Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for August 6, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- New evidence that cosmic impact caused Younger Dryas extinctions- New microchip sorts white blood cells from whole blood
- Explosion illuminates invisible galaxy in the dark ages
- Altering organic molecules' interaction with light
- The Sun's magnetic field is about to flip
- Scientists put cancer-fighting power back into frozen broccoli
- New records for sea ice loss, greenhouse gas in 2012 (Update 2)
- Researches build robot to sniff out methane at landfills
- High-speed camera captures dancing droplets for scientific 'photo album,' study (w/ Video)
- Astronomers image lowest-mass exoplanet around a sun-like star
- SkySweeper robot makes inspecting power lines easy and inexpensive (w/ Video)
- Report firms up land-use requirements of solar: 1,000 homes would require 32 acres
- New and remarkable details of the Sun now available from Big Bear Observatory
- Battery design gets boost from aligned carbon nanotubes
- Hard-coded PIN vulnerability found in smart toilets
Space & Earth news
NASA's Firestation on way to the International Space Station
An experiment to study the effects of lightning flashes on Earth's atmosphere hitched a ride to the International Space Station on Aug. 3, 2013. The Firestation experiment launched aboard a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's transfer vehicle called Kounotori-4. Firestation will be installed robotically to the outside of the space station, a process that will take about three weeks.
NASA eyes 2 Eastern Pacific tropical cyclones: 1 up, 1 down
Tropical Depression Gil has been weakening for a couple of days, while Tropical Storm Henrietta appears to be strengthening in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. NOAA's GOES-15 satellite captured both storms in one image that clearly showed Henrietta was the larger storm, and NASA's Aqua satellite peered under Henrietta's clouds to reveal a developing eye.
Opportunity mountain goal dead ahead as Mars orbiter restarts critical targeting hunt for habitability signs
NASA's most powerful Mars orbiter has been given the green light today (Aug. 5) to capture new high resolution spectral scans that are absolutely crucial for directing the long lived Opportunity rover's hunt for signatures of habitability atop the intriguing mountain she will soon ascend.
Image of M31 heralds the dawn of HSC's productivity
A stunning image of M31 captured by Subaru Telescope's Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) displays the fruits of international collaboration and technological sophistication aligned with cutting-edge science. In addition to providing information about a nearby galaxy that resembles our own, this image demonstrates HSC's capability to fulfill Subaru Telescope's intention of producing a large-scale survey of the Universe. The combination of a large mirror, a wide field of view, and sharp imaging represents a giant step into a new era of observational astronomy and will contribute to answering questions about the nature of dark energy and matter. It marks another successful stage in HSC's commissioning process, which involves checking all of HSC's capabilities before it is ready for open use.
Photos: Curiosity rover's first year on Mars
A year ago, NASA's Curiosity rover survived "seven minutes of terror" and landed safely in an ancient Martian crater.
Astronomers image lowest-mass exoplanet around a sun-like star
Using infrared data from the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii, an international team of astronomers has imaged a giant planet around the bright star GJ 504. Several times the mass of Jupiter and similar in size, the new world, dubbed GJ 504b, is the lowest-mass planet ever detected around a star like the sun using direct imaging techniques.
Research reveals new challenges for mercury cleanup
More forms of mercury can be converted to deadly methylmercury than previously thought, according to a study published Sunday in Nature Geoscience. The discovery provides scientists with another piece of the mercury puzzle, bringing them one step closer to understanding the challenges associated with mercury cleanup.
New research aids ability to predict solar storms, protect Earth
(Phys.org) —Three new solar modeling developments at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) are bringing scientists closer to being able to predict the occurrence and timing of coronal mass ejections from the sun.
Marine life spawns sooner as oceans warm
Warming oceans are impacting the breeding patterns and habitat of marine life, effectively re-arranging the broader marine landscape as species adjust to a changing climate, according to a three-year international study published today in Nature Climate Change.
New records for sea ice loss, greenhouse gas in 2012 (Update 2)
The world lost record amounts of Arctic sea ice in 2012 and spewed out all-time high levels of greenhouse gases by burning fossil fuels, international climate scientists said Tuesday.
The Sun's magnetic field is about to flip
(Phys.org) —Something big is about to happen on the sun. According to measurements from NASA-supported observatories, the sun's vast magnetic field is about to flip.
New and remarkable details of the Sun now available from Big Bear Observatory
Researchers at NJIT's Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO) in Big Bear, CA have obtained new and remarkably detailed photos of the Sun with the New Solar Telescope (NST). The photographs reveal never-before-seen details of solar magnetism revealed in photospheric and chromospheric features.
New evidence that cosmic impact caused Younger Dryas extinctions
(Phys.org) —A period of rapid, intense cooling, known as the Younger Dryas, took place about 13,000 years ago. Scientists think this sudden change in climate caused the extinction of many large mammals, such as the mammoth, and was the reason for the disappearance of North America's Clovis people. According to one hypothesis, a cosmic impact caused the climate to cool. Using data from the Greenland ice core, Michail Petaev and his colleagues at Harvard University have found what appears to be evidence of this impact. Their research appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Explosion illuminates invisible galaxy in the dark ages
(Phys.org) —More than 12 billion years ago a star exploded, ripping itself apart and blasting its remains outward in twin jets at nearly the speed of light. At its death it glowed so brightly that it outshone its entire galaxy by a million times. This brilliant flash traveled across space for 12.7 billion years to a planet that hadn't even existed at the time of the explosion - our Earth. By analyzing this light, astronomers learned about a galaxy that was otherwise too small, faint and far away for even the Hubble Space Telescope to see.
Technology news
US 'concerned' by new Vietnam social media curbs
The United States on Tuesday said it was "deeply concerned" over a sweeping new Internet law in Vietnam which bans bloggers and social media users from sharing news stories online.
Several airlines see delays from computer outage
Several airlines are experiencing flight delays nationwide because of a problem with a computer system they use for services such as reservations, check-ins and online booking.
Boosting productivity and inspiring innovation through the cloud
An EU-funded project that aims to demonstrate the importance of mobile cloud computing to EU business was presented recently at the Future Network and Mobile Summit in Lisbon, Portugal. Through the launch of a European cloud platform for business apps, the project hopes to put Europe at the cutting edge of this emerging technology.
Latvia to extradite computer hacker suspect to US (Update)
Latvia's government on Tuesday approved the extradition of a man accused by the United States of helping create a virus that affected over a million computers worldwide, including many at NASA, and that allowed hackers to steal millions of dollars from victims' bank accounts.
Plant cladding keeps the temperature cool indoors despite the heat outside
Aitor Erkoreka, a UPV/EHU lecturer and researcher, has shown that green roofs are ideal for places where it is very hot in summer. So, by means of these claddings less air conditioning is needed than with conventional roofs; the same degree of comfort is achieved and therefore energy consumption is reduced. However, a suitable irrigation system is essential to obtain good results.
Sale bittersweet for Washington Post veterans
Washington Post journalists shared bittersweet thoughts Tuesday after the storied newspaper's sale to the founder of Amazon, mourning the loss of the Graham family's stewardship while hoping for more financial stability.
GE takes stake in First Solar; to share technology (Update)
GE and First Solar, Inc. will join their competing thin-film solar panel technologies in an effort to improve efficiency and decrease costs.
CBS blasts Time Warner Cable offer to end fight
CBS chief executive Les Moonves blasted an offer from Time Warner Cable to end a blackout over fees that lingered into its fifth day Tuesday, calling it a clever public relations ploy.
Wireless Online Electric Vehicle, OLEV, runs inner city roads
The Online Electric Vehicle (OLEV), developed by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), is an electric vehicle that can be charged while stationary or driving, thus removing the need to stop at a charging station. Likewise, an OLEV tram does not require pantographs to feed power from electric wires strung above the tram route.
Challenges face Bezos as he buys Washington Post (Update)
Jeff Bezos turned selling books online into a multibillion-dollar business that has changed retailing forever. Many are now anxious to see if Bezos can do the same for the media industry, after the Amazon.com founder announced he is buying The Washington Post and other newspapers for $250 million.
Sony rejects Loeb proposal for entertainment sale
(AP)—Sony's board has unanimously rejected a U.S. hedge fund manager's proposal that it sell part of its entertainment business, sending the Japanese company's shares down more than 5 percent.
Facebook CEO publicly calls for immigration reform
(AP)—Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is speaking out publicly for the first time in favor of immigration reform.
US criticizes Vietnam new Internet control decree
(AP)—The United States joined global Internet giants Google and Facebook on Tuesday in criticizing a new decree in Vietnam that further curbs online free speech and forces foreign companies to keep servers inside the country.
India denies revoking Roche patent, says it lapsed
India on Monday denied revoking additional patents related to Roche Holding's breast cancer drug Herceptin, saying the Swiss giant failed to follow legal procedures so the applications lapsed.
Recipe for more environmentally friendly batteries
Norwegian scientists want to develop greener and more vigorous batteries, using inexpensive raw materials that are plentiful in Norway.
Icahn raises Dell stake as shareholder vote nears
Carl Icahn's stake in Dell now stands at close to 9 percent, supporting his promise that the fight for the embattled computer maker will go on.
GM cuts price of Volt electric car by 13 percent (Update)
General Motors is knocking 13 percent off the sticker price of the Chevrolet Volt electric car as it tries to keep pace with rivals in the U.S. market for plug-in vehicles.
Phone calls cost eight times more in some EU states
The cost of making mobile phone calls remains a national lottery—up to eight times higher in the most expensive EU countries compared to the cheapest, the European Commission said Tuesday.
Localized wind power blowing more near homes, farms and factories
Americans are increasingly installing wind turbines near their homes, farms and businesses to generate their own energy, concludes a new report released today.
Amazon launches online art gallery
Amazon unveiled yet another business line Tuesday as it works to expand its appeal: Art.
US press turns to white knight billionaires to survive
US newspapers are increasingly turning to deep-pocketed white knights to keep them alive as free news on the Internet hijacks readers and erodes profits.
Scientist looks for a deeper understanding of hearing through the bones in our heads
(Phys.org) —Stanford mechanical engineer Sunil Puria is unraveling the mysteries of bone conduction hearing, which could lead to a better understanding of hearing – and some types of hearing loss.
Comcast rumored to be considering adding to Copyright Alert System
(Phys.org) —Variety is claiming it has sources that confirm that Comcast is considering adding another feature to the Copyright Alert System (CAS) implemented last February by Comcast and other Internet Service Providers (ISPs). The new feature is said to be a pop-up that alerts users to the fact that they are attempting to download copyrighted material illegally and provides links to legitimate sites as an alternative.
Report firms up land-use requirements of solar: 1,000 homes would require 32 acres
The Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has published a report on the land use requirements of solar power plants based on actual land-use practices from existing solar facilities.
Hard-coded PIN vulnerability found in smart toilets
(Phys.org) —Security experts are warning us all over the place. The digital life used to be a cubicle and workstation. Now it's well, life. Everything is connected, and Internet is everywhere. That means criminal intruders along with pranksters can also broaden their reach from computer malware to home connections such as smart appliances and meters. Last week, there was one more proof that this was so: According to a warning by the information security firm Trustwave, a Satis-brand toilet by the Japan-based company Lixil can be controlled remotely by an Android app.
Medicine & Health news
Patients like medical practices' use of electronic communications, but roadblocks to widespread use remain, study finds
Patients like it and so do health organizations, but electronic communications in clinical care will likely not be widely adopted by primary care physicians unless patient workloads are reduced or they are paid for the time they spend phoning and emailing patients, both during and after office hours.
New initiative could help improve surgical outcomes in children, study suggests
A group of pediatric surgeons at hospitals around the country have designed a system to collect and analyze data on surgical outcomes in children – the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) is the first national database able to reliably compare outcomes among different hospitals where children's surgery is performed. The effort could dramatically improve surgical outcomes in children, say the initiative's leaders, who published their findings online August 5, 2013 in the journal, Pediatrics.
Merck back to profits on lower one-time costs
German drug and high-tech materials company Merck KGaA bounced back from losses this time last year to record a net profit of 316 million euros ($420 million) in the second quarter.
The road to better health for adolescents
From anorexia and asthma to cataracts, diabetes and obesity, illnesses and conditions that develop in middle age very often originate in childhood and adolescence. Evidence suggests that if adolescents had healthier lifestyles, they would enjoy a much better quality of life as adults.
Mental health report finds system reform still a hope, not a reality
A landmark report co-authored by researchers from the University's Brain and Mind Research Institute (BMRI) into mental health in Australia has found that despite 30 years of reform, people with a mental illness are still treated like second-class citizens.
Majority of toddlers who are overweight are still too heavy several years later
Toddlers with extreme overweight are often still too heavy several years later. This is particularly true for children from families with a low socioeconomic status. They have a four times higher chance of developing chronic obesity than children from a better socioeconomic background. This is the conclusion psychologist Pauline Jansen. With the help of an NWO grant she did research for a period of one year at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia. Her research results were published on 23 July in the open access journal PLOS ONE.
Commonly used catheter's safety tied to patient population
A new study reports that peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) do not reduce the risk of central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in hospitalized patients. PICCs have become one of the most commonly used central venous catheters (CVCs) in healthcare settings since they are considered easier and safer to use, with less risk of CLABSIs. The study, published in the September issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, demonstrates that the risk of CLABSI with PICCs is based more on patient factors, rather than the device.
Switching between habitual and goal-directed actions—a 'two in one' system in our brain
To unravel the circuit that underlies this capacity, the capacity to "break habits," was the goal of the study, carried out by Christina Gremel and Rui Costa, at NIAAA, National Institutes of Health, USA and the Champalimaud Foundation, in Portugal published in Nature Communications.
New federal guidelines for managing occupational exposures to HIV
New guidelines from the United States Public Health Service update the recommendations for the management of healthcare personnel (HCP) with occupational exposure to HIV and use of postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). The guidelines, published online today in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), emphasize the immediate use of a PEP regimen containing three or more antiretroviral drugs after any occupational exposure to HIV.
Cancer research implies future for personalized medicine, reduction in animal testing
On August 6th, JoVE, the Journal of Visualized Experiments, will publish two new methods for scientists to study and treat tumor growth. The methods introduce a lab-born, human tissue structure with replicated human biochemistry – offering scientists the opportunity to grow, observe, and ultimately learn how to treat biopsied human tumor cells.
D-dimer plasma level: A reliable marker for venous thromboembolism after craniotomy
The D-dimer test is often used to rule out the presence of venous thromboembolism; however, the test has been considered unreliable in postoperative patients because D-dimer levels may rise after surgery. Researchers from the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Halle in Germany hypothesized that this rise might be systematic and predictable, in which case a feasible postoperative threshold of D-dimer indicating venous thromboembolism could be determined. The results of this study show that the researchers were able to determine such a threshold. Complete findings are reported and discussed in "D-dimer plasma level: a reliable marker for venous thromboembolism after elective craniotomy. Clinical article," by Julian Prell, M.D., and colleagues, published today online, ahead of print, in the Journal of Neurosurgery.
Ohio State's Wexner Medical Center implants one of first MRI-safe devices for pain
Neurosurgeons at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center are among the first in the United States to successfully implant an MRI-safe spinal cord stimulator to help patients suffering from chronic back or limb pain.
Let's have lunch! Teachers eating with their students provides nutrition education opportunities
Much attention has focused on school meals, both in the United States and across the globe. Researchers at Uppsala University, Sweden, evaluated teachers eating lunch with the school children. In Sweden, this practice is referred to as "pedagogic meals" because it offers the opportunity of having children learn by modeling adults. The researchers wanted to observe how the teachers interacted with the children during meals in order to better understand how to interpret results of this practice. The study is published in the September/October issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.
Exercise may reduce heart disease risk in liver transplant recipients
New research reveals that metabolic syndrome—risk factors that can lead to heart disease and/or stroke—is common in liver transplant recipients, with rates highest at one year following the procedure. Findings published in Liver Transplantation, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society, indicate that exercise could reduce complications from metabolic disease in patients post-transplantation.
Is Grandma OK? There's an app for that
CSIRO researchers are trialling an app that aims to allow elderly people to live at home safely for longer by subtly collecting data on their movements around the house.
Observation in the ER can reduce CT scans in kids
The longer a child with minor blunt head trauma is observed in the emergency department, the less likely the child is to require computed tomography (CT) scan, according to the results of a study published online Friday in Annals of Emergency Medicine.
Number of scientific publications on firearms shows modest increase in recent years
"In January 1996, Congress passed an appropriations bill amendment prohibiting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from using 'funds made available for injury prevention ... to advocate or promote gun control.' This provision was triggered by evidence linking gun ownership to health harms, created uncertainty among CDC officials and researchers about what could be studied, and led to significant declines in funding," write Joseph A. Ladapo, M.D., Ph.D., of the New York University School of Medicine, New York, and colleagues in JAMA.
NYC losing small hospitals as money woes mount
For a growing number of New York City residents, the trip to have an appendix taken out or get treatment for a broken leg is increasingly being measured in miles, rather than blocks.
Driving simulation and cognitive models reveal differences between novice and experienced drivers
A recent study compared the differences between novice and experienced drivers using a driving simulator and modeled the difference using computational cognitive models. The method and results provide important cognitive-psychological bases for developing intelligent driver training and driving assistance systems.
Tidy desk or messy desk? Each has its benefits
Working at a clean and prim desk may promote healthy eating, generosity, and conventionality, according to new research. But, the research also shows that a messy desk may confer its own benefits, promoting creative thinking and stimulating new ideas.
Timber rattlesnakes indirectly benefit human health
The scientific name of the timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus, is a sign of the fear and loathing this native North American viper has inspired. But research by a team of University of Maryland biologists shows the timber rattlesnake indirectly benefits humankind by keeping Lyme disease in check. The team's findings, to be presented today in a talk at the annual conference of the Ecological Society of America, highlight the potential benefits of conserving all species – even those some people dislike.
Abused children found to smoke more as teens and adults
Researchers have long suspected some kind of link between childhood abuse and smoking. But in an interesting twist, a new study from the University of Washington finds a connection not between whether or not an abused child will ever begin smoking, but to how much they smoke once they do start.
Young vs. old: Who performs more consistently?
Sometimes it's just not your day: First you can't remember where you put your car keys, then you forget about an important meeting at work. On days like that, our memory seems to let us down. But are there actually "good" and "bad" days for cognitive performance? And does age make a difference in the day-to-day variability in cognitive performance?
Trial finds more support for universal HIV screening in emergency departments
Screening everyone for HIV in the emergency department may be superior to testing only those with apparent risk, when trying to identify patients with undiagnosed HIV infection, according to a new results by researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC).
Walking to work cuts risk of diabetes and high blood pressure
People who walk to work are around 40 per cent less likely to have diabetes as those who drive, according to a new study.
Personality may affect a new mother's decision to breastfeed
A new analysis has found that mothers who are more extroverted and less anxious are more likely to breastfeed and to continue to breastfeed than mothers who are introverted or anxious. Published early online in the Journal of Advanced Nursing, the study indicates that new mothers with certain personalities may need additional support and education to help them feel confident, self assured, and knowledgeable about breastfeeding.
Brazilian scientists to test AIDS vaccine on monkeys
Brazilian scientists have developed an HIV vaccine and plan to begin testing on monkeys later this year, a sponsor institution said Monday.
China young adults getting fatter, report says
China's young adults are gaining more weight and exercising less than their elders, local media said on Tuesday, underscoring the fast-developing country's growing struggle with modern health problems.
Chronic illness puts pediatric trauma patients at higher risk
In a recent study published in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, researchers from the Center for Injury Research and Policy in The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital found that pediatric trauma patients with preexisting chronic conditions have longer hospital stays, higher hospital charges and an increased mortality risk.
New therapy strategy could help treat cancer that has spread from breast to brain
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have successfully combined cellular therapy and gene therapy in a mouse-model system to develop a viable treatment strategy for breast cancer that has spread to a patient's brain.
A wake-up call for parents who smack their children
Most parents want what's best for their children. But when it comes to discipline, some misguidedly use physical force to punish or intimidate. Let's be clear: hitting and unnecessarily hurting children is never justified and is never okay.
Unexpected synergy between two cancer-linked proteins offers hope for personalised cancer therapy
A team of scientists from A*STAR's Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) have discovered a new biomarker which will help physicians predict how well cancer patients respond to cancer drugs. Having the means to identify patients who are most likely to benefit from currently available cancer drugs not only reduces substantially the healthcare cost for the patient, it could mean saving precious lives by getting the right drugs to the right patient at the onset of the treatment. This study published and featured on August cover of the Journal of Clinical Investigation will boost the development of personalised medicine in cancer care and therapy.
Breast cancer surgery linked to swollen arm syndrome
Breast cancer survivors who have extensive surgery are four times more likely to develop the debilitating disorder arm lymphoedema, a QUT study has found.
Drug preserves beta cells in new cases of type 1 diabetes
(Medical Xpress)—A drug in clinical trials has been shown to preserve insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells in nearly half of subjects newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Results of the phase 2 trials are published in the journal Diabetes.
Fuel smoke linked to cardiovascular issues
(Medical Xpress)—Rural households in developing countries often rely on burning biomass, such as wood, animal dung and waste from agricultural crops, to cook and heat their homes. The practice is long known to cause lung disease, but a new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine links the resulting smoke to cardiovascular problems, including an increase in artery-clogging plaques, artery thickness and higher blood pressure.
Drug offers prevention hope for women with BRCA breast cancer gene
Use of the anti-cancer drug Tamoxifen is associated with a dramatically reduced risk of developing a second breast tumour among women with a high risk gene mutation who have experienced breast cancer already, a new study has found.
From harmless colonizers to virulent pathogens: Microbiologists identify what triggers disease
The bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae harmlessly colonizes the mucous linings of throats and noses in most people, only becoming virulent when they leave those comfortable surroundings and enter the middle ears, lungs or bloodstream. Now, in research published in July in mBio, University at Buffalo researchers reveal how that happens.
Online predators not distinctively dangerous sex offenders, study says
A new University of New Hampshire study challenges the view that online predators are a distinctly dangerous variety of sex offender, requiring special programs to protect youth.
Weight loss surgery alters fatty liver disease genes
Research has shown that weight loss surgery can benefit obese individuals in ways that go beyond shedding pounds, for example by causing early remission of type 2 diabetes. Now scientists have found that the surgery can also reverse the symptoms of fatty liver disease. The findings, which are to be published online on August 6 in the Cell Press journal Cell Metabolism, are derived from research on liver samples in normal and obese patients—some with fatty liver disease and some without fatty liver disease. The results provide another example of the DNA-altering effects of weight loss surgery.
Women in large urban areas at higher risk of postpartum depression
Women living in large urban centres in Canada with more than 500 000 inhabitants were at higher risk of postpartum depression than women in other areas, according to a study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Liver transplant patients have high rates of metabolic syndrome
Nearly 59 percent of liver transplant patients experience metabolic syndrome, which increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes, according to a study lead by liver specialist Eric R. Kallwitz, MD, of Loyola University Medical Center.
Most Americans don't want to live past 100: survey
Most Americans do not want to live beyond age 100, and a poll out Tuesday suggests many worry that anti-aging technologies may end up being a luxury for the rich.
Childhood obesity rates drop slightly, CDC says (Update)
(HealthDay)—There was a small but sure sign Tuesday that the fight against childhood obesity may yet be won: A new government report found that obesity rates among low-income preschoolers had declined slightly in at least 19 states.
Does physician verbal abuse create a bad working environment—or the reverse?
A recent study by the RN Work Project found that newly licensed registered nurses (NLRNs) who were verbally abused by nursing colleagues reported lower job satisfaction, unfavorable perceptions of their work environment, and greater intent to leave their current jobs. Now, a new study by the same research team finds that high levels of physician verbal abuse are closely associated with more negative work environments. The RN Work Project is a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Live to 120? Most Americans say no thanks (Update 2)
Ninety birthdays maybe, but not 120: Americans hope to stretch out life expectancy another decade or so, but they are ambivalent, even skeptical, about a fountain of youth.
A summer in the country can inspire physicians to practice in rural areas, study finds
According to a recent study, the Summer Community Program offered by the University of Missouri School of Medicine has made a significant impact on physician access in rural communities. The 15-year study showed medical school graduates involved in the program not only entered family practice residency training at higher rates than nonparticipants, but nearly half began their medical careers in rural locations.
Research looks into lessening the danger of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs
Statins, a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol, are among the best selling drugs in North America and around the world. However, statin myopathy, which results in muscle pain and weakness, is a common side effect affecting up to 10 percent of statin users. A recent study led by Dr. Richard Kim of the Lawson Health Research Institute, in collaboration with Dr. Robert Hegele of Robarts Research Institute, and researchers from Vanderbilt University, found that commonly occurring genetic variations in a person's genes could put them at risk for statin-associated muscle injury.
First vaccine against four flu strains ready to ship
(HealthDay)—The U.S Food and Drug Administration has approved shipping of the first vaccine to protect against four strains of seasonal flu.
No increased cancer risk with glargine versus human insulin
(HealthDay)—There is no evidence that patients with diabetes who initiate insulin glargine have a higher risk of cancer than similar patients initiating human neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin, according to a study published online July 22 in Diabetes Care.
Diet encouragement linked to disordered eating in youth
(HealthDay)—Encouragement to diet by a significant other is strongly linked to young adults' disordered eating behaviors, according to a study published in the July/August issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion.
Self-monitoring blood pressure appears to improve results, study finds
(HealthDay)—Tracking your own blood pressure at home can help you control hypertension, a new research review finds.
Study: UN should be accountable for Haiti cholera (Update)
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti should be held accountable for introducing cholera into the Caribbean nation, a Yale University report said Tuesday.
Community pharmacies are effective locations for rapid HIV testing
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have found that community-based pharmacies can be effective locations for offering rapid HIV testing, diagnosing HIV, and connecting those who test positive with medical care quickly. The study is in the August edition of the journal AIDS Patient Care and STDs.
Psychiatry study reveals need to identify, triage, and treat mental health disorders after disasters
Mental health services should be integrated into disaster response as part of emergency services planning, according to a new study by UT Southwestern Medical Center psychiatrists who completed an exhaustive review of articles on the aftereffects of disasters on mental health.
Treating PTSD and alcohol abuse together doesn't increase drinking, study finds
Contrary to past concerns, using prolonged exposure therapy to treat patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and comorbid alcohol dependence does not increase drinking or cravings, Penn Medicine psychiatrists report in the August 7 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on violence/human rights. In a first-of-its-kind single-blind, randomized clinical trial, researchers also found that PTSD patients treated with naltrexone for alcohol dependence drank less—and that the use of prolonged exposure therapy and naltrexone better protects PTSD patients from relapse after treatment stops.
Study identifies factors associated with suicide risk among military personnel
In an examination of risk factors associated with suicide in current and former military personnel observed 2001 and 2008, male sex and mental disorders were independently associated with suicide risk but not military-specific variables, findings that do not support an association between deployment or combat with suicide, according to a study in the August 7 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on violence/human rights.
Researchers uncover brain molecule regulating human emotion, mood
A RIKEN research team has discovered an enzyme called Rines that regulates MAO-A, a major brain protein controlling emotion and mood. The enzyme is a potentially promising drug target for treating diseases associated with emotions such as depression.
CD4 count is non-inferior to viral load for treatment switching in adults with HIV
For adults infected with HIV in Thailand a monitoring strategy based on CD4 count (a type of white blood cell) is non-inferior to the recommended monitoring strategy measuring the amount of HIV virus in a patient's blood, to determine when to switch from first-line to more costly second-line antiretroviral treatment according to a clinical trial published this week in PLOS Medicine.
Freezing sperm taken directly from testicles is effective option for infertile couples
Frozen sperm taken by biopsy from testicles in men with no sperm in their semen is as effective as fresh sperm taken by biopsy in helping couples conceive through in vitro fertilization (IVF), according to a study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
More opioid dependence treatment needed
A new report from Simon Fraser University researcher Bohdan Nosyk calls for the expansion of heroin and opioid medical treatment to stem the increase of overdose deaths.
Earlier acne outbreaks may be caused by earlier puberty
(HealthDay)—Though acne has long been viewed as a teen phenomenon, dermatologists have been tending to an ever-younger patient pool, a new preadolescent reality that many experts link to a trend toward an earlier onset of puberty.
Minimally invasive stents show some advantage over bypass in opening blocked leg arteries
New Johns Hopkins research suggests that people who undergo minimally invasive placement of stents to open clogged leg arteries are significantly less likely than those who have conventional bypass surgery to need a second treatment for the condition within two years.
One in three young US women uses 'withdrawal' for birth control
(HealthDay)—Withdrawal is an old-fashioned, unreliable form of birth control, but one-third of young women still use it anyway, new research indicates.
Scientists devise new way to dramatically raise RNA treatment potency
Scientists from the Jupiter campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have shown a novel way to dramatically raise the potency of drug candidates targeting RNA, resulting in a 2,500-fold improvement in potency and significantly increasing their potential as therapeutic agents.
Why tumors become drug-resistant
Cancer drugs known as ErbB inhibitors have shown great success in treating many patients with lung, breast, colon and other types of cancer. However, ErbB drug resistance means that many other patients do not respond, and even among those who do, tumors commonly come back.
Emotional behavior of adults could be triggered in the womb
Adults could be at greater risk of becoming anxious and vulnerable to poor mental health if they were deprived of certain hormones while developing in the womb according to new research by scientists at Cardiff and Cambridge universities.
New design may produce heartier, more effective salmonella-based vaccines
The bacterial pathogen Salmonella has a notorious capacity for infection. Last year alone, according to the Center for Disease Control, various species of Salmonella caused multistate disease outbreaks linked with contaminated peanut butter, mangoes, ground beef, cantaloupe, poultry, tuna fish, small turtles and dry dog food.
Study explains how sleep loss can make you fat
A sleepless night makes us more likely to reach for doughnuts or pizza than for whole grains and leafy green vegetables, suggests a new study from UC Berkeley that examines the brain regions that control food choices. The findings shed new light on the link between poor sleep and obesity.
What color is your night light? It may affect your mood
When it comes to some of the health hazards of light at night, a new study suggests that the color of the light can make a big difference.
Researchers restore immune function in spinal injured mice
In a new study, researchers at The Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Repair at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center show that is possible to restore immune function in spinal injured mice.
First probable person to person transmission of new bird flu virus in China
The first report of probable person to person transmission of the new avian influenza A (H7N9) virus in Eastern China is published in BMJ today.
Biology news
The truth about free range eggs is tough to crack
Queensland recently changed its regulation of free range eggs, lifting the number of hens allowed per hectare from 1,500 to 10,000. This is more than a six-fold increase.
Rapid diversification despite morphological stasis: A snail's pace in a snail's place?
Evolutionary biologists at the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution and Ghent University (Belgium) have found an unusual system that allows narrowing the gap in the study of evolutionary processes, working on living African freshwater snails and their fossil ancestors.
As data flow, scientists advocate for quality control
As sensor networks revolutionize ecological data collection by making it possible to collect high frequency information from remote areas in real time, scientists with the U.S. Forest Service are advocating for automated quality control and quality assurance standards that will make that data reliable.
DC zoo: Panda behavior hints at possible pregnancy
The Smithsonian's National Zoo says its female giant panda is showing behavioral changes and is focused on building her nest as animal keepers watch for a possible pregnancy.
Salk scientists add new bond to protein engineering toolbox
Proteins are the workhorses of cells, adopting conformations that allow them to set off chemical reactions, send signals and transport materials. But when a scientist is designing a new drug, trying to visualize the processes inside cells, or probe how molecules interact with each other, they can't always find a protein that will do the job they want. Instead, they often engineer their own novel proteins to use in experiments, either from scratch or by altering existing molecules.
New trap and lure captures bed bugs more effectively
A new pitfall trap designed to capture bed bugs is more effective than those currently on the market, according to the authors of an article appearing in the next issue of the Journal of Economic Entomology. The authors also found that traps baited with an experimental chemical lure mixture caught 2.2 times as many bed bugs as traps without the lure. Their findings suggest that an effective and affordable bed bug monitor can be made incorporating the new pitfall trap design, a chemical lure, and a sugar-and-yeast mixture to produce carbon dioxide, which is also known to attract bedbugs.
First wild horse born from artificial insemination at Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Scientists at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute are celebrating the birth of a female Przewalski's (Cha-VAL-skee) horse—the first to be born via artificial insemination. The foal's birth on July 27 signals a huge breakthrough for the survival of this species. SCBI reproductive physiologist Budhan Pukazhenthi and the Przewalski's horse husbandry team spent seven years working closely with experts at The Wilds and Auburn University in Alabama to perfect the technique of assisted breeding. Both the filly and the first-time mother Anne are in good health and bonding.
Researchers study fire ant venom as natural fungicide
Red imported fire ants are named for the firelike burn of their sting. Now, the same venom that packs such a painful wallop may actually do some good for a change.
'Nursery nests' are better for survival of young black-and-white ruffed lemurs
Young Malagasy black-and-white ruffed lemurs are more likely to survive when they are raised in communal crèches or "nursery nests" in which their mothers share the draining responsibility of feeding and caring for their offspring. This is according to anthropological research on lemur infant care by Andrea Baden and colleagues of Yale University. The study, published in Springer's journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, describes a rare case in which fitness differences, such as infant survival, between cooperative and non-cooperative lemurs are observed.
Research could lead to better-tasting tomatoes, other benefits
(Phys.org) —Some compounds that determine plant species' characteristics such as the taste of tomatoes can be engineered to produce larger quantities in plants that have few or none of them, researchers at Purdue University have found.
'Beetle in spider's clothing': Quaint new species from Philippine Rainforest Creeks
For biologists it is an easy matter: spiders have eight legs and insects have six. This fact is important when beholding and recognizing the tiny new species of Spider Water Beetles from the Philippine Island of Mindoro discovered by researchers of the Ateneo de Manila University. Zookeys, an open access international scientific journal launched to accelerate biodiversity research, has published the paper about the curious creatures in its latest issue.
Family matters: Evolutionary relationships among species of 'magic' mushrooms shed light on fungi
"Magic" mushrooms are well known for their hallucinogenic properties. Until now, less has been known about their evolutionary development and how they should be classified in the fungal Tree of Life. New research helps uncover the evolutionary past of a fascinating fungi that has wide recreational use and is currently under investigation for a variety of medicinal applications.
Scientists discover key to easing aquaculture's reliance on wild-caught fish
For the first time scientists have been able to develop a completely vegetarian diet that works for marine fish raised in aquaculture, the key to making aquaculture a sustainable industry as the world's need for protein increases. The findings led by Aaron Watson and Allen Place at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science's Institute for Marine and Environmental Technology, are published in the August issue of the journal Lipids.
Team discovers how plants avoid sunburn
A Dartmouth-led team has discovered a group of stress-related proteins that explains how plants avoid sunburn in intense light, a finding that one day could help biotechnologists to develop crops that can better cope with hotter, drier conditions occurring in climate change.
Scientists discover Par-1 as a new component of the Hippo signaling pathway
In the development of animals, which is closely controlled by diverse pathways, the regulation of organ size has been a long-standing puzzle. How does an organ ascertain its optimum size? What are the molecular mechanisms that stop organ growth at an appropriate point during development or regeneration? Almost a decade ago, the discovery of the Hippo signaling pathway provided an important starting point for answering these questions.
Ecologist overthrows generally accepted principles in ecology
(Phys.org) —Contemporary ecological theory assumes that differently sized individuals in a population are equally efficient in their use of food resources. Still this is only true in a very exceptional case. It is much more common that ecological patterns occur in nature that are in conflict with these generally accepted rules. This is shown by Lennart Persson at Umeå university together with André De Roos at the University of Amsterdam.
Tumors elude anti-cancer drugs through 'fork reversal' repair
In research recently published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Alessandro Vindigni, Ph.D., associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Saint Louis University, discovered how cancer cells respond to the damage caused by an important class of anti-cancer drugs, topoisomerase I inhibitors. The discovery points to opportunities to improve chemotherapeutic regimens based on topoisomerase I inhibitor treatment and limit their toxic side effects.
Short-term gene-expression 'memory' is inherited in proteins associated with DNA, new research finds
(Phys.org) —By studying a gene in yeast, a team of scientists has found that modifications to histones—proteins associated with DNA—can control whether or not a gene is allowed to function and may be important in maintaining the genes' "expression potential" so that future cells behave as their parent cells did. The research was led by Lu Bai, an assistant professor of biochemistry, molecular biology, and physics at Penn State University, in collaboration with David Stillman at the University of Utah. The discovery, which may have implications for the study of diseases such as cancer, will be published in a print edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
One tree's architecture reveals secrets of a forest, study finds
(Phys.org) —Behind the dazzling variety of shapes and forms found in trees hides a remarkably similar architecture based on fundamental, shared principles, UA ecologists have discovered.
This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
http://phys.org/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment