Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for July 1, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Hybrid nanostructure with extreme light absorption looks promising for photovoltaics- Improving crop yields in a world of extreme weather events
- Psychology influences markets, research confirms
- New algorithm quickly identifies most dangerous risks in a power grid amid millions or billions of possible failures
- Superconductor from solvent created: Study opens up new understanding of phenomenon
- Climbing the social ladder is strongly influenced by your grandparents' class
- Lack of immune cell receptor impairs clearance of amyloid beta protein from the brain
- Breakthrough in El Nino forecasting
- Nerve cells can work in different ways with same result
- Cloud behavior expands habitable zone of alien planets
- Researchers find protein essential for cognition, mental health
- Age and legality of ivory revealed by carbon-14 dating can fight poachers
- One in ten will live in climate hotspots by 2100
- Head Start children and parents show robust gains in new intervention
- Mapping the benefits of our ecosystems
Space & Earth news
Climbers flock to Mt. Fuji as season begins
Hordes of trekkers flocked to Mount Fuji Monday at the start of a two-month climbing season, after it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in recognition of its status as a symbol of Japan.
NASA image: Fires in Manitoba, Canada
There are currently 27 fires in the northeast section of Manitoba. These fires have burned over 126,000 hectares (over 311,000 acres). Showers have lowered wildfire danger levels in most areas of the province with the exception of northeastern Manitoba where conditions continue to remain dry.
NASA image: Silver Fire, New Mexico
The Silver Fire in southern New Mexico continues to generate a lot of smoke, as seen recently on imagery from NASA's Terra satellite.
India to launch satellite navigation system
India will Monday launch the first stage of its domestic satellite navigation network which will eventually provide services both to civilians and the military and is similar to the US Global Positioning System, officials said.
Tallying the wins and losses of policy
In the past decade, China as sunk some impressive numbers to preserve its forests, but until now there hasn't been much data to give a true picture of how it has simultaneously affected both the people and the environment.
Satellite shows tropical storm dalila hugging Mexico's southwestern coast
System 96E became a tropical depression and quickly grew into Tropical Storm Dalila on June 30. Dalila has been hugging the coast of southwestern Mexico practically since it formed, and continues to do so on satellite imagery taken on July 1.Because of its close proximity to the coast, there's a tropical storm warning in effect for the southwestern coast of Mexico from Punta San Telmo to La Fortuna, and a Tropical Storm Watch from north of La Fortuna. That means 1 to 3 inches of rainfall expected over coastal areas of the Mexican states of Micohcan, Colima and Jaliso, and tropical storm force winds, today, July 1.
NASA sees heavy rainfall as Typhoon Rumbia heads for landfall in China
Typhoon Rumbia developed from a low pressure area east of the Philippines and crossed the country from east to west before moving into the South China Sea. NASA's TRMM satellite flew over Rumbia as it nears southeastern China and identified areas of heavy rainfall in the southern quadrant of the storm.
GPM spreads its wings in solar array deployment test
(Phys.org) —NASA successfully completed two pre-vibration solar array deployment tests of the Global Precipitation Measurement satellite on June 6 and June 15, 2013.
Rate of temperature change along world's coastlines has itself changed dramatically over the past three decades
Locally, changes in coastal ocean temperatures may be much more extreme than global averages imply. New research published in the June 18 edition of PLoS ONE entitled "Decadal Changes in the World's Coastal Latitudinal Temperature Gradients," is highlighting some of the distinct regional implications associated with global climate-change. By looking at changes in coastal ocean temperatures over the past 30 years, Dr. Hannes Baumann in the Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) and Dr. Owen Doherty of Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SoMAS alumnus) mapped the differences in how the world's coastlines are experiencing climate change, and discuss the possible large scale ecological implications of this.
Intergalactic magnifying glasses could help astronomers map galaxy centres
(Phys.org) —An international team of astronomers may have found a new way to map quasars, the energetic and luminous central regions typically found in distant galaxies. Team leader Prof. Andy Lawrence of the Royal Observatory Edinburgh presents the new results on Monday 1 July at the RAS National Astronomy Meeting in St Andrews, Scotland.
Rocket-launched camera reveals highways and sparkles in the solar atmosphere
(Phys.org) —Using an innovative new camera on board a sounding rocket, an international team of scientists have captured the sharpest images yet of the Sun's outer atmosphere. The team discovered fast-track 'highways' and intriguing 'sparkles' that may help answer a long-standing solar mystery. Prof. Robert Walsh of the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) will present the new results on Monday 1 July at the RAS National Astronomy Meeting in St Andrews, Scotland.
Fragments falling onto the Sun
(Phys.org) —Stars form as gravity coalesces the gas and dust in an interstellar cloud until the material develops clumps dense enough to become stars. Even after a star begins to burn its nuclear fuel it continues to grow in mass as it accumulates matter from its natal cloud - and also from a surrounding ring of circumstellar material that develops. (This disk can subsequently produce planets.) Mass accretion from the circumstellar disk onto the stellar surface is expected to play an important role in star formation, especially in its later stages, but the process is very difficult to measure on other stars, leaving scientists uncertain about the many details.
Giant Australian animals were not wiped out by climate change
(Phys.org) —Researchers have ruled out climate change as the cause of extinction of most of Australia's giant animals, including giant kangaroos, three metre-tall flightless birds and the Tasmanian tiger, around 50,000 years ago.
Cloud behavior expands habitable zone of alien planets
A new study that calculates the influence of cloud behavior on climate doubles the number of potentially habitable planets orbiting red dwarfs, the most common type of stars in the universe. This finding means that in the Milky Way galaxy alone, 60 billion planets may be orbiting red dwarf stars in the habitable zone.
Breakthrough in El Nino forecasting
Irregular warming of the Eastern Pacific Ocean, dubbed El Niño by Peruvian fishermen, can generate devastating impacts. Being the most important phenomenon of contemporary natural climate variability, it may trigger floods in Latin America, droughts in Australia, and harvest failures in India.
One in ten will live in climate hotspots by 2100
One out of 10 people on Earth is likely to live in a climate impact hotspot by the end of this century, if greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated. Many more are put at risk in a worst-case scenario of the combined impacts on crop yields, water availability, ecosystems, and health, according to a study now published online by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Astronomer uncovers the hidden identity of an exoplanet
(Phys.org) —Hovering about 70 light-years from Earth –– that's "next door" by astronomical standards –– is a star astronomers call HD 97658, which is almost bright enough to see with the naked eye. But the real "star" is the planet HD 97658b, not much more than twice the Earth's diameter and a little less than eight times its mass. HD 97658b is a super-Earth, a class of planet for which there is no example in our home solar system.
Mapping the benefits of our ecosystems
We rely on our physical environment for many things – clean water, land for crops or pastures, storm water absorption, and recreation, among others. Yet it has been challenging to figure out how to sustain the many benefits people obtain from nature—so-called "ecosystem services"—in any given landscape because an improvement in one may come at the cost of another.
Technology news
New technology means improved safety for radiation workers
The University of Reading has played a leading role in the development of new technology that will reduce health risks for those working in jobs where there is a danger of radiation exposure.
Reconciling energy efficiency and comfort
Reducing the energy consumption of an office building does not automatically imply less comfort for the users.
Most sustainable office in the world
In Munich, a newly erected office building, called the NuOffice, has been awarded an internationally recognised green design certification in platinum, called the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certificate.
WatchABC now in LA, Chicago, SF for pay TV subs
(AP)—Disney is facing one of the first big tests of its WatchABC app as customers who have enjoyed free live viewing of local ABC stations in New York and Philadelphia on mobile devices will now have to show they are pay TV subscribers.
US online child privacy get stricter
Toughened US regulations on online privacy for children take effect Monday, offering new protections amid the growing use of mobile apps and social networks by youngsters.
Nokia buys network operations from Siemens (Update)
Nokia is turning to the stronger-performing parts of its business to help bolster its struggling smartphone arm, as it offered Siemens 1.7 billion euros ($2.22 billion) for its half of the networks joint venture.
SKorean presidential website loses data in hacking
South Korea says personal information was stolen from its presidential website in a cyberattack last week that coincided with a shutdown of North Korean websites.
Training intelligent systems to think on their own
(Phys.org) —The computing devices and software programs that enable the technology on which the modern world relies, says Hector Muñoz-Avila, can be likened to adolescents.
Using RFID for fiber composites
Antennas that are capable of transmitting radio waves turn components into intelligent objects. Researchers have now found a way to embed these antennas in fiber composites. As a result, the technology also works with carbon and glass fibers.
Robots inspect cables
The bearer cables and tethers of bridges, elevators, and cable cars are exposed to high levels of stress. For this reason, their functional reliability must be monitored on a regular basis. A new robot recognizes fissures before they pose a danger.
Underwater propulsion from a 3-D printer
Nature inspires creativity: in building a silent propulsion system for boats and water sport devices, researchers used the octopus as their role model. The system can be produced at a low cost and in a single step with a 3D printer.
Bringing color to solar facades
Until now, designers of buildings have no choice but to use black or bluish-gray colored solar panels. With the help of thin-film technologies, researchers have now been able to turn solar cells into colorful creations.
Germany wants 'trust restored' after US spy report
The German government wants "trust restored" with the United States following reports that American intelligence agencies bugged European Union offices, and has invited the U.S. ambassador in Berlin to the Foreign Ministry for a meeting on Monday.
Discovering the architect of bamboo
Simon Velez is known for his impressive constructions made of bamboo. The Colombian architect is the subject of an outdoor exhibition at Rossinière.
Intuit sells financial services unit for $1.03B
Intuit is selling a division that provides software to financial institutions in a deal worth about $1.03 billion as it focuses on products for consumers and small businesses.
Court: No class-action status in Google book case (Update)
Google Inc. got a friendly ruling Monday from a federal appeals panel that stripped a group representing authors of class-action status as the search engine defends itself against claims that its plan to create the world's largest digital library will violate copyrights.
Apple files for 'iWatch' trademark in Japan
Apple Inc. has applied for a trademark in Japan for "iWatch," indicating it may be proceeding with rumored plans to produce a smart wristwatch.
Zynga CEO steps down, Microsoft exec to take post (Update)
Zynga's CEO, Mark Pincus, is stepping down to be replaced by Don Mattrick, the head of Microsoft's Xbox business, as the troubled online game company looks to revive its business and stalled stock price.
Yahoo buys Bignoggins for more bright ideas
Yahoo is making another small acquisition as part of the Internet company's effort to make more compelling applications for smartphones and tablet computers.
Student's flashlight works by body heat, not batteries
(Phys.org) —Ann Makosinski from Victoria, British Columbia, has an LED flashlight powered by body heat. This inventor has a flashlight that glows when she holds it. The story gets more interesting, though. She is 15 years old and her flashlight has got her into the finalist ranks for the Google Science Fair. Her work is a result of a general interest in alternative energy. She said that she is "really interested in harvesting surplus energy, energy that surrounds but we never really use." Enter the Hollow Flashlight, which works according to the thermoelectric effect—creating electric voltage out of temperature difference. As a Grade 10 student at St. Michaels University School in Victoria, she was deciding on a topic for a science project when she discovered the Peltier tile, producing electricity when one side of the tile is heated while the other side is cooled.
Teaching a computer to play concentration advances security, understanding of the mind
(Phys.org) —Computer science researchers have programmed a computer to play the game Concentration (also known as Memory). The work could help improve computer security – and improve our understanding of how the human mind works.
Atheer Labs demos 3-D virtual object-manipulation goggles
(Phys.org) —Atheer Labs has announced the development of a new type of technology that allows for creating and manipulating virtual three-dimensional objects via goggles or by other types of devices. Calling it a Mobile 3D Platform, the technology is meant to function on a variety of different types of devices running different types of operating systems, such as Android or other open source systems.
Google closes book on Reader news story service
Google on Monday closed the book on its free Reader service for gathering news stories and other online items in simple, up-to-the-minute lists.
New algorithm quickly identifies most dangerous risks in a power grid amid millions or billions of possible failures
Each summer, power grids are pushed to their limits, as homes and offices crank up the air conditioning in response to rising temperatures. A single failure in the system—such as a downed power line or a tripped relay—can cause power outages throughout a neighborhood or across entire towns.
Medicine & Health news
ATS publishes statement on organ donation after circulatory determination of death
The American Thoracic Society has released an official statement on the ethical and health policy considerations surrounding adult and pediatric controlled organ donation after circulatory determination of death (DCDD), the recovery of organs after cessation of circulation from patients with severe neurological, neuromuscular or pulmonary disease for whom decisions are made to forego additional life-prolonging treatments.
UN urges Asia to ditch punitive laws to fight AIDS (Update)
(AP)—U.N. health officials urged Asian governments Monday to get rid of what they say are punitive laws that hinder the battle against HIV and AIDS by discriminating against high-risk groups and deterring them from seeking treatment.
Understanding how early nutrition can influence lifelong health
EU-funded research has revealed how nutrition in the womb and during our early years could affect our susceptibility to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung disease, as well as lifelong behavioural and cognitive functions. These findings from the EARNEST ('Early nutrition programming') project have now been translated into practical advice, which could have a long-term beneficial impact on the health of Europe's next generation.
Brain and Mind Institute-led research team wins coveted Human Brain Mapping Hackathon
A team of researchers fueled predominantly by Western's Brain and Mind Institute won a top prize in the Hackathon this past week at the 19th annual meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping in Seattle, Washington.
Marijuana's march toward mainstream confounds feds
It took 50 years for American attitudes about marijuana to zigzag from the paranoia of "Reefer Madness" to the excesses of Woodstock back to the hard line of "Just Say No."
Patient care suffering because of senior practitioners' professionalism lapses
The professionalism lapses of a minority of senior healthcare practitioners, charged with teaching healthcare students across the NHS, are contributing to a decline in patient care and dignity. This is the finding of an eight-year programme of research, led by Cardiff University and the University of Dundee.
Cross-species malaria immunity induced by chemically attenuated parasites
Malaria, a mosquito-born infectious disease, kills over 600,000 people every year. Research has focused on the development of a vaccine to prevent the disease; however, many malaria vaccines targeting parasite antigens have failed because the antigen targets are highly variable.
Fat grafting techniques for breast reconstruction are commonly used by US plastic surgeons
Seventy percent of U.S. plastic surgeons have used fat grafting techniques for breast operations, but they are more likely to use it for breast reconstruction rather than cosmetic breast surgery, reports a survey study in the July issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
High rate of herbal supplement use by cosmetic plastic surgery patients
Preoperative evaluations before facial cosmetic surgery find that about half of patients are taking herbal and other supplements, reports a study in the July issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
Researchers find two new methods to determine ALK status
The implementation of personalized health care in cancer relies on the identification and characterization of cancer biomarkers and the availability of accurate detection systems and therapies for those biomarkers. Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), a tyrosine kinase, is a more recently characterized cancer biomarker in non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To identify NSCLC patients with ALK gene rearrangement in clinical trials, researchers have used the methods known as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or immunohistochemistry (IHC). While IHC is a less complex and less costly technology than FISH, both methods present challenges.
Study shows SBRT for stage I NSCLC safe and effective
Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is considered the treatment of choice for early-stage non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) if patients are inoperable because of additional medical conditions. This is based on several prospective phase II trials, which reported consistently high rates of local tumor control. However, these studies only included small number of patients, the methodology of SBRT varied between the studies and SBRT was mainly practiced in specialized centers. Therefore, safety and efficacy of SBRT practiced in routine clinical practice outside of study protocols is not well analyzed.
Researchers use immunocytochemistry to determine ALK status
Personalized medicine in lung cancer relies on the identification and characterization of cancer biomarkers and the availability of accurate detection systems and therapies for those biomarkers. The standard procedure for detection of predictive anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-rearrangements is fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), but FISH is both expensive and often challenging to interpret. Lung cancer is often diagnosed by cytology necessitating predictive molecular marker analyses on cytological specimens.
Pregnancy as window to future health
Physicians with the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine released a paper today that provides significant insight into future health conditions that women are likely to experience, and that can be detected early based on information relating to the course of pregnancy. The paper, Pregnancy as a Window to Future Health: The development of complications in pregnancy provides a new window of opportunity for early heart disease risk screening and intervention for women, acknowledges that, for most women, the demands of pregnancy on the cardiovascular and metabolic systems are some of the highest the body will endure.
AAO-HNSF clinical practice guideline: Tympanostomy tubes in children
A multidisciplinary clinical practice guideline that helps physicians identify children most likely to benefit from tympanostomy tubes, provide the best care before and after surgery, and improve counseling and education for parents was published Monday in the journal Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.
Big gap looms for poor in Obama health care law
(AP)—President Barack Obama's historic promise of health insurance for nearly all U.S. residents looks unlikely to be fulfilled as envisioned—with nearly two in three uninsured low-income people who would qualify losing out—because many states are refusing to go along.
Exercise-induced improvements in glycemic control and type 2 diabetes
Exercise-induced improvements in glycemic control are dependent on the pre-training glycemic level, and although moderate-intensity aerobic exercise can improve glycemic control, individuals with ambient hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) are more likely to be nonresponders, according to a research letter by Thomas P. J. Solomon, Ph.D. of the Centre of Inflammation and Metabolism, Copenhagen, Denmark, and colleagues.
Vital sign collection based on patient risk for clinical deterioration
Nighttime frequency of vital signs monitoring for low-risk medical inpatients might be reduced, according to a research letter by Jordan C. Yoder, B.A. and colleagues at the University of Chicago.
Can watching an avatar translate to real-life weight loss?
An estimated two-thirds of all Americans are overweight or obese and many find it difficult to lose weight and keep it off. They've tried fad diets, exercise programs, diet pills and other methods but the battle continues. Now, a new study suggests that watching an avatar model weight-loss behavior in a virtual community might help some women shed pounds in the real world.
War on MERS: Deadly virus prompts global battle plans
In a war room of sorts in a neatly appointed government building, U.S. officers dressed in crisp uniforms arranged themselves around a U-shaped table and kept their eyes trained on a giant screen. PowerPoint slides ticked through the latest movements of an enemy that recently emerged in Saudi Arabia - a mysterious virus that has killed more than half of the people known to have been infected.
Senior moment? Stereotypes about aging can hurt older adults' memory, but there's an easy fix
Of the many negative stereotypes that exist about older adults, the most common is that they are forgetful, senile and prone to so-called "senior moments." In fact, while cognitive processes do decline with age, simply reminding older adults about ageist ideas actually exacerbates their memory problems, reveals important new research from the USC Davis School of Gerontology.
Japan firm starts Down's therapy test
A Japanese pharmaceutical company said Monday it will begin therapeutic testing of a drug it hopes will slow the decline in quality of life for some people with Down's syndrome.
Halving world hunger by 2015 'within reach', UN says
Despite economic crises and dwindling aid, the UN said Monday huge progress had been made towards meeting the so-called Millennium Development Goals, including its bid to slash world hunger in half between 1990 and 2015.
Are college student hook-ups linked to anxiety and depression?
As narratives of "hook-up" culture take center stage in popular media, behavioral researchers are starting to ask what psychological consequences, if any, may be in store for young adults who engage in casual sex.
Children with delayed motor skills struggle more socially
(Medical Xpress)—Studies have shown that children with autism often struggle socially and now new research suggests that a corresponding lack of motor skills – including catching and throwing – may further contribute to that social awkwardness.
New technology links diet to genetic markers
(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers looking into links between nutrition and genetics have developed technologies that will revolutionise how food companies validate new products.
Study suggests inadequate hand hygiene practice
(Medical Xpress)—Gloves used commonly in general hospital wards throughout New Zealand are frequently contaminated with bacteria before coming into contact with patients, with poor glove box design and inadequate hand washing by hospital staff the likely culprits, a new University of Otago study has found.
Runners! Put a (mattress) spring in your step
Researchers have designed a new type of running shoe which incorporates springs into the sole for the first time. Prototypes of the trainer, developed to reduce injury risk, will be on show at this year's Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, which opens to the public tomorrow (2 July).
Inflammation may be key to obesity-related disease
If current trends continue, roughly 42 percent of the people in the U.S. will be obese by the year 2030, according to the Trust for America's Health. As obesity rates climb to unprecedented levels, an equally dramatic increase in new cases of obesity-related diseases like Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension and arthritis is expected.
Understanding PTSD: Researchers explore causes, treatment
(Medical Xpress)—In 2005, ASU student Eric Batory was a long way from Arizona. He was in Mosul, Iraq on his first deployment as a special operations medic with the U.S. Army's 1st Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.
Researchers discover molecule that drives aggressive breast cancer
(Medical Xpress)—Recent studies by researchers at Thomas Jefferson University's Kimmel Cancer Center have shown a gene known to coordinate initial development of the eye (EYA1) is a powerful breast tumor promoter in mice. The gene EYA1 was also shown to be overexpressed in a genetic breast cancer subtype called luminal B.
Engineering applied to cognitive rehabilitation
Within the CogWatch European project, coordinated by the University of Birmingham, researchers at the Higher Technical School of Telecommunications Engineering and the Higher Technical School of Industrial Engineering of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid have designed the architecture and the first prototype of a system that provides cognitive rehabilitation for patients suffering from apraxia. Apraxia is a neurological disorder after suffering a stroke.
New treatment for schizophrenia discovered
A research group led by professor Jesper Ekelund showed that by giving a very large dose of famotidine (200 mg daily), sufficient amounts of the drug are able to penetrate the so-called blood-brain barrier to affect the histamine system in the brain.
Researchers discover new proteasome regulatory mechanism
Dysfunction of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) has been detected in many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and certain types of cancer. Such dysfunction is also believed to be related to some degenerative muscle diseases. Researchers at the University of Helsinki, Finland, have now discovered an important mechanism that regulates proteasome activity.
New WHO test-based approach against malaria does not work everywhere
In view of the sharp rise in treatment costs of malaria, the World Health Organization (WHO) says that there must be a hard diagnosis before the disease is treated. The WHO is deploying rapid tests, a variation of the well-known pregnancy test in which a drop of blood is used. Researchers at the Antwerp Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) conclude that the new approach is unreliable and that the costs outweigh the benefits in areas where malaria is highly endemic.
Survey shows increase in resistance to drug therapies among bovine respiratory disease cases
A survey of records of bovine respiratory disease cases at the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory showed that drug resistance in one of the primary pathogens that cause BRD, Mannheimia haemolytica, increased over a three-year period.
Long-term cannabis use may blunt the brain's motivation system
Long-term cannabis users tend to produce less dopamine, a chemical in the brain linked to motivation, a study has found.
The anti-obesity effect of wheat polyphenols
Researchers from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), have discovered that wheat polyphenols have effects that improve the rhythm of activity and suppress obesity and glucose intolerance in model mice of diet-induced obesity, in collaboration with Nisshin Seifun Group Inc.
Discovery sheds light on why Alzheimer's meds rarely help
New research reveals that the likely culprit behind Alzheimer's disease has a different molecular structure than current drugs' target—perhaps explaining why these medications produce little improvement in patients.
New evidence for genetic bases of liver cancer reported
The Asian Cancer Research Group (ACRG), an independent, not-for-profit company in collaboration with BGI, the world's largest genomics organization, and The University of Hong Kong (HKU), jointly announced the publication of findings from a study of recurrent mutations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most deadly cancers worldwide, in the international journal Genome Research. The study provides new insights into potential therapeutic intervention strategies for this common form of liver cancer.
A calculator to estimate the likelihood of antidepressant response
As in any other field of medicine, when a depressed person visits a psychiatrist for treatment of depression, they like to be informed of the odds that they will respond to the medication they are prescribed. Unfortunately, there has been no precise way to predict antidepressant response in individual patients.
DNA particles in the blood may help speed detection of coronary artery disease
DNA fragments in your blood may someday help doctors quickly learn if chest pain means you have narrowed heart arteries, according to a new study published in the American Heart Association journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.
Neuroblastoma: Autophagy protects from chemotherapy
Neuroblastomas are pediatric tumors that originate from cells of the embryonic nervous system. The disease can take widely varying clinical courses that range from spontaneous regression to fatal outcomes. Highly aggressive neuroblastomas rarely respond well to chemotherapy. Understanding and overcoming the resistance mechanisms of highly aggressive neuroblastomas are considered essential to the development of effective treatments.
Too much of a good thing? Too many 'healing' cells delays wound healing
Like most other things, you can have too much of a good thing when it comes to wound healing, and new research proves it. According to an article published in the July 2013 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, wound healing can be delayed because the body produces too many mast cells, which normally promote healing. An overabundance of these cells, however, also causes harm by leading to the overproduction of IL-10, which prevents certain white blood cells from reaching the wounded area. The work was conducted in mice with lymphedematous skin, and may one day provide better treatments for elderly individuals with skin ulcers in the lower extremities, for women with upper-extremity wounds following breast cancer surgery, and skin wounds of any type that are not healing as they should.
Diagnosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy delayed by primary care physicians
Researchers from The Tel-Aviv Medical Center found delays in diagnosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) averaging 2 years in 42 patients who eventually underwent surgery. This is an important finding, because previous studies have shown that early diagnosis and treatment of CSM lead to better outcomes. The majority of patients initially sought a diagnosis for their symptoms from family physicians, who arrived at a correct diagnosis in only 4.8% of cases and never at the first clinic visit. Many other patients initially consulted community-based orthopedic surgeons, only one of whom suspected CSM at the first visit. Detailed findings of this study are reported and discussed in the article "Delayed diagnosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy by primary care physicians," by Eyal Behrbalk, M.D., Khalil Salame, M.D., Gilad J. Regev, M.D., Ory Keynan, M.D., Bronek Boszczyk, Dr. Med., and Zvi Lidar, M.D., published today, in the July 2013 issue of Neurosurgical Focus.
Three-year-old Japan boy gets lung part from mother
Part of a Japanese woman's lung was transplanted to her three-year-old son Monday in what was described as the world's first successful graft of a middle lobe from a living donor, a hospital said.
Scientists show how DHA resolves inflammation
Chronic inflammation is a major factor in a wide range of problems from arthritis to cardiovascular disease, and DHA (found in fish oil) is known to temper this problem. A new research report appearing in the July 2013 issue of The FASEB Journal, helps explain why DHA is important in reducing inflammation, and provides an important lead to finding new drugs that will help bring people back to optimal health. Specifically, researchers found that macrophages (a type of white blood cell) use DHA to produce "maresins," which serve as the "switch" that turns inflammation off and switches on resolution.
After the shooting, political violence lives on in kids' behavior problems
Even short-term exposure to political violence may have long-lasting effects on children's adjustment and behavior, says a new study by a team of researchers from Kenya, Italy and the United States.
UCLA stem cell gene therapy for sickle cell disease advances toward clinical trials
Researchers at UCLA's Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research have successfully established the foundation for using hematopoietic (blood-producing) stem cells from the bone marrow of patients with sickle cell disease to treat the disease. The study was led by Dr. Donald Kohn, professor of pediatrics and of microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics.
Merck: FDA wants more studies of insomnia drug
Drugmaker Merck & Co. says federal regulators have ruled that they won't approve high doses of its experimental insomnia medication because of concerns about their safety.
Researchers trace inner-city women's health issues to childhood traumas
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have traced chronic health problems of adult inner-city women to traumas from childhood abuse and neglect.
Getting kids to eat their veggies: A new approach to an age-old problem
Every parent has a different strategy for trying to get his or her kid to eat more vegetables, from growing vegetables together as a family to banning treats until the dinner plate is clean. New research suggests that teaching young children an overarching, conceptual framework for nutrition may do the trick.
Gene mutations caused by a father's lifestyle can be inherited by multiple generations
Gene mutations caused by a father's lifestyle can be inherited by his children, even if those mutations occurred before conception. What's more, these findings show that mutations in the germ-line are present in all cells of the children, including their own germ cells. This means that a father's lifestyle has the potential to affect the DNA of multiple generations and not just his immediate offspring. These findings were published in the July 2013 issue of The FASEB Journal.
Study predicts cancer drug responsiveness in human tumors
It's a GEMM of a system. Genetically engineered mouse models that is. Using them allows scientists to study cancer in a way that more naturally mimics how human tumors exist within the complex environment of the body.
Researcher discovers new regulatory autism gene
A new study by Valerie Hu, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry and molecular medicine at the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), reports that RORA, a novel candidate gene for autism discovered by her group in a 2010 study, regulates a large number of other genes associated with autism.
Thyroid cancer—rising most rapidly among insured patients
The rapid increase in papillary thyroid cancer in the US, may not be linked to increase in occurrence, according to a head and neck surgeon at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center, instead it may be linked to an increase in the diagnosis of pre-cancerous conditions and to a person's insurance status. That is the conclusion of a paper published in Thyroid, a peer reviewed journal of the American Thyroid Association, which included the research of Senior Author Louise Davies, MD, MS, The Veteran's Administration Outcomes Group, White River Junction, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and assistant professor of Surgery of The Dartmouth Institute.
Pre-pregnancy diabetes increases risk of MRSA among new mothers
Pregnant women with diabetes are more than three times as likely as mothers without diabetes to become infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) before hospital discharge, according to a study in the July issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
Removing nerves connecting kidney to the brain shown to reduce high blood pressure
A new technique that involves removing the nerves connecting the kidney to the brain has shown to significantly reduce blood pressure and help lower the risk of stroke, heart and renal disease in patients. The procedure, which has very few side effects, has already shown promising results in hard-to-treat cases of high blood pressure.
A tick's spit leads to an entire lesson in blood clotting
There really is such a thing as tick spit – that is, the saliva of a tick. And there's something about it that might help fight heart disease and stroke.
Controlling blood pressure, cholesterol may significantly cut heart disease risk
Simultaneously controlling your high blood pressure and high cholesterol may cut your risk for heart disease by half or more, according to new research in the American Heart Association journal Circulation. Yet fewer than one in three people achieve this goal.
Study suggests quality initiatives needed to reduce repeat lipid testing
An analysis of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) who attained low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals with no treatment intensification suggests that about one-third of them underwent repeat testing, according to a report published by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Doctor-patient communication about dietary supplements could use a vitamin boost
Vitamins, minerals, herbs and other dietary supplements are widely available in supermarkets and drug stores across the nation without a prescription, so it's no surprise that nearly half of all Americans take them.
Researchers pinpoint sources of fibrosis-promoting cells that ravage organs
Scientists have tracked down and quantified the diverse origins of cells that drive fibrosis, the incurable, runaway wound-healing that scars and ultimately destroys organs such as the lungs, liver and kidneys.
It's about time: Disrupted internal clocks play role in disease
Thirty percent of severe alcoholics develop liver disease, but scientists have not been able to explain why only a subset is at risk. A research team from Northwestern University and Rush University Medical Center now has a possible explanation: disrupted sleep and circadian rhythms can push those vulnerable over the edge to disease.
Review finds mixed results for acupuncture to improve in vitro fertilization rates
June 28, 2013. Acupuncture, when used as a complementary or adjuvant therapy for in vitro fertilization (IVF), may be beneficial depending on the baseline pregnancy rates of a fertility clinic, according to research from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. The analysis from the University of Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine is published in the June 27 online edition of the journal Human Reproduction Update.
The effect on work loss of different treatments for rheumatoid arthritis
Treatment with a biological agent was not superior to conventional treatment in terms of the effect on work loss over 21 months in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who responded insufficiently to methotrexate, according to a report published by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Study examines out-of hospital stroke policy at Chicago hospitals
Implementing an out-of hospital stroke policy in some Chicago hospitals was associated with significant improvements in emergency medical services use and increased intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) use at primary stroke centers, according to a study published by JAMA Neurology.
ISTH: Apixaban non-inferior to conventional treatment for VTE
(HealthDay)—For patients with venous thromboembolism, treatment with oral apixaban is non-inferior to conventional therapy for preventing recurrent venous thromboembolism or death related to venous thromboembolism, according to a study published online July 1 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with presentation at the annual Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, held from June 29 to July 4 in Amsterdam.
Etanercept reduces work, activity impairment in RA
(HealthDay)—For patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA), continued etanercept treatment is associated with reduced work and activity impairment, according to a study published online April 1 in Arthritis Care & Research.
Hearing loss from loud blasts may be treatable, researchers say
Long-term hearing loss from loud explosions, such as blasts from roadside bombs, may not be as irreversible as previously thought, according to a new study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Age affects how married couples handle conflict
Arguing with your spouse about where to go on vacation or how to handle the kids? As you age, you may find yourself handling these disagreements more often by changing the subject, according to a new San Francisco State University study.
Long term night shifts linked to doubling of breast cancer risk
Shift work has been suggested as a risk factor for breast cancer, but there has been some doubt about the strength of the findings, largely because of issues around the assessment of exposure and the failure to capture the diversity of shift work patterns. Several previous studies have also been confined to nurses rather than the general population.
Infectious disease research gets a boost from websites, blogs, and social media
While public health officials around the world are on alert about the pandemic potential of new disease threats, a team that includes Penn State University biologist Marcel Salathé is developing innovative new systems and techniques to track the spread of infectious diseases, with the help of news websites, blogs, and social media. Salathé will publish an article in the 1 July 2013 issue of th New England Journal of Medicine, with colleagues from the Harvard Medical School, describing the advantages and challenges of "digital epidemiology"—a new field of increasing importance for tracking infectious disease outbreaks and epidemics by leveraging the widespread use of the Internet and mobile phones.
Brain differences seen in depressed preschoolers
(Medical Xpress)—A key brain structure that regulates emotions works differently in preschoolers with depression compared with their healthy peers, according to new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Diabetic retinopathy severity inversely tied to cognition
(HealthDay)—For patients with type 2 diabetes, the severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is inversely linked to cognitive impairment, according to a study published online April 30 in Diabetes Care.
New tick-borne illness may be misdiagnosed
(HealthDay)—Physicians say a new kind of tick-borne infection that's similar to Lyme disease can mislead doctors into thinking it's a different condition.
Pain reliever lowers blood sugar in type 2 diabetics, study says
(HealthDay)— An aspirin-like drug appears to lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, according to new research.
Collapsible laundry hampers may pose risk to kids' eyes
(HealthDay)—Collapsible laundry hampers can cause serious eye injuries to children if a sharp wire contained within the device breaks free, according to a new report.
Early respiratory infection may double type 1 diabetes risk: study
(HealthDay)— What may seem like a harmless cold during the first six months of life may more than double a child's chances of developing antibodies that often lead to type 1 diabetes, new German research suggests.
Injuries in young due to all-terrain vehicles declining
(HealthDay)—Nonfatal injuries among children and adolescents due to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) have declined since the mid-2000s, although boys have twice the injury rate as girls, according to research published online July 1 in Pediatrics.
Post-CABG risk of death increased for blacks with PAD
(HealthDay)—For patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), the risk of death is higher for those with peripheral artery disease (PAD), particularly for black versus white patients, according to a study published online June 3 in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Sixteen new genetic regions for allergies discovered
(Medical Xpress)—In two of the largest genetic studies ever conducted on common allergies, including pollen, dust-mite and cat allergies, 16 new genetic regions related to the condition have been discovered. Together they are responsible for at least 25 per cent of allergy in the population. Eight of the genetic variations have previously been associated with asthma. The discoveries, published today in Nature Genetics, are a major step towards understanding the biological basis of common allergies.
Breakthrough discovery into the regulation of a key cancer drug target
There's not much difference between what makes a man and what makes his beer - at least at the molecular level - according to a new study led by Professor John Schwabe at the University of Leicester.
Researchers discover new way to block inflammation
Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center have discovered a mechanism that triggers chronic inflammation in Alzheimer's, atherosclerosis and type-2 diabetes. The results, published today in Nature Immunology, suggest a common biochemical thread to multiple diseases and point the way to a new class of therapies that could treat chronic inflammation in these non-infectious diseases without crippling the immune system. Alzheimer's, atherosclerosis and type-2 diabetes—diseases associated with aging and inflammation—affect more than 100 million Americans.
How the body aids and abets the spread of cancer
The very system that is meant to protect the body from invasion may be a traitor. These new findings of a study, led by investigators at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), reveal that infection-fighting white blood cells play a role in activating cancer cells and facilitating their spread to secondary tumours. This research, published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation has significant implications for both the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Nerve cells can work in different ways with same result
(Medical Xpress)—Epilepsy, irregular heartbeats and other conditions caused by malfunctions in the body's nerve cells, also known as neurons, can be difficult to treat. The problem is that one medicine may help some patients but not others. Doctors' ability to predict which drugs will work with individual patients may be influenced by recent University of Missouri research that found seemingly identical neurons can behave the same even though they are built differently under the surface.
Lack of immune cell receptor impairs clearance of amyloid beta protein from the brain
Identification of a protein that appears to play an important role in the immune system's removal of amyloid beta (A-beta) protein from the brain could lead to a new treatment strategy for Alzheimer's disease. The report from researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) has been published online in Nature Communications.
Researchers find protein essential for cognition, mental health
The ability to maintain mental representations of ourselves and the world—the fundamental building block of human cognition—arises from the firing of highly evolved neuronal circuits, a process that is weakened in schizophrenia. In a new study, researchers at Yale University School of Medicine pinpoint key molecular actions of proteins that allow the creation of mental representations necessary for higher cognition that are genetically altered in schizophrenia. The study was released July 1 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Inactivation of taste genes causes male sterility
Scientists from the Monell Center report the surprising finding that two proteins involved in oral taste detection also play a crucial role in sperm development.
Placental cells may prevent viruses from passing from mother to baby
Cells of the placenta may have a unique ability to prevent viruses from crossing from an expectant mother to her growing baby and can transfer that trait to other kinds of cells, according to researchers at Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI) and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Their findings, published in the early online version of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shed new light on the workings of the placenta and could point to new approaches to combat viral infections during pregnancy.
Vitamin C helps control gene activity in stem cells
Vitamin C affects whether genes are switched on or off inside mouse stem cells, and may thereby play a previously unknown and fundamental role in helping to guide normal development in mice, humans and other animals, a scientific team led by UC San Francisco researchers has discovered.
Head Start children and parents show robust gains in new intervention
An eight-week intervention involving 141 preschoolers in a Head Start program and their parents produced significant improvements in the children's behavior and brain functions supporting attention and reduced levels of parental stress that, in turn, improved the families' quality of life.
Biology news
Well-designed dog parks offer great benefit
Fenced specialty dog parks are offering great social and wellbeing benefits for both dogs and their owners - but they need to be well-designed for maximum gain, says a University of Adelaide veterinarian.
Cattle flatulence doesn't stink with biotechnology
The agriculture industry is researching new technologies to help feed the growing population. But feeding the world without harming air quality is a challenge.
Climate change: Diseqilibrium will become the norm in the plant communities of the future
Global climate change will induce large changes to the plant communities on Earth, but these will typically occur with major time lags. This has been demonstrated by a new analysis carried out by researchers at Aarhus University. Many plants will remain long after the climate has become unfavorable—and many new species can take thousands of years to make an appearance. Humans will play a key role in such disequilibrium dynamics.
Scientists urge New Zealand to save 'sea hobbit' (Update)
Marine scientists have called on New Zealand immediately to ban fishing in waters inhabited by the world's rarest dolphin, saying that losing just one more of the creatures will threaten the species' existence.
Gulls feasting on whales in Argentine waters
It's a weird, lopsided fight if ever there was one: seagulls divebombing to attack and feed on the fat of 50-ton whales and their babies. And the birds are winning.
The TALE of new tools to study gene regulation
In nearly every organism's genome, scattered between genes that encode proteins, long regulatory regions stretch across expanses of DNA. Understanding what role these so-called enhancer regions play in controlling the activation of genes has been a slow process for scientists—methods to study enhancers have required altering their genetic sequence or moving them from their normal spot in the genome. Now, Howard Hughes Medical Institute scientists have developed a new way to study enhancers, by using proteins called transcription activator-like effectors, or TALEs, to bind the regions of DNA.
Why are aspen dying?
(Phys.org) —If Utah's quaking aspen appear to be quaking more than usual this summer, the trees have reason to tremble, says a Brigham Young University biologist. In dappled forests across the West, aspen trees are battling deadly killers from heat stroke to bud-nipping predators to tree "heart attacks."
Students aim to make new flame retardant for polystyrene—using genetically modified bacteria
Leicester students are aiming to make polystyrene more fire resistant using genetically modified bacteria – creating a new, safer fire retardant.
Serving historical flora to a worldwide audience
Biological researchers wield some powerful new tools these days, capable of measuring minute quantities of DNA, protein and small molecules in living systems. Mapping the networks of the ebb and flow of these basic units of biomachinery is fundamental to the data-intensive disciplines of genomics, proteomics and metabolomics, which are helping revolutionize both biology and medicine.
Photos on social media used to measure aesthetic value of Cornish landscape
A new method designed to measure the aesthetic value of ecosystems has been applied in Cornwall. According to the research findings, Cornwall's beautiful rugged coastline has been measured to have the highest aesthetic value. Researchers at the University of Exeter's Environment and Sustainability Institute developed the method, which uses computational social science to count photos uploaded to an online photo-sharing site.
Caterpillars attracted to plant SOS
Plants that emit an airborne distress signal in response to herbivory may actually attract more enemies, according to a new study published in the open-access journal Frontiers in Plant Science .
How coral cures your ills
Next time you successfully fight off a nasty infection, give thanks to the Great Barrier Reef. A dramatic discovery by an Australian team of scientists has revealed that the ability of humans to resist bacterial diseases may go as far back in our ancestry as corals.
Mimicking venomous snakes: Untangling the history of deceptive coloration
(Phys.org) —Red on yellow, kill a fellow. Red on black, friend of Jack. That folk rhyme is supposed to help people distinguish venomous coral snakes from several non-venomous "mimics," animals that discourage predators by deceptively imitating a dangerous species.
Biomedical research reveals secrets of cell behavior
(Phys.org) —Knowing virtually everything about how the body's cells make transitions from one state to another – for instance, precisely how particular cells develop into multi-cellular organisms – would be a major jump forward in understanding the basics of what drives biological processes.
Birds of a feather create new species together—and here's how
Starlings have an image problem in Australia. These drab invaders are best known as pests of orchards and shopping centres. If you take a trip to see their African relatives though, you'll find starlings are some of the most colourful and diverse birds on the planet.
Study finds biochemical role of crucial TonB protein in bacterial iron transport and pathogenesis
(Phys.org) —A Kansas State University-led study has discovered the role of a protein in bacteria that cause a wide variety of diseases, including typhoid fever, plague, meningitis and dysentery. The results may lead to new and improved antibiotics for humans and animals.
Study identifies priorities for improving global conservation funding
A University of Michigan researcher and colleagues at the University of Georgia and elsewhere have identified the most underfunded countries in the world for biodiversity conservation. They found that 40 of the most poorly funded countries harbor 32 percent of all threatened mammalian biodiversity.
Wiggling worms make waves in gene pool
The idea that worms can be seen as waveforms allowed scientists at Rice University to find new links in gene networks that control movement.
Improving crop yields in a world of extreme weather events
Farmers in the United States witnessed record-breaking extremes in temperature and drought during the last two summers, causing worldwide increases in the costs of food, feed and fiber. Indeed, many climate scientists caution that extreme weather events resulting from climate change is the new normal for farmers in North America and elsewhere, requiring novel agricultural strategies to prevent crop losses.
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