Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 10, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Superheated Bose-Einstein condensate exists above critical temperature- Mouse brain made transparent: Method enables 3-D analysis of brain's fine structure and connections (w/ video)
- World's oldest dinosaur embryo bonebed yields organic remains
- Folded DNA templates allow researchers to precisely cut out graphene shapes which could be used in electronic circuits
- PARC goes xerographic: Is that any way to make a computer?
- COMAN: Researchers build first fully-limbed passive compliant robot (w/ video)
- Subconscious mental categories help brain sort through everyday experiences
- New high-speed camera system reveals what snow looks like in midair
- Superconducting qualities of topological insulators demonstrated
- Thin layer of germanium may replace silicon in semiconductors
- Physics at the threshold of hearing
- Team makes breakthrough in search for neurodegenerative disease treatments
- Researchers engineer 'protein switch' to dissect role of cancer's key players
- Pottery reveals Ice Age hunter-gatherers' taste for fish
- The surprising ability of blood stem cells to respond to emergencies
Space & Earth news
Limiting greenhouse gas emissions from land use in Europe
Not only do humans emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, but they also do things that help remove these gases from the atmosphere—for example, planting more forests or other land management techniques can lead to greater uptake of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. New research presented by IIASA researcher Hannes Böttcher at the EGU General Assembly this week estimates future land use emissions for the European Union. These scenarios provide the basis for policy discussions in the EU, and also help identify the least costly mitigation options for addressing climate change in Europe.
Experts sound alarm over 'perfect storm' in African Sahel
The vast region of Africa known as the Sahel will descend into large-scale drought, famine, war and terrorist control if immediate, coordinated steps are not taken to avert the perfect storm of climate change and the most rapidly growing population in the world, a group of experts from the University of California, Berkeley, and the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), concluded in a report released today, which summarizes findings from the first international, multidisciplinary meeting on the region.
Methane emissions from natural gas local distribution focus of new study
Washington State University's (WSU) Laboratory for Atmospheric Research is leading a nationwide field study to better understand methane emissions associated with the distribution of natural gas.
US businesses call for climate law
Several major companies issued a joint call Wednesday for the United States to enact legislation to battle climate change, saying that the issue was critical to their businesses.
Greenpeace 'polar bears' protest Arctic oil drilling
Two Greenpeace activists dressed as polar bears boarded an oil platform in Norway on Wednesday to protest against Norwegian oil and gas group Statoil's planned drilling in the Arctic.
New way to protect precious water
Australian scientists have devised a way to model polluted groundwater with computer simulation – and better protect the Earth's main fresh water supply.
Research enables fishermen to harvest lucrative shellfish on Georges Bank
Combined research efforts by scientists involved in the Gulf of Maine Toxicity (GOMTOX) project, funded by NOAA's Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (ECOHAB) program, and administered by the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), have led to enhanced understanding of toxic algal blooms on Georges Bank. This new information, coupled with an at-sea and dockside testing protocol developed through collaboration between GOMTOX and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigators, has allowed fishermen to harvest ocean quahogs and surf clams in these offshore waters for the first time in more than two decades.
Satellite shelved after 2000 election to now fly
President Barack Obama is proposing dusting off and finally launching an old environmental satellite championed by Al Gore but shelved a dozen years by his 2000 rival George W. Bush.
A ghostly green bubble: VLT snaps a planetary nebula
(Phys.org) —This intriguing new picture from ESO's Very Large Telescope shows the glowing green planetary nebula IC 1295 surrounding a dim and dying star located about 3300 light-years away in the constellation of Scutum (The Shield). This is the most detailed picture of this object ever taken.
Diatoms explain release of CO2
(Phys.org) —Scientists have found unexpectedly high concentrations of opal, a mineral containing silicate, in marine sediments during the transition periods from ice ages to warm phases. The explanation as to what caused these high concentrations can also clarify how oceans release sequestered carbon dioxide. The underlying mechanism is still unexplained today.
Arctic vegetation spread could boost climate change
(Phys.org) —Changes in Arctic vegetation due to climate change have probably been underestimated, according to a new computer analysis which shows that tree and shrub cover in the region will increase more than previously expected, accelerating climate change and possible adverse effects on wildlife.
Astronomers using Keck Observatory discover rain falling from Saturn's rings
(Phys.org) —NASA funded observations on the W. M. Keck Observatory with analysis led by the University of Leicester, England tracked the "rain" of charged water particles into the atmosphere of Saturn and found the extent of the ring-rain is far greater, and falls across larger areas of the planet, than previously thought. The work reveals the rain influences the composition and temperature structure of parts of Saturn's upper atmosphere. The paper appears in this week's issue of the journal Nature.
Ocean nutrients a key component of future change, say scientists
(Phys.org) —Variations in nutrient availability in the world's oceans could be a vital component of future environmental change, according to a multi-author review paper involving the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOCS).
Researchers use volcanic islands to measure how rainfall sets the pace of landscape formation
If you've ever stood on a hill during a rainstorm, you've probably witnessed landscape evolution, at least on a small scale: rivulets of water streaming down a slope, cutting deeper trenches in the earth when the rain turns heavier.
Northern hemisphere summers warmest in 600 years
Summers in the northern hemisphere are now warmer than at any period in six centuries, according to climate research published on Wednesday in the science journal Nature.
Technology news
A look back at some major CEO flameouts
Ron Johnson's short-lived tenure as J.C. Penney's CEO will go down as one of the biggest flameouts in corporate America. The former Apple executive was hailed as a big thinker when he was hired by the ailing department store chain but his radical moves ended up alienating shoppers, sent sales plunging and left the company in an even worse situation.
Fox affiliates 'on board' with pay TV plan
(AP)—The head of more than 200 TV stations that relay Fox programming says stations are "on board" with a threat to transition to pay TV if Internet upstart Aereo keeps reselling Fox's signal without paying for rights.
A smartphone app to verify halal products
A group of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) lecturers and researchers are burning the midnight oil not because of any exams but because they are racing against time to perfect their innovation of using the smartphone mobile device to verify a product's halal status.
Designing a structure one can at a time to help feed local families
Have you ever thought about the life-changing impact that a single can is able to make in the fight against hunger? Canstruction is an international charity competition in which architects, engineers, contractors, and students compete to design and build structures made entirely from cans of food. This year, a team of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute architecture students took home the "Structural Ingenuity" award at the 2013 Canstruction event at the New York State Museum.
Electric fence products energise farm sector
Farmers will have enhanced control and protection of their livestock and crops following Massey industrial designer Tony Parker's latest collaboration with technology company Gallagher, on a top-line series of new products that alert farm workers to potential faults in their electric fencing system.
High-tech suspension bridge for Istanbul
Siemens is ensuring the safe and smooth operation of what will be the world's fourth-longest suspension bridge - a structure that will have a main span length of 1,550 meters and rise 60 meters above the Gulf of Izmit, south of Istanbul, Turkey. The bridge, which is scheduled to go into operation at the end of 2015, will be one of the safest in the world. Among other things, its stability and mechanical stress loads will be measured and analyzed by more than 400 sensors that will also enable it to be closed immediately in dangerous situations.
Lithuania taxman uses Google Maps to find dodgers (Update)
As soon as Google Maps Street View was rolled out in Lithuania earlier this year, tax authorities were ready.
Alert to Congress: Nuclear evacuation may bog down
A new government report challenges a pillar of planning for disasters at American nuclear power plants. It finds that people living beyond the official 10-mile evacuation zone might be so frightened by the prospect of spreading radiation that they would flee of their own accord, clog roads, and delay the escape of others.
Report says T-Mobile parent may raise MetroPCS bid
The parent company of T-Mobile USA is considering raising its offer for MetroPCS Communications Inc., which some shareholders have called too low, according to a published report.
Smithsonian dedicates new exhibition to navigation
Smithsonian curators found themselves chasing the proverbial moving target when they put together a new permanent exhibition opening Friday that explains how people get from A to B.
Pentagon accused of data breach in Gitmo ship case
(AP)—The lawyer for a man accused in an attack on a U.S. warship says a Pentagon computer server failure may have resulted in the loss of a huge amount of data needed by the defense.
Major Dell shareholder favors recent buyout offers
Dell's largest independent shareholder is leaning toward supporting one of the two bidders trying to scuttle the slumping personal computer maker's proposed $24.4 billion sale to a group including CEO Michael Dell.
SKorea says NKorea behind computer crash in March
(AP)—North Korea was responsible for a cyberattack that shut down tens of thousands of computers and servers at South Korean broadcasters and banks last month, officials in Seoul said Wednesday, noting that an initial investigation pointed to a military-run spy agency as the culprit.
Google weaves a web between human trafficking hotlines
Sex workers are more likely to call in to a hotline for victims of human trafficking on a Wednesday, and a Google-backed initiative could help to explain why.
US employers eager for new foreign worker program
As desperate as unemployed Americans are to find work, there are still some jobs that many would never consider applying for because they are seen as too dirty, too demanding or just plain unappealing.
Google to invest $390m in data center in Belgium
Internet search giant Google says it is investing 300 million euros ($390 million) to expand its continental European data center.
New app powers better sanitation in developing world
A new mobile phone app developed by a University of Nottingham researcher is changing the lives of millions of people in Africa by giving them the power to instantly report problems with poor sanitation.
Weighing trailers on the road
Heavy goods vehicles on Norwegian roads will soon be checked and weighed automatically – while on the road. Advanced sensors installed in the road surface, combined with number plate recognition systems, will enable the detection of far more incorrectly loaded trailers than is the case today. This lies at the heart of a joint Norwegian project involving researchers, the regulatory authorities and the road haulage industry.
Peel-and-stick thin film solar cells
Hanyang University in collaboration with Stanford University has succeeded in fabricating peel-and-stick thin film solar cells (TFSCs). The Si wafer is clean and reusable. Moreover, as the peeled-off TFSCs from the Si wafer are thin, light-weight, and flexible, it can be attached onto any form or shape of surface like a sticker.
New green technology squeezes out building leaks
(Phys.org) —A new building-sealing technology developed by researchers at the University of California, Davis, will get a real-world test today at a Habitat for Humanity home in Stockton, Calif.
Aircraft sensors without batteries or cables
An idea from EADS and Vienna University of Technology is taking off: in a joint project, Energy Harvester Modules suitable for aircrafts have been tested, which should supply sensor nodes with electrical power in the future.
'Digital divide' still wide in developing world, study finds
Most developing countries are still struggling to bridge the "digital divide" limiting access to computers and the Internet for low-income citizens, a study showed Wednesday.
House committee advancing pro-business cyber bill
The House Intelligence Committee is finalizing legislation that would give the federal government an unprecedented role in helping banks, manufacturers and other businesses protect against cyberattacks.
PC sales plunge as Windows 8 flops (Update)
Microsoft's Windows 8 software appears to be driving buyers away from PCs and toward smartphones and tablets, research firm IDC said Wednesday. That's leading to the fastest drop in PC sales the firm has ever seen.
VC firms team up to invest in Google Glass ideas
Three influential venture capital firms are teaming to find and finance entrepreneurs who want to create applications and other accessories for Google Glass. That's an Internet-connected device that is setting out to turn wearable computing into the latest fashion trend.
Mind-controlled devices reveal future possibilities
(Phys.org) —A team of scientists and engineers at the University of Minnesota is giving new meaning to the old adage: "Mind over matter."
Overcoming a major barrier to medical and other uses of 'microrockets' and 'micromotors'
An advance in micromotor technology akin to the invention of cars that fuel themselves from the pavement or air, rather than gasoline or batteries, is opening the door to broad new medical and industrial uses for these tiny devices, scientists said here today. Their update on development of the motors—so small that thousands would fit inside this "o"—was part of the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society.
Understanding the life of lithium ion batteries in electric vehicles
Scientists today answered a question that worries millions of owners and potential owners of electric and hybrid vehicles using lithium-ion batteries: How long before the battery pack dies, leaving a sticker-shock bill for a fresh pack or a car ready for the junk heap? Their answer, presented here at the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), may surprise skeptics.
German bank reports solar power cost in India and Italy has reached grid parity
(Phys.org) —Germany's Deutsche Bank has released a report that concludes that generating electricity using solar collectors has reached grid parity—cost competitiveness with other industry standard sources—in some countries. Analysts with the bank claim that both India and Italy have reached grid parity and that other countries are poised to do so over the next couple of years.
Persona Beta 2—identiy bridging solution—released by Mozilla
(Phys.org) —Mozilla has released the second beta of its "Persona" identity bridging solution—offering users the possibility of a single login (e-mail address) and password for all of the sites they visit, or so the company claims.
New high-speed camera system reveals what snow looks like in midair
University of Utah researchers developed a high-speed camera system that spent the past two winters photographing snowflakes in 3-D as they fell – and they don't look much like those perfect-but-rare snowflakes often seen in photos.
PARC goes xerographic: Is that any way to make a computer?
(Phys.org) —Talk about taking chip assembly to the next level: That 3-D-printer is not only to make the personalized phone case but the phone. At least this idea has some potential with a recent report making the rounds this week, where the author of an article in The New York Times wrote about what scientists at Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) are up to.
Medicine & Health news
1,233 new cases of AIDS in Saudi Arabia last year
(AP)—The head of Saudi Arabia's AIDS charity foundation says the country saw 1,233 new cases of the disease last year.
4-year-old boy recovers from new bird flu in China
(AP)—A 4-year-old boy has recovered from a new strain of bird flu that has killed nine people in China, a doctor said Wednesday, as the country's premier said the outbreak was under control.
A thirst for justice delayed: Researchers explore Cambodian attitudes toward Khmer Rouge trials
In the 1970s, the Khmer Rouge killed 2 million people in Cambodia's "killing fields," roughly a quarter of the population. Today, 80 percent of Cambodians say they're victims of the regime, including half of respondents too young to have lived under it, but nonetheless affected by it.
Attention to TV is key link between screen media use and obesity
Using a new research method that tracks moment-by-moment use of electronic media by young people, researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have shown that paying attention to TV is strongly associated with higher Body Mass Index (BMI). The study, published in the May 2013 issue of Pediatrics (available online April 8), found no association between BMI and attention to video games or computers, despite the duration of use.
New method restores grip function more quickly to patients with tetraplegia
A new method in which a number of operations are performed simultaneously can provide people with tetraplegia with a better grip function and the ability to open their hand. This method also shortens the patient's rehabilitation period by at least three months, reveals a doctoral thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Prevalence of benign disease diagnosis after lung surgery varied widely by state
Benign disease diagnosis rates after surgery for suspected lung cancer varied widely by state, and the reasons for these variations could inform health policy and clinical guidelines for lung cancer screening, according to a researcher who presented the data at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington, D.C., April 6-10.
AACR releases policy guidance on tobacco and cancer clinical trials
An American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) statement calls on the oncology community to provide evidence-based tobacco cessation treatment for all cancer and cancer-screening patients and to evaluate tobacco as a confounding factor in cancer clinical trial outcomes. The statement was published this morning in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the AACR.
"!ti od em edam nataS" … does rock 'n' roll really make kids kill themselves?
As Jane Austen probably wanted to say, it is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good Black Sabbath CD must be in want of a shotgun.
Mobile phones could carry end-of-life care wishes
Mobile phones should be used to express and store our end-of-life medical care preferences, experts say.
Researchers call on physicians to urge newly diagnosed cancer patients to quit smoking
Yale Cancer Center experts in collaboration with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) are calling on physicians to routinely recommend that patients stop smoking after a diagnosis of cancer. Their call to action took place in a policy statement released at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, in Washington, D.C.
Homesickness and adjustment in university students
Sure, many young adults are ecstatic at that first taste of freedom that comes with "going away to college." But for some, the intense transition can also trigger intense homesickness. In new research published in the Journal of American College Health, authors Christopher A. Thurber, PhD and Edward A. Walton, MD explore this topic in "Homesickness and Adjustment in University Students."
Indian court rules against surgery on conjoined twins
India's Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled out any immediate surgery to separate 17-year-old twin sisters joined at the head, citing the need for more expert medical opinion.
Dutch recall 50,000 tons of meat across Europe
(AP)—Dutch authorities are recalling 50,000 tons of meat sold as beef across Europe because its exact source cannot be established and it may contain horse meat, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.
Researchers develop tool to assist areas of infectious disease outbreaks
Researchers have developed a simple new tool to help governments worldwide decide whether to screen airplane passengers leaving or arriving from areas of infectious disease outbreaks.
Single best practice to prevent DVT reduces hospital costs by more than $1.5 million annually
A major challenge facing today's health care community is to find ways to lower costs without compromising clinical quality. Taking that challenge to task, researchers at Medstar Health and Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington DC, report success in using a concept called "value-based analysis," which simultaneously measures quality and cost and addresses inefficiencies in care. The researchers applied a value-based analysis approach to implementing a single best practice for preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in surgical patients and were able to reduce hospital costs in excess of $1.5 million per year. The study appears in the April issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
Training gives kids of AIDS patients a leg up
A simple in-home training program for caregivers can give children of AIDS patients a better shot at prosperity by improving their early-childhood development, according to a study led by a Michigan State University researcher.
Dengue fever outbreak hits Costa Rica
Health officials in Costa Rica said an outbreak of dengue fever has sickened 7,000 people, with many cases occurring in some of this Central American country's most popular tourist areas.
Dane cleared of crimes, said to have 'sexsomnia'
(AP)—A Danish man has been acquitted of molesting two 17-year-old girls after he was found to suffer from a rare sleep disorder known as "sexsomnia."
Predicting the next eye pathogen; analysis of a novel adenovirus
The ongoing dance between a virus and its host distinctly shapes how the virus evolves. While human adenoviruses typically cause mild infections, recent reports have described newly characterized adenoviruses that can cause severe, sometime fatal, human infections.
Nanoparticles boost therapeutic potential of siRNA drugs
New classes of drugs that can silence specific genes, such as small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), offer great therapeutic potential. But the specific delivery of siRNAs to target cells to exert their effects remains a significant challenge. A novel nanoparticle-based approach that enables more efficient delivery of siRNA drugs is presented in Nucleic Acid Therapeutics.
How Seattle Cancer Care Alliance implemented Washington's Death with Dignity Act
Because several states are considering similar Death with Dignity laws, and because such legislation disproportionately affects cancer patients and their families, SCCA conducted a study to describe the institution's implementation of the Washington state law and its experience with patients who chose to participate. The study's findings are published in the April 11, 2013 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.
CPAP improves work productivity for sleep apnea patients
Continuous positive airway pressure is effective at increasing work productivity, according to a new study.
ACP unveils tools to improve care for patients with prediabetes, gout, obesity, and Alzheimer's
The American College of Physicians (ACP) today unveiled a series of interventions to help patients and physicians manage prediabetes, gout, obesity and weight loss, and Alzheimer's disease.
US says preemie study didn't fully disclose risks
(AP)—Federal health officials say the parents of premature babies enrolled in a treatment study several years ago weren't properly informed of potential risks.
Clinical practice guidelines for bariatric surgery are updated
(HealthDay)—Based on a review of relevant evidence, 74 recommendations have been issued in updated clinical practice guidelines for bariatric surgery, according to a study published in the March issue of Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases.
'Mobility shoes' take a load off for knee osteoarthritis sufferers
New research suggests that patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who wear flat, flexible footwear (mobility shoes) had significant reduction in knee loading—the force placed upon the joint during daily activities. Results published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), show that long term use of the mobility shoes helped OA patients adapt their gait, or how they walk, which improved knee loading, even when the mobility shoes were no longer worn.
The adult generations of today are less healthy than their counterparts of previous generations
Sophia Antipolis, 10 April 2013. Despite their greater life expectancy, the adults of today are less "metabolically" healthy than their counterparts of previous generations. That's the conclusion of a large cohort study from the Netherlands which compared generational shifts in a range of well established metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Assessing the trends, the investigators concluded that "the more recently born generations are doing worse", and warn "that the prevalence of metabolic risk factors and the lifelong exposure to them have increased and probably will continue to increase".
Reliability of neuroscience research questioned
New research has questioned the reliability of neuroscience studies, saying that conclusions could be misleading due to small sample sizes.
Some types of papilloma virus might prevent cervical cancer
(Medical Xpress)—Certain types of papilloma virus might actually prevent cervical cancer, according to a new study by researchers from The University of Manchester.
Distance makes a difference in eyewitness identification
University of Adelaide researchers are studying the reliability of eyewitness identification testimony in criminal cases in the hopes of improving evidence from witnesses and leading to fairer trials.
Mums giving babies solid foods later, research shows
Australian mums have been given a tick of approval when it comes to choosing the right time to give their babies solid foods.
Researchers find Salmonella to be more resilient than originally thought
(Medical Xpress)—Virginia Tech scientists have provided new evidence that biofilms—bacteria that adhere to surfaces and build protective coatings—are at work in the survival of the human pathogen Salmonella.
Cohort study indicates that selenium may be protective against advanced prostate cancer
A greater level of toenail selenium was associated with a significant decrease in the risk for advanced prostate cancer, according to data presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington, D.C., April 6-10.
Test-tube baby pioneer Robert Edwards dies aged 87 (Update)
British scientist Robert Edwards, who was awarded a Nobel prize for his pioneering work in developing in vitro fertilisation (IVF), died on Wednesday aged 87, his university announced.
Researchers find some lung cancers linked to common virus
A common virus known to cause cervical and head and neck cancers may also trigger some cases of lung cancer, according to new research presented by Fox Chase Cancer Center at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 on Wednesday, April 10.
Studies show increasing evidence that androgen drives breast cancer
Estrogen and progesterone receptors, and the gene HER2 – these are the big three markers and/or targets in breast cancer. Evidence presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 adds a fourth: androgen receptors.
Researchers discover new therapy for fragile X chromosome syndrome
Researchers at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and the Achucarro neurosciences centre have discovered a new therapy for the fragile X chromosome syndrome. This new therapy proposes the modulation of the cerebral endocannabinoid system in order to ameliorate the symptoms of the disease. "Clearly, a cure as such is not going to be achieved, as it involves a disease of genetic origin, but the fact that, by manipulating in a certain way at a cerebral level in order to obtain an improvement in the symptoms of the disease is something highly positive", stated Ms Susana Mato, researcher at the Department of Neurosciences at the UPV/EHU and at the Achucarro centre. This scientific finding has just been published in Nature Medicine.
'Unknown' neurological disorder often incorrectly diagnosed
The very serious hereditary disease HDLS was discovered in 1984 in Sweden. Many HDLS patients are still incorrectly diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, MS or Parkinson's disease, but researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have now developed a more certain diagnosis method - and are seeking to find a treatment for the "unknown" neurological disorder.
New approach evaluates effect of physical activity on estrogen metabolism in postmenopausal women
Researchers have generated new insights into the ways in which physical activity affects how much estrogen is broken down and secreted in the urine of postmenopausal women. These findings enhance understanding of the potential biological mechanisms linking increased physical activity and decreased risk for breast cancer in postmenopausal women, according to the scientist who presented the data at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington, D.C., April 6-10.
Misuse of drug patenting could cost the health system billions
(Medical Xpress)—Companies may be misusing the drug patenting system in order to gain control over high-cost drugs in Australia, research from the Melbourne Law School has found.
Engineered antibody demonstrated safety, efficacy in wide range of advanced tumors
(Medical Xpress)—The engineered antibody MPDL3280A, which targets a protein called programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), was safe and effective for several cancers, according to phase I study results presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington, D.C., April 6-10.
Insights into an abnormally edited RNA molecule may yield new weapons against a hard-to-kill cancer
Diagnosis of the brain cancer glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is particularly bad news for patients due to limited available medical options and poor outcomes. Even treatments that can eliminate other malignancies, such as chemotherapy and surgery, buy only limited time for GBM patients.
New study exposes link between pesticides and childhood brain tumours
A new study from the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research has revealed a potential link between professional pesticide treatments in the home and a higher risk of children developing brain tumours.
Doctors not informed of harmful effects of medicines during sales visits
The majority of family doctors receive little or no information about harmful effects of medicines when visited by drug company representatives, according to an international study involving Canadian, U.S. and French physicians.
Getting a grip on hand function: Researchers discover spinal cord circuit that controls our ability to grasp
Dalhousie neurosurgeon and scientist Dr. Rob Brownstone and postdoctoral fellow Dr. Tuan Bui have identified the spinal cord circuit that controls the hand's ability to grasp. This breakthrough finding opens the door to the possibility of restoring hand function with treatments that target this spinal cord circuit. The world's leading neuroscience journal, Neuron, will publish the researchers' finding online at 12 noon EST on Wednesday, April 10.
Echo of health: Students design noninvasive test for pediatric heart patients
(Medical Xpress)—It has been said that the heart sometimes sees what is invisible to the eye, but thanks to four Rice University mathematics students, the echocardiograms of patients at Texas Children's Hospital (TCH) in Houston may soon reveal something new to the eyes of pediatric cardiologists.
Interviewers' gestures mislead child-witnesses
Children can easily be led to remember incorrect information through misleading gestures from adults, according to researchers from the University of Hertfordshire. These findings are being presented this week at the British Psychological Society Annual Conference.
Football referees cope by thinking they are better than other refs
(Medical Xpress)—Football referees at all levels think they are better than their colleagues – and that may be how they cope with the pressures of this difficult and often thankless task, according to researchers at Northumbria University.
People who participate in sports have better attention span than those in poor physical health, study finds
New scientific evidence seems to confirm the famous Roman saying "Mens sana in corpore sano". Researchers from the University of Granada have demonstrated that people who normally practice sport have a better cognitive performance than those with poor physical health. More specifically, the results of this research indicate that the former have a better sustained attention span (they react more rapidly to an external stimulus introduced randomly while carrying out a monotonous task). Their autonomic nervous system also appears to work better when dealing with cognitive loads over a longer time period.
Engineered small pox may kill liver cancer
As part of a multicenter clinical trial, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine are evaluating Pexa-Vec (JX-594) to slow the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or liver cancer. Pexa-Vec is a genetically engineered virus that is used in the smallpox vaccine.
Feelings of power can diffuse effects of negative stereotypes, study says
(Medical Xpress)—New research from social psychologists at Indiana University Bloomington suggests that feeling powerful might protect against the debilitating effects of negative stereotypes.
Co-Q10 deficiency may relate to concern with statin drugs, higher risk of diabetes
(Medical Xpress)—A laboratory study has shown for the first time that coenzyme Q10 offsets the cellular changes that are linked to a side-effect of some statin drugs - an increased risk of adult-onset diabetes.
Cardiopoietic 'smart' stem cells show promise in heart failure patients
Translating a Mayo Clinic stem-cell discovery, an international team has demonstrated that therapy with cardiopoietic (cardiogenically-instructed) or "smart" stem cells can improve heart health for people suffering from heart failure. This is the first application in patients of lineage-guided stem cells for targeted regeneration of a failing organ, paving the way to development of next generation regenerative medicine solutions. Results of the clinical trial appear online of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
One in five seniors on risky meds; more in US South
More than 1 in 5 seniors with Medicare Advantage plans received a prescription for a potentially harmful "high risk medication" in 2009, according to a newly published analysis by Brown University public health researchers. The questionable prescriptions were significantly more common in the Southeast region of the country, as well as among women and people living in relatively poor areas.
Adaptable leaders may have best brains for the job, study finds
Effective leaders' brains may be physically "wired" to lead, offering the promise of more precise identification and training, according to studies of U.S. Army officers published by the American Psychological Association.
In an economic crash, public health improves
The economic crash in Cuba following the fall of the Soviet Union has provided researchers with a unique natural experiment on obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
Genes reveal which patients will benefit from scleroderma drug
Systemic sclerosis, also known as scleroderma, is a rare autoimmune connective tissue disorder that's difficult to treat. However, thanks to new research at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine, doctors may be able to treat some patients more effectively.
Effect of medication is affected by copies of genetic information
The results may help to explain why certain medications have strong side effects on sperm and eggs, and why certain organisms remain unaffected by environmental changes. This is shown by studies that researchers from the University of Gothenburg, together with researchers from Norway and France, are now publishing in the journal PLOS Genetics.
New cutting-edge cell research will lead to safer medical experiments on humans
In almost 90 per cent of cases, novel drugs tested on humans by pharmaceutical companies do not work as intended and must be scrapped. Often the drugs do not work, while at worst, test subjects die. New research from the University of Southern Denmark now shows that this number can be reduced. The secret is to test the drug on cells grown as 3D structures.
Study reveals Rx target for HPV, Hep C and related cancers
New discoveries by a team of scientists at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans for the first time reveal the inner workings of a master regulator that controls functions as diverse as the ability of nerve cells to "rewire" themselves in response to external stimuli and the mechanism by which certain viruses hijack normal cellular processes to facilitate their replication that can ultimately lead to cancer. The research will be published in the April 12, 2013 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Naturally occurring substance proves effective against deadly skin cancer in laboratory tests
For the first time, scientists have demonstrated the mechanism of action of gossypin, a naturally-occurring substance found in fruits and vegetables, as a treatment for melanoma, which causes the majority of deaths from skin cancer.
Cardiovascular issues up mortality rates in patients with advanced fibrosis
New research reveals that advanced fibrosis is a significant predictor of mortality in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), largely brought about by cardiovascular causes. NAFLD alone was not associated with increased mortality according to findings published in the April issue of Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.
Mining information contained in clinical notes could yield early signs of harmful drug reactions
Mining the records of routine interactions between patients and their care providers can detect drug side effects a couple of years before an official alert from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a Stanford University School of Medicine study has found.
U-M researchers find new way to clear cholesterol from the blood
Researchers at the University of Michigan have identified a new potential therapeutic target for lowering cholesterol that could be an alternative or complementary therapy to statins.
In sales, confidence and charisma may not seal the deal
Think of a stereotypical salesperson and you're likely to conjure up someone who's extraverted, gregarious, and assertive. But a new study reveals that "ambiverts," people who are neither introverted nor extraverted but who fall somewhere in between, tend to be the most effective salespeople.
Pfizer breast cancer drug gets breakthrough label
Pfizer Inc. says its experimental pill for advanced, often deadly breast cancer has been designated as a breakthrough therapy by the Food and Drug Administration.
Lab boost for precious anti-malaria drug
US scientists on Wednesday said they had used baker's yeast to make a key ingredient of malaria drugs, a feat that could iron out fluctuations in supply caused by sourcing the chemical from a Chinese herb.
Scientists use nature against nature to develop an antibiotic with reduced resistance
A new broad range antibiotic, developed jointly by scientists at The Rockefeller University and Astex Pharmaceuticals, has been found to kill a wide range of bacteria, including drug-resistant Staphylococcus (MRSA) bacteria that do not respond to traditional drugs, in mice. The antibiotic, Epimerox, targets weaknesses in bacteria that have long been exploited by viruses that attack them, known as phage, and has even been shown to protect animals from fatal infection by Bacillus anthracis, the bacteria that causes anthrax.
People buy more soda when offered packs of smaller sizes than if buying single large drink
People buy larger amounts of soda when purchasing packs of smaller drinks than when offered single servings of different sized drinks, according to research published April 10 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Brent M. Wilson and colleagues from the University of California, San Diego.
Parenting magazines give little attention to sun protection
(HealthDay)—Two popular U.S. parenting magazines give little attention in terms of articles or advertisements to preventing skin cancer risk, according to a study published in the April issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.
Smoking in youth-rated movies doubles, report says
(HealthDay)—Smoking scenes in youth-rated movies doubled in number between 2010 and 2012, and have returned to the same level as a decade ago, according to a new report.
Calcium may cut risk for precancerous colon lesions in some people
(HealthDay)—Consuming higher amounts of calcium may lower the likelihood of precancerous colon and rectal lesions in people who are at increased risk due to variations in two genes, a new study suggests.
Antibiotic prescribing rates vary by region
(HealthDay)—The chances that your doctor will give you antibiotics when you're sick may be influenced by geography, new research reveals.
Having a short wide face may indicate sporting potential, study shows
The shape of a man's face can help predict his sporting acumen, according to a study on Wednesday that found Japanese baseball players whose faces were relatively broad rather than long were most likely to hit a home run.
Flies reveal that a sense of smell, like a melody, depends upon timing
(Medical Xpress)—The sense of smell remains a mystery in many respects. Fragrance companies, for instance, know it is crucial that chemical compounds in perfumes reach nostrils at different rates to create the desired sensory experience, but it is has been unclear why. Yale researchers decided to interrogate the common fruit fly for answers.
Spring cleaning in your brain: New stem cell research shows how important it is
Deep inside your brain, a legion of stem cells lies ready to turn into new brain and nerve cells whenever and wherever you need them most. While they wait, they keep themselves in a state of perpetual readiness – poised to become any type of nerve cell you might need as your cells age or get damaged.
Study unravels central mystery of Alzheimer's disease
Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have shed light on one of the major toxic mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease. The discoveries could lead to a much better understanding of the Alzheimer's process and how to prevent it.
Researchers engineer 'protein switch' to dissect role of cancer's key players
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine have "rationally rewired" some of the cell's smallest components to create proteins that can be switched on or off by command. These "protein switches" can be used to interrogate the inner workings of each cell, helping scientists uncover the molecular mechanisms of human health and disease.
Team makes breakthrough in search for neurodegenerative disease treatments
A significant breakthrough has been made by scientists at The University of Manchester towards developing an effective treatment for neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
The surprising ability of blood stem cells to respond to emergencies
A research team of Inserm, CNRS and MDC lead by Michael Sieweke of the Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille Luminy (CNRS, INSERM, Aix Marseille Université) and Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine, Berlin-Buch, today revealed an unexpected role for hematopoietic stem cells: they do not merely ensure the continuous renewal of our blood cells; in emergencies they are capable of producing white blood cells "on demand" that help the body deal with inflammation or infection. This property could be used to protect against infections in patients undergoing bone marrow transplants, while their immune system reconstitutes itself. The details of the research is published in Nature on April 10, 2013.
Signature of circulating breast tumor cells that spread to the brain found
Some breast tumor circulating cells in the bloodstream are marked by a constellation of biomarkers that identify them as those destined to seed the brain with a deadly spread of cancer, said researchers led by those at Baylor College of Medicine in a report that appears online in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
First objective measure of pain discovered in brain scan patterns
For the first time, scientists have been able to predict how much pain people are feeling by looking at images of their brains, according to a new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder.
Mouse brain made transparent: Method enables 3-D analysis of brain's fine structure and connections (w/ video)
Combining neuroscience and chemical engineering, researchers at Stanford University have developed a process that renders a mouse brain transparent. The postmortem brain remains whole—not sliced or sectioned in any way—with its three-dimensional complexity of fine wiring and molecular structures completely intact and able to be measured and probed at will with visible light and chemicals.
Subconscious mental categories help brain sort through everyday experiences
(Medical Xpress)—Your brain knows it's time to cook when the stove is on, and the food and pots are out. When you rush away to calm a crying child, though, cooking is over and it's time to be a parent. Your brain processes and responds to these occurrences as distinct, unrelated events.
Biology news
Can you love cats too much?
A study into cat ownership looks at whether people who own an excessive number of cats are on the slippery slope to becoming animal hoarders.
ISA virus spreads via red blood cells in blood vessels
New research shows how the interaction between Atlantic salmon and the ISA virus leads to the development and spreading of the influenza-like disease ISA in fish. The new findings may be of interest to research on influenza generally.
Scheming chicks blackmail doting parents for more food
Fledglings of a southern African bird species threaten suicide to blackmail their parents into bringing them more food, scientists said Wednesday.
Protected wildlife areas are 'welcome mats' for UK's bird newcomers
A new study by scientists at the University of York and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) shows that bird species which have colonised the UK in recent decades breed initially almost exclusively in nature reserves and other areas specially protected for wildlife.
Neighborhood park renovations enhance visitor behaviors and experiences
(Phys.org) —Renovating public parks enhances visitor behaviors and experiences, according to researchers at Penn State, who surveyed park visitors in Allentown, Pa., about their use of a neighborhood park after it was renovated.
Sweet orange's parents and mechanism for producing vitamin C revealed in its draft genome sequence
The sweet orange, Citrus sinensis, has long dominated fruit production worldwide. Yet attempts to study this fruit's genetics and improve its desirable traits have proved difficult because it reproduces asexually and seedlings are nearly identical to the mother plant. Plant biologists had even failed to determine with certainty which fruits had been crossed to produce the sweet orange, over 2,000 years ago in China. An international research team, including members from the A*STAR Genome Institute Singapore (GIS), has now broken the deadlock by sequencing the genome of the sweet orange. The team has also revealed the fruit's parentage: pummelo, which is similar to grapefruit, and mandarin, a small and easy-peeling orange.
Proper cell–cell interactions are required for the cells of early embryos to develop normally
Some 50 years have passed since scientists first proposed the so-called 'inside–outside model' of development, which holds that the inner cells of the early embryo eventually form all the definitive structures of the fetus, whereas the outer cells give rise to the placenta. Yet, the determinants of this developmental duality have remained elusive: are lineage decisions predetermined in the egg or is cell–cell contact needed to determine cell fate?
Larvae study reveals secrets of rock lobster development
Researchers have made some significant breakthroughs in understanding the early growth and survival of Australia's most valuable single-species fishery, the western rock lobster.
Western Painted Turtle genome decoded: Scientist uncover evolutionary history behind common turtle's novel traits
Scientists have recently decoded the genome of the Western Painted Turtle, Chrysemys picta bellii, one of the most widespread, abundant and well-studied turtles in North America. This freshwater turtle is only the second reptile species for which complete genome sequences have been assembled and analyzed, behind the green anole lizard.
Molecular techniques are man's new best friend in pet obesity research
According to the World Health Organization, more than two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. And it's not just humans who are packing on the pounds. Our furry companions are plagued by an obesity epidemic of their own. More than 50 percent of the dogs and cats in the United States are overweight or obese.
Scientists make progress in fight against virus killing captive elephants
(Phys.org) —Scientists may be a step closer towards the development of a vaccine against a virus that is killing scores of Asian elephants, many of them in captivity.
Eating solid food early sets marmosets on path to obesity
Baby marmoset monkeys that began eating solid food earlier than their peers were significantly more likely to be obese at 1 year of age, scientists at The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute found.
War on bugs: New research could lead to better bed bug control
As if trapped in a never-ending B movie about evil invaders, Cincinnatians have been tormented by a six-legged scourge for years. To the chagrin of many throughout the Queen City, this monster isn't an actor in a rubber alien costume; it's the real thing – Cimex lectularius, better known as the common bed bug.
Alarm over vanishing frogs in the Caribbean
A curtain of sound envelops the two researchers as they make their way along the side of a mountain in darkness, occasionally hacking their way with a machete to reach the mouth of a small cave.
'Sustainable fishing' certification too lenient and discretionary, study finds
The certification of seafood as "sustainable" by the nonprofit Marine Stewardship Council is too lenient and discretionary, a study by a consortium of researchers has found.
Metabolic fingerprinting: Using proteomics to identify proteins in gymnosperm pollination drops
Proteins are vital parts of living organisms, performing a variety of essential functions such as DNA replication, catabolizing reactions, and responding to stimuli. The complete set of proteins expressed in an organism at a given time, under defined conditions, is known as the proteome. While the genome of an organism remains relatively stable, the proteome is remarkably dynamic, varying from cell to cell and even within a single cell and changing rapidly in response to developmental and environmental cues.
New eco study looks at Great white shark behavior
Many terrestrial animals are frequently observed scavenging on other animals– whether it is a hyena stealing a lion kill in the Serengeti or a buzzard swooping down on a dead animal. However, documenting this sort of activity in the oceans is especially difficult, and often overlooked in marine food web studies.
Goosefish capture small puffins over deep water of Northwest Atlantic
(Phys.org) —A recent study has shown that bottom-dwelling goosefish, also known as monkfish, prey on dovekies, a small Arctic seabird and the smallest member of the puffin family. To understand how this deep-water fish finds a shallow-feeding bird in offshore waters, researchers looked at when, where, and how these animals were most likely to be in the same place at the same time.
Evolutionary reason for massive difference in size between male and female giant moa revealed
Some of the largest female birds in the world were almost twice as big as their male mates. Research carried out by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) shows that this amazing size difference in giant moa was not due to any specific environmental factors, but evolved simply as a result of scaling-up of smaller differences in male and female body size shown by their smaller-bodied ancestors.
The genetics of life and death in an evolutionary arms-race
Scientists at The University of Manchester have found evidence of the genetic basis of the evolutionary arms-race between parasitoids and their aphid hosts.
Bean leaves can trap bed bugs: Next step is to perfect synthetic materials that can do the same
Inspired by a traditional Balkan bedbug remedy, researchers have documented how microscopic hairs on kidney bean leaves effectively stab and trap the biting insects, according to findings published online today in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface. Scientists at UC Irvine and the University of Kentucky are now developing materials that mimic the geometry of the leaves.
Fighting disease from within the mosquito: New techniques to help halt the spread of disease
(Phys.org) —Scientists have revealed a new technique to introduce disease-blocking bacteria into mosquitoes, with promising results that may halt the spread of diseases such as dengue, yellow fever and potentially malaria.
Chimpanzees use botanical skills to discover fruit
(Phys.org) —Fruit-eating animals are known to use their spatial memory to relocate fruit, yet, it is unclear how they manage to find fruit in the first place. Researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, have now investigated which strategies chimpanzees in the Taï National Park in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa, use in order to find fruit in the rain forest. The result: Chimpanzees know that trees of certain species produce fruit simultaneously and use this botanical knowledge during their daily search for fruit.
Clinging to crevices, E. coli thrive: Study reveals role of flagellum in helping biofilms colonize rough surfaces
New research from Harvard University helps to explain how waterborne bacteria can colonize rough surfaces—even those that have been designed to resist water.
Brazilian team finds new porcupine species
A new species of tree-dwelling porcupine has been discovered in Brazil's Northeastern Atlantic Forest, one of the world's most threatened habitats, researchers said.
Early warning signs of population collapse
Many factors—including climate change, overfishing or loss of food supply—can push a wild animal population to the brink of collapse. Ecologists have long sought ways to measure the risk of such a collapse, which could help wildlife and fishery managers take steps to protect endangered populations.
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