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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 24, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- To predict, perchance to update: Neural responses to the unexpected- Researchers devise means to combine scanning tunneling microscopy and infrared spectroscopy
- Fusion, anyone? Not quite yet, but researchers show just how close we've come
- Pulse propagation and signal transduction in the hydraulic brain
- Macaque model: MERS coronavirus settles deep in lungs
- Scientists discover possible way to turn fungus from foe to friend
- New steering tech for heavy equipment saves fuel, ups efficiency
- Research suggests childhood abuse could cause multiple health problems in adults
- Evidence for densest galaxy in nearby universe
- Chemists find binding site of protein that allows plant growth
- World record solar cell with 44.7% efficiency
- Late Cretaceous Period was likely ice-free
- A shot of anxiety and the world stinks
- Genetic study pushes back timeline for first significant human population expansion
- Adjusting bacteria in intestines may lead to obesity treatments
Space & Earth news
Airline industry calls for CO2 emissions plan
The airline industry's mouthpiece called Monday for uniform global measures by 2020 to curb all aircraft carbon emissions, warning that a patchwork of competing proposals could emerge otherwise.
Donors help reopen axed Australian climate watchdog
An independent Australian climate change watchdog axed last week by the country's new conservative government was resurrected Tuesday as a non-profit body funded by public donations.
Confiscated coral given to Md.'s National Aquarium
Illegally imported corals seized by federal agents in Florida are being put to good use at Baltimore's National Aquarium.
Nature's distress call is getting louder, new report shows
Governments will gather today in Stockholm to start considering the final text for the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group 1 report, widely expected to highlight the drivers of climate change.
Balkans gold rush prompts pollution fears
Plans by mining companies to dig for gold in Romania and Greece have triggered massive opposition, with academics and environmentalists stressing that risks far outweigh benefits for the Balkan nations.
The failing freezer: How soil microbes affect global climate
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $3.9 million to an international collaboration led by University of Arizona ecologists Scott Saleska and Virginia Rich to study how microbes release greenhouse gases as they access nutrients in thawing permafrost soils under the influence of a warmer climate.
Economic rewards of better land management: Estimated 2.3 billion tons of crops worth $1.4 trillion
Adopting proven sustainable land management practices could raise world crop supplies by an estimated 2.3 billion tonnes, worth $1.4 trillion, experts say in a study being released at a major global desertification conference.
Ruth Patrick, pioneering US ecologist, dies at 105 (Update)
Ruth Patrick, a scientist whose research on freshwater ecosystems led to groundbreaking ways to measure pollution in rivers and streams, has died. She was 105.
Statistically linking extreme precipitation to global warming
Extreme rainfall can have serious effects on societies and ecosystems. Increases in extreme precipitation events are predicted to occur as Earth's climate warms, in part because warmer air has greater capacity to hold moisture, leading to more precipitation in a warmer climate. However, directly attributing changes in rainfall to global warming is difficult because climate models have limited precisions and because extreme events are rare and occur at irregular intervals.
Global study puts climate change in economic terms
A new global initiative wants to present a more persuasive argument for action on climate change by focusing on the economic benefits of doing so.
EU urges global deal on airline pollution
The EU on Tuesday urged nations to accept a compromise on plans to curb airline carbon emissions at a key UN conference, though resistance to striking an overall deal remains fierce.
Global panel to make economic case on climate change
Mexico's former president Felipe Calderon said that climate action can boost both developed and emerging countries as he led a new commission bringing together government and business leaders.
Warming 'pause' gives thought for scientists, sceptics
A slowdown in warming that has provided fuel for climate sceptics is one of the thorniest issues in a report to be issued by UN experts on Friday.
Solving the seagrass crisis
The world's seagrass meadows are in diabolical trouble – but Australian scientists say we can still save them if we act early, even as sea levels rise.
Preparing for comet ISON
(Phys.org) —ESA's space missions are getting ready to observe an icy visitor to the inner Solar System: Comet ISON, which might also be visible in the night sky later this year as a naked eye object.
Seeing more than carbon for the trees
'Best practice' carbon farming that considers more than just the carbon in trees is needed if the full benefits of trees in the landscape are to be realised by farmers, landholders, and the community.
Smouldering peat fires may contribute to climate change
New research into smouldering wildfires in the UK has found that they could be a contributor to climate change.
Large soil carbon stores trigger rethink
WA researchers will soon examine if carbon stocks found metres down in soil is inert or active after a study found significantly more carbon stored than previously thought.
NASA sees inner-core structure of Typhoon Usagi persisted at landfall
The radar on NASA and JAXA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite saw Typhoon Usagi maintaining some of its inner-core structure an hour before landfall on Sept. 22, 2013. The data was used to create an image that showed the 3-D regions of heavy precipitation hiding under the circular cloud cover near Usagi's center of rotation.
NASA sees Typhoon Pabuk's veiled eye
NASA's Aqua satellite orbit around the Earth took it right over Typhoon Pabuk and the image showed an eye veiled with some high clouds.
What 95% certainty of warming means to scientists
Top scientists from a variety of fields say they are about as certain that global warming is a real, man-made threat as they are that cigarettes kill.
Time to rethink misguided policies that promote biofuels to protect climate
Policymakers need to rethink the idea of promoting biofuels to protect the climate because the methods used to justify such policies are inherently flawed, according to a University of Michigan energy researcher.
Uphill for the trees of the world
Human civilisation has had an impact on the world, and it continues to have an even greater impact. One of these is that the forests have been cleared and especially so in flat lowlands, so that they have gradually become restricted to steep terrain. This pattern is now emerging all across the world.
Shale pits environmental versus economic interests
Shale oil and gas may be massive untapped energy sources, but the risks of extracting them has drawn calls for tighter regulation or an all-out ban.
Big blimp to tread lightly as it probes clouds' inner secrets
The world's largest blimp leaves Florida on Tuesday on a monthlong journey across the U.S., slipping into clouds and hanging out so its crew can try to determine whether they teem with microscopic life.
Study examines climate change effects on crop mix shift, transportation
(Phys.org) —Drought conditions in Texas and throughout the U.S. the past decade have not only caused crops to fail, but farmers have had to alter the mix of commodities planted to better adapt to a changing environment.
NASA rover inspects pebbly rocks at Martian waypoint
(Phys.org) —NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has resumed a trek of many months toward its mountain-slope destination, Mount Sharp. The rover used instruments on its arm last week to inspect rocks at its first waypoint along the route inside Gale Crater.
Evidence for densest galaxy in nearby universe
Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory and telescopes on the ground may have found the most crowded galaxy in our part of the universe.
Late Cretaceous Period was likely ice-free
For years, scientists have thought that a continental ice sheet formed during the Late Cretaceous Period more than 90 million years ago when the climate was much warmer than it is today. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has found evidence suggesting that no ice sheet formed at this time. This finding could help environmentalists and scientists predict what the earth's climate will be as carbon dioxide levels continue to rise.
Technology news
Robotic arm controlled by the power of the mind
A robotic arm developed by a team of European researchers goes some way towards giving severely paralysed people some independence. The arm can be controlled intuitively, meaning the person just has to think about using their arm for it to move.
Crowd safety via sensing app
A smart phone app points people the way, assists event organisers in preventing emergency cases and turns its creators into technology entrepreneurs.
The European project 'digital.me' opens its code
The EU's "digital.me" project brings Fraunhofer IAO together with seven research and industry partners to develop a system for user-controlled social networks and services that can serve as a central hub for managing a user's various digital identities. The project has now released the source code from its software development work as an open-source project.
Oracle CEO skips speech to watch America's Cup
Oracle CEO Larry Ellison is so immersed in his boating team's stirring comeback in the America's Cup that he backed out of giving the keynote speech at his software company's biggest customer conference of the year.
Novell loses appeal on case against Microsoft
A federal appeals court is throwing out Novell Inc.'s complaint that Microsoft Corp. undermined the WordPerfect writing program in favor of Microsoft's own Word program with the Windows 95 rollout.
Samsung, LG end patent dispute on display technology
South Korean electronic giants Samsung and LG have agreed to end a year-long battle over display technology patents that spawned a series of lawsuits.
Shale gas, oil reshape world energy landscape
After unleashing an energy revolution in the United States, shale gas and oil are now becoming energy game-changers worldwide, a break with the past whose ramifications are still unclear.
Applied Materials in takeover of Tokyo Electron (Update 2)
Chip-making equipment manufacturer Applied Materials is acquiring Tokyo Electron Ltd., a rival maker of equipment for production of semiconductors, flat panel displays and solar panels.
iPhone hack shows security isn't at our fingertips just yet
We've come to expect something radically different from Apple every time it launches a new product and sure enough, the fingerprint sensor unveiled as part of the iPhone 5s, seemed like a revolution in phone security.
Smart recycle bin wins record-breaking MHacks hackathon
An intelligent trash can that sorts recyclables from garbage won first prize at the University of Michigan's 36-hour maker blitz, MHacks.
Mathematics student develops model that can predict trends via Twitter
University of Twente student Marijn ten Thij has developed a mathematical model that can simulate the emergence of trends via Twitter. This model makes it simpler to understand how trends emerge on Twitter and how they develop further. According to ten Thij, "With this model, we can predict if a topic on Twitter will develop into a trend or an event in real life".
NREL calculates emissions and costs of power plant cycling necessary for increased wind and solar
New research from the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) quantifies the potential impacts of increasing wind and solar power generation on the operators of fossil-fueled power plants in the West. To accommodate higher amounts of wind and solar power on the electric grid, utilities must ramp down and ramp up or stop and start conventional generators more frequently to provide reliable power for their customers – a practice called cycling.
YouTube revamps much-criticized comments feed
YouTube, the Google-owned video sharing website, said Tuesday it was revamping its comments feed which some web users claimed had turned into a magnet for crude and vulgar postings.
Google launches online constitution archive
Internet giant Google launched an archive of the world's constitutions Monday in a new online initiative designed to help countries emerging from conflicts or political crises.
New device to revolutionize gaming in virtual realities (w/ Video)
How is it possible to walk through 3D virtual realities while staying in one place? Engineers from the Vienna University of Technology have solved this problem and are now introducing their "Virtualizer".
New steering tech for heavy equipment saves fuel, ups efficiency
Researchers at Purdue University have shown how to reduce fuel consumption while improving the efficiency of hydraulic steering systems in heavy construction equipment.
World record solar cell with 44.7% efficiency
German Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, Soitec, CEA-Leti and the Helmholtz Center Berlin announced today that they have achieved a new world record for the conversion of sunlight into electricity using a new solar cell structure with four solar subcells. Surpassing competition after only over three years of research, and entering the roadmap at world class level, a new record efficiency of 44.7% was measured at a concentration of 297 suns. This indicates that 44.7% of the solar spectrum's energy, from ultraviolet through to the infrared, is converted into electrical energy. This is a major step towards reducing further the costs of solar electricity and continues to pave the way to the 50% efficiency roadmap.
Medicine & Health news
Partner violence linked to specific drinking environments
Researchers have long known that violence toward spouses and partners increases with the frequency and volume of drinking. A study published today in the scientific journal Addiction shows that the context in which drinking occurs also appears to play a role in violence against partners, with male violence being linked to drinking away from home and female violence being linked to drinking at home.
Recommendations guide physicians in treatment of systemic juvenile arthritis
In the U.S., there are nearly 300,000 children with juvenile arthritis and other rheumatic illnesses according to estimates from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). For pediatric patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), effective treatment for this disabling disease is imperative. New treatment recommendations that guide physicians caring for children with systemic JIA are now published in the ACR journals, Arthritis & Rheumatism and Arthritis Care & Research.
Scientists track the genes behind hearing loss
Tens of millions of Europeans suffer from a hearing impairment of some degree. They range from the one child in 1,000 who is born deaf, to the many whose hearing is declining as they grow older.
Battling brain drain: Training doctors in Ethiopia
Brain drain is so severe in Ethiopia that the nation's health minister has complained there are more Ethiopian doctors in Chicago than in his own country.
External beam RT for early-stage breast cancer does not increase mortality risks
Early-stage breast cancer patients who receive external beam therapy (XRT) are not at higher risk for serious long-term side effects in the chest area, including increase in deaths from cardiac disease and secondary malignancies, according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO's) 55th Annual Meeting.
Woman finds relief from pelvic pain after nearly two decades
Anne Mosley developed intense pelvic pain while she was pregnant with her youngest child 17 years ago. The pain was caused by a grape-sized pocket of fluid on her urethra, which became infected.
Underage youth get cigarettes and alcohol from friends and family, survey shows
A survey conducted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) shows that a majority of those underage students in Ontario, Canada who smoke or drink are getting cigarettes and alcohol from a friend or family member.
Researchers find no age-related differences in post-concussion symptoms
Recent scientific findings have raised the fear that young athletes may fare worse after sustaining a sports-related concussion than older athletes. Researchers from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine compared symptoms associated with concussion in middle/high school–age athletes with those in college-age athletes to determine whether age-related differences exist. These researchers found no significant differences between the two age groups in the number or severity of sports-related concussion symptoms or in the amount of time it took for the athletes' concussion symptoms to return to baseline values.
Greek crisis has biological health effects
Young adults in Greece suffer more from stress and mental health problems and are less optimistic about the future than Swedes of the same age. The grave financial problems in Greece have brought on a social crisis that has probably affected people's health, according to a study from Linköping University.
A link between zinc transport and diabetes
Individuals with a mutation in the gene encoding a zinc transporter, SLC30A8 have an elevated risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Insulin granules that are released from pancreatic β cells contain high levels of zinc; however, it is not clear why individuals with mutations in the SLC30A8 zinc transporter gene are predisposed to type 2 diabetes.
EU improves safety of implants after PIP scandal
The EU's executive on Tuesday moved to improve the safety of medical devices in the wake of the worldwide scare over faulty PIP breast implants from France.
Some childhood cancer survivors may face subsequent renal problems
Adult survivors of childhood cancers who underwent certain chemotherapy treatments or kidney surgery had worse kidney function that did not recover over time. Because of this, they may be at higher risk for premature renal failure, according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Professional French horn players in danger of developing noise-induced hearing loss
Professional French horn players may need to seriously consider adopting effective strategies to prevent noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). A new study published online in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (JOEH) found further evidence that French horn players are one of the most at-risk groups of developing NIHL among professional orchestral musicians.
Maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance in the kidney
Distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) develops in response to the loss of acid secretion by α-intercalated cells in the kidney. The inability to remove acid from the body results in low blood potassium levels (hypokalemia), dehydration, and excess calcium in the urine (hypercalcemia), which leads to urinary stone formation. Recently, patients with dRTA have been identified with genetic mutations that lead to the inactivation of proton pumps found in β-intercalated cells, which have been thought to be responsible for base-secretion in the kidney.
Development of autoimmunity in patients with common variable immune deficiency
Common variable immune deficiency (CVID) is a genetic disease associated with enhanced susceptibility to infection, autoimmunity, and decreased antibody production. Mutations in the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member TACI, are associated with CVID and autoimmunity development. Interestingly, autoimmunity develops in CVID patients with only one mutated copy of TACI, and CVID patients with two mutated TACI alleles do not develop autoimmunity.
40 AGs urge tight regulation of e-cigarettes
Forty attorneys general are urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to meet its own deadline and regulate electronic cigarettes in the same way it regulates tobacco products.
Czechs report record fake erectile pills seizure
Customs officials in the Czech Republic say they have seized almost 200,000 fake erectile dysfunction pills.
Spain healthcare suffering 'devastating' cuts: NGO
Hospital budget cuts and new charges for medicine are blocking healthcare access to hundreds of thousands of people in Spain, including the seriously ill, a top health charity warned Tuesday.
Prevalence of poorer kidney function increases among adults 80 years of age and older
Recent studies have shown that older adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD; defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate [GFR; a measure of kidney function] of less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) have a high prevalence of concurrent complications and increased risk for adverse outcomes including mortality, cardiovascular disease, and kidney failure. A prior study demonstrated an increase in CKD prevalence between 1988-1994 and 1999-2004 for the general U.S. population. However, trends in CKD prevalence have not been reported for the oldest old [defined as 80 years of age or older]," write C. Barrett Bowling, M.D., M.S.P.H., formerly of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Atlanta, and colleagues.
Improved strategies are needed to assess of postmarket safety and effectiveness of medical devices
In this week's PLOS Medicine, Daniel Kramer and colleagues from Harvard Medical School, Boston, US, compare current practices in the EU, the US, China, and Japan for monitoring the safety and effectiveness of medical devices already on the market, to identify strategies that might improve postmarket surveillance of medical devices.
Stepfamilies add to caregiver burden
Caregiving is always tough, but it's that much tougher when caregivers have to rely on family ties that are ambiguous, strained or virtually nonexistent, suggests a University of Michigan study.
Playing with blocks may help children's spatial and math thinking
Playing with blocks may help preschoolers develop the kinds of skills that support later learning in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), according to a new study by researchers at the University of Delaware and Temple University. And for low-income preschoolers, who lag in spatial skills, such play may be especially important.
Responsive interactions key to toddlers' ability to learn language
Young children readily learn words from their parents, grandparents, and child care providers in live conversations, but learning from video has proven more difficult. A new study questioned why and found that it's the responsiveness of the interactions that's key: When we respond to children in timely and meaningful ways, they learn—even when that response comes from a screen.
Cross-ethnic friendships in urban middle schools make youths feel less vulnerable, safer
Friendships matter throughout life, and in early adolescence they provide validation and emotional support. Now a new study has found that friendships across ethnic groups in urban middle schools help protect youths from feeling vulnerable, making them feel less lonely and at the same time safer. As the population of children in the United States grows increasingly diverse, this study has implications for how educators oversee student interactions.
Warning of potential side effects of a product can increase its sales
Drug ads often warn of serious side effects, from nausea and bleeding to blindness, even death. New research suggests that, rather than scaring consumers away, these warnings can improve consumers' opinions and increase product sales when there is a delay between seeing the ad and deciding to buy or consume the product.
Euthanasia cases up 13 percent in Netherlands
The commission that vets cases of euthanasia in the Netherlands says cases rose by 13 percent in the Netherlands in 2012 from 2011, the sixth consecutive year of increases.
Moderate arsenic in environment tied to higher heart attack, stroke risk
(HealthDay)—People chronically exposed to low to moderate levels of arsenic in their environment may be more likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular disease, a study of American Indians suggests.
Nail fungus drug might help against HIV, study suggests
(HealthDay)—A common drug used to treat nail fungus may hold promise against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, according to a new study.
FDA issues final rule for device identification system
(HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released a final rule for the unique device identification system (UDI) that, when implemented, will improve patient safety by providing a consistent way to identify approved medical devices.
USPSTF: Offer breast CA risk-reducing Rx to high-risk patients
(HealthDay)—The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that women at increased risk of breast cancer be prescribed tamoxifen or raloxifene for risk reduction, according to a final Recommendation Statement published online Sept. 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Researchers successfully test model for implant device reactions
(Medical Xpress)—A team from the University of Texas at Arlington has used mathematical modeling to develop a computer simulation they hope will one day improve the treatment of dangerous reactions to medical implants such as stents, catheters and artificial joints.
MicroRNA-31 might predict lung-cancer spread
(Medical Xpress)—Determining whether a patient's lung cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes is critical for identifying the most effective therapy, but it usually requires surgery. A new study suggests, however, that measuring levels of a particular molecule in a sample of tumor tissue might accurately answer the question.
Secret to less smoking? Junior high is one place worth looking
(Medical Xpress)—Reducing the number of adult smokers in America may require intervening earlier in life and school than previously thought—probably between the ages of 12 and 17—according to new research.
Pharmaceutical sciences research paper says vitamin D inhibits cancer development
Doctoral research student Shuang Zhou, and Erxi Wu, assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences, have co-written a paper, "1, 25(OH)2D3 Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development Through Reducing Secretion of Inflammatory Cytokines from Immunocytes" which was published in Current Medicinal Chemistry.
Viruses common complication in malaria patients
Scientists at the University of Liverpool have shown that viral brain infections may be a more important killer in African children than was previously thought.
New technology may boost bone growth response for spinal fusion
(Medical Xpress)—A spinal interbody fusion implant with a roughened titanium alloy surface provides an enhanced environment for bone formation, implant stability and fusion compared to one with a smooth titanium alloy surface, according to a new preclinical study led by the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering.
Researchers develop model to study immune response to infections that cause peptic ulcers
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute have developed a new large animal model to study how the immune system interacts with the stomach bacterium Helicobacter pylori, the leading cause of peptic ulcer disease.
Saving the sight of premature babies
Scientists at Australia's Vision Centre have made an important breakthrough that could save the sight of premature babies.
Researchers harness immune system to fight pancreatic cancer
(Medical Xpress)—Pancreatic cancer ranks as the fourth-leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and is one of the most deadly forms of cancer, due to its resistance to standard treatments with chemotherapy and radiation therapy and frequently, its late stage at the time of diagnosis. A group of researchers led by the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine and Abramson Cancer Center, in collaboration with scientists from the University of Pittsburgh and University of Washington, published results of a clinical trial in which the standard chemotherapy drug for this disease, gemcitabine, was paired with an agonist CD40 antibody, resulting in substantial tumor regressions among some patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. By using a novel, real-time imaging approach to monitor tumor response to the immunotherapy, the team also found differences how primary and metastatic disease sites shrank. Their work appears online this month in Clinical Ca! ncer Research.
Caffeine consumption slows down brain development
Humans and other mammals show particularly intensive sleeping patterns during puberty. The brain also matures fastest in this period. But when pubescent rats are administered caffeine, the maturing processes in their brains are delayed. This is the result of a study supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).
Study suggests walnuts in diet can improve endothelial functions for overweight adults
Medical researchers from the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center in Connecticut have found evidence suggestive that adding walnuts to one's diet can protect against diabetes and heart disease in at-risk individuals. Their original research article, "Effects of Walnuts on Endothelial Function in Overweight Adults with Visceral Obesity: A Randomized, Controlled, Crossover Trial," is now available in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, the Official Publication of the American College of Nutrition, and a publication from Routledge.
Acupuncture or counselling plus usual care 'may improve' depression symptoms
Acupuncture or counselling, provided alongside usual care, could benefit patients with depression, according to a study by researchers at the University of York.
Two tests in combination can provide better asthma diagnosis
It was previously thought that the two test methods signalled the same type of asthma. But a new study, led by researchers at Uppsala University, Sweden, shows that the methods actually signal two different inflammatory processes. With the tests used in combination, the chances are probably greater for the patient to receive just the right treatment. The study is being published in the October issue of Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Are patients making cost-effective treatment decisions?
The idea of patients and their families being involved in decisions about their medical treatment ensures that patients' values and preferences are taken into account.
Heart study aims to identify at-risk patients after pump implant
Emory researchers are exploring the use of echocardiography, an established non-invasive method to view the heart without radiation, to help identify patients at risk for right ventricular heart failure after implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).
Despite trauma, stroke carers consistently regard caring experience positively
In the UK, family carers supporting their ill or disabled relatives save the country over £100billion a year in care costs – roughly the annual cost of the NHS. Family carers require support if they are to fulfil their roles compassionately, effectively and lastingly.
Study: Majority of patients who qualify for lifesaving heart treatment do not receive it
A new study of patients who died of sudden cardiac arrest, a usually fatal condition that causes the heart to stop beating, shows the majority who qualified to receive potentially lifesaving treatment did not receive it.
Early imaging, diagnosis of Alzheimer's leads to changes in patient care, better outcomes
Patients suffering from early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease who were diagnosed sooner than usual using a brain imaging test received Alzheimer-specific medications earlier than those who did not have the brain imaging results available to their doctors or themselves. These patients also had significantly better clinical outcomes during the subsequent years they were clinically monitored, UCLA researchers have found for the first time.
Do anaesthetics trigger stress? New research could improve the welfare of fish
New research could improve the welfare standards of millions of fish used by scientists around the world. The study, published in PLOS ONE, is one of the first to formally assess the welfare implications of anaesthetics on fish. Researchers use fish to study the developmental origins of health and disease.
Reliable method detects suicidal propensity
A simple measurement of the sweat gland activity of a depressed person can determine if he or she is suicidal – with 97 per cent accuracy. Now another large clinical study confirms the correlation.
New research shows how heart cells communicate to regulate heart activity
New research from Western University (London, Canada) is leading to a better understanding of what happens during heart failure; knowledge that could lead to better therapeutics or a more accurate predictor of risk. The research led by Robarts Research Institute scientists Robert Gros, PhD, and Marco Prado, PhD, along with graduate student Ashbeel Roy found the heart is regulated not only by nervous systems but also by heart cells sending messages to each other through the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). The research has been published online by The FASEB Journal.
Study confirms that rare mutations increase risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers have identified and validated two rare gene mutations that appear to cause the common form of Alzheimer's disease (AD) that strikes after the age of 60. The two mutations occur in a gene called ADAM10 – coding for an enzyme involved in processing the amyloid precursor protein – which now becomes the second pathologically-confirmed gene for late-onset AD and the fifth AD gene overall.
Targeted radiation therapy safe, effective treatment for elderly with pancreatic cancer
A highly targeted cancer radiation therapy may offer a safe and effective treatment option for elderly pancreatic cancer patients unable to undergo surgery or combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy, according to researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
HPV linked to growing number of young adults with oropharyngeal cancer
The human papillomavirus (HPV) may be to blame for the alarming increase of young adults with oropharyngeal cancer, according to researchers from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
Researchers use smart phone photography to diagnose eye disease
Retinal (or fundus) photography is an essential part of any ophthalmology practice. Commercial fundus cameras can cost tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars, making the technology out of reach for smaller ophthalmic practices and to physicians in third-world countries. In a recent study now on line, Massachusetts Eye and Ear researchers describe the relatively simple technique of fundus photography in human and rabbit eyes using a smartphone, an inexpensive app for the smartphone, and instruments that are readily available in an ophthalmic practice.
Regenstrief, IU automated CHICA system makes ADHD diagnosis more accurate
Asking three questions of parents of 5- to 12-year-olds in the waiting room before a pediatrician visit may make a lifetime of difference for their child, according to a new study from Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University investigators.
A single mild blast exposure can cause brain injuries with similarities to Alzheimer's disease
A new study published in the September issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease reports that even a single mild explosion can cause changes in the brain that have similarities to those found in diseases like Alzheimer's disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Hereditary spastic paraplegia development associated with changes in endoplasmic reticulum
Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSP) are a group of hereditary diseases that result in progressive loss of motor function in the lower limbs, and mutations in many different genes have been implicated in disease progression. One common feature of HSP is the progressive degradation of the axons of cortical motor neurons; however, it is not fully understood how mutations in is so many different genes result in axonal degradation.
Past weight loss an overlooked factor in disordered eating
Dieters and weight loss researchers are familiar with the principle: The more weight you've lost, the harder it is to keep it off. A complex and vicious cycle of biological and behavioral factors make it so.
Scientists discover environmental enrichment for TBI patients may counter shrinkage in the brain
For the first time, scientists at Toronto Rehab have found that in people with chronic moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), atrophy (shrinkage) in the brain may be countered by participating in environmental enrichment – increased physical, social and cognitive stimulation.
Proton therapy cuts side effects for pediatric head and neck cancer patients
The precise targeting and limited dosing of radiation via proton therapy is proving to be an advantage in ongoing efforts to reduce treatment side effects among head and neck cancer patients, according to a new study of pediatric patients from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The results were presented Monday at the 55th annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) conference.
Study findings may explain delayed onset of heart disease in women
A biological ability to compensate for the body's reduced response to insulin may explain why women typically develop heart disease 10 years later than men, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
Vitamin D alone does little to protect bone health in postmenopausal women
While calcium supplements noticeably improved bone health in postmenopausal women, vitamin D supplements did not reduce bone turnover, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
Older is wiser, at least economically
The brains of older people are slowing but experience more than makes up for the decline, a University of California, Riverside assistant professor of management and several colleagues found when asking the participants a series of financially related questions.
Team pinpoints biological risk factor in obesity-related cancers
It is estimated that over a third of the new cancer cases expected to occur in the U.S. in 2013 will be related to overweight or obesity, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition. Thanks to the work of one NYU Steinhardt researcher, we may better understand why.
Low testosterone may be linked to heart problems
Men who have low testosterone levels may have a slightly elevated risk of developing or dying from heart disease, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
Lighting up can bring you down in colorectal surgery
Infection, pneumonia, blood clots and kidney failure are all possible complications after any major surgery. A new study shows that smoking boosts the risk of such complications following some of the most common colorectal procedures, including surgery for colon cancer, diverticulitis or inflammatory bowel disease. Lighting up also increases a patient's risk of death after surgery compared with patients who have never smoked.
New study shows how ICU ventilation may trigger mental decline
At least 30 percent of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) suffer some form of mental dysfunction as reflected in anxiety, depression, and especially delirium. In mechanically-ventilated ICU patients, the incidence of delirium is particularly high, about 80 percent, and may be due in part to damage in the hippocampus, though how ventilation is increasing the risk of damage and mental impairment has remained elusive.
Early screening tool IDs PTSD in preschool-aged children
(HealthDay)—An early screening tool can be used to identify posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in infants and young children shortly after unintentional injury, according to a study published online Sept. 23 in Pediatrics.
Model can predict preemie neonatal outcome severity
(HealthDay)—A statistical prediction model comprising eight characteristics can be used to determine the severity of neonatal outcomes for infants born at 23 to 30 weeks of gestation, according to a study published online Sept. 23 in Pediatrics.
Married people may be likelier to survive cancer: study
(HealthDay)—Married cancer patients are less likely to die of their disease than those who aren't wed, a new study suggests.
HEALTH REFORM: Expect pluses, minuses for those with job-based coverage
(HealthDay)—The Obama administration's sweeping health reform law known as the Affordable Care Act goes well beyond helping America's uninsured. It also affects roughly 159 million workers and family members who now have job-based health coverage.
Link between antidepressants and diabetes risk is real
Clinicians should be extra vigilant when prescribing antidepressants as they could pose a risk of type 2 diabetes, researchers at the University of Southampton have warned.
Four-year repeat of bone mineral density screening in seniors offers limited value
Repeating bone mineral density (BMD) tests after four years provides little clinical benefit when assessing bone fracture risk in seniors age 75 and older, according to a recent study led by researchers at the Harvard Medical School-affiliated Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife. The study appears in the Sept. 25 online issue of JAMA.
A neurological basis for the lack of empathy in psychopaths
When individuals with psychopathy imagine others in pain, brain areas necessary for feeling empathy and concern for others fail to become active and be connected to other important regions involved in affective processing and decision-making, reports a study published in the open-access journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
Diet and exercise for knee osteoarthritis produces greater improvement in knee pain, function
Among overweight and obese adults with knee osteoarthritis, combining intensive diet and exercise led to less knee pain and better function after 18 months than diet-alone and exercise-alone, according to a study in the September 25 issue of JAMA.
Sensor-augmented insulin pump therapy reduces rate of severe hypoglycemic events
Use of an insulin pump with a sensor that suspends insulin delivery when blood glucose falls below a set threshold reduced the rate of severe and moderate hypoglycemia among patients with type 1 diabetes and impaired awareness of hypoglycemia, according to a study in the September 25 issue of JAMA.
Decision-making tool may help rule out brain hemorrhage for patients in emergency department
Researchers have developed a simple clinical decision rule that may help doctors identify patients with headache in the emergency department who have subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding in a certain area of the brain), according to a study in the September 25 issue of JAMA.
Vaccine against pneumococcal infections has led to widespread reduction in serious disease
Vaccination with the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine-7 [PCV7—a vaccine that covers 7 strains (serotypes) of Streptococcus pneumoniae] is linked to overall decreases in the rate of serious infections caused by this bacterium, such as pneumonia and meningitis, referred to as invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD)], but small increases in IPD caused by serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae not covered by the vaccine ( referred to as non-vaccine type IPD), according to a study published in PLOS Medicine this week.
Cheap dextrose gel could help prevent cause of brain damage in newborns
A cheap and easy-to-administer dextrose gel should be used to treat low blood sugars in newborns, a common problem that affects up to 15% of otherwise healthy babies, and a preventable cause of brain damage, according to new research published in The Lancet.
Having children lowers mortality in people with type 1 diabetes, but for women more than men
New research published at this week's annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Barcelona, Spain, shows that having children lowers mortality in people with type 1 diabetes, but for women more than men. The research is by Dr Lena Sjöberg, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland, and National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland, and colleagues.
Study shows social deprivation a key factor in mortality in type 1 diabetes
Levels of social deprivation, as well as how well a patient controls their blood sugar, is an independent risk factor for mortality in people with type 1 diabetes. These are the findings of new research presented at this year's annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Barcelona, Spain. The research is by the Diabetes Clinical Academic Group at King's Healthcare Partners, UK, and presented by Dr Stephen Thomas, Dept of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT), London.
UK study shows improvements in life expectancy in type 1 diabetes
A study from the UK reveals that, in the population of Scotland, UK, life expectancy for people with type 1 diabetes has improved substantially, and this improvement should now be reflected in life insurance and other relevant policies for those with the condition. The research is by, Professor Helen Colhoun and Shona Livingstone, University of Dundee, UK, and colleagues on behalf of the Scottish Diabetes Research Network, and is presented at this year's annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Barcelona, Spain.
Living better with heart failure by changing what you eat
Diet can dramatically lower hypertension and improve heart function in patients with a common type of heart failure, according to research presented at today's Heart Failure Society of America meeting in Orlando, Fla.
CDC chief: Valley fever a 'growing problem' in California
U.S. Centers for Disease Control Director Dr. Thomas Frieden, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, called valley fever "a big and growing problem" that presents "substantial" economic and health costs for Californians.
Fat and obesity gene also affects hip fracture
Australian researchers have demonstrated a strong association between the FTO (fat and obesity) gene and hip fracture in women. While the gene is already well known to affect diabetes and obesity, this is the first study to show that its high-risk variant can increase the risk of hip fracture by as much as 82%.
Macaque model: MERS coronavirus settles deep in lungs
If rhesus macaques are good stand-ins for humans in studying Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), the virus prefers the environment deep in the lungs, a finding that may help explain some features of the disease in humans, according to new research.
Decoy FGFR3 protein appears to prevent dwarfism in mice
(Medical Xpress)—A team made up of researchers from several institutions in France has found that a decoy protein injected into mice, appears to prevent the development of dwarfism. In their paper published in the journal Science, the team describes how they used a recombinant protein therapeutic approach with a soluble form of a human protein to counteract the gene mutation responsible for dwarfism in mice.
Adjusting bacteria in intestines may lead to obesity treatments
A drug that appears to target specific intestinal bacteria in the guts of mice may create a chain reaction that could eventually lead to new treatments for obesity and diabetes in humans, according to a team of researchers.
Research suggests childhood abuse could cause multiple health problems in adults
(Medical Xpress)—Childhood abuse is associated with an increased risk of life-threatening conditions, such as heart disease and metabolic syndrome, in adulthood. Some researchers think constant stress in childhood creates a situation in which multiple regulatory systems are constantly prepared to respond to threats. This causes wear and tear on the body, increasing susceptibility to disease later in life. In a study appearing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Judith Carroll of the University of California, Los Angeles and her colleagues have established a correlation between high levels of childhood abuse and cumulative health risk.
A shot of anxiety and the world stinks
In evolutionary terms, smell is among the oldest of the senses. In animals ranging from invertebrates to humans, olfaction exerts a primal influence as the brain continuously and subconsciously processes the steady stream of scent molecules that waft under our noses.
Pulse propagation and signal transduction in the hydraulic brain
(Medical Xpress)—When Descartes turned his critical eye to the nervous system, he reasoned that the nerves must transduce hydraulic power to control the musculature. In the circulatory system, blood is pushed comparatively slowly through the aorta, perhaps around 0.3 meters per second. Superimposed on that flow, however, is an arterial pulse wave which propagates much faster, both through the blood and the walls of the vessel. For compliant and healthy vessels that speed might be around 10 meters per second, while for more hardened arteries, it could be 15 or higher. Modern day electrophysiologists have since replaced the hydraulic model with the idea that nerves really only transmit information—electrical information no less. Yet when looking at the power supply to the leg, for example, it is still hard to ignore the fact that the main femoral artery, at a diameter scarcely a half of an inch, looks rather meager next to the "information-supplying" sciatic nerve, which! may actually be more like three-quarters of an inch. A conflux of ideas from a variety of disciplines has recently led to a critical re-emergence of the more mechanical side of the nervous system. To that point, two German scientists have just published a paper in the journal, Medical Hypotheses, where they suggest that the pulse wave is the main event in nervous conduction, while the electrical show is mere epiphenomenon.
To predict, perchance to update: Neural responses to the unexpected
(Medical Xpress)—Among the brain's many functions is the use of predictive models to processing expected stimuli or actions. In such a model, we experience surprise when presented with an unexpected stimulus – that is, one which the model evaluates as having a low probability of occurrence. Interestingly, there can be two distinct – but often experimentally correlated – responses to a surprising event: reallocating additional neural resources to reprogram actions, and updating the predictive model to account for the new environmental stimulus. Recently, scientists at Oxford University used brain imaging to identify separate brain systems involved in reprogramming and updating, and created a mathematical and neuroanatomical model of how brains adjust to environmental change, Moreover, the researchers conclude that their model may also inform models of neurological disorders, such as extinction, Balint syndrome and neglect, in which this adaptive response to surprise! fails.
Biology news
Scientists confirm functionality of emergency ventilation system for horses
Respiratory or cardiovascular arrest in outdoor animals poses a huge challenge to veterinarians. Ventilation equipment is generally hard to operate and requires electricity and compressed air. Anaesthesiologists at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna (Vetmeduni Vienna) have developed an inexpensive device for the ventilation of large animals. It is easy to transport and can save animal lives in emergencies. In a recent publication in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Education the scientists confirm that their emergency ventilator works in horses.
Studies pay off for potato producers
Given all the pathogens that can create havoc in a potato field, it's a wonder spud production can keep up with demand. Producers need to control these microbes with cost-efficient management strategies that also promote soil quality and farm profits.
Improving salmon's success in the wild and aquaculture
Have you ever been stressed and forgot what you were doing? Chronic mild stress may explain why many salmon don´t return to our rivers and why 20% of salmon production is lost every year.
Launch of world's largest coral reef library
The Catlin Seaview Survey last year made one of the great wonders of the world – Australia's Great Barrier Reef – accessible to anyone with an internet connection.
Dengue fever, chikungunya: A potential vector discovered in Mayotte
IRD researchers and their partners at the French Regional Health Agency, Indian Ocean, have identified a new mosquito species in Mayotte, which could be a vector of dengue fever and chikungunya hitherto unknown. Stegomyia pia , as the scientists have named it, in fact belongs to a group of species that transmit these viruses. The notorious tiger mosquito is one of them. The discovery of this new Mahoran mosquito species, a potential vector, enables researchers to find out more about the mosquitoes that have to be dealt with, and will contribute to the effectiveness of prevention programmes for these diseases.
Zimbabwe: Poisoned elephant death toll rises to 81
Zimbabwean authorities say at least 81 elephants have been killed for their ivory tusks by poachers using cyanide poison in water holes in a vast western national park.
Disease-specific human embryonic stem cell lines from King's College London placed on NIH Registry
Scientists from King's College London have announced that 16 human embryonic stem (hES) cell lines have been approved by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and placed on their Stem Cell Registry, making them freely available for federally-funded research in the USA. The stem cell lines, which carry genes for a variety of hereditary disorders such as Huntington's disease, spinal muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis, are considered to be ideal research tools for designing models to understand disease progression, and ultimately in helping scientists develop new treatments for patients.
University of Toronto prize-winning technology reduces marine bio-fouling
A University of Toronto (U of T) technology that provides a cost-effective and environmentally sound solution to the fishing industry's multi-billion-dollar bio-fouling problem has been recognized with a Clean50 Award.
Survival of wildlife species depends on its neighbour's genes
(Phys.org) —Researchers at the University of Melbourne have collected critical insights into wildlife species' survival that could help future conservation efforts globally.
New methods increases food and bioenergy production from cassava
New ways to utilize starch from cassava can provide food to an additional 30 million people without taking more arable land than today. By 2030 the figure will be 100 million. In addition, the same land can also contribute to an increased production of bioenergy. This is shown in a new study from researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and China Agricultural University (CAU).
Artificial lighting and noise alter biorhythms of birds
(Phys.org) —Noise from traffic and artificial night lighting cause birds in the city centre to become active up to five hours earlier in the morning than birds in more natural areas. These were the findings from an investigation conducted on 400 blackbirds in Leipzig by the interdisciplinary research group "Loss of the Night". Scientists from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) reported in the open-access journal PLOS ONE that these findings showed how ambient noise and light pollution caused by humans have significant effects on the behavioural patterns of city blackbirds, affecting their natural cycles.
Cockatoos find food in rehabilitated forest
Murdoch University researchers have found that Western Australia's iconic black cockatoos have been drawn to a new food source – rehabilitated mining pits.
Northern moths may fare better under climate warming than expected
Moths in northern Finland are less susceptible to rising temperatures than expected, suggesting high latitude moth populations around the world may be partly buffered from the effects of rapid climate warming, according to a new Dartmouth-Finnish study based on the most extensive analyses yet conducted of seasonal patterns in forest animals.
New study finds 'microbial clock' may help determine time of death
An intriguing study led by the University of Colorado Boulder may provide a powerful new tool in the quiver of forensic scientists attempting to determine the time of death in cases involving human corpses: a microbial clock.
New gut bacterium discovered in termite's digestion of wood
When termites munch on wood, the small bits are delivered to feed a community of unique microbes living in their guts, and in a complex process involving multiple steps, these microbes turn the hard, fibrous material into a nutritious meal for the termite host. One key step uses hydrogen to convert carbon dioxide into organic carbon—a process called acetogenesis—but little is known about which gut bacteria play specific roles in the process. Utilizing a variety of experimental techniques, researchers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have now discovered a previously unidentified bacterium—living on the surface of a larger microorganism in the termite gut—that may be responsible for most gut acetogenesis.
Researchers examine the social networks of wild giraffes
(Phys.org) —New research from The University of Queensland reinforces the value of network analysis and long-term studies for examining the social systems of wild animals.
Taking over the oceans: Adult fish characteristics predict a species' dispersal
As fish disperse to find new habitats, scientists have developed a new model to judge a species' success in colonising new places. The study has shown some surprising results, suggesting that success can best be determined in the traits of adult individuals, and not in a species' larval stages, as previously thought.
Cheats of the bird world: Cuckoo finches fool host parents
Cuckoo finches that lay more than one egg in their victims' nests have a better chance of bamboozling host parents into fostering their parasitic young, a study has found.
How the gut got its villi: Comparing species, researchers investigate a process they dub 'villification'
The principles guiding the growth of intestinal structures called villi are surprisingly similar across chickens, frogs, mice, and snakes. The wrinkling of the inner gut, the researchers found, is intimately linked to the stages of muscle layer differentiation, which produce a series of different physical stresses.
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