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Below, you will see an example of the PHYSorg newsletter. Remember, you can choose any topic of interest.
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Breaking News Headlines
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QUANTUM DOTS AS MIDINFRARED EMITTERS
http://www.physorg.com/news154609081.html
FERMILAB, EUROPEAN ACCELERATOR RACE FOR GLORY
http://www.physorg.com/news154603753.html
2008 WAS EARTH'S COOLEST YEAR SINCE 2000
http://www.physorg.com/news154621784.html
STAINLESS STEEL CATALYST LOWERS COST OF MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS
http://www.physorg.com/news154630043.html
RESEARCHERS DEVELOP 'WIRELESS' ACTIVATION OF BRAIN CIRCUITS
http://www.physorg.com/news154619675.html
NO LONGER A GRAY AREA: OUR HAIR BLEACHES ITSELF AS WE GROW OLDER
http://www.physorg.com/news154616292.html
TURBULENCE MAY PROMOTE THE BIRTH OF MASSIVE STARS
http://www.physorg.com/news154631619.html
A NEWTONIAN SYSTEM THAT MIMICS THE BALDNESS OF ROTATING BLACK HOLES
http://www.physorg.com/news154627589.html
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEMS IN MATERIALS SCIENCE SOLVED
http://www.physorg.com/news154608671.html
CHILDHOOD TRAUMA HAS LIFE-LONG EFFECT ON GENES AND THE BRAIN
http://www.physorg.com/news154627743.html
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Latest News On SPACE and EARTH SCIENCE:
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MINISTERS GET CLOSE LOOK AT ANTARCTIC ICE THREAT, February 23
(AP) -- A parka-clad band of environment ministers landed in this remote corner of the icy continent on Monday, in the final days of an intense season of climate research, to learn more about how a melting Antarctica may endanger the planet.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154599815.html
ULTRA-FINE COATINGS ON SEDIMENT GRAINS INFLUENCE NITRATE AND SULFATE STORAGE IN SOIL, February 23
Tiny sediment grains are covered with a very fine-grained, complex mixture of minerals in an open fabric that results in a large surface area in contact with water between the grains. Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are studying this microscopic layer and finding that the mineral composition of these coatings on sediment grains in the unsaturated zone (i.e., between land surface and the water table) can have a substantial effect on the retention of nitrate and sulfate.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154615214.html
ANTARCTICA: A MEETING OF POLAR AND POLITICAL MINDS, February 23
(AP) -- Policymakers met polar explorers on the boundless ice of Antarctica Monday as a U.S.-Norwegian scientific expedition came in from the cold to report on the continent's ice sheets, a potential source for a catastrophic "big melt" from global warming.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154633527.html
PATIENCE PAYS OFF WITH METHANOL FOR URANIUM BIOREMEDIATION, February 23
The legacy of nuclear weapons and nuclear energy development has left ground water and sediment at dozens of sites across the United States and many more around the world contaminated with uranium. The uranium is transported through ground water as uranyl (U6+).
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154615414.html
MASS MIGRATIONS AND WAR: DIRE CLIMATE SCENARIO, February 23
(AP) -- If we don't deal with climate change decisively, "what we're talking about then is extended world war," the eminent economist said.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154603945.html
A SPRIGHTLY EXPLANATION FOR UFO SIGHTINGS?, February 23
In legend, sprites are trolls, elves and other spirits that dance high above our ozone layer. But scientists at Tel Aviv University have discovered that some very real "sprites" are zipping across the atmosphere as well, providing a possible explanation for those other legendary denizens of the skies, UFOs.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154615655.html
NEW ROCKET AIMS FOR CHEAPER NUDGES IN SPACE: PLASMA THRUSTER IS SMALL, RUNS ON INEXPENSIVE GASES, February 23
(PhysOrg.com) -- Satellites orbiting the Earth must occasionally be nudged to stay on the correct path. MIT scientists are developing a new rocket that could make this and other spacecraft maneuvers much less costly, a consideration of growing importance as more private companies start working in space.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154621961.html
STARGAZERS TO BE OFFERED A GOOD GLIMPSE OF COMET, February 23
A green-tinged comet is now buzzing by Earth, and the best chance to see this space oddball might be Monday night.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154623859.html
LOWER INCREASES IN GLOBAL TEMPS COULD LEAD TO GREATER IMPACTS THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT, STUDY FINDS, February 23
A new study by scientists updating some of the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2001 Third Assessment Report finds that even a lower level of increase in average global temperatures due to greenhouse gas emissions could cause significant problems in five key areas of global concern.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154632699.html
2008 WAS EARTH'S COOLEST YEAR SINCE 2000, February 23
(PhysOrg.com) -- Climatologists at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City have found that 2008 was the coolest year since 2000. The GISS analysis also showed that 2008 is the ninth warmest year since continuous instrumental records were started in 1880. The ten warmest years on record have all occurred between 1997 and 2008.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154621784.html
TURBULENCE MAY PROMOTE THE BIRTH OF MASSIVE STARS, February 23
(PhysOrg.com) -- On long, dark winter nights, the constellation of Orion the Hunter dominates the sky. Within the Hunter's sword, the Orion Nebula swaddles a cluster of newborn stars called the Trapezium. These stars are young but powerful, each one shining with the brilliance of 100,000 Suns. They are also massive, containing 15 to 30 times as much material as the Sun.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154631619.html
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Latest News On PHYSICS:
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FERMILAB, EUROPEAN ACCELERATOR RACE FOR GLORY, February 23
(AP) -- So, does the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory's Tevatron accelerator have a shot against the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland?
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154603753.html
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEMS IN MATERIALS SCIENCE SOLVED, February 23
Together with three colleagues Professor Peter Oppeneer of Uppsala University has explained the hitherto unsolved mystery in materials science known as 'the hidden order' - how a new phase arises and why. This discovery can be of great importance to our understanding of how new material properties occur, how they can be controlled and exploited in the future. The findings are now being published in the scientific journal Nature Materials and of great importance to future energy supply.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154608671.html
A NEWTONIAN SYSTEM THAT MIMICS THE BALDNESS OF ROTATING BLACK HOLES, February 23
(PhysOrg.com) -- The rotating black hole has been described as one of nature's most perfect objects. As described by the Kerr solution of Einstein's gravitational field equations, its spacetime geometry is completely characterized by only two numbers — mass and spin — and is sometimes described by the aphorism "black holes have no hair.''
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154627589.html
QUANTUM DOTS AS MIDINFRARED EMITTERS, February 23
(PhysOrg.com) -- "People are interested in the mid-infrared," Dan Wasserman tells PhysOrg.com. Infrared light has a wavelength longer than visible light, and many molecules have numerous very strong optical resonances in the midinfrared. "Because of this, the midinfrared is an important wavelength range for trace gas sensing applications." In addition the midinfrared is also of interest for applications such as thermal imaging, countermeasures, and even free space communication.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154609081.html
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Latest News On NANOTECHNOLOGY:
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HIDDEN BEFORE OUR EYES: TINY WORLD MAKES GIANT LEAP TO SILVER SCREEN, February 23
(PhysOrg.com) -- It's something of an understatement to say Shekhar Garde has an eye for detail. A global leader in his field, Garde works to shed new light on the hidden world of atoms and molecules. Equipped with state-of-the-art advanced imaging, molecular modeling, and computer simulation tools, he is a high-tech archeologist who scrutinizes nanoscale landscapes in search of clues, patterns, and systems that could lead to a better understanding of the most basic building blocks of life.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154630339.html
PACK 'EM IN -- GOLD NANOPARTICLES IMPROVE GENE REGULATION, February 23
Investigators at Northwestern University have found that packing small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules onto the surface of a gold nanoparticle can protect siRNAs from degradation and increase their ability to regulate genes involved in cancer. As a result of this discovery, cancer researchers have at their disposal a relatively straightforward method of delivering these potent gene-regulating agents into targeted cells.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154627849.html
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Latest News On GENERAL SCIENCE:
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CAN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES BE ANALYZED USING THE SAME MODEL?, February 23
Spanish and Russian are relatively different languages, even if they historically share a common basis in the Indo-European family. The differences extend to the verbal system. Spanish has inherited a system that is relatively rich in forms from Latin. Russian, however, has a structure that is more similar to Classic Greek with a division based on the concept of aspect. David Westerholm, at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, compares the way past time is expressed in Spanish and in Russian and arrives at a new analysis model that can also be applied to other languages.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154607732.html
APPALACHIAN HISTORY GIVES NEW PERSPECTIVE OF HOW WORKERS VIEW JOBS, February 23
A preacher addresses a group of men in a town church in eastern Kentucky, but this gathering is not to hear a sermon. Instead, it is a meeting of a coal miners' union. By studying coal miners and farmers during the early 20th century, a University of Missouri researcher has discovered that religion greatly influenced coal miners' and farmers' lives. The miners used religion to negotiate their surroundings, and many of the resulting traditions exist today.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154615785.html
RELATIONSHIPS IN RANK AND FILE: BETTER SEQUENCE SEARCHES OF GENES AND PROTEINS, February 23
Since the sequencing of the human genome eight years ago, enormous progress has been made in analyzing and understanding it. Nevertheless, the function of most human genes is still barely understood. An important first step in determining the function of a gene or protein is to compare its sequence with the sequences of hundreds of other organisms that are experimentally easier to investigate. From the functions of related genes or proteins identified in these database searches, the researchers can often infer the unknown functions of human or animal genes.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154617817.html
PORTABLE KIT MAY ONE DAY DETECT PLANT DISEASE BEFORE DISASTROUS OUTBREAK, February 23
This science may literally be outside the box: A briefcase-sized kit is carried to a field where thousands of tons of food are growing. The search is for microorganisms that could infect and kill the plants, wreaking havoc on the food supply and market.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154628642.html
IT'S ABOUT TIME: CONSUMERS MAY BE MORE LIKELY TO ENJOY PURCHASE WHEN ADS MENTION TIME, February 23
Do consumers respond more positively to advertisements that mention time ("Miller Time") or money ("Perfection Has Its Price")? A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that mentioning time makes consumers more likely to purchase and enjoy products.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154629623.html
LEARNING FROM OUR MISTAKES: CONSUMERS WON'T BE DECEIVED TWICE, February 23
Sometimes a high price tag, a label, or an ingredient can lead us to believe that we're purchasing a high-quality item. But what happens if the attribute that attracted us to the product is false or meaningless? A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research examines consumer responses to "biasing cues," features that consumers assume are related to the quality of the item.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154632983.html
WHAT THE HECK IS IT? CONSUMERS CAN BE PRIMED TO UNDERSTAND HYBRID PRODUCTS, February 23
Hybrid products are ubiquitous in today's marketplace: phones with cameras, watch/cameras, MP3 players with GPS systems. How can consumers understand the functions and features of these new products? A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research discovered a technique for helping consumers make sense of the ever-changing product landscape.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154634285.html
ELEPHANT FANS TUNE IN TO BELGIAN ON-LINE BIRTHING, February 23
Thousands of elephant fans have registered on an on-line site promising live footage of the first birth of an elephant in Belgium.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154582920.html
SOCIAL PATENTS: USING ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKS TO HANDLE PATENT APPLICATIONS, February 23
Experts in intellectual property and patents explain in a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation how tools, such as online social networking could be used to eradicate the enormous backlog of patent applications in the US.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154608203.html
NEW LIGHT SHED ON MARINE LUMINESCENCE, February 23
The phenomenon of light emission by living organisms, bioluminescence, is quite common, especially in marine species. It is known that light is generated by chemical reactions in which oxygen molecules play an important part. In the animal world, these chemical reactions take place in special luminescent cells called photocytes. These are aggregated into complex light organs, in which the intensity of light is regulated by nerve impulses, and in which light can be modulated with the help of reflectors, lenses and filters. By these means, organisms can adjust the wavelength, diffusion and intensity of light according to need. But the exact mechanisms behind these processes remain shrouded in mystery.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154618501.html
STABLE THANKS TO DYNAMICS - DNA COMPONENT RESISTS UV RADIATION, February 23
(PhysOrg.com) -- Complex computer simulations have, for the first time, allowed scientists to examine in detail the processes that help to ensure the stability of DNA when exposed to UV light. The findings, achieved primarily in relation to DNA component 9H-adenine, have been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS). Moreover, in recognition of the high quality of the work, they have also been posted in the publication's newly established online section JACS Select. The results of the project, which was supported by the Austrian Science Fund FWF, show that an ultrafast, two-step process forms one basis for the photostability of DNA.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154621056.html
STUDY CHALLENGES POPULAR IMAGE OF DINGO, February 23
(PhysOrg.com) -- A recent study of dingoes in the Blue Mountains challenges the postcard image of dingoes as only being white pawed and sandy coloured.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154621599.html
FATE AND 'FACE': CULTURAL DIFFERENCES LEAD TO DIFFERENT CONSUMER APPROACHES, February 23
If an airline flight is delayed, Asian consumers might take it in stride. But those same passengers might be unhappy if the flight attendants are rude or inattentive. And Western consumers might react differently, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154626446.html
OVERDOING IT? SIMPLE TECHNIQUES CAN HELP AVOID OVERINDULGENCE, February 23
Some people overindulge on junk foods or needless shopping sprees when they feel depressed. Others lose control the minute they feel happy. Is there a way to avoid such extreme actions? A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research demonstrates simple techniques that can help people act in their long-term interests rather than indulging in immediate pleasures.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154626552.html
MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE MIMICS TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT, HELPS DRUG DISCOVERY EFFORTS, February 23
One of the challenges that cancer researchers face in designing new antitumor agents is that of predicting how drug molecules will behave in the complex microenvironment that surrounds a tumor. In particular, tumors create all sorts of chemical and physical barriers that limit how much drug is able to enter a tumor, let alone reach cells deep within a tumor. Now, Neil Forbes, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the University of Massachusetts have built a microfluidic device that can mimic these chemical and physical barriers, providing researchers with a new screening tool that may help with the design of more effective anticancer drugs.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154627972.html
DOES SEX SELL? NEW STUDY SHOWS HOW TO MAKE WOMEN RESPOND TO SEXY ADS, February 23
Do sexy images sell products? It depends, says a new study in Journal of Consumer Research. If marketers are determined to use sex in advertising, there may be ways to do it that can attract customers of both sexes.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154628548.html
ARE WOMEN MORE GENEROUS? NEW STUDY SHEDS LIGHT ON DONATION BEHAVIOR, February 23
Why would women give more to the victims of Hurricane Katrina than to the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami? A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research sheds light onto the way gender and moral identity affect donations.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154630206.html
DO EXPERIENCES OR MATERIAL GOODS MAKE US HAPPIER?, February 23
Should I spend money on a vacation or a new computer? Will an experience or an object make me happier? A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research says it depends on different factors, including how materialistic you are.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154630684.html
BEWARE THE LEFT-DIGIT EFFECT: PRICE GIMMICKS MAY AFFECT CHOICE, February 23
When shopping, we often find ourselves choosing between lower- and higher-cost items. But most people make a choice based on the first digit they see, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154632886.html
RESEARCHERS SHED LIGHT ON HOW PROTEINS FIND THEIR SHAPES, February 23
Researchers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) have brought together UCSD theoretical modeling and Caltech experimental data to show just how amino-acid chains might fold up into unique, three-dimensional functional proteins.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154633865.html
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE NOT ALWAYS A POSITIVE FOR A NEW JOB, February 23
Employees with previous work experience bring valuable knowledge and skills to their new jobs - but some of what they learned may actually hurt their work performance.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154615721.html
BUILDING A BETTER PROTEIN, February 23
Proteins are widely viewed as a promising alternative to synthetic chemicals in everything from medications to hand lotion. The naturally occurring molecules have been shown to be more efficient and effective than many of the most sophisticated chemical compounds on the market. But outside the controlled confines of the lab bench, proteins quickly change structure, causing irreversible damage to their functionality and often safety.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154626303.html
SHREDDING CORN SILAGE COULD PRODUCE MORE ETHANOL AT LESS COST, February 23
(PhysOrg.com) -- A Purdue University researcher has found a way to get more bang for fewer bucks when it comes to processing cellulosic material to make ethanol.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154628332.html
TRUST YOUR HEART: EMOTIONS MAY BE MORE RELIABLE WHEN MAKING CHOICES, February 23
When choosing a flavor of ice cream, an item of clothing, or even a home, you might be better off letting your emotions guide you, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154628440.html
TECHNIQUE TRICKS BACTERIA INTO GENERATING THEIR OWN VACCINE, February 23
Scientists have developed a way to manipulate bacteria so they will grow mutant sugar molecules on their cell surfaces that could be used against them as the key component in potent vaccines.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154632174.html
NO LONGER A GRAY AREA: OUR HAIR BLEACHES ITSELF AS WE GROW OLDER, February 23
Wash away your gray? Maybe. A team of European scientists have finally solved a mystery that has perplexed humans throughout the ages: why we turn gray. Despite the notion that gray hair is a sign of wisdom, these researchers show in a research report published online in The FASEB Journal that wisdom has nothing to do with it. Going gray is caused by a massive build up of hydrogen peroxide due to wear and tear of our hair follicles. The peroxide winds up blocking the normal synthesis of melanin, our hair's natural pigment.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154616292.html
RESEARCHERS DEVELOP 'WIRELESS' ACTIVATION OF BRAIN CIRCUITS, February 23
Traditionally, stimulating nerves or brain tissue involves cumbersome wiring and a sharp metal electrode. But a team of researchers at Case Western Reserve University is going "wireless."
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154619675.html
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Latest News On ELECTRONIC DEVICES:
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AMAZON SHIPS KINDLE 2 A DAY EARLIER THAN PLANNED, February 23
(AP) -- Amazon.com Inc. says it is shipping the new version of its Kindle electronic reading device a day earlier than it initially planned.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154633325.html
IPHONE USERS TIRE QUICKLY OF NEW APPS: STUDY, February 23
More than 500 million applications for the Apple iPhone have been downloaded from the California company's online App Store, but a new study indicates that users quickly lose interest in them.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154633737.html
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Latest News On TECHNOLOGY:
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ENGINEERS DESIGN SILICON-FREE PHOTOELECTRIC MODULE OF EASY INCORPORATION, February 23
A team of researchers at the Ikerlan-IK4 technological centre have made a laboratory-scale photoelectric panel which, apart from fulfilling the function of converting solar light into electricity, solves the problems of integratability and availability that current technology presents.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154608401.html
MANY TRICKS CAN SAVE ELECTRICITY, February 23
The electric bill this winter is more than a car payment, and you've decided to take action. But if you're not well-schooled, it's best to take some advice from the pros before stalking heat-saving products up and down the aisles of your favorite home supply store.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154624425.html
ELECTRICITY SYSTEMS CAN COPE WITH LARGE-SCALE WIND POWER, February 23
Research by TU Delft, Netherlands, proves that Dutch power stations are able to cope at any time in the future with variations in demand for electricity and supply of wind power, as long as use is made of up-to-date wind forecasts. PhD candidate Bart Ummels also demonstrates that there is no need for energy storage facilities. Ummels will receive his PhD on this topic on Thursday 26 February.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154614318.html
USING WIRELESS SENSORS TO MONITOR BRIDGE SAFETY, February 23
University of Texas (UT) professor, Dean Neikirk, will be field-testing a new bridge monitoring system within the year. The project is a collaboration between industry, government, and academia that will provide real-time monitoring of dangerous bridges and reduce inspection costs for all bridges.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154614946.html
AMERICANS WATCH YET MORE TV, NIELSEN REPORTS, February 23
(AP) -- Americans watched more television than ever in the fourth quarter, The Nielsen Co. reported Monday, even though the Internet is providing another way to watch.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154615861.html
NEW VIDEOGAME LETS YOU 'SLAP' A CEO ONLINE, February 23
A Web entertainment company has launched an online videogame called "Trillion Dollar Bailout" which allows players to "slap" or reward CEOs and hand out bags of money to deserving homeowners.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154619426.html
BAD NEWS FOR PHILADEPHIA NEWSPAPERS AS IT FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY, February 23
Philadelphia Newspapers, owner of the city's two major dailies, the Inquirer and the Daily News, has filed for bankruptcy protection, the latest casualty in the troubled US newspaper industry.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154619521.html
THE PLUSES AND (MOSTLY) MINUSES OF BIOFUELS, February 23
Speakers at last week's AAAS meeting presented abundant evidence that tropical rainforest destruction has accelerated in recent years, at least in part because of the worldwide push to produce more biofuels.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154625430.html
ONLINE LAYOFF TRACKER CAPTURES ECONOMY'S CARNAGE, February 23
(AP) -- In a sour economy like this, entrepreneurs inevitably dream up new ways to turn lemons into lemonade.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154615978.html
NEW BARRIER COATING OFFERS SAVINGS FOR ALUMINIUM SMELTERS, February 23
(PhysOrg.com) -- A barrier coating developed through CSIRO's Light Metals Flagship offers aluminium smelters significant annual savings in reduced consumption of petroleum coke alone.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154620422.html
ENGINEERING STUDENTS SCORE A SLAM DUNK (VIDEO), February 23
(PhysOrg.com) -- When a 240-pound forward slam dunks a basketball, some fans probably wonder how much force is being generated into the goal. Students at Clemson University now can answer that question with a new creation: a first-of-its-kind basketball rating system that measures the impact of a slam dunk.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154624848.html
MICROSOFT HAS TO HIT UP LAID-OFF WORKERS FOR MONEY, February 23
(AP) -- A few weeks after launching the first wide-scale layoffs in its history, Microsoft Corp. admits it screwed up a key part of the plan.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154628913.html
STAINLESS STEEL CATALYST LOWERS COST OF MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS, February 23
(PhysOrg.com) -- Tiny bacteria munching on and metabolizing biodegradable materials can produce electrons that could be harnessed by microbial fuel cells for energy. By taking advantage of the catalytic reactions of these microorganisms to convert chemical energy to electric energy, microbial fuel cells could be a promising method for generating hydrogen fuel.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154630043.html
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Latest News On MEDICINE and HEALTH:
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STEROIDS INEFFECTIVE IN YOUNG CHILDREN WITH WHEEZE, February 23
New research involving medical experts at The University of Nottingham has found that steroid tablets do not reduce the symptoms of virus-induced wheezing in pre-school children.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154615011.html
YOUNG SMOKERS INCREASE RISK FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, February 23
People who start smoking before age 17 may increase their risk for developing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 61st Annual Meeting in Seattle, April 25 to May 2, 2009.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154618005.html
LASER TREATMENT CLINICAL TRIAL MISSES PRIMARY ENDPOINT, February 23
Using a laser to treat cells in the brain did not significantly reduce stroke disability, according to results of the first major clinical trial of laser therapy presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2009.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154618655.html
A SAFE, WELL-TOLERATED, AND EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR METASTATIC ESOPHAGEAL CANCER, February 23
Metastatic esophageal squamous cell cancer has very poor prognosis. Conventional surgery is considered the most effective treatment, but many cases are inoperable at the time of diagnosis.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154620008.html
HOW DO PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA COMMUNICATE?, February 23
Negative emotional facial expressions dominate in the interplay with patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. This has been shown in previous research and has now been confirmed in a dissertation from the Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, in Sweden. The dissertation is based on video-recorded clinical interviews carried out by psychologists.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154622850.html
ACHING BACK? CHOLESTEROL MEDICATION MIGHT HELP, February 23
Back pain, a hallmark of degenerative disc disease, sends millions of people to their doctor. In fact, more than 80 percent of patients who undergo spine surgery do so because of disc degeneration. And part of the answer may be as close as a patient's medicine cabinet.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154623082.html
BASIS OF IMMUNITY TO ORAL THRUSH, COMMON IN AIDS, IDENTIFIED BY UB RESEARCHERS, February 23
(PhysOrg.com) -- Oral thrush, a hallmark symptom in AIDS patients, is caused by a type of yeast that grows unchecked in people with weakened immune systems, and appears in colonies of white patches in the mouth.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154630990.html
WOMEN LESS LIKELY TO HAVE A STROKE AFTER MINI-STROKE, February 23
30 days after a transient ischemic attack, women are 30 percent less likely to have a stroke than men, according to researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and Yale University. The analysis, including hospitalization records for more than 122,000 patients aged 65 and older, could help improve prevention and heart-related care for both men and women.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154631472.html
CONCUSSIONS LINKED TO SUPPRESSED BRAIN FUNCTIONING YEARS LATER, February 23
(PhysOrg.com) -- Word is spreading, on the sidelines, in the locker rooms, and in the media, that an athlete whose bell has been rung - that is, suffered a concussion - may have experienced an injury that could take a more serious toll later in life.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154631844.html
MECHANISMS THAT PREVENT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: ENZYMATIC ACTIVITY PLAYS KEY ROLE, February 23
In a project involving the collaboration of several institutes, research scientists of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have succeeded in gaining further insight in the functioning of endogenous mechanisms that protect against the development of Alzheimer's disease. It was found that the activity of the enzyme α-secretase is mainly responsible for the protective effect.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154632533.html
MAIL AND ELECTRONIC REMINDERS MAY INCREASE COLON CANCER SCREENING, February 23
Mailed reminders to patients appear to promote colon cancer screening, according to a report in the February 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. In addition, electronic reminders to physicians appear to increase screening among patients with more frequent primary care visits.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154633206.html
ANEURYSMS DON'T OCCUR EARLIER IN SECOND GENERATION, February 23
People whose parents or aunts and uncles have had a brain aneurysm are more likely to have one themselves, indicating that genetic risk factors passed down by generation are responsible. Prior studies had suggested that aneurysm ruptures affect the offspring or second generation as much as 20 years younger than older generations. This suggests that a genetic risk factor is accumulating with each generation and that aggressive screening should be performed. But a new study shows that may not be the case, and the aneurysms actually may happen at an older age. The study was published in the February 24, 2009, print issue of Neurology.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154633970.html
TEAM REPORTS HORMONE DISORDER DRUG COULD HELP DRINKERS STAY SOBER, February 23
A drug prescribed for male and female infertility and menstrual disorders could hold the key to a more effective treatment for alcoholism, according to a study by researchers at the UCSF-affiliated Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154634122.html
MALE INFERTILITY ASSOCIATED WITH TESTICULAR CANCER, February 23
Men who are infertile appear to have an increased risk of developing testicular cancer, according to a report in the February 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154634181.html
PATIENTS ARE UNTAPPED RESOURCE FOR IMPROVING CARE, STUDY FINDS, February 23
As the United States transitions to a new administration, and as the health care crisis mounts, the debate about how to buttress primary care delivery with information technology is getting louder. While much of the attention—and controversy— is focused on how to better equip physicians, little focus appears to be aimed at how to better equip patients to improve their health care.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154634398.html
KIDS WHO WATCH R-RATED MOVIES ARE MORE LIKELY TO SMOKE, February 23
A new study finds that kids who are allowed to watch R-rated movies are much more likely to believe it's easy to get a cigarette than those who aren't allowed to watch such films.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154583254.html
'EXPERIMENT OF NATURE' EXAMINES HOW MOTHER'S DIET MAY IMPACT ON CHILD'S HEALTH, February 23
Could our mother's diet at the time we are conceived set the course for our future health? This intriguing question is at the heart of a new study based on an "experiment of nature" being conducted by Wellcome Trust-funded researchers.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154583371.html
GET PERSONAL TO IMPROVE HEART HEALTH, February 23
Scare tactics may not be necessary when trying to get patients at risk of heart disease to change their diet or behaviour, a new study has found. Instead, doctors and nurses should be aware of the stage of life their patients are at, and offer them very specific and targeted advice.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154615288.html
LOWERING YOUR CHOLESTEROL MAY DECREASE YOUR RISK OF CANCER, February 23
Current research suggests that lowering cholesterol may block the growth of prostate tumors. The related report by Solomon et al, "Ezetimibe Is an Inhibitor of Tumor Angiogenesis," appears in the March 2009 issue of The American Journal of Pathology.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154618084.html
SUPPRESSING CANCER WITH A MASTER CONTROL GENE, February 23
Starting with the tiny fruit fly and then moving into mice and humans, researchers at VIB and K. U. Leuven show that expression of the same gene suppresses cancer in all three organisms. Reciprocally, switching off the gene - called Ato in flies and ATOH1 in mammals - leads to cancer. The authors show there is a good chance that the gene can be switched on again with a drug. They report their findings in two papers in the leading online open access journal PLoS Biology.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154618409.html
STUDY LINKS INTERNET ADDICTION TO AGGRESSION IN TEENS, February 23
(PhysOrg.com) -- Armed with the findings of a new study, Taiwanese researchers suggest parents and educators pay more attention to children's online habits because Internet-addicted teens seem more prone to aggression. However, Americans who study violence are not ready to make any conclusions about a possible link.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154622240.html
A STEEP(ING) LEARNING CURVE ON TEA, February 23
It's true that, unlike the rest of the world, Americans more often drink our tea instant and iced. But a revolution is brewing. We're warming up to the beneficial qualities of tea, the second most popular drink on the planet behind water. Tea sales in the U.S. are expected to double over the next five years, bolstered by a growing interest in its potential health benefits, according to market research firm Packaged Facts.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154623682.html
GENDER DIVIDE IN ALCOHOL-RELATED DEATHS PERSISTS, February 23
(PhysOrg.com) -- A study by the University of Glasgow and the Medical Research Council (MRC) has found that more than twice as many men die every year in Scotland from alcohol misuse than women.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154625622.html
CHILDREN IN SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS AND STEPFAMILIES BENEFIT FROM TIME WITH GRANDPARENTS, February 23
Spending time with a grandparent is linked with better social skills and fewer behavior problems among adolescents, especially those living in single-parent or stepfamily households, according to a new study.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154628158.html
MOVING NATION FROM SICK CARE TOWARD WELLNESS CARE, February 23
(AP) -- Popping a pill can cut your cholesterol. But did the doctor also prescribe cutting the stress that's eroding your immune system? Or teach you how to exercise without worsening painful joints?
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154629421.html
STATINS CAN STIMULATE CARDIAC MUSCLE CELL REGENERATION, IMPROVE HEART FUNCTION, February 23
(PhysOrg.com) -- Statins, used widely to treat elevated cholesterol, have been shown to prevent progression of coronary narrowing and to have other beneficial effects on the heart, such as reducing inflammation, that are independent of cholesterol.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154630899.html
CHOLESTEROL-REDUCING DRUGS MAY LESSEN BRAIN FUNCTION, February 23
Research by an Iowa State University scientist suggests that cholesterol-reducing drugs known as statins may lessen brain function.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154632233.html
ANGER MANAGEMENT: THE KEY TO STAYING HEART HEALTHY?, February 23
New research published in the March 3, 2009, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology finds that anger-induced electrical changes in the heart can predict future arrhythmias in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs).
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154632326.html
METASTASIS-PROMOTING PROTEIN IDENTIFIED; COULD PROVIDE A PROGNOSTIC TEST OR TARGET FOR BREAST CANCER, February 23
Tumors that are about to progress and metastasize go through a process also seen in normal embryonic development, known as the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Tumor cells revert to a less-differentiated state, stop adhering to each another and become more mobile and prone to invade and proliferate. Now, researchers at Children's Hospital Boston show, for the first time, that a small protein called lipocalin 2 triggers the EMT in human breast cancer - and that the same protein, when measured in tissues and urine, can predict a cancer's invasiveness. Their findings were published online February 23 by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154632578.html
SCIENTISTS REPORT BREAKTHROUGH IN HPV RESEARCH, February 23
University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers have developed a new, inexpensive and efficient method for producing and studying a type of human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes cervical cancer. The process could speed understanding of how the virus functions and causes diseases, and lead to new prevention or treatment options.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154632781.html
VITAMIN B AND FOLIC ACID MAY REDUCE RISK OF AGE-RELATED VISION LOSS, February 23
Taking a combination of vitamins B6 and B12 and folic acid appears to decrease the risk of age-related macular degeneration in women, according to a report in the February 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154633640.html
CALCIUM TIED TO LOWER CANCER RISK IN OLDER PEOPLE, February 23
(AP) -- A study in nearly half a million older men and women bolsters evidence that diets rich in calcium may help protect against some cancers. The benefits were mostly associated with foods high in calcium, rather than calcium tablets.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154634838.html
FATHER/DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIPS LEAD TO MORE GIRLS FOLLOWING DAD'S CAREER PATH, February 23
A new study co-authored by a researcher from North Carolina State University says the relationship between fathers and daughters is leading to an increase in the number of daughters who are pursuing careers in the same field as their dads.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154610198.html
RETT SYNDROME SCIENTIST MAKES SIGNIFICANT DISCOVERY, February 23
A paper published online today in Nature Neuroscience reveals the presence of methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) in glia. MeCP2 is a protein associated with a variety of neurological disorders, including Rett Syndrome, the most physically disabling of the autism spectrum disorders. The researchers show that MeCP2-deficient astrocytes (a subset of glia) stunt the growth of neighboring neurons. Remarkably, these neurons can recover when exposed to normal glia in culture.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154610775.html
THE BRAIN'S RESERVE CELLS CAN BE ACTIVATED AFTER STROKE, February 23
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet have found a way of activating the neuronal reserves in the brains of mice by switching off the signal that inhibits the formation of new nerve cells. The study is presented in the online edition of the scientific journal Nature Neuroscience.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154620279.html
BRAINWAVES COULD HELP UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, February 23
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at the University of Aberdeen have unlocked the details of a communication process that helps to generate the brainwaves that allow us to think and learn.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154621190.html
SCIENTISTS FIND RARE, POTENT ANTIBODY TO HIV-1, February 23
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists at Duke University Medical Center have for the first time isolated an important antibody in human serum that could potentially play a key role in the design of an AIDS vaccine. The research appears as a highlighted feature online in the Journal of Virology.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154627006.html
CHILDHOOD TRAUMA HAS LIFE-LONG EFFECT ON GENES AND THE BRAIN, February 23
(PhysOrg.com) -- McGill University and Douglas Institute scientists have discovered that childhood trauma can actually alter your DNA and shape the way your genes work. This confirms in humans earlier findings in rats, that maternal care plays a significant role in influencing the genes that control our stress response.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154627743.html
VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY MAY INCREASE RISK OF COLDS, FLU, February 23
Vitamin D may be an important way to arm the immune system against disorders like the common cold, report investigators from the University of Colorado Denver (UC Denver) School of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Children's Hospital Boston.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154630523.html
GENETIC DISCOVERY COULD LEAD TO ADVANCES IN DENTAL TREATMENT, February 23
Researchers have identified the gene that ultimately controls the production of tooth enamel, a significant advance that could some day lead to the repair of damaged enamel, a new concept in cavity prevention, and restoration or even the production of replacement teeth.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154631744.html
IMMUNE SYSTEM 'ATLAS' WILL SPEED DETECTION OF KIDNEY TRANSPLANT, February 23
Scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital have devised a new way to decode the immune signals that cause slow, chronic rejection of all transplanted kidneys. They've created an immune-system "atlas" that will improve doctors' ability to monitor transplanted organs and shed light on the mechanisms of gradual, cumulative kidney malfunction after transplant.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154632423.html
BEAUTY AND THE BRAIN, WOMEN USE MORE THAN MEN, February 23
(AP) -- Beauty is in the brain of the beholder. Go to any museum and there will be men and women admiring paintings and sculpture. But it turns out they are thinking about the sight differently. Men process beauty on the right side of their brains, while women use their whole brain to do the job, researchers report in Tuesday's electronic edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
Full story at http://www.physorg.com/news154633432.html
