Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for October 20, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Holodesk prototype puts life in computers (w/ video)- Pi enthusiast calculates its ten trillionth digit
- Theoretical chemists find new dimension to rules for reactions
- New generation of superlattice cameras add more 'color' to night vision
- Electrochemistry controlled with a plasma electrode
- High to moderate levels of stress lead to higher mortality rate
- Neuroscientists unlock shared brain codes
- Culture in humans and apes has the same evolutionary roots: study
- Hunters present in North America 800 years earlier than previously thought: DNA analysis
- Impact study: Princeton model shows fallout of a giant meteorite strike
- How Wolbachia bacteria controls vectors of deadly diseases
- West Nile virus transmission linked to land use patterns and 'super-spreaders'
- Inflammation controlled differently in brain and other tissues, study finds
- Significant ozone hole remains over Antarctica
- Long-held belief debunked: Cycad is not a 'Dinosaur Plant'
Space & Earth news
Greenpeace criticises Japan radiation screening
Greenpeace called on Tokyo to toughen radiation screening and food labelling rules on Thursday after it said low levels of radiation had been detected in seafood sold at Japanese stores.
Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior III makes maiden voyage
Purpose-built, ultra-modern and ready to fight environmental destruction on the high seas, Greenpeace's latest campaign ship, Rainbow Warrior III, made its maiden voyage Wednesday.
Calif poised to finalize 'cap-and-trade' plan
(AP) -- California is poised to formally adopt the nation's most comprehensive so-called "cap-and-trade" system, designed to provide a financial incentive for polluters to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The moon is in the spotlight, or crosshairs, again
On July 20, 1969, millions viewers all over the world gathered around the television to watch as two humans changed history by walking on the surface of the moon. It was an amazing time for space exploration and the moon.
German scientists ready for the hunt on dark energy
The German and Russian partners of the new eROSITA X-ray space observatory have now agreed on how to split the data from the first four years of an all sky survey. This decision was announced today at the first dedicated eROSITA conference in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and will enable German astronomers to work with the first full sky X-ray survey since the one carried out by the ROSAT satellite some 20 years ago. The conference is attended by more than 150 astronomers from many different countries and fields of astronomy, showing the broad interest of the international astronomical community in this new observatory that is to be launched in 2013.
Green roofs save money, energy but challenge Texas plants
When contractors talk of green buildings, they mean environmentally friendly and energy saving.
Can aromatherapy produce harmful indoor air pollutants?
Spas that offer massage therapy using fragrant essential oils, called aromatherapy, may have elevated levels of potentially harmful indoor air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ultrafine particles, according to an article in Environmental Engineering Science, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
NASA releases visual tour of Earth's fires
NASA has released a series of new satellite data visualizations that show tens of millions of fires detected worldwide from space since 2002. The visualizations show fire observations made by the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, or MODIS, instruments onboard NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites.
Final checks for first Soyuz launch from Kourou
Launch directors on Thursday were running through the last checks for the maiden liftoff of Soyuz, the legendary Soviet-Russian rocket, from Europe's base in French Guiana.
Satellite pieces may hit Earth on weekend
(AP) -- Pieces of a retired German satellite hurtling toward the atmosphere may crash to earth this weekend, the German Aerospace Center said Thursday.
Europe delays maiden launch of Soyuz with sat-nav payload
Europe announced a 24-hour delay in the maiden launch Thursday of a Russian rocket laden with the first satellites in a rival scheme to America's GPS geopositioning system.
Russia eyes caves on moon for setting up a lunar base
For the time being, it appears NASA has set aside any ambitions to return to the Moon with human missions. But Russia may consider sending cosmonauts to the lunar surface to set up a colony using natural caves and possible volcanic tunnels as protection from the harsh lunar environment.
ROSAT - fiery debris to rain from the sky
The recent re-entry of the UARS satellite was not the end of falling satellite debris, as the German ROSAT X-ray observatory satellite will soon crash back to Earth.
Dead again? Lake Erie in trouble
Tributaries of Lake Erie aren't catching fire as they did a half-century ago.
The spark of a new era
Seventy-five years ago this Halloween, at 9 a.m., a truck from the California Institute of Technology turned on to a road owned by the Pasadena Water Department and after heading down a small hill came to a stop. Its tired occupants - they had spent the night before preparing and had only three hours sleep - clambered out and began the laborious job of carrying a truck full of cumbersome test equipment another 400 yards into the dirt and scruffy brush of Pasadena's Arroyo Seco.
New way to determine when water was present on Mars and Earth
(PhysOrg.com) -- The discovery of the mineral jarosite in rocks analyzed by the Mars Rover, Opportunity, on the Martian surface had special meaning for a team of Syracuse University scientists who study the mineral here on Earth. Jarosite can only form in the presence of water. Its presence on Mars means that water had to exist at some point in the past. The trick is in figuring out if jarosite can be used as a proxy for determining when, and under what conditions, water was present on the planet.
GPM satellite takes a spin on the high capacity centrifuge
In the clean room at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt Md., the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission's Core satellite is steadily taking shape. Set to measure rainfall worldwide after launch in 2014, GPM's two solar panels are the latest components currently undergoing rigorous testing before being integrated with the spacecraft, a process that began seven months ago when the main structural elements went on an unusual ride.
Winter forecast cold north, dry south, heavy snow
(AP) -- Winter looks to be cold and wet across the northern tier of states, and the drought will worsen in the South, where conditions are expected to be warmer and drier than usual, government forecasters said Thursday.
Space weather prediction model improves NOAA's forecast skill
NOAA is now using a sophisticated forecast model that substantially improves predictions of space weather impacts on Earth. Better forecasts offer additional protection for people and the technology-based infrastructure we use daily.
Launch of EU's Galileo system set for Friday
The launch of the first two satellites for the European Union's Galileo navigation system was postponed until Friday - adding at least one more day to years of waiting for a program promoted as the main rival to GPS to get off the ground.
Impact study: Princeton model shows fallout of a giant meteorite strike
(PhysOrg.com) -- Seeking to better understand the level of death and destruction that would result from a large meteorite striking the Earth, Princeton University researchers have developed a new model that can not only more accurately simulate the seismic fallout of such an impact, but also help reveal new information about the surface and interior of planets based on past collisions.
Spitzer detects comet storm in nearby solar system
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has detected signs of icy bodies raining down in an alien solar system. The downpour resembles our own solar system several billion years ago during a period known as the "Late Heavy Bombardment," which may have brought water and other life-forming ingredients to Earth.
Significant ozone hole remains over Antarctica
The Antarctic ozone hole, which yawns wide every Southern Hemisphere spring, reached its annual peak on September 12, stretching 10.05 million square miles, the ninth largest on record. Above the South Pole, the ozone hole reached its deepest point of the season on October 9 when total ozone readings dropped to 102 Dobson units, tied for the 10th lowest in the 26-year record.
Technology news
ARM and TSMC tape out first 20nm ARM Cortex-A15 multicore processor
ARM and TSMC today announced that they have taped out the first 20nm ARM Cortex-A15 MPCore processor. The two companies completed the implementation from RTL to tape out in six months using TSMC’s Open Innovation Platform (OIP) 20nm design ecosystem.
'Sons of Anarchy' app to sell goods during show
(AP) -- Watching organized crime shows apparently has a way of bringing out people's fashion sense.
Metro belatedly opens in India's IT hub Bangalore
The first metro in India's IT hub of Bangalore rolls into service Thursday, a long-delayed and over-budget project to help the city's army of commuting software engineers and call centre staff.
Poll: Americans believe U.S. headed in wrong direction on energy
A poll released today by The University of Texas at Austin found less than 14 percent of Americans think the country is headed in the right direction on energy. Of more than 3,400 consumers surveyed, 84 percent were worried about U.S. consumption of oil from foreign sources and 76 percent about a lack of progress in developing better ways to use energy efficiently and develop renewable sources.
New York Times adds 43,000 digital subscribers
The New York Times added more than 40,000 digital subscribers in the third quarter but advertising revenue continued to slide.
EBay holiday forecast disappoints investors
(AP) -- EBay left investors unimpressed with its predictions for the holiday season even as its namesake site and PayPal online payment service showed healthy growth in the latest quarter.
With deals, YouTube expands as music destination
(AP) -- YouTube has been very good to bedroom singers, who have found a quick path to fame, and major labels, which have benefited from some of the largest digital audiences for their top music videos.
Google co-founder 'pretty happy' in stealth role
(AP) -- Google co-founder Sergey Brin took a break from his work on the Internet search leader's secret projects to make a surprise appearance at a technology conference Wednesday.
Apple loses round in Wall St.'s expectations game
Call it the curse of great expectations. Apple did just about everything right in its latest quarter. The company increased its profit by more than 50 percent and boosted revenue by nearly 40 percent over the same quarter last year.
Alibaba tells Yahoo! to decide on takeover
Alibaba Group Chairman Jack Ma said Thursday he expects an answer from Yahoo! within weeks to his long-standing offer to buy all or part of the US Internet giant, saying delays were hurting both firms.
News Corp to start Australian paywall
The Australian arm of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation will begin charging for online content, the firm said on Thursday, with its flagship national broadsheet to move behind a paywall from next week.
Amazon to start Japan ebook business: reports
US online giant Amazon will start a Japanese-language ebook business as early as this year, the Nikkei business daily and Jiji press said Thursday.
EU approves Samsung-Seagate hard disc business sale
European anti-trust regulators approved Wednesday the sale of Samsung Electronics' hard-disc-drive business to US firm Seagate Technology for $1.375 billion (995 million euros) in cash and stock.
Microsoft-led group readies Yahoo! offer: report
US software giant Microsoft and private investors are assembling a multi-billion-dollar offer to purchase Yahoo!, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
China rare earths supplier suspends production
(AP) -- China's biggest producer of rare earths is suspending production for one month in hopes of boosting slumping prices of the exotic minerals used in mobile phones and other high-tech products.
Eyeing Asian market, LinkedIn launches in Japanese
(AP) -- LinkedIn Corp. on Thursday launched its online professional networking service in Japanese, the first Asian language platform for the rapidly growing company as it pushes to expand in the region.
Stuxnet-like virus points to new round of cyber war
Internet security specialists have warned of a new round of cyber warfare in the form of a computer virus similar to the malicious Stuxnet worm believed to have targeted Iran's nuclear program.
AT&T sees 3Q slowdown in iPhone activations (Update)
(AP) -- Running one of the nation's biggest wireless networks has been a reliable way for AT&T Inc. to boost revenues, quarter after quarter, as people loaded up on phones, and then traded up to smartphones. But the easy money may already have been made, AT&T's latest results show.
Tout shoots for dynamic Web experience
You might not have heard of Tout, but some big people have. People like Shaquille O'Neal, the former NBA star, and Li Ka-Shing, one of Asia's richest men.
Businesses churn out apps blending real, virtual worlds
You point your smartphone at an Italian restaurant, and diner reviews of its lasagna pop up on-screen.
Microsoft engineer envisions computers that adapt to us
For decades, we controlled computers with a mouse and keyboard. The plastic mouse became a prosthetic for our hand, and the keyboard an extension of our fingers.
Warner looks beyond movies to find game success
"The Dark Knight Rises" doesn't hit movie theaters for nine months, but Batman is at the heart of what may just be Warner Bros.' most important release of the fall.
The next frontier in gambling: E-gaming
Bally Technologies Inc. showcased its most popular games, including Cash Spin, on several platforms here this month at the Global Gaming Expo.
GigaPan technology can capture a crowd in detail
The next time you head out to the concert event of the year - or even a sporting event - make sure you're well-coiffed and ready for your close-up.
Wakey, wakey! Wake up refreshed with a brain-monitoring alarm clock
We all know the feeling, the short, sharp shock of waking to the sound of an alarm clock. Whether the traditional clattering metal bells, the incessant beeping of digital or the dulcet tones of today's radio news reader. Even the chance to slap the snooze button to grab a few extra moments between the sheets does not leave everyone feeling refreshed when they finally crawl out of bed. Now, researchers in India think they have the answer.
Visions of a 'car-free future'
City centers could become virtually car-free over the next 20 years under new plans proposed by University of Leeds transport researchers.
Microsoft fiscal 1Q earnings match analyst views
(AP) -- Microsoft's earnings for the latest quarter edged up 6 percent to match analyst estimates.
Biography sheds new light on Steve Jobs' life
(AP) -- Steve Jobs had a disdain for people who put profits first. In an upcoming authorized biography of the late Apple CEO, he calls the crop of executives brought in to run Apple after his ouster in 1985 "corrupt people" with "corrupt values" who cared only about making money.
Tokyo tech fair opens with robotic clapping of hands
From robotic hand-clapping arms to a device that could show tsunami alerts in the sky, Japanese technology researchers showcased their latest inventions in Tokyo Thursday.
DARPA looking to master propaganda via 'Narrative Networks'
(PhysOrg.com) -- Sometimes you just don’t know whether to laugh, cry or be alarmed when hearing about what the boys in secretive back rooms are doing in the name of antiterrorism, or homeland security, or whatever else they wish to call it. This time it seems, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the semi-secret agency charged with coming up with new and cool ways to protect the citizens of the United States from foreign bad guys, wants to hire someone to figure out how vulnerable some people are to “narratives” (oral stories, speeches, propaganda, books, etc. that cause people to think) and then, supplant such messages with “better” messages to head off the path that for such people might lead them to becoming a terrorist.
Flight control software to help pilots stick landings aboard carrier decks
Select pilots in early 2012 will commence testing new flight control software, funded in part by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), intended to facilitate aircraft landings on Navy carrier decks with unprecedented accuracy.
Holodesk prototype puts life in computers (w/ video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- A research project at Microsoft Research Cambridge has brought forth a prototype called Holodesk, which lets you manipulate virtual objects with your hand. You literally "get your hands on" the virtual display. According to the official description from its creators, there is at work a "novel real-time algorithm for representing hands and other physical objects" allowing physically realistic interaction between real and virtual 3-D objects.
Pi enthusiast calculates its ten trillionth digit
(PhysOrg.com) -- Shigeru Kondo is a seriously committed guy. Ever since discovering he had an interest in calculating pi (aka π) back in his college days, he’s been following the results achieved by others using massive supercomputers. Now, in his late 50's, with some help from Northwestern University grad school student Alexander Yee, he’s succeeded in calculating the ten trillionth digit of pi; on a home built PC yet.
Medicine & Health news
For patients with both HIV and tuberculosis the timing of drug therapies is critical
In sub-Saharan Africa, tuberculosis is the disease that most often brings people with HIV into the clinic for treatment. Infection with both diseases is so common that in South Africa, for instance, 70% of tuberculosis patients are HIV positive. How best to treat these doubly infected patients-- who number around 700,000 globally-- is the subject of a new study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, by scientists at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and CAPRISA (Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa). The authors had previously shown that integrating antiretroviral therapy (ART) concurrently with tuberculosis treatment reduces mortality among these patients and is preferable to treating the diseases sequentially. The new study investigates the best timing for introducing treatment for HIV. The researchers find that the optimal time for antiretroviral treatment depends on the patient's immune status. Patients with very low! T-cell counts, a measure of how well the immune system is working, appear to do better with an earlier integration of treatment for HIV.
Most breast cancer patients do not have breast reconstruction surgery
Only seven per cent of female breast cancer patients opt for breast reconstruction surgery.
Free LA medical clinic to draw 5,000 uninsured
(AP) -- More than 5,000 people are expected to show up for free medical care at a Los Angeles arena starting Thursday.
African-American women with gestational diabetes face high long-term diabetes risk
African American women who develop gestational diabetes mellitus during pregnancy face a 52 percent increased risk of developing diabetes in the future compared to white women who develop GDM during pregnancy, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published online in the journal Diabetologia.
Increase in negative coverage of disability issues in print media, report finds
There has been a significant increase in the amount of negative reporting of disability issues in the print media, according to a new study by the University of Glasgow.
New technique unravels transport in living brain cells
A new technique has made it possible to study the functioning of motor proteins in living brain cells. Previously, this could previously only be done under artificial conditions outside the cell. Motor proteins transport building blocks from one location to another in a cell. NWO researcher Lukas Kapitein managed to image how motor proteins find their way around brain cells. The research into transport systems inside brain cells may lead to an improved understanding of how brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease progress. The new Cell Biology Department at Utrecht University, which opened on 7 October, will further develop and utilise this new technique.
A child's memory in military time
A 1-year-old child can hold onto a memory for at most a week or two, and can’t understand the passage of time until reaching school age, Harvard child development specialists said at a seminar Tuesday aimed at military veterans and members of the armed services.
Study proves new technology kills bacteria
Results from a comprehensive multi-site clinical trial demonstrated that the use of antimicrobial copper surfaces in intensive care unit rooms reduced the amount of bacteria in the rooms by 97 percent and resulted in a 41 percent reduction in the hospital acquired infection rate. According to researchers, this study is one of the first to demonstrate the value of a passive infection control intervention, one that does not rely on staff or patients remembering to take action. The results will be presented on Friday, October 21 at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America in Boston.
Pediatrician shares why children need flu shots
It’s a common question parents ask themselves this time of year: Does my child really need a flu shot? Though the flu may seem harmless, the truth on average 20,000 children age 5 and younger are hospitalized due to flu symptoms each year.
Tips for a healthy, happy Halloween
Ghosts and goblins, vampires and werewolves, haunted houses and hayrides. Though Halloween is all about being scared silly, the shock from stepping on the scale after pilfering through the collected candy could turn your waistline into a real nightmare. Kara Smith, special project coordinator for the Loyola Center for Fitness, offers these tips to help make Halloween a not-so-weighty fright night:
Women do not get enough vitamin D during the menopause
A healthy diet is especially important during the menopause – a period in which the risk of suffering from health problems increases. Various studies analyse the diet of peri- and postmenopausal women in Spain alongside the troubles that come with this transition. The results show that all of those groups studied have a deficient intake of vitamin D.
If coordination fails
The Norwegian healthcare services are organized in primary and secondary service levels. According to PhD student Kristin Laugaland at UiS effective and safe care depends on coordination across the two service levels in which transitions across them represent a crucial stage in the recovery of elderly people.
ASE-EAE to issue guidelines for the echocardiographic evaluation of cancer patients
The European Association of Echocardiography has announced that it is working together with the American Society of Echocardiography to issue joint recommendations on the usefulness of serial echocardiographic evaluations and the potential impact of more advanced ultrasound technologies (in particular Speckle Tracking Echocardiography) in patients undergoing cancer therapy.
Experts weigh the heavy impact words have when creating policies for better health
Are words weighing down America's ability to improve its health? According to a group of weight and health experts assembled by the Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance, the answer is yes. There is a need for media and policymakers to more responsibly address weight-related health issues, the experts said, and remove the verbal barriers that are getting in the way of a more informed, responsible conversation.
Successful pregnancy possible after kidney transplant
A new study recently published in the American Journal of Transplantation reveals that the ability to successfully carry a pregnancy after kidney transplantation is very high, with 73.5% live birth rates.
Early mortality risk reduced up to 40 percent through increased physical activity and sports
Even though previous studies have been shown the link between regular exercises and improved health the exact dose-response relation remains unclear. Guenther Samitz, researcher in physical activity and public health at the Centre for Sports Sciences and University Sports of the University of Vienna has investigated this relationship with a meta-study representing more than 1.3 million participants. The research project was carried out in collaboration with public health scientists and epidemiologists of the Universities of Bern, Switzerland and Bristol, UK. The results of the study have been published in International Journal of Epidemiology.
Hospital patients suffer in shift shuffle
Patient handovers have increased significantly as a result of the restrictions on the number of hours residents are allowed to work. Multiple shift changes, and resulting consecutive sign-outs, during patient handovers are linked to a decrease in both the amount and quality of information conveyed between residents, according to a new study by Dr. Adam Helms from the University of Virginia Healthsystem in the US and his colleagues. Their work1, which characterizes the complex process of resident sign-out in a teaching hospital, appears online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine2, published by Springer.
Russia must tackle 'critical' suicide rate: experts
Russia must launch a public health campaign to reduce the country's suicide rate, among the highest in the world, top psychiatrists said on Thursday.
Cloudy with a chance of sudden death: Doctors using 'law of biology' to forecast patient-specific health events
Bioengineers from Rice University and physicians from Emory University are going to test whether a new "law of biology" can predict when a critically ill patient is about to worsen, and more importantly, which treatment is likely to prevent it.
Docs facing questions about 'Michael Jackson drug'
(AP) -- Doctors sometimes call the anesthesia drug by its nickname - milk of amnesia. Patients are calling it the "Michael Jackson drug."
Dental care in big demand at free LA health clinic
(AP) -- Avery Shapiro has had tooth pain for several years. Pat Morris' dental insurance wouldn't cover the tab for a filling. Chenell Bass had to stop driving because her eyesight got so weak.
US lawmakers reject Canada drug purchases
The US Senate Thursday rejected a measure that would have enabled Americans to buy prescription drugs in Canada in a bid to reduce the costs of their health care.
One size does not fit all for knee replacements and other medical devices
Undergoing a knee replacement involves sophisticated medical equipment, but innovative prosthetic design may not offer the same benefits for all knee replacement recipients, Yale School of Medicine researchers report in a perspective article in the October 20 issue of New England Journal of Medicine.
Could a probiotic be used to treat inflammatory bowel disease?
Scientists have been unclear for some time about how most probiotics work. A new study has found a scientific 'design' for a probiotic that could be used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease.
Future-Directed Therapy helps depression patients cultivate optimistic outlook
Patients with major depression do better by learning to create a more positive outlook about the future, rather than by focusing on negative thoughts about their past experiences, researchers at Cedars-Sinai say after developing a new treatment that helps patients do this.
Moving poor women to lower-poverty neighborhoods improves their health
Low-income women with children who move from high-poverty to lower-poverty neighborhoods experience notable long-term improvements in some aspects of their health, namely reductions in diabetes and extreme obesity, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Chicago and partner institutions.
Study of US popular music links luxury alcohol brands with degrading sex
In a study published online today in the international journal Addiction, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh reported that the average US adolescent is heavily exposed to alcohol brand references in popular music.
Are acid-suppressing drugs prescribed too often in infants?
Frequent spitting up, irritability, and unexplained crying in infants can be very distressing to parents. Pediatricians often prescribe acid-suppressing drugs for these symptoms in an effort to treat infants for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); however, GERD is an uncommon cause of these symptoms in otherwise thriving infants. In a soon to be published Commentary in The Journal of Pediatrics, Eric Hassall, MBChB, FRCPC, FACG, cautions against the over-diagnosis of GERD and over-prescription of acid-suppressing drugs in infants.
Blame backbone fractures on evolution, not osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is blamed for backbone fractures. The real culprit could well be our own vertebrae, which evolved to absorb the pounding of upright walking, researchers at Case Western Reserve University say.
Study shows estrogen works in the brain to keep weight in check
A recent UT Southwestern Medical Center study found that estrogen regulates energy expenditure, appetite and body weight, while insufficient estrogen receptors in specific parts of the brain may lead to obesity.
B-lymphocyte depletion using the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab in chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) may be alleviated by the anti-cancer drug Rituximab, suggesting that the source of the disease could lie in the immune system, according to a new study published Oct. 19 in the online journal PLoS ONE. Uncertainty about the cause of CFS, which is characterized by extreme, unexplained exhaustion, among other symptoms, has led to much debate, but the authors of this recent study believe they may have found the answer.
Mexico tackles epidemic of childhood obesity
(AP) -- Anghella Torres is just 4 years old, but already she weighs 66 pounds (30 kilos) - twice what she should. Because of her excess girth, her little feet constantly hurt from bearing the extra weight.
Brain tumour treatment hope
Australian scientists have played a key role in the identification of a new biochemical mechanism that allows brain tumours to survive and grow, offering hope of new drug treatments for some of the most aggressive tumours.
Anatomical blueprint for motor antagonism identified
(Medical Xpress) -- Walking or movement in general, comes so naturally to us, yet it results from a sophisticated interplay between the nervous system and muscles. Little is known about the neuronal blueprint that ensures the regulation of functionally opposing motor actions, which in turn are responsible for all movement.
Heavy metal music has negative impacts on youth
Young people at risk of depression are more likely to listen habitually and repetitively to heavy metal music. University of Melbourne researcher Dr Katrina McFerran has found.
Radiotherapy after surgery halves breast cancer recurrence
(Medical Xpress) -- Radiotherapy following surgery for breast cancer halves the chances of the cancer coming back over the next 10 years, a study led by Oxford University researchers has found.
Combination of available tests helps predict Alzheimer's disease risk
With age, forgetfulness and other signs of memory loss sometimes appear, prompting elderly individuals to seek a medical evaluation amid fears that they may be experiencing early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common type of dementia among Americans aged 65 and older.
Cheaper and easier isn't necessarily better in new colon cancer screening procedures
Eventually, colon cancers bleed and so tests for blood in stool seem an inexpensive and noninvasive alternative to traditional colonoscopies. In fact, a recent article in the journal Cancer Prevention Research showed that fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) is an accurate predictor of colorectal cancer and can provide a low-cost screening alternative for medically underserved populations.
I vs. we: Individuals perform better when focused on team's effort
Individuals perform better and are more confident when they practice motivational tactics focused not on them but on the team they belong to, according to a recently published study by Michigan State University researchers.
Association of quantity of alcohol and frequency of consumption with cancer mortality
A paper from the National Institutes of Health in the United States has evaluated the separate and combined effects of the frequency of alcohol consumption and the average quantity of alcohol drunk per occasion and how that relates to mortality risk from individual cancers as well as all cancers. The analysis is based on repeated administrations of the National Health Interview Survey in the US, assessing more than 300,000 subjects who suffered over 8,000 deaths from cancer. The research reports on total cancer deaths and deaths from lung, colorectal, prostate, and breast cancers.
Study finds minority consumers will voluntarily pay more for goods and services to assert status
It has been well-documented that minorities are subject to discrimination in product pricing and customer service. What is startling is the result of a new study professors at the USC Marshall School of business in conjunction with University of San Diego's School of Business Administration, that shows that sometimes ill-treatment can make African-American consumers voluntarily pay more for goods and services than they would normally, as well as pay more than their Caucasian counterparts.
Novel therapeutic target identified to decrease triglycerides and increase 'good' cholesterol
Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center today announce findings published in the October 20 issue of Nature that show for the first time the inhibition of both microRNA-33a and microRNA-33b (miR-33a/b) with chemically modified anti-miR oligonucleotides markedly suppress triglyceride levels and cause a sustained increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) "good" cholesterol.
Report: Food labels need Energy Star-like ratings
Just like that Energy Star tag helps you choose your appliances, a new report says a rating symbol on the front of every soup can, cereal box and yogurt container could help hurried shoppers go home with the healthiest foods.
Autistic brains develop more slowly than healthy brains: study
Researchers at UCLA have found a possible explanation for why autistic children act and think differently than their peers. For the first time, they've shown that the connections between brain regions that are important for language and social skills grow much more slowly in boys with autism than in non-autistic children.
New drug strategies for Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis examined at UH
Researchers at the University of Houston (UH) are recommending a new strategy for developing drugs to treat cancer, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and cardiovascular diseases.
Emerging public health crisis linked to mortgage default and foreclosure
Researchers warn of a looming health crisis in the wake of rising mortgage delinquencies and home foreclosures. The study, released today in the American Journal of Public Health, is the first long-term survey of the impact the current housing crisis is having on older Americans. The study focused on adults over 50 and found high rates of depression among those behind in their mortgage payments and a higher likelihood of making unhealthy financial tradeoffs regarding food and needed prescription medications.
Midwest, West highest in contemplating suicide
(AP) -- More adults in the Midwest and West have suicidal thoughts than people in the rest of the country, but Rhode Island leads in suicide attempts, according to the first government study of its kind.
Brain study reveals how successful students overcome math anxiety
Using brain-imaging technology for the first time with people experiencing mathematics anxiety, University of Chicago scientists have gained new insights into how some students are able to overcome their fears and succeed in math.
Autistic facial characteristics identified
The face and brain develop in coordination, with each influencing the other, beginning in the embryo and continuing through adolescence. Now, University of Missouri researchers have found distinct differences between the facial characteristics of children with autism compared to those of typically developing children. This knowledge could help researchers understand the origins of autism.
New study shows passing mood can profoundly alter 'rational decisions'
Could a passing mood influence your financial portfolio for decades to come? Can impulses you inherited from your cave-man ancestors influence your financial decisions in the modern world in ways that may have lifelong consequences?
High to moderate levels of stress lead to higher mortality rate
A new study concludes that men who experience persistently moderate or high levels of stressful life events over a number of years have a 50 percent higher mortality rate.
Neuroscientists unlock shared brain codes
A team of neuroscientists at Dartmouth College has shown that different individuals' brains use the same, common neural code to recognize complex visual images.
Inflammation controlled differently in brain and other tissues, study finds
A team led by scientists from The Scripps Research Institute has identified a new metabolic pathway for controlling brain inflammation, suggesting strategies for treating it.
West Nile virus transmission linked to land use patterns and 'super-spreaders'
After its initial appearance in New York in 1999, West Nile virus spread across the United States in just a few years and is now well established throughout North and South America. Both the mosquitoes that transmit it and the birds that are important hosts for the virus are abundant in areas that have been modified by human activities. As a result, transmission of West Nile virus is highest in urbanized and agricultural habitats.
Biology news
Perinatal flavor learning and adaptation to being weaned: All the pig needs is smell
Weaning can be a stressful time, but new research published in the Oct. 19 edition of the online journal PLoS ONE shows that the presence of familiar flavors in food, or even in the surrounding air, has positive effects on piglet growth, food uptake, and behavior upon weaning, suggesting reduced stress. In the study, pregnant sows were fed anise-flavored food for about two weeks before birth and three weeks after.
US police kill escaped lions, tigers and bears
Police in the US state of Ohio shot dead dozens of lions, tigers, bears and wolves in a frantic hunt after the owner of an exotic farm freed the dangerous animals and then killed himself.
The scientists who stare at goats
Satellite technology is being used to track a herd of wild goats in an effort to understand where they roam and help protect our farmland and conservation areas. Using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) loggers, experts from Newcastle University are hoping to map the movement of England’s most northerly population of wild goats.
New scientist tackles complexity of growing zebra chip disease
The complexity of the zebra chip disease of potatoes, a vector-borne disease that is a growing industry concern recently drew Dr. Arash Rashed to the program directed by Dr. Charlie Rush, AgriLife Research plant pathologist.
Clearing house for DNA gets a boost
Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute is home to a rich trove of biological material. Known as DNASU, this growing storehouse—a sort of genetic Library of Congress—holds over 147,000 plasmids, (circular DNA samples that can be used to produce individual proteins), as well as full genome collections from numerous organisms and proteins associated with many leading human diseases.
Moth ears are activated by movement the size of an atom
(PhysOrg.com) -- Moths are so finely tuned to the ultrasonic calls of predatory bats that the nerve cells in their ears are activated by displacements of the eardrum the size of a small atom, according to new research from the University of Bristol. This means that if a moth’s eardrum was scaled up to the thickness of a brick wall, a displacement of that wall equivalent to the diameter of a hair would be detectable to the moth.
Researchers say they can create grapefruit hybrid that won't interfere with medicine
(PhysOrg.com) -- For years, doctors and pharmacists have warned people to steer clear of fresh grapefruit or grapefruit juice when taking certain medicines.
Growing algae could clean the Chesapeake Bay and create biofuel
Maryland's Eastern Shore is known for vast soybean and corn farms, but if Patrick Kangas had his way it would be covered in slime.
Leaf litter ants advance case for rainforest conservation in Borneo
Studies of ant populations in Borneo reveal an unexpected resilience to areas of rainforest degraded by repeated intensive logging, a finding which conservationists hope will lead governments to conserve these areas rather than allow them to be cleared and used for cash crop plantations.
Polar bear habitats expected to shrink dramatically
Habitats of polar bears are expected to shrink dramatically over the coming decades, the International Union for Conservation of Nature warned Thursday, urging immediate action to save the Arctic animals.
Scientists determine family tree for most-endangered bird family in the world
Using one of the largest DNA data sets for a group of birds and employing next-generation sequencing methods, Smithsonian scientists and collaborators have determined the evolutionary family tree for one of the most strikingly diverse and endangered bird families in the world, the Hawaiian honeycreepers.
Bed bug insecticide resistance mechanisms identified
Bed bugs, largely absent in the U.S. since the 1950s, have returned with a hungry vengeance in the last decade in all 50 states. These insects have developed resistance to pyrethroids, one of the very few classes of insecticide used for their control. A research team at Virginia Tech has discovered some of the genetic mechanisms for the bed bug's resistance to two of the most popular pyrethroids -- deltamethrin and beta-cyfluthrin.
Flies' flight patterns rely on sense of smell
(PhysOrg.com) -- If a fruit fly gets a whiff of a rotting banana, it does everything it can to get to the location of the potential feast. That includes not only beating its wings faster, but overriding its normally random flight navigation with a more direct approach, new research has found.
Platypus helps shed new light on mammalian evolution
(PhysOrg.com) -- A large international study published today in Nature has revealed new insights into how the regulation of the entire genome has changed during mammalian evolution over the past 200 million years.
Researchers reveal baby-killer birds
(PhysOrg.com) -- The mysterious behaviour of female Eclectus parrots killing their sons immediately after they hatch has been unravelled by a team of researchers from the Australian National University.
New research challenges evolutionary theory
(PhysOrg.com) -- New research from the University of Reading overturns conventional views on the nature of evolution, arguing that mammals did not develop into their many different forms in one early and rapid burst of evolution but rather found many different evolutionary routes.
Don't panic: The animal's guide to hitchhiking
New research suggests that hitch-hiking, once believed to be the exclusive domain of beat poets and wanderers, is in fact an activity that daring members of the animal kingdom engage in. And it may lead to a serious ecological problem.
Culture in humans and apes has the same evolutionary roots: study
Culture is not a trait that is unique to humans. By studying orangutan populations, a team of researchers headed by anthropologist Michael Krützen from the University of Zurich has demonstrated that great apes also have the ability to learn socially and pass them down through a great many generations. The researchers provide the first evidence that culture in humans and great apes has the same evolutionary roots, thus answering the contentious question as to whether variation in behavioral patterns in orangutans are culturally driven, or caused by genetic factors and environmental influences.
How Wolbachia bacteria controls vectors of deadly diseases
Researchers at Boston University have made discoveries that provide the foundation towards novel approaches to control insects that transmit deadly diseases such as dengue fever and malaria through their study of the Wolbachia bacteria. Their findings have been published in the current issue of Science Express.
Long-held belief debunked: Cycad is not a 'Dinosaur Plant'
(PhysOrg.com) -- The widely held belief today's cycads are 'dinosaur plants' and were around during dinosaur times has been categorically debunked in a breakthrough study of international significance.
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