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Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for July 26, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Don't have all the information? In the quantum world, that doesn't matter- Gyroscope's unexplained acceleration may be due to modified inertia
- Are cancers newly evolved species?
- Resistive switches based on piezoelectric nanowires allow electrical signals to be produced from mechanical actions
- Enceladus rains water onto Saturn
- Security researcher finds hack vulnerability in Mac battery chips
- One-way transmission system for sound waves
- Grandparents connected to success of human race
- Computers learn to spot 'opinion spam' in online reviews
- Vascular composites enable dynamic structural materials
- Scientists design nano-sized drug transporter to fight disease
- Reforestation's cooling influence -- a result of farmer's past choices
- Archaeologist's chance discovery may be Britain's earliest example of rock art
- New study sheds light on role of genetics in recovering from eating disorders
- 'Hidden' cancer cells not a factor in early-stage breast cancer survival rates
Space & Earth news
Last picture of Atlantis in space
July 21, 2011: Space shuttle Atlantis landed at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, wrapping up the final mission of NASA's space shuttle program.
Adapting crops and 'natives' to a changing climate
(PhysOrg.com) -- CSIRO scientists are investigating the potentially damaging effects climate change will have on Australia’s agricultural crops and native plants as carbon dioxide concentrations, temperatures and rainfall patterns change.
Sandia National Labs completes final scan of space shuttle heat shield
Nine engineers from Sandia National Laboratories helped ensure Atlantis' safety from Mission Control at Johnson Space Center as the shuttle made its final flight, marking the end of NASA's 30-year space shuttle program. For the past 22 missions — every one since NASA's 2005 return to space — Sandia Labs' engineers have worked tirelessly to protect the astronauts with ingenious, space-based inspections of the orbiter's thermal protection system.
Belgium UFO that puzzled NASA was polystyrene fake
An unidentified flying object photographed high in the Belgian sky that puzzled even NASA scientists turns out to have been a fake made out of foam, the man behind the hoax said Tuesday.
China sub makes first dive to below 5,000m
A Chinese submersible conducted the country's deepest manned dive Tuesday in the latest technological milestone for China, which theoretically puts most of the ocean floor's vast resources within its reach.
Gemini image captures elegant beauty of planetary nebula discovered by amateur astronomer
(PhysOrg.com) -- In a partnership between amateur and professional astronomers, the recent discovery of a dying star’s last gasps could help resolve a decades-old debate among astronomers. That is, are stellar companions key to the formation and structure of planetary nebulae?
To an asteroid, and beyond
The asteroid 1999 RQ36 may not be a household name, but astronomers predict that in less than 200 years, it may make an unforgettable impact. According to radar and optical observations, the space rock, measuring some five football fields in diameter, has a 1 in 1,000 chance of crashing into Earth in the year 2182.
A new way to measure the expansion of the universe
A PhD student from The International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) in Perth has produced one of the most accurate measurements ever made of how fast the Universe is expanding.
Reforestation's cooling influence -- a result of farmer's past choices
Decisions by farmers to plant on productive land with little snow enhances the potential for reforestation to counteract global warming, concludes new research from Carnegie's Julia Pongratz and Ken Caldeira. Previous research has led scientists and politicians to believe that regrowing forests on Northern lands that were cleared in order to grow crops would not decrease global warming. But these studies did not consider the importance of the choices made by farmers in the historical past. The work, with colleagues from the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology and the University of Hamburg, will be published August 2 by Geophysical Research Letters.
Enceladus rains water onto Saturn
(PhysOrg.com) -- ESA's Herschel space observatory has shown that water expelled from the moon Enceladus forms a giant torus of water vapour around Saturn. The discovery solves a 14-year mystery by identifying the source of the water in Saturn’s upper atmosphere.
Technology news
China orders safety inspections after train crash
(AP) -- The Chinese government on Tuesday ordered a two-month, nationwide safety campaign for its railway system after a collision between two bullet trains killed at least 39 people.
Microsoft apologizes for Winehouse tweet
Microsoft on Monday apologized for a "tweet" that has been blasted for seeming like a blatant effort to cash in on the death of 27-year-old British singer Amy Winehouse.
Zynga and Tencent launch China online game
US social games star Zynga made its debut in Mainland China with a localized "Zynga City" title launched in an alliance with leading Chinese Internet service Tencent.
Lockheed Martin's multi-mission signal processor completes tracking test
The Lockheed Martin Aegis SPY-1 radar successfully identified, tracked and conducted simulated engagements against live aircraft in a stressing electronic attack environment during a test of the Multi-Mission Signal Processor (MMSP).
KPN reports profit drop, blames Internet phone apps
Dutch telecoms operator KPN reported an 11.0-percent drop in net profit to 414 million euros for the second quarter on Tuesday, blaming the rise of Internet-based telephone applications.
Congressional websites crash after Obama appeal
With the United States poised on the brink of a potential default, President Barack Obama appealed to Americans to "make your voice heard" to members of Congress.
AOL sales head exits in management reorganization
(AP) -- AOL Inc.'s heads of online ad sales and corporate communications are leaving as part of the Internet company's latest management reorganization.
Netflix braces for growth slowdown, stock plunges
Netflix Inc. is bracing for a backlash to its recently announced price hikes that could result in its slowest subscriber growth in more than three years.
China's Baidu quarterly profit up 95 percent
Baidu Inc., which operates China's dominant search engine, said Tuesday its quarterly profit jumped 95 percent on traffic growth and strong spending by big advertising customers.
Wal-Mart offers video streaming on website
Now playing: Movies at Walmart.com. The world's largest retailer on Tuesday started streaming many movies the same day they come out on DVD, in a second bid for a share of popular movie rental and streaming website Netflix Inc.'s business and just two weeks after Netflix announced new price increases.
More Americans watching online video: survey
More Americans are watching online video amid greater access to broadband and improved mobile networks, according to a survey published on Tuesday.
Pentagon shutting down TroopTube
The US military is surrendering to YouTube. Less than three years after its launch, the Pentagon is shutting down TroopTube, a video-sharing site set up for US soldiers and their families.
Boeing, Embraer back sugar jet-fuel study
Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer and US rival Boeing said Tuesday they will co-finance research to determine the sustainability of using Brazilian sugarcane in jet fuel.
US imposes new rules on high-speed traders
US regulators on Tuesday announced new rules aimed at shedding light on the secretive industry of computerized high-speed trading, which has been blamed for destabilizing financial markets.
Amazon 2Q profit falls on rising expenses
(AP) -- Amazon.com Inc.'s second-quarter revenue jumped 51 percent, helped by higher merchandise sales, while its profit fell as the online retailer's operating expenses rose.
Computers learn to spot 'opinion spam' in online reviews
(PhysOrg.com) -- If you read online reviews before purchasing a product or service, you may not always be reading the truth. Review sites are becoming targets for "opinion spam" -- phony positive reviews created by sellers to help sell their products, or negative reviews meant to downgrade competitors.
Researchers develop prototype to detect fake websites
(PhysOrg.com) -- Do you go online to pay bills, shop, transfer funds, sign up for classes, send email or instant messages or search for medical information? If so, then this pertains to you.
Microsoft paper proposes using 'cloud' servers to heat homes
(PhysOrg.com) -- Microsoft has published a research paper that proposes installing servers used for cloud computing into homes and businesses, instead of in vast data centers. The idea being, that because such servers generate so much heat, why not use them to heat homes, instead of wasting even more energy by cooling the air in centralized locations.
Internet privacy controls challenge tech industry
The federal government has put Google, Microsoft, Apple and other technology companies on notice: Give consumers a way prevent advertisers from tracking their movements across the Web - or face regulation.
Security researcher finds hack vulnerability in Mac battery chips
(PhysOrg.com) -- Research consultant Charlie Miller, currently with Accuvant Labs, has made it known that he intends to demonstrate a security hole in certain Mac laptops at next month’s Black Hat security conference. In an interview with Forbes, he says the chip that controls the battery can be hacked because Apple uses only two passwords for the firmware for all of their laptops, which he says he’s been able to figure out, which of course means, others with less noble purpose could do it as well.
Medicine & Health news
Deadly Australian horse virus found in dog
A lethal bat-borne horse virus has been detected in a dog for the first time, authorities in Australia said on Tuesday, prompting fears it has jumped species.
NHS ill prepared to care for obese patients
The NHS is poorly prepared to care for obese patients, lacking dedicated equipment and adequately trained staff, among other things, reveals an analysis of patient safety incidents, published online in Postgraduate Medical Journal.
Simple guidelines decreased unnecessary antibiotic use in Quebec, Canada
Antibiotic overuse and resistance have emerged as major threats during the past two decades. Following an outbreak of Clostridium difficile infections, which often result from antibiotic use, health care professionals in Quebec, Canada targeted physicians and pharmacists with an education campaign that reduced outpatient antibiotic use, according to a study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases and now available online.
GlaxoSmithKline reports return to profit in second quarter
British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline posted net profit of more than £1.1 billion in the second quarter on Tuesday following a loss during the equivalent three-month period in 2010.
It takes a team to remove large, aggressive tumors
(Medical Xpress) -- No cancer surgery is easy, but the two operations David Bieszke underwent at Loyola University Hospital to remove an aggressive, 10-inch tumor were especially challenging.
Midwest mold count peaks due to extreme heat, storms
A record 7 inches of rain combined with the spat of 100-plus degree Fahrenheit days has spawned the highest mold count recorded for the year, just short of an air pollution warning.
Adrenaline use in cardiac arrest
Adrenaline has kept its place in cardiac arrest guidelines despite limited evidence for or against its use. The PACA (Placebo versus Adrenaline versus Cardiac Arrest) study by Jacobs and colleagues, soon to be published in Resuscitation, the official journal of the European Resuscitation Council, provides the best evidence to date supporting the use of adrenaline to treat cardiac arrest.
Zinc lozenges may shorten common-cold duration
Depending on the total dosage of zinc and the composition of lozenges, zinc lozenges may shorten the duration of common cold episodes by up to 40%, according to a study published in the Open Respiratory Medicine Journal.
Brain autopsies of four former football players reveal not all get chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Preliminary results from the first four brains donated to the Canadian Sports Concussion Project at the Krembil Neuroscience Centre, TorontoWesternHospital, reveal that two of the four former Canadian Football League (CFL) players suffered from a brain disease known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), while two did not show signs of CTE.
Adding a stent during minimally invasive surgery to repair aneurysms prevents recurrence
The addition of a simple stent can help prevent potentially lethal blood vessel bulges in the brain from recurring after they are repaired in a minimally invasive "coiling" procedure, according to new research by Johns Hopkins physicians. A report on the research, published in the July Journal of Neurointerventional Surgery, could make coiling a more viable option for the 30,000 people diagnosed with brain aneurysms each year in the United States, the investigators say.
Mexican papayas sicken 99 in US
Mexican papayas tainted with salmonella have sickened 99 people in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday.
St. Michael's North America first to use novel blood-cleaning procedure for kidney transplant
St. Michael's Hospital today became the first in North America to use a novel blood-cleaning procedure for a kidney patient that will allow him to receive a transplant from a donor with a different blood type.
OR models of hepatitis B prove decisive in treating millions in US, China
With hepatitis B infecting as many as 10% of people of Asian descent, operations researchers collaborated with a liver transplant surgeon to develop mathematical models that verified the cost effectiveness of hepatitis B interventions. These interventions now successfully screen, treat, and vaccinate millions of Asian and Pacific Islander adults in the U.S. and millions of children in China, according to a paper in a journal of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS).
Afghanistan's health system shows improvements but staff and patient protection remains a concern
After a basic package of health services was introduced by Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health, the development and performance of Afghanistan's health care services improved dramatically in many areas between 2004 and 2008, particularly in health service capacity and delivery of care. However, the editors of PLoS Medicine warn of the dangers of security issues for health staff and patients, which is seriously hampering progress, and argue that the likelihood of Afghanistan emerging from its fragile status is far from certain.
Drug shown to improve sight for patients with inherited blindness
A clinical trial led by Newcastle University shows that the drug, idebenone (Catena), improved the vision and perception of colour in patients with Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON). The inherited condition means patients, who can see normally, lose the sight in one eye then within 3 to 6 months lose the sight in their other eye.
Global depression statistics
Depression affects 121 million people worldwide. In can affect a person's ability to work, form relationships, and destroy their quality of life. At its most severe depression can lead to suicide and is responsible for 850,000 deaths every year. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Medicine compares social conditions with depression in 18 countries across the world.
Brain connectivity disrupted in patients with post-concussive syndrome
A new study has found that patients with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) exhibit abnormal functional connectivity in the thalamus, a centrally located relay station for transmitting information throughout the brain. The results of the study appear online in the journal Radiology.
Who takes risks?
(Medical Xpress) -- It’s a common belief that women take fewer risks than men, and that adolescents always plunge in headlong without considering the consequences. But the reality of who takes risks when is actually a bit more complicated, according to the authors of a new paper which will be published in the August issue of Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. Adolescents can be as cool-headed as anyone, and in some realms, women take more risks than men.
Signaling molecule identified as essential for maintaining a balanced immune response
(Medical Xpress) -- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital investigators have identified a signaling molecule that functions like a factory supervisor to ensure that the right mix of specialized T cells is available to fight infections and guard against autoimmune disease.
New therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer developed
Patients with HER2-positive breast cancer may soon have an alternative therapy when they develop resistance to trastuzumab, also known as Herceptin, according to a laboratory finding published in Clinical Cancer Research.
Targeting PTEN may prevent skin cancer
Scientists believe they have identified a role for PTEN, a known tumor suppressor, in removing DNA damage derived from UVB radiation, a known risk factor for non-melanoma skin cancer, according to a study published in Cancer Research.
Genetic link to Barrett's esophagus, esophageal cancer discovered
Mutations in three genes have been identified that are more prevalent in patients with esophageal cancer and Barrett esophagus, a premalignant metaplasia (change in cells or tissue) caused by chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), according to preliminary research reported in the July 27 issue of JAMA.
Genes play greater role in heart attacks than stroke: study
People are significantly more likely to inherit a predisposition to heart attack than to stroke, according to research reported in Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics, an American Heart Association journal.
Medicare Part D associated with reduction in nondrug medical spending
Among elderly Medicare beneficiaries with limited prior drug coverage, implementation of Medicare Part D was associated with significant reductions in nondrug medical spending, such as for inpatient and skilled nursing facility care, according to a study in the July 27 issue of JAMA.
Rate of chronic health problems for low-birth-weight children does not increase in adolescence
In a follow-up of extremely low-birth-weight children, the rates of chronic health conditions overall, and asthma specifically, did not change between the ages of 8 and 14 years, although the rate of obesity did increase, according to a study in the July 27 issue of JAMA.
The Medical Minute: How to counter media messages on sex
On television, in music videos, on the Internet and in movies, explicit sexual content is everywhere -- and children are often prime targets.
Ophthalmologists develop device for monitoring degenerative eye disease
An ophthalmologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center has helped create a convenient device that lets patients who have a degenerative eye disease better track vision changes.
When it pays to spend on health care
When someone is rushed to an emergency room with heart problems, does it matter how much money the hospital spends on that patient?
High-throughput screen finds compounds that regulate cancer cell invasion
(Medical Xpress) -- Study uncovers several compounds that inhibit cancer cell invasion, but also reveals that cancer drug paclitaxel does the opposite -- it promotes cancer metastasis.
Increased risk of Parkinson's disease in methamphetamine users, study finds
People who abused methamphetamine or other amphetamine-like stimulants were more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than those who did not, in a new study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
Common drugs initiate a molecular pas de quatre at the surface of the cell membrane
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are popular drug targets, accounting for about one-third of approved drugs and many hundreds of drugs currently in development. They act as molecular switches that transduce extracellular signals by activating heterotrimeric G proteins (G proteins) located at the inside of the cell.
How testosterone protects against inflammation
Pharmacists of the University Jena, Germany, and partners have shown that cells from men and women react in a different manner to inflammatory stimuli. They found that in male cells the enzyme phospholipase D is less active than in the female ones. Based on these findings, the Jena pharmacists concluded that the male sex hormones play a key role in the modulation of the immune response.
Does menopause matter when it comes to diabetes?
Menopause has little to no impact on whether women become more susceptible to diabetes, according to a one-of-a-kind study.
IVF treatment and multiple births: Free-market patient rights versus government regulation
Elsevier announced the publication of several commentaries in the scientific journal Reproductive BioMedicine Online on the subject of how many embryos it is safe and proper to place in a uterus, and how best to regulate this decision. It is a dilemma faced by all patients anxiously caught between no pregnancies at all or facing the prospect of twins or triplets. In this difficult place it is often all too easy to think that the latter option must be the best. But is it?
Hormone therapy may be hazardous for men with heart conditions
Adding hormone therapy to radiation therapy has been proven in randomized clinical trials to improve overall survival for men with intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer. However, adding hormone therapy may reduce overall survival in men with pre-existing heart conditions, even if they have high-risk prostate cancer according to a new study just published online in advance of print in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology•Biology•Physics.
Single-dose H1N1 vaccine not reliable protection for pediatric liver-transplant patients
Researchers from Australia determined that pediatric liver transplant patients who received a single-dose of the H1N1 vaccine were not adequately protected against the virus compared to healthy children. This study appearing in the August issue of Liver Transplantation, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, found that a second vaccination was needed to elicit an effective immune response in children 10 and older who had recently received a liver transplant.
Quality of life for children with ADHD and their families worsens with greater disease severity
The greater the severity of a child's Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms, the more negative impacts on the child's health-related quality of life from the perspective of the child and the parent, a new study by a Baylor University psychologist has found.
Local efforts can stem the increasing unnecessary cesarean sections
Caesarean section rates are steadily increasing globally. Requiring two doctors to agree that a Caesarean section is the best way to deliver a baby, rather than just needing one opinion, providing internal feedback to doctors on the number of operations performed and seeking support from local opinion leaders may reduce the use of this procedure. For low-risk pregnancies, nurse-led relaxation classes for women with a fear or anxiety of childbirth and birth preparation classes for mothers may decrease caesarean sections.
Worrying can impact interpersonal relationships, study finds
Most people worry from time to time. A new research study, led by a Case Western Reserve University faculty member in psychology, also shows that worrying can be so intrusive and obsessive that it interferes in the person's life and endangers the health of social relationships.
Returning vets' alcohol abuse addressed in virtual reality study
The spoils of war for returning veterans may include addictions, injury and the constant images of horrific events they witnessed. Now a University of Houston joint study funded by the Veterans Health Administration Rehabilitation Research and Development service looks to address these issues through the use of virtual reality.
Deadly German E. coli outbreak is over: authorities
An E.coli outbreak in Germany that killed more than 50 people this year has ended, health authorities said Tuesday.
Michelle Obama happy with McDonald's menu shift
US fast-food giant McDonald's unveiled a revamped menu Tuesday in a move to offer healthier options and join the fight against obesity, drawing praise from First Lady Michelle Obama.
New TB drug-resistance test shows promise but needs investment for those diagnosed to be cured
Two research studies in this week's PLoS Medicine suggest that a new automated DNA test for tuberculosis (Xpert MTB/RIF), which can detect TB within 2 hours and has been endorsed by the World Health Organization, can significantly increase TB detection rate compared to other tests, particularly in HIV positive patients who have a high risk of being infected with TB, including multidrug resistant TB. An accompanying Essay and Perspective highlight the economic challenges and implications of such diagnostic tests.
Vitamin D relieves joint, muscle pain for breast cancer patients
High-dose vitamin D relieves joint and muscle pain for many breast cancer patients taking estrogen-lowering drugs, according to a new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Treating obesity via brain glucose sensing
The past two decades have witnessed an epidemic spread of obesity-related diseases in Western countries. Elucidating the biological mechanism that links overnutrition to obesity could prove crucial in reducing obesity levels. In the July 26 issue of PLoS Biology, Dr. Dongsheng Cai and his research team at Albert Einstein College of Medicine describe a pathway that directs the brain to sense the body's glucose dynamics, and they find that a defect of this glucose sensing process contributes to the development of obesity and related disease. Importantly, the team also found that correction of this defect can normalize the whole-body energy balance and treat obesity.
Mechanism of action behind novel cancer agents targeting tumor cell metabolism discovered
(Medical Xpress) -- The discovery of the mechanism of action behind a novel class of anticancer drugs designed to disrupt cancer cell mitochondrial metabolism may be a major step toward furthering clinical trials of the agents. An analysis of CPI-613, the lead compound in this first-in-class group of anticancer drugs developed by Paul M. Bingham, Ph.D., Associate Professor, and Zuzana Zachar, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor, both in the Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, is published in the Journal of Molecular Medicine.
'Hidden' cancer cells not a factor in early-stage breast cancer survival rates
A new study shows that removing lymph nodes due to the presence of occult, or microscopic, cancer cells found in the sentinel lymph node – the one closest to the tumor -- has no impact on survival outcomes of women with early-stage breast cancer. The principal investigator of the study is Armando E. Giuliano, MD, of Cedars-Sinai, who already is renowned for his clinical expertise and for his seminal research on lymph node removal in women with early-stage breast cancer.
Brain 'hears' voices when reading direct speech
(Medical Xpress) -- When reading direct quotations, the brain ‘hears’ the voice of the speaker, say scientists.
Shedding light on cell mechanism which plays a role in such diseases as Huntington's and Parkinson's
(Medical Xpress) -- New research from scientists at the University of Cambridge provides critical insight into the formation of autophagosomes, which are responsible for cleaning up cellular waste.
Newborn Apgar score related to teen school performance
(Medical Xpress) -- According to a new study published in Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Apgar test which is given to newborns one minute and five minutes after birth to evaluate their health is also an indicator of how they may perform in school when they are teenagers.
New study sheds light on role of genetics in recovering from eating disorders
A substantial number of people with eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa have a chronic course. They are severely underweight and have a high likelihood of dying from malnutrition. No treatment has been found that helps people who are chronically ill. Now, a new study sheds light on the reason that some people have poor outcome.
Eliminating protein in specific brain cells blocks nicotine reward
Removing a protein from cells located in the brain's reward center blocks the anxiety-reducing and rewarding effects of nicotine, according to a new animal study in the July 27 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. The findings may help researchers better understand how nicotine affects the brain.
Scientists make squirrels hibernate
Hibernation is an essential survival strategy for some animals and scientists have long thought it could also hold promise for human survival. But how hibernation works is largely unknown. Scientists at the University of Alaska Fairbanks have successfully induced hibernation at will, showing how the process is initiated. Their research is published in the July 26 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.
Biology news
2 gray whales stuck in N. Calif. river for month
(AP) -- Biologists say they're concerned about the health of a gray whale that's stranded in the Klamath River in Northern California after swimming up with her calf a month ago.
Eucalyptus genetic secrets unlocked
The world’s most farmed tree has had its genome read, opening the way to new breeding, biofuel, and conservation opportunities.
Habitat loss imperils monarch butterflies
If you see a monarch butterfly lighting in your backyard this year, take an extra moment to enjoy it.
Models show Coho salmon at risk in US urbanizing watersheds
For a decade researchers in Seattle have worked to solve the mystery of why adult coho salmon are dying prematurely in urban streams when they return from the ocean to mate and spawn. In a study published in Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management the team use models to estimate the potential impact of urban land development on the salmon population in the decades ahead.
Testing fumigant films that keep the air clean
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers have found a way to help growers minimize emissions of fumigants used as soil treatments.
Scientists find new Australian frog
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new miniature frog species or ‘toadlet’ has been discovered in the resource-rich Pilbara region of Western Australia, an area previously thought to support very few of the amphibians.
Researchers create reprogrammed stem cells for disease studies
(PhysOrg.com) -- The University of Michigan's Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies has achieved another of its primary goals: reprogramming adult skin cells so they behave like embryonic stem cells.
Modeling plant metabolism to optimize oil production
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a computational model for analyzing the metabolic processes in rapeseed plants -- particularly those related to the production of oils in their seeds. Their goal is to find ways to optimize the production of plant oils that have widespread potential as renewable resources for fuel and industrial chemicals.
Sea squirt cells shed light on cancer development
Specialized structures used by cancer cells to invade tissues could also help them escape protection mechanisms aimed at eliminating them, a UA-led research team has discovered.
How the modular structure of proteins permits evolution to move forward
Changes in a short protein domain can alter a whole signaling network involved in organ development– this is the key result of a comparative study of the development of the egg laying organ in two species of nematodes. However, the outward appearance of the organ remains the same in both species. The study provides support for the theory of developmental systems drift – a theory maintaining that, over the course of evolution, analogous organs of different species can retain the same shape and function while the regulative mechanisms underlying their development can change considerably.
Are cancers newly evolved species?
(PhysOrg.com) -- Cancer patients may view their tumors as parasites taking over their bodies, but this is more than a metaphor for Peter Duesberg, a molecular and cell biology professor at the University of California, Berkeley.
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