Thermoacoustics Simulation
The thermoacoustics effect is a known phenomenon that needs to be included when studying various systems. Check out COMSOL's recent blog post where they share their thoughts and simulation techniques for modeling these effects: http://goo.gl/pHx55x
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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for March 19, 2014:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Magnetic behavior discovery could advance nuclear fusion- Study shows sea snake can live up to seven months without drinking
- Math model suggests fishing out older members may destroy collective fish school memory
- Operation Windigo: Linux server-side malware campaign exposed
- First joint result from LHC and Tevatron experiments
- Chemists devise a new way to manufacture peptide drugs, which hold promise for treating many diseases
- A 'chicken from hell' dinosaur: Large feathered dinosaur species discovered in North America
- New technique makes LEDs brighter, more resilient
- Scientists detect water around a hot Jupiter
- Diabetes researchers track cells' ability to regenerate
- Earliest evidence of limb bone marrow in the fin of a 370 million year old fish
- New work shines light on Hox genes responsible for firefly lantern developmen
- IBM's Watson to help in brain cancer research (Update)
- Fossils of earliest stick insect to mimic plants discovered
- Google Chromecast hits Europe, Canada with a new way to watch TV
Astronomy & Space news
Image: ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet testing Skinsuit in weightlessness
Astronauts have been known to grow by up to 7 cm as their spines lengthen in weightlessness. As a result, many suffer from backache during their missions. ESA is supporting the development of a suit designed to combat the lack of gravity effects by squeezing the body from the shoulders to the feet with a similar force to that felt on Earth.
ATV-5 set to test new rendezvous sensors
ESA's space freighter ATV Georges Lemaître, set for launch this summer,will test new rendezvous sensors in space as it approaches the International Space Station.
Solar Probe Plus moves into advanced development
(Phys.org) —Solar Probe Plus—NASA's ambitious mission to fly through and examine the sun's atmosphere—has reached a key stage of development.
Why trapping somebody in space only takes a breeze
Imagine that you were in the middle of a module on the International Space Station. Floating in mid-air, far from handholds or any way to propel yourself. Is there any way to get out of that situation?
Cassini may have spotted waves in Titan's seas
It's no surprise that Titan's north polar region is covered with vast lakes and seas of liquid methane—these have been imaged many times by Cassini during its ten years in orbit around Saturn. What is surprising though is just how incredibly smooth the surfaces of these lakes have been found to be.
NASA historic Earth images still hold research value
(Phys.org) —NASA's Seasat satellite became history long ago, but it left a legacy of images of Earth's ocean, volcanoes, forests and other features that were made by the first synthetic aperture radar ever mounted on a satellite. Potential research uses for the recently released 35-year-old images are outlined in a paper published in the journal Eos today, March 18.
Scientists detect water around a hot Jupiter
Scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) are part of a research team that has detected water vapor in the atmosphere of a planet outside our solar system. The team, including scientists from California Institute of Technology, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Pennsylvania State University, and University of Arizona, applied a sophisticated Doppler technique to the infrared to directly detect the planet and demonstrate the presence of water in its atmosphere. The discovery is described in the March 10, 2014 issue of The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Van Allen Probes spacecraft reveal 'zebra stripe' structure in Earth's inner radiation belt
Scientists have discovered a new, persistent structure in Earth's inner radiation belt using data from the twin NASA Van Allen Probes spacecraft.
Technology news
Disney investors elect Twitter's Dorsey to board
Disney shareholders elected all 10 of the company's nominees to the board of directors, including Twitter Chairman Jack Dorsey.
TED backs unmasking bad actors behind shell firms
TED threw its weight behind a quest to unmask evil doers who use "shell companies" to hide illicit wealth or fund foul deeds.
Thai radar adds possible clue to trace jet's route
New radar data from Thailand gave Malaysian investigators more potential clues Wednesday for how to retrace the course of the missing Malaysian airliner, while a massive multinational search unfolded in an area the size of Australia.
Malaysia: Files were deleted from flight simulator
Investigators are trying to restore files deleted last month from the home flight simulator of the pilot aboard the missing Malaysian plane to see if they shed any light on the disappearance, Malaysia's defense minister said Wednesday.
VTOL X-Plane program takes off
For generations, new designs for vertical takeoff and landing aircraft have remained unable to increase top speed without sacrificing range, efficiency or the ability to do useful work. DARPA's VTOL Experimental Plane (VTOL X-Plane) program seeks to overcome these challenges through innovative cross-pollination between the fixed-wing and rotary-wing worlds, to enable radical improvements in vertical and cruise flight capabilities.
FBI analyzing flight simulator data in Malaysia
A U.S. official said Wednesday that the Malaysian government is seeking the FBI's help in analyzing any electronic files deleted last month from the home flight simulator of the pilot of the missing Malaysian plane.
Weibo IPO papers littered with China censorship warnings
While Internet giants like Twitter and Google champion free speech, the US listing document for Chinese microblogging platform Weibo is littered with 56 pages of warnings on the risks of operating in a country which seeks to control information.
Why didn't missing jet passengers use their cellphones?
In the age of smartphones and social media, one question surrounding the disappearance of the Malaysian airliner is why none of the passengers tried to contact relatives, as they did during the 9/11 attacks.
Internet founders say flexible framework was key to explosive growth
Speaking before an overflow crowd in Princeton University's Friend Center auditorium, Internet pioneers Robert Kahn and Vinton Cerf said that flexibility, both social and technical, has been central to the growth and resilience of the Internet.
Clearing up cloudy understanding on solar power plant output
Sandia National Laboratories engineers have been studying the most effective ways to use solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays—a clean, affordable and renewable way to keep the power on. Systems are relatively easy to install and have relatively small maintenance costs. They begin working immediately and can run unassisted for decades.
If we'd used the cloud, we might know where MH370 is now
As the biggest ever hunt for a missing plane continues, many are beginning to wonder if we will ever know what happened to Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. If the plane has crashed, it has been suggested that it could take up to two years to find its wreckage.
Europe's telecom tie-ups signal big shakeup
After focusing for years on becoming wireless services, Europe's telecom companies are having a renewed love affair with cables.
Global attack needed to catch credit thieves
Stopping massive data breaches like the one that hit Target will require a more sophisticated, collaborative approach by law enforcement agencies around the world, a Michigan State University cyber security expert argues.
Support strong for open Internet in developing world
Support is strong across emerging and developing countries for an Internet without government censorship, a US survey showed Wednesday.
US files charge against Toyota, $1.2B penalty
The U.S. government announced a $1.2 billion settlement with Toyota Motor Corp. on Wednesday and filed a criminal charge alleging the company defrauded consumers by issuing misleading statements about safety issues in Toyota and Lexus vehicles.
EMarketer sees 2014 mobile ad spending at $31.5B
Worldwide spending on mobile advertising is expected to reach $31.5 billion this year, a 75 percent increase from 2013 thanks largely to Facebook and Google, according to a new report by research firm eMarketer.
US judge hands Pandora a partial victory on royalties
A US judge handed Internet radio company Pandora Media a partial victory in a royalties dispute with music publishers and songwriters in a decision released Wednesday.
Judge tosses class-action push for Google suit (Update)
A judge has tossed out an effort to win class-action status for a lawsuit accusing Google of violating the privacy terms of email users.
Students to hack hardware, software and data to build security skills
Come fall, students at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland State University will begin hacking computers—for credit.
US intel program targets email addresses, not keywords
The US government's clandestine PRISM Internet program exposed by Edward Snowden targets suspect email addresses and phone numbers but does not search for keywords like terrorism, officials said Wednesday.
US says Boeing 787's design, manufacture safe
Boeing's design and manufacture of its cutting-edge 787 jetliner is safe despite the many problems encountered since the plane's rollout, including a fire that forced a redesign of the its batteries, according to a report issued jointly Wednesday by the Federal Aviation Administration and the aircraft maker.
Google, Facebook drive gains in mobile advertising
The market for mobile device advertising doubled in 2013 to $17.9 billion and is on pace for strong gains this year, led by Facebook and Google, a market tracker said Wednesday.
Government investigating Saturn Ion steering issue
The government is investigating whether General Motors should recall the Saturn Ion compact car for the same steering defect that affected the Chevrolet Cobalt, a similar car.
Researchers launch new FaceFries app
Want fries with your social media? That's a question Simon Fraser University researcher Steve DiPaola, co-creator of a new app, is asking with the launch of FaceFries.
Sony unveils virtual reality headset for PS4
Sony is getting into the virtual reality business. The Japanese electronics and gaming giant unveiled a prototype virtual reality headset to be used in conjunction with its PlayStation 4 video game console during a Tuesday talk at the Game Developers Conference.
Volvo researches car tech to see if you are sleepy
(Phys.org) —Volvo Cars announced on Monday its work on a driver sensor system that can tell if the driver is alert, distracted, or even nodding off. The idea is to provide a safety system, where, on detection, the car can take the appropriate action to make sure the driver is out of serious danger. Volvo's no-time-to-nap alert relies on a sensor that is mounted on the dashboard in front of the driver. Should the driver be monitored as inattentive or drowsy, via the driver's position or eye movements, the car can take action—making sure the car does not stray out of a lane, or get too close to the car in front. Some of the Volvo measures that can participate in the alert system include what is officially called the "Lane Keeping Aid," collision warning with full auto-brake and "Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist." Per Landfors, engineer at Volvo Cars and project leader for driver support functions, said, "This will enable the driver to be able to rely a bit more ! on their car, and know that it will help them when needed."
GreenDataNet looking to use retired car batteries to power data centers
(Phys.org) —GreenDataNet, a research project sponsored by the European Union, is looking at using batteries from electric or hybrid vehicles as a possible type of power storage for use in conjunction with renewable sources to address the growing power needs of data centers. A web site describing the initiative and its goals has been created and calls attention to the increasing pressure that data centers are putting on power grids.
Researchers enabling smartphones to identify objects
(Phys.org) —Researchers are working to enable smartphones and other mobile devices to understand and immediately identify objects in a camera's field of view, overlaying lines of text that describe items in the environment.
New technique makes LEDs brighter, more resilient
Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a new processing technique that makes light emitting diodes (LEDs) brighter and more resilient by coating the semiconductor material gallium nitride (GaN) with a layer of phosphorus-derived acid.
Google Chromecast hits Europe, Canada with a new way to watch TV
Gone are the days of squinting at your smartphone as you try to make out what is happening in your favourite film.
Operation Windigo: Linux server-side malware campaign exposed
(Phys.org) —Security researchers announced Tuesday a multi-year cybercriminal campaign called Windigo in which a malicious group compromised thousands of Linux and Unix servers. Once infected, victims' systems were used to steal credentials, redirect web traffic to malicious content and send millions of spam messages per day.
Medicine & Health news
Dartmouth and Aeras join forces to conduct study of new tuberculosis vaccine
Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine and Aeras, a global nonprofit biotech, announced a collaboration to jointly conduct a trial of a new vaccine against tuberculosis (TB), one of the world's deadliest diseases. The vaccine, known as DAR-901, is related to the vaccine SRL-172, previously shown by Dartmouth investigators to decrease the risk of TB in a trial known as the DarDar Trial.
Health law concerns for cancer centers
Some of the nation's best cancer hospitals have been left out by insurers selling coverage under President Barack Obama's health care law.
Drugs improvement to combat Trypanosomatidic infections
If you live in Europe, you may never have heard of 'neglected diseases' from Trypanosomatidic infections. However, in countries like Brazil or Sudan these diseases are endemic.
Tailoring disease screening programs to individuals
Oguzhan Alagoz believes that many existing disease screening programs all too often take a one-size-fits-all approach. To be sure, "it is important to catch a disease early," he says. "But still, most screening programs treat everyone the same."
Fever induction reduces tumors
Peregrine Laziosi (1265–1345), an Italian priest, became the patron saint of cancer patients when the tumour in his left leg miraculously disappeared after he developed a fever. Although it is known since a long time that elevated body temperature can cause tumours to regress, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still largely enigmatic.
Study aims to ease the burden of lower back pain
The University of South Australia is set to begin a new study into lower back pain, a condition which affects up to 80 per cent of Australian men and women at some stage in their lifetime.
101 liver cancer drug candidates pave the way to personalized medicine
The heart disease drug perhexiline is one of 101 compounds predicted to prevent cancer growth in most patients suffering from our most common liver cancer, HCC. This is an outcome from a novel simulation-based approach using personal sets of proteins of six HCC patients.
Internists must play a larger role in managing menopausal symptoms
The number of menopausal women is projected to reach 50 million by 2020. With changing views on appropriate therapies to control symptoms and new treatments available and on the horizon, most internists lack the core competencies and experience to meet the needs of women entering menopause, according to a provocative Commentary published in Journal of Women's Health.
Increased risk of relapse omitting RT in early PET scan negative Hodgkin lymphoma
Interim analysis of the intergroup EORTC-LYSA-FIL 20051 H10 trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology indicates an increased risk of early relapse when omitting radiotherapy in early PET scan negative patients with stage I/II Hodgkin's lymphoma. Early outcome, however, was excellent in both arms, and the final analysis should reveal whether these initial findings are maintained over time.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD): An under-recognized issue that may be on the rise
The open-access International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research has released a special issue on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), with the intention of increasing awareness of the negative effects of alcohol use in pregnancy and improving prevention, treatment and care for those living with FASD.
Genetic testing may help select women with ER+ breast cancer for extended hormone therapy
Genetic analyses of results from 1125 postmenopausal women being treated for oestrogen responsive breast cancer have shown that some of them are more likely than others to have a late recurrence of their cancer and might benefit from ten years of hormone therapy rather than five.
Radiotherapy after mastectomy benefits women with breast cancer in 1-3 lymph nodes
Glasgow, UK: Women whose breast cancer has spread to just a few lymph nodes under their arm are less likely to have their disease recur or to die from it if they have radiotherapy after mastectomy, according to new research to be presented at the European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-9) on Thursday and published in The Lancet today.
Patients enjoy good quality of life ten years after esophagectomy and gastric pull-up
Long-term survivors after esophagectomy with gastric pull-up can enjoy a satisfying meal and good quality of life according to a new study from a team of researchers at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles. This study concluded that pessimism about the long-term quality of life after an esophagectomy on the part of treating physicians and patients is unwarranted. It is published in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.
Team studies obinutuzumab for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Two North Shore-LIJ Cancer Institute doctors, world-renowned for their research in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), weigh in on a German study of a new drug therapy for CLL in the March 20 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, the North Shore-LIJ Health System announced today.
Risk of obesity from regular consumption of fried foods may depend on genetic makeup
People with a genetic predisposition to obesity are at a higher risk of obesity and related chronic diseases from eating fried foods than those with a lower genetic risk, according to a new study from researchers from Harvard School of Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School. It is the first study to show that the adverse effects of fried foods may vary depending on the genetic makeup of the individual.
Tamiflu reduces risk of death by 25 percent in adults hospitalised with H1N1 pandemic influenza
Adults hospitalised with H1N1 influenza during the 2009-2010 pandemic were 25% less likely to die from the disease if they were given antiviral drugs called neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) such as Tamiflu, according to a large meta-analysis involving more than 29 000 patients from 38 countries, published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal. The findings also indicate that treatment within 2 days of flu symptoms developing halved the risk of death compared with later treatment or no treatment.
The genetics of frontotemporal dementia
(Medical Xpress)—Professor Stuart Pickering-Brown, a world expert in the disease from the University of Manchester, will shed new light on a gene that causes the disease on Tuesday (25 March) at Alzheimer's Research UK Conference 2014 in Oxford. The study has revealed new information about some of the features of the disease.
Nutritionists target sugar, poor-quality carbohydrates
The United States is simply too sweet for its own good.
Studying the metabolism of the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum
(Medical Xpress)—Fighting malaria in today's world will require a new, targeted approach, and Virginia Tech researchers are out for blood.
Poisoning is the top cause of unintentional death in the US
When one thinks of accidental deaths due to substances, overdoses probably come to mind – such as methamphetamine, heroine or cocaine. But in the United States, more people die of acetaminophen overdoses than anything else. That's right – Tylenol.
UV exposure found to lower folate levels in young women
(Medical Xpress)—Women who are pregnant or trying to fall pregnant and taking a folic acid supplement may be at risk of reducing their folate benefit through sun exposure, a new QUT study has warned.
New evidence links smoking to postmenopausal breast cancer risk
Postmenopausal women who smoke or have smoked in the past may have an increased risk of breast cancer compared with women who have never smoked according to a new study published in the British Journal of Cancer.
Concern over tobacco packaging as kids say packs have more influence than celebrities
The power of packaging is twice as likely as celebrities to influence children (40 per cent vs 20 per cent) when they think about buying a product, according to a new YouGov survey* - boosting the argument for putting tobacco in plain standardised packs to discourage children from smoking cigarettes.
Where you live can literally shape your body
Whether you live downtown or in the suburbs could have a surprising effect on your bodyweight and your health, with roots running deeper than income differences, says a recent study carried out on data gathered in the canton of Geneva.
Can treatment over the Internet help chronic pain?
The Internet offers a means of delivering therapies to people in their homes to help them manage chronic pain and a new Cochrane review has explored the evidence on how well these work. Current evidence suggests that psychological treatments delivered in this way may help adults with non-headache pain, reducing pain, disability, depression and anxiety, but more research is needed before we can be confident about these results.
Making diagnostic imaging possible for patients with cardiac implants
The University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center is on the forefront of making diagnostic imaging possible for patients with cardiac implants.
People with leukaemia are more prone to infection – but not from one particular herpes virus
People with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) are essentially more prone to infections such as varicella, influenza or pneumococci due to the reduction in the number of antibodies that their condition causes. Researchers at the MedUni Vienna's University Department of Internal Medicine I have now discovered that this doesn't apply to the cytomegalovirus (CMV).
Early brain development implicated in Restless Legs Syndrome
In a study published online in Genome Research, researchers of the Helmholtz Zentrum München und the Technische Universität München have demonstrated that a common genetic variant associated with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) alters the expression of a critical gene during fetal development of the brain. This leads to alterations of the developing forebrain indicating an anatomical region involved in RLS.
New hope for tough-to-treat breast cancers
(Medical Xpress)—Tufts researchers have identified a new target for treating particularly aggressive forms of breast cancer that could potentially save thousands of lives each year.
Online ratings don't help patients compare hospitals
Despite having access to online ratings, patients can't distinguish the quality or performance of one hospital from another, finds a new study in Health Services Research.
Study shows new drugs may not be enough to reduce heart attacks
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers have found a new class of drugs can improve the ability of particles in the blood which can increase so-called 'good' cholesterol's ability to clear away fat from blood vessel walls.
No-refrigeration, spray vaccine could curb diseases in remote areas
A new kind of single-dose vaccine that comes in a nasal spray and doesn't require refrigeration could dramatically alter the public health landscape—get more people vaccinated around the world and address the looming threats of emerging and re-emerging diseases. Researchers presented the latest design and testing of these "nanovaccines" at the 247th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society.
Low doses of antianxiety drugs rebalance the autistic brain
New research in mice suggests that autism is characterized by reduced activity of inhibitory neurons and increased activity of excitatory neurons in the brain, but balance can be restored with low doses of a well-known class of drugs currently used in much higher doses to treat anxiety and epileptic seizures. The findings, which are reported in the March 19th issue of the Cell Press journal Neuron, point to a new therapeutic approach to managing autism.
Study describes first maps of neural activity in behaving zebrafish
In a study published today in the scientific journal Neuron, neuroscientists at the Champalimaud Foundation, in collaboration with neuroscientists from Harvard University, describe the first activity maps at the resolution of single cells and throughout the entire brain of behaving zebrafish.
Non-academic young people take brain stimulants more frequently than students
Three per cent of young men in Switzerland take cognitive enhancement drugs at least once each year. Students hope this consumption will improve their exam performance, while their non-academic contemporaries seek primarily to remain awake for longer. These are the conclusions reached by a study supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).
One in three patients in hospital likely to die within 12 months
Almost one in three patients in hospital at any given time is likely to die within 12 months.
Gut bacteria can cause life-threatening infections in preterm babies
Babies born prematurely are surviving in increasing numbers. But many withstand complications of early birth only to suffer late-onset sepsis—life-threatening bloodstream infections that strike after infants reach 72 hours of age.
Understanding binge eating and obesity
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a novel method for evaluating the treatment of obesity-related food behavior. In an effort to further scientific understanding of the underlying problem, they have published the first peer-reviewed video of their technique in JoVE, the Journal of Visualized Experiments.
Rush to prescribe: Study questions speed in giving antidepressants to grieving parents
Some doctors are too quick to prescribe antidepressants to parents who have suffered the death of a child either during pregnancy or within the first month of life, according to a study conducted by Florida State University researcher Jeffrey R. Lacasse.
Researchers find new pathway connected to type 2 diabetes
Scientists at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute have discovered a cellular pathway that is responsible for keeping blood sugar levels low in obese or pre-diabetic people, and may prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes. The discovery published this month in a leading journal Nature Cell Biology.
Physical activity and occasional drinking found to be associated with decrease in vision impairment
A physically active lifestyle and occasional drinking is associated with a reduced risk of developing visual impairment, according to a study published online this month in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Drinking alcohol several times a week increases the risk of stroke mortality
Consuming alcohol more frequently than twice a week increases the risk of stroke mortality in men, according to a study carried out at the University of Eastern Finland. The results show that the effects of alcohol are not limited to the amount consumed, but also the frequency of drinking matters. The results were published in Acta Neurologica Scandinavica on 8 March.
Trimethoprim antibiotic more effective against streptococci than expected
In less-developed countries, inexpensive and well-tolerated antibiotics for therapy of streptococcal infections are often not available. Scientists of the HZI in Germany have discovered that trimethoprim may provide an option. Contrary to a long-held belief, the bacteria are not generally resistant to this agent. In their latest publication the scientists demonstrated three pathways for the development of resistance—meaning that streptococci can easily become resistant to the antibiotic and pass on this trait quickly.
Strategies for teaching common core to teens with autism show promise
Scientists at UNC's Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) report that high school students with autism can learn under Common Core State Standards (CCSS), boosting their prospects for college and employment. Newly published recommendations from FPG's team also provide strategies for educating adolescents with autism under a CCSS curriculum.
Chemo-free treatment a possibility for leukemia / lymphoma
Patients with terminal forms of leukaemia and lymphoma who have run out of treatment options could soon benefit from a new drug, which not only puts an end to chemotherapy and has virtually no side effects but also improves a patient's life expectancy and quality of life.
Neuroscience 'used and abused'
Influential policy-informing 'evidence' that children's brains are irreversibly 'sculpted' by parental care is based on questionable evidence.
Critical illness increases risk of psychological problems
New research shows that every seventh person who has received mechanical ventilation risks developing anxiety, depression and insomnia. Improved prevention is needed, according to the professor behind the study.
Team proposes new model for clinical trials
Experts across academia, industry and government propose a new method for health care providers to get the right treatments to the right patients at the right time. This new approach, A Proposal for Integrated Efficacy-to-Effectiveness (E2E) Clinical Trials, published in Nature Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, recommends a seamless transition from controlled experiments to real-world comparative effectiveness trials. This continuum will improve the accuracy of treatment selection and better determine how those treatments work on different groups of people.
ISICEM: Septic shock death equal with high, low BP target
(HealthDay)—For patients with septic shock undergoing resuscitation, 28- and 90-day mortality is not significantly different with high- or low-target arterial pressure. This research was published online March 18 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with presentation at the International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, held from March 18 to 21 in Brussels.
Researchers find basal forebrain controls decision-making speed in rodents
Neural activity in the basal forebrain (BF) leads to a faster and more precise response to reward-based stimuli in rats, report Irene Avila and Shih-Chieh Lin of the National Institute on Aging at NIH, in the March 18, 2014 issue of PLOS Biology.
Inflammation mobilizes tumor cells
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich researchers have discovered a novel feedback mechanism that provides a mechanistic link between chronic inflammation and carcinogenesis.
Researchers uncover allergy-cancer connection
While many are stocking up on allergy medicine in preparation for spring, a new study from researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center has uncovered a new connection between allergy and cancer that could potentially lead to therapies involving common antihistamines.
Researchers identify potential new therapeutic target for controlling high blood sugar
A UT Southwestern Medical Center study has identified a new potential therapeutic target for controlling high blood sugar, a finding that could help the estimated 25 million Americans with type 2 diabetes.
Social feedback loop aids language development
Verbal interactions between parents and children create a social feedback loop important for language development, according to research forthcoming in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. That loop appears to be experienced less frequently and is diminished in strength in interactions with autistic children.
Miscarriage clues identified in new DNA test
New research shows an alternative DNA test offers clinically relevant genetic information to identify why a miscarriage may have occurred years earlier. Researchers were able to identify chromosomal variants and abnormalities in nearly 50 percent of the samples. This first-of-its-kind study was conducted by researchers from Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. The results were published in the March issue of Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology.
Social groups alleviate depression
Building a strong connection to a social group helps clinically depressed patients recover and helps prevent relapse, according to a new study.
Alzheimer's prevention trial to evaluate, monitor participants' reactions to learning of higher disease risk status
A new clinical trial will soon begin testing whether early medical intervention in people at risk for Alzheimer's can slow down progression of disease pathology before symptoms emerge, as outlined in Science Translational Medicine. For the first time, people with no Alzheimer's disease symptoms will be told of their risk status before being asked to join the randomized controlled trial. As part of the overall prevention trial, Penn Medicine neurodegenerative ethics experts will monitor how learning about their risk of developing Alzheimer's impacts trial participants.
TGen study identifies gene fusion as likely cause of rare type of thyroid cancer
In a scientific first, the fusion of two genes, ALK and EML4, has been identified as the genetic driver in an aggressive type of thyroid cancer, according to a study by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).
Diabetes in middle age may lead to brain cell loss later in life
People who develop diabetes and high blood pressure in middle age are more likely to have brain cell loss and other damage to the brain, as well as problems with memory and thinking skills, than people who never have diabetes or high blood pressure or who develop it in old age, according to a new study published in the March 19, 2014, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Middle age was defined as age 40 to 64 and old age as age 65 and older.
Ruling with an iron fist could make your child pack on pounds
If you're rigid with rules and skimpy on affection and dialogue with your kids, they have a greater chance of being obese, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology & Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity & Metabolism Scientific Sessions 2014.
Program taught in American Sign Language helps deaf achieve healthier weight
A group of deaf adults using American Sign Language in a healthy lifestyle program successfully lost weight, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology & Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity & Metabolism Scientific Sessions 2014.
Researchers identify impaired new learning in persons with Parkinson's disease
Kessler Foundation scientists collaborated with colleagues in Spain to study memory and learning in patients with Parkinson Disease (PD). They found that the Parkinson group's ability to learn new information was significantly poorer when compared with the control group. The article was published ahead of print on February 24: Chiaravalloti ND, Ibarretxe-Bilbao N, Deluca J, Rusu O, Pena J, García-Gorostiaga I, Ojeda N. The source of the memory impairment in Parkinson's disease: Acquisition versus retrieval. Movement Disorders 2014 Feb 24.
Spices and herbs intervention helps adults reduce salt intake
Teaching people how to flavor food with spices and herbs is considerably more effective at lowering salt intake than having them do it on their own, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology & Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity & Metabolism Scientific Sessions 2014.
US women unfamiliar with most stroke warning signs
Many U.S. women don't know most of the warning signs of a stroke, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism 2014 Scientific Sessions.
New guidelines deem 13 million more Americans eligible for statins
New guidelines for using statins to treat high cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular disease are projected to result in 12.8 million more U.S. adults taking the drugs, according to a research team led by Duke Medicine scientists.
High-frequency breathing support for premature babies could lead to better lung function
A new study led by researchers at King's College London has found that premature babies supported immediately after birth by high-frequency oscillation - a type of breathing support - had better lung function as adolescents than those who received conventional ventilation. The children ventilated with the high frequency method also showed higher academic achievement in three of eight school subjects.
Alzheimer's strikes women harder than men, report finds
(HealthDay)—A 65-year-old American woman has a 1 in 6 chance of developing Alzheimer's disease later in life, while a man the same age has about a 1 in 11 chance.
Device may restore speech to people on breathing tubes
(HealthDay)—Doctors in the Netherlands say they've found a potentially important new use for a simple old device—the "electronic voice box." It may help hospitalized patients who've lost the ability to speak because they need tubes down their throat to help them breathe.
Common cold meds may pose health threats
(HealthDay)—Over-the-counter sinus and pain remedies that combine two common ingredients—phenylephrine and acetaminophen—might cause serious side effects such as high blood pressure, dizziness and tremors, New Zealand researchers warn.
ISICEM: Albumin does not improve survival in sepsis
(HealthDay)—For patients with severe sepsis in intensive care units, the use of albumin replacement in addition to crystalloid solution does not improve survival, according to a study published online March 18 in the New England Journal of Medicine. This research was published to coincide with the International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, held from March 18 to 21 in Brussels.
Statins slow the progression of advanced multiple sclerosis in clinical trial
Statins may provide doctors with an unlikely new weapon with which to slow the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS).
Ads can influence 'smart' false memories
(Medical Xpress)—It is commonly believed that false memories – recollections that are factually incorrect – occur because something goes wrong in the brain. However, recent research shows that some false memories are formed by overthinking rather than deficient processing. In a new study, Cornell researchers examined how advertising can result in these "smart" false memories, where consumers who have a propensity to think more about decisions produce more false memories than those who process information at a more superficial level.
Dendritic cell research a step toward improved vaccines, immune health
(Medical Xpress)—Eyal Amiel didn't think he wanted to study immunology, let alone make a career of it. But as co-author of a paper recently published in the journal Nature Immunology, Amiel, assistant professor in the Department of Medical Laboratory and Radiation Science in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is at the forefront of research that could eventually lead to changes in vaccine design, along with new approaches to treating immune-related diseases.
Evidence supports existence of mid-life crises
(Medical Xpress)—Social economists from the University of Melbourne have confirmed the age-old suspicion of a dip in human happiness during middle age.
Lied-to children more likely to cheat and lie
People lie—we know this. People lie to kids—we know this, too. But what happens next? Do children who've been lied to lie more themselves?
Noninvasive colorectal cancer screening tool shows unprecedented detection rates
Results of a clinical trial of Cologuard show unprecedented rates of precancer and cancer detection by a noninvasive test. The detection rates are similar to those reported for colonoscopy. The results were published in the March 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). Cologuard was co-developed by Mayo Clinic and Exact Sciences.
Diabetes researchers track cells' ability to regenerate
Vanderbilt University scientists have found evidence that the insulin-secreting beta cells of the pancreas, which are either killed or become dysfunctional in the two main forms of diabetes, have the capacity to regenerate.
IBM's Watson to help in brain cancer research (Update)
IBM is teaming up with the New York Genome Center to help fight brain cancer.
The aging brain needs REST: Research implicates new player in Alzheimer's, other dementias
Why do neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's affect only the elderly? Why do some people live to be over 100 with intact cognitive function while others develop dementia decades earlier?
Past HIV vaccine trials reveal new path to success
A multi-national research team led by Duke Medicine scientists has identified a subclass of antibodies associated with an effective immune response to an HIV vaccine.
Studies advance potential use of MRI magnetic fields to treat balance disorders
Expanding on earlier research, Johns Hopkins researchers report that people with balance disorders or dizziness traceable to an inner-ear disturbance show distinctive abnormal eye movements when the affected ear is exposed to the strong pull of an MRI's magnetic field.
Biology news
The power of poison: Study examines pesticide poisoning of Africa's wildlife
Poisons are silent, effective and cheap, making the especially dangerous in Africa where they are used for both pest control and illegal poaching. However, as a new study in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences reveals, they also kill un-intended wildlife.
New life at Kabul zoo for lion who lived on a rooftop
Kabul zoo unveiled its new star attraction—Marjan the lion, who lived on a rooftop in the city until rescued by animal welfare officials last year when close to death.
Support for sustainable fisheries project will also save endangered loggerhead turtles and boost incomes
When Hoyt Peckham was still a teenager, he went on the adventure of a lifetime. While sailing around the Pacific studying whales, the aspiring marine biologist fell in love with Mexico's Sea of Cortez and vowed to come back someday.
Kenya poaching crisis a 'national disaster', says Leakey
Kenya must take drastic action to stem a surge of elephant and rhino poaching, veteran conservationist Richard Leakey warned Wednesday, lamenting that known ringleaders are operating with "outrageous impunity".
High-tech EU project strives to ensure riding is safer for all
Equestrianism is an extremely popular and healthy activity for people of all ages. It is a diverse and family-friendly sport and many of us enjoy riding horses. But whether we choose to ride off-road, on fields and bridleways or elsewhere, there are always safety issues that need to be taken into account.
Launching a botanical journal on the verge of WWI: The politics of the AJB
One hundred years ago on the brink of WWI, American botanists changed the course of plant science with the founding of a national publication, the American Journal of Botany. The journal not only endured through the Great War, it also continued to evolve through the wars that followed, the Great Depression, and the ever-changing arena of plant research.
Humans drive evolution of conch size
The first humans to pluck a Caribbean fighting conch from the shallow lagoons of Panama's Bocas del Toro were in for a good meal. Smithsonian scientists found that 7,000 years ago, this common marine shellfish contained 66 percent more meat than its descendants do today. Because of persistent harvesting of the largest conchs, it became advantageous for the animal to mature at a smaller size, resulting in evolutionary change.
Understanding the initiation of protein synthesis in mammals
(Phys.org) —Protein synthesis, the process by which cells generate new proteins, is the most important cellular function, requiring more than 70 percent of the total energy of a cell. The initiation of this process is the most regulated and most critical component, but it is still the least understood.
Small step towards growing tissue in the lab
(Phys.org) —University of Adelaide mathematicians have devised a method for identifying how cell clusters have formed by analyzing an image of the cluster.
Rodent populations proliferate in some parts of Texas
While the presence of rats and mice is nothing new in homes, sheds, barns and other structures, some areas of Texas are experiencing greatly increased rodent activity, leading residents to ask for advice on how to control the furry varmints.
Baseline data indicates another turtle nesting hotspot
Gnaraloo in WA's northwest has been discovered as a significant nesting site for endangered loggerhead turtles.
Researchers explore meaning behind dog barks
Dogs—they're loyal, loving, and always there to lend an ear when you need it most. But when it comes to understanding their vocalizations—let's just say it can get lost in translation.
Planting cotton early may mean less stink bug damage
Stink bugs have been consistently ranked among the most damaging insect pests of cotton in the southeastern United States for the past several years. Apart from the feeding damage, stink bugs are capable of transmitting cotton seed and boll-rotting bacteria such as Pantoea agglomerans.
Diversity in UK gardens aiding fight to save threatened bumblebees, study suggests
The global diversity of plants being cultivated by Britain's gardeners is playing a key role in the fight to save the nation's threatened bumblebees, new research has revealed.
Study finds forest corridors help plants disperse their seeds
A forest in South Carolina, a supercomputer in Ohio and some glow-in-the-dark yarn have helped a team of field ecologists conclude that woodland corridors connecting patches of endangered plants not only increase dispersal of seeds from one patch to another, but also create wind conditions that can spread the seeds for much longer distances.
Sometimes less is more for hungry dogs
Hungry dogs would be expected to choose alternatives leading to more food rather than less food. But just as with humans and monkeys, they sometimes show a "less is more" effect. Thus conclude Kristina Pattison and Thomas Zentall of the University of Kentucky in the US, who tested the principle by feeding baby carrots and string cheese to ten dogs of various breeds. The findings are published in Springer's journal Animal Cognition.
Rare female crocodile suffocated during mating in Dutch zoo
A very rare and endangered female crocodile has died of suffocation in a Dutch zoo during attempted mating with a "dominant" male partner, the zoo said on Wednesday.
Tracking endangered leatherback sea turtles by satellite, key habitats identified
A first-of-its-kind satellite tagging study of migrating New England leatherback turtles in the North Atlantic offers a greatly improved understanding of their seasonal high-use habitats, diving activity and response to key ocean and environmental features in relation to their search behavior. Leatherbacks are considered endangered species in all the world's oceans.
Owl monkeys don't cheat, study shows
True monogamy is rare in the animal kingdom. Even in species that appear to "mate for life," genetic maternity and paternity tests have revealed that philandering often takes place.
Cultural hitchhiking: How social behavior can affect genetic makeup in dolphins
A UNSW-led team of researchers studying bottlenose dolphins that use sponges as tools has shown that social behaviour can shape the genetic makeup of an animal population in the wild.
Python's homing trick stuns scientists
The Burmese python has a built-in compass that allows it to slither home in a near-straight line even if released dozens of kilometres away, researchers said Wednesday.
New DNA-editing technology spawns novel strategies for gene therapy
The University of California, Berkeley, and UC San Francisco are launching the Innovative Genomics Initiative (IGI) to lead a revolution in genetic engineering based on a new technology already generating novel strategies for gene therapy and the genetic study of disease.
Discovery could yield more efficient plants for biofuels
(Phys.org) —Genetically modifying a key protein complex in plants could lead to improved crops for the production of cellulosic biofuels, a Purdue University study says.
Building the ring to divide them all: Septin proteins bundle actin filaments into a ring
Researchers of the FOM Institute AMOLF and from Marseille and Paris have demonstrated that cells require a protein called septin to build a ring of actin filaments. This ring of proteins is crucial to drive cell division. The finding explains cell division defects associated with mutations in septin. On March 16, the results of this research were published as advanced online publication in Nature Cell Biology.
New work shines light on Hox genes responsible for firefly lantern developmen
It's difficult to identify a single evolutionary novelty in the animal kingdom that has fascinated and intrigued mankind more than the lantern of the firefly. Yet to this day, nothing has been known about the genetic foundation for the formation and evolution of this luminescent structure.
Protein 'rescues' stuck cellular factories
Using a powerful data-crunching technique, Johns Hopkins researchers have sorted out how a protein keeps defective genetic material from gumming up the cellular works. The protein, Dom34, appears to "rescue" protein-making factories called ribosomes when they get stuck obeying defective genetic instructions, the researchers report in the Feb. 27 issue of Cell.
Ancient food webs developed modern structure soon after mass extinction
Researchers from the Santa Fe Institute and the Smithsonian Institution have pieced together a highly detailed picture of feeding relationships among 700 mammal, bird, reptile, fish, insect, and plant species from a 48 million year old lake and forest ecosystem.
Bighorn sheep went extinct on desert island in Gulf of California, study finds
Using ancient DNA analysis and other techniques, a research team led by conservation biologists at the University of California, Riverside has determined that bighorn sheep, so named for their massive spiral horns, became extinct on Tiburón Island, a large and mostly uninhabited island just off Sonora, Mexico, in the Gulf of California, sometime in the last millennium—specifically between the 6th and 19th centuries.
Study shows sea snake can live up to seven months without drinking
(Phys.org) —A team of researchers with members from France, the U.S. and Australia, has found that the yellow-bellied sea snake (Hydrophis platurus) is able to survive out in the ocean because its ability to survive severe dehydration. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, the team describes how they captured over 500 of the snakes and tested them to determine how they survived being so long at sea without access to fresh water.
Math model suggests fishing out older members may destroy collective fish school memory
(Phys.org) —A team of researchers from Denmark and Italy has created a mathematical model that suggests that if older members of a school of fish are removed, the school may no longer be able to find its way to migration targets. In their paper published in Journal of the Royal Society: Interface, the researchers describe how they created a model based on stochastic networks and how it revealed that older members in a school of fish may hold the information necessary for the school to find its way to migration areas.
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