Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for June 5, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Nanocones could be key to making inexpensive solar cells- Open Garden plants app for open network
- MINOS experiment announces world's best measurement of key property of neutrinos
- Molecular matchmaking for drug discovery
- Anxious girls' brains work harder
- Magazine trends study finds increase in advertisements using sex
- Dinosaurs were lighter than previously thought, new study shows
- Google buys maker of Quickoffice mobile app
- Synthetic silk: researchers imitate the egg stalks of lacewings
- Ear delivers sound information to brain in surprisingly organized fashion: study
- Study identifies precise measurement of radiation damage
- Mathematicians model heat flow in human tears
- Nuclear weapon simulations show performance in molecular detail
- Space shuttle 'grazes' wing in final river voyage
- Physicists split an atom using quantum mechanics precision
Space & Earth news
China tells embassies to stop issuing pollution data
China said Tuesday foreign embassies were acting illegally in issuing their own air quality readings and that only the government could release data on the nation's heavy pollution.
Using cosmic rays, radionuclides to measure contribution of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet to changes in global sea level
New research documenting the melting of ice sheets in East Antarctica since the last ice age is providing crucial data for scientists to accurately project sea-level rises by the end of the 21st century.
Greenpeace maps way to saving Arctic from oil drilling
Greenpeace called here Tuesday for more use of renewable energy and greener cars to help protect the Arctic and other areas from being spoiled by oil drilling.
US satellite spy agency donates telescopes to NASA
(AP) -- NASA has received a gift from an unexpected source — the nation's satellite spy agency.
Blowing bubbles in the Carina Nebula
(Phys.org) -- Giant bubbles, towering pillars and cascading clouds of dust and gas fill the star-forming nursery of the Carina Nebula seen here in a stunning new view from Herschel to launch ESA Space Science’s image of the week feature. The Carina Nebula is some 7500 lightyears from Earth and hosts some of the most massive and luminous stars in our Galaxy, including double-star system eta Carinae, which boasts over 100 times the mass of our Sun. The total amount of gas and dust traced by ESA’s Herschel space observatory in this image is equivalent to some 650 000 Suns. Including warmer gas not well traced by Herschel, the total mass may be as high as 900 000 Suns.
ESA missions gear up for transit of Venus
(Phys.org) -- ESA’s Venus Express and Proba-2 space missions, along with the international SOHO, Hinode, and Hubble spacecraft, are preparing to monitor Venus and the Sun during the transit of Earth’s sister planet during 5-6 June.
That dot slowly moving across the sun? It's Venus
(AP) — For astronomers, Venus passing in front of the sun is not just a rare planetary spectacle — it won't be seen for another 105 years. It's also one of those events they hope will spark curiosity about the universe.
Venus transit has historical significance for Australia
Australia was gearing up Tuesday for the transit of Venus, an event with historical significance as a previous occurrence in 1769 played a key part in the "discovery" of the southern continent.
Where and when you can watch Venus transit the sun
(AP) — It's your last chance to catch one of the rarest cosmic spectacles — Venus slowly crossing the face of the sun. Weather permitting, the transit of Venus will be visible from much of Earth — Tuesday from the Western Hemisphere and Wednesday from the Eastern Hemisphere. This sight won't come again until 105 years from now — in 2117.
China tells US to stop reporting Beijing's bad air
(AP) — China told foreign embassies Tuesday to stop publishing their own reports on air quality in the country, escalating its objections to a popular U.S. Embassy Twitter feed that tracks pollution in smoggy Beijing.
NuSTAR strapped to its plane
(Phys.org) -- NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, is now perched atop its Pegasus XL rocket, strapped to the plane that will carry the mission to an airborne launch. Launch is scheduled for June 13, no earlier than 8:30 a.m. PDT (11:30 a.m. EDT).
Heading for blast off
(Phys.org) -- Construction of a pioneering plasma thruster – an engine that could be used to power satellites to Mars – and a space simulation facility that will aid the development of the first Australian satellites is underway at Mt Stromlo Observatory.
Rosetta flyby uncovers the complex history of asteroid Lutetia
(Phys.org) -- The long and tumultuous history of asteroid (21) Lutetia is revealed by a comprehensive analysis of the data gathered by ESA's Rosetta spacecraft when it flew past this large main-belt asteroid on 10 July 2010. New studies have revealed the asteroid's surface morphology, composition and other properties in unprecedented detail. In particular, extensive studies of Lutetia's geological features have opened a unique window into the complex history of this peculiar object.
Survey: Latin American and Asian cities lead way in planning for global warming
Quito, Ecuador, is not considered a global leader by most measures. But there is one way in which Quito is at the forefront of metropolises worldwide: in planning for climate change. For more than a decade, officials in Ecuador’s mountainous capital have been studying the effects of global warming on nearby melting glaciers, developing ways of dealing with potential water shortages and even organizing conferences on climate change for leaders of other Latin American cities.
Fair burden-sharing for global climate protection
(Phys.org) -- Discussions on a global climate agreement always centre on the transfer of money to developing and emerging countries. Scientists from ETH Zurich have now examined what fair transfer payments might look like and provide a concrete cost estimate. They present their results in the latest issue of the journal Nature Climate Change.
Team determines how estrogens to persist in dairy wastewater
Wastewater from large dairy farms contains significant concentrations of estrogenic hormones that can persist for months or even years, researchers report in a new study. In the absence of oxygen, the estrogens rapidly convert from one form to another; this stalls their biodegradation and complicates efforts to detect them, the researchers found.
Rare Venus transit draws astronomers worldwide
Astronomers around the world will train their telescopes on the skies Tuesday to watch Venus pass in front of the Sun, a once-in-a-lifetime event that will not be seen for another 105 years.
SpaceX capsule back on solid ground after flight
(AP) — The history-making Dragon spacecraft is back on solid ground.
NASA satellites see changes in weakening Typhoon Mawar
NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) and Aqua satellites are just two in NASA's fleet that have been providing data on the evolving and now devolving tropical cyclone. TRMM provided rainfall and other data, while the AIRS instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite provided cloud temperature and extent.
First use of VLBI to focus on a single star system for signs of life comes up empty
(Phys.org) -- Astronomers in Australia have reported on their findings in their paper posted on the preprint server arXiv, regarding their use of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) to study radio signals emitted from a single star system some 20 light years away. In their paper, soon to be published in the Astronomical Journal, the researchers say that the absence of signals from the studied star system was not unexpected as the odds of finding signals from intelligent beings when aiming at any given star system are not good when noting that there are billions to choose from. Despite this, they report feeling optimistic as the project proved that such technology could be used to rule out other star systems in the future.
Hubble sees a celestial swan and butterfly
(Phys.org) -- This image from the Hubble Space Telescope shows planetary nebula NGC 7026. Located just beyond the tip of the tail of the constellation of Cygnus (The Swan), this butterfly-shaped cloud of glowing gas and dust is the wreckage of a star similar to the sun.
Space shuttle 'grazes' wing in final river voyage
The final frontier may be tough, but, as a damaged wingtip proves, the space shuttle Enterprise's final journey by barge through New York is no picnic.
Technology news
J.K. Rowling puts magic in PlayStation interactive book
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is putting the magic in a "Book of Spells" that uses augmented reality to make ink-and-paper works interactive using PlayStation 3 videogame consoles.
Football: Euro 2012 and Twitter - 'common sense' prevails
With football one of the most talked-about sports, Twitter has become like an extra man to monitor when it comes to big tournaments like Euro 2012.
RPI licenses novel magnetohydrodynamics solar power technology
Right now, more than 6.5 billion people are competing for the Earth’s dwindling supply of fossil fuels. By 2050, it is estimated that there will be 8 to 10 billion, and major advances in energy technology will be required to meet their needs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has faced that challenge by launching and expanding programs in renewable energy sources and energy conservation.
German minister warns of rising electricity prices
(AP) — German Economy Minister Philip Roesler said Tuesday that the country needs to do more to ensure the steady and reasonably priced availability of electricity as the country phases out nuclear power over the next decade.
VTT seeks solutions to autonomic service networks consisting of machines
The amount of network-connected devices, capable of M2M communication, is increasing rapidly. Connecting these devices to a network and services is challenging even for experts and almost impossible for consumers. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is coordinating an European ICT project, which focuses on services offered through Machine-To-Machine networks consisting of a variety of electronic devices, such as mobile phones, sensors, actuators and machines.
Oracle buying Collective Intellect
(AP) — Oracle is buying Collective Intellect Inc. for an undisclosed sum as it expands its social media tracking services.
Facebook stock down for 3rd consecutive day
(AP) — Facebook's stock has fallen for the third consecutive day.
'NintendoLand,' 'Mario Bros.' coming to Wii U
(AP) — Nintendo is relying on Mario, zombies and a virtual theme park to build buzz for the Wii U.
Mystery virus sought 'designs from Iran': Russian firm
A mystery computer virus discovered last month and deployed in a massive cyberattack chiefly against Iran sought to steal designs and PDF files from its victims, a Russian firm said.
BlackBerry maker stock slips to new low
Shares in BlackBerry maker Research In Motion fell below $10, the lowest point in nearly eight years, amid growing concerns about the outlook for the troubled smartphone maker.
Phantom Eye: Liquid-hydrogen powered unmanned aircraft completes first flight
Boeing's Phantom Eye unmanned airborne system (UAS) completed its first autonomous flight June 1 at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
How low can Facebook go?
Two weeks after the largest, most anticipated IPO in years, Facebook shares keep going down. And down. And down. And investors want to know how far they can go.
Sony plays up Vita and blockbuster videogames
Sony shook off its financial woes as it played up its Vita handheld gaming devices and heart-pounding titles for its PlayStation 3 videogame consoles.
New Singapore carrier uses iPads to cut fuel cost
Singapore's new long-haul budget carrier Scoot has taken off for the first time, using a novel way of saving fuel -- by replacing its in-built TVs with iPads.
3Qs: Analyzing the cybersecurity threat posed by hackers
Two weeks ago, Anonymous, a global group of hackers, successfully infiltrated the Department of Justice’s system and released stolen data. At the same time, al-Qaida, the international terrorist organization, released a video calling for an “electronic jihad” on the United States. Northeastern University news office asked Themis Papageorge, an associate clinical professor in the College of Computer and Information Science, and the director of the college’s information assurance program, to analyze the threat posed by rogue hacker groups and what the U.S. government can do to protect itself against future attacks.
At trial, Hewlett-Packard accuses Oracle of breaking contract
An attorney for Hewlett-Packard Co. on Monday accused Oracle Corp. of breaking a contractual promise to keep making new server software. The move, he said at a trial over the dispute, left HP stunned because the two technology giants had such a long and mutually beneficial partnership.
Rice research IDs vulnerable bridges (w/ Video)
Preliminary results from research at Rice University show more than a dozen Gulf Coast bridges on or near Galveston Island would likely suffer severe damage if subjected to a hurricane with a similar landfall as Hurricane Ike but with 30 percent stronger winds.
NJIT architect designs award-winning house that looks like an igloo
An NJIT College of Architecture and Design (COAD) architect who designed an "ice house," reminiscent of an igloo, has received yet another award for his unique residence. The 2012 Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture awards program recently feted NJIT Assistant Professor Matt Burgermaster's design for "Ice Cycle House," a prefabricated "green" residential prototype by featuring the house in its annual book Architectural Education Awards 2011-2012.
Eyes on to mobile as video game expo starts in LA
(AP) — Games for smartphones, tablet computers and Facebook are becoming essential for major video game companies even as the industry's largest U.S. trade show remains largely a showcase for their latest flashy console titles.
Nasdaq readies payouts for Facebook IPO glitch: WSJ
Nasdaq is taking steps toward compensating investor losses due to computer glitches that fouled trading on the first day of Facebook's $16 billion IPO, the Wall Street Journal said Tuesday.
Pilot takes off on first solar-powered intercontinental trip (Update)
A Swiss adventurer took off Tuesday into the night skies above Madrid and headed for Rabat on the world's first intercontinental flight in a solar-powered plane.
Ancient structural element leads to new ideas in bridge building
(Phys.org) -- Led by Dr. John J. Myers, S&T researchers are working with designers at HC Bridge Co. to combine an ancient concrete arch form - dating back to the Roman empire - with a composite shell to create bridge beams that are designed to last 100 years. Tucked inside durable, fiberglass composite shells, the lightweight beams are supported by a concrete arch and anchored by seven wire tendons, which serve as the system's tension tie.
Startup creates new type of electrolyte for better and cheaper lithium ion battery
(Phys.org) -- The problem with lithium ion batteries, the kind used in cars, cellphones and other devices, is that they don’t hold enough energy relative to their size. Small batteries mean constantly recharging your phone while big batteries add a lot of weight and cost to the price of an electric car. What’s needed, most experts agree, is a new kind of electrolyte, the material that sits between the anode and cathode in a lithium ion battery. Now a new startup thinks they’ve found it. Called Iolyte, the new material is flame retardant, doesn’t evaporate and is able to hold more charge than current electrolytes.
Google buys maker of Quickoffice mobile app
Google is escalating its rivalry with Microsoft with the purchase of Quickoffice, the maker of a widely used mobile application for working on documents created in Microsoft's programs for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations.
Nuclear weapon simulations show performance in molecular detail
U.S. researchers are perfecting simulations that show a nuclear weapon's performance in precise molecular detail, tools that are becoming critical for national defense because international treaties forbid the detonation of nuclear test weapons.
Open Garden plants app for open network
(Phys.org) -- The Open Garden network app, which was launched in private beta in February, is now available free for download. The San Francisco based startup, founded in 2010, is set to break down the in walls of connectivity -- in seeking out Internet access or making do with spotty connections -- that have become the status quo. The Open Garden team voices a general complaint that Operators behave as if broken networks are a fact of life. “Mobile networks are like closed gardens, separated by walls. If you own a smartphone from Carrier A and find yourself unable to surf the mobile web, you cannot use spectrum owned by Carrier B, or a nearby fixed line broadband connection owned by Carrier C.”
Medicine & Health news
Majority of families in urban areas have access to Internet, show willingness to receive health info electronically
In a study of mostly minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged families, 99 percent of participants reported having access to the Internet. More than half of the families were interested in receiving health information electronically, an important finding in the quest to improve access to health information. The study, conducted in the Emergency Department at Children's National Medical Center, is published in the June issue of Pediatric Emergency Care.
MRSA incidence reduced among elderly patients by 82 percent over nearly 3-year period
The introduction of daily bathing with disposable, germ-killing cloths resulted in a sustained, significant decrease in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) incidence at a Canadian geriatric facility, according to a poster presented at the 39th Annual Educational Conference and International Meeting of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
Sepsis outbreak at L.A. County dialysis center prompts public health investigation
Three patients with chronic kidney failure treated at a dialysis center in Los Angeles County, California contracted a bacterial infection in the blood (sepsis) caused by improper cleaning and disinfection of a reusable medical device called a dialyzer – an artificial kidney.
Pregnancy still a death sentence for many Liberian women
Hawa Kollie lies on her back screaming in pain, her head throbbing and body aching after the loss of first her baby, and then her uterus. Like many Liberian women, she got to the hospital too late.
Scripted interactions helpful in assessing patient pain
(Medical Xpress) -- Given the amount of time they spend with patients, it's nurses more often than physicians who tend to a patient's pain. But few studies have shown how nurses can work with patients to best determine that degree of pain – and what effect standardizing these interactions has on keeping the hurt at bay while boosting patients' agency in, and satisfaction with, their pain management.
Early exposure to language for deaf children
(Medical Xpress) -- Most agree that the earlier you expose a child to a language, the easier it is for that child to pick it up. The same rules apply for deaf children.
Psychostimulant users seek information, not drugs, online
Australian illicit drug users are turning to the internet for drug education, but not to buy drugs.
Growing popularity of hip and knee replacement surgery places extra burden on critical care services
Roughly 3 percent of patients who undergo total hip and knee replacement surgery require critical care services before they are discharged from the hospital, according to an analysis of roughly half a million patients. The study, published online in advance of print in the July issue of the journal Anesthesiology, demonstrates that these elective surgeries are placing an increasing burden on the critical care services of the health care system and hospitals should respond proactively.
We are drinking too much water: expert
Our bodies need about two litres of fluids per day, not two litres of water specifically. In an Editorial in the June issue of Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Spero Tsindos from La Trobe University, examined why we consume so much water.
Climate change remains an urgent public health concern
Top-down advocacy on health and climate at the UN level needs to be mirrored by bottom-up public health actions that bring health and climate co-benefits according to international experts writing in this week's PLoS Medicine.
Health and ethics must be included in future climate change talks
Human health and health ethics considerations must be given equal status to economic considerations in climate change deliberations and furthermore, the health community, led by health ministers and the World Health Organization, must play a central role in climate change deliberations, argues an international expert in this week's PLoS Medicine.
Scientists solve 1,000 protein structures from infectious disease organisms
Investigators at the Center for Structural Genomics of Infectious Diseases (CSGID) and the Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID) announced today that they reached a significant milestone by determining 1,000 protein structures from infectious disease organisms. The knowledge gained from these structures should lead to new interventions for the deadly diseases caused by these pathogens.
New Firefly technology lights up more precise kidney sparing surgery
A surgical technology called Firefly is shedding new light on kidney cancers and helping doctors at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital remove tumors more safely and more efficiently while sparing the rest of the healthy kidney.
Rural COPD patients receiving vital care thanks to U of A program
A researcher in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry and his colleagues in the Centre for Lung Health are on a mission to keep patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder out of hospital. No easy task, seeing as COPD is one of the top causes of hospitalization in the country and a major burden on the health-care system.
Higher taxes, smoke-free policies are reducing smoking in moms-to-be
It's estimated that almost 23% of women enter pregnancy as smokers and more than half continue to smoke during pregnancy, leading to excess healthcare costs at delivery and beyond. In one of the first studies to assess smoking bans and taxes on cigarettes, along with the level of tobacco control spending, researchers have found that state tobacco control policies can be effective in curbing smoking during pregnancy, and in preventing a return to smoking within four months on average, after delivery. The results were published online today in advance of the July issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Post-stroke depression linked to functional brain impairment
Researchers studying stroke patients have found a strong association between impairments in a network of the brain involved in emotional regulation and the severity of post-stroke depression. Results of the study are published online in the journal Radiology.
Not enough pediatricians providing lifestyle counseling
(HealthDay) -- Less than half of adolescents are advised by their pediatric health care provider to eat healthily and exercise more, but rates of counseling are higher among obese teens, according to a study published online June 4 in Pediatrics.
ACSM: running linked to reduced all-cause mortality
(HealthDay) -- Runners have a reduced risk of all-cause mortality, with U-shaped mortality curves for distance, speed, and frequency, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, held from May 29 to June 2 in San Francisco.
Low-birth-weight teens report health similar to peers
(HealthDay) -- Adolescents born with extremely low birth weight (ELBW) in the 1990s assess their current health and well-being similarly to teens born at normal birth weight but report less risk taking, according to a study published online June 4 in Pediatrics.
Short-term risk of shingles recurrence low
People who have had an episode of herpes zoster, also known as shingles, face a relatively low short-term risk of developing shingles, according to a Kaiser Permanente Southern California study published online in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. These findings suggest that among people with immune systems that have not been compromised, the risk of a second shingles episode is low.
Statewide coordinated STEMI approach deemed successful
(HealthDay) -- A statewide coordinated effort across hospitals and emergency medical service (EMS) providers to transport patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) to hospitals providing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has resulted in improved outcomes, according to a study published online June 4 in Circulation.
ASCO: Trametinib improves survival in metastatic melanoma
(HealthDay) -- For patients with metastatic melanoma with activating mutations in serine-threonine protein kinase B-RAF (BRAF), treatment with the oral selective MEK inhibitor trametinib is associated with improved progression-free and overall survival, compared with chemotherapy, according to a study published online June 4 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, held from June 1 to 5 in Chicago.
Morbid obesity ups complication rate in spinal fusion surgery
(HealthDay) -- Morbid obesity increases the risk of multiple complications in spinal fusion surgery, particularly in patients undergoing anterior cervical or posterior lumbar procedures, according to research published in the May 15 issue of Spine.
Lack of competition could hike costs in health insurance exchanges
(Medical Xpress) -- A new study from Washington University in St. Louis suggests that health insurance exchanges, a key provision of the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010, may need to be monitored to make sure there is sufficient competition between private insurance plans.
Baby wash products linked to false positive screening results for marijuana exposure in the womb
(Medical Xpress) -- Accuracy of routine urine drug testing of newborns to identify exposure in the womb to marijuana may be interfered with by chemicals in commonly used baby soap and wash products, including those widely used by hospital nurseries.
'Movement retraining' can reduce knee pain (w/ Video)
Aches and pains got you down? The way you walk could be wearing out parts of your body.
Ancient berry could fight diabetic blindness
(Medical Xpress) -- The ancient Tibetan goji berry could help fight blindness caused by long-term diabetes according to studies conducted by University of Sydney researchers.
Researchers ID cluster of genes in blood that predict Parkinson's
Because there is currently no laboratory test that can diagnose Parkinson's disease, it is practically impossible to detect those individuals who are in the earliest stages of the disease. As a result, Parkinson's disease can only be diagnosed by a clinical neurological examination based on findings suggestive of the disease.
Electronic devices with reminders make sticking to diets easier
There’s some good news for those trying to lose weight with the help of new apps on their mobile devices. They may actually work, says a new research study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Milk ingredient does a waistline good
A natural ingredient found in milk can protect against obesity even as mice continue to enjoy diets that are high in fat. The researchers who report their findings in the June Cell Metabolism liken this milk ingredient to a new kind of vitamin.
Blood test identifies increased risk of death following noncardiac surgery
A simple blood test can help identify people who are at high risk of dying within the month after non-cardiac surgery, a study by McMaster University researchers has found.
Telephone therapy retains more patients than face-to-face sessions and improves depression
Phoning it in is more effective than the therapist's couch when it comes to keeping patients in psychotherapy. New Northwestern Medicine research shows patients who had therapy sessions provided over the phone were more likely to complete 18 weeks of treatment than those who had face-to-face sessions.
Study examines major bleeding risk with low-dose aspirin use in patients with and without diabetes
Among nearly 200,000 individuals, daily use of low-dose aspirin was associated with an increased risk of major gastrointestinal or cerebral bleeding, according to a study in the June 6 issue of JAMA. The authors also found that patients with diabetes had a high rate of major bleeding, irrespective of aspirin use.
Waist circumference linked to diabetes risk, independently of body mass index
A collaborative re-analysis of data from the InterAct case-control study conducted by Claudia Langenberg and colleagues has established that waist circumference is associated with risk of type 2 diabetes, independently of body mass index (BMI).
Burden of full and subsyndromal PTSD in police who responded to the World Trade Center disaster
Studies have found that police demonstrated considerable resilience to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to other disaster workers after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center (WTC). This has been attributed to effective screening and extensive training in the police force. New research suggests that, despite this greater resilience to PTSD, 15.4% of police endorse symptoms of subsyndromal PTSD that do not reach the level for a formal diagnosis of PTSD, but which are nonetheless associated with elevated rates of other psychiatric disorders and functional difficulties. The study is published online in advance of publication in the July issue of the Journal of Psychiatric Research.
High air pollution increases risk of repeated heart attacks by over 40 percent
Air pollution, a serious danger to the environment, is also a major health risk, associated with respiratory infections, lung cancer and heart disease. Now a Tel Aviv University researcher has concluded that not only does air pollution impact cardiac events such as heart attack and stroke, but it also causes repeated episodes over the long term.
Type 2 diabetes linked to increased blood cancer risk
Patients with type 2 diabetes have a 20 percent increased risk of developing blood cancers, such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia and myeloma, according to a new meta-analysis led by researchers at The Miriam Hospital. The findings, recently published in the journal Blood, the journal of the American Society of Hematology, add to the growing evidence base linking diabetes and certain types of cancer.
Restricted food intake a predictor of increased suicide attempts in Body Dysmorphic Disorder patients
Rhode Island Hospital and Auburn University researchers found a link between restrictive food intake, or excessive dieting, and an increase in suicide attempts in people with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). The study focused on the acquired capability of suicide, which is one component of Joiner's (2005) interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide and is comprised of physical pain tolerance and lowered fear of death. The paper is published in the journal Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, and is now available online in advance of print.
How immune system, inflammation may play role in Lou Gehrig's disease
In an early study, UCLA researchers found that the immune cells of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, may play a role in damaging the neurons in the spinal cord. ALS is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement.
Head lice beginning to show permethrin resistance
(HealthDay) -- Although live head lice obtained from school-aged children in Paris remain susceptible to the insecticide malathion, approximately 14 percent have been found to be resistant to permethrin, suggesting a strong basis for future insecticide resistance, according to research published online May 24 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Childhood famine increases risk of type 2 diabetes
(HealthDay) -- Even a short period of moderate or severe undernutrition or famine during childhood or adolescence can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in adulthood, according to research published online May 29 in Diabetes.
ASCO: Continuing avastin with 2nd-line chemo ups survival
(HealthDay) -- Continuing use of bevacizumab (Avastin) in combination with second-line chemotherapy improves overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who have progressed after discontinuation of first-line bevacizumab and chemotherapy, according to the results of a phase III study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, held from June 1 to 5 in Chicago.
Self-management has small effect on low back pain
(HealthDay) -- Compared to minimal interventions, self-management has a small effect on pain and disability in non-specific low back pain (LBP), according to a review published online May 23 in Arthritis Care & Research.
Circulating nurses recover errors in cardiovascular operating room
(HealthDay) -- Circulating perioperative nurses can help reduce surgical errors and incidents in the cardiovascular operating room (OR) and improve patient safety, especially with regard to surgical prepping and aseptic technique, according to research published in the June issue of the AORN Journal.
Many patients keep using PPIs after negative GERD test
(HealthDay) -- Nearly half of patients continue to use proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) even after pH studies confirm that they do not have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and most do not recall being instructed to stop taking PPIs, according to a study published in the June issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Unique clinic helps amputee athletes push physical boundaries
Carlos Gonzalez stands out from an athletic group gathered on a grassy field at the UCSF Mission Bay campus. The gregarious 32-year-old sports a stylish fauxhawk and walks with a confident yet understated swagger. He's training to become a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter.
Mothers' teen cannabinoid exposure may increase response of offspring to opiate drugs
Mothers who use marijuana as teens—long before having children—may put their future children at a higher risk of drug abuse, new research suggests.
The potential impact of olfactory stem cells as therapy reported
A study characterizing the multipotency and transplantation value of olfactory stem cells, as well as the ease in obtaining them, has been published in a recent issue of Cell Transplantation (20:11/12), now freely available on-line.
Noninvasive genetic test for Down syndrome and Edwards syndrome highly accurate
Current screening strategies for Down syndrome, caused by fetal trisomy 21 (T21), and Edwards syndrome, caused by fetal trisomy 18 (T18), have false positive rates of 2 to 3%, and false negative rates of 5% or higher. Positive screening results must be confirmed by amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, which carry a fetal loss rate of approximately 1 in 300 procedures. Now an international, multicenter cohort study finds that a genetic test to screen for trisomy 21 or 18 from a maternal blood sample is almost 100% accurate. The results of the study are published online in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Lifespan gap shrinks between whites, blacks
(HealthDay) -- The gap in life expectancy between U.S. whites and blacks narrowed between 2003 and 2008, yet significant disparities remain, a new study finds.
Study offers hope for more effective treatment of nearsightedness
Research by an optometrist at the University of Houston (UH) supports the continued investigation of optical treatments that attempt to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children.
Some stem cells can trigger tumors
(Medical Xpress) -- Stem cells often used in reconstructive surgery following mastectomies and other cancer-removal treatments may pose a danger: Cornell biomedical scientists have discovered that these cells, in contact with even trace amounts of cancer cells, can create a microenvironment suitable for more tumors to grow.
Magnetic stimulation to improve visual perception
(Medical Xpress) -- Using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), an international team led by French researchers from the Centre de Recherche de l'Institut du Cerveau (CNRS) has succeeded in enhancing the visual abilities of a group of healthy subjects. Following stimulation of an area of the brain's right hemisphere involved in perceptual awareness and in orienting spatial attention, the subjects appeared more likely to perceive a target appearing on a screen. This work, published in the journal PLoS ONE, could lead to the development of novel rehabilitation techniques for certain visual disorders. In addition, it could help improve the performance of individuals whose tasks require very high precision.
Human diabetes has new research tool: Overfed fruit flies that develop insulin resistance
(Medical Xpress) -- With Type 2 human diabetes climbing at alarming rates in the United States, researchers are seeking treatments for the disease, which has been linked to obesity and poor diet.
New technology improves malaria control and vaccine development
A new technique that accurately determines the risk of infants in endemic countries developing clinical malaria could provide a valuable tool for evaluating new malaria prevention strategies and vaccines.
Anxious girls' brains work harder
In a discovery that could help in the identification and treatment of anxiety disorders, Michigan State University scientists say the brains of anxious girls work much harder than those of boys.
Ear delivers sound information to brain in surprisingly organized fashion: study
The brain receives information from the ear in a surprisingly orderly fashion, according to a University at Buffalo study scheduled to appear June 6 in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Biology news
Getting in touch with your "inner peanut"
University of Queensland and American scientists have developed a quick, new, low-cost way of monitoring the moisture content of peanuts in the shell.
World's 500+ alliance for zero extinction sites provide wealth of tangible benefits to the human species, too
A new study published in the journal PLoS ONE assessed, for the first time, more than 500 Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) sites around the world to review the potential and realized benefits which conserving these places would provide not just for species, but for human well being. The researchers determined that protecting habitats in these priority areas to halt the loss of biodiversity will yield multiple benefits to people in terms of ecosystem services such as - climate change mitigation, freshwater, the future “option value” of biodiversity and cultural services.
Researchers discover antitumor molecule that originated within oncogene
A common point in all human tumors is that they produce an activation of oncogenes, genes that cause cancer and they also cause a loss of function of the protective genes, called anti-oncogenes or tumour suppressor genes. Normally both categories of anticancer and procancer genes are in different regions of our chromosomes.
Australia 'has two distinct white shark populations'
(Phys.org) -- A new scientific study has identified two distinct populations of white shark at the east and west of Bass Strait in Australian waters, prompting researchers to suggest the huge fish may need regional conservation plans.
Rattlesnakes strike again in San Diego, bites more toxic
(Phys.org) -- Each year, approximately 8,000 Americans are bitten by venomous snakes. On average, 800 or so bites occur annually in California, home to an abundance of snake species, but only one family is native and venomous: rattlesnakes.
Scientists at NYBG add 81 new species to the catalog of plant life on Earth
The palms that Vietnamese villagers weave into hats, many varieties of lichens that depend on the pristine environment of the Great Smoky Mountains, and small, shrub-like trees that are threatened by development and deforestation in Brazil were among the scores of plant and fungus species that scientists at The New York Botanical Garden discovered and described in the course of one year.
Protein knots gain new evolutionary significance
(Phys.org) -- A new study suggests that protein knots, a structure whose formation remains a mystery, may have specific functional advantages that depend on the nature of the protein's architecture.
The taste of love: What turns male fruit flies on
(Phys.org) -- Fruit fly courtship is so highly stylized and repetitive, it is as instantly recognizable as the knee jerk or Achilles reflex.
Molecular matchmaking for drug discovery
For millennia, mankind has discovered new drugs either through educated guesswork or blind luck. But with the proliferation of advanced computing, a new paradigm has emerged whereby one can find drug targets through simulation and modeling.
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