Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for June 6, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- What do phasons look like?- Stealth behavior allows cockroaches to seemingly vanish (w/ Video)
- Evidence of impending tipping point for Earth uncovered
- Researchers show bacteria use natural materials to transfer electrons
- Tactus shows tablet keyboard rising from flat screen (w/ Video)
- NTT DoCoMo tablet-talkers explore virtual worlds (w/ Video)
- Research group creates bendable electronics that hold up under abuse
- Stanford physicists make new form of matter
- Using rabies virus, researcher tracks inputs to dopamine neurons
- The real culprit behind hardened arteries? Stem cells, says landmark study
- How plants make cocaine
- Research shows mice brains are 'very wired up' at birth, suggests experience selects which connections to keep
- Revamped Google maps goes offline for mobile (Update)
- The power of suggestion: What we expect influences our behavior, for better or worse
- Seasonal prevention of malaria in African children: Analysis of life-saving potential
Space & Earth news
Australia PM critical of coal mine approval process
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has attacked Queensland officials over their handling of a massive Indian-led US$6.3 billion coal mine project, accusing them of risking investor confidence.
Double-Satellite view of Whitewater-Baldy complex fire
(Phys.org) -- NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites circle the globe in formation and capture images of the Earth from their orbit in space. In the “A-train of satellites,” Terra comes before Aqua, and both of them recently captured visible images of the large Whitewater-Baldy Complex Fire burning in western New Mexico.
Banning plastic bags-does it make a difference?
This week the Toronto city council revisits the city’s plastic bag surcharge, which requires retailers to charge customers five cents per bag. We originally spoke to Professor Douglas Stephan of Chemistry in August 2009 about the then-new law. This interview has been updated.
CU students to help NASA develop astronaut food
(Phys.org) -- University of Colorado Boulder students and faculty have been selected to develop a remotely operable, robotic garden to support future astronauts in deep space.
Image: Coronal hole on the sun
(Phys.org) -- This image of a coronal hole on the sun bears a remarkable resemblance to the 'Sesame Street' character Big Bird. Coronal holes are regions where the sun's corona is dark.
Saving Botswana's tourist industry from climate change
Botswana's Okavango Delta is a sensitive ecosystem that could be affected detrimentally by climate change. Given the Delta's prominence in the country's tourist industry, such negative impacts could wreak havoc on its economy and affect the lives of its inhabitants.
European Union launches latest space regulation efforts
Europe's rule-making bureaucracy is moving forward with plans to introduce some earthly order to the unruly heavens, unveiling its latest efforts Wednesday to regulate outer space.
Consumption driving environment damage: UN
Population growth and unsustainable consumption are driving Earth towards "unprecedented" environmental destruction, the UN said in a report Wednesday ahead of the Rio Summit.
More on brown dwarfs and other astrophysical objects
EU researchers made significant advances in characterizing the elemental compositions of stars, planets and interstellar media.
Space shuttle Enterprise floats to Manhattan home (Images)
(AP) — New Yorkers lined the city's West Side waterfront to welcome the space shuttle Enterprise as it sailed up the Hudson River on Wednesday to its new home aboard the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
US calls on EU to abandon 'lousy' carbon tax on airlines
US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Wednesday called on the European Union to abandon its controversial carbon tax on airlines, saying the policy aimed at combatting global warming was "lousy."
Climate change to cost LatAm $100 bn by 2050: study
Global warming could exact a devastating toll on the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean, with costs possibly exceeding $100 billion by 2050, the Inter-American Development Bank warned Tuesday.
Venus' transit and the search for other worlds
(Phys.org) -- It's the final opportunity of the century to witness the rare astronomical reunion of the sun, Venus and Earth. On Tuesday, June 5 or 6, 2012 depending on your location, Venus will make its presence in the solar system visible from Earth’s day side. Viewers will see Venus as a small dot slowly drifting across the golden disk of the sun.
Earth threatened by glowing green asteroid?
The Daily Mail is reporting that a youtube user has found a strange object while poking around in Google Sky. It looks suspiciously like a glowing green asteroid and he claims it’s heading right for us. But before we call in the experts, let’s do a little bit of critical analysis on our own.
Geoengineering could disrupt rainfall patterns
A geoengineering solution to climate change could lead to significant rainfall reduction in Europe and North America, a team of European scientists concludes. The researchers studied how models of the Earth in a warm, CO2‑rich world respond to an artificial reduction in the amount of sunlight reaching the planet's surface. The study is published today in Earth System Dynamics, an Open Access journal of the European Geosciences Union (EGU).
UH research team uses airborne LiDAR to unveil Honduran archaeological ruins
A field team from the University of Houston and the National Science Foundation (NSF) National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM) has mapped a remote region of Honduras that may contain the legendary lost city of Ciudad Blanca.
Eyes turn skyward as Venus travels across the sun
None of us will likely see Venus pass, like a moving beauty spot, across the face of the sun again.
Arctic ice melt sets stage for cold weather
(Phys.org) -- The dramatic melt-off of Arctic sea ice due to climate change is hitting closer to home than millions of Americans might think. That's because melting Arctic sea ice can trigger a domino effect leading to increased odds of severe winter weather outbreaks in the Northern Hemisphere's middle latitudes -- think the "Snowmageddon" storm that hamstrung Washington, D.C., during February 2010.
Microbial communities shifted dramatically after Deepwater Horizon spill
Communities of microbial organisms -- species such as nematodes, protists and fungi -- on beaches along the Gulf of Mexico changed significantly following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in April 2010, research from the University of New Hampshire's Hubbard Center for Genome Studies (HCGS) and partners found. The findings, which analyzed marine sediments from five Gulf Coast sites prior to and several months following shoreline oiling, are published in the June 6, 2012, issue of the journal PLoS ONE.
Today's climate more sensitive to carbon dioxide than in past 12 million years
Until now, studies of Earth's climate have documented a strong correlation between global climate and atmospheric carbon dioxide; that is, during warm periods, high concentrations of CO2 persist, while colder times correspond to relatively low levels.
Evidence of impending tipping point for Earth uncovered
A prestigious group of scientists from around the world is warning that population growth, widespread destruction of natural ecosystems, and climate change may be driving Earth toward an irreversible change in the biosphere, a planet-wide tipping point that would have destructive consequences absent adequate preparation and mitigation.
Technology news
Campaign says private Romney emails possibly hacked
Authorities are investigating a report that Mitt Romney's personal email account has been hacked, his presidential campaign said Tuesday.
'Star Trek' actors head for videogame frontier
The actors who played Captain James T. Kirk and Spock in the 2009 film reboot of "Star Trek" will give voice to those characters in a videogame based on the beloved science fiction franchise.
SDSC supercharges its 'Data Oasis' storage system
The San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) at the University of California, San Diego has completed the deployment of its Lustre-based Data Oasis parallel file system, with four petabytes (PB) of capacity and 100 gigabytes per second (GB/s), to handle the data-intensive needs of the center’s new Gordon supercomputer in addition to its Trestles and Triton high-performance computer systems.
Few surprises for gamers at E3
(AP) — Looking across the waves of sweaty, passionate gamers during the flashy press conferences and detailed demonstrations at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, there's been very few wide eyes, gasps or dropped jaws. Sure, a "woo-hoo" has been yelled here and a "yay" screamed there, but the reactions have been far more subdued than in previous years.
Morocco promotes solar energy with plane landing
(AP) -- Morocco's ambitious and expensive plan to draw 40 percent of its energy needs from the limitless power of its blazing sun by 2020 received a publicity boost this week as the first solar powered plane to make an intercontinental flight landed in the North African kingdom.
Majority of US seniors now going online: poll
It's taken a while, but a majority of Americans aged 65 and older are now finally using the Internet or email, according to the results of a Pew Research Center poll released Wednesday.
Nasdaq tries to make amends for Facebook problems
(AP) — The Nasdaq stock exchange tried to make amends with investors ensnared by technical problems on the day Facebook went public.
Vehicle fuel economy falls again in May
(Phys.org) -- For the second straight month, fuel economy of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. fell by 0.2 mpg—likely reflecting a slight drop in gas prices, say researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.
Smooth moves: How space animates Hollywood
(Phys.org) -- If you’ve been to see Wrath of the Titans, then you’ve watched it in action. A computer programmer is using software he developed to control spacecraft to help animators make more realistic computer games and movies.
Gasification may convert mesquite and juniper wood to a usable bioenergy
Biomass gasification is being considered as a possible technology for converting at least 10 million acres of Texas brush into biofuel, according to Dr. Jim Ansley, Texas AgriLife Research rangeland ecologist in Vernon.
A vision to help: Engineering students design bare-bones microscope for clinics in developing world
(Phys.org) -- Students at the Jacobs School of Engineering are working to develop a cheaper, lighter, multi-function microscope that could be used in clinics in developing countries. Their prototype will be flown to Mozambique this summer and field tested at Universidade Eduardo Mondlane in the country’s capital, Maputo.
Compact and flexible thermal storage
Biogas plants, combined heat and power plants don't just generate electricity, they also produce heat. However, unlike the electricity they yield, the heat generally dissipates unused. A new technology is set to change this: It will allow the heat to be stored lossfree in the smallest of spaces for lengthy periods of time, for use as and when required.
Economic woes slow mobile phone market: survey
The worldwide mobile phone market is expected to grow this year at its slowest pace since 2009, hurt by sluggish economic conditions, a survey showed Wednesday.
India court petition against Facebook and Google
An Indian court on Wednesday asked Facebook, Google and other Internet firms to respond to a private petition over allegations of being a threat to national security and withholding tax.
Renewable energy costs falling: agency
Power from renewable energy sources is getting cheaper every year, according to a study released Wednesday, challenging long-standing myths that clean energy technology is too expensive to adopt.
Mobile advertising worth $5.3 bn in 2011: survey
Some $5.3 billion was spent on mobile digital advertising in 2011, a survey showed Wednesday in the first industry-sponsored measure of what is expected to be a booming market.
PlayStation game network takes online film tack
Sony is putting a videogame spin on popular online movie streaming services such as Netflix by giving members of its PlayStation Network access to a library of blockbusters for a monthly fee.
Napster creators launch video service via Facebook
The creators of the original Napster music-sharing site on Tuesday launched a new video service which allows people to chat online using their Facebook accounts.
Solar-powered plane lands in Morocco
(AP) — An experimental solar-powered plane landed in Morocco's capital late Tuesday after a 20-hour trip from Madrid in the first transcontinental journey by a craft of its type.
Fuel cells operating directly on ethanol
(Phys.org) -- Researchers at the Center for Energy Research at UC San Diego recently demonstrated the best performance for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) operating directly on ethanol without external reformation. The work was performed by Dr. Nguyen Minh of the Center for Energy Research, postdoctoral scholar Dr. Eric Armstrong (now with Intel) and UC San Diego undergraduate student intern Jae-Woo Park.
Google adds warning of 'state-sponsored attacks'
(AP) — Google said Wednesday that it has added a feature to warn users whose accounts it believes are targets of "state-sponsored attacks," but the Internet giant did not cite a specific government.
New Internet standard gives global network room to grow (Update)
A new Internet standard giving the global network more room to grow came into effect Wednesday, a move that users probably won't notice.
Malware hunter Kaspersky warns of cyber war dangers
The Russian malware hunter whose firm discovered the Flame virus said Wednesday there could be plenty more malicious code out there, and warned he feared a disastrous cyber attack could be coming.
Some LinkedIn passwords stolen, leaked online (Update 2)
(AP) — Business social network LinkedIn said Wednesday that some of its users' passwords have been stolen and leaked onto the Internet.
Have you heard? Nearly 15 percent of work email is gossip (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) -- According to some estimates, the average corporate email user sends 112 emails every day. About one out of every seven of those messages, says a new study from Georgia Tech, can be called gossip.
Revamped Google maps goes offline for mobile (Update)
Google unveiled a revamped maps program Wednesday that allows mobile users to use the service without an Internet connection as the Internet giant geared up for a possible competing service.
NTT DoCoMo tablet-talkers explore virtual worlds (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) -- NTT DoCoMo is showing off its prototype platform for 3-D video calls with enhanced additions. Its 3D Live Communication System is being described as a possible next step beyond regular video calls. This is a platform that allows two tablet users who are not in the same place communicate and at the same time explore virtual spaces where they can see each other in a different virtual world. NTT DoCoMo is Japan's largest mobile operator, known not only for its network and large user base but also for an aggressive R&D effort in mobile communication technologies. A platform that features the “virtual world” experience Is clearly in the cards.
Tactus shows tablet keyboard rising from flat screen (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) -- Why settle for flat? That is the question highlighted on the home page of Tactus Technology, which does not want device users to settle for any of today’s tactile limitations on flatscreen devices. The Fremont, California-based company has figured out how to put physical buttons on a display when we want them and no buttons when we don’t. Tactus has announced its tactile user interface for touchscreen devices that are real, physical buttons that can rise up from the touchscreen surface on demand.
Medicine & Health news
Greek crisis creates medicine shortages
Greece's highly uncertain future has forced businesses into a quasi hand-to-mouth existence, with one of the most alarming effects a shortage of medicines, including for the seriously ill.
Everything we think we know - and know we don't know - about cancer
A book written for the general reader, "Betrayed by Nature: The War on Cancer" by Dr Robin Hesketh, sets out in plain English what goes wrong in our bodies when cells begin to replicate in an abnormal manner, and what science is doing to address the disease that kills seven million people every year.
Professor's fly question may hold answer to mosquito-borne fever
(Medical Xpress) -- The office of Michael Turelli, distinguished professor in the UC Davis Department of Evolution and Ecology, is lined with books written by the world’s preeminent evolutionary geneticists. Most are Turelli’s friends and colleagues. Picking up and flipping the pages of one after another, he tells the story of evolutionary genetics and his 35-year career at UC Davis.
Tocilizumab is more effective than adalimumab at reducing signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
Data presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, demonstrates that tocilizumab monotherapy is more effective than adalimumab monotherapy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) based on change from baseline in DAS28 (-3.3 vs. -1.8, p
Almost one-quarter of European countries do not provide access to biologics for arthritis
Data from a study presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, demonstrates the vast inequalities in access to biologics for the treatments of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) across 46 European countries, with 22% (n=10) of countries having no biologic reimbursed at all.
Biomarkers may predict the progression of spinal damage in patients with ankylosing spondylitis
A new study presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, has identified five biomarkers that may predict the progression of structural damage in the spine of patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) who are already at high risk of disease progression.
Racial and ethnic disparities in awareness of heart disease risk in women
Awareness of the risks of heart disease and signs of a heart attack vary greatly among women of different racial and ethnic groups and ages. New data that clearly identify these disparities in heart health awareness are presented in an article in Journal of Women's Health, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Journal of Women's Health website.
Female college athletes need better screening for health problems, researchers report
Female athletes, particularly those involved in high level college sports at the NCAA Division I level, are particularly prone to a trio of medical issues called the "female athlete triad." A new study conducted by sports medicine researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin found there are some possible shortfalls in the methods used to screen these athletes for the triad, and that could put athletes at risk for lifelong health problems.
PTSD outcomes improve as US Army adds behavioral health screening to primary care
American Soldiers are reaping the rewards of an innovative Army program designed to identify and treat Soldiers at risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression earlier by conducting behavioral health screening at all primary care visits. During the American Psychiatric Association's annual meeting last month, Col. Charles Engel, M.D., M.P.H., described the RESPECT-Mil program and its results to date in his presentation, "Effective Integrated Mental Health & Primary Care Services in the U.S. Military." Col. Engel is the RESPECT-Mil program director, director of the Department of Defense Deployment Health Clinical Center at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and senior scientist at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress. He is also associate chair (Research) of the Department of Psychiatry at the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine in Bethesda, Md.
Study explores effects of family dynamics on oral health
What does mental health have to do with dental health? Quite a bit, according to Richard Heyman, PhD, and Amy Smith Slep, PhD, psychologists who joined the New York University College of Dentistry (NYUCD) in July 2011.
Blood test could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer
Scientists have discovered that a simple blood test could lead to better diagnosis and treatment for early-stage breast cancer patients, according to an Article published Online First in The Lancet Oncology.
Study reports seizure-freedom in 68 percent of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy patients
A 25-year follow-up study reveals that 68% of patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) became seizure-free, with nearly 30% no longer needing antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment. Findings published today in Epilepsia, a journal of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), report that the occurrence of generalized tonic-clonic seizures preceded by bilateral myoclonic seizures, and AED polytherapy significantly predicted poor long-term seizure outcome.
How do studies get selected for publication?
The factors predicting the eventual impact of scientific research (i.e. high citation rates) were successfully identified in abstracts selected for presentation at the annual ESC Congress. Interestingly, predictors of publication in peer reviewed scientific journals differed markedly from those predicting later scientific impact, finds a recent study published online today in the European Heart Journal (EHJ).
Report of first doctor to reach shot Lincoln found
(AP) — The first doctor to reach President Abraham Lincoln after he was shot in a Washington theater rushed to his ceremonial box and found him paralyzed, comatose and leaning against his wife. Dr. Charles Leale ordered brandy and water to be brought immediately.
Ultrasounds spot heart disease early in rheumatoid arthritis patients
Special echocardiograms show promise for early detection of a potentially deadly complication in rheumatoid arthritis: heart disease, Mayo Clinic research shows. The findings were being presented at The European League Against Rheumatism annual meeting in Berlin. Rheumatoid arthritis patients are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease and it is important to take steps to intervene, but the risk assessment tools physicians commonly use often underestimate the danger.
DSM-5 to include controversial changes to criteria for substance use disorders
Every new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders stirs up a host of questions and controversies, and the next DSM—the DSM-5, to be published in 2013—is no exception. The diagnoses related to alcohol and other substance use disorders have had their own share of the controversy, according to Marc A. Schuckit, M.D., editor of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs and a member of the Substance Use Disorder Work Group for the DSM-5. An editorial from Schuckit in the July issue of JSAD, as well as letters from three experts, highlights the debate.
Medical marijuana outlets not linked to crime
Despite some concerns to the contrary, neighborhoods with medical marijuana dispensaries may not have higher crime rates than other neighborhoods—at least in one California city.
Gonorrhea sex bug growing resistant to drugs, WHO warns (Update)
(AP) — A sexually transmitted disease that infects millions of people each year is growing resistant to drugs and could soon become untreatable, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.
Risk of calcium oxalate stones not affected by oxalate intake
(HealthDay) -- Eating large amounts of oxalate does not significantly affect the risk of developing calcium oxalate stones if the recommended amount of dietary calcium is also eaten, according to a study published in the June issue of Urology.
Complex world of microbes fine-tune body weight
(Medical Xpress) -- Microorganisms in the human gastrointestinal tract form an intricate, living fabric made up of some 500 to 1000 distinct bacterial species, (in addition to other microbes). Recently, researchers have begun to untangle the subtle role these diverse life forms play in maintaining health and regulating weight.
UK study into whether physical activity aids depression finds no additional benefit
(Medical Xpress) -- Current clinical guidance recommends physical activity to alleviate the symptoms of depression (1). However, new research published today in the BMJ, suggests that adding a physical activity intervention to usual care did not reduce symptoms of depression more than usual care alone, even though it increased levels of physical activity.
African-American women can lose weight and keep it off
(Medical Xpress) -- Understanding cultural influences on African-American women may be important in helping them achieve long-term weight loss, according to researchers from Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine (BCM).
Researchers recommend steps to improve implementation of global road safety
(Medical Xpress) -- Road traffic crashes kill more than 1.2 million people each year, with 90 percent of those fatalities occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Yet despite a growing body of data to support effective and proven interventions, proportional funding for implementation in developing countries has not been forthcoming, leaving a gap between evidence and action.
Big health benefits from a little small talk, researchers find
(Medical Xpress) -- Healthcare professionals may soon be able to truly see the benefits of their talks with patients, thanks to an automated computer visualisation measurement technique called Discursis.
Trying to quit smoking? Try eating more fruits and vegetables
(Medical Xpress) -- If you're trying to quit smoking, eating more fruits and vegetables may help you quit and stay tobacco-free for longer, according to a new study published online by University at Buffalo public health researchers.
Standard measures of clinical care of blood pressure misleading, say researchers
(Medical Xpress) -- Standard performance measures used by health care systems and insurance companies to assess how well physicians are controlling their patients’ blood pressure tell an incomplete and potentially misleading story, according to a study by researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco.
Logging on to lose weight may be a tough sell for employers
Many companies offer workplace wellness programs to help employees lose weight and improve their diets, but the long-term benefits depend on sustained lifestyle changes. A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine examined whether a convenient web support program could help employees maintain weight loss after an intensive kick-off. It turns out that a challenge may be just getting them to log on.
Blood test provides 'snapshot' of tumor drug response
(Medical Xpress) -- Counting the number of tumour cells in blood samples taken before and after treatment for advanced neuroendocrine tumors could provide a ‘snapshot’ of how well patients are responding within weeks of starting treatment, according to results from a study being presented at the American Society for Clinical Oncology cancer conference today (Monday).
Researchers uncover new clues about the origin of cancer
A study by Travis H. Stracker, researcher at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), in collaboration with scientists at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York, reveals new information about the origin of tumors.
Appalachian infant death rates point to healthcare deficit
Infant death rates in Appalachia remain significantly higher than much of the rest of the country, and are especially high in the central Appalachian region, according to Penn State health policy researchers.
Racial difference in effect of physical activity on obesity
(HealthDay) -- Black adolescent girls are less sensitive to the effects of physical activity in preventing obesity than are white girls, according to a study published in the June issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Statistical model attempting to estimate level of alcohol consumption that is 'optimal' for health
Scientists from Australia and Oxford University have carried out a complex analysis in an attempt to determine the "optimal" level of alcohol consumption that is associated with the lowest rates of chronic disease in the UK. They conclude that the intake of about one-half of a typical drink per day would result in the healthiest outcomes, and the authors conclude that the recommended alcohol intake for the UK should be reduced from the current advised level of drinking.
Breaking bullying behavior
(Edmonton) An educational program designed to rid schools of bullying behaviour directed at students who stutter is proving effective at changing attitudes in the classroom, according to research from the University of Alberta.
Depression linked to reduced temporofrontolimbic coupling
(HealthDay) -- Patients with remitted major depressive disorder (MDD) have reduced guilt-selective temporofrontolimbic coupling between the right superior anterior temporal lobe (ATL) and subgenual cingulate cortex and adjacent septal region (SCSR), a region of interest for biases toward guilt versus indignation, according to a study published online June 4 in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
PCI has excellent outcomes for younger adults with coronary artery disease
(HealthDay) -- For younger adults with premature coronary artery disease (CAD), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with excellent short- and long-term outcomes, according to a study published in the June 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Intravesical chondroitin sulfate of little benefit in cystitis
(HealthDay) -- Intravesical sodium chondroitin sulfate is not recommended for the treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) in women as it produces only minor improvements in symptoms and pain, according to research published in the June issue of Urology.
Anti-HTN drugs have distinct effect on central, brachial SBP
(HealthDay) -- A reduction in central to brachial amplification induced by some antihypertensive drugs may result in lesser reductions in central than brachial systolic blood pressure, according to research published online May 25 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Financial worries add to cancer patients' burden
(HealthDay) -- A small study gives a snapshot into the financial anxieties that plague many patients with advanced cancer and their spouses, even as they struggle against the disease itself.
Growing presence of drug-resistant tuberculosis fuels need for faster development of new combination therapies
Johns Hopkins experts in the prevention and treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis are calling for increased screening and more rapid testing of the 9 million people worldwide estimated to be infected each year with TB and now at risk for this form of the highly contagious lung disease.
Fish show autism-like gene expression in water with psychoactive pharmaceuticals
Psychoactive medications in water affect the gene expression profiles of fathead minnows in a way that mimics the gene expression patterns associated with autism spectrum disorder in genetically susceptible humans, according to research published June 6 in the open access journal PLoS ONE. These results suggest a potential environmental trigger for autism spectrum disorder in this vulnerable population, the authors write.
Sexual orientation fluctuation correlated to alcohol misuse
Many young adults explore and define their sexual identity in college, but that process can be stressful and lead to risky behaviors. In a new study, students whose sexual self-definition didn't fall into exclusively heterosexual or homosexual categories tended to misuse alcohol more frequently than people who had a firmly defined sexual orientation for a particular gender, according to University of Missouri researchers. These findings could be used to improve support programs for sexual minorities.
China faces 'serious' epidemic of drug-resistant TB
China faces a "serious epidemic" of drug-resistant tuberculosis according to the first-ever nationwide estimate of the size of the problem there, said a US-published study on Wednesday.
Cedars-Sinai researchers explore role of fungus in digestive disorders
Cedars-Sinai researchers say their examination of the fungi in the intestines suggests an important link between these microbes and inflammatory diseases such as ulcerative colitis.
Study links PTSD to hidden head injuries suffered in combat
Even when brain injury is so subtle that it can only be detected by an ultra-sensitive imaging test, the injury might predispose soldiers in combat to post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a University of Rochester Medical Center study.
HIV drug may slow down metastatic breast cancer
The HIV drugs known as CCR5 antagonists may also help prevent aggressive breast cancers from metastasizing, researchers from the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson suggest in a preclinical study published in a recent issue of Cancer Research.
Study: Insomnia linked to hypertension
People with insomnia may now have one more thing to keep them up at night: an increased likelihood of developing hypertension, according to a study from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
Study: Why hot, humid air triggers symptoms in patients with mild asthma
May is asthma awareness month, and with summer right around the corner, a study shows that doctors may be closer to understanding why patients with mild asthma have such difficulty breathing during hot, humid weather. The study, appearing in the June print issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, found that patients who inhaled an asthma drug before breathing in hot, humid air were able to prevent airway constriction that volunteers without asthma did not experience in the same environment.
Three types of fetal cells can migrate into maternal organs during pregnancy
A pregnant woman's blood stream contains not only her own cells, but a small number of her child's, as well, and some of them remain in her internal organs long after the baby is born. Understanding the origin and identity of these cells is vital to understanding their potential effects on a mother's long-term health. For example, fetal cells have been found at tumor sites in mothers, but it is unknown whether the cells are helping to destroy the tumor or to speed its growth.
Analysis tracks how health care value has changed over 200 years
No one questions whether or not health care costs have risen, and risen dramatically, in recent decades. But beyond questions of cost alone is a bigger question: how has the value of health care changed or, in other words, is the health care system getting what it pays for in terms of improved patient health?
Why belly fat isn't all bad: Fatty membrane helps regulate immune system
A fatty membrane in the belly called the omentum has until recently been considered somewhat like the appendix -- it didn't seem to serve much purpose.
Studies show new drug to be effective in treating skin cancer
A new drug has been shown to be effective in treating and preventing the most common cancer in the United States: basal cell carcinoma skin cancer, according to a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine to be published June 7.
Adolescents and young adults with mental health disorders at risk of long-term opioid use
Long-term use and abuse of opioid painkillers, such as OxyContin and Vicodin, has markedly increased in the United States in the last two decades. Of note, prescription opioids constitute 86.9 percent of prescription drug misuse among high school students. And last week in a two-day U.S. Food and Drug Administration public meeting, officials questioned the use of long-term opioids for chronic pain due to a lack of evidence for the effectiveness and concerns about the potential risk for addiction.
New medicine might fight drug-resistant TB, study says
(HealthDay) -- More than four decades after the last introduction of fresh treatments for tuberculosis, a new medication for multidrug-resistant strains of the global scourge has shown promise in a multinational trial.
Cancer breathalyzer: Researchers developing breath test for possible diagnosis of lung and breast cancers
(Medical Xpress) -- A breath test designed to detect established lung cancer in humans showed promising results in a study conducted by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. The researchers presented their results June 2 at the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in Chicago.
Calorie-restricted diet keeps heart young
(Medical Xpress) -- People who restrict their caloric intake in an effort to live longer have hearts that function more like those in people who are 20 years younger.
Cell contents may be key to controlling toxicity of Huntington's disease protein
New research into the cell-damaging effects of Huntington's disease suggests a potentially new approach for identifying possible therapeutic targets for treating the nerve-destroying disorder.
Seasonal prevention of malaria in African children: Analysis of life-saving potential
Giving young children medicine once a month during the rainy season to protect them against malaria could prevent tens of thousands of deaths each year in some areas of Africa, according to new research.
The real culprit behind hardened arteries? Stem cells, says landmark study
One of the top suspects behind killer vascular diseases is the victim of mistaken identity, according to researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, who used genetic tracing to help hunt down the real culprit.
Using rabies virus, researcher tracks inputs to dopamine neurons
A genetically-modified version of the rabies virus is helping scientists at Harvard to trace neural pathways in the brain, a research effort that could one day lead to treatments for Parkinson's disease and addiction.
Research shows mice brains are 'very wired up' at birth, suggests experience selects which connections to keep
Ask the average person the street how the brain develops, and they'll likely tell you that the brain's wiring is built as newborns first begin to experience the world. With more experience, those connections are strengthened, and new branches are built as they learn and grow.
Baby's genome deciphered prenatally from parents' lab tests
Scientists have successfully sequenced the genome of a baby in the womb without tapping its protective fluid sac. This non-invasive approach to obtaining the fetal genome is reported in the June 6 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
The power of suggestion: What we expect influences our behavior, for better or worse
A lucky rabbit foot. A glass of wine. A pill. What do these things all have in common? Their effects – whether we do well on a test, whether we mingle at the cocktail party, whether we feel better – all depend on the power of suggestion.
Good bugs gone bad: Gut immune cells keep beneficial microbes in their place
The healthy human intestine is colonized with over 100 trillion beneficial, or commensal, bacteria of many different species. In healthy people, these bacteria are limited to the intestinal tissues and have a number of helpful properties, including aiding in the digestion of food and promoting a healthy immune system.
Brain cell activity imbalance may account for seizure susceptibility in Angelman syndrome
New research by scientists at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine may have pinpointed an underlying cause of the seizures that affect 90 percent of people with Angelman syndrome (AS), a neurodevelopmental disorder.
Stress may delay brain development in early years
Stress may affect brain development in children — altering growth of a specific piece of the brain and abilities associated with it — according to researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Biology news
Far-flung dung beetles here to 'finish the job'
Specially chosen for their spring frenzy and voracious appetite for dung, two new species of European dung beetles have arrived in Australia to improve cattle pastures and finish off a job well started through more than 40 years of dung beetle work by CSIRO and partners.
International consortium announce the first complete sequencing of pear genome
An international pear genome consortium, comprised of seven universities and institutes, has completed the first pear genomic sequence in the world. The early access of pear genomic data is now available online (http://peargenome.njau.edu.cn). The international team includes researchers from Nanjing Agricultural University, BGI, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Georgia, University of Hawaii, and Tohoku University.
First photos ever of jaguars in Colombian oil palm plantation taken with Panthera's camera traps
Panthera's camera traps recently produced the first photographic evidence of wild jaguars with cubs in an oil palm plantation in Colombia, including photos of two male jaguars and a female jaguar with cubs, and a video of a jaguar male.
Shar Pei nurses 2 endangered tiger cubs in Russia
(AP) — Two Siberian tiger cubs abandoned in Russia by their mother have found an unusual wet nurse — a wrinkled, sand-colored Shar Pei dog named Cleopatra, a zoo worker said Wednesday.
I'm bright red and I taste foul -- the message behind color and the ladybird's spots
(Phys.org) -- To humans they might be pretty and small, the inspiration for nursery rhymes and children's clothing, but the redder the lady bird, the worse it tastes to the bird which tries to eat it, an international research team, including Dr. John Endler from Deakin University has found.
Killer whale at risk due to inadequate prey population
Not having enough Chinook salmon to eat stresses out southern resident killer whales in the Pacific Northwest more than having boatloads of whale watchers nearby, according to hormone levels of whales summering in the Salish Sea.
A miracle molecule hiding in milk (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) -- A Lausanne-based research team has identified a molecule naturally present in milk and other foods, nicotinamide riboside, that has extraordinary health benefits. Their findings indicate it could play an important role in preventing weight gain and diabetes and improving muscular performance.
Bird's head color determines its personality
UK researchers have shown that highly sociable Australian birds, called Gouldian finches, have different personalities according to the colour of their heads.
How plants make cocaine
Cocaine is one of the most commonly used (and abused) drugs, but we have almost no modern information on how plants produce this complex alkaloid. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, have just discovered a key reaction in cocaine formation in the coca plant from South America, and identified the responsible enzyme. This enzyme belongs to the aldo-keto-reductase protein family revealing new insights into the evolution of cocaine biosynthesis.
Loss of biodiversity increasingly threatens human well-being: research
Twenty years after the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, 17 prominent ecologists are calling for renewed international efforts to curb the loss of biological diversity, which is compromising nature's ability to provide goods and services essential for human well-being.
Parasitic flowers 'steal' more genes from their hosts than previously thought: study
In a finding that could fundamentally re-write science's understanding of how some parasite-host relationships work, Harvard researchers have found that, despite being separated by more than 100 million years of evolution, the parasitic "corpse flower" found in southeast Asian rainforests appears to share large parts of its genome with its host vines, members of the grapevine family.
Variations in sex steroid gene expression can predict aggressive behaviors
An Indiana University biologist has shown that natural variation in measures of the brain's ability to process steroid hormones predicts functional variation in aggressive behavior.
Researchers show bacteria use natural materials to transfer electrons
(Phys.org) -- For years scientists have known that plants and animals transfer electrons between cells and because of that are able to consume food and use it to gain energy. They’ve also known that some microorganisms are able to transfer electrons between themselves and other organisms that are some distance apart. What’s not been known is how they do that. Now, a new study by a team of Japanese researchers has found that at least some bacteria use natural elements in the soil to transfer electrons and thus enable their survival. In their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they describe how they recreated the process by which bacteria communicate over distances in their lab by adding magnetite to the soil which caused previously non-communicating bacteria to begin interacting over a small distance.
Stealth behavior allows cockroaches to seemingly vanish (w/ Video)
New cockroach behavior discovered by University of California, Berkeley, biologists secures the insect's reputation as one of nature's top escape artists, able to skitter away and disappear from sight before any human can swat it.
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