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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for July 10, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Chrome Beta gets built-in webcam and microphone support- Researchers say first atomic-scale look at ferroelectric nanocrystals points to terabytes/inch storage
- Researchers find cells that move in response to Earth's magnetic field
- Finland team uses Earth's magnetic field for phone indoor positioning system
- Computer turns into boardgame master of all it surveys
- Researchers develop optically switchable chiral terahertz metamolecules
- Waste to watts: Improving microbial fuel cells
- New biofuel process dramatically improves energy recovery
- Toward achieving one million times increase in computing efficiency
- Researchers unravel secrets of parasites' replication
- Hubble telescope unmasks ghost galaxies
- Spending on IT to hit $3.6 trillion this year: Gartner
- Source: Google to pay $22.5M fine in privacy case
- The old primates' club: Even male monkeys ride their fathers' coattails to success
- Study reveals new mechanism that might promote cancer's growth and spread in the body
Space & Earth news
Researchers investigating whether historic epidemic holds the key to climate change plague risk
Scientists are taking a trip back to the Byzantine Empire to examine whether future climate change could increase the chances of a pandemic such as the bubonic plague.
Images: Power Outages Darken Baltimore-Washington Region
These before and after images from NASA’s Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite show the power outages in the clear skies over Washington, DC and Baltimore that occurred as a result of a rare, fast-moving thunderstorm system on Friday, June 29th.
First seabed sonar to measure marine energy effect on environment and wildlife
UK scientists will measure the effect on the marine environment and wildlife of devices that harness tide and wave energy using sonar technology that has, for the first time, been successfully deployed on the seabed.
Asteroid named for gay rights pioneer Frank Kameny
(AP) — A Canadian amateur astronomer has named an asteroid he discovered after U.S. gay rights pioneer Frank Kameny, who died last year in Washington.
NOAA plankton surveys, second longest in the North Atlantic, add to new global effort
When Chris Melrose began his career at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center's Narragansett Laboratory, little did he realize where his work studying primary productivity and dissolved oxygen would lead. Now a member of the Center's Oceanography Branch, Melrose heads a long-term Ship of Opportunity Program (SOOP) that uses volunteer commercial cargo vessels as sampling platforms during their routine operations. Using an instrument, the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR), towed behind the ship, the SOOP program continues plankton surveys begun decades ago, but with a new global perspective and purpose.
NASA analyzes twin hurricanes in the eastern Pacific
There are two hurricanes in the Eastern Pacific today, Daniel and Emilia. NASA's TRMM satellite passed over both storms in pinpointed the intensity of the rainfall within each storm, indicative of their power. Emilia is dropping rain at a greater rate than Daniel according to satellite data.
Image: A supernova cocoon breakthrough
(Phys.org) -- Using observations from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, researchers have obtained the first X-ray evidence of a supernova shock wave breaking through a cocoon of gas surrounding the star that exploded. This discovery may help astronomers understand why some supernovas are much more powerful than others.
We can still save our reefs: coral scientist
(Phys.org) -- John Pandolfi keeps his optimism alive despite the grim scientific evidence he confronts daily that the world's coral reefs are in a lot of trouble – along with 81 nations and 500 million people who depend on them.
Snow could offset global warming in Antarctica
Increased snowfall in Antarctica could offset the future impact of global warming on the continent, according to research carried out by a French team comprising researchers from the Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Géophysique de l'Environnement and the Takuvik International Joint Unit. The research reveals the existence of a hitherto underestimated negative feedback mechanism acting on temperatures. Using satellite images and numerical modeling, the researchers showed that rising temperatures in Antarctica will lead to increased precipitation and, therefore, to a 'whiter' snow that will reduce the impact of climate change at the heart of the continent. The study, published in the 1 July 2012 issue of the journal Nature Climate Change, should help to take better account of snow in models used to predict global climate change.
Russia vows to open up Arctic to energy firms
President Vladimir Putin vowed on Tuesday to conquer ever broader expanses of the Arctic for Russia's oil and natural gas giants while inviting foreign majors to take part in the development boom.
Study links global warming to Texas heat waves
(AP) — New research suggests that global warming increases the chances of heat waves in Texas, like the one that hit the state last year.
Climate change boosts odds of extreme weather: study
Severe droughts, floods and heat waves rocked the world last year as greenhouse gas levels climbed, boosting the odds of some extreme weather events, international scientists said Tuesday.
NASA gets a cold stare from Emilia's eye
NASA's Aqua satellite got a cold stare from Emilia. Infrared satellite data revealed that cloud top temperatures around Hurricane Emilia's eye were bitter cold.
Satellite sees two tropical cyclones chase Tropical Storm Daniel
A panoramic satellite image shows an active eastern Pacific Ocean with three tropical systems that appear to be chasing each other. Tropical Storm Daniel approaching the central Pacific Ocean, with major Hurricane Emilia further east, and a developing low pressure area east of Emilia.
Researcher on cloud nine over universe discovery
(Phys.org) -- The mysteries of the evolution of the universe since the Big Bang are one step closer to being solved, thanks to research from The Australian National University.
Saturn's rings are back
(Phys.org) -- It's been nearly two years since NASA's Cassini spacecraft has had views like these of Saturn's glorious rings. These views are possible again because Cassini has changed the angle at which it orbits Saturn and regularly passes above and below Saturn's equatorial plane. Steeply inclined orbits around the Saturn system also allow scientists to get better views of the poles and atmosphere of Saturn and its moons.
Rising carbon dioxide in atmosphere also speeds carbon loss from forest soils: study
Elevated levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide accelerate carbon cycling and soil carbon loss in forests, new research led by an Indiana University biologist has found.
No matter the drilling method, natural gas is a much-needed tool to battle global warming: study
No matter how you drill it, using natural gas as an energy source is a smart move in the battle against global climate change and a good transition step on the road toward low-carbon energy from wind, solar and nuclear power.
NASA's Mars chief frets over heat shield for probe
So far, the scorecard for missions to Mars reads attempts 40, successes 14. Not so good.
Climate change may lead to fewer but more violent thunderstorms, study says
Researchers are working to identify exactly how a changing climate will impact specific elements of weather, such as clouds, rainfall, and lightning. A Tel Aviv University researcher has predicted that for every one degree Celsius of warming, there will be approximately a 10 percent increase in lightning activity.
Hubble telescope unmasks ghost galaxies
(Phys.org) -- Astronomers have used Hubble Space Telescope to study some of the smallest and faintest galaxies in our cosmic neighbourhood. These galaxies are fossils of the early Universe: they have barely changed for 13 billion years. The discovery could help explain the so-called “missing satellite” problem, where only a handful of satellite galaxies have been found around the Milky Way, against the thousands that are predicted by theories.
Researchers develop technique to help pollution forecasters see past clouds
Until now, scientists who study air pollution using satellite imagery have been limited by weather. Clouds, in particular, provide much less information than a sunny day.
Technology news
ONR sensor and software suite hunts down more than 600 suspect boats
A new sensor and software suite sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) recently returned from West Africa after helping partner nations track and identify target vessels of interest as part of an international maritime security operation, officials announced July 10.
Criminal probe led gov't to change release of data
(AP) — Federal criminal and civil investigators looked into possible leaks of economic data that the U.S. government provides early to news organizations, according to a report released Tuesday by the Labor Department.
Apple co-founder on stage for disputed monologue
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is to join a benefit performance of a controversial monologue about the iconic computer giant's production lines in China, a theater in Washington said Tuesday.
A look at BlackBerry maker Research in Motion
On Tuesday, BlackBerry maker Research in Motion Ltd. held its shareholders meeting during which it asked disgruntled investors for patience as it develops new devices to rival the iPhone and Android smartphones.
AT&T to block stolen phone use this week
AT&T said Monday it was implementing a system to block the use of stolen mobile phones, as part of an effort by US carriers to crack down on theft of smartphones.
BlackBerry marketing head undeterred by share loss
(AP) — The new marketing chief for BlackBerry smartphones isn't dejected by perceptions that his products look ancient next to iPhones and Android devices.
Russian Wikipedia shuts down to protest internet bill
The Russian-language Wikipedia website shut down Tuesday and symbolically blacked out its logo in protest at a bill that would allow the state to block access to blacklisted websites.
Poker company founder freed on bail in NY case
(AP) — An Internet poker company founder who surrendered last week to face charges he operated his business like a Ponzi scheme was released on bail Monday.
US NSA chief backs cybersecurity law
The head of the powerful National Security Agency, General Keith Alexander, said the US must adopt a law to protect the country from cyberattacks while insisting that it would respect privacy.
Megaupload N. Zealand extradition case delayed
Megaupload boss Kim Dotcom's extradition case against US authorities has been delayed until next year amid legal wrangling in New Zealand over evidence disclosure, his lawyers said Tuesday.
Vehicle fuel economy down again in June
(Phys.org) -- Fuel economy of all new vehicles sold in the United States has dropped for the third month in a row—likely reflecting the continuing reduction in gas prices, say researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.
Ahead of the Bell: RIM annual shareholders meeting
(AP) — Executives from Research in Motion Ltd. will face its investors Tuesday as its stock is trading near a nine-year low.
ASML shares jump on Intel deal
(AP) — Shares in ASML Holding NV surged Tuesday on news that Intel Corp intends to take a 15 percent stake in the company for around $3.07 billion, and will also help fund its research into new technologies. ASML said other large customers may also take equity stakes.
Google nears settlement in Apple privacy suit: report
Google is close to reaching a deal to pay $22.5 million to settle a suit over its secret bypassing of privacy settings of millions of Apple users, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Imec demonstrates first nanophotonics components on 300mm silicon photonics wafers using optical lithography
Imec today announces the world-first realization of functional sub-100nm photonics components with optical lithography on 300mm silicon photonics wafer technology. Using 193nm immersion lithography, imec achieved the lowest propagation loss ever reported in silicon wire waveguides, and succeeded in patterning simpler and more efficient fiber couplers. Imec’s achievement is an important step in bringing Si photonics technology in line with CMOS industry standards.
Imec's industrial-level silicon solar cells exceed 20% efficiency
At this week’s Intersolar Show in San Francisco (July 9-12, 2012), imec presents a 20.04% large-area industrial-level silicon solar cell (certification results from Fraunhofer ISE-Callab). The cell combines a high efficiency with a low-cost industrial process.
Apple will start selling iPad in China July 20
(AP) — Apple will start selling the iPad in China on July 20 after paying $60 million to settle a dispute over the ownership of the tablet computer's name.
Myanmar aims to bring mobile and Internet to masses
Myanmar fired the starting gun in the process of liberalising its communications networks in a move that could finally bring mobile and Internet access to the masses and drive international investment.
Big German cars favoured in new EU car emission rules
The European Commission presents proposals to limit automobile carbon emissions Wednesday that environmentalists complain will offer favoured treatment to manufacturers of big German cars.
A look at RIM's much-delayed BlackBerry 10
Research in Motion Ltd. faced disgruntled investors Tuesday, less than two weeks after announcing yet another delay to its upcoming BlackBerry 10 system, which the company considers crucial to its future. It's now expected in the first quarter of next year, rather than late this year.
Google maps Smithsonian's 17 museums for visitors
(AP) — The world's largest museum complex is being mapped room by room through a partnership with Google.
Intel takes stake in ASML
ASML Holding NV, the world's largest supplier of equipment to computer chip manufacturers, said Monday that Intel Corp. intends to take a 15 percent stake in the company for around $3.07 billion and also help fund research into new technologies. Other large ASML customers may also take equity stakes.
RIM seeks patience until BlackBerry 10 ready
(AP) — The CEO of embattled BlackBerry maker Research in Motion Ltd. asked disgruntled investors for patience Tuesday as the company develops new devices to rival the iPhone and Android smartphones.
New biofuel process dramatically improves energy recovery
A new biofuel production process created by Michigan State University researchers produces energy more than 20 times higher than existing methods.
Spending on IT to hit $3.6 trillion this year: Gartner
Industry tracker Gartner on Tuesday said that worldwide spending on information technology (IT) was on pace to hit $3.6 trillion this year despite trouble in the global economy.
Source: Google to pay $22.5M fine in privacy case
Google is poised to pay a $22.5 million fine to resolve allegations that it broke a privacy promise by secretly tracking millions of Web surfers who rely on Apple's Safari browser, according to a person familiar with settlement.
Cyberwarfare, conservation and disease prevention could benefit from novel network model
Computer networks are the battlefields in cyberwarfare, as exemplified by the United States' recent use of computer viruses to attack Iran's nuclear program. A computer model developed at the University of Missouri could help military strategists devise the most damaging cyber attacks as well as guard America's critical infrastructure. The model also could benefit other projects involving interconnected groups, such as restoring ecosystems, halting disease epidemics and stopping smugglers.
Finland team uses Earth's magnetic field for phone indoor positioning system
(Phys.org) -- Finland-based engineers have worked up a novel approach toward an indoor positioning system (IPS) inspired by the way certain animals--from homing pigeons to spiny lobsters--navigate their way with the help of cues that arise from local anomalies of the earth’s magnetic field. The researchers have formed a company with seed capital investment to commercialize their approach. Namely that approach has resulted in a smartphone app that uses magnetic fluctuations to map indoor locations. Aptly named IndoorAtlas, the company is a spinoff from their University of Oulu beginnings.
Chrome Beta gets built-in webcam and microphone support
(Phys.org) -- A Google company blog announcement this week announced the Google Chrome Beta (of Chrome 21) and all that it brings, namely fresh ways to grant Web applications access to your camera and microphone within the browser without having to deal with plug-ins. Users can forgo having to deal with Adobe Flash and Silverlight for using the webcam in the browser. Google software engineer Robert Toscano explained what the changes bring for the browser, which competes with Internet Explorer and, by some research firm counts, narrowly edges IE in popularity.
Computer turns into boardgame master of all it surveys
(Phys.org) -- Igniting interest in computer logic and gaming, a paper titled “Learning Games from Videos Guided by Descriptive Complexity” shows how computer systems can successfully learn how to play boardgames, just by its watching two-minute videos of humans playing and can then proceed to try to beat them at their own game. Łukasz Kaiser, the author of the paper, studies logic and games at Paris Diderot University in France. His research effort was to introduce a system for learning board game rules from brief videos and demonstrate it on several well-known games—such as Connect4,Gomoku, Pawns, and Breakthrough.
Medicine & Health news
Federally funded clinics for low-income patients as effective as private practices
The federal government has committed $11 billion to expand the operating capacity of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), which receive federal funding and enhanced Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement, and "look-alike" clinics that receive enhanced reimbursement but no federal grants. These clinics, which serve primarily the poor and uninsured, are expected to be part of the solution to anticipated primary care shortages, as up to 32 million currently uninsured people begin to seek health care as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Despite concerns that these clinics may provide less effective care because they serve more medically and socially complex patients, a new study has found that they are as effective as private primary care practices, and better on some quality measures. The study is published in the August issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
New test helps evaluate cancer drug's merit
(HealthDay) -- A new genetic test to help doctors determine if the drug Erbitux would be an effective treatment for certain colorectal cancer patients has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
White House threatens veto on health care repeal
(AP) — The White House has issued a veto threat for a House bill to overturn President Barack Obama's health care law.
Gov. Perry says Texas won't expand Medicaid
(AP) — The Republican governor of Texas said Monday that his state won't establish an online marketplace for patients to shop for insurance or expand the government health care program for the poor and disabled — two key elements of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.
UQ researchers reject statement that co-sleeping is dangerous
Researchers from UQ's Queensland Centre for Mothers & Babies are concerned about recent messages that parents should never sleep in the same bed as their babies.
Improved outcomes in pediatric liver transplants don't have to mean higher cost
(Medical Xpress) -- A Johns Hopkins Children’s Center study of patients who received liver transplants from living donors has found that better outcomes need not come with a heftier price tag.
A more accurate and noninvasive look at cancerous tumors
(Medical Xpress) -- Chao Zhou believes his work with combining imaging technologies has the potential to improve surgeries that remove malignant breast tumors.
First evaluation of electronic prescription service
(Medical Xpress) -- The first evaluation of a new system that can provide electronic transmission of prescritpions from GP practices to community pharmacies is published today in an interim report commissioned on behalf of NHS Connecting for Health Evaluation programme.
New Gentile study on media violence and kids could have applications on school bullying
The April suicide of 14-year-old Kenneth Weishuhn Jr. -- a South O'Brien High School (Paulina, Iowa) student who was reportedly teased and bullied by classmates -- had Iowa lawmakers questioning the effectiveness of the state's five-year-old anti-bullying law. School officials can't always identify the bullies until it's too late.
Mechanistic insights into Old English plants
Often lacking in natural product drug discovery are ‘mechanistic insights’; that is, insights into the events at the molecular level that are behind any effects that plant compounds have on cells or organisms. With this in mind, Tom Prescott screened 250 Old English plants from the Queen’s Garden at Kew, to search for compounds that inhibit the human enzyme calcineurin. The results have been published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
Embattled Sahel facing deadly cholera outbreak
The conflict in Mali could turn a cholera outbreak that has already killed 60 people in the Sahel this year into a serious regional epidemic, the UN children's agency said Tuesday.
New survey shows patient concerns and misinformation impede treatment of menopausal women
The Endocrine Society commissioned Lake Research Partners to conduct a national survey of 424 internal medicine, family practice and OB/GYN physicians about their attitudes and experiences related to treating menopausal symptoms. According to the survey, physicians say the primary barrier to women receiving hormone therapy is patients' fears about the risks and their unwillingness to discuss the option. This new survey follows a study conducted in April 2012 among 810 women ages 45 to 60 on the same topic.
Dangerous caregivers for elderly
If you hire a caregiver from an agency for an elderly family member, you might assume the person had undergone a thorough criminal background check and drug testing, was experienced and trained for the job.
Liver stiffness predicts liver failure, cancer and mortality in cirrhotic patients
Researchers from Spain established that liver stiffness, measured by transient elastography (TE), is an independent predictor of liver failure, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and mortality in cirrhotic patients coinfected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Findings available in the July issue of Hepatology, a journal published by Wiley on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, also show that measurement of liver stiffness predicts potential recovery and survival in patients with cirrhosis, adding to the prognosis value provided by the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) or model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores.
More sustainable integrated vector management strategies are needed for malaria control
Insecticide resistance is threatening the effectiveness of insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor insecticide sprays to control adult mosquito vectors, and so more sustainable integrated management strategies that use optimal suites of control tactics are needed.
Evidence for emergency obstetric referral interventions in developing countries is limited
In this week's PLoS Medicine, Julia Hussein from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and colleagues assess the evidence for the effectiveness of interventions that aim to help pregnant women reach health facilities during an emergency in developing country settings.
Investigating the impact of treatment on new HIV infections: New PLoS collection
Is it possible to cut HIV transmission by using antiretroviral treatment? A collection of new articles published in the open-access journal PLoS Medicine, in conjunction with the HIV Modelling Consortium, addresses this pressing question.
New curriculum teaches internal medicine residents high value, cost-conscious care principles
The American College of Physicians (ACP) and the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM) today unveiled a high value, cost-conscious care curriculum to help train internal medicine residents about how to avoid overuse and misuse of tests and treatments that do not improve outcomes and may cause harms.
Court: NY can't scare smokers with gruesome images
(AP) — An appeals court says New York City cannot try to scare smokers by requiring grotesque images of diseased lungs and decaying gums at stores that sell cigarettes. It says the federal government gets to decide how to warn people about the dangers of smoking tobacco.
Newer technology to control blood sugar works better than conventional methods
Newer technologies designed to help people with type 1 diabetes monitor their blood sugar levels daily work better than traditional methods and require fewer painful needle sticks, new Johns Hopkins research suggests.
Cutting daily sitting time to under 3 hours might extend life by 2 years
Restricting the amount of time spent seated every day to less than 3 hours might boost the life expectancy of US adults by an extra 2 years, indicates an analysis of published research in the online journal BMJ Open.
Overqualified recent immigrants three times as likely to be injured at work
Men who are recent immigrants and over qualified for their jobs are more than three times as likely to sustain an injury at work as their appropriately qualified peers who have been in the country for some time, suggests Canadian research published online in Injury Prevention.
Cancer screening rates comparable for those with and without rheumatoid arthritis
New research reveals that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients do not receive fewer cancer screening tests than the general population. Results of the study, funded in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), found that RA and non-RA patients receive routine screening for breast, cervical, and colon cancer at similar rates.
Teach prescribers about dangers of long-acting pain meds: FDA
(HealthDay) -- As part of its efforts to curb the abuse of narcotic painkillers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is requiring drug makers to educate doctors about the risks of long-acting and extended-release forms of the drugs.
New guidelines issued for biopsy use in melanoma patients
(HealthDay) -- Sentinel lymph node biopsy -- a minimally invasive surgical technique that lets doctors see whether cancer has spread -- should be performed on patients with melanoma tumors of intermediate thickness and may also be appropriate for thick melanoma tumors, according to new guidelines released Monday.
Major medical groups back sweeteners as diet aid
(HealthDay) -- Non-nutritive sweeteners like Splenda, Equal and Sweet'N Low may have a role to play in maintaining or even losing weight, as long as people don't use them as an excuse to treat themselves later with high-calorie goodies.
Facebook use leads to depression? No, says Wisconsin study
MADISON- A study of university students is the first evidence to refute the supposed link between depression and the amount of time spent on Facebook and other social-media sites.
Gastric bypass surgery alters gut microbiota profile along the intestine
Research to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior (SSIB), the foremost society for research into all aspects of eating and drinking behavior, finds that gastric bypass surgery induces changes in the gut microbiota and peptide release that are similar to those seen after treatment with prebiotics.
Should we sleep more to lose weight?
Research to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior (SSIB), the foremost society for research into all aspects of eating and drinking behavior, suggests that sleep behavior affects body weight control and that sleep loss has ramifications not only for how many calories we consume but also for how much energy we burn off.
Subtle goal reminders, known as primes, can offset hedonic effects of food and facilitate health behavior
Research to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior (SSIB), the foremost society for research into all aspects of eating and drinking behavior, introduces novel cost-effective strategies to facilitate healthy eating among weight-conscious consumers. A number of experiments, by Esther Papies and colleagues of Utrecht University, The Netherlands, now suggest that simply adding words related to health and weight on posters, restaurant menu's, or recipe cards can stimulate healthy food choices among dieters and overweight individuals, in a variety of real-life settings.
Weight gain induced by high-fat diet increases active-period sleep and sleep fragmentation
Research to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior (SSIB), the foremost society for research into all aspects of eating and drinking behavior, finds that prolonged exposure to a high-fat diet reduces the quality of sleep in rats.
Multiple pieces of food are more rewarding than an equicaloric single piece of food in both animals and humans
Research to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior (SSIB), the foremost society for research into all aspects of eating and drinking behavior, suggests that both animals and humans find multiple pieces of food to be more satiating and rewarding than an equicaloric, single-piece portion of food.
Greater diet-induced obesity in rats consuming sugar solution during the inactive period
Research to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior (SSIB) the foremost society for research into all aspects of eating and drinking behavior suggests that, not only the amount and type of food eaten but the time of day it is eaten, is important in contributing to obesity.
Reward sensitivity increases food 'wanting' following television 'junk food' commercials
Research to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior (SSIB), the foremost society for research into all aspects of eating and drinking behavior, sought to investigate personality traits that make some people more vulnerable to over-eating and weight gain.
Ranbaxy CEO planning expansion in US, elsewhere
(AP) — The head of Indian drugmaker Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. says he's charging ahead with plans to expand sales in the crucial U.S. market, despite extra oversight from American regulators over quality questions that have blocked imports of 31 of its medicines.
Contraception saves 250,000 lives each year: study
Contraceptive use saves the lives of more than a quarter of million women each year, either from death in childbirth or unsafe abortions, according to estimates published on Tuesday.
Brazil to breed GM mosquitoes to combat dengue
Brazil said Monday it will breed huge numbers of genetically modified mosquitoes to help stop the spread of dengue fever, an illness that has already struck nearly 500,000 people this year nationwide.
Police officer stress creates significant health risks compared to general population, study finds
(Medical Xpress) -- The daily psychological stresses that police officers experience in their work put them at significantly higher risk than the general population for a host of long-term physical and mental health effects. That's the overall finding of a major scientific study of the Buffalo Police Department called Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress (BCOPS) conducted over five years by a University at Buffalo researcher.
Ready-meals are 'nutritionally chaotic' study finds
(Medical Xpress) -- Supermarket ready-meals are ‘nutritionally chaotic’, according to a study by scientists at the University of Glasgow which calls for improvements to be made.
Stray-bullet shootings often harm women, kids
(Medical Xpress) -- Most people killed or wounded in stray-bullet shootings were unaware of events leading to the gunfire that caused their injuries, and nearly one-third of the victims were children and nearly half were female, according to a new nationwide study examining an often-overlooked form of gun violence.
Researchers develop secure protocol for linking data registries for HPV surveillance
Monitoring the effectiveness of the HPV vaccine in Canada requires that data from multiple registries and other data sources be combined. Linking registries can be problematic, however, since they are often managed by unrelated organizations. Privacy legislation may also restrict the sharing of data for such linkages. To address these challenges, Dr. Khaled El-Emam and his team at the CHEO Research Institute have developed a secure protocol that allows the linking of individual patient records without revealing personal information, which has been published in PLoS ONE.
Christopher Gardner on non-nutritive sweeteners
It sounds like a no-brainer: To cut your sugar intake, just switch to foods and drinks with no-calorie, artificial sweeteners. That way, you’ll still satisfy your sweet tooth without packing on the extra pounds, right? Unfortunately, there’s little scientific evidence supporting the theory. On July 9, the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association issued a scientific statement that, while encouraging Americans to reduce the added sugar in their diets, notes that the data are inconclusive about the effectiveness of using non-nutritive sweeteners to lose excess weight.
Working women more likely to gain weight
(Medical Xpress) -- Middle-aged women who spend long hours working are more at risk of gaining weight, according to a new study.
Nonnutritive sweetener role in cutting sugar intake explored
(HealthDay) -- Although the evidence is limited, nonnutritive sweeteners (NNS) have a potential role to play in facilitating reduction of added sugar intake, as long as they do not cause a compensatory increase in energy intake, according to a new scientific statement issued by the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association and published online July 9 in Circulation.
Researchers descover melanoma-promoting gene
Black skin cancer, also known as melanoma, is particularly aggressive and becoming increasingly common in Switzerland. Despite intensive research, however, there is still no treatment. Researchers from the University of Zurich have now discovered a gene that plays a central role in black skin cancer. Suppressing this gene in mice inhibits the development of melanoma and its proliferation – a discovery that could pave the way for new forms of therapy.
TLR1 protein drives immune response to certain food-borne illness in mice
A naturally occurring protein called TLR1 plays a critical role in protecting the body from illnesses caused by eating undercooked pork or drinking contaminated water, according to new research from the University of Southern California (USC).
Teens' lifestyle choices affect their blood pressure
(HealthDay) -- Teen girls who use birth control pills and teen boys who drink alcohol are at increased risk for elevated blood pressure, according to a new study.
Scientists gain new insights into Taspase1 function
Scientists at the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany identified a novel strategy to target the oncologically relevant protein-cleaving enzyme Taspase1. Taspase1 levels are not only elevated in cancer cells of patients with head and neck tumors and other solid malignancies but the enzyme is also critical for the development of leukemias. Central to this concept is the approach to inhibit the enzyme's activity by 'gluing together' individual Taspase1 molecules. The results of a study undertaken by Professor Dr. Roland Stauber of the ENT Department at the Mainz University Medical Center were recently published in The FASEB Journal.
Preclinical studies use specialized ultrasound to detect presence of cancer
From the air, the twists and turns of rivers can easily be seen. In the body, however, tracing the twists and turns of blood vessels is difficult, but important. Vessel "bendiness" can indicate the presence and progression of cancer.
Doctors overlook chemical illnesses, study finds
Chemical intolerance contributes to the illnesses of 1 in 5 patients but the condition seldom figures in their diagnosis, according to clinical research directed by a UT Medicine San Antonio physician.
Interactive personal health records increase clinical preventive services
Patients who use an interactive personal health record (IPHR) are almost twice as likely to be up to date with clinical preventive services as those who do not, according to a new study led by Alex Krist, M.D., M.P.H., research member of the Cancer Prevention and Control program at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center.
How tumor cells create their own pathways
Metastasis occurs when tumor cells "migrate" to other organs through the bloodstream. Scientists have now discovered the trick tumor cells use to invade tissue from the blood vessels: They produce signaling proteins to make the arterial walls permeable - thus clearing their pathway to a different organ. The latest findings are published in the current issue of the journal Cancer Cell.
Tobacco use more prevalent among African-American adolescents living in public housing communities
Today, nearly 4,000 adolescents in the United States will smoke their first cigarette, and about a fourth of those youth will become daily smokers, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports. A recent study by a University of Missouri researcher found that African-American youths who live in public housing communities are 2.3 times more likely to use tobacco than other African-American youths.
Researchers identify new genetic cause for chronic kidney disease
A new single-gene cause of chronic kidney disease has been discovered that implicates a disease mechanism not previously believed to be related to the disease, according to new research from the University of Michigan.
Report: Too little mental health care for seniors (Update)
(AP) — Getting older does not just mean a risk for physical ailments like heart disease and creaky knees: A new report finds as many as 1 in 5 American seniors has a mental health or substance abuse problem.
Tiny magnetic particles may help assess heart treatments
Tiny magnetic particles may help doctors track cells in the body to better determine if treatments work, according to research reported in Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging, an American Heart Association journal.
Meditation training may lower respiratory illness burden
(HealthDay) -- Training in mindfulness meditation or exercise is linked to a decrease in the severity and duration of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in adults, according to a study published in the July/August issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Levels of hepatitis C virus higher among African-Americans and males
Epidemiologists have determined that levels of hepatitis C virus (HCV) found among injection drug users (IDUs) were higher in individuals who are male or African American even after differences in other factors were considered. The study, which was funded by the National Cancer Institute and performed with collaborators from the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center and the University of California - San Francisco, was the first to simultaneously examine the association of demographic, viral and human genetic factors on HCV RNA levels. Results of the study published in the July issue of Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), also showed higher levels of HCV among IDUs who were co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Supporting patient autonomy is critical to improving health
Even as we spend more on healthcare every year, the number of people with chronic health problems continues to rise in developed countries like the United States. Most of these chronic health problems – such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease – can be addressed through lifestyle changes. But knowing that we should make a lifestyle change to improve our health and actually making that lifestyle change are two very different things.
GI cancer resection OK with mild cirrhotic liver dysfunction
(HealthDay) -- For patients with cirrhosis, resection of gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies correlates with poor early postoperative outcomes, with severity of liver disease being the primary determinant of postoperative mortality, according to a study published in the July issue of Cancer.
Motherhood, breast-feeding may affect long-term weight
(HealthDay) -- How many children a woman bears and whether or not she breast-feeds them may affect her weight decades later, according to new research.
Lateral transpsoas approach difficult in lumbarized sacra
(HealthDay) -- In patients with lumbarized sacra, a lateral transpsoas surgical approach to the L5-6 disc space can be managed with appropriate preoperative planning, including axial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and advanced neuromonitoring, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques.
Drug fails to curb heart bypass complications, but surgery gets safer
A drug designed to shield the heart from injury during bypass surgery failed to reduce deaths, strokes and other serious events among patients at high risk of complications, according to a large, prospective study lead by researchers at Duke University Medical Center.
Despite benefit, hospitals not always alerted of incoming stroke patients
Treatment is delivered faster when emergency medical services (EMS) personnel notify hospitals a possible stroke patient is en route, yet pre-notification doesn't occur nearly one-third of the time. That's according to two separate Get With The Guidelines – Stroke program studies published in American Heart Association journals.
West Nile Virus detected on New York's Staten Island
The West Nile Virus has been detected in New York City, officials said Tuesday as they urged residents to take precautions against the mosquito-borne disease.
Scientists examine risk of poor birth outcomes following H1N1 vaccination
In studies examining the risk of adverse outcomes after receipt of the influenza A(H1N1) vaccine, infants exposed to the vaccine in utero did not have a significantly increased risk of major birth defects, preterm birth, or fetal growth restriction; while in another, study researchers found a small increased risk in adults of the nervous system disorder, Guillain-Barre syndrome, during the 4 to 8 weeks after vaccination, according to 2 studies in the July 11 issue of JAMA.
H1N1 vaccine associated with small but significant risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome
Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is usually characterized by rapidly developing motor weakness and areflexia (the absence of reflexes). "The disease is thought to be autoimmune and triggered by a stimulus of external origin. In 1976-1977, an unusually high rate of GBS was identified in the United States following the administration of inactivated 'swine' influenza A(H1N1) vaccines. In 2003, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that the evidence favored acceptance of a causal relationship between the 1976 swine influenza vaccines and GBS in adults. Studies of seasonal influenza vaccines administered in subsequent years have found small or no increased risk," according to background information in the article. "In a more recent assessment of epidemiologic studies on seasonal influenza vaccines, experimental studies in animals, and case reports in humans, the IOM Committee to Review Adverse Effects of Vaccines concluded that the evidence was inadequate to accept or reject a! causal relationship."
Administration of regulating agent prior to CABG surgery does not appear to improve outcomes
Among intermediate- to high-risk patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery, administration of the agent acadesine to regulate adenosine (a naturally occurring chemical that dilates blood flow and can improve coronary blood flow and perfusion) did not reduce all-cause death, nonfatal stroke, or need for mechanical support for ventricular dysfunction, for approximately a month after surgery, according to a study in the July 11 issue of JAMA.
Receiving chemotherapy following removal of type of cancer near pancreas may improve survival
Patients who had surgery for periampullary cancer (a variety of types of cancer that are located in and near the head of the pancreas, including an area called the ampulla where the bile duct joins up with the pancreatic duct to empty their secretions into the upper small intestine) and received chemotherapy had a statistically significant survival benefit, compared to patients who did not receive chemotherapy, after adjusting for prognostic variables, according to a study in the July 11 issue of JAMA.
Preclinical development shows promise to treat hearing loss with Usher syndrome III
A new study published in the July 11 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience details the development of the first mouse model engineered to carry the most common mutation in Usher syndrome III causative gene (Clarin-1) in North America. Further, the research team from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine used this new model to understand why mutation in Clarin-1 leads to hearing loss.
Blood-brain barrier less permeable in newborns than adults after acute stroke
The ability for substances to pass through the blood-brain barrier is increased after adult stroke, but not after neonatal stroke, according to a new study the UCSF that will be published July 11 in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Ordinary chickens may be extraordinary in fighting cancer: research
The common barnyard chicken could provide some very un-common clues for fighting off diseases and might even offer new ways to attack cancer, according to a team of international researchers that includes a Texas A&M University professor.
Some WHO-approved malaria drugs fall short: study
Up to eight percent of malaria drugs approved by the World Health Organization or other regulators do not contain the right dose and may fuel resistance, researchers said Tuesday.
Small molecule may play big role in Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease is one of the most dreaded and debilitating illnesses one can develop. Currently, the disease afflicts 6.5 million Americans and the Alzheimer's Association projects it to increase to between 11 and 16 million, or 1 in 85 people, by 2050.
Nutrient mixture improves memory in patients with early Alzheimer's
A clinical trial of an Alzheimer’s disease treatment developed at MIT has found that the nutrient cocktail can improve memory in patients with early Alzheimer’s. The results confirm and expand the findings of an earlier trial of the nutritional supplement, which is designed to promote new connections between brain cells.
Research team disputes evidence of new egg development in mammal ovaries
(Medical Xpress) -- Back in February, a team of researchers led by Jonathan Tilly published a paper in Nature Medicine describing new work that they said backed up research done in 2004 (resulting in a paper published in the journal Nature) that claimed to have debunked the “myth” that female mammals, including humans, produced all the eggs they ever would while still developing in the womb. Now, new research by another team, this one led by Kui Liu, claims that the results obtained by Tilly and associates was flawed and that there is still no evidence to suggest that women produce more eggs later on in life. In their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team says that the results of the research conducted by Tilly et al were wrong because the proteins they searched for on the surface of stem cells exist only inside the cells and thus couldn’t be found by the method they used.
Researchers discover molecule that kills cavity causing mouth bacteria
(Medical Xpress) -- Yale researcher Jose Cordova and Erich Astudillo from the University of Chile (and Founder of Top Tech Innovations SpA) have after working together, discovered a new molecule that kills the bacteria Streptococcus Mutans; long known to be responsible for breaking down sugars in food in the mouth and leaving behind lactic acid which corrodes tooth enamel leading to decay. The new molecule they call Keep 32 (after the 32 teeth in the average human mouth) has been found to kill the bacteria on contact.
Researchers reveal potential cause of HIV-associated dementia
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center appear to have solved the mystery of why some patients infected with HIV, who are using antiretroviral therapy and show no signs of AIDS, develop serious depression as well as profound problems with memory, learning, and motor function. The finding might also provide a way to test people with HIV to determine their risk for developing dementia.
Deaf brain processes touch differently, study shows
People who are born deaf process the sense of touch differently than people who are born with normal hearing, according to research funded by the National Institutes of Health. The finding reveals how the early loss of a sense— in this case hearing—affects brain development. It adds to a growing list of discoveries that confirm the impact of experiences and outside influences in molding the developing brain. The study is published in the July 11 online issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.
Study reveals new mechanism that might promote cancer's growth and spread in the body
Researchers have discovered a previously unknown mechanism that promotes the growth and spread of cancer. The mechanism involves key immune cells and a new role for small regulatory molecules called microRNA. The findings suggest a new strategy for treating cancer and perhaps diseases of the immune system.
Biology news
German arrested for stealing iguanas from Galapagos
A German tourist has been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle four endangered iguanas out of the Galapagos Islands, according to the national park.
Egg yolk loaded with antibodies boosts poultry's immunity
Hyperimmune egg yolk antibodies can be used to help control intestinal diseases in poultry, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists.
The Saint Lucia racer takes the title of world's rarest snake
Conservationists have found the world’s rarest known snake in the Caribbean nation of Saint Lucia. A five-month assessment of the Saint Lucia racer, a small non-venomous snake, has revealed that as few as 18 individuals remain. The racer was once common across Saint Lucia, but rapidly declined after predatory mongooses were introduced to Saint Lucia from India in the late 19th century. The last Saint Lucia racers now survive only on a single offshore islet just 12 hectares (30 acres) in size, which has remained mongoose-free.
Texas AgriLife Research study updates population of endangered golden-cheeked warblers
The projected number of golden-cheeked warbler males across their breeding range in Central Texas is more than previous estimates had indicated, according to results from a Texas AgriLife Research study recently published online in the Journal of Wildlife Management.
Microalgae 'bulging with biofuel potential'
MISA researchers from SARDI have isolated and evaluated a ‘super strain’ of a native microalgae species that could form the basis of a local biofuels industry.
Leatherback turtle eggs crushed in Trinidad
Hundreds, possibly thousands of turtle eggs and hatchlings have been destroyed on the northern Trinidad coast by government workers who drove their bulldozers over the breeding ground.
Taking a bird's eye view could cut wildlife collisions with aircraft
Using lights to make aircraft more visible to birds could help reduce the risk of bird strikes, new research by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has found. The study, which examined how Canada geese responded to different radio-controlled model aircraft, is the first of its kind and is published in the British Ecological Society's Journal of Applied Ecology.
Invasive plants, fish threaten Great Lakes region
After Brian Griffin pulls his boat out of West Loon Lake, a couple of weeds dangle from his trailer and propeller.
Copper making salmon prone to predators
Minute amounts of copper from brake linings and mining operations can affect salmon to where they are easily eaten by predators, says a Washington State University researcher. Jenifer McIntyre found the metal affects salmon's sense of smell so much that they won't detect a compound that ordinarily alerts them to be still and wary.
Researcher releases first results from nationwide bee count
(Phys.org) -- A San Francisco State University biologist has released the initial results of her nationwide citizen science project to count bee populations and has found low numbers of bees in urban areas across America, adding weight to the theory that habitat loss is one of the primary reasons for sharp declines in the population of bees and other important pollinators.
One million species, and counting
Just weeks after adding its millionth Web page, the online biology clearinghouse the Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) has received a major grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation that will allow it to continue its mission of documenting every living plant and animal species on the globe.
Kudzu crusade
A controlled burn licked its way across 42 acres on the Oak Ridge Reservation as Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Natural Resources Management Team completed another step towards eliminating kudzu, an invasive exotic species that had overtaken the area.
Plant overcomes infertility to give rise to a new species in Scotland
A new species of monkey flower, created by the union of two foreign plant species, has been discovered on the bank of a stream in Scotland. Genetic changes in this attractive yellow-flowered hybrid have allowed it to overcome infertility and made it a rare example of a brand new species that has originated in the wild in the last 150 years. Thousands of wild species and some crops are thought to have originated in this way, yet only a handful of examples exist where this type of species formation has occurred in recent history.
Warm weather brings out red cockroaches in Naples
The city of Naples in southern Italy is battling an infestation of large red cockroaches brought on by the unseasonally warm weather and unhygienic conditions, health officials said on Tuesday.
New coral reef crustacean described and named after late reggae performer Bob Marley
President Barack Obama has one. Comedian Stephen Colbert has one. Elvis Presley has one. Even computer software magnate Bill Gates has one. And now, Bob Marley--the late popular Jamaican singer and guitarist--also has one. So what is it that each of these luminaries have? The answer: they each have a biological species that has been named after them.
Grassroots approach to conservation developed
A new strategy to manage invasive species and achieve broader conservation goals is being tested in the Grand River Grasslands, an area within the North American tallgrass prairie ecoregion. A University of Illinois researcher along with his colleagues at Iowa State and Oklahoma State Universities enlisted private landowners in a grassroots community-building effort to establish a more diverse landscape for native wildlife.
Skulls shed new light on the evolution of the cat
(Phys.org) -- Modern cats diverged in skull shape from their sabre-toothed ancestors early in their evolutionary history and then followed separate evolutionary trajectories, according to new research from the University of Bristol published today in PLoS ONE.
Searching genomic data faster with new algorithm
In 2001, the Human Genome Project and Celera Genomics announced that after 10 years of work at a cost of some $400 million, they had completed a draft sequence of the human genome. Today, sequencing a human genome is something that a single researcher can do in a couple of weeks for less than $10,000.
Researchers unravel secrets of parasites' replication
A group of diseases that kill millions of people each year can't be touched by antibiotics, and some treatment is so harsh the patient can't survive it. They're caused by parasites, and for decades researchers have searched for a "magic bullet" to kill them without harming the patient. Now, a team of microbiologists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has made an advance that could one day lead to a new weapon for fighting parasitic diseases such as African sleeping sickness, chagas disease and leishmaniasis.
The old primates' club: Even male monkeys ride their fathers' coattails to success
(Phys.org) -- If you're a male born to a father who's a strong and enduring community leader, you're far more likely than your less fortunate peers to become a leader yourself, due to the wide range of social advantages accruing from your dad's position.
Researchers find cells that move in response to Earth's magnetic field
(Phys.org) -- For nearly half a century scientists have known that some animals are able to navigate using the earth’s magnetic field and for nearly thirty years, it’s been assumed that at least some of those animals that are able to “feel” the weak magnetic field are able to do so because of small amounts of iron material in their tissue. Now, a team of researchers led by Michael Winklhofera of Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, have discovered a way to find individual cells that respond to a magnetic field in one species of migrating fish. As they describe in their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, all it took was the introduction of a rotating artificial magnetic field.
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