Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for July 11, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Scientists investigate how electric current flows in multilayer 2-D materials- True colour of exoplanet measured for the first time
- New simulation shows disk anomalies around stars may not be planets after all
- Writing programs using ordinary language
- Distant quakes trigger tremors at US waste-injection sites, says study
- Geothermal power facility induces earthquakes, study finds
- Research pair find 5.9 year cycle of oscillations in length of day
- The brain is alive, will new MRI diffusion techniques let us see it move and shake?
- Understanding bulls' gene-rich Y chromosomes may improve herd fertility
- NIST shows how to make a compact frequency comb in minutes
- Critical pathway in cell cycle may lead to cancer development
- New insight into the human genome through the lens of evolution
- As ice cover disappears, life in the frigid Antarctic moves fast
- Google fixes APK nightmare-waiting-to-happen, sends patch to partners
- Nerves play key role in triggering prostate cancer and influencing its spread
Space & Earth news
Taiwan evacuates 2,000 tourists as typhoon looms (Update)
Taiwan evacuated more than 2,000 tourists on Thursday as the island braced for super-typhoon Soulik, while Japan's Okinawa warned residents that giant waves of up to 12 metres (40 feet) could pound the archipelago.
Seafloor research expedition features live online video feed
UC Santa Cruz hydrogeologist Andrew Fisher is leading an expedition on the research vessel (R/V) Atlantis this summer to explore fluid flow and microbial habitats deep within the ocean crust. His team is returning to a set of six borehole observatories they installed in the seafloor off the coast of British Columbia during earlier expeditions in 1996, 2004, and 2010. Using the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Jason, they will collect samples and data and conduct new experiments.
Cereal output to hit record level in 2013
World cereal production is set to reach new record levels in 2013, an increase of around 7.0 percentage points compared to last year, the UN food agency said Thursday.
UC San Diego's HPWREN aids firefighters in Chariot fire
The high-speed data transmission network of the UC San Diego-based High-Performance Wireless and Research Education Network (HPWREN) is once again showing its utility as a public safety asset as firefighters battle the 7,000-acre Chariot Fire near Mount Laguna, east of San Diego.
New video reveals NASA is 'spinning a Webb'
NASA is spinning a "Webb," and it is not about a spider, it's about a part of the James Webb Space Telescope that is being "spin-tested" in a centrifuge to prove it can withstand the rigors of space travel.
Bioluminescence reveals deep-water motion in the Mediterranean
In 2009 and 2010, the underwater neutrino telescope ANTARES detected an unusual phenomenon: the bioluminescence of deep-sea organisms suddenly increased, revealing an unexpected connection between biological activity-bioluminescence-and the motion of water masses in the deep ocean. Convective motion in the Gulf of Lion provides deep waters with oxygen and nutrients that boost biological activity. Published on July 10th in PloS ONE, the work was carried out by a team coordinated by CNRS researchers from the Institut Méditerranéen d'Océanographie (CNRS / IRD / Aix-Marseille Université / Université du Sud Toulon-Var) and the Centre de Physique des Particules de Marseille (CNRS / Aix-Marseille Université).
Biologist investigates lasting ecological impacts of Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Billions of dollars. That's what's at stake for BP as a result of the damage caused to ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Clearing the air: The hidden wonders of indoor plants
It may come as a surprise but air pollution levels indoors are almost always higher than outside, even in busy city centres. Even more surprising is that indoor plants have the ability to mitigate high levels of most airborne contaminants.
Rising global temperatures accelerate drought-induced forest mortality
Many southwestern forests in the United States will disappear or be heavily altered by 2050, according to a series of joint Los Alamos National Laboratory-University of New Mexico studies.
Reef fish sink or swim in climate change waters
Climate change could cause local extinctions of chocolate dipped damselfish that are highly specialised to the conditions on their home reef.
Stellar monsters do not collide: No hope for a spectacular catastrophe
One might expect that collisions between the remains of monstrous stars, with masses reaching 200-300 times that of our Sun, would be among the most spectacular phenomena in the Universe. Perhaps they are, but we will unfortunately probably never have the chance to find out. Astrophysicists from the Astronomical Observatory of the Faculty of Physics at University of Warsaw have discovered that the first such collisions will not occur until billions of years from now.
NASA's OPALS to beam data from space via laser
(Phys.org) —NASA will use the International Space Station to test a new communications technology that could dramatically improve spacecraft communications, enhance commercial missions and strengthen transmission of scientific data.
SOLIS observatory gives new insights into space weather
(Phys.org) —Shifts in the magnetic field just above the surface of the Sun lead to liftoff of interplanetary "space storms," according to new results from the Synoptic Optical Long-Term Investigation of the Sun (SOLIS) instrument. The results were presented by California State University, Northridge, physics and astronomy professor Debi Prasad Choudhary at this week's 44th meeting of the Solar Physics Division of the American Astronomical Society in Bozeman, Mont.
NASA sees Chantal weaken to a remnant
Tropical Storm Chantal moved over Hispaniola on July 10 when NASA's Terra satellite passed overhead from space, and less than twenty-four hours later the storm weakened to a remnant low pressure area.
NASA sees Typhoon Soulik's eye closed for 'renovations'
When a hurricane or typhoon's eye becomes filled with clouds, it can be a sign the storm is weakening, or that high clouds have moved over it, or its eyewall is being replaced. When NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Typhoon Soulik on July 11 an instrument aboard noticed clouds filled the eye and additional data showed the eyewall was being replaced.
Researchers set out path for global warming reversal
Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) can reverse the global warming trend and push temperatures back below the global target of 2°C above pre-industrial levels, even if current policies fail and we initially overshoot this target.
The sounds of science: Melting of iceberg creates surprising ocean din
(Phys.org) —There is growing concern about how much noise humans generate in marine environments through shipping, oil exploration and other developments, but a new study has found that naturally occurring phenomena could potentially affect some ocean dwellers.
Solar tsunami used to measure Sun's magnetic field
(Phys.org) —A solar tsunami observed by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and the Japanese Hinode spacecraft has been used to provide the first accurate estimates of the Sun's magnetic field.
Scientists cast doubt on theory of what triggered Antarctic glaciation
A team of U.S. and U.K. scientists has found geologic evidence that casts doubt on one of the conventional explanations for how Antarctica's ice sheet began forming. Ian Dalziel, research professor at The University of Texas at Austin's Institute for Geophysics and professor in the Jackson School of Geosciences, and his colleagues report the findings today in an online edition of the journal Geology.
Charon revealed: New Horizons camera spots Pluto's largest moon
(Phys.org) —NASA's Pluto-bound New Horizons spacecraft, using its highest-resolution telescopic camera, has spotted Pluto's Texas-sized, ice-covered moon Charon for the first time. This represents a major milestone on the spacecraft's 9.5-year journey to conduct the initial reconnaissance of the Pluto system and the Kuiper Belt and, in a sense, begins the mission's long-range study of the Pluto system.
NGC 2392: A beautiful end to a star's life
(Phys.org) —Stars like the Sun can become remarkably photogenic at the end of their life. A good example is NGC 2392, which is located about 4,200 light years from Earth. NGC 2392, (nicknamed the "Eskimo Nebula") is what astronomers call a planetary nebula. This designation, however, is deceiving because planetary nebulas actually have nothing to do with planets. The term is simply a historic relic since these objects looked like planetary disks to astronomers in earlier times looking through small optical telescopes.
Research pair find 5.9 year cycle of oscillations in length of day
(Phys.org) —A pair of researchers, Richard Holme of the University of Liverpool in the U.K. and Olivier de Viron of the University of Paris, in France has found that the length of Earth's days follows a cyclic oscillation pattern every 5.9 years. As the two describe in their paper published in the journal Nature, the variations in day length were discovered as part of a study examining day-length over the past 50 years.
New simulation shows disk anomalies around stars may not be planets after all
(Phys.org) —Two researchers affiliated with several research centers in the U.S. have built a computer simulation that casts doubt on the claim of many recent exoplanet discoveries. In their paper published in the journal Nature, Wladimir Lyra and Marc Kuchner describe how they added gas to debris disks in their simulations and found irregularities similar to those found around real stars. This means, the researchers explain, that not all disk cluster irregularities are caused by planets.
True colour of exoplanet measured for the first time
(Phys.org) —Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have, for the first time, determined the true colour of a planet orbiting another star. If seen up close this planet, known as HD 189733b, would be a deep azure blue, reminiscent of Earth's colour as seen from space.
Geothermal power facility induces earthquakes, study finds
An analysis of earthquakes in the area around the Salton Sea Geothermal Field in southern California has found a strong correlation between seismic activity and operations for production of geothermal power, which involve pumping water into and out of an underground reservoir.
Distant quakes trigger tremors at US waste-injection sites, says study
Large earthquakes from distant parts of the globe are setting off tremors around waste-fluid injection wells in the central United States, says a new study. Furthermore, such triggering of minor quakes by distant events could be precursors to larger events at sites where pressure from waste injection has pushed faults close to failure, say researchers.
Technology news
Venezuelans told to 'unfriend' Facebook over US spying
A government minister in Venezuela, which has offered fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden asylum, is urging her countrymen to cancel their Facebook accounts lest they be targeted by US snooping.
SoftBank completes $21.6B deal with Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel, the third largest U.S. wireless carrier, is now under the control of the Japanese investment firm SoftBank.
Professor helps design software for the next generation of supercomputer
Jack Dongarra, distinguished professor of computer science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is designing software that will be critical in making the next generation of supercomputers operational.
Estonia says Europe overreacted to US cyber spying
Europeans have overreacted to allegations that the United States had been snooping on them and vacuuming up huge amounts of phone and Internet data, cyber-savvy Estonia said in an interview published Thursday.
Sprint launches 'guarantee' for unlimited plans
(AP)—Sprint is introducing a new wireless plan that guarantees new and existing subscribers unlimited voice, text and data plans in a move to differentiate its service from rivals AT&T and Verizon.
For Amazon, another role: Comic book publisher
Online retailer Amazon.com Inc. says it will soon start publishing original comics through its new imprint, Jet City Comics.
Apple faces competitive hurdle in Brazil market
On a recent vacation to Orlando, Fla., from his home in Brazil, Tulio Avellar made sure to stop by such world famous tourist destinations as Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.
Indians remember telegram heyday as service stops
Sixty-six years ago, Santosh Sharma saw her mother sell gold bangles to feed and clothe her family of six and then dispatch telegrams to her brothers urging them to leave newly created Pakistan and gather in New Delhi.
World energy agency sees record oil demand next year
Emerging economies will be the main force in the global oil market next year, driving demand to a record high level, International Energy Agency (IEA) data showed on Thursday.
Don't shout to be heard—just reduce your acoustic reverberation
Sound travels as waves, which continue to bounce off surfaces like walls and ceilings. These reflected waves or reverberations interfere with the original sound. This noise or acoustic reverberation makes it harder for us to hear the original sound and can reduce the quality of speech, music and other audio.
EU raids telecoms firms in Internet probe (Update)
European Union anti-trust officials this week launched surprise investigations of several telecoms firms suspected of abusing their positions in Internet services, including Orange, Deutsche Telekom and Telefonica.
A virtual 'Lolita' on the hunt for paedophiles
Children have come to make up a significant proportion of the active users of the Internet, but the presence of paedophiles marks them out as potential victims of abuse. With the aim of preventing such abuse, Spanish researchers have created a computer programme capable of passing for a fourteen-year-old girl to detect these predators in chats and social networks. The Ertzaintza (Basque Country police force) has already shown its interest in Negobot, as the fake victim is named.
Cloud technologies to improve performance and efficiency of mobile networks
The increasingly widespread use of smartphones capable of delivering audio and video streaming is leading to an exponential growth in the volume of traffic carried by mobile networks. Such growth is expected to continue in the next few years, with forecasts that anticipate a hundred-fold increase in traffic by 2020.
Microsoft reshuffles company structure (Update)
Microsoft Corp. is reshuffling its business in an attempt to promote faster innovation and a sharper focus on devices and services. The move by the world's largest software maker comes amid lukewarm response to the latest version of its flagship Windows operating system and a steady decline in demand for PCs as people turn to tablets and other mobile gadgets.
Researchers test microelectronics cooling system in weightless environment
(Phys.org) —Three years of preparation supported by NASA paid off this June for researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago who conducted experiments while floating weightless on a Novespace & European Space Agency plane.
100-megapixel camera developed
A Chinese institute has successfully developed a camera featuring a 100-megapixel charge-coupled device (CCD) chip, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced on Wednesday.
Study provides details on portable generator emissions and carbon monoxide exposure
Despite warnings to the contrary, many people continue to operate portable generators indoors or close to open windows, doors, or vents, resulting in more than 500 deaths since 2005. And each year, more than 20,000 people visit the emergency room and more than 4,000 are hospitalized due to exposure to toxic levels of carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless, odorless gas. Fatality is highest among people 65 and older.
ID got you, under the skin: Automated thermal face recognition based on minutiae extraction
Forget fingerprints or iris recognition, the next big thing in biometrics will be a thermal imaging scan that maps the blood vessels under the skin of your face for instantaneous face recognition that would be almost impossible to spoof.
Norway mulls broadband coverage in Arctic (Update)
Norway may provide high-speed Internet in one of the few places on Earth where it's not available: the Arctic.
Global study stresses importance of public Internet access
Millions of people in low-income countries still depend on public computer and Internet access venues despite the global proliferation of mobile phones and home computers. However, interest in providing such public access has waned in recent years, especially among development agencies, as new technologies become available.
Complaint in France to target Internet giants over spying
French rights groups are to file a criminal complaint Thursday in a bid to uncover the roles played by Internet giants in the widespread spying revealed by intelligence leaker Edward Snowden.
US spies not wanted at infamous hacker meet
Revelations about a US Internet surveillance program have chilled the relationship between federal authorities and an infamous Def Con hacker gathering.
US drone lands on carrier deck in historic flight
A bat-winged drone touched down smoothly on the deck of a US aircraft carrier, marking a historic milestone for robotic flight.
When GPS fails, this speck of an electronic device could step in
(Phys.org) —In a pellet of glass the size of an apple seed, University of Michigan engineering researchers have packed seven devices that together could potentially provide navigation in the absence of the satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS.)
Researchers find treating pavement with titanium oxide reduces air pollution
(Phys.org) —Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology in The Netherlands have found that treating pavement with titanium oxide causes a reduction in nitrogen oxide air pollution. In their paper published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, the team describes how they treated pavement sections in the city of Hengelo with titanium oxide and then took air samples that showed lowered levels of nitrogen oxide.
Google fixes APK nightmare-waiting-to-happen, sends patch to partners
(Phys.org) —As if Android was not getting enough press about exploit opportunities, a Bluebox Security expert let the world know earlier this month that its security team discovered a Master Key vulnerability where hackers could sidestep app verification and install Trojans that can sail through verification without any problems. With this exploit, a hacker can modify a normal Android application package file (APK) without having to break the app's cryptographic signature. That's the ticket. The signature break would have sent off red flags. (Explains Threatpost: Applications are digitally signed to establish or confirm the identity of the developer and the signatures make sure that future updates come from only the developer of the application.)
Writing programs using ordinary language
In a pair of recent papers, researchers at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory have demonstrated that, for a few specific tasks, it's possible to write computer programs using ordinary language rather than special-purpose programming languages.
Medicine & Health news
BMJ investigation finds GPs being forced to ration access to hospital care
Clinical commissioning groups in England have begun implementing new restrictions on referrals to secondary care as they strive to manage their resources amid increasing financial restraints, reveals a BMJ investigation today.
NHS facing a 'deepening financial crisis' says Head of Health Policy at the BMA
Head of the Health Policy and Economic Research Unit at the British Medical Association, Jon Ford, is warning that the NHS is facing a deep financial crisis and by April 2016 the service will have to "make do with only three quarters of the budget it actually needs."
Lab tests key to identifying, treating infectious diseases
A new guide developed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) will help physicians appropriately and accurately use laboratory tests for the diagnosis of infectious diseases. Laboratory test results drive approximately two-thirds of physicians' medical decisions.
Chinese police say Glaxo employees bribed doctors
China's police ministry accused executives of pharmaceutical supplier GlaxoSmithKline on Thursday of conducting a large and long-running bribery campaign to persuade doctors to prescribe drugs.
Over 70% of children who drowned could not swim and were not using flotation devices
A recent study analyses cases of drowning attended to in 21 hospitals in Spain during the summers of 2009 and 2010. 60% of the victims were younger than six years old and more than 70% did not know how to swim and were not using flotation devices when they drowned. Furthermore, in eight in every ten cases their carers admitted to having supervised them less attentively.
Fighting blindness with technology
The eye disease glaucoma leads to blindness and has no symptoms in the early stages, earning it the nickname "silent thief of sight". Regular eye examinations are essential for early detection and diagnosis of such eye diseases. A new collaboration between A*STAR's Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R), and Topcon Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, a leading ophthalmic instruments and optometrics instruments manufacturer worldwide could soon make detecting major eye diseases in Singapore an easier task. The ATLANTIA (Advanced Technological Laboratory for A*STAR aNd Topcon's Innovative Alliance) joint laboratory, located in I2R's premises in Fusionopolis, will develop advanced technologies that can better detect major eye disorders and diseases such as myopia, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Second ACL injuries six times more likely after reconstruction
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery is a common knee injury procedure, but the overall incidence rate of having to go through it again within 24 months is 6 times greater than someone who has never had an ACL tear, according to researchers presenting their work today at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's (AOSSM) Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL.
Irish lawmakers debate abortion law for second day
Irish lawmakers will resume discussion on controversial new abortion legislation later Thursday after failing to go to a final vote despite debating into the early hours.
Caring communication: Toolkit to help people with dementia goes online
DemTalk, an award-winning toolkit designed by Newcastle University experts to help those coping with the condition, has gone online.
Choline intake improves memory and attention-holding capacity
An experimental study in rats has shown that consuming choline, a vitamin B group nutrient found in foodstuffs like eggs and chicken or beef liver, soy and wheat germ, helps improve long-term memory and attention-holding capacity. The study, conducted by scientists at the University of Granada (Spain) Simón Bolívar University, (Venezuela) and the University of York (United Kingdom), has revealed that choline is directly involved in attention and memory processes and helps modulate them.
Clinicians should pay attention to stroke patients who cannot walk at 3-6 month after onset
Gait dysfunction is one of the most serious disabling sequelae of stroke. Regaining gait ability in stroke is a primary goal of neurorehabilitation. Furthermore, gait is a less demanding motor function than hand function.
Aflibercept in colorectal cancer: Indication of minor added benefit
The drug aflibercept (trade name: Zaltrap) has been approved in Germany since February 2013 in combination with a certain chemotherapy for adults with metastatic colorectal cancer in whom chemotherapy with oxaliplatin could not stop the disease from progressing. In an early benefit assessment pursuant to the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG) the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined whether this new drug offers an added benefit over the current standard therapy. According to this, considerable advantages in respect of overall survival are accompanied by major potential harm in the form of side effects. Overall, there is therefore an indication of a minor added benefit of aflibercept.
Clinical trial assesses anti-melanoma vaccine's ability to induce an anti-cancer immune response
Cancer vaccines prime the immune system to attack cancer cells, decreasing tumor progression. IL-12p70, a molecule produced by certain types of immune cells, has been shown to reduce tumor progression, but delivering it as part of a cancer vaccine has been limited because of its toxicity in high doses.
Three neglected-disease treatments newly added to WHO Essential Medicines List for paediatric use
This week the World Health Organization (WHO) released its newly updated 4th WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc), in which three treatments developed by the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and its partners have now been included. One treatment was also added to the 18th WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (EML) for adults.
Youth homicide rate hits lowest mark in 30 years
Health officials say the homicide rate for older children and young adults has hit its lowest point in at least three decades.
Gammapod targets early-stage breast cancer
An experimental innovation in cancer treatment from the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine could provide a new, high-precision, noninvasive method of treating early-stage breast cancer. The GammaPod was invented by Cedric Yu, M.S., D.Sc., the Carl M. Mansfield Endowed Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology, who patented the technology in 2006. Although the device has not yet been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used on patients, the manufacturer is actively seeking that approval and the department hopes to begin clinical trials as soon as October 2013.
Quality metrics play small role in physician compensation
(HealthDay)—Quality measures play a small but emerging role in physician compensation, according to a report published by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA).
Health-care system factors may have less influence on kidney-related racial disparities
Among patients with kidney disease who received specialized pre-dialysis care in a universal healthcare system, blacks experienced faster disease progression than whites, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). The findings suggest that healthcare system factors have less influence on black-white disparities in kidney function decline than other factors.
Do antibiotics in animal feed pose a serious risk to human health?
As fears rise over antibiotic resistance, two experts in BMJ today debate whether adding antibiotics to animal feed poses a serious risk to human health.
Combination of smoking and heavy drinking 'speeds up cognitive decline'
The combination of smoking and heavy drinking speeds up cognitive decline, according to new research published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.
Later cord clamping after birth increases iron levels in babies
Delaying clamping of the umbilical cord after birth benefits newborn babies, according to a systematic review published in The Cochrane Library. The authors found babies' blood and iron levels were healthier when the cord was clamped later.
Prisoners doing yoga may see psychological benefits
Yoga can improve mood and mental wellbeing among prisoners, an Oxford University study suggests, and may also have an effect on impulsive behaviour.
New research shows divorce spells big boost to women's happiness
Women become much more happy and satisfied with their lives after their divorces come through, according to researchers at London's Kingston University.
China H7N9 bird flu toll up to 43
The death toll from the H7N9 bird flu outbreak in China has risen to 43, national health authorities said in their latest monthly update on the disease.
New evidence shows link between childhood trauma and psychotic experiences
Researchers at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) have demonstrated that exposure to childhood trauma (physical assault and bullying) is linked to psychotic experiences, (such as hearing voices), and in turn the cessation of traumatic experiences led to a significant reduction in the incidence of psychotic experiences. The findings are being presented today at the European Society for Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Congress taking place in Dublin and appear in this month's edition of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Parental divorce in childhood is linked to raised inflammation in adulthood
People who experience parental divorce during childhood have higher levels of an inflammatory marker in the blood which is known to predict future health, according to new research from UCL.
New hope in the fight against childhood cancer
Cancer Research UK scientists at the University of Southampton are seeing positive results in a pre-clinical trial that could bring treatments for a particular aggressive form of childhood cancer closer to reality.
Study shows bilingual children have a two-tracked mind
Adults learning a foreign language often need flash cards, tapes, and practice, practice, practice. Children, on the other hand, seem to pick up their native language out of thin air. The learning process is even more remarkable when two languages are involved. In a study examining how bilingual children learn the two different sound systems of languages they are acquiring simultaneously, Ithaca College faculty member Skott Freedman has discovered insights that indicate children can learn two native languages as easily as they can learn one.
Stroke recovery theories challenged by new studies looking at brain lesions, bionic arms
Stroke survivors left weakened or partially paralyzed may be able to regain more arm and hand movement than their doctors realize, say experts at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center who have just published two new studies evaluating stroke outcomes.
Cancer and treatment side effect: Stronger mother-daughter ties
(Medical Xpress)—A bout with cancer can be the catalyst for growth and healing in mother-daughter relationships, suggests a new study by a University of Illinois social work professor.
Learning in an information overload world
To harness rather than drown in the ocean of knowledge that swamps us daily via the media and the Internet, we've got to become more cognitively productive, says Luc Beaudoin. The Simon Fraser University adjunct education professor drives home that message in his new book Cognitive Productivity.
Operating room wait time increases infection risk
(HealthDay)—The risk of surgical site infections (SSIs) is significantly elevated with lengthier waits in the operating room prior to surgical incision, according to a study published in the July 1 issue of Spine.
Recession may have boosted teens' social consciousness
(HealthDay)—Concern for other people and the environment rose among American teens during the recent recession, a new study indicates.
Is US health-care reform on track for 2014?
(HealthDay)—At the heart of President Barack Obama's sweeping yet controversial health-reform law is the largest expansion of health insurance in decades, and it's set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2014. But some observers wonder whether it will get off the ground as scheduled.
Personality traits can be inferred from social media use
(HealthDay)—Certain personality traits can be inferred from social media postings, according to a study published in the June issue of Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.
Bi-polar patients 'undertreated' for common physical health problems
(Medical Xpress)—Those diagnosed with bi-polar are more likely than the general population to be under-treated for common physical health problems like high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, according to new research.
Acid reflux drug may cause heart disease
(Medical Xpress)—Drugs that help millions of people cope with acid reflux may also cause cardiovascular disease, report scientists from Houston Methodist Hospital and two other institutions in an upcoming issue of Circulation. It is the first time researchers have shown how proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, might cause cardiovascular problems.
Hidden strains of HPV found in 'virus-negative' genital warts
There are 170 established HPV types. Cancerous human papillomavirus (HPV) viruses are the main cause of cervical cancer, and are found in close to 100% of cervical tumors.
Naturally occurring molecule in the body may have important consequences for treating osteoarthritis
UK scientists have found a naturally occurring molecule in the body which may have important consequences for treating osteoarthritis. Researchers from The University of Manchester and the University of Westminster have found that the molecule, known as Urocortin, protects cells in the joints from being destroyed.
Study finds factors that may cause fluctuations in deep brain stimulation levels over time
Deep brain stimulation therapy blocks or modulates electrical signals in the brain to improve symptoms in patients suffering from movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, essential tremor and dystonia, but a new study suggests that several factors may cause electrical current to vary over time.
Mexican American youth show signs of metabolic syndrome: Early screening critical
Mexican American children are experiencing substantial burdens of obesity, pre-diabetes, and other health problems which historically would have been expected to develop much later in life. The findings of a new study by Texas Biomed scientists in San Antonio argue for early screening and intervention to delay or avoid chronic health problems as these children age.
Accepting what cannot be changed is key to happiness in old age after loss of independence
When older adults lose control as they move into residential care, they adapt and accept what cannot be changed in order to stay happy. According to a new study, by Jaclyn Broadbent, Shikkiah de Quadros-Wander and Jane McGillivray from Deakin University in Australia, when it comes to satisfaction in later life the ability to accept what cannot be changed is as important as the feeling of being able to exert control. Their work is published online in Springer's Journal of Happiness Studies.
Whole chickens from farmers markets may have more pathogenic bacteria
Raw, whole chickens purchased from farmers markets throughout Pennsylvania contained significantly higher levels of bacteria that can cause foodborne illness compared to those purchased from grocery stores in the region, according to a small-scale study by researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences
Obese dads pass on predisposition to obesity and metabolic disorders to their kids
If you are obese and hope to be a father, here's another reason to lose weight: your children and grandchildren may inherit your waistline or metabolic disorders. That's because scientists have discovered in mice that obese fathers, even those who did not show any signs of diabetes, passed this negative trait on most frequently to their daughters. Sons don't entirely dodge this genetic bullet either—both sons and daughters of obese fathers have increased risks of developing metabolic diseases, such as diabetes.
Whole genome sequencing opens a new way for the diagnosis and medical therapy for autism
An international consortium, consisting of Autism Speaks, Duke University School of Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children of Toronto, BGI and other institutes, has investigated the genetic variants in 32 families with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The results show that whole genome sequencing and analysis promise great value to identify de novo or rare inherited mutations that give rise to autism in ASD groups. The findings were published online today in American Journal of Human Genetics.
Important advance in the fight against skin cancer
Researchers from the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), lead by Lluís Espinosa, have identified a new function of the IB protein that is key in the development of squamous-cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. The study has been published in the prestigious journal Cancer Cell and provides a new tool for the diagnosis of the disease and, in the future, will enable the identification of novel therapeutic targets to treat this type of cancer.
Cry analyzer seeks clues to babies' health
To parents, a baby's cry is a signal of hunger, pain, or discomfort. But to scientists, subtle acoustic features of a cry, many of them imperceptible to the human ear, can hold important information about a baby's health.
Why do we enjoy listening to sad music?
Sad music might actually evoke positive emotions reveals a new study by Japanese researchers published in the open-access journal Frontiers in Psychology. The findings help to explain why people enjoy listening to sad music, say Ai Kawakami and colleagues from Tokyo University of the Arts and the RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Japan.
Higher BMI increases risk of gallstones, especially in women
New research reveals a causal association between elevated body mass index (BMI) and increased risk of gallstone disease. Results published in Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, show women are at greater risk of developing gallstones.
Hippo pathway to better cancer treatment?
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have discovered a potential new pathway to treat cancer by asking some odd questions about the size of animals.
Training program meets 'critical need' for earlier autism identification
A Vanderbilt research program that trains community pediatricians to diagnose autism within their individual practices may lead to more effective treatment of the disorder that now affects an estimated one in 88 children.
One in five US adults will have trouble paying medical bills
(HealthDay)—About one in five U.S. adults will have problems paying health care bills in 2013, including about 10 million adults with year-round insurance coverage, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
In 2010, blood transfusion most frequent hospital procedure
(HealthDay)—The most frequent procedure performed during hospitalization in 2010 was blood transfusion, which was common among all age groups except for infants, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
Full, limited range of motion extension exercise benefit LBP
(HealthDay)—A 12-week training program with isolated lumbar extension resistance training with either full range of motion (FullROM) or limited ROM (LimROM) increases full ROM lumbar extension strength and improves perceived pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain, according to a study published in the July 1 issue of Spine.
Smoggy days may raise your odds for burst appendix
(HealthDay)—Add another possible health woe to the negative effects of air pollution: A new study suggests that the risk of a burst appendix rises on smoggy days.
Use redistricting maps to make organ allocation more equitable, researchers advocate
Using the same type of mathematical formulas used to draw political redistricting maps, Johns Hopkins researchers say they have developed a model that would allow for the more equitable allocation of livers from deceased donors for transplantation.
Novel drug acts in unique way to protect against kidney injury
New research reveals the mechanism by which an experimental drug can protect the kidneys from sudden damage, called acute kidney injury (AKI). The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), show how the drug may be able to save many lives and cut medical costs related to the condition.
Moms need help to overcome breastfeeding worries, study says
More support is needed to help women overcome doubts in the hope that they will breastfeed their babies for longer, says a University of Alberta nutrition researcher.
Metastatic pancreatic, primary breast cancer have common growth mechanisms, study suggests
A recently discovered form of the protein that triggers blood clotting plays a critical role in promoting the growth of metastatic pancreatic cancer and primary breast cancer, according to the cumulative findings from two new scientific manuscripts published online ahead of print in the International Journal of Cancer and PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences).
Extroverts have more sensitive brain-reward system
Extroverts may be more outgoing and cheerful in part because of their brain chemistry, reports a study by Cornell neuroscientists.
Cells make costume changes for cardiac regeneration
(Medical Xpress)—If the heart following a heart attack is not sufficiently supplied with blood, heart tissue dies. In adult humans, the ability to heal itself is hardly developed. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research in Bad Nauheim, together with U.S. colleagues, have now observed in the embryo of the zebrafish that muscle cells migrate from the undamaged atrium into the ventricle and thus significantly contribute to regeneration. This could serve as the basis for novel therapeutic approaches.
Cells in the early embryo battle each other to death for becoming part of the organism
Spanish researchers at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) have found that during the early stages of mammalian development, embryonic cells embark on a battle for survival. Through this battle, the less active of these cells are eliminated by their stronger sisters. The work is published today in the prestigious journal Nature.
First estrogen receptor mutation found in a young woman
A receptor mutation that essentially blocks estrogen's action has been identified for the first time in a female, researchers report.
Critical pathway in cell cycle may lead to cancer development
A team of scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies has identified why disruption of a vital pathway in cell cycle control leads to the proliferation of cancer cells. Their findings on telomeres, the stretches of DNA at the ends of chromosomes that protect our genetic code and make it possible for cells to divide, suggest a potential target for preventive measures against cancer, aging and other diseases. The findings were published July 11 in Molecular Cell.
Nerves play key role in triggering prostate cancer and influencing its spread
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have found that nerves play a critical role in both the development and spread of prostate tumors. Their findings, using both a mouse model and human prostate tissue, may lead to new ways to predict the aggressiveness of prostate cancer and to novel therapies for preventing and treating the disease. The study published online today in the July 12 edition of Science.
Gene therapy using lentivirus promising in three youngsters
Two Houston researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital were part of an international team that developed a new gene therapy approach to treatment of Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome, a fatal inherited form of immunodeficiency.
The brain is alive, will new MRI diffusion techniques let us see it move and shake?
(Medical Xpress)—Pioneering experiments back in 1982 by Tasaki and Iwasa at the NIH revealed that action potentials in neurons are more than just the electrical blips that physiologists readily amplify and record. These so-called "spikes" are in fact multi-modal signalling packages that include mechanical and thermal disturbances propagating down the axon at their own rates. Nobel Laureate Francis Crick published a paper that same year, in which he postulated potential mechanisms that would explain twitching in dendritic spines, adding to an emerging picture of a brain more vibrant and motile than had been previously imagined. More recently, researchers have developed diffusion-based MRI methods, like diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), to trace the trajectories of axons, and perhaps more intriguingly, determine their directional polarity. Working at the EPFL in Switzerland, Denis Le Bihan and his co-workers have been using diffusional MRI in slightly different way. They n! ow appear to be able to directly measure neuronal activity from the subtle movements of membranes, the water within them, and in the extracellular space around them. Their work, just published in PNAS, provides a much needed conceptual shift away from currently established, but typically nebulous, ideas regarding neurovascular coupling of brain activity to blood flow.
Biology news
Asian origins of native American dogs confirmed
Once thought to have been extinct, native American dogs are on the contrary thriving, according to a recent study that links these breeds to ancient Asia.
An ancient breed is resurrected in great grain revival
(Phys.org) —For a grain, red fife wheat has a colorful history. Famed for its flavor, it is believed to have crossed several continents and the Atlantic before arriving in 1842 in Canada, where it gained a foothold and spawned many modern varieties.
Elephants depend on water for cooling, but only when it gets too hot
During the hot summer months, there's nothing quite like a nice refreshing and cooling dip in a pool, and it would seem that elephants agree. In fact, in some game parks, elephants will rarely stray far from water, and have even been, albeit controversially, called a water-dependent species. But are they really water dependent and if so what drives this dependence? Is it caused by a necessity to cool down?
Discovery of a strange new snow scorpionfly species in Alaska helped by Facebook
Researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (Derek Sikes and Jill Stockbridge) discovered a strange new insect on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska. It belongs to an enigmatic group that might help scientists understand the evolutionary origin of the Fleas. The new species belongs to the insect order Mecoptera which includes the scorpionflies, hangingflies, and snow scorpionflies. The description has been published recently in the open access journal ZooKeys.
Killer whale genetics: Redefining stock structure in a marine top predator
Found in every ocean around the world, killer whales are a force to be reckoned with globally. Their remarkable social bonds and sophisticated hunting techniques make them top predators in their salty domain. For many years, it was assumed that these clever, highly mobile whales bred with each other freely in the seemingly homogeneous ocean. As our understanding of the oceans' complexity has grown, and dedicated researchers have peered ever deeper into the world of killer whales, it has become clear that the truth is far more nuanced.
Snakes devour more mosquito-eating birds as climate change heats forests
Many birds feed on mosquitoes that spread the West Nile virus, a disease that killed 286 people in the United States in 2012 according to the Centers for Disease Control. Birds also eat insects that can be agricultural pests. However, rising temperatures threaten wild birds, including the Missouri-native Acadian flycatcher, by making snakes more active, according to University of Missouri biologist John Faaborg. He noted that farmers, public health officials and wildlife managers should be aware of complex indirect effects of climate change in addition to the more obvious influences of higher temperatures and irregular weather patterns.
'Taste sensor' genes in female butterflies vital to species' survival
Giving the phrase "Mother knows best" a whole new meaning, UC Irvine researchers have identified unique genes in female butterflies that enable them to select the best host plant for their larvae – and avoid deadly ones.
Lionfish expedition: Down deep is where the big, scary ones live
Last month, the first expedition to use a deep-diving submersible to study the Atlantic Ocean lionfish invasion found something very disturbing – at 300 feet deep, there were still significant populations of these predatory fish, and they were big.
Caribbean's native predators unable to stop aggressive lionfish population growth
"Ocean predator" conjures up images of sharks and barracudas, but the voracious red lionfish is out-eating them all in the Caribbean – and Mother Nature appears unable to control its impact on local reef fish. That leaves human intervention as the most promising solution to the problem of this highly invasive species, said researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Size matters for creatures of cold polar waters
Scientists at the Universities of Liverpool, Plymouth, and Radboud, Netherlands, have challenged the view that giant animals are found in polar seas because of a superabundance of oxygen in cold water.
Malaria in the Americas presents a complex picture
(Phys.org) —Human migrations – from the prehistoric epoch to the present day – have extended cultures across the globe. With these travelers have come unwanted stowaways: mosquito-borne parasites belonging to the Plasmodium species – a group responsible for malaria, worldwide.
Ship noise impairs feeding and heightens predation risk for crabs
A study published in the journal Animal Behaviour found that the noise of passing ships disrupts feeding for the common shore crab. Perhaps worse, the team from the Universities of Exeter and Bristol also found that when threatened, crabs took longer to retreat to shelter and lost their natural 'play dead' behaviour.
New insight into the human genome through the lens of evolution
By comparing the human genome to the genomes of 34 other mammals, Australian scientists have described an unexpectedly high proportion of functional elements conserved through evolution.
Understanding bulls' gene-rich Y chromosomes may improve herd fertility
The Y chromosomes of cattle have more genes and are more active than the Y chromosomes of other primates, according to researchers.
As ice cover disappears, life in the frigid Antarctic moves fast
It might be cold in the Antarctic, but that doesn't mean that life there necessarily moves slowly. A report appearing in Current Biology, a Cell Press publication, on July 11 reveals the discovery of a surprisingly fast-growing community of glass sponges in an area formerly covered by permanent ice. With the ice at the surface disappearing, those little-known sponges are launching a seafloor takeover.
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