Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for March 15, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Quantum teleportation performed with light from a quantum dot embedded in an LED- Microbes surviving deep inside oceanic crust
- Swift, Chandra explore a youthful 'star wreck'
- New microscope measures nanomagnet property vital to 'spintronics' (w/ video)
- Plants let chloroplasts know the time
- Discovery could yield treatment for cocaine addicts
- Review: Tech in Galaxy S4 doesn't come together
- Lost frog DNA revived
- Smallest vibration sensor in the quantum world
- Swarm intelligence: Study uncovers new features of collective behavior when overcrowding sets in
- Mobile LIDAR technology expanding rapidly
- James Webb Telescope gets its wings
- Earth-directed coronal mass ejection from the sun
- Depression in kids linked to cardiac risks in teens
- Drug-resistant MRSA bacteria: Here to stay in both hospital, community
Space & Earth news
New river setbacks 'a setback to environment'
Researchers from Macquarie University and RMIT have warned about potential major damage to the long-term health of rivers and the local environment following recent changes to New South Wales Government planning rules around development setbacks along watercourses.
Global warming may have fueled Somali drought
Global warming may have contributed to low rain levels in Somalia in 2011 where tens of thousands died in a famine, research by British climate scientists suggests.
Drought declared in New Zealand's North Island
New Zealand declared a drought across its entire North Island for the first time in at least 30 years on Friday, with low river levels in the capital Wellington also worrying officials.
Chemicals pollutants threaten health in the Arctic
Studies uncover risks and threats to Arctic inhabitant's health that might be due to contaminants brought by warmer air and sea water currents resulting from climate change.
Devastating East African drought made more likely by climate change
In 2011 a powerful drought gripped East Africa. The failure of both the 2010 fall rains and the 2011 spring rains caused a drought that, stacked on an already unstable political climate, caused a famine that led to hundreds of thousands of deaths. Whenever an extreme weather event strikes a population—a drought, a hurricane, or a powerful flood—questions arise as to whether ongoing global climate change is complicit.
China to more than double air monitoring network
China will more than double the number of cities covered by air quality monitoring, a top environment official said Friday, as part of efforts to tackle heavy smog that has sparked huge public anger.
US seeks to protect parrotfish, reefs in USVI
U.S. officials want to limit the number of parrotfish caught in federal waters off St. Croix to help protect the brightly colored species and fragile Caribbean coral reefs.
Distinguishing drought and water scarcity
Water resources can become strained by both natural factors such as drought and by human factors such as unsustainable use. Water resource managers can develop practices to reduce overuse of water resources, but they cannot prevent droughts, so distinguishing the causes of water stress can be useful. However, since the two factors often occur at the same time, separating them can be difficult.
Evaluating the seismic risk of mineral carbon sequestration
Geologic carbon sequestration, in which carbon is captured and stored underground, has been proposed as one way to mitigate the climatic effects of carbon dioxide emissions. One method of geologic carbon sequestration is to inject carbon dioxide in aqueous solution into rocks. However, as the solution fills the pore space in the rocks, the fluid pressure on the rocks increases, potentially increasing the risk of earthquakes.
Tracing nitrate in watersheds
Plants need nitrogen to grow, and nitrate is a common fertilizer ingredient, but high levels of nitrate contamination in drinking water sources can cause health problems. It is generally known that nitrogen flows through watersheds from upslope areas down to streams, but the relationships between upslope soil solution or groundwater nitrate concentrations and stream water nitrate levels—and the ways in which land use changes may alter this relationship—are not fully understood.
Large solar proton event explains 774-775 CE carbon-14 increase
Tree ring records indicate that in 774-775 CE, atmospheric carbon-14 levels increased substantially. Researchers suggest that a solar proton event may have been the cause. In solar proton events, large numbers of high-energy protons are emitted from the Sun, along with other particles. If these particles reach Earth's atmosphere, they ionize the atmosphere and induce nuclear reactions that produce higher levels of carbon-14; the particles also cause chemical reactions that result in depletion of ozone in the ozone layer, allowing harmful ultraviolet radiation to reach the ground.
'Dirty blizzard' in gulf may account for missing Deepwater Horizon oil
Oil from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill acted as a catalyst for plankton and other surface materials to clump together and fall to the sea floor in a massive sedimentation event that researchers are calling a "dirty blizzard."
Earthquakes are not enough warning for some volcanic eruptions
It may not always be possible to predict volcanic eruptions through rising numbers of earthquakes, say scientists.
Soccer balls in interstellar space
An international team of astronomers led by Masaaki Otsuka (Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics or ASIAA) has detected the C60 fullerene (molecules of carbon with 60 atoms arranged in patterns resembling a soccer ball) in the dying star M1-11. Data from the Subaru Telescope, the Spitzer Space Telescope (SST), the Very Large Telescope (VLT), the 1.88 m telescope at the Okayama Astrophysical Observatory (OAO), and the Japanese infrared astronomy satellite AKARI all contributed to this finding, which takes scientists closer to understanding the prevalence and formation of C60 in space.
James Webb Telescope gets its wings
(Phys.org) —A massive backplane that will hold the primary mirror of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope nearly motionless while it peers into space is another step closer to completion with the recent assembly of the support structure's wings.
Earth-directed coronal mass ejection from the sun
(Phys.org) —On March 15, 2013, at 2:54 a.m. EDT, the sun erupted with an Earth-directed coronal mass ejection (CME), a solar phenomenon that can send billions of tons of solar particles into space and can reach Earth one to three days later and affect electronic systems in satellites and on the ground. 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 900 miles per second, which is a fairly fast speed for CMEs. Historically, CMEs at this speed have caused mild to moderate effects at Earth.
Could global warming change tornado season, too?
With the planet heating up, many scientists seem fairly certain some weather elements like hurricanes and droughts will worsen. But tornadoes have them stumped.
Microbes surviving deep inside oceanic crust
(Phys.org) —A new study shows for the first time that microorganisms are thriving deep within the oceanic crust under the sea floor, and hence far from light or oxygen.
Swift, Chandra explore a youthful 'star wreck'
(Phys.org) —While performing an extensive X-ray survey of our galaxy's central regions, NASA's Swift satellite has uncovered the previously unknown remains of a shattered star. Designated G306.3.9 after the coordinates of its sky position, the new object ranks among the youngest-known supernova remnants in our Milky Way galaxy.
Technology news
Fully integrated silicon photonics platform in a multi-project wafer service
Imec announced today the launch of its fully integrated silicon photonics platform through a cost-sharing Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) service via ePIXfab. The platform enables cost-effective R&D of silicon photonic ICs for high-performance optical transceivers (25Gb/s and beyond) and optical sensing and life science applications. The offered integrated components include low-loss waveguides, efficient grating couplers, high-speed silicon electro-optic modulators and high-speed germanium waveguide photo-detectors.
Slump deepens for video game sector, survey says
US videogame sales extended their decline in February with a 25 percent monthly drop compared with a year ago, according to an industry tracker.
US journalist suspended after charged in hacking plot
A US journalist with the Reuters news agency has been suspended after being charged with conspiring with the hacktivist group Anonymous to break into and alter an online Los Angeles Times article.
Former Web producer indicted in hacking plot
A media online producer has been indicted on charges of conspiring with the hacktivist group Anonymous to break into the website of the station's parent the Tribune Co., officials said Thursday.
Song creation app from Down Under wows SXSW crowd
Two brothers from Australia pulled big crowds at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival with a novel app that lets anyone create a song just by crooning into a smartphone.
N.Korea says South, US behind major cyber attack
North Korea on Friday accused the United States and South Korea of carrying out a "persistent and intensive" cyber attack against its official websites in recent days.
Samsung Electronics reshuffle sees joint CEOs
Samsung Electronics announced Thursday that the heads of its consumer electronics and mobile divisions had been promoted to become joint CEOs of the South Korean giant.
Obama says US must shift cars, trucks off oil (Update 2)
President Barack Obama on Friday spoke of future cars that can go "coast to coast without using a drop of oil" and urged Congress to authorize spending $2 billion over the next decade to expand research into electric cars and biofuels to wean automobiles off gasoline.
Is technology really too fast for society?
We often hear that technology is advancing so fast that society cannot keep up. But in reality, social change is intimately linked to technology changes, and that expectations of what technology can bring changes in intensity.
Verizon-backed Redbox launches streaming service
In a challenge to instant video leader Netflix, telecom giant Verizon and rental group Redbox have launched a streaming video service for US customers.
Disney, News Corp. 'finalizing' plans for Hulu
Disney and News Corp. are "finalizing" their future plans for Hulu as the online video streaming service prepares for the departure of CEO Jason Kilar.
Zuckerberg tops with Facebook employees
Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg on Friday was ranked top chief executive in a Glassdoor survey of what current and former employees think of how top bosses are leading companies.
Dropbox buys email app startup Mailbox
Online storage firm Dropbox on Friday announced that it has bought Mailbox, a hot startup devoted to making it simpler to deal with email overloads.
3Qs: The 3-D printing of tomorrow
Ahmed Busnaina, the William Lincoln Smith Professor and director of the NSF Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing at Northeastern, has developed a method called directed assembly that he calls the 3-D printing of tomorrow. It is faster, cheaper, and more versatile than traditional 3-D printing, and he said it could enable a wave of innovation not currently feasible. Here, Busnaina was asked to describe this process and its potential impact in areas such as health, electronics, and the environment.
Mobile LIDAR technology expanding rapidly
(Phys.org) —Imagine driving down a road a few times and obtaining in an hour more data about the surrounding landscape than a crew of surveyors could obtain in months.
Medicine & Health news
UK military personnel at increased risk of violent offending
Most strikingly, the study found that the proportion of young servicemen (under 30 years old) with a conviction for violent offending was much higher than among men of a similar age in the general population (20.6% vs 6.7%).
Balancing act: Direct and indirect costs of managing musculoskeletal disorders
The value of medical treatment can be far greater than the cost of the treatment finds a study in BioMed Central's open access journal Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation. Improved physical function leads to measurable gains in employment, improved household income, and fewer days missed from work. This improvement in employment is matched by a reduction in the necessity of disability benefits.
Stem cells transplantation technique has high potential as a novel therapeutic strategy for ED
Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells cultivated on the surface of nanofibrous meshes could be a novel therapeutic strategy against post-prostatectomy erectile dysfunction (ED), conclude the authors of a study which is to be presented at the 28th Annual EAU Congress later this week.
Surgery is superior to radiotherapy in men with localized PCa, Swedish study says
Surgery offers better survival benefit for men with localised prostate cancer, according to a large observational study, conducted by a group of researchers in Sweden and the Netherlands.
New study on UTIs suggests flagellin is key in stimulating body's natural defences
A new study by British scientists reveals that motile Escherichia coli isolates demonstrated significant activation of NF-κB signaling suggesting that flagellin plays a key role in up-regulating the host innate defences against urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Japanese P2 study shows potential of combined vaccine and steroid drug in castration resistant PCa
Multi-peptide vaccination therapy combined with the low-dose steroid drug dexamethasone shows promise in treating chemotherapy-naive castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients.
Study shows additional role for abiraterone in blocking tumor growth in CRPC
As part of an EU-supported IMI-PREDECT consortium (http://www.predect.eu), a Dutch study showed that anti-androgenic properties of the drug abiraterone may provide an additional mechanism of action in blocking tumour growth of castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).
Informatics helps drive clinical and translational research
According to researchers, clinical and translational science has emerged as a national priority and investigators are increasingly becoming reliant on the use of computer science (CS), information science (IS), biomedical informatics (BMI) and information technology (IT) tools and methods to support and enable high impact research.
When in doubt, sit them out
'When in doubt, sit them out' should be the new catchphrase for parents and coaches of children who have received a concussion.
Cultural taboos putting Saudi women's lives at risk
Women in Saudi Arabia, who suffer heart attacks, are delaying life-saving treatment because they need a man's permission to travel to hospital, new research by the University of Ulster has revealed.
Artificial human livers engineered for drug testing and discovery
The liver is an important target organ for drug testing because all drugs pass through it for detoxification. This is a process whereby harmful substances are reduced or removed from the body. Drugs that cannot be detoxified may cause poisoning or other lethal side effects. IBN researchers have now made it possible for companies to predict the toxicity of new drugs earlier, potentially speeding up the drug development process and reducing the cost of manufacturing. The tool they have engineered to enable this is an artificial human liver piece, which mimics the natural tissue environment closely.
Children's well-being report captures Australia's growing inequality
Around one in six Australian children live below the poverty line, according to a report released today by the Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth (ARACY). While the rates have improved since the first such report was released in 2008, Australia ranks 26th out of the 34 OECD countries for this measure.
Shanghai finds another 800 dead pigs in river
Shanghai fished another 809 dead pigs out of its main waterway on Friday, bringing the total carcasses found this week to 8,300 in a scandal that has spotlighted China's troubles with food safety.
Cytoskeletal dysregulation underlies Buruli ulcer formation
Mycobacterium ulcerans infects the skin and subcutaneous tissues and secretes a lipid toxin, mycolactone, which causes open skin lesions, known as Buruli ulcers.
Sorting out fertility after childhood cancer
As success rates in treating childhood cancers have improved, greater emphasis is being placed on quality of life issues following successful treatment. Many cancer treatments can lead to infertility, but there are few methods to preserve the fertility of children who have not entered puberty.
CWRU spinoff ConservoCare gets licensing options to develop medical device for bladder control
ConservoCare, LLC, a spinoff of research at Case Western Reserve University, has obtained license options through the university's Technology Transfer Office to develop a medical device for bladder control.
Pioneering polio surgeon Jacquelin Perry dies
(AP)—Dr. Jacquelin Perry, a world-renowned orthopedic surgeon who pioneered treatments to help polio patients regain movement, has died at age 94 in California.
US organ transplant patient dies of rabies
A person in the northeastern state of Maryland who recently died of rabies was found to have contracted the illness from an organ transplant done over a year ago, US health officials said Friday.
NY woman balances thyroid disease and diabetes
(HealthDay)—Jet Landis was only 4 years old when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1992. Even though she was so young, she can still recall the extreme thirst she felt because of diabetes.
NY court: Group can sue over soap chemical
(AP)—A New York federal appeals court says environmental activists can try to prove that a chemical found in some soaps is potentially dangerous.
Sex differences in the normal composition of the heart may explain unique gender outcomes
Groundbreaking new insights on the differences in cardiovascular pathophysiology between women and men will be presented by Marianne Legato, MD, a globally recognized expert in gender specific medicine, and consultant to the Women's Heart Foundation in her keynote address at the 98th Annual American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) Conference in New York City, on March 15-17, 2013.
Internal Medicine residency match results encouraging for adults needing primary care
The number of U.S. senior medical students choosing categorical internal medicine residencies increased for the fourth consecutive year. According to the 2013 National Resident Matching Program, 3,135 U.S. medical school seniors matched for residency training in internal medicine, a 6.6 percent increase compared to 2012, when 2,941 matched in internal medicine.
Alcohol, fibromyalgia, and quality of life
Low and moderate drinkers of alcohol reported lower severity of symptoms of fibromyalgia than teetotallers, finds a study in BioMed Central's open access journal Arthritis Research & Therapy. Too much alcohol reversed this effect.
How can we stlil raed words wehn teh lettres are jmbuled up?
Researchers in the UK have taken an important step towards understanding how the human brain 'decodes' letters on a page to read a word. The work will help psychologists unravel the subtle thinking mechanisms involved in reading, and could provide solutions for helping people who find it difficult to read, for example in conditions such as dyslexia.
Study uncovers new cells in the urethra which may detect hazardous substances
A recent study conducted by a group of German scientists revealed the presence of a previously unknown cell in the urethra of mice. These chemosensory cholinergic brush cells are in close contact to sensory neurons that express cholinergic receptors.
No clear evidence that decline in HRT use linked to fall in breast cancer
There is no clear evidence that the decline in the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is linked to a reported fall in the numbers of new cases of breast cancer, as has been claimed, suggests a study in the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care.
Rules must evolve to allow new drugs for early Alzheimer's
(HealthDay)—Given the shift in the focus of drug development for Alzheimer's disease toward earlier disease stages, before the onset of dementia, regulatory guidelines need to evolve, according to a perspective piece published online March 13 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Preventive measures not enough to combat C. difficile
(HealthDay)—Increased efforts to halt the spread of an intestinal superbug aren't having a major impact, according to a national survey of infection prevention specialists in the United States.
Family-centered advanced care planning benefits ailing teens
(HealthDay)—Family-centered advanced care planning (ACP) enables families to better understand and agree on end-of-life decisions for adolescents with cancer, according to a study published online March 11 in JAMA Pediatrics.
FDA wants to relax approval process for Alzheimer's drugs
(HealthDay)—In an effort to quickly develop drugs that could prevent or slow Alzheimer's, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it plans to relax the approval process for experimental medications for the memory-robbing disease.
Multiple cone-beam scans fall within acceptable ranges
(HealthDay)—The radiation dose imparted to patients undergoing multiple intraoperative lumbar single cone-beam computed tomography (CT) scans is within the dose range that patients receive during a single fan-beam abdominal CT scan, according to research published in the March 1 issue of Spine.
'Practice' makes a perfect lure for internet gambling
(Medical Xpress)—New research from the University of Adelaide has studied the behaviour of young people lured into internet gambling through so-called 'free-play' or 'practice' modes.
Ten years on, the SARS outbreak that changed Hong Kong
With its bustling streets, shops and busy restaurants, little suggests that ten years ago Amoy Gardens was on the front line of Hong Kong's battle with a virus that caused a global health crisis.
Iraq war killed 120,000, cost $800 billion, study finds
At least 116,000 Iraqi civilians and more than 4,800 coalition troops died in Iraq between the outbreak of war in 2003 and the US withdrawal in 2011, researchers estimated on Friday.
Beyond Botox: Natural born killer or medical miracle?
Botox is best known for its use in cosmetic procedures, but this potent neurotoxin could be transformed into an extraordinary drug to treat a raft of debilitating conditions, a leading scientist will tell an audience at the University of Lincoln.
Negative public images hamper child welfare investigators
Even parents who have had no contact with child welfare agencies believe negative stereotypes about social workers and the likely outcomes of abuse or neglect investigations, misconceptions that complicate agencies' efforts to engage parents in interventions.
Aggressive regimen reduces mortality in drug-resistant TB
(Medical Xpress)—Aggressive drug regimens used to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis reduce the risk of death by about 40 percent when they include at least five drugs likely to be effective against a patient's tuberculosis strain, a retrospective study conducted amid an epidemic of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Peru has found.
Diabetes drug safe for HIV patients, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—People with HIV have an elevated risk of heart attacks, diabetes and insulin problems. To compound matters, there are not many drug options to prevent those secondary problems because of concerns that they will weaken the immune system.
Psychology professor discusses recent research on suicide among adolescents
Professor of Psychology Matthew Nock is the author of a new paper, co-authored with other Harvard faculty, which examines suicidal thoughts and behaviors among adolescents. In a recent conversation with the Gazette, Nock discussed his research, and the resources available at Harvard for students and others in the community.
Fasting time for tumour cells
(Medical Xpress)—Tumours need a steady supply of sufficient nutrients to be able to grow. In order to secure the nutrient availability, they secrete messenger compounds to stimulate neighbouring blood vessels to proliferate and sprout. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Neurological Research in Cologne, Germany, have now identified a new positive feedback loop involving the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and its receptor 'VEGFR-2' in human lung adenocarcinoma.
Mindfulness at school reduces likelihood of depression-related symptoms in adolescents
Secondary school students who follow an in-class mindfulness program report reduced indications of depression, anxiety and stress up to six months later. Moreover, these students were less likely to develop pronounced depression-like symptoms. The study, conducted by Professor Filip Raes (Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven), is the first to examine mindfulness in a large sample of adolescents in a school-based setting.
Combating the deathly Coronavirus
Scientists all over the world are on a quest for an antidote since the first patient died from the new coronavirus in summer 2012. Infection Researchers from the German Primate Center have now identified enzymes that activate the virus for infection. The scientists hope that their discovery will contribute to the development of treatment for the life-threatening disease.
Not dead yet: Junk DNA is back
A controversy at last: most of our DNA is junk, no it isn't, yes it is. Actually, I think it is – up to 90% really is junk.
Explainer: What is cancer?
Few things strike fear into people more than the word cancer, and with good reason. While improvements in cancer therapy and advances in palliative care mean that the illness does not always lead to inevitable and painful death as it once did, approximately one in three of us will get some form of cancer in our lifetime.
A combined approach needed to fight antibiotics resistance, research says
(Medical Xpress)—In her latest report to the government, Professor Dame Sally Davies - the UK's Chief Medical Officer - says the current antibiotics resistance crisis poses a "catastrophic threat".
Study shows compulsive hoarders struggle to categorise
Compulsive hoarders are more likely to suffer from executive dysfunction, a cognitive deficit that inhibits flexible thinking and categorisation skills, a study has found.
Protein in fat cells that stimulates inflammatory signaling helps put gears in motion for onset of diet-induced obesity
Poor diet and lifestyle choices set the stage for obesity and diabetes, but the immune system plays a relatively underappreciated role in accelerating this process. Metabolic changes in fat cells stimulate the release of inflammatory signals known as cytokines, which block insulin signaling at a cellular level, as well as other factors that recruit immune cells into fatty tissue to perpetuate the cycle of declining metabolic function.
Telestroke program increases access to stroke care by 40 percent
Telestroke programs substantially improve access to life-saving stroke care, extending coverage to less populated areas in an effort to reduce disparities in stroke care access. A new study by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, being presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 65th Annual Meeting in San Diego March 16-23, 2013, found that telemedicine programs in Oregon pushed stroke coverage into previously uncovered, less populated areas and expanded coverage by approximately 40 percent.
Tau transmission model opens doors for new Alzheimer's, Parkinson's therapies
Injecting synthetic tau fibrils into animal models induces Alzheimer's-like tau tangles and imitates the spread of tau pathology, according to research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania being presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 65th Annual Meeting in San Diego March 16-23, 2013.
Improved detection of frontotemporal degeneration may aid clinical trial efforts
A series of studies demonstrate improved detection of the second most common form of dementia, providing diagnostic specificity that clears the way for refined clinical trials testing targeted treatments. The new research is being presented by experts from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania at the American Academy of Neurology's 65th Annual Meeting in San Diego March 16-23, 2013.
MS patients did not benefit from CCSVI intervention
The first controlled clinical trial to test the safety and efficacy of interventional endovascular therapy on the symptoms and progression of multiple sclerosis has found that the intervention, sometimes called the "liberation treatment," which has attracted intense interest in the global MS community, does not improve patient outcomes. In a few cases, the treatment made symptoms worse.
Dating in middle school leads to higher dropout, drug-use rates
Students who date in middle school have significantly worse study skills, are four times more likely to drop out of school and report twice as much alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use than their single classmates, according to new research from the University of Georgia.
New research paper says we are still at risk of the plague
Today archaeologists unearthed a 'Black Death' grave in London, containing more than a dozen skeletons of people suspected to have died from the plague. The victims are thought to have died during the 14th century and archaeologists anticipate finding many more as they excavate the site.
Unhealthy eating can make a bad mood worse
(Medical Xpress)—Taking part in unhealthy eating behaviors may cause women who are concerned about their diet and self-image to experience a worsening of their moods, according to Penn State researchers.
British team perform new 'warm' liver transplants
British surgeons said Friday they have performed successful liver transplants on two patients using a revolutionary technique which keeps the organ warm and functioning while outside the body.
People with type 1 diabetes at risk of thyroid disease
(HealthDay)—People who have type 1 diabetes are more likely than others to develop an autoimmune thyroid condition.
Primary health risks outweigh long-term radiation concerns
(HealthDay)—Immediate health risks supersede lifetime radiation-induced cancer risk in patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) surveillance for testicular cancer, according to a study published in the March issue of Radiology.
Exercise, counseling cut days off from back pain in recruits
(HealthDay)—Neuromuscular exercise and counseling decrease the number of days off due to low back pain (LBP) among young men serving in the military, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of Spine.
Cardio risks need evaluation before prescribing statins
(HealthDay)—Physicians may not adequately consider a patient's cardiovascular risk when prescribing statins as preventive therapy, according to a research letter published online March 11 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
UK study says violence more likely among vets, troops
Young men who have served in the British military are about three times more likely than civilians to have committed a violent offense, researchers reported Friday in a study that explores the roots of such behavior.
Homegrown strain of dengue fever virus pinpointed in florida
(HealthDay)—Some people who fell prey to a 2009-2010 outbreak of dengue fever in Florida carried a particular viral strain that they did not bring into the country from a recent trip abroad, according to a fresh genetic analysis conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Discovery could yield treatment for cocaine addicts
Scientists have discovered a molecular process in the brain triggered by cocaine use that could provide a target for treatments to prevent or reverse addiction to the drug.
Depression in kids linked to cardiac risks in teens
Teens who were depressed as children are far more likely than their peers to be obese, smoke cigarettes and lead sedentary lives, even if they no longer suffer from depression.
Drug-resistant MRSA bacteria: Here to stay in both hospital, community
(Medical Xpress)—The drug-resistant bacteria known as MRSA, once confined to hospitals but now widespread in communities, will likely continue to exist in both settings as separate strains, according to a new study.
Biology news
Pacific's Palau looks at commercial fishing ban
Palau's president has proposed banning all commercial fishing in the Pacific nation's waters to create one of the world's largest marine reserves, covering an area roughly the size of France.
Entomologists make important discovery regarding insecticide resistance in bed bugs
(Phys.org) —Researchers in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture have identified 14 molecular markers in bed bugs that allow them to be resistant to pyrethroid insecticides. Pest control professionals commonly use pyrethroids to control bed bugs because of their safety, affordability, effectiveness and longevity.
Ready to plant: Iron Lady tomatoes resist three fungal diseases
If the name fits, grow it: "Iron Lady" is the first tomato to resist three major fungal diseases—early blight, late blight and Septoria leaf spot—plaguing New York's growers for years. For farmers, this new tomato dramatically reduces the need for expensive fungicide.
Detection of affective facial expression in a chimpanzee: An event-related potential study
The chimpanzee brain responds to pictures depicting affective facial expressions of another chimpanzee. A research team led by Program-Specific Associate Professor Satoshi Hirata (Primate Research Institute), in collaboration with the Hayashibara Great Ape Research Institute and the University of Tokyo, measured the brainwaves of an adult female chimpanzee when she was observing pictures of chimpanzees showing affective expressions (affective pictures) and pictures without affective expressions (neutral pictures). The results showed that the brain waveforms in response to affective pictures differed from those for neutral pictures around 210 ms (0.21 sec) post-stimulus.
158 rhino killed in S.Africa since start of year
Poachers have killed 158 rhinos in South Africa's national parks since the beginning of the year, a rate of more than two a day, environment officials said on Friday.
Mating season over for Japan's pandas
A Tokyo zoo put its pandas back on display on Friday after keepers decided mating season was over, with wellwishers hoping their two attempts would bear fruit.
Cryptozoology? No need for an apology
All forms of science are reliant on facts, hard evidence and statistics to maintain relevance and credibility. But what of the legitimacy of the so-called "pseudosciences"?
Suicidal bacteria: Biologists study unicellular organisms that occasionally poison themselves with a toxin
The cyanobacterium Synechocystis produces toxins that often lead to its own demise. The biologists Stefan Kopfmann and Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Hess from the University of Freiburg have determined the logic governing this mechanism.. Their findings have been published in the renowned periodicals Journal of Biological Chemistry (JBC) and Public Library of Science (PLoS ONE).
How plants halt hair growth: A developmentally timed molecular pathway controls cell size in Arabidopsis
Normal development and function in multicellular organisms relies on tight control of cell growth, yet surprisingly little is known about how such control is achieved. Although some promoters of growth have been identified, very few growth suppressors are known.
The complexity of regulated development in plants
In most living organisms, growth and development are controlled by selective modification of the lifespans of particular proteins. This mechanism is especially prevalent in plants, allowing rapid moderation of gene expression. Even the relatively streamlined Arabidopsis genome encodes more than 1,400 components of ubiquitin ligase complexes—molecular machines that are each able to single out a specific type of protein for degradation while sparing tens of thousands of others. However, the selectivity with which these hundreds of components assemble to form complexes has yet to be defined.
Study offers new insights on invasive fly threatening US fruit crops
Humans aren't the only species with a sweet tooth. Research from North Carolina State University shows that the invasive spotted-wing vinegar fly (Drosophila suzukii) also prefers sweet, soft fruit – giving us new insight into a species that has spread across the United States over the past four years and threatens to cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to U.S. fruit crops.
Plants let chloroplasts know the time
(Phys.org) —Plant cells communicate information about the time of day to their chloroplasts, the part of their cells that underpins all agricultural productivity on Earth, researchers at the University of Bristol have demonstrated in a study published today in Science.
Timing germ cell development
(Phys.org) —Scientists from the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research identify a novel mechanism in early germ cell development. They show how the chromatin modulator PRC1 coordinates the timing of sexual differentiation of germ cells during embryonic development. The study, which enhances our understanding of the mechanisms regulating stem-ness and cell fate determination, is published in the latest issue of Nature.
Researchers identify genes involved in bedbug pesticide resistance
(Phys.org) —Researchers from the University of Kentucky have identified 14 molecular markers in bedbug genes commonly associated with resistance to pyrethroid, the most popular pesticide used to control them. In their paper published in the journal Scientific Reports, the team describes how they compared genes from pyrethroid resistant bedbugs found in the Los Angeles area, to those from other areas of the country that had not yet developed a resistance, and as a result were able to identify 14 gene markers, that are associated with resistance to the pesticide.
Lost frog DNA revived
As part of a "Lazarus Project" to try to bring the Australian gastric-brooding frog back from extinction a UNSW-led team has succeeded in producing early stage cloned embryos containing the DNA of the frog, which died out 30 year ago. The unpublished research is presented publicly for the first time at the TEDx DeExtinction conference in Washington today. Gastric-brooding frogs were unique in incubating their young in their stomachs.
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