Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for January 31, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Quantum strategies fail to improve capacity of quantum optical communication channels- Expert psychologist suggests the era of genius scientists is over
- Decoded pigeon genome reveals secrets of thier traits and origins
- Flat boron by the numbers: Researchers calculate what it would take to make new 2-dimensional material
- Researchers build switchable magnetic logic gate
- Building a lunar base with 3D printing
- Nanoparticles that look, act like cells
- This is what a fish thought looks like
- Sirtuin protein discovery opens door to potential 'molecular fountain of youth'
- New study raises questions about long-held theories of human evolution
- Sacrificial skull mound in Mexico puzzles experts (Update)
- Apple blocks Java on Macs due to vulnerabilities (Update)
- Cassini watches storm choke on its own tail
- Ozone thinning has changed ocean circulation, scientists report
- Appeals court denies review on Samsung phone ban
Space & Earth news
Israeli astronaut's widow carries on after tragedy
(AP)—It's a day Israelis will never forget: Feb. 1, 2003, when national pride abruptly turned to national tragedy.
Hospital visits rise during Beijing's choking smog (Update)
Hospital admissions for respiratory complaints rose 20 percent during the latest choking smog to hit Beijing, reports said Thursday as state media demanded greater government openness on pollution.
Norway's ruling party may back Arctic islands oil drive
Norway's ruling Labour party provoked outrage from environmentalists as well as coalition members Thursday after it opened the way for oil exploration near the scenic archipelago of Lofoten.
NASA launches communication satellite
NASA launched a new communication satellite Wednesday to stay in touch with its space station astronauts and relay more Hubble telescope images.
SKorea: Satellite working normally, sending data
The first satellite launched from South Korean soil is working normally, officials said Thursday, a day after Seoul achieved its space milestone during a time of high tensions over archrival North Korea's recent threat to test a third nuclear device.
Columbia space tragedy, 10 years on
NASA on Friday will commemorate the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its seven astronauts a decade ago, a landmark incident that triggered the end of the shuttle mission.
Fla. scrambles to get NASA's OK for land to build launch pad
NASA is balking at plans by Space Florida to build a new commercial launch pad near Kennedy Space Center, and now state officials - in both Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. - are racing to persuade the space agency to change its mind.
Surfactant chemical enables researchers to extract significant oil deposits, leaves positive environmental footprint
Chemicals found in common household items, like toothpaste and soap, are proving to be the right formula to safely extract up to 70 percent of the oil still embedded in high-salt oil reservoirs in the United States.
Survey of nation's largest cities finds water supplies not as threatened as believed
(Phys.org)—Although reports of drought conditions, water wars and restrictions have often painted a bleak picture of the nation's water availability, a new University of Florida survey finds that conditions aren't quite so bad as believed.
DCD may have unintended effects on aquatic environment, researchers find
University of Otago researchers have discovered that run-off of the agrichemical DCD may adversely affect some aquatic eco-systems by disrupting natural processes.
River salinisation an urgent ecological issue
(Phys.org)—A just published review by Australian and European researchers has highlighted the growing global environmental problem of increasing salt levels in the world's rivers. Co-author, Dr Ben Kefford from the University of Technology,Sydney Centre for Environmental Sustainability , said that salinisation has become a major global threat.
Underwater robots help discover hidden faults
(Phys.org)—Hidden beneath ocean waves and masked by sand and mud on the seafloor, underwater faults are notoriously difficult to see and even more difficult to study. As a result, geologists struggle to evaluate the risks associated with these faults and often can't include them in seismic hazard assessments.
NASA sees a coronal mass ejection erupt from the sun
On Jan. 31, 2013 at 2:09am EST, the sun erupted with an Earth-directed coronal mass ejection or CME. Experimental NASA research models, based on observations from the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) and ESA/NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, show that the CME left the sun at speeds of around 575 miles per second, which is a fairly typical speed for CMEs. Historically, CMEs at this speed are mild.
Toxic threat from perchlorate plume slowly recedes
Ten years ago, community leaders were shocked by the discovery that a company that manufactured road flares here had disposed of toxic chemicals improperly, creating a 10-mile-long underground plume of perchlorate, a chemical used in rocket fuel.
Work needed to make algal biofuel viable, study suggests
(Phys.org)—Though biofuels from algae hold great promise, Cornell researchers find that more innovation is needed to make the technology economically and energetically viable at a commercial scale.
Team pioneers new way to survey thawing Arctic
(Phys.org)—In the snow of Alaska, a Stanford-led team of researchers has found a new way to determine if the soil beneath lakes, normally frozen, is thawing as a result of climate change. If so, the lakes could become a new source of methane, a global warming gas.
Astronomers observe 'hungry twin' stars gobbling their first meals
Just-forming stars, like growing babies, are always hungry and must "feed" on huge amounts of gas and dust from dense envelopes surrounding them at birth. Now a team of astronomers including Robert Gutermuth, a University of Massachusetts Amherst expert in imaging data from the Spitzer Space Telescope, reports observing an unusual "baby" star that periodically emits infrared light bursts, suggesting it may be twins, that is, a binary star. The discovery is reported this month in Nature.
Cyclone did not cause 2012 record low for Arctic sea ice
A huge Arctic cyclone in August was not responsible for the historic minimum seen soon after in Arctic sea-ice extent.
Growing oil palm for biofuels can't save our climate
(Phys.org)—Growing oil palm to make 'green' biofuels in the tropics could be accelerating the effects of climate change, say scientists.
New study raises questions about long-held theories of human evolution
What came first: the bipedal human ancestor or the grassland encroaching on the forest? A new analysis of the past 12 million years' of vegetation change in the cradle of humanity is challenging long-held beliefs about the world in which our ancestors took shape – and, by extension, the impact it had on them.
Ozone depletion trumps greenhouse gas increase in jet-stream shift
Depletion of Antarctic ozone is a more important factor than increasing greenhouse gases in shifting the Southern Hemisphere jet stream in a southward direction, according to researchers at Penn State.
Ozone thinning has changed ocean circulation, scientists report
According to a Johns Hopkins earth scientist, the hole in the Antarctic ozone layer has caused changes in the way that waters in those southern oceans mix – a situation that has the potential to alter the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere and eventually could have an impact on global climate change.
Cassini watches storm choke on its own tail
(Phys.org)—Call it a Saturnian version of the Ouroboros, the mythical serpent that bites its own tail. In a new paper that provides the most detail yet about the life and death of a monstrous thunder-and-lightning storm on Saturn, scientists from NASA's Cassini mission describe how the massive storm churned around the planet until it encountered its own tail and sputtered out. It is the first time scientists have observed a storm consume itself in this way anywhere in the solar system.
Technology news
Social media stirs Super Bowl ad buzz
This Sunday, nearly 180 million Americans will settle in front of TV sets with beer and chicken wings and, over four hours, watch commercials interrupted by an American football game.
Softbank 3Q profit doubles on iPhone sales
Japanese phone company Softbank, owned by billionaire Masayoshi Son, says its net profit more than doubled in the October-December quarter from a year earlier, helped by strong sales of Apple's iPhone and iPads.
Ericsson posts Q4 loss, but sales up
Wireless equipment maker Ericsson posted a 6.46 billion kronor ($1.02 billion) loss in the fourth quarter due to a massive one-time charge, but said Thursday its sales rose 5 percent as mobile operators invested in broadband networks.
Claims of hacking New York Times 'groundless': China
China on Thursday dismissed accusations that it had hacked into the system of the New York Times, in a cyberattack the paper linked to its expose of the wealth amassed by the family of Premier Wen Jiabao.
NEC swings to quarterly net profit
Japanese information technology firm NEC said Thursday it had swung to a net profit in the October-December quarter, thanks in part to improved sales in defence systems and mobile networks.
Viacom adjusted profit falls in 1Q, beats Street
Viacom says its net income rose sharply in its first fiscal quarter from results depressed by a large accounting charge in a year ago. But its revenue fell due to drop at its Paramount studio business and lower advertising revenue at its television channels.
Review: 'Ni no Kuni' an epic adventure with charm
Tokyo's Studio Ghibli is the creator of beloved animated feature films like "Princess Mononoke," ''Spirited Away" and "Ponyo." It hasn't made many forays into video games, although its influence is all over popular Japanese series like "Final Fantasy" and "Dragon Quest."
Solar power: Is it time for the big push?
There are great expectations for solar power, especially in the coming years, when the International Energy Agency projects solar to grow faster than any other renewable power. But what does science need to do to more fully respond to the opportunities ahead?
'jOBS' film stars regale Apple faithful at Macworld
Hollywood actors Ashton Kutcher and Josh Gad went before the Apple faithful on Thursday, sharing the terror and elation of portraying the "two Steves" long revered by the cult of the Mac.
'Grand Theft Auto V' to be released in September
A new installment of the unabashedly violent "Grand Theft Auto" videogame franchise will hit streets worldwide in September, Take-Two Interactive Software announced Thursday.
Wall Street Journal says hit by Chinese hackers too (Update)
The Wall Street Journal said Thursday its computers were hit by Chinese hackers, the latest US media organization citing an effort to spy on its journalists covering China.
Amazon website knocked offline briefly
Amazon.com stumbled for a short time on Thursday with aspiring visitors tripped in their efforts to reach the online retail titan's main shopping website.
The humble 'virtual chimney' fences that could reduce the impact of airport pollution
Simple 'blast' fences called baffles could deliver improvements in air quality for people living near airports, new research has found.
Social networking: Gen Xers connect online as often as they socialize in person
Young adults in Generation X are as likely to connect with friends, family and co-workers online as they are in person, according to a University of Michigan study.
NY Times says Chinese hacked paper's computers (Update)
Chinese hackers repeatedly penetrated The New York Times' computer systems over the past four months, stealing reporters' passwords and hunting for files on an investigation into the wealth amassed by the family of a top Chinese leader, the newspaper reported Thursday.
Nintendo chief rules out price cuts for Wii U
Nintendo's president Thursday ruled out price cuts for its new Wii U home console as a way to boost sales, vowing to become profitable again in its core businesses as smartphones and tablets increasingly threaten specialized game machines.
China companies plan to step up Europe investment
Chinese companies plan to step up investment this year in Europe, which some see as more welcoming than the United States, a European business group said Thursday.
Wahooly peddles influence to boost startups
Dana Severson, a onetime business marketer and freelance writer, is gaining notoriety - if not big revenue - at the intersection of social media and finance for his "Wahooly.com" - a startup business that matches online "influencers" who can draw attention to fledgling businesses.
Social media aid entrepreneurs' capital quest
No bank or record label helped singer-songwriter Wesley Cook fund his third studio album, but a Chuck Norris meme - and the generosity of 171 fans - did.
Facebook protections urged for job seekers, college applicants
In the era of social media where anyone can be famous for 15 minutes - or longer - the challenge of the Digital Age is keeping stuff private.
Soft spot for streaming video lifts Netflix, rivals
Consumers' insatiable love affair with streaming video - at home and on the go - is at the heart of Netflix's rebound and the continued rise of its competition.
Google Maps makes Grand Canyon virtual trek
Google Maps opened a virtual path to the wonders of the Grand Canyon on Thursday by adding panoramic images gathered by hikers with Android-powered camera systems strapped to their backs.
New data transfer protocol enabling 30 times improved transmissions speeds
Fujitsu Laboratories announced the development of a new data transfer protocol that, by taking a software-only approach, can significantly improve the performance of file transfers, virtual desktops and other various communications applications.
Romper suit to protect against SIDS
Parents of newborn babies are always creeping into the nursery at night to check that their infant is still breathing. Alternatively, they might let the baby sleep in their room, hoping to notice any respiratory arrest and intervene before it is too late. A lack of answers is part of what makes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) so frightening. SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants one-month to one-year old and remains unexplained, despite years of research.
Smooth ride at 300 km/h
Serious shocks need serious shock absorption, in space as well as on the ground. Now high-performance racing cars are driving more smoothly on space-ready rubber from ESA spacecraft.
License will lead to faster-charging batteries for phones, electric vehicles
(Phys.org)—An enhanced battery technology that can potentially reduce the time it takes to charge cell phones, electric vehicles and other battery-powered devices from hours to minutes is the subject of a commercial license agreement between Battelle and Vorbeck Materials Corp. of Jessup, Md. Battelle operates the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wash.
Researcher predicts errors in IT systems
Imagine if we never had any more computer problems. No more rail travel chaos caused by signal failures, no more accidents, internet banking that is always secure and medical equipment that always works as it should. It would be a dream world. But aren't errors inevitable in computer systems? Won't some things always be overlooked? Not anymore! We no longer have to overlook anything, according to University of Twente PhD candidate Eduardo Zambon of the Centre for Telematics and Information Technology (CTIT). Because with model checking we can remove the faults from the systems, making them error-free. Zambon, originally from Brazil, obtained his PhD on this subject on January 24, 2013.
The dangers of too much Java
Justin Cappos, an assistant professor of computer science and engineering at the Polytechnic Institute of NYU-Poly, has long been wary of the security risks inherent in Java, the programming language developed by Sun Microsystems in the 1990s. Referring to the libraries of algorithms, data structures, and commands that are part of every computing language, he said, "In Java, the standard libraries are huge; they involve about a million lines of code. A small problem in any one of those lines can leave Java vulnerable to attack."
Facebook unwraps new gift cards to Target, others
Facebook's newest e-commerce idea: A gift card users can buy for each other that can be spent at retailers and restaurants including Target, Jamba Juice and Olive Garden.
Wall Street punishes BlackBerry, Facebook
Facebook and BlackBerry lost ground on Wall Street Thursday as investors gave a cool reception to earnings at social network Facebook and the Canadian firm's launch of a new smartphone platform.
Apple blocks Java on Macs due to vulnerabilities (Update)
Some Mac users were taken by surprise Thursday as their computers stopped running programs written using the Java programming language after Apple blocked Java due to security problems.
Building a lunar base with 3D printing
(Phys.org)—Setting up a lunar base could be made much simpler by using a 3D printer to build it from local materials. Industrial partners including renowned architects Foster + Partners have joined with ESA to test the feasibility of 3D printing using lunar soil.
Appeals court denies review on Samsung phone ban
A US appeals court Thursday refused to reconsider an an appeal from Apple that sought a ban on Google-branded Samsung smartphones amid the patent fight between the two companies.
Medicine & Health news
Pioneering study shows that local volunteers increase early breast cancer detection rates in a low-income rural area
The study, published in The Lancet Oncology, is the first ever assessment of the effect of cancer screening in rural sub-Saharan Africa, and the authors are hopeful that their work, which is on-going, will ultimately show that the increase in early detection of breast cancer results in improved long-term survival chances for women who are screened.
Some families to be priced out of health overhaul
(AP)—Some families could get priced out of health insurance due to what's being called a glitch in President Barack Obama's overhaul law.
Simple, daily steps can reduce risk of heart disease, experts say
February is American Heart Month, a perfect time to remind people that small steps can reduce their risk of heart disease, the No. 1 killer of men and women. Mayo Clinic cardiologists offer several simple tips to reduce the risk.
EU anti-trust probe maintained on Johnson & Johnson, Novartis
European anti-trust authorities said Thursday they had sent written objections to pharamaceutical giants Johnson & Johnson and Novartis over a deal affecting generic medicine.
AstaZeneca in patent warning as net profit falls
(AP)—Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca PLC warned over expiring patents on its medicines as the company announced a 37 percent fall in full-year net profit on Thursday.
Danish Novo Nordisk profit surges
Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk A/S on Thursday reported a 23 percent growth in fourth-quarter net profit on strong sales of diabetic drugs and gave a positive outlook as regulators worldwide begin to approve its latest range of insulin products.
Homemade ventilator reveals China medical woes
Her coarse hands gripping a blue plastic ventilator she pumped by hand for years to keep her injured son alive, Wang Lanqin sits by her child's bed.
Physiotherapist creates new interactive wobbleboard to help rehabilitate patients
A physiotherapy lecturer at Bournemouth University (BU) has created a new interactive wobbleboard that will allow clinicians to better measure improvements in patients' balance.
Food Cultures: Growing, Cooking, Eating project reveals new appetite for behavioural change
At a time when 25% of the adult population is considered to be obese and the annual cost of the national obesity epidemic is estimated at £5 billon, a Plymouth-based research project that introduced young men and older people to sustainable and healthy food activities points to innovative partnership solutions. The research showed how participants underwent a range of social and behavioural improvements around food and diet.
Return-to-play decisions should commonly follow post-exertion neurocognitive testing, researchers find
(Medical Xpress)—Too many athletes may be going back onto the field, court or rink too soon after a concussion, according to a new study that recommends athletes undergo post-exertion neurocognitive testing before being cleared to return to play.
Electronic health records could help identify which patients most need ICU resources
A national shortage of critical care physicians and beds means difficult decisions for healthcare professionals: how to determine which of the sickest patients are most in need of access to the intensive care unit.
Second-generation CT scanner substantially reduces radiation exposure
Researchers using a newly approved advanced computed tomography (CT) system were able to significantly reduce radiation exposure in patients undergoing coronary CT angiography (CCTA), according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.
New study highlights impact of environmental change on older people
Recent natural disasters illustrate vulnerability of older people: majority of deaths from the Great East Japan Earthquake (2011) and Hurricane Katrina (2005) occurred among older people.
Fighting a global menace: Cancer's impact in poorer nations
If the focus on cancer sometimes tilts toward its impact in rich, industrialized nations, statistics show that the disease is a scourge all around the world, with 95 percent of cancer deaths occurring in developing countries.
A new mechanism that contributes to the evolution of cancer
Cancer arises from the accumulation of mutations and structural changes in chromosomes, which in some cases give rise to combinations that favour the growth or expansion of the disease. In this context, chromosomes tend to lose or duplicate entire regions, although, the mechanisms that initiate these chromosomal abnormalities are not fully understood.
Pediatric orthopaedic surgeons show age-related patterns of spine injury in ATV injuries
Children continue to account for a disproportionate percentage of morbidity and mortality from ATV-related accidents – up 240 percent since 1997, according to a Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics report published by pediatric orthopaedic surgeons at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital.
Nigeria frees long-delayed funds to address lead poison
Nigeria has provided nearly $3 million in long-delayed financing to clean up part of an area where lead poisoning has killed hundreds of children, Doctors Without Borders said Thursday.
Disparities exist in kidney transplant timing
African-Americans and individuals without private health insurance are less likely than others to receive a kidney transplant before requiring dialysis, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). The findings indicate that efforts are needed to ensure the equitable distribution of donor kidneys and the timing of transplantation.
Placental blood flow can influence malaria during pregnancy
Malaria in pregnancy causes a range of adverse effects, including abortions, stillbirths, premature delivery and low infant birth weight. Many of these effects are thought to derive from a placental inflammatory response resulting from interaction of infected red blood cells with the placental tissue.
Just 11 percent of adults, five percent of children participate in medical research
Medical research is vital to the advancement of health care, but many medical research studies have too few people who participate. A new study from the University of Michigan takes an in-depth look at public participation in medical research across the United States.
Training bystanders to spot drug overdoses can reduce deaths
Training bystanders to recognize and respond to drug overdoses can significantly reduce the number of fatalities, finds a study published in BMJ today.
Pfizer disputes suit claiming Zoloft doesn't work
(AP)—The maker of Zoloft is being sued in an unusual case alleging the popular antidepressant has no more benefit than a dummy pill. The federal lawsuit, filed in California, argues that patients who took it should be reimbursed for their costs.
Marriage reduces the risk of heart attack in both men and women and at all ages
A large population-based study from Finland has shown that being unmarried increases the risk of fatal and non-fatal heart attack in both men and women whatever their age. Conversely, say the study investigators, especially among middle-aged couples, being married and cohabiting are associated with "considerably better prognosis of acute cardiac events both before hospitalization and after reaching the hospital alive".
Patients can emit small, influenza-containing particles into the air during routine care
A new study suggests that patients with influenza can emit small virus-containing particles into the surrounding air during routine patient care, potentially exposing health care providers to influenza. Published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, the findings raise the possibility that current influenza infection control recommendations may not always be adequate to protect providers from influenza during routine patient care in hospitals.
Risk of unwarranted pregnancies with morning after pill conscience clauses
Conscience clauses, which allow pharmacists to opt out of providing the "morning after pill" without a prescription, risk unwanted pregnancies and undermine the principle of universal healthcare in the NHS, say pharmacists in the Journal of Medical Ethics.
Study finds parasites and poor antenatal care are main causes of epilepsy in Africa
The largest study of epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa to date reveals that programmes to control parasitic diseases and access to better antenatal care could substantially reduce the prevalence of the disease in this region.
Tuberculosis: WHO-endorsed test offers rapid detection
A diagnostic test for tuberculosis (TB) can accurately and quickly detect both TB and drug-resistant strains, according to a new study. The authors of a new systematic review assessing the diagnostic accuracy of the Xpert® MTB/RIF test published in The Cochrane Library say their study can provide timely advice for clinicians and policymakers in countries where TB is a major public health problem.
Current evidence does not support selenium for preventing heart disease in well-nourished adults
A systematic review published today in The Cochrane Library finds that in well-nourished adults current evidence does not support selenium for preventing heart disease. The review suggests that taking selenium supplements does not reduce a person's risk of developing heart disease, although most evidence is currently limited to healthy American adults.
Brain activity study lends insight into schizophrenia
Magnetic fields produced by the naturally occurring electrical currents in the brain could potentially be used as an objective test for schizophrenia and help to better understand the disease, according to new research published today.
Dementia: Cerebrolysin shows promise
Dementia patients may benefit from a promising new treatment called Cerebrolysin, according to the results of a systematic review published in The Cochrane Library. The authors brought together the most up-to-date evidence on Cerebrolysin as a treatment for vascular dementia.
Chronic hepatitis C: Interferon may be harmful in re-treatment
People with hepatitis C and chronic liver disease who relapsed or failed to respond to initial treatment are unlikely to improve on interferon retreatment. In fact, they may face an increased risk of dying sooner, and are likely to experience a variety of adverse effects, according to an updated systematic review published in The Cochrane Library.
Single, fractional dose of polio vaccine induces priming
(HealthDay)—Priming immune responses are induced in most infants after vaccination with a single dose of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV), according to a study published in the Jan. 31 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Could traditional Chinese medicine hold an answer to the obesity problem?
Obesity might be a very modern problem, but a team of scientists from Taiwan and China is turning to the age-old principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to help fight it. Breaking research published in the Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics indicates a possible new direction for the treatment of metabolic syndrome.
'Petri dish lens' gives hope for new eye treatments
(Medical Xpress)—A cure for congenital sight impairment caused by lens damage is closer following research by scientists at Monash University.
Effort to enforce HIV 'health threat' law raises questions
(Medical Xpress)—Michigan health officials are using HIV surveillance technologies to assist in enforcing a "health threat" law that makes it illegal for HIV-positive people to have sex without disclosing their status.
Germs spread fast at work, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—When someone comes to work sick, about half of the commonly touched surfaces in the office will become infected with the virus by lunchtime, according to a new study at the UA.
Outdoor fast food ads could promote obesity, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—Past studies have suggested a relationship between neighborhood characteristics and obesity, as well as a connection between obesity and advertisements on television and in magazines.
Researchers identify promising treatments for chronic fatigue
(Medical Xpress)—Two treatments most likely to lead to recovery from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have been identified by UK researchers.
Physical activity counseling can result in better outcomes for bariatric surgery patients
People who lose weight with bariatric surgery may have better results if they receive counseling about increasing physical activity before and after surgery, according to researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
New target for treating wide spectrum of cancers
(Medical Xpress)—UC Irvine biologists, chemists and computer scientists have identified an elusive pocket on the surface of the p53 protein that can be targeted by cancer-fighting drugs. The finding heralds a new treatment approach, as mutant forms of this protein are implicated in nearly 40 percent of diagnosed cases of cancer, which kills more than half a million Americans each year.
Drugs to treat fibromyalgia just as likely to harm as help
Among fibromyalgia patients taking either of two commonly prescribed drugs to reduce pain, 22 percent report substantial improvement while 21 percent had to quit the regimen due to unpleasant side effects, according to a new review in The Cochrane Library.
A 'neurosteroid' found to prevent brain injury caused by HIV/AIDS
A team of scientists from Canada, Thailand and Morocco have found that DHEA-S may prevent neurocognitive impairment that affects a significant percentage of AIDS patients. In a report appearing in the February 2013 issue of The FASEB Journal, they describe how a network of steroid molecules found in the brain, termed "neurosteroids," is disrupted during HIV infection leading to brain damage. This suggests that treatment with one of these steroid molecules, called DHEA-S, may offset the disruption caused by the virus to prevent or reduce brain damage.
Disulfiram: New support for an old addiction drug
Disulfiram was the first medication approved for the treatment of alcoholism over 50 years ago. It works, at least in part, by preventing the metabolism of an alcohol by-product, acetaldehyde. High levels of acetaldehyde in the body quickly cause unpleasant symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, headache, and accelerated heart rate. Thus, disulfiram provides a very strong incentive to avoid drinking.
The potential of psilocybin to alleviate psychological distress in cancer patients is revealed
Improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers in recent years have led to a marked increase in patients' physical survival rates. While doctors can treat the physical disease, what is not well understood is how best to address the psychological needs of patients with cancer.
Gum disease found to worsen infection in animal model of AIDS
Texas Biomed scientists in San Antonio have found that moderate gum disease in an animal model exposed to an AIDS- like virus had more viral variants causing infection and greater inflammation. Both of these features have potential negative implications in long term disease progression, including other kinds of infections, the researchers say in a new report.
A positive family climate in adolescence is linked to marriage quality in adulthood
(Medical Xpress)—Experiencing a positive family climate as a teenager may be connected to your relationships later in life, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
How the tilt of a cell-surface receptor prevents cancer
Clear communication between cells is essential to every aspect of the body's internal function. But since cells can't talk, or send emails, how do they communicate?
One of the key circuits in regulating genes involved in producing blood stem cells is deciphered
Researchers from the group on stem cells and cancer at IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute) have deciphered one of the gene regulation circuits which would make it possible to generate hematopoietic blood cells, i.e. blood tissue stem cells. This finding is essential to generate these cells in a laboratory in the future, a therapy that could benefit patients with leukaemia or other diseases who need a transplant and who, in many cases, do not have a compatible donor.
Study finds hormones can change the breast's genetic material
Melbourne scientists have discovered how female steroid hormones can make dramatic changes to the genetic material in breast cells, changes that could potentially lead to breast cancer.
How cancer cells rewire their metabolism to survive
Cancer cells need food to survive and grow. They're very good at getting it, too, even when nutrients are scarce. Many scientists have tried killing cancer cells by taking away their favorite food, a sugar called glucose. Unfortunately, this treatment approach not only fails to work, it backfires—glucose-starved tumors actually get more aggressive. In a study published January 31 in the journal Cell, researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute discovered that a protein called PKCζ is responsible for this paradox. The research suggests that glucose depletion therapies might work against tumors as long as the cancer cells are producing PKCζ.
More links found between schizophrenia, cardiovascular disease
A new study, to be published in the Feb. 7, 2013 issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics, expands and deepens the biological and genetic links between cardiovascular disease and schizophrenia. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of premature death among schizophrenia patients, who die from heart and blood vessel disorders at a rate double that of persons without the mental disorder.
Scientists identify culprit in obesity-associated high blood pressure
Obesity and its related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke are among the most challenging of today's healthcare concerns.
Zebrafish may hold the answer to repairing damaged retinas and returning eyesight to people
Zebrafish, the staple of genetic research, may hold the answer to repairing damaged retinas and returning eye-sight to people.
Scientists find first human iPSC from patients with maturity onset diabetes of the young
Joslin scientists report the first generation of human induced pluripotent stem cells from patients with an uncommon form of diabetes, maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY). These cells offer a powerful resource for studying the role of genetic factors in the development of MODY and testing potential treatments. The findings appear in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Personalized medicine eliminates need for drug in two children
Using genome-wide analysis, investigators at the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center and the University of Montreal have potentially eliminated a lifetime drug prescription that two children with a previously unknown type of adrenal insufficiency had been receiving for 14 years.
Time spent watching television is not associated with death among breast cancer survivors
Spending a lot of time watching television after breast cancer diagnosis is not linked to death in these breast cancer survivors. It appears that after accounting for self-reported physical activity levels after diagnosis, sedentary behavior was not an independent risk factor for death. These findings by Stephanie George, from the National Cancer Institute, and her colleagues, are published online in Springer's Journal of Cancer Survivorship.
Researcher uncovers potential cause, biomarker for autism and proposes study to investigate theory
A New York-based physician-researcher from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, best known for his research into fertility and twinning, has uncovered a potential connection between autism and a specific growth protein that could eventually be used as a way to predict an infant's propensity to later develop the disease. The protein, called insulin-like growth factor (IGF), is especially involved in the normal growth and development of babies' brain cells. Based on findings of prior published studies, Touro researcher Gary Steinman, MD, PhD, proposes that depressed levels of this protein in the blood of newborns could potentially serve as a biomarker for the later development of autism. However, this connection, described below in greater detail, has never been directly studied.
Hedgehog Alert! Prickly pets can carry salmonella
Add those cute little hedgehogs to the list of pets that can make you sick.
Active duty military personnel prone to sleep disorders and short sleep duration
A new study found a high prevalence of sleep disorders and a startlingly high rate of short sleep duration among active duty military personnel. The study suggests the need for a cultural change toward appropriate sleep practices throughout the military.
Brain activity predicts response to scopolamine
(HealthDay)—The neural response in the visual cortex while processing emotional information can predict which patients with major depressive disorder will respond to scopolamine, according to a study published online Jan. 30 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Intervention helps mothers of children diagnosed with cancer
(HealthDay)—Compared with a nondirective support intervention, mothers of children recently diagnosed with cancer who participate in the Bright IDEAS problem-solving skills training (PSST) intervention experience beneficial effects on mood, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress, which continue after the intervention ends, according to research published online Jan. 28 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
United States' premature birth rate continues to decline
(HealthDay)—The rate of premature births has declined to 11.7 percent, the lowest rate in a decade, according to the March of Dimes 2012 Premature Birth Report Card.
Effect of obesity gene variant influenced by age
(HealthDay)—A genetic variant associated with obesity risk (FTO) has a greater effect on body mass index (BMI) in young adults than older adults, according to a study published online Jan. 8 in Diabetes.
Fish like grouper, barracuda may pose food-poisoning risk
(HealthDay)—People who eat large, tropical predatory reef fish such as barracuda and grouper may be at risk for a form of food poisoning called ciguatera fish poisoning, U.S. health officials reported Thursday.
Texting doesn't replace the feel-good effects of talking, study says
(HealthDay)—It's hard to quibble with the speed and convenience of connecting through texts and instant messages, but scientists say that today's ubiquitous online social communication may not confer the same feel-good effects as plain old talking.
Friday is 'National Wear Red Day' for women's heart health
(HealthDay)—Americans are being urged to look through their closets for anything crimson, scarlet or apple-red to wear Friday, in support of the American Heart Association's annual Go Red for Women campaign.
Diabetes distresses bone marrow stem cells by damaging their microenvironment
New research has shown the presence of a disease affecting small blood vessels, known as microangiopathy, in the bone marrow of diabetic patients. While it is well known that microangiopathy is the cause of renal damage, blindness and heart attacks in patients with diabetes, this is the first time that a reduction of the smallest blood vessels has been shown in bone marrow, the tissue contained inside the bones and the main source of stem cells.
People having stroke should get therapy within 60 minutes of hospital arrival
People having an ischemic stroke should receive clot-dissolving therapy – if appropriate—within 60 minutes of arriving at the hospital, according to new American Stroke Association guidelines published in the American Heart Association journal Stroke.
Safe sex practices among African American women
Researchers have found that African American women exhibit a higher risk for sexually transmitted infections including HIV/Aids. But what motivates this group of women to have sex? And when are they more likely to use protection?
Men taking long-acting chronic pain meds five times more likely to have low testosterone levels
Low testosterone levels occur five times more often among men who take long-acting instead of short-acting opioids for chronic pain, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study published in The Clinical Journal of Pain.
Two-step immunotherapy attacks advanced ovarian cancer
Most ovarian cancer patients are diagnosed with late stage disease that is unresponsive to existing therapies. In a new study, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine show that a two-step personalized immunotherapy treatment—a dendritic cell vaccine using patients' own tumor followed by adoptive T cell therapy—triggers anti-tumor immune responses in these type of patients. Four of the six patients treated in the trial responded to the therapy, the investigators report this month in OncoImmunology.
Engineered oncolytic herpes virus inhibits ovarian and breast cancer metastases
A genetically reprogrammed Herpes simplex virus (HSV) can cure metastatic diffusion of human cancer cells in the abdomen of laboratory mice, according to a new study published January 31 in the Open Access journal PLOS Pathogens. The paper reports on the collaborative research from scientists at the at the University of Bologna and specifically describes that the HSV converted into a therapeutic anticancer agent attacks breast and ovarian cancer metastases.
African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control 1995—2015: Model-estimated health impact and cost
A relatively inexpensive program set up to combat river blindness, an infectious disease, has resulted in major health improvements in Africa, shows a study conducted by Erasmus University Medical Center researchers. The study, due to be published January 31 in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, shows that US$250 million helped cure or prevent blindness, skin disease, severe itching, and other symptoms in millions of people. In collaboration with the Management of the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC), the researchers calculated the health impact of APOC.
Artificial hips corrode, poisoning some patients, lawsuits say
Soon after Scott Ebert had his arthritic right hip replaced at 48, he felt so much better he named his new puppy Stryker, after the cool-sounding brand of his hip implant. But his relief was short-lived.
Jocks beat bookworms on brain test
English Premier League soccer players, NHL hockey players, France's Top 14 club rugby players, and even elite amateur athletes have better developed cognitive functions than the average university student, according to a perception study undertaken by Professor Jocelyn Faubert of the University of Montreal's School of Optometry.
Peptide found to induce autophagy resulting in defense against diseases
(Medical Xpress)—A multi-disciplined team of researchers from the United States and The Netherlands has found that introducing a certain type of peptide into mice cells induces autophagy, which in turn helps in fighting diseases. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the researchers describe how introducing the peptide Tat- Beclin 1 into mice cells resulted in a natural process known as autophagy becoming active, which in turn was found to help combat several types of diseases.
How deficiencies in two genes synergize to halt formation of gut nervous system
Mutations in single genes can cause catastrophic diseases, such as Huntington's Disease or sickle cell anemia. However, many conditions, including cancer, diabetes and birth defects are multigenic, arising from the collective failure of the function of more than one gene.
Sirtuin protein discovery opens door to potential 'molecular fountain of youth'
A new study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, represents a major advance in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind aging while providing new hope for the development of targeted treatments for age-related degenerative diseases.
Transition in cell type parallels treatment response, disease progression in breast cancer
A process that normally occurs in developing embryos – the changing of one basic cell type into another – has also been suspected of playing a role in cancer metastasis. Now a study from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center researchers has associated this process, called epithelial-mesenchymal transition or EMT, with disease progression and treatment response in breast cancer patients. The report also identifies underlying mechanisms that someday may become therapeutic targets.
Understanding 'master regulator' genes could lead to better cancer treatments
A pair of genes work together as "master regulators" in cell division to keep the correct number of chromosomes in each daughter cell. Ipl1 and Mps1 work to hook and unhook chromosomes for proper DNA separation. The discovery could lead to better anti-cancer therapies.
Genome-wide atlas of gene enhancers in the brain online
Future research into the underlying causes of neurological disorders such as autism, epilepsy and schizophrenia, should greatly benefit from a first-of-its-kind atlas of gene-enhancers in the cerebrum (telencephalon). This new atlas, developed by a team led by researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is a publicly accessible Web-based collection of data that identifies and locates thousands of gene-regulating elements in a region of the brain that is of critical importance for cognition, motor functions and emotion.
Biology news
Pact invests US $109 million to secure critical genetic material, maintain global food production
Concerned that inconsistent funding eventually could weaken a global network of seed banks at a time when farmers face unprecedented challenges, two of the world's leading agriculture organizations announced today a bold new effort to secure what many consider the foundation of food security in the developing world.
Fourteenth rare Borneo pygmy elephant found dead
A fourteenth rare Borneo pygmy elephant has been found dead of suspected poisoning, Malaysian officials said Thursday, the latest in a series of fatalities that has shaken conservation efforts.
Corn cobs eyed for bioenergy production
Corn crop residues are often left on harvested fields to protect soil quality, but they could become an important raw material in cellulosic ethanol production. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research indicates that soil quality would not decline if post-harvest corn cob residues were removed from fields.
EU proposal to protect bees stirs hornets' nest
An attempt to protect Europe's bee population has kicked up a hornets' nest. On Thursday, the EU's commissioner for health and consumer policy, Tonio Borg, proposed to restrict the use of three pesticides—called nenicotinoids—to crops to which bees are not attracted.
Identifying all factors modulating gene expression is actually possible
It was in trying to answer a question related to the functioning of our biological clock that a team lead by Ueli Schibler, a professor at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, has developed a method whose applications are proving to be countless. The researchers wanted to understand how 'timed' signals, present in the blood and controlled by our central clock, located in the brain, act on peripheral organs.
Great white shark moves back to northeast
The great white shark known as Mary Lee is headed north again after spending a number of weeks this winter along the Southeast coast.
Sweden resumes wolf hunt despite controversy
Sweden is to resume its wolf hunt in what authorities have described as a bid to limit inbreeding and maintain healthy stocks, but environmentalists argued Thursday that the hunt violates EU law.
Mexico releases 100,000 endangered sea turtles
A Mexican conservation group released more than 100,000 sea turtles into the ocean last year, in an effort to save a species threatened by egg poachers and fishing nets.
Study examining birds' habitat on Lake Michigan in full flight
When viewed from shore in late fall and winter, Lake Michigan often appears barren and unwelcoming. Hardly a place anyone or anything would choose to spend the coldest months of the year, right? But many bird species do exactly that.
Protein origami: Quick folders are the best
The evolutionary history of proteins shows that protein folding is an important factor. Especially the speed of protein folding plays a key role. This was the result of a computer analysis carried out by researchers at the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS) and the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. For almost four billions of years, there has been a trend towards faster folding. "The reason might be that this makes proteins less susceptible to clumping, and that they can carry out their tasks faster," says Dr. Frauke Gräter (HITS) who led the analysis. The results were now published in PLoS Computational Biology.
24 new species of flower fly found in Central and Southern America
A team of scientists have described twenty four new species of dipterans belonging to Quichuana genus, of which only a further 24 species were known. The researchers, including two Spanish biologists, have been studying the forests of Central and Southern America for ten years and they have now published their results in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
Spotted: Rare spotted penguin
(Phys.org)—Little penguins, also known as fairy penguins, usually have a white belly and dark blue back to camouflage them from predatory eagles above and their fish prey below.
Two rhinos killed a day in S. Africa since New Year
Poachers have killed 57 rhinos from South Africa's national parks since the beginning of the month, a rate of almost two a day, officials said Thursday.
New study calls for society to change the way it refers to shark behaviour
The term "shark attack" is typically used by the media, government officials, researchers and the public to describe almost any kind of human-shark interaction—even those where no contact or injury occurs between humans and sharks. For example, 38 percent of reported shark "attacks" in NSW between 1979 and 2009 did not involve any injuries.
New park protects 15,000 gorillas
The Republic of Congo has declared a new national park that protects a core population of the 125,000 western lowland gorillas discovered by WCS in 2008.
Sequencing hundreds of chloroplast genomes now possible
Researchers at the University of Florida and Oberlin College have developed a sequencing method that will allow potentially hundreds of plant chloroplast genomes to be sequenced at once, facilitating studies of molecular biology and evolution in plants.
Target 'super-spreaders' to stop hepatitis C
Each intravenous drug user contracting Hepatitis C is likely to infect around 20 other people with the virus, half of these transmissions occurring in the first two years after the user is first infected, a new study estimates.
New device traps particulates, kills airborne pathogens
A new device called a soft x-ray electrostatic precipitator protected immunocompromised mice from airborne pathogenic bacteria, viruses, ultrafine particles, and allergens, according to a paper published online ahead of print in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. This device, known for short as a SXC ESP, is highly versatile, with multiple potential uses, and Washington University is working on licensing the technology.
Australia's Tasmanian Tiger killed by man, study says
Australian researchers investigating the extinction of the country's Tasmanian Tiger put the fault solely with humans Thursday, saying they had debunked a long-held theory that disease was to blame.
'Rhythm' of protein folding encoded in RNA, biologists find
(Phys.org)—Multiple RNA sequences can code for the same amino acid, but differences in their respective "optimality" slow or accelerate protein translation. Stanford biologists find optimal and non-optimal codons are consistently associated with specific protein structures, suggesting that they influence the mysterious process of protein folding.
Study finds protein that helps nematodes avoid salt may also be involved in mammalian hearing
(Medical Xpress)—A research team with members from Cambridge University in the U.K. and Korea University College of Medicine, has found that a protein expressed in nematodes may also be responsible for controlling an ion channel involved in hearing in mammals. In their study, described in the journal Nature, the team found that a protein expressed due to the TMC-1 gene, allows nematodes to avoid areas of high salt concentrations. Because TMC-1 genes have been linked with hearing problems in mammals, the researchers suggest that the same protein found in nematodes might be responsible for controlling ion channels in mammalian hearing.
Aztec conquest altered genetics among early Mexico inhabitants, new DNA study shows
For centuries, the fate of the original Otomí inhabitants of Xaltocan, the capital of a pre-Aztec Mexican city-state, has remained unknown. Researchers have long wondered whether they assimilated with the Aztecs or abandoned the town altogether.
New study may lead to treatments that are effective against all MRSA strains
In the last decade, a new strain of MRSA has emerged that can spread beyond hospital walls, putting everyone at risk of contracting the dangerous bacterial infection. This particular strain of MRSA – known as USA300 – contains a chunk of genes not shared by any other strains, though it is unclear how this unique genetic material enables the bacteria to survive and persist in the community.
This is what a fish thought looks like
For the first time, researchers have been able to see a thought "swim" through the brain of a living fish. The new technology is a useful tool for studies of perception. It might even find use in psychiatric drug discovery, according to authors of the study, appearing online on January 31 in Current Biology.
Scientists explain how owl can rotate its head without cutting off blood
Medical illustrators and neurological imaging experts at Johns Hopkins have figured out how night-hunting owls can almost fully rotate their heads - by as much as 270 degrees in either direction - without damaging the delicate blood vessels in their necks and heads, and without cutting off blood supply to their brains.
The effective collective: Grouping could ensure animals find their way in changing environment
For social animals such as schooling fish, the loss of their numbers to human activity could eventually threaten entire populations, according to a finding that such animals rely heavily on grouping to effectively navigate their environment.
Decoded pigeon genome reveals secrets of thier traits and origins
University of Utah researchers decoded the genetic blueprint of the rock pigeon, unlocking secrets about pigeons' Middle East origins, feral pigeons' kinship with escaped racing birds, and how mutations give pigeons traits like a fancy feather hairdo known as a head crest.
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