Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for June 7, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Physicists demonstrate quantum interference between two photons of different frequencies- Tabletop laser-like device creates coherent multicolor beams of ultraviolet, T- and X-rays
- New twist on old chemical process could boost energy efficiency
- Huge phytoplankton bloom in ice-covered waters discovered
- Unique structure of fist-like club of mantis shrimp could tranform body armor materials
- New data-encoding scheme slashes energy needs for next-generation memory
- 'Nanocable' could be big boon for energy storage
- Australian researchers show flower color evolution driven by bee preferences
- Mozilla's Shumway pushes Flash to off-ramp
- Researchers develop a multi-target approach to treating tumors
- New findings provide insight on long-standing pregnancy mystery
- Experts call for strong regulation and peer review of military and civilian nuclear programs
- Scientists identify first gene in programmed axon degeneration
- How black holes change gear
- Floating dock from Japan carries potential invasive species
Space & Earth news
US won't stop tweeting China air quality readings
The United States said that its embassy and consulates in China would not stop tweeting reports on air quality readings in Beijing and Shanghai, which have annoyed the Chinese authorities.
Urban wasteland: World Bank sees global garbage crisis
The world's city dwellers are fast producing more and more trash in a "looming crisis" that will pose huge financial and environmental burdens, the World Bank is warning.
Climate change message needs to be closer to home to hit home, say researchers
Effectively communicating climate change risks to the general public could all hinge on bringing the issue closer to home, research by a team from Nottingham and Cardiff Universities has found.
Geerts hopes to answer mysteries of cloud seeding through supercomputing model
Bart Geerts likes to chase storms high in the mountains. And, oftentimes, he helps contribute to them.
Dairy industry reducing phosphorus intake and output
(Phys.org) -- Reducing phosphorus in dairy diets doesn’t change a cow’s productivity, but it does affect the environmental impact that cow might have, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service specialist.
For second straight year, a team of WPI students wins the NASA Robo-Ops robotics competition
For the second consecutive year, a Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) student robotics engineering team has won the Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) Exploration Robo-Ops Competition sponsored by NASA and organized by the National Institute of Aerospace.
Andrew Hamilton -- the man who hangs out in black holes
University of Colorado Boulder Professor Andrew Hamilton, doggedly determined to go where no man has gone before, continues to fascinate the public with his stunning and scientifically sound visualizations that take viewers into the guts of black holes.
How does dolomite form? Scientists show the influence of marine bacteria on mineral formation
Not only in the Dolomites, but throughout the world dolomite is quite common. More than 90 percent of dolomite is made up of the mineral dolomite. It was first described scientifically in the 18th century. But who would have thought that the formation of this mineral is still not fully understood, although geologists are aware of large deposits of directly formed (primary) dolomite from the past 600 million years. The process of recent primary dolomite formation is restricted to extreme ecosystems such as bacterial mats in highly saline lakes and lagoons. "As these systems are very limited in space, there is an explanation gap for geologists for the widespread presence of fossil dolomite," explains Dr. Stefan Krause, Geomicrobiologist at GEOMAR | Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel.
Navy researchers seek to improve weather prediction for global operations
With the Atlantic hurricane season officially beginning this month, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) is pursuing a number of projects to help Navy forecasters and meteorologists around the world predict storms better.
NASA provides satellite views of Maryland's severe weather outbreak
On Friday, June 1, 2012 severe weather generated 9 weak tornadoes across Maryland, according to the National Weather Service. As the system that generated them approached, NASA's Aqua satellite gathered information about power behind it. NASA also created an animation of the severe weather as it was seen from NOAA's GOES-13 satellite.
Researchers unveil Jupiter's smallest known moon
(Phys.org) -- At a measly 2 kilometres in diameter, the smallest of two moons recently discovered orbiting Jupiter may be the giant planet's smallest known satellite.
Ethiopian dam spurs debate
The mud-coloured Omo River which snakes through green gorges, feeding lush vegetation and providing vital water to one of Ethiopia's most remote regions, will also power a contentious dam project.
Houston unveils Storm Risk Calculator for 2012 hurricane season
The next time a hurricane approaches Houston, residents trying to decide whether to evacuate or shelter in place will be able to get real-time updates about the risks from storm surge, rainfall flooding, wind damage and power outages in their neighborhood, thanks to a new website created by Rice University researchers.
James Webb space telescope's mirrors get 'shrouded'
(Phys.org) -- Earlier this year, NASA completed deep-freeze tests on the James Webb Space Telescope mirrors in a "shroud" at the X-ray & Cryogenic Facility (XRCF) at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.
Cassini plasma spectrometer turns off
(Phys.org) -- The Cassini plasma spectrometer instrument (CAPS) aboard NASA's Cassini spacecraft was turned off between Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2, when a circuit breaker tripped off after the instrument experienced some unexpected voltage shifts.
Humans on Mars by 2023?
Reality TV goes to Mars! Dutch entrepreneur Bas Lansdorp is leading a group visionaries and businesspeople who want to send four humans to Mars by 2023, and they say they can achieve their goal at an estimated cost of $6 billion USD. How can they do it? By building it into a global media spectacle. And oh, by the way, this will be a one-way trip.
Stanford researchers help predict the oceans of the future with a mini-lab
Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment researchers have helped open a new door of possibility in the high-stakes effort to save the world's coral reefs.
NASA kills GEMS X-ray telescope, blames project's cost
(AP) — NASA has killed a new X-ray telescope mission, two years before its planned launch.
US spring warming off the charts
The continental United States experienced the warmest spring on record this year, with temperatures far above the average over the past century, government scientists said Thursday.
Dawn mission video shows Vesta's coat of many colors
(Phys.org) -- A new video from NASA's Dawn mission reveals the dappled, variegated surface of the giant asteroid Vesta. The animation drapes high-resolution false color images over a 3-D model of the Vesta terrain constructed from Dawn's observations. This visualization enables a detailed view of the variation in the material properties of Vesta in the context of its topography.
Channeling our ion past
To understand how the first cells transported ions across their membranes, researchers are studying simple channels used by fungi to kill off bacteria.
More carbon dioxide in the air could threaten rice crops
The increase in carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere--linked to human-caused global warming--may have another effect scientists hadn’t foreseen. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, MD may have found a consequence that could produce a crisis in the world’s food supply.
Mars crater shows evidence for climate evolution
(Phys.org) -- ESA’s Mars Express has provided images of a remarkable crater on Mars that may show evidence that the planet underwent significant periodic fluctuations in its climate due to changes in its rotation axis.
How black holes change gear
(Phys.org) -- Black holes are extremely powerful and efficient engines that not only swallow up matter, but also return a lot of energy to the Universe in exchange for the mass they eat. When black holes attract mass they also trigger the release of intense X-ray radiation and power strong jets. But not all black holes do this the same way. This has long baffled astronomers. By studying two active black holes researchers at the SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research have now gathered evidence that suggests that each black hole can change between two different regimes, like changing the gears of an engine. The team's findings will be published in two papers in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Spitzer telescope finds first objects burned furiously
(Phys.org) -- The faint, lumpy glow given off by the very first objects in the universe may have been detected with the best precision yet, using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. These faint objects might be wildly massive stars or voracious black holes. They are too far away to be seen individually, but Spitzer has captured new, convincing evidence of what appears to be the collective pattern of their infrared light.
Huge phytoplankton bloom in ice-covered waters discovered
A team of researchers, including scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), discovered a massive bloom of phytoplankton beneath ice-covered Arctic waters. Until now, sea ice was thought to block sunlight and limit the growth of microscopic marine plants living under the ice.
Technology news
S. Korea computer game giant takes on US mobile market
South Korea-based WeMade Entertainment went shoulder-to-shoulder Wednesday with titans at the E3 videogame extravaganza in Los Angeles with games designed to bring computer-quality play to smartphones or tablets.
S. Korea military accuses North of stealing secrets
South Korea's military security chief accused North Korea Thursday of training elite hackers to steal military secrets and stir up public disorder.
Taiwan smartphone maker HTC cuts sales forecast
(AP) — Taiwan smartphone maker HTC Corp. has cut its second quarter revenue forecast by 13 percent after a patent dispute with Apple Inc. led to a delay in shipments.
Samsung to spend $1.9 billion for new chip line
(AP) — Samsung Electronics Co. said it is spending $1.9 billion to build a new logic chip factory in South Korea to capitalize on demand for mobile devices.
China looks to boost Internet limits on microblogs
(AP) — China plans to stiffen restrictions on Internet service providers as it seeks even greater control over the opinions voiced on the country's lively microblogs and other web forums.
Google Street View gets go-ahead in Lithuania
Google has gotten the go-ahead from Lithuania for its popular, if at times controversial, Street View application, an add-on to Google Maps, a company official said Thursday.
'El Huffington Post' launches in Spain
El Huffington Post opened in Spain on Thursday, poking fun at the government's handling of the economic crisis in typically irreverent style for the growing news and blogging empire.
Weizmann Institute solar technology to convert greenhouse gas into fuel
An Israeli-Australian venture will use solar technology developed at the Weizmann Institute of Science to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of brown coal. The venture has been recently launched in Israel by NewCO2Fuels Ltd., a subsidiary of the Australian company Greenearth Energy Ltd., which has acquired an exclusive worldwide license for the solar technology from Yeda, the Weizmann Institute's technology transfer arm.
US: Older teens often text behind the wheel
(AP) — More than half of U.S. students in their last year before college admit they text or email while driving — the first federal statistics on how common the dangerous habit is in teens.
Twitter unveils new bird trademark
Twitter unveiled a new "Twitterbird" Wednesday which will be the new trademark symbol for the fast-growing company.
Oracle unveils suite of 'cloud computing' services (Update)
(AP) — Business software maker Oracle is finally adapting to a shift in computing that is threatening to turn the company into a relic.
Action-based videogames get players on their feet
New videogames mixing music with real-world action promise to get players off the couch, turning basketball dribblers into "true ballers" and helping new moms tighten their tummies.
Samsung fights Apple move to block Galaxy sales
(AP) — Samsung Electronics Co. said Thursday that it will fight Apple's move to stop U.S. sales of its new Galaxy phone in the latest flare-up of an intellectual property battle between the world's top smartphone makers.
New toolkit demonstrates use of data-driven science to plan for future pandemics
In 2009, the H1N1 "swine flu" pandemic struck, infecting millions and killing more than 18,000 worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Though less severe than initially feared, the pandemic highlighted the potential threat of deadly viruses emerging from animals into humans, and the importance of quick and effective public health intervention.
Taiwan's HTC denies Microsoft snub over Windows 8
Taiwan's leading smartphone maker HTC on Thursday denied reports that it would be excluded by Microsoft from adopting the new operating system Windows 8 in its products.
Photovoltaic cells tap underwater solar energy
Scientists at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), Electronics Science and Technology Division, dive into underwater photovoltaic research to develop high bandgap solar cells capable of producing sufficient power to operate electronic sensor systems at depths of 9 meters.
London subway system launches WiFi service
(AP) — Travelers on London's Underground need no longer fear being out of touch.
Videogame play becomes a spectator sport
Videogame play is becoming a spectator sport. "It is the next evolution in gaming," said Matthew DiPietro of TwitchTV, an online platform that enables people to stream play live online.
US lawmakers say security leaks must end
The top US lawmakers on intelligence issues stood united Thursday in demanding an end to a "cascade" of national security leaks they warn put lives at risk, but stopped short of saying the breaches were politically motivated.
Bangladesh Internet down after submarine cable cut
Millions of Bangladeshis have been unable to use the Internet or suffered slow connections after a submarine cable was cut off the coast of Singapore, an official said Thursday.
Honda Fit electric car gets 118 mpg, but costs add up
At 118 miles per gallon (50 kilometers per liter), the Honda Fit electric vehicle is the most fuel-efficient in the United States. But getting that mileage isn't cheap — and it isn't always good for the environment.
on{X}: Microsoft automatic-message tool is for (gasp) Android
(Phys.org) -- Microsoft this week announced the beta release of on{X}, a combination site and Android application giving smartphone users extended control of their phones via remote programming. Suddenly smartphones get much smarter when the user can create numerous automated messages that send automatic text messages, alerts, jog the memory or relay a message to jog, as the case may be. The phone becomes a device to more dynamically react to a changing daily environment. This is a service for developers and what the team calls “technology enthusiasts” who are not timid about programming their mobile devices.
Researchers point out ways to circumvent Google's Bouncer (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) -- Back in February, Google announced that it had added a security program called Bouncer to its Android Market, a site similar to Apple’s iTunes, that would test applications that had been uploaded to the site, in an attempt to keep out those that contain malware. In the announcement, Google also said that Bouncer had been running for several months and that because of it, apps with malware uploaded to Android Market, which is now called Google Play, were down forty percent. Unfortunately, if that number is correct, it’s likely to change soon as two security analysts, Charlie Miller and Jon Oberheide have not only found some very serious security problems with Bouncer, but have created a video and posted it on YouTube showing exactly how to take advantage of the lapse.
'Supermileage' team aims for 2,000 mpg
(Phys.org) -- John Pearson’s Oldsmobile gets maybe 21 miles to the gallon. His school car – a custom-built, carbon-fiber test vehicle – is a bit more efficient: It could, in the right conditions, exceed 2,000 mpg.
Revamped Foursquare tells you where to check in
Foursquare, a location-based social media service, unveiled a revamped app Thursday that helps people find things nearby even before they ask.
Experts call for strong regulation and peer review of military and civilian nuclear programs
All nuclear energy and weapons programs should be independently regulated and subject to rigorous peer review, according to three experts on nuclear policy. Their comments and recommendations are published in an article entitled, "A Safer Nuclear Enterprise," in the June 8 issue of the journal Science.
Password breach spreads beyond LinkedIn
More websites admitted security breaches Thursday after LinkedIn said some of its members' passwords were stolen, and experts warned of email scams targeting users of the social network.
Mozilla's Shumway pushes Flash to off-ramp
(Phys.org) -- Mozilla’s experimental project on GitHub, a hosting service for development projects, is taking on a happy buzz where developers look at a future that may not include Adobe Flash. The project, called Shumway, is designed to try to interpret SWF (Flash files) using browser-standard technologies such as HTML5 and JavaScript. Said one anonymous Slashdot writer—reflecting general developer response-- “All I can say is please and thank you!” The Shumway project replaces Flash player with a virtual machine. Those familiar with Shumway say that it is an open way to translate Flash content.
New data-encoding scheme slashes energy needs for next-generation memory
Researchers from Rice University and UCLA unveiled a new data-encoding scheme this week that slashes more than 30 percent of the energy needed to write data onto new memory cards that use "phase-change memory" (PCM) -- a competitor to flash memory that has big backing from industry heavyweights.
Medicine & Health news
Surgeon experience affects complication rate of spinal stenosis surgery
For patients undergoing surgery for spinal stenosis, the risk of complications is higher when the surgeon performs very few such procedures—less than four per year, suggests a study in the June issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
Prescription and illicit drug abuse is timely new topic on NIHSeniorHealth.gov
(Medical Xpress) -- Data from national surveys reveal a disturbing trend for 50- to 59-year-olds: the number of those reporting past-month abuse of illicit drugs — including the nonmedical use of prescription drugs — more than doubled from 2002 to 2010, going from 907,000 to 2,375,000, or from 2.7 to 5.8 percent in this population. Among those 65 and older, 414,000 used illicit drugs in 2010. A new topic, Prescription and Illicit Drug Abuse, available on NIHSeniorHealth.gov, describes this trend and the effects of medication and drug abuse on older adults.
A better diagnostic tool for brain cancer
A joint study by researchers at the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI), National University of Singapore (NUS), and Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), A*STAR, has uncovered the role of a new tumour suppressor – known as parkin – in brain cancer that promises to shed insights into why certain brain tumours are more aggressive than others.
Yale biologist peers into inner working of the cell
Daniel Colón-Ramos, assistant professor of cell biology, studies the C. elegans nematode, and uses the latest microscopy technology to watch neurons locate a target and form precise synaptic connections, resulting in the neural circuits that underlie human behavior.
Study will provide information on how infectious diseases may be transmitted on aircraft
A new study is expected to provide the first detailed information on how infectious diseases may be transmitted aboard commercial airliners. Sponsored by aircraft manufacturer Boeing, the research will document patterns of passenger movement inside aircraft cabins and inventory the microbes present in cabin air and on surfaces such as tray tables and lavatory fixtures.
2-1-1 could be effective tool in fighting cancer disparities
(Medical Xpress) -- The 2-1-1 phone information and referral system could be a key partner in efforts to reduce cancer disparities affecting low-income and racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S., finds a new study by Jason Purnell, PhD, assistant professor of public health at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.
Treatment with anti-TNFs reduces the risk of cardiovascular events in rheumatoid arthritis
Results from a retrospective analysis of contemporary data presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, predict, based on estimates from a multivariate regression model, that the cumulative use of anti-tumour necrosis factor drugs (anti-TNFs) for one, two, or three years is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular events by 24%, 42% and 56% in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) respectively, compared to not using anti-TNF therapies (adjusting for background use of methotrexate or other disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs [DMARDs]).
Treatment with anti-TNFs can increase the risk of shingles by up to 75 percent
Patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor medications (anti-TNFs) have a 75% greater risk of developing herpes zoster, or shingles, than patients treated with traditional disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), according to a meta-analysis presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism.
Head-to-head study in RA shows that abatacept has comparable efficacy to adalimumab
Data from one of the few head-to-head trials in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, demonstrates that at one year, 64.8% of patients receiving abatacept (Orencia) and 63.4% of patients receiving adalimumab (Humira) achieved ACR20.
Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation increases survival in systemic sclerosis patients
Initial results from an international, investigator-initiated, open label phase III trial were presented at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism. Data indicate that haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) results in better long term survival than conventional treatment for patients with poor prognosis early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis.
Control of disease activity and biologic treatment increase life expectency in RA patients
According to a study presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who are prescribed biologic treatments have a significantly lower mortality risk (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 0.61) than those just treated with traditional disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs).The study also found the mortality was similar irrespective of the method of action of biologics (anti-tumour necrosis factor drugs [anti-TNFs] or rituximab).
Patients taking certolizumab pegol are twice as likely to achieve ACR20 compared to placebo
A new Phase III study presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, shows that patients treated with certolizumab pegol (CZP) were twice as likely to meet the primary endpoint of ACR20* response at week 12 than those on placebo: 58% on CZP200mg Q2W; and 51.9% on CZP 400 mg Q4W compared to 24.3% on placebo.
Nearly two-thirds of American osteoporotic hip fractures are seen in the extreme elderly
A new American study presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, calls for more aggressive management of osteoporosis in the extreme elderly as the true impact of osteoporotic hip fractures in those aged 80 years or older is unveiled.
Personalizing biologic treatment to individual patients with rheuatoid arthritis is cost-effective
Berlin, Germany, June 7 2012: Data presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, demonstrates that tailoring biologic treatment to individual patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can reduce total costs by €2,595,557 per 272 patients over 3 years (95 percentile range -€2,983,760 to -€2,211,755), whilst increasing effectiveness by an average of 3.67 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs)*. Cost savings were mostly on drug costs.
Report addresses challenges in implementing new diagnostic tests where they are needed most
Easy-to-use, inexpensive tests to diagnose infectious diseases are urgently needed in resource-limited countries. A new report based on an American Academy of Microbiology colloquium, "Bringing the Lab to the Patient: Developing Point-of-Care Diagnostics for Resource Limited Settings," describes the challenges inherent in bringing new medical devices and technologies to the areas of the world where they are needed most. Point-of-care diagnostics (POCTs) bypass the need for sophisticated laboratory systems by leveraging new technologies to diagnose infectious diseases and other health concerns at the bedside, or "point-of-care". Diagnostics account for 2% of the cost of health care, yet can affect 60-70% of treatment decisions. In resource limited areas where advanced laboratory services are not available, access to POCTs may be the difference between making a treatment decision that is informed by an accurate diagnosis versus one that is ineffective or even harmful.
Analysis will examine safety of in-hospital underwater births
One of the first systematic examinations of the safety of in-hospital underwater births in the United States commences this month, when Regenstrief Institute fellow Jeanne Ballard, M.D., an obstetrician/gynecologist with more than 16 years of experience delivering babies, collaborates with Regenstrief investigator Michael Weiner, M.D., MPH to put the tools of medical informatics and outcomes research to work to improve reproductive health care.
Successful pregnancies possible for women following liver transplantation
New research confirms that successful pregnancies are common for female liver transplant recipients. The study appearing in the June issue of Liver Transplantation, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, found miscarriage risk was lower and the live birth rate higher among women following liver transplantation than in the general U.S. population.
Number of UK Legionnaires' cases rises to 61
(AP) — Health officials on Thursday reported 61 confirmed and suspected cases of Legionnaires' disease in Scotland, an outbreak that has left one man dead.
Study links teamwork, communication with quality of nursing home care
Nursing homes that foster an environment in which workers feel they are valued contributors to a team of caregivers provide better care to their residents. That is the conclusion of a study out this month in the journal Health Services Research.
11 integrated health systems form largest private-sector diabetes registry in US
Eleven integrated health systems, with more than 16 million members, have combined de-identified data from their electronic health records to form the largest, most comprehensive private-sector diabetes registry in the nation.
Data release from the Allen Institute for Brain Science expands online atlas offerings
The Allen Institute for Brain Science announced today its latest public data release, enhancing online resources available via the Allen Brain Atlas data portal and expanding its application programming interface (API).
Reach2HD, a Phase II study in Huntington's disease, launched
The Huntington Study Group (HSG), under the leadership of Ray Dorsey, M.D. with Johns Hopkins Medical and Diana Rosas, M.D. with Massachusetts General Hospital, is conducting a clinical trial in Huntington's disease (HD) throughout the United States and Australia, "A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, study to assess the safety and tolerability, and efficacy of PBT2 in patients with early to mid-stage Huntington's disease" comparing a 100 mg dose or 250 mg dose versus placebo. The HSG is a not-for-profit group of physicians and other clinical researchers who are experienced in the care of HD patients and dedicated to clinical research of the disease. This trial is sponsored by Prana Biotechnology Limited (Melbourne, Australia) and is being managed by the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Radiation exposure from CT scans in childhood could triple the risk of leukaemia and brain cancer
Radiation exposure received from 2 to 3 computed tomography (CT) scans of the head in childhood (aged under 15 years)—giving a cumulative dose of around 60 mGy— can triple the risk of later developing brain cancer, while around 5 to 10 such scans (cumulative dose around 50 mGy) could triple the risk of developing leukaemia (with the differing number of scans related to different absorption rates of the brain versus the bone marrow and age at time of scanning). While the absolute risk of these cancers occurring after CT is small, radiation doses from CT scans should be kept as low as possible and alternative procedures, that do not use ionising radiation, should be considered if appropriate.
Meditation practice may decrease risk for cardiovascular disease in teens
Regular meditation could decrease the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in teens who are most at risk, according to Georgia Health Sciences University researchers.
Exercise reduces psoriasis risk
New research by scientists at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital highlights another medical condition improved by exercise: the skin affliction called psoriasis.
Mystery to the origin of long-lived, skin-deep immune cells uncovered
Scientists at A*STAR’s Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) uncovered the origin of a group of skin-deep immune cells that act as the first line of defence against harmful germs and skin infections. SIgN scientists discovered that these sentry cells of the skin, called the Langerhans cells (LCs), originate from two distinct embryonic sites - the early yolk sac and the foetal liver.
Physical activity is beneficial for children with ADHD
(Medical Xpress) -- "There has long been a popular consensus that physical activity is good for children with attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity [ADHD] because, by definition, these children are constantly moving. But no empirical study has validated this belief... until today," says Claudia Verret, an Université de Montréal kinesiology graduate.
Men and women respond differently to exercise advertisements
(Medical Xpress) -- A new University of Michigan study finds that overweight men and women responded differently to advertisements about the benefits from exercise.
Smokescreen lifted on tobacco industry tactics
(Medical Xpress) -- A new report published today (Thursday) reveals how tobacco companies worked to prevent the strengthening of European tobacco legislation such as improvements to tobacco labelling and the removal of misleading terms such as ‘light’ and ‘mild’.
Study finds relationship between dairy food intake and arterial stiffness
(Medical Xpress) -- Adults who include dairy foods in their diets might be reducing their arterial stiffness and decreasing their risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a new study by researchers from the University of South Australia, the University of Maine and Australian National University.
'Special K' could relieve depression
(Medical Xpress) -- Recreational drug and anaesthetic, ketamine, is being trialled in people with severe depression and is providing almost instant relief from symptoms, offering fresh hope of a quick new way to manage the illness at its worst.
Scientists find new role for P53 genetic mutation -- initiation of prostate cancer
A team of UC Davis investigators has found that a genetic mutation may play an important role in the development of prostate cancer. The mutation of the so-called p53 (or Tp53) gene was previously implicated in late disease progression, but until now has never been shown to act as an initiating factor. The findings may open new avenues for diagnosing and treating the disease.
Vaccine trial for Alzheimer's clears key hurdle
A vaccine which revives a promising but long-abandoned path to thwart Alzheimer's disease has cleared a key safety hurdle in human trials, researchers say.
Many kids on medicaid don't see dentist: study
(HealthDay) -- Only about one-third of U.S. children on Medicaid receives dental care in a single year, and how often these kids see a dentist depends on where they live, a new study finds.
Domestic dogs display empathic response to distress in humans
(Phys.org) -- Research from Goldsmiths, University of London suggests domestic dogs express empathic behaviour when confronted with humans in distress.
Pressure builds to ban dietary supplement DMAA
Joseph Perez used to gear up for his intense workouts by taking ephedra-based dietary supplements. When they were banned because of safety concerns, Perez turned to an even more potent stimulant called DMAA.
Doubling down on heart failure: Researchers discover new route to disease, and drugs to match
A new study in the journal Circulation packs a powerful one-two punch in the fight against heart failure. The leading blow: Identification of a unique alliance of proteins that plays a major role in the development of the disease. The second but equally powerful hit: Drugs that interfere with this axis already exist.
City kids more likely to have food allergies than rural ones
Children living in urban centers have a much higher prevalence of food allergies than those living in rural areas, according to a new study, which is the first to map children's food allergies by geographical location in the United States. In particular, kids in big cities are more than twice as likely to have peanut and shellfish allergies compared to rural communities.
Helping adolescents root out stigma associated with mental illness
Health experts agree that reducing the stigma associated with adolescent mental illness is an essential step toward increasing the number of teenagers who seek the help they need.
Researchers elucidate a molecular mechanism associated with an immune disorder
A team of researchers at the IRCM led by Dr. André Veillette made an important breakthrough in the field of immunology, which will be published online today by the scientific journal Immunity. The scientists explained a poorly understood molecular mechanism associated with a human immune disorder known as XLP disease or Duncan's syndrome.
Safe, simple eye test may help save lives by preventing stroke
A simple eye test may someday offer an effective way to identify patients who are at high risk for stroke, say researchers at the University of Zurich. They showed that a test called ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) can reliably detect carotid artery stenosis (CAS), a condition that clogs or blocks the arteries that feed the front part of the brain. It's a known risk factor for stroke. The OPA test could be performed by ophthalmologists – physicians who treat eye diseases – during routine exams. The study, which is published in the June issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, confirmed that patients who had the lowest OPA scores also had the most seriously blocked arteries.
Research shows food-trade network vulnerable to fast spread of contaminants
University of Notre Dame network physicists Mária Ercsey-Ravasz and Zoltán Toroczkai of the Interdisciplinary Center for Network Science and Applications, in collaboration with food science experts, have recently published a rigorous analysis of the international food-trade network that shows the network's vulnerability to the fast spread of contaminants as well as the correlation between known food poisoning outbreaks and the centrality of countries on the network.
What does it mean to be cool? It may not be what you think
Do rebelliousness, emotional control, toughness and thrill-seeking still make up the essence of coolness? Can performers James Dean and Miles Davis still be considered the models of cool?
Identification of differential proteins in maternal serum with Down syndrome
Prenatal screening for Down syndrome (DS) is still in need of improvement. Perinatal medicine experts have worked hard to find new biomarkers for screening of DS. Dr. Shi he Shao and his co-investigators, from Jiangsu University and Changzhou Woman and Children Health Hospital, report in the May 2012 issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine that they have successfully identified twenty-nine differentially expressed proteins in maternal serum from pregnancies carrying DS fetuses with proteomic approaches. These differential proteins offer the possibility of improving the performance of DS screening in the future. The functional roles of these proteins also possibly have a relationship with the development of DS.
Intranasal insulin linked to reduced food intake
(HealthDay) -- Intranasally administered insulin is associated with higher brain energy levels and reduced calorie intake, according to a study published online May 14 in Diabetes.
Ritual in some jewish circumcisions raises risk of herpes infection: report
(HealthDay) -- The practice of "oral-genital suction" performed during some Orthodox Jewish circumcision ceremonies could leave the infant with a potentially fatal herpes virus infection, health officials warn.
NAFLD independently linked to cardiovascular disease
(HealthDay) -- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is independently associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but it is not associated with a statistically significantly increased risk of cardiovascular mortality, according to a study published in the June issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
9 in 10 blacks with high blood pressure have early heart disease
(HealthDay) -- High blood pressure is strongly associated with heart disease in black Americans, new research shows.
Mapping genes: Study finds new risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases
Using a new and powerful approach to understand the origins of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, researchers at Mayo Clinic in Florida are building the case that these diseases are primarily caused by genes that are too active or not active enough, rather than by harmful gene mutations.
Researchers find that pre-existing mutations can lead to drug resistance in HIV virus
In a critical step that may lead to more effective HIV treatments, Harvard scientists have found that, in a small number of HIV patients, pre-existing mutations in the virus can cause it to develop resistance to the drugs used to slow the progression of the disease.
Immune system 'circuitry' that kills malaria in mosquitoes identified
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute have, for the first time, determined the function of a series proteins within the mosquito that transduce a signal that enables the mosquito to fight off infection from the parasite that causes malaria in humans. Together, these proteins are known as immune deficiency (Imd) pathway signal transducing factors, are analogous to an electrical circuit. As each factor is switched on or off it triggers or inhibits the next, finally leading to the launch of an immune response against the malaria parasite. The study was published June 7 in the journal PLoS Pathogens.
Study finds weakness in armor of killer hospital bacteria
There's new hope for development of an antibiotic that can put down a lethal bacteria or superbug linked to the deaths of hundreds of hospital patients around the world.
Study sheds new light on role of genetic mutations in colon cancer development
In exploring the genetics of mitochondria – the powerhouse of the cell – researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have stumbled upon a finding that challenges previously held beliefs about the role of mutations in cancer development.
Researchers identify changes in cholesterol metabolic pathways
A new study from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine has identified molecular changes responsible for abnormal cholesterol production and metabolism in the livers of patients with a common liver condition, and these changes may explain the severity of a patient's liver disease and risks to their heart health.
Researchers demonstrate technique to give us better understanding of human tissues
(Medical Xpress) -- Research from North Carolina State University demonstrates that a relatively new microscopy technique can be used to improve our understanding of human tissues and other biomedical materials. The study focused specifically on eye tissues, which are damaged by scarring in diabetic patients.
Scientists turn skin cells into brain cells
Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have for the first time transformed skin cells—with a single genetic factor—into cells that develop on their own into an interconnected, functional network of brain cells. The research offers new hope in the fight against many neurological conditions because scientists expect that such a transformation—or reprogramming—of cells may lead to better models for testing drugs for devastating neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers develop a multi-target approach to treating tumors
Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine developed a cancer model built in the fruit fly Drosophila, then used it to create a whole new approach to the discovery of cancer treatments. The result is an investigational compound AD80 that precisely targets multiple cancer genes. Tested in mouse models, the drug proved far more effective and less toxic than standard cancer drugs, which generally focus on a single target. This is the first time that whole-animal screening has been used in a rational, step-wise approach to polypharmacology. The study appears online in the journal Nature.
Newly identified protein function protects cells during injury
Scientists have discovered a new function for a protein that protects cells during injury and could eventually translate into treatment for conditions ranging from cardiovascular disease to Alzheimer's.
New brain target for appetite control identified
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) have identified a brain receptor that appears to play a central role in regulating appetite. The findings, published today in the online edition of Cell, could lead to new drugs for preventing or treating obesity.
New findings provide insight on long-standing pregnancy mystery
Researchers at NYU School of Medicine have made an important discovery that partially answers the long-standing question of why a mother's immune system does not reject a developing fetus as foreign tissue.
Scientists identify first gene in programmed axon degeneration
Degeneration of the axon and synapse, the slender projection through which neurons transmit electrical impulses to neighboring cells, is a hallmark of some of the most crippling neurodegenerative and brain diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease and peripheral neuropathy. Scientists have worked for decades to understand axonal degeneration and its relation to these diseases. Now, researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School are the first to describe a gene – dSarm/Sarm1 – responsible for actively promoting axon destruction after injury. The research, published today online by Science, provides evidence of an exciting new therapeutic target that could be used to delay or even stop axon decay.
New data suggests HIV superinfection rate comparable to initial HIV infection
HIV superinfection, when a person with HIV could acquire a second, new strain of HIV, may occur as often as initial HIV infection in the general population in Uganda, a study suggests.
Biology news
Research shows park interpretation can boost harmony with land
(Phys.org) -- A University of Arkansas researcher found in a study of five national and state parks that heavy tourism does not have to damage the culture and natural resources of a region.
Vampire jumping spiders identify victims by their antennae
Evarcha culicivora jumping spiders, also known as vampire spiders, are picky eaters by any standards. Explaining that the arachnid's environment is swamped with insects, Ximena Nelson from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, says, "You can see from the diet when you find them in the field that there is a high number of mosquitoes in what they eat." And when Robert Jackson investigated their diet further, he found that the spiders were even more selective. The delicacy that E. culicivora prize above all others is female blood-fed Anopheles mosquitoes, which puzzled Nelson. How could these picky spiders pick out blood-engorged Anopheles mosquitoes from the swarms of similarly sized insects infesting the area? Nelson and Jackson decided to do some jumping spider psychology to find out how the arachnids pick out blood-fed female Anopheles mosquitoes from the crowd and they publish their discovery that the spiders identify the females by their antennae in The Journal of Experimental Biology.
Consumption threat to vulnerable species: study
The developed world's insatiable appetite for products like coffee and timber is threatening the survival of one in three vulnerable animal species in poor countries, according to an Australian study.
Hinchinbrook gets its own frog
One species of frog has become three including one unique to Hinchinbrook Island following studies of their genetics and mating calls
Caribbean wins the seaweed Olympics
A new study finds that Caribbean seaweeds are far better competitors than their equivalents in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. But this triumph is bad news for Caribbean coral reefs.
Finding ways to feed pigs for less
Results of a preliminary experiment conducted at the University of Illinois indicate that it may be possible to select pigs that can make efficient use of energy in less expensive feed ingredients, thus reducing diet costs.
Scientists find that rain may not always be a welcome thing to waterbirds
Scientists from the Smithsonian and colleagues have found that waterbird communities can be the "canary in the coal mine" when it comes to detecting the health of urban estuary ecosystems. Their research revealed that the types of waterbirds that inhabit urban estuaries are influenced not only by urban development, but also by a far more natural process―rain. The team's findings are published in the scientific journal PLoS ONE.
Virgin male moths think they're hot when they're not (w/ Video)
Talk about throwing yourself into a relationship too soon. A University of Utah study found that when a virgin male moth gets a whiff of female sex attractant, he's quicker to start shivering to warm up his flight muscles, and then takes off prematurely when he's still too cool for powerful flight. So his headlong rush to reach the female first may cost him the race.
Mystery of Tasmanian devil tumour deepens - for now
(Phys.org) -- The degree of genetic difference to a tumor is not a factor in Tasmanian devils contracting the facial tumor disease, according to research led by the University of Sydney.
Manipulating chromatin loops to regulate genes may offer future treatments for blood diseases
In exploring how proteins interact with crucial DNA sequences to regulate gene activity, researchers have shed light on key biological events that may eventually be manipulated to provide new disease treatments.
Deformed Wing Virus in honey bees transmitted by mites: study
Researchers in Hawaii and the UK report that the parasitic 'Varroa' mite has caused the Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) to proliferate in honey bee colonies.
Floating dock from Japan carries potential invasive species
When debris from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan began making its way toward the West Coast of the United States, there were fears of possible radiation and chemical contamination as well as costly cleanup.
Australian researchers show flower color evolution driven by bee preferences
(Phys.org) -- A team of researchers in Australia has shown that the evolution of flowers in that country was driven by the preferences of bees, rather than the other way around. In their paper published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the team describes how they gathered over a hundred samples of different flowers and then compared them against the types of colors that bees best identify and then compared those results with research findings regarding bees and flowers in North America.
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