Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for June 17, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Ionic liquid improves speed and efficiency of hydrogen-producing catalyst- USU team's Personnel Vacuum Assisted Climber wins Air Force prize (w/ Video)
- Chip foundry has trouble meeting 28nm demand
- Quantum bar magnets in a transparent salt
- British researchers create robot that can learn simple words by conversing with humans (w/ Video)
- Data from Voyager 1 point to interstellar future
- German team finds a way to link boron atoms with a triple bond
- Cornell jigsaw solver uses shape-blind algorithm
- Electrified graphene a shutter for light
- Ancient warming greened Antarctica, research finds
- Lariats: How RNA splicing decisions are made
- New model suggests ocean pH falling more rapidly
- Control gene for 'conveyor belt' cells could help improve oral vaccines, treat intestinal disease
- Natural antioxidant can protect against cardiovascular disease: study
- Newly-engineered nanoparticles promise to improve blood cancer treatment
Space & Earth news
India's capital in water crisis after supplies cut
Large parts of New Delhi were struggling with acute water shortages on Friday after a neighbouring state cut its supplies at the peak of summer, officials said.
For first time, entire thermal infrared spectrum observed
The driving mechanism of the greenhouse effect, and the underpinning of modern anthropogenic warming, is the absorption, emission, and transmission of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases. The heat-trapping ability of a gas depends on its chemical composition, and each type of gas absorbs infrared radiation of different energies.
Bugs have key role in farming approach to storing CO2 emissions
Tiny microbes are at the heart of a novel agricultural technique to manage harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
US begins review of new Keystone pipeline route
The US State Department on Friday launched an environmental review of a new route proposed for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline that would transport oil from Canada's tar sands.
Civil society kicks off colorful Rio+20 counter-summit
Indigenous and religious groups kicked off a colorful summit Friday as a counterpoint to the Rio+20 conference on sustainable development, calling on nations to do more to protect the planet.
Haze returns to Malaysia
Haze caused by forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia blanketed parts of Malaysia including the capital, causing air pollution to hit unhealthy levels.
China sending first woman in space to test module (Update 2)
(AP) — China will send its first woman and two other astronauts into space Saturday to work on a temporary space station for about a week, in a key step toward becoming only the third nation to set up a permanent base in orbit.
Submersible sets new China dive record (Update)
A manned Chinese submersible set a new record for the country's deepest sea dive Friday, over 6,000 metres, showing Beijing's technological ambitions as it also readies for its first manned space docking.
NuSTAR rises to guide astrophysics research into hard X-ray regime
(Phys.org) -- NASA's newest telescope headed for orbit yesterday, its rocket igniting in the night skies south of Kwajalein Atoll after being dropped from the underbelly of a Lockheed L-1011 plane.
Carbon emissions: U.S. fares better when considering climate
(Phys.org) -- The U.S. has long been among the world's worst emitters of carbon dioxide, but when accounting for climate in addition to GDP, it is nowhere near the bottom of that list, according to University of Michigan researchers.
Trial by vacuum brings next Galileo satellites closer to launch
(Phys.org) -- The next two Galileo navigation satellites have now endured the harsh vacuum and temperature extremes of space on the way to their scheduled 28 September launch.
Dawn easing into its final science orbit
(Phys.org) -- After successfully completing nearly five months scrutinizing the giant asteroid Vesta at its lowest orbit altitude, NASA's Dawn spacecraft will begin its final major science data-gathering phase at Vesta on June 15, at an average altitude of 420 miles (680 kilometers) above the surface.
Is it time to return to the Moon?
Humans haven’t set foot on the Moon -- or any other world outside of our own, for that matter -- since Cernan and Schmitt departed the lunar surface on December 14, 1972. That will make 40 years on that date this coming December. And despite dreams of moon bases and lunar colonies, there hasn’t even been a controlled landing there since the Soviet Luna 24 sample return mission in 1976 (not including impacted probes.) So in light of the challenges and costs of such an endeavor, is there any real value in a return to the Moon?
New research into flood impacts in the south of England
Research from the University of Southampton has developed and applied a method for understanding the effects and impacts of coastal flooding, which could contribute to more effective flood forecasting, defence design and land use planning.
Changing El Nino could reshape Pacific Ocean biology
Over the past few decades, the scientific understanding of El Nino has grown increasingly complex. Traditionally viewed as a periodic warming focused largely in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, El Nino is associated with reduced productivity in South American fisheries and changing temperature, pressure, and rainfall patterns around the world.
NASA sees heavy rainfall around compact Typhoon Guchol's center
Typhoon Guchol has spawned alerts in the Philippines as it is forecast to skirt the eastern part of Luzon this weekend, and will likely spawn warnings in Okinawa and western Japan over the next couple of days as it tracks in that direction. NASA's TRMM satellite analyzed rainfall within the storm and found heavy rainfall around the center of circulation, falling at a rate of over 2 inches/50 mm per hour and there were hot towering thunderstorms.
NASA sees intensifying Hurricane Carlotta threatening Mexico
NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite flew over Carlotta when it was a tropical storm and found areas of heavy rain throughout and powerful high thunderstorms almost 10 miles high, hinting the storm would strengthen into a hurricane. By 8 a.m. EDT on June 15, Carlotta became the first hurricane of the eastern Pacific Ocean season.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk speaks to Caltech grads
(AP) — The founder of rocket startup SpaceX says he would like to see humans settle Mars and hopes the young generation will help make it happen.
Liu Yang: China's first female astronaut
As a child, Liu Yang once wanted to be a bus conductor and later had her sights set on becoming a lawyer, but decades later she has travelled into space as China's first ever female astronaut.
China's space mission shows growing ambitions
China's latest space mission is its most ambitious yet and shows Beijing's resolve to increase its technological capabilities and bridge the gap with the United States and Russia, experts say.
Chinese spacecraft en route to orbiting module
(AP) — A spacecraft carrying China's first female astronaut and two male crew mates made a planned course change Sunday en route to docking with an orbiting module, state television reported.
NASA releases workshop data and findings on asteroid 2011 AG5
(Phys.org) -- Researchers anticipate that asteroid 2011 AG5, discovered in January 2011, will fly safely past and not impact Earth in 2040.
International study provides new insights into river health
(Phys.org) -- A new international study of leaf-litter decomposition in streams aims to narrow the gap between existing methods of monitoring nutrient pollution in stream ecosystems.
Test of spare wheel puts Orbiter on path to recovery
(Phys.org) -- In a step toward returning NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter to full service, mission controllers have tested a spare reaction wheel on the spacecraft for potential use with two other reaction wheels in adjusting and maintaining the spacecraft's orientation.
Fracking can cause earthquakes, but risk is low: study
Certain oil and gas operations that involve injecting wastewater underground can cause earthquakes, but the risk from hydraulic fracturing is generally low, said a US scientific report Friday.
China sends its first woman astronaut into space (Update)
China on Saturday launched its most ambitious space mission to date, sending its first female astronaut into orbit and bidding to achieve the country's first manual space docking.
Unmanned Air Force space plane lands in California
An unmanned Air Force space plane steered itself to a landing early Saturday at a California military base, capping a 15-month clandestine mission.
European Arctic forests expansion could result in carbon dioxide release: study
Carbon stored in Arctic tundra could be released into the atmosphere by new trees growing in the warmer region, exacerbating climate change, scientists have revealed.
Compact blue dwarf can't hide from Hubble
(Phys.org) -- The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured this view of the dwarf galaxy UGC 5497, which looks a bit like salt sprinkled on black velvet in this image.
New model suggests ocean pH falling more rapidly
(Phys.org) -- A new computer model developed in Switzerland shows that the pH of the ocean waters off the west coast of the US will fall over the next four decades faster than previously thought. The region studied is on the eastern boundary of an upwelling zone, and is important for commercial fishing and for its diversity in marine life.
Data from Voyager 1 point to interstellar future
(Phys.org) -- Data from NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft indicate that the venerable deep-space explorer has encountered a region in space where the intensity of charged particles from beyond our solar system has markedly increased. Voyager scientists looking at this rapid rise draw closer to an inevitable but historic conclusion - that humanity's first emissary to interstellar space is on the edge of our solar system.
Ancient warming greened Antarctica, research finds
(Phys.org) -- A new university-led study with NASA participation finds ancient Antarctica was much warmer and wetter than previously suspected. The climate was suitable to support substantial vegetation -- including stunted trees -- along the edges of the frozen continent.
Technology news
US retail sales of video games fell for 6th month
(AP) — A new study says U.S. retail sales of video-game hardware, software and accessories fell 28 percent in May to $517 million. It's the sixth-consecutive month of decline.
UU experts help with next generation of internet
Researchers at the University of Utah are helping lay the groundwork for a new high-speed Internet upgrade. The White House today announced the launch of US Ignite, an initiative in which the UU is a major participant.
Imec presents breakthrough results in resistive-switching (R)RAM
At this week’s VLSI Technology Symposium (Honolulu, Hawaii), Imec presents significant improvements in performance and reliability of RRAM cells by process improvements and clever stack-engineering, and imec introduces a new modeling approach increasing the fundamental understanding of RRAM process technology. These achievements pave the way towards scalability and manufacturability of RRAM technology.
New paths to scaling advanced gatestack and channel material for next-generation CMOS
In the effort to enhance the advanced metal-high-k gate stack for next-generation logic devices, imec successfully demonstrated higher-k dielectric with Replacement Metal Gate (Metal-Gate-Last) transistors that achieved 200x-1000x reduction in gate leakage relative to leading-edge logic devices in the industry with HfO2 high-k gate dielectric. To address the process control and scalability of the replacement metal gate for nano-scale devices, imec achieved tight electrical distribution down to 20nm gate length through detailed process optimizations. By providing fundamental insights into work-function influences due to metal intermixing in aggressively-scaled metal gates, imec’s research addresses an important source of variability in advanced transistors.
Ultralow power high quality EEG system for ambulatory monitoring
Today at the VLSI circuits symposium (June 12-15, Honolulu), Imec presents a complete 700µW 8-channel active-electrode (AE)-based EEG monitoring system. The system, developed in collaboration with Panasonic, delivers high quality EEG signals and facilitates ambulatory use and patient comfort.
Toshiba develops many-core SoC for embedded applications
Toshiba Corporation today announced the development of an innovative low-power, many-core System-on-a-Chip (SoC) for embedded applications in such areas as automotive products and digital consumer products. The prototype SoC integrates 64 cores, eight times more than its multi-core predecessor and operates 14 times faster.
NXP introduces first 2-mm x 2-mm MOSFETs with tin-plated solderable side pads
NXP Semiconductors today introduced the industry’s first MOSFETs in a 2-mm x 2-mm low-profile DFN (discrete flat no-leads) package with tin-plated, solderable side pads. These unique side pads offer the advantage of optical soldering inspection, as well as a better quality of solder connection compared to conventional leadless packages.
Russian Internet CEO launches robotics fund in US
(AP) — The co-founder of a large Russian Internet company is launching a venture fund to invest in robotics aimed at daily life.
UK hacking suspect will fight extradition to US
(AP) — The lawyer for a British suspect linked to the Lulz Security hacking collective said Friday that she'd fight any moves to have her client tried in an American court.
BMW, Guggenheim open Berlin design 'lab' after threats
German automaker BMW and New York's Guggenheim Museum opened an urban design "laboratory" in Berlin Friday after protests by angry residents of a trendy district forced them to a new location.
'Diablo III' tops list of video game sales in May
(AP) — U.S. retail sales of video-game hardware, software and accessories fell for a sixth consecutive month in May.
Mexican mogul Slim expands empire in Europe
Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim on Friday moved to spread his telecoms empire into central and eastern Europe by raising his stake in Telekom Austria to 9.9 percent with the aim of obtaining 25.9 percent.
Facebook seeks to consolidate post-IPO lawsuits
(AP) — Facebook is seeking to consolidate the more than 40 lawsuits it faces following its rocky initial public offering of stock last month.
France extradites alleged credit card trafficker to US
France has extradited to the United States a 27-year-old Russian alleged to be one of the world's most prolific traffickers in stolen credit card information, the Justice Department said.
More people stay 'Connected' on vacation via web: study
(HealthDay) -- Easy online access and the popularity of personal electronic devices mean that an increasing number of people are staying connected while on vacation, researchers report.
UK hacking suspect Cleary indicted on US crimes
A suspected LulzSec hacker group ally arrested in Britain faces charges that he took part in cyber attacks on companies in the United States, court documents show.
Departed RIM chiefs get $12 million going away gift
BlackBerry maker Research In Motion is giving its freshly departed co-chiefs $12 million worth of parting gifts, according to paperwork filed Thursday with US regulators.
China looks west for help building its own Silicon Valley
Now at a critical juncture in its quest to become a superpower, China is turning to Western regions like the Silicon Valley for help with its next technical leap forward.
Online store implements Internet Explorer 7 tax
Rusland Kogan, proprietor of the online electronics store Kogan.com, may have just invented the most popular tax ever - at least among Web developers.
CAPTCHA: The story behind those squiggly computer letters
If you use the Web, you have probably encountered an annoying invention called a CAPTCHA.
Filming of 'Jobs' movie begins in Jobs family home
In a Hollywood moment on Monday, a leafy Los Altos neighborhood was transformed back to the 1970s, when two irrepressible 20-somethings tinkering in a suburban garage set out to revolutionize humanity's relationship with computers.
Study reveals secrets of a successful tweet
Cramming your tweets with shouting capital letters, cutesy asides and hyperbolic claims won't bring you lots of followers.
Libraries, publishers at odds over access to e-books
Battle lines have been drawn between libraries and publishers over electronic books, and victory could hinge on a Supreme Court decision from when the high-tech news was the appearance of the first Model T on the market and what was hailed as the first public flight by an airplane in the U.S.
Samsung, Apple get most smartphone profits: survey
Samsung and Apple have captured more than half the global market for smartphones and over 90 percent of its profits, a research firm said Friday.
Facebook chief technical officer leaving for startup
Facebook's chief technical officer Bret Taylor on Friday announced he is leaving the world's leading social network to start a new company with a friend.
Microsoft to buy Yammer for $1 bn: report
Microsoft has reached a deal to purchase the Yammer business software company for $1 billion in an apparent bid to shore up its widely-used Office software, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
Phones gain ability to learn by touching
(AP) — There's a form of extra-sensory perception called psychometry, whose practitioners claim to learn things about objects by touching them. Smartphones set to be released this month by Samsung and Sony will have some of that ability: they'll learn things when you touch them to pre-programmed "tags."
SEC questioned Facebook about Zynga, mobile
(AP) — As Facebook's much-anticipated public stock offering approached, federal regulators wanted to know more about the revenue it gets from mobile devices, its $1 billion deal to buy Instagram and the control CEO Mark Zuckerberg has over the company.
Facebook suggests Nasdaq glitches led to decline
(AP) — Facebook is suggesting that trading problems at the Nasdaq Stock Market contributed to a sharp drop in the company's stock price after its initial public offering.
'Spectrum crunch' may slow US mobile revolution
The United States is bracing for a data crunch from the surging use of smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices as the explosion of Internet-ready devices eats up the radio spectrum allocated for mobile broadband.
Drones, computers new weapons of US shadow wars
(AP) — After a decade of costly conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan, the American way of war is evolving toward less brawn, more guile.
Google launches cultural map of Brazil's Amazon tribe
Google on Saturday unveiled a cultural map of Brazil' Surui indigenous people, a digital tool that will help the Amazonian tribe share their vast knowledge of the forest and fight illegal logging.
China creates model for sustainable urban living
At first glance, Tianjin Eco-City looks much like any other upscale Chinese urban development, with its rows of identical apartment blocks, wide roads and manicured verges.
Power-generating knee strap hints at end for batteries
Battery-powered devices could soon be a thing of the past thanks to a group of UK researchers who have created a novel energy harvester to power some of the latest wearable gadgets.
Aircraft engineered with failure in mind may last longer
Complex systems inhabit a "gray world" of partial failures, MIT’s Olivier de Weck says: While a system may continue to operate as a whole, bits and pieces inevitably degrade. Over time, these small failures can add up to a single catastrophic failure, incapacitating the system.
Training computers to see metaphors
Suppose you are at an intelligence agency and your computer is faced with terabytes of text every day -- documents, emails, transcriptions of voice conversations and more -- and many contain metaphors. How do you train your computer to ignore what the text literally says and understand the real meaning?
In bid for domains, Amazon and Google vie for similar names
Google hopes to inherit the Earth - or at least .earth. And Amazon wants to bring you .joy. It's probably no surprise that they both want .you.
AMD joins forces with ARM Holdings to battle common rival Intel
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and ARM Holdings PLC appear to be teaming up to do battle with their common rival, Intel Corp.
Privacy gaffe discovered in Internet address bids (Update)
(AP) — The organization in charge of introducing new Internet addresses to rival ".com" briefly suspended access to some of the documents on its website after a privacy gaffe.
Microsoft might talk tablets and TV on Monday
Microsoft promised to make a "major" announcement on Monday that started the Internet buzzing with talk that it would involve taking on Apple iPad with tablets running on Windows software.
USU team's Personnel Vacuum Assisted Climber wins Air Force prize (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) -- Utah State University engineering undergraduate students have walked off as winners in an Air Force competition asking university teams to deliver systems that can help climbers reach the top of a 90-foot wall. Their wall crawler is designed to help commandos scale tall structures without having to depend on helpers like grappling hooks. The winning device uses vacuum suction to get the wall-climber to the top. The students call their device Personnel Vacuum Assisted Climber, or PVAC.
Chip foundry has trouble meeting 28nm demand
(Phys.org) -- The next big things in mobile devices are being hammered by the next big headache for device makers—the chips at the foundation of their supply chain. High demand for devices is trickling down to the fact that chip factories cannot keep up with demand. Especially rattling nerves has been news that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) continues to report 28nm chip supply issues, which are expected to continue until the end of the year. Speaking at the annual general meeting, the TSMC chief said chip supplies will not be able to satisfy market demand until 2013.
Cornell jigsaw solver uses shape-blind algorithm
(Phys.org) -- A Cornell scientist has come up with an algorithm that can sift through 10,000 pieces of a jigsaw in 24 hours to complete the puzzle. Andrew Gallagher at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, wrote the algorithm while working at Eastman Kodak, where he was developing image enhancement algorithms for digital photofinishing. Gallagher, who is with Cornell’s Advanced Multimedia Processing (AMP) Lab, was also among the contestants trying for the DARPA shredded-document challenge last year.
Medicine & Health news
Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is independently associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), according to a new study from researchers in the UK. The severity of DPN is also correlated with the degree of OSA and the severity of nocturnal hypoxemia.
Urgent action needed fight cholera in Haiti: aid group
Global and local health authorities are not doing enough to fight a cholera outbreak that continues to claim lives in Haiti, Doctors Without Borders said Thursday.
Second death in Scottish Legionnaires' outbreak
A second person has died following an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Scotland, which has led to almost 90 confirmed or suspected cases, health authorities said Friday.
Study to measure optimum frequency of blood donation
A study commencing in the same week as World Blood Donor Day will determine whether blood can be safely collected more frequently than present practice.
Dyslexic's research set to help fellow sufferers
A University of Derby student inspired by her own experience to examine the challenges dyslexic students face at University, was surprised and delighted to see her research published in a top psychological journal.
Control of brain waves from the brain surface
Whether or not a neuron transmits an electrical impulse is a function of many factors. European research is using a heady mixture of techniques – molecular, microscopy and electrophysiological – to identify the necessary input for nerve transmission in the cortex.
Want to lose weight? Join a weight management group that is meaningful to you
Researchers from Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (PCMD), University of Exeter, have received funding of over £86,000 from the Leverhulme Trust to carry out research over two years to investigate the effectiveness of weight loss groups to those who are obese.
Hospital volume and surgeon specialty influence patient outcomes
Researchers from the Netherlands Cancer Institute wanted to understand if patients undergoing lung cancer resections would benefit from having their procedures performed in a high-volume specialized center. The study, published in the July 2012 issue of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer's Journal of Thoracic Oncology, concluded that hospital volume and surgeon specialty are important factors in patient outcomes.
Chemotherapy effective for patients with resected SCLC or large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma
Research presented in the July 2012 issue of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer's (IASLC) Journal of Thoracic Oncology, concluded that patients with limited large cell neuroendocrine tumors or with limited stage small-cell lung cancer who were treated with perioperative chemotherapy and surgery had better overall survival outcomes than patients treated with surgery alone.
Quality of life study shows stereotactic ablative radiotherapy effective treatment; stage I NSCLC
Until recently, many elderly patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer were left untreated because treatment may not improve their quality of life. However, stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) has become one of the standards of treatment for these patients. The outpatient treatment given over a two-week period allows frail patients to undergo the treatment.
Canada court says suicide laws unconstitutional
(AP) — A British Columbia Supreme Court judge ruled Thursday that Canadian laws banning doctor-assisted suicide are unconstitutional.
India firm shakes up cancer drug market with price cuts
Indian pharmaceutical tycoon Yusuf Hamied revolutionised AIDS treatment more than a decade ago by supplying cut-price drugs to the world's poor -- and now he wants to do the same for cancer.
Manipulation of a specific neural circuit buried in complicated brain networks in primates
A collaborative research team led by Professor Tadashi ISA from The National Institute for Physiological Sciences, The National Institutes of Natural Sciences and Fukushima Medical University and Kyoto University, developed a "double viral vector transfection technique" which can deliver genes to a specific neural circuit by combining two new kinds of gene transfer vectors. With this method, they found that "indirect pathways", which were suspected to have been left behind when the direct connection from the brain to motor neurons (which control muscles) was established in the course of evolution, actually plays an important role in the highly developed dexterous hand movements. This study was supported by the Strategic Research Program for Brain Sciences by the MEXT of Japan. This research result will be published in Nature (June 17th, advance online publication).
Persistence is learned from fathers, study shows
When the going gets tough, the tough ought to thank their fathers.
Graphic warning labels improve smokers' recall of warning and health risks related to smoking
In a first of its kind study in the U.S., researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have shown that the addition of graphic warning labels on cigarette packaging can improve smokers' recall of the warning and health risks associated with smoking. The new findings are published online-first in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Researchers identify need to sample multiple tumor zones in breast cancer
Certain short strands of RNA, known as microRNAs (miRNAs), have been linked to the progression and metastasis of breast cancer and may provide information about prognosis. However, studies of miRNA expression profiles often report conflicting findings. While the potential for using miRNAs in breast cancer diagnosis is promising, scientists report in a new study published online today in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics that differences in the amount and types of miRNA within breast tumors can be misleading.
Antioxidant shown to reduce blindness risk in extremely premature babies
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is the second most common cause of childhood blindness in the United States, occurring in half of premature infants born earlier than or at 28 weeks gestational age. The condition is caused by abnormal blood vessel development in the retina of the eye. ROP risk increases with decreasing gestational age.
Vitamin D with calcium shown to reduce mortality in elderly
A study recently published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM) suggests that vitamin D—when taken with calcium—can reduce the rate of mortality in seniors, therefore providing a possible means of increasing life expectancy.
BPA exposure effects may last for generations
Exposure to low doses of Bisphenol A (BPA) during gestation had immediate and long-lasting, trans-generational effects on the brain and social behaviors in mice, according to a recent study accepted for publication in the journal Endocrinology, a publication of The Endocrine Society.
Pre-op breast pain in about 28 percent of breast cancer patients
(HealthDay) -- More than a quarter of women about to undergo breast cancer surgery experience breast pain, with genetic polymorphisms in inflammatory cytokines correlating with pain, according to a study published in the May issue of The Journal of Pain.
California physicians unprepared for electronic health record regulations: report
(Medical Xpress) -- Electronic health records (EHRs) are used widely by California physicians, but many of their systems are not designed to meet new federal standards aimed at improving the quality of health care, according to a report from UCSF researchers.
More to facial perception than meets the eye
People make complex judgements about a person from looking at their face that are based on a range of factors beyond simply their race and gender, according to findings of new research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
The Medical Minute: What is myelodysplastic syndrome?
Television journalist and host of "Good Morning America" Robin Roberts announced this week that she has myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, an uncommon blood and bone marrow disorder.
The risk of carrying a cup of coffee
Object manipulation or tool use is almost a uniquely human trait, said Dagmar Sternad, director of Northeastern’s Action Lab, a research group interested in movement coordination. “Not only does it require certain cognitive abilities but also distinct motor abilities.”
No evidence to support removing impacted wisdom teeth
Little evidence exists to support removing impacted wisdom teeth that are not causing pain and swelling, aren’t negatively affecting other teeth, and are disease-free, finds a new review in The Cochrane Library.
Broken heart, broken bones: Falls among elderly tied to depression
(Medical Xpress) -- A new NeuRA study has found that people suffering from depression are more likely to fall, pointing to a complex relationship between mental illness, a sense of balance, and falling in older people.
First study of its kind finds rapid declines in worldwide physical activity
(Medical Xpress) -- A new study by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers finds a global decline in activity levels and predicts a continuing rise in inactivity in countries around the world. When viewed in the context of physical activity levels throughout human evolution, the global decline in physical activity in just the past few decades is particularly abrupt.
Treading a common path to metabolic maintenance
Fruit flies and humans both rely on hormones secreted by insulin-producing cells (IPCs) for metabolic maintenance and the regulation of numerous other physiological processes. In some ways, fly IPCs differ considerably from their mammalian counterparts; they emerge from different embryonic precursor cells, and reside within the brain rather than the pancreas. Yet, they also show striking functional similarities. Now, new findings from Takashi Nishimura and colleagues at the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology in Kobe have demonstrated that these cells employ highly similar molecular mechanisms to manage hormone production.
Active ingredient of cannabis has no effect on the progression of multiple sclerosis
The first large non-commercial study to investigate whether the main active constituent of cannabis (tetrahydrocannabinol or THC) is effective in slowing the course of progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) shows that there is no evidence to suggest this; although benefits were noted for those at the lower end of the disability scale.
Finding genetic proof of coronary artery disease risk
University of Minnesota School of Public Health researchers have reported two high-signal genetic markers correlated with coronary artery disease (CAD) that should help define genetic fingerprints that can signal an increased risk of developing the disease.
Many college students can't track down credible emergency contraception information online
They seem to live their personal lives online, but when there is a glitch in the sex lives of college students, and emergency contraception is needed, many struggle to navigate the Web and find the information they need, according to a Northwestern University study.
Musical brain patterns could help predict epileptic seizures
The research led by Newcastle University's Dr Mark Cunningham and Professor Miles Whittington and supported by the Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research, indicates a novel electrical bio-marker in humans.
Inproved repair to damage of the peripheral nervous system
Researchers from the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Exeter, in collaboration with colleagues from Rutgers University, Newark and University College London, have furthered understanding of the mechanism by which the cells that insulate the nerve cells in the peripheral nervous system, Schwann cells, protect and repair damage caused by trauma and disease.
Genetic markers hope for new brain tumor treatments
Researchers at The University of Nottingham have identified three sets of genetic markers that could potentially pave the way for new diagnostic tools for a deadly type of brain tumour that mainly targets children.
Changes needed for oft-ignored prescription warning labels
Each year, an estimated four million Americans experience adverse reactions to prescription medications. Many of these reactions, ranging from mild rashes and drowsiness to hospitalization and death, could be avoided if warning labels were more effective, according to a Michigan State University study.
Mutations in JAK3 gene identified in subtype of lymphoma provide potential drug target
A substantial proportion of NK/T-cell lymphomas harbor Janus Kinase 3 gene mutations. Patients with these lymphomas might benefit from treatment with a Janus Kinase inhibitor according to a study published in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Factors ID'd in healing failure of diabetic foot ulcers
(HealthDay) -- Patients with diabetes whose foot ulcers fail to heal have increased inflammation and aberrant growth factor levels, according to a study published online June 11 in Diabetes.
Testosterone therapy does not up prostate cancer incidence
(HealthDay) -- Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) appears to be safe and does not increase the incidence of prostate cancer, according to a study published online June 6 in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Weight loss linked to reduced cancer incidence, mortality
(HealthDay) -- Weight loss, particularly intentional weight loss, is associated with a reduced incidence of cancer and mortality, especially for women and for obesity-related cancers, according to a review published online June 4 in Obesity Reviews.
Psoriasis tied to 14 other autoimmune diseases
(HealthDay) -- Patients with psoriasis have significantly higher odds for having at least one of 14 other autoimmune diseases, according to a study published online June 4 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
New tool identifies teens with impaired fasting glucose
(HealthDay) -- More effective than body mass index (BMI) alone, the Tool for Assessing Glucose Impairment (TAG-IT) for adolescents (TAG-IT-A) is a simple screening tool that identifies adolescents who may have impaired fasting glucose, according to a study published in the June issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.
Child food allergy prevalence linked to urban/rural status
(HealthDay) -- The prevalence of childhood food allergy is associated with urban/rural status, even after adjusting for confounding variables, according to a study published online May 17 in Clinical Pediatrics.
Cancer's next magic bullet may be magic shotgun
A new approach to drug design, pioneered by a group of researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and Mt. Sinai, New York, promises to help identify future drugs to fight cancer and other diseases that will be more effective and have fewer side effects.
Smoking-cessation 'quitlines' could help identify hazardous drinkers
Although numerous studies have shown a strong link between drinking and smoking behaviors, few telephone smoking-cessation "quitlines" routinely screen and counsel callers about their alcohol use. A first-of-its-kind study of drinking and smoking-cessation rates among callers to the New York State Smokers' Quitline (NYSSQL) has found that a high proportion of the smokers calling also drank at hazardous levels, and these high-level drinking smokers had more difficulty quitting smoking than moderate drinking smokers.
Graduated driving laws reduce teen drunk driving
State laws that limit driving privileges for teens have reduced the incidence of drinking and driving among the nation's youngest licensees, according to a new study from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Intestinal bacteria produce neurotransmitter, could play role in inflammation
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital have identified commensal bacteria in the human intestine that produce a neurotransmitter that may play a role in preventing or treating inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease.
Researchers find a strong association between alcohol dependence and chromosome 5q13.2
Excessive drinking is not only the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States, there is also a very strong genetic influence on the risk of developing alcohol dependence (AD). Given its serious public-health impact, as well as strong evidence for genetic influence, a new study has examined links between AD and genetic variations called common copy number variations (CNVs), finding a significant association between AD and CNVs on chromosome 5q13.2.
Answer isn't always on the 'tip of the tongue' for older adults
Has your memory failed you today, such as struggling to recall a word that's "on the tip of your tongue?" If so, you're not alone.
Natural antioxidant can protect against cardiovascular disease: study
University of Minnesota Medical School researchers have collaborated with the School of Public Health and discovered an enzyme that, when found at high levels and alongside low levels of HDL (good cholesterol), can dramatically reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Freud's theory of unconscious conflict linked to anxiety symptoms in new brain research
An experiment that Sigmund Freud could never have imagined 100 years ago may help lend scientific support for one of his key theories, and help connect it with current neuroscience.
Control gene for 'conveyor belt' cells could help improve oral vaccines, treat intestinal disease
Scientists have found a master regulator gene needed for the development of M cells, a mysterious type of intestinal cell involved in initiating immune responses.
Biology news
Behavioral responses to a changing world
(Phys.org) -- Male beetles in Western Australia are mating with beer bottles in response to environmental change caused by human activity. A new book examines why, and the impacts on biodiversity.
Studying genome of crocodile family in evolution research
University of Delaware scientist Carl Schmidt is working to identify genes in crocodiles, alligators and gharials as he searches for links between the creatures that could give clues as to how they evolved over the years in relation to one another.
Newly aggressive dogs may be reacting to pain
(HealthDay) -- Pain may be the cause of sudden, unexplained aggression in dogs, a new study says.
The boys are bad: Older male ants single out younger rivals for death squad
Male Cardiocondyla obscurior ants are diphenic (either winged or wingless). New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Ecology demonstrates that the dominant wingless (ergatoid) male is able to identify potential rivals before they emerge from their pupae. Constant patrolling of the nest ensures that this male is able to bite or chemically tag rivals as soon as they emerge from their pupae. Chemically tagged ants are quickly destroyed by workers.
Mystery solved: 3 wolves drowned in old mine shaft at Isle Royale National Park
During their 2012 Winter Study, Michigan Technological University population biologist John Vucetich and wildlife ecologist Rolf Peterson started wondering where the wolves of Isle Royale National Park had gone. They only found nine wolves, and as far as they could tell, only one was a female. They expressed serious concern that the wolves of Isle Royale might be well on their way to extinction.
New reclusive crab species found tucked away on Galician seabed
Although it might seem like we have an extensive record of all the species we share the planet with, there are plenty left to be discovered who have long eluded humans' cataloguing efforts.
Research delivers near real-time water quality results
Ongoing research by Mercyhurst University biologists intended to expand and expedite testing for potential pathogens in beach water at Presque Isle State Park has resulted in a new method that delivers near real-time water quality results.
The most contaminated surfaces in hotel rooms
An experiment of surfaces in hotel rooms finds television remotes to be among the most heavily contaminated with bacteria and items on housekeeping carts carry the potential to cross-contaminate rooms. Researchers from the University of Houston report the findings today at the 2012 General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.
Internal cellular sensors make Salmonella dangerous: study
(Phys.org) -- Salmonella becomes dangerously virulent only when molecular sensors within the organism sense changes in the environment, a team of researchers from the Yale School of Medicine and the Yale Microbial Diversity Institute report in the June 14 issue of the journal Nature.
Lariats: How RNA splicing decisions are made
Lariats are discarded byproducts of RNA splicing, the process by which genetic instructions for making proteins are assembled. A new study has found hundreds more lariats than ever before, yielding new information about how splicing occurs and how it can lead to disease.
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