Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for May 12, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Foldable display shows no crease after 100,000 folding cycles- Dwarf planet Haumea shines with crystalline ice
- Activated graphene makes superior supercapacitors for energy storage
- Strong, tough and now cheap: New way to process metallic glass developed (w/ video)
- Turning plants into power houses
- How to control complex networks
- Galileo spacecraft reveals magma 'ocean' beneath surface of Jupiter's moon Io
- Fermi telescope spots 'superflares' in the Crab Nebula (w/ video)
- Ancient gene gives planarians a heads-up in regeneration
- Bacterium found to kill malaria in mosquitoes
- 'Fasting pathway' points the way to new class of diabetes drugs
- Shaking down frozen helium: In a 'supersolid' state, it has liquid-like characteristics
- Study gives clue as to how notes are played on the genetic piano
- Interactive teaching methods double learning in undergraduate physics class
- Latitude and rain dictated where species lived
Space & Earth news
Water for Mongolia
Clean water is a rare commodity in many countries of the world and governments often face problems ensuring its reliable supply. In Mongolia, an interdisciplinary research team is demonstrating how this vital resource can be efficiently managed and used. Specially developed software help to detect weak points in the supply system.
Spain takes heavy toll for moderate quake: geologists
Spain suffered an unusually high death toll in a moderate quake that claimed nine lives in the southeastern city of Lorca on Wednesday, geological experts said.
Action needed to manage climate change risks -- new report
Warning that the risk of dangerous climate change impacts is growing with every ton of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, a National Research Council committee today reiterated the pressing need for substantial action to limit the magnitude of climate change and to prepare to adapt to its impacts. The nation's options for responding to the risks posed by climate change are analyzed in a new report and the final volume in America's Climate Choices, a series of studies requested by Congress. The committee that authored the report included not only renowned scientists and engineers but also economists, business leaders, an ex-governor, a former congressman, and other policy experts.
Image: Flooding from Mississippi river levee breach
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers detonated explosives at the Birds Point levee near Wyatt, Missouri, at 10:02 p.m. on May 2, 2011. Water from the intentional breach flooded a 130,000-acre stretch of land. Two more breaches were detonated on May 3 and 5. This image from the Advanced Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument on NASA's Terra spacecraft shows the resultant flooding of farmland west of the Mississippi 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of the levee breach. On the image, vegetation is displayed in red, bare fields in gray and water in blue. The image covers an area of 30.7 by 39 miles (49.5 by 63 kilometers), and is located near 36.5 degrees north latitude, 89.4 degrees west longitude.
University of Alaska Fairbanks installs first ocean acidification buoy in Alaska waters
A new set of buoys in Alaska waters will help scientists understand how climate change may be affecting the pH level of northern seas. Researchers placed the first buoy last month.
Drought halts shipping on China's Yangtze
Drought on China's Yangtze river has led to historically low water levels that have forced authorities to halt shipping on the nation's longest waterway, the government and media said Thursday.
Astronauts back for next-to-last shuttle flight
(AP) -- The astronauts for NASA's next-to-last space shuttle flight are back in Florida for another try at launching into orbit.
Scientists suggest independent monitoring of deep-sea hydrocarbon industry
Writing in the scientific journal Nature, scientists have called for increased discussion of independent monitoring of deep-sea hydrocarbon industry activity with the aim of obtaining a better understanding of its ecological impact.
Comet Hopper moves to 'final round' in NASA selection process
(PhysOrg.com) -- A University of Maryland-led mission proposal know as Comet Hopper has been chosen to compete for final selection as a new planetary mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The team will receive $3 million to further develop its mission proposal concept.
Aquarius to illuminate links between salt, climate
When NASA's salt-seeking Aquarius instrument ascends to the heavens this June, the moon above its launch site at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base won't be in the seventh house, and Jupiter's latest alignment with Mars will be weeks in the past, in contrast to the lyrics of the song from the popular Broadway musical "Hair." Yet for the science team eagerly awaiting Aquarius' ocean surface salinity data, the dawning of NASA's "Age of Aquarius" promises revelations on how salinity is linked to Earth's water cycle, ocean circulation and climate.
Global resource consumption to triple by 2050: UN
Global consumption of natural resources could triple to 140 billion tons a year by 2050 unless consumer nations take drastic steps, the United Nations warned Thursday.
The night sky in 37,440 exposures
Nick Risinger has always gazed up at the sky. But last year the amateur astronomer and photographer quit his day job as a Seattle marketing director and lugged six synchronized cameras about 60,000 miles to capture an image of the entire night sky.
Galaxy NGC 4214: A star formation laboratory
(PhysOrg.com) -- Hubble’s newest camera has taken an image of galaxy NGC 4214. This galaxy glows brightly with young stars and gas clouds, and is an ideal laboratory to research star formation and evolution.
Salinity in Outer Banks wells traced to fossil seawater
Rising salinity in the primary source for desalinated tap water in North Carolina's Outer Banks has been traced to fossil seawater, not – as some have feared – to recent seawater intrusion.
Idling airplanes produce more harmful pollution than previously thought
(PhysOrg.com) -- A group of researchers from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, have shown that the emissions produced by aircraft idling at the gate, or lining up for takeoff, contain tiny oil droplets, that when exposed to ordinary sunlight, undergo a chemical reaction that causes them to solidify into tiny particles that can infiltrate the lungs and eventually the brain.
Latitude and rain dictated where species lived
Aggregating nearly the entire landmass of Earth, Pangaea was a continent the likes our planet has not seen for the last 200 million years. Its size meant there was a lot of space for animals to roam, for there were few geographical barriers, such as mountains or ice caps, to contain them.
Detecting wandering worlds that host life
Some planets that roam the galaxy without a star to call home still may be able to host life. Finding such rogue planets is difficult, but new research suggests these wandering worlds could be detected by their atmospheric auroras.
Fermi telescope spots 'superflares' in the Crab Nebula (w/ video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- The famous Crab Nebula supernova remnant has erupted in an enormous flare five times more powerful than any flare previously seen from the object. On April 12, NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope first detected the outburst, which lasted six days.
Dwarf planet Haumea shines with crystalline ice
The fifth dwarf planet of the Solar System, Haumea, and at least one of its two satellites, are covered in crystalline water-ice due to the tidal forces between them and the heat of radiogenic elements. This is the finding of an international research study using observations from the VLT telescope at the European Southern Observatory in Chile.
Galileo spacecraft reveals magma 'ocean' beneath surface of Jupiter's moon Io
A new analysis of data from NASA's Galileo spacecraft has revealed that beneath the surface of Jupiter's volcanic moon Io is an "ocean" of molten or partially molten magma.
Technology news
Facebook 'planking' craze under fire in Australia
An Internet craze known as "planking" has come under fire from authorities in Australia after the arrest of a man for sprawling on a police car.
Yahoo! shares drop as Alibaba service spins off
Yahoo! stock sank on news that Alibaba has spun its online payment business out of reach of the US Internet pioneer, which owns a large stake in China's leading online search service.
British radio listening at record levels
Listening to good old "steam" radio was more popular than ever in Britain in the first quarter of the year, according to the latest figures from industry research group Rajar.
Panasonic develops new high picture quality MOS image sensor with industry's highest sensitivity
Panasonic Corporation has successfully developed high sensitivity and high picture quality technologies for new MOS image sensors by improving the sensitivity of the company's νMaicovicon MOS image sensor and suppressing uneven color and brightness, which may be an issue for low-profile cameras, thereby ensuring more uniform image quality. Using these technologies, Panasonic will start mass production of a new MOS image sensor (MN34110) for digital cameras, a diagonal 7.7 mm (1/2.33-inch type) sensor with 14 megapixel effective resolution, in December 2011 and continues to develop various types.
Google notebooks challenge Microsoft
Notebook computers powered by Google software are heading to market in a direct assault on the Windows operating system at the heart of Microsoft's technology empire.
Regulator to join Comcast after OK of NBC deal
(AP) -- A top telecommunications regulator who voted to approve Comcast Corp.'s takeover of NBCUniversal in January is leaving to join the company as a lobbyist.
Northrop Grumman unveils new intel airplane
(AP) -- Northrop Grumman Corp. on Monday unveiled a new type of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft that can be flown either robotically or with a pilot aboard.
China's Baidu loses copyright case: report
Chinese web giant Baidu has been ordered to pay damages of more than $75,000, the maximum penalty available, to a literary website after losing a copyright suit, state media said on Thursday.
Many in US seek health information online: study
Four out of five Internet users have searched for health information online, but the Web is still no substitute for the doctor when it comes to a personal medical issue, said a US study Thursday.
Value of pirated software nearly $59 billion: study
The commercial value of pirated software increased 14 percent last year to nearly $59 billion, with emerging economies accounting for over half the total, according to a study published Thursday.
Cyber scams rife at social networks: Microsoft
Social networks are "lucrative hot beds" for cyber scams as crooks endeavor to dupe members of online communities, according to a Microsoft security report released on Thursday.
China piracy cost software industry $20bn in 2010
Piracy cost the global software industry more than $20 billion in losses in the China market last year despite the increasing use of legitimate programmes, an official survey showed Thursday.
An app for learning to learn
Students who take ECE 473/573 learn about emerging social technology and how to design applications for smart phones that might be marketable.
EU nuclear safety testing row in meltdown
Fractious talks on testing the safety of European nuclear reactors broke down Thursday as calls to include terror attacks and other man-made disasters in the tests faced resistance from powerful nuclear lobbies in London and Paris.
YouTube starts online hits music video chart
YouTube on Thursday began publishing a chart that tracks top music videos at the popular Google-owned website.
White House set to unveil cyber plan
The White House on Thursday is expected to unveil its proposal to enhance the nation's cybersecurity, laying out plans to require industry to better protect systems that run critical infrastructure like the electrical grid, financial systems and nuclear power plants.
ZeroTouch: New kind of infrared touch computer interface (w/ video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Students from Texas A&M have unveiled a project they’ve been working on for the past couple of years they call the ZeroTouch; a device that looks like an empty picture frame and uses embedded LEDs and infrared sensors to translate human movement into computer commands. Taking the technology behind the Microsoft Connect a step further, the ZeroTouch can be laid flat on a table, mounted on a computer screen or hung in the air; each for a completely unique purpose. When laid flat, it can be used as a drawing board, when mounted over a regular computer screen it can be used as a touchscreen device, and when hung in the air it can be used as a virtual canvas for painting.
Facebook-Google rivalry intensifies with PR fiasco (Update)
The intense rivalry between Facebook and Google just got juicier as characters behind the latest Silicon Valley drama evoked chatter of smear campaigns, secrecy and even Richard Nixon. It took the once-secret blogger known as Fake Steve Jobs to help sort it all out.
Ground-effect 'plane-train' flies inches above the ground (w/ video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- By building a robotic ground-effect vehicle that flies inches above the ground, researchers from Japan may be offering a glimpse into the future of high-speed rail. The researchers, led by Yusuke Sugahara at Tohoku University, are currently testing the robotic prototype, which they have described earlier this week at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) in Shanghai.
White House unveils cybersecurity plan
Companies that run critical U.S. industries such as power plants would get government incentives to make sure their systems are secure from computer-based attacks, the White House said Thursday, detailing its broad proposal to beef up the country's cybersecurity.
How to control complex networks
At first glance, a diagram of the complex network of genes that regulate cellular metabolism might seem hopelessly complex, and efforts to control such a system futile.
Medicine & Health news
Putting research into practice to improve health care decisions
Adding research-centred approaches into the day-to-day life of the doctor's clinic strengthens clinical decisions, according to a new report by the European Medical Research Councils. The "Implementation of Medical Research in Clinical Practice" report launches today at the European School of Management and Technology in Berlin, Germany.
Fake cigarettes increase success rate for quitting smoking
Nicotine-free plastic inhalers may increase a smoker's chance of quitting, according to new research published online in the European Respiratory Journal.
Sprint Fidelis leads can be safely extracted in high-volume facilities
Extraction of the Sprint Fidelis lead (Medtronic) can be safely performed in an experienced large volume center, according to research presented at the 2011 Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) conference in San Francisco last week.
Oregon Farm to School bill would benefit health through job creation, study finds
A bill in Oregon that would provide incentives to deliver fresh local food to schools would improve the health of the state's residents and, at the same time, create hundreds of new farm-industry jobs over a five- to 10-year period, according to a study released by Upstream Public Health in Portland.
Synthetic mesh can improve outcome of prolapse surgery
(Medical Xpress) -- A Nordic multicentre study, headed by researchers from Karolinska Institutet, shows that pelvic organ prolapse surgery using synthetic mesh can be more effective than traditional surgery. The advantages indicated by the study mainly concern restored genital anatomy and more efficient symptom relief, although there is an associated greater risk of complications. The study is published in the renowned scientific periodical The New England Journal of Medicine.
Study: Most at-risk patients don't adhere to statin treatment, despite real benefits
A new study from North Carolina State University shows that the vast majority of patients at high risk for heart disease or stroke do a poor job of taking statins as prescribed. That's especially unfortunate, because the same study shows that taking statins can significantly increase the quality and length of those patients' lives.
Reining in nicotine use: Midbrain habenula region plays key role in nicotine dependence
A person's vulnerability to nicotine addiction appears to have a genetic basis, at least in part. A region in the midbrain called the habenula (from Latin: small reins) plays a key role in this process, as Dr. Inés Ibañez-Tallon and her team from the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch, Germany, have now shown. They also shed light on the mechanism that underlies addiction to nicotine.
Nation's second participant enrolls in human embryonic stem cell trial
Researchers at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) recently enrolled their first subject in a national clinical research trial of a human embryonic stem cell-based therapy for participants with a subacute thoracic spinal cord injury. This is only the second enrollment nationwide in the study sponsored by Geron Corp. Northwestern is one of five sites currently open for subject enrollment. The trial will enroll up to 10 subjects nationally.
Kicking leukemia gives teen a better sense of self
Katelin Ivison awoke on her 14th birthday, Jan. 13, 2010, with a sore throat. She and her mother Adella had fun plans to go shopping and out to dinner to celebrate Katelin’s big day, but first, Adella had scheduled an appointment for herself and her daughter with the family physician. Adella had strep throat and she figured Katelin did too, but they would soon learn that something much more serious was afoot.
First U.S. patient enrolled in stem cell transplantation/cardiac bypass study aimed at improving heart failure
A 59-year-old Houston man became the first individual in the United States to enroll in a study using stem cell transplantation during cardiac bypass to treat severe heart failure.
Folic acid no help for heart and blood vessels
Folic acid does not reduce the risk of getting cardiovascular diseases, reports a three-year study of more than eight hundred people by Wageningen University. The results have been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Younger patients, those with lower health literacy less likely to stick with telemonitoring technology
Younger patients (under age 65) and those with lower health literacy were less likely to stick with telemonitoring technology for tracking their heart failure condition, compared to older patients and those with high health literacy skills, according to new research.
Patients with language barriers take almost twice as long to get to the hospital
Researchers analyzed English comprehension among 210 patients at four New York City hospitals who suffered heart attacks with a heart artery completely blocked. Doctors often refer to this type of heart attack as a STEMI, for ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
Smaller proportion of Medicare patients hospitalized for heart problems
Heart-related problems accounted for a smaller proportion of hospitalizations among Medicare beneficiaries within the past ten years than did other causes for hospitalization, researchers reported at the American Heart Association's Quality of Care and Outcomes Research in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke 2011 Scientific Sessions.
States vary in children's health, gaps exist in insurance, quality care across sectors
A comprehensive report based on the National Survey of Children's Health conducted by children's health researchers at Oregon Health & Science University and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau finds insurance duration, consistency and adequacy, and the corresponding access to health care, are lacking for many U.S. children and have a detrimental effect on their health and well-being.
Potential new predictor of male reproductive potential identified
The distance between a man's scrotum and anus may indicate his ability to reproduce, said researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in the journal PLoS ONE.
Scientists use genetically altered virus to get tumors to tattle on themselves
Scientists have used a genetically re-engineered herpes virus that selectively hunts down and infects cancerous tumors and then delivers genetic material that prompts cancers to secrete a biomarker and reveal their presence.
Increase in Internet access parallels growth in prescription drug abuse
Increasing access to rogue online pharmacies – those which dispense medications without a doctor's prescription – may be an important factor behind the rapid increase in the abuse of prescription drugs. In a report that was released today online by the journal Health Affairs and will also appear in its June edition, investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the University of Southern California (USC) find that states with the greatest expansion in high-speed Internet access from 2000 to 2007 also had the largest increase in admissions for treatment of prescription drug abuse.
Study challenges concerns on effectiveness of administering pneumococcal, shingles vaccines together
Administering both the pneumococcal and the herpes zoster vaccines to patients during the same visit is beneficial and does not appear to compromise the protective effect of the zoster vaccine, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published today in the journal Vaccine.
Researchers find protein that might be key to cutting cancer cells' blood supply
UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have discovered a protein that guides blood vessel development and eventually might lead to a treatment to keep cancer cells from spreading.
In Texas schools, a picture's worth 1,000 calories
(AP) -- Smile, schoolchildren. You're on calorie camera. Health officials trying to reduce obesity and improve eating habits at five San Antonio elementary schools unveiled a $2 million research project Wednesday that will photograph students' lunch trays before they sit down to eat and later take a snapshot of the leftovers.
Children with MS are at increased risk of becoming obese in childhood
(Medical Xpress) -- In addition to the health problems children with multiple sclerosis face, a risk of obesity has entered the picture. A new study conducted by pediatric MS specialists at the University at Buffalo has found that children with multiple sclerosis and other pediatric demyelinating disorders are at increased risk of childhood obesity, compared to children without these disorders.
Relief from red, itchy skin: Unraveling the secrets of vitamin D
Vitamin D helps to reduce the inflammation associated with psoriasis, a common skin condition that causes red, itchy patches on the skin, shows a new study.
Study reveals origins of a cancer affecting the blood and bone marrow
A new study by the NYU Cancer Institute, an NCI-designated cancer center, sheds light on the origins of myeloid leukemia, a type of blood cancer that affects children and adults. The researchers discovered that novel mutations in an intracellular communication pathway called Notch led to the cancer, pointing to a potential new target for treating this disease. Notch has already been implicated in another type of blood cancer called T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, but the new research found an unexpected role for it in myeloid leukemia. The study is published in the May 12, 2011 issue of the journal Nature.
Significant inverse association between public spending on health and pandemic influenza mortality
Pandemic A (H1N1) 2009 mortality rates exhibited wide diversion between countries. Based on data from a total of 30 European countries, a study published in the journal PLoS ONE (May 11, 2011) found that the greater the state financial "generosity" to health sector the lower the pandemic influenza mortality.
Lack of exercise linked to higher heart disease risk in healthy children as young as 9
Even healthy children as young as nine-years-old can start to show an increased risk of future heart problems if they are physically inactive, according to a study in the May issue of Acta Paediatrica.
Sharing musical instruments means sharing germs
Germs survive for several days in wind instruments including the clarinet, flute, and saxophone, according to a pilot study published in the International Journal of Environmental Health Research. The researchers, led by Stuart Levy, MD, of Tufts University School of Medicine, urge proper cleaning of these instruments. The data suggest a need for additional research to determine the conditions for survival of germs on shared musical instruments, especially those with wooden reeds.
New X-ray method for understanding brain disorders better
Researchers including members from the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen have developed a new method for making detailed X-ray images of brain cells. The method, called SAXS-CT, can map the myelin sheaths of nerve cells, which are important for conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease. The results have been published in the scientific journal, NeuroImage.
Treating HIV-infected people with antiretrovirals significantly reduces transmission to partners
Men and women infected with HIV reduced the risk of transmitting the virus to their sexual partners by taking oral antiretroviral medicines when their immune systems were relatively healthy, according to findings from a large-scale clinical study sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.
Smarter treatment for killer infections
Sepsis is a major killer in hospital intensive care units. Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have found that manipulating a genetic factor that can launch or throttle the body's defenses can improve survival rates during bacterial infection.
Genetic clue to common birth defects found
Scientists at King's College London have, for the first time, uncovered a gene responsible for Adams-Oliver Syndrome (AOS), a condition which can cause birth defects of the heart, limbs, or blood vessels.
Evolutionary conservation of fat metabolism pathways
By virtue of having survived, all animals-from flies to man-share a common expertise. All can distinguish times of plenty from famine and adjust their metabolism or behavior accordingly. Failure to do so signals either extinction or disease.
Expectant fathers should receive prenatal care, support, study finds
A University of Missouri researcher has found that stress related to pregnancy uniquely affects the health of expectant fathers, which in turn, influences the health of expectant mothers and their infants. Health services should incorporate counseling and assessments for men and women to reduce stressors and promote positive pregnancy outcomes, says ManSoo Yu, assistant professor in MU's Public Health Program.
Toxic toys and textiles on the decrease in EU stores
Thanks to efforts from China and improved EU policing, fewer toxic toys and skin-irritating textiles are making it onto Europe's supermarket shelves, the European Union executive said Thursday.
African Americans and the general public support banning menthol in cigarettes
According to a new study released online today, a majority of Americans, including most African Americans, stand together in support of banning menthol in cigarettes just as other cigarette flavorings have now been banned by the FDA. According to established reports, 83 percent of African American smokers and 24 percent of white smokers smoke menthol cigarettes.
Beta blockers may help COPD sufferers
(Medical Xpress) -- Beta blockers, the group of drugs commonly prescribed to patients with heart diseases, may also have considerable benefits for sufferers of diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, according to new research led by the University of Dundee.
Scientists discover new method for engineering human tissue regeneration
If pending clinical trials prove successful, a new discovery published in The FASEB Journal could represent a major scientific leap toward human tissue regeneration and engineering. In a research report appearing online, Yale scientists provide evidence to support a major paradigm shift in this specialty area from the idea that cells added to a graft before implantation are the building blocks of tissue, to a new belief that engineered tissue constructs can actually induce or augment the body's own reparative mechanisms, including complex tissue regeneration.
Disruption of nerve cell supply chain may contribute to Parkinson's
New data offer hints to why Parkinson's disease so selectively harms brain cells that produce the chemical dopamine, say researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
The power of placebos
They may be uncomfortable talking about it, but it's definitely going on.
US researchers identify first human lung stem cell
For the first time, researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have identified a human lung stem cell that is self-renewing and capable of forming and integrating multiple biological structures of the lung including bronchioles, alveoli and pulmonary vessels. This research is published in the May 12, 2011 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Musical experience offsets some aging effects
(Medical Xpress) -- A growing body of research finds musical training gives students learning advantages in the classroom. Now a Northwestern University study finds musical training can benefit Grandma, too, by offsetting some of the deleterious effects of aging.
Study traces the neural wiring of a running mouse
(Medical Xpress) -- Cornell researchers have identified a group of spinal cord nerve cells that manages running in mice. In the process they have illuminated an interesting step in mouse evolution: When you're being chased by a hawk, you're better off scampering than galloping, even though galloping is faster.
Psychologists discover we've been underestimating the unconscious mind
(Medical Xpress) -- What does consciousness do? Theories vary, but most neurologists and cognitive psychologists agree that we need awareness for integration. That is, unconscious processing can take in one object or word at a time. But when it comes to pulling together disparate stimuli into a coherent, complex scene, consciousness gets to work.
A new program for neural stem cells
German researchers succeed in obtaining brain and spinal cord cells from stem cells of the peripheral nervous system.
'Fasting pathway' points the way to new class of diabetes drugs
A uniquely collaborative study by researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies uncovered a novel mechanism that turns up glucose production in the liver when blood sugar levels drop, pointing towards a new class of drugs for the treatment of metabolic disease.
New discoveries about tumor-suppressing protein could help to reduce treatment side effects
Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have untangled two distinct ways in which a common, naturally occurring "tumor-suppressor" protein works. The separation of these two functions — which can have quite different consequences — could enhance efforts to develop treatment approaches that mitigate the sometimes-devastating side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Sex hormone precursor inhibits brain inflammation
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have discovered a steroid hormone that inhibits inflammation in the brain. The findings, to be published in the May 13 issue of the journal Cell, have implications for understanding the exaggerated inflammatory responses that are characteristic features of numerous neurodegenerative diseases.
New gene that causes intellectual disability discovered
A new study involving Canada's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has found a gene connected with a type of intellectual disability called Joubert syndrome.
Guilt, cooperation linked by neural network
(Medical Xpress) -- Economic models backed up by fMRI scans offer new insights on why people choose to cooperate rather than act selfishly.
Study gives clue as to how notes are played on the genetic piano
Japanese and U.S. scientists in the young field of epigenetics Thursday reported a rationale as to how specific genes are silenced and others are not. Because this effect can be reversed, it may be possible to devise therapies for cancer and other diseases using this information.
Digestive problems early in life may increase risk for depression, study says
Depression and anxiety may result from short-term digestive irritation early in life, according to a study of laboratory rats by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. The findings suggest that some human psychological conditions may be the result, rather than the cause, of gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome.
New 'Viagra condom' to join the fight in STD prevention
(Medical Xpress) -- The biggest complaint from men and women when it comes to condom use is the decrease in sensitivity and erectile performance during intercourse. It is this reason that condoms are not used as often as they should be. It is because of this that Futura Medical in the UK has developed a new condom, the CSD500, which will address those issues and hopefully increase the use of condoms and prevention of STDs.
Biology news
Software reveals critical crop growth stages
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agronomist Greg McMaster has developed computer software that tells farmers when to spray pesticides. McMaster works at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Agricultural Systems Research Unit in Fort Collins, Colo. ARS is USDA's principal intramural scientific research agency.
Eucalyptus tree genome deciphered
The key to the survival of forestry in South Africa as well as many new possibilities for renewable bioproducts like biofuels and biopolymers may now be available with the click of a mouse.
The ewe can mitigate adverse experiences in her lambs
Lambs are likely to encounter a number of adverse events, starting from the fetal stage. In rodents and humans, it was shown that the mother can mitigate the effects of adverse experiences in her young.
New initiative begins to remove mink in north Scotland
The largest ever initiative to remove breeding American mink from north Scotland is now underway, it was announced today (12 May 2011).
First signs of progress in saving Indian vultures from killer drug
The ban on a veterinary drug which caused an unprecedented decline in Asian vulture populations has shown the first signs of progress, according to scientists. However, the recovery of the wild vulture populations requires efforts to see the drug completely removed from the birds' food supply.
Seals sense shapes using their whiskers to feel wakes
Hunting in the North Sea, harbour seals often encounter murky water that impedes their vision; but it doesn't affect their ability to chase prey. Extending their vibration-sensitive whiskers, the mammals are almost as efficient at pursuing their quarry as they would be if guided by sight. Wolf Hanke and his colleagues from the University of Rostock, Germany, are fascinated by how harbour seals perceive the world through their flow-sensitive vibrissae. Having already found that seals can pick up and follow fish wakes up to 35 seconds after the prey has passed and knowing that a fish's size and shape can dramatically affect its wake structure, graduate student Sven Wieskotten decided to find out how well seals can distinguish between the wakes of objects with different shapes and sizes.
Penguins continue diving long after muscles run out of oxygen
Breathing heavily at the edge of an ice hole, an Antarctic emperor penguin prepares to dive. Taking a last gulp of air, the bird descends and may not emerge again for another 20 minutes. The penguin initially carries sufficient oxygen in three stores – the blood, lungs and myoglobin in muscle – to sustain aerobic metabolism. However, around 5.6 minutes after leaving the surface, lactate begins appearing in the penguin's blood and the bird crosses the so-called 'aerobic dive limit', switching to anaerobic metabolism in some tissues. So what triggers this transition?
Cambodian scientist discovers new species of blind and legless lizard
First on record in Cambodia and the first reptile to be both discovered and formally described in a scientific journal by a Cambodian national.
Discovery of DNA silencing mechanism reveals how plants protect their genome
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at the RIKEN Plant Science Center (PSC) have clarified a key epigenetic mechanism by which an enzyme in the model plant Arabidopsis protects cells from harmful DNA elements. Published in the April 28th issue of the journal PLoS Genetics, the finding contributes to advancing our understanding of a broad range of biological processes in both plants and animals, opening the door to applications in cancer therapy and agriculture.
Can we predict which species will be able to move far or fast enough to track changing climate?
As global temperatures rise, suitable sites for many plants and animals are shifting to cooler and higher ground. Can we predict which species will be able to move far or fast enough to keep up? A new study says the secrets to success in the face of a warming world are still elusive.
Movement without muscles
A group of scientists headed by Michael Nickel of Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Germany) gives new answers to the question: Which cells in the sponges are contracting? They were able to show that the inner and outer surfaces -- and therefore the epithelial cells, so-called pinacozytes, cause the strong body contractions of the sponges.
Africa's sea turtles need passports for protection
Satellite tracking of olive ridley sea turtles off the coast of Central Africa has revealed that existing protected areas may be inadequate to safeguard turtles from fishing nets, according to scientists with the University of California-Santa Cruz, the Wildlife Conservation Society, the University of Exeter, and others. Scientists involved in the study recommended the extension of an international marine park that spans the waters of Gabon and the Republic of Congo and better international cooperation to manage this threatened species.
Soil bacteria plant bodyguards against fungal infections
With up to 33,000 ‘taxa’, plant roots are home to an unprecedentedly large diversity of bacteria. Some of these bacteria can function as a type of bodyguard for plants, protecting them against infection by harmful fungi. This is the result of research carried out by Wageningen UR (University & Research centre), Utrecht University, the IRS in Bergen op Zoom and the American Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, published on 5 May in Science. As these protective bacteria promote plant growth and health, knowledge about the underlying mechanisms is important for the sustainable production of food and green raw materials.
Health measures for Argentina's caiman ranches recommended
The Wildlife Conservation Society and other organizations released a new study recommending a disease screening program for farm-raised caiman in ranching facilities in Argentina to ensure the safety of people and wildlife alike.
Cats pass disease to wildlife, even in remote areas
Researchers tracking the spread of Toxoplasma gondii – a parasite that reproduces only in cats but sickens and kills many other animals – have found infected wildlife throughout a 1,500-acre (600-hectare) natural area in central Illinois.
Stay-at-home parents make for a cooperative family of lizards
The great desert burrowing skink, a lizard living on the sandy plains of Central Australia, has been discovered to live in family groups within elaborately constructed tunnel complexes. Published in PLoS One, researchers Steve McAlpin, Paul Duckett and Adam Stow from Macquarie University, in partnership with Parks Australia, found that family members of the great desert burrowing skink contribute to the construction and maintenance of burrow systems that can have up to 20 entrances, extend over 13 meters, and even have their own specifically located latrines. That these social lizards invest in a long-term housing structure that benefits them, their offspring or siblings is unprecedented in a lizard and may provide a unique insight into the evolution of family groups and cooperation. According to the researchers, the faithful nature of adult pairs, which were found to breed together over consecutive years, is likely to be essential for this family cohesion, though they also observed that 40 percent of the male lizards had produced offspring with different females.
How ants tame the wilderness: Rainforest species use chemicals to identify which plants to prune
Survival in the depths of the tropical rainforest not only depends on a species' ability to defend itself, but can be reliant on the type of cooperation researchers discovered between ants and tropical trees. The research, published in Biotropica, reveals how the ants use chemical signals on their host tree to distinguish them from competing plant species. Once a competing plant is recognised the ants prune them to defend their host.
Biologists interpret the language of sperm whales
When they dive together, sperm whales make patterns of clicks to each other known as "codas". Recent findings suggest that, not only do different codas mean different things, but that whales can also tell which member of their community is speaking based on the sound properties of the codas. Just as we can tell our friends apart by the sounds of their voices and the way they pronounce their words, different sperm whales make the same pattern of clicks, but with different accents.
Serotonin and heat play a role in leeches abilities
(PhysOrg.com) -- In two new studies published in Biology Letters, researchers have looked at the blood-sucking leeches and how serotonin and heat play a role in their ability to move and digest food after eating.
Bacterium found to kill malaria in mosquitoes
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have identified a bacterium in field-caught mosquitoes that, when present, stops the development of Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes malaria in humans. According to the study, the Enterobacter bacterium is part of the naturally occurring microbial flora of the mosquito's gut and kills the parasite by producing reactive oxygen species (or free radical molecules). The study is published in the May 13 edition of Science.
Ancient gene gives planarians a heads-up in regeneration
A seldom-studied gene known as notum plays a key role in the planarian's regeneration decision-making process, according to Whitehead Institute scientists. Protein from this gene determines whether a head or tail will regrow at appropriate amputation sites.
From a single adult cell, flatworm crafts a new body
A single adult cell from one of the most impressive masters of regeneration in the animal kingdom – the planarian – is all it takes to build a completely functional new worm, researchers have learned. The study provides the first hard evidence that adult planarians harbor pluripotent stem cells – cells capable of producing the diverse range of tissue types necessary to build a complete animal.
Turning plants into power houses
(PhysOrg.com) -- "I have a slide that has a photo of a cornfield and a big photovoltaic array," says Robert Blankenship, a scientist who studies photosynthesis at Washington University in St. Louis. "When I give talks I often ask the audience which one is more efficient. Invariably the audience votes overwhelmingly in favor of photosynthesis. "
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