http://www.physorg.com/ en-us Physorg.com internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. (PhysOrg.com) -- Squeeze it hard enough and hydrogen, the most abundant and lightest element in our Universe, strangely takes on a metallic nature. During this state, as it loses hold of its electrons, hydrogen is believed to display unique characteristics including high-temperature superconductivity and properties that could be useful in developing new methods of energy production using nuclear fusion and alternative fuels. Creating this drastic phase change, however, is difficult, requiring extremely high temperatures and pressures. http://www.physorg.com/news150732210.html Physics Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:03:30 EST news150732210 (PhysOrg.com) -- NASA and the National Science Foundation have successfully launched and demonstrated a newly designed super pressure balloon prototype that may enable a new era of high-altitude scientific research. The super-pressure balloon ultimately will carry large scientific experiments to the brink of space for 100 days or more. http://www.physorg.com/news150728447.html Space & Earth Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:00:47 EST news150728447 A long-standing system for assessing the risk of cardiovascular disease amongst older people should be replaced with something more accurate, according to a study published today on bmj.com. http://www.physorg.com/news150695292.html Medicine & Health Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:48:12 EST news150695292 The lowest ever levels of oxygen in humans have been reported in climbers on an expedition led by UCL (University College London) doctors. The world-first measurements of blood oxygen levels in climbers near the top of Mount Everest, published in this week's New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), could eventually help critical care doctors to re-evaluate treatment strategies in some long-term patients with similarly low levels of blood oxygen. http://www.physorg.com/news150571554.html Medicine & Health Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:25:54 EST news150571554 A PhD thesis at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) has studied the origin of the mutation that causes Fatal Familiar Insomnia (FFI). In the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country there is a high rate of carriers of this mutation - 50% of all the cases registered in the whole of Spain. http://www.physorg.com/news150543247.html Medicine & Health Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:34:07 EST news150543247 A multidisciplinary team of researchers at the UC San Diego division of the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2) is nearing completion of their first prototype of `SurgiCam,` a tiny surgical camera that can be inserted through a 1.5 cm incision in the abdomen during minimally invasive surgery (MIS). http://www.physorg.com/news150129819.html Medicine & Health Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:43:39 EST news150129819 A new study shows that people who are smokers and have a family history of brain aneurysm appear to be significantly more likely to suffer a stroke from a brain aneurysm themselves. The research is published in the December 31, 2008, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology and will appear in the January 6, 2009, print issue of Neurology. http://www.physorg.com/news150023581.html Medicine & Health Thu, 01 Jan 2009 09:13:01 EST news150023581 Verismo's VuNow is an affordable solution for video lovers that sends free internet video content directly to your Television set. VuNow only takes a minute to connect, just plug in the AC power, connect your A/V or HDMI cable, and connect your home network via Ethernet or an optional wireless adapter. http://www.physorg.com/news149947539.html Electronics Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:05:39 EST news149947539 Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have identified a common gene variant that appears to influence people's risk of developing high blood pressure, according to the results of a study being published online Dec. 29, 2008 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). http://www.physorg.com/news149793600.html Medicine & Health Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:20:00 EST news149793600 Analgesics, NSAIDs and acetaminophen, are commonly used for the relief of fever, headaches, and other minor aches and pains. The gastrointestinal side effects of NSAIDs are well documented and acetaminophen is accepted to be a safe drug for the gastrointestinal system. Acute effects of short-term, especially high-dose NSAID and acetaminophen use have not been studied adequately. http://www.physorg.com/news149776670.html Medicine & Health Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:37:50 EST news149776670 In recent years HIFU has been widely used for the treatment of solid tumors, such as liver tumor, bone tumor, and breast cancer. The mechanism for therapeutic actions of HIFU includes thermal effects and non-thermal effects with the latter dominated by cavitational effects. Adjusting acoustic parameters of pulsed high intensity focused ultrasound (PHIFU) can control thermal effects and non-thermal effects; short duty cycle and high intensity favors the occurrence of cavitation. Ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) can enhance cavitational effects. Lesions caused by non-thermal effects have characteristic pathological changes quite different from those of thermal lesions. http://www.physorg.com/news149769705.html Medicine & Health Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:41:45 EST news149769705 (PhysOrg.com) -- The frequency of extremely high clouds in Earth's tropics -- the type associated with severe storms and rainfall -- is increasing as a result of global warming, according to a study by scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. http://www.physorg.com/news148916785.html Space & Earth Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:46:25 EST news148916785 NVIDIA is poised to energize the PC market by transforming Atom PCs into a premium experience found today in higher priced laptops and desktops. NVIDIA will supercharge the fastest-growing segments of the PC market - netbooks, small form factor and all-in-one PCs - by enabling these products to play rich media and popular games in high definition. At the same time, the Ion Platform will create new and exciting premium PCs that fit in the palm of your hand. http://www.physorg.com/news148841037.html Electronics Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:43:57 EST news148841037 (PhysOrg.com) -- Low glycemic foods - beans, peas, lentils, pasta, rice boiled briefly and breads like pumpernickel and flaxseed - do a better job of managing glycemic control for type 2 diabetes and risk factors for coronary heart disease than high-fibre diets, including whole grain breads, crackers and breakfast cereals. http://www.physorg.com/news148836815.html Medicine & Health Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:33:35 EST news148836815 Adding another reason for people to watch their blood pressure, a new study from North Carolina State University shows that increased blood pressure in older adults is directly related to decreased cognitive functioning, particularly among seniors with already high blood pressure. This means that stressful situations may make it more difficult for some seniors to think clearly. http://www.physorg.com/news148562291.html Medicine & Health Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:18:11 EST news148562291 (PhysOrg.com) -- New information about the metallic state from which high temperature superconductivity emerges, has been revealed in an innovative experiment performed at the University of Bristol. http://www.physorg.com/news148317352.html Physics Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:15:52 EST news148317352 Astronomers are recruiting the physics laboratory to unravel the high energy processes involved in formation of stars and other critical processes within the universe. Experiments with high energy radiation and plasmas in the laboratory involving temperatures and magnetic fields over a million times greater than normally encountered on earth are also producing spin off benefits for important applications, notably in the drive towards nuclear fusion as a source of clean carbon-neutral energy. http://www.physorg.com/news148315822.html Physics Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:50:22 EST news148315822 A connection between the body clock and abnormalities in metabolism and diabetes has been suggested in new research by an international team involving the University of Oxford, the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and the MRC Epidemiology Unit in Cambridge. http://www.physorg.com/news148053745.html Medicine & Health Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:02:25 EST news148053745 A traditional Mediterranean diet with an additional daily serving of mixed nuts appears to be useful for managing some metabolic abnormalities in older adults at high risk for heart disease, according to a report in the December 8/22 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. http://www.physorg.com/news147980284.html Medicine & Health Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:38:04 EST news147980284 Diabetes and high levels of blood sugar may be linked to abnormalities in a person's body clock and sleep patterns, according to a genome-wide association study published today in the journal Nature Genetics. http://www.physorg.com/news147881709.html Medicine & Health Sun, 07 Dec 2008 14:15:09 EST news147881709 Screening with an ultrasound machine has proved highly successful in preventing stroke among children with sickle cell disease, by identifying children who are then preventively treated with blood transfusions. Over an eight-year period at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, researchers found that the technique, transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD), along with regular transfusions for children found to be at high risk, reduced stroke to one-tenth of the incidence found before TCD was introduced. http://www.physorg.com/news147795890.html Medicine & Health Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:24:50 EST news147795890 (PhysOrg.com) -- Not exactly the most well-known protein in the medical world, but they could become very important says University of Alberta biochemist Dave Brindley. http://www.physorg.com/news147701481.html Chemistry Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:11:21 EST news147701481 (PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers from INSU-CNRS (France), working with chemists at a CNRS research unit, have explained that the high conductivity of the Earth's upper mantle is due to molten carbonates. They demonstrated the very high conductivity of this form of carbon. http://www.physorg.com/news147623437.html Space & Earth Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:30:37 EST news147623437 (PhysOrg.com) -- Fred Forsburg's tomatoes are perfect -- tough to do in a certified organic operation where no pesticides, herbicides or fungicides are used. The Livonia farmer's secret: growing tomatoes in high tunnels. http://www.physorg.com/news147458953.html Biology Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:49:13 EST news147458953 (PhysOrg.com) -- An independent study comparing a low cost diuretic to ACE inhibitors, calcium blockers and alpha blockers for the treatment of high blood pressure and hypertension was sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The study entitled Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT) was conducted for the period of 1994 to 1998 with the last follow-up visit in March, 2002. http://www.physorg.com/news147441707.html Medicine & Health Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:01:47 EST news147441707 Johns Hopkins researchers have discovered that a drop in blood potassium levels caused by diuretics commonly prescribed for high blood pressure could be the reason why people on those drugs are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The drugs helpfully accelerate loss of fluids, but also deplete important chemicals, including potassium, so that those who take them are generally advised to eat bananas and other potassium-rich foods to counteract the effect. http://www.physorg.com/news146765651.html Medicine & Health Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:14:11 EST news146765651 (PhysOrg.com) -- Employers hoping to get the best out of employees with huge performance contingent payments may actually be helping them to do worse, suggests a new paper published by a team of researchers in behavioral economics from several universities. http://www.physorg.com/news146324706.html Other Sciences Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:45:06 EST news146324706 (PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers from the University of Glasgow are launching a study to find the link between genes and salt. http://www.physorg.com/news146159117.html Medicine & Health Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:45:17 EST news146159117 Children who become very upset when their parents fight are more likely to develop psychological problems. But little is known about what happens beyond these behavioral reactions in terms of children's biological responses. A new study has found that children who are very distressed when their parents fight also have higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. http://www.physorg.com/news145861679.html Medicine & Health Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:07:59 EST news145861679 A new study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, adds to the evidence that vitamin C supplements can lower concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), a central biomarker of inflammation that has been shown to be a powerful predictor of heart disease and diabetes. The same study found no benefit from daily doses of vitamin E, another antioxidant. http://www.physorg.com/news145786413.html Medicine & Health Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:13:33 EST news145786413