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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for December 30, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Crossing the channel: Surprising new findings in the neurology of sleep and vigilance- People worldwide may feel mind-body connections in same way
- Molecule's carbon chain length affects oxygen's departure in key reaction for building bio-fuels
- Experiment shows connecting names with phone metadata is easy
- Authors Guild appeals ruling in Google Books case
- US announces test sites for drone aircraft (Update)
- Facebook dominates in US rush to social networking
- Boots Industries unveils BI V2.0 for 3D printing
- Most clinical studies on vitamins flawed by poor methodology
- Molecular evolution of genetic sex-determination switch in honeybees
- Underactive thyroid not linked to memory problems
- Home electricity use in US falling to 2001 levels
- With few hard frosts, tropical mangroves push north
- Field trial with lignin modified poplars shows potential for bio-based economy
- High good and low bad cholesterol levels are healthy for the brain, too
Astronomy & Space news
Image: Astronaut Mike Hopkins on Dec. 24 spacewalk
On Dec. 24, 2013, NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins, Expedition 38 Flight Engineer, participates in the second of two spacewalks, spread over a four-day period, which were designed to allow the crew to change out a degraded pump module on the exterior of the Earth-orbiting International Space Station.
Florida rocket launch complex is set for federal review
Space Florida's plan to build a state-run launch complex on the environmentally sensitive fringes of Kennedy Space Center is ready for its federal and public vetting over possible environmental impacts.
Hubble sees a stellar "sneezing fit"
(Phys.org) —Look at the bright star in the middle of this image. It appears as if it just sneezed. This sight will only last for a few thousand years—a blink of an eye in the young star's life.
Technology news
Electric motorcycle company sues NJ co-founder
A New Jersey man who co-founded a company that makes high-end electric motorcycles that Time magazine calls one of the top inventions of 2013 is being sued by the company over stock shares.
Twitter tumbles after warning on overvaluation
Twitter shares tumbled Friday after a brokerage analyst warned the popular messaging network was overvalued following a meteoric rise since its initial public offering in November.
Apple CEO's compensation rises slightly to $4.3M
Apple CEO Timothy Cook received a compensation package valued at nearly $4.3 million this year, up slightly from 2012.
Rival tablet manufacturers launch in Haiti
Two tech companies have launched rival ventures to build Android tablets in Haiti, a country with little recent experience in electronics manufacturing.
First Stanford code poetry slam reveals the literary side of computer code
Leslie Wu, a doctoral student in computer science at Stanford, took an appropriately high-tech approach to presenting her poem "Say 23" at the first Stanford Code Poetry Slam.
New innovation enhances information storage in electronics
A team of researchers from the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Faculty of Engineering has developed a new Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM) technology that will boost information storage in electronic systems. The innovative technology will drastically increase storage space and enhance memory which will ensure that fresh data stays intact, even in the case of a power failure. The team has already filed a US provisional patent for their technology.
Review: New camera phones notable in 2013
As I look back at the more than 100 tech products we reviewed in 2013, a handful of gadgets and services deserve a second look.
Privacy advocate exposes NSA spy gear at gathering
A well-known privacy advocate has given the public an unusually explicit peek into the intelligence world's tool box, pulling back the curtain on the National Security Agency's arsenal of high-tech spy gear.
Netflix ends anti-takeover measure two years early
Netflix says it's ending a move meant to help ward off hostile takeovers almost two years early.
Blast from the past: 1970s games revived on Internet
For those old enough to remember console games like "Asteroids" or "Red Baron," from the 1970s and 1980s: the games are back.
NASA team studies ball bot as future space explorer
(Phys.org) —A July NASA report on the Super Ball Bot said that lightweight and low-cost missions will become increasingly important to NASA's exploration goals. Current robot designs call for a combination of devices such as parachutes, retrorockets and impact balloons to minimize impact forces and to place a robot in a proper orientation. Is there a different model one can consider for future explorations to accommodate NASA goals? A detailed report in IEEE Spectrum looks at a team at NASA Ames Research Center who "suspect there might be a way to make solar system exploration much simpler and cheaper, by embedding science instruments inside a flexible, deformable robotic exoskeleton."
Report says NSA intercepts computer deliveries (Update)
A German magazine lifted the lid on the operations of the National Security Agency's hacking unit Sunday, reporting that American spies intercept computer deliveries, exploit hardware vulnerabilities, and even hijack Microsoft's internal reporting system to spy on their targets.
Samsung sells 110-inch ultra-HD TV for $150,000 (Update)
Samsung said a 110-inch TV that has four times the resolution of standard high-definition TVs is going on sale for about $150,000 in South Korea.
Kinect 2 with Oculus Rift gets NASA robotic arm workout
(Phys.org) —NASA engineers like what they see in Microsoft Kinect 2 as they continue to work on space robots. A NASA video released earlier this month shows how it is leveraging a combination of Kinect 2 along with Oculus Rift, the virtual reality head-mounted display, for results that have engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory highly impressed. Looking for optimal ways to maneuver robots in space, team members at JPL talked to Engadget recently about what they discovered in pairing the technologies to control a robotic arm.
US announces test sites for drone aircraft (Update)
The U.S. government announced six states on Monday that will develop test sites for drones, a critical next step for the march of the unmanned aircraft into American skies.
Facebook dominates in US rush to social networking
The surge into social networks is gaining pace among Americans, with Facebook dominating but with many people using multiple platforms, a study showed Monday.
Boots Industries unveils BI V2.0 for 3D printing
(Phys.org) —Boots Industries is a Quebec City, Canada, company that was founded in 2012 with a mission to spread the excitement of a printing technology that may allow everyday users to create three-dimensional objects from various plastics. Their latest adventure is the unveiling of a 3D printer whose parts they say can be assembled quickly, the BI V2.0. "Our assembled components remove the longest and trickiest steps from the equation (i.e. stringing the pulleys, wiring the towers etc.). With our simple to follow instructions the partial assembly will take between 30 minutes and an hour of work."
Home electricity use in US falling to 2001 levels
The average amount of electricity consumed in U.S. homes has fallen to levels last seen more than a decade ago, back when the smartest device in people's pockets was a Palm pilot and anyone talking about a tablet was probably an archaeologist or a preacher.
Authors Guild appeals ruling in Google Books case
The Authors Guild is appealing a US judge's decision in a long-running case that cleared legal obstacles for Google's massive book-scanning project, court documents showed Monday.
Experiment shows connecting names with phone metadata is easy
(Phys.org) —What kind of telephone activity does the NSA collect on people? Metadata. How harmful is it to your privacy health? Nada. It is only metadata. That has been the line drawn in the sand by government supporters of NSA activities in monitoring calls. Now a Stanford study by two researchers at Stanford has its own message: Individuals can be easily identified through phone numbers. Connecting metadata with individual names is not just easy; they found it was "trivial." Jonathan Mayer along with Patrick Mutchler, the researchers, earlier this week on the blog Web Policy, which covers technology, policy, and law, posted their findings under the headline, "MetaPhone: The NSA's Got Your Number."
Medicine & Health news
Health law to put calorie info on vending machines
Vending machines will display calorie counts for each item along with the cost under new labeling regulations required under the federal health care overhaul law.
Troubled launch of 'Obamacare' tops health news for 2013
(HealthDay)—As 2013 nears to a close, the year's top health news story—the fumbled debut of the Affordable Care Act, often dubbed Obamacare—continues to grab headlines.
Schumacher critical, outlook uncertain after fall
Doctors treating Michael Schumacher refused Monday to predict an outcome for the former Formula One driver, saying they were taking his very critical head injury "hour by hour" following a skiing accident.
UK plans to charge migrants, tourists for care
Britain's government has announced plans to require migrants and international tourists to pay for emergency medical treatments.
Final recommendations on lung cancer screening
High-risk adults between the ages of 55 and 80 should receive annual lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography, according to final recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force being published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Medicaid beneficiaries use emergency services due to lack of alternatives
A study from the University of Colorado School of Medicine shows patients with Medicaid insurance seeking care in an emergency department may be driven by lack of alternatives instead of the severity of their illness. The study is published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine (JGIM).
Doctors give no prognosis for Michael Schumacher
Doctors offered a grim assessment of Michael Schumacher's head injuries Monday, providing no prognosis for the Formula One driving great after his skiing accident in the French Alps.
Dermatologist offers tips on dry winter skin
(HealthDay)—Dry skin is common during the winter and can lead to flaking, itching, cracking and even bleeding. But you can prevent and treat dry skin, an expert says.
Odds of uncontrolled and unreported HTN up for blacks
(HealthDay)—Blacks are more likely to have hypertension and to have uncontrolled and unreported hypertension than whites, according to a study published online Dec. 23 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
'Men are stuck' in gender roles, data suggest
Brent Kroeger pores over nasty online comments about stay-at-home dads, wondering if his friends think those things about him. The father from Rowland Heights, east of Los Angeles, remembers high school classmates laughing when he said he wanted to be a "house husband." He avoids mentioning it on Facebook.
Federal health market surpasses one million signups (Update)
A December surge propelled health care sign-ups through the U.S. government's rehabilitated website past the 1 million mark, the Obama administration said Sunday, reflecting new vigor for the problem-plagued federal insurance exchange.
Tips to jump-start your New Year's resolutions
(HealthDay)—Healthier eating, losing weight and getting more exercise are among the most common New Year's resolutions, and it's important to make a plan and be patient to achieve these goals, an expert says.
Slower-paced meal reduces hunger but affects calorie consumption differently
Obesity rates in the United States increased from 14.5% of the population in 1971-1974 to 35.9% of the population in 2009-2010. It's believed that one contributing factor to expanding waistlines is the reported increase in energy intake. Research suggests that the ability to control energy intake may be affected by the speed at which we eat, and a high eating rate may impair the relationship between the sensory signals and processes that regulate how much we eat.
The secret to fewer doctor office visits after 70—play high school sports
Seventy year olds who don't frequently visit the doctor have something unexpected in common – most played high school sports. They were active on a team over 50 years ago and are more likely to be active into their late 70s.
I'll have what they're having: Study finds social norms influence food choices
Is obesity a socially transmitted disease? In order to try to find out, researchers in the United Kingdom conducted a systematic review of several experimental studies, each of which examined whether or not providing information about other peoples' eating habits influences food intake or choices. Their results are published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
China bans officials from smoking in public
China, which has the world's largest number of smokers, appears to be making another effort at limiting smoking by banning officials from lighting up in public.
Some with Alzheimer's find care in far-off nations
Residents of this facility for people with Alzheimer's disease toss around a yellow ball and laugh under a cascade with their caregivers, in a swimming pool ringed by palm trees and wind chimes. Susanna Kuratli, once a painter of delicate oils, swims a lap and smiles.
US health watchdog rejects Sanofi's MS drug
French drug giant Sanofi announced Monday US health authorities had rejected its Lemtrada drug for some forms of multiple sclerosis, which is already approved in the European Union, Canada and Australia.
Bird flu subtype re-emerges in Hong Kong
An elderly man has contracted a mild form of bird flu in the first case of its type for four years, Hong Kong officials said on Monday.
Study identifies potential new strategy to improve odds of corneal transplant acceptance
For the estimated 10 percent of patients whose bodies reject a corneal transplant, the odds of a second transplant succeeding are poor. All that could change, however, based on a UT Southwestern Medical Center study that has found a way to boost the corneal transplant acceptance rate.
Alcohol leaves its mark on youngsters' DNA
A study begun in Mexico with the collaboration of university students analysed the effect of weekend alcohol consumption on the lipids comprising cell membrane and its genetic material, i.e. DNA. Until now, the damage to the packaging of nuclear material in the early stages of alcohol abuse has never been documented, perhaps because most of the studies are done at later stages with people who have been consuming alcohol in an addictive way for many years. The results have been published in the journal Alcohol.
Researchers say fructose does not impact emerging indicator for cardiovascular disease
Fructose, the sugar often blamed for the obesity epidemic, does not itself have any impact on an emerging marker for the risk of cardiovascular disease known as postprandial triglycerides, new research has found.
Fetal alcohol syndrome heart defects may be caused by altered function, not structure
Recent data shows that more than 500,000 women in the U.S. report drinking during pregnancy, with about 20 percent of this population admitting to binge drinking. Even one episode of heavy drinking can lead to the collection of birth defects known as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Along with growth retardation, head and face abnormalities, and neurological problems, FAS also causes heart problems in just over half of those with this condition. Though much research has focused on looking for the cause of these alcohol-induced heart defects, they remain largely a mystery.
Toward a molecular explanation for schizophrenia
Surprisingly little is known about schizophrenia. It was only recognized as a medical condition in the past few decades, and its exact causes remain unclear. Since there is no objective test for schizophrenia, its diagnosis is based on an assortment of reported symptoms. The standard treatment, antipsychotic medication, works less than half the time and becomes increasingly ineffective over time.
Body clock may be to blame when tots fight sleep (Update)
When youngsters continually struggle to fall asleep at night, new research suggests maybe their body clock doesn't match their bedtime.
Yoga more than a crutch for NYC man who suffered devastating leg injury
(HealthDay)—In the fall of 2010, 34-year-old Ari Steinfeld and his then-fiancee were walking to a New York City synagogue when a speeding car suddenly jumped the curb and plowed into them. The car hit them both, but Steinfeld was more severely injured as the car pinned him against a building, crushing his leg.
What yoga can and can't do for you
(HealthDay)—Chances are that you've heard good things about yoga. It can relax you. It can get you fit—just look at the bodies of some celebrities who sing yoga's praises. And, more and more, yoga is purported to be able to cure numerous medical conditions.
Uncertainty noted in seemingly stable medical liability climate
(HealthDay)—Although the medical liability climate seems stable, the impact of health care reform on the market is uncertain, according to an article based on two reports published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Alendronate reduces adjacent-level vertebral fractures
(HealthDay)—For females with osteoporosis, the rate of adjacent-level vertebral fractures is relatively low, with reduced odds with bisphosphonate therapy, according to a study published in the Dec. 1 issue of Spine.
Smoking bans linked to improvement in tobacco use
(HealthDay)—Smoking bans in the home and city/town are significantly associated with smoking reduction and making a quit attempt, according to a study published online Nov. 26 in Preventive Medicine.
Surgical device brings hope to those with acid reflux
For two years, Milagros Camacho struggled with what she thought was heartburn after every meal. At night stomach acid would sometimes come out of her mouth and nose. Even drinking water would set off her symptoms.
Conversations on sex lacking between doctors and teens
Doctors are missing a prime opportunity to share information about sex with their teenage patients by failing to broach the subject during checkups, according to researchers at Duke Medicine.
Minority physicians care for a majority of underserved patients in the US
Black, Hispanic and Asian physicians play an outsized role in the care of disadvantaged patients nationally. Patients who have low incomes, are from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds, have Medicaid insurance, or who do not speak English – groups that historically have difficulty in accessing medical care – are substantially more likely to receive their care from a minority physician, according to a new study appearing online in today's [Dec. 30] issue of the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.
Landmark ADHD study backed drugs over therapy at a cost: report
(HealthDay)—Many children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have missed out on valuable counseling because of a widely touted study that concluded stimulants such as Ritalin or Adderall were more effective for treating the disorder than medication plus behavioral therapies, experts say.
Research into axon degeneration hits a nerve
(Medical Xpress)—University of Queensland (UQ) researchers have made a significant discovery that could one day halt a number of neurodegenerative diseases.
Nicotine exploits COPI to foster addiction
A study in The Journal of General Physiology helps explain how nicotine exploits the body's cellular machinery to promote addiction. The findings could lead to new therapies to help people quit smoking.
Most clinical studies on vitamins flawed by poor methodology
Most large, clinical trials of vitamin supplements, including some that have concluded they are of no value or even harmful, have a flawed methodology that renders them largely useless in determining the real value of these micronutrients, a new analysis suggests.
High good and low bad cholesterol levels are healthy for the brain, too
High levels of "good" cholesterol and low levels of "bad" cholesterol are correlated with lower levels of the amyloid plaque deposition in the brain that is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, in a pattern that mirrors the relationship between good and bad cholesterol in cardiovascular disease, UC Davis researchers have found.
Underactive thyroid not linked to memory problems
(HealthDay)—Hypothyroidism, a condition that causes low or no thyroid hormone production, is not linked to mild dementia or impaired brain function, a new study suggests.
People worldwide may feel mind-body connections in same way
(HealthDay)—Many phrases reflect how emotions affect the body: Loss makes you feel "heartbroken," you suffer from "butterflies" in the stomach when nervous, and disgusting things make you "sick to your stomach."
Crossing the channel: Surprising new findings in the neurology of sleep and vigilance
(Medical Xpress)—A recent neurological addressing one of the most fundamental issues in sleep rhythm generation study underscores an inconvenient truth—namely, that established scientific facts have and will continue to change. Researchers at Institute for Basic Science (Daejeon), Korea Institute of Science and Technology (Seoul) and Yonsei University (Seoul) have demonstrated significant exceptions to the theory, long accepted as dogma, that low-threshold burst firing mediated by T-type Ca2+ channels in thalamocortical neurons is the key component for sleep spindles. (A T-type Ca2+channel is a type of voltage-gated ion channel that displays selective permeability to calcium ions with a transient length of activation. Burst firing refers to periods of rapid neural spiking followed by quiescent, silent, periods. Sleep spindles are bursts of oscillatory brain activity visible on an EEG that occurs during non-rapid eye movement stage 2, or NREM-2, sleep, during which no e! ye movement occurs, and dreaming is very rare.) The scientists presented both in vivo and in vitro evidence that sleep spindles are generated normally in the absence of T-type channels and burst firing (periods of rapid neural spiking followed by quiescent, silent, periods) in thalamocortical neurons. Moreover, their results show what they describe as a potentially important role of tonic (constant) firing in this rhythm generation. They conclude that future studies should be aimed at investigating the detailed mechanism through which each type of thalamocortical oscillation is generated.
Biology news
Major upsurge in Tanzania elephant poaching, says official
Tanzania has been hit by a sharp upsurge in poaching, with at least 60 elephants killed in the two months since the government was forced to halt a controversial crackdown, a senior official said.
Giant panda in Thailand pregnant, says zoo
A zoo in northern Thailand said Sunday that it was preparing for the birth of a second giant panda in the New Year thanks to artificial insemination.
Invasive grass known as medusahead discovered in Montana
(Phys.org) —Scientists with Montana State University have confirmed the presence of the invasive grass medusahead on the Flathead Indian Reservation in southeastern Sanders County, a first in Montana.
How persistent bacteria are able to avoid antibiotics
The mechanism by which some bacteria are able to survive antibacterial treatment has been revealed for the first time by Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers. Their work could pave the way for new ways to control such bacteria.
Bald eagle deaths in Utah alarm and mystify scientists
Bald eagles are dying in Utah - 20 in the past few weeks alone - and nobody can figure out why.
Tell me your barcode, and I will tell you what palm you are
Reliable and cost-effective species recognition is the dream of many scientists, and has important applications. While the use of morphological features is often uncertain, and can lead to misidentification, species identification based on the composition of short DNA sequences -the so-called "DNA barcodes"- has proven to be the safest way to reach this goal, both in animals and in many groups of plants.
Meloidogyne mali: A new invasive plant parasitic nematode in Europe
Following its recent synonymisation with Meloidogyne ulmi, a species known to parasitize elm trees in Europe, it has become clear that M. mali has been in the Netherlands for more than fifty years.
The value of museum collections for development of DNA barcode libraries
The ability to sequence the DNA of plants and animals has revolutionized many areas of biology, but the unstable character of DNA poses difficulties for sequencing specimens in museum collection over time. In an attempt to answer these issues, a recent study of 31 target spider species from the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden, discovers that both time and body size are significant factors in determining which specimens can produce DNA barcode sequences. The study was published in a special issue of the open access journal ZooKeys.
DNA barcoding to monitor marine mammal genetic diversity
Marine mammals are flagship and charismatic species, very attractive for the general public. Nowadays, they are also considered as highly relevant sentinel of the marine realm. Their presence and their welfare in an area is thought to indicate the health of the place, whereas their disappearance, their displacement, or a decrease in their abundance or health could reflect negative environmental changes, whether of anthropogenic origin or not.
Museum bird DNA 'ready for use' in Naturalis Biodiversity Center
DNA barcoding is used as an effective tool for both the identification of known species and the discovery of new ones. The core idea of DNA barcoding is based on the fact that just a small portion of a single gene already can show that there is less variation between the individuals of one species than between those of several species.
Plan to delist gray wolf endangers other threatened species, researchers find
The federal government's proposal to discontinue protection for the gray wolf across the United States could have the unintended consequence of endangering other species, researchers say.
Testosterone in male songbirds may enhance desire to sing but not song quality
For the male canary, the ability to sing a pitch-perfect song is critical to wooing female canaries. As the seasons change, so does song quality and frequency. The hormone testosterone plays a role in this changing song behavior.
Field trial with lignin modified poplars shows potential for bio-based economy
The results of a field trial with genetically modified poplar trees in Zwijnaarde, Belgium, shows that the wood of lignin modified poplar trees can be converted into sugars in a more efficient way. These sugars can serve as the starting material for producing bio-based products like bio-plastics and bio-ethanol.
Molecular evolution of genetic sex-determination switch in honeybees
It's taken nearly 200 years, but scientists in Arizona and Europe have teased out how the molecular switch for sex gradually and adaptively evolved in the honeybee.
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