Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for January 30, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Research show mechanism behind wear at the atomic scale- Scientists may have received millions in duplicate funding, study says
- Researchers develop model for identifying habitable zones around star
- Researchers unveil first artificial enzyme created by evolution in test tube
- Study rebuts hypothesis that comet attacks ended 9,000-year-old Clovis culture
- Herschel finds past-prime star may be making planets
- NSAC to recommend closing BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider facility
- Physicists find new order in quantum electronic material
- Tapeworm eggs discovered in 270 million year old fossil shark feces
- Discovery of sexual mating in Candida albicans could provide insights into infections
- Researchers show ionic liquids effective for pre-treating mixed blends of biofuel feedstocks
- Gut microbes at root of severe malnutrition in kids
- Reconcilable differences: Study uncovers the common ground of scientific opposites
- A new genre of 'intelligent' micro- and nanomotors
- Disappearing homing pigeon mystery solved
Space & Earth news
Emission trading schemes limit green consumerism
Schemes that aim to regulate greenhouse gas emissions can limit consumers' attempts to reduce their carbon footprints, according to an economist at the University of East Anglia (UEA).
Smog-blanketed Beijing urges residents to stay indoors
Beijing urged residents to stay indoors on Wednesday as emergency measures were rolled out aimed at countering a heavy cloud of smog blanketing the Chinese capital and swathes of the country.
Dutch court rules in Nigerian farmers' suit against Shell
A Dutch court will decide on Wednesday whether Shell should clean up oil damage that destroyed a group of Nigerian farmers' land, a case that could set a precedent for global environmental responsibility.
US Navy to dismantle ship on Philippine reef
A badly damaged minesweeper stranded on a World Heritage-listed coral reef in the Philippines for nearly two weeks will need to be dismantled before it is removed, the US Navy said Wednesday.
Mixed forest provides beneficial effects
Forestry and nature conservation can benefit from promoting more different varieties of trees, according to a new study in which researchers from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, were involved.
Lake Mead aquatic-science research documents substantial improvements in ecosystem
Lake Mead National Recreation Area's water quality is good, the sport fish populations are sufficient, and the lakes provide important habitat for an increasing number of birds. This positive trend is documented in a new report published today that leads to a better understanding of the natural resources of Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, and the issues that may affect natural resource management of Lake Mead NRA.
NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite sees powerful Cyclone Felleng
False-colored night-time satellite imagery from NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite clearly shows bands of thunderstorms wrapping into the eye of Cyclone Felleng as it parallels the coast of eastern Madagascar.
S. Korea joins global space club with satellite launch
South Korea succeeded Wednesday in its third attempt to put a satellite into orbit, in a high-stakes test of national pride after arch-rival North Korea got there first with a rocket launch last month.
Colorado fire pollution rivaled worst days in Mexico City, Los Angeles, new study says
(Phys.org)—Particulate matter from the summer's devastating High Park Fire exceeded some of the worst air pollution days in Mexico City or Los Angeles over the past decade, say Colorado State University researchers, who are giving scientists additional quantitative data on the fire's impact.
Understanding the historical probability of drought
Droughts can severely limit crop growth, causing yearly losses of around $8 billion in the United States. But it may be possible to minimize those losses if farmers can synchronize the growth of crops with periods of time when drought is less likely to occur. Researchers from Oklahoma State University are working to create a reliable "calendar" of seasonal drought patterns that could help farmers optimize crop production by avoiding days prone to drought.
Spurred by Japan, California mulls quake alert system
California has long been braced for the Big One, but now a proposed new early warning system seeks to give the US state's residents vital extra seconds before a major earthquake hits.
In beef production, cow-calf phase contributes most greenhouse gases
Scientists have long known that cattle produce carbon dioxide and methane throughout their lives, but a new study pinpoints the cow-calf stage as a major contributor of greenhouse gases during beef production.
Ten years since loss of space shuttle Columbia
NASA lost the space shuttle Columbia 10 years ago Friday and 12 children lost a parent.
Rejuvenation of the Southern Appalachians
In the February 2013 issue of GSA Today, Sean Gallen and his colleagues from the Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences at North Carolina State University take a new look at the origin of the Miocene rejuvenation of topographic relief in the southern Appalachians.
Satellite image shows eastern US severe weather system
(Phys.org)—A powerful cold front moving from the central United States to the East Coast is wiping out spring-like temperatures and replacing them with winter-time temperatures with powerful storms in between. An image released from NASA using data from NOAA's GOES-13 satellite provides a stunning look at the powerful system that brings a return to winter weather in its wake.
Prehistoric humans not wiped out by comet, say researchers
(Phys.org)—Comet explosions did not end the prehistoric human culture, known as Clovis, in North America 13,000 years ago, according to research published in the journal Geophysical Monograph Series.
Greenhouse gases versus solar heating: New research shows complexity of global warming
Global warming from greenhouse gases affects rainfall patterns in the world differently than that from solar heating, according to a study by an international team of scientists in the January 31 issue of Nature. Using computer model simulations, the scientists, led by Jian Liu (Chinese Academy of Sciences) and Bin Wang (International Pacific Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa), showed that global rainfall has increased less over the present-day warming period than during the Medieval Warm Period, even though temperatures are higher today than they were then.
New method of measuring the mass of supermassive black holes
(Phys.org)—In a letter to Nature, an international team of astronomers, including Marc Sarzi from the University of Hertfordshire, report the exciting discovery of a new way to measure the mass of supermassive black holes in galaxies.
Study rebuts hypothesis that comet attacks ended 9,000-year-old Clovis culture
(Phys.org)—Rebutting a speculative hypothesis that comet explosions changed Earth's climate sufficiently to end the Clovis culture in North America about 13,000 years ago, Sandia lead author Mark Boslough and researchers from 14 academic institutions assert that other explanations must be found for the apparent disappearance.
Researchers develop model for identifying habitable zones around star
Researchers searching the galaxy for planets that could pass the litmus test of sustaining water-based life must find whether those planets fall in a habitable zone, where they could be capable of having liquid water and sustaining life. New work, led by a team of Penn State researchers, will help scientists in that search.
Herschel finds past-prime star may be making planets
(Phys.org)—A star thought to have passed the age at which it can form planets may, in fact, be creating new worlds. The disk of material surrounding the surprising star called TW Hydrae may be massive enough to make even more planets than we have in our own solar system.
Technology news
Watchdog launches global press freedom 'indicator'
Reporters Without Borders on Wednesday launched a new indicator measuring global press freedom by aggregating the scores of its annual index, from perennial table-topping Finland to worst offenders Eritrea.
Multilayer ceramic chip capacitors: World's smallest automotive-grade MLCCs in the mega cap class
TDK Corporation has expanded its CKG series of MEGACAP Type MLCCs to include miniature 1608 to 3216 (EIA 0603 to 1206) packages. Until now these MLCCs were available only in 3225 to 5750 packages (EIA 1210 to 2220). With dimensions of only 1.9 x 1.3 x 1.5 mm³ the new 1608 components are the world's smallest automotive-grade MLCCs in the mega cap class.
Light yet safe contender for city streets: Carbon fiber lightweight design for electric car
Can an electric vehicle be extremely light and safe at the same time? Researchers working on the Visio.M project aim to show that the answer is yes. Scientists as well as engineers from Germany's leading technology companies have teamed up to develop a Visionary Mobility concept car to meet tomorrow's electromobility needs. They have chosen a sturdy monocoque body, state-of-the-art carbon fiber materials and a lightweight engine and transmission system.
Mixed decision in NY Dead Sea Scrolls case
(AP)—A New York appeals court has reached a mixed decision in the appeal of a man convicted of harassment in an academic debate about the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Time Inc to slash hundreds of jobs
Time Inc. said Wednesday it was cutting several hundred jobs as the US publishing giant streamlines to adapt to a "multi-platform" media landscape.
Google Maps shows North Korean prisons, streets
Google Inc. has helped fill the gap in one of the last remaining information black holes in the world by releasing a detailed map of North Korea that adds street names, monuments—and its notorious prison camps.
North Korea a final frontier for Google Maps
North Korea was a final frontier for Google Maps.
Nintendo returns to profit, lowers sales forecasts
Japanese video game maker Nintendo Co. returned to the black for the first nine months of its business year and more than doubled its profit forecast for the full year, getting a perk from a weaker yen, despite pessimism about sales prospects.
RIM faces make-or-break BlackBerry 10 launch
It's the moment of truth for BlackBerry maker Research in Motion.
Lenovo profit boosted by smartphones, tablets (Update)
Personal computer maker Lenovo Group said Wednesday its quarterly profit rose 34 percent to a record high on strong sales of smartphones and tablet computers.
LG Electronics sinks to loss after EU fine
LG Electronics Inc. reported its first quarterly loss in a year Wednesday after Europe slapped it with a massive fine for price fixing.
Internet age navigation drives economies
Fresh from unveiling detailed online maps of North Korea, Google on Wednesday touted studies showing that Internet Age navigation tools boost the economic engines of nations.
Critical, long-overdue BlackBerry makeover arrives
BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. will kick off a critical, long-overdue makeover when chief executive Thorsten Heins shows off the first phone with the new BlackBerry 10 system in New York on Wednesday.
RIM changes name to BlackBerry, unveils two phones (Update)
After lengthy delays, Research In Motion Ltd. on Wednesday unveiled its first two phones with the new BlackBerry 10 system. The Q10 will have a physical keyboard, while the Z10 has only a touch-screen keyboard. RIM says it will also change its name to BlackBerry to maintain a single brand. It will have the ticker symbol "BBRY" on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Google launches global science fair
Google on Wednesday launched a global science fair by inviting students around the world to present ideas that could change the world and perhaps become the next Ada Lovelace.
Ticketmaster makes online 'CAPTCHA' puzzles easie
Ticketmaster, often the target of fan anger when tickets to popular concerts get sold out in seconds, is removing an annoyance that can slow down the buying process: the jumble of letters that people need to decipher known as "CAPTCHA."
YouTube confirms eyeing subscription 'channels'
YouTube confirmed on Wednesday that its evolution as an Internet stage for video may include subscriptions to content that creators believe people will pay to see.
eBay chief says Web privacy clashes coming
Internet companies will soon have to find a way to protect user privacy to avert a "clash" which could lead to increased government regulation, eBay chief executive John Donahoe said Wednesday.
Facebook 4Q results surpass expectations
Facebook delivered fourth-quarter results above Wall Street's expectations on Wednesday and sought to show that it has finally transformed into a "mobile company."
Review: Microsoft Office pricey, but good value
As much as I like Google Docs for word processing and spreadsheets, I find the online software clunky at times. So I was skeptical when I heard Microsoft is trying to sell its new version of Office as an online subscription.
High-tech cargo airship being built in California (Update)
The massive blimp-like aircraft flies but just barely, hovering only a dozen feet off a military hangar floor during flight testing south of Los Angeles.
Judge affirms Apple-Samsung award, limits damages (Update)
A US judge refused to toss out a verdict ordering Samsung to pay $1 billion to Apple for patent infringement, but reversed a finding of "willful" violations which could have tripled the award.
IBM sends Watson to NY college to boost its skills (Update)
Watson, the supercomputer famous for beating the world's best human "Jeopardy!" champions, is going to college.
BlackBerry launches long-awaited comeback campaign
A new generation of more versatile BlackBerry smartphones is finally about to hit the market after excruciating delays allowed mobile devices made by Apple, Samsung and others to build commanding leads in a market that is redefining society.
New semiconductor research may extend integrated circuit battery life tenfold
(Phys.org)—Researchers at Rochester Institute of Technology, international semiconductor consortium SEMATECH and Texas State University have demonstrated that use of new methods and materials for building integrated circuits can reduce power—extending battery life to 10 times longer for mobile applications compared to conventional transistors.
Firefox has Click-to-Play cure for plugin plague
(Phys.org)—Mozilla this week took an important step to strengthening and in some cases restoring confidence in Firefox as a class-act browser. The community issued an announcement by Mozilla's Michael Coates, director of security assurance, about Mozilla's latest move to avert plugin plagues. "Mozilla has decided that it's time to take things to the next level by disabling as many automatic plug-in activations as possible," he said, in a January 29 post.
Medicine & Health news
In Istanbul, tourists seek their dream moustache
Already known the world over for its baths, coffee and sweet Turkish delights, Turkey is on the road to adding another item to its roster of specialities: the moustache.
Cancer drugs give Roche a 2012 profit boost
Growing demand for its cancer medicines and diagnostic tests used by clinical laboratories helped Swiss drug maker Roche Holding AG post a modest 2.4 percent increase in full-year profits.
Bill Gates says aid must be tied to results
Bill Gates on Wednesday urged the world to take a page from his corporate playbook and link aid to measurable results, saying a harder-nosed strategy could dramatically reduce disease and poverty.
Gates urges polio eradication by 2018
Microsoft founder Bill Gates said the battle to eradicate polio was one of the toughest the world has faced, but said it could be conquered by 2018.
Britain's Tesco scraps Irish supplier over horse meat scare
British retail giant Tesco said Wednesday it has axed an Irish beef supplier which sparked a food scare after horse DNA was found in beefburgers in Britain and Ireland, where horse meat consumption is taboo.
First large scale community study into the value of group singing for older people with lung disease
The research was undertaken by Canterbury Christ church University's Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health, following a grant of £130,000 from The Dunhill Medical Trust.
Storks, cabbage patches, and the birds and the bees: Our broken sex education system
In the fields of gender, sexuality, and sexual health research, it's a no-brainer that sex education should start early, and that sex should be discussed often – both in schools and at home. But instead we talk about storks, cabbage patches, and the birds and the bees. In fact, we have a million and one ways to avoid teaching or talking about sex and sexuality.
More than just a backup system: PI3K-Delta in tumour surveillance
If something is really important, it's best not to rely on it. This basic principle is followed equally by human engineers – for example, the NASA space shuttle has three main engines – and by nature. Thus it could be expected that each of the four subtly different forms of class I phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) works in much the same manner.
Added benefit of aclidinium bromide is not proven
The drug aclidinium bromide (trade names Eklira, Bretaris) has been approved since October 2012 for widening the narrowed airways of adults with chronic-obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has now examined the added benefit of the drug pursuant to the "Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products" (AMNOG). No proof of an added benefit of aclidinium bromide compared with the appropriate comparator therapy (ACT) can be inferred from the data in the drug manufacturer's dossier.
Perampanel for epilepsy: No proof of added benefit
The drug perampanel (trade name Fycompa) has been approved since July 2012 as adjunctive ("add-on") therapy for adults and children aged 12 years and older with epileptic fits (seizures). In an early benefit assessment according to the German Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG), the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined whether perampanel offers an added benefit over the previous standard therapy. However, no such added benefit can be derived from the dossier, because the manufacturer failed to present any relevant data in it for the comparison with the drugs lamotrigine or topiramate.
Linagliptin: Once again, no proof of added benefit
Linagliptin (trade name Trajenta) has been approved since August 2011 to improve blood glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes. The assessment of the new dossier according to the German Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG) again showed that no added benefit of the drug over the appropriate comparator therapy (ACT) can be determined, because the pharmaceutical company has not submitted any relevant studies. This is the conclusion of the report by the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) published on 3rd December 2012.
Suppliers, grocers turning to DNA testing on meat (Update)
Ireland's surprise discovery this month of horsemeat traces in factory-produced burgers is boosting business for one trade: Forensics labs that use DNA fingerprinting to tell you what's on your plate.
Czech parliament green-lights medical marijuana
Czech lawmakers on Wednesday green-lighted marijuana as a legal medicine for use by patients suffering from serious illnesses.
Research study: Whistle away the need for diapers
Western babies are potty trained later these days and need diapers until an average of three years of age. But even infants can be potty trained. A study by researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, followed 47 infants and their mothers in Vietnam – where potty training starts at birth and the need for diapers is usually eliminated by nine months of age.
Chronic kidney disease increases risk of death for both women and men
A new study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Chronic Kidney Disease Prognosis Consortium (CKD-PC) found that in general chronic kidney disease is similarly associated with a higher risk of death and end stage renal disease for both women and men. The findings were released online in advance of publication in BMJ.
Researchers improve medical units to reduce nursing fatigue, cut costs
In hospitals, poor floor design, storage closet clutter and crowded corridors can contribute to nurse and medical staff fatigue. These distractions can hurt patient care quality and result in higher medical costs.
Are gender and ethnicity risk factors for metabolic syndrome in children?
Metabolic syndrome is more likely to affect children who are obese than overweight or non-overweight and who have other characteristics associated with the disorder, such as high blood pressure or insulin resistance. A new comprehensive and systematic review of the medical literature on metabolic syndrome in children that probed deeper to evaluate the risk associated with gender, ethnicity, and geography was published in Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders.
EPA moves to ban some rodent poisons
(AP)—The Environmental Protection Agency is moving to ban the sale of a dozen rat and mouse poisons sold under the popular D-Con brand in an effort to protect children and pets.
Family practice offers genetic tests to predict effective psychiatric meds
For the first time in Canada, patients attending a family practice clinic will be offered genetic testing to see whether or how they will respond to psychiatric medication treatment, in partnership with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
Mount Sinai launches clinical trial to treat chronic pulmonary sarcoidosis
Patients are currently being enrolled in the first clinical trial to investigate the efficacy of immunological therapy for chronic pulmonary sarcoidosis. The trial is being conducted by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Patient satisfaction leads to better HIV care
In a study of patients at two HIV clinics in the Houston area, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center found that those who were satisfied with the care they received had higher adherence to care and higher retention rates. Their report appears today in PLOS ONE.
Savings seen on diabetes supplies, other equipment
(AP)—Medicare is announcing a price cut.
Telephone physiotherapy reduces waiting times and provides equally good patient results
A physiotherapy service based on initial telephone assessment has the ability to provide faster access to the service and cut waiting times, a study published today in BMJ suggests.
Study clarifies antidepressant contribution to arrhythmia risk
A 2011 warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about the popular antidepressant citalopram (Celexa) left many patients and physicians with more questions than answers. Now an analysis of the medical records of more than 38,000 patients by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators clarifies the contribution of citalopram and other antidepressants to lengthening of the QT interval, an aspect of the heart's electrical activity that – when prolonged – may increase the risk of dangerous arrhythmias. The study supported the FDA's warning that higher doses of citalopram were associated with a prolonged QT interval but also found that the effects of some other antidepressants were quite different.
Study finds that people with cystic fibrosis who live in deprived areas have worse health
A study by the University of Liverpool has found that people with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) who live in deprived areas have worse growth and lung function than people living in more advantaged areas.
British 'stiff upper lip' may prevent early presentation for cancer symptoms
Embarrassment and not wanting to waste their doctors' time are more frequently reported by British people than in other countries, according to new research led jointly by King's College London and UCL (University College London). This may be holding British people back from presenting early with symptoms of cancer.
Scientists discover potential new target in fight against 'superbug'
University of Cambridge researchers have discovered how an antibiotic-resistant superbug exploits oxygen-limited conditions in the lungs of patients with severe respiratory disease to thrive.
Hyperemesis gravidarum during the second trimester is more likely to cause placental complications
Pregnancies complicated by hyperemesis gravidarum in the second trimester of pregnancy are at a much higher risk of associated placental dysfunction disorders such as placental abruption and small for gestational age babies (SGA), finds a new study published today (30 January) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Erectile dysfunction drug also helps men ejaculate and orgasm
New data suggests the erectile dysfunction (ED) drug Cialis may also be beneficial in helping men who have problems with ejaculation and orgasm, report researchers from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in the February issue of the British Journal of Urology International. Cialis is currently approved for the treatment of ED, benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) and for treatment of men with both conditions.
New design guidelines simplify development of targeted therapies for muscular dystrophy and other diseases
The dystrophin protein offers critical support to muscle fibers. Mutations affecting dystrophin's expression cause the muscle-wasting disease muscular dystrophy. In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), these mutations take the form of small sequence changes that make much of the dystrophin gene (DMD) untranslatable, yielding nonfunctional protein or no protein at all.
DNA analysis reveals genetic variants that make individuals susceptible to form of glaucoma prevalent in Asian countries
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world. A form known as primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) predominantly affects Europeans and Africans, whereas primary closed angle glaucoma (PACG) mostly affects Asians. Despite the high levels of blindness caused by PACG in Asian countries, scientists lacked the information that could confirm the disease's genetic basis and provide a starting point to tackle the problem.
Sweet drinks need tooth decay warning
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers from the University of Adelaide say any health warnings about soft drinks should include the risk of tooth decay, following a new study that looks at the consumption of sweet drinks and fluoridated water by Australian children.
To feel happier, talk about experiences, not things
(Medical Xpress)—To get the biggest psychological bang for the buck, talk about your experiences, whether a hike in the woods or a trip to Rome, rather than your things, according to a new Cornell study.
Disasters can prompt older children to be more giving, younger children to be more selfish
(Medical Xpress)—A natural disaster can bring out the best in older children, prompting 9-year-olds to be more willing to share, while 6-year-olds become more selfish. Researchers at the University of Toronto, the University of Chicago, and Liaoning Normal University made this finding in a rare natural experiment in China around the time of a horrific earthquake.
Study shows majority of smokers re-ignite their habit following heart attack
(Medical Xpress)—A new study reveals that two-thirds of middle aged smokers who have been hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction resume smoking within twelve months, despite being treated with bupropion (sold as Zyban), which is prescribed to help those trying to quit because of its demonstrated capacity to reduce nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms without increasing heart rate or blood pressure the way nicotine replacement therapies will. This surprising finding, revealed in a study led by Dr. Mark Eisenberg, a cardiologist and epidemiologist at the Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital, is published in the latest edition of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Researchers work to identify early warning signs in juvenile offenders
Red flags are easy to recognize in the days following a tragic event like a mass shooting. That's why a group of Iowa State researchers is working to identify those early warning signs in juvenile offenders before they turn into a pattern of criminal behavior.
Long-term consequences of vaginal delivery
Women are more likely to experience urinary incontinence, prolapse and faecal incontinence 20 years after one vaginal delivery rather than one caesarean section, finds new research published in a thesis from Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Androgenic hormones could help treat multiple sclerosis, study finds
Testosterone and its derivatives could constitute an efficient treatment against myelin diseases such as multiple sclerosis, reveals a study by researchers from the Laboratoire d'Imagerie et de Neurosciences Cognitives. Myelin composes the sheaths that protect the nerve fibers and allow the speed of nerve impulses to be increased. A deficit in the production of myelin or its destruction cause serious illnesses for which there is no curative treatment. The researchers have shown that in mice brains whose nerve fibers have been demyelinated, testosterone and a synthetic analog induce the regeneration of oligodendrocytes, the cells responsible for myelination, and that they stimulate remyelination. This work is published on January in the journal Brain.
TV viewing and sedentary lifestyle in teens linked to disease risk in adulthood
A team of scientists at Umea University, in collaboration with colleagues in Melbourne, Australia, have found that television viewing and lack of exercise at age 16 is associated with the risk of developing metabolic syndrome at 43 years age.
New target to stop cancer's spread discovered
Disrupting a key interaction between two types of proteins in cells inhibits the spread of cancerous cells, providing researchers with a new pathway toward developing cancer-fighting drugs, according to new findings by Georgia State University scientists.
Stem cells boost heart's natural repair mechanisms
Injecting specialized cardiac stem cells into a patient's heart rebuilds healthy tissue after a heart attack, but where do the new cells come from and how are they transformed into functional muscle?
Back pain researchers identify current priorities
(HealthDay)—Low back pain (LBP) primary care researchers indicate that the identification and management of specific subgroups of patients and translation of research into clinical practice should be the most important current priorities, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of Spine.
In STEMI, diabetes linked to worse long-term outcomes
(HealthDay)—In patients undergoing primary angioplasty for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), diabetes is associated with worse long-term outcomes, including mortality, reinfarction, stent thrombosis, and target vessel revascularization (TVR), according to research published online Dec. 28 in Diabetes Care.
Fibroid tumors not risk factor in twin pregnancies
(HealthDay)—There does not appear to be an increased risk for complications in twin pregnancies with fibroid tumors compared with those without fibroid tumors, according to research published in the January issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
T1DM insulin intensification patterns, outcomes studied
(HealthDay)—About half of youths with type 1 diabetes shift to a more intensive insulin regimen over time, which is associated with better glycemic control, according to research published in the January issue of Diabetes Care.
Non-drug ADHD treatments don't pan out in study
(HealthDay)—Many parents pursue costly and time-consuming treatments to help their children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Now, a new study finds little evidence that non-drug interventions reduce key symptoms of ADHD.
Too few adults get recommended vaccines, CDC says
(HealthDay)—Vaccines aren't just for kids, and most American adults aren't getting their recommended vaccinations, federal health officials said Tuesday.
CDC ranks foods most likely to make Americans sick
(HealthDay)—Leafy green vegetables are responsible for more foodborne illnesses than any other food, according to a new government report.
Implanted defibrillator patients prefer device off if very ill, survey finds
(HealthDay)—Most heart patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) would prefer to switch off the device if they had an advanced illness, new research suggests.
Five-year follow-up: Over half of all ACL reconstructions could be avoided
In 2010, researchers from Lund University reported that 60 percent of all anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions could be avoided in favor of rehabilitation. The results made waves around the world, and were met with concerns that the results would not hold up in the long term. A follow-up study that confirms the results have now been published. The risk of osteoarthritis and meniscal surgery is no higher for those treated with physiotherapy alone.
New drug target identified for multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) led by Carmela Abraham, PhD, professor of biochemistry, along with Cidi Chen, PhD, and other collaborators, report that the protein Klotho plays an important role in the health of myelin, the insulating material allowing for the rapid communication between nerve cells. These findings, which appear online in Journal of Neuroscience, may lead to new therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), in which white matter abnormalities are also common but have been largely ignored.
Rats, like humans, return to drinking once punishment is removed
Once heavy drinking impairs function, a variety of punishment-related threats may motivate people to stop drinking: spouses may threaten divorce, employers may threaten job loss, and courts threaten drunk drivers with losing their driver's license or incarceration. In the face of these threats, many alcohol abusers refrain from drinking, but relapse is very common when the threats of punishment fade, particularly when exposed to alcohol-associated environments (contexts).
Study reveals significance of second trimester markers for Down's syndrome
A new analysis has found that some second trimester markers for Down's syndrome that are detected by ultrasound are more telling than others. Published early online in Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, the study's results will help adjust pregnant women's risks for having a child with the condition.
Vegetarianism can reduce risk of heart disease by up to a third
The risk of hospitalisation or death from heart disease is 32% lower in vegetarians than people who eat meat and fish, according to a new study from the University of Oxford.
Scientists gain new understanding of latent tuberculosis
Scientists at the Forsyth have gained new insight on how Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global epidemic. Although drugs have been available to fight TB for 50 years, the disease still infects nearly 2.2 billion people worldwide and causes 1.7 million annual deaths. This is largely attributed to the bacteria's ability to stay dormant in the human body and later resurface as active disease. The Forsyth team, and its collaborators from Stanford University, has recently discovered that Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes TB, can lay dormant and thrive within bone marrow stem cells.
Obesity may increase risk of MS in children and teens
Being obese may increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) in children and teenage girls, according to new research published in the January 30, 2013, online issue of Neurology.
Excessive alcohol use when you're young could have lasting impacts on your brain
Excessive alcohol use accounts for 4% of the global burden of disease, and binge drinking particularly is becoming an increasing health issue. A new review article published Cortex highlights the significant changes in brain function and structure that can be caused by alcohol misuse in young people.
Academic gains, improved teacher relationships found among high risk kids in Head Start
A new study by Oregon State University researchers finds that Head Start can make a positive impact in the lives of some of its highest risk children, both academically and behaviorally.
Researchers confirm value of flow-diverting device for most challenging aneurysms
A multi-center study supports the effectiveness of the newest technology available for the treatment of difficult, life-threatening brain aneurysms. The technology, the Pipeline embolization device, is a flow diverter that redirects blood flow away from wide-necked or giant aneurysms that cannot be treated in more conventional ways.
Mindfulness meditation heightens a listener's musical engagement
When De'Anthony Thomas returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown in the 2013 Fiesta Bowl, says University of Oregon researcher Frank Diaz, Thomas put Ducks fans into a heightened zone of engagement for watching the game, not unlike what was experienced by music students who were first exposed to a brief session of mindfulness meditation before hearing an opera passage.
How does fibrosis occur in Crohn's disease?
New research has shown that a protein, known as IL-13, could be the key to the development of fibrosis in Crohn's disease. This breakthrough could help to advance new medicines to treat people suffering with the disease.
Peer pressure trumps 'thin' ideals in the media
Peers exert a greater influence on teenage girls' dissatisfaction with their bodies than do thin ideals in television or social media use, according to new research by Dr. Christopher J. Ferguson and colleagues from Texas A&M International University in the U.S. Their study is published online in Springer's Journal of Youth and Adolescence.
Drug OK'd for deadly genetic condition tied to cholesterol
(HealthDay)—Kynamro (mipomersen sodium) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat a rare inherited condition in which the body can't remove low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from the blood.
Moxifloxacin monotherapy equivalent to antibiotic combo
(HealthDay)—Oral monotherapy with moxifloxacin is as efficacious and safe as combination therapy with ciprofloxacin plus amoxicillin/clavulanic acid for treatment of fever in adult patients with cancer and neutropenia who are at low risk of complications, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Silibinin, found in milk thistle, protects against UV-induced skin cancer
A pair of University of Colorado Cancer Center studies published this month show that the milk thistle extract, silibinin, kills skin cells mutated by UVA radiation and protects against damage by UVB radiation – thus protecting against UV-induced skin cancer and photo-aging.
Early palliative care in lung CA focuses on coping, symptoms
(HealthDay)—Early palliative care (PC) clinic visits, integrated with standard oncologic care for patients with metastatic lung cancer, emphasize symptom management, coping, and psychosocial aspects of illness, according to research published online Jan. 28 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Some dietary interventions improve ADHD symptoms
(HealthDay)—Under blinded conditions, non-pharmacological treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show limited evidence of symptom improvement, according to a meta-analysis published online Jan. 30 in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Bile acid sequestrant reduces glucose concentration in T2DM
(HealthDay)—For patients with type 2 diabetes taking metformin monotherapy, the bile acid sequestrant colesevelam reduces fasting and postprandial glucose concentrations without any effects on insulin concentration, secretion, or action, according to research published online Dec. 18 in Diabetes.
Empathy and age: Middle-aged most likely to feel your pain
According to a new study of more than 75,000 adults, women in that age group are more empathic than men of the same age and than younger or older people.
Binge drinking increases risk of Type 2 diabetes by causing insulin resistance
Binge drinking causes insulin resistance, which increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes, according to the results of an animal study led by researchers at the Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The authors further discovered that alcohol disrupts insulin-receptor signaling by causing inflammation in the hypothalamus area of the brain.
Prostate cancer study tracks long-term urinary, sexual and bowel function side effects
A new study comparing outcomes among prostate cancer patients treated with surgery versus radiotherapy found differences in urinary, bowel and sexual function after short-term follow-up, but those differences were no longer significant 15 years after initial treatment.
Researchers see more West Nile virus in orchards and vineyards
Washington State University researchers have linked orchards and vineyards with a greater prevalence of West Nile virus in mosquitoes and the insects' ability to spread the virus to birds, horses and people.
Antibiotics cut death rate for malnourished children
Severely malnourished children are far more likely to recover and survive when given antibiotics along with a therapeutic peanut-based food than children who are simply treated with the therapeutic food alone, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found.
Setting the stage for a new paradigm in treatment of heart failure
Despite a substantial increase in the number of people suffering the debilitating and often deadly effects of heart failure, treatments for the condition have not advanced significantly for at least 10 years. An analysis by researchers at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine shows new breakthroughs could be closer than we thought.
Tenofovir Gel wins out in drug absorption study, but HIV prevention trials say differently
A novel head-to-head study looking at differences in how the antiretroviral (ARV) drug tenofovir gets absorbed in the body as either an oral tablet or a vaginal gel found tenofovir gel can achieve substantially higher concentrations of active drug in vaginal tissue than the oral tablet, suggesting that tenofovir gel should be highly effective in protecting women against HIV transmitted through vaginal sex. Yet, as unequivocal as the study's results may be, they have not been borne out in HIV prevention trials to date, leading the researchers to believe that effectiveness of tenofovir-based products depends on factors other than ARV tissue concentrations alone.
Virtual superheroes more helpful in real world too
Having virtual super-powers in a game may incite people to better behavior in the real world, according to research published January 30 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Robin Rosenberg and colleagues from Stanford University's Virtual Human Interaction Lab.
Yoga may help with common heart rhythm disorder
(HealthDay)—People with a common heart rhythm problem may be able to decrease their symptoms by adding gentle yoga to their treatment regimen, a small study suggests.
Doubling up on cold, flu remedies may harm liver
(HealthDay)—Taking too much acetaminophen, an active ingredient in many commonly used drugs for fever and pain relief, including Tylenol, can cause liver damage, experts at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warn.
Exposure to antiepileptic drug in womb linked to autism risk
Children whose mothers take the antiepileptic drug sodium valproate while pregnant are at significantly increased risk of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, suggests a small study published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.
Low-energy liquid diet offers effective weight loss for severely obese people, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—A new weight-loss programme available on the NHS for severely-obese individuals offers a safer, more cost-effective remedy than gastric surgery, according to a new study.
Good mood helps boost brain power in older adults
(Medical Xpress)—Older adults can improve their decision making and working memory simply by putting on a happy face, a new study suggests.
Tuberculosis may lurk in bone marrow stem cells of infected patients, researchers say
Tuberculosis is a devastating disease that kills nearly 2 million people worldwide each year. Although antibiotics exist that can ameliorate the symptoms, the courses of therapy last for months and don't completely eradicate the disease, which frequently recurs years or decades after the initial treatment.
Itching for new help for eczema: Recently identified immune cells possible therapeutic target
Researchers have identified a previously unknown critical role for a recently identified immune cell population in the progression of atopic dermatitis. The team found an accumulation of innate lymphoid cells in the active lesions of patients with atopic dermatitis, and in mice, they showed that ILCs contribute to disease progression. These studies suggest innate lymphoid cells may be a new therapeutic target in treating the development and severity of atopic dermatitis.
Study identifies biomarker and potential therapy target in multiple sclerosis
Researchers from Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason (BRI) have found that proteins in the IL-6 signaling pathway may be leveraged as novel biomarkers of multiple sclerosis (MS) to gauge disease activity and as a target for new therapies. The research, which investigated how several components involved in immune response differ between MS patient and control samples, was conducted by a team of researchers at BRI led by Dr. Jane Buckner in collaboration with Dr. Mariko Kita at Virginia Mason Medical Center and was published today in Science Translational Medicine.
Scientists learn more about how inhibitory brain cells get excited
Scientists have found an early step in how the brain's inhibitory cells get excited.
Researchers uncover previously unknown mechanism of memory formation
(Medical Xpress)—It takes a lot to make a memory. New proteins have to be synthesized, neuron structures altered. While some of these memory-building mechanisms are known, many are not. Some recent studies have indicated that a unique group of molecules called microRNAs, known to control production of proteins in cells, may play a far more important role in memory formation than previously thought.
Sorting out stroking sensations: Biologists find individual neurons in the skin that react to massage
The skin is a human being's largest sensory organ, helping to distinguish between a pleasant contact, like a caress, and a negative sensation, like a pinch or a burn. Previous studies have shown that these sensations are carried to the brain by different types of sensory neurons that have nerve endings in the skin. Only a few of those neuron types have been identified, however, and most of those detect painful stimuli. Now biologists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have identified in mice a specific class of skin sensory neurons that reacts to an apparently pleasurable stimulus.
Sex to burn calories? Authors expose obesity myths
Fact or fiction? Sex burns a lot of calories. Snacking or skipping breakfast is bad. School physical education classes make a big difference in kids' weight.
Gut microbes at root of severe malnutrition in kids
A study of young twins in Malawi, in sub-Saharan Africa, finds that bacteria living in the intestine are an underlying cause of a form of severe acute childhood malnutrition.
Biology news
Anti-whalers claim early victory against Japanese fleet
Militant anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd said Wednesday it had zeroed in on the Japanese fleet before a single mammal had been killed, claiming an early victory in their annual Southern Ocean battle.
Singapore seizes biggest ivory haul in a decade
Singapore authorities said Wednesday they had intercepted 1.8 tonnes of ivory from Africa worth $2 million in the city-state's largest such haul in over a decade.
Man will have smaller fish to fry, biologists warn
As fish get smaller under Man's environmental impact, they become more exposed to predators, which means a crucial food source will become more endangered than thought, scientists said on Wednesday.
Miniature probes help tackle climate change
Promising research on the use of miniature pressure probes to gauge the water status of wheat leaves could ultimately help farmers adapt to the effects of climate change.
Female deer take control during the mating season, study finds
(Phys.org)—A new study provides the first evidence of polyandry – when females choose to mate with more than one male – in female fallow deer.
'Zoomable' map of poplar proteins offers new view of bioenergy crop
(Phys.org)—Researchers seeking to improve production of ethanol from woody crops have a new resource in the form of an extensive molecular map of poplar tree proteins, published by a team from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Snakes meet their match in offspring-protecting lizards
(Phys.org)—A particular species of lizard will aggressively defend their eggs from predators such as snakes, a James Cook University researcher has found.
Saving Australia's wetlands from tenacious willows
Scientists have developed a new way to rescue the Bogong High Plains and their endangered alpine wetlands from invading European willows.
Campus as laboratory: Student biologists use Diag trees to help solve gypsy moth mystery
Working beneath the towering oaks and maples on the University of Michigan's central campus Diag, undergraduate researchers and their faculty adviser helped explain an observation that had puzzled insect ecologists who study voracious leaf-munching gypsy moth caterpillars.
How our cells cope with toxic small molecules
In this week's issue of the prestigious journal Nature Chemical Biology, scientists Carole Linster (University of Luxembourg), Emile Van Schaftingen (Louvain University), and Andrew D. Hanson (University of Florida, Gainesville) review an important, but so far neglected, part of metabolism, namely metabolite damage-control.
Snails signal a humid Mediterranean
An international team of researchers has shown that old wives' tales that snails can tell us about the weather should not be dismissed too hastily.
Confirmed: How plant communities endure stress
(Phys.org)—The Stress Gradient Hypothesis holds that as stress increases in an ecosystem, mutually supportive interactions become more significant and negative interactions, such as competition, become less so. The idea has been hotly debated but is now backed by a review of hundreds of studies co-authored in Ecology Letters by Mark Bertness, professor of biology at Brown, who first formally proposed the hypothesis in 1994. The time has come, he said, to test its application and predictive value.
Vultures foraging far and wide face a poisonous future
A first ever study of the range and habits of white-backed vultures across southern Africa shows that they often shun national parks, preferring to forage further afield on private farmland.
Chimp see, chimp learn: First evidence for chimps improving tool use techniques by watching others (w/ video)
Chimps can learn more efficient ways to use a tool by watching what others do, according to research published January 30 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Shinya Yamamoto and colleagues from Kyoto University and Kent University, UK. Their study presents the first experimental evidence that chimps, like humans, can watch and learn a group member's invention of a better technique.
Leading by the nose: Star-nosed mole reveals how mammals perceive touch, pain
The most sensitive patch of mammalian skin known to us isn't human but on the star-shaped tip of the star-nosed mole's snout. Researchers studying this organ have found that the star has a higher proportion of touch-sensitive nerve endings than pain receptors, according to a study published January 30 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Diana Bautista and colleagues from the University of California, Berkeley and Vanderbilt University.
Researchers solve biological mystery and boost artificial intelligence
By simulating 25,000 generations of evolution within computers, Cornell University engineering and robotics researchers have discovered why biological networks tend to be organized as modules – a finding that will lead to a deeper understanding of the evolution of complexity.
Aging cells lose their grip on DNA rogues
(Phys.org)—Transposable elements are mobile strands of DNA that insert themselves into chromosomes with mostly harmful consequences. Cells try to keep them locked down, but in a new study, Brown University researchers report that aging cells lose their ability to maintain this control. The result may be a further decline in the health of senescent cells and of the aging bodies they compose.
Process that controls tomato ripening discovered
(Phys.org)—Everyone loves a juicy, perfectly ripened tomato, and scientists have long sought ways to control the ripening process to improve fruit quality and prevent spoilage.
Researchers claim to have found possible example of sympatric speciation
(Phys.org)—A research team working in Israel has found what might possibly be an example of evolutionary divergence in action – and it's not due to a natural barrier. In their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers describe how blind mole rats living nearly side-by-side in the Upper Galilee Mountains, have been found to possess a difference in their mitochondrial DNA, of up to 40 percent.
Alternate walking and running to save energy, maintain endurance, research shows
(Phys.org)—Forget "slow and steady wins the race." A new study shows that, at least sometimes, the best way to conserve energy and reach your destination on time is to alternate between walking and running—whether your goal is the bus stop or a marathon finish line.
Discovery of sexual mating in Candida albicans could provide insights into infections
Like many fungi and one-celled organisms, Candida albicans, a normally harmless microbe that can turn deadly, has long been thought to reproduce without sexual mating. But a new study by Professor Judith Berman and colleagues at the University of Minnesota and Tel Aviv University shows that C. albicans is capable of sexual reproduction.
Scientists unveil Staphyloccocus aureus superbug's secret to antibiotic resistance
(Phys.org)—Worldwide, many strains of the bacterium Staphyloccocus aureus, commonly known as staph infections, are already resistant to all antibiotics except vancomycin. But as bacteria are becoming resistant to this once powerful antidote, S. aureus has moved one step closer to becoming an unstoppable killer. Now, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have not only identified the mechanism by which vancomycin resistance spreads from one bacterium to the next, but also have suggested ways to potentially stop the transfer.
Bonobos predisposed to show sensitivity to others
Comforting a friend or relative in distress may be a more hard-wired behavior than previously thought, according to a new study of bonobos, which are great apes known for their empathy and close relation to humans and chimpanzees. This finding provides key evolutionary insight into how critical social skills may develop in humans. The results are published in the online journal PLOS ONE.
Disappearing homing pigeon mystery solved
Homing pigeons are usually remarkably efficient navigators, however, on rare occasions, things go drastically wrong. So, when Jon Hagstrum of the US Geological Survey read in his local newspaper about two races when pigeons had been lost in 1998, he was reminded of a lecture by Bill Keeton that he had heard years before as an undergraduate at Cornell University.
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