Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for July 18, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Oxford Questions seek to pull back the curtain on the foundations of quantum physics- Researchers using Kinect to allow deaf people to communicate via computer (w/ Video)
- Geoscientist finds beavers play a role in climate change
- QR code security vulnerability found with Google Glass
- Graphene 'onion rings' have delicious potential
- Another beautiful helix for biology, this time reminiscent of a parking garage
- Computer system automatically generates TCP congestion-control algorithms
- How Mars' atmosphere got so thin: New insights from Curiosity
- Scientists break record for thinnest light-absorber
- First atlas on oceanic plankton
- Bearing witness to the phenomenon of symmetric cell division
- An easier way to make a topological insulator for advanced electronics
- How mice teach us about disease
- Study analyzes dynamical properties in antibiotic resistance enzyme
- MAVEN spectrometer opens window to Red Planet's past
Space & Earth news
Energy and cost saving in mines achieved by innovative technique
A new approach that will save energy and reduce ventilation costs in mines has been developed by the University of Exeter's Camborne School of Mines.
Ball Aerospace delivers one-of-a-kind cryogenic electronics for NASA's James Webb space telescope
The Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. cryogenic flight electronic boxes recently shipped to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems for the James Webb Space Telescope are unlike any previously designed and manufactured.
Turkish Cypriots work to clean oil spill
Dozens of workers on Thursday struggled to contain the pollution caused by an oil spill along the coastline of northeast Cyprus, officials said.
Australia pledges more cash to battle reef starfish
Australia pledged another Aus$5 million (US$4.6 million) to the fight against a predatory starfish devastating the iconic Great Barrier Reef Thursday, revealing 100,000 of the creatures had been wiped out so far.
Proba-2 eye-to-eye with Typhoon Soulik
The swirling eye of Typhoon Soulik as it approached Taiwan last Friday is caught by a tiny espresso cup-sized camera on one of ESA's smallest satellites, Proba-2.
Curiosity Mars rover passes kilometer of driving
The latest drive by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover brought the total distance that the rover has driven on Mars to more than 1 kilometer. One kilometer is about 0.62 mile.
In the zone: How scientists search for habitable planets
There is only one planet we know of, so far, that is drenched with life. That planet is Earth, as you may have guessed, and it has all the right conditions for critters to thrive on its surface. Do other planets beyond our solar system, called exoplanets, also host life forms?
Keep the Aspidistra flying
Grown for its ability to survive neglect, shady conditions and the effects of gas used for lighting, the Aspidistra was such a popular houseplant in late Victorian Britain that it came to represent – as novelist George Orwell put it – the middle class's desire for respectability.
Big environmental footprints: 21 percent of homes account for 50 percent of greenhouse gas emissions
Energy conservation in a small number of households could go a long way to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, scientists are reporting. Their study, which measured differences in energy demands at the household level, appears in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Curiosity interview with project manager Jim Erickson – new software hastens trek to mount sharp
As NASA's 1 ton Curiosity Mars rover sets out on her epic trek to the ancient sedimentary layers at the foothills of mysterious Mount Sharp, Universe Today conducted an exclusive interview with the Curiosity Project Manager Jim Erickson, of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to get the latest scoop so to speak on the robots otherworldly adventures.
Satellite view shows Opportunity Mars rover still hard at work 10 years on
Ten years to the day after the Opportunity rover launched to Mars, the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter snapped this image of the rover, still toiling away on the surface of Mars. The white dot in the image is Oppy, as the rover was crossing the level ground called "Botany Bay" on its way to a rise called "Solander Point." We're looking into whether there's a way to determine if the rover was actually moving at the time the image was taken.
Tiny beach crustaceans suffering localized extinctions
Two types of small beach critters—both cousins of the beloved, backyard roly-poly—are suffering localized extinctions in Southern California at an alarming rate, says a new study by UC Santa Barbara scientists. As indicator species for beach biodiversity at large, their disappearance suggests a looming threat to similar sand-dwelling animals across the state and around the world.
A new way to see space – even its junk
When a large radio telescope in the Australian outback was unveiled last week its improved sensitivity was immediately apparent. It transformed images of supernova remnants taken with last year's equipment from undefined blobs to glowing gas clouds.
Researchers developed world's first water treatment techniques using apple and tomato peels
One of the most crucial problems affecting the world today is the scarcity of potable water. In a bid to make clean water available at low cost, Mr Ramakrishna Mallampati, a PhD candidate at the National University of Singapore (NUS), experimented with water treatment techniques using materials that are easily available, and came up with novel ways to purify water using the peels of apples and tomatoes. This is the first time that the peels of the two fruits have been used to remove different types of pollutants in water.
NASA's 2 views of Tropical Storm Cimaron making landfall in China
Looking at the extent of a tropical cyclone's clouds from space doesn't tell you all you need to know about a storm, so satellites use infrared, microwave and multi-spectral imagery to look "under the hood." Two NASA satellites provided an outside and inside look at Tropical Storm Cimaron as it was starting to make landfall in China.
NASA interplanetary probes to take pictures of Earth
Two NASA spacecraft, one studying the Saturn system, the other observing Mercury, are maneuvering into place to take pictures of Earth on July 19 and 20.
Space 'selfies': Where no cellphone photo has gone before
For some people, Instagram just doesn't cut it.
US wilting in a heat wave somehow stuck in reverse
(AP)—The oppressively hot weather in the Northeast has surprised meteorologists: It's moving backward across America, something that rarely happens.
What's the best design for a flying Mars robot?
Building a flying vehicle for Mars would have significant advantages for exploration of the surface. However, to date, all of our surface exploring vehicles and robotic units on Mars have been terrestrial rovers. The problem with flying on Mars is that the Red Planet doesn't have much atmosphere to speak of. It is only 1.6% of Earth air density at sea level, give or take. This means conventional aircraft would have to fly very quickly on Mars to stay aloft. Your average Cessna would be in trouble.
Snow falling around infant solar system
Astronomers using the new Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) telescope have taken the first-ever image of a snow line in an infant solar system. This frosty landmark is thought to play an essential role in the formation and chemical make-up of planets around a young star.
First atlas on oceanic plankton
In an international collaborative project, scientists have recorded the times, places and concentrations of oceanic plankton occurrences worldwide. Their data has been collected in a global atlas that covers organisms from bacteria to krill.
Stars' orbital dance reveals a generation gap
UBC astronomers have used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to track the orbital motion of 33,000 stars in one of the Galaxy's oldest globular clusters, offering new insights into the formation of the Milky Way.
How Mars' atmosphere got so thin: New insights from Curiosity
(Phys.org) —New findings from NASA's Curiosity rover provide clues to how Mars lost its original atmosphere, which scientists believe was much thicker than the one left today.
NASA tries to save planet-hunting telescope
(AP)—NASA says it will try to fix its space telescope that hunts for planets outside our solar system.
MAVEN spectrometer opens window to Red Planet's past
When NASA's MAVEN mission begins its journey to the Red Planet later this year, it will be equipped with a special instrument to take the planet back in time.
Geoscientist finds beavers play a role in climate change
Ellen Wohl, a geology professor at Colorado State University, has published a paper in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, describing the role beavers play in climate change. In a field study she undertook, she found that carbon is sequestered when beavers build dams and is released after the beavers abandon the dams they've built.
Technology news
SAP profit up 10 percent in second quarter
(AP)—Business software maker SAP AG said net profit grew 10 percent in the second quarter to 724 million euros ($948 million) despite the economic slowdown in Asia.
New technology to fight an old foe
(Phys.org) —It works like many other mobile games – you collect falling phones in a bin and dodge bombs to score points. But the YouCan Support! iPhone app also delivers an important message that could help save the lives of young cancer sufferers.
Dell postpones vote on go-private plan to July 24
Dell postponed a shareholder vote Thursday on its $24.4 billion go-private plan led by founder Michael Dell, amid reports that several major investors opposed the deal.
India's TCS reports 16.8 percent rise in Q1 profit
India's biggest IT outsourcing firm, Tata Consultancy Services, on Thursday reported a 16.8 percent jump in quarterly net profit, beating market forecasts.
Japan paper's social media accounts 'blocked in China'
One of Japan's biggest newspapers said Thursday its social media accounts have been deleted in China, amid a bitter territorial dispute between the two countries.
Wireless device additions lift Verizon 2Q profit
(AP)—Verizon added more wireless devices than expected to its network in the latest quarter, continuing a strong run for the country's largest cellphone carrier.
Chipmaker TSMC posts 24 percent rise in 2Q profit
(AP)—Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world's largest contract chip manufacturer, reported a 24 percent jump in second quarter profit Thursday, driven by sales growth in smartphones and tablet computers that it warned is likely to fade in coming quarters.
Nokia Q2 sales fall by 24 pct, misses expectations
(AP)—The sales decline at struggling cellphone maker Nokia Corp. continues with revenues dropping almost a quarter between April and June compared with the same time last year, the company announced Thursday.
Google profit rises 16%, short of forecasts
Google said Thursday its second-quarter profit rose 16 percent from a year ago, but its results fell far short of market expectations.
Microsoft profit hits $4.97 bn as revenues rise
Microsoft on Thursday announced a profit of $4.97 billion in the past quarter, helped by growing revenues from business services, which offset the hit from a lagging market in personal computers.
Security experts to test phone anti-theft locks
(AP)—The top prosecutors in San Francisco and New York say they are bringing in state and federal security experts to test the newest anti-theft features designed to thwart the surge of stolen smartphones nationwide.
Homemade 3D guns in US stir more buzz than bang
Like many Americans, Travis Lerol has owned guns for much of his life, but the single-shot Liberator he made himself in his basement with a tabletop 3D printer is unique.
New self-help app for anxiety launched with students in mind
Researchers at UWE Bristol have developed an app for smartphones designed to help students and other users manage their anxiety.
A Google Glass half full
It's not news that the seemingly never-ending stream of new and disruptive technologies is affecting every facet of society. When innovative, appealing and easy-to-use technologies come on to the market most of us adopt them almost without hesitation.
Enhanced wireless technology for body implants and sensors
Body implants such as pacemakers and hearing aids have been used to counter organ dysfunction for decades. The WISERBAN project is making a giant leap in their development: aiming to provide smarter communications among such devices, with reduced size and lower energy consumption.
Britain to review cyber-security agreement with Huawei
The British government said Thursday it would look again at how it safeguards its telecommunications networks from feared security risks posed by the involvement of Chinese giant Huawei.
Australian firm launches 'anti-shark' wetsuits
An Australian research firm Thursday launched what is being touted as the world's first anti-shark wetsuit, using new discoveries about the predators' eyesight to stave off or evade an attack.
Mining for meaning: Getting computers to understand natural language texts
Programs that can understand language and can identify meaningful links between the various parts of a text is the focus of work being carried out in Saarbrücken by researchers like Ivan Titov. The computer scientist is currently developing a procedure that will enable computers to learn to identify semantically relevant relationships within texts. This research could mean that in future we will be able to ask our computer specific questions about the content of a text. The computer would then analyse the text and supply the user with the right answers.
SKorea clears Google after 2-year Android probe
(AP)—South Korea's fair trade commission said Thursday a two-year investigation found that Google making its search service the default in Android-powered smartphones did not limit competition in the online search market.
Adaptive assistive technologies for people with disabilities
''Assistive technologies'' (AT) have developed rapidly in recent years, allowing people with motor disabilities to live more independent and comfortable lives. Now assistive technology systems that can open a door, turn on a light or connect to the internet at the blink of an eye, a head movement or even a thought, are being made more flexible and customisable for individual users - thanks to the work of EU-funded researchers.
Americans continue to use more renewable energy sources
Americans used more natural gas, solar panels and wind turbines and less coal to generate electricity in 2012, according to the most recent U.S. energy charts released by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Coalition seeks release of surveillance data
A coalition of Internet firms and activist organizations asked the US government Thursday to issue "transparency reports" on its online and phone data collection programs which have sparked an outcry.
Scientists design Facebook-like networks that could speed the development of new drugs
Social media has expanded to reach an unlikely new target: molecules. Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have created networks of molecular data similar to Facebook's recently debuted graph search feature. While graph search would allow Facebook users to find all their New York-living, beer-drinking buddies in one quick search, the NIST-designed networks could help scientists rapidly sift through enormous chemical and biological data sets to find substances with specific properties, for example all 5-ring chemicals with an affinity for enzyme A. The search approach could help speed up the development of new drugs and designer materials.
Choices: Closer look at 2 plans for Dell's future
Dell Inc. has delayed Thursday's vote on founder Michael Dell's plan to take the computer maker private. That's a sign the board needs more time to rally support. Activist investor Carl Icahn and the Southeastern Asset Management fund, which own 13 percent of the company combined, have made a competing proposal.
3D printing goes flat out
The ability to "print" objects ranging from plastic toys to bionic ears and even 3D artworks, has been described as possibly heralding a new industrial revolution, by freeing up – and speeding up – product design, prototyping and manufacture.
Computer system automatically generates TCP congestion-control algorithms
TCP, the transmission control protocol, is one of the core protocols governing the Internet: If counted as a computer program, it's the most widely used program in the world.
Researchers using Kinect to allow deaf people to communicate via computer (w/ Video)
Researchers from Microsoft Asia and the Institute of Computing Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have been working together to develop a computer system able to translate gestures used in sign language to text. The combined team presented the results of their research at this year's Faculty Summit 2013—a conference held annually by Microsoft to promote information technology sharing among the academic community.
QR code security vulnerability found with Google Glass
Engineers at Lookout Mobile Security have discovered a previously unknown security vulnerability with Google's project Glass wearable headset. Marc Rogers reports on the company's web site that engineers found that when pictures were taken of printed QR codes, the device could be routed to a hostile Wi-Fi access point, which in turn allowed for monitoring and capture of data flow to and from the device. They also found they were able to divert the device to a web page that allowed for taking advantage of a previously known Android vulnerability.
Medicine & Health news
Low-cost sterilization method for cats and dogs is focus of new research project
As an expert in molecular genetics, Colin E. Bishop, Ph.D.'s, usual role at the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center's Institute for Regenerative Medicine is to apply the techniques of genetics and developmental biology to the regeneration of human organs.
Hospital quality information on common heart procedure now publicly available
Information from the American College of Cardiology national database of hospital records on stenting and angioplasty, also known as percutaneous coronary intervention or PCI, is now available to consumers.
Compounds outsmart solid tumors' malfunctioning machinery
Molecular biologists in the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio have found a novel way to fine-tune the activity of cells' protein-disposing machinery, with potentially cancer-fighting effects.
Perry signs sweeping Texas abortion restrictions
(AP)—Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed sweeping new abortion restrictions on Thursday that could shutter most of the state's clinics that provide the procedure, a final step for the Republican-backed measure after weeks of sometimes raucous protests at the state Capitol.
House votes to delay parts of health care law
(AP)—The Republican-led House has voted to delay two core provisions of President Barack Obama's health care law.
New Zealand clamps down on 'legal' highs
New Zealand introduced a new law on Thursday which bans the use of drugs offering so-called "legal" highs unless manufacturers can provide clinical evidence that they are safe.
Anatomy expert is creating digital models to train surgical students
An anatomy expert at Iowa State University is developing digital tools that could help surgical students gain nearly lifelike experience with a scalpel without having to cut into cadavers or living subjects.
Safer radium therapy provides hope for metastatic prostate cancer patients
A study of a new radiotherapeutic drug published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine brings fresh hope for a particular group of cancer patients that otherwise suffer and ultimately die from the disease—those with prostate cancer that has spread to their bones and has failed to be controlled by hormone deprivation drugs.
More women getting Pap tests, breast exams under expanded Medicaid family-planning programs
More low-income women are having potentially life-saving health screenings in states with expanded Medicaid eligibility for family planning services, according to new research from the University of Michigan.
Ornate organs
(Medical Xpress)—When the biggest enemy of historical heritage artefacts such as organs comes from within, high-tech sensors can play an important role in helping to preserve them
Moderate dose radiotherapy effective in EORTC trial for patients with desmoid-type fibromatosis
A phase 2 EORTC trial for patients with inoperable desmoid-type fibromatosis has shown that moderate dose radiotherapy is an effective treatment for patients with such a rare type of tumor. The study results published in Annals of Oncology show that response after radiation therapy is slow, and that continuing regression is seen even after three years.
Psychiatrists decry mental health care in Africa
(AP)—The drugs given to many of Africa's psychiatric patients are often administered to keep the patients asleep so the hurried nurses can get some rest, and those who can't sleep may have their hands or feet tied up.
Electronic health records help fight vaccine-preventable diseases, study finds
Using an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system to automate the immunization data shared between health providers and public health agencies enables physicians to assist individual patients faster and more effectively, while also providing more immediate, cohesive community data to the agencies tasked with promoting public health.
New treatment offers hope for short-bowel syndrome patients
A new drug, teduglutide, offers significant relief for patients with short-bowel syndrome intestinal failure who are reliant on intravenous nutrition, according to a new study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association. Patients with this relatively rare condition experience massive bowel loss and are unable to absorb nutrients, vitamins and water from digested foods. They rely on parenteral nutrition, or intravenous feeding, to deliver their daily nutrients.
Cancer 'prehabilitation' can reduce complications and improve treatment outcomes
For patients with cancer, "prehabilitation"— interventions given between the time of diagnosis and the start of treatment—has the potential to reduce complications from treatments and improve physical and mental health outcomes, according to a report in the August American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (AJPM&R). AJPM&R, the official journal of the Association of Academic
Six more cases of MERS virus confirmed: WHO
Six more people, most of them health care workers, have contracted the deadly MERS virus in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the World Health Organization said Thursday.
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria widespread in Hudson River, study finds
The risk of catching some nasty germ in the Hudson River just started looking nastier. Disease-causing microbes have long been found swimming there, but now researchers have documented antibiotic-resistant strains in specific spots, from the Tappan Zee Bridge to lower Manhattan. The microbes identified are resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline, drugs commonly used to treat ear infections, pneumonia, salmonella and other ailments. The study is published in the current issue of the Journal of Water and Health.
Family medicine continues to provide care for pregnant women
(HealthDay)—The proportion of pregnant women receiving care from family medicine providers has remained steady nationally from 2000 to 2009, although regional differences are apparent, according to a study published in the July/August issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
RI Hospital: Caregivers of those with dementia may benefit from tailored interventions
Rhode Island Hospital researchers have found that multiple factors contribute to the burden felt by caregivers of people living with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. These factors include the direct impact of providing care upon the caregivers' lives, guilt, and frustration or embarrassment. The study is published online in advance of print in American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
3-legged donkey Emma: A lesson for veterinarians
(AP)—Emma the miniature donkey runs around the barnyard and kicks playfully like most any animal her size. But she lacks one thing: A right hind leg.
For women with hysterectomies, estrogen may be a lifesaver after all
The widespread rejection of estrogen therapy after the 2002 Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study has most likely led to almost 50,000 unnecessary deaths over the last 10 years among women aged 50 to 69 who have had a hysterectomy, Yale School of Medicine researchers reveal in a study published in the July 18 issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
Mortality rates for emergency surgical admissions vary widely among hospitals in England
A new study reveals significant hospital-to-hospital variability in patient death rates following emergency surgical admissions in England. Published early online in the BJS (British Journal of Surgery), the study also found that survival rates were higher in hospitals with better resources.
Antiepileptic drug use while pregnant impacts early child development
Children whose mothers took antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) while pregnant are at increased risk of early development issues, according to a new study published in Epilepsia, a journal published by Wiley on behalf of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE). Results of the study suggest that children exposed to AEDs in the womb were at risk for difficulties with motor development, language skills, social skills, and autistic traits compared to children whose mothers did not take anti-seizure medications.
Ovarian cancer metastases influenced by factors in target tissues
Cancer researchers have wondered why ovarian cancer cells are so attracted to the abdominal cavity, especially the omentum, with the hope that such an understanding could lead to better disease management or even prevention. Results from a series of experiments suggest a two-step model of omental colonization in which i) cancer cells are attracted to and lodge within immune cell-containing structures known as milky spots, and ii) fat storage cells (adipocytes) fuel cancer cell growth and spread. This study is scheduled for publication in the August 2013 issue of The American Journal of Pathology.
Social media, DNA typing help identify source of foodborne strep outbreak
Facebook posts helped alert public health officials to a strep throat outbreak among a high school dance team in 2012, and DNA fingerprinting led investigators to pasta prepared by a previously ill parent as the likely source. Although strep throat, or Group A Streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis, usually spreads from person to person by droplets, foodborne transmission is possible, as a report published online in Clinical Infectious Diseases found. The most common form of GAS illness is strep throat, but some cases can have more severe consequences.
Protein bath helps stimulate old marrow to form bone, study finds
Bone fractures in the elderly are notoriously slow and difficult to heal. Now, researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a simple way to increase the effectiveness of a surgical process called bone grafting that may significantly speed the growth of new, healthy bone in response to trauma.
No oxytocin benefit for autism
The so-called trust hormone, oxytocin, may not improve the symptoms of children with autism, a large study led by UNSW researchers has found.
Expressing concern about binge drinking can influence student choices
Jeff Hayes, a professor of counseling psychology in Penn State's College of Education, helped conduct a study and co-wrote a journal article on alcohol consumption of college-aged students. The study focused on how students who had people in their lives who expressed concern about alcohol consumption were more likely to be concerned about their own alcohol consumption.
Among Indian immigrants, religious practice and obesity may be linked, study shows
(Medical Xpress)—Asian Indians are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the United States, and roughly half a million people of Indian ancestry live in California—more than any other state. Individuals from this group are strongly predisposed to obesity-related conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, due in large part to physical inactivity, diets low in fruit and vegetables, and insulin resistance.
Hampshire pig Nemo gets pioneering chemo
Playful as a puppy even at 730 pounds, Nemo, a rescued black-and-white Hampshire pig, became a porcine pioneer when lymphoma struck.
The King Louie effect
Children are socially motivated to learn at a much younger age than previous studies have suggested, according to new research undertaken by the School of Psychology.
Fighting a cunning cancer opponent
(Medical Xpress)—It was a classic eureka moment. In 2006 Mary Bebawy was listening to a lecture outside her area of research when suddenly the intellectual penny dropped. "My mind went elsewhere. I didn't hear the rest of the lecture," says the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) cancer researcher and pharmaceutical scientist.
Stem cell research reveals clues to brain disease
(Medical Xpress)—The development of new drugs for improving treatment of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease is a step closer after recent research into how stem cells migrate and form circuits in the brain.
Just sing!
A new computer program can automatically extract the vocals from a random collection of mp3 music files and classify each track depending on whether the singer is male or female, a trained singer, a semi-professional or an amateur. The program can also tell you in which vocal range the artist is singing. The next version might be able to tell you the song's exact key.
MRI fast track for Alzheimer's diagnosis
A new approach to analyzing MRI brain scans could help speed up the diagnosis of Alzheimer's and other degenerative diseases, according to research published to be published in the International Journal of Computational Science and Engineering.
How Legionella subverts to survive
(Medical Xpress)—Bacteria of the genus Legionella have evolved a sophisticated system to replicate in the phagocytic cells of their hosts. LMU researchers have now identified a novel component of this system.
Herpes research turns up genetic combatant
(Medical Xpress)—A molecule that could potentially be used to fight herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) has been discovered by Curtin University scientists.
Preventing vitamin B12 deficiency among vegetarians, vegans and the elderly
Older people, vegetarians and vegans should take special care to get enough vitamin B12 through changes in their diets, a review of scientific studies on the vitamin has concluded. In the article, published in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the authors say that many of the best-known sources of vitamin B12 actually contain a form of the vitamin that humans can't use.
Factor for impaired immune response in pneumonia identified
(Medical Xpress)—Macrophages, also known as scavenger cells, play an important role in defending against bacteria and pathogens by activating inflammatory processes. In cases of lung inflammation (pneumonia) caused by pneumococcal bacteria, this important immune response function is hampered and blocked by the protein lipocalin 2. These are the findings of scientists at the MedUni Vienna, led by Sylvia Knapp, Head of the Infection Biology Laboratory at the University Department of Internal Medicine I.
Long-distance relationships can form stronger bonds than face-to-face ones
The long-distance relationship has plagued college students and people relocated for work for ages. These relationships are seen as destined to fail, but are they actually creating stronger bonds than a geographically closer relationship? A recent paper published in the Journal of Communication found that people in long-distance relationships often have stronger bonds from more constant, and deeper, communication than normal relationships.
Computing toxic chemicals
A new computational method for working out in advance whether a chemical will be toxic will be reporting in a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Data Mining and Bioinformatics.
Singing helps students tune into a foreign language, study shows
Singing in a foreign language can significantly improve learning how to speak it, according to a new study.
Changes necessary to help homeless quit smoking
(HealthDay)—Many homeless are interested in quitting smoking, and specific interventions are necessary for this population, according to a perspective piece published in the July 18 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Drug addicts, dealers are 'Doctor shopping' for pain pills
(HealthDay)—One of every 50 prescriptions for addictive prescription painkillers in the United States is filled for so-called "doctor shoppers" who obtain the drugs for recreational use or resale on the street, a new study finds.
Study demonstrates link between reclassification of cannabis and cannabis psychosis
Researchers from the University of York have demonstrated that the change in cannabis declassification in 2009 has coincided with a significant increase in hospital admissions for cannabis psychosis - rather than the decrease it was intended to produce.
Bacteriophages battle superbugs
IFR microbiologists are reinvigorating a way of battling C. difficile infections that they hope will help overcome the growing problem of antibiotic resistant superbugs in hospitals.
Scientists developed innovative technique that can tell if drugs have hit their target in the human body
The search for new drugs, including those for cancer, is set to speed up thanks to a new research technique invented by scientists at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
Early detection and treatment of Alzheimer's disease prevents psychological and behavioral symptoms
Persons with Alzheimer's disease are able to manage their everyday activities longer and they suffer from less psychological and behavioural symptoms if the diagnosis is made and treatment begun at a very early phase of the disease, indicates a recent study conducted at the University of Eastern Finland.
Scientists successfully generate 'artificial bones' from umbilical cord stem cells
Scientists in Granada, Spain, have patented a new biomaterial that facilitates generating bone tissue—artificial bones in other words—from umbilical cord stem cells . The material, consisting of an activated carbon cloth support for cells that differentiate giving rise to a product that can promote bone growth, has recently been presented at a press conference at the Biomedical Research Centre, Granada.
Biochemical mapping helps explain who will respond to antidepressants
Duke Medicine researchers have identified biochemical changes in people taking antidepressants – but only in those whose depression improves. These changes occur in a neurotransmitter pathway that is connected to the pineal gland, the part of the endocrine system that controls the sleep cycle, suggesting an added link between sleep, depression and treatment outcomes.
Weight loss drug helps curb cocaine addictions, study finds
The drug topiramate, typically used to treat epilepsy and more recently weight loss, may also help people addicted to both cocaine and alcohol use less cocaine, particularly heavy users, researchers in the department of Psychiatry at Penn Medicine report in a new study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence. Results from the double-blind, placebo-controlled trial adds to the growing body of evidence supporting topiramate as a promising medication to treat addiction.
New approach to protecting prion protein from altering shape
A team of researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have identified a mechanism that can prevent the normal prion protein from changing its molecular shape into the abnormal form responsible for neurodegenerative diseases. This finding, published in the July 18 issue of Cell Reports, offers new hope in the battle against a foe that until now has always proved fatal.
Transatlantic partnership to tackle neurodegenerative disease
Research into multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease is to be boosted with an international collaboration to further understanding of these illnesses.
Study reveals how smoking increases vulnerability to alcohol abuse
Smoking is a well-known risk factor for subsequent alcohol abuse, but the mechanisms underlying this link are unknown. Now researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Neuron on July 18 show in a study conducted in rats that even a single exposure to nicotine temporarily changes how the brain's reward system responds to alcohol and increases the reinforcing properties of alcohol via stress hormones.
Scientists develop new way to measure cumulative effect of head hits in football
Scientists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have developed a new way to measure the cumulative effect of impacts to the head incurred by football players.
Cellular channels vital for hearing identified
Ending a 30-year search by scientists, researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have identified two proteins in the inner ear that are critical for hearing, which, when damaged by genetic mutations, cause a form of delayed, progressive hearing loss. Findings were published online July 18 by the journal Neuron.
Obesity and asthma: Study finds a link in the genes
(Medical Xpress)—Genes linked to chronic inflammation in asthma may be more active in people who are obese, according to new research that uncovers several biological ties between obesity and asthma.
Study identifies a simple way to reduce healthcare costs
A study led by a Loyola University Medical Center ENT physician provides a case study of a simple action that can reduce healthcare costs without compromising care.
Research leads to successful restoration of hearing and balance
The sounds of success are ringing at Kansas State University through a research project that has potential to treat human deafness and loss of balance.
Researchers report a complete description of gene expression in the human retina
Investigators at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School have published the most thorough description of gene expression in the human retina reported to date. In a study published today in the journal BMC Genomics, Drs. Michael Farkas, Eric Pierce and colleagues in the Ocular Genomics Institute (OGI) at Mass. Eye and Ear reported a complete catalog of the genes expressed in the retina.
Pro athletes can resume careers after cervical spine fusion surgery, reports Neurosurgery
Most professional athletes are able to return to competition within a year after vertebral fusion surgery on the upper (cervical) spine, reports a study in the July issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
Researchers aim to discover the unknown causes of premature birth
Researchers from Dartmouth's Institute for Quantitative Biomedical Sciences (iQBS), the Center for Integrative Biomedical Sciences, and the Center for Genomic Medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine are studying the unknown causes of premature birth, as part of a $10 million March of Dimes grant awarded to a research collaborative of seven U.S. universities and medical centers. The collaborative will collectively study the evolution and biology of human pregnancy, how progesterone impacts pregnancy maintenance and preterm birth (defined as birth before 37 weeks' gestation), the sociobiology of racial disparities in preterm birth, and the genetics of unique human populations. The Dartmouth team, led by professor Scott Williams and colleagues Jason Moore and Christopher Amos, is examining diverse world populations that have higher and lower levels of premature birth.
New research suggests that gingival stem cells can be used in tissue regeneration
The International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) published a paper titled "Gingivae Contain Neural-crest- and Mesoderm-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells." The paper, written by lead author Songtao Shi, Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA, is published in the OnlineFirst portion of the IADR/AADR Journal of Dental Research.
Multiple strategies being used to address distracted driving
(HealthDay)—More states are implementing multiple strategies to address the threats posed by distracted driving, according to a report published by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).
Photoprotection-deficient patients with CLE identified
(HealthDay)—Several subgroups of patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) are deficient in their use of photoprotection, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Antipsychotics induce insulin resistance without weight gain
(HealthDay)—Atypical antipsychotic drugs induce insulin resistance even in the absence of weight gain and mechanisms regulating eating behavior, according to a study published online July 8 in Diabetes.
Women in ER for non-urgent care can be screened for health needs
(HealthDay)—Survey instruments may be used to screen for information about abuse experiences, substance use, and sexual health in women seeking non-urgent care at an emergency department, according to research published in the July issue of the Journal of Emergency Nursing.
In 2010, racial discrepancy in life expectancy 3.8 years
(HealthDay)—In 2010, the discrepancy in life expectancy between blacks and whites was 3.8 years, according to a July data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
Living long and healthy after 65 depends on state: CDC
(HealthDay)—Place and race influence healthy life expectancy at age 65, U.S. health officials said Thursday.
HIV/AIDS vaccines: Defining what works
Designing an effective HIV/AIDS vaccine is something of a paradox: a good vaccine would be safe and look enough like HIV to kick-start the immune system into neutralizing the virus – but the problem is that this is exactly what the human immune system has trouble doing even when it's exposed to the real thing.
Mapping the brain to understand cultural differences
A University of Maryland-led research team is working to help diplomats, military personnel, global managers and others who operate abroad to peer inside the minds of people from very different cultures.
Researcher finds way to convert blood cells into autoimmune disease treatment
(Medical Xpress)—Cells from one's own blood could be converted into a treatment for autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, based on the discovery of a Purdue University researcher.
Childhood abuse raises drug users' suicide risk
For health professionals, the message from a new study in the American Journal of Public Health is clear: Asking patients about a history of childhood abuse can directly help assess their risk of attempting suicide. The evidence, authors say, shows that childhood abuse can have life-and-death consequences for the rest of a person's life.
Study finds boys more likely to receive HPV vaccine when their mothers receive preventive care
Boys are more likely to receive the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV4) if their mothers receive flu shots or Pap screenings, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published in the American Journal of Public Health.
Recommended calorie information on menus does not improve consumer choices, study shows
Despite the lack of any concrete evidence that menu labels encourage consumers to make healthier food choices, they have become a popular tool for policymakers in the fight against obesity.
Children with ear deformity may need intervention to improve school performance
Children born with a complete absence of the external ear canal, even if only one ear is affected, are more likely than their peers to struggle in school, according to new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Most people with moderate kidney disease have medication-resistant hypertension
More than 50% of individuals with moderate kidney disease have hypertension that is resistant to medications, and those who are black or have a larger waist circumference, diabetes, or a history of heart attacks or strokes are at highest risk, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). The findings could help identify kidney disease patients who need more intensive monitoring and treatments for hypertension.
'Worrying' rise in alcohol deaths among young women in England and Scotland
There has been a "worrying" increase in alcohol related deaths among young women in England and Scotland, since the middle of the last decade, finds research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Study illuminates mortality differences between nondrinkers and light drinkers
As a class, people who don't drink at all have a higher mortality risk than light drinkers. But nondrinkers are a diverse bunch, and the reasons people have for abstaining affects their individual mortality risk, in some cases lowering it on par with the risk for light drinkers, according to a University of Colorado study.
Brain imaging study reveals our brains 'divide and conquer'
University of Queensland (UQ) researchers have found human brains 'divide and conquer' when people learn to navigate around new environments.
Why do females respond better to stress? New study suggests it's because of estrogen in the brain
The idea that females are more resilient than males in responding to stress is a popular view, and now University at Buffalo researchers have found a scientific explanation. The paper describing their embargoed study will be published July 9 online, in the high-impact journal, Molecular Psychiatry.
Scientists unlock structure of elusive 'stress' protein (w/ Video)
Scientists working to design advanced medicines that are perfectly targeted to control the body's natural receptors have made a major discovery using Diamond's Microfocus Macromolecular Crystallography beamline (I24). For the first time, they have been able to visualise and study the structure of CRF1, the protein receptor in the brain which controls our response to stress.
Ultrasensitive calcium sensors shine new light on neuron activity
Every time you say a word, take a step, or read a sentence, a collection of neurons sends a speedy relay of messages throughout your brain to process the information. Now, researchers have a new way of watching those messages in action, by watching each cell in the chain light up when it fires.
Thwarting protein production slows cancer cells' malignant march
Protein production or translation is tightly coupled to a highly conserved stress response that cancer cells rely on for survival and proliferation, according to Whitehead Institute researchers. In mouse models of cancer, targeted therapeutic inhibition of translation disrupts this survival response, dramatically slowing tumor growth and potentially rendering drug-resistant tumors vulnerable to other therapies.
Gene mutation linked to obesity
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have identified a genetic cause of severe obesity that, though rare, raises new questions about weight gain and energy use in the general obese population. The research, published in the journal Science on July 19, involved genetic surveys of several groups of obese humans and experiments in mice.
How mice teach us about disease
Researchers have created a large new resource of more than 900 genes switched off one-at-a-time in mice to discover which genes are important for a wide range of biological functions such as fertility or hearing.
Absence of specific enzyme in cartilage can lead to benign tumors in mice
Rhode Island Hospital researchers have found that the absence of the Shp-2 enzyme near specialized cartilage cells can lead to the development of multiple benign cartilage tumors in mice, a model that recapitulates the rare human tumor syndrome metachondromatosis. Shp2 is an enzyme in the cell that regulates the activity of other proteins and signaling pathways. Mice lacking Shp2 formed two types of tumors: enchondromas and osteochondromas, and also developed deformed joints. The study is published online in advance of print in the journal Nature.
New study suggests that moving more may lower stroke risk
Here's yet another reason to get off the couch: new research findings suggest that regularly breaking a sweat may lower the risk of having a stroke.
Biology news
This fungus cell only looks like the 405 freeway (w/ Video)
No, those are not cars darting along a busy highway. The glowing specks you're seeing in the video are millions of nuclei flowing through the tube-like filaments, or hyphae, of a single fungus cell.
Tools for saltlands diagnosis formulated
Australian farmers could soon be provided with new ways of diagnosing the capability of salt-affected land for agriculture.
Boosting crop yields in Australia
Andrew Hansen grows wheat, barley, canola, and oats on his farm at Coomandook in South Australia, where his family has farmed the land for more than 60 years. But now the family's way of life is threatened.
Research may deliver bruise-free avocados
Researchers may soon understand more about why avocados are often bruised when they come home from the grocery store.
Expression of taste signal transduction molecules in the cecum of common marmosets
Expression of taste signal transduction molecules were revealed not only in the tongue, but also in the cecum of common marmosets, by a research group organized with Associate Professor Hiroo IMAI of the Primate Research Institute (PRI), Kyoto University, Ms. Sae GONDA, a collaborative researcher of PRI in 2011-2013 (was a graduate student of Gifu University until March in 2013), Dr. Shuichi MATSUMURA and Dr. Shoichirou SAITO, Associate Professors of the Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, as well as by Associate Professor Yasuhiro GO, the National Institutes of Natural Sciences (formerly worked as Assistant Professor of PRI).
Monsanto drops bid to grow new GM foods in EU
US agro-chemicals giant Monsanto said Thursday it will drop all requests to be allowed to grow new genetically modified foods in the European Union, which has for years held up approval.
European fish stocks poised for recovery
The results of a major international effort to assess the status of dozens of European fish stocks find that many of those stocks in the northeast Atlantic are being fished sustainably today and that, given time, those populations should continue to recover. The findings, reported in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on July 18, come as surprisingly good news amid widespread criticism that the European Union's Common Fisheries Policy is failing, the researchers say.
Widely used pesticide toxic to honeybees
An international research team—Drs. Stephan Caravalho, Luc Belzunces and colleagues from Universidade Federal de Lavras in Brazil and Institut Nationale de la Recherche Agronomique in France - concludes that the absence of mortality does not always indicate functional integrity.
Evolutionary changes could aid fisheries
Evolutionary changes induced by fisheries may benefit the fishers, according to a new study published last week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. But if fisheries are not well-managed, this potential benefit turns into economic losses, as stocks decline from overfishing and further suffer from evolution.
Movement without muscles study in insects could inspire robot and prosthetic limb developments
Neurobiologists from the University of Leicester have shown that insect limbs can move without muscles – a finding that may provide engineers with new ways to improve the control of robotic and prosthetic limbs.
WCS Canada report calls for more protection for vulnerable wildlife in Southern Canadian Rockies of Alberta
A new report from the Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCS Canada) calls for the designation of new Wildland Provincial Parks in the Southern Canadian Rockies of Alberta to protect vulnerable wildlife and provide for their safe passage in an increasingly fragmented landscape. The report focused on determining important, secure habitats ("safe havens") and landscape connections ("safe passages") for six species—bull trout, westslope cutthroat trout, grizzly bears, wolverines, mountain goats and bighorn sheep. These species are vulnerable to loss of secure habitat from industrial land uses and/or climate change.
Bees under threat from disease-carrying bumblebee imports, research reveals
Stricter controls over bumblebee imports to the UK are urgently required to prevent diseases spreading to native bumblebees and honeybees, scientists have warned. The call follows the discovery of parasites in over three-quarters of imported bumblebee colonies they tested. The study - the first of its kind in the UK - is published today in the Journal of Applied Ecology.
Unraveling bacterial behavior
Bacteria encounter a constant barrage of ever-changing temperature, acidity and chemical stimuli from their environment. The cells must absorb all of this information and choose the correct response—whether boosting their metabolism, reproducing themselves or counteracting the effects of a toxin.
Why crop rotation works
Crop rotation has been used since Roman times to improve plant nutrition and to control the spread of disease. A new study to be published in Nature's 'The ISME Journal' reveals the profound effect it has on enriching soil with bacteria, fungi and protozoa.
New methods to visualize bacterial cell-to-cell communication
Most bacteria are able to communicate with each other by secreting signaling molecules. Once the concentration of signals has reached a critical density ("the Quorum), the bacteria are able to coordinate their behavior. Only when this critical population density has been reached certain genes are activated that lead to, for example, the formation of biofilms or the expression of virulence factors. Bacteria utilize this so-called "Quorum Sensing" (QS) to synchronize their behavior to regulate functions that benefit the entire population.
Irish potato famine-causing pathogen even more virulent now
(Phys.org) —The plant pathogen that caused the Irish potato famine in the 1840s lives on today with a different genetic blueprint and an even larger arsenal of weaponry to harm and kill plants.
Avocado farmers face unique foe in fungal-farming beetle
(Phys.org) —Beetles with unusual "green thumbs" for growing fungi are threatening avocado crops and could transform into a more destructive pest, according to an international team of researchers.
Microbes can influence evolution of their hosts
You are not just yourself. You are also the thousands of microbes that you carry. In fact, they represent an invisible majority that may be more you than you realize.
Chimpanzees and orangutans remember distant past events (w/ Video)
We humans can remember events in our lives that happened years ago, with those memories often surfacing unexpectedly in response to sensory triggers: perhaps a unique flavor or scent. Now, researchers reporting in Current Biology, a Cell Press publication, on July 18 have evidence to suggest that chimpanzees and orangutans have similar capacities. In laboratory tests, both primate species were clearly able to recollect a tool-finding event that they had experienced just four times three years earlier and a singular event from two weeks before, the researchers show.
Another beautiful helix for biology, this time reminiscent of a parking garage
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the protein-making factory within cells consisting of tightly stacked sheets of membrane studded with the molecules that make proteins. In a study published July 18th by Cell Press in the journal Cell, researchers have refined a new microscopy imaging method to visualize exactly how the ER sheets are stacked, revealing that the 3D structure of the sheets resembles a parking garage with helical ramps connecting the different levels. This structure allows for the dense packing of ER sheets, maximizing the amount of space available for protein synthesis within the small confines of a cell.
Bearing witness to the phenomenon of symmetric cell division
Writing in his journal about the scientists of his era, Henry David Thoreau bemoaned their blindness to significant phenomena: "The question is not what you look at, but what you see." More than 150 years later, his words still ring true.
Shorebirds prefer a good body to a large brain
In many animal species, males and females differ in terms of their brain size. The most common explanation is that these differences stem from sexual selection. But predictions are not always certain. A team of researchers at the Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications has discovered that a group of coastal birds, shorebirds, do not choose their mates by brain size but "on their physiques".
Huge viruses may open 'Pandora's' box: French study
These viruses are so big they might just be your ancestors.
A secret to making macrophages (w/ Video)
Biologists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have worked out the details of a mechanism that leads undifferentiated blood stem cells to become macrophages—immune cells that attack bacteria and other foreign pathogens. The process involves an unexpected cycle in which cell division slows, leading to an increased accumulation of a particular regulatory protein that in turn slows cell division further. The finding provides new insight into how stem cells are guided to generate one cell type as opposed to another.
Salk scientists discover more versatile approach to creating stem cells
Stem cells are key to the promise of regenerative medicine: the repair or replacement of injured tissues with custom grown substitutes. Essential to this process are induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which can be created from a patient's own tissues, thus eliminating the risk of immune rejection. However, Shinya Yamanaka's formula for iPSCs, for which he was awarded last year's Nobel Prize, uses a strict recipe that allows for limited variations in human cells, restricting their full potential for clinical application.
Study analyzes dynamical properties in antibiotic resistance enzyme
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have been emerging at an alarming rate. In some of the scariest of these pathogens, the mechanism responsible for the bacteria's ability to defeat antibiotics is a complex protein molecule embedded in the bacterial cell wall—the enzyme β-lactamase.
This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
http://phys.org/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment