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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 22, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Could 'Higgsogenesis' explain dark matter?- Signal and noise: Spike correlations in the olfactory system
- Chemical passwords could lead to unbreakable molecular lock
- Babies' number sense could predict future math skills
- Copper shock: An atomic-scale stress test
- Researchers advance scheme to design seamless integrated circuits etched on graphene
- Scientists discover satellites captured Chelyabinsk meteor debris trail
- Study documents heavy air pollution in Canadian area with cancer spikes
- Dig unearths 4,000 year old tomb of doctor to pharaohs
- Low-priced plastic photovoltaics
- Researchers develop 4D printing technology for composite materials
- Dubai inaugurates first phase of mega solar energy project
- Predicting the fate of stem cells
- Keeping it local: Protecting the brain starts at the synapse
- Apple unveils new Macs, iPad ahead of holidays (Update 3)
Space & Earth news
Global warming linked to wildfires, says UN climate chief
Wildfires are "absolutely" linked to global warming and increasingly intense heatwaves, the UN climate chief has said, as bushfires burned out of control in Australia.
Deepwater mining in Norway
The mid-ocean ridges where tectonic plates meet in the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans are seething with volcanic activity. The most active areas are deep under water, several thousand metres down. Ocean water penetrates several kilometres down towards the centre of the Earth where the crust is fractured. Geologists call this hydrothermal activity.
NASA sees hint of Typhoon Lekima's rapidly intensification
Tropical Storm Lekima intensified quickly early on Oct. 22 while traveling over the open waters of the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. The day before the rapid intensification, NASA's TRMM satellite passed overhead and analyzed the rainfall rates in the storm, spotting heavy rainfall in two quadrants.
NASA's Aqua satellite sees Typhoon Francisco approaching Japan
Typhoon Francisco was already spreading fringe clouds over southern Japan when NASA's Aqua satellite flew overhead and captured a picture of the storm from space.
US to stop printing nautical charts (Update)
The U.S. government is going into uncharted waters, doing away with deep-sixing the giant paper nautical charts that it has been printing for mariners for more than 150 years.
Hard cold work and unsung science heroes
The Sierra went down over the Arctic Ocean, about 60 miles from the northernmost tip of North America. One moment the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with its 20-foot wingspan was up in the sky, gathering "hard" data over frozen terrain to help climate scientists in comfortable offices make predictions about climate change. The next moment, the little aircraft was gone.
Dangerous pollution levels blight Chinese city
Thick smog enveloped a major Chinese city for a third day Tuesday, with schools and a regional airport shut and poor visibility forcing ground transport to a halt in places.
Europe's Planck telescope set for retirement
The deep-space Planck telescope will retire this week after a successful four-year mission that revealed our Universe to be 80 million years older than previously thought, the European Space Agency said as it prepared Monday for switch-off.
Cygnus cargo craft leaves international space station
A privately-operated unmanned cargo ship built by Orbital Sciences Corporation left the International Space Station on Tuesday after its first successful demonstration mission, NASA said.
Climate change increased the number of deaths
The increased temperatures caused by ongoing climate change in Stockholm, Sweden between 1980 and 2009 caused 300 more premature deaths than if the temperature increase did not take place. In Sweden as a whole, it would mean about 1,500 more premature deaths, according to a study from researchers at Umeå University published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
India sets November 5 for Mars mission launch
Scientists on Tuesday set November 5 for the delayed launch of India's first mission to Mars, which was postponed due to problems in positioning a seaborne tracking system.
NASA sees Atlantic depression become Tropical Storm Lorenzo
It took six hours for the thirteenth tropical depression of the Atlantic Ocean hurricane season to organize and strengthen into Tropical Storm Lorenzo. NASA's Aqua satellite captured a "before" image and NOAA's GOES satellite captured an "after" image of the depression's transition.
Classification system proposed for green roofs
Green roofs (or living roofs) are becoming a growing trend in North America – and have been long established in Europe – for their value in conserving energy, improving air quality, managing storm water runoff, beautifying cities and even having a positive psychological impact on communities. A University of Cincinnati researcher and landscape architect is now proposing a better way of identifying green roofs by their characteristics as well as their benefits. Virginia Russell, an associate professor in the UC College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP), will present her proposal on Oct. 24, at the 11th annual CitiesAlive Annual Green Roof and Wall Conference in San Francisco.
NASA sees Hurricane Raymond re-soaking Mexican coast
A month ago Hurricane Manuel caused landslides and extensive flooding along Mexico's Pacific Ocean coast. Recently formed Hurricane Raymond is expected to cause heavy rainfall in nearly the same area. NASA's TRMM satellite measured the rate of heavy rainfall that Raymond was generating over the Mexican coast.
Investment to limit climate change is lagging
Spending on measures to limit global warming declined last year, and was deeply inadequate to avoid its worst effects, said a climate finance analysis released in Copenhagen Tuesday.
A new idea for space tourism: Balloon over rocket
The latest space tourism venture depends more on hot air than rocket science.
The galactic mosh pit
Astronomers have discovered that our Galaxy wobbles. An international team of astronomers around Mary Williams from the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) detected and examined this phenomenon with the RAdial Velocity Experiment (RAVE), a survey of almost half a million stars around the Sun. In addition to the regular Galactic rotation the scientists found the Milky Way moving perpendicular to the Galactic plane.
How climate change affects microbial life below the seafloor
Traces of past microbial life in sediments off the coast of Peru document how the microbial ecosystem under the seafloor has responded to climate change over hundreds of thousands of years. For more than a decade scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology and their colleagues at MARUM and the University of Aarhus have investigated microbial life from this habitat. This "Deep Biosphere", reaching several hundred metres below the seafloor, is exclusively inhabited by microbes and is generally considered as stable. Nevertheless, only little is known about how this system developed over millennia and how this microbial life influences the cycling of carbon in the oceans. In a new study appearing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesDr. Sergio Contreras, a palaeoceanographer, and his Bremen colleagues use a careful examination of drill-cores from the continental shelf of Peru to actually show how surprisingly dynamic this deeply buried ecosy! stem can be.
Countdown to launch of ESA's billion-star surveyor Gaia
(Phys.org) —ESA's billion-star surveyor Gaia will be launched from Europe's spaceport in Kourou on 20 November to begin a five-year mission to map the stars with unprecedented precision.
Time is ripe for fire detection satellite, scientists say
As firefighters emerge from another record wildfire season in the Western United States, University of California, Berkeley, scientists say it's time to give them a 21st century tool: a fire-spotting satellite.
Study documents heavy air pollution in Canadian area with cancer spikes
Levels of contaminants higher than in some of the world's most polluted cities have been found downwind of Canada's largest oil, gas and tar sands processing zone, in a rural area where men suffer elevated rates of cancers linked to such chemicals.
Scientists discover satellites captured Chelyabinsk meteor debris trail
(Phys.org) —A team of researchers with members from Colorado State University, the University of Wisconsin and NOAA has found that several satellites orbiting the Earth at the time of the Chelyabinsk meteor explosion captured the debris trail on film. As the team explains in their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the captured images allowed for calculating the trajectory of the meteor and then its orbit.
Technology news
From exhaust gases to energy: Making combustion engines more efficient
Antoine Lavoisier's timeless statement about chemistry, which goes 'nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed' could easily be recycled into an EU motto for energy efficiency. Waste heat, for instance, is an important source of CO2 emissions from households, industry and transport which the EU seeks to tackle. But is there viable way to prevent this loss and convert it into additional power?
Mexicans create bracelet for geriatric surveillance
Researchers have lead a project to build the first medical surveillance bracelet for senior citizens.
Hurd tells CNBC that he's happy at Oracle
Oracle President Mark Hurd says he's not planning on becoming Microsoft's next CEO.
EU lawmakers push leaders on data privacy
European Union lawmakers on Tuesday urged heads of state and government to endorse a proposal for beefed-up data privacy laws ahead of a summit in Brussels later this week.
Amazon.com raises free shipping minimum to $35
Amazon.com customers will need to spend more money on the site in order to qualify for free shipping.
Amazon says to open two Czech centres
US online giant Amazon said Tuesday it would open two distribution centres in the Czech Republic by the end of 2014, a month after its German employees went on strike over pay.
CCTV claims Twitter feed 'targeted' after corruption tweet
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV claimed Tuesday its Twitter account had been "targeted", after a tweet appeared saying a former security chief was being probed for graft.
Corning shares jump on LCD glass deal with Samsung
Corning Inc. on Tuesday announced a tie-up with a Samsung Electronics subsidiary that will boost the glass maker's earnings immediately and guarantees that it will supply Samsung with liquid crystal display glass through 2023.
China Mobile profit down on tougher competition
China Mobile Ltd., the world's biggest phone carrier by subscribers, said its latest quarterly profit tumbled 8.7 percent due to tougher competition.
Media outlets urged to 'Share Stories' at Facebook
Facebook sought to entice media outlets to post more news stories at the leading social network Monday, helping pinpoint promising pieces—a tactic aimed at combating Twitter.
Base stations for 5G: Soon in our homes and on wheels?
In a few years, our mobile network will have to deal with a thousand times more the traffic it has to today. One possible solution is to place small base stations in our homes or cars. This is one of several proposals being examined at Chalmers University of Technology, in the work being performed for the next generation wireless system – 5G.
UN atomic agency suffers 'malware' attack
The UN atomic agency said Tuesday that some of its computers were infected by malicious software, in its second embarrassing IT slip-up over the past year.
Britain may hire hackers for cyber-defence
Britain may recruit convicted computer hackers to a new military unit dedicated to combatting cyber-attacks, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said.
Chinese state media sets sights on Samsung
China's state-run broadcaster launched a broadside against South Korean electronics giant Samsung, the latest foreign brand to be castigated by authorities in the world's second-largest economy.
Science fiction inspires innovation in real world
Carrie moves objects with her mind. Wolverine's skin heals instantly. And Darth Vader and Batman use lightsabers and grappling guns.
Scientists raise concerns about $60 billion nuclear weapons plan
The Energy Department's plan to modernize its aging nuclear weapons complex and update the seven hydrogen bomb designs in the nation's arsenal would require massive investments at a time of severe budget pressure.
German state bans student-teacher contact on Facebook
A German state has banned Facebook contact between students and teachers, citing the social media network's storage of personal data for commercial purposes, officials said Tuesday.
Lasers offer an automated way to test drinking water
To keep drinking water clean, experts are constantly monitoring our supply to check it for contaminants. Now laser technology will give them a helping hand: a new system automatically analyzes water samples at the waterworks itself.
Predicting the life expectancy of solar modules
Solar modules are exposed to many environmental influences that cause material to fatigue over the years. Researchers have developed a procedure to calculate effects of these influences over the long term. This allows reliable lifespan predictions.
Facebook works to warn users about violent content
Facebook announced Tuesday it was working on new ways to keep users from stumbling across gruesome content on its website following an outcry over the discovery of beheading videos there.
India's Wipro Q2 profit up 29%, beats forecasts
India's third-largest software firm Wipro on Tuesday reported quarterly net profit climbed 29 percent year-on-year, led by a jump in outsourcing orders as global business conditions improved.
Microsoft restores Windows RT 8.1 update
Microsoft says it has figured out what caused some Surface RT machines to shut down unexpectedly while downloading the free Windows RT 8.1 update, and has restored the update to the Windows Store.
Radioactive leaks top priority at Fukushima: nuclear watchdog
Contaminated water remains the greatest challenge at Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant after the 2011 meltdown, the worst atomic disaster in a generation, the UN's nuclear watchdog said Tuesday.
Americans compulsively check smartphones, survey finds
The majority of US smartphone owners compulsively check handsets at least hourly, according to survey results released on Tuesday by mobile security firm Lookout.
Apple says Mavericks operating system will be free
Apple says its latest operating system for Mac computers is available free of charge, a knock to rival Microsoft, which is selling its Windows 8 Pro operating system for $199.
Key features of Apple's new OS based on technology from UMass Amherst and Amherst College
With the release today of Apple's new operating system, "Mavericks," computer science professors and long-time friends Emery Berger at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Scott Kaplan of Amherst College are hoisting a beer to celebrate as "proud papas" of some key components based on their research.
Mexican diplomat says Obama promises NSA probe (Update)
President Barack Obama has promised an investigation into spying the U.S. reportedly did on Mexico's presidential email system, Mexico's top diplomat told reporters Tuesday. The White House said Mexico's concerns would be addressed as part of a broader examination of U.S. intelligence gathering.
Leaving the driving to a computer has big benefits
In some ways, computers make ideal drivers: They don't drink, do drugs, get distracted, fall asleep, run red lights or tailgate. And their reaction times are quicker.
EBay expands same-day delivery to more cities
EBay is expanding its same-day delivery service to more locations and letting buyers and sellers create "collections" of products available on its site as it moves beyond its roots as an online auctioneer.
Google announces 'Project Shield' help small sites ward off DDoS attacks
(Phys.org) —Google has announced a new initiative called Project Shield which the company describes as a program dedicated to helping smaller entities fend off Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. In particular, the company says, it's looking to help promote freedom of expression by assisting at-risk sites from going down due to DDoS attacks.
Dubai inaugurates first phase of mega solar energy project
Dubai inaugurated the first phase of a solar energy park on Tuesday as the Gulf emirate seeks to diversify its energy sources, official Emirati news agency WAM reported.
Medicine & Health news
Obama: 'No excuse' for health care signup problems
President Barack Obama on Monday offered "no excuses"—and little explanation—for the cascade of computer problems that are marring a key element in his health care law and giving his opponents fodder to criticize his signature legislative accomplishment.
Swiss pharma Novartis ups full-year sales outlook (Update)
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis AG raised its full-year sales outlook because of delays in generic competition to its blockbuster blood pressure drug Diovan, even though it said negative currency trends contributed to a 6 percent drop in its third-quarter net profit.
Japan whitening creams spark 15,000 complaints
More than 15,000 people in Japan have been left with skin blotches caused by a chemical contained in popular skin-whitening creams, the maker of the products said Tuesday.
Seniors rarely consider switching medicare plan, provider
(HealthDay)—Most seniors report being satisfied with Medicare coverage and most would not consider switching plan or provider even though the Medicare annual open enrollment period, which lasts from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, allows people the opportunity to make changes, according to a report from Allsup.
Small changes can help health service staff avoid burnout
A survey of nurses working with older adults across three National Health Service trusts in England explored how perceptions of the workplace affect nurse wellbeing. Standardised validated measures were used to assess burnout, perceived organisational support and organisational culture. Significant associations were found between innovative organisational culture and nurses' sense of personal accomplishment, which reduce the likelihood of burnout.
Professionals risk failing to spot abuse if they rely on children talking about it
Professionals working with children risk failing to identify abuse and neglect if they rely on children talking to them about it, according to research led by the University of East Anglia.
Clinical trials will improve treatment and follow-up
Three major clinical trials will help to develop and target treatment and follow-up of patients suffering from COPD, lung cancer and rheumatoid arthritis in Norway.
Research gives better understanding of performance urgent health care providers
Every year in the Netherlands, thousands of people still die after suffering from a heart attack or stroke, caused by the blocking of one or more blood vessels. With both conditions it is imperative to restore the blood flow to the organ as quickly as possible. Research indicates that often there is still too much time between a heart attack or stroke and admission to a hospital. In this, the patients themselves play a large role.
Large study to examine if vitamin D prevents diabetes
Researchers have begun the first definitive, large-scale clinical trial to investigate if a vitamin D supplement helps prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in adults who have prediabetes, who are at high risk for developing type 2. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the study is taking place at about 20 study sites across the United States.
Sequential GO and chemotherapy no benefit for older AML patients according to EORTC/GIMEMA trial
Results of the randomized, phase III, EORTC/GIMEMA 06012 intergroup trial (AML-17) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology show that sequential combination of gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) and standard chemotherapy provides no benefit for older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is too toxic for patients 70 years of age or more. GO is an antibody-drug conjugate comprised of an anti-CD33 monoclonal antibody linked to a cytotoxic agent.
Investigational PARP inhibitor promising in BRCA-related cancers
An investigational new PARP inhibitor, BMN 673, is showing early responses in patients with heavily pretreated, advanced, BRCA-related cancers of the breast and ovary, according to phase I clinical trial results presented here at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, held Oct. 19-23.
EU lawmakers move to tighten controls after implant scare
The European Parliament moved Tuesday to tighten controls on the safety of medical devices in the wake of a worldwide scare over faulty breast implants from France.
A new model of institutionalizing interdisciplinary research encouraged by scientists
Collegiate researchers from a variety of disciplines, communication, neuroscience, psychology, population studies, statistics, biomedical engineering, and pediatrics, to name just a few, have formed a collaboration of social and life scientists to formalize the process of cross-disciplinary scientific collaboration. This collaboration is meant to be a model of how to incorporate often disparate groups of researchers that study genes, brain, and environmental factors that matter to the outcomes of population. Critical to this collaboration is the acknowledgement that future research needs to focus on the examination of the broader population to provide better science on the lives of all individuals in our society.
Focus on developmental approach to obesity in children and adolescents
New studies of factors affecting the risk of obesity in children and adolescents—as well as promising approaches to prevention and treatment—are assembled in the special October Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, the official journal of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
Small group of homeless people are extremely high users of ERs
Although homeless people account for a small proportion of Emergency Department visits, a small group of them are extremely high users and have multiple complex health care needs, new research has found.
Homeless people much more frequent users of emergency department and other health-care services
Single women who are homeless visit a hospital Emergency Department an average of more than twice a year, 13 times more often than women in the general population, new research has found.
US Republicans vow no let up on 'Obamacare'
With America's budget battles over at least until December, Republicans stepped up attacks against their favorite target "Obamacare" on Tuesday, seizing on technical nightmares to try to delay its rollout.
Veterans who mismanage money four times more likely to become homeless
Military veterans who report having common financial problems, such as bouncing a check or going over their credit limit, are four times more likely to become homeless in the next year than veterans without such problems.
Xpert MTB/RIF test may improve diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in HIV-infected individuals
Tuberculous meningitis is a serious and often fatal illness that is difficult to diagnose particularly in resource-poor areas and is especially common in individuals infected with HIV. In this week's PLOS Medicine, Vinod B. Patel and colleagues used Xpert MTB/RIF, a newly available DNA test that can be used in resource-poor settings and is generally used to detect TB in sputum, to detect TB DNA in cerebrospinal fluid.
Amgen 3Q profit jumps 24 pct. on stronger sales
Biotech drugmaker Amgen Inc. said Tuesday that its third-quarter profit jumped 24 percent, trouncing analysts' expectations, as sales of more than a half-dozen of its drugs increased by double digits.
FDA probes dog illnesses tied to jerky treats
(HealthDay)—Meat or plant-based "jerky" pet treats have been tied to mysterious illnesses in thousands of dogs, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which is asking the public for help in getting to the bottom of the issue.
FDA warns of recalled compounded drugs in Michigan
The Food and Drug Administration is warning doctors, veterinarians and patients to avoid certain sterile drugs distributed by the Specialty Medicine Compounding Pharmacy of Michigan.
Moderate to vigorous exercise boosts teens' academic performance
Regular moderate to vigorous exercise improves teens' academic performance, and particularly seems to help girls do better in science, indicates research published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Adalimumab reduces inflammation in refractory pediatric uveitis
A new study published in the current issue of the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) suggests that the biologic agent adalimumab may be a viable treatment option for patients with steroid-resistant refractory pediatric uveitis. In a study of fifteen children with the disease 85.7% showed initial improvement of anterior/posterior chamber inflammatory activity after almost three months of treatment.
Spatial, written language skills predict math competence
Early math skills are emerging as important to later academic achievement. As many countries seek to strengthen their workforces in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, understanding the early contributions to math skills becomes increasingly vital. New longitudinal research from Finland has found that children's early spatial skills and knowledge of written letters, rather than oral language skills, predict competence in this area.
No evidence to support stem cell therapy for pediatric optic nerve hypoplasia
A study performed at Children's Hospital Los Angeles found no evidence that stem cell therapy improves vision for children with optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH). Their results are reported in the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS).
Foot and mouth disease in sub-Saharan Africa moves over short distances, wild buffalo are a problem
New research shows that in sub-Saharan Africa the virus responsible for foot and mouth disease (FMD) moves over relatively short distances and the African buffalo are important natural reservoirs for the infection. The study, published in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, sheds light on how the type of FMD virus called SAT 2 emerged in sub-Saharan Africa and identifies patterns of spread in countries where SAT 2 is endemic.
Pediatrician-led motivational interviews aid BMI control
(HealthDay)—For overweight children aged 4 to 7 years, an intervention comprised of pediatrician-led motivational interviews (MIs) is effective for body mass index (BMI) control, according to a study published online Oct. 21 in Pediatrics.
USPSTF: Evidence lacking for cognitive impairment testing
(HealthDay)—Screening instruments can detect dementia but there is insufficient evidence to determine the clinical effect of screening and interventions, according to a review conducted for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and published online Oct. 22 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Fit at 40: Ethiopian running legend shares his secrets
For anyone looking for the secret to staying fit into middle age, who better to ask than Haile Gebrselassie—the Ethiopian running legend who's still giving much younger men a run for their money.
Scientists synthesise new 'chimera' protein which could herald future drug treatments for chronic pain
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists have manufactured a new bio-therapeutic molecule that could be used to treat neurological disorders such as chronic pain and epilepsy.
Study of decline of malaria in the US could affect approach to malaria epidemic abroad, researcher says
(Medical Xpress)—A new UT Arlington study about the elimination of malaria in the 1930s American South may have significant implications for solving modern day malaria outbreaks in parts of Africa, Central and Latin America and Asia.
Researchers improve diabetes monitoring
A new way of monitoring blood glucose control in diabetes is a step closer to market thanks to a partnership between researchers from the University and leading medical device company glySure Ltd.
'Prehabilitation' prepares patients for hip and knee surgery
In less than 10 years, osteoarthritis has claimed both of Barbara Carson's knees and one of her hip joints. Yet it wasn't until the most recent surgery on her right knee that Carson heard the term "prehabilitation," let alone understood how it could affect her recovery.
Brain mapping study to improve outcomes for preterm infants
A University of Queensland study into how premature babies' brains develop will lead to the earlier diagnosis of brain impairment in preterm children.
Internet users more likely to engage in cancer-preventive behaviors
Older men and women who used the internet were more likely to participate in screening for colorectal cancer, participate in physical activities, eat healthily, and smoke less, compared with those who did not use the internet, according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Researchers test obesity, diabetes tool
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill researchers are testing a promising device that fights two of the most common health problems that Americans face - obesity and diabetes.
Smithsonian's 'bionic man' features artificial heart, prototype body parts
Frank's skeleton looks like it was made in a bike shop, his arms and hands operate on batteries and a computer program lets him have an "almost human-like conversation."
Talking directly to toddlers strengthens their language skills
(Medical Xpress)—Just as young children need nourishing food to build physical strength, they also need linguistic nutrition for optimal development of language and cognitive abilities.
Genome of one of the most aggressive lymphomas sequenced
Mantle cell lymphoma is a very aggressive and difficult to treat cancer originated in blood cells and lymph nodes. To identify the molecular alterations responsible for this tumor, and facilitate the development of new treatments, a team of scientists led by Dr. Xose S. Puente and Dr. Carlos López-Otín, at University of Oviedo, and Dr. Sílvia Beà and Dr. Elias Campo, at IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, have sequenced the genomes of over 30 of lymphomas. The result of this work, published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), presents the first comprehensive genomic analysis of this disease.
New evidence for the role of a specific virus causing type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a disease caused by the destruction of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. It is often diagnosed in childhood and requires life-long treatment with daily insulin injections. It is associated with an increased risk for long-term complications which decrease the quality of life and average life-expectancy.
New take on efficient delivery in regenerative medicine
An international research group has successfully tested the use of a new type of porous material for the efficient delivery of key molecules to transplanted cells derived from stem cells. These results can lead to improvements in the way stem cell-based neurodegenerative diseases are treated.
Rapid method to detect BRAF mutations in cancer tissue samples
A new diagnostic platform to detect BRAF mutations in melanoma and other cancer types is faster and more accurate compared with the standard method currently used in clinics, and this could help accelerate diagnosis and treatment, according to results presented here at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, held Oct. 19-23.
Coffee consumption reduces risk of liver cancer
Coffee consumption reduces risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, by about 40 percent, according to an up-to-date meta-analysis published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association. Further, some data indicate that three cups of coffee per day reduce liver cancer risk by more than 50 percent.
New biomarker may help guide treatment of melanoma patients
A functional biomarker that can predict whether BRAF-mutant melanomas respond to drugs targeting BRAF could help guide the treatment of patients with these cancers, according to results presented here at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, held Oct. 19 – 23.
New program makes prostate cancer treatment decisions easier
When the pros and cons of prostate cancer treatment are spelled out using an online interactive program developed by Thomas Jefferson University researchers, more patients choose active surveillance over therapy, according to research being presented Wednesday (October 23rd) at the Society for Medical Decision Making annual meeting in Baltimore, Maryland.
Opioids for chronic pain: Study looks at how patients and their doctors talk about risks
Although the popular press—from entertainment news to the crime blotter—has paid significant attention to the dangers of hydrocodone, oxycodone and other opioids, little is known about whether and how this issue comes up in discussions between chronic pain patients and their physicians.
GW researcher conducts review of most successful outside interventions in reducing ED use
In recent years, many groups, including policy makers and health systems, have looked for ways to reduce the number of visits to the emergency department (ED) as a way to lower costs and improve the quality of care. Research conducted by Jesse Pines, M.D., director of the Office of Clinical Practice Innovation and professor of emergency medicine at the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences, explored interventions that had been implemented outside of EDs that were designed to reduce ED use. For the most part, published interventions have been successful. However, the degree to which they reduced ED visits varied widely. Pines' systematic review, published in the journal Academic Emergency Medicine, found that two-thirds of the published studies on the topic show actual reductions in ED use.
For low-income families, substandard housing takes toll on children
A new report from researchers at Boston College and Tufts University shows the distinct emotional and educational price children pay when their families live in run down apartments and homes.
Flavored small cigars are popular with kids, study finds
Small cigars flavored to taste like candy or fruit are popular among U.S. teens, according to the first government study to gauge their use.
FDA reviews two promising new drugs for hepatitis C
Doctors may soon have two new drug options to treat patients with hepatitis C, just as the liver-destroying virus becomes a major public health issue for millions of Americans reaching retirement age.
Study points to possible treatment for brain disorders
Clemson University scientists are working to determine how neurons are generated, which is vital to providing treatment for neurological disorders like Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC).
Research backlog at NIH due to shutdown
(HealthDay)—It will take some time before research programs return to normal at the U.S. National Institutes of Health after the end of the federal government shutdown, officials say.
Scribes can be beneficial in medical practices
(HealthDay)—Medical scribes can accurately document physician or independent practitioner dictation and activities, allowing providers to spend more time with patients, according to an article published Oct. 10 in Medical Economics.
Varying radiation exposure in cath lab procedures analyzed
(HealthDay)—Endovascular peripheral procedures are associated with higher radiation exposure for catheterization laboratory operators than coronary procedures, according to a study published in the October issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.
Pill effects on breast, ovarian CA same in high-risk women
(HealthDay)—Among women who are BRCA1/2 mutation carriers, the associations between ever use of oral contraceptives (OCs) and ovarian and breast cancers are similar to those observed in the general population, according to research published online Oct. 21 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
What a difference a grade makes
When it comes to children's attention problems, the difference between first and second grade is profound, says a new study from Duke University.
Brief risk-reduction counseling at time of HIV testing does not result in reduction in rate of STIs
Brief risk-reduction counseling at the time of a rapid human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test was not effective for reducing new sexually transmitted infections (STIs) during the subsequent 6 months among persons at risk for HIV, according to a study in the October 23/30 issue of JAMA.
Flu vaccine associated with lower risk of cardiovascular events
Receiving an influenza vaccination was associated with a lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events such as heart failure or hospitalization for heart attack, with the greatest treatment effect seen among patients with recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS; such as heart attack or unstable angina), according to a meta-analysis published in the October 23/30 issue of JAMA.
Researchers propose social network modeling to fight hospital infections
Two researchers at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business have teamed up with a researcher at American University to develop a framework to help prevent costly and deadly infections acquired by hospitalized patients. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), these transmissions strike one out of every 20 inpatients, drain billions of dollars from the national health care system and cause tens of thousands of deaths annually.
Intranasal application of hormone appears to enhance placebo response
The hormone oxytocin may mediate processes such as empathy, trust, and social learning. These are key elements of the patient-physician relationship, which is an important mediator of placebo responses, according to background information in a Research Letter appearing in the October 23/30 issue of JAMA. Simon Kessner, of the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, and colleagues conducted a study to test whether oxytocin enhances the placebo response in an experimental placebo analgesia model.
Genetic variation alters efficacy of antidepressant
Having a different form of a gene that regulates the brain chemical noradrenaline influences how well men remember negative memories after taking the antidepressant drug reboxetine, according to a study published in the October 23 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. The findings demonstrate how genes can influence antidepressant response.
RNA signatures from suspected TB patients could form the basis of a diagnostic test
A set of RNA transcriptional signatures expressed in the blood of patients might provide the basis of a diagnostic test that can distinguish active tuberculosis (TB) from latent TB and also from other diseases that have similar clinical symptoms and signs according to research published in this week's PLOS Medicine.
HIV elimination in South Africa could be achieved by current treatment policy
The current antiretroviral treatment policy in South Africa could lead to elimination of HIV within the country over the next 24 to 34 years, but a universal test and treat (UTT) approach could achieve elimination 10 years earlier according to new research published this week in PLOS Medicine.
Five years on, first ever tissue-engineered airway transplant remains successful
New results published in The Lancet today [Wednesday 23 October] reveal that five years after the first successful transplantation of a tissue-engineered airway (reported in The Lancet in 2008 [1]) the recipient continues to enjoy a good quality of life, and has not experienced any immunological complications or rejection of the implanted airway.
Colon cancer screening guidelines may miss 10 percent of colon cancers
For people with a family history of adenomas (colon polyps that lead to colon cancer), up to 10 percent of colorectal cancers could be missed when current national screening guidelines are followed. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States and the second deadliest.
Docs get more precise about full-term pregnancy
U.S. obstetricians are getting more precise about exactly what determines a full-term pregnancy.
Neural activity in the brain is harder to disrupt when we are aware of it
We consciously perceive just a small part of the information processed in the brain – but which information in the brain remains unconscious and which reaches our consciousness remains a mystery. However, neuroscientists Natalia Zaretskaya and Andreas Bartels from the Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN) at the University of Tübingen have now come one step closer to answering this question.
Light as medicine? Researchers reveal how specific wavelengths of light can heal
Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes progressive paralysis by destroying nerve cells and the spinal cord. It interrupts vision, balance and even thinking.
Keeping it local: Protecting the brain starts at the synapse
New research by scientists at UC San Francisco shows that one of the brain's fundamental self-protection mechanisms depends on coordinated, finely calibrated teamwork among neurons and non-neural cells knows as glial cells, which until fairly recently were thought to be mere support cells for neurons. The study, which has implications for understanding neurodegenerative diseases, stroke, and other nervous system disorders, adds to a growing body of evidence that glial cells are integral to brain function.
Gene-silencing strategy opens new path to understanding Down Syndrome
The first evidence that the underlying genetic defect responsible for trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome, can be suppressed in laboratory cultures of patient-derived stem cells was presented today (Oct. 22) at the American Society of Human Genetics 2013 annual meeting in Boston.
New artificial protein mimics a part of the HIV outer coat
A team of scientists at Duke Medicine and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has created an artificial protein coupled with a sugar molecule that mimics a key site on the outer coat of HIV where antibodies can bind to neutralize a wide variety of HIV strains.
Delaying gratification, when the reward is under our noses
How can some people resist the attraction of immediate pleasures and pursue long-term goals, while others easily succumb and compromise their ultimate expectations? A recent study led by researchers at the Brain and Spine Institute in Paris have found that the brain's memory systems help in resisting temptations. One factor which might explain the difference in people's ability to resist temptation might lie in the activity of a deep brain structure: the hippocampus.
Babies' number sense could predict future math skills
(Medical Xpress)—Infants have a primitive number sense that allows them to recognize whether a group of objects has changed in size. Scientists have suspected a correlation between this innate number sense in infancy and future mathematical ability, but until recently, have been unable to prove its existence. Now, Elizabeth Brannon of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina and her colleagues have confirmed this correlation by testing six-month-olds for their innate number sense and then retesting the same children for mathematical aptitude three years later. The research appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Signal and noise: Spike correlations in the olfactory system
(Medical Xpress)—The olfactory system is a particular favorite among the many who study neural coding. One reason for this is that presentation of a single odorant to an otherwise featureless smellscape, at least in theory, provides an ideal and dimensionless event for the olfactory front end to code. There is ample evidence that within the olfactory bulb, odors are represented by spatial patterns of activity. There is also evidence that odors are captured by individual cells through spike timing, pattern, and their phase relative to the respiratory cycle. As expected, there is also much suggestion to the contrary for each of these cases. A new study done by researchers from Carnegie Mellon reports that the identity of an odor directly influences the amount of correlation, or linked firing, in the spikes of the output cells of the bulb. In their recent paper published in PNAS, they show that this correlation originates primarily from the act of sniffing itself, with sign! ificant contributions also arising from the local circuit connections (within a few cell diameters) in the bulb, while the odor itself contributes only a small portion of the correlation.
Biology news
Antarctic nations face off again over sanctuary plans
Nations pushing to create vast ocean sanctuaries off Antarctica that cover an area the size of India hope to overcome objections to their plans at talks this week in Australia.
Sheep wool growth boosted by reducing cortisol
University of Adelaide researchers have shown that sheep wool growth can be significantly boosted by manipulating the stress hormone, cortisol, in their pregnant mothers.
New 'condor cam' captures rare giant bird in wild
A solar-powered "condor cam" in the hills of Big Sur, on the Central California coast, allows the public to view North America's largest birds in the wild from the comfort of home.
California 'sea serpents' draw gawkers
The silvery carcasses of two giant oarfish were discovered along the Southern California coast last week, baffling scientists and gaining a growing online following who gawked at the bony, snake-like creatures.
Do bats eat mozzies or moths? The clue is in the poo
Bats fascinate me. So, naturally, does their diet. Recent research showed that bats made "feeding buzzes" over saltmarsh habitats. These habitats are full of mosquitoes and this specific buzz is made only when bats are hunting. Radio-tracked bats also seem to follow mosquitoes between habitats. The assumption then was that bats ate mosquitoes. Sadly, that does not say much.
Veterinary scientists track the origin of a deadly emerging pig virus in the United States
Veterinary researchers at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech have helped identify the origin and possible evolution of an emerging swine virus with high mortality rates that has already spread to at least 17 states.
New insight on wild nights: Study examines influence of moonlight on predators and prey
It sounds like a scene straight from "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom"—by day, lions lounge under shade trees, but by night, the big cats rule the savannah, relying on a combination of exceptional vision and moonlight to bring down unsuspecting prey.
Warmer beaches influence sex ratios of loggerhead hatchlings
While Dirk Hartog Island is the southernmost rookery for loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), UWA and Murdoch University biologists say climate change may ultimately lead to the species nesting successfully on beaches further south.
Combining profiling and genomics yields novel metabolites
Researchers studied 10 different cyanobacteria to identify their secondary metabolites (compounds produced during normal cellular metabolism not directly involved in cell growth, that may play an important role in interactions outside the cell) and the genes linked to those molecules.
Fat and fit: How dormice make optimal use of their body fat reserves
Edible dormice store considerable amounts of fat in summer. Their fat reserves are necessary for them to survive a long hibernation—on average 8 months—in underground cavities. But how do hibernators allocate surplus body fat reserves to optimize survival? Researchers at the Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology of the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, have found that animals with larger fat reserves prefer boosting their metabolism more often to shortening their hibernation. The results are published in the journal Functional Ecology.
The mysterious scarab beetles: Two new species of the endangered ancient genus Gyronotus
Famous as the sacred beetles of ancient Egypt the scarab beetle group in fact represents much greater diversity around the globe. Some of the most vulnerable representatives are contained in the flightless genus Gyronotus, which currently includes six known species. A recent study published in the open access journal Zookeys describes two new species with unusual distribution from southern Africa.
The yin and yang in the life of proteins: Two opposing mechanisms regulate the transport of proteins in peroxisomes
Recycling or "scrap press": physicians at the Ruhr-Universität have found out which molecular mechanisms decide about the fate of the import receptor Pex18. Pex18 is responsible for the import of proteins into specific cell components, namely peroxisomes. Two opposing regulatory circuits determine whether the receptor remains active or is broken down after the transport has been completed. "Thus, the picture of the regulation of the protein import into peroxisomes has been completed and integrated to form one single model," says Junior Professor Dr Harald Platta from the RUB Faculty of Medicine. Together with Prof Dr Ralf Erdmann and other colleagues he reports in the journal Traffic.
Surprises discovered in decoded kiwifruit genome
(Phys.org) —A new study that decoded the DNA sequence of the kiwifruit has concluded that the fruit has many genetic similarities between its 39,040 genes and other plant species, including potatoes and tomatoes. The study also has unveiled two major evolutionary events that occurred millions of years ago in the kiwifruit genome.
Study suggests common pesticide clothianidin causes immunity problems in bees
(Phys.org) —A team of researchers with members from several universities in Italy has found that exposure to the common pesticide clothianidin can cause immunity problems in honeybees, leading to an increased risk of dying from common viral infections. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers found that exposure to clothianidin resulted in an increase in a family of proteins that inhibit the development of other proteins that are involved in the immune process.
Model plant misled scientists about multicellular growth
Scientists have misunderstood one of the most fundamental processes in the life of plants because they have been looking at the wrong flower, according to University of Leeds researchers.
Predicting the fate of stem cells
University of Toronto researchers have developed a method that can rapidly screen human stem cells and better control what they will turn into. The technology could have potential use in regenerative medicine and drug development. Findings are published in this week's issue of the journal Nature Methods.
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