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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for August 2, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- New coating turns ordinary glass into super glass- A cometary graveyard
- Researchers find way to measure speed of spinning object using light's orbital angular momentum
- Whooping cough on the rise again
- Scientists uncover secrets of starfish's bizarre feeding mechanism
- Cobalt replacements make solar cells more sustainable
- Wired for change: Gene expression study reveals first steps of evolution in gene regulation
- Engineers discover unique fingerprint for cell phones
- Japanese companies develop quake damping pendulums for tall buildings
- Predicted experimental test will clarify how light interacts with matter at high energies
- Bio-inspired design may lead to more energy efficient windows
- New findings could help improve development of drugs for addiction
- Archaeologists uncover 200-year-old Alaska village
- Baby owls sleep like baby humans
- Why guppies have genital claws
Space & Earth news
Russia PM reprimands space chief for failures
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Friday issued an official reprimand to the head of Russia's space agency Roscosmos after a series of embarrassing rocket launch failures.
A waterworld of volcanoes
In 2008, UiB researchers discovered Loki's Castle, a field of five active hydrothermal vents on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Norway and Greenland. The field contains rich metal deposits and a unique wildlife.
NASA looks at Tropical Storm Jebi in South China Sea
Tropical Storm Jebi developed on July 31 and NASA satellite data on Aug. 1 shows the storm filling up at least half of the South China Sea.
Next generation of unmanned aircraft to boost geoscientific research
The University of Southampton is developing new unmanned aircraft for science applications and geoscientific research.
Environmental Sample Processors help prevent seafood poisoning
Washington state is one of the nation's most prolific areas for shellfish harvesting and aquaculture. Yet, as in many other areas, Washington's shellfish may cause seafood poisoning when certain types of harmful algae or bacteria become abundant in local waters. From June to September 2013, MBARI researchers are collaborating with government agencies, shellfish growers, and native tribes in the Puget Sound area to test a new method for detecting such "blooms" using MBARI-developed Environmental Sample Processors (ESPs).
Nepal to keep closer eye on Everest expeditions
Nepal's tourism ministry said Friday it plans to exercise tighter control of climbers scaling Mount Everest to make sure they keep the world's highest peak clean and to prevent rows.
Soil carbon 'blowing in the wind'
Top soil is rich in nutrients and carbon but is increasingly being blown away by events such as the 'Red Dawn' in Sydney in 2009.
Water in a Martian desert
Craters once brim-full with sediments and water have long since drained dry, but traces of their former lives as muddy lakes cling on in the Martian desert.
NASA's space launch system completes preliminary design review
NASA has achieved a major milestone in its effort to build the nation's next heavy-lift launch vehicle by successfully completing the Space Launch System (SLS) preliminary design review.
Revised location of 1906 rupture of San Andreas Fault in Portola Valley
New evidence suggests the 1906 earthquake ruptured the San Andreas Fault in a single trace through Portola Village, current day Town of Portola Valley, and indicates a revised location for the fault trace.
Sounding rocket to study active regions on the sun
(Phys.org) —At NASA's White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, N.M., a sounding rocket is being readied for flight. Due to launch on Aug. 8, 2013, the VERIS rocket, short for Very high Resolution Imaging Spectrometer, will launch for a 15-minute trip carrying an instrument that can measure properties of the structures in the sun's upper atmosphere down to 145 miles across, some eight times clearer than any similar telescope currently in space.
NASA sees Hurricane Gil being chased by developing storm
On July 31, NASA's TRMM satellite saw Tropical Storm Gil intensifying and the storm became a hurricane. NASA's Aqua satellite and NOAA's GOES-15 satellite captured views of Gil on Aug. 1 as it was being chased by another developing tropical system.
World food security more vulnerable than ever to climate change
A new study, published today (2 August) in Science, has called for a 'climate-smart food system' to prevent climate change from slowing progress in eradicating global hunger.
Project targets coral dredging fallout
Western Australia's marine environment, researchers and the offshore oil and gas industry are set to benefit from new insights provided by a national sea simulator launched at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in Townsville on Thursday.
Decoding material fluxes in the tropical ocean
How is vital oxygen supplied to the tropical ocean? For the first time, oceanographers at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel were able to make quantitative statements regarding this question. They showed that about one third of the oxygen supply in these areas is provided by turbulent processes, such as eddies or internal waves. The study, conducted in the framework of the Collaborative Research Center SFB 754 "Climate-Biogeochemistry Interactions in the Tropical Ocean", was just published in the international journal Biogeosciences.
NASA sees a very active tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean
The Eastern Pacific Ocean has kicked into high gear on Aug. 2 and NOAA's GOES-15 satellite is watching Hurricane Gil and two developing tropical low pressure areas on both sides of Gil.
Mission to build world's most advanced telescope reaches major milestone
(Phys.org) —With the signing last week of a "master agreement" for the Thirty Meter Telescope—destined to be the most advanced and powerful optical telescope in the world—the University of California and UCLA moved a step closer to peering deeper into the cosmos than ever before.
Scientists look into Earth's 'deep time' to predict future effects of climate change
Climate change alters the way in which species interact with one another—a reality that applies not just to today or to the future, but also to the past, according to a paper published by a team of researchers in this week's issue of the journal Science.
Curiosity rover nearing first anniversary on Mars
(Phys.org) —NASA's Curiosity rover will mark one year on Mars next week and has already achieved its main science goal of revealing ancient Mars could have supported life. The mobile laboratory also is guiding designs for future planetary missions.
A cometary graveyard
A team of astronomers from the University of Anitoquia, Medellin, Colombia, have discovered a graveyard of comets. The researchers, led by Anitoquia astronomer Prof. Ignacio Ferrin, describe how some of these objects, inactive for millions of years, have returned to life leading them to name the group the 'Lazarus comets'. The team publish their results in the Oxford University Press journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Technology news
Toward harmonised aircraft communication
A key requirement for aircraft security is an efficient and modern communication network. The procedure carried out before each take-off requires input by multiple individuals at each stage. A fail in communication may lead to an accident and, with air traffic in Europe estimated to grow 50% by 2035, integrating communication in a clear and coherent manner is paramount to safe and efficient transport.
Research will allow architects, building professionals, to measure greenhouse gases in construction
If you can't measure it, you can't manage it – especially if "it" is greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, produced by building construction and operations.
Kick-starting Europe's electric vehicle industry
Electric vehicles (e-vehicles, or EVs) are set to play a key role in the future of urban mobility, reducing pollution, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels and saving drivers money. Although e-vehicles make up only a tiny fraction of the European car fleet at present, sales are expected to grow exponentially over the coming years, thanks, in no small measure, to advances in e-vehicle technology being made by EU-funded researchers. Fully electric vehicle technologies that optimise safety, energy consumption and kinetic energy recovery are also major contributors to on-going improvements in the performance of hybrid vehicles.
Huawei lashes out at ex-CIA chief over spying claims
Chinese telecoms giant Huawei has hit back at allegations by a former CIA chief that the company spies for Beijing, labelling them "defamatory" and "baseless".
Bed bugs, bad service begone, thanks to online reviews
Bed bugs, bad service and terrible food used to be inevitable risks when traveling, but a host of online review sites such as Yelp and TripAdvisor are helping savvy consumers pick the best hotels and eat like locals.
In with antennas, out with cables
An eyesore and a tripping hazard in one: cable clutter is a real nuisance. Now a new kind of antenna is set to banish the pest, hidden in tables and supplying electronic devices with power. The "tables" can transmit data, too.
OmniCam360: Soccer matches and concerts from any angle you choose
In future, soccer and music fans will be able to choose the camera angle when watching live matches and concerts on TV, or even enjoy a 360-degree view of proceedings: all thanks to a new panorama camera that is small, robust, and easy to operate.
Smart sleep analysis
Sleep disorders are a widespread problem. With the aid of smartwatches, researchers are analyzing sleep movement patterns and assisting doctors with diagnosis and therapy. Burnout and diabetes patients stand to benefit.
Germany-based Turk takes knee-strain out of praying
A Turkish man living in Germany has invented a Muslim prayer mat that takes the strain off the knees which, he said Friday, he hoped to now sell worldwide.
Germany ends Cold War spying pact with US, Britain (Update 2)
Germany canceled a Cold War-era surveillance pact with the United States and Britain on Friday in response to revelations by National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden about those countries' alleged electronic eavesdropping operations.
New capacitors to improve electric vehicles
Scientists from the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have developed a new lead-free, high temperature ceramic capacitor that could improve the efficiency and reliability of electric and hybrid vehicles.
Google looks to balloons to provide Internet access in Third World
Only half-filled with helium, and already more than 12 feet wide, the giant plastic envelope shimmered and shook in the breeze like some airborne jellyfish rising through a gentle current.
Google's call for open Internet hedged in its own rules
When Google was just a mighty search engine, the company championed an open, unfettered Internet. Now that it's selling ultra-fast broadband Internet and TV service in Kansas City, Mo., with plans to repeat the service elsewhere, the tech giant bars customers from hosting servers on the Google Fiber network without written permission.
TV seems impervious to Silicon Valley's advances
Google's unveiling last week of yet another device it hopes will change the way people watch TV highlights a stubborn truth: The revolution may be televised, but television itself has so far been impervious to a revolution.
Dell CEO ups ante in buyout battle for PC maker (Update 2)
Just when it looked as if he might be vanquished, Dell CEO Michael Dell has regained the advantage in the lengthy battle to buy the slumping personal computer maker that he founded nearly 30 years ago. He did it by persuading the company's board to accept a slightly better offer that adds a one-time dividend in exchange for a pivotal change in how shareholders will vote on the deal.
E-books: US tells Apple to cut publishing ties
The US Department of Justice said Friday that tech giant Apple must cut ties with the five publishers with which it was found guilty of running an e-book price-fixing scheme.
Yahoo buying binge continues with Rockmelt deal
Yahoo on Friday said it bought social web-browsing startup Rockmelt, extending a buying spree started shortly after Marissa Mayer became chief last year.
Russia home to text message fraud "cottage industry"
Researchers have discovered that bilking people by infecting Android mobile phones with viruses has become a cottage industry in Russia in a criminal model that could be replicated elsewhere.
As cost goes down, 3-D printers begin to make an impression
Diego Porqueras' Deezmaker store in Pasadena, Calif., is a geeky version of Santa's workshop, brimming with action figures, chess pieces and jewelry. But instead of relying on elves, Porqueras has built his own one-man factory using 3-D printers capable of churning out plastic objects within a few hours. He sells the printers, which go for as little as $650, at the shop, which opened in September in a strip mall.
Top robotic helicopter team sets sights on impossible mission (w/ Video)
If the mission sounds impossible, that's because it is—at least with today's technology: Build a three-pound flying machine that can, under its own control, take off, fly through a window into a model building, avoid security lasers, navigate the halls, recognize signs, enter the correct room, find a flash drive in a box on a desk, pick it up, leave a decoy, exit and land in under 10 minutes.
Engineers develop new tests to cool turbine blades, improve engines
(Phys.org) —Engineers know that gas turbine engines for aircraft and power plants are more efficient and burn less fuel when they run at temperatures high enough to melt metal. But how to raise temperatures and efficiencies without damaging engine parts and pieces?
Solar energy could supply one-third of power in US West, study finds
(Phys.org) —Low-cost solar power could supply more than a third of all energy needs in the Western U.S., if the nation can hit its targets for reducing the cost of solar energy, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.
Engineers discover unique fingerprint for cell phones
(Phys.org) —Law enforcement officials may soon have a new tool at their disposal—a device that can distinguish between cell phones based on their digital signal. In the never ending game of cat-and-mouse between law enforcement and criminals, this new advancement may give the good guys the upper hand—all due to a discovery by a team of engineers in Germany.
Japanese companies develop quake damping pendulums for tall buildings
(Phys.org) —Two Japanese companies, Mitsui Fudosan and Kajima Corp, have announced plans to install quake damping pendulums atop the Shinjuku Mitsui Building in downtown Tokyo by 2015. The building, like many others in the city, was built before new quake dampening technology was developed for skyscrapers.
Bio-inspired design may lead to more energy efficient windows
University of Toronto Engineering professor Ben Hatton is turning to nature to find a way to cut down on the energy leaks from windows.
Medicine & Health news
India's baby Roona discharged after surgeons shrink skull (Update)
Doctors allowed a one-year-old Indian baby to go home Friday after nearly four months of treatment to correct a rare disorder that caused her head to double in size.
Interest grows in New Zealand's designer drug law
A novel New Zealand law that could legalize some designer drugs is being scrutinized with interest by other countries struggling to keep up with the proliferation of "party pills" and similar products.
House OKs 40th effort to repeal health law (Update)
Republicans have pushed legislation through the House preventing the Internal Revenue Service from implementing any part of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. It's the 40th time the chamber has voted to repeal all or part of the 2010 law.
New Zealand youth engaging in less risky pursuits
Drinking, drugs and other risky behaviours are on the decline according to a nationwide report on New Zealand youth launched at Parliament recently.
Risks of over-the-counter painkillers to Aboriginal people
New research at the University of Adelaide has highlighted serious potential health risks to Aboriginal people because of a lack of understanding about the use of over-the-counter painkillers.
FDA defining what "gluten free" means on packages
Consumers are going to know exactly what they're getting when they buy foods labeled "gluten free."
Why is orange the new black for female victims of trauma?
How do pathways to jail vary for females who are victims of specific types of trauma? New research published in Psychology of Women Quarterly, a SAGE journal, pinpoints the types of trauma such as caregiver violence, witnessing violence, and intimate partner violence, that lead to specific types of offending later in life and offers explanations based on real experiences.
Added benefit of lixisenatide is not proven
Lixisenatide (trade name: Lyxumia) has been approved in Germany since February 2013 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in combination with oral blood-glucose lowering drugs or basal insulin when these, together with diet and exercise, do not provide adequate glycaemic control. In an early benefit assessment pursuant to the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG), the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined whether this new drug offers an added benefit over the current standard therapy. No such added benefit can be derived from the dossier, however, because the drug manufacturer did not present any suitable data for any of the possible therapeutic indications of lixisenatide.
New IOM report lays out plan to determine effectiveness of obesity prevention efforts
The United States lags behind other international plans to evaluate obesity prevention efforts, and the country needs to know whether these efforts are having their intended impact, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. The committee that wrote the report concluded that more systematic and routine evaluations could help determine how well obesity prevention programs and policies are being implemented and which interventions work best. The committee also recommended specific national and community plans for evaluation of obesity prevention efforts.
Vandetanib in thyroid cancer: Added benefit not proven
Vandetanib (trade name: Caprelsa) has been approved in Germany since February 2012 for the treatment of adult patients who have a particular form of aggressive thyroid cancer. In a new benefit assessment, the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has now examined the added benefit of the drug pursuant to the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG).
Apixaban in atrial fibrillation: Indications of considerable added benefit
The clot-inhibiting drug apixaban (trade name: Eliquis) has been approved in Germany since November 2012 for the prevention of embolism and stroke in adults with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. In an early benefit assessment pursuant to the "Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products" (AMNOG), the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined the added benefit of apixaban.
Grape consumption associated with healthier eating patterns in US children and adults
In a new observational study published in the Journal of Food Science, researchers looked at the association of grape consumption, in the non-alcoholic forms most commonly consumed – fresh grapes, raisins and 100% grape juice – with the diet quality of a recent, nationally representative sample of U.S. children and adults. Their findings suggest that, among adults and children, consumption of grapes and grape products is associated with healthier dietary patterns and improved nutrient intakes.
Miss. law requires cord blood from some teen moms
If a girl younger than 16 gives birth in Mississippi and won't name the father, a new state law says authorities must collect umbilical cord blood and run DNA tests to prove paternity.
400 now sickened in stomach bug outbreak
(HealthDay)—The ongoing outbreak of infection with the foodborne cyclospora parasite has now reached 400 cases and spread to 16 states and New York City, according to the latest U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report issued Friday.
How to stop bleeding in the ER caused by warfarin
Prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs) are faster and more effective than fresh frozen plasma at reversing hemorrhage caused by the anti-coagulant warfarin, despite plasma being the most commonly used therapy. A literature review published last month in Annals of Emergency Medicine suggests that physicians in the United States should join those around the world in following recommendations of multiple specialty organizations to use PCCs as the first line of defense in this common and life-threatening emergency ("Rapid Reversal of Warfarin-Associated Hemorrhage in the Emergency Department by Prothrombin Complex Concentrates").
The four-point test to predict death risk from C. difficile
A Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infection is one that can affect the digestive system and most commonly affects people staying in hospital. It is not generally a problem for healthy people but may infect those on antibiotics with an imbalance of 'good bacteria' in the gut.
CDC: Breastfeeding rates increasing in US
(HealthDay)—More than three-quarters of infants begin breastfeeding, and rates at six and 12 months have increased since 2000, according to a report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Will you look more attractive after plastic surgery?
(HealthDay)—Facial plastic surgery may turn back the hands of time, but new research suggests it may not, alas, boost attractiveness.
Dexamethasone beats placebo for cancer-related fatigue
(HealthDay)—For patients with advanced cancer, dexamethasone is better than placebo for reducing cancer-related fatigue (CRF), according to a study published online July 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
ASID: Doctors may be to blame for antimicrobial resistance
(HealthDay)—The potential roles of animals, airlines, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, and nursing homes in the development of antimicrobial resistance are to be explored in a session at the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases Gram Negative "Superbug" Meeting, held from Aug. 2 to 3 on the Gold Coast, Australia.
No MI rate advantage for aggressive T2DM glucose control
(HealthDay)—In patients with type 2 diabetes, more aggressive glucose-control strategies have variable short-term effects on microvascular complications, but they do not reduce the rate of myocardial infarction over four years of follow-up, according to a study published online July 22 in Diabetes Care.
APA: iPad use in classroom ups communication in ASD
(HealthDay)—Use of handheld touch devices in classrooms may be beneficial for enhancing communication skills among children with autism spectrum disorders, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, held from July 31 to Aug. 4 in Honolulu.
Lung-protective ventilation ups outcomes post-abdominal op
(HealthDay)—For patients at intermediate to high risk of pulmonary complications after major abdominal surgery, lung-protective ventilation with the use of low tidal volumes and positive end-expiratory pressure is associated with improved clinical outcomes, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Alcohol use down, drug use up among pregnant women
(HealthDay)—From 2000 to 2010 there was a decrease in alcohol abuse, but an increase in drug use, among pregnant women, according to a report published July 25 by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Quality improvement model cuts pressure ulcer rate in PICU
(HealthDay)—A collaborative quality improvement (QI) model can effectively reduce the rate of pressure ulcers (PUs) in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), according to a study published in the June 1 issue of Pediatrics.
Fat-cell 'switch' may determine whether body stores energy or burns it
(HealthDay)—Researchers say they've found a "toggle switch" that controls whether fat cells in the body burn up or store their energy.
US gun violence: Murders down, suicides up, CDC reports
(HealthDay)—Fewer people in America's largest cities are being murdered by guns, but the rate of suicide by gun has increased in recent years, U.S. health officials said Thursday.
Rare eye disease leaves people without an iris
(HealthDay)—You may never have heard of aniridia, a genetic disorder that robs people of their vision. But researchers studying the condition say it could give insight into some common health problems—from cataracts and glaucoma to diabetes and obesity.
New study confirms need for state smoke-free laws
American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown issued the following comments today on the CDC Foundation's new study released in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease, which found smoke-free laws in nine states had no impact on restaurant and bar revenue:
Singles need work / life balance too
(Medical Xpress)—If you think balancing work and family demands is one of the central challenges of modern life, you might be surprised to learn that parents score better than their childless counterparts on the work/life balance scale.
Secondhand smoke in bars, restaurants increases asthma, cancer risk
In the first study to evaluate the health risks of exposure to secondhand smoke for patrons of restaurants and bars, researchers have found that the risks are well above the acceptable level. The study assessed the risk for lung cancer and heart disease deaths among both patrons and servers and also for asthma initiation—the first study to do so—among servers.
Largest neuronal network simulation to date achieved using Japanese supercomputer
By exploiting the full computational power of the Japanese supercomputer, K Computer, researchers from the RIKEN HPCI Program for Computational Life Sciences, the Okinawa Institute of Technology Graduate University (OIST) in Japan and Forschungszentrum Jülich in Germany have carried out the largest general neuronal network simulation to date.
Tired, moody and pregnant? Exercise may be the answer
Exercise may improve the mood of pregnant women and help to reduce levels of fatigue reports new research published in Psychology & Health. The study, by Anca Gaston and Harry Prapavessis at the University of Western Ontario, examined whether a four week exercise intervention programme would result in improvements in the psychological well-being of previously inactive pregnant women. The results were clear, with participants reporting significant improvements in their mood during the programme. They also saw reduced levels of fatigue, suggesting that pregnant women should be encouraged to engage in regular exercise to improve both psychological and physical well-being.
Researchers identify novel therapy to treat muscular dystrophy
Researchers at Boston University College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College have identified a combinatorial therapeutic approach that has proven effective in treating muscular dystrophy in a mouse model. The findings, published in Human Molecular Genetics, represent a paradigm shift for the treatment of muscular dystrophy as well as a host of other disabling and devastating muscle diseases.
Software that analyzes sleep patterns without human input could help improve sleep research
Sleep research typically involves recording electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) signals of brain activity over long periods of time, then painstakingly analyzing these records in a process called sleep staging to determine how much time the subject spent in each stage of sleep. Genshiro Sunagawa from the Laboratory for Systems Biology at the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology and colleagues have now developed a fully automated analysis process that promises to improve the speed and reliability of sleep staging analysis.
Often misidentified, multiracial people value accurate perceptions
Multiracial people may be misidentified more often as being white than black and may value being accurately identified more so than single-race individuals, according to research presented at APA's 121st Annual Convention.
Alcoholism could be linked to a hyper-active brain dopamine system
Research from McGill University suggests that people who are vulnerable to developing alcoholism exhibit a distinctive brain response when drinking alcohol, according to a new study by Prof. Marco Leyton, of McGill University's Department of Psychiatry. Compared to people at low risk for alcohol-use problems, those at high risk showed a greater dopamine response in a brain pathway that increases desire for rewards. These findings, published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, could help shed light on why some people are more at risk of suffering from alcoholism and could mark an important step toward the development of treatment options.
Novel 3-D simulation technology helps surgical residents train more effectively
A novel interactive 3-dimensional(3-D) simulation platform offers surgical residents a unique opportunity to hone their diagnostic and patient management skills, and then have those skills accurately evaluated according to a new study appearing in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. The findings may help establish a new tool for assessing and training surgical residents.
FDA warns of rare skin reactions to acetaminophen
(HealthDay)—The widely used painkiller acetaminophen, best known as Tylenol, can cause rare but serious skin reactions and a warning about this danger will be added to product labels, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.
New findings could influence the development of therapies to treat dengue disease
New research into the fight against Dengue, an insect-borne tropical disease that infects up to 390 million people worldwide annually, may influence the development of anti-viral therapies that are effective against all four types of the virus.
Injuries from teen fighting deal a blow to IQ
A new Florida State University study has found that adolescent boys who are hurt in just two physical fights suffer a loss in IQ that is roughly equivalent to missing an entire year of school. Girls experience a similar loss of IQ after only a single fighting-related injury.
Take your child's word for it on asthma, study finds
Children's perceptions of living with asthma may differ significantly from their caregivers' perceptions, which means both should be interviewed when they visit the doctor's office, a new study from UT Kids San Antonio and the Center for Airway Inflammation Research (cAIR) shows.
Pollutants from incense smoke cause human lung-cell inflammation
Burning incense, a popular cultural practice in Arabian Gulf countries and elsewhere, generates indoor air pollutants that may cause inflammation in human lung cells, say researchers in the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
India revokes cancer drug patent in fresh industry blow
India has revoked a local patent granted to Britain's GlaxoSmithKline for a breast cancer drug in the latest blow to global companies seeking a bigger presence in the country's $13 billion medicine market.
Researchers develop first successful laboratory model for studying hepatitis C
By differentiating monkey stem cells into liver cells and inducing successful infection, researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have shown for the first time that the hepatitis C virus (HCV) can replicate in monkeys, according to research published in the journal Gastroenterology. The new findings may lead to the first new animal model and provide new avenues for developing treatments and vaccines for this disease, which impacts more than three million people in the United States.
Nonsentinel lymph nodes key factor in melanoma prognosis
(HealthDay)—Nonsentinel lymph node (NSLN) positivity is a significant prognostic factor in patients with stage III melanoma, associated with shorter overall and disease-specific survival, according to research published online July 31 in JAMA Surgery.
Employees less depressed, more anxious in 2013
(HealthDay)—Employees are less depressed but more anxious than last year, with one-third of employees feeling tense or anxious much of the time, according to a report published by the ComPsych Corporation.
High pain sensitivity linked to dry eye disease symptoms
(HealthDay)—Pain sensitivity and pain tolerance are associated with symptoms of dry eye disease (DED), according to a study published online Aug. 1 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Skin cancer may develop during laser removal of tattoo
(HealthDay)—Malignant melanoma may develop on a preexisting nevus within a tattoo that is being removed with laser therapy, according to a case report published online July 31 in JAMA Dermatology.
Benefits of single-incision laparoscopy unclear
(HealthDay)—There is limited data available to demonstrate the safety and feasibility of minimally invasive, single-incision laparoscopy, according to a technology assessment published in the August issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Childhood abuse linked to later thyroid problems for women
(HealthDay)—Women who suffered physical abuse during childhood are at increased risk for thyroid problems, according to a new study.
Could dietary tweaks ease type 1 diabetes?
(HealthDay)—Eating foods that contain certain nutrients may help people with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes continue producing some insulin for as long as two years, a new study finds.
New drugs to find the right target to fight Alzheimer's disease
The future is looking good for drugs designed to combat Alzheimer's disease. EPFL scientists have unveiled how two classes of drug compounds currently in clinical trials work to fight the disease. Their research suggests that these compounds target the disease-causing peptides with high precision and with minimal side-effects. At the same time, the scientists offer a molecular explanation for early-onset hereditary forms of Alzheimer's, which can strike as early as thirty years of age. The conclusions of their research, which has been published in the journal Nature Communications, are very encouraging regarding the future of therapeutic means that could keep Alzheimer's disease in check.
Brain chemistry changes in children with autism offer clues to earlier detection and intervention
(Medical Xpress)—Between ages three and 10, children with autism spectrum disorder exhibit distinct brain chemical changes that differ from children with developmental delays and those with typical development, according to a new study led by University of Washington researchers.
New findings could help improve development of drugs for addiction
Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have described findings that could enable the development of more effective drugs for addiction with fewer side effects.
Whooping cough on the rise again
(Medical Xpress)—Whooping cough (Pertussis) is a highly contagious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis and characterized by attacks of severe coughing, often (but not always) with a characteristic high-pitched "whoop" at the end. Until recently it appeared that the disease was close to being eradicated, but the incidence is now rapidly increasing.
Biology news
Key points in the genetically modified food debate
One of the biggest stumbling blocks to securing a massive free trade agreement between the United States and Europe is a sharp disagreement on genetically modified foods. Much of the corn, soybean, sugar beets and cotton cultivated in the United States today contains plants whose DNA was manipulated in labs to resist disease and drought, ward off insects and boost the food supply. Though common in the U.S., they are largely banned in the 28-nation European Union. Washington wants Europe to ease restrictions on imports of GMO foods, but the EU is skeptical they are safe. Intense emotions on both sides of the divide make it difficult to separate between strongly held belief and science. Here is a look at key points in the debate.
SnapDragon and RubyFrost are new apple varieties
Cornell has announced two new apple varieties developed in partnership with the New York Apple Growers (NYAG). They are SnapDragon and RubyFrost, and they have undergone a year of rigorous consumer testing as NY1 and NY2.
Helping horses come to term
It is not only humans that sometimes experience difficulty having children. Horses too have a low birth rate, with many pregnancies failing within the first few weeks after conception. The reason is currently unknown but recent research by the team of Christine Aurich at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna (Vetmeduni) suggests that a particular class of blood cells may be involved. The results have just been made available online in the journal Reproduction, Fertility and Development.
NOAA: Puget Sound killer whales to stay protected
Federal scientists have decided Puget Sound killer whales will remain protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Panel calls for protecting world's largest forest
At least half of Canada's 1.4 billion acre boreal forest, the largest remaining intact wilderness on Earth, must be protected to maintain the area's current wildlife and ecological systems, according to a report by an international panel of 23 experts.
Survey of cellular signaling pathways reveals proteins that help plants to cope with dehydration
Enzymes called protein kinases modulate cellular activities in virtually every organism. They switch other proteins off or on by tacking on phosphate chemical groups—a process known as phosphorylation—to regulate the activity of downstream signaling pathways. Abscisic acid (ABA), a critical regulator hormone related to plant growth and survival, is one such protein that is modulated by protein kinases. Kazuo Shinozaki from the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science and colleagues have now obtained valuable insights into a family of kinases that link ABA signaling with another environmental stress pathway.
Active balance between two proteins ensures that embryos develop with the proper proportions
Early in development, the embryo establishes the various axes that determine the symmetry of the mature animal. For example, the patterning of dorsal and ventral surfaces governs formation of the organism's back and belly. There are developmental mechanisms that regulate this patterning to ensure that the various body parts develop in proportion to each other but exactly how these mechanisms function remains uncertain. Yoshiki Sasai, Hidehiko Inomata and colleagues from the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology have now clarified how dorsal-ventral (DV) scaling is maintained in the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis.
Researchers highlight bears' use of Banff highway crossings
Within sight of the Trans-Canada Highway, a team of ecologists with the Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University set out on foot for a nearby site where they'd strung wire snags to catch the fur of passing bears.
Why can't the snakes cross the road, secret lives of baby snakes and other questions
Why can't the pine snakes cross the road? Hint: New Jersey traffic might have something to do with it.
Scientists uncover secrets of starfish's bizarre feeding mechanism
Scientists have identified a molecule that enables starfish to carry out one of the most remarkable forms of feeding in the natural world.
How 'junk DNA' can control cell development
Researchers from the Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program at Sydney's Centenary Institute have confirmed that, far from being "junk", the 97 per cent of human DNA that does not encode instructions for making proteins can play a significant role in controlling cell development.
Planting a new perspective on climate research
(Phys.org) —A study on the mechanisms of how plants respond and adapt to elevated levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and higher temperatures has opened a new perspective in climate research. Lead researcher Qiong A. Liu (Alison) of the Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology at Stony Brook University found that elevatedC02 and higher temperatures affect the aspect of gene expression in plants that control flowering time and cell proliferation.
New research provides evolutionary snapshot of surprisingly altruistic bees
(Phys.org) —A paper published today in Current Biology demonstrates that even in the hopeless situation of colony collapse, queenless honeybees will still show remarkable altruism towards their colony, defending and feeding the collective.
Why guppies have genital claws
New research from evolutionary biologists at the University of Toronto shows that the male guppy grows claws on its genitals to make it more difficult for unreceptive females to get away during mating.
Wired for change: Gene expression study reveals first steps of evolution in gene regulation
A study of gene expression led by scientists at the EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) and the University of Cambridge has revealed the first steps of evolution in gene regulation in mice. Published in the journal Cell, the research has implications for the study of differences in gene regulation between people.
Baby owls sleep like baby humans
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology and the University of Lausanne have discovered that the sleeping patterns of baby birds are similar to that of baby mammals. What is more, the sleep of baby birds appears to change in the same way as it does in humans. Studying barn owls in the wild, the researchers discovered that this change in sleep is strongly correlated with the expression of a gene involved in producing dark, melanic feather spots, a trait known to covary with behavioral and physiological traits in adult owls. These findings raise the intriguing possibility that sleep-related developmental processes in the brain contribute to the link between melanism and other traits observed in adult barn owls and other animals.
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