Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for January 22, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Graphene-based transistor seen as candidate for post-CMOS technology- Researchers get better view of penguins with affixed cameras and accelerometers (w/ video)
- Just add water: How scientists are using silicon to produce hydrogen on demand
- Researchers find certain kind of brain damage can cause people to be more reckless with investments
- Study of how eye cells become damaged could help prevent blindness
- Intel's new Ivy Bridge parts form a budget line
- Immune system molecule with hidden talents
- New study sheds light on the complexity of gene therapy for congenital blindness
- Study: Odd biochemistry yields lethal bacterial protein
- From dark hearts comes the kindness of mankind
- Image sensors out of a spray can: Organic sensors increase light sensitivity of cameras
- Brain structure of infants predicts language skills at one year
- Researchers map emotional intelligence in the brain
- Can Apple maintain its shine?
- BPA substitute could spell trouble: Experiments show bisphenol S also disrupts hormone activity
Space & Earth news
Meteosat-10 replaces Meteosat-9 as EUMETSAT's prime operational geostationary weather satellite
Launched on 5 July, Meteosat-10 is the latest satellite in the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) series, which provides the operational weather and climate monitoring service over Europe and Africa.
Innovations in soil science will grow the solutions to global food security
A report published by the RSC says that innovative research in soil science will be fundamental in overcoming the growing threat of global food and fuel crop shortages as the world's population continues to increase.
Strong quake kills girl, ruins homes in Indonesia
(AP)—A strong, shallow earthquake rocked parts of western Indonesia early Tuesday, killing a 9-year-old girl, panicking residents and ruining homes. Several other people were injured.
Obama climate pledge faces test on oil pipeline (Update 2)
(AP)—Environmental groups say President Barack Obama's warning about climate change will soon be tested as he decides whether to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to the Gulf Coast.
French 'rotten egg' stench invades England (Update 2)
The stench of rotten eggs wafted across Paris and northern France on Tuesday, even reaching across the sea to England, after a gas leak that authorities said was very smelly but entirely harmless.
Buying 'funny fruit' will help feed the world: UN
Make a shopping list and buy "funny fruit," it will cut food waste and help "shape a sustainable future," the United Nations Environment Programme and Food and Agriculture Organzation said on Tuesday.
Beijing vows efforts to fight pollution
China's capital Beijing will strengthen measures to combat pollution, state media reported Tuesday, amid public anger over the dangerous air quality in the sprawling metropolis.
UN chief to press for climate deal by 2015
UN leader Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday he will press world leaders to agree a binding deal against climate warming by 2015.
Airlines turn profit from EU freeze on carbon tax, environmentalists say
Airlines made up to half a billion euros in windfall profits last year by passing on a carbon surcharge to travellers despite an EU decision to freeze its controversial carbon tax, environmentalists said on Tuesday.
Controversial Keystone pipeline passes another hurdle
The controversial Keystone pipeline passed another hurdle Tuesday after the governor of Nebraska approved a new route that will avoid environmentally sensitive areas like the state's Sand Hills.
Prosecutors take issue with Brazil's new forestry code
Brazil's new forestry code—approved last year at the urging of the powerful agrobusiness sector—faced a constitutional challenge Tuesday from federal prosecutors afraid it threatens the Amazon rainforest.
Observations to help astrophysicist understand sun's Alfven waves
UT Arlington physics professor Zdzislaw E. Musielak has been awarded a three-year, $301,339 National Science Foundation grant to investigate Alfvén waves in the Sun, a phenomenon vital to understanding Earth's nearest star.
Ocean heatwave decimates vital seaweed habitat
The decimation of a seaweed that provides vital habitat for an interdependent web of marine species off the WA coast, as a consequence of a record ocean heatwave, has been revealed in a paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B on January 16.
Nullarbor region once full of fast-flowing rivers
(Phys.org)—University of Adelaide geologists have shed new light on the origin of Australia's largest delta, the Ceduna Delta, and the river systems which drained the continent millions of years before the Murray-Darling system came into existence.
Unprecedented glacier melting in the Andes blamed on climate change
Glaciers in the tropical Andes have been retreating at increasing rate since the 1970s, scientists write in the most comprehensive review to date of Andean glacier observations. The researchers blame the melting on rising temperatures as the region has warmed about 0.7°C over the past 50 years (1950-1994). This unprecedented retreat could affect water supply to Andean populations in the near future. These conclusions are published today in The Cryosphere, an Open Access journal of the European Geosciences Union (EGU).
Public acceptance of climate change affected by word usage
Public acceptance of climate change's reality may have been influenced by the rate at which words moved from scientific journals into the mainstream, according to anthropologist Michael O'Brien, dean of the College of Arts and Science at the University of Missouri. A recent study of word usage in popular literature by O'Brien and his colleagues documented how the usage of certain words related to climate change has risen and fallen over the past two centuries. Understanding how word usage affects public acceptance of science could lead to better science communication and a more informed public.
Studies confirm plant water demands shift with water availability
Plants can adapt to extreme shifts in water availability, such as drought and flooding, but their ability to withstand these extreme patterns will be tested by future climate change, according to a study by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists and their cooperators.
NASA sees Tropical Cyclone Oswald weaken over Queensland's Cape York Peninsula
NASA's Aqua satellite documented the formation of Tropical Storm Oswald in the Gulf of Carpentaria on Jan. 21 and the landfall on Jan. 22 in the southwestern Cape York Peninsula of Queenstown, Australia. Oswald has since become remnant low pressure area over land.
Researchers analyse 'rock dissolving' method of geoengineering
(Phys.org)—The benefits and side effects of dissolving particles in our ocean's surfaces to increase the marine uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2), and therefore reduce the excess amount of it in the atmosphere, have been analysed in a new study published today.
Tiny fossils hold answers to big questions on climate change
(Phys.org)—The western Antarctic Peninsula is one of the fastest warming regions on the planet, and the fastest warming part of the Southern Hemisphere.
Analysis of fracking wastewater yields some surprises
Hydraulically fractured natural gas wells are producing less wastewater per unit of gas recovered than conventional wells would. But the scale of fracking operations in the Marcellus shale region is so vast that the wastewater it produces threatens to overwhelm the region's wastewater disposal capacity, according to new analysis by researchers at Duke and Kent State universities.
Antibacterial agent used in common soaps found in increasing amounts in freshwater lakes
When people wash their hands with antibacterial soap, most don't think about where the chemicals contained in that soap end up. University of Minnesota engineering researchers do.
US military looks for new life for dead satellites
It's like doing robotic surgery in zero gravity: Imagine scavenging defunct communication satellites for their valuable parts and recycling them to build new ones for cheap.
Betelgeuse braces for a collision
(Phys.org)—Multiple arcs are revealed around Betelgeuse, the nearest red supergiant star to Earth, in this new image from ESA's Herschel space observatory. The star and its arc-shaped shields could collide with an intriguing dusty 'wall' in 5000 years.
US company aims to 'harvest' asteroids
A US company said Tuesday it plans to send a fleet of spacecraft into the solar system to mine asteroids for metals and other materials in the hopes of furthering exploration of the final frontier.
Technology news
Innovative sensor technology for efficient and portable gas detection devices
Gas sensors developed in a European project now enable the implementation of cheaper and smaller instruments with equal or higher speed and sensitivity than current laboratory-grade instruments.
World class circuits by chip architects
Thanks to their designs, the battery of a mobile phone stays charged for longer, the signal is better and more data can be transmitted for a lower price. The Integrated Circuit Design group headed by Prof. Bram Nauta at the University of Twente's CTIT Institute devises solutions that have helped set international standards in mobile internet and mobile telephony. In its field, the group is among the top five in the world and it is the only group in the Netherlands to achieve a maximum score in the latest independent research review.
Telefonica: 'No involvement' with Cuba cable (Update 2)
Spanish telecom Telefonica denied Tuesday that it has anything to do with an undersea fiber-optic cable between Cuba and Venezuela, even as an analyst who monitors global data traffic noted an additional uptick in data speed to and from the island—suggesting the cable is in full operation.
Groupon halts gun-related deals
(AP)—Groupon has halted gun-related promotions such as deals for shooting ranges and concealed weapons courses in the wake of last month's massacre in Newtown, Conn.
Justin Bieber overtakes Lady Gaga in Twitter follower race
It took two days longer than expected, but Justin Bieber succeeded Tuesday in overtaking fellow pop idol Lady Gaga as the most followed person on Twitter.
Kim Dotcom apologises for Mega bugs
Megaupload founder and alleged online piracy kingpin Kim Dotcom apologised for teething problems with his new file-sharing service Tuesday, saying massive global interest had swamped the website.
America archives its billions of tweets
The Library of Congress, repository of the world's largest collection of books, has set for itself the enormous task of archiving something less weighty and far more ephemeral—Americans' billions of tweets.
Cross-arms could speed up connection of new electricity supplies
(Phys.org)—A revolutionary device developed by engineers at The University of Manchester and EPL Composite Solutions Ltd. could dramatically increase the capacity of the UK's electricity network, enabling rapid increases in renewable generation and lower bills for consumers.
Verizon Communications 4Q loss widens
Verizon Communications' fourth-quarter loss widened, dragged down by restructuring, pension and Superstorm Sandy costs. The company activated a record number of new devices on its contract-based plans during the period.
AT&T to buy Alltel operations for about $780M
AT&T says it's reached a deal to buy Alltel U.S. wireless operations for about $780 million to boost its spectrum in rural areas.
Reports: Microsoft may invest in Dell buyout (Update)
Microsoft has joined the negotiations to buy struggling computer maker Dell, according to media reports.
iPhone tops in US as Android rules the world
Apple's iPhone remained the most popular smartphone among US buyers in the closing months of 2012 while Android handsets were on top worldwide, Kantar Worldpanel ComTech reported on Tuesday.
IBM posts higher 4Q net income, beats estimates
IBM's fourth-quarter earnings grew 6 percent even as revenue was largely flat, as the company benefited from growing, lucrative software businesses such as Internet-based computing and data analytics.
Google's 4Q earnings rise 7 pct; stock rises
Google's fourth-quarter earnings rose 7 percent as online advertisers spent more money in pursuit of holiday shoppers.
Reducing the impact of a terrorist attack on our trains and metros
Blast-resilient carriages that are better able to withstand a terrorist attack and ultimately save lives have been developed by a world-leading team of engineers.
Panasonic trims Ene-Farm fuel cell size and price
(Phys.org)—This month, Panasonic and Tokyo Gas announced the launch of their newest Ene-Farm home fuel cell, a product that residents can use to generate energy right from their homes. This is a smaller, cheaper, and efficient successor to the Ene-Farm products of the past; the new product can operate 20 percent longer than the previous model, for 60,000 hours. The developers, Tokyo Gas and Panasonic, said that this Ene-Farm home fuel cell achieves overall efficiency of 95 percent LHV, as the world's most efficient fuel cell.
Mozilla unveils preview smartphones in new push
The Mozilla Foundation on Tuesday unveiled two preview smartphones as it invited developers to try its new open-source mobile operating system challenging Apple's iOS and Google's Android.
Image sensors out of a spray can: Organic sensors increase light sensitivity of cameras
Researchers from Technische Universität München have developed a new generation of image sensors that are more sensitive to light than the conventional silicon versions, with the added bonus of being simple and cheap to produce. They consist of electrically conductive plastics, which are sprayed on to the sensor surface in an ultra-thin layer. The chemical composition of the polymer spray coating can be altered so that even the invisible range of the light spectrum can be captured.
Peugeot unveils petrol hybrid using compressed air
French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen unveiled Tuesday a petrol hybrid engine that stores energy using compressed air which it hopes will be a game-changing technology to improve energy efficiency.
Can Apple maintain its shine?
For many investors, Apple's best days are behind it. Competitors are catching up, they believe, and the latest iPhone is stumbling. The company's doubters have backed their conviction with billions of dollars. Last week, the stock fell below $500 for the first time in 11 months. Since Apple's stock peaked at $705.07 on Sept. 21 —the day of the iPhone 5's release— it has fallen nearly 30 percent, cutting Apple's market capitalization by nearly $200 billion.
Medicine & Health news
Playing to win the fight against rabies: A board game that can save lives
In 'Dog Village' the aim is to successfully raise a puppy that wins the honour of being best dog in the village. It is a fun board game where players have to navigate obstacles and overcome challenges but in this case the players may genuinely be playing for their lives.
China's young in crisis of declining fitness (Update)
Xiao Ru spent her last year of high school studying from morning until late at night. That didn't help her complete one particular assignment in her first year of college: a 1,500-meter run.
How intermediate health and social care services enable better care closer to home
(Medical Xpress)—A new report by the University of Exeter Medical School researchers sheds light on how health and social care arrangements can avoid hospital admissions or enable people to leave hospital earlier.
Follow-up to REDUCE study shows low rate of prostate cancer diagnosis
The four-year REDUCE (REduction by DUtasteride of prostate Cancer Events) clinical study evaluated prostate cancer risk reduction in men taking dutasteride, a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor (5ARI) typically used to treat enlarged prostate. REDUCE results showed that dutasteride decreased the risk of biopsy detectable prostate cancer by 22.8 percent compared to a placebo group, but concerns remained about the drug's effectiveness. Results from a follow-up study are now published in The Journal of Urology.
How can evolutionary biology explain why we get cancer?
Over 500 billion cells in our bodies will be replaced daily, yet natural selection has enabled us to develop defenses against the cellular mutations which could cause cancer. It is this relationship between evolution and the body's fight against cancer which is explored in a new special issue of the Open Access journal Evolutionary Applications.
Controlling spine metastases with tumor 'separation surgery' and high-dose stereotactic radiosurgery
Researchers from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York, NY) have found that tumor "separation surgery" followed by high-dose hypofractionated stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or high-dose single-fraction SRS is safe and effective in controlling spinal metastases regardless of the radiosensitivity of the particular tumor type that has invaded the spine. This finding is fleshed out in the article "Local disease control for spinal metastases following 'separation surgery' and adjuvant hypofractionated or high-dose single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery: outcome analysis in 186 patients. Clinical article," by Ilya Laufer, M.D., and colleagues, published today online in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine.
Europe's tobacconists march against EU smoking crackdown
Thousands of tobacconists from across Europe marched on European Union headquarters on Tuesday to protest against a planned EU crackdown on smoking that includes grueseome health warnings placarded on packets.
Severe abuse at home linked to dating violence
Young urban black women who are exposed to severe abuse within their families are much more likely to be victims of dating violence, according to a study led by a Michigan State University researcher.
Children with egg allergies can safely receive flu vaccine, study says
Egg allergic children, including those with a history of anaphylaxis to egg, can safely receive a single dose of the seasonal influenza vaccine, according to a new study from the University of Michigan.
The skin aging regulator
Despite progress in regenerative medicine, with age, the skin loses its properties in an irreversible manner. The ATIP-Avenir team "Epidermal homeostasis and tumorigenesis" directed by Chloé Féral, an Inserm researcher at the French Cancer and Aging Research Institute, has just defined the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in maintaining skin cells and skin healing in advanced years.
J&J 4Q profit jumps on higher sales, lower charges (Update)
Higher sales of prescription drugs and medical devices helped Johnson & Johnson post a much bigger fourth-quarter profit than a year ago, when a slew of charges depressed results.
New research on military traumatic brain injury
Researchers are making new strides in understanding the health consequences and treatment and rehabilitation needs of combat veterans and other service members affected by traumatic brain injury (TBI). The January-February issue of The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, official journal of the Brain Injury Association of America, is a special issue devoted to new research in military TBI.
Bioethics leader calls for bold approach to fighting obesity
Arguing that obesity "may be the most difficult and elusive public health problem the United States has ever encountered" and that anti-obesity efforts having made little discernible difference, Daniel Callahan, co-founder and President Emeritus of The Hastings Center, proposes a bold and controversial approach to fighting the epidemic.
Expert suggests proper techniques for newborn bathing and skin care basics
Bathing a tiny newborn can be an exciting experience for parents, but it can also be intimidating. Newborns are small and vulnerable, slippery when wet, and the products marketed for their delicate skin can leave parents with abundant choices. As newborns are welcomed into the world, their skin needs to adapt to the new environmental changes around them. It's important for parents to understand proper bathing techniques and the appropriate skin care needed for their little one.
40 years after US abortion ruling, foes march on
Abortion opponents marked the 40th anniversary Tuesday of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling on abortion with a push for yet more restrictions after a string of state moves that narrow access to the procedure.
Chad says no link between sick kids and meningitis shot
Chad's government on Tuesday said a team of international experts have not been able to find any links between the hospitalisation of 38 children and their recent vaccinations against meningitis.
Alcohol use from adolescence to adulthood follows different, complex pathways
Adolescence is often a time of novelty seeking and risk taking, including the initiation of drinking. While heavy drinking that begins in adolescence can lead to problematic alcohol use later in life, other risk factors are also involved in trajectories of alcohol use that may develop. A study of factors predicting alcohol use and patterns of use over time has identified six distinct trajectories that concern level of alcohol use, rate of increase in use during early adolescence, and persistence of use into adulthood.
Team publish in the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
New York University College of Nursing (NYUCN) researchers Michele G. Shedlin, PhD, and Joyce K. Anastasi, PhD, DrNP, FAAN, LAc, published a paper, "Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines and Supplements by Mexican-Origin Patients in a U.S.–Mexico Border HIV Clinic," in the on-line version of the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care.
Study shows drug combination extends pancreatic cancer patient survival
A multi-center Phase III clinical trial demonstrates that Abraxane (nab-paclitaxel) plus gemcitabine is the first combination of cancer drugs to extend survival of late-stage pancreatic cancer patients compared to standard treatment.
Workplace link to one in six cases of adult asthma among UK baby boomers
The workplace may be responsible for around one in six cases of adult asthma among the British baby boomer generation - those born in the late 1950s - reveals research published online in the respiratory journal Thorax.
Perfectionism and eating disorders: A complex issue
Two aspects of perfectionism are involved in body dissatisfaction and the development of eating disorders, according to a study of over a thousand women published this week in BioMed Central's open access journal, Journal of Eating Disorders. Adaptive perfectionism is high standards driving a person towards achieving a goal body image, and maladaptive perfectionism is concerned with mistakes and other people's opinions.
Stopping smoking reduces risk of bacterial pneumonia in people with HIV
Bacterial pneumonia is one of the commonest and most serious infections occurring in people infected with HIV. A metanalysis of cohort and case control studies published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Medicine finds that current smokers with HIV were at double the risk of bacterial pneumonia than non-smoking counterparts, but that when people stopped smoking their risk was reduced.
Immune system foiled by a hairpin
The innate immune system detects invasive pathogens and activates defense mechanisms to eliminate them. Pathogens, however, employ a variety of tricks to block this process. A new study shows how the measles virus thwarts the system, by means of a simple hairpin-like structure.
Of course the Tooth Fairy's real: How parents lie in the US and China
Almost everyone teaches their children that lying is always wrong. But the vast majority of parents lie to their children in order to get them to behave, according to new research published in the International Journal of Psychology.
Simple policy change could solve US physician shortages in 25 states, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—According to a new University of Virginia study, half of the 50 states could end their primary care physician shortages, and save billions annually in health care costs, by a simple policy change: equalizing the licensure requirements for foreign-educated physicians and U.S.-educated physicians.
Is it time for global guidelines on safe levels of drinking?
A comparison of drinking guidelines around the world shows there's little consensus between countries on what constitutes safe or sensible alcohol consumption, say University of Sussex researchers.
First time parenting a positive experience for mental health, researchers find
(Medical Xpress)—Becoming a parent for the first time may improve mental health and reduce levels of psychological distress, according to a new study from the University of Otago, Wellington (UOW).
'Reversing' the symptoms of asthma
University of New South Wales researchers have developed a compound that has had a surprise result: being effective in the prevention of asthma.
Australian hopes for wine with more health benefits
The health properties of red wine have long been debated but an Australian biochemist believes he has created a drop so loaded with antioxidants that it could treat a range of ills.
Ruling the airways: Notch controls bronchial cell fates and distributions
Nestled deep within the body, the epithelial lining of the respiratory system is nonetheless seriously exposed. Its direct contact with environmental air necessitates protective mechanisms that both seal off the respiratory tract from other compartments of the body and neutralize microbial invaders. This is achieved by the coordinated action of the functionally specialized various cell types that make up the lining of the airway. These respiratory cell populations include major ciliated cells, exocrine Clara cells, and neuroendocrine (NE) cells, all of which are generated by a common epithelial progenitor cell type during embryogenesis.
Study shows kids influenced by sport ads for alcohol, fast food
The impact on children of alcohol and fast-food advertising in sports sponsorship is concerning health experts at The University of Western Australia.
Measuring distress in people with Types 1 and 2 diabetes
(Medical Xpress)—Australian diabetes experts, psychiatrists and neuroscientists have reported the benefits of measuring depression and disease-related distress in patients with diabetes. They have also shown that distress is influenced by heritable genetic changes in the way patients' bodies handle serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood.
Addressing a medical myth: Wait 30 minutes after eating before you swim
The old saying that you should wait at least 30 minutes after eating before you swim is based on the idea that after a big meal, blood will be diverted away from your arms and legs, towards your stomach's digestive tract. And if your limbs don't get enough blood flow to function, you're at risk of drowning.
New drug protects against side effects of chemotherapy
A drug developed at Linköping University in Sweden protects against the side effects of cancer treatments while strengthening the effects on the tumour. An international drug evaluation is now starting up on a larger group of patients.
Harmful effects of bisphenol A proved experimentally
Weak concentrations of bisphenol A are sufficient to produce a negative reaction on the human testicle. This has just been shown experimentally for the first time by René Habert and his colleagues (UMR Cellules souches et Radiations [UMR Stem Cells and Radiation], Inserm U 967 – CEA – Paris Diderot University) in an article that appeared in the journal entitled Plos One.
Study explores whether sleeping pills reduce insomniac's suicidal thoughts
Researchers want to know whether a sleeping pill reduces suicidal thoughts in depressed patients with insomnia.
Hypertension during pregnancy increases risk of end-stage renal disease
Women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are at higher risk of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease compared with women without the disorders, according to a study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Gestational diabetes ups costs of maternity care by one-third
(HealthDay)—Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are significantly more likely to receive an emergency cesarean section, have their infant admitted to a neonatal care unit, and incur significantly higher maternity care costs, compared to women without GDM, according to research published online Dec. 28 in Diabetes Care.
Got the flu? Rest first, exercise later, experts say
(HealthDay)—Although regular exercise has been linked to a strong immune system, people with flu symptoms, such as fever, extreme tiredness, muscle aches and swollen lymph glands, should avoid physical exertion while sick and for two weeks after they recover, according to the American Council on Exercise.
New test predicted presence of harmful BRCA mutations
A new multiple gene expression profile test was able to predict the presence of harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations in otherwise healthy women carrying the mutations, according to data published in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
US court rejects bid to reclassify marijuana (Update 2)
A U.S. appeals court Tuesday rejected a petition to reclassify marijuana from its current federal status as a dangerous drug with no accepted medical use.
Enzyme replacement therapy shows promising results in X-linked myotubular myopathy
A collaborative research team including a Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) pediatric neuropathologist successfully mitigated some of the effects of a muscular disease by using a new targeted enzyme replacement therapy strategy from 4s3 Bioscience.
Scientists find gene interactions that make cocaine abuse death eight times more likely
Scientists have identified genetic circumstances under which common mutations on two genes interact in the presence of cocaine to produce a nearly eight-fold increased risk of death as a result of abusing the drug.
Study provides new drug target for Her-2 related breast cancer
Research led by Dr. Suresh Alahari, the Fred Brazda Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans and its Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, details exactly how the Her2 cancer gene promotes the progression and spread of breast cancer cells. The inactivation of a tumor suppression gene called Nischarin is among the mechanisms identified. The findings provide a new therapeutic target to block the function of Her2. The research was published in Cancer Research, OnlineFirst on January 21, 2013.
New study examines on/off relationships and 'sex with an ex' among teenagers and young adults
A new study finds that nearly half of older teenagers and young adults break up and get back together with previous dating partners and over half of this group have sex as part of the reconciliation process. This study was recently published in the Journal of Adolescent Research.
New study first to image concussion-related abnormal brain proteins in retired NFL players
Sports-related concussions and mild traumatic brain injuries have grabbed headlines in recent months, as the long-term damage they can cause becomes increasingly evident among both current and former athletes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that millions of these injuries occur each year.
In the land of the free, interdependence undermines Americans' motivation to act
Public campaigns that call upon people to think and act interdependently may undermine motivation for many Americans, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Genomic sequencing identifies mutant 'drivers' of common brain tumor
Large-scale genomic sequencing has revealed two DNA mutations that appear to drive about 15 percent of brain tumors known as meningiomas, a finding that could lead to the first effective drug treatments for the tumors, report scientists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute.
People seek high-calorie foods in tough times
Bad news about the economy could cause you to pack on the pounds, according to a new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Study: Viral reactivation a likely link between stress and heart disease
A new study could provide the link that scientists have been looking for to confirm that reactivation of a latent herpes virus is a cause of some heart problems.
Scientists discover 'needle in a haystack' for muscular dystrophy patients
(Medical Xpress)—Muscular dystrophy is caused by the largest human gene, a complex chemical leviathan that has confounded scientists for decades. Research conducted at the University of Missouri and described this month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has identified significant sections of the gene that could provide hope to young patients and families.
Beta carotene may protect people with common genetic risk factor for type-2 diabetes
Stanford University School of Medicine investigators have found that for people harboring a genetic predisposition that is prevalent among Americans, beta carotene, which the body converts to a close cousin of vitamin A, may lower the risk for the most common form of diabetes, while gamma tocopherol, the major form of vitamin E in the American diet, may increase risk for the disease.
Less tau reduces seizures and sudden death in severe epilepsy
Deleting or reducing expression of a gene that carries the code for tau, a protein associated with Alzheimer's disease, can prevent seizures in a severe type of epilepsy linked to sudden death, said researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., in a report in the current issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.
Emergency room redux for many patients after hospitalization
Following a hospitalization, patients face many challenges as they transition home. A new study of this vulnerable period published by Yale School of Medicine researchers in JAMA found that a substantial number of patients return to the emergency department soon after leaving the hospital, and, while such patients are not usually readmitted, the study raises concerns that many more patients require acute medical care after hospital discharge than previously recognized.
Readmissions frequent in month after hospital discharge
Following hospitalization for heart attacks, heart failure, or pneumonia, patients are at high risk of being readmitted for a broad spectrum of medical conditions in the month following hospital discharge, research at Yale School of Medicine shows. The study appears in the Jan. 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Research finds substantial variation in readmission rate among children's hospitals
In a national sample of 72 children's hospitals, 6.5 percent of hospitalized children experienced an unplanned readmission within 30 days, with significant variability in readmission rates across conditions and hospitals, according to a study appearing in the January 23/30 issue of JAMA.
A brain protein called vimentin can indicate damage to the hippocampus following binge drinking
Chronic drinking is known to have detrimental health effects such as cardiac and liver problems, cognitive impairments, and brain damage. Binge drinking in particular is known to increase the risk of developing dementia and/or brain damage, yet little is known about an exact threshold for the damaging effects of alcohol. A study using rodents to examine various markers of neurodegeneration has found that brain damage can occur with as little as 24 hours of binge-like alcohol exposure.
Will proposed DSM-5 changes to assessment of alcohol problems do any better?
Proposed changes to the upcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) will affect the criteria used to assess alcohol problems. One change would collapse the two diagnoses of alcohol abuse (AA) and alcohol dependence (AD) into a single diagnosis called alcohol use disorder (AUD). A second change would remove "legal problems," and a third would add a criterion of "craving." A study of the potential consequences of these changes has found they are unlikely to significantly change the prevalence of diagnoses.
The ability to 'hold one's liquor' indicates risk of developing alcohol problems
Prior studies have shown that a low subjective response (SR) to alcohol is a risk factor for alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Research on moderate drinkers has shown that acquired tolerance is different from initial response, and is also significantly associated with drinking problems. A new study of linkages among early SR, acquired tolerance, alcohol use, and alcohol-related problems among problem drinkers has found that a low, early subjective response –an ability to "hold one's liquor" - may protect against problems in the short term, but likely becomes a risk factor for longer-term problems as tolerance to alcohol develops.
Reviewing alcohol's effects on normal sleep
Sleep is supported by natural cycles of activity in the brain and consists of two basic states: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Typically, people begin the sleep cycle with NREM sleep followed by a very short period of REM sleep, then continue with more NREM sleep and more REM sleep, this 90 minute cycle continuing through the night. A review of all known scientific studies on the impact of drinking on nocturnal sleep has clarified that alcohol shortens the time it takes to fall asleep, increases deep sleep, and reduces REM sleep.
Binge drinking can dramatically amplify damage to the liver
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is characterized by a fatty liver, hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Binge drinking is on the rise worldwide, and is particularly common in the U.S. A review of studies addressing the effects of binge drinking on the liver underscores the complex interactions among various immune, signaling pathways, epigenetic, and metabolic responses of the liver to binge drinking.
Lower drinking ages can have an impact on later drinking patterns
Lower minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) laws have been associated with short-term effects such as a greater number of traffic fatalities and teen suicides. A new study has investigated the long-term and persistent linkages between permissive MLDA laws and specific drinking behaviors such as average alcohol consumption, frequency of drinking, patterns of binge drinking, and moderate drinking. Findings support an association with problematic drinking behaviors that persist into later adulthood, such as more frequent binge episodes.
Disease outbreaks trackable with Twitter
(Medical Xpress)—This flu season you've probably seen a number of friends on social media talking about symptoms.
Novel gene-searching software improves accuracy in disease studies
A novel software tool, developed at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, streamlines the detection of disease-causing genetic changes through more sensitive detection methods and by automatically correcting for variations that reduce the accuracy of results in conventional software. The software, called ParseCNV, is freely available to the scientific-academic community, and significantly advances the identification of gene variants associated with genetic diseases.
Stem cell research helps to identify origins of schizophrenia
New University at Buffalo research demonstrates how defects in an important neurological pathway in early development may be responsible for the onset of schizophrenia later in life.
Scientists find protein that reins in runaway network
Marked for death with molecular tags that act like a homing signal for a cell's protein-destroying machinery, a pivotal enzyme is rescued by another molecule that sweeps the telltale targets off in the nick of time.
Black patients with hypertension not prescribed diuretics enough
A research study of more than 600 black patients with uncontrolled hypertension found that less than half were prescribed a diuretic drug with proven benefit that costs just pennies a day, report researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College and the Visiting Nurse Service of New York's (VNSNY) Center for Home Care Policy and Research. The researchers say these new findings should be taken as a serious wake-up call for physicians who treat black patients with hypertension.
Gay African-American youth face unique challenges coming out to families
Coming out to one's family can be stressful, but gay black males face a unique set of personal, familial and social challenges.
A call to prevent unsafe high-risk medical devices from reaching the marketplace
Technological advancements in medicine have allowed patients suffering from musculoskeletal conditions such as hip and knee pain to regain mobility and live relatively pain-free. But some "high risk" surgical devices that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are not required to go through clinical trials, where a product is tested to determine its safety and effectiveness.
Decline in verbal ability in adolescence linked to psychosis in later life
(Medical Xpress)—New research from King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry and Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, has found that adolescents whose verbal performance drops off are at increased risk of developing schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders many years later.
Many Americans back nicotine restrictions in cigarettes, survey says
(HealthDay)—Nearly half of Americans would support a government-mandated reduction of nicotine levels in cigarettes, according to a new study.
Happy in marriage, heavier on the scale?
(HealthDay)—Everyone has had that friend who was svelte when single and then became noticeably more plump after entering a state of marital bliss. Now, there is new evidence that it was not your imagination: After following a group of newlyweds for four years, the researchers found that the happier you are in your marriage, the more likely it is that you will gain some extra weight.
Many suffer chronic pain after breast cancer surgery, study finds
(HealthDay)—About one-quarter of women who've had breast cancer surgery have significant and persistent breast pain six months after the procedure, a new study finds.
Canadian pediatric lupus severity varies with ethnicity
(HealthDay)—While Canadian children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) differ in disease characteristics and severity by ethnicity, treatment, disease activity, and irreversible organ damage are similar across ethnic groups, according to a study published in the January issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
Evidence mounts for role of mutated genes in development of schizophrenia
Johns Hopkins researchers have identified a rare gene mutation in a single family with a high rate of schizophrenia, adding to evidence that abnormal genes play a role in the development of the disease.
Uncovering the secrets of 3D vision: How glossy objects can fool the human brain
(Medical Xpress)—It's a familiar sight at the fairground: rows of people gaping at curvy mirrors as they watch their faces and bodies distort. But while mirrored surfaces may be fun to look at, new findings by researchers from the Universities of Birmingham, Cambridge and Giessen, suggest they pose a particular challenge for the human brain in processing images for 3D vision.
Researchers find clues to how the brain decides when to rest
(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers in France has found what they call a "signal" that tells a person when to rest while engaging in work, and then when to resume once rested. The team, as they describe in their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, used fMRI scans on a group of volunteers to study a part of the brain normally associated with pain perception and found what amounts to a signal calling for the conscious mind to take a break.
Immune cells engineered in lab to resist HIV infection
Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have found a novel way to engineer key cells of the immune system so they remain resistant to infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Study of how eye cells become damaged could help prevent blindness
Light-sensing cells in the eye rely on their outer segment to convert light into neural signals that allow us to see. But because of its unique cylindrical shape, the outer segment is prone to breakage, which can cause blindness in humans. A study published on January 22nd in the Biophysical Journal provides new insight into the mechanical properties that cause the outer segment to snap under pressure. The new experimental and theoretical findings help to explain the origin of severe eye diseases and could lead to new ways of preventing blindness.
New study sheds light on the complexity of gene therapy for congenital blindness
Independent clinical trials, including one conducted at the Scheie Eye Institute at the Perelman School of Medicine, have reported safety and efficacy for Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), a congenital form of blindness caused by mutations in a gene (RPE65) required for recycling vitamin A in the retina. Inherited retinal degenerative diseases were previously considered untreatable and incurable. There were early improvements in vision observed in the trials, but a key question about the long-term efficacy of gene therapy for curing the retinal degeneration in LCA has remained unanswered. Now, new research from the Scheie Eye Institute, published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, finds that gene therapy for LCA shows enduring improvement in vision but also advancing degeneration of affected retinal cells, both in LCA patients and animal models of the same condition.
Immune system molecule with hidden talents
Dendritic cells, or DCs for short, perform a vital role for the immune system: They engulf pathogens, break them down into their component parts, and then display the pieces on their surface. This in turn signals other immune cells capable of recognizing these pieces to help kick-start their own default program for fighting off the invaders. In order to do their job, the DCs are dependent upon the support from a class of immune system molecules, which have never before been associated with dendritic cells: antibodies, best known for their role in vaccinations and diagnostics. Now, scientists at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and the Hannover Medical School (MHH) were able to show that antibodies are essential for dendritic cell maturation. The researchers' findings have been published in the renowned scientific journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Brain structure of infants predicts language skills at one year
(Medical Xpress)—Using a brain-imaging technique that examines the entire infant brain, researchers have found that the anatomy of certain brain areas – the hippocampus and cerebellum – can predict children's language abilities at 1 year of age.
Researchers map emotional intelligence in the brain
A new study of 152 Vietnam veterans with combat-related brain injuries offers the first detailed map of the brain regions that contribute to emotional intelligence – the ability to process emotional information and navigate the social world.
Circadian rhythms can be modified for potential treatment of disorders
(Medical Xpress)—UC Irvine-led studies have revealed the cellular mechanism by which circadian rhythms – also known as the body clock – modify energy metabolism and also have identified novel compounds that control this action. The findings point to potential treatments for disorders triggered by circadian rhythm dysfunction, ranging from insomnia and obesity to diabetes and cancer.
BPA substitute could spell trouble: Experiments show bisphenol S also disrupts hormone activity
A few years ago, manufacturers of water bottles, food containers, and baby products had a big problem. A key ingredient of the plastics they used to make their merchandise, an organic compound called bisphenol A, had been linked by scientists to diabetes, asthma and cancer and altered prostate and neurological development. The FDA and state legislatures were considering action to restrict BPA's use, and the public was pressuring retailers to remove BPA-containing items from their shelves.
Researchers find certain kind of brain damage can cause people to be more reckless with investments
(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers from several universities in Europe has found that human test subjects with a damaged portion of their brain were likely to invest more money in a risky trustee than those without the brain damage. In their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team says the subjects were willing to invest more despite being told that the trustee may not be trustworthy.
Biology news
Golden retrievers key to lifetime dog cancer study
(AP)—When Jay Mesinger heard about a study seeking golden retrievers to help fight canine cancer, he immediately signed up 2-year-old Louie.
Student investigates pigeon plumage trends
(Phys.org)—Many people view pigeons as pests, or even 'rats with wings' - but according to one student, they are 'super doves'.
Liberian farmers take on Indonesian palm oil giant
Liberian farmers who survived a 15-year civil war are now fighting lucrative property deals with Indonesian and Malaysian palm oil companies that threaten the land they live on, if not their sacred burial sites.
Bacterial supplement could help young pigs fight disease
A common type of bacteria may help pigs stay healthy during weaning.
Tiny molecules preserve stem cells: Researchers shows what makes constant plant growth possible
Human life is dependent on the constant growth of plants, and it is the job of stem cells to see to it that this occurs. They are found at the tips of the shoots and roots, the so-called meristems. Stem cells can transform themselves into other types of cells and develop new organs, such as leaves, fruits, and twigs, throughout the entire lifespan of the plant. However, in order for the plant to continue growing and developing organs, several cells at the tips of the shoots and roots have to remain stem cells. In order to ensure that this is the case, the cells need signals to help them identify their position in the plant and trigger the appropriate developmental program.
High stress levels found in monkeys forced to spend more time foraging
(Phys.org)—New research shows that disturbed habitats are resulting in increasingly poor diets for monkeys, and that the additional time and energy required to find food is causing concerning levels of stress in already critically endangered primates.
Australian Merino sheep could fare better than expected over dry summers
Research comparing how popular breeds of sheep respond to nutritional stress have concluded Australian Merinos cope as well as Damara and Dorper breeds.
Conservationists: British mackerel no longer sustainable fish
Mackerel has been struck off a list of sustainable fish by British conversationists who warn that overfishing is depleting stocks.
Paradise found for Latin America's largest land mammal
Wildlife Conservation Society scientists have documented a thriving population of lowland tapirs – the strange forest and grassland-dwelling herbivore with the trunk-like snout – living in a network of remote national parks spanning the Peru-Bolivia border.
EU freezes approval of GM crops to 2014
The European Commission has decided to freeze the approval process for genetically modified food crops through the end of its mandate next year while it works towards an agreement with EU member states.
Wood on the seafloor: An oasis for deep-sea life
Trees do not grow in the deep sea, nevertheless sunken pieces of wood can develop into oases for deep-sea life - at least temporarily until the wood is fully degraded. A team of Max Planck researchers from Germany now showed how sunken wood can develop into attractive habitats for a variety of microorganisms and invertebrates. By using underwater robot technology, they confirmed their hypothesis that animals from hot and cold seeps would be attracted to the wood due to the activity of bacteria, which produce hydrogen sulfide during wood degradation.
Mother bear knows best place to call home
(Phys.org)—Mama bear appears to know what's best when it comes to selecting a place to call home, according to a new University of Alberta study.
'Sexual networks' reveal complex mating game
(Phys.org)—Social networks can be used to describe the sexual interactions in animal populations and reveal which individuals are directly competing in the 'mating game', according to new Oxford University research.
Scientists track ocean microbe populations in their natural habitat to create a 'day in the life' montage
Microbiologists who study wild marine microbes, as opposed to the lab-grown variety, face enormous challenges in getting a clear picture of the daily activities of their subjects. But a team of scientists from MIT and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute recently figured out how to make the equivalent of a nature film, showing the simultaneous activities of many coexisting species in their native habitat over time.
Sweet potato DNA indicates early Polynesians traveled to South America
(Phys.org)—A French based research team has found DNA evidence in sweet potato samples that suggests that early Polynesian explorers visited South America. Those early explorers, the researchers write in their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, brought the sweet potato back with them when they returned from their long voyages.
Synchrotron infrared unveils a mysterious microbial community
In the fall of 2010, Hoi-Ying Holman of the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) was approached by an international team researching a mysterious microbial community discovered deep in cold sulfur springs in southern Germany.
A diffusion trap: Sticky spots on cell membranes hold onto the master regulator of cell polarity
Over the past several years, Rong Li, Ph.D., at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research has been making crucial discoveries about the development of cell polarity—the process by which one side of a cell becomes different from the other side. Such polarity is critical for the functioning of the vast majority of cells. The outside surface of skin cells is very different from the surface inside the body, for example, while nerve cells have delicately branching dendrites on one end and axons on the other. Li's lab studies yeast cells, which form a unique polarized site, the location of the future bud.
From dark hearts comes the kindness of mankind
The kindness of mankind most likely developed from our more sinister and self-serving tendencies, according to Princeton University and University of Arizona research that suggests society's rules against selfishness are rooted in the very exploitation they condemn.
Researchers get better view of penguins with affixed cameras and accelerometers (w/ video)
(Phys.org)—Japanese researchers have taken the science of studying an animal in its natural environment a step further by attaching a camera and accelerometers to Adelie penguins as they forage for food off the waters of Antarctica. In their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers describe how they were able to watch the intimate details of the foraging habits of the penguins in ways never before seen.
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