Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for November 22, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Colossal new predatory dino terrorized early tyrannosaurs- Suspected dust ring in Venus's orbit confirmed
- Copper nanowires offer an efficient, inexpensive approach to solar energy harvesting
- Pre-industrial rise in methane gas had natural and anthropogenic causes
- An inside look at metal-organic framework in action
- Xbox One makes hot debut as console war revs up
- Physicists find doubly transient chaos can emerge due to dissipation
- Epigenetic changes may explain chronic kidney disease
- Web inventor: Surveillance threatens democracy (Update)
- Kateeva announces YIELDjet—technique for printing OLEDs cheaper
- In plant photosynthesis, scientists see clues for improving solar energy cells
- New microscope captures movements of atoms and molecules
- Greenland's shrunken ice sheet: We've been here before
- Acid raid, ozone depletion contributed to ancient extinction
- 'Wise chisels': Art, craftsmanship, and power tools (w/ Video)
Space & Earth news
Final push in troubled UN climate talks
Bleary-eyed ministers began a final push on Friday to lay the groundwork at UN climate talks in Warsaw for a new, global deal to stave off planetary disaster.
Image: Qarhan Salt Lake
This false-colour composite image from the Kompsat-2 satellite shows part of the Qarhan Salt Lake on the Tibetan Plateau in China.
Image: A portrait of global winds
High-resolution global atmospheric modeling provides a unique tool to study the role of weather within Earth's climate system. NASA's Goddard Earth Observing System Model (GEOS-5) is capable of simulating worldwide weather at resolutions as fine as 3.5 kilometers.
NASA, planetary resources sign agreement to crowdsource asteroid detection
NASA and Planetary Resources Inc., of Bellevue, Wash., are partnering to develop crowd-sourced software solutions to enhance detection of near-Earth objects using agency-funded data. The agreement is NASA's first partnership associated with the agency's Asteroid Grand Challenge.
Predicting climate-change-related disease in Africa
It is common knowledge that climate change particularly affects developing countries, but its effects on health are still very hard to predict. In a joint effort to bridge this gap, the QWECI project set out to assist medical practitioners and public health decision-makers in allocating resources and implementing preventative measures ahead of disease epidemics.
Video: Guide to our Galaxy
This virtual journey shows the different components that make up our home galaxy, the Milky Way, which contains about a hundred billion stars.
TU Delft launches Delfi-n3Xt satellite
On the morning of the 21st of November, the Delfi-n3Xt was launched from a base in Yasny, Russia. At 9.47, Mission Control in Delft made its first successful contact with the satellite. For almost five years now, students and staff of TU Delft have been working on the Delfi-n3Xt, the second satellite to be built by a Dutch university. The Delfi-n3Xt was launched into space together with dozens of other satellites by a Russian Dnepr rocket. The satellite was developed in collaboration with the Dutch aerospace industry. The aerospace solutions company ISIS, a successful TU Delft spin-off, controlled the launch from their ground station in Russia.
New film explores trade-offs between food and hydropower in Cambodia
A new, short film titled Hydropower Impacts and Alternatives was released in Cambodia this month, focusing on the potentially harmful effects and unintended consequences of the ongoing and future development of 42 dams in Cambodia's 3-S basin within the Greater Mekong River system. Recognizing the importance of hydropower to Cambodia's economic development, but also warning about threats to fisheries and food security for the country's people, the scientific community is using the film and the data within it to recommend a moratorium on the planned dams in the 3-S basin until a more thorough impact assessment can be made and tradeoffs or consequences can be determined.
Watch PBS NOVA's "Asteroid—Doomsday or Payday?"
Last night, the US PBS television stations aired a new show from the series NOVA, "Asteroid—Doomsday or Payday." It portrayed the two sides of asteroids: if a large asteroid collides with Earth, it could set off deadly blast waves, raging fires and colossal tidal waves. But on the other hand, some asteroids are loaded with billions of dollars' worth of elements like iron, nickel, and platinum, and companies like Planetary Resources are trying to figure out how to take advantage of those elusive resources in space.
NASA sees Cyclone Helen making landfall in eastern India
NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Cyclone Helen as it was making landfall in eastern India on November 22.
Extra-Tropical Storm Melissa spinning into history
The National Hurricane Center issued their final advisory on Extra-Tropical Storm Melissa as it spins toward to Azores Islands and weakens.
SOFIA's target of opportunity: Comet ISON
NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) embarked on a "target of opportunity" flight recently that included study of Comet ISON. The lengthy mission was SOFIA's second opportunity to capture data on a comet, having previously studied Comet Hartley 2 in 2010. For the Comet ISON observations, the target was predicted to be – and was—very faint.
Nuclear technology: Keeping your food safe
As we sit down to our Thanksgiving dinners next week, we probably won't be thinking about radiation.
ESA launches Swarm research satellites in Russia (Update)
The European Space Agency (ESA) on Friday launched a trio of hi-tech satellites on an unprecedented mission to map anomalies in Earth's magnetic field.
Drought likely to persist or develop in the Southwest, Southeastern US this winter
No strong climate pattern influence anticipated through upcoming winter season.
NASA halts work on its new nuclear generator for deep space exploration
Another blow was dealt to deep space exploration this past weekend. The announcement comes from Jim Green, NASA's Planetary Science Division Director. The statement outlines some key changes in NASA's radioisotope program, and will have implications for the future exploration of the outer solar system.
Expert assessment: Sea-level rise could exceed one meter in this century
In contrast, for a scenario with strong emissions reductions, experts expect a sea-level rise of 40-60 centimeters by 2100 and 60-100 centimeters by 2300. The survey was conducted by a team of scientists from the USA and Germany.
NASA sees Tropical Cyclone Alessia form, threaten western Australia
The low pressure area previously known as System 90S has continued organizing and consolidating and infrared data from NASA's Aqua satellite helped confirm its strengthening into Cyclone Alessia in the Southern Indian Ocean. Alessia formed off of Western Australia's Kimberley coast and the first Cyclone Warnings and Watches of the season are now in effect.
Research highlights urgency of reducing carbon dioxide emissions
(Phys.org) —Just-published research from Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Oxford highlights the urgency of reducing global emissions of carbon dioxide.
NASA spacecraft begins collecting lunar atmosphere data
(Phys.org) —NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) is ready to begin collecting science data about the moon.
Your house is full of space dust – it reveals the solar system's story
When you clean your house you are probably vacuuming up space dust. Not kidding. It is the same dust that was once part of comets and asteroids. You see that dust in the faint glow it helps create before sunrise and after sunset. As much as 40,000 tons of space dust arrives on Earth every year.
Greenland's shrunken ice sheet: We've been here before
Think Greenland's ice sheet is small today? It was smaller—as small as it has ever been in recent history—from 3-5,000 years ago, according to scientists who studied the ice sheet's history using a new technique they developed for interpreting the Arctic fossil record.
Acid raid, ozone depletion contributed to ancient extinction
Around 250 million years ago, at the end of the Permian period, there was a mass extinction so severe that it remains the most traumatic known species die-off in Earth's history. Some researchers have suggested that this extinction was triggered by contemporaneous volcanic eruptions in Siberia. New results from a team including Director of Carnegie's Department of Terrestrial Magnetism Linda Elkins-Tanton show that the atmospheric effects of these eruptions could have been devastating. Their work is published in Geology.
NASA's solar observing fleet to watch Comet ISON's journey around the Sun
It began in the Oort cloud, almost a light year away. It has traveled for over a million years. It has almost reached the star that has pulled it steadily forward for so long. On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, 2013, Comet ISON will finally sling shot around the sun. Here its inward journey through the solar system will end—either because it will break up due to intense heat and gravity of the sun, or because, still intact, it speeds back away, never to return.
Pre-industrial rise in methane gas had natural and anthropogenic causes
(Phys.org) —For years scientists have intensely argued over whether increases of potent methane gas concentrations in the atmosphere – from about 5,000 years ago to the start of the industrial revolution – were triggered by natural causes or human activities.
Suspected dust ring in Venus's orbit confirmed
(Phys.org) —A trio of researchers from The Open University and the University of Central Lancashire in the U.K., has confirmed that a ring of dust surrounds the sun in the orbit of Venus. In their paper published in the journal Science, the team describes how they used data from NASA's twin STEREO probes to confirm the existence of the dust ring.
Technology news
Rights groups urge UN to back privacy protection (Update)
Human rights groups urged the U.N. General Assembly Thursday to approve a resolution to protect the right to privacy against unlawful surveillance in the digital age and criticized the U.S. and its key allies for trying to weaken it.
Sony targets $250M in cuts to movie studio
Sony Corp. says it plans to cut $250 million in annual costs from its movie studio by its fiscal year that ends in March 2016.
Enhanced power transmission for HVDC
Siemens is researching new technology to enhance the efficiency of high-voltage direct-current transmission (HVDCT). This minimizes losses during power transmission and is one of the key technologies required to make better use of renewable sources of energy for the power grid. A research project launched by Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) aims to improve power conversion both at the beginning and the end of the HVDCT line. Using the technologies under research, the cost of these converter stations could be cut by as much as 20 percent and power density increased by a third. Further synergies will be created when these new technologies are used in conjunction with power generated from wind turbines.
Wireless sensors for commissioning of rail vehicles
A network of wireless sensors should soon be simplifying the process of commissioning rail vehicles. Experts from Siemens have developed a wireless sensor system that measures the mechanical loads to which a rail vehicle is subjected during operation. As reported in the latest edition of the Siemens research magazine Pictures of the Future, the sensors measure, for example, the degree of vibration at various points. For this purpose, they require very little energy and, thanks to wireless technology, can be used without the need to lay cables.
Testing cloud invention to prevent natural disaster outages
When a major weather event occurs, such as last year's deadly and destructive Super Storm Sandy, data network operators may have just a few hours or even less to protect critical communications systems before disaster strikes, but moving voice and data application and services to a safe location–a process called re-provisioning–typically takes days. The cloud computing disaster prevention invention that IBM and Marist are currently testing could slash re-provisioning time from days to minutes—avoiding costly network disruptions and outages.
A new collaboration era for the building sector
Building projects require processing and communication of large amounts of complex data. Now, software solutions make it possible to retrieve details of a given project at any time.
Some glitches as online betting starts in NJ
New Jersey has begun a five-day test of its new Internet gambling systems to shake out any bugs before the anticipated statewide launch next week.
Gamblers in other states tried to bet online in NJ
Would-be gamblers from at least 23 states tried to log onto casino gambling websites in the first night of New Jersey's test of online betting.
LG admits collecting smart TV viewer habits data
South Korea's LG Electronics said Friday it would correct a "bug" on some of its smart TVs after admitting they send information about viewers back to the company without their permission.
NJ becoming 3rd state to offer Internet gambling
New Jersey is allowing adults in the state to click a mouse or swipe a screen for a chance to win money, making it only the third state to offer online gambling.
Founder faces tough battle on return to Taiwan's Acer
The founder of Taiwanese personal computer maker Acer has returned as its head to help turn around the firm's fortunes but analysts warn it has a tough fight in its attempts to expand in the mobile device market.
iPhone maker Foxconn invests $40 million in US
Taiwan's Foxconn, the maker of iPhones, iPads and other electronics in China, said Thursday it would invest $40 million in the United States to ramp up manufacturing of high-end products.
Unravelling the mind-body connection with power-efficient IC chip
Despite the advances in neuroscience research, the human brain remains a complex puzzle with questions unanswered about how it controls human behaviour, cognitive functions and movements. Scientists from A*STAR Institute of Microelectronics, Nanyang Technological University and National University of Singapore have jointly developed and demonstrated an integrated circuit (IC) chip with record-low power consumption for direct recording of brain activities. This breakthrough minimises the patient's exposure to electromagnetic radiation and heat during the recording process, making it possible to integrate greater number of channels (>100 channels) to acquire more comprehensive profile of brain signals, paving the way to unlock the mystery behind the complex mind-body connection.
Intel shares drop after 2014 forecast
Intel Corp. shares are dropping on the chipmaker's disappointing forecast for 2014.
Microsoft's opens facility to crack down on cybercriminals
In a building on the north side of Microsoft Corp.'s Redmond, Wash., campus, there is much talk of stopping the bad guys.
Power boosting self-cleaning solar panels
High-power, self-cleaning solar panels might be coming soon to a roof near you. There are two obvious problems with photovoltaic cells, solar panels. First, they are very shiny and so a lot of the incident sunlight is simply reflected back into the sky rather than being converted into electricity. Secondly, they get dirty with dust and debris caught on the wind and residues left behind by rain and birds. Now, research published in the International Journal of Nanomanufacturing suggests that it might be possible to add a nanoscopic relief pattern to the surface of solar cells that makes them non-reflective significantly boosting efficiency and at the same time making them highly non-stick and self-cleaning.
Breakthrough adds a new dimension to printing (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) —Mechanical and Materials Engineering professor Jun Yang said there's a Chinese saying that "people cannot use a basket to draw water."
A new multilayer-based grating for hard X-ray grating interferometry
(Phys.org) —A new kind of x-ray multilayer grating that could open a pathway for high-sensitivity, hard x-ray phase contrast full-field imaging of large samples has been developed by researchers at the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Energy Office's (DOE's) Argonne National Laboratory, and Penn State University. In tests at the DOE Office of Science's Advanced Photon Source at Argonne, the device produced phase-contrast images of vascular structures in a mouse kidney specimen that rival those obtained with magnetic resonance imaging. Such soft-tissue structures were previously invisible to conventional attenuation-based x-ray imaging methods.
Web inventor: Surveillance threatens democracy (Update)
The scientist credited with inventing the World Wide Web spoke out Friday against what he called a "growing tide of surveillance and censorship," warning that it is threatening the future of democracy.
Kateeva announces YIELDjet—technique for printing OLEDs cheaper
(Phys.org) —A silicon valley based company called Kateeva has announced that it has developed a printing technique for mass production of OLED displays that is far cheaper that that used currently by other manufactures—they call it YIELDjet.
In plant photosynthesis, scientists see clues for improving solar energy cells
Solar cells optimized to suit local light conditions, or made more efficient by using a broader part of the solar spectrum, are among the imaginative applications foreseen from ground-breaking new insights into plant photosynthesis pioneered in Canada.
'Wise chisels': Art, craftsmanship, and power tools (w/ Video)
It's often easy to tell at a glance the difference between a mass-produced object and one that has been handcrafted: The handmade item is likely to have distinctive imperfections and clear signs of an individual's technique and style.
Medicine & Health news
Poetry breaks through fog of Alzheimer's sufferers
The teenager's voice breaks the silence that hangs over the dozing, grey-haired figures. "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you," she recites—"you'll be a man, my son", finishes one of the pensioners, with a burst of recognition.
Students edge China jobs race by a nose
Battling for jobs with millions of other new graduates, Chinese students are turning to plastic surgery for an advantage—with one clinic offering noses inspired by the Eiffel Tower.
Film shows that having HIV in Africa is no longer a death sentence
A new documentary produced by the University of East Anglia reveals how the lives of people with HIV in Africa have been transformed by antiretroviral therapy (ART) and highlights the crucial need for continued funding of the lifesaving treatment.
Does baby poo hold the key to preventing killer disease?
Flinders researchers in conjunction with the CSIRO are on the hunt for baby poo, which they hope may hold the key to treating one of the developing world's most common childhood killers – acute diarrhoea.
Bootcamp targets gap in radiation oncologist training
For the patient with laryngeal cancer – a cancer of the voice box – radiation therapy can be a lifeline. Alternately, it could be the thing that takes the patient's voice, before the disease takes their life.
Studies identify cell-signaling pathway alterations responsible for melanoma drug resistance
Genomic profiling of treatment-resistant, BRAF-mutated melanomas revealed multiple gene alterations, mostly involving a cell-signaling pathway called the MAPK pathway, and more potent forms of existing drugs and drugs targeting the protein ERK may provide durable control of the disease, according to two studies published in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Pinpointing the connection between diet and dementia
Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative disorder affecting between 50 percent and 70 percent of all dementia sufferers. As neurons are killed slowly yet progressively, sufferers experience memory loss and confusion, which worsens over time.
Children's health: Many answers already available
The government's Health Committee report released this week includes 12 key recommendations for building a better future for New Zealand children and much of the research needed is already underway in the ground-breaking Growing Up in New Zealand study.
Spanish scientists grow artificial skin using umbilical stem cells
This important scientific breakthrough, developed by the University of Granada, will aid the immediate use of artificially-grown skin for major burn patients, since the skin could be stored in tissue banks and made available when needed.
Using data to fight malaria
The University of California, Riverside announced today that it is a Grand Challenges Explorations winner, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Yanping Chen will pursue an innovative global health and development research project, titled "Using Sensors to Understand Insect-Vectored Diseases and Plan Effective Interventions."
50 years later, the Kennedy assassination still haunts a generation
(HealthDay)—Alan Hilfer remembers precisely where he was when he heard the news 50 years ago today.
Researchers pioneer first patient-specific 3-D virtual birth simulator
Computer scientists from the University of East Anglia are working to create a virtual birthing simulator that will help doctors and midwives prepare for unusual or dangerous births.
Cannabis use among teens is on the rise in some developing countries
It's common to associate cannabis use with affluent youth in wealthy societies. But the relationship between societal and family affluence and cannabis use appears to be changing. A study published online today in the scientific journal Addiction reveals that cannabis use is declining in rich countries but stable or increasing in developing countries.
What not to do for migraines
(HealthDay)—Prescription pain medications should not be the first treatment for migraines. And doctors shouldn't routinely order brain scans for patients with these debilitating headaches, according to new guidelines.
Laser toys can damage eyes, report says
(HealthDay)—Popular laser toys can cause serious and potentially permanent eye damage, a new report warns.
You might see better in your eye doctor's office
(HealthDay)—Researchers warn that patients who see perfectly well in their eye doctor's office often end up seeing considerably less well in the comfort of their own home.
3D imaging captures changes in port wine stains
(HealthDay)—Three-dimensional (3D) high precision surface imaging can be used to monitor changes in the area and volume of port wine stains following laser treatment, according to a study published online Oct. 24 in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
Central adiposity linked to risk of esophageal cancer
(HealthDay)—A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies shows that central adiposity, independent of body mass index (BMI), is associated with increased risk of esophageal inflammation, metaplasia, and adenocarcinoma, according to research published in the November issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Qatar announces fourth MERS death
An expatriate living in Qatar has died of MERS, bringing to four the number of deaths in the Gulf state from the coronavirus, health authorities said on Friday.
Preschoolers exposure to television can stall their cognitive development
Television is a powerful agent of development for children, particularly those in preschool. But when could too much TV be detrimental to a young child's mind? A recent paper published in the Journal of Communication found that preschoolers who have a TV in their bedroom and are exposed to more background TV have a weaker understanding of other people's beliefs and desires.
Time flies when you are... looking at an unattractive face
The common expression 'time flies when you're having fun' suggests that people's perception of duration is moderated by the impact of their emotions and the activities they are performing; in other words, emotions such as fear or sadness affect people's perception of time. Now, a study among female students suggests that visual stimuli, such as attractive or unattractive faces, can make time fly or drag.
Cancer treatment: A step towards personalized chronotherapy
Cancer chronotherapy consists in administering treatment at an optimal time. Because the body is governed by precise biological rhythms, the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs can be doubled and their toxicity reduced five-fold depending on the exact timing of their administration. However, important differences in biorhythms exist between individuals, which chronotherapy has not been able to take into account until now. An international study conducted on mice and coordinated by researchers from Inserm, CNRS and Universit Paris-Sud has paved the way towards personalized chronotherapy treatments. In an article published in the journal Cancer Research, the team has shown that the timing of optimal tolerance to irinotecan, a widely used anti-cancer drug, varies by 8 hours depending on the sex and genetic background of mice. They then developed a mathematical model that makes it possible to predict, for each animal, the optimal timing for administering the drug. They now hope t! o test this model on other drugs used in chemotherapy.
Don't overlook safe turkey-handling practices for a happy holiday
Thanksgiving is a time for sharing: good food, family time, friendship and memories. But one thing you don't want to share, warns a food-safety expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, is pathogenic bacteria.
Study finds a chemical signature for 'fast' form of Parkinson's
(Medical Xpress)—The physical decline experienced by Parkinson's disease patients eventually leads to disability and a lower quality of life. Depending on the individual, the disorder can progress rapidly or slowly.
Discovery of novel gene solves mystery of scar formation
(Medical Xpress)—The study, in a South African-British-French collaboration which led to the discovery of the little-known novel gene called FAM111B, brings hope to millions of families across the world who pass on this debilitating gene to one another. It saw researchers team up from The University of Manchester, UK, the University of Cape Town, South Africa and University of Nantes in France.
Electronic prescribing in NHS hospitals patchy at best
(Medical Xpress)—Patchy use of electronic prescribing in NHS hospitals – and the huge diversity of systems - creates huge challenges for both patient safety and staff training, according to a new study published today in the journal PLOS ONE.
Brain surgeons go with the flow
(Medical Xpress)—Neurosurgeons at UC San Diego Health System are using a new approach to visualize the brain's delicate anatomy prior to surgery. The novel technique allows neurosurgeons to see the brain's nerve connections thus preserving and protecting critical functions such as vision, speech and memory. No needles, dyes or chemicals are needed to create the radiology scan. The main imaging ingredient? Water.
Obesity at age 66 predicts health at 85, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—Women entering their senior years with a healthy weight and waist size have a significantly better chance of reaching age 85 without chronic disease or mobility impairment, according to a nationwide health study that followed more than 36,000 women for up to 19 years.
Researchers link sleep deprivation with criminal behavior
Lack of sleep can contribute to delinquent behavior by adolescents, according to an FIU study published earlier this month.
Molecular effectiveness of peptides from African medicinal plants decoded
Peptides are autologous substances that are formed from amino acids, are able to trigger specific reactions in the human body and can influence a variety of physical functions. Cyclical plant peptides, known as cyclotides, have also an effect on the human body. "Until now, however, it has not been fully understood whether these peptides work and on what receptors, nor what form their molecular signalling pathway takes," says Christian Gruber from the Centre for Physiology and Pharmacology at the MedUni Vienna. The molecular effect of peptides from an African medicinal plan has now been decoded for the first time.
Electronic health records can measure patient-centered care
Although electronic health records (EHR) are primarily used to store patient clinical data, the non-clinical data they collect may be used to measure patient-centeredness of primary care practices, finds a new study in Health Services Research. In addition, two of the process of care measures collected via EHRs, volume of between clinician e-messages and frequency of in-person patient visits, were associated with better patient health outcomes.
Building blocks help silence genes
Polycomb-group (PcG) proteins play an important role in controlling gene expression. Complexes containing PcG proteins are thought to inhibit or 'silence' gene activity by localizing to specific targets in the genome and remodeling how DNA is wound up into chromosomes, but the exact mechanism by which these complexes repress gene activity remains poorly understood. Kyoichi Isono, Haruhiko Koseki and colleagues from the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences have now pinpointed the part of a critical PcG protein complex that is essential for maintaining a robust yet reversible gene repression program during both mammalian development and cancer progression.
New theory explains how critical periods are triggered during development of the nervous system
Experiments performed in the 1960s showed that rearing young animals with one eye closed dramatically altered brain development such that the parts of the visual cortex that would normally process information from the closed eye instead process information from the open eye. These effects can be induced only within a specific period of time—a 'critical' period during which the developing nervous system is particularly sensitive to its environment.
Stroke mortality is down, but the reason remains a mystery
(Medical Xpress)—A national group of leading scientists, including one University of Alabama at Birmingham expert, says that for more than 100 years fewer people have been dying of stroke, yet it is still unclear why this decline remains constant.
Patients with diabetes who use mail order pharmacy are less likely to visit ER's
Patients with diabetes who received prescribed heart medications by mail were less likely to visit the emergency room than those patients who picked up prescriptions in person, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study published in the American Journal of Managed Care.
Antidepressant medication does not increase the risk of autism
New research cannot establish a close connection between the use of antidepressant medication - the so-called SSRIs - during the course of pregnancy and the risk of having a child with autism:
Study finds combo of plant nutrients kills breast cancer cells
A study led by Madhwa Raj, PhD, Research Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans and its Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, has found that a super cocktail of six natural compounds in vegetables, fruits, spices and plant roots killed 100% of sample breast cancer cells without toxic side effects on normal cells. The results, which also revealed potential treatment target genes, are published in the November 2013 issue of The Journal of Cancer.
Extent of obesity not strongest factor for patients when choosing weight loss operation
A new study investigating why obese patients choose one type of weight loss operation over another reveals that the main factors influencing decision making are whether patients have type 2 diabetes, how much weight they want to lose, and their tolerance for surgical risk to achieve their ideal weight. Unlike findings from previous studies the patient's body mass index (BMI), or measure of obesity, does not play a significant role in the decision-making process according to study results published in the December issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
New study helps explain why some ear and respiratory infections become chronic
Scientists have figured out how a bacterium that causes ear and respiratory illnesses is able to elude immune detection in the middle ear, likely contributing to chronic or recurrent infections in adults and children. A team from the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital published the findings in a recent issue of PLOS Pathogens and has now received a $1.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to further the work.
Continued increases in ADHD diagnoses and treatment with medication among US children
A new study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP) found that an estimated two million more children in the United States (U.S.) have been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) between 2003-04 and 2011-12. One million more U.S. children were taking medication for ADHD between 2003-04 and 2011-12. According to the study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
Chemotherapy: When our intestinal bacteria provide reinforcement
Research jointly conducted by investigators at Institut Gustave Roussy, Inserm, Institut Pasteur and INRA (French National Agronomic Research Institute) has led to a rather surprising discovery on the manner in which cancer chemotherapy treatments act more effectively with the help of the intestinal flora (also known as the intestinal microbiota).
Many women with pelvic prolapse prefer to keep uterus
(HealthDay)—More women may prefer uterine preservation to hysterectomy for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse symptoms, according to research published in the November issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Prognostic value of lipoprotein (a) with low cholesterol unclear
(HealthDay)—Lipoprotein (a) (Lp[a]) has utility in assessing cardiovascular risk in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD); however, the prognostic value of Lp(a) in patients with low cholesterol levels remains unclear, according to a study published online Oct. 23 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Political correctness could affect holiday weight gain
It's that time of year when Americans start focusing on holiday celebrations, many of which will involve high-calorie food. As the festivities proceed, so do countless tips for keeping off extra weight this season.
CDC report says health disparities persist in America
(HealthDay)—Despite progress in some areas, health disparities remain for many Americans, health officials reported Thursday. These inequalities are related to income, education, sex, race, ethnicity, employment and sexual orientation, and they all affect Americans' health and well-being, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Cash incentives spur poor to buy healthier foods
(HealthDay)—A recent program encouraged healthy eating by offering extra spending power to poor people who get government assistance to buy food. The only catch: They had to purchase healthier types of food at farmers' markets.
Rape, sexual assault likely underestimated by crime survey
(HealthDay)—Rape and sexual assault are likely underestimated on the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) and a new survey should be developed for more accurate estimation of incidence, according to a report published by the National Academy of Sciences.
FDA warns of cardiac risk with stress test agents
(HealthDay)—The use of cardiac nuclear stress test agents comes with a rare but serious risk of heart attack and death, according to a warning sent by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to health care professionals.
Few parents believe their teens are at risk of hearing loss
(HealthDay)—Few parents of adolescents believe their children are at risk of hearing loss, according to a study published online Nov. 21 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Daily text messages improve diabetes outcomes
(HealthDay)—Patients with poorly controlled diabetes have improvements in hemoglobin A1c and medication adherence and fewer trips to the emergency room after receiving daily text messages, according to a study published online Nov. 13 in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption increases endometrial cancer risk
Postmenopausal women who consumed sugar-sweetened beverages were more likely to develop the most common type of endometrial cancer compared with women who did not drink sugar-sweetened beverages, according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Tiniest newborns often lead normal adult lives, study finds
(HealthDay)—The tiniest premature infants often cling to life for weeks in intensive-care units while their parents worry about what physical and mental health problems their babies might face as they grow up.
Different gene expression in male and female brains may help explain sex differences in brain disorder
UCL scientists have shown that there are widespread differences in how genes, the basic building blocks of the human body, are expressed in men and women's brains.
Who learns from the carrot, and who from the stick?
To flexibly deal with our ever-changing world, we need to learn from both the negative and positive consequences of our behaviour. In other words, from punishment and reward. Hanneke den Ouden from the Donders Institute in Nijmegen demonstrated that serotonin and dopamine related genes influence how we base our choices on past punishments or rewards. This influence depends on which gene variant you inherited from your parents. These results were published in Neuron on November 20.
Epigenetic changes may explain chronic kidney disease
The research of physician-scientist Katalin Susztak, MD, PhD, associate professor of Medicine in the Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, strives to understand the molecular roots and genetic predisposition of chronic kidney disease. In a recent Genome Biology paper, Susztak, and her co-corresponding author John Greally from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, found, in a genome-wide survey, significant differences in the pattern of chemical modifications on DNA that affect gene expression in kidney cells from patients with chronic kidney disease versus healthy controls. This is the first study to show that changes in these modifications – the cornerstone of the field of epigenetics – might explain chronic kidney disease.
Biology news
Malaysia's 'Lizard King' back in business: report
A notorious Malaysian wildlife trafficker dubbed the "Lizard King" for his smuggling of endangered reptiles is back in business, according to an Al Jazeera report that prompted outraged wildlife activists on Friday to demand action.
WWF calls for satellite technology on all commercial vessels to increase transparency of fishing activities
A new pilot project initiated by WWF proves that the use of satellite technology in the surveillance of fishing activities can be an efficient and simple method to increase safety on fishing vessels and promote legal and transparent fishing operations. WWF cooperates with Sea Quest, a fishing company in Fiji in the South Pacific that agreed to install Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmitters on its tuna fishing vessels to demonstrate full transparency of the company´s fishing operations.
Scientist helps kids—through turtles—connect with nature
A natural with kids, Stephen Blake asks a group of teens to pretend to be foraging giant tortoises, ambulating on all fours at a tortoise's pace (about 0.2 mph) and searching for food in plastic cups laid out in roughly the vegetation patterns found on the Galapagos Islands.
UD students look at possible contamination of irrigation water
Students in the University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) are using a plot of land on the campus farm to help study possible contaminants in soil and irrigation water used to grow leafy greens and tomatoes in order to help inform new regulations on growers that will be going into effect next year as part of the Food Safety Modernization Act.
Smaller islands host shorter food chains
That smaller islands will typically sustain fewer species than large ones is a widespread pattern in nature. Now a team of researchers shows that smaller area will mean not only fewer species, but also shorter food chains. This implies that plant and animal communities on small islands may work differently from those on large ones.
Lupin prospects improve with pinpointed disease causation
The cause of a disease affecting the local lupin industry has been discovered in PhD research at UWA's Institute of Agriculture.
Powerful tool for genetic engineering: Researchers describe new possibilities of the CRISPR-Cas-system
Viruses cannot only cause illnesses in humans, they also infect bacteria. Those protect themselves with a kind of 'immune system' which – simply put – consists of specific sequences in the genetic material of the bacteria and a suitable enzyme. It detects foreign DNA, which may originate from a virus, cuts it up and thus makes the invaders harmless. Scientists from the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig have now shown that the dual-RNA guided enzyme Cas9 which is involved in the process has developed independently in various strains of bacteria. This enhances the potential of exploiting the bacterial immune system for genome engineering.
Rhino poaching nearly outpaces births, group warns
Deaths of rhinos by poaching are fast approaching a tipping point, with the number of endangered creatures killed annually nearly outnumbering births for the first time, international experts warned Friday.
Biodiversity higher in the tropics, but species more likely to arise at higher latitudes
A new study of 2300 species of mammals and nearly 6700 species of birds from across the globe helps explain why there are so many more species of plants and animals in the tropics than at higher latitudes. In a study supported by the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center in North Carolina, researchers found that while the tropics harbor a greater diversity of species, the number of subspecies—potential stepping stones in the process by which one species becomes two—is actually greater in the harsher environments typical of higher latitudes.
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