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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for August 7, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Simulation shows colloids can form into non-crystalline state at below freezing temperatures- New proto-mammal fossil sheds light on evolution of earliest mammals (w/ Video)
- Squeezed light produced using silicon micromechanical system
- Regulating electron 'spin' may be key to making organic solar cells competitive
- Researchers remove oil from water using copper cones inspired by cactus spines (w/ Video)
- 'Catabolite repression': Simple math sheds new light on a long-studied biological process
- Making connections in the eye: Wiring diagram of retinal neurons is first step toward mapping the human brain
- Carbon under pressure exhibits interesting traits
- Fledgling 3-D printing industry finds home in NYC
- DNA nanorobots find and tag cellular targets
- What's the matter? Q-glasses could be a new class of solids
- Practice at 'guesstimating' can speed up math ability
- Magnetic switching simplified
- Synthetic polymers enable cheap, efficient, durable alkaline fuel cells
- If we landed on Europa, what would we want to know?
Space & Earth news
Assessing the cost of climate change and its wider impact on society
In today's globalised and more populated world, human impacts on the environment are becoming more complex and far-reaching - affecting everyone. With the world's population forecast to rise by 26 percent to around 9 billion by 2050, this trend is set to continue. Efficient responses to such global changes - social, economic and environmental - have become more critical than ever.
Research reveals paralysis of leadership in NSW coastal zone management
Concerns about the future impact of climate change have paralysed management of the coastal zone in New South Wales according to a paper published in the Australian National University journal Agenda. Researchers from Macquarie University's Risk Frontiers state that Byron Bay has become a flash point for a collision between local politics, environmental ideology and property rights.
Australian wine industry tackling climate change
Wine businesses around the country are taking steps to offset the potential effects of climate change, a study has found.
NOAA report highlights climate change threats to nation's estuaries
The nation's 28 National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERR) are experiencing the negative effects of human and climate-related stressors according to a new NOAA research report from the National Ocean Service.
Amnesty: Satellite images show Aleppo devastation (Update)
Satellite images have laid bare the suffering inflicted on Syria's largest city, a London-based rights group said Wednesday, cataloguing hundreds of damaged or destroyed houses and more than 1,000 roadblocks.
NASA images: Oregon burning
On July 26, 2013, thunderstorms passed over southern Oregon, and lightning ignited dozens of difficult-to-control wildfires. Persistently dry weather since the beginning of 2013 had primed forests to burn, and nearly all of southern Oregon was in a state of severe or moderate drought. In early August, forecasters were expecting the situation to worsen.
Infrared NASA image revealed fading Gil's warming cloud tops
As cloud tops fall, their temperature rises, and infrared data from NASA's Aqua satellite saw that happening as Tropical Storm Gil weakened.
Heat intensifies Siberian wildfires
The summer of 2012 was the most severe wildfire season Russia had faced in a decade. 2013 might be headed in the same direction after an unusual heat wave brought a surge of fire activity in northern Siberia in July.
NASA satellite sees Tropical Storm Mangkhut making Vietnam landfall
Tropical Storm Mangkhut had some strong thunderstorms around its center as it began making landfall in northern Vietnam on Aug. 7. Infrared data from NASA's Aqua satellite showed very cold cloud top temperatures of those strong thunderstorms as it passed overhead.
Double effort needed to clean up Thames
The River Thames will fail to meet pollution standards in 2015 unless farmers use 20 per cent less fertiliser and water companies reduce phosphorus discharges from sewage treatment, according to a new study.
Study questions nature's ability to 'self-correct' climate change
Forests have a limited capacity to soak up atmospheric carbon dioxide, according to a new study from Northern Arizona University.
Precious Western Australia mineral geologically 'young'
Scientists at Curtin University have chronicled the genesis of a particular type of iron deposit in the state's north, finding that the valuable mineral formed relatively late in Western Australia's evolution.
Westerly winds and CO2 levels
The end of the last Ice Age was preceded by a gradual rise in atmospheric CO2. A new study supports the idea that a shift in the position, and increase in the intensity, of zonal westerly winds in the Southern hemisphere promoted this rise.
Arctic Ocean more vulnerable to human-induced changes than Antarctic Ocean
A team including Dalhousie Oceanography Professor Helmuth Thomas and recent Dalhousie Oceanography PhD graduate Elizabeth Shadwick found evidence suggesting that the Arctic Ocean is more vulnerable to human-induced changes than the Antarctic Ocean. After comparing sites in both oceans, they found the Arctic site to be more acidic, warmer during the summer months, and have fewer nutrients; those disparities account for the differences in vulnerability. The results were published in Nature Scientific Reports.
NASA sees 10-mile-high thunderstorms in Hurricane Henriette
NASA's TRMM satellite peered into the clouds of Hurricane Henriette as is continues moving through the Eastern Pacific Ocean, and found powerful thunderstorms that topped 10 miles high.
The odd couple: Two very different gas clouds in the galaxy next door (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) —ESO's Very Large Telescope has captured an intriguing star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud—one of the Milky Way's satellite galaxies. This sharp image reveals two distinctive glowing clouds of gas: Red-hued NGC 2014, and its blue neighbour NGC 2020. While they are very different, they were both sculpted by powerful stellar winds from extremely hot newborn stars that also radiate into the gas, causing it to glow brightly.
Quasar observed in six separate light reflections
(Phys.org) —Quasars are active black holes—primarily from the early universe. Using a special method where you observe light that has been bent by gravity on its way through the universe, a group of physics students from the Niels Bohr Institute have observed a quasar whose light has been deflected and reflected in six separate images. This is the first time a quasar has been observed with so many light reflections. The results are published in the scientific journal, Astrophysical Journal.
If we landed on Europa, what would we want to know?
(Phys.org) —Most of what scientists know of Jupiter's moon Europa they have gleaned from a dozen or so close flybys from NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1979 and NASA's Galileo spacecraft in the mid-to-late 1990s. Even in these fleeting, paparazzi-like encounters, scientists have seen a fractured, ice-covered world with tantalizing signs of a liquid water ocean under its surface. Such an environment could potentially be a hospitable home for microbial life. But what if we got to land on Europa's surface and conduct something along the lines of a more in-depth interview? What would scientists ask? A new study in the journal Astrobiology authored by a NASA-appointed science definition team lays out their consensus on the most important questions to address.
First hundred thousand years of our universe: Researchers find tantalizing new hints of clues
Mystery fans know that the best way to solve a mystery is to revisit the scene where it began and look for clues. To understand the mysteries of our universe, scientists are trying to go back as far they can to the Big Bang. A new analysis of cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation data by researchers with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has taken the furthest look back through time yet – 100 years to 300,000 years after the Big Bang - and provided tantalizing new hints of clues as to what might have happened.
Ice ages only thanks to feedback
Ice ages and warm periods have alternated fairly regularly in the Earth's history: the Earth's climate cools roughly every 100,000 years, with vast areas of North America, Europe and Asia being buried under thick ice sheets. Eventually, the pendulum swings back: it gets warmer and the ice masses melt. While geologists and climate physicists found solid evidence of this 100,000-year cycle in glacial moraines, marine sediments and arctic ice, until now they were unable to find a plausible explanation for it.
Carbon under pressure exhibits interesting traits
High pressures and temperatures cause materials to exhibit unusual properties, some of which can be special. Understanding such new properties is important for developing new materials for desired industrial uses and also for understanding the interior of Earth, where everything is hot and squeezed.
Technology news
Dish chief: Pay TV mergers needed to offset fees
Dish Network Chairman Charlie Ergen says that if the government doesn't act to curb the power of TV networks in fee disputes, pay TV distributors may have to merge to even the playing field.
21st Century Fox profit driven up by cable television
Rupert Murdoch's freshly unfettered entertainment company 21st Century Fox on Tuesday reported that its annual profit was pumped up by revenue from its cable television operations.
Innovative 3-D integration technology could improve industrial processes
The latest gadgets hitting the market are smaller and faster than ever before, and rapidly-emerging 3D integration technology plays a major role in this evolution. The process, which consists in stacking 2D dies and connecting them in the 3rd dimension in order to speed up communication between chips, can be found in appliances such as miniaturised implantable medical devices and radio frequency devices found in mobile phones. It stacks and interconnects multiple materials, technologies, and functional components to form highly integrated micro and nanosystems for cross-sector applications.
Alert system avoids commuter chaos
Imagine never being trapped in peak hour traffic again. Commuters, your frustrations are over. QUT transport experts have designed an alert service that warns you when your travel route is congested or your public transport service is delayed.
Time Warner 2Q net income jumps 87 pct
Time Warner, owner of HBO, CNN, and Warner Bros., says its second-quarter net income jumped 87 percent, boosted by better results at its film and TV businesses.
DynoTRAIN railway researchers complete new virtual testing project
A PROJECT that could enable manufacturers of rail vehicles to use virtual testing of trains in order to ensure safety standards throughout Europe while making huge savings on development costs has relied on a key contribution from a research team based at the University of Huddersfield.
Delays hang over Pakistan 3G lifeline
Pakistan's cash-strapped government has promised to sell 3G mobile telephone licences to raise revenue, match regional rivals and drive prosperity, but the process has been beset by delays.
Groupon names Eric Lefkofsky as CEO
Groupon named co-founder Eric Lefkofsky as CEO, replacing Andrew Mason, who was fired from the online deals site in February amid growing concerns about its financial performance.
Interactive app makes teaching music theory possible online
University of Illinois music professor Heinrich Taube has developed a computer application that could change the way music theory is taught. Called Harmonia, the program allows teachers to create an endless variety of composition or analysis assignments, provides students with immediate feedback, and performs instant harmonic analysis of complex compositions. It is the first app created at the U. of I. to appear in Apple's iTunes store for computer applications, and could pave the way for teaching music theory online.
Team investigates earthquake retrofits for 'soft' first-floor buildings
(Phys.org) —A team of researchers, led by Colorado State University engineering professor John van de Lindt, has spent the last month shaking a four-story building in San Diego to learn how to make structures with first-floor garages better withstand seismic shocks.
Taiwan's Acer swings to loss in April-June quarter
Taiwan's leading personal computer maker Acer on Wednesday reported a net loss of $11.39 million in the April-June quarter mainly due to increasing expenses on investments and declining gross margins.
Google wants to start a conversation
Search engine companies like Google, Microsoft and, to a lesser extent, Apple are trying their best to get users to stop typing in queries and to start using their voices to ask more conversational questions to perform searches and call up useful information.
States take aim at sex-ad websites, but run into resistance
A two-word change proposed to one of the nation's first online laws has triggered a battle between law enforcement and Internet libertarians.
Nearly one in five US adults online uses Twitter, survey finds
Twitter usage among U.S. adults who go online is up to 18 percent in the latest Pew Research Center survey, a slight increase from 16 percent last summer.
With an appetite for change, retailers set up shop in Silicon Valley
On the third floor of the historic Folgers Coffee Co. building, just blocks from the city's famed Embarcadero waterfront, Target Corp. is brewing up a storm, and it has nothing to do with caffeinated beverages.
Alliance Data helps retailers guide you to the 'buy' button
Chances are you've never heard of Alliance Data Systems Corp. But it's probably heard about you. Every time you swipe a credit card, your purchase is captured by a database somewhere. The question is: Who's holding that information hostage, and what do they do with it?
Travel guidebooks ride digital wave
The world of travel guidebooks keeps spinning, although it must weather changes in format and distribution in order to spread the word about vacation destinations.
Facebook's 'mobile first' strategy pays off on Wall Street
Just one year ago, the world's largest social network was in Wall Street's doghouse. Facebook Inc.'s highly touted stock market debut had fizzled, and the company's share price was spiraling lower and lower, as critics charged that youthful CEO Mark Zuckerberg had somehow missed one of the biggest shifts to hit the tech industry in years.
Researchers adapt microscopic technology for bionic body parts and other medical devices
Tiny sensors and motors are everywhere, telling your smartphone screen to rotate and your camera to focus. Now, a team of researchers at Tel Aviv University has found a way to print biocompatible components for these micro-machines, making them ideal for use in medical devices, like bionic arms.
Tracking Twitter may enhance monitoring of food safety at restaurants
A new system could tell you how likely it is for you to become ill if you visit a particular restaurant by 'listening' to the tweets from other restaurant patrons.
Japan says battle to stop nuclear plant leaks 'urgent'
Japan's prime minister Wednesday said Tokyo would get more involved in cleaning up the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, as he described as "urgent" a battle to stop radioactive water from leaking into the ocean.
Android smartphones rise as iPhone slips, IDC finds
Smartphones powered by Google's Android software increased their global market share as iPhones lost ground in the absence of new models being unleashed by Apple, the International Data Corporation reported Wednesday.
Nintendo sues console hacking website
Nintendo said Wednesday that it has filed a lawsuit against a US website with a business model built on hacking into the company's videogame hardware.
Nokia finalises Nokia Siemens buy, changes name
Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia said Wednesday it had finalised the purchase of German engineering giant Siemens' 50 percent stake in Nokia Siemens Networks, and changed the company's name.
Yahoo overhual will include new logo
Yahoo's push to re-invent itself will include a new logo to be introduced next month.
Facebook tunes ranking of stories in news feeds
Facebook's quest to be a personalized newspaper for the Internet age continues with tweaks aimed at making sure members spy hot stories from their friends.
Samsung seeks smart watch trademarks in US, SKorea
Samsung Electronics Co. has applied for U.S. and South Korean trademarks for a watch that connects to the Internet in the latest sign that consumer technology companies see wearable devices as the future of their business.
From theory to practice: Student has found a way to apply predictive modeling to improve emergency-room wait time
While long lines repel some people, they intrigue MIT PhD student Kuang Xu: After all, maybe there's a way to reduce such lengthy waits.
Scientists create tiny bendy power supply for even smaller portable electronics
Scientists have created a powerful micro-supercapacitor, just nanometres thick, that could help electronics companies develop mobile phones and cameras that are smaller, lighter and thinner than ever before. The tiny power supply measures less than half a centimetre across and is made from a flexible material, opening up the possibility for wearable electronics.
Fledgling 3-D printing industry finds home in NYC
It looks like a bakery. A warm glow emanates from the windows of big, oven-like machines, and a dusting of white powder covers everything.
Medicine & Health news
Moffitt Cancer Center expert standardizing guidelines for penile cancer treatment
Penile cancer is rare, with an average of 1,200 new cases per year in the United States, but it can be debilitating and lethal. Without evidenced-based treatment approaches, outcomes have varied widely. Philippe E. Spiess, M.D., an associate member in the Department of Genitourinary Oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center, presented new National Comprehensive Cancer Network Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology to standardize care for penile cancer in an article that appeared in the July issue of the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
Dairy CEO: Infant formula botulism scare is over
The chief executive of New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra said Wednesday the risk that people could contract botulism from infant formula made with the company's whey concentrate has ended.
New website lifts 'MS fog' for multiple sclerosis patients
A new website, launched today by Royal Holloway on behalf of the BICAMS committee, will equip health professionals with the right tools to assist people with multiple sclerosis to understand their difficulties with memory and concentration.
Declines in childhood obesity highlight need for voices for healthy kids
American Heart Association Deputy Chief Medical Officer Eduardo Sánchez issued the following comments on behalf of Voices for Healthy Kids on the CDC's Vital Signs report released today that shows declines in childhood obesity rates in 19 states and territories among 2 to 4 year olds in low-income families.
Real-time MRI-guided gene therapy for brain cancer
Neurosurgeons at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center are among the first in the world to utilize real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidance for delivery of gene therapy as a potential treatment for brain tumors. Using MRI navigational technology, neurosurgeons can inject Toca 511 (vocimagene amiretrorepvec), a novel investigational gene therapy, directly into a brain malignancy. This new approach offers a precise way to deliver a therapeutic virus designed to make the tumor susceptible to cancer-killing drugs.
Groundbreaking study sheds light on child sex trafficking
A study from Portland State University (PSU) unveiled Monday by U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall showed that than 469 children in the Portland metro area received social services for commercial sexual exploitation over the last four years.
Cancer survivors not receiving preventive care
While cancer survivors require follow-up care to prevent a recurrence of their cancer and to watch for after effects of treatment, they also need the same preventive check-ups suggested for all people.
Brain activation when processing Chinese hand-radicals
A number of studies in which patients with lesions to frontal pre-motor areas are included have identified deficits in action comprehension. In addition, imaging studies have revealed the activation of brain areas associated with perception or action during tasks involving reading of words with related semantic meaning. For example, the mere passive reading of action verbs such as kick, pick and lick has been found to activate areas of the sensory-motor cortex associated with the legs, hands and face, respectively.
Is sous vide cooking safe?
The Institute of Food Research (IFR) has been undertaking research for the Food Standards Agency to establish if the cooking technique sous vide is safe. Sous vide uses lower temperatures to improve food quality and could be a step closer to being more widely adopted after Institute of Food Research scientists assessed the steps needed to ensure the process is safe.
Endovascular treatment should still be an option for some stroke patients
Despite recent discouraging results, endovascular treatment is still a "reasonable" treatment option for selected patients with acute stroke, according to a commentary in the August issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
Science nod to family of unwitting medical heroine
Sixty-two years ago, scientists harvested cancer cells from an African American tobacco farmer which were used for some of the biggest breakthroughs in medical science—without her knowledge or consent.
New research suggests glaucoma screenings for sleep apnea sufferers
August 7, 2013 – Researchers in Taiwan have discovered that people with sleep apnea are far more likely to develop glaucoma compared to those without the sleep condition. The results of this study, which is the first to calculate the risk of the disease among people with the sleep disorder following diagnosis, is published in this month's edition of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Swiss on alert for mosquito blamed for dengue
Scientists in Switzerland are hunting for a species of mosquito capable of spreading the tropical disease dengue that may have crossed the Alps.
New highly efficient molecular probe for real-time PCR monitoring and genetic testing
Eprobe, a highly efficient and reliable fluorescent probe for PCR DNA amplification techniques and DNA analysis in hybridization experiments, has been developed by researchers from RIKEN and Japanese firm K.K.DNAFORM. This technology will enable the development of new, advanced assays for DNA-based genetic testing and help to bring the benefits of genome-wide sequencing studies to patients in the clinic.
Telephone coaching does not reduce hospital use and related costs
One-to-one telephone health coaching did not seem to reduce hospital use and related costs for patients with long term conditions – and may even lead to increased use, finds a study published in BMJ today.
Cancer patients want more shared-decision making about their treatment
A new study of cancer patients indicates that certain patient groups have unmet needs for greater involvement in decisions about their treatment.
Length of human pregnancies can vary naturally by as much as five weeks
The length of a human pregnancy can vary naturally by as much as five weeks, according to research published online today (Wednesday) in Europe's leading reproductive medicine journal Human Reproduction.
New tool helps detect delirium in hospital patients
UC San Francisco researchers have developed a two-minute assessment tool to help hospital staff predict a patient's risk of delirium, a change in mental cognition characterized by severe confusion and disorientation that can prolong hospital stays.
Mortality 38 percent for spinal cord injury tied to C-spine Fx
(HealthDay)—For older adults with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) related to cervical spine (C-spine) fractures, injury level and severity of SCI are risk factors for mortality, according to a study published in the August issue of The Spine Journal.
Study of cardiologists reveals less than ideal CV risk profiles
(HealthDay)—Italian cardiologists often do not have ideal or even favorable cardiovascular risk profiles themselves, according to a study published in the July 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Don't judge a book by its cover, researchers urge parents
(Medical Xpress)—Parents who read picture books to their two-year-olds could improve their children's language skills, regardless of whether the book contains long sentences or just one or two words, according to new research.
Colon cancer discovery could take treatment up a notch
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists at the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR) have made an exciting discovery which may lead to more effective chemotherapy treatments of colorectal cancer patients.
Emotional stress may trigger heart attack
(Medical Xpress)—Heart attack survivors who live alone and people exposed to extreme stress from events such as natural disasters or sporting events are at greater risk of heart attack, according to a Heart Foundation study led by the University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Research Institute (BMRI).
Centralising acute stroke services has saved more than 400 lives since 2010
New research from UCLPartners, and funded by the NHS in London, has shown that centralising acute stroke services in particular London hospitals has led to significant reductions in both mortality and costs.
Throbbing pain isn't a matter of the heart, researchers find
(Medical Xpress)—Throbbing pain may pound like a heartbeat, but University of Florida scientists have discovered the sensation is all in your head, or more precisely, in your brain waves.
Think before you drink: Erosion of tooth enamel from soda pop is permanent
(Medical Xpress)—You may be saving calories by drinking diet soda, but when it comes to enamel erosion of your teeth, it's no better than regular soda.
Research throws new light on why children with autism are often bullied
(Medical Xpress)—A study of hundreds of teachers and parents of children on the autistic spectrum has revealed factors why they are more or less likely to be bullied.
Girls with anorexia have elevated autistic traits
(Medical Xpress)—Girls with anorexia nervosa show a mild echo of the characteristics of autism, suggests new research in the journal Molecular Autism.
Diets of pregnant women contain harmful, hidden toxins
(Medical Xpress)—Pregnant women regularly consume food and beverages containing toxins believed to pose potential risks to developing fetuses, according to researchers at the University of California in Riverside and San Diego, suggesting that health care providers must do more to counsel their patients about the dangers of hidden toxins in the food supply.
This is your brain on Vivaldi and Beatles
Listening to music activates large networks in the brain, but different kinds of music are processed differently. A team of researchers from Finland, Denmark and the UK has developed a new method for studying music processing in the brain during a realistic listening situation. Using a combination of brain imaging and computer modeling, they found areas in the auditory, motor, and limbic regions to be activated during free listening to music. They were furthermore able to pinpoint differences in the processing between vocal and instrumental music. The new method helps us to understand better the complex brain dynamics of brain networks and the processing of lyrics in music. The study was published in the journal NeuroImage.
A breakthrough in inhalation masks for infants
Researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have made a breakthrough that could lead to radical changes in the design and effectiveness of inhalation masks for infants.
Process of mindfulness may help children focus in the classroom
(Medical Xpress)—A Kansas State University child/adolescent counselor says a process used to help adults with anxiety disorders may also have a place in the classroom, helping children keep their focus on the subject at hand.
Games' hidden purpose: Tracking, diagnosing ADHD
Noah Madson remembers being exhausted after hours of tests for his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. "Boy, those were complicated," said his mother, Nancy. "He'd come out and say, 'My brain hurts.' "
Banking on your voice: Machine stores speech for patient's future use
Carole Shearn isn't quite sure when she will lose the ability to speak, but she is sure of one thing: Her voice will still be heard, even when the words can no longer be spoken from her lips.
Food additive safety often determined by those with food industry ties, study finds
(HealthDay)—Experts selected by the food industry have often been the ones approving the safety of food additives for the past 15 years, a new report claims.
Material in dissolvable sutures could treat brain infections, reducing hospital stays
A plastic material already used in absorbable surgical sutures and other medical devices shows promise for continuous administration of antibiotics to patients with brain infections, scientists are reporting in a new study. Use of the material, placed directly on the brain's surface, could reduce the need for weeks of costly hospital stays now required for such treatment, they say in the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience.
Study shows moderate exercise could be good for your tendons
Moderate exercise could be good for keeping your tendons healthy according to new research from the University of East Anglia funded by Arthritis Research UK.
Children and magnets have a dangerous attraction, end up in the ER
Cases involving children ingesting magnets quintupled between 2002 and 2011, with ingestion of multiple magnets generally resulting in more serious outcomes, including emergency surgery. The results of a study documenting a rapid rise in pediatric injuries was published online yesterday in Annals of Emergency Medicine.
Treadmill training after spinal cord injury promotes recovery when inflammation is controlled
New research suggests that treadmill training soon after a spinal cord injury can have long-lasting positive effects on recovery – as long as the training is accompanied by efforts to control inflammation in the lower spinal cord.
Study: Heart pump with behind-the-ear power connector
Cardiac surgeons and cardiologists at the University of Maryland Heart Center are part of a multi-center clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of powering heart pumps through a skull-based connector behind the ear. Typically, these devices for patients with severe heart failure are energized through an electrical cord connected at an abdominal site, where potentially deadly infections can develop.
Benefit of mobile apps for toddlers questioned (Update)
A U.S. consumer advocacy group filed a complaint Wednesday with the Federal Trade Commission alleging that two popular baby app developers—Fisher-Price Inc. and Open Solutions—are trying to dupe parents into thinking their online games make infants and toddlers smarter.
Scientists use genome sequencing to prove herbal remedy causes upper urinary tract cancers
Genomic sequencing experts at Johns Hopkins partnered with pharmacologists at Stony Brook University to reveal a striking mutational signature of upper urinary tract cancers caused by aristolochic acid, a plant compound contained in herbal remedies used for thousands of years to treat a variety of ailments such as arthritis, gout and inflammation. Their discovery is described in the Aug. 7 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
Chocolate may help keep brain healthy
Drinking two cups of hot chocolate a day may help older people keep their brains healthy and their thinking skills sharp, according to a study published in the August 7, 2013, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Study casts doubt on theory that retired NFL players suffer unique cognitive disorder
The media have widely reported that retired NFL players are at risk for a neurodegenerative disorder called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which causes symptoms such as aggression, depression, suicidality and progressive dementia.
Sudden cardiac arrest survival odds greater at fitness facilities
People experiencing sudden cardiac arrest at exercise facilities have a higher chance of survival than at other indoor locations, likely due to early CPR and access to an automated external defibrillator (AED), among other factors, according to a study published online today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The findings underscore the importance of having AEDs in places where people exert themselves and are at greater risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
Study suggests pattern in lung cancer pathology may predict cancer recurrence after surgery
A new study by thoracic surgeons and pathologists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center shows that a specific pattern found in the tumor pathology of some lung cancer patients is a strong predictor of recurrence. Knowing that this feature exists in a tumor's pathology could be an important factor doctors use to guide cancer treatment decisions.
Cognitive decline with age is normal, routine—but not inevitable
If you forget where you put your car keys and you can't seem to remember things as well as you used to, the problem may well be with the GluN2B subunits in your NMDA receptors.
Psoriasis patients at increasing risk for range of serious medical conditions
Patients with mild, moderate and severe psoriasis had increasingly higher odds of having at least one major medical disease in addition to psoriasis, when compared to patients without psoriasis. Reporting findings in JAMA Dermatology, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, concluded that the severity of disease, as measured by the percentage of body surface area affected by psoriasis, was strongly linked to an increased presence of other diseases affecting the lungs, heart, kidneys, liver and pancreas.
Family members of children with cancer may also be at risk
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, one of the first questions the parents ask is "Will my other children get cancer?" A new study from Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah suggests the answer to that question depends on whether a family history of cancer exists. The research results were published online in the International Journal of Cancer and will appear in the November 15 print issue.
Protein involved in nerve-cell migration implicated in spread of brain cancer
The invasion of brain-tumor cells into surrounding tissue requires the same protein molecule that neurons need to migrate into position as they differentiate and mature, according to new research from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine and published August 7 in the online journal PLOS ONE.
A complex story behind genes, environment, diabetes and obesity
While it is well known that there is a strong genetic basis to both diabetes and obesity, and that they are linked, Australian researchers say that there are many rare genetic variants involved, which will pose a significant challenge in the quest to develop effective therapies.
Scientists identify biomarker to predict immune response risk after stem cell transplants
Researchers from Indiana University, the University of Michigan, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have identified and validated a biomarker accessible in blood tests that could be used to predict which stem cell transplant patients are at highest risk for a potentially fatal immune response called graft-versus-host disease.
Dementia risk tied to blood sugar level, even with no diabetes
A joint Group Health–University of Washington (UW) study in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that higher blood sugar levels are associated with higher dementia risk, even among people who do not have diabetes.
Five-year olds choose to 'play nice' based on other kids' reputations
Five-to-six-year olds are more likely to be kind to peers after observing them interacting with other children in positive ways, suggesting that children establish a sense of their peers' 'reputation' early in life. The results are published August 7 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Kenji Onishi and colleagues from Osaka University, Japan.
Belief in precognition increases sense of control over life
People given scientific evidence supporting our ability to predict the future feel a greater sense of control over their lives, according to research published August 7 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Katharine Greenaway and colleagues from the University of Queensland, Australia.
Angry opponents seem bigger to tied up men
A physical handicap like being tied down makes men over-estimate an opponent's size and under-estimate their own, according to research published August 7 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Daniel Fessler and Colin Holbrook from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Anti-ageing hormone receptors
(Medical Xpress)—A reduced caloric intake increases life expectancy in many species. But how diet prolongs the lives of model organisms such as fruit flies and roundworms has remained a mystery until recently.
Changes in language and word use reflect our shifting values, psychologists report
A new UCLA analysis of words used in more than 1.5 million American and British books published between 1800 and 2000 shows how our cultural values have changed.
Scientists find key signal that guides brain development
Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have decoded an important molecular signal that guides the development of a key region of the brain known as the neocortex. The largest and most recently evolved region of the brain, the neocortex is particularly well developed in humans and is responsible for sensory processing, long-term memory, reasoning, complex muscle actions, consciousness and other functions.
A 'rocking' receptor: Crucial brain-signaling molecule requires coordinated motion to turn on
Johns Hopkins biophysicists have discovered that full activation of a protein ensemble essential for communication between nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord requires a lot of organized back-and-forth motion of some of the ensemble's segments. Their research, they say, may reveal multiple sites within the protein ensemble that could be used as drug targets to normalize its activity in such neurological disorders as epilepsy, schizophrenia, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.
Why don't we all get Alzheimer's disease?
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine offer an explanation for why we all don't get Alzeimer's disease (AD)—a trick of nature that in most people maintains critical separation between a protein and an enzyme that, when combined, trigger the progressive cell degeneration and death characteristic of AD.
Japanese supercomputer takes big byte out of the brain
Researchers in Japan have used the powerful K computer, the world's fastest supercomputer, to simulate the complex neural structure of our brain.
Loss of MicroRNA decoy might contribute to development of soft-tissue sarcoma
Researchers have discovered a novel mechanism responsible for the loss of a critical tumor-suppressor gene in rhabdomyosarcoma and other soft-tissue sarcomas, rare cancers that strike mainly children and often respond poorly to treatment. Their cause is largely unknown.
Study reveals that overthinking can be detrimental to human performance
Trying to explain riding a bike is difficult because it is an implicit memory. The body knows what to do, but thinking about the process can often interfere. So why is it that under certain circumstances paying full attention and trying hard can actually impede performance? A new UC Santa Barbara study, published today in the Journal of Neuroscience, reveals part of the answer.
Researchers publish study on genome of aggressive cervical cancer that killed Henrietta Lacks
A team from the University of Washington has unveiled a comprehensive portrait of the genome of the world's first immortal cell line, known as HeLa. The cell line was derived in 1951 from an aggressive cervical cancer that killed Henrietta Lacks, a 31-year-old African-American tobacco farmer and mother of five – the subject of the 2010 New York Times bestseller, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. They will also be the first group to publish under a new National Institutes of Health (NIH) policy for HeLa genomic data, established through discussions with Lacks' family.
Neurobiologists discover elementary motion detectors in the fruit fly
Recognising movement and its direction is one of the first and most important processing steps in any visual system. By this way, nearby predators or prey can be detected and even one's own movements are controlled. More than fifty years ago, a mathematical model predicted how elementary motion detectors must be structured in the brain. However, which nerve cells perform this job and how they are actually connected remained a mystery. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried have now come one crucial step closer to this "holy grail of motion vision": They identified the cells that represent these so-called "elementary motion detectors" in the fruit fly brain. The results show that motion of an observed object is processed in two separate pathways. In each pathway, motion information is processed independently of one another and sorted according to its direction.
Researchers map complex motion-detection circuitry in flies
Some optical illusions look like they're in motion even though the picture is static. A new map of the fly brain also suggests motion—or at least how the fly sees movement. The new research, published in the August 8 issue of Nature, takes advantage of a high-throughput approach that speeds the charting of neuronal connections involved in motion detection.
Making connections in the eye: Wiring diagram of retinal neurons is first step toward mapping the human brain
The human brain has 100 billion neurons, connected to each other in networks that allow us to interpret the world around us, plan for the future, and control our actions and movements. MIT neuroscientist Sebastian Seung wants to map those networks, creating a wiring diagram of the brain that could help scientists learn how we each become our unique selves.
Researchers propose new experiments on mutant bird flu (Update)
Scientists proposed developing a more potent strain of the deadly H7N9 bird flu on Wednesday to examine how mutant forms might spread among humans, a topic that has stoked global alarm in the past.
Biology news
HK nabs $5.3M in ivory, rhino horns, leopard skins (Update)
Hong Kong customs officials have seized a shipment of illegal ivory, rhino horns and leopard skins worth $5.3 million in the territory's second big bust of endangered species products in a month.
Ga. aquarium denied permit to import 18 belugas
Georgia Aquarium officials say the National Marine Fisheries Service has denied its application to import beluga whales from Russia.
University's website lets you keep track of sharks
One tiger shark, affectionately known as Harry Lindo, swam an unprecedented 27,000 miles in three years. A couple of others, a tiger and a shortfin mako, dove 3,000 feet deep. Others thrashed through the seas at up to 60 mph, all unusual feats for a fish.
Australian zoo hoping for first panda birth Down Under
An Australian zoo said Wednesday it was hoping for the first successful panda birth in the southern hemisphere as it prepares one of its giant animals for artificial insemination.
The grim trail of bacteria left by flies in hot weather is revealed
(Phys.org) —The current hot spell of weather has seen increased activities by flies whether in the kitchen or across picnic food and barbecues.
Simple moss plants outperform us by gene number
At the genetic level, mosses are more complex than humans: A group of German, Belgian and Japanese scientists, coordinated by Professor Ralf Reski from the University of Freiburg, Germany, published a new study where they describe 32,275 protein-encoding genes from the moss Physcomitrella patens. This is about 10,000 genes more than the human genome contains. Mosses are tiny plants with a simple body plan: They have no roots, no flowers and do not produce seeds. Therefore, they were for a long time they were considered to be simple organisms also at the genetic level.
Wolf found in Netherlands is no joke, scientists say
The first wolf found in the Netherlands in over 140 years walked there freely from eastern Europe, scientists said Wednesday, dismissing allegations its body had been dumped as joke.
Of stars and stripes: NASA satellites used to predict zebra migrations
One of the world's longest migrations of zebras occurs in the African nation of Botswana, but predicting when and where zebras will move has not been possible until now. Using NASA rain and vegetation data, researchers can track when and where arid lands begin to green, and for the first time anticipate if zebras will make the trek or, if the animals find poor conditions en route, understand why they will turn back.
Dogs yawn more often in response to owners' yawns than strangers
Dogs yawn contagiously when they see a person yawning, and respond more frequently to their owner's yawns than to a stranger's, according to research published August 7 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Teresa Romero and colleagues from the University of Tokyo.
Veeries stay mum at night to avoid becoming owl dinner
"When the sun hits the ground and the owl's been around, veeries nary make a sound." It's a familiar quotation you've never heard before, but one buoyed up as a modern truism thanks to recent research conducted in part by a biologist at Texas Tech University.
Medfly and other fruit flies entrenched in California, study concludes
Research to be published Aug. 7 in the highly respected international journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B clearly demonstrates that at least five and as many as nine species of tropical fruit flies, including the infamous Medfly, are permanently established in California and inexorably spreading, despite more than 30 years of intervention and nearly 300 state-sponsored eradication programs aimed at the flies.
Dolphins keep lifelong social memories, longest in a non-human species
Dolphins can recognize their old tank mates' whistles after being separated for more than 20 years—the longest social memory ever recorded for a non-human species.
Monarch butterflies migration path tracked by generations for first time
Everyone knows all about the epic breeding journey taken each year by generations of monarch butterflies between Mexico and Canada, right? Not so fast, say researchers including University of Guelph biologists.
Eavesdropping plants prepare to be attacked
(Phys.org) —In a world full of hungry predators, prey animals must be constantly vigilant to avoid getting eaten. But plants face a particular challenge when it comes to defending themselves.
The team of proteins that could have implications for the fight against cancer
(Phys.org) —Researchers at Warwick Medical School have identified the key role played by a team of proteins in the process of mitosis. Working out how to control them may give scientists a way to destroy cancerous cells.
Strangers invade the homes of giant bacteria
Life is not a walk in the park for the world's largest bacteria, that live as soft, noodle-like, white strings on the bottom of the ocean depths. Without being able to fend for themselves, they get invaded by parasitic microorganisms that steal the nutrition, that they have painstakingly retreived. This newly discovered bizarre deep ocean relationship may ultimately impact ocean productivity, report researchers from University of Southern Denmark now in the scientific journal Nature.
'Catabolite repression': Simple math sheds new light on a long-studied biological process
One of the most basic and intensively studied processes in biology—one which has been detailed in biology textbooks for decades—has gained a new level of understanding, thanks to the application of simple math to a problem that scientists never before thought could benefit from mathematics.
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