Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for March 28, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- New fundamental limitation restricts position accuracy of quantum objects- Quantum explanation for how we smell gets new support
- Twinkle, twinkle, quantum dot -- new particles can change colors and tag molecules
- Catching cancer with carbon nanotubes
- Japan brings artificial intelligence to rockets
- Taming the flame: Electrical wave 'blaster' could provide new way to extinguish fires
- Replaying our days learning in our sleep (w/ video)
- New laser technology prepares to revolutionize communications
- Bigger, faster superphones in 4G, 3D and dual-core
- Hand-held NMR instrument yields rapid analysis of human tumors
- China rockets to second in science publications
- Google advances on mobile payment system, makes partnerships with MasterCard, Citigroup
- Biodegradable biopolymer nanoparticles hold promise for twin attack on breast cancer
- When cells divide
- To meet, greet or retreat during influenza outbreaks?
Space & Earth news
Managing grazing lands with fire improves profitability: experts
Texas Agrilife Research fire and brush control studies in the Rolling Plains on a working ranch-scale showed the benefits and limitations of managed fires for reducing mesquite encroachment while sustaining livestock production.
Chemists around the globe warn of world food production crisis
(PhysOrg.com) -- Global production of phosphorus fertiliser could peak and decline later this century, causing shortages and price spikes that jeopardise world food production, five major scientific societies warn today (March 27). Unless action is taken, the crisis will come at a time when the earth’s population surges past nine billion.
Scientists block ship-borne bioinvaders before they dock
The global economy depends on marine transportation. But in addition to cargo, the world's 50,000-plus commercial ships carry tiny stowaways that can cause huge problems for the environment and economy. A new model created by Smithsonian scientists will facilitate accurate screening of vessels for dangerous species before they unload. The team's findings are published today in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Work stopped on alternative cameras for Mars rover
(PhysOrg.com) -- The NASA rover to be launched to Mars this year will carry the Mast Camera (Mastcam) instrument already on the vehicle, providing the capability to meet the mission's science goals.
WHOI conducts latest search for Air France Flight 447
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is again teaming with French authorities to renew the international search for the deep-sea wreck site of Air France Flight 447 and to retrieve the flight recorders from the Airbus A 330.
Dark statistics
The hypothetical dark flow seen in the movement of galaxy clusters requires that we can reliably identify a clear statistical correlation in the motion of distant objects which are, in any case, flowing outwards with the expansion of the universe and may also have their own individual (or peculiar) motion arising from gravitational interactions.
Russian boreal forests undergoing vegetation change, study shows
the largest continuous expanse of forest in the world, found in the country's cold northern regions – is undergoing an accelerating large-scale shift in vegetation types as a result of globally and regionally warming climate. That in turn is creating an even warmer climate in the region, according to a new study published in the journal Global Change Biology and highlighted in the April issue of Nature Climate Change.
Post-oil transport needs 1.5-trillion-euro overhaul: EU
Europe's transport network will need a 1.5-trillion-euro private sector overhaul to meet the needs of a post-oil world and slash carbon emissions, the European Commission said Monday.
Japan lacking radioactive water storage: US experts
Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant may have run out of room to store radioactive water, US scientists said Monday after the plant operator reported leaks that could contaminate the ocean.
The dark side of spring? Pollution in our melting snow
With birds chirping and temperatures warming, spring is finally in the air. But for University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) environmental chemist Torsten Meyer, springtime has a dark side.
Radiation from Japan detected in Cleveland
A researcher at Case Western Reserve University has detected tiny amounts of Iodine 131 from Japan in rainwater collected from the roof of a campus building.
Even Canadian rocks are different
Canadians have always seen themselves as separate and distinct from their American neighbours to the south, and now they have geological proof.
Study sheds light on how heat is transported to Greenland glaciers
Warmer air is only part of the story when it comes to Greenland's rapidly melting ice sheet. New research by scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) highlights the role ocean circulation plays in transporting heat to glaciers.
Deep-sea volcanoes don't just produce lava flows, they also explode
Most deep-sea volcanoes produce effusive lava flows rather than explosive eruptions, both because the levels of magmatic gas tend to be low, and because the volcanoes are under a lot of pressure from the surrounding water. But by using an ion microprobe, Christoph Helo, a PhD student in McGill's Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, has now proved that explosive eruptions can also occur.
Billion-plus people to lack water in 2050: study
More than one billion urban residents will face serious water shortages by 2050 as climate change worsens effects of urbanization, with Indian cities among the worst hit, a study said Monday.
Wind can keep mountains from growing
Wind is a much more powerful force in the evolution of mountains than previously thought, according to a new report from a University of Arizona-led research team.
New studies sully reputation of biomass as clean and green
Simpson Tacoma Kraft would seem like one of the greener power plants. It boils water by burning sawdust, bark and wood shavings from saw mills and pulp mills, funneling the resulting high-pressure steam into a turbine to generate electricity.
Japan brings artificial intelligence to rockets
(PhysOrg.com) -- In order to look at trimming costs when it comes to rockets, researchers in Japan are looking to create a ‘smart’ rocket. With the use of artificial intelligence, they hope to create a rocket that can diagnose, and in some cases even repair, its own system malfunctions.
Technology news
Fewer Faults for Faster Computing
(PhysOrg.com) -- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) users have designed and implemented an efficient fault-tolerant version of the coupled cluster method for high-performance computational chemistry using in-memory data redundancy.
Philips warns over television sector losses
Dutch electronics giant Philips warned Monday that it expects losses of between 100-120 million euros ($140-169 million) from its television business as pricing pressures mount.
Global orchestra gives classics a modern stage
Classical violinist Paolo Calligopoulos says he pulled on the leather jacket, black fedora and sunglasses to perform an electric guitar solo for an online audition just for fun.
Bieber's 'Baby' most viewed video at YouTube
Pop star Justin Bieber's music video "Baby" has crossed 500 million views on YouTube and is the most watched ever on the video-sharing service that launched the boy music idol to fame.
Bargain-minded Chinese embrace group-buying craze
Like millions of Chinese, Liu Wen has fallen in love with group buying, which has electrified e-commerce in a country where getting the best possible discount is virtually a national pastime.
Meet Microsoft's guru of 'design matters'
Bill Buxton is multiplatform the way Leonardo da Vinci was multiplatform. The Microsoft researcher is a technologist, a designer, a musician, an author, outdoorsman and a nationally ranked equestrian.
Startup seeks fortune in iPhone bottle opener
A lot of Silicon Valley mythology centers on the idea of two guys in a garage. Well, this is a story about two guys who actually started their company in a garage.
Retailers want to sell you gadgets, buy them back later, and then sell them again
You know that shiny smart phone you bought six months ago? There's an even better one hitting the market right about now. Or how about that flat-panel TV you bought last year. Now they come in 3-D.
Internet pioneer Paul Baran dies in Calif. at 84
(AP) -- Paul Baran, whose work with packaging data in the 1960s has been credited with playing a role in the later development of the Internet, has died at age 84, his son said.
US experts unsure about Fukushima situation
US experts have expressed uncertainty about the seriousness of the situation at Japan's Fukushima nuclear complex, steering clear of speculation whether the core of one of the reactors there had been damaged.
Workshop offers geeks industrial-strength toys
(AP) -- In the tech-obsessed South of Market neighborhood that digital sensations like Twitter and Zynga call home, a newfangled workshop for would-be inventors blends a startup sensibility with the area's historic manufacturing roots to give geeks a chance to get out from behind the keyboard.
eBay to buy GSI Commerce for $2.4 billion
Online auction giant eBay announced Monday that it has agreed to acquire GSI Commerce, a provider of electronic commerce and interactive marketing services, for $29.25 a share or $2.4 billion.
Facebook may hire former Obama aide: NY Times
Facebook is in talks with former White House spokesman Robert Gibbs about taking a senior role in the company ahead of going public in early 2012, The New York Times reported Monday.
NASA computer servers vulnerable to attack: audit
NASA's inspector general warned Monday that computer servers used by the US space agency to control spacecraft were vulnerable to cyber attack through the Internet.
Twitter co-founder returns, to head product
Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey announced on Monday that he was returning to the high-flying company as executive chairman to head its product team.
NY Times begins charging online readers
The New York Times began charging online readers Monday for full access to its website and dangled a heavily discounted introductory offer intended to lure its first digital subscribers.
Sprint wants AT&T, T-Mobile deal blocked
Sprint Nextel, the third-largest US wireless provider, urged US regulators on Monday to block AT&T's $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA, saying it would harm competition.
SC lawmakers take a dim view of new light bulbs
(AP) -- South Carolina lawmakers are taking a stand in favor of states' lights.
Whose 4G is fastest? AT&T, Sprint or Verizon
Just because you slap a shiny label on something doesn't make it so. All the major wireless carriers are now touting faster 4G networks, but the networks themselves are far from identical.
Qatar figures out novel way to cool crowds for 2022 World Cup
(PhysOrg.com) -- In what should be viewed as a contender for some sort of science prize for originality, researchers at Qatar University have come up with an idea whereby artificial clouds might be used to hover over stadiums for the 2022 world cup, which the nation will be hosting eleven years from now, to overcome nearly non-stop sunlight and extreme heat.
Google advances on mobile payment system, makes partnerships with MasterCard, Citigroup
(PhysOrg.com) -- Google is making some new friends in the world of finance. They have announced partnerships with both MasterCard and Citigroup, that will allow users of Android-based phones to go shopping and pay with their smartphones at the register. Rumors about Google's exploration of near-field technology for payment processing have been floating around for some time now, but we finally have some specifics to drool over.
Medicine & Health news
Study finds changes in incidence of end-stage renal disease from lupus nephritis
New research documenting changes in the incidence and outcomes of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the U.S. between 1995 and 2006, found a significant increase in incidence rates among patients 5 to 39 years of age and in African Americans. A second related study—the largest pediatric lupus nephritis-associated ESRD study to date—revealed high rates of adverse outcomes among children with ESRD due to lupus nephritis. Despite novel therapies, outcomes have not improved in over a decade. Both studies now appear online in Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).
London Olympics pledge for more exercise flops
(AP) -- At a north London gym on a recent evening, Claire Palmer was busy pounding her gloved fists into a punching bag.
Scarred lungs leave trail of beta arrestins
Targeting a family of signaling proteins called beta arrestins may stop the life-threatening scarring and thickening of lungs associated with pulmonary fibrosis, reports a new Science study in mice.
New direction for epilepsy treatment
If common anticonvulsant drugs fail to manage epileptic seizures, then perhaps the anti-inflammatory route is the way to go. That's according to Mattia Maroso and colleagues from the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research in Milan, Italy, who found that giving mice repeated doses of a specific enzyme inhibitor significantly reduced both chronic epileptic activity and acute seizures. Their findings, published online in the Springer journal Neurotherapeutics, open up the possibility of a new target system for anticonvulsant drug intervention, to control epileptic activity that does not respond to certain anticonvulsant treatments.
Interventional radiologists advance MS research: Vein-opening treatment safe
Understanding that angioplasty -- a medical treatment used by interventional radiologists to widen the veins in the neck and chest to improve blood flow -- is safe may encourage additional studies for its use as a treatment option for individuals with multiple sclerosis, say researchers at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 36th Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, Ill.
Interventional Radiology Y-90 Liver Cancer-busting Treatment: Safe, Fast, Extends Life
Interventional radiologists have been the leaders in the use of intra-arterial yttrium-90 radioembolization, since its introduction in 2000, to treat liver cancer. Now, new results from a large multi-institutional study show that treating liver tumors with higher doses of Y-90 than previously tried is safe, provides results when chemotherapies have failed, preserves the patient's quality of life—and can be done on an outpatient basis. This study, presented by researchers at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 36th Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, Ill., further validates previous findings on the safety and efficacy of liver cancer treatments using Y-90.
Interventional radiology treatment takes blood pressure to new lows -- and results last
Interventional radiologists have completed the first human randomized controlled trial of therapeutic renal denervation or RDN—a procedure that uses a catheter-based probe inserted into the renal artery that emits high-frequency energy to deactivate the nerves near the kidneys (or in the renal artery) that are linked to high blood pressure. The researchers say these results confirm that RDN may be an effective therapy for reducing—and consistently controlling—resistant hypertension when current medications have failed. The results were presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 36th Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, Ill.
Interventional radiologists take lead on reducing disability from dangerous blood clots
Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT: it's more than just a one-time complication from taking a long plane ride. The Society of Interventional Radiology wants individuals to know the risk factors for this very serious condition, which can lead to post-thrombotic syndrome, pulmonary embolism, permanent damage to the leg and even death.
Larynx cancer treatment saves patients' voices
(PhysOrg.com) -- Jerry Young had had a routine endoscopy and assumed that the hoarseness that appeared in his voice was an after-effect of that exam. “If it doesn’t go away in a couple of weeks, make an appointment with an ENT,” his doctor told him. It didn’t and Young went to see an ear, nose and throat physician, who thought the redness on Young’s left vocal cord was caused by a virus.
Doctors treat adults' childhood heart defects
(PhysOrg.com) -- As director of the Adult Congenital Heart Disease clinic at Stanford, Daniel Murphy, MD, performs a job unheard of a generation ago. He cares for grown-up patients with cardiac defects that were once lethal in early life.
Study shows hunger hitting closer to home
A new study on hunger entitled "Map the Meal Gap" is the first study to identify the county-level distribution of over 50 million food-insecure Americans.
FDA warns of risks with Soladek vitamin solution
(AP) -- Federal health officials are warning consumers not to use Soladek vitamin solution because it may contain dangerously high levels of vitamins.
Other mental health medications no safer than atypical antipsychotics in nursing home residents
Conventional antipsychotics, antidepressants and benzodiazepines often administered to nursing home residents are no safer than atypical antipsychotics and may carry increased risks, according to an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
International Diabetes Federation supports surgery to treat diabetes
Bariatric surgery should be considered earlier in the treatment of eligible patients to help stem the serious complications that can result from diabetes, according to an International Diabetes Federation (IDF) position statement presented by leading experts at the 2nd World Congress on Interventional Therapies for Type 2 Diabetes in New York.
Ambulatory monitoring reveals many patients have 'white coat' hypertension
A third of patients thought to have resistant hypertension had "white coat" hypertension during 24-hour ambulatory monitoring, in a large study reported in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Researchers find many elderly men are undergoing unnecessary PSA screenings
A new study on the use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based prostate cancer screening in the United States found that many elderly men may be undergoing unnecessary prostate cancer screenings. Using data from surveys conducted in 2000 and 2005, researchers report that nearly half of men in their seventies underwent PSA screening in the past year – almost double the screening rate of men in their early fifties, who are more likely to benefit from early prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. Further, men aged 85 and older were screened just as often as men in their early fifties.
Rare hand transplant surgery successfully performed at Emory University Hospital
Transplant and reconstructive surgeons from Emory University Hospital announced today at a news conference that they have successfully performed a rare complete hand transplant on 21-year-old Linda Lu, a college student from Orlando, Fla. This is a first for the Atlanta Hospital.
Northwestern Medicine multiple sclerosis program earns national designation
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often debilitating autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that affects more than 400,000 Americans. Patients with MS require specialized care that addresses the many physical and psychological impacts of their condition. Northwestern Medicine's MS program was recently recognized for providing exemplary care and is the first in the Midwest region to be designated as a National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) Affiliated Center for Comprehensive Care.
Walnuts are top nut for heart-healthy antioxidants
A new scientific study positions walnuts in the No. 1 slot among a family of foods that lay claim to being among Mother Nature's most nearly perfect packaged foods: Tree and ground nuts. In a report here today at the 241st National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, scientists presented an analysis showing that walnuts have a combination of more healthful antioxidants and higher quality antioxidants than any other nut.
Some women worry too much about breast cancer returning, study finds
Most women face only a small risk of breast cancer coming back after they complete their treatment. Yet a new study from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center finds that nearly half of Latinas who speak little English expressed a great deal of worry about recurrence.
'Spicing' up your love life possible, study finds
Looking to spice up your sex life? Try adding ginseng and saffron to your diet. Both are proven performance boosters, according to a new scientific review of natural aphrodisiacs conducted by University of Guelph researchers.
Viral replicase points to potential cancer therapy
Alpha viruses, such as Sindbis virus, carry their genetic information on a single strand of RNA. On infection they use a protein, replicase, to produce double stranded RNA (dsRNA) which is used as genetic material to make more viruses. However the body recognizes dsRNA as foreign, and infected cells initiate an immune response. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Cancer demonstrates that an artificial plasmid coding for the replicase genes of Sindbis virus causes regression and destruction of lung cancer, or melanoma, cells in mice.
Surgeon availability tied to survival rate in vehicle crashes
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine claim that the availability of surgeons is a critical factor in public health and suggest that surgery should become an important part of the primary health care system.
Mexico state near US on alert after H1N1 deaths
Authorities in Mexico's Chihuahua state along the US border announced preventive health measures Sunday to stanch a return of an H1N1 epidemic after four people recently died of the virus.
Docs warn about Facebook use and teen depression
(AP) -- Add "Facebook depression" to potential harms linked with social media, an influential doctors' group warns, referring to a condition it says may affect troubled teens who obsess over the online site.
Erectile ills often just a symptom
Erectile dysfunction is a common topic today - at least for TV advertisers. The three main drugs - Viagra, Cialis, Levitra - each has a "signature" image.
Cancer drug shows promise for treating scleroderma
A drug approved to treat certain types of cancer has shown promising results in the treatment of patients with scleroderma, according to results from an open-label Phase II trial. While the drug's efficacy must be demonstrated in a Phase III trial, the gold standard for testing a drug, researchers are optimistic that Gleevec (imatinib) could potentially be a weapon against the chronic connective tissue disease for which a treatment has remained elusive.
Predicting serious drug side effects before they occur
All medications have side-effects from common aspirin to herbal remedies and from standard anticancer drugs to experimental immunosuppressants. However, predicting important side effects, serious adverse drug reactions, ADRs, is with current understanding almost impossible. However, a neural network technology trained with past data could give drug companies and healthcare workers a new tool to spot the potential for ADRs with any given medication.
Early indications of Parkinson's disease revealed in dream sleep
During a large-scale study of the socioeconomic costs of this neurodegenerative disease, Danish researchers, some from the University of Copenhagen, discovered that very early symptoms of Parkinson's disease may be revealed in dream or REM sleep.
How culprit Alzheimer's protein wreaks havoc
(PhysOrg.com) -- How the toxic protein, amyloid, sets off a chain of events that leads to brain cell death during Alzheimer's disease is described in new detail in a study from the University of Bristol published today in Nature Neuroscience. The research, part-funded by Alzheimer's Research UK, uncovers a raft of new targets for treatment development.
A jog a day keeps osteoporosis away
(PhysOrg.com) -- A short burst of vigorous physical activity like running and jogging is important for building bones in children, whereas more gentle exercise like walking, even for a longer period, has little effect.
Calm after the storm
(PhysOrg.com) -- The Japanese have impressed the world with the relative calm and order they have maintained in the aftermath of one of the world’s worst natural disasters.
Seeing double (or triple) in genome sequencing
Identical twins have always been assumed to be exactly that – identical, right down to the genetic level. But a new study by University of Western Ontario molecular geneticist Shiva Singh and his colleagues say this is not exactly the case.
New guidelines issued for reporting of genetic risk research
(PhysOrg.com) -- Apples to Apples is more than just a popular card game. It’s an important concept when comparing the results of published scientific studies. It’s impossible to draw accurate conclusions, for example, without an adequate description of a study’s design, the eligibility criteria for study participants or the identification of the statistical methods used.
Most states unclear about storage, use of babies' blood samples, new study finds
State laws and policies governing the storage and use of surplus blood samples taken from newborns as part of the routine health screening process range from explicit to non-existent, leaving many parents ill-informed about how their babies' left over blood might be used, according to a team led by a member of the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Utah. A report on their analysis of the subject is published March 28 in the journal Pediatrics.
Through women's eyes: Conflicting fitness messages underscore women's fit body stereotypes
From boot camp to step aerobics, yoga to martial arts, women have been pummelled by the fitness industry and messages in the media to exercise in pursuit of the pervasive fit, feminine ideal: to look young, thin and toned.
Docs urged to discuss Facebook with kids, parents
The American Academy of Pediatrics on Monday urged doctors to ask parents about their kids' use of social media, texting and the Internet, including Facebook.
Amid Japan crisis, hunt for better radiation care
(AP) -- Japan's nuclear emergency highlights a big medical gap: Few treatments exist to help people exposed to large amounts of radiation.
Indications of Alzheimer's disease may be evident decades before first signs of cognitive impairment
Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that patients with Alzheimer's disease have lower glucose utilization in the brain than those with normal cognitive function, and that those decreased levels may be detectable approximately 20 years prior to the first symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. This new finding could lead to the development of novel therapies to prevent the eventual onset of Alzheimer's. The study is published online in the journal Translational Neuroscience.
Avoiding health risks could prevent more than half of all cases of atrial fibrillation
Reducing cardiovascular risk factors like high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and being overweight could potentially reduce more than half of all cases of atrial fibrillation, according to research reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Marijuana use may hurt intellectual skills in MS patients
Any possible pain relief that marijuana has for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) may be outweighed by the drug's apparent negative effect on thinking skills, according to research published in the March 29, 2011, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Potential new medicines show promise for treating colon cancer, asthma
In what they described as the opening of a new era in the development of potentially life-saving new drugs, scientists today reported discovery of a way to tone down an overactive gene involved in colon cancer and block a key protein involved in asthma attacks. Those targets long had ranked among hundreds of thousands that many scientists considered to be "undruggable," meaning that efforts to reach them with conventional medicines were doomed to fail.
Weight loss surgery can significantly improve migraines: study
Bariatric surgery may provide an added benefit to severely obese patients besides weight loss: it can also help alleviate the excruciating pain of migraine headaches, according to new research from The Miriam Hospital, published in the March 29, 2011 issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Analysis suggests cancer risk of backscatter airport scanners is low
Calculations by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco and the University of California, Berkeley estimate that the cancer risk associated with one type of airport security scanners is low based on the amount of radiation these devices emit, as long as they are operated and function correctly.
Negative attitudes toward fat bodies going global, study finds
Stigma against overweight people is becoming a cultural norm around the world, even in places where larger bodies have traditionally been valued. That's according to a cross-cultural study of attitudes toward obesity to be published in the April issue of Current Anthropology.
No threat from Japanese radiation spread across US
(AP) -- Traces of radioactive material from the endangered Japanese nuclear plant are being detected from coast to coast in the United States and in Iceland, but amounts continue to be far below levels that would cause health problems.
Folk remedies for colic do not work, review says
That nonstop crying of a baby with colic has some parents turning to popular folk remedies. Unfortunately, there's no good evidence they work, according to a review of 15 studies.
Will we hear the light? Surprising discovery that infrared can activate heart and ear cells
University of Utah scientists used invisible infrared light to make rat heart cells contract and toadfish inner-ear cells send signals to the brain. The discovery someday might improve cochlear implants for deafness and lead to devices to restore vision, maintain balance and treat movement disorders like Parkinson's.
Bullying alters brain chemistry, leads to anxiety
(PhysOrg.com) -- Being low mouse on the totem pole is tough on murine self-esteem. It turns out it has measurable effects on brain chemistry, too, according to recent experiments at Rockefeller University. Researchers found that mice that were bullied persistently by dominant males grew unusually nervous around new company, and that the change in behavior was accompanied by heightened sensitivity to vasopressin, a hormone involved in a variety of social behaviors. The findings suggest how bullying could contribute to long-term social anxiety at the molecular level.
Two pathways in the cell interact to spur tumor growth: study
Inactivation of two pathways that regulate cell division profoundly disrupts cell-cycle control and leads to tumor growth, according to researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine.
Deciphering hidden code reveals brain activity
(PhysOrg.com) -- By combining sophisticated mathematical techniques more commonly used by spies instead of scientists with the power and versatility of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a Penn neurologist has developed a new approach for studying the inner workings of the brain. A hidden pattern is encoded in the seemingly random order of things presented to a human subject, which the brain reveals when observed with fMRI. The research is published in the journal NeuroImage.
Researchers identify genetic link to attempted suicide
A study of thousands of people with bipolar disorder suggests that genetic risk factors may influence the decision to attempt suicide.
To meet, greet or retreat during influenza outbreaks?
When influenza pandemics arrive, the specter of disease spread through person-to-person contact can mean that schools close, hand sanitizer sales rise, and travellers stay home. But is severing social and business interactions with our neighbors really better than taking a chance on getting sick?
Study illuminates the 'pain' of social rejection
Physical pain and intense feelings of social rejection "hurt" in the same way, a new study shows.
Childhood psychological problems have long-term economic and social impact, study finds
Psychological problems experienced during childhood can have a long-lasting impact on an individual's life course, reducing people's earnings and decreasing the chances of establishing long-lasting relationships, according to a new study.
Human virus linked to deaths of endangered mountain gorillas
(PhysOrg.com) -- For the first time, a virus that causes respiratory disease in humans has been linked to the deaths of wild mountain gorillas, reports a team of researchers in the United States and Africa.
To better detect heart transplant rejections, scientists test for traces of donor's genome
Heart transplant recipients and their physicians are likely more concerned with the function of the donated organ than with the donor's DNA sequences that tag along in the new, healthy tissue. However, researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have shown that an increase in the amount of the donor's DNA in the recipient's blood is one of the earliest detectable signs of organ rejection.
Replaying our days learning in our sleep (w/ video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- According to a recent study, our sleep may not be as empty of brain function as was originally thought. The study, published in Public Library of Science One, was led by sleep researcher Delphine Oudiette from the Universite Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris.
Biology news
Rare elephant found dead in Indonesia: official
A rare Sumatran elephant has died in Indonesia after blocking a village street for a week, an official said Sunday.
At least 32 musk oxen perish in storm surge in Alaska preserve
At least 32 musk oxen in the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve perished during a nasty storm surge last month, and officials are worried many more may be buried deeper in the ice and out of sight.
Worm research defines the role of multiple disease genes in cilia
(PhysOrg.com) -- University College Dublin researchers led by Conway Fellow, Dr Oliver Blacque have outlined how cilia disease gene products regulate important aspects of early cilium formation and the integrity of the ciliary transport gate.
GPS study shows wolves more reliant on a cattle diet
Cattle ranchers in southwestern Alberta have suspected it for a long time and now, GPS tracking equipment confirms it: wolf packs in the area are making cow meat a substantial part of their diets.
India releases tiger numbers as experts convene
The Indian Government today released new tiger population numbers for the first time since 2007, indicating that numbers have increased in the country that has half of the world's remaining wild tigers.
SDSC's CIPRES Gateway provides window to the past -- and fast
A novel supercomputing resource created by researchers at the San Diego Supercomputer Center at the University of California, San Diego, is allowing scientists to study evolutionary relationships among large populations of living things in significantly shorter times – and without having to understand how to operate large, complex computer systems.
How do plants fight disease?
How exactly bacterial pathogens cause diseases in plants remains a mystery and continues to frustrate scientists working to solve this problem. Now Wenbo Ma, a young plant pathologist at the University of California, Riverside, has performed research on the soybean plant in the lab that makes major inroads into our understanding of plant-pathogen interactions, a rapidly developing area among the plant sciences.
Researchers show increased risk of predators can evoke adaptive response in birds
(PhysOrg.com) -- Evolutionary ecologists Michael Coslovsky and Heinz Richner of the University of Bern in Switzerland, have published a study in Functional Ecology where they show that when a female bird is exposed to more stress from predators, such as hawks, when ovulating, they tend to produce offspring that are smaller, which isn't a surprise as stressed offspring in many species wind up smaller than average; the surprise is that the smaller offspring also grew their wings both faster and longer than what would be considered normal for their species.
Researchers find a key to plant disease resistance
University of Kentucky plant pathologists recently discovered a metabolite that plays a critical role early on in the ability of plants, animals, humans and one-celled microorganisms to fend off a wide range of pathogens at the cellular level, which is known as systemic immunity. This mode of resistance has been known for more than 100 years, but the key events that stimulate that resistance have remained a mystery.
When cells divide
For two independent daughter cells to emerge from a cell division, the membrane of the dividing cell must be severed. In the latest issue of Science, a team led by Daniel Gerlich, Professor at the Institute of Biochemistry at ETH Zurich, presents a model illustrating this last step in the division of human cells.
Mothers' hard work pays off with big brains for their babies
Brain growth in babies is linked to the amount of time and energy mothers 'invest', according to new research published today.
Scientists observe wind-powered wheel locomotion in tiger beetle larvae (w/ video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Research conducted by Georgia Southern University associate professor of biology Alan Harvey, Ph.D. along with former Georgia Southern University biology graduate student Sarah Zukoff will be published in PLoS ONE, an international, peer-reviewed, open-access, online publication. Harvey and Zukoff recently documented the first case of wind-powered wheel locomotion in larvae of "one of the best-studied insects in North America," the Eastern Beach Tiger Beetle Cicindela dorsalis (subspecies media).
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