Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for November 5, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Better, faster, simpler: Depositing graphene directly onto flexible substrates- Wiring up the visual system requires precise temporal control of axon terminations
- Workers dragged Forbidden City stones along roads of artificial ice
- A new topological insulator breaks symmetry, and that's a good thing
- Statin use linked to lower prostate cancer death risk
- A single-atom light switch
- How pigeons may smell their way home
- Holograms offer hope in fight against malaria, study suggests
- Hurricane Sandy's impact measured by millions of Flickr pictures
- Knife-wielding robot trains for grocery checkout job using new coactive learning technique (w/ Video)
- New aluminum alloy stores hydrogen
- Mutual benefits: Stressed-out trees boost sugary rewards to ant defenders
- Peak production of rhythmic proteins occurs at two times of day
- Just a few years of early musical training benefits the brain later in life
- Effects of chronic stress can be traced to your genes
Space & Earth news
Out-of-this-world opportunity for space 'cadet' Jocelino
A University of Bristol student has beaten off competition from 87,000 people to reach the final of a worldwide competition to travel into space.
Image: Galaxy NGC 4945
This image provides a view into the central region of a galaxy that is similar in overall appearance to our own Milky Way, but contains a much more active supermassive black hole within the white area near the top.
Diatom algae populations tell a story about climate change in Greenland (w/ Video)
Researchers try to determine how much this "canary in a coal mine" can say about the impact of a warming climate on the Arctic region.
Image: Wollemi National Park bushfires in New South Wales, Australia
NASA's Aqua satellite detected many bushfires in Wollemi National Park, located in the Australian state of New South Wales, outside of Sydney. Sydney is the state capital and the most populated city in Australia.
India counts down to launch of mission to Mars
India is counting down to the launch of its first journey to Mars, a complex mission that it hopes will demonstrate and advance technologies for space travel.
200 million people at risk from toxic pollution
Hundreds of millions of people worldwide risk exposure to toxic pollution, environmental groups warned Monday, publishing a list of the world's worst areas, including an African processing site for European electronics.
China climate negotiator laments 'severe' pollution
China's top negotiator at international climate talks said on Tuesday that air pollution in his own country—the world's biggest carbon emitter—is harming its citizens.
China shows off moon rover model before space launch
China offered a rare glimpse into its secretive space programme on Tuesday, displaying a model of a lunar rover that will explore the moon's surface in an upcoming mission.
Hanford nuclear plant's earthquake risk underestimated, group says
A new analysis by an anti-nuclear organization says earthquake risks were seriously underestimated when Washington state's only commercial nuclear power plant was built almost 30 years ago on the Hanford nuclear reservation.
Researchers detail climate-change impacts in ecological journal
The coming century will bring many changes for natural systems and for the human societies that depend on them, as changing climate conditions ripple outward to changing rainfall patterns, soil nutrient cycles, species ranges, seasonal timing and a multitude of other interconnected factors. Many of these changes have already begun.
Work begins on world's most powerful radio telescope
This week, work begins on the next phase of development for the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope, with the University of Cambridge leading major 'work packages'.
Image: Quintet of moons
(Phys.org) —Five moons pose for the international Cassini spacecraft to create this beautiful portrait with Saturn's rings.
More wildfires, earlier snowmelt, coastal threats top Northwest climate risks
The Pacific Northwest will face increased risks from declining forest health, earlier snowmelt and an array of coastal issues, according to a new comprehensive report on what climate change means for Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
Image: Upsala glacier retreat
This photograph by an astronaut on the International Space Station highlights the snout of the Upsala Glacier (49.88°S, 73.3°W) on the Argentine side of the North Patagonian Icefield. Ice flow in this glacier comes from the north (right in this rotated image). Dark lines of rocky debris (moraine) within the ice give a sense of the slow ice flow from right to left.
Two-degree global warming limit 'ever more elusive': UN
The chance of limiting global temperature increases to two degrees Celsius this century are swiftly diminishing, a new United Nations report warned Tuesday, ahead of the body's annual climate talks next week.
Smoke signals: Tracking the rapid changes of wildfire aerosols
(Phys.org) —The massive wildfires that recently raged through the Northwest carved trails of tremendous destruction. The stories of these fires—from the devastation to homes and forests to the courageous work of men and women battling the blaze—largely played out across the ground. But wildfire fallout actually extends far into the skies and raises important questions about how smoke can impact climate.
New ideas needed to meet California's 2050 greenhouse gas targets, study reports
California is on track to meet its state-mandated targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions for 2020, but it will not be able to meet its 2050 target without bold new technologies and policies. This is the conclusion of the California Greenhouse Gas Inventory Spreadsheet (GHGIS), a new model developed by the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) to look at how far existing policies and technologies can get us in emissions reductions.
Astronomers establish the strength of high-inclination asteroids
A team of astronomers from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and the University of Hyogo used the Subaru Prime Focus Camera (Suprime-Cam) mounted on the Subaru Telescope to observe faint asteroids with highly inclined orbits. They found that a smaller fraction of tiny bodies occur among high-inclination asteroids than those near the ecliptic plane. This means that large asteroids in high-velocity collisions between asteroids probably have a greater increase of strength in resisting disruption than those in the present mean-velocity collisions. Clarification of the relationship between collisional velocity and asteroids' disruptive strength is helpful in understanding the collisional evolution of asteroids in the early Solar System.
Carbon worlds may be waterless, finds NASA study
(Phys.org) —Planets rich in carbon, including so-called diamond planets, may lack oceans, according to NASA-funded theoretical research.
Emissions pricing revenues could overcompensate profit losses of fossil fuel owners
Revenues from global carbon emission pricing could exceed the losses fossil fuel owners suffer from this policy. Stabilizing global warming at around 2 degrees Celsius by cutting greenhouse-gas emissions from fossil fuels would mean to leave much of coal, gas and oil unused underground.
Global map provides new insights into land use
In order to assess the global impacts of land use on the environment and help provide appropriate countermeasures, a group of researchers under the leadership of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) has created a new world map of land use systems. Based on various indicators of land-use intensity, climate, environmental and socio-economic conditions, they identified twelve global patterns called land system archetypes. The scientists from UFZ with colleagues from the Humboldt-University Berlin and University Bonn have recently published their results in the journal Global Environmental Change.
White dwarfs hide information on dark forces
Researchers from Europe and the USA have ruled out a multitude of possible parameters for dark photons - a type of dark matter and energy - with the help of white dwarfs. In some aspects, the shining of these dying stars gives more information on dark forces than is provided by earth-based laboratories. The journal Physical Review D has published the study.
Toxic river a bane to one in eight Argentines
Riachuelo, a densely populated river basin on the edge of Buenos Aires, is among the world's most polluted sites and has been targeted for clean-up after two centuries of stench.
Anthropogenic aerosols increasing over India
Aerosol particles in the Earth's atmosphere scatter and absorb light differently at different wavelengths, thereby affecting the amount of incoming sunlight that reaches the planet's surface and the amount of heat that escapes, potentially altering the planet's climate. Most recent regional studies of aerosol trends have used satellite data to examine aerosol levels over ocean regions; fewer regional studies have measured aerosol over land.
NASA investigates Typhoon Haiyan's intense rainfall
As Typhoon Haiyan has been strengthening, NASA's TRMM satellite investigated how much rain was falling throughout the storm. Typhoon Haiyan is now closing in on Yap and Palau with a forecast to move through the central Philippines, so all of those areas are under warnings and watches.
NASA sees warm sea surface helped strengthen Tropical Storm 30W
NASA's Aqua satellite passed over the South China Sea and revealed that warm sea surface temperatures and low wind shear enabled Tropical Depression 30W to strengthen into a tropical storm.
India launches first mission to Mars
India on Tuesday launched its first spacecraft bound for Mars, a complex mission that it hopes will demonstrate and advance technologies for space travel.
New study tests 90-year old hybridisation theory
(Phys.org) —Massey University researchers have the first convincing evidence that interbreeding between closely related species (hybridisation) can aid plants during periods of environmental change.
The oldest ice core: Finding a 1.5 million-year record of Earth's climate
(Phys.org) —How far into the past can ice-core records go? Scientists have now identified regions in Antarctica they say could store information about Earth's climate and greenhouse gases extending as far back as 1.5 million years, almost twice as old as the oldest ice core drilled to date. The results are published today in Climate of the Past, an open access journal of the European Geosciences Union (EGU).
VC predicts the motion of the ocean
Australian National University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Young AO, has just published research that will help you every morning with the surf report.
Technology news
Bezos' wife raps book about husband, in Amazon review
Amazon boss Jeff Bezos' wife gave a book about her husband and his company a paltry one star, in a withering review posed on the online retailer's website.
Bristol researchers work to secure next generation chip-card payment technology
Current chip technology used for purchasing items via credit and debit cards in shops was developed in the mid-1990s. EMVCo, the standard body which manages, maintains and advances EMV Specifications, is in the process of designing the next generation payment technology to meet long-term industry requirements. The activity will establish a common, robust technology platform for supporting contact and contactless/mobile interfaces for both online and offline transactions.
Imec demonstrates world's first III-V FinFET devices monolithically integrated on 300mm silicon wafers
Imec, a leading nanoelectronics research center, announced today that it has successfully demonstrated the first III-V compound semiconductor FinFET devices integrated epitaxially on 300mm silicon wafers, through a unique silicon fin replacement process. The achievement illustrates progress toward 300mm and future 450mm high-volume wafer manufacturing of advanced heterogeneous CMOS devices, monolithically integrating high-density compound semiconductors on silicon. The breakthrough not only enables continual CMOS scaling down to 7nm and below, but also enables new heterogeneous system opportunities in hybrid CMOS-RF and CMOS-optoelectronics.
UA medical students work with Google Glass
Two fourth-year students at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix received one of an estimated 6,000 Google Glass units that were distributed earlier this year.
New automatic welding system makes car production cheaper
European researchers have found a way make the automotive sector more eco-friendly, while at the same time cutting production costs. The EU-funded project SMARTDRESS ('Adaptive tip dress control for automated resistance spot welding') is developing a fully automated control system to improve crucial welding processes.
French government scrambles to contain ecotax revolt
The French government scrambled Tuesday to contain anger over a proposed environmental tax as protesters continued to destroy radars set up to help collect the levy, in a revolt that shows no sign of abating.
Dutch food delivery website now takes bitcoin (Update)
The main website that arranges home delivery for restaurants in the Netherlands is now accepting payment in bitcoins, an increasingly popular form of digital currency.
Jordanians fret over 'dangerous' nuclear plan
Jordan's plan to build its first nuclear plant with Russian help has stirred fresh fears and suspicions as experts called for the "dangerous" and "illogical" project to be abandoned.
Duty calls for gamers as hotly-anticipated sequel hits stores
Hordes of excited gamers descended on shops across the globe on Tuesday to get their hands on the latest release from the blockbusting "Call of Duty" video game franchise.
MyVegas smartphone slots lure players to Sin City
PlayStudios on Tuesday blurred the line between online and real-world gambling with the release of myVegas Slots smartphone games that let players cash in on perks at Sin City casinos.
Pandora listening up in face of iTunes Radio
People listened to Pandora's Internet radio service for a collective 1.47 billion hours in October, up 18 percent from a year ago, in the face of the launch iTunes Radio.
Floating some theories about Google's mysterious barge
If it weren't for Google Inc. trying to cover it up, the old sea-worn barge stacked four stories high with customized shipping containers may not have become an object of global fascination.
Amazon ships twice as many items through Prime vs. free shipping
Amazon.com Inc. disclosed Friday that it ships more than twice as many items to members who use its Prime subscription service in the United States than to those shoppers who opt for free shipping.
Organic lights and solar cells straight from the printer
Flickering façades, curved monitors, flashing clothing, fluorescent wallpaper, flexible solar cells – and all printable. This is no make-believe vision of the future; it will soon be possible using a new printing process for organic light-emitting diodes.
Testing smart plastics in real time
Nano additives can make plastics scratch and flame proof, or give them antibacterial properties. For this to work, the particle distribution within the plastic compound must be absolutely correct. A new device is now able to test the distribution in real time.
Stanford launches new free course on iPhone/iPad apps
(Phys.org) —Stanford's incredibly popular online course, Developing Apps for iPhone and iPad, is now available for iOS 7 on iTunes U. As always, this free course is available to anyone, anywhere.
3-D gesture-recognition chip could be a boon to wearable gadgets (w/ Video)
Researchers at Berkeley Engineering and UC Davis are developing a tiny chip that uses ultrasound waves to detect a slew of gestures in three dimensions. The technology, called Chirp, could eventually be used in everything from helmet cams to smart watches.
Mafialeaks: spilling the beans on Italian gangsters
A group of Italian computer boffins have launched a new website, Mafialeaks, aimed at encouraging victims of organised crime and former gangsters to spill the beans, La Repubblica newspaper reported Tuesday.
Taiwan Acer CEO resigns over 3Q widening loss
J. T. Wang resigned as chairman and CEO of Acer Tuesday as the Taiwanese personal computer maker reported a net third-quarter loss of Tw$13.1 billion ($442.2 million).
T-Mobile subscribers up for second straight quarter
T-Mobile's initiatives to break wireless industry conventions seem to be working.
Understanding what makes a thin film solar cell efficient
Swiss scientists have developed a new technique for manufacturing high-efficiency, flexible, thin film solar cells from CIGS (copper indium gallium di-selenide) semiconductors. This has enabled them to achieve an efficiency of 20.4 percent for the conversion of sunlight into electrical energy. As the solar cells are deposited onto plastic foils, they could be produced on an industrial scale using cost-effective roll-to-roll manufacturing.
Microsoft needs to 'start up again': CEO
Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer on Tuesday said the computer giant had to reinvent itself to avoid being "old and tired" as his company struggles to keep up in the mobile devices sector.
EU signals end to high subsidies for renewable energy
The European Commission issued new guidelines Tuesday which could end costly and controversial subsidies for renewable energy, opening the way for state-aid backing of gas or coal-fired electricity generation projects.
Looking for tomorrow's power source? Go fly a (underwater) kite
As the world looks for new ways to wean itself from fossil fuels, a new answer may be emerging: underwater kites.
World cybersecurity leaders call for cooperation (Update)
Governments and businesses spend $1 trillion a year for global cybersecurity, but unlike wartime casualties or oil spills, there's no clear idea what the total losses are because few will admit they've been compromised. Cybersecurity leaders from more than 40 countries are gathering at Stanford University this week to consider tackling that information gap by creating a single, trusted entity that would keep track of how much hackers steal.
Apple details government data requests
Apple on Tuesday released details of government requests for its data while protesting a "gag order" that limits what can be disclosed about US national security orders.
Toyota to unveil concept fuel-cell car at Tokyo Motor Show
Toyota said Tuesday it plans to unveil its latest fuel-cell concept car at the Tokyo Motor show, with an expected commercial rollout two years away.
Google opens how-to shop with live video advice (Update)
Google has opened a how-to shop that sells expert advice on everything from cosmetics to the cosmos in live video sessions streamed on computers and smartphones.
'Hybrid' nuclear plants could make a dent in carbon emissions
Many efforts to smooth out the variability of renewable energy sources—such as wind and solar power—have focused on batteries, which could fill gaps lasting hours or days.
Anti-fraud lasers and inks for transparent electronics
(Phys.org) —Two prototypes – a detection device which users lasers to fight fraud, and a piano which demonstrates the potential of printed electronics – have been unveiled by Cambridge researchers.
Making electric energy efficient at bargain prices
(Phys.org) —So long, kilowatt-hours lost. Hello, energy found.
Many Android vulnerabilities can be traced to manufacturer modifications
(Phys.org) —Computer security researchers have found that Android smartphone manufacturers are inadvertently incorporating new vulnerabilities into their products when they customize the phones before sale, according to a recent study. On average, the researchers found that 60 percent of the vulnerabilities found in the smartphone models they evaluated were due to such "vendor customizations."
U.K. town to deploy driverless pods to replace busses
(Phys.org) —Milton Keynes, a town north of London, has announced that it will be deploying 100 driverless pods (officially known as ULTra PRT transport pods) as a public transportation system. A similar system has been running for two years at Heathrow airport. The plan is to have the system up and running by 2015, with a full rollout by 2017. The move marks the first time that self-driving vehicles will be allowed to run on public roads in that country.
Google relents—adds system password prompt before displaying web passwords
(Phys.org) —This past summer it was widely reported that Google Chrome had a web security flaw—all of the passwords that were saved for various web sites could be displayed by anyone gaining physical access to a computer, by typing in a simple command. That prompted a lot of people to criticize Google for its lackadaisical approach to web security for its user community. Google defended itself by noting that if someone gained physical access to someone else's computer and were able to use their Chrome browser, they would be able to access all of the web sites that the original owner had saved anyway (because the login and passwords would be filled in automatically), regardless of whether they could see the passwords, which were stored on the local hard drive in plain text.
Hurricane Sandy's impact measured by millions of Flickr pictures
A new study has discovered a striking connection between the number of pictures of Hurricane Sandy posted on Flickr and the atmospheric pressure in New Jersey as the hurricane crashed through the US state in 2012.
The next big thing in the energy sector: Photovoltaic generated DC electricity
(Phys.org) —Energy consumption continues to grow. The costs of generation and transmission of energy must come down for the increased consumption to be sustainable. Energy must be generated without depleting resources, without causing pollution, and without incurring waste. Transmission of energy too must be efficient. These ideal goals, when realized, would enrich lives, regardless of economic distinction.
Workers dragged Forbidden City stones along roads of artificial ice
(Phys.org) —Fifteenth and sixteenth century Chinese workers transported enormous stones to the Forbidden City by carrying them in sledges along roads of artificial ice, according to Jiang Li of the University of Science and Technology in Beijing and his colleagues. The researchers translated a document showing that in 1557, workers used this method to transport a 123-ton stone more than 70 kilometers. Li and his team say that dragging large stones over ice, rather than over dry ground, reduced the amount of friction created and the number of workers needed for the job. The study appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Medicine & Health news
Considerable gender, racial and sexuality differences in attitudes toward bisexuality
Men who identify themselves as heterosexual are three times more likely to categorize bisexuality as "not a legitimate sexual orientation," an attitude that can encourage negative health outcomes in people who identify as bisexual, according to an analysis led by University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health researcher Mackey Friedman, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Destressss with an Indonesian snake massage
Lying on a massage table at a spa in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, Feri Tilukay closed his eyes and smiled blissfully as three enormous snakes slithered all over him.
Obama vows campaign to save Obamacare
US President Barack Obama promised "one last campaign" to save his signature health care reform Monday and slammed critics he said were spreading fear and misinformation about the law.
Legal scholar publishes first major work on neuroscience and the law
Wide-ranging predictions have been made on how new technologies in neuroscience could overhaul the legal system. Lie detection may now capture one's physical responses to questioning; newer tools seek to scrutinize blood flow in the brain as predictors of emotions that some researchers claim to possess the precise coordinates, including where love resides.
Need to restore vital signs? There's a manual for that
First-year anesthesia resident Jason Johns, MD, was pleased with the way his patient, a man in his early 70s, had maintained a steady set of vital signs during a four-hour surgical procedure at Stanford Hospital. "We were monitoring his blood loss and his numbers looked OK," Johns said. "But when we were sewing him up, his blood pressure dropped and he went into cardiac arrest."
Overwhelming majority of New Jerseyans support paid sick days, study finds
As New Jersey's policymakers consider establishing a minimum standard for paid sick days, the Center for Women and Work (CWW) at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey has released an issue brief on the subject that finds an overwhelming majority (83 percent) of state residents of all political affiliations support paid sick day policies.
Machines learn to detect breast cancer
Software that can recognize patterns in data is commonly used by scientists and economics. Now, researchers in the US have applied similar algorithms to help them more accurately diagnose breast cancer. The researchers outline details in the International Journal of Medical Engineering and Informatics.
New heart valve shows high survival rates in study
Loyola University Medical Center is the only Chicago hospital participating in a landmark clinical trial of an artificial aortic heart valve that does not require open heart surgery.
New discovery could dramatically reduce leishmaniasis treatment doses and side effects
An international team of scientists, with the participation of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, have developed a compound to treat leishmaniasis in humans using today's most commonly prescribed drug, but with an 83 percent increase in its effectiveness. The complex compound, a combination of the drug and nanoparticles which transport it to the infected cells, has been successfully tested with animal models of the disease. The research has been published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Play promotes emotional healing in children battling serious illnesses
New research finds that chronically ill children celebrate a successful recovery. It's through their imaginative play with medically themed toys. Laura Nabors, an associate professor of human services in the University of Cincinnati College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH), will present new research on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at the American Public Health Association's (APHA) 141st Annual Meeting and Expo in Boston.
Ethical research with minorities
Remarkable improvements in the quality of life, prevention and treatment of disease have been made possible through advancements in biomedical research, including clinical trials involving human subjects. Future progress will depend in large measure on the inclusion of women and racial and ethnic minority populations into the research enterprise. Unfortunately, research abuses in the past have contributed to fear and mistrust among these populations resulting in regulatory measures designed to protect them due to their real or perceived "vulnerability."
Transgender patients have special needs in the ER
While approximately one-third of transgender (trans) patients needed emergency care in the previous year, only 71 percent of those with self-reported need indicated they were able to obtain care, which researchers theorize may be due to "perceptions and previous experiences of trans-related discrimination or poor care." The Canadian study, the first to analyze emergency department avoidance, use and experience by trans people, was published online Friday in Annals of Emergency Medicine ("Reported Emergency Department Avoidance, Utilization and Experiences of Transgender Persons in Ontario, Canada: Results from a Respondent-Driven Sampling Survey") http://www.annemergmed.com/webfiles/images/journals/ymem/FA-YMEM5689.pdf.
Torture permanently damages normal perception of pain
Israeli soldiers captured during the 1973 Yom Kippur War were subjected to brutal torture in Egypt and Syria. Held alone in tiny, filthy spaces for weeks or months, sometimes handcuffed and blindfolded, they suffered severe beatings, burns, electric shocks, starvation, and worse. And rather than receiving treatment, additional torture was inflicted on existing wounds.
AGA publishes tool to help GIs manage HCV patients
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Clinical Decision Tool for the Screening and Evaluation of Hepatitis C (HCV) will help gastroenterologists in the early management of HCV-positive patients, according to a new paper in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association. Chronic HCV has a significant impact on the adult population and is a disease for which much progress has been made in its treatment.
Experts recommend universal diabetes testing for pregnant women at first prenatal visit
The Endocrine Society today issued a Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) to help health care professionals provide the best care to pregnant women who have diabetes.
Senators grill top official on Obamacare
A senior official involved in implementing President Barack Obama's health care plan says the program's sign-up website continues to improve since its stumbling launch more than a month ago, but senators of both parties at a hearing Tuesday expressed deep concern about the troubled start of the overhaul.
Colon cancer testing may be leveling off in US
After years of increases, testing for colon cancer may be leveling off.
Scientists take a step closer to developing vaccine against C. difficile
A group of leading scientists from across Europe have launched a three-year project aimed at developing an oral vaccine against Clostridium difficile, an infection that kills around 4,000 people a year (almost four-times more than MRSA) and for which there is currently no effective treatments.
US citizenship increases women's odds of receiving mammograms, cancer tests
Citizenship, particularly for non-U.S. natives, largely determines a woman's odds of having a mammogram and being screened for cervical and colorectal cancer, according to researchers at Penn State.
Microbes in the gut help determine risk of tumors
Transferring the gut microbes from a mouse with colon tumors to germ-free mice makes those mice prone to getting tumors as well, according to the results of a study published in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. The work has implications for human health because it indicates the risk of colorectal cancer may well have a microbial component.
Pleasure and pain brain signals disrupted in fibromyalgia patients
New research indicates that a disruption of brain signals for reward and punishment contributes to increased pain sensitivity, known as hyperalgesia, in fibromyalgia patients. Results published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology, suggest that this altered brain processing might contribute to widespread pain and lack of response to opioid therapy in patients with fibromyalgia.
Endometriosis risk linked to two pesticides
A Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center-led study has found that two organochlorine pesticides are associated with an increased risk of endometriosis, a condition that affects up to 10 percent of reproductive-age women.
New drug combination offers hope to patients with currently untreatable Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a viral infection which, if left untreated, can lead to severe and potentially fatal liver damage. Existing treatments consist of a combination of drugs, usually ribavirin, pegylated interferon and a protease inhibitor, which together inhibit viral replication and enhance the body's immune response to eradicate the virus. These drugs can place a substantial burden on the patient, with complicated pill and injection regimens, which can last for up to 48 weeks, and unpleasant side-effects for some patients, including anaemia, depression, and loss of appetite.
Study: Access to health care increases prescription opioid availability and associated abuse
Researchers at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis say one way to gauge the extent of prescription opioid pain reliever abuse in any Indiana county is to count the number of health care providers, particularly dentists and pharmacists.
Study: Higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and stroke found in food desert
There is more to the cost of living in a food desert than higher prices for the few fruits and vegetables sold nearby, according to a study by an Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis researcher and the Marion County Public Health Department.
Bad boys: Research predicts whether boys will grow out of it—or not
Using the hi-tech tools of a new field called neurogenetics and a few simple questions for parents, a University of Michigan researcher is beginning to understand which boys are simply being boys and which may be headed for trouble.
Vietnam releases dengue-blocking mosquito
Nguyen Thi Yen rolls up the sleeves of her white lab coat and delicately slips her arms into a box covered by a sheath of mesh netting. Immediately, the feeding frenzy begins.
Girl, 8, is China's youngest lung cancer case
An eight-year-old girl has become China's youngest lung cancer patient, reports said, with doctors blaming pollution as the direct cause of her illness.
Mediterranean diet may help women live longer, healthier lives
(HealthDay)—Middle-aged women who follow a heart-healthy Mediterranean diet may live a healthier, longer life, a new study suggests.
No routine mental tests for seniors—at least not yet, panel says
(HealthDay)—Physicians give screening tests to older adults who show signs of mental decline, and some experts have theorized that all seniors might benefit from routine memory testing. But proposed guidelines from a U.S. government-appointed panel says not enough evidence exists to support such a widespread approach.
Triage system underperforms in children with chronic illness
(HealthDay)—For children presenting to the emergency department with infectious symptoms, performance of the Manchester Triage System (MTS) is lower for those with chronic illnesses, compared to those without chronic illnesses, according to a study published online Nov. 4 in Pediatrics.
Ponatinib active in CML, ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia
(HealthDay)—Ponatinib is active in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-positive ALL), according to a study published online Nov. 1 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Symptomatic uterine fibroids cause substantial morbidity
(HealthDay)—Symptomatic uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) have a substantial impact on quality of life, according to research published in the October issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
USPSTF: Evidence lacking for cognitive impairment screening
(HealthDay)—The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has found that the evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of cognitive impairment screening for older adults without signs or symptoms of cognitive impairment. This draft recommendation statement is based on an evidence review published in the Nov. 5 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
New method quickly determines if chest pain is acute coronary syndrome
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have tested a new method for quickly ruling out acute myocardial infarction or other serious acute coronary disease in emergency department patients complaining of chest pains. The method, which is presented in a new doctoral thesis, seems able to reduce the percentage of cardiac patients in Sweden who need to be kept in hospital under observation by 10 to 20 percent. A number of hospitals in Stockholm and Uppsala will start applying the method this winter.
Deprivation responsible for 450 breast cancer deaths each year
Deprivation could be responsible for around 450 deaths from breast cancer every year in England as women in lower income groups are likely to be diagnosed when the disease is more advanced, and treatment is less effective.
Teenagers attacking parents: New study maps 'hidden problem'
(Medical Xpress)—Oxford University researchers have conducted the first academic study into the hidden problem of adolescent to parent violence in the UK.
Do you want the good news or the bad news first?
There's good news and there's bad news. Which do you want to hear first?
Study shows that parenting improves with coaching via cell phone
(Medical Xpress)—In the first randomized trial of the effects of cell phone use, University of Kansas and Notre Dame researchers found that when parenting coaches texted and called mothers who had participated in a home-based parenting program, they were much more likely than the other mothers in the study to learn and use positive parenting strategies—both immediately following and six months after the program ended. They were less depressed and stressed than the control group who didn't receive parent training as well as the mothers who did receive the same parenting program but without the cell phone component.
Next-generation sequencing test identified potential targets for pediatric cancer treatments
A comprehensive genomic profiling test using next-generation sequencing has identified genomic alterations in more than half of pediatric cancer samples tested that would give clinicians potential targets on which to base individualized treatment decisions, according to results presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) special conference on "Pediatric Cancer at the Crossroads: Translating Discovery Into Improved Outcomes," held Nov. 3-6.
Genetic variant may identify pediatric osteosarcoma patients at risk for metastasis
A genomewide association study (GWAS) has revealed two specific variations in the NFIB gene that may identify which children and adolescents with osteosarcoma have metastatic disease or are at high risk for metastasis, according to results presented here at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) special conference on "Pediatric Cancer at the Crossroads: Translating Discovery Into Improved Outcomes," held Nov. 3-6.
Neurofibroma mouse model predicts response to therapy in humans
A mouse model predicted that inhibition of the enzyme MEK using targeted therapy may provide an effective, single-agent treatment for pediatric patients with neurofibroma, and early results from a phase I trial support this finding, according to the data presented here at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) special conference on "Pediatric Cancer at the Crossroads: Translating Discovery Into Improved Outcomes," held Nov. 3-6.
Biomarker may help predict aggressive cancers
For children with central nervous system cancers, the presence of a specific genetic modification—hypermethylation of the TERT promoter—may help predict tumor progression and patient survival, according to results presented here at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) special conference on "Pediatric Cancer at the Crossroads: Translating Discovery Into Improved Outcomes," held Nov. 3-6.
Eribulin shows early promise in pediatric sarcoma treatment
The drug eribulin, currently approved for the third-line treatment of breast cancer, may represent a new treatment option for pediatric patients with a type of cancer called sarcoma, according to results of preclinical studies presented here at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) special conference on Pediatric Cancer at the Crossroads: Translating Discovery Into Improved Outcomes, held Nov. 3-6.
Abusive head trauma injuries linked to socioeconomic status, age and gender
(Medical Xpress)—A new study estimates that more than seven children under the age of five with abusive head trauma were treated each day in U.S. emergency departments between 2006 and 2009. Abusive head trauma is a serious injury resulting from an assault on a young child leading to injuries on the brain, and is the leading cause of death in child abuse cases in the U.S.
Imaginary play life in childhood stirs adult creativity: CWRU psychologist explores in new book
(Medical Xpress)—Remember as a child turning sticks into make-believe airplanes that soared and buzzed like bumblebees through the backyard? Or, did you play for hours with an imaginary friend in your own special world?
Compounded medication to prevent preterm birth not a safety risk, pitt study confirms
(Medical Xpress)—A new study published online today in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy reports that 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC), a medication that reduces the rate of preterm birth in high-risk women, did not raise any safety concerns when the medication was prepared and dispensed by independent compounding pharmacies throughout the United States.
Fast food companies still target kids with marketing for unhealthy products
(Medical Xpress)—In 2012 the fast food industry spent $4.6 billion to advertise mostly unhealthy products, and children and teens remained key audiences for that advertising, according to a new report by the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity. The report highlights a few positive developments, such as healthier sides and beverages in most restaurants' kids' meals, but also shows that restaurants still have a long way to go to promote only healthier fast-food options to kids.
Prostate cancer test can spot the difference between aggressive and slow-growing tumours
A new test may overcome one of the biggest problems in prostate cancer treatment – telling slow-growing tumours from aggressive ones – according to research presented at the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference in Liverpool today (Tuesday).
New drug extends life in women with advanced ovarian cancer
Women with ovarian cancer that has returned after previous treatment had their life extended by almost three months after treatment with a drug called Cediranib, according to trial results presented today at the National Cancer Research (NCRI) Cancer Conference in Liverpool.
New computer program to help GPs know when to send patients for cancer tests
New software that estimates the likelihood that someone has cancer based on their symptoms could help GPs decide which patients to send for further tests, according to a study announced at the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference today (Tuesday).
Using sound to manage chronic pain
Women with chronic pain may be more sensitive to sounds than their male counterparts, researchers at Simon Fraser University have found.
Researchers produce new research on little-understood brain disease
(Medical Xpress)—As the population of older adults continues to grow, researchers at the University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging are engaged in work to understand the mechanisms of a variety of diseases that predominately affect those of advanced age.
Lending a helping foot: UD Parkinson's study brings subject from California to Delaware
Jack Brill is determined to walk, but Parkinson's disease causes his feet to "freeze" when he tries to move forward.
Hypersensitivity to pain produced by early life stress is worsened by later stress exposure
Childhood neglect and abuse, whether physical or psychological, confers a lifetime vulnerability to stress, anxiety, and mood problems. Such early-life stress is also suspected to contribute to the development of chronic pain in adulthood.
New ligament discovered in the human knee
Two knee surgeons at University Hospitals Leuven have discovered a previously unknown ligament in the human knee. This ligament appears to play an important role in patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears.
Gambling addicts present brain function abnormalities that affect their decision-making capacity
University of Granada researchers have analysed similarities and differences in psychological profile and brain function when comparing cocaine addicts and gambling addicts. The study reveals that gambling addicts present brain function abnormalities affecting their decision-making capacity.
Drug combination therapy causes cancer cells to 'eat themselves'
Results from a recent preclinical study have shown that a new drug combination therapy being developed at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center effectively killed colon, liver, lung, kidney, breast and brain cancer cells while having little effect on noncancerous cells. The results lay the foundation for researchers to plan a future phase 1 clinical trial to test the safety of the therapy in a small group of patients.
Internet helps ensure mother knows best when it comes to preventing childhood obesity
Never underestimate the power of Mom when it comes to influencing children's health.
Worse outcomes for early post-lumbar spinal fusion rehab
(HealthDay)—Beginning rehabilitation at six weeks as opposed to 12 weeks post-lumbar spinal fusion is associated with higher costs and poorer outcomes, according to a study published in the Nov. 1 issue of Spine.
Iron status predicts prognosis in patients with T2DM, CAD
(HealthDay)—Iron status can independently predict long-term outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD), according to a study published online Oct. 15 in Diabetes Care.
Study compares treatments for vertebral compression Fx
(HealthDay)—For Medicare patients with new vertebral compression fractures, kyphoplasty correlates with lower risk of death, but with increased likelihood of subsequent augmentation procedures compared with vertebroplasty, according to a study published in the Oct. 2 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Interactive computer program helps patients talk with their physician about depression
Patients who used an interactive computer program about depression while waiting to see their primary-care doctor were nearly twice as likely to ask about the condition and significantly more likely to receive a recommendation for antidepressant drugs or a mental-health referral from their physician, according to a new study by researchers at UC Davis.
Testosterone therapy following angiography associated with increased risk of adverse outcome
Among a group of men who underwent coronary angiography and had a low serum testosterone level, the use of testosterone therapy was associated with increased risk of death, heart attack, or ischemic stroke, according to a study in the November 6 issue of JAMA.
Study examines effect of sleep deficiency and possible surgical complications
Surgeons who had operated the night before an elective daytime gallbladder surgery did not have a higher rate of complications, according to a study in the November 6 issue of JAMA.
Intervention does not improve depression symptoms
Among depressed patients evaluated in a primary care setting, use of an interactive multimedia computer program immediately prior to a primary care visit resulted in the increased receipt of antidepressant prescription recommendation, mental health referral, or both; however, it did not result in improvement in mental health at 12-week follow-up, according to a study in the November 6 issue of JAMA.
Autoantibodies found in blood years before symptom onset of autoimmune disease
Autoantibodies are present many years before symptom onset in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome, an autoimmune disease, according to a Research Letter published in the November 6 issue of JAMA.
Exercise program in senior centers helps reduce pain and improve mobility of participants
Experts say it's never too late to reap the benefits of exercise, and a program offered in New York City senior centers is improving quality of life for many older adults.
Syphilis screening and treatment in pregnancy may be cost-effective in sub-Saharan Africa
Screening and treating pregnant women in sub Saharan Africa for syphilis* may be a cost-effective use of resources, according to a study published in this week's PLOS Medicine. The study by Mohammed Lamorde from Uganda's Makerere College of Health Sciences and colleagues at Pfizer and the John Hopkins School of Medicine in the USA, suggests that screening pregnant women for syphilis usingimmunochromatographic strip (ICS) point-of-care tests, and subsequent treatment with benzathine penicillin, could efficiently reduce the burden of congenital syphilis (syphilis passed from mother to baby during childbirth), a condition which can have devastating consequences such as stillbirth and birth defects.
Depression second leading cause of global disability burden
A study published this week in PLOS Medicine reports the most recent and comprehensive estimates on how much death and disability is attributable to depression, both world-wide and in individual countries and regions.
Researchers uncover clues to how existing heart drugs work
Some of the most commonly prescribed drugs for the treatment of heart failure are beta-blockers and nitrates, which help to relax blood vessels and decrease the heart's workload. The drugs were thought to produce those effects through distinct molecular pathways, but according to a new study led by scientists at Temple University School of Medicine, both types of drugs may help the failing heart by counteracting the effects of an enzyme known as GRK2. The findings suggest that new drugs aimed specifically at GRK2, which can trigger the death of heart cells, could protect the heart from progressive disease.
Daily walk cuts dementia risk, studies show
Everyone knows walking is good exercise, but it has another benefit: a daily 20-minute walk can also cut the risk of dementia by 40 percent, studies show.
Calculating the risk: Child sexual assault
Affluent girls residing in two-parent homes are much less likely to be sexually assaulted than other female youth, according to a new study from the University of Iowa. The research revealed that when family income reaches 400 percent of the poverty threshold, or around $92,000 for a four-person household, the risk of sexual assault declines by more than half.
Selective cancer targeting technique to improve cancer drugs
Cancer drugs work because they're toxic, but that's also why they afflict healthy cells, producing side effects that can compromise their efficacy. Nobuhide Ueki thinks he may have found a way to get the drugs to selectively target only the cancer cells, and his team's patent-pending research is the subject of a paper entitled "Selective cancer targeting with prodrugs activated by histone deacetylases and a tumour-associated protease," to be published on November 5 in Nature Communications.
Structured play trumps age for future school success
A Kingston University London psychology researcher has backed the Government's stance on maintaining Britain's school starting age saying structured play, not formal learning, is the key to success for the under fives.
Quantity, not just quality, in new Stanford brain scan method
(Medical Xpress)—Imagine that your mechanic tells you that your brake pads seem thin, but doesn't know how long they will last. Or that your doctor says your child has a temperature, but isn't sure how high. Quantitative measurements help us make important decisions, especially in the doctor's office. But a potent and popular diagnostic scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), provides mostly qualitative information.
Holograms offer hope in fight against malaria, study suggests
Scientists have developed a 3D filming technique that could help inform research to stem the spread of malaria.
Statin use linked to lower prostate cancer death risk
(HealthDay)—Prostate cancer patients who take the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins appear to face a lower risk of death from their disease, new Canadian research suggests.
Study links intestinal bacteria to rheumatoid arthritis
Researchers have linked a species of intestinal bacteria known as Prevotella copri to the onset of rheumatoid arthritis, the first demonstration in humans that the chronic inflammatory joint disease may be mediated in part by specific intestinal bacteria. The new findings by laboratory scientists and clinical researchers in rheumatology at NYU School of Medicine add to the growing evidence that the trillions of microbes in our body play an important role in regulating our health.
Just a few years of early musical training benefits the brain later in life
Older adults who took music lessons as children but haven't actively played an instrument in decades have a faster brain response to a speech sound than individuals who never played an instrument, according to a study appearing November 6 in the Journal of Neuroscience. The finding suggests early musical training has a lasting, positive effect on how the brain processes sound.
Breakthrough could lead to new treatment for heart attack
The stop and start of blood flow to the heart during and after a heart attack causes severe damage to heart cells, reducing their capacity to function and potentially causing their death. But a recent study led by researchers at Temple University School of Medicine suggests that it is possible to limit the extent of that damage using a drug. In experiments in mice that recapitulated a human clinical scenario, they discovered that inhibition of a heart protein called TNNI3K reduced damage from heart attack and protected the heart from further injury.
Effects of chronic stress can be traced to your genes
New research shows that chronic stress changes gene activity in immune cells before they reach the bloodstream. With these changes, the cells are primed to fight an infection or trauma that doesn't actually exist, leading to an overabundance of the inflammation that is linked to many health problems.
Wiring up the visual system requires precise temporal control of axon terminations
(Medical Xpress)—The Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN) of the thalamus is a busy place, especially during development. Although it receives inputs from many regions of the brain, the first class seats are reserved for axons coming in from the retina. Brainstem activating projections, and feedback axons from the visual cortex, arrive at this thalamic terminal early on, but must wait until the retinal inputs have taken their seats before they can board. The molecular staff that coordinates this precise temporal arrangement has recently been identified, and the results publsihed in the journal Cell Reports. The authors show that the LGN is initially infused with aggrecan, a molecule that is particularly repulsive to cortico-thalamic axons. The aggrecan keeps them at bay for up to two weeks while the retinal axons get sorted. At that point, aggrecanase, which chops up aggrecan, is expressed in the LGN, and the thalamocortical axons can enter.
Biology news
Pest management – it isn't just about the killing
To most people pest management brings up images of rats, cockroaches and chemical spraying. Poisoning vermin and insect is only one minor, albeit important, aspect of pest management. Few people know about the intellectual challenge and impact of this profession.
Protecting competition horses from the flu
A deep hacking cough, a runny nose and fever—just like humans, horses can suffer badly when struck down by the flu. Although equine influenza is rarely fatal, it is highly contagious and can seriously disrupt training and competition schedules and result in huge revenue losses for the equine industry.
Polar bear researchers to try crowdsourcing
Polar bear researchers are experimenting with the idea of crowdsourcing data as they study the effects of climate change on the animals.
Prevalence of colds and pneumonia in cows can be controlled
Respiratory diseases in cattle are a great threat to animal welfare and lead to financial losses in the cattle industry. The bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is one of the main causes of respiratory disease in cattle. A study of the prevalence and infection distribution of the virus shows that it is possible to control the virus, even though it occurs very frequently.
Fungus that's killing millions of bats 'isn't going away'
University of Illinois researchers say that an infectious and lethal cold-loving fungus that has killed an estimated 6 million bats in North America can persist indefinitely in caves whether there are bats in them or not.
First GMO rice to be launched in Philippines in 2016
The first genetically-modified rice to be commercially available could be approved for production in the Philippines in two to three years, researchers said Tuesday, despite strong opposition from environmental groups.
This parasite is the stuff a cricket's nightmares are made of
The hairworm is a long, thread-like parasite that sits bundled up inside the body of its host. It grows so large that it takes up most of the room inside the host's body, waiting for the right moment to come bursting out. But that is not the scariest thing about the parasite, because it can also survive a deep freeze (at -70°C) and go on to infect its favourite hosts. Fortunately for us, those hosts are some insects and crustaceans.
Researchers identify hybrid pilot whale off Spanish coast
A European project has recorded the first ever documented hybridisation - offspring resulting from cross-breeding - between species of cetaceans, an order of marine mammals that include whales, dolphins and porpoises. The discovery could further our understanding of these mammals' habits and behaviour, and whether their living patterns and migratory instincts are changing.
Nature network hope for birds threatened by climate change
(Phys.org) —New research led by the British Trust for Ornithology and involving a University of York academic provides strong evidence that internationally important British bird populations are being affected by climate change, which could threaten their long-term conservation status.
Digestive enzyme key to nectarivores' sweet tooth
A study of nectar-feeding birds found in Western Australia has uncovered a significant correlation between their digestive physiology and foraging preferences.
New findings could overcome major stumbling blocks to tissue cryopreservation for medical care
Developing an efficient way to freeze and store living tissues could transform many aspects of medical care and research, but ice crystallization often occurs within cells during such cryopreservation procedures, leading to cell death. In the November 5 issue of the Biophysical Journal, a Cell Press publication, researchers report that they have gained new information about the processes that are responsible for promoting the freezing of cells within tissues. This knowledge may ultimately lead to novel approaches for preventing tissue injury during cryopreservation.
Inyo California towhee may no longer be threatened, but it's still a rare bird
An unassuming bird that's rebounded in California's remote Inyo County is giving conservatives and environmentalists alike something to crow about.
Honey bees demonstrate decision making process to avoid difficult choices
(Phys.org) —A new study on the metacognitive ability of honey bees suggests that they, like humans, avoid difficult decisions when they lack sufficient information to solve a problem.
How pigeons may smell their way home
Homing pigeons, like other birds, are extraordinary navigators, but how they manage to find their way back to their lofts is still debated. To navigate, birds require a 'map' (to tell them home is south, for example) and a 'compass' (to tell them where south is), with the sun and the Earth's magnetic field being the preferred compass systems. A new paper provides evidence that the information pigeons use as a map is in fact available in the atmosphere: odours and winds allow them to find their way home. The results are now published in Biogeosciences, an open access journal of the European Geosciences Union (EGU).
Mutual benefits: Stressed-out trees boost sugary rewards to ant defenders
When water is scarce, Ecuador laurel trees ramp up their investment in a syrupy treat that sends resident ant defenders into overdrive, protecting the trees from defoliation by leaf-munching pests.
Peak production of rhythmic proteins occurs at two times of day
Sleep disorders are reported to affect 50 to 70 million Americans, and have been linked to obesity and diabetes, as well as depression and other psychiatric disorders. Circadian cycles are driven by biological clocks that regulate behaviors such as sleep. Environmental or genetic alterations of the circadian clock contribute to jet lag, sleep disorders, and psychiatric disorders.
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