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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for July 9, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Physicists build quantum refrigerator based on four quantum dots- New solarclave uses nanoparticles to create steam
- Researchers build 3-D structures out of liquid metal
- Phone and car batteries could use silicon made from rice
- Study shows how early Earth kept warm enough to support life
- Silicon oxide memories transcend a hurdle
- Wildfires may contribute more to global warming than previously predicted
- Neanderthals shared speech and language with modern humans, study suggests
- 5D optical memory in glass could record the last evidence of civilization
- Mycobacteria get all the advantages of sex with none of the downsides
- Scientists image vast subglacial water system under West Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier
- Microparticles create localized control of stem cell differentiation
- Astronomers find clues to decades-long coronal heating mystery
- Scientists discover solar precursors of when, where sunspots will emerge
- NASA's next Mars rover will advance hunt for past life
Space & Earth news
Thales Alenia Space kicks off Euclid construction
The construction of ESA's Euclid space mission to explore the 'dark Universe' will be led by Italy's Thales Alenia Space as prime contractor, beginning the full industrial phase of the project.
Caution needed when considering emerging methods for monitoring beach pollution
A team of researchers, led by scientists at the University of Stirling, has developed guidance to help policy makers evaluate new methods for monitoring levels of microbial pollution in bathing water.
NASA infrared data shows a shrunken Tropical Depression Erick
Infrared imagery from the AIRS instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite revealed that Erick, now a tropical depression has reduced in strength and size and continues to weaken.
Alaska Satellite Facility debuts new image collection
A treasure trove of new images is now available through the Alaska Satellite Facility Distributed Active Archive Center.
NASA satellites see strong thunderstorms surround Typhoon Soulik's center
Visible and infrared satellite data show strong thunderstorms surrounding the low-level center of the tropical storm turned Typhoon Soulik. NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Typhoon Soulik in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean on July 9 and two instruments showed the power in the typhoon's center.
Webb's cool instrument enters payload module
(Phys.org) —Inside the cleanrooms of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, the international James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is beginning to take shape.
Europe okays design for next-generation rocket
The European Space Agency (ESA) on Tuesday said it had approved the final design for a next-generation rocket, Ariane 6, aimed at maintaining Europe's grip on the fast-changing market for satellite launches.
Oil-eating microbe communities a mile deep in the Gulf
The Deepwater Horizon explosion on April 20, 2010, caused the largest marine oil spill in history, with several million barrels of crude oil released into the Gulf of Mexico over the course of three months. Soon after the spill began, a massive oil slick was visible from orbiting satellites, yet once the underwater gusher was sealed, obvious traces of the crude oil disappeared much sooner than nearly all observers predicted.
Last piece of the puzzle for ESA dark Universe mission
Europe's 'dark Universe' mission Euclid is ready for construction after the European Space Agency today announced Thales as prime contractor.
NASA sees Tropical Storm Chantal's heavy rainfall and towering thunderstorms
Two NASA satellites captured a look at Tropical Storm Chantal, from the inside and outside and revealed powerful, high thunderstorms dropping heavy rainfall.
Murchison Widefield Array: Square Kilometre Array precursor debuts
Solar storms, space junk and the formation of the Universe are about to be seen in an entirely new way with the start of operations today by the $51 million Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) radio telescope.
Detecting DNA in space
If there is life on Mars, it's not too farfetched to believe that such Martian species may share genetic roots with life on Earth.
Rocks can restore our climate... after 300,000 years
(Phys.org) —A study of a global warming event that happened 93 million years ago suggests that the Earth can recover from high carbon dioxide emissions faster than previously thought, but that this process takes around 300,000 years after emissions decline.
Scientists image vast subglacial water system under West Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier
In a development that will help predict potential sea level rise from the Antarctic ice sheet, scientists from The University of Texas at Austin's Institute for Geophysics have used an innovation in radar analysis to accurately image the vast subglacial water system under West Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier. They have detected a swamp-like canal system beneath the ice that is several times as large as Florida's Everglades.
Astronauts tackle chore backlog on spacewalk (Update)
Two spacewalking astronauts tackled a backlog of outdoor work at the International Space Station on Tuesday.
Wildfires may contribute more to global warming than previously predicted
Wildfires produce a witch's brew of carbon-containing particles, as anyone downwind of a forest fire can attest. A range of fine carbonaceous particles rising high into the air significantly degrade air quality, damaging human and wildlife health, and interacting with sunlight to affect climate. But measurements taken during the 2011 Las Conchas fire near Los Alamos National Laboratory show that the actual carbon-containing particles emitted by fires are very different than those used in current computer models, providing the potential for inaccuracy in current climate-modeling results.
Astronomers find clues to decades-long coronal heating mystery
Drs. Michael Hahn and Daniel Wolf Savin, research scientists at Columbia University's Astrophysics Laboratory in New York, NY, found evidence that magnetic waves in a polar coronal hole contain enough energy to heat the corona and deposit most of their energy at sufficiently low heights for the heat to spread throughout the corona. The observations help to answer a 60-year-old solar physics conundrum about the unexplained extreme temperature of the Sun's corona—known as the coronal heating problem.
Scientists discover solar precursors of when, where sunspots will emerge
Subtle surface signs reveal when and where sunspots will emerge on the Sun, at least a day in advance, according to a team of researchers led by Northwest Research Associates (NWRA). The results were presented in science sessions and a press conference at this week's 44th meeting of the American Astronomical Society's Solar Physics Division (SPD) and give new understanding of how the Sun produces new sunspots and activity.
Sun's loops are displaying an optical illusion
(Phys.org) —The Sun's outer atmosphere, or corona, has posed an enduring mystery. Why is it so hot? The Sun's visible surface is only 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit, but as you move outward the temperature shoots up to millions of degrees. It's like a campfire that feels hotter the farther away you stand.
NASA's next Mars rover will advance hunt for past life
The next robotic rover to explore Mars in 2020 should scour the surface of the red planet more closely than ever for signs of past life, a NASA science team said Tuesday.
Study shows how early Earth kept warm enough to support life
Solving the "faint young sun paradox"—explaining how early Earth was warm and habitable for life beginning more than 3 billion years ago even though the sun was 20 percent dimmer than today—may not be as difficult as believed, says a new University of Colorado Boulder study.
Technology news
Barnes & Noble CEO William Lynch resigns
Barnes & Noble Inc. said Monday that William Lynch has stepped down as CEO, effective immediately, just weeks after the book retailer announced weak sales, big losses and the declining popularity of its Nook e-readers.
A travel app to make you—and your environment—feel better
Did you ever find yourself wondering what would be the quickest, healthiest and least costly transport options for a trip? Thanks to the SUNSET project and its 'tripzoom' app for Android and iOS, making the most efficient travel choice in real time is now within your reach.
First-ever US roadmap for CIGS solar technologies
The U.S. Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium (PVMC), an industry-led collaboration headquartered at SUNY's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) in New York that is designed to accelerate next-generation solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies, has released the first-ever U.S. CIGS PV Roadmap reports.
Sprint completes acquisition of Clearwire (Update)
Sprint has completed its acquisition of wireless network operator Clearwire Corp.
SWiFT commissioned to study wind farm optimization
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Sandia National Laboratories and Texas Tech University commissioned the DOE/Sandia Scaled Wind Farm Technology (SWiFT) facility today at the Reese Technology Center in Lubbock, Texas. The SWiFT is the first public facility of its kind to use multiple wind turbines to measure how wind turbines interact with one another in a wind farm.
Review: 'Pacific Rim' is skillful—and very noisy
It's one of the saving graces of "Pacific Rim," Guillermo Del Toro's new mega-budget monsters vs. robots extravaganza, that at a key juncture, it knows how to make fun of itself.
French stimulus plan focuses on new technology
The French government has unveiled a modest stimulus plan focusing on new technology and ecology, in an attempt to boost an economy that's back in recession and is weighing on overall European prospects.
Netflix to host video chat in lieu of earns call
Netflix already streams movies and TV shows. On July 22, it will also stream a live video discussing its earnings results.
France bans sale of latest Mercedes cars
The latest models of Mercedes cars cannot be sold in France as they still use an air conditioning refrigerant the EU says emits excessive greenhouse gases and should be replaced, the German auto company said on Tuesday.
US, China exchange concerns on hacking
The United States and China aired concerns on hacking, which has emerged as a major irritant between the world's two largest economies in the build up to annual talks this week.
Bidders vie for online video website Hulu
The Wall Street Journal on Monday reported that several bidders have stepped up to vie for Hulu, an online video website that Internet pioneer Yahoo was said to be eyeing as an acquisition.
Electric hybrid drives for aircraft
In cooperation with several partners, Siemens has created its second aircraft powered by an electric series hybrid drive system. The two-seat DA36 E-Star 2 plane recently made its one-hour maiden flight and was then presented to aeronautics experts at the Paris Air Show. The electric series hybrid drive ensures quiet and energy-efficient operation. After a predecessor model had demonstrated in 2011 that electric series hybrid drives are, in principle, suited for aircraft, the plane's second generation proves that the technology is also appropriate for commercial use.
Pressure cooker on steroids treats human waste
Like alchemists, engineers from Duke University and the University of Missouri are developing a process to turn sewage into drinkable water, energy and useful byproducts at a cost of less than a nickel per person per day.
BlackBerry name change approved by shareholders (Update)
Research In Motion has won formal approval to change its name to BlackBerry.
SKorea cyber attack part of long campaign: US study
The massive cyber attacks on South Korean banks and broadcasters earlier this year were part of a broad campaign of cyber espionage which dates back at least to 2009, a US security firm has concluded.
Amazon, Apple, end dispute over 'Appstore' name
Apple dropped its lawsuit Tuesday against rival Amazon for using the term "Appstore" for its online shop for mobile gadget applications.
Britain's London Array is world's biggest offshore wind farm
(Phys.org) —"A great win for Kent, a great win for renewable energy, a great win for Britain," said Prime minister David Cameron in seeing the London Array this month officially become the world's largest offshore wind farm. Located in the Outer Thames Estuary (around 20km off the coasts of Kent and Essex on a 100km site) the wind farm's size outdoes others. With its 450 kilometers of offshore cabling and 175 Siemens 3.6MW turbines rising out of the Thames estuary, this project is said to be a major milestone. The wind farm carries a 630 MW capacity, enough to power 470,000—nearly half a million—homes with electricity per year. The Array has been operational since April, but was officially opened this month in a ceremony at Margate, Kent.
Materials scientists devise window that mutes sound but allows air to pass through
(Phys.org) —A team of materials scientists in South Korea has created a type of window that mutes noise while simultaneously allowing air to move through. In their paper they've uploaded to the preprint server arXiv, the team describes their window and how it was constructed.
Surge in growth for online mobile ads, survey shows
Global spending on mobile Internet ads surged 82.8 percent to $8.9 billion in 2012, an industry survey showed Tuesday.
New solarclave uses nanoparticles to create steam
(Phys.org) —A team of researchers at Rice University has developed a solar powered autoclave based on solar energy and metal and carbon nanoparticles. In their paper published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, describing their device, the group explains how it was designed and ways it can be used in areas without electricity.
Medicine & Health news
Physicians slow to implement HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening guidelines
Recent breakthroughs in cervical cancer prevention have resulted in new vaccination and cervical cancer screening guidelines. Recommendations do not always translate into practice, however. Less than one third of obstetrician-gynecologists vaccinate their eligible patients against the human papilloma virus (HPV), and only half adhere to cervical cancer prevention guidelines published three years previously, according to a survey published this month in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Brazil to lure foreigners to fill public health posts
Brazil launched a program Monday to lure thousands of foreign doctors to fill vacancies in its public health system, a move criticized by many domestic health care professionals.
Unusual pattern of spine injuries from jet crash
Many survivors of Saturday's jet crash in San Francisco have a surprising pattern of spine injuries that a doctor says shows how violently they were shaken despite wearing seat belts.
A break for smokers? Glitch may limit penalties
(AP)—They have to huddle outside office buildings and they can't get their nicotine fix by lighting up on airplanes. But now smokers may catch a break from a glitch in President Barack Obama's health care law.
Women working shifts are at greater risk of miscarriage, menstrual disruption and subfertility
Shift work, which encourages sleep deprivation and patterns of activity outside the circadian rhythm, has been associated with a greater risk of ill health and loss of well-being in some (but not all) studies. However, little is known about the effects of shift work on reproductive health and fertility.
New molecularly imprinted nicotine receptors
Researchers from the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute in Nehru Marg, India have added another piece to the puzzle of how to synthetize an artificial nicotine receptor. Nicotine - the infamous principal component of tobacco - is responsible for smoking addition due to specific receptors in the brain that trigger the dopamine reward system. One of the most long-lasting goals of biomedical science and technology is to design and synthesize efficient artificial receptors that would point to new avenues in the treatment of addiction. Recent advances in materials chemistry clearly demonstrate that the development of such robust synthetic materials, which can partially mimic biological receptors, is possible.
Contaminated ultrasound gel tied to outbreak of healthcare-associated infections
After a 2011 outbreak of P. aeruginosa, investigators at Beaumont Health System near Detroit, Michigan determined contaminated ultrasound gel was the source of bacteria causing the healthcare-associated infection. The findings emphasize the need for increased scrutiny of contaminated medical products. This study is published in the August issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.
Are clinical trial data shared sufficiently today?
Ben Goldacre, research fellow at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, says we need all the evidence to make informed decisions about medicines.
C. Africa headed for health meltdown: MSF
The Central African Republic faces a meltdown in health care affecting millions of people after a coup in Bangui by rebels of the Seleka coalition, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warned in a report Tuesday.
Poorer health for acetaminophen overdose survivors than other liver failure patients
Spontaneous survivors of acetaminophen overdose have significantly lower overall health compared to survivors or transplant recipients following acute liver failure caused by non-drug induced liver injury according to a new study published online in Liver Transplantation, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society. Findings show that acetaminophen overdose survivors report more days of impaired mental and physical health, and activity limitations due to poor health, pain, anxiety and depression.
Admission screenings find superbug infections in Virginia
Antibiotic-resistant superbugs like carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) present a challenge to healthcare professionals as patients move from different care settings and facilities, unknowingly spreading healthcare-associated infections. In a new study, researchers screened all patients for CRE at admission to a long-term acute care hospital (LTACH). They found patients colonized with CRE coming into the LTACH from hospitals, but they also found transmission occurring among patients in the LTACH. LTACHs provide similar care as hospitals but focus on patients who, on average, stay more than 25 days.
Urgent call for cardiovascular R&D revival to halt growing CVD epidemic
A resurgence in cardiovascular R&D is urgently needed to curb a new epidemic of cardiovascular diseases, according to leading cardiologists and industry representatives in the Cardiovascular Round Table (CRT).
Robotic ultrasound gives surgeon more direct control in mapping and removing kidney cancers
While the use of ultrasound to identify tumors during kidney cancer surgery is gaining acceptance, a research team at Henry Ford Hospital has successfully taken it a step further by showing an added benefit when the procedure is done robotically.
Brain-damaged Dutch Prince Friso transferred home
Dutch Prince Friso, brain-damaged after being buried by an avalanche in Austria last year, has been transferred from a London hospital to receive treatment at his mother's residence in the Netherlands, the royal palace said on Tuesday.
New software provides free framework for collaborative research in visual field analysis
Vision researchers have developed new software that will analyze visual fields in an open-source platform to improve and encourage collaborative research among independent labs. An analysis of the free tool is presented in a Journal of Vision (JOV) paper, The visualFields package: A tool for analysis and visualization of visual fields.
Rates of major CV procedures differ between Medicare Advantage and fee-for-service beneficiaries
In a study that included nearly 6 million Medicare Advantage and Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries from 12 states, rates of angiography and percutaneous coronary interventions were significantly lower among Medicare Advantage beneficiaries and geographic variation in procedure rates was substantial for both payment types, according to a study in the July 10 issue of JAMA.
Improvement needed of prescription drug postmarketing studies
"Because rare but potentially serious adverse events of prescription drugs are often discovered only after market approval, observational postmarketing studies constitute an important part of the U.S. drug safety system," write Kevin Fain, J.D., M.P.H., of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, and colleagues in JAMA today. "In 2007, Congress passed the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act (FDAAA), which authorized the FDA to require postmarketing studies for a prescription drug's approval and mandate adherence to study deadlines. We examined how fulfillment of these postmarketing studies has changed over time."
Dual antiplatelet therapy following coronary stent implantation is associated with improved outcomes
Emmanouil S. Brilakis, M.D., Ph.D., of the VA North Texas Health Care System and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, and colleagues conducted a review of medical literature regarding optimal medical therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; procedures such as balloon angioplasty or stent placement used to open narrowed coronary arteries). The researchers identified 91 studies for inclusion in the review.
Rural program affects choice of surgical practice
(HealthDay)—Surgical residents who complete a rural surgery rotation are much more likely to enter general surgery practice and practice in a rural area, even if they had initially planned to specialize, according to research published online July 3 in JAMA Surgery.
Rate of aging may be determined in the womb and linked to birthweight, study reveals
Scientists have found that key metabolites in blood – chemical 'fingerprints' left behind as a result of early molecular changes before birth or in infancy – could provide clues to a person's long-term overall health and rate of ageing in later life.
US farm subsidy policies contribute to worsening obesity trends
Agricultural subsidies are responsible for making those processed and energy-dense foods that contribute to the American epidemic of obesity the most affordable options for consumers, concludes a new study led by Dr. Mark J. Eisenberg, a cardiologist and epidemiologist at the Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal. As Congress debates a new Farm Bill that will determine agricultural policy for the next five years, it is critical that public health be factored into legislation that will define the country's nutritional environment.
H7N9 influenza: History of similar viruses gives cause for concern, researchers report
The H7N9 avian flu strain that emerged in China earlier this year has subsided for now, but it would be a mistake to be reassured by this apparent lull in infections. The virus has several highly unusual traits that paint a disquieting picture of a pathogen that may yet lead to a pandemic, according to lead scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. David Morens, Jeffery Taubenberger, and Anthony Fauci, in a paper published in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, describe the history of H7 viruses in animal and human disease and point out that H7 influenza has a tendency to become established in bird, horse, and swine populations and may spillover repeatedly into humans.
Health info exchange: Short-term growth, but long-term concerns
While record numbers of hospitals and doctors participate in electronic health information exchange efforts, which enable medical histories to follow patients as they move between healthcare providers, the long-term success of these programs is in question.
Egg banking for social reasons
Egg freezing as insurance against age-related infertility is a growing trend in many countries. Women who bank oocytes for use at some time in the future hope to buy a little time in their search for a suitable partner.
Study: Agents like Snowden prone to irrational decision making
U.S. intelligence agents – like the embattled Edward Snowden – are more prone to irrational inconsistencies in decision making when compared to college students and post-college adults. That's according a new Cornell University study to be published in an upcoming issue of the journal Psychological Science.
Placebo effect largely ignored in psychological intervention studies
Many brain-training companies tout the scientific backing of their products – the laboratory studies that reveal how their programs improve your brainpower. But according to a new report, most intervention studies like these have a critical flaw: They do not adequately account for the placebo effect.
Survey shows limited use of sex offender registry
Texas has the second largest sex offender registry in the country, but relatively few people are accessing it or using it to develop protective actions against future sex crimes, a study by the Crime Victims' Institute at Sam Houston State University found.
Scientists spot early signs of Alzheimer's disease
Early signs of Alzheimer's disease can be detected years before diagnosis, according to researchers at Birmingham City University.
Women who give birth to multiple babies after IVF are at higher risk of breast cancer
Women who give birth to multiple babies following IVF treatment are at a higher risk of breast cancer than those giving birth to singletons or who remain childless. Dutch investigators from the Omega study group said the explanation may not be the multiple pregnancy per se but a maternal trait related to a higher implantation potential and to breast cancer itself.
Large UK population study finds no increased cancer risk in children born after assisted conception
Children born as a result of assisted reproduction (ART) are at no greater risk of cancer than children born spontaneously in the general population, according to results of one of the largest ever cohort studies of ART children. "This is reassuring news for couples considering assisted conception, their subsequent children, fertility specialists and for the wider public health," said the investigators.
Breakthrough study reveals biological basis for sensory processing disorders in kids
(Medical Xpress)—Sensory processing disorders (SPD) are more prevalent in children than autism and as common as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, yet it receives far less attention partly because it's never been recognized as a distinct disease.
Family bonds: How does surrogacy impact on relationships?
Preliminary results from a pioneering study at Cambridge University paint a positive picture of the relationships formed between surrogates and the families they help to create.
Foods advertised on popular children's websites do not meet nutrition standards
(Medical Xpress)—Despite food company pledges to advertise only healthier foods to children, a Yale Rudd Center study finds that companies place billions of ads for unhealthy foods and beverages on children's websites. The study is the first to evaluate banner and other display advertising on websites that are popular with children, such as Nick.com and CartoonNetwork.com. The study is published online in Pediatric Obesity and was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Gene discovery offers new path for Alzheimer's research
A new gene variant has been linked to Alzheimer's disease, and this association is strongest among elderly blacks.
Sleepless nights can turn lovers into fighters
(Medical Xpress)—Relationship problems can keep us awake at night. But new research from UC Berkeley suggests that sleepless nights also can worsen lovers' fights.
Plant-made drug reverses breathing paralysis
Paralytic drugs like succinylcholine (SC) are often used during surgery or when critically ill patients require endotracheal intubation. But if the drug is not swiftly cleared from the patient's system, the results can be deadly.
Researchers identify specific fetal antigens attacked by maternal antibodies
UC Davis MIND Institute researchers have identified the specific antibodies that target fetal brain proteins in the blood of a subset of women whose children are diagnosed with autism. The finding is the first to pinpoint a specific risk factor for a significant subset of autism cases, as well as a biomarker for drug development and early diagnosis. The researchers have named autism related to these antibodies "Maternal Autoantibody-Related," or MAR autism.
Study finds exposure to maternal antibodies affects behavior
Researchers with the UC Davis MIND Institute have found that prenatal exposure to specific combinations of antibodies found only in mothers of children with autism leads to changes in the brain that adversely affect behavior and development.
Tumor-suppressor protein gives up its secrets, promises new targets for cancer drug design
Genetic mutations aren't the only thing that can keep a protein called PTEN from doing its tumor-suppressing job. Johns Hopkins researchers have now discovered that four small chemical tags attached (reversibly) to the protein's tail can have the same effect, and they say their finding may offer a novel path for drug design to keep PTEN working.
Researcher discovers mechanism to slow tumor growth and metastasis in breast cancer
(Medical Xpress)—Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine professor Julian Gomez-Cambronero, Ph.D., and his research team have discovered a key protein that plays a critical role in the development of breast cancer tumors and the spread of the disease to the nearby lungs.
Indigenous child health improves when fruit and veg are cheap, study finds
Providing subsidised fruit and vegetable scheme to low-income Indigenous families in northern New South Wales improves children's health and significantly reduces antibiotic use, a new study has found.
Men say they want prostate cancer test, despite risks
A survey of men age 40 to 74 found that 54 percent said that they would still opt for a popular prostate cancer screening test despite recent recommendations that the test not be performed, finds a new study in American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Only 13 percent said they would choose not to be tested.
Double-barreled attack on obesity in no way a no-brainer
In the constant cross talk between our brain and our gut, two gut hormones are already known to tell the brain when we have had enough to eat. New research suggests that boosting levels of these hormones simultaneously may be an effective new weapon in the fight against obesity.
Bird vaccine for West Nile Virus
University of British Columbia researchers have developed a vaccine that may halt the spread of West Nile Virus (WNV) among common and endangered bird species.
Are the US News medical school rankings for primary care education relevant?
The U.S. News & World Report graduate school rankings inspire discussion and marketing, but do they actually reflect quality differences between schools when it comes to medical education in primary care?
What warring couples want: Power, not apologies, study shows
The most common thing that couples want from each other during a conflict is not an apology, but a willingness to relinquish power, according to a new Baylor University study.
Technologies for monitoring remaining leukemia after treatment may help predict patient outcomes
New evidence suggests that using advanced genetics technologies to monitor for remaining cancer cells after treatment may soon become an effective tool to inform treatment decisions and ultimately predict patient outcomes for patients with a particularly aggressive form of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Study results were published online today in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH).
Suspicions confirmed: Brain tumors in children have a common cause
An overactive signaling pathway is a common cause in cases of pilocytic astrocytoma, the most frequent type of brain cancer in children. This was discovered by a network of scientists coordinated by the German Cancer Research Center (as part of the International Cancer Genome Consortium, ICGC). In all 96 cases studied, the researchers found defects in genes involved in a particular pathway. Hence, drugs can be used to help affected children by blocking components of the signaling cascade.
Outdated practice of annual cervical-cancer screenings may cause more harm than good
For decades, women between the ages of 21 and 69 were advised to get annual screening exams for cervical cancer. In 2009, however, accumulating scientific evidence led major guideline groups to agree on a new recommendation that women be screened less frequently: every three years rather than annually.
Losing weight over the phone
An intensive lifestyle intervention, proven to help people lose weight to prevent diabetes, also works in primary care when delivered over the telephone to obese patients with metabolic syndrome. Group telephone sessions appear to be particularly effective for greater weight loss, according to a new study by Drs. Paula Trief and Ruth Weinstock from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York, and colleagues. Their work¹ appears online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine², published by Springer.
Study identifies new risk factors for parasitic infection
A study conducted by Dr. James Diaz, Professor of Public Health and Preventive Medicine and Program Director of the Environmental/Occupational Health Sciences Program at the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Public Health, analyzed cases of a parasitic lung infection and found new modes of transmission and associated behaviors, identifying new groups of people at risk. Dr. Diaz hopes to raise the index of suspicion among medical professionals so non-traditional patients and those not exhibiting all symptoms but who are at risk can be diagnosed and treated to avoid potentially life-threatening lung or brain complications. The work is published in the July 2013, issue of Clinical Microbiology Reviews.
Dip, Dip, Hooray—Kids eat more veggies with flavored dips
Many parents have a difficult time persuading their preschool-aged children to try vegetables, let alone eat them regularly. Food and nutrition researchers have found that by offering a dip flavored with spices, children were more likely to try vegetables—including those they had previously rejected.
Newly identified bone marrow stem cells reveal markers for ALS
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating motor neuron disease that rapidly atrophies the muscles, leading to complete paralysis. Despite its high profile—established when it afflicted the New York Yankees' Lou Gehrig—ALS remains a disease that scientists are unable to predict, prevent, or cure.
Female obesity linked to lower rates of live birth and embryo implantation in the uterus
An analysis of almost 10,000 first cycles of egg donation treatment at one of Europe's largest IVF centres shows that female obesity reduces the receptivity of the uterus to embryo implantation and thereby compromises reproductive outcome. The investigators report that excess female weight "impairs human reproduction" and that "the reduction of uterine receptivity is one of the mechanisms involved". As a result they advise weight reduction before pregnancy in any type of conception, including ovum donation.
Avoidance strategies can be valuable stress reliever, says study on work/life/school balance
If achieving a work/life balance wasn't hard enough, researchers say many of us are juggling a third factor: school.
Note to teens: Just breathe
In May, the Los Angeles school board voted to ban suspensions of students for "willful defiance" and directed school officials to use alternative disciplinary practices. The decision was controversial, and the question remains: How do you discipline rowdy students and keep them in the classroom while still being fair to other kids who want to learn?
Joyful notes: Testing the power of music to improve senior health
Music – as poets have noted – has the power to wash away the dust of everyday life, and medical experts believe it may also imbue physical and social benefits. Now a new UC San Francisco research project is exploring whether singing in a community choir can provide tangible health advantages to older adults.
Study investigates whether improving sleep reduces heart disease risk in caregivers
The University of South Florida College of Nursing is conducting research to improve sleep in those caring for people with dementia and Alzheimer's disease, with the aim of determining if better sleep affects heart health. The $1.9-million, four-year study funded by National Institute on Aging (NIA), "Improving Dementia Caregiver Sleep and the Effect on Heart Disease Biomarkers," is led by USF College of Nursing Professor and Endowed Chair Meredeth Rowe, RN, PhD, FGSA, FAAN.
Promise and caution shown in ongoing research into stem cell treatment of strokes
While stem-cell therapy offers great promise for the treatment of stroke, much research remains to be done to show its long-term effectiveness and to understand the potential for dangerous side effects.
School policies reduce student drinking—if they're perceived to be enforced
"Just say no" has been many a parent's mantra when it comes to talking to their children about drugs or alcohol. Schools echo that with specific policies against illicit use on school grounds. But do those school policies work?
Statin use linked to few side effects
the popular class of cholesterol-lowering drugs used widely to prevent recurrent heart disease or stroke as well as risk for having a first cardiac or stroke event—appear to cause few side effects, according to new research reported in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
Researchers link positive outlook to reduction in cardiac events such as heart attacks
People with cheerful temperaments are significantly less likely to suffer a coronary event such as a heart attack or sudden cardiac death, new Johns Hopkins research suggests.
Growth of cardiac services linked to competition, not improved patient care, study finds
New interventional cardiac catheterization services offered by U.S. hospitals generally duplicate existing programs and do not help patients gain access to timely emergency cardiac care, according to a new study.
Research examines differences in rates of cardiac catheterization between New York State and Ontario
The increased use of cardiac catheterization in New York relative to Ontario appears related to selecting more patients at low risk of obstructive coronary artery disease, with the subsequent diagnostic yield (i.e., the proportion of tested patients in whom disease was diagnosed) of this procedure in New York significantly lower than in Ontario, according to a study in the July 10 issue of JAMA.
Soy protein supplementation does not reduce risk of prostate cancer recurrence
Among men who had undergone radical prostatectomy, daily consumption of a beverage powder supplement containing soy protein isolate for 2 years did not reduce or delay development of biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer compared to men who received placebo, according to a study in the July 10 issue of JAMA.
That bad boss may be toxic to your family, too
(HealthDay)—When workplace stress spills over into your personal life, your family's well-being can also suffer, new evidence suggests.
Correlates of care seeking ID'd for those with low back pain
(HealthDay)—Not all patients with low back pain (LBP) seek medical care, with female sex, LBP frequency, limitations in activities of daily living, and fear-avoidance beliefs contributing to increased odds of seeking care, according to a study published in the May 20 issue of Spine.
Glaucoma screening not for everyone, experts say
(HealthDay)—Not enough evidence exists to recommend that primary-care doctors screen for glaucoma in adults who do not have vision problems, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
ASCO urges breast cancer chemoprevention discussion
(HealthDay)—Health care providers are encouraged to discuss chemoprevention as a clinical option with women at increased breast cancer (BC) risk, according to a newly updated American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) clinical practice guideline published online July 8 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Physicians urged to consider gun-related violence in elderly
(HealthDay)—Physicians must consider their role in restricting gun-related violence among the elderly and those with mental illness, according to two ideas and opinions pieces published in the July 9 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
GI involvement linked to relapse of vasculitis in kids
(HealthDay)—In the largest single-center study of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) in childhood, fever, myalgia, and skin involvement were found to be the most common symptoms, and cumulative dose of cyclophosphamide was associated with lower risk of relapse, while gastrointestinal (GI) involvement was linked to increased relapse risk. The study has been published online June 10 in Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Meeting dual HbA1c and LDL-C goals improves diabetes care
(HealthDay)—Dual achievement of both glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals among patients with diabetes is associated with greater clinical and economic benefit than achievement of either goal alone, according to a study published online June 25 in Diabetes Care.
Modern methods of abortion are not linked with an increased risk of preterm birth
The link between previous termination of pregnancy (abortion) and preterm delivery in a subsequent pregnancy has disappeared over the last 20-30 years, according to a study of data from Scotland published in this week's PLOS Medicine. The study, led by Gordon Smith from the University of Cambridge, found that abortion was a strong risk factor for subsequent preterm birth in the 1980s but over the next 20 years, the link progressively weakened and was no longer present among women giving birth from 2000 onwards.
Tobacco control measures in India could prevent heart disease and stroke deaths
Implementing smoke-free laws and increased tobacco taxes in India would yield substantial and rapid health benefits by averting future cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths, according to a new study published this week in PLOS Medicine. The results of this study, conducted by Sanjay Basu and colleagues of Stanford University, USA, suggest that specific tobacco control strategies would be more effective than others for the reduction of CVD deaths over the next decade in India and possibly in other low- and middle-income countries.
Pre-eclampsia poses cerebral palsy risk for premature and small babies
Exposure to pre-eclampsia is associated with an increased risk of cerebral palsy in newborns, if they are preterm or small at birth, suggests a study published today in BMJ.
Researchers identify 'switch' for long-term memory
Neurobiologists at Heidelberg University have identified calcium in the cell nucleus to be a cellular "switch" responsible for the formation of long-term memory. Using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as a model, the team led by Prof. Dr. Christoph Schuster and Prof. Dr. Hilmar Bading investigates how the brain learns. The researchers wanted to know which signals in the brain were responsible for building long-term memory and for forming the special proteins involved. The results of the research were published in the journal Science Signaling.
Researchers identify potential biomarker for cancer diagnosis
Scientists studying cancer development have known about micronuclei for some time. These erratic, small extra nuclei, which contain fragments, or whole chromosomes that were not incorporated into daughter cells after cell division, are associated with specific forms of cancer and are predictive of poorer prognosis.
Genetic screen finds new treatment targets for lung cancer
Cancer Research UK scientists are the first to use an efficient new screening strategy to identify gene faults in tumour cells that are possible drug targets for the most common form of lung cancer, according to new research published in PNAS today.
Study identifies brain circuits involved in learning and decision making
(Medical Xpress)—Research from the National Institutes of Health has identified neural circuits in mice that are involved in the ability to learn and alter behaviors. The findings help to explain the brain processes that govern choice and the ability to adapt behavior based on the end results.
When dads play favorites, the kids know
(Medical Xpress)—Sibling Baby Boomers are likely to be more bothered by their fathers' favoring one over another than by their mothers' doing so, reports a new Purdue University study.
New avenue for improved treatment of cystic fibrosis
(Medical Xpress)—Cystic fibrosis is caused by a mutation in the gene that encodes a particular protein, known as the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (or CFTR). Although this discovery was made 25 years ago and the lives of those with the disease have been extended, there is still no effective cure for the disease. Now new information about the nature of the most common form of mutation in the CFTR gene, gathered by a research team led by Dr. Gergely Lukacs of the Department of Physiology at McGill University, offers exciting new avenues for improving the treatment of the disease.
Link between low vitamin D blood levels and heart disease varies by race
Low vitamin D blood levels are linked to greater risk of heart disease in whites and Chinese, but not in blacks and Hispanics, according to a study appearing this week in JAMA, a journal published by the American Medical Association.
Females respond better to stress because of estrogen, animal study finds
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.
Biology news
New method to age cattle from their teeth
Ageing animals from their teeth goes back to the time that man first started keeping animals. New research has applied modern statistical techniques to investigate the association between the stages of dentition in cattle and their age to give a more detailed explanation of the differences between the sexes and various breeds of cattle in the UK.
Tiny new catfish species found in Rio Paraiba do Sul basin, Brazil
Scientists discovered a tiny new species of catfish in the waters of Rio Rio Paraíba do Sul basin, Brazil. The new species Pareiorhina hyptiorhachis belongs to a genus of armored catfishes native to South America where and found only in Brazil. These peculiar fish get their name from their strange elongated mouth barbels that remind of cat's whiskers. The new species is distinguished from others species of the genus by the presence of a conspicuous ridge on the trunk posterior to the dorsal fin (postdorsal ridge). The description of the diminutive new species was published in the open access journal Zookeys.
Fears that pet ponies and donkeys traded for horsemeat in Britain unfounded, researchers say
Fears that pet ponies and donkeys are being traded for horsemeat are unfounded, reveals research published online in the Veterinary Record.
Knowledge of stingrays' sparked-up sex may help deter sharks
Sexual attraction of the electric sort happens when stingrays meet, according to a researcher at The University of Western Australia's Oceans Institute - and the finding may help prevent shark attacks on humans.
Following the footprint of invasive trees
In Oregon, western juniper trees are expanding their range, pushing out other plant species, reducing sagebrush habitat and livestock forage, and at times fueling catastrophic wildfires. During some of these conflagrations, fires burn even hotter because more wood is available to feed the flames—a cause-and-effect that in turn lengthens the time that temperatures remain elevated at fire-stricken sites.
Plant that only flowers once in seven years has blossomed
(Phys.org) —A relatively rare plant that flowers only once in seven years and then dies has blossomed - delighting horticulturalists at the University of Aberdeen.
Biologists name a newly discovered threadworm after physicist Max Planck
An unusual posthumous honour for physicist Max Planck: Biologists in Tübingen working with Ralf J. Sommer have named a newly discovered nematode after the German Nobel laureate. Pristionchus maxplancki is thus the first species to carry the name of the scientist, who died in 1947. The discovery from the Far East is assisting the researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology to attain new insights and knowledge about the many interdependencies between evolution, genetics, and ecology.
Parasites in cat poop: Potential public health problem?
Each year in the United States, cats deposit about 1.2 million metric tons of feces into the environment, and that poop is carrying with it what may be a vast and underappreciated public health problem, say scientists July 9 in the journal Trends in Parasitology.
Japan, China and South Korea account for 84 percent of the macroalgae patents
The algae, traditionally cultivated for the food sector, are accessible marine resources as they grow in coastal areas. These crops increase by 7.5% on average every year and have become an important part of marine aquaculture through the diversification of demand for products based on macroalgae for bioenergy, cosmetics and biomedicine.
Contemplating the Brazilian dilemma: Abundant grain/inadequate storage
Tropical climates that allow for year-round farming would seem to be a tremendous economic advantage, but for corn and soybean farmers in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso it also poses a problem—an abundance of grain followed by about a 10 percent postharvest loss, partially due to a lack of storage.
Researchers find condition in dogs that may help further research into human disease
Some people possess a small number of cells in their bodies that are not genetically their own; this condition is known as microchimerism. It is difficult to determine potential health effects from this condition because of humans' relatively long life-spans. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that microchimerism can be found in dogs as well. Jeffrey Bryan, an associate professor of oncology at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine and director of Comparative Oncology and Epigenetics Laboratory, says this discovery will help doctors determine what diseases humans with microchimerism may be more likely to develop during their lifetimes.
Birds outpace climate change to avoid extinction
A new study has shed light on the potential of birds to survive in the face of climate change. In the analysis, based on more than fifty years' detailed study of a population of great tits near Oxford, UK, a team of scientists were able to make predictions about how the birds could cope with a changing climate in the future. They found that for small, short-lived birds like the great tit, evolution can work fast enough for genetic adaptation to keep pace with a changing environment. However, even for such fast-evolving species, evolution on its own is not enough.
Study shows influence of temporal niches in maintaining biodiversity
By studying rapidly evolving bacteria as they diversify and compete under varying environmental conditions, researchers have shown that temporal niches are important to maintaining biodiversity in natural systems. The research is believed to be the first experimental demonstration of temporal niche dynamics promoting biodiversity over evolutionary time scales.
Could our diet while growing up affect our offspring's vitality?
(Phys.org) —You are what you eat - and so are your offspring. And in the title bout featuring protein versus sugar, protein is the winner.
Evolution too slow to keep up with climate change, study finds
(Phys.org) —A study led by a UA ecologist has found that many species evolve too slowly to adapt to the rapid climate change expected in the next 100 years.
The origin of the turtle shell: Mystery solved
A team of RIKEN researchers has finally solved the riddle of how the turtle shell originated. By observing the development of different animal species and confirming their results with fossil analysis and genomic data, researchers from the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology show that the shell on the turtle's back derives only from its ancestors' ribcage and not from a combination of internal and external bone structures as is often thought. Their study is published today in the journal Nature Communications.
Microparticles create localized control of stem cell differentiation
Before scientists and engineers can realize the dream of using stem cells to create replacements for worn out organs and battle damaged body parts, they'll have to develop ways to grow complex three-dimensional structures in large volumes and at costs that won't bankrupt health care systems.
Mycobacteria get all the advantages of sex with none of the downsides
Sexual reproduction is costly to those organisms that depend on it, like humans. For starters, only half of the population can bear offspring and the other half has to work hard to make sure they're included in the future gene pool. The payoff is that sexual reproduction allows the mixing of parental genomes to generate potentially beneficial new combinations of gene variants that had not previously coexisted on the same strand of DNA, or to separate beneficial mutations from detrimental ones.
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