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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 27, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Researchers develop new type of fluorescent camera for blood diagnostics, brain mapping- DARPA partners with the DIY community to create the ultimate brain interface
- 'Accelerator on a chip' demonstrated
- Ivanpah solar plant in California starts energy feed to grid
- Water glides freely across 'nanodrapes' made from the world's thinnest material
- New survey of DNA alterations could aid search for cancer genes
- Cell nuclei harbor factories that transcribe genes
- Understanding how infants acquire new words across cultures
- 3-D models of electrical streamers: New work may be key to avoiding large-scale power outages
- A new paradigm for nanoscale resolution MRI has been experimentally achieved
- US Congress acts to avert helium shortage
- Bright, laser-based lighting devices
- Oncogenic signatures mapped in TCGA a guide for the development of personalized therapy
- New medical device extremely effective at preventing HIV in women
- First step to reduce plant need for nitrogen fertilizer uncovered
Space & Earth news
Promoting environmental justice worldwide
The increasing social metabolism of the world economy and the global competition for resources is placing ever-greater pressure on the environment and on vulnerable communities. This trend is set to continue, increasing the potential for more conflicts over scarce resources and environmental protection.
Minnesota sets goals for fixing Gulf of Mexico dead zone
Minnesota's top pollution officials are setting ambitious goals - primarily for farmers - to cut back on the millions of tons of pollution that each year flow out of the state and down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico, where it adds to a dead zone incapable of supporting sea life.
Temperatures to rise 0.3-4.8 C this century, UN panel says
A UN panel said Friday it was more certain than ever that humans were causing global warming and predicted temperatures would rise by 0.3 to 4.8 degrees Celsius (0.5-8.6 degrees Fahrenheit) this century.
Papyrus charcoal offers new fuel source
Turning local sources of underused biomass like maize cobs or papyrus stems into charcoal briquettes could provide better fuel for people across East Africa, scientists suggest. This new, sustainable energy source could help boost local economies, curb rampant deforestation and avert health problems caused by inhaling smoke from firewood.
Carbon offsets could help lower emissions without harming the economy
Instead of harming the economies of developing countries, carbon offsets and taxes on shipping and aviation would have a minimal or even a positive economic impact if implemented wisely, according to a new study.
Addressing climate change in forests, container crops
Climate change poses a two-pronged threat to the timber industry in the southeastern United States. Droughts are expected to increase, and tree diseases could become more severe and more common.
UN climate report: Key points (Update)
Highlights from a report issued by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on Friday.
Detected radio bursts evidence of 'exotic phenomena'
The detection of four short bursts of radio waves, possibly arising from explosions billions of light years away, could be powerful tools to study our Universe, according to research published in Science.
Magnetic fields are crucial to exomoon habitability
Astronomers believe that hidden deep within the wealth of data collected by NASA's Kepler mission are minuscule signatures confirming the presence of exomoons. With such a promising discovery on the horizon, researchers are beginning to address the factors that may deem these alien moons habitable.
UN panel's climate report sparks concern
Scientists, environmentalists and politicians reacted with concern Friday as a UN climate panel warned temperatures could rise by as much as 4.8 degrees Celsius (8.6 degrees Fahrenheit) this century due to man's voracious energy consumption.
Weighing the Antarctic ice sheet
One of the last big unknowns in the global climate equation is Antarctica. How stable is the Antarctic ice sheet? More than a mile thick, on average, it locks up 70 percent of the Earth's fresh water.
Is it time to ditch the climate 'bible'?
Top UN experts have just delivered the first volume of a massive new climate change report, but already whispers are starting to be heard: Will it be the last such review?
Breathing underwater: Evidence of microscopic life in oceanic crust
Although long thought to be devoid of life, the bottom of the deep ocean is now known to harbor entire ecosystems teeming with microbes. Scientists have recently documented that oxygen is disappearing from seawater circulating through deep oceanic crust, a significant first step in understanding the way life in the "deep biosphere" beneath the sea floor is able to survive and thrive. The new research findings were published in the journal Nature Communications on September 27, 2013, and are helping to redefine our concepts of the limits of life on our planet.
Climate panel: Warming 'extremely likely' man-made (Update 3)
Scientists now believe it's "extremely likely" that human activity is the dominant cause of global warming, a long-term trend that is clear despite a recent plateau in the temperatures, an international climate panel said Friday.
El Nino cycle has a big effect on a major greenhouse gas
Nitrous oxide is commonly associated with laughing gas—the pleasantly benign vapor that puts patients at ease in the dentist's chair. But outside the dentist's office, the gas plays a serious role in the planet's warming climate.
Minamata convention treaty seeks to reduce mercury pollution
(Phys.org) —People from 140 countries across the globe will be signing a treaty this month—its purpose is to reduce the amount of man-made mercury pollution being released into the environment. The treaty signing follows meetings by representatives that have previously agreed to sign it—the signing will be held in Minamat Japan—site of one of the largest mercury spills in history. David Krabbenhoft and Elsie Sunderland of the U.S. Geological Survey and Harvard University respectively, have published a Perspective piece in the journal Science, on the treaty and the many issues surrounding the use of mercury and the problems it can cause. Contributing correspondent for the same journal, Lizzie Wade has also published an article describing the single worst mercury polluting offenders—artesian miners—and the difficulties in getting them to stop their practices.
SUNRISE offers new insight on sun's atmosphere
Three months after the flight of the solar observatory Sunrise – carried aloft by a NASA scientific balloon in early June 2013—scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Germany have presented unique insights into a layer on the sun called the chromosphere. Sunrise provided the highest-resolution images to date in ultraviolet light of this thin corrugated layer, which lies between the sun's visible surface and the sun's outer atmosphere, the corona.
Technology news
Green business from recycled dairy wastewater
An innovative new way of treating dairy wastewater and whey could cut water and energy consumption dramatically, saving the food industry millions of euros.
Mimicking nuclear reactor damage is goal of $5 M grant
A new $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy will enable University of Michigan engineering researchers to advance the understanding of how radiation damages nuclear reactor components.
Panasonic sells health unit to US buyout firm for $1.67 bn
Panasonic said Friday it was selling a majority stake in its health unit to US buyout firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) for $1.67 billion as the struggling electronics giant overhauls its vast business.
38 Studios video game headed to auction block
The video game under development when Curt Schilling's 38 Studios went bankrupt is headed to the auction block.
RingCentral jumps after raising $97.5M in IPO
RingCentral Inc.'s shares soared in the cloud-based phone system company's market debut.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard unveils attack drone
Iran unveiled on Friday an unmanned attack aircraft it described as its most sophisticated drone to date that can reach much of the Middle East, including Israel.
Faulty app directions to Alaska runway disabled (Update)
Apple has disabled driving directions to the Fairbanks International Airport after a glitch in its maps app guided drivers to the edge of a runway instead of a terminal, airport spokeswoman Angie Spear said Friday. Two times, drivers continued on and cut across an active runway to reach the terminal.
GateHouse Media files for Chapter 11 in Delaware
GateHouse Media Inc., which owns more than 400 community newspapers around the country, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware.
Post-it notes get fresh life with digital app
Post-it notes, those sticky papers used by pen-and-ink people for reminders and bookmarks, are getting new life for the digital world.
Yahoo, Softbank back Alibaba in HK IPO battle (Update)
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba's biggest shareholders, Yahoo and Japan's Softbank Corp., on Friday backed the company's unusual management structure that Hong Kong's stock exchange was unwilling to accommodate, forcing it to look to the U.S. for a potentially mammoth IPO.
The government scheme that's after your data
A little known UK government initiative is underway to release vast amounts of personal data from companies to citizens with the laudable aim of handing power to the consumer. The midata initiative aims to provide you with easy access to detailed information about your spending habits and consumption, so you can make better decisions about your life – from what you eat to how you communicate.
BlackBerry loses $965 million in second quarter
Canadian tech pioneer BlackBerry, which earlier this week agreed to a $4.7 billion buyout, said Friday that it lost $965 million in the second quarter.
7 cars get top rating in high-tech safety test
Seven midsize vehicles earned the top rating in a new insurance industry test of high-tech safety features designed to prevent front-end collisions.
Facebook's status among investors goes from dud to darling
Facebook Inc. has just one question for Wall Street: How do you like me now?
Q&A: FBI agent fights cyberattacks on corporate America
Corporate America has increasingly found itself under siege by hackers backed by organized criminals and foreign governments alike.
AT&T spending millions to get message across: Texting can wait
As AT&T Inc.'s global marketing officer, Cathy Coughlin controls billions of dollars to build the brand and land deals like the one that put AT&T's name on the Dallas Cowboys' stadium.
France to sanction Google over privacy rules
France said Friday it will fine Google up to 300,000 euros ($402,180) for breaking rules on data privacy.
Samsung moves to appease EU on Apple patent fight
South Korea's Samsung has answered accusations by Brussels that the company abused its dominant market position by taking out unfair injunctions against rival Apple, the European Commission said on Friday.
Microsoft reports 37,000 legal requests in six months
Microsoft said Friday it received more than 37,000 government requests for information in the first half of 2013—excluding any national security requests.
Ivanpah solar plant in California starts energy feed to grid
The world's largest solar thermal plant began to feed energy into the power grid on Tuesday, considered a solar energy milestone, in a project scheduled to be fully operational by the end of the year. The system delivered its first kilowatts of power Tuesday to Pacific Gas & Electric in California, from one of three central-tower units, with the remaining two to be activated next. Power generated from Ivanpah's initial sync testing to PG&E is under a power purchase agreement for energy produced out of the plant's Unit 1 station. Power generated from the Unit 3 station is also for PG&E. Unit 2 is under an agreement with Southern California Edison. Proof-of-concept testing will also be conducted at Units 2 and 3 in the coming months.
DARPA partners with the DIY community to create the ultimate brain interface
(Phys.org) —For the last several decades huge investments have been made by the military to increase battlefield connectivity. Communicating geodata, IR-visuals, or smartweapon metrics not just to the basestation, but to other local personnel on the field, and even between devices on an individual soldier, has been high priority. Yet in just a few short years, these efforts have been completely obsoletized by smartphone technology, and the economies of scale introduced by its ubiquity. DARPA had to play a bit of catch-up recently, but they have adapted well to this new playing field. They now speak ad-hoc tactical torrents and battleclouds with the best in the business. They have also funded numerous academic efforts over the years bent on bringing neurotech to the military—only here, they are now determined not to make the same mistake twice.
Medicine & Health news
Diagnosing, treating sore throat (primary prevention) should be part of strategy to prevent rheumatic heart disease
Diagnosing and treating sore (strep) throat (primary prevention) in children and adolescents to prevent such cases developing into acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) should be a cornerstone in any overall RHD strategy. The issues around primary prevention are discussed in one of the papers in the RHD special issue of Global Heart (the Journal of the World Heart Federation) by authors Dr Liesl Zühlke, University of Cape Town and Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa, and Dr Ganesan Karthikeyan, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Rheumatic heart disease: A new era of pushing for global control as World Heart Day approaches
As this year's World Heart Day approaches (Sunday September 29), focus is returning to a neglected and entirely preventable heart disease that largely affects the world's youngest and poorest populations: rheumatic heart disease (RHD). To highlight this long-neglected condition, Global Heart, the journal of The World Heart Federation (WHF) is publishing a special issue dedicated to RHD.
How can supply of penicillin be an issue in any country in 2013?
Benzathine penicillin G (BPG) is the most essential antibiotic for the treatment and prevention of group A streptococcal infections associated with rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. Yet while some countries such as South Africa and Brazil have stable supplies, most countries with a high RHD burden often suffer interruptions in supply and also have quality control issues. The problems around supply of this drug are discussed in one of the papers of the RHD special issue of Global Heart, the journal of the World Heart Federation. The paper is by Dr Rosemary Wyber, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia and colleagues.
Myanmar's 'tallest man' undergoes successful surgery
Myanmar's tallest man—"Big Zaw"—has returned from Singapore where doctors said he underwent successful brain surgery to remove a tumour responsible for his excessive growth.
Japan to raid Novartis over alleged data fabrication: reports
Japanese authorities are preparing to raid the local arm of Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis over data fabrication claims, reports said Friday.
Increasing awareness that untreated sore throat can lead to rheumatic heart disease is a huge part of the battle
Without a huge improvement in living conditions, a cure, or a vaccine, rheumatic heart disease (RHD) will continue to blight low-income and middle-income countries. Raising community awareness of the condition, emphasising that untreated sore throat caused by group A streptococcal (GAS) infection can lead to acute rheumatic fever (ARF)/RHD, is a huge part of the battle. The issues around advocacy and awareness are discussed in a paper in the RHD special issue of Global Heart, the journal of the World Heart Federation, written by Dr Liesl Zühlke, University of Cape Town and Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa, and Dr Mark E Engel, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Echocardiography detecting many more cases of definite and borderline rheumatic heart disease
How using echocardiography is increasing detection rates of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) many-fold is the subject of one of the papers in the RHD special issue of Global Heart, the journal of the World Heart Federation, and written by Dr Anita Saxena, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India; Dr Liesl Zühlke, University of Cape Town and Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; and Dr Nigel Wilson, Starship Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
Study carried out on ninety-year-olds reveals the benefits of strength training as physical exercise
After doing specific training for 12 weeks, people over the age of 90 improved their strength, power and muscle mass. This was reflected in an increase in their walking speed, a greater capacity to get out of their chairs, an improvement in their balance, a significant reduction in the incidence of falls and a significant improvement in muscle power and mass in the lower limbs. These are some of the outcomes of the study recently published in the journal Age of the American Ageing Association and which was led by Mikel Izquierdo-Redín, Professor of Physiotherapy at the NUP/UPNA-Public University of Navarre.
Falls don't have to be part of getting older, experts argue
Falls are the leading cause of fatal injuries among older people, but experts from The University of Manchester argue they should not just be written off as an unavoidable consequence of ageing. According to the researchers leading a European-wide study from the University, there are plenty of things people can do to prevent falls, and the injuries they cause, escalating with age.
Study raises questions over discrimination in GP exam
Concerns over discrimination in the UK general practitioner examination are raised in a study by The University of Manchester published on bmj.com today.
New research suggests moderate coffee consumption is not associated with increased CVD risk
Coffee is one of the most extensively researched components in the diet. New studies are regularly being added to the already large body of scientific research, which overall suggests that moderate habitual coffee consumption is not associated with detrimental effects on cardiovascular health
Early intervention by infectious diseases specialists saves lives, reduces costs
In a first-of-its-kind study to evaluate the impact of a medical specialty on patient outcomes, researchers found that hospitalized patients with severe infections such as meningitis and Clostridium difficile (C. diff.) are significantly less likely to die if they receive care from an infectious diseases specialist. The study, which analyzed nearly 130,000 Medicare patient cases, is now available online and will be published in the December 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Setting blurred images in motion improves perception
Blurred images that are unidentifiable as still pictures become understandable once the images are set in motion. That's because of a phenomenon called "optic flow"—which may be especially relevant as a source of visual information in people with low vision, reports a study 'With an Eye to Low Vision: Optic Flow Enables Perception Despite Image Blur' (published online ahead of print, September 3, 2013) in the October issue of Optometry and Vision Science official journal of the American Academy of Optometry.
Colorectal cancer screening works
Screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) in European countries is highly effective in reducing mortality from the disease. Some of the resources currently being devoted to breast and prostate screening programmes, where the evidence of effectiveness is much less clear-cut, should be reallocated to the early detection of CRC, the 2013 European Cancer Congress (ECC2013) [1] will hear on Sunday.
Hyperfractionated radiotherapy improves survival in head and neck cancer patients
The use of an intensified form of radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancers can improve overall survival rates compared with standard radiation therapy, according to results from a large study to be presented on Saturday at the 2013 European Cancer Congress (ECC2013) [1].
Anti-cancer drug T-DM1 benefits women with advanced breast cancer who've failed previous treatments
Amsterdam, The Netherlands: First results from a phase III clinical trial of the combination drug, T-DM1, show that it significantly improves the length of time before the disease worsens in women with advanced HER2 positive breast cancer whose cancer has recurred or progressed despite previous treatments, including trastuzumab and lapatinib.
Treating chest lymph nodes in early breast cancer patients improves survival
Giving radiation therapy to the lymph nodes located behind the breast bone and above the collar bone to patients with early breast cancer improves overall survival without increasing side effects. This new finding ends the uncertainty about whether the beneficial effect of radiation therapy in such patients was simply the result of irradiation of the breast area, or whether it treated cancer cells in the local lymph nodes as well, the 2013 European Cancer Congress (ECC2013) [1] will hear on Saturday.
Young patients with metastatic colorectal cancer are at high risk of disease progression and death
Younger patients with colorectal cancer that has spread (metastasised) to other parts of the body represent a high-risk group that is less likely to respond to anti-cancer treatments. Their disease is more likely to progress and they are at greater risk of death than other age groups, according to new research to be presented to the 2013 European Cancer Congress (ECC2013) [1] on Sunday.
Survival after cancer diagnosis in Europe associated with amount governments spend on health care
The more an EU (European Union) national government spends on health, the fewer the deaths after a cancer diagnosis in that country, according to new research to be presented to the 2013 European Cancer Congress (ECC2013) [1] on Sunday and published simultaneously in the leading cancer journal Annals of Oncology [2].
Study reveals dramatic fall in death rates after hip replacements
Mortality rates in the first 90 days following hip replacement surgery have halved, according to a study led by the University of Bristol on behalf of the National Joint Registry for England, Wales and Northern Ireland (NJR) and published in The Lancet.
FDA-approved antidepressant may combat deadly form of lung cancer, study finds
A little-used class of antidepressants appears potentially effective in combating a particularly deadly form of lung cancer, according to a new study from researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
First clinical study shows potential of stem cell-enriched fat grafts to transform reconstructive surgery
Stem cell-enriched fat grafting could become central to plastic and reconstructive surgery after the first randomised trial in humans confirms the technique's excellent feasibility and safety.
iPod use while driving is dangerously distracting
New road safety research suggests that scrolling through music selections on MP3 players while driving is just as distracting as text messaging or entering details into a navigation system.
Bothersome tinnitus linked to neuroticism
People with 'neurotic' tendencies are more likely to be troubled by their tinnitus, a new study involving researchers at The University of Nottingham, has found.
Safer anesthesia and sounder sleep: Going beyond 'not killing as many people'
Life before anesthesia was horrific. Operations were incredibly painful. Many patients facing surgery suffered anxiety worse than the condition their surgery was supposed to fix.
Glitzy cigarette packs entice kids to start deadly addiction
A Cancer Research UK study reveals for the first time that glitzy and glamorous cigarette packaging makes children susceptible to smoking - tempting them in to a habit that kills half of all long term users. The research is published in the journal BMJ Open.
Researchers create novel assay to test for epigenetic abnormalities in preimplanted mice embryos
Scientists from A*STAR's Institute of Medical Biology (IMB) and Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) have created a novel assay to probe the DNA methylation stateof multiple genomic loci in single cells. This work on epigenetics was reported in the influential scientific journal, Science on 6 September 2013.
Genes against parasites: An African breed of cattle harbours potential weapons against a life-threatening parasite
Each year millions of cattle in Africa are killed by a parasite transmitted by the tsetse fly. Parasitologists at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna have studied a breed of cattle with a natural tolerance against the parasite. They found that Baoulé cows are doubly protected against the disease: they are less often infected and can tolerate higher levels of parasites in the blood. The work was published in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
New breast cancer imaging technique could cut down on false positives
(Medical Xpress)—A joint BYU-Utah research team is developing a new breast cancer screening technique that has the potential to reduce false positives, and, possibly, minimize the need for invasive biopsies.
Mouse studies reveal promising vitamin D-based treatment for MS
(Medical Xpress)—A diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is a hard lot. Patients typically get the diagnosis around age 30 after experiencing a series of neurological problems such as blurry vision, wobbly gait or a numb foot. From there, this neurodegenerative disease follows an unforgiving course.
New study highlights growing number of people living with multiple sclerosis in the UK
The number of people being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the UK is falling but the population of those living with the disease is growing as patients are living longer, a new study at the University of Dundee has found.
Mutations that matter
(Medical Xpress)—Identifying the genetic source of a specific trait can be a little like finding a needle in a field full of haystacks. University of Dayton biologist Thomas Williams is working to shrink the number of haystacks.
Collaborative effects of multiple bacterial strains in the gut may help prevent onset of certain inflammatory diseases
At first, it may sound alarming to learn that a population of bacteria in your gut is conspiring to suppress your immune system—however, this is actually good news. By identifying the strains responsible, a research team led by Kenya Honda of the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences may have uncovered a promising avenue of treatment for certain inflammatory disorders.
Think alcohol and energy drinks are nothing to worry about? Think again
Heavy drinkers are mixing alcohol with energy drinks to enable them to drink longer and get more drunk. While the trend is concerning many public health researchers – because the risks remain unknown – others are attempting to allay these fears, claiming there's nothing to worry about.
Trusting their doctor helps people manage diabetes
For people with diabetes, a good relationship with a physician is key to sticking to a treatment plan that can help avoid serious complications. New research in the American Journal of Health Behavior, however, suggests more work may be needed to improve many of these doctor–patient relationships.
Eyewitness testimony affected by judging suspect veracity
(Medical Xpress)—Trying to determine if a suspect is lying hurts the witness' ability to remember details accurately, says new research from Ball State University.
Baculovirus-recognising human cell receptor identified for the first time
The receptor used by baculovirus to enter and interact with human cells has been identified. This syndecan–1 receptor was identified for the first time in a recent collaborative study carried out by the University of Eastern Finland and the University of Jyväskylä in Finland. The findings increase our understanding of the strategies by which the virus causes infection in cells and further facilitates the development of baculovirus for applications of gene transfer. According to the researchers, the identification of the syndecan–1 receptor helps in understanding the ways baculovirus interacts with human cells and sheds further light on the mechanisms the virus uses in human cells.
Study finds socio-economic status impact mortality rates for certain stroke in US
Americans in the highest socio-economic groups have a 13 per cent greater chance of surviving a kind of stroke known as a subarachnoid hemorrhage than those in the lowest socio-economic groups, a new study has found.
Scientists reduce progression of one of the most aggressive skin cancers in mice
The c-Fos oncogene has traditionally been linked to cellular activities related to cancer, such as cell division, differentiation—conversion from one cell type to another—or survival. Any alteration of these activities can set off the development of tumours, which has made c-Fos an important target for the understanding and treatment of cancer.
Mobile tech and talk therapies strike at the moment binge eating urges do
Two new treatment methods under investigation at Drexel University aim to help people reduce binge-eating behavior.
Research attributes high rates of smoking among mentally ill to addiction vulnerability
People with mental illness smoke at much higher rates than the overall population. But the popular belief that they are self-medicating is most likely wrong, according to researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Instead, they report, research indicates that psychiatric disease makes the brain more susceptible to addiction.
Over the limit: Size, shape and color of wine glass affect how much you pour
Pouring a glass of wine is rarely an exact measurement, especially in a social setting. While most people think of a glass as one serving, in reality it could be closer to two or three. Researchers at Iowa State and Cornell universities discovered just how much one pours is influenced by a variety of environmental factors and could have serious consequences when it comes to overconsumption.
HEALTH REFORM: many on medicare already enjoying benefits
(HealthDay)—The Affordable Care Act will help millions of uninsured Americans get health coverage. But is it good for people on Medicare?
Bariatric surgery in T1DM teens doesn't aid glycemic control
(HealthDay)—Despite significant weight loss, improvements in cardiovascular risk factors, and quality of life, bariatric surgery does not necessarily lead to improved glycemic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), according to a case report published online Sept. 23 in Pediatrics.
CDC: Flu shot coverage of health care personnel increasing
(HealthDay)—Influenza vaccination coverage has increased among health care personnel but varies by occupation type and occupational setting, according to a report published in the Sept. 27 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Bionic leg is controlled by brain power
The act of walking may not seem like a feat of agility, balance, strength and brainpower. But lose a leg, as Zac Vawter did after a motorcycle accident in 2009, and you will appreciate the myriad calculations that go into putting one foot in front of the other.
Study identifies immune cells that promote growth of beta cells in type 1 diabetes
Joslin researchers have identified immune cells that promote growth of beta cells in type 1 diabetes. This study provides further evidence of a changed role for immune cells in type 1 diabetes pathology. The study appears online today and will also appear in the January issue of Diabetes.
New research helps fight against motor neurone disease
New research from the University of Sheffield could offer solutions into slowing down the progression of motor neurone disease (MND).
Yoga in menopause may help insomnia, but not hot flashes
Taking a 12-week yoga class and practicing at home was linked to less insomnia—but not to fewer or less bothersome hot flashes or night sweats. The link between yoga and better sleep was the only statistically significant finding in this MsFLASH (Menopause Strategies: Finding Lasting Answers for Symptoms and Health) Network randomized controlled trial.
Propofol use in execution stirs concern
The potential use of propofol in a Missouri execution next month is raising concerns that the anti-death penalty European Union could limit its export, endangering the supply of the vital anesthetic to thousands of hospitals and clinics across the United States.
Everolimus slows disease progression in advanced papillary kidney cancer patients
The first Phase II study to investigate the use of the anti-cancer drug, everolimus, for the initial treatment of advanced papillary kidney cancer has shown that it is successful in slowing or preventing the spread of the disease, according to research to be presented on Sunday at the 2013 European Cancer Congress (ECC2013) [1].
Diabetes increases the risk of developing and dying from breast and colon cancer
Diabetes is linked to an increased risk of developing cancer, and now researchers have performed a unique meta-analysis that excludes all other causes of death and found that diabetic patients not only have an increased risk of developing breast and colon cancer but an even higher risk of dying from them.
Ballet dancers' brains adapt to stop them getting in a spin
Scientists have discovered differences in the brain structure of ballet dancers that may help them avoid feeling dizzy when they perform pirouettes.
Procedure to open blocked carotid arteries tested
(Medical Xpress)—Doctors at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis are investigating a minimally invasive procedure to open blocked carotid arteries in patients whose poor health or advanced age makes the traditional open surgery too risky.
Gene variants found associated with human immune system, autoimmune disease
Numerous studies have reported that certain diseases are inherited. But genetics also plays a role in immune response, affecting our ability to stave off disease, according to a team of international researchers. The new findings, from the SardiNIA Study of Aging, supported in part by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health, are published in the Sept. 26, 2013 issue of Cell.
How HIV infects cells
In a long-awaited finding, an international team of scientists using high-brightness x-rays from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science's Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory has determined the high-resolution atomic structure of a cell-surface receptor that most strains of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) use to gain entry to human immune cells. The researchers also showed where maraviroc, an HIV drug, attaches to cells and blocks HIV's entry.
Size matters: Brain processes 'big' words faster than 'small' words
(Medical Xpress)—Bigger may not always be better, but when it comes to brain processing speed, it appears that size does matter.
Lady Thatcher and Tony Blair used 'hubristic language', research finds
(Medical Xpress)—A new study has found that British Prime Ministers Tony Blair and the late Lady Thatcher used hubristic language during their respective periods in office.
Researchers find cocaine disinhibits natural inhibitor allowing continued release of dopamine
(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers working at the University of Geneva and Geneva University Hospital have found during experiments with test mice, that injections of cocaine can cause naturally occurring inhibiting neurons in the brain to stop preventing the release of dopamine. In their paper published in the journal Science, the team describes their experiments and how their results suggest a new type of treatment for cocaine addicts might be on the horizon.
New survey of DNA alterations could aid search for cancer genes
Scanning the DNA of nearly 5,000 tumor samples, a team led by scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute has identified 140 regions of scrambled genetic code believed to contain many undiscovered cancer genes.
Understanding how infants acquire new words across cultures
Infants show strong universals as they acquire their native language, but a recent study with infants acquiring Korean also reveals that there are striking language differences.
Oncogenic signatures mapped in TCGA a guide for the development of personalized therapy
Clinical trial design for new cancer therapies has historically been focused on the tissue of origin of a tumor, but a paper from researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center published on September 26 in Nature Genetics supports a new approach: one based on the genomic signature of a tumor rather than the tissue of origin in the body.
New medical device extremely effective at preventing HIV in women
It's often said that the HIV/AIDS epidemic has a woman's face. The proportion of women infected with HIV has been on the rise for a decade; in sub-Saharan Africa, women constitute 60 percent of people living with disease. While preventative drugs exist, they have often proven ineffective, especially in light of financial and cultural barriers in developing nations.
Biology news
Senate seeks to reverse law on engineered crops
The Senate is seeking to reverse a controversial law that allows farmers to harvest genetically modified crops even when the crops are caught up in legal battles.
Jellyfish exterminator robot developed
A team led by KAIST Civil and Environmental Engineering Department's Professor Hyeon Myeong has just finished testing the cooperative assembly robot for jellyfish population control, named JEROS, in the field.
Fish hearts' secrets shown through telescope technology
Heart research funded by EPSRC at Durham University is using sophisticated optical technology to overcome the challenges of imaging living hearts which are located deep inside the body and move at 300 beats per minute.
Bats and rabies virus: More data on colonies at high risk
A new approach to rabies virus epidemiology in bats shows that the risk of infection is higher in large and multispecies colonies. The research, published on the journal PLOS ONE, has been led by Jordi Serra Cobo, professor from the Department of Animal Biology at the University of Barcelona and the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio).
Whale of a difference: Researchers double depth at which technology can identify whale prey
Shipboard echosounders can help scientists find and identify life in the ocean, from schools of fish to diving seabirds and even flurries of tiny krill.
New species of fascinating opportunistic shelter using leaf beetles
Many animals construct homes or shelters to escape from biological and physical hostilities. Birds, spiders, termites, ants, bees and wasps are the most famous animal architects. As shelter construction requires considerable investment of resources and time, builders tend to minimize the cost of building while maximizing the benefits.
Swedish team hope to create buzz in fight against bee deaths
Researchers in Sweden said Friday they had developed a new medicine to protect bees from diseases that kill entire populations of the insect in the US and Europe.
Cell nuclei harbor factories that transcribe genes
Our genetic heritage is contained—and protected—in the nucleus of the cells that compose us. Copies of the DNA exit the nucleus to be read and translated into proteins in the cell cytoplasm. The transit between the nucleus and the cytoplasm takes place through the nuclear pores, genuine "customs agents" that monitor the import-export between these two compartments. Françoise Stutz, professor in the Faculty of Science at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, and her team have just discovered how nuclear pores also regulate the production speed of these DNA copies. This work, published in the journal Molecular Cell, reveals a new role for each nucleus' several hundred pores, which constitute as many microscopic factories of gene transcription.
First step to reduce plant need for nitrogen fertilizer uncovered
Nitrogen fertilizer costs U.S. farmers approximately $8 billion each year, and excess fertilizer can find its way into rivers and streams, damaging the delicate water systems. Now, a discovery by a team of University of Missouri researchers could be the first step toward helping crops use less nitrogen, benefitting both farmers' bottom lines and the environment. The journal Science published the research this month.
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