23 sierpnia 2015

Fwd: Science X Newsletter Friday, Aug 14

RESPEKT!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Sat, Aug 15, 2015 at 3:43 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Friday, Aug 14
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>


Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for August 14, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Rogue supernovas likely flung into space by black hole slingshots
- New evidence suggests marmosets learn vocalizations from parents
- Marks on 3.4-million-year-old bones not due to trampling, analysis confirms
- Money gushes into California firm's water-saving shower
- 'Brainy' mice raise hope of better treatments for cognitive disorders
- Study shows ancient British shores teemed with life
- Mini X-ray source with laser light
- Higher intelligence score means better physical performance
- Engineers 'sandwich' atomic layers to make new materials for energy storage
- 'Fishing expedition' nets nearly tenfold increase in number of sequenced virus genomes
- BESC creates microbe that bolsters isobutanol production
- Researchers at RIT seek to solve the problem of looping with Meshed Tree Protocol
- Look at me! Forest-dwelling anoles 'glow' to attract attention
- Revealed: Helicobacter pylori's secret weapon
- On Wikipedia, politically controversial science topics vulnerable to information sabotage

Nanotechnology news

Engineers 'sandwich' atomic layers to make new materials for energy storage

The scientists whose job it is to test the limits of what nature—specifically chemistry— will allow to exist, just set up shop on some new real estate on the Periodic Table. Using a method they invented for joining disparate elemental layers into a stable material with uniform, predictable properties, Drexel University researchers are testing an array of new combinations that may vastly expand the options available to create faster, smaller, more efficient energy storage, advanced electronics and wear-resistant materials.

New study shows correlation between microscopic structures and macroscopic properties

Researchers from Julich, Germany, have, together with colleagues from Austria, Italy, Colombia and the USA, developed a model system for so-called soft colloids. The model gives us a better understanding of correlations between the atomic structure of colloids and their perceptible material properties. These findings could lead to new approaches for the targeted development of innovative colloid materials. The results have just been published in the journal Nanoscale.

Physics news

Molecular scientists unexpectedly produce new type of glass

When Prof. Juan de Pablo and his collaborators set about to explain unusual peaks in what should have been featureless optical data, they thought there was a problem in their calculations. In fact, what they were seeing was real. The peaks were an indication of molecular order in a material thought to be entirely amorphous and random: Their experiments had produced a new kind of glass.

Mini X-ray source with laser light

Physicists from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics and the TU München have developed a method using laser-generated X-rays and phase-contrast X-ray tomography to produce three-dimensional images of soft tissue structures in organisms.

Studying the physics of dirty materials and messy systems to advance sustainable infrastructure and clean energy

Franz-Josef Ulm works on big issues such as concrete manufacturing, urban architecture, and gas shale recovery. All involve "the physics of what many consider dirty materials and messy systems," he says. His intent is to make each of these more efficient, durable, and environmentally sound.

Earth news

Opinion: Is the global warming 'hiatus' over?

There are many ongoing signs that the planet is heating up, even "on fire."

Carnivorous conchs to blame for oyster decline

What happens when a drought in Florida estuaries causes a rise in the salt levels in water? Fewer wild oysters appear on restaurant menus, for starters.

Mapping international claims to the Arctic seabed

While maps can certainly enlighten and educate, they can just as easily be used to support certain political narratives. With this in mind, Durham University's Centre for Borders Research (IBRU) has updated its map showing territorial claims to the Arctic seabed following a revised bid submitted by Russia to the United Nations on August 4. The decision to release the map was not made lightly.

Air pollution killing 4,000 in China a day, US study finds

Air pollution is killing about 4,000 people in China a day, accounting for 1 in 6 premature deaths in the world's most populous country, a new study finds.

Meat food waste has greater negative environmental impact than vegetable waste

Approximately 31 percent of food produced in the U.S., or 133 billion pounds of food worth $162 billion, was wasted in 2011 according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Now, University of Missouri researchers have found that the type of food wasted has a significant impact on the environment. Although less meat is wasted (on average) compared to fruits and vegetables, the researchers found that significantly more energy is used in the production of meat compared to the production of vegetables. This wasted energy is usually in the form of resources that can have negative impacts on the surrounding environment, such as diesel fuel or fertilizer being released into the environment.

Study shows how climate change threatens health

Researchers at Columbia University's National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) and the University of Washington have published a new study focused on the public health implications of climate change. The article explores climate change impacts on human health in the U.S. Gulf Coast and has implications for this and other coastal regions that are particularly vulnerable to climate change. The study appears in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (August 11, 2015).

Q&A: Drought-weary California hopes El Nino means wet winter

Chances are strong that a record-setting El Nino is headed toward California this winter. What is unknown is how it will play out for the state beset by four years of drought that fallowed farm fields, turned lawns brown and dried up streams and wells.

USF research collaboration compares IXTOC oil spill to Deepwater Horizon spill

Scientists from the University of South Florida's (USF) College of Marine Science, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), and colleagues from several other universities have just returned from a two week trip three and a half decades into the past aboard R/V (research vessel) Justo Sierra, a 162-foot, 821-ton ship outfitted for research. Their voyage took them to the site of the 1979-1980 IXTOC oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the impacts of which had not been studied for 35 years.

National challenge of leaking mines dwarfs Colorado spill

It will take many years and many millions of dollars simply to manage and not even remove the toxic wastewater from an abandoned mine that unleashed a 100-mile-long torrent of heavy metals into Western rivers and has likely reached Lake Powell, experts said.

Image: Myanmar inundated

Since mid-July, more than a million people have been severely affected by monsoon floods and landslides in Myanmar. What is the current situation?

New tools increase Palestine's capacity to face earthquakes

Palestine has faced hundreds of earthquakes since the beginning of the year. Thanks to the SASPARM and SASPARM 2.0 projects, the next generation of citizens and researchers will be better equipped to face this growing threat.

Aqua satellite sees birth of Tropical Depression 17W

Tropical Depression 17W came together in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean when NASA's Aqua satellite passed overhead on August 14.

Aqua satellite sees birth of Tropical Depression 16W

Tropical Depression 16W came together in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean when NASA's Terra satellite passed overhead on August 14.

Satellite movie shows Hawaii Hurricane Hilda's last hoorah

The once hurricane Hilda weakened to a remnant low pressure area early on Friday, August 14, 2015. Images generated from NOAA's GOES-West satellite were made into an animation that showed the "last Hoorah" of Hilda as it weakened into a low pressure area on August 14, south of the Big Island of Hawaii.

Astronomy & Space news

Rogue supernovas likely flung into space by black hole slingshots

Rogue supernovas that explode all alone in deep space present an astronomical mystery. Where did they come from? How did they get there? The likely answer: a binary black hole slingshot, according to a new study by Ryan Foley, a professor of astronomy and physics at the University of Illinois.

Cassini to make last close flyby of Saturn moon Dione

NASA's Cassini spacecraft will zip past Saturn's moon Dione on Monday, Aug. 17—the final close flyby of this icy satellite during the spacecraft's long mission.

Rosetta's big day in the sun

ESA's Rosetta today witnessed Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko making its closest approach to the sun. The exact moment of perihelion occurred at 02:03 GMT this morning when the comet came within 186 million km of the sun.

Parkes telescope takes on the Roger Federer of space

Using the moon and the GPS system, scientists have turned CSIRO's 64-m Parkes radio telescope in eastern Australia into a new tool for finding the highest-energy particles nature can hurl at us. The work is being presented this week at the 29th General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union in Hawai'i by CSIRO Fellow Professor Ron Ekers, on behalf of a team from Australia and Europe.

Why is it tough to land on a comet?

Why is landing on a comet so difficult and what does this tell us about future missions to comets and asteroids?

The dwarf planet Haumea

The Trans-Neptunian region has become a veritable treasure trove of discoveries in recent years. Since 2003, the dwarf planets and "plutoids" of Eris, Sedna, Makemake, Quaoar, and Orcus were all observed beyond the orbit of Pluto. And in between all of these, Haumea – that odd, oblong-shaped dwarf planet that has its own system of moons – was also discovered.

Technology news

Software can automatically critique composition of digital photographs

Everyone may be a critic, but now Penn State researchers are paving a way for machines to get in on the act. However, the researchers add that their photo-analysis algorithm is designed to offer constructive feedback, not to replace photographers.

Ohm has worked up a drop-in replacement for car battery

Ohm is a 6-pound drop-in replacement for your car battery. What's not to like about what it claims to deliver. It never needs jump-starting. Works on the coldest days (in temperatures as low as -40C). Lasts more than twice than lead-acid batteries, which go for three years. Here, you are looking at a 7-year average lifetime. No lead, no acid. When Ohm says it is a drop-in replacement they mean that it is installed in the same way.

Transforming farm residues into biofuels and more

To cut the cost of biofuels, their production-process can be enhanced to include additional valuable biochemical compounds. A recent experimental study focuses on one source of biomass: residues from Brazilian palm oil production.

Could a digital pen change how we diagnose brain function?

For all of the advances in medical technology, many of the world's most widely-used diagnostic tools essentially involve just two things: pen and paper.

Money gushes into California firm's water-saving shower

A super-efficient shower fixture that reduces water waste by 70 percent is gaining enthusiastic backing from some of Silicon Valley's biggest names, reaping in some $1.38 million in just two days.

Researchers at RIT seek to solve the problem of looping with Meshed Tree Protocol

The next breakthrough in computing that will make our computer networks more reliable, faster and more secure against cyber attacks is being developed at Rochester Institute of Technology.

On Wikipedia, politically controversial science topics vulnerable to information sabotage

Wikipedia reigns. It's the world's most popular online encyclopedia, the sixth most visited website in America, and a research source most U.S. students rely on. But, according to a paper published today in the journal PLOS ONE, Wikipedia entries on politically controversial scientific topics can be unreliable due to information sabotage.

Apple more than doubles hiring of women and minorities

Apple says it more than doubled the numbers of women, blacks and Hispanics hired in the last year, although that barely moved the needle in terms of improving the diversity of its total workforce.

Google gets third extension to answer EU case

Brussels has given Google an extension until the end of August to answer an anti-trust case alleging that it abuses its search engine's market dominance, a company spokesman said Thursday.

Drawing in the third dimension

Imagine you could reach inside your old Batman comic, grab the Caped Crusader by the shoulder, and spin the whole scene around to get a new 3-D view.

Australia court sides with Internet firms in piracy row

Australians who illegally downloaded the movie "Dallas Buyers Club" will not be asked to pay for the film just yet, after the Federal Court on Friday decided not to release their names and addresses.

We should not dismiss the dangers of 'killer robots' so quickly

In an open letter I helped publish on July 28 – which has now been signed by more than 2,700 artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics researchers from around the world – we stated that "starting a military AI arms race is a bad idea, and should be prevented by a ban on offensive autonomous weapons beyond meaningful human control".

Don't expect straight answers on data sharing from the firms that profit from it

Data is a new currency of sorts: we all generate a lot of it, and many companies already use it to serve their ends or ours. But, for many very good reasons, it's not easy to persuade people that they should give their data away. There are more than enough surveillance scandals or data breaches to make an open approach seem like a bad idea.

How to protect planes and passengers from explosions on the surface of the sun

Air travel today is extraordinarily safe. Despite the high profile downings of MH370 and MH17, aviation magazine Flightglobal found 2014 to be the safest ever year of air travel. But natural events, such as the Icelandic volcanic eruption and ash cloud in 2011, can sometimes pose unexpected but critical questions for air safety.

Breaking the US government's hold on the internet won't be easy

The internet today is far bigger and more inextricably linked to our daily lives than its creators in the 1970s and 1980s could have imagined. So perhaps it is not surprising that some of the structures put in place decades ago may have failed to keep pace with its rapid evolution.

Researchers carefully protect dangerous pathogens – but how secure are all their data?

Ebola, smallpox, anthrax and many others: the most dangerous microorganisms are strictly regulated in the United States. The federal government oversees use of 65 so-called select agents with "the potential to pose a severe threat to public, animal or plant health, or to animal or plant products." Before scientists can work with them to learn more, find cures or create vaccines, they must meet a long list of conditions. The goal is to keep deadly infectious agents safely under lock and key, where they can't threaten the general population or fall into the wrong hands.

Taiwan hits Uber with $1m in fines over nearly a year

Taiwan has fined Uber a total of US$1 million since September for improper registration, turning up the pressure on the app-based taxi service as authorities mull revoking its license to operate on the island.

Oceanic junk ranges from Legos to suspected jet wreckage

For years along the Cornish coast of Britain, Atlantic Ocean currents have carried thousands of Lego pieces onto the beaches. In Kenya, cheap flip-flop sandals are churned relentlessly in the Indian Ocean surf, until finally being spit out onto the sand. In Bangladesh, fishermen are haunted by floating corpses that the Bay of Bengal sometimes puts in their path.

Excess baggage: Uzbek airline starts weighing passengers

Plump passengers beware! The national airline of Uzbekistan says it has begun weighing those travelling along with their carry-on luggage.

In a slow-growth world, technology stocks are trending again

Technology stocks are trending big-time as investors latch on to innovative companies racing ahead in a slow-growth world.

Chemistry news

Study examines new method for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease

A team of scientists at the University at Albany and Albany Medical Center have developed a new method for noninvasive diagnostics of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Taking Raman spectra of blood samples, the research led by Igor Lednev of the University at Albany and Dr. Earl Zimmerman of Albany Medical Center, distinguished people with Alzheimer's disease from healthy controls as well as from people with other forms of dementia.

Biology news

New evidence suggests marmosets learn vocalizations from parents

(Phys.org)—A team of researchers with Princeton University has found that marmosets appear to learn at least some of their vocalizations from their parents. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes a study they carried out with the little South American monkeys and what they learned from it. David Margoliash with the University of Chicago and Ofer Tchernichovski with City University of New York offer some insight into the work done by the team in a Perspectives piece in the same journal edition.

Apes may be closer to speaking than many scientists think

Koko the gorilla is best known for a lifelong study to teach her a silent form of communication, American Sign Language. But some of the simple sounds she has learned may change the perception that humans are the only primates with the capacity for speech.

Capturing cell growth in 3-D

Replicating how cancer and other cells interact in the body is somewhat difficult in the lab. Biologists generally culture one cell type in plastic plates, which doesn't represent the dynamic cell interactions within living organisms.

Revealed: Helicobacter pylori's secret weapon

Discovered in 1982, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a disease-causing bacterium that survives in our stomachs despite the harsh acidic conditions. It is estimated that one in two people have got it, though most won't ever experience any problems. Even so, it is considered one of the most common bacterial infections worldwide and a leading cause of dyspepsia, peptic ulceration and gastric cancer.

'Fishing expedition' nets nearly tenfold increase in number of sequenced virus genomes

Using a specially designed computational tool as a lure, scientists have netted the genomic sequences of almost 12,500 previously uncharacterized viruses from public databases.

BESC creates microbe that bolsters isobutanol production

Another barrier to commercially viable biofuels from sources other than corn has fallen with the engineering of a microbe that improves isobutanol yields by a factor of 10.

Look at me! Forest-dwelling anoles 'glow' to attract attention

See and be seen. In the elaborate game of seeking and attracting a mate, male anole lizards have a special trick—they grab attention by perching on a tree limb, bobbing their heads up and down, and extending a colorful throat fan, called a dewlap.

Australia to tag sharks but rules out cull

Australia's most populous state said Friday it will boost the monitoring and tagging of sharks off its beaches but ruled out culling great whites after a spate of attacks left one surfer dead and two seriously hurt.

Comprehending chemotaxis: Team uncovers the intricate mechanisms that allow certain cells to move

What if cancer cells couldn't move? What if patients – once they're diagnosed with cancer – could take a drug that made cancer cells immobile? The answer is simple: survival rates would skyrocket. But reality is complicated. It's hard to know with precision how metastasis happens. But that's what James Bear, PhD, professor of cell biology and physiology, is trying to do – understand cell movement so he and others can do something about it.

Yes, you can make alcohol from Vegemite, but ...

Vegemite has been in the news of late for all the wrong reasons. It all started when Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion said he'd heard the yeast extract was being used in dry communities to brew alcohol.

Company eliminates pests from stored grain with ozone and reduce costs

A new process replaces the chemical tablets phosphine and methyl bromide, which are toxic and carcinogenic, used in traditional spraying methods. This new process avoids the usual loss of 18 percent of product damaged by pathogenic organisms.

Unlikely element turns up in enzyme; commercial renewable fuels might ultimately result

Tungsten is exceptionally rare in biological systems. Thus, it came as a huge surprise to Michael Adams, PhD., and his collaborators when they discovered it in what appeared to be a novel enzyme in the hot spring-inhabiting bacterium, Caldicellulosiruptor bescii. The researchers hypothesized that this new tungstoenzyme plays a key role in C. bescii's primary metabolism, and its ability to convert plant biomass to simple fermentable sugars. This discovery could ultimately lead to commercially viable conversion of cellulosic (woody) biomass to fuels and chemical feedstocks, which could substantially reduce greenhouse emissions. The research is published 14 August in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

World's largest ever fishing impact study brings hope for Cardigan Bay Scallop fishermen

Scientists from Bangor University, working together with the Welsh Fishermen's Association, Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales have published their findings from the world's largest ever fishing impact study, funded in part by the European Fishery Fund.

Birdsong recognition app launches

QMUL machine learning researcher Dan Stowell and his business partner Florence Wilkinson have launched Warblr, their mobile app that can automatically recognise birds by their song.

Research on industrial hemp continues to progress

Industrial hemp research at the University of Kentucky is moving along in its second year. Researchers in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment hosted a field day Aug. 13 to showcase their current hemp projects, conducted under the guidance of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

Closure of Clyde spawning ground 'too little, too late' to help floundering cod stocks

Measures introduced over a decade ago to protect spawning cod in the Firth of Clyde were "too little, too late", a new study finds.

The protein that keeps cells static is found to play a key role in cell movement

The protein E-Cadherin (E-Cad) is a kind of adhesive that keeps cells tightly bound together, thus favouring the organisation of tissues and organs. Scientists at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) now reveal a new function for E-Cad, one that contrasts with its accepted role in impeding cell movement. The researchers have published an article in Nature Communications in which they report that this protein is crucial for the coordinated movement of diverse cell types.

The potential in your pond

Scientists at the John Innes Centre have discovered that Euglena gracilis, the single cell algae which inhabits most garden ponds, has a whole host of new, unclassified genes which can make new forms of carbohydrates and natural products.

Rhino horns, elephant tusks seized in Vietnam

Police in Vietnam have seized more than 700 kilograms (1,500 pounds) of rhino horns and elephant tusks believed to have originated from Mozambique, state media said Friday.

Researchers optimize cocoa fermentation process

The Barry Callebaut Group, VIB (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology) and KU Leuven (University of Leuven), with the support of IWT (Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology-Flanders), managed to improve the process of cocoa fermentation. Building on techniques inspired by Belgian brewers, the researchers developed a special yeast that unlocks the flavor and aroma precursors in cocoa beans and enriches the chocolate's full flavor development. With the new yeast Barry Callebaut will now be able to customize the flavor development of cocoa to the specific needs and wants of its customers more than ever.

Medicine & Health news

The stomach is the way to a woman's heart, too

You've heard that romance starts in the kitchen and not in the bedroom. Well, researchers at Drexel University finally have the science to support that saying - but not the way you might think.

Genetically engineered pigs: Advance looks promising

Stories of people waiting for organ transplants that could save their lives are well known. The numbers, though, are not encouraging. The US Department of Health and Human Services has some data: 122,407 people need a lifesaving organ transplant (total waiting list of candidates). The agency said that the gap between supply and demand continues to widen.

Cellular factors that shape the 3-D landscape of the genome identified

Researchers, using novel large-scale imaging technology, have mapped the spatial location of individual genes in the nucleus of human cells and identified 50 cellular factors required for the proper three-dimensional (3D) positioning of genes. These spatial locations play important roles in gene expression, DNA repair, genome stability, and other cellular activities. The study, by scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, appeared August 13, 2015, in Cell.

Astrocytes found to play a key role in regulating neural networks

(Medical Xpress)—A small team of researchers with members from research centers in Spain and the U.S. has found that astrocyes appear to play a previously unknown key role in regulating neural networks in mouse brains. In their paper published in the journal Science, the team describes their study of a type of glial cell in a certain part of the mouse brain, and what they learned about neural networks in doing so. Aryn Gittis and Daniel Brasier with Carnegie Mellon University offer a Perspective piece on the work done by the team and describe possible implications of their findings.

'Brainy' mice raise hope of better treatments for cognitive disorders

It sheds light on the molecular underpinnings of learning and memory and could form the basis for research into new treatments for age-related cognitive decline, cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia, and other conditions.

Higher intelligence score means better physical performance

New research reveals a distinct association between male intelligence in early adulthood and their subsequent midlife physical performance. The higher intelligence score, the better physical performance, the study reveals. The Center for Healthy Aging and the Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, are behind this new study.

Titanium rings proving problematic for emergency care doctors

Rings made of titanium—an increasingly popular alternative to gold and silver—are giving emergency doctors a headache because they are so difficult to prize off swollen fingers, reveals a case study published online in Emergency Medicine Journal.

Guideline revised for assessment of children with disorders of sexual development

Every hospital should have access to regional multidisciplinary teams that can provide expert advice for children and adolescents with concerns about sex development, and provide them and their parents with psychological support, according to a revised Society for Endocrinology guideline on disorders of sex development (DSD) published today in Clinical Endocrinology.

Research examines relationship between autism and creativity

New research has found that people with high levels of autistic traits are more likely to produce unusually creative ideas.

APA review confirms link between playing violent video games and aggression

Violent video game play is linked to increased aggression in players but insufficient evidence exists about whether the link extends to criminal violence or delinquency, according to a new American Psychological Association task force report.

Studies reveal how anesthesia's brain effects differ in older adults and in children

Recent Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigations into the neurobiology underlying the effects of general anesthesia have begun to reveal the ways different anesthetic agents alter specific aspects of the brain's electrical signals, reflected by EEG (electroencephalogram) signatures. While those studies have provided information that may lead to improved techniques for monitoring the consciousness of patients receiving general anesthesia, until now they have been conducted in relatively young adult patients. Now a series of papers from MGH researchers is detailing the differences in the way common anesthetics affect the brains of older patients and children, findings that could lead to ways of improving monitoring technology and the safety of general anesthesia for such patients.

Keeping runners safe in summer heat

The New Balance Falmouth Road Race is one of the premier running events of the summer season, drawing an estimated 75,000 spectators, who strain to catch a glimpse of Olympic-caliber runners as they tear through a scenic seven-mile seaside course in the sweltering summer heat.

Adding milk to tea can prevent stained teeth

The next time tea drinkers steep another cup, they may want to consider adding a splash of milk if they want to keep their teeth white.

New cancer waiting time figures show thousands still facing delays

Waiting time targets for treating patients referred with suspected cancer have been missed for a sixth successive quarter, according to new NHS England figures.

Study reveals benefits of clinical medication reviews for improving medication management

Structured and collaborative medication reviews performed by pharmacists and general practitioners are beneficial in improving the quality use of medicines, according to a groundbreaking new review published by Monash University.

Study cautions against statins as general preventive medicine

Statins' success in reducing atherosclerosis-related events has elevated the medications to wonder-drug status, with some researchers advocating for their wider use as a preemptive therapy for cardiovascular disease. Using statins, however, can have side effects, including memory loss, muscle problems and increased diabetes risk. A new study in the American Journal of Physiology—Cell Physiology explains why statins are more beneficial in some cases than others and highlights the importance of weighing individual risk when considering statins as a preventive measure.

Vitamin D in teens: Don't overdo it, bad things might happen

Dosing obese teens with vitamin D shows no benefits for their heart health or diabetes risk, and could have the unintended consequences of increasing cholesterol and fat-storing triglycerides. These are the latest findings in a series of Mayo Clinic studies in childhood obesity.

Scientists discover a pathway that controls cancer cell proliferation by nutrients

In a new study by Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP), researchers have identified a novel kinase cascade that regulates mTORC1, a protein complex implicated in the control of cancer cell growth in response to nutrients. The study, published in Cell Reports, provides further insight into the control of mTORC1 activation, and highlights several new potential drug targets to treat human pathologies linked to mTORC1 deregulation.

Young minds think alike – and older people are more distractible

'Bang! You're Dead', a 1961 episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, continues to surprise – but not just with the twist in its tale. Scientists at the University of Cambridge have used the programme to show that young people respond in a similar way to events, but as we age our thought patterns diverge.

Pregnant women not following nutrition guidelines

Researchers from the University of Adelaide have made a remarkable discovery: no pregnant women were found to be correctly following the Australian Dietary Guidelines on consumption of the "five food groups", despite almost two-thirds of pregnant women believing they were eating the right diet.

Study finds little improvement in mortality rate for extremely preterm infants since 2000

About 500,000 babies are born premature in the United States each year, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Those infants, born before 37 weeks of gestation, will likely deal with the threat of numerous complications or even death.

A better way to personalize bladder cancer treatments

Researchers at UC Davis, in collaboration with colleagues at Jackson Laboratory, have developed a new way to personalize treatments for aggressive bladder cancer. In early proof-of-concept research, the team took bladder tumors from individual patients, identified actionable mutations and grafted the tumors into mice. From there, the researchers simultaneously tested multiple therapies in the tumor models. Treatments that were effective in the models could then be given to patients. The research was published today in the journal PLoS One.

Tdap booster vaccine rates triple at family care clinics using automated reminders

Vaccination rates for a critical booster shot tripled after clinics began using electronic prompts alerting them of patients needing the Tdap vaccine that protects against tetanus, diptheria, and whooping cough, according to a new study from the University of Michigan Health System.

Measles outbreak kills more than 300 in DR Congo: UN

A major outbreak of measles has killed almost 320 people and infected more than 20,000 in the southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Nations has announced.

Drug execs behind female libido pill have run afoul of FDA

A small drugmaker from North Carolina may succeed next week where many of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies have failed: in winning approval for the first drug to boost women's sexual desire.

Hospital-acquired conditions lengthen stays, add costs in kids

(HealthDay)—Hospital-acquired venous thromboembolism (VTE) and catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) are associated with increased length of stay (LOS) and costs in pediatric inpatient populations, according to a study published online Aug. 10 in Pediatrics.

Novel diagnostic tool for ethnically diverse non-small-cell lung cancer patients

Early-stage Non-small-cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is asymptomatic and difficult to detect since no blood test for NSCLC is currently available. In a new study, Chen-Yu Zhang and Chunni Zhang's group at Nanjing Advanced Institute for Life Sciences, Nanjing University identified a panel of five serum microRNAs (miRNAs) as the potential biomarker for NSCLC diagnosis.

Can your brain control how it loses control?

A new study may have unlocked understanding of a mysterious part of the brain—with implications for neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's. The results, published in Translational Vision Science & Technology (TVST), open up new areas of research in the pursuit of neuroprotective therapies.

Team develops a more patient-friendly solution for sleep apnea

Masks worn by those with sleep apnea can leak at night and be so uncomfortable that they often drive users away from treatment.

Almost 1 million signed up for Obamacare after open enrollment

(HealthDay)—Close to 1 million Americans signed up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act, also called Obamacare, after the open enrollment period ended earlier this year, U.S. health officials reported.

Coping tips for summer weather hazards

(HealthDay)—Severe summer weather and thunderstorms can threaten your safety and health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns.

More American children diagnosed with ADHD

(HealthDay)—The number of American children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is rising, U.S. government experts say.

Ultrasound overused for undescended testicle care

(HealthDay)—Ultrasound has limited value for the management of an undescended testicle (UDT), but remains widely overused, according to a study published online Aug. 10 in Pediatrics.

Genetic variant ups risk of graft-versus-host disease in HSCT

(HealthDay)—The risk of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with HLA-DPB1 mismatching is influenced by the HLA-DPB1 rs9277534 expression marker, according to a study published in the Aug. 13 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Stubbing it out: Ethiopia implements smoking ban

The bars and cafes are full and lively in the northern Ethiopian town of Mekelle—but they are no longer smoke-filled, with the strict implementation of a smoking ban in public places.

Menstruation is a global health problem – and we need to talk about it

Donald Trump did the girls and women living in developing world a great favor this week. He got menstruation – the taboo of all taboo words in polite society – onto the front page of the Sunday New York Times. That doesn't happen every day. In fact, it's quite possible that hasn't happened more than a few times since the newspaper was founded in 1851.

Infection control steps to keep pro football players healthy

Keeping any team healthy is an important and daunting challenge, but the task is amplified in the National Football League when a bug that spreads rapidly through locker rooms and training facilities can impact an entire season.

The power of puppies for mental health

When Thava Mahadevan, MS, Director of Operations at the UNC Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health, noticed that a significant number of his clients with mental illness suffered poor overall health, he sought simple solutions to help them. In 2012, one of those solutions, The Farm at Penny Lane, in Pittsboro, North Carolina, six miles east of the UNC campus, was developed. The farm, which sits on 40 acres, contains a community garden, and it quickly became a place where his clients could grow healthy and affordable food while leading more active and social lives. Full of volunteers, staff and clients, The Farm at Penny Lane is a vibrant, welcoming community.

Emergency department triage of children points to need for better training

A Victorian study has revealed inconsistent accuracy with emergency department triaging of low- to moderate-urgency presentations involving children.

Research to save mothers from deadly haemorrhage

While Australia may be one of the safest places on earth to give birth, new research is now focussing on severe postpartum haemorrhage which continues to be a rare and mysterious killer.

New pathways to care for people with brain injury

Research into the experiences of young people with acquired brain injury (ABI) and their carers has shed new light on their pathways to rehabilitation, housing and support.

The future of dietitians—using integrative medicine

Integrative medicine is a quickly expanding field of health care that emphasizes nutrition as a key component. Dietitians and nutritionists have an opportunity to meet workforce demands by practicing dietetics and integrative medicine (DIM). A new JACN article, The Next Generation of Dietitians: Implementing Dietetics Education and Practice in Integrative Medicine describes a DIM education program and practicum. The review article appears in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition (JACN), official publication of the American College of Nutrition.

Big Food and public health research

As an obesity researcher I have publicly grappled with the ethics of working with the food industry here on Obesity Panacea for several years.  Originally I had always leaned more towards the view of engaging with industry.  While I felt that people like Michele Simon and Yoni Freedhoff made good arguments against engaging with Big Food, I felt it was possible that the positive aspects of engagement (primarily in the form of money for research or other programs that might not be possible otherwise) outweighed their potential to do harm.

Rural medicare beneficiaries receive less follow-up care

Medicare patients in rural areas have lower rates of follow-up care after leaving the hospital—which may place them at higher risk of emergency department (ED) visits and repeat hospitalizations, according to a study in the September issue of Medical Care.

Other Sciences news

Marks on 3.4-million-year-old bones not due to trampling, analysis confirms

Marks on two 3.4 million-year-old animal bones found at the site of Dikika, Ethiopia, were not caused by trampling, an extensive statistical analysis confirms. The Journal of Human Evolution is publishing the results of the study, which developed new methods of fieldwork and analysis for researchers exploring the origins of tool making and meat eating in our ancestors.

Study shows ancient British shores teemed with life

The diversity of animal life that inhabited the coastlines of South West England 200 million years ago has been revealed in a study by an undergraduate at the University of Bristol.

Can science predict gang killings?

Gang slayings move in a systematic pattern over time, spreading from one vulnerable area to the next like a disease, finds a groundbreaking study by Michigan State University criminologists and public health researchers.

Prehistoric carnivore dubbed 'scarface' discovered in Zambia

Scientists at The Field Museum have identified a new species of pre-mammal in what is now Zambia. Thanks to a unique groove on the animal's upper jaw, it was dubbed Ichibengops (Itchy-BEN-gops), which combines the local Bemba word for scar (ichibenga), and the common Greek suffix for face (ops). Put simply: Scarface.

 Has the Baron de Rothschild's lost ship been found?

Baron de Rothschild's lost ship was one of three carrying raw materials from France to the Baron's glass factory near Zichron Yaakov. The ship vanished without a trace in the late 19th century. Has it now been found more than a century later?

What do you do when your child brings home a bad report card?

Before the new school year begins, here's a pop quiz for parents of middle-school children: What do you do when your child brings home a bad report card?

Common group identity may motivate Americans to help integrate immigrants

Immigrants may experience less racism and receive more support when white American citizens believe in a common group identity that embraces everyone regardless of their birthplace, according to new research published by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology.

Shock advertising not so shocking

Shock advertising has become obsolete and marketers need to implement alternative ways of "breaking through the clutter", according to Wits research.

New survey on Americans' foreign policy priorities

Americans favor diplomatic and economic strategies over military involvement in foreign policy, according to a new national survey conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Americans also question whether or not the United States should be the world's chief problem solver, even as a myriad of issues across the globe are identified as important for the next president to address. The nationwide poll of 1,167 adults collected data from June 25 to July 7 using AmeriSpeak, the probability-based panel of NORC at the University of Chicago. Interviews were conducted online and using landlines and cell phones.


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