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New coating turns ordinary glass into super glass -
A cometary graveyard -
Researchers find way to measure speed of spinning object using light's orbital angular momentum -
Whooping cough on the rise again -
Scientists uncover secrets of starfish's bizarre feeding mechanism -
Cobalt replacements make solar cells more sustainable -
Wired for change: Gene expression study reveals first steps of evolution in gene regulation -
Engineers discover unique fingerprint for cell phones -
Japanese companies develop quake damping pendulums for tall buildings -
Predicted experimental test will clarify how light interacts with matter at high energies -
Bio-inspired design may lead to more energy efficient windows -
New findings could help improve development of drugs for addiction -
Archaeologists uncover 200-year-old Alaska village -
Baby owls sleep like baby humans -
Why guppies have genital claws Russia PM reprimands space chief for failures
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Friday issued an official reprimand to the head of Russia's space agency Roscosmos after a series of embarrassing rocket launch failures.
A waterworld of volcanoes
In 2008, UiB researchers discovered Loki's Castle, a field of five active hydrothermal vents on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Norway and Greenland. The field contains rich metal deposits and a unique wildlife.
NASA looks at Tropical Storm Jebi in South China Sea
Tropical Storm Jebi developed on July 31 and NASA satellite data on Aug. 1 shows the storm filling up at least half of the South China Sea.
Next generation of unmanned aircraft to boost geoscientific research
The University of Southampton is developing new unmanned aircraft for science applications and geoscientific research.
Environmental Sample Processors help prevent seafood poisoning
Washington state is one of the nation's most prolific areas for shellfish harvesting and aquaculture. Yet, as in many other areas, Washington's shellfish may cause seafood poisoning when certain types of harmful algae or bacteria become abundant in local waters. From June to September 2013, MBARI researchers are collaborating with government agencies, shellfish growers, and native tribes in the Puget Sound area to test a new method for detecting such "blooms" using MBARI-developed Environmental Sample Processors (ESPs).
Nepal to keep closer eye on Everest expeditions
Nepal's tourism ministry said Friday it plans to exercise tighter control of climbers scaling Mount Everest to make sure they keep the world's highest peak clean and to prevent rows.
Soil carbon 'blowing in the wind'
Top soil is rich in nutrients and carbon but is increasingly being blown away by events such as the 'Red Dawn' in Sydney in 2009.
Water in a Martian desert
Craters once brim-full with sediments and water have long since drained dry, but traces of their former lives as muddy lakes cling on in the Martian desert.
NASA's space launch system completes preliminary design review
NASA has achieved a major milestone in its effort to build the nation's next heavy-lift launch vehicle by successfully completing the Space Launch System (SLS) preliminary design review.
Revised location of 1906 rupture of San Andreas Fault in Portola Valley
New evidence suggests the 1906 earthquake ruptured the San Andreas Fault in a single trace through Portola Village, current day Town of Portola Valley, and indicates a revised location for the fault trace.
Sounding rocket to study active regions on the sun
(Phys.org) —At NASA's White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, N.M., a sounding rocket is being readied for flight. Due to launch on Aug. 8, 2013, the VERIS rocket, short for Very high Resolution Imaging Spectrometer, will launch for a 15-minute trip carrying an instrument that can measure properties of the structures in the sun's upper atmosphere down to 145 miles across, some eight times clearer than any similar telescope currently in space.
NASA sees Hurricane Gil being chased by developing storm
On July 31, NASA's TRMM satellite saw Tropical Storm Gil intensifying and the storm became a hurricane. NASA's Aqua satellite and NOAA's GOES-15 satellite captured views of Gil on Aug. 1 as it was being chased by another developing tropical system.
World food security more vulnerable than ever to climate change
A new study, published today (2 August) in Science, has called for a 'climate-smart food system' to prevent climate change from slowing progress in eradicating global hunger.
Project targets coral dredging fallout
Western Australia's marine environment, researchers and the offshore oil and gas industry are set to benefit from new insights provided by a national sea simulator launched at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in Townsville on Thursday.
Decoding material fluxes in the tropical ocean
How is vital oxygen supplied to the tropical ocean? For the first time, oceanographers at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel were able to make quantitative statements regarding this question. They showed that about one third of the oxygen supply in these areas is provided by turbulent processes, such as eddies or internal waves. The study, conducted in the framework of the Collaborative Research Center SFB 754 "Climate-Biogeochemistry Interactions in the Tropical Ocean", was just published in the international journal Biogeosciences.
NASA sees a very active tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean
The Eastern Pacific Ocean has kicked into high gear on Aug. 2 and NOAA's GOES-15 satellite is watching Hurricane Gil and two developing tropical low pressure areas on both sides of Gil.
Mission to build world's most advanced telescope reaches major milestone
(Phys.org) —With the signing last week of a "master agreement" for the Thirty Meter Telescope—destined to be the most advanced and powerful optical telescope in the world—the University of California and UCLA moved a step closer to peering deeper into the cosmos than ever before.
Scientists look into Earth's 'deep time' to predict future effects of climate change
Climate change alters the way in which species interact with one another—a reality that applies not just to today or to the future, but also to the past, according to a paper published by a team of researchers in this week's issue of the journal Science.
Curiosity rover nearing first anniversary on Mars
(Phys.org) —NASA's Curiosity rover will mark one year on Mars next week and has already achieved its main science goal of revealing ancient Mars could have supported life. The mobile laboratory also is guiding designs for future planetary missions.
A cometary graveyard
A team of astronomers from the University of Anitoquia, Medellin, Colombia, have discovered a graveyard of comets. The researchers, led by Anitoquia astronomer Prof. Ignacio Ferrin, describe how some of these objects, inactive for millions of years, have returned to life leading them to name the group the 'Lazarus comets'. The team publish their results in the Oxford University Press journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
India's baby Roona discharged after surgeons shrink skull (Update)
Doctors allowed a one-year-old Indian baby to go home Friday after nearly four months of treatment to correct a rare disorder that caused her head to double in size.
Interest grows in New Zealand's designer drug law
A novel New Zealand law that could legalize some designer drugs is being scrutinized with interest by other countries struggling to keep up with the proliferation of "party pills" and similar products.
House OKs 40th effort to repeal health law (Update)
Republicans have pushed legislation through the House preventing the Internal Revenue Service from implementing any part of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. It's the 40th time the chamber has voted to repeal all or part of the 2010 law.
New Zealand youth engaging in less risky pursuits
Drinking, drugs and other risky behaviours are on the decline according to a nationwide report on New Zealand youth launched at Parliament recently.
Risks of over-the-counter painkillers to Aboriginal people
New research at the University of Adelaide has highlighted serious potential health risks to Aboriginal people because of a lack of understanding about the use of over-the-counter painkillers.
FDA defining what "gluten free" means on packages
Consumers are going to know exactly what they're getting when they buy foods labeled "gluten free."
Why is orange the new black for female victims of trauma?
How do pathways to jail vary for females who are victims of specific types of trauma? New research published in Psychology of Women Quarterly, a SAGE journal, pinpoints the types of trauma such as caregiver violence, witnessing violence, and intimate partner violence, that lead to specific types of offending later in life and offers explanations based on real experiences.
Added benefit of lixisenatide is not proven
Lixisenatide (trade name: Lyxumia) has been approved in Germany since February 2013 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in combination with oral blood-glucose lowering drugs or basal insulin when these, together with diet and exercise, do not provide adequate glycaemic control. In an early benefit assessment pursuant to the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG), the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined whether this new drug offers an added benefit over the current standard therapy. No such added benefit can be derived from the dossier, however, because the drug manufacturer did not present any suitable data for any of the possible therapeutic indications of lixisenatide.
New IOM report lays out plan to determine effectiveness of obesity prevention efforts
The United States lags behind other international plans to evaluate obesity prevention efforts, and the country needs to know whether these efforts are having their intended impact, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. The committee that wrote the report concluded that more systematic and routine evaluations could help determine how well obesity prevention programs and policies are being implemented and which interventions work best. The committee also recommended specific national and community plans for evaluation of obesity prevention efforts.
Vandetanib in thyroid cancer: Added benefit not proven
Vandetanib (trade name: Caprelsa) has been approved in Germany since February 2012 for the treatment of adult patients who have a particular form of aggressive thyroid cancer. In a new benefit assessment, the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has now examined the added benefit of the drug pursuant to the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG).
Apixaban in atrial fibrillation: Indications of considerable added benefit
The clot-inhibiting drug apixaban (trade name: Eliquis) has been approved in Germany since November 2012 for the prevention of embolism and stroke in adults with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. In an early benefit assessment pursuant to the "Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products" (AMNOG), the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined the added benefit of apixaban.
Grape consumption associated with healthier eating patterns in US children and adults
In a new observational study published in the Journal of Food Science, researchers looked at the association of grape consumption, in the non-alcoholic forms most commonly consumed – fresh grapes, raisins and 100% grape juice – with the diet quality of a recent, nationally representative sample of U.S. children and adults. Their findings suggest that, among adults and children, consumption of grapes and grape products is associated with healthier dietary patterns and improved nutrient intakes.
Miss. law requires cord blood from some teen moms
If a girl younger than 16 gives birth in Mississippi and won't name the father, a new state law says authorities must collect umbilical cord blood and run DNA tests to prove paternity.
400 now sickened in stomach bug outbreak
(HealthDay)—The ongoing outbreak of infection with the foodborne cyclospora parasite has now reached 400 cases and spread to 16 states and New York City, according to the latest U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report issued Friday.
How to stop bleeding in the ER caused by warfarin
Prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs) are faster and more effective than fresh frozen plasma at reversing hemorrhage caused by the anti-coagulant warfarin, despite plasma being the most commonly used therapy. A literature review published last month in Annals of Emergency Medicine suggests that physicians in the United States should join those around the world in following recommendations of multiple specialty organizations to use PCCs as the first line of defense in this common and life-threatening emergency ("Rapid Reversal of Warfarin-Associated Hemorrhage in the Emergency Department by Prothrombin Complex Concentrates").
The four-point test to predict death risk from C. difficile
A Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infection is one that can affect the digestive system and most commonly affects people staying in hospital. It is not generally a problem for healthy people but may infect those on antibiotics with an imbalance of 'good bacteria' in the gut.
CDC: Breastfeeding rates increasing in US
(HealthDay)—More than three-quarters of infants begin breastfeeding, and rates at six and 12 months have increased since 2000, according to a report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Will you look more attractive after plastic surgery?
(HealthDay)—Facial plastic surgery may turn back the hands of time, but new research suggests it may not, alas, boost attractiveness.
Dexamethasone beats placebo for cancer-related fatigue
(HealthDay)—For patients with advanced cancer, dexamethasone is better than placebo for reducing cancer-related fatigue (CRF), according to a study published online July 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
ASID: Doctors may be to blame for antimicrobial resistance
(HealthDay)—The potential roles of animals, airlines, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, and nursing homes in the development of antimicrobial resistance are to be explored in a session at the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases Gram Negative "Superbug" Meeting, held from Aug. 2 to 3 on the Gold Coast, Australia.
No MI rate advantage for aggressive T2DM glucose control
(HealthDay)—In patients with type 2 diabetes, more aggressive glucose-control strategies have variable short-term effects on microvascular complications, but they do not reduce the rate of myocardial infarction over four years of follow-up, according to a study published online July 22 in Diabetes Care.
APA: iPad use in classroom ups communication in ASD
(HealthDay)—Use of handheld touch devices in classrooms may be beneficial for enhancing communication skills among children with autism spectrum disorders, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, held from July 31 to Aug. 4 in Honolulu.
Lung-protective ventilation ups outcomes post-abdominal op
(HealthDay)—For patients at intermediate to high risk of pulmonary complications after major abdominal surgery, lung-protective ventilation with the use of low tidal volumes and positive end-expiratory pressure is associated with improved clinical outcomes, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Alcohol use down, drug use up among pregnant women
(HealthDay)—From 2000 to 2010 there was a decrease in alcohol abuse, but an increase in drug use, among pregnant women, according to a report published July 25 by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Quality improvement model cuts pressure ulcer rate in PICU
(HealthDay)—A collaborative quality improvement (QI) model can effectively reduce the rate of pressure ulcers (PUs) in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), according to a study published in the June 1 issue of Pediatrics.
Fat-cell 'switch' may determine whether body stores energy or burns it
(HealthDay)—Researchers say they've found a "toggle switch" that controls whether fat cells in the body burn up or store their energy.
US gun violence: Murders down, suicides up, CDC reports
(HealthDay)—Fewer people in America's largest cities are being murdered by guns, but the rate of suicide by gun has increased in recent years, U.S. health officials said Thursday.
Rare eye disease leaves people without an iris
(HealthDay)—You may never have heard of aniridia, a genetic disorder that robs people of their vision. But researchers studying the condition say it could give insight into some common health problems—from cataracts and glaucoma to diabetes and obesity.
New study confirms need for state smoke-free laws
American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown issued the following comments today on the CDC Foundation's new study released in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease, which found smoke-free laws in nine states had no impact on restaurant and bar revenue:
Singles need work / life balance too
(Medical Xpress)—If you think balancing work and family demands is one of the central challenges of modern life, you might be surprised to learn that parents score better than their childless counterparts on the work/life balance scale.
Secondhand smoke in bars, restaurants increases asthma, cancer risk
In the first study to evaluate the health risks of exposure to secondhand smoke for patrons of restaurants and bars, researchers have found that the risks are well above the acceptable level. The study assessed the risk for lung cancer and heart disease deaths among both patrons and servers and also for asthma initiation—the first study to do so—among servers.
Largest neuronal network simulation to date achieved using Japanese supercomputer
By exploiting the full computational power of the Japanese supercomputer, K Computer, researchers from the RIKEN HPCI Program for Computational Life Sciences, the Okinawa Institute of Technology Graduate University (OIST) in Japan and Forschungszentrum Jülich in Germany have carried out the largest general neuronal network simulation to date.
Tired, moody and pregnant? Exercise may be the answer
Exercise may improve the mood of pregnant women and help to reduce levels of fatigue reports new research published in Psychology & Health. The study, by Anca Gaston and Harry Prapavessis at the University of Western Ontario, examined whether a four week exercise intervention programme would result in improvements in the psychological well-being of previously inactive pregnant women. The results were clear, with participants reporting significant improvements in their mood during the programme. They also saw reduced levels of fatigue, suggesting that pregnant women should be encouraged to engage in regular exercise to improve both psychological and physical well-being.
Researchers identify novel therapy to treat muscular dystrophy
Researchers at Boston University College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College have identified a combinatorial therapeutic approach that has proven effective in treating muscular dystrophy in a mouse model. The findings, published in Human Molecular Genetics, represent a paradigm shift for the treatment of muscular dystrophy as well as a host of other disabling and devastating muscle diseases.
Software that analyzes sleep patterns without human input could help improve sleep research
Sleep research typically involves recording electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) signals of brain activity over long periods of time, then painstakingly analyzing these records in a process called sleep staging to determine how much time the subject spent in each stage of sleep. Genshiro Sunagawa from the Laboratory for Systems Biology at the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology and colleagues have now developed a fully automated analysis process that promises to improve the speed and reliability of sleep staging analysis.
Often misidentified, multiracial people value accurate perceptions
Multiracial people may be misidentified more often as being white than black and may value being accurately identified more so than single-race individuals, according to research presented at APA's 121st Annual Convention.
Alcoholism could be linked to a hyper-active brain dopamine system
Research from McGill University suggests that people who are vulnerable to developing alcoholism exhibit a distinctive brain response when drinking alcohol, according to a new study by Prof. Marco Leyton, of McGill University's Department of Psychiatry. Compared to people at low risk for alcohol-use problems, those at high risk showed a greater dopamine response in a brain pathway that increases desire for rewards. These findings, published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, could help shed light on why some people are more at risk of suffering from alcoholism and could mark an important step toward the development of treatment options.
Novel 3-D simulation technology helps surgical residents train more effectively
A novel interactive 3-dimensional(3-D) simulation platform offers surgical residents a unique opportunity to hone their diagnostic and patient management skills, and then have those skills accurately evaluated according to a new study appearing in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. The findings may help establish a new tool for assessing and training surgical residents.
FDA warns of rare skin reactions to acetaminophen
(HealthDay)—The widely used painkiller acetaminophen, best known as Tylenol, can cause rare but serious skin reactions and a warning about this danger will be added to product labels, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.
New findings could influence the development of therapies to treat dengue disease
New research into the fight against Dengue, an insect-borne tropical disease that infects up to 390 million people worldwide annually, may influence the development of anti-viral therapies that are effective against all four types of the virus.
Injuries from teen fighting deal a blow to IQ
A new Florida State University study has found that adolescent boys who are hurt in just two physical fights suffer a loss in IQ that is roughly equivalent to missing an entire year of school. Girls experience a similar loss of IQ after only a single fighting-related injury.
Take your child's word for it on asthma, study finds
Children's perceptions of living with asthma may differ significantly from their caregivers' perceptions, which means both should be interviewed when they visit the doctor's office, a new study from UT Kids San Antonio and the Center for Airway Inflammation Research (cAIR) shows.
Pollutants from incense smoke cause human lung-cell inflammation
Burning incense, a popular cultural practice in Arabian Gulf countries and elsewhere, generates indoor air pollutants that may cause inflammation in human lung cells, say researchers in the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
India revokes cancer drug patent in fresh industry blow
India has revoked a local patent granted to Britain's GlaxoSmithKline for a breast cancer drug in the latest blow to global companies seeking a bigger presence in the country's $13 billion medicine market.
Researchers develop first successful laboratory model for studying hepatitis C
By differentiating monkey stem cells into liver cells and inducing successful infection, researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have shown for the first time that the hepatitis C virus (HCV) can replicate in monkeys, according to research published in the journal Gastroenterology. The new findings may lead to the first new animal model and provide new avenues for developing treatments and vaccines for this disease, which impacts more than three million people in the United States.
Nonsentinel lymph nodes key factor in melanoma prognosis
(HealthDay)—Nonsentinel lymph node (NSLN) positivity is a significant prognostic factor in patients with stage III melanoma, associated with shorter overall and disease-specific survival, according to research published online July 31 in JAMA Surgery.
Employees less depressed, more anxious in 2013
(HealthDay)—Employees are less depressed but more anxious than last year, with one-third of employees feeling tense or anxious much of the time, according to a report published by the ComPsych Corporation.
High pain sensitivity linked to dry eye disease symptoms
(HealthDay)—Pain sensitivity and pain tolerance are associated with symptoms of dry eye disease (DED), according to a study published online Aug. 1 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Skin cancer may develop during laser removal of tattoo
(HealthDay)—Malignant melanoma may develop on a preexisting nevus within a tattoo that is being removed with laser therapy, according to a case report published online July 31 in JAMA Dermatology.
Benefits of single-incision laparoscopy unclear
(HealthDay)—There is limited data available to demonstrate the safety and feasibility of minimally invasive, single-incision laparoscopy, according to a technology assessment published in the August issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Childhood abuse linked to later thyroid problems for women
(HealthDay)—Women who suffered physical abuse during childhood are at increased risk for thyroid problems, according to a new study.
Could dietary tweaks ease type 1 diabetes?
(HealthDay)—Eating foods that contain certain nutrients may help people with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes continue producing some insulin for as long as two years, a new study finds.
New drugs to find the right target to fight Alzheimer's disease
The future is looking good for drugs designed to combat Alzheimer's disease. EPFL scientists have unveiled how two classes of drug compounds currently in clinical trials work to fight the disease. Their research suggests that these compounds target the disease-causing peptides with high precision and with minimal side-effects. At the same time, the scientists offer a molecular explanation for early-onset hereditary forms of Alzheimer's, which can strike as early as thirty years of age. The conclusions of their research, which has been published in the journal Nature Communications, are very encouraging regarding the future of therapeutic means that could keep Alzheimer's disease in check.
Brain chemistry changes in children with autism offer clues to earlier detection and intervention
(Medical Xpress)—Between ages three and 10, children with autism spectrum disorder exhibit distinct brain chemical changes that differ from children with developmental delays and those with typical development, according to a new study led by University of Washington researchers.
New findings could help improve development of drugs for addiction
Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have described findings that could enable the development of more effective drugs for addiction with fewer side effects.
Whooping cough on the rise again
(Medical Xpress)—Whooping cough (Pertussis) is a highly contagious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis and characterized by attacks of severe coughing, often (but not always) with a characteristic high-pitched "whoop" at the end. Until recently it appeared that the disease was close to being eradicated, but the incidence is now rapidly increasing.
