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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for June 26, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- First transiting planets in a star cluster discovered- Location of upwelling in Earth's mantle discovered to be stable
- Study shows expectation important component of rubber-hand illusion
- Bell Labs improves lensless camera with additional pixel on sensor
- How visual attention affects the brain
- Researchers say ability to throw played a key role in human evolution
- A stepping-stone for oxygen on Earth: Researchers find evidence of an early manganese-oxidizing photosystem
- Influenza infection increases likelihood of bacterial pneumonia 100-fold
- Elephant tooth evolution rooted in grass
- 700,000 year old horse genome sequenced
- Simple two-drug combination proves effective in reducing risk of stroke
- Microscopy technique could help computer industry develop 3-D components
- DNA 'reverse' vaccine reduces levels of immune cells believed responsible for Type 1 diabetes
- DNA found outside genes plays largely unknown, potentially vital roles
- Social animals have more social smarts
Space & Earth news
Rising seas washing away Pacific leader's home island
As the US urges world leaders to ramp up action on climate change, the leader of one small island chain in the North Pacific Ocean has already got the message—watching helplessly as rising seas slowly erode his birthplace.
Southeast Asia smog crisis eases as rain douses fires
Fires in Indonesia that have blanketed Singapore and Malaysia in thick smog eased on Wednesday after heavy rain, boosting hopes of an end to Southeast Asia's worst air pollution crisis for years.
EU reaches deal to overhaul farm subsidies: Ireland
European institutions on Wednesday agreed to reform the Common Agricultural Policy to favour small farms over big business and promote environmentally-friendly farming in an overhaul of the EU's most costly programme.
CU-Boulder joins Sloan Digital Sky Survey to map stars, galaxies and quasars in 3-D
The University of Colorado Boulder has become a full institutional member of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey-IV, an ambitious effort by some of the world's top astronomers to map the celestial sky in three dimensions to learn more about the structure and evolution of the universe.
Croatian pupils mark EU entry with astronaut chat
A group of pupils at a Zagreb high school on Wednesday marked their country's July 1 entry into the European Union by talking to an astronaut at the International Space Station (ISS).
China's Shenzhou-10 spacecraft returns to Earth (Update)
China completed its longest manned space mission Wednesday as its Shenzhou-10 spacecraft and three crew members safely returned to Earth, in a major step towards Beijing's goal of building a permanent space station by 2020.
Flash floods predictions, subject to models' limitations
Flash floods are very localised weather events. They are mostly triggered by heavy rainfall. Typically, over a period of less than 12 hours. They occur very infrequently at any one place. But when they do, it is often with a heavy loss of life and substantial damage.
Major rethink needed if chemical industry is to meet greenhouse gas targets
The UK chemical industry requires "an urgent and radical rethink" into how it produces chemicals if it is to play its part in meeting Government's stringent greenhouse gas emission reduction targets of 80% plus by 2050.
Sea level along Maryland's shorelines could rise two feet by 2050, according to new report
A new report on sea level rise recommends that the State of Maryland should plan for a rise in sea level of as much as 2 feet by 2050. Led by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, the report was prepared by a panel of scientific experts in response to Governor Martin O'Malley's Executive Order on Climate Change and "Coast Smart" Construction. The projections are based on an assessment of the latest climate change science and federal guidelines.
Wolf Lake ancient forest is endangered ecosystem
(Phys.org) —New research from the University of Guelph, published Tuesday in the journal Biodiversity and Conservation, says that allowing industrial extraction in a northern Ontario old-growth red pine forest – the largest remaining in the world – would significantly threaten biodiversity in Canada.
21 percent of homes account for 50 percent of greenhouse gas emissions
Energy conservation in a small number of households could go a long way to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, scientists are reporting. Their study, which measured differences in energy demands at the household level, appears in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Gulf of Mexico could see record 'dead zone'
The Gulf of Mexico could see a record-size dead zone this year of oxygen-deprived waters resulting from pollution, US scientists have cautioned based on government data models.
Developing a new laser to detect methane leaks
(Phys.org) —University of Adelaide researchers are developing a new type of laser system that will monitor methane, the main component of natural gas, levels across large areas. This will provide a useful tool for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions.
El Nino, La Nina 'unlikely to make an appearance in 2013'
The Pacific Ocean is unlikely to see either a warming El Nino climate phenomenon or its cooling La Nina opposite number through the end of the year, the UN's weather agency said Wednesday.
Scientists use X-rays to connect mantle chemistry with carbon cycle
(Phys.org) —Study at NSLS may help reveal the role of mantle oxidation states in understanding the Earth's deep interior.
The remarkable remains of a recent supernova
(Phys.org) —Astronomers estimate that a star explodes as a supernova in our Galaxy, on average, about twice per century. In 2008, a team of scientists announced they discovered the remains of a supernova that is the most recent, in Earth's time frame, known to have occurred in the Milky Way.
Location of upwelling in Earth's mantle discovered to be stable
A study published in Nature today shares the discovery that large-scale upwelling within Earth's mantle mostly occurs in only two places: beneath Africa and the Central Pacific. More importantly, Clinton Conrad, Associate Professor of Geology at the University of Hawaii – Manoa's School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) and colleagues revealed that these upwelling locations have remained remarkably stable over geologic time, despite dramatic reconfigurations of tectonic plate motions and continental locations on the Earth's surface.
A stepping-stone for oxygen on Earth: Researchers find evidence of an early manganese-oxidizing photosystem
(Phys.org) —For most terrestrial life on Earth, oxygen is necessary for survival. But the planet's atmosphere did not always contain this life-sustaining substance, and one of science's greatest mysteries is how and when oxygenic photosynthesis—the process responsible for producing oxygen on Earth through the splitting of water molecules—first began. Now, a team led by geobiologists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has found evidence of a precursor photosystem involving manganese that predates cyanobacteria, the first group of organisms to release oxygen into the environment via photosynthesis.
First transiting planets in a star cluster discovered
(Phys.org) —All stars begin their lives in groups. Most stars, including our Sun, are born in small, benign groups that quickly fall apart. Others form in huge, dense swarms that survive for billions of years as stellar clusters. Within such rich and dense clusters, stars jostle for room with thousands of neighbors while strong radiation and harsh stellar winds scour interstellar space, stripping planet-forming materials from nearby stars.
Technology news
Korean sites still down after war anniversary hack
(AP)—Several North and South Korean websites that went offline on a war anniversary remained shut down Wednesday, a day after what Seoul partly blamed on a hacking attack.
Mexicans turn to social media to report on drug war
They tweet and blog about street gunfights and murders in Mexican regions plagued by the drug war, keeping people informed about gangland crimes which local newspapers are too afraid to report on.
Developments with Microsoft's new Windows 8 system
The launch of Windows 8 was heralded as the biggest change to the industry's dominant operating system in at least 17 years. It attempts to bridge the gap between personal computers and fast-growing tablets with its touch-enabled interface. But consumer reaction has been lackluster. Microsoft now plans an update this year.
Bands urge fans to put the phone down
There are few experiences which compare to the life-affirming thrill of a live music event, knowing that you are one of a privileged few being treated to a display of raw artistic skill and power.
Myanmar moves to delay foreign telecom deals
(AP)—Foreign companies hoping to tap into one of the world's final telecom frontiers grappled with lingering political uncertainties Wednesday after Myanmar's lower house of parliament ruled that licenses for two new cellphone networks should be delayed until a law governing the sector is passed.
Luxoft surges in 1st day of trading on the NYSE
Shares of Luxoft, which develops and maintains software for businesses and other enterprises, surged in their first day of trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
High-tech tombstones let loved ones live on, virtually
Rick Miller kneels in front of a grave and uses his cell phone to scan a small barcode on a tombstone. Within seconds, he's looking at photos and videos of a lost loved one. But that's not all.
Myanmar's telecom race enters final stretch
(AP)—Foreign companies will tap into one of the world's final telecom frontiers Thursday when Myanmar hands out licenses to operate two new mobile phone networks—part of efforts by the long-isolated nation to use technology to spur economic development.
Ford tests high-tech 'brake light' that warns other drivers even from afar
Ford Motor Company participated in a special test of a high-tech early warning "brake light" that can warn drivers following behind even if they are around a bend or behind other traffic.
Sharp to make cutting-edge LCDs in China
Troubled Japanese electronics giant Sharp Corp is to produce cutting-edge LCD panels for smartphones in a Chinese joint venture from as early as 2015, a report said on Wednesday.
Research sheds light on coal seam gas versus renewable energy
(Phys.org) —A shift from coal-fired to gas-fired power generation will not significantly lower carbon dioxide emissions, new research by the Global Change Institute at The University of Queensland has found.
Improved water purification technology reduces SWaP, logistics burden
Military vehicles don't run without fuel—and warfighters don't run without water. As little as a six to eight percent water deficit can be debilitating. As a result, military logistics plans must take into account the approximately three gallons of daily drinking water that each warfighter requires. However, the logistics burden of supplying water to deployed troops is comparable to that of fuel and the economic cost is high. Even more important is the cost in lives; former Marine Corps commandant Gen. James Conway said in 2010, "We take 10 to 15 percent of casualties among Marines involved in the delivery of fuel and water."
Taiwan's Hon Hai set to spin off units
Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision said Wednesday it plans to spin off some units as its founder unveiled measures to battle global sluggishness and falling share prices.
EU, Germany demand answers on UK surveillance
(AP)—The European Union's justice chief on Wednesday demanded urgent answers from Britain on the nature and extent of an alleged online eavesdropping operation comparable to the U.S. international Internet surveillance effort.
Team creates highly portable imaging system
Los Alamos National Laboratory and Tribogenics, the pioneer of innovative X-ray solutions, have partnered to create a unique, lightweight, compact, low-cost X-ray system that uses the MiniMAX (Miniature, Mobile, Agile, X-ray) camera to provide real-time inspection of sealed containers and facilities. The innovative technology will be featured at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) International Conference on Nuclear Security: Enhancing Global Efforts, July 1-5, in Vienna, Austria.
White House joins Instagram, posts Africa departure
The White House added Instagram to its social media portfolio on Wednesday, as it posted a picture of a helicopter with President Barack Obama and his family taking off on a trip to Africa.
Twitter CEO defends 'principled' data request policy
Twitter is holding to a "principled" policy on national security data requests and will "push back" in some cases to protect the privacy of its users, its chief executive said Wednesday.
Microsoft woos developers with 're-blended' Windows
Microsoft on Wednesday courted application makers with a "re-blended" version of the overhauled Windows 8 operating system released late last year.
Microsoft tweaks Windows 8, blamed for PC slump (Update)
Microsoft on Wednesday released a preview version of an update to Windows 8, aiming to address some of the gripes people have with the company's flagship operating system.
US-EU fraud crackdown seizes 328 websites
A total of 328 website domains accused of selling counterfeit goods were seized by US and European authorities in the latest crackdown on online fraud, officials said Wednesday.
Mobile malware explodes, hits corporate networks
Smartphone users have seen an explosion of malware in the past year, dominated by schemes targeting Google's Android operating system, a survey showed Wednesday.
SK Telecom introduces world's fist LTE-A network
South Korea's SK Telecom announced Wednesday the launch of a new generation mobile network that offers speeds twice that of its existing long term evolution (LTE) network and 10 times that of 3G services.
Renewable energy use gaining worldwide: IEA
Renewables like solar and wind represent the fastest-growing source of energy power generation and will make up a quarter of the global power mix by 2018, the International Energy Agency said in a report Wednesday.
New dispatch system could save money for trucking industry, make life easier for drivers
Engineers at Oregon State University are studying a new approach to organize and route truck transportation that could save millions of dollars, improve the quality of life for thousands of truck drivers and make freight transportation far more efficient.
IEA: Global renewable energy growing fast
Renewable energy is growing fast around the world and will edge out natural gas as the second biggest source of electricity, after coal, by 2016, according to a five-year outlook published Wednesday by the International Energy Agency.
Medicine & Health news
Calcium and vitamin D help hormones help bones
Should women take calcium and vitamin D supplements after menopause for bone health? Recommendations conflict, and opinions are strong. But now, an analysis from the major Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial throws weight on the supplement side—at least for women taking hormones after menopause. The analysis was published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society.
Texas abortion bill falls after challenge
(AP)—Hundreds of jeering protesters helped stop Texas lawmakers from passing one of the toughest abortion measures in the U.S., shouting down Senate Republicans and forcing them to miss a midnight deadline to pass the bill that would have led to the closure of nearly all the abortion clinics in the most populous U.S. state.
Japan Tobacco sues Thailand over cigarette packaging
Japan Tobacco is suing the Thai government over plans to introduce bigger and more prominent anti-smoking warnings on cigarette packets, the company said Wednesday, as rival Philip Morris vows similar action.
Report highlights growing need to improve end of life care for minority ethnic groups
With Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups aged 65 and over set to treble in the next 25 years, there is a growing need to rethink how accessible and appropriate end of life care is to people from diverse communities and their families, say palliative care experts.
Study shines a light on relationship between genes, diet and obesity
A project involving 29 partners from across Europe has successfully identified a number of innovative products and dietary regimes that could help individuals susceptible to weight gain avoid becoming obese. The project represents an important step towards addressing this critical health issue, and realising the full commercial potential of the dietary market.
Patient suicide and homicide risk often missed, say researchers
The assessment of risk in patients who go on to die by suicide or commit homicide is often poor, a new study has found.
Credible information crucial for NHS managers, says senior academic
Radical restructuring of the NHS is breaking up the information networks health service managers rely on and there is a danger repositories of knowledge will be lost, according to a leading healthcare management expert from Kingston University's Business School.
Study details serious health impacts of food stamp program cuts
Congress' proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—formerly known as Food Stamps—may ultimately increase premature deaths and potentially generate health care costs that exceed the budget savings, according to a new report from Virginia Commonwealth University researchers.
Physician offers tips on sun safety
The long, lazy days of summer are finally here, and while it's the perfect time to have some fun in the sun, one University of Alabama professor stressed the importance of being smart while enjoying those golden rays.
ISFR-IOF experts propose standardized measurements of clinical outcomes in wrist fractures
(Medical Xpress)—Distal radius fractures (often simply termed wrist or Colles' fractures) are the second most common fractures in the elderly. Beyond the immediate impact on the patient, wrist fractures in older adults often indicate underlying osteoporosis and high risk of subsequent fragility fractures.
Drug-induced liver injury is on the rise
More people are being affected by drug-induced liver injury (DILI) than ever before, according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association. This type of liver injury results from the use of certain prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as dietary supplements, and is among the more challenging forms of liver disease due to its difficulty to predict, diagnose and manage.
Issue III registry defines best syncope candidates for cardiac pacing
Athens, Greece 26 June 2013. Two important studies were released at the Late Breaking Clinical Trials session II at EHRA EUROPACE 2013. The PREFER AF study2 found that Oral anticoagulation is now used in over 85% of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) eligible for therapy. And ISSUE (the International Study on Syncope of Uncertain Aetiology) determined that cardiac pacing is more effective in patients with presumed neurally mediated syncope (NMS) and asystolic episodes in which tilt table testing proves negative (TT-), than in patients in which the tilt table testing proves positive (TT+).
Sailors most often injure their knees—on land
(Medical Xpress)—The knees are the body part that is injured the most by dinghy sailors. The injuries are primarily due to overstrain and most often occur during physical training. This was shown in a study at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Toward broad-spectrum antiviral drugs for common cold and other infections
Scientists are reporting progress in the search for the first broad-spectrum drugs to combat human rhinoviruses (HRVs), which cause humanity's most common infectious diseases. Their study on these potential drugs for infections that include the common cold appears in the journal ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters.
Impact of iPad on radiology residents' daily clinical duties is limited, study suggests
While the iPad is being used for intraoperative procedure guidance, percutaneous procedure planning, and mobile interpretation of some imaging examinations, the majority of radiology residents are using it primarily as an educational tool, according to a study published online in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.
How does pedestrian head-loading affect the health of women and children in sub-Saharan Africa?
Across sub-Saharan Africa, women and children play major roles as pedestrian load-transporters, in the widespread absence of basic sanitation services, electricity and affordable/reliable motorised transport.
Pufferfish neurotoxin may serve as treatment for cancer therapy related pain
Researchers at the Brain and Spine Institute at John Theurer Cancer Center at HackensackUMC, one of the nation's 50 best hospitals for cancer, are studying a possible alternative to side effect-ridden opioid-based medications to treat cancer-related pain. The active ingredient for the treatment is Tetrodotoxin, a neurotoxin found in pufferfish.
8.5 million enrollees to receive health insurance rebates
(HealthDay)—About 8.5 million enrollees will receive a rebate of about $100 per family as part of the Affordable Care Act "80/20" rule, according to a report published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Death rates from heart disease continue to decline in most of the EU
Death rates from heart disease in the European Union have more than halved in many countries since the early 1980s, according to new research published online today (Wednesday) in the European Heart Journal [1]. In the majority of countries, there have been ongoing steady reductions in heart disease death rates in both sexes and most age groups, including among younger people, despite increases in obesity and diabetes during this time. However, heart disease remains a leading cause of death in Europe.
Unraveling the largest outbreak of fungal infections associated with contaminated steroid injections
Investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describe pathologic findings from 40 case reports of fungal infection in patients who had been given contaminated epidural, paraspinal, or intra-articular (into joints) steroid injections and correlate these findings with clinical and laboratory data. The report, published in the September issue of The American Journal of Pathology, alerts clinicians and the general public to the catastrophic dangers of contaminated epidural injections.
Cutlery: Do size, weight, shape and color matter?
The appearance of cutlery can affect perception of a food's taste, reports BioMed Central's open access journal Flavour. Food tastes saltier when eaten from a knife, and denser and more expensive from a light plastic spoon. Taste was also affected by the color of the cutlery.
Cancer outcomes linked to GP referral rates
(Medical Xpress)—Patients from GP practices with low endoscopy referral rates are at increased risk of poor outcomes from oesophageal and gastric cancers, according to research at the University of Liverpool.
Study highlights need for increased promotion of support groups for men with depression
(Medical Xpress)—GP's and health professionals need to do more to promote support groups for men suffering with depression and anxiety according to new research published in the journal Primary Health Care Research & Development.
Garlic oil may ease adverse effects of chemotherapy and radiation
(Medical Xpress)—Demand has grown recently to find more natural ways to reduce the adverse effects of the two major methods for cancer treatment, ionizing radiation and chemotherapy. A new study in the Journal of Food Science, published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), found that garlic oil reduced the decrease of white blood cells affected by chemotherapy and radiation treatment in mice with cancerous tumors.
Study shows lifestyle change works in a large national healthcare system
(Medical Xpress)—A study conducted by researchers at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center and Emory University demonstrates that lifestyle change can be achieved in a large-scale healthcare setting and could be a model strategy for fighting diabetes nationally. The research was presented at the American Diabetes Association's 73rd Scientific Sessions.
Researchers find key to blood-clotting process
Researchers, including Professor Alastair Poole and Dr Matthew Harper from the University of Bristol's School of Physiology and Pharmacology, have uncovered a key process in understanding how blood clots form that could help pave the way for new therapies to reduce the risk of heart attacks.
Newly developed medium may be useful for human health, biofuel production, more
Texas A&M University System scientists from the departments of nutrition and food science and poultry science have developed a new medium for the cultivation of beneficial microorganisms called lactobacilli.
Community-based lifestyle program improves diets of pregnant Latina women
A healthy lifestyle intervention program tailored to Spanish-speaking pregnant Latinas significantly increased their daily consumption of vegetables and fiber.
Turn up the volume? Researchers find better way for public announcements
Traffic, aircraft, mobile devices and personal music equipment are not the only sources of noise pollution. Public address systems have become part of the escalating problem, which according to the World Health Organization, costs Europeans alone the equivalent of 654,000 years of healthy life annually.
Amphetamines only work when 'well lubricated'
The misuse of amphetamines is increasing steadily. Ahead of the "International Day against Drug Abuse" (26th June 2013) MedUni Vienna researchers are presenting a study which unlocks a significant mechanism involved in their action. This could result in treatment options for those dependent on amphetamines.
Researchers discover that molecule considered to be a breast cancer indicator also has protective function
(Medical Xpress)—One of the main indicators for determining the activity of a tumour or cancer is cell division. Cancer cells divide more than other types and the genes and molecules involved in the process of division are, often, targets for identifying and treating certain types of cancer.
The 'gold' standard: A rapid, cheap method of detecting dengue virus
(Medical Xpress)—University of Notre Dame biologists are reporting the development of an easy-to-use, low-cost method of detecting dengue virus in mosquitoes based on gold nanoparticles. Their research is published in the Virology Journal this week.
Nursing homes with more black residents do poorly
Nursing homes with a higher proportion of Black residents perform worse financially and provide lower-quality care than homes with few Black residents, finds a new study in Health Services Research.
Research shows Vitamin D levels drop after pediatric heart surgery, increasing sickness
Until now, there has been no research dedicated to the importance of Vitamin D supplementation in children with congenital heart disease (CHD). However, over the past few years, researchers at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute and Cardiovascular Surgery Program teamed with the Canadian Critical Care Trials Group to understand the impact of cardiac surgery on the Vitamin D status of infants and children, to be printed next month in Anesthesiology.
New designer drugs multiplying, testing authorities, UN says
New drugs marketed as "legal highs" and "designer drugs" are emerging fast and in great numbers, and authorities are struggling to keep up, a new UN report warned Wednesday.
Teenage physical fitness reduces the risk of suicidal behavior later in life
Being in good physical shape at 18 years of age can be linked with a reduced risk of attempted suicide later in life. So says a study of over one million Swedish men conducted by researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Virtual skin model reveals secrets of skin aging
(Medical Xpress)—We constantly grow new skin and slough off the old. Until now, scientists have never agreed on exactly how this works, but new research from the University of Sheffield may provide the answer.
Complex genetic architectures: Some common symptoms of trisomy 21
Down syndrome, more commonly known as "trisomy 21" is very often accompanied by pathologies found in the general population: Alzheimer's disease, leukemia, or cardiac deficiency. In a study conducted by Professor Stylianos Antonarakis' group from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Geneva (UNIGE), researchers have identified the genomic variations associated with trisomy 21, determining the risk of congenital heart disease in people with Down syndrome.
Having a job helps women with HIV manage their illness, according to new research
(Medical Xpress)—Having a job helps women with HIV manage their illnesses, according to researchers from Case Western Reserve University and the University of California at San Francisco.
Socioeconomic status plays major role in opioid pain control
Patients in moderate to severe pain in emergency rooms across the U.S. are less likely to receive opioid pain medications if they are black, Hispanic, poor, or have less education, compared to more affluent patients, according to a University of Rochester Medical Center study reported in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Finnish teens drinking and smoking less: study
Finnish teens are drinking and smoking less, a study published on Wednesday showed, attributing the decline to advertising restrictions, increased controls and higher sales taxes on the products.
New data support community-wide approach to addressing child obesity
Community wide interventions hold promise as an effective approach to reducing childhood obesity rates according to new research from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University and Tufts University School of Medicine. An analysis of data from the first two school years (20 calendar months) of the Shape Up Somerville: Eat Smart Play Hard™ intervention showed that schoolchildren in Somerville, Massachusetts gained less weight and were less likely to be obese or overweight than schoolchildren in two similar control communities. The results are published online ahead of print in the journal Preventive Medicine.
Can home-culture images impair second-language skills?
A newly transferred associate from the Shanghai office nails his presentation to Mr. Smith from Chicago but stumbles in his pitch to Mr. Chen from San Francisco. A visiting professor from Taiwan lectures fluently about a slide of a Grecian urn, but falters and struggles to recall the word "translucent" when discussing a Ming vase. What is it about seeing a Chinese face or even a Chinese vase that can disrupt a Chinese immigrant's fluency in English?
A circuitous route to therapy resistance
Gliomas are malignant brain tumors that arise from glial cells called astrocytes, found in the central nervous system. "In treating malignant gliomas, we currently combine radiotherapy with the anticancer drug temozolomide. However, in some patients, tumors rapidly become resistant to both treatment methods," says neurooncologist Professor Dr. Michael Platten, who leads a cooperation unit of the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) and the Department of Neurooncology of Heidelberg University Hospital. "We therefore urgently need new methods of treating these diseases more effectively."
Race apparently a factor in sleep apnea
A Wayne State University researcher has found that sleep apnea severity is higher among African-American men in certain age ranges, even after controlling for body mass index (BMI).
People prefer 'carrots' to 'sticks' when it comes to healthcare incentives
To keep costs low, companies often incentivize healthy lifestyles. Now, new research suggests that how these incentives are framed—as benefits for healthy-weight people or penalties for overweight people—makes a big difference.
New brain imaging study provides support for the notion of food addiction
Consuming highly processed carbohydrates can cause excess hunger and stimulate brain regions involved in reward and cravings, according to a Boston Children's Hospital research team led by David Ludwig, MD, PhD director, New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center. These findings suggest that limiting these "high-glycemic index" foods could help obese individuals avoid overeating.
Have a brain injury? You may be at higher risk for stroke
People who have a traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be more likely to have a future stroke, according to research that appears in the June 26, 2013, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Zebrafish study paves the way for new treatments for genetic disorder
Scientists from the University of Sheffield have paved the way for new treatments for a common genetic disorder thanks to pioneering research on zebrafish – an animal capable of mending its own heart.
Salmonella infection is a battle between good and bad bacteria in the gut
The blockbuster battles between good and evil are not just on the big screen this summer. A new study that examined food poisoning infection as-it-happens in mice revealed harmful bacteria, such as a common type of Salmonella, takes over beneficial bacteria within the gut amid previously unseen changes to the gut environment. The results provide new insights into the course of infection and could lead to better prevention or new treatments.
Sleep deprivation, pacing protect runners' muscles in 200-mile long mountain race
Runners who complete one of the world's most challenging ultra-marathons experience less neuromuscular fatigue, muscle damage and inflammation compared to those who run distances half to one quarter as long, according to the results of research published June 26 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Jonas Saugy and colleagues from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Scientists make major advances important for cancer research
Scientists at the University of East Anglia have made a major advancement in understanding tissue development that has important implications for cancer.
Obesity may boost migraine odds
(HealthDay)—Obese people may be at higher risk for episodic migraine headaches, a new study suggests.
Socioecological factors contribute to diabetes epidemic
(HealthDay)—A broader public health approach may be needed to address the socioecological factors contributing to the rising rates of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, according to a scientific statement published online June 20 in Diabetes Care.
IHC: Higher lipids as a child ups later migraine risk
(HealthDay)—An adverse lipid profile in childhood may be a risk factor for migraines in adulthood, according to a study presented at the 2013 International Headache Congress, held from June 27 to 30 in Boston.
ACOG updates uterine bleeding recommendations
(HealthDay)—Updated patient management guidelines for the treatment of patients with abnormal uterine bleeding associated with ovulatory dysfunction (AUB-O) have been released in a practice bulletin published in the July issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
MRI findings linked to effect of lumbar spine surgery
(HealthDay)—Certain findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are linked with surgical outcome in patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation, according to research published in the June 15 issue of Spine.
Antibiotics: Change route of delivery to mitigate resistance
New research suggests that the rapid rise of antibiotic resistance correlates with oral ingestion of antibiotics, raising the possibility that other routes of administration could reduce the spread of resistance. The manuscript appears online ahead of print in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
Nurse practitioners can boost quality of care for older patients with chronic conditions
U.S. residents today are living longer than previous generations, thanks to improved public health and medical treatment. But they're also living longer with chronic geriatric health conditions like dementia, urinary incontinence, depression and debilitating falls, which often require complex medical care.
Tired and edgy? Sleep deprivation boosts anticipatory anxiety
(Medical Xpress)—UC Berkeley researchers have found that a lack of sleep, which is common in anxiety disorders, may play a key role in ramping up the brain regions that contribute to excessive worrying.
DNA 'reverse' vaccine reduces levels of immune cells believed responsible for Type 1 diabetes
A clinical trial of a vaccine, led by Stanford University School of Medicine researchers and designed to combat type-1 diabetes, has delivered initially promising results, suggesting that it may selectively counter the errant immune response that causes the disease.
Influenza infection increases likelihood of bacterial pneumonia 100-fold
It's been known for more than two centuries that pneumonia cases increase during flu epidemics.
Alzheimer's disease mouse models point to a potential therapeutic approach
Building on research published eight years ago in the journal Chemistry and Biology, Kenneth S. Kosik, Harriman Professor in Neuroscience and co-director of the Neuroscience Research Institute (NRI) at UC Santa Barbara, and his team have now applied their findings to two distinct, well-known mouse models, demonstrating a new potential target in the fight against Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Simple two-drug combination proves effective in reducing risk of stroke
Results of a Phase III clinical trial showed that a simple drug regimen of two anti-clotting drugs – clopidogrel and aspirin – lowered the risk of stroke by almost one-third, compared to the standard therapy of aspirin alone, when given to patients who had minor or transient stroke symptoms to prevent subsequent attacks.
Promising Alzheimer's 'drug' halts memory loss
A new class of experimental drug-like small molecules is showing great promise in targeting a brain enzyme to prevent early memory loss in Alzheimer's disease, according to Northwestern Medicine research.
Researchers find zinc's crucial pathway to the brain
A new study helps explain how parts of the brain maintain their delicate balance of zinc, an element required in minute but crucial doses, particularly during embryonic development.
Study shows expectation important component of rubber-hand illusion
(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers in Italy has found that expectation is an important component of the famous rubber-hand illusion. In their paper published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the team describes their study that showed that actual touching need not occur for the illusion to work.
How visual attention affects the brain
New work at the University of California, Davis, shows for the first time how visual attention affects activity in specific brain cells. The paper, published June 26 in the journal Nature, shows that attention increases the efficiency of signaling into the brain's cerebral cortex and boosts the ratio of signal over noise.
Biology news
Locust plague could cause food crisis in Madagascar, UN says
Madagascar is at risk of being overrun by a locust plague likely to ravage at least two-thirds of the country and spark a serious food crisis, the UN's food agency said on Wednesday.
Australia to world court: Ban Japanese whaling
Japan's annual whale hunt is a commercial slaughter of marine mammals dressed up as science, Australian lawyers argued Wednesday as they urged the United Nations' highest court to ban the hunt in the waters around Antarctica.
How chewing gum or a shed hair can let strangers read your 'Book of Life'
Someone finds that piece of chewing gum you pitched today, uses the saliva to sequence your DNA and surreptitiously reads your book of life—including genetic secrets like your susceptibility to diseases. If that scenario, posed in an article in the current edition of Chemical & Engineering News, causes a little discomfort, consider this: That stranger also uses the DNA to reconstruct a copy of y-o-u.
US to retire most chimps from medical research
The National Institutes of Health plans to end most use of chimpanzees in U.S. government medical research, saying humans' closest relatives "deserve special respect."
Sussex bee scientists question value of neonics ban
The European Commission's two-year moratorium on the use of neonicotinoid insecticides is no "triumph for bee conservation", say University of Sussex bee scientists.
Fear of Komodo dragon bacteria wrapped in myth
(Phys.org) —A team led by a University of Queensland researcher has proven that the fearsome Komodo dragon is a victim of bad press.
Improved egg enabled insects to conquer the land
Insects are so successful on the land because insect eggs are protected from desiccation. Thanks to an extraembryonic membrane in the egg, the serosa, insects could successfully switch from life in the water to life on land. The research group of Veni laureate Dr Maurijn van der Zee (Leiden University) published about this research in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Crabgrass' secret: The despised weed makes herbicide to kill neighboring plants
Contrary to popular belief, crabgrass does not thrive in lawns, gardens and farm fields by simply crowding out other plants. A new study in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry has found that the much-despised weed actually produces its own herbicides that kill nearby plants.
Research suggesting genetic elements from plants make it into eater's bloodstream turns out to be a 'false positive'
In 2011 and 2012, research from China's Nanjing University made international headlines with reports that after mice ate, bits of genetic material from the plants they'd ingested could make it into their bloodstreams intact and turn the animals' own genes off. The surprising results from Chen-Yu Zhang's group led to speculation that genetic illness might one day be treated with medicinal food, but also to worry that genetically modified foods might in turn modify consumers in unanticipated ways.
Monkeys' winter death toll shows true value of friendship in natural selection
The devastation caused by an exceptionally cold winter to a population of wild monkeys has enabled scientists to show for the first time a link between an animal's social relationships and its chances of surviving in extreme environmental conditions.
DNA analysis of a horseracing legend
A new chapter in the story of Phar Lap is about to be added by the University of Sydney as it leads an attempt to sequence the famous horse's DNA.
Songbirds turn on and tune up: Bullfinches have the brain power to learn to sing human melodies accurately
(Phys.org) —Bullfinches learn from human teachers to sing melodies accurately, according to a new study by the late Nicolai Jürgen and researchers from the University of Kaiserslautern in Germany. Their analysis of human melody singing in bullfinches gives insights into the songbirds' brain processes. The work is published online in Springer's journal Animal Cognition.
Study shows Australian jack jumper ants navigate using landmarks
(Phys.org) —A trio of researchers from The Australian National University has found that solitary foraging jack jumper ants take mental snapshots of the terrain as they move around. This allows the ants, the team notes in their paper published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, to find their way home using landmark identification.
700,000 year old horse genome sequenced
It is nothing short of a world record in DNA research that scientists at the Centre for GeoGenetics at the Natural History Museum of Denmark (University of Copenhagen) have hit. They have sequenced the so far oldest genome from a prehistoric creature. They have done so by sequencing and analyzing short pieces of DNA molecules preserved in bone-remnants from a horse that had been kept frozen for the last 700.000 years in the permafrost of Yukon, Canada. By tracking the genomic changes that transformed prehistoric wild horses into domestic breeds, the researchers have revealed the genetic make-up of modern horses with unprecedented details. The spectacular results are now published in the international scientific journal Nature.
DNA found outside genes plays largely unknown, potentially vital roles
A new UC San Francisco study highlights the potential importance of the vast majority of human DNA that lies outside of genes within the cell.
For the first time, a donor mouse has been cloned using a drop of peripheral blood from its tail
From obesity to substance abuse, from anxiety to cancer, genetically modified mice are used extensively in research as models of human disease. Researchers often spend years developing a strain of mouse with the exact genetic mutations necessary to model a particular human disorder. But what if that mouse, due to the mutations themselves or a simple twist of fate, was infertile?
Social animals have more social smarts
Lemurs from species that hang out in big tribes are more likely to steal food behind your back instead of in front of your face.
Comparing genomes of wild and domestic tomato
You say tomato, I say comparative transcriptomics. Researchers in the U.S., Europe and Japan have produced the first comparison of both the DNA sequences and which genes are active, or being transcribed, between the domestic tomato and its wild cousins.
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