From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Tue, May 28, 2013 at 1:00 AM
Subject: Phys.org Newsletter Monday, May 27
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>
Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for May 27, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Of grains and graphite: Simulating interstellar hydrogen formation- Models from big molecules captured in a flash
- Researchers turn cement into metal
- Down syndrome neurons grown from stem cells show signature problems
- Review: Toshiba brings high-res screen to Windows
- The Antarctic polar icecap is 33.6 million years old, research finds
- Rats move their eyes in opposite directions, keep an eye on airspace above them, researchers show
- Neurotech industry puts its mind to video games
- KISS ME DEADLY proteins may help improve crop yields
- Developing good habits is more important than self-control in meeting goals, study finds
- Salmonella uses protective switch during infection, research finds
- Sea anemone venom-derived compound effective in anti-obesity studies
- Sugar polymer found on cell surface of multiple pathogens could be key to developing broad-spectrum vaccine
- Scientists find mechanism that causes noise-induced tinnitus and drug that can prevent it
- Babies born after mom's gastrointestinal bypass surgery do better
Space & Earth news
Expedition to study ancient continental breakup west of Spain
An international team of scientists has embarked on a shipboard expedition to study how the Earth's crust was pulled apart in an area beneath the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Spain. The team includes geophysicists from University of Southampton Ocean and Earth Science (SOES) based at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, UK.
Newly upgraded Alvin sub heads for west coast
On Sat., May 25, 2013, the R/V Atlantis will leave Woods Hole carrying the newly upgraded submersible Alvin, marking a major milestone in the sub's $41 million redesign. Both ship and sub are owned by the U.S. Navy and operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) for the benefit of the entire U.S. ocean science community. They are expected to reach Astoria, OR, on June 20.
Living in space
Every day, 400 kilometres above our heads, there are astronauts living in space. Their home is the ISS, the frontier outpost of human exploration, and a workplace like nothing on Earth. With spacewalks and dockings to contend with, the responsibility is huge, as Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano explains: "We are still the last line of defense against any malfunctions. Especially when we are really close to the station, the time it would take for the ground to send a command to that machine in case something goes wrong would be too late."
Scientists monitoring, providing alerts on Pavlof and Cleveland volcanoes
(Phys.org) —Two of Alaska's most active volcanoes—Pavlof and Cleveland—are currently erupting. At the time of this post, their activity continues at low levels, but energetic explosions could occur without warning.
Opportunity discovers clays favorable to martian biology and sets sail for motherlode of new clues
Now nearly a decade into her planned 3 month only expedition to Mars, NASA's longest living rover Opportunity, struck gold and has just discovered the strongest evidence to date for an environment favorable to ancient Martian biology – and she has set sail hunting for a motherlode of new clues amongst fabulous looking terrain!!
Earthquake scenarios show potential for huge damage, loss of life
If there were any lingering doubts that Washington state is earthquake country, a new set of scenarios developed by state and federal geologists makes it clear that no part of the state is immune to seismic mayhem.
Chile issues red alert over Copahue volcano
Chile issued a red alert on Monday for the Copahue volcano on the border with Argentina that has become increasingly active.
Uneven warming shifts equatorial rain band, midlatitude westerlies
In a band near the equator, southward Northern Hemisphere winds and northward Southern Hemisphere winds come together to form the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). In the ITCZ the equatorward winds rise and cool, creating a region of high precipitation and weak surface winds. The location of the ITCZ and the precipitation it delivers to the rainforests is not static—seasonal differences in temperature between the hemispheres drive the ITCZ north and south, with the convergence zone moving toward the warmer hemisphere.
Einstein's exoplanet
(Phys.org) —Eight hundred and eighty nine exoplanets (planets around stars other than our Sun) have been discovered to date. Most of them were found using the Kepler satellite, which spots small dips in a star's light as an orbiting planet periodically blocked our view (a "transit"). The satellite recently halted its operations due to a faulty gyroscope, and so its mission could possibly be over, but there remain a large dataset of possible other exoplanets for study. Meanwhile, NASA has selected a new mission for development: TESS (the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite), on which CfA astronomers, who have played active roles in exoplanet research, continue their leadership.
Image: Hubble sees a swirl of star formation
(Phys.org) —This beautiful, glittering swirl is named, rather un-poetically, J125013.50+073441.5. A glowing haze of material seems to engulf the galaxy, stretching out into space in different directions and forming a fuzzy streak in this image. It is a starburst galaxy—a name given to galaxies that show unusually high rates of star formation. The regions where new stars are being born are highlighted by sparkling bright blue regions along the galactic arms.
Scientists narrow global warming range
(Phys.org) —Australian scientists have narrowed the predicted range of global warming through groundbreaking new research.
New report indicates private industry interested in building moon base
(Phys.org) —Two months ago NASA commissioned Bigelow Aerospace to conduct a survey of the corporate sector to learn about private enterprise plans for space exploration. While the report has not yet been completed, Bigelow president Robert Bigelow and NASA's head of space operations William Gerstenmaier held a teleconference with reporter's to discuss findings thus far.
Big weather on hot Jupiters
Among the hundreds of new planets discovered by NASA's Kepler spacecraft are a class of exotic worlds known as "hot Jupiters." Unlike the giant planets of our own solar system, which remain at a safe distance from the sun, these worlds are reckless visitors to their parent stars. They speed around in orbits a fraction the size of Mercury's, blasted on just one-side by starlight hundreds of times more intense than the gentle heating experienced by Jupiter here at home."
Investigating exoplanet surfaces
In order to better understand the composition of rocky exoplanets, researchers have proposed a method to identify chemical signatures from surface materials. A better understanding of exoplanet surface compositions will help researchers determine the prevalence of Earth-like planets in our galaxy.
The Antarctic polar icecap is 33.6 million years old, research finds
The Antarctic continental ice cap came into existence during the Oligocene epoch, some 33.6 million years ago, according to data from an international expedition led by the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences (IACT)—a Spanish National Research Council-University of Granada joint centre. These findings, based on information contained in ice sediments from different depths, have recently been published in the journal Science.
Medicine & Health news
Managing an ageing prison population
Identifying and addressing the physical, mental health and social care needs of ageing prisoners is vital to improve the UK's prison service, say Northumbria criminologists.
Giving patients a HED-SMART head start
A paper co-authored by academics from City's School of Health Sciences was named among the top 10 best abstracts submitted to the prestigious European Renal Association and European Dialysis and Transplant Association's (ERA-EDTA) annual congress. The paper was one of more than 2,400 abstracts submitted for consideration by the expert international panel.
Development of coating method that accelerates bonding with bone by three times
Researchers at the International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA) and Tokyo Medical and Dental University have developed a coating method which accelerates bonding with bone by 3 times.
Levosimendan improves event free survival by 50 percent in end-stage heart failure
Ambulatory levosimendan improves event free survival by 50% compared to placebo, according to results from the LevoRep Study presented today during the late breaking trial session1 of the Heart Failure Congress 2013. In a second study, the third generation mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) BAY 94-8862 showed improved potassium and kidney tolerance in heart failure patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
S. Korea's plastic surgery fad goes extreme
South Korea's obsession with plastic surgery is moving on from standard eye and nose jobs to embrace a radical surgical procedure that requires months of often painful recovery.
More than one in five parents believe they have little influence in preventing teens from using illicit substances
A new report indicates that more than one in five parents of teens aged 12 to 17 (22.3 percent) think what they say has little influence on whether or not their child uses illicit substances, tobacco, or alcohol. This report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also shows one in ten parents said they did not talk to their teens about the dangers of using tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs even though 67.6 percent of these parents who had not spoken to their children thought they would influence whether their child uses drugs if they spoke to them.
Doc: Face transplant patient making good progress
A surgeon who operated on Poland's first face transplant patient says the man is already practicing swallowing and making sounds.
Valeant to buy Bausch + Lomb for $8.7B (Update)
Canadian drugmaker Valeant Pharmaceuticals said Monday that it will pay $8.7 billion to buy Bausch + Lomb, one of the world's best-known makers of contact lenses, in a massive expansion of Valeant's smaller ophthalmology business.
How patient centered are medical decisions?
A national survey sample of adults who had discussions with their physicians in the preceding two years about common medical tests, medications and procedures often did not reflect a high level of shared decision making, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Decision making preferences among patients with heart attacks
In a research letter, Harlan M. Krumholz, M.D., S.M., from Yale University School of Medicine and colleagues, "sought to investigate preferences for participation in the decision-making process among individuals hospitalized with an acute myocardial infarction ([AMI] or heart attack)." The researchers combined data from two similar AMI registries (TRIUMPH and PREMIER) which resulted in 6,636 patients in the study sample who were asked about who should make decisions on treatment options.
Docs anticipating changes ahead as ACA progresses
(HealthDay)—Most physicians expect the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to continue as planned and expect further integration in the coming years, according to a report published by Deloitte.
New method for predicting cancer virulence developed
A new way of tackling cancer and predicting tumor virulence are has been reported by a French team of scientists from the Institut Albert Bonniot de Grenoble including researchers from CNRS, Inserm and Université Joseph Fourier. The scientists have shown that, in all cancers, an aberrant activation of numerous genes specific to other tissues occurs. For example, in lung cancers, the tumorous cells express genes specific to the production of spermatozoids, which should be silent. This work, published on 22 May 2013 in Science Translational Medicine, suggests that identifying the genes that are abnormally activated in a cancer makes it possible to determine its virulence with great accuracy. This study represents an original concept that will allow cancer patients to be given an accurate diagnosis as well as personalized care.
'Crack baby' scare overblown, teen research says
Research in teens adds fresh evidence that the 1980s "crack baby" scare was overblown, finding little proof of any major long-term ill effects in children whose mothers used cocaine during pregnancy.
Saudi death toll from new virus reaches 18
(AP)—Saudi Arabia's Health Ministry says a woman has died from a new respiratory virus related to SARS, bringing the total number of deaths in the kingdom to 18.
Aspirin-triggered resolvin protects against cognitive decline after surgery
(Medical Xpress)—Resolvins are molecules naturally produced by the body from omega-3 fatty acids - a process that can be jumpstarted by common aspirin. In a new study, published in The FASEB Journal, researchers at Karolinska Institutet describe how resolvins could protect against the cognitive impairment that often affects recovery of surgical and critically ill patients. The study adds new knowledge on how peripheral surgery affects the brain and neuronal function contributing to the processes of cognitive decline.
Finding might hold answer to preventing lung disease in cystic fibrosis
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at the Institute, Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute (QCMRI), and the Telethon institute for Child Health Research, Perth; are one step closer to preventing serious lung disease which is the main cause of suffering in cystic fibrosis.
Study shows our epigenetics change rapidly in first year of life
(Medical Xpress)—The way our genes are activated changes rapidly when we are infants, a new study of twins at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute has found.
Scientists uncover changes in proteins that regulate 'gut leakiness' and identify a link with common digestive diseases
Scientists at Trinity College Dublin have made an important advance in understanding the biological factors that keep the lining of the gut wall intact. Associate Professor, Maria O'Sullivan at Trinity's School of Medicine and St James's Hospital and colleagues, showed that changes in specific proteins may contribute to a 'leaky-gut' wall which may have important implications for common chronic digestive diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Health in adults may be determined before birth
The likelihood of adults developing obesity, asthma, allergies, cardiovascular disease and many more conditions may well be determined in the womb, according to the findings of a new Report by the British Nutrition Foundation's (BNF) Task Force, chaired by Tom Sanders, Professor of Nutrition & Dietetics at King's.
Professor explores generic drug effectiveness
(Medical Xpress)—It's likely if you're sick, your doctor is more inclined to prescribe a brand name drug in place of its generic equivalent. Or maybe you would rather pick up some Advil for that headache, instead of the less expensive pharmacy brand of ibuprofen.
UQ cardiologist confirms coconut oil is not the good oil for heart health
(Medical Xpress)—Research from The University of Queensland has reconfirmed oily fish or fish supplements are vital for heart health and debunked popular myths about coconut oil.
No new H7N9 cases in China for second week
No new human cases of the deadly H7N9 bird flu strain were recorded in China for the second week in a row, national health authorities said Monday, suggesting the outbreak has slowed.
Preterm birth affects ability to solve complex cognitive tasks, study shows
Being born preterm goes hand in hand with an increased risk for neuro-cognitive deficits. Psychologists from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum and the University of Warwick, UK have investigated the relation between the duration of pregnancy and cognitive abilities under varying work load conditions. "Cognitive performance deficits of children dramatically increase as cognitive workload of tasks increases and pregnancy duration decreases," says Dr Julia Jäkel from the Ruhr-Universität. In the journal "PLOS ONE", the researchers report a new cognitive workload model describing the association between task complexity and incremental performance deficits of preterm children.
Researcher evaluates how playing surfaces affect athletic performance, injury potential
(Medical Xpress)—A group of University of Rhode Island students have been jumping up and down for weeks on a variety of playing surfaces in a study to evaluate how each affects athletic performance and injury potential.
Encouraging data from stem cell trial in stroke patients as plans for Phase II progress
Encouraging interim data from the world's first clinical trial examining the safety of neural stem cell treatment in stroke patients has been reported by researchers ahead of an application for Phase II trials.
Looking at a photo of the sun also reduces the size of your pupils
If you look at the sun, your pupils become smaller to prevent eye damage. Researchers have now demonstrated that your pupils also become smaller if you look at an image of the sun. The research results appear to show that reflexes are unconsciously controlled by your understanding of what you see. Cognitive psychologist Marnix Naber, who did one year of research at Harvard University thanks to funding from NWO, published an article about his research on 20 May in the open access journal Journal of Vision.
Children of long-lived parents less likely to get cancer
(Medical Xpress)—The offspring of parents who live to a ripe old age are more likely to live longer themselves, and less prone to cancer and other common diseases associated with ageing, a study has revealed.
Study questions the effectiveness of coffee for weight loss
(Medical Xpress)—Western Australian researchers hoping to demonstrate improved cardiovascular function among coffee lovers have found that drinking too much of the popular brew may actually be linked to worsening of the metabolic syndrome.
Breastfeeding good for mum's blood pressure later in life
(Medical Xpress)—Breastfeeding is not only good for baby but also good for mums with a new study by the University of Western Sydney finding breastfeeding reduces the chances of mums developing high blood pressure even decades later.
Pneumococcal rates plunge after widespread vaccination of infants
The number of young children contracting the most common strains of potentially fatal pneumococcal disease has plummeted 97% since the universal vaccination against this bacterial disease began in 2005, with unvaccinated adults also reaping the benefits of widespread immunisation of infants.
Military families may need help with mental health
(HealthDay)—A leading pediatricians' group is highlighting the plight of children in military families in a new report.
Tots' sleep differences due to genes, environment, study suggests
(HealthDay)—A new study of twins suggests that genes may play a big role in how long babies and toddlers sleep at night, while environment is key during nap time.
Monday's medical myth: You can think yourself better
Of all the cultural beliefs about health and illness that saturate the developed world, there is none so pervasive and deeply held as the idea that you can "battle" an illness by sheer force of will.
Integrated stroke care system results in fewer deaths, discharges to long-term care facilities
An integrated system of stroke care delivery in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in fewer deaths from stroke and fewer discharges to long-term care facilities because of better access to optimal stroke care, according to a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Surge in children accidentally eating marijuana-laced foods
A new study shows the relaxation of marijuana laws in Colorado has caused a significant spike in the number of young children treated for accidentally eating marijuana-laced cookies, candies, brownies and beverages.
Effective regulation of alcohol brand placements in movies could limit underage drinking
Researchers at the Norris Cotton Cancer Center have found that current constraints on advertising for alcohol products in movies that adolescents watch are not effective. The study, "Trends in Tobacco and Alcohol Brand Placements in Popular US movies, 1996 through 2009,"was published online in the May 27, 2013 JAMA Pediatrics.
When doctors and patients share in decisions, hospital costs go up
Since the 1980s, doctors and patients have been encouraged to share decision making. Proponents argue that this approach promotes doctor-patient communication, enhances patient satisfaction, improves health outcomes, and even may lower cost.
Patients with end-stage kidney disease have different expectations than their doctors
In any given year, 400,000 Americans suffering from end-stage kidney disease will undergo dialysis, and as many as 20 to 25 percent of those dialysis patients will die, a statistic comparable to many types of cancer. But while cancer doctors may be more accustomed to talking with patients about the likely course of their disease, a new study from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center finds that doctors who treat patients with kidney failure are reluctant to discuss a difficult prognosis, and their patients are likely to have distorted expectations about their own probable outcomes.
Meta-analysis: Bug and weed killers, solvents may increase risk of Parkinson's disease
A large analysis of more than 100 studies from around the world shows that exposure to pesticides, or bug and weed killers, and solvents is likely associated with a higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease. The research appears in the May 28, 2013, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Should you stop blood thinners before surgery? AAN guideline provides direction
A new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology will help people who take blood thinners decide whether or not to take them during surgery or other medical procedures. The guideline is published in the May 28, 2013, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
What do we eat? New food map will tell us
Do your kids love chocolate milk? It may have more calories on average than you thought. Same goes for soda. Until now, the only way to find out what people in the United States eat and how many calories they consume has been government data, which can lag behind the rapidly expanding and changing food marketplace.
Pain conditions linked to increased risk of suicide
(HealthDay)—Certain non-cancer pain conditions, including back pain, migraine, and psychogenic pain, are associated with increased risk of suicide in patients using Veterans Health Administration (VHA) services, according to research published online May 22 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Change, conflict act as milestones of life memorie
(Medical Xpress)—What will your kids remember about the life stories you tell them? New University of Alberta research shows that they're likely to be able to recall transitional moments you share with them, be it promotions or pets. The research offers strong evidence that societal values significantly affect how people think about and recall events in their lives—and how we potentially carry old values and beliefs forward in a new country.
It's brain freeze season
Brain freeze is practically a rite of summer. It happens when you eat ice cream or gulp something ice cold too quickly. The scientific term is sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia, but that's a mouthful. Brain freeze is your body's way of putting on the brakes, telling you to slow down and take it easy. Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center neuroscientist Dwayne Godwin, Ph.D., explains how it works.
Task force: Screen for gestational diabetes after 24 weeks of pregnancy
(HealthDay)—All women should be screened for gestational diabetes after 24 weeks of pregnancy regardless of whether they have symptoms of the condition, according to a new draft recommendation statement issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
Developing good habits is more important than self-control in meeting goals, study finds
Stress and exhaustion may turn us into zombies, but a novel study shows that mindless behavior doesn't just lead to overeating and shopping sprees—it can also cause us to stick with behaviors that are good for us.
New gene discovery for babies born with hole in the heart
(Medical Xpress)—A new gene associated with a form of congenital heart disease in newborn babies – known as "a hole in the heart" has been discovered by researchers.
New compound could protect from post-heart attack tissue damage
(Medical Xpress)—A chemical compound designed and created at the University of Otago may hold great promise for reducing tissue damage following heart attack, stroke or major surgery, according to research published today in the prestigious international journal Nature Medicine.
Finding a genetic cause for severe childhood epilepsies
(Medical Xpress)—A large scientific study has discovered new genes causing severe seizure disorders that begin in babies and early childhood. The finding will lead to new tests to diagnose these conditions and promises to lead to improved outcomes.
Copper on the brain
(Medical Xpress)—The value of copper has risen dramatically in the 21st century as many a thief can tell you, but in addition to the thermal and electrical properties that make it such a hot commodity metal, copper has chemical properties that make it essential to a healthy brain. Working at the interface of chemistry and neuroscience, Berkeley Lab chemist Christopher Chang and his research group at UC Berkeley have developed a series of fluorescent probes for molecular imaging of copper in the brain. Speaking at the recent national meeting of the American Chemical Society in New Orleans, he described the challenges of creating and applying live-cell and live-animal copper imaging probes and explained the importance of meeting these challenges.
Newly understood circuits add finesse to nerve signals
(Medical Xpress)—An unusual kind of circuit fine-tunes the brain's control over movement and incoming sensory information, and without relying on conventional nerve pathways, according to a study published this week in the journal Neuron.
Sea anemone venom-derived compound effective in anti-obesity studies
Scientists at UC Irvine reported this week that a synthetic compound ShK-186, originally derived from a sea anemone toxin, has been found to enhance metabolic activity and shows potential as a treatment for obesity and insulin resistance.
Scientists find mechanism that causes noise-induced tinnitus and drug that can prevent it
An epilepsy drug shows promise in an animal model at preventing tinnitus from developing after exposure to loud noise, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The findings, reported this week in the early online version of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveal for the first time the reason the chronic and sometimes debilitating condition occurs.
Sugar polymer found on cell surface of multiple pathogens could be key to developing broad-spectrum vaccine
Developing new vaccines to protect against diseases that plague humans is fraught with numerous challenges—one being that microbes tend to vary how they look on the surface to avoid being identified and destroyed by the immune system. However, researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have discovered a sugar polymer that is common on the cell surface of several pathogens. This common sugar molecule makes it a promising target for the development of a broad-spectrum vaccine that can protect against numerous deadly microbes expressing this sugar on their cell surface.
Babies born after mom's gastrointestinal bypass surgery do better
Obese mothers tend to have kids who become obese. Now provocative research suggests weight-loss surgery may help break that unhealthy cycle in an unexpected way—by affecting how their children's genes behave.
Down syndrome neurons grown from stem cells show signature problems
Down syndrome, the most common genetic form of intellectual disability, results from an extra copy of one chromosome. Although people with Down syndrome experience intellectual difficulties and other problems, scientists have had trouble identifying why that extra chromosome causes such widespread effects.
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