Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 15, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Patenting genes: Justices tackle big health issue (Update 2)- Memory effect now also found in lithium-ion batteries
- Physicists succeed in closing last local realistic loophole for systems of entangled photons
- Water splitting: Plants provide blueprint for cheap hydrogen production
- Congenitally absent optic chiasm: Making sense of visual pathways
- Increasing efficiency of hydrogen production from green algae
- Cancer cell metabolism kills
- Concert cacophony: Short-term hearing loss protective, not damaging
- System allows multitasking runners to read on a treadmill
- Fish prone to melanoma get DNA decoded
- National study of scientist-educators reveals surprises in training, funding
- Nanodiamonds could improve effectiveness of breast cancer treatment
- Scientists identify potential target to reduce progression of metastases
- The bigger the group, the smaller the chance of interracial friendship, research finds
- Scientists learn what makes nerve cells so strong
Space & Earth news
Scientists call for large ocean wilderness parks
Leading international marine scientists have called for the protection of more, large marine wilderness areas in a bid to shield the world's dwindling stocks of fish from destruction.
Tsunami debris could be found in Washington's annual beach cleanup
(Phys.org) —This month's annual beach cleanup may turn up items from the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan more than two years ago.
How long does it take sunlight to reach the Earth?
Here's a question… how long does it take sunlight to reach Earth? This sounds like a strange question, but think about it. Sunlight travels at the speed of light. Photons emitted from the surface of the Sun need to travel across the vacuum of space to reach our eyes.
Scientists organise groundbreaking Saturn observational campaign
University of Leicester planetary scientists have collaborated with an international team of researchers to organise the largest ever observational campaign of Saturn's auroras.
Image: Fires in Nepal
Agricultural fires are set all over the world at different times to prepare the soil for the planting of new crops.
X-48 project completes flight research for cleaner, quieter aircraft
(Phys.org) —NASA's remotely piloted X-48C hybrid-wing-body subscale aircraft, which demonstrates technology concepts for cleaner and quieter commercial air travel, completed an eight-month flight research campaign on April 9.
Lags in fracking regulations: Independent analysis reveals risks to water resources
(Phys.org) —A new report on hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") in California warns of the risks of irreversible contamination of surface and groundwater near oil drilling sites, unless the technique is carefully monitored and controlled. The report Regulation of Hydraulic Fracturing in California: A Wastewater and Water Quality Perspective is an independent analysis produced by the UC Berkeley School of Law's Center for Law, Energy & the Environment (CLEE) and its new initiative, the Wheeler Institute for Water Law & Policy (Wheeler Institute).
Fire survivors: How do forest management strategies used to combat wildfires impact tree growth?
In an effort to combat destructive wildfires, forestry management professionals began using techniques such as thinning or methodically setting fire to dead branches and twigs that could set off a big blaze.
Hubble catches dusty detail in elliptical galaxy NGC 2768
(Phys.org) —The soft glow in this image is NGC 2768, an elliptical galaxy located in the northern constellation of Ursa Major (The Great Bear). NGC 2768 appears here as a bright oval on the sky, surrounded by a wide, fuzzy cloud of material.
Comet to make close flyby of Red Planet in October 2014
New observations of comet C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) have allowed NASA's Near-Earth Object Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. to further refine the comet's orbit.
Orion capsule accelerating to 2014 launch and eventual asteroid exploration
NASA is picking up the construction pace on the inaugural space-bound Orion crew capsule at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida – and accelerating towards blastoff on the unmanned Exploration Flight Test-1 mission (EFT-1) slated for September 2014 atop a mammoth Delta 4 Heavy Booster which will one day lead to deep space human forays to Asteroids and Mars.
Forest organic runoff breaks down faster than agricultural, urban runoff
Dissolved organic matter in streams and rivers can be broken down by sunlight or bacteria, providing a fuel source for aquatic ecosystems and affecting carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide concentrations as the organic matter is mineralized. Researchers know that the amount of organic matter in streams fed by forest landscapes and those fed by watersheds affected by human activity, such as croplands, pasture, or urban environments, can differ greatly. What is less well known is how the organic matter from these various environments evolves as it flows downstream.
Arctic nearly free of summer sea ice during first half of 21st century
For scientists studying summer sea ice in the Arctic, it's not a question of "if" there will be nearly ice-free summers, but "when." And two scientists say that "when" is sooner than many thought—before 2050 and possibly within the next decade or two.
Examining CO2 concentrations and flow dynamics in streams
As part of the carbon cycle, carbon dioxide (CO2) is flushed from soils into stream water; this CO2 either escapes directly into the atmosphere from the water surface or gets transported downstream of the study site. To understand the amount and variability of both the carbon flushed from soils and the subsequent loss to the atmosphere, scientists first need to understand the variability in aquatic concentrations. Although previous studies have shown that CO2 concentrations vary considerably over time and are often linked to water discharge, measurements have primarily been based on low-frequency manual sampling rather than continuous monitoring, so much of the temporal pattern is lost.
Cyclone Imelda's eye opens and closes for NASA's Aqua satellite
Cyclone Imelda reached hurricane strength on April 14 and its eye "opened" and became apparent on visible imagery on imagery from NASA's Aqua satellite. By April 15, the eye had "closed" and become filled in with clouds.
Asteroid threat has Congress' attention
As if you don't have enough to worry about, consider the subject of a hearing last week on Capitol Hill: asteroids that may be headed toward Earth. The good news: NASA is tracking most of the largest asteroids - the kind that a witness said "would likely end civilization" were they to hit.
Study of lunar dust may lead to better flood forecasts on Earth
Forecasters may one day be able to provide better flood warnings, thanks to the Apollo astronauts who landed on the moon more than four decades ago.
Effect of ocean acidification may not be so dire
(Phys.org) —Marine scientists have long understood the detrimental effect of fossil fuel emissions on marine ecosystems. But a group led by a UC Santa Barbara professor has found a point of resilience in a microscopic shelled plant with a massive environmental impact, which suggests the future of ocean life may not be so bleak.
Where are the best windows into Europa's interior?
(Phys.org) —The surface of Jupiter's moon Europa exposes material churned up from inside the moon and also material resulting from matter and energy coming from above. If you want to learn about the deep saltwater ocean beneath this unusual world's icy shell—as many people do who are interested in possible extraterrestrial life—you might target your investigation of the surface somewhere that has more of the up-from-below stuff and less of the down-from-above stuff.
Research aims to settle debate over origin of Yellowstone volcano
A debate among scientists about the geologic formation of the supervolcano encompassing the region around Yellowstone National Park has taken a major step forward, thanks to new evidence provided by a team of international researchers led by University of Rhode Island Professor Christopher Kincaid.
Technology news
Psy's 'Gentleman' video smashes YouTube records
"Gangnam Style" star Psy's new music video had received more than 50 million views on YouTube by Monday, re-writing the video-sharing site's records for single-day hits.
Israeli high-tech pioneer Efraim Arazi dies
Efraim "Efi" Arazi, a pioneer of Israel's powerful high-tech industry who helped develop technology that allowed for a video recording of the first moon landing, has died. He was 76.
Efficient, intelligent, content-aware networks
The rapid, exponential growth of internet traffic means investment in infrastructure, new technologies and paradigms for getting content to users are needed. EU-funded researchers are pushing these boundaries - changing the way content is delivered so that users can access high-definition (HD) and three-dimensional (3D) video on demand.
Google clears another step in EU antitrust case (Update)
Google has taken another step toward settling a European antitrust investigation focusing on whether the Internet giant is abusing its dominant position of online search and advertising markets.
Color of OLEDs can now at last be predicted thanks to new modeling technique
OLEDs – thin, light-emitting surfaces – are regarded as the light sources of the future. White OLEDs consist of stacked, ultra-thin layers, each emitting its own light color, all together resulting in white light. Up to now it has been impossible to predict the exact light color produced by a white OLED; manufacturers had to rely on trial and error. Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology, Philips Research, Dresden University of Technology and other institutes have now developed a method that allows the color of light produced by a specific OLED design to be calculated with high precision. They did this by modeling the complex processes in OLEDs on a molecular scale. This technique will allow manufacturers to greatly improve their OLED design processes and reduce the cost. At the same time the energy efficiency and lifetime of OLEDs can be increased.
How to stop illegal downloads
Pay TV's Game of Thrones' phenomenal paid download and on-screen ratings success sets an example all entertainment companies should follow, if they want to slow illegal downloads of their shows.
Aged national power grid leaves US vulnerable to outages from spring storms
(Phys.org) —With one storm system moving east from the Great Plains, midwest, and south this week—leaving tens of thousands without power—and yet another storm system expected next week, attention is once again turning toward the vulnerabilities of the nation's power grid.
World-first 3-D mobile mapping project
Australian researchers are using a novel mobile laser 3D mapping system called Zebedee to preserve some of the country's oldest and most culturally significant heritage sites.
Thermo Fisher to buy Life Technologies for $13.6B (Update)
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has offered to pay about $13.6 billion to buy genetic testing equipment maker Life Technologies in a cash deal that will create a giant company serving research and specialty diagnostics.
The future of our energy
When it comes to sustainable energy supplies hydroelectric plants are usually the best solution, according to researchers who have reviewed the economic, social and environmental impact of fuel provision.
Taiwan probes Samsung 'dirty tricks' vs HTC'
Taiwanese authorities said Monday they had launched an investigation into allegations that South Korean tech giant Samsung hired students to post malicious comments about local rival HTC online.
ORNL leading study focused on afterlife of electric vehicle batteries
Once they've finished powering electric vehicles for hundreds of thousands of miles, it may not be the end of the road for automotive batteries, which researchers believe can provide continued benefits for consumers, automakers and the environment.
Twitter helps stock of lesser-known companies, study finds
Twitter's reputation as a corporate communications tool took a beating lately with the high-profile hacking of the accounts of such companies and organizations as Burger King, Jeep and even the British Broadcasting Corp. But for lesser-known, lower-profile companies, Twitter has played the role of an equalizer, a way for them to more effectively communicate their message to Wall Street, according to a new study.
Facebook threat to Google grows in mobile
Just a year after Facebook started selling mobile ads, the social media giant has become a bigger threat to the dominant player in the space, Google Inc.
Aston Martin's hybrid hydrogen car set for 24-hour race
(Phys.org) —Aston Martin is to race a hybrid hydrogen car next month at the ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring. This makes Aston Martin a standout, in attempting to race a car of this kind at a grueling international racing event. The Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S is powered by a twin turbocharged 6.0 liter V12 engine. Aston Martin engineered the car to run on gasoline, pure gaseous hydrogen, or a mix of both. The hybrid car's features include a hydrogen fuel rail, storage tanks and engine-management system. Specifically, this system includes four carbon fiber tanks holding a total of 3.5kg of hydrogen stored at a pressure of 350 bar. Two of the tanks are next to the driver and two are in the boot.
Programmer creates lexicographic ordering code to play early Nintendo games
(Phys.org) —Computer scientist Tom "Tom7" Murphy, has created a software program that is capable of playing early Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) video games such as Super Mario Brothers. His paper describing how he created the program and how it works, has been published in SIGBOVIK 2013.
'Aeroplane flaps' on lorries to save lives in Europe
Rolling out round-nosed lorries with aeroplane-style flaps at the back on Europe's roads would cut fuel costs, reduce carbon emissions and save lives, while giving a boost to the struggling auto sector, the European Commission said Monday.
System allows multitasking runners to read on a treadmill
(Phys.org) —A new innovation allows treadmill users to work their bodies and brains at the same time. The system, called ReadingMate, adjusts text on a monitor to counteract the bobbing motion of a runner's head so that the text appears still, said Ji Soo Yi, an assistant professor of industrial engineering at Purdue University.
Medicine & Health news
Picture this: A dramatic drop in wrong patient errors
Adding a photo of a face to x-ray images can reduce "wrong-patient" errors five-fold, a new study finds.
Standard CT protocol for trauma patients leads to overutilization of imaging
It is unnecessary to scan trauma patients based on a non-focused standard trauma CT protocol, if the patient is transferred for care after already undergoing a focused CT examination based on the patient's history and physical examination, a new study shows.
Nonsurgical treatment turns back the clock, shrinks enlarged prostate
Men with a common condition that causes frequent nighttime trips to the bathroom can get relief with a minimally invasive treatment that shrinks the prostate, suggests a study being presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 38th Annual Scientific Meeting in New Orleans. The early findings hail from the first prospective U.S. trial of prostatic artery embolization (PAE), which reduces blood flow to the prostate, thus shrinking it.
Stenting dramatically improves treatment access for dialysis patients
Kidney failure patients on dialysis derive long-term benefit from the minimally invasive placement of a stent that improves the function of dialysis access grafts, according to 12-month trial results being presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 38th Annual Scientific Meeting in New Orleans.
Public slams tobacco industry as untrustworthy
Almost two thirds (65 per cent) of the public distrust the tobacco industry to present believable and independent arguments about how to reduce smoking rates, according to new Cancer Research UK figures published today.
New study reveals the true cost of kinship care
A major study published today [15 April] by the University of Bristol and leading children's grant-giving charity, Buttle UK provides the most comprehensive picture to date of informal kinship care—children cared for informally by relatives and friends because their parents are no longer able to look after them
Researchers design respirators for children with neuromuscular diseases
TU Delft is developing a special respirator for children with a neuromuscular disease. The Sporters in Actie foundation collected €100,000 for research on this breathing mask during the 'Greatest Golf Tournament in the World' in Zoetermeer on Saturday 6 April.
Joy as hospital offers help to baby with swollen head (Update)
The parents of an 18-month girl in India whose head has swollen to more than double its normal size reacted with joy on Monday after a top private hospital offered to fly her to New Delhi for tests.
Climate and environmental changes affect the occurrence of diseases transmitted between animals and humans
How are human and animal diseases in general affected by the climate becoming "wilder, wetter and warmer"? Solveig Jore's doctoral research shows that the tick Ixodes ricinus has spread over larger geographical areas in Norway and that climate and environmental changes, access to host animals and demography affect tick distribution in Norway. Furthermore, local climatic conditions can have a decisive influence on the ability of the tick to spread dangerous viruses. The climate can also play a role in the spread of gastrointestinal infections.
Abbott Laboratories recalls blood glucose meters
Abbott Laboratories is recalling its FreeStyle InsuLinx Blood Glucose Meters after finding that they display and store incorrect test results for dangerously high blood sugar levels.
Prescription for healthy food in remote Indigenous communities
Doctors should be able to provide subsidised "prescriptions" for healthy food to people in remote Aboriginal communities, says an Indigenous nutrition expert.
How to create useful knowledge from pure data
Imagine a hospital where patient data from numerous sources is made accessible to ward physicians with the help of hyperlinks and intelligent indexing. Imagine a healthcare system that hands its patients – not an envelope or a CD-ROM – but an integrated dataset that allows them to truly understand their illness, and even use the Internet to obtain additional information. Imagine a radiologist who uses semantic technologies to navigate smoothly through the myriad imaging data. Welcome to the future of semantic technologies in health information retrieval.
Call for focus on Aboriginal strengths
Australia needs a new way to view the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with a focus on their strengths, empowerment, resilience and achievements, a new study has proposed.
Breast milk bank to cater to needy infants in India
A mother's milk bank catering to needy infants free of cost has been set up in northwestern India as part of a drive to save the lives of vulnerable children, officials said Monday.
Resistance is futile: Researchers identify gene that mediates cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer
Platinum compounds, such as cisplatin and carboplatin, induce DNA cross-linking, prohibiting DNA synthesis and repair in rapidly dividing cells. They are first line therapeutics in the treatment of many solid tumors, but cancer cells frequently develop resistance to these drugs.
Researchers untangle molecular pathology of giant axonal neuropathy
Giant axonal neuropathy (GAN) is a rare genetic disorder that causes central and peripheral nervous system dysfunction. GAN is known to be caused by mutations in the gigaxonin gene and is characterized by tangling and aggregation of neural projections, but the mechanistic link between the genetic mutation and the effects on neurons is unclear.
Can new plasma-based biomaterials speed healing of injured tissues?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) derived from blood contains growth factors and other bioactive molecules that promote healing at sites of tissue injury. However, it is difficult to deliver and retain these molecules at a target site, and clinical results have proven to be mixed – until now. A new solid form of bioactive plasma-based biomaterials, known as PBMs, can accelerate tissue healing. Not only are PBMs easier to work with, inexpensive to produce, and safe to use, they are available as off-the-shelf products. All of these promising advantages, and the potential to use PBMs to enhance healing of difficult-to-treat connective tissue injuries affecting cartilage, tendons, and ligaments, contribute to their unique possibilities as described in the article "Biologically Active Blood Plasma-Based Biomaterials as a New Paradigm for Tissue Repair Therapies," by Smith et al. in Disruptive Science and Technology.
Russian toddler contracts HIV from transfusion (Update)
Doctors in Russia accidentally infected a 16-month-old girl with HIV during a blood transfusion, investigators said Monday, opening a criminal probe into the case.
VCU Medical Center first in Virginia to implant telescope for macular degeneration
Physicians at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center have become the first in Virginia to successfully implant a telescope in a patient's eye to treat macular degeneration.
Experts seek ramped up action to save newborn lives
More and more newborn babies are dying annually despite greater knowledge about what kills them, and cheap and simple measures to save them, a global conference in Johannesburg heard Monday.
Laser liposuction melts fat, results in tighter skin
A new, minimally invasive treatment that uses lasers to melt fat could replace the "tummy tuck," suggests research on more than 2,000 people being presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 38th Annual Scientific Meeting in New Orleans.
New surprising finding could alter the face of dengue vaccine development
As efforts to create a strong and effective vaccine for the dreaded dengue virus continue to hit snags, a new study from researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology offers surprising evidence that suggests the need for a revamped approach to dengue vaccine design. The finding runs counter to current scientific understanding of the key cells that need to be induced to develop a successful dengue vaccine.
Court: Can human genes be patented? (Update)
The Supreme Court grapples Monday with the question of whether human genes can be patented, and the ultimate answer could reshape U.S. medical research, the fight against diseases like breast and ovarian cancer and the multi-billion dollar medical and biotechnology business.
Hundreds expected for French breast implants mega-trial
France will launch one its biggest-ever trials on Wednesday as five managers from company PIP face charges of selling faulty breast implants that sparked a global health scare.
Bias in the courtroom: Study finds impartial experts not so impartial
(Medical Xpress)—Forensic psychologists and psychiatrists are ethically bound to be impartial, to look only at the evidence before them, when performing evaluations or providing expert opinions in court. But new research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine and Sam Houston State University suggests that the paycheck some courtroom experts receive influences their evaluations.
Hospital-acquired influenza rare but serious
(Medical Xpress)—Medical researchers urge vaccination this flu season as new research shows that hospital-acquired, or nosocomial, influenza is relatively uncommon, but can be severe.
Emu oil may help in common bowel diseases
New research is showing that emu oil has therapeutic potential for the treatment of a variety of common bowel diseases in addition to the intestinal damage caused by cancer chemotherapy.
Peptides for the treatment of severe diseases
A new class of drugs for the treatment of severe diseases such as cancer and autoimmune diseases is developed by the start-up Bicycle Therapeutics. The company is generating bicyclic peptides that can selectively bind disease-related proteins and to modulate their function without affecting other proteins in the body.
Day or night, driving while tired a leading cause of accidents
(Medical Xpress)—Get more sleep. Have another cup of coffee before you drive to school or work. It could save your life. A 100-car naturalistic driving study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute has shown that fatigue is a cause of 20 percent of crashes, rather than the 2 or 3 percent previously estimated based on surveys, simulator studies, and test tracks.
Study explores parents' struggle with child-care options
(Medical Xpress)—Arizona parents tend to rely on a "patchwork" of child-care arrangements while many are looking for new options at any given time. In addition, many parents struggle to pay for child care – and many can't afford to pay for it at all, according to the Arizona Child Care Demand Study.
Childhood lead exposure linked to crime in adulthood
Australians who were exposed to high levels of lead as children may be at greater risk of committing violent and impulsive crimes two decades later, our yet-to-be-published research suggests.
Ten-year follow-up of physical activity among adolescents
A study from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, shows that the drop in boys' physical activity during the teenage years levels off in early adulthood.
Personalizing prostate specific antigen testing may improve specificity, reduce biopsies
Genetic variants have been identified which can increase serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) concentrations and prostate cancer risk. A new study published in The Journal of Urology reports that correcting PSA levels for these genetic variants can have significant consequences, including avoiding unnecessary biopsies for some men and eliminating false complacency for others.
Explainer: What is the funny bone?
Put a finger on the point of your elbow. Feel inwards from there about half and inch or slightly more until you find another bony outcrop.
Better regulation needed for kids' flu vaccine
Flu vaccines given to children should be more rigorously tested before before being allowed onto the market, researchers say, to prevent a repeat of the 2010 vaccine release, which caused a spate of high fevers and febrile convulsions in young children.
Baseball is great for kids, but injuries can be serious
Baseball, America's favorite pastime. From watching a child's first T-ball game to aspirations of playing in the Little League World Series, there is just something special about kids and baseball. Though baseball is one the safest sports for kids, there are still risks that can lead to serious injury.
Genetic discovery found to influence obesity in people of African ancestry
The largest genetic search for "obesity genes" in people of African ancestry has led to the discovery of three new regions of the human genome that influence obesity in these populations and others.
A new case in China adds unknowns to bird flu (Update)
A new case of bird flu in China's capital, a 4-year-old boy who displayed no symptoms, is adding to the unknowns about the latest outbreak that has caused 63 confirmed cases and 14 deaths, health officials said Monday.
Smartphone way to lose weight
Forget fad diets and hypnotherapy; your smartphone could be a key tool to losing those post-Easter egg pounds, according to scientists at the University of Leeds, UK.
Preventing cognitive decline in healthy seniors
Cognitive training exercises—or mental exercise—may help prevent cognitive decline in healthy older adults, while evidence for the benefits of pharmacologic substances and exercise is weak, outlines a review published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
C-peptide levels linked to death and heart disease in nondiabetic adults
High blood levels of the serum C-peptide are linked to heart disease and death in people without diabetes, according to a large study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
'Comparison shopping' by doctors saves money
Research at Johns Hopkins suggests that if hospitals would show physicians the price of some diagnostic laboratory tests at the time the tests are ordered, doctors would order substantially fewer of them or search for lower-priced alternatives.
Drinking cup of beetroot juice daily may help lower blood pressure
A cup of beetroot juice a day may help reduce your blood pressure, according to a small study in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension.
ECT can restore quality of life for some severely depressed patients
Patients whose severe depression goes into remission for six months following electroconvulsive therapy report a quality of life similar to that of healthy individuals, researchers say.
A shortcut to timely, cost-effective interventions for HIV
South Africa is home to the largest HIV epidemic in the world with a total of 5.6 million people living with HIV. Large-scale clinical trials evaluating combination methods of prevention and treatment are often prohibitively expensive and take years to complete. In the absence of such trials, mathematical models can help assess the effectiveness of different HIV intervention combinations, as demonstrated in a new study by Elisa Long and Robert Stavert from Yale University in the US. Their findings appear in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Our futures look bright—because we reject the possibility that bad things will happen
People believe they'll be happy in the future, even when they imagine the many bad things that could happen, because they discount the possibility that those bad things will actually occur, according to a new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Vitamin D may reduce risk of uterine fibroids
Women who had sufficient amounts of vitamin D were 32 percent less likely to develop fibroids than women with insufficient vitamin D, according to a study from researchers at the National Institutes of Health.
Increased risk of cardiovascular disease for pregnant women with high blood pressure
Women with high blood pressure during pregnancy have an increased risk of high blood pressure even 40 years after maternity, which leads in turn to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This has been demonstrated by researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
In sex, happiness hinges on keeping up with the Joneses, study finds
Sex apparently is like income: People are generally happy when they keep pace with the Joneses and they're even happier if they get a bit more.
Fainting may run in families while triggers may not
New research suggests that fainting may be genetic and, in some families, only one gene may be responsible. However, a predisposition to certain triggers, such as emotional distress or the sight of blood, may not be inherited. The study is published in the April 16, 2013, print issue of Neurology. Fainting, also called vasovagal syncope, is a brief loss of consciousness when your body reacts to certain triggers. It affects at least one out of four people.
Patients go undercover to record encounters with doctors
Patients' health outcomes improve when physicians individualize care and take their patients' life circumstances into account, according to a new study by the University of Illinois at Chicago and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Researchers offer 12 principles for effective contraceptive counseling
New research by Professor James Jaccard, Ph.D., and Nicole Levitz, M.P.H., of the New York University Silver School of Social Work and its Center for Latino Adolescent and Family Health (CLAFH) has led them to suggest 12 evidence-based principles that can be used to improve contraceptive counseling of adolescents in U.S. health care clinics, doctor's offices, and health service organizations.
Key bone marrow protein identified as potential new leukemia treatment target
A new study on how the progression of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is influenced by the bone marrow environment has demonstrated for the first time that targeting a specialized protein known as osteopontin (OPN) may be an effective strategy to increase the efficacy of chemotherapy in patients with this type of blood cancer. Study data were published online today in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH).
Following a Western style diet may lead to greater risk of premature death
Data from a new study of British adults suggest that adherence to a "Western-style" diet (fried and sweet food, processed and red meat, refined grains, and high-fat dairy products) reduces a person's likelihood of achieving older ages in good health and with higher functionality. Study results appear in the May issue of The American Journal of Medicine.
Parents who veto vaccinations often seek like-minded opinions
(HealthDay)—Friends and family may be key in parents' decisions on whether to vaccinate their young children, a small study suggests.
Lullabies soothe preemies, parents alike
(HealthDay)—Lullabies have been used to soothe babies since time immemorial. Now, scientists say that premature infants in particular can benefit from combining this tactic with other forms of music therapy, such as simulated womb sounds synchronized to preemies' vital signs.
Quality improvement methods up appropriate antibiotic rx
(HealthDay)—Quality improvement (QI) methods can be used to rapidly implement national guidelines relating to appropriate first-line antibiotic therapy for children aged 3 months or older with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), according to a study published online April 15 in Pediatrics.
Full-term gestational age tied to development at 12 months
(HealthDay)—For healthy full-term infants, development at age 12 months is associated with gestational age, with scores increasing for each additional week of gestation, according to a study published online April 15 in Pediatrics.
Intensive glucose control improves CVD risk factors
(HealthDay)—Intensive glucose-lowering therapy (INT) is associated with favorable changes in lipoprotein levels and inflammatory risk factors even though it does not lower the incidence of cardiovascular events, according to a study published online March 27 in Diabetes Care.
FDA warns consumers of dangers of the stimulant DMAA
(HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is attempting to halt distribution of dietary supplements that contain the stimulant dimethylamylamine (DMAA), following reports of illness and death associated with these supplements.
In-transit melanoma advance is difficult to predict
(HealthDay)—Progressive disease cannot be reliably predicted by patient, clinical, or procedural factors in patients receiving regional therapy for advanced melanoma of the extremities, according to a study published online April 3 in JAMA Surgery.
Excess vitamin E intake not a health concern, study says
Despite concerns that have been expressed about possible health risks from high intake of vitamin E, a new review concludes that biological mechanisms exist to routinely eliminate excess levels of the vitamin, and they make it almost impossible to take a harmful amount.
Resorts nationwide go sun smart
A group of researchers led by San Diego State University communication professor Peter Andersen, have teamed up with 40 resorts nationwide to encourage vacationers to be smart about sun protection through Go Sun Smart.
Research sheds new light on traumatic brain injuries
Even a mild injury to the brain can have long lasting consequences, including increased risk of cognitive impairment later in life. While it is not yet known how brain injury increases risk for dementia, there are indications that chronic, long-lasting, inflammation in the brain may be important. A new paper by researchers at the University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging (SBCoA), appearing in the Journal of Neuroscience, offers the latest information concerning a "switch" that turns "on" and "off" inflammation in the brain after trauma.
Sharing individual health information could improve care and reduce costs for all, researcher says
Information collected from individual patients at doctor's office and hospital visits could be used to improve health care and reduce costs on a national scale, according to a discussion paper released by the Institute of Medicine.
Gene-expression signature may signify risk for recurrence, metastasis in prostate cancer
A team led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers has identified a genetic signature that appears to reflect the risk of tumor recurrence or spread in men surgically treated for prostate cancer. If confirmed in future studies, this finding not only may help determine which patients require additional treatment after the cancerous gland has been removed, it also may help address the most challenging problem in prostate cancer treatment – distinguishing tumors that require aggressive treatment from those that can safely be monitored. The report has been issued online in PNAS Early Edition.
No evidence drugs, vitamins, supplements help prevent cognitive decline in healthy older adults
A review of published research has found no evidence that drugs, herbal products or vitamin supplements help prevent cognitive decline in healthy older adults.
Exercise may help people with Alzheimer's avoid nursing homes
(HealthDay)—Regular exercise slows disability and prevents falls in patients with Alzheimer's disease without increasing overall costs, a new study from Finland says.
Study questions value of PSA test for older men
(HealthDay)—Only one-third of men over age 65 who receive an abnormal result from their PSA test actually undergo prostate biopsy to look for disease, a new study finds.
Science of genome-sequencing marks 10 years
A decade after completion of the Human Genome Project on April 14, 2003, a top official of the National Institutes of Health surveyed the rarefied view from that mountaintop:
Drug could improve working memory of people with autism, study finds
People with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often have trouble communicating and interacting with others because they process language, facial expressions and social cues differently. Previously, researchers found that propranolol, a drug commonly used to treat high blood pressure, anxiety and panic, could improve the language abilities and social functioning of people with an ASD. Now, University of Missouri investigators say the prescription drug also could help improve the working memory abilities of individuals with autism.
Genetic variation contributes to pulmonary fibrosis risk
A newly published study of patients with pulmonary fibrosis has discovered multiple genetic variations that should help with future efforts to treat the disease.
Training the brain to improve on new tasks
A brain-training task that increases the number of items an individual can remember over a short period of time may boost performance in other problem-solving tasks by enhancing communication between different brain areas. The new study being presented this week in San Francisco is one of a growing number of experiments on how working-memory training can measurably improve a range of skills – from multiplying in your head to reading a complex paragraph.
New type of bowel cancer discovered
(Medical Xpress)—A unique sub-type of bowel cancer has been discovered which has a worse outcome than other types of colon cancer and is resistant to certain targeted treatments, according to research published today in Nature Medicine.
Study shows men better at reading emotions in other men than in women
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at LWL-University Hospital in Bochum, Germany have found that male volunteers looking at photographs of human eyes were better at guessing the "mood" of the person in the picture, if the person in them was also male. This, the researchers suggest in their paper published in the journal PLUS ONE, indicates that men are better able to read the mood of fellow males than females.
Taste of beer, without effect from alcohol, triggers dopamine release in the brain
The taste of beer, without any effect from alcohol itself, can trigger dopamine release in the brain, which is associated with drinking and other drugs of abuse, according to Indiana University School of Medicine researchers.
Concert cacophony: Short-term hearing loss protective, not damaging
Contrary to conventional wisdom, short-term hearing loss after sustained exposure to loud noise does not reflect damage to our hearing: instead, it is the body's way to cope.
Cancer cell metabolism kills
Adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) is the main energy source for all forms of work inside our cells. Scientists from the University of Helsinki, Finland, have found that even a short-term shortage of ATP supply can be fatal for cancer cells because activation of a mitochondria-addressed cell death pathway.
Autism model in mice linked with genetics
For the first time, researchers have linked autism in a mouse model of the disease with abnormalities in specific regions of the animals' chromosomes. The regions contain genes associated with aberrant brain development and activity.
Scientists identify potential target to reduce progression of metastases
A team of researchers at the IRCM, led by Dr. Jean-François Côté, made an important discovery in breast cancer, which will published online this week by the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The Montréal scientists identified the DOCK1 protein as a potential target to reduce the progression of metastases in patients suffering from breast cancer, the most common type of cancer in women.
Scientists learn what makes nerve cells so strong
How do nerve cells—which can each be up to three feet long in humans—keep from rupturing or falling apart?
Brain development is guided by 'junk' DNA that isn't really junk
(Medical Xpress)—Specific DNA once dismissed as junk plays an important role in brain development and might be involved in several devastating neurological diseases, UC San Francisco scientists have found.
Patenting genes: Justices tackle big health issue (Update 2)
The Supreme Court seemed worried Monday about the idea of companies patenting human genes in a case that could profoundly reshape the multibillion-dollar biomedical industry and U.S. research in the fight against diseases like breast and ovarian cancer.
Congenitally absent optic chiasm: Making sense of visual pathways
(Medical Xpress)—One way to increase our understanding of bilateral brains, like our own, is to inspect their paired sensory systems. In our visual system, the optic nerves normally combine at a place called the optic chiasm. Here half the fibers from each eye cross over to the opposite hemisphere. When this natural partition fails to develop normally, the system compensates in different ways. In people with albinism, for example, almost all of the fibers fully cross at the chiasm. As a result, images are combined in the brain in such a way that full depth of vision is limited. Their eyes also may move slightly independent of each other, or dart back-and-forth in a condition known as nystagmus. When the opposite situation occurs, that in which the optic nerves do not cross at all during their development, it is called congenital achiasma. An individual with this rare condition was recently studied with different forms MRI. The results, reported in the journal Neuropsyc! hologia, show that achiasma can occur as an isolated defect, lacking any structural abnormalities in other pathways that cross the midline. The study also demonstrated that the part of the cortex that first receives the visual input, the primary visual cortex, does not rely on information from the opposite side to perform its immediate functions.
Biology news
Endangered pangolins found on Chinese poacher boat
The Philippine coast guard said Monday it had found hundreds of frozen scaly anteaters, or pangolins, in the cargo hold of a Chinese boat that ran aground in a protected marine sanctuary last week.
India's top court orders state to share its lions
(AP)—India's Supreme Court on Monday ordered western Gujarat state to share some of its endangered lions with a neighboring state to create a second home for them.
Blue tits provide insight into climate change
(Phys.org) —Researchers believe that the size of birds' nests created in response to changing weather patterns may be partly to blame for reproductive failures over the last two years.
Researcher helps construct Lepidoptera family tree of life
A new international study co-authored by a University of Florida researcher describes one of the most comprehensive analyses of Lepidoptera evolutionary relationships to date, and could have broad implications in the fields of genetics, agriculture and conservation.
Research finds invasive kudzu bugs may pose greater threat than previously thought
The invasive kudzu bug has the potential to be a major agricultural pest, causing significant damage to economically important soybean crops. Conventional wisdom has held that the insect pests will be limited to areas in the southern United States, but new research from North Carolina State University shows that they may be able to expand into other parts of the country.
Tiny colorful snails are in danger of extinction with vanishing limestone ecosystems
Researchers from Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok and the Natural History Museum, London (Thanit Siriboon, Chirasak Sutcharit, Fred Naggs and Somsak Panha) discovered many new taxa of the brightly coloured carnivorous terrestrial snails family Streptaxidae. Terrestrial snails are primarily herbivores and only a rare few groups like this one are carnivorous. The animals come from several limestone areas across the world, including some threatened by human exploitation, especially by quarrying.
Without adequate funding, deadly wheat disease could threaten global food supplies
Disease-resistant wheat developed over the past half century helped ensure steady world food supplies, but a global team led by researchers from the University of Minnesota warns in a new paper that without increased financial support for disease resistance research, new strains of a deadly fungal disease could leave millions without affordable access to food.
Bat-killing white-nose syndrome continues to spread
It was a typically cold winter day when Greg Turner, a wildlife biologist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, unlocked the gate at the historic Durham Mine in upper Bucks County, Pa., and stepped into the darkness.
The tulip tree reveals mitochondrial genome of ancestral flowering plant
The extraordinary level of conservation of the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) mitochondrial genome has redefined our interpretation of evolution of the angiosperms (flowering plants), finds research in biomed Central's open access journal BMC Biology. This beautiful 'molecular fossil' has a remarkably slow mutation rate meaning that its mitochondrial genome has remained largely unchanged since the dinosaurs were roaming the earth.
Sharks dive deep on moonlit nights
(Phys.org) —The Moon, water temperature and even time of day affect the diving behaviour of sharks, according to new research at The University of Western Australia.
Search for new antibiotics advanced by discovery of key processes within bacterial protein
(Phys.org) —Scientists have discovered how bacteria transport the tiny hair-like strands, called pili, which cover their outer surface from the inside of the cell, where they are assembled, to the exterior. Pili are a key target for a new generation of antibiotics, as without them the bacteria are unable to group together and to stick to human cells causing infection.
Getting to the root of horseradish root problems
Approximately 55 percent of the horseradish produced in the United States is grown in the Collinsville, Ill., area, the self-proclaimed "Horseradish Capital of the World." The product is of such high quality that Europeans import it for gourmet and industrial use. But when crop sciences professor Mohammad Babadoost first arrived at the University of Illinois in 1999, he was told that growers had been experiencing significant yield reductions due to internal discoloring and root rot.
Fish prone to melanoma get DNA decoded
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and elsewhere have decoded the genome of the platyfish, a cousin of the guppy and a popular choice for home aquariums. Among scientists, the fish are meticulously studied for their tendency to develop melanoma and for other attributes more common to mammals, like courting prospective mates and giving birth to live young.
Shifts in physiological mechanisms let male bats balance the need to feed and the urge to breed
A forthcoming article in Physiological and Biochemical Zoology reveals shifts in the mechanisms bats use to regulate metabolism throughout their seasonal activity period.
Plant protein shape puzzle solved by molecular 3-D model
(Phys.org) —Researchers from North Carolina State University believe they have solved a puzzle that has vexed science since plants first appeared on Earth.
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