Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for June 4, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Friction almost vanishes in microscale graphite- Mechanism for regulating plant oil production identified
- Infectious disease may have shaped human origins, study says
- Researchers achieve RNA interference, in a lighter package
- Reign of the giant insects ended with the evolution of birds, study finds
- Hands-on research: Neuroscientists show how brain responds to sensual caress
- More evidence for Asia, not Africa, as the source of earliest anthropoid primates
- Scientists create faster, more sensitive photodetector by tricking graphene
- Physicists close in on a rare particle-decay process
- Keeping up with embryogenesis: New microscope lets users track individual cells as they move, divide
- Study suggests expanding the genetic alphabet may be easier than previously thought
- Giant black hole kicked out of home galaxy
- A different drummer: Neural rhythms drive physical movement
- BaTboT is up for imitating smart bat maneuvers
- System improves automated monitoring of security cameras
Space & Earth news
Great Barrier Reef heading for danger: UNESCO
UNESCO on Saturday urged decisive action from Australia to protect the Great Barrier Reef from a gas and mining boom, warning it risked being put on its list of world heritage sites deemed "in danger".
Stay or go? Some towns are eyeing retreat from sea
(AP) — Years of ferocious storms have threatened to gnaw away the western tip of a popular beachfront park a two hours drive north of Los Angeles. Instead of building a 500-foot (150 meter)-long wooden defense next to the pier to tame the tide, the latest thinking is to flee.
Peru needs glacier loss monitoring: dire UN warning
Peru needs a permanent monitoring system to gauge Andean mountain glacier shrinkage caused by global warming and its effect on people who depend on the ice for water, UN experts warned.
Stockholm braves coldest June weather in 84 years: experts
Stockholm registered its coldest June weekend in 84 years, with temperatures hitting a maximum of just six degrees Celsius (43 Fahrenheit), meteorologists said Sunday.
Rio closes Latin America's biggest landfill
Latin America's largest landfill was closed Sunday after 34 years, just days before Rio de Janeiro hosts a major UN conference on sustainable development.
Quake sways tall buildings in Indonesia's capital
(AP) — A strong earthquake swayed tall buildings in Indonesia's capital Monday afternoon but caused no tsunami or apparent damage.
Asia-Pacific gets best seats for cosmic double-bill
Astronomers this week are poised for a double show of rare events but skywatchers in the Pacific and East Asia will have the best view, experts say.
Venus, the planet of broken dreams
When Venus next week eclipses Earth, an event that will not occur again for more than a century, millions of skygazers may have romantic thoughts about our closest neighbour and its twilight beauty.
Factfile on Venus
Following is a factfile on Venus, which will align with Earth and the Sun from the evening of next Tuesday, a "transit" that will next occur 105 years from now.
Unmanned NASA Storm sentinels set for hurricane study
(Phys.org) -- Ah, June. It marks the end of school, the start of summer...and the official start of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, which got off to an early start in May with the formation of Tropical Storms Alberto and Beryl. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasters are calling for a near-normal hurricane season this year. But whether the season turns out to be wild or wimpy, understanding what makes these ferocious storms form and rapidly intensify is a continuing area of scientific research, and is the focus of the NASA-led Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) airborne mission that kicks off this summer.
NASA science grips two brothers
(Phys.org) -- NASA's Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP) 2010 hurricane study was a multi-aircraft mission with a large cadre of researchers. Two who were principal researchers on several airborne sensors had more in common than conducting atmospheric research. Gerry and Andy Heymsfield are brothers.
Colorado state university team slightly increases forecast for Atlantic basin, calls for below-vverage season
The Colorado State University forecast team today slightly increased its predictions for the 2012 Atlantic basin hurricane season but still anticipates slightly below-average activity due to anomalous cooling of the tropical Atlantic and the potential development of an El Nino.
Discovery of the most distant galaxy in the cosmic dawn
A team of astronomers led by Takatoshi Shibuya, Dr. Nobunari Kashikawa, Dr. Kazuaki Ota, and Dr. Masanori Iye (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan) has used the Subaru and Keck Telescopes to discover the most distant galaxy ever found, SXDF-NB1006-2, at a distance of 12.91 billion light years from the Earth. This galaxy is slightly farther away than GN-108036, which Subaru Telescope discovered last year and was the most distant galaxy discovered at the time. In addition, the team's research verified that the proportion of neutral hydrogen gas in the 750-million-year-old early Universe was higher than it is today. These findings help us to understand the nature of the early Universe during the "cosmic dawn", when the light of ancient celestial objects and structures appeared from obscurity.
STAR TRAK: June 2012
(Phys.org) -- The last transit of the planet Venus until 2117 will happen June 5 in the Western Hemisphere (June 6 in the Eastern Hemisphere). Venus will cross the face of the sun, appearing as a black dot on the sun's bright disk.
James Cook and the transit of Venus
Every ~120 years a dark spot glides across the Sun. Small, inky-black, almost perfectly circular, it's no ordinary sunspot. Not everyone can see it, but some who do get the strangest feeling, of standing, toes curled in the damp sand, on the beach of a South Pacific isle....
Australia witnesses partial lunar eclipse
The first partial lunar eclipse of the year provided dramatic scenes across Asia late Monday, with a clear moon visible to many as the event unfolded.
Humans take place at top of food chain, eat crawdads to help Tahoe's ecosystem
The University of Nevada, Reno's Sudeep Chandra, a leading Lake Tahoe scientist who has studied invasive species and limnology at the lake for 20 years, said issuing permits for commercial harvesting of crayfish at Lake Tahoe will help improve clarity at the pristine lake, as well as take away a food source for other invasive species that threaten lake clarity and ecosystems.
NASA looks at Typhoon Mawar, now heading to sea
Over the weekend of June 2 and 3, Typhoon Mawar skirted the east coast of the Philippines bringing heavy surf, heavy rainfall and gusty winds that led to several missing and injured people. NASA's TRMM satellite and Aqua satellite showed heavy rainfall and cloud extent of the storm.
RHESSI will use Venus transit to improve measurements of the sun's diameter
(Phys.org) -- The RHESSI (Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager) satellite focuses on the highest energy x-rays and gamma-rays produced by the sun, helping to observe solar flares of all shapes and sizes. The satellite is pointed toward the sun, and constantly in rotation, which provides a serendipitous bit of side research: by monitoring the limb of the sun on its four second rotation cycle, RHESSI's Solar Aspect System (SAS) has produced ten years worth of precise measurements of the sun's diameter. This has already provided scientists with one of the most accurate measurements of what's called the oblateness of the sun, which is the difference between the diameter from pole to pole and the equatorial diameter. With the new data obtained during the Venus Transit on June 5-6, 2012, the RHESSI team hopes to improve the knowledge of the exact shape of the sun and provide a more accurate measure of the diameter than has previously been obtained.
Emerging optics technology to fly on microsatellite
A kitchen gadget used to sift flour and other ingredients is the inspiration behind the name of an emerging technology that could resolve some of the more intriguing components of the sun's chromosphere -- the irregular layer above the photosphere that contributes to the formation of solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
US, European nuclear and coal-fired electrical plants vulnerable to climate change: study
Warmer water and reduced river flows in the United States and Europe in recent years have led to reduced production, or temporary shutdown, of several thermoelectric power plants. For instance, the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in Alabama had to shut down more than once last summer because the Tennessee River's water was too warm to use it for cooling.
In tree rings, Japanese scientists find 8th-century mystery
In the late eighth century, Earth was hit by a mystery blast of cosmic rays, according to a Japanese study that found a relic of the powerful event in cedar trees.
Hobby-Eberly Telescope measures two stars with one orbiting planet
(Phys.org) -- A team of Penn State University astronomers has obtained very precise measurements of a pair of stars that are orbited by a planet -- like the stellar system of the fictional planet Tatooine in the movie Star Wars. The orbits of the stars and planet in the system, named Kepler-16, are aligned so that they eclipse or transit each other when observed from Earth. These new measurements will aid astronomers in understanding how stars and planetary systems form.
Warming turns tundra to forest
(Phys.org) -- In just a few decades shrubs in the Arctic tundra have turned into trees as a result of the warming Arctic climate, creating patches of forest which, if replicated across the tundra, would significantly accelerate global warming.
Algae, lichens, and mosses take up huge amounts of carbon dioxide and nitrogen from atmosphere
(Phys.org) -- In cities, the presence of algae, lichens, and mosses is not considered desirable and they are often removed from roofs and walls. It is, however, totally unfair to consider these cryptogamic covers, as the flat growths are referred to in scientific terms, just a nuisance.
The mysterious arc of Venus
When Venus transits the sun on June 5th and 6th, an armada of spacecraft and ground-based telescopes will be on the lookout for something elusive and, until recently, unexpected: The Arc of Venus.
SpaceX has big plans for launches
SpaceX, the upstart company that shot a capsule to the International Space Station and back last week, won't have much time to savor its first major success.
Practical tool can 'take pulse' of blue-green algae status in lakes
Scientists have designed a screening tool that provides a fast, easy and relatively inexpensive way to predict levels of a specific toxin in lakes that are prone to blue-green algal blooms.
Giant black hole kicked out of home galaxy
(Phys.org) -- Astronomers have found strong evidence that a massive black hole is being ejected from its host galaxy at a speed of several million miles per hour. New observations from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory suggest that the black hole collided and merged with another black hole and received a powerful recoil kick from gravitational wave radiation.
Technology news
US senator slams White House over cyber leaks
US Senator John McCain on Saturday accused President Barack Obama's administration of leaking details of a reported cyber attack on Iran and other secret operations to bolster the president's image in an election year.
Cyber strikes a 'civilised' option: Britain
Pre-emptive cyber strikes against perceived national security threats are a "civilised option" to neutralise potential attacks, Britain's armed forces minister said Sunday.
S. Korean held for selling N. Korean malware
A South Korean has been arrested and accused of distributing illegal computer game programmes infected with malignant codes developed by North Korea, police said Monday.
Climate change expert: Australia will go nuclear by 2030
A University of Adelaide scientist believes it is inevitable that Australia will become a user of the world's most advanced nuclear power technology, if the country is serious about cutting carbon emissions.
Panasonic to begin mass-production of long-life lithium-ion battery system for solar-powered homes in Europe
Panasonic Corporation announced today that it will start in June mass-production of a compact, secure and long-life lithium-ion battery system the company has developed for European homes. This marks the first time for the company to produce in volume such a system designed for Europe.
Stuxnet's origins decoded: Now we know who did it, but what does it mean?
Last week's New York Times adapted a portion of David Sanger's forthcoming "Confront and Conceal: Obama's Secret Wars and Surprising Use of American Power," which reveals that the United States has secretly conducted cyberattacks against Iran for several years. Indiana University Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research Fellow and Maurer School of Law Professor David P. Fidler said the article raises important questions. His commentary follows:
Aircraft hit birds, kangaroos, even turtles in Australia
The rate of Australian aircraft hitting birds increased sharply in the last decade, with data Monday showing that even kangaroos, wombats and turtles are occasionally involved in accidents.
Axel Springer buys 76 pct of Poland's Onet portal
Poland's TVN commercial media group said Monday it had sold 76 percent of Onet, a major Polish Internet portal, to Germany's Axel Springer media for nearly 969 million zloty (220 million euros, $275 million).
Facebook stock down 3 pct to new low for close
(AP) — Facebook's stock fell 3 percent and closed Monday at a new low.
Socially barbed sitcom South Park gets videogame
The creators of the South Park cartoon sitcom known for crude language and lampooning hot-button social issues are about to whack the videogame world with "Stick of Truth."
US, Iran dig in for long cyber war
The United States and Iran are locked in a long-running cyber war that appears to be escalating amid a stalemate over Tehran's disputed nuclear program.
Megaupload wants piracy charges dismissed
Megaupload has filed papers in US District Court to dismiss the federal government's massive online piracy case against the file-sharing website and its founder, Kim Dotcom.
Risks of boomerangs a reality in world of cyberwar
(AP) — The Obama administration is warning American businesses about an unusually potent computer virus that infected Iran's oil industry even as suspicions persist that the United States is responsible for secretly creating and unleashing cyberweapons against foreign countries.
Windows 8 to dominate Taiwan computer show
Microsoft's much-anticipated Windows 8 operating system is set to take pride of place as tens of thousands of people head to Asia's leading IT fair opening in Taiwan on Tuesday.
E3 to showcase big videogame titles, hot trends
Sequels to blockbuster console titles and play on smartphones or tablets will be showcased with Times Square-like glitz starting Tuesday at the E3 videogame extravaganza in Los Angeles.
Fisker expands recall of plug-in hybrid Karma
(AP) — Fisker Automotive is expanding a recall of its 2012 plug-in hybrid Karma because of potential problems with the electric car's battery.
Nintendo seeks E3 game show buzz with Wii U peek
Nintendo provided a glimpse Sunday into its second-generation Wii console as the Japanese videogame giant set out to generate excitement ahead of the E3 industry extravaganza.
Into eternity: The nuclear waste challenge
(Phys.org) -- How can we make nuclear waste safe for millennia? Fundamental research led by the University of Cambridge will help find the answers.
Artificial muscle as shock absorber
Engineers are working on intelligent materials that can diminish vibrations and extract power from the environment. These electro-active elastomers could dampen annoying vibrations in a car, for example, or supply wireless power to sensors in otherwise inaccessible places.
Repelling the drop on top
It would make life a lot easier if the surfaces of window panes, corrosion coatings or microfluidic systems in medical labs could keep themselves free of water and other liquids. A new simulation program can now work out just how such surfaces have to look for a variety of applications.
A search engine for social networks based on the behavior of ants
Research at Carlos III University in Madrid is developing an algorithm, based on ants' behavior when they are searching for food, which accelerates the search for relationships among elements that are present in social networks.
Teaching tree-thinking through touch
A pair of new studies by computer scientists, biologists, and cognitive psychologists at Harvard, Northwestern, Wellesley, and Tufts suggest that collaborative touch-screen games have value beyond just play.
Salesforce buys Buddy Media for 'marketing cloud'
Salesforce.com, a major customer relations management software firm, said Monday it was buying the social media marketing firm Buddy Media for $689 million in cash and stock.
Millions more Facebook shares coming soon
Facebook already unleashed millions of shares to wary investors. Now the technology giant's early investors are about to see if they can force-feed millions more.
Facebook explores access for kids under 13
Facebook is working on technology that would permit children under the age of 13 to use the social network site with parental supervision, people familiar with the effort said Monday.
Concordia's 3-D innovation revolutionizes visual art
What happens when visual art comes into close contact with computer science? Stereoscopic magic.
Google buys instant messaging firm Meebo
Google has agreed to buy the online messaging firm Meebo, a move expanding the Internet giant's capabilities for instant sharing of Web pages using social networks.
Internet address system upgrade likely to be smooth
The Internet is set for a major upgrade in the coming week, but if all goes well, users won't even know it's happening.
ShakeID tracks touch action in multi-user display
(Phys.org) -- How do you determine who is doing the touching with a multi-user touch display? Microsoft Research has published a paper that presents a technique for doing so. The researchers make their attempt by fusing Kinect, mobile device inertial sensing, and multi-touch interactive displays. The technique can associate multi-touch interactions to individual users and their accelerometer-equipped mobile devices. ShakeID is the technique; it associates a specific user’s touch contacts on an interactive display to a mobile device held by the user. The phone’s on-board sensors and touch screen sensing go to work to drive the association.
Microsoft's privacy-by-default in IE10 sparks opposition
(Phys.org) -- The Internet browser headache in having to initiate an opt-out exit from advertisers who keep landing on your pages because they think they have a plausible target has turned a corner. Microsoft has moved to turn the practice upside down, or rather inside out. Users will have to opt-in to invite advertisers in the latest version of Internet Explorer, IE10. Microsoft has made the 'Do Not Track' feature, which stops companies from being able to trace a user’s web behavior, the default setting. In doing so, Microsoft has made IE10 the only web browser to present the tracking feature as an opt-in, not an opt-out, proposition.
Largest flexible color organic light emitting display produced
(Phys.org) -- The Flexible Display Center at Arizona State University announced that it has manufactured the world’s largest flexible color organic light emitting display (OLED) prototype using advanced mixed oxide thin film transistors (TFTs). Measuring 7.4 diagonal inches, the device was developed at the FDC in conjunction with Army Research Labs scientists. It also meets a critical target set by the U.S. Department of Defense to advance the development of full-color, full-motion video flexible OLED displays for use in thin, lightweight, bendable and highly rugged devices.
Researchers use flexible channel width to improve user experience on wireless systems
Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a technique to efficiently divide the bandwidth of the wireless spectrum in multi-hop wireless networks to improve operation and provide all users in the network with the best possible performance.
Google lodges Nokia, Microsoft complaint with EU
US Internet giant Google said on Monday it has lodged a complaint with European Union competition authorities against Finland's Nokia and its US software peer Microsoft.
System improves automated monitoring of security cameras
Police and security teams guarding airports, docks and border crossings from terrorist attack or illegal entry need to know immediately when someone enters a prohibited area, and who they are. A network of surveillance cameras is typically used to monitor these at-risk locations 24 hours a day, but these can generate too many images for human eyes to analyze.
Solar-powered plane attempts first intercontinental flight
A Swiss adventurer aims to make the world's first intercontinental flight in a solar-powered plane Tuesday, taking off from Madrid shortly before dawn on a daring trip to Rabat.
Energy-dense biofuel from cellulose close to being economical
A new Purdue University-developed process for creating biofuels has shown potential to be cost-effective for production scale, opening the door for moving beyond the laboratory setting.
Medicine & Health news
Australian court overrules parents in cancer case
An Australian court ordered the parents of a cancer-stricken child to put aside their religious beliefs and allow her life-saving treatment including a blood transfusion, reports said Saturday.
Researchers discover a DNA marker may indicate differences in breast cancer
Researchers and doctors at the North Shore-LIJ Health System and the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have discovered a potential explanation for why breast cancer is not experienced the same way with African American and Caucasian patients. This data will be presented at the 2012 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting to be held from Friday through Tuesday (June 1-5) in Chicago, IL.
Hong Kong sees first human bird flu case in 18 months
Hong Kong health authorities on Saturday urged the public not to panic after the southern Chinese city reported its first human case of bird flu in 18 months in a two-year-old boy.
Lower income cancer patients less likely to be involved in clinical trials
Cancer patients with annual household incomes below $50,000 were less likely to participate in clinical trials than patients with annual incomes of $50,000 or higher, and were more likely to be concerned about how to pay for clinical trial participation. This is the conclusion of a large study by the SWOG cancer research cooperative group that will be presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago this week.
N.Y. prison inmates overuse and misuse antibiotic ointments, study says
Prisoners need education on the appropriate use of topical antibiotic products, according to a study released today at the 39th Annual Educational Conference and International Meeting of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
Moroccan campaigners step up calls for end to abortion ban
Hundreds of Moroccan women a day are resorting to backstreet abortions, a leading doctor has estimated, prompting calls for reform in a country where the termination of pregnancies remains illegal.
Side effect: Crisis in Greece hits mental health
Greece is not feeling well. One in four men, and one in three women, has endured recent bouts of depression. As the grinding economic crisis continues to batter people's nerves, suicides and psychosomatic illness are both on the increase.
Physicians use minimally invasive laser surgery for epilepsy
(Medical Xpress) -- The procedure this week at UAMC was the first of its kind performed in Arizona.
Potential cure for unsightly eye bags
Researchers from Flinders University have set their sights on lymphatic drainage as a potential cure for unsightly eye bags.
A new multitarget molecule designed with high potential in future treatments for Alzheimer's disease
Researchers at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the University of Barcelona (UB) have developed a multitarget molecule, ASS234, which according to the results of in vitro studies conducted, inhibits the aggregation of the ß-amyloid protein, involved in Alzheimer's disease. At the same time, ASS234 stimulates the cholinergic and monoaminergic transmission, key factors involved in the cognitive function. In addition, ASS234 is able to cross the blood–brain barrier with an elevated multipotent profile designed on basis of donepezil (Aricept), one of the few effective drugs in palliative and symptomatic treatments of the disease.
Canada should ban off-label antibiotic use in agriculture: CMAJ
Canada should ban off-label use of antibiotics in farm animals because it contributes significantly to antibiotic resistance in humans, states an editorial in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Greening operating rooms benefit the bottom line and the environment
Efforts to "green" operating rooms can result in cost savings for hospitals and reduce the environmental impact without compromising patient care, argues an analysis published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Philip Morris sues Norway over tobacco display ban
Global tobacco giant Philip Morris began a suit Monday against Norway, claiming that the Scandinavian country's ban on the display of cigarettes in stores violates European competition rules.
Richest and poorest people in Toronto hospitalized for different reasons
Researchers who examined the income levels of patients at central Toronto hospitals found that people in the highest and lowest income brackets are being hospitalized for different reasons and that different hospitals serve different income groups.
Physicians may not always report brain cancer patients unfit to drive
Ontario doctors are legally required to report patients they consider medically unfit to drive to the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) – yet they may not be doing it. A new study from Lawson Health Research Institute shows doctors treating patients with brain cancer are unclear about how and when to assess and report a patient's ability to drive.
JEBDP looks at connections between preventive dentistry and public health
The dental profession needs to build a stronger connection between oral health and general health—not only for individual patients, but also at the community level, according to the special June issue of The Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice (JEBDP), the foremost publication of information about evidence-based dental practice, published by Elsevier.
Life expectancy prolonged for esophageal cancer patients
For those with esophageal cancer, initial staging of the disease is of particular importance as it determines whether to opt for a curative treatment or palliative treatment. Research presented in the June issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine shows that physicians using positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) can discern incremental staging information about the cancer, which can significantly impact management plans.
Some 8,000 French women have faulty breast implants removed
French health authorities said Monday that nearly 8,000 French women had followed a government recommendation to have faulty breast implants that sparked a global health scare removed.
New US legislation aims to curb cancer drug shortages (Update)
A critical shortage of generic drugs in the United States, particularly in cancer care, could be curbed with legislation now being hammered out by the US House and Senate, doctors said on Monday.
Ill, older patients who rely on emergency room often live final days in hospital, study finds
Half of adults over age 65 made at least one emergency department (ED) visit in the last month of life, in a study led by a physician at the San Francisco VA Medical Center (SFVAMC) and UCSF.
For advanced prostate cancer, new drug slows disease
A new medication proved effective in slowing the spread of metastatic prostate cancer, while helping to maintain the quality of life, in patients with advanced disease. The phase 3 study was unblinded midway, allowing patients receiving the placebo to instead take the drug because of the favorable results.
Spondylolisthesis linked to spinous process fractures
(HealthDay) -- There is a strong association between degenerative spondylolisthesis and spinous process fracture in patients undergoing interspinous process spacer (IPS) surgery, according to a study published online May 24 in The Spine Journal.
Acellular dermal matrix safe, useful in breast reconstruction
(HealthDay) -- Acellular dermal matrices provide good outcomes for patients undergoing breast reconstruction following mastectomy, but the human AlloDerm matrix has a higher seroma rate than porcine Strattice matrix, according to a study published in the June issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Drug cocktail boosts ovarian cancer survival time
A drug cocktail that combines chemotherapy with Avastin was shown to double the amount of time patients lived without progression of ovarian cancer, according to research released Saturday.
Long-term side effects key when cancer patients choose drugs
(HealthDay) -- Long-term medication side effects such as fatigue can be key for patients deciding which cancer drug to take, new research suggests.
Leukemia deadlier for teens, young adults than younger kids: study
(HealthDay) -- Teenagers and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, are more likely to relapse and less likely to survive than younger children with the disease, according to a new study.
Intermittent hormone therapy for prostate cancer inferior to continuous therapy
Many men with metastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer live longer on continuous androgen-deprivation therapy (also known as hormone therapy) than on intermittent therapy, according to a seventeen-year study led by SWOG, a cancer research cooperative group funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
New breast cancer drug halts tumor growth better than standard therapy
A new cancer treatment that links chemotherapy with an agent that homes in on specific breast cancer cells was significantly better than the current drug regimen at keeping patients' advanced tumors from progressing, according to results from a Phase III clinical trial led by Kimberly Blackwell, M.D., of the Duke Cancer Institute.
Excessive endurance training can be too much of a good thing, research suggests
Micah True, legendary ultra-marathoner, died suddenly while on a routine 12-mile training run March 27, 2012. The mythic Caballo Blanco in the best-selling book, Born to Run, True would run as far as 100 miles in a day. On autopsy his heart was enlarged and scarred; he died of a lethal arrhythmia (irregularity of the heart rhythm). Although speculative, the pathologic changes in the heart of this 58 year-old veteran extreme endurance athlete may have been manifestations of "Phidippides cardiomyopathy," a condition caused by chronic excessive endurance exercise.
Antidepressant helps relieve pain from chemotherapy, study finds
The antidepressant drug duloxetine, known commercially as Cymbalta, helped relieve painful tingling feelings caused by chemotherapy in 59 percent of patients, a new study finds. This is the first clinical trial to find an effective treatment for this pain.
Study IDs immune system glitch tied to fourfold higher likelihood of death
Mayo Clinic researchers have identified an immune system deficiency whose presence shows someone is up to four times likelier to die than a person without it. The glitch involves an antibody molecule called a free light chain; people whose immune systems produce too much of the molecule are far more likely to die of a life-threatening illness such as cancer, diabetes and cardiac and respiratory disease than those whose bodies make normal levels. The study is published in the June issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Ginseng fights fatigue in cancer patients, study finds
High doses of the herb American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) over two months reduced cancer-related fatigue in patients more effectively than a placebo, a Mayo Clinic-led study found. Sixty percent of patients studied had breast cancer. The findings are being presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting.
Rehospitalizations after surgical site infections add $10-65 million to health-care costs
Preventing further complications in patients who develop infections after surgery to replace a knee or hip could save the U.S. healthcare system as much as $65 million annually, according to an analysis presented today at the 39th Annual Educational Conference and International Meeting of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
Research shows promising treatments against skin cancer
Two new experimental treatments against advanced melanoma have shown promise in keeping the deadly skin cancer at bay, according to research presented in the United States on Monday.
More advanced therapies are being aimed at cancer
(AP) — New research shows a sharp escalation in the weapons race against cancer, with several high-tech approaches long dreamed of but not possible or successful until now.
Cancer drugs: better, cheaper
Cancer drug development is known to be too slow, costly and fraught with failure. Now the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is issuing recommendations for breast cancer trials that would substantially accelerate patient access to new medications while lowering the time and cost of drug development. The new regulatory guidelines are based in part on groundbreaking, national breast cancer research led by UCSF.
Testosterone overprescribed, particularly for older men
(Medical Xpress) -- Testosterone prescriptions have surged since 2006 due to promotional activity, according to University of Sydney research which also found growing overuse in older men.
Researchers create powerful new tool for research and drug development
(Medical Xpress) -- A University of Saskatchewan research team led by Tony Kusalik and Scott Napper have harnessed bioinformatics and molecular biology to create powerful software that promises to become a “must have” tool in drug development research labs the world over.
Vaccinations of U.S. children declined after publication of a now-refuted autism risk: study
(Medical Xpress) -- New University of Cincinnati research has found that fewer parents in the United States vaccinated their children in the wake of concerns about a purported link (now widely discredited) between the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine and autism. Lenisa Chang, assistant professor of economics in UC’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business, found that the MMR-autism controversy, which played out prominently in the popular media following publication in a 1998 medical journal, led to a decline of about two percentage points in terms of parents obtaining the MMR vaccine for their children in 1999 and 2000. And even after later studies thoroughly refuted the alleged MMR-autism link, the drop off in vaccination rates persisted.
Musical study challenges long-held view of left brain-right brain split
(Medical Xpress) -- Ever been stuck in traffic when a feel-good song comes on the radio and suddenly your mood lightens?
Obesity, exposure to pollutants affect asthma control
(Phys.org) -- Older adults who are obese or exposed to traffic pollutants are more likely to have poorly controlled asthma, according to University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers.
New target, new drug in breast cancer
Many breast cancers depend on hormones including estrogen or progesterone for their survival and proliferation. Eight years of lab work at the University of Colorado Cancer Center and elsewhere suggest that the androgen (AR) receptor is an additional hormonal target in many breast cancers. Block AR+ breast cancer's ability to access androgen and you block the cancer's ability to survive.
After chest radiation, girls at greater risk for early breast cancer: study
(HealthDay) -- Girls who receive radiation to the chest to treat childhood cancer, even those getting lower doses, have a high risk of developing breast cancer at a young age, according to a new study.
'Rediscovered' lymphoma drug helps double survival: study
(HealthDay) -- A drug first developed in East Germany in the 1960s has re-emerged as a potent "new" weapon against certain types of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, researchers report.
Older drug for advanced breast cancer beat newer, pricier meds
(HealthDay) -- Even in the field of cancer treatment, sometimes newer isn't necessarily better.
New hope for migraine sufferers: Female gene link identified
New hope has arrived for migraine sufferers following a Griffith University study with the people of Norfolk Island.
Griffith University tackles deadly Hendra virus
Australian medical researchers are on the brink of an effective human treatment for the deadly Hendra virus, and potentially the closely related Nipah virus, which has killed more than two hundred people in South East Asia.
Drug combination highly effective for newly diagnosed myeloma patients
A three-drug treatment for the blood cancer multiple myeloma provided rapid, deep and potentially durable responses, researchers report today online in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology, and yesterday, Sunday, June 3, 2012, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL, USA.
Study detects 'chemobrain' in EEG activity
A Cleveland Clinic study has detected significant changes in the electroencephalogram (EEG) brain activity patterns of patients receiving chemotherapy.
Drug might protect hearts of childhood leukemia survivors
About 75 percent of children with leukemia who take chemotherapy face life-threatening heart problems as they age, but an international study led by a University of Rochester Medical Center investigator shows that giving a cardio-protective drug during cancer treatment may prevent the damage.
Acetaminophen overdoses in children can be life-threatening but are avoidable
Acetaminophen, a widely available over-the-counter medication, can cause liver toxicity in children if doses are exceeded, and more public education is needed to warn of potential adverse effects, states an article published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Video games help autistic students in classrooms
Onscreen, Michael Mendoza's digital avatar stands before a wonderland of cakes and sweets, but his message is all business: "I. Get. Frustrated when people push me and call me - and call me - a teacher's pet!"
Saliva eyed as alternative to blood for patient testing
No one likes to get stuck with a needle. But it's the only way doctors can get blood to test for diabetes, anemia and numerous other health problems.
Healthy habits can prevent disease
Five new studies provide evidence to support simple steps we can take to prevent illness and improve our overall health. In the June issue of The American Journal of Medicine, researchers report on fish consumption to reduce the risk of colon cancer; the effectiveness of hypnotherapy and acupuncture for smoking cessation; regular teeth cleaning to improve cardiovascular health; the effectiveness of primary care physicians in weight loss programs; and the use of low-dose aspirin to reduce cancer risk.
Many physicians recommend unnecessary cancer screening for the old and sick
A significant number of physicians would recommend colorectal cancer screening for elderly patients with a severe illness, according to David Haggstrom from the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis in the US and his team. Such patients would not benefit from the procedure and, in fact, unnecessary screening may do more harm than good. Their work appears online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
PTSD psychotherapy is enhanced with D-cycloserine
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is among the most common, distressing, and disabling medical consequences of combat or other extremely stressful life events. The first-line treatment for PTSD is exposure therapy, a type of behavioral therapy where patients confront their fears in a safe environment. Although it is an effective treatment, many patients still experience symptoms after treatment and there is a relatively high drop-out rate.
High blood caffeine levels in older adults linked to avoidance of Alzheimer's disease
Tampa, FL (June 4, 2012) Those cups of coffee that you drink every day to keep alert appear to have an extra perk – especially if you're an older adult. A recent study monitoring the memory and thinking processes of people older than 65 found that all those with higher blood caffeine levels avoided the onset of Alzheimer's disease in the two-to-four years of study follow-up. Moreover, coffee appeared to be the major or only source of caffeine for these individuals.
Researcher finds link between brain signaling and renal function
Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) researchers recently uncovered a brain signaling pathway responsible for regulating the renal excretion of sodium. The findings appear in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.
Study examines models to improve care and reduce the high cost for Medicare beneficiaries
It's well known that a relatively small percentage of chronically ill patients accounts for a disproportionate amount of health care dollars. Now, a multicenter study led by Johns Hopkins researcher Bruce Leff, M.D., might provide insights into how to cut Medicare costs while improving health care for older adults suffering from chronic health conditions.
Hospital at Home program improves patient outcomes while lowering health care costs
Using a Johns Hopkins-developed program that allows medical professionals to provide acute hospital-level care within a patient's home, a New Mexico health system was able to reduce costs by roughly 20 percent and provide equal or better outcomes than hospital inpatients, according to new research.
Families of kids with staph infections have high rate of drug-resistant germ
Family members of children with a staph infection often harbor a drug-resistant form of the germ, although they don't show symptoms, a team of researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has found.
Largest statewide coordinated care effort improves survival, reduces time to heart attack treatment
An ambitious effort to coordinate heart attack care among every hospital and emergency service in North Carolina improved patient survival rates and reduced the time from diagnosis to treatment, according to Duke University Medical Center researchers who spearheaded the program.
Study finds little cognitive benefit from soy supplements for older women
In a new study of the effects of soy supplements for postmenopausal women, researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and the USC Keck School of Medicine found no significant differences — positive or negative — in overall mental abilities between those who took supplements and those who didn't.
Under pressure from Medicare, hospitals hold more seniors for observation
Nobody wins when patients stay in the hospital unnecessarily, so the federal government in recent years has pushed hospitals to be careful about admitting Medicare recipients as inpatients. The apparent result is that more patients are being "held for observation" instead, according to a new study by Brown University gerontologists. While the shift in how hospitals care for elderly patients in the emergency department may reduce costs to Medicare, it can also increase out-of-pocket expenditures for patients.
Genetics, rapid childhood growth and the development of obesity
A 38-year longitudinal study of New Zealanders suggests that individuals with higher genetic risk scores were more likely to be chronically obese in adulthood, according to a report published in the June issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.
Study examines comparative effectiveness of rhythm control vs. rate control drug treatment
An observational study that examined the comparative effectiveness of rhythm control vs. rate control drug treatment on mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation (a rapid, irregular heart beat) suggests there was little difference in mortality within four years of treatment, but rhythm control may be associated with more effective long-term outcomes, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine.
New immune therapy shows promise in kidney cancer
An antibody that helps a person's own immune system battle cancer cells shows increasing promise in reducing tumors in patients with advanced kidney cancer, according to researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Depression treatment can prevent adolescent drug abuse
Treating adolescents for major depression can also reduce their chances of abusing drugs later on, a secondary benefit found in a five-year study of nearly 200 youths at 11 sites across the United States.
New research yields insights into Parkinson's disease
Researchers at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) used an innovative technique to examine chemical interactions that are implicated in Parkinson's Disease.
Cell transplantation of lung stem cells has beneficial impact for emphysema
When autologous (self-donated) lung-derived mensenchymal stem cells (LMSCs) were transplanted endoscopically into 13 adult female sheep modeled with emphysema, post-transplant evaluation showed evidence of tissue regeneration with increased blood perfusion and extra cellular matrix content. Researchers concluded that their approach could represent a practical alternative to conventional stem cell-based therapy for treating emphysema.
Mature liver cells may be better than stem cells for liver cell transplantation therapy
After carrying out a study comparing the repopulation efficiency of immature hepatic stem/progenitor cells and mature hepatocytes transplanted into liver-injured rats, a research team from Sapporo, Japan concluded that mature hepatocytes offered better repopulation efficiency than stem/progenitor cells.
Emergency department algorithm may predict risk of death for heart failure patients
Physicians can reduce the number of heart failure deaths and unnecessary hospital admissions by using a new computer-based algorithm developed at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) that calculates each patient's individual risk of death. Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the algorithm improves upon clinical decision-making and determines whether or not a patient with heart failure should be admitted to hospital. To bring this tool into the emergency departments, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre cardiologists are developing smartphone and web-based applications to assist physicians in the emergency department to determine patients' numerical risk score in real time.
Study finds high risk of gastrointestinal cancers among childhood cancer survivors
Survivors of childhood cancers are at an increased risk of another battle with cancer later in life, according to new research published online June 4 by the Annals of Internal Medicine. In the largest study to date of risk for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers among people first diagnosed with cancer before the age of 21, researchers found that childhood cancer survivors develop these malignancies at a rate nearly five times that of the general population.
Metabolic syndrome linked to arterial stiffness in CKD
(HealthDay) -- For patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), those with metabolic syndrome (MetS) have increased arterial stiffness but no increase in endothelial dysfunction, compared to those without MetS, according to a study published online May 29 in Diabetes Care.
Cancer therapy that boosts immune system ready for wider testing
Two clinical trials led by Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers in collaboration with other medical centers, testing experimental drugs aimed at restoring the immune system's ability to spot and attack cancer, have shown promising early results in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, and kidney cancer. More than 500 patients were treated in the studies of two drugs that target the same immune-suppressive pathway, and the investigators say there is enough evidence to support wider testing in larger groups of patients.
Coactivator stokes continuing fire of endometriosis
(Medical Xpress) -- Endometriosis, which can cause severe pain and even infertility in the estimated 8.5 million U.S. women it affects, is driven by one of the cell's master regulators steroid receptor coactivator 1 or SRC-1, said researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in a report that appears online today in the journal Nature Medicine.
Researchers find link between premature births and severe mental disorders
(Medical Xpress) -- Last month the United Nations backed a study that produced among other things the statistic that 15 million babies were born prematurely in 2010, a number that represents how far medical science has come in saving babies that are born early; unfortunately, it might also signal a coming rise in the number of people that develop severe mental disorders as a team of researchers from Britain and Sweden, with lead Chiara Nosarti, of King's College, has found that babies born at less than 32 weeks into a pregnancy have a three times greater chance of developing a severe mental disorder in adulthood. The team has published the results of their findings in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Are wider faced men more self-sacrificing?
Picture a stereotypical tough guy and you might imagine a man with a broad face, a square jaw, and a stoical demeanor. Existing research even supports this association, linking wider, more masculine faces with several less-than-cuddly characteristics, including perceived lack of warmth, dishonesty, and lack of cooperation. But a new study suggests that men with these wide, masculine faces aren't always the aggressive tough guys they appear to be.
Aging and breast cancer: Researchers uncover cellular basis for age-related breast cancer vulnerability
It is well-known that the risks of breast cancer increase dramatically for women over the age of 50, but what takes place at the cellular level to cause this increase has been a mystery. Some answers and the possibility of preventative measures in the future are provided in a new study by researchers at the DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab).
'Good fat' activated by cold, not ephedrine, research finds
Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have shown that while a type of "good" fat found in the body can be activated by cold temperatures, it is not able to be activated by the drug ephedrine.
Brain scans prove Freud right: Guilt plays key role in depression
Scientists have shown that the brains of people with depression respond differently to feelings of guilt – even after their symptoms have subsided.
Early childhood neglect may raise risk of adult skin cancer
Skin cancer patients whose childhood included periods of neglect or maltreatment are at a much greater risk for their cancers to return when they face a major stressful event, based on a new study.
Wider letter spacing helps dyslexics read: study
European researchers said Monday that offering reading materials with wider spacing between the letters can help dyslexic children read faster and better.
Investigational diabetes drug may have fewer side effects
Drugs for type 2 diabetes can contribute to weight gain, bone fractures and cardiovascular problems, but in mice, an investigational drug appears to improve insulin sensitivity without those troublesome side effects, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have shown.
A different drummer: Neural rhythms drive physical movement
Unlike their visual cousins, the neurons that control movement are not a predictable bunch. Scientists working to decode how such neurons convey information to muscles have been stymied when trying to establish a one-to-one relationship between a neuron's behavior and external factors such as muscle activity or movement velocity.
Hands-on research: Neuroscientists show how brain responds to sensual caress
A nuzzle of the neck, a stroke of the wrist, a brush of the knee—these caresses often signal a loving touch, but can also feel highly aversive, depending on who is delivering the touch, and to whom. Interested in how the brain makes connections between touch and emotion, neuroscientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have discovered that the association begins in the brain's primary somatosensory cortex, a region that, until now, was thought only to respond to basic touch, not to its emotional quality.
Biology news
Bug-bomb foggers are no match for bed bugs
Consumer products known as "bug bombs" or "foggers" have been sold for decades for use against many common household insects. However, recent research published in the Journal of Economic Entomology (JEE) shows these products to be ineffective against bed bugs.
Clarification of unique communication channel with possible role in tumor
Guido David, associated with VIB and KU Leuven, and Pascale Zimmermann have discovered a new mechanism for the formation of exosomes, small vesicles with a role in tumor development. This research has been published in the authoritative journal Nature Cell Biology.
Spider invasion spooks Indian village
Panicked villagers in a remote Indian state complained Monday of an invasion of giant venomous spiders that resemble tarantulas but are unknown to local specialists.
Larger refuges needed to sustain success of transgenic corn
Transgenic crops that produce insect-killing proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have reduced reliance on insecticide sprays since 1996. Yet, just as insects become resistant to conventional insecticides, they also can evolve resistance to the Bt proteins in transgenic crops. Thus, to delay pest resistance, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has required farmers to plant "refuges" of crops that do not produce Bt proteins near Bt crops. But how much refuge acreage is enough?
Maize diversity discoveries may help ease world's hunger pangs
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, report that ancient farmers had a stronger impact on the evolution of maize, or corn, than modern plant breeders have had on the grain — now one of the world's top production crops.
Eastern bettongs bounce back
(Phys.org) -- The release of Eastern bettongs from Tasmania into the ACT’s predator-proof sanctuary at Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve last week, could be the key to help recover endangered Box Gum grassy woodlands, according to research from The Australian National University.
Shape-shifting shell: Structure of a retrovirus at a potentially vulnerable stage
Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, have for the first time uncovered the detailed structure of the shell that surrounds the genetic material of retroviruses, such as HIV, at a crucial and potentially vulnerable stage in their life cycle: when they are still being formed. The study, published online today in Nature, provides information on a part of the virus that may be a potential future drug target.
Filming life in the fast lane
New microscope enabled scientists at EMBL Heidelberg to film a fruit fly embryo, in 3D, from when it was about two-and-a-half hours old until it walked away from the microscope as a larva.
Knowing yeast genome produces better wine
The yeast Dekkera bruxellensis plays an important role in the production of wine, as it can have either a positive or a negative impact on the taste. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden, among others, have analyzed the yeast's genome sequenced by the US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, giving wine producers the possibility to take control of the flavour development of the wine.
'Most comprehensive' genetic analysis of maize plant will help raise yields, expand its range
An international research team involving 17 institutions including Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has published the most comprehensive analysis to date of the maize genome. It is an achievement that substantially increases scientists' understanding of differences across related but different species of the plant, which most North Americans call corn, as well as the nature of differences found within individual maize species.
Researchers complete most comprehensive genetic analysis yet of corn
An interdisciplinary team, led by researchers at Cornell University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), today published the most comprehensive analysis to date of the corn genome.
Solved: Two of the historic riddles of horse racing
(Phys.org) -- A team of researchers examining DNA extracted from the skeletons of historic horses in order to throw light on the origin of diseases found in modern horses have, in the course of their work, solved some of the mysteries that have long puzzled the horse-racing world.
Molecular algebra in mammalian cells
(Phys.org) -- Mammalian cells can now do what an electronic calculator can: perform logical calculations. Swiss researchers have equipped cells with a complex genetic network that can do more than just one plus one.
First genome-wide assessment of secretion in human cells
(Phys.org) -- An international collaboration between scientists in University College Dublin and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) has revealed for the first time that 15% of the proteins encoded by the human genome contribute to the process of secretion in cells. This finding has been made possible through the assessment of more than 8 million individual cells.
How mosquitoes fly in rain? Thanks to low mass
Even though a single raindrop can weigh 50 times more than a mosquito, the insect is still able to fly through a downpour. Georgia Tech researchers used high-speed videography to see how the mosquito's strong exoskeleton and low mass render it impervious to falling rain drops.
Keeping up with embryogenesis: New microscope lets users track individual cells as they move, divide
(Medical Xpress) -- The transformation of a fertilized egg into a functioning animal requires thousands of cell divisions and intricate rearrangements of those cells. That process is captured with unprecedented speed and precision by a new imaging technology developed at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Janelia Farm Research Campus, which lets users track each cell in an embryo as it takes shape over hours or days.
Infectious disease may have shaped human origins, study says
An international team of researchers, led by scientists at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, suggest that inactivation of two specific genes related to the immune system may have conferred selected ancestors of modern humans with improved protection from some pathogenic bacterial strains, such as Escherichia coli K1 and Group B Streptococci, the leading causes of sepsis and meningitis in human fetuses, newborns and infants.
Mechanism for regulating plant oil production identified
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have identified key elements in the biochemical mechanism plants use to limit the production of fatty acids. The results suggest ways scientists might target those biochemical pathways to increase the production of plant oils as a renewable resource for biofuels and industrial processes.
Reign of the giant insects ended with the evolution of birds, study finds
Giant insects ruled the prehistoric skies during periods when Earth's atmosphere was rich in oxygen. Then came the birds. After the evolution of birds about 150 million years ago, insects got smaller despite rising oxygen levels, according to a new study by scientists at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
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