Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for November 1, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Scientists investigate atomic-scale mechanisms of nanowire growth process- Micromouse robot runs maze in record-breaking five seconds (w/ Video)
- Why women live longer than men
- Researchers develop algebraic model to monitor cellular change
- Arthritis drugs could help prevent memory loss after surgery
- Grasses have potential as alternate ethanol crop, study finds
- Of 50,000 small molecules tested to fight cancer, two show promise
- Google sues US government, says bid terms favor Microsoft
- Study: Brain energy crisis may spark Parkinson's
- Generational research on drosophila sheds light on genetic mechanism of evolution
- Pollutants in some urban areas increase Parkinson's disease risk
- In the job hunt, people do lie, but honesty pays off, study finds
- Common stomach bacteria may fight off inflammatory bowel disease caused by Salmonella
- Astrophysicists discover new galaxy clusters revealed by cosmic 'shadows'
- Pitt study finds NSAIDs cause stem cells to self-destruct, preventing colon cancer
Space & Earth news
Image: Witch's brew aids J-2X engine hardware assembly
Manufacturing of NASA's J-2X rocket engine includes a Halloween plunge into an icy cauldron of liquid nitrogen. Key components of the J-2X fuel turbopump were assembled at Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne’s facility in Canoga Park, Calif.
Predicting world's smoggiest days with NASA technology
A research team led by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), both in Pasadena, Calif., has fully characterized a key chemical reaction that affects the formation of pollutants in smoggy air in the world's urban areas. When applied to Los Angeles, the laboratory results suggest that, on the most polluted days and in the most polluted parts of L.A., current models are underestimating ozone levels by 5 to 10 percent.
Some city trees may discourage 'shady' behavior
Along with energy conservation and storm-water reduction, scientists may soon be adding crime-fighting to the list of benefits that urban trees provide. Researchers with the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Northwest (PNW) and Southern Research Stations have published a new study that suggests that certain types of city trees may help lower property and violent crime rates. Their study—which is posted online in advance of its appearance in a forthcoming printed issue of the journal Environment and Behavior—is the first to examine the effects of trees and other factors on crime occurrence in Portland, Ore.
India makes first expedition to South Pole
India will kick off its first scientific expedition to the South Pole on Monday to analyse environmental changes in the frozen continent over the past 1,000 years, the mission leader said Saturday.
Scarcity of new energy minerals will trigger trade wars
It's not hard to argue in favor of alternatives to fossil fuels these days, but one popular argument – domestic energy security – may be standing on very shaky legs. A lot of rare metals are needed to make photovoltaic panels, rare earth magnets for wind generators, fuel cells and high-capacity batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles. But most industrialized nations, including the United States, are almost entirely dependent on foreign sources for those metals. The only way this is going to change is if there is more domestic exploration and mining.
How lead gets into urban vegetable gardens
One common mitigation approach is to build a raised bed and fill it with freshly composted, low-lead soil from elsewhere, right? Maybe not, according to researchers studying the mysterious case of the lead contamination found within raised beds in community gardens in the Boston communities of Roxbury and Dorchester.
Focusing on aerosols through the macro lens
The devil is in the details, the very small details, when it comes to global climate models, and those details are now easier to see, thanks to climate change researchers from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The team is estimating the impact of small-scale features within a large-scale system for aerosols to bring insights to climate change modeling. Like a wide-angle camera lens, current large-scale climate models miss the fine details in any particular climate picture. Using the macro lens of the modeling toolkit, these scientists were able to show the details, better representing aerosol data for climate modeling.
Rabbit's food brings luck in decreasing estrogen levels in wastewater
The November 2010 issue of Environmental Pollution details successful experiments at the University of Cincinnati wherein rabbit's food resulted in the abiotic (non-biological) transformation and absorption of four different types of estrogen, reducing the levels of these estrogen hormones by more than 80 percent in wastewater.
Voyager explores new territory as new project manager steps on
As NASA's two Voyager spacecraft hurtle towards the edge of our solar system, a new project manager will shepherd the spacecraft into this unexplored territory: Suzanne Dodd, whose first job at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., involved sequencing science and engineering commands for Voyager 1 and 2 in 1984.
Real-time electronic monitoring for coastal waters
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers from North Carolina State University are developing a cost-effective electronic monitoring system that will enable researchers to advance our understanding of critical coastal ecosystems by allowing users to track water-quality data from these waters in real time, thanks to support from a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant.
New eruption could be looming in Iceland, experts warn
An Icelandic volcano has shown signs it could be about to burst into life, just months after an eruption from another volcano caused Europe's biggest air shutdown since World War II, experts said Monday.
Marshall Islands plan seawall to block rising seas
The low-lying Marshall Islands, a Pacific atoll chain that rises barely a metre above sea level, has announced plans for a wall to hold back rising sea levels.
New way of removing excess nitrogen from the environment
Excess nitrogen from agricultural and urban lands is contaminating groundwater, streams, lakes and estuaries, where it causes harmful algal blooms and contributes to fish kills.
Shuttle Discovery counts down to final space voyage
Discovery, the oldest space shuttle in NASA's fleet, is readying for its final mission Wednesday following repairs to leaks in a pressurization system that has twice delayed the launch.
Indonesia volcano shoots new blast; 21 more rumble
(AP) -- Evacuees cringed and fled for cover Monday as an erupting volcano - one of 22 showing increased activity in Indonesia - let loose booming explosions of hot gas and debris in its most powerful blast in a deadly week. No new casualties were reported.
Time for a rain dance? Research finds 'cloud seeding' doesn't produce rain
In many areas of the world, including California's Mojave Desert, rain is a precious and rare resource. To encourage rainfall, scientists use "cloud seeding," a weather modification process designed to increase precipitation amounts by dispersing chemicals into the clouds.
Astrophysicists discover new galaxy clusters revealed by cosmic 'shadows'
An international team of scientists led by Rutgers University astrophysicists have discovered 10 new massive galaxy clusters from a large, uniform survey of the southern sky. The survey was conducted using a breakthrough technique that detects "shadows" of galaxy clusters on the cosmic microwave background radiation, a relic of the "big bang" that gave birth to the universe.
Robot's space debut 'giant leap for tinmankind'
Space is about to get its first humanoid from planet Earth. Robonaut 2 - affectionately known as R2 - is hitching a one-way ride to the International Space Station this week aboard the final flight of space shuttle Discovery.
UV light nearly doubles vacuum's effectiveness in reducing carpet microbes
New research suggests that the addition of ultraviolet light to the brushing and suction of a vacuum cleaner can almost double the removal of potentially infectious microorganisms from a carpet's surface when compared to vacuuming alone.
Expanding croplands chipping away at world's carbon stocks
(PhysOrg.com) -- Nature's capacity to store carbon, the element at the heart of global climate woes, is steadily eroding as the world's farmers expand croplands at the expense of native ecosystem such as forests.
Technology news
Israeli invention wins Wall Street Journal Award
The 2010 Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Award in the area of physical security will be awarded this week in the US to the Israel-based BriefCam Company for its invention, which was developed by Prof. Shmuel Peleg of the Benin School of Computer Science and Engineering at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem The invention offers an innovative solution to quick review of information from security cameras.
Piracy technology to revolutionise market research in cinema
Experts from the University of the West of England, UK, are teaming up with Aralia Systems Ltd, a specialist security company, to take cinema piracy detection technology forward and develop software systems that will revolutionise market research data collection techniques.
Corning profit rises in 3Q, but misses view
(AP) -- Corning Inc. said Monday its profit jumped 22 percent in the third quarter but it missed Wall Street expectations on lower sales of glass for flat-panel televisions.
Virginia Tech computer scientist, student design award winning software to combat hacking
One of the serious threats to a user's computer is a software program that might cause unwanted keystroke sequences to occur in order to hack someone's identity. This form of an attack is increasing, infecting enterprise and personal computers, and caused by "organized malicious botnets," said Daphne Yao, assistant professor of computer science at Virginia Tech.
Cutting fuel usage in new project
Researchers from the University of Bath are embarking on a new project to achieve a ground breaking 35 per cent reduction in car fuel usage that will decrease running costs and cut carbon emissions.
Guitar tab companies trying to strike chord online
(AP) -- Fans of band-simulation games such as "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" have few excuses not to seek out legitimate sheet music these days if they hope to graduate to playing real guitars.
Broadcasters keep upper hand in TV disputes
(AP) -- A recent spate of TV blackouts and the lack of government intervention suggests that broadcasters have the upper hand over TV signal providers when it comes to negotiating fees, at least until Congress decides to act.
Hackers shut down Saudi education ministry website
The Saudi education ministry's website was shut down on Monday after hackers posted pictures of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and a youth wielding a syringe.
Malaysians win global Internet popularity contest
Malaysians are the most popular people on the Internet, while Japanese are the least, according to a global survey which shows how national cultures are reflected in online behaviour.
T-Mobile follows AT&T, Verizon with new data plan
(AP) -- T-Mobile says it's adding a cheaper data plan with a limit on monthly traffic, much the way AT&T and Verizon Wireless have already done.
Voting-machine-allocation method could reduce voters' wait time by 36 percent
With a lifelong interest in politics, University of Cincinnati researcher Muer Yang spent the last two years developing a quantitative method for allocating voting machines that could significantly reduce the average wait time of voters.
Broadcasters busy with online tie-ins for election
(AP) -- After losing viewers to cable news networks on recent election nights, television's biggest broadcasters are fighting back hard for the midterm contest.
Eco-friendly fridge clearly has drawback
GE is introducing a super-eco refrigerator, and I predict some versions will be a hard sell. Not because the fridge isn't an ecological breakthrough. It is.
US Supreme Court to hear videogames free speech case
The US Supreme Court prepared to hear arguments on Tuesday on whether a California ban on the sale or rental of violent videogames to minors is unconstitutional.
Nissan shows tiny electric concept vehicle (w/ Video)
(AP) -- Nissan showed a two-seater electric vehicle resembling a go-cart Monday that isn't ready for sale but spotlights the Japanese automaker's ambitions to be the leader in zero-emission cars.
India predicts 40% leap in demand for fossil fuels
Premier Manmohan Singh told India's energy firms on Monday to scour the globe for fuel supplies as he warned the country's demand for fossil fuels is set to soar 40 percent over the next decade.
D.C. hacking raises questions about future of online voting
For the upcoming election, Washington, D.C., was preparing to allow some voters to send their ballots in over the Internet. It's a good thing election officials tested the system first.
Blekko launches human-driven search engine
(AP) -- If Google and Wikipedia were to procreate, their offspring might look something like Blekko, a new search engine with results culled by people, not computer algorithms.
Google sues US government, says bid terms favor Microsoft
Google has filed suit against the US government claiming the terms for a large Department of the Interior contract favor rival Microsoft.
Medicine & Health news
Screening test validated for depression in adolescents
Primary-care clinicians know teen depression is common, but they've lacked a reliable screening test for it. Now researchers at the University of Washington (UW), Seattle Children's, and Group Health report the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 item) is a good screening test for major depression in adolescents.
Maj. of comm. facilities performing breast MRI exams meet ACRIN and EUSOBI technical requirements
An overwhelming majority of Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC) facilities performing breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the U.S. are up-to-par with American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) and European Society of Breast Imaging (EUSOBI) technical standards and requirements, according to a study in the November issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology. The BCSC is a collaborative effort to improve breast cancer research. It consists of five mammography registries and two affiliated sites with linkages to pathology and/or tumor registries.
Researchers develop successful method for extracting and archiving patient radiation dose info
Researchers have developed an efficient method for extracting and archiving CT radiation dose information that can enable providers to keep track of estimated radiation dose delivered to each patient at a given facility, help providers make more informed health care decisions and improve patient safety, according to a study in the November issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.
Intentional swallowing of foreign bodies and its impact on the cost of health care
A new study from Rhode Island Hospital found that 33 individuals were responsible for 305 cases of medical intervention to remove foreign bodies that were intentionally swallowed, resulting in more than $2 million in estimated hospital costs. The findings appear in the November issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
High-dose, short-course radiation for prostate cancer does not increase side effects
When treating prostate cancer with radiation therapy, side effects such as urinary problems and rectal pain and bleeding are a concern, as is impact on the patient's overall quality of life. So when new, more efficient treatment methods are developed, one important question is whether better treatment comes at the cost of increased side effects and decreased quality of life.
What happens after traumatic brain injury occurs?
Results from a study published in the November issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM) show that powerful imaging techniques––positron emission tomography (PET) fused with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)––are helping researchers better understand the long-term functional and structural changes that take place after traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Finding genes that control mind and behavior
The highly sophisticated abilities of humans, such as memory, learning, cognition and thought, are achieved in the brain as a result of dramatic evolutionary development. Personality, preference, behavioral patterns, emotion and other mind-related functions also derive from brain functions. But what genes are responsible for the formation of the human brain and the remarkable abilities of the human mind? Jun Aruga, team leader of the Laboratory for Behavioral and Developmental Disorders at RIKEN’s Brain Science Institute (BSI), is working to identify the genes that play key roles in the brain, and to elucidate their functions by comparing genetic information in various organisms and conducting behavioral experiments in mice. His research is expected to clarify the origins of brain and nerve diseases and lead to the development of new therapies.
Researchers find mortality rates from liver diseases underestimated
Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rank mortality related to chronic liver disease and cirrhosis as the 12th most common cause of death in adults in the U.S. Using a modified definition that includes diseases such as viral hepatitis, liver cance and obesity-related fatty liver disease (liver diseases), Mayo Clinic-led researchers have found that liver-related mortality is as high as fourth for some age groups, and eighth overall. The findings are being presented today at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases 61st Annual Liver Meeting in Boston.
Rochester spearheads FDA initiative to speed development of new therapies
Pain is the most common symptom leading patients to see a physician in the United States, yet the most widely prescribed medications ? opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) ? have major drawbacks, including the potential for misuse and abuse and adverse effects that limit long-term use. While scientists have made great strides in understanding the physical and chemical processes that occur when people feel pain, new treatments with improved safety and effectiveness are still needed for the more than 76 million Americans with acute and chronic pain.
Increased risk of binge drinking and alcohol-related harm induced by higher number of alcohol outlets
University of Otago researchers have discovered an association between the number of liquor outlets within easy walking distance of home (1km) and the level of binge drinking and alcohol related harm reported in the community. The results of the study, which is the first of its kind in New Zealand, have just been published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Genetic influence in depression and addiction explored in study
Christchurch researchers are examining the role of genes in two of New Zealand's most common mental illnesses – depression and alcohol addiction.
Diverse surgeons initiative effectively increases underrepresented minorities in academic surgery
According to a report published in the October issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, a grant-funded program tailored to provide advanced minimally invasive surgery skills to young, underrepresented minority surgeons, is helping address shortages of minority faculty members at US medical institutions.
Canada can learn from circumpolar neighbours to improve health care in the north
To improve health care in Canada's north, Canada would benefit from enhanced relationships with other circumpolar regions, states an analysis published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) .
New mutation linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Some patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) -- a cancer of B cells -- harbor a particular mutation in the gene encoding the receptor for B cell activating factor (BAFF), according to a paper published online on November 1 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. BAFF, a soluble protein needed for B cell survival and maturation, is elevated in the blood of some NHL patients and is associated with poor prognosis.
Research explores lung cancer among pediatric cancer patients
Because primary lung adenocarcinoma is exceedingly rare in the pediatric population, it is difficult to properly classify certain lung tumors in children and adolescents. While anecdotal reports of pediatric patients with lung cancer lesions exist, little research has been conducted to link the disease in children to similar pulmonary malignancies in adults. Through an assessment of clinical, tissue-based and molecular data for pediatric lung cancer, research published in the November edition of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology determined that pulmonary lesions found in young patients with pediatric cancers can be histologically indistinguishable from lung adenocarcinoma seen in adults. Findings indicate that lung adenocarcinomas could occur prior to chemotherapy treatment for a second cancer, and some tumors display gene mutations in EGFR and KRAS – this is the first documentation of these mutations in pediatric adenocarcinoma.
Saving the sight of premature babies
(PhysOrg.com) -- The Health Center offers a laser procedure that helps prevent blindness in babies born prematurely.
URI pharmacy professor studies the relationship of diabetes, hypoglycemia
(PhysOrg.com) -- Most people are aware that diabetes is associated with high blood sugar levels. What they might not be aware of is some diabetes patients also run a high risk of developing hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar.
National Jewish Health receives patent for diagnostic method of autoimmune chronic urticaria
National Jewish Health has received a US patent for a method of detecting autoimmune chronic urticaria, which will help assure many patients that dramatic changes in lifestyle are not needed to treat the condition. Ronald Harbeck, PhD, Medical Director of the Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories at National Jewish Health, and colleagues Drs. Karen Andrews and Donald MacGlashan, Jr. developed the diagnostic assay, which makes use of the protein CD203c as a marker for the condition. The test, offered by the diagnostic laboratories at National Jewish Health, has been highly successful, with 250 to 300 tests run every week for patients around the nation.
Toothache more common among minority and special needs children
Poor, minority and special needs children are more likely to be affected by toothache, according to a report in the November issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Elderly women at higher risk for unnecessary urinary catheterization, study reports
Elderly women are at high risk for inappropriate urinary catheter utilization in emergency departments, according to a new study in the November issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
Home visit program for at-risk first-time mothers associated with delaying their next pregnancy
After a three-year implementation period, home visits by nurses to high-risk mothers appear to increase their likelihood of waiting at least two years to have a second child, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the March 2011 print issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Veterans with bipolar disorder may have increased risk of suicide
Veterans diagnosed with any psychiatric illness appear to have an elevated risk of suicide, and men with bipolar disorder and women with substance abuse disorders may have a particularly high risk, according to a report in the November issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.
Pregnant women who eat peanuts may put infants at increased risk for peanut allergy
Researchers have found that allergic infants may be at increased risk of peanut allergy if their mothers ingested peanuts during pregnancy. The data are reported in the November 1 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Extraverts are more vulnerable to effects of sleep deprivation after social interaction
A study in the Nov. 1 issue of the journal Sleep found that vulnerability to sleep deprivation is influenced by the interaction between waking social activity and individual personality traits.
Racial and ethnic disparities impact care for children with frequent ear infections
Racial and ethnic disparities among children with frequent ear infections (FEI) significantly influence access to affordable healthcare, according to new research published in the November 2010 issue of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.
Precisely targeted radiation controls sinus cancer with fewer side effects
Treating paranasal sinus cancer with three-dimensional radiation that conforms to the shape of the tumor—a technique that minimizes side effects such as severe dry mouth and vision problems—is safe and effective, research at Fox Chase Cancer Center shows. Aruna Turaka, M.D., radiation oncologist at Fox Chase, will present the results on November 2nd at the annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.
Study finds fat hormone's long-sought link to heart protection
One of the many advantages of maintaining a normal body weight is having healthy fat, which in turn supports a healthy heart. Fat tissue is increasingly seen as more than just a storage depot – it's also an active secretory organ that normally produces high levels of a cardioprotective hormone called adiponectin. How adiponectin protects the hearts of healthy people has long been a mystery, and now a team led by Barbara Ranscht, Ph.D. and Pilar Ruiz-Lozano, Ph.D. at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) reveals that the protein T-cadherin is the receptor that anchors adiponectin to heart cells. This new study, published November 1 in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, helps answer the longstanding question about how adiponectin prevents stress-induced damage in the heart.
Childhood stroke study identifies the contraceptive pill and smoking as risk factors
Researchers are calling for clear guidelines on childhood stroke after a study, published in the November issue of Acta Paediatrica, found wide variations in time lag to diagnosis, investigation and treatment.
Finding our color center
The colorful Australian film Strictly Ballroom has been used in a breakthrough scientific experiment to locate the colour processing center in the human brain.
Long hours lead to personal and patient safety problems, study finds
Just as with everyone else perhaps, the more hours surgeons work, and the more nights they spend on call each week, the more likely they are to face burn-out, depression, dissatisfaction with their careers and serious work-home conflicts, according to a major new study led by Johns Hopkins and Mayo Clinic researchers.
Groundbreaking project a new revolution in contraception
On the surface, family planning and tennis have little in common. But if results are what matter, Jeffrey Peipert, MD, PhD, is a winner.
Americans getting shorter, wider
Americans are falling behind in the global height race as well.
Race may influence uterine cancer recurrence, despite treatment
African Americans are more likely to have a recurrence of uterine cancer despite undergoing a total hysterectomy or a hysterectomy followed by radiation therapy, according to researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
Scientists turn a new leaf to discover a compound in daffodils that targets brain cancer
When looking for new ways to treat aggressive brain cancers, an international team of scientists turned a new leaf and "discovered" the lowly daffodil. A new research study published in the November 2010 print issue of The FASEB Journal offers hope that a natural compound found in daffodil bulbs, called narciclasine, may be a powerful therapeutic against biologically aggressive forms of human brain cancers.
Scientists uncover a genetic switch that turns immune responses on and off
Scientists are keeping their eye on a new discovery published in the November 2011 print issue of the FASEB Journal that explains what causes some genes to go out of control. Scientists have identified a "cellular switch," called eye transformer, that controls the flow of information from chemical signals outside of the cell to genes in the cell nucleus. This study demonstrates that when eye transformer is turned off, the information pathway it controls (the "JAK/STAT pathway") hyper-activates. Because this pathway exists in humans and is involved in many conditions such as cancer, severe immune deficiencies, autoimmune diseases, and allergies, this discovery reveals a new and potentially important drug target for these conditions.
For elderly, even short falls can be deadly
While simple falls, such as slipping while walking off a curb, may seem relatively harmless, they can actually lead to severe injury and death in elderly individuals, according to a new study published in The Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care. As the population continues to age, it is important for physicians and caregivers to be aware of and prepared to deal with this issue, which could significantly impact the overall health and wellbeing of older adults.
MD group says specialist should review concussions
(AP) -- Athletes of all ages who are suspected of suffering a concussion should be evaluated by a specialist before they return to sports, a major doctors group said Monday in the latest sign of concern over potential lasting damage from head injuries.
Inhaled steroids increase diabetes risk, say researchers
Patients taking inhaled corticosteroids are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and more so with higher doses, say researchers at the Jewish General Hospital's Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research (LDI) In Montreal. The risk is of special concern for patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), and much less significant for asthmatics.
Adding monounsaturated fats to a low-cholesterol diet can further improve levels
The addition of monounsaturated fat (MUFA) to a cholesterol-lowering dietary portfolio in patients with mild to moderate elevated cholesterol levels increased HDL by 12.5% and lowered LDL levels by 35%, found a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
FDA approves kidney cancer drug to treat brain tumors
The United States has approved a drug normally used for advanced kidney cancer to treat brain tumors caused by a rare genetic disease, US officials and the Swiss manufacturer said Monday.
A discovery could be important for the therapy of lymphoma and leukemia
A recent scientific discovery made by researchers at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) led by Dr. Javier Marcelo Di Noia, Director of the Mechanisms and Genetic Diversity research unit, was published online today by The Journal of Experimental Medicine. The team identified a mechanism regulating activation-induced deaminase (AID), which could be important for the therapy of some types of lymphoma and leukemia.
Non-medical prescription drug use more common among rural teens than city dwellers
Rural teens appear more likely than their urban peers to use prescription drugs for non-medical purposes, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the March 2011 print issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Lead poisoning maps in R.I. reveal huge disparities, guide cleanup
The rate at which lead poisoning has struck young Rhode Island children depends heavily on where they live, according to a Brown University-led geographic analysis of comprehensive health department data from across Rhode Island between 1993 and 2005. By mapping cases of lead poisoning, researchers have been able to help target cleanup resources to do the most good.
CDC: Haiti cholera matches South Asian strain
(AP) -- A cholera outbreak that has killed more than 300 people in Haiti matches strains commonly found in South Asia, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday.
Having oral sex increases likelihood of intercourse among teens
Half of teens who have oral sex during the ninth grade will have intercourse by the end of the 11th grade, and most sexually active teenagers will begin engaging in oral sex and sexual intercourse within the same six-month period, according to findings from a new survey conducted by researchers at UCSF and UC Merced.
High-calorie beverages still widely available in elementary schools: study
High-calorie beverages not allowed by national guidelines are still available in a majority of U.S. elementary schools, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the March 2011 print issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Anger makes people want things more
Anger is an interesting emotion for psychologists. On the one hand, it's negative, but then it also has some of the features of positive emotions. For a new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, researchers find that associating an object with anger actually makes people want the object—a kind of motivation that's normally associated with positive emotions.
Studies assess complications and deaths from 2009 H1N1 influenza among children
More than one-fourth of children hospitalized with 2009 novel influenza A(H1N1) in California required intensive care or died, according to a report in the November issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. A second report assessing children in Israel found that those with underlying illnesses and infants born prematurely were at greater risk of severe complications following 2009 novel influenza A(H1N1) infection.
1 egg yolk worse than a KFC Double Down when it comes to cholesterol
Three leading physicians have published a review in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology warning about the danger of dietary cholesterol for those at risk of a heart attack or stroke. And they say one of the worst offenders is the egg yolk which, depending on size, can contain 215 to 275 mg of cholesterol. The Double Down from Kentucky Fried Chicken contains 150 mg of cholesterol. Patients at risk of cardiovascular disease are advised to limit their total dietary cholesterol to less than 200 mg per day.
Nearly all depressed adolescents recover with treatment, but half relapse
(PhysOrg.com) -- A study of adolescents who had a major depressive disorder found that nearly all recovered from their episode after treatment. But within five years, nearly half of them had relapsed, and females were at much higher risk of another major episode, researchers at Duke University Medical Center found.
Why are people with stroke more likely to die if hospitalized on a weekend?
People admitted to the hospital on a weekend after a stroke are more likely to die compared to people admitted on a weekday, regardless of the severity of the stroke they experience, according to new research published in the November 2, 2010, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Anti-obesity program for low-income kids shows promise, study finds
An approach that attempted to prevent childhood obesity in African-American girls produced beneficial changes in cholesterol, diabetes risk and depressive symptoms but had little effect on youths' weight, in a trial conducted by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital.
UCI non-small cell lung cancer study highlights advances in targeted drug therapy
A UC Irvine oncologist's work with a targeted therapy is showing great promise in patients with a deadly form of lung cancer. The results were published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
New drug may provide more cost-effective stroke prevention than warfarin
A newly approved drug may be a cost-effective way to prevent stroke in patients with an irregular heart rhythm — and may also offer patients better health outcomes than the commonly prescribed, but potentially risky, blood thinner warfarin. That's according to a new analysis from researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System.
Self awareness can help people navigate rocky seas of relationships
A little self-awareness can help people struggling in the world of relationships, says Jeffrey Hall, assistant professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas.
Plague came from China: scientists
The first outbreak of plague occurred in China more than 2,600 years ago before reaching Europe via Central Asia's "Silk Road" trade route, according to a study of the disease's DNA signature.
Alcohol most harmful drug based on multicriteria analysis (Update)
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new system that ranks drugs on the basis of harm caused to both the user and others places alcohol as the most harmful drug, above heroin and crack. The scale, developed by drug experts led by Professor David Nutt of Imperial College London, is published online today in The Lancet.
Researchers discover how to erase memory
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers working with mice have discovered that by removing a protein from the region of the brain responsible for recalling fear, they can permanently delete traumatic memories. Their report on a molecular means of erasing fear memories in rodents appears this week in Science Express.
New strain of 'high-runner' rats uniquely resistant to disease -- all disease
Everybody knows that if you're physically fit, you're less likely to get a wide range of diseases. What most people don't know is that some people are "naturally" in better shape than others, and this variation in conditioning makes it difficult to test for disease risk and drug effectiveness in animal models. A new research paper published in the November 2010 print issue of The FASEB Journal started out as a study to explain the strong statistical link between low aerobic exercise capacity and common diseases, but ultimately led to an animal model that breaks through the limitations of current systems that target single disease pathways.
Common stomach bacteria may fight off inflammatory bowel disease caused by Salmonella
Helicobacter pylori, a common stomach bacterium, reduced the severity of inflammation of the colon caused by Salmonella in mice, according to research from U-M Medical School scientists.
In the job hunt, people do lie, but honesty pays off, study finds
Honesty pays off, according to a new study of job seekers. When job applicants were warned that a pre-employment test could detect fake responses, they gave more honest answers -- a result that could improve their chances of being hired. Results were published in the human resources journal Applied HRM Research.
Pollutants in some urban areas increase Parkinson's disease risk
(PhysOrg.com) -- High levels of manganese and copper pollution in urban areas are linked to increased risk of Parkinson’s disease, according to a large-scale analysis of urban pollution and Parkinson's incidence in the United States.
Study: Brain energy crisis may spark Parkinson's
Parkinson's disease may stem from an energy crisis in the brain, years before symptoms appear.
Of 50,000 small molecules tested to fight cancer, two show promise
A class of compounds that interferes with cell signaling pathways may provide a new approach to cancer treatment, according to a study published online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) Early Edition. The compounds, called PITs (non-phosphoinositide PIP3 inhibitors), limited tumor growth in mice by inducing cell death.
Arthritis drugs could help prevent memory loss after surgery
Anti-inflammatory drugs currently used to treat diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis may also help prevent cognitive decline after surgery, according to a new study led by researchers at UCSF and colleagues at Imperial College, London.
Pitt study finds NSAIDs cause stem cells to self-destruct, preventing colon cancer
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) prevent colon cancer by triggering diseased stem cells to self-destruct, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Their findings, reported in the early online version of this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could lead to new strategies to protect people at high risk for the disease.
Microfluidics-imaging platform detects cancer growth signaling in minute biopsy samples
Inappropriate growth and survival signaling, which leads to the aberrant growth of cancer cells, is a driving force behind tumors. Much of current cancer research focuses on the kinase enzymes whose mutations are responsible for such disregulated signaling, and many successful molecularly targeted anti-cancer therapeutics are directed at inhibiting kinase activity.
Study of babies' brain scans sheds new light on the brain's unconscious activity and how it develops
Full-term babies are born with a key collection of networks already formed in their brains, according to new research that challenges some previous theories about the brain's activity and how the brain develops. The study is published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Why women live longer than men
(PhysOrg.com) -- On average, women live five or six years longer than men. There are six 85-year-old women to four men of the same age, and by the age of 100 the ratio is greater than two to one. Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain the greater longevity, but there is growing evidence for the disposable soma theory, which says males are genetically more disposable than females.
Biology news
Chagos Archipelago becomes a no fishing zone
Commercial fishing around the Chagos Archipelago has ended, making it the largest no-take marine protected area (MPA) in the world.
MRI contrast agents change stem cell proliferation
When researchers tested three different labeling agents on three different stem cell populations to determine what effect the labeling agents had on stem cell phenotype, biological behavior and migration abilities, they found changes in stem cell proliferation depending on the type of contrast agent used.
Very large protected areas preserve wilderness but ignore rare species
Protected areas are generally seen as a triumph for the preservation of nature, yet the reality on the ground is more complex.
Mount St. Helens rises from the Ashes
When Mount St. Helens blew its top in 1980, it wasn't a surprise that it happened, but even today the extent of the damage is hard to fathom. The eruption knocked down 100-foot trees like matchsticks and killed just about everything in its path. There have been several smaller eruptions since then, but nothing like what happened in 1980.
Antibiotics have long-term impacts on gut flora
Short courses of antibiotics can leave normal gut bacteria harbouring antibiotic resistance genes for up to two years after treatment, say scientists writing in the latest issue of Microbiology, published on 3 November.
Scientists find explanation for global advance of shrimp virus
White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) has a devastating impact on shrimp farming throughout the world. What makes the situation even more serious is that the virus seems to become more aggressive as the epidemic spreads, contrary to other viruses, such as flu virus, that gradually die out.
King crab distributions limited by temperature in the Southern Ocean
Invasions of voracious predatory crabs due to global warming could threaten the unique continental-shelf ecosystems of Antarctica, according to newly published findings.
Fence goes up to keep Asian carp out of Chicago canal
The latest weapon in the fight against Asian carp doesn't look much like a weapon at all: It's a 13-mile concrete and steel mesh fence that splits the narrow divide between the Des Plaines River and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal as they meander through the southwest suburbs.
VIMS scientists help solve mystery of 'alien pod'
Tracy Collier, an employee at Home Technologies in Newport News, Virginia, was walking her employer's Westie around the Center's manmade lake on Thursday when she saw a large, mysterious blob floating in the water.
Slight change in wind turbine speed significantly reduces bat mortality
While wind energy has shown strong potential as a large-scale, emission-free energy source, bat and bird collisions at wind turbines result in thousands of fatalities annually. Migratory bats, such as the hoary bat, are especially at risk for collision with wind turbines as they fly their routes in the forested ridges of the eastern U.S. This loss not only impacts the immediate area, but is also detrimental to ecosystem health nationwide -- that is, bats help with pest management, pollination and the dispersal of numerous plant seeds.
Generational research on drosophila sheds light on genetic mechanism of evolution
Molly Burke doesn’t study fruit flies because she loves tiny, winged crawlers that feast on rotting bananas. No, like generations of geneticists before her, the UC Irvine doctoral student uses the flies because "they’re easy to handle, they’re cheap, and they share a surprising number of genes with higher organisms."
Grasses have potential as alternate ethanol crop, study finds
Money may not grow on trees, but energy could grow in grass. Researchers at the University of Illinois have completed the first extensive geographic yield and economic analysis of potential bioenergy grass crops in the Midwestern United States.
Successful mothers get help from their friends: Dolphin study
Female dolphins who have help from their female friends are far more successful as mothers than those without such help, according to a landmark new study.
If GMO genes escape, how will the hybrids do?
GMOs, or Genetically Modified Organisms, may raise concerns of genes escaping from crops and having unknown effects on natural, wild species. But what is the real risk that traits associated with GMOs will actually migrate to and persist in their wild relatives? Interest in plant ecology, crop production and weed management led John Lindquist and his colleagues from the University of Nebraska and USDA-ARS to investigate how gene flow from a cultivated crop to a weedy relative would influence the ecological fitness of a cropwild hybrid offspring. They published their findings in the recent October issue of the American Journal of Botany.
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