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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for June 4, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- May the force be with us? Precise measurements test quantum electrodynamics, constrain possible fifth fundamental force- New principle sets maximum limit on quantum information communication
- Distinguishing REM sleep from other conscious states
- Bell Labs researchers build camera with no lens
- Spintronics approach enables new quantum technologies
- How computers can learn better
- Roman seawater concrete holds the secret to cutting carbon emissions
- New bus system tops off batteries in just 15 seconds
- Biomarker could help scientists choose the right cell line when conducting stem cell experiments
- Bringing cheaper, 'greener' lighting to market with inkjet-printed hybrid quantum dot LEDs
- Seeing our errors keeps us on our toes
- Why innovation thrives in cities
- Study shows some male pheromones may cause other males to be more cooperative
- Economical non-precious-metal catalyst capitalizes on carbon nanotubes
- Astronomers discover light echo from supernova
Space & Earth news
Indonesia on right path to saving forests, Greenpeace says
A $1 billion deal to save Indonesia's rainforests has slowed a "tidal wave" of logging destruction, Greenpeace's global chief said Monday, but he warned much more needed to be done.
Germany shelves 'fracking' draft law for now
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives on Tuesday dropped plans for a draft law on "fracking" for the time being amid concerns by some coalition allies about the oil and gas extraction technique, sources said.
NASA commercial crew partner Boeing completes new spacecraft, rocket milestones
The Boeing Company of Houston, a NASA Commercial Crew Program (CCP) partner, recently performed wind tunnel testing of its CST-100 spacecraft and integrated launch vehicle, the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket. The testing is part of NASA's Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) initiative, intended to make commercial human spaceflight services available for government and commercial customers.
Rare noctilucent clouds seen over Northern Ireland
Armagh Observatory reports that rare noctilucent clouds were observed over Northern Ireland on the night of the 30/31 May. The so-called "night shining" clouds take various forms ranging from delicate feathery structures to streamers, ripples and waves, and usually have a silvery grey or electric-blue colour. They are a summer phenomenon which can only be seen at night and when the Sun is between approximately 5 and 15 degrees below the observer's horizon. At our latitudes this means that they often appear low towards the northern horizon during the summer months May to August, either after sunset or before sunrise.
Japan signals commitment to the TMT project
In an important milestone for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project, Japan, one of the project's five international partners, has indicated its strong national backing for the next-generation astronomical observatory.
'Watering the forest for the trees' emerging as priority for forest management
A new analysis led by the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Research Station encourages resource managers to consider a broadened view of forests as consumers of water.
NASA image: California's powerhouse fire at night
From its orbit around the Earth, the NASA-NOAA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite or Suomi NPP satellite, captured a night-time image of California's Powerhouse Fire.
NASA MASTER infrared view of the Powerhouse Fire, California
NASA's MASTER instrument captured this infrared composite image of California's Powerhouse Fire. The MASTER image shows the intensity of the heat from the fire in different colors.
NASA image: Fires in eastern China
NASA's Aqua satellite captured multiple plumes of smoke from agricultural fires and industrial pollution in China. The smoke and haze stretches from Inner Mongolia, located north of Beijing, south and west including the provinces of Hebei, Shedong, Henan, Shanxi, Hubai, Hunan, and Chongqing.
Oil spill sullies river in Ecuador
A Petroecuador pipeline ruptured in Ecuador's Amazon basin region, spilling 10,000 barrels of crude into a river and alarming locals left without fresh well water, authorities said Monday.
To save corals, save the forests, study says
Conservationists fighting to save coastal coral reefs should think first about combatting local deforestation rather than attacking the wider peril of global warming, suggests an unusual study published on Tuesday.
The intensity of land use doubled in the 20th century
The growth of green plants – which can be measured in terms of "net primary production", or NPP for short – provides the energetic foundation for all life on earth. The share of NPP appropriated by humans (HANPP) through agriculture and forestry, bioenergy production, and vegetation fires doubled over the course of the past century. Researchers at the Institute of Social Ecology at the AAU have shown that while land is used more efficiently, simultaneously, the intensity of land use has increased continuously. In a study published in PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences), researchers warn that an increased expansion of bioenergy use would drastically raise HANPP to over 40%.
Sunrise 2: A journey to the active Sun
(Phys.org) —Four years after its first mission, the Sunrise team is preparing the balloon-borne solar observatory for a second flight. The launch is expected in the next days.
2013 North Atlantic hurricane forecast predicts above-average season
Scientists at the Florida State University Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies (COAPS) who developed a unique computer model with a knack for predicting hurricanes with unprecedented accuracy are forecasting a season of above-average activity.
Music of the spheres: Star Songs
(Phys.org) —Plato, the Greek philosopher and mathematician, described music and astronomy as "sister sciences" that both encompass harmonious motions, whether of instrument strings or celestial objects. This philosophy of a "Music of the Spheres" was symbolic. However, modern technology is creating a true music of the spheres by transforming astronomical data into unique musical compositions.
Exhaust fumes only third of traffic pollution problem
Vehicle exhausts are responsible for only a third of traffic pollution, according to new research.
New chief urges Ariane 5 modification for big satellites
The new head of European satellite launch firm Arianespace on Tuesday called for a fast-track modification of the Ariane 5 launcher to help it place larger satellites into orbit.
New Australasian Antarctic expedition
To celebrate the centenary of Sir Douglas Mawson's 1911-1914 expedition to Antarctica, two University of New South Wales scientists are leading a modern-day voyage to retrace the route taken by the great Australian scientist and explorer.
Crashed asteroid has a tail that keeps getting longer
A strange comet-like object discovered in 2010 ended up being an asteroid that had been the victim of a head-on collision from another space rock. The object created a bit of buzz because of its mysterious X-shaped debris pattern and long, trailing streamers of dust. Named P/2010 A2 (LINEAR), the object is located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and has been the focus of much study, including images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope and many ground-based observatories. But over time, the asteroid's long dust tail has grown to be so long that the entire object can't fit into the field of view of most observatories.
Rocket to launch from US to study galaxy creation
A rocket set to launch from Virginia's Wallops Island Flight Facility will study how the first galaxy was formed.
NASA's IRIS mission to launch in June
Lying just above the sun's surface is an enigmatic region of the solar atmosphere called the interface region. A relatively thin region, just 3,000 to 6,000 miles thick, it pulses with movement: Zones of different temperature and density are scattered throughout, while energy and heat course through the solar material.
NASA's IceBridge mission contributes to new map of Antarctica
(Phys.org) —A new dataset called Bedmap2 gives a clearer picture of Antarctica from the ice surface down to the bedrock below. Bedmap2 is a significant improvement on the previous collection of Antarctic data—known as Bedmap—that was produced more than 10 years ago. The product was a result of work led by the British Antarctic Survey, where researchers compiled decades worth of geophysical measurements, such as surface elevation measurements from NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite, known as ICESat, and ice thickness data collected by Operation IceBridge.
Scientists find that Fukushima-derived radioactivity in seafood poses minimal health risk
(Phys.org) —In 2012, Nicholas Fisher a distinguished professor in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) at Stony Brook University and postdoctoral scholar Zosia Baumann, working with a colleague at Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station, reported that they had detected radioactivity in Pacific bluefin tuna swimming off the California coast. The source of the radioactivity was Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi powerplants, which were damaged by the strong earthquake and subsequent tsunami on 11 March 2011 and released large quantities of radioactivity into the Pacific Ocean. The news prompted widespread media interest and speculation as to the possible risks to seafood consumers posed by the levels of radioactivity found in the tuna.
Australian lake untouched by climate change
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have found that a lake on an island off the coast of Queensland has been relatively untouched by changes in climate for the past 7000 years, and has so far also resisted the impact of humans.
Galaxy in its death throes may hold clues to birth of dwarf systems
(Phys.org) —A bright dwarf galaxy relatively close to Earth's Milky Way and trailing fireballs is the first clear example of a galaxy in the act of dying, scientists argue in new research.
Solving a 3.5 billion-year-old mystery: Team determines life-producing phosphorus was carried to Earth by meteorite
(Phys.org) —Scientists may not know for certain whether life exists in outer space, but new research from a team of scientists led by a University of South Florida astrobiologist now shows that one key element that produced life on Earth was carried here on meteorites.
Little telescope discovers metal-poor cousin of famous planet
A scientific team led by University of Louisville doctoral student Karen Collins has discovered a hot Saturn-like planet in another solar system 700 light-years away.
Hubble maps 3-D structure of ejected material around erupting star
(Phys.org) —A flash of light from a stellar outburst has provided a rare look at the 3-D structure of material ejected by an erupting nova.
Astronomers discover light echo from supernova
(Phys.org) —Astronomers have discovered light echoing off material surrounding a recent supernova explosion, SN 2009ig. The dust and gas that are reflecting the light are so close to the eruption center that it is likely related to the progenitor star. This discovery supports the theory that exploding white dwarfs become unstable from matter donated by large, non-degenerate stars.
Technology news
Dell trimmed CEO's pay by 14 pct amid PC slump
Dell Inc. trimmed CEO Michael Dell's pay by 14 percent to $13.9 million last year amid a slump that culminated in a proposed $24.4 billion deal that could end the personal computer maker's 25-year history as a publicly traded company.
How satellites could be used to devise a warning system against the disease
Cholera remains one of the most prevalent water-related infections in many tropical regions of the world, specifically coastal areas of South Asia, Africa, and Latin America. We now know how to treat cholera patients, and hence mortality for cholera has considerably decreased in several parts of the globe.
Contracts awarded in new generation ocean robot project
The next generation of ocean-going robotic vehicles will be developed by two cutting-edge technology companies from the South Coast of England, working with the UK's National Oceanography Centre.
Cubans try out new public Internet centers
(AP)—Cubans lined up Tuesday to try out computers newly wired to the World Wide Web as authorities began offering Internet at more than 100 public access points around the island.
Romania decree threatens green energy projects
Romania's centre-left government on Tuesday adopted a decree cutting incentives for renewable energy, which experts say could drive investors away and put on hold a booming industry.
France opens new front in war with Internet giants
France's culture minister has branded online retailer Amazon a "destroyer" of bookshops in the latest confrontation between the Socialist government in Paris and America's giants of the digital economy.
Official describes rampant computer hacking at VA
(AP)—A former computer security chief at the Department of Veterans Affairs is telling lawmakers that at least eight foreign-sponsored organizations have hacked into the department's computer networks in recent years or were actively trying to do so.
Apple enlists Winnie-the-Pooh in e-book argument
(AP)—An Apple Inc. lawyer is using Winnie-the-Pooh and tens of millions of customers too to try to convince a judge that the computer giant did not manipulate e-book prices when it opened an online bookstore.
NATO to set up cyber-defence rapid reaction teams (Update)
NATO defence ministers agreed Tuesday to set up rapid reaction teams to help defend the military alliance against a growing number of cyber-attacks, many of them blamed on China.
Silicon Valley at front line of global cyber war
Chinese President Xi Jinping and American counterpart Barack Obama will talk cyber-security this week in California, but experts say the state's Silicon Valley and its signature high-tech firms should provide the front lines in the increasingly aggressive fight against overseas hackers.
Researchers develop method for recycling plastic with printed ink
Researchers at the University of Alicante have developed a procedure that removes printed ink on plastic films used in flexible packaging getting a product free from ink and suitable for recycling.
Interactive public displays not being used to full potential, says research
Interactive public information displays and wallflowers have something in common, according to University of Sydney information technologies researchers: they simply sit around hoping someone will notice them.
Distracted drivers: Your habits are to blame
(Phys.org) —More than a decade of research has shown that using a handheld or hands-free phone while driving is not safe because the brain does not have enough mental capacity to safely perform both tasks at once.
Salesforce.com buying ExactTarget for $2.34B
Salesforce.com will spend more than $2.3 billion to buy marketing software company ExactTarget.
US safety agency may expand GM air bag recall
U.S. safety regulators are checking to see if up to 400,000 General Motors cars should be added to two recalls for defective air bags.
IBM buys 'cloud' computing company SoftLayer (Update)
IBM on Tuesday announced a deal to buy SoftLayer Technologies in a move aimed at ramping up its ability to offer businesses and governments computing services hosted in the Internet 'cloud.'
Russia's Mariinsky theatre premieres 3D Swan Lake
In a first for ballet, Russia's legendary Mariinsky theatre will project every pirouette of its classic "Swan Lake" in 3D to cinema audiences around the world this week, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday.
Study finds disincentives to energy efficiency can be fixed
A new study finds that utilities aren't rewarded for adopting energy efficiency programs, and that reforms are needed to make energy efficiency as attractive as renewables.
Porn app for Google Internet glasses faces hurdles
The makers of a porn app for Google's Internet-linked eyewear were modifying the software Tuesday in response to a move by the company to keep sex off the new devices.
Smartphones to have 'watershed' year, IDS expects
Smartphone sales will eclipse those of basic mobile phones this year for the first time as desire for handheld computing power grows, a market tracker said Tuesday.
Google to power Finnish data centre with wind energy
Google said Tuesday it had entered a ten-year deal with a Swedish wind farm developer to power a data centre in Finland.
Bill Gates backs social network for researchers
Microsoft co-founder turned philanthropist Bill Gates on Tuesday joined backers of a social network aimed at promoting scientific breakthroughs such as life-saving medicines.
Solar plane lands in US Midwest after 21 hour flight (Update)
The Solar Impulse, a single-person solar-powered aircraft piloted by a Swiss adventurer, landed in St. Louis, Missouri early Tuesday on its transcontinental flight after more than 21 hours in the air.
Crash-testing lithium-ion batteries
Lithium-ion batteries are lightweight, fully rechargeable, and can pack a lot of energy into a small volume—making them attractive as power sources for hybrid and electric vehicles.
New navigation system for airplanes modernizes old technology
(Phys.org) —Research at Oregon State University has developed a new airplane navigation system based on concepts that were developed in the 1940s but are still popular and affordable, and it uses new technology to make the system even smaller, simpler and more accurate.
White House moves to curb 'patent trolls' (Update 2)
The White House moved Tuesday to crack down on abuses of the patent system, responding to mounting concern among technology companies over a flood of litigation which some say stifles innovation.
New bus system tops off batteries in just 15 seconds
(Phys.org) —A new type of battery bus system being tested in Switzerland is able to operate continually by making use of flash-charging stations. Called Trolleybus Optimisation Systeme Alimentation (TOSA), the new bus and recharging system is currently being tested on a one mile route in Geneva between the city's airport and international exhibition center.
Georgia Tech trio to reveal iOS test exploit at Black Hat
(Phys.org) —Apple's iOS devices such as smartphones are considered relatively secure, so when an Apple customer pays more for an Apple device with iOS there is that reassuring feeling of confidence that the investment is worth it for security sake. Next month at the Black Hat conference, however, three security researchers from Georgia Tech will show that using chargers to power up iOS devices may be a direct path to insecurity. The three, Billy Lau, Yeongjin Jang, and Chengyu Song, will discuss how their proof of concept charger can hack Apple devices easily, in under a minute—and, we might add, hack devices running the latest version of Apple iOS.
US panel backs Samsung, bans older Apple devices
A U.S. trade agency says it is banning imports of Apple's iPhone 4 after finding the device violates a patent held by rival Samsung Electronics.
How computers can learn better
Reinforcement learning is a technique, common in computer science, in which a computer system learns how best to solve some problem through trial-and-error. Classic applications of reinforcement learning involve problems as diverse as robot navigation, network administration and automated surveillance.
Bell Labs researchers build camera with no lens
(Phys.org) —A small team of researchers at Bell Labs in New Jersey has built a camera that has no lens. Instead, as they explain in their paper they've uploaded to the preprint server arXiv, the camera uses a LCD array, a photoelectric sensor and a computer to create always in-focus pictures.
Medicine & Health news
Health of nation reviewed with focus on emergency care
(HealthDay)—Recent trends in the health of the nation are described, with particular focus on emergency care, in the 36th annual report published by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Obama calls for national debate on mental health
(HealthDay)— The United States must bring the issue of mental illness "out of the shadows" with a more vigorous national discussion, President Barack Obama said Monday in opening a one-day White House conference on mental health.
Improving voice outcomes after thyroid surgery
The American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation on Tuesday published a new Clinical Practice Guideline on "Improving Voice Outcomes after Thyroid Surgery" to recognize the importance of the patient's voice and the potential impact thyroid surgery can have on it.
National review: Non-adherence among teenage heart transplant recipients is widespread, often fatal
After receiving an organ transplant, patients must follow a regimented medication routine to maintain the health of their graft (transplanted organ). Failure to do so, known as non-adherence (NA), can result in life-threatening illness. NA has long been a concern among adolescent patients, but a new study from Boston Children's Hospital demonstrates the problem may be more serious than previously understood.
Less than half of dying patients are placed on a nationally recommended care pathway
Less than half of terminally ill patients are placed on the Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient (LCP) despite it being recommended nationally, concludes UK research published online in the BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care journal.
Simple screening test at UCLA catches newborn's hidden heart condition
Before he was discharged from the hospital, baby Gaël Villegas received the standard panel of newborn screenings to check for genetic and metabolic diseases and hearing. The results showed a healthy baby.
Hong Kong man finds he is a woman after doctor visit
A 66-year-old who lived his whole life as a man was given a surprising diagnosis after visiting the doctor in Hong Kong with a swollen abdomen—he was a woman.
Assembly approves medical marijuana dispensaries
(AP)—Nevada lawmakers want to give medical marijuana users a legal way to obtain the drug 13 years after voters legalized medicinal pot in the state constitution.
Cancer pain could be reduced with fewer radiation treatments
New results from the NCIC Clinical Trials Group (CTG) at Queen's University have shown that fewer radiation treatments can help relieve pain caused by the spread of cancer to bones. Specifically, the research shows patients could benefit from a single radiation treatment as compared with a treatment given daily for five or more days.
Antibody search CiteAb lists its 1 millionth antibody
CiteAb, the world's largest independent citation-ranked antibody search engine, has today announced that it now lists 1 million antibodies.
EORTC intergroup trial opens for patients with resected head of pancreas adenocarcinoma
Surgical resection is considered a potentially curative treatment for pancreatic adenocarcinoma, however, the five year survival rate of patients receiving this treatment is less than 20 percent. Adjuvant treatment, therefore, is used to prevent recurrence and improve survival for these patients.
Research determines feasibility of newborn screening
Research by UA medical student Lucy Han finds that implementing recommended pulse oximetry screening guidelines is feasible at Tucson's elevation. A recent simple pulse oximetry test revealed a potentially life-threatening critical congenital heart defect in a newborn that was surgically repaired at The University of Arizona Medical Center-University Campus.
Secondhand smoke causes longer hospitalization in infants with respiratory infections
More evidence has surfaced that supports the war on smoking, especially if smokers have an infant in their household. A study published today in the June issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), found that infants with a family history of allergic disease with lower respiratory tract infections, who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at risk for longer hospital stays.
Emergency department visits from beach injuries more common than previously reported
(Medical Xpress)—Injuries to people swimming at the beach are more common and severe than previously documented, according to a recent study by the Delaware Sea Grant College Program and Beebe Medical Center.
Breast cancer: New genetic test measures risk of metastases
Patients suffering from breast cancer in which the lymph nodes are already affected usually receive prophylactic chemotherapy which sometimes entails many side effects. Scientists at the Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna (CCC), a joint establishment of the MedUni Vienna and the Vienna General Hospital, demonstrate in a current study that the risk of metastasis can be measured with a new multi-gene test. Patients, who are not at risk, can in future – the test is not yet carried out routinely – be spared this gruelling treatment.
Fear: A justified response or faulty wiring?
Fear is one of the most primal feelings known to man and beast. As we develop in society and learn, fear is hard coded into our neural circuitry through the amygdala, a small, almond-shaped nuclei of neurons within the medial temporal lobe of the brain. For psychologists and neurologists, the amygdala is a particularly interesting region of the brain because it plays a role in emotional learning and can have profound effects on human and animal behavior.
EORTC BOS 2 trial opens for patients with resectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most frequent cause of cancer-related mortality in both Europe and the United States. Treatment for patients with resectable hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer consists of surgery combined with chemotherapy, but recurrence is observed in two thirds of these patients. In order to improve the outcome for these patients, EORTC trial 40091 – BOS 2 will test the efficacy of adding bevacizumab or panitumumab to the standard treatment, peri-operative FOLFOX 4 chemotherapy.
Exposure to rocket attacks in Israel increases adolescent violence, study says
Chronic exposure to rocket attacks launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel is causing an increase in severe adolescent violence, according to a new study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers.
Rates of emergency bowel surgery vary wildly from state to state
Johns Hopkins researchers have documented huge and somewhat puzzling interstate variations in the percentage of emergency versus elective bowel surgeries. Figuring out precisely why the differences occur is critical, they say, because people forced to undergo emergency procedures are far more likely to die from their operations than those able to plan ahead for them.
Jury still out on bariatric surgery for patients with moderate obesity and diabetes
Bariatric surgery such as gastric bypass is associated with better short-term control of abnormal blood sugar and more weight loss than conventional nonsurgical therapy in diabetic patients who are moderately obese, but there is not enough evidence to more widely recommend the procedure, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
Frozen berry mix linked to hepatitis A recalled
(AP)—An Oregon company is recalling a frozen berry mix sold to Costco and Harris Teeter stores after the product was linked to at least 34 hepatitis A illnesses in five states.
Can genetic analysis of breast milk help identify ways to improve a newborn's diet?
The composition of breast milk varies from mother to mother, and genetic factors may affect the levels of protective components in breast milk that could influence a newborn's outcomes. The potential to perform genomic studies on breast milk samples is explored in a Review article in Breastfeeding Medicine, the Official Journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine.
Adult male victims of sex assault seek out five or more medical services
While only a small percentage of adult males who are victims of sex assault report the crime, a new study by Women's College Research Institute (WCRI) and the Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres (ONSA/DVTCs) shows of those who do, an overwhelming majority—almost 90 per cent—use five or more services ranging from counselling to medical care and treatment.
AAOS releases revised clinical practice guideline for osteoarthritis of the knee
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) recently released its revised clinical practice guideline (CPG) on the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee, addressing two key changes. Most of the remaining recommendations provided in the 2009 CPG go unchanged. CPGs are not meant to be stand-alone documents, but rather serve as a point of reference and educational tool for both primary care physicians and orthopaedic surgeons.
Not really 'bath salts'—paper provides update on 'designer stimulants'
The last few years have seen the emergence of a new drug problem in so-called "bath salts"—actually "designer stimulants," packaged and sold in ways that skirt drug laws. A review and update on these designer drugs is presented in the June Journal of Addiction Medicine, the official journal of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
Research on household air pollution must be a global health priority
Addressing the burden of household air pollution from solid fuel combustion— the leading environmental cause of death and disability in the world—has led to the implementation of many important interventions to promote access to improved stoves and clean fuels, but there is little demonstrated evidence of health benefits from most of these programs or technologies. Such are the conclusions of a new Policy Forum article published in this week's PLOS Medicine by authors who also outline a set of research priorities for addressing household air pollution.
Judge halts Royalty Pharma's bid for Elan stock
Irish drugmaker Elan Corp.'s fight against a takeover bid by Royalty Pharma has spilled into U.S. federal court, where a judge has issued a temporary restraining order preventing Royalty from completing its offer to buy the company.
ASCO: Case of acquired resistance to crizotinib ID'd
(HealthDay)—A case of acquired resistance to crizotinib has been described in a patient with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma harboring a CD74-ROS1 rearrangement, according to a brief report published online June 1 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, held from May 31 to June 4 in Chicago.
Weather conditions do not affect fibromyalgia pain or fatigue
Dutch researchers report that weather conditions including temperature, sunshine, and precipitation have no impact on fibromyalgia symptoms in female patients. Results published in Arthritis Care & Research, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), suggest that individual patients may be sensitive to some changes in the weather.
Altered neural circuitry may lead to anorexia and bulimia
Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa—disorders characterized by extreme eating behavior and distorted body image—are among the deadliest of psychiatric disorders, with few proven effective treatments.
Surgery for obsessive compulsive disorder sufferers is safe and effective
Around half of people with an extreme form of obsessive compulsive disorder responded well to a type of psychosurgery that proved to be safe and effective, according to research published online in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, & Psychiatry.
Dogs, humans affected by OCD have similar brain abnormalities
Another piece of the puzzle to better understand and treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) has fallen into place with the publication of new research that shows that the structural brain abnormalities of Doberman pinschers afflicted with canine compulsive disorder (CCD) are similar to those of humans with OCD. The research suggests that further study of anxiety disorders in dogs may help find new therapies for OCD and similar conditions in humans.
Alzheimer's leaves clues in blood
Alzheimer researchers in Spain have taken a step closer to finding a blood test to help in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
Independent payment advisory board's future questioned
(HealthDay)—Established as a part of the efforts of Affordable Care Act (ACA) to contain health care costs, the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) has been surrounded by controversy, and still has no members, according to a perspective piece published online May 29 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Bone mineral density tx can be effective for young CF patients
(HealthDay)—For children and young adults with cystic fibrosis, adequate calcium intake plus calcifediol can improve bone mineral density, while alendronate can increase bone mineral density for some non-responders, according to a study published online June 2 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
MET protein levels show promise as biomarker for aggressive colon cancer
MET protein levels correlate strongly with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype, a treatment-resistant type of colorectal cancer and may be used as a surrogate biomarker, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Discovery points way to new treatments for painful circulation problem
(Medical Xpress)—A discovery at the University of Virginia School of Medicine is opening up new avenues for treating peripheral arterial disease, a common circulation problem that afflicts millions of Americans. Researchers have pinpointed a key genetic regulator that appears to control the ability to adapt to blockages in blood vessels – and it turns out to be a tiny RNA molecule.
Stem cells show potential to treat a leading cause of blindness
(Medical Xpress)—Stem cells derived from body fat show great potential for treating and possibly even reversing the effects of diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes that threatens the vision of millions, new research at the University of Virginia School of Medicine shows.
Drug resistance may make malaria parasites vulnerable to other substances
Malaria parasites that develop resistance to the most effective class of anti-malarial drugs may become susceptible to other treatments as a result. The discovery could reveal potential new drug options, which would be essential in the event of resistance to the best anti-malarials.
Promising drug prevents cancer cells from shutting down immune system
(Medical Xpress)—An investigational drug that targets the immune system's ability to fight cancer is showing promising results in Yale Cancer Center (YCC) patients with a variety of advanced or metastatic forms of the disease. Updated data from this Phase 1 clinical trial are being formally presented at the 2013 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago. Yale Cancer Center is one of the lead trial sites. The abstract was made public by ASCO in advance of the meeting.
Study reveals how enamel protects children's teeth
A new study has revealed that children's teeth are protected from damage during chewing by variation in enamel thickness along the tooth row.
Scientists help identify genes causing myopia
Two researchers from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) are taking an active role in a global study which has unlocked the genetic origin of myopia. Through their collaboration with the Consortium for Refractive Error and Myopia (CREAM), 24 genes leading to short-sightedness have been identified, thus paving the way for further research on the prevention and control of myopia.
Anti-smoking medication shows promise for treating alcohol dependence
A smoking-cessation medication may be a viable option for the treatment of alcohol dependence, according to a study by scientists at the National Institutes of Health. The study found that varenicline (marketed under the name Chantix), approved in 2006 to help people stop smoking, significantly reduced alcohol consumption and craving among people who are alcohol-dependent. The findings were published online in the Journal of Addiction Medicine.
Higher-activity jobs tied to sleep extremes, according to study
A study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has found that people who work in jobs that are more physically demanding tend to be either shorter sleepers (fewer than 6 hours a night) or longer sleepers (longer than 9 hours).
When DNA is out of place
When DNA that turns up in the wrong place in mammalian cells, the innate immune system reacts by secreting interferons. The structure and mode of action of the enzyme that mediates this response have now been elucidated.
Scientists find potential new clues for identifying breast cancer risk
New research provides critical insights into how normal breast precursor cells may be genetically vulnerable to develop into cancer. The research is published June 4th in the inaugural issue of Stem Cell Reports, an open-access journal from the International Society of Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) published by Cell Press. Scientists discovered that a particular class of normal breast precursor cells have extremely short chromosome ends (known as telomeres). As a result, these cells would be expected to be prone to acquiring mutations that lead to cancer if they managed to stay alive. These findings suggest new indicators for identifying women at higher risk for breast cancer and provide insights into potential new strategies to detect, treat, and prevent the disease.
Never forget a face? Researchers find women have better memory recall than men
New research from McMaster University suggests women can remember faces better than men, in part because they spend more time studying features without even knowing it, and a technique researchers say can help improve anyone's memories.
Neuroscience research examines neural synchronization patterns during addiction
A cross-disciplinary collaboration of researchers in the School of Science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) explores the neural synchrony between circuits in the brain and their behavior under simulated drug addiction. The two-year study could have broad implications for treating addiction and understanding brain function in conditions such as Parkinson's disease.
Anxious? Activate your anterior cingulate cortex with a little meditation
Scientists, like Buddhist monks and Zen masters, have known for years that meditation can reduce anxiety, but not how. Scientists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, however, have succeeded in identifying the brain functions involved.
New study explains cognitive ability differences among the elderly
A new study shows compelling evidence that associations between cognitive ability and cortical grey matter in old age can largely be accounted for by cognitive ability in childhood. The joint study by the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, The Neuro, McGill University and the University of Edinburgh, UK was published today, June 4 in Molecular Psychiatry.
Young parents don't stress over kids' media use: survey
(HealthDay)—Having grown up with gadgets galore, young parents aren't as worried about the potentially corrosive effects of too much screen time on their offspring, a new study suggests.
Fewer families struggling to pay medical bills: CDC
(HealthDay)—The proportion of families in the United States that can't keep up with their medical bills declined between 2011 and 2012, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the news might not necessarily be cause for celebration.
SARS-like tests in Italy were false positives
Eight people initially thought to have contracted a SARS-like virus in Italy tested negative on Tuesday after a second round of controls, according to Italy's Superior Health Institute (ISS).
US state moves to regulate GM foods
The small US state of Connecticut became the first to pass legislation requiring food products with genetically modified ingredients to be labeled as such.
Obese patients trust diet advice from overweight physicians more than normal-weight physicians
When it comes to taking diet advice from a physician—size matters. This is according to a new study led by a team of researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine who examined the impact of primary care physician BMI (body mass index) on their patients' trust and perceptions of weight-related stigma. They found that overweight and obese patients trust weight-related counseling from overweight physicians more than normal weight physicians and patients seeing an obese primary care physician were more likely to perceive weight-related stigma. The results are featured online in the June 2013 issue of Preventive Medicine.
Stories help patients make health decisions, researcher says
(Medical Xpress)—Stories often appear in health communication in order to encourage individuals to change behaviors, such as smoking or not wearing sunscreen. A University of Missouri researcher studied how stories influence patients' decision-making when behavior change is not the desired outcome of the health communication.
Zebrafish help identify mutant gene in rare muscle disease
Zebrafish with very weak muscles helped scientists decode the elusive genetic mutation responsible for Native American myopathy, a rare, hereditary muscle disease that afflicts Native Americans in North Carolina.
A reduction in BMI improves insulin sensitivity in obese teens
Obese teenagers who reduced their body mass index (BMI) by 8 percent or more had improvements in insulin sensitivity, an important metabolic factor related to the later development of type 2 diabetes. The teens followed a family-based, lifestyle-modification weight loss program that offers the potential to become a broader model.
Anesthetic for depression? Study finds low-dose ketamine effective
Low-dose intravenous infusions of ketamine, a general anesthetic used in minor surgeries, given over a long period are an effective treatment for depression, Mayo Clinic researchers found. The study is published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.
Heart health matters to your brain
June 4, 2013 – People suffering from type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are at an increased risk of cognitive decline, according to a new study from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
Researchers find half of those diagnosed with PTSD also suffer from depression
About one of every two people diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also suffer symptoms of depression, according to new research by Case Western Reserve University's Department of Psychological Sciences.
Older adult clumsiness linked to brain changes
For many older adults, the aging process seems to go hand-in-hand with an annoying increase in clumsiness—difficulties dialing a phone, fumbling with keys in a lock or knocking over the occasional wine glass while reaching for a salt shaker.
Candidate drug provides benefit in SMA animal models
In a new publication that appears in Human Molecular Genetics, the laboratory of Christine DiDonato, PhD reports on their pharmacological characterization of the drug RG3039, demonstrating that it can extend survival and improve function in two spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) mouse models. They have determined the minimum effective dose and drug action, thus contributing to dose selection and exposure estimates for the first studies with RG3039 in humans. As in cellular assays, the animal studies have shown that drug treatment leads to improvement in nuclear gem/Cajal body numbers in motor neurons. Gem loss is a cellular hallmark of fibroblasts derived from SMA patients; gem numbers inversely correlate with SMA disease severity. In addition, the laboratory has shown improved functional outcomes, including treadmill walking and gait dynamics, in animals receiving the drug. The laboratory has been testing RG3039 in SMA mouse models with disease phenotypes ranging from mild to ! severe.
Research finds retinal vessel leakage during high altitude exposure
At high altitude, marked bilateral leakage of peripheral retinal vessels was observed in 7 of 14 participants (50 percent). All findings completely reversed after descent. "Retinal capillary leakage should be considered a part of the spectrum of high-altitude retinopathy," the authors write.
Study finds taking probiotics has benefits for patients in hospitals
Patients in hospital who are on antibiotics may benefit from taking probiotics, according to researchers at St. Michael's Hospital.
Gastric bypass surgery may help manage diabetes risk factors
Among mild to moderately obese patients with type 2 diabetes, adding gastric bypass surgery to lifestyle and medical management was associated with a greater likelihood of improved levels of metabolic risk factors such as blood glucose, LDL-cholesterol and systolic blood pressure, according to a study in the June 5 issue of JAMA.
Tools for better understanding breast cancer stem cells
A joint project between the Griffith University and the UQ Centre for clinical Research (UQCCR) has characterised an in vitro model that allows further studies on the breast cancer biology.
Unraveling tumor growth one stem cell at a time
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have discovered that a single mutation in a leukemia-associated gene reduces the ability of blood stem cells to make more blood stem cells, but leaves their progeny daughter cells unaffected. Their findings have relevance to all cancers that are suspected to have a stem cell origin as they advance our understanding of how single stem cells are subverted to cause tumors.
Drug companies' patent-extending strategies substantially increase health care costs
Evergreening strategies—where pharmaceutical companies slightly change the formulation of their brand drug into "follow on" drugs by combining formulations or producing slow-release forms, for example, so that they can extend the patent—substantially contributed to an increase in overall healthcare costs in the Swiss canton of Geneva, according to a study by international researchers published in this week's PLOS Medicine.
Serum iron levels may be causally associated with Parkinson's disease risk
Increased iron levels may be causally associated with a decreased risk of developing Parkinson's disease, says a new paper published this week in PLOS Medicine. Irene Pichler from EURAC in Italy and a group of international colleagues investigated whether there was any evidence of an association between serum iron levels and the risk of Parkinson's disease. While the causes of Parkinson's disease are currently unknown, a combination of genetic and environmental factors are said to be attributed to the disease.
Neighborhood features could prevent obesity
Living in a neighborhood that supports a healthy lifestyle can make a measurable difference in preventing obesity, according to a longitudinal study recently published in the journal Obesity.
J&J recalls 32M contraceptive packages outside US
Johnson & Johnson is conducting a voluntary recall of millions of oral contraceptive packages in 43 countries outside the U.S., but the health care giant says there's a "very low" risk that the flawed tablets could cause unplanned pregnancies.
Obesity surgery-diabetes study shows pros and cons
Obesity surgery worked much better at reducing and even reversing diabetes than medication and lifestyle changes in one of the most rigorous studies of its kind. But the researchers and others warn that possible serious complications need to be considered.
Summer deadliest time of year for teen drivers
(HealthDay)—Summer is the most dangerous time of the year for teen drivers and distracted driving is often the reason why, experts say.
Aspirin equals pricier blood thinner for preventing clots
(HealthDay)—Aspirin appears to be just as good as more expensive, more potent blood-thinning medication for preventing blood clots after hip replacement surgery, according to new research.
Pace of new drug advances may be slowing, study finds
(HealthDay)—The drugs emerging from clinical trials in recent years seem less impressive than those developed in decades gone by, a new review finds.
Good outcomes for resident-performed cataract surgery
(HealthDay)—In an underserved patient population, supervised resident-performed cataract surgery is successful and cost-effective, according to a study published online May 30 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Blood tests as good as biopsy for HCV-related disease
(HealthDay)—Compared to a liver biopsy, available blood tests are accurate for diagnosing fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV), according to a review published in the June 4 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Listeria food poisoning hits elderly, moms-to-be hardest: CDC
(HealthDay)—Soft cheese and raw produce have caused many recent listeria outbreaks in the United States, and at least 90 percent of cases typically occur among seniors, pregnant women, newborns and people with weakened immune systems, a new U.S. health report says.
Common gene known to cause inherited autism now linked to specific behaviors
(Medical Xpress)—The genetic malady known as Fragile X syndrome is the most common cause of inherited autism and intellectual disability. Brain scientists know the gene defect that causes the syndrome and understand the damage it does in misshaping the brain's synapses—the connections between neurons. But how this abnormal shaping of synapses translates into abnormal behavior is unclear.
Scientists find link between allergic and autoimmune diseases in mouse study
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists at the National Institutes of Health, and their colleagues, have discovered that a gene called BACH2 may play a central role in the development of diverse allergic and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, asthma, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, and type-1 diabetes. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks normal cells and tissues in the body that are generally recognized as "self" and do not normally trigger immune responses. Autoimmunity can occur in infectious diseases and cancer.
Research shows way to improve stem cells' cartilage formation
(Medical Xpress)—Cartilage injuries are difficult to repair. Current surgical options generally involve taking a piece from another part of the injured joint and patching over the damaged area, but this approach involves damaging healthy cartilage, and a person's cartilage may still deteriorate with age.
Enhancer RNAs alter gene expression: New class of molecules may be key emerging 'enhancer therapy'
(Medical Xpress)—In a pair of distinct but complementary papers, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and colleagues illuminate the functional importance of a relatively new class of RNA molecules. The work, published online this week in the journal Nature, suggests modulation of "enhancer-directed RNAs" or "eRNAs" could provide a new way to alter gene expression in living cells, perhaps affecting the development or pathology of many diseases.
Study shows some male pheromones may cause other males to be more cooperative
(Medical Xpress)—Two researchers in Finland have together found that some male pheromones appear to cause an increase in cooperative behavior in other men. In their paper published in the journal PLUS ONE, the two describe how they conducted a sniff test using test volunteers and monetary rewards to find a possible connection between pheromones and male human response.
Seeing our errors keeps us on our toes
If people are unable to perceive their own errors as they complete a routine, simple task, their skill will decline over time, Johns Hopkins researchers have found—but not for the reasons scientists assumed. The researchers report that the human brain does not passively forget our good techniques, but chooses to put aside what it has learned.
Genetic editing shows promise in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Using a novel genetic 'editing' technique, Duke University biomedical engineers have been able to repair a defect responsible for one of the most common inherited disorders, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, in cell samples from Duchenne patients.
Neuronal regeneration and the two-part design of nerves
Researchers at the University of Michigan have evidence that a single gene controls both halves of nerve cells, and their research demonstrates the need to consider that design in the development of new treatments for regeneration of nerve cells.
Distinguishing REM sleep from other conscious states
(Medical Xpress)—Despite decades of research, little is known about the function of REM sleep, or the dreams that often accompany it. Rapid eye movements occur in most mammals, with a few exceptions like echidnas and dolphins. In humans, they be become common by the seventh month of pregnancy, and persist throughout life even in the congenitally blind. Researchers have developed techniques to perform a full electrical sleep analysis on subjects while they are simultaneously scanned inside an MRI machine. A new study in PNAS now reports that REM sleep can be distinguished from other states of consciousness by virtue of rhythmic correlations, and anticorrelations, between different areas of the brain.
Biology news
Plants tell time
Scientist Peter Freeman is managing a project that is probing the clock and metabolism of plants, called TiMet. Partners to the project include star biologists in the Germany, Spain, Switzerland and the UK, all working to gain better insights into what make plants tick.
New tool to help diagnose canine arthritis
Veterinary scientists at the University of Liverpool have developed a new tool to support clinicians in treatment programmes for osteoarthritis in dogs.
A new species of yellow slug moth from China
The moth genus Monema is represented by medium-sized yellowish species. The genus belongs to the Limacodidae family also known as the slug moths due to the distinct resemblance of their caterpillars to some slug species. Some people know this family as the cup moths, the name derived from the peculiar looking, hard shell cocoon they form.
Establishing nutritional value in copra and palm products fed to pigs
Products derived from coconuts and oil palm trees are the primary protein sources in swine diets in parts of Africa, southeast Asia, South America, and Europe. New research from the University of Illinois is helping to establish the nutritional value of these products.
Kansas farmer sues Monsanto over GM wheat
A Kansas wheat farmer has sued Monsanto after news of the discovery of unapproved genetically modified wheat on an Oregon farm, alleging harm from falling wheat prices.
GMO corn, soybeans dominate US market
The discovery of unauthorized genetically engineered wheat growing on a farm in the US state of Oregon has cast a spotlight on agricultural biotechnology and the debate about its safety.
Stopping the worm from turning
Almost one in six people worldwide are infected by parasitic worms, while parasitic infections of livestock cause economic losses of billions of Euro per year. Resistance to the few drugs available to treat infections is increasing and there is an urgent need to identify additional strategies to control parasitic diseases. A new study by Martina Ondrovics and colleagues at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna describes a rational approach to identifying proteins that might be involved in the larval development of a particular worm that infects pigs. The results are published in the online journal PLOS ONE.
That four-leaf clover you found may not be a four-leaf clover
(Phys.org) —Are four-leaf clovers becoming more common? That was the question put to me by a reader recently. Apparently her kids are finding four-leaf clovers on a daily basis as they walk home from school. What gives?
An 'extinct' frog makes a comeback in Israel's Hula Valley, becoming a unique 'living fossil'
The first amphibian to have been officially declared extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has been rediscovered in the north of Israel after some 60 years and turns out to be a unique "living fossil," without close relatives among other living frogs.
The science of yellow snow: White-tailed deer may be ruining their own winter havens
(Phys.org) —New research from wildlife ecologists at Michigan Technological University indicates that white-tailed deer may be making the soil in their preferred winter homes unfit to grow the very trees that protect them there.
Historian studies quest for the 12-month tomato
(Phys.org) —Is there an item on the average household's dinner table so roundly scorned as the wintertime tomato? The plastic-like red globe is typically so barren of authentic taste and texture that it epitomizes the industrialization of food, says John Hoenig, a doctoral candidate in history at Penn State. Yet he points to that very same tomato as a symbol of victory—tangible evidence of Americans' success in transcending traditional patterns of seasonality in their diets.
The fight against genome parasites
In the gonads of animals, genome parasites such as transposons pose a serious threat to evolutionary fitness. With their ability to bounce around in the genome, they often cause dangerous mutations. To protect genomic integrity, animals evolved a sophisticated mechanism – the so called piRNA pathway – to silence the deleterious transposons. Not much is known about the molecular processes and the involved factors that constitute the piRNA pathway. Researchers at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) in Vienna have now identified ~50 genes, that play important roles in the piRNA pathway of the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster.
Fear of sharks helps preserve balance in the world's oceans
(Phys.org) —A prey's fear of a shark is critical to protecting ocean biodiversity, according to researchers at Florida International University. Without this fear, a cascading effect within the ecosystem could destabilize the world's oceans.
Test to improve stem cell safety
CSIRO scientists have developed a test to identify unsafe stem cells. It is the first safety test specifically for human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) – as published today in the international journal Stem Cells.
Stinky feet may lead to better malaria traps
For decades, health officials have battled malaria with insecticides, bed nets and drugs. Now, scientists say there might be a potent new tool to fight the deadly mosquito-borne disease: the stench of human feet.
Assay developed to rapidly detect disease that hurt oyster industry
Scientists in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University have developed a new, inexpensive and precise way to detect the toxin secreted by Vibrio tubiashii, a bacterial disease that a few years ago caused millions of dollars in losses to the oyster aquaculture industry in the Pacific Northwest.
Pollination merely one production factor
(Phys.org) —No food for the human race without bees? It is not quite as straightforward as that. A case study by ecologists from ETH Zurich in a coffee-growing area in India reveals that pollinating insects are just one production factor among many. Farmers have several possibilities to increase their harvest.
Anatomy determines how lizards attract partners and repel rivals
(Phys.org) —Catching the attention of female lizards in a darkened rainforest amid a blur of windblown vegetation is no easy task.
Biomarker could help scientists choose the right cell line when conducting stem cell experiments
According to researchers at Boston Children's Hospital, stem cells that strongly express a gene called WNT3 are biased to develop into cells and tissues including pancreas, liver and bladder. This discovery suggests that other genes may serve as biomarkers for selecting stem cells with a preference for turning into different tissue types. Such markers would make it easier for stem cell scientists to choose the right cell line to start with when generating specific tissues for study.
New model finds common muscle control patterns governing the motion of swimming animals
What do swimmers like trout, eels and sandfish lizards have in common? According to a new study, the similar timing patterns that these animals use to contract their muscles and produce undulatory swimming motions can be explained using a simple model. Scientists have now applied the new model to understand the connection between the electrical signals and body movement in the sandfish.
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