Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for July 12, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Revised theory of gravity doesn't predict a Big Bang- Fibers that can hear and sing
- First ever hybrid solar-coal power plant operating
- Parking lots could become 'solar groves' (w/ Video)
- Tiny Satellites for Big Science
- Origin of Key Cosmic Explosions Still a Mystery
- Why (smart) practice makes perfect
- Chemists make breakthrough in nanoscience research
- Study implicates new epigenetic player in mental retardation and facial birth defects
- Making the invisible visible: Verbal -- not visual -- cues enhance visual detection
- Archaeology find sheds new light on family pets
- Extra large galactic survey puts limits on ultralight particles
- High-performance engineering used to design facial bone replacements
- Plant 'breathing' mechanism discovered
- Researchers witness overnight breakup, retreat of Greenland glacier
Space & Earth news
'Meat' the enemy: New food for thought from noted biochemist
(PhysOrg.com) -- Pat Brown hates animals. On your plate, that is. And he's going to do something about it.
Ultrasound puts water back in the Murray Darling
You may not be able to squeeze blood out of a stone but, by applying the right amount of ultrasound during processing, Jianhua (Jason) Du and colleagues from the Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE, Australia) have been able to squeeze a considerable amount of fresh water from mining waste.
NASA and Microsoft Provide Mars 3-D Close Encounter
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA and Microsoft Research are bringing Mars to life with new features in the WorldWide Telescope software that provide viewers with a high-resolution 3-D map of the Red Planet.
NASA satellites see high, cold thunderstorm cloud tops in Tropical Depression 2
NASA's Aqua and TRMM satellites confirmed that Tropical Depression Two (TD2) had some strong, high thunderstorms a day after its center made landfall. TD2 appears elongated on satellite imagery, and its rains stretch from southeastern Texas to northeastern Mexico. Those rains are still prompting flash flood watches and warnings.
Breathing the filth: Hydrocarbons in the air are more toxic than oil in the gulf
What a relief it will be when the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico gets plugged, ending the colossal mess caused by gushing crude. Or will it?
NOAA: Gulf seafood tested so far is safe to eat
(AP) -- Shrimp, grouper, tuna and other seafood snatched from the fringes of the oil in the Gulf of Mexico are safe to eat, according to a federal agency inspecting the catch.
Technology's disasters share long trail of hubris
(AP) -- It's all so familiar. A technological disaster, then a presidential commission examining what went wrong. And ultimately a discovery that while technology marches on, concern for safety lags. Technology isn't as foolproof as it seemed.
Russia puts US telecoms satellite into space
A Russian Proton-M rocket launched a US telecommunications satellite into orbit from Kazakhstan's Baikonur cosmodrome, the Khrunichev space centre and ILS launch services provider said.
India launches five satellites into orbit
India successfully launched five satellites into orbit on Monday, three months after the country's space ambitions suffered a setback when a rocket crashed at lift-off.
Unpredictable Monsoon Season Almost Under Way?
(PhysOrg.com) -- The monsoon is coming. Perhaps this weekend. Maybe. It's always a guessing game when and where and to what extent the annual summer thunderstorms will appear. This year is no different.
Staggering tree loss from 2005 Amazon storm
A single, huge, violent storm that swept across the whole Amazon forest in 2005 killed half a billion trees, a new study shows.
Tropical Storm Conson forms in northwestern Pacific
Tropical Storm Conson formed in the northwestern Pacific Ocean over the weekend, and is now poised to bring rainfall and gusty winds to the northern Philippines. NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Conson on July 12 at 12:14 p.m. (local Asia/Manila time) and showed a well-developed circulation.
A stellar black hole capable of expelling powerful jets of particles
Two French astronomers, working in collaboration with a London-based researcher, have discovered a stellar black hole emitting powerful jets of particles of a total length of 1,000 light years.
Image: Black Hole Blows Big Bubble
This composite image shows a powerful microquasar produced by a black hole in the outskirts of the nearby (12.7 million light years) galaxy NGC 7793. The large image contains data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory in red, green and blue, optical data from the Very Large Telescope in light blue, and optical emission by hydrogen ("H-alpha") from the CTIO 1.5-m telescope in gold.
Behind-the-Scenes Tests with the Webb Telescope's Mass Simulator
There are a lot of things that happen "behind the scenes" when a space telescope is being built and all of the components are being tested. In this recent photo, two technicians from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. were working with a "Mass Simulator" for the James Webb Space Telescope.
BP to place new containment cap on oil spill
Energy giant BP was expected to begin a new effort Saturday to contain a Gulf of Mexico oil spill by placing a better cap over the gushing well in hopes to stop the flow of oil completely.
Stargazers in awe as total eclipse arcs across Pacific
A total solar eclipse drew an 11,000-kilometer (6,800-mile) arc over the Pacific, plunging remote isles into darkness in a heavenly display climaxing on mysterious Easter Island.
European probe Rosetta flies by asteroid: ESA (w/ Video)
The European spacecraft Rosetta performed a fly-by of a massive asteroid, the European Space Agency said, taking images that could one day help Earth defend itself from destruction.
Robots replace cap over gushing BP oil well
Engineers worked Monday to replace a cap over a gushing oil well in the Gulf of Mexico after reporting good progress in attempts to contain the worst environmental disaster in US history.
Core values set new date for birth of the Earth
(PhysOrg.com) -- The Earth could be up to 70 million years younger than scientists previously thought, a study has found.
Origin of Key Cosmic Explosions Still a Mystery
(PhysOrg.com) -- When a star explodes as a supernova, it shines so brightly that it can be seen from millions of light-years away. One particular supernova variety - Type Ia - brightens and dims so predictably that astronomers use them to measure the universe's expansion. The resulting discovery of dark energy and the accelerating universe rewrote our understanding of the cosmos. Yet the origin of these supernovae, which have proved so useful, remains unknown.
Researchers witness overnight breakup, retreat of Greenland glacier
NASA-funded researchers monitoring Greenland's Jakobshavn Isbrae glacier report that a 7 square kilometer (2.7 square mile) section of the glacier broke up on July 6 and 7, as shown in the image above. The calving front - where the ice sheet meets the ocean - retreated nearly 1.5 kilometers (a mile) in one day and is now further inland than at any time previously observed. The chunk of lost ice is roughly one-eighth the size of Manhattan Island, New York.
Tiny Satellites for Big Science
The shrinking technology of cell phones, laptops and cameras are now leading to palm-sized satellites. Easy to build and affordable, these small satellites offer a new way to conduct astrobiology research. They also could change the way we explore the universe.
Technology news
Researchers test green shopping scheme
(PhysOrg.com) -- Experts at The University of Manchester are to assess if ride-sharing could be a key weapon in the fight to make shopping more environmentally friendly.
Artificial intelligence for improving team sports
Researchers at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Spain) are participating in a study to develop a system for evaluating sport performance through application of Artificial Intelligence techniques to automatically analyze the development of plays.
Estimate: Global cell subscriptions pass 5 billion
(AP) -- The number of wireless service subscriptions worldwide passed 5 billion this week, according to an estimate by LM Ericsson AB, the Swedish maker of wireless equipment.
Blizzard drops plan to require real names on forums
Amid a barrage of criticism, Activision Blizzard, maker of World of Warcraft and other popular videogames, dropped a plan Friday to require users of its forums to start posting their real names.
Talking touchscreens aid patients
Multimedia talking touchscreens, housed in computer kiosks at clinics and hospitals, are helping researchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and clinicians at local health care centers enhance patient-centered care for patients with diverse language, literacy and computer skills.
YouTube to invest five million dollars to fund video-makers
YouTube announced Friday that it will invest five million dollars in promising video-makers.
Boston judge cuts penalty in song-sharing case
(AP) -- A federal judge on Friday drastically trimmed a $675,000 verdict against a Boston University graduate student who was found liable for illegally downloading and sharing 30 songs online, saying the jury damage award against a person who gained no financial benefit from his copyright infringement is "unconstitutionally excessive."
As overhead costs shrink, solar becomes newly attractive
At a former industrial site on Chicago's South Side, more than 32,000 solar panels slowly tilt every few minutes, following the sun as it moves across the sky.
China confirms it renewed Google operating license
(AP) -- China confirmed Sunday it had renewed Google's license to operate after a monthslong standoff over Internet censorship, saying the company had pledged it wouldn't provide "lawbreaking content."
Electronic voting no threat yet to the old style ballot box
They held elections within days of each other: The Philippines, a lively democracy where politicians get shot dead in the street and Britain, the rock solid 'mother of all parliaments'.
'You can't hide your lyin' eyes': Eye-tracking lie-detection
Shifty eyes long have been thought to signify a person's problem telling the truth. Now a group of University of Utah researchers are taking that old adage to a new level.
Microsoft to stop updates for XP SP2
Microsoft this week will stop issuing security fixes for computers running the Windows XP operating system updated with Service Pack 2.
China buys flat screens worth 5 bln dollars from Taiwan
A huge Chinese delegation flew to Taipei Monday to seal 5.3 billion US dollars worth of contracts to buy flat screens, an official said.
Solving the crisis of choice online
In an age of information overload, a team of European researchers are developing technology to solve the "crisis of choice" people face when surfing the web, shopping for products online or watching TV.
Avatars as lifelike representations and effective marketing tools
It is predicted that 80% of active Internet consumers and Fortune 500 companies will have an avatar or presence in a virtual community, including social networks, by the end of 2011. A new article in the journal Psychology & Marketing investigates the role avatars play in the virtual and consumer environment, how well avatars reflect the personality of their creators, the psychology behind self-representation, and how these virtually made identities are perceived by other members of the virtual community. According to the study, avatars can portray a very lifelike and accurate depiction of a person's true personality, within the virtual world.
Solving art's mysteries: New technology visualizes how Matisse changed 'Bathers'
Henri Matisse was a painter of vivid colors. From 1913 to 1917, however, he radically changed his style and palette. Collaborators from Northwestern University and The Art Institute of Chicago bring this home with a fascinating scientific deconstruction of Matisse's famous painting "Bathers by a River." The artist had tamped down earlier layers of pinks, greens and blues into a somber palette of mottled grays punctuated with some pinks and greens.
Conde Nast's Reddit asks readers for help
(AP) -- Though it's owned by deep-pocketed media company Conde Nast, Reddit needs money, and it's turning to its loyal audience for help.
WSU led Bio-Jet fuel project officially gets off the ground
A major Washington State University effort to develop aviation bio-fuel is underway with the announcement of a strategic initiative called the "Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest" project; the first of its kind in the U.S. In partnership with Alaska Airlines, Boeing, the Port of Seattle, The Port of Portland, and Spokane International Airport, the project will look at biomass options within a four-state region as possible sources for creating renewable jet fuel.
Judge restricts Facebook assets transfer pending suit: WSJ
A New York judge has issued a temporary restraining order restricting the transfer of Facebook's assets after a New York man filed suit claiming he owns an 84 percent stake in the social network, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
Judge OKs iPhone class action against Apple, AT&T
(AP) -- A federal judge says a monopoly abuse lawsuit against Apple Inc. and AT&T Inc.'s mobile phone unit can move forward as a class action.
Facebook installs 'panic button' for children
Facebook has joined forces with a child protection agency to create a "panic button" application on its site, it was announced Monday, as the social networking giant finally gave in to calls to do more to protect youngsters online.
New Research Can Spot Cloud Computing Problems Before They Start
(PhysOrg.com) -- Large-scale computer hosting infrastructures offer a variety of services to computer users, including cloud computing - which offers users access to powerful computers and software applications hosted by remote groups of servers. But when these infrastructures run into problems - like bottlenecks that slow their operating speed - it can be costly for both the infrastructure provider and the user. New research from North Carolina State University will allow these infrastructure providers to more accurately predict such anomalies, and address them before they become a major problem.
Google Releases DIY Android App Inventor (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Google has announced a new software development program that lets anyone develop an application for Android devices; it's called the App Inventor for Android. Google says the software is intended to allow any smartphone user develop Android applications without having any prior knowledge of programming languages.
Microsoft, PC makers to offer Azure cloud services
(AP) -- Microsoft Corp. is teaming up with computer makers to try to make its Windows Azure cloud computing system attractive to government and big corporate customers.
Microsoft, partners to push tablet computer rivals to iPad
Microsoft is teaming up with nearly two dozen hardware makers to release Windows-based tablet computers, Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer said Monday, devices like Apple's popular iPad.
Enel inaugurates hydrogen-driven power station
Italian group Enel on Monday inaugurated a hydrogen-driven power station that it said was the world's first such facility to produce energy in significant amounts.
Parking lots could become 'solar groves' (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Architect Robert Noble, who specializes in sustainable design has come up with the idea of turning parking lots into "solar groves" that shade the vehicles, generate electricity, and serve as recharging stations for electric vehicles.
First ever hybrid solar-coal power plant operating
(PhysOrg.com) -- The first ever hybrid solar-coal power plant is now operating at Unit 2 of the Cameo Generating Station near Palisade in Colorado. The demonstration project was built by Xcel Energy as part of its new Innovative Clean Technology (ICT) Program, and is designed to decrease the use of coal, increase the plant's efficiency, lower carbon dioxide emissions, and test the commercial viability of combining the two technologies.
Medicine & Health news
Women with gestational diabetes have increased risk of recurrence in subsequent pregnancies
There is an increased risk of recurring gestational diabetes in pregnant women who developed gestational diabetes during their first and second pregnancies, according to a Kaiser Permanente study appearing online in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Universal HIV testing and immediate treatment could reduce but not eliminate HIV/AIDS epidemic
Implementing a program of universal HIV testing and immediate antiretroviral treatment (ART) for infected individuals could have a major impact on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Washington, DC, but a new study finds that it would not halt the epidemic, something that a previous report had projected. In a paper that will appear in the August 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases and has been released online, researchers find that the so-called "test-and-treat" strategy could reduce new HIV infections by 15 percent over the next five years while conferring large survival benefits to HIV-infected patients.
Obama: More post-traumatic stress help for vets
(AP) -- The government is taking what President Barack Obama calls "a long overdue step" to aid veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, making it easier for them to receive federal benefits.
Haiti hospital woes show challenges of recovery
(AP) -- It was a simple problem with a novel solution.
Canada needs a policy for rare disease treatment
Canada needs a national approach to funding drugs for rare diseases and can learn from other countries, states an analysis article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Why Parkinson's disease patients aren't walking tall
Many of the symptoms of Parkinson disease can be alleviated with drugs that target dompamine, a chemical in the brain that is involved in nerve cell communication and therefore known as a neurotransmitter.
'TIMely' intervention for asthma
TIM1 has been identified as a susceptibility gene for asthma. New research in mice now suggests that targeting TIM-1 protein might have therapeutic benefit in treating this increasingly prevalent condition.
New vitamin D guidelines from Osteoporosis Canada
Comprehensive updated guidelines for vitamin D supplementation from Osteoporosis Canada provide physicians with the latest information, including new safe dose levels, in the latest online issue of CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Colorectal cancer screening in Canada is cost-effective
Colorectal cancer screening is cost-effective and offers the best value for provincial health ministries in Canada, states an article in CMAJ. A high sensitivity fecal test, such as the fecal immunochemical test, or colonoscopy every ten years is recommended.
Asthma warning for pregnant women in Australia
Asthma is the most common complication of pregnancy in Australia with harmful effects on babies, but many of these could be prevented a University of Adelaide researcher says.
Antimalarial drug artemisinin moves into production
(PhysOrg.com) -- A semi-synthetic version of the antimalarial drug artemisinin developed by UC Berkeley's Jay Keasling is moving out of development into full-scale production, helped along by a $10.7 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the Institute for One World Health. The drug, produced by genetically engineered bacteria, is much cheaper than the plant-derived drug available today.
Computerized monitoring systems enable hospitals to more aggressively combat infections
Hospitals that adopt advanced computer technology to identify healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are more likely to have implemented best practices to prevent such infections, according to research presented today at the 37th Annual Conference and International Meeting of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
Stem cell transplantation of therapy-resistant chronic leukemia successful
The transplantation of stem cells from a healthy donor (allogeneic) offers the chance of cure for patients with an aggressive form of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), irrespective of genetic prognostic factors and the prior course of the disease. The German CLL Study Group proved this in a multicentric clinical phase II study led by Professor Dr. Peter Dreger, senior consultant and head of the division of stem cell transplantation at the Department of Internal Medicine V at Heidelberg University Hospital. The results were published online in the prominent journal Blood at the beginning of July.
Sexual abuse survivors have increased of psychiatric disorders
New research finds that a history of sexual abuse, regardless of the victim's gender or age when the abuse occurred, correlates strongly with a lifetime diagnosis of multiple psychiatric disorders.
Report: ethical, scientific issues related to 'post-market' clinical trials
Amid growing concerns about clinical trials for drugs that have been approved by the F.D.A. but are later linked to serious health risks, an independent committee at the Institute of Medicine led by two professors from Johns Hopkins University has developed a conceptual framework to guide the agency through the tough decision of ordering such controversial "post-market" drug-safety trials.
Adolescent vision screenings may miss farsightedness and astigmatism
Among adolescents, visual acuity tests appear to reliably detect vision problems caused by nearsightedness but not farsightedness or astigmatism, according to a report in the July issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.
Antibiotics improve survival but not comfort for terminal dementia patients with pneumonia
A new study by scientists at the Institute for Aging Research of Hebrew SeniorLife says the use of antibiotics to treat pneumonia in patients with terminal dementia presents a "doubled-edged" sword for health-care providers and family members, finding that antibiotics may prolong survival for these patients, but do not improve their comfort.
Couple-focused intervention appears effective in reducing HIV risk behaviors among African-Americans
A risk reduction program focused on African American heterosexual couples appears to diminish risky sexual behaviors among couples in which one partner is HIV-positive and the other is not, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the September 27 print issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. The study was published online today in advance of its upcoming presentation at the International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria.
Study: Diversity of grieving among Alzheimer's caregivers
(PhysOrg.com) -- New research from the University of Michigan reveals racial and ethnic differences in the emotional attitudes of caregivers of Alzheimer's disease patients.
Pediatric clinical studies appear prone to bias, Hopkins review shows
A Johns Hopkins review of nearly 150 randomized controlled trials on children — all published in well-regarded medical journals — reveals that 40 to 60 percent of the studies either failed to take steps to minimize risk for bias or to at least properly describe those measures.
Doctors can influence when parents wean children from bottle, study finds
Family doctors and pediatricians can influence when parents wean their children from the bottle, thereby helping to reduce tooth decay, obesity and iron deficiency, according to a new study by researchers at St. Michael's Hospital and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).
Simple tools help parents understand a child's risk of obesity, make positive changes
Some simple interventions used by pediatricians were enough to change a parent's perspective about a child's being overweight or obese, and change the parent's behaviors at home to reduce those risks.
Experimental obesity drug avoids brain effects that troubled predecessors
Stockholm, Sweden: A second-generation experimental anti-obesity and diabetes drug has shown promise in reducing body weight in rodents just as effectively as the predecessor rimonabant while avoiding the risk of psychiatric side effects that led to the withdrawal of rimonabant from the market and stopped further development of other brain-penetrating drugs of its type.
Diabetes drug Avandia gets new setback ahead of US decision
GlaxoSmithKline's blockbuster diabetes treatment Avandia suffered a new setback Friday when US health officials offered more evidence of the drug's increased link to heart problems.
FDA to review first of 3 new weight loss drugs
(AP) -- Dieters, doctors and investors get their first extensive look at the first of a trio of new weight loss drugs this week. The hope is that the new drugs can succeed where many others have failed: delivering significant weight loss without risky side effects.
Pain, dry mouth may play role in sleep quality of head and neck cancer patients
Head and neck cancer patients who reported poor sleep quality one year after diagnosis had more symptoms of chronic pain and complaints of dry mouth related to radiation treatments, according to a recent study from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.
New discovery in nerve regrowth
Faculty of Medicine scientists have discovered a way to enhance nerve regeneration in the peripheral nervous system. This important discovery could lead to new treatments for nerve damage caused by diabetes or traumatic injuries. Peripheral nerves connect the brain and spinal cord to the body, and without them, there is no movement or sensation. Peripheral nerve damage is common and often irreversible. This discovery is published in the July 7, 2010 edition of the Journal of Neuroscience.
New research finds no evidence that popular slimming supplements facilitate weight loss
New research evaluating the effectiveness of a broad selection of popular slimming supplements sold in pharmacies and health food shops has found no evidence that any of them facilitate weight loss beyond the placebo effect.
1 in 4 not covering coughs, sneezes
Approximately 1 out of every 4 people observed in a public setting failed to cover their mouth when they coughed or sneezed according to research presented today at the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases. Even more concerning, less than 5 percent of people covered their mouth using methods recommended by public health officials.
The hormone IGF-1: A trigger of puberty
Puberty is triggered by pulsatile release of GnRH from specific nerve cells in the the brain. What signals tell these nerve cells to release GnRH in this manner has not been determined, although it has been suggested that hormones associated with good nutritional status (such as IGF-1) have a role. New research has now confirmed that in mice IGF-1 does indeed have a key role in coordinating the timing of puberty onset.
Study finds early predictors of metabolic syndrome in healthy 7-9 year-olds
Melinda Sothern, PhD, CEP, Professor of Public Health and Director of Health Promotion at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, will present evidence that supports relationships seen in adolescents between insulin sensitivity and fatty liver, belly fat, and total body fat and identifies additional potential early markers of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome in healthy 7-9 year-old children, including fat in muscle cells, blood pressure, physical activity, and birth weight. Dr. Sothern will present findings of the Early Markers for the Metabolic Syndrome in Youth today in Stockholm at the International Congress on Obesity.
Innovative treatment for abdominal birth defect prevents scarring
(PhysOrg.com) -- Pediatric surgeons at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital have adopted a sutureless technique for treating gastroschisis, a birth defect in which the bowels protrude through a hole in the abdomen.
Discovery points to new approach for diabetes therapy
Nutrition experts at Oregon State University have essentially "cured" laboratory mice of mild, diet-induced diabetes by stimulating the production of a particular enzyme.
Dogs may help collar Chagas disease
Chagas disease, for example, is caused by a parasite that roams with only limited control among the rural poor in Latin America. The main vector for the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is the triatomine insect, or "kissing bug," which thrives in the nooks and crannies of mud-brick dwellings. The bug sucks the blood of mammals, helping T. cruzi move between wildlife, cats, dogs and humans.
New study suggests tart cherry juice can be a natural solution for insomnia
Drinking tart cherry juice daily could help reduce the severity of insomnia and time spent awake after going to sleep, according to a new study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food1.
Open golfers should putt with a 'Quiet Eye'
As the Open is about to get under way at St Andrews, researchers at the University of Exeter have one bit of advice for pros taking that crucial putt — keep your eye on the ball.
Salsa and guacamole increasingly important causes of foodborne disease
Nearly 1 out of every 25 restaurant-associated foodborne outbreaks with identified food sources between 1998 and 2008 can be traced back to contaminated salsa or guacamole, more than double the rate during the previous decade, according to research released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today at the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Study makes exciting progress in elucidating the mechanisms of bortezomib in lymphoma
A new study by researchers from the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center sheds light on how bortezomib (VELCADE), the first in a new class of cancer drugs known as proteasome inhibitors, works in mantle cell lymphoma. The study also provides preliminary evidence for which patients might benefit most from bortezomib. Additionally, researchers demonstrate that biomarkers - the genes and proteins that indicate biological processes - might help guide the selection of patients for specific clinical trials and speed-up the development of targeted cancer drugs. The study, which is now published online, will also appear in the July issue of Leukemia & Lymphoma.
How prostate cancer packs a punch
Some types of prostate tumors are more aggressive and more likely to metastasize than others. Nearly one-third of these aggressive tumors contain a small nest of especially dangerous cells known as neuroendocrine-type cells. More rarely, some aggressive prostate tumors are made up entirely of neuroendocrine-type cells. The presence of neuroendocrine-type cancer cells is associated with a poor prognosis, but spotting these rare cells can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Now, in a study published in the July 13 issue of Cancer Cell, a team of investigators led by Ze'ev Ronai, Ph.D. at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) has identified a series of proteins that might make it easier for doctors to better diagnose the more metastatic forms of prostate cancer.
Study finds apathy and depression predict progression from mild cognitive impairment
A new Mayo Clinic study found that apathy and depression significantly predict an individual's progression from mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a disorder of the brain that affects nerve cells involved in thinking abilities, to dementia, including Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia. The study was presented at the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease in Honolulu on July 11, 2010.
Modulator of fetal hemoglobin switch may target sickle cell disease
A retired but well-preserved mechanism for regulating viruses that has worked its way into the human genome appears to modulate a switch between adult and fetal hemoglobin production, Medical College of Georgia researchers report.
Radiation device allows for targeted breast radiation to control cancer
A new study of breast cancer patients at the Moores UCSD Cancer Center and the Arizona Oncology Services shows that after almost two years, the radiation given with the Strut-Adjusted Volume Implant (SAVI) controls the rate of cancer and may reduce the complications seen with alternate types of brachytherapy. This study also demonstrates the accuracy and flexibility of the device to maximize the dose to the target tissue and minimize the exposure of healthy surrounding tissue and organs.
Key milestone towards the development of a new clinically useful antibiotic
Scientists have identified the genes necessary for making a highly potent and clinically unexploited antibiotic in the fight against multi-resistant pathogens.
Double-teaming a whole-genome hunt
By inspecting the sequence of all 3 billion "letters" that make up the genome of a single person affected with a rare, inherited disorder, a Johns Hopkins and Duke University team ferreted out the single genetic mutation that accounts for the disease.
Combined behavioral interventions best way to reduce heart disease risk
Combining counseling, extended follow-up with a healthcare provider and self-monitoring of diet and exercise is the most effective way to help patients embrace lifestyle changes that can lower their risk for heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) diseases, according to a scientific statement published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Obstructive sleep apnea linked with later risk of heart disease
Severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) raised the risk of heart failure for middle-aged and older men — and significantly raised the risk of coronary heart disease in men up to age 70, according to research reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Children and teens with Tourette syndrome find relief with self-hypnosis
A new study of children and adolescents with Tourette Syndrome finds that self-hypnosis taught with the aid of videotape training reduced their symptoms and improved their quality of life.
UCLA surgeons find new way to shield vision during radiation for eye cancer
Eye cancer patients face an unenviable dilemma. They must enter treatment knowing that their surgeon's strategy to kill the deadly tumor with radiation may also sacrifice their eyesight.
Weight loss may be associated with improvements in hot flushes in overweight and obese women
Among overweight and obese women with bothersome hot flushes during menopause, an intensive weight loss intervention program may lead to improvements in flushing, according to a report in the July 12 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Larger head size may protect against Alzheimer's symptoms
New research shows that people with Alzheimer's disease who have large heads have better memory and thinking skills than those with the disease who have smaller heads, even when they have the same amount of brain cell death due to the disease. The research is published in the July 13, 2010, issue of Neurology.
Vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of cognitive decline in the elderly
A research team from the Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter, has established the first clear link between vitamin D deficiency and the development of cognitive problems that are a key feature of dementia.
Vitamin D levels associated with Parkinson's disease risk
Individuals with higher levels of vitamin D appear to have a reduced risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to a report in the July issue of Archives of Neurology.
Eating foods rich in vitamin E associated with lower dementia risk
Consuming more vitamin E through the diet appears to be associated with a lower risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, according to a report in the July issue of Archives of Neurology.
Expecting the unexpected does not improve one's chances of seeing it (w/ Video)
A new study finds that those who know that an unexpected event is likely to occur are no better at noticing other unexpected events - and may be even worse - than those who aren't expecting the unexpected.
Alzheimer's advances show need for better drugs
Scientists are reporting advances in detecting and predicting Alzheimer's disease at a conference in Honolulu this week, plus more proof that getting enough exercise and vitamin D may lower your risk.
The brain of the fly - a high-speed computer
(PhysOrg.com) -- Neurobiologists use state-of-the-art methods to decode the basics of motion detection.
Researchers demonstrate efficacy of antisense therapy for spinal muscular atrophy
The devastating, currently incurable motor-neuron disease spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) might soon be treated with tiny, chemically modified pieces of RNA called antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs).
Sewage overflow promotes spread of West Nile virus
Sewage that overflows into urban creeks and streams during periods of heavy rain can promote the spread of West Nile virus, a study led by Emory University finds.
A person's language may influence how he thinks about other people
The language a person speaks may influence their thoughts, according to a new study on Israeli Arabs who speak both Arabic and Hebrew fluently. The study found that Israeli Arabs' positive associations with their own people are weaker when they are tested in Hebrew than when they are tested in Arabic.
Making the invisible visible: Verbal -- not visual -- cues enhance visual detection
Cognitive psychologists at the University of Pennsylvania and University of California have shown that an image displayed too quickly to be seen by an observer can be detected if the participant first hears the name of the object.
Study implicates new epigenetic player in mental retardation and facial birth defects
A subtle mutation affecting the epigenome -- a set of dynamic factors that influence gene activity -- may lead to an inherited form of mental retardation that affects boys, find researchers at Children's Hospital Boston. The disorder, which also involves cleft lip or cleft palate, appears to hinge on an enzyme working in a biological pathway that may offer several potential drug targets.
Why (smart) practice makes perfect
Struggling with your chip shot? Constant drills with your wedge may not help much, but mixing in longer drives will, and a new study shows why.
High-performance engineering used to design facial bone replacements
Scientists are using the engineering technology behind the creation of high-performance aircraft components to design 3-D models for the replacement of delicate and complex facial bones lost to cancer surgery or trauma.
Researchers identify gene mutation that causes rare form of deafness
Researchers have identified a gene mutation that causes a rare form of hearing loss known as auditory neuropathy, according to U-M Medical School scientists.
Baby brain growth mirrors changes from apes to humans
A study undertaken to help scientists concerned with abnormal brain development in premature babies has serendipitously revealed evolution's imprint on the human brain.
Scientists create army of tumor-fighting immune cells and watch as they attack cancer
Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center created a large, well armed battalion of tumor-seeking immune system cells and watched, in real time using Positron Emission Tomography (PET), as the special forces traveled throughout the body to locate and attack dangerous melanomas.
Arsenic shows promise as cancer treatment, study finds
Miss Marple notwithstanding, arsenic might not be many people's favorite chemical. But the notorious poison does have some medical applications. Specifically, a form called arsenic trioxide has been used as a therapy for a particular type of leukemia for more than 10 years. Now researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have shown that it may be useful in treating a variety of other cancers.
Biology news
Online learning supplements watershed program
Are online learning modules beneficial to educational programs? The Arizona Master Watershed Steward program used online learning modules to help increase participant understanding of key watershed concepts. Even though the modules were not required, researchers found that participants both visited the sites on their own time and demonstrated an increase in content knowledge.
Mouse stem cell study offers new insights into body fat distribution
New research being presented today at the UK National Stem Cell Network Annual Science Meeting in Nottingham shows that adding fat to mouse stem cells grown in the lab affects their response to the signals that push them to develop into one or other of the main types of fat storage cells - subcutaneous (under the skin) or visceral (around the organs).
Top professor reports new way to discover drugs that aid regenerative medicine
Professor Fiona Watt will today give the Anne McLaren Memorial Lecture at the UK National Stem Cell Network annual science meeting and will detail a new approach to screening for drugs that target stem cells. To begin with, this is being developed for adult skin stem cells, giving hope for new drugs to promote wound healing and aid the use of stem cells to, for example, treat severe burns. This technique can also be applied to a wide range of stem cells, opening up the possibilities for harnessing stem cells in regenerative medicine.
Yield projections for switchgrass as a biofuel crop
While scientists have conducted numerous studies on production of biomass from biofuel crops, such as switchgrass, no one has yet compiled this information to evaluate the response of biomass yield to soils, climate, and crop management across the United States.
'Dawning of a new age' in bacteria research
Lowly bacteria are turning out to be much more complex than previously thought.
Africa's national parks hit by mammal declines
AFRICAN national parks like Masai Mara and the Serengeti have seen populations of large mammals decline by up to 59 per cent, according to a study published in Biological Conservation.
Mexican salamander helps uncover mysteries of stem cells and evolution
Dr Andrew Johnson is speaking today at the UK National Stem Cell Network annual conference. He and his team from the University of Nottingham have been using a Mexican aquatic salamander called an axolotl to study the evolution and genetics of stem cells - research that supports the development of regenerative medicine to treat the consequences of disease and injury using stem cell therapies. This team has found that there are extraordinary similarities in the development of axolotls and mammals that provide unique opportunities to study the properties of embryonic stem cells and germ cells. These findings are underpinned by a novel theory of evolution that unifies the diversity of mechanisms in animal developmental into a single conceptual framework.
For speediest athletes, it's all in the center of gravity
In the record books, the swiftest sprinters tend to be of West African ancestry and the faster swimmers tend to be white.
Tiny primate 'punk' in danger of extinction
(PhysOrg.com) -- Charismatic Colombian primate population suffers significant drop.
Penguin males with steady pitch make better parents (w/ Audio)
How does a female penguin choose a mate? Courtship calls help females decide which males are likely to be devoted dads, says a study in the journal Behaviour.
Breaking biomass better
One of the challenges in making cellulosic biofuels commercially viable is to cost-effectively deconstruct plant material to liberate fermentable energy-rich sugars. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is funding several projects focused on identifying enzymes in organisms that optimally degrade cellulosic feedstocks. One such source are fungi, which break down dead wood and leaf litter in forests; in fact, some pest management companies consider wood rot more destructive for homes than termites.
Plant 'breathing' mechanism discovered
A tiny, little-understood plant pore has enormous implications for weather forecasting, climate change, agriculture, hydrology, and more. A study by scientists at the Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology, with colleagues from the Research Center Jülich in Germany, has now overturned the conventional belief about how these important structures called stomata regulate water vapor loss from the leaf-a process called transpiration. They found that radiation is the driving force of physical processes deep within the leaf.
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