Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for April 19, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Safeguarding genome integrity through extraordinary DNA repair- Swapping 'dance partners' in the brain is key to learning
- New biosensor microchip could speed up drug development
- Could black trees blossom in a world with two suns?
- Miniature invisibility 'carpet cloak' hides more than its small size implies
- Cardiac muscle really knows how to relax: Potential cardio-protective mechanism in heart
- Arctic Whisper - First fast-charging hybrid electric bus debuts in Sweden
- Houston grandmother is nation's first 'Super Wi-Fi' user
- New acoustic alternative for touchscreen phones in development
- Seagate to buy Samsung's hard disk drive business
- A virtual reality scent system that fools human taste
- dAlH2Orean: An RC car that runs on aluminum soda can tabs (w/ video)
- Daily temperature fluctuations play major role in transmission of dengue, research finds
- Researchers find missing link in plant defense against fungal disease
- '3-D towers' of information double data storage areal density
Space & Earth news
It's Earth week: Just in time, thousands of hectares of tropical forest are saved
(PhysOrg.com) -- Thousands of hectares of tropical dry forests in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais are now safe from logging, thanks to scientists affiliated with a project called Tropi-Dry.
Improved irrigation system provides water and cost savings
Installation of a water-conserving irrigation system has helped the University of Michigan reduce the amount of water used on irrigation by 68 percent, saving an estimated $141,000 a year.
Using duck eggs to track climate change
Julie DeJong can’t set foot on the ground of an Oregon marsh to gather duck eggs on a spring day in 1875.
New tools to tackle a solar data storm
(PhysOrg.com) -- So great is the wealth of data about the Sun now being sent back by space missions such as SOHO, STEREO and the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) that scientists back on Earth can struggle to keep pace. To combat this data overload, scientists from the Visual Computer Center at Bradford University are developing advanced imaging tools to help scientists visualise what's happening at the Sun, make sense of the data and predict the extreme solar activities that could affect our life here on Earth. Dr. Rami Qahwaji will present the tools at the RAS National Astronomy Meeting at Llandudno on Tuesday and Wednesday, 19th and 20th April.
A tale of two deserts
Because the surface of Mars today is bone-dry and frozen all year round, it’s difficult to find any place on Earth that is truly Mars-like. But two locations, Antarctica’s Upper Dry Valleys and the hyper-arid core of Chile's Atacama Desert, come close. They have become magnets for scientists who want to understand the limits of life on Earth and the prospects for life on Mars.
Is titan hiding an ocean?
Saturn's moon Titan just keeps throwing surprises at us. A multi-layered atmosphere thicker than our own? Check. A hydrologic cycle that relies on methane as the operating liquid? Check. Rivers, streams and lakes filled with this same liquid? Check, check and check. And now, scientists are suspecting that Titan may have yet another surprise: a subsurface ocean.
Propeller turbulence may affect marine food webs
A new study by researchers at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science shows that turbulence from boat propellers can and does kill large numbers of copepods—tiny crustaceans that are an important part of marine food webs.
Americans believe climate change is occurring, but disagree on why: report
Most Americans now agree that climate change is occurring, but still disagree on why, with opinions about the cause of climate change defined by political party, not scientific understanding, according to new research from the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire.
Democrats and Republicans increasingly divided over global warming
Despite the growing scientific consensus that global warming is real, Americans have become increasingly polarized on the environmental problem, according to a first-of-its-kind study led by a Michigan State University researcher.
Gulf oil spill similar to Exxon Valdez in initial social and mental impacts, study finds
The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused social disruption and psychological stress among Gulf residents that is similar to the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez spill and the impacts are likely to persist for years, a new study finds.
EU plans to hammer oil giants for coastal pollution: source
EU energy commissioner Guenther Oettinger is preparing legislation to force oil-drilling companies to pay for pollution caused up to 200 nautical miles off European coastlines, a source said Tuesday.
Beijing launches action plan to fight pollution
Beijing -- one of the world's most polluted cities -- launched a five-year action plan on Tuesday that aims to improve the environment by phasing out coal-fired boilers and reducing bad air days.
Hundreds of barrier islands newly identified in global survey
Earth has 657 more barrier islands than previously thought, according to a new global survey by researchers from Duke University and Meredith College.
Plasmoids and sheaths mean success or failure for solar eruptions
Our Sun experiences regular eruptions of material into space, but solar physicists still have difficulty in explaining why these dramatic events take place. Now a group of scientists from the University of St Andrews think they have the answer: clouds of ionized gas (plasma) constrained by magnetic fields and known as 'plasmoids' that struggle to break free of the Sun's magnetic field. Dr Vasilis Archontis will present their work on Monday 18 April at the National Astronomy Meeting in Llandudno, Wales.
NASA: April 29 for next-to-last shuttle launch
(AP) -- NASA's next-to-last space shuttle flight is set to begin late next week.
Clouds, clouds, burning bright
(PhysOrg.com) -- High up in the sky near the poles some 50 miles above the ground, silvery blue clouds sometimes appear, shining brightly in the night. First noticed in 1885, these clouds are known as noctilucent, or "night shining," clouds. Their discovery spawned over a century of research into what conditions causes them to form and vary – questions that still tantalize scientists to this day. Since 2007, a NASA mission called Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) has shown that the cloud formation is changing year to year, a process they believe is intimately tied to the weather and climate of the whole globe.
The shocking environment of hot Jupiters
(PhysOrg.com) -- Jupiter-like worlds around other stars push shock waves ahead of them, according to a team of UK astronomers. Just as the Earth's magnetic "bow-shock" protects us from the high-energy solar wind, these planetary shocks protect their atmospheres from their star's damaging emissions. Team member Dr Aline Vidotto of the University of St Andrews will present a new model based on observations made with the SuperWASP (Wide Angle Search for Planets) project on Monday 18 April at the National Astronomy Meeting in Llandudno, Wales.
Pluto has carbon monoxide in its atmosphere
A British-based team of astronomers has discovered carbon monoxide gas in the atmosphere of Pluto, after a worldwide search lasting for nearly two decades. Team leader Dr Jane Greaves of the University of St Andrews will present the new discovery in her talk on Wednesday 20 April at the National Astronomy Meeting in Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Wales.
Could black trees blossom in a world with two suns?
(PhysOrg.com) -- A sky with two suns is a favourite image for science fiction films, but how would a binary star system affect life evolving on an orbiting planet?
Technology news
WorldWide Telescope lights up with Kinect
A few weeks ago Microsoft Research held an event on Microsoft Campus called TechFest. We show a lot of new projects and prototypes from our labs but we keep a lot of stuff behind closed doors. There was one demo that blew me away that I couldn’t talk about but now I can as it’s on show at MIX11 and just got demo’ed in the Day 2 keynote and is shown above.
Engineering a better future
On the night of June 20, 1990, 8-year-old Behrouz Shafei was up late watching soccer on TV when his world suddenly convulsed. A 7.4 magnitude earthquake centered some 150 miles from his home in Tehran claimed more than 40,000 lives.
Ticketmaster rolls out 'dynamic' ticket pricing
(AP) -- Event tickets seller Ticketmaster said Monday that it is introducing new technology to let artists and sports teams raise or lower ticket prices to reflect demand during the initial sales period - a move it said will crimp the profits of scalpers and boost revenue for performers and teams.
iPad app shows US library's Civil War images in 3D
(AP) -- A new iPad app developed from images from the Library of Congress is giving viewers a look at the Civil War in 3D.
Porn company is amassing 1-800 numbers
(AP) -- For years, teenagers across the U.S. could call a toll-free hotline if they had embarrassing questions about AIDS and safe sex. Dial the same number now and you get a recording of giggling women offering to talk dirty to you.
Better design decisions make energy-efficient buildings, researcher says
In the search for better ways to make more energy-efficient buildings, Leidy Klotz isn't exactly looking for ways to improve the engineering. He's seeking ways to improve the engineer.
Twitter seeking to buy TweetDeck: WSJ
Twitter is in "advanced talks" to buy TweetDeck, a popular platform for accessing the service, for some $50 million, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
Brazil, a new haven for high tech investors
A longtime exporter of raw materials and a hub for foreign investors, Brazil is now seeking capital for cutting-edge research in oil and information technology.
US Supreme Court hears Microsoft case on patents
The US Supreme Court has immersed itself in patent rules in a case pitting Microsoft against a Canadian technology company that claims some versions of Word violated its patent.
Samsung vows counter-action over Apple patent suit
Samsung Electronics said Tuesday it would take counter-action against Apple after the US firm filed suit alleging that the South Korean giant copied its smartphones and tablet computers.
Technology addiction takes toll in Asia
A baby girl starves to death as her parents raise a virtual child online; a boy scolded for excessive gaming kills his mother then commits suicide -- technology addiction is taking a toll in Asia.
China court hears more intellectual property cases
(AP) -- China says its campaign to tackle fakes and copyright theft is gaining ground, with courts accepting 40 percent more intellectual property cases last year.
EU to probe Internet providers' traffic management
(AP) -- The European Union said Tuesday it has asked the bloc's 27 member countries to probe whether Internet providers block or slow down services in a way that harms consumers.
Court hears arguments in Microsoft patent case
(AP) -- The Supreme Court on Monday heard arguments from Microsoft Corp. asking it to overturn a $290 million patent infringement judgment against the world's largest software maker, a ruling that could have a profound effect on how corporations protect and profit from their future inventions.
Subsea cable to double S.Africa Internet capacity
A new undersea telecommunications cable has landed in South Africa, investors announced Tuesday, saying the link would double the broadband capacity of the continent's largest economy.
Taiwan's Acer lowers second-quarter shipment forecast
Taiwan's leading personal computer maker Acer Inc. said Tuesday that shipments are expected to drop about 10 percent in the current quarter from the previous one due to slowing demand.
Areva to set up treatment system at Japan plant
French nuclear group Areva said Tuesday it will set up a system to treat radioactive water from a quake-hit Japanese power plant to allow power supplies and cooling systems to be repaired.
Royal wedding to be streamed on YouTube
Palace officials have said they will stream the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton live on YouTube, the first such coverage of a royal event.
Infrastructure cyberattack fears on the rise: study
Cyber threats such as Stuxnet pose an increasing risk to critical infrastructure worldwide but many facilities are unprepared to face the danger, according to a report released on Tuesday.
Usefulness of 'Cloud' is a little hazy
"The Cloud," which is also simply known as online storage, got a bit more crowded recently with the launch of a new Internet locker from Amazon.
'Solar group buy' program launched in California
For the past few years, Dennis Korabiak had been considering installing a solar panel system on his 2,300-square-foot San Jose, Calif., home. But the cost never penciled out.
Canada prepares to introduce plastic money
When I think of paying with plastic, I think of credit or debit cards. However, my thought process is going to have to change. Canada will soon join a growing list of countries that use a polymer-based plastic instead of paper for its cash. The new plastic money will be rolled out in phases with the $100 bill scheduled for introduction in November. In March 2012, a $50 bill will be added to the mix and the rest of the smaller bills will be introduced by the end of 2013.
Dutch data watchdog blasts Google data collection
(AP) -- The Dutch data protection watchdog criticized Google on Tuesday for collecting data on private wireless networks, ordering it to contact 3.6 million Dutch WiFi owners and offer them a way to have their data deleted.
2,564 miles per gallon achieved at Shell Eco-marathon
Going the farthest distance might sound like a foot race. But this past weekend, it meant stretching the boundaries of fuel efficiency as student teams competed in the fifth annual Shell Eco-marathon Americas, a challenge for students to design, build and test fuel-efficient vehicles that travel the farthest distance using the least amount of energy. High school and university students from Canada and the United States competed in the two-day street course challenge in downtown Houston.
T-Mobile enables voice calls to Facebook friends
(AP) -- T-Mobile USA is doing something unusual for a phone company: enabling free calls on computers between Facebook friends.
Apple hit by lawsuit over in-app purchases by kids
(AP) -- Apple is facing a lawsuit from a Pennsylvania man whose 9-year-old daughter racked up $200 in charges buying "Zombie Toxin" and other game items on her iPod.
US approves construction of first offshore wind farm
The US government on Tuesday approved a plan to build the country's first offshore wind farm, in a picturesque bay near Cape Cod, a popular Massachusetts holiday destination.
Yahoo! net profit down 28 percent
Yahoo! said Tuesday that net profit fell 28 percent in the first quarter from a year ago to $223 million dollars while revenue declined 24 percent to $1.2 billion.
Intel's net jumps 29 pct as businesses snap up PCs
(AP) -- Intel's earnings rose 29 percent as strong spending by businesses on new computers helped the company overcome a serious product design error and fallout from the deadly earthquake and tsunami in Japan. An extra week in the quarter also helped.
IBM earnings up 10 percent, helped by weak dollar
(AP) -- IBM has reported stronger-than-expected net income and revenue for the first quarter, helped by the weak dollar and strong performance in the Americas and emerging markets.
Google, Japanese invest $500 million in wind farm (corrected)
Google and the subsidiaries of two Japanese companies are investing $500 million in a wind farm being built in the northwestern US state of Oregon.
More evidence suggests electric cars need night time charging
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers in America have shown that ozone -- a known pollutant at low levels in the earth's atmosphere, causing harmful effects on the respiratory system and sensitive plants -- can be reduced, on average, when electric vehicle charging is done at night time.
Apple files suit against Samsung
Apple Inc. has sued Samsung Electronics Co., saying the South Korean company's Galaxy line of smartphones and tablet computers copy Apple's popular iPad and iPhone.
Google turns to users for guidance on US maps
(AP) -- Google Inc. doesn't hesitate to seek directions when it comes to trying to improve its online mapping service.
Strong protection for weak passwords
(PhysOrg.com) -- The combination of simple codes and Captchas, which are even more encrypted using a chaotic process, produces effective password protection.
Hunting for gaps
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers have developed a new model for the behavior of pedestrians and crowds. It can help to understand and prevent tragic crowd disasters, to develop better architectural designs and new navigation approaches in robotics.
Device can heat home, save money
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new polymer-based solar-thermal device is the first to generate power from both heat and visible sunlight – an advance that could shave the cost of heating a home by as much as 40 percent.
Seagate to buy Samsung's hard disk drive business
Seagate is buying the hard disk drive business of Samsung in a $1.38 billion deal that also gives the South Korean electronics manufacturer a nearly 10 percent stake in Seagate.
New acoustic alternative for touchscreen phones in development
(PhysOrg.com) -- Acoustic engineers have for years been tinkering with the idea of using pulse recognition as a means for interacting with machines, but until now, little progress has been made in converting such ideas into a working device. Now, Jens Christensen, of Cambridge University, has won the Innovation for Sustainability category as part of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Pioneer awards from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in London, for his TouchDevice which uses software to convert a regular cell phone into one capable of carrying out many touchscreen features.
Arctic Whisper - First fast-charging hybrid electric bus debuts in Sweden
(PhysOrg.com) -- The Spanish "green" technology firm, Opbrid, has delivered a new kind of diesel-electric hybrid commuter bus to the northern Swedish town of Umea for initial testing of its over-head fast charging vehicle, dubbed the "Arctic Whisper." The name comes from the fact that it is almost silent as it makes its way around and the fact that onboard it’s so quiet, you can actually whisper to a fellow traveler.
Houston grandmother is nation's first 'Super Wi-Fi' user
When the Federal Communications Commission worked out the rules last fall to convert unused TV channels for a new long-range, wall-piercing version of Wi-Fi, Houston resident Leticia Aguirre had no way of knowing that she'd host the nation's first residential "Super Wi-Fi" hot spot.
A virtual reality scent system that fools human taste
(PhysOrg.com) -- Can you fool the human sense of taste in the world of virtual reality? Up until recently that question was impossible to answer, most because it had not been tested. Most of virtual reality relied on sight and sound. Virtual touch is also a fairly new area of research. Now, with the help of your nose, virtual taste may be on the way.
dAlH2Orean: An RC car that runs on aluminum soda can tabs (w/ video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Aleix Lovet and Xavier Saluena, two researchers at the Polytechnic Institute of Catalonia, have made the world first RC car that runs entirely on soda cans. Well, to be more accurate, it runs on a combination of recycled aluminum soda can tabs and sodium hydroxide. This creates a vehicle that is completely carbon emission free and creates no planet harming waste.
Capillary condensation technology produces drinkable water from diesel exhaust
(PhysOrg.com) -- Every person in the US military needs about 7 gallons of water per day for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. Supplying and transporting all that water takes a great deal of time and effort that might otherwise be used for other purposes. To address this problem, researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) are developing a technology that harvests water from the combusted diesel fuel that is used to power tanks, Humvees, generators and other machines.
Medicine & Health news
CD image import reduces unnecessary imaging exams in emergency rooms
Each year, more than two million critically ill patients are transferred from one hospital emergency department (ED) to another for appropriate care. With the ability to successfully import data from a CD-ROM containing the patient's diagnostic medical images, hospitals may be able to significantly reduce unnecessary medical imaging tests, some of which expose patients to radiation. These findings are reported in a new study published in the July issue of Radiology.
Researchers find way to mitigate traumatic brain injury
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have found that soldiers using military helmets one size larger and with thicker pads could reduce the severity of traumatic brain injury (TBI) from blunt and ballistic impacts.
More accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's
A new study from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, shows how analysing spinal fluid can help to detect Alzheimer's disease at an early stage. The researchers behind the study hope that their findings will contribute to a greater international breakthrough for this type of diagnostic method.
Pop-up reminders in electronic medical records help eliminate unnecessary blood transfusions
(PhysOrg.com) -- In one of the first studies to examine how electronic reminders unrelated to medication safety could improve clinical care, researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital have found that pop-up messages built into electronic medical records systems can prevent physicians from ordering unnecessary treatment. The automated reminders saved Packard Children’s 460 unnecessary red blood cell transfusions and $165,000 in one year, while patients who needed transfusions still received them.
The role that alcohol drinking may play in the risk of cancer
A large group of distinguished scientists published a very detailed and rather complex paper describing the association between alcohol consumption and cancer in the BMJ.
How children learn to say 'no'
Their numbers are rising, but their age is dropping: children and young adults who drink so much that they have to go to the hospital. Binge-drinking is sadly fashionable amongst the under 20-year-olds. But how can adolescents be effectively protected from alcohol and substance abuse?
High rates of substance abuse exist among veterans with mental illness
A new study published in The American Journal on Addictions reveals that Veterans who suffer from mental health disorders also have high rates of substance use disorders.
Study confirms link between breast implants and rare form of cancer
Breast implants appear to be associated with a rare form of lymphoma, but there is not yet evidence to show that the cancer is caused by implants or to suggest an underlying mechanism for how the disease might develop, according to a study by researchers from the RAND Corporation.
Limitations of question about race can create inaccurate picture of health-care disparities
What race best describes your background? That one question, which appears on most paperwork for health care, could leave entire groups of people underserved and contribute to racial health disparities, according to new research from Rice University published in the current issue of the journal Demography.
Study finds decrease in length of hospital stay after hip replacement, but increase in readmissions
An analysis of data from Medicare beneficiaries who underwent hip replacement or subsequent follow-up corrective surgery between 1991 and 2008 indicates that the length of hospital stay after surgery declined during this time period, as did the proportion of patients discharged home, while there was an increase in the rate of hospital readmissions and discharge to a skilled care facility, according to a study in the April 20 issue of JAMA.
US cracks down on acai berry sellers
US regulators on Tuesday announced a crackdown on websites that sell acai berry weight loss products using fake endorsements from news sites such as CNN, Fox News and USA Today.
Sugar helping map new ground against deadly bug
A potential vaccine against bacteria that cause serious gastric disorders including stomach cancer may be a step closer following a pioneering study by a University of Guelph chemist.
Mood swings of bipolar patients can be predicted, study shows
The future mood swings of people with bipolar disorder can be predicted by their current thoughts and behaviour, a study published today (Tuesday) has found.
Alzheimer's diagnostic guidelines updated for first time in decades
For the first time in 27 years, clinical diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease dementia have been revised, and research guidelines for earlier stages of the disease have been characterized to reflect a deeper understanding of the disorder. The National Institute on Aging/Alzheimer's Association Diagnostic Guidelines for Alzheimer's Disease outline some new approaches for clinicians and provides scientists with more advanced guidelines for moving forward with research on diagnosis and treatments. They mark a major change in how experts think about and study Alzheimer's disease. Development of the new guidelines was led by the National Institutes of Health and the Alzheimer's Association.
Pelvic-repair device enables minimally invasive trauma surgery
A device developed by UT Southwestern Medical Center surgeons offers precise repair of pelvic fractures with minimal postsurgical scarring, pain and infection risk and is available for broad adoption by the nation's 200 level I trauma centers.
Treatment-resistant epilepsy common in idiopathic autism
A new study found that treatment-resistant epilepsy (TRE) is common in idiopathic autism. Early age at the onset of seizures and delayed global development were associated with a higher frequency of resistance to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Full findings appear online in Epilepsia, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).
Limiting carbs, not calories, reduces liver fat faster, researchers find
Curbing carbohydrates is more effective than cutting calories for individuals who want to quickly reduce the amount of fat in their liver, report UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers.
Calif. woman to show off newly transplanted hand
(AP) -- A 26-year-old mother who lost her right hand in a traffic accident several years ago is reuniting with her doctors to show off her new donated hand.
Studying life in the shadow of nuclear plants
The girl's voice shook as she stood in front of some of the world's top scientists and told them "I am one of the statistics that you will be studying."
Yes, men really can make it longer: study
Some non-surgical methods for increasing the length of the male sex organ do in fact work, while others are likely to result only in soreness and disappointment, a review of medical literature has shown.
Ginseng doesn't help patients with early diabetes
(PhysOrg.com) -- Despite promising findings in the laboratory, nutrition researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that ginseng does not improve insulin sensitivity in diabetics who are overweight.
Gender bias in research ignores estrogen's effect on the brain
(PhysOrg.com) -- A recent study by UC Berkeley neuroscientists Emily Jacobs and Mark D'Esposito highlights the need to include female animals in research studies, since sex hormones have an impact on how females respond. The research, published April 6, showed that estrogen levels affected how women scored on memory tests.
Peppermint earns respect in mainstream medicine
University of Adelaide researchers have shown for the first time how peppermint helps to relieve Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which affects up to 20% of the population.
Fatty liver disease can lead to heart attack
Because of the prevalence of obesity in our country, many Americans are expected to develop a serious condition called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which can lead to cirrhosis, fibrosis, and in some cases liver failure. It is also one of the best predictors for coronary artery disease.
Extreme dieting: does it lead to longer lives?
(PhysOrg.com) -- Animals who consume fewer calories live longer and healthier lives. Now, a seminal study at the University of California, San Francisco is testing whether the same is true for extreme dieters.
Having two neurological diseases at once creates diagnostic confusion
(PhysOrg.com) -- Neurologists at UCSF have studied a group of people who suffer from two neurological disorders at the same time: Alzheimer’s disease and a movement disorder called progressive supranuclear palsy.
Study finds 'thirdhand smoke' poses danger to unborn babies' lungs
Stepping outside to smoke a cigarette may not be enough to protect the lungs and life of a pregnant woman's unborn child, according to a new study in the American Journal of Physiology.
Young people happy with their sexual experiences but many take risks
Youngsters are, on average, 16 years old and sober when they make their sexual debut with somebody they have known for a while. However, condoms feature in just half of sexual encounters with new or casual partners, reveals a major survey on the sexual habits, attitudes and knowledge of young people carried out by the University of Gothenburg on behalf of the Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control.
Keeping retinoic acid in check
Neurobiologists from the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI) of the Novartis Research Foundation are the first to describe a mechanism that controls the synthesis of retinoic acid in the developing brain. This is of interest in view of the deleterious effect too much or too little retinoic acid - a derivative of vitamin A - can have in the developing brain during pregnancy. Their results are published in the latest issue of Developmental Cell.
Another iron in the fire
A tiny protein has been identified by University of California researchers as a possible alternate route for tuberculosis to spread in the human body – which could lead to better treatments for one of the world’s most stubborn diseases.
Researchers discover precisely how thalidomide causes birth defects
Thalidomide may have been withdrawn in the early 1960s for use by pregnant women, but its dramatic effects remain memorable half a century later. Now, researchers have taken a major step toward understanding exactly how thalidomide causes the birth defects. This is important as thalidomide is still used to treat diseases like multiple myeloma and leprosy, and is being tested for cancers and autoimmune disorders. This discovery was recently published online in the FASEB Journal.
Quality of parent-toddler relationship could affect risk for childhood obesity
Toddlers who do not have a secure emotional relationship with their parents, and particularly their mothers, could be at increased risk for obesity by age 4 ½, according to new research.
Taking aim at tumors: Novel way of studying cancer may inspire new treatments
Many of the newest weapons in the war on cancer come in the form of personalized therapies that can target specific changes in an individual's tumor. By disrupting molecular processes in tumor cells, these drugs can keep the tumor from growing and spreading. At the forefront of this work are Binghamton University researchers, Susan Bane, and Susannah Gal, who are deploying a new tool in their study of an enzyme called tubulin tyrosine ligase, or TTL.
Does seeing overweight people make us eat more?
Consumers will choose and eat more indulgent food after they see someone who is overweight—unless they consciously think about their health goals, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.
Political wins celebrated with porn, researcher says
Some celebrate a political candidate's victory with a party. Others, according to a Rutgers–Camden researcher, choose porn.
Study suggests another look at testosterone-prostate cancer link
The long-standing prohibition against testosterone therapy in men with untreated or low-risk prostate cancer merits reevaluation, according to a new study published in The Journal of Urology.
New discovery may block ALS disease process
New Orleans, LA –In the first animal model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), developed by Dr. Udai Pandey, Assistant Professor of Genetics at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, Dr. Pandey's lab has found in fruit flies that blocking the abnormal movement of a protein made by a mutated gene called FUS also blocks the disease process. The research is available online in the Advanced Access section of the journal Human Molecular Genetics website, posted on April 12, 2011. It will be published in an upcoming issue of the journal.
Oral pill trial to halt HIV in women is stopped
A trial of an oral pill aimed at preventing HIV infection in African women has been halted due to poor results, the US Centers for Disease Control announced this week.
Minimizing side effects from chemoradiation could help brain cancer patients live longer
Minimizing neurological side effects in patients with high-grade glioma from chemoradiation may result in improved patient survival, a new study from radiation oncologists at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson suggests. These findings were reported in the April issue of the British Journal of Cancer.
A cancer marker and treatment in one? Researchers finds promise in non-human sialic acid antibodies
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine say antibodies to a non-human sugar molecule commonly found in people may be useful as a future biomarker for predicting cancer risk, for diagnosing cancer cases early and, in sufficient concentration, used as a treatment for suppressing tumor growth.
Green environments essential for human health
Research shows that a walk in the park is more than just a nice way to spend an afternoon. It's an essential component for good health, according to University of Illinois environment and behavior researcher Frances "Ming" Kuo.
Spring-cleaning the mind? Study shows a cluttered brain doesn't remember
Lapses in memory occur more frequently with age, yet the reasons for this increasing forgetfulness have not always been clear. According to new research from Concordia University, older individuals have reduced learning and memory because their minds tend to be cluttered with irrelevant information when performing tasks. Published in The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, these findings offer new insights into why ageing is associated with a decline in memory and may lead to practical solutions.
Rational, emotional reasons guide genetic-testing choices
Consumers decide whether to use mail-in genetic tests based on both rational and emotional reasons, a finding that adds to a growing body of health-care behavior research on information seeking and avoidance, according to researchers at the University of California, Riverside.
Hope for children with rare genetic defect
To date, there is no therapy for Batten disease. Patients pass away in their teens or twenties. Four years ago, the working group lead by Dr. Mika Ruonala at Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany started to study the consequences of the underlying genetic defect. In the meantime, the scientists have detected several "biomarkers" that can now be used in search for screening for potentially active drugs in cooperation with the Harvard Medical School in Boston.
Calif. woman shows off newly transplanted hand
(AP) -- For the first time in five years, Emily Fennell has two hands.
Future of personalized cancer care is promising and near
Cancer survival rates could improve soon with whole-genome sequencing, according to two studies published in the April 20, 2011, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association that describe the first clinical applications of the high-tech process in patients with cancer.
Exploiting the stress response to detonate mitochondria in cancer cells
Researchers at The Wistar Institute have found a new way to force cancer cells to self-destruct. Low doses of one anti-cancer drug currently in development, called Gamitrinib, sensitize tumor cells to a second drug, called TRAIL, also currently in clinical development as part of an anticancer regimen.
Daily temperature fluctuations play major role in transmission of dengue, research finds
(PhysOrg.com) -- Daily temperature fluctuations, not just high temperatures, play a significant role in the transmission of dengue, a deadly mosquito-borne disease that strikes millions of people in tropical and subtropical countries, according to ground-breaking research led by French, Thailand and U.S. scientists and conceived by medical entomologist Thomas Scott of the University of California, Davis.
What makes Americans and Europeans happy?
(PhysOrg.com) -- According to a new research study, Europeans are happier when they have a day off and work less, while their American counterparts would rather be working those extra hours. Published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, the research, led by Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn from the University of Texas, looks at survey results of Europeans and Americans and how they identified being happy.
Effects of obesity on the brain: first evidence of sex-related differences
(PhysOrg.com) -- Obesity is today one of the most prevalent medical conditions, and has a major impact on health. Recent studies have also shown a relationship between weight and brain structure. Obesity has been associated with a reduced total brain volume and diminished gray matter density. The research team at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, together with the Department of Endocrinology, University Clinic Leipzig, Integrated Research and Treatment Center Adiposity Diseases Leipzig and the University College London have shown a gender-dependent relationship between being overweight and brain structure in the brain’s white matter. (PLoS ONE, April 11, 2011.)
Predicting learning using brain analysis
(PhysOrg.com) -- An international team of scientists has developed a way to predict how much a person can learn, based on studies at UC Santa Barbara's Brain Imaging Center.
Study shows how inflammation can lead to cancer
A new study shows how inflammation can help cause cancer. Chronic inflammation due to infection or to conditions such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease is associated with up to 25 percent of all cancers.
Cell of origin for squamous cell carcinoma discovered
Squamous cell cancers, which can occur in multiple organs in the body, can originate from hair follicle stem cells, a finding that could result in new strategies to treat and potentially prevent the disease, according to a study by researchers with UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA.
Protein KO stops tumour growth
(PhysOrg.com) -- Research published last week in the journal PNAS may have identified a promising new target for developing drugs against one of the most common types of lung cancer.
Cardiac muscle really knows how to relax: Potential cardio-protective mechanism in heart
New insight into the physiology of cardiac muscle may lead to the development of therapeutic strategies that exploit an inherent protective state of the heart. The research, published by Cell Press online on April 19th in the Biophysical Journal, discovers a state of cardiac muscle that exhibits a low metabolic rate and may help to regulate energy use and promote efficiency in this hard-working and vital organ.
Decoding cancer patients' genomes is powerful diagnostic tool
Two new studies highlight the power of sequencing cancer patients' genomes as a diagnostic tool, helping doctors decide the best course of treatment and researchers identify new cancer susceptibility mutations that can be passed from parent to child.
Swapping 'dance partners' in the brain is key to learning
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers collected brain imaging data from people performing a motor task, and then analysed this data using new computational techniques. They found evidence that the 'flexibility' of a person's brain - how much different areas of the brain link up in different combinations; essentially 'swapping partners' - can be used to predict how fast someone will learn.
Biology news
Putting a price on sea fish
Hakan Eggert's studies from Iceland and the Gullmar fjord on the Swedish west coast, reveal that when commercial fishermen are given fishing rights they voluntarily choose more sustainable fishing methods and earn far more. His research at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, demonstrates that over-capacity in the fishing fleet can be reduced.
Marine organisms with eternal life can solve the riddle of aging
Animals that reproduce asexually by somatic cloning have special mechanisms that delay ageing provide exceptionally good health. Scientists at the University of Gothenburg have shown how colony-forming ascidians (or sea squirts) can activate the enzyme telomerase, which protects DNA. This enzyme is more active also in humans who attain an advanced age.
Keeping oysters, clams and mussels safe to eat
Eating raw or undercooked mollusks may pose a safety hazard if they are harvested from waters polluted with pathogenic microbes, so U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists are studying ways to enhance the food safety of these popular shellfish.
Protecting your garden from invasive species
Most people realize only too late that strange new bugs are killing their garden plants, or that their favorite hiking trail is choked out with thistles. At an estimated cost of $3 billion per year to the state of California, invasive species threaten water and food security, the recreational value of wilderness areas and the value of homes.
Interview: Branson says island may save lemurs
(AP) -- Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson plans to create a colony of lemurs on an undeveloped island he owns in the Caribbean, saying Monday it's a "radical idea" to save an endangered primate that is disappearing from its native African habitat.
Study: 40 Mediterranean fish species could vanish
(AP) -- A new study suggests that more than 40 fish species in the Mediterranean could vanish in the next few years.
Overfished Amazon fish disperse seeds long distances
(PhysOrg.com) -- The gamitana fish, a close relative of the flesh-eating piranha, mostly eats fruit and can carry seeds down the Amazon River as far as 3 miles (5 kilometers), reports a new Cornell study, making it one of the longest seed dispersals ever reported. The researchers report that these fish (Colossoma macropomum, known as gamitana in Peru, and tambaqui in Brazil) may play an important role in the structure of the Amazon forest as fruit seeds remain viable in their gut for many days and are widely spread.
Solving the mystery of the vanishing bees
(PhysOrg.com) -- As scientists continue to be baffled over the recent decline in bee populations around the world, a new model developed by Dr Andrew Barron at Macquarie University in collaboration with David Khoury and Dr Mary Myerscough at the University of Sydney, might hold some of the answers to predicting bee populations at risk.
Changes in land use favor the expansion of wild ungulates
Mediterranean landscapes have undergone great change in recent decades, but species have adapted to this, at least in the case of roe deer, Spanish ibex, red deer and wild boar. This has been shown by Spanish researchers who have analysed the effects of changes in land use on the past, present and future distribution of these species.
Landmark study reveals breed-specific causes of death in dogs
Dog owners and veterinarians have long relied on a mix of limited data and anecdotal evidence to assess which breeds are at risk of dying from various conditions, but a new University of Georgia study provides a rare and comprehensive look at causes of death in more than 80 breeds.
Study of deer mice on California's Channel Islands provides new information on hantavirus
(PhysOrg.com) -- A little information can go a long way when it comes to understanding rodent-borne infectious disease, as shown by a new study led by scientist John Orrock of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and colleagues.
Researchers find missing link in plant defense against fungal disease
Botrytis bunch rot, a disease caused by the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea, can devastate grape vineyards. Yet other plants can repel the invader and protect themselves by mounting a form of chemical warfare against the fungi through the production of antimicrobial substances, called phytoalexins.
Safeguarding genome integrity through extraordinary DNA repair
(PhysOrg.com) -- DNA is under constant attack, from internal factors like free radicals and external ones like ionizing radiation. About 10 double-strand breaks – the kind that snap both backbones of the double helix – occur every time a human cell divides. To prevent not only gene mutations but broken chromosomes and chromosomal abnormalities known to cause cancer, infertility, and other diseases in humans, prompt, precise DNA repair is essential.
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