars in trade secrets.
NYPD, Microsoft create crime-fighting tech system (Update)
An emergency call comes in about a possible bomb in lower Manhattan and an alert pops up on computer screens at the New York Police Department, instantly showing officers an interactive map of the neighborhood, footage from nearby security cameras, whether there are high radiation levels and whether any other threats have been made against the city.
Zuckerberg, Brin join forces to extend life
Famed founders of Internet rivals Google and Facebook joined forces on Wednesday to back big-money prizes for research aimed at extending human life.
Twitter makes ad campaigns easier
Twitter on Wednesday made it easier to run ad campaigns using tweeted messages in a move that promised to ramp up the company's money-making potential and prospects for a stock market debut.
Future science: Using 3D worlds to visualize data
Take a walk through a human brain? Fly over the surface of Mars? Computer scientists at the University of Illinois at Chicago are pushing science fiction closer to reality with a wraparound virtual world where a researcher wearing 3D glasses can do all that and more.
Network theory expert sees Web pages as 19 clicks apart
(Phys.org)—The concept of its being a small world after all is now being placed in the scientific context of the wide, wide Web as a small Web after all. According to a physicist, Web pages are actually no greater than 19 clicks apart. Put another way: Everything on the Web is connected by 19 clicks. Put another way? Any two Web pages are no more than 19 clicks apart. How can that be? The paper discussing this, by Albert-László Barabási, has been published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.
Researchers build Quad HD TV chip
It took only a few years for high-definition televisions to make the transition from high-priced novelty to ubiquitous commodity—and they now seem to be heading for obsolescence just as quickly. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, several manufacturers debuted new ultrahigh-definition, or UHD, models (also known as 4K or Quad HD) with four times the resolution of today's HD TVs.
Medicine & Health news
Data pooling in biobanks: The BIOPOOL project
A European consortium of medical, research and higher education institutions is developing a network for banks containing digitalised images of human tissue—"biobanks"— which will help doctors to diagnose different types of possible cancerous tissues taken from patients' biopsies in a shorter time.
Tips to avoid return trip to the hospital
(HealthDay) —More than 1 million Americans end up back in the hospital just weeks after they're discharged, and many of those readmissions are preventable, according to an expert from Columbia University School of Nursing in New York City.
New UN report on hormone-disrupting chemicals
An international team of scientific experts has expressed great concern about the effect of increasing exposure of humans and animals to hormone-disrupting substances. This comes in a new report commissioned by the UN Environment Programme and the World Health Organization.
Number one reason people say they might delay seeing GP is difficulty making an appointment
More than a third (39 percent) of people in Britain say difficulty making an appointment might put them off going to the doctor about a symptom they think could be serious according to a new study from Cancer Research UK.
Improving behaviour in children with autism
Weekly music therapy sessions lasting just an hour can have a positive effect on behaviour in children with autism, reports a paper in Pertanika Journal this month. In a study of 41 children, improvements were seen particularly in inattentive behaviours over a ten month period. The researchers hope that their research will help children and young adults with autism to modify behaviour.
Cost of medication and stigma leading asthma sufferers to risk health
The high cost of medication, stigmatisation and poor acceptance of their condition are causing young adults to take a dangerous approach to managing their asthma, according to new research published today in the journal BMJ Open.
Six in ten people worldwide lack access to flush toilets or other adequate sanitation
It may be the 21st century, with all its technological marvels, but 6 out of every 10 people on Earth still do not have access to flush toilets or other adequate sanitation that protects the user and the surrounding community from harmful health effects, a new study has found. The research, published in ACS' journal Environmental Science & Technology, says the number of people without access to improved sanitation is almost double the previous estimate.
New IOM report highlights PEPFAR's successes
The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has saved and improved millions of lives worldwide and offered proof that HIV/AIDS services can be effectively delivered on a large scale even in countries with high rates of disease and resource constraints, says a new congressionally mandated evaluation conducted by the Institute of Medicine.
Can insurers save money by providing free diabetes-related medications and supplies?
Reducing financial barriers to medication access—a strategy known as value-based insurance design (VBID)—can improve medication adherence and management of chronic diseases such as diabetes. The economic and patient-perceived benefits of eliminating co-payments for diabetes-related medications and supplies are described in a trend-setting study published in Population Health Management.
Study examines cost-effectiveness of medicare drug plans in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
A new study published online today in the American Journal of Managed Care found that in Medicare Part D, generic drug coverage was cost-saving compared to no coverage in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, while also improving health outcomes. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, the Pitt Graduate School of Public Health, and Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC note that policymakers and insurers should consider generic-only coverage, rather than no gap coverage, to both conserve health care resources and improve health.
Smoking cessation in old age: Less heart attacks and strokes within five years
Smokers increase their risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) and stroke with every cigarette they smoke. Conversely, those who quit smoking even at an advanced age will have a considerable decrease in their risk after a very short time. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) published their results in the European Journal of Epidemiology.
Setting the record straight on Medicare's overhead costs
The traditional Medicare program allocates only 1 percent of total spending to overhead compared with 6 percent when the privatized portion of Medicare, known as Medicare Advantage, is included, according to a study in the June 2013 issue of the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law.
Belgium debates euthanasia for minors
Belgian legislators opened a debate Wednesday on whether to amend a decade-old law on euthanasia to cover minors, being told by experts that it was already taking place in practice without any set guidelines.
Researchers begin trial of Shigella vaccine candidates
Researchers have launched an early-stage human clinical trial of two related candidate vaccines to prevent infection with Shigella, bacteria that are a significant cause of diarrheal illness, particularly among children. The Phase I clinical trial, funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, will evaluate the vaccines for safety and their ability to induce immune responses among 90 healthy adults ages 18 to 45 years. The trial is being conducted at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, one of the eight NIAID-funded Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units in the United States.
No immediate ruling on bid to delay NYC soda rule
(AP)—A judge isn't saying how soon he'll decide whether to delay enforcement of New York City's first-of-its-kind effort to limit the size of sugary drinks.
Regenstrief study: Informatics tools underutilized in prevention of hospital-acquired infection
Advances in electronic medical record systems and health information exchange are shifting efforts in public health toward greater use of information systems to automate disease surveillance, but a study from the Regenstrief Institute has found that these technologies' capabilities are underutilized by those on the front lines of preventing and reporting infections.
People with disabilities at greater risk of violence and subsequent mental ill-health
People with disabilities are at a greater risk of being the victims of violence and of suffering mental ill health when victimized, according to research published February 20 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Hind Khalifeh and colleagues from University College London and King's College London.
Digital processing system avoids 17.4 million drug errors in US in one year
Processing a prescription through an electronic ordering system can halve the likelihood of a drug error, and avert more than 17 million such incidents in US hospitals in one year alone, indicates research published online in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.
Obama admin. tackles colonoscopy confusion
(AP)—The new health law requires that most insurance plans cover all costs for preventive care, including colon cancer screening.
Retinal implants with wireless microchip restore functional vision in retinitis pigmentosa patients, research finds
(Medical Xpress)—Retina Implant AG, the leading developer of subretinal implants for patients blinded by retinitis pigmentosa (RP), announced results from part of its multicentre study were published today in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The research found that, during the course of a three to nine month observation period, functional vision was restored in the majority of nine German patients implanted with a subretinal microchip as part of the first module of the Company's second human clinical trial. In addition, visual acuity for two of the nine patients surpassed the visual resolution of patients from the Company's first human clinical trial.
Adding movement to 'dry run' mental imagery enhances performance
Adding movement to mental rehearsal can improve performance finds a study in BioMed Central's open access journal Behavioral and Brain Functions. For high jumpers the study shows that dynamic imagery improves the number of successful attempts and the technical performance of jumps.
Exposure to air pollution is associated with increased deaths after heart attacks
Air pollution contributes to an increased number of deaths among patients who have been admitted to hospital with heart attacks, according to a study published online today (Wednesday) in the European Heart Journal.
Increasing evidence links high glycemic index foods and dairy products to acne
(Medical Xpress)—A study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has determined that there is increasing evidence of a connection between diet and acne, particularly from high glycemic load diets and dairy products, and that medical nutrition therapy (MNT) can play an important role in acne treatment.
Researchers find crime drama viewers more likely to aid sexual assault victims
(Medical Xpress)—Viewers of primetime crime dramas, like NCIS, CSI or Law & Order, are more inclined than non-viewers to see themselves intervening on behalf of the victim of a sexual assault, according to recent research at Washington State University.
Smog causes surge in heart deaths: study
Exposure to higher levels of fine particulates—the airborne pollution that is an emerging problem in many Asian cities—causes a sharp rise in deaths from heart attacks, a study published on Wednesday said.
Multimodality approach needed to reengineer health care
(HealthDay)—A multimodality approach focusing on reengineering the U.S. health care system may provide a way to improve quality and reduce costs, according to a viewpoint published in the Feb. 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Gene mutation's benefit for ovarian cancer patients may not last: study
(HealthDay)—Although women diagnosed with ovarian cancer who carry a BRCA gene mutation have a short-term survival advantage, this benefit is not reflected in the long-term, according to a new study.
As economy rebounds, more folks try turning back hands of time
(HealthDay)—Evidence of the economic upturn can be found in more than housing starts and auto sales: A new report shows that the number of cosmetic procedures grew 5 percent in 2012.
Blame common colds on your chromosome 'Caps?'
(HealthDay)—Some people seem to catch a cold every few weeks while others appear immune. Now a preliminary study suggests that the protective "caps" on your chromosomes could partly explain the mystery.
Fraudulent data may have led to use of risky treatment in ICUs
(HealthDay)—Studies loaded with fraudulent data may have encouraged the use of a treatment for patients in intensive care units that now appears to do more harm than good, new research shows.
Cold and flu sufferers should ease back into fitness routine
(HealthDay)—Although physical activity can help boost your immune system, people who are sick should tone down their workout or skip it altogether, experts advise.
Drug, alcohol abuse more likely among high school dropouts
(HealthDay News) —The link between poor academic performance and substance abuse just got stronger, with a new U.S. government report showing ties between the two.
Breast cancer gene provides vital clue to bowel cancer drug resistance
Having too many copies of a gene linked to breast cancer might be the reason why some bowel cancer patients fail to respond to certain targeted drugs, according to a study published in the British Journal of Cancer.
Molecular basis identified for tissue specific immune regulation in the eye and kidney
Scientists at The University of Manchester have made important advances in understanding why our immune system can attack our own tissues resulting in eye and kidney diseases. It is hoped the research will pave the way for the development of new treatments for the eye condition age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and the kidney condition atypical Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS).
Cervical cancer screening shouldn't start until 25
Women in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will all soon be advised to start screening for cervical cancer at 25 years, and those aged between 50 and 64 years to screen every five years rather than every three. And a review of the Australian National Cervical Screening Program is considering whether it should make the same recommendations.
Overweight, obese mothers treated differently by health professionals, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—Queensland mums-to-be who are considered to be overweight or obese are treated and perceived more poorly by maternity care providers because of their body weight, according to a new University of Queensland study.
Elusive substrate protein identified in the most common form of heritable rickets
(Medical Xpress)—Diagnosed in toddlers, X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is the most common form of heritable rickets, in which soft bones bend and deform, and tooth abscesses develop because infections penetrate soft teeth that are not properly calcified. Researchers at McGill University and the Federal University of Sao Paulo have identified that osteopontin, a major bone and tooth substrate protein, plays a role in XLH. Their discovery may pave the way to effectively treating this rare disease.
Preventing suicide: A critical next step
Doctors may in the future be able to take a blood test to determine if a patient is suicidal, hopefully decreasing the number of people taking their own lives.
Children with auditory processing disorder may now have more treatment options, research shows
(Medical Xpress)—Several Kansas State University faculty members are helping children with auditory processing disorder receive better treatment.
Simple measures to promote sleep can reduce delirium in intensive care patients
A hospital is not the best place to get a good night's sleep, especially in a noisy intensive care unit. It's a cause for concern because studies have shown that a lack of sleep can cause patients to experience delirium—an altered mental state that may delay their recovery and lead to short and long-term confusion and memory problems.
Lack of sleep? Keep away from the buffet
New research from Uppsala University shows that sleep-deprived people select greater portion sizes of energy-dense snacks and meals than they do after one night of normal sleep. Poor sleep habits can therefore affect people's risk of becoming overweight in the long run. The findings are published in Psychoneuroendocrinology.
First signals from brain nerve cells with ultrathin nanowires
Electrodes operated into the brain are today used in research and to treat diseases such as Parkinson's. However, their use has been limited by their size. At Lund University in Sweden, researchers have, for the first time, succeeded in implanting an ultrathin nanowire-based electrode and capturing signals from the nerve cells in the brain of a laboratory animal.
Bilingual children have better 'working memory' than monolingual children, study shows
A study conducted at the University of Granada and the University of York in Toronto, Canada, has revealed that bilingual children develop a better working memory –which holds, processes and updates information over short periods of time– than monolingual children. The working memory plays a major role in the execution of a wide range of activities, such as mental calculation (since we have to remember numbers and operate with them) or reading comprehension (given that it requires associating the successive concepts in a text).
Being stoic for the spouse's sake comes at a high cost
(Medical Xpress)—Among life's many tragedies, the death of a child is one that is perhaps the greatest for parents. No matter what the age of the child or the cause of death, the irrefutable fact of the loss is one that shatters the normal cycle of life, leaving parents traumatized and often incapacitated by grief.
Children with brain lesions able to use gestures important to language learning
Children with brain lesions suffered before or around the time of birth are able to use gestures – an important aspect of the language learning process– to convey simple sentences, a Georgia State University researcher has found.
Trustworthy mating advice deepens bond between straight women and gay men
Why do straight women and gay men form close relationships with one another? A new psychology study from The University of Texas at Austin suggests the glue that cements these unique relationships is honest, unbiased relationship advice.
Preclinical study shows potential of new technologies to detect response to cancer therapy earlier
The research was published early in the January issue of the journal Technology in Cancer Research and Treatment. The article describes experiments using ultrasonic molecular imaging (USMI) and Dynamic Contrast Enhanced-Perfusion Imaging (DCE-PI) to measure response to therapy for pancreatic cancer.
The ethics of access: Comparing two federal health care reform efforts
Two major health reform laws, enacted 25 years apart, both try to meet an ethical standard to provide broad access to basic health care. Neither quite gets there—but it's not too late for modern health care reform to bring the nation closer to a goal of comprehensive and coordinated care for all.
Resveratrol shows promise to protect hearing, cognition
Resveratrol, a substance found in red grapes and red wine, may have the potential to protect against hearing and cognitive decline, according to a published laboratory study from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
Mushroom-supplemented soybean extract shows therapeutic promise for advanced prostate cancer
A natural, nontoxic product called genistein-combined polysaccharide, or GCP, which is commercially available in health stores, could help lengthen the life expectancy of certain prostate cancer patients, UC Davis researchers have found.
Building trust for online health research
Status updates, patient forums, blog comments – among the incredible amount of personal information on the Web is a potential trove of health data. Bioethicists writing in Science Translational Medicine acknowledge the value of this resource but argue that to be ethically acceptable for use in research, traditional models of informed consent must be adapted to suit the dynamic online environment.
Researchers identify variations in four genes associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer
An international research team co-led by cancer prevention researcher Ulrike "Riki" Peters, Ph.D., M.P.H., and biostatistician Hsu Li, Ph.D., at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has identified variations in four genes that are linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Peters and colleagues from 40 institutes throughout the world published their findings online ahead of the April print issue of Gastroenterology.
Study shows long-term efficacy of minimally invasive therapy for patients with Barrett's esophagus
According to a new study by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, patients with Barrett's esophagus and early or pre-cancerous cells have been shown to significantly benefit from minimally invasive therapy delivered through an endoscope – a medical instrument used to look inside an organ or cavity in the body. Until recently, patients with these conditions were treated by surgery to remove the whole esophagus. Study results show that endoscope-based therapies have a high success rate; all of the damaged cells were removed in up to 95 percent of cases, greatly reducing the chances of cancer progression. Additionally, in over two-thirds of cases, patients had no biological signs of the return of disease for years. The study appears in the February issue of GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
Prescription problems for vets on reflux drug
U.S. veterans diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are frequently prescribed doses of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as omeprazole (commonly known by brand names such as Prilosec), that are much higher than recommended —- and they are kept on the drug far too long, according to a new Northwestern Medicine® study.
One in eight Americans diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, poll says
(HealthDay)—A staggering one in eight Americans has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, a new Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll suggests.
Genome-wide imaging study identifies new gene associated with Alzheimer's plaques
A study combining genetic data with brain imaging, designed to identify genes associated with the amyloid plaque deposits found in Alzheimer's disease patients, has not only identified the APOE gene—long associated with development of Alzheimer's—but has uncovered an association with a second gene, called BCHE.
Bullied children can suffer lasting psychological harm as adults
Bullied children grow into adults who are at increased risk of developing anxiety disorders, depression and suicidal thoughts, according to a study led by researchers at Duke Medicine.
Does bariatric surgery impact medical costs associated with obesity?
Bariatric surgery is a well-documented treatment for obesity that leads to considerable weight loss and health improvement, but is the surgery successful in the long run in reducing costs associated with medical care for obesity? A team of researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and School of Medicine recently undertook a multi-year analysis of health insurance claims data to examine this question and found that although the procedure's success rate is well documented, it does not have a similar impact on health care costs. The findings were released in the February 20 online edition of the journal JAMA Surgery.
Antioxidants in your diet may not reduce risk of stroke or dementia
Contrary to other research, a new study found that the total level of antioxidants in people's diets is not related to their risk of developing stroke or dementia. The study is published in the February 20, 2013, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Antioxidants such as lycopene, beta-carotene and vitamins C and E are found in many foods.
Bracelet-like device controls chronic acid reflux, study finds
A bracelet-like device with magnetic beads can control the chronic digestive disorder gastroesophageal reflux disease, according to a study published online today in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Researchers find multiple tests needed to detect infection in low birth-weight newborns
New research by Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine and Yale University School of Medicine finds that cultures commonly used to detect bacterial infections in low birth-weight newborns with early onset sepsis may actually overlook some germs.
Omega-3 lipid emulsions markedly protect brain after stroke in mouse study
Triglyceride lipid emulsions rich in an omega-3 fatty acid injected within a few hours of an ischemic stroke can decrease the amount of damaged brain tissue by 50 percent or more in mice, reports a new study by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center.
Perceptions of health improve with pension receipt, researcher says
After retirement, pensions provide consistent income to aging individuals. Although the details of pension eligibility and implementation vary by country, receiving pensions can represent a new life stage for individuals. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has studied how older men and women view their health before and after receiving fixed incomes. South African men and women in the study viewed their health more positively when they began receiving their pensions, but the heightened sense of well-being faded over time.
Employees shed pounds in worksite-based weight loss intervention with behavioral counseling
Workplace-based programs that include dietary advice coupled with behavioral counseling appear to be a promising approach for men and women with significant weight loss goals, based on the results of a pilot study conducted by researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University. Employees enrolled in the intervention arm of a randomized controlled trial lost on average, 18 pounds over a six-month period compared to a two pound weight gain in a control group. The study results are published online ahead of print by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
U.S. doctors slow to adopt electronic health records
(HealthDay)—Although doctors who are using electronic health records in a meaningful way are eligible for a $44,000 bonus from the U.S. government, many still haven't adopted the new technology, a new study shows.
Study finds no tie between acne drug accutane and Crohn's, colitis
(HealthDay)—A new study counters the notion that the prescription acne drug Accutane raises the risk of Crohn's disease or colitis in women.
uBiome project seeking to sequence the human microbiome
(Medical Xpress)—Three health researchers have set up a project called uBiome, on the crowd sourcing site indiegogo, with the aim of sequencing the human microbiome—microbes that live on and in the human body. The purpose of the project is to create the largest database ever of microbe samples taken from volunteers around the world and to use that data to learn more about the human microbiome and how it impacts health. Thus far the project has received pledges of more than triple the $100,000 initial target goal.
Human cognition depends upon slow-firing neurons
Good mental health and clear thinking depend upon our ability to store and manipulate thoughts on a sort of "mental sketch pad." In a new study, Yale School of Medicine researchers describe the molecular basis of this ability—the hallmark of human cognition—and describe how a breakdown of the system contributes to diseases such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease.
Fragile X makes brain cells talk too much, research shows
The most common inherited form of mental retardation and autism, fragile X syndrome, turns some brain cells into chatterboxes, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report.
New injectable hydrogel encourages regeneration, improves functionality after heart attack
University of California, San Diego bioengineers have demonstrated in a study in pigs that a new injectable hydrogel can repair damage from heart attacks, help the heart grow new tissue and blood vessels, and get the heart moving closer to how a healthy heart should. The results of the study were published Feb. 20 in Science Translational Medicine and clear the way for clinical trials to begin this year in Europe. The gel is injected through a catheter without requiring surgery or general anesthesia—a less invasive procedure for patients.
Brains of fetuses 'build a bridge' between regions, images show
(HealthDay)—Using real-time images of brain connections developing in late-stage fetuses, scientists say they've been able for the first time to compare the order and strength of these connections.
Using 3-D printing and injectable molds, bioengineered ears look and act like the real thing
Cornell bioengineers and physicians have created an artificial ear – using 3-D printing and injectable molds – that looks and acts like a natural ear, giving new hope to thousands of children born with a congenital deformity called microtia.
Signaling pathway linked to fetal alcohol risk: Molecular switch promises new targets for diagnosis, therapy
Fetal alcohol syndrome is the leading preventable cause of developmental disorders in developed countries. And fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), a range of alcohol-related birth defects that includes fetal alcohol syndrome, is thought to affect as many as 1 in 100 children born in the United States.
Scientists develop new therapeutics that could accelerate wound healing
(Medical Xpress)—In "before" and "after" photos from advertisements for wound-healing ointments, bandages and antibiotic creams, we see an injury transformed from an inflamed red gash to smooth and flawless skin.
Secrets of human speech uncovered: Study shows brain exerts symphony-like control of vocal tract during act of speaking
A team of researchers at UC San Francisco has uncovered the neurological basis of speech motor control, the complex coordinated activity of tiny brain regions that controls our lips, jaw, tongue and larynx as we speak.
Biology news
Activists say Japanese whalers 'rammed' ships
Environmental campaigners from the militant Sea Shepherd group said on Wednesday a Japanese whaling ship had "rammed" its vessels in a skirmish in the Southern Ocean.
New club wheat is tough on fungi
Pacific Northwest wheat growers now have added insurance against outbreaks of yield-robbing fungi, thanks to "Cara," a new, white winter club wheat cultivar developed by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists.
Scientists targeting disease-causing bacteria present on cows' skin in attempt to prevent contamination
If you can't kill them, trap them. Such is the fate that scientists are reserving to pathogenic bacteria, such as the infamous E. coli. These bacteria may contaminate meat in abattoirs, when small traces of excrement on the hide come into contact with the carcass. "Some microbial contamination of the carcass, including food-borne pathogens, can occur even when best hygiene practices are followed," says Laura Wyness, senior Nutrition Scientist at the British Nutrition Foundation, UK, which is a partner to ProsafeBeef, a EU-funded research project designed to advancing beef safety and quality.
Switzerland's only bear killed amid threat fears
Switzerland's only recorded wild bear has been culled after fears that it could pose a threat to humans, the authorities announced on Wednesday.
Study: Asian carp DNA may not signal live fish
(AP)—A new government study says live Asian carp don't have to be present for their DNA to turn up in the environment.
'Happy Feet Jr.' found stranded in New Zealand
A penguin dubbed Happy Feet junior has been found stranded 2,000 kilometres (1,250 miles) from home in New Zealand, reviving memories of another wayward penguin that washed up in 2011.
US Court tilts toward Monsanto in battle with farmer
The US Supreme Court appeared on Tuesday to side with Monsanto against an Indiana farmer accused of having pirated the genetically-modified crops developed by the agribusiness giant.
New tool gets to the root of the matter
A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientist and his colleague at Cornell University have developed a new tool for studying how roots take shape in the soil.
Acacia trees crucial to Israel's desert bats, study finds
Greater conservation of threatened acacia trees is needed to preserve vulnerable species of rare insectivorous bats in Israel, according to new research by biologists at the University of Bristol. Dense areas of flourishing acacia trees are in decline due to increasing water stress and the encroachment of human activity into their ecosystem, but such trees represent the only habitat that supports some rare and endangered species of bat.
How the daffodil got its trumpet
The daffodil is one of the few plants with a 'corona', a crown-like structure also referred to as the 'trumpet'. New research suggests that the corona is not an extension of the petals as previously thought, but is a distinct organ sharing more genetic identity with stamens, the pollen-producing reproductive organs.
Indonesia announces shark, manta ray sanctuary
Indonesia has announced a new shark and manta ray sanctuary, the first to protect the species in the rich marine ecosystem of the Coral Triangle, known as the "Amazon of the ocean".
Little did we know about beetle diversity: Astonishing 138 new species in a single genus
The tropics are home to an extraordinary diversity of insect species. How great is it, exactly? We do not know, but today, researchers at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History published a study on tropical beetles that can help us progress towards an answer to this question. The paper was published in the open access, peer-reviewed journal Zookeys.
New research on migratory behavior of oceanic whitetip sharks can help shape conservation strategies
As the nations of the world prepare to vote on measures to restrict international trade in endangered sharks in early March, a team of researchers has found that one of these species – the oceanic whitetip shark – regularly crosses international boundaries. Efforts by individual nations to protect this declining apex predator within their own maritime borders may therefore need to be nested within broader international conservation measures.
Mosquitoes exposed to DEET once are less repelled by it a few hours later
Mosquitoes are able to ignore the smell of the insect repellent DEET within a few hours of being exposed to it, according to research published February 20 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by James Logan, Nina Stanczyk and colleagues from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK.
Organic tomatoes accumulate more vitamin C, sugars than conventionally grown fruit
Tomatoes grown on organic farms accumulate higher concentrations of sugars, vitamin C and compounds associated with oxidative stress compared to those grown on conventional farms, according to research published February 20 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Maria Raquel Alcantara Miranda and colleagues from the Federal University of Ceara, Brazil.
Newt transcriptome offers insight into tissue regeneration
Scientists have identified protein families expressed during tissue regeneration in newts, providing the groundwork for research into whether particular sets of genes are used for the purpose.
Genetic variation controls predation: Benefits of being a mosaic
A genetically mosaic Eucalyptus tree is able to control which leaves are saved from predation because of alterations in its genes, finds an study published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Plant Biology. Between two leaves of the same tree there can be many genetic differences – this study found ten SNP, including ones in genes that regulate terpene production, which influence whether or not a leaf is edible.
Climate change effect on plant communities is buffered by large herbivores, new research suggests
(Phys.org)—Can existing ecological communities persist intact as temperatures rise? This is a question of increasing relevance in the field of climate change and is the focus of a new study to be published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society of London on 20 February. The study suggests that the answer to this question may have as much to do with the biological interactions that shape communities as with the effects of climate change itself.
British birds may be learning to use invasive wasps as key food source, research suggests
Biologists have found that blue tits, great tits and other native birds have learnt to peck away the tips of the galls formed by invading oak gall wasps and eat the juicy larvae inside, which are rich in protein. This helps them survive the crucial early spring period, when other food is scarce.
The old grey whistle test
(Phys.org)—Dolphins mimic those closest to them as a way of getting in touch, according to the latest research.
Low-pitched song indicates fairy-wren size
A male fairy-wren's low pitch song indicates body size, a new international study has shown.
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