Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for May 3, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- First rainforests arose when plants solved plumbing problem- Dawn probe reaches milestone approaching asteroid Vesta
- Portable tech might provide drinking water, power to villages
- Solar power, with a side of hot running water
- Swimming led to flying, physicists say
- Why the eye is better than a camera at capturing contrast and faint detail simultaneously
- Robots learn to share, validating Hamilton's rule (w/ video)
- Engineers introduce 'beans' to cool and then maintain hot beverage temps
- Study helps explain behavior of latest high-temp superconductors
- Researchers develop technique for measuring stressed molecules in cells
- Turning 'bad' fat into 'good': A future treatment for obesity?
- Webcam technology used to measure medications' effects on the heart
- Formidable fungal force counters biofuel plant pathogens
- Ecstasy associated with chronic change in brain function
- Two robots to do our dirty work (w/ video)
Space & Earth news
Sustainable landscape design for your property can be easier than you may think
Making your property more sustainable is a trend that seems to get more interest from homeowners every year. Many small changes can greatly improve sustainability and can be fairly simple to do, according to an Iowa State University horticulture expert.
What lies beneath the seafloor? Results from first microbial subsurface observatory experiment
An international team of scientists report on the first observatory experiment to study the dynamic microbial life of an ever-changing environment inside Earth's crust. University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science professor Keir Becker contributed the deep-sea technology required to make long-term scientific observations of life beneath the seafloor.
NASA says no shuttle launch until early next week
(AP) -- NASA says the next-to-last space shuttle launch is off for at least another week.
Climate change analysis predicts increased fatalities from heat waves
Global climate change is anticipated to bring more extreme weather phenomena such as heat waves that could impact human health in the coming decades. An analysis led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health calculated that the city of Chicago could experience between 166 and 2,217 excess deaths per year attributable to heat waves using three different climate change scenarios for the final decades of the 21st century. The study was published May 1 edition of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
BP fined $25 million over Alaska oil spill
BP has been fined $25 million and ordered to spend an estimated $60 million to improve pipeline safety in Alaska after a 2006 oil spill there, US authorities said Tuesday.
Spacecraft Earth to perform asteroid 'flyby' this fall
(PhysOrg.com) -- Since the dawn of the space age, humanity has sent 16 robotic emissaries to fly by some of the solar system's most intriguing and nomadic occupants -- comets and asteroids. The data and imagery collected on these deep-space missions of exploration have helped redefine our understanding of how Earth and our part of the galaxy came to be. But this fall, Mother Nature is giving scientists around the world a close-up view of one of her good-sized space rocks -- no rocket required.
Sponge competition may damage corals
Sponges are a group of common and diverse aquatic creatures, very abundant in coral reefs where they are an important part of the ecosystem. But new research has found that if the balance is disturbed, sponges can outcompete the corals and damage the reef in the long term.
Satellites reveal tornado tracks in Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama
(PhysOrg.com) -- Tornado tracks from last week's powerful tornado outbreak are visible in data from NASA's Aqua satellite and the Landsat satellite.
Report sees sharper sea rise from Arctic melt (Update)
(AP) -- The ice of Greenland and the rest of the Arctic is melting faster than expected and could help raise global sea levels by as much as 5 feet this century, dramatically higher than earlier projections, an authoritative international assessment says.
Dawn probe reaches milestone approaching asteroid Vesta
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Dawn spacecraft has reached its official approach phase to the asteroid Vesta and will begin using cameras for the first time to aid navigation for an expected July 16 orbital encounter. The large asteroid is known as a protoplanet – a celestial body that almost formed into a planet.
Technology news
US Holocaust museum to put records online
The US Holocaust museum has teamed up with Internet genealogy site Ancestry.com to provide online information about those who were persecuted by the Nazis, the museum said.
Galifianakis, FunnyOrDie.com lead Webby winners
(AP) -- As a mock interview show host, Zach Galifianakis is accruing awards at the rate of a "60 Minutes" correspondent.
Vatican invites bloggers to first-ever summit
(AP) -- Monks, priests, nuns and lay bloggers hunched over their iPads and tweeted updates to their followers as the Vatican told them of its desire to get to know them better and establish a genuine relationship.
Bin Laden story shows changing media nature
(AP) -- A soldier in Afghanistan learned about the death of Osama bin Laden on Facebook. A TV producer in South Carolina got a tip from comedian Kathy Griffin on Twitter. A blues musician in Denver received an email alert from The New York Times. And a Kansas woman found out as she absently scrolled through the Internet on her smartphone while walking her dog.
Bin Laden tweeter becomes Internet sensation
An IT consultant who hoped for a quiet life in a summer resort town in Pakistan has become an Internet sensation as the first to report the attack on the world's most wanted man.
Angry Birds flies off with Webby Award
Angry Birds has picked up a Webby Award to go with its millions of addicted fans.
Space sensor helps produce 'greener' glass
What has making glass in common with space exploration? The special technology to measure oxygen atoms outside space vehicles is now being used in the glass industry to produce super-efficient energy-saving windows.
Saved by smartphones? Sites stay up despite spike
(AP) -- News of Osama bin Laden's death caused traffic to increase at popular U.S. news sites. Yet outages and slowdowns were less severe than during major news events in the past, meaning fewer people were stuck staring at error messages.
S. Korea police raid Google over data collection
South Korean police Tuesday raided Google's local office to investigate whether the global search company used its mobile phone advertising platform to illegally collect private location data.
Power your investment decisions via app
If I knew how to pick stocks, which I don't, that information might stay under my hat. But I will tell you about a new smartphone application that, according to its creator, provides more than the usual stock charts for making investment decisions.
An inside look at the Googleplex
Larry Page is disappointed in all of us.
Royal wedding drives record traffic to Yahoo!
Yahoo! on Monday said that online interest in the royal wedding led to record high traffic at its websites.
Tech blog says Twitter bought TweetDeck
Twitter on Monday declined to comment on a renewed report that the microblogging service has bought a TweetDeck service used to "tweet" from mobile phones and tablet computers.
European papers fear loss of readers with paywalls
Europe's troubled newspaper industry is keeping a close eye on the outcome of experiments by English language sites to charge for content but is reluctant to install paywalls for fear of losing readers.
SK Telecom to invest $2.1 bn to expand network
South Korea's largest mobile operator SK Telecom said Tuesday it would invest a record 2.3 trillion won ($2.1 billion) this year to expand its network and meet the growing data needs of smartphone users.
A world record in direct current transmission
Siemens is building power converter stations for a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system with a record capacity of 2 x 1,000 megawatts. Beginning in 2013 the new HVDC PLUS technology will transmit 2,000 megawatts (MW) as direct current over a distance of 65 kilometers underground. This system, which is being partially funded by the EU, connects the French and Spanish grids between Baixas and Santa Llogaia. At present the two countries’ grids are linked only by low-capacity lines.
Curtains that 'quench' noise
Swiss researchers at Empa, in cooperation with textile designer Annette Douglas and silk weavers Weisbrod-Zürrer AG, have developed lightweight, translucent curtain materials, which are excellent at absorbing sound. This is a combination that has been lacking until now in modern interior design. And the new "noise-quenching" curtains have just gone onto the market.
Simulation model to improve safety and efficiency of port traffic
TU Delft in the Netherlands is set to conduct a joint research project with the Jiaotong University in Shanghai. Their aim will be to develop a traffic model for shipping in congested port areas. It is hoped that the model will provide increased understanding of the ports' capacity and safety.
Bing to be default search engine on BlackBerry
Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer announced Tuesday that the US software giant's Bing search engine and maps would be the default service on BlackBerry devices.
Pa. suit: Furniture rental co. spies on PC users
(AP) -- A major furniture rental chain provides its customers with computers that allow the company to track keystrokes, take screenshots and even snap webcam pictures of renters using the devices at home, a Wyoming couple said in a lawsuit Tuesday.
Mobile advertisements rising in Asia
More advertisers are reaching out to buyers through their mobile phones, with growth in the Asia-Pacific region outpacing the global rate, international mobile ad network InMobi said Tuesday.
Videogame giant EA buys Australia mobile game star
US videogame titan Electronic Arts (EA) on Tuesday announced it is buying the Australian mobile game maker behind hit titles "Flight Control" and "Real Racing" for play on iPhones or iPads.
US TV ownership down for first time in 20 years
The number of US homes owning television sets is falling for the first time in two decades, the Nielsen Co. said on Tuesday.
Google tops Harris corporate reputation poll
Google was ranked number one in a US poll by Harris Interactive regarding reputations of major corporations.
Wall Street Journal circulation tops 2.11 million
The Wall Street Journal is the top daily newspaper in the United States with average print and digital circulation of 2.11 million, according to figures released on Tuesday.
Sony says 25 million more accounts hacked
Sony Corp. said Monday that hackers may have taken personal information from an additional 24.6 million user accounts after a review of the recent PlayStation Network breach found an intrusion at a division that makes multiplayer online games.
EU pushes button for next Internet age
Europe geared up on Tuesday for a quantum leap in Internet traffic and a new generation of infrastructure to carry data, announcing the launch of a 600-million-euro research and investment programme.
Speeding swarms of sensor robots
Concerns about the spread of radiation from damaged Japanese nuclear reactors — even as scientists are still trying to assess the consequences of the year-old Deepwater Horizon oil spill — have provided a painful reminder of just how important environmental monitoring can be. But collecting data on large expanses of land and sea can require massive deployments of resources.
Engineers introduce 'beans' to cool and then maintain hot beverage temps
(PhysOrg.com) -- Buddies and mechanical engineers, Dave Petrillo and Dave Jackson, have, thanks to Kickstart.com, begun a business selling the Coffee Joulie (clearly a play on the word for joule, a unit of energy, and jewel, the stuff you wear as bling), a stainless steel bean they’ve invented that will first cool a hot drink, then maintain it at a consistent 140°F (60° Celsius) temperature for up to five hours if the container is kept closed.
Rice U. parlays sun's saving grace into autoclave (w/ video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Rice University senior engineering students are using the sun to power an autoclave that sterilizes medical instruments and help solve a long-standing health issue for developing countries.
Pico projector used in eye based video gaming system
(PhysOrg.com) -- Students at the University of Texas in Austen are playing video games. Honestly, that is really not news. Students all over the country are playing video games, usually when they should be studying. In this case however, they are not goofing off, they are creating some serious science, and perhaps the next generation of video game controllers. Ones that do not require users to have a controller in their hand.
Solar power, with a side of hot running water
MIT researchers and their collaborators have come up with an unusual, highly efficient and possibly less expensive way of turning the sun’s heat into electricity.
Portable tech might provide drinking water, power to villages
Researchers have developed an aluminum alloy that could be used in a new type of mobile technology to convert non-potable water into drinking water while also extracting hydrogen to generate electricity.
Medicine & Health news
MRI identifies primary endometrial and cervical cancer
MRI can determine if a patient has endometrial versus cervical cancer even when a biopsy can't make that distinction, according to a new study. Determining the primary site of a tumor helps determine appropriate cancer treatment.
Novel program is saving newborns' lives in developing countries
A program that teaches health care workers in developing countries basic techniques to resuscitate babies immediately after birth is saving lives, according to a study to be presented Tuesday, May 3, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Denver.
Improved protocols for contrast agents eliminates new cases of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis
A recent study shows how one medical center implemented strict protocols for administering gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) before imaging and eliminated new cases for nephrogenic system fibrosis (NSF).
Study says eliminate pelvic imaging to reduce radiation for the detection of venous thromboembolism
A recent study shows that pelvic imaging using computed tomography (CT) examinations are not necessary for diagnosing patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) and eliminating this exam can significantly reduce a patient's exposure to excessive radiation dose.
Official known for '76 swine flu fiasco has died
(AP) -- A prominent former federal health official whose career was tainted by controversy over a swine flu campaign in the 1970s has died.
Medical center performs rare, double living donor organ transplant
Transplant surgeons at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center recently performed their first simultaneous, dual living donor organ transplant on a single recipient. The recipient, a 60-year-old man from the Hazleton area, received a kidney from his wife and a section of his youngest son’s liver in a complicated surgery that lasted nearly 19 hours. Simultaneous transplants of multiple organs from multiple living donors to a single recipient are exceedingly rare in the United States; since 1987, the procedure has been performed with a liver and kidney coming from different living donors just 10 other times.
Study finds infection control violations at 15 percent of US nursing homes
Fifteen percent of U.S. nursing homes receive deficiency citations for infection control per year, according to a new study published in the May issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of APIC - the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.
Researchers join forces to cure deadly childhood disease
The Center for World Health and Medicine at Saint Louis University and the Institute for OneWorld Health have established a joint research agreement to develop new drugs to combat diarrhea, which is the second leading cause of death worldwide in children under age 5.
Controlling brain circuits with light
F1000 Biology Reports, the open-access, peer-reviewed journal from Faculty of 1000, today published a historical account of the beginnings of the optogenetic revolution by Edward Boyden.
Virtual lung models set to personalize asthma and COPD treatment
A team of international experts are set to develop a pioneering tool to help tailor the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as part of a new EU project.
Peripheral venous catheters pose infection risk
A new study from Rhode Island Hospital has found that more than one in 10 catheter-related bloodstream infections due to Staph aureus in hospitalized adults are caused by infected peripheral venous catheters (PVC). The study points out the substantial medical burden that arises from complications from these infections due to the large number of such catheters used in hospitalized patients. The study is published in the journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology and is now available online in advance of print.
Researchers find increasing the number of family physicians reduces hospital readmissions
Boston- Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center have found that by adding one family physician per 1,000, or 100 per 100,000, could reduce hospital readmission costs by $579 million per year, or 83 percent of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) target. These findings currently appear on the website of the "Robert Graham Center," a primary care think tank.
80% of German pubs still allow smoking: study
More than four out of five pubs in Germany make use of legal loopholes or flout the rules to allow people to smoke, almost three years after a ban, a study by health campaigners showed on Tuesday.
Illinois professor chairs committee that recommends immediate calories, protein for traumatic brain injury
A Vietnam veteran who conducted early-morning mine sweeps on that country's roads, University of Illinois nutrition professor John Erdman knows the damage that a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause. That's why he was happy to chair a committee that gave the Department of Defense recommendations that will improve the odds of recovery for persons wounded by roadside bombs.
Better labeling could help thwart acetaminophen overdose
While well known for relieving everyday aches and pains, few realize that when misused, acetaminophen can lead to acute liver failure and even death, often due to accidental overdose by an uninformed consumer. A new small study looked at what’s missing in consumer education about acetaminophen and how to overcome those gaps.
Unusual Mother's Day gifts: Pass on the perfume and go for the grabber
(Medical Xpress) -- For those living with chronic conditions, the best Mother’s Day gift is something that will make navigating her daily routine easier. There are almost 40 million people age 65 and older, making up almost 13 percent of the population.
Physicians suggest how airlines can better respond to in-flight emergencies
The concepts now at the center of the health care quality movement, adopted in large part from the airline industry, should be used to standardize the processes and the equipment for in-flight medical emergencies, according to two Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center physicians.
Breast cancers found between mammograms more likely to be aggressive
Breast cancers that are first detectable in the interval between screening mammograms are more likely to be aggressive, fast-growing tumors according to a study published online May 3rd in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Many new drugs did not have comparative effectiveness information available at time of FDA approval
Only about half of new drugs approved in the last decade had comparative effectiveness data available at the time of their approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and approximately two-thirds of new drugs had this information available when alternative treatment options existed, according to a study in the May 4 issue of JAMA.
How should systematic reviews consider evidence on harms?
Systematic reviews that attempt to assess the risk of harms (adverse effects) associated with specific therapies should consider a broad range of study designs, including both systematic reviews and observational studies. These are the findings of a new study, led by Su Golder of the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, UK published in this week's PLoS Medicine.
Public confused about ingredients in pain relievers
People take billions of doses of over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol every year, but many do not pay attention to the active ingredients they contain, such as acetaminophen, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study. That lack of knowledge about popular pain relievers plus particular ignorance of acetaminophen's presence in more than 600 over-the-counter and prescription medicines could be a key reason acetaminophen overdose has become the leading cause of acute liver failure in the U.S.
Wrong strategy could worsen dengue epidemics: study
The wrong approach to wiping out the mosquitoes that cause dengue infections could lead to worse epidemics in the future, according to a study released Tuesday.
Self-inflicted pain eases guilt
(Medical Xpress) -- Physical discomfort can ease feelings of guilt, according to a study conducted by The University of Queensland (UQ).
Shame on you: tough-love approach to obesity may backfire
(Medical Xpress) -- Tough love may not be the way to motivate overweight and obese people to change their habits for the better, a new study suggests.
Agent selectively targets malignant B cells in chronic leukemia, study shows
A new experimental drug selectively kills the cancerous cells that cause chronic lymphocytic leukemia, according to a new study by researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James).
Extracting stem cells from fat for tissue regeneration
Stem cells extracted from body fat may pave the way for the development of new regenerative therapies including soft tissue reconstruction following tumor removal or breast mastectomy surgery, the development of tissue-engineered cartilage or bone, and the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Screening for hepatitis B may be cost-effective for more of the population, analysis shows
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) continues to be a major health issue in the United States despite prevention strategies.
Most patients recover from 'chemo-brain' by 5 years after stem cell transplant
Many patients who undergo bone marrow or blood stem cell transplantation to treat blood cancers or a "pre-leukemic" condition called myelodysplasia experience a decline in mental and fine motor skills due to the toll of their disease and its treatment.
'Fatting in': Immigrant groups eat high-calorie American meals to fit in
Immigrants to the United States and their U.S.-born children gain more than a new life and new citizenship. They gain weight. The wide availability of cheap, convenient, fatty American foods and large meal portions have been blamed for immigrants packing on pounds, approaching U.S. levels of obesity within 15 years of their move.
Early history of genetics revised
The early history of genetics has to be re-written in the light of new findings. Scientists from the University Jena (Germany) in co-operation with colleagues from Prague found out that the traditional history of the 'rediscovery' of Gregor Johann Mendel's laws of heredity in 1900 has to be adjusted and some facets have to be added.
The mirror neuron system in autism: Broken or just slowly developing?
Developmental abnormalities in the mirror neuron system may contribute to social deficits in autism.
Afghanistan worst place, Norway best to be a mom: study
Afghanistan is the worst place in the world to be a mother and Norway is the best, an annual report released Tuesday said.
Colorectal cancer screening rates on rise among Medicare beneficiaries due to expansion of coverage
Colorectal cancer screening rates increased for Medicare beneficiaries when coverage was expanded to average-risk individuals, but racial disparities still exist, according to researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).
Simple exercise improves lung function in children with cystic fibrosis
A small Johns Hopkins Children's Center study of children and teens with cystic fibrosis (CF) shows that simple exercise, individually tailored to each patient's preference and lifestyle, can help improve lung function and overall fitness.
Japan police plan DNA database to identify tsunami dead
Japanese police are to set up a DNA database to help identify the bodies of those killed in the March earthquake and tsunami, reports said Tuesday.
US takes aim at purported sex disease 'cures'
The US government said Tuesday it is taking steps to remove from the market a host of online products that promise to cure HIV, herpes, chlamydia and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Nearly one 1 in 12 in US have asthma: study
Asthma cases in the United States have risen 12.3 percent since 2001, and nearly one in 12, or almost 25 million Americans, are stricken with the chronic respiratory disease, the government said Tuesday.
Research offers hope in new treatment for spinal cord injuries
Rutgers researchers have developed an innovative new treatment that could help minimize nerve damage in spinal cord injuries, promote tissue healing and minimize pain.
Scientists discover 'how to stop your immune system from killing you'
(Medical Xpress) -- Scientists at the University of Birmingham have discovered a 'molecular hoover' with the potential to prevent autoimmune conditions.
Diagnosis and treatment of ADHD varies significantly across countries
(Medical Xpress) -- Social attitudes about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and treatments vary by country, according to a new study of the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in nine countries. The study appears in the May issue of the American Psychiatric Association’s journal Psychiatric Services.
Overdoses of popular painkiller send thousands to ER each year
Overdose of the common household drug acetaminophen leads to more than 78,000 emergency department (ED) visits a year, and the majority of the overdoses are intentional, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Religious activity does not lower blood pressure: study
(Medical Xpress) -- Contrary to some earlier studies, a Loyola University Health System study has found that religious activity does not help protect against high blood pressure.
Key cause of bone marrow failure identified
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers funded by Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research and the Medical Research Council (MRC) have identified one of the first steps that can cause bone marrow failure and eventually lead to blood cancers. This discovery will open up a new strategy for treating these disorders and hopefully prevent some forms leukaemia, which affects up to 7,600 people a year in the UK.
Mouse study turns fat-loss/longevity link on its head
Since the 1930s scientists have proposed food restriction as a way to extend life in mice. Though feeding a reduced-calorie diet has indeed lengthened the life spans of mice, rats and many other species, new studies with dozens of different mouse strains indicate that food restriction does not work in all cases.
Structured exercise training associated with improved glycemic control for patients with diabetes
Implementing structured exercise training, including aerobic, resistance or both, was associated with a greater reduction in hemoglobin A1c levels (a marker of glucose control) for patients with diabetes compared to patients in the control group, and longer weekly exercise duration was also associated with a greater decrease in these levels, according to results of an analysis of previous studies, published in the May 4 issue of JAMA.
Study shows drop off in coronary artery bypass surgeries for heart patients
New research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine shows a substantial decrease in one type of revascularization procedure, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, while rates of utilization of the other form, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), has remained unchanged. Coronary revascularization, the process of restoring the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the heart, is among the most common hospital-based major interventional procedures performed in the United States. Over the past decade, the field of coronary revascularization has been changed by a number of technological advances, including new devices and new surgical techniques for clearing blockages. The research will be published in the May 3 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Study evaluates relationship of urinary sodium with health outcomes
In a study conducted to examine the health outcomes related to salt intake, as gauged by the amount of sodium excreted in the urine, lower sodium excretion was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death, while higher sodium excretion did not correspond with increased risk of hypertension or cardiovascular disease complications, according to a study in the May 4 issue of JAMA.
Dependency and passivity -- you can have one without the other
Think of a dependent person, and you think of someone who's needy, high-maintenance, and passive. That's how many psychologists and therapists think of them, too; passivity is key. But dependency is actually more complex and can even have active, positive aspects, writes Robert Bornstein of Adelphi University, the author of a new article published in Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Emergency care researchers say cheap life-saving drug should be made freely available
How much would you pay for an extra year of healthy life? The cost of filling up your car at the petrol pumps? Researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) have found that a year of life could be saved for around the price of filling up the tank of an average family car in the UK - which is a fitting comparison bearing in mind that most of the patients who will benefit from this cheap life-saving drug have been hit by cars.
Limitations of evidence base for prescribing aripiprazole in maintenance therapy of bipolar disorder
The evidence base for the prescribing of aripiprazole in maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder is limited to a single trial, sponsored by the manufacturer of aripiprazole, according to a rigorous appraisal of the evidence for its use led jointly by Alexander Tsai of Harvard University, Boston USA, and Nicholas Rosenlicht of the University of California San Francisco, USA. In the paper, published in this week's PLoS Medicine, the authors describe key limitations of the trial, which were not identified in most subsequent review articles and guidelines for the treatment of bipolar disorder in which the trial was cited.
Hijacked antiviral protein subverts energy production to aid viral infection
(Medical Xpress) -- Viruses are notorious for entering cells, taking over their internal machinery, and turning them into virus manufacturing centers. But new research by Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator Peter Cresswell reveals how human cytomegalovirus takes this gambit one step further, turning a protein that host cells use to protect themselves against viruses into a saboteur that supports viral infection.
New cotton candy-like glass fibers appear to speed healing in venous stasis wound trial
Imagine a battlefield medic or emergency medical technician providing first aid with a special wad of cottony glass fibers that simultaneously slows bleeding, fights bacteria (and other sources of infection), stimulates the body's natural healing mechanisms, resists scarring, and—because it is quickly absorbed by surrounding tissue — may never have to be removed in follow-up care.
Researchers demonstrate why DNA breaks down in cancer cells
Damage to normal DNA is a hallmark of cancer cells. Although it had previously been known that damage to normal cells is caused by stress to their DNA replication when cancerous cells invade, the molecular basis for this remained unclear.
HIV drug could prevent cervical cancer
A widely used HIV drug could be used to prevent cervical cancer caused by infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV), say scientists.
Researchers see a 'picture' of threat in the brain: Work may lead to new model of neuroinflammation
A team of researchers is beginning to see exactly what the response to threats looks like in the brain at the cellular and molecular levels.
Popular diabetes drugs' cardiovascular side effects explained
Drugs known as thiazolidinediones, or TZDs for short, are widely used in diabetes treatment, but they come with a downside. The drugs have effects on the kidneys that lead to fluid retention as the volume of plasma in the bloodstream expands.
Turning 'bad' fat into 'good': A future treatment for obesity?
By knocking down the expression of a protein in rat brains known to stimulate eating, Johns Hopkins researchers say they not only reduced the animals' calorie intake and weight, but also transformed their fat into a type that burns off more energy. The finding could lead to better obesity treatments for humans, the scientists report.
Nicotine and cocaine leave similar mark on brain after first contact
The effects of nicotine upon brain regions involved in addiction mirror those of cocaine, according to new neuroscience research.
Ecstasy associated with chronic change in brain function
the illegal "rave" drug that produces feelings of euphoria and emotional warmth – has been in the news recently as a potential therapeutic. Clinical trials are testing Ecstasy in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Sense of justice built into the brain
A new study from the Karolinska Institute and Stockholm School of Economics shows that the brain has built-in mechanisms that trigger an automatic reaction to someone who refuses to share. In the study publishing next week in the online open access journal PLoS Biology, the subjects' sense of justice was challenged in a two-player monetary fairness game, and their brain activity was simultaneously measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). When bidders made unfair suggestions as to how to share the money, they were often punished by their partners even if it cost them. This reaction to unfairness could be reduced by targeting one specific brain region, the amygdala.
Why the eye is better than a camera at capturing contrast and faint detail simultaneously
The human eye long ago solved a problem common to both digital and film cameras: how to get good contrast in an image while also capturing faint detail.
Biology news
Up close and personal with snakes
A death adder has a face only a mother could love, but that hasn't stopped PhD student Melissa Bruton, from the University of Queensland's School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management from getting up close and personal.
Biological diversity: Exploiters and exploited
From the crops we farm to the insects which blight them mankind has always had a complex relationship with nature, commanding some species while falling victim to others. In Biological Diversity: Exploiters and Exploited Paul Hatcher and Nick Battey explore the subject of biodiversity through the species that humans exploit, and the species which exploit humans.
A boring life -- the Asiatic wild ass in the Mongolian Gobi
Wild asses are descendants of the original ancestors of the horse and the donkey. Unfortunately most species of wild ass are now in danger of extinction, largely as a direct result of human activities such as hunting and habitat destruction. Walzer's group has been working together with colleagues in Germany, China and Mongolia on the Asiatic wild ass, which is currently restricted to areas in Mongolia, China, India, Iran and Turkmenistan although it was formerly much more widespread. The researchers are considering the factors responsible for the decline of the species, hoping to develop measures to ensure its future survival.
Scientists track evolution and spread of deadly fungus, one of the world's major killers
New research has shed light on the origins of a fungal infection which is one of the major causes of death from AIDS-related illnesses. The study, published today in the journal PLoS Pathogens, funded by the Wellcome Trust and the BBSRC, shows how the more virulent forms of Cryptococcus neoformans evolved and spread out of Africa and into Asia.
Grazing as a conservation tool
Rotational grazing of cattle in native pasturelands in Brazil's Pantanal and Cerrado regions can benefit both cattle and wildlife, according to a new study by the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Unlocking the metabolic secrets of the microbiome
The number of bacterial cells living in and on our bodies outnumbers our own cells ten to one. But the identity of all those bugs and just what exactly our relationship to all of them really is remains rather fuzzy. Now, researchers reporting in the May issue of Cell Metabolism, have new evidence showing the metabolic impact of all those microbes in mice, and on their colons in particular.
Marine snails get a metabolism boost
Most of us wouldn't consider slow-moving snails to be high-metabolism creatures. But at one point in the distant past, snail metabolism sped up, says a new study of marine snails in the journal Paleobiology.
How the hummingbird's tongue really works (w/ video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Ornithologists first put forth the theory that hummingbirds took in nectar using capillary action (where liquid rises against gravity in a narrow tube) in 1833 and since then no one has questioned it. In a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, research has shown that it is not capillary action at all, but actually a curling of the tongue to trap liquid.
Succulent plants waited for cool, dry Earth to make their mark
The cactus, stalwart of the desert, has quite a story to tell about the evolution of plant communities found the world over.
Researchers develop technique for measuring stressed molecules in cells
Biophysicists at the University of Pennsylvania have helped develop a new technique for studying how proteins respond to physical stress and have applied it to better understand the stability-granting structures in normal and mutated red blood cells.
Formidable fungal force counters biofuel plant pathogens
Fungi play significant ecological and economic roles. They can break down organic matter, cause devastating agricultural blights, enter into symbiotic relationships to protect and nourish plants, or offer a tasty repast. For industrial applications, fungi provide a source of enzymes to catalyze such processes as generating biofuels from plant biomass. One large fungal group with such enzymes are the rust plant pathogens which cannot survive on their own so they use crops as hosts, leading to reduced yields and potentially hindering efforts to grow biomass for fuel. Factors that could reduce the growth of plant biomass, thus reducing biofuel production, are a target for investigation of the DOE Joint Genome Institute (JGI).
Genome duplication encourages rapid adaptation of plants
Plants adapt to the local weather and soil conditions in which they grow, and these environmental adaptations are known to evolve over thousands of years as mutations slowly accumulate in plants' genetic code. But a University of Rochester biologist has found that at least some plant adaptations can occur almost instantaneously, not by a change in DNA sequence, but simply by duplication of existing genetic material.
Protein identified as enemy of vital tumor suppressor PTEN
A protein known as WWP2 appears to play a key role in tumor survival, a research team headed by a scientist at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reports in an advance online publication of Nature Cell Biology.
First rainforests arose when plants solved plumbing problem
A team of scientists, including several from the Smithsonian Institution, discovered that leaves of flowering plants in the world's first rainforests had more veins per unit area than leaves ever had before. They suggest that this increased the amount of water available to the leaves, making it possible for plants to capture more carbon and grow larger. A better plumbing system may also have radically altered water and carbon movement through forests, driving environmental change.
Robots learn to share, validating Hamilton's rule (w/ video)
Using simple robots to simulate genetic evolution over hundreds of generations, Swiss scientists provide quantitative proof of kin selection and shed light on one of the most enduring puzzles in biology: Why do most social animals, including humans, go out of their way to help each other? In next week's issue of the online, open access journal PLoS Biology, EPFL robotics professor Dario Floreano teams up with University of Lausanne biologist Laurent Keller to weigh in on the oft-debated question of the evolution of altruism genes.
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