Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for May 5, 2014:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Best of Last Week – Star Wars shield possible, new element confirmed and brain based microchip- Thought experiment proposed to reconcile psychological versus thermodynamic arrows of time
- Genetic approach helps design broadband metamaterial
- Nanoengineers develop basis for electronics that stretch at the molecular level
- Long-standing climate paradox resolved
- Research examines clues for superconductivity in an iron-based material
- New theory could reduce number of sensors required for terahertz imaging systems
- Getting to the root of enamel evolution
- Asians outperform white students because they try harder, study finds
- Twitter, Amazon team up for in-app purchasing
- With 'self-fumigation,' Darwin's finches combat deadly parasitic flies
- Energy-subsidy reform can be achieved with proper preparation, outside pressure
- Where DNA's copy machine pauses, cancer could be next
- Researchers discover a 'simple and elegant mechanism' that regulates relationships between insects, bacteria
- Basketball study says cooperative play lessens during playoffs
Astronomy & Space news
Video: Student camps four months on Hawaiian volcano to study effects of long-term space missions
Ross Lockwood, a PhD student in physics at the University of Alberta, talks about his experience camped 8,000 ft. above sea level on the side of a Hawaiian volcano as part of NASA's Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS).
NASA image: Active dune field on Mars
Nili Patera is one of the most active dune fields on Mars. As such, it is continuously monitored with the HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) camera, a science instrument aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, with a new image acquired about every six weeks.
Yerkes Observatory educators prepare to fly with airborne infrared telescope
A project at the University of Chicago's Yerkes Observatory, which enables the visually impaired to almost literally touch the stars, will take flight May 5 and 7 aboard the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy.
Research uncovering the mysteries of the Red Planet
Standing on the red, impact-scarred surface of Mars was the childhood dream of many grown-up scientists, but few have experienced a space adventure quite like Ross Lockwood.
Autonomous Landing Hazard Avoidance Technology ensures safe landing for Morpheus
Led by engineers at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and supported by Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., ALHAT technology will provide planetary landers similar to Morpheus the ability to precisely and safely land on rugged surfaces by detecting dangerous hazards such as rocks, holes and slopes.
Stay up late for tonight's Eta Aquarid meteor shower
Halley's Comet won't be back in Earth's vicinity until the summer of 2061, but that doesn't mean you have to wait 47 years to see it. The comet's offspring return this week as the annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower. Most meteor showers trace their parentage to a particular comet. The Perseids of August originate from dust strewn along the orbit of comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, which drops by the inner solar system every 133 years after "wintering" for decades just beyond the orbit of Pluto, but the Eta Aquarids (AY-tuh ah-QWAR-ids) have the best known and arguably most famous parent of all - Halley's Comet. Twice each year, Earth's orbital path intersects dust and rock particles strewn by Halley during its cyclic 76-year journey from just beyond Uranus to within the orbit of Venus. When we do, the grit meets its demise in spectacular fashion as wow-inducing meteors.
Galactic archaeologists uncover new insights into the formation of the earliest stars and galaxies
A team of Galactic archaeologists has uncovered new insights into the formation of the earliest stars and galaxies by observing the chemical signatures of ancient 'fossil' stars present in the outer and inner halos encircling the Milky Way.
Carrington-class CME narrowly misses Earth
Last month (April 8-11), scientists, government officials, emergency planners and others converged on Boulder, Colorado, for NOAA's Space Weather Workshop—an annual gathering to discuss the perils and probabilities of solar storms.
Technology news
New mobile app uses augmented reality to enhance learning experiences at historic sites
Virginia Tech researchers are testing a new mobile software app that will allow school children visiting historic sites to learn in new, interactive ways via augmented reality.
'Digital by default' – efficient eGovernment or costly flop?
The Australian federal government's recently published National Commission of Audit's recommendation 62: e-Government suggests the government accelerate its transition to online service delivery that:
After long wait, Iraq authorises 3G for mobile firms
Iraq's cabinet announced Monday it has authorised mobile phone firms to use third-generation frequencies, after years of promises amid the frustrated pleas of cellular operators.
Affinity Gaming reports payment system was hacked
A Las Vegas company that owns casinos in four states says its system for processing credit and debit card information has been hacked.
Researcher's Risk Exposure Index (REI) used by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
"From Superstorms to Factory Fires: Managing Unpredictable Supply-Chain Disruptions," published recently in the Harvard Business Review, describes a method developed by MIT professor David Simchi-Levi, founder of the MIT Forum for Supply Chain Innovation, to manage unpredictable supply chain disruptions. This method helps prioritize the financial impact of risk through the Risk Exposure Index (REI), enabling companies to focus mitigation efforts on the most important suppliers and risk areas. The method was implemented successfully at Ford Motor Company.
Inexpensive, flexible large area neutron detectors to monitor movement of fissile materials
Researchers in the US are capitalising on the falling cost of TFT-based flat panel display manufacture to produce inexpensive, flexible large area neutron detectors to help monitor the movement of fissile materials.
How a 'sensor society' quietly takes over
As our cars, phones and computers get "smarter" they – and the companies that provide them – know a lot more about us than they used to.
Target's CEO is out in wake of big security breach (Update)
Target's CEO has become the first boss of a major corporation to lose his job over a breach of customer data, showing how responsibility for computer security now reaches right to the top.
EU, Japan to start cyber-security dialogue
The European Union will discuss Internet security during talks this week in Brussels with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a senior EU official said Monday.
Game developers say success hinges on more than just programming skills
Aspiring game developers may want to bone up on their interpersonal skills. A forthcoming study from North Carolina State University and Microsoft Research finds that game developers need a suite of non-programming skills – including communication skills – that are considered less important in other fields of software development.
Life-changer or death sentence? Madrid's electric bikes
Politicians say Madrid's shared electric bicycle scheme, due to launch this month, can change the lives of citizens—but others warn it will put their lives in danger.
Miami looks beyond beaches, bikinis to tech
Famed for its beaches, cruises and cafecitos, South Florida is now angling to become one of the next U.S. tech hot spots by leveraging its role as the gateway to Latin America and luring northern entrepreneurs with cheap living costs and lots of sun.
Energy tower for producing electricity set for Arizona
Solar Wind Energy Tower (SWET) with a focus on "solar wind downdraft tower" structures for producing electricity last month announced it got the green light from San Luis, Arizona, to develop such a tower in the city, which is located on the southwest corner of Arizona, a border town to San Luis, Sonora, Mexico.
Twitter, Amazon team up for in-app purchasing
Amazon rolled out a new feature Monday allowing Twitter users to select items for purchase on the online retail site without leaving the messaging platform.
Energy-subsidy reform can be achieved with proper preparation, outside pressure
Reform of energy subsidies in oil-exporting countries can reduce carbon emissions and add years to oil exports, according to a new paper from Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.
IBM deepens move into computer defense
IBM on Monday moved deeper into defending business computers with a new service aimed at thwarting hackers before they do damage.
Jury holds line on damages in Apple patent case (Update)
Jurors on Monday held the line on its $119.6 million damages award to Apple in its latest patent battle with smartphone rival Samsung in Silicon Valley.
New theory could reduce number of sensors required for terahertz imaging systems
Terahertz imaging, which is already familiar from airport security checkpoints, has a number of other promising applications—from explosives detection to collision avoidance in cars. Like sonar or radar, terahertz imaging produces an image by comparing measurements across an array of sensors. Those arrays have to be very dense, since the distance between sensors is proportional to wavelength.
Medicine & Health news
Saudi Arabia reports one more death from MERS virus
Saudi Arabia's health ministry says one more patient who contracted the potentially fatal Middle East virus related to SARS has died and that 14 new cases have been detected.
Possible treatment for kidney disease in lupus studied at UH
In the U.S. alone, more than 1.5 million people have lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system turns against itself, attacking a person's healthy tissue, cells and organs. The symptoms can range from debilitating pain and fatigue to organ failure.
Stigma: At the root of ostracism and bullying
Increasing evidence shows that stigma – whether due to a child's weight, sexual orientation, race, income or other attribute—is at the root of bullying, and that it can cause considerable harm to a child's mental health.
Schools seek changes to healthier lunch rules
School nutrition directors across the country say government-mandated changes to cafeteria menus have been expensive and difficult to put in place.
Outwitting immunity to treat disease: Start-up raises 33 millions CHF
EPFL start-up Anokion has the immune system in its sights. The company has developed technology for retraining white blood cells that holds promise for treating autoimmune, allergic, and a number of other diseases. A group of private investors have pledged 33 millions Swiss francs (37 million dollars) into the young company.
Saudi MERS death toll reaches 115
Saudi health authorities announced on Monday that the death toll from the MERS coronavirus has reached 115 since the respiratory disease first appeared in the kingdom in 2012.
Pfizer 1Q profit drops 15 pct due to lower sales (Update)
Despite sharply lower expenses and taxes, Pfizer Inc.'s first-quarter profit dropped 15 percent, due to cheaper generic competition for multiple medicines and some promotion partnerships with other drugmakers ending.
Mammography controversy needs greater participation to inform decisions
Doctors at the World Congress on the Menopause in Cancun, Mexico, have called for any decision to participate in mammography to be a based on an informed choice and consideration of all factors, rather than just be an automatic process.
Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation implants its first world's smallest cardiac pacemaker
The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF) announced today the first implant of the world's smallest pacemaker at the Minneapolis Heart Institute. The device was implanted as part of a global clinical trial and the procedure was the first of its kind in the Midwest.
Dual method to remove precancerous colon polyps may substantially reduce health-care costs
A surgical method combining two techniques for removing precancerous polyps during colonoscopies can substantially reduce the recovery time and the length of hospital stays, potentially saving the health-care system millions of dollars, according to research presented today at Digestive Disease Week (DDW).
Study looks at predicting fracture risk after women stop bisphosphonate therapy
Age and testing of hip bone mineral density (BDM) when postmenopausal women discontinue bisphosphonate therapy can help predict the likelihood of fractures over the next five years.
Younger adults benefit from gardening's moderate- to high-intensity activities
People throughout the world enjoy gardening. The popular pastime can not only enhance home and community landscapes and provide low-cost food sources, the level of physical activity required also offers a multitude of health benefits. Studies have confirmed that engaging in gardening can lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and increase psychological well-being. The authors of a new study say that, although many studies have focused on the health benefits of gardening for older adults, research on different age groups is limited. A new study suggests that gardening can provide similar benefits for younger adults.
First US MERS patient could leave hospital soon (Update)
Health officials said Monday they expect the first patient in the United States diagnosed with a mysterious virus from the Middle East to be released soon from a hospital, though he could continue to be isolated at home.
No credible evidence to support cardiac risk of testosterone therapy
Recent articles in the scientific literature and mass media that question the use of testosterone (T) therapy to treat T deficiency, or "low T," and assert the cardiovascular risks of T therapy, are flawed, according to a provocative Guest Editorial in Journal of Men's Health.
When wine hits the right nerve
If wine leaves a bitter, cotton-like coating on the tongue, neither the sense of taste nor the sense of smell is responsible. The traditional oak barrel character, also called barrique character, is perceived via the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for, among other things, pain and temperature perception. This is reported in the journal Chemical Senses by a research team headed by Prof Dr Dr Dr Hanns Hatt from the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology at the Ruhr-Universität.
Few children receive dental care before recommended age of one year
Less than one per cent of healthy urban children surveyed in Toronto had received dental care by the recommended age of 12 months and less than two per cent had seen a dentist by the age of 24 months. Children most susceptible to cavities were least likely to receive early dental care, according to the study by Dr. Jonathon Maguire, a pediatrician and researcher at St. Michael's Hospital.
Disease outbreak may not spur parents to have children vaccinated
Conventional wisdom holds that when the risk of catching a disease is high, people are more likely to get vaccinated to protect themselves.
Being born 4-6 weeks premature can affect brain structure, function
The brains of children who were born just a few weeks early differ from those born on time, and these differences may affect learning and behavior, according to a study to be presented Monday, May 5, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Electronic tool helps reduce drug errors among hospitalized children
When children are admitted to the hospital, sometimes the medications they take at home are lost in the shuffle, or they may be given the wrong dose.
Low testosterone levels may indicate worsening of disease for men with prostate cancer
For men with low-risk prostate cancer, low levels of testosterone may indicate a worsening of their disease. That's the conclusion of a new study published in BJU International. The findings may help physicians identify patients with low-risk prostate cancer who should receive aggressive anticancer treatment.
Migraine attacks increase following stress
(Medical Xpress)—Migraine sufferers who experienced reduced stress from one day to the next are at significantly increased risk of migraine onset on the subsequent day, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the Montefiore Headache Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University. Stress has long been believed to be a common headache trigger. In this study, researchers found that relaxation following heightened stress was an even more significant trigger for migraine attacks. Findings may aid in recommending preventive treatments and behavioral interventions. The study was published online today in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Fast-tracking new treatment for childhood cancer
(Medical Xpress)—Children fighting a life-threatening form of cancer could be treated with a revolutionary anti-cancer therapy as early as next year, following the formation of a research alliance to fast-track development of a medicine pioneered by Australian researchers.
Study shows stimulant drug may help women cope with post-menopausal memory lapses
Menopausal women have long reported experiencing hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats and memory lapses, too.
The hidden connection between vision loss and mental health
People suffering from vision loss are twice as likely to suffer from depression as the general population.
Experts urge new parents to pay attention to baby's poop color
Fecal color and consistency are well-known markers of digestive health in both children and adults, but paying attention to a newborn's shade of poop can be a decided lifesaver in babies born with the rare, liver-ravaging disorder biliary atresia, commonly heralded by white or clay-colored stool.
Rising treatment costs the biggest drivers of health care spending
(Medical Xpress)—It's a well-known fact that spending on health care has consistently grown faster than the rest of the U.S. economy.
Researchers use facial expression recognition technology to develop a game that helps autistic children
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental disability that affects, among other things, the way an individual relates to their environment and their interactions with other people. An expression recognition game developed by UTS researchers is helping the emotional development of ASD children – and making it fun.
Positive result for new DNA blood test for bowel cancer
(Medical Xpress)—A team of Australian scientists has presented evidence that a new blood test for bowel cancer based on two genes that "leak" into the blood can detect 65 per cent of bowel cancer cases.
New combination therapy for hepatitis C
A new combination therapy allows chronic hepatitis C to be treated in a manner that is less aggressive yet equally efficient. This is the result of a current study, led by primary author Peter Ferenci from the University Department of Internal Medicine III at the MedUni Vienna, which has been published in the highly respected New England Journal of Medicine. "This is a revolutionary breakthrough in the treatment of this disease and represents a huge improvement in the quality of life of those affected," says the Vienna hepatologist.
WHO declares polio 'public health emergency' (Update)
The World Health Organization warned Monday that polio has reemerged as a public health emergency, after new cases of the crippling disease began surfacing and spreading across borders from countries like Syria and Pakistan.
Heterosexual women better judges of orientation than lesbian women in study
Previous research has proven the 'gaydar' to be a real phenomenon. Reliable predictions of sexual orientation have been made simply by hearing a voice or seeing a face. This article in Cognition & Emotion asks who has better gaydar? Lesbian women or straight? The expectation was that lesbians due to their experience of choosing partners would be more tuned in to others orientation. The authors conducted a study which revealed some thought-provoking insights into who has greater interpersonal sensitivity.
Doctors perform living donor stem cell transplants in eye patients
Debra Astrug, who once feared she was going blind, can see fine now, thanks to a stem cell transplant she received from her daughter, Jessica.
Algorithm provides real-time neurosurgery link
Neuro-navigation technology is set to change the face of neurosurgery, with a simple computer algorithm able to convert pre-operative brain images into a real-time picture of the position of healthy and diseased tissues during surgery.
Spinach, apples increase important molecule for cardiovascular and cognitive health
Scientists have discovered that consuming apples and spinach acutely increases nitric oxide (NO) status, an important molecule for cardiovascular and cognitive health through its affect on blood flow and blood vessel function.
Women and PAD: Excellent treatment outcomes in spite of disease severity
Women face greater limits on their lifestyle and have more severe symptoms as a result of peripheral artery disease (PAD), but minimally invasive procedures used to unclog arteries are just as successful as in men.
New research explores how smoking while pregnant leads to other diseases
While many parents-to-be are aware that the health of their baby starts before they've actually arrived into the world, recent research reveals that "harm" (i.e., tobacco smoke, dirty air, poor nutrition, even preeclampsia) may not present itself disease-wise until well into adulthood or when a second harmful "hit" triggers the individual's susceptibility.
Study reveals potentially unnecessary radiation after suspected sports-related injury
A new study of Utah youth with suspected sports-related head injuries found that emergency room visits for children with sports-related head injuries have increased since the state's concussion law passed in 2011, along with a rise in head CT scans—leading to potentially unnecessary radiation exposure.
Baby safety gates aren't always safe, study finds
Baby gates meant to protect young children aren't always as safe as parents think. A new study says nearly 2,000 U.S. kids get emergency room treatment each year from injuries resulting from falling through or climbing on these gates.
Animal hoarding, a lesser-known problem for public health and welfare
Animal hoarding is a psychiatric disorder that consists of accumulating large numbers of animals at home, usually cats and dogs, without providing them with a minimal standard of care. Researchers from IMIM (Hospital del Mar Research Institute) publish the first European study to provide data on this disorder, in the Journal Animal Welfare. The disorder is still largely unknown and has a negative effect on the health of both the people who suffer from it and the animals involved.
New knowledge about muscular dystrophy
Researchers at Aarhus University have revealed a previously unknown function of a cellular enzyme that can disperse toxic aggregates in the cells of patients with muscular dystrophy.
Eliminating copayments improves adherence, reduces adverse events in nonwhite patients
Research demonstrates that lowering copayments for cardiovascular medications results in better adherence and outcomes among all patients, but until now, little was known about whether lowering copayments could improve known disparities in cardiovascular care. New research finds that lowering copayments for medications following a heart attack could have a significant impact on reducing the racial and ethnic disparities that exist in cardiovascular disease.
Lower hispanic participation in Medicare drug benefit may point to barriers
Hispanic seniors are 35 percent less likely to have prescription drug coverage despite the existence of the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan – also known as Part D – and the availability of assistance to help pay insurance premiums. That is the finding of a study released today in the journal Health Affairs.
Study links social, community factors with hospital readmissions
Factors like the level of poverty in a neighborhood, living alone, and age affect a patient's chances of being readmitted to a hospital after discharge, even after possible variations in quality of care in the hospital have been taken into account.
Active seniors can lower heart attack risk by doing more, not less
Maintaining or boosting your physical activity after age 65 can improve your heart's electrical well-being and lower your risk of heart attack, according to a study in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
Significant decline in deaths after Massachusetts' health reform
In the first four years after Massachusetts instituted comprehensive health reform in 2006, mortality in the state decreased by 2.9% compared with similar populations in states that didn't expand health coverage, according to a new study led by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers. They estimated that Massachusetts' health reform law, which provided near-universal coverage, has prevented approximately 320 deaths per year—one life saved for each 830 people gaining insurance.
Researchers present findings on promising biomarker for esophageal cancer
A new biomarker for esophageal cancer shows promise in improving screening for this deadly disease and its precursor, Barrett's esophagus.
Bioinformatics approach helps researchers find new uses for old drug
Developing and testing a new anti-cancer drug can cost billions of dollars and take many years of research. Finding an effective anti-cancer medication from the pool of drugs already approved for the treatment of other medical conditions could cut a considerable amount of time and money from the process.
How does stress increase your risk for stroke and heart attack?
Scientists have shown that anger, anxiety, and depression not only affect the functioning of the heart, but also increase the risk for heart disease.
A journey between XX and XY: Researchers get closer to unravelling the mystery of sexual ambiguity
A team of researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has been involved in a thorough genetic investigation based on the case of a child suffering from the Nivelon-Nivelon-Mabille Syndrome, a complex condition characterised mainly by a sexual development disorder. Following a genome analysis of the patient and parents, the scientists, led by Serge Nef, Professor of the Department of Genetic Medicine and Development in the Faculty of Medicine, have identified not only the gene, but also the protein-producing mechanism, whose malfunctioning causes the syndrome in question. Published in PLOS Genetics, these results make way for genetic tests, thus improving treatment for patients and their families.
Domestic violence victims more likely to take up smoking
One third of women around the world have experienced physical or sexual violence at the hands of their intimate partners with consequences from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression, to sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Now, in a new study in 29 low-income and middle-income countries, researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health have identified yet another serious health risk associated with intimate partner violence (IPV): smoking.
Soy sauce molecule may unlock drug therapy for HIV patients
For HIV patients being treated with anti-AIDS medications, resistance to drug therapy regimens is commonplace. Often, patients develop resistance to first-line drug therapies, such as Tenofovir, and are forced to adopt more potent medications. Virologists at the University of Missouri now are testing the next generation of medications that stop HIV from spreading, and are using a molecule related to flavor enhancers found in soy sauce, to develop compounds that are more potent than Tenofovir.
Physician practice facilitation ensures key medical care reaches children
Leona Cuttler, MD, knew in her core that the simple act of adding an outside eye could dramatically improve pediatric care. Today, a study of more than 16,000 patient visits published online in the journal Pediatrics proves Cuttler's thesis correct. The lead investigator on the research project, Cuttler succumbed to cancer late last year. But her colleagues are committed to seeing its lessons disseminated across the country.
New cause of high blood pressure and heart disease discovered
Why phosphate rich foods can increase blood pressure and promote vascular calcifications has been discovered by scientists at the Vetmeduni Vienna. The key is the hormone, FGF23—Fibroblast Growth Factor 23. When the level of FGF23 is raised, as through a high phosphate diet, calcium and sodium accumulate, putting strain on the cardiovascular system. The study appears today in the journal, EMBO Molecular Medicine.
Virtual patients, medical records and sleep queries may help reduce suicide
A virtual patient, the electronic medical record, and questions about how well patients sleep appear effective new tools in recognizing suicide risk, researchers say.
Spotting a famous face in the crowd
People can only recognize two faces in a crowd at a time – even if the faces belong to famous people. So says Volker Thoma of the University of East London in the UK in an article which sheds light on people's ability to process faces, published in Springer's journal Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. The findings have relevance to giving eye-witness testimony or for neuropsychological rehabilitation.
In crashes that kill children, it's their driver who's often drunk
(HealthDay)—One horrific scenario typically comes to mind when thinking about a child killed in a drunk driving crash.
FDA panel says no to over-the-counter allergy drug singulair
(HealthDay)—A panel of expert advisors to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday voted overwhelmingly against moving the allergy drug Singulair from prescription to over-the-counter status.
Depression tied to Crohn's disease flare-ups
(HealthDay)—Depression may increase the risk of Crohn's disease flare-ups in people with the inflammatory bowel disorder, an early new study suggests.
Prenatal fish oil supplements may not boost child's brain health, study finds
(HealthDay) - Despite public health recommendations that women consume omega-3 fatty acid supplements while pregnant, new research suggests that offspring do not gain any mental health benefit from the intervention.
Dementia diagnosis twice as likely if older adult has schizophrenia; cancer less likely
Researchers from Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University who followed over 30,000 older adults for a decade have found the rate of dementia diagnosis for patients with schizophrenia to be twice as high as for patients without this chronic, severe and disabling brain disorder.
Caring for horses eases symptoms of dementia
In the first study of its kind, researchers have determined that spending time with horses eases symptoms of Alzheimer's dementia.
Molecular tumor board helps in advanced cancer cases
With accelerating development of personalized cancer treatments matched to a patient's DNA sequencing, proponents say frontline physicians increasingly need help to maneuver through the complex genomic landscape to find the most effective, individualized therapy.
Women with unintended pregnancies take the shortest maternity leaves
Mothers in the United States who have unintended pregnancies return to work sooner after childbirth than mothers whose pregnancy was intended, according to a study led by Dr. Rada K. Dagher, assistant professor of health services administration in the University of Maryland School of Public Health.
Study finds family-based exposure therapy effective treatment for young children with OCD
A new study from the Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center has found that family-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is beneficial to young children between the ages of five and eight with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The study, now published online in JAMA Psychiatry, found developmentally sensitive family-based CBT that included exposure/response prevention (EX/RP) was more effective in reducing OCD symptoms and functional impairment in this age group than a similarly structured relaxation program.
Test that measures 'everyday task' performance is a good predictor of hospital readmission
Patients freshly discharged from acute care hospitals with low scores on a standard test that measures how well they perform such everyday activities as moving from a bed to a chair are far more likely to need readmission to a hospital within 30 days than those who score better, according to new Johns Hopkins research.
Focused ultrasound reduces cancer pain
When cancer progresses and spreads to the bone, patients often suffer debilitating pain. Now, a new phase III clinical trial shows that non-invasive magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound treatment that heats the cancer within the bone, relieves pain and improves function for most patients when other treatment options are limited. The results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI).
Study finds nerve damage after hip surgery may be due to inflammation
A recent Mayo Clinic Proceedings article links some nerve damage after hip surgery to inflammatory neuropathy. Historically, nerve damage from hip surgery has been attributed to mechanical factors caused by anesthesiologists or surgeons, such as positioning of the patient during surgery or direct surgical injury of the nerves.
Liver cancer screening highly beneficial for people with cirrhosis
Liver cancer survival rates could be improved if more people with cirrhosis are screened for tumors using inexpensive ultrasound scans and blood tests, according to a review by doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
US patient with MERS is improving: health officials
The first US patient sickened by the dangerous Middle East respiratory virus, MERS, is doing better and no other cases have emerged, American health officials said Monday.
Readmission to another hospital may threaten patient safety, study says
(HealthDay)—Patients released from one hospital and readmitted to another hospital within 30 days are more likely to die within a month than those readmitted to the same hospital, according to a large new study from Canada.
Review examines diagnosis, management of preschool wheeze
(HealthDay)—Preschool children have high asthma morbidity, and further research on the short- and long-term outcomes is needed, according to a review published online May 3 in The Lancet. This review is part of a series published ahead of World Asthma Day on May 6 and the annual meeting of the American Thoracic Society, held from May 16 to 21 in San Diego.
MRI evaluation of carotid plaque could help define CV risk
(HealthDay)—Carotid artery plaque morphology and composition determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be useful in predicting cardiovascular events, according to research published in the May issue of Radiology.
Experts issue treatment guidelines for aggressive form of breast cancer
(HealthDay)—Two sets of guidelines for treating patients with an aggressive form of breast cancer have been released by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Major women's health study paid big dividends
(HealthDay)— A comprehensive look at the decade-old "estrogen study"—the U.S. government-sponsored trial that turned the tables on assumptions about hormone replacement therapy—suggests there can be a billion-dollar upside to the millions spent on research.
Somalia worst place to be a mother
Somalia is the worst country on Earth to be a mother, according to a report published by Save the Children on Monday which calls for more action to protect mothers and children in crisis-hit areas.
What our ancestors can teach us about exercise, Alzheimer's and human longevity
(Medical Xpress)—UA psychology professor Gene Alexander and anthropologist David Raichlen teamed up to look at physical activity and human longevity from an evolutionary perspective.
Yeast studies suggest alternative cancer approach
Yeast populations exposed to a sudden environmental shock can be driven to extinction, MIT researchers have shown. Could this principle also apply to human cancer cells? Possibly, argue researchers from MIT, Boston University, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in a Perspectives article published online on April 17 by Nature Reviews Cancer and appearing in the May 2014 print edition.
Glutamine ratio is key ovarian cancer indicator
A Rice University-led analysis of the metabolic profiles of hundreds of ovarian tumors has revealed a new test to determine whether ovarian cancer cells have the potential to metastasize, or spread to other parts of the body. The study also suggests how ovarian cancer treatments can be tailored based on the metabolic profile of a particular tumor.
EyeWire gamers help researchers understand retina's motion detection wiring
(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers working at MIT has used data supplied by gamers on EyeWire to help explain how it is that the retina is able to process motion detection. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes how they worked with gamers at EyeWire and then used the resulting mapped neural networks to propose a new theory to describe how it is the eye is able to understand what happens when something moves in front of it.
Monitoring RNA levels in blood yields dynamic picture of fetal development, disease
Recent research has shown that tiny fragments of DNA circulating in a person's blood can allow scientists to monitor cancer growth and even get a sneak peek into a developing fetus' gene sequences. But isolating and sequencing these bits of genetic material renders little insight into how that DNA is used to generate the dizzying array of cells, tissues and biological processes that define our bodies and our lives.
Study identifies molecules that guide embryonic heart-forming cells
Scientists at the University of East Anglia have made an important step in understanding how hearts are formed in developing embryos.
Immune cells outsmart bacterial infection by dying, study shows
A new study led by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine has painted a clearer picture of the delicate arms race between the human immune system and a pathogen that seeks to infect and kill human cells.
In resting brains, researchers see signs of schizophrenia
(Medical Xpress)—In an advance that increases hopes of finding biological markers for schizophrenia, Yale researchers have discovered widespread disruption of signals while the brain is at rest in those suffering from the disabling neuropsychiatric disease.
Biology news
New type of scale invader threatens crape myrtle plants
Crape myrtle, a much used Texas landscape plant, is under threat from a new type of scale invader, said two Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts.
On the trail of Mongolian steppe lakes
To catalogue more than 12,000 lakes and lagoons in Mongolia's steppe, to identify new Entomostraca species and to develop strategies to diagnose the state of lakes in the Iberian Peninsula and Europe are the main scientific challenges faced by the Limnological Catalogue of Mongolian Lakes, a project led by researcher Miquel Alonso, who collaborates with the Department of Ecology of the University of Barcelona and studies the limnology of lakes.
What do you do with a whale that won't explode?
The residents of Trout River in Newfoundland, Canada have a stinking whale of a problem. What to do with the 81-feet-carcass of Balaenoptera musculus on their shore?
Researchers find corn yields more sensitive to drought, climate change
A new analysis of corn production in the American Midwest has determined that today's crop yields are more sensitive than ever to bad weather, and especially to drought conditions anticipated under likely climate change scenarios.
New website engages viewers in herring story
Like a fishing net, a new website, created by a Simon Fraser University archaeologist and a multimedia consultant, captures viewers and draws them into an interactive multimedia window onto Pacific herring's past, present and future.
Plantable containers show promise for use in groundcover production, landscaping
Consumer demand for groundcover plants for residential and commercial landscapes is on the rise. Low-growing, low-maintenance groundcovers are favored not only for their aesthetic appeal, but also for their environmental contributions such as the ability to reduce storm water runoff and control weeds. Looking for sustainable alternatives to growing plants in standard plastic containers, researchers uncovered a variety of groundcover plants that they say can be successfully grown in ecofriendly "plantable" containers.
Economics of high tunnels examined in southwestern United States
Used throughout the world in horticulture and agriculture production, high tunnels are less complex and less expensive versions of greenhouses. The structures' passive heating and cooling capabilities can offer growers a cost-effective way to extend the growing season for high-value crops such as fruits, vegetables, and cut flowers. High tunnels can provide protection against some insects, early freezes, hail, and other weather events. A new study recommends the best high tunnel designs for growing lettuce and spinach during the winter season in the southwestern United States.
Inbred wolves struggle, moose proliferate at Isle Royale National Park
During their annual Winter Study at Isle Royale National Park, scientists from Michigan Technological University counted nine wolves organized into one breeding pack and a second small group that is a remnant of a formerly breeding pack.
Captive elephants in Laos face extinction
(Phys.org) —The captive elephant population in Laos will be extinct in just over a century if current management practices do not change, a University of Queensland study has found.
Nuclear transfer to reprogram adult patient cells into stem cells demonstrated
The capacity to reprogram adult patient cells into pluripotent, embryonic-like, stem cells by nuclear transfer has been reported as a breakthrough by scientists from the US and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Forest loss linked to swift parrot mortality
(Phys.org) —New research has found the endangered swift parrot is more likely to be killed and eaten by sugar gliders in Tasmania in areas where forests are disturbed or lost compared to areas of intact forest.
History to blame for slow crop taming, study says
It's been about 10,000 years since our ancestors began farming, but crop domestication has taken much longer than expected – a delay caused less by genetics and more by culture and history, according to a new study co-authored by University of Guelph researchers.
Light-sensitive 'eyes' in plants
Most plants try to turn towards the sun. Scientists from the University of Gothenburg have worked with Finnish colleagues to understand how light-sensitive proteins in plant cells change when they discover light. The results have been published in the most recent issue of Nature.
Tomato turf wars: Benign bug bests salmonella; tomato eaters win
Scientists from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have identified a benign bacterium that shows promise in blocking Salmonella from colonizing raw tomatoes. Their research is published ahead of print in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
Tracking turtles through time, study may resolve evolutionary debate
Turtles are more closely related to birds and crocodilians than to lizards and snakes, according to a study from Dartmouth, Yale and other institutions that examines one of the most contentious questions in evolutionary biology.
Groovy turtles' genes to aid in their rescue
The diverse patterns on the diamondback terrapins' intricately grooved shell may be their claim to fame, but a newly published U.S. Geological Survey study of the genetic variation underneath their shell holds one key to rescuing these coastal turtles.
France definitively bans GM corn
France definitively banned the growing of genetically modified corn on Monday after its highest court and Senate both confirmed an existing ban.
What fuels Salmonella's invasion strategy?
Certain strains of Salmonella bacteria such as Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) are among of the most common causes of food-borne gastroenteritis. Other strains of Salmonella such as S. Typhi are responsible for typhoid fever, which causes 200,000 deaths around the world each year. Ensuring food is clear of contamination, and water is clean are key to reducing the effects Salmonella can have, but we also need more effective ways to combat Salmonella once it's inside our bodies.
Rainforest essential for world's smallest kangaroo
(Phys.org) —The discovery of musky rat-kangaroo fossils has prompted experts to call for better protection of tropical rainforests after new links show the tiny marsupial cannot survive outside that environment.
With 'self-fumigation,' Darwin's finches combat deadly parasitic flies
When University of Utah biologists set out cotton balls treated with a mild pesticide, wild finches in the Galapagos Islands used the cotton to help build their nests, killing parasitic fly maggots to protect baby birds. The researchers say the self-fumigation method may help endangered birds and even some mammals.
Evolution in species may reverse predator-prey population cycles
Populations of predators and their prey usually follow predictable cycles. When the number of prey increases – perhaps as their food supply becomes more abundant – predator populations also grow.
Bone marrow-on-a-chip unveiled
The latest organ-on-a-chip from Harvard's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering reproduces the structure, functions and cellular make-up of bone marrow, a complex tissue that until now could only be studied intact in living animals, Institute researchers report in the May 4, 2014, online issue of Nature Methods. The device, dubbed "bone marrow-on-a-chip," gives scientists a much-needed new tool to test the effects of new drugs and toxic agents on whole bone marrow.
Researchers discover a 'simple and elegant mechanism' that regulates relationships between insects, bacteria
Symbiosis is the process that occurs when two different organisms live together to form a mutually beneficial partnership. In many symbiotic relationships, host animals and their microbial symbionts are partners that make up a whole – neither one can function without the other but together they grow and reproduce.
Getting to the root of enamel evolution
Along with our big brains and upright posture, thick tooth enamel is one of the features that distinguishes our genus, Homo, from our primate relatives and forebears. A new study, published May 5 in the Journal of Human Evolution, offers insight into how evolution shaped our teeth, one gene at a time.
Where DNA's copy machine pauses, cancer could be next
Each time a human cell divides, it must first make a copy of its 46 chromosomes to serve as an instruction manual for the new cell. Normally, this process goes off without a hitch. But from time to time, the information isn't copied and collated properly, leaving gaps or breaks that the cell has to carefully combine back together.
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