Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for July 8, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- High reliability of flexible organic transistor memory looks promising for future electronics- Solar plane lands after completing 24-hour flight
- The North Pacific, a global backup generator for past climate change
- Fireflies blink in synch to send a uniform message (w/ Video)
- Scientists find antibodies that prevent most HIV strains from infecting human cells
- Mom's influence comes first: Maternal genes dominate in developing brains, while paternal ones lead in adult-hood
- Origins of multicellularity: All in the family
- US Cyber Command logo contains coded message
- Alternative evolution: Why change your own genes when you can borrow someone else's?
- A chemical to make brain cells grow: Mental decline thwarted in aging rats
- Mouseless, the 'invisible' computer mouse (w/ Video)
- Physicists find new parallel between cold gases and 'hot' superconductors
- Recipes for Renegade Planets
- Musical skill reflects working memory capacity in addition to practice time
- Extra-large smart-phone screens don't always give best results
Space & Earth news
Anti-whaling group says activist ban 'a strategy'
(AP) -- An anti-whaling group banned one of its members for carrying a weapon onboard ship as a strategy to help him avoid prison in Japan, and he's free to rejoin its protests, the group's leader said Thursday.
Image: Apollo 16: Footsteps Under High Sun
(PhysOrg.com) -- The lunar module Orion landed in the Descartes Highlands of the moon on April 21, 1972. The Apollo 16 mission targeted a highland region. Originally thought to be a volcanic site, the samples returned by Apollo 16 actually indicated that the highlands of the moon primarily consist of impact-formed rocks (breccias), a substantial scientific result.
Rosetta lines up for spectacular asteroid flyby
(PhysOrg.com) -- On 10 July, ESA's Rosetta will fly past 21 Lutetia, the largest asteroid ever visited by a satellite. After weeks of manoeuvres and a challenging optical navigation campaign, Rosetta is perfectly lined up to skim by at 3162 km at 18:10 CEST.
La Nina developing, could mean more hurricanes
(AP) -- The climate phenomenon known as La Nina appears to be developing, threatening more bad news in the efforts to clean up the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Rainy forecast douses plans to view Easter Island eclipse
Easter Island will be overcast and drizzly Sunday, weather experts said -- a disappointing forecast for thousands hoping to view what would be, if the weather cooperates, a spectacular solar eclipse.
Rain of giant gas clouds create active galactic nuclei
Galaxies like our own were built billions of years ago from a deluge of giant clouds of gas, some of which continue to rain down. Now new calculations tie the rain of giant clouds of gas to active galactic nuclei (AGN), the extremely bright centers of some galaxies. If a gas cloud with millions of times more mass than our Sun wanders too close to the center of a galaxy, it can either be consumed by the supermassive black hole that lurks there or, through shocks and collapse, give birth to new stars.
Heat waves could be commonplace in the US by 2039, Stanford study finds
Exceptionally long heat waves and other hot events could become commonplace in the United States in the next 30 years, according to a new study by Stanford University climate scientists.
Geoscientists find clues to why first Sumatran earthquake was deadlier than second
An international team of geoscientists has uncovered geological differences between two segments of an earthquake fault that may explain why the 2004 Sumatra Boxing Day Tsunami was so much more devastating than a second earthquake generated tsunami three months later. This could help solve what was a lingering mystery for earthquake researchers.
Saturn Propellers Reflect Solar System Origins
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists using NASA's Cassini spacecraft at Saturn have stalked a new class of moons in the rings of Saturn that create distinctive propeller-shaped gaps in ring material. It marks the first time scientists have been able to track the orbits of individual objects in a debris disk. The research gives scientists an opportunity to time-travel back into the history of our solar system to reveal clues about disks around other stars in our universe that are too far away to observe directly.
Recipes for Renegade Planets
Recent discoveries of gas giant planets in unusual orbits challenge the generally accepted theory of planet formation. While these discoveries do not disprove the theory, they have opened our eyes to chaotic solar systems quite unlike our own.
The North Pacific, a global backup generator for past climate change
Toward the end of the last ice age, a major reorganization took place in the current system of the North Pacific with far-reaching implications for climate, according to a new study published in the July 9, 2010, issue of Science by an international team of scientists from Japan, Hawaii, and Belgium.
Technology news
Repeat of SKorea, US cyberattacks does no damage
(AP) -- Hundreds of computers that caused a wave of outages on U.S. and South Korean government websites last July launched new attacks on the same sites, but no major damage was reported, police said Thursday.
Computer imaging that aids science
Miriah Meyer isn't a biologist, but she helps biologists better understand their work.
Team Solves 1991 Cold-Case
(PhysOrg.com) -- Carnegie Mellon Innovations Lab (CMIL) in collaboration with the NASA Payload Directed Flight research team from the Intelligent Systems Division at NASA Ames, and the United States Geological Survey in Menlo Park, Calif., assisted the County of Santa Clara's District Attorney's Office in solving a 1991 cold case murder investigation.
Carnegie Mellon maglev haptic interface wins R&D 100 award
A magnetic levitation haptic interface invented by Ralph Hollis, a professor in Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute, is the recipient of a 2010 R&D 100 Award, presented by R&D Magazine to recognize the 100 most technologically significant products of the past year. Hollis and other winners, listed on the R&D Awards website, rdmag.com, will be recognized at an awards banquet Nov. 11 in Orlando, Fla.
Fincher's 'Social Network' to open NY Film Fest
(AP) -- David Fincher's "The Social Network" will be the opening night film at the New York Film Festival.
YouTube wants viewers to 'leanback,' stay longer
(AP) -- YouTube is trying to become as brainless and painless to watch as the boob tube. In the process, the Web's leading video site hopes to learn enough about its viewers to replace their remote control.
Facebook deal means virtual 'credits' can be bought in shops
Facebook signed a deal with a Malaysian company on Thursday allowing a virtual currency for online games and services to be sold at retail shops across Asia for the first time.
US program to detect cyberattacks on companies, agencies
The United States is launching a program to detect cyberattacks on private US companies and government agencies running critical infrastructure such as the electricity grid and nuclear power plants, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.
Cathay Pacific plans on-board web, phone service
Cathay Pacific has announced plans to fit its entire fleet with full broadband Internet access, a mobile phone service and even live television.
Software security patent to help improve health IT privacy
A computer security invention patented* a decade ago at the National Institute of Standards and Technology is now poised to help safeguard patient privacy in hospitals.
Hydrogen distribution not an option in biomass gasification
When using fuel cells to generate electricity from biomass, the best approach is to do so centrally, in combination with a gas turbine. The production and subsequent distribution of hydrogen is an inefficient process. This is the view of Richard Toonssen, who will defend his doctoral dissertation on this subject at TU Delft in the Netherlands on Thursday 8 July.
France, Netherlands seek to halt Internet censorship
France and the Netherlands called Thursday for international guidelines to prevent private firms from exporting high-tech equipment that could be used for Internet censorship.
Building Better Batteries for Cars and Spacecraft
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA and NREL combine experience and experiments to make safer more reliable batteries for outer space and Interstates.
Woven electronics
Electrical engineers from ETH Zurich have devised intelligent textiles that already have electronic components such as sensors and conductive filaments woven into them. The advantage: the fabric can be mass-produced on conventional ribbon looms - and washed.
PayPal, Tesla founder goes public on divorce
Elon Musk, the Web entrepreneur behind PayPal, Tesla Motors and SpaceX, published a lengthy account of his messy divorce proceedings on Thursday, saying he wanted to correct the record.
World of Warcraft fans rail against Blizzard real names plan
Activision Blizzard, maker of World of Warcraft and other popular videogames, is drawing fire over its plan to require users of its discussion forums to start posting their real names.
Firefox 4 Beta 1: Overview of Changes and Performance
(PhysOrg.com) -- In the latest version of Firefox's free, open-source Web browser, you will notice some visual changes like tabs on top similar to Google Chrome and single button menu similar to Office 2007. Firefox 4 also supports Google WebM HTML5 video format and offers faster JavaScript performance.
Microsoft to introduce new smart-phone operating system: Windows Phone 7
Microsoft is the undisputed king of operating systems -- except for the ones you hold in your hand. The company, whose Windows software dominates on desktops and laptops, has been also developing systems for mobile phones for more than a decade.
Easy-access Android spreads more quickly than iPhone
When Beth Mezias lost her software job at Adobe in a downsizing at the end of 2008, she surrendered her employer-issued iPhone and bought an Android phone instead. "And," she said, "I got on the bandwagon."
Solar plane lands after completing 24-hour flight
An experimental solar-powered plane landed safely Thursday after completing its first 24-hour test flight, proving that the aircraft can collect enough energy from the sun during the day to stay aloft all night.
Mouseless, the 'invisible' computer mouse (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Mouseless is a computer mouse that allows you to interact with a computer with a mouse in the same way as usual - except that there is no mouse hardware. The researchers call it an "invisible mouse."
US Cyber Command logo contains coded message
9ec4c12949a4f31474f299058ce2b22a. That's not garble, it's the coded message inscribed in the logo of the newly created US Cyber Command.
Medicine & Health news
Surgery linked to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
A new study spearheaded by Spanish scientists demonstrates a causal relationship between the onset of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), caused by a protein called a prion, and general surgery. CJD manifests itself in hereditary acquired; and sporadic forms, or for unknown reasons, which accounts for the majority of cases.
ESMO publishes updated guidelines on cancer care
The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) just released an enhanced and revised set of clinical recommendations designed to help oncologists deliver the best quality care to their patients.
Simple diagnostic tool predicts Type 2 diabetes in Southeast Asians
Australian and Vietnamese researchers have estimated the current prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in Vietnam, and have developed a simple tool for identifying individuals at high risk.
Is biopsy avoidable on diagnosis of celiac disease?
A research team from Argentina explored the accuracy of all available serological markers in diagnosing the disorder in the theoretical context of avoiding the invasive intestinal biopsy. They found that the DGP/tTG Screen assay was the best initial test for suspected celiac disease. Combinations of assays might be able to diagnose celiac disease accurately, avoiding biopsy in almost 92 percent of subjects under study.
Perfusion CT may be used as a noninvasive tool in detection of hepatic toxicity
A research team from China investigated the microcirculation changes in liver of patients with tumor during chemotherapy by perfusion computed tomography (CT). Their study suggested that chemotherapy affects hepatic microcirculation in patients with tumor. Changes in hepatic microcirculation can be quantitatively assessed by perfusion CT.
Functional MRI may predict response of hepatocellular carcinoma to chemoembolization
A research team from United States investigated whether intra-procedural diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging can predict response of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) during transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Their results indicated that intra-procedural apparent diffusion coefficient changes of > 15 percent predicted 1-mo anatomical HCC response with the greatest accuracy, and can provide valuable feedback at the time of TACE.
A massage is proven to relieve psychophysiological state of patients with chronic headache
Spanish researchers at the University of Granada -in collaboration with the Clinical Hospital San Cecilio and the University Rey Juan Carlos- have proven that the psychological and physiological state of patients with tension headache improves within 24 hours after receiving a 30-minute massage.
SNM cautions that Canada's Chalk River coming back online will not solve long-term isotope shortage
SNM is optimistic that the anticipated recommencement of the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL)-run National Research Universal (NRU) reactor in Chalk River, Canada, will provide short-term relief to the isotope shortage that has been plaguing patients and the nuclear medicine community for more than one year. However, SNM cautions that the restart of this reactor will not solve the ongoing production and supply issues causing the crisis.
Electronic health records prime clinicians to provide progressive care to older adults
In 20 years, approximately 72 million older adults will reside in the United States, almost double the current number, according to the U.S. Administration on Aging. Potential issues are compounded by the projected shortage of health care workers needed to provide elder care. As part of the solution, an interdisciplinary team of University of Missouri researchers is refining electronic health record (EHR) technology to more efficiently meet increasing health care demands.
Endoscopic ultrasound evaluation is associated with improved outcomes in pancreatic cancer patients
A new study has found that endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is associated with improved outcomes in patients with localized pancreatic cancer, possibly due to the detection of earlier cancers and improved stage-appropriate management, including more selective performance of curative intent surgery. This is the first study to analyze a large population-based cancer registry and demonstrate that EUS evaluation is associated with improved pancreatic cancer survival. The study appears in the July issue of GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE).
Researcher developing novel therapy for Alzheimer's disease
A University of Oklahoma researcher is developing a novel therapy for Alzheimer's disease using "biopharmaceutical proteases" to attack the toxic plaque that builds up in the brain of an Alzheimer's patient -- an approach that he predicts will be lower in cost and higher in effectiveness than current therapies.
Heart beat may provide clues to kidney health
Individuals with a high resting heart rate and a low beat-to-beat heart rate variability have an increased risk of developing kidney disease, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The findings suggest that the behavior of the autonomic nervous system may be a sentinel marker for late development of certain cases of kidney disease.
Canadian medical reactor gets nod to restart
Canada's nuclear safety commission authorized Wednesday the restarting of a reactor that produced one-third of the world's supply of medical isotopes before it closed for repairs last year.
USF receives patent for technology to improve treatment for neurodegenerative diseases
The University of South Florida's Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair has been granted a patent for a cell transplantation procedure combining human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) cells and a sugar-alcohol compound called "mannitol" that may make a big difference in treating life-threatening neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and stroke, among others.
One in five preschoolers in the US demonstrates mental health issues when entering kindergarten
Social competence and behavior problems that are evident at kindergarten and first grade are known to be strong predictors of a child's academic and social functioning. However, findings reported in the July issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry suggest that psychosocial risk factors can be identified even earlier and can be observed during the transition from preschool to formal schooling.
Severe angina poses 3 times the coronary artery disease risk for women than men
Women who have the most serious form of angina are three times as likely to develop severe coronary artery disease (CAD) as men with the same condition, according to the July issue of the Journal of Internal Medicine.
Professor discovers way to slow the growth of malignant melanoma
New Queen's University research has shown that the growth of melanoma, one of the most deadly forms of skin cancer, can be slowed when a little known gene called MicroRNA 193b is added.
HPV DNA testing over 50 percent more sensitive than cytology testing
HPV DNA testing for precancers and cervical cancers is over 50 per cent more sensitive than cytology testing for the same conditions a community-based study in Mexico has revealed. Results of the largest HPV DNA primary screening study ever to be performed in a Latin American country point to the readiness of HPV DNA testing for large-scale implementation in Mexico and are published online today in Cancer, Causes and Controls.
Study confirms that methadone works and saves lives for injecting drug users
Research carried out by the universities of Bristol, Cambridge and Edinburgh found that opiate substitution treatment reduced the frequency of drug use and led to a drop in the risk of death by 13 per cent each year.
A healthy mind makes a healthy body in teens
Happier youths are also healthier youths, according to Emily Shaffer-Hudkins and her team, from the University of South Florida in the US. Adolescents' positive emotions and moods, as well as their satisfaction with life, could be more important than their anxiety or depression levels for predicting their physical health, they argue. Looking at teenagers' so-called 'subjective well-being' could help identify those likely to develop health problems in the future and target them with appropriate prevention strategies. Shaffer-Hudkins' work is published in Springer's journal Applied Research in Quality of Life.
Vitamin B3 as a novel approach to treat fungal infections
A team of scientists from the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the University of Montreal have identified vitamin B3 as a potential antifungal treatment. Led by IRIC Principal Investigators Martine Raymond, Alain Verreault and Pierre Thibault, in collaboration with Alaka Mullick, from the Biotechnology Research Institute of the National Research Council Canada, the study is the subject of a recent article in Nature Medicine.
HIV gains at risk as nations and global organizations retreat on funding and resource commitments
In a policy report published in Science, an internationally recognized peer-reviewed journal, leading experts in HIV/AIDS research have warned that failure to meet a pledge for universal access to HIV therapy and funding cuts to prevention and treatment programs are poised to deliver a major setback in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Study Suggests Link Between Scleroderma, Cancer in Certain Patients
Patients with a certain type of scleroderma may get cancer and scleroderma simultaneously, Johns Hopkins researchers have found, suggesting that in some diseases, autoimmunity and cancer may be linked.
Baseline PSA predicts risk of death from prostate cancer
Men who have a baseline PSA value of 10 or higher the first time they are tested are up to 11 times more likely to die from prostate cancer than are men with lower initial values, according to Duke University Medical Center researchers.
Depression, Poor Social Skills Are Linked
(PhysOrg.com) -- Depression is widely accepted as a medical diagnosis, but focusing exclusively on the biological side misses important points about why people become depressed. Chris Segrin, who heads the UA's communication department, argues for a more expansive understanding of depression, one that merges its biological and social influences.
Who is likely to become a bully, victim or both?
Children and adolescents who lack social problem-solving skills are more at risk of becoming bullies, victims or both than those who don't have these difficulties, says new research published by the American Psychological Association. But those who are also having academic troubles are even likelier to become bullies.
Scientists reprogram triple-negative breast cancer cells to respond to tamoxifen
Using a small molecule decoy, investigators funded by the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation have managed to block protein interactions and induce epigenetic reprogramming in human and mouse breast cancer cells, essentially changing the gene expression of breast cancer cells to behave in a more normal manner. The research illustrates what may perhaps become an effective targeted epigenetic therapy in breast cancer. Interestingly, the targeted treatment showed exciting results in triple-negative breast cancer cells, reverting their function and appearance, and sensitizing them to tamoxifen and retinoids.
Hopkins team discovers sweet way to detect prediabetes
Having discovered a dramatic increase of an easy-to-detect enzyme in the red blood cells of people with diabetes and prediabetes, Johns Hopkins scientists say the discovery could lead to a simple, routine test for detecting the subtle onset of the disease, before symptoms or complications occur and in time to reverse its course.
Hereditary kidney disease linked to genetic location
An in-depth study of a family with multiple generations affected by kidney disease has identified a previously unknown location for a gene abnormality causing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).
Antibody may help treat and prevent influenza outbreaks
Researchers have discovered a monoclonal antibody that is effective against "Avian" H5N1, seasonal H1N1 and the 2009 "Swine" H1N1 influenza. Scientists at Sea Lane Biotechnologies, LLC, in collaboration with Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, St. Jude Research Hospital and the Scripps Research Institute, have shown that this antibody potently prevents and treats the Swine H1N1 influenza in mouse models of the disease. Results are published July 8 in the open-access journal PLoS Pathogens.
Full face transplant, with tear ducts, a world first
French doctors have carried out a successful full-face transplant -- eyelids, tear ducts and all -- on a 35-year-old man, the hospital where the operation took place confirmed on Thursday.
'Stem cell detectives' uncover potential cancer cause
(PhysOrg.com) -- Australian researchers have uncovered a new mutation in stem cells that may be linked to the development of leukaemia, breast and colon cancer.
Housing upgrade shrinks tumors in mice with cancer
When mice with cancer get a boost in their social life and an upgrade in living conditions, their tumors shrink, and their cancers more often go into spontaneous remission Reported in the July 9th issue of the journal Cell, these findings offer powerful new evidence of the critical role that social connection and an individual's mental state, may play in cancer.
Human genome: the hunt continues for 'malicious proteins'
Scientific advances of the past decade, such as the sequencing of the human genome, have opened up compelling new fields of research on the interaction of the body's 21,000 proteins, and the role they play in cancer and other diseases.
Musical skill reflects working memory capacity in addition to practice time
but it's not going to turn you into Liberace. A new study looks at the role that working memory capacity plays in piano players' ability to sight read a new piece of music, an important and complex skill for musicians.
DNA discovery opens new door to develop tools, therapies for hereditary cancers (w/ Video)
By solving the three-dimensional structure of a protein involved in repairing DNA errors, a group of McMaster University researchers have revealed new avenues to develop assessment tools and alternative treatments for people living with hereditary colorectal cancers.
Protein that predicts prognosis of leukemia patients may also be a therapeutic target
Researchers at Whitehead Institute and Children's Hospital Boston have identified a protein, called Musashi 2, that is predictive of prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients.
A chemical to make brain cells grow: Mental decline thwarted in aging rats
Scientists have discovered a compound that restores the capacity to form new memories in aging rats, likely by improving the survival of newborn neurons in the brain's memory hub. The research, funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, has turned up clues to a neuroprotective mechanism that could lead to a treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
Scientists find antibodies that prevent most HIV strains from infecting human cells
Scientists have discovered two potent human antibodies that can stop more than 90 percent of known global HIV strains from infecting human cells in the laboratory, and have demonstrated how one of these disease-fighting proteins accomplishes this feat. According to the scientists, these antibodies could be used to design improved HIV vaccines, or could be further developed to prevent or treat HIV infection. Moreover, the method used to find these antibodies could be applied to isolate therapeutic antibodies for other infectious diseases as well.
Mom's influence comes first: Maternal genes dominate in developing brains, while paternal ones lead in adult-hood
(PhysOrg.com) -- Genome-wide analysis of mice brains has found that maternally inherited genes are expressed preferentially in the developing brain, while the pattern shifts decisively in favor of paternal influence by adulthood.
Biology news
New approach helps teachers integrate conservation biology into high school ecology classes
Framing familiar environmental issues in everyday language—whether the topic is a Gulf Coast oil spill or the spread of Lyme disease—may be the key to successfully engaging high school students with conservation biology research in their ecology classes. A study, presented in the latest issue of Conservation Biology by Yael Wyner, an assistant professor at the City College of New York, and Rob DeSalle, a curator in the Division of Invertebrate Zoology at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), advocates a pedagogical model where students learn about normal ecological processes (biodiversity and ecological integrity) by studying what goes wrong when human actions disturb those processes.
Study: Rhode Island waters can support continued growth of oyster aquaculture
The rapid growth of the oyster aquaculture industry in Rhode Island has raised questions about how many oyster farms Narragansett Bay and the state's salt ponds can support. But a study by a University of Rhode Island graduate student has found that these ecosystems can withstand continued high rates of aquaculture growth without causing ecological harm.
Canine influenza vaccine found effective against secondary infections
(PhysOrg.com) -- Recent research by Ron Schultz, professor and chair of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, has shown the newly approved Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) vaccine to be effective not only in reducing length, severity and spread of the virus, but also in protecting against secondary infections.
Gene knockout makes female mice masculine
The mammalian fucose mutarotase enzyme is known to be involved in incorporating the sugar fucose into protein. Female mice that lack the fucose mutarotase (FucM) gene refuse to let males mount them, and will attempt copulation with other female mice. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Genetics created the FucM mouse mutants in order to investigate the role of this enzyme in vivo.
'Magical thinking' about islands is an illusion
Long before TV's campy Fantasy Island, the isolation of island communities has touched an exotic and magical core in us. Darwin's fascination with the Galapagos island chain and the evolution of its plant and animal life is just one example.
A fateful pause: Genetic mechanism once thought rare may allow rapid cell production
We take our blood for granted, but its creation requires a complicated series of steps, starting with the formation of blood stem cells during early embryonic development, followed by progressive differentiation into the progenitors of red cells, white cells and platelets, and ultimately the full set of blood cells. Now, in the July 9 issue of Cell, researchers at Children's Hospital Boston report a surprising twist in how mature red blood cells form - which may explain the body's ability to rapidly replenish them in response to injury.
Intercellular communication: From 'cable-phone' to 'cell-phone'?
Secreted microRNAs (miRNAs) from cells to blood maybe the novel class of signaling molecules mediating intercellular/interorgan communication. A research article, published this week in Molecular Cell, reports that miRNA can be secreted from one type of cells and delivered into recipient cells, decreases targeted gene expression, thus, regulates recipient cell function.
Puffin 'sat-nav' solves mystery of feeding flight paths
Cutting edge technology is shedding light on the daily flight paths of puffins around the Farne Islands and providing clues that could be vital to the seabirds' survival.
Researchers discover new way diseases develop
Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have identified a previously unknown mechanism by which cells direct gene expression, the process by which information from a gene is used to direct the physical and behavioral development of individuals. The research, which may help scientists gain insight into how muscle and heart diseases develop, is published in the July 8th issue of Nature.
Biologists find a way to lower tumor risk in stem cell therapies
One of the characteristics of embryonic stem cells is their ability to form unusual tumors called teratomas. These tumors, which contain a mixture of cells from a variety of tissues and organs of the body, are typically benign. But they present a major obstacle to the development of human embryonic stem cell therapies that seek to treat a variety of human ailments such as Parkinson's, diabetes, genetic blood disorders and spinal cord injuries.
Scientists describe two new species of fish from area engulfed by oil spill
Although the Gulf of Mexico has been intensively surveyed by scientists and picked over by fishermen, it is still home to fishes that are waiting to be described. New research published in the Journal of Fish Biology describes two new species of pancake batfishes (Halieutichthys intermedius and H. bispinosus) and re-describes another (H. aculeatus), all of which live in waters either partially or fully encompassed by the recent oil spill.
Wild cat mimics monkey calls
In a fascinating example of vocal mimicry, researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and UFAM (Federal University of Amazonas) have documented a wild cat species imitating the call of its intended victim: a small, squirrel-sized monkey known as a pied tamarin. This is the first recorded instance of a wild cat species in the Americas mimicking the calls of its prey.
Researchers Present New Sex Evolution Theory
(PhysOrg.com) -- Harris Bernstein and Carol Bernstein have proposed a new theory on the billion-year-old mystery of sexual reproduction evolution.
Researchers Find 'Key Ingredient' That Regulates Termite Caste System
(PhysOrg.com) -- A North Carolina State University entomologist has for the first time shown which specific chemicals are used by some termite queens to prevent other termites in the colony from becoming mommies like themselves.
Redwood forest ecosystem of northern California depends on fog to stay hydrated during rainless summers
As the mercury rises outdoors, it's a fitting time to consider the effects of summertime droughts and global warming on ecosystems. Complex interactions among temperature, water cycling, and plant communities create a tangled web of questions that need to be answered as we face a rapidly changing climate.
Alternative evolution: Why change your own genes when you can borrow someone else's?
It has been a basic principle of evolution for more than a century that plants and animals can adapt genetically in ways that help them better survive and reproduce.
Origins of multicellularity: All in the family
One of the most pivotal steps in evolution-the transition from unicellular to multicellular organisms-may not have required as much retooling as commonly believed, found a globe-spanning collaboration of scientists led by researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and the US Department of Energy's Joint Genome Institute.
Fireflies blink in synch to send a uniform message (w/ Video)
For decades, scientists have speculated about why some fireflies exhibit synchronous flashing, in which large groups produce rhythmic, repeated flashes in unison - sometimes lighting up a whole forest at once. Now, the first experiments on the function of this phenomenon suggest that synchronous flashing preserves female fireflies' recognition of suitable mates. The results are reported in the July 9 issue of Science.
This email is a free service of PhysOrg.com
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
http://www.physorg.com/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as mail@joashmabs.com
No comments:
Post a Comment