Free Webinar: Advances in the Characterization of Graphene
Please join us for a free webinar on graphene characterization, Wednesday March 27 available at two session times. This webinar will present an overview of recent work where Raman spectroscopy is playing vital role in realizing the development and full potential of graphene materials, spanning the range of applications from advanced composites, energy storage, transparent electrodes, and sensor technologies.
Full abstract and registration available at http://goo.gl/zbTwy
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for March 20, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Materials scientists make solar energy chip 100 times more efficient- Scientists claim new glasses-free 3D for cellphone (w/ video)
- Research shows how two brain areas interact to trigger divergent emotional behaviors
- Hidden magma layer: Scientists discover 'lubricant' for Earth's tectonic plates
- Sleep consolidates memories for competing tasks, researchers show
- Altered brain activity responsible for cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia
- Apple granted patent on new augmented reality technology
- Thin films of nickel and iron oxides yield efficient solar water-splitting catalyst
- Stem cells entering heart can be tracked with nano-'hitchhikers'
- Computer system predicts basketball national championship
- Roads could help rather than harm the environment, say experts
- New discovery could lead to powerful new anti-malaria drugs
- Biodiversity does not reduce transmission of disease from animals to humans
- Baffling blood problem explained: 60-year-old health mystery solved
- Drones will require new privacy laws, Senate told (Update)
Space & Earth news
New US military satellite launched into orbit
(AP)—An unmanned rocket has launched a new U.S. military satellite into orbit.
Microbe quest: Geologist investigates microbial communities at underwater volcano near Hawaii
Hawaii was created by underwater volcanoes that gradually built upwards during eruptions until they popped out above the ocean. The next island to form is waiting 3,000 feet underwater as a seamount named Loihi, which occasionally rumbles out earthquakes and should surface hundreds of thousands of years from now.
Closest exoplanet deserves a 'real' name, says Uwingu
It's time to "get real" about naming exoplanets, says Uwingu CEO and scientist Dr. Alan Stern. And so the latest project from the space funding startup company is a contest to name the nearest exoplanet, currently known as Alpha Centauri Bb.
Weather and climate predictions are worth their weight in gold
The economic costs of damaging weather events have an immense and increasing impact on the U.S. economy, and these costs could be anticipated and mitigated by improved weather and climate predictions, say a range of experts in the public and private sectors. These experts will convene in Washington, D.C. from April 2-4 and discuss best strategies to minimize the weather and climate's hit on people and the economy.
Can intraplate earthquakes produce stronger shaking than at plate boundaries?
New information about the extent of the 1872 Owens Valley earthquake rupture, which occurs in an area with many small and discontinuous faults, may support a hypothesis proposed by other workers that these types of quakes could produce stronger ground shaking than plate boundary earthquakes underlain by oceanic crust, like many of those taking place along the San Andreas fault.
Sustainable Development Goals must sustain people and planet
In the wake of last week's meetings at the UN on the definition of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a group of international scientists have published a call in the journal Nature today, arguing for a set of six SDGs that link poverty eradication to protection of Earth's life support. The researchers argue that in the face of increasing pressure on the planet's ability to support life, adherence to out-dated definitions of sustainable development threaten to reverse progress made in developing countries over past decades.
LOFAR discovers new giant galaxy in all-sky survey
A team of astronomers led by ASTRON astronomer Dr. George Heald has discovered a previously unknown gigantic radio galaxy, using initial images from a new, ongoing all-sky radio survey. The galaxy was found using the powerful International LOFAR Telescope (ILT), built and designed by ASTRON.
Gazing into the frozen stillness of the universe
(Phys.org) —The ALMA telescope installation begins delivering images of fresh planets, young stars, and distant galaxies.
Enceladus' jets reach all the way to its sea
Thanks to the Cassini mission we've known about the jets of icy brine spraying from the south pole of Saturn's moon Enceladus for about 8 years now, but this week it was revealed at the 44th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference outside Houston, Texas that Enceladus' jets very likely reach all the way down to the sea—a salty subsurface sea of liquid water that's thought to lie beneath nearly 10 kilometers of ice.
Hong Kong light pollution 'one of world's worst'
Hong Kong is one of the world's worst cities for light pollution with night skies around 1,000 times brighter than globally accepted levels, researchers said Wednesday ahead of this year's Earth Hour event.
Clouds over the southern Indian Ocean
(Phys.org) —Marine stratocumulus clouds stretched across the southern Indian Ocean in early March 2013. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite acquired this natural-color image on March 11, as a striking band of clouds ran roughly northwest to southeast over the open ocean.
I see the moon: Introducing our nearest neighbour
The moon. Our nearest neighbour. The main source of the ocean's tides, and a beacon that drives the lives of animals across the globe. And also, to date, the only object beyond Earth on which humans have set foot.
Study explores long-term water quality trends in near-pristine streams
For the first time, a study has compared water quality trends in forested streams across the country that are largely undisturbed by land use or land cover changes.
Research claims: Voyager 1 left solar system, sudden changes in cosmic rays indicate
Thirty-five years after its launch, Voyager 1 appears to have travelled beyond the influence of the Sun and exited the heliosphere, according to a new study appearing online today.
Restoration and recommendations for flood-damaged bottomlands
Although the 2012 drought in the Midwest may have dimmed the memories for some of the 2011 Ohio and Mississippi River flood, engineers, landowners, conservationists, crop scientists and soil scientists haven't forgotten. They are working hard to repair levees and restore the flood damaged Birds Point-New Madrid floodway in preparation for the next big flood which will eventually happen.
Roman mausoleum tested for ancient earthquake damage
Built under a sheer cliff, with a commanding view of the forum and castle in the ancient city of Pinara in Turkey, a Roman mausoleum has been knocked off-kilter, its massive building blocks shifted and part of its pediment collapsed. The likely cause is an earthquake, according to a new detailed model by Klaus-G. Hinzen and colleagues at the University of Cologne. They conclude that a 6.3 magnitude earthquake could have caused the damage, and their new finding gives seismologists a new data point to consider when they calculate the likely earthquake hazards for this southwestern region of Turkey.
Amazon's Bezos recovers Apollo 11 engines
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos claimed success Wednesday in his mission to recover Apollo 11 moon mission engines that plunged into the ocean decades ago.
Curiosity rover exits 'safe mode'
(Phys.org) —NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has returned to active status and is on track to resume science investigations, following two days in a precautionary standby status, "safe mode."
Spiral beauty graced by fading supernova
(Phys.org) —About 35 million light-years from Earth, in the constellation of Eridanus (The River), lies the spiral galaxy NGC 1637. Back in 1999 the serene appearance of this galaxy was shattered by the appearance of a very bright supernova. Astronomers studying the aftermath of this explosion with ESO's Very Large Telescope at the Paranal Observatory in Chile have provided us with a stunning view of this relatively nearby galaxy.
Roads could help rather than harm the environment, say experts
Two leading ecologists say a rapid proliferation of roads across the planet is causing irreparable damage to nature, but properly planned roads could actually help the environment.
Natural climate swings contribute more to increased monsoon rainfall than global warming
Natural swings in the climate have significantly intensified Northern Hemisphere monsoon rainfall, showing that these swings must be taken into account for climate predictions in the coming decades. The findings are published in the March 18 online publication of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
NASA denies report that Voyager left solar system
The US space agency on Wednesday denied a claim made in a scientific study that its Voyager 1 spacecraft had left the solar system, describing the report as "premature."
Hidden magma layer: Scientists discover 'lubricant' for Earth's tectonic plates
(Phys.org) —Scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego have found a layer of liquefied molten rock in Earth's mantle that may be acting as a lubricant for the sliding motions of the planet's massive tectonic plates. The discovery may carry far-reaching implications, from solving basic geological functions of the planet to a better understanding of volcanism and earthquakes.
Technology news
US orders its nuclear sites to upgrade vents (Update)
U.S. nuclear power plants must upgrade ventilation systems at 31 reactors with designs similar to those that melted down two years ago in Japan, under a Nuclear Regulatory Commission order that stops short of requiring filtered vents, as some safety advocates and NRC's staff had urged.
Britain tries to reassure bloggers on new press rules
The British government has insisted that bloggers and posts on social media would not be caught by a new system of press regulation, but campaigners warned the new rules could be open to interpretation.
DARPA envisions the future of machine learning
Machine learning – the ability of computers to understand data, manage results, and infer insights from uncertain information – is the force behind many recent revolutions in computing. Email spam filters, smartphone personal assistants and self-driving vehicles are all based on research advances in machine learning. Unfortunately, even as the demand for these capabilities is accelerating, every new application requires a Herculean effort. Even a team of specially-trained machine learning experts makes only painfully slow progress due to the lack of tools to build these systems.
New book highlights pressing need for hydrogen-powered vehicles
Sandia National Laboratories reveals the breadth of its hydrogen fuel expertise in the recently published Hydrogen Storage Technology – Materials and Applications.
NIST guides seek interoperability for automated fingerprint ID systems
A new set of publications from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) could make it easier, faster, and most importantly, more reliable, for forensic examiners to match a set of fingerprints with those on file in any database, whether local, state or national.
Website offline where stolen credit reports posted
The website where hackers had published what it said were credit reports for Michelle Obama, the attorney general, CIA director, FBI director and other politicians and celebrities has been shut down by Russian Internet officials. The site has been inaccessible since late Tuesday.
Amazon taps growing Brazil e-reader market
US online retail giant Amazon began selling its advanced Kindle Paperwhite e-reader in Brazil this week, tapping into the biggest consumer market in Latin America.
Wal-Mart expands test of mobile checkout program
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is expanding a test of a new checkout program that allows shoppers to scan items with their smartphones and then pay at self-checkout terminals.
Cyber attack hits US-based NKorea rights group
A US-based group monitoring human rights in North Korea said Wednesday it was hit by a cyber attack that disabled its website for several hours.
Yahoo! mulling major stake in video website Dailymotion
The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday reported that Yahoo! may take a controlling interest in France-based online video-sharing website Dailymotion.
China Telecom profit falls 9.5 percent
State-owned China Telecom Corp. said Wednesday that profit fell 9.5 percent last year because it spent more to market the iPhone as it battled rivals for higher-paying customers.
Experts suspect North behind SKorea computer crash (Update)
A cyberattack caused computer networks at major South Korean banks and top TV broadcasters to crash simultaneously Wednesday, paralyzing bank machines across the country and prompting speculation of North Korean involvement.
Cooling systems restored at Fukushima reactors, TEPCO says
Technicians have restored power to all cooling systems at the reactors of Japan's tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear plant, the operating company said Wednesday after a blackout sparked a new crisis.
China spends massively on cyberspying, US Congress told
China is pouring massive amounts of money and resources into cyberattacks aimed at stealing business secrets, security researchers told a congressional panel.
New method to test materials can aid national defense
A report on research exploring ways to characterize the internal structure, properties and behavior of advanced materials used in challenging Department of Defense operations has won three Arizona State University engineers the 2012 Best Paper Award from the Journal of Aerospace Engineering.
Building a better trash can
What does it take to create a trash can? Ask Theron Klos. He's Berkeley's central-campus grounds manager, the guy beaming like a proud parent as dozens of large, hexagon-shaped black receptacles – with color-coded and distinctly shaped openings for different waste streams – debut on Sproul Plaza, along with a new, one-of-a-kind electric trash-collection vehicle.
A vision of floating cities: To cope with rising sea levels, African architect suggests building on the water
By the end of this century, sea levels could rise worldwide by three feet or more, inundating coastal cities and spurring catastrophic storms roughly every three years.
Taiwan sets up Internet shield to tackle China 'hacking'
Taiwan has set up a unit to create a comprehensive Internet shield against hackers, its intelligence chief said Wednesday, in response to what it claims is a growing cyber threat from China.
Taiwan's Acer reports Q4 net loss following write-down
Taiwan's leading personal computer maker Acer has announced a larger than expected fourth-quarter net loss after a write-down of the value of its brands, including Gateway and Packard Bell.
A milestone for new carbon-dioxide capture/clean coal technology
An innovative new process that releases the energy in coal without burning—while capturing carbon dioxide, the major greenhouse gas—has passed a milestone on the route to possible commercial use, scientists are reporting. Their study in the ACS journal Energy & Fuels describes results of a successful 200-hour test on a sub-pilot scale version of the technology using two inexpensive but highly polluting forms of coal.
China to become biggest online market, study says
China's online sales are forecast to exceed $420 billion annually by 2020, which will likely make the country the world's largest online retail market, a study showed Thursday.
Yahoo! buys maker of personal recommendation app
Yahoo! on Wednesday announced that it has bought Jybe, the startup behind a smartphone application that makes local entertainment or dining recommendations based on what people like.
Brazil e-commerce grosses more than $11 billion in 2012
Online commerce in Brazil last year grossed 22.5 billion reais (around $11.5 billion), up 20 percent over the previous year, the market research firm e-bit said Wednesday.
Yahoo brings back five ex-employees in latest deal
Yahoo has bought Silicon Valley startup Jybe so it can bring back five of its former engineers to help the Internet company build better mobile applications.
BlackBerry founders start quantum computing fund
BlackBerry co-founders Mike Lazaridis and Doug Fregin reunited on Wednesday to fund advances in quantum computing, which promises to vastly increase the speed of computers.
Oracle shares fall on weak 3rd-quarter report
Oracle Corp. on Wednesday reported flat earnings for its fiscal third-quarter, hurt by a drop in sales of hardware systems and new software. Shares tumbled in after-hours trading on the weaker-than-expected results.
French workers waste an hour a day on surfing, study finds
French workers spend nearly one hour a day at the office surfing the Internet for non-professional uses, with Facebook and YouTube their favourite sites, according to a study published Wednesday.
HP to face testy shareholders at annual meeting
Hewlett-Packard Co.'s annual meeting will give shareholders an opportunity to vent their frustration over the personal computer maker's botched acquisitions and other follies that have been plaguing the Silicon Valley pioneer for several years.
Scientists have developed a tiny, portable personal blood testing laboratory that sends data through mobile phone
Humans are veritable chemical factories—we manufacture thousands of substances and transport them, via our blood, throughout our bodies. Some of these substances can be used as indicators of our health status. A team of EPFL scientists has developed a tiny device that can analyze the concentration of these substances in the blood. Implanted just beneath the skin, it can detect up to five proteins and organic acids simultaneously, and then transmit the results directly to a doctor's computer. This method will allow a much more personalized level of care than traditional blood tests can provide. Health care providers will be better able to monitor patients, particularly those with chronic illness or those undergoing chemotherapy. The prototype, still in the experimental stages, has demonstrated that it can reliably detect several commonly traced substances.
Apple granted patent on new augmented reality technology
(Phys.org) —Apple Inc. has been granted a patent for an application filed with the U.S. Patent Office in 2010 for "Synchronized, interactive augmented reality displays for multifunction devices." The patent filing describes Augmented Reality (AR) technology that is familiar to most tech watchers, along with new ideas that are not.
Drones will require new privacy laws, Senate told (Update)
Privacy laws urgently need to be updated to protect the public from information-gathering by the thousands of civilian drones expected to be flying in U.S. skies in the next decade or so, legal experts told a Senate panel Wednesday.
Materials scientists make solar energy chip 100 times more efficient
(Phys.org) —Scientists working at the Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences (SIMES) have improved an innovative solar-energy device to be about 100 times more efficient than its previous design in converting the sun's light and heat into electricity.
Scientists claim new glasses-free 3D for cellphone (w/ video)
Fancy watching a movie on your mobile phone, where figures leap out from the screen in 3D, rather as Princess Leia did in that scene from "Star Wars"? That's the claim made by US researchers, who on Wednesday reported they had made a display which gives a three-dimensional image that can be viewed without special glasses and is intended for cellphones, tablets and watches.
Medicine & Health news
Hip implant patients with unexplained pain likely to have tissue damage
The cause of unexplained pain among metal-on-metal hip implant patients is more likely to be tissue damage than wear of the implant, Hospital for Special Surgery researchers have found. The study, performed by Dr. Danyal Nawabi, orthopedic surgery fellow, and research collaborators at HSS, will be reported at the upcoming annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, March 19-23, in Chicago.
Current and past smokers face greater risk for hip replacement failure
Smoking has been linked to prolonged healing time and greater risk for complications in orthopaedic and other surgeries, according to a new study presented today at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).
Stem cell injections to relieve arthritis pain
(Medical Xpress)—Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center is now one of a small number of clinics in the country to offer a cutting edge stem cell treatment for Osteoarthritis (OA).
System fails foster children and parents
New research shows that early intervention and support for families is critical if foster children are to be reunited quickly and safely with their birth parents.
Study finds people with learning disabilities are more likely to have a premature death compared with general population
A three-year study into the extent of premature death in people with learning disabilities has found that those with learning disabilities are more likely to have a premature death compared with individuals in the general population. The findings, published in a Department of Health report, have made a series of recommendations aimed at improving the quality of healthcare that people with learning disabilities receive.
Estrogen helps keep joint pain at bay after hysterectomy
Estrogen therapy can help keep joint pain at bay after menopause for women who have had a hysterectomy. Joint pain was modestly, but significantly, lower in women who took estrogen alone than in women who took placebo in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial. The findings were published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society.
New study highlights strong anti-cancer properties of soybeans
Soybean meal is a bi-product following oil extraction from soybean seeds. It is rich in protein, which usually makes up around 40% of the nutritional components of the seeds and dependent on the line, and can also contain high oleic acid (a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid).
CWRU professor offers 'lessons from abroad' on caring for a graying population
In Norway, families receive public support that enables them to care for aging parents in their own homes and keep them out of nursing homes. This includes a salary for a son or daughter to provide care. They also focus on adapting houses to the needs of older people through municipal government-financed repairs and renovations. The nursing home is the last resort.
FDA warns of another compounding pharmacy recall
(AP)—The Food and Drug Administration is warning doctors that a compounding pharmacy is recalling syringes of the Roche drug Avastin after receiving reports of eye infections among patients.
Sheriff proposes ankle monitors for some seniors
(AP)—A northern Utah sheriff's office is floating a unique and unproven idea for keeping seniors with Alzheimer's disease and dementia safe: Give them ankle monitors normally used on criminals on house arrest or parole.
Somatic symptom disorder: New condition could classify millions of people as mentally ill
Millions of people could be mislabeled as mentally ill when psychiatry's bible of diagnoses is updated in May, warns a senior doctor in this week's BMJ.
High potency statins pose significantly higher risk of kidney injury than low potency, say experts
Patients taking high potency statins for high blood pressure are at a 34% higher risk of being hospitalised for acute kidney injury (AKI), compared with those taking low potency statins, a paper published today in BMJ suggests.
Antidepressants for pregnant moms don't affect infants' growth, research says
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants taken by a woman during pregnancy do not impact her infant's growth over the first year, reports a new study from a Northwestern Medicine scientist.
Abnormal stress response seen in toddlers exposed to meth in womb
Some 2-year-olds whose moms used methamphetamine during pregnancy may have an abnormal response to stressful situations, according to a study in the May issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
Researchers develop new anatomically based classification for diagnosing cervical spinal stenosis
Physician-researchers at the Rothman Institute at Jefferson have developed a new, clinically meaningful scale of severity for diagnosing patients with cervical spinal stenosis. Their goal was to create a more accurate scale than the current "mild, moderate or severe" designations used for patients with this condition, a narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck. Researchers sought to create a reproducible, clinically validated classification of central cervical stenosis.
Health officials report 1 in 50 school kids have autism
A government survey of parents says 1 in 50 U.S. schoolchildren has autism, surpassing another federal estimate for the disorder.
Can environmental contaminants cause lower sperm count?
The amount of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) that mothers had in their blood during pregnancy affected their sons' semen quality at 20 years old. These findings appear in a recent study from Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, in which the Norwegian Institute of Public Health participated.
Overweight physicians are also vulnerable to weight bias
(Medical Xpress)—Overweight patients are not the only ones who suffer weight stigmatization in the doctor's office, a Yale study finds. Physicians who are overweight or obese are vulnerable to biased attitudes from patients which could interfere with quality of care, according to a study by the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity. The findings, published in the International Journal of Obesity, show that a provider's excess weight negatively affects patients' perceptions of his or her credibility, level of trust, and inclination to follow medical advice.
Scientists find promising new target for aggressive breast cancer
Women with triple-negative breast cancer are more likely to have high levels of the MET biomarker in their tumours, making it a good new target for cancer drugs according to research published in the British Journal of Cancer, today (Wednesday).
Family history of bowel cancer increases odds of survival
A new study that combines genetic information on bowel cancer with NHS patient outcome data has found a link between family history of the disease and a better chance of survival, published in the British Journal of Cancer.
Obesity, aging genes may play role in arthritis
(Medical Xpress)—Studying gene activity in tissue removed from injured knees, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that genes related to obesity and aging may contribute to the development of osteoarthritis.
Parents of children with a disability under twice as much stress, survey finds
(Medical Xpress)—Queensland parents of children with a disability endure twice as much stress and worry as parents of typically developing children, according to the My Say survey.
Young people in abusive dating relationships are happier when relationship ends than they expected, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—Young adults in abusive and controlling dating relationships were happier when their relationships were over than they expected to be, according to a Purdue University study.
The dangers of 'overparenting'
(Medical Xpress)—Are you that parent who writes your child's essays, cover letters and job applications? Do you call in to encourage employers to give your son or daughter a strong look? If so, you may be doing yourself and your child a disservice.
Fetal exposure to antiepileptic drug valproate impairs cognitive development
(Medical Xpress)—The effects of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy have long been a concern of clinicians and women of childbearing age whose seizures can only be controlled by medications. In 1999, a study called the Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs (NEAD) began following the children of women who were taking a single antiepileptic agent during pregnancy. The drugs included carbamazepine, lamotrigine, phenytoin or valproate.
FDA urged to curb caffeine in energy drinks
(Medical Xpress)—A group of doctors and public health experts are urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take immediate action to protect young people from the effects of caffeinated energy drinks. In a letter signed by 18 medical doctors and public health professors delivered to the FDA today (March 19), experts cite research that links consumption of highly caffeinated energy drinks to rapidly increasing numbers of emergency room visits and even deaths.
Measles contagious on planes, study reports
Measles can be spread on planes in rows far beyond infected passengers, a Australian study showed Wednesday, raising questions over control guidelines for the disease.
Faulty gene regulation triggers the kidney disease FSGS
The Clinical Institute of Pathology at the MedUni Vienna has discovered a previously unknown mechanism in the regulation of gene expression that leads to the development of a chronic renal condition known as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Primary FSGS is currently untreatable and can lead to secondary conditions ranging from nephrotic syndrome with severe oedema to the destruction of renal function.
Tanning beds just as dangerous as sun bathing, dermatologist says
Despite the fact that 30 states in America have restrictions on the use of commercial tanning beds by those 18 and younger, Idaho recently joined 17 states that do not restrict tanning bed use among minors.
Study looks at longevity of total knee replacements in younger patients with juvenile arthritis
When you think of knee replacement surgery, you generally envision an older adult with painful arthritis. But the procedure is also used for younger patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) whose joints have been severely damaged by the disease. Because the surgery in younger patients is relatively rare, little data exist on the longevity of knee replacements in JIA patients.
Research show little support for controls on overseas fertility treatment
Problems in accessing donor sperm and eggs at home appear to be behind a reported increase in the number of UK citizens who seek fertility treatment abroad, despite the fact that this is widely seen as risky. Now, a team of academic experts, including a University of Huddersfield professor, have investigated the phenomenon and analysed the attitudes of health professionals.
Study reveals financial benefits of a plant-based, Mediterranean diet
Researchers from The Miriam Hospital and the Rhode Island Community Food Bank report individuals who participated in a six-week cooking program and followed simple, plant-based recipes decreased their total food spending, purchased healthier food items and improved their food security.
'Brain waves' challenge area-specific view of brain activity
Our understanding of brain activity has traditionally been linked to brain areas – when we speak, the speech area of the brain is active. New research by an international team of psychologists led by David Alexander and Cees van Leeuwen (KU Leuven – University of Leuven) shows that this view may be overly rigid. The entire cortex, not just the area responsible for a certain function, is activated when a given task is initiated. Furthermore, activity occurs in a pattern: waves of activity roll from one side of the brain to the other.
'Toxicity map' of brain may help protect cognition for cancer patients
New research from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center is giving radiation oncologists who treat brain tumors a better understanding of how to preserve the brain's functions while still killing cancer.
Measuring mercury: Common test may overestimate exposure from dental amalgam fillings
A common test used to determine mercury exposure from dental amalgam fillings may significantly overestimate the amount of the toxic metal released from fillings, according to University of Michigan researchers.
Family dinners nourish good mental health in adolescents
Regular family suppers contribute to good mental health in adolescents, according to a study co-authored by McGill professor Frank Elgar, Institute for Health and Social Policy. Family meal times are a measurable signature of social exchanges in the home that benefit adolescents' well-being – regardless of whether or not they feel they can easily talk to their parents.
UK: Public OK with creating babies from three people
Britain's fertility regulator says it has found broad public support for in vitro fertilization techniques that allow babies to be created with DNA from three people for couples at risk of passing on potentially fatal genetic diseases.
A step forward in the treatment of chronic urticaria
An international study involving dermatologists from the Hospital del Mar and Spanish subjects has concluded that a drug normally used to treat severe bronchial asthma caused by allergies (Omalizumab) rapidly eliminates the symptoms of spontaneous chronic urticaria, a development that it is expected will significantly improve the quality of life of chronic urticaria sufferers.
Study suggests demographic factors can predict risk of operative births in UK women
Independent maternal demographic factors such as social status, ethnicity and maternal age can predict the likelihood of operative births in the UK, according to a new study published today (20 March) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Clues point to cause of a rare fat-distribution disease
Studying a protein that gives structure to the nucleus of cells, Johns Hopkins researchers stumbled upon mutations associated with familial partial lipodystrophy (FPLD), a rare disease that disrupts normal patterns of fat distribution throughout the body.
Metal stents are effective treatment for blocked bile ducts
A multi-center analysis, led by Weill Cornell Medical College and published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, shows the use of temporary "fully covered self-expanding metal stents" (FCSEMS) can effectively fix a painful and potentially life-threatening benign biliary stricture—a severely blocked or narrowed bile duct.
Insights into the immune system, from the fates of individual T cells
By charting the differing fates of individual T cells, researchers have shown that previously unpredictable aspects of the adaptive immune response can be effectively modeled. The crucial question: What determines which of the immune system's millions of cells will mobilize to fight an acute infection and which will be held back to survive long-term, forming the basis of the immunological memory? The scientists' findings, published in the journal Science, could have implications for improved immunotherapy and vaccination strategies.
Study will help physicians calculate risk of post-surgical venous thromboembolisms
New research from the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, published in the Journal of Surgical Research, may help clinicians determine which patients are at highest risk for post-surgical blood clots in the legs or lungs.
Maternal diabetes impairs methylation of imprinted gene in oocytes
For the first time, researchers have shown that poorly controlled maternal diabetes has an adverse effect on methylation of the maternal imprinting gene Peg3, contributing to impaired development in offspring.
Media coverage of mass shootings contributes to negative attitudes towards mental illness
News stories about mass shootings involving a shooter with mental illness heighten readers' negative attitudes toward persons with serious mental illness, according to a new report by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The researchers also examined how such news stories impact support for policies to reduce gun violence. Compared to study respondents who did not read a story about a mass shooting, reading a news article describing a mass shooting raised readers' support for both gun restrictions for persons with serious mental illness, and for a ban on large-capacity ammunition magazines. The results, are published in the April issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry and have important implications for advocates and policy makers who promote gun safety policy.
New imaging agent enables better cancer detection, more accurate staging
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have shown that a new imaging dye, designed and developed at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, is an effective agent in detecting and mapping cancers that have reached the lymph nodes. The radioactive dye called Technetium Tc-99m tilmanocept, successfully identified cancerous lymph nodes and did a better job of marking cancers than the current standard dye. Results of the Phase III clinical trial published online today in the Annals of Surgical Oncology.
Teen mentors inspire healthier choices in younger children
An obesity intervention taught by teen mentors in Appalachian elementary schools resulted in weight loss, lower blood pressure and healthy lifestyle changes among the younger students learning the curriculum, according to a new study.
Humanoid robot helps train children with autism
"Aiden, look!" piped NAO, a two-foot tall humanoid robot, as it pointed to a flat-panel display on a far wall. As the cartoon dog Scooby Doo flashed on the screen, Aiden, a young boy with an unruly thatch of straw-colored hair, looked in the direction the robot was pointing.
Brain mapping reveals neurological basis of decision-making in rats
Scientists at UC San Francisco have discovered how memory recall is linked to decision-making in rats, showing that measurable activity in one part of the brain occurs when rats in a maze are playing out memories that help them decide which way to turn. The more they play out these memories, the more likely they are to find their way correctly to the end of the maze.
Older grandfathers pass on autism risk through generations, study says
Men who have children at older ages are more likely to have grandchildren with autism compared to younger grandfathers, according to new research. This is the first time that research has shown that risk factors for autism may accumulate over generations.
Women abused as children more likely to have children with autism
Women who experienced physical, emotional, or sexual abuse as children are more likely to have a child with autism than women who were not abused, according to a new study from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH). Those who experienced the most serious abuse had the highest likelihood of having a child with autism—three-and-a-half times more than women who were not abused.
Malaria vaccine fails to work after four years
A new vaccine that has raised hopes of becoming a potent new tool in the battle against malaria seems to stop working in children after four years, according to research published Wednesday.
Study reveals potential immune benefits of vitamin D supplements in healthy individuals
Research from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) shows that improving vitamin D status by increasing its level in the blood could have a number of non-skeletal health benefits. The study, published online in PLOS ONE, reveals for the first time that improvement in the vitamin D status of healthy adults significantly impacts genes involved with a number of biologic pathways associated with cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases. While previous studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk for the aforementioned diseases, these results go a step further and provide direct evidence that improvement in vitamin D status plays a large role in improving immunity and lowering the risk for many diseases.
97 percent of UK doctors have given placebos to patients at least once
A survey of UK doctors found that 97% have prescribed placebo treatments to patients at least once in their career.
Researchers link Gulf War Illness to physical changes in brain fibers that process pain
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) have found what they say is evidence that veterans who suffer from "Gulf War Illness" have physical changes in their brains not seen in unaffected individuals. Brain scans of 31 veterans with the illness, compared to 20 control subjects, revealed anomalies in the bundles of nerve fibers that connect brain areas involved in the processing and perception of pain and fatigue.
Children understand sharing norms early, but follow the rules only from age 7 onward, study says
Children as young as three know the rules of equal sharing but if sharing involves a cost to the self, they only follow the rules when they are older, according to research published March 20 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Craig Smith from the University of Michigan and colleagues from other institutions.
Novel Amgen virus-vaccine shrinks melanoma tumors
Shares of drugmaker Amgen Inc. are rising on news its innovative melanoma drug, which uses a virus as a Trojan horse to infiltrate and destroy tumors, shrank far more tumors than a standard treatment in a late-stage test.
How healthy is your county?
(HealthDay)—Rates of premature death in counties across the United States are the lowest in 20 years, but people in the least healthy counties are more than twice as likely to die early as those in the healthiest counties, according to a new report.
Man dies after parasitic worms invade lungs
(HealthDay)—A Vietnamese immigrant in California died of a massive infection with parasitic worms that spread throughout his body, including his lungs. They had remained dormant until his immune system was suppressed by steroid drugs used to treat an inflammatory disorder, according to the report.
Caffeine 'can significantly protect against crash risk' for long distance heavy vehicle drivers, study says
Long distance commercial drivers who consume caffeinated substances such as coffee or energy drinks, to stay awake while driving, are significantly less likely to crash than those who do not, even though they drive longer distances and sleep less, finds a study published today in BMJ.
Atypical brain circuits may cause slower gaze shifting in infants who later develop autism
Infants at 7 months of age who go on to develop autism are slower to reorient their gaze and attention from one object to another when compared to 7-month-olds who do not develop autism, and this behavioral pattern is in part explained by atypical brain circuits.
Researchers spot molecular control switch for preterm lung disorders
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have made major discoveries that could lead to new treatments for lung disorders in premature babies. In a mouse study, the team located key molecules that switch on stress pathways in preterm lung disorders, and also found that when parts of these pathways were blocked with a pain drug, lung damage was prevented or reversed.
When timing is everything: Research says beneficial mutations need specific circumstances to win out
When it comes to the sort of beneficial mutations that drive natural selection, there's new evidence that, evolutionarily speaking, timing is everything.
Researchers image most of vertebrae brain at single cell level (w/ video)
(Medical Xpress)—Misha Ahrens and Philipp Keller, researchers with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute have succeeded in making a near real-time video of most of a zebrafish's brain showing individual neuron cells firing. To create the video, as the team reports in their paper published in the journal Nature Methods, the two developed a type of modified light-sheet microscopy and used it in on genetically modified fish.
Altered brain activity responsible for cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia
Cognitive problems with memory and behavior experienced by individuals with schizophrenia are linked with changes in brain activity; however, it is difficult to test whether these changes are the underlying cause or consequence of these symptoms. By altering the brain activity in mice to mimic the decrease in activity seen in patients with schizophrenia, researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Neuron on March 20 reveal that these changes in regional brain activity cause similar cognitive problems in otherwise normal mice. This direct demonstration of the link between changes in brain activity and the behaviors associated with schizophrenia could alter how the disease is treated.
Stem cells entering heart can be tracked with nano-'hitchhikers'
The promise of repairing damaged hearts through regenerative medicine—infusing stem cells into the heart in the hope that these cells will replace worn out or damaged tissue—has yet to meet with clinical success. But a highly sensitive visualization technique developed by Stanford University School of Medicine scientists may help speed that promise's realization.
Sleep consolidates memories for competing tasks, researchers show
Sleep plays an important role in the brain's ability to consolidate learning when two new potentially competing tasks are learned in the same day, research at the University of Chicago demonstrates.
New discovery could lead to powerful new anti-malaria drugs
An international study has discovered a molecule which could form the basis of powerful new anti-malaria drugs. The paper "Quinolone-3-Diarylethers: a new class of drugs for a new era of malaria eradication" has been published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Baffling blood problem explained: 60-year-old health mystery solved
In the early 1950's, a 66-year-old woman, sick with colon cancer, received a blood transfusion. Then, unexpectedly, she suffered a severe rejection of the transfused blood. Reporting on her case, the French medical journal Revue D'Hématologie identified her as, simply, "Patient Vel."
Immune therapy shows early promise for advanced leukemia
(HealthDay)—An experimental therapy that targets the immune system might offer a new way to treat an often deadly form of adult leukemia, a preliminary study suggests.
Research shows how two brain areas interact to trigger divergent emotional behaviors
New research from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine for the first time explains exactly how two brain regions interact to promote emotionally motivated behaviors associated with anxiety and reward.
Biology news
Asian carp spawning areas wider than expected
A newly released study says Asian carp may be reproducing in more places and for longer periods than previously thought.
Anthrax kills cows in NSW's north: Experts respond
At least 37 cows have died after an anthrax outbreak in Moree, northern NSW, it was reported today.
For polar bears, it's survival of the fattest
One of the most southerly populations of polar bears in the world – and the best studied – is struggling to cope with climate-induced changes to sea ice, new research reveals. Based on over 10 years' data the study, published in the British Ecological Society's Journal of Animal Ecology, sheds new light on how sea ice conditions drive polar bears' annual migration on and off the ice.
Hunting for meat impacts on rainforest
Hunting for meat in the African rainforests has halved the number of primates. However, the hunting also has other negative consequences. The decline in the number of primates causes a reduction in the dispersal of seed by the primates, and this leads to a reduction in the numbers of important fruit trees and changes to the rainforest. This has been shown in new research from Lund University in Sweden.
Seven rare Komodo dragons hatch in Indonesia
Seven Komodo dragons have hatched under a breeding programme at an Indonesian zoo, an official said, a success story that raises hope for the endangered lizard.
Researchers seek to reduce bycatch in groundfish trawling
(Phys.org) —Researchers working with the groundfish fishing industry in the Pacific Northwest have tested a new "flexible sorting grid excluder" – a type of bycatch reduction device that shows promise to significantly reduce the incidental bycatch of Pacific halibut from commercial bottom trawl fishermen.
Global warming could cause goat populations to rocket
Higher temperatures caused by global warming could help goat populations to thrive, say scientists.
New research shows white sharks have a larger appetite than originally thought
(Phys.org) —A ground-breaking new study challenges popular assumptions about the feeding behaviour of the world's largest predatory fish, the white shark.
Peru surprises with two new amazing species of woodlizards
Two new woodlizard species have been uncovered from poorly explored areas of the Peruvian jungles. The males have beautiful body colouration with a distinctive green pattern before a dark brown and black background. It is assumed that the two species share the same territory, with only a slight difference in altitude ranges, which makes their biological divergence intriguing from an evolutionary point of view. The study was published in the open access journal Zookeys.
Some Alaskan trout use flexible guts for the ultimate binge diet
Imagine having a daylong Thanksgiving feast every day for a month, then, only pauper's rations the rest of the year.
Genomic data are growing, but what do we really know?
"We live in the post-genomic era, when DNA sequence data is growing exponentially", says Miami University (Ohio) computational biologist Iddo Friedberg. "But for most of the genes that we identify, we have no idea of their biological functions. They are like words in a foreign language, waiting to be deciphered." Understanding the function of genes is a problem that has emerged at the forefront of molecular biology. Many groups develop and employ sophisticated algorithms to decipher these "words". However, until now there was no comprehensive picture of how well these methods perform, "To use the information in our genes to our advantage, we first need to take stock of how well we are doing in interpreting these data".
Warm springs may be best winter refuge for Florida manatees
Natural warm water springs may offer the best protection to Florida manatees trying to survive cold winter periods, according to research published Mar. 20 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by David Laiast of the Marine Mammal Commission in Maryland, and colleagues from the Marine Mammal Commission in Maryland, US.
Scientists peek into giant squid's gene pool
Scientists announced they had peeked into the DNA of the giant squid, seeking to demystify a deep-sea creature that has haunted sailors' dreams for centuries.
Research suggests complex genetic heritage in three cicada species
(Phys.org) —A paper co-authored by ecology and evolutionary biology professor Chris Simon, two UConn research associates, and other colleagues, offers genetic proof that three common species of cicada, although each has 13- and 17-year life cycles and each is found in eastern, middle, and western geographic regions, evolved independently and at different times from each other.
Mechanical forces play major role in regulating cells
Researchers have for the first time demonstrated that mechanical forces can control the depolymerization of actin, a critical protein that provides the major force-bearing structure in the cytoskeletons of cells. The research suggests that forces applied both externally and internally may play a much larger role than previously believed in regulating a range of processes inside cells.
Biodiversity does not reduce transmission of disease from animals to humans
More than three quarters of new, emerging or re-emerging human diseases are caused by pathogens from animals, according to the World Health Organization.
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