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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 24, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- World's most powerful MRI gets set to come online- Researchers produce the first experimental pulse-generation of a single electron—a leviton
- Topological insulators: Persuading light to mix it up with matter
- New insight into why each human face is unique
- Scientists unveil energy-generating window
- Scientists solve mystery of odd patterns of oxygen in solar system's earliest rocks
- Novel genetic mutations cause low metabolic rate and obesity
- Bee sting allergy could be a defense response gone haywire, scientists finds
- Reservoir of hidden HIV larger than previously thought
- Samurai sword protein makes strategic cuts in cell skeletons
- Researchers discover 'law of urination' for animal pee times
- Researchers apply brainpower to understanding neural stem cell differentiation
- A thermoelectric materials emulator: Behavior of thermoelectric materials simulated
- Increasing toxicity of algal blooms tied to nutrient enrichment and climate change
- Yeast, human stem cells drive discovery of new Parkinson's disease drug targets
Space & Earth news
Scientist who sought to predict quakes dies at 92 (Update)
Vladimir Keilis-Borok, a seismologist who believed earthquakes could be predicted months in advance, has died. He was 92.
NASA analyzes Hurricane Raymond's copious rainfall
Powerful hurricane Raymond, located off Mexico's south-central Pacific coast, weakened to a tropical storm and has dropped a lot of rain over central western Mexico's coast. NASA's TRMM satellite measured rainfall from space and that data was used to create a rainfall total map.
Major pension funds ask for climate change study
Some of the largest pension funds in the U.S. and the world are worried that major fossil fuel companies may not be as profitable in the future because of efforts to limit climate change, and they want details on how the firms will manage a long-term shift to cleaner energy sources.
Could the Colorado River once have flowed into the Labrador Sea?
In the November issue of GSA Today, James W. Sears of the University of Montana in Missoula advocates a possible Canadian connection for the early Miocene Grand Canyon by arguing for the existence of a "super-river" traceable from headwaters in the southern Colorado Plateau through a proto–Grand Canyon to a delta in the Labrador Sea.
NASA sees Super-typhoon Lekima ready to make the curve
Super-typhoon Lekima is poised to "make the curve" in the northwestern Pacific Ocean today. The storm's track is expected to shift from a northwesterly direction, and curve to northeasterly direction because it has started encountering mid-latitude westerly winds and a trough. NASA's Terra satellite captured an image of Lekima just before it began its directional shift.
NASA sees rainfall in Tropical Storm Francisco
NASA's TRMM satellite flew above the center of Tropical Storm Francisco in the western North Pacific Ocean early on Oct. 24 and data was used to create a 3-D image of the storm's structure.
Gaia launch postponement update
Yesterday, the decision was taken to postpone the launch of ESA's Gaia mission after a technical issue was identified in another satellite already in orbit.
Keele astronomers push worldwide exoplanet tally over 1000
As reported by BBC News, the total number of extra-solar planets known through the efforts of worldwide astronomers has just passed 1000. Keele astronomers pushed it over that number by announcing 12 new planets from the WASP (Wide Angle Search for Planets) survey.
Hubble view of a special spiral galaxy
(Phys.org) —The image, captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, shows part of NGC 3621, an unusual spiral galaxy located over 20 million light-years away in the constellation of Hydra (The Water Snake).
Scientists present approach for evaluating and monitoring Lake Tahoe's nearshore
(Phys.org) —Scientists today presented research findings and recommendations to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board that address Lake Tahoe's aquatic nearshore environment and the heightened interest in understanding factors contributing to its apparent deterioration.
Dry air and cooler waters weakening Tropical Depression Lorenzo
NOAA's GOES-East satellite captured a visible image of Tropical Depression Lorenzo that showed very little convection happening throughout the system because of two environmental factors: dry air and cooler sea surface temperatures.
NASA's SDO sees sun emit a mid-level solar flare
The sun emitted a mid-level solar flare that peaked at 8:30 pm EDT on Oct. 23, 2013. Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth's atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground, however—when intense enough—they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel. Such radiation can disrupt radio signals for as long as the flare is ongoing, anywhere from minutes to hours.
Philippine earthquake creates miles-long rocky wall
A deadly earthquake that struck the Philippines last week created a spectacular rocky wall that stretches for kilometres through farmlands, astounded geologists said Thursday.
Unique chemical composition surrounding supermassive black hole
An international research team led by Takuma Izumi, a second-year master's student of science at the University of Tokyo, and Kotaro Kohno, a professor at the University of Tokyo, successfully captured a detailed image of high-density molecular gas around an active supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy called NGC 1097 at the highest sensitivity ever achieved. The observation result shows that there is a unique chemical composition characterized by enhancement of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) around the black hole, which would be caused by high temperature heating of the environment surrounding the black hole. It is expected that this new method focusing on the difference of emission frequencies from molecules uniquely found around black holes may open the way for "the search for a hidden black hole" which is overcast with dust particles and optically invisible.
NASA's great observatories begin deepest ever probe of the universe
(Phys.org) —NASA's Hubble, Spitzer and Chandra space telescopes are teaming up to look deeper into the universe than ever before. With a boost from natural "zoom lenses" found in space, they should be able to uncover galaxies that are as much as 100 times fainter than what these three great observatories typically can see.
Mars rover Opportunity heads uphill
(Phys.org) —NASA's Mars Exploration Rover has begun climbing "Solander Point," the northern tip of the tallest hill it has encountered in the mission's nearly 10 Earth years on Mars.
Cassini gets new views of Titan's land of lakes
(Phys.org) —With the sun now shining down over the north pole of Saturn's moon Titan, a little luck with the weather, and trajectories that put the spacecraft into optimal viewing positions, NASA's Cassini spacecraft has obtained new pictures of the liquid methane and ethane seas and lakes that reside near Titan's north pole. The images reveal new clues about how the lakes formed and about Titan's Earth-like "hydrologic" cycle, which involves hydrocarbons rather than water.
A rare snapshot of a planetary construction site
(Phys.org) —Planets are formed in disks of gas and dust around nascent stars. Now, combined observations with the compound telescope ALMA and the Herschel Space Observatory have produced a rare view of a planetary construction site in an intermediate state of evolution: Contrary to expectations, the disk around the star HD 21997 appears to contain both primordial gas left over from the formation of the star itself and dust that appears to have been produced in collisions between planetesimals - small rocks that are the building blocks for the much larger planets. This is the first direct observation of such a "hybrid disk", and likely to require a revision of current models of planet formation.
Study shows unprecedented warmth in Arctic
(Phys.org) —The heat is on, at least in the Arctic. Average summer temperatures in the Eastern Canadian Arctic during the last 100 years are higher now than during any century in the past 44,000 years and perhaps as long ago as 120,000 years, says a new University of Colorado Boulder study.
UA student finds 'Hawaiian beach' sand on Mars
(Phys.org) —The world's largest database of minerals, developed and housed at the UA, enables NASA to identify the minerals that make up the soil on Mars. As a member of the science team on NASA's Curiosity rover currently exploring Mars, graduate student Shaunna Morrison helps uncover the secrets of the Red Planet.
NASA laser communication system sets record with data transmissions to and from Moon
(Phys.org) —NASA's Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) has made history using a pulsed laser beam to transmit data over the 239,000 miles between the moon and Earth at a record-breaking download rate of 622 megabits per second (Mbps).
Increasing toxicity of algal blooms tied to nutrient enrichment and climate change
Nutrient enrichment and climate change are posing yet another concern of growing importance: an apparent increase in the toxicity of some algal blooms in freshwater lakes and estuaries around the world, which threatens aquatic organisms, ecosystem health and human drinking water safety.
ALMA reveals ghostly shape of 'coldest place in the universe'
At a cosmologically crisp one degree Kelvin (minus 458 degrees Fahrenheit), the Boomerang Nebula is the coldest known object in the Universe – colder, in fact, than the faint afterglow of the Big Bang, which is the natural background temperature of space.
Sagittarius A*: A glimpse of the violent past of Milky Way's giant black hole
(Phys.org) —Researchers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have found evidence that the normally dim region very close to the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy flared up with at least two luminous outbursts in the past few hundred years.
Scientists solve mystery of odd patterns of oxygen in solar system's earliest rocks
Cosmochemists have solved a long standing mystery in the formation of the solar system: Oxygen, the most abundant element in Earth's crust, follows a strange, anomalous pattern in the oldest, most pristine rocks, one that must result from a different chemical process than the well-understood reactions that form minerals containing oxygen on Earth.
Technology news
Vienna State Opera goes live stream
For all those who can't come to the Vienna State Opera—it can now come to you.
Taiwan body fines Samsung for blasting local rival (Update)
Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission on Thursday fined the local unit of South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. for undermining the reputation of Taiwanese mobile phone maker HTC Corp.
Researchers look to butterflies to improve flight
A better understanding of the aerodynamic properties of butterfly wings may lead to improved human-made flight, according to research at The University of Alabama recently funded by the National Science Foundation.
Time Warner Cable to carry Al Jazeera America
Time Warner Cable and Al Jazeera America say they've reached a deal for the cable company to start carrying the channel.
Icahn boosts Apple stake, presses share buyback (Update)
Activist investor Carl Icahn disclosed Thursday he has raised his stake in Apple, and urged an "immediate" buyback of shares to boost the stock price of the US tech giant.
Getting a grip on inventory management using RF
From a cocktail dress for the next summer party, to favorite perfumes, or computer accessories. There is almost nothing that you cannot buy on the internet today as well. Many customers value the opportunity of going on a shopping tour from the comfort of their sofa, instead of having to fight their way through the city. Therefore it is not surprising that brand name manufacturers are increasingly offering their goods for sale on the web, not to mention the large online mail-order companies. The companies are increasingly working together with regional specialist retailers. Both sides profit from the cooperation. The manufacturer saves the costs and effort of building up additional logistics infrastructure, since the local retailer delivers the goods that were ordered online or has them available for pick up, and deals with returns of products. The retailer in turn receives access to the online market and can thereby broaden its customer base.
Taking a close look, whatever the scale
Following the 50 km/h crash test, all that was left of the car was a heap of metal – one that contains valuable information on how vehicle safety could be improved. But the only way engineers can get at this information is if they can see inside the vehicle to analyze how its individual components reacted to the force of the impact. The typical two-dimensional X-ray images used in conventional materials testing are often not accurate enough, as what they show is no more than a kind of shadow-picture taken from a single angle. Computed tomography (CT) offers researchers many more possibilities for examining components: By recording parts in all three dimensions, it allows them to be measured and inspected in a contact-free and non-destructive way. But how do you fit an entire car into a CT scanner?
Amazon narrows 3Q loss as sales jump 24 pct
Amazon.com says that its fiscal third-quarter loss narrowed as revenue grew 24 percent.
Tesla hires Apple engineer to develop new cars
Electric car maker Tesla Motors has hired Apple Inc.'s chief Mac engineer to lead new vehicle development.
Smartphone competition weighs on LG earnings
LG Electronics Inc. said its handset business sank into the red for the first time in a year as it cut prices and spent more on marketing to carve out a share of the high-end smartphone market.
Yahoo buys image-recognition startup for Flickr
Yahoo's latest acquisition will bring image-recognition technology to its Flickr service for sharing photos.
Building culture in digital media
The video game "Grand Theft Auto V," which recently grossed $1 billion in its first three days on sale, is set in the fictional city of Los Santos. But if you've played the game, you probably don't need anyone to tell you that Los Santos is a simulation of Los Angeles. The setting, the characters, and the objects in the game all draw upon—and reinforce—a reservoir of existing cultural images about theft, violence, urban life, and other aspects of U.S. society.
Facebook goes full circle on censorship, like it or not
In the past few days, Facebook has gone full circle on its policy around censoring violent material.
Beautiful coding—new University project develops next generation of QR codes
A new innovation from The University of Nottingham is promising to transform the way we digitally interact with new products and services by developing the next generation of easier-on-the-eye QR codes.
Angry Birds: The rise of the machines
An EPFL team has won an international artificial intelligence competition with software able to reproduce a human-like way of playing the famous video game.
Boston Scientific to cut up to 1,500 jobs
Boston Scientific Corp. plans to shed as many as 1,500 jobs worldwide, or 6 percent of its workforce, in an effort to cut costs.
Facebook becoming a key player in news
Facebook is becoming a key source of news for users of the huge social network, even if people discover articles mostly by happenstance, a study showed Thursday.
8 states vow 3.3M zero-emission vehicles by 2025 (Update)
The governors of eight states including California and New York pledged Thursday to work together to create charging stations and other fueling infrastructure needed to get 3.3 million zero-emission vehicles on those states' roadways by 2025 to curb greenhouse gas pollution.
Pinterest gets fresh capital, plans expansion
Pinterest, the fast-growing US bulletin board style social media site, said Thursday it has raised $225 million in new capital and will use it to expand to 10 more countries by year's end.
Researchers restore image using version containing between 1 and 10 percent of information
In his PhD thesis, Daniel Paternain-Dallo, Computer Engineer of the NUP/UPNA-Public University of Navarre, has developed algorithms to reduce and optimize images; using a reduced image (with between 1% and 10% of the information from the original image), they allow 100% of the pixels in the initial image to be restored. "With these algorithms we can obtain high quality images that are very similar to the original. We have shown that even if we lose 100% of the pixels of the image, we can restore a lost image with a very high level of quality just by using the information from the reduced image."
'NSA eavesdropped on 35 world leaders'
US spies eavesdropped on the phone conversations of 35 world leaders after White House, Pentagon and State Department officials gave them the numbers, The Guardian reported Thursday.
For heads of state, a iPhone or Blackberry can be a trap
While heads of state have encrypted mobiles and other secure lines for work, many can't resist using regular smartphones for everyday life—making them susceptible to espionage.
Twitter names news chief, from NBC (Update)
Twitter announced Thursday it had hired former NBC executive Vivian Schiller to head its news operations, as the messaging service ramps up efforts in the field ahead of its stock market debut.
Twitter seeks up to $1.61 bn in IPO (Update)
Twitter raised the value of its initial public offering Thursday to as much as $1.61 billion as the popular messaging service moved a step closer to Wall Street.
Microsoft profit up 17 percent to $5.2 bn
Microsoft said Thursday its quarterly profit rose 17 percent from a year ago to $5.2 billion, citing progress in its transition to a "devices and services" company.
Researchers quantifies the effectiveness of video ads
Online video is a "killer application" of the Internet, predicted to soon make up 86 percent of consumer traffic on the web, says computer science researcher Ramesh Sitaraman at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. But advertisers who want to capitalize on it face a huge question: How effective are video ads?
Big ads atop Google results point to broken promise
Google confirmed it is dabbling with putting large ads atop search results for brand names in a move seen by some as breaking an old promise.
Apple stores roll out welcome mat for Automatic car gadget
(Phys.org) —The world needs better drivers and a company with a simple vehicle-data-sniffing device gadget wants to do its bit to help people drive better and save money on car expense in doing so, at least in the United States. San Francisco startup Automatic today got an official boost from Apple for showing more people its device. Apple online and retail stores will now carry the company's product, a gadget plugged into cars that tells drivers about their performance and other car-related information, behaving as a personal driving assistant, without the realtime nagging of a human backseat driver. As of Wednesday, the startup's product, called Automatic Link, is available for purchase at Apple's U.S. stores and in the Apple Online Store. "We have some exciting news to share! Starting today, you can buy the Automatic Link in more than 250 Apple retail stores nationwide and on the Apple Online Store. The Link retails for $99.95. The app and service are free," announced Automatic on its web site Wednesday. This comes as a distribution boost for the company, founded in early 2012, which up to this time was selling its product through its own website. Now millions more can access or at least stumble on Automatic.
'Anklebot' helps determine ankle stiffness
For most healthy bipeds, the act of walking is seldom given a second thought: One foot follows the other, and the rest of the body falls in line, supported by a system of muscle, tendon, and bones.
Google search serves users from 700 percent more locations than a year ago, study shows
Over the past 10 months, Google search has dramatically increased the number of sites around the world from which it serves client queries, repurposing existing infrastructure to change the physical way that Google processes web searches, according to a new study from USC.
Scientists unveil energy-generating window
Scientists in China said Thursday they had designed a "smart" window that can both save and generate energy, and may ultimately reduce heating and cooling costs for buildings.
Medicine & Health news
NIH and CDC launch registry for sudden death in the young
A registry of deaths in young people from conditions such as heart disease and epilepsy is being created to help researchers define the scope of the problem and set future research priorities. The National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are collaborating to create the Sudden Death in the Young Registry.
US pharma giant buys Germany's Celesio in $8-bn deal
US pharmaceutical distributor McKesson on Thursday announced the purchase of German rival Celesio in a deal valued at more than $8 billion.
Honduras confirms 27 deaths from dengue fever
A Honduran dengue fever epidemic has killed 27 people so far this year and infected some 31,960 individuals, health officials said Wednesday.
Mass breastfeeding record attempt in Philippines
Thousands of lactating mothers across the Philippines simultaneously breast fed their babies on Thursday in an attempt to break a world record and break down social taboos.
$450 mn needed to tackle 'grave' malaria threat, WHO says
Hundreds of millions of dollars are needed to stop a deadly form of drug-resistant malaria jumping from Southeast Asia to the rest of the world, the World Health Organisation said Thursday.
Study: Gold star nutrition ratings appears to work
A new study suggests that a nutritional rating system using gold stars affixed to price labels on grocery store shelves may be helping consumers buy healthier food.
A new way of looking at teenage temperament
Ask any 21st century parent and they will admit raising teenagers in today's complicated world is often a daunting challenge. Queen's University professor Tom Hollenstein (Psychology) is proposing new ways to better understand the period of adolescence and help parents cope with the teenage years.
French lawmakers approve tax on energy drinks
French lawmakers on Thursday approved a tax on energy drinks such as Red Bull over health concerns, amid growing claims that high-caffeine products are hazardous to young people.
Tens of thousands lack pain medication in Senegal (Update)
Tens of thousands of people in Senegal struggling with advanced cancer and other illnesses are left with only basic headache medicines to treat their pain because the country does not have enough morphine in stock, according to a report released Thursday.
Avicenna's Medicine
An ancient Arabic medical encyclopedia written in the eleventh century provides a model for practicing individualized medicine, says a Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) scientist who, with two colleagues, has translated the original text into English.
NEJM study exposes overuse of radiation therapy when urologists profit from self-referral
A comprehensive review of Medicare claims for more than 45,000 patients from 2005 through 2010 found that nearly all of the 146 percent increase in intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for prostate cancer among urologists with an ownership interest in the treatment was due to self-referral, according to new research, "Urologists' Use of Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer," released today in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) for its October 24, 2013 issue. This study corroborates the increased IMRT treatment rates among self-referrers reported in the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) August 2013 report, "Medicare: Higher Use of Costly Prostate Cancer Treatment by Providers Who Self-Refer Warrants Scrutiny."
Deadly gaps persist in new drug development for neglected diseases
In a study published today in the open-access journal The Lancet Global Health, the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and other researchers report a persistent deficiency in truly new therapeutics for neglected diseases, despite nominal progress and an acceleration in research and development (R&D) efforts. This continued 'fatal imbalance' in medical R&D points to the urgent need to develop and deliver groundbreaking new treatments for the world's poorest and most neglected patients.
EORTC study suggests detecting ERG gene deletion useful for risk stratification in childhood ALL
Results of EORTC trial 58951 suggest that detecting ERG gene deletion at diagnosis of childhood B-cell precursor (BCP) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) would be useful for risk stratification. The study, published in Leukemia showed that patients with the ERG gene deletion had a very good outcome with an 8-year event-free survival of 86.4% and an overall survival of 95.6%.
Experts clarify conflicting criteria for diagnosing polycystic ovary syndrome
The Endocrine Society today issued a Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for the diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome, the most common hormone disorder in women of reproductive age and a leading cause of infertility.
Uterine fibroids have significant impact on quality of life, workplace performance
Uterine fibroids cause significant fear and morbidity and can compromise workplace performance, according to a recently published survey of nearly 1,000 women in the U.S. The results were published this month in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Journal of Women's Health. The findings shed new light on the impact, prevalence and treatment concerns related to uterine leiomyomas (fibroids), which affect up to 80 percent of women by age 50.
Copious community-associated MRSA in nursing homes
More than one quarter of residents of 26 nursing homes in Orange County, California carry community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which spread more easily, and may cause more severe infection than MRSA traditionally associated with healthcare facilities, according to a paper published in the November 2013 issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.
A promising new method for the diagnosis of breast cancer
According to a study that has just been published, a novel mammography procedure developed at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), in cooperation with the Certified Breast Centre of the Kantonsspital Baden and the industrial partner Philips, could generate substantial added-value for the diagnosis of breast cancer in medical practice.
Identifying a mystery channel crucial for hearing
Our ability to hear relies on hair cells, sensory receptors that mechanically amplify low-level sound that enters the inner ear through a transduction channel. Although the transduction channel was characterized more than 30 years ago, researchers have been unable to identify its molecular components. A new study in The Journal of General Physiology could help lead to a definitive identification of this mystery channel.
Study ties bone marrow transplant to negative sexual side effects
October 24, 2013) – New research ties preparative procedures and complications associated with blood or bone marrow transplantation (stem cell transplantation, SCT) with diminished sexual health in both men and women who have undergone the lifesaving procedure. Study data, published online today in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), confirm chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a serious complication that occurs when donor cells attack the recipient's cells, as a potential source of sexual dysfunction and are the first to demonstrate an association between total body irradiation and sexual dysfunction in men. This study is one of the longest and is the most inclusive to date evaluating sexual well-being in SCT survivors using rigorous, well-validated sexual function assessment tools.
Gerontologists warn that flu is especially tough on the elderly
Flu season lurks around the corner throughout the United States, and gerontologists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham say the elderly are at increased risk for getting the flu and often have a worse time coping with flu symptoms than do younger people.
Foreign private patients provide a lucrative source of NHS income
Foreign patients coming to the UK for private medical treatment are a lucrative source of income for the NHS, according to a new study by researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the University of York. The study, published in PLOS ONE, also suggests that more UK residents currently travel abroad for treatment than international patients travel to the UK for private or NHS treatment.
Study finds that paying people to become kidney donors could be cost-effective
A strategy where living kidney donors are paid $10,000, with the assumption that this strategy would increase the number of transplants performed by 5% or more, would be less costly and more effective than the current organ donation system, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). The findings demonstrate that a paid living donor strategy is attractive from a cost-effectiveness perspective, even under conservative estimates of its effectiveness.
Young, black women at highest risk for lupus, suffer more life-threatening complications
Young, black women have the highest rate of developing lupus and are most likely to be diagnosed at a younger age than whites and during childbearing years, according to a new University of Michigan study of lupus in Southeastern Michigan.
FDA advisers unanimously back J&J hepatitis C drug
An experimental hepatitis C drug from Johnson & Johnson has won unanimous support from government experts who say the medication should be approved to treat patients infected with the liver-destroying virus.
Extensive use of fluorinated substances with potential harmful effects
More and more scientific studies indicate that perfluorinated substances are carcinogenic or otherwise hazardous to health. In the Nordic countries, new per- and polyfluorinated substances are used to replace the known harmful ones. However, there is a need for new detection methods and more knowledge on their exposure and toxicity. An international workshop in Denmark co-organised by the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, will focus on these substances on 27-29 October 2013.
CBO: Raising Medicare age produces small savings
A new report says raising the eligibility age for enrolling in Medicare won't produce nearly the cost savings that had been assumed previously.
NIH funds development of novel robots to assist people with disabilities, aid doctors
Three projects have been awarded funding by the National Institutes of Health to develop innovative robots that work cooperatively with people and adapt to changing environments to improve human capabilities and enhance medical procedures. Funding for these projects totals approximately $2.4 million over the next five years, subject to the availability of funds.
Does the timing of surgery to treat traumatic spinal cord injury affect outcomes?
Performing surgery to take pressure off the spine after a traumatic injury soon after the event could prevent or reverse some of the secondary damage caused by swelling and decreased blood flow to the injured spine. However, strong evidence to support early spinal surgery is lacking, mainly because the available study data cannot be easily compared, as explained in a review of this controversial field published in Journal of Neurotrauma.
Khartoum allows polio vaccine in troubled states
The Sudanese government has agreed to let United Nations workers vaccinate tens of thousands of children against polio in the violence-wracked South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, the world body said Thursday.
Studies reveal stroke increasingly affecting younger people, suggest global burden may double by 2030
Stroke, a condition traditionally associated with old age, is increasingly affecting young and middle aged people, according to a major new analysis from the Global and Regional Burden of Stroke in 1990-2010 study, published in The Lancet.
Longer detox might work better for prescription pain med addiction
(HealthDay)—A longer period of detoxification may be more effective for people being treated for addiction to prescription painkillers called opioids, according to a small new study.
Physical symptoms from prostate biopsy can cause anxiety
(HealthDay)—Problematic symptoms of prostate biopsy can lead to increased anxiety in men, even when the biopsy results are negative for cancer, according to research published online Oct. 21 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
'Obamacare' complexity blamed for tech glitches
Confusion over various elements of a vast online apparatus bogged down the US health care website's debut, contractors will tell lawmakers Thursday at a hearing probing the troubled "Obamacare" rollout.
Soup consumption may help manage weight, according to nutrition professor
(Medical Xpress)—With the chill of autumn setting in and more Americans turning to a piping hot bowl of soup to fight off the cold, a new study led by an Iowa State University researcher raises the possibility that eating soup more frequently may reduce the likelihood of overeating.
Review of daily aspirin dosage highlights concerns about side effects
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at Warwick Medical School have published the most comprehensive review of the benefits and risks of a daily dose of prophylactic aspirin and warn that greater understanding of side effects is needed.
Parity laws for substance use disorders linked to increase in access to treatment
(Medical Xpress)—A study by researchers at Emory's Rollins School of Public Health suggests that parity legislation can potentially improve access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment.
More opportunities found for respiratory infections to spread among staff in emergency departments
(Medical Xpress)—After studying social contact between patients and staff in a busy emergency department (ED) for one year, researchers at Emory University have learned more about the spread of infection and why prevention strategies are so important.
Sleep apnea study uncovers more hidden dangers for women
(Medical Xpress)—There's more bad news for women with sleep apnea. A new study from the UCLA School of Nursing shows that the body's autonomic responses—the controls that impact such functions as blood pressure, heart rate and sweating—are weaker in people with obstructive sleep apnea but are even more diminished in women.
Women's chronic pain is more complex, more severe
(Medical Xpress)—New research from the University of Adelaide has found that chronic pain in women is more complex and harder to treat than chronic pain in men.
How are children affected by maternal anxiety and depression?
Maternal symptoms of anxiety and depression increased the risk of emotional and disruptive problem behaviors in children as early as 18 months of age, according to new research findings from the TOPP study. The risk persisted into adolescence and also gave an increased risk of depressive symptoms. The study is published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
Scientists overcome barrier to prostate cancer research
Monash scientists have overcome one of the major barriers to the study and treatment of localised -or organ confined- prostate cancer.
More than half of students surveyed experienced sexual coercion
(Medical Xpress)—More than half (53 percent) of young women have experienced at least one incident of verbal, physical or substance-facilitated sexual coercion – and more than half of those incidents resulted in sexual intercourse, a recent study of high school and college students found.
Key mechanism links exercise to muscle growth
Scientists from King's College London have identified a mechanism by which exercise – or lack of it – controls the growth and loss of muscle mass.
Burning mouth syndrome is often difficult to diagnose
Oral pain that feels like a scalded mouth and can last for months has baffled dental researchers since the 1970s, when burning oral sensations were linked to mucosal, periodontal, and restorative disorders and mental or emotional causes.
Type 1 diabetes alters bone marrow and pro-inflammatory white cell count
(Medical Xpress)—A new University of Sydney study has found that having Type 1 diabetes alters the normal communication between the human central nervous system and bone marrow, causing inflammatory effects and further disease.
New risk gene discovery gives hope to early-onset breast cancer sufferers
A new breast cancer risk gene has been discovered which explains the early-onset breast cancer in some multiple-case breast cancer families.
When do would-be mothers opt for adoption?
A new study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln explores why Americans—even those with fertility problems—don't opt for adoption more often as their route to parenthood.
BROCA sequencing approach evaluates all 24 genes implicated in breast cancer
Since 1994, many thousands of women with breast cancer from families severely affected with the disease have been tested for inherited mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. The vast majority of those patients were told that their gene sequences were normal.
Mutations in novel tumor suppressor gene associated with early onset breast cancer
An international team of scientists has identified an association between heritable, rare mutations in the RINT1 gene and increased risk of early onset breast cancer, according to research reported today (Oct. 24) at the American Society of Human Genetics 2013 annual meeting in Boston.
Feedback loops and localization errors
Neurobiologists at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich describe a feedback loop that modulates the processing of auditory signals in the brainstem in a frequency-dependent manner, and can lead to systematic errors in the subjective localization of sound sources.
Do you fear the dentist? How to make sure your child doesn't
(Medical Xpress)—One painful experience at the dentist in childhood can lead to a lifetime of dental anxiety and tooth decay.
Lithium in drinking water reduces suicide rates – possibly also as a result of medicine residue
A study carried out back in June 2011 at the MedUni Vienna has shown that lithium contained in drinking water could reduce suicide rates. Previously, researchers had assumed that the majority of this lithium came from natural sources, leached out of rocks and stones. According to Nestor Kapusta from the University Department of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy at the MedUni Vienna, new data has indicated that residue from prescribed lithium medication is finding its way into aquifers.
Study: Metformin for breast cancer less effective at higher glucose concentrations
A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published online this month in the journal Cell Cycle shows that breast cancer cell growth, motility and aggression is promoted by excess glucose, as experienced by patients with diabetes and metabolic syndrome. The study also showed that patients with high glucose may require higher doses of the drug metformin to achieve the same anti-cancer activity as patients with normal glucose levels.
Data reaffirms test's ability to identify benign thyroid nodules
Aurora, CO (Oct. 23, 2013) The latest study co-led by a CU School of Medicine researcher has confirmed that a Gene Expression Classifier (GEC) test can drastically reduce the problem of unnecessary surgeries in thyroid nodule assessment. These indeterminate nodules are being evaluated with a new molecular diagnostic test that measures the expression levels of 142 genes. This test is able to identify which initially indeterminate nodules are highly likely to be benign, and thus allows patients to avoid unnecessary diagnostic surgery.
Study demonstrates preventive effect of sterols in Alzheimer's
It's no secret that phytochemicals in fruit and vegetables have a positive effect on our health. For instance, plant sterols help to lower cholesterol levels. According to a study by researchers at Saarland University, they also appear to prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease. The scientific research team led by Dr. Marcus Grimm has shown that a particular sterol inhibits the production of proteins that play an important role in the development of the disease.
Study shows no increased risk for heart attacks among HIV-positive patients with high CD4 cell count
Patients who are HIV-positive and have high CD4 cell counts—or have a high number of white blood cells that fight infections—aren't at an increased risk for heart attacks compared to patients who are HIV-negative, according to a Kaiser Permanente study that appears in the current online issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
Researchers identify gene variant that raises risk for colorectal cancer from eating processed meat
A common genetic variant that affects 1 in 3 people significantly increases the risk of colorectal cancer from the consumption of red meat and processed meat, according to a study presented today at the annual American Society of Human Genetics 2013 meeting, the largest gathering of human geneticists in the world.
Gene variants in immune system pathways are correlated with composition of microbes of human body
Human genes in immunity-related pathways are likely associated with the composition of an individual's microbiome, which refers to the bacteria and other microbes that live in and on the body, scientists reported today, Oct. 24, at the American Society of Human Genetics 2013 annual meeting in Boston.
Researchers design global HIV vaccine that shows promise in monkeys
The considerable diversity of HIV worldwide represents a critical challenge for designing an effective HIV vaccine. Now, a scientific team led by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) has shown that bioinformatically optimized HIV vaccine antigens known as "mosaic" antigens might be useful in the design of a global HIV vaccine. This study, which was conducted in monkeys, is published today in the journal Cell.
Need different types of tissue? Just print them
What sounds like a dream of the future has already been the subject of research for a few years: simply printing out tissue and organs. Now scientists have further refined the technology and are able to produce various tissue types.
First gene detected for most common form of mitral valve prolapse
Research on the DNA of a large multi-generational family has provided a genetic clue that enabled scientists to pinpoint a gene that plays a role in mitral valve prolapse (MVP), a common cardiac disease that is a leading cause of heart failure, according to a study presented today (Thursday, Oct. 24) at the American Society of Human Genetics 2013 meeting in Boston.
Well-established views on heritable intelligence brought down: Genes and environment play dynamic role together
The well-established view that intelligence is largely genetically fixed and hardly malleable has been discarded. A team of Dutch research methodologists at VU University Amsterdam, the University of Amsterdam and Tilburg University propose that the high heritability of intelligence stems from a dynamic interplay between genes and environment that takes place throughout the course of development. The interplay results in individual differences in knowledge and skills, and in this way differences in intelligence arise. The role of education, culture, and society is crucial in this process; they enable genetic effects to arise. The larger the environmental influences, the larger the genetic effects. Their paper will be published in the upcoming edition of Psychological Science.
New testing strategy detects population-wide vitamin and mineral deficiencies
Johns Hopkins researchers have demonstrated that levels of certain proteins in the bloodstream may be used to estimate levels of essential vitamins and minerals without directly testing for each nutritional factor. The team's use of a new strategy allowed them to indirectly measure amounts of multiple nutrients in multiple people at the same time, an advance that should make it possible in the future to rapidly detect nutritional deficiencies of an entire population, apply remediation efforts and test their worth within months instead of years.
Obesity may increase the risk of Clostridium difficile infection
Researchers from Boston Medical Center (BMC) and Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have identified obesity as a possible risk factor for clostridium difficile infection (CDI). These findings, which appear online in Emerging Infectious Diseases, may contribute to improved clinical surveillance of those at highest risk of disease.
Finding psychiatric drugs in the movements of mice
Developing psychiatric medications is a long and complex process. Candidate drugs are evaluated and assessed based on their effects on the behavior of animals, usually rats or mice. Each class of drugs, from antidepressants to antipsychotics, is tested differently—often in a labor-intensive process that leaves plenty of room for human error. And there is a growing consensus that current procedures fail to effectively produce new medications.
Just two weeks in orbit causes changes in eyes
Just 13 days in space may be enough to cause profound changes in eye structure and gene expression, report researchers from Houston Methodist, NASA Johnson Space Center, and two other institutions in the October 2013 issue of Gravitational and Space Research.
Rising body mass index increases heart risk
Research at the Australian National University has found increased body mass index (BMI) significantly increases the risk of heart disease – regardless of exercise level, smoking status and whether or not someone has diabetes.
Hands-free ultrasound device with clot-busting drug safe for stroke patients
A hands-free ultrasound device combined with a clot-busting drug was safe for ischemic stroke patients in a phase II pilot study, reported in the American Heart Association journal Stroke.
Washing your hands makes you optimistic
Washing our hands influences how we think, judge and decide. This is what researchers were able to confirm through experiments over the last few years.
Behavior problems in preschool and child care centers may be an issue of genes
A new study suggests that some children may be genetically predisposed to developing behavioral problems in child care and preschool settings.
Preclinical study finds drug helps against pancreatic cancer
An investigational drug that disrupts tumor blood vessels shows promise against a rare type of pancreatic cancer, scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have found. Their results were presented October 20 during a poster session at an international cancer conference.
Death by caffeine really is a thing, if you're susceptible
Sadly, tragic news has emerged that a man in the United Kingdom recently died from caffeine overdose. John Jackson was 40 years old.
Stenting of neck arteries tied to higher stroke risk in seniors
(HealthDay)—For patients being treated for a blockage in the artery that supplies blood to the head, inserting a stent may raise the risk of stroke more in elderly patients than in younger patients, a large new evidence review finds.
Do some docs have vested interest in prescribing radiation for prostate cancer?
(HealthDay)—Patients with prostate cancer may be encouraged to get radiation therapy by urologists who own the equipment, new research suggests.
CDC: Trends in cholesterol levels of US adults estimated
(HealthDay)—From 2009-2010 to 2011-2012, there was no change in the percentage of adults with high total cholesterol, or in the percentage undergoing cholesterol screening, according to an October data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
Genetic analysis reveals insights into the genetic architecture of OCD, Tourette syndrome
An international research consortium led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the University of Chicago has answered several questions about the genetic background of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette syndrome (TS), providing the first direct confirmation that both are highly heritable and also revealing major differences between the underlying genetic makeup of the disorders. Their report is being published in the October issue of the open-access journal PLOS Genetics.
Participation in mindfulness-based program improves teacher well-being
Teacher well-being, efficacy, burnout-related stress, time-related stress and mindfulness significantly improve when teachers participate in the CARE (Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education) for Teachers program, according to Penn State researchers.
New class of drug shows promise for treating asthma and COPD
Scientists have developed a new drug (RPL554) that could treat obstructive airway diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in two ways at once, according to new research published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. RPL554 has the potential to both reverse the narrowing of the airways (bronchodilation) and reduce inflammation quicker and with fewer side effects than current therapies.
PVC as flooring material in childhood is related to asthma 10 years later
Children who had PVC floorings in the bedroom at baseline were more likely to develop asthma during the following 10 years period when compared with children living without such flooring material. Furthermore, there were indications that PVC flooring in the parents' bedrooms were stronger associated with the new cases of asthma when compared with child's bedroom. This could be an indication that prenatal exposure is of importance.
Women are significantly better at multitasking than men
(Medical Xpress)—Women are better than men at carrying out multiple tasks according to new research from a team of psychologists including researchers from the University of Hertfordshire.
FDA wants limits on most prescribed painkiller
The Food and Drug Administration is recommending new restrictions on prescription medicines containing hydrocodone, the highly addictive painkiller that has grown into the most widely prescribed drug in the U.S.
Physicists decode decision circuit of cancer metastasis
Cancer researchers from Rice University have deciphered the operating principles of a genetic switch that cancer cells use to decide when to metastasize and invade other parts of the body. The study found that the on-off switch's dynamics also allows a third choice that lies somewhere between "on" and "off." The extra setting both explains previously confusing experimental results and opens the door to new avenues of cancer treatment.
Novel genetic mutations cause low metabolic rate and obesity
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have discovered a novel genetic cause of severe obesity which, although relatively rare, demonstrates for the first time that genes can reduce basal metabolic rate – how the body burns calories.
Reservoir of hidden HIV larger than previously thought
In the fight to cure human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), researchers have been dealt a blow. A new study by Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) scientists discovered that the pool of inactive HIV viruses that lingers silently in a patient's body is larger than expected. The new findings show that the virus reservoir may be up to 60 times larger than previous estimates. These viruses continue to be a threat because they retain the ability to become active even after treatment with the best HIV drugs.
Bee sting allergy could be a defense response gone haywire, scientists finds
For most people, a bee sting causes temporary pain and discomfort, but for those with a bee venom allergy, the consequences can be devastating: They experience anaphylactic shock, including a drop in blood pressure, itchy hives and breathing problems, and may die if not promptly treated.
Yeast, human stem cells drive discovery of new Parkinson's disease drug targets
Using a discovery platform whose components range from yeast cells to human stem cells, Whitehead Institute scientists have identified a novel Parkinson's disease drug target and a compound capable of repairing neurons derived from Parkinson's patients.
New insight into why each human face is unique
The human face is as unique as a fingerprint, no one else looks exactly like you. But what is it that makes facial morphology so distinct? Certainly genetics play a major role as evident in the similarities between parents and their children, but what is it in our DNA that fine-tunes the genetics so that siblings – especially identical twins - resemble one another but look different from unrelated individuals? A new study by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has now shown that gene enhancers - regulatory sequences of DNA that act to turn-on or amplify the expression of a specific gene – are major players in craniofacial development.
Biology news
Frost flowers will bloom soon
Alan Templeton, PhD, of Washington University in St. Louis, has an unusual screen saver on his office computer. If you ask him about it, he'll tell you it is a frost flower, or ice flower. The "flowers" are fleeting natural creations that appear only once or twice in the fall and are seen only by those who rise early and know where to look. Templeton is the Charles Rebstock Professor of Biology Emeritus in Arts & Sciences.
A trailblazer in top down proteomics
Ljiljana Paša-Tolic, better known as Lili, is EMSL's mass spectroscopy capability lead. With a scientific focus in biology, she is particularly interested in the biological applications of mass spectroscopy technology.
Rescue operation on for smallest survivors of Australia fires
As the Blue Mountains bushfire threat eases and hundreds of residents return to their homes a relief and rescue operation is just beginning for its smallest victims—Australia's unique wildlife.
Sharing the power of the crowd: Online game expands to connect global scientific community with citizen scientists
(Phys.org) —Over the past three years, 300,000 gamers have helped scientists with genomic research by playing Phylo, an online puzzle game. Now Jérôme Waldispühl, the McGill computer science professor and his colleagues, who developed the game are making this crowd of players available to scientists around the globe. The idea is to put human talent to work to improve on what is already being done by computers in the field of comparative genomics.
Climate change and coevolution: We've done the math
When scientists attempt to understand how climate change might reshape our environment, they must grapple with the seemingly endless complexity of interacting systems.
For fish and rice to thrive in Yolo Bypass, 'just add water'
From a fish-eye view, rice fields in California's Yolo Bypass provide an all-you-can-eat bug buffet for juvenile salmon seeking nourishment on their journey to the sea. That's according to a new report detailing the scientific findings of an experiment that planted fish in harvested rice fields earlier this year, resulting in the fattest, fastest-growing salmon on record in the state's rivers.
Coyote more likely to make a meal out of moose than we thought
It has long been believed that coyotes were incapable of taking down an adult moose, but researchers have recently discovered that eastern coyotes and coyote × wolf hybrids (canids) have preyed on adult moose in central Ontario. Their findings were published today in the Canadian Journal of Zoology.
Designer of protein factories exposed
For 10 years, Patrick Cramer and his colleagues at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich have probed the structure of RNA polymerase I, a crucial cog in the machinery of all cells. Now they unveil the full three-dimensional conformation of the enzyme – at atomic resolution.
Researcher is optimistic about meeting 'Grand Challenge' of global prosperity
With ecological viability threatened, world resources draining, population burgeoning and despair running rampant, the end is nigh.
Migratory birds find Kimberley safe haven via China
A sub-species of a small shorebird, spends much of the northern winter feeding at Roebuck Bay and Eighty Mile Beach in the Kimberley.
Why plants usually live longer then animals
Stem cells are crucial for the continuous generation of new cells. Although the importance of stem cells in fuelling plant growth and development still many questions on their tight molecular control remain unanswered. Plant researchers at VIB and Ghent University discovered a new step in the complex regulation of stem cells. Today, their results are published online in this week's issue of Science Express.
Grafted limb cells acquire molecular 'fingerprint' of new location, study shows
Cells triggering tissue regeneration that are taken from one limb and grafted onto another acquire the molecular "fingerprint," or identity, of their new location, UC Irvine developmental biologists have discovered.
King of beasts losing ground in Uganda's paradise
Conservationists from the Wildlife Conservation Society and the University of St. Andrews warn that Uganda's African lions—a mainstay of the country's tourism industry and a symbol of Africa—are on the verge of disappearing from the country's national parks.
Dolphins assist scientists studying effects of data-logging tags
For scientists studying marine mammals in the wild, data-logging tags are invaluable tools that allow them to observe animals' movements and behaviors that are otherwise hidden beneath the waves much of the time. The tags, which temporarily attach to animals using suction, record sounds and gather information about animals' pitch, speed, and depth. But what effect do the tags have on the animals?
Female spiders prefer the sperm of gift-bearing males
Research published today in Proceedings of the Royal Society B has provided evidence that females prefer males who bring them gifts- at least in the case of the nursery web spider.
Bioinformatics breakthrough: High quality transcriptome from as few as fifty cells
(Phys.org) —Bioengineers from the University of California, San Diego have created a new method for analyzing RNA transcripts from samples of 50 to 100 cells. The approach could be used to develop inexpensive and rapid methods for diagnosing cancers at early stages, as well as better tools for forensics, drug discovery and developmental biology.
Study reveals how to better master stem cells' fate
(Phys.org) —USC scientist Qi-Long Ying and a team of researchers have long been searching for biotech's version of the fountain of youth—ways to encourage embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs) to endlessly self-renew, or divide to produce more stem cells.
Bigger, better, faster: 3D structure reveals protein's Swiss-army knife strategy
The molecular machine that makes essential components of ribosomes – the cell's protein factories – is like a Swiss-army knife, researchers at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, and the Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas in Madrid, Spain, have found. By determining the 3-dimensional structure of this machine, called RNA polymerase I, for the first time, the scientists found that it incorporates modules which prevent it from having to recruit outside help. The findings, published online today in Nature, can help explain why this protein works faster than its better-studied counterpart, RNA polymerase II.
Study finds aboriginal hunting technique causes increase in number of prey
(Phys.org) —A team of American researchers led by anthropologist Rebecca Bliege Bird of Stanford University has found that a bush burning hunting technique used by aboriginal hunters in western parts of Australia leads to an increase in the number of sand goannas—their main prey. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, the team describes a decade long study of the Martu Aboriginal people, their hunting techniques and the impact the people have on their environment.
Researchers discover 'law of urination' for animal pee times
(Phys.org) —Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have discovered that mammals above a certain size appear to conform to what they have dubbed, the "law of urination"—that is, mammals of all sizes, they report, take approximately 21 seconds to void their bladder. Not content to use existing data, the research team undertook field work—visiting zoos and other places where animals reside—where they filmed the animals urinating (or medically speaking—engaging in micturition). They have written a paper describing their adventures and results and have posted it on the preprint server, arXiv, for those that wish to review their work.
Researchers apply brainpower to understanding neural stem cell differentiation
How do humans and other mammals get so brainy? USC researcher Wange Lu, PhD, and his colleagues shed new light on this question in a paper that will be published in Cell Reports on October 24.
Samurai sword protein makes strategic cuts in cell skeletons
Just as our bodies have skeletons, so do our cells. They're equally indispensible in both cases. Without our bony skeletons we'd go limp and fall down. And without our cytoskeletons, our cells, which come in roughly 200 different shapes and sizes, would all become tiny spheres and stop working.
Grasshopper mice are numb to the pain of the bark scorpion sting
The painful, potentially deadly stings of bark scorpions are nothing more than a slight nuisance to grasshopper mice, which voraciously kill and consume their prey with ease. When stung, the mice briefly lick their paws and move in again for the kill.
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