Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for January 6, 2014:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- British betting company tests smartphone users' wits- Making silicon devices responsive to infrared light
- 'Ardi' skull reveals links to human lineage
- CeCoIn5 reveals new secrets about how superconductivity and magnetism can be related
- Newfound planet is Earth-mass but gassy
- Pulsar in stellar triple system makes unique gravitational laboratory
- Michigan researchers hunt for Internet remnants from time travelers
- Scientists find a practical test for string theory
- Bees dance the light fantastic
- New fossils shed light on the origins of lions, and tigers, and bears
- Electronic 'mother' watches over home
- Synthetic natural gas from excess electricity
- Tiny acts of microbe justice help reveal how nature fights freeloaders
- New compounds discovered that are hundreds of times more mutagenic
- Triple millisecond pulsar laboratory challenges theory
Astronomy & Space news
India successfully launches cutting-edge cryogenic rocket
India on Sunday successfully launched its first rocket using domestically produced booster technology after several previous missions had failed, taking another step forward in its ambitious space programme.
Image: Ten years ago, Spirit rover lands on Mars
This mosaic image taken on Jan. 4, 2004, by the navigation camera on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit, shows a 360 degree panoramic view of the rover on the surface of Mars. Spirit operated for more than six years after landing in January 2004 for what was planned as a three-month mission.
Will the sun explode?
All stars die, some more violently than others.
Beating bacteria on Earth—and in space
By sheer strength of numbers, bacteria are by far the most successful life form on Earth. As we've learned over the past several decades of human spaceflight, they don't do too badly in microgravity either. For evidence, just look back on the astronauts and cosmonauts who were stricken with infections during their flights. At home, we have long-established and usually effective antibiotic treatments against most harmful bacteria. But previous studies have shown that in space, bacteria can survive and thrive in what would be fatal drug concentrations for them back on Earth. How is that possible?
New science bound for station on Orbital's Cygnus
Delivering ants to space, sloshy fluids for robotic satellites, a study on antibiotic drug resistance and other small satellites to the International Space Station can be a tough job, and now Orbital Sciences Corporation of Dulles, Va., can help carry the load. In its first commercial resupply journey after completion of NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program, the Orbital-1 mission will deliver some very interesting new scientific investigations to the space station.
Kepler provides insight about enigmatic but ubiquitous planets, five new rocky planets
(Phys.org) —More than three-quarters of the planet candidates discovered by NASA's Kepler spacecraft have sizes ranging from that of Earth to that of Neptune, which is nearly four times as big as Earth. Such planets dominate the galactic census but are not represented in our own solar system. Astronomers don't know how they form or if they are made of rock, water or gas.
Florida space center home to secret spacecraft
(AP)—Kennedy Space Center will be the testing site for a top-secret Air Force space plane.
Decade-old rover adventure continues on Mars and Earth
(Phys.org) —Eighth graders didn't have Facebook or Twitter to share news back then, in January 2004. Bekah Sosland, 14 at the time, learned about a NASA rover landing on Mars when the bouncing-ball video on the next morning's Channel One news in her Fredericksburg, Texas, classroom caught her eye.
Does a planet need life to create continents?
If not for life, Earth may not have possessed the continents it does now, instead becoming a planet covered nearly entirely in ocean, researchers say.
First 2014 asteroid discovered: Update
(Phys.org) —Several sources confirm that the first discovered asteroid in 2014, designated 2014 AA, entered Earth's atmosphere late Jan. 1 (Jan. 2 Universal time) over the mid-Atlantic Ocean. The Catalina Sky Survey operating near Tucson, Ariz. discovered this very small asteroid—6 to 9 feet (2 to 3 meters) in size—early on the morning of Jan. 1, and immediately followed up on it. (An animation of the discovery images is shown in Figure 1). The asteroid entered Earth's atmosphere about 21 hours later, and probably broke up.
Gravity lab discovered: A pulsar in a unique triple star system
(Phys.org) —An international team of astronomers using the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) has discovered a pulsar that is orbited by two white dwarf stars. Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars that can be used like precision astronomical clocks. This is the first time that astronomers have found a triple star system that contains a pulsar, and the discovery team has used the pulsar's clock-like properties to turn the system into an unparalleled precision laboratory for studying the effects of gravitational interactions.
Triple millisecond pulsar laboratory challenges theory
(Phys.org) —Millisecond pulsars are old neutron stars, which rotate several hundred times per second. They are often found in binary systems and their existence can be explained by mass transfer from a companion star. The recent discovery of a millisecond pulsar orbited by two white dwarfs (Ransom et al., 2014) comes as a surprise and challenges current theories of their formation. The astrophysicists Ed van den Heuvel of the University of Amsterdam and Thomas Tauris from Bonn have developed a semi-analytical model which can resolve the intriguing formation of this unique triple system.
Supernova's super dust factory imaged with ALMA
Galaxies can be remarkably dusty places and supernovas are thought to be a primary source of that dust, especially in the early Universe. Direct evidence of a supernova's dust-making capabilities, however, has been slim and cannot account for the copious amount of dust detected in young, distant galaxies.
Fermi observatory makes first gamma-ray study of a gravitational lens
An international team of astronomers, using NASA's Fermi observatory, has made the first-ever gamma-ray measurements of a gravitational lens, a kind of natural telescope formed when a rare cosmic alignment allows the gravity of a massive object to bend and amplify light from a more distant source.
Pulsar in stellar triple system makes unique gravitational laboratory
Astronomers using the National Science Foundation's Green Bank Telescope (GBT) have discovered a unique stellar system of two white dwarf stars and a superdense neutron star, all packed within a space smaller than Earth's orbit around the Sun. The closeness of the stars, combined with their nature, has allowed the scientists to make the best measurements yet of the complex gravitational interactions in such a system.
Newfound planet is Earth-mass but gassy
An international team of astronomers has discovered the first Earth-mass planet that transits, or crosses in front of, its host star. KOI-314c is the lightest planet to have both its mass and physical size measured. Surprisingly, although the planet weighs the same as Earth, it is 60 percent larger in diameter, meaning that it must have a very thick, gaseous atmosphere.
Technology news
Liberty Media bids for full ownership of Sirius XM
Liberty Media wants to take full ownership of Sirius XM in a deal that would value the satellite radio service at nearly $23 billion.
NVIDIA mobile processor paves the way for self-driving cars
NVIDIA's new Tegra K1 mobile processor will help self-driving cars advance from the realm of research into the mass market with its automotive-grade version of the same GPU that powers the world's 10 most energy-efficient supercomputers.
Cantor Gaming changing its name to CG Technology
Gambling technology and sports betting company Cantor Gaming is getting a new name.
Panasonic to help make smart TV Firefox software
Mozilla, the organization behind the Firefox Web browser, is putting its software on Internet-connected television sets, starting with Panasonic's.
New Dish Hopper set-up can record eight shows at once
Dish Network is unveiling a new recorder system that can record eight TV shows at once, as long as four of them are from the broadcast networks ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox.
Microsoft says it sold 3M Xbox Ones in 2013
Microsoft says it has sold more than 3 million units of the Xbox One, the video game console it launched on Nov. 22, 2013.
BlackBerry sues startup founded by Ryan Seacrest
(AP)—Troubled smartphone maker BlackBerry Ltd. is accusing a company backed by "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest of being a rip-off artist.
Hacker Jack died from accidental overdose: coroner
The sudden death of prominent hacker Barnaby Jack was due to an accidental overdose of heroin, cocaine and other drugs, a coroner's report said Friday.
Twitter's Vine expands video on Web
Twitter's video service Vine announced Friday it was expanding its presence on the Web, giving users the option of watching full-screen clips on their personal computers.
Wave of wearable gadgets expected at CES event
(AP)—Will 2014 be remembered as the year wearable computing took off?
Celebs, others buy clicks for social media boost
(AP)—Celebrities, businesses and even the State Department have bought bogus Facebook likes, Twitter followers or YouTube viewers from techies who run offshore "click farms," where they tap, tap, tap the thumbs up button, view videos or retweet comments to artificially inflate social media numbers.
Selling social media clicks becomes big business
(AP)—Celebrities, businesses and even the U.S. State Department have bought bogus Facebook likes, Twitter followers or YouTube viewers from offshore "click farms," where workers tap, tap, tap the thumbs up button, view videos or retweet comments to inflate social media numbers.
Global tech spending seen slipping one pct in 2014
The Consumer Electronics Association estimates that global spending on technology will slip 1 percent in 2014 to $1.06 trillion as the lower average selling price of smartphones and tablets offsets unit growth in markets like China.
GM to outfit Chevy vehicles with 4G from AT&T
(AP)—GM says it will start outfitting most Chevrolet vehicles with 4G cellular capabilities in partnership with AT&T. The technology will let drivers make phone calls and allow passengers to surf the Web without burning through the voice and data limits on their phone plans.
Internet-connected toothbrush makes CES debut
Brush smarter. That's the message from the makers of what is billed as the world's first Internet-connected toothbrush.
LG to use Palm's mobile software for smart TVs (Update)
LG will bring the software that once powered Palm's smartphones to the majority of its Internet-connected TVs this year, the company said Monday.
Nvidia promotes new chip with crop circle
A 310-foot "crop circle" in a California barley field that mystified locals this week was explained Sunday: it was a publicity stunt by Nvidia Corp., a maker of chips for PCs and smartphones.
Everyday travel and the cognitive map
Do you have a special way of getting to work or to a favorite restaurant? If so, then your cognitive map is doing its job.
Roku TV will stream video without set-top box (Update)
Roku Inc. is launching a line of TVs that play video from services like Netflix without requiring a set-top box. While similar to smart TVs on the market already, the company's Internet streaming platform offers some 1,200 apps and more comprehensive niche content choices.
Robot's sticky feet could aid space missions (w/ Video)
The sticky feet of a climbing, gecko-like robot developed by Simon Fraser University researchers could be useful in space, international tests show.
pH sensor 500 times thinner than human hair
Nano-scientists have innovated a new pH sensor 500 times thinner than a human hair, in a state-of-the-art cleanroom facility using ruthenium oxide nano-film.
GE to acquire Thermo Fisher units for $1.06 bn
General Electric plans to acquire cell research divisions from Thermo Fischer Scientific for $1.06 billion to boost the conglomerate's health unit, the companies announced Monday.
Dolby unveils technology to improve TV brightness
Dolby, long known for pristine sound, is now trying to improve what you see. On Monday, at the International CES gadget show, the company unveiled Dolby Vision, a technology that increases the brightness and contrast of TV sets. Prototype models will be on display from TV manufacturers such as Sharp and TCL.
Technology one step ahead of war laws
Today's emerging military technologies—including unmanned aerial vehicles, directed-energy weapons, lethal autonomous robots, and cyber weapons like Stuxnet—raise the prospect of upheavals in military practices so fundamental that they challenge long-established laws of war. Weapons that make their own decisions about targeting and killing humans, for example, have ethical and legal implications obvious and frightening enough to have entered popular culture (for example, in the Terminator films).
AT&T to sell toll-free service for wireless data
AT&T Inc., the country's second-largest wireless carrier, announced Monday that it's setting up a "1-800" service for wireless data. Websites that pay for the service will be toll-free for AT&T's wireless customers, meaning the traffic won't count against a surfer's monthly allotment of data.
Publishers sell Bookish website to startup
Three publishers who invested millions of dollars in an online site for discovering and buying books have sold it to a digital startup.
LG jumps into wearable fitness gadget market
Korean electronics maker LG is jumping into the wearable fitness market.
Sharp unveils TV positioned between HD and 4K
Japanese electronics maker Sharp is bridging the gap between expensive 4K TVs and HD versions with an in-between solution that's also priced in the middle.
Huawei aims to sell 80 mn smartphones in 2014
Chinese telecoms giant Huawei said Monday it aims to sell 80 million smartphones in 2014, as it boosts its brand name worldwide and makes a new push for US consumers.
Zynga adoption pushes Bitcoin back over $1,000
The virtual currency Bitcoin jumped back over $1,000 Monday after online gaming company Zynga began a test operation to accept Bitcoin in some of its games.
T-Mobile expands coverage with spectrum from Verizon
Fourth-ranked US wireless carrier T-Mobile US said Monday it was buying 700 MHz low-band spectrum from market leader Verizon Wireless to strengthen its coverage in major urban markets.
Internet gap between black, white seniors
African Americans over the age of 65 are much less likely to spend time online than their white counterparts, according to a study released on Monday.
LG strikes deals to sell curved smartphone in US
LG Electronics is bringing its smartphone with a curved six-inch (15-centimeter) screen to the U.S. later this year.
Netflix to stream "ultra" high-def shows to LG televisions
LG on Monday announced an alliance with Netflix to stream "ultra high-definition" shows to new televisions being released by the South Korean consumer electronics giant.
Cyberwarfare main threat to US, poll says
Cyberattacks are the most serious threat facing the United States, even more so than terrorism, according to American defense experts.
Panasonic unveils wearable 4K camcorder
Panasonic unveiled a product Monday that combines two big tech trends—ultra HD and wearable devices— with a portable, camera that hooks onto your ear and records in ultra-high definition 4K video.
Huawei phone is so big it can charge other phones
Huawei, China's largest cellphone manufacturer, is releasing a phone that can be thought of as the inflight refueling system of the mobile world: it can be used to recharge other phones.
ANGELINA AI game enters Ludum Dare jam
(Phys.org) —Can we automatically design video games? Put more boldly, what if a machine carrying AI, not humans, could step up to the role of creating a game? And can AI even create a better game than a human can? These questions are under investigation by Mike Cook, who is a PhD student at Imperial College in London and also a research associate at Goldsmiths College, University of London. At Goldsmith, he is part of the Computational Creativity Group. Computational creativity is defined as a subfield of AI research which looks at whether software can be made to do things that would be considered creative if done by a human. Honing in on video game creation poses a fitting challenge.
US spy court: NSA to keep collecting phone records
(AP)—A secretive U.S. spy court has ruled again that the National Security Agency can keep collecting every American's telephone records every day, in the midst of dueling decisions in two other federal courts about whether the surveillance program is constitutional.
'Internet of Things' to take CES center stage
From drones and smart cars to remote-controlled door locks and eyewear, the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show promises to showcase the "Internet of Things," along with gadgets like smartphones and tablets.
3D-printed components flown in British fighter jet
A Tornado fighter jet fitted with metal components created on a 3D printer undertook a successful test flight in Britain last month, defence company BAE Systems said Sunday.
Self-driving vehicles offer potential benefits, policy challenges for lawmakers
Self-driving vehicles offer the promise of significant benefits to society, but raise several policy challenges, including the need to update insurance liability regulations and privacy concerns such as who will control the data generated by this technology, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
Corvette will let owners record, share drives
(AP)—The 2015 Chevrolet Corvette will have a new system that lets owners record their drives and share the video with friends.
Chevrolet to roll out 4G-connected cars
The new Chevrolets coming out this year will be faster—on the information superhighway.
In search of time travelers
(Phys.org) —It started over a poker game. Astrophysicist Robert Nemiroff and his students were playing cards (for chips) last summer, chatting about Facebook. They wondered: If there were time travelers among us, would they be on social media? How would you find them? Could you Google them?
Electronic 'mother' watches over home
Resembling a Russian nesting doll, the pint-sized robotic device wants to be your "mother."
New software battle coming to smart TVs
More choice—and confusion—is coming to the next generation of TVs. At least three new software systems were announced Monday for Internet-connected television sets, which let viewers watch Internet video and interact with friends online on the big screen. The new smart TV operating systems will compete with software already available from Google and individual TV manufacturers.
Toyota bumps up hydrogen-powered car in US to 2015 (Update)
Toyota said Monday that a hydrogen-powered vehicle that emits only water vapor as exhaust will go on sale in the U.S. in 2015, a year earlier than it promised just two months ago.
Michigan researchers hunt for Internet remnants from time travelers
Time travel has captured the public imagination for decades, not excluding screenwriters and creative writing instructors who encourage creative leaps about stepping back and beyond the present through time. What about evidence?
British betting company tests smartphone users' wits
Ladbrokes, UK bookmakers, have gathered results of their online test of 1,000 smartphone users, challenged to complete seven online brain teasers. The brainteasers were designed to see which brand's users were the smartest.
Medicine & Health news
France recalls contaminated baby IV nutrient bags after 3 deaths
France's government said Saturday it has recalled a batch of nutrient bags used by a hospital in the Alps to feed babies intravenously after three infants died because of a bacterial contamination.
Poor sleep, fatigue linked to clinical-decision regret in nurses
(HealthDay)—Among critical care nurses, clinical-decision regret is associated with sleep disturbances and the resulting fatigue, according to a study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Critical Care.
Therapy effective in managing urinary incontinence among elderly people
Professor Claudia Lai, School of Nursing of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, who is also Jockey Club CADENZA Fellow, conducted an experimental study for 31 months on the effectiveness of "Prompted Voiding" (PV) as a behavioural strategy for urinary incontinence among elderly people. The results showed that PV is an effective measure for managing the problem of urinary incontinence. It is also a behavioural strategy that can be implemented in nursing homes, both to deal with the problem and to change the attitudes of elderly residents and caregivers towards urinary incontinence.
CWRU researcher finds released inmates need reentry programs to meet basic and mental health needs
When inmates with severe mental illness are released from jail, their priority is finding shelter, food, money and clothes. Even needs as basic as soap and a place to bathe can be hard to come by for people leaving jail, according to a new study from Case Western Reserve University's social work school.
Solving the 'cocktail party problem'
Ever try to make out a quiet voice in a crowded room, where many conversations are happening all at once?
16 Indonesians die after drinking bootleg alcohol
Sixteen Indonesians have died and nine are fighting for their lives after drinking bootleg alcohol to celebrate New Year's Eve on the main island of Java, police said Monday.
Federal appeals court to review Texas abortion law
A federal appeals court is set to review a Texas law that led to the closing of many abortion clinics in the state.
Uruguay marijuana draws pharmaceuticals' interest: report
Foreign pharmaceutical companies have expressed interest in buying marijuana for medical uses from Uruguay, which last month became the world's first country to legalize the cultivation and sale of the drug, local media reported Monday.
US Army identifies six critical research targets for improving outcomes in traumatic brain injury
The U.S. Department of Defense funds more than 500 neurotrauma research projects totaling over $700 million. Yet there remains a large unmet medical need for effective treatments of traumatic brain injury (TBI), a major cause of disability and mortality. The U.S. Army's new strategic research plan for developing improved drug therapies for TBI is published in Journal of Neurotrauma.
AMA details top five federal issues for 2014
(HealthDay)—Implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the repeal of Medicare's failed sustained growth formula, and the proposed roll-out of the International Classification of Diseases, Version 10, top the list of federal issues expected to impact physicians and patients in 2014, according to a viewpoint piece published online Dec. 30 by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Obama administration stands by contraception rule
(HealthDay)—The Obama administration on Friday contested U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor's decision temporarily exempting an order of Catholic nuns from the Affordable Care Act's contraception mandate.
Personal health record associated with improved medication adherence
Patients with diabetes who used an online patient portal to refill medications increased their medication adherence and improved their cholesterol levels, according to a new study in the journal Medical Care.
Senator sues over Congress' health coverage
Sen. Ron Johnson is suing to stop the government from paying most of the medical insurance premiums for members of Congress and their aides now required to obtain coverage through the new health care law's state exchanges.
US marks four straight years of slowing health costs
President Barack Obama's health care law has divided the nation, but government experts are saying his first term produced historically low growth in health costs.
Loss of function of a single gene linked to diabetes in mice
Researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine have found that dysfunction in a single gene in mice causes fasting hyperglycemia, one of the major symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Their findings were reported online in the journal Diabetes.
Battle over GMO labeling rumbling in US
A GMO labeling battle is rumbling in the United States, with those demanding full disclosure of genetically modified organisms in food products pitted against big companies.
New York may allow medical marijuana use: report
New York is planning to loosen its marijuana laws to allow limited use of the drug by people suffering serious illness, the New York Times reported Saturday, citing state officials.
New-onset sciatica tied to age, obesity, mental workload
(HealthDay)—Management of obesity may prevent new-onset sciatica, according to a Japanese study published in the Dec. 15 issue of Spine.
Urgent care can be opportunity for practice expansion
(HealthDay)—Many physicians are exploring expansion into urgent care as a means to grow their practice, but some important factors should be assessed before jumping in, according to an article published Nov. 25 in Medical Economics.
Sleep-disordered breathing may worsen pregnancy outcomes
(HealthDay)—Evidence from published observational studies suggests that maternal sleep-disordered breathing is associated with increased risk of gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes, according to research published in the January issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Combination protocol accurately diagnoses appendicitis in kids
(HealthDay)—A clinical pathway combining the Samuel's pediatric appendicitis score (PAS) and selective use of ultrasonography (US) has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing appendicitis in children, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in Pediatrics.
Review quantifies benefits, harms of mammography
(HealthDay)—The benefits and harms of screening mammography have been quantified in a special communication published online Dec. 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Doctors discuss use of MenB vaccine at Princeton University
(HealthDay)—The planned use of an experimental Neisseria meningitides serogroup B (MenB) meningitis vaccine at the University of Princeton has raised several contentious issues relating to vaccination, according to an ideas and opinions piece published online Dec. 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Researcher looks at race and bariatric surgery
While weight loss surgery offers one of the best opportunities to improve health and reduce obesity related illnesses, the nearly 100,000 Americans who undergo bariatric surgery each year represent only a small fraction of people who are medically eligible for the procedure. Among those who have surgery, Caucasian Americans are twice as likely as African Americans to have weight loss surgery. On the surface, the data appear to signal racial disparity, but when researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center dug deeper to ask why this variation exists, the answer was more complicated.
Stanford researchers track a silent killer in rural Bangladesh
It's been decades since the U.S. phased out the use of lead in gasoline, paint, pipes and other products because of the metal's insidious health effects. Although lead from previous years' exhaust still persists in soil and dust, Americans have largely rid themselves of the toxin, linked to symptoms ranging from anemia and hearing loss to heart disease and mental retardation. In other parts of the world, however, the specter of lead poisoning still hovers.
Tropical medicine study finds most rapid way to detect dengue
University of Hawaii Mānoa scientists have found that a commercially available, FDA-approved dengue detection kit bests the former "gold standard" test by producing results in under five hours.
More ER visits result from complex factors, says UB medical policy expert
(Medical Xpress)—Reports that people newly insured through Medicaid in Oregon made more emergency room visits than the uninsured may reflect regional issues, says Nancy Nielsen, MD, senior associate dean for health policy at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and past president of the American Medical Association.
People in poor neighborhoods are twice as likely to have gambling problems, study finds
The poorer the neighborhood, the higher the risk for problem gambling, according to a study from the University at Buffalo Research Institute on Addictions (RIA).
Road toll and smoking campaigns good precedents for the fight against alcohol-fuelled violence
There is enormous outrage in the community about the recent deaths from alcohol-fuelled violence. There is the risk, however, that in the same way that the gun debate in the US flares after every shooting then fades away without change – a similar pattern will emerge in Australia. And as surely as each death fades in our collective memory, another young man will be king-hit in the street and end up in a critical condition in hospital or fatally injured.
Deaths from oesophageal cancer up by almost 50 per cent in last 40 years
The number of people dying from oesophageal cancer – cancer of the gullet or food pipe – has risen by 49 per cent in the last 40 years according to new figures published by Cancer Research UK, today.
Researcher hopes to use epigenome editing to fight disease
(Medical Xpress)—Growing up in Iowa, Dr. Eric Mendenhall says biology always "came really easily" to him. But other than becoming a doctor, which he wasn't interested in, he didn't know what to do with a degree in the field. That is, until he landed a job at a human genome lab as an undergraduate.
Observing the observers
A kidney transplant is a lifesaving operation—and yet every year in the United States, about 10 percent of donated kidneys go unused, after being rejected by multiple potential recipients.
Pictorial mnemonics and sound contrasting yield more effective English teaching
Improving English language learning has been a stated priority of the government for two decades. However, Japanese children continue to perform poorly relative to other countries in assessments of English language skills. For this reason, research on methods of instruction is an extremely important field. Strategies such as those tested in this study could help improve the outcomes of English language teaching in Japanese schools.
Research breakthroughs advance understanding of genetic causes of vascular disease
(Medical Xpress)—The world's leading voices in the fight against pulmonary hypertension have compiled a special publication detailing the breakthrough research into the causes of this debilitating vascular disease.
How tastes are linked with facial expressions
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology identify links between the palatability of various tastes and circulation in different parts of the face.
Immune profile of lymph nodes nearest to tumor may predict melanoma progression
(Medical Xpress)—Melanoma patients who had a specific subtype of immune cells called CD30-positive T cells in the lymph nodes closest to their tumors were more likely to have their disease progress within five years, according to data published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Brutal cold, short days, post-holiday letdown raise risk of depression
The first Monday after the holidays can be a depressing time for people coping with the post-holiday letdown and a type of depression triggered by short days called seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Does a bad night's sleep make you likely to overeat?
Few people would argue with the idea that sleep is good for us, but not many of us know that a lack of sleep can cause weight gain.
Gel reduced daily tremors in Parkinson's disease
(Medical Xpress)—An experimental treatment for Parkinson's disease reduced by nearly two hours on average the period each day when medication failed to control patients' slowness and shaking, according to results from a double-blind, phase III clinical trial published in December 2013, in Lancet Neurology.
New discovery of biomarker to improve diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the major histological form of esophageal cancer, is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have discovered a biomarker, called adenosine deaminase acting on RNA-1 (ADAR1), which has the potential to improve the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of this disease.
MRSA infection rates drop in Veterans Affairs long-term care facilities
Four years after implementing a national initiative to reduce methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) rates in Veterans Affairs (VA) long-term care facilities, MRSA infections have declined significantly, according to a study in the January issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
Suicide risk doesn't differ in children taking two types of commonly prescribed antidepressants
A Vanderbilt University Medical Center study released today shows there is no evidence that the risk of suicide differs with two commonly prescribed antidepressants prescribed to children and adolescents.
The loving touch is critical for premature infants
The benefit that premature infants gain from skin-to-skin contact with their mothers is measurable even 10 years after birth, reports a new study in Biological Psychiatry.
Laying money on the line leads to healthier food choices over time
People are more likely to choose healthy options at the grocery store if they use the risk of losing their monthly healthy food discount as a motivational tool, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Brief fever common in kids given influenza, pneumococcal vaccines together
Giving young children the influenza and pneumococcal vaccines together appears to increase their risk of fever, according to a study led by researchers from Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, the fever was brief, and medical care was sought for few children, supporting the routine immunization schedule for these vaccines, including the recommendation to administer them simultaneously. The study, which looked at children 6-23 months old, was published online on Jan. 6, 2014, in JAMA Pediatrics.
Nomogram to determine individualized estimates of screen-detected prostate cancer overdiagnosis
Using a nomogram that incorporates age, Gleason score, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level at diagnosis, individual risks that a screen-detected prostate cancer has been overdiagnosed can be estimated, according to a new study published January 6 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
People lacking insurance not likely to migrate to obtain Medicaid coverage
Amidst the patchwork nature of Medicaid expansion in the U.S. under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), some have worried that low-income adults in states without expanded coverage might move to states that have chosen to expand—thus placing a financial burden on those states. But a new Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) study finds little evidence of such cross-state migration.
Workplace wellness programs can cut chronic illness costs
Workplace wellness programs can lower health care costs in workers with chronic diseases, but components of the programs that encourage workers to adopt healthier lifestyles may not reduce health costs or lead to lower net savings, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
Inverse association between alcohol consumption, multiple sclerosis
Drinking alcohol appears to have a dose-dependent inverse (opposite) association with the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) and researchers suggest their findings give no support to advising patients with MS to completely refrain from alcohol, according to a study by Anna Karin Hedstrom, M.D., of the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, and colleagues.
Study shows keys to successful long-term weight loss maintenance
Researchers from The Miriam Hospital have published one of the first studies of its kind to follow weight loss maintenance for individuals over a 10-year period. The results show that long-term weight loss maintenance is possible if individuals adhere to key health behaviors. The study is published in the January 2014 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Costs for complications from cancer surgical care extremely high
Although complications from surgical care for cancer patients may seem infrequent, the costs associated with such outcomes are extremely high, according to researchers from Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Their findings were reported in the Dec. 30 online edition of the journal Cancer.
Americans living longer than ever
(HealthDay)—Americans are living longer than ever and their life expectancy is increasing every year, federal health officials reported Monday.
Power down to speed concussion recovery: study
(HealthDay)—Young people who suffer a concussion often want to return to school and begin using electronics right away, but resuming everyday life too quickly might delay recovery, researchers say.
20 percent of seventh graders have 'sexted'
(HealthDay)—More than 20 percent of at-risk seventh graders have "sexted" and those middle schoolers were much more likely to also have engaged in some type of sexual behavior, a new study finds.
Out-of-pocket costs play major role in treatment adherence for cancer patients
The cost of insurance co-payments for cutting-edge pharmaceuticals can vary widely from patient to patient. When the patient's share of prescription costs becomes too high, many patients skip doses or stop taking medication entirely, according to research conducted at the University of North Carolina.
CDC addresses burden, threat of antibiotic resistance
(HealthDay)—The burden and threats posed by antibiotic resistance infections are discussed in a report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Romosozumab increases bone mineral density post-menopause
(HealthDay)—Romosozumab seems safe and effective for increasing bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density, according to a study published online Jan. 1 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Unrestricted hospital visiting hours up patient satisfaction
(HealthDay)—Open visitation improves the patient and family experience and does not cause interference for hospital staff, according to research published in the Journal for Healthcare Quality.
Researchers target cancer stem cells in malignant brain tumors
Researchers at the Cedars-Sinai Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute and Department of Neurosurgery identified immune system targets on cancer stem cells – cells from which malignant brain tumors are believed to originate and regenerate – and created an experimental vaccine to attack them.
Babbling babies—responding to one-on-one 'baby talk'—master more words
Common advice to new parents is that the more words babies hear the faster their vocabulary grows. Now new findings show that what spurs early language development isn't so much the quantity of words as the style of speech and social context in which speech occurs.
Scientists link protein with breast cancer's spread to the brain
A cancer-research team at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has identified a protein that may be a major culprit when breast cancer metastasizes to the brain.
Ear tubes vs. watchful waiting: Tubes do not improve long-term development
Watchful waiting or ear tube surgery? It is a decision faced by millions of families of children with recurrent or chronic otitis media with effusion (non-infected fluid in the middle ear) each year. Out of concern regarding long-term effects like hearing loss and potential developmental delays, about a million such families choose ear tubes annually, opting for surgery that carries risks of its own.
Mediterranean diet alone may lower diabetes risk
(HealthDay)—Adults at risk for heart disease who eat a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil can lower their chances of developing diabetes, even without restricting calories or boosting exercise, new research suggests.
The cold, hard truth about surviving bitter winter weather
(HealthDay)—The record-shattering cold weather that's gripping much of the United States can pose extreme health risks, doctors warned Monday.
Childhood cancer survivors a growing patient population
(HealthDay)—Improved treatment of childhood cancer has led to an unprecedented health care problem, with primary care physicians unprepared to care for the special medical needs of adult cancer survivors, researchers report.
Severe mental illness tied to higher rates of substance use
People with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder have a higher risk for substance use, especially cigarette smoking, and protective factors usually associated with lower rates of substance use do not exist in severe mental illness, according to a new study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health.
Ability to recognise expression tied to listening and emotion
West Australian researchers have developed two new tests that examine a typical person's ability to recognise basic facial expressions.
Dietary fibres protect against asthma
The Western diet probably has more to do with the asthma epidemic than has been assumed so far because developing asthma is related to the amount of fruit and vegetables consumed. Gut bacteria ferment the dietary fibres contained in them and fatty acids enter the blood as a result, influencing the immune response in the lungs. This has been shown by a research project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).
Researchers discover exactly how calcium phosphate can coax stem cells to become bone-building cells
With the help of biomimetic matrices, a research team led by bioengineers at the University of California, San Diego has discovered exactly how calcium phosphate can coax stem cells to become bone-building cells. This work is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences the week of Jan. 6, 2014.
Piggy-backing proteins ride white blood cells to wipe out metastasizing cancer
Cornell biomedical engineers have discovered a new way to destroy metastasizing cancer cells traveling through the bloodstream – lethal invaders that are linked to almost all cancer deaths – by hitching cancer-killing proteins along for a ride on life-saving white blood cells.
Suggests meditation may reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression
Some 30 minutes of meditation daily may improve symptoms of anxiety and depression, a new Johns Hopkins analysis of previously published research suggests.
Tiny proteins have outsized influence on nerve health
Mutations in small proteins that help convey electrical signals throughout the body may have a surprisingly large effect on health, according to results of a new Johns Hopkins study study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in December using spider, scorpion and sea anemone venom.
No 'brakes': Study finds mechanism for increased activity of oncogene in certain cancers
The increased activation of a key oncogene in head and neck cancers could be the result of mutation and dysfunction of regulatory proteins that are supposed to keep the gene, which has the potential to cause cancer, in check, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The findings, published in the early online version of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggest a new target for drugs to treat head and neck tumors, as well as other cancers.
Biology news
Bluefin tuna price slumps at Japan auction
A giant bluefin tuna sold at a Japanese auction on Sunday for less than five percent of the record-breaking sum paid last year amid concerns over soaring prices for the prized delicacy.
Sea Shepherd catches Japanese fleet, four whales dead
Militant anti-whaling activists Sea Shepherd said they had zeroed in on a Japanese fleet Monday and captured evidence that four whales had been slaughtered, alleging the ships were found inside a Southern Ocean sanctuary.
China crushes six tonnes of ivory
China crushed a pile of ivory reportedly weighing over six tonnes on Monday, in a landmark event aimed at shedding its image as a global hub for the illegal trade in African elephant tusks.
New organization brings together top researchers to sequence the genomes of invertebrates
Of the 1.9 million species of creatures that have been described on earth, more than 1.3 million are invertebrates. They have served as model organisms in many areas of biology.
First Taiwan-born panda to be unveiled to public
The first Taiwan-born giant panda cub was unveiled to the media on Saturday in a warm up for her highly-anticipated public debut next week.
New study may aid rearing of stink bugs for biological control
Many people think of stink bugs as pests, especially as the brown marmorated stink bugs spreads throughout the U.S. However, certain stink bugs are beneficial, such as Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas), a predatory stink bug that is considered an important biological control agent for various insect pests of cotton, soybean, tomato, corn, kale, and other crops.
Electronic tongues measure grape ripeness
Electronic tongues can become an ally of grape growers as they offer detailed information on the degree of grape maturity and this could improve competitiveness. The study has been carried out by researchers at the Universitat Politècnica de València, in collaboration with Valencia winery Torre Oria. The conclusions of this work have been published in the journal Food Research International.
The alternative to yogurt
Researchers at the Universitat Politècnica de València have obtained new products fermented with probiotic bacteria from grains and nuts - what is known as plant-based or vegetable "milks" - which are an alternative to conventional yogurts. The products are specially designed for people with allergies to cow's milk, lactose or gluten intolerance, as well as children and pregnant women.
Stranded pilot whales die in New Zealand
A pod of 39 pilot whales died after stranding themselves at a remote beach on New Zealand's South Island, conservation officials said Monday.
Mexican technology saves papaya production by detecting virus
Mexico is considered one of the leading countries in papaya productions, but its crops are usually affected by the virus of the ringed spot, which leaves ring marks in the skin of the fruit and causes softening of the papaya, where fungi start to digest it. This is why the Center of Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (Cinvestav) designed a method capable of identifying the pathogens in just a day, stopping the propagation inside the crop.
Researchers map out world's winegrape varieties
University of Adelaide researchers have compiled statistics from 44 countries to develop the first database of the world's winegrape varieties and regions.
MSU research into algal biofuels propels larger study
(Phys.org) —There is a lab in the engineering complex at Montana State University where grow lights stay on night and day, even during the winter holiday season, nurturing various bubbling containers of bright green algae. The room is at the heart of a broad research effort to shed light on a possible renewable energy source of the future.
Kimberley wren distribution requires conservation tactic rethink
Populations of the endangered purple-crowned fairy-wren have been found to be isolated across various sections of the Kimberley, hampering conservation efforts for the species.
Establishing guides for molecular counting using fluorescent proteins
To know how many proteins assemble together at the nanoscale is fundamental for understanding protein function. Sometimes, proteins must be in an "oligomeric" state to be functional, although "oligomerization" of certain proteins can also lead to diseases. The ability to determine protein stoichiometry and monitor changes in the balance between monomeric, dimeric and multi-meric proteins can allow scientists to see the differences between a properly functioning cell and a diseased cell. Therefore, there is a great interest in being able to count proteins and determine their stoichiometry.
Improper use of biocides in food production may endanger public health
Biocides used in the food industry at sublethal doses may be endangering, rather than protecting, public health by increasing antibiotic resistance in bacteria and enhancing their ability to form harmful biofilms, according to a study published ahead of print in Applied and Environmental Microbiology. This is among the first studies to examine the latter phenomenon.
Novel 'attract-and-kill' approach could help tackle Argentine ants
After being inadvertently introduced in the United States from South America, Argentine ants have successfully invaded urban, agricultural, and natural settings nationwide. In urban California, the Argentine ant is among the primary pest ants. For example, this particular species of ants makes up 85 percent of ants sampled by commercial pest control companies in just the Greater San Diego Area.
Seven new species of nearctic wasps described and illustrated
After studying specimens from the Nearctic deposited in the United States National Museum of Natural History and some specimens in the Canadian National Collection of Insects, researchers have found 16 new species of wasps from the Nearctic region, and they've described seven new species.
Population stability 'hope' in species' response to climate change
Stable population trends are a prerequisite for species' range expansion, according to new research led by scientists at the University of York.
Yeast's lifestyle couples mating with meiosis
From a biological point of view, the world's most exotic sex lives may be the ones lived by fungi. As a kingdom, they are full of surprises, and a new one reported in the journal Nature seems sure to titillate the intellects of those who study the evolution of mating and ploidy, the complement of chromosomes in each cell.
Risky behaviour more likely in male fish than female
Male stickleback fish are bolder and more willing to take risks than females, say scientists.
Robust network of insect pollinators may collapse suddenly, study finds
The global decline of bees, hoverflies and other pollinators pose a serious threat to food security and biodiversity. A team of scientists from Wageningen University, Netherlands, and Doñana Biological Station show in the prestigious journal Ecology Letters that a further deterioration of conditions for pollinators may lead to the sudden extinction of numerous species.
Bees dance the light fantastic
Honeybees use a pattern of light in the sky invisible to humans to direct one another to a honey source, scientists have found.
Tiny acts of microbe justice help reveal how nature fights freeloaders
(Phys.org) —The idea of everyone in a community pitching in is so universal that even bacteria have a system to prevent the layabouts of their kind from enjoying the fruit of others' hard work, Princeton University researchers have discovered.
Worker wasps grow visual brains, queens stay in the dark
A queen in a paperwasp colony largely stays in the dark. The worker wasps, who fly outside to seek food and building materials, see much more of the world around them. A new study indicates that the brain regions involved in sensory perception also develop differently in these castes, according to the different behavioral reliance on the senses. The study is published in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.
Anthropologists study how, why we read into potential peril
They went boating alone without life vests and gave no thought to shimmying up very tall coconut trees. And although they were only figments of a writer's imagination, the fictional adventurers helped provide new insight into how humans, especially men, gauge the threat of a potential adversary. Those reading the stories—dozens of residents of a small village on the Fijian island of Yasawa—judged the characters to be risk-seekers.
Discovery spotlights key role of mystery RNA modification in cells
Researchers had known for several decades that a certain chemical modification exists on messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), which is essential to the flow of genetic information. But only recently did experiments at the University of Chicago show that one major function of this modification governs the longevity and decay of RNA, a process critical to the development of healthy cells.
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