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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 11, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Arizona solar plant achieves six hours after sun goes down- Finding solution to the 'Jane Austen problem': Kissing helps us find the right partner—and keep them
- Cell growth discovery has implications for targeting cancer
- Charged particles can be accelerated using light, leading the way for more compact particle accelerators
- Comet C/ISON details emerge as it races toward the Sun
- Archeologist suggests much of Paleolithic cave art was done by women
- Elliptic Labs develops ultrasonic gesture control for hand-held devices
- 'Bionic man' walks, breathes with artificial parts
- Packaging stem cells in capsules for heart therapy
- Turning vapors into foam-like polymer coatings
- New technology can prevent cellular overload, dropped calls
- Researchers find rust can power up artificial photosynthesis
- Crystals in Picabo's rocks point to 'recycled' super-volcanic magma chambers
- Innovation in renewable-energy technologies is booming
- Israel conference: Cavemen discovered recycling
Space & Earth news
Indonesian miners risk lives in modern-day gold rush
In a desolate area of central Indonesia where lush rainforest once stood, illegal miners on the frontline of a modern-day gold rush tear up the earth in the hunt for the precious metal.
NASA vows to review ban on Chinese astronomers
The US space agency Thursday vowed to reconsider the applications of Chinese scientists who were denied access to a NASA conference on security grounds, sparking a boycott by leading American astronomers.
World Space Walk 2013: Three Mars analogue spacesuit teams perform simultaneous experiments
One of the key elements of equipment for a future human expedition to Mars will be a spacesuit that allows astronauts to roam the Martian surface. Now, for the first time, three Mars analogue suit development teams around the world have performed simultaneous experiments, coordinated from a single mission control centre. The experiments are a first step in developing a universal standard for comparing Mars analogue suits in terms of the impact they have on the agility and dexterity of the suit wearers. The 'World Space Walk 2013' coordinated tests took place on Tuesday 8th October as a highlight of World Space Week 2013, which this year has the theme of 'Exploring Mars, Discovering Earth'. The tests were designed and led by the Austrian Space Forum, which also provided the Mission Control Centre for the campaign. The spacesuit experiments were carried out in Innsbruck, North Dakota and Utah, with additional support from France.
World's best climate research opened to all
A Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) team has launched the world's most accessible database of climate justice research.
Fukushima earthquake triggers thesis topic
When Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster occurred in March 2011, Aaron Chester had the opportunity of a lifetime to put his chemistry research skills to the test.
France upholds fracking ban
France's Constitutional Council on Friday upheld a law banning fracking, the controversial process used to extract shale oil and gas from the ground.
Brazil to start work on new Antarctic base next year
Brazil said Thursday it will start work early next year on a new Antarctic base to replace the one gutted by a 2012 fire.
WHO launches drive against mercury thermometers
The World Health Organization and campaigners launched a drive Friday to try to wipe out mercury in medical thermometers, a day after nations signed a UN treaty to control the toxic liquid metal.
An explanation of the rotational state of Mercury
Planetary scientists announced a new explanation of the current rotational state of the planet Mercury. The report was presented by Dr. Benoit Noyelles of the University of Namur, Belgium, to the meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society, held in Denver, CO. This work has been carried out in collaboration with Drs. Julien Frouard of the University of São Paulo, Rio Claro, Brazil, and Valeri Makarov and Michael Efroimsky of the US Naval Observatory, Washington, DC. The study explains why the rotation period of Mercury is exactly two thirds of its orbital one, and how the planet avoided being trapped into higher spin-orbit resonances or into synchronous rotation. The released study sheds light on the likely state of Mercury during the early stages of its dynamical history.
Life may be harder to identify on some exoplanets
Finding life on exoplanets may be more difficult than people thought, said Feng Tian, a professor at the Center for Earth System Science at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. The report was presented last week to the American Astronomical Society Division for Planetary Sciences meeting in Denver, CO. The result is of special interest because it may shed light on how and where life could be identified on exoplanets.
Martian scars
Ripped apart by tectonic forces, Hebes Chasma and its neighbouring network of canyons bear the scars of the Red Planet's early history.
Research finds Hudson Bay Lowlands have undergone enormous environmental changes in the past two decades
(Phys.org) —Research co-led by researcher Dr. Kathleen Rühland and Queen's professor John Smol on climate change in the Hudson Bay Lowlands has been published in the prestigious international journal, Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Dr. Smol was also recently named a Change Maker by Canadian Geographic.
Telescopes, events mark Observe the Moon Night Oct. 12
Saturday brings International Observe the Moon Night activities to Tucson.
Study evaluates exposure, adaptation to how climate change affects North American rangelands
(Phys.org) —A group of eight U.S. scientists, including Texas A&M University's Dr. David Briske and Dr. Bruce McCarl, recently published two assessments that identify trends and projections for rangeland effects of climate change and evaluate adaptation strategies.
Corals 'can fight acidifying oceans'
In a world-first, scientists from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (CoECRS) have shown that tropical corals have the ability to fight back against acidifying oceans caused by human emissions of carbon dioxide.
'Unequivocal' evidence that global warming is man-made
(Phys.org) —A report from a panel of global scientists has offered the strongest evidence yet that climate change is a direct result of human behaviour.
Insight into space collisions from Chelyabinsk fireball
Scientists from the Czech Republic, Finland, and the Russian Federation are presenting today new findings on meteorites recovered after the Chelyabinsk fireball that exploded over Russia on February 15, 2013. The report was presented by Dr. Maria Gritsevich (Finnish Geodetic Institute and Russian Academy of Science) and Dr. Tomas Kohout (University of Helsinki, Finland, and Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic) to the American Astronomical Society Division for Planetary Sciences meeting in Denver, CO. The results are of special interest because they not only shed light on potentially hazardous impacts of asteroids on Earth, but also on more violent space collisions which disrupted ancient protoplanets in the early solar system into smaller asteroids we observe today.
China set for carbon pricing
As Australia moves to scrap its pioneering carbon-pricing scheme, China is expected to have seven pilot pricing systems in place no later than 2015, followed by a national scheme, according to a new survey from The Australian National University.
Found: Planets skimming a star's surface
A new planet-hunting survey has revealed planetary candidates with orbital periods as short as four hours and so close to their host stars that they are nearly skimming the stellar surface. If confirmed, these candidates would be among the closest planets to their stars discovered so far. Brian Jackson of the Carnegie Institution for Science's Department of Terrestrial Magnetism presented his team's findings, which are based on data from NASA's Kepler mission, at the American Astronomical Society's Division for Planetary Sciences meeting.
An asteroid pile-up in the orbit of Mars
The orbit of the planet Mars is host to the remains of an ancient collision that created many of its Trojan asteroids, a new study has concluded. It paints a new picture of how these objects came to be and may even hold important lessons for deflecting asteroids on a collision course with our own planet. The findings were presented at the annual Meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society in Denver last week, by Dr. Apostolos Christou, a Research Astronomer at the Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
Will comet ISON survive its brush with the Sun?
(Phys.org) —The much-anticipated close approach of comet ISON to the Sun this November may be spectacular as viewed from Earth, but it's unlikely to spell the end of the comet, according to a numerical-simulation study performed by scientists at the Lowell Observatory and Southwest Research Institute (SwRI).
Comet C/ISON details emerge as it races toward the Sun
Scientists are unraveling more information on Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) as it continues on its journey toward the Sun. Comet C/ISON will skim 730,000 miles above the Sun's surface on Nov. 28 and has the potential to be readily visible from Earth starting in early December.
Crystals in Picabo's rocks point to 'recycled' super-volcanic magma chambers
A thorough examination of tiny crystals of zircon, a mineral found in rhyolites, an igneous rock, from the Snake River Plain has solidified evidence for a new way of looking at the life cycle of super-volcanic eruptions in the long track of the Yellowstone hotspot, say University of Oregon scientists.
Technology news
Foxconn admits to intern labour violations in China
Taiwan's Foxconn, which assembles products for Apple, Sony and other major tech firms, has admitted some of its student interns worked night shifts and overtime in violation of company policy in its Chinese facility.
Building strong research infrastructures for the future
A recently completed EU project has made a significant contribution towards improving Europe's long term research capabilities. Knowledge generation and innovation directly depend on the quality and availability of research infrastructures, which include facilities such as observatories, data banks, radiation sources and communication networks.
US shutdown keeps new planes grounded
New airplanes are grounded, investigations of fatal air and car crashes are going undone and scientific studies dependent on government funding have ground to a halt because of the partial government shutdown now in its second week, the Senate Commerce Committee was told Friday.
Infosys profit down on visa investigation
Indian IT outsourcing giant Infosys posted a fall in quarterly profit Friday after setting aside funds for a visa-abuse investigation in the United States. Still, the company upgraded its revenue forecast for the year, pleasing investors.
GW debuts solar walk on the Virginia Science and Technology Campus
The George Washington University completed the first walkable solar-paneled pathway in the world this month on the Virginia Science and Technology Campus as a part of the sustainable Solar Walk project.
Weather and environmental forecasts tailored to you
Want to know what the weather will be like tomorrow? A simple internet search will provide a forecast, or, more likely, many forecasts. How can you be sure which one is accurate? And what if you also want to know the pollen count because you are allergic, or pollution levels because you worry about your child's asthma? EU-funded researchers are answering those questions with an innovative online platform providing easy access to comprehensive, accurate, localised and personalised environmental and meteorological information.
New micro water sensor can aid growers
(Phys.org) —Crop growers, wine grape and other fruit growers, food processors and even concrete makers all benefit from water sensors for accurate, steady and numerous moisture readings. But current sensors are large, may cost thousands of dollars and often must be read manually.
The perils of texting while driving
US research reveals that 4 out of 5 college student drivers have used their cell phones to send or receive text messages while driving despite the majority recognizing that the activity represents a risk. Garold Lantz and Sandra Loeb of the McGowan School of Business, at King's College, in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, found that male drivers are more likely to engage in texting while driving but consider themselves more proficient drivers than others and so less likely to endanger themselves or others while doing so.
Porsche exhibit opens in North Carolina
Curator Ken Gross had his first encounter with Porsches in college, when the cool guys were driving Super 90 Coupes. His old Ford, which was fine for attracting girls in high school, didn't compare.
Google to change terms to use your identity in ads
Google wants your permission to use your name, photo and product reviews in ads that it sells to businesses.
Toyota unveils cars with auto pilot
Toyota on Friday unveiled the next generation of cars featuring an auto pilot system that will swerve to avoid collisions and also keep to the middle of the road, all without drivers touching the wheel.
Innovation in renewable-energy technologies is booming
The number of patents issued for renewable-energy technologies has risen sharply over the last decade, according to new research from MIT and the Santa Fe Institute (SFI). The study shows that investments in research and development, as well as in the growth of markets for these products, have helped to spur this dramatic growth in innovation.
Elliptic Labs develops ultrasonic gesture control for hand-held devices
(Phys.org) —Norwegian based Elliptic Labs has revealed that the company has not only developed an ultrasonic gesture control chip for hand-held devices, but that it is already in talks with Asian hand-held hardware makers to embed the new technology. Representatives from Elliptic Labs have told reporters that they believe their chip technology will be available to consumers inside main-stream devices, as early as next year.
'Bionic man' walks, breathes with artificial parts
Gentlemen, we can rebuild him, after all. We have the technology. The term "bionic man" was the stuff of science fiction in the 1970s, when a popular TV show called "The Six Million Dollar Man" chronicled the adventures of Steve Austin, a former astronaut whose body was rebuilt using artificial parts after he nearly died.
New technology can prevent cellular overload, dropped calls
When a natural disaster strikes and too many people take to their mobile phones at once, cellular networks easily overload. But a University of British Columbia graduate student has developed a solution to ensure that calls don't get dropped and texts make it to their destination.
Arizona solar plant achieves six hours after sun goes down
(Phys.org) —Abengoa's Solana plant in the desert near Gila Bend, Arizona, passed commercial testing this week The 280-megawatt Solana solar thermal power plant producing electricity without direct sunlight made the announcement on Wednesday. Abengoa said Wednesday that the facility, about 70 miles southwest of Phoenix, can store the sun's power for six hours via thermal energy. The three -square-mile facility near Gila Bend uses concentrated solar power (CSP) technology to collect the sun's heat. Thermal energy storage is Solana's distinctive feature. At 280 megawatts, Solana is one of the largest plants using parabolic mirrors. Its 2,700 parabolic trough mirrors follow the sun to focus heat on a pipe containing a heat transfer fluid, which is a synthetic oil. The heat transfer fluid flows to steam boilers, where it heats water to create steam. The steam drives 140-megawatt turbines to produce electricity.
Medicine & Health news
Healthier diets possible in low-income, rural communities in America
In the United States, children don't eat enough fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Instead, their diets typically include excessive amounts of sugars and solid fats, counter to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations, increasing the risk of obesity and diabetes. A team of investigators implemented a two-year intervention study in low-income, rural areas where a disproportionately higher risk of overweight and obesity habits among children persists, leading to increased risk of diabetes and heart disease in adulthood. The children enrolled in the study consumed significantly more fruits and vegetables. The results are published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Well-child visits more likely when parents use online health tools
Young children whose parents used an integrated personal health record were more likely to attend six or more of the nationally recommended well-child care visits by 15 months of age, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published today in The Journal of Pediatrics. Using any Web-enabled device, PHRs allow patients to view parts of their medical record, including immunizations and after-visit instructions, manage appointments, refill prescriptions, check lab results, and securely communicate with their health care providers.
Med schools improve conflict-of-interest standards, yet much room for progress remains
U.S. medical schools have made significant progress to strengthen their management of clinical conflicts of interest (CCOI), but a new study demonstrates that most schools still lag behind national standards. The Institute on Medicine as a Profession (IMAP) study, which compared changes in schools' policies in a dozen areas from 2008 to 2011, reveals that institutions are racing from the bottom to the middle, not to the top. In 2011, nearly two-thirds of medical schools still lacked policies to limit ties to industry in at least one area explored, including gifts, meals, drug samples, and payments for travel, consulting, and speaking. Only 16% met national standards in at least half of the areas, and no school met all the standards.
USDA: Poultry plants linked to outbreak stay open
The Agriculture Department says three California poultry processing facilities linked to a salmonella outbreak in raw chicken can stay open, for now.
Execution drugs spark controversy as supplies dwindle
The United States is turning to new drugs for lethal injections as supplies of the current standard dwindle, sparking lawsuits from death row prisoners that the changes will cause undue suffering.
New exercise guidelines developed for people with MS
According to new research out of Queen's University, an active lifestyle has many benefits for adults living with multiple sclerosis. Based on that research, Amy Latimer-Cheung (School of Kinesiology and Health Studies) has developed a new set of guidelines prescribing exercise for people with MS.
Adolescents born premature report being just as happy and healthy as their peers
Adolescents who were born extremely premature or extremely low birth weight report no differences in quality of life or self-esteem at age 18 compared with their term born peers, a study by Murdoch Childrens Research Institute has found.
Improving control of child malnutrition in developing countries
NutrInfo is a research result conducted by the group of Telematic Systems for the Information and Knowledge Society of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM). It consists of application software that captures weight and height data by using a remote bascule and a mobile device, the application can update the nutritional data immediately. Its purpose is to prevent high infant mortality rates in developing countries.
On the lookout for the genes behind disease
Today's information age has provided the tools for biology to yield huge numbers of DNA sequences from many different species. Modern technology has made DNA sequencing simpler, less expensive and more reliable - with huge benefits for diagnosing and treating medical problems.
Adult social care 'unfit for purpose' health experts warn
The adult social care system is "fundamentally broken" and "unfit for purpose" health experts warn today, amid calls for a radical shake-up for service provision.
State-run health exchanges off to smoother start
(HealthDay)—Unlike the highly publicized problems that have plagued the federal health exchange website created to help Americans register for insurance coverage, many state-run exchanges are operating well, according to published reports.
Woman battling multiple health issues refuses to take 'No' from her insurer
(HealthDay)—In May 2012, Quinn Nystrom made a decision to get well. She'd been battling an eating disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression, as well as trying to maintain good control of her type 1 diabetes. But she'd had some form of eating disorder—both anorexia and bulimia—since she was 12 years old. At 26, the Baxter, Minn., resident had been in treatment for two years and still struggled every day to try to eat normally. Most days, though, her eating disorder won.
Prostate cancer: A change in circulating tumor cells detection has high potential in the prediction
A new study reveals that in the prediction of treatment outcome for castration-resistant prostate cancer, a change in circulating tumour cells detection might be more accurate than the change in prostate-specific antigen levels. The findings of this award-winning study were presented at the recent EAU 13th Central European Meeting in Prague.
CNIO researchers discover a new regulator of drug detoxication
Drug abuse and alcohol are some of the most frequent causes of liver damage, particularly in developed countries. Such kind of liver damage can cause irreversible liver failure and even cancer. Researchers from the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) have discovered an important new protective role of the Fra-1 protein, which neutralizes the damage caused by agents, such as the analgesic drug acetaminophen (Paracetamol). This is the first study to reveal a function of Fra-1 in protecting this important organ. The study is published today in the journal Hepatology.
31 in Fla. infected by bacteria in salt water
State health department officials say 31 people across Florida have been infected this year by a potentially deadly, yet common bacteria that lives in salt water—and 10 of those people have died.
EU drug agency rejects French request on birth pills
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) on Friday rejected a French request to tighten prescription guidelines on types of birth-control pills linked with a relatively higher risk of blood clots.
ASPS: High patient satisfaction with autologous gluteoplasty
(HealthDay)—Gluteoplasty with autologous fat tissue can be performed with minimal morbidity and high patient satisfaction, according to a study presented at Plastic Surgery The Meeting, the annual meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, held from Oct. 11 to 15 in San Diego.
Checklist developed to cut radiation exposure in children
(HealthDay)—A checklist has been developed to minimize radiation exposure to children during radiography; the checklist has been published in the October issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.
Behavioral therapy provided during dialysis sessions may combat depression among kidney failure patients
Behavioral therapy provided chair-side to kidney failure patients while they're undergoing dialysis may help fight depression and improve patients' quality of life, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).
Study finds no increased risk of suicide in patients using smoking cessation drugs
A study to assess whether patients prescribed smoking cessation drugs are at an increased risk of suicide, self-harm and treated depression compared with users of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) has found no evidence of an increased risk. The findings, led by researchers from the University of Bristol, are published online in the British Medical Journal today.
Study finds herbal products omit ingredients, contain fillers
Consumers of natural health products beware. The majority of herbal products on the market contain ingredients not listed on the label, with most companies substituting cheaper alternatives and using fillers, according to new research from the University of Guelph.
How do microneedles deliver drugs?
It's been quite a couple of years for Dr Ryan Donnelly from the School of Pharmacy at Queen's University Belfast (QUB), who this week speaks at the BioIndustry Association (BIA) UK Bioscience Forum. At the forum he'll be discussing the development of his BBSRC-funded microneedle technology that could revolutionise the way drugs are delivered – from small molecules to vaccines and biological compounds.
How much of a man are you? Being online can change that
How masculine are you? This might seem a fairly simple question, especially if you're asked to fill out a simple ten-question survey investigating traits such as "aggressive" and "forceful".
Scientists review effects of soy and whey protein supplementation post-exercise
A group of researchers recently expanded upon the limited prior research examining the effects of soy and whey protein supplementation on testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and cortisol responses to an acute bout of resistance exercise. Their study, "The Effects of Soy and Whey Protein Supplementation on Acute Hormonal Reponses to Resistance Exercise in Men" is now available in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.
CDC shutdown: Mayo Clinic expert explains what it means for this flu season—and the next
Flu season is under way, but how many Americans have been hit so far, how badly, and which influenza bugs are to blame is unclear. That information is important to prevent and manage outbreaks, and it is crucial for creation of the next batch of influenza vaccines. But this flu season, the nation is flying (and coughing, and sneezing, and maybe worse) blind. That's because the agency that normally keeps the country on top of influenza outbreaks—the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—is largely out of commission due to the federal government shutdown. Mayo Clinic infectious diseases expert Gregory Poland, M.D., explains what the CDC normally does and what federal furloughs mean to efforts to protect people from contagious illnesses.
Virtual rehabilitation suite for arthritis patients
A new research project led by the University's Arthritis Research UK Biomechanics and Bioengineering Centre is using technology normally associated with Hollywood blockbusters to help tackle arthritis. Funded by Arthritis Research UK, the project has established a virtual rehabilitation suite – the first of its kind in the UK – with equipment used to create special effects in films.
New study changes view about the genetics of leukemia risk
(Medical Xpress)—A gene that helps keep blood free of cancer is controlled by tiny pieces of RNA, a finding that may lead to better ways to diagnose blood cancers and even lead to new forms of treatment, Yale School of Medicine researchers report online Oct. 10 in the journal Cell Reports.
Doctors help Israeli combat soldier with testosterone disorder start a family
Dr. Karen Tordjman, a senior lecturer at Tel Aviv University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine didn't have an immediate diagnosis for the under-masculinized young man who walked into her office. A 25-year-old university student who had served in an elite commando unit in the Israeli navy, he was handsome in a fashion-model kind of way: rail thin, with a smooth face and delicate, feminine features. Closer inspection revealed no body hair other than sparse patches in his armpits and groin. His genitals were small and heavily scarred.
New hope for premature babies at risk of brain damage
(Medical Xpress)—Babies who suffer a bleed on their brain could be saved from debilitating brain damage after researchers at the University of Birmingham found that a new drug can prevent the swelling of the organ which causes it.
Research will 'revolutionize implantable device therapy'
(Medical Xpress)—Although an irregular heartbeat is a common malady in the United States, affecting an estimated 5 million people, the treatments for it are limited in scope and effectiveness. Now, Igor Efimov, PhD, at Washington University in St. Louis, is studying a new potential treatment that may be much more effective and less painful for patients.
Imaging may unlock new mental illness diagnosis options
(Medical Xpress)—Imagine suffering from a mental illness and waiting up to a decade to get a proper diagnosis, all the while taking the wrong medications. This is an unfortunate reality for some patients suffering from bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), said Dr. Elizabeth Osuch, a researcher at Western's Lawson Health Research Institute and a psychiatrist at the London Health Sciences Centre.
Kids of single moms who later marry reap few benefits
(Medical Xpress)—With roughly four in 10 of all U.S. births now to unwed mothers, a new longitudinal study by Cornell demographers is the first to show that being raised in a single-parent home poses significant risks to adolescent physical health years later.
Creating a permanent bacteria barrier
Any medical device implanted in the body attracts bacteria, proteins, and other microbes to its surface, causing infections and thrombosis (blood clotting) that lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths annually. Devices can be coated with antibiotics, blood thinners, and other agents—but these eventually dissolve, limiting their longevity and effectiveness.
Single molecule shown to regulate emotional behavior of mice
Mood and emotion are extremely complex aspects of behavior that are known to involve the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. Both neurotransmitters are broken down by an enzyme called monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), and drugs that interfere with this system, such as the anti-depressant fluoxetine (Prozac), have long been used to treat mood disorders. Jun Aruga and colleagues from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute in Wako have now shown that a ligase enzyme called Rines regulates MAO-A activity and could prove to be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of such disorders.
'Mobility shoes' take a load off for knee osteoarthritis sufferers
The results of a new study by bone and joint experts at Rush University Medical Center suggest that patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who wear flat, flexible footwear, which allows natural foot mobility and provide sufficient support for the foot, had significant reduction in knee loading—the force placed upon the joint during daily activities.
Prudence mixes with fatalism over MERS at hajj
Mohammed Shuaib wears a mask as he walks amid a flood of Muslims arriving for the hajj, but his wariness about the deadly MERS virus that has struck Saudi Arabia doesn't seem to be widely shared.
Badgers ultimately responsible for around half of TB in cattle, study estimates
Badgers are ultimately responsible for roughly half of tuberculosis (TB) in cattle in areas with high TB prevalence, according to new estimates based on data from a previous badger culling trial.
Obamacare should help those with mental health issues, advocates say
(HealthDay)—As the nation's health-care law continues to roll out, people with mental health issues are discovering ways that the landmark legislation directly affects them.
Targeted treatment plus chemotherapy could benefit women with ovarian cancer
Conventional chemotherapy could further extend life in some women with ovarian cancer when used in tandem with a new type of targeted treatment, a new international study shows.
Resveratrol could help treat multiple types of cancer, study finds
A recent study by a University of Missouri researcher shows that resveratrol, a compound found in grape skins and red wine, can make certain tumor cells more susceptible to radiation treatment. This research, which studied melanoma cells, follows a previous MU study that found similar results in the treatment of prostate cancer. The next step is for researchers to develop a successful method to deliver the compound to tumor sites and potentially treat many types of cancers.
Scientists help identify possible botulism blocker
U.S. and German scientists have decoded a key molecular gateway for the toxin that causes botulism, pointing the way to treatments that can keep the food-borne poison out of the bloodstream.
Disrupting an antioxidant pathway prevents heart disease caused by reductive stress
University of Utah researchers have found that deficiency of an antioxidant response protein called nuclear erythroid-2 like factor-2 (Nrf2) delays or prevents hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a type of a heart failure in which the heart muscle grows abnormally thick.
Judge strikes down smoking ban in New York state parks
A US judge has ordered an end to a smoking ban imposed in public parks and beaches across New York state last February.
Take infection precautions when using nasal-rinsing products: FDA
(HealthDay)—Neti pots and other nasal-rinsing devices are generally safe and useful products, but they must be used and cleaned properly to reduce the risk of infection, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Buttocks-enhancing procedures please patients, small study finds
(HealthDay)—Beyonce, Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez have put ample backsides on some women's wish lists. And what nature forgot, plastic surgeons can provide with a buttocks augmentation.
Oral pazopanib improves sight in macular degeneration cases
(HealthDay)—Oral pazopanib is well tolerated and improves mean best-corrected visual acuity, central retinal lesion thickness, and central retinal thickness at day 29 in a small, per-protocol, non-rescued population of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a study published online Oct. 10 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Rate of cardiovascular disease expected to rise in the US
(HealthDay)—The combined effects of aging of the population and the obesity epidemic are expected to increase the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the United States, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
Schools take aim at cyberbullying
The Internet messages were so vicious that they pushed 16-year-old Ivy Griffiths into therapy for depression.
Doing battle with breast cancer
Silvana Davis was 16 when breast cancer took her mother. Now a mother herself, the 41-year-old Brighton, Mich., woman is doing everything she can to make sure that she does not face the same diagnosis.
Immune system discovery could lead to EBV vaccine to prevent mono, some cancers
Development of a vaccine against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has taken a step forward with the Canadian discovery of how EBV infection evades detection by the immune system.
Finding solution to the 'Jane Austen problem': Kissing helps us find the right partner—and keep them
What's in a kiss? A study by Oxford University researchers suggests kissing helps us size up potential partners and, once in a relationship, may be a way of getting a partner to stick around.
New role for DNA unraveler in preventing brain tumours and other cancers
(Medical Xpress)—A molecule originally implicated in DNA repair may also be a crucial factor in preventing tumours such as medulloblastoma, a type of childhood brain tumour, according to research published today in Science.
Packaging stem cells in capsules for heart therapy
Stem cell therapy for heart disease is happening. Around the world, thousands of heart disease patients have been treated in clinical studies with some form of bone marrow cells or stem cells.
Biology news
How research ecologists can benefit urban design projects
Ecologists conducting field research usually study areas that they hope won't be disturbed for a while. But in an article published in the November issue of BioScience, "Mapping the Design Process for Urban Ecology Researchers," Alexander Felson of Yale University and his colleagues describe how ecologists can perform hypothesis-driven research from the start of design through the construction and monitoring phases of major urban projects. The results from such "designed experiments" can provide site-specific data that improve how the projects are conceptualized, built and subsequently monitored.
More salmon and more hydropower
Norwegian research shows that it is perfectly possible for rivers to produce more salmon and electricity at the same time: a new environmental handbook shows the way.
Is a constructive conservation the last chance for biodiversity? Pragmatic approach to saving what can be saved
How can biodiversity be preserved in a world in which traditional ecosystems are increasingly being displaced by "man-made nature"? Biologists at the TU Darmstadt and ETH Zurich have developed a new concept for conservation measures that incorporates current landscapes formerly considered ecologically "of little value". Numerous experiences from islands have shown that this concept has a positive effect on biodiversity. Now the authors are proposing upscaling these experiences to other landscape scenarios.
Nesting habitat key to pheasant numbers
(Phys.org) —With record low pheasant numbers, hunters are looking at a tough season, but South Dakota State University wildlife researchers predict the birds can rebound, with proper management.
Fishermen join scientists to track estuary black bream
Recreational fishermen are helping researchers in an ambitious three-year study to find out more about the popular black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) fish species.
Predators vs. alien: European shrimps win predatory battles with an American invader
A shrimp from America has been invading Europe's rivers and lakes for several decades, but something seems to be preventing this colonist from becoming numerous and problematic, like so many other invaders - such as the Californian grey squirrel and American crayfish. Could the resident European shrimps have something to do with this?
Mosquitofish genital shape linked to presence of predators
(Phys.org) —When predators lurk nearby, male Bahamas mosquitofish (Gambusia hubbsi) change mating strategies, rejecting elaborate courting rituals for more frequent and sometimes forceful encounters with females.
Cell growth discovery has implications for targeting cancer
The way cells divide to form new cells—to support growth, to repair damaged tissues, or simply to maintain our healthy adult functioning—is controlled in previously unsuspected ways UC San Francisco researchers have discovered. The findings, they said, may lead to new ways to fight cancer.
Outside influence: Genes outside nucleus have disproportionate effect
New research from the University of California, Davis, shows that the tiny proportion of a cell's DNA that is located outside the cell nucleus has a disproportionately large effect on a cell's metabolism. The work, with the model plant Arabidopsis, may have implications for future treatments for inherited diseases in humans.
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