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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for July 10, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Exosomal transmission of viral resistance in Hepatitis B- Researchers create the inner ear from stem cells, opening potential for new treatments
- New phenomenon could lead to novel types of lasers and sensors
- Researchers perform DNA computation in living cells
- Stanford researchers say 'peak oil' concerns should ease
- Study puts troubling traits of H7N9 avian flu virus on display
- Dye-sensitized solar cells rival conventional cell efficiency
- Decoding mystery sequences involved in gene regulation
- Typhoid's lethal secret revealed
- Trees using water more efficiently as atmospheric carbon dioxide rises
- Jagged graphene edges can slice into cell membranes
- IBEX spacecraft images the heliotail, revealing an unexpected structure
- Intestinal bacteria may fuel inflammation and worsen HIV disease
- Nature's own nanoparticles harnessed to target disease
- 'Liquid-liquid' phase transition: Researchers identify transformation in low-temperature water
Space & Earth news
'Wwoofing' teaches urbanites countryside ways
Making the switch from urban life to rural bliss is not easy. Luckily for city slicker Nathalie, whose dream is to open a countryside bed and breakfast, her "wwoofing" experience on a French farm will give her the skills she needs.
Report looks at successful government crowdsourcing efforts for earthquake monitoring
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and other scientific institutions are using social media and crowdsourcing to learn more about earthquakes, according to a new report. These techniques provide inexpensive and rapid data to augment and extend the capabilities provided by traditional monitoring techniques.
Assessing impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico
While numerous studies are under way to determine the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on the Gulf of Mexico, the extent and severity of these impacts and the value of the resulting losses cannot fully be measured without considering the goods and services provided by the Gulf, says a new report from the National Research Council. The congressionally mandated report offers an approach that could establish a more comprehensive understanding of the impacts and help inform options for restoration activities.
Quebec fires continue raging
Fires around James Bay continue raging in Canada due to the driest summer the region has seen in 40 years as seen in this Aqua satellite photo from July 09, 2013. These fires have been raging for several weeks now and are also causing other problems besides burning land and causing pollution. About 10 per cent of Quebecers lost electricity on July 5, on the second day of blackouts triggered by the powerful forest fires.
Trial over Spain Prestige oil disaster ends
Hearings in the trial over one of Europe's worst oil spills wrapped up in Spain on Wednesday after eight months of testimony.
Parched Jordan to tap ancient aquifer
Jordan, one of the world's 10 driest countries, said it will start pumping water from a 300,000-year-old southern aquifer on Thursday to the capital and other cities to help them meet high demand.
Shell to spend $115 million on pollution control
Shell Oil has agreed to spend at least $115 million to cut harmful pollution at a Houston-area refinery.
Australia admits Barrier Reef conditions are 'poor'
Australia admitted Wednesday conditions at the Great Barrier Reef are "poor" as it battles UNESCO threats to downgrade its heritage status over concerns about pollution and development.
Science team outlines goals for NASA's 2020 Mars rover
The rover NASA will send to Mars in 2020 should look for signs of past life, collect samples for possible future return to Earth, and demonstrate technology for future human exploration of the Red Planet, according to a report provided to the agency.
Cloud brightening to cool seas can protect coral reefs
The seeding of marine clouds to cool sea surface temperatures could protect threatened coral reefs from being bleached by warming oceans. Research, published in Atmospheric Science Letters, proposes that a targeted version of the geo-engineering technique could give coral a fifty year 'breathing space' to recover from acidification and warming.
Where do astronauts go when they need 'to go?'
Alan Shepard became the first American to fly in space on May 5, 1961. Although NASA engineers had put considerable planning into his mission, dubbed Freedom 7, noticeably missing from this extensive preparation was a way for him to urinate in his spacesuit. During a lengthy launch delay, the inevitable happened, and Shepard's urine short-circuited his electronic biosensors. In less than a year, engineers had remedied this seeming oversight for John Glenn's Mercury orbital flight. The system developed for Glenn stood the test of time, remaining in use until the early days of the Space Shuttle program.
The contribution of the Greenland ice sheet to sea-level rise will continue to increase
New research has shown surface ice melt will be the dominant process controlling ice-loss from Greenland. As outlet glaciers retreat inland the other process, iceberg production, remains important but will not grow as rapidly.
Understanding human nature when mother nature wreaks havoc
StormView is a software program that gauges how residents of hurricane-prone regions might react in the event of an imminent storm. It was developed by University of Miami professor Kenny Broad and a number of collaborators, and supported with funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Climate scientist addresses misconceptions about climate change
(Phys.org) —The notion that we'll avoid serious damage to the world's climate if we limit the warming of the atmosphere to a 2-degree-Celsius rise in temperature is untrue, says Stanford climate scientist Chris Field.
Discovery of the 'Plastisphere': A new marine ecological community
The masses of plastic debris that float over large areas of the world's oceans have become new ecological communities that scientists have named the "Plastisphere." Their report in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology suggests that these novel habitats in the North Atlantic Ocean may harbor potential disease-causing microbes.
Sun erupts with a CME toward Earth and Mercury
On July 9, 2013, at 11:09 a.m. EDT, the sun erupted with an Earth-directed coronal mass ejection or CME, a solar phenomenon that can send billions of tons of particles into space that can reach Earth one to three days later. These particles cannot travel through the atmosphere to harm humans on Earth, but they can affect electronic systems in satellites and on the ground.
Astronomers witness birth of Milky Way's most massive star
(Phys.org) —Scientists have observed in unprecedented detail the birth of a massive star within a dark cloud core about 10,000 light years from Earth.
Huge iceberg breaks away from the Pine Island glacier in the Antarctic
On 8 July 2013 a huge area of the ice shelf broke away from the Pine Island glacier, the longest and fastest flowing glacier in the Antarctic, and is now floating in the Amundsen Sea in the form of a very large iceberg. Scientists of the Alfred Wegener Institute - Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research have been following this natural spectacle via the earth observation satellites TerraSAR-X from the German Space Agency (DLR) and have documented it in many individual images. The data is intended to help solve the physical puzzle of this "calving".
Shifting winds in the climate change debate
(Phys.org) —A favorite beach. Homes along the river or coast. Crop yields that sustain the populace.
Stanford researchers say 'peak oil' concerns should ease
Fears of depleting the Earth's supply of oil are unwarranted, according to new research, which concludes that the demand for oil – as opposed to the supply – will reach its own peak and then decline.
Trees using water more efficiently as atmospheric carbon dioxide rises
A study by scientists with the U.S. Forest Service, Harvard University and partners suggests that trees are responding to higher atmospheric carbon dioxide levels by becoming more efficient at using water.
IBEX spacecraft images the heliotail, revealing an unexpected structure
(Phys.org) —NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) spacecraft recently provided the first complete pictures of the solar system's downwind region, revealing a unique and unexpected structure.
Technology news
Hasbro buys 70 pct of mobile game maker Backflip
(AP)—As more people play mobile games, toy company Hasbro Inc. is investing in a company that develops games for smartphones and tablets.
EMC buys identification services firm Aveksa
(AP)—EMC Corp., a maker of data storage equipment, said Monday that it has acquired identity verification services company Aveksa, boosting the offerings of its own security division.
Bright future beckons for metrology researcher
A BRIGHT future beckons for a University of Huddersfield metrology instrumentation designer who has recently completed his doctorate, won a national award and will now embark on a project to bring a patented product to the market.
Indian e-commerce firm Flipkart raises $200 mn funds
India's top e-commerce company Flipkart said Wednesday it has raised $200 million from private investors in what it called the biggest one-time investment in an Indian online retail firm.
T-Mobile to allow frequent phone upgrades for fee
T-Mobile says it will let people upgrade phones more quickly for a $10 monthly fee.
Navy completes 1st unmanned carrier landing (Update)
The U.S. Navy says it has landed a drone the size of a fighter jet on an aircraft carrier for the first time.
Students use smartphone technology to make driverless car more of reality (w/ Video)
Griffith University students are using smartphone technology to make the driverless car of the future more of a reality. A team of Information and Communications Technology students from the Gold Coast campus has won an award for designing a Smartphone Driven Automated Vehicle at the 2013 Queensland iAwards in Brisbane.
New video streaming technology for mobile phones
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has developed a new architecture for better-quality video streaming on mobile phones and across wireless networks. The new architecture is based on utilising information gathered and combined from the video application, the network and the mobile phone. For example, information concerning quality, price and availability can be combined and utilised directly to better the service. This means better-quality videos and easier access for consumers, and users may even benefit from the new technology financially. From the perspective of operators and service providers, the new technology allows them to improve the quality of video streams without having to invest in new network capacity, giving them a cost-effective way to boost customer satisfaction.
The inverse CSI effect in the age of digital crime
The "CSI Effect" has been described as being an increased expectation from jurors that forensic evidence will be presented in court that is instantaneous and unequivocal because that is how it is often presented for dramatic effect in television programs and movies. Of course, in reality forensic science, while exact in some respects is just as susceptible to the vagaries of measurements and analyses as any other part of science. In reality, crime scene investigators often spend seemingly inordinate amounts of time gathering and assessing evidence and then present it as probabilities rather than the kind of definitive result expected of a court room filled with actors rather than real people.
Helping developers create smarter online music-streaming services
If you ever use Spotify, or a similar music-streaming service, there's a good chance your song recommendations, and other personalized features, are powered by novel technology developed and marketed by two MIT alumni entrepreneurs.
UK spies: Nations are hiring cybermercenaries
A British intelligence report said Wednesday that other nations are hiring hackers to launch attacks against their enemies, a trend it described as particularly worrying.
Japan atomic watchdog suspects Fukushima ocean leak
Japan's nuclear watchdog said Wednesday the crippled Fukushima reactors are very likely leaking highly radioactive substances into the Pacific Ocean.
Icahn to seek court appraisal of $24.4B Dell deal
Billionaire investor Carl Icahn will ask a judge to assess the fairness of a proposed $24.4 billion acquisition of struggling personal computer maker Dell in his latest attempt to wrangle a higher price from a group of buyers that includes company CEO Michael Dell.
Investors buying bankrupt Israel electric car firm
A group of investors has taken over the remains of Israel's bankrupt electric car venture, pledging to give the project another boost.
Gartner, IDC: 2Q PC shipments fell 11 percent
Worldwide shipments of personal computers fell 11 percent in the April-June period, according to data from research firms Gartner and IDC, as people continued to migrate to tablets and other mobile devices.
Review: Update to Windows 8 doesn't fix basic problems
Microsoft is developing an update to Windows 8 that promises to "refine" the clunky software. But if a preview of the update is any indication, the changes won't go far enough to address Windows 8's flaws.
Internet companies say new rules on children are a burden
Internet groups complained Monday that new Federal Trade Commission regulations to protect children's privacy online are financially burdensome to startup companies.
PC sales slide again, Lenovo takes top spot: survey
Worldwide sales of personal computers dropped for a fifth consecutive quarter in the April-June period, the longest decline in the PC market's history, a research firm said Wednesday.
World Bank invests in online education
Online education service Coursera on Wednesday announced a fresh round of funding from the investment arm of the World Bank and other backers.
Technology likely to alter the old-fashioned bank branch
As more people do their banking on computers, tablets and mobile devices, trips to the local bank branch are increasingly rare. Still, convenient branch access remains the top reason that people select a bank.
Google ditches location-sharing feature in map apps
Google on Wednesday released an upgraded version of its popular maps app for Android-powered smartphones and tablets that ditches a Latitude feature that let people share locations with family or friends.
The price of surveillance: US gov't pays to snoop
How much are your private conversations worth to the U.S. government? Turns out, it can be a lot, depending on the technology.
Japan officials mistakenly reveal internal memos
Japan's bureaucrats used the wrong privacy settings for Google Groups online discussions, allowing anyone to see internal memos including on negotiating positions for an international treaty, the government said.
Designer has DIY kit for turning objects into UAVs
(Phys.org) —When an independent designer comments that his interest is "in taking stuff away from the computer screen" and finding ways to interact with information in more interesting ways, then it is not unreasonable to expect entertaining results. Jasper van Loenen, a Dutch designer, made that comment and he has come up with a DIY, which he said stands for a "Drone It Yourself" kit, with parts that turn objects into machines that can fly. Unpack, assemble, attach. As the demo video shows, you can fly your book, keyboard, bicycle wheel, or any other suitably lightweight object. His kit carries pieces that can be clamped to the object assigned to take flight. Also involved is the flight-control unit.
Invention transforms plain surfaces into low-cost touch screens
Imagine turning a whiteboard, glass window or even a wooden table top into a responsive, touch sensitive surface. A low cost system developed by Nanyang Technological University (NTU), based on the principles of vibration and imaging that is able to track the movements of multiple fingers and of objects, can do just that.
Upgraded urban travel 'could save $70 trillion by 2050'
Urban planners must re-invent city transportation systems to save up to $70 trillion globally in the next 37 years, a study said on Wednesday citing the examples of Belgrade, Seoul and New York City.
Apple guilty in e-book conspiracy case, vows appeal (Update)
A US judge ruled Wednesday that Apple violated antitrust law in a price-fixing case, saying the company "conspired to restrain trade" with publishers to boost the price of e-books.
Russians to deploy floating nuclear power plant
(Phys.org) —The general director of one of Russia's largest shipbuilders, Aleksandr Voznesensky, has announced to reporters that a floating nuclear power plant is currently under construction at one of Russia's ship yards. He added that it will likely be ready for use by 2016. The Russians are calling it a "floating power" station, abbreviated to PEB. The vessel has been given the name Akademik Lomonosov.
Japanese association unveils tape-like environmental sensors
(Phys.org) —Green Sensor Network Laboratories of NMEMS TRA, a technical research association in Japan, has unveiled a new type of environmental sensor that is very small and easy to install. With a surface area of just 2 x 5cm and 1mm thick it attaches to surfaces much like a piece of tape. The development of the sensor was part of a larger nationwide project called "Sensor System Development Project to Solve Social Problems"—its goal is to foster the development of inexpensive and easy to deploy sensors for monitoring a host of sites for environmental conditions.
Dye-sensitized solar cells rival conventional cell efficiency
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have many advantages over their silicon-based counterparts. They offer transparency, low cost, and high power conversion efficiencies under cloudy and artificial light conditions. However, until now their overall efficiency has been lower than silicon-based solar cells, mostly because of the inherent voltage loss during the regeneration of the sensitizing dye. In a Nature publication, EPFL scientists have developed a state solid version of the DSSC that is fabricated by a new two-step process raising their efficiency up to a record 15% without sacrificing stability.
Medicine & Health news
Doctor calls for investigation into possible lack of informed consent in premature baby studies
In an article in BMJ, a senior doctor today calls on several governments around the world to investigate whether parents of premature babies were fully informed of the risks of a study on the health effects of varying oxygen levels, as was not the case in the US.
The allergist is listening: Five things they need to hear, from your child
The allergist's office might not be a child's favorite place to visit, but it is a place where they should be able to say how their asthma makes them feel. While children might rely on parents to tell their doctor about how they are feeling, according to a study released today, children should do most of the talking.
Texas House provisionally approves abortion law
(AP)—The Texas House has given provisional approval to tough new abortion restrictions, making good on a third attempt to pass the measure this year.
Fewer Americans undergoing lower limb amputation
There have been dramatic decreases in the number and severity of lower limb amputations over the past decade, according to a new study published in the July 2013 issue of Foot & Ankle International. At the same time, orthopaedic advances in treating diabetic foot ulcers have become more commonplace, hopefully decreasing the need for amputation.
Radioimmunotherapy deemed safe and effective for lymphoma patients
A new treatment option for patients with relapsing follicular, mantle cell and other indolent B-cell lymphomas has been determined safe and feasible by researchers exploring the potential of a low energy beta-emitter radiopharmaceutical. According to data published in the July issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, the use of 177Lu-DOTA-rituximab as a radioimmunotherapy results in a high rate of tumor response while using less radiation than current therapies.
Unraveling the scientific basis of the infant feeding axiom 'breast is best'
Scientists are making strides toward unraveling the surprisingly complex chemistry underpinning that axiom of infant feeding "breast is best," according to an article in the current edition of Chemical & Engineering News. C&EN is the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.
Emergency physicians use new tool to detect drug-seekers in the ER
Emergency physicians and other emergency department staff were fairly accurate in assessing which patients were drug-seekers in the emergency department, changing their prescribing plans for less than 10 percent of patients after consulting an objective computerized state prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP). The analysis of emergency providers' prescribing patterns and clinical factors associated with suspecting drug-seeking in the ER were published online yesterday in Annals of Emergency Medicine ("Clinician Impression vs. Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Criteria in the Assessment of Drug-Seeking Behavior in the Emergency Department")
Factors influencing delay in breast cancer treatment differ for African-American and white women
Different factors influence delay between diagnosis and first course of treatment for breast cancer for African-American and White women.
Adults with eating disorders have a poorer prognosis if they suffer hyperactivity
A study made with 191 patients reveal that symptoms of hyperactivity due to the deficit of attention and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are associated with more impulsivity and more severity, and probably a worse prognosis in patients with eating disorders.
Fear of deportation not an issue for farmworkers who receive care from community health centers
Migrant workers are more likely to receive medical care from community health centers in partnership with faith-based organizations, a new study shows, because fear of deportation is lower than they might face at other medical facilities.
Mexico surpasses US in obesity
Mexico has surpassed the United States in levels of adult obesity, though the country remains far below levels found in some island nations and parts of the Middle East.
Texas House passes abortion bill; Senate next stop
(AP)—The Texas House has approved new abortion limits in a second special session, less than two weeks after Senate Republicans failed to finish work on the bill amid a filibuster and raucous protests.
Israel makes dramatic advance in blindness prevention
According to the World Health Organization, 80% of blindness is preventable or treatable—but it remains a severe health concern across the globe, even in industrialized countries.
Irish lawmakers agonize over abortion vote
After decades of delay and months of argument, Ireland's lawmakers agonized Wednesday over government plans to pass an abortion bill for the first time in this predominantly Catholic country.
Health centers getting $150M to sign up uninsured
(AP)—The Obama administration says it's enlisting community health centers in the drive to sign up uninsured people under the new health care law.
Short-term exposure to most major air pollutants raises the risk of hospitalization for and death from heart failure
Short-term exposure to most major air pollutants appears to increase the risk of being hospitalised for and dying from heart failure, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis of data from 12 countries published in The Lancet.
Europe-wide study finds long-term exposure to even low levels of air pollution increases risk of lung cancer
Prolonged exposure to particulate air pollution increases the risk of lung cancer (particularly adenocarcinoma) even at levels below the European Union limit values, according to one of the largest studies of its kind published in The Lancet Oncology.
Excessive cerebral spinal fluid, enlarged brain size in infancy are potential biomarkers for autism
Children who were later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder had excessive cerebral spinal fluid and enlarged brains in infancy, a study by a multidisciplinary team of researchers with the UC Davis MIND Institute has found, raising the possibility that those brain anomalies may serve as potential biomarkers for the early identification of the neurodevelopmental disorder.
Study shows vascular link in Alzheimer's disease with cognition
Researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that, across a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, cerebrovascular disease affecting circulation of blood in the brain was significantly associated with dementia. The researchers contend that people already exhibiting clinical features of Alzheimer's disease and other memory impairments may benefit from effective therapies currently available to reduce vascular problems. Thus, early management of vascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, and adopting a 'heart healthy' diet as well as exercise and other lifestyles in midlife may delay or prevent the onset of dementia due to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Economic crisis lowers birth rates, research shows
The economic crisis has put measurable pressure on birthrates in Europe over the last decade. On average, the more the unemployment rose, the greater the decrease in fertility compared to the number of children per women expected without the crisis. This is the result of a new study performed by the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) in Rostock, Germany. MPIDR demographers Michaela Kreyenfeld, Joshua Goldstein and Aiva Jasilioniene have just published their analysis together with Deniz Karaman Örsal of the Leuphana University, Lüneburg, in the open access journal Demographic Research.
Behavior change may have the greatest influence on waves of influenza outbreak
Three waves of the deadliest influenza pandemic in history, known as the Spanish flu, hit England and Wales in 1918, just as World War 1 was coming to an end.
Noise and the city - Hong Kong's struggle for quiet
With its pounding construction sites and constant roar of traffic, Hong Kong is a cacophony of noise with experts and residents calling on authorities to keep a lid on the din for the sake of public health.
Fixing up seniors' homes to help them age in place
Alberta Hough struggles to feed herself a snack, her arms shaking badly from Parkinson's disease. Days earlier, the 84-year-old fell while eating, sliding off her kitchen chair.
Life-saving statin drugs save healthcare systems money, study finds
Statins not only help save lives but are great value for money too, even in lower risk patients, according to a new study.
Beating new life into a heart transplant
Human hearts which are not used each year because they are deemed unsuitable for an organ transplant could get a second chance to save a life, with the help of new research taking place in the North East.
Researchers find new class of highly potent antimalarial compounds
Despite renewed global efforts for eradication, malaria continues to exert devastating effects on human health. An estimated 220 million people are infected each year by malaria-causing Plasmodium parasites, which are transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. This enormous infection burden leads to some 660,000 lives lost to malaria each year, the majority of these young children in sub-Saharan Africa. While a vaccine to prevent malaria remains elusive, we depend on antimalarial compounds both to treat infections and prevent disease.
Baby-led weaning: Food and the minefield of parenting advice
Parents are bombarded with information about how best to raise their children, often coupled with the threat of nasties, such as childhood obesity and developing neuroses, if they choose not to follow.
Women suffer higher rates of decline in aging and Alzheimer's disease
The rates of regional brain loss and cognitive decline caused by aging and the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are higher for women and for people with a key genetic risk factor for AD, say researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine in a study published online July 4 in the American Journal of Neuroradiology.
Test tube children develop mentally normal
Whether a child is conceived naturally or in a Petri dish in an incubator has no bearing at all on the child's mental health. However, researchers have identified a small but increased risk of developing a mental disorder such as autism, ADHD or behavioural problems in children whose mothers only received medical treatment to stimulate ovulation and egg development before insemination.
United States losing ground to other countries in health outcomes
In nearly every major cause of premature death – from ischemic heart disease to diabetes to interpersonal violence – the United States trails its economic peers, according to new research from a global collaborative of scientists led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington.
Calculating the value of effortful behavior: A clue to schizophrenia-related disability?
Many people with schizophrenia have marked problems with motivation, failing to initiate and persist in goal-directed behavior. These negative symptoms of schizophrenia can be disabling and prevent individuals from realizing their potential.
Engineers develop novel method to increase lifespan of joint replacements
Researchers at the University of Southampton have completed a project that will enable surgeons to fit joint replacements with longer, optimised lifespans. The MXL project uses computational modelling to define the mechanics of an artificial joint – a complex interaction of individual anatomy, prosthesis design, sizing and placement – to ensure successful surgery and longer lifespans of the prosthetic joints.
Psychologists investigate online communication of conspiracy theories
Research by psychologists at the University of Kent has found that people who argue in favour of conspiracy theories use different persuasive strategies from those who argue against them.
New site helps women navigate and manage menopause
Should you take hormone therapy during menopause? What's the latest research about its safety? And what are non-hormone alternatives for managing hot flashes and other symptoms?
Jobs that pay for pounds lost can work
With obesity costing the nation $190 billion each year in health care expenditures, employers are increasingly offering cash and other incentives to motivate workers to lose weight.
Lower coronary heart disease deaths by making several lifestyle changes
Lifestyle modification programs that addressed at least two health behaviors lowered the risk of a fatal heart attack or stroke in people with coronary heart disease, finds a new systematic review in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Child abuse victims suffer greater long term health costs, study finds
Adults who were abused in childhood suffer from more chronic health conditions and put far greater pressure on the health system than those who were not abused, according to new research from the University of Technology, Sydney.
Obesity rises in nearly all counties but Americans becoming more physically active
More people are running, biking, and exercising in other ways in hundreds of US counties, according to new research from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington.
Cigarette smoke impacts genes linked to health of heart and lungs
New insights into why obese cigarette smokers experience a high risk of heart disease suggest that cigarette smoke affects the activity of hundreds of key genes that both protect the heart and lungs and expose them to damage. The study, published in ACS' Chemical Research in Toxicology, suggests that the effects may be especially profound in obese nonsmokers who inhale "sidesteam smoke" from cigarettes smoldering nearby.
Study tracks depression in seniors, ethnic groups
(Medical Xpress)—Major depression is a serious public health problem among older adults in the United States, but tends to affect ethnic groups differently, finds new research led by a Michigan State University scholar.
Recent findings force scientists to rethink the rules of neuroimaging
Is there a brain area for mind-wandering? For religious experience? For reorienting attention? A recent study casts serious doubt on the evidence for these ideas, and rewrites the rules for neuroimaging.
Jealousy can drive us to view ourselves more like our rivals
If you see your partner flirt with someone else, you may feel hurt, angry, and jealous. The last thing you might expect is to start thinking of yourself more like your rival. New research suggests just that: that jealousy can prompt people to change how they view themselves relative to competitors for their partners' attention.
European regulators expand Pfizer vaccine approval
European regulators have become the first to approve Pfizer Inc.'s Prevenar 13 vaccine for patients at all stages of life by including adults between the ages of 18 and 49.
The dark side of artificial sweeteners
More and more Americans are consuming artificial sweeteners as an alternative to sugar, but whether this translates into better health has been heavily debated. An opinion article published by Cell Press on July 10th in the journal Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism reviews surprising evidence on the negative impact of artificial sweeteners on health, raising red flags about all sweeteners—even those that don't have any calories.
Researchers create method to rapidly identify specific strains of illness
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and George Washington University (GWU) have developed a method to rapidly identify pathogenic species and strains causing illnesses, such as pneumonia, that could help lead to earlier detection of disease outbreaks and pinpoint effective treatments more quickly. The findings are featured online in the journal Genome Research.
Glued to your cell phone? Research suggests it may reduce your physical activity and fitness
Today's smartphones allow for increased opportunities for activities traditionally defined as sedentary behaviors, such as surfing the internet, emailing and playing video games. However, researchers Jacob Barkley and Andrew Lepp, faculty members in the College of Education, Health and Human Services at Kent State University, linked high cell phone use to poor fitness in college students.
Team shows 'bath salts' stimulant could be more addictive than meth
Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have published one of the first laboratory studies of MDPV, an emerging recreational drug that has been sold as "bath salts." The TSRI researchers confirmed the drug's powerful stimulant effects in rats and found evidence that it could be more addictive than methamphetamine, one of the most addictive substances to date.
Researchers identify new source of powerful immunity protein
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center report the identification of a new cellular source for an important disease-fighting protein used in the body's earliest response to infection.
Researchers find key mechanism in increased atherosclerosis risk for people with diabetes
Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have discovered that when excessive PKC beta is found in the endothelium, the thin layer of cells that line blood vessels, atherosclerosis is exacerbated. Their findings were published on-line on June 11 by Circulation Research.
Tots who sleep less have more behavior problems, says study
Four-year-olds with shorter than average sleep times have increased rates of "externalizing" behavior problems, reports a study in the July Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, the official journal of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
Not so blue? Study suggests many Americans less depressed
Fewer Americans may be feeling the blues, with rates of depression in people over 50 on the decline, according to a new University of Michigan Health System study.
Location of body fat can elevate heart disease, cancer risk
Individuals with excessive abdominal fat have a greater risk of heart disease and cancer than individuals with a similar body mass index (BMI) who carry their fat in other areas of the body, according to a study published online today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
People with Alzheimer's disease may have lower risk of cancer and vice versa
Older people with Alzheimer's disease are less likely to also have cancer, and older people with cancer are less likely to also have Alzheimer's disease, according to the largest study to date on the topic, which appears in the July 10, 2013, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Vaccinated children: A powerful protection for older adults
Children who receive a vaccine to prevent blood and ear infections, appear to be reducing the spread of pneumonia to the rest of the population, especially their grandparents and other older adults. Results of a new Vanderbilt study, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and published in the July 11 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine show infant vaccination against pneumococcal bacteria since 2000 has reduced pneumonia hospitalization by more than 10 percent across the board, with the most significant reductions at the extreme ends of the age spectrum.
'Kangaroo care' offers developmental benefits for premature newborns
New research in the Journal of Newborns & Infant Nursing Reviews concludes that so-called "kangaroo care" (KC), the skin-to-skin and chest-to-chest touching between baby and mother, offers developmentally appropriate therapy for hospitalized preterm infants.
The brain's response to sweets may indicate risk for development of alcoholism
Several human and animal studies have shown a relationship between a preference for highly sweet tastes and alcohol use disorders. Furthermore, the brain mechanisms of sweet-taste responses may share common neural pathways with responses to alcohol and other drugs. A new study using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has found that recent drinking is related to the orbitofrontal-region brain response to an intensely sweet stimulus, a brain response that may serve as an important phenotype, or observable characteristic, of alcoholism risk.
'Wasted' and 'hammered' versus 'buzzed' and 'tipsy' is more than just semantics
Understanding the natural language that drinkers use to describe intoxicated states can provide critical insight into subjective perceptions of intoxicated states, particularly among specific groups such as college students. This study extends previous research by assessing how college students apply intoxication terms to characters in hypothetical situations, finding that the ways in which the two genders perceive and communicate intoxicated states may help tailor unique measures for prevention and intervention.
Personality differences linked to later drinking have roots in early childhood
Most risk and protective factors for alcohol use have roots in early childhood. In other words, an individual enters adolescence with personality characteristics and life experiences that have accumulated during the first decade of life. An evaluation of measures of temperament from children six months through to five years of age has found that childhood temperament prior to age five predicts adolescent alcohol use and problems at age 15.5 years, even after controlling for socio-demographic factors and parental alcohol problems.
Kids' allergies may correlate with omega-3, omega-6 lipid levels in cord blood
Children with high proportions of poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in cord blood at birth are more likely to develop respiratory and skin allergies in their early teens, according to research published July 10 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Malin Barman and colleagues from the Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden.
Early advice on diet improves insulin sensitivity in youth
(HealthDay)—Dietary counseling, initiated with the parents at infancy and maintained as the child ages, is associated with improved insulin sensitivity at age 15 to 20, according to a study published online June 25 in Diabetes Care.
Development of new diabetes drug halted by maker
(HealthDay)—The development of what might have become a significant diabetes drug has been halted by its maker amid concerns that the medication raises the risk for fractures, kidney problems and heart failure in those taking it.
Exercise up in US, but so is obesity: report
(HealthDay)—Although Americans are exercising more, the obesity epidemic continues to expand, University of Washington researchers report.
Chronic illness positively linked to receipt of preventive care
(HealthDay)—Patients with one or more chronic illnesses are not less likely to receive recommended preventive health services, according to a study published in the July/August issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Tablets more useful than smartphones for docs using EHRs
(HealthDay)—Although tablets are less often used by physicians than smartphones, they are more frequently used for accessing electronic health records (EHRs), and time spent on tablets is much higher, according to two reports published by AmericanEHR Partners.
Red Cross issues emergency call for blood donations
(HealthDay)—The American Red Cross is sending out an emergency request for blood donors after a recent dip in donations.
Protein targeted for cancer drug development is essential for normal heart function
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have discovered that a protein used by cancer cells to evade death also plays a vital role in heart health. This dual role complicates efforts to develop cancer drugs that target the protein, but may lead to new therapies for heart muscle damage. The research appeared in the June 15 edition of the scientific journal Genes & Development.
Mayo Clinic researchers study how body can repair itself
At Mayo Clinic's Center for Regenerative Medicine, physicians and researchers have a dazzling array of tools at their fingertips: transplants, genomics, computerized data analysis and biomedical engineering. But the core idea is simple: stimulating or restoring the human body's innate ability to heal itself.
Six apps to help autistic children learn
With reports of autism among children continuing to rise at a meteoric rate throughout the United States, it's hardly surprising that scores of apps have been developed to help these kids cope, academically and socially.
Nearly six million die from smoking every year: WHO
Despite public health campaigns, smoking remains the leading avoidable cause of death worldwide, killing almost six million people a year, mostly in low- and middle-income countries, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.
Scientists develop ground-breaking new method of 'starving' cancer cells
A University of Southampton Professor, in collaboration with colleagues at the BC Cancer Agency Research Centre, have discovered a novel way of killing cancer cells. The research, recently published in the journal Cell, has found a new potential treatment for cancer, which leaves the body's healthy cells undamaged, unlike traditional therapies such as radiotherapy.
Study puts troubling traits of H7N9 avian flu virus on display
The emerging H7N9 avian influenza virus responsible for at least 37 deaths in China has qualities that could potentially spark a global outbreak of flu, according to a new study published today (July 10, 2013) in the journal Nature.
Typhoid's lethal secret revealed
Typhoid fever is one of the oldest documented diseases known to have afflicted mankind but what makes it so lethal has remained a mystery for centuries. In a study appearing online July 10 in the journal Nature, Yale researchers offer an explanation of how the devastating disease marked by delirium and stupor still kills 200,000 people every year - and also suggests the basis of a future vaccine.
Intestinal bacteria may fuel inflammation and worsen HIV disease
A new study of HIV infection by UC San Francisco researchers points to changes in intestinal bacteria as a possible explanation for why successfully treated HIV patients nonetheless prematurely experience life-shortening chronic diseases.
Study confirms link between omega-3 fatty acids and increased prostate cancer risk
A second large, prospective study by scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has confirmed the link between high blood concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids and an increased risk of prostate cancer.
Study links vitamin D deficiency to accelerated aging of bones
Everyone knows that as we grow older our bones become more fragile. Now a team of U.S. and German scientists led by researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the University of California (UC) Berkeley has shown that this bone-aging process can be significantly accelerated through deficiency of vitamin D - the sunshine vitamin.
Mental performance of people who reach their nineties may be improving
People who reach their nineties today show improved mental performance compared to people in the same age group born a decade earlier, according to the results of a study conducted in Denmark and published in The Lancet.
3D-printed splint saves infant's life
Half a millennium after Johannes Gutenberg printed the bible, researchers printed a 3D splint that saved the life of an infant born with severe tracheobronchomalacia, a birth defect that causes the airway to collapse.
Nature's own nanoparticles harnessed to target disease
Using a novel form of immune-genetic therapy, researchers from Yale School of Medicine and the Jagiellonian University College of Medicine in Poland have successfully inhibited a strong immune allergic inflammatory response in the skin of mice. The results suggest the technique could be used to combat a variety of diseases.
Exosomal transmission of viral resistance in Hepatitis B
(Medical Xpress)—To move material in bulk, the standard shipping container used by cells, is the vesicle. These approximately 40-micron sized spheres are essentially recyclable grocery bags that can be loaded and adorned with a huge variety of molecules. Exosomes are a particular kind of vesicle that get released when structures known as multivesicular bodies (MSVs) fuse with the plasma membrane. They can potentially be used for diagnostics and perhaps as treatment for many kinds of disease. A paper published in Nature Immunology, has recently shown that exosomes may have a natural function acting against the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). The Chinese authors on the paper have demonstrated that cell-to-cell transmission of the natural antiviral agent, type 1 Interferon (IFN), is mediated by exosomes.
Researchers create the inner ear from stem cells, opening potential for new treatments
Indiana University scientists have transformed mouse embryonic stem cells into key structures of the inner ear. The discovery provides new insights into the sensory organ's developmental process and sets the stage for laboratory models of disease, drug discovery and potential treatments for hearing loss and balance disorders.
Biology news
Improving food security and conserving yam diversity
Through its yam research programme, RBG Kew is providing scientific data contributing to improving food security and conserving yam diversity in some of the lowest GDP per capita countries.
Force of backhand whipping brings racehorse rules under further scrutiny
A new study exposes the ineffectiveness of current rules governing racehorse whip use, researchers at the University of Sydney claim.
Imaging techniques can improve management and husbandry of rhinoceroses
High-resolution computed tomography and digital radiography in captive rhinos reveal that bone pathologies in the feet of these pachyderms are highly prevalent and diverse.
Bacteria from Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia conceal bioplastic
In Bolivia, in the largest continuous salt desert in the world, researchers from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia have found a bacterium that stores large amounts of PHB, a prized polymer. This biodegradable plastic is used by the food and pharmaceutical industries, for example to produce nanospheres to transport antibiotics.
Membranes in tight corners
Photosynthesis takes place in specialized membrane systems, made up of stacked disks linked together by unstacked planar leaflets. A team of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich has now identified a protein that tucks the membrane in at the edge of each stack.
Taking another look at tailings ponds, ducks and cannons
A University of Alberta researcher is taking a new look at what happens when birds come into contact with oilsands tailings ponds.
Coastal power plant records reveal decline in key Southern California fishes
Recent research documents a dramatic, 40-year drop in a number of key fish species and a change in their community structure, according to a new study led by Eric Miller of MBC Applied Environmental Sciences (Costa Mesa, Calif.) and John McGowan of Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.
Study suggests some fishing regs aren't in line with fishing reality
(Phys.org) —A new study by University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Limnology researchers says that when it comes to managing sport fisheries, regulations aren't in line with the reality of some fishing trips.
Aquatic ecologist wants to free species from evolutionary traps
Jennifer Schopf Rehage, assistant professor in the FIU Department of Earth and Environment, has co-authored an article on evolutionary traps, a relatively new phenomenon affecting species in rapidly changing environments.
Research reveals estuary threats
Two new studies have shed light on the health of Busselton's waterways.
A Malaysian beauty: Newly described endemic herb species under threat of extinction
A new species of rare and beautiful plant has been described from the biodiversity rich Peninsular Malaysia. Ridleyandra chuana is endemic to the region and only known from two small montane forest populations. The conservation status of this recently described delicate flower is assessed as Endangered due to its restricted distribution. The new species was described and illustrated in the open access journal PhytoKeys.
N.C.'s Southern Cricket Frog populations declining
A recent U.S. Geological Survey report confirmed that the nation's amphibians, including frogs, toads and salamanders, are disappearing "at an alarming and rapid rate." A biologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has found that North Carolina's Southern Cricket Frog populations mirror this disturbing national trend.
Wind power does not strongly affect greater prairie chickens, 7-year study finds
Wind power development does not ruffle the feathers of greater prairie chicken populations, according to the results of a seven-year study from a Kansas State University ecologist and his team.
Researchers develop new method for tracking cell signaling
Researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, together with collaborators in Germany, have developed a new method for identifying the cell of origin of intracellular and secreted proteins within multicellular environments.
New virus discovered in stranded dolphin
Researchers at the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and colleagues have identified a new virus associated with the death of a short-beaked dolphin found stranded on a beach in San Diego. It is the first time that a virus belonging to the polyomavirus family has been found in a dolphin. Results appear online in the journal PLOS ONE.
Sharks stun sardine prey with tail-slaps
Thresher sharks hunt schooling sardines in the waters off a small coral island in the Philippines by rapidly slapping their tails hard enough to stun or kill several of the smaller fish at once, according to research published July 10 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Simon Oliver of the Thresher Shark Research and Conservation Project, and colleagues from other institutions.
Rare primate species needs habitat help to survive
The population of the critically endangered large primate known as the drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus) has been largely reduced to a few critical habitat areas in Cameroon, according to a recently published study by researchers with the San Diego Zoo's Institute for Conservation Research. The study highlights the challenges faced by this species as its living area becomes ever more fragmented by human disturbance. In addition, the report directs conservation efforts towards key areas where the populations continue to survive and thrive.
Research suggests Madagascar no longer an evolutionary hotspot
Madagascar has long been known as a hotspot of biodiversity. Although it represents only one percent of the earth's area, it is home to about three percent of all animal and plant species on the planet. But research suggests the island's heyday of species development may be all but over.
Biceps bulge, calves curve, 50-year-old assumptions muscled aside
The basics of how a muscle generates power remain the same: Filaments of myosin tugging on filaments of actin shorten, or contract, the muscle – but the power doesn't just come from what's happening straight up and down the length of the muscle, as has been assumed for 50 years.
Early primate leaping set stage for human airtime
(Phys.org) —Over a puddle, up to the basket, off the high dive—we all take leaps from time to time.
Decoding mystery sequences involved in gene regulation
Every cell in an organism's body has the same copy of DNA, yet different cells do different things; for example, some function as brain cells, while others form muscle tissue. How can the same DNA make different things happen? A major step forward is being announced today that has implications for our understanding of many genetically-linked diseases, such as autism.
Mammals can 'choose' sex of offspring, study finds
A new study led by a researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine shows that mammalian species can "choose" the sex of their offspring in order to beat the odds and produce extra grandchildren.
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