Complimentary eBook - COMSOL News 2013
In this annual publication users share their latest discoveries and success stories made possible by multiphysics simulation. Click for instant access to these fascinating articles: http://goo.gl/hbSdc
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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for June 12, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Exposure to air transforms gold alloys into catalytic nanostructures- Deep biosphere harbors active, growing communities of microorganisms
- Nano-thermometer enables first atomic-scale heat transfer measurements
- Spike frequency adaption maintains efficiency in networks of neurons
- Study proves turtle embryos move themselves within shells to exploit best temperature conditions
- Beauty and the brain: Electrical stimulation of the brain makes you perceive faces as more attractive
- Easy, effective therapy to restore sight: Engineered virus will improve gene therapy for blinding eye diseases
- X-rays reveal new picture of 'dinobird' plumage patterns
- Material scientists build ferroelectric memory device based on light response
- Astronomers discover new kind of variable star
- Alzheimer's brain change measured in humans
- People anticipate others' genuine smiles, but not polite smiles
- Moving iron in Antarctica: New study on carbon dioxide absorption in Antarctic seas
- Corning VP says Gorilla Glass headed for automobiles
- Genetic maps of ocean algae show bacteria-like flexibility
Space & Earth news
Tempers fray over Russian block at climate talks
A key panel at UN climate talks in Bonn went into deep freeze on Tuesday as Russia ignored pleas to end a procedural protest, according to a webcast of the meeting and sources there.
Researchers create online tool to estimate greenhouse gas reductions through conservation agriculture
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced the release of COMET-Farm, a free online tool created by Colorado State University and the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service that will help producers calculate how much carbon their land's soil and vegetation can remove from the atmosphere.
Study helps managers identify regions with multiple threat potential, including wildfires
A recent study in the Journal of Forestry now offers managers a tool to help them identify regions exposed to multiple forest threats. The tool uses a novel 15-mile radius neighborhood analysis to highlight locations where threats are more concentrated relative to other areas, and identifies where multiple threats may intersect. It is a technique that may have never been used before to describe forest threats, according to the researchers.
Call to cut 'super greenhouse gases'
Phasing out "super greenhouse gases," which mass emitters China and the United States have agreed to restrict, could curb global warming by as much as half a degree Celsius by 2050, a report said Wednesday.
Cuba girds for climate change by reclaiming coasts
After Cuban scientists studied the effects of climate change on this island's 3,500 miles (5,630 kilometers) of coastline, their discoveries were so alarming that officials didn't share the results with the public to avoid causing panic.
Persistence of 'urban' organics downstream favors dead-zone formation
(Phys.org) —Each time it rains, runoff carries an earthy tea steeped from leaf litter, crop residue, soil, and other organic materials into the storm drains and streams that feed Chesapeake Bay.
Explainer: How much carbon can the world's forests absorb?
You are walking through the bush when you see an enormous tree trunk, tens of metres long, lying across the forest floor. Imagine you and several dozen friends lifting it by hand. Now you've literally grasped the significance of trees and forests when it comes to carbon sequestration – trees are heavy, and carbon accounts for almost half their dry weight, or biomass.
Making waves: Researcher quantifies uncertainty to develop better ocean simulations
"When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
Presence of new ocean inlet in Great South Bay may help keep brown tide in check
A brown tide has emerged within some, but not all, of Long Island's south shore estuaries. Monitoring by the Gobler Laboratory in the Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences has revealed that a brown tide has developed in eastern Moriches Bay, Quantuck Bay, and western Shinnecock Bay.
Stacking galactic signals reveals a clearer universe
Very similar to stacking astronomy images to achieve a better picture, researchers from the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) are employing new methods which will give us a clearer look at the history of the Universe. Through data taken with the next generation of radio telescopes like the Square Kilometer Array (SKA), scientists like Jacinta Delhaize can "stack" galactic signals en masse to study one of their most important properties… how much hydrogen gas is present.
Preparing for the next megathrust: Scientists apply new methods to better understand Pacific coast earthquakes
Understanding the size and frequency of large earthquakes along the Pacific coast of North America is of great importance, not just to scientists, but also to government planners and the general public. The only way to predict the frequency and intensity of the ground motion expected from large and giant "megathrust " earthquakes along Canada's west coast is to analyze the geologic record.
Water is no lubricant: Reassessment of the role of water in plate tectonics
Water in the Earth's crust and upper mantle may not play such an important role as a lubricant of plate tectonics as previously assumed. This is a result geoscientists present in the current issue of the scientific journal Nature after the examination of water in the mineral olivine.
Papaya-clay combo could cut cost of water purification in developing countries
An inexpensive new material made of clay and papaya seeds removes harmful metals from water and could lower the cost of providing clean water to millions of people in the developing world, scientists are reporting. Their study on this "hybrid clay" appears in the journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.
Livermore develops the world's deepest ert imaging system for CO2 sequestration
(Phys.org) —Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory researchers have broken the record for tracking the movement and concentration of carbon dioxide in a geologic formation using the world's deepest Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT) system.
NASA finds Tropical Depression Yagi's strongest side, now waning
Infrared imagery from NASA's Aqua satellite on June 11 showed that Tropical Depression Yagi's strongest quadrant was east of its center. However, since them the storm has weakened after running into an upper-level low pressure area and cooler waters.
Rapid adaptation is purple sea urchins' weapon against ocean acidification
In the race against climate change and ocean acidification, some sea urchins may still have a few tricks up their spiny sleeves, suggesting that adaptation will likely play a large role for the sea creatures as the carbon content of the ocean increases.
Ocean acidification killing oysters by inhibiting shell formation, study finds
(Phys.org) —For the past several years, the Pacific Northwest oyster industry has struggled with significant losses due to ocean acidification as oyster larvae encountered mortality rates sufficient to make production non-economically feasible.
Cosmic quiver: Saturn's vibrations create spirals in rings
(Phys.org) —Astronomers know that gravity from Saturn's various moons tug at the planet's rings and make spirals in them. But the catalyst for certain spiral patterns has been difficult to pin down. Now, two Cornell astronomers have determined the source: Saturn itself.
Sunny super-Earth?
(Phys.org) —Researchers from NAOJ and the University of Tokyo have observed the atmosphere of super-Earth "GJ3470b" in Cancer for the first time in the world using two telescopes at OAO (Okayama Astrophysical Observatory, NAOJ). This super-Earth is an exoplanet, having only about 14 times the mass of our home planet, and it is the second lightest one among already-surveyed exoplanets. The observational data revealed that this planet is highly likely to NOT be covered by thick clouds.
Researchers claim reexamination of rock samples confirms meteoritic origin of Tunguska cosmic body
(Phys.org) —A team of researchers with members from the U.S., Germany and Ukraine is claiming in a paper they've had published in the journal Planetary and Space Science, that they have found evidence to prove the Tunguska event was caused by a meteor that exploded in the atmosphere above the Russian plain.
Genetic maps of ocean algae show bacteria-like flexibility
Smaller than a speck of dust, Emiliania huxleyi plays an outsized role in the world's seas. Ranging from the polar oceans to the tropics, these free-floating photosynthetic algae remove carbon dioxide from the air, help supply the oxygen that we breathe, and form the base of marine food chains. When they proliferate, their massive turquoise blooms are visible from space.
Moving iron in Antarctica: New study on carbon dioxide absorption in Antarctic seas
The seas around Antarctica can, at times, resemble a garden. Large-scale experiments where scientists spray iron into the waters, literally fertilizing phytoplankton, have created huge man-made algal blooms. Such geoengineering experiments produce diatoms, which pull carbon dioxide out of the air. Experts argue that this practice can help offset Earth's rising carbon dioxide levels. However, the experiments are controversial and, according to a new study at the Georgia Institute of Technology, perhaps not as effective as expected.
Mars water-ice clouds are key to odd thermal rhythm
(Phys.org) —Researchers using NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have found that temperatures in the Martian atmosphere regularly rise and fall not just once each day, but twice.
A video map of motions in the nearby universe
(Phys.org) —An international team of researchers, including University of Hawaii at Manoa astronomer Brent Tully, has mapped the motions of structures of the nearby universe in greater detail than ever before. The maps are presented as a video, which provides a dynamic three-dimensional representation of the universe through the use of rotation, panning, and zooming. The video was announced last week at the conference "Cosmic Flows: Observations and Simulations" in Marseille, France, that honored the career and 70th birthday of Tully.
Astronomers discover new kind of variable star
Astronomers using the Swiss 1.2-metre Euler telescope at ESO's La Silla Observatory in Chile have found a new type of variable star. The discovery was based on the detection of very tiny changes in brightness of stars in a cluster. The observations revealed previously unknown properties of these stars that defy current theories and raise questions about the origin of the variations.
Technology news
Few festival fans guard against smartphone loss: survey
Ninety-two percent of music festival goers are more likely to bring a smartphone to an event than cash or ID, but many fail to guard against loss or theft, an industry survey Wednesday indicated.
Spanish police leverage Twitter to fight crime
Spain's national police has built up an army of over half a million followers on Twitter, using them to help swoop on fugitives and get tip-offs on drug dealers in an open dialogue that has helped bring the force closer to the people.
Power to the people, by the people
European researchers are investigating 'smarter' solutions to meet growing demand for electricity and fundamental changes in the way power is produced and consumed.
Turning a building green is a question of control
Sustainable buildings partly depend on control strategies to be energy efficient. Implementation of possible control systems are now under study for two of the three showcases buildings, developed under the EU funded DIRECTION project, namely the CARTIF III building in Valladolid, Spain and the NuOffice in Munich, Germany. The third showcase, based in Bolzano, Italy, which has not been built yet, is therefore offering more opportunities for potential change of control systems. "From an energy efficiency point of view the main installations to take into account are air conditioning and electricity," explains José Louis Alfranca, head of installation services at the Spanish construction company DRAGADOS, in Madrid, and one of the project partners.
HP shares rise after positive talk from CEO
(AP)—Shares of Hewlett-Packard Co. are jumping after CEO Meg Whitman reiterated that revenue could grow next fiscal year.
Turning plant matter into fuel: Book by UC Riverside professor focuses on aqueous processing of cellulosic biomass
A University of California, Riverside professor in the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department edited a recently published book that provides in-depth information on aqueous processing of cellulosic biomass, which includes wood, grasses, and agricultural and forestry residues, for conversion into fuels.
ESPN to kill 3-D broadcasts by end of year
ESPN will stop broadcasting in 3-D by the end of the year, the network said Wednesday, dealing a major blow to a technology that was launched with great fanfare but has been limping along for years.
US payroll, financial firms hacked; eight charged (Update)
U.S. prosecutors announced fraud and other charges Wednesday against eight alleged members of an international cybercrime ring that the government said hacked into the computers of more than a dozen leading financial institutions and the U.S. military's payroll service.
Google offers cash to counter criticism over child sex images
Google pledged £1 million ($1.6 million, 1.2 million euros) on Wednesday to a British charity that monitors online child porn, just days after Prime Minister David Cameron demanded the Internet giant do more to tackle the problem.
Man linked to Anonymous pleads guilty to hacking
An Ohio man linked to the hacker collective Anonymous has reversed course to plead guilty under an agreement with the federal government to charges that he breached police-agency websites.
A long awaited 'Final Fantasy' returns at E3
It's a video game more than seven years in the making.
Alternative-fuel cars are no carbon cure-all
(Phys.org) —Making cars more fuel-efficient is great for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but rather than promoting sales of electric and other alternative-fuel vehicles, policymakers should turn their focus to cutting emissions in other energy sectors—from oil wells and power plants to farms and forests affected by biofuels production—says a University of Michigan researcher.
Researcher develops lightest ever prosthetic hand
Current prostheses for hands have major disadvantages. Researcher Gerwin Smit developed a much improved alternative. On Tuesday 11 June, he will be awarded his PhD at TU Delft for his work on the subject.
Kuwait invites bids for first solar energy project
Kuwait invited bids on Wednesday to build a solar farm to produce 70 megawatts of electricity by 2016, the first phase of a plan to generate 2,000 megawatts from renewables in 2030, the project supervisor said.
Renewable energy: World invests $244 billion in 2012; shift to developing countries underway
For only the second time since 2006, global investments in renewable energy in 2012 failed to top the year before, falling 12% mainly due to dramatically lower solar prices and weakened US and EU markets.
Yahoo to release IDs of inactive email accounts (Update)
Yahoo is trying to breathe new life into inactive email accounts by giving away the identifications beginning next month.
SEC warns of rise in risky email stock schemes
US market regulators warned Wednesday of a rise in spam email and social media-based stock promotions that are actually "pump and dump" schemes aimed at cheating small investors.
Peaceful role for drones explored at TED
Instead of being harbingers of death, drones should become a vital technological tool in the conservation fight and in delivering vital goods to remote areas, the TEDGlobal conference in Edinburgh heard Wednesday.
Hands-free texting still distracting for drivers (Update)
Using voice commands to send text messages and emails from behind the wheel, which is marketed as a safer alternative for drivers, actually is more distracting and dangerous than simply talking on a cellphone, a study by travel organization AAA found.
Tactile photographs: 'Seeing' by touching
(Phys.org) —Arizona State University computer scientist Baoxin Li is demonstrating the artistic side of his technical field by creating computer-generated tactile photographs for people living with visual impairment.
Study finds moving some computer services to cloud would save significant energy
(Phys.org) —A six-month study conducted by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and Northwestern University with funding from Google has found that moving common software applications used by 86 million U.S. workers to the cloud could save enough electricity annually to power Los Angeles for a year. The study is summarized in a report is issued today.
Czechs present bicycle that can fly
Is it a bike? Is it a plane?
Corning VP says Gorilla Glass headed for automobiles
(Phys.org) —Corning Senior Vice President, Jeffrey Evenson told audience members at this year's MIT Technology Review's Mobile Summit, that its Gorilla Glass will very soon be used in automobiles. Currently, Gorilla Glass is used as part of a touch-screen for hand-held devices—from phones to tablet computers. Using the glass in automobiles Evenson said, would allow for better gas mileage and noise suppression.
Cheap translations, but not replacement for humans
An Israeli startup says it has come up with a way to overcome language barriers when conducting international business: an automated service that provides quick translations between English and seven other languages with nothing more than a telephone.
Cheaper solar panels fuel rise in renewable energy
A dramatic drop in the price of solar power technology last year helped the continued growth of renewable energy, according to a U.N.-backed report published Wednesday.
Facebook introduces hashtags
Facebook is introducing hashtags, the number signs used on Twitter, Instagram and other services to identify topics being discussed and allow users to search for them.
UltraRope announced to one-stop zoom up tall buildings
(Phys.org) —Elevator tech has hit a wall, or at least the wrong floor of the person's destination, with limitations that are unable to accommodate the world's tallest buildings. As buildings rise, logistical demands rise with them. The weight of steel cable does not make it easy for elevators to zoom straight to the top. Instead, they reach a limit and that is it. For example, people going up in a 828-metre-high tower, such as in Dubai, need to switch lifts once they have reached the top mark in one elevator, going over for another. Elevators today are also subject to severe strains such as building sway, potentially knocking them out of service under especially poor weather conditions.
Material scientists build ferroelectric memory device based on light response
(Phys.org) —Researchers in Singapore, with assistance from materials scientist Ramamoorthy Ramesh, of the University of California, have succeeded in building a prototype ferroelectric memory device that uses light to read its polarity. In their paper published in the journal Nature Communications, the team describes how they built their device and its properties.
Medicine & Health news
New sickle cell anemia therapy advances to Phase II clinical trials
Seeking to improve the lives of sickle cell anemia sufferers around the world, researchers from the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, the Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Center in Boston and the BloodCenter of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and others are preparing to launch Phase II of a clinical trial to investigate a potential new therapy for reducing the disorder's severest symptoms. Sickle cell anemia is a serious, painful and chronic illness that impedes blood flow and can lead to early death. More than 100,000 Americans and several million people worldwide suffer from this genetic disorder.
Court hears arguments on NYC's big soda ban
A state appeals court is considering whether to allow New York City to ban oversized sodas and other large sugary drinks at city restaurants as part of its war on diabetes and obesity.
Feds: Morning-after pill appeal officially on hold
A government appeal in the legal fight over allowing girls of any age to buy emergency contraception without prescriptions has officially been put on hold.
Britain to push G8 for action against 'superbugs'
Britain will urge the G8 to coordinate plans to prevent a spread of drug-resistant microbes, which it fears could cause a public health crisis, the government said Tuesday.
Prostate cancer decision making: How race factors in
(Medical Xpress)—What factors influence a man when he is choosing treatment for prostate cancer? Race and evolving treatment recommendations for prostate cancer both play roles.
Multitasking against obesity: Specialists stress complexity of problem
Five specialists in obesity came together at Cambridge's Royal Sonesta Hotel on Friday for a forum called "Why Is Weight Loss So Hard?" The event was part of the four-day Blackburn Course in Obesity Medicine, sponsored by Harvard Medical School (HMS) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), during which experts from across the globe gathered to discuss one of America's fastest-growing and most important health issues—the country's increasing levels of obesity.
Self-defense training for Kenyan girls reduces rape, study finds
Rape is shockingly common in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya, where as many as one in four adolescent girls are raped each year. But a short self-defense course can dramatically reduce the girls' vulnerability to sexual assault, according to a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and an organization called No Means No Worldwide.
Nurses help fight child poverty in Scotland
A project in Scotland to tackle child poverty led to more than £2.2 million in financial gains over 15 months and other positive outcomes for families, including improved child care and housing.
Simple prognostic tool for GPs could more accurately predict disease outcomes in musculoskeletal conditions
GPs could more accurately predict the likely progression of disease in patients with musculoskeletal conditions by asking them a simple set of generic questions during their very first consultation, new research funded by Arthritis Research UK has shown.
Study results show low morbidity, mortality rates for patients treated with HIPEC
Researchers at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) have determined that cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CS/HIPEC), a complex procedure to treat advanced abdominal cancers, can be done safely, and may be an effective therapy for select patients. Study results are published in the June issue of Cancer Medicine.
New method successfully scores joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis
A new study presented at EULAR 2013, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, demonstrates the efficacy of the ARASHI method at evaluating radiographic (X-ray) joint damage in RA.
RA patients define ideal online tool for physical activity
Results of the first study involving RA patients in the development of an internet-based physical activity intervention were presented at EULAR 2013, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism.
Swiss ball improves muscle strength and walking performance in ankylosing spondylitis
A new study presented at EULAR 2013, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, demonstrates that progressive muscle strengthening using a Swiss ball is effective in improving muscle strength and walking performance in patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS).
'Fast track' approach to giant cell arteritis significantly reduces risk of blindness
A new study presented at EULAR 2013, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, shows that rapid evaluation for Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) by Color Doppler Ultrasound (CDUS) followed by immediate initiation of treatment (if required) significantly reduces permanent vision loss.
CHERISH trial demonstrates efficacy of tocilizumab in juvenile idiopathic arthritis
A new study presented today at EULAR 2013, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism shows that tocilizumab is efficacious and leads to a sustained clinically meaningful improvement in children with polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (pcJIA).
Patients use OTC NSAIDs even when they have a high risk of serious side effects
A new study presented today at EULAR 2013, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, shows that one in eight patients at risk of developing a serious adverse drug event (ADE) is taking over-the-counter (OTC) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), often to treat a musculoskeletal complaint.
Significant improvements in psoriatic arthritis with ustekinumab
New PSUMMIT 2* data first presented at EULAR 2013, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, further demonstrate the efficacy of ustekinumab in Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA).
Long-term apremilast demonstrates continued efficacy in patients with psoriatic arthritis
New data presented today at EULAR 2013, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism show that apremilast administered to patients with psoriatic arthritis continues to demonstrate meaningful clinical responses beyond 24 weeks. For patients who completed 52 weeks of the study, up to 65% achieved ACR20* response rates. Also, apremilast continued to be well tolerated with an acceptable longer-term safety profile.
Brodalumab demonstrates significant clinical response in psoriatic arthritis
A new study presented today at EULAR 2013, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, shows that treatment with brodalumab demonstrates significant clinical response and an acceptable safety profile in subjects with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
Abatacept as effective as adalimumab in rheumatoid arthritis
Data from AMPLE presented at EULAR 2013, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, demonstrate comparable efficacy and similar safety profiles between subcutaneous abatacept (ABA) and adalimumab (ADA).
UK to start regulating e-cigarettes as medicines
Britain will start regulating electronic cigarettes and other products containing nicotine as medicines, according to the country's top regulator.
Pfizer settles Protonix patent case for $2.15B
Two generic drugmakers will pay $2.15 billion to Pfizer and Takeda Pharmaceutical to settle a patent fight over the heartburn treatment Protonix.
Singapore fights back against worsening dengue outbreak
Singapore is fighting back against a rapidly worsening dengue epidemic by distributing insect repellants to every household and recruiting hundreds of disease control officers, officials said.
France says new suspected cases of MERS virus
France's health ministry said Wednesday that a man suspected of having contracted MERS had tested negative for the SARS-like virus which has killed more than 30 people, mostly in Saudi Arabia.
Differences in outcomes of cervical spine surgery at teaching versus non-teaching hospitals
For patients undergoing surgery on the cervical (upper) spine, overall rates of complications and death are higher at teaching hospitals than at non-teaching hospitals, reports a study in the June 1 issue of Spine.
Public health's role in health care reform—Lessons from Massachusetts
How will full implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) affect the work and goals of state and local public health departments—and how can public health personnel contribute to the success of health care reform? The experience in Massachusetts has some important lessons, according to an article published online by the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice.
US girl gets lung transplant after political firestorm (Update)
A 10-year-old American girl whose dire need for a lung transplant catapulted her into the political spotlight underwent potentially life-saving surgery Wednesday after a donor was found.
H1N1 flu cases up sharply in Venezuela
The number of H1N1 swine flu cases rose sharply in Venezuela during the last week of May, the health ministry said Wednesday, refusing to disclose whether any deaths have been linked to the outbreak.
Accenture forecasts fast retail clinic growth
Consulting firm Accenture says it expects the number of retail health clinics in the U.S. to double by the end of 2015, as they help meet a surge in demand for care from millions of people who will gain insurance coverage through the national health care overhaul.
Zydus recalls single lot of blood thinner warfarin
Zydus Pharmaceuticals is recalling a single lot of the drug warfarin after receiving a complaint that some of the tablets are too large.
Quebec moves to allow assisted suicide (Update)
The government of Canada's mostly French-speaking Quebec province on Wednesday unveiled legislation allowing terminally ill patients to kill themselves with a doctor's help.
More accident and emergency visits where access to GPs is worse
Patients with more timely access to GP appointments make fewer visits to accident and emergency departments, suggests a study published today.
Study finds greater potential benefit in overall survival for eribulin compared with capecitabine
Subgroup analyses from a phase III clinical trial comparing a newer chemotherapy agent called eribulin mesylate, with capecitabine, a standard chemotherapy medication in women with previously treated metastatic breast cancer, showed increased benefit among women sharing certain traits. Specifically, these analyses demonstrated a greater potential benefit in certain subsets of patients with metastatic breast cancer. This analysis was presented by Peter A. Kaufman, M.D., during the 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting.
One in six women at fracture clinics report domestic violence
One in six women arriving at orthopedic fracture clinics have been victims of physical, emotional, or sexual violence at the hands of an intimate partner within the past year, and one in 50 arrive as a direct result of intimate partner violence (IPV), according to the largest multinational study of its kind to date, led by McMaster University researchers.
New research links body clocks to osteoarthritis
Scheduled exercise, regular meals and the periodic warming and cooling of joints could be used to relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis according to scientists at The University of Manchester. Their research may also help explain why older people are more prone to developing this common joint disorder.
Younger mothers and older mothers are at higher risk of adverse delivery outcomes
Younger mothers are at a higher risk of preterm birth while older mothers are more likely to have a caesarean section, suggests a new study published today (12 June) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Long-distance cross-country skiers at increased risk of heart rhythm disturbances
Cross-country skiers who take part in one of the world's most challenging ski races, the 90 km Vasaloppet in Sweden, are at increased risk of developing arrhythmia – problems with the rate or rhythm of their heart beat – according to a study of nearly 53,000 race participants published online today (Wednesday) in the European Heart Journal [1].
Moderate-intensity walking timed just right might help protect against Type 2 diabetes
A fifteen minute walk after each meal appears to help older people regulate blood sugar levels and could reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study by researchers at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS). The study, published today in Diabetes Care, found that three short post-meal walks were as effective at reducing blood sugar over 24 hours as a 45-minute walk of the same easy-to-moderate pace. Moreover, post-meal walking was significantly more effective than a sustained walk at lowering blood sugar for up to three hours following the evening meal.
Hot flashes before menopause? It can happen
More than half of middle-aged women who still have regular cycles have hot flashes. Asian and Hispanic women are less likely to have them than white women, but compared with previous studies, the figures are surprisingly high, showed a survey of some 1,500 women published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).
Nanotechnology helps track and improve drug action in pancreatic cancer
(Medical Xpress)—UK and Australian scientists have been able to show ways in which we can markedly improve drug targeting of solid tumours, using tiny 'biosensors' along with new advanced imaging techniques.
First pediatric-focused diabetes calculator
Nationwide Children's Hospital recently developed an online resource to help parents manage their child's diabetes more effectively and care for their health at home. The "Diabetes Calculator for Kids," a first of its kind electronic tool geared toward the pediatric patient, allows parents, caregivers and the adolescent patient themselves to create an individualized chart which calculates the correct insulin dosage that should be given prior to eating.
The new nanoneedle helping scientists uncover secrets under the skin
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers in the University's Physics and Pharmacy & Pharmacology Departments are using a pioneering technique to study the properties and characteristics of our skin, in tests that could pave the way for new treatments for dermatitis, and for an improved understanding of the skin ageing process.
Recognising low blood sugars could help prevent brain damage in newborn babies
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers from The University of Manchester studying a rare and potentially lethal childhood disease – which is the clinical opposite of diabetes - have made an important discovery.
Brain stimulation aims to speed up tinnitus treatment
(Medical Xpress)—A combination of brain stimulation and video games may be the key to speeding up treatment for tinnitus sufferers.
Cultural differences in children's fight against fat
(Medical Xpress)—NSW primary school children from Middle-Eastern and Asian backgrounds are significantly more overweight than children from English-speaking backgrounds and have lower levels of physical activity and cardiovascular fitness, University of Sydney research has shown.
Blood pressure at night is higher than previously thought
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists at UCL have developed new technology which reveals that blood pressure measured close to the heart is much higher during sleep than previously thought. Night time blood pressure is a strong predictor of both heart disease and stroke, with previous studies establishing that blood pressure measured over the arm falls at night during sleep. However these new data indicate that the night-time decline in blood pressure may be less extensive than previously thought.
Vitamin C may be beneficial against exercise-induced bronchoconstriction
Vitamin C may substantially reduce bronchoconstriction caused by exercise, says Dr. Harri Hemila from the University of Helsinki, Finland. Hemila's meta-analysis "Vitamin C may alleviate exercise-induced bronchoconstriction" was published in BMJ Open (7 June, 2013)
Splints favored for kids' forearm buckle fractures
(Medical Xpress)—Among the most common pediatric injuries seen in emergency rooms are fractures that occur when children fall and try to catch themselves with an outstretched hand.
Fit for surgery?
(Medical Xpress)—Age should not be a barrier to having an operation, fitness should be the key measure, is the finding of new research from Newcastle University.
Sunbeds blamed for high skin cancer rates in young women in North West of England
(Medical Xpress)—Rates of the deadliest form of skin cancer are unusually high in young women in the North West of England, with sunbeds and cheap holidays to blame, according to research published today in the British Journal of Dermatology.
Cocoa may help fight obesity-related inflammation
(Medical Xpress)—A few cups of hot cocoa may not only fight off the chill of a winter's day, but they could also help obese people better control inflammation-related diseases, such as diabetes, according to Penn State researchers.
Neuromodulation increased scores in study of impact on sexual dysfunction
A prospective study of 23 women aged 21 – 71, reported at the International Neuromodulation Society 11th World Congress, showed pelvic neuromodulation for bladder disorders also increased five of six sexual function scores in a validated questionnaire administered pre- and post-treatment.
Pilot program using telemedicine to decrease emergency room wait times
Emergency department (ED) overcrowding has been a major issue nationally for 20 years and continues to increase in severity. To address this issue, a pilot study has been launched at UC San Diego Health System's ED to use telemedicine as a way to help address crowding and decrease patient wait times. The study is the first of its kind in California to use cameras to bring on-call doctors who are outside of the hospital to the patient in need.
Mothers' obesity following childbirth linked to socio-economic status
(Medical Xpress)—Women who are socio-economically disadvantaged are 42% more likely than those in the highest income group to be obese following childbirth, according to new study findings published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Size matters most in the locker room
(Medical Xpress)—Research on men's body self-image shows they are more concerned by what other men think of their bodies than what their sexual partners think.
Doctors don't provide sexual health info to teens
Most sexually active teens don't get information about sexual health from their health care providers, finds a new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Furthermore, nearly one in five sexually active boys reported receiving no information about birth control or condoms from parents or teachers.
Study assesses impact of rheumatoid arthritis on joint replacement surgery outcomes
Two new studies by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery have shed light on joint replacement outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). One study overturns the common belief that RA patients have worse outcomes after a total knee replacement (TKR) than patients who undergo the operation for osteoarthritis. The other study demonstrates that RA patients who undergo a total hip replacement were as likely to have significant improvements in function and pain as patients with osteoarthritis (OA), even though they did not do as well.
IU studies find workplace and financial stress lead to poor health choices
Two studies from the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington highlight the negative impact workplace and financial stress can have on health behaviors. The lead author urges workplace wellness and smoking cessation programs to consider such impacts as the economy sputters along.
Study finds cancer guidelines do not fully meet IOM standards
In an age when evidence-based care is increasingly important, how trustworthy are current clinical practice guidelines?
TEDDY study yielding new approach to finding high-risk genes for type 1 diabetes
Massive samples emanating from a decade-old, international initiative to determine how genetics and environment cause type 1 diabetes are giving scientists a unique perspective on which molecular and environmental factors really contribute to the disease.
Heroin availability increasing across Washington state
New data from the University of Washington's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute indicates increases in heroin availability, abuse and deaths across the state, particularly among young adults ages 18-29. These increases are concerning because of the high risks of overdose and contracting infectious diseases associated with heroin use.
NYC-style cap on soda size would target the overweight, not the poor, study finds
Legislation to restrict consumption of large sugar-sweetened beverages in food service establishments would affect 7.5% of Americans on a given day, and a greater percentage among those who are overweight, including 13.6% of overweight teenagers, according to researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Challenging criticism that the restriction is discriminatory against the poor, the study finds low-income individuals would not be disproportionately affected.
Survey of physicians suggests tablets more useful than smartphones
Two reports from AmericanEHR Partners based on a survey of nearly 1,400 physicians suggests that tablets are of greater use for clinical purposes than smartphones.
Commonly-prescribed drugs may influence the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease
Multiple drug classes commonly prescribed for common medical conditions are capable of influencing the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease, according to researchers at The Mount Sinai Medical Center. The findings are published online in the journal PLoS One.
Wristband revolutionizes blood pressure measurement
The consequences of high blood pressure are one of the most common causes of death worldwide. Despite this, according to the World Health Organization WHO, fewer than one in two of those affected measures their blood pressure regularly. The main reason for this is that regular measurements are costly. An innovative wrist sensor should now change that.
Low birth weight could be a risk factor for age-related vision loss
Medical researchers at the University of Alberta recently published their findings that rats with restricted growth in the womb, causing low birth weights when born, were most susceptible to developing age-related vision loss, compared to their normal weight counterparts. The research team members say additional work needs to be done to see if this same link exists in people, and if it does, doctors will need to better monitor vision concerns in adults who were born with a low birth weight.
Researchers identify a new mechanism of TB drug resistance
Pyrazinamide (PZA)—a frontline tuberculosis (TB) drug—kills dormant persister bacteria and plays a critical role in shortening TB therapy. PZA is used for treating both drug susceptible and multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) but resistance to PZA occurs frequently and can compromise treatment.
Resilience in trying times—a result of positive actions
Communities that stick together and do good for others cope better with crises and are happier for it, according to a new study by John Helliwell, from the University of British Columbia in Canada, and colleagues¹. Their work suggests that part of the reason for this greater resilience is the fact that humans are more than simply social beings, they are so-called 'pro-social' beings. In other words, they get happiness not just from doing things with others, but from doing things both with and for others. The paper² is published online in Springer's Journal of Happiness Studies.
New study finds less than 25 percent of new doctors work in primary care
Despite a critical shortage of primary care in the United States less than 25 percent of newly minted doctors go into this field and only a tiny fraction, 4.8 percent, set up shop in rural areas, according to a study by researchers at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS). Those findings, from a report just released in the "Published Ahead-of-Print" section in Academic Medicine, suggest the nation's output of primary care physicians falls short of a demonstrated need and will be unable to solve the growing shortage in underserved areas anytime soon.
Research points to brain's 'dark side' as key to cocaine addiction
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have found evidence that an emotion-related brain region called the central amygdala—whose activity promotes feelings of malaise and unhappiness—plays a major role in sustaining cocaine addiction.
Neuroscience to benefit from hybrid supercomputer memory
Motivated by extraordinary requirements for neuroscience, IBM Research, EPFL, and ETH Zürich through the Swiss National Supercomputing Center CSCS, are exploring how to combine different types of memory – DRAM, which is standard for computer memory, and flash memory that is akin to USB sticks – for less expensive and optimal supercomputing performance.
HIV drug can also protect injection drug users (Update)
Doctors should consider giving a daily AIDS drug to another high risk group to help prevent infections—people who shoot heroin, methamphetamines or other injection drugs, U.S. health officials said Wednesday.
Biomarkers may be key to discovery of successful initial treatment of depression
In a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded clinical trial, researchers at Emory have discovered that specific patterns of brain activity may indicate whether a depressed patient will or will not respond to treatment with medication or psychotherapy. The study was published June 12, 2013, in JAMA Psychiatry Online First.
New imaging technique holds promise for speeding MS research
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have developed a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that detects the telltale signs of multiple sclerosis in finer detail than ever before – providing a more powerful tool for evaluating new treatments.
Men with restless legs syndrome may be at higher risk of early death
Men who experience restless legs syndrome (RLS) may have a higher risk of dying earlier, according to research that appears in the June 12, 2013, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The disorder is characterized by an irresistible urge to move the legs and often causes leg sensations of burning, creeping, and tugging, which are usually worse at night.
Jammed molecular motors may play a role in the development of ALS
Slowdowns in the transport and delivery of nutrients, proteins and signaling molecules within nerve cells may contribute to the development of the neurodegenerative disorder ALS, according to researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine.
BPA linked to obesity risk in puberty-age girls
Girls between 9 and 12 years of age with higher-than-average levels of bisphenol-A (BPA) in their urine had double the risk of being obese than girls with lower levels of BPA, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published today in the journal PLOS ONE.
Four-fold rise in children treated for obesity-related conditions
The number of children admitted to hospital for problems related to obesity in England and Wales quadrupled between 2000 and 2009, a study has found.
Infants express non-verbal sympathy for others in distress
Infants as young as ten months old express sympathy for others in distress in non-verbal ways, according to research published June 12 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Yasuhiro Kanakogi and colleagues from Kyoto University and Toyohashi University of Technology, Japan.
Age-related smelling loss significantly worse in African-Americans
The ability to distinguish between odors declines steadily with age, but a new study shows that African-Americans have a much greater decrease in their sense of smell than Caucasians. This can have serious consequences. Olfactory loss often leads to impaired nutrition. It also may be an early warning sign of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, and can predict death.
Dad's life stress exposure can affect offspring brain development, study finds
Sperm doesn't appear to forget anything. Stress felt by dad—whether as a preadolescent or adult—leaves a lasting impression on his sperm that gives sons and daughters a blunted reaction to stress, a response linked to several mental disorders. The findings, published in a new preclinical study in the Journal of Neuroscience by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, point to a never-before-seen epigenetic link to stress-related diseases such as anxiety and depression passed from father to child.
Alzheimer's brain change measured in humans
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have measured a significant and potentially pivotal difference between the brains of patients with an inherited form of Alzheimer's disease and healthy family members who do not carry a mutation for the disease.
People anticipate others' genuine smiles, but not polite smiles
Smile and the world smiles with you—but new research suggests that not all smiles are created equal. The research shows that people actually anticipate smiles that are genuine but not smiles that are merely polite. The differing responses may reflect the unique social value of genuine smiles.
Fingernails reveal clues to limb regeneration
Mammals possess the remarkable ability to regenerate a lost fingertip, including the nail, nerves and even bone. In humans, an amputated fingertip can sprout back in as little as two months, a phenomenon that has remained poorly understood until now. In a paper published today in the journal Nature, researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center shed light on this rare regenerative power in mammals, using genetically engineered mice to document for the first time the biochemical chain of events that unfolds in the wake of a fingertip amputation.
Beauty and the brain: Electrical stimulation of the brain makes you perceive faces as more attractive
(Medical Xpress)—Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and—as researchers have now shown—in the brain as well.
Easy, effective therapy to restore sight: Engineered virus will improve gene therapy for blinding eye diseases
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed an easier and more effective method for inserting genes into eye cells that could greatly expand gene therapy to help restore sight to patients with blinding diseases ranging from inherited defects like retinitis pigmentosa to degenerative illnesses of old age, such as macular degeneration.
Spike frequency adaption maintains efficiency in networks of neurons
(Medical Xpress)—Sensory adaptation is a familiar phenomenon. Whether jumping into a cold pool, or driving through manure-laden air as you pass by a recently fertilized farm, an initially strong sensory experience generally tends to decrease over time. The same kind of adaption we perceive at the conscious level also occurs at the level of the individual neuron, and networks of neurons. In a paper just published in Nature Neuroscience, researchers from the EPFL in Switzerland seek to uncover some of the mechanisms of adaption in cortical pyramidal cells. Based on their electrophysiological recordings, they developed a model that describes spike-frequency adaption (SFA) in terms of a power-law decay. They attribute at least part of this adaptation to the effects of increased firing thresholds and lower membrane potentials. As many current network models ignore, or only include the effects of rapid SFA, the authors call attention to the fact that this adaption is signific! ant on timescales of at least 20 seconds. They therefore conclude that SFA is a critical factor for maintaining the energetic efficiency of networks.
Biology news
Spanish researchers sequence the genome of global deep ocean
A team of Spanish researchers, coordinated by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), has started to sequence the genome of the global deep ocean. They are using more than 2,000 samples of microorganisms collected in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans during the Malaspina Expedition. This collection of marine microbial genomic, the first in the world on a global scale, will provide new clues about a reservoir of biodiversity yet to explore, considering that it could imply the discovery of tens of millions of new genes in the coming years.
How rising temperatures could alter species interactions, ecosystems
A new paper by SFI External Professor Van Savage and collaborators at UCLA provides new details about how rising temperatures will alter the ways species interact – changes that biologists fear could destabilize entire ecosystems.
Tropical vagrants bigger, stronger survivors
(Phys.org) —Sydney marine researchers are one step further in solving the mystery of how tropical fishes, in response to rising sea temperatures and the impact of climate change, are shifting, and potentially surviving within cold temperate waters.
Researchers look into the future to weed out problem plants
(Phys.org) —Researchers from Macquarie University and the University of Canberra have developed an assessment scheme that allows them to look into the future to see which exotic plants might become tomorrow's problematic invaders.
Developing test for disease-carrying `Trojan cows'
University of Adelaide researchers are developing a test to help eliminate hidden carriers of a significant disease in Australian cattle herds, commonly known as Bovine Pestivirus.
A critically endangered beauty: The passion flower Passiflora kwangtungensis
Passiflora is a genus of beautiful plants commonly known as the passion flowers or passion vines. The most famous representative of this group is the passion fruit, favorite to many. Passiflora contains around 530 species with native ranges throughout the southern United States and Mexico as well as Central and South America. In addition, there are 24 species of Passiflora endemic to the Old World. In China, the native Passiflora exhibit high levels of endemism, seldomly display overlapping distributions, and are in general extremely rare. A new study published in the open access journal Phytokeys provides a morphological revision of the beautiful Chinese species Passiflora kwangtungensis and raises concerns towards its current conservation status.
Harbor porpoises can thank their worst enemy, the killer whale for their success
The harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is a whale species that is doing quite well in coastal and busy waters. They are found in large numbers throughout the Northern Hemisphere from Mauritania to Alaska, and now researchers from the University of Southern Denmark explain why these small toothed whales are doing so well: The harbor porpoise can thank their worst enemy, the killer whale, for their success.
Polish snail farms inch towards huge potential
At a snail farm in lake-rich northern Poland, one of a growing number of breeders across the country, it is easy to accidentally step on a mollusc making a break for freedom.
Turtles watch for, snack on gelatinous prey while swimming
Loggerhead turtles use visual cues to find gelatinous prey to snack on as they swim in open waters, according to research published June 12 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Tomoko Narazaki and colleagues from the University of Tokyo, Japan.
Single cells: Same same but different
(Phys.org) —If half of a cell population were coloured white and the other half were coloured black, scientists should think all cells are grey. Conventional methods average over thousands of cells, overlooking any cell-to-cell variability. ETH scientists now measured metabolite levels in single yeast cells and unmasked the difference of one cell to the next.
Novel enzyme from tiny gribble could prove a boon for biofuels research
(Phys.org) —Researchers from the United Kingdom, the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and the University of Kentucky have recently published a paper describing a novel cellulose-degrading enzyme from a marine wood borer Limnoria quadripunctata, commonly known as the gribble.
Genetic switches play big role in human evolution
(Phys.org) —A Cornell study offers further proof that the divergence of humans from chimpanzees some 4 million to 6 million years ago was profoundly influenced by mutations to DNA sequences that play roles in turning genes on and off.
Fraternal singing in zebra finches
The song of songbirds is usually transmitted from one generation to the next by imitation learning and is thought to be similar to the acquisition of human speech. Although song is often learnt from an adult model, there is some evidence of active vocal learning among siblings. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen now showed that juvenile zebra finches that have been raised without their fathers are able to learn their song via a brother that for a short period had been exposed to the father's' song.
Research shows male guppies reproduce even after death
Performing experiments in a river in Trinidad, a team of evolutionary biologists has found that male guppies continue to reproduce for at least ten months after they die, living on as stored sperm in females, who have much longer lifespans (two years) than males (three-four months).
Cheetah's acceleration, not speed, power key to their success
Everyone knows cheetahs are blazingly fast. Now new research illustrates how their acceleration and nimble zigzagging leave other animals in the dust and scientists in awe.
Study proves turtle embryos move themselves within shells to exploit best temperature conditions
(Phys.org) —A team of researchers working in China has proven that the three-keeled pond turtle embryo is capable of moving itself towards or away from a heat source in order to warm itself or cool down. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, the team describes how they subjected turtle embryos to various heat scenarios while monitoring their movements inside their shells to show that the turtles were directing their own actions while still inside their eggs.
Deep biosphere harbors active, growing communities of microorganisms
The deep biosphere—the realm of sediments far below the seafloor—harbors a vast ecosystem of bacteria, archaea, and fungi that are actively metabolizing, proliferating, and moving, according a new study by scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the University of Delaware (UD).
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