Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for July 20, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Researchers create the first artificial neural network out of DNA- Bristol physicists break 150-year-old law
- Hubble discovers another moon around Pluto
- World's most advanced genetic map created
- Fermilab experiment discovers a heavy relative of the neutron
- Breakthrough in quantum computing: Resisting 'quantum bug'
- A toothy grin only a palaeontologist could love
- 'Bifocals' in mangrove fish species discovered
- New duck-billed dinosaur gives scientists clues to evolution of head ornamentation and provinciality
- Memories may skew visual perception
- Collaboration encourages equal sharing in children but not in chimpanzees
- Pseudomonas deploys a toxin delivery machine to breach cell walls of rivals without hurting itself
- Cheaper and cleaner electricity from wave-powered ships (w/ video)
- Fantastic Mrs. Fox -- mother knows best for urban fox families
- Animal model sheds light on rare genetic disorder, signaling pathway
Space & Earth news
Oil from giant spill reaches Chinese coast: Xinhua
Oil from a huge spill off the Chinese coast has been found washed up on the shore in two separate areas, state media reported on Wednesday.
NTU undergraduates build nano and pico satellites
They weigh just 3.5 kg and 1.5 kg but they will punch above their weight when NTU's latest two satellites are launched into space in 2013.
Univ. of Miami's CSTARS captures history
Following 16 years of Earth observations, the European Space Agency's (ESA) ERS-2 satellite was decommissioned and removed from its continuous orbit around the Earth on July 4, 2011. The final image, captured by the University of Miami's Center for Southeastern Tropical Advanced Remote Sensing (CSTARS), occurred over the Antilles Islands in the Caribbean.
Safety testing on Gulf seafood
Government assurances that seafood from the Gulf of Mexico is safe to eat after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill are the result of a monitoring and testing program that continues more than a year after the April 20, 2010 disaster. The little-known story of the effort by Federal agencies to assure safety of Gulf seafood is the topic of the cover article in the current edition of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), ACS's weekly news magazine.
GOES satellite sees a triple header in the tropics
The GOES-13 satellite captured a triple-header in the tropics today when it captured three tropical cyclones in one image in the Northern Hemisphere.
NASA officials remember Mars rover Spirit
Scientists and engineers gathered Tuesday at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to remember the legacy of the hard-luck rover Spirit that came through in the end with geologic evidence that Mars was once a warm and wet place where life potentially could have formed.
Last space shuttle aims for Thursday landing (Update)
(AP) -- On the eve of NASA's historic, wheel-stopping end to the shuttle program, the four astronauts making the final journey and the flight controllers who will guide them home said Wednesday they're starting to feel a rush of emotions.
Two NASA probes tackle new mission: Studying the moon
(PhysOrg.com) -- Two small NASA probes that had been used to study space weather now are orbiting the moon to study its interior and surface composition.
Juno processing continues in Florida
(PhysOrg.com) -- Processing on NASA's Juno spacecraft continues with the spacecraft being inserted into its payload fairing yesterday, (July 18, 2011). The payload fairing acts as a protective cocoon that will shield Juno from the elements during the first 205 seconds of the spacecraft's ascent to orbit. The encapsulation process is expected to take about four days.
80 percent of world climate data are not computerized
In order to gain a better knowledge of climate variations, such as those caused by global warming, and be able to tackle them, we need to understand what happened in the recent past. This is the conclusion of a research study led by the Rovira i Virgili University (URV), which shows that the scientific community today is only able to access and analyse 20% of the recorded climate information held. The remaining data are not accessible in digital format.
Environmental pollutants lurk long after they 'disappear'
The health implications of polluting the environment weigh increasingly on our public consciousness, and pharmaceutical wastes continue to be a main culprit. Now a Tel Aviv University researcher says that current testing for these dangerous contaminants isn't going far enough.
NASA satellites confirm Tropical Storm Bret's heaviest rains on the eastern side
Two NASA Satellites confirmed that the heaviest rainfall in Tropical Storm Bret is occurring in the eastern side of the storm. One satellite using precipitation radar measured rainfall, and another satellite using infrared light measured cloud-top temperatures which indicate strength of thunderstorms.
Frigid cloud top temperatures show Hurricane Dora's power
Extremely cold cloud top temperatures in thunderstorms are an indication of the strength they possess, and infrared satellite data from NASA revealed a large area of very cold and powerful thunderstorms around the center of Hurricane Dora.
Landsat satellites track continued Missouri River flooding
Flooding along the Missouri River continues as shown in recent Landsat satellite images of the Nebraska and Iowa border. Heavy rains and snowmelt have caused the river to remain above flood stage for an extended period.
Space shuttles will soon be museum pieces
The end of the US space shuttle program brings the start of a new chapter for the remaining orbiters, which will soon take up residence as museum pieces in Florida, Virginia, California and New York.
NASA fends off tears with shuttle end in sight
NASA astronauts and engineers fought off tears Wednesday as Atlantis made its final approach toward Earth, bringing an end to the 30-year shuttle program and closing a chapter in human spaceflight.
Major moments in the US shuttle program
The US space shuttle is part cargo truck, part passenger bus, part airplane built for orbit, and has known soaring highs and devastating lows during its 30-year career.
US shuttle, the most complex flying machine ever built
The US space shuttle is the most complex and costly flying machine ever built. It helped build a pioneering space outpost but also kept Americans confined to low Earth orbit for 30 years.
Being 'secondary' is important for a Webb Telescope mirror
(PhysOrg.com) -- "Secondary" may not sound as important as "primary" but when it comes to the next-generation James Webb Space Telescope a secondary mirror plays a critical role in ensuring the telescope gathers information from the cosmos. The Webb's secondary mirror was recently completed, following polishing and gold-coating.
Nepal will measure exact height of Mount Everest
Nepal has ordered a new measurement of Mount Everest to determine exactly how high the world's highest mountain is.
Future of spaceflight? NASA is outsourcing the job
(AP) -- How America gets people and stuff into orbit is about to be outsourced in an out-of-this-world way.
Twisted tale of our galaxy's ring
(PhysOrg.com) -- New observations from the Herschel Space Observatory show a bizarre, twisted ring of dense gas at the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Only a few portions of the ring, which stretches across more than 600 light-years, were known before. Herschel's view reveals the entire ring for the first time, and a strange kink that has astronomers scratching their heads.
A cosmic superbubble (w/ video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- ESO’s Very Large Telescope captured this striking view of the nebula around the star cluster NGC 1929 within the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of our own Milky Way. A colossal example of what astronomers call a superbubble dominates this stellar nursery. It is being carved by the winds from bright young stars and the shockwaves from supernova explosions.
Opportunity rover tops 20 miles of Mars driving
(PhysOrg.com) -- More than seven years into what was planned as a three-month mission on Mars, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has driven more than 20 miles, which is more than 50 times the mission's original distance goal.
Movement of black holes powers the universe's brightest lights
Whether on their own or orbiting as a pair, black holes don't typically sit still.
Hubble discovers another moon around Pluto
(PhysOrg.com) -- Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope discovered a fourth moon orbiting the icy dwarf planet Pluto. The tiny, new satellite, temporarily designated P4, was uncovered in a Hubble survey searching for rings around the dwarf planet.
Technology news
Zillow sets IPO at $20 per share in Weds.
(AP) -- Real estate listing and information service Zillow Inc. will sell shares for $20 apiece in its initial public offering Wednesday.
Twitter ban boosts Chinese sites during aquatics worlds
World aquatics championships athletes faced with China's bans on Twitter and Facebook are opening accounts with local equivalents, boosting their profile in the country.
NIST proposes new privacy controls for federal information systems and organizations
With increasing dependency on information systems and advances in cloud computing, the smart grid and mobile computing, maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of citizens' personally identifiable information is a growing challenge. A new draft document from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) addresses that challenge by adding privacy controls to the catalog of security controls used to protect federal information and information systems.
New version of security automation protocol includes digital trust model
Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have released for public comment updated specifications for the Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP), which helps organizations find and manage computer-system vulnerabilities more effectively by standardizing the way vulnerabilities are identified, prioritized and reported.
Borders end to have ripple effect across country
(AP) -- What happens when a pioneer like Borders goes out of business? Depends on who you ask.
Swimming tragedy sparks hi-tech safety drive
The death of a competitor in an open water race has prompted swimming chiefs to introduce high-tech sonar equipment to keep athletes safe at the world championships in Shanghai.
Foreseer of future resources
Understanding how energy can be used efficiently is key to reducing carbon emissions and mitigating future fuel and food shortages. But energy use is only part of the story. The link between resources and final services – such as food, warmth, shelter and transport – is only really complete if water and land use is also factored in.
Examining the safety of the next generation of nuclear reactors
Scientists from The University of Manchester have been selected to undertake vital safety work on the next generation of the world’s nuclear reactors.
Venture-cap investments rise in second quarter
(AP) -- Venture capitalists invested more in U.S. startups in the second quarter than they did during the same period a year ago, suggesting that investors are ramping up their search for the next Facebook or Twitter.
India's Wipro profit edges up, shares dip on weak outlook
India's third-largest software firm Wipro posted a better-than-expected rise in first-quarter net profit on Wednesday but gave a muted revenue outlook due to global economic uncertainty.
'Bloom is off the rose' for 3D: DreamWorks CEO
DreamWorks Animation chief executive Jeffrey Katzenberg said Tuesday that Hollywood "greed" is responsible for a glut of lousy 3D movies and weak ticket sales.
Twitter looking to make money from commerce
Twitter could potentially generate revenue from commerce in addition to advertising, its current money-maker, the chief executive of the company said.
Lookout, Verizon team up for mobile protection
US mobile security firm Lookout is teaming up with US telecom giant Verizon Wireless to protect smartphone users from hackers and scammers.
Roku to sell 'Angry Birds' streaming box for $100
(AP) -- Roku is ready to hatch the popular "Angry Birds" video game on a new version of its set-top box for streaming online entertainment to TVs.
Real estate website Zillow soars in IPO debut
(AP) -- Shares of real estate website Zillow have more than doubled in their trading debut.
Key senator opposes AT&T $39B purchase of T-Mobile
(AP) -- A key member of the Senate Judiciary Committee is calling on federal regulators to block AT&T's proposed $39 billion purchase of T-Mobile USA.
New software to end 'naked' airport scans
In the face of an outcry over so-called "naked" body scans at airports, US authorities on Wednesday announced plans for a new scanning system that eliminates "passenger-specific images."
Dell buying US datacenter networking firm
US computer maker Dell on Wednesday announced a deal to buy high-performance datacenter networking firm Force10 in a move aimed at broadening offerings for businesses.
Google a start-up refocusing on products: CFO
Google co-founder Larry Page, who took over as chief executive in April, is refocusing the Internet giant on products and its "start-up philosophy," its chief financial officer said Wednesday.
Qualcomm 3Q results beat Wall Street estimates
(AP) -- Wireless chip-maker Qualcomm Inc.'s results for the latest quarter beat Wall Street's expectations, and its projections for the current quarter are also above analysts' estimates.
Intel's 2Q numbers show PC industry's new approach
(AP) -- Intel Corp. said its results for the latest quarter were better than expected as it milked strong corporate demand for PCs and the need for new computer servers to handle Internet traffic on mobile devices.
EBay 2Q profit falls on acquisition charges
(AP) -- EBay Inc.'s second-quarter results beat analyst expectations Tuesday with growth in its PayPal online payment service and marketplace business - although profit fell 31 percent on charges from its recent purchase of e-commerce retail site operator GSI Commerce.
Groupon remorse? Sites let users unload deals
(AP) -- Wish you hadn't bought that daily deal for a hot air balloon ride? You're not alone.
Google Labs shutting down
Google on Wednesday said it is shutting down its Labs website for creations-in-progress in order to better focus its resources and energy.
Google search detects infected computers
Google on Tuesday began warning some users of its popular Internet search service that their computers may be infected with a virus.
Korean researchers report creation of faster, more resilient ReRam
(PhysOrg.com) -- Korean researchers working out of the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology report in a paper published in Nature Materials, that they've been able to create a non-volatile Resistance RAM (ReRam) chip capable of withstanding a trillion read/write cycles, all with a switching time of just 10ns (about a million times faster than current flash chips), paving the way for a possible upgrade to flash memory cards.
Japanese researchers develop method for printing single crystal thin-film transistors
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers working out of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Tsukuba, Japan have developed a means for printing thin film transistors using InkJet technology. The team describes the process in their paper published in Nature.
Cheaper and cleaner electricity from wave-powered ships (w/ video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- At the Clean Technology 2011 Conference and Expo in Boston, Andre Sharon presented a new concept of using ships equipped with a wave-power system to harvest energy and deliver it back to a power grid on shore.
Nation's fight against cyber intruders goes local
The next frontier in the fight to keep crucial electronic networks safe from harm will play out as close to home as Town Hall and require more involvement from private industry, which controls 85 percent of the infrastructure, experts say.
Review: Tuning in to music service Spotify
I've been listening to a lot more music than usual for the past week, including tons of the "guilty pleasure" tunes I hate to admit I adore. I won't get into details, but let's just say that Britney Spears and songs covered by the "Glee" cast were in heavy rotation.
Medicine & Health news
Over 65 and not worried about heat? You should be
(AP) -- This week's heat wave may be uncomfortable, but you're healthy, active and feel just fine. So what if you're over 65? Think again. Feeling good doesn't mean you're safe.
Only one-third of HIV-positive patients remain in care before starting treatment
In sub-Saharan Africa, only about one third of patients who test positive for HIV but are not yet eligible for antiretroviral treatment remain in care until they become eligible and start treatment. Some patients never return for the results of their initial CD4 count (a prognostic and treatment eligibility biomarker); some disappear between having their initial CD4 count taken and becoming eligible for HIV treatment; and others with CD4 counts that indicate that they are eligible for treatment do not return to start receiving medications.
World's first 'home grown' African first-aid guidelines
A new set of evidence-based guidelines that comprehensively address how basic first responders should be trained to manage emergency situations in an African context has been released, published in this week's PLoS Medicine. The guidelines, which were developed by a panel of African-based experts and in conjunction with African Red Cross Societies, focus on first aid interventions requiring minimal or no equipment. They can be used by individuals and organisations involved in first aid training programmes in Africa, and an implementation guide is also available to help tailor the training materials to the local context and target group.
HIV patient care by clinic nurses rather than hospital doctors clinically successful, cost effective
Transferring care of HIV patients from doctors in hospitals to nurses in primary health clinics is both clinically successful and cost effective
US babies learn 'self-rescue' from drowning
Some see it as a potential life-saver, others as tantamount to child abuse: controversy is brewing in the United States over "self-rescue" classes to prevent babies from drowning.
Health officials not on track to eradicate polio
(AP) -- The world is not on track to wipe out polio by the end of 2012, a group of independent health experts warned Wednesday.
WHO calls for ban on 'unreliable' TB blood tests
The World Health Organisation warned on Wednesday that millions of blood tests conducted every year to diagnose tuberculosis are unreliable and putting patients' lives in danger.
Spanish Fabry disease patients appear to react differently to the rest of Europe
Spanish patients with Fabry disease, a rare hereditary condition where abnormal fatty deposits collect in blood vessels and organs throughout the body, appear to react differently to those in other European countries, according to a study in the August issue of IJCP, the International Journal of Clinical Practice.
Schools failing pupils with sickle cell disease
A new study suggests young people with a serious genetic blood disorder are not getting the right help at school, especially pupils who miss lessons due to sickness.
Is it asthma, or something else?
Asthma affects nearly 300 million people worldwide, and 24.6 million Americans had asthma in 2009. In severe forms, asthma can be deadly; however asthma-related deaths have been decreasing thanks to medical advances.
New clinical trial to examine medication to treat social withdrawal in Fragile X and autism
Children and adults with social withdrawal due to Fragile X syndrome, the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability and the most common known single gene cause of autism, may benefit from an experimental drug under study by pediatric neurologists at Rush Children's Hospital at Rush University Medical Center.
Study dispels myths about medication borrowing in urban populations
Despite warnings about borrowing medication prescribed to other people, past studies have demonstrated that many Americans say they have used someone else's medication at least once in a given year. In low income, urban populations, this rate was stereotypically thought to be higher due to a number of factors, including a perceived lack of access to health care and higher rates of crime and drug abuse.
For kids, it's more than just a game
A cohesive team environment, assessing one's own performance rather than comparing with others, and involvement in enjoyably challenging practices are the main conditions needed for children to have a positive developmental experience playing team sports.
Study examining how toxicity of fatty acids links obesity and diabetes
Though it generally is known that obesity dramatically increases the risk for type 2 diabetes, the biological mechanisms for that connection still are unclear.
International survey highlights great public desire to seek early diagnosis of Alzheimer's
Results of an international survey reveal that over 85% of respondents in the five countries surveyed say that if they were exhibiting confusion and memory loss, they would want to see a doctor to determine if the cause of the symptoms was Alzheimer's disease. Over 94% would want the same if a family member were exhibiting the symptoms. The findings were presented today at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2011 (AAIC 2011).
Mapping diabetes
The Alberta Diabetes Surveillance System was created in 2006 in partnership between Alberta Health and Wellness and the Institute of Health Economics. Led by Jeff Johnson in the University of Alberta's School of Public Health, the group has been identifying trends in diabetes, its associated health conditions and monitoring trends in accessing health-care services and has published a comprehensive report called a Diabetes Atlas every two years.
Cutting-edge imaging techniques for neuroscientists available in latest laboratory manual
Neuroscientists have long pioneered the use of new visualization techniques. Imaging in Neuroscience: A Laboratory Manual continues that tradition by presenting an outstanding collection of methods for visualizing the nervous system. It is the third volume in a series of imaging manuals published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
TGen, Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center studying new breast cancer drug
A new drug targeting the PI3K gene in patients with advanced breast cancer shows promising results in an early phase I investigational study conducted at Virginia G. Piper Cancer at Scottsdale Healthcare, according to a presentation by oncologist Dr. Daniel D. Von Hoff at the 47th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Retailers to bring fresh produce to 1,500 places
(AP) -- Michelle Obama's campaign against childhood obesity moved a step forward Wednesday with the announcement that Wal-Mart and other retailers plan to open or expand 1,500 stores in areas without broad access to fresh fruit, vegetables and other healthy foods over the next few years.
CDC: Frogs tied to salmonella being sold again
(AP) -- A California company has resumed selling a kind of pet frog that caused salmonella illnesses in more than 240 people, most of them children. And federal health officials are not happy.
AIDS: New evidence backs circumcision campaign
A campaign to encourage African men to get circumcised to prevent infection by HIV gained a powerful boost Wednesday by three new studies unveiled at the world AIDS forum in Rome.
Something to smile about
Oral specialists at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Dentistry believe they have developed a program which will stop tooth decay in its tracks.
Drug development cycle shortened with new silicon-based screening tool
Researchers from A*STAR Institute of Microelectronics (IME) have developed a lateral silicon-based drug screening tool that has demonstrated simultaneous capture of 12 individual cells – 12 times higher throughput than conventional patch clamping. The device can be scaled up to allow 1536 cell-recordings simultaneously, permitting 16 times higher throughput than existing planar patch clamp approach. The chip enables compact design and automation, thanks to the lateral layout that allows microfluidic integration. When tested with two different anti-diabetic drugs, corresponding electrophysiological readings could be determined by the device, showing its potential for multiple drug screening. With automation, the proposed device can dramatically shorten drug development cycle for rapid screening of ion-channel drug candidates. The world-wide ion channel drug market is estimated to be worth USD 12 billion.
ACR, SBI support updated ACOG recommendations that women begin annual mammograms at age 40
The American College of Radiology (ACR) and Society of Breast Imaging applaud and support updated American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' (ACOG) recommendations that women begin getting annual mammograms at age 40. The updated ACOG recommendations now correspond with those of the American Cancer Society, ACR, Society of Breast Imaging (SBI), American Society of Breast Disease (ASBD) and many other major medical associations with demonstrated expertise in breast cancer care.
Inducing non-REM sleep in mice by novel optogenetical control technique
Recently, optogenetics, which controls the activity of neuron using the light-activated protein, has been getting a lot of attention. This light-activated protein works like a switch of neurons by sensing specific color of light. This time, Associate Professor Akihiro YAMANAKA and Dr. Tomomi Tsunematsu from National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), succeeded in suppressing only the activity of the orexin neurons in the mice's brains (hypothalamus) when the optical switch was on, using the light-activated protein, halorhodopsin (eNpHR). This flipping on and off the optical switch led mice into sleep and wakefulness. Those mice fell into non-REM sleep (slow-wave sleep) only when the halorhodopsin-expressed orexin neurons were exposed to the light. It is reported in the Journal of Neuroscience published by the Society for Neuroscience in USA (July 20, 2011, Eastern Standard Time, USA) .
Standard 3-drug H. pylori therapy beats newer 4-drug regimens in Latin America study
Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium known to cause peptic ulcers, is also the primary cause of gastric cancer, which is a leading cancer killer globally.
Vegetarian diet may protect against common bowel disorder
Vegetarians are a third less likely to get a common bowel disorder (diverticular disease) than their meat eating counterparts, finds a new study published in the British Medical Journal today.
Progress is seen on a blood test for Alzheimer's
Scientists are closing in on a long-sought goal: A blood test to screen people for Alzheimer's disease.
Work engagement, job satisfaction, and productivity -- they're a virtuous cycle
(Medical Xpress) -- Engaged workers—those who approach their work with energy, dedication, and focus—are more open to new information, more productive, and more willing to go the extra mile. Moreover, engaged workers take the initiative to change their work environments in order to stay engaged.
Trouble with sentences may predict Alzheimer's
(Medical Xpress) -- Having trouble finding the right word to say is a known side effect of healthy aging. But older adults with early Alzheimer's disease may find it especially difficult not only to find words but also to construct complex sentences, finds a Cornell pilot study.
Study: 'Superwomen' in movies affect real women
An Angelina Jolie character who crushes a robot in “Tomb Raider” is perceived by young women as a better role model than a mouthy Kathy Bates character who carries a gun in “Primary Colors,” a UC Davis study has found.
Liver cancer linked to male sex hormones: HK study
Hong Kong researchers have found that men are more likely to develop liver cancer due to a type of gene which is linked to male sex hormones.
Household smoke increases severity of bronchiolitis in babies
A study by the University of Liverpool has found that babies admitted to hospital with bronchiolitis from a household where a parent smokes are twice as likely to need oxygen therapy and five times as likely to need mechanical ventilation as babies whose parents do not smoke.
New sexting laws put college students at risk
More than half of all college students have received sexually suggestive images via text messaging, and nearly 80 percent have received suggestive messages, according to research by University of Rhode Island faculty in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies.
Cancer drugs may help treatment of schizophrenia
Researchers have revealed the molecular pathway that is affected during the onset of schizophrenia and successfully alleviated symptoms of the illness in mice, using a commonly used cancer drug.
Newly designed molecule blocks chlamydia bacteria
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have discovered a way to block the damaging actions of Chlamydia, the bacteria responsible for the largest number of sexually transmitted infections in the United States.
Researcher finds caffeine consumption, female infertility link
Caffeine reduces muscle activity in the Fallopian tubes that carry eggs from a woman's ovaries to her womb. "Our experiments were conducted in mice, but this finding goes a long way towards explaining why drinking caffeinated drinks can reduce a woman's chance of becoming pregnant," says Sean Ward, professor of physiology and cell biology, at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, who conducted the study.
No room for inaccuracy in the brain
Dr. Ed Ruthazer is a mapmaker but, his landscape is the developing brain - specifically the neuronal circuitry, which is the network of connections between nerve cells. His research at The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital – The Neuro at McGill University, reveals the brain as a dynamic landscape where connections between nerves are plastic, changing and adapting to the demands of the environment. Dr. Ruthazer is the winner of the inaugural Young Investigator Award from the Canadian Association for Neuroscience, which recognizes outstanding research achievements. His laboratory uses time-lapse imaging to chart the changes that take place in brain circuitry during development in the hope of advancing treatments for injuries to the central nervous system and therapies for developmental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. These diseases are widely held to result from errors in brain wiring due to a disruption of the complex interactions between geneti! c and environmental influences during brain development.
When injured muscles mistakenly grow bones
For hundreds of thousands of people, injuring a muscle through an accident like falling off a bike or having surgery can result in a strange and serious complication. Their muscles start growing bones.
Fast prediction of axon behavior
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a computer modeling method to accurately predict how a peripheral nerve axon responds to electrical stimuli, slashing the complex work from an inhibitory weeks-long process to just a few seconds.
Researchers exploring keys to melanoma progression
Melanoma is devastating on many fronts: rates are rising dramatically among young people, it is deadly if not caught early, and from a biological standpoint, the disease tends to adapt to even the most modern therapies, known as VEGF inhibitors. University of Rochester researchers, however, made an important discovery about proteins that underlie and stimulate the disease, opening the door for a more targeted treatment in the future.
As new data wave begins, a gene study in one disease discovers mutations in an unrelated disease
Often enough, in science as in life, unexpected knowledge has a personal impact. Researchers seeking rare gene variants in just a few individuals with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) discovered that one patient had a novel combination of two mutations. Those mutations caused a different disease, unrelated to ADHD—a blood disorder called idiopathic hemolytic anemia.
Gene therapy to reverse heart failure ready for clinical trials
A promising gene therapy developed, in part, at Thomas Jefferson University's Center for Translational Medicine to prevent and reverse congestive heart failure is on the verge of clinical trials, after years of proving itself highly effective in the lab and a large animal study.
Researchers discover gene required to maintain male sex throughout life
University of Minnesota Medical School and College of Biological Sciences researchers have made a key discovery showing that male sex must be maintained throughout life.
Study: MS drugs help, but come at high cost
A new study examining the cost-effectiveness of drugs to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) in the United States finds that the health gains from these drugs come at a very high cost compared to basic therapy to control the symptoms of MS and compared to treatments for other chronic diseases. The research is published in the July 20, 2011, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Scientists identify broad and potent HIV antibodies that mimic CD4 binding
In a finding that may be good news for scientists developing HIV vaccines and therapies, a team of researchers at The Rockefeller University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute have found a way to investigate the broadly neutralizing antibody response against the CD4 binding site of HIV on a monoclonal level. This led to the identification and characterization of several “highly active anti-CD4 binding site antibodies” (HAADs) and their expanded B cell families.
Washing away good and bad luck
Research by marketing professor shows risk taking depends on whether participants recalled past episode of good or bad luck and whether they washed their hands.
Breakthrough: Real-time data recorded on football player captures impact that caused broken neck
While studying concussions in a high school football team, researchers captured the impact of an 18-year-old player who broke his neck during a head-down tackle in real-time.
EHEC 2011 outbreak: Scientists publish their prospective genomic characterization
Scientists of the Medical Faculty of the University Munster and the University Hospital Munster in collaboration with scientists of the enterprise 'Life Technologies Corporation' were the first to release a draft genome sequence of a German enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) 2011 outbreak strain on June 3rd. Their in-depth genomic characterization of this outbreak was published on July 20th in the online open access journal PLoS ONE.
E-cigarette or drug delivery device?
Devices marketed as "electronic cigarettes" are in reality crude drug delivery systems for refined nicotine, posing unknown risks with little new benefits to smokers, according to tobacco control experts.
Rock-paper-scissors players are natural copycats
Players of the game rock paper scissors subconsciously copy each other's hand shapes, significantly increasing the chance of the game ending in a draw, according to new research.
Japan researchers grow tooth in mouse kidney
Japanese bio engineers have succeeded in growing a tooth from cells implanted into a mouse kidney, using a technique that could create replacement organs faster than previously tested methods.
Inherited Alzheimer's detectable 20 years before dementia
Inherited forms of Alzheimer's disease may be detectable as many as 20 years before problems with memory and thinking develop, scientists will report July 20, 2011, at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease in Paris.
Drug improves brain function in condition that leads to Alzheimer's
An existing anti-seizure drug improves memory and brain function in adults with a form of cognitive impairment that often leads to full-blown Alzheimer's disease, a Johns Hopkins University study has found.
Memories may skew visual perception
Taking a trip down memory lane while you are driving could land you in a roadside ditch, new research indicates. Vanderbilt University psychologists have found that our visual perception can be contaminated by memories of what we have recently seen, impairing our ability to properly understand and act on what we are currently seeing.
Birth defects linked to coal and pesticides
(Medical Xpress) -- According to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, pregnant mothers who are exposed to pesticides and smoke are as much as four times more likely to give birth to infants with serious birth defects.
Animal model sheds light on rare genetic disorder, signaling pathway
A team of researchers from the University of Utah and Brigham Young University has developed a mouse model of focal dermal hypoplasia, a rare human birth defect that causes serious skin abnormalities and other medical problems. This animal model not only provides insight into studying the cause of focal dermal hypoplasia (FDH), but also offers a novel way to study a signaling pathway that is crucial for embryonic development.
Sperm coat protein may be key to male infertility
The loss of a protein that coats sperm may explain a significant proportion of infertility in men worldwide, according to a study by an international team of researchers led by UC Davis. The research could open up new ways to screen and treat couples for infertility. A paper describing the work is published July 20 in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Benign or cancerous? Gene test predicts cancer potential in pancreatic cysts
Johns Hopkins scientists have developed a gene-based test to distinguish harmless from precancerous pancreatic cysts. The test may eventually help some patients avoid needless surgery to remove the harmless variety. A report on the development is published in the July 20 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
World's most advanced genetic map created
A consortium led by scientists at the University of Oxford and Harvard Medical School has constructed the world's most detailed genetic map.
Biology news
A new breed: Highly productive chickens help raise Ugandans from poverty
In the fight to improve global health, alleviate hunger, raise living standards and empower women in the developing world, chickens have an important role to play.
Strep infections responsible for groper deaths
Researchers are in a race against time to save Queensland's protected groper fish, which are washing up dead along the beaches of Northern Queensland in increasing numbers.
Evolution of the evolutionarily minded
In the century and a half since Charles Darwin's publication of The Origin of Species, evolutionary theory has become the bedrock of modern biology, yet its application to the understanding of the human mind remains controversial. For the past 30 years, evolutionary interpretation of human cognition has been dominated by the field of evolutionary psychology. One view of this field is that human minds are composed of a list of dedicated programmes, each fashioned by natural selection to solve specific problems faced by our Stone Age ancestors, with all humans possessing the same universal architecture irrespective of geography or upbringing. However, this characterization of the human mind has been subject to criticism, in particular that some interpretations were so speculative they amounted to 'evolutionary stories'.
It's no sweat for salt marsh sparrows to beat the heat if they have a larger bill
Birds use their bills largely to forage and eat, and these behaviors strongly influence the shape and size of a bird's bill. But the bill can play an important role in regulating the bird's body temperature by acting as a radiator for excess heat. A team of scientists have found that because of this, high summer temperatures have been a strong influence in determining bill size in some birds, particularly species of sparrows that favor salt marshes. The team's findings are published in the scientific journal Ecography, July 20.
The full moon indicates impending danger from lion attack
Be sure to check the sky if you ever set out for a nighttime stroll in southeastern Tanzania. If the moon is full, continue. But if the sky is dark, turn back – or you may be a lion's dinner.
Sexless for a million years, stick bugs elude extinction
(PhysOrg.com) -- Simon Fraser University biologists say a species of stick insect found to be celibate for 1.5 million years raises questions about why these particular lineages have escaped extinction thus far.
Long-distance swims may cause polar bear problems
Polar bears forced to swim longer distances because of diminished sea ice off Alaska's coast may be paying a price in lost cubs or precious calories, according to a study by the U.S. Geological Survey.
New discovery places turtles next to lizards on family tree
(PhysOrg.com) -- Where do turtles belong on the evolutionary tree? For decades, the mystery has proven as tough to crack as the creatures' shells. With their body armor and retractable heads, turtles are such unique creatures that scientists have found it difficult to classify the strange animals in terms of their origins and closest relatives.
Researchers find potential key for unlocking biomass energy
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory and Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center have found a potential key for unlocking the energy potential from non-edible biomass materials such as corn leaves and stalks, or switch grass.
Researchers improve method to create induced pluripotent stem cells
University of Minnesota Medical School researchers have developed a new strategy to improve the development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS).
Team shows how the honey bee tolerates some synthetic pesticides
A new study reveals how enzymes in the honey bee gut detoxify pesticides commonly used to kill mites in the honey bee hive. This is the first study to tease out the precise molecular mechanisms that allow a pollinating insect to tolerate exposure to these potentially deadly compounds.
Collaboration encourages equal sharing in children but not in chimpanzees
Children as young as three years of age share toy rewards equally with a peer, but only when both collaborated in order to gain them.
Pseudomonas deploys a toxin delivery machine to breach cell walls of rivals without hurting itself
Microbiologists have uncovered a sneaky trick by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa to oust rivals. It deploys a toxin delivery machine to breach cell walls of competitors without hurting itself.
'Bifocals' in mangrove fish species discovered
(PhysOrg.com) -- A "four-eyed" fish that sees simultaneously above and below the water line has offered up a dramatic example of how gene expression allows organisms to adapt to their environment.
Fantastic Mrs. Fox -- mother knows best for urban fox families
In urban fox families, mothers determine which cubs get to stay and which must leave while fathers have little say in the matter, new research by biologists at the University of Bristol has found.
Monogamous queens help bees cooperate
(PhysOrg.com) -- New research published today in Nature Communications online journal suggests that monogamy and close genetic relationships work together to enhance the cooperative social structure of insects such as bees, wasps and ants.
Researchers create the first artificial neural network out of DNA
Artificial intelligence has been the inspiration for countless books and movies, as well as the aspiration of countless scientists and engineers. Researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have now taken a major step toward creating artificial intelligence -- not in a robot or a silicon chip, but in a test tube. The researchers are the first to have made an artificial neural network out of DNA, creating a circuit of interacting molecules that can recall memories based on incomplete patterns, just as a brain can.
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