Dear Colleagues,

Balkan Physical Union 2nd International Physics Projects Competition
for university Students (SPCBPU-2) will be jointly organized by Balkan
Physical Union and Turkish Physical Society and will be held between
18 - 20 August 2008 in Bodrum, Turkey.

The adjoint presidents of the Assessment Committee are Professor Omer
Asim Sacli, and Professor Omur Akyuz, Yeditepe University, Dean of
Faculty of Education. Professor Marko POPOVIC is president of Advisory
Committee. The chairwomen of the organization committee are Ela
Ganioglu and Lidya Susam, Istanbul University.

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Dear Colleagues,

As in previous a couple of years, we are hosting the International
Student Conference of the Balkan Physical Union in Bodrum, Turkey. The
deadline is approaching fast, so please register!

Our web address is http://iscbpu6.turkfizikdernegi.org/

As announced before, ISCBPU - 6, The Sixth Student Conference of the
Balkan Physical Union will be organized by Balkan Physical Union and
Turkish Physical Society in Bodrum, Turkey on 21-24 August 2008.

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Strange Ring Found Circling Dead Star (May 29, 2008) — NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope has found a bizarre ring of material around the magnetic remains of a star that blasted to smithereens. The stellar corpse, called SGR 1900+14, belongs to a class of objects known as magnetars. These are the cores of massive stars that blew up in supernova explosions, but unlike other dead stars, they slowly pulsate with X-rays and have tremendously strong magnetic fields. … > full story

Gene Therapy Increases Survival For End-stage Head And Neck Cancer (May 29, 2008) — A gene therapy invented at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is the first to succeed in a US phase III clinical trial for cancer. … > full story

Controlling Invasive Species: When The Butterfly Bush Blossoms (May 29, 2008) — Invasive plant species can flourish better in their new homes than in their place of origin. The reasons for this can be genetic changes or the lack of herbivores such as insects that first have to adapt to the newcomers. … > full story

Overweight Men At Risk Of Osteoarthritis Of Both Hip And Knee (May 29, 2008) — Men who are overweight or obese are much more likely need a hip replacement for osteoarthritis than men who are of normal weight, finds new research. People who are overweight are known to be more likely to get osteoarthritis of the knee, but this is the first study to show that being overweight is a risk factor for hip osteoarthritis in men but not women. … > full story

September Launch For ESA’s Gravity Mission GOCE (May 29, 2008) — A new launch date has been set for GOCE. The change of date is due to precautionary measures taken after the malfunction of an upper-stage section of a Russian Proton launcher. Now confirmed not to affect GOCE’s Rockot launcher, the most advanced gravity mission to date is scheduled for lift-off on Sept. 10, 2008. … > full story

Key To Angelina-like Cheeks? Add Volume To Deep Fat Compartment (May 29, 2008) — Not only are cheeks central to your face — they are central to the American concept of beauty. A study in June’s Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, found that a deep fat compartment located within the cheek is vital to a youthful-looking face. … > full story

Large Hadron Collider Enables Hunt For ‘God’ Particle To Complete ‘Theory Of Everything’ (May 29, 2008) — When the world’s most powerful subatomic particle collider begins gathering data this summer, it will be a major milestone for a number of University of Washington scientists. UW physicists and mechanical engineers played a central role in designing and fabricating nearly 90,000 tubes that are key to the workings of the Atlas detector. Atlas is one of six particle physics experiments that are part of the Large Hadron Collider at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, known as CERN, near Geneva, Switzerland. … > full story

Seizure Drug Reverses Cellular Effects In Brain Related To Alcohol Addiction (May 29, 2008) — There is new evidence that the drug gabapentin affects certain components of the alcohol addiction cycle in the brain, supporting the idea that the medication, which is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treating seizures and pain, also holds potential for the treatment of alcohol dependence. … > full story

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Chemists Create Cancer-detecting Nanoparticles (May 28, 2008) — Chemists have created the smallest iron oxide nanoparticles to date for cancer detection by magnetic resonance imaging. The magnetic nanoparticles operate like tiny guided missiles, seeking and attaching themselves to malignant tumor cells. Once they bind, the particles emit stronger signals that MRI scans can detect. … > full story

Antibiotics Accompanying Surgery Prevent Some Infections But Increasingly Cause Another (May 28, 2008) — The risk of contracting a Clostridium difficile infection following operations for which a “prophylactic” antibiotic is given to prevent infection is 21 times greater now than it was just a decade ago, according to researchers. … > full story

Scientists Remove Thousands Of Aspen Trees To Glimpse Forest’s Future (May 28, 2008) — Armed with chainsaws and pry bars, researchers recently hastened the end for nearly 7,000 mature aspen and birch trees in a large-scale, long-term experiment to glimpse the Great Lakes region’s future forests. … > full story

Many Men With Low Testosterone Levels Do Not Receive Treatment (May 28, 2008) — The majority of men with androgen deficiency may not be receiving treatment despite having sufficient access to care, according to a new article. … > full story

Battling Bird Flu By The Numbers (May 28, 2008) — A new mathematical tool could help health experts and crisis managers determine in real time whether an emerging infectious disease such as avian influenza H5N1 is poised to spread globally. … > full story

Family Feuds: Why Close Relatives Keep Their Distance In The Animal Kingdom (May 28, 2008) — Mammals cannot share their habitat with closely related species because the need for the same kind of food and shelter would lead them to compete to the death, according to new research. … > full story

Massive Star In Nearby Galaxy Has Mammoth Belt (May 28, 2008) — Talk about a diet! By resolving, for the first time, features of an individual star in a neighboring galaxy, ESO’s VLT has allowed astronomers to determine that it weighs almost half of what was previously thought, thereby solving the mystery of its existence. The behemoth star is found to be surrounded by a massive and thick torus of gas and dust, and is most likely experiencing unstable, violent mass loss. … > full story

New Treatments For Viral And Other Diseases By Blocking Genes (May 28, 2008) — The elusive goal of developing effective treatments for viral diseases such as AIDS and influenza has been brought closer by dramatic progress in the ability to interfere with viral genetic machinery. It has been possible for many years to protect against some viral diseases such as polio in advance by vaccination, but there is still no effective treatment for patients once infection has occurred. … > full story

Origin Of Cells For Connective Tissues Of Skull And Face Challenged (May 28, 2008) — With improved resolution, tissue-specific molecular markers and precise timing scientsists have possibly overturned a long-standing assumption about the origin of embryonic cells that give rise to connective and skeletal tissues that form the base of the skull and facial structures in back-boned creatures from fish to humans. … > full story

CT May Better Predict Those At Higher Risk For Heart Disease (May 28, 2008) — Adding noninvasive imaging to current risk-assessment protocols may identify more people who are at risk of developing heart disease, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found. … > full story

Large-scale Community Protein Annotation — WikiProteins (May 28, 2008) — Today sees the launch of a new collaborative website initially focusing on proteins and their role in biology and medicine. The WikiProfessional technology underlying the site has been developed based upon the collaborative Wikipedia approach. WikiProteins provides a method for community annotation on a huge scale. … > full story Read more

Scorched Earth Millenium Map Shows ‘Fire Scars’ (May 27, 2008) — A geographer has produced for the first time a map of the scorched Earth for every year since the turn of the millennium. The map reveals that between 3.5 and 4.5 million square kilometers of vegetation burns on an annual basis. This is an area larger than the country of India that is burnt every year. The information is vital for scientists and agencies involved in monitoring global warming, measuring and understanding pollutants in the atmosphere, managing forests and controlling fire and even for predicting future fire occurrence. … > full story

Roadmap To Next-generation Cancer Therapies Outlined (May 27, 2008) — Pinpointing new targets for cancer treatments is as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack, yet a scientists have now discovered an entire novel class of genes they believe will lead to a greater understanding of cancer cell function and the next generation of effective and less harmful therapies for patients. … > full story

Camera On Mars Orbiter Snaps Phoenix During Landing (May 27, 2008) — A telescopic camera in orbit around Mars caught a view of NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander suspended from its parachute during the lander’s successful arrival at Mars Sunday evening, May 25. “We can see cracks in the troughs that make us think the ice is still modifying the surface,” said Phoenix Principal Investigator Peter Smith of the University of Arizona, Tucson. “We see fresh cracks. Cracks can’t be old. They would fill in.” … > full story

Immune Cells May Induce Gastritis During H. Pylori Infection (May 27, 2008) — Researchers have examined the inflammatory response induced by macrophages that may contribute to the development of gastritis during Helicobacter pylori infection in mice. H. pylori is the causative agent of human chronic gastritis, a condition that often leads to gastrointestinal ulcers and cancer. … > full story

Clinical Investigation Meets Computer Simulation To Analyze Risk Factor Of Heart Disease (May 27, 2008) — Researchers have developed a novel, computer-based strategy to study plasma lipoprotein profiles considered a major predictor of cardiovascular disease. Lipoproteins are the “container ships” in our blood that transport lipids (fats) such as cholesterol and triglycerides to various tissues; they differ largely in size and “cargo” composition. Abnormalities in the amount of certain lipoprotein fractions are considered a major risk factor for atherosclerosis and CVD. … > full story

Interactive Web Sites Draw Minds, Shape Public Perception (May 27, 2008) — The interactive look and feel of a corporate website could help shape positive perceptions about the organization if the site includes a likable design and features that engage the target audience, especially job seekers, according to Penn State media researchers. … > full story

First Female DNA Sequenced (May 27, 2008) — Geneticists have, for the first time, determined the DNA sequence of a woman. She is also the first European whose DNA sequence has been determined. Following in-depth analysis, the sequence will be made public, except incidental privacy-sensitive findings. The results will contribute to insights into human genetic diversity. … > full story

Vertigo Can Be Treated Easily And Quickly (May 27, 2008) — A new guideline developed by the American Academy of Neurology found that the best treatment for vertigo is the easiest and quickest one. The disorder causes a feeling of spinning or whirling when the head is moved in certain ways, such as looking up or bending. The feeling lasts a short time but can be severe. … > full story

Biological Control: Insect Release Proposed To Control Exotic Strawberry Guava (May 27, 2008) — US Forest Service scientists with the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry have submitted a proposal to release a Brazilian insect to control the spread of strawberry guava, a South American tree that has invaded and degraded native Hawaiían ecosystems since it was introduced in 1825 as a garden plant. … > full story

New Single-Dose Orthopoxvirus Drug In First Stage Of Human Trials (May 27, 2008) — A new single-dose antiviral drug has been developed against orthopoxvirus that was safely tolerated in humans during phase I trials and could potentially be used to prevent and treat smallpox. Prior to eradication, variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox and member of the orthopoxvirus family, was estimated to have killed, crippled, or disfigured up to 10% of the human population. … > full story

New System Which Eliminates Carbon Dioxide Emissions Through Microalgae Under Development (May 27, 2008) — Scientists are carrying out a research project on the development of new systems to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions through the use of microalgae photosynthetic activity. The mechanism developed is simple on paper. By the gas emission points a water tank would be installed in order to retain the pollutant gases resulting from a specific industrial process. This polluted water would go through a system of bioreactors with a microalgae culture system, which would then transform the carbon dioxide emissions into vegetal matter and oxygen through the photosynthesis process, according to researchers. … > full story

Virtual Health Care Worker Could Save Patient Time And Nursing Resources (May 27, 2008) — With search engine companies establishing online personal health records for their users and surgeons on the brink of making robotic surgery routine, it makes sense to have a remote medical care system that can support nursing staff, care managers and other health care workers. … > full story

New Image-recognition Software Could Let Computers ‘See’ Like Humans Do (May 26, 2008) — It takes surprisingly few pixels of information to be able to identify the subject of an image, a team led by an MIT researcher has found. The discovery could lead to great advances in the automated identification of online images and, ultimately, provide a basis for computers to see like humans do. … > full story

Why Don’t Monkeys Infected With HIV-like Viruses Get AIDS? (May 26, 2008) — Many strains of monkey become naturally infected with viruses that are related to HIV. These viruses are known collectively as SIV and naturally infected monkeys do not develop AIDS. It is hoped that understanding why monkeys naturally infected with SIV do not develop AIDS might teach researchers important lessons about the mechanisms underlying the development of AIDS in humans infected with HIV and identify ways to prevent this happening. … > full story

How Arteries And Veins Develop In Parallel Pairs In The Embryo (May 26, 2008) — Using physical measurements, theoretical models and numerical simulations, researchers have shown how the growth of the arteries directly controls that of the veins through a process that depends solely on the mechanical forces present. … > full story

High Blood Pressure Patients Advised To Use Home Monitors (May 26, 2008) — People with hypertension should routinely monitor their blood pressure at home to help manage the disease, according to a new joint scientific statement from the American Heart Association, American Society of Hypertension and the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses’ Association. … > full story

President Bush Signs Landmark Genetic Nondiscrimination Information Act Into Law (May 26, 2008) — U.S. President George W. Bush has signed into law the first civil rights legislation of the new millennium, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). GINA is the first and only federal legislation that will provide protections against discrimination based on an individual’s genetic information in health insurance coverage and employment settings. … > full story

New Research Forces U-turn In Population Migration Theory (May 26, 2008) — Genetic evidence that overturns existing theories about human migration into Island Southeast Asia (covering the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysian Borneo) taking the timeline back by nearly 10,000 years has been discovered. … > full story

Scientists Image A Single HIV Particle Being Born (May 26, 2008) — By using a specialized microscope that only illuminates the cell’s surface, scientists have for the first time, in real time and in plain view, seen hundreds of thousands of molecules coming together in a living cell to form a single particle of the virus that has, in less than 25 years, claimed more than 25 million lives: HIV. … > full story

Oral Hormone Replacement Therapy More Than Doubles Risk Of Blood Clots, Study Finds (May 26, 2008) — Hormone replacement therapy given in skin patches may cause fewer blood clots than HRT given orally, according to a new report. Furthermore, women who take the oral form of HRT more than double their risk of developing a blood clot, say the authors. … > full story

Climate Change Does Double-whammy To Animals In Seasonal Environments (May 26, 2008) — Plant-eating animals in highly seasonal environments, such as the Arctic, face two climate-related challenges in locating nutritious food. Not only are these animals now arriving at their breeding grounds after the plants there have passed their peak nutritional value (previously published) but now animals also are less able to find good food by moving to locations where plants had been available later in the season, prior to global warming. … > full story

Children’s Premature Tooth Loss Can Affect Oral Health For Years To Come (May 26, 2008) — According to a new study parents and caretakers more often than not do not know what to do with a traumatically affected tooth and do not take proper steps to respond to the injury, which can affect their child’s oral health permanently. … > full story

Tapping The Early Universe For Secrets Of Fundamental Physics (May 26, 2008) — The future of fundamental physics research lies in observing the early universe and developing models that explain the new data obtained. The availability of much higher resolution data from closer to the start of the universe is creating the potential for further significant theoretical breakthroughs and progress resolving some of the most difficult and intractable questions in physics. But this requires much more interaction between astronomical theory and observation, and in particular the development of a new breed of astronomer who understands both. … > full story

Fixing The Education Digital Disconnect One Video Game At A Time: FAS Launches Immune Attack (May 26, 2008) — A fast-moving new video game, Immune Attack, teaches the critical scientific facts of immunology. The game is designed to teach how the immune system works to defend the body against invading bacteria. The visual elements and simulations are critical for grasping the complex interactions of the biological systems. … > full story

Big Earthquakes Spark Jolts Worldwide (May 26, 2008) — Until 1992, when California’s magnitude-7.3 Landers earthquake set off small jolts as far away as Yellowstone National Park, scientists did not believe large earthquakes sparked smaller tremors at distant locations. Now, a definitive study shows large earthquakes routinely trigger smaller jolts worldwide, including on the opposite side of the planet and in areas not prone to quakes. … > full story

Protein That Provides Innate Defense Against HIV Could Lead To New Treatments (May 26, 2008) — The HIV-1 protein Vpu is necessary for the HIV-1 virus to be released from human cells. Scientists have identified CAML as a human cellular protein that blocks the release of HIV-1 viral particles from the membrane of infected cells. The Vpu protein is able to counteract the effects of CAML and allow the release of HIV-1 particles. Understanding how CAML provides an innate defense against HIV and how Vpu counteracts this defense should help scientists develop new treatments. … > full story

Phoenix Spacecraft Reports Good Health After Mars Landing (May 26, 2008) — A NASA spacecraft has sent pictures showing itself in good condition after making the first successful landing in a polar region of Mars. The images from NASA’s Mars Phoenix Lander also provided a glimpse of the flat valley floor expected to have water-rich permafrost within reach of the lander’s robotic arm. The landing ends a 422-million-mile journey from Earth and begins a three-month mission that will use instruments to taste and sniff the northern polar site’s soil and ice. … > full story

Anti-rejection Drug May Increase Risk Of Diabetes After Kidney Transplant (May 26, 2008) — For patients undergoing kidney transplantation, treatment with the anti-rejection drug sirolimus may lead to an increased risk of diabetes, reports a new study. The results suggested a higher rate of post-transplant diabetes among patients treated with sirolimus, compared to other anti-rejection drugs. Depending on which additional drugs they received, diabetes risk was 36 to 66 percent higher for patients receiving sirolimus. … > full story

Honey Bee Losses Continue To Rise In U.S. (May 26, 2008) — Colony Collapse Disorder, diseases, parasitic mites and other stressors continue to take a devastating toll on U.S. honey bee populations, but Pennsylvania beekeepers on average fared better than their counterparts nationally during this past winter, according to apiculture experts in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. A recent survey by the Apiary Inspectors of America found that losses nationwide topped 36 percent of managed hives between September 2007 and March 2008, compared to a 31 percent loss during the same period a year earlier. … > full story

Americans Believe Wounded Iraq War Veterans Are Not Receiving High Quality Medical Care In U.S. (May 26, 2008) — A majority of Americans (62 percent) believe that wounded Iraq war veterans do not receive high quality care in military and Veteran’s Administration hospitals once they return to the US. Americans who have a close family member who is serving or has served in the military are just as likely as Americans with no military connection to say that wounded Iraq veterans do not receive high quality care in military and VA hospitals (64% versus 59%). … > full story

NASA’s Phoenix Spacecraft Lands At Martian Arctic Site (May 25, 2008) — NASA’s Phoenix spacecraft landed in the northern polar region of Mars May 25 to begin three months of examining a site chosen for its likelihood of having frozen water within reach of the lander’s robotic arm. … > full story

Anti-HIV Drugs Reduce The Cause Of Some Forms Of Vision Loss (May 25, 2008) — A potential new therapeutic use for anti-HIV drugs known as protease inhibitors in limiting the vision loss that often follows retinal detachment has been suggested by researchers studying the effects of the drugs in a mouse model of the condition. … > full story

What Is The Value Of Biodiversity To Our Collective Future? (May 25, 2008) — What will the loss of biodiversity cost us in the long term? How much do national economies need to invest now in order to stop the trend? And what price will we have to pay if we do not act? … > full story

Metagenomics Of Skin Reveals Insights Into The Human Microbiome (May 25, 2008) — The human body is home to a diverse range of microorganisms, estimated to outnumber human cells in a healthy adult by ten fold. The importance of characterizing human microbiota for understanding health and disease is highlighted by the recent launch of the Human Microbiome Project by the National Institutes of Health. A report, published in Genome Research describes the investigation of healthy human skin for microbiota diversity and establishes the basis for determining a core microbiome. … > full story

New Coronavirus Found in Beluga Whale (May 25, 2008) — Researchers have determined a never before seen virus found in the liver of a beluga whale to be a new strain of the coronavirus. With emerging infectious diseases on the rise, it is now estimated that 75% derive from zoonotic sources. This being the case, health officials are now looking to zoological parks and aquariums for emerging virus surveillance. … > full story

Unlocking The Promise Of Clinical And Translational Science (May 25, 2008) — The emerging field of clinical and translational science provides the bridging force that transforms lab discoveries into customized, patient-specific therapy. … > full story

Over 50 Percent Of Oceanic Shark Species Threatened With Extinction (May 25, 2008) — The first study to determine the global threat status of 21 species of wide-ranging oceanic pelagic sharks and rays reveals serious overfishing and recommends key steps that governments can take to safeguard populations. Sharks and rays are particularly vulnerable to overfishing due to their tendency to take many years to become sexually mature and have relatively few offspring. These findings are published in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. … > full story

At The Synapse: Gene May Shed Light On Neurological Disorders (May 25, 2008) — In our brains, where millions of signals move across a network of neurons like runners in a relay race, all the critical baton passes take place at synapses. These small gaps between nerve cell endings have to be just the right size for messages to transmit properly. Synapses that grow too large or too small are associated with motor and cognitive impairment, learning and memory difficulties, and other neurological disorders. … > full story

Therapeutic Vest Will Help Children With Autism, ADHD, Anxiety (May 25, 2008) — Children with autism and ADHD may soon get anxiety relief from a novel “deep-pressure” vest. The vest, which can also be used for adults with mental illness, delivers a “portable hug” called deep pressure touch stimulation (DPTS). “People with developmental disorders and mental illness are often overwhelmed in everyday environments such as school and the workplace, and solutions available to families and mental health professionals are limited,” says the doctoral student of mechanical engineering who developed the product. He said, “This is an alternative therapy that can safely and discreetly provide the treatment they need to function in mainstream society.” … > full story

More Patients With Drug-coated Cardiac Stents Survive, Avoid Costly Follow-up Procedures (May 25, 2008) — Patients with drug-coated stents are less apt to die, have heart attacks or require extra stents or bypass surgery in the two years following placement of the stent, compared to those who receive bare metal stents, according to new research. … > full story

Real-time Observation Of DNA-repair Mechanism (May 25, 2008) — For the first time, researchers have witnessed the spontaneous repair of damage to DNA molecules in real time. They observed this at the level of a single DNA molecule. Insight into this type of repair mechanism is essential as errors in this process can lead to the development of cancerous cells. … > full story

Video Games Can Make Us Creative If Spark Is Right (May 25, 2008) — Video games that energize players and induce a positive mood could also enhance creativity, according to media researchers. However, the study also finds that players who were not highly energized and had a negative mood, registered the highest creativity. … > full story

Finding Explosives: Glowing Films Reveal Traces Of Explosives (May 25, 2008) — New spray-on films will be the basis of portable devices that can quickly reveal trace amounts of nitrogen-based explosives. Contaminated fingerprints leave dark shadows on the films, which glow blue under ultraviolet light. One of the films can distinguish between different classes of explosive chemicals, a property that could provide evidence to help solve a crime, or prevent one. … > full story

The Emerging Role Of Infection In Alzheimer’s Disease (May 25, 2008) — A number of chronic diseases are in fact caused by one or more infectious agents. For example, stomach ulcers are caused by Helicobacter pylori, chronic lung disease in newborns and chronic asthma in adults are both caused by Mycoplasmas and Chlamydia pneumonia, while some other pathogens have been associated with atherosclerosis. The realization that pathogens can produce slowly progressive chronic diseases has opened new lines of research into Alzheimer’s disease. … > full story

Ozone Might Help Make Bee Hives Cleaner And Safer (May 25, 2008) — Ozone, which is already used to sanitize drinking water and swimming pools, might help make hives cleaner and safer for America’s beleaguered honey bees. Entomologist tested ozone’s effects on two pesticides widely used by beekeepers to control varroa mites, a major enemy of bees. Studies elsewhere indicate that residues of these chemicals can accumulate in hives, including in the honeycomb. Beekeepers typically reuse the honeycomb after the honey has been extracted. … > full story

Blood Cholesterol Levels Predict Risk Of Heart Disease Due To Hormone Therapy, Study Shows (May 25, 2008) — A simple blood test may indicate whether post-menopausal hormone therapies present an elevated risk of a heart attack. Women with ratios of “bad” cholesterol to “good” cholesterol less than 2.5 did not appear to be at an increased heart disease risk when using hormone therapy. … > full story

Interesting Effects Of Light On Small Molecules On Earth And In Space (May 25, 2008) — A Dutch researcher has investigated the influence of light on the behavior of small molecules, and has calculated the effect of light for several types of molecules. His theoretical research into light-induced processes in the hydroxyl radical (OH), the hydrogen molecule (H2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) has directly contributed to a better understanding of chemical processes taking place on Earth as well as in the universe. … > full story

Male Painters And Decorators Exposed To Fertility Damaging Chemicals, Study Shows (May 25, 2008) — Men working as painters and decorators who are exposed to glycol ethers are more likely to have poor semen quality, according to new research. Men who work with solvents such as glycol ether have a 2.5 fold increased risk of having a low motile sperm count compared to men with low exposure. … > full story

Mars Lander Headed for “7 Minutes of Terror” Sunday

After years of planning followed by a ten-month journey, the Mars Phoenix Lander is slated to touch down Sunday near the red planet’s north pole. If successful, the probe will be the first lander to reach a Martian pole and the first to actually touch the planet’s water ice.

What’s more, it could settle the debate over whether Mars was once suitable for life.

As Phoenix closed in on the last miles of its journey, NASA scientists were gearing up for the “seven minutes of terror” that could make or break the U.S. $420-million mission.

Full story at:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/05/080523-mars-lander.html

Gene Mutations In Mice Mimic Human-like Sleep Disorder (May 23, 2008) — Mutations in two genes that control electrical excitability in a portion of the brain involved in sleep create a human-like insomnia disorder in mice, researchers have found. … > full story

Doctors Can Unmask Deceptive High-risk Breast Tumors Using Genetic Profile (May 23, 2008) — A unique genetic signature can alert physicians to high-risk breast tumors that are masquerading as low-risk tumors, according to research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and collaborating institutions. Although these tumors are apparently estrogen-receptor positive — meaning they should depend on estrogen to grow — they don’t respond well to anti-estrogen therapy. … > full story

Plant Flavonoid In Celery And Green Peppers Found To Reduce Inflammatory Response In The Brain (May 23, 2008) — Researchers report that a plant compound found in abundance in celery and green peppers can disrupt a key component of the inflammatory response in the brain. … > full story

Hypertension Treatment With Diuretics Recommended In New Guide (May 23, 2008) — A thiazide-type diuretic is the best first-choice drug for hypertensive patients according to recent research. According to the American Heart Association, about one in three U.S. adults has high blood pressure. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure. … > full story

Tool Creates Personalized Catch-up Immunization Schedules For Missed Childhood Vaccinations (May 23, 2008) — A new downloadable software tool will help pediatricians, parents and other health-care professionals determine how to adjust complex childhood immunization schedules when one or more vaccine doses aren’t received at the proper time. … > full story

High-school Girls Who Consider Themselves Attractive Are More Likely To Be Targets For Bullying (May 23, 2008) — High school females who viewed themselves as attractive had a 35 percent higher risk of being indirectly victimized. This includes being involved in emotionally damaging scenarios such as receiving hurtful anonymous notes, being socially excluded, or having rumours spread about them, including threats of physical harm. … > full story

Jupiter: Turbulent Storms May Be Sign Of Global Climate Change (May 23, 2008) — The first images of Jupiter since it came out from behind the sun show that the turbulence and storms that have plagued the planet for the past two years continue. Whether or not this is a sign of global warming, the turbulence does seem to be spawning new spots. As Red Spot Jr. and the Great Red Spot approach a June conjunction, a new third spot may merge with the GRS in August. … > full story

Fruit Juice Consumption Not Related To Overweight In Children, Study Suggests (May 23, 2008) — Despite studies that assert otherwise, 100% fruit juice consumption is not related to overweight in children, according to a new study. … > full story

Noninvasive Device For GERD, Obesity Developed (May 23, 2008) — A new, noninvasive gastroplasty device to treat two separate disorders — gastroesophageal-reflux disease (GERD) and morbid obesity has recently been developed. Typically, operations for GERD or obesity are performed using incisions, which requires hospitalization and have the potential for significant complications, he said. The device, a flexible tube with a metal capsule that is 3-feet-long and less than 4/5 of an inch in diameter — avoids the need for incisions. … > full story

Trends Of Vitamin B6 Status In US Population Sample Identified (May 23, 2008) — In an epidemiological study, researchers identified trends of vitamin B6 status in a sample of the United States population based on measures of plasma pyridoxal 5′- phosphate levels in the bloodstream. Some study participants demonstrated inadequate vitamin B6 status, despite consuming the Recommended Daily Allowance of vitamin B6. … > full story

The Very Model Of A Modern Transistor (May 23, 2008) — New models of how two types of power transistors perform will result in more efficient smart electrical circuits, making such technologies as cars and home appliances more reliable and environmentally friendly. Power transistors are used to control large electrical loads and are at the heart of the modern smart circuits used in all kinds of equipment from motor steering units to stereo amplifiers. More efficient transistors would thus contribute to the move toward greener power supplies by using energy sources in a more economical manner. … > full story

High School Knee Injuries By Sport And Gender (May 23, 2008) — Knee injuries, among the most economically costly sports injuries, are the leading cause of high school sports-related surgeries according to a study published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine. The knee was the second most frequently injured body site overall, with boys’ football and wrestling and girls’ soccer and basketball recording the highest rates of knee injury. … > full story

Some Like It Hot! Structure Of Receptor For Hot Chili Pepper And Pain Revealed (May 22, 2008) — You can now not only feel the spicy kick of a jalapeno pepper, you can also see it in full 3-D, thanks to researchers at Baylor College of Medicine. Using sophisticated equipment, the researchers generated the first three dimensional view of the protein that allows you to sense the heat of a hot pepper. … > full story

RNA Toxicity Contributes To Neurodegenerative Disease, Scientists Say (May 22, 2008) — Biologists have determined that faulty RNA, the blueprint that creates mutated, toxic proteins, contributes to a family of neurodegenerative disorders in humans. The study demonstrates that faulty RNA also assists in the onset and progression of disease in fruit fly models. … > full story

Protecting Polar Bears Must Include Mitigating Global Warming, Group Argues (May 22, 2008) — Following a three-year legal battle to protect the polar bear from extinction due to global warming, three environmental groups won protection for the species with the announcement May 14 that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is listing the polar bear as a federally “threatened” species. While the polar bear listing is one of the administration’s clearest acknowledgments to date of the urgent threat posed by global warming, the administration is simultaneously attempting to reduce the protections the bear will receive under the Act. … > full story

Regenerative Activity In The Peripheral Nervous System Could Mean Regeneration For The Central Nervous System (May 22, 2008) — Researchers have for the first time identified a protein that is key to the regeneration of damage in the peripheral nervous system and which could with further research lead to understanding diseases of our peripheral nervous systems and provide clues to methods of repairing damage in the central nervous system, according to a study in the Journal of Cell Biology. … > full story

Merging ‘Control’ Software With Smart Devices Could Optimize Manufacturing (May 22, 2008) — Real-time access to manufacturing data is essential to modern factories. Researchers are developing software that takes advantage of the real-time data generated by smart devices to support real-time decision-making. … > full story

ICU Physicians Less Likely To Discuss Prognoses With African-American Patients (May 22, 2008) — An important study raises concern about the way intensive care physicians approach patients and families facing serious end-of-life medical decisions. Based on interviews with more than 1,200 ICU physicians at five major medical centers across the country, researchers conclude that physicians are less comfortable discussing end-of-life issues and do it less frequently with African-American patients and their families than with Caucasian patients and families. … > full story

Grasshopper-Inspired Jumping Microrobot Can Make Staggering Leaps (May 22, 2008) — Researchers from the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems at EPFL are unveiling a novel, grasshopper-inspired jumping robot at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation. The robot weighs a minuscule 7 grams, and can jump 1.4 meters, or more than 27 times its body size — ten times farther for its size and weight than any existing jumping robot. … > full story

Molecular Scaffold That Guides Connections Between Brain Cells Discovered (May 22, 2008) — Brain cells known as neurons process information by joining into complex networks, transmitting signals to each other across junctions called synapses. But “neurons don’t just connect to other neurons,” emphasizes the lead researcher, “in a lot of cases, they connect to very specific partners, at particular spots.” As they learn through research like this how the brain develops its complex wiring, the scientists hope they can clarify what goes wrong in disorders like autism. … > full story

Chemical Engineer Reveals The Secret Ingredient Of The Perfect Sandwich (May 22, 2008) — A leading chemical engineer has revealed the unlikely ingredient needed to make the perfect sandwich … bubbles. Bubbles in bread are as important for making a good sandwich as its filling, due to the unique composition of wheat. … > full story

Oxidative Stress May Predict Later Lung Trouble In Young Adults (May 22, 2008) — Markers of oxidative stress may predict future lung trouble, according to new research. Certain measures of oxidant stress are positively associated with declines in lung function five years down the road, and those declines are indicative of the possible onset of lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. … > full story

Modeling How We See Natural Scenes (May 22, 2008) — Sophisticated mathematical modeling methods and a “CatCam” that captures feline-centric video of a forest are two elements of a new effort to explain how the brain’s visual circuitry processes real scenes. The new model of the neural responses of a major visual-processing brain region promises to significantly advance understanding of vision. … > full story

Low Availability Of Healthful Foods Found In Low-Income Neighborhoods In U.S. (May 22, 2008) — Low-income neighborhoods that lack easy access to grocery stores could lead to a breakdown of food security for hundreds of thousands of people — not in the developing world, but in major urban areas of the US. … > full story

Early Life Exposure To Cats May Reduce Risk Of Childhood Allergies And Asthma Symptoms (May 22, 2008) — Cat ownership may have a protective effect against the development of asthma symptoms in young children at age five. The study found that children with cats in the home were more likely to have made allergy-related antibodies to cats. … > full story

Smoking Is Addictive, But Quitting Is Contagious (May 22, 2008) — A study of 12,067 people over a period of 32 years has found that people quit smoking in droves. Through reconstructing the social network of the 12,067 individuals, researchers discovered that smoking cessation occurs in network clusters. Those who continue to smoke are increasingly pushed to the periphery of social networks. … > full story

Phoenix Spacecraft On Course For May 25 Mars Landing (May 22, 2008) — With three days and 3 million miles left to fly before arriving at Mars, NASA’s Phoenix spacecraft is on track for its destination in the Martian arctic. Phoenix will land farther north on Mars than any previous mission, at a site expected to have ice-rich permafrost beneath the surface, but within reach of the lander’s robotic arm. … > full story

Potential Remedies To Obesity And Its Health Threats (May 22, 2008) — Researchers unveiled data during this week’s Digestive Disease Week outlining improved bariatric surgery options and studies that offer new insight into the related toll on the body created by obesity, which causes many individuals to develop cancers of the esophagus and pancreas. … > full story

New Process Could Cause Titanium Price To Tumble (May 22, 2008) — Whether for stopping cars or bullets, titanium is the material of choice, but it has always been too expensive for all but the most specialized applications. That could change, however, with a non-melt consolidation process being developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and industry partners. … > full story

Irregular Menstrual Cycles In Teens May Be Warning Sign Of Bulimia (May 22, 2008) — Girls who make themselves throw up to control their weight are putting their health at risk, even if they do so only occasionally and even if their weight is in a healthy range, finds a study in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Analyzing data from nearly 2,800 high school girls in the National Eating Disorders Screening Program, researchers found that girls who vomited to control their weight just one to three times per month were 1.6 times more likely to have irregular menstrual cycles than girls who didn’t report such vomiting. … > full story

New Robot Walks Like A Human (May 22, 2008) — A new, highly-advanced walking robot, named Flame, has just been developed. If you try to teach a robot to walk, you will discover just how complex an activity it is. Walking robots have been around since the seventies but their movement is just not that human-like. The way humans walk is really very similar to falling forward in a controlled fashion. … > full story

New Blood Test Reveals Risk For Metabolic Syndrome (May 22, 2008) — Researchers have discovered that people with high oxidation levels of the low-density lipoprotein particle that carries cholesterol throughout the blood are much more likely to develop metabolic syndrome — which can lead to a considerably increased risk of developing heart disease. … > full story

Invasion Of Gigantic Burmese Pythons In South Florida Appears To Be Rapidly Expanding (May 22, 2008) — The invasion of gigantic Burmese pythons in South Florida appears to be rapidly expanding, according to a new report from a researcher who’s been chasing the snakes since 2005. The new document follows the February release of a U. S. Geological Survey climate map that showed — based solely on climate, not habitat — pythons could potentially survive across the lower third of the United States. … > full story

Virtual Biopsy Can Tell Whether Colon Polyp Is Benign Without Removal, Researchers Say (May 22, 2008) — A probe so sensitive that it can tell whether or not a cell living within the human body is veering towards cancer development may revolutionize how future colonoscopies are done. … > full story

Scientists Characterize Protein Structure Of Environmentally Friendly Bacteria (May 22, 2008) — Scientists have determined the structure of a key protein domain in a bacterium that could help with bioremediation of uranium-contaminated land sites. … > full story

How Can We Measure The Emotional States Of Animals? (May 22, 2008) — Rats housed in standard conditions show a stronger response to the loss of an expected food reward than those housed in enriched conditions, perhaps indicating a more negative emotional state, according to new research. … > full story

Cosmic Supermagnet Spreads Mysterious ‘Morse Code’ (May 22, 2008) — Astronomers have discovered mysterious pulses that are being emitted by an extremely magnetic star. The magnetic star, a magnetar, emits the pulses as very high energy X-rays. Sometimes observations confirm a scientific theory perfectly, yet at other times telescopes bring completely new phenomena to light. … > full story

Gene Therapy: Oral Gene Delivery System For Inflammatory Bowel Disease Works, Study Shows (May 22, 2008) — Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) afflicts as many as 10 out of 100,000 people in the United States and currently available treatment options are short-term and invasive with toxic side effects. Now medical scientists are successfully developing a safe and effective, orally administered non-viral gene delivery system that promises a painless treatment option with long-term effects and aims to ultimately replace the frequent injection regimen offered to patients today. … > full story

Daily Glass Of Wine Could Improve Liver Health (May 22, 2008) — Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine are challenging conventional thinking with a study showing that modest wine consumption, defined as one glass a day, may not only be safe for the liver, but may actually decrease the prevalence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). The study showed that for individuals who reported drinking up to one glass of wine per day, as compared to no alcohol consumption, the risk of liver disease due to NAFLD was cut in half. In contrast, compared with wine drinkers, individuals who reported modest consumption of beer or liquor had over four times the odds of having suspected NAFLD. … > full story

Technique For Nasal Obstruction Helps Patients Breathe Easier, Study Finds (May 22, 2008) — Z-plasty, a minimally invasive surgical technique to treat internal nasal valve collapse, showed significant improvement in relieving nasal obstruction with less recovery time compared to more traditional open rhinoplasty, according to new research. … > full story

Iron Transport Protein Mapped (May 22, 2008) — Scientists have mapped the human protein Steap3, which plays an important role in the absorption of iron into the bloodstream. Iron irregularities are some of the most common blood disorders in the world. … > full story

Identifying The Global Elements Of Job Satisfaction (May 22, 2008) — When it comes to satisfaction at work, workers in different countries find it in different ways, according to new studies. Researchers are probing the ways in which firms interact with their employees to get the most out of them. … > full story

Most North Pacific Humpback Whale Populations Rebounding (May 22, 2008) — The number of humpback whales in the North Pacific Ocean has increased since international and federal protections were enacted in the 1960s and 70s, according to a new study conducted by more than 400 whale researchers throughout the Pacific region. However, some humpback populations still slow to recover. … > full story

Method To Duplicate Primitive Stem Cells And Prevent Cell Differentiation Discovered (May 22, 2008) — Researchers have discovered a new mechanism to allow embryonic stem cells to divide indefinitely and remain undifferentiated. The study also reveals how embryonic stem cell multiplication is regulated, which may be important in understanding how to control tumor cell growth. … > full story

White-handed Gibbons Now Presumed ‘Extinct’ In China, Forest Survey Shows (May 22, 2008) — China’s fauna exhibits a unique diversity of apes. Unfortunately, the apes are more strongly endangered by extinction in China than in any other country. A research team assembled by anthropologists of Zurich University now conclude that another ape species has just become extinct in China’s Yunnan province. … > full story

Neural Cell Transplants May Help Those With Parkinson’s Disease (May 22, 2008) — Researchers publishing their studies in CELL TRANSPLANTATION are seeking new ways to treat Parkinson’s disease using cell transplantation in animal models. Recent studies are aimed at finding ways to track the progress of transplanted cells and monitor motor and behavioral changes in test animals. The survival of transplanted cells in the microenvironment to which they are directed, and their ability to be efficacious in the presence of tracking tools, is of prime importance. … > full story

Scientists Develop Way To Predict Properties Of Light Nuclei (May 22, 2008) — Scientists have spent 70 years trying to predict the properties of nuclei, but have had to settle for approximate models because computational techniques were not equal to the task. Scientists at U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory have learned to compute what happens when nuclei collide. … > full story

Continuing Upward Pressure On Retail Gasoline Prices Expected (May 22, 2008) — With the price of a barrel of oil hovering around 0, US drivers can expect to pay more at the pump in the near future, according to a new study. … > full story

The Italian government said Thursday it would begin building nuclear power stations, reversing a 20-year ban in an initiative likely to spark strong resistance and take a long time to come to fruition.

“During the term of this parliament, we will lay the first stone for the construction in our country of a group of new-generation nuclear power stations,” Economic Development Minister Claudio Scajola told the Italian employers’ federation Confindustria.

“We can no longer avoid an action plan for a return to nuclear power,” he said, recalling a campaign pledge by Italy’s newly named right-wing prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, to take such a step. 

Full story at:

http://www.physorg.com/news130693484.html

The Copernican principle states that the Earth is not the center of the universe, and that, as observers, we don’t occupy a special place. First stated by Copernicus in the 16th century, today the idea is wholly accepted by scientists, and is an assumed concept in many astronomical theories.

However, as physicists Robert Caldwell of Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, and Albert Stebbins of Fermilab in Batavia, Illinois, point out, the Copernican principle has never been confirmed as a whole. In a recent paper published in Physical Review Letters called “A Test of the Copernican Principle,” the two researchers set out to prove the 500-year-old principle using observations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB).
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http://www.physorg.com/news130673436.html