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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for March 28, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Artificial muscle computer performs as a universal Turing machine- True colors of some fossil feathers now in doubt (w/ Video)
- Optical random access memory: Parts of images can be selectively retrieved from an atomic gas
- Theory and practice key to optimized broadband, low-loss optical metamaterials
- Cellular computers: 'Genetic circuit' biological transistor enables computing within living cells
- Propylene oxide: Light may recast copper as chemical industry 'holy grail'
- New inexpensive, efficient catalysts offer viable way to store and reuse renewable energy
- Even graphene has weak spots: Theorists find junctions in polycrystalline graphene sap its strength
- New vaccine-design approach targets HIV and other fast-mutating viruses
- Which came first the head or the brain?
- Researchers unveil large robotic jellyfish that one day could patrol oceans (w/ video)
- Google tests same-day delivery shopping service
- Swarming robots could be the servants of the future (w/ video)
- How communities effectively punish antisocial behaviour
- HIV antibodies that are worth the wait
Space & Earth news
Is global warming causing harsher winters?
Millions of people in northern Europe are still battling snow and ice, wondering why they are being punished with bitter cold when—officially—spring has arrived and Earth is in the grip of global warming.
Half of Indonesians at risk of landslides
More than half of Indonesia's population live in areas at risk of landslides, an official said Thursday, with traditional farming methods blamed for the widespread vulnerability.
US Navy ship set to be lifted from Philippine reef
The final sections of a US Navy ship that has been stuck on a UN World Heritage-listed coral reef in the Philippines for more than 10 weeks are set to be removed within days, an official said Thursday.
Growing plants on Mars
We have been to the moon several times. Next time, we may go back for a considerable period. And concrete plans for a one-way ticket to Mars have already been forged. Food will have to be grown on location. Is this a distant future scenario? Not for Wieger Wamelink, ecologist at Alterra Wageningen UR, for whom the future will begin on 2 April. He will be researching whether or not it is possible to grow plants on the moon.
Astrophoto: Beautiful new look at the Orion Nebula
The enormous cloud of dust and gas that makes up the Orion Nebula is featured in this beautiful astrophoto. This image was a joint effort, with images taken by Gary Gonnella – a regular on our Virtual Star Parties – and image editing by Paul Hutchinson. Paul used the "Hubble Palette" – named for the Hubble Space Telescope and its capability of imaging in very narrow wavelengths of light using various filters. This enables astrophotographs to reveal details of objects in space that can't be seen by the human eye. Here, the filters used produced different colors: were Hydrogen Alpha=Green, S=Red, O=Blue. Paul said he combined two exposures, a 1 minute and 10 second exposure, to reduce the blow-out in the bright center of the nebula. The results are striking!
Survey explores how gardeners are adapting to a changing climate
As gardeners and farmers across Britain survey the frost damage and delayed growth of their plants this Easter, scientists at the University of Reading are asking gardeners to participate in a new survey to understand how gardeners are responding to the UK's changing climate.
Green groups accuse paper giant of breaking logging promise
Indonesian green groups on Thursday accused the world's third-largest paper producer Asia Pulp & Paper of again breaking its promise to stop clearing natural forests and peatlands in the country.
Train derailment spills 30,000 gallons of oil in Minnesota
Crews were working Thursday to clean up as much as 30,000 gallons of oil that spilled onto a Minnesota field after a mile-long train derailed.
Canada pulls out of UN drought convention
Canada said Thursday it is pulling out of a UN convention that fights drought, mostly in Africa, becoming the only nation to walk away from a pact that Ottawa says is a waste of money.
Notre Dame researcher is studying role small dams play in pollution control
Sometimes, little things can add up to a lot. In short, that's the message of a research study on small dams, streams and pollution by Steve Powers, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Notre Dame's Environmental Change Initiative (ECI).
A day after Wash. landslide, examinations continue
Authorities are assessing the damage and danger from a massive landslide on a scenic Washington state island as nervous residents wait for more detailed information about how safe the area is.
Stanford survey: Americans back preparation for extreme weather and sea-level rise
Images told the story: lower Manhattan in darkness, coastal communities washed away, cars floating in muck. Superstorm Sandy, a harbinger of future extreme weather intensified by climate change, caught the country off guard in October.
Experts urge Jamaica to prepare for big quake
A U.S. seismic expert on Wednesday urged authorities in Jamaica to start long-term efforts to prepare for another major earthquake on the island, where the seaside capital was mostly destroyed by a big temblor just over a century ago.
Some microscopic marine organisms could adapt to climate change
Certain tiny, ocean-dwelling creatures called foraminifera can survive in conditions similar to those caused by ocean acidification, say scientists.
Student helps investigate a stellar 'crime scene'
(Phys.org) —An undergraduate astronomy student at the University of Sydney is proud to have played her part in investigating NASA's discovery of the remains of a shattered star.
Suppression of naturally occurring blazes may increase wildfire risk
(Phys.org) —Penn State's Alan Taylor uses model to help predict the unintended consequences of suppressing wildfires.
Budget cuts could slow commercial space progress
The head of NASA says federal spending cuts could eventually slow progress on commercial efforts to fly to space.
US-Russian crew blasts off for space station (Update)
A Russian spacecraft carrying a three-man crew blasted off Friday from a launch pad in the steppes of Kazakhstan, for the first time taking a shorter path to the International Space Station.
Dwindling buffer effect?
(Phys.org) —The Southern Ocean could absorb relatively less carbon dioxide in future if the global temperatures continue to rise as a result of human activities, as climate researchers from ETH Zurich demonstrate based on an analysis of two sediment drill cores from the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. The study has just been published in the journal Science.
Collision course? A comet heads for Mars
Over the years, the spacefaring nations of Earth have sent dozens of probes and rovers to explore Mars. Today there are three active satellites circling the red planet while two rovers, Opportunity and Curiosity, wheel across the red sands below. Mars is dry, barren, and apparently lifeless.
Hubble observes the hidden depths of Messier 77
(Phys.org) —The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured this vivid image of spiral galaxy Messier 77, one of the most famous and well-studied galaxies in the sky. The patches of red across this image highlight pockets of star formation along the pinwheeling arms, with dark dust lanes stretching across the galaxy's energetic center.
'Waste heat' may economize CO2 capture
In some of the first results from a federally funded initiative to find new ways of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from coal-fired power plants, Rice University scientists have found that CO2 can be removed more economically using "waste" heat—low-grade steam that cannot be used to produce electricity. The find is significant because capturing CO2 with conventional technology is an energy-intensive process that can consume as much as one-quarter of the high-pressure steam that plants use to produce electricity.
Technology news
New book shares insights from Steve Jobs' first boss
(AP)—When Steve Jobs adopted "think different" as Apple's mantra in the late 1990s, the company's ads featured Albert Einstein, Bob Dylan, Amelia Earhart and a constellation of other starry-eyed oddballs who reshaped society.
'Journey' sweeps Game Developers Choice Awards
(AP)—"Journey" arrived on top at the Game Developers Choice Awards.
RBS says technical issues blocking mobile apps
(AP)—British bank RBS says technical issues have prevented customers from logging into its mobile applications—another in a series of computer glitches that has hit the struggling institution.
2014 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid: 26 mpg combined fuel economy and 526-mile driving range
With the introduction of an all-new fourth-generation Pathfinder for the 2013 model year, Nissan's legendary adventure-ready Next Gen SUV took a major step forward in refinement, enhanced fuel economy, cutting-edge technology and family utility – including its industry first EZ Flex Seating System with innovative LATCH AND GLIDE technology. Now, for the 2014 model year, the evolution of the Pathfinder continues with the introduction of a new affordable hybrid powertrain system designed to enhance fuel economy and reduce CO2 emissions with no reduction of driving performance, passenger roominess or cargo capacity.
The virtual power plant: Stable supply of electricity from renewable energies
A conglomerate of many smaller power plants can replace traditional power plants. The research project Combined Power Plant 2 (Kombikraftwerk2) shows how it is possible to provide power using renewable energies both today and in the future, without increased risk of a blackout. Researchers of the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology IWES in Kassel are introducing the project at the Hanover Trade Fair at Booth N71 in Hall 27 from April 8 to April 12, 2013.
New insulating plaster for Bamberg's old town
They have that "certain something" and yet unrenovated historic buildings are not energy efficient. Researchers in the European project EFFESUS, working jointly with partners from business and management, are working on how to improve these buildings with energy efficiency, and how to supply them with renewable energies. They present their project at the Hannover-Messe from April 8 to 12 (Hall 1, Booth E16).
RIM founder says board asked him to stay as CEO (Update)
Research In Motion Ltd. co-founder Mike Lazaridis said Thursday as he prepared to leave the company for good that the board had asked him to reconsider his decision to step down as co-CEO.
NSF-supported Stampede opens the gates of advanced computation to thousands of research teams
A National Science Foundation-supported, world-class supercomputer called Stampede—which has already enabled research teams to predict where and when earthquakes may strike, how much sea levels could rise and how fast brain tumors grow—was officially dedicated today.
Google adds street views inside Japan nuclear zone
Concrete rubble litters streets lined with shuttered shops and dark windows. A collapsed roof juts from the ground. A ship sits stranded on a stretch of dirt flattened when the tsunami roared across the coastline. There isn't a person in sight.
Panasonic stays in TV business, chairman resigning (Update)
Panasonic's president said Thursday the company will persist with trying to fix its money-losing TV business, characterizing an exit from the fiercely competitive industry as a "final resort."
Japan police to launch national cyber crime force
Japan will launch a 140-strong nationwide police task force next week to fight cyber attacks, including those from abroad, the National Police Agency said Thursday.
New clues to Wikipedia's shared super mind
(Phys.org) —Wikipedia's remarkable accuracy and usefulness comes from something larger than the sum of its written contributions, a new study by SFI Research Fellow Simon DeDeo finds.
Making 'the cloud' greener
As the world becomes increasingly digital, demand for data centres is booming - and so too is their energy consumption. Data centres worldwide - many of them providing 'cloud' storage and services - produce around half the volume of emissions of the global aviation industry and more than the total emissions of the Netherlands. EU-funded researchers are developing ways to reduce data centres' environmental impact.
Studies find Midwesterners open to wind farms, especially in rural areas
(Phys.org) —Indiana residents are overwhelmingly receptive to wind farms in their communities, even in areas that have rejected turbine development, according to Purdue University studies.
RIM success in 4Q, but too early to declare win (Update)
Research In Motion Ltd., once written off as dead amid fierce competition from more modern mobile devices such as the iPhone, surprised Wall Street Thursday by returning to profitability and shipping more BlackBerry 10 phones than expected in the most recent quarter.
NY top court OKs tax on online sellers like Amazon
New York's highest court has ruled the state can collect sales tax from out-of-state retailers, rejecting claims by Amazon.com and Overstock.com that the tax violates the U.S. Constitution's Commerce Clause.
Hot Wheels: Subaru unveils its first hybrid
Subaru is coming out with a gas-electric hybrid crossover SUV for the crunchy granola crowd that wants to save fuel but still haul kayaks to the river.
Cybersquatting cases reach record in 2012
The number of cases of alleged cybersquatting handled by the World Intellectual Property Organisation jumped five percent to reach a record 2,884 last year, the head of the UN agency said Thursday.
EBay expects revenue of up to $23.5B in 2015 (Update)
EBay Inc. expects its revenue and profit to keep heading higher in the coming years as its e-commerce business and fast-growing PayPal payments service continues to expand.
Amazon to buy Goodreads for undisclosed sum
Amazon, the world's biggest online retailer that got its start in bookselling, is agreeing to buy book recommendations site Goodreads.
Cold cities less sustainable than warm cities, research suggests
(Phys.org) —Living in colder climates in the US is more energy demanding than living in warmer climates. This is according to Dr Michael Sivak at the University of Michigan, who has published new research today, 28 March, in Environmental Research Letters.
Solar plane prepares for flight across America (Update)
A solar-powered plane that has wowed aviation fans in Europe is set to travel across the United States with stops in Phoenix, Dallas, Washington, D.C., and New York, organizers of the trip announced Thursday.
Scientists use AI cobweb analysis to determine spider species
(Phys.org) —The identification of spider species based on pattern recognition of their cobwebs has been shown to be quite possible and successful. The paper, "Spider specie identification and verification based on pattern recognition of it cobweb," was published in Expert Systems and Applications and the paper's research was also recently discussed in New Scientist. A team came up with an AI cobweb recognition system through the use of special software for analyzing images supplied by a spider expert. More specifically the team used images from William Eberhard of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Costa Rica.
Amazon's online workforce not so anonymous after all
(Phys.org) —Most people assume that Amazon.com's massive online workforce is anonymous, but a study by researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and five other universities has uncovered a security vulnerability that makes it relatively easy to uncover many workers' personally identifying information.
Google tests same-day delivery shopping service
Google on Thursday began testing a service for same-day delivery of toys, clothing, groceries or other items ordered online in what could be a challenge to online retail titan Amazon.
Medicine & Health news
Multiple moves found harmful to poor young children
Poor children who move three or more times before they turn 5 have more behavior problems than their peers, according to a new study by researchers at Cornell University and the National Employment Law Project. The study is published in the journal Child Development.
Child development varies and is hard to predict, study finds
On average, children take the first steps on their own at the age of 12 months. Many parents perceive this event as a decisive turning point. However, the timing is really of no consequence. Children who start walking early turn out later to be neither more intelligent nor more well-coordinated. This is the conclusion reached by a study supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).
Technology could provide a solution to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, save lives
(Medical Xpress)—Through the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, several types of bacteria have become resistant to drugs that were designed to kill them. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that some of these "superbugs" are linked to tens of thousands of deaths in the United States annually, including 14,000 for C. difficile and 19,000 for MRSA.
Physician spouses very satisfied in relationships, study finds
It appears that the majority of spouses/partners of physicians in the United States are happy with their relationships, according to Mayo Clinic research. Of the about 900 spouses/partners of physicians who responded to a national survey, 85 percent said that they were satisfied in their relationship and 80 percent said they would choose a physician spouse/partner again if they could revisit their choice. These values are similar to those of married adults in the U.S. overall. The study appears in the March edition of Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Wilderness therapy programs less risky than daily life, research finds
Adolescents participating in wilderness and adventure therapy programs are at significantly less risk of injury than those playing football and are three times less likely to visit the emergency room for an injury than if they were at home, a new study by University of New Hampshire researchers finds. These findings, based on an analysis of risk management data from 12 programs providing outdoor behavioral healthcare in 2011, were reported in the latest issue of the Journal of Therapeutic Schools and Programs.
New research on the effects of traumatic brain injury
Considerable opportunity exists to improve interventions and outcomes of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in older adults, according to three studies published in the recent online issue of NeuroRehabilitation by researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Many doctors do not provide tobacco cessation assistance to lung cancer patients
Physicians who care for lung cancer patients recognize the importance of tobacco cessation, but often do not provide cessation assistance to their patients according to a recent study published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology (JTO).
Creating inclusive child-care spaces
Researchers from the University of Alberta are teaming up with child-care providers and day-home operators to ensure they have adequate training and support needed to offer inclusive spaces for children with disabilities.
Scientists slam Italy's untested stem cell therapy (Update)
European scientists are criticizing a decision by Italy's government to allow a handful of children to be treated in public hospitals with an experimental stem cell therapy.
CDC launches new batch of graphic anti-smoking ads
(AP)—Government health officials are launching the second round of a graphic, emotional ad campaign designed to push smokers into kicking the habit.
Academic urology training program in crisis
(HealthDay)—The current system of Graduate Medical Education (GME) funding is not adequate in funding urology residency programs and may lead to a significant shortage of urologists in the United States, according to research published in the March issue of Urology.
Expanding Medicaid in Pennsylvania would increase federal revenue to the state, study finds
Expanding Medicaid in Pennsylvania under the Affordable Care Act would boost federal revenue to the state by more than $2 billion annually and provide 340,000 residents with health insurance, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
NYC appeals ruling striking down soda size limit
(AP)—New York City is asking appeals judges to reinstate a ban on supersized sodas and other sugary drinks.
Beaumont doctors call for training to reduce sudden cardiac arrest fatalities in schools
One of the leading causes of death in the United States is sudden cardiac arrest, which claims the lives of more than 325,000 people each year. In a study published in the April issue of the journal Resuscitation, Beaumont doctors found that cardiac arrests in K-12 schools are extremely rare, less than 0.2 percent, but out of 47 people who experienced cardiac arrest over a six-year period at K-12 schools, only 15 survived.
Low vitamin D linked with lower kidney function after transplantation
Vitamin D deficiency may decrease kidney function in transplant recipients, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The finding suggests that vitamin D supplementation may help improve the health of kidney transplant recipients.
Hispanics live longest, whites shortest among dialysis patients
Among kidney failure patients on dialysis, Hispanics tend to live the longest and Whites the shortest, with Blacks' survival time in between these two, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). Examining the reasons for these survival differences could help improve care for all patients with kidney disease.
Missed opportunities to help smokers with mental illness
Although smoking prevalence has declined in the United Kingdom over recent decades, it has changed little among people with mental health disorders, remaining substantially higher than the national average. Yet a study published in the journal Addiction, presenting work carried out for a report released today by the Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Psychiatrists called 'Smoking and Mental Health', suggests that general practitioners (GPs) are missing opportunities to help smokers with mental health disorders to quit. Though smokers with mental health problems are more likely than other smokers to receive cessation support from their GP over the course of a year, this reflects the increased frequency of their consultations. Overall, the total proportion of smokers with poor mental health (indicated by a recorded diagnosis or a prescription for a psychoactive medication) who are prescribed a smoking cessation medication in any one year is low: approximately o! ne in ten is prescribed a smoking cessation medication, and only half are advised to quit.
Marital conflict causes stress in children, may affect cognitive development
Marital conflict is a significant source of environmental stress for children, and witnessing such conflict may harm children's stress response systems which, in turn, may affect their mental and intellectual development.
Teens' struggles with peers forecast long-term adult problems
Teenagers' struggles to connect with their peers in the early adolescent years while not getting swept along by negative peer influences predict their capacity to form strong friendships and avoid serious problems even ten years later. Those are the conclusions of a new longitudinal study by researchers at the University of Virginia that appears in the journal Child Development.
Diabetes: Computer based interventions provide limited support
Self-management interventions delivered by computer and mobile phone currently provide limited benefits for people with diabetes, according to a systematic review published in The Cochrane Library. Although computer and mobile phone-based self-management programmes had small positive effects on blood sugar levels, these effects seemed to be short-lived.
Cervical cancer: DNA-based test more accurate than repeat smear
In women who have a potentially or mildly abnormal cervical smear, using a DNA-based test can identify those at higher risk of having precursors of cervical cancer, according to a new Cochrane Systematic Review. The authors found that the DNA-based test identified patients in possible need of treatment more accurately than a repeat smear test.
Prebiotics: Do supplements in baby formula help prevent allergies?
Prebiotic supplements in infant formula may help to prevent eczema, according to a systematic review published in The Cochrane Library. However, the review highlights a lack of high quality evidence for the effects of prebiotics in preventing allergies.
Should short boys take growth hormone?
(HealthDay)—Parents often worry when their child, especially a son, is much shorter than average. But as long as there is no medical cause, parents can rest easy, experts say.
Experimental drug may work against hepatitis C
(HealthDay)—An experimental therapy for hepatitis C—a "silent killer" linked to liver cancer and cirrhosis—has shown promise in tamping down virus levels in early trials.
Poor 'Health literacy' keeps patients from taking meds
(HealthDay)—Adult diabetes patients who don't understand basic health information are less likely to continue taking newly prescribed antidepressants, a new study finds.
Park perks: Teenagers who live close to a park are more physically active
(Medical Xpress)—California teenagers who live close to a park or open space are more likely to get exercise than those who live in areas without parks nearby, a new policy brief from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research shows.
Chinese medicine may hold the key to treating diabetes
(Medical Xpress)—Traditional Chinese medicine could be a key weapon in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, a joint international study has found.
Engaging teenagers in science will improve the health of future generations
(Medical Xpress)—A science and educational-based approach to diet and lifestyle will help young people improve their own health and the health of their future children, Southampton research has shown.
In managing inflammation, controlling white blood cell flow may be key
(Medical Xpress)—New research by Yale University scientists sets the stage for improved management of acute tissue inflammation related to wounds and chronic inflammatory diseases by advancing current understanding of inflammatory processes.
Researchers identify a potential new therapeutic target for E. coli infections
(Medical Xpress)—A new study by researchers at the Center for Modeling Immunity to Enteric Pathogens at Virginia Bioinformatics Institute provides novel insight into how an emerging strain of the diarrhea-causing bacteria E. coli interacts with its host.
Parkinson's disease protein gums up garbage disposal system in cells
(Medical Xpress)—Clumps of α-synuclein protein in nerve cells are hallmarks of many degenerative brain diseases, most notably Parkinson's disease.
Mindfulness from meditation associated with lower stress hormone
(Medical Xpress)—Focusing on the present rather than letting the mind drift may help to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, suggests new research from the Shamatha Project at the University of California, Davis.
Major health benefits of music uncovered
(Medical Xpress)—In the first large-scale review of 400 research papers in the neurochemistry of music, a team led by Prof. Daniel J. Levitin of McGill University's Psychology Dept. has been able to show that playing and listening to music has clear benefits for both mental and physical health. In particular, music was found both to improve the body's immune system function and to reduce levels of stress. Listening to music was also found to be more effective than prescription drugs in reducing anxiety prior to surgery.
Completing a dangerous cycle: The downward spiral of obesity
(Medical Xpress)—Physical activity and its relation to obesity has been studied for decades by researchers; however, almost no one has studied the reverse – obesity's effect on physical activity.
Common gene variants explain 42% of antidepressant response
Antidepressants are commonly prescribed for the treatment of depression, but many individuals do not experience symptom relief from treatment. The National Institute of Mental Health's STAR*D study, the largest and longest study ever conducted to evaluate depression treatment, found that only approximately one-third of patients responded within their initial medication trial and approximately one-third of patients did not have an adequate clinical response after being treated with several different medications. Thus, identifying predictors of antidepressant response could help to guide the treatment of this disorder.
Cognitive decline 'reversed' in one in four people
(Medical Xpress)—One in four elderly people with mild cognitive impairment – a precursor to dementia – naturally 'reverts' to normal cognition, research from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) shows.
America: Time to shake the salt habit?
The love affair between U.S. residents and salt is making us sick: high sodium intake increases blood pressure, and leads to higher rates of heart attack and strokes. Nonetheless, Americans continue to ingest far higher amounts of sodium than those recommended by physicians and national guidelines.
What attracts people to violent movies?
Why are audiences attracted to bloodshed, gore and violence? A recent study from researchers at the University of Augsburg, Germany and the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that people are more likely to watch movies with gory scenes of violence if they felt there was meaning in confronting violent aspects of real life.
Cell reprogramming during liver regeneration
During embryonic development, animals generate many different types of cells, each with a distinct function and identity.
Surgical menopause may prime brain for stroke, Alzheimer's
Women who abruptly and prematurely lose estrogen from surgical menopause have a two-fold increase in cognitive decline and dementia.
Children of deployed parents at higher risk for alcohol, drug use
In 2010, almost 2 million American children had at least one parent in active military duty. A new University of Iowa study suggests that deployment of a parent puts these children at an increased risk for drinking alcohol and using drugs.
Combinations of estrogen-mimicking chemicals found to strongly distort hormone action
For years, scientists have been concerned about chemicals in the environment that mimic the estrogens found in the body. In study after study, researchers have found links between these "xenoestrogens" and such problems as decreased sperm viability, ovarian dysfunction, neurodevelopmental deficits and obesity. But experimental limitations have prevented them from exploring one of the most serious questions posed by exposure to xenoestrogens: what happens when—as in the real world—an individual is exposed to multiple estrogen-mimicking chemicals at the same time?
Proximity to coal-tar-sealed pavement raises risk of cancer, study finds
People living near asphalt pavement sealed with coal tar have an elevated risk of cancer, according to a study in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. Much of this calculated excess risk results from exposures in children, age six or younger, to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the sealant.
HPV improves survival for African-Americans with throat cancer
Even though the human papillomavirus (HPV) is a risk factor for certain head and neck cancers, its presence could make all the difference in terms of survival, especially for African Americans with throat cancer, according to a newly published study from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
Study finds heart failure medications highly cost-effective
A UCLA study shows that heart failure medications recommended by national guidelines are highly cost effective in saving lives and may also provide savings to the health care system.
Do we always make better decisions when we take more time to think?
A study led by Zachary Mainen, Director of the Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, and published today (March 28) in the scientific journal, Neuron, reports that when rats were challenged with a series of perceptual decision problems, their performance was just as good when they decided rapidly as when they took a much longer time to respond. Despite being encouraged to slow down and try harder, the subjects of this study achieved their maximum performance in less than 300 milliseconds.
Protective prion keeps yeast cells from going it alone
Most commonly associated with such maladies as "mad cow disease" and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, prions are increasingly recognized for their ability to induce potentially beneficial traits in a variety of organisms, yeast chief among them.
Scientists tie dietary influences to changes in gene expression and physiology
Sometimes you just can't resist a tiny piece of chocolate cake. Even the most health-conscious eaters find themselves indulging in junk foods from time to time. New research by scientists at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) raises the striking possibility that even small amounts of these occasional indulgences may produce significant changes in gene expression that could negatively impact physiology and health.
Eating more fiber may lower risk of first-time stroke
Eating more fiber may decrease your risk of first-time stroke, according to new research in the American Heart Association journal Stroke.
Home hot water temperatures remain a burn hazard for young and elderly
Home hot water heater temperatures are too high, warns a team of researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Despite the adoption of voluntary standards by manufacturers to preset hot water heater temperature settings below the recommended safety standard of 120°F, temperatures remain dangerously high for a significant proportion of homes, presenting a scald hazard for young children and the elderly.
Researchers test implanted brain stimulator for Alzheimer's
(HealthDay)—Researchers are testing whether applying electrical stimulation directly to the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease might improve thinking, focus and alertness.
Rubella in pregnancy rare in US, but can be devastating for baby
(HealthDay)—Although rare in the United States, three babies with birth defects caused by rubella (or "German measles") were reported in 2012 and doctors need to be on the lookout for such cases, a new government report indicates.
Shopping around brings steep prescription drug savings, report finds
(HealthDay News) —Prescription drug prices at U.S. pharmacies can vary widely, and failing to shop around could result in people overpaying by as much as $100 or more a month on average, depending on the drug, a new study finds.
Cell-cycle progression panel identifies prostate cancer risk
(HealthDay)—The cell-cycle progression (CCP) gene panel is useful to improve the risk stratification for men with even low-risk, clinically localized prostate cancer, according to research published online March 4 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Using internet search logs can help identify drug interactions
(HealthDay)—Search logs can be used to inexpensively mine for anonymized signals that may alert authorities to potential drug interactions and add new Web-scale pharmacovigilance capabilities, according to research published online March 6 in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.
Primary care extension program should be funded, study says
(HealthDay)—The Primary Care Extension Program (PCEP) has the potential to transform primary care and needs to be funded, according to a study published in the March/April issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Study redefines the 'optimal time for delivery'
(HealthDay)—The number of fetal deaths that could be avoided by delivery is greater than the number of neonatal deaths that would be anticipated by delivery around 37 to 38 weeks' gestation, according to research published in the March issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Innate immune system can kill HIV when a viral gene is deactivated
Human cells have an intrinsic capacity to destroy HIV. However, the virus has evolved to contain a gene that blocks this ability. When this gene is removed from the virus, the innate human immune system destroys HIV by mutating it to the point where it can no longer survive.
Genome study reveals human-to-human spread of multidrug resistant mycobacterial infection
Using DNA tracking of an outbreak among cystic fibrosis patients at a treatment centre in the UK, the scientists identified frequent patient-to-patient transmission despite stringent infection control measures.
Research team uncovers shape of transmembrane protein partly responsible for antibiotic resistance
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers from the University of Tokyo have uncovered the physical layout of a transmembrane protein that the tiny organism Archaea relies on to keep toxins out of its cells. The protein, the team explains in their paper published in the journal Nature, is also believed to be responsible for preventing the porting of therapeutic drugs into the cell body, stopping their usefulness.
New foot-and-mouth vaccine signals huge advance in global disease control
(Medical Xpress)—A new vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease that is safer to produce and easier to store has been developed by scientists from the University of Oxford and The Pirbright Institute.
The memories of near death experiences: More real than reality?
University of Liege researchers have demonstrated that the physiological mechanisms triggered during NDE lead to a more vivid perception not only of imagined events in the history of an individual but also of real events which have taken place in their lives! These surprising results – obtained using an original method which now requires further investigation – are published in PLOS ONE.
Scientists identify brain's 'molecular memory switch'
Scientists have identified a key molecule responsible for triggering the chemical processes in our brain linked to our formation of memories. The findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Neural Circuits, reveal a new target for therapeutic interventions to reverse the devastating effects of memory loss.
HIV antibodies that are worth the wait
An effective vaccine against HIV-1 remains elusive, but one promising strategy focuses on designer antibodies that have much broader potency than most normal, exquisitely specific antibodies. These broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) can handle the high mutation rate of HIV particles that makes normal, very specific antibodies useless within a short space of time. A study published by Cell Press on March 28th in the journal Cell reveals surprising mutations in these antibodies that are crucial for strong protection against HIV-1. The findings could guide efforts to design better HIV-1 vaccines.
Study reveals how diabetes drug delays ageing in worms
A widely prescribed type 2 diabetes drug slows down the ageing process by mimicking the effects of dieting, according to a study published today using worms to investigate how the drug works.
New vaccine-design approach targets HIV and other fast-mutating viruses
A team led by scientists from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) has unveiled a new technique for vaccine design that could be particularly useful against HIV and other fast-changing viruses.
Biology news
Sea lion pup waddles into luxury California hotel
A sea lion pup startled guests after waddling from a California beach into a nearby luxury hotel, where it pitched up at the patio bar.
World's only dog test for a culprit in 'kennel cough'
The world's first diagnostic test for canine pneumovirus, a unique culprit in "kennel cough"—canine respiratory illness common in shelters and kennels—is now available at Cornell's Animal Health Diagnostic Center (AHDC).
New research finds that cattle and badgers with TB rarely meet
Direct contact between badgers and cattle is rare, suggesting that it may also be rare for bovine tuberculosis (TB) to be passed on through the two species meeting each other on pasture, new research by the Royal Veterinary College and the Food and Environment Research Agency published in the journal Epidemiology and Infection (Cambridge University Press) reveals.
Look out squirrels: Leopards are new backyard wildlife
A new study led by WCS-India scientist Vidya Athreaya finds that certain landscapes of western India completely devoid of wilderness and with high human populations are crawling with a different kind of backyard wildlife: leopards.
Canada ships 30 wood bison to Russia
Canada has sent 30 bison to Russia for reintroduction in the rugged and mostly forested Siberian province of Sakha, 5,000 years after they died out in the area, its parks administration said Thursday.
Getting under the shell of the turtle genome
The genome of the western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) one of the most widespread, abundant and well-studied turtles in the world, is published this week in Genome Biology. The data show that, like turtles themselves, the rate of genome evolution is extremely slow; turtle genomes evolve at a rate that is about a third that of the human genome and a fifth that of the python, the fastest lineage analyzed.
Sumatran rhino footprints believed found on Borneo
Several footprints believed to be from critically endangered Sumatran rhino have been found on Indonesia's Borneo island, raising hopes for the existence of an animal long thought to be extinct in that area, a conservation group said Thursday.
The secret lives of the wild asses of the Negev
(Phys.org) —As a critically endangered population makes a comeback, scientists are keeping a discreet eye on it with the help of GPS and dung.
Blue-bellied fish is a surprise catch
It is only 7mm longer than the world's smallest fish, and seems to only appear at night, but the bright blue belly of a tiny Amazonian fish caught the eye of a team of scientists who spotted it was a new species and genus.
Widely distributed red alga from New Zealand receives a scientific name at last
The most commonly occurring red alga in the algal order Bangiales in New Zealand has at last received a formal scientific name. Pyropia plicata, is an intertidal red alga, found in abundance in the North, South and Chatham Islands. It has been confused for many years with a species first collected from the New Zealand subantarctic islands in 1840. Recent research had clarified the identity and distribution of the southern species, Porphyra columbina, and also transferred it to the genus Pyropia. The description of Py. plicata was published in the open access journal PhytoKeys.
Mate choice in mice is heavily influenced by paternal cues
Mate choice is a key factor in the evolution of new animal species. The choice of a specific mate can decisively influence the evolutionary development of a species. In mice, the attractiveness of a potential mate is conveyed by scent cues and ultrasonic vocalizations. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön investigated whether house mice (Mus musculus) would mate with each other even if they were from two populations which had been separated from each other for a long time period. To do this, the researchers brought together mice from a German population and mice from a French population. Although to begin with all the mice mated with one another randomly, the hybrid offspring of French and German parents were distinctly more choosy: they showed a definite preference for mating with individuals from their father's original population. According to the researchers, this paternal imprinting accelerates the divergence of two house mouse populations and thus promotes speciation.
In solving social dilemmas, vervet monkeys get by with a little patience
People could learn a lot from vervet monkeys. When vervets need to work together, they don't tell each other what to do or punish uncooperative behavior. But according to evidence reported on March 28 in the Cell Press journal Current Biology, they do get by, with a little patience.
Sustainable fishing practices produce local rewards
Communities that act locally to limit their fish catches will reap the rewards of their action, as will their neighbors. That's the conclusion of a study reported on March 28 in the Cell Press journal Current Biology of the highly sought-after fish known as squaretail coral grouper living in five community-owned reef systems in Papua New Guinea.
WWF says Chinese 'river pig' close to extinction
China's wild finless porpoises are heading toward extinction, a conservation group said Thursday, with the dolphin-like animals now rarer than the giant panda.
Researchers are using new technologies to combat invasive species
A new research paper by a team of researchers from the University of Notre Dame's Environmental Change Initiative (ECI) demonstrates how two cutting-edge technologies can provide a sensitive and real-time solution to screening real-world water samples for invasive species before they get into our country or before they cause significant damage.
Wing flexibility enhances load-lifting capacity in bumblebees (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) —New research published today in Proceedings of the Royal Society B demonstrates that the secret of bumblebees' capacity for lifting relatively heavy loads lies in the flexibility of their wings.
Organisation trumps size in primate brain evolution
(Phys.org) —The evolution of anthropoid primates, including monkeys, apes and humans, over the past 40 million years was largely driven by brain reorganization, and not brain size, according to new research from UCL.
Sugar triggers plants to mature to adulthood, biologists find
(Phys.org) —Like animals, plants go through several stages of development before they reach maturity. It has long been thought that some of the transitions between these stages are triggered by changes in the nutritional status of the plant. Now, based on experiments with the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, a team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania Department of Biology has provided fresh insights into the role of sugar in "vegetative phase change," the transition from the juvenile form of a plant to the adult plant.
Study finds first example of auditory regression in a subterranean organism
(Phys.org) —A team of researchers made up of members from the U.S. and Canada has found that two species of fish that live in caves in the eastern and central parts of the United States have suffered hearing regression as a result of their environment—the first such example ever found. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, the group describes how they compared two species of cave dwelling fish with a close cousin that lives in a surface lake, and found that the subterranean dwellers had lost the ability to hear some high frequency sounds.
How herpesvirus invades nervous system: Viral protein hijacks cellular machinery and grabs the wheel
Northwestern Medicine scientists have identified a component of the herpesvirus that "hijacks" machinery inside human cells, allowing the virus to rapidly and successfully invade the nervous system upon initial exposure.
Opposites attract: How cells and cell fragments move in electric fields (w/ video)
Like tiny crawling compass needles, whole living cells and cell fragments orient and move in response to electric fields—but in opposite directions, scientists at the University of California, Davis, have found. Their results, published April 8 in the journal Current Biology, could ultimately lead to new ways to heal wounds and deliver stem cell therapies.
Mysterious fairy circles demystified: it's termites
They appear in the desert in southwest Africa and persist for decades: so-called fairy circles, or puzzling rings of grass with a barren center.
Research finds pirate perch probably use chemical camouflage to fool prey
(Phys.org) —It's a nocturnal aquatic predator that will eat anything that fits in its large mouth. Dark and sleek, it hides beneath the water waiting for prey. A Texas Tech University researcher says the target will never know what hit them because they probably can't smell the voracious pirate perch.
True colors of some fossil feathers now in doubt (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) —Geological processes can affect evidence of the original colors of fossil feathers, according to new research by Yale University scientists, who said some previous reconstructions of fossil bird and dinosaur feather colors may now merit revision.
Cellular computers: 'Genetic circuit' biological transistor enables computing within living cells
When Charles Babbage prototyped the first computing machine in the 19th century, he imagined using mechanical gears and latches to control information. ENIAC, the first modern computer developed in the 1940s, used vacuum tubes and electricity. Today, computers use transistors made from highly engineered semiconducting materials to carry out their logical operations.
Which came first the head or the brain?
(Phys.org) —A fundamental question in the evolution of animal body plans, is where did the head come from? In animals with a clear axis of right-left symmetry, the bilaterians, the head is where the brain is, at the anterior pole of the body. Little is known about the possible ancestor of bilaterians. Fortunately their sister group from that same progenitor, the cnidarians, can be studied in parallel today to give some clues. Cnidarians are creatures like jellyfish, hydra, and sea anemone which possess rudimentary nerve nets, but no clear brain. They all have just a single orifice to the external world, which basically does it all. In a recent paper published in PLOS Biology, researchers from the University of Bergen in Norway compared gene expression patterns in sea anemone (Nematostella vectensis, Nv) with that from a variety of bilaterian animals. They found that the head-forming region of bilaterians is actually derived from the aboral, the opposite-oral, side of the ancestral body plan.
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