Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for June 22, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Ghosts in the machine: The neural basis of visual illusions in fruit flies- Stress in the city: Brain activity and biology behind mood disorders of urban residents
- Strongest evidence yet indicates Enceladus hiding saltwater ocean
- Researchers clock the speed of brain signals
- Scientists accurately predict age with saliva sample
- Unprecedented long study of Pacific predators shows importance of biological 'hotspots'
- Tracking down motion perception
- Weaker brain 'sync' may be early sign of autism
- Sight requires exact pattern of neural activity to be wired in the womb
- Gold nanoparticles help earlier diagnosis of liver cancer
- Researchers discover source for generating 'green' electricity
- Molecular glue sticks it to cancer
- Scientist cites enlarged skeletal muscles as reason birds exist
- Baby star blasts jets of water into space
- Apple granted smartphone touchscreen patent
Space & Earth news
Tracking groundwater pollution to its source
Computer algorithms might be useful in identifying sources of groundwater pollution, according to researchers in Australia and India. Writing in the International Journal of Environment and Waste Management they explain how notoriously difficult it is to trace such pollution.
China needs improved administrative system for nuclear power safety
The People's Republic of China should improve its system for ensuring the safety of its rapidly expanding nuclear power program, experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences say. Despite having 40% of the world's proposed nuclear power plants, the country lacks an independent regulatory agency and sufficient staff to keep pace with nuclear power development, they describe in a viewpoint article in ACS's journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Last space shuttle crew practices for July launch
(AP) -- The four astronauts who will bid goodbye to the space shuttle program are practicing for their July 8 launch.
Toxic compounds in groundwater
Vinyl chloride is a cancer-causing compound formed from solvents in groundwater systems under anaerobic conditions. These solvents are used in many industrial applications around the world and often belong to the most encountered groundwater pollutants in industrialized countries. Groundwater is a major drinking water resource, and it is vital to determine if vinyl chloride can be further degraded into harmless compounds.
NASA sees heavy rainfall on southern side of Tropical Depression Haima as it nears Hong Kong
Tropical Depression Haima, formerly known as 06W continues moving toward Hong Kong and NASA infrared satellite imagery shows strong rain-making thunderstorms in the southern quadrant of the storm. Rainfall is something that a rain-weary China doesn't need, so preparations are being made now.
NASA satellite sees massive Tropical Storm Meari headed for Taiwan
The AIRS instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image of the western North Pacific's seventh tropical depression become massive Tropical Storm Meari overnight. Meari is so large that it takes up almost the entire Philippine Sea and it's on track toward southeastern Taiwan.
New CryoSat-2 satellite redraws Arctic sea-ice map
Scientists have produced the most extensive map of Arctic sea-ice thickness yet using just two months' worth of data from the European Space Agency's ice mission, CryoSat-2.
Electrical water detection
A quick and easy way to detect groundwater in semi-arid hard rock areas that is also economical could improve the siting of borewells to improve clean water supply in the developing world. Details of the approach are outlined in the International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology this month.
Fulbright scholar takes ecological theory to Andean heights
For 2011 Fulbright awardee James Elser, Argentina's soaring, glacier-laden peaks, ancient cultures, and criollo horses offer a spectacular backdrop for this region's biggest draw: access to the "last unpolluted aquatic ecosystems on Earth."
Brazil government identifies uncontacted tribe
(AP) -- The Brazilian government confirmed this week the existence of an uncontacted tribe in a southwestern area of the Amazon rain forest.
Oceans threatened by mass extinction
(PhysOrg.com) -- An international panel of marine scientists has warned that the world’s oceans are at risk of entering a phase of extinction of marine species unprecedented in human history.
Galileo's Soyuz launchers arrive at French Guiana
(PhysOrg.com) -- The two Soyuz launchers that will fly the first four satellites of Europe’s Galileo navigation system into orbit have arrived at Kourou harbour in French Guiana, completing a journey that took them halfway round the world.
Radar for Mars gets flight tests at NASA Dryden
Southern California’s high desert has been a stand-in for Mars for NASA technology testing many times over the years. So it was again as NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center and Jet Propulsion Laboratory flight-tested the next Mars rover’s landing radar, using an F/A-18 aircraft.
Getting ready for the next big solar storm
(PhysOrg.com) -- In Sept. 1859, on the eve of a below-average1 solar cycle, the sun unleashed one of the most powerful storms in centuries. The underlying flare was so unusual, researchers still aren't sure how to categorize it. The blast peppered Earth with the most energetic protons in half-a-millennium, induced electrical currents that set telegraph offices on fire, and sparked Northern Lights over Cuba and Hawaii.
Sun celebrates solstice with flare and CME
(PhysOrg.com) -- Late in the evening on June 20 the sun emitted a long lasting C7.7 small class flare that peaked around 11:25p.m. EDT. A C-class flare is a relatively small flare.
IceHunters website challenges public to find icy worlds in outer solar system
(PhysOrg.com) -- A team at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has developed a new website, IceHunters (http://www.icehunters.org), to challenge the public to discover Kuiper Belt objects in the outer solar system. It is hoped that among the myriad of new objects found by IceHunters there will be an object (or maybe even objects) with just the right orbit to carry it on to a rendezvous with NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft.
As water becomes more precious, more drinking water will come from treated sewage
The island nation of Singapore is aggressively promoting a solution to the water scarcity that vexes countries worldwide: recycling toilet water to drink.
Satellite video shows Tropical Storm Beatriz fizzle in 6 hours
Satellite data from NASA and NOAA showed that Tropical Storm Beatriz went from a strong tropical storm to a remnant low pressure area in six short hours after running into Mexico's western mountains. An animation of imagery from the GOES-11 satellite showed how quickly Beatriz fizzled.
A galactic crash investigation
(PhysOrg.com) -- A team of scientists has studied the galaxy cluster Abell 2744, nicknamed Pandora’s Cluster. They have pieced together the cluster’s complex and violent history using telescopes in space and on the ground, including ESO’s Very Large Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope. Abell 2744 seems to be the result of a simultaneous pile-up of at least four separate galaxy clusters and this complex collision has produced strange effects that have never been seen together before.
NASA's robotic lander takes flight (w/ video)
On Monday, June 13, the robotic lander mission team was poised and ready when the lander prototype in the adjacent building lifted itself off the ground and rose -- unrestrained -- higher and higher. Applause broke out in the control room when the lander gently sat back down. This marks the first free flight of this prototype for the Robotic Lander Development Project managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.
The X-Ray Puzzle of Protostellar Jets
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new star develops by accreting material from a circumstellar disk; both in turn are embedded in a much larger, more nearly spherical envelope of in-falling dust and gas. The protostar is obscured in the optical by the thick dust in its surroundings, although it can be detected at radio, infrared, and hard X-ray wavelengths which penetrate the material.
Baby star blasts jets of water into space
Astronomers have found a nascent star 750 light years from earth that shoots colossal jets of water -- a cosmic fire hose -- out its poles in bullet-like pulses.
Strongest evidence yet indicates Enceladus hiding saltwater ocean
(PhysOrg.com) -- Samples of icy spray shooting from Saturn's moon Enceladus collected during Cassini spacecraft flybys show the strongest evidence yet for the existence of a large-scale, subterranean saltwater ocean, says a new international study led by the University of Heidelberg and involving the University of Colorado Boulder.
Technology news
Final version of industrial control systems security guide published
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued the final version of its Guide to Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Security (SP 800-82),* intended to help pipeline operators, power producers, manufacturers, air traffic control centers and other managers of critical infrastructures to secure their systems while addressing their unique performance, reliability, and safety requirements.
Researchers share useful lessons learned in evaluating emerging technologies
Most industry executives, military planners, research managers or venture capitalists charged with assessing the potential of an R&D project probably are familiar with the wry twist on Arthur C. Clarke's third law*: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a rigged demo."
NRL instrument provides key space weather data
Data products from the Special Sensor Ultraviolet Limb Imager (SSULI) developed by the NRL Spacecraft Engineering Department and Space Science Division were officially transitioned for use in operational systems at the Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA) on June 9, 2011.
Undersea Internet cable in deal for Zimbabwe service
The company running a high-speed Internet cable along Africa's east coast said Wednesday it has reached a deal with Mozambique to provide a new link to landlocked Zimbabwe.
Providing light to individuals who do not have access to a power grid
As part of the Change the World Challenge competition sponsored by the Office of Entrepreneurship each semester, Rensselaer students select a topic from a range of challenges with the potential to improve human life, and offer an innovative and sustainable solution to that challenge. Some examples of challenges include improving safety and security and addressing energy, water, or health issues.
AP gets Knight funding to create journalistic tool
(AP) -- The Associated Press will be among 16 news organizations and Internet entrepreneurs sharing $4.7 million in funding to design innovative ways to find and deliver news in the digital age.
Hulu mulls putting itself up for sale
(AP) -- Online video service Hulu is exploring putting itself up for sale after receiving an unsolicited takeover offer, people familiar with the matter said Tuesday.
Yahoo! says Alipay talks 'constructive'
Alibaba Group stakeholder Yahoo! said talks aimed at resolving a rift over Chinese online payment platform Alipay have been "constructive."
Google breaks billion-visitor barrier
Figures released by industry tracker comScore credited Google with being the first online operation to attract more than a billion visitors in a single month.
Kinect bringing interactive ads to Xbox 360
Microsoft announced Tuesday it will bring interactive ads to Xbox360 consoles using the voice- and gesture-recognizing capabilities of Kinect controllers.
Byliner, a new website for readers and writers
Print magazines may be struggling but the founders of Byliner, a new website, believe there is an audience and a business opportunity online for long-form journalism.
Li Na domain name up for grabs
The soaring popularity of China's first Grand Slam champion Li Na is good news for a fan who owns the lina.cn domain name -- now expected to fetch at least 100,000 yuan ($15,500) at auction next month.
KLM to turn used cooking oil into aviation biofuel
(AP) -- Dutch airline KLM plans to use recycled cooking oil as biofuel to power flights to and from France in a move aimed at cutting carbon emissions.
Taiwan agrees AUO $800 mn China investment
Taiwan on Wednesday gave the green light for a project by leading flat-panel maker AU Optronics to spend nearly $800 million on a stake in a Chinese firm, officials said.
Dutch parliament approves mobile 'net neutrality'
(AP) -- The Dutch parliament approved a bill Wednesday forcing mobile Internet providers to let customers use Skype and other rival services on their networks without charging extra or giving preferential treatment to their own offerings.
Bosch plans Malaysia solar panel plant
German industrial group Bosch will invest 520 million euros ($750 million) in a solar panel factory in Malaysia, a statement said on Wednesday.
British police charge 19-year-old in hacking probe
British police charged a 19-year-old man with cybercrime offences on Wednedsay, Scotland Yard said, following his arrest in connection with an international hacking group.
India may probe complaint against Apple: official
India may investigate a complaint against Apple after allegations the U.S. computer giant violated local competition laws, an antitrust agency official told Dow Jones Newswires Wednesday.
Elpida achieves 4-Layer 0.8mm mobile RAM package
Elpida Memory today announced that its researchers have developed the technology to mass manufacture a 0.8mm four-layer DRAM package, the thinnest memory device in the DRAM industry.
Nokia to transfer 2,800 staff to Accenture
(AP) -- Nokia Corp. said Wednesday it has completed a deal to outsource Symbian software development to Accenture, including the transfer of 2,800 workers to the global management-consulting firm.
Wyo. turns to Google for gov't computing services
(AP) -- Wyoming has become the first state to begin using a suite of cloud computing tools from Google for its entire executive branch of government, allowing data and applications to be stored on remote servers and accessed over the Internet.
US ethanol subsidy caused corn price surge: study
US ethanol subsidies pushed up corn prices as much as 17 percent in 2011, according to a study released Wednesday at a time when Washington's policies on biofuels are coming under heightened scrutiny.
Trade a merger for broadband?
Bruce Kerfoot is tired of being stuck in the Internet slow lane.
PrivateSky shields online exchanges from prying eyes
A free service launched on Wednesday called PrivateSky lets Internet users shield email, Facebook updates, and other online exchanges from hackers or other unwanted snoops.
China's 'solar city' rushes to catch power boom
Solar panels jut out of streetlights in China's self-proclaimed Clean Energy City. Tiny wind turbines twirl atop public buildings. Schools are due to teach students about "green living."
New Zoosh technology provides NFC capabilities without the chip
(PhysOrg.com) -- New startup, Naratte (rhymes with karate) has announced the arrival of Zoosh, a new technology that does most everything that Near Field Communications (NFC) devices have been promising for the last couple of years, without the need for a new embedded chip. Zoosh lets current smartphones communicate directly with enabled Point of Sale (POS) devices or other Zoosh enabled phones, thus facilitating sales and trading of other information using nothing but the phone’s speaker and microphone and a little app.
Apple granted smartphone touchscreen patent
(PhysOrg.com) -- Apple was recently awarded a patent that has the potential to have repercussions across the world of smart phones and tablet PCs.
Android phones to pit vampires against slayers
Facial recognition startup Viewdle on Wednesday began letting Android smartphone users see which of the people around them are vampires and which are vampire slayers.
Start up creates a 'no-focus' point and shoot camera
(PhysOrg.com) -- If you have ever used a "Point and Shoot" style of camera in the last few years then you know that that term is a misnomer because unless you are using a disposable camera you are going to be waiting for that camera to auto-focus and that focus can take up to 45 seconds to find its focus and allow you to take a picture. It is annoying to say the least if the action that you wanted a picture of can't be stopped like a posed photo. Since that focus can mean that you may miss a winning goal or a really cute moment it can be more than just annoying.
Medicine & Health news
Octomom's fertility doc moves to keep license
(AP) -- The fertility doctor who helped "Octomom" Nadya Suleman become the mother of 14 children through repeated in vitro treatments is asking that he be allowed to continue practicing medicine while he appeals his license revocation.
Scientists call for safety testing of chemicals to include prenatal exposures
A review published online June 22 ahead of print in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) reports the conclusions of an international workshop on ways to improve chemicals safety testing for effects on the breast. The studies reviewed by workshop scientists indicate that chemical exposures during critical periods of development may influence breast growth, ability to breastfeed, and cancer risk. The scientists recommend that future chemical testing evaluate effects on the breast after prenatal and early-life exposure.
UK: More than eight out of ten newborn babies 'now start to breastfeed'
(Medical Xpress) -- The proportion of newborn babies in Britain breastfed by their mothers increased from six out of ten to eight out of ten between 1990 and 2010, according to new research by academics at the University of York.
Adequate midwifery could save over 3 million lives
Up to 3.6 million lives could be saved every year if midwifery services were upgraded in 58 developing countries by 2015, according to a major new report released by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in partnership with the University of Southampton and 28 other organisations worldwide.
Angioplasty may be feasible for liver transplantation candidates with heart disease
A small, retrospective study determined that percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was safe in patients with significant coronary artery disease (CAD) who were referred for liver transplantation. Larger studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of angioplasty in patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD). Details of the study are available in the July issue of Liver Transplantation, published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.
Still hope for GAD diabetes vaccine
Despite the disappointing results in trying to treat children suffering from type 1 diabetes with the GAD vaccine, the treatment has not been written off entirely. DIAPREV-IT, the study in which healthy high-risk children are vaccinated, is continuing as planned, and now with more money behind it.
New videos, website offer important resources for people affected by diabetes
New videos to help people make lifestyle changes and cope with the demands of diabetes were announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP). The series of three- to five-minute videos, which can be found at www.YourDiabetesInfo.org/HealthSense address topics such as setting goals to improve health, living with diabetes, finding the support you need, as well as segments on diabetes prevention and physical activity.
Positive results for unprotected left main coronary artery PCI with drug-eluting stents
Patients with normal left ventricular function who undergo elective unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES) had favorable outcomes according to new research. Results of the multicenter, retrospective study are reported in the June issue of Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI).
Potential impact of cinnamon on multiple sclerosis studied
A neurological scientist at Rush University Medical Center has received a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to evaluate whether cinnamon, a common food spice and flavoring material, may stop the destructive process of multiple sclerosis (MS).
German government asked to probe sex toys
Germany's Green party filed a formal request in parliament Wednesday for the government to probe the level of potentially dangerous chemicals in sex toys.
Parasitic worms: Hidden global health threat
With close to one third of the world's population infected with parasitic worms, MUHC researcher Dr. Theresa Gyorkos is thinking big when it comes to finding a solution to this global public health challenge. As part of an international research and policy team, she is contributing to the soon-to-be-released WHO Strategic Plan to control intestinal worm infections in more than 100 countries. Dr. Gyorkos received the Canadian Public Health Association's (CPHA) 2011 International Award for her contributions to global public health at the CPHA annual conference this week in Montreal.
The human genome -- now on an iPad near you
Navigating the human genome with software that you can view on an iPad sounds pretty impressive, until perhaps you reflect that nature has already encoded trillions of copies of this in your chromosomes. Then again, printing that data using ink and paper would produce a mind-staggering pile of pages—so viewing it on an iPad may be impressive after all.
Study finds church congregations blind to mental illness
Mental illness of a family member destroys the family's connection with the religious community, a new study by Baylor University psychologists has found, leading many affected families to leave the church and their faith behind.
Thousands of patients prescribed high-risk drugs
Thousands of patients in Scotland who are particularly vulnerable to adverse drug events (ADEs) were prescribed high-risk medications by their GPs which could potentially cause them harm, according to research published in the British Medical Journal today.
Researchers pinpoint reasons for dramatic rise in C-sections
(Medical Xpress) -- In one of the first studies to examine the reasons for the rising number of women delivering their babies by cesarean section, Yale School of Medicine researchers found that while half of the increase was attributable to a rise in repeat cesarean delivery in women with a prior cesarean birth, an equal proportion was due to a rise in first time cesarean delivery. Among these deliveries, factors such as slowly progressing labor and fetal heart rate concerns were the largest contributors.
Homosexuals report more problems with prostate cancer drug than heterosexuals
Homosexual men taking bicalutamide for prostate cancer were much more likely to report sexual problems during treatment than heterosexual patients, according to a study in the July issue of the urology journal BJUI.
Cause of hereditary blindness discovered
Initially the occurrence of progressive retinal degeneration - progressive retinal atrophy, in man called retinitis pigmentosa - had been identified in Schapendoes dogs. Retinitis pigmentosa is the most common hereditary disease which causes blindness in humans. The researchers report on their findings, in Human Molecular Genetics.
Brief exam diagnoses cognitive impairment in ALS patients
(Medical Xpress) -- Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) could lose brain function earlier than is noticeably detectable, affecting their ability to make decisions about their care. Physicians need a method to assess these sensitive changes in brain function, without the need for extensive neuropsychological tests.
The impact of compulsory cycle helmet legislation on cyclist head injuries
Bicycle-related head injuries fell significantly in the months after mandatory helmet legislation came into effect in NSW, and recent calls for a repeal of the laws should be rejected, new research based on hospital admissions data shows.
Cancer survivors have lower employment rates and work fewer hours
Cancer survivors are less likely to be employed, and they work fewer hours, than similarly aged adults without a history of cancer, even two to six years after diagnosis, according to a study by Penn State researchers.
New cigarette health labels: 'Gross' or effective?
(AP) -- You may think an image of rotting teeth and a mouth lesion are gross. But the U.S. government says it's just what you need to kick the habit.
Study: Low-income families' diets often fall short in nutrition
(Medical Xpress) -- More than seven in 10 low-income families in a new University of Nebraska-Lincoln study struggled to reach adequate levels of nutrition in their diet, researchers said.
Mothers' self-recorded audio gives unique real-time view of spanking in context of day-to-day life
In one recording, a mom spanks her 3-year-old 11 times for fighting with his sister. In another, a mom slaps her son for turning the page of a book while she reads to him. In still another, a mom spanks her 5-year-old when he refuses to clean up his room after repeated warnings to do so.
Researchers develop new tool in fight against apoptosis-related disease
(Medical Xpress) -- Though apoptosis is hardly a household word, it’s been estimated that more than half of all diseases for which we have no suitable treatment are related to malfunctions in apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death. It’s a body’s way of getting rid of mutated, damaged, old and other possibly harmful cells, and many researchers believe that mastering it could lead to a new cancer treatment, for example.
Nudging doctors in intensive care unit reduces deaths
Caring for patients in a medical intensive care unit in a hospital and flying a 747 are complicated tasks that require tracking thousands of important details, some of which could get overlooked. That's why the pilot has a checklist and a copilot to make sure nothing slips by.
Genetic finding offers hope for orphan disease
New research conducted at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, offers hope for people with a rare disorder called Chuvash polycythemia.
It's not about the money for long-term care nurses
Pay plays a relatively small role in a nurse's decision to stay at or leave a job in a nursing home, according to new research from Rice University, the University of Pittsburgh and Baylor College of Medicine. In a comprehensive study of certified nursing assistants, researchers found that attitudinal factors such as job satisfaction and emotional well-being are better predictors of turnover in long-term care facilities.
FDA: Breast implant problems grow with time
Don't expect breast implants to last for life, the government warned Wednesday: About 1 in 5 women who receive them for cosmetic reasons will have them removed within 10 years, and those odds are even higher for cancer survivors.
Angioplasty with stents may be safe in long-term for low-risk heart patients
Heart bypass surgery is considered the gold standard for most patients with left main coronary artery disease, one of the most serious types of heart disease and one that affects thousands.
Researchers uncover source of mystery pain
An estimated 20 million people in the United States suffer from peripheral neuropathy, marked by the degeneration of nerves and in some cases severe pain. There is no good treatment for the disorder and doctors can find no apparent cause in one of every three cases.
Slowing the spread of drug-resistant diseases is goal of new research area
(Medical Xpress) -- In the war between drugs and drug-resistant diseases, is the current strategy for medicating patients giving many drug-resistant diseases a big competitive advantage?, asks a research paper that will be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The paper argues for new research efforts to discover effective ways for managing the evolution and slowing the spread of drug-resistant disease organisms. The ultimate goal of this new research effort is to develop a new science-based model for drug-resistance management that will inform treatment guidelines for a wide variety of diseases that affect people, including malaria and other diseases caused by parasites, MRSA and other diseases caused by bacterial infections, AIDS and other diseases caused by viruses, and cancer.
TB trial highlights challenges with introducing new vaccine into childhood immunization schedule
A new vaccine to combat tuberculosis is less effective at stimulating an immune response when administered to Gambian infants in combination with the routine immunisation schedule, according to clinical trial results published today in Science Translational Medicine.
Sticky solution for surgical sealants
(Medical Xpress) -- A Monash University researcher has developed a new form of surgical sealant that is not only easier for surgeons to manipulate, allowing for a more effective application, but significantly reduces the risk of virus contamination.
For happiness, remember the good times, forget the regrets
(Medical Xpress) -- People who look at the past through rose-tinted glasses are happier than those who focus on regrets about the past, according to new research conducted by Assistant Professor of Psychology Ryan Howell.
Researchers identify components of speech recognition pathway in humans
Neuroscientists at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) have defined, for the first time, three different processing stages that a human brain needs to identify sounds such as speech — and discovered that they are the same as ones identified in non-human primates.
Psychologists find link between ovulation and women's ability to identify heterosexual men
A new study by psychologists at the University of Toronto and Tufts University shows that a woman can more accurately identify a man's sexual orientation when looking at his face, when she is closest to her time of peak ovulation. Further, having romantic thoughts or a mating goal heightens a woman's ability to discriminate between straight and gay men.
Discovery offers molecular insights into link between Parkinson's and pesticides
In a new article published in the journal Molecular Neurodegeneration, researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine take some of the first steps toward unraveling the molecular dysfunction that occurs when proteins are exposed to environmental toxins. Their discovery helps further explain recent NIH findings that demonstrate the link between Parkinson's disease and two particular pesticides – rotenone and paraquat.
Gay, lesbian, bisexual youth bullied, abused more often than peers: study
Young people who identify themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual, experience same-sex attractions or engage in same-sex sexual behaviors are more likely to experience sexual abuse, parental physical abuse and bullying from peers than other youth, according to a University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health study.
New biomarker may help with early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease
A new biomarker may help identify which people with mild memory deficits will go on to develop Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study published in the June 22, 2011, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The biomarker may be more accurate than the currently established biomarkers.
US approves cell therapy injection for wrinkles
US regulators have approved a new type of therapy that uses a person's own skin cells to create an injectable cosmetic plumper to smooth out laugh lines, Fibrocell Science said Wednesday.
New drug represents breakthrough in treatment of hepatitis C
The drug telaprevir (Incivek) provides a dramatic improvement in the treatment of the most common form of hepatitis C infection, says an international team of investigators led by Dr. Ira M. Jacobson of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
Dietary leucine may fight prediabetes, metabolic syndrome
A study led by researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center suggests that adding the amino acid leucine to their diets may help those with pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome.
Changes in specific dietary factors may have big impact on long-term weight gain
In a series of three separate studies looking at how changes in multiple dietary and other lifestyle factors relate to long-term weight gain, Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers found that modest changes in specific foods and beverages, physical activity, TV-watching, and sleep duration were strongly linked with long-term weight gain. Changes in diet, in particular, had the strongest associations with differences in weight gain.
Standing desks rising in popularity
Last year, Kerri Campbell made a decision: She would no longer sit at her desk eight hours a day. Today, the retail broker for Daymon Worldwide in Pleasanton, Calif., stands on a couple of black pads, each about an inch think. Her keyboard is on a wooden stand built by her husband, and her monitor rests at eye level on a box, a hard drive dock and a ream of paper.
Smoking during pregnancy lowers levels of 'good' HDL cholesterol in children
Researchers in Australia have discovered that mothers who smoke during pregnancy are causing developmental changes to their unborn babies that lead to them having lower levels of the type of cholesterol that is known to protect against heart disease in later life – high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
Pig bladder cells help regenerate an war veteran's leg muscle
(Medical Xpress) -- As a result of a 70 million dollar investment from the U.S. military, researchers from the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh announced a successful technique using growth factors and proteins from a pig's bladder to regrow skeletal muscle.
Scientists uncover trigger to fatal neurodegenerative disease
University of Tennessee researcher uses computer simulation to pinpoint changes in molecular structure that leads directly to disease.
Prejudice linked to women's menstrual cycle
Women's bias against male strangers increases when women are fertile, suggesting prejudice may be partly fueled by genetics, according to a study by Michigan State University psychology researchers.
Powerful, intoxicated, anonymous: The paradox of the disinhibited
Power can lead to great acts of altruism, but also corruptive, unethical behavior. Being intoxicated can lead to a first date, or a bar brawl. And the mask of anonymity can encourage one individual to let a stranger know they have toilet paper stuck to their shoe, whereas another may post salacious photos online. What is the common thread between these three disparate states?
Sight requires exact pattern of neural activity to be wired in the womb
The precise wiring of our visual system depends upon the pattern of spontaneous activity within the brain that occurs well before birth, a new study by Yale researchers shows.
Weaker brain 'sync' may be early sign of autism
In a novel imaging study of sleeping toddlers, scientists at the University of California, San Diego Autism Center of Excellence report that a diminished ability of a young brain's hemispheres to "sync" with one another could be a powerful, new biological marker of autism, one that might enable an autism diagnosis at a very young age.
Tracking down motion perception
Neurobiologists have determined the number of circuits needed to see movements.
Study demonstrates potential of new gene vector to broaden treatment of eye diseases
Inspired by earlier successes using gene therapy to correct an inherited type of blindness, investigators from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, are poised to extend their approach to other types of blinding disorders.
Drug boosts growth factor to jump-start rapid antidepressant response
(Medical Xpress) -- A study in mice has pinpointed a pivotal new player in triggering the rapid antidepressant response produced by ketamine. By deactivating a little-known enzyme, the drug takes the brakes off rapid synthesis of a key growth factor thought to lift depression, say researchers supported by the National Institutes of Health.
Stress in the city: Brain activity and biology behind mood disorders of urban residents
Being born and raised in a major urban area is associated with greater lifetime risk for anxiety and mood disorders. Until now, the biology for these associations had not been described. A new international study, which involved Douglas Mental Health University Institute researcher Jens Pruessner, is the first to show that two distinct brain regions that regulate emotion and stress are affected by city living. These findings, published in Nature may lead to strategies that improve the quality of life for city dwellers.
Researchers clock the speed of brain signals
Two studies featuring research from Weill Cornell Medical College have uncovered surprising details about the complex process that leads to the flow of neurotransmitters between brain neurons -- a dance of chemical messages so delicate that missteps often lead to neurological dysfunction.
Scientists accurately predict age with saliva sample
Self-conscious about your age? Careful where you spit. UCLA geneticists now can use saliva to reveal how old you are.
Ghosts in the machine: The neural basis of visual illusions in fruit flies
(Medical Xpress) -- We experience an interesting phenomenon when the contrast of an image flickers as it moves across our visual field – namely, an illusory reversal in the direction of motion. Moreover, this reverse-phi illusion occurs in a surprisingly wide range of species, indicating that this is a common evolutionary adaptation. Recently, researchers at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Farm Research Campus demonstrated that motion-sensitive neurons in the brain of the ubiquitous fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster respond to the reverse-phi illusion and generate a change in its flight behavior.
Biology news
Botanists unearth old headlines while unwrapping plant samples
Students unwrapping plant samples got a bit of history mixed in with botany recently, when they unearthed headlines from old newspapers dating as far back as 1950.
Plant pathologist finding Kansas wheat fields a molecular battleground this season
With harvest in full swing, many farmers have found that the brutal combination of high winds, scorching temperatures and minimal rainfall has left most wheat yields looking less like the good or the bad and more like the ugly.
Optimal topdressing applications for athletic fields determined
Scientists evaluated the effects of cumulative sand topdressing rates on the fall wear tolerance and surface shear strength of simulated athletic fields. Experimental results suggested that a 0.5-inch topdressing depth applied over a 5-week period in summer will provide improved shoot density and surface shear strength in the subsequent fall. Results also indicated that topdressing rates as thick as 4.0 inches accumulated over a 2-year period provide increased shoot density but diminished surface shear strength.
Early-season strawberry tested in high elevation conditions
In response to increased awareness generated by the expanding local foods movement, demand for fresh strawberries has increased throughout the United States. The fresh market strawberry industry in the U.S. flourishes in California and Florida -- states with ideal weather conditions and long growing seasons. Even with challenging growing conditions, small-scale strawberry production operations succeed in other areas of the country, particularly near urban areas where local produce commands premium prices at market.
Artificial light quality affects herbivore preference for seedlings
In horticultural production, growers often depend on systems that use artificial light to produce high-quality transplants. Although the systems are efficient, fluorescent lamps can produce plants with shorter shoots than those grown under natural light. Studies have indicated that this reduced shoot elongation is due to the high red:far red ratio of typical commercial fluorescent lamps, which emit little far red irradiation.
Scarlet fever pathogen draft genome sequence released
Scarlet fever has revealed unusual high infect rate in Hong Kong this year. So far, 466 children were infected and 2 of them dead. Scarlet fever is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, a gram-positive pathogen that can be transmitted via skin wound and airborne droplet.
Caribou in Alberta's oil sands stressed by human activity, not wolves
Caribou have been dwindling in Alberta for several decades and some scientists believe they could be gone entirely in 70 years. In the area of the petroleum-rich Athabasca Oil Sands in the northern part of the Canadian province, some say they could disappear in as little as 30 years.
Plant growth rate, stem length unaffected by rice hull, peat substrate
Plant growth retardants, or PGRs, are used in greenhouse operations to produce uniform, compact, and marketable plants. Although PGRs can be applied using a variety of methods, most common applications are foliar sprays or substrate "drenches". Research has shown that drenches provide more uniform results and increase the duration of effectiveness compared with sprays, but the efficacy of drenches can be affected by factors such as the amount of solution applied and the substrate components used.
Pest preferences for cranberry cultivars determined
To determine whether insect herbivores have a feeding preference for certain cultivars of cranberry, researchers investigated the phenolic profiles in the foliage of two cranberry cultivars, then isolated and identified compounds that differed between the two cultivars. Gypsy moth larvae demonstrated a significant feeding preference for 'Howes' over 'Early Black' cranberry. Red-headed flea beetle adults demonstrated a similar, but not statistically significant, trend, and cranberry weevil preferred neither cultivar.
Fungicides may not increase corn yields unless disease develops
Unless a corn crop is at risk of developing fungal diseases, a Purdue University study shows that farmers would be smart to skip fungicide treatments that promise increased yields.
Emperor penguin makes rare appearance in NZealand
Wildlife experts said they were astonished Wednesday at the appearance of an Emperor penguin in New Zealand, some 3,000 kilometres (1,900 miles) from his Antarctic home.
Manakins, birds of tropical forests, cooperate for common goal
(PhysOrg.com) -- Leks, they're called, gatherings of males of certain animal species for competitive mating displays. But not every lek's members are competitors, scientists have learned. Some--birds called wire-tailed manakins, residents of tropical forests in the Americas--are cooperators as well as competitors.
Evidence suggests chipmunks and woodchucks respond to each other's warning calls
(PhysOrg.com) -- Working with the University of Southern Maine, Northwest State Community College researchers Lisa Aschemeier and Christine Maher have proven what might seem common sense; that some animals react to the warning signals of animals of other species. In an article published in the Journal of Mammalogy, the two describe how they recorded the alarm calls of eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) and woodchucks (Marmota monax), rodents with several common enemies and found that both responded to some extent, to each other’s calls.
Study: Wild Cuban crocodiles hybridize with American crocs
A new genetic study by a team of Cuban and American researchers confirms that American crocodiles are hybridizing with wild populations of critically endangered Cuban crocodiles, which may cause a population decline of this species found only in the Cuban Archipelago.
Evolution to the rescue: Researchers offer hope that species may adapt quickly to rapid environmental change
Evolution is usually thought to be a very slow process, something that happens over many generations, thanks to adaptive mutations. But environmental change due to things like climate change, habitat destruction, pollution, etc. is happening very fast. There are just two options for species of all kinds: either adapt to environmental change or become extinct.
Scientist cites enlarged skeletal muscles as reason birds exist
A developmental biologist at New York Medical College is proposing a new theory of the origin of birds, which traditionally has been thought to be driven by the evolution of flight. Instead, Stuart A. Newman, Ph.D., credits the emergence of enlarged skeletal muscles as the basis for their upright two-leggedness, which led to the opportunity for other adaptive changes like flying or swimming. And it is all based on the loss of a gene that is critical to the ability of other warm-blooded animals to generate heat for survival.
Unprecedented long study of Pacific predators shows importance of biological 'hotspots'
An unprecedented decade-long study of apex predators in the Pacific Ocean found a wider range of distribution among some species than previously thought, unknown relationships between other species, and the importance of biological "hotspots" to the survival of most of these sea creatures.
Flies remember where to chill out
(PhysOrg.com) -- By recalling landmarks in the environment, a leopard can return to the tree where it stashed its kill and a shopper can find her car in the mall’s parking lot. Fruit flies also commit details of their surroundings to memory, a new study reveals. Understanding how the insects store this information might help researchers find out how humans and other animals create so-called spatial memories.
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