Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for May 2, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Research team uses robot eye technology to help the blind- Nicotine vaccine prevents nicotine from reaching the brain
- Cairo Calendar shows Egyptians discovered binary Algol first
- Researchers discover new research use for plaque
- Bio-inspired polymer synthesis enhances structure control
- First 'microsubmarines' designed to help clean up oil spills
- Electronic nose out in front
- Mining for heat
- Wired for avalanches -- and learning
- Dry heat increases bark beetle bite
- Marine food chain becomes clearer with new revelations about prey distribution
- Retirement plans after the Great Recession
- Scientists watch black hole feast on unlucky star
- After epic debate, avian flu research sees light of day
- Study shows potential to revive abandoned cancer drug by nanoparticle drug delivery
Space & Earth news
Beyond 'blood diamonds:' Fingerprinting other conflict minerals
Blood diamonds may get the most attention. But they are not the only minerals sold on the world market to finance wars and other conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa, according to an article in the current issue of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.
Science ensures N.Korea nuclear test would be no secret
North Korea remains largely cut off from the Internet and mobile phone technology that links much of modern society, but any nuclear test would be swiftly revealed by global scientists, experts say.
Drought leaves mark on Chile's wines
Chile's vineyard owners are expecting a slightly different taste and aroma to the wines they produce this year as they harvest grapes during an exceptionally long drought.
Building a framework, brick by brick
If you want to build a better house, first ask what your buyer needs. Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory built a modeling structure for policy-making decisions addressing climate change. Their research identified specific regional stakeholder needs, including real-world decisions faced by industry, regional planners, and policy makers. This unique modeling framework will provide decision support for regional climate mitigation and adaptation planning. The research was published in Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change.
Fragments of meteorite worth their weight in gold
Actually it’s more like 3.5 times their weight in gold, according to today’s market value… and meteorite experts from SETI and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.
NOAA near-term weather forecasts get powerful boost from new computer model
Starting today, NOAA is using a sophisticated new weather forecast computer model to improve predictions of quickly developing severe weather events including thunderstorms, winter storms and aviation hazards such as clear air turbulence.
Darpa seeks technology to see through clouds for warfighter support
Advanced, flyable electronics and scene simulation technology sought for video synthetic aperture radar
Better plants for biofuels
An article in F1000 Biology Reports published today argues that recent advances in knowledge mean that plant-derived biofuels could meet about 30% of the global demand for liquid transportation fuels, drastically reducing the amounts of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels, without having an impact on food production.
Stream temperatures don't parallel warming climate trend
A new analysis of streams in the western United States with long-term monitoring programs has found that despite a general increase in air temperatures over the past several decades, streams are not necessarily warming at the same rate.
Report warns of rapid decline in US Earth observation capabilities
A new National Research Council report says that budget shortfalls, cost-estimate growth, launch failures, and changes in mission design and scope have left U.S. earth observation systems in a more precarious position than they were five years ago. The report cautions that the nation's earth observing system is beginning a rapid decline in capability, as long-running missions end and key new missions are delayed, lost, or cancelled.
Norway whalers take first whales of hunting season: official
Norwegian whale hunters have harpooned the first three whales of the year, nearly a month after the controversial hunting season began, the country's Fishermen's Sales Organisation said Wednesday.
SpaceX delays ISS launch again
The US company SpaceX on Wednesday said it was unlikely to meet a planned May 7 launch to send its Dragon space capsule to the International Space Station, but did not set a new date for the attempt.
Sifting through dust near Orion's Belt
the surface grime that hides the beauty of an object. But this new image of Messier 78 and surroundings, which reveals the submillimetre-wavelength radiation from dust grains in space, shows that dust can be dazzling. Dust is important to astronomers as dense clouds of gas and dust are the birthplaces of new stars.
Cassini's last flyby of Enceladus until 2015
On May 2, the Cassini spacecraft will be swooping past the moon we all love to love — Enceladus — and coming within 74 kilometers (46 miles) of its fractured, jet-spewing surface.
Study shows experiments underestimate plant responses to climate change
Experiments may dramatically underestimate how plants will respond to climate change in the future. That's the conclusion of an analysis of 50 plant studies on four continents, published this week in an advance online issue of the journal Nature, which found that shifts in the timing of flowering and leafing in plants due to global warming appear to be much greater than estimated by warming experiments.
Scientists watch black hole feast on unlucky star
Scientists have witnessed the rare spectacle of a supermassive black hole devouring a star that had ventured too close -- an event that occurs about once in 10,000 years, they reported on Wednesday.
Cairo Calendar shows Egyptians discovered binary Algol first
(Phys.org) -- Algol, aka the Demon Star, is actually a binary star in the Perseus constellation, and has been the subject of speculation for hundreds of years. Now a group of Finnish researchers propose that the peculiar behavior of Algol was first noted by the Egyptians some 3200 years ago. They suggest, as they describe in their paper uploaded to the preprint server arXiv, that a document known as the Cairo Calendar, shows that not only did the Egyptians know about Algol, but that their observations can be used to further explain the erratic behavior of the binary seen today.
Technology news
US rapper Flo Rida served legal notice via Facebook
An Australian music festival promoter has served a damages claim against American rapper Flo Rida via Facebook, after a court allowed the social networking site to be used.
Imec demonstrates a low-power 7Gbps 60GHz transceiver for the wireless consumer market
Imec, in collaboration with Panasonic, has developed a prototype of a 60GHz radio transceiver allowing to reach data rates of 7Gbps over short distances at very low power consumption. The chip achieves this performance over the 4 channels specified by the IEEE802.11ad standard. Imec’s low-power 60GHz solution is an important step towards adoption of 60GHz technology in low-cost battery-operated consumer products such as smart phones and tablets.
BSkyB declares itself 'fit and proper'
(AP) -- British Sky Broadcasting PLC on Wednesday defended itself as a "fit and proper" company, a day after Rupert Murdoch, the chief executive of the satellite broadcaster's biggest shareholder, was branded as unfit to hold the reins of an international company.
Albania to allow international probe into organ trafficking
Albania said Wednesday it had drafted a law aimed at facilitating an EU-led investigation into allegations that Kosovo Albanian rebels sold organs of civilian prisoners during the 1998-99 Kosovo war.
Religion riskier than porn for online viruses: study
Web wanderers are more likely to get a computer virus by visiting a religious website than by peering at porn, according to a study released on Tuesday.
Online video distributors gather to court advertisers
Yahoo Inc. staged its glitzy presentation for advertisers in a theater near Central Park, with appearances by Katie Couric, "CSI" creator Anthony E. Zuiker and, via video, Tom Hanks.
Report: Facebook IPO set for May 18
(AP) -- Facebook will go public on May 18, a published report says, in one of the most highly anticipated tech initial public offerings since Google went public in August 2004.
Ex-AOL exec calls Facebook new 'walled garden'
(AP) -- A former AOL executive says Facebook has a lot in common with the one-time online powerhouse.
N. Korea jamming affects flights: Seoul official
Electronic jamming signals from North Korea have affected scores of civilian flights in and out of South Korea, a Seoul official said Wednesday, amid rising tensions with Pyongyang.
Tweeters peck at secrecy over Obama's Afghan trip
The wall of secrecy around US President Barack Obama's visit to Afghanistan Tuesday cracked slightly under continual chatter on Twitter in a country obsessed by the instant communication site.
Powered by poo: Students use dog waste to light park
Every day, about 200 dogs and their owners visit the Cosmo dog park in Gilbert, Ariz. When they go home, they leave behind about eight cubic yards of dog waste, plastic bottles, bags and other trash.
Shareholders paying the price for pension deficits
Companies are prioritising their pension fund deficits and shareholders are paying the price, shows new research from our University.
Greenpeace activist flies into French nuclear plant
A Greenpeace activist on Wednesday flew inside the grounds of a French nuclear power plant using a motorised paraglider, police and the organisation said.
Students to demonstrate smart camera trap at new engineering competition
(Phys.org) -- Forget about building a better mouse trap. University of California, San Diego sophomore Riley Yeakle and his teammates have come up with a better camera trap, and they will be facing off with finalists from around the country when they unveil working prototypes of their visions for embedded systems at a new, national engineering student competition.
Fujitsu develops world's smallest and slimmest palm vein biometric authentication sensor deployable in tablet devices
Fujitsu Laboratories Limited today announced development of the world's smallest and slimmest palm vein authentication sensor that is capable of being employed in tablet devices. By upgrading the technology's design with new image sensors and other optical components, Fujitsu Laboratories has successfully slimmed down the new sensor to a thickness of 5 mm.
Ergen lays out Dish Network's 10-year plan
(AP) -- Charlie Ergen, the billionaire who controls Dish Network Corp., has a 10-year plan to transform the satellite TV provider into a one-stop shop for Internet access, video and voice services at home and on the go.
Fans can watch every Olympic event live online
(AP) -- Usain Bolt could be defending his Olympic 200-meter title on a Thursday afternoon in the United States.
Yahoo! girds for fight with activist investor
Yahoo! set the stage Wednesday for a battle with an activist investor intent on winning seats on the struggling Internet giant's board of directors.
Amazon to launch its own TV comedies, kid shows
Amazon unveiled plans Wednesday to launch its own comedy and children's television shows for digital delivery -- and asked customers for ideas.
Electric mass mobility for urban environments
Electric vehicles powered by electricity from renewable energy sources are an attractive option for mobility within the urban area and beyond. However, previous approaches lead to vehicles that either are too heavy and too expensive or do not meet mass-market safety requirements. Within the joint research project Visio.M scientists at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM), in cooperation with engineers from the automotive industry, will develop concepts to produce electric cars that are efficient, safe, and inexpensive. Lead manager of the project is BMW AG. The project has a total volume of 10.8 million euros and is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF).
Hackers pick Google's pocket with Mac virus
A virus infecting Macintosh computers is picking Google's pocket by hijacking advertising "clicks," tallying as much as $10,000 daily, according to Internet security firm Symantec.
US to review online marketing of beer, liquor and wine
Twitter didn't exist the last time the Federal Trade Commission examined alcohol advertising, back in the last decade.
Mining for heat
Underground mining is a sweaty job, and not just because of the hard work it takes to haul ore: Mining tunnels fill with heat naturally emitted from the surrounding rock. A group of researchers from McGill University in Canada has taken a systematic look at how such heat might be put to use once mines are closed. They calculate that each kilometer of a typical deep underground mine could produce 150 kW of heat, enough to warm 5 to 10 Canadian households during off-peak times.
First 'microsubmarines' designed to help clean up oil spills
Scientists are reporting development and successful testing of the first self-propelled "microsubmarines" designed to pick up droplets of oil from contaminated waters and transport them to collection facilities. The report concludes that these tiny machines could play an important role in cleaning up oil spills, like the 2010 Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico. It appears in the journal ACS Nano.
Germany bars Microsoft sales on Motorola suit
A German court ruled Wednesday that US Internet giant Microsoft can no longer sell its products locally because it infringes patents held by US communications firm Motorola Mobility.
Research team uses robot eye technology to help the blind
(Phys.org) -- A research team from Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris have ported technology originally developed to help robots maneuver in real world environments to Braille enabled devices that help vision impaired people do the same.
Medicine & Health news
Everyday fish oil capsule may provide kidney-related benefits
Over the past decade, there has been a steady stream of information promoting the health benefits of fish oil capsules. According to Dr. Louise Moist, a Scientist at Lawson Health Research Institute, fish oil may also improve outcomes for kidney patients undergoing hemodialysis.
Study questions the relevance of benchmarks among CABG patients receiving insulin infusions
Cardiothoracic surgeons and endocrinologists from Boston Medical Center (BMC) have found that among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, achieving Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) benchmarks for glycemic control may be irrelevant when perioperative continuous insulin infusion protocols are implemented.
Low-dose whole-body CT finds disease missed on standard imaging for patients with multiple myeloma
Low dose whole body CT is nearly four times better than radiographic skeletal survey, the standard of care in the U.S., for determining the extent of disease in patients with multiple myeloma, a new study shows.
Cone beam CT proves better for visualizing some causes of hearing loss at half the radiation dose
Cone beam CT is superior to mutidetector CT for detecting superior semicircular canal dehiscence or the so called third window (a small hole in the bony wall of the inner ear bone that can cause dizziness and hearing loss) and it uses half the radiation dose, a new study shows.
Two-year-old dies of bird flu in Indonesia
A two-year-old boy has died of bird flu in Indonesia, the health ministry said, bringing the country's death toll from the virulent disease this year to seven.
Can't get more satisfaction
Young people in Scotland are more satisfied with life than many of their counterparts in Europe, according to a major new study into inequalities in health.
Students more likely to be fit when physical education is mandatory
Fifth graders in California public school districts that comply with the state’s mandatory physical education requirement are more likely to have better fitness levels than students in districts that don’t comply, according to a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Improving detection of drug-resistant tuberculosis
(Medical Xpress) -- European researchers are developing new assays to detect drug resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Real-time monitoring of cellular signalling events
(Medical Xpress) -- Phosphorylation is one of the most important and ubiquitous cell regulatory events. EU-funded researchers assessed the dynamic events of intracellular phosphorylation in two model systems with important implications for targeted drug therapies for cancer and inflammatory responses.
Using light and chlorophyll to destroy tumors
A team of Weizmann Institute of Science researchers is developing an innovative photodynamic approach to destroying tumors. The technique, developed by Prof. Avigdor Scherz of the Department of Plant Sciences and Prof. Yoram Salomon of the Department of Biological Regulation, is based on a non-toxic chemotherapy drug—a water-soluble derivative of the green plant pigment chlorophyll—that is injected into the blood stream or directly into the tumor.
Use of fish oil supplements does not significantly reduce rate of failure of grafts for hemodialysis
Among patients with new synthetic arteriovenous grafts (a synthetic tube grafted between an artery and vein) for vascular access for hemodialysis, daily ingestion of fish oil did not decrease the proportion of grafts with loss of patency (remaining open) within 12 months, according to a study in the May 2 issue of JAMA. However, fish oil recipients had a longer time without thrombosis (formation of a blood clot), half the thrombosis rate, and a clinically meaningful reduction in frequency of radiological and surgical interventions.
GP Prescribing a good standard but improvement possible
(Medical Xpress) -- A major study of GP prescribing, led by The University of Nottingham, has found that while the vast majority of prescriptions written by family doctors are appropriate and effectively monitored, around 1 in 20 contain an error.
New foot-and-mouth disease strain spreads from N. Africa: UN
A new strain of foot-and-mouth disease has been detected in the Gaza Strip, the UN food agency announced on Wednesday, saying this confirmed fears of a spread following outbreaks in Egypt and Libya.
Is there a link between mood and glucose control in diabetes?
When blood sugar levels in diabetes are poorly controlled, patients tend to have more complications such as depression and other mood disturbances, including anxiety and anger, and a lower overall quality of life. A better understanding of the relationship between glycemic variability and psychological disorders can lead to more effective strategies for patient management, as presented in articles published in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Two related articles on this topic are available free on the Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics website.
Long-term outcome similar with thrombus aspiration and stents in PCI
New research confirms thrombus aspiration (TA) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) provides long-term outcomes similar to conventional intervention with bare-metal or drug-eluting stents. Findings published in a special STEMI-focused issue of Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, a journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), report that compared to conventional PCI, thrombectomy does not affect rates of major adverse cardiac events at two-year follow-up.
Regenstrief extending successful aging brain care model globally
The resources developed for an innovative collaborative model of dementia care, which reduces emergency room and hospital visits and improves the quality of care for those with dementia, are now available to institutions, clinicians and caregivers around the globe with the establishment of the Aging Brain Care Program. The ABC Program is the first initiative of the new Senior Health Implementation Center at the Regenstrief Institute.
Heart disease risk can indicate long-term COPD fate
A simple test for heart disease risk can go a long way toward determining the long-term prognosis for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to UC Irvine researchers.
Blood drives do better with incentives
Blood drives do better with incentives, says University of Toronto study. Toronto – It's called the gift of life.
Increased fructose consumption may deplete cellular energy in patients with obesity and diabetes
Obese people who consume increased amounts of fructose, a type of sugar that is found in particular in soft drinks and fruit juices, are at risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NFALD) and more its more severe forms, fatty inflammation and scarring.
IOM report recommends US expand drug safety monitoring after approval
Pharmaceutical drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but later re-called from the market—such as the antidiabetic drug Avandia and pain-reliever Vioxx—were the impetus for an Institute of Medicine committee report released yesterday, recommending that the FDA take proactive steps to continue monitoring drugs' safety after initial approval and throughout their time on the market.
Wheelchair breakdowns becoming more common
Wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI) report very high rates of wheelchair breakdowns—and the problem is getting worse, suggests a study in American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (AJPM&R), the official journal of the Association of Academic Physiatrists, AJPM&R is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health. The study found that over 50 percent of wheelchair users experienced a breakdown in a six-month period, up from a previous report. "It is possible that this increase in the number of repairs is the result of a decrease in wheelchair quality resulting from changes in reimbursement policies and a lack of enforcement of standards testing," write the researchers, led by Dr Michael Boninger of University of Pittsburgh's Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. They also found a significant increase in wheelchair breakdowns causing health and safety consequences.
New global report says US lags behind 130 other nations in preterm birth rate
Preterm babies are born at a higher rate in the United States than in 130 other countries of the world, including many poorer nations, according to the just-released report Born Too Soon: The Global Action Report on Preterm Birth.
Global Fund to Fight AIDS to slash over 100 jobs
The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria said Wednesday it is cutting over 100 jobs, in an overhaul after a rough financial period and a scandal in which millions of dollars went missing.
African-Americans face roadblocks to HIV therapy, untreated depression makes it worse
African-Americans with HIV are much less likely to adhere to drug therapy than others with the disease, according to a University of Michigan study.
Why research should be hacked
Australian researchers are calling for the open sharing of clinical trial data in the medical research community, saying it would be instrumental in eliminating bottlenecks and duplication, and lead to faster and more trustworthy evidence for many of our most pressing health problems.
NSAIDs and cardiovascular risk explained
After nearly 13 years of study and intense debate, a pair of new papers from the Perelman School of Medicine, at the University of Pennsylvania have confirmed exactly how a once-popular class of anti-inflammatory drugs leads to cardiovascular risk for people taking it.
Asthma has adverse effect on physical health in elderly
(HealthDay) -- Older adults with asthma have decreased lung function, increased rates of allergic sensitization, and worse quality of life than healthy controls, according to a study published in the May issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
Body fat linked to reduced fracture risk for women
(HealthDay) -- Higher body fat mass is associated with a reduced risk of fracture among women, but not men, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of Internal Medicine.
Cedars-Sinai first West Coast ALS clinic to implant breathing-assist device under new FDA approval
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has become the first West Coast site -- and one of only three nationwide -- to implant a device that stimulates the respiratory muscle in the chest and draws air into the lungs of patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease) under recently approved Food and Drug Administration guidelines.
Delirium mouse model helps researchers understand the condition's causes
A new mouse model of delirium developed by Wellcome Trust researchers has provided an important insight into the mechanisms underlying the condition, bringing together two theories as to its causes. Details of the research are published today in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Gene mutation leads to impairment of 2 senses: Touch and hearing
People with good hearing also have a keen sense of touch; people with impaired hearing generally have an impaired sense of touch. Extensive data supporting this hypothesis was presented by Dr. Henning Frenzel and Professor Gary R. Lewin of the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch, Germany.
Heavy new arguments weigh in on the danger of obesity
A true obesity epidemic is gradually advancing throughout the developed world. A large new Danish-British study from the University of Copenhagen and University of Bristol documents for the first time a definite correlation between a high BMI and the risk of developing life-threatening cardiac disease.
Research yields new clues to how brain cancer cells migrate and invade
Researchers have discovered that a protein that transports sodium, potassium and chloride may hold clues to how glioblastoma, the most common and deadliest type of brain cancer, moves and invades nearby healthy brain tissue. The findings, reported 1 May in the online, open-access journal PLoS Biology, also suggest that a cheap FDA-approved drug already on the market could slow movement of glioblastoma cells.
Moving midwives to work in rural areas helps improve essential obstetric care
A scheme supporting newly graduated, unemployed, and retired midwives to work in rural areas of Nigeria and provide essential obstetric care has helped to improve maternal, newborn, and child health and could potentially serve as a model for other low-income countries. This includes helping redistribute health workforce in low-income countries to reduce the health inequities between urban and rural areas.
APBI associated with more mastectomies, toxicities, complications, compared to traditional radiation
Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) brachytherapy, the localized form of radiation therapy growing increasingly popular as a treatment choice for women with early-stage breast cancer, is associated with higher rate of later mastectomy, increased radiation-related toxicities and post-operative complications, compared to traditional whole breast irradiation (WBI), according to researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Newborns should be screened for heart defects, study shows
There is now overwhelming evidence that all babies should be offered screening for heart defects at birth, according to a major new study published online in The Lancet.
Researchers identify drivers of sarcoma growth and survival
To better understand the signaling pathways active in sarcomas, researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center used state-of-the-art mass spectrometry-based proteomics to characterize a family of protein enzymes that act as "on" or "off" switches important in the biology of cancer. The tyrosine kinases they identified, the researchers said, could act as "drivers" for the growth and survival of sarcomas.
Anti-HIV drug use during pregnancy does not affect infant size, birth weight
Infants born to women who used the anti-HIV drug tenofovir as part of an anti-HIV drug regimen during pregnancy do not weigh less at birth and are not of shorter length than infants born to women who used anti-HIV drug regimens that do not include tenofovir during pregnancy, according to findings from a National Institutes of Health network study. However, at 1 year of age, children born to the tenofovir-treated mothers were slightly shorter and had slightly smaller head circumference—about 1 centimeter each, on average—than were infants whose mothers did not take tenofovir.
Survey finds many Americans nodding off away from bed
Forty-five percent of Americans fall asleep somewhere other than their bed at least once a week, a survey by a mattress industry group found Tuesday.
Suicide risk for older people who self-harm
Older people who self-harm are at much greater risk of suicide than both the general population and younger adults who self-harm, a new study has found. Researchers from The University of Manchester studied 1,177 people over the age of 60 who presented to six general hospitals in Oxford, Manchester and Derby after self-harming.
Stanford scholar tracks meditation's migration from ancient monasteries to modern yoga
For many Americans, "yoga" conjures up mental images of athletic-minded people engaging in a simultaneous "warrior pose" while being told to focus on their breathing.
Breast cancer risk can be seen years before it develops
A person’s risk of breast cancer could be decided many years before it develops, according to a new study.
AgriLife Extension safety expert: Pickups rock! Unfortunately, they also roll
Texans have a love affair with pickups, and while residents of the Lone Star State think these vehicles ‘rock,’ they also need to know that they roll, said a Texas AgriLife Extension Service safety expert.
Eye expert leads calls for blindness warnings on cigarettes
An eye expert based at Southampton’s university hospitals has called for new health warnings on cigarettes to highlight smokers’ increased risk of blindness.
Health, prognosis not taken into account when treating older lung cancer patients, study finds
In a study of patients 65 and older with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), younger patients were more likely to receive treatment than older patients, regardless of overall health and prognosis.
Simple method for reducing active HIV in breastmilk
(Medical Xpress) -- An international team led by UC Davis researchers has found that mothers in sub-Saharan Africa could successfully follow a protocol for flash-heating breastmilk to reduce transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) — the virus that causes AIDS — to their infants. Flash-heating breastmilk is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for HIV-infected mothers during times of increased transmission risk. The technique involves expressing breastmilk into a glass jar that is placed in a small pot of water and heated until the water boils.
Study using stem cell therapy shows promise in fight against HIV
UC Davis Health System researchers are a step closer to launching human clinical trials involving the use of an innovative stem cell therapy to fight the virus that causes AIDS.
Better understanding arthritis
Better arthritis treatment could be one step closer with research showing muscle inflammation outside joints as much to blame for discomfort and poor mobility in sufferers as inflammation of the joint itself.
Hepatitis C is a new worry for baby boomers, study shows
The number of baby boomers dying from a "silent epidemic" of hepatitis C infections is increasing so rapidly that federal officials are planning a new nationwide push for widespread testing.
The unfiltered truth
Most pregnant smokers know that cigarettes can harm their babies. But stern lectures from authority figures won’t help them quit.
Glycogen accumulation in neurons causes brain damage and shortens the lives of flies and mice
Collaborative research by groups headed by scientists Joan J. Guinovart and Marco Milán at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) has revealed conclusive evidence about the harmful effects of the accumulation of glucose chains (glycogen) in fly and mouse neurons.
Study: Stroke victims not receiving timely diagnosis, care
The mantra in stroke care is "time is brain." With each passing minute more brain cells are irretrievably lost and, because of this, timely diagnosis and treatment is essential to increase the chances for recovery. While significant strides have been made to improve the response time of caregivers, a new study shows that a critical step in the process – imaging of the brain to determine the nature of the stroke – is still occurring too slowly at too many hospitals.
Sleepiness may affect surgeons' ability to deal with the unexpected
Sleep-deprived surgeons can perform a previously learned task or learn a new task as well as surgeons who are rested, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers. However, in sleep-deprived surgeons, the brain must work harder, which could lead to problems during unexpected events.
Research offers new hope for peripheral artery disease sufferers
Research led by vascular surgeons at Dartmouth-Hitchcock may offer new hope to sufferers of peripheral artery disease, the cause of nearly 60,000 lower-limb amputations annually, through the use of a patient's own stem cells.
Scientists reveal early diagnostic clues for AD using advanced brain imaging technology
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. New and accurate techniques for early diagnosis are critical. Pravat K. Mandal, PhD, and his colleagues have developed a completely non-invasive brain imaging technique to measure specific brain chemical changes. This provides a signature of the early stages of AD from the hippocampal region of the brain. Their work is reported in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Freezing Parkinson's in its tracks
Parkinson's disease, a disorder which affects movement and cognition, affects over a million Americans, including actor Michael J. Fox, who first brought it to the attention of many TV-watching Americans. It's characterized by a gradual loss of neurons that produce dopamine. Mutations in the gene known as DJ-1 lead to accelerated loss of dopaminergic neurons and result in the onset of Parkinson's symptoms at a young age.
Combination of 2 drugs reverses liver tumors
The combination of two inhibitors of protein mTOR stops the growth of primary liver cancer and destroys tumour cells, according to a study by researchers of the Group of Metabolism and Cancer at Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL). The study results are been published on the online edition of the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Evidence of familial vulnerability for epilepsy and psychosis
Although the two disorders may seem dissimilar, epilepsy and psychosis are associated. Individuals with epilepsy are more likely to have schizophrenia, and a family history of epilepsy is a risk factor for psychosis. It is not known whether the converse is true, i.e., whether a family history of psychosis is a risk factor for epilepsy.
A small cut with a big impact
Diseases and injuries trigger warning signals in our cells. As a result, genes are expressed and proteins produced, modified or degraded to adapt to the external danger and to protect the organism. In order to be able to produce a particular protein, the corresponding DNA segment, the gene, needs to be expressed and translated. The DNA is localized in the cell nucleus, and exists as a long string that is coiled and bound by proteins. ARTD1 is one such protein, and therefore has the potential to regulate the expression level of genes through its interaction with DNA.
New path of origin for macrophages
Macrophages play a key role in the immune response, protecting organisms against infection and regulating the development of inflammation in tissue. Macrophages differ depending on where they are located and which tasks they perform. A scientist at TUM has been investigating whether these different types of cells have the same origin – and has come up with some surprising results. His findings reveal that there are two distinct macrophage cell lines that continue into adult life and that these two lineages have different origins. The research was recently published in Science magazine.
'Thin red line' around breast cancer
A pioneering approach to imaging breast cancer in mice has revealed new clues about why the human immune system often fails to attack tumors and keep cancer in check. This observation, by scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), may help to reveal new approaches to cancer immunotherapy.
Researchers studying nitrites in bacon and other meats
As with many concerned consumers, a team of University of Oklahoma researchers wondered if the green color sometimes seen in bacon is, in fact, harmful to human health. Recently, these OU scientists took an important first step in answering this question by determining the structure of the green pigment responsible for this 'nitrite burn.'
Tiny channel cleanses blood
Margination, the natural phenomenon where bacteria and leukocytes (white blood cells) move toward the sides of blood vessels, is the inspiration for a novel method for treating sepsis, a systemic and often dangerous inflammatory response to microbial infection in the blood.
Gov't to speed tracking of E. coli in meat
(AP) -- The government plans to speed up the process for testing E. coli in meat, a move that will help authorities more quickly track the source of the deadly bacteria and hasten recalls.
Unmasking black pepper's secrets as a fat fighter
A new study provides a long-sought explanation for the beneficial fat-fighting effects of black pepper. The research, published in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, pinpoints piperine — the pungent-tasting substance that gives black pepper its characteristic taste, concluding that piperine also can block the formation of new fat cells.
Older adults with diabetes live long enough to benefit from interventions
Middle-aged and older adults with diabetes showed substantial survival rates in a new University of Michigan Health System study of retirees.
Genetically modified T cell therapy shown to be safe, lasting in decade-long study of HIV patients
HIV patients treated with genetically modified T cells remain healthy up to 11 years after initial therapy, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania report in the new issue of Science Translational Medicine. The results provide a framework for the use of this type of gene therapy as a powerful weapon in the treatment of HIV, cancer, and a wide variety of other diseases.
Study finds vaginal microbes vary over time among healthy women
The delicate balance of microbes in the vagina can change drastically over short periods of time in some women, while remaining the same in others, according to a new study led by the University of Maryland School of Medicine's Institute for Genome Sciences and the University of Idaho. The scientists believe that these microbes affect a woman's susceptibility to infection and other diseases, so such changes might also mean that the risk of infection varies over time. Researchers hope further study will lead to personalized medicine for women, allowing doctors to tailor each woman's treatment and health maintenance strategies to her individual microbial make-up. The study was published online May 2, 2012, in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Chemo combination promising for multiple myeloma
(HealthDay) -- For patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, combination treatment with elotuzumab, lenalidomide, and low-dose dexamethasone is generally well tolerated, with encouraging response rates, according to a study published online April 30 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Mechanism ID'd for benefit of stem cells in autoimmunity
(HealthDay) -- Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) activate a mechanism involving coupling of FAS/FAS ligand to induce T cell apoptosis and immune tolerance, according to an experimental study published online April 26 in Cell Stem Cell.
Nonsupportive family members sabotage diabetes self-Care
(HealthDay) -- Diabetes patients with nonsupportive family members are less adherent to their diabetes medication regimen and have worse glycemic control, according to a study published online April 26 in Diabetes Care.
Research suggests infants begin to learn about race in the first year
Results of a new study reported recently by psychology researcher Lisa Scott and colleagues at the University of Massachusetts Amherst confirm that although infants are born with equal abilities to tell apart people within multiple races, by age 9 months they are better at recognizing faces and emotional expressions of people within groups they interact with most.
Why underweight babies become obese: Study says disrupted hypothalamus is to blame
It seems improbable that a baby born underweight would be prone to obesity, but it is well documented that these children tend to put on weight in youth if they're allowed free access to calories. Now, researchers believe they understand why this happens.
How neonatal plant estrogen exposure leads to adult infertility
A paper published today in Biology of Reproduction's Papers-in-Press describes the effects of brief prenatal exposure to plant estrogens on the mouse oviduct, modeling the effects of soy-based baby formula on human infants. The results suggest that exposure to estrogenic chemicals in the womb or during childhood has the potential to affect a woman's fertility as an adult, possibly providing the mechanistic basis for some cases of unexplained female infertility.
Differences in dopamine may determine how hard people work
Whether someone is a "go-getter" or a "slacker" may depend on individual differences in the brain chemical dopamine, according to new research in the May 2 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. The findings suggest that dopamine affects cost-benefit analyses.
Neuro researchers sharpen our understanding of memories
Scientists now have a better understanding of how precise memories are formed thanks to research led by Prof. Jean-Claude Lacaille of the University of Montreal's Department of Physiology. "In terms of human applications, these findings could help us to better understand memory impairments in neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease," Lacaille said.
Biological roots to domestic violence?
In an experiment carried out with rats at EPFL, it was observed that aggressive behavior passed from one generation to the other, even without any contact between the parent and its offspring. Researchers are exploring several approaches to explain the results.
Viewing the lungs in 4D
(Medical Xpress) -- A new lung imaging method has the potential to revolutionise the study of lungs in both normal and diseased states.
Prdm16: A novel gene important for craniofacial development
In the United States, a baby is born with a facial cleft every hour, of every day of the year! Such birth defects result from both gene mutations and environmental insults. PRDM16 is a transcription factor originally described as being aberrantly activated in specific types of leukemia's, and more recently as a master regulator of brown adipose tissue differentiation. In a study published in the April 2012 issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine, investigators have now shown that this transcription co-factor plays a critical role in development of the embryonic palate.
Wired for avalanches -- and learning
The brain's neurons are coupled together into vast and complex networks called circuits. Yet despite their complexity, these circuits are capable of displaying striking examples of collective behavior such as the phenomenon known as "neuronal avalanches," brief bursts of activity in a group of interconnected neurons that set off a cascade of increasing excitation.
Scientists gain new understanding of Alzheimer's trigger
A highly toxic beta-amyloid – a protein that exists in the brains of Alzheimer's disease victims – has been found to greatly increase the toxicity of other more common and less toxic beta-amyloids, serving as a possible "trigger" for the advent and development of Alzheimer's, researchers at the University of Virginia and German biotech company Probiodrug have discovered.
After epic debate, avian flu research sees light of day
After a marathon debate over a pair of studies that show how the avian H5N1 influenza virus could become transmissible in mammals, and an unprecedented recommendation by a government review panel to block publication, one of the studies was finally and fully published in the journal Nature (May 3, 2012).
Nicotine vaccine prevents nicotine from reaching the brain
If smoking a cigarette no longer delivers pleasure, will smokers quit? It's the idea behind a nicotine vaccine being created by MIT and Harvard researchers, in which an injection of synthetic nanoparticles prompts the immune system to create antibodies. The antibodies bind to incoming nicotine molecules so that they're too large to cross the blood-brain barrier. If the brain doesn't know you're smoking, you don't experience the normal smoking kick.
Biology news
Double dip recession spells trouble for cats
Figures released today, and backed up by a recent University of Bristol study from the School of Veterinary Sciences, show an ever decreasing number of people coming forward to adopt cats, while the number of people needing to give up a cat or report a stray is on the rise.
Barcoding insects as a way to track and control them
Barcodes may bring to mind the sales tags and scanners found in supermarkets and other stores. But U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists are using "DNA barcodes" to monitor insects that damage crops as diverse as wheat, barley and potatoes, and to make pest management decisions.
World?s most northerly bottlenose dolphin population stable, report concludes
The world's most northerly resident population of bottlenose dolphins is stable and may even be increasing, according to new research.
Poisonous toxins a risk to African food security
A staple crop, known as cassava, in southeast Africa contains levels of toxins above those recommended safe for human consumption, a new study has found.
Scientists develop 'artificial female moth'
Nikolay Dimov of the MESA+ research institute at the University of Twente has developed a new device for investigating the behaviour of insects. The device was inspired by the female moth, which attracts males using chemicals known as pheromones. The device – which is in effect a miniature laboratory – is able to reproduce these pheromones and release them into the air. In a wind tunnel, this piece of technology proved just as irresistible to male moths as a virgin female moth. Dimov will defend his PhD thesis on this subject on Friday 27 April at the Faculty of Science and Technology.
Gas development linked to wildlife habitat loss
A study by the Wildlife Conservation Society documents that intense development of the two largest natural gas fields in the continental U.S. are driving away some wildlife from their traditional wintering grounds.
Protection sought for rare woodpecker
(AP) -- Smokey Bear has done such a good job stomping out forest fires the past half-century that a woodpecker that's survived for millions of years by eating beetle larvae in burned trees is in danger of going extinct in parts of the West, according to conservationists seeking U.S. protection for the bird.
Squid and zebrafish cells inspire camouflaging smart materials
Researchers from the University of Bristol have created artificial muscles that can be transformed at the flick of a switch to mimic the remarkable camouflaging abilities of organisms such as squid and zebrafish.
Order from disorder
NPL and University of Leicester scientists have explored a new way of ordering proteins for materials engineering at the nanoscale, using natural biological phenomena as a guide.
Escape response of small fish tested using a supercomputer
(Phys.org) -- Small fish bend themselves into a 'C' shape before they flee from predators. Observations have suggested that this shape helps them to abruptly put the greatest distance possible between themselves and their predators. ETH researchers have now tested this hypothesis for the first time using a supercomputer.
Desperate fishwives
Breeding is on their minds as the mating season draws to an end. Guys drop dead by the hour, making goby girls go all out in their hunt for a mate to father their offspring.
Eye size determined by maximum running speed in mammals
Maximum running speed is the most important variable influencing mammalian eye size other than body size, according to new research from The University of Texas at Austin.
Dry heat increases bark beetle bite
Climate change appears to be good news for destructive bark beetles, according to a new study by Lorenzo Marini from the University of Padova in Italy, and his team. Their work, published online in Springer's Climatic Change, shows that there were more attacks by the spruce bark beetle on European Alpine spruce forests over a 16 year period, as temperatures rose and rainfall dropped.
Marine food chain becomes clearer with new revelations about prey distribution
A new study has found that each step of the marine food chain is clearly controlled by the trophic level below it – and the driving factor influencing that relationship is not the abundance of prey, but how that prey is distributed.
Ecosystem effects of biodiversity loss could rival impacts of climate change, pollution
Loss of biodiversity appears to impact ecosystems as much as climate change, pollution and other major forms of environmental stress, according to a new study from an international research team.
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