From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Sat, Jul 20, 2013 at 1:58 AM
Subject: Phys.org Newsletter Friday, Jul 19
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>
Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for July 19, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Myelin exploits phase transitions to drive it's assembly- Researchers make droplets dance (w/ Video)
- Self-replicating alien probes could already be here
- Google reportedly working on encrypting user files on Google Drive
- Survey finds women in Britain now own more tablet computers than men
- Discovery of rare decay narrows space for new physics
- Searching for quantum physics in all the right places
- A new tool for engineering crop tolerance
- What Killed the Dinosaurs?
- A tighter fit with artificial DNA
- Haste and waste on neuronal pathways
- Lizards show evolution is predictable
- Black bears return to Missouri indicates healthy forests
- Huawei spies for China, says ex-CIA chief
- Researchers make new discovery about neutrinos, bringing us one step closer to perhaps solving one of the biggest myster
Space & Earth news
Deforestation spikes in Brazil over last year: group
Deforestation has soared in the Brazilian Amazon since a new forestry code was passed last year at the urging of the agribusiness lobby, a non-profit environmental group said Thursday.
Study finds fracking chemicals didn't spread
(AP)—A landmark federal study on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, shows no evidence that chemicals from the natural gas drilling process moved up to contaminate drinking water at a western Pennsylvania drilling site, the Department of Energy tells The Associated Press.
Deep-space stations gain made-in-Europe hearing boost
Picking up ultra-weak signals from spacecraft exploring deep in our Solar System requires cooling a detector to within a few degrees of absolute zero. Thanks to ESA's support, the technology is now available in Europe for the first time.
Gnangara groundwater packs acidic punch
HYDROGEOLOGISTS have detected elevated acidity levels in the Gnangara Mound water table, north of Perth.
Fort Bliss: Contaminated bunker not a threat
(AP)—Army officials are downplaying the threat to Fort Bliss personnel exposed to radiation detected in a bunker at the West Texas military post.
Climate change could deprive Volta Basin of water needed to boost energy and food production
A new study released today finds that so much water may be lost in the Volta River Basin due to climate change that planned hydroelectric projects to boost energy and food production may only tread water in keeping up with actual demand. Some 24 million people in Ghana, Burkina Faso and four other neighboring countries depend on the Volta River and its tributaries as their principal source of water.
First global atlas of marine plankton reveals remarkable underwater world
(Phys.org) —Under the microscope, they look like they could be from another planet. But near infinite numbers of microscopic organisms inhabit the depths of our oceans.
Student discovers floating tsunami dock on video one year later.
Oregon State University graduate student Cheryl Horton was meticulously scanning year-old video of a bird colony off Yaquina Head near Newport, Ore., last month when she noticed a strange object drifting by in the background.
It's not just the heat – it's the ozone
During heat waves – when ozone production rises – plants' ozone absorption is curtailed, leaving more pollution in the air, and costing an estimated 460 lives in the UK in the hot summer of 2006.
Incredible Astrophoto: The Milky Way and Mt. Fuji as a 'Galactic Volcano'
It is a Japanese tradition to climb Mt. Fuji at night to be able to watch sunrise from the peak of the volcano in the morning. And so at night, climbers use flashlights to make their way to the summit. This inspired photographer Yuga Kurita to create a truly stunning image that makes the iconic Mt. Fuji appear like a galactic volcano.
Navy communications satellite launched into space
(AP)—A new military communications satellite has been launched into space for the U.S. Navy.
Working the night shift on the moon
There's never a cloudy day on the moon. It's flooded with sunshine 24/7 during its two-week-long daytime, so it makes sense to use solar energy to power future lunar rovers and other devices. But each lunar day is followed by two weeks of lunar night, and that means a long stretch of downtime after the sun sets.
A warmer planetary haven around cool stars, as ice warms rather than cools
(Phys.org) —In a bit of cosmic irony, planets orbiting cooler stars may be more likely to remain ice-free than planets around hotter stars. This is due to the interaction of a star's light with ice and snow on the planet's surface.
Scientists discover new variability in iron supply to the oceans with climate implications
The supply of dissolved iron to oceans around continental shelves has been found to be more variable by region than previously believed – with implications for future climate prediction.
What Killed the Dinosaurs?
Dinosaurs roamed the Earth for 135 million years. Filling every ecological niche, from the oceans, forests and plains; even the skies.
Nighttime heat waves quadruple in Pacific Northwest
Nighttime heat waves are becoming more frequent in western Washington and Oregon. And if you don't sleep well in hot weather, this might be a good time to buy a fan, since records show that on average heat waves tend to strike around the last week of July.
World's first mission to the Moon's south pole announced
(Phys.org) —The world's first mission to the South Pole of the Moon was announced today by the International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA) and Moon Express, Inc. The private enterprise mission will be both scientific and commercial, and will deliver the International Lunar Observatory (ILO) to the Moon's South Pole aboard a Moon Express robotic lander, establishing permanent astrophysical observations and lunar commercial communications systems for professional and amateur researchers.
Self-replicating alien probes could already be here
Mathematicians in Scotland calculate that "self-replicating" alien probes could already have explored our solar system and may still be here but undetectable to our current technologies.
Medicine & Health news
Caregivers open to stopping cancer screening as dementia progresses
Research from the Regenstrief Institute and the Indiana University Center for Aging Research has found that many family caregivers of older adults with dementia are willing to consider stopping cancer screening of the elderly individual; they are also relieved when the older adult's physician brings it up.
COPD increases risk of developing cerebral microbleeds
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with an increased risk of developing cerebral microbleeds, according to a new study from researchers in the Netherlands. Cerebral microbleeds are a marker of cerebral small vessel disease, an important cause of age-related disability and cognitive decline.
MK-7: the big gun of vitamins
Oil fortified with the vitamin MK-7 could help combat brittle bones and heart disease in humans and animals.
Successful control of bleeding by closing vena cava wound with nano sheets
Researchers have developed nano-adhesive plasters that can easily be applied to lacerated vessel walls with no adhesive, and succeeded in arresting massive bleeding from the inferior vena cava in rabbits.
African fever patients commonly over-diagnosed with malaria
People hospitalised with fever in Africa are most likely to be treated for malaria but, in some areas, nearly all of these patients are ill from a different infection, a new collaborative study led by a University of Otago researcher suggests.
Bell's Palsy treatment not being consistently applied, says study
Clinical treatment of the disfiguring condition Bell's Palsy - which affects around 1 in 60 people in their lifetime - is not consistently following the latest recommendations from research trials, a study led by the University of Dundee has found.
Blacks and Latinos seek mental health care less often
Blacks and Latinos receive less adequate mental health care than Whites, finds a new study in Health Services Research.
A constitutional right to health care
Uruguay has it. So does Latvia, and Senegal. In fact, more than half of the world's countries have some degree of a guaranteed, specific right to public health and medical care for their citizens written into their national constitutions.
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy affects learning and memory function in offspring?
Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy has detrimental effects on fetal central nervous system development.
If you're not looking for it, you probably won't see it
If you were working on something at your computer and a gorilla floated across your computer screen, would you notice it? You would like to think yes, however, research shows that people often miss such events when engaged in a difficult task. This is a phenomenon known as inattentional blindness (IB). In a new study from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) in Boston, researchers have found that even expert searchers, operating in their domain of expertise, are vulnerable to inattentional blindness. This study published this week Psychological Science.
Judge grants injunction in Hobby Lobby case
(AP)—A federal judge is temporarily exempting Hobby Lobby Inc. from a provision in the new federal health care law that requires it to offer insurance coverage for the morning-after pill and similar birth control or face steep fines.
Beef sold in Zambia contained harmful chemical: govt
Beef products imported from Europe and distributed in Zambia by leading meat company Zambeef have tested positive for aromatic aldehyde, a chemical which can cause cancer, the health minister said Friday.
Self-referrals for anatomic pathology services very costly
(HealthDay)—Health care providers who self-refer for anatomic pathology services cost Medicare about $69 million in 2010, according to a report published by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
Top challenges for docs include financial management
(HealthDay)—The top issues and challenges facing physicians include managing changing reimbursement models with payors and financial management, according to a report published by Wolters Kluwer Health.
Newer anticoagulants linked to gastrointestinal bleeding
(HealthDay)—Patients taking the new generation of oral anticoagulants appear to have a higher risk of gastrointestinal bleeding compared with standard care, particularly when treated for venous thrombosis or acute coronary syndrome, according to a review published in the July issue of Gastroenterology.
Quality-of-life tools underused by prostate cancer docs
(HealthDay)—More than half of radiation oncologists and urologists in the United States use prostate cancer nomograms, but only about one-quarter use quality-of-life and life-expectancy prediction instruments, according to a study published in the June issue of The Journal of Urology.
New report helps clinicians decide when to order vascular laboratory tests
A new report issued today by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and developed in collaboration with 10 other leading professional societies provides detailed criteria to help clinicians optimize the appropriate use of certain noninvasive vascular tests when caring for patients with known or suspected disorders of the venous (veins) system. Also included are first-time recommendations for when and how to use these tests to plan for or evaluate dialysis access placement.
Lawyer: Soldier in Afghan case took malarial drug
(AP)—The lawyer for the American soldier who killed 16 Afghan civilians says Staff Stg. Robert Bales used a controversial malarial drug linked to paranoia, hallucinations and psychosis while on a previous deployment in Iraq.
Eczema may play a key role in the development of food allergy in infants, study suggests
A breakdown of the skin barrier and inflammation in the skin that occurs in eczema could play a key role in triggering food sensitivity in babies, a new study reveals. Scientists say this finding indicates that food allergies may develop via immune cells in the skin rather than the gut, highlighting eczema as a potential target for preventing food allergy in children.
China H7N9 survivor gives birth: report
A Chinese woman who spent five weeks in intensive care with H7N9 bird flu has given birth to a girl in what was described as a "miracle" first, state media said Friday.
Cheaper anti-cancer drug as effective as expensive drug in treating most common cause of blindness in older adults
An anti-cancer drug has been proven to be equally as effective in treating the most common cause of blindness in older adults as a more expensive drug specifically formulated for this purpose.
Men's bladder problems may herald heart disease, diabetes
Men who regularly get up more than once a night to pee could be suffering from a range of health conditions, many of which can be treated if GPs look for them, according to University of Adelaide researchers.
Is sexual addiction the real deal?
Controversy exists over what some mental health experts call "hypersexuality," or sexual "addiction." Namely, is it a mental disorder at all, or something else? It failed to make the cut in the recently updated Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-5, considered the bible for diagnosing mental disorders. Yet sex addiction has been blamed for ruining relationships, lives and careers.
How well-designed cities keep us healthy
(Medical Xpress)—Ten years ago, the American Journal of Public Health published a special issue, "Built Environment and Health," that launched a new movement exploring how the physical design of our neighborhoods influences our health.
Researchers look for clues to progression of Parkinson's disease
Emory researchers are conducting a prospective clinical study to examine the possibility of diagnosing Parkinson's disease (PD) before motor symptoms occur. The study is an arm of the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), which was launched in 2010 by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research to help define one or more biomarkers of PD.
New cancer imaging technology shows promise
(Medical Xpress)—A new imaging technology that combines ultrasound and laser technologies has been shown to be highly effective in identifying prostate cancer. The system, which was developed by University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) researchers, could also ultimately be deployed to detect and track breast, kidney, liver, skin and thyroid cancers.
Want kids to eat healthier? Don't tell them, show them
If given the choice between eating a salad loaded with veggies or a burger and fries, most kids—and for that matter, most adults—would likely pick the less healthful option. But instead of telling kids to eat more fruits and vegetables, Iowa State University researchers found the trick may be to convince them visually.
Computer algorithms reveal how the brain processes and perceives sound in noisy environments
Every day the human brain encounters a cacophony of sounds, often all simultaneously competing for its attention.
Cancer hijack
Genetically unstable breast cancer cells appear to hijack a mechanism used by healthy stem cells to determine how they should develop into different tissues, according to new research.
Anti-HIV drugs in pregnancy not linked to children's language delays
(Medical Xpress)—The combinations of anti-HIV drugs recommended for pregnant women do not appear in general to increase their children's risk for language delay, according to a study from a National Institutes of Health research network.
'Risky' stroke prevention procedure may be safe in some patients
(Medical Xpress)—A major study published today in the Lancet Neurology, funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Stroke Association, found that stenting in the carotid artery (in the neck) is as safe as carotid artery surgery at reducing stroke risk in some patients.
Study explores fetal alcohol impact at molecular level
While some physicians tell women a small amount of alcohol is OK during pregnancy, Ben Laufer vehemently disputes any such advice – and he has the research to back it up.
Research raises red flags for common treatment of kidney disease
A common clinical practice to prescribe high doses of calcium to patients with chronic kidney disease is being called into question after a medical research review was published in the peer-reviewed journal, The Lancet.
New 3D hair follicle model to accelerate cure for baldness
Hair loss is a common disorder that affects many men and women due to aging or medical conditions. Current FDA-approved drugs can minimize further hair loss but are unable to regrow new hair. The Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) has recently engineered a new hair follicle model that could help discover new drugs for hair regeneration1.
Marathon bombings lead to study of blast traumas and hearing loss
Though she was standing 15 feet from the first blast, it wasn't until the second blast occurred that Amanda North realized something was wrong. What she remembers next was an eerie silence, along with an 'other-worldly' calm that came over her.
Investigating ADHD in children born prematurely
Families from Nottingham are being invited to take part in a pioneering project to try to understand the links between being born very prematurely and the struggle to pay attention.
Toward evidence-based public policy for alcohol
Europeans are the world's heaviest drinkers. Per capita consumption is equivalent to each EU citizen aged 15 years or older drinking around 12 litres of pure alcohol per year, or just under three standard drinks per day in most European countries.
Deadliest cancers may respond to new drug treatment strategy
UC San Francisco researchers have found a way to knock down cancers caused by a tumor-driving protein called "myc," paving the way for patients with myc-driven cancers to enroll in clinical trials for experimental treatments.
Overnights away from home affect children's attachments, study shows
Babies have an innate biological need to be attached to caregivers, usually their parents. But what happens when babies spend a night or more per week away from a primary caregiver, as increasingly happens in cases where the parents share custody, but do not live together?
The hair of the dog
A surprisingly large number of dogs suffer from hyperadrenocorticism. The symptoms are caused by excessive amounts of hormones – glucocorticoids – in the body. Unfortunately, though, diagnosis of the disease is complicated by the fact that glucocorticoid levels naturally fluctuate and most methods for measuring the concentration of the hormones in the blood provide only a snapshot of the current situation. Recent research at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna has shown that glucocorticoids accumulate in the animals' hair and that analysis of a dog's hair can provide quick and reliable preliminary diagnosis. The results are published in the current issue of the journal Veterinary Dermatology.
Tuberculosis genomes recovered from 200-year old Hungarian mummy
Researchers at the University of Warwick have recovered tuberculosis (TB) genomes from the lung tissue of a 215-year old mummy using a technique known as metagenomics.
Eating eggs is not linked to high cholesterol in adolescents
Although in the late 20th century it was maintained that eating more than two eggs a week could increase cholesterol, in recent years experts have begun to refute this myth. Now, a new study has found that eating more eggs is not associated with higher serum cholesterol in adolescents, regardless of how much physical activity they do.
2 percent of opioid rx bought by 0.7 percent of patients
(HealthDay)—A small proportion of opioid prescription purchasers (0.7 percent) obtain an average of 32 prescriptions from 10 different prescribers, accounting for 1.9 percent of all opioid prescriptions, according to a study published online July 17 in PLOS ONE.
Many children with melanoma do not meet ABCDE criteria
(HealthDay)—A considerable proportion of children with melanoma do not present with conventional melanoma detection criteria (asymmetry, border irregularity, color variegation, diameter >6 mm, and evolution [ABCDE]), according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
UAE identifies 4 new cases of SARS-like virus
(AP)—Health authorities in the United Arab Emirates have identified four new cases of a respiratory virus related to SARS whose main concentration has been in neighboring Saudi Arabia.
Thyroid cancer risk for 2,000 Fukushima workers: TEPCO
Around 2,000 people who have worked at Japan's wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant face a heightened risk of thyroid cancer, its operator said Friday.
Alternative target for breast cancer drugs
Scientists have identified higher levels of a receptor protein found on the surface of human breast tumour cells that may serve as a new drug target for the treatment of breast cancer. The results, which are published today in EMBO Molecular Medicine, show that elevated levels of the protein Ret, which is short for "Rearranged during transfection", are associated with a lower likelihood of survival for breast cancer patients in the years following surgery to remove tumours and cancerous tissue.
The genetic key to conquering cholera
Researchers have long understood that genetics can play a role in how susceptible people are to contracting cholera, but a team of Harvard scientists is now uncovering evidence of genetic changes that might also help protect some people from contracting the deadly disease.
Decision aid reduces conflict in breast cancer treatment
(HealthDay)—Chinese women considering surgery for breast cancer have less decisional conflict and subsequent regret if they receive an educational take-home booklet to involve them in decision making, according to a study published online July 8 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Study profiles inpatient peds dermatology consultations
(HealthDay)—Pediatric dermatologists are consulted for patients ranging in age from newborn to 17 years, with the most common diagnostic categories being infectious diseases, graft-versus-host-disease, and dermatitis, according to a retrospective study published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Diabetes-linked amputations declining, study finds
(HealthDay)—Fewer foot and leg amputations are being performed on people with diabetes, even as rates of the disease are rising in the United States, a new study finds.
Stem cell discovery furthers research on cell-based therapy and cancer
Stem-cell researchers at UC San Francisco have found a key role for a protein called BMI1 that may help scientists direct the development of tissues to replace damaged organs in the human body.
Study finds missing piece of pediatric cancer puzzle
Most of the time, it takes decades of accumulating genetic errors for a tumor to develop. While this explains the general occurrence of cancer in adults, it leaves a gap in understanding of the cause of pediatric tumors.
Researchers describe potential for MERS coronavirus to spread internationally
The life-threatening MERS coronavirus that has emerged in the Middle East could spread faster and wider during two international mass gatherings involving millions of people in the next few months, according to researchers who describe the most likely pathways of international spread based upon worldwide patterns of air travel.
New plan of attack in cancer fight
New research conducted by Harvard scientists is laying out a road map to one of the holy grails of modern medicine: a cure for cancer.
Researchers explore new treatments for a leading genetic cause of infant deaths
Researchers at Iowa State University have identified an RNA structure in humans that could lead to a new treatment for spinal muscular atrophy, the leading genetic cause of death in babies and young children.
Recycling in the eye promotes good vision
Recycling isn't just good for the environment. It's also good for your eyesight.
New technique for assessing calorie absorption sheds light on genetic driver of obesity
Researchers from Harvard, NC State and five other universities have found a specific genetic on-off switch associated with obesity in both mice and humans, raising the long-term possibility of developing new treatments for obesity. As part of the study, NC State researchers had to develop a new technique for assessing calorie absorption in small laboratory animals, which can be used in future studies of metabolism.
New sexual health app to help men last longer
(Medical Xpress)—A new smartphone app that will enable men to last longer in the bedroom by tackling premature ejaculation during sex has been created by QApps, Queen Mary, University of London's app store.
Haste and waste on neuronal pathways
Researchers of the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering of ETH Zurich were able to measure the speed of neuronal signal conduction along segments of single axons in neuronal cultures by using a high-resolution electrical method. The bioengineers are now searching for plausible explanations for the large conduction speed variations.
Researchers identify new functions for autoimmune disease 'risk' gene
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have identified infection-fighting and inflammation-suppressing functions for a gene associated with human autoimmune disease.
Gene mutation in dogs offers clues for neural tube defects in humans
A gene related to neural tube defects in dogs has for the first time been identified by researchers at the University of California, Davis, and University of Iowa.
Myelin exploits phase transitions to drive it's assembly
The ability to construct complex myelin sheaths around axons is one of the greatest vertebrate inventions since the hinged jaw.
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