30 września 2015

Fwd: Science X Newsletter Monday, Sep 28

HOT!

King crabs threaten Antarctic ecosystem due to warming ocean




---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Tue, Sep 29, 2015 at 4:12 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Monday, Sep 28
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>


Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 28, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Alloy engineering addresses long-standing problem of semiconductor defects
- Thought-controlled computer cursor takes a leap forward
- Best of Last Week-How to put living organism into supposition state, linking human brains and brain part tied to anxiety
- NASA confirms evidence that liquid water flows on today's Mars (Update)
- Study shows molecule isolated from sea sponges may be effective treatment against leukemia
- Particular brain connections linked to positive human traits
- Bat species found to have tongue pump to pull in nectar
- Rosetta comet likely formed from two separate objects
- First optical rectenna—combined rectifier and antenna—converts light to DC current
- Self-assembling material that grows and changes shape could lead to artificial arteries
- Scientists solve deep ocean carbon riddle
- Maintaining healthy DNA delays menopause
- Jumping the shark: Scientists say predators protect marine ecosystems, blue carbon
- Flu infection reveals many paths to immune response
- Warmer temperatures stimulate diversity of soil fungi

Nanotechnology news

First optical rectenna—combined rectifier and antenna—converts light to DC current

Using nanometer-scale components, researchers have demonstrated the first optical rectenna, a device that combines the functions of an antenna and a rectifier diode to convert light directly into DC current.

New method for building on an atomic scale

UK scientists have pioneered a new way of manipulating several thousand atoms at a time, paving the way for building nanoscale electronic devices more quickly and easily at room temperature.

Metamaterial absorbers for infrared inspection technologies

Plasmonic metamaterials are man-made substances whose structure can be manipulated to influence the way they interact with light. As such, metamaterials offer an attractive platform for sensing applications, including infrared (IR) absorption spectroscopy – a technique used to uncover details of the chemical make-up and structure of substances.

Physics news

Alloy engineering addresses long-standing problem of semiconductor defects

(Phys.org)—The performance of all of today's electronic devices depends on the quality of the semiconductor materials they're made of. Two of the most important factors that affect a semiconductor's properties are its band gap and its defects, both of which can be tuned to control its conductivity. While several methods exist to tune band gaps, there is still a lack of effective methods for controlling defects, which can have adverse effects on the semiconductor's overall properties.

Milestone single-biomolecule imaging technique may advance drug design

Knowing the detailed shape of biomolecules such as proteins is essential for biological studies and drug discovery. Modern structural biology relies on techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy to discover the tiny structural details of biomolecules. All these methods, however, require averaging over a large number of molecules and thus structural details of an individual biomolecule are often lost.

Crunching numbers: Math equations help build optimal bird wing

If you had to design a bird or dolphin drone from scratch, how would you build the wings?

Earth news

Ice sample from Greenland and Russia provide clues to past and future climate change

Scientists at the University of Birmingham have discovered evidence of carbonaceous aerosols - organic dust - transported from Asia and deposited in the Arctic over the last 450 years, according to research published today (28th September) in the journal Nature Scientific Reports.

How long is the interval between the trigger for a volcanic eruption and the eruption itself?

How long is the interval between the trigger for a volcanic eruption and the eruption itself? A new study by LMU volcanologists indicates that compositional variations in erupted Magmas can answer this question.

Scientists solve deep ocean carbon riddle

New research involving scientists from University of Southampton and the National Oceanography Centre Southampton (NOCS) has identified a crucial process behind the reason why dissolved organic carbon (DOC) levels in the deep oceans are constant despite a continuous supply from the surface ocean.

Ocean circulation rethink solves climate conundrum

Researchers from the University of Exeter believe they have solved one of the biggest puzzles in climate science. The new study, published in Nature Geoscience, explains the synchrony observed during glacial periods when low temperatures in the Southern Ocean correspond with low levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2).

Jumping the shark: Scientists say predators protect marine ecosystems, blue carbon

Media reports of shark attacks on humans quickly garner top headlines, spark widespread fear and propel efforts to curb the fearsome carnivores' numbers. Other marine predators, such as crabs, lobsters and large fish are popular cuisine for humans and vulnerable to over-fishing. Still other predators, such as seals and sea lions, are threatened by loss of habitat and viewed by some fishermen as unwelcome competitors.

Flood risk on rise for New York City and New Jersey coast, study finds

Flood risk for New York City and the New Jersey coast has increased significantly during the last 1,000 years due to hurricanes and accompanying storm surges, according to a study by Penn State University, Rutgers University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University and Tufts University.

Team finds weather extremes harmful to grasslands

Fluctuations in extreme weather events, such as heavy rains and droughts, are affecting ecosystems in unexpected ways—creating "winners and losers" among plant species that humans depend upon for food.

Warmer temperatures stimulate diversity of soil fungi

New research on Antarctic soil fungi shows they are stimulated by warmer temperatures and could increase if the region continues to warm.

Goods manufactured in China not good for the environment, study finds

In a study published today in the journal Nature Climate Change, scientists from three universities show that products made in China are associated with significantly higher carbon dioxide emissions than the same products made elsewhere.

Heat waves hit heat islands hardest

Extreme summers like that of 2012—which saw record temperatures in cities across the U.S.—may be atypical, but experts say they will return, especially as the planet warms under climate change. And as they do, cities will be especially vulnerable.

Scientists propose polar protection plan

International scientists have proposed a new pathway for saving the Arctic and Antarctic from their greatest menace – climate change.

Yield gap study highlights potential for higher crop yields in Africa

Agricultural yields could more than triple in a number of African countries, suggesting that tremendous improvements in food security are possible, according to new findings by the Global Yield Gap and Water Productivity Atlas.

Greening cities reduces air pollution

A UTS research collaboration has provided the first experimental evidence that higher levels of urban forestry are associated with lower levels of air pollution, specifically the dangerous fine airborne particles, or particulate matter (PM), that comes largely from motor vehicle exhausts. The research also shows that, although Sydney has generally good air quality, this varies across sites.

Red tide concentrations increasing along South Padre Island

Evidence of red tide along South Padre Island and the Lower Laguna Madre continues to mount, but airborne effects are not as bad as previously feared, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service marine expert.

Drones could make forest conservation monitoring significantly cheaper

Drones could monitor the success of forest regeneration in the tropics, suggests a new study published in Biological Conservation. The researchers say automating the monitoring process leads to equally accurate results and could save a significant amount of time and money.

Monsoon mission: A better way to predict Indian weather?

To better understand global weather patterns and increase scientific collaboration between the U.S. and India, researchers supported by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) have completed a month-long cruise studying summer monsoon conditions in the Bay of Bengal.

Comprehensive online resource launched to improve freshwater management

While numerous EU-funded freshwater management projects have generated websites, tools and databases, many of these have not been maintained after project completion. Moreover, information and results tend to be dispersed across several project websites, which can prove challenging to researchers, managers and policy makers looking for an overview of the current situation.

NASA sees Tropical Storm Marty along west coast of Mexico

NASA's RapidScat instrument provided a look at the tropical-storm force winds within Tropical Storm Marty as it continued to hug the coast of western Mexico.

NASA's RapidScat sees the end of Tropical Storm Ida

The RapidScat instrument saw former Tropical Storm Ida's waning winds when the International Space Station passed over the remnant low pressure area on September 25, 2015.

NASA views new Atlantic tropical depression in infrared

The eleventh tropical depression of the Atlantic Ocean formed early on September 28 over 400 miles southwest of Bermuda as NASA's Aqua satellite passed overhead and looked at the storm in infrared light.The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite gathers data in infrared light that provides information about temperatures.

RapidScat spots Tropical Storm Niala's waning winds

The RapidScat instrument saw the strongest winds in the Central Pacific Ocean's Tropical Storm Niala were on the northwestern side, facing the Big Island of Hawaii while the rest of the storm was below tropical-storm strength.

NASA satellites dissect Typhoon Dujuan affecting Taiwan

NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites provided visible and infrared data on Typhoon Dujuan's clouds while NASA's RapidScat instrument analyzed the storm's powerful winds as it approached Taiwan.

'Too late' for world if no climate deal in Paris: France

Reaching a successful climate deal in Paris at the end of the year is the last chance to save the planet, France warned the United Nations Monday.

Despite pledges, climate action seen falling short

The emissions pledges that countries have made ahead of a landmark conference in Paris have been a major boost to the slow-moving U.N. effort to fight climate change.

Astronomy & Space news

Rosetta comet likely formed from two separate objects

The characteristic "rubber duck" shape of the comet carrying a European robot probe through space was the result of a low-velocity impact billions of years ago between two objects which fused, a study said Monday.

NASA confirms evidence that liquid water flows on today's Mars (Update)

New findings from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) provide the strongest evidence yet that liquid water flows intermittently on present-day Mars.

'Super blood moon' shines bright across the world

Skygazers were treated to a rare astronomical event Monday when a swollen "supermoon" and lunar eclipse combined for the first time in decades, showing Earth's satellite bathed in blood-red light.

Keeping cells in good shape

People often talk about how important it is to stay in shape, something humans usually can accomplish with exercise and a healthy diet, and other habits. But chances are, few of us ever think about the shape of our individual cells.

Discovery of the companions of millisecond pulsars

When a star with a mass of roughly ten solar masses finishes its life, it does so in a spectacular explosion known as a supernova, leaving behind as remnant "ash" a neutron star. Neutron stars have masses of one-to-several Suns, but they are tiny in size, only tens of kilometers. Neutron stars spin rapidly, and when they have associated rotating magnetic fields to constrain charged particles, these particles emit electromagnetic radiation in a lighthouse-like beam that can sweep past the Earth with great regularity every few seconds or less. Such neutron stars are known as pulsars. Pulsars are dramatic and powerful probes of supernovae, their progenitor stars, and the properties of nuclear matter under the extreme conditions that exist in these stars.

India launches first space observatory

India successfully launched on Monday its first high-tech telescopes into space to study the stars, as New Delhi seeks to take another major step in its ambitious and low-cost space programme.

Ancient minerals on Earth can help explain the early solar system

A new discovery of an extremely rare mineral, called reidite, from a layer of rock in the North West Highlands of Scotland may seem utterly insignificant on first glance. But this occurrence of reidite has major implications for understanding the early evolution of our solar system.

India's historic first mission to Mars celebrates one year in orbit

India's historic first mission to Mars is now celebrating one year orbiting the Red Planet and may continue working for years to come. During year one the spacecraft was highly productive, achieving its goals of taking hordes of breathtaking images and gathering scientific measurements to study Mars atmosphere, surface environments, morphology, and mineralogy.

Launch of Astrosat first Indian astronomy satellite

The first Indian astronomy satellite Astrosat was launched on 28th September, 2015, by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from Sriharikota, on a PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) rocket. Astrosat has unprecedented capability to simultaneously observe cosmic objects in visible light, the ultraviolet waveband and the entire X-ray waveband from very low energy to very high energy X-rays. This unique ability to observe the universe in multi-wavelengths, simultaneously, is aimed at performing cutting-edge research in astrophysics.

SDO captures image of mid-class solar flare

The sun emitted a mid-level solar flare, peaking at 10:58 a.m. EDT on Sept. 28, 2015. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the sun constantly, captured an image of the event. Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth's atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground, however—when intense enough—they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel.

The sun

The sun is the center of the Solar System and the source of all life and energy here on Earth. It accounts for more than 99.86% of the mass of the Solar System and it's gravity dominates all the planets and objects that orbit it. Since the beginning of history, human beings have understood the sun's importance to our world, it's seasons, the diurnal cycle, and the life-cycle of plants.

Technology news

FLYBi: Take drone, add goggles and grab shots

FLYBi is a drone that comes with virtual reality goggles. You can get a personal view of the flight. The concept involves the drone, goggles and a remote-control wearable that looks like a watch. Using these components, one can get a birds-eye view of a drone flight. Via the virtual reality goggles one can enjoy a flying experience plus get desired shots. Drone-in-the-sky-watchers can control the device by simply turning their heads.

New tech automatically 'tunes' powered prosthetics while walking

When amputees receive powered prosthetic legs, the power of the prosthetic limbs needs to be tuned by a prosthetics expert so that a patient can move normally - but the prosthetic often needs repeated re-tuning. Biomedical engineering researchers at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have now developed software that allows powered prosthetics to tune themselves automatically, making the devices more functionally useful and lowering the costs associated with powered prosthetic use.

New technique could make cement manufacturing carbon-neutral

Concrete surrounds us in our cities and stretches across the land in a vast network of highways. It's so ubiquitous that most of us take it for granted, but many aren't aware that concrete's key ingredient, ordinary portland cement, is a major producer of greenhouse gases.

Research finds automated voice imitation can fool humans and machines

University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers have found that automated and human verification for voice-based user authentication systems are vulnerable to voice impersonation attacks. This new research is being presented at the European Symposium on Research in Computer Security, or ESORICS, today in Vienna, Austria.

A folding robot weighing four grams that crawls and jumps

Researchers at EPFL have come up with a folding, reconfigurable robot that is capable of crawling and jumping. Modelled on the inchworm, it represents a new paradigm in robotics.

Why slowing down London's subway could make it more efficient

(Phys.org)—An international team of researchers has found that because of interconnectedness between methods of transportation, slowing down trains in London's subway (The Underground, or tube) would actually increase efficiency. The group describes their math and computer models in their paper they have had published in the journal Royal Society Interface.

A light touch: Embedded optical sensors could make robotic hands more dexterous

Optical sensors may be uniquely suited for use in robotic hands, according to Carnegie Mellon University researchers who have developed a three-fingered soft robotic hand with multiple embedded fiber optic sensors. They also have created a new type of stretchable optical sensor.

A VR Kit from Microsoft? May be budget-worthy contender

It's interesting what a simple cardboard box with a pair of lenses can do in drawing interest from techie sites worldwide. But then again we are in a VR-conscious marketplace and have already seen the news over Google Cardboard.

VW faces daunting challenges in fixing emissions cheating

Volkswagen faces daunting challenges in fixing software that enables cheating on diesel engine emissions tests, a task that's becoming more urgent because of growing anger from customers.

Space technology applied to stress testing for safer cars

A spacecraft tool is now improving car safety by stress-testing many of the internal computer systems to be sure they work well when the car is on the road.

Creating microchannels with a 3-D printer

Bionanotechnologists from Wageningen University have developed a new, inexpensive way to make microfluidic devices without using costly materials or cleanroom facilities. The technique, which uses a 3D printer and Lego plastic, is called ESCARGOT. The inventors have demonstrated the principle and its possibilities in a short video. The most important questions about the new technique are answered below.

App has athletes seeing double to make them think twice about concussions

Sports-related concussions have sparked a national debate, multiple lawsuits and new concussion-management protocols in the NCAA and NFL in the last few years. Despite all the attention to concussion and its risks, many student-athletes either don't recognize the signs of concussion—or won't report them if they do.

Apple sells record 13 mn iPhones in weekend launch

Apple said Monday it sold 13 million of its new iPhones over the weekend, in a record-breaking launch for the latest model of its iconic smartphone.

Finding a way to boost efficiency of CIGS solar cells

CIGS (copper-indium-gallium-selenide) solar cells are compound thin-film solar cells and the most established alternative to silicon solar cells. Solar conversion efficiencies of over 20% have recently been achieved in CIGS solar cells.

Algorithm finds best places to put cameras for 3-D reconstructions

An online algorithm devised by Disney Research enables filmmakers to determine the optimal number and location of cameras for capturing a given scene, enabling them to amass the data that they increasingly want and need during post-production.

Researchers use air-filled modules to grasp, manipulate delicate objects

Much like Baymax, the robot star of the animated feature "Big Hero 6," a soft robot skin developed by Disney Research uses air-filled cavities to cushion collisions and to provide the pressure feedback necessary for grasping delicate objects.

Colleges help student startups navigate the legal landscape

It seemed like a sure thing. Working on weekends in a cramped fraternity room, four friends at MIT built a computer program that would give websites a new way to make money without online ads.

Samsung Pay a hit in South Korea in runup to US launch, company says

Samsung said Thursday that its mobile payment platform reached $30 million in transaction volume a month after it was launched in South Korea.

360-degree camera makers are focusing on the consumer market

Jim Malcolm pulls up a video on his smartphone he recently shot at Disneyland.

Review: iOS 9 offers some cool new features for iPhones, iPads

Apple's iPhones and iPads can do some new tricks, thanks to an update to the software that underlies them.

Opening up product design to the consumer through 3-D printing

Through the use of 3D printing, product designers can enable the consumer to design their own everyday products thereby creating more meaningful products for people and more value for companies. These are some of the conclusions Guido Hermans draws in his dissertation at Umeå University in Sweden.

Junta mulls 'Great Firewall' for Thailand

Thailand's junta is facing growing opposition over plans to introduce a single internet gateway for the country in a bid to increase the government's ability to monitor the web and block content.

Amazon opening corporate office in Detroit, plans expansion

Online retailer Amazon is opening a corporate office in Detroit and plans to expand in early 2016.

Researchers study users to increase cyber security

Missouri University of Science and Technology researchers are working to build a framework to study the online behavior of Internet users and how that behavior affects the safety of systems and networks.

Robots – our new underwater 'astronauts'

Soon it may be easier to design, plan and carry out infrastructure operations in deep water. The EU project called "SWARMs" aims to achieve this by integrating autonomous vehicles such as ROVs and AUVs.

The Latest: 2.1 million Audi vehicles have suspect software

The latest developments on the Volkswagen emissions scandal. All times local.

Digital divides persist in New Zealand

Digital technologies have become critical for people to participate in education, work, health provision, social services, tax services and commercial activities. Yet some groups of our population have limited or no access to digital technologies, or do not have the confidence to use them.

Engineers design robot to carry out tricky manual operations in the challenging shipbuilding environment

Large semi-structured manufacturing spaces present serious challenges to robot mobility and reliability. This is certainly the case in modern shipbuilding, which makes considerable use of prefabricated sections. Entire multi-deck segments of the hull or superstructure are built in shipyards, transported to the building dock and then lifted into place.

Chemistry news

Solving the mystery that connects microRNA and proteins in the pancreas

MicroRNA strands were once thought of as junk genetic material. Now, researchers know that these small structures help program surrounding genes, affecting everything from eye color to cancer. For diabetes, one such connection is a classic whodunit—it was miR-483 with the SOCS3 protein in the pancreas. Unraveling this mystery is the subject of a new paper published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

New routes to the sustainable manufacturing of chemicals

University of Manchester researchers have developed a novel biocatalytic system that potentially allows for the efficient and environmentally benign production of organic chemical compounds used in many everyday products. The findings are published in the leading journal Science.

Self-assembling material that grows and changes shape could lead to artificial arteries

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) have developed a way of assembling organic molecules into complex tubular tissue-like structures without the use of moulds or techniques like 3D printing.

Prototype lab in a needle could make real-time, mobile laboratory testing a reality

Researchers at Houston Methodist, along with collaborators at two major Singapore institutions, have developed a lab in a needle device that could provide instant results to routine lab tests, accelerating treatment and diagnosis by days.

The smell of death—its chemical pattern could become a powerful forensic tool

Most people are able to recognise the smell of "death" when they encounter a dead animal on a farm or a roadkill. But despite its distinctive scent, few know why it actually smells the way it does. Even forensic scientists may not have identified all of the compounds behind it yet – they are still in the process.

Tweaking proteins with 'Tub-tag'

LMU researchers, together with colleagues based in Berlin, have developed a rapid and efficient technique for targeted chemoenzymatic functionalization of proteins. The new method has a wide range of potential therapeutic applications.

Biology news

Bat species found to have tongue pump to pull in nectar

(Phys.org)—A trio of researchers affiliated with the University of Ulm in Germany and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama has found that one species of bat has a method of collecting nectar that has never been seen before in any other animal. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the team describes how they discovered the unique eating method using high speed cameras, and their theories on how it works.

IQ tests show individual differences in bird brains

Dr Rachael Shaw, a postdoctoral research fellow in Victoria's School of Biological Sciences, conducted a study on a group of wild North Island robin based at Zealandia to examine the mental skills of individual birds.

'Common' animal species are not that common and rare species are rare

New research by Dr John Alroy in the Department of Biological Sciences suggests that current models describing the commonality and dominance of a few species in any one community are incorrect, and that there is actually a limit to the number of species thought of as 'rare'.

Ancestral background can be determined by fingerprints

A proof-of-concept study finds that it is possible to identify an individual's ancestral background based on his or her fingerprint characteristics – a discovery with significant applications for law enforcement and anthropological research.

Monkeys and humans see visual illusions in similar way, study finds

Monkeys perceive visual illusions in the same way great apes and humans see them, according to researchers at Georgia State University.

King crabs threaten Antarctic ecosystem due to warming ocean

King crabs may soon become high-level predators in Antarctic marine ecosystems where they haven't played a role in tens of millions of years, according to a new study led by Florida Institute of Technology.

Scientists identify and map the protein behind a light-sensing mechanism

MIT scientists, working with colleagues in Spain, have discovered and mapped a light-sensing protein that uses vitamin B12 to perform key functions, including gene regulation.

A new single-molecule tool to observe enzymes at work

A team of scientists at the University of Washington and the biotechnology company Illumina have created an innovative tool to directly detect the delicate, single-molecule interactions between DNA and enzymatic proteins. Their approach provides a new platform to view and record these nanoscale interactions in real time. As they report Sept. 28 in Nature Biotechnology, this tool should provide fast and reliable characterization of the different mechanisms cellular proteins use to bind to DNA strands—information that could shed new light on the atomic-scale interactions within our cells and help design new drug therapies against pathogens by targeting enzymes that interact with DNA.

Bacteria in ancient flea may be ancestor of the Black Death

About 20 million years ago a single flea became entombed in amber with tiny bacteria attached to it, providing what researchers believe may be the oldest evidence on Earth of a dreaded and historic killer - an ancient strain of the bubonic plague.

Offshore wind farms could be more risky for gannets than previously thought, study shows

Offshore wind farms which are to be built in waters around the UK could pose a greater threat to protected populations of gannets than previously thought, according to a new study by researchers at the universities of Leeds, Exeter and Glasgow.

New technique shown to significantly improve welfare of laboratory animals

The refinement of a common handling technique used on laboratory animals for pre-clinical research can dramatically reduce stress levels and significantly improve welfare, according to the findings of a new study published in Scientific Reports.

Sea slug sniffs out seaweed's chemicals, then stalks its prey

An underwater sea slug has evolved chemical foraging and defense abilities that are functionally identical to those of terrestrial insects, despite being unrelated to their land-based counterparts and living in vastly different habitats for 400 million years.

Elabela identified as potential hormone for regenerative medicine

Scientists from the Institute of Medical Biology (IMB) of Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), in Singapore, have discovered that the recently-identified hormone ELABELA is critical in promoting the growth of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), suggesting its potential as a target for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The study was done in collaboration with A*STAR's Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) and Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS).

Drones seek out invasive aquatic plants

Is it practical to use drones to detect invasive aquatic plants?

More sex key to protecting bee populations

They're small, they're responsible for helping produce a third of the world's food production, and their foraging habits and sex lives are crucial areas of scientific research.

Arid forests provide refuge against cane toads and fires

Early research shows arid Kimberley woodlands may serve as a refuge for endemic fauna depleted by toxic cane toads (Rhinella marina) in other habitats.

Tiny, record-breaking Chinese land snails fit almost ten times into the eye of a needle

Minuscule snails defy current knowledge and scientific terminology about terrestrial "microsnails". While examining soil samples collected from the base of limestone rocks in Guangxi Province, Southern China, scientists Barna Páll-Gergely and Takahiro Asami from Shinshu University, Adrienne Jochum, University and Natural History Museum of Bern, and András Hunyadi, found several minute empty light grey shells, which measured an astounding height of less than 1 mm.

Novel tag developed for squid, jellyfish

Invertebrates, such as squid and jellyfish, play a crucial role in the marine food web and are also vital commercial fisheries. Despite their importance, little is known about their natural behaviors or how their environment influences those behaviors or physiology.

Be on the lookout this fall: Deer-vehicle collisions increase during breeding season

Fall is prime breeding season for deer across Georgia. It's also when drivers are more likely to hit deer that run into the road, according to a new study from the University of Georgia.

Insect diversity: Team looks at effects of non-native plants on herbivores

Not only do native plants do a better job of hosting and supporting local insect communities than their non-native counterparts, but a University of Delaware study shows that non-native plants are compounding the problem of declining species diversity by supporting fewer herbivores across landscapes.

Microbe artwork shows the limits of antibiotics

An Oxford University research fellow has been creating art using bacteria found in the human gut and harvested from faecal samples. But while the striking colours and plant like shapes may look beautiful, they also illustrate the increasing issue of antibiotic resistance.

Medicine & Health news

Study shows molecule isolated from sea sponges may be effective treatment against leukemia

A team of Harvard researchers and other collaborators led by Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Matthew Shair has demonstrated that a molecule isolated from sea sponges and later synthesized in Shair's lab, can halt the growth of cancerous cells and could open the door to a new treatment for leukemia. The study is described in a September 28th paper in Nature.

Particular brain connections linked to positive human traits

There is a strong correspondence between a particular set of connections in the brain and positive lifestyle and behaviour traits, according to a new study by Oxford University researchers.

Thought-controlled computer cursor takes a leap forward

Scientists working to perfect a thought-controlled computer cursor said Monday they have achieved their best results yet, and are moving closer to creating a version that paralysis victims can use.

Gene test finds which breast cancer patients can skip chemo

Many women with early-stage breast cancer can skip chemotherapy without hurting their odds of beating the disease—good news from a major study that shows the value of a gene-activity test to gauge each patient's risk.

'Hardwired' focus may explain eyesight problems for premature babies later in life

Babies born slightly earlier are more at risk of vision problems later in life due to subtle differences in their eye development, a new University of Reading study has found.

Flu infection reveals many paths to immune response

A new study of influenza infection in an animal model broadens understanding of how the immune system responds to flu virus, showing that the process is more dynamic than usually described, engaging a broader array of biological pathways. The researchers say their findings may offer key insights for designing more effective vaccines in general.

Maintaining healthy DNA delays menopause

An international study of nearly 70,000 women has identified more than forty regions of the human genome that are involved in governing at what age a woman goes through the menopause. The study, led by scientists at the Universities of Cambridge and Exeter, found that two thirds of those regions contain genes that act to keep DNA healthy, by repairing the small damages that can accumulate with age. The study also found the first genetic evidence of a link between the timing of menopause and breast cancer, corroborating previous conclusions from observational evidence.

Study adds to emerging theme about the immune system's involvement in Alzheimer's disease

The role of the immune system in Alzheimer's disease is a hot topic, but exactly how the two are connected and what interventions could help lower risk remain a mystery. In a new study published in Nature Neuroscience this week, researchers in the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) investigate how genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease may influence a key type of immune cell. Their results lay the groundwork for designing better therapeutic strategies and better prediction tools for risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Scientists use microchip approach to visualize human breast cancer proteins

A photograph may reveal how something looks, but direct observation can divulge how the objects behave. The difference can mean life or death, especially when it comes to fighting human disease.

Researchers say hormone might break cycle of obesity

As obesity rates for pregnant women continue to climb, scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have discovered that increasing a specific hormone during pregnancy can reduce or eliminate the chances that the baby will become obese as well.

DART protein shows potential as shock-and-kill strategy against HIV

A unique molecule developed at Duke Medicine, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and MacroGenics, Inc., is able to bind HIV-infected cells to the immune system's killer T cells. It could become a key part of a shock-and-kill strategy being developed in the hope of one day clearing HIV infection.

Men more likely to be seen as 'creative thinkers'

People tend to associate the ability to think creatively with stereotypical masculine qualities, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The findings suggest that the work and achievements of men tend to be evaluated as more creative than similar work and achievements produced by women.

Molecular 'kiss of death' flags pathogens

Many bugs that make us sick—bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites—hide out in our cells in protective little bubbles called vacuoles. To clear an infection, the immune system must recognize and destroy these vacuoles while leaving the rest of the living cell intact.

Media coverage of celebrity's mastectomy has improved public awareness of reconstructive breast surgery options

A new study found improved public awareness about reconstructive breast surgery options following Angelina Jolie's decision to undergo a double mastectomy and subsequent reconstruction. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the results indicate that media coverage can serve as a tipping point for improving the general public's knowledge about a particular health topic.

Legal drinking age of 18 tied to high school dropout rate

Although there have been calls to lower the legal drinking age from 21, a new study raises the possibility that it could have the unintended effect of boosting the high school dropout rate.

Hormonal therapy may prevent ovarian failure and preserve fertility in breast cancer

Young women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer may be more likely to remain fertile if they also receive hormonal treatment, according to new research presented to the 2015 European Cancer Congress on Monday and published simultaneously in Annals of Oncology.

Nivolumab improves the proportion of lung cancer patients alive after more than a year

Patients with a type of lung cancer called non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (non-SQ NSCLC) have limited treatment options and a dismal prognosis once their disease has advanced and initial treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy has failed. Second-line treatment is usually with another chemotherapy drug, such as docetaxel or pemetrexed.

Combining two targeted therapies results in melanoma patients living significantly longer

Latest results from a trial of a combination of two targeted therapies (dabrafenib and trametinib) to treat advanced melanoma have shown that patients are living significantly longer on the combined therapy than patients treated with another drug, vemurafenib, when used alone.

Post diagnosis aspirin improves survival in all gastrointestinal cancers

Vienna, Austria: Aspirin improves survival in patients with tumours situated throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, results from a large study in The Netherlands show. This is the first time that survival data from patients with tumours in different GI locations have been analysed at the same time; previously, only one type of cancer, usually colorectal, was studied. The results of the study, involving nearly 14,000 patients, may lead to new insights regarding the use of aspirin in GI cancer say the researchers.

Drug combination improves progression-free survival in melanoma patients

Patients with advanced melanoma skin cancer survive for longer without their disease progressing if they have been treated with a combination of two drugs, nivolumab and ipilimumab, than with either of these drugs alone. New results show that these patients also do better regardless of their age, stage of disease and whether or not they have a cancer-driving mutation in the BRAF gene.

First UK Biobank genetic study reveals new associations with lung disease and smoking behavior

New research published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine and presented at this year's European Respiratory Society (ERS) meeting in Amsterdam presents the first analyses of genetic data from the UK Biobank that reveal new associations with lung disease and smoking behaviour. The study is by Prof Ian Hall, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, UK, and Prof Martin Tobin, University of Leicester, UK, and colleagues.

Blocking light improves preemies' survival rates

The survival rate of preemies born between 26 to 31 weeks of gestation is improved by blocking light from reaching the intravenously-fed infused nutritious mixture they depend on for survival, researchers at CHU Sainte-Justine and the University of Montreal have revealed in a new study. Premature babies need to be fed intravenously due to the immaturity of their digestive system and their high nutritional requirements during their first days of life. This also prevents serious potential complications such as pulmonary and kidney dysfunction or generalized infection. "The conclusions to be drawn are clear. An easy to implement, fully light-shielded delivery system for parenteral nutrition needs to be developed to reduce mortality rates in premature infants," said Jean-Claude Lavoie, lead author of the study which was published in the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.

Starving cancer cells of sugar could be the key to future treatment

All the cells in our bodies are programmed to die. As they get older, our cells accumulate toxic molecules that make them sick. In response, they eventually break down and die, clearing the way for new, healthy cells to grow. This "programmed cell death" is a natural and essential part of our wellbeing. Every day, billions of cells die like this in order for the whole organism to continue functioning as it is supposed to.

Atezolizumab set to change refractory lung cancer treatment

Atezolizumab is set to substantially change treatment strategies for patients with refractory lung cancer, according to Dr Martin Reck, Chief Oncology Physician in the Department of Thoracic Oncology, Hospital Grosshansdorf, Germany. Reck's comments came as the results from the POPLAR and BIRCH studies showing the first results of efficacy with atezolizumab across lines were presented at the European Cancer Congress 2015 (ECC 2015) in Vienna, Austria.1

Increasingly, report says, doctors can face criminal charges for tending alleged terrorists

Doctors who provide medical assistance to people labeled terrorists are increasingly vulnerable to prosecution in the United States and other Western democracies, according to a law briefing by the Harvard Law School Program on International Law and Armed Conflict (PILAC).

News from the field of fear and anxiety research

The targeted modulation of gene activity and cellular signaling pathways could provide a new approach to the treatment of fear and anxiety states according to the recent findings of a project sponsored by the Austrian Science Fund FWF.

Number of cancer gene tests increases five-fold thanks to improved availability

Mutations in the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes are very likely to lead to a form of cancer in people who have them. These mutations can be detected using a genetic test. The introduction of a new drug has improved treatment options and this, coupled with increased awareness and improved access, increased the number of genetic tests carried out at the MedUni Vienna last year by a factor of five. As a result, more at-risk patients are picked up and early prevention measures can be commenced.

Health hazards of occupational exposure to talc

Talc, a substance commonly used in a number of manufacturing processes, including many in the food processing industry, is a health hazard and exposure to it should be closely monitored, say researchers from The Netherlands.

Workplace exposure to metalworking fluid may cause irreversible lung disease

Occupational exposure to fluid commonly used in metal machining operations may be related to a rare, irreversible lung disease, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society's (ERS) International Congress today (28 September, 2015).

Certain IFITM proteins block and inhibit cell-to-cell transmission of HIV

There is little doubt that the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV, is devastating. More than 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV and more than 47,000 people are diagnosed annually. Now, University of Missouri researchers have made a discovery in how specialized proteins can inhibit the virus, opening the door for progress in the fight against HIV and for the production of advanced therapeutics to combat the disease.

How can science help smokers to quit?

Craving for cigarettes plays a crucial role in driving people back to smoking when they try to stop. I want to explain what we think causes it and how best to deal with it to improve the chances of becoming an ex-smoker.

Antibiotic overuse might be why so many people have allergies

Scientists have warned for decades that the overuse of antibiotics leads to the development of drug-resistant bacteria, making it harder to fight infectious disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that drug resistant bacteria cause 23,000 deaths and two million illnesses each year.

Children with ADHD and their mothers may live less than average population

Psychiatric disorders like Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) impact family's emotions and social life. It is well known. What is new is that this condition also affects the DNA of patients and their parents. Brazilian scientists from the D'Or Institute of Research and Education (IDOR) and the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) found that ADHD kids and their mothers are more likely to have shorter telomeres, a hallmark of cellular aging, which is associated with increased risk for chronic diseases and conditions like diabetes, obesity and cancer.

Over three-quarters of people with cancer worldwide have no access to safe surgery

Over 80% of the 15 million people diagnosed with cancer worldwide in 2015 will need surgery, but less than a quarter will have access to proper, safe, affordable surgical care when they need it, according to a major new Commission examining the state of global cancer surgery, published in The Lancet Oncology, and being presented at the 2015 European Cancer Congress in Vienna, Austria.

Researcher advocates ending Medicare coverage of controversial mammography tool

A costly tool used on nearly all mammograms does not increase cancer detection rates and should no longer be covered by Medicare, argues Joshua Fenton, a family physician and comparative effectiveness researcher in an editorial published online today in the JAMA Internal Medicine.

Responses to treatment, outcomes of autoimmune cerebellar ataxia

While autoimmune cerebellar ataxia (a loss of muscle coordination) can lead to severe disability with some patients becoming wheelchair-bound, there are factors that may help to predict better immunotherapy response and neurological outcomes, according to an article published online by JAMA Neurology.

Rather than screen all immigrants for TB, developed countries could be more focused

While Canada screens all immigrants for tuberculosis, the vast majority of active cases of the disease are found in people arriving from a handful of countries where TB is prevalent, new research suggests.

New guideline aims to help physicians manage deep vein blood clots in patients

A new Canadian guideline aims to help physicians identify and manage blood clots, specifically iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT), in the groin and thigh.

First 'targeted' treatment for small cell lung cancer shows promise

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive disease that is difficult to treat and is frequently only diagnosed when it has spread to other parts of the body (metastasised). Five-year survival rates in SCLC, which accounts for about 14% of all lung cancers, are very low, at only six percent. But today US researchers will present two novel findings with important implications for treatment at the 2015 European Cancer Congress.

Cancer diagnosis while pregnant should not lead to treatment delay or end of pregnancy

Women who are pregnant when diagnosed with cancer can start treatment for their disease immediately and do not need to terminate their pregnancy due to worries over the effects of therapy on the development of their child.

First UK Biobank genetic study reveals new links between lung disease and smoking behavior

Smokers who survive their habit into old age may hold the key to better lung health for all, according to a Medical Research Council-funded (MRC) study involving researchers at The University of Nottingham and the University of Leicester.

Early maturing girls at great risk of alcohol abuse without close parental supervision

Inadequate supervision by parents during early adolescence forecasts a host of behavior problems, including problem drinking. The risk of alcohol abuse arising from inadequate parental supervision is particularly high for girls who reach puberty early, according to a new study by researchers at Florida Atlantic University. "Parental Supervision and Alcohol Abuse Among Adolescent Girls," was just published in the journal Pediatrics. This study tests the hypothesis that premature autonomy granting at the beginning of secondary school predicts escalating alcohol abuse across the critical ages of 13 to 16, when youth typically begin to consume alcohol.

Team publishes initial data from TAILORx breast cancer trial

Initial results were announced today from the Trial Assigning IndividuaLized Options for Treatment (Rx), or TAILORx, a multi-center prospectively conducted trial of more than 10,000 women with early stage breast cancer sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and led by the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN) with support from Genomic Health, Inc. The study demonstrated that a group of trial participants with low 21-gene recurrence score (Oncotype DX Recurrence Score) results of 10 or less who received hormonal therapy alone without chemotherapy had less than a one percent chance of distant recurrence at five years.

Review suggests metformin associated with small height increase in children

A review of the medical literature suggests the diabetes medication metformin may be associated with a small increase in height in children and adolescents in randomized clinical trials providing the largest cumulative metformin doses, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.

Effect of decision aid in selecting antidepressant

Use of a decision aid helped primary care clinicians and patients with moderate to severe depression select antidepressants together but had no discernible effect on depression control and medication use and adherence, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.

Cognitive behavior therapy intervention effective for depression but not self-care for heart failure

A cognitive behavior therapy intervention that targeted both depression and heart failure self-care was effective for depression but not for heart failure self-care or physical functioning compared to enhanced usual care, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.

Sedentary behavior linked to heart risk in Hispanics

Spending a lot of time being sedentary appears to be risky for Hispanics' heart health, even when they get regular exercise, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.

The citizen and the embryo: Birth weight affects social trust

How much does your baby weigh? All new parents are familiar with that question. Perhaps their reply is more important than we realize. Birth weight affects how much trust an individual will have in other people in his adult life. Trust, in turn, is the glue that prevents society from falling apart. This phenomenon is at the center of new research from Aarhus School of Business and Social Sciences (Aarhus BSS) at Aarhus University, Denmark.

Early exposure to tobacco as a cause of behavioral problems in children

Researchers from Inserm and Pierre and Marie Curie University (UPMC), in collaboration with the university hospitals of 6 French cities, have analysed data on pre- and postnatal exposure to tobacco in the homes of 5,200 primary school children. They show that this exposure is associated with a risk of behavioural disorders in children, particularly emotional and conduct disorders. The association is stronger when exposure takes place both during pregnancy and after birth. These data show the risk associated with smoking in early life and its behavioural repercussions when the child is of school-going age.These results are published in the journal PLOS ONE.

Why is an object's size perceived the same regardless of changes in distance?

A group of researchers at Osaka University found that neurons in the monkey visual cortical area V4, one of the areas in the visual cortex, calculate the size of an object based on information on its retinal image size and the distance from the object.

Social deprivation and gender affects incidence of Hodgkin's lymphoma

Living in overcrowded conditions appears to protect children and young adults against developing a particular type of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), a cancer that originates from the lymphocytes (white blood cells). This protective effect seems to suggest that infections earlier in life may stimulate the immune system to deal with future infections and cancerous cells more efficiently, say the British researchers who made the discovery.

Children in foster homes need better health care

(HealthDay)—The U.S. foster care system needs to do a better job of providing consistent, quality health care to children living in foster homes, a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says.

Weight loss surgery offers new hope to children and adolescents with Prader-Willi Syndrome

Obesity is a leading cause of complications and death in children suffering from Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), yet there are few effective treatment options for these patients. In a new study published in Surgery for Obesity and Related Disease researchers found that bariatric surgery, specifically laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), resulted in substantial weight loss with no apparent adverse effect on growth in a small group of severely overweight patients with PWS. While bariatric surgery is considered controversial for PWS, the research team is encouraged by their positive results.

Chemical exposure linked to rising diabetes, obesity risk

Emerging evidence ties endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure to two of the biggest public health threats facing society - diabetes and obesity, according to the executive summary of an upcoming Scientific Statement issued today by the Endocrine Society.

Don't get drunk: advice college kids may not get from docs

Government researchers say "deplorably" few college students are warned by doctors about the danger from alcohol and drugs or encouraged to reduce drinking or substance use.

Predicting arrhythmias so as to prevent them

Researchers have discovered how to predict some cardiac arrhythmias several steps before they even occur. It's a finding that could lead to an improved cardiac device, with equipment designed to detect when arrhythmias are about to occur and then act to prevent them.

Intermediate care billing rose from 1996 to 2010

(HealthDay)—From 1996 to 2010 there was a significant increase in intermediate care billing, according to a study published online Sept. 15 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Low risk of stroke after peripheral vestibular disorder

(HealthDay)—The risk of stroke is low following emergency department discharge with a diagnosis of peripheral vestibular disorder; however, some strokes are being misdiagnosed as peripheral vestibular disorders, according to a study published online Sept. 18 in the Annals of Neurology.

UVA-1 promising for patients with refractory alopecia areata

(HealthDay)—For patients with alopecia areata (AA), phototherapy with ultraviolet A-1 (UVA-1) is a promising treatment modality, according to a research letter published in the October issue of the International Journal of Dermatology.

Overweight, obesity increase risk of carpal tunnel syndrome

(HealthDay)—Overweight and obesity are associated with increased risk of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), according to a meta-analysis published online Sept. 23 in Obesity Reviews.

Unsaturated fats, high-quality carbs lower risk of heart disease

While eliminating saturated fats can improve heart health, a new study shows that it makes a difference which foods are used in their place. A study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows that replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats and high-quality carbohydrates has the most impact on reducing the risk of heart disease. When saturated fats were replaced with highly processed foods, there was no benefit.

Early intervention improves preschoolers' heart healthy habits

Introducing healthy lifestyle behaviors to children in preschool improves their knowledge, attitude and habits toward healthy diet and exercise and can lead to reduced levels of body fat, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Researchers predict early intervention in children will not only translate to a lifelong understanding of healthy habits but will also serve to encourage their parents to adopt healthier lifestyles.

Study finds childhood stress impacts adult health

A 45-year study of nearly 7,000 people born in a single week in Great Britain in 1958 found psychological distress in childhood—even when conditions improved in adulthood—was associated with higher risk for heart disease and diabetes later in life.

Smoking increases hospitalizations, costs of peripheral artery disease

An analysis of medical costs associated with atherosclerotic lower extremity peripheral artery disease, a dangerous condition in which a buildup of plaque in the arteries restricts blood flow to the legs and feet, found that health care costs in one year were $18,000 higher in smokers with the condition than non-smokers with the condition.

New research exposes the health risks of fructose and sugary drinks

There is compelling evidence that drinking too many sugar-sweetened beverages, which contain added sugars in the form of high fructose corn syrup or table sugar (sucrose), can lead to excess weight gain and a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, according to a new review paper published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

New drug improves outcome in treatment resistant kidney cancer

A new drug has been found superior to current treatments in slowing the growth of advanced kidney cancer in patients who became resistant to the first-line therapies that had kept it in check, according to results from a clinical trial led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Study: Breast cancer detection not better with computer aid

New research says computer-assisted detection used in most U.S. mammograms adds no benefit to women.

Bill Gates and UN say malaria could be eradicated by 2040

Malaria could be wiped out by 2040, despite the lack of an effective vaccine, previous failed attempts to eradicate the disease and drug resistance problems, the United Nations and Microsoft founder Bill Gates said in a report released on Monday.

Finding about how water gets into neurons provides new treatment targets for deadly brain swelling

High-efficiency transporters that work like a shuttle system to constantly move ions into and out of neurons appear to slam into reverse following a stroke or other injury and start delivering instead too much water, scientists have found.

Word 'breakthrough' dramatically affects perceptions of a new drug's effectiveness

When it comes to our perception of a new drug's benefits and effectiveness, "breakthrough" just may be the "magic" word. Dartmouth Institute researchers Lisa Schwartz and Steven Woloshin and Tamar Krishnamurtia and Baruch Fischhoff from Carnegie Mellon University, took a look at how catchphrases such as "breakthrough" and "promising" affect public perception of a new drug. And, the findings of their research study, published recently in JAMA Internal Medicine, show the answer is pretty significantly.

Scientists identify promising drug candidate to treat chronic itch that avoids side effects

If you have an itch, you have to scratch it. But that's a problem for people with a condition called "chronic intractable itch," where that itchy sensation never goes away—a difficult-to-treat condition closely associated with dialysis and renal failure.

Decision aids help patients with depression feel better about medication choices

Choosing the right antidepressant can be a daunting task. With so many choices and such unpredictability in their individual effects, patients with depression often spend months or years casting about for the right medication, while clinicians are often uneasy or unwilling to offer options other than their preferred prescriptions.

A walk around the office can reverse vascular dysfunction caused by hours at a computer

Across the country, many employees are seated at desks for the majority of an eight-hour workday. As technology creates an increase in sedentary lifestyles, the impact of sitting on vascular health is a rising concern. Now, researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine have found that when a person sits for six straight hours, vascular function is impaired—but by walking for just 10 minutes after a prolonged period of sitting, vascular health can be restored.

HRT safe and perhaps beneficial in women treated for ovarian cancer, major trial shows

Women with the commonest type of ovarian cancer can safely take hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and it could have a beneficial effect on their survival, a long-term clinical trial reports.

Doctors should stratify patients with suspected pulmonary embolism to determine diagnostic strategy

When evaluating patients with suspected acute pulmonary embolism (PE), physicians should stratify patients into groups for whom different diagnostic strategies are appropriate, the American College of Physicians (ACP) advises in a new paper published today in Annals of Internal Medicine.

High cardiovascular hormone / peptide levels in cancer patients linked to shorter survival

High circulating levels of cardiovascular hormones/peptides in cancer patients are linked to shorter survival, regardless of disease type and stage of progression, reveals research published online in the journal Heart.

Fewer, larger radiotherapy doses prove effective for prostate cancer patients

Giving fewer but higher doses of radiotherapy, is as effective at treating prostate cancer as giving lower doses for a longer period, according to new research presented at the 2015 European Cancer Congress today (Monday).

C. diff treatment forms basis of medical students' business idea

Two University of Aberdeen medical students have come up with a business idea to support clinicians treating Clostridium difficile (C. diff) on the NHS.

How sign language users learn intonation

A spoken language is more than just words and sounds. Speakers use changes in pitch and rhythm, known as prosody, to provide emphasis, show emotion, and otherwise add meaning to what they say. But a language does not need to be spoken to have prosody: sign languages, such as American Sign Language (ASL), use movements, pauses and facial expressions to achieve the same goals. In a study appearing today in the September 2015 issue of Language, three linguists look at intonation (a key part of prosody) in ASL and find that native ASL signers learn intonation in much the same way that users of spoken languages do.

Which dermal fillers 'stick together' best? New method helps plastic surgeons choose the best product

With booming interest in dermal fillers for minimally invasive treatment of facial lines and wrinkles, plastic surgeons are looking for evidence to help them choose the product that will give the best results for their patients. A new, validated method for providing standard ratings of cohesivity for currently available hyaluronic acid (HA) gel fillers is reported in the October issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

Sanofi settles lawsuit enabling rival to Lantus insulin

A less-expensive version of the world's top-selling insulin, Sanofi's Lantus, could go on sale in the U.S. late next year.

Many pulmonologists under-, over-screen with LDCT

(HealthDay)—Almost half of pulmonologists have a propensity for over- or under-use of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.

Study examines impact of global food consumption on heart disease

More than 80 percent of cardiovascular disease deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, but very little data on the impact of diet on cardiovascular disease exists from these countries.

Best way to prepare fat cells for grafting? The jury's still out

Fat grafting—taking fat from one area of the body and transferring it elsewhere—has become a widely used plastic surgery technique. But what's the best method of processing cells for fat grafting procedures? Available research data still can't settle that long-running debate, according to a review in the October issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

Other Sciences news

Best of Last Week-How to put living organism into supposition state, linking human brains and brain part tied to anxiety

(Phys.org)—It has been a very interesting week for physics, particularly for those researchers working in applied areas, one team at the Paul Scherrer Institute created a synthetic material out of a billion tiny magnets that mimic steam, water and ice. And a pair of researchers, one in the U.S. and the other in Iran, found that a spinning ring on a table behaves more like a boomerang than a coin—they believe it is due to the hole allowing air to pass through.

Researchers find pigment from fossils, revealing color of extinct animals

Scientists from Virginia Tech and the University of Bristol have revealed how pigment can be detected in mammal fossils, a discovery that may end the guesswork in determining the colors of extinct species.

British archaeologist aims to pinpoint Nefertiti's tomb

Standing before the majestic gold, ochre and white frescos of Tutankhamun's tomb, British archaeologist Nicholas Reeves on Monday passionately defended his daring theory that Nefertiti is buried in a secret chamber.

Caught in an intergenerational squeeze, grandparents juggle work and childcare

Grandparents are the most popular providers of childcare in Australia today. This reliance on them exposes weaknesses in current labour market and childcare policies.

Here's how to make the Hajj safer – by better understanding crowd psychology

The crowd crush at the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia has claimed the lives of more than 700 people and injured at least 850 more. Sadly this is not the first such tragedy to affect the event. The Hajj attracts millions of pilgrims from across the world every year and involves several complex rituals, which means it is always a potentially dangerous event.

Why restaurants play music while you eat

Research in India has found that restaurateurs in different food establishments there can influence how long their customers stay, how much they eat and whether or not they come back for seconds. The study of music as an accompaniment to a meal has been well visited in the West but not so completely in emerging markets. Now, writing in the International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, R.K. Srivastava of the University of Mumbai, described how he has studied 27 local restaurants serving fast food, Indian, Thai, Chinese or Italian food in order to find out how music choice influences customers.

New research into completers and non-completers of offending behavior programs

A University of Leicester study has highlighted the importance of ensuring high-risk and impulsive offenders complete rehabilitation programmes and that some offenders require extra support to engage with the programmes.

Increased internet access led to a rise in racial hate crimes in the early 2000s

New research from Carlson School of Management Professor Jason Chan and NYU Stern Professors Anindya Ghose and Robert Seamans finds that broadband availability increased the incidence of racial hate crimes committed by lone-wolf perpetrators in the United States during the period 2001-2008. The addition of a single broadband provider led to as much as a 20 percent rise in racial hate crimes in areas where racial tensions were especially high.

Breakthroughs need in-depth knowledge, not just cross-collaboration, study shows

Most high-impact innovation happens when knowledge and people from different fields are brought together to create something new, previous research has found.

Active senior travelers have different approaches to technology

Are you an Adventurous Experimenter, a Meticulous Researcher or a Fumbling Observer? These are the three groups active senior travellers can be divided into on the basis of how they use tourism-related information and communication technology, according to a recent University of Eastern Finland and Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences study.

New approaches to teaching reverse course on high math failure rates

Throughout higher education, math courses have some of the highest failure rates nationwide. Even though math is a skill nearly every person uses on a daily basis, it has become a significant impediment to degree completion.


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