Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 15, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Method of recording brain activity could lead to mind-reading devices- Zoomable holograms pave the way for versatile, portable projectors
- The inheritance of the primary cilium and the soul of the cell
- Scientists create a super antioxidant: Common catalyst cerium oxide opens door to nanochemistry for medicine
- Genetic identification of a neural circuit that suppresses appetite
- Mammalian body cells lack ancient viral defense mechanism
- Mad cow disease: One in 2,000 in UK carry protein (Update)
- Newly discovered mechanism propels micromotors
- Amazon fish has super-shield against piranhas
- Size matters in the giant magnetoresistance effect in semiconductors
- How Earth's rotation affects vortices in nature
- Scientists unravel mechanisms in chronic itching
- Five-meter sea creature found off California coast
- Apple sends event invites amid rumors of iPad update
- Sony's $200 smartwatch works with Android phones
Space & Earth news
Urban soil quality and compost
With higher populations and limited space, urban areas are not often thought of as places for agriculture. A recent surge in community gardens, though, is bringing agriculture and gardens into the cities. And certain byproducts of urban life – food and yard waste and municipal biosolids – can benefit those gardens, and the soils in them, tremendously.
Anger over German stance on auto CO2 emissions
Environmentalists voiced anger Tuesday that Germany is seeking to soften European carbon emission limits for passenger cars to protect its powerful auto sector.
Australia Antarctic mission focuses on penguin poo, warming
Ancient penguin droppings and the impact of global warming on the Antarctic food chain will be the focus of Australia's latest scientific mission to the icy continent which departed Tuesday.
Vast majority of EU city dwellers breathe air below UN norms
Emissions of dangerous particulate pollution have fallen in Europe, but a hefty 88 percent of urban dwellers are still exposed to levels that breach UN standards, an official report said on Tuesday.
New evidence on lightning strikes: Mountains a lot less stable than we think
(Phys.org) —Lightning strikes causing rocks to explode have for the first time been shown to play a huge role in shaping mountain landscapes in southern Africa, debunking previous assumptions that angular rock formations were necessarily caused by cold temperatures, and proving that mountains are a lot less stable than we think.
Astronomers stress need for characterizing population of nearby potential Earth-impactors
The meteor explosion over Russia in February 2013 raised concerns that even small asteroid impactors may wreak some havoc given our heavily populated cities. A new study by NASA scientists aims to improve our understanding of such asteroids that are lurking in Earth's vicinity. The team, led by Amy Mainzer, noted that only a mere fraction of asteroids comparable in size to the object that exploded over Russia have been discovered, and their physical properties are poorly characterized.
US high court will review global warming rules (Update)
The U. Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to decide whether to block key aspects of the Obama administration's plan aimed at cutting power plant and factory emissions of gases blamed for global warming.
Climate change creates complicated consequences for North America's forests
Climate change affects forests across North America – in some cases permitting insect outbreaks, plant diseases, wildfires and other problems—but Dartmouth researchers say warmer temperatures are also making many forests grow faster and some less susceptible to pests, which could boost forest health and acreage, timber harvests, carbon storage, water recycling and other forest benefits in some areas.
2013 Ocean Health Index shows food provision remains an area of great concern
In the 2013 Ocean Health Index (OHI) –– an annual assessment of ocean health lead by Ben Halpern, a research associate at UC Santa Barbara's National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) and professor at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management –– scientists point to food provision as the factor that continues to require serious attention.
First evidence that dust and sand deposits in China are controlled by rivers
New research published today in the journal Quaternary Science Reviews has found the first evidence that large rivers control desert sands and dust in Northern China.
World ocean systems undermined by climate change by 2100
An ambitious new study describes the full chain of events by which ocean biogeochemical changes triggered by manmade greenhouse gas emissions may cascade through marine habitats and organisms, penetrating to the deep ocean and eventually influencing humans.
Technology news
The PROMISE of greater energy efficiency on Europe's islands
While the EU may be made up of 28 Member States, the number of islands within the union runs into the thousands, dotted around the seas of the North Atlantic to the Mediterranean. While climate and cultures may vary, many of the issues faced by these islands - such as achieving energy efficiency - are much the same.
Netflix adds to original shows with Sony deal
Netflix on Monday announced a deal with Sony to create a psychological thriller series for the online streaming and DVD service, ramping up original programming to win subscribers.
'Thousands' of N. Korea cyber attacks on South: ministry data
North Korea has staged thousands of cyber attacks against the South in recent years, causing financial losses of around $805 million, a Seoul lawmaker said Tuesday citing government data.
Apple hires Burberry CEO to boost store sales (Update)
Apple is entrusting the elegant stores that help define its brand to Angela Ahrendts, a respected executive who blended fashion sense with technological savvy to establish Burberry as a mark of luxury and success.
Verifying social media in a crisis
Social media, and Facebook and Twitter in particular, are increasingly being turned to in times of crisis.
Stepping out in style: Researchers developing an artificial leg with a natural gait
(Phys.org) —Walking is tricky business, as any toddler knows. And while most artificial feet and limbs do a pretty good job restoring mobility to people who have lost a leg, they have a ways to go before they equal the intricacy of a natural gait. As a result, over half of all amputees take a fall every year, compared to about one-third of people over 65.
A better way to calculate solar radiation
(Phys.org) —Research by Murdoch University, James Cook University and the University of Waterloo in Canada has revealed flaws in the way that the widely-used Ångström-Prescott equation links solar radiation to sunshine duration.
India's TCS second-quarter profit up 34%, beating estimates (Update)
India's biggest IT outsourcing firm, Tata Consultancy Services, on Tuesday reported a 34 percent jump in quarterly net profit, beating market forecasts, led by outsourcing deals and new contracts.
Japanese firms pay $1.5 bn in 'Clash of Clans' game swoop (Update)
Two Japanese companies acquired control of Finnish game maker Supercell, creator of "Clash of Clans," the Helsinki-based firm said Tuesday amid hopes of creating a global Nintendo-style brand.
ESA showcases printed metal parts fit for space
The European Space Agency says it has developed a technology that allows metal parts for spacecraft and nuclear reactors to be "printed" as a single piece.
Troubled telecoms: Alcatel-Lucent job cut protest
Wearing black trash bags marked with crosses, more than a thousand Alcatel-Lucent workers marched to the Eiffel Tower on Tuesday, staging a mock funeral that the chief executive warned could easily become a reality for a company with its roots in the earliest days of the telephone.
Samsung to break ground at US research center
Samsung its set to break ground at a big Silicon Valley research center on Wednesday, just down the road from its arch-rival Apple.
Secure news tip system offered to media
A US press freedom group announced Tuesday it would be offering news organizations access to an open-source whistleblower submission system dubbed "SecureDrop."
Yahoo holds on to more of Alibaba as profit slips
Yahoo said Tuesday its quarterly profit slipped from the same period a year ago, when its coffers were swelled by the sale of shares in China's Alibaba.
Intel 3Q profit unchanged, but beats predictions
Intel says its third-quarter income was unchanged as it continues to struggle with a global slump in PC demand.
Lawsuit accuses BlackBerry of raising false hopes
BlackBerry shareholders on Tuesday launched a class-action lawsuit against the company, alleging its optimistic sales forecasts for its new smartphones cost them hundreds of millions of dollars, lawyers announced.
Google to add user recommendations to advertising
Taking a page from Facebook, Google Inc. said Friday that it may start showing its users' recommendations and comments in advertising that appears on Google services and millions of other sites across the Web.
Verizon launches same-day delivery of new phones
Verizon Wireless leaped forward in the race for online allure Monday by launching same-day delivery of phones to customers in the Philadelphia area, a perk the company said it would extend to several other markets by the year's end.
Twitter to list on New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is edging out its tech-heavy rival for the biggest stock debut of the year.
Report: NSA collecting millions of contact listss
The National Security Agency has been sifting through millions of contact lists from personal email and instant messaging accounts around the world—including those of Americans—in its effort to find possible links to terrorism or other criminal activity, according to a published report.
Movies with a 270-degree view to hit South Korean cinemas
A new format that gives movie-goers a panoramic 270 degree view will be rolled out by South Korea's biggest cinema chain this month, using the walls of theatres as additional screens.
D-Link to issue router firmware updates for backdoor vulnerability
(Phys.org) —D-Link is tending to the router backdoor security issue that affects some of its routers. The company assures that it is "proactively working with the sources of these reports as well as continuing to review across the complete product line to ensure that the vulnerabilities discovered are addressed." The drama began on Saturday night, when it was discovered, thanks to Craig Heffner, a vulnerability researcher with Tactical Network Solutions, that a backdoor-type function built into the firmware of some D-Link routers could be used to bypass standard authentication procedures. This was an opportunity to gain control of the device, potentially giving a criminal unauthorized access to a router's admin settings.
Renewable fuel standard needs to be modified, not repealed
(Phys.org) —Congress should minimally modify – and not, as petroleum-related interests have increasingly lobbied for, repeal – the Renewable Fuel Standard, the most comprehensive renewable energy policy in the U.S., according to a new paper from two University of Illinois researchers.
3D printers' could change our economy and our lives
(Phys.org) —"When you produce something yourself instead of purchasing it, that changes your relationship to it," says Chelsea Schelly, assistant professor of social sciences. She's discussing the current popular trend of 3D printing. "You are empowered by it."
Duo create castAR projected augmented reality system, post it on Kickstarter
(Phys.org) —Hardware and software designers Jeri Ellsworth and Rick Johnson have designed what they call a projected augmented reality system—called the castAR, it appears to be unlike anything else being sold today. It' a special pair of glasses, an infrared embedded surface and a magic wand—it allows for looking at and making changes to what looks to the user, like a holographic image. After a lot of design, testing and building, they've come up with a prototype that serves as the basis for a new Kickstarter project.
Medicine & Health news
Consumers warned of misleading insurance websites
Insurance regulators and an industry trade group warn that this month's rollout of the health insurance marketplaces created by federal law opened the door for bad actors at the same time that it gives brokers and agents a business opportunity.
Affordable Care Act unlikely to push employers to drop health insurance coverage
In the race for the best workers, small firms have always been at a bit of a competitive disadvantage when it comes to benefits they can offer.
Understanding children's behaviour key to foster care support
Providing foster carers with accurate information about the behaviour of children in their care could reduce "placement drift" and encourage stronger family connections.
Improvements in the detection of drug interactions researched
A group of researchers at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) recently organized an international science competition on information extraction techniques to more accurately detect the pharmacological interactions described in biomedical texts.
Impact of bariatric surgery on health depends on type of surgery, patient characteristics
The impact of bariatric surgery on risk factors for cardiovascular disease depends on a variety of factors, including the type of surgery, sex of the patient, ethnic background, and pre-surgery body mass index, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published today in Annals of Surgery.
Neurosurgical residents improve quality and reduce costs
Neurosurgical resident-led effort to improve quality and reduce costs in a leading academic institution Charlottesville, VA (October 15, 2013). An incentive program to reduce the number of unnecessary diagnostic laboratory tests performed in neurosurgical patients at UC San Francisco (UCSF) was highly successful. Resident trainees in neurosurgery identified five frequently scheduled laboratory tests that rarely yield information that would change patient care. A new set of guidelines was developed to determine when these tests should be performed. The result was a 47% reduction in the number of targeted tests, which was attended by cost savings of $1.7 million in one year. Details on this program are discussed in "Targeted reduction in neurosurgical laboratory utilization: resident-led effort at a single academic institution. Clinical article," by Seunggu J. Han, M.D., Rajiv Saigal, M.D., Ph.D., John D. Rolston, M.D., Ph.D., Jason S. Cheng, M.D., Catherine Y. Lau, M.D., Ri! ta I. Mistry, M.P.H., Michael W. McDermott, M.D., and Mitchel S. Berger, M.D., published today online, ahead of print, in the Journal of Neurosurgery.
In Europe 3.5 million new fragility fractures occur annually, shows data published today
A new report published today by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) warns that as a result of ageing populations and osteoporosis not being treated as a priority, health care providers will be faced with an avalanche of fractures and rising costs.
Michigan emergency departments are better prepared to respond to disaster
Emergency Departments across Michigan are better prepared to handle a disaster today than they were seven years ago, according to a Henry Ford Hospital study.
Bone loss associated with increased production of ROS
Bone is constantly being broken down and remodeled. Osteoporosis results when bone resorption outpaces bone regeneration. Production of reactive oxygen species, a form of oxidative stress, has been predicted to promote bone loss, but a source of reactive oxygen is unknown.
Alcohol-related violence: Is 'glassing' the big issue?
Contrary to public perception, "glassing" incidents, particularly at licensed venues, constitute a relatively small proportion of all alcohol-related violence.
Sound preconditioning prevents ototoxic drug-induced hearing loss in mice
The death of sensory hair cells in the ear results in irreversible hearing loss. Several classes of drugs, including aminoglycoside antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs are known to kill hair cells; however, in many cases the benefit of using the drug outweighs the potential for hearing loss. Previous research has shown that a class of proteins induced in response to cell stress, the heat shock proteins (HSPs), can protect against sensory hair cell death in response to ototoxic drugs. Despite understanding how HSPs protect the hair cells of the inner ear, there are no current therapies to induce expression of or deliver HSP directly to the inner ear.
New study shows increased life expectancy among family caregivers
Contradicting long-standing conventional wisdom, results of a Johns Hopkins-led analysis of data previously gathered on more than 3,000 family caregivers suggests that those who assist a chronically ill or disabled family member enjoy an 18 percent survival advantage compared to statistically matched non-caregivers.
Sisters serve as confidants, sources of support and mentors during intimate conversations
Adolescence can be an impressionable time for girls as they begin forming ideas about dating and sexuality. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has found that sisters often take on key roles of confidants, sources of support and mentors during conversations about romantic relationships. Sisters may be helpful in health education efforts to promote safe-sex practices and healthy romantic relationships.
US research team wins $1 million prize in Israel
An Israeli nonprofit group has awarded a $1 million prize to a U.S.-based research team that is developing technology that allows paralyzed people to move things with their thoughts.
Hospital nurse staffing tied to readmissions penalties
(HealthDay)—Hospitals with higher nurse staffing have lower odds of Medicare readmissions penalties than hospitals with lower staffing, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
J&J 3Q net rises slightly on higher medicine sales
A big jump in prescription drug sales and continued recovery of Johnson & Johnson's beleaguered consumer health business in the third quarter helped the health care giant overcome a new problem: slumping sales of its medical devices.
Geography affects what drugs seniors prescribed
New research shows that where seniors live makes a difference in the medications they're prescribed. Some miss out on key treatments while others are more likely to get riskier ones.
One in ten women drink a little alcohol while pregnant
Researchers in Norway found that negative affectivity is linked to light alcohol use and binge drinking during pregnancy. Results published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, a journal of the Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology, show 16% of women had light alcohol use in the first trimester and 10% in the second trimester. Binge drinking occurred in 12% of women during their first trimester and 0.5% in the second trimester.
New imaging technique can identify breast cancer subtypes and early treatment response
An optical imaging technique that measures metabolic activity in cancer cells can accurately differentiate breast cancer subtypes, and it can detect responses to treatment as early as two days after therapy administration, according to a study published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Iron supplementation can provide cognitive and physical benefits to anemic children
Giving daily iron supplements to anemic primary-school–aged children can have cognitive and physical benefits, according to a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Study finds community-based weight loss intervention yields greater weight loss than self-help approach
A new randomized controlled trial conducted by Baylor College of Medicine researchers and published today as an Article in Press in The American Journal of Medicine finds that overweight and obese adults following a community-based weight loss intervention, namely Weight Watchers, lost significantly more weight than those who tried to lose weight on their own (10.1 lbs. vs. 1.3 lbs. at six months). Those in the Weight Watchers group were provided with three access routes – group meetings, mobile applications, and online tools – and further analysis found those who used all three access routes together lost the most weight.
France says no known health impact from mobile phones
France's safety watchdog said on Tuesday it was standing by existing recommendations for mobile phones, wifi and cellphone relay antennas, saying their emissions had "no demonstrated impact" on health.
Many stillbirths can be prevented, researcher claims
(Medical Xpress)—A leading reproductive researcher has called for increased awareness around stillbirth, saying many could be prevented.
Happiness lowers blood pressure, study says
(Medical Xpress)—A synthetic gene module controlled by the happiness hormone dopamine produces an agent that lowers blood pressure. This opens up new avenues for therapies that are remote-controlled via the subsconscious.
New drug-delivery system will improve lives of patients with chronic eye diseases
(Medical Xpress)—Patients suffering from eye diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration benefit from the availability of highly effective medicines.
Researchers develop novel methods to observe disease processes
(Medical Xpress)—The ability to directly observe the body is an invaluable tool in the arsenal of any medical professional. In fact, physical inspection comes only second to discussion of symptoms and medical history in a standard health assessment.
Firm rules by parents can prevent adolescent binge drinking
(Medical Xpress)—A Deakin University study has found that rates of teen binge drinking were reduced by 25 per cent when parents set rules not to supply or allow adolescent alcohol use.
Exercise might boost men's sperm counts, study finds
(HealthDay)—Exercise may boost a man's sperm count, and therefore may improve a couple's chances of conception, according to a new study.
Births from fertility treatments hit 5 million mark, report finds
(HealthDay)—Five million babies have been born using assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization since the late 1970s, according to a new study.
New research shows 'DNA tags' could guide treatment for advanced ovarian cancer
A Cancer Research UK study has identified chemical 'tags' on DNA in patients' tumours that could help doctors decide the type of chemotherapy women with advanced ovarian cancer should receive, according to a new paper published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research.
Stroke rates have fallen, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—The number of people suffering a stroke has steadily declined by forty per cent over the last 16 years, according to a major study by researchers at King's College London.
Scientist pursuing new treatments for impulsive aggression
(Medical Xpress)—Most of us get a little angry, and perhaps even aggressive, now and then. And in most cases, that's perfectly OK.
Study finds new pathway between social anxiety, willingness to help others
(Medical Xpress)—People's willingness to help others may be influenced by a gene that affects their level of social anxiety, according to a new study led by a University of Nebraska-Lincoln scientist. The study appears to be the first to describe this particular pathway.
Body-size satisfaction associated with effortful process, not passive contentment
(Medical Xpress)—A new study of women ages 50 and older examines the 12.2 percent who say they are satisfied with their body size to unlock the secrets of body satisfaction.
High toll of gunshot injuries in children
(Medical Xpress)—A research team led by Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and the University of California, Davis, reveals that childhood gunshot injuries, while uncommon, are more severe, require more major surgery, have greater mortality and higher per-patient costs than any other mechanism for childhood injury—particularly among adolescent males. The study is published online in the journal Pediatrics.
Research in aging fruit flies may explain roots of metabolic dysfunction in aging humans
Have you ever wondered why young children can eat bags of Halloween candy and feel fine the next day – compared to adults who experience all sorts of agony following the same junk food binge? Evolution and a gene called Foxo may be to blame. Working in fruit flies, scientists at the Buck Institute have identified a mechanism that helps the flies adapt to changes in diet when they're young; they've discovered that same mechanism gets misregulated as the flies age, disrupting metabolic homeostasis, or balance.
Researchers find overexpressed protein to be culprit in certain thyroid cancers
(Medical Xpress)—A specific protein once thought to exist only in the brain may play a crucial role in a deadly form of thyroid cancer, as well as other cancers, and provide a fresh target for researchers seeking ways to stop its progression, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report today in Cancer Cell.
Rapid reversal of diabetes after gastric banding surgery
Clinical researchers from Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research and St. Vincent's Hospital have shown that a form of weight loss surgery, known as 'gastric banding', brings about reversal of diabetes in some patients, and dramatic improvement of glucose tolerance in others, within 12 weeks.
Studies show how critical sleep is to maintaining a healthy lifestyle
Three new studies show just how critical it is for adults to seek treatment for a sleep illness and aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Promising new approach to drug-resistant infections
A new type of antibiotic called a PPMO, which works by blocking genes essential for bacterial reproduction, successfully killed a multidrug-resistant germ common to health care settings, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report.
Recovery from childhood ADHD may depend on the pattern of brain development
Some people grow out of their childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and some don't. In fact, around 50% of individuals diagnosed as children continue to suffer from ADHD as adults.
Pain of poverty sticks, despite support of neighbors or spouses
Being married or having the support of neighbors to rely on does little to alleviate the symptoms of depression associated with economic hardship often experienced by poor mothers. With these findings, published in Springer's American Journal of Community Psychology, Sharon Kingston of Dickinson College in the US challenges the growing perception that marriage and other forms of interpersonal support can buffer the negative effects of poverty.
Lung infections offer clue to unlocking the mystery of life-saving heart drug
Scientists from the University of Sheffield have discovered ground breaking clues as to how the pioneering heart drug ticagrelor might reduce the risk of dying following a heart attack, in comparison to previous standard treatments.
Teachers more likely to have progressive speech and language disorders, study finds
Mayo Clinic researchers have found a surprising occupational hazard for teachers: progressive speech and language disorders. The research, recently published in the American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias, found that people with speech and language disorders are about 3.5 times more likely to be teachers than patients with Alzheimer's dementia.
Mindfulness-based stress reduction helps lower blood pressure, study reports
Blood pressure is effectively lowered by mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for patients with borderline high blood pressure or "prehypertension." This finding is reported in the October issue of Psychosomatic Medicine: Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine, the official journal of the American Psychosomatic Society.
Study shows difference in cognitive ability between low-income rural, urban children
Studies have long shown a difference in cognitive ability between high- and low-income children, but for the first time, scientists have found a difference between low-income children growing up in rural areas and those growing up in urban environments.
Researchers discover new approach to improve personalized cancer treatments
Researchers from the University of Minnesota, Mayo Clinic, and University of Toronto have successfully shown that a new method for targeting mutated cells could create a major breakthrough in a personalized medicine approach to treat cancer.
The musical ages of modern man: How our taste in music changes over a lifetime
The explosion in music consumption over the last century has made 'what you listen to' an important personality construct – as well as the root of many social and cultural tribes – and, for many people, their self-perception is closely associated with musical preference. We would perhaps be reluctant to admit that our taste in music alters - softens even - as we get older.
New 3-D method used to grow miniature pancreas
An international team of researchers from the University of Copenhagen have successfully developed an innovative 3D method to grow miniature pancreas from progenitor cells. The future goal is to use this model to help in the fight against diabetes. The research results has just been published in the scientific journal Development.
Study finds age doesn't impact concussion symptoms
Recent scientific findings have raised the fear that young athletes may fare worse after sustaining a sports-related concussion than older athletes.
Inhibiting a single protein could improve the treatment of atherosclerosis
Researchers of the Spanish research council (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, CSIC) and the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) have discovered that inhibiting the protein Rcan1 in mice reduces the burden of atherosclerosis, one of the commonest cardiovascular diseases. The results of their study, published in the prestigious journal EMBO Molecular Medicine, suggest that Rcan1 is a potential target for future drug treatments for this disease, and the team is already working to develop this potential.
Only a minority of stroke victims are being seen by doctors within the recommended timeframe
In a study, published online today in the journal Age and Ageing, of over 270 patients newly diagnosed with minor strokes or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), only a minority sought medical help within the timeframe recommended by the Royal College of Physicians. This is despite the high profile FAST campaign, which was taking place at the time that the study was conducted.
Willpower alone is not enough: Unconscious motivation plays substantial role in how we respond to challenges
How do we motivate ourselves when studying for an exam or working to a tight deadline? The more unpleasant the task, the more willpower we need to rise to the challenge. Unfortunately, our reserves of willpower are quickly depleted. Which means that other mechanisms are required to motivate people to continually perform at a high level. And now scientists have shown that internal, unconscious motivation can significantly improve performance capabilities.
What's best for depressed pregnant women and their infants?
Do the benefits of treating depressed pregnant women with antidepressants outweigh the risks of the drug exposure to their babies in terms of neonatal health and long-term development?
Crystal methamphetamine use by street youth increases risk of injecting drugs
The use of crystal methamphetamine by street-involved youth is linked to an increased risk of injecting drugs, with crystal methamphetamine being the drug most commonly used at the time of first injection, found a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Towards a better understanding of inherited hearing loss
A team of researchers led by Dr. Michel Cayouette at the IRCM made an important discovery, published online yesterday by the scientific journal Developmental Cell, that could better explain some inherited forms of hearing loss in humans. The Montréal scientists identified a group of proteins crucial for shaping the cellular organ responsible for detecting sounds.
To live and learn: Making memories has to be a speedy business
The brain is plastic - adapting to the hundreds of experiences in our daily lives by reorganizing pathways and making new connections between nerve cells. This plasticity requires that memories of new information and experiences are formed fast. So fast that the body has a special mechanism, unique to nerve cells, that enables memories to be made rapidly. In a new study from The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, The Neuro, McGill University with colleagues at the Université de Montréal, researchers have discovered that nerve cells have a special 'pre-assembly' technique to expedite the manufacture of proteins at nerve cell connections (synapses), enabling the brain to rapidly form memories and be plastic.
Brief memory test 'ages' older adults
You're only as old as you feel, or so the saying goes. Now, research suggests that a simple memory test can have a noticeable impact on just how old some older adults feel, aging them about five years in the span of five minutes. The findings are published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Drug activates virus against cancer
Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center have discovered that a drug called valproic acid increases the effectiveness of parvoviruses that are used against cancer. In some cases, pancreatic and cervical tumors that had been transplanted to rats completely regressed after treatment with a combination of the virus and an agent. The drug makes the viruses replicate more rapidly and improves their capacity to kill cancer cells.
Small bits of genetic material fight cancer's spread
(Medical Xpress)—A class of molecules called microRNAs may offer cancer patients two ways to combat their disease.
Variant of club drug 'K' might have new life as antidepressant
(HealthDay)—The veterinary tranquilizer ketamine—perhaps better known as the illicit "club drug" Special K—may be reformulated for use as an antidepressant, and researchers report promising early findings.
Did recession lead to increase in vasectomies?
(HealthDay)—The financial crisis of 2008 and lingering economic woes are having an impact on men's reproductive decisions, new research suggests.
Sexual minorities at higher risk of teen pregnancy
(HealthDay)—Adolescent sexual minorities other than lesbians use less hormonal contraception and continue to be at an increased risk for teen pregnancy, with the exception of lesbians, according to a study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Most docs monitor online reviews about themselves
(HealthDay)—Most health care providers monitor online reviews about themselves and find the reviews fair, according to the results of a survey published by ZocDoc.
How much alcohol in your drink? Stronger beverages make it tough to tell
(HealthDay)—Thanks to rising alcohol levels in wine and beer, the drinks served in bars and restaurants are often more potent than people realize, a new report shows.
Study finds high variability among primary care physicians in rate of PSA screening of older men
A new study examined whether PSA screening rates would vary substantially among primary care physicians (PCPs) and if the variance would depend on which PCP patients used.
For patients with diabetes, angioplasty and bypass surgery lead to similar long-term benefits for quality of life
For patients with diabetes and coronary artery disease in more than one artery, treatment with coronary artery bypass graft surgery provided slightly better health status and quality of life between 6 months and 2 years than procedures using drug-eluting stents, although beyond 2 years the difference disappeared, according to a study in the October 16 issue of JAMA.
Medication taken for nausea during pregnancy not associated with increased risk of major malformations
In an analysis that included more than 40,000 women exposed to the nausea medication metoclopramide in pregnancy, use of this drug was not associated with significantly increased risk of major congenital malformations overall, spontaneous abortion, and stillbirth, according to a study in the October 16 issue of JAMA.
Milk-maker hormone may help liver regenerate
The hormone prolactin is probably best known for its role in stimulating milk production in mothers after giving birth. But prolactin also has an important function in the liver. This organ has the highest number of prolactin receptors in the body, ports that allow this hormone to enter liver cells. There, prolactin signals these cells to multiply and new blood vessels to grow to fuel this organ's expansion.
Runners suffer more inflammation and muscle damage than cyclists
New scientific findings give endurance runners a reason to consider varying their training regime to include other sports.
Omega-3 intake linked to higher cognition in infants, toddlers and young children
Carol L. Cheatham, PhD, developmental cognitive neuroscientist with the UNC Chapel Hill Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) at the NC Research Campus, has research findings that prove just how critical fatty acids are to the cognitive development and cognitive functioning of infants, toddlers and young children.
Veterans with Gulf War Illness show brain changes linked to memory deficits
New research illuminates definitive brain alterations in troops with Gulf War Illness (GWI) thought to result from the exposure to neurotoxic chemicals, including sarin gas, during the first Persian Gulf War.
New estimates give updated count of Iraq war deaths between 2003 and 2011
During the U.S.-led invasion and occupation of Iraq from 2003 to 2011, for every three people killed by violence, two died as a result of the collapse of the infrustructure that supports health care, clean water, nutrition, and transportation, according to new estimates in a study from the University of Washington Department of Global Health published Oct. 15 in the open access journal PLOS Medicine. All told, the researchers estimate nearly a half million people died from causes that could be attributed to the war.
Protective pathway identified to counter toxicity associated with Alzheimer's disease
New research led by Marco Prado, PhD, of Western University has identified a pathway used by the brain to try to protect itself from toxicity that occurs with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Prado and his colleagues at the Robarts Research Institute and at the A.C. Camargo Cancer Center in Brazil have done extensive work on the role of prion protein. They found that toxicity of amyloid-β peptides, one of the major culprits in AD, can be decreased by preventing it from interacting with the prion protein. When a protein called stress-inducible phosphoprotein 1 (STI1) interacts with the prion protein preventing the interaction of amyloid-β peptides, it protects neurons. The research is now published in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Expert panel diagnosis for diagnostic test poorly described, experts not blinded to test under study
Evaluation of diagnostic studies is often a challenge in diseases that are not defined by a specific test. Assessment of the accuracy of diagnostic tests is essential because they may be used to define who is considered to have a disease and receive treatment for it. However, measuring the accuracy of a diagnostic test requires an accurate gold standard, which defines which patients truly have and do not have the disease.
Restoring surgeons' sense of touch during minimally invasive surgeries
A small, wireless capsule has been developed that can restore the sense of touch that surgeons are losing as they shift increasingly from open to minimally invasive surgery.
St. Jude Medical gets European approval for first wireless pacemaker
St. Jude Medical Inc. has received European approval to market the first pacemaker that does not require implanted wires to attach to the heart.
Mad cow disease: One in 2,000 in UK carry protein (Update)
Around one person in 2,000 in Britain carries the protein linked to the human version of mad cow disease, a figure higher than previous estimates, a study said on Tuesday.
Rare, inherited mutation leaves children susceptible to acute lymphoblastic leukemia
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers have discovered the first inherited gene mutation linked exclusively to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) occurring in multiple relatives in individual families. The discovery of the PAX5 gene mutation was led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and others. The work appears in the current advance online edition of the scientific journal Nature Genetics.
Study finds that ghrelin, produced during stressful situations, primes brain for post-traumatic stress disorder
About a dozen years ago, scientists discovered that a hormone called ghrelin enhances appetite. Dubbed the "hunger hormone," ghrelin was quickly targeted by drug companies seeking treatments for obesity—none of which have yet panned out.
Study finds musical agency reduces perceived exertion while working out
(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers from Belgium and Germany has found that musical agency (the ability to control musical characteristics with physical movements) causes people to perceive their level of effort as lower when working out on exercise machines. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes lab studies they conducted with volunteers that involved hooking up exercise machines to music producing devices to allow feedback for people while exercising and the impact it had on them.
Psychologist claims study shows people can see in 3D with just one eye
(Medical Xpress)—Psychologist Dhanraj Vishwanath, working with Paul Hibbard, both at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, has published a paper in the journal Psychological Science, claiming to be able to prove that people can see in 3D using just one eye. He says it can be done by viewing a picture through a piece of paper with a small hole cut in it.
Genetic identification of a neural circuit that suppresses appetite
Scientists at the University of Washington have used genetic engineering to identify a population of neurons that tell the brain to shut off appetite. Their study, "Genetic identification of a neural circuit that suppresses appetite," was published Oct. 13 in Nature.
Scientists unravel mechanisms in chronic itching
Anyone who has suffered through sleepless nights due to uncontrollable itching knows that not all itching is the same. New research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis explains why.
Team takes first step toward macular dystrophy gene therapy
Vitelliform macular dystrophy, also known as Best disease, is one of a group of vision-robbing conditions called bestrophinopathies that affect children and young adults. Caused by inherited mutations in the BEST1 gene, these diseases cause severe declines in central vision as patients age.
Method of recording brain activity could lead to mind-reading devices
A brain region activated when people are asked to perform mathematical calculations in an experimental setting is similarly activated when they use numbers—or even imprecise quantitative terms, such as "more than"— in everyday conversation, according to a study by Stanford University School of Medicine scientists.
Biology news
Critical consumers do often buy genetically modified food
Many people disapprove of genetically modified food. You would therefore expect them to avoid these products in supermarkets. Dutch researchers at TU Delft have revealed that by no means all European consumers put that theory into practice.
Science and tradition secure a fishier future for Fiji
In a world where fish catches are collapsing around the globe, Fijian fish are on the comeback trail thanks to a remarkable blend of centuries-old tradition and the latest science.
Discovery of complex symbiotic system comprising the metabolic pathways of mealybugs
Researchers from AIST, in collaboration with the University of Montana (USA), the Open University of Japan, and others, have discovered that two types of bacteria with extremely reduced genomes endocellularly reside in a nested manner within the symbiotic organ of mealybugs that are known as agricultural pests, and that more than 20 different genes laterally transferred from various bacteria to the insect's genome in the past are expressed in the symbiotic organ. The researchers also found that these symbiont genomes and laterally transferred bacterial genes together form mutually complementary metabolic pathways essential for the symbiotic relationship in a mosaic manner, which are involved in synthesis of amino acids, vitamins, and cell walls. Such a complexity of the symbiotic system is beyond what has been conventionally believed.
Research shows that genetically modified tobacco plants are viable as raw material for producing biofuels
In her PhD thesis Ruth Sanz-Barrio, an agricultural engineer of the NUP/UPNA-Public University of Navarre and researcher at the Institute of Biotechnology (mixed centre of the CSIC-Spanish National Research Council, Public University of Navarre and the Government of Navarre), has demonstrated, for the first time, the viability of using specific tobacco proteins (known as thioredoxins) as biotechnological tools in plants. Specifically, she has managed to increase the amount of starch produced in the tobacco leaves by 700% and fermentable sugars by 500%. "We believe that these genetically modified plants," she explained, "could be a good alternative to food crops for producing biofuels, and could provide an outlet for the tobacco-producing areas in our country that see their future in jeopardy owing to the discontinuing of European grants for this crop."
Out of Eurasia, a great primate evolutionary bottleneck?
On the road to our modern human lineage, scientists speculate there were many twist and turns, evolutionary dead ends, and population bottlenecks along the way. But how large were population sizes of common ancestors of the great apes and humans, and does the genetic analysis support the prevailing views of a great bottleneck in primate evolution?
UK collaboration to test biological control of mosquitoes
Entomologists in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment have developed a new control method for mosquitoes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently granted a permit to begin field trials.
Zimbabwe elephant poisoning toll reaches 100
Zimbabwean wildlife authorities said Tuesday they had discovered another 10 elephant carcasses, bringing the number of the animals poisoned by cyanide for their ivory to over 100 in the past month.
Tiger cub born at London zoo drowns
The first Sumatran tiger cub to be born at London Zoo for 17 years has drowned in a pool of water, the zoo said on Tuesday.
World Food Prize takes on biotech, global warming
The World Food Prize Foundation is confronting both opposition to genetically modified crops and the divisive issue of global warming as it gathers hundreds of experts and national leaders to talk this week about how to feed a growing global population.
Evidence of overfishing on Great Barrier Reef
(Phys.org) —Sea cucumber fishing in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park shows worrying signs of being unsustainable. Many species being targeted are endangered and vulnerable to extinction, as determined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Illinois river otters exposed to chemicals banned decades ago
Researchers report that river otters in Central Illinois are being exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and pesticides that were banned in the U.S. in the 1970s and '80s.
Unearthed: A treasure trove of jewel-like beetles
The bottomless pit of insect biodiversity has yielded a treasure trove of new species of jewel-like clown beetles. In a paper published today in the journal ZooKeys, Michael Caterino and Alexey Tishechkin of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History describe 85 new species in the genus Baconia, renowned for their brilliant coloration and bizarrely flattened body forms. The new species bring the genus up to 116 total species.
Adding citrus fiber to meatballs improves nutritional quality, does not affect taste
Many American diets fall short of meeting nutritional guidelines resulting in burgeoning obesity rates and health problems across the nation. Statistics show that most Americans consume only half of the daily recommended amount of dietary fiber. Now, a research team at the University of Missouri is addressing the fiber deficit by including citrus fiber in ground beef while retaining the quality and taste of the meat.
New study shows use of tools supports learning in nonhuman species
(Phys.org) —Leave young children alone with a soccer ball or a plastic shovel, and they quickly begin to put the object to use, especially if they've observed adults kicking the ball or using the shovel to dig a hole.
Study shows orchid mantis more attractive to their prey than real orchids
(Phys.org) —The orchid mantis is famous for its remarkable similarity to the orchid flower, but researchers from Macquarie University have now discovered that its' unique form of deception not only attracts its prey by resembling a blossom, but is in fact even more attractive to pollinators than the real flower.
Pushing and shoving: A cost factor in protein synthesis
When cells grow and proliferate, they need to produce large amounts of protein. All this protein is made by ribosomes, therefore rapid growth requires many ribosomes. Because ribosomes are expensive machines for the cell, the cell needs to use them efficiently. In a new study, published in PNAS, a team of researchers from the MPI of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam and from universities in Canada, Denmark and the United States investigates how the bacterium Escherichia coli solves this problem and shows that its economic strategy for using ribosomes is close to optimal. This strategy couples increases in the ribosome content of a cell to increase in the speed at which they work: Whenever the cell makes more ribosomes, it also makes them work faster? In addition, the study identified the slow diffusion in the cell as limitation for the speed of ribosomes and as a source for making speed increases costly.
Battle scarred ant antennae can't tell friend from foe
(Phys.org) —Novel research shows damage to fine hairs on ants' antennae's hinders the ability to determine who is a nest mate and who is a threat to the colony.
Amazon fish has super-shield against piranhas
An "armoured" fish living in the Amazon has evolved a remarkable multi-layer defence against the voracious piranha, materials scientists reported Tuesday.
Mammalian body cells lack ancient viral defense mechanism
A team led by Chris Sullivan, a professor of molecular biosciences at The University of Texas at Austin, has provided the first positive evidence that RNA interference (RNAi), a biological process in which small RNA molecules prevent genes from being expressed, does not play a role as an antiviral in most body, or "somatic," cells in mammals.
Five-meter sea creature found off California coast
A marine science instructor snorkeling off the Southern California coast spotted something out of a fantasy novel: the silvery carcass of an 18-foot-long (5-meter-long), serpent-like oarfish.
The inheritance of the primary cilium and the soul of the cell
(Phys.org) —The primary cilium plays the role of conductor, and antenna, to many kinds of cells. In photoreceptors, the cilium has been morphed into an expansive pigment-infused photon sieve, while in olfactory cells it is modified to consume the essence of an odorant. Once thought to be captured endosymbionts (as mitochondria are still held to be), cilia are now believed to have been largely eukaryotic inventions rather than the result of prokaryotic acquisitions and mergers. Motile cilia are similar to bacterial flagella, but show several important distinctions. Conventional wisdom holds that when a cell divides, the primary cilium is deconstructed to enable its associated centriole to concentrate on its job as spindle builder. In a paper just released in Cell, researchers now show that a proteinaceous membrane remnant from the hub region of the primary cilium is endocytosed and at mitosis onset, and travels along with the so-called mother centriole as a tiny vesicle. ! The researchers also show that this lipid attaché is selectively distributed to the favored daughter cell of an asymmetric division, which goes on to retain the stem cell characteristics. This cell is then able to expand its remnant portfolio to get a huge head start over the other daughter cell in building a new cilium.
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