Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for June 27, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Chatbot Eugene put to Turing test wins first prize- Innovative technique enables scientists to learn more about elusive exoplanet Tau Bootis b
- First 3D nanoscale optical cavities from metamaterials hold promise for nanolasers, photonic communications
- Ancient human ancestor Australopithecus sediba had unique diet: study
- Team Prosecco dismantles security tokens
- Researchers develop novel anti-body vaccine that blocks addictive nicotine chemicals from reaching the brain
- Injecting life-saving oxygen into a vein: Microparticles could deliver oxygen when breathing is impaired
- Immune response to heart attack worsens atherosclerosis, increases future risk
- X-ray vision exposes aerosol structures: Laser probes microscopic components of air pollution
- Scientists find easier way to make new drug compounds
- Evidence of oceanic 'green rust' offers hope for the future
- Google sells small tablet, challenges Kindle Fire (Update)
- Dinosaurs may have been warm-blooded: study
- Team maps the nuclear landscape
- Palladium-gold nanoparticles clean TCE a billion times faster than iron filings
Space & Earth news
Over 150 natives occupy Amazon dam construction site
More than 150 indigenous people are occupying one of the construction sites for the huge Belo Monte hydro-electric dam across the Xingu River in the Brazilian Amazon, a local spokesman said Tuesday.
Thruster tests complete for NASA partner Boeing's crew capsule
Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne has successfully completed a series of tests on a thruster destined for Boeing's Commercial Space Transportation spacecraft, designated CST-100.
Nature charity appeals to buy White Cliffs of Dover
Britain's leading conservation charity launched an appeal on Wednesday to buy a stretch of the White Cliffs of Dover, one of England's most recognisable natural landmarks.
UW deploying seismic sensors in hope of getting to bottom of Spokane quakes
(Phys.org) -- It's been a decade since a swarm of relatively mild earthquakes shook up parts of Spokane. Now, armed with the right tools, scientists want to find out what was at fault.
Awesome map of space agencies around the world
When you think of space agencies around the world, what comes to mind? Probably NASA, ESA, ISRO and JAXA are the acronyms you know; then there’s the Russian Federal Space Agency, the Canadian Space Agency, and the China National Space Agency. But did you know there are dozens of countries with space agencies, with nearly 200 space agencies and centers around the world? Blogger Heather Archuletta has put together a map and list of all the space agencies on the planet, including countries you may not have realized had a space agency such as Argentina, Bulgaria, Pakistan Morocco, and more. The list includes links to all the space agency’s websites and a link to an interactive Google Map. The immediate thought that came to mind, which Heather shared on Twitter was, ROAD TRIP!
Laying the basis for gravitational wave detection
Astronomers have long relied on light waves to provide information about astrophysical objects. The hunt for gravitational waves, highly sought after but terribly elusive, should get a boost from theoretical studies by European researchers.
Menacing monsoons
Studying the long rainy seasons in Indochina can help climatologists understand the accompanying and often threatening weather phenomenon and hopefully bring relief to its inhabitants.
US research vessel winds down visit to Vietnam as part of joint oceanographic research program
U.S. scientists and Vietnamese researchers will discuss coastal ocean circulation and land-ocean environmental trends this week as the R/V Roger Revelle, an auxiliary general purpose oceanographic research vessel (AGOR 28), continues its nine-day port call in the city of Da Nang.
Image: Station crew sees 'night-shining' clouds
(Phys.org) -- In both the Earth's Northern and Southern Hemispheres polar mesospheric clouds are at the peak of their visibility, during their respective late spring and early summer seasons. Visible from aircraft in flight, the International Space Station and from the ground at twilight, the clouds typically appear as delicate, shining threads against the darkness of space--hence their other names of noctilucent or "night-shining" clouds.
Planet probe: Harvard scientist offers new view of Earth's makeup
A Harvard scientist is challenging long-held scientific views about the geochemical makeup of the Earth’s mantle, and whether the massive collision that formed the moon affected the chemical composition of the planet close to its core.
New study forecasts sharp increase in world oil production capacity, and risk of price collapse
(Phys.org) -- Oil production capacity is surging in the United States and several other countries at such a fast pace that global oil output capacity is likely to grow by nearly 20 percent by 2020, which could prompt a plunge or even a collapse in oil prices, according to a new study by a researcher at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Gas cloud will collide with our galaxy's black hole in 2013
Scientists have determined a giant gas cloud is on a collision course with the black hole in the center of our galaxy, and the two will be close enough by mid-2013 to provide a unique opportunity to observe how a super massive black hole sucks in material, in real time. This will give astronomers more information on how matter behaves near a black hole.
Scientists developing pulsed nuclear fusion system for distant missions
(Phys.org) -- The ticket to Mars and beyond may be a series of nuclear slapshots that use magnetic pulses to slam nuclei into each other inside hockey pucks made of a special, lightweight salt.
New study demonstrates the role of urban greenery in CO2 exchange
In what might be the first study to report continuous measurements of net CO2 exchange of urban vegetation and soils over a full year or more, scientists from UC Santa Barbara and the University of Minnesota conclude that not only is vegetation important in the uptake of the greenhouse gas, but also that different types of vegetation play different roles. Their findings will be published July 4 in the current issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research – Biogeosciences, a publication of the American Geophysical Union.
Pressure testing of new Alvin Personnel Sphere successful
The human-occupied submersible Alvin reached a major milestone in its upgrade project on June 22 when its new titanium personnel sphere successfully completed pressure testing, reports the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), the vehicle's operator.
New planet-weighing technique found
Although there have been about 800 extra-solar planets discovered so far in our galaxy, the precise masses of the majority of them are still unknown, as the most-common planet-finding technique provides only a general idea of an object's mass. Previously, the only way to determine a planet's exact mass was if it transits—has an orbit that periodically eclipses that of its host star. Former Carnegie scientist Mercedes López-Morales has, for the first time, determined the mass of a non-transiting planet. The work is published by Astrophysical Journal Letters.
US beaches laden with sewage, bacteria: study
US beaches can be dirty places, making about 3.5 million people sick each year from sewage in the water, said an annual study Wednesday that rates American beaches by how dirty they are.
Scientists compile first study of potential for tsunamis in northwestern California
Using studies that span the last three decades, scientists at UC Santa Barbara have compiled the first evidence-based comprehensive study of the potential for tsunamis in Northwestern California. The paper, "Paleoseismicity of the Southern End of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, Northwestern California," was co-written by professors Edward Keller and Alexander Simms from UCSB's Department of Earth Science, and published in a recent issue of the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America.
Evidence of oceanic 'green rust' offers hope for the future
A rare kind of mineral which scientists hope could be used to remove toxic metals and radioactive species from the environment played a similar, crucial role early in Earth's history.
Lead from gasoline discovered in Indian Ocean
Since the 1970s, leaded gasoline has been slowly phased out worldwide, as studies have shown that lead can cause neurological and cardiovascular damage and degrade vehicles’ catalytic converters. Today, 185 countries have stopped using leaded gasoline; six others, including Afghanistan, Iraq and North Korea, plan to phase it out in the next two years. But while leaded gasoline usage has decreased drastically in the last few decades, lead is still pervasive in the environment.
Curiosity rover on track for early August landing
(Phys.org) -- A maneuver on Tuesday adjusted the flight path of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft for delivering the rover Curiosity to a landing target beside a Martian mountain.
Research yields key to better predictions of El Nino
(Phys.org) -- A University of Maryland scientist and an undergraduate Indian student he mentored in India have uncovered a major new finding about El Nino -- the cyclical climate event that appears every 2-7 years, sometimes with major global weather impacts such as massive flooding in some regions and severe droughts in others and resulting major economic impacts.
Bytes for bits: Researchers develop a new, efficient aerosol module for climate models
(Phys.org) -- Thinking small, scientists achieved big impact. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory researchers led a team developing a new computational module to depict tiny atmospheric particles that have a large effect on climate. Coming closer to a realistic depiction of these atmospheric bits, "MAM," short for Modal Aerosol Module, also achieves a new level of computational efficiency. Developed for the atmospheric component of the Community Earth System Model version 1 (CESM1) used for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 5th Assessment report, the minimal MAM representation means a big impact for climate modeling.
National Geographic looking to respond to "alien" Wow! signal from 1977
(Phys.org) -- Back in 1977, on August 15, to be exact, a mysterious radio transmission was received by astronomers working at an Ohio State radio observatory. It lasted all of seventy two seconds, and was so unique that one of the impressed researchers, Jerry Ehman, scrawled the word “Wow!” on the printout, giving a name to the only such transmission every recorded. It’s never been heard again and scientists are still at a loss trying to explain its source. Now, to commemorate the anniversary of the reception of the Wow! transmission, the National Geographic Channel is sponsoring a Twitter messaging event that will result in Tweets from people from all walks of life having their messages combined into one giant Tweet back to those who may have sent us the Wow! message, perhaps inciting a similar response from beings somewhere out there beyond the edges of our ability to see them.
Space tornadoes power the atmosphere of the Sun
Mathematicians at the University of Sheffield, as part of an international team, have discovered tornadoes in space which could hold the key to power the atmosphere of the Sun to millions of kelvin.
Innovative technique enables scientists to learn more about elusive exoplanet Tau Bootis b
For the first time a new technique has allowed astronomers to study the atmosphere of an exoplanet in detail -- even though it does not pass in front of its parent star. An international team has used ESO's Very Large Telescope to directly catch the faint glow from the planet Tau Boötis b, solving a 15-year-old problem. The team also finds that the planet's atmosphere seems to be cooler higher up, differently from the expected.
Technology news
New Sony president gets shareholder approval
(AP) — Kazuo Hirai, the former head of Sony's game division, won shareholder approval Wednesday to steer a turnaround at the struggling Japanese electronics giant as its new president and chief executive.
SwRI's hybrid ceramic-sand core casting technology wins R&D 100 award
A novel casting technology that combines aerospace ceramic and automotive sand core processes to allow for precision casting of extremely small passages in automotive cast iron/steel components has received a 2012 R&D 100 Award.
Driver assistance systems can increase safety and fuel efficiency
The Eurofot consortium has now published the findings of a four-year study focused on the impact of driver assistance systems in the Europe. The €22 million European Field Operational Test (Eurofot) project began in June 2008 and involved 28 companies and organisations. The research centre Safer at Chalmers is one of them.
DARPA develops technologies for aiding disaster relief
During natural or man-made disasters, the U.S. armed forces' rapidly deployable airlift, sealift, communication, and medical evacuation and care capabilities can supplement lead relief agencies in providing aid to victims. The Department of Defense's 2012 strategic guidance document includes humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations as one of the missions for 21st Century defense.
Google in deal with French groups over 'Jew' suggestion
Internet search giant Google has reached a deal under legal mediation with French anti-racism groups which objected to the search engine suggesting users add "Jew" to searches for prominent names.
CEO of T-Mobile USA resigns, succeeded by COO
(AP) — T-Mobile USA, the country's fourth-largest cellphone carrier, on Wednesday said that its CEO has resigned and its chief operating officer is filling in while the company searches for a replacement.
New York Times to launch Chinese news website
The New York Times said Wednesday it was launching a Chinese-language news website to deliver "high-quality coverage of world affairs, business and culture" to readers in China.
Labour group criticises Apple on China suppliers
A labour rights group said Thursday it had found "deplorable" conditions at Apple suppliers in China, following a probe of several firms that supply the US technology giant.
Spotify music service plays at Yahoo!
Yahoo! on Tuesday announced that it will be integrating Spotify internet radio service into its websites as part of a quest to reinvent itself as an online stage for digital content.
Apple launches iTunes Store in 12 new Asia markets
Apple launched its iTunes Store in 12 Asian markets on Wednesday, giving consumers access to millions of songs and movies, but regional giants China, India and Indonesia were not on the list.
Japan probes website attacks amid Anonymous claims
Japan was probing attacks on government websites Wednesday after hacker collective Anonymous lashed out at beefed-up laws on illegal downloads and warned of more to come.
Managing the tradeoffs between privacy and performance
When you go online to pay a bill or buy an airline ticket, says Parv Venkitasubramaniam, your transaction is subject to inevitable tradeoffs between privacy and utility.
Interview: Wozniak, Dotcom slam US piracy case
(AP) — Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak says the U.S. piracy case against Kim Dotcom is "hokey" and a threat to Internet innovation.
European court upholds most of Microsoft fine (Update)
(AP) — A European court on Wednesday upheld most of a massive fine levied against Microsoft by the European Commission's competition watchdog, closing a case against the software giant that began in 1998.
Kasparov versus Turing (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) -- For the first time in public, Mr. Kasparov played a match against Turing’s chess program live on stage at The University of Manchester’s Alan Turing Centenary Conference.
Google releases tablet app for social network
Google's Plus social network will have its own app for tablet computers.
Record radiation levels detected at Fukushima reactor
TEPCO, the operator of Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, said Wednesday record amounts of radiation had been detected in the basement of reactor number 1, further hampering clean-up operations.
Facebook slides as underwriters give mixed ratings
(AP) — The Wall Street analysts who know Facebook best are giving the company's stock a mixed review. Think: like, not love.
With Page voiceless, Brin appears at Google show
(AP) — Google co-founder Sergey Brin made a splashy entrance during a San Francisco conference while CEO Larry Page recovered from an ailment that has left him unable to speak.
US court bars Samsung tablet after Apple complaint
A US federal court has barred the sale of Samsung's new Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet computer, siding with Apple in a bitter dispute between the two tech giants over alleged patent infringement.
Using bad chips to build energy efficient smartphones
(Phys.org) -- Is the hardware powering the current generation of smartphones and computers "too good" for what it has been designed to do? This is the question addressed by Andreas Burg, director of the Telecommunications Circuits Lab (TCL) at EPFL.
UT researchers show how easy it is to spoof unencrypted GPS signals used by drones
(Phys.org) -- Professor Todd Humphreys of the University of Texas is making a lot of people nervous. First he and his team demonstrated their ability to circumvent the signals a drone flying over the university stadium was using to plot its course, causing it to nearly crash into the ground, before suddenly saving it from certain destruction. And as if that wasn’t enough to make the point that drones flying using unencrypted GPS signals are vulnerable to spoofing, surely another demonstration he and his team gave for representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Homeland Security drove the point home. They were very easily able to fool a drone in a test at White Sands Missile Range, with an inexpensively made device, into following the commands given by his team on multiple occasions.
Faster search, better photo sharing in new Android
Faster ways to search content on the Internet and share photos between two phones are promised in the next version of Google's Android operating system for mobile devices.
Team Prosecco dismantles security tokens
(Phys.org) -- As password systems alone prove inadequate to protect information on computers against hackers, security customers have taken the advice of vendors to step up to tokens, those online security credentials that add an extra layer of protection at login. The token is designed to generate a six-digit security code that is unique to the person’s credential. The rise of two-factor authentication has been accepted as the way to go for governments and corporations trying to bolster their information security. This week, though, leading token vendors are hearing news they can do without.
Chatbot Eugene put to Turing test wins first prize
(Phys.org) -- Billed as the biggest Turing test ever staged, a contest took place on June 23 in the UK, yet another event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Alan Turing. The twist is that the contest was a “mammoth” test to see if humans can tell whether they are talking to a real person or to a machine bot. Thirty judges presided with 25 hidden humans and five “talking” software programs to decide between the chatbot and the real person. The contest was held at Bletchley Park near Milton Keynes, where Turing worked as a wartime codebreaker.
Medicine & Health news
New data reveals public ignorance about the impact of lung disease
New data released by the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) to coincide with World Spirometry Day today has revealed a worrying lack of understanding and concern among the public about the world's biggest killer - lung disease, which now claims the lives of almost 4 million people a year.
New treatment protocol extends survival in some cases of once inoperable pancreatic cancer
Investigators at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, have reported on a new approach to treating previously inoperable complex pancreatic adenocarcinoma that has significantly increased long-term survival for some patients. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is one of the most devastating forms of pancreatic cancer with survival rates of only 5 percent at five years. Surgical removal of these tumors offers a chance for cure, but it is estimated that only about 20 percent of patients can undergo this treatment. The tumor in the pancreas often grows into adjacent vital blood vessels, and this is the most common reason a surgeon will consider pancreatic cancer to be inoperable and incurable. However, the MD Anderson investigators have achieved an important milestone in the surgical treatment of the disease in terms of improving prognosis for patients who meet the criteria for a newly developed protocol.
Kids eat healthier when school-based nutrition programs involve teachers, staff, parents
Programs to promote healthy eating can substantially reduce the amount of unhealthy foods and beverages on school grounds if the programs focus on a school's specific needs and involve teachers, parents, staff, and administrators, according to a Kaiser Permanente Southern California study published in BioMed Central's open access journal International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.
Exercise is key in the fight against Alzheimer's disease
In a recent Journal of Biological Chemistry "Paper of the Week," research led by Ayae Kinoshita at the Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan reveals the benefits of exercise in combating Alzheimer's disease.
Teenage pregnancy deaths a 'global scandal': charity
British charity Save the Children on Wednesday said it was a "global scandal" that 50,000 teenagers die each year due to pregnancy and childbirth complications.
PolyU optometry study finds astigmatism prevalent among Hongkongers
Nearly one out of 10 people between 21 to 30 years old have astigmatism more than 200 degrees (2.00D), according to the latest findings on a clinical population by optometry experts at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). The prevalence of refractive astigmatism (1.00D) is even higher for people aged above 60 years old, standing at over 40 per cent.
Woman with flesh-eating disease to leave hospital
(AP) — A Georgia woman battling a rare, flesh-eating disease is preparing to be released from the hospital after nearly two months.
Mexico doctors remove child's 33-pound tumor
(AP) — Mexican doctors say they have successfully removed a 33-pound (15-kilogram) benign tumor from the body of a 2-year-old child.
More parents must teach their kids to prevent sexual abuse
(Medical Xpress) -- Only 40 per cent of mothers reported talking with their children about what to do if someone tries to touch their private parts, a QUT nationwide survey of 200 mothers has found.
Women are more prone to hypoglycaemia than men
Just how important a gender-specific perspective and the personalised treatment of illnesses are between men and women is being demonstrated by two current studies at the MedUni Vienna, which are being led by Alexandra Kautzky-Willer from the University Department of Internal Medicine III (Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Gender Medicine Unit). On the one hand, the studies have shown that women have better protection against diabetes before the menopause than men, while on the other it has become apparent that women with diabetes are more likely to suffer hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) than men, a condition that can be fatal.
Efforts to develop new drugs that hopefully will never be used
Concerns about terrorist attacks, the prospect of a rogue nation using nuclear weapons and the Fukushima power plant accident in Japan are fostering efforts to develop a new family of drugs that everyone hopes will never be used, according to an article in the current edition of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.
Unique program bringing electronic medical record data to ambulances lauded
The nation's first and only program linking paramedics in the field to patients' pre-existing health information -- enabling emergency workers to make more informed treatment decisions and to transport patients to the most appropriate facility -- has been recognized by the prestigious Computerworld Honors Program.
Social issues in teen years can hurt future health
Social interactions during adolescence can affect health many years into adulthood, according to research published June 27 in the open access journal PLoS ONE.
Healthy eating advice for new mothers can help cut child obesity
Teaching new mums about healthy eating and active play can help cut the risk of their child being overweight or obese, a study published today in the British Medical Journal finds.
Experts warn of significant cardiovascular risk with Atkins-style diets
Women who regularly eat a low carbohydrate, high protein diet are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease (such as heart disease and stroke) than those who do not, a study published in the British Medical Journal today suggests.
More accurate diagnostic test may reduce deaths
A more accurate, faster diagnostic test for Group B Streptococcal infection in babies has been reported in the Journal of Medical Microbiology. The new test could allow better treatment and management of the disease and reduce the risk of mortality among newborns.
Women with a fear of childbirth endure a longer labor: research
Women who have a fear of childbirth spend longer in labour than women who have no such fear, suggests new research published today (27 June) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Obese appendectomy patients have fewer complications with minimally invasive operations
Obese patients who need to have their appendixes removed fare better after a minimally invasive surgical procedure rather than an open operation, according to a new study published in the July issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
FDA probing safety of metal-on-metal hip implants
(HealthDay) -- While thousands of Americans have benefited from hip replacements over the years, problems with metal-on-metal implants can lead to troubles requiring surgery to replace defective devices, experts say.
Specialized MRI scans assess value of anti-cancer chemotherapy long before tumors shown to shrink
(Medical Xpress) -- Faster assay for targeted chemotherapy’s success against deadly liver cancer saves lives, and could speed lifesaving switch to alternative drug therapies for well-known pancreatic cancer.
Women with smaller-than-average fetuses may face heart problems
(Medical Xpress) -- Women pregnant with smaller-than-average fetuses may also need to worry about their long-term cardiovascular health risks, according to new research in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension.
High court health care ruling expected Thursday
(AP) — President Barack Obama's overhaul of the U.S. health care system — the key legislative achievement of his term — could be gutted, crushed or left standing Thursday when the conservative-dominated Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of the sweeping law in the heat of the presidential election campaign.
The only experiment in the country to predict outcome of Obama health care reform was not successful
(Medical Xpress) -- With the U.S. Supreme Court decision looming on the fate of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) – informally known as Obamacare – two Texas Tech University researchers and a former colleague have published research that shows a similar plan implemented by Mitt Romney in Massachusetts did not work well for hospital productivity in the short term.
Kids who cook hungrier for healthy food choices
(Medical Xpress) -- Getting kids to pass up junk food in favour of healthier fruits and veggies has led to many a mealtime meltdown for parents everywhere. Now, researchers from the University of Alberta offer a simple solution: give them an apron.
Research uncovers tobacco companies' tactics to undermine tobacco control in Czech Republic
(Medical Xpress) -- The University’s Tobacco Control Research Group uncovered ongoing interference from British American Tobacco and Philip Morris to influence tobacco tax policies, which are one of the most effective means of reducing tobacco consumption. They found the corporations collaborated with broader tobacco interests to keep tobacco taxes low and lobbied competitively for tobacco tax structures that would favor their brands.
Study: Kids with behavior issues, disabilities are bullied more, bully others more
(Medical Xpress) -- Students receiving special-education services for behavioral disorders and those with more obvious disabilities are more likely to be bullied than their general-education counterparts -- and are also more likely to bully other students, a new study shows.
Being overweight years before pregnancy linked to bigger babies
Women who become overweight or obese during the transition from adolescence to adulthood are significantly more likely to give birth to babies with excessive birth weights, according to a new study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
Provinces could save millions in prescription drug costs, new research finds
Taxpayers could save millions of dollars if hospitals and provincial governments harmonized their prescription drug plans, new research suggests.
How much would our health benefit from leaving the car at home?
A new study confirms that doing short journeys on foot rather than taking the car or motorbike would avoid the death of 108 men and 79 women a year in Catalonia alone. This would imply annual savings of more than 200 million euros.
'Broken heart syndrome' protects the heart from adrenaline overload
A condition that temporarily causes heart failure in people who experience severe stress might actually protect the heart from very high levels of adrenaline, according to a new study published in the journal Circulation. The research provides the first physiological explanation for Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also called "broken heart syndrome" because it affects people who suffer severe emotional stress after bereavement, and suggests guidance for treatment.
Stem cells can beat back diabetes: UBC research
University of British Columbia scientists have successfully reversed diabetes in mice using stem cells, paving the way for a breakthrough treatment for a disease that affects nearly one in four Canadians.
Successful transplant of patient-derived stem cells into mice with muscular dystrophy
Stem cells from patients with a rare form of muscular dystrophy have been successfully transplanted into mice affected by the same form of dystrophy, according to a new study published today in Science Translational Medicine.
Half of inhaled diesel soot gets stuck in the lungs: study
The exhaust from diesel-fuelled vehicles, wood fires and coal-driven power stations contains small particles of soot that flow out into the atmosphere. The soot is a scourge for the climate but also for human health. Now for the first time, researchers have studied in detail how diesel soot gets stuck in the lungs. The results show that more than half of all inhaled soot particles remain in the body.
Ability to estimate quantity increases in first 30 years of life
One of the basic elements of cognition―the ability to estimate quantities―grows more precise across the first 30 years or more of a person's life, according to researchers supported by the National Institutes of Health.
Finding brings scientists one step closer to Parkinson's drug
Van Andel Institute announces that researchers at Lund University in Sweden have published a study detailing how Parkinson's disease spreads through the brain. Experiments in rat models uncover a process previously used to explain mad cow disease, in which misfolded proteins travel from sick to healthy cells. This model has never before been identified so clearly in a living organism, and the breakthrough brings researchers one step closer to a disease-modifying drug for Parkinson's.
New drug dramatically improves survival in Hodgkin lymphoma patients
A new cancer drug with remarkably few side effects is dramatically improving survival in Hodgkin lymphoma patients who fail other treatments and are nearly out of options.
New screening test to help people with hearing loss in China
The University of Southampton has developed a new hearing screening test which could help the estimated 100 million people suffering from hearing loss in China.
Racial make-up of community impacts obesity risk
The racial and ethnic composition of a community is associated with the obesity risk of individuals living within the community, according to a study led by researchers at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The findings, published in the June 14 edition of the American Journal of Public Health, may help explain disparities in obesity rates among racial groups and point to some of the environmental factors that may contribute to obesity in the United States.
Menopausal women could "work out" their hot flashes
(Medical Xpress) -- Menopausal women who exercise may experience fewer hot flashes in the 24 hours following physical activity, according to health researchers.
Regulation of telomerase in stem cells and cancer cells
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg have gained important insights for stem cell research which are also applicable to human tumours and could lead to the development of new treatments. As Rolf Kemler's research group discovered, a molecular link exists between the telomerase that determines the length of the telomeres and a signalling pathway known as the Wnt/β-signalling pathway.
Study examines how parenthood affects gay couples' health, HIV risk
Gay parents face many of the same challenges as straight parents when it comes to sex and intimacy after having children, according to a new study of gay fathers published in the journal Couple and Family Psychology. The findings suggest that gay male couples who are raising children may experience lifestyle changes that could reduce their HIV risk.
Brain scans detect early signs of autism
A new study shows significant differences in brain development in high-risk infants who develop autism starting as early as age 6 months. The findings published in the American Journal of Psychiatry reveal that this abnormal brain development may be detected before the appearance of autism symptoms in an infant's first year of life. Autism is typically diagnosed around the age of 2 or 3.
US clears first new weight-loss pill in 13 years
(AP) — The Food and Drug Administration has approved Arena Pharmaceutical's anti-obesity pill Belviq, the first new prescription drug for long-term weight loss to enter the U.S. market in over a decade.
New compound holds promise for treating Duchenne MD, other inherited diseases
Scientists at UCLA have identified a new compound that could treat certain types of genetic disorders in muscles. It is a big first step in what they hope will lead to human clinical trials for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Smoking, head injury, pesticide use may be risk factors for rare sleep disorder
Smoking, head injury, pesticide exposure, farming and less education may be risk factors for a rare sleep disorder that causes people to kick or punch during sleep, according to a study published in the June 27, 2012, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Dietary fiber alters gut bacteria, supports gastrointestinal health
A University of Illinois study shows that dietary fiber promotes a shift in the gut toward different types of beneficial bacteria. And the microbes that live in the gut, scientists now believe, can support a healthy gastrointestinal tract as well as affect our susceptibility to conditions as varied as type 2 diabetes, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, colon cancer, and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.
After child dies, mom's risk of early death skyrockets: study
In the first two years following the death of a child, there is a 133% increase in the risk of the mother dying, a new study from the University of Notre Dame shows.
Scientists identify new cancer stem cell mechanism
Scientists at Queen Mary, University of London have uncovered a link between two genes which shows how stem cells could develop into cancer.
Hospice visit number affects ability to die at home
(HealthDay) -- Hospice patients with cancer are more likely to be able to die in the setting of their choice if they receive at least one hospice visit per day during the first four days of hospice care, according to research published online June 25 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Nomogram developed to estimate early breast cancer survival
(HealthDay) -- A nomogram has been developed to predict five- and 10-year mastectomy-free survival (MFS) in older women with early breast cancer and estimate the predicted benefit of radiation therapy (RT) following conservative surgery (CS), according to research published online June 25 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Specific solvents may increase risk of Parkinson's disease
(HealthDay) -- Exposure to specific solvents is associated with an increased risk of Parkinson's disease, according to a study published in the June issue of the Annals of Neurology.
Standing for long periods during pregnancy may curb fetal growth
Standing for long periods during pregnancy may curb the growth of the developing fetus, suggests research published online in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Diet rich in vegetables may help stave off acute pancreatitis
A diet rich in vegetables could help stave off the development of the serious condition acute pancreatitis, suggests a large study published online in the journal Gut.
Parkinson's disease gene identified with help of Mennonite family: research
An international team led by human genetic researchers at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health has identified the latest gene associated with typical late-onset Lewy body Parkinson's disease (PD), with the help of a Canadian Mennonite family of Dutch-German-Russian ancestry.
Researchers find link between neuritin gene activity and stress induced depression
(Medical Xpress) -- Research teams from the US and Korea have together been studying depression and other mood disorders and have found that chronic stress can block a gene whose job it is to maintain healthy neuron connections in the brain, which in turn can lead to mental ailments. In lab experiments they have found that rats show lowered levels of neuritin gene activity when driven to depression, and that rats with depression tended to do better when given treatment that boosted neuritin activity, suggesting that another means of treating people with mood disorders might be on the horizon. The team has published a paper describing their experiments and results in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Nerve pathway for combating axon injury and stress may hold benefits for individuals with neurodegenerative disorders
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers from the Huck Institutes' Center for Cellular Dynamics — led by Center director Melissa Rolls — have found that a neuroprotective pathway initiated in response to injured or stressed neural axons serves to stabilize and protect the nerve cell against further degeneration.
Injecting life-saving oxygen into a vein: Microparticles could deliver oxygen when breathing is impaired
Patients unable to breathe because of acute lung failure or an obstructed airway need another way to get oxygen to their blood—and fast—to avoid cardiac arrest and brain injury. A team led by researchers at Boston Children's Hospital has designed tiny, gas-filled microparticles that can be injected directly into the bloodstream to quickly oxygenate the blood.
Researchers develop novel anti-body vaccine that blocks addictive nicotine chemicals from reaching the brain
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have developed and successfully tested in mice an innovative vaccine to treat nicotine addiction.
Immune response to heart attack worsens atherosclerosis, increases future risk
A heart attack doesn't just damage heart muscle tissue by cutting off its blood supply, it also sets off an inflammatory cascade that worsens underlying atherosclerosis, actively increasing the risk for a future heart attack. These findings from a study receiving advance online publication in Nature suggest an important new therapeutic strategy for preventing heart attacks and strokes, both of which are caused when atherosclerotic plaques rupture and block important blood vessels.
Building a better Rift Valley fever vaccine
University of Texas Medical Branch researchers have significantly improved an existing experimental vaccine for Rift Valley fever virus, making possible the development of a more effective defense against the dangerous mosquito-borne pathogen.
Biology news
UWE Bristol researcher plays key role in DNA bar-coding of native flowering plants in Wales
A researcher from UWE Bristol has contributed to a groundbreaking project that has succeeded in generating DNA barcoding for all the native flowering plants in Wales.
AgriLife Research zeroes in on potato disease insect
Do potato psyllids migrate from one location to the next, starting in northern Mexico and moving northward as the potato season progresses, or are psyllid populations local?
Life cycles of mysterious Namibian grassland 'fairy circles' characterized
The grasslands in Namibia are home to so-called "fairy circles" - circular bare spots, usually surrounded by a ring of taller grass – of unknown origin. These circles are described and characterized in a report published June 27 in the open access journal PLoS ONE.
Gabon burns five tonnes of ivory
Gabonese President Ali Bongo on Wednesday set fire to five tonnes of ivory worth millions of euros to mark his government's commitment to battling poachers and saving elephants.
Philippines rice terraces off endangered list: UN
The Philippines' ancient rice terraces, carved into mountains like giant green stairs, have been removed from a UN list of endangered world heritage sites, the UN office in Manila said Wednesday.
Life partner: Microbes, at work inside of us, are of rising interest to researchers for role in health, diet
Without the bacteria that live in our intestines, a drug used against rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease wouldn’t work.
Researchers discover potential new weapon against African crop pests
(Phys.org) -- A team of scientists has made a novel discovery that could provide a new strategy for controlling armyworms and other insect crop pests around the globe.
New mechanism of bacterial pathogenesis discovered
Scientists have identified a new mechanism of bacterial pathogenesis. The results of the research project, partly funded by the Academy of Finland, have been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Dying trees in Southwest set stage for erosion, water loss in Colorado River
New research concludes that a one-two punch of drought and mountain pine beetle attacks are the primary forces that have killed more than 2.5 million acres of pinyon pine and juniper trees in the American Southwest during the past 15 years, setting the stage for further ecological disruption.
Study estimates costs of mesquite biomass delivery for bioenergy use
Operating on the thought that, if it is not feasible, it's not going to be done, a group of Texas AgriLife Research scientists is studying the costs of getting potential bioenergy sources such as mesquite to the processed stage.
Elephant movement can provide objective measure of seasonal boundaries
Elephant movement in response to changes in rainfall patterns can be used to determine biologically relevant boundaries between seasons, as opposed to commonly used arbitrary definitions of seasons. The full report is published June 27 in the open access journal PLoS ONE.
Remote US puffin colony up close on HD web cam
(AP) — Two high-definition cameras began streaming live video Wednesday of clown-like Atlantic puffins waddling, preening and nesting on a remote Maine island.
Farming and biodiversity can coexist, say Stanford researchers
(Phys.org) -- Although bird species disappear with intensive agriculture, research in Costa Rica shows that forest intermingled with cultivated land rescues biodiversity.
The physics of going viral: Researchers measure the rate of DNA transfer from viruses to bacteria
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have been able, for the first time, to watch viruses infecting individual bacteria by transferring their DNA, and to measure the rate at which that transfer occurs. Shedding light on the early stages of infection by this type of virus—a bacteriophage—the scientists have determined that it is the cells targeted for infection, rather than the amount of genetic material within the viruses themselves, that dictate how quickly the bacteriophage's DNA is transferred.
How sticky toepads evolved in geckos and what that means for adhesive technologies
Geckos have independently evolved their trademark sticky feet as many as 11 times, and lost them nine times, according to research published June 27 in the open access journal PLoS ONE.
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