Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for July 8, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Two papers investigate the thermodynamics of quantum systems- Not-weak knots bolster carbon fiber: New material created with graphene oxide flakes
- An unlikely competitor for diamond as the best thermal conductor
- Potential solution to meteorite mystery: Chondrules may have formed from high-pressure collisions in early solar system
- Champion nano-rust for producing solar hydrogen
- Researchers perform first direct measurement of Van der Waals force
- Eavesdropping on lithium ions
- Using the Sun to illuminate a basic mystery of matter
- Robot mom would beat robot butler in popularity contest
- Germany to pull plug on solar subsidies by 2018
- Detection of single photons via quantum entanglement
- Exposure to stress even before conception causes genetic changes to offspring
- Earthworms could help scientists 'dig' into past climates
- Scientists solve titanic puzzle of popular photocatalyst
- Scientists unveil historical clues to Stradivari's craft
Space & Earth news
Dangerous chemicals found in south China river
(AP)—Residents and water plants along a river in southern China that is used as a drinking source have been warned not to use the river's water after authorities detected excessive amounts of two dangerous chemicals.
A simple but smart solution to containing tanker oil spills
Prompt intervention when shipwrecks and tankers are in distress can be crucial in confining pollution and limiting possible damage to the environment. Until recently however, a lack of appropriate tools and systems have hampered rescue efforts.
Increased oil and gas drilling demands more land-applied fluid disposal
Drilling fluids, including muds and liquids, can be applied to surrounding land, but landowners need to know what to do before and after the application to prevent major land damage, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.
Scientists join forces to push Britain forward in new space race
Experts in satellite monitoring of the Earth's climate and ecosystem are to pool their talent to observe changes on the planet.
Less haze in Singapore as the cause becomes clearer and more complex
Small and large-scale farmers in Riau province, Sumatra, have been blamed for the recent choking smoke smothering Singapore and parts of Malaysia. But scientists in Indonesia have added a third category of 'mid-level entrepreneurs'. These entrepreneurs buy unregulated access to land for oil palm and clear it by burning, seemingly unrestrained by government.
Aqua satellite sees two views of Tropical Storm Soulik over Marianas Islands
When NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Tropical Storm Soulik in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, the MODIS and AIRS instruments captured images that showed the storm's eastern quadrant covered the Marianas Islands and that the storm has become more organized in the last day.
NASA sees Tropical Storm Chantal develop quickly in Atlantic
The third tropical cyclone of the Atlantic Ocean season developed in the Atlantic and not in the Gulf of Mexico as the previous two systems,Tropical Storm Chantal. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible image of Tropical Storm Chantal on July 7 at 12:15 p.m. EDT when it was located off the coast of Brazil. The highest and strongest thunderstorms (that cast shadows on the surrounding lower storms) were around the center of circulation.
Treating oil spills with chemical dispersants: Is the cure worse than the ailment?
Treating oil spills at sea with chemical dispersants is detrimental to European sea bass. A new study, to be presented at the Society for Experimental Biology meeting in Valencia on July 6, suggests that although chemical dispersants may reduce problems for surface animals, the increased contamination under the water reduces the ability for fish and other organisms to cope with subsequent environmental challenges.
Mexico volcano ash disrupts US flights for second day
Frustrated passengers stood in long lines at Mexico City's airport as US airlines canceled flights for a second day after the Popocatepetl volcano spewed a new column of ash.
Strong earthquake hits western Indonesia
A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 on Saturday struck off Mentawai islands in western Indonesia, causing panic but officials said there were no reports of damages or casualties.
Japan to launch satellites to monitor oceans
Japan plans to launch satellites to monitor the world's oceans, a report said Sunday, as Chinese government ships sailed in waters around islands controlled by Tokyo and claimed by Beijing.
Toxic radiation 'in groundwater' at Fukushima
Toxic radioactive substances have once again been detected in groundwater at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, its Japanese operator said on Sunday, the latest in a series of incidents at the tsunami-battered complex.
NASA tests game changing composite cryogenic fuel tank
NASA recently completed a major space technology development milestone by successfully testing a pressurized, large cryogenic propellant tank made of composite materials. The composite tank will enable the next generation of rockets and spacecraft needed for space exploration.
Sydney's urban areas to be hit hardest by global warming
Green spaces, trees and bodies of water are must-have design features for future development in Sydney's suburbs after researchers found that by 2050 global warming combined with Sydney's urban heat island effect could increase temperatures by up to 3.7°C.
Researchers warn of legacy mercury in the environment
Environmental researchers at Harvard University have published evidence that significant reductions in mercury emissions will be necessary just to stabilize current levels of the toxic element in the environment. So much mercury persists in surface reservoirs (soil, air, and water) from past pollution, going back thousands of years, that it will continue to persist in the ocean and accumulate in fish for decades to centuries, they report.
New study shows 'dead zone' impacts Chesapeake Bay fishes
A 10-year study of Chesapeake Bay fishes by researchers at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science provides the first quantitative evidence on a bay-wide scale that low-oxygen "dead zones" are impacting the distribution and abundance of "demersal" fishes—those that live and feed near the Bay bottom.
NASA's polar robotic ranger passes first Greenland test
Defying 30 mph gusts and temperatures down to minus 22 F, NASA's new polar rover recently demonstrated in Greenland that it could operate completely autonomously in one of Earth's harshest environments.
TRMM satellite sees Tropical Storm Erick along Mexican coast
Tropical Storm Erick has been bringing some rain and rough surf along the southwestern coast of Mexico for a couple of days, and on July 7, 2013, NASA's TRMM satellite saw two areas of heavy rain within Erick on opposite ends of the storm. Meanwhile, the rainfall from the remnants of nearby Tropical Depression Dalila had dissipated.
Mesoscale ocean eddies impact weather, study shows
Not only large-scale ocean currents impact weather but also relatively small eddies, as a new study by scientists at ETH Zurich reveals. The researchers therefore recommend to account for these eddies in weather prediction models.
Cosmic dust belts without dust: Astrophysicists discover six ultra-cold debris disks
Planets and asteroids, red giants and brown dwarfs - there are all kinds of objects in our Universe. Debris disks are among them. These are belts consisting of countless dust particles and planetesimals, circling around one central star.
Melting in the Afar helps scientists understand how oceans form
Lavas from the Afar Depression in Ethiopia, where three tectonic plates are spreading apart, have given scientists a new insight into how ocean basins form.
Kickstarting tiny satellites into interplanetary space (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) —Two University of Michigan engineering professors are turning to the Kickstarter online community to help fund an interplanetary satellite mission.
Straight up: SpaceX's Grasshopper rocket gains height and precision (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) —California-based spacecraft company SpaceX has released a video of the June 14 test of its Grasshopper rocket. The company said it soared over 1,000 feet during its latest trial run in June and it made a remarkably precise landing. In detail, the rocket flew 325 m, or 1066 feet, after liftoff in McGregor Texas, a rocket development facility. This breaks its previous record height of 840 feet.
Improved interpretation of volcanic traces in ice
How severely have volcanoes contaminated the atmosphere with sulfur particles in past millennia? To answer this question, scientists use ice cores, among others, as climate archives. But the results differ, particularly in some major volcanic major events of the past, depending on whether the cores come from Antarctica or Greenland. Atmospheric scientists from the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Hamburg have now found an explanation that could significantly improve the interpretation of ice cores. Their study was just published in the current issue of the internationally renowned Journal of Geophysical Research—Atmosphere.
Temperature increases causing tropical forests to blossom
A new study led by Florida State University researcher Stephanie Pau shows that tropical forests are producing more flowers in response to only slight increases in temperature.
Earthworms could help scientists 'dig' into past climates
A team of UK researchers believe earthworms could provide a window into past climates, allowing scientists to piece together the prevailing weather conditions thousands of years ago.
Finding the Goldilocks sites to store carbon dioxide underground
Carbon capture and storage has been heralded as a new technology for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In an effort to help slow climate change, human-produced carbon dioxide (CO2) is captured at point-source emitters like power stations and sequestered in underground rocks. In porous rocks like sandstone, the CO2 is trapped in tiny spaces or pores, which act like a sponge and soak up the injected fluid.
Study estimates extent to which air pollution in China shortens human lives
A high level of air pollution, in the form of particulates produced by burning coal, significantly shortens the lives of people exposed to it, according to a unique new study of China co-authored by an MIT economist.
NASA Mars rover Curiosity begins delayed road trip
It took longer than expected, but NASA's Curiosity rover is finally heading toward a Martian mountain.
Stronger, more frequent tropical cyclones ahead, research says
The world typically sees about 90 tropical cyclones a year, but that number could increase dramatically in the next century due to global warming, a US scientist said Monday.
Glimpse into the future of acidic oceans shows ecosystems transformed
Ocean acidification may create an impact similar to extinction on marine ecosystems, according to a study released today by the University of California, Davis.
Potential solution to meteorite mystery: Chondrules may have formed from high-pressure collisions in early solar system
(Phys.org) —A normally staid University of Chicago scientist has stunned many of his colleagues with his radical solution to a 135-year-old mystery in cosmochemistry. "I'm a fairly sober guy. People didn't know what to think all of a sudden," said Lawrence Grossman, professor in geophysical sciences.
Technology news
WIGS channel aims for TV-quality scripted shows on YouTube
The wails of an infant haunt much of the 13-minute YouTube clip. On the Internet's dominant video site, recordings of laughing babies, talking twin babies, roller-skating babies long have made for amusing, sure-fire click bait. This case of a crying newborn represents something entirely different: It's an attempt at groundbreaking original programming from the site.
One in three cars in Sweden could run on biofuels by 2030
By 2030 Sweden could increase its production of biofuels to cover just over a third of automotive fuel used by its transport sector today, a move that would mean a ten-fold increase on the current in-country production. Forest-sourced materials such as residue from forestry operations, wood from forest grown for bioenergy and agricultural waste products have the greatest potential to fill the gap.
Researchers develop world's first IaaS platform technology for on-demand physical servers
Fujitsu Laboratories has developed a platform technology for Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) for on-demand physical servers that are configured to a user's needs and can be provided in ten minutes. This technology is the first of its kind in the world.
Report: Iran opens national email service
Iranian state television says the country has opened its own domestically made national email service.
Carlos Slim invests $40 mn in Shazam music app
Mexican telecoms tycoon Carlos Slim has acquired a 10.8 percent stake in Shazam, the British company behind a music recognition smartphone application that instantly identifies songs and artists.
Morningstar: Client credit card data may be leaked
Morningstar Inc. says it discovered an illegal intrusion into its systems that may have compromised some of its clients' personal information, including email addresses, passwords, and credit card numbers.
Fake product reviews may be pervasive, study finds
Consumers often turn to the Internet to research a product before buying. Fake reviews are always a concern, and the problem may be bigger than previously thought.
Solar plane takes off on last flight of US journey
The experimental Solar Impulse aircraft was bound Saturday for New York, where it was to fly over the Statue of Liberty on the final leg of a US tour aimed at showcasing the promise of clean energy.
Bhutan banks on 'white gold' hydropower
Home to meditating monks and Himalayan nomads, the sleepy kingdom of Bhutan has set its sights on becoming an unlikely energy powerhouse thanks to its abundant winding rivers.
Brazil expresses concern at report of NSA spying
Brazil's foreign minister said Sunday his government is worried by a report that the United States has collected data on millions of telephone and email conversations in his country and promised an effort for international protection of Internet privacy.
Japan broadcasters ban Panasonic 'smart' TV commercial
Japanese broadcasters are refusing to air commercials for Panasonic's new "smart" television, the manufacturer said, amid speculation they feel threatened by its combined TV-Internet function.
Safety advances boost plane crash survival odds
Passengers in plane crashes today, such as the one in San Francisco involving Asiana Airlines Flight 214, are more likely to survive than in past disasters.
Studies: Cyberspying targeted SKorea, US military
The hackers who knocked out tens of thousands of South Korean computers simultaneously this year are out to do far more than erase hard drives, cybersecurity firms say: They also are trying to steal South Korean and U.S. military secrets with a malicious set of codes they've been sending through the Internet for years.
Advisory firm backs Dell buyout
A key shareholder advisory firm on Monday backed a $24.4 billion private equity buyout of Dell, giving a major boost to the plan led by founder Michael Dell to reorganize the struggling computer giant.
Apple's iPhone, helped by T-Mobile, grabs more US market share
T-Mobile helped increase the iPhone's share of the smartphone market in the latest three-month period, according to a survey released Monday.
Digital age expanded the NSA's mission
It wasn't long ago that the National Security Agency, the intelligence agency responsible for intercepting global communications, seemed overwhelmed by the Internet.
Google Glass app lets Tesla owners check on cars from afar
If Telsa Motors Inc. Chief Executive Elon Musk was at all concerned about the automaker's status as the technological leader in electric cars, a new app designed for Google Glass just might cement the luxury brand's status.
CGI lighting, scanning deliver more realistic face (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) —Gaming and movie leaders might in the past have put up with CGI faces with that wax-museum look reminding users that the faces are anything but real, but this is a new day with advanced technologies that can make faces look very real. Computer generated imagery (CGI) expertise can perform facial imagery wonders. A team of collaborators with expertise that includes computational illumination and photography for graphics have developed a technique to produce CGI faces that look true, down to the skin cell level. Call it ultra-realistic skin simulation.
Solar powered plane finishes journey, lands in NYC (Update)
A solar-powered aircraft has completed the final leg of a history-making cross-country flight, gliding to a smooth stop at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Facebook pushes search feature to more users
Users who may have grown frustrated with Facebook's rudimentary search feature are getting an updated version designed to make it easier to find people, places and photos on the site.
Germany to pull plug on solar subsidies by 2018
Germany will stop subsidising solar energy by 2018 at the latest, its environment minister said Monday after last year initiating a scaling-back of generous state support for the faltering industry.
Yahoo shuts down Internet relic AltaVista
Once up on a time, there was a popular search engine called AltaVista. It lives no more.
Medicine & Health news
UN chief tells US it will combat cholera in Haiti
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told members of the U.S. Congress Friday that the United Nations is committed to helping Haiti overcome a cholera epidemic even though it is refusing to pay compensation to victims who blame U.N. peacekeepers for starting the outbreak.
India's poor 'duped' into clinical drug trials
Niranjan Lal Pathak couldn't believe his luck initially. When a doctor at a hospital in central India offered the factory watchman free treatment for a heart complaint, he jumped at the chance.
Gunning for trouble: Study of young assault victims finds risky mix of gun possession, aggression
They're young. They've been injured in an assault – so badly they went to the emergency room. And nearly one in four of them has a gun, probably an illegal one. What happens next?
To cut STD rate, Calif considers condoms in prison
California lawmakers are considering a bill requiring officials to make condoms available to state prison inmates as a way of limiting the spread of HIV and other diseases.
'Asia tallest man' hospitalised in China
A 2.55-metre (8 foot 4 inch) Chinese man who is among the world's tallest living people has been hospitalised for a hip replacement, reports said Monday.
Egg donation in European clinics: Why do women do it?
Egg donation is now one of the major reasons why couples travel abroad for fertility treatment. Because this growing trend may circumvent regulations at home or raise concerns about financial inducement, it has also become one of the most controversial. Yet little is known about the women who provide the donor eggs in overseas clinics - their characteristics, their motivation and their compensation.
'Pragmatic' Obamacare delay a victory for business lobby, expert says
The Obama administration's decision to delay a key healthcare reform provision requiring large employers to pay a penalty if they don't offer health insurance is a big victory for the business community, says attorney and Tulane healthcare policy expert Mollye Demosthenidy.
Identification of two novel susceptibility genes to Takayasu Arteritis
Two novel susceptibility genes to Takayasu Arteritis have been identified by a research group from the Department of Rhematology and Clinical Immunology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine. This study was published in American Journal of Human Genetics on July 4th, 2013.
Researcher finds not all performance enhancers are illegal
According to a study supervised by Ithaca College's Exercise and Sport Sciences Chair Thomas Swensen, betaine—a nutrient found in shellfish and beets—boosts athletic performance by nearly six percent when added to a sports drink. Published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, the study is available online.
Bleaching: A matter for dentists only
Teeth whitening, better known under the term "bleaching", is very fashionable these days – but should only be done by dentists. Andreas Moritz, head of the Bernhard Gottlieb University Dental Clinic of the MedUni Vienna, stresses this point. At the same time the expert warned against shopping online for teeth whitening preparations or turning to so-called bleaching studios.
Medicare won't pay for Eli Lilly Alzheimer's agent
Eli Lilly & Co. says it will push ahead with a first-of-a-kind imaging chemical designed to help screen for Alzheimer's disease, despite a negative ruling by Medicare officials.
Rhode Island Hospital successfully manages case of severe Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Rhode Island Hospital successfully treated a 21-year-old patient with severe neuroinvasive Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), minimizing neurological deficits and resulting in a very positive outcome. The findings from this treatment are published online in advance of print in the journal Neurocritical Care.
Toddler with lab-made windpipe dies
A 2-year-old girl who was implanted with a windpipe grown from her own stem cells has died. Hannah Warren, who was born without a windpipe, was the youngest patient in the world to benefit from the experimental treatment.
Listeria outbreak prompts cheese recall
(HealthDay)—A recent listeria outbreak that caused one death and sickened four other people seems to be linked to cheeses made by a Wisconsin firm, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.
Medical safety innovation gets a boost from systematic analysis
If all medical errors were counted together as a single cause, they would likely rank as the third leading cause of death in the United States. As health care personnel race to improve the quality of their care to save lives and prevent unneeded harm, a new study indicates there is more they can do to learn about what errors are occurring and why.
Girl who got new lungs in Pa. has pneumonia
A 10-year-old Pennsylvania girl who had two adult-lung transplants after her parents sued to change national rules regarding organ donations has developed pneumonia in her right lung.
Dengue outbreak strikes 1,800 in Philippine province
Dengue fever has surged in the central Philippines, infecting more than 1,800 people and killing at least ten, a provincial official said Saturday.
New drug treatment for form of lethal cancer is approved
A new drug has been approved to battle mantle cell lymphoma, an aggressive cancer often fatal because of its resistance to treatment, after a study led by a Hackensack University Medical Center physician showed it can stop the progression of the disease in about a quarter of the patients.
First child born following embryo screening with new genome analysis technique
The first birth has been achieved following the analysis of embryos using a new genome sequencing technique which promises to revolutionise embryo selection for IVF. The technique, which has never before been applied in the screening of embryos, is reported today at the annual meeting of ESHRE by Dr Dagan Wells of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at the University of Oxford, UK.
African Americans with blood cancer do not live as long as caucasians, despite equal care
A new analysis has found that among patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, African Americans more commonly present with advanced disease, and they tend to have shorter survival times than Caucasians despite receiving the same care. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the results suggest that biological factors may account for some racial disparities in cancer survival.
Two new MERS deaths in Saudi: ministry
A Saudi man and a child have died from the MERS virus, bringing the number of deaths from the respiratory infection in the kingdom to 38, the health ministry said on Sunday.
Low-cost in-vitro fertilization method may help couples in developing countries (Update)
A new low-cost method of in-vitro fertilization developed at the University of Colorado Boulder that performed successfully in recent human clinical trials in Belgium may help thousands of infertile couples in developing countries.
Adverse effects of phthalates on ovarian response to IVF
Phthalates are among a group of industrial chemicals shown in some studies to have adverse effects on reproductive health and development, particularly in the male. As such, they have been collectively defined as "endocrine disruptors", and proposed as one of several possible environmental exposures responsible for a decline in fertility. They are classified in two groups - high molecular weight phthalates are used in the production of plastics, while low molecular weight phthalates are frequently used in the manufacture of cosmetics.(1) Human studies increasingly report associations of phthalates with various adverse reproductive outcomes, including altered semen quantity and quality. Their effect, however, has been less well studied in women, and, despite widespread human exposure to phthalates, little is known about the effects of low-level, daily exposures to phthalates on ovarian function - and hence on women's reproductive health.
Early life and in utero factors found to influence testicular function in adulthood
Studies over the past 20 years have suggested (though not unequivocally confirmed) that semen quality is in decline, reflected most evidently in falling sperm counts and reduced sperm motility.(1) The explanations have been controversially attributed to environmental factors (such as exposure to toxins) and to male smoking. Now, a new study based on a 20-year follow-up of one of the world's largest study cohorts, suggests that exposure to several factors in utero and in early life may also lead to reduced semen parameters in adulthood - and potentially to a decline in male fertility.
Sleep tips for summer nights
(HealthDay)—Those extra hours of daylight in the summer contribute to sleep problems experienced by many Americans, experts say.
Brain structural deficits may contribute to increased functional connections between brain regions implicated in depress
Major depressive disorder is associated with a dysregulation of brain regions including the prefrontal cortex and limbic system. The relationship between structural and functional abnormalities in these brain regions in depressed patients is far from clear. However, both types of changes are assumed to underlie the symptoms of this disorder..
Cancer drug labels missing key information about patients' symptoms
Dr. Ethan Basch of UNC calls for pharmaceutical manufacturers to collect rigorous information on how drugs impact symptoms and quality of life starting early in drug development, and for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to include this information in drug labels.
People with depression tend to pursue generalised goals
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers from the University of Liverpool have found that people with depression have more generalised personal goals than non-depressed people.
The man who hears you speak before he sees your lips move
Research led by Dr Elliot Freeman, from City University London's Department of Psychology, which examined the first documented case of someone who hears people talk before he sees their lips move, has been published in New Scientist magazine.
Brain and eye combined monitoring breakthrough could lead to fewer road accidents
Latest advances in capturing data on brain activity and eye movement are being combined to open up a host of 'mindreading' possibilities for the future. These include the potential development of a system that can detect when drivers are in danger of falling asleep at the wheel.
Thought-controlled robotic arm 'makes a big negative a whole lot better'
Dr. Albert Chi, a UA College of Medicine graduate, helped develop a robotic arm and hand that a person can control with his or her thoughts.
Negative effects of vitamins on voles cast doubt on health supplement benefits
Vitamin C and vitamin E dramatically reduce the lifespan of voles, biologists have found, raising questions about the benefits of vitamins as a health supplement.
Tailoring diabetes treatment to older patients yields dramatic results
(Medical Xpress)—More than a quarter of over 70s with type 2 diabetes could benefit simply from improving communication and education in the clinic, new research has revealed.
Researchers investigate mechanism of Alzheimer's therapy
Researchers at the University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, led by faculty member Donna Wilcock, have recently published a new paper in the Journal of Neuroscience detailing an advance in treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
A new target in the fight against TB
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers have identified a potential new route for attacking tuberculosis that may hold promise against drug-resistant strains of the disease and even dormant TB infections.
Medical myth: Feed a cold, starve a fever?
This winter, most of us will catch a cold. Our kids will probably catch at least two or three. We all know you are supposed to feed a cold and starve a fever. But does it really make any difference if they eat or not?
Research in mice identifies new treatment options for bowel cancer
Researchers have discovered the genetic processes that cause specific types of bowel cancer. Using this knowledge, they identified cancer drugs that target these genes. Their findings offer the opportunity to develop personalised treatment based on a person's genetic profile.
Targeting errant immune system enzyme kills myelodysplastic cells
Scientists have successfully targeted a malfunctioning immune system enzyme to kill diseased cells from patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)—a blood disorder and precursor to leukemia.
Inhibiting macrophage MerTK signaling creates an innate immune response against cancer
The tyrosine kinase MerTK plays a prominent role in the body's immune response. MerTK signaling helps "calm" the body's first line of immunity, the macrophage, while it performs the routine duties - clearing cells that die and healing damaged tissue.
Two blood pressure drugs linked to lower risk of heart disease in diabetics
Two drugs, telmisartan and valsartan, which are used to reduce blood pressure in people with diabetes, are associated with a lower risk of hospitalization for heart attack, stroke or heart failure, according to a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Study adds new info to improve pediatric dental sedation
Research led by Priyanshi Ritwik, DDS, MS, LSUHSC Associate Professor of Pediatric Dentistry at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, reports important findings about side effects and how long they linger after discharge of common oral drugs used to sedate some children during dental procedures. The results of the study, published in the current issue of Anesthesia Progress, provide pediatric dentists and parents with new information on this previously little-investigated aspect of children's dental health care.
How well can you see with your ears? Device offers new alternative to blind people
A device that trains the brain to turn sounds into images could be used as an alternative to invasive treatment for blind and partially-sighted people, researchers at the University of Bath have found.
Delayed Alzheimer's diagnoses common, troubling
Claire Schooley tried for several years to get doctors to diagnose what was going on with her husband, David, now 57. He would ask her the same questions again and again, never remembering the answers. He would grow confused. Two years ago, on a trip to San Jose with their kids, now ages 6 and 12, he drove 60 miles in the wrong direction from their hotel, insisting the whole time he knew where he was going.
Seizures late in life may be an early sign of Alzheimer's disease
Patients with epilepsy who had amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) or Alzheimer disease (AD) presented earlier with cognitive decline than patients who did not have epilepsy, according to a report published by JAMA Neurology.
Fixed payments not a barrier to quality of care in HMOs, study finds
Ever since the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, the number of enrollees in Medicare Advantage, Medicare's managed care program, has jumped from 5.3 million to 14.4 million in 2013. While most individuals in Medicare opt for the traditional, fee-for-service benefit, many more are enrolling in HMOs and other managed care options.
Medicaid programs vary in coverage of preventive care, report says
Existing Medicaid beneficiaries have largely been left out of the health reform movement when it comes to preventive services that can ward off cancer, heart disease and other potentially deadly diseases, according to a new study by researchers at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS).
Study sheds light on why low-income patients prefer hospital care to a doctor's office
Patients with low socioeconomic status use emergency and hospital care more often than primary care because they believe hospital care is more affordable and convenient, and of better quality than care provided by primary care physicians, according to the results of a new study from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The results of the study, appearing in the July issue of Health Affairs (and featured on its cover), have significant implications for policy initiatives such as the Affordable Care Act that seek to lower health care costs by reducing avoidable hospitalizations, readmissions, and emergency department visits.
Denormalizing smoking: Making the case for banning cigarettes in parks and on beaches
Many state and local governments have banned smoking in parks and on beaches on the basis that passive smoke is a risk for non-smokers, cigarette butts pollute the environment, and seeing people smoke poses a long-term risk to children. In the paper "Banning Smoking In Parks and on Beaches: Science, Policy, and the Politics of Denormalization," published in the July issue of the journal Health Affairs, researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health analyzed the evidence for these claims and found them to be far from definitive and, in some cases, weak. There is however a case for such bans —it rests on the duty of government acting in the name of public health to restrict smoking in order to protect smokers themselves. By banning smoking in public settings the crucial task of denormalizing which contributes to lowering smoking rates is fostered in important ways.
Older age associated with disability prior to death, women more at risk than men
Persons who live to an older age are the more likely to be disabled near the end of life and require the assistance of a caregiver to complete the activities of daily living, and disability was more common in women than men two years before death, according to a report published by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Health-related website search information may be leaked to third-party tracking entities
Patients who search on free health-related websites for information related to a medical condition may have the health information they provide leaked to third party tracking entities through code on those websites, according to JAMA Internal Medicine research letter by Marco D. Huesch, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Early, late first exposure to solid food appears associated with development of Type 1 diabetes
Both an early and late first exposure to solid food for infants appears to be associated with the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), according to a study published by JAMA Pediatrics.
Patients who are engaged in their own care are more likely to reduce the risk of future fractures
People over the age of 50 who have suffered a fracture because of a slip or trip play a central role in making sure they get proper care to prevent a future fracture, a new study has found.
'Scent device' could help detect bladder cancer
Researchers from the University of Liverpool and University of the West of England, (UWE Bristol), have built a device that can read odours in urine to help diagnose patients with early signs of bladder cancer.
Irregular bed times curb young kids' brain power
Going to bed at different times every night throughout early childhood seems to curb children's brain power, finds a large, long term study published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Melody modulates choir members' heart rate
When people sing in a choir their heart beats are synchronised, so that the pulse of choir members tends to increase and decrease in unison. This has been shown by a study from the Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg that examined the health effects for choir members.
Nearly half of infants have flat spots on their heads, study says
(HealthDay)—Putting babies on their backs to sleep has sharply cut the rate of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), but it has also left nearly half of infants with a flattened heads, a new Canadian study estimates.
Remote training feasible, effective for surgical skills
(HealthDay)—Remote teaching of surgical skills is feasible and effective in low-resource areas, according to a study published in the July issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Food allergy treatment loses efficacy with time
(HealthDay)—Many children who are initially successfully treated for allergy to cow's milk by oral immunotherapy lose tolerance several years later, according to a letter to the editor published online June 27 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Awareness of risks reduces parents' desire for CT scans
(HealthDay)—Willingness to subject children with a head injury to computed tomography (CT) scans decreases once parents are informed of lifetime malignancy risks associated with the scans, but most are still willing to proceed with head CT, according to a study published online July 8 in Pediatrics.
Positional plagiocephaly about 46 percent at two months
(HealthDay)—For infants presenting at their 2-month well-child check, the incidence of positional plagiocephaly is estimated at close to 50 percent, and parents should be educated about development and prevention earlier, according to a study published online July 8 in Pediatrics.
Early predictors of disability after spine trauma identified
(HealthDay)—The presence of hypotension, hyperglycemia, and moderate or severe traumatic brain injury early after spine trauma are independent predictors of functional disability at one year, according to a review published in the May 20 issue of Spine.
The aging population and emergency departments
As the population gets older, and the baby boomers begin to enter their 60's and 70's, one might assume that the number of trips to the emergency department will also increase. This is contradicted by new research from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), which shows that population aging will not cause the number of emergency department (ED) visits to increase between now and 2050. However, visits will become longer and hospitalizations will become more frequent. This research will appear in the July issue of Health Affairs.
CPAP therapy reduces nightmares in veterans with PTSD and sleep apnea
A new study suggests that CPAP therapy reduces nightmares in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Research points to biomarker that could track Huntington's disease progression
A hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's is that by the time symptoms appear, significant brain damage has already occurred—and currently there are no treatments that can reverse it. A team of SRI International researchers has demonstrated that measurements of electrical activity in the brains of mouse models of Huntington's disease could indicate the presence of disease before the onset of major symptoms. The findings, "Longitudinal Analysis of the Electroencephalogram and Sleep Phenotype in the R6/2 Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease," are published in the July 2013 issue of the neurology journal Brain, published by Oxford University Press.
Nurse practitioners provide more primary care in states with least restrictive regulations
Facing a nationwide shortage of primary care physicians, some states in recent years have eased up on regulations that create barriers for nurse practitioners who want to work as primary care providers.
Consuming soy peptide may reduce colon cancer metastasis
After a recent University of Illinois study showed that injection of the soy peptide lunasin dramatically reduced colon cancer metastasis in mice, the researchers were eager to see how making lunasin part of the animals' daily diet would affect the spread of the disease.
US hospitals triple use of electronic health records
(HealthDay)—U.S. hospitals have made major progress in adopting electronic health records systems over the past three years, according to a new report.
Ethical quandary about vaccinations sparked by tension between parental rights and protecting public health
Increased concerns about the perceived risk of vaccination, inconvenience, or religious tenets are leading more U.S. parents to opt-out of vaccinating their children. Parents are increasingly able to do so in states that have relatively simple procedures for immunization exemption, report researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center in the July issue of Health Affairs. Some states, fearing a public health crisis, have responded by putting in place more burdensome procedures for parents of school-aged children to opt-out.
Nearly half of sarcoma surgeries done by nonsurgical oncology specialists
Orthopedic oncologists and surgical oncologists, who have been trained in the complex procedures required to remove sarcomas located deep in the muscles and other soft tissues of the limbs, conducted only 52 percent of these operations at 85 academic medical centers during a three year period, according to an analysis of national data by UC Davis researchers that is published online today in the Journal of Surgical Oncology.
Many men not told pros, cons of PSA testing, survey finds
(HealthDay)—Many doctors insulate their patients from the complexities surrounding the PSA test, and instead decide on their own whether to screen for prostate cancer or not, a new study finds.
Sugar makes cancer light-up in MRI scanners
A new technique for detecting cancer by imaging the consumption of sugar with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been unveiled by UCL scientists. The breakthrough could provide a safer and simpler alternative to standard radioactive techniques and enable radiologists to image tumours in greater detail.
New tissue engineering breakthrough encourages nerve repair
A new combination of tissue engineering techniques could reduce the need for nerve grafts, according to new research by The Open University. Regeneration of nerves is challenging when the damaged area is extensive, and surgeons currently have to take a nerve graft from elsewhere in the body, leaving a second site of damage. Nerve grafts contain aligned tissue structures and Schwann cells that support and guide neuron growth through the damaged area, encouraging function to be restored. The research, published in Biomaterials, reported a way to manufacture artificial nerve tissue with the potential to be used as an alternative to nerve grafts.
New research reveals alcohol impairs humans' ability to override their 'autopilot'
New research from Western University's Brain and Mind Institute (BMI) has revealed that alcohol definitively impairs the human ability to override impulse or snap decisions that are natural responses to rapidly evolving situations.
New anti-cancer compound shows promise for breast cancer
Melbourne researchers have discovered that anti-cancer compounds currently in clinical trials for some types of leukaemia could offer hope for treating the most common type of breast cancer.
Immune cells essential to establishing pregnancy
New research from the University of Adelaide shows for the first time that immune cells known as macrophages are critical to fertility by creating a healthy hormone environment in the uterus.
Exposure to stress even before conception causes genetic changes to offspring
A female's exposure to distress even before she conceives causes changes in the expression of a gene linked to the stress mechanism in the body—in the ovum and later in the brains of the offspring from when they are born, according to a new study on rats conducted by the University of Haifa.
What do rotten eggs and colon cancer have in common? Hydrogen sulfide
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston researchers have discovered that hydrogen sulfide—the pungent-smelling gas produced by rotten eggs—is a key player in colon cancer metabolism, and a potential target for therapies for the disease.
Targeting pancreatic cancer drug resistance
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly and intractable forms of cancer, with a 5-year survival rate of only 6%. Novel therapies are urgently needed, as conventional and targeted approaches have not been successful and drug resistance is an increasing problem.
Month of conception might raise odds of premature birth
(HealthDay)—What time of year a baby is conceived may raise the chances of a premature birth, new research suggests.
Biology news
Enhanced lure proves irresistible to orchard pest
New lures that entice codling moths with the scent of food and a possible mate are available for use in monitoring this orchard pest and controlling it with carefully timed applications of insecticide. The research related to the development and use of the lures involved scientists Alan Knight and Peter Landolt at the Agricultural Research Service's Yakima Agricultural Research Laboratory in Wapato, Washington, and Douglas Light at the ARS Western Regional Research Center in Albany, California.
Conservationists: 'Living with grief'
The scientists and conservation workers battling to save the world's dwindling forests, landscapes and endangered animals live constantly with grief, a leading Australian conservation scientist says.
Baby fish 'steer by the sun'
(Phys.org) —Baby coral reef fishes find their way home using the sun and a body clock to steer by.
Egg-sanitizer machine could save millions of chicks annually
Dr. Craig Coufal hopes his egg-sanitizing machine may revolutionize the poultry industry.
Parasite helps itself to sugar
Trypanosoma brucei, the parasite that causes sleeping sickness, is transmitted to mammals by the tsetse fly, and must adapt to the divergent metabolisms of its hosts. A new study shows how it copes with the frugal diet offered by the fly.
Researchers uncover that moths talk about sex in many ways
Moths are nocturnal, and they have one major enemy; the bat. As a defense many moths developed ears sensitive to the bat´s echolocation cries, and they have also developed different behaviors to avoid bats. Now it turns out that many moths are able to use both their hearing and their avoidance behavior to an entirely different purpose: to communicate about sex. According to a Danish/Japanese research team the various moth species probably talk about sex in a great number of different ways. This sheds new light on the evolution of sound communication and behavior.
Smelly monster 'corpse' flower in bloom in Brussels
A Titan Arum, one of the world's largest, rarest and smelliest flowers, is in bloom in a Brussels hothouse for the third time in five years in a rare botanical feat for a plant that generally goes years without blooming.
Jump for your life: Bipedal rodents survive in the desert with a hop, a skip and a jump
Researchers have found that bipedal desert rodents manage to compete with their quadrupedal counterparts by using a diverse set of jumps, hops and skips. A new study, to be presented at the Society for Experimental Biology meeting in Valencia on July 6, suggests that it is this unpredictable movement that allows the bipedal rodents to coexist in Old World deserts with quadrupedal rodents.
Flipping fish adapt to land living (w/ Video)
Researchers have found that the amphibious mangrove rivulus performs higher force jumps on land than some other fishes that end up on land. This new study shows that unlike the largemouth bass, which makes very few excursions on land, the mangrove rivulus, which can live out of water for extended periods, has a strong jumping technique on land to locate new food resources, avoid predators, escape poor water conditions and also to return to the water.
Muscle power: Bats power take-off using recycled energy
Bats are uniquely able to stretch and store energy in their bicep and tricep tendons during take-off and climbing flight, giving them an extra power boost. A new study on fruitbats, to be presented at the meeting of the Society for Experimental in Valencia on July 4, used cutting edge technology to image how these small mammals move through the air.
The evolution of fins to limbs in the land invasion race
Why did animals with limbs win the race to invade land over those with fins? A new study comparing the forces acting on fins of mudskipper fish and on the forelimbs of tiger salamanders can now be used to analyze early fossils that spanned the water-to-land transition in tetrapod evolution, and further understand their capability to move on land.
New mouse model reveals a mystery of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy often die as young adults from heart and breathing complications. However, scientists have been puzzled for decades by the fact that laboratory mice bearing the same genetic mutation responsible for the disease in humans display only mild symptoms and no cardiac involvement.
Study sheds new light on how cellular transport systems harness energy to perform their work inside the cell
Using highly sensitive fluorescent probes, a team of scientists from the University of Connecticut has captured the never-before-seen structural dynamics of an important protein channel inside the cell's primary power plant – the mitochondrion.
How quality control works in our cells
A cellular control mechanism prevents the production of defective proteins in our cells. A team of researchers from Bern has now obtained valuable insights into this vital mechanism that could lead to new therapeutic approaches for genetic diseases.
Females lead population collapse of the endangered Hawaii creeper
(Phys.org) —Only 22 to 28 percent of the remaining adult population of the endangered Hawai'i creeper (Oreomystis mana) found in the southern portion of the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge is female, raising concerns about the birds' ability to continue to propagate the species, according to new research published by University of Hawai'i at Mānoa scientists Leonard Freed and Rebecca Cann.
Second door discovered in war against mosquito-borne diseases
(Phys.org) —In the global war against disease-carrying mosquitoes, scientists have long believed that a single molecular door was the key target for insecticide. This door, however, is closing, giving mosquitoes the upper hand.
New study shows healthy Red Sea corals carry bacterial communities within
(Phys.org) —Corals may let certain bacteria get under its skin, according to a new study by researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and soon to be published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. The study offers the first direct evidence that Stylophora pistillata, a species of reef-building coral found throughout the Indian and west Pacific Oceans, harbors bacterial denizens deep within its tissues.
In baseball, bigger still better
Max Scherzer leads Major League Baseball in wins. As a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, he hasn't lost a game this season. His 6-foot, 3-inch frame is a telling example of constructal-law theory, said Duke University engineer Adrian Bejan. The theory predicts that elite pitchers will continue to be taller and thus throw faster and seems also to apply to athletes who compete in golf, hockey and boxing.
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