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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 1, 2014:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Misleading mineral may have resulted in overestimate of water in moon- Negev desert solar field uses water-free robotic cleaning system
- Researchers gain new insight on language development
- New laser technology could divert lightning strikes
- Computers teach each other Pac-Man (w/ Video)
- Researchers find hand to mouth movement in humans likely hard-wired
- A question of atmospheres: On Earth and beyond
- Global warming may be causing surge in numbers of pink salmon
- Japan lab says stem cell research falsified (Update 2)
- New measurement technique could help astronomers find planets hidden in data
- Team finds a better way to grow motor neurons from stem cells
- Wind energy: On the grid, off the checkerboard
- Overcoming structural uncertainty in computer models
- Monkey caloric restriction study shows big benefit, contradicts earlier study
- Scientists solve the riddle of zebras' stripes
Astronomy & Space news
Image: The solar cycle
(Phys.org) —It took 10 years to create this image of our changing Sun. Taken from space by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), it shows a dramatically different picture than the one we receive on Earth.
Image: Magnifying the distant universe
(Phys.org) —Galaxy clusters are some of the most massive structures that can be found in the Universe—large groups of galaxies bound together by gravity. This image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope reveals one of these clusters, known as MACS J0454.1-0300. Each of the bright spots seen here is a galaxy, and each is home to many millions, or even billions, of stars.
Black hole makes 'String of Pearls' clusters
(Phys.org) —Huge young star clusters resembling a string of pearls around a black hole in the centre of a galaxy 120 million light-years away have been discovered by researchers at Swinburne University of Technology.
New measurement technique could help astronomers find planets hidden in data
(Phys.org) —Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have rejuvenated a technique for finding planets near distant stars.* New measurements of light from special lamps could help astronomers find planets hidden in data from more than a decade's worth of extrasolar planet searches, as well as improve telescopes' current capabilities.
Misleading mineral may have resulted in overestimate of water in moon
The amount of water present in the moon may have been overestimated by scientists studying the mineral apatite, says a team of researchers led by Jeremy Boyce of the UCLA Department of Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences.
Technology news
Japan OKs easing of military-related exports
Japan relaxed a decades-old ban on military-related exports Tuesday in a bid to expand joint arms development with allies and equipment sales to Southeast Asia and elsewhere.
Syrup makers go high tech with wireless monitoring
For years, vacuum tubing technology has allowed maple syrup producers to draw more sap from trees, but such systems are prone to leaks caused by falling branches or hungry critters chewing on lines.
Next-generation coatings and sensors that can operate in extreme conditions
Tata Steel has formed a strategic partnership with the prominent UK research body, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), to develop a range of innovations that will include graphene-coated steels and next-generation sensors that can operate in extreme environments.
Green engineering for waste management
"Green engineering" is based on the idea of designing, selling and using processes and products that are technically and economically viable while, at the same time, minimizing pollution, as well as health and environmental risks. This is expressed in twelve principles that were formulated nearly a quarter of a century ago by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and which the engineering and research firm Demede Engineering & Technology attempts to apply in all of its work. Its most recent development, a pilot plant for the anaerobic digestion of organic waste that was commissioned by the Universidad de Cadiz, is going to be used for research in the field of biogas production using wastewater, sludge and organic waste from landfills and purification plants.
CBS dubs sound for quiet electric car (Update)
CBS News says an editor made an "audio error" in dubbing the sound of a loud traditional car engine over footage of the much quieter Tesla electric car in a "60 Minutes" story that aired Sunday.
Opening arguments underway in Apple-Samsung case
Opening statements are underway in the latest patent fight over mobile devices between Apple and Samsung, the world's largest cellphone manufacturers.
Facebook CEO Zuckerberg joins $1 salary club
Facebook CEO and cofounder Mark Zuckerberg's salary was down last year, but don't cry for him. He'll be OK.
Once a Soviet hub, Armenia looks to revive its tech sector
Once seen as a silicon valley of the Soviet Union, the tiny Caucasus nation of Armenia is hoping the launch of its first tablet computer and smartphone could kickstart a comeback for the country's tech sector.
Yahoo in talks to buy NDN video
US Internet giant Yahoo is in talks to buy the online video service NDN, which could help it compete with YouTube, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
Daimler acquires lithium-ion battery maker
Automaker Daimler AG is acquiring the remaining shares in a lithium-ion battery cell maker from specialty chemical company Evonik Industries AG as it intensifies its focus on electric cars.
Technology platform designed to produce second generation biofuels
According to a report issued in 2013 by the International Energy Agency, Mexico is compromised to use five percent of bioethanol in their gasoline since 2012. However, it has failed due to lack of incentives and technologies to produce it on an industrial scale. Therefore, Mexican researchers are working to design a process platform that will be able to achieve it.
So supercomputers are mega-powerful, but what can they actually do?
A new supercomputer, called ARCHER, has recently been launched. ARCHER is a Cray XC30, funded by EPSRC and NERC. It is more than three times more powerful than its predecessor, HECToR, and is hosted by the University of Edinburgh. But what can you actually do with a supercomputer?
No joke as 'Russian Facebook' founder resigns amid dispute (Update)
The founder of Russia's top social network VKontakte, Pavel Durov, on Wednesday said he has resigned as chief executive in a bitter conflict with a major shareholder, a dramatic announcement some initially saw as an April Fool's joke.
Choosing jury in Apple-Samsung case may be hard
Jury selection promised to be a challenge for the world's leading smartphone makers as they continued their patent fight in federal court on Tuesday.
Amazon snags streaming rights to action series '24'
Amazon announced Tuesday it had secured the online streaming rights for the US action hit "24" starring Kiefer Sutherland.
Resilient cities focus of new Sandia, Rockefeller Foundation pact to help 100 communities
Sandia National Laboratories will bring decades of experience solving problems with practical engineering and modeling complex systems to cities around the world under a new agreement to support the 100 Resilient Cities Centennial Challenge, pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation.
Chipmaker Marvell told to pay $1.5 bn in patent case
Semiconductor firm Marvell Technology Group has been ordered to pay $1.54 billion for patent violations in a case brought by Carnegie Mellon University.
Apple says Samsung knew iPhone would be big seller
Samsung knew Apple's iPhone would be a big seller when it first went on the market, but the South Korean company didn't have a product that could compete so it stole Apple's technology, an attorney for Apple told jurors on Tuesday.
Samsung: Patents developed by Google engineers
An attorney for Samsung on Tuesday denied the company had stolen technology from Apple, saying the South Korean tech giant's mobile devices contain Android software designed entirely by Google engineers.
Coalition wants US to end bulk data sweep
More than 40 activist organizations and companies called Tuesday for an overhaul of US government surveillance authority that goes beyond President Barack Obama's proposal.
Wind energy: On the grid, off the checkerboard
As wind farms grow in importance across the globe as sources of clean, renewable energy, one key consideration in their construction is their physical design—spacing and orienting individual turbines to maximize their efficiency and minimize any "wake effects," where the swooping blades of one reduces the energy in the wind available for the following turbine.
Windows 8 updates expected at Microsoft conference
Microsoft is following through on a promise to update its Windows 8 operating system on a regular basis to respond to consumers' complaints and other feedback.
Negev desert solar field uses water-free robotic cleaning system
(Phys.org) —At large solar plants, keeping surfaces of solar panels free from dust and sand is not just a matter of good housekeeping but of whether or not the plants can really make a difference to the communities they want to serve. In other words, keeping the panels clean especially in very dry areas may be a matter of solar plant effectiveness or ineffectiveness. Solar plant panels in deserts collect large quantities of dust. Recently, a solar park in Israel was provided with an answer to the problem.
Computers teach each other Pac-Man (w/ Video)
Researchers in Washington State University's School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science have developed a method to allow a computer to give advice and teach skills to another computer in a way that mimics how a real teacher and student might interact.
Medicine & Health news
Digital mammography reduces recall and biopsy rates
Population-based screening with full-field digital mammography (FFDM) is associated with lower recall and biopsy rates than screen film mammography (SFM), suggesting that FFDM may reduce the number of diagnostic workups and biopsies that do not lead to diagnosis of breast cancer, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.
Neuromonitoring with pulse-train stimulation for implantation of thoracic pedicle screws
Researchers from Syracuse, New York, report a new, highly accurate, neuromonitoring method that can be used during thoracic spine surgery to prevent malpositioning of pedicle screws such that they enter the spinal canal and possibly cause postoperative neurological impairment. Findings of this prospective, blinded, and randomized study are reported and discussed in two companion papers published today online, ahead of print, in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, specifically "Neuromonitoring with pulse-train stimulation for implantation of thoracic pedicle screws: a blinded and randomized clinical study. Part 1: Methods and alarm criteria. Clinical article" and "Neuromonitoring with pulse-train stimulation for implantation of thoracic pedicle screws: a blinded and randomized clinical study. Part 2: The role of feedback. Clinical article" by Blair Calancie, Ph.D., and colleagues.
Congress passes bill to stop cut to Medicare docs
With just hours to spare, Congress has stepped in to prevent doctors who treat Medicare patients from being hit with a 24 percent cut in their payments from the government.
Morocco steps up guard after Ebola outbreak in Guinea
Morocco announced extra health screening measures Tuesday at entry points to the country, in particular at Casablanca airport, after the outbreak of the deadly Ebola epidemic in Guinea.
Fibroids are common problem for women
Uterine fibroids are very common, occurring in as many as 50 percent of women in their reproductive years and up to two-thirds of women by the time they go through menopause. While many fibroids cause no problems and require no treatment, for some women they can cause serious quality-of-life issues.
1.1 million Americans caring for recently wounded veterans, study finds
More than 1.1 million spouses, parents and friends are caring for the injured and disabled who have served in the U.S. military since Sept. 11, 2001, often doing so without a formal support network and putting their own well-being at risk, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
New screening tool to diagnose common sleep problem in children
Clinical investigators at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) have developed a new screening tool to help diagnose obstructive sleep apnea in children. Their findings are published in Pediatric Pulmonology.
Saudi halts Guinea, Liberia pilgrim visas over Ebola
Saudi Arabia on Tuesday announced the suspension of visas for Muslim pilgrims from Guinea and Liberia, two African countries hit by an outbreak of the deadly Ebola epidemic.
Low sodium levels pre-transplant does not affect liver transplant recipient survival
Researchers report that low levels of sodium, known as hyponatremia, prior to transplantation does not increase the risk of death following liver transplant. Full findings are published in Liver Transplantation, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society.
ED dental care treatment raises access, cost issues for policymakers, study finds
The use of emergency departments for dental care – especially by young adults in low-income communities – is presenting policymakers with a challenge, according to a Rutgers report which offers several remedies including expanding hours at the dentist's office.
Missed the health care deadline? It's not too late
It's not too late to get covered. A few routes remain open for those who missed the health care law's enrollment deadline Monday.
Adult tonsillectomy complications and health care expenses
A study released today of 36,210 adult tonsillectomy patients finds that 20 percent will have a complication, offering valuable new insights to a decades long discussion. The study, featured in the April 2014 issue of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, examines the prevalence of complications in adult tonsillectomies and the impact on health care expenditures.
Judge won't block new Arizona abortion drug rules
The most stringent restrictions in the U.S. on the use of abortion drugs were allowed to take effect in Arizona on Tuesday by a federal judge's ruling.
The Sun's campaign may actually harm women
A breast check campaign by The Sun newspaper may actually harm women, warns Glasgow general practitioner Margaret McCartney today.
Screening for liver cancer in patients with cirrhosis
In a systematic review and meta-analysis of 47 studies with 15,158 patients, Amit Singal (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center) and colleagues found that patients with cirrhosis who underwent surveillance (via liver ultrasound with or without measurement of serum alpha fetoprotein) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) had cancers detected at an earlier stage, were more likely to receive curative instead of palliative treatment, and had longer survival. Across all the studies, the pooled 3-year survival rate was 50.8% among the 4735 patients who underwent HCC surveillance, compared to 27.9% among the 6115 patients without prior surveillance (p
Study looks at why vitamin D deficiency diagnoses surged
New research from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center suggests that physicians are ordering vitamin D deficiency screening tests for preventive care purposes rather than after patients develop conditions caused by decreased bone density.
Heat waves reduce length of pregnancy
When temperatures reach 32°C or higher over a period of four to seven days, the risk of early-term delivery is 27% higher than on typical summer days, according to a study led by Nathalie Auger of the University of Montreal's Department of Social and Preventive Medicine. The study involved data from 300,000 births that took place in Montreal between 1981 to 2010 with summer temperatures recorded by Environment Canada during this period. Auger is also affiliated with the university's CHUM Superhospital Research Centre.
'Phony' stem cell research scientist to be punished in Japan
A Japanese research institute said Tuesday it will punish a young female scientist after a probe found a ground-breaking study on the production of stem cells was fabricated.
Health law sign-ups on track to hit 7M
Jammed phone lines and unreliable websites failed to stop a last-minute rush by hundreds of thousands of Americans trying to sign up for health coverage by the midnight Monday deadline for President Barack Obama's signature domestic policy initiative.
Belgian 'crown' ready to knock US migraines on the head
A small technology company based in southern Belgium is set to take on the giant US market with its crowning achievement: an anti-migraine headband.
Spring in Japan: Beautiful blossoms and hayfever misery
Spring in Japan brings explosions of pink and white cherry blossoms that provide a beautiful backdrop for picnics across this nature-loving country.
Research finds soda tax does little to decrease obesity
(Medical Xpress)—Extra sales taxes on soda may not do anything to improve people's health, according to new research from health economist Jason Fletcher of the La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Evidence remains inconclusive for the effectiveness of manual therapy
(Medical Xpress)—A continuing lack of evidence to support the effectiveness of manual therapy continues to prevent a meaningful conclusion on manipulation and mobilisation for conditions of the spine and extremities, according to a new report from Warwick Medical School.
Online treatment opens new possibilities for people with social anxiety
(Medical Xpress)—Social anxiety disorder is one of the most common psychiatric disorders. But only one in five people who have the condition actually receive treatment for it. If you fear interaction with other people, then how do you build up the courage to call up a stranger on the phone and ask for help, let alone to go talk face-to-face with a therapist?
Research links gene to stroke risk, finds clues to genetics of many diseases
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have identified a key gene variation linked to an increased risk of stroke. The discovery comes as part of a breakthrough in the understanding of what causes some people to produce too much homocysteine, an amino acid associated with stroke, cancer, dementia, hardening of the arteries and other diseases.
The mental association of color and temperature
In a typical kitchen or bathroom you often find the hot and cold water taps labelled red and blue.
Give thanks, and prosper
It's a classic experiment: Sit a kid in front of a single marshmallow and tell him that if he waits a few minutes to eat it, he can have two. The videos of these experiments are overwhelmingly entertaining: The kids squirm in their seats, hide under the table, and sniff and even lick at the sugary delight. But what's most amazing about the experiments is that the kids who successfully stave off their desire to indulge have better long-term outcomes. They do better in school, in relationships, and even have better health as adults.
Where couples meet matters more than when
That dependable conversation starter – "Tell us where the two of you first met" – can yield a surprising range of stories.
Night owls, unlike early birds, tend to be unmarried risk-takers
(Medical Xpress)—Women who are night owls share the same high propensity for risk-taking as men, according to a recent study by a University of Chicago professor.
Eliciting brain plasticity to keep the body moving
With support from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Emerging Frontiers of Research and Innovation (EFRI) program, bioengineer Gert Cauwenberghs, of the Jacobs School of Engineering and the Institute for Neural Computation at the University of California (UC), San Diego, and his colleagues are working to understand how brain circuitry controls how we move. The goal is to develop new technologies to help patients with Parkinson's disease and other debilitating medical conditions navigate the world on their own.
Pause paunch and halt hair loss
A new discovery showing how hair growth activated fat tissue growth in the skin below the hair follicle could lead to the development of a cream to dissolve fat.
Internet, social media expose youth to tobacco
(Medical Xpress)—Tobacco companies are barred by law from advertising their products to children, but researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that many teens and pre-teens are getting tobacco advertisements and promotions through social media outlets or text messaging on mobile phones.
Research finding could lead to new therapies for patients with gluten intolerance
Researchers at McMaster University have discovered a key molecule that could lead to new therapies for people with celiac disease, an often painful and currently untreatable autoimmune disorder.
Researchers identify new gene mutation associated with ALS
A research team led by investigators at the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health has discovered a new gene mutation associated with ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The mutation is involved in RNA metabolism, which is part of the control mechanism determining protein synthesis. The findings appear in the March 30, 2014, issue of Nature Neuroscience.
Researchers identify a gene that causes excessive androgen production in polycystic ovary syndrome
Researchers from Penn State College of Medicine and Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine have found that a specific protein is increased in theca cells, the source of excess male sex hormones, or androgens, that characterizes polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The results of the study will be published in an upcoming issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) as the journal cover article. The paper will be available in this week's online Early Edition.
When managers attack: Coaches who care about pundits' opinions worse at controlling anger
The notoriously short fuses of some sports coaches could be explained by excessive concern with how they will be seen by others, according to new research.
How does fitness affect the aging brain?
We all know that exercise is good for us—it can help us lower blood pressure and cholesterol, maintain a healthy weight, and even improve mood and sleep. But can exercise improve the brain, especially as we age?
Pre-participation screening guidelines are too restrictive and unfair for black athletes
A new study by researchers at St George's, University of London published in the journal Circulation has found that current European screening guidelines used by sports organisations to detect heart abnormalities lead to over-investigation and potential false disqualification of black athletes with perfectly healthy hearts.
Movies synchronize brains
When we watch a movie, our brains react to it immediately in a way similar to other people's brains.
Clinical trial results inconsistently reported among journals, government website
Medical researchers often presented the findings of their clinical trials in a different way on a federal government website than they did in the medical journals where their studies were ultimately published, according to an Oregon Health & Science University analysis published April 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Study reveals strength training can decrease heart risks in children
Early strengthening activities can lead to a decrease in cardiometabolic health risks in children and adolescents, according to results of a new study by a Baylor University professor and a team of researchers.
Gratitude, not 'gimme,' makes for more satisfaction, study finds
People who are materialistic are more likely to be depressed and unsatisfied, in part because they find it harder to be grateful for what they have, according to a study by Baylor researchers.
Insurance goes with better health according to survey
People who have health insurance – regardless of income, education, age and ethnic background – are significantly more likely to report being in better health, according to a new report from Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research that examined health disparities among Houstonians.
Higher risk of death from skin cancer among men living alone
There are differences in prognosis in cutaneous malignant melanoma depending on cohabitation status and gender, according to a new study published in the scientific periodical Journal of Clinical Oncology. Single men of all ages are more likely to die of their disease.
Researcher questions hospital cleanliness
(Medical Xpress)—A Queen's researcher has found that nearly 40 per cent of infection control practitioners do not believe their hospital is sufficiently clean.
Genetic insights to vesicoureteric reflux
UCD researchers in the National Centre for Medical Genetics have carried out a genome scan of 225 Irish families to locate causative mutations in vesicoureteric reflux. Their work, published recently in Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine, indicates that the condition is even more genetically heterogeneous than previously thought while also highlighting various genes already implicated in urinary tract development.
Baby tongue tie culprit in case for breastfeeding
Tongue tied newborns and their mothers will benefit from an intensive investigation of a case of a 16-day-old boy by UWA human lactation researchers.
New custom-designed treatment option for high-risk aortic aneurysms
Vascular surgeons at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center are investigating the use of custom-designed stent grafts for the treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms—a potentially deadly enlargement of the main artery carrying blood from the heart to the body and vital organs—for patients deemed high risk for open surgery. The FDA-approved clinical trial aims to address the unmet need for minimally invasive stent graft devices that can provide a safe and effective treatment for patients with aneurysms located in the aorta in both the chest and abdomen. No stent graft treatment is currently commercially available for these patients.
Customers prefer restaurants that offer nutrition facts and healthful foods
Customers are more likely to frequent restaurants that provide both healthful foods and nutrition information, according to researchers at Penn State and the University of Tennessee.
Want spring allergy relief? Avoid stress
Stress doesn't cause allergies, but easing your mind might mean less allergy flare-ups this spring. According to a study published in the April issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, allergy sufferers with persistent stress experience more allergy flares.
Health law sign-ups set to meet target
Jammed phone lines and unreliable websites failed to stop a last-minute rush by hundreds of thousands of Americans trying to sign up for health coverage by the midnight Monday deadline for President Barack Obama's signature domestic policy initiative.
Simple changes in ICU can help heart attack patients
To improve recovery for heart attack patients, hospitals should maintain normal day and night cycles for those patients during the first few days after the attack, say University of Guelph researchers.
Switching brain cells with less light
Networked nerve cells are the control center of organisms. In a nematode, 300 nerve cells are sufficient to initiate complex behavior. To understand the properties of the networks, re-searchers switch cells on and off with light and observe the resulting behavior of the organism. In the Science journal, scientists now present a protein that facilitates the control of nerve cells by light. It might be used as a basis of studies of diseases of the nervous system.
The human 'hairless' gene identified: One form of baldness explained
It's not a hair-brained idea: A new research report appearing in the April 2014 issue of The FASEB Journal explains why people with a rare balding condition called "atrichia with papular lesions" lose their hair, and it identifies a strategy for reversing this hair loss. Specifically the report shows for the first time that the "human hairless gene" imparts an essential role in hair biology by regulating a subset of other hair genes. This newly discovered molecular function likely explains why mutations in the hairless gene contribute to the pathogenesis of atrichia with papular lesions. In addition, this gene also has also been shown to function as a tumor suppressor gene in the skin, raising hope for developing new approaches in the treatment of skin disorders and/or some cancers.
Breast milk and diet up to two years old: A means of preventing the risk of child obesity
Many studies have focused on the influence of breast-feeding on child health. From analysis of data from the ELANCE cohort, Marie Françoise Rolland-Cachera, former researcher at Inserm and her co-workers in the Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN) have shown that breast-feeding has a protective effect on the risk of obesity at 20 years of age. Researchers also emphasise that nutritional intake at the age of 2 years are critical in providing this beneficial effect. The results of the study are published in The Journal of Pediatrics
Could depression be treated with Botox?
In the largest randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study to date on the effect of OnabotulinumtoxinA (as known as Botox) on depression, researchers found that more than half of subjects suffering from moderate to severe depression showed a substantial improvement (greater than or equal to 50% of baseline) in their depressive symptoms as measured by the MADRS scale.
Survey shows spine surgeons need to screen more patients for anxiety and depression
In a report published in the April edition of the Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques, a Johns Hopkins team says that only 10 percent of orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons follow professional guidelines recommending routine psychological screenings of patients prior to major surgery for severe back and leg pain.
Early intervention reduces aggressive behavior in adulthood
An educational intervention program for children between kindergarten and 10th grade, known as Fast Track, reduces aggressive behavior later in life, according to research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Swimming pool urine combines with chlorine to pose health risks
A new study shows how uric acid in urine generates potentially hazardous "volatile disinfection byproducts" in swimming pools by interacting with chlorine, and researchers are advising swimmers to observe "improved hygiene habits." Chlorination is used primarily to prevent pathogenic microorganisms from growing. The disinfection byproducts include cyanogen chloride (CNCl) and trichloramine (NCl3). Cyanogen chloride is a toxic compound that affects many organs, including the lungs, heart and central nervous system by inhalation. Trichloramine has been associated with acute lung injury in accidental, occupational or recreational exposures to chlorine-based disinfectants.
Obesity primes the colon for cancer, study finds
Obesity, rather than diet, causes changes in the colon that may lead to colorectal cancer, according to a study in mice by the National Institutes of Health. The finding bolsters the recommendation that calorie control and frequent exercise are not only key to a healthy lifestyle, but a strategy to lower the risk for colon cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States.
Common molecular defect offers treatment hope for group of rare disorders
Duke Medicine researchers studying tiny, antennae-like structures called cilia have found a potential way to ease some of the physical damage of numerous genetic disorders that result when these essential cellular components are defective.
Factor present in gestational and type 2 diabetes could provide new treatment options
New research reveals that both pregnant women with diabetes and with type 2 diabetics have high levels of a fat metabolite that impairs pancreatic cells from secreting insulin. The findings, which are published in the April 1 issue of the Cell Press journal Cell Metabolism, suggest that blocking the effects of this fat metabolite may help prevent and treat diabetes.
Study finds link between child's obesity and cognitive function
A new University of Illinois study finds that obese children are slower than healthy-weight children to recognize when they have made an error and correct it. The research is the first to show that weight status not only affects how quickly children react to stimuli but also impacts the level of activity that occurs in the cerebral cortex during action monitoring.
Got acne? There's an App for that
Acne sufferers around the world are using an iPhone app created at Northwestern University to learn how certain foods affect their skin conditions.
Plugged in but powered down
It's not news that being a couch potato is bad for your health. Lack of physical activity is associated with a range of diseases from diabetes to heart attacks. It now turns out that young men who have experienced depression early in life may be especially vulnerable to becoming sedentary later in life. And particularly to spending large amounts of time online each day.
Schools have limited success in reducing bullying, new analysis finds
Two UCLA professors who conducted the most thorough analysis to date of studies on school bullying have found that K-12 schools' efforts to curtail bullying are often disappointing.
Fruitfly study: Epilepsy drug target implications for sleep disruption in brain disorders
A new study in a mutant fruitfly called sleepless (sss) confirmed that the enzyme GABA transaminase, which is the target of some epilepsy drugs, contributes to sleep loss. The findings, published online in Molecular Psychiatry, were led by Amita Sehgal, PhD, head of the Chronobiology Program at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. The findings shed light on mechanisms that may be shared between sleep disruption and some neurological disorders. A better understanding of this connection could enable treatments that target both types of symptoms and perhaps provide better therapeutic efficacy.
Researchers identify similarities between HIV/AIDS and opioid addiction epidemics
There are important parallels between the early years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the current epidemic of opioid addiction - ones that could trigger a significant shift in opioid addiction prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Overuse of blood transfusions increases infection risk
Blood transfusions are one of the most common procedures patients receive in the hospital but the more red blood cells they receive, the greater their risk of infection, says a new study led by the University of Michigan Heath System and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.
The mammography dilemma: Complex benefits and harms of mammography require individualized approach
A comprehensive review of 50 year's worth of international studies assessing the benefits and harms of mammography screening suggests that the benefits of the screening are often overestimated, while harms are underestimated. And, since the relative benefits and harms of screening are related to a complex array of clinical factors and personal preferences, physicians and patients need more guidance on how best to individualize their approach to breast cancer screening.
A protein could be a key weapon in the battle of the bulge
More than one-third of people in the US are obese. Obesity and its related health problems—including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, insulin resistance, and belly fat—affect so many, yet effective treatments are very few. In a new study, Simon Musyoka Mwangi and colleagues tested whether higher levels of a certain protein help fight the weight gain and health problems caused by eating the wrong foods.
Medication does not help prevent ED following radiation therapy for prostate cancer
Among men undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer, daily use of the erectile dysfunction drug tadalafil, compared with placebo, did not prevent loss of erectile function, according to a study in the April 2 issue of JAMA.
Outcomes of administering blood transfusions to patients with lower levels of hemoglobin
Restricting red blood cell (RBC) transfusions among hospitalized patients to those with hemoglobin (the iron-containing protein in RBCs) measures below a certain level is associated with a lower risk of health care-associated infections, according to a study in the April 2 issue of JAMA.
Experts question routine mammograms in elderly
Doctors should focus on life expectancy when deciding whether to order mammograms for their oldest female patients, since the harms of screening likely outweigh the benefits unless women are expected to live at least another decade, according to a review of the scientific literature by experts at UCSF and Harvard medical schools.
The potential conflict of interest for leaders of AMCs serving on pharmaceutical boards
About 40 percent of pharmaceutical company boards of directors examined had at least one member who held a leadership position at an academic medical center, with annual compensation for these positions averaging approximately $300,000, according to a study in the April 2 issue of JAMA.
Team points to new ways to prevent relapse in cocaine-addicted patients
Relapse is the most painful and expensive feature of drug addiction—even after addicted individuals have been drug-free for months or years, the likelihood of sliding back into the habit remains high. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that 40 to 60 percent of addicted individuals will relapse, and in some studies the rates are as high as 80 percent at six months after treatment. Though some relapse triggers can be consciously avoided, such as people, places and things related to drug use, other subconscious triggers related to the brain's reward system may be impossible to avoid— they can gain entry to the unconscious brain, setting the stage for relapse.
Mode of action of new multiple sclerosis drug discovered
Just a few short weeks ago, dimethyl fumarate was approved in Europe as a basic therapy for multiple sclerosis. Although its efficacy has been established in clinical studies, its underlying mode of action was still unknown, but scientists from Bad Nauheim's Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research and the University of Lübeck have now managed to decode it. They hope that this knowledge will help them develop more effective therapeutic agents.
Gene therapy improves limb function following spinal cord injury
Delivering a single injection of a scar-busting gene therapy to the spinal cord of rats following injury promotes the survival of nerve cells and improves hind limb function within weeks, according to a study published April 2 in The Journal of Neuroscience. The findings suggest that, with more confirming research in animals and humans, gene therapy may hold the potential to one day treat people with spinal cord injuries.
Heart attack gene, MRP-14, triggers blood clot formation
Right now, options are limited for preventing heart attacks. However, the day may come when treatments target the heart attack gene, myeloid related protein-14 (MRP-14, also known as S100A9) and defang its ability to produce heart attack-inducing blood clots, a process referred to as thrombosis.
Hormones, vaginal flora impact cervicovaginal lavage
(HealthDay)—Hormonal contraception use and vaginal flora all impact the properties of cervicovaginal lavage, according to a study published online March 24 in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Therapeutic agent reduces age-related sleep problems in fruit flies
Elderly flies do not sleep well – they frequently wake up during the night and wander around restlessly. The same is true of humans. For researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing in Cologne, the sleeplessness experienced by the fruit fly Drosophila is therefore a model case for human sleeping behaviour. The scientists have now discovered molecules in the flies' cells that affect how the animals sleep in old age: if insulin/IGF signalling is active, the quality of the animals' sleep is reduced and they wake up more often. Using a therapeutic agent, researchers managed to improve the flies' sleep again. The scientists suspect that the causes of sleep problems experienced by older flies and humans are similar. It is also possible that sleep problems encountered by humans may not necessarily be an inevitable side effect of ageing and may even be reversible.
Enhancers serve to restrict potentially dangerous hypermutation to antibody genes
How B lymphocytes are able to direct mutations to their antibody genes to produce millions of different antibodies has fascinated biologists for decades. A new study publishing in the Open Access journal PLOS Biology on April 1 by Buerstedde and colleagues shows that this process of programed, spatially targeted genome mutation (aka. somatic hypermutation) is controlled by nearby transcription regulatory sequences called enhancers. Enhancers are usually known to control gene transcription, and these antibody enhancers are now shown to also act in marking the antibody genes as sites of hypermutation. This work illustrates how undesirable off-target effects of hypermutation can be spatially restrained.
Too much running tied to shorter lifespan, studies find
(HealthDay)—Running regularly has long been linked to a host of health benefits, including weight control, stress reduction, better blood pressure and cholesterol.
Parental messages that stress no alcohol do get through, survey finds
(HealthDay)—Making it clear to your teen that underage drinking is unacceptable is a highly effective way to reduce the risk that he or she will use alcohol, a new survey shows.
New discovery gives hope that nerves could be repaired after spinal cord injury
A new discovery suggests it could one day be possible to chemically reprogram and repair damaged nerves after spinal cord injury or brain trauma.
Scientists discover key player in molecular machinery controlling iron availability
(Medical Xpress)—Iron is critical for cellular health. Too little means the cell can't make essential proteins that require iron for their functions, but too much can be toxic.
New test makes Parkinson's-like disorder of middle age detectable in young adulthood
The very earliest signs of a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder, in which physical symptoms are not apparent until the fifth decade of life, are detectable in individuals as young as 30 years old using a new, sophisticated type of neuroimaging, researchers at UC Davis, the University of Illinois and UCLA have found.
Research duo finds oxytocin promotes group-serving dishonesty
(Medical Xpress)—A pair of researchers, one in Israel the other in the Netherlands has found that volunteers given oxytocin tend to be more willing to lie if it benefits a group they belong to. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the two also noted that the volunteers were not more likely to lie if it would benefit only themselves.
Team finds a better way to grow motor neurons from stem cells
Researchers report they can generate human motor neurons from stem cells much more quickly and efficiently than previous methods allowed. The finding, described in Nature Communications, will aid efforts to model human motor neuron development, and to understand and treat spinal cord injuries and motor neuron diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Likely culprit in spread of colon cancer identified
New research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville has implicated a poorly understood protein called PLAC8 in the spread of colon cancer.
Researchers gain new insight on language development
(Medical Xpress)—Two new studies appearing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveal what appear to be innate language preferences. In one study, Jacques Mehler of the Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati in Trieste, Italy and his colleagues discovered that newborns distinguish syllables commonly found in different languages from rare syllables. A study by Jennifer Culbertson of George Mason Unity in Fairfax, Virginia and David Adger of Queen Mary University of London shows that people have an innate preference for ordering words based on their meanings.
Researchers find hand to mouth movement in humans likely hard-wired
(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers in France has found evidence that suggests that human hand-to-mouth actions are hard-wired into the brain. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers describe an experiment they conducted on adults undergoing brain surgery and why what they found could have profound implications on human brain development theories.
Biology news
Will world court ruling end Japan's whaling? (Update)
Japan's whaling in the Antarctic is at a crossroads after the International Court of Justice ordered the program stopped. The court concluded the supposed scientific research program is actually a guise for commercial whaling. This week's ruling cannot be appealed, but Japan has other options to consider.
First evidence that very small embryonic-like stem cells from human adult tissues are multipotent
Rare, very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) isolated from human adult tissues could provide a new source for developing regenerative therapies to repair complex tissues damaged by disease or trauma. The ability of these most-primitive, multipotent stem cells to differentiate into bone, neurons, connective tissue, and other cell types, and the proper criteria for identifying and isolating VSELs, are described in two articles in Stem Cells and Development.
Norway keeps whaling quota unchanged for 2014
Norway maintained on Tuesday its quota of previous years to hunt up to 1,286 whales in its waters in 2014, despite whalers repeatedly catching less than the limit.
Black market for python skins worth $1 bn a year
Illegal python skins worth an estimated $1 billion are being imported into Europe every year to feed growing demand for the luxury leather, according to a new report.
Going batty for jumping DNA as a cause of species diversity
The vesper bats are the largest and best-known common family of bats, with more than 400 species spread across the globe, ranking second among mammals in species diversity.
World's first video footage of the Myanmar snub-nosed monkey captured
The first ever video footage of the newly discovered Myanmar snub-nosed monkey has been captured by Fauna & Flora International (FFI) in Kachin state, Myanmar.
Marine reserves havens for large snapper
The new study led by scientists from Massey University's Coastal-Marine Research Group (CMRG) has estimated the effects of three Hauraki Gulf marine reserves on snapper, by comparing numbers of fish inside and outside reserves.
Hormones in action: it's all about the right partner
Scientists at the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) in Vienna uncover basic mechanisms of action for hormones.
Sobering update on Jamaica's largest vertebrate
In 1990, the Jamaican iguana was removed from the list of extinct species when a small population was re-discovered on the island. Unfortunately, the species continues to be critically endangered, with only a single location left for the recovering population, now greater than 200 individuals, in a protected area called the Hellshire Hills, part of the Portland Bight Protected Area. A recent proposal by Jamaican government officials to allow extensive development in this area is causing concern among conservationists who have been working to save this species and the wealth of biodiversity in the area.
New yeast species travelled the globe with a little help from the beetles
Researchers from the National Collection of Yeast Cultures (NCYC) at the Institute of Food Research (IFR) have identified a new globe-trotting yeast species that lives on tree-associated beetles. This new species demonstrates the importance of preserving biodiversity, as yeasts like this may help efforts to develop renewable fuel sources in the future.
Dog watch: How attention changes in the course of a dog's life
Dogs are known to be Man's best friend. No other pet has adjusted to Man's lifestyle as this four-legged animal. Scientists at the Messerli Research Institute at the Vetmeduni Vienna, have been the first to investigate the evolution of dogs' attentiveness in the course of their lives and to what extent they resemble Man in this regard. The outcome: dogs' attentional and sensorimotor control developmental trajectories are very similar to those found in humans. The results were published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.
Will roe deer persist? Climate change spells disaster for species unable to keep up
As the climate continues to change, it's unclear to what extent different species will be able to keep pace with altered temperatures and shifted seasons. Living organisms are the survivors of previous environmental changes and might therefore be expected to adapt, but are there limits?
Japan lab says stem cell research falsified (Update 2)
Data in a widely heralded stem-cell research paper was falsified, a Japanese government-funded laboratory said Tuesday, as the lead researcher accused of the malpractice denied any wrongdoing.
Dingo a distinct species, study says
(Phys.org) —The dingo has been classified as a distinct Australian animal following research that sheds new light on its defining physical characteristics.
Scientists ID genes that could lead to tough, disease-resistant varieties of rice
(Phys.org) —As the Earth's human population marches toward 9 billion, the need for hardy new varieties of grain crops has never been greater.
Versatility in genetic expression aids rapid microbial evolution
Microbiologists from Trinity College Dublin have discovered that an identical protein is used differently by two species of bacteria to help them cope with distinct types of environmental stress. The discovery reveals an extraordinary level of versatility in the way different genes are 'switched on' in bacteria, which in turn helps to explain how they evolve so quickly.
Global warming may be causing surge in numbers of pink salmon
(Phys.org) —A pair of researchers, one with the University of Alaska, the other with Independent, Auke Bay are suggesting in a paper they've had printed in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, that global warming is partially responsible for large increases in pink salmon populations in North America and Asia. Alan Springer and Gus van Vliet claim that rising ocean temperatures are at least partly to blame for increased pink salmon populations due to an increase in the amount of available food.
Monkey caloric restriction study shows big benefit, contradicts earlier study
The latest results from a 25-year study of diet and aging in monkeys shows a significant reduction in mortality and in age-associated diseases among those with calorie-restricted diets. The study, begun at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1989, is one of two ongoing, long-term U.S. efforts to examine the effects of a reduced-calorie diet on nonhuman primates.
Scientists solve the riddle of zebras' stripes
Why zebras have black and white stripes is a question that has intrigued scientists and spectators for centuries. A research team led by the University of California, Davis, has now examined this riddle systematically. Their answer is published April 1 in the online journal Nature Communications.
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