From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Sat, Apr 27, 2013 at 1:58 AM
Subject: Phys.org Newsletter Friday, Apr 26
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>
Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 26, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Physicists propose measure of macroscopicity; Schrodinger's cat scores a 57- To win an election, a strongly connected voter network is key, physicists conclude
- The enemy of my friend: Altruistic punishment in humans called into question
- Fusion and cell death in the development of skeletal muscle
- Researchers at IceCube detect record energy neutrinos
- Movement of pyrrole molecules defy 'classical' physics
- Research sheds light on how patterns form in bird feathers
- Computer scientists suggest new spin on origins of evolvability
- Fish win fights on strength of personality
- Battery of tests on cancer cells shows them as 'squishy,' yet tactically strong
- Physicists, biologists unite to expose how cancer spreads
- Wolfram Alpha data reveals social/personal patterns of Facebook users
- Astronomer studies far-off worlds through 'characterization by proxy'
- Changing cellulose-forming process may tap plants' biofuel potential
- Competing pathways affect early differentiation of higher brain structures
Space & Earth news
Ecuador launches first homemade satellite
Ecuador launched its first satellite into space from China Friday morning, in a moment broadcast live on radio and television back home.
India predicted to receive normal monsoon rains
India will receive normal monsoon rains this year, the government said on Friday, boosting prospects of a stronger performance this year by Asia's third-largest economy.
Bay's underwater grasses decline for third year
(Phys.org) —An annual aerial survey led by researchers at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science shows that the abundance of underwater grasses in Chesapeake Bay and its tidal rivers declined 24% between 2011 and 2012, approaching lows last reported in 1986. This third year of decreasing grasses is the cumulative result of unfavorable growing conditions since 2009.
Fair-weather clouds hold dirty secret
(Phys.org) —Their fluffy appearance is deceiving. Fair-weather clouds have a darker side, according to scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Fair-weather cumulus clouds contain an increasing amount of droplets formed around pollution particles. The new simulations, using data collected over Oklahoma, show how pollution from Oklahoma City increased the number of cloud droplets and reduced their size, affecting their sunlight absorbing, light scattering and cloud-seeding performance.
Probing Question: Are we running out of helium?
Party planners, take note: the atmosphere may become a little deflated at gala events in the future. Some scientists are sounding the alarm about the wastefulness of using helium—a rare, non-renewable gas—to fill party balloons. Why? As an essential resource in technologies such as medical imaging, rocket engines, and surveillance devices, it turns out that helium does a lot more than give our balloons a lift. And despite being the second most abundant element in the universe, most of our supply in the Earth's atmosphere simply floats off into space and is lost.
This spot on Mercury (almost) never goes dark
Mercury, traveling in its 88-day-long orbit around the Sun with basically zero axial tilt, has many craters at its poles whose insides literally never see the light of day. These permanently-shadowed locations have been found by the MESSENGER mission to harbor considerable deposits of ice (a seemingly ironic discovery on a planet two-and-a-half times closer to the Sun than we are!*)
Sea surface temperatures reach highest level in 150 years
Sea surface temperatures in the Northeast Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem during 2012 were the highest recorded in 150 years, according to the latest Ecosystem Advisory issued by NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC). These high sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are the latest in a trend of above average temperature seen during the spring and summer seasons, and part of a pattern of elevated temperatures occurring in the Northwest Atlantic, but not seen elsewhere in the ocean basin over the past century.
Cargo spaceship docks with ISS despite antenna mishap (Update)
An unmanned cargo vehicle on Friday successfully docked with the International Space Station, in a delicate manoeuvre after its navigation antenna failed to properly deploy following launch, Russian mission control and NASA said.
Astronomer studies far-off worlds through 'characterization by proxy'
(Phys.org) —A University of Washington astronomer is using Earth's interstellar neighbors to learn the nature of certain stars too far away to be directly measured or observed, and the planets they may host.
Medicine & Health news
New health insurance survey: 84 million people were uninsured for a time or underinsured in 2012
Eighty-four million people―nearly half of all working-age U.S. adults―went without health insurance for a time last year or had out-of-pocket costs that were so high relative to their income they were considered underinsured, according to the Commonwealth Fund 2012 Biennial Health Insurance Survey.
ESC recommends patients and centres for renal denervation
Up to 10 per cent of patients with high blood pressure are resistant to treatment, which puts them at increased risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attacks. Clinical trials show that catheter-based renal denervation reduces blood pressure in patients who do not respond to conventional drug therapy.
Novel screening tests for liver cancer
New data from two clinical trials presented today at the International Liver Congress 2013 demonstrate substantial improvements in the detection of both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CC) using diagnostic urine tests.
New Caledonia dengue outbreak kills three
A dengue fever outbreak in the Pacific islands of New Caledonia has killed three people, officials said Friday, after the World Health Organization raised alarm over the spread of the virus.
Cardio could hold key to cancer cure
Regular exercise has been proven to reduce the chance of developing liver cancer in a world-first mice study that carries hope for patients at risk from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Developments in TACE and SIRT treatment in patients
Data from a number of clinical trials presented today at the International Liver Congress 2013 shed new light on the use of TACE and SIRT in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
NAFLD increases the risk of early atherosclerotic lesions
A study presented today at the International Liver Congress 2013 – which evaluated the relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), early predictors of atherosclerosis and the 10-year Framingham risk score (FRS) – showed that NAFLD increases the risk of early atherosclerotic lesions independent of established cardiovascular (CV) risk factors.
Australians should have the right to choose assisted dying, groundbreaking report says
Assisted death should be available to people with incurable and terminal illness who persistently request it. This is a key recommendation of a report from leading academics released today.
Study finds tailored diabetes education programs can benefit African, Latin American women who are higher risk
A new study led by Ryerson University provides guidelines on how best to deliver diabetes self-management education programs to women in Black/Caribbean and Latin American communities – gender and ethnic groups where diabetes is more prevalent.
Nanomal smartphone-like malaria detection device to be field tested one year earlier than scheduled
A pioneering mobile device using cutting-edge nanotechnology to rapidly detect malaria infection and drug resistance will be ready for field testing this year, one year ahead of schedule.
Drivers education for older drivers remains for 2 years, HF/E researcher finds
In seeming contrast to the notion that the elderly often have memory problems, a new study from an HF/E researcher finds driver retraining to be an effective strategy for improving the safe-driving habits of older drivers over the long term.
Forthcoming study explores use of intermittent fasting in diabetes as cardiovascular disease
Intermittent fasting is all the rage, but scientific evidence showing how such regimes affect human health is not always clear cut. Now a scientific review in the British Journal of Diabetes and Vascular Disease suggests that fasting diets may help those with diabetes and cardiovascular disease, alongside established weight loss claims.
National survey highlights perceived importance of dietary protein to prevent weight gain
Atkins Diet, Zone Diet, South Beach Diet, etc., etc., etc. Chances are you have known someone who has tried a high protein diet. In fact, according to the International Food Information Council Foundation, 50% of consumers were interested in including more protein in their diets and 37% believed protein helps with weight loss. In a new study released in the May/June 2013 issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, researchers found a relatively high proportion of women who reported using the practice of ''eating more protein'' to prevent weight gain, which was associated with reported weight loss.
ESC guide on new oral anticoagulant drugs
A practical guide on the use of the new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) has been produced by the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). A guide was needed to summarise existing information on different drugs, to answer clinical questions that fall outside what drug companies can legally answer, and to make distinctions between the different drugs.
GW Cancer Institute publishes research on challenges faced by adolescent cancer survivors
New research out of the George Washington University Cancer Institute (GWCI) focuses on the difficulties of transitioning to adulthood while dealing with the long-term and late effects of cancer and its treatment. The study was recently published in the Journal of Oncology Navigation and Survivorship, titled "Improving Cancer Survivorship for Adolescents and Adults."
Poor parenting—including overprotection—increases bullying risk
Children who are exposed to negative parenting – including abuse, neglect but also overprotection – are more likely to experience childhood bullying by their peers, according to a meta-analysis of 70 studies of more than 200,000 children.
H7N9 bird flu spreads to southern China
China's deadly outbreak of H7N9 bird flu has spread to a province in the country's south, the government said Friday, marking the second announcement in two days of a case in a new location.
Weight loss programs via virtual reality
Weight loss is a topic of concern for nearly 36% of Americans who are considered obese. There are many barriers that can interfere with weight loss. For those attending face-to-face weight loss programs, barriers can include travel, conflict with work and home, need for childcare, and loss of anonymity.
Examine social factors to explain rise in diagnoses of mental disorders, researchers say
(Medical Xpress)—Examining social factors is vital to better explaining and understanding the dramatic rise in the number of Americans diagnosed with mental disorders in recent years, according to an analysis by a team of medical and mental health experts.
Child obesity can be a taboo subject
(Medical Xpress)—Both doctors and parents are reluctant about raising the issue of childhood obesity, according to a new study.
Responsible gambling and the spectacle of the 'problem gambler'
Institutions that make big money out of gambling – such as governments, casinos, clubs and pubs – are fond of telling us how much they care about problem gambling.
Drugs without side effects: Researchers explore novel ways to classify proteins
Janelle Leuthaeuser is on the cutting edge of biophysics. A molecular genetics and genomics Ph.D. student, she is part of a nationwide effort to create a more efficient generation of protein-based drugs.
Children's brain processing speed indicates risk of psychosis
(Medical Xpress)—New research from Cardiff and Bristol universities shows that children whose brains process information more slowly than their peers are at greater risk of psychotic experiences.
Pigment in the eye found to be key between obesity, vision loss
"Eat your veggies" has been an admonition of parents through the ages, but newly published brain research from the University of Georgia provides one of the best reasons why.
Scientists unpack testosterone's role in schizophrenia
Testosterone may trigger a brain chemical process linked to schizophrenia but the same sex hormone can also improve cognitive thinking skills in men with the disorder, two new studies show.
Reassigning cells to fight infection
Just as a uniform helps distinguish a soldier from a police officer, scientists use proteins that immune cells wear on their surfaces to determine their job in the body. T cells, for example, that display the CD8 protein are classified as 'cytotoxic lymphocytes', which kill off cancerous or infected cells, whereas those displaying the CD4 protein are identified as 'helper' T cells that coordinate the immune response.
Structure that edits messenger RNA transcripts defective in two different forms of motor neuron diseases
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are degenerative motor neuron diseases in which the key mutated genes are involved in RNA metabolism. This similarity suggests that a common dysregulation of some aspect of RNA metabolism in motor neurons may underlie both disorders, although the exact cellular effects of the neurodegenerative mutations are unknown. Koji Yamanaka, Hitomi Tsuiji and colleagues from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute and other institutions in Japan have now obtained evidence that a cellular structure that edits messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts is defective in both of these motor neuron diseases.
Two-pronged approach to immune activation could lead to vaccines that effectively shut down tumor expansion
Tumor cells often express proteins that set them apart from their healthy neighbors. These very same proteins can also help the immune system to recognize and destroy the cancer. Several research groups and companies have already demonstrated proof-of-concept for antitumor therapeutic vaccines based on this principle, typically employing 'retrained' dendritic cells (DCs) harvested from a patient's own immune system. To date, however, such vaccines have demonstrated only limited effectiveness in beating back tumor progression. Shin-ichiro Fujii, Kanako Shimizu and colleagues from the RIKEN Research Center for Allergy and Immunology have now revealed research that could supercharge the potency of future cancer vaccines.
With two new methods, scientists hope to improve genome-wide association studies
As scientists probe and parse the genetic bases of what makes a human a human (or one human different from another), and vigorously push for greater use of whole genome sequencing, they find themselves increasingly threatened by the unthinkable: Too much data to make full sense of.
How the brain folds to fit
During fetal development of the mammalian brain, the cerebral cortex undergoes a marked expansion in surface area in some species, which is accommodated by folding of the tissue in species with most expanded neuron numbers and surface area. Researchers have now identified a key regulator of this crucial process.
Flu and bacteria: Better prognosis for this potentially fatal combination
Scientists from the Max F. Perutz Laboratories (MFPL) of the University of Vienna and the Medical University of Vienna have provided insights into how much harm bacteria can cause to the lung of people having the flu. An infection with both the flu and bacteria can be a fatal combination. The results could prompt the development of alternative treatments for flu-related bacterial infections, to improve patient outcome and prevent permanent lung damage. The study is published in the renown journal Science.
Doctors say cancer drug costs are too high
More than 100 doctors from around the world have signed a letter decrying the high cost of cancer drugs which reach $100,000 per year or more, and calling for pharmaceutical companies to ease prices.
Hitting 'reset' in protein synthesis restores myelination, suggests new treatment for misfolded protein diseases
(Medical Xpress)—A potential new treatment strategy for patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is on the horizon, thanks to research by neuroscientists now at the University at Buffalo's Hunter James Kelly Research Institute and their colleagues in Italy and England.
New drug stimulates immune system to kill infected cells in animal model of hepatitis B infection
A novel drug developed by Gilead Sciences and tested in an animal model at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio suppresses hepatitis B virus infection by stimulating the immune system and inducing loss of infected cells.
New study offers insight on pandemic flu
(Medical Xpress)—Pandemic flu continues to threaten public health, especially in the wake of the recent emergence of an H7N9 low pathogenic avian influenza strain in humans. A recent study published in PLoS ONE, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, provides new information for public health officials on mitigating the spread of infection from emerging flu viruses. The report brings new insight into the H1NI pandemic of 2009, and may help officials prepare for future pandemics.
New study gives insight into why some people diversify resources and others conserve
(Medical Xpress)—Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Most of us have heard this old adage applied to many of life's decisions, from planting crops, to dating, to buying stock. Spread your resources to minimize risk and maximize reward. If it's sound advice, why don't all people follow it?
Competing pathways affect early differentiation of higher brain structures
Sand-dwelling and rock-dwelling cichlids living in East Africa's Lake Malawi share a nearly identical genome, but have very different personalities. The territorial rock-dwellers live in communities where social interactions are important, while the sand-dwellers are itinerant and less aggressive.
Battery of tests on cancer cells shows them as 'squishy,' yet tactically strong
A team of student researchers and their professors from 20 laboratories around the country have gotten a new view of cancer cells. The work could shed light on the transforming physical properties of these cells as they metastasize, said Jack R. Staunton, a Ph.D. candidate at Arizona State University in the lab of Prof. Robert Ros, and the lead author of a paper reporting on the topic.
Physicists, biologists unite to expose how cancer spreads
(Medical Xpress)—Cancer cells that can break out of a tumor and invade other organs are more aggressive and nimble than nonmalignant cells, according to a new multi-institutional nationwide study. These cells exert greater force on their environment and can more easily maneuver small spaces.
Fusion and cell death in the development of skeletal muscle
(Medical Xpress)—Membrane fusion is a highly regulated event, both inside cells, and between them. From the moment a sperm first fuses with an egg, subsequent developmental events depend upon its proper control. Inside cells, fusion events regulate phagocytosis and vesicle exocytosis, as well as control proliferative and apoptotic events associated with mitochondria. Fusion between cells, as in the formation of placental trophoblasts, osteoclasts, and myoblasts, share many of the genetic and biochemical pathways used for fusion processes occurring inside cells. Developing communities of cells have also improvised, and come up with a few additional tricks of their own. In a paper just published in Nature, researchers from the University of Virginia, have taken a closer look at how myoblasts fuse in the development of skeletal muscle to become multinucleated syncytia. In particular, the researchers reveal how apoptosis in a chosen few of the myotube progenitors is critical! to the process.
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