Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for June 1, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Transparent phone display has front-and-back touch- Quantum computers will be able to simulate particle collisions (w/ Video)
- European team bests Chinese record at teleporting distance
- From yeast, researchers learn how populations collapse
- Tighter 'stitching' makes better graphene
- Soviet find of water on the Moon in the 1970s ignored by the West
- Researchers develop method that shows diverse complex networks have similar skeletons
- Scudder makes first observations of process linked to northern lights
- Scientists map and sequence genome of switchgrass relative foxtail millet
- Team reveals novel way to treat drug-resistant brain tumor cells
- Human hands leave prominent ecological footprints
- New compound could become 'cool blue' for energy efficiency in buildings
- ASU astronomers discover faintest distant galaxy
- Potential new approach to regenerating skeletal muscle tissue
- Integrated sensors handle extreme conditions
Space & Earth news
Strong magnitude quake hits eastern Indonesia
(AP) — A strong earthquake has hit eastern Indonesia. There are no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
Superheroes in space: astronauts to see 'Avengers'
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station will soon get a special screening of "The Avengers," the blockbuster movie about superheroes defending Earth from aliens.
Nasa begins development of Space Launch System flight software
(Phys.org) -- NASA engineers working on the new Space Launch System (SLS) can now begin developing the advanced, heavy-lift launch vehicle's flight software using newly delivered software test bed computers from Boeing.
NASA completes Dream Chaser flight test milestone
(Phys.org) -- Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) Space Systems successfully completed a "captive carry test" of its full-scale Dream Chaser orbital crew vehicle Tuesday, marking a new milestone in the company's effort to develop transportation for astronauts to low Earth orbit and the International Space Station.
Farm ponds cut agricultural water pollution
The reintroduction of farm ponds could significantly reduce agricultural pollution in our streams and rivers, according to new research.
Selective logging hardly damages tropical forests
Between 85 and 100 percent of biodiversity maintained. 'Don't dismiss it as lost acreage.'
Hazy days: Berkeley lab tackles pollution in Mongolia
(Phys.org) -- Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) are known for designing high-efficiency cookstoves for Darfur and Ethiopia. Now they are applying their expertise to the windswept steppes of Mongolia, whose capital city, Ulaan Baatar, is among the most polluted cities in the world.
First mission for new ocean floor observatory
On Saturday, May 26, the German research vessel POSEIDON sailed from the port of Bergen, Norway, for an expedition to the Norwegian Sea. On board the newly developed ocean floor observatory, MoLab, is being taken to its first mission. The scientists will install MoLab on a cold water coral reef off the coast of northern Norway for a period of four months.
Expedition studies acid impacts on Arctic
The effects of ocean acidification on Arctic seas will be studied by a team of 30 researchers, including Dr Toby Tyrrell from the University of Southampton, who set sail from the UK today (1 June), venturing as far north as polar ice allows.
Next round of UN climate talks set for Bangkok
A new round of climate talks will be held in Bangkok from August 30 to September 5 to prepare for minister-level negotiations at year end, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) said on Friday.
Stunning visualization of 56 years of tornadoes in the US
It’s a wonder of nature, baby. Using information from data.gov, tech blogger John Nelson has created this spectacular image of tornado paths in the US over a 56 year period. The graphic categorizes the storms by F-scale with the brighter neon lines representing more violent storms.
Venus takes center stage in upcoming rare sky show
It's a spectacle that won't repeat for another century — the sight of Venus slowly inching across the face of the sun.
Study reveals pesticide approval processes don't protect river biodiversity
(Phys.org) -- The results of an international study, using data from globally available field research, indicate that current pesticide approval procedures do not adequately protect the environment.
Exploring Mars in the Austrian Alps
In the largest ice caves on Earth, spacesuits and remote-controlled planetary rovers were for the first time tested in a five-day odyssey in the Alps designed to mimic potential future missions on Mars.
Winds of change for pollution sensing
(Phys.org) -- The Great Smog of London is often upheld as a time when pollution reached appalling levels: over a four-day period in December 1952, the capital came to a standstill, cars were abandoned, airports closed and over 4,000 people died due to respiratory or cardiovascular problems. But what might come as some surprise is that roughly the same number of people died as a result of pollution in London in 2008.
Study highlights climate food risk hotspots
The poorest societies may be more able to adapt to the threat climate change poses to food supplies than their slightly richer peers, a new study suggests.
A legacy of the race to the south pole: New scientific discoveries in Antarctica
(Phys.org) -- This winter marks the 100th anniversary of the race to the South Pole. After crossing Antarctica-the coldest, windiest, driest continent on Earth-the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his team arrived at the geographic South Pole on Dec. 14, 1911, the first people in history to reach the bottom of the Earth.
Artemis keeps talking the talk
(Phys.org) -- Although ESA’s Artemis telecommunications satellite has officially completed its mission, it still has plenty to offer. Reaching its working orbit almost 11 years ago after an arduous journey, Artemis continues to communicate with Earth.
Venus, a planetary portrait of inner beauty
(Phys.org) -- A Venus transit across the face of the sun is a relatively rare event -- occurring in pairs with more than a century separating each pair. There have been all of 53 transits of Venus across the sun between 2000 B.C. and the last one in 2004. On Wednesday, June 6 (Tuesday, June 5 from the Western Hemisphere), Earth gets another shot at it - and the last for a good long while. But beyond this uniquely celestial oddity, why has Venus been an object worthy of ogling for hundreds of centuries?
Hurricane season is here, and FSU scientists predict an active one
Scientists at the Florida State University Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies (COAPS) have released their fourth annual Atlantic hurricane season forecast, using a unique computer model with a knack for predicting hurricanes with unprecedented accuracy.
New understanding of terrestrial formation has significant and far reaching future implications
The current theory of continental drift provides a good model for understanding terrestrial processes through history. However, while plate tectonics is able to successfully shed light on processes up to 3 billion years ago, the theory isn't sufficient in explaining the dynamics of the earth and crust formation before that point and through to the earliest formation of planet, some 4.6 billion years ago. This is the conclusion of Tomas Naæraa of the Nordic Center for Earth Evolution at the Natural History Museum of Denmark, a part of the University of Copenhagen. His research is published in the latest issue of Nature.
Scientists confirm Sierra Nevada 200-year megadroughts
The erratic year-to-year swings in precipitation totals in the Reno-Tahoe area conjures up the word "drought" every couple of years, and this year is no exception. The Nevada State Climate Office at the University of Nevada, Reno, in conjunction with the Nevada Drought Response Committee, just announced a Stage 1 drought (moderate) for six counties and a Stage 2 drought (severe) for 11 counties.
NASA mission sending unmanned aircraft over hurricanes this year
Beginning this summer and over the next several years, NASA will be sending unmanned aircraft dubbed "severe storm sentinels" above stormy skies to help researchers and forecasters uncover information about hurricane formation and intensity changes.
Solar Dynamics Observatory to observe Venus transit
On June 5, 2012 at 6:03 PM EDT, the planet Venus will do something it has done only seven times since the invention of the telescope: cross in front of the sun. This transit is among the rarest of planetary alignments and it has an odd cycle. Two such Venus transits always occur within eight years of each other and then there is a break of either 105 or 121 years before it happens again.
NASA infrared satellite imagery shows Tropical Storm Mawar strengthening
The infrared instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite captured temperature data on Tropical Storm Mawar in the western North Pacific Ocean and showed that the cloud top temperatures were growing colder. That's an indication that the thunderstorms within are higher and stronger - a sign of strengthening.
Science journal offers up essays on 8 mysteries in astronomy
(Phys.org) -- Because astronomy and astrophysics are still so much a mixture of theory, conjecture and generally difficult to measure phenomenon, at least as compared with many of the other sciences, one of the most highly respected science journals, Science, has chosen to run a series of articles detailing eight of what it deems the most compelling questions currently vexing those who study the cosmos; each written by someone uniquely qualified to delve into the subject matter at hand.
ASU astronomers discover faintest distant galaxy
Astronomers at Arizona State University have found an exceptionally distant galaxy, ranked among the top 10 most distant objects currently known in space. Light from the recently detected galaxy left the object about 800 million years after the beginning of the universe, when the universe was in its infancy.
Scudder makes first observations of process linked to northern lights
(Phys.org) -- A University of Iowa researcher wants you to visualize a plate of spaghetti when you think of the northern lights.
Soviet find of water on the Moon in the 1970s ignored by the West
(Phys.org) -- In August 1976 Luna 24 landed on the moon and returned to Earth with samples of rocks, which were found to contain water, but this finding was ignored by scientists in the West.
Technology news
Truce in Activision legal war with 'Call of Duty' makers
Activision Blizzard on Thursday announced a settlement in a legal war that began two years ago with developers behind the blockbuster "Call of Duty" videogame franchise.
Sea Launch conducts satellite launch for Intelsat
(AP) — A rocket carrying an Intelsat satellite has successfully lifted off from the oceangoing Sea Launch platform on the equator.
MIT, Intel unveil new initiatives addressing 'big data'
MIT has been selected from among 55 institutions that submitted 157 proposals to host a new Intel research center that will concentrate on what’s come to be called “big data” -- new techniques for organizing and making sense of the huge amounts of information generated by Web users and new networked sensors.
New IGZO oxide semiconductor technology may revolutionize displays
Sharp Corporation and Semiconductor Energy Laboratory have jointly developed a new oxide semiconductor (IGZO) technology with high crystallinity. This material will enable even higher resolutions, lower power consumption, and higher performance touch screens, as well as narrower bezel widths for LCD display panels used in mobile devices such as smartphones. Details of this new development will be presented at the 2012 SID Display Week Symposium to be held in Boston, USA, on June 5 as part of the annual international conference of the Society for Information Display.
Obama stepped up cyberattacks on Iran: report
US President Barack Obama accelerated cyberattacks on Iran's nuclear program and expanded the assault even after the Stuxnet virus accidentally escaped in 2010, the New York Times reported Friday.
Poland goes cyber-smart for Euro 2012 fans
Cyber-minded fans heading to Euro 2012 in Poland are set to find life easier at the championship after organisers launched smartphone applications to help them navigate their way around.
'Flawed' Megaupload case faces court test: lawyer
A massive online piracy case against file-sharing website Megaupload was "flawed" and likely to be dismissed in a US court within a month, the site's chief lawyer has said.
NY judge grants class status in Google book fight
(AP) — A federal judge in New York has granted class certification to authors challenging Internet search leader Google over its plans for the world's largest digital library.
Judge hands Google victory in Oracle copyright fight
A federal judge on Thursday put a stake in the heart of Oracle's big-money lawsuit against Google by ruling that the application programming interfaces (APIs) at issue can't be copyrighted.
Recyclable printed circuit boards
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), along with partners In2Tec Ltd (UK) and Gwent Electronic Materials Ltd, have developed a printed circuit board (PCB) whose components can be easily separated by immersion in hot water.
Mobile ads' promise eludes Facebook, other businesses
Mobile ads are the Holy Grail of revenue for anyone with a social-media plan.
Mobile phone-charge provider expands
Ever run out of battery life on your cellphone just when you need it most? GoCharge wants to be your go-to place to get your smartphone charged - for a fee.
Google project's success is up to Kansas City
Kansas City, beware the story of Vilnius.
Connected security systems tether homes to owners' smartphones
When Debbie Klava's daughters come home from school in Elk Grove, Calif., she knows the minute they walk in the front door. Even though she's working in an office 90 minutes away, she gets an email or cellphone text when they arrive - or an alert if it's past their expected 3 p.m. arrival time.
UH students develop prototype device that translates sign language
Too often, communication barriers exist between those who can hear and those who cannot. Sign language has helped bridge such gaps, but many people are still not fluent in its motions and hand shapes.
Facebook to let users vote on privacy changes
(AP) — Facebook is letting its nearly 1 billion users vote on changes to its privacy policy.
Wii U, sequels take another swing at E3
(AP) — Is the Wii U right for you?
Netflix tops Apple in booming US online movies
The US online movie business more than doubled in 2011 to rake in $992 million and will almost double again this year, a research report showed Friday.
Microsoft rolls out more social Bing search
Microsoft on Friday rolled out a revamped Bing that includes insights from Facebook and Twitter in the biggest overhaul of the search service since its launch three years ago.
Groupon stock tumbles as IPO lock-up period ends
(AP) — Groupon's stock tumbled Friday as insiders sold their shares after a post-IPO prohibition was lifted.
Exec predicts data-only phone plans in 2 years
(AP) — The CEO of AT&T Inc. said Friday that cellphone plans that count only data usage are likely to come in the next two years. In such a scenario, phone calls and texts would be considered as just another form of data.
Integrated sensors handle extreme conditions
A team of Case Western Reserve University engineers has designed and fabricated integrated amplifier circuits that operate under extreme temperatures – up to 600 degrees Celsius - a feat that was previously impossible.
Researchers develop method that shows diverse complex networks have similar skeletons
Northwestern University researchers are the first to discover that very different complex networks -- ranging from global air traffic to neural networks -- share very similar backbones. By stripping each network down to its essential nodes and links, they found each network possesses a skeleton and these skeletons share common features, much like vertebrates do.
Medicine & Health news
Study shows consumers need more guidance about fish consumption choices
In a first-of-its kind summary of fish consumption choices, a team of researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital has determined that consumers are not getting all the information they need to make informed decisions about fish consumption. Their research is published in the June 1 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives.
Researchers confirm breast cancer regulator also found in prostate cancer
Researchers at Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y., led by Chemistry & Biomolecular Science Professor Costel C. Darie, in collaboration with researchers from Columbia University, have now found the binding partner of TDF, a pituitary hormone that had previously been shown to reduce cancer progression in breast cancer cells, in prostate cancer as well.
Radiology programs would benefit from incorporating tablet devices into education of residents
Radiology programs and their residents would benefit from incorporating tablet devices, like the iPad, into residency education, according to a study in the June issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.
Clinical trial design supports original accelerated approval of sunitinib for GIST
Patients benefitted from an important design element in the pivotal phase III clinical trial that led to Food and Drug Administration and worldwide regulatory approval of sunitinib for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors resistant to the only other available therapy, according to a study in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
More than 9-in-10 ED patients who receive CT of the abdomen and pelvis are clinically complex
The overwhelming majority (93.8 percent) of patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis (CTAP) in the emergency department (ED) setting are classified as clinically complex, according to a study in the June issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology. Clinically complex is used to describe patients who are, based on documentation of their ED physician, much sicker than others.
Play outside -- it's good for your eyes
(Medical Xpress) -- New university research aims to shed light on why being outside can help children see better.
Health care costs drop if adolescent substance abused use 12-step programs
(Medical Xpress) -- The use of 12-step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, by adolescents with a history of drug and alcohol abuse not only reduces the risk of relapse but also leads to lower health care costs, according to research by the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
Testicular cancer survivors often report behaviors that increase risk of cardiovascular problems
(Medical Xpress) -- Despite being at risk of cardiovascular problems associated with testicular cancer treatment, survivors of the disease -- the most common type of cancer striking young men -- frequently report behaviors such as smoking and risky alcohol use that could further raise their chances of developing those late effects of treatment, according to a study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania that will be presented at the annual meeting of American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting on Saturday, June 2.
Pioneering touchless surgical technology
Researchers and surgeons from King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust are piloting ‘touchless’ technology in the operating theatre.
Check-up check list: Be prepared for your child's doctor's appointment
Everyone is strapped for time, especially busy moms and dads. From sporting events to music rehearsals or just acting as a chauffeur, it’s hard to squeeze everything in. The juggling act becomes even more stressful when a child gets sick. Still, kids’ health is a priority.
Women and minorities face barriers to clinical trials
Physicians have great influence over whether minorities and women participate in cancer clinical trials, according to a new literature review.
After NY ban on big sodas proposed, what's next?
(AP) — Just how far would a government go to protect us from ourselves?
Magnets may help prevent rare complication of spinal anesthesia
An simple technique using local anesthetic mixed with magnetized "ferrofluids" may provide a new approach to preventing a rare but serious complication of spinal anesthesia, reports the June issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).
The right combination: Overcoming drug resistance in cancer
Overactive epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling has been linked to the development of cancer. Several drug therapies have been developed to treat these EGFR-associated cancers; however, many patients have developed resistance to these drugs and are therefore no longer responsive to drug treatment.
A patient's socioeconomic status may predict their preference in treatment options
Though it would seem logical, cancer patients don't always choose therapies with the best chance for survival—cost and side effects are also major considerations. Little has been known about the extent to which cost and side effects influence a patient's treatment decision. Now, new findings by Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers reveals that a patient's socioeconomic status, more than any other characteristic—such as age or disease site—is predictive of whether he or she will favor high efficacy, low cost or low toxicity when choosing a treatment. Yu-Ning Wong, M.D., Fox Chase medical oncologist and lead author on the study, will present her findings at the 2012 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting on Tuesday, June 5.
Altitude training: Study puts some data behind conventional wisdom
Altitude training is a popular technique among athletes preparing for a competition, especially expert runners. Much research has been conducted on how to do it, at what altitude to train, how to modify workouts and how long to stay at altitude. However, a major unanswered question is when should an athlete return from altitude to compete?
Cancer incidence predicted to increase 75 percent by 2030
The global cancer burden is set to surge more than 75% by 2030, according to new research published Online First in the Lancet Oncology. The rise is predicted to be even larger in the developing world, with the poorest countries experiencing a projected increase of more than 90%.
Women with irregular heart rhythm carry a higher risk of stroke than men
Women with irregular heart rhythm (known as atrial fibrillation) have a moderately increased risk of stroke compared with men, suggesting that female sex should be considered when making decisions about anti-clotting treatment, finds a study published on BMJ today.
Diabetes drug linked to increased risk of bladder cancer
a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes - is associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer, finds a study published on BMJ today.
Dark chocolate could prevent heart problems in high-risk people
Daily consumption of dark chocolate can reduce cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes, in people with metabolic syndrome (a cluster of factors that increases the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes), finds a study published on BMJ today.
Baby wipes as safe as using water, study finds
New research has found that a brand of baby wipes is just as safe and hydrating as using water alone on newborn skin, suggesting official guidance may need updating.
Maternal smoking disrupts retinoid pathways in the developing fetal lung
Maternal smoking can lead to lung disease in babies, including asthma. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Respiratory Research shows that maternal smoking-related defects within the alveoli inside the lungs of offspring are associated with a disruption in retinoic acid signaling.
Preteen food choices may help predict eating disorders later
(HealthDay) -- The food choices young girls make could help doctors predict if they are at risk for developing an eating disorder as teenagers, according to a new study that analyzed food diaries compiled over the course of a decade.
M. genitalium ups risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, cervicitis
(HealthDay) -- Infection with Mycoplasma genitalium (M. genitalium) is an independent and strong risk factor for both cervicitis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), according to a study published in the June issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Cardiovascular risk counseling improves statin adherence
(HealthDay) -- For patients taking statins for prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), extended care with nurse-led cardiovascular risk-factor counseling improves statin adherence and reduces anxiety, with improvements seen in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol for primary prevention patients, according to a study published online May 24 in The American Journal of Cardiology.
Radiation ups event-free, not overall survival in ped Hodgkin's
(HealthDay) -- For children with Hodgkin's lymphoma who respond to chemotherapy, treatment with low-dose involved-field radiation therapy (IFRT) improves event-free survival (EFS), but has no significant impact on overall survival (OS), in long-term follow-up, according to a study published online May 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
More bone grafts, screws tied to less spinal reconstruction stress
(HealthDay) -- Increasing the number of bone grafts and screws used for fusing multiple cervical spine segments yields a more stable construct that decreases the stresses at the graft end plate and bone-screw interfaces, according to a study published online May 10 in The Spine Journal.
Insulin receptor substrate 1 variant linked to GFR
(HealthDay) -- A variant of the human insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) gene, which plays an important role in modulating tissue response to insulin, is significantly associated with glomerular filtration rate (GFR), according to a study published online May 22 in Diabetes.
Slow-growing melanomas lose structure, vary color with time
(HealthDay) -- The diameter of most slow-growing melanomas (SGMs) changes very little over time, but the lesions can become more disorganized, less structured, and change or develop new colors, according to a study published in the June issue of the British Journal of Dermatology.
Preventing diabetes: Researchers measure loss of human pancreas cells
(Medical Xpress) -- A Yale University-led research team has developed a way to measure the loss of insulin-producing islet cells in the human pancreas. The death of those beta cells leads to diabetes. The finding is a crucial step in developing therapies to preserve insulin production and slow or halt the progress of diabetes. The study appears in the June issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
A new method for picking the 'right' egg in IVF
(Medical Xpress) -- In a groundbreaking study, Yale School of Medicine researchers and colleagues at the University of Oxford have identified the chromosomal make-up of a human egg. This discovery may soon allow them to avoid using abnormal — or aneuploid — eggs during infertility treatments, and instead to pick eggs that are healthy enough for a successful in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle.
Scientists target mango skin for fat reduction
(Medical Xpress) -- Scientists have discovered that two common mango varieties contain natural compounds that may help to fight flab . . . in the part that most people throw away.
Early identification and treatment of septic shock to save lives
(Medical Xpress) -- Recognition of severe septic shock early and starting a patient on an effective antibiotic treatment immediately is critical to saving lives, according to an editorial by two Virginia Commonwealth University physicians published in the May 31 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Scientists identify mechanisms in aspirin that help protect against cancer
(Medical Xpress) -- Recent clinical studies have indicated that long-term usage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin can significantly reduce the risk of various cancers — some up to 30 per cent. New findings, published today in Current Biology, provides fresh evidence into their protective properties.
Neuroscientists reach major milestone in whole-brain circuit mapping project
Neuroscientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) reached an important milestone today, publicly releasing the first installment out of 500 terabytes of data so far collected in their pathbreaking project to construct the first whole-brain wiring diagram of a vertebrate brain, that of the mouse.
Gene link to higher rates of bowel cancer in men
(Medical Xpress) -- Scientists have shown for the first time that one of the sex chromosomes is involved in the development of a cancer that can afflict both genders, according to a Cancer Research UK-funded study in Nature Genetics. The finding may help explain why men have higher rates of bowel cancer than women.
Complementary techniques beneficial for reducing stress
(Medical Xpress) -- We’ve all said it; those two words that sum up a bad day or an unexpected expense: I’m stressed.
Halting tuberculosis' stubborn ascent
(Medical Xpress) -- Tuberculosis is an old foe. A 500,000-year-old human fossil discovered in Turkey bears telltale signs of the disease, which today continues to wreak havoc, killing an estimated 2 million per year, according to the World Health Organization.
Open-fire cooking may affect child cognitive development
(Medical Xpress) -- Children exposed to open-fire cooking in developing countries experience difficulty with memory, problem-solving and social skills, according to researchers at the University of California, Riverside and Pitzer College in Claremont, Calif.
Aspirin's 'double hit' on bowel cancer
(Medical Xpress) -- Aspirin kills cancer cells by controlling two key processes that influence energy use in cells and could explain how aspirin can prevent bowel cancer. The research is published in this month’s Gastroenterology.
Test for statin side effects launched
(Medical Xpress) -- A simple diagnostic test developed at Oxford University, and launched today by Massachusetts-based Boston Heart Diagnostics, will identify those at increased risk of rare but serious side effects from taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs.
Time-lapse imaging of embryos reveals complications that undermine cloning efficiency
In 1996, the technique known as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) transformed the idea of cloning from science fiction into reality. SCNT entails removing the nucleus from an adult somatic cell of the animal being cloned (Fig. 1), and then transplanting it into an oocyte from which the nucleus has been extracted. However, the success rate remains low, and the inability to directly link SCNT-associated abnormalities with embryonic viability has made it difficult to understand why. Now, an imaging technique devised by Kazuo Yamagata of the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology in Kobe and colleagues has revealed a key checkpoint in this process.
Low-fiber diet puts adolescents at higher risk of cardiovascular disease
Adolescents who don't eat enough fiber tend to have bigger bellies and higher levels of inflammatory factors in their blood, both major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, researchers report.
Bridging the doctor-patient gap
(HealthDay) -- With health care becoming increasingly high-tech, fast-paced and cost-conscious, a lot of doctors and patients alike are feeling out of sorts.
'Jack Spratt' diabetes gene identified
Type 2 diabetes is popularly associated with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. However, just as there are obese people without type 2 diabetes, there are lean people with the disease.
Why is it so difficult to trace the origins of food poisoning outbreaks?
As illustrated by the 2011 E. coli outbreak in Germany in 2011, any delay in identifying the source of food poisoning outbreaks can cost lives and cause considerable political and economical damage. An international multidisciplinary team of scientists have shown that difficulties in finding the sources of contamination behind food poisoning cases are inevitable due to the increasing complexity of a global food traffic network where food products are constantly crossing country borders, generating a worldwide network.
Babies to mothers who smoke weigh 200 grams less at birth
Smoking during pregnancy has widely documented health repercussions both for mother and baby. A study at the University of Zaragoza on 1216 newly born babies confirms that those born to mothers who smoke weigh and measure less.
Blacks and hypertension link persists across age and economic status
African-Americans are at higher risk for developing hypertension than Whites or Mexican Americans, even if they’ve managed to avoid high blood pressure earlier in life.
Online tool to quit smoking
StopAdvisor is a new web-based smoking cessation program, which takes smokers from preparation for the target quit date to the quit date itself. It achieves this by offering expert advice through a combination of interactive menus and personalised sessions. Post quit date, it encourages users to report important information that the program will use to help them overcome the difficulties they encounter along the way. In their study Robert West and Susan Michie from University College London and collaborators describe the development process of the StopAdvisor intervention. Their work appears online in Translational Behavioral Medicine: Practice, Policy, Research, published by Springer.
Noninvasive brain stimulation shown to impact walking patterns
In a step towards improving rehabilitation for patients with walking impairments, researchers from the Kennedy Krieger Institute found that non-invasive stimulation of the cerebellum, an area of the brain known to be essential in adaptive learning, helped healthy individuals learn a new walking pattern more rapidly. The findings suggest that cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may be a valuable therapy tool to aid people relearning how to walk following a stroke or other brain injury.
A vaccination for depression
Over the last decade, Dr. Benjamin Van Voorhees has been trying to find the best way to teach coping strategies to adolescents who are at risk of suffering from severe depression. The idea is to help them keep depression at bay so that it doesn't become a debilitating part of their lives.
Anxiety disorders in children are not detected in due time
Only few children suffering from anxiety disorders undergo treatment. Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have looked into how many children who suffer from the most common yet treatable anxiety disorders that are actually diagnosed in the psychiatric system in Denmark. According to the researchers, the number is surprisingly low compared to other western countries, indicating that anxiety disorders in children and youth are disregarded in Denmark.
How does exercise affect nerve pain?
Exercise helps to alleviate pain related to nerve damage (neuropathic pain) by reducing levels of certain inflammation-promoting factors, suggests an experimental study in the June issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).
BMI thresholds for gestational diabetes differ by race
(HealthDay) -- There is considerable racial/ethnic variation in the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) by body mass index (BMI), according to a study published online May 22 in Diabetes Care.
Researchers discover new combination of 2 previously approved FDA drugs to treat lung cancer
A team of researchers led by Dr. Goutham Narla at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in collaboration with scientists at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, have discovered a previously unrecognized signaling network disrupted in lung cancer that can be turned back on by a novel combination of two previously approved FDA drugs. The drug combination targets a pathway to treat advanced/late stage lung cancer. The work highlights how understanding the basic mechanisms regulating cancer development and progression can lead to new uses for existing FDA approved drugs in the treatment of cancer.
Alcohol may trigger serious palpitations in heart patients
The term "holiday heart syndrome" was coined in a 1978 study to describe patients with atrial fibrillation who experienced a common and potentially dangerous form of heart palpitation after excessive drinking, which can be common during the winter holiday season. The symptoms usually went away when the revelers stopped drinking. Now, research from UCSF builds on that finding, establishing a stronger causal link between alcohol consumption and serious palpitations in patients with atrial fibrillation, the most common form of arrhythmia.
Improving obesity-induced insulin sensitivity
In recent years, a growing body of evidence has linked inflammation to the development of insulin resistance. In insulin resistance, the hormone insulin is less effective in promoting glucose uptake from the bloodstream into other tissues. Obesity is a major factor that contributes to insulin resistance, which can eventually lead to type 2 diabetes. Previous studies have shown that proinflammatory molecules found in fat tissue decreases sensitivity of tissues to insulin.
Heart rate affected by nocturnal hypoglycemia in T1DM patients
(HealthDay) -- For adults with type 1 diabetes there is a marked decrease in the low-frequency component of heart rate variability during spontaneous nocturnal hypoglycemia, according to a study published online May 18 in Diabetes Care.
Depression found to increase risk of death in diabetes
(HealthDay) -- For patients with type 2 diabetes, depression is associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, regardless of previous cardiovascular disease, according to a study published online May 22 in Diabetes Care.
PTSD linked to urinary incontinence in female veterans
(HealthDay) -- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is independently associated with urgency/mixed urinary incontinence (UI) symptoms in female veterans, according to a study published in the June issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Skin testing not sufficient to ID contrast media sensitivity
(HealthDay) -- More than 50 percent of patients with nonimmediate reactions to iodinated contrast media (CM) are identified with the drug provocation test (DPT) and not with skin testing, according to a study published online May 15 in Allergy.
New finding important to heart health, also changed faculty member's entire research path
Medical scientist Howard Young's research has taken a dramatic, unexpected turn in the last few months, thanks to a serendipitous chain of events that could lead to a genetic test that can predict heart failure in certain people before it happens.
Small batteries, other shiny objects pose risks to children
(HealthDay) -- Coins, magnets and small batteries pose serious dangers to children when accidentally swallowed, the American College of Emergency Physicians warns.
Competitive sports may boost heart function after breast cancer
(HealthDay) -- Breast cancer survivors who participate in competitive sports can reduce their risk of relapse and improve their heart function, a new study suggests.
New therapy on the horizon for ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer
A new compound that targets anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+) non-small cell lung cancer is well-tolerated by patients and is already showing early signs of activity, including in patients who no longer respond to crizotinib—the only approved ALK inhibitor. Results of this Novartis-sponsored sudy will be presented by a researcher from Fox Chase Cancer Center during the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology on Sunday, June 3.
Researchers find that not all patients will pay for genetic testing
More than one-fifth of people who have received referrals to test for cancer-causing genes say they will only undergo testing if their insurance covers the cost—just as more insurers are instituting cost-sharing for medical services like genetic testing, according to new findings from Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia released at this year's 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology on Saturday, June 2.
American teens are less likely than European teens to use cigarettes and alcohol
The U.S. had the second-lowest proportion of students who used tobacco and alcohol compared to their counterparts in 36 European countries, a new report indicates.
Global research team yields new health insights into different types of trans fats
Canadian scientists are joining with international colleagues to lead new insights into the health implications of different types of trans fat.
Combination treatment with lapatinib and pazopanib doesn't improve outcomes for patients with IBC
Inflammatory breast cancer is a very aggressive type of cancer associated with early metastasis and poor survival rates, and the prognosis is even worse for patients with tumors expressing the ErbB2 receptor. The ErbB2-inhibiting drug lapatinib can slow the spread of cancer cells in individuals with advanced breast cancer who have already tried other chemotherapy medications. Treating these patients with a combination of drugs has the potential to improve outcomes compared to treatment with lapatinib alone, but it has not been clear whether the additional benefits outweigh the risks. Now, researchers from Fox Chase Cancer Center and their international collaborators will present information at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology on Saturday, June 2 that will give clinicians the information needed to make that call.
Potential new approach to regenerating skeletal muscle tissue
An innovative strategy for regenerating skeletal muscle tissue using cells derived from the amniotic fluid is outlined in new research published by scientists at the UCL Institute of Child Health.
Team reveals novel way to treat drug-resistant brain tumor cells
New research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison explains why the incurable brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is highly resistant to current chemotherapies.
Biology news
Plant research funding crucial for the future
The scientific community needs to make a 10-year, $100 billion investment in food and energy security, says Carnegie's Wolf Frommer and Tom Brutnell of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in an opinion piece published in the June issue of The Scientist. They say the importance of addressing these concerns in light of a rapidly growing global population is on par with President John Kennedy's promise to put man on the moon—a project that took a decade and cost $24 billion.
High-tech tools may help small grains breeders 'see' valuable plant traits faster
Two tools from industry are being applied to the small grains breeding program by a Texas AgriLife Research team to help identify valuable drought-resistance traits in wheat faster and less intrusively than with normal practices.
New release of Web-based resource resolves confusion over plant names
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet -- but it might confound scientists interested in understanding the chemical components of its fragrance or discovering where its ancestors grew in the wild.
3 Sumatran elephants found poisoned in Indonesia
(AP) — An environmentalist says three endangered Sumatran elephants have been poisoned and found dead within a palm oil plantation in western Indonesia.
France to ban Swiss pesticide as bee threat
The French government is to ban a pesticide made by Swiss giant Syngenta used in rapeseed cultivation that has been found to shorten bees' lifespan, Agriculture Minister Stephane Le Foll said Friday.
Winter honey bee losses decline
Total losses of managed honey bee colonies from all causes dropped to 21.9 percent nationwide for the 2011/2012 winter, a decline of some 8 percentage points or 27 percent from the approximately 30 percent average loss beekeepers have experienced in recent winters, according to the latest annual survey conducted by the Bee Informed Partnership, the Apiary Inspectors of America and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
A genetic alternative to fertilizer
Several studies have shown that a lack of nitrogen in soils adversely affects crop yields. The modern use of nitrogen fertilizers has improved yields to meet expanding global food demand, but in some cases up to 50% of the nitrogen in fertilizers reaches surrounding water bodies in the form of nitrate, causing pollution. As the use of nitrogen fertilizers is rapidly increasing worldwide each year, there is a fundamental need to understand how plants absorb nitrate, and how this absorption can be improved in crops.
The cell's 'New World': First complete atlas of RNA-binding proteins
In one of the most famous faux pas of exploration, Columbus set sail for India and instead 'discovered' America. Similarly, when scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, set out to find enzymes – the proteins that carry out chemical reactions inside cells – that bind to RNA, they too found more than they expected: 300 proteins previously unknown to bind to RNA – more than half as many as were already known to do so. The study, published online today in Cell, could help to explain the role of genes that have been linked to diseases like diabetes and glaucoma.
Rare white horse prancing around in his own special genes
There was no hanky-panky involved when a fairy-tale white foal was born to two brown Standardbreds at the Four Winds Farm in New Jersey. DNA tests confirm that the snowy foal, born May 6, is a mutant, but that's nothing to be ashamed of. So are most humans, according to a new analysis.
Turning DNA into a hard drive
Silicon-based computers are fine for typing term papers and surfing the Web, but scientists want to make devices that can work on a far smaller scale, recording data within individual cells. One way to do that is to create a microscopic hard drive out of DNA, the molecule that already stores the genetic blueprints of all living things.
Some butterfly species particularly vulnerable to climate change: study
A recent study of the impact of climate change on butterflies suggests that some species might adapt much better than others, with implications for the pollination and herbivory associated with these and other insect species.
Human hands leave prominent ecological footprints
Early human activity has left a greater footprint on today's ecosystem than previously thought, say researchers working at the University of Pittsburgh and in the multidisciplinary Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network, created by the National Science Foundation to investigate ecological processes over long temporal and broad spatial scales. Highlighted in the June issue of BioScience, the Pitt/LTER collaboration shows how historic human actions caused changes in nature that continue to reverberate throughout present-day ecosystems.
Scientists map and sequence genome of switchgrass relative foxtail millet
A newly published genetic sequence and map of foxtail millet, a close relative of switchgrass and an important food crop in Asia, is giving scientists working to increase biofuel and crop yields a powerful new tool.
Computer-designed proteins programmed to disarm variety of flu viruses
Computer-designed proteins are under construction to fight the flu. Researchers are demonstrating that proteins found in nature, but that do not normally bind the flu, can be engineered to act as broad-spectrum antiviral agents against a variety of flu virus strains, including H1N1 pandemic influenza.
From yeast, researchers learn how populations collapse
In the early 1990s, overfishing led to the collapse of one of the most bountiful cod fisheries in the world, off the coast of Newfoundland. Twenty years later, the cod population still has not recovered, dramatically affecting the economic life of the region.
This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
http://phys.org/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment