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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 31, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Genetic pathway to speech and language? Gene found to foster synapse formation in the brain- New techniques produce cleanest graphene yet
- Concerned researchers project global solid waste to peak at 11 million tons per day in 2100
- Suzaku study points to early cosmic 'seeding'
- Could a Milky Way supernova be visible from Earth in next 50 years?
- Review: Better Mac screens tempting with price cut
- Researchers develop prototype football kicking simulator
- Stem cell scarring aids recovery from spinal cord injury
- Biochemists find incomplete protein digestion is a useful thing for some bacteria
- Scientists capture most detailed picture yet of key AIDS protein
- Critical gene in retinal development and motion sensing identified (w/ Video)
- Candidate vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus developed
- Hans Blix calls on scientists to develop thorium nuclear fuel
- Pacific Ocean waters absorbing heat 15 times faster over past 60 years than in past 10,000
- 'Flipping the switch' reveals new compounds with antibiotic potential
Space & Earth news
Scientist tries to predict rise in ocean levels
Columbia climatologist Maureen Raymo is trying to predict the planet's future by looking to its past.
Dozens see fireball flash over Northwest
Dozens of people reported seeing a fireball flash across Northwest skies at about 6 a.m. Wednesday, moving east to west.
NASA sees Halloween Typhoon Krosa lashing Luzon, Philippines
There's nothing more scary for Halloween than a typhoon, and the residents in Luzon, in the northern Philippines are being lashed by Typhoon Krosa today, Oct. 31.
Marine plants provide defence against climate change
Seagrass, mangroves and salt-marsh ecosystems are able to develop strategies for climate change adaptation and mitigation, according to a new study by researchers at The University of Western Australia.
Testing a relationship: Arctic warming and China's summer monsoon
(Phys.org) —In the late 1970s, eastern China experienced a shift in the summer monsoon circulation causing a "North-drought/South-flood" trend. In two related studies, researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and China Meteorological Administration found a climate linkage that explains this phenomenon, and they tested six global climate models to see if they captured it. The observed rainfall trend coincides with rising Arctic temperature and reduced Arctic sea ice in the last three decades. While the atmospheric linkage between interdecadal summer precipitation changes in China and the Arctic spring warming can be established from observations, only one climate model was able to simulate both the recent decadal trends as well as their linkages. The two studies showed the importance of Arctic and mid- to high-latitude warming on the long-term variability of the East Asian summer monsoon.
Wytham Woods 'shields local plants'
A recent study has found that forests with dense canopies, including Oxford's Wytham Woods, can partially shield ground-level plants from the local effects of global warming.
Swarm launch postponed
The launch of ESA's magnetic field mission from Plesetsk, Russia, has been postponed by about a week.
Indian space head braced for tricky Mars challenge
The head of India's space agency warned Thursday of the immense complexity of sending a mission to Mars as the country prepares to send its first interplanetary probe to explore the atmosphere there.
CO2 emissions 'increased at slower rate in 2012'
The world's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions increased at a slower rate in 2012—1.1 percent compared to a 2.9 percent annual increase over the past decade, a report said Thursday.
Primary GOES-R instrument ready to be installed onto spacecraft
A key instrument that will fly on the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite – R (GOES-R) spacecraft, NOAA's next-generation of geostationary satellites, is cleared for installation on the spacecraft.
'Witch Head' brews baby stars
(Phys.org) —A witch appears to be screaming out into space in this new image from NASA's Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE. The infrared portrait shows the Witch Head nebula, named after its resemblance to the profile of a wicked witch. Astronomers say the billowy clouds of the nebula, where baby stars are brewing, are being lit up by massive stars. Dust in the cloud is being hit with starlight, causing it to glow with infrared light, which was picked up by WISE's detectors.
Researchers get first look at diverse life below rare tallgrass prairies
America's once-abundant tallgrass prairies—which have all but disappeared—were home to dozens of species of grasses that could grow to the height of a man, hundreds of species of flowers, and herds of roaming bison.
Plant production could decline as climate change affects soil nutrients
(Phys.org) —As drylands of the world become even drier, water will not be the only resource in short supply. Levels of nutrients in the soil will likely be affected, and their imbalance could affect the lives of one-fifth of the world's population.
Pacific Ocean waters absorbing heat 15 times faster over past 60 years than in past 10,000
A recent slowdown in global warming has led some skeptics to renew their claims that industrial carbon emissions are not causing a century-long rise in Earth's surface temperatures. But rather than letting humans off the hook, a new study in the leading journal Science adds support to the idea that the oceans are taking up some of the excess heat, at least for the moment. In a reconstruction of Pacific Ocean temperatures in the last 10,000 years, researchers have found that its middle depths have warmed 15 times faster in the last 60 years than they did during apparent natural warming cycles in the previous 10,000.
Geoengineering the climate could reduce vital rains
Although a significant build-up in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere would alter worldwide precipitation patterns, a widely discussed technological approach to reduce future global warming would also interfere with rainfall and snowfall, new research shows.
Former missile-tracking telescope helps reveal fate of baby pulsar
A radio telescope once used to track ballistic missiles has helped astronomers determine how the magnetic field structure and rotation of the young and rapidly rotating Crab pulsar evolves with time. The findings are published in the journal Science today.
Magnetic 'force field' shields giant gas cloud during collision with Milky Way
(Phys.org) —Doom may be averted for the Smith Cloud, a gigantic streamer of hydrogen gas that is on a collision course with the Milky Way Galaxy. Astronomers using the National Science Foundation's Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) have discovered a magnetic field deep in the cloud's interior, which may protect it during its meteoric plunge into the disk of our Galaxy.
New climate-studying imager makes first balloon flight
Understanding Earth's dynamic climate requires knowledge of more than just greenhouse gases. One of the key measurements scientists measure is reflected solar radiance, or the amount of outgoing sunlight energy scattered from Earth's surface and atmosphere. Watching solar radiances over time helps scientists gauge and better understand environmental changes like global warming.
Concerned researchers project global solid waste to peak at 11 million tons per day in 2100
(Phys.org) —Daniel Hoornweg associate professor at the University of Ontario, Perinaz Bhada-Tata a Dubai based solid-waste consultant, and Chris Kennedy a professor at the University of Toronto, have together published a COMMENT piece in the journal Nature suggesting that the total amount of solid waste we humans generate will peak in 2100 at approximately 11 million tons per day—close to three times the amount produced today.
Suzaku study points to early cosmic 'seeding'
(Phys.org) —Most of the universe's heavy elements, including the iron central to life itself, formed early in cosmic history and spread throughout the universe, according to a new study of the Perseus Galaxy Cluster using Japan's Suzaku satellite.
Could a Milky Way supernova be visible from Earth in next 50 years?
Astronomers at The Ohio State University have calculated the odds that, sometime during the next 50 years, a supernova occurring in our home galaxy will be visible from Earth.
Technology news
Fujitsu says first-half net loss shrinks to 97.6 mn
Japan's Fujitsu said Thursday it had reduced its net loss in the first half of its fiscal year largely thanks to the benefits of a weak yen.
Marine project advances global progress on renewable energy
A multi-million Euro project has advanced global progress on capturing tidal and wave energy thus bringing the EU closer to its target of generating 20% of its energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020.
Scaling up breakthrough optical fibre micro sensors for market
Scientist Davide Iannuzzi and his team have developed a method to place novel miniaturised mechanical devices on the tips of optical fibres. The technology has many applications, such as providing a new generation of small, super sensitive sensors for research, medical, and industrial applications.
Report: Snowden gets tech support job in Russia
Anatoly Kucherena, a lawyer for former NSA systems analyst Edward Snowden, says his client has found a technical support job at a Russian website.
UK trial shows phone hacking techniques (Update)
News of the World journalists, with consent from top editors, colluded to hack the phones of politicians, royalty and even rival reporters in a "frenzy" to get scoops, a British prosecutor said Thursday.
Why states need social media policies
Soon after Indiana Gov. Mike Pence posted a statement on Facebook expressing disappointment in the Supreme Court's ruling on gay marriage, a long string of comments affirming his support for "traditional marriage" appeared.
Prosecutors welcome app to track down child predators
With more than half of all Americans now using smartphones to stay in touch, federal authorities are venturing into new territory in a bid to enlist the public's help to track down child predators.
MasterCard 3Q profit up 14 pct on higher card use
MasterCard says its third quarter profit rose 14 percent as it processed more payments.
Google, Apple and other tech giants look to a post-cookie era
After nearly 20 years, the era of Web-based "cookies" appears headed for an end, as companies like Google Inc., Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corp. explore new ways to track Internet users' habits, from desktop PCs to smartphones and tablets.
New losses at Alcatel-Lucent amid rehaul
Telecommunications equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent SA lost 200 million euros ($274,000) in the third quarter, including costs of restructuring efforts aimed at turning around the long-struggling company.
Japan's SoftBank net profit jump 84% in H1 (Update)
Japan's SoftBank said Thursday its net profit soared 84.1 percent year-on-year to $4.0 billion in the six months to September, boosted by strong demand for iPhones and other smartphones.
US proving Internet-adept and inept at same time
When it comes to computers, the Obama administration appears simultaneously to be an amateur and a wizard. The same government that reportedly intercepted the communications of leading U.S. consumer technology firms, Google and Yahoo, without leaving a trace is criticized because it can't build a working federal website for health insurance.
Twitter aims high, but faces hurdles
How does a company that has lost millions since 2010 and never made a profit raise $1.6 billion in a public offering and reach a value of some $11 billion?
Red ink runs at Sony again, cuts profit forecast (Update)
The "White House Down" flop added to earnings woes at Sony Corp. in the latest quarter, dragging the entertainment and electronics giant to a 19.3 billion yen ($196 million) loss.
Sprint unveils new technology that promises faster speeds
Sprint Corp. says it is speeding up its wireless network with "groundbreaking advances" in smartphone technology that ultimately will reach speeds that could match the ultra-high-speed Google Fiber service.
Amazon preps TV programs to add momentum to Prime service
Maybe the most astute observer of Amazon.com's daring foray into television production is Clark Johnson.
New water-powered plant halves the cost of treating mine water
A new low energy mine water treatment plant promises a 50% reduction in the electricity costs of treating mine water. The plant has been built and tested at an abandoned tin mine in Cornwall by the University of Exeter's Camborne School of Mines and Minus Engineering.
Singapore threatened over Internet freedom
A person claiming to speak for activist hacker group Anonymous on Thursday threatened to "go to war" with Singapore by attacking its financial infrastructure to protest recent licensing rules for news websites.
NY Times sees losses, drop in ad revenues
The New York Times Co. on Thursday reported a third-quarter loss, hit by a writedown related to the sale of the Boston Globe and declines in advertising revenues.
Apple tablet share hit low point ahead of iPad refresh
Apple's share of the tablet market fell to its lowest point on record in the third quarter, ahead of the launch of its new iPads, a survey showed Thursday.
Lowe, father of IBM personal computer, dies at 72 (Update)
William C. Lowe had a bold idea: IBM should develop a personal computer that could be mass marketed, expanding the company's reach beyond businesses and into people's homes.
New York gives nod to world's tallest Ferris wheel
New York City has given final approval to a $320 million project to build the world's tallest Ferris wheel, expected to pull in four million visitors a year.
Facebook 3Q results fly past expectations
Concerns about Facebook's ability to keep young teens coming back every day spooked some investors, even though the company's latest quarterly results showed continued strength in mobile advertising and beat Wall Street's expectations on all counts.
Finland says it was target of "massive" digital spying
Finland said Thursday its foreign ministry had been the target of "massive" digital spying detected in the beginning of the year, but its most sensitive information was not affected.
Facebook, Cornell researchers analyze romantic ties
Facebook's Eric Backstrom, senior engineer, together with Jon Kleinberg, a computer scientist at Cornell University, have sparked interest with the online publication over the weekend of their paper, "Romantic Partnerships and the Dispersion of Social Ties: A Network Analysis of Relationship Status on Facebook," also to be presented at a conference on social computing in February. The authors found that with their special tool in analyzing linked structures, they can figure out how to identify your romantic partner or best friend from among your connections. The two researchers were able to show that the shape of a person's social network is a powerful signal for identifying one's spouse or romantic partner. Their approach reportedly can even spot if a relationship is likely to break up.
Bluetooth gets smart
You may know Bluetooth as the wireless technology you use to connect your phone with your wireless headset or your car's hands-free speaker systems. But in the near future, you may use the wireless technology to do a lot more than that.
When the wind blows: New wind energy research focuses on turbine arrangement, wind seasonality
(Phys.org) —Research into the best ways to arrange wind turbines has produced staggering results—quite literally.
Kumu Networks claims its wireless full duplex technology doubles capacity
(Phys.org) —Kumu Networks, co-founded by Stanford professor Sachin Katti, has announced that the company has developed technology that allows for full duplex wireless communications—it lets, the company claims, a radio device transmit and receive signals at the same time on the same frequency, effectively doubling its capacity.
US OKs air passengers using gadgets on planes (Update 2)
Airline passengers will be able to use their electronic devices gate-to-gate to read, work, play games, watch movies and listen to music—but not talk on their cellphones—under much-anticipated guidelines issued Thursday by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Researchers develop prototype football kicking simulator
In football, kicking is a fundamental and vital part of the game. The few points a kicker scores can make a critical difference in the outcome of a game. To help improve a football kicker's performance, University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) mechanical and bioengineering professor Yusheng Feng and seven students have developed the prototype components for a football kicking simulator designed to be a real-time training tool.
Hans Blix calls on scientists to develop thorium nuclear fuel
(Phys.org) —Call it the great thorium divide: Thorium supporters and thorium critics do not agree over claims that thorium is an alternative nuclear fuel that could ensure a better future for the planet. Nonetheless, interest continues in thorium as a safer and abundant alternative to uranium. On the side of thorium, the latest call for action has come from Hans Blix, the former UN weapons inspector and former Swedish foreign minister. Urging nuclear scientists to develop thorium as a new fuel, Blix also called on the nuclear industry to start powering reactors with thorium instead of uranium. Blix said that the radioactive element may prove much safer in reactors than uranium and it is also more difficult to use thorium for the production of nuclear weapons.
Medicine & Health news
Obama vows health website fix, says some rates may rise
President Barack Obama took the heat Wednesday for his health reforms' bungled rollout, and acknowledged perhaps for the first time that some Americans will pay more for coverage under Obamacare.
Belgium considering new euthanasia law for kids (Update)
Should children have the right to ask for their own deaths?
ACR: Collaboration may up Facebook awareness of lupus
(HealthDay)—Partnering with a lupus foundation is associated with increased patient awareness and participation in Facebook chats about lupus and related health issues, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, held from Oct. 25 to 30 in San Diego.
Bayer says new products push profits higher in Q3
German chemicals and pharmaceuticals group Bayer, maker of Aspirin, said on Thursday that new pharmaceutical products and favourable agrochemical prices gave profits a fillip in the third quarter.
Honey may not be advisable to those who live with diabetes
Honey may be detrimental for patients with type 2 diabetes because of the great quantities of sugars it contains.
Novo Nordisk earnings narrowly miss expectations
Novo Nordisk, the world's biggest producer of insulin for diabetes sufferers, posted a quarterly profit that narrowly missed expectations, and issued a cautious outlook for next year on Thursday.
Lifestyle behaviors key to post-deployment health of veterans
A new study in the American Journal of Health Promotion finds that the lifestyle of veterans both pre- and post-deployment influences their post-deployment wellness.
High protein diet and meal replacements can reduce rebound weight gain
New research shows that there are several effective strategies available to people wanting to avoid regaining weight after a successful diet. Anti-obesity drugs, meal replacements and a high protein diet can help weight loss maintenance, according to a meta-analysis published in the scientific periodical The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Results of the CHILL-MI trial presented
A clinical trial shows that rapidly cooling patients who have suffered ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI, the most serious form of a heart attack) prior to restoring blood flow is safe and feasible. The findings of the CHILL-MI trial were presented today at the 25th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), TCT is the world's premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine.
Ariad suspends sales of cancer pill Iclusig
Ariad Pharmaceuticals is suspending sales of its leukemia drug Iclusig because of concerns that patients could suffer from blood clots.
Indian drug giant Dr Reddy's Q2 profit up 69%
India's second-largest drugmaker Dr Reddy's Laboratories on Tuesday reported a 69.4 percent jump in quarterly net profit, as profit margins rose helped by improved sales.
Project could save the eyesight of thousands
Scientists from the University of Sheffield have partnered with a team in India for a project which could save the eyesight of thousands of people living in the South Asian country.
Fast, painless alternative to liver biopsies for hepatitis patients proves accurate and reliable
A non-invasive alternative to liver biopsy, now the standard method of diagnosing cirrhosis in hepatitis patients, proved very reliable in a national multi-center study including Henry Ford Hospital.
Research identifies ways to improve access to mental health services
A study by researchers from the Universities of Liverpool and Manchester has identified ways to improve how older people and ethnic minority populations access mental health care services.
Studies: Current hepatitis C treatments can't be used by more than half of patients; others lose opportunity for treatme
More than half of chronic hepatitis C patients studied in a new research project led by Henry Ford Hospital were not treated for the potentially fatal disease, either because they couldn't withstand current therapies or because they, or their doctors, were waiting for new treatments.
FDA enlists companies to head off drug shortages
The Food and Drug Administration is announcing a new proposal designed to head off more shortages of crucial medications that have disrupted care at hospitals and health clinics nationwide.
Top 100 EHR systems sorted by company revenue
(HealthDay)—The top 100 electronic health record (EHR) systems have been sorted, mainly by company revenue, in an article published Oct. 25 in Medical Economics.
Results of the OPTIMIZE trial presented
A new study demonstrates that some patients may not need to receive prolonged anti-clotting therapy after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation with the Endeavor zotarolimus-eluting stent, and that shortening the duration could reduce bleeding risks and treatment costs. The OPTIMIZE clinical trial findings were presented today at the 25th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), TCT is the world's premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine.
Results of the ARCTIC-INTERRUPTION trial presented
According to a new study, patients that do not experience a major cardiac event in the first year after receiving drug-eluting stent (DES) may not need to receive prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). Results from the ARCTIC-INTERRUPTION trial were presented today at the 25th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), TCT is the world's premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine.
Results of DUTCH PEERS (TWENTE II) trial reported
Results of the DUTCH PEERS (TWENTE II) clinical trial demonstrate comparable safety and efficacy of two third-generation permanent polymer-based drug-eluting stents with low rates of adverse clinical events and establish the non-inferiority of the newest zotarolimus-eluting stent. The findings were presented today at the 25th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), TCT is the world's premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine.
AstraZeneca profits and revenues fall
British drugmaker AstraZeneca reported Thursday that third-quarter net profit fell 17.5 percent to 1.25 billion pounds ($200 billion) as the patents on older drugs expired.
Public health policies and practices may negatively affect marginalized populations
Despite the best intentions of those working in public health, some policies and practices inadvertently further disadvantage marginalized populations, according to a commentary by a researcher at St. Michael's Hospital.
Supreme Court's Obamacare decision established new limits on federal authority, paper says
A new paper by an Indiana University professor sheds new light on the U.S. Supreme Court's rejection of legal challenges to the Affordable Care Act, which many critics said threatens state sovereignty and individual liberties.
Mid-level health workers as effective as physicians
Countries facing severe shortages and poor distribution of health workers could benefit from training and deploying more mid-level health workers, such as midwives, nurses, medical assistants and surgical clinicians, according to a study published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization today.
Knowing who their physician is boosts patient satisfaction
Knowing who your doctor is—and a couple of facts about that person—may go a long way toward improving patient satisfaction, according to a Vanderbilt study in the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma.
Results of the FREEDOM sub study reported
According to a recent study of diabetic patients who underwent revascularization for multi-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD), patients treated with insulin experienced more major adverse cardiovascular events after revascularization than those not treated with insulin.
Results of the HYBRID trial presented
A hybrid approach to treating coronary artery disease that involves a "hybrid procedure" combining a minimally invasive bypass surgery with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was found to be feasible and safe in a clinical trial. This is the first randomized study of the technique. These findings were presented today at the 25th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), TCT is the world's premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine.
Results of the TRANSLATE-POPS trial presented
According to a new study of heart attack patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), free access to platelet function testing had only a modest impact on anti-clotting drug selection and dosing. Findings of the TRANSLATE-POPS trial were presented today at the 25th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), TCT is the world's premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine.
Mexico nears junk food tax, sets anti-obesity plan (Update)
Mexico's congress neared final approval of new taxes on junk food and soft drinks Thursday as the government announced a campaign to fight obesity in a country with one of the world's highest rates of overweight people.
Oracle helping to fix Obama's healthcare site
Oracle CEO Larry Ellison says the business software maker is helping the Obama administration fix the technological problems that have been preventing people from signing up for government-mandated health insurance.
Stress eaters may compensate by eating less when times are good
When faced with stress, some people seem to lose their appetite while others reach for the nearest sweet, salty, or fatty snack. Conventional wisdom tells us that stress eaters are the ones who need to regulate their bad habits, but new research suggests that stress eaters show a dynamic pattern of eating behavior that could have benefits in non-stressful situations.
Women working in Head Start programs report poor physical and mental health
Women working in Head Start, the nation's largest federally funded early childhood education program which serves nearly one million low-income children, report higher than expected levels of physical and mental health problems, according to researchers at Temple University. Their findings are reported in the first-ever survey conducted on the health of Head Start staff.
Why the fear of zombies? Look at the eyes
Zombies are undergoing a revival. Our screens have been filled with films such as "Zombieland", "World War Z" and "Resident Evil". Many home-made zombie will be knocking at our doors this week for Halloween. But what is it about zombies that send shivers up our spines?
Touch and vision vital for sight
Researchers at Monash University Gippsland hope to improve the sight of people receiving visual prosthetics, such as bionic eyes, by proving the importance of both 'touch' and 'vision' to how we see.
Researchers identify seven types of breast cancer for more accurate prognosis
(Medical Xpress)—A study by researchers in Nottingham has identified seven distinct types of breast cancer, a discovery which could lead to new and improved prognostic tests for patients with the disease.
Potential brain tumour drug can distinguish cancer cells from healthy ones
A potential new drug, already in clinical development, can stop brain tumour cells growing while leaving healthy cells alone, according to new research published today (Wednesday) in PLOS ONE.
A unique look into mild traumatic brain injuries
(Medical Xpress)—University of Maryland Department of Mechanical Engineering faculty and graduate students have published new research in the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials that could shed light on the mechanical cause underlying mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI).
How kids cope with change: New findings on adaptability
(Medical Xpress)—Adaptable young people are more likely to participate in class, enjoy school more, and have higher self-esteem, a unique Australian-first study into adaptability suggests.
Adults lack basic knowledge on caloric intake, survey finds
(Medical Xpress)—Adults generally don't know how many calories they should consume daily to maintain their current weight, according to a new University of Florida survey, but that may not be a bad thing.
Study reveals genes behind brain tumours
A team of researchers has pinpointed a handful of genes that could drive the formation of medulloblastoma, the most aggressive and frequent form of brain tumour found in children.
Drug may reduce chronic pain for spinal cord injuries
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers have discovered that a known neurotoxin may cause chronic pain in people who suffer from paralysis, and a drug that has been shown to remove the toxin might be used to treat the pain.
Researchers find prices and family interactions influence eating behaviors
(Medical Xpress)—Expanding waistlines and rising obesity rates have led to numerous ideas for policies, such as taxes on junk food or vouchers for fruits and vegetables, aimed at getting people to eat a more healthful diet. To better understand what influences food choices, a group of Iowa State University researchers looked at how prices, parents and peers affect fruit and vegetable consumption among African-American youths.
Egg handling hygiene to reduce food poisoning
Careful and hygienic handling of eggs through the supply chain, and in the kitchen, is vital for reducing Australia's outbreaks of salmonella poisoning, according to University of Adelaide research.
Understanding the difference between 'human smart' and 'computer smart'
A common assumption in the cognitive sciences is that thinking consists of following sets of rules (as it does in a computer). A recent research paper published in Elsevier journal Cognition argues that unlike digital computers, which are designed to follow rules, the computations performed by the neural networks that make up our brain are inherently context dependent.
Experts caution on dietary advice purporting to show fat is good
The international media response to a BMJ opinion piece claiming to debunk the "myth" of saturated fat as a cause of coronary heart disease could undermine public confidence in lifestyle changes that have resulted in appreciable health benefits, say a group of experts in public health and nutrition representing a number of New Zealand health-related organisations.
Veterans groups miss opportunities to curb tobacco use
Studies have shown that U.S. military veterans smoke at a higher rate than civilians. Websites targeting veterans, however, fail to provide information about the risks of tobacco products and how to quit smoking, finds a new report in the American Journal of Health Promotion.
Exposure to cortisol-like medications before birth may contribute to emotional problems and brain changes
Neonatologists seem to perform miracles in the fight to support the survival of babies born prematurely.
Risk of osteoporosis drug's side effects not significant, researchers find
The risks of developing kidney failure and a calcium deficiency from the popular osteoporosis drug zoledronic acid are extremely rare, according to researchers at Loyola University Health System (LUHS). These findings were presented earlier this month at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research's annual meeting.
Pizza Perfect: A nutritional overhaul of 'junk food' and ready-meals is possible
Pizza is widely regarded as a fully-paid up member of the junk food gang – maybe even the leader – at least the versions found on supermarket shelves or delivered to your door by scooter.
For teens in crisis, texting provides an outlet for assistance
Picking up the phone can be tough for teens in crisis. A new hotline aims to make it easier by letting them seek help through their preferred mode of communication: texting.
New knowledge about serious muscle disease
About 3,000 people in Denmark suffer from one of the serious muscle-related diseases that come under the heading of muscular dystrophy. Some patients diagnosed with muscular dystrophy die shortly after birth, others become severely retarded and develop eye problems, while certain groups are confined to life in a wheelchair. Common to all muscular dystrophy sufferers is the difficulty of their muscle cells to attach themselves to each other and to the surrounding tissue. However, little is actually known about the root causes of the disease.
Researchers model familial amyloidosis in vitro using iPSC technology
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and Boston Medical Center (BMC) have generated the first known disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from a patient with familial transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR). The findings, which are reported in Stem Cell Reports, may lead to new treatments for genetic diseases such as familial amyloidosis.
Study provides new knowledge about the body's fight against HIV
A study of the body's reactions to the HIV virus by Danish researchers has led to new understanding of the immune system's fight against HIV. The discovery is an important step on the road towards the future development of new methods for treating HIV.
Studies of experimental hepatitis C drug show promise for preventing recurrence in liver transplant
New drug therapies offer promise to some hepatitis C sufferers whose transplanted livers are threated by a recurrence of the disease, including some patients who have had no treatment options.
Increasing rate of knee replacements linked to obesity among young, researchers say
Contrary to popular myth, it is not the aging Baby Boomer or weekend warrior that is causing the unprecedented increase in knee replacement surgeries. Data gathered by more than 125 orthopedic surgeons from 22 states across the U.S. show a more mundane culprit: rising rates of obesity among those under the age of 65.
Patient in 'vegetative state' not just aware, but paying attention
A patient in a seemingly vegetative state, unable to move or speak, showed signs of attentive awareness that had not been detected before, a new study reveals. This patient was able to focus on words signalled by the experimenters as auditory targets as successfully as healthy individuals. If this ability can be developed consistently in certain patients who are vegetative, it could open the door to specialised devices in the future and enable them to interact with the outside world.
Scientists discover why newborns get sick so often
If you think cold and flu season is tough, trying being an infant. A new research finding published in the November 2013 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology sheds new light on why newborns appear to be so prone to getting sick with viruses—they are born without one of the key proteins needed to protect them. This protein, called "toll-like receptor 3" or "TLR3," is involved in the recognition of different viruses and mediates the immune response to them. Without this protein, newborn immune cells are not equipped to recognize and react appropriately to certain viruses, in particular, the herpes simplex virus known as HSV.
Newly identified proteins make promising targets for blocking graft-vs-host disease
Researchers from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified new proteins that control the function of critical immune cell subsets called T-cells, which are responsible for a serious and often deadly side effect of lifesaving bone marrow transplants.
Long-term use of prescription-based painkillers increases the risk of depression, researcher finds
Opioid analgesics, or prescription-based narcotic pain killers, have long been known to reduce pain, but reports of adverse effects and addiction continue to surface. Now, a team of investigators led by a Saint Louis University researcher has discovered a link between chronic use of pain-relieving medication and increase in the risk of developing major depression.
Can marathons temporarily hurt the heart?
(HealthDay)—The thousands of runners who will take part in the New York City Marathon on Sunday most likely believe they are strengthening their cardiovascular system by participating. But new research suggests the strain of a 26.2 mile-run can temporarily damage heart muscle.
New criteria IDs clinically relevant post-procedure MI
(HealthDay)—A new definition of myocardial infarction (MI) that encompasses clinically relevant MI following coronary revascularization, rather than one that identifies small degrees of myonecrosis, should be adopted, according to a consensus document published in the Oct. 22 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Direct link established between stimulus-response learning and substance abuse
Véronique Bohbot, PhD, neuroscientist at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, found that the region of the brain involved in stimulus-response learning is directly linked to the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and drugs. More specifically, she discovered that people who resorted to stimulus-response learning smoked more, had double the consumption of alcohol and were more likely to use cannabis. Her findings have been published in the most recent issue of Hippocampus.
Women under 60 with diabetes at much greater risk for heart disease
Results of a Johns Hopkins study published today in the journal Diabetes Care found that young and middle-aged women with type 2 diabetes are at much greater risk of coronary artery disease than previously believed.
Travelers push US malaria count highest in 40 yrs
U.S. malaria cases are at their highest level in four decades, mostly from Americans bringing home an unwelcome souvenir from their travels.
Microbleeds important to consider in brain-related treatments, neurologist says
As growing numbers of America's baby boomers reach retirement, neuroscientists are expanding their efforts to understand and treat one of the leading health issues affecting this population: age-related neurological deterioration, including stroke and dementia.
NYU study on incarcerated youth shows potential to lower anti-social behavior and recidivism
Researchers at the New York University College of Nursing (NYUCN), the University of Miami, and the Lionheart Foundation in Boston, found that mindfulness training, a meditation-based therapy, can improve attention skills in incarcerated youth, paving the way to greater self-control over emotions and actions. It is the first study to show that mindfulness training can be used in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy to protect attentional functioning in high-risk incarcerated youth.
Pregnant women who snore at higher risk for C-sections, delivering smaller babies
Snoring during pregnancy may be bad for the new baby's health, according to research from the University of Michigan Health System.
Automated system promises precise control of medically induced coma
Putting patients with severe head injuries or persistent seizures into a medically induced coma currently requires that a nurse or other health professional constantly monitor the patient's brain activity and manually adjust drug infusion to maintain a deep state of anesthesia. Now a computer-controlled system developed by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators promises to automate the process, making it more precise and efficient and opening the door to more advanced control of anesthesia. The team, including colleagues from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), reports successfully testing their approach in animals in the open access journal PLOS Computational Biology.
Patients' 'immune fingerprints' may help diagnose bacterial infections and guide treatment
A patient's immune response may provide better and more rapid insights into the cause, severity, and prognosis of certain bacterial infections than conventional tests, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). Such an "immune fingerprint" could lead to more accurate diagnoses and more appropriate antibiotic treatment.
Leading cause of heart disease ignored in North America's poorest communities
A leading cause of heart disease remains overlooked in North America's most impoverished communities, researchers said today in an editorial published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. Chagas disease has rendered a heavy health and economic toll, yet insufficient political and medical support for gathering specific data, providing diagnosis and treatment, and developing new tools has impeded much-needed breakthroughs.
Study tracks risk of VL exposure in Brazil's urban areas
Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe chronic systemic disease caused by the protozoa (Leishmania infantum) in South America, the Mediterranean, southwest and central Asia. These parasites lodges in defense cells and compromises the spleen, liver and bone marrow, becoming fatal if left untreated. The parasites are transmitted to human and animal hosts by the bite of phlebotomine sand flies with dogs as the main urban reservoirs.
Microsatellite DNA analysis reveals genetic change of P. vivax in Korea, 2002-2003
Malaria is one of the major infectious diseases transmitted by mosquitos, with enormous impact on quality of life. According to World Health Organization figures, as of 2010 there were over 219 million reported cases of malaria with an estimated 660,000 deaths. Plasmodium vivax, which is the second most prevalent species of the human malaria parasite, is widely distributed around the world especially in Asia, Melanesia, the Middle East, South and Central America. 2.85 billion people worldwide live at risk of the infection in 2009.
Research finds severe hot flashes reduced with quick neck injection
A shot in the neck of local anesthesia may reduce hot flashes by as much as 50 percent for at least six months, a recent Northwestern Medicine study found.
Wonder cure for gut: FDA allows fecal transplants
Conventional wisdom says it takes 15 years for a medical therapy, once proven safe and effective, to be widely accepted by the medical profession.
New drug could offer first safe and effective treatment for psychotic symptoms
Up to 10 million people worldwide have Parkinson's disease and more than 50 percent of them will experience psychosis (mainly hallucinations and delusions) at some time. Pimavanserin, a new non-dopaminergic drug, may offer the first safe and effective treatment for these psychotic symptoms, according to a phase 3 randomized trial published in The Lancet.
Largest ever study of male breast cancer treatment shows more mastectomy, less radiation than in female disease
University of Colorado Cancer Center researchers used data from 4,276 cases of male breast cancer and 718,587 cases of female breast cancer to show that the disease is treated differently in men than in women. Specifically, male breast cancer is treated with mastectomy more often than female breast cancer, and in cases in which locally advanced female breast cancer is commonly treated with radiation, the treatment is less used in the male disease.
Can putting your child before yourself make you a happier person?
While popular media often depicts highly-involved parents negatively as "helicopter parents" or "tiger moms, how does placing one's children at the center of family life really affect parental well-being? New research published in Social Psychological and Personality Science finds that parents who prioritize their children's well-being over their own are not only happier, but also derive more meaning in life from their child-rearing responsibilities.
Epilepsy often hand-in-hand with other health problems: CDC
(HealthDay)—Many people with epilepsy also suffer from other serious medical problems, such as heart disease and cancer, at rates higher than the general population, U.S. health officials said Thursday.
Seeing in the dark: Most people can see their body's movement in the absence of light
Find a space with total darkness and slowly move your hand from side to side in front of your face. What do you see?
Japan research could lead to oral diabetes treatment (Update)
Japanese researchers said Thursday they had moved a step closer to an oral treatment for diabetes, offering hope of a breakthrough against a disease racking an increasingly obese world.
Patterns found in cancer's chaos illuminate tumor evolution
For more than 100 years, researchers have been unable to explain why cancer cells contain abnormal numbers of chromosomes, a phenomenon known as aneuploidy. Many believed aneuploidy was simply a random byproduct of cancer.
Critical gene in retinal development and motion sensing identified (w/ Video)
Our vision depends on exquisitely organized layers of cells within the eye's retina, each with a distinct role in perception. Johns Hopkins researchers say they have taken an important step toward understanding how those cells are organized to produce what the brain "sees." Specifically, they report identification of a gene that guides the separation of two types of motion-sensing cells, offering insight into how cellular layering develops in the retina, with possible implications for the brain's cerebral cortex. A report on the discovery is published in the Nov. 1 issue of the journal Science.
Candidate vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus developed
An experimental vaccine to protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a leading cause of illness and hospitalization among very young children, elicited high levels of RSV-specific antibodies when tested in animals, according to a report in the journal Science.
Stem cells could set up future transplant therapies
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists have developed a new method for creating stem cells for the human liver and pancreas. This method could enable both cell types to be grown in sufficient quantities for clinical use.
Stem cell scarring aids recovery from spinal cord injury
In a new study, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden show that the scar tissue formed by stem cells after a spinal cord injury does not impair recovery; in fact, stem cell scarring confines the damage. The findings, which are published in the scientific journal Science, indicate that scar tissue prevents the lesion from expanding and helps injured nerve cells survive.
Researchers identify molecule that orients neurons for high definition sensing
Many animals have highly developed senses, such as vision in carnivores, touch in mice, and hearing in bats. New research from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute has uncovered a brain molecule that can explain the existence of such finely-tuned sensory capabilities, revealing how brain cells responsible for specific senses are positioned to receive incoming sensory information.
Scientists capture most detailed picture yet of key AIDS protein
Collaborating scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) and Weill Medical College of Cornell University have determined the first atomic-level structure of the tripartite HIV envelope protein—long considered one of the most difficult targets in structural biology and of great value for medical science.
Researchers discover how retinal neurons claim the best brain connections
Real estate agents emphasize location, location, and – once more for good measure – location. It's the same in a developing brain, where billions of neurons vie for premium property to make connections. Neurons that stake out early claims often land the best value, even if they don't develop the property until later.
Genetic pathway to speech and language? Gene found to foster synapse formation in the brain
Researchers at Johns Hopkins say they have found that a gene already implicated in human speech disorders and epilepsy is also needed for vocalizations and synapse formation in mice. The finding, they say, adds to scientific understanding of how language develops, as well as the way synapses—the connections among brain cells that enable us to think—are formed. A description of their experiments appears in Science Express on Oct. 31.
Biology news
Breeding disease-resistant, heat-tolerant fowl for Africa
A new program that will identify genes crucial for breeding chickens that can tolerate hot climates and resist infectious diseases—specifically the devastating Newcastle disease—has been launched under the leadership of the University of California, Davis.
NOAA: 2012 US seafood landings remain near high 2011 levels
U.S. commercial fishermen landed 9.6 billion pounds of fish and shellfish in 2012, valued at $5.1 billion, according to Fisheries of the United States 2012, an annual report released by NOAA today.
Scientists fear renewed threat to white pine trees
Scientists worry that a fungus targeting white pine forests has mutated and could return more than a century after it first hit the United States.
New methods improve quagga and zebra mussel identification
The earliest possible detection of quagga and zebra mussels has long been a goal of biologists seeking to discover their presence in water bodies. The Bureau of Reclamation's Detection Laboratory has released two reports identifying a new sampling method to improve the accuracy of quagga and zebra mussel detection while still at the microscopic larval stage. The reports also outline the processes and procedures used to identify invasive mussels through DNA testing.
Tagging aquatic animals can disrupt natural behavior
American and Canadian researchers have for the first time quantified the energy cost to aquatic animals when they carry satellite tags, video cameras and other research instruments.
Group: Japan's coastal sea hunts risk for species (Update)
Japan's hunts of smaller whales, dolphins and porpoises threaten some species with extinction, an environmental group said Thursday.
How protein suicide assure healthy cell structures
Centrioles are tiny structures in the cell that play an important role in cell division and in the assembly of cilia and flagella. Changes in the number of centrioles are involved in diseases, such as cancer or infertility. Hence, the manipulation of these structures is being discussed for diagnosis and therapeutics. The regulation of centriole number has been further pinpointed in the latest issue of the scientific journal Current Biology. Researchers from Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia (IGC; Portugal), led by Monica Bettencourt-Dias, have now discovered that the master protein regulator in centriole formation, Polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4), needs to self-destruct in a regulated manner to ensure the presence of a normal number of centrioles in cells.
Animal personalities are more like humans than first thought
(Phys.org) —A Deakin University study has found for the first time that, just like humans, un-predictability is also a consistent behavioural trait in the animal world.
Research improves understanding of how plants protect themselves from adverse environmental conditions
(Phys.org) —Research at Iowa State University has shed new light on the genetic mechanisms that allow plants to protect themselves from environmental stress.
Wanted dead and alive: New concept for a better understanding of biodiversity in time and space
By now, biodiversity is a well known term even in the broader public, as it is used in many media reports about species extinction, natural resources or climate change. Yet research in this field is still lacking an integrative approach. Paleontologists and biologists, for example, still cut their own path, their studies in species diversity and species extinction are rarely combined. Scientists of the Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F) have now responded to calls for integration, and provide a concept for linking data of both research fields. They present their framework in the scientific journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution.
Scent marking: The mammalian equivalent of showy plumage
The smell of urine may not strike people as pleasant, but female mice find it as attractive as cologne. Researchers at the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna have confirmed that male house mice that excel at scent-marking their territory also have more offspring. This is likely because mouse females are able to infer mate quality from the males' scent mark deposits. The findings are reported in the Journal of Animal Behaviour.
Chickens to benefit from biofuels bonanza
Chickens could be the unexpected beneficiaries of the growing biofuels industry, feeding on proteins retrieved from the fermenters used to brew bioethanol, thanks to research supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Sex determiner gene of honey bee more complicated that previously assumed
Bee colonies consist of a queen bee, lots of female worker bees and some male drones. The gene that determines the sex of the bees is much more complex than has been assumed up until now and has developed over the course of evolution at a very high rate. This is the finding of an international team of scientists under the direction of Dr. Martin Hasselmann of the Institute for Genetics of the University of Cologne. The study has been published in the renowned Oxford journal Molecular Biology and Evolution.
Scientists isolate new human pluripotent stem cells
One of the obstacles to employing human embryonic stem cells for medical use lies in their very promise: They are born to rapidly differentiate into other cell types. Until now, scientists have not been able to efficiently keep embryonic stem cells in their pristine stem state. The alternative that has been proposed to embryonic stem cells – reprogrammed adult cells called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) – have similar limitations. Though these can differentiate into many different cell types, they retain signs of "priming," – commitment to specific cell lineages.
Simple plants aren't always easy: Revision of the liverwort Radula buccinifera complex
The supposedly widespread and variable Australasian liverwort species Radula buccinifera is nothing of the kind. The species was described in 1844, and reported for New Zealand in 1855. It has gone on to be the most commonly collected species in both countries, yet it doesn't even occur in New Zealand, according to results of research led by Dr Matt Renner at Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust.
Florida manatees dying at record rates
Toxic algae blooms that deplete the water of essential oxygen are killing a record number of manatees in Florida this year, biologists say.
Houston we have a problem: Microgravity accelerates biological aging
As nations strive to put humans farther into space for longer periods of time, the real loser in this new space race could be the astronauts themselves. That's because experiments conducted on the International Space Station involving cells that line the inner surfaces of blood vessels (endothelial cells) show that microgravity accelerates cardiovascular disease and the biological aging of these cells. These findings are presented in a new research report published in November 2013 issue of The FASEB Journal.
Second GM corn set for EU approval after Court ruling
A second genetically-modified corn crop looks set for authorisation in the European Union unless there is a sudden change in the positions of divided governments or official scientific advice, EU sources said Thursday.
Cellular tail length tells disease tale
Simon Fraser University molecular biologist Lynne Quarmby's adventures in pond scum have led her and four student researchers to discover a mutation that can make cilia, the microscopic antennae on our cells, grow too long. When the antennae aren't the right size, the signals captured by them get misinterpreted. The result can be fatal.
Evolution of new species requires few genetic changes
Only a few genetic changes are needed to spur the evolution of new species—even if the original populations are still in contact and exchanging genes. Once started, however, evolutionary divergence evolves rapidly, ultimately leading to fully genetically isolated species, report scientists from the University of Chicago in the Oct 31 Cell Reports.
Dogs know a left-sided wag from a right
You might think a wagging tail is a wagging tail, but for dogs there is more to it than that. Dogs recognize and respond differently when their fellow canines wag to the right than they do when they wag to the left. The findings reported in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on October 31 show that dogs, like humans, have asymmetrically organized brains, with the left and right sides playing different roles.
Biochemists find incomplete protein digestion is a useful thing for some bacteria
(Phys.org) —Usually indigestion is a bad thing, but experiments by researcher Peter Chien and graduate student Robert Vass at the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently showed that for the bacteria Caulobacter crescentus, partial degradation of a DNA replication protein is required to keep it alive.
'Flipping the switch' reveals new compounds with antibiotic potential
Researchers at Oregon State University have discovered that one gene in a common fungus acts as a master regulator, and deleting it has opened access to a wealth of new compounds that have never before been studied – with the potential to identify new antibiotics.
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