Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for October 5, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Last universal common ancestor more complex than previously thought- First comet found with ocean-like water
- Materials scientists develop topological insulator with a switch
- Monkeys feel, move virtual objects using only their brains (w/ video)
- Israeli wins chemistry Nobel for quasicrystals (Update 3)
- Laser light used to cool object to quantum ground state
- Sulfur in hollow nanofibers overcomes challenges of lithium-ion battery design
- How chronic stress short-circuits parenting
- 1 room -- 63 different dust particles: Researchers aim to build dust library
- In the brain, winning is everywhere
- Immune mechanism blocks inflammation generated by oxidative stress
- Study shows daily aspirin intake can lead to blindness
- Long-term correction of severe spinal muscular atrophy by antisense therapy
- Personalised stem cells back in the spotlight
- Penis size does matter if you are a bank vole
Space & Earth news
Oil spill as container ship hits N. Zealand reef
A large container ship ran aground on a reef off New Zealand's North Island Wednesday, releasing a "light sheen of oil" but not posing a major environmental hazard, the country's maritime authority said.
First Vega starts journey to Europe's spaceport
The first elements of Europe’s new Vega small launcher left Italy last Thursday to begin their long journey to Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, marking the final step towards its inaugural flight in January.
Fish kills trigger red tide alerts, first responders
Acting on a tip from a constituent, Cameron County Commissioner Sofia Benavides recently drove out to a section of the Gulf Coast within her jurisdiction, Boca Chica Beach, between the mouth of the Rio Grande and the jetties at South Padre Island.
Space Image: Sputnik 1
(PhysOrg.com) -- On Oct. 4, 1957, Sputnik 1 successfully launched and entered Earth's orbit. Thus, began the space age.
Rethinking connection between soil as a carbon reservoir and global warming
The soil plays a key role in the ecosystem, economy and global carbon cycle. After the oceans, the humus is the largest carbon reservoir. If the humus decreases, additional CO2 gets into the atmosphere. A research team headed by the University of Zurich has now discovered that the soil environment determines humus depletion, which means the question as to how soils respond to global climate change needs to be readdressed.
Ukraine begins construction of new nuclear waste storage
Ukraine launched construction of a new facility Wednesday to stockpile industrial nuclear waste in the contaminated zone around its Chernobyl plant, site of the worst nuclear accident of the last 25 years.
A 'carbonizing dragon': Construction drives China's growing CO2 emissions
Constructing buildings, power-plants and roads has driven a substantial increase in China's CO2 emission growth, according to a new study involving the University of East Anglia (UEA).
Oil sands environmental impact unknown: Canada audit
Key gaps in information mean Canada has been unable to assess the impact of exploiting Alberta's oil sands, the nation's environment commissioner said Tuesday.
Were martian rocks weathered by water?
There are many ways rocks can be textured. Wind erosion, water erosion, the escape of volcanic gases during their formation (in the case of igneous rocks)… all these forces can create the pitted textures found on many rocks on Earth… and perhaps even on Mars. And according to a report published by a group of planetary geologists led by James Head of Rhode Island’s Brown University, another method may also be at play on Mars: melting snow.
Puzzling comet composition solved?
For years comets have mystified scientists with their compositions that appear to have formed in both warm and cold environments, rather than in one location of a uniform temperature. But new research shows that the reason some comets feature patches of differing surface composition is not because they are made from material that formed in different parts of the Solar System, but because some parts of their surface absorb heat at varying rates. This leads to localized heat sinks and cold traps, according to a new model constructed by David Jewitt and Aurelie Guilbert-Lepoutre from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Their model shows that the chemical composition of a comet can evolve in the ten million year period during which a comet is classed as a Centaur, migrating from the Kuiper Belt to the inner Solar System.
Probing Question: How well do we predict floods?
There was no Ark involved and it didn’t last 40 days -- but when the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee dumped more rain on the already saturated Northeast, the result was the Susquehanna River’s worst flooding in nearly 40 years. Thousands were evacuated, a number of lives were lost, and damage to homes and businesses is said to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Did a comet hit cause an explosion on the sun?
This amazing video from the SOHO mission (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) shows a sun-diving comet hitting the solar surface on October 1, 2011 and unexpectedly a huge explosion occurs shortly after. Are the two events related? Probably not, but solar scientists don’t know for sure. The region where the CME originated was on the opposite side of the Sun from the comet hit, so that is very great distance. Scientists say there is no known mechanism for comets to trigger a CME.
MESSENGER results after six months in orbit
(PhysOrg.com) -- MESSENGER scientists will highlight the latest results on Mercury from MESSENGER observations obtained during the first six months (the first Mercury solar day) in orbit. These findings will be presented October 5 in 30 papers and posters as part of a special session of the joint meeting of the European Planetary Science Congress and the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society in Nantes, Frances.
Draconid meteor outburst
On October 8th Earth is going to plow through a stream of dust from Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, and the result could be an outburst of Draconid meteors.
New study shows how trees clean the air in London
New research by scientists at the University of Southampton has shown how London's trees can improve air quality by filtering out pollution particulates, which are damaging to human health.
Nuclear contamination found beyond Japan no-go zone
High levels of radioactive contamination have been found in soil in the capital of Japan's Fukushima prefecture, a study showed Wednesday, prompting calls to make the area a voluntary evacuation zone.
Saturday's Draconid meteors may be no-see-ums
(AP) -- Heads-up, meteor fans. As many as 750 meteors an hour are expected Saturday, as Earth travels through streams of dust and ice from Comet Giacobini-Zinner. The comet passes through the inner solar system every seven years.
Long-lost Lake Agassiz offers clues to climate change
Not long ago, geologically speaking, a now-vanished lake covered a huge expanse of today's Canadian prairie. As big as Hudson Bay, the lake was fed by melting glaciers as they receded at the end of the last ice age. At its largest, Glacial Lake Agassiz, as it is known, covered most of the Canadian province of Manitoba, plus a good part of western Ontario. A southern arm straddled the Minnesota-North Dakota border.
NASA sees wind shear and heavy rainfall in tropical storm Philippe
Heavy rainfall was occurring in Tropical Storm Philippe's southeastern quadrant when NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite flew over it this week, and the storm continues to strengthen.
A eyes light rainfall in dissipating tropical depression Nalgae
Tropical Depression Nalgae weakened rapidly when it made landfall on Hainan Island, China yesterday and NASA's TRMM satellite observed lighter rainfall rates that coincided with its lower intensity. Today, Nalgae's remnants are moving drifting toward Vietnam.
Most ancient supernovas discovered
Supernovas -- stars in the process of exploding -- open a window onto the history of the elements of Earth's periodic table as well as the history of the universe. All of those heavier than oxygen were formed in nuclear reactions that occurred during these explosions.
Moon's shadow, like a ship, creates waves
During a solar eclipse, the Moon's passage overhead blocks out the majority of the Sun's light and casts a wide swath of the Earth into darkness. The land under the Moon's shadow receives less incoming energy than the surrounding regions, causing it to cool.
SPICE geoengineering project delayed due to critics issues
(PhysOrg.com) -- Last month it was announced that a group of researchers had come together to start a geoengineering project called Stratospheric Particle Injection for Climate Engineering (SPICE). Its aim was, and still is, is to find out if it would be possible to simulate the planet-wide cooling effects of volcanoes by sending a giant balloon up into the stratosphere so as to pump aerosols (via a very long hose) into the atmosphere that would reflect back some of the sun’s heat, thus cooling the planet slightly; this to offset the global warming that has resulted from the constant pumping of carbon emissions into the air. The team had originally planned to test a much smaller version of their balloon/hose experiment this month spraying only water at a lower altitude. Now however, the group has bowed to criticism from various sectors and has postponed the initial test until sometime in April.
Arctic sea ice continues decline, hits 2nd-lowest level
(PhysOrg.com) -- Last month the extent of sea ice covering the Arctic Ocean declined to the second-lowest extent on record. Satellite data from NASA and the NASA-supported National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at the University of Colorado in Boulder showed that the summertime sea ice cover narrowly avoided a new record low.
First comet found with ocean-like water
New evidence supports the theory that comets delivered a significant portion of Earth's oceans, which scientists believe formed about 8 million years after the planet itself.
Technology news
Disney plans more 3D remakes after 'Lion King'
Disney plans to release 3D versions of four more classic movies, including "Finding Nemo" and "The Little Mermaid," after the success of the revived "The Lion King," the studio announced Tuesday.
X-ray vision to characterise mineral ores
A new state of the art x-ray imaging detector smaller than a postage stamp is the key to a powerful new method of characterising mineral ores, according to an article published today in the October issue of CSIRO’s Process magazine.
First smart TV app developed using Adobe AIR
At Max 2011, Adobe’s technology developer conference, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, announced the launch of the first Smart TV application using Adobe AIR, to be available on Samsung Smart TVs. With the announcement, Samsung marked yet another step in the evolution of Samsung’s connected entertainment ecosystem, which delivers rich content experiences across a range of devices including televisions, mobile phones, tablets and PCs.
Secure updates for navigation systems and company
At the push of a button by the driver, control units download the car manufacturer's new software -- such as enhanced map material for the navigation system. To ensure that this data channel is protected from hacker attack, the system needs the right cryptographic key. To date, these keys have been stored in each one of a vehicle's electronic control units.
Women drive boom at LatAm video game fair: organizer
The biggest video game fair in Latin American opened its doors Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro, with organizers expecting some 60,000 visitors and an ever-increasing number of women gamers.
Timing is right for SDSC cloud
Successfully managing, preserving, and sharing large amounts of digitally-based data has become more of an economic challenge than a technical one, as researchers must meet a new National Science Foundation (NSF) policy requiring them to submit a data management plan as part of their funding requests, said Michael Norman, director the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) at the University of California, San Diego.
Why Apple falls after new product announcements
(AP) -- Here's a market riddle for you: Why does Apple's stock fall on the same day the company reveals a new product?
On sale now in China: the 'iPhone 5'
Several Chinese online stores are offering die-hard Apple fans the opportunity to buy the much-anticipated next-generation iPhone 5. There's just one catch -- the US tech giant hasn't released it yet.
Clean soot particle filters
The soot particle filters found on diesel vehicles are designed to ensure that no harmful particles make their way through the exhaust pipe. Often, though, the exhaust from newer-model engines is not hot enough to free the filters from soot particles on a regular basis. A new method removes impurities even at low exhaust temperatures.
Microlenses for 3-D endoscopes
Modern endoscopic techniques enable doctors to perform surgery without major incisions. Certain interventions require instruments with special 3-D optics. Researchers have developed an image sensor that transmits perfect 3-D images from inside the human body thanks to the use of microlenses.
The green look for EV charging stations
The network of electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations in Germany is still relatively sparse, but their number is growing rapidly. The majority of roadside charging points take the form of steel-clad pillars. A group of researchers has set out to develop an alternative design based on environmentally compatible materials.
Software to prevent abuse at the click of a mouse
Teaming up with investigators from the State Office of Criminal Investigation in Berlin, Fraunhofer researchers have come up with an automated assistance system for image and video evaluation that can detect child-pornographic images from among even large volumes of data. Soon, it will make prosecutors‘ work easier.
A living factory
The time it takes for new products to come to market is getting ever shorter. As a consequence, goods are being produced using manufacturing facilities and IT systems that were designed with completely different models in mind. Fraunhofer developers want to make factories smarter so they can react to changes of their own accord.
Amazon deal with Calif. may set precedent for online tax collection
California braced for a fight this year when its budget deal included a provision to force online retailers - Amazon.com Inc. by far the most prominent among them - to collect sales taxes on purchases made by the state's residents.
Dutch to unveil alcohol immobilisers in cars
Drivers caught from December with a blood alcohol content of more than 1.3 grammes per litre will be forced to have breathalyser immobilisers in their cars, the Dutch Infrastructure Ministry said Wednesday.
Microsoft opens first Latin America tech center
Microsoft has opened its first technology center in Latin America and promised to invest $690 million (522 million euros) in Mexico in the next year.
Hola, Hulu! Univision telenovelas come online
(AP) -- Univision, the nation's No. 1 Spanish-language broadcaster, is bringing its popular telenovelas and other prime-time TV programming to online video service Hulu.
Companies are like-minded on social media jobs
Like many people, Evan Cunningham spends time on Facebook and Twitter while at the office. He sends out party invitations or chats about beer. But unlike most people, he gets paid for it. And he gets a title.
As phone prices drop in China, knockoffs lose appeal
Xiong Mingjian is often crushed into a corner during his tedious subway commutes, but passing the time has been easy since he bought a nifty new cellphone.
Microsoft brings TV content to the Xbox
(AP) -- Owners of the Xbox 360 will soon be able to watch a broad breadth of TV shows and other content through their gaming consoles - though most of that won't be free.
Nuclear power essential to cut emissions: UK expert
Britain's chief scientific adviser voiced concern Wednesday at moves to abandon nuclear power after Japan's Fukushima crisis, saying it remains vital to combat global warming.
Wikipedia blocks access to protest Italian media law
Online encylopedia Wikipedia has blocked access to its Italian version to protest a draft law to make websites amend content on even a single complaint of prejudice without independent verification.
Yahoo shares jump on talk of new Microsoft bid
Yahoo shares surged Wednesday driven by speculation that Microsoft would lodge a new bid for the web giant, more than three years after being rejected.
Samsung seeks sales ban on new iPhone
South Korea's Samsung Electronics said Wednesday it would seek a ban in France and Italy on sales of Apple's newly released iPhone, in the latest round of its legal battle with the US technology giant.
Bringing Chrome to Android more than wishful thinking
(PhysOrg.com) -- The first version of Chrome for Android should be just around the corner, according to ConceivablyTech. “Google is heading toward the finish line for the first release of Chrome for Android,” said the report. The information points to a developer posting on the Chromium site, where a build target was set for the browser. Chromium is the open source project on which the Google Chrome browser is based.
Take control of your phone's sensors
For several years, the Human Dynamics research group at the MIT Media Lab has been using the standard sensors in smartphones to collect data about people’s social interactions, drawing surprising conclusions about the way political opinions, dietary habits and illnesses -- among other things -- spread through populations.
U.S. unlikely to hit Renewable Fuel Standard for cellulosic biofuels: report
The biofuel industry will not be able to meet the cellulosic production requirements of the Renewable Fuel Standard without significant advancements in technology or investment, according to a National Academy of Sciences study prepared for Congress.
Hitachi demos 3D real-world object projector
(PhysOrg.com) -- In a feat of technical wizardry combined with several doses of panache, Hitachi has demoed a 3D projector that can project images onto real-world objects in stunning fashion. For the demo, a 3D image of a bird hatching was displayed on an artificial egg that was cradled in an artificial nest. But that’s not all. Viewers looking at the demo see the bird as a hologram, in that as the viewing angle changes, so too does the view of the image, just as it would were you to be watching a real bird. The demo brings to mind Princess Leia, in Star Wars, delivering her message via 3D hologram to Obi Wan Kenobi.
New technique offers enhanced security for sensitive data in cloud computing
Researchers from North Carolina State University and IBM have developed a new, experimental technique to better protect sensitive information in cloud computing – without significantly affecting the system's overall performance.
Google Earth eclipses one billion downloads
Google Earth software has been downloaded more than one billion times, and that stellar achievement was marked Wednesday with a website showcasing ways the interactive replica of the planet is used.
Medicine & Health news
Regular exercise improves health of people with long-term kidney disease
There are many reasons why people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often lose fitness and have increasing difficulty performing normal daily tasks, but new research shows scientific evidence for the benefits of regular exercise for people with CKD, including those with a kidney transplant. They can improve their physical fitness, walk further, have healthier blood pressures, healthier heart rates, higher health-related quality of life scores and better nutritional characteristics compared to those who don't exercise. So concludes a systematic review published in The Cochrane Library.
Is informed consent threatening biobank research?
Having to obtain informed consent for the use of left-over human tissue samples could be hampering essential biobank research says a research group on BMJ.com today.
Brazil approves obesity drug banned in US, Europe
Brazil on Tuesday approved the use of an anti-obesity medication, sibutramine, which has been banned in Europe and the United States, officials said.
Discovery of asthma cause could help treat sufferers
(Medical Xpress) -- Scientists at the University of Bath have found a new cause of severe asthma that could help develop a treatment and potentially prevent the 1100 asthma deaths each year in the UK.
Seafood: can there be too much of a good thing?
Stony Brook University has launched a pilot epidemiologic study targeting avid fish consumers that will examine the benefits and risks of seafood consumption. The “Long Island Study of Seafood Consumption,” led by Jaymie Meliker, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Graduate Program in Public Health, Department of Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, is now recruiting for study participants via a qualifying survey.
New tool helps identify prostate cancer patients with highest risk of death
After a prostate cancer patient receives radiation treatment, his doctor carefully monitors the amount of prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, in his blood. An increase in PSA, called biochemical failure, is the first detectable sign of the cancer's return to the prostate. Fox Chase Cancer Center researcher have found that the time between the last radiation treatment and biochemical failure can accurately predict a patient's risk of death of prostate cancer.
Patients with implanted cardiac devices should learn about end-of-life options
An implanted device meant to correct heart rhythm may generate repeated painful shocks during a patient’s final hours, at a time when the natural process of dying often affects the heart’s rhythm. Yet, clinicians rarely discuss options for limiting these distressing events, according to a new review of literature, in the current issue of American Journal of Nursing.
Fox Chase Gleason scores better predict prostate cancer's recurrence after radiation
–In a new study led by Fox Chase Cancer Center radiation oncologist Natasha Townsend, M.D., researchers have found that Gleason scores determined by pathologists at Fox Chase Cancer Center more accurately predict the risk of recurrence than Gleason scores from referring institutions. She presented the new research at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology on Monday, October 3.
Improving early detection of breast cancer
(Medical Xpress) -- The University of Sydney, in partnership with BreastScreen NSW and Ziltron, has developed a pioneering web-based program to monitor the performance of radiologists in detecting and diagnosing abnormalities in breast X-rays. Currently commencing its nationwide rollout, the BREAST Project has the potential to improve the early detection of breast cancer through screening and in turn reduce breast cancer mortality and morbidity.
Earlier tracheostomies result in better patient outcomes
A tracheostomy performed within the first seven days after a severe head injury results in better overall patient outcome, according to a team of Penn State College of Medicine researchers. This is especially true for patients who have a greater chance of surviving when admitted to the hospital.
Researchers improve accuracy of IMRT delivery in post-prostatectomy patients
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United States, as well as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in this population. Many of these patients undergo surgical removal of their prostate, followed by radiation therapy applied to their prostate bed — the space where the prostate was once situated.
More aggressive treatment not necessary for men with a family history of prostate cancer
Approximately 10-20 percent of prostate cancer patients have a family history of the disease. There are three major factors that are used to evaluate the extent and aggressiveness of prostate cancer, help make treatment decisions, and estimate prognosis: the Prostate Specific Antigen Level (PSA), Gleason score (GS) from the biopsy, and the digital rectal exam findings (DRE). However, men with a family history of prostate cancer have often been feared to have a more aggressive form of the disease not otherwise represented by these three factors and therefore are sometimes urged to undergo more aggressive treatment.
FDG-PET appears promising for predicting prognosis of patients with inoperable NSCLC
The prognosis for patients with stage II and III inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is poor, with only about 15 percent of patients surviving at five years post-treatment for the disease. While new treatment strategies are being intensely studied, timely assessment of their efficacy has proven difficult. In a presentation today, Mitchell Machtay, MD, principal investigator of the ACRIN 6668/RTOG 0235 trial and RTOG deputy chair, reported the that post-treatment F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scans show promise for predicting the prognosis of patients with inoperable disease.
New research shows PET imaging effective in predicting lung cancer outcomes
Advanced imaging with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans shows great promise in predicting which patients with inoperable lung cancer have more aggressive tumors and need additional treatment following standard chemotherapy/radiation therapy, according to new research.
New potential therapeutic target for breast cancer
A possible new target for breast cancer therapy comes from the discovery that the Tyk2 protein helps suppress the growth and metastasis of breast tumors, as reported in Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
Nursing home flu shots fall short, especially for blacks
At the beginning of the 2011-12 flu season, a new study finds that the proportion of nursing home patients who get a shot remains lower than a national public health goal and that the rate is lower for blacks than for whites. The disparity persists even within individual nursing homes, said researchers at Brown University, who investigated the disparity and some of the reasons behind it.
Health Affairs article focuses on health care disparities facing people with disabilities
Two decades after the Americans with Disabilities Act went into effect, people with disabilities continue to face difficulties meeting major social needs, including obtaining appropriate access to health care facilities and services. In an article in the October issue of Health Affairs, Lisa Iezzoni, MD, director of the Mongan Institute for Health Policy at Massachusetts General Hospital, analyzes available information on disparities affecting people with disabilities and highlights barriers that continue to restrict their access to health services.
Study: Worst hospitals treat larger share of poor
(AP) -- The nation's worst hospitals treat twice the proportion of elderly black patients and poor patients than the best hospitals, and their patients are more likely to die of heart attacks and pneumonia, new research shows.
Recognition of anger, fear, disgust most affected in dementia
(Medical Xpress) -- A new study on emotion recognition has shown that people with frontotemporal dementia are more likely to lose the ability to recognise negative emotions, such as anger, fear and disgust, than positive emotions such as happiness.
Frequently used weight-loss method is light on evidence
Although the transtheoretical model stages of change (TTM SOC) method is frequently used to help obese and overweight people lose weight, a newly published Cochrane systematic review indicates there is little evidence that it is effective. "The use of TTM SOC only resulted in 2kg or less weight loss, and there was no conclusive evidence that this loss was sustained," says study leader Nik Tuah, who works at Imperial College London.
Smoking could lead to 40 million excess tuberculosis deaths by 2050
Between 2010 and 2050, smoking could be responsible for 40 million excess deaths from tuberculosis (TB), according to research published in the British Medical Journal today.
Remitting multiple sclerosis: Natalizumab reduces relapses and disability
Taking the new generation anti-inflammatory drug natalizumab for two years lowers the number of remitting multiple sclerosis patients who experience relapses and progression of disability. This is the main finding of a systematic review published in the latest edition of The Cochrane Library.
Petition demands US label genetically engineered food
Supporters and producers of organic foods petitioned the US government Tuesday for mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods, and encouraged consumers to go online and join the cause.
Asthma treatment may be headed toward personalized medicine
Asthma patients could clearly benefit from personalized medicine, a new study suggests. However, the new discovery of a key gene, while exciting, does not mean that day is here quite yet.
Study brings secrets of brain cell communication closer
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers at The University of Queensland's Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) have taken a significant step towards unravelling the mechanism by which communication between brain cells occurs.
Finland vows care for narcolepsy kids who had swine flu shot
The Finnish government and major insurance companies announced Wednesday they will pay for lifetime medical care for children diagnosed with narcolepsy after receiving the swine flu vaccine.
Oxygenating system associated with lower risk of death for H1N1 patients with respiratory failure
Patients with severe 2009 H1N1 influenza who developed respiratory failure and were treated with a system that adds oxygen to the patient's blood had a lower rate of in-hospital death than similar patients who did not receive this treatment, according to a study appearing in JAMA. The study is being published early online to coincide with its presentation at the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine meeting in Berlin.
Dietary supplements for patients after lung injury do not appear to improve outcomes; may be harmful
In contrast to findings of previous studies, patients who experienced an acute lung injury, such as from pneumonia or sepsis, and received dietary supplements including omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants had more days on a ventilator, more days in the intensive care unit (ICU), and a non-statistically significant increase in the rate of death, according to a study appearing in JAMA. The study is being published early online to coincide with its presentation at the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine meeting in Berlin.
Survey reveals reasons doctors avoid online error-reporting tools
"Too busy," and "too complicated." These are the typical excuses one might expect when medical professionals are asked why they fail to use online error-reporting systems designed to improve patient safety and the quality of care. But, Johns Hopkins investigators found instead that the most common reason among radiation oncologists was fear of getting into trouble and embarrassment.
Women with PCOS have family heart disease link
A new study from the University of Adelaide shows the parents of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are more likely to have some form of cardiovascular disease.
Sex-segregated schooling ineffective and increases gender stereotyping, experts warn
Sex-segregated schooling is not superior to coeducational schooling and carries the risk of exaggerating sexism and gender stereotyping, according to a new report co-authored by a University of Texas at Austin psychologist.
Aggression-boldness gene identified in model fish
A gene responsible for aggressive and bold behavior has been identified in zebrafish by a French team from CNRS/Laboratoire Neurobiologie et Développement. This specific behavioral association, whose three characteristics are boldness, exploratory behavior and aggressiveness, has been described in many animal species. In zebrafish, it could be due to the action of a single gene (fgfr-1) through its regulation of histamine levels in the brain, as histamine is the neurotransmitter involved in numerous behavioral traits. These results are published in The Journal of Neuroscience on 28 September 2011.
Organic medical imaging system to detect disease and track medication
(Medical Xpress) -- Scientists at The University of Nottingham are developing microscopic organic medical imaging systems to support a new generation of breakthrough treatments for currently incurable diseases and chronic life-threatening illnesses.
On the menu: Research helps future restaurant managers reach out to customers with food allergies
A Kansas State University research team is serving up improved food allergy education for future restaurant managers and staff.
Zinc's role in the brain: Research gives insight into 50-year-old mystery
Zinc plays a critical role in regulating how neurons communicate with one another, and could affect how memories form and how we learn. The new research, in the current issue of Neuron, was authored by Xiao-an Zhang, now a chemistry professor at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC), and colleagues at MIT and Duke University.
Seeds of destruction in Parkinson's disease: Spread of diseased proteins kills neurons
New research suggests that small "seed" amounts of diseased brain proteins can be taken up by healthy neurons and propagated within them to cause neurodegeneration. The research, published by Cell Press in the October 6 issue of the journal Neuron, sheds light on the mechanisms associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) and provides a model for discovering early intervention therapeutics that can prevent or slow the devastating loss of neurons that underlies PD.
Don't get math? Researchers home in on the brain's problem
Can't calculate a tip or even balance your checkbook? Take heart; maybe you can blame your brain - specifically, the parietal cortex in the top back part of the head. And it could be a problem that has roots not in a failed arithmetic or "new math" lesson, but even earlier.
Research sheds light on origins of greatness
What makes people great? Popular theorists such as the New Yorker's Malcolm Gladwell and the New York Times' David Brooks argue that intelligence plays a role -- but only up to a point. Beyond that, they say, it's practice, practice, practice.
We are what we experience: study
the ups and downs, and everything in between -- shape us, stay with us and influence our emotional set point as adults, according to a new study led by Virginia Commonwealth University researchers.
New study shows inflammatory food toxins found in high levels in infants
Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found high levels of food toxins called Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs) in infants. Excessive food AGEs, through both maternal blood transmission and baby formula, could together significantly increase children's risk for diseases such as diabetes from a very young age. A second study of AGEs in adults found that cutting back on processed, grilled, and fried foods, which are high in AGEs, may improve insulin resistance in people with diabetes. AGEs -- toxic glucose byproducts previously tied to high blood sugar -- are found in most heated foods and, in great excess, in commercial infant formulas.
You can wash away your troubles, with soap
"Wash away my troubles, wash away my pain," goes the song. Is there such a thing as soap and water for the psyche? Yes: Metaphor is that powerful, say Spike W.S. Lee and Norbert Schwarz of the University of Michigan in a literature review appearing in the latest issue of Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal published by the Association for Psychological Science.
Invasive melanoma may be more likely in children than adults
A Johns Hopkins Children's Center study of young people with melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, has found that some children have a higher risk of invasive disease than adults.
Longer trips to the ER, especially for minorities and poor
Closures of hospital trauma centers are disproportionately affecting poor, uninsured and African American populations, and nearly a fourth of Americans are now forced to travel farther than they once did.
Think you're in poor health? It could increase your odds of dementia
People who rate their health as poor or fair appear to be significantly more likely to develop dementia later in life, according to a study published in the October 5, 2011, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
US not taking basic step to prevent toxoplasmosis in newborns, researcher contends
North American babies who acquire toxoplasmosis infections in the womb show much higher rates of brain and eye damage than European infants with the same infection, according to new research from the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Progression of lung fibrosis blocked in mouse model
A study by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine may lead to a way to prevent the progression, or induce the regression, of lung injury that results from use of the anti-cancer chemotherapy drug Bleomycin. Pulmonary fibrosis caused by this drug, as well as Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) from unknown causes, affect nearly five million people worldwide. No therapy is known to improve the health or survival of patients.
New Stanford regimen frees kidney-transplant patients from dependency on immunosuppresant drugs
Investigators at the Stanford University School of Medicine have developed a novel protocol that allows kidney-transplant recipients to jettison their indispensable immune-suppressing drugs. The protocol could also spell substantial savings to the health-care system.
Scientists determine alternative insecticide dramatically reduces malaria transmission
Indoor spraying with the insecticide bendiocarb has dramatically decreased malaria transmission in many parts of Benin, new evidence that insecticides remain a potent weapon for fighting malaria in Africa despite the rapid rise of resistance to an entire class of mosquito-killing compounds, according to a study published today in the October edition of The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
Survival increased in early stage breast cancer after treatment with herceptin and chemo
Treating women with early stage breast cancer with a combination of chemotherapy and the molecularly targeted drug Herceptin significantly increases survival in patients with a specific genetic mutation that results in very aggressive disease, a researcher with UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center reported Wednesday.
Illusory memories can have salutary effects
(Medical Xpress) -- “False memories tend to get a bad rap,” says developmental psychologist Mark L. Howe, of Lancaster University in England. Indeed, remembering events incorrectly or remembering events that didn’t happen can have grave consequences, such as the criminal conviction of an innocent person. “But false memories are a natural outcropping of memory in general. They must have some positive effect, too.”
Eye of a fruit fly
(Medical Xpress) -- A tiny fruit fly's retina may hold the key to understanding the cause of the progression of Alzheimer's disease, according to a newly published study by researchers at the University of Dayton and the University of Florida.
Study shows daily aspirin intake can lead to blindness
(Medical Xpress) -- A new study published in Ophthalmology reveals that while taking a daily aspirin may reduce the risks of heart disease and stroke, a disturbing side effect has also been noted to increase the risk of developing macular degeneration.
In the brain, winning is everywhere
Winning may not be the only thing, but the human brain devotes a lot of resources to the outcome of games, a new study by Yale researchers suggest.
How chronic stress short-circuits parenting
In the best of circumstances, raising a toddler is a daunting undertaking. But parents under long-term stress often find it particularly challenging to tap into the patience, responsiveness, and energy required for effective child rearing.
Immune mechanism blocks inflammation generated by oxidative stress
Conditions like atherosclerosis and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) -- the most common cause of blindness among the elderly in western societies -- are strongly linked to increased oxidative stress, the process in which proteins, lipids and DNA damaged by oxygen free radicals and related cellular waste accumulate, prompting an inflammatory response from the body's innate immune system that results in chronic disease.
Long-term correction of severe spinal muscular atrophy by antisense therapy
A new study from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) reports surprising results that suggest that the devastating neuromuscular disease, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), might not exclusively affect the motor neurons in the spinal cord as has long been thought. The new findings suggest that defects in peripheral tissues such as liver, muscle, heart, etc., might also contribute to the pathology of the disease in severely affected patients. The study, which also paves the way for a potential SMA drug to enter human trials by the end of the year, appears in Nature on October 6.
Novel math formula predicts success of certain cancer therapies
Carefully tracking the rate of response of human lung tumors during the first weeks of treatment can predict which cancers will undergo sustained regression, suggests a new study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Common form of autism recreated in a new mouse model
Over the past decade, new technologies have revealed that autism spectrum disorder has a substantial genetic component. But determining exactly which genes are involved has been like finding the proverbial needle in the haystack.
Scientists identify genetic link for a 'heavy heart'
(Medical Xpress) -- An international research team led by Imperial College London has for the first time pinpointed a single gene associated with one of the leading causes of heart thickening and failure.
Women exposed to diethylstilbestrol in the womb face increased cancer risk
A large study of the daughters of women who had been given DES, the first synthetic form of estrogen, during pregnancy has found that exposure to the drug while in the womb (in utero) is associated with many reproductive problems and an increased risk of certain cancers and pre-cancerous conditions. The results of this analysis, conducted by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and collaborators across the country, were published Oct. 6, 2011, in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Monkeys feel, move virtual objects using only their brains (w/ video)
(Medical Xpress) -- In a first ever demonstration of a two-way interaction between a primate brain and a virtual body, two monkeys trained at the Duke University Center for Neuroengineering learned to employ brain activity alone to move an avatar hand and identify the texture of virtual objects.
Biology news
Distribution atlas of butterflies in Europe
Scientists present the largest distribution data compilation ever on butterflies of an entire continent. The Germany based Society for the Conservation of Butterflies and Moths GfS ("Gesellschaft für Schmetterlingsschutz"), the German Nature Conservation Association NABU ("Naturschutzbund Deutschland") and the Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) are delighted to announce the publication of the „Distribution Atlas of Butterflies in Europe".
SFU student researches fungi fighting controls
(PhysOrg.com) -- If Andrew Wylie achieves his goal -- to use fungi to fight fungi on diseased organic greenhouse vegetables -- there’ll likely be a lot of growers giving him thanks on a future Thanksgiving weekend.
The establishment of genetically engineered canola populations in the US
Large, persistent populations of genetically engineered canola 1 have been found outside of cultivation in North Dakota. As genetically engineered crops become increasingly prevalent in the United States, concerns remain about potential ecological side effects.
Seed time-capsule will aid study of plant evolution amid environmental change
Everything that scientists can ever know about long-gone creatures is what they can deduce from fossils. But what if they could resurrect actual specimens and compare their features with their modern-day descendants? That's a notion that has University of Toronto biologists helping to create a seed bank that will let future researchers do exactly that with plants, allowing them to measure evolution caused by global change.
Cell cultures from a machine
Cell cultures form the basis of day-to-day research work in applications that range from the development of drugs and vaccines to the decoding of functions of individual genes. Up until now, cell cultures have been sown, tended, observed and transferred to vessels – all by hand. A new device automates these worksteps completely.
Bacteria can aid toxic environmental cleanups, may boost ag production, researchers report
(PhysOrg.com) -- Remarkable bacteria that resist arsenic could greatly enhance cleanups of toxic environments and potentially boost agricultural production, according to a new University of Florida study.
Lack of compensation for human egg donors could stall recent breakthroughs in stem cell research
Women donating their eggs for use in fertility clinics are typically financially compensated for the time and discomfort involved in the procedure. However, guidelines established by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in 2005 state that women who donate their eggs for use in stem cell research should not be compensated, although the procedures they undergo are the same. In the October 7th issue of Cell Stem Cell, researchers at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) and the Department of Bioethics at Case Western Reserve University argue that this lack of compensation could prove to be yet another hurdle for human stem cell research in the United States.
Study claims no link between real world use of antibacterial soaps and antibiotic resistance
Newly published research says it reaffirms that the use of antibacterial wash products in the home environment does not contribute to antibiotic or antibacterial resistance, confirming previous research that showcased similar findings.
Colossal aggregations of giant alien freshwater fish as a potential biogeochemical hotspot
Many different types of animals come together to form vast groups – insect swarms, mammal herds, or bird flocks, for example. Researchers in France added another example to the list, reported today in the online journal PLoS ONE: the huge Wels catfish, the world's third largest and Europe's largest fresh-water fish. Researchers observed these fish in the Rhone River from May 2009 to Feb. 2011 and found that they formed dense groups of 15 to 44 individuals, corresponding to an estimated total biomass of up to 1132 kilograms with a biomass density of 14 to 40 kilograms per square meter.
What gets turned on when a female gets 'turned on'?
(PhysOrg.com) -- Hearing the courtship songs of males, not only gets females in the mood for mating, but can also prepare for potential infection, according to the latest research.
Bacteria forge nitrogen from nitric oxide: Scientists unravel key pathway in the nitrogen cycle
The anaerobic oxidation of ammonia (anammox) is an important pathway in the nitrogen cycle that was only discovered in the 1980s. Currently, scientists estimate that about 50 percent of the nitrogen in the atmosphere is forged by this process. A group of specialized bacteria perform the anammox reaction, but so far scientists have been in the dark about how these bacteria could convert ammonia to nitrogen in the complete absence of oxygen. Now, 25 years after its discovery, they finally solved the molecular mechanism of anammox.
Penis size does matter if you are a bank vole
(PhysOrg.com) -- While size may not matter when it comes to humans, a new study published in Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology found that the width of the male bank vole’s penis plays a role in social dominance.
Personalised stem cells back in the spotlight
Scientists on Wednesday said they had made strides in lab research in personalised stem cells, reviving interest in a goal clouded by fraud and ethical storms.
Last universal common ancestor more complex than previously thought
Scientists call it LUCA, the Last Universal Common Ancestor, but they don't know much about this great-grandparent of all living things. Many believe LUCA was little more than a crude assemblage of molecular parts, a chemical soup out of which evolution gradually constructed more complex forms. Some scientists still debate whether it was even a cell.
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