Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for March 26, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Breakthrough in race to create 'bio-batteries'- Predicting repeat offenders with brain scans: You be the judge
- Shrinking blob speeds traveling salesman on his way
- Simulations uncover obstacle to harnessing laser-driven fusion
- 'Metascreen' forms ultra-thin invisibility cloak
- Astronomers discover new kind of supernova
- Researchers build fiber cable capable of near light-in-vacuum throughput
- Overcoming multiple herbicide resistance
- Smart bracelet uses RFID to bleep dirty hands
- Details of gene pathways suggest fine-tuning drugs for child brain tumors
- LRO's spectrograph observes mercury and hydrogen in GRAIL impact plumes (w/ Video)
- SpaceX Dragon cargo ship splashes into Pacific (Update)
- Researchers build functional ovarian tissue in lab
- Wastewater injection spurred biggest earthquake yet, study finds
- Mice show innate ability to vocalize: Deaf or not, courting male mice make same sounds
Space & Earth news
Elevated carbon dioxide in atmosphere trims wheat, sorghum moisture needs
Plenty has been written about concerns over elevated levels of carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere, but a Kansas State University researcher has found an upside to the higher CO2 levels. And it's been particularly relevant in light of drought that overspread the area in recent months.
Geostatistical method predicts urban pollution
Researchers from the University of Castilla-La Mancha have developed a measurement system that permits the prediction of atmospheric pollution due to nitrogen oxides in a specific location and at a particular time. The study is supported by a massive database from urban areas in the Community of Madrid.
Curiosity resumes science investigations
NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has resumed science investigations after recovery from a computer glitch that prompted the engineers to switch the rover to a redundant main computer on Feb. 28.
New study highlights California tsunami risk
More than a quarter of a million Californians live in coastal areas which could be hit by devastating floods from a major tsunami in the quake-prone US state, a new study says.
Miners shoot for the stars in tech race
A self-sustaining mechanised colony that mines and exports resources from the Moon could be a reality within a generation, helping to meet demand for materials key to innovation on Earth.
Climate change rewrites world wine list
It's circa 2050 and shoppers are stopping off at Ikea to buy fine wine made in Sweden. A Nordic fantasy? Not according to climate experts who say the Earth's warming phase is already driving a wave of change through the world of wine.
SpaceX Dragon cargo ship leaves space station
The Dragon cargo ship has left the International Space Station and is on its way back to Earth.
Jekyll and Hyde corals tell different warming story
(Phys.org) —Like the rings of a tree trunk, Strontium-to-calcium ratios (Sr/Ca) in coral skeletons have been widely used to determine past ocean temperatures from yearly banded corals. However, scientists have now found that biological (growth) effects can overpower the climate information locked in the coral skeletons.
Ames' E. coli small satellite study selected for flight
NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) recently selected E. coli AntiMicrobial Satellite (EcAMSat) as one of 24 small satellites to fly as secondary payloads aboard rockets planned to launch in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
See Mercury at its greatest elongation for 2013
A fine apparition of the planet Mercury graces the dawn skies this week, leading up to its greatest elongation from the Sun for 2013.
Global fires after the asteroid impact probably caused the K-Pg extinction
About 66 million years ago a mountain-sized asteroid hit what is now the Yucatan in Mexico at exactly the time of the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) mass extinction. Evidence for the asteroid impact comes from sediments in the K-Pg boundary layer, but the details of the event, including what precisely caused the mass extinction, are still being debated.
Climate change likely to worsen threat of diarrheal disease in Botswana, arid African countries
In a National Science Foundation funded study, Kathleen Alexander, an associate professor of wildlife at Virginia Tech, found that climate drives a large part of diarrheal disease and increases the threat of climate change for vulnerable communities.
'Snow White' coating protects SpaceX Dragon's trunk against rigors of space
(Phys.org) —He described it as "snow white." But NASA astronaut Don Pettit was not referring to the popular children's fairy tale.
LRO's spectrograph observes mercury and hydrogen in GRAIL impact plumes (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) —When NASA's twin GRAIL spacecraft made their final descent for impact onto the Moon's surface last December, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter's sophisticated payload was in position to observe the effects. As plumes of gas rose from the impacts, the Lyman Alpha Mapping Project (LAMP) aboard LRO detected the presence of mercury and hydrogen and measured their time evolution as the gas rapidly expanded into the vacuum of space at near-escape velocities.
SpaceX Dragon cargo ship splashes into Pacific (Update)
The SpaceX Dragon capsule returned to Earth on Tuesday with a full science load from the International Space Station.
Wastewater injection spurred biggest earthquake yet, study finds
A new study in the journal Geology is the latest to tie a string of unusual earthquakes, in this case, in central Oklahoma, to the injection of wastewater deep underground. Researchers now say that the magnitude 5.7 earthquake near Prague, Okla., on Nov. 6, 2011, may also be the largest ever linked to wastewater injection. Felt as far off as Milwaukee, more than 800 miles away, the quake—the biggest ever recorded in Oklahoma—destroyed 14 homes, buckled a federal highway and left two people injured. Small earthquakes continue to be recorded in the area. The study appeared today in the journal's early online edition.
Measuring Mars: The MAVEN magnetometer (w/ video)
When the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission begins its journey to the Red Planet in 2013, it will carry a sensitive magnetic-field instrument built and tested by a team at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
Astronomers discover new kind of supernova
(Phys.org) —Supernovae were always thought to occur in two main varieties. But a team of astronomers including Carnegie's Wendy Freedman, Mark Phillips and Eric Persson is reporting the discovery of a new type of supernova called Type Iax.
Technology news
Cutting-edge 3D film revives a Warsaw lost to war
Nazi bombs left Warsaw as little more than a smouldering heap of rubble at the end of World War II.
North Korea defector sites report cyber attack
Specialist anti-North Korean websites and organisations run by defectors in South Korea said they were the victims of a coordinated cyber attack Tuesday.
Shares in Taiwan's Hon Hai rise after record profit
Shares in Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision, better known as Foxconn, closed 1.33 percent higher Tuesday at Tw$83.5 ($2.80) after the tech giant reported a record net profit last year.
More light for medicine
PET scan, CT and MRI are almost standard in today's diagnostics – highly developed and very sophisticated. Although more capable and less cost-intensive, laser-optical diagnosis methods are, up to now, far less prevalent. FAMOS is aiming to change this.
Various fibre-optic sensors are developed for use in industrial applications
In his PhD thesis read at the Public University of Navarre,Yoany Rodríguez-García, a Telecommunications and Electronics Engineer of Pinar del Río University (Cuba), has developed sensor devices based on fibre optics. Specifically, the sensors measure physical and chemical parameters used in industrial applications. The thesis is entitled "Contribución al desarrollo de sensoresutilizandofibraóptica y nanoestructuras" (Contribution to the development of sensors using fibre optics and nanostructures).Its results have been published in several scientific journals, like the International Journal of Circuit Theory and Applications.
Expert says 10,000 extremist websites on the web
There are more than 10,000 extremist websites on the Internet compared to fewer than 100 countering them, an analyst Tuesday told a conference which stressed the need to rebut militant propaganda.
CBS buys half of TV Guide net for $100M
A person familiar with CBS' deal for TV Guide says the broadcaster is buying a 50 percent stake in TV Guide's cable channel and website for nearly $100 million.
New 'BioShock' game takes aim at American taboos
A new edition of the dystopian "BioShock" shooter videogame released Tuesday puts Americanism in the crosshairs, taking on taboo topics including slavery and racism.
Google Reader being shuttered for privacy-compliance concerns, report says
Google said earlier this month it would close its Reader service because of low usage, but a report says the company also killed the RSS platform because it did not want to commit a full staff to it to ensure the service complied with privacy laws.
Nuclear waste a growing headache for SKorea
North Korea's weapons program is not the only nuclear headache for South Korea. The country's radioactive waste storage is filling up as its nuclear power industry burgeons, but what South Korea sees as its best solution—reprocessing the spent fuel so it can be used again—faces stiff opposition from its U.S. ally.
Better, cheaper, faster ways for making (and destroying) memories
For literary types, memory is often linked with Marcel Proust's madeleine cookie, which, in a single bite, launches a nostalgic reverie that lasts through seven volumes. But for scientists and engineers at the University of California, San Diego, 'memory' in the computing sense is all about a different kind of sweet: layer cake.
Advances in computational research transform scientific process and discovery
Not every scientific discovery originates in the lab, or from the field. Scientists increasingly are turning to powerful new computers to perform calculations they couldn't do with earlier generation machines, and at breathtaking speed, resulting in groundbreaking computational insights across a range of research fields.
Making sense of big data: Student wants to harness data to improve human lives
When Jameson Toole explores the streets of Boston and Cambridge, he sees problems waiting to be solved—and he believes some solutions are already in our pockets.
Sweden scraps new word 'ungoogleable'
The Language Council of Sweden said Tuesday it had removed the word "ungoogleable" from its 2012 list of new words because it refused to give in to the US company's demands to include the word Google in the definition.
Tablets fueling surge in smart devices, study shows
Tablet computers fueled growth in 2012 in the market for "smart connected devices," which crossed the threshold of one billion units for the first time, a study showed Tuesday.
'Gordon,' a supercomputer with unique flash memory, helps battle autism
When it officially came online at the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) in early January 2012, Gordon was instantly impressive. In one demonstration, it sustained more than 35 million input/output operations per second—then, a world record.
APL backpack-sized mini-mapper captures intel in tight spots
Engineers at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory have developed a portable mapping system—carried in a backpack—that can be used to automatically create annotated physical maps of locations where GPS is not available, such as in underground areas and on ships.
British teenage whiz strikes deal with Yahoo
At 17, he's a tech whiz, he's rich—and he can even offer some advice on how to raise your kids. Teenage programmer Nick D'Aloisio's decision to sell his news application Summly to Yahoo for what's rumored to be a massive payout has turned him into a media sensation. The sale caps a short but successful career at Apple Inc.'s vast app store, where hundreds of thousands of pieces of software compete for the attention of smartphone and tablet users.
US judge: Man's Facebook claim should be dismissed (Update)
A New York man's multibillion-dollar lawsuit claiming half-ownership of Facebook Inc. should be dismissed, a federal judge recommended Tuesday.
Google picks 8,000 winners of 'Glass' contest
Google is starting to notify 8,000 people who will be invited to buy a test version of the company's much-anticipated Internet-connected glasses for $1,500.
New discovery may allow scientists to make fuel from CO2 in the atmosphere
(Phys.org) —Excess carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere created by the widespread burning of fossil fuels is the major driving force of global climate change, and researchers the world over are looking for new ways to generate power that leaves a smaller carbon footprint.
Smart bracelet uses RFID to bleep dirty hands
(Phys.org) —Hospital-skittish people are convinced they will leave the hospital far sicker than when they came in. While assured they are working on groundless fear, recent hospital-borne infections make them all the more fearful. Infections further weaken patients and have been attributed to over 98,000 deaths each year in the United States. The numbers are grim no matter how sliced. According to estimates, about one out of 20 hospitalized patients get an infection.
Shrinking blob speeds traveling salesman on his way
(Phys.org) —What is the shortest route that a traveling salesman must take to visit a number of specified cities in a tour, stopping at each city once and only once before returning to the starting point? The most accurate way to answer this question is to measure every possible route, then determine which one is shortest. However, this method becomes unfeasible when there are too many cities on the salesman's tour. Jeff Jones and Andrew Adamatzky of the University of the West of England have discovered that they can use a virtual shrinking blob to find a reasonable solution.
Medicine & Health news
Even the poorest handheld umbrellas can block UV rays
(HealthDay)—Handheld umbrellas are effective at blocking ultraviolet radiation (UVR), according to a study published online March 20 in JAMA Dermatology.
Crash, bang, thump: The hidden dangers around the home
(Medical Xpress)—Bunk beds and baby change tables are among the hidden dangers around the home causing serious injury and death to Queensland children.
Can an apple a day really keep the doctor away?
Studies of the bioactive compounds found in apples aim to uncover compounds that have an ability to prevent or alter the risk of serious ailments such as diabetes and heart disease.
Radiosurgery for treating unruptured intracranial arteriovenous malformations
Researchers at the University of Virginia (UVA) Health System recommend radiosurgery for treating unruptured arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), because the procedure has a reasonable benefit-to-risk profile. They base this recommendation on an evaluation of clinical and radiographic outcomes in 444 patients treated with radiosurgery for unruptured AVMs at their institution. Detailed findings in this single-institution patient cohort are reported and discussed in "Radiosurgery for patients with unruptured intracranial arteriovenous malformations. Clinical article" by Dale Ding, M.D., Chun-Po Yen, M.D., Zhiyuan Xu, M.D., Robert M. Starke, M.D., M.Sc., and Jason P. Sheehan, M.D., Ph.D., published today online, ahead of print, in the Journal of Neurosurgery.
Hospital infections in cancer patients climbed, deaths declined, study finds
In a nationwide study of patients undergoing surgery for cancer, Henry Ford Hospital researchers have found that while infections during hospital stays increased during a 10-year period, the death rate from those infections dropped.
US governor approves 6-week abortion ban
(AP)—A Republican governor signed legislation Tuesday that that would make North Dakota the most restrictive U.S. state on abortion rights, banning the procedure if a fetal heartbeat can be detected—something that can happen as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.
Warning issued on doctors' stakes in device firms
(AP)—Federal health officials have issued a rare warning about doctors' ownership of shares in medical device companies that allow them to profit from performing surgeries with those products.
US must step up response to vets, report says
(HealthDay)—Timely and adequate health care is needed to help U.S. military personnel and their families readjust to life after deployment, an Institute of Medicine report finds.
Rural cancer care may be closer than you think
Research from the University of Iowa suggests that cancer care is more accessible in rural areas than thought, and this increased accessibility should be considered as changes are made in the health care system under the Affordable Care Act.
MU program helps health care workers move past tragedy
When a patient dies unexpectedly, whether suddenly or after a long illness, the loss can hit loved ones hard. In some of these cases, health care workers can be affected deeply due to the emotional bonding that can occur between patients and their caregivers. Now, studies have shown that a new program that provides support and training at the University of Missouri Health Care System is helping health care workers get back on their feet and heal both mentally and physically.
Hospital remains most common place of death for cancer patients in England
In England, hospital is still the most common place for patients with cancer to die but an increase in home and hospice deaths since 2005 suggests that the National End of Life Care Programme (a Programme to promote the rollout of national end-of-life care initiatives) has helped more people to die at their preferred place of death, according to a UK study funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research (NIHR HS&DR) Programme, published in this week's PLOS Medicine.
Researchers design small molecule to disrupt cancer-causing protein
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center and colleagues at the University of South Florida have developed a small molecule that inhibits STAT3, a protein that causes cancer. This development could impact the treatment of several tumor types, including breast, lung, prostate and others that depend on STAT3 for survival.
Carmustine decreases amyloid beta plaques
Long term treatment by carmustine, a chemical relative of mustard gas and already used to treat some types of brain cancer, can decrease the amount of amyloid β and number of amyloid plaques in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. The research is published in Biomed Central's open access journal BMC Medicine.
Five year-olds who watch TV for 3+ hours a day more likely to be antisocial
Five year-olds who watch TV for three or more hours a day are increasingly likely to develop antisocial behaviours, such as fighting or stealing by the age of seven, indicates research published online in Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Increased time to pregnancy linked to child's neurological development
Taking a long time to get pregnant may be linked to minor neurodevelopmental problems in the child, suggests a small study published online in the Fetal & Neonatal Edition of Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Obesity may be linked to microorganisms living in the gut, study says
How much a person eats may be only one of many factors that determines weight gain. A recent Cedars-Sinai study suggests that a breath test profile of microorganisms inhabiting the gut may be able to tell doctors how susceptible a person is to developing obesity.
MRI shows brain abnormalities in migraine patients
A new study suggests that migraines are related to brain abnormalities present at birth and others that develop over time. The research is published online in the journal Radiology.
New model may pinpoint timing of final menstrual period
For women enduring hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause, a new model could better estimate the timing of the final menstrual period, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
Vitamin D benefits breathing in tuberculosis patients
Maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D can help people breathe better and may even protect against tuberculosis (TB), according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
Exposure to common germs linked to worse cognition
(HealthDay)—Infectious burden, a composite serologic measure of exposure to common pathogens, is associated with worse cognition, according to a study published in the March 26 issue of Neurology.
Down syndrome trial may hold key to learning
(Medical Xpress)—An ingredient used for decades in cough syrup, and to treat a variety of conditions, could hold the key to improving memory, language, and learning in people with Down syndrome.
Unique diabetes study shows how insulin pumps impact quality of life
Being treated for diabetes with an insulin pump, an aid that is attached to the body to provide a continuous supply of insulin, has a strong impact on a person's quality of life. The pump can be a lifeline, but also a bothersome shackle. This is shown in a unique long-term study performed at the Academy of Health and Society, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden in collaboration with the Clinic of Internal Medicine at Falun Hospital as well as Uppsala University and Umeå University.
Sweet potato weaning food to improve infant nutrition
A Massey University PhD student has developed a complementary food for infants in developing nations that could help minimise vitamin A deficiency.
Ban on food stamps leads to hunger, HIV risk among former drug felons
Convicted drug offenders who are denied government food benefits upon release from prison are at greater risk of engaging in dangerous, sexual risk behaviors in order to obtain food, Yale researchers have found. Their pilot study appears in the journal AIDS Education and Prevention.
DNA sequencing: Changing the landscape of science and biology
UConn researchers are at the forefront of new discoveries and understanding about the smallest molecules in the body that can have a momentous impact on human health.
The Parkinson's puzzle: Developing an assay to identify components in protein structures to aid diagnosis, tretment
As part of a new initiative to speed the search for changes in the body that can help predict, diagnose, or monitor Parkinson's disease, a research team led by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory recently received a grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Scientists from PNNL, University of Miami, Baylor College of Medicine, and Rush University have teamed to identify new components of the Lewy bodies that accumulate in the brain during Parkinson's, and then use ultra-sensitive methods to see if any of these proteins have leaked into cerebrospinal fluid or blood.
Two articles indicate corrleations between autism and vaccinations
Recent finds in two articles in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A indicate correlations between autism and vaccinations. With the rapid rise of autism in the United States that began in the 1990s, these articles titled "A Positive Association found between Autism Prevalence and Childhood Vaccination uptake across the U.S. Population" and "Hepatitis B Vaccination of Male Neonates and Autism Diagnosis" in Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A may answer some questions as to why there is an increase in cases of this disorder.
Research provides clues to alcohol addiction vulnerability
(Medical Xpress)—A Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center team studying alcohol addiction has new research that might shed light on why some drinkers are more susceptible to addiction than others.
Foods can help fight inflammation
Inflammation is the body's normal response to injury. While it may be a natural defense system, it can lead to disease development if it becomes chronic. A University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) expert says one way to fight inflammation is with food.
If you think seatbelt use inconvenient, consider the inconvenience of being injured
Since most driving is done locally, it should not be surprising that most auto accidents occur during local errands. Yet, occasional seatbelt users are more likely to buckle up for trips on high speed roads, according to an analysis of data from 100 instrumented vehicles reported in the January 2013 issue of Accident Analysis and Prevention.
Research yields significant insights into a common form of autism
Identifying and understanding the combination of factors that leads to autism is an ongoing scientific challenge. This developmental disorder appears in the first three years of life, and affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills. Results from a study led by Larry T. Reiter, PhD, at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) are providing significant insights into the disorder through the study of a specific form of autism caused by a duplication on chromosome 15. This month his work appears in Autism Research, the official journal of the International Society for Autism Research.
Researchers scoring a win-win with novel set of concussion diagnostic tools
From Junior Seau, former San Diego Chargers linebacker, to Dave Duerson, former Chicago Bears safety—who both committed suicide as a result of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)—traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have been making disturbing headlines at an alarming rate. In the United States alone, TBIs account for an estimated 1.6 million to 3.8 million sports injuries every year, with approximately 300,000 of those being diagnosed among young, nonprofessional athletes. But TBIs are not confined to sports; they are also considered a signature wound among soldiers of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Researchers find parent-child violence leads to teen dating violence
Teens today are involved in intimate relationships at a much younger age and often have different definitions of what is acceptable behavior in a relationship. Violence is something that is all too common and according to researchers at Iowa State it is a reflection of the relationships teens have with their parents or their parent's partner.
Pathological thickening of the cardiac wall halted
The heart responds to the increased stress caused by chronically raised blood pressure, for example, by thickening its wall muscle. In the late stage of this condition, a risk of heart failure arises. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research have now succeeded in identifying a key molecule in the molecular signalling cascade responsible for this growth. Based on this discovery, they managed to achieve a significant reduction in cardiac wall thickening in animal experiments. In addition, they managed to partly reduce existing thickening of the cardiac wall.
Human emotion: We report our feelings in 3-D
Like it or not and despite the surrounding debate of its merits, 3-D is the technology du jour for movie-making in Hollywood. It now turns out that even our brains use 3 dimensions to communicate emotions.
Scientists examine proton radiography of brain mockup
Los Alamos researchers and German collaborators have investigated the application of giga-electron volt (GeV, or billion electron volts) energy proton beams for medical imaging in combination with proton radiation treatment for cancer.
New insights into the development of the heart
Viewed from the outside, our body looks completely symmetrical. However, most internal organs – including the heart – are formed asymmetrically. The right side of the heart is responsible for pulmonary circulation; the left side supplies the rest of the body. This asymmetry allows the heart to do its job effectively. In a study on zebrafish embryos, the researchers Dr. Justus Veerkamp and PD Dr. Salim Seyfried from the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch have now shown how the left and right sides of the heart develop differently. Their findings were published in the journal Developmental Cell.
Study finds strong genetic component to childhood obesity
Previous research has shown that obesity runs in families, and twin studies suggest that this is largely due to genetic factors, with heritability estimates over 50%. 32 genes have been identified as risk factors for obesity but previous analyses suggest that these genes alone cannot fully explain the high level of heritability in childhood obesity, as together they explain only 2% of individual differences in childhood body weight. This has led to a problem of 'missing heritability'.
New study identifies unique mechanisms of antibiotic resistance
As public health authorities across the globe grapple with the growing problem of antibiotic resistance, Tufts University School of Medicine microbiologists and colleagues have identified the unique resistance mechanisms of a clinical isolate of E. coli resistant to carbapenems. Carbapenems are a class of antibiotics used as a last resort for the treatment of disease-causing bacteria, including E. coli and Klebsiella pneumonia, which can cause serious illness and even death. Infections involving resistant strains fail to respond to antibiotic treatments, which can lead to prolonged illness and greater risk of death, as well as significant public health challenges due to increased transmission of infection. The study, published in the April issue of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, demonstrates the lengths to which bacteria will go to become resistant to antibiotics.
Flu vaccine linked to narcolepsy in under 30s: study
A vaccine used in Sweden in the 2009-2010 "swine flu" pandemic is linked to a higher risk of the sleeping disorder narcolepsy among under 30s, and not just children and teens as previously thought, a Swedish study showed Tuesday.
Emirati man dies of SARS-linked virus in Germany (Update)
A man from the United Arab Emirates who was infected with a new SARS-related virus has died in Munich, German authorities said Tuesday.
French health estimates delve into Pill risk
A French drug watchdog on Tuesday released estimates for blood clots linked to birth control pills in the wake of fears that so-called third- and fourth-generation oral contraceptives boost a small risk of dangerous thrombosis.
Major advance in understanding risky but effective multiple sclerosis treatment
A new study by Multiple Sclerosis researchers at three leading Canadian centres addresses why bone marrow transplantation (BMT) has positive results in patients with particularly aggressive forms of MS. The transplantation treatment, which is performed as part of a clinical trial and carries potentially serious risks, virtually stops all new relapsing activity as observed upon clinical examination and brain MRI scans. The study reveals how the immune system changes as a result of the transplantation. Specifically, a sub-set of T cells in the immune system known as Th17 cells, have a substantially diminished function following the treatment. The finding to be published in the upcoming issue of Annals of Neurology and currently in the early online version, provides important insight into how and why BMT treatment works as well as how relapses may develop in MS.
A big gulp: Patients with swallowing difficulties could soon be more effectively tested
Those suffering from swallowing difficulties, especially stroke patients, could be evaluated more efficiently and noninvasively thanks to research under way at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Toronto.
Researchers find novel mechanism regulating replication of insulin-producing beta cells
Bringing scientists a step closer to new treatments for diabetes, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and The Mount Sinai Medical Center have discovered a novel mechanism that regulates the replication of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The findings were recently published online ahead of print in Diabetes, a journal of the American Diabetes Association.
People with depression may not reap full benefits of healthy behaviors
Depression may inhibit the anti-inflammatory effects typically associated with physical activity and light-to-moderate alcohol consumption, according to researchers at Duke Medicine.
Vitamin D may lower diabetes risk in obese children and adolescents, study finds
Childhood and adolescent obesity rates in the United States have increased dramatically in the past three decades. Being obese puts individuals at greater risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, a disease in which individuals have too much sugar in their blood. Now, University of Missouri researchers found vitamin D supplements can help obese children and teens control their blood-sugar levels, which may help them stave off the disease.
Sexual agreements among gay couples show promise for HIV prevention
The majority of gay men in relationships say they establish a "sexual agreement" with their partner, primarily to prevent the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, according to a University of Michigan study.
Brief mindfulness training may boost test scores, working memory
Mindfulness training may help to boost standardized test scores and improve working memory, according to a new study in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Supplement aids age-related macular degeneration
(HealthDay)—A supplement containing a combination of lutein, zeaxanthin, and ω-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) significantly benefits patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a study published online March 21 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Temporary tattoos may leave permanent damage
(HealthDay)—As thousands of college students head to sunny spots for spring break, getting temporary tattoos may seem like a fun thing to do. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that they can cause blisters and permanent scarring.
Commonly used cholesterol calculation underestimates heart disease danger for many
In what promises to be an eye-opener for many doctors and patients who routinely depend on cholesterol testing, a study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that the standard formula used for decades to calculate low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels is often inaccurate. Of most concern, the researchers say, is their finding that the widely used formula underestimates LDL where accuracy matters most—in the range considered desirable for high-risk patients. Results of the study are published in an online article, ahead of print, in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Many cancer institution websites lack nutritional guidance, others give mixed messages
Radiation oncologists at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital are stressing the need for evidence-based, standardized guidelines on dietary recommendations for cancer patients—and with good reason. A new analysis revealed that online dietary recommendations for cancer patients, if even present on an institution's website, appear to be consistently inconsistent.
Certified stroke centers more likely to give clot-busting drugs
Stroke patients are three times more likely to receive clot-busting medication if treated at a certified stroke center, according to a study in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Chelation therapy may result in small reduction of risk of CV events
Although chelation therapy with the drug disodium EDTA has been used for many years with limited evidence of efficacy for the treatment of coronary disease, a randomized trial that included patients with a prior heart attack found that use of a chelation regimen modestly reduced the risk of a composite of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, but the findings do not support the routine use of chelation therapy for treatment of patients who have had a heart attack, according to a study in the March 27 issue of JAMA.
Azithromycin may provide benefit for treatment of respiratory disorder
Among patients with the lung disorder non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, treatment with the antibiotic azithromycin resulted in improvement in symptoms but also increased the risk of antibiotic resistance, according to a study appearing in the March 27 issue of JAMA.
Antibiotic may provide benefit for treatment of respiratory disorder
Among patients with the lung disorder non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, treatment with the antibiotic erythromycin resulted in improvement in symptoms but also increased the risk of antibiotic resistance, according to a study appearing in the March 27 issue of JAMA.
Review article examines sublingual immunotherapy for treatment of allergic rhinitis and asthma
In an examination of a type of treatment for allergic rhinitis and asthma that is used in Europe but not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, researchers found moderate strength in the evidence from previous studies to support the use of sublingual immunotherapy for the treatment of these conditions, according to an article in the March 27 issue of JAMA. Sublingual immunotherapy involves administration of aqueous allergens under the tongue for local absorption to desensitize the allergic individual over an extended treatment period to diminish allergic symptoms.
Potential Chagas vaccine candidate shows unprecedented efficacy
Scientists are getting closer to a Chagas disease vaccine, something many believed impossible only 10 years ago. Research from the Sealy Center for Vaccine Development at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston has resulted in a safe vaccine candidate that is simple to produce and shows a greater than 90 percent protection rate against chronic infection in mice.
Early-onset baldness in African-American men may be linked to prostate cancer
Baldness was associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer among African-American men, and risk for advanced prostate cancer increased with younger age and type of baldness, according to data published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Ganetespib shows potency against ALK-positive lung cancer and overcomes crizotinib resistance
A drug that indirectly impairs the function of several cancer-driving proteins, including anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), may be an effective new treatment for patients with ALK—positive non-small cell lung cancer.
Protein-rich breakfasts prevent unhealthy snacking in the evening
Breakfast might be the most important meal of the day, but up to 60 percent of American young people consistently skip it. Now, Heather Leidy, an assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, says eating a breakfast rich in protein significantly improves appetite control and reduces unhealthy snacking on high-fat or high-sugar foods in the evening, which could help improve the diets of more than 25 million overweight or obese young adults in the U.S.
Death in young children linked to their mother's poor health
In poorer countries, young children are more likely to die in the months before their mother's death, when she is seriously ill, and also in the period after her death, according to a study by international researchers published in this week's PLOS Medicine.
Battery-operated skin patch offers new option for migraine sufferers
(HealthDay)—The first skin patch approved to treat migraines offers patients an alternative to pills, nasal sprays and injections, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.
Researchers form new nerve cells—directly in the brain
The field of cell therapy, which aims to form new cells in the body in order to cure disease, has taken another important step in the development towards new treatments. A new report from researchers at Lund University in Sweden shows that it is possible to re-programme other cells to become nerve cells, directly in the brain.
You don't 'own' your own genes: Researchers raise alarm about loss of individual 'genomic liberty' due to gene patents
Humans don't "own" their own genes, the cellular chemicals that define who they are and what diseases they might be at risk for. Through more than 40,000 patents on DNA molecules, companies have essentially claimed the entire human genome for profit, report two researchers who analyzed the patents on human DNA. Their study, published March 25 in the journal Genome Medicine, raises an alarm about the loss of individual "genomic liberty."
Gene therapy may aid failing hearts
In an animal study, researchers at the University of Washington show that it was possible to use gene therapy to boost heart muscle function. The finding suggests that it might be possible to use this approach to treat patients whose hearts have been weakened by heart attacks and other heart conditions.
Details of gene pathways suggest fine-tuning drugs for child brain tumors
Pediatric researchers, investigating the biology of brain tumors in children, are finding that crucial differences in how the same gene is mutated may call for different treatments. A new study offers glimpses into how scientists will be using the ongoing flood of gene-sequencing data to customize treatments based on very specific mutations in a child's tumor.
Mice show innate ability to vocalize: Deaf or not, courting male mice make same sounds
Scientists have long thought that mice might serve as a model for how humans learn to vocalize. But new research led by scientists at Washington State University-Vancouver has found that, unlike humans and songbirds, mice do not learn how to vocalize.
Researchers build functional ovarian tissue in lab
A proof-of-concept study suggests the possibility of engineering artificial ovaries in the lab to provide a more natural option for hormone replacement therapy for women. In Biomaterials, a team from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center's Institute for Regenerative Medicine report that in the laboratory setting, engineered ovaries showed sustained release of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Predicting repeat offenders with brain scans: You be the judge
(Medical Xpress)—Despite the well known inaccuracies of polygraph lie detectors, they remain in widespread, if selective, use by the criminal justice system. While they are far from truth machines, if the person who is interviewed believes that they have caught in a lie, the prosecutorial sector can turn the thumbscrews so to speak. Predicting future arrest, however, is not something a polygraph can address—if the parolee doesn't even know if he or she might re-offend, how can a yes/no classifier? A study published yesterday in PNAS is the latest in a series of efforts to use fMRI to assign risk to the possibility of repeat offense. They do not claim to have found the repeat offense area of the brain, but rather determine this risk by proxy, namely a measure of impulsivity.
Biology news
Thailand seizes 104 smuggled endangered pangolins
The Thai navy on Tuesday said it had intercepted wildlife traffickers attempting to smuggle 104 endangered pangolins to China on the Mekong river.
Recent report contends feline friends killing wildlife at alarming rate: Experts say issue is more complex than that
Scientists from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently released a report in the journal Nature Communications that sought to estimate the number of wildlife killed by cats in the United States. The mainstream press seized on the study, which used previous small studies to generate a new estimate that put the U.S. death toll from cats at billions of birds and mammals annually. Within days, the story generated significant public outcry from cat lovers, as well as a handful of news outlets questioning the accuracy of the research itself.
Emus get GPS treatment
Murdoch University researchers will be placing GPS tracking devices on six emus to track their movements and habits in jarrah forest at Avon National Park.
Pig wasting syndrome costing farmers millions
Stark new figures show that a common pig virus, present on 99 per cent of pig farms has major economic implications for individual farmers and the pig industry as a whole, costing British farmers as much as £84 per pig (if the pig dies from the syndrome), and during epidemic periods, such as 2008, costing the pig industry £88M per year.
Study looks at why chickens overeat
The welfare of poultry could be improved by a discovery about how chickens regulate their appetites.
Madagascar needs $41mln to fight plague of locusts
Madagascar needs over $41 million (32 million euros) to battle a locust plague as swarms of insects blot out the sky in the south of the island nation, the Food and Agricultural Organization said Tuesday.
Hope for Galapagos wildlife threatened by marine invaders
Increasing tourism and the spread of marine invasive non-native species is threatening the unique plant and marine life around the Galapagos Islands.
Chimps, gorillas, other apes being lost to trade
The multibillion-dollar trade in illegal wildlife—clandestine trafficking that has driven iconic creatures like the tiger to near-extinction—is also threatening the survival of great apes, a new U.N. report says.
Cameras to track tiger numbers in Bangladesh census
Bangladesh is to launch a census of tigers next month living in the world's largest mangrove forest in a bid to determine the full extent of the threat to their survival, scientists said on Tuesday.
Superfast plant breeding slashes production times, research finds
(Phys.org) —Many plant breeding projects - such as those aiming to increase food production - depend on getting 'pure lines' of plants but this can take a lot of time as, up until now, it depended on self-pollination for several generations.
Happy honeybees: Student applying engineering research to agriculture
Small hive beetles are indigenous to Africa, but have been damaging beehives in the United States and Australia for several years. Rowan Sprague, a University of Virginia fourth-year student, wants to stop the half-centimeter pests.
Closing the gap between conservation and communities
(Phys.org) —In a world first study, researchers have developed a way for governments to balance the needs of society and industry with those of endangered wildlife and environments.
Ecological research leads to call to control feral pigs
(Phys.org) —University of Auckland research revealing the extent to which feral pigs can disturb forest vegetation and soils has led to a call for the animals to be controlled as a pest in areas of high ecological value.
Wet 2012 'catastrophic' for UK butterflies
Britain's butterflies suffered a "catastrophic" year in 2012 with almost all species declining as a result of torrential rains, according to a study published on Tuesday.
The latest genomic studies of wheat sheds new light on crop adaptation and domestication
The advanced online publication version of Nature today presents two manuscripts that provide an unprecedented glimpse into the adaptation and domestication of wheat. These achievements are the results of joint efforts led by the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), and BGI. The two projects sequenced and analyzed two ancestral wheat genomes of Triticum urartu and Aegilops tauschii, respectively, throwing light on the biology of the world's primary staple crop and providing valuable new resource for the genetic improvement of wheat.
Regulation recommendations so that biofuel plants don't become weeds
In the United States, only species listed on state or federal noxious weed lists are regulated, and those lists are often biased toward species that affect agricultural crops. Conversely, invasive plant council lists include species that affect natural landscapes but have no regulatory clout. After comparing the lists and how they are created, researchers at the University of Illinois's Energy Biosciences Institute have developed some suggestions on how to improve the regulation of all invasive plant species, including new biofuels plants.
DNA says lemur lookalikes are two new species
Scientists have identified two new species of mouse lemur, the saucer-eyed, teacup-sized primates native to the African island of Madagascar.
Fossil finds shed light on penguins' evolutionary past
Africa isn't the kind of place you might expect to find penguins. But one species lives along Africa's southern coast today, and newly found fossils confirm that as many as four penguin species coexisted on the continent in the past. Exactly why African penguin diversity plummeted to the one species that lives there today is still a mystery, but changing sea levels may be to blame, the researchers say.
Fruit flies fed organic diets are healthier than flies fed nonorganic diets, study finds
(Phys.org) —A new study looking at the potential health benefits of organic versus non-organic food found that fruit flies fed an organic diet recorded better health outcomes than flies fed a nonorganic diet.
In chimpanzees, hunting and meat-eating is a man's business
(Phys.org) —Observations of hunting and meat eating in our closest living relatives, chimpanzees, suggest that regular inclusion of meat in the diet is not a characteristic unique to Homo. Wild chimpanzees are known to consume vertebrate meat, but its actual dietary contribution is often unknown. Constraints on continual direct observation throughout the entire hunting season mean that behavioural observations are limited in their ability to accurately quantify meat consumption. An interdisciplinary team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, has now compared stable isotope data of wild chimpanzee hair keratin and bone collagen with behavioural observations and found that, in chimpanzees, hunting and meat-eating is male-dominated. These new results support previous behavioural observations of chimpanzees in Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire.
Genes without templates: Many genes are completely new inventions and not just modified copies of old genes
(Phys.org) —It is easier to copy something than to develop something new - a principle that was long believed to also apply to the evolution of genes. According to this, evolution copies existing genes and then adapts the copies to new tasks. However, scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön have now revealed that new genes often form from scratch. Their analyses of genes from mice, humans and fish have shown that new genes are shorter than old ones and simpler in structure. These and other differences between young and old genes indicate that completely new genes can also form from previously unread regions of the genome. Moreover, the new genes often use existing regulatory elements from other genes before they create their own.
Novel way plants pass traits to next generation found: Inheritance behavior in corn breaks accepted rules of genetics
New research explains how certain traits can pass down from one generation to the next – at least in plants – without following the accepted rules of genetics.
Overcoming multiple herbicide resistance
(Phys.org) —British scientists from several research facilities across the country have found that an enzyme called glutathione transferase which is known to neutralize toxins meant to stem the growth of tumors in humans, also appears to be responsible for helping two kinds of invasive grasses develop multiple herbicide resistance (MHR). The team has published the results of their study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Why sticking around is sometimes the better choice for males
Researchers from Lund University and the University of Oxford have been able to provide one answer as to why males in many species still provide paternal care, even when their offspring may not belong to them. The study finds that, when the conditions are right, sticking around despite being 'cuckolded' actually turns out to be the most successful evolutionary strategy. The study, by Charlie Cornwallis and colleagues, is published 26 March in the open access journal PLOS Biology.
Researchers discover how model organism Tetrahymena plays roulette with seven sexes
It's been more than fifty years since scientists discovered that the single-celled organism Tetrahymena thermophila has seven sexes. But in all that time, they've never known how each cell's sex, or "mating type," is determined; now they do. The new findings are published 26 March in the open access journal PLOS Biology.
Breakthrough in race to create 'bio-batteries'
(Phys.org) —Scientists at the University of East Anglia have made an important breakthrough in the quest to generate clean electricity from bacteria.
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