Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for August 5, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Disorder can improve the performance of plastic solar cells- Materials break, then remake, bonds to build strength
- Team discovers potential new way to treat anxiety
- New asymmetric ice-breaker ship to clear larger path by moving at an angle
- An infallible quantum measurement
- Researchers reveal how the brain remains focused on long-term goals
- Google's ADM phone finder coming this month
- The brain's GPS: Scientists find neurons linked to navigation in open environments
- University of California adopts open-access policy for research papers
- One chemical forms two colors of crystals, sheds insight on agostic bonds important in industrial catalysis
- 3D printer-built robot has insect moves (w/ Video)
- Hubble finds telltale fireball after gamma ray burst
- Practice makes the brain's motor cortex more efficient, research says
- Crowd sourcing project to allow 3D scan-to-print web app
- OpenGlass apps show support for visually impaired (w/ Video)
Space & Earth news
Pollution blamed for drop in Beijing tourism
The number of tourists visiting China's capital fell by more than 14 percent in the first half of this year compared to 2012, state media reported Saturday, with air pollution blamed for the decline.
Fracking fury hits idyllic British village
Louisa Delpy had never protested before, but when she heard that shale gas extraction might begin in her leafy part of the English countryside, she was so furious that she took to the streets.
Models for a more effective response to climate change
There is now widespread acceptance that the climate is changing due to human-related greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change will affect all sectors of society and the environment at the local, national and global scales.
Third mirror casting event for the Giant Magellan Telescope
On Saturday, August 24, 2013, the third mirror for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) will be cast inside a rotating furnace at the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory Mirror Lab, the only facility in the world where mirrors of this size are being made. The Mirror Lab will host a rare media opportunity to witness this milestone in the creation of the optics for the GMT. Each of the seven mirrors weighs roughly 20 tons, yet the surface has to be smooth to within a twentieth of a wavelength of light. The GMT mirrors are considered to be the greatest astronomical optics challenge ever undertaken. Here's a short video discussing the mirror making process.
Oil companies frack in waters off California
Companies prospecting for oil off California's coast have used hydraulic fracturing on at least a dozen occasions to force open cracks beneath the seabed, and now regulators are investigating whether the practice should require a separate permit and be subject to stricter environmental review.
As dams loom, Mekong fishermen fear for their future
The waters of the mighty Mekong have sustained generations of families but nowadays its fishermen often find their nets empty and fear hydropower mega-dams will destroy their livelihoods.
Team continues to predict above-average 2013 Atlantic hurricane season
The Colorado State University team today continued to predict an above-average 2013 Atlantic basin hurricane season, although the forecast numbers have been reduced slightly due to some anomalous cooling in the eastern tropical and subtropical Atlantic.
Ahoy aquaplanet: Identifying model resolution shortcomings
By putting models through their paces in an all-water world, scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory found highly scale-sensitive issues in regional climate modeling. In the first of two studies, two approaches for high-resolution modeling produced uncertainties in circulation patterns due to the sensitivity of precipitation representations to model resolution. In the second study, they found that key model components that are supposed to simulate the upward transport of moisture important for modeling precipitation underestimate moisture transport across all scales.
Irrigation's impact on clouds and climate
With the simple act of watering a plant, humans alter the balance of moisture in soil and the climate. Atmospheric scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory included irrigation in a climate model and found that it shifts the balance of water vapor and upward moving air. This impact, seen in dry years especially, affects the layer of air closest to Earth, which is most susceptible to heat exchange and evaporation from the Earth's surface. Their findings show that irrigation may play a role in forming shallow clouds, which alter the local climate. Including irrigation in climate models brings the models another step closer to observations.
Russia to restart Proton rocket launches after crash
Russia plans to restart launches of its Proton-M rocket in September, a top space official said Monday, ending a freeze that was introduced when one of the carrier rockets crashed in July.
New insight on vulnerability of public-supply wells to contamination
Key factors have been identified that help determine the vulnerability of public-supply wells to contamination. A new USGS report describes these factors, providing insight into which contaminants in an aquifer might reach a well and when, how and at what concentration they might arrive.
Japanese vehicle delivers new hardware for NASA's Robotic Refueling Mission
It may be called the Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM), but NASA's RRM was built to demonstrate much more than the clever ways space robots can fill up satellites.
Study finds climate change is causing modifications to marine life behavior
Oceans cover 71 percent of the Earth's surface, yet our knowledge of the impact of climate change on marine habitats is a mere drop in the proverbial ocean compared to terrestrial systems. An international team of scientists set out to change that by conducting a global meta-analysis of climate change impacts on marine systems.
Talking humanoid robot launches on Japan rocket
The first talking humanoid robot "astronaut" has taken off in a rocket.
Space cadets in Washington for one-way ticket to Mars
Around 40 volunteers from thousands who applied for a one-way ticket to Mars gathered in the US capital Saturday to hear from the man behind plans to colonize the Red Planet.
Shrinking glaciers won't affect South Asia water availability: study
Glacier systems that feed two key rivers in South Asia will badly retreat this century, but demands for water are still likely to be met, a study predicted on Sunday.
Mercurial magnetosphere shaped by solar winds
Just before NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft began sending back stunning pictures of the Earth and the moon from its orbit around Mercury earlier this summer, two University of Alberta scientists were using NASA data to look back at Mercury.
The brass ring of climate modeling
Finding a simple way to express complex climate processes is the ultimate prize. Scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, University of Leeds, Colorado State University, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Carnegie Mellon University developed a simple mathematical model to represent how atmospheric aerosol particles affect the Earth's energy balance through their role in forming cloud droplets. The simple model not only efficiently and effectively describes complex processes, but the results are consistent with those from much more detailed global climate simulations.
Lightning 'halos' could help track fierce thunderstorms
Scientists from the University of Reading and Bristol Industrial and Research Associates Limited (BIRAL) have discovered a new method of tracking fierce thunderstorms.
Skyscraper site may sit on active Hollywood fault line, state says
California's state geologist has declared that the Hollywood earthquake fault is active and may run directly underneath a skyscraper project approved by the Los Angeles City Council last week.
International research team discovers new mineral
Geologists at the University of California, Riverside have discovered a new mineral, cubic boron nitride, which they have named "qingsongite."
Carbon emissions to impact climate beyond the day after tomorrow
Future warming from fossil fuel burning could be more intense and longer-lasting than previously thought. This prediction emerges from a new study by Richard Zeebe at the University of Hawai'i who includes insights from episodes of climate change in the geologic past to inform projections of man-made future climate change. The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Disappearance of coral reefs, drastically altered marine food web on the horizon
If history's closest analog is any indication, the look of the oceans will change drastically in the future as the coming greenhouse world alters marine food webs and gives certain species advantages over others.
Ozone-protection treaty had climate benefits, too, study says
The global treaty that headed off destruction of earth's protective ozone layer has also prevented major disruption of global rainfall patterns, even though that was not a motivation for the treaty, according to a new study in the Journal of Climate.
Odd Martian crater type made by impacts into ancient ice
Geologists from Brown University have developed a promising new explanation for a mysterious type of crater on the surface on Mars.
Hubble finds telltale fireball after gamma ray burst
(Phys.org) —NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has provided the strongest evidence yet that short-duration gamma-ray bursts are triggered by the merger of two small, super-dense stellar objects, such as a pair of neutron stars or a neutron star and a black hole.
Technology news
Red Sox owner enters $70M deal for Boston Globe
The New York Times Co. says it has agreed to sell The Boston Globe to the principal owner of the Boston Red Sox for $70 million, a massive drop from the record $1.1 billion it paid for it.
Facebook soaring stock closes above $38 IPO price
Facebook's stock has closed above its IPO price for the first time since the online social networking leader made its debut on Wall Street more than 14 months ago.
UK Twitter chief apologises for online abuse
Twitter's UK general manager apologised Saturday to women attacked by "trolls" on the microblogging website, as it updated its rules on abusive behaviour.
Wall Street Journal's Chinese version blocked in China
Access to the Wall Street Journal's Chinese-language edition has been cut off in China, where official censors routinely delete online content deemed sensitive but less often block entire websites.
A moving experience: New navy transportation tool takes off
In a significant advance for military transportation, a new web-based tool sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) brings an Expedia-like search capability to Navy planners looking to move personnel or equipment around the world quickly and affordably.
Digital company buying US publication Newsweek
The once-influential US publication Newsweek is being sold to the all-digital news publisher IBT Media, the company said.
Twitter hands down new rules to beat abusive talk (Update)
Twitter is handing down new rules to control abusive language, the company said Saturday, a move which follows a barrage of nasty, harassing, and threatening messages directed at high-profile female users of the microblogging site.
CBS: No negotiations taking place with Time Warner
(AP)—CBS says there are currently no negotiations taking place with Time Warner Cable, which stopped carrying the network in select markets on Friday in a spat over fees.
Study highlights need for more social responsibility by online gaming industry
Online game companies need to be more socially responsible for over-addictive use of their products to avoid government intervention, according to a new study by Cardiff, Derby and Nottingham Trent universities.
IDC: Tablet shipments slow down with no new iPad
(AP)—Worldwide shipments of tablet computers slowed down in the second quarter because Apple didn't release a new model of its trend-setting iPad, research firm IDC said Monday.
US court: Pa. school can't ban 'boobies' bracelets
(AP)—A federal appeals court won't let a Pennsylvania school district ban "I (heart) Boobies!" bracelets.
Obama administration overrules Apple import ban
President Obama's trade representative has vetoed a ban on imports of some Apple iPads and older iPhones, dealing a setback to rival South Korean electronics company Samsung.
Next step in facial imaging (w/ Video)
A team of University clinicians and computer scientists can, for the first time, carry out facial movement research and transform the way patients needing facial surgery are diagnosed and monitored thanks to a new state-of-the-art 3D surface motion imaging system.
Amazon unveils feature resembling Pinterest
Amazon.com Inc. has launched a Pinterest-like section on its website, something that could induce shoppers to buy more goods from the retail giant.
Reliable communication, unreliable networks
Now that the Internet's basic protocols are more than 30 years old, network scientists are increasingly turning their attention to ad hoc networks—communications networks set up, on the fly, by wireless devices—where unsolved problems still abound.
Shadows and light: Researchers develop new software to detect forged photos
Dartmouth and UC Berkeley researchers have developed new software to detect faked photos, using a geometric algorithm to locate inconsistent shadows that are not obvious to the naked eye.
OpenGlass apps show support for visually impaired (w/ Video)
A two-person team behind a company called Dapper Vision is pioneering an OpenGlass Project that could tweak perceptions about Google Glass. Rather than seeing Google's wearable as a marketing and infotainment luxury item, the hands-free device could become known as an information vehicle for the visually impaired. The two doctoral students behind Dapper Vision recently released the latest in a series of videos showing OpenGlass apps at work. The latest video in the series, posted last month, offers two explorations into how Google Glass might behave as a support system for identifying objects for the visually impaired.
Crowd sourcing project to allow 3D scan-to-print web app
Technology to allow for printing three dimensional objects is evolving rapidly, making it difficult for some to keep up. It's also still relatively expensive. Currently, people who wish to print such an object have but two choices—buy (or borrow) a 3D printer or contract out with a company that prints 3D objects for a price. Both options require software and a depth camera. Now it appears a third option is about to make its debut—one that might make the entire process both cheaper and far easier to carry out.
New asymmetric ice-breaker ship to clear larger path by moving at an angle
Officials for Finnish shipbuilder Arctech Helsinki have confirmed reports that a ship is currently under construction at its shipyard that will demonstrate a revolutionary new approach to clearing ice to allow for passage. Called the Baltika, the new ship is to have an asymmetric shape that will allow it to attack ice at a 30 degree angle, creating a much wider channel than it would were it to travel straight ahead—the normal approach.
Google's ADM phone finder coming this month
Android Device Manager will be available later this month for phones with Android 2.2 or later. The official Android blog carried the announcement last week in a posting by Android product manager, Benjamin Poiesz. The service will enable Android users to enjoy the same protective features that iPhone users enjoy with Apple's Find my iPhone and that assorted third-party services offer those who have Android smartphones.
Medicine & Health news
Outbreak of stomach illnesses is hard to detect
A mysterious outbreak of a stomach illness called cyclospora has proved particularly hard to trace.
New Zealand botulism scare triggers global recall (Update)
New Zealand authorities have triggered a global recall of up to 1,000 tons of dairy products across seven countries after dairy giant Fonterra announced tests had turned up a type of bacteria that could cause botulism.
Old tobacco playbook gets new use by e-cigarettes
Companies vying for a stake in the fast-growing electronic cigarette business are reviving the decades-old marketing tactics the tobacco industry used to hook generations of Americans on regular smokes.
Legionnaires' outbreak hits Ohio retirement center
Health officials say Ohio's largest outbreak of Legionnaires' disease has killed five people and sickened 39 others at a retirement community since July.
China, Russia halt some NZ dairy imports
(AP)—A botulism scare has prompted China and Russia to stop importing New Zealand milk powder and other dairy products, denting the country's reputation as a supplier of safe, high quality food.
Israel to launch mass polio vaccination campaign
Israel on Monday launches a mass campaign in the south of the country to vaccinate 200,000 children up to nine years old against polio, Health Minister Yael German said.
With a few questions, pharmacists can make Ramadan's fast safe for Muslim patients
Nearly a quarter of the world's population is celebrating Ramadan this month, but many of them are fasting in observance of the Muslim holy month at unnecessary risk to their health.
Obese black Americans half as likely as whites to have bariatric surgery
White Americans who are obese are twice as likely as black Americans to have surgery to tackle the problem, a study has found.
Intervention assists end-of-life decisions in advanced cancer
(HealthDay)—In advanced cancer patients, an intervention with a pamphlet and discussion to assist with end-of-life decision making is associated with earlier placement of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders and less likelihood of death in the hospital, according to research published online July 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Illegal buttocks injections kill, maim US women
(AP)—Women across the U.S. are risking their lives for illegal procedures to make their buttocks bigger, often involving home-improvement materials such as silicone injected by people with no medical training.
A novel motion tracking system assesses functional rehabilitation of the upper limbs
Upper limb function impairment is one of the most common sequelae of central nervous system injury. Conventional assessment methods cannot provide objective evaluation of patient performance and the effectiveness of therapies.
Smoking abstinence research receives major financial boost
Warren Bickel, an internationally recognized addiction expert at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, recently received a $3.2-million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse for research on improving self-control in smokers seeking to quit cigarettes. The grant will provide Bickel's team with $573,000 to $716,000 a year over five years to develop innovative new ways to enhance the smokers' ability to abstain from acting on their nicotine cravings.
Q&A on the science of growing hamburger in the lab
(AP)—At a public tasting in London Monday, Dutch scientists served hamburgers made from cow stem cells. Some questions and answers about the science behind the revolutionary patty.
Improving teamwork in operating room can boost patient safety
Improving communication and strengthening teamwork among cardiac surgery teams are among recommendations for reducing preventable mistakes in the cardiac operating room, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association.
Consumer satisfaction an indicator of quality of care in nursing homes
Consumer satisfaction surveys of nursing home residents and their families track closely with other quality of care measures. These results, which were published today in the journal Health Affairs, indicate that the surveys could be a valuable tool to both inform consumer choice and reward homes for quality of care.
Researchers offer new model, helping clinicians prioritize recommended preventive
With physicians facing increasing demands on their time, it can be extremely difficult to prioritize which preventive care methods should be used for their patients. Now, two researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center have developed a mathematical model that will save time, lead to enhanced care, and potentially save lives.
'Obamacare' enrollment launch just 8 weeks away
(AP)—Just eight weeks remain before uninsured Americans can start shopping online for subsidized health insurance under the president's overhaul.
Video games boost visual attention but reduce impulse control
A person playing a first-person shooter video game like Halo or Unreal Tournament must make decisions quickly. That fast-paced decision-making, it turns out, boosts the player's visual skills but comes at a cost, according to new research: reducing the person's ability to inhibit impulsive behavior. This reduction in what is called "proactive executive control" appears to be yet another way that violent video games can increase aggressive behavior.
Moms' high-fat, sugary diets may lead to offspring with a taste for alcohol, sensitivity to drugs
Vulnerability to alcohol and drug abuse may begin in the womb and be linked to how much fatty and sugary foods a mother eats during pregnancy, according to findings from animal lab experiments presented at APA's 121st Annual Convention.
Do antioxidants improve a woman's chances of conceiving?
There is no high quality evidence that antioxidant supplements help to increase a woman's chances of having a baby, according to the results of a new systematic review. The review, published in The Cochrane Library, found women were no more likely to conceive when taking oral antioxidants and that there was limited information about potential harms.
Rage against the disease
Imagine a world where asthma wasn't a chronic disease, rather an inconvenient illness whose first symptoms could be easily treated. This vision could one day become a reality thanks to cutting-edge research into an immune receptor known as RAGE.
Researchers find depression in hip fracture patients hinders physical recovery and compromises immunity
Older people who suffer a hip fracture should be routinely tested and treated for depression to aid their recovery and prevent their immune systems from being compromised, according to new research from the University of Birmingham.
Tracking nanodiamond-tagged stem cells
A method that is used to track the fate of a single stem cell within mouse lung tissue is reported in a study published online this week in Nature Nanotechnology. The method may offer insights into the factors that determine the acceptance of transplanted stem cells, and their ability to regenerate within a host.
Good eating and sleep habits help kids succeed in school
Adults often hear what they should be doing to improve their health. But many of these known wellness behaviors are important for kids, too, and two University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) experts say school success depends on making the right choices.
Breastfeeding may reduce Alzheimer's risk
A new study suggests that mothers who breastfeed run a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's, with longer periods of breastfeeding further reducing the risk.
Potential new drug for tuberculosis
A new drug capable of inhibiting growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is reported this week in Nature Medicine. The findings may improve therapeutic options for the treatment of drug resistant tuberculosis (TB).
Thin people get diabetes too
Pointing the finger at fat as the major or sole contributor to contracting type 2 diabetes is misleading and wrongly promotes the idea that the condition is entirely self-induced, research at Flinders University has found.
Gene combinations help predict treatment success for alcoholism medication
An experimental treatment for alcohol dependence works better in individuals who possess specific combinations of genes that regulate the function and binding of serotonin, a brain chemical affected by the treatment, according to a study supported by the National Institutes of Health. A report of the finding appears online in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
First links between thyroid hormone and mortality
DATA from The Health In Men Study (HIMS) has revealed a link between thyroid hormones and mortality in older men, revealing the first-ever association between high thyroxine levels within the normal range with all-cause mortality.
Necrostatin-1 counteracts aluminum's neurotoxic effects
Investigators have linked aluminum accumulation in the brain as a possible contributing factor to neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. A new study published in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience sheds light on the mechanism underlying aluminum-induced neuronal cell death and identifies necrostatin-1 as a substance which counteracts several of aluminum's neurotoxic effects.
Researchers decode origin of inflammation-driven pancreatic cancer
Researchers at Mayo Clinic in Florida have revealed the process by which chronic inflammation of the pancreas, pancreatitis, morphs into pancreatic cancer. They say their findings point to ways to identify pancreatitis patients at risk of pancreatic cancer and to potential drug therapies that might reverse the process.
Questions answered with the pupils of your eyes (w/ Video)
Patients who are otherwise completely unable to communicate can answer yes or no questions within seconds with the help of a simple system—consisting of just a laptop and camera—that measures nothing but the size of their pupils. The tool, described and demonstrated in Current Biology, a Cell Press publication, on August 5 takes advantage of changes in pupil size that naturally occur when people do mental arithmetic. It requires no specialized equipment or training at all.
Tumor cell vaccination trial to promote anti-leukemia responses
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that most often affects older adults. CLL responds to bone marrow stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT); however, the rate of relapse for CLL remains relatively high. A benefit of allo-HSCT is that treatment can result in the development of an anti-tumor response produced by the grafted cells and is associated with a low risk of cancer relapse.
Not only bone density, but also quality of bone predicts fracture risk
In a study carried out at the University of Eastern Finland, bone histomorphometry and infrared spectroscopy revealed abnormal bone properties in children with vertebral fractures and in children after solid organ transplantation. Bone compositional changes in children with vertebral fractures and after different types of organ transplantation have not been reported previously.
Mother's asthma during pregnancy may raise child's health risks
(HealthDay)—A large new study of Danish women has tied a mother's asthma during pregnancy to a higher risk for developing a wide range of childhood diseases among her offspring.
If parents ever smoked, teens may be more likely to light up
(HealthDay)—Teens of a parent who smoked—even if the mother or father quit before the teen was born—are more likely to smoke than those whose parents are nonsmokers, a new study finds.
Feelings for fetus may vary smoking amount
A small new study suggests that pregnant smokers with low scores on a scale that rates emotional attachment to their fetuses may be inclined to smoke more than pregnant smokers who feel more attached to their future babies.
Putting the brakes on pain
Neuropathic pain—pain that results from a malfunction in the nervous system—is a daily reality for millions of Americans. Unlike normal pain, it doesn't go away after the stimulus that provoked it ends, and it also behaves in a variety of other unusual and disturbing ways. Someone suffering from neuropathic pain might experience intense discomfort from a light touch, for example, or feel as though he or she were freezing in response to a slight change in temperature.
Depressed fish could help in the search for new drug treatments
Chronic stress can lead to depression and anxiety in humans. Scientists working with Herwig Baier, Director at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried, recently discovered a very similar correlation in fish.
Working-life training and maternity spells are related to slower cognitive decline in later life
Employment gaps may promote but also reduce cognitive function in older age, as new research from the University of Luxembourg has shown. In particular, some of the findings suggest that leaves reported as unemployment and sickness are associated with higher risk of cognitive impairment indicating that these kinds of employment gaps may decrease cognitive reserve in the long run. Strongest evidence was found for training and maternity spells being related to slower cognitive decline, suggesting beneficial associations of these kinds of leaves on cognitive function.
Researchers find maternal smoking linked to asthma in the third generation
With some 300 million people around the world living with asthma, a study by Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed) researchers that was released ahead-of- print found for the first time that maternal smoking can cause the third generation of offspring to suffer from the chronic lung disease.
Percentage of cancers linked to viruses potentially overestimated
The results of a large-scale analysis of the association between DNA viruses and human malignancies suggest that many of the most common cancers are not associated with DNA viruses. The findings, published in the August 2013 issue of the Journal of Virology, challenge earlier studies suggesting as high as 40 percent of tumors are caused by viruses.
Ultraviolet flashes can create vitamin D-enriched mushrooms
Quick zaps of ultraviolet light can boost the vitamin D levels in mushrooms in seconds, turning the fungi into an even healthier food, according to Penn State food scientists.
Breastfeeding may protect against persistent stuttering
A study of 47 children who began stuttering at an early age found that those who were breastfed in infancy were more likely to recover from stuttering and return to fluent speech.
Escape from poverty helps explain diabetes epidemic in the American South
The strikingly high prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in the American South can be partially traced to rapid economic growth between 1950 and 1980, new research suggests.
Eating a big breakfast fights obesity and disease
Whether you hope to lose weight or just stay healthy, what you eat is a crucial factor. The right nutrients can not only trim your waistline, but also provide energy, improve your mood, and stave off disease. Now a Tel Aviv University researcher has found that it's not just what you eat—but when.
NYC to state top court: Review big-soda ban ruling
(AP)—New York City is asking the state's highest court to take up the city's effort to stop many eateries from selling super-sized, sugary drinks.
Scientists learn how soy foods protect against colon cancer
University of Illinois scientists have evidence that lifelong exposure to genistein, a bioactive component in soy foods, protects against colon cancer by repressing a signal that leads to accelerated growth of cells, polyps, and eventually malignant tumors.
Study: Centers throughout the brain work together to make reading possible
A combination of brain scans and reading tests has revealed that several regions in the brain are responsible for allowing humans to read.
No-smoking law in Colorado casinos led to fewer ambulance calls
When smoking was banned from casinos in Colorado, ambulance calls to casinos in Gilpin County dropped about 20 percent, according to research reported in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
Noninvasive test optimizes colon cancer screening rates, study finds
A study of nearly 6,000 North Texas patients suggests sweeping changes be made to the standard of care strategy for colorectal screenings, finding that participation rates soared depending on the screening method offered and how patient outreach was done.
Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease do not appear to share common genetic risk
A study by Valentina Moskvina, Ph.D., of the Cardiff University School of Medicine, Wales, United Kingdom, and colleagues, examined the genetic overlap between Parkinson disease (PD) and Alzheimer disease (AD).
Effect of mailed outreach invitations to underserved patients for colorectal cancer screening
Among underserved patients whose colorectal cancer (CRC) screening was not up to date, mailed outreach invitations appear to result in higher CRC screening compared with usual care, according to a study by Samir Gupta, M.D., M.S.C.S., of the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, and the University of California, San Diego, and colleagues.
Long-term calcium-channel blocker use for hypertension associated with higher breast cancer risk
Long-term use of a calcium-channel blocker to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) is associated with higher breast cancer risk, according to a report published by JAMA Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.
Antihypertensives linked with increased breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women
Older women who take certain types of medication to combat high blood pressure may be putting themselves at greater risk for developing breast cancer, according to a new study by a team of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center scientists led by Christopher Li, M.D., Ph.D. The study is the first to observe that long-term use of a class of antihypertensive drugs known as calcium-channel blockers in particular are associated with breast cancer risk. The team's findings will be published online Aug. 5 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Celiac disease patients with ongoing intestine damage at lymphoma risk
Patients with celiac disease who had persistent intestine damage (identified with repeat biopsy) had a higher risk of lymphoma than patients whose intestines healed, according to findings published in the August 6, 2013, issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.
Study reveals potential role of 'love hormone' oxytocin in brain function
In a loud, crowded restaurant, having the ability to focus on the people and conversation at your own table is critical. Nerve cells in the brain face similar challenges in separating wanted messages from background chatter. A key element in this process appears to be oxytocin, typically known as the "love hormone" for its role in promoting social and parental bonding.
Mechanism offers promising new approach for harnessing the immune system to fight cancer
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have discovered a way to target the immune system to shrink or eliminate tumors in mice without causing autoimmune problems. Researchers also found evidence that the same mechanism may operate in humans. The study was published today in the advance online edition of Nature.
Distinct brain disorders biologically linked
A team of researchers have shown that schizophrenia and a disorder associated with autism and learning difficulties share a common biological pathway. This is one of the first times that researchers have uncovered genetic evidence for the underlying causes of schizophrenia.
Mechanism that allows bacteria to infect plants may inspire cure for eye disease
By borrowing a tool from bacteria that infect plants, scientists have developed a new approach to eliminate mutated DNA inside mitochondria—the energy factories within cells. Doctors might someday use the approach to treat a variety of mitochondrial diseases, including the degenerative eye disease Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). The research, published online today in Nature Medicine, was funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Scientists discover a curable cause for some cases of high blood pressure
Five per cent of high blood pressure cases are caused by small nodules on hormone gland; now scientists have developed a scan which enables rapid diagnosis.
Researchers witness new type of cell division, use it to battle cancer
The surprise discovery in humans of a type of human cell division previously seen only in slime molds has put a University of Wisconsin research team on a path to prevent some common and deadly cancers.
Study reveals genes that drive brain cancer
A team of researchers at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University Medical Center has identified 18 new genes responsible for driving glioblastoma multiforme, the most common—and most aggressive—form of brain cancer in adults. The study was published August 5, 2013, in Nature Genetics.
Social status and power of action of speakers determine the way their statements are perceived
The actual standing of speakers within a society's power structure determines how their statements are perceived. This is the conclusion reached in a joint study undertaken by neurolinguist Professor Ina Bornkessel-Schlesewsky of the University of Marburg and linguist Professor Matthias Schlesewsky of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) with the support of Sylvia Krauspsenhaar, who participated in the study as a member of the Neurotypology research group at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig. The results were recently published in an article entitled "Yes, you can? A speaker's potency to act upon his words orchestrates early neural responses to message-level meaning" in the open-access journal PLoS ONE.
Discovery could lead to end of sunburn pain
The painful, red skin that comes from too much time in the sun is caused by a molecule abundant in the skin's epidermis, a new study shows.
Mindfulness meditation IBMT trims craving for tobacco
Addiction to smoking and other substances involves a particular set of brain areas related to self-control, according to numerous research. For a new study, researchers wondered if a training approach designed to influence this addiction pathway could influence smokers to reduce their tobacco use—even if smokers did not intend to do so.
Great Recession onset spurs harsh parenting, researchers find
The onset of the Great Recession and, more generally, deteriorating economic conditions lead mothers to engage in harsh parenting, such as hitting or shouting at children, a team of researchers has found. But the effect is only found in mothers who carry a gene variation that makes them more likely to react to their environment.
How a cancer drug unties knots in the chromosome that causes Angelman and Prader-Willi syndromes
UC Davis researchers have identified how and where in the genome a cancer chemotherapy agent acts on and 'un-silences' the epigenetically silenced gene that causes Angelman syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by severe intellectual disability, seizures, motor impairments, and laughing and smiling.
More intestinal cells than thought can absorb larger particles
The small intestine employs more cells and mechanisms than scientists previously thought to absorb relatively large particles, such as those that could encapsulate protein-based therapeutics like insulin, according to a new study. The findings, published the week of Aug. 5, 2013, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, open another window for drug makers to increase absorption of medicines taken by mouth.
Sugary drinks tied to preschoolers' extra pounds
(HealthDay)—Preschool children who regularly have sugary drinks tend to pack on more pounds than other youngsters, a large study of U.S. children suggests.
Researchers get close-up view of water pores needed in the eye's lens
Researchers have achieved dynamic, atomic-scale views of a protein needed to maintain the transparency of the lens in the human eye. The work, funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, could lead to new insights and drugs for treating cataract and a variety of other health conditions.
Immune system molecule promotes tumor resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy
A team of scientists, led by Napoleone Ferrara, MD, has shown for the first time that a signaling protein involved in inflammation also promotes tumor resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy.
Stem cells found in gum tissue can fight inflammatory disease
Stem cells found in mouth tissue can not only become other types of cells but can also relieve inflammatory disease, according to a new Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC study in the Journal of Dental Research.
Researchers reveal how the brain remains focused on long-term goals
As anyone who has traveled with young children knows, maintaining focus on distant goals can be a challenge. A new study from MIT suggests how the brain achieves this task, and indicates that the neurotransmitter dopamine may signal the value of long-term rewards. The findings may also explain why patients with Parkinson's disease—in which dopamine signaling is impaired—often have difficulty in sustaining motivation to finish tasks.
Practice makes the brain's motor cortex more efficient, research says
Not only does practice make perfect, it also makes for more efficient generation of neuronal activity in the primary motor cortex, the area of the brain that plans and executes movement, according to researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Their findings, published online today in Nature Neuroscience, showed that practice leads to decreased metabolic activity for internally generated movements, but not for visually guided motor tasks, and suggest the motor cortex is "plastic" and a potential site for the storage of motor skills.
Team discovers potential new way to treat anxiety
Chemically modified inhibitors of the COX-2 enzyme relieve anxiety behaviors in mice by activating natural "endocannabinoids" without gastrointestinal side effects, Vanderbilt University scientists will report next week.
The brain's GPS: Scientists find neurons linked to navigation in open environments
Using direct human brain recordings, a research team from Drexel University, the University of Pennsylvania, UCLA and Thomas Jefferson University has identified a new type of cell in the brain that helps people to keep track of their relative location while navigating an unfamiliar environment.
Biology news
Using genes to counter rust
An international study led by a Queensland scientist has found a way to better safeguard an important food crop—and the world's beer supply.
New technology and optimisation improve dairy farms' competitiveness
Adopting automated milking systems improves the productivity growth of dairy farms and, thus, their prospects of long-term survival. The treatment of diseased cows, along with production of replacement stock in a planned manner and with new technology, is economically justifiable. In her doctoral thesis, Anna-Maija Heikkilä, Lic.Sc. (Agriculture and Forestry) of MTT Agrifood Research Finland studied tech-nology choices and optimal herd replacement on dairy farms.
Shaping the future of Europe's aquaculture
Over the past few years, the depletion of fish stocks has been a growing concern for policy-makers, fishers and environmental organizations alike. Debates on EU measures to protect bluefin tuna or cod fishing quotas, for example, make the headlines on a regular basis.
Why lab-grown meat is a good thing
While the sight of someone eating a very expensive burger is clearly something of a publicity stunt, the underlying idea behind laboratory-grown meat is sound. The research is highly laudable, because what it promises is so desirable.
Microsoft billionaire donates to gorilla research
(AP)—Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is giving $1 million to the Jane Goodall Institute to study and protect gorillas in Africa.
Researchers re-evaluate swine nutrition
For a new study in the Journal of Animal Science, researchers evaluated how different concentrations of lipids affect growth performance in weaned pigs. The researchers also studied how different sources of lipids affect pigs.
America's tomato crush
A doctoral candidate in Penn State's Department of History, John Hoenig has focused his research on the evolution of the tomato industry, adding to our understanding of America's consumer culture.
Chronic harvesting threatens tropical tree
Chronic harvesting of a tropical tree that many local communities in Western Africa depend on can alter the tree's reproduction and drastically curtail fruit and seed yields over the tree's lifetime, according to a new study.
Conservation efforts might encourage some to hunt lions, study finds
Conventional wisdom holds that East Africa's Maasai pastoralists hunt lions for two distinct reasons: to retaliate against lions that kill livestock or to engage in a cultural rite of passage. But that view reflects mistranslations of Maasai terms and a simplification of their cultural traditions and their relationship with wildlife, a team of researchers led by a University of Colorado Boulder geographer has concluded.
'Insect soup' holds DNA key for monitoring biodiversity
Scientists at the University of East Anglia have shown that sequencing the DNA of crushed up creepy crawlies can accelerate the monitoring and cataloguing of biodiversity around the world.
Deciphering structure of NatA, an enzyme complex that modifies most human proteins
A team of researchers from Philadelphia and Norway has determined the structure of an enzyme complex that modifies one end of most human proteins and is made at elevated levels in numerous forms of cancer. A study in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, led by researchers at The Wistar Institute, depicts the structure and the means of action of a protein complex called NatA. Their findings, they believe, will allow them to create an inhibitor—a potential drug—that could knock out NatA in order to curb the growth of cancer cells.
Roots breakthrough for drought-resistant rice
Japanese biotechnologists on Sunday said they had developed a rice plant with deeper roots that can sustain high yields in droughts that wipe out conventional rice crops.
Q&A on the science of growing hamburger in the lab
(AP)—At a public tasting in London Monday, Dutch scientists served hamburgers made from cow stem cells. Some questions and answers about the science behind the revolutionary patty.
Bacterial toxins harnessed for bioinsecticides and medicine
New Zealand and Australian scientists have found a new way in which bacteria store and release toxins, and their discovery may be harnessed to develop new bioinsecticides for crop pests and even new medicines.
Protein team produces molecular barrels
Research groups headed by Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Pfanner, Dr. Nils Wiedemann, and Dr. Thomas Becker from the University of Freiburg and their colleagues have demonstrated how molecular protein barrels form in the outer membrane of the mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell. Their studies revealed that two protein machineries cooperate in an unexpected way. The researchers published their findings in the scientific journal Cell.
Breaking down biomass with thermophilic bacteria
The deconstruction of biomass is a pivotal process in the biofuel industry, but the enzymes that possess a significant role in the breakdown of biomass remain relatively unexplored. To this end, DOE researchers at several national labs and user facilities are studying thermophilic bacteria, organisms that survive and thrive in high-temperature environments, that contain these enzymes.
First reaction: lab-made burger short on flavor
(AP)—They bit, they chewed, but had hoped for more flavor.
Proteins hoist the anchor
Researchers from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) and from the MPI Dortmund have for the first time successfully reproduced the recycling process of proteins regulating cellular transport in a biophysical experiment. In doing so, they traced in detail the way the central switch protein Rab is being extracted from the lipid membrane.
Seafood menus from Hawaii reflect long-term ocean changes
The colorful restaurant menus that thousands of tourists bring home as souvenirs from Hawaii hold more than happy memories of island vacations.
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