Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for July 15, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Light, instead of electrodes, could control deformable mirrors- Scientists discover human sperm gene is 600 million years old
- New revelations about Mercury's volcanism, magnetic substorms, exosphere from MESSENGER (w/ Video)
- Bioartificial lungs transplanted into rats (w/ Video)
- Scientists advance universal flu vaccine
- Scientists develop new way to grow adult stem cells in culture
- Friendly viruses in the intestine are unique - even among identical twins
- Small fish exploits forbidding environment
- Researchers create sounds of animated things breaking (w/ Video)
- Ironing out the causes of wrinkles
- Retrovirus replication process different than thought
- New arsenic nanoparticle blocks aggressive breast cancer
- New light on Leonardo Da Vinci's faces
- UM scientists demonstrate role of RNA polymerase in gene transcription
- Global warming slows coral growth in Red Sea
Space & Earth news
Report reveals dramatic decline in illegal logging in tropical forest nations
The most thorough assessment to date of the global fight against illegal logging, released by Chatham House today, finds that a decade of international effort to tackle the problem is having a dramatic and beneficial effect both on forest dependent communities and on the global climate. According to the report, "Illegal Logging and Related Trade: Indicators of the Global Response", total global production of illegal timber has fallen by 22 per cent since 2002.
Researcher looks for new ways to keep a dirty situation clean
It may sound counterintuitive, but LSU Associate Professor of Chemistry Robert Cook has made a career out of studying the ways organic materials found in the environment, including soils, can either get dirty or stay clean. In fact, the National Science Foundation, or NSF, was so impressed with his efforts that the funding institute awarded Cook one of its most prestigious awards - the NSF CAREER award.
Image: In the Constellation Cassiopeia
(PhysOrg.com) -- Tycho's Supernova, the red circle visible in the upper left part of the image, is SN 1572 is a remnant of a star explosion is named after the astronomer Tycho Brahe, although he was not the only person to observe and record the supernova.
Tropical Depression 6-E forms from System 96E, struggling in wind shear
Yesterday, System 96E looked good for development and by 5 p.m. EDT that low pressure area had organized more to become Tropical Depression 6-E in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Today, July 15, the GOES-11 satellite captured a visible image of the depression as it struggles to organize further against wind shear.
High pressure forcing Tropical Storm Conson farther south to Hainan Island
NASA satellites are keeping an eye on the changing track of Tropical Storm Conson and the conditions within the storm as it changes in strength on its track through the South China Sea. NASA's Infrared imagery revealed some strong convection in the storm as it takes a more westerly route toward another landfall.
Giant Antenna Propped Up, Ready for Joint Replacement
Workers at NASA's Deep Space Network complex in Goldstone, Calif., have been making precise, laser-assisted measurements to ensure a flat surface for pouring new grout as part of a major renovation on the 70-meter-wide (230-foot-wide) "Mars antenna." While officially dubbed Deep Space Station 14, the antenna picked up the Mars name from its first task: tracking NASA's Mariner 4 spacecraft, which had been lost by smaller antennas after its historic flyby of Mars.
June Earth's hottest ever: US monitors
Last month was the hottest June ever recorded on Earth, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday, amid global climate warming worries.
Scientists measure changing lake depths on Titan
On Earth, lake levels rise and fall with the seasons and with longer-term climate changes, as precipitation, evaporation, and runoff add and remove liquid. Now, for the first time, scientists have found compelling evidence for similar lake-level changes on Saturn's largest moon, Titan—the only other place in the solar system seen to have a hydrological cycle with standing liquid on the surface.
Leak forces new delay to BP oil cap test
Oil giant BP detected a leak Thursday in equipment to seal the catastrophic Gulf of Mexico gusher, forcing another delay to the start of crucial tests on a new tighter-fitting cap.
Scientists possibly unlock biodiversity door
(PhysOrg.com) -- Looking for the answer to why the tropical Amazonian rainforest has more bird, plant and insect life than Vancouver Island's temperate rainforest has been like looking for a needle in a haystack. That is until now.
Tiny marine microbes exert influence on global climate (w/ Video)
New research indicates that the interactions of microscopic organisms around a particular organic material may alter the chemical properties of the ocean and ultimately influence global climate by affecting cloud formation in the atmosphere.
Global warming slows coral growth in Red Sea
In a pioneering use of computed tomography (CT) scans, scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) have discovered that carbon dioxide (CO2)-induced global warming is in the process of killing off a major coral species in the Red Sea. As summer sea surface temperatures have remained about 1.5 degrees Celsius above ambient over the last 10 years, growth of the coral, Diploastrea heliopora, has declined by 30% and "could cease growing altogether by 2070" or sooner, they report in the July 16 issue of the journal Science.
Superhot Planet Likely Possesses Comet-like Tail
(PhysOrg.com) -- As if the debate over what is and what is not a planet hasn't gotten confusing enough, Hubble Space Telescope astronomers have now confirmed the existence of a tortured, baked object that could be called a "cometary planet."
A Puzzling Collapse of Earth's Upper Atmosphere
NASA-funded researchers are monitoring a big event in our planet's atmosphere. High above Earth's surface where the atmosphere meets space, a rarefied layer of gas called "the thermosphere" recently collapsed and now is rebounding again.
Dark Energy Measurement Sheds New Light on Universe's Expansion
(PhysOrg.com) -- Through observations of massive galaxy clusters, scientists have made the most precise measurements to date of the effects of dark energy and gravity on cosmological scales. This work is an important step toward understanding why the expansion of the universe is accelerating. Something is pushing our universe apart, faster and faster, with each passing moment, and future work using similar methods should determine whether that something is dark energy or a change in the way gravity works on cosmological scales.
New revelations about Mercury's volcanism, magnetic substorms, exosphere from MESSENGER (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Analysis of data from MESSENGER's third and final flyby of Mercury in September 2009 has revealed evidence of younger volcanism on the innermost planet than previously recognized, new information about magnetic substorms, and the first observations of emission from an ionized species in Mercury's very thin atmosphere or exosphere. The results are reported in three papers published online on July 15 in the Science Express section of the website of Science magazine.
Technology news
Samsung commissions semiconductor safety study
(AP) -- Samsung Electronics said Thursday it has commissioned an independent health and safety review of its semiconductor factories in South Korea after employee illnesses and deaths raised fears of cancer risks.
Designing touch-sensitive virtual reality tools to train and test tomorrow's surgeons
Minimally invasive surgery is increasingly common and effective for operating inside the human abdomen. In these laparoscopic procedures, which use slender, handheld tools inserted into the body of the patient, the skill of the surgeon is the most important factor determining the success of the operation. A team of interdisciplinary researchers led by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has won a $2.3 million federal grant to develop a touch-sensitive virtual reality simulator that will standardize how surgeons are trained and certified to perform laparoscopic procedures.
FCC seeks to boost rural health care program use
(AP) -- Federal regulators are proposing changes to expand use of the $400 million government program that subsidizes Internet services at hospitals, clinics and other health care facilities in rural areas.
Facebook page that praised UK killer taken down
(AP) -- A Facebook fan page that glorified a dead killer was removed by its creator Thursday after it drew sharp criticism from Britain's prime minister and put the social networking site in an uncomfortable situation.
Japan's NTT to buy South African IT firm Dimension Data
Japanese telecom giant NTT will acquire South African information technology firm Dimension Data for 2.1 billion British pounds (3.2 billion US dollars), both companies said in a statement Thursday.
Reports detail global investment and other trends in green energy
In 2009, for the second year in a row, both the US and Europe added more power capacity from renewable sources such as wind and solar than conventional sources like coal, gas and nuclear, according to twin reports launched today by the United Nations Environment Programme and the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21).
Apple to speak on iPhone 4 amid antenna troubles
(AP) -- Apple Inc. will hold a press conference on Friday to discuss the latest iPhone model amid complaints about its antenna and Consumer Reports magazine's refusal to endorse it until the problems get fixed.
Dozens of outspoken, popular blogs shut in China
(AP) -- Dozens of blogs by some of China's most outspoken users have been abruptly shut down while popular Twitter-like services appear to be the newest target in government efforts to control social networking.
Mobile phones in use worldwide top 5.0 billion: study
The number of mobile phones in use worldwide has topped 5.0 billion, boosted by soaring demand in emerging markets India and China, a study by Swedish telecoms giant Ericsson showed Thursday.
India's TCS quarterly profit jumps 21 percent
India's largest software exporter Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) reported Thursday its quarterly net profit jumped 21 percent, beating forecasts, as demand for outsourcing improved.
China's online population jumps to 420 mln
The number of Internet users in China, already the world's largest online market, has leapt to 420 million, according to official figures released Thursday.
Europe overtakes Asia to become top producer of email spam
Europe has overtaken Asia as the biggest source of email spam worldwide with Britain a major culprit, a report said Thursday.
EU OK with Google-Dutch Library deal
(AP) -- The European Commission said Thursday it does not object to Google digitizing 160,000 books in the archives of the National Library of the Netherlands if they will be made publicly available.
New tech extends range of AT&T U-Verse service
(AP) -- AT&T Inc. said Thursday that it's deploying a new, but long-promised, technology to reach more homes with its U-Verse service, which provides cable TV and higher Internet speeds.
Acer, Asus and Lenovo lead pack as PC sales surge
Taiwan's Acer and Asus and China's Lenovo posted strong growth as personal computer sales surged more than 20 percent in the second quarter over a year ago, market research company Gartner said.
Students develop a low-cost portable ventilator
(PhysOrg.com) -- A team of students from MIT has devised a new low-cost ventilator to keep patients breathing in places that lack standard mechanical ventilators, or during times of emergency such as pandemics or natural disasters, when normal hospital resources may be overextended. They have designed a system that uses the same widely available manual pump — the same type used for the farmer in India. The new system encases the pump in a plastic box with a battery, motor and controls to take the place of the manual compression process.
AMD whittles 2Q loss as chip sales rebound
(AP) -- Advanced Micro Devices Inc. shrank its second-quarter loss on reviving sales of computers that use its chips and a wrenching years-long effort to shed costs.
Website, Google Earth offer 3-D views of Hawaii
(AP) -- A new website backed by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar says it will offer potential visitors to Hawaii the ability to view hotels, shops and tourist attractions in three dimensions and from different angles in an interactive virtual tour.
Tokyo trials digital billboards that scan passers-by
Digital advertising billboards being trialled in Japan are fitted with cameras that read the gender and age group of people looking at them to tailor their commercial messages.
Small wires make big connections for microelectronics
University of Illinois engineers have developed a novel direct-writing method for manufacturing metal interconnects that could shrink integrated circuits and expand microelectronics.
Google's 2Q earnings rise 24 pct, but miss target
(AP) -- Google Inc.'s second-quarter earnings missed analysts' target as higher expenses and the fallout from the European debt crisis dragged down the Internet search leader.
Researchers create sounds of animated things breaking (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- A delicate wine glass shatters on the floor. A rock is thrown through a window. A child smashes his piggy bank. Dramatic moments like these in an animated movie or video game or some future virtual reality won't seem realistic unless the sound matches the action.
Medicine & Health news
'Tough love' no good for obesity interventions
Obese people support lifestyle-change interventions, rather than those that purely promote weight loss. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Public Health interviewed 142 obese people about their opinions on interventions ranging from gastric bands to legal regulation, finding that non-commercial, non-stigmatizing techniques were preferred.
Studies explore effects of war on former child soldiers
Despite international bans, more than 250,000 children fight as soldiers in 86 countries across the globe, almost half of them in Africa. Two new studies explored how these children adjust after they return to their homes. Key to successful adaptation, the studies found, was the characteristics of the communities to which the children returned.
New research explores relief for xerostomia cancer patients
Today during the 88th General Session & Exhibition of the International Association for Dental Research, in Barcelona, Spain, presenting author S. Pradhani, University of Delaware, Newark, USA, will present an abstract titled "Salivary Acinar Cells Regenerate Functional Glandular Structures in Modified Hydrogels."
Sri Lankan children affected by war, tsunami, daily stressors
Two studies on children in Sri Lanka who survived the 2004 tsunami and ongoing civil war there found that it's not these stressful events alone that contributed to the youths' psychological health, but also daily stressors like domestic violence that are exacerbated by traumatic events and continue after the disasters.
Arthroscopic treatment of common hip problem allows athletes to return to play
Patients who undergo arthroscopic surgery for a mechanical disorder of the hip have a good chance of being able to return to their sport at a high level of competition, according to a study that will be presented at the annual meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, held July 15-18 in Providence, R.I. Almost 80 percent of patients were able to return to play after hip arthroscopy at an average of 9.4 months after surgery, and roughly 90 percent were able to return to the same level of competition.
UCI Healthcare first in the West to use robotic-assisted surgery for thyroid tumor
UC Irvine Healthcare is the first medical center on the West Coast and the only one in California to perform robotic thyroidectomies, a procedure that removes the diseased gland without leaving a visible scar on the neck. Dr. Jason Kim, associate clinical professor of otolaryngology and a head and neck cancer specialist, has performed robotic-assisted surgery using the daVinci Surgical System on three patients with thyroid tumors.
Science leaders urge diabetes patients to talk with doctor before making changes to medication use
The Endocrine Society, American Diabetes Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists issue joint statement in response to an FDA panel's recommendation to keep rosiglitazone (Avandia) on the market
BioSTARTM device achieves 90 percent closure rate for atrial septal defect in children
A novel study by Canadian physicians reported that the BioSTARTM biodegradable implant achieved comparable closure rates to the Amplatzer Septal OccluderTM (ASO) in children with atrial septal defect (ASD). The BioSTAR device displayed successful outcomes, while avoiding issues associated with implants containing substantial amounts of metal. Results of the study, the first to compare the BioSTAR device with the ASO in children, are now available online and in the July print issue of Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.
Several studies support the role of choline in fetal development and throughout the lifespan
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a choline-deficient diet is associated with increased risk for heart defects during prenatal development.1 Choline is an essential nutrient required for normal cell activity, healthy brain and nerve function, liver metabolism and transportation of nutrients throughout the body. Research shows that only 10 percent or less of older children, men, women and pregnant women in America are meeting the Adequate Intake (AI) levels for choline; despite a growing body of science which supports the importance of choline especially in healthy fetal development.2
New method of tissue banking makes gene analysis more practical for lung cancer
Analyzing the genes expressed by cancer cells allows for a better understanding of that patient's specific disease and in turn, a more personalized approach to treatment. But obtaining the RNA from a tumor in the lungs in order to conduct the genetic analysis is a challenging prospect. Currently, lung cancer researchers are limited to using RNA extracted from early-stage tumors removed during surgery. The small quantities of tissue extracted during routine diagnostic biopsies have not been useful to researchers, due to their small size and the variety of ways they have been processed.
Penn State, government, industry helping children pick healthier foods
A new initiative to improve children's nutrition education and increase the amount of healthy foods available in schools is a collaboration among Penn State researchers; Pennsylvania's Departments of Health, Education, and Agriculture; Pennsylvania food manufacturers and food distributors; and school districts across the state.
Health providers need to do more to understand and support lesbians who are overweight
Healthcare professionals need to develop greater understanding of the specific needs of lesbian patients and adopt a more sensitive approach to the advice they give them, according to research in the July issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing
Scott & White Healthcare study aimed at T-cell lymphoma
Scott & White's Cancer Research Institute (CRI) is conducting a clinical trial that targets malignant T-cell lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.
Shoulder arthritis? What patients need to know before treatment
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has approved and released an evidence-based clinical practice guideline on "The Treatment of Glenohumeral Joint Osteoarthritis." This major joint in the shoulder — the ball and socket joint — is sometimes affected by osteoarthritis, causing pain, loss of function, and reduced quality of life.
Mental health woes grow while spending declines
As the current global economic crisis drives up the demand for mental health care services, cash-strapped agencies are slashing mental health budgets, according to a new Brandeis University study out this month in the International Journal of Mental Health. However, while most nations are cutting spending, a handful of countries are earmarking funding to meet the anticipated growth in mental health problems.
More than half the world's population gets insufficient vitamin D
Vitamin D surfaces as a news topic every few months. How much daily vitamin D should a person get? Is it possible to have too much of it? Is exposure to the sun, which is the body's natural way of producing vitamin D, the best option? Or do supplements suffice?
Researchers discover possible way to predict Alzheimer's
(PhysOrg.com) -- Two new studies, involving a newly identified gene, show that Alzheimer's disease could be diagnosed as much as 20 years before symptoms develop.
Researchers find dementia in diabetics differs from dementia in nondiabetics
Researchers from Mayo Clinic's Florida campus say that dementia in some diabetics appears to be caused often by vascular disease in the brain, and the dementia that develops in people without diabetes is more likely associated with deposition of the plaque seen in people with Alzheimer's disease.
Hurricane Katrina's effects on children: Resilience and gender
Rebuilding schools after Hurricane Katrina and providing supportive environments and relationships have helped many children reduce their levels of overall trauma from the hurricane that devastated the Gulf Coast in August 2005, according to a new study. A second study found that girls had distinct stress reactions from boys in the aftermath of the storm.
Diabetes shouldn't deter young athletes: study
A new study led by York University researchers finds that young athletes with Type 1 diabetes may experience a marked decrease in performance as a result of their blood sugar levels.
Young children especially vulnerable to effects of 9/11
Two new longitudinal studies show that age played an important role in the effects of the September 11, 2001 (9/11) terrorist attacks on New York City. Both studies appear in a special section on children and disaster in the July/August 2010 issue of the journal Child Development.
Largest study of genomes and cancer treatments releases first results
The largest study to correlate genetics with response to cancer drugs releases its first results today. The researchers behind the study, based at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, describe in this initial dataset the responses of 350 cancer samples to 18 anticancer therapeutics.
Toxicity increases with combined chemo/radiation treatments for nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Although the standard practice of treating patients with advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma using radiation and chemotherapy may reduce cancer deaths compared to patients treated with radiation alone, non-cancer related deaths and toxicity problems have been shown to increase, according to a recent study published online in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Steroids help preserve kidney function in type of kidney disease
For patients with IgA nephropathy, a type of kidney disease, steroid treatment can prevent or delay loss of kidney function, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). IgA nephropathy is an autoimmune disease that affects the kidneys and a major cause of end-stage kidney failure in younger people.
Morning test helps doctors save kidneys
A morning urine test is superior to all other tests for detecting declining kidney performance in patients with diabetic kidney disease, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The results suggest that clinicians should monitor kidney function by measuring the albumin:creatinine ratio from a first morning urine sample.
Persons of African and Hispanic heritage at higher risk of chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease affects millions in North America, with persons of African heritage being at a four-fold higher risk and those of Hispanic heritage having a two-fold higher risk compared to the rest of the population. An international study carried out by Dr. Karl Skorecki, from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, and his team points to the APOL1 gene as involved in the increased risk of kidney disease in this high-risk population. The results are to be published online in Springer's journal Human Genetics.
Wood smoke exposure multiplies damage from smoking, increases risk of COPD
Smokers who are exposed to wood smoke, either through home heating and cooking or through ambient neighborhood pollution, are not only at increased risk of COPD, but are also more likely to have epigenetic changes in the DNA that further increase their risk of COPD and related pulmonary problems.
Could waiting 2 minutes improve how newborns recover from heart surgery?
A newly funded study is set to determine whether waiting two minutes to clamp a newborn's umbilical cord after delivery could improve how well he or she recovers from corrective heart surgery.
Report outlines knowledge gaps for 20 suspected carcinogens
A new report from the American Cancer Society and other world-leading health groups identifies gaps in research for 20 suspected carcinogens whose potential to cause cancer is as yet unresolved. The report is designed to prioritize agents for additional research, and to lead to well-planned epidemiologic or mechanistic studies leading to more definitive classification of these agents.
Researchers cut years from drug development with nanoscopic bead technology
New research accepted by the Journal of Molecular Recognition confirms that a revolutionary technology developed at Wake Forest University will slash years off the time it takes to develop drugs - bringing vital new treatments to patients much more quickly.
Some preventive care to have no out-of-pocket cost
(AP) -- From counseling for kids who struggle with their weight, to cancer screenings for their parents, preventive health care will soon be available at no out-of-pocket cost under consumer rules the Obama administration unveiled Wednesday.
The probability of surviving nine types of cancer is analyzed
Spanish epidemiologists have presented information on survival of nine types of cancer in Spain and have compared it with other European countries. At five years from diagnosis, the lowest survival rate is observed in lung cancer (less than 11 percent), and the highest in testicular cancer (95 percent). Cancer survival in Spain is at the European average.
Behavior problems in school linked to 2 types of families
Contrary to Leo Tolstoy's famous observation that "happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way," a new psychology study confirms that unhappy families, in fact, are unhappy in two distinct ways. And these dual patterns of unhealthy family relationships lead to a host of specific difficulties for children during their early school years.
Researchers find cause of metabolic disease -- and possible cure
An international team of scientists, led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, has discovered the gene mutation responsible for a condition in which eye and brain development is severely disrupted in affected infants.
Southampton scientists reveal crucial dementia vaccine findings
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists from the University of Southampton presented findings this week at the world's biggest dementia research conference on a vaccine trial for dementia. The study, funded by the Alzheimer's Research Trust, has revealed important new evidence about the hallmark protein build-up that takes place during Alzheimer's.
New discovery brings hope to treatment of incurable blood cancer
Multiple myeloma is one of the most common blood cancers, and at present considered to be incurable. In a new study from Uppsala University, researchers now present a conceptually new model for the development and progression of multiple myeloma. The study was done in collaboration with Vrije Universitet Brussels and is published in the July edition of the on-line journal PLoS ONE.
Stroke risk temporarily increases for an hour after drinking alcohol
Call it the not-so-happy hour. The risk of stroke appears to double in the hour after consuming just one drink — be it wine, beer or hard liquor — according to a small multi-center study reported in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Rescuing fruit flies from Alzheimer's disease
Investigators have found that fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) males -- in which the activity of an Alzheimer's disease protein is reduced by 50 percent -- show impairments in learning and memory as they age. What's more, the researchers were able to prevent the age-related deficits by treating the flies with drugs such as lithium, or by genetic manipulations that reduced nerve-cell signaling.
FDA panel rejects experimental weight loss pill
(AP) -- A panel of federal health experts dealt a surprising setback Thursday to a highly anticipated anti-obesity pill from Vivus Inc., saying the drug's side effects outweigh its ability to help patients lose weight.
Microbial protein restores vision in blind animals
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists from the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI) restore vision in retinitis pigmentosa using an archaebacterial protein. Introducing halorhodopsin into the remaining but nonfunctional cone photoreceptors of the retina of mice not only reactivates the cone cells' ability to interact with the rest of the visual system, it also prompts sophisticating visually guided behavior.
Part of the brain that tracks limbs in space discovered
Scientists have discovered the part of the brain that tracks the position of our limbs as we move through space.
Bright stars of the brain regulate breathing
Astrocytes - brain cells named after their characteristic star-shape and previously thought to act only as the 'glue' between neurons, have a central role in the regulation of breathing, according to scientists.
New role for master regulator in cell metabolism, response to stress
AMP-activated protein kinase, or AMPK, is a master regulator protein of metabolism that is conserved from yeast to humans. When a cell is low on fuel, AMPK shuts down processes that use energy and turns on processes that produce energy.
Investigators identify gene associated with kidney disease in African-American population
Kidney disease is a growing public health problem, with approximately half a million individuals in the United States requiring dialysis treatments to replace the function of their failed kidneys. The problem is particularly acute among African Americans, whose rates of kidney disease are four times higher than those of European Americans.
Bioartificial lungs transplanted into rats (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers in the US have grown lungs in their laboratory and transplanted them into rats. The transplanted lungs functioned for up to six hours. The current work follows independent research announced last month by Yale University, in which the first ever bioengineered lung tissue was transplanted into rats. In those experiments the tissue carried out gas exchange for only two hours.
Scientists advance universal flu vaccine
A universal influenza vaccine - so-called because it could potentially provide protection from all flu strains for decades - may become a reality because of research led by scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.
Biology news
Scientists counter brucellosis threat to livestock and wildlife
Armed with dart guns and medical pellets, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists are vaccinating bison in and around Yellowstone National Park against brucellosis.
Histone modifications control accessibility of DNA
(PhysOrg.com) -- n an advanced online publication in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology scientist from Dirk Schübeler's group from the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research provide a genome-wide view of histone modifications and its influence on DNA accessibility. Their results expand the established break-up of chromatin into euchromatin and heterochomatin to a more complex pattern and link it to histone modifications.
US sea turtle populations difficult to estimate or protect without more data
The population sizes of six species of sea turtles listed as either endangered or threatened in the United States cannot be accurately determined based on currently available information, says a new report from the National Research Council. The report adds that key data regarding birth and survival rates, breeding patterns, and other information will be required to predict and understand changes in populations and create successful management and conservation plans. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) should develop a national plan to assess sea turtle populations, improve the coordination of collecting data and sharing it with other organizations, and establish an external review of the data and models used to estimate the current sea turtle population and predict future population levels.
A new molecular technique detects Anisakis in all fish
A new method enables anisakids to be detected in any fish product, from a whole fish, fresh or frozen, to tinned fish and surimi. Developed by Spanish scientists, the system is based on molecular techniques and overcomes the limitations of traditional procedures.
Brain size associated with longevity
Mammals with larger brains in relation to body size tend to live longer. This is the conclusion reached by researchers at the Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF), affiliated to Universitat Autňnoma de Barcelona, after having analysed almost 500 mammal species and obtaining new data on the relation between brain size and lifespan.
Research shows how cranberry juice fights bacteria at the molecular level
Revealing the science behind the homespun advice, a team of researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has identified and measured the molecular forces that enable cranberry juice to fight off urinary tract infections in people.
The Secrets of Longevity
(PhysOrg.com) -- A complex network of genes, in combination with a low-calorie diet and exercise, appears to be a key factor in a long life expectancy. Professor Johan Auwerx's team has published an article on this topic in Cell magazine.
The first malaria-proof mosquito
For years, researchers worldwide have attempted to create genetically altered mosquitoes that cannot infect humans with malaria. Those efforts fell short because the mosquitoes still were capable of transmitting the disease-causing pathogen, only in lower numbers.
Great apes 'play' tag to keep competitive advantage (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Gorillas hit-and-run in 'games' of tag in the same way humans do and for the same reason - to keep their competitive advantage, a new study has found.
The secret to sniffing out a safe supper
When mice smell the scent of food on the breath of their fellow mice, they use that experience to decide what's safe to eat in the future. Key in that learning process is the pairing of a particular odor with a chemical ingredient found in mouse breath, scientists knew. What they didn't know was how mice manage to sniff that connection out. According to a report published online on July 15th in Current Biology, now they do.
Retrovirus replication process different than thought
How a retrovirus, like HIV, reproduces and assembles new viruses is different than previously thought, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers. Understanding the steps a virus takes for assembly could allow development of a way to prevent the spread of retroviral diseases.
UM scientists demonstrate role of RNA polymerase in gene transcription
In all organisms, RNA synthesis is carried out by proteins - known as RNA polymerases (RNAPs) - that transcribe the genetic information from DNA in a highly-regulated, multi-stage process. RNAP is the key enzyme involved in creating an equivalent RNA copy of a sequence of DNA. This transcription is the first step leading to gene expression. While the major steps in RNA synthesis have been known for several decades, scientists have only recently begun to decipher the detailed molecular steps of the complex transcription process.
Friendly viruses in the intestine are unique - even among identical twins
(PhysOrg.com) -- Many people associate viruses with disease. But a largely unexplored world of viruses make their home in the lower intestine, and new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that each of us harbors a unique collection of these 'friendly' viruses.
Scientists develop new way to grow adult stem cells in culture
Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have developed a technique they believe will help scientists overcome a major hurdle to the use of adult stem cells for treating muscular dystrophy and other muscle-wasting disorders that accompany aging or disease: They've found that growing muscle stem cells on a specially developed synthetic matrix that mimics the elasticity of real muscle allows them to maintain their self-renewing properties.
Small fish exploits forbidding environment
Jellyfish moved into the oceans off the coast of southwest Africa when the sardine population crashed. Now another small fish is living in the oxygen-depleted zone part-time and turning the once ecologically dead-end jellyfish into dinner, according to an international team of scientists.
Scientists discover human sperm gene is 600 million years old
Just as styles in sexy clothes or fashion change from year to year and culture to culture, "sexy" genes, or genes specific to sex, also change rapidly. But there is one sex-specific gene so vital, its function has remained unaltered throughout evolution and is found in almost all animals, according to new research from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
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