Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for May 1, 2014:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Good vibrations: Cortical oscillations modulated by sensory, environmental, internal, and volitional inputs- Device could boost image quality for phones, computers and TVs
- Viruses hijack deep-sea bacteria at hydrothermal vents
- New rapid synthesis developed for bilayer graphene and high-performance transistors
- Researchers suggest dark matter disk in Milky Way plane could signal rash of comet strikes on Earth
- A 'wimpy' dwarf fossil galaxy reveals new facts about early universe
- Edgy look at 2-D molybdenum disulfide
- Fast contractions and depolarizations in mitochondria revealed with multiparametric imaging
- Lab study suggests small layer of water, CO2 and silicate lies beneath tectonic plates
- Ganymede may harbor 'club sandwich' of oceans and ice
- Stimulated mutual annihilation: How to make a gamma-ray laser with positronium
- Study finds missing piece of biogeochemical puzzle in aquifers
- 3D pen-in-air aims for professional heights
- Coming soon: A brain implant to restore memory
- US corn yields are increasingly vulnerable to hot, dry weather, study shows
Astronomy & Space news
NASA selects partners for U.S. commercial lander capabilities
NASA announced Wednesday the selection of three U.S. companies to negotiate no-funds exchanged partnership agreements with the agency to advance lander capabilities that will enable delivery of payloads to the surface of the moon, as well as new science and exploration missions of interest to NASA and scientific and academic communities.
SpaceX releases raw video of first stage landing attempt
Video released today by SpaceX confirms the landing legs deployed successfully on the Falcon 9′s first stage booster, paving the way for future vertical soft touchdowns on land. SpaceX's next-generation Falcon 9 rocket was tested following the launch of the CRS-3 mission for the Dragon spacecraft, which launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on April 18. This was the first test of the landing legs deployment with a re-entry burn and soft landing in the Atlantic Ocean.
Winning Z-2 spacesuit prototype design gets ready for 'test campaign'
Striking a Buzz Lightyear-like pose above is the winning design for NASA's Z-2 spacesuit prototype. The version, called "technology", was by far the popular vote in an online contest the agency held to choose between three prototypes, garnering 62% of 233,431 votes.
Court blocks US plan to buy Russian rocket engines
A US court has blocked a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing from buying Russian-made rocket engines, after private rocket operator SpaceX filed a lawsuit protesting the contract.
Latest Galileo satellite arrives at ESA's test centre
Europe's latest Galileo navigation satellite has arrived at the Agency's technical centre in the Netherlands for testing, as the previous two satellites are prepared for shipping to French Guiana for launch this summer.
Image: ESA's telerobotic robot hand
(Phys.org) —As engineer Manuel Aiple moves his gauntleted hand, the robotic hand a few metres away in ESA's telerobotics laboratory follows in sync.
Astronaut to give university speech from space
University of Connecticut alumnus Rick Mastracchio would have liked to deliver this year's graduation address to the school of engineering in person. But he'll be out of town on May 10—orbiting the globe on the International Space Station.
NASA sounding rocket to study interplanetary medium
NASA will conduct a sounding rocket mission in May 2014, carrying a payload designed to measure the nature of the interplanetary medium, characterizing the particles that fill our solar system.
Cassini spies the ice-giant planet Uranus
(Phys.org) —NASA's Cassini spacecraft has captured its first-ever image of the pale blue ice-giant planet Uranus in the distance beyond Saturn's rings.
The science of lightning in extrasolar planets
Scientists in Scotland are hoping to make a major 'leap' in working out whether a bolt of lightning could trigger life on planets outside the solar system.
Curiosity bores into Kimberley rock after inspection unveils enticing bumpy textures
Three days ago, the burning question was "To Drill or not to Drill?"
Hubble astronomers check the prescription of a cosmic lens
(Phys.org) —Two teams of astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have discovered three distant exploding stars that have been magnified by the immense gravity of foreground galaxy clusters, which act like "cosmic lenses". These supernovae are the first of their type ever to be observed magnified in this way and they offer astronomers a powerful tool to check the prescription of these massive lenses.
A 'wimpy' dwarf fossil galaxy reveals new facts about early universe
Out on the edge of the universe, 75,000 light years from us, a galaxy known as Segue 1 has some unusual properties: It is the faintest galaxy ever detected. It is very small, containing only about 1,000 stars. And it has a rare chemical composition, with vanishingly small amounts of metallic elements present.
Researchers suggest dark matter disk in Milky Way plane could signal rash of comet strikes on Earth
(Phys.org) —A pair of researchers at Harvard University has published a paper in the journal Physical Review Letters, in which they suggest that a dark matter disk hiding in the Milky Way plane might be responsible for causing asteroids or comets to head our way. In their paper, Lisa Randall and Matthew Reece suggest that such a dark matter disk could pull other bodies from the Oort cloud, some of which could wind up heading toward Earth.
Ganymede may harbor 'club sandwich' of oceans and ice
(Phys.org) —The largest moon in our solar system, a companion to Jupiter named Ganymede, might have ice and oceans stacked up in several layers like a club sandwich, according to new NASA-funded research that models the moon's makeup.
Technology news
Small businesses get a shot at the big time with .London
The launch of the .London domain name has been accompanied by a great deal of hype but the change is more than just cosmetic. This is a real opportunity for smaller organisations to make their mark in the cut-throat world of online business.
With just a smartphone up your petticoat, you can now read Mills & Boon anywhere
Mills & Boon, the guilty pleasure of many a reader over the decades, is shunning the Kindle in favour of launching its own app.
Lawsuit seeks access to more secret court opinions
A new lawsuit says the Obama administration has refused to hand over secret court documents about the National Security Agency's surveillance activities.
Computer glitch disrupts US flights
A computer glitch at a California air traffic control center disrupted flights in the United States for about an hour Wednesday, authorities said.
Jurors end day without verdict in patent case
California jurors failed Wednesday to decide a patent-infringement case involving the world's two biggest smartphone makers after their first full day of deliberations.
PlayStation ramps play with clever independent games
While major video game makers place sure bets on sequels to blockbuster titles, Sony is working with independent studios to bring sassy new titles to the PlayStation platform.
Intel to pump $6 bn into Israel
US computer chip giant Intel is to invest close to $6 billion in upgrading its Israeli production facilities, Israeli Economy Minister Naftali Bennett said on Thursday.
High-efficiency water treatment using light using a novel UV-light system
Many harmful substances in waste water stubbornly resist being broken down by biological waste water treatment plants. Fraunhofer researchers have developed a photochemical reaction system in which water can be reliably treated at high flow rates by UV light without having to add chemical catalysts. They will be presenting an initial industrial prototype at this year's IFAT in Munich, 5-9 May.
Recycling the next generation
About 70 billion tons of raw materials are extracted world wide annually. That is twice as much as at the end of the 1970s. This trend is continuing – even with finite resources. One way to have enough materials available for manufacturing new goods in future is to recycle continually. Fraunhofer researchers are working on the advanced "Molecular Sorting" project for the next-generation circular economy.
Army of digital "air traffic controllers" makes clouds more efficient, scalable
IBM inventors have developed a method for managing how resources are used and work is done within a cloud by distributing control throughout the interconnected systems, reducing bottlenecks and increasing efficiency.
Small changes could save structures, lives during tornadoes
Surviving a tornado in a wood-frame residential home is enhanced by an intact roof and standing walls, but light-weight garage doors can be the weak link to allowing high winds and pressure changes into a home that can lead to the removal of the roof and collapsed walls, according to a study of damage left behind by a powerful tornado in Moore, Oklahoma, in 2013 by researchers from The University of Alabama and other institutions.
With bugs in the system how safe is the internet?
It seems hardly a week goes by without a major cyber security flaw exposed that could be exploited across millions of internet and mobile connected devices.
Tablet computers for global literacy
In two remote villages in rural Ethiopia, a team of literacy and technology experts from Tufts and MIT launched a grand experiment with a simple gesture: they dropped off a handful of tablet computers for 40 children who'd never seen anything like them before—they hadn't ever attended school or seen electricity or paper. The tablets contained specially designed apps to help illiterate children learn the basics: letters and sounds and, eventually, reading fundamentals.
Viacom 2Q profit rises 4 pct helped by TV networks (Update)
Viacom said Thursday that its second-quarter profit rose 4 percent, boosted by strong results at its TV networks that offset a decline at its movie-making business.
Four myths about privacy
(Phys.org) —Many privacy discussions follow a similar pattern, and involve the same kinds of arguments. It's commonplace to hear that privacy is dead, that people—especially kids—don't care about privacy, that people with nothing to hide have nothing to fear, and that privacy is bad for business. "These claims are common, but they're myths," said Neil M. Richards, JD, privacy law expert and professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis.
New sensor system detects early signs of concussion in real time
(Phys.org) —Imagine a physician, sitting in a stadium press box, equipped with technology that makes it possible to continuously monitor each player's physiological signs that indicate concussion.
'AT&T seeks to buy DirecTV'
US telecoms giant AT&T has offered to buy satellite TV firm DirecTV, in the latest move for consolidation in the television and industry, the Wall Street Journal said Thursday.
Internet giants eye cheerleader's defamation suit
An appeals court is considering whether an Arizona-based gossip website should have been allowed to be sued for defamation by a former Cincinnati Bengals cheerleader convicted of having sex with a teenager.
Global tablet sales freeze up, survey shows
The global market for tablet computers went into hibernation in early 2014, ending a long run of sizzling growth, a survey showed Thursday.
Justice Department, eBay settle antitrust lawsuit
The Justice Department on Thursday settled a lawsuit against eBay that accused the company of anticompetitive practices in the recruitment and hiring of skilled employees.
Gift Guide: Solid tech options for upgrading mom
Mom is busy. She's working and making and doing and raising you, among other things. In return, it's probably time for her to upgrade her aging PC or laptop. Hint, hint.
Snapchat adds chat as messaging space heats up
Snapchat is adding a chat feature to its ephemeral messaging service.
LinkedIn posts 1Q loss as expenses rise
LinkedIn suffered a first-quarter loss as the online professional networking service ramped up its investments in projects aimed at attracting more users on the lookout for better jobs and career advice.
Microsoft patching perilous hole in IE Web browser
Microsoft Thursday released a patch for a perilous hole in its Internet Explorer browser that hackers could slip through to invade computers.
White House report embraces 'big data,' privacy rules
A study ordered by US President Barack Obama and released Thursday concludes that analysis of "big data" can help society in many ways, from improving health care to spurring economic growth.
3D pen-in-air aims for professional heights
In the 3D marketplace, would a small, lightweight 3D printing pen, enabling doodling in the air with precision, really take off? Here's an indication: a Kickstarter project offering a 3D pen that is small, light and able to write and draw in the air passed its fundraising goal in hours after its Tuesday launch and the numbers are still moving north at the time of this writing.
Device could boost image quality for phones, computers and TVs
(Phys.org) —A device created by UCLA researchers could lead to a significant leap in the quality of images on smartphones, computer displays, TVs and inkjet printers.
Medicine & Health news
Endo to pay $830M to settle pelvic mesh lawsuits
Drug and medical device maker Endo International says it will pay $830 million to resolve roughly 20,000 personal lawsuits from patients who say they were injured by the company's vaginal mesh implants.
Q&A: Cancer care in crisis
Almost daily, consumers hear about new advances in the treatment of cancer: a new drug, dazzling technological achievements or eye-opening scientific discoveries. Why, then, are some of the nation's foremost cancer experts saying the system for delivering cancer care is in crisis and needs sweeping changes? According to a recent report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), skyrocketing costs, a growing number of cancer patients and a shrinking pool of cancer care professionals are worrisome trends that must be addressed.
Cervical cancer trial underway in Victoria
As the government considers recommendations for changes to cervical cancer screening, UNSW is already a leading partner in a major trial of the new technology in Victoria.
The ties between child maltreatment and substance abuse
Sunny Shin, Ph.D., an associate professor in Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Social Work, has led a number of studies exploring the relationship between child maltreatment and adolescent substance abuse.
Protecting refugees with disabilties
University of Sydney researchers have gained unprecedented access to refugee populations in six countries to chart disabilities amongst refugees and prepare recommendations to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Researchers crack code for 'personalizing' costs to transform delivery of care
Providing the best care at the lowest cost has become one of the mantras of health care reform. While measuring quality in health care is understandably complex, surprisingly, the true cost of caring for individual patients has been nearly impossible to pin down, too.
Implementation science can create a workforce equipped for new health care environment
The new Center for Health Innovation & Implementation Science at the Indiana University School of Medicine and Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute is studying how best to prepare the future health care workforce as the country's population ages. It calls upon the tools of implementation science to enable these workers and the health systems that will employ them to provide optimal care in a rapidly changing health care environment.
Clinical opinion published in American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
When a woman requires gynecologic surgery, she and her surgeon have several minimally invasive surgical options, including robotic surgery. In recent years, the use of robotic surgery has become more and more common. But questions have arisen about the potential overuse of robotic surgery and its advantages over traditional laparotomy for hysterectomy.
Hyperfractionated radiation therapy improves local-regional control without increasing late toxicity
Patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck treated with hyperfractionated radiation therapy (HFX) experienced improved local-regional control and, with patients censored at five years, improved overall survival with no increase in late toxicity, according to a study published in the May 1, 2014 edition of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics (Red Journal), the official scientific journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).
Standard assessments miss early signs of cardiovascular disease in firefighters
Traditional first-line checks of such heart disease risk factors as cholesterol, blood pressure and smoking habits aren't nearly good enough to identify cardiovascular disease in otherwise healthy, young firefighters, according to results of a small Johns Hopkins study.
Home health visits greatly lower readmissions for heart surgery patients
A study from North Shore University Hospital's (NSUH) cardiothoracic surgery department demonstrated a very significant reduction in hospital readmissions after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. This study is featured in the May 2014 issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, the North Shore-LIJ Health System announced today.
Noncombat injury top reason for pediatric care by military surgeons in Afghanistan, Iraq
Chicago (May 1, 2014): Noncombat-related injury—caused by regular car accidents, falls and burns—is the most common reason for pediatric admissions to U.S. military combat hospitals in both Iraq and Afghanistan reveals new study findings published in the May issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
Statins for kidney disease patients: Protection for the heart but no effects on kidneys
Lowering LDL cholesterol through statin-based treatment did not slow kidney disease progression within five years in a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The results indicate that while LDL cholesterol-lowering therapy is safe in kidney disease patients and can reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke, it does not protect their kidney health as well.
Very overweight teens face stigma, discrimination, and isolation
Very overweight teens face a social world of stigma, discrimination, and isolation because of their body size, reveals an analysis of their views, published in the online journal BMJ Open.
Extreme sleep durations may affect brain health in later life
A new research study led by Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) published in The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society in May, shows an association between midlife and later life sleeping habits with memory; and links extreme sleep durations to worse memory in later life. The study suggests that extreme changes in sleep duration from middle age to older age may also worsen memory function.
Vitamin D deficiency linked to aggressive prostate cancer
African-American and European-American men at high risk of prostate cancer have greater odds of being diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease if they have a vitamin D deficiency, according to a new study from Northwestern Medicine and the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).
'Til sickness do us part: How illness affects the risk of divorce
In the classic marriage vow, couples promise to stay together in sickness and in health. But a new study finds that the risk of divorce among older married couples rises when the wife—but not the husband—becomes seriously ill.
Human fat: A trojan horse to fight brain cancer?
Johns Hopkins researchers say they have successfully used stem cells derived from human body fat to deliver biological treatments directly to the brains of mice with the most common and aggressive form of brain tumor, significantly extending their lives.
New model can predict therapy outcomes in prostate cancer with bone metastasis
A new computational model that simulates bone metastasis of prostate cancer has the potential to rapidly assess experimental therapy outcomes and help develop personalized medicine for patients with this disease, according to data published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
First evidence that yoga can help keep expectant mothers stress free
(Medical Xpress)—For the first time researchers in the UK have studied the effects of yoga on pregnant women, and found that it can reduce the risk of them developing anxiety and depression.
The Medical Minute: Shin splint complaints soar in spring
If shin splints are keeping you from making the most of your runs this spring, you're not alone. Shin splints—pain in the front of the lower legs—is a common affliction of those who exercise regularly, and an ailment that especially affects runners. According to Dr. Matthew Silvis, associate professor of family medicine and orthopaedics at Penn State Hershey, shin splints are among the most common complaints this time of year for people back on the road or trail after a long winter.
Five things to know about seasonal allergies
Seasonal allergies are one of the most common medical problems in America, with around 20 percent of people affected. That means that if you do not personally have allergies, chances are a close relative or friend of yours does have them. Allergens in the air trigger an immune response leading to inflammation along the mucous membranes that line your nose, eyes, throat and ears.
When slathering the SPF, don't forget your face and neck
As the sun (finally) begins to shine again, plans start to form for the outdoor activities that require use of hats, shades and SPF to avoid the pain and damage caused by sunburn.
Green coffee benefits prove limited in mice research
The efficacy of green coffee extract to impact on an independent risk factor for cardiovascular heart disease has been proven ineffective in mice models fed high fat diets (HFD) a recent study has shown.
GPs need better training to improve outcomes for patients with psoriasis
GPs need enhanced training to help them to manage patients with the complex, long term condition psoriasis which affects 1.8 million people in the UK, experts from The University of Manchester argue.
Finding a formula for sleep
We boast when our infant finally sleeps through the night. We bemoan the teenager who requires a cannon shot to arise from his bed before noon. And in our "golden" years, we wonder why sleep is so fleeting, yet napping seems to come as easily as breathing. Such are the mysteries of sleep.
In pitching injuries, the elbow is connected to the hip bone
(Medical Xpress)—New University of Florida research suggests that a pitcher's elbow injury could be linked to movement in the hips. Dr. Kevin W. Farmer, an assistant professor in the UF department of orthopaedics and rehabilitation, presented research at the March meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons that shows a limited range of motion in a pitcher's hips could be a risk factor in injury to his elbow.
ACL injuries in young female athletes now an epidemic
(Medical Xpress)—With young female athletes experiencing an epidemic of ACL knee injuries, a Loyola University Medical Center sports medicine specialist is urging parents to demand that coaches implement injury-prevention programs.
Research links alcohol use before pregnancy to intestinal birth defect
(Medical Xpress)—Women should refrain from drinking alcohol before they try to become pregnant, according to maternal-fetal medicine specialists at Loyola University Health System.
Acupuncture helps young patients manage pain and nausea
(Medical Xpress)—The pink plastic box that Cynthia Kim, MD, EdD, opens at the bedside of a young patient at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco looks like it might contain art supplies. But inside is everything she needs to provide an ancient form of pain relief.
Men and women bothered by different types of cheating
(Medical Xpress)—You've probably heard the saying men are from Mars, women are from Venus. New research from Kansas State University shows this saying even applies to views on cheating.
What we know (and don't know) about vitamins, diet and health
Here's the short version: your kid probably doesn't need a daily vitamin, and there is no magic ingredient in food that will keep you healthy.
A fast-acting antidepressant appears within reach
For someone with depression in the midst of a crisis, there is no time to waste. Yet time is exactly what currently-available antidepressants require to take effect—often on the order of weeks.
Study could prove beneficial to improving drug therapy during pregnancy
More than 50% of pregnant women take at least one medication, and the average number of prescriptions per patient during pregnancy ranges from three to five. Pregnancy is known to alter the rate and extent of drug elimination posing a challenge to prescribers. At the same time, current obstetric guidelines promote the use of appropriate (i.e., "lowest effective") doses of drugs to prevent adverse outcomes in fetuses. However, determining "appropriate" dosing has been difficult as very little is understood about what causes these changes in drug disposition during pregnancy. A better understanding of altered drug disposition during pregnancy and its underlying mechanisms is critical to determine optimal dosage regimens in pregnant women.
MRI-guided biopsy for brain cancer improves diagnosis
Neurosurgeons at UC San Diego Heath System have, for the first time, combined real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology with novel non-invasive cellular mapping techniques to develop a new biopsy approach that increases the accuracy of diagnosis for patients with brain cancer.
Can exercise help reduce methamphetamine use?
The abuse of amphetamine type psychomotor stimulants remains a critical legal and public health problem in the US. In California, 27% of substance abuse treatment admissions are for amphetamines; high treatment-admission rates for amphetamines are also reported for other Western States such as Idaho (25%), Nevada (25%), Arizona (18%), Oregon (16%) and Washington (14%). Additional data show that 36% of the people arrested in San Diego CA, and 23% of men arrested in Portland OR, had methamphetamine in their system upon arrest. A 2009 study by the RAND Corporation estimated the total US costs for methamphetamine at $23.4 billion.
Novel drug cocktail may improve clinical treatment for pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. and has the lowest overall survival rate of all major cancers (~6%). With current treatment options being met with limited success it is anticipated that pancreatic cancer will move up to the second leading cause of cancer deaths by as early as 2015. Surgical removal of the tumor presents the best chance of survival, however only 15% of patients are eligible due to the late stage of diagnosis common with this disease. With very limited improvements in patient outcome over the last two decades there remains an enormous need for new therapies and treatment options.
Connecting alcohol use in adolescence with risky behavior in adulthood
A new study conducted in rats offers clues about how teen drinking alters brain chemistry, suggesting early alcohol use has long-term effects on decision making.
Zinc supplementation shows promise in reducing cell stress after blasts
Each year, approximately 2 million traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur in the USA, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That number includes troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, for whom TBI is considered an invisible wound of war, one that has few successful treatments. "We have nothing beyond ibuprofen for most TBIs," said Dr. Angus Scrimgeour, who has been investigating the effects of low zinc diets on cell stress following a blast injury. "The adult brain does not self-repair from this kind of trauma."
Health experts investigate new fitness regimes
Researchers looking at ways to improve government physical activity guidelines and tackle Britain's fitness crisis are calling for volunteers to take part in a new study.
China study improves understanding of disease spread
Scientists at the University of Liverpool have shown how the travel and socialisation patterns of people in Southern China can give greater insight into how new diseases such as bird flu may spread between populations.
Low-fat diet helps fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis
People with multiple sclerosis who for one year followed a plant-based diet very low in saturated fat had much less MS-related fatigue at the end of that year—and significantly less fatigue than a control group of people with MS who didn't follow the diet, according to an Oregon Health & Science University study being presented today at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting in Philadelphia, Pa.
Researchers reveal new cause of epilepsy
A team of researchers from SUNY Downstate Medical Center (SUNY Downstate) and Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) has found that deficiencies in hyaluronan, also known as hyaluronic acid or HA, can lead to spontaneous epileptic seizures. HA is a polysaccharide molecule widely distributed throughout connective, epithelial, and neural tissues, including the brain's extracellular space (ECS). Their findings, published on April 30 in The Journal of Neuroscience, equip scientists with key information that may lead to new therapeutic approaches to epilepsy.
Asthma sufferers may be prone to bone loss
Some of the 26 million Americans with asthma may also be prone to bone loss. According to a study published today in the May issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, there seems to be association between asthma and a decrease in bone mineral density.
Study says custom-made mouthguards reduce athletes' risk of concussion
When it comes to buying a mouthguard, parents who want to reduce their child's risk of a sports-related concussion should visit a dentist instead of a sporting goods store.
Playing outside could make kids more spiritual
Children who spend significant time outdoors could have a stronger sense of self-fulfillment and purpose than those who don't, according to new Michigan State University research linking children's experiences in nature with how they define spirituality.
Scientists discover endogenous dendritic cell-derived interleukin-27 promotes tumor growth
In a new report published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, scientists lay the groundwork for the development of novel tumor therapies that may help rid the body of cancer by inhibiting the recruitment of a specific suppressive immune cell type called "regulatory T-cells." The approach described in the report shows that an immune molecule, called interleukin-27, promotes the recruitment of regulatory T-cells. This suggests that by stopping IL-27's immunosuppressive function, cancer therapies can more effectively activate other T-cells to attack and destroy cancer tumors.
Killing Kindlin-3 to cure breast cancer: 'Blood' protein implicated
A protein believed to be limited to the hematopoietic system, called Kindlin-3, has been identified as a major player in both the formation and spread of breast cancer to other organs. This discovery, published in the May 2014 issue of The FASEB Journal, could open the door to an entirely new class of breast cancer drugs that targets this protein's newly found activity.
New discovery: Molecule links asthma and cancer and could aid in developing new treatments
A newly discovered molecule provides a new drug target for controlling both asthma-induced muscle thickening and cancerous tumor growth. This molecule, called "microRNA-10a," normally helps genes produce proteins or make copies of themselves, also play an important role in the growth or overgrowth of human airway smooth muscle cells and some forms of cancer. This newly discovered role, which was published in the May 2014 issue of The FASEB Journal, suggests that manipulating microRNA-10a could lead to new asthma and cancer drugs.
Unlocking a mystery of thalidomide
In the 1950s and 1960s, pregnant women with morning sickness were often prescribed the new drug thalidomide. Shortly after the medicine was released on the market, a reported 10,000 infants were born with an extreme form of the rare congenital phocomelia syndrome, which caused death in 50 percent of cases and severe physical and mental disabilities in others. Although various factors are now known to cause phocomelia, the prominent roots of the disease can be found in the use of the drug thalidomide.
Individual brain activity predicts tendency to succumb to daily temptations
Activity in areas of the brain related to reward and self-control may offer neural markers that predict whether people are likely to resist or give in to temptations, like food, in daily life, according to research in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Rules of thumb: Three simple ideas for overcoming childhood obesity
Kristopher Kaliebe, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Medicine, offers parents and caregivers three simple family-oriented goals to overcome the complex problem of childhood obesity and related mental disorders. They involve limit setting to address the brain's "get more" drive strengthened through habitual over-consumption of temptations including highly caloric processed food, hyper-reality media and electronics, as well as excessive sitting. His 3 "rules" of living promote physical and mental health for children and parents for both treatment and prevention. They are published in the April 2014 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
New combination therapy developed for multiple myeloma
Each year, more than 25,000 Americans are diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer that often develops resistance to therapies. However, researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center are reporting promising results from laboratory experiments testing a new combination therapy that could potentially overcome the resistance hurdle.
Risk of weight gain deters some smokers from seeking treatment to quit
Smokers may avoid treatment to quit smoking if they previously gained weight while trying to quit, according to researchers at Penn State College of Medicine.
New study suggests combination of statin and omega-3 fatty acid may provide cardioprotective effects
New findings from an in vitro study, led by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), show that the combination of statins and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid, may potentially reduce cardiovascular risk. This research is being presented May 1 at a peer-reviewed poster session at the National Lipid Association Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Florida.
Landscape architect designs toolkit to make cities inclusive of adults with autism
Kansas State University landscape architecture student Elizabeth Decker has a goal for her master's research: help professionals create urban environments that are inclusive of her younger brother, Marc.
FDA approves first-of-a-kind sleep apnea implant
Sleep deprived Americans have a new option to address hard-to-treat nighttime breathing problems: a first-of-kind device that keeps airways open by zapping them with an electrical current.
Gene discovery links cancer cell 'recycling' system to potential new therapy
University of Rochester scientists have discovered a gene with a critical link to pancreatic cancer, and further investigation in mice shows that by blocking the gene's most important function, researchers can slow the disease and extend survival.
A new syndrome caused by mutations in AHDC1
A team of researchers led by Baylor College of Medicine have identified the gene underlying a newly recognized genetic syndrome that has symptoms of sleep apnea, delayed speech and hyptonia, or generalized upper body weakness.
Malnutrition during pregnancy may affect the health of future generations
New research reveals how environmental factors in the womb can predispose not only the mother's own offspring but also the grandoffspring to metabolic disorders like liver disease. Researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Cell Metabolism found for pregnant mice that are malnourished—experiencing a 50% caloric restriction during the last week of pregnancy—that their offspring are at first growth restricted and have low birth weight but then go on to become obese and diabetic as they age. Strikingly, in a domino effect, the offspring of the growth-restricted males also inherit the predisposition to metabolic abnormalities.
Many Ivy League students don't view ADHD medication misuse as cheating
Nearly one in five students at an Ivy League college reported misusing a prescription stimulant while studying, and one-third of students did not view such misuse as cheating, according to a study to be presented Saturday, May 3, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Falls also problem for middle-aged with arthritis
A new study shows falls are just as much of a problem for middle-aged adults with arthritis as they are for older people.
Research identifies compounds that control hemorrhagic viruses
People fear diseases such as Ebola, Marburg, Lassa fever, rabies and HIV for good reason; they have high mortality rates and few, if any, possible treatments. As many as 90 percent of people who contract Ebola, for instance, die of the disease.
The real difference between how men and women choose their partners
In Concordia's study, men responded more strongly to the "framing effect" when physical attractiveness was described.
Can money buy happiness? For some, the answer is no
Many shoppers, whether they buy material items or life experiences, are no happier following the purchase than they were before, according to a new study from San Francisco State University.
'Achilles heel' of pancreatic cancer identified
A research team at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center reports that inhibiting a single protein completely shuts down growth of pancreatic cancer, a highly lethal disease with no effective therapy.
Connection between genetic variation and immune system, risk for neurodegenerative and other disease
Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), Harvard Medical School (HMS), the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and University of Chicago report findings demonstrating how genetic variations among healthy, young individuals can influence immune cell function. Many of those variants are also genetic risk factors for common diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis later in life, offering new insight into disease pathology.
Blood pressure control, lifestyle changes key to preventing subsequent strokes
Stroke survivors should control their blood pressure, cholesterol and weight and do moderate physical activity regularly to avoid having another stroke, according to an American Heart Association/American Stroke Association scientific statement.
Ten year study shows 'Lethal Factor' could be X-factor for new anthrax vaccine
Researchers have identified a section of the anthrax toxin Lethal Factor that could help produce a more effective vaccine.
Scientists recommend further research, delay in destruction of last stocks of smallpox
Variola, the virus that causes smallpox, is on the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the World Health Assembly (WHA), the governing body of the World Health Organization. The decision to be made is whether the last known remaining live strains of the virus should be destroyed. An international group of scientists led by Inger Damon, from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, argue in an opinion piece published on May 1st in PLOS Pathogens that the WHA should not choose destruction, because crucial scientific questions remain unanswered and important public health goals unmet.
Expensive helmets do not improve outcomes in healthy babies with positional skull flattening
Babies who have skull deformation because they lie in the same position most of the time do not benefit from wearing a corrective helmet, finds research published today in BMJ.
Researchers link age, general health and antidepressant use with eye disorders
Abnormal binocular vision, which involves the way eyes work together as a team, increases dramatically as we age, according to research from the University of Waterloo. The study also found a correlation between this condition, general health and antidepressant use.
Jordan records two new MERS infections
Two new infections from MERS coronavirus have been detected in Jordan, the health ministry said Thursday, one a Saudi man and the other a Jordanian medic who was treating him.
Electronic nose sniffs out prostate cancer using urine samples
We may soon be able to make easy and early diagnoses of prostate cancer by smell. Investigators in Finland have established that a novel noninvasive technique can detect prostate cancer using an electronic nose. In a proof of principle study, the eNose successfully discriminated between prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by "sniffing" urine headspace (the space directly above the urine sample). Results using the eNose are comparable to testing prostate specific antigen (PSA), reports the Journal of Urology.
Southeastern states have highest rates of preventable deaths
(HealthDay)—People in the southeastern United States have a much greater risk of dying early from any of the nation's five leading causes of death, federal health officials reported Thursday.
Review: New tanning beds just as dangerous as former models
(HealthDay)—Use of tanning beds is associated with increased likelihood of a melanoma diagnosis, with similar odds seen for use of newer tanning beds, according to a review published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Plantar-pressure based orthoses reduce foot ulcer recurrence
(HealthDay)—Patient-specific orthoses manufactured on the basis of foot shape and barefoot plantar pressure are better compared to those manufactured only on the basis of foot shape and clinical insight, according to a study published online April 23 in Diabetes Care.
Bracing cuts scoliosis surgery only with high compliance
(HealthDay)—Bracing for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis only decreases the risk of progression to surgery when patients are highly compliant with wearing the brace, according to a study published in the April 16 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Demographics can guide effort to curb sugary beverage intake
(HealthDay)—The consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) varies by state and other demographic and behavioral characteristics, according to research published online April 24 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.
Investigators find something fishy with classical evidence for dietary fish recommendation
Oily fish are currently recommended as part of a heart healthy diet. This guideline is partially based on the landmark 1970s study from Bang and Dyerberg that connected the low incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) among the Eskimos of Greenland to their diet, rich in whale and seal blubber. Now, researchers have found that Eskimos actually suffered from CAD at the same rate as their Caucasian counterparts, meaning there is insufficient evidence to back Bang and Dyerberg's claims. Their findings are published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.
Atypical form of Alzheimer's disease may be present in a more widespread number of patients
Neuroscientists at Mayo Clinic in Florida have defined a subtype of Alzheimer's disease (AD) that they say is neither well recognized nor treated appropriately.
Experimental drug prolongs life span in mice
(Medical Xpress)—Northwestern Medicine scientists have newly identified a protein's key role in cell and physiological aging and have developed – in collaboration with Tohoku University in Japan—an experimental drug that inhibits the protein's effect and prolonged the lifespan in a mouse model of accelerated aging.
Study shows humans process visual information near our hands differently
(Medical Xpress)—A trio of researchers, one from The Australian National University and the other two from the University of Toronto in Canada, has published a paper in the journal Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, in which they present evidence they've found that shows that humans process visual information near their hands differently than they do for visual information in other places. In their paper, Stephanie Goodhew, Nicole Fogel and Jay Pratt outline a lab study they conducted with volunteer participants that solidifies the notion that spatial information near our hands, is special.
Researchers figure out staying power of HIV-fighting enzyme
Johns Hopkins biochemists have figured out what is needed to activate and sustain the virus-fighting activity of an enzyme found in CD4+ T cells, the human immune cells infected by HIV. The discovery could launch a more effective strategy for preventing the spread of HIV in the body with drugs targeting this enzyme, they say. A summary of their work was published online on April 21 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Delving deep into the brain
Launched in 2013, the national BRAIN Initiative aims to revolutionize our understanding of cognition by mapping the activity of every neuron in the human brain, revealing how brain circuits interact to create memories, learn new skills, and interpret the world around us.
Remodelling damaged nuclei: Discovery could lead to new treatments for accelerated ageing disease
Scientists at the University of Cambridge have identified a key chemical that can repair the damage to cells which causes a rare but devastating disease involving accelerated ageing. As well as offering a promising new way of treating the condition, known as Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS), the discovery could help in the development of drugs against cancer and other genetic diseases and might also suggest ways to alleviate diseases that we associate with normal ageing. The results are published in the journal Science.
Studies identify spinal cord neurons that control skilled limb movement
Researchers have identified two types of neurons that enable the spinal cord to control skilled forelimb movement. The first is a group of excitatory interneurons that are needed to make accurate and precise movements; the second is a group of inhibitory interneurons necessary for achieving smooth movement of the limbs. The findings are important steps toward understanding normal human motor function and potentially treating movement disorders that arise from injury or disease.
Vaccine against bird flu readied, just in case
(HealthDay)—A vaccine to protect people against a potential outbreak of H7N9 bird flu has shown promising results, according to a new report.
Coming soon: A brain implant to restore memory
In the next few months, highly secretive US military researchers say they will unveil new advances toward developing a brain implant that could one day restore a wounded soldier's memory.
Fast contractions and depolarizations in mitochondria revealed with multiparametric imaging
(Medical Xpress)—When something bad happens to otherwise healthy neurons it's easy to blame the usual suspects—the mitochondria. In some cases the nucleus might be the one at fault, as in a de novo mutation in a critical gene or in some other runaway error process in the instruction pipeline. Othertimes there could be leakage into the brain of toxins, bacteria, or even overzealous patriot cells of the host. But by and large, it's the mitochondria who bear responsibility for nearly everything the brain does and so it is they who must accept it when it fails. To better understand how these organelles function, researchers have turned to special imaging methods that let them observe multiple aspects of their behavior all at once.
Good vibrations: Cortical oscillations modulated by sensory, environmental, internal, and volitional inputs
(Medical Xpress)—Cortical information is carried by axonal spike timing, which is also a key factor in synaptic plasticity. Spike timing, in turn, can be synchronized by cortical oscillations, thereby regulating cortical information processing. That said, oscillations in the cerebral cortex are the subject of much debate – and in the case of their regulatory mechanisms, not well understood. Addressing this problem, scientists at Howard Hughes Medical Institute and University of California at San Diego used a model cortical circuit to propose that such a regulatory mechanism links the dynamical state of the cortex to interactions between sensory and behavioral context during information processing. Moreover, their proposed regulatory mechanism explains a wide range of heretofore paradoxical empirical results.
Biology news
Researchers discover citrus greening affects roots before leaves
(Phys.org) —Although citrus greening enters trees through their leaves, University of Florida researchers have discovered that the deadly disease attacks roots long before the leaves show signs of damage – a finding that may help growers better care for trees while scientists work to find a cure.
Some Ohio butterflies threatened by rising temperatures
The combined heat from climate change and urbanization is likely to reduce the number of eastern swallowtails and other native butterflies in Ohio and promote the spread of invasive relatives, a new study led by a Case Western Reserve University researcher shows.
Crocodile tears please thirsty butterflies and bees
The butterfly (Dryas iulia) and the bee (Centris sp.) were most likely seeking scarce minerals and an extra boost of protein. On a beautiful December day in 2013, they found the precious nutrients in the tears of a spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus), relaxing on the banks of the Río Puerto Viejo in northeastern Costa Rica.
Developing sustainable biofuels
Biofuels have been heralded as having the potential to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, by powering cars and generators with energy from plant biomass.
Kimberley goannas trained in cane toad taste-aversion
A PhD candidate and Indigenous rangers are working to train wild goannas to avoid eating toxic cane toads (Bufo marinus).
Jiggy Mazda and the spiders from cars
Recently, the car manufacturer Mazda recalled 40,000 cars because of a "spider invasion". This is not the first time it has happened with Mazda cars. In 2011, a similar reason was given for recalling 52,000 cars.
Amphibians in a vice: Climate change robs frogs, salamanders of refuge
By hightailing it to nearby ponds and shallow waterways, frogs and salamanders have – until now – had a way to evade exotic trout introduced to the West's high-mountain lakes for recreational fishing.
Researchers help track mysterious, endangered 'little devil'
Clemson University's South Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit joined with Grupo Jaragua and the American Bird Conservancy to lead the first-ever effort to track via satellite the black-capped petrel, an endangered North Atlantic seabird known for its haunting call and mysterious nighttime habits.
How do our cells move? Liquid droplets could explain
Living cells move; not just bacteria, but also cells in our own bodies. EPFL scientists have discovered a new relationship between the three-dimensional shape of the cell and its ability to migrate. The work has important implications for the fundamental understanding of cell movement and for practical applications like tissue engineering.
Climate change study reveals unappreciated impacts on biodiversity
Shrinking ice sheets and melting ice caps are well known consequences of climate change. But a new study reveals that impacts on biodiversity will be just as severe in other regions of the world. When multiple dimensions of climate change are analyzed, different regions emerge as threatened by different aspects of climate change. The tropics, for example, will be highly affected by local changes in temperature and precipitation, leading to novel climates with no current analogues in the planet. These results, recently published in Science, expose the complexities of climate change effects on biodiversity and the challenges in predicting and preserving natural ecosystems in a changing Earth.
Whales hear us more than we realize
Killer whales and other marine mammals likely hear sonar signals more than we've known. That's because commercially available sonar systems, which are designed to create signals beyond the range of hearing of such animals, also emit signals known to be within their hearing range, scientists have discovered.
Reconstructing the tree of life
In 1837, Charles Darwin drew a tree of life, a primitive sketch suggesting that all organisms shared a common ancestry. Today, scientists still are trying to reconstruct these evolutionary branches, but using tools, such as genomic data and sophisticated statistical algorithms, that Darwin never could have envisioned.
Genetic mix could benefit colonising plants and animals
(Phys.org) —Recently evaluated evidence suggests that organisms bred from different genetic lines have evolutionary advantages over more closely related members of the same species when colonising new environments.
Algae 'see' a wide range of light
(Phys.org) —Aquatic algae can sense an unexpectedly wide range of color, allowing them to sense and adapt to changing light conditions in lakes and oceans. The study by researchers at UC Davis was published earlier this year in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Stem cells from some infertile men form germ cells when transplanted into mice, study finds
Stem cells made from the skin of adult, infertile men yield primordial germ cells—cells that normally become sperm—when transplanted into the reproductive system of mice, according to researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Montana State University.
Humans have a nose for gender
The human body produces chemical cues that communicate gender to members of the opposite sex, according to researchers who report their findings in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on May 1. Whiffs of the active steroid ingredients (androstadienone in males and estratetraenol in females) influence our perceptions of movement as being either more masculine or more feminine. The effect, which occurs completely without awareness, depends on both our biological sex and our sexual orientations.
Decoding the chemical vocabulary of plants
Plants spend their entire lifetime rooted to one spot. When faced with a bad situation, such as a swarm of hungry herbivores or a viral outbreak, they have no option to flee but instead must fight to survive. What is the key to their defense? Chemistry.
New insights into bacterial substitute for sex
Bacteria don't have sex as such, but they can mix their genetic material by pulling in DNA from dead bacterial cells and inserting these into their own genome.
Viruses hijack deep-sea bacteria at hydrothermal vents
More than a mile beneath the ocean's surface, as dark clouds of mineral-rich water billow from seafloor hot springs called hydrothermal vents, unseen armies of viruses and bacteria wage war.
This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
https://sciencex.com/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment