Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for January 29, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Of Einstein and entanglement: Quantum erasure deconstructs wave-particle duality- PBS stares back at 1.8-gigapixel ARGUS drone imaging system
- Uninvited access to security camera systems pinned down
- Better way to culture central nervous cells found
- Preclinical study identifies 'master' proto-oncogene that regulates ovarian cancer metastasis
- New evidence highlights threat to Caribbean coral reef growth
- World wide web creator sees open access future for academic publishing
- Microsoft retools Office for touch screen, Web use
- Taking stairs, raking leaves may equal a trip to the gym, study finds
- Ants' behavior leads to new method for optimizing product development time, costs
- Cats in US kill billions of birds, mammals, study finds
- Genetics may explain severe flu in Chinese people
- Fossilized conduits suggest water flowed beneath Martian Surface
- When a planet behaves like a comet: The tail of Venus and the weak solar wind
- Epigenetics helps explain early-onset puberty in females
Space & Earth news
Tracing the origin of Arctic driftwood
Tracking the origin of driftwood samples could help scientists to reconstruct past currents in the Arctic Ocean, a new study suggests. Arctic currents are likely to be affected by changing climate, but there are few observations that provide evidence on past current dynamics.
Understanding the structure of subducting plates
Seismic studies are helping scientists learn more about the structure of subducting oceanic plates.
Australian summer lurches from fire to floods
From bushfires raging in searing tinder-dry conditions to surging floodwaters and destructive tornadoes, Australia has witnessed staggering climate extremes during its summer of 2013.
New insights into managing our water resources
Dr Tim Peterson, from the School of Engineering at the University of Melbourne has offered new theories that will lead to a deeper knowledge of how water catchments behave during wet and dry years. His research was published recently in the leading international hydrology journal Water Resources Research and was selected by the American Geophysical Union as a highlight of the society's 13 international journals.
US, New Zealand search-and-rescue teams recalled from Antarctic plane crash site
Officials with the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) and Antarctica New Zealand have jointly decided to recall search-and-rescue teams from the site of an Antarctic aircraft crash after examination of the plane indicated that it would be unsafe at this point to further disturb the wreckage that is largely embedded in snow and ice on a steep mountain slope.
NASA solicits ideas for International Space Station research
NASA wants to know how you can improve the International Space Station as a technology test bed.
'Off the scale' smog envelops Beijing again
Residents across northern China battled through choking pollution on Tuesday, as air quality levels rose above index limits in Beijing amid warnings that the smog may not clear until Thursday.
Projected U.S. water use likely to increase as climate warms
Despite increases in efficiency, water demand in the United States is likely to increase substantially in the future if climate continues to warm, new projections indicate. Brown et al. project future water use to 2090 based on past trends from U.S. Geological Survey water use data from 1960 to 2005 and trends in efficiency. They project U.S. water demand under climate change scenarios using three different global circulation models; they ran each model for three different global socioeconomic scenarios adapted from the scenarios used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Mercury's crust likely made of magnesium-rich basalt
With both x-ray and gamma-ray spectrometers, the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging probe (MESSENGER), which entered orbit around Mercury in 2011, is well equipped for carrying out a detailed compositional analysis of Mercury's crust, the understanding of which could help determine the nature of the planet's formation, and of its volcanic past.
Assessing the Great Whirl, despite all the pirates
Each year, the powerful southwest monsoon ramps up in midsummer, bringing life-giving rains to the Indian subcontinent. The monsoon winds also drive dramatic changes in the regional ocean currents, including a reversal in the circulation of the Arabian Sea, an energetic eddy field, and strong coastal upwelling. Off the east coast of Somalia, a large (300 to 550 kilometer wide, or 186 to 342 mile wide) anticyclone appears—known since 1876 as the Great Whirl—with surface currents as strong as 2.5 meters per second (8.2 feet per second). The Great Whirl, while associated with the seasonal arrival of the southwest monsoon, is not caused entirely by it; the circulation of the Great Whirl starts a month before, and persists for a month after, the monsoon.
Low density of Earth's core due to oxygen and silicon impurities
During accretion and differentiation of the Earth, chemical interactions in a silicate magma ocean and liquid iron drove silicon and oxygen impurities into what went on to become the liquid outer core. Contrasting with previous research, which suggested that silicon and oxygen would only appear in very low concentrations (less than 1 percent by weight) in the liquid iron, Tsuno et al. find that at the base of a magma ocean 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) deep, these light elements could reach concentrations as high as 5 percent oxygen and 8 percent silicon by weight, simultaneously. Such impurity levels would decrease the density of the outer core, accounting for the so-called "density deficit" identified in previous research, whereby the outer core is roughly 10 percent less dense than a pure iron-nickel alloy.
Curiosity maneuver prepares for drilling
(Phys.org)—NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has placed its drill onto a series of four locations on a Martian rock and pressed down on it with the rover's arm, in preparation for using the drill in coming days.
Satellite visualization tool for high-res observation accessible from anywhere with internet access
A paper published in the February issue of Computers & Geosciences, describes a case study in which an earth-observing satellite tool, the Tool for High-Resolution Observation Review (THOR), using minimal coding effort, is converted into a practical web-based application, THOR-Online. In addition, a 3D visualization technique is also described in this paper.
S. Korea poised for high-stake rocket launch
South Korea was poised Wednesday for its third bid to send a satellite into orbit—a watershed moment for the future of the country's space programme and a high-stakes challenge to national pride.
NASA sees some powerful 'overshooting cloud tops' in Cyclone Felleng
NASA satellite imagery revealed that Cyclone Felleng is packing some powerful thunderstorms with overshooting cloud tops.
NASA to launch ocean wind monitor to space station
(Phys.org)—In a clever reuse of hardware originally built to test parts of NASA's QuikScat satellite, the agency will launch the ISS-RapidScat instrument to the International Space Station in 2014 to measure ocean-surface wind speed and direction.
Warming waters take their toll on Antarctic shellfish
Shells that spent decades sitting ignored in a Welsh museum have shown scientists that climate change is seriously harming ecosystems around Antarctica.
Cool, new views of Andromeda galaxy
(Phys.org)—Two new eye-catching views from the Herschel space observatory are fit for a princess. They show the elegant spiral galaxy Andromeda, named after the mythical Greek princess known for her beauty.
New evidence highlights threat to Caribbean coral reef growth
Coral reefs build their structures by both producing and accumulating calcium carbonate, and this is essential for the maintenance and continued vertical growth capacity of reefs. An international research team has discovered that the amount of new carbonate being added by Caribbean coral reefs is now significantly below rates measured over recent geological timescales, and in some habitats is as much as 70% lower.
Fossilized conduits suggest water flowed beneath Martian Surface
(Phys.org)—Networks of narrow ridges found in impact craters on Mars appear to be the fossilized remnants of underground cracks through which water once flowed, according to a new analysis by researchers from Brown University.
When a planet behaves like a comet: The tail of Venus and the weak solar wind
(Phys.org)—Measurements obtained with ESA's Venus Express spacecraft have shed new light on the interaction between the solar wind and the second planet from the Sun. During a rare period of very low density solar outflow, the ionosphere of Venus was observed to become elongated downstream, rather like a long-tailed comet.
Spring may come earlier to North American forests, research says
(Phys.org)—Trees in the continental U.S. could send out new spring leaves up to 17 days earlier in the coming century than they did before global temperatures started to rise, according to a new study by Princeton University researchers. These climate-driven changes could lead to changes in the composition of northeastern forests and give a boost to their ability to take up carbon dioxide.
Technology news
Conference suggests ways Broadway can be better
(AP)—A conference on how to make the Broadway experience better for theatergoers has come up with some prescriptions: Be brave in the stories that are told onstage and embrace youth and technology.
OpenTable buys food photo-sharing app Foodspotting
Restaurant reservations site OpenTable says it is buying Foodspotting, a mobile app for finding and sharing photos of food, for about $10 million to help it personalize its service.
Yahoo's 4Q report shows more signs of progress
Yahoo got a little healthier during the last three months of 2012 as the long-suffering Internet company took advantage of higher ad prices and more money coming in from overseas investments to deliver numbers that exceeded analyst forecasts.
Google unveils detailed N. Korea map... with gulags
Weeks after its chairman Eric Schmidt's secretive visit to North Korea, Google has rolled out a detailed map of the isolated state that even labels some of its remote and infamous gulags.
Samsung acquires US medical imaging company
South Korea's Samsung Electronics said Tuesday it had bought US medical imaging firm NeuroLogica, as it seeks to explore new growth sources by expanding into the health sector.
Philips loss shrinks in Q4; sheds division (Update)
Royal Philips Electronics NV Tuesday said it will sell the entertainment division which contains many of the consumer products for which it is best known, such as audio and video equipment, to Funai Electric Co., Ltd., of Japan for €150 million ($202 million) plus licensing fees.
New DARPA program seeks performers for transient electronics demonstration
The sophisticated electronics used by warfighters in everything from radios, remote sensors and even phones can now be made at such a low cost that they are pervasive throughout the battlefield. These electronics have become necessary for operations, but it is almost impossible to track and recover every device. At the end of operations, these electronics are often found scattered across the battlefield and might be captured by the enemy and repurposed or studied to compromise DoD's strategic technological advantage.
Streaming video over temporary networks
Self-configuring data networks may provide crucial help to emergency and rescue operations in hard-to-access areas. Norwegian researchers are developing software that makes it easier to transmit vital video streams over such networks.
Billions of sensors power professor's vision of interconnected world
A professor at Wichita State University plans to create a university center with an ambitious name: The Center for the Internet of Everything.
Man builds most energy-efficient home he could
Saving money was never on Dennis Kaech's mind when he built his Olympia, Wash., home. But saving energy was.
Amazon.com posts lower 4Q net income
Amazon.com says its fourth-quarter net income fell 45 percent, as higher revenue failed to keep pace with increased spending on order fulfillment and digital content.
Wanxiang says panel approves A123 sale
Chinese auto parts conglomerate Wanxiang Group Corp. said Tuesday that a federal panel has approved its purchase of most assets of failed battery maker A123 Systems Inc.
World wide web creator sees open access future for academic publishing
Activists pushing for free, open access to academic papers will eventually defeat publishers who seek to lock scholarly findings behind paywalls, the founder of the world wide web said today.
Microsoft retools Office for touch screen, Web use
Microsoft is selling a retooled version of its Office software to consumers as an online subscription service for the first time in an attempt to extend one of the company's key franchises beyond personal computers.
Ants' behavior leads to new method for optimizing product development time, costs
Trying to find just the right balance of time spent in meetings and time performing tasks is a tough problem for managers, but a Wayne State University researcher believes the behavior of ants may provide a useful lesson on how to do it.
PBS stares back at 1.8-gigapixel ARGUS drone imaging system
(Phys.org)—Described as the next generation of surveillance, and representing the world's highest resolution camera, the ARGUS-IS, which stands for Autonomous Real-Time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance Imaging System, is featured on PBS' NOVA program on drones, which describes the latest technologies behind drones. The program carries a demonstration of the imaging system, which is the result of development work at BAE Systems, a defense, security and aerospace company.
Uninvited access to security camera systems pinned down
(Phys.org)—A digital video recorder (DVR), used in homes and businesses for security, is helpful when not in the hands of criminals, The latter scenario is what is rattling some security blog and Forbes readers, with the recent Forbes report by Andy Greenberg of how criminals are capable of hijacking security cameras. Once in control, surveillance camera footage can be played back, copied, deleted, or changed. The hijackers can also use the machines to access other computers behind the victim's firewall.
Medicine & Health news
Public report national audit of percutaneous coronary interventional procedures 2011
The 2011 annual report of the National Audit of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) highlights the significant progress within hospitals to expand PCI services to treat more patients with acute coronary syndromes.
New publication guidelines for systematic reviews from BMC Medicine
Two articles in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Medicine by Geoff Wong, Trisha Greenhalgh and colleagues, propose publication guidelines for both realist synthesis and meta-narrative reviews.
FDA warns company over unapproved flu remedy
Federal regulators say a Florida company has been marketing an untested inhaled formula as a flu remedy in violation of drug safety regulations.
Lawmaker looks outside VA to fill mental care gap
(AP)—The head of the House panel that oversees veterans' issues says patients who have trouble getting timely mental health care from Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics should have another option: access to the thousands of health care providers who care for military personnel and their families.
Cadavers honored in med student dissection lab
(AP)—When medical students have finished their study and practice on cadavers, they often hold a respectful memorial service to honor these bodies donated to science.
Benefits, challenges of making health care safer and better: Study reviews a national initiative to 'retool'
Safety and quality seem like obvious goals for health care education. But improving the way budding doctors and nurses are taught, bringing those professions together in the classroom and clinical settings, and measuring the results, turns out to be a challenge.
Wash. vows to try to keep weed in state—but how?
So far, no one is suggesting checkpoints or fences to keep Washington state's legal pot within its borders.
Pfizer Q4 net jumps on sale of nutrition business
Pfizer Inc.'s fourth-quarter profit more than quadrupled, despite competition from generic drugs hurting sales of Lipitor and other medicines, because of a $4.8 billion gain from selling its nutrition business. The drugmaker's profit and sales both beat Wall Street expectations.
UN agency warns of new global bird flu threat
The UN food agency on Tuesday warned the world risked a surge in bird flu outbreaks unless countries strengthen their monitoring against dangerous animal diseases despite economic hardship.
Centre-based child care: Long hours do not cause aggression and disobedience, researchers find
Spending many hours in centre-based child care does not lead to more aggression and disobedience in children, according to a new study using data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa).
Dementia sufferers benefit from GPS
As part of the research project Trygge Spor, more than fifty dementia sufferers have been using GPS for periods varying from several weeks to up to a year. The results show that localisation technology helps achieve an increased sense of security, freedom and quality of life, both for sufferers and their next of kin.
MRI-friendly defibrillator implant opens doors for thousands of cardiac patients currently denied MRIs
Every year an estimated 1.5 million magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are performed in Canada and the number is growing at a rate of about 10 per cent per year. At the same time, a soaring number of Canadians who rely on implanted defibrillators to keep their hearts beating are denied this valuable, life-saving diagnostic test despite a 50 to 75 per cent probability that they will require one over the lifetime of their defibrillator.
Medical societies unite on patient-centered measures for nonsurgical stroke interventions
The first outcome-based guidelines for interventional treatment of acute ischemic stroke—providing recommendations for rapid treatment—will benefit individuals suffering from brain attacks, often caused by artery-blocking blood clots. Representatives from the Society of Interventional Radiology and seven other medical societies created a multispecialty and international consensus on the metrics and benchmarks for processes of care and technical and clinical outcomes for stroke patients.
Study says leafy greens top food poisoning source
(AP)—A government study has fingered leafy green vegetables as the leading source of food poisoning illnesses.
Researchers generate mutant mouse model useful in treatment of neuromuscular diseases
Researchers at the University of Granada have produced for the first time in the world mice lacking the coenzyme Q10, a rare mitochondrial disease prevailingly affecting children. The researchers needed three years to complete the study.
The 'July effect': Negligible for outcomes following spine surgery
The "July effect"—the notion that the influx of new residents and fellows at teaching hospitals in July of each year adversely affects patient care and outcomes—was examined in a very large data set of hospitalizations for patients undergoing spine surgery. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) and the University of Virginia Health System (Charlottesville, VA) found a negligible effect on periprocedural outcomes among patients treated by spine surgery. Detailed results of their thorough study are furnished in the article "The effect of July admission on inpatient outcomes following spinal surgery. Clinical article," by Jennifer S. McDonald, Ph.D., Michelle J. Clarke, M.D., Gregory A. Helm, M.D., Ph.D., and David F. Kallmes, M.D., published today online, ahead of print, in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine.
Dendritic cell vaccine for relapsed neuroblastoma patient induces complete remission
One year after his last treatment, a six-year-old boy with recurrent neuroblastoma is in complete remission for his high-risk metastatic cancer. Doctors reported this case study in the January 2013 issue of Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which was funded in part by a joint grant from the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, Pierce Phillips Charity and Solving Kids' Cancer.
Soldier looks forward to driving with new arms (Update)
A U.S. soldier who lost all four limbs in a roadside bombing in Iraq says he's looking forward to driving and swimming with new arms after undergoing a double-arm transplant.
FDA panel backs long-acting Boehringer inhaler
(AP)—A panel of federal health experts is overwhelmingly recommending approval for a long-acting inhaler to treat people suffering from chronic lung disease.
Test for hormone-disrupting chemicals gets global seal of approval
A test for hormone-disrupting pollutants, originally developed at the University of California, Davis, has been approved as an international standard by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development as well as by the U.S. government.
After school shooting, Conn. debates mental health
(AP)—Connecticut lawmakers are reviewing mental health care following the Newtown school shooting, even though they and the public have little insight into what might have been ailing the 20-year-old gunman.
Accessible tourism and dementia
New Bournemouth University institute discovers new ways of making tourist attractions dementia-friendly.
Eating bright-colored fruits and vegetables may prevent or delay ALS
New research suggests that increased consumption of foods containing colorful carotenoids, particularly beta-carotene and lutein, may prevent or delay the onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The study, published by Wiley in Annals of Neurology, a journal of the American Neurological Association and Child Neurology Society, found that diets high in lycopene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and vitamin C did not reduce ALS risk.
Study demonstrates health benefits of coming out of the closet
Lesbians, gays and bisexuals (LGBs) who are out to others have lower stress hormone levels and fewer symptoms of anxiety, depression, and burnout, according to researchers at the Centre for Studies on Human Stress (CSHS) at Louis H. Lafontaine Hospital, affiliated with the University of Montreal.
Early menopause may occur in women with BRCA gene, study finds
Women with harmful mutations in the BRCA gene, which put them at higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, tend to undergo menopause significantly sooner than other women, allowing them an even briefer reproductive window and possibly a higher risk of infertility, according to a study led by researchers at UC San Francisco.
Physicians' brain scans indicate doctors can feel their patients' pain—and their relief
A patient's relationship with his or her doctor has long been considered an important component of healing. Now, in a novel investigation in which physicians underwent brain scans while they believed they were actually treating patients, researchers have provided the first scientific evidence indicating that doctors truly can feel their patients' pain – and can also experience their relief following treatment.
Could the timing of when you eat, be just as important as what you eat?
Most weight-loss plans center around a balance between caloric intake and energy expenditure. However, new research has shed light on a new factor that is necessary to shed pounds: timing. Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), in collaboration with the University of Murcia and Tufts University, have found that it's not simply what you eat, but also when you eat, that may help with weight-loss regulation.
Predicting survival among those aging with HIV infection
(Medical Xpress)—A new collaborative study led by Yale, the VA Healthcare System, and the North American Cohort Collaboration supports the accuracy of an index used for predicting mortality as patients with HIV age. The study appears in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (JAIDS).
Study evaluates lunchroom plate waste
Even though school children are served a healthy lunch, researchers are wanting to know how much of their entrees are actually being eaten or pushed aside, and the cost associated with serving daily meals in a study conducted by Texas A&M University System researchers.
Cancer death rates over a third higher in men than women
Men are over 35 per cent more likely to die from cancer than women in the UK, according to a new report released today .
New drill-less technique may reduce kids' fear of the dentist
(Medical Xpress)—Children have been shown to significantly prefer a new way of treating tooth decay that doesn't involve needles or drills.
New findings into conquering influenza
Reseachers from the University of Melbourne and The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) have discovered a new protein that protects against viral infections such as influenza.
Tests conducted on Israel's Ariel Sharon reveal significant brain activity
A team of American and Israeli brain scientists tested former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to assess his brain responses, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Surprisingly, Sharon showed significant brain activity.
Botox offers hope to women with incontinence
When most people hear Botox, they think of injections to the face to combat wrinkles and aging.
New findings on heat shock proteins may shed light on variety of debilitating diseases
UCLA researchers, in a finding that runs counter to conventional wisdom, have discovered for the first time that a gene thought to express a protein in all cells that come under stress is instead expressed only in specific cell types.
A step toward repairing the central nervous system
Despite recent advances in understanding the mechanisms of nerve injury, tissue-engineering solutions for repairing damage in the central nervous system (CNS) remain elusive, owing to the crucial and complex role played by the neural stem cell (NSC) niche. This zone, in which stem cells are retained after embryonic development for the production of new cells, exerts a tight control over many crucial tasks such as growth promotion and the recreation of essential biochemical and physical cues for neural cell differentiation.
Even the brains of people with anxiety states can get used to fear
Fear is a protective function against possible dangers that is designed to save our lives. Where there are problems with this fear mechanism, its positive effects are cancelled out: patients who have a social phobia become afraid of perfectly normal, everyday social situations because they are worried about behaving inappropriately or being thought of as stupid by other people. Scientists from the Centre for Medical Physics and Biomedical Technology and the University Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the MedUni Vienna have now discovered that this fear circuit can be deactivated, at least in part.
Researcher advancing motor neuron studies
A University of Connecticut researcher is advancing the understanding of the devastating inherited condition known as spinal muscular atrophy.
Half of at-risk older adults aren't getting routine HIV screening
One in four people with HIV/AIDS is over 50, yet older adults are more often diagnosed at a late stage than younger people. Despite this, nearly half of older adults visiting a public health clinic where HIV/AIDS is prevalent were not screened for the disease in the past 12 months, finds a study in The Gerontologist.
In CAD, highest mortality risk for central obesity, normal BMI
(HealthDay)—For individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD), central obesity in combination with normal weight is associated with the highest risk of mortality, according to research published in the Feb. 5 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Substantial increase in spinal interventional techniques seen
(HealthDay)—Between 2000 and 2008, there was a nearly 108 percent increase in the number of Medicare recipients receiving spinal interventional techniques, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of Spine.
Messenger substance and signalling molecule influence the development of the skin's immune cells
A signalling molecule known as Axl has been discovered on immune cells of the epidermis. This recently published finding provides new insight into the development of important skin immune cells known as Langerhans cells. These cells fight off invading microorganisms and play a crucial role in our health. As the research project, funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF, also discovered, the natural production of the signalling molecule Axl is highly dependent on the messenger substance TGF-beta 1. Together, these findings provide a better understanding of how immune cells develop and offer new approaches for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
Link found between insulin sensitivity, cells' powerhouses
If findings of a new study in mice are any indication, it might be possible to fine-tune cellular powerhouses called mitochondria, tweaking one aspect to increase insulin sensitivity, reduce body and fat mass, and even extend life. Exploiting this target could one day lead to novel treatments for type 2 diabetes—an endocrine system disease that affects 8 percent of the U.S. population. The research also points to promising new avenues of investigation in the biology of aging.
Diabetes drug could hold promise for lung cancer patients
Ever since discovering a decade ago that a gene altered in lung cancer regulated an enzyme used in therapies against diabetes, Reuben Shaw has wondered if drugs originally designed to treat metabolic diseases could also work against cancer.
Common genetic alteration found in head and neck cancers may not be key to effective treatment
Although a large majority of head and neck cancers have a deregulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, data recently published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, indicated that deregulation of this pathway does not necessarily signify that the tumor is dependent on it for survival and progression.
Indoor air puts Chinese women nonsmokers at risk
The hazards of breathing outdoor air in some Chinese cities have been well-documented. Now a University at Buffalo study confirms that breathing indoor air also carries significant cancer risks, especially for Chinese women.
Study reveals two-fold higher incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers for HIV patients
HIV-positive patients have a higher incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers, according to a Kaiser Permanente study that appears in the current online issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Specifically, basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas occur more than twice as often among HIV-positive individuals compared to those who are HIV-negative.
Scientists create one-step gene test for mitochondrial diseases
More powerful gene-sequencing tools have increasingly been uncovering disease secrets in DNA within the cell nucleus. Now a research team is expanding those rapid next-generation sequencing tests to analyze a separate source of DNA—within the genes inside mitochondria, cellular power plants that, when abnormal, contribute to complex, multisystem diseases.
Study highlights attitudes toward HPV vaccination for boys
(Boston)- A new Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) study has found that low-income and minority parents/guardians were receptive toward vaccinating boys against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). However, racial/ethnic differences emerged in attitudes regarding school-entry mandates. The findings appear online in the journal Clinical Pediatrics.
'Moral realism' may lead to better moral behavior
Getting people to think about morality as a matter of objective facts rather than subjective preferences may lead to improved moral behavior, Boston College researchers report in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.
Personalized plans to address barriers to HIV drug adherence boost chances of successful therapy
HIV patients who participated in an intervention that helped them identify barriers to taking their drugs properly and develop customized coping strategies took a significantly greater amount of their prescribed doses than those receiving standard care, according to a new study from researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The results, published this week in JAMA Internal Medicine, may point to a new strategy to improve adherence to medications for many other conditions.
Hydrogen sulfide: The next anti-aging agent?
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) may play a wide-ranging role in staving off aging, according to a paper published online ahead of print in the journal Molecular and Cellular Biology. In this review article, a team from China explores the compound's plethora of potential anti-aging pathways.
Researchers find gene that turns up effect of chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is one of the most common treatments for cancer patients. However, many patients suffer from serious side-effects and a large proportion does not respond to the treatment. Researchers from the Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC) and Center for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, now show that the gene FBH1 helps turn up the effect of chemotherapy.
Increasing severity of erectile dysfunction is a marker for increasing risk of cardiovascular disease and death
A large study published in PLOS Medicine on January 29, 2013, shows that the risk of future cardiovascular disease and death increased with severity of erectile dysfunction in men both with and without a history of cardiovascular disease. While previous studies have shown an association between ED and CVD risk, this study finds that the severity of ED corresponds to the increased risk of CVD hospitalization and all-cause mortality.
Greater transparency needed in publishing information from clinical trials
An initiative from the drugs regulator, the European Medicines Agency, to commit to releasing all of the information from clinical trials once the marketing authorization process has ended, which has been greeted with cautious optimism by proponents of access to data but with much less enthusiasm by the pharmaceutical industry, sparks an interesting debate on the role of medical journals in publishing drug data, according to the Editors of PLOS Medicine.
Young soccer players show signs of burnout
Young elite players at professional soccer clubs are at risk of burnout before they leave school because of the perfectionist standards they feel coaches, parents and team members demand of them, according to a new study.
Discrepant analyses of industry-sponsored clinical trials
Discrepancies between internal and published analyses of industry-sponsored clinical trials lead to further calls for transparency
More research into chronic diseases urgently needed in all countries
When considering chronic (non-communicable) diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, in low-and-middle countries, a major shift in approach from declaring what needs to be done to using research to prioritise, evaluate, monitor and improve health outcomes is urgently needed, according to international experts from London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine writing in this week's PLOS Medicine.
Study finds lungs from heavy smokers OK for transplant
(HealthDay)—Lungs of heavy smokers can be donated safely for use in adult double-lung transplants, a new study contends.
AMA reviews challenges of signing death certificates
(HealthDay)—Signing death certificates is not always straightforward and has long-term ramifications on mortality data and funding, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
AAP endorses parental leave for pediatric residents
(HealthDay)—The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advocates that all interns, residents, and fellows should have parental leave benefits consistent with the Family Medical Leave Act during pediatric training, according to a policy statement published online Jan. 28 in Pediatrics.
States vary in implementation of smoking reduction policies
(HealthDay)—The prevalence of smoking and the implementation of combined interventions to reduce smoking vary between states, according to a report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Placebo often effective for treating headache in children
(HealthDay)—Placebo is often effective in treating children with headaches, and innovative strategies are needed to reduce the placebo response rate and prove drug effects in trials, according to two studies published online Jan. 28 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Chronic-pain patients at high risk of suicide
Two months ago, Gary Rager's girlfriend asked him to do the unthinkable. The 44-year-old woman, who has suffered disabling pain for the past three years, asked Rager if he would help her end her life.
Obesity and its consequences spreading rapidly around the world
Clogged arteries and sedentary lifestyles have replaced germs as the world's leading killers. Where hunger once held much of the world in its grip, the 1.6 billion overweight and obese now outnumber the malnourished by nearly 2-to-1.
Just a bite: Considerably smaller snack portions satisfy delayed hunger and craving
How much chocolate would you need to eat to be satisfied? Less than half as much as you think, according to this recently published Cornell University snacking study. Using chocolate chips, apple pie, and potato chips, researchers Ellen van Kleef, Mitsuru Shimizu, and Brian Wansink designed a study to determine if people who were given smaller portions of snack foods would feel hungrier or satisfied fifteen minutes after eating.
Going trayless study shows student impact
If you need any evidence of the impact of student research on life at American University's campus, look no further than something that's missing.
Argentine woman gives birth after heart transplant
In what doctors Tuesday said was a medical first, an Argentine woman with a transplanted heart gave birth to a baby girl following an in vitro fertilization.
Low-income pregnant women in rural areas experience high levels of stress, researcher says
Stress during pregnancy puts mothers' and their babies' health at risk, previous research has shown. Now, a University of Missouri study indicates low-income pregnant women in rural areas experience high levels of stress yet lack appropriate means to manage their emotional and physical well-being. Health providers should serve as facilitators and link rural women with resources.
Study shows how brain cells shape temperature preferences
While the wooly musk ox may like it cold, fruit flies definitely do not. They like it hot, or at least warm. In fact, their preferred optimum temperature is very similar to that of humans—76 degrees F.
Previously unknown sleep pattern revealed in new research
(Medical Xpress)—There's no need to panic if you didn't get a solid eight hours of beauty sleep last night. According to new University of Sydney research, sleep duration naturally waxes and wanes over a period of days regardless of individual lifestyle, timing of sleep or waking, and social and environmental influences.
Team discovers potential blood test for autistic patients
(Medical Xpress)—Results of a recent clinical study by researchers from Western and the University of Arkansas reveal the presence of a unique blood marker, which may further the understanding of possible gut linked environmental contributors to autism. The findings may also forecast potential blood tests for early screening to identify and potentially treat the condition, even before symptoms present.
New discovery shows genetic causes of rare bone condition
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at the University of Oxford have discovered two new genetic causes of craniosynostosis, a rare bone condition that can inhibit brain growth in children.
Study shows no evidence Mediterranean diet helps prevent cognitive decline
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers from the Sorbonne in France have published the results of a study they carried out to determine if eating a Mediterranean diet helps prevent dementia as people age. They found, as they report in their paper published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, that such a diet had no apparent impact on cognitive decline.
Taking stairs, raking leaves may equal a trip to the gym, study finds
New research at Oregon State University suggests the health benefits of small amounts of activity – even as small as one- and two-minute increments that add up to 30 minutes per day – can be just as beneficial as longer bouts of physical exercise achieved by a trip to the gym.
Preclinical study identifies 'master' proto-oncogene that regulates ovarian cancer metastasis
Scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered the signaling pathway whereby a master regulator of cancer cell proteins – known as Src – leads to ovarian cancer progression when exposed to stress hormones. The researchers report in the current issue of Nature Communications that beta blocker drugs mitigate this effect and reduce cancer deaths by an average of 17 percent.
Better way to culture central nervous cells found
A protein associated with neuron damage in people with Alzheimer's disease is surprisingly useful in promoting neuron growth in the lab, according to a new study by engineering researchers at Brown University. The findings, in press at the journal Biomaterials, suggest a better method of growing neurons outside the body that might then be implanted to treat people with neurodegenerative diseases.
Genetics may explain severe flu in Chinese people
A genetic variant commonly found in Chinese people may help explain why some got seriously ill with swine flu, a discovery scientists say could help pinpoint why flu viruses hit some populations particularly hard and change how they are treated.
Epigenetics helps explain early-onset puberty in females
New research from Oregon Health & Science University has provided significant insight into the reasons why early-onset puberty occurs in females. The research, which was conducted at OHSU's Oregon National Primate Research Center, is published in the current early online edition of the journal Nature Neuroscience.
In-brain monitoring shows memory network
Working with patients with electrodes implanted in their brains, researchers at the University of California, Davis, and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) have shown for the first time that areas of the brain work together at the same time to recall memories. The unique approach promises new insights into how we remember details of time and place.
Biology news
Omega-3 can help laying hens avoid bone damage
Most of us are aware of the potential health benefits of omega-3 found in fish oil and flax seed. Now researchers have found that omega-3 could help laying hens avoid bone damage, which affects millions of hens each year, and the research may also help human patients suffering from osteoporosis.
Insects' manipulation of plant phenotype that realized their ultimate "su-gomori life (reclusive life in the nest)"
Researchers from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, have discovered a novel phenomenon that in galls (plant-made nests) formed by some aphid species, the inner gall wall promptly absorbs and removes watery waste that can kill the aphids when accumulated within the galls.
10 dead Borneo pygmy elephants feared poisoned
(AP)—Ten endangered Borneo pygmy elephants have been found dead in a Malaysian forest under mysterious circumstances, and wildlife officials said Tuesday that they probably were poisoned.
Rice grown without paddies can feed drought-stricken communities, expert says
(Phys.org)—Consumed by 3 billion people, rice is arguably the world's most important food staple, and one reason for its popularity is that rice can be grown under flooded conditions that suppress weeds, making cultivation easier.
Endangered kangaroo prefers 'the girl next door'
(Phys.org)—A group of leading conservation scientists from The University of Queensland (UQ) and James Cook University (JCU) has exposed the private life of a small, endangered kangaroo.
BASF halts EU approval process for GM potatoes
BASF, the world's biggest chemicals company, said Tuesday it has decided to no longer seek European approval of its genetically modified potato products in the face of stiff resistance.
Cultural evolution changes bird song
Thanks to cultural evolution, male Savannah sparrows are changing their tune, partly to attract "the ladies."
Tomorrow's life-saving medications may currently be living at the bottom of the sea
OHSU researchers, in partnership with scientists from several other institutions, have published two new research papers that signal how the next class of powerful medications may currently reside at the bottom of the ocean. In both cases, the researchers were focused on ocean-based mollusks – a category of animal that includes snails, clams and squid and their bacterial companions.
The need to feed programs Campylobacter's 'Sat Nav'
A rumbling tummy is our body's way of telling us "it's time for lunch". Likewise, bacteria need to know when it's time to eat.
Scientific paper challenges assumptions about bark beetles' link to wildfires
Don't blame bark beetles for catastrophic wildfires such as the blaze that blackened more than 23,000 acres of Kittitas County in Washington state last summer, some scientists say.
Scientists trick iron-eating bacteria into breathing electrons instead
Scientists have developed a way to grow iron-oxidizing bacteria using electricity instead of iron, an advance that will allow them to better study the organisms and could one day be used to turn electricity into fuel. The study will be published on January 29 in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
Promiscuous baboons benefit from father's care
Young baboons that spend time with their fathers get better meals and reach sexual maturity sooner, scientists say.
Flies of the world embrace vegetarianism
(Phys.org)—Microbe-eating flies from at least three different locations around the world recently have evolved into herbivores, feeding on some of the most toxic plants on Earth. Fly detectives and UA evolutionary biologists Noah Whiteman and Richard Lapoint are trying to find out what genetic pathways led the flies to such a major change of lifestyle.
Survival of the prettiest: Sexual selection can be inferred from the fossil record
Detecting sexual selection in the fossil record is not impossible, according to scientists writing in Trends in Ecology and Evolution this month, co-authored by Dr Darren Naish of the University of Southampton.
Epigenetic control of cardiogenesis: Non-coding RNA is essential for normal embryonic cardiogenesis
Many different tissues and organs form from pluripotent stem cells during embryonic development. To date it had been known that these processes are controlled by transcription factors for specific tissues. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin, in collaboration with colleagues at MIT and the Broad Institute in Boston, have now been able to demonstrate that RNA molecules, which do not act as templates for protein synthesis, participate in these processes as well.
Real angry birds 'flip the bird' before a fight
Male sparrows are capable of fighting to the death. But a new study shows that they often wave their wings wildly first in an attempt to avoid a dangerous brawl.
Cats in US kill billions of birds, mammals, study finds
Domestic cats in the United States kill up to 3.7 billion birds and as many as 20.7 billion mice, voles and other small mammals each year, biologists estimated on Tuesday.
'Super' enzyme protects against dangers of oxygen
(Phys.org)—Just like a comic book super hero, you could say that the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD1) has a secret identity. Since its discovery in 1969, scientists believed SOD1's only role was to protect living cells against damage from free radicals. Now, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have discovered that SOD1 protects cells by regulating cell energy and metabolism. The results of their research were published January 17, 2013, in the journal Cell.
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