Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for May 18, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Sony PlayStation Network hacked again by resetting user passwords- Lizard fossil provides missing link in debate over snake origins
- Earth's inner core is melting... and freezing
- Nuclear magnetic resonance with no magnets
- Planets that have no stars: New class of planets discovered
- Key to fighting drug-resistant leukemia found
- FAA warns pilots in Las Vegas vicinity on GPS
- From gene to protein: Gene expression quantification offers new insights
- Species extinction rates have been overreported, new study claims
- Tomatoes may help ward off heart disease
- Errors in protein structure sparked evolution of biological complexity
- Resolving water's electrical properties
- Duplicating immunity boosting regulatory T-cells to unprecedented levels
- Want lasting love? It's not more commitment, but equal commitment that matters
- HPV test beats Pap for cervical cancer screening
Space & Earth news
Image: Atlantis' final rollover
(PhysOrg.com) -- Shuttle Atlantis makes its final planned move from Orbiter Processing Facility-1 to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Potentially toxic flame retardants detected in baby products
Scientists are reporting detection of potentially toxic flame retardants in car seats, bassinet mattresses, nursing pillows, high chairs, strollers, and other products that contain polyurethane foam and are designed for newborns, infants and toddlers. In a study in ACS' journal Environmental Science & Technology, they describe hints that one flame retardant, banned years ago in some areas, actually remains in use. "To the authors knowledge, this is the first study to report on flame retardants in baby products," the report states.
Shuttle Endeavour closing in on space station
(AP) -- Space shuttle Endeavour is almost at its destination.
Endeavour crew starts work at space station: NASA (Update)
The US space shuttle Endeavour, with six astronauts on board including an Italian, docked at the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday, NASA said.
New study predicts risk of wetland habitat loss in southern United States
Baylor University, in collaboration with the U.S Forest Service (USFS) Rocky Mountain Research Station, has developed a model that predicts the risk of wetland habitat loss based on local wetland features and characteristics of the landscape surrounding the wetland. The new model was used to predict the fate of wetland habitats over a 13-state area in the southern United States and was published in the journal Ecological Applications.
Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to focus on invisible universe
The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer will revolutionize what we know about invisible cosmic rays the same way NASA's Hubble Space Telescope rewrote what we know about the visible universe says the intellectual force behind the instrument. The AMS is to launch on space shuttle Endeavour in April.
Europe may ban plastic bags
With each European using 500 plastic bags per year, and tonnes of plastic littering the Mediterranean, the European Commission may ban them from stores or tax them to combat pollution.
Astronauts inspect damaged tiles on shuttle
Astronauts are examining several heat shield tiles that appear to have been damaged during the shuttle Endeavour's ascent into orbit, but NASA said Wednesday there was no cause for concern.
At the heart of Hartley-2, a new breed of comet?
(PhysOrg.com) -- At the heart of every comet lies a remnant of the dawn of the solar system. Or is that remnants? Astronomers don't know, but the answer would give them a clearer picture of exactly how comets were born eons ago at the birth of the Solar System. Did thin tendrils of dust and ice get drawn slowly inward and pack themselves into a single, uniform mass? Or did a hodge-podge of mini-comets come together to form the core for a comet of substance?
Scientists move closer to predicting volcano hazard
UK and Russian scientists say they are a step closer to predicting how dangerous a volcano is after developing a method that lets them figure out how individual volcanoes are 'plumbed'.
Shuttle brings big-bucks magnet to space station
(AP) -- A mammoth cosmic ray detector arrived at the International Space Station on Wednesday, a $2 billion experiment that will search the invisible universe and help explain how everything came to be.
Planets that have no stars: New class of planets discovered
(PhysOrg.com) -- University of Notre Dame astronomer David Bennett is co-author of a new paper describing the discovery of a new class of planets -- dark, isolated Jupiter-mass bodies floating alone in space, far from any host star. Bennett and the team of astronomers involved in the discovery believe that the planets were most likely ejected from developing planetary systems.
Earth's inner core is melting... and freezing
The inner core of the Earth is simultaneously melting and freezing due to circulation of heat in the overlying rocky mantle, according to new research from the University of Leeds, UC San Diego and the Indian Institute of Technology.
Technology news
Could the Internet spell the end of snow days?
(AP) -- Could the Internet mean the end of snow days? Some schools think so, and they are experimenting with ways for students to do lessons online during bad weather, potentially allowing classes to go on during even the worst blizzard.
Bollywood marketing goes mobile
Times have changed in Bollywood from the days when all that was required to promote a film was a giant, hand-painted poster, a television or cinema trailer and the pulling power of a star actor.
River rises; Northwest wind farms, plants cut back
(AP) -- Wind farms and fossil-fuel power plants in the Pacific Northwest were all but shut down for five hours early Wednesday as the Columbia River basin's hydroelectric generators ran at full capacity and river managers dealt with one of the largest volumes of spring runoff in years.
US presses green growth in Asia
Warning that the era of cheap fuel was over, the United States on Wednesday called for Pacific Rim economies to knock down trade barriers to spur growth in clean energy.
Group responds to potential NW wind power shutdown
(AP) -- Wind power companies facing a springtime shutdown to accommodate a surge of hydropower in the Northwest said Tuesday the region's main power manager has a conflict of interest, using authority over transmission lines to protect its business interests.
Sony boss: cannot guarantee security after hacking
Sony chief Howard Stringer has warned he can no longer guarantee the security of the electronics giant's gaming network in the "bad new world" of cybercrime after one of the biggest Internet data breaches.
Malaysia unveils plan to build 'green economy'
Malaysia is launching an ambitious plan to build a "green economy" with the help of an advisory council that includes economist Jeffrey Sachs and the UN climate change chief.
Gamers play Hollywood detectives in 'L.A. Noire'
The videogame maker behind violence-packed "Grand Theft Auto" has broken new ground with a title starring an honorable detective using wits to solve crime in 1947 Hollywood.
LinkedIn IPO stirs Internet bubble fears
LinkedIn, the professional-networking website firm, said Tuesday it expects to be worth as much as $4 billion when it goes public soon, sparking fears of another Internet bubble.
China 'hit by power crunch' amid drought
Chinese factories are facing curbs on electricity use as coal prices soar and a severe drought hits hydropower plants, state media have said, with possible major shortages ahead this summer.
Radiation protection expert criticizes comparison of Fukushima to Chernobyl
In the opening editorial to the latest edition of the Journal of Radiological Protection, published today, Wednesday 18 May, radiological protection expert Professor Richard Wakeford of the Dalton Nuclear Institute, The University of Manchester, gives a detailed account of events at Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station, and poses several questions that remain unanswered, several weeks on from the earthquake and tsunami on 11 March.
Scientist develops new and free way to send large files around the Web
A new way to send large files around the Web completely free of charge has been launched by the University of Southampton.
US intelligence to set up cyber-focused office in Estonia
US intelligence is to open an office in the Estonian capital Tallinn to help boost the fight against cyber-crime, the US embassy in the Baltic state announced Wednesday.
YouTube 'Town Hall' takes US political pulse
YouTube on Wednesday launched a "Town Hall" website at which US congressional leaders address issues in brief videos and viewers get to show which positions they support.
LinkedIn's IPO priced at $45 a share
(AP) -- LinkedIn priced its IPO at $45 per share to set up the first stock market debut among a fraternity of Internet networking services that's captivating investors.
Yahoo! buys online ad platform 5to1
Yahoo! on Wednesday announced that it has signed a deal to buy online advertising platform 5to1.
One-in-14 software downloads malicious: Microsoft
Microsoft on Wednesday warned that hackers use mind tricks more often than software skills to get viruses into computers.
Google to expand ultra-fast broadband to KC, Mo.
More than a month after Kansas City, Kan., announced it would be the first place to get Google's ultra-fast broadband service, Kansas City, Mo., leaders declared their city the envy of the entire world after the search engine giant said it was expanding the service to their town.
AnatOnMe: Doctor patient communication enhanced with new Microsoft device (w/ video)
(Medical Xpress) -- Microsoft researchers announced this week a new handheld device that they hope will work as an aid for doctors and patients to better communicate injuries and recommended therapy treatments. The new prototype device is called AnatOnMe and enables doctors to project an image of the bones, tendons and muscles involved in an injury directly onto the patient's skin.
Researchers show Android devices susceptible to eavesdropping
(PhysOrg.com) -- Following up on research done by Dan Wallach of Princeton University, that suggested Android devices were susceptible to an eavesdropping risk on open WiFi networks, German researchers Bastian Könings, Jens Nickels, and Florian Schaub have shown that by using commercially available software (Wireshark) they were able to listen in on an open WiFi network and gain sufficient information to impersonate a legitimate user. Posting their results on the University of Ulm website, they describe how they were able to obtain access to Google calendar and contact data as well as Picasa images via the capture of authentication tokens.
Japanese electric car 'goes 300km' on single charge
Japanese developers have unveiled an electric car they said Wednesday can travel more than 300 kilometres before its battery runs flat.
When fueling up means plugging in
Want a Nissan Leaf? Join the 20,000 people on the waiting list to get one. The Chevy Volt got your eye? General Motors ramped up availability earlier this year to try and meet demand. With the latest generation of electric vehicles gaining traction, new findings from University of Delaware researchers are informing automakers’ and policymakers’ decisions about the environmentally friendly cars.
FAA warns pilots in Las Vegas vicinity on GPS
Pilots flying at night near Las Vegas over the next week may have to navigate the old-fashioned way - without GPS.
Sony PlayStation Network hacked again by resetting user passwords
(PhysOrg.com) -- Only a few days after Sony brought their PlayStation Network back on-line hackers have shown that the PSN is still vulnerable to attacks. This time around hackers have reset user account passwords by using their email address and date of birth.
Medicine & Health news
Giffords to have surgery while husband is in space
(AP) -- Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' recovery isn't slowing down while her astronaut husband speeds around the Earth.
FDA panel backs infant doses for kids' Tylenol
(AP) -- Federal health experts say dosing instructions for children younger than 2 years old should be added to Children's Tylenol and similar products containing acetaminophen, the popular pain reliever and fever reducer.
Occupational lung diseases in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans
A Wednesday morning session will explore the inhalational exposures and respiratory outcomes of military deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan. Presenters will review current knowledge on complex inhalational exposures, epidemiologic studies, animal toxicology studies, and clinical lung findings in U.S. military men and women who are returning from Southwest Asia.
Marker identifies breast cancer patients likely to respond to tamoxifen
Cancer researchers at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson and an international team of collaborators have discovered a biomarker in breast cancer that may help identify which women will respond to anti-estrogen therapy.
Increase in risk of certain gastric cancer from heavy drinking
The results from a very well-done meta-analysis support other data generated on the risk of alcohol consumption and gastric cancer – that is – that the risk may be real for heavy alcohol consumption but not for moderate intake. The type of gastric cancer relating to heavier alcohol intake in this study tended to be tumors involving the noncardia, but differences between the association with tumors of the gastric cardia were not significant.
International team to investigate second-line HIV therapy in Africa
The largest clinical trial to investigate treatment options for individuals whose first combination of anti-HIV medicines is no longer working has been announced following the recruitment of 1,200 HIV-positive individuals from across five African countries.
Medical devices under scrutiny
‘When Suzanne Ludgate of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the government regulator of medical devices in the UK, says she was "appalled at how many devices are brought to market with a lack of appropriate clinical data," you know there must be a problem.’
NYU Physician Magazine now a free iPad app
NYU Langone Medical Center, one of the nation's premier academic medical centers, announced today the magazine of NYU School of Medicine, NYU Physician, is now available as a free iPad app in the iTunes App Store.
Rise of for-profit hospice industry raises troubling questions, new study says
A new survey of hospice care in the United States says that the rapidly growing role of for-profit companies in providing end-of-life care for terminally ill patients raises serious concerns about whose interests are being served under such a commercial arrangement: those of shareholders or those of dying patients and their loved ones.
New Mayo Clinic test targets Lynch syndrome, a risk factor for colon cancer
Mayo Clinic has developed a screening procedure that could dramatically increase testing for Lynch syndrome, a hereditary genetic disorder that raises cancer risk, particularly for colorectal cancer. An estimated 3 percent of colon cancers can be attributed to Lynch syndrome. At least 80 percent of people with Lynch syndrome develop colorectal cancer, many of them before age 50.
Delirium following cardiac surgery common in older patients
Delirium following cardiac surgery, a serious postoperative complication, is fairly common in older patients, affecting more than one-third of patients over 70 according to research to be presented at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting in Honolulu
The connection between economic distress, suicide
If the United States follows the pattern that occurred after the economic crisis in Japan, public health officials should watch for a significant increase in suicides, particularly in the baby boom population, concluded a study scheduled for presentation at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting
Synthetic cannabis linked to extended psychosis
Case studies indicate the recreational use of synthetic cannabis may lead to psychosis that can last for days or months in some cases, according to a study at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting in Hawaii.
Gene therapy success depends on ability to advance viral delivery vectors to commercialization
Many gene therapy strategies designed to deliver a normal copy of a gene to cells carrying a disease-causing genetic mutation rely on a modified virus to transfer the gene product into affected tissues. One technology platform that is well suited for in vivo delivery of genes is based on adeno-associated viruses (AAV). As these novel therapies move closer to commercialization, so do the methods for large-scale production and efficient delivery of AAV vectors, which are documented in a series of articles published online ahead of print in Human Gene Therapy, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
Heart drugs ineffective in treating pulmonary arterial hypertension
Despite their beneficial effects in treating heart disease, neither aspirin nor simvastatin appear to offer benefit to patients suffering from pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH), according to a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded study conducted at four U.S. medical centers. This was the first NIH-funded randomized clinical trial (RCT) in PAH.
Electronic medical records lower infant mortality, study finds
Expanded use of electronic medical records would substantially reduce infant mortality in the U.S., according to a study forthcoming in the Journal of Political Economy.
Too posh to push? The increasing trend for cesarean section
During the last thirty years there has been an increase in the number of babies born by Caesarean section. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Public Health shows that there has also been a change in the social and economic status of the mothers involved and that advantaged mothers are more likely to have their babies by Caesarean section than mothers living in more difficult circumstances.
Melatonin analogue agomelatine could have role in treating major depression
A New Drug Class paper published Online First by The Lancet looks at the use of melatonin and its analogues—traditionally used to modify the body's internal clock (circadian system)—in the treatment of major depression. Agomelatine is an analogue that shows particular promise, since it provides similar levels of antidepressant activity as some other common antidepressants, while also improving the sleep-wake patterns of those treated. The paper is by Professor Ian B Hickie, Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia, and Associate Professor Naomi L Rogers, Central Queensland University, Mackay, QLD, Australia.
'Blueprint' for blocking MMP may unlock new treatments for deadly blood infection
Researchers studying the life threatening infectious disease sepsis have discovered how the infection can lead to a fatal inflammatory response through blood vessel cells. The research, which is published in EMBO Molecular Medicine, focuses on blocking crucial Matrix Metalloprotease enzymes (MMP) which activate the response.
CSI Infection: Method used in hunt for serial killers turns to killer diseases
Every 30 seconds, infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis kill as many people as Jack the Ripper did in his entire career. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal International Journal of Health Geographics demonstrates how the mathematical model of geographic profiling, used in the hunt for serial killers, can help combat infectious diseases.
High pregnancy weight gain can lead to long-term obesity
(Medical Xpress) -- Gaining more than the recommended weight during pregnancy can put women at increased risk of becoming obese and developing related health problems, including high blood pressure, later in life.
'Molecular fingerprinting' will improve monitoring of surgical patients, experts say
Chemical screening technologies will help doctors to monitor surgical patients before, during and after operations, providing better targeted care and treatment, say Imperial College London experts in an article published in The Lancet today.
Hospitals misleading patients about benefits of robotic surgery, study suggests
An estimated four in 10 hospital websites in the United States publicize the use of robotic surgery, with the lion's share touting its clinical superiority despite a lack of scientific evidence that robotic surgery is any better than conventional operations, a new Johns Hopkins study finds.
Half of prostate cancers could potentially benefit from new type of cancer drugs, study finds
About half of prostate cancers have a genetic anomaly that appears to make tumor cells responsive to a new class of cancer-fighting drugs, a new study from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center finds.
Cigarette packaging needs to change, study says
The messages that cigarette pack labels convey to smokers and nonsmokers have been evaluated by Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) researchers in three studies published in the June 2011 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The conclusion from these studies is that manufacturers have deceived consumers about the risks of their products for years and that remedial actions are needed so consumers can make informed decisions about the products that they purchase.
Voluntary exercise by animals prevents weight gain, despite high-fat diet
(Medical Xpress) -- University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers have found that animals on a high-fat diet can avoid weight gain if they exercise.
Researchers work to prevent blindness from age-related macular degeneration
Slowing down the aggregation or "clumping" of vitamin A in the eye may help prevent vision loss caused by macular degeneration, research from Columbia University Medical Center has found.
Dairy consumption does not elevate heart-attack risk, study suggests
Dairy products can be high in harmful saturated fat but not necessarily in risk to the heart. A newly published analysis of thousands of adults in Costa Rica found that their levels of dairy consumption had nothing to do statistically with their risk of a heart attack.
Maternal smoking causes changes in fetal DNA
Children whose mothers or grandmothers smoked during pregnancy are at increased risk of asthma in childhood, but the underlying causes of this are not well understood. Now a new study indicates changes in a process called DNA methylation that occurs before birth may be a root cause.
Lack of 'gatekeeper' protein linked to skin cancer
New research from North Carolina State University shows that a "gatekeeper" protein plays an important role in skin-cancer prevention in humans and lab mice.
Sun protects against childhood asthma
Vitamin D, which is primarily absorbed from the sun, plays a role in protection against childhood asthma. Now, a new study led by Valencian researchers has shown that children who live in colder, wetter cities are at greater risk of suffering from this respiratory problem, since there are fewer hours of sunlight in such places.
When rising PSA means prostate cancer is in patient's future
A man's rising PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level over several years – which had been seen as a possible warning sign of prostate cancer – has recently come under fire as a screening test because it sometimes prompts biopsies that turn out to be normal.
Preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS with humanized BLT mice
The more than 2.7 million new HIV infections recorded per year leave little doubt that the HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to spread globally. That's why there's the need for safe, inexpensive and effective drugs to successfully block HIV transmission.
Boy overcomes rare autoimmune disease and is standing strong again
Gordon Guest didn’t think too much of it when Joshua, then 3, fell a few times one summer afternoon near their home in Dryden, N.Y. Kids often get clumsy during a growth spurt or when they’re tired. He brought Josh home and put him to bed early. But when Josh woke up the next morning, his eyes were pointing different directions and he had no facial expression.
Re-educating immune system: New cell therapy prevents organ rejection
Researchers at King's College London have used cells found naturally in the body, to re-educate the immune system to prevent rejection of an organ transplant while remaining capable of fighting infections and cancer.
Extremely obese children have higher prevalence of psoriasis, higher heart disease risk
Children who are overweight or obese have a significantly higher prevalence of psoriasis, and teens with psoriasis, regardless of their body weight, have higher cholesterol levels, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published online in the Journal of Pediatrics. The study findings suggest that higher heart disease risk for patients with psoriasis starts in childhood in the form of higher cholesterol levels.
Lichens may aid in combating deadly chronic wasting disease in wildlife
Certain lichens can break down the infectious proteins responsible for chronic wasting disease (CWD), a troubling neurological disease fatal to wild deer and elk and spreading throughout the United States and Canada, according to U.S. Geological Survey research published today in the journal PLoS ONE.
Researchers home in on genetic signature of esophageal cancer
University of Rochester Medical Center researchers have pinpointed two genes that are amplified in the worst cases of esophageal cancer, providing data to support a new investigational treatment that targets those same genes.
Virtual workout partners spur better results
Can't find anyone to exercise with? Don't despair: New research from Michigan State University reveals working out with a virtual partner improves motivation during exercise.
End of life care for cancer patients differs in US and Canada
In the United States, older patients with advanced lung cancer make much less use of hospital and emergency room services at the end of life than their counterparts in Ontario but use far more chemotherapy, according to a study published May 18th online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
New treatment regimen shows clinical benefit in advanced colon cancer
A new treatment regimen for patients with metastatic colon cancer appears to offer clinical benefit even when used after multiple other treatments have failed, say research physicians at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, a part of Georgetown University Medical Center.
Yoga improves quality of life in women with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy
For women with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy, yoga offers unique benefits beyond fighting fatigue, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Study urges three-year gap in cervical cancer test
Healthy women over 30 who test negative for human papillomaviruses (HPV) may be able to safely extend the period between gynecological exams from every year to three years, said a US study Wednesday.
Researchers discover that lymphocyte count indicates prognosis of patients with renal cell carcinoma
Each year, kidney cancer is diagnosed in nearly 60,000 people in the U.S. Many of these patients undergo surgery to remove the affected kidney, but this procedure can be risky for the elderly and those who have other health problems. Unfortunately, the prognosis of kidney cancer patients often cannot be determined until tumor samples are surgically removed and evaluated. Now, researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center have discovered that the lymphocyte count––which is routinely measured in laboratory tests––is a simple and effective prognostic indicator in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
Recurring cancers in women with a history of breast cancer differ from the original tumors
When women with a history of breast cancer learn they have breast cancer again, one of the first questions they and their doctors ask is: Has my cancer come back, or is this a new case? Now, new data from Fox Chase Cancer Center suggest that both new and recurring cancers will differ significantly from the original tumors, regardless of how many months or years women spent cancer-free, and doctors should tailor treatment to the specific qualities of the second tumor, regardless of whether it's old or new.
Decoding brainwaves lets scientists read minds
(Medical Xpress) -- While currently in the realm of sci-fi fantasy, the ability to read people’s minds has taken a step closer to reality thanks to neuroscientists at the University of Glasgow.
The odds are against extra-sensory perception
Can people truly feel the future? Researchers remain skeptical, according to a new study by Jeffrey Rouder and Richard Morey from the University of Missouri in the US, and the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, respectively. Their work appears online in the Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, published by Springer.
Researchers determine region of the brain necessary for making decisions about economic value
Neuroeconomic research at the University of Pennsylvania has conclusively identified a part of the brain that is necessary for making everyday decisions about value. Previous functional magnetic imaging studies, during which researchers use a powerful magnet to determine which parts of a subjects brain are most active while doing a task, have suggested that the ventromedial frontal cortex, or VMF, plays an evaluative role during decision making.
Tomatoes may help ward off heart disease
(Medical Xpress) -- A University of Adelaide study has shown that tomatoes may be an effective alternative to medication in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, thus preventing cardiovascular disease.
Simple fitness test could predict long-term risk for heart attack, stroke in middle-aged people
How fast can you run a mile? If you're middle-aged, the answer could provide a strong predictor of your risk of heart attack or stroke over the next decade or more.
Duplicating immunity boosting regulatory T-cells to unprecedented levels
University of Minnesota Medical School researchers have discovered a method to quickly and exponentially grow regulatory T-cells – also known as "suppressor cells." The new process enables replication of the cells by tens of millions in several weeks, a dramatic increase over previous duplication methods. Historically, regulatory T-cells have been difficult to replicate.
Want lasting love? It's not more commitment, but equal commitment that matters
It stands to reason that a well-loved child can become a loving adult. But what prepares us to make a strong commitment and work out differences with an intimate partner? And what happens when one person is more committed than the other?
Enzyme may drive breast cancer growth
A recently discovered enzyme drives the production of a potent form of estrogen in human breast cancer tissue, researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine have found.
HPV test beats Pap for cervical cancer screening
Two big studies suggest possible new ways to screen healthy people for cervical or prostate cancers, but a third disappointed those hoping for a way to detect early signs of deadly ovarian tumors.
Key to fighting drug-resistant leukemia found
Doctors who treat children with the most common form of childhood cancer – acute lymphoblastic leukemia – are often baffled at how sometimes the cancer cells survive their best efforts and the most powerful modern cancer drugs.
Biology news
Mapping the deadly mosquito
(PhysOrg.com) -- ESA is helping to take the bite out of mosquitoes and their deadly diseases by tracking their distribution and habitat via observation satellites, satnav, and mobile communications.
HeliScopeCAGE: A new gene expression analysis technique on a single molecule sequencer
A new gene expression technique adapted for single molecule sequencing has enabled researchers at the RIKEN Omics Science Center (OSC) to accurately and quantitatively measure gene expression levels using only 100 nanograms of total RNA. The technique, which pairs RIKEN's Cap Analysis of Gene Expression (CAGE) protocol with the Helicos® Genetic Analysis System developed by Helicos BioSciences Corporation, opens the door to the detailed analysis of gene expression networks and rare cell populations.
Scientists discover switch to speed up stem cell production
A team of scientists from Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) have shown how proteins involved in controlling genes work together to carry out their functions in stem cells and demonstrated for the very first time, how they can change interaction partners to make other types of cells. The work highlighted the collaborative nature of modern biology in which techniques and knowledge from bioinformatics analysis, structural biology, biochemistry and stem cell molecular biology were used together to find the specific amino acid within the protein that facilitated the molecular switch between stem cells and other types of cells. This discovery, published in the journal Stem Cells, has implications for generating stem cells more efficiently for biomedical applications and could help facilitate the development of treatments for diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease.
Transcriptomic insights into the vertebrate phylotypic stage
A new comparative transcriptomic analysis of four vertebrate species conducted by Naoki Irie in RIKEN's Laboratory for Evolutionary Morphology strongly suggests that the 'hourglass model' is the more accurate description of how the vertebrate phylotype manifests.
New study aims to help preserve plants, animals caught between forest 'fragments'
Maintaining the world's threatened animal and plant species may rest with something as simple as knowing how far a bird can fly before it must answer nature's call.
Cell phones may be contributing to the honeybee population decline
(PhysOrg.com) -- In a new study published in Apidologie, Lausanne researcher and bee specialist Daniel Favre shares his findings of cell phones electromagnetic fields and their effects on the honeybee population. Research is being done worldwide to try and explain the phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), where workers bees disappear from a colony and cause a decline in honeybees, and Favre's research puts another idea out there.
Biologists capture cell's elusive 'motor' on videotape, solving the mystery of its deployment
(PhysOrg.com) -- In basic research with far-reaching impact, cell biologists Wei-Lih Lee and Steven Markus report in an article released today in Developmental Cell, with videos, that they have solved one of the fundamental questions in stem cell division: How dynein, the cell’s two-part, nano-scale "mitotic motor," positions itself to direct the dividing process.
Octopuses make some pretty good moves, researchers show
In case you thought that octopuses were smart only in guessing the outcome of soccer matches (remember the late Paul the octopus in Germany who picked all the right winners in last year's world cup matches in Johannesburg?), scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have now shown that not only are they smart, they can make some pretty good moves as well.
It's not easy being green: Scientists grow understanding of how photosynthesis is regulated
The seeds sprouting in your spring garden may still be struggling to reach the sun. If so, they are consuming a finite energy pack contained within each seed. Once those resources are depleted, the plant cell nucleus must be ready to switch on a "green" photosynthetic program. Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies recently showed a new way that those signals are relayed.
Imaging technology reveals intricate details of 49 million-year-old spider
Scientists have used the latest computer-imaging technology to produce stunning three-dimensional pictures of a 49 million-year-old spider trapped inside an opaque piece of fossilized amber resin.
Scientists reveal genetic 'wiring' of seeds
The genetic 'wiring' that helps a seed to decide on the perfect time to germinate has been revealed by scientists for the first time.
Bees 'read sky' to find home
(PhysOrg.com) -- Bees remember landmarks and read information from the sky to find their way home from an amazing 11 kilometres away and over several days’ travel, a new study from The Australian National University shows.
From gene to protein: Gene expression quantification offers new insights
How do genes control us? This fundamental question of life still remains elusive despite decades of research. Genes are blueprints for proteins, but it is the proteins that actually carry out vital functions in the body for maintaining life. Diseases such as cancer are not only characterized by altered genes, but also by disturbed protein production. But how is protein production controlled?
Species extinction rates have been overreported, new study claims
The most widely used methods for calculating species extinction rates are "fundamentally flawed" and overestimate extinction rates by as much as 160 percent, life scientists report May 19 in the journal Nature.
Errors in protein structure sparked evolution of biological complexity
Over four billion years of evolution, plants and animals grew far more complex than their single-celled ancestors. But a new comparison of proteins shared across species finds that complex organisms, including humans, have accumulated structural weaknesses that may have actually launched the long journey from microbe to man.
Standing up to fight: Does it explain why we walk upright, why women like tall men?
(PhysOrg.com) -- A University of Utah study shows that men hit harder when they stand on two legs than when they are on all fours, and when hitting downward rather than upward, giving tall, upright males a fighting advantage.
Lizard fossil provides missing link in debate over snake origins
Until a recent discovery, theories about the origins and evolutionary relationships of snakes barely had a leg to stand on.
This email is a free service of PhysOrg.com
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
http://www.physorg.com/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment