Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for December 7, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Superhard carbon material could crack diamond- Voltage increases up to 25% observed in closely packed nanowires
- Researchers find best routes to self-assembling 3-D shapes
- Heads up Kobe Bryant! Research shows that trying for another 3-pointer is a mistake
- Optical illusion reveals reflexes in the brain
- Closing in on an ulcer- and cancer-causing bacterium
- New insights into how the brain reconstructs the third dimension
- Facebook fixes photo privacy bug
- Nipping metastases in the bud: A novel strategy for fighting cancer targets secondary tumors
- 500 million-year-old super predator had remarkable vision
- Gene expression in mouse neural retina sequenced
- Researchers develop one of the world's smallest electronic circuits
- Adobe confirms zero-day danger in Reader and Acrobat
- Study could lead to drug therapies for preventing atherosclerosis
- Females choose sexier friends to avoid harassment
Space & Earth news
NASA ready to test upgraded J-2X powerpack
(PhysOrg.com) -- For engineers working on the J-2X engine program, installation of the upgraded J-2X powerpack on the A-1 Test Stand on Dec. 5 had to feel like a long-awaited holiday gift.
PhD research advances understanding on how to mitigate methane emissions
(PhysOrg.com) -- A comparison of methane emissions from three ruminant species eating different forages, with and without feed additives, found chicory will reduce methane emissions in sheep - but also highlighted the challenges in identifying mitigation strategies and shown the need for further research.
Hubble racks up 10,000 science papers
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has passed another milestone in its 21 years of exploration: the 10,000th refereed science paper has been published. This makes Hubble one of the most prolific astronomical endeavors in history.
Cambodia opens controversial mega-dam
Energy-starved Cambodia on Wednesday opened the country's largest hydropower dam to date, a multi-million dollar Chinese-funded project that has attracted criticism from environmental groups.
Raising $100 billion for climate fund in dispute
(AP) -- Even in hard times, fighting climate change is not a luxury but a necessity, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday, as climate negotiators bickered about how to raise hundreds of billions of dollars to adapt to a warming world.
Tokyo 'not doing enough' for Fukushima: Greenpeace
Fukushima's residents are being left to their fate and not enough is being done to protect them against radiation nine months after Japan's tsunami, environment group Greenpeace said Wednesday.
Skiers welcome snow to Swiss slopes
Swiss ski enthusiasts are breathing a sigh of relief after heavy snow finally hit the slopes, kicking off the winter season in earnest.
Researcher peers into universe's ancient past to better know how stars form
(PhysOrg.com) -- It takes light from our closest star, the Sun, about eight minutes to reach Earth. But light that leaves stars in distant galaxies takes a lot more time to reach our planet — billions of years more.
Seismic diagrams identify rock-falls
(PhysOrg.com) -- Based on the statistical analysis of 20 rock-falls in the Alps and the seismic signals recorded at the same time, ETH Zurich scientists have developed a new method allowing the volume and extent of a rock-fall to be determined within a few minutes. The method enables a quick hazard assessment to be made and means action can be taken swiftly.
Geminid meteor shower 2011
Its the finale of this year’s meteor showers: The Geminids will start appearing on Dec. 7 and should reach peak activity around the 13th and 14th. This shower could put on a display of up to 100+ meteors (shooting stars) per hour under good viewing conditions.
Researchers study toenails as marker for arsenic exposure
(PhysOrg.com) -- UA scientists have teamed up to study the relationship between arsenic in human toenails and arsenic concentration in drinking water. Exposure to arsenic is associated with several chronic diseases ranging from dermatitis to various cancers.
Dashing through the snow, in a one-truck radar dish
SCHUSS. The term for a straight, downhill ski run. In the land of the Greatest Snow on Earth--Utah--SCHUSS is also the moniker for storm-chasing, Old Man Winter-style.
Billion-dollar weather disasters smash US record
(AP) -- America's wild weather year has set another record: a dozen billion-dollar catastrophes.
Sewage treatment plants may contribute to antibiotic resistance problem
Water discharged into lakes and rivers from municipal sewage treatment plants may contain significant concentrations of the genes that make bacteria antibiotic-resistant. That's the conclusion of a new study on a sewage treatment plant on Lake Superior in the Duluth, Minn., harbor that appears in ACS' journal Environmental Science & Technology.
NASA sees Tropical Storm Alenga intensifying
NASA's TRMM satellite passed over Tropical Storm Alenga and noticed that the rainfall has intensified in the storm in the last two days indicating that it continues strengthening.
Last full lunar eclipse for 3 years this weekend
(AP) -- The last total lunar eclipse of the year is Saturday. And there won't be another one for three years.
Dead Sea drilling research project portends ominous future for Middle East
(PhysOrg.com) -- A team of researchers drilling in the center of the Dead Sea have found that approximately 120,000 years ago, the area became so dry the Sea dried up completely, or nearly so, and worse, it likely occurred over a lengthy period of time. Today the history rich sea, the lowest in the world, is shrinking too, but unlike back then, this time it’s due to human’s siphoning off water from the rivers that feed it leading to a precipitous drop that has reduced the depth of the water by some 10 meters since the mid nineties.
Vampire star reveals its secrets
(PhysOrg.com) -- Astronomers have obtained the best images ever of a star that has lost most of its material to a vampire companion. By combining the light captured by four telescopes at ESO’s Paranal Observatory they created a virtual telescope 130 metres across with vision 50 times sharper than the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. Surprisingly, the new results show that the transfer of mass from one star to the other in this double system is gentler than expected.
NASA Mars rover prepares for upcoming winter
NASA's lone surviving Mars rover has been busy studying its surroundings since rolling up to its latest crater destination over the summer. Now the solar-powered, six-wheel Opportunity is in search of a place to hunker down for the winter.
Technology news
British sprinter turns to eBay for Olympic bid
A British athlete on Wednesday put himself up for auction on online giant eBay in a desperate attempt to attract sponsors in the run up to London's 2012 Olympic Games.
Intel, Taiwan in tie-up to develop new chip
US chip giant Intel has joined hands with a top Taiwan research institute to develop a new generation of memory chips for use in lighter, energy-saving smartphones and tablets, officials said Wednesday.
Study finds failure points in firefighter protective equipment
(PhysOrg.com) -- In fire experiments conducted in uniformly furnished, but vacant Chicago-area townhouses, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) researchers uncovered temperature and heat-flow conditions that can seriously damage facepiece lenses on standard firefighter breathing equipment, a potential contributing factor for first-responder fatalities and injuries.
New NIST biometric data standard adds DNA, footmarks and enhanced fingerprint descriptions
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published a revised biometric standard in November, 2011, that vastly expands the type and amount of information that forensic scientists can share across their international networks to identify victims or solve crimes. Biometric data is a digital or analog representation of physical attributes that can be used to uniquely identify us.
Fujitsu and SuVolta demonstrate ultra-low-voltage operation of SRAM down to 0.4V
Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited and SuVolta, Inc. today announced that they have successfully demonstrated ultra-low-voltage operation of SRAM (static random access memory) blocks down to 0.425V by integrating SuVolta’s PowerShrink low-power CMOS platform into Fujitsu Semiconductor’s low-power process technology. By reducing power consumption, these technologies will make possible the ultimate in “ecological” products in the near future. Technology details and results will be presented at the 2011 International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM) being held in Washington DC, starting December 5th.
Huge Apple store opening at NYC's Grand Central
(AP) -- One of the world's largest Apple stores is opening at the landmark Grand Central Terminal.
Gates discussing new nuclear reactor with China
(AP) -- Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates confirmed Wednesday he is in discussions with China to jointly develop a new and safer kind of nuclear reactor.
Streaming to overtake cable in 3-5 years: Netflix
Internet-streamed video will overtake cable to dominate home video viewing within three to five years, Netflix chief executive Reed Hastings predicted Tuesday, with stiffer competition to come.
Humbled Netflix CEO still thinking, talking big
(AP) -- To hear Netflix CEO Reed Hastings tell it, the bone-headed decisions that have dragged down the Internet's leading video subscription service during the past five months eventually will be forgotten like a bad movie made by a great film director.
Ex-US general warns of growing cyber threat
A US adversary would currently be unable to bring down the entire US electrical grid using cyber weapons but such a scenario is conceivable within two to five years, the former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Tuesday.
Iowa State's METaL lab develops multiple ways to experience virtual reality
Iowa State University doctoral students Leif Berg and Ryan Pavlik handed over a Wii Remote and a pair of 3-D glasses.
Cities fail to recognize full potential of smart technologies
Cities are wasting the potential of smart technologies by failing to realise the value of their hidden infrastructure and digital assets.
Avatars develop real world skills
New research suggests that far from disengaging young people from real life, virtual worlds can provide unique environments that can help them learn and negotiate new situations.
What's in a name? Homeland Security develops Domain Name System Security Systems Extensions
At the advent of the Internet thirty years ago, the brand new Domain Name System (DNS) (which translated website names like science.com into a network address like 1.2.3.4) was trusted by everyone. Today, hackers take advantage of our long-standing trust in DNS and work to trick the system by stealing information and redirecting data every day.
Microsoft pledges Windows developers generosity
(AP) -- Microsoft Corp. is stepping up its competition with Apple and plans to give developers who write software for Windows computers and devices a greater share of revenue sold through the company's upcoming Windows Store.
RIM forced to change name of software
BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion has been forced to change the name of its new operating system from BBX after the company lost a trademark ruling.
AT&T's great wireless war
Think of AT&T Inc.'s $39 billion attempted takeover of German-owned T-Mobile USA as a long, multi-front war, the ultimate test of business, legal and political strategy.
Web giants, film companies at odds over anti-piracy bills
Film director Penelope Spheeris' new comedy, "Balls to the Wall," had barely premiered in Europe when bootleg copies started popping up on the Internet, throwing its U.S. release into jeopardy. A Spheeris assistant sent out as many as 30 cease-and-desist notices a day in a desperate, but failed, attempt to halt the piracy.
Microsoft to open 'app store' in February
Microsoft began wooing developers for a February opening of its first "app store" for computers powered by the US technology giant's Windows software.
Oerlikon Solar works to pull down PV costs in 2014
(PhysOrg.com) -- Switzerland-based Oerlikon Solar, kingpins in thin film silicon solar module equipment, has announced that it has reached a milestone in reducing the cost of production for its thin-film silicon photovoltaic panels. Oerlikon Solar describes its business as one that designs and manufactures equipment and turnkey manufacturing lines for the mass production of environmentally sustainable thin film silicon solar modules. The company said it is to realize a module manufacturing cost of 0.35 euro ($0.47) per watt in 2014.
Facebook fixes photo privacy bug
Facebook has fixed a bug that allowed the viewing of some private photographs of other members and which was reportedly used to access personal pictures of founder Mark Zuckerberg.
Adobe confirms zero-day danger in Reader and Acrobat
(PhysOrg.com) -- Adobe on Tuesday issued a critical security advisory for Adobe Reader and Acrobat. A vulnerability was detected and confirmed in Adobe Reader X (10.1.1) and earlier versions for Windows and Macintosh, Adobe Reader 9.4.6 and earlier 9.x versions for UNIX, and Adobe Acrobat X (10.1.1) and earlier versions for Windows and Macintosh. Adobe said the flaw could cause a crash and allow an attacker to take control of the affected system.
Medicine & Health news
US mulls easier access to emergency contraception
US regulators are considering whether to grant a drug company's request to make emergency contraception available over the counter to people of all ages instead of by prescription.
Common bone drug may extend life of replacement joints
People who take bisphosphonates after joint replacement surgery are less likely to need a repeat operation, finds a new study published in the British Medical Journal today.
Study finds side effects, complications, mastectomy more likely after partial breast irradiation
Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) brachytherapy, the localized form of radiation therapy growing increasingly popular as a treatment choice for women with early-stage breast cancer, is associated with higher rate of later mastectomy, increased radiation-related toxicities and post-operative complications, compared to traditional whole breast irradiation (WBI), according to researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Diabetes and obesity increase risk for breast cancer development
Having diabetes or being obese after age 60 significantly increases the risk for developing breast cancer, a Swedish study has revealed. Data also showed that high blood lipids were less common in patients when diagnosed with breast cancer, while low blood lipids were associated with an increased risk.
Echocardiography offers the future for infarct size quantification
"Up until now infarct size has only been measured as part of clinical studies and not in routine clinical practice. The reason being that the reference method of gadolinium based contrast agents in MRI is expensive, takes a great deal of time to perform, and can only be undertaken by imaging specialists," explains EAE president Dr Luigi Badano, from the University of Padua, Italy. "The advantages of STE over MRI is that it's far quicker to use, cheaper, and can be used by cardiologists at the bedside with portable machines, and repeated serially when ever needed."
New test predicts risk for recurrence for patients with DCIS
In a significant advance for patients with ductal carcinoma in situ, researchers have developed and prospectively validated a multigene test to identify the risk for recurrence of breast cancer.
Importance of echocardiography to evaluate cardio toxicity in cancer patients
One study presented at the meeting, which is being held in Budapest, Hungary, 7 to 10 December, reports on an initiative using echocardiography to document early warning signs of adverse effects from trastuzumab (Herceptin)¹, while the other uses echocardiography to evaluate the protective role of ACE inhibitors and statins on the hearts of cancer patients².
Parkinson's & dance: An unusual partnership unites
(AP) -- The two things that have brought Michael and Roslyn Lieb closer together couldn't be more different: Parkinson's disease and dance, one slowly taking away, the other giving back in ways they never imagined.
Researchers to publish paper in Molecular Cancer journal
(Medical Xpress) -- Erxi Wu, assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences, and Fengfei Wang, research associate in pharmaceutical sciences, co-wrote the article, "β2-adrenoceptor blockage induces G1/S phase arrest and apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells via Ras/Akt/NFkB pathway,” which will be published by Molecular Cancer.
Researcher takes on 'empathy fatigue' in workplace
(Medical Xpress) -- A nurse refuses to help an ailing alcoholic who is upset to find a hospital detox unit closed. A hospital clerk brushes off a deceased woman's grieving family as they try to pay her bills and claim her belongings. A charge nurse keeps the mother of a gunshot victim from seeing her son, saying the emergency room is "too busy."
Bring the feet when diagnosing, treating rheumatoid arthritis
When diagnosing and treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), clinical research focuses primarily on the joints in the upper body. However, research carried out by rheumatologist Hetty Baan at the University of Twente reveals the importance of including the feet and ankles when examining and treating RA patients. She also makes the case for further research into how the treatment of RA patients can be improved in practice in order to prevent unnecessary infections and damage in the feet and ankles. Baan will defend her doctoral research on 6 December at the Faculty of Behavioral Sciences of the University of Twente.
Waging the war against salmonella ... One molecule at a time
Salmonella is the enemy and UConn researchers in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources may have discovered a way to defeat it – one molecule at a time.
The H1N1 flu vaccine protects both pregnant women and newly-borns
The researchers studied the immune response of 107 pregnant women after they were injected with a single dose of non-adjuvant H1N1 vaccine. They concluded that the influenza shot boosted the immune response in pregnant women and at the same time protected neuronatal babies via the antibodies that transferred through the placenta.
Zoledronic acid shows long-term benefit in survivorship for premenopausal ER-positive breast cancer
Researchers have proven the continuing effectiveness of treating patients with estrogen receptor-positive premenopausal breast cancer with adjuvant zoledronic acid in addition to adjuvant endocrine treatment including ovarian function suppression.
US Tox21 to begin screening 10,000 chemicals
A high-speed robotic screening system, aimed at protecting human health by improving how chemicals are tested in the United States, begins today to test 10,000 compounds for potential toxicity. The compounds cover a wide variety of classifications, and include consumer products, food additives, chemicals found in industrial processes, and human and veterinary drugs. A complete list of the compounds is publicly available at http://www.epa.gov/ncct/dsstox.
Immediate bisphosphonate use with endocrine therapy increased survival in postmenopausal early breast cancer
The addition of zoledronic acid to adjuvant endocrine therapy increased bone mineral density and reduced the risk for disease recurrence among postmenopausal women with early hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, according to new data from the ZO-FAST trial.
Being overweight not such a stigma for African American women
While all obese women are less satisfied with the weight-related quality of their lives than women of 'normal' weight, black women report a higher quality of life than white women of the same weight. In addition, black women appear to be more concerned about the physical limitations resulting from their obesity, than by the potential psychological consequences of being overweight or obese. These findings by Dr. Tiffany L. Cox, and her team from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the Neuropsychiatric Research Institute in Fargo, ND, and Obesity and Quality of Life Consulting in Durham, NC, are published online in Springer's journal Applied Research in Quality of Life.
Racial, ethnic and insurance disparities revealed in post-hospital care after trauma
According to the results of a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, African-Americans, Hispanics and uninsured patients use fewer post-hospitalization services after traumatic injury, including home health care, skilled nursing care, and rehabilitation.
Hospital gives first tomosynthesis mammograms in region this week
There is still a one in eight lifetime risk that a woman will develop breast cancer, and the best tool against the disease remains early detection. Now, Women & infants Hospital of Rhode Island has taken the breast cancer battle to the next level with the installation of the most advanced imaging technology available, called digital breast tomosynthesis.
FDA panel backs Pfizer drug for kidney cancer
(AP) -- A panel of advisers to the Food and Drug Administration voted Wednesday that the benefits of a Pfizer kidney cancer drug outweigh its risks, according to a company spokeswoman.
Brazil moves to combat 'crack epidemic'
The Brazilian government on Wednesday launched a war on what it called a "crack epidemic", including medical treatment for addicts and a crackdown on trafficking, particularly in border areas.
Older Californians with disabilities struggle to remain at home as public programs lose funding
California's low-income seniors with disabilities are struggling to remain in their homes as public funding for long-term care services shrinks and may be slashed even further, according to a new study by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research conducted with support from The SCAN Foundation.
Improving health will take a village
Improving health is too multifaceted to be left solely in the hands of those working in the health sector alone, according to the latest Healthy People 2020 Objectives for the Nation. A recent shift in national health priorities has led Healthy People, a program that sets the national agenda for health promotion and disease prevention, to add 'social determinants' into its 2020 goals.
Clodronate appeared safe, modestly affected breast cancer disease events
A recently presented study revealed that the bisphosphonate clodronate had a low incidence of adverse events and toxicity among patients with breast cancer and may modestly reduce the incidence of distant metastases in postmenopausal women.
Oral bisphosphonate did not improve prognosis for patients with breast cancer
Results from a German study demonstrated no improvement in disease-free survival among patients with breast cancer who were treated with dose-dense chemotherapy and the bisphosphonate ibandronate.
Improved technology may obviate need for drug when assessing patients for a coronary stent
A new method for measuring narrowing in the arteries of the heart may allow patients to be assessed for a stent without having to take a drug with unpleasant side effects.
FDA favors more risk info on birth control pills
(AP) -- Federal health regulators are leaning toward adding new information about the risk of blood clots to the labels of widely prescribed birth control pills such as Yaz, in light of growing evidence that the newer contraceptive drugs may be riskier than older drugs.
Study faults partial radiation for breast cancer
New research casts doubt on a popular treatment for breast cancer: A week of radiation to part of the breast instead of longer treatment to all of it.
Evidence shows how childhood obesity can be prevented
Targeting children aged six to 12 with school-based programmes that encourage healthy eating, physical activity and positive attitudes to body image are among a range of interventions that can help reduce levels of obesity, according to a new review of the evidence.
Researchers discover patterns of genes associated with timing of breast cancer recurrences
An international research team led by Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center has found biological differences in hormone-receptor positive breast cancer that are linked to the timing of recurrence despite endocrine therapy.
New research links endurance exercise to damage in the right ventricle of the heart
Researchers have found the first evidence that some athletes who take part in extreme endurance exercise such as marathons, endurance triathlons, alpine cycling or ultra triathlons may incur damage to the right ventricles of their hearts – one of the four chambers in the heart involved in pumping blood around the body.
New protocols improve detection of microRNAs for diagnosis
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) that regulate processes including fertilization, development, and aging show promise as biomarkers of disease. They can be collected from routinely collected fluids such as blood, saliva, and urine. However, a number of factors can interfere with the accuracy of miRNA tests. In a study published online today in the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, a group of researchers provide clear procedures for the collection and analysis of miRNA, significantly improving their diagnostic accuracy.
Depressive symptoms and intimate partner violence in the 12 months after childbirth
Forty percent of women who report depressive symptoms following birth also reported intimate partner violence finds a new study published today (7 December) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Group programs to prevent childhood depression prove effective
Psychological interventions to prevent depression in children and adolescents can be useful, with protective effects that last for up to a year, finds a new systematic review..
Cigarettes, diet, alcohol and obesity behind more than 100,000 cancers
(Medical Xpress) -- More than 100,000 cancers – equivalent to one third of all those diagnosed in the UK each year – are being caused by smoking, unhealthy diets, alcohol and excess weight, according to new research from Queen Mary, University of London.
Pre-schoolers eat more sweets when watching TV with limited supervision
(Medical Xpress) -- It's no surprise that TV viewing has an effect on our eating habits, but a new study shows that even pre-schoolers planted in front of the set are more prone to eating sweets and salty foods instead of fruits and vegetables.
'Brain tsunamis' are clue to helping victims of major head injuries
Treating "brain tsunamis” or "killer waves” could stop many victims of major head injury from suffering additional brain damage, a study published in Lancet Neurology has found.
Short walk cuts chocolate consumption in half
A 15-minute walk can cut snacking on chocolate at work by half, according to research by the University of Exeter. The study showed that, even in stressful situations, workers eat only half as much chocolate as they normally would after this short burst of physical activity.
Anti-estrogen combo better than single drug for hormone-sensitive breast cancer
Post-menopausal women with hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer may have a new treatment option that could lengthen their lives, according to results of a study by the SWOG clinical trials network that were presented at the 2011 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
Lipid-modifying enzyme: New target for pan-viral therapeutics
Three different disease-causing viruses -- poliovirus, coxsackievirus, and hepatitis C -- rely on their unwilling host for the membrane platforms enriched in a specific lipid, phosphatidylinositol 4 phosphate (PI4P) on which they can replicate, Rutgers University researchers said on Dec. 7, at the American Society for Cell Biology annual meeting in Denver.
UGA study documents lung function declines in firefighters working at prescribed burns
After monitoring firefighters working at prescribed burns in the southeastern U.S., University of Georgia researchers found that lung function decreased with successive days of exposure to smoke and other particulate matter.
Novel approach to treating breast cancer shows great promise
In a novel therapeutic approach to treating breast cancer, Loyola University Medical Center researchers are reporting positive results from a clinical trial of a drug that targets tumor stem cells.
Traumatic injury sets off a 'genomic storm' in immune system pathways
Serious traumatic injuries, including major burns, set off a "genomic storm" in human immune cells, altering around 80 percent of the cells' normal gene expression patterns. In a report to appear in the December Journal of Experimental Medicine, members of a nationwide research collaborative describe the initial results of their investigation into the immune system response to serious injury, findings which have overturned some longstanding assumptions.
Drug reverses aging-associated changes in brain cells
Drugs that affect the levels of an important brain protein involved in learning and memory reverse cellular changes in the brain seen during aging, according to an animal study in the December 7 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. The findings could one day aid in the development of new drugs that enhance cognitive function in older adults.
How our brains keep us focused
In a new study to appear in Neuron, scientists at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute (BSI) have uncovered mechanisms that help our brain to focus by efficiently routing only relevant information to perceptual brain regions. The results provide valuable insights on how our brains achieve such focus and on how this focus can be disrupted, suggesting new ways of presenting information that augment the brain's natural focal capabilities.
The big picture: Long-term imaging reveals intriguing patterns of human brain maturation
Neuroimaging has provided fascinating insight into the dynamic nature of human brain maturation. However, most studies of developmental changes in brain anatomy have considered individual locations in relative isolation from all others and have not characterized relationships between structural changes in different parts of the developing brain. Now, new research describes the first comprehensive study of coordinated anatomical maturation within the developing human brain. The study, published by Cell Press in the December 8 issue of the journal Neuron, reveals that functionally connected brain regions mature together and uncovers fascinating sex-specific differences in brain development.
Neuroscientists find genetic trigger that makes stem cells differentiate in nose epithelia
University of California, Berkeley, neuroscientists have discovered a genetic trigger that makes the nose renew its smell sensors, providing hope for new therapies for people who have lost their sense of smell due to trauma or old age.
Scientists create first realistic 3D reconstruction of a brain circuit
Researchers from the lab of Nobel laureate Bert Sakmann, MD, PhD at the Max Planck Florida Institute (MPFI) are reporting that, using a conceptually new approach and state-of-the-art research tools, they have created the first realistic three-dimensional diagram of a thalamocortical column in the rodent brain. A vertically organized series of connected neurons that form a brain circuit, the cortical column is considered the elementary building block of the cortex, the part of the brain that is responsible for many of its higher functions.
US denies bid to expand morning-after pill sales
US regulators on Wednesday rejected a drug company's request to make emergency contraception available over the counter to consumers of all ages instead of by prescription to those under 17.
Maternal care influences brain chemistry into adulthood
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is the most abundant peptide hormone of the central nervous system. It is involved in various processes including stress management, the development of anxiety behaviour and body weight regulation. A collaborative research group including scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg has demonstrated using mice that intensive maternal care during infancy promotes the effect of NPY in the brain. As a result of receiving such care, the animals were also less anxious in adulthood and weighed more than their counterparts who had received less affection. The research group was able to show that the effect is explained by the maternal care which stimulated the persistent formation of certain NPY receptors in the forebrain.
Behavior of people faced with health-care choices is not influenced by 'framing effect,' study finds
The behavior of consumers who are faced with making decisions about their health is not significantly influenced by the way health messages are worded or framed, according to a large, new study by researchers at the University at Buffalo and other institutions.
Researchers find drug duo kills chemotherapy-resistant ovarian cancer cells
The use of two drugs never tried in combination before in ovarian cancer resulted in a 70 percent destruction of cancer cells already resistant to commonly used chemotherapy agents, say researchers at Mayo Clinic in Florida. Their report, published online in Gynecologic Oncology, suggests that this combination (ixabepilone and sunitinib), might offer a much needed treatment option for women with advanced ovarian cancer. When caught at late stages, ovarian cancer is often fatal because it progressively stops responding to the chemotherapy drugs used to treat it.
Psychopathy: A misunderstood personality disorder
Psychopathic personalities are some of the most memorable characters portrayed in popular media today. These characters, like Patrick Bateman from American Psycho, Frank Abagnale Jr. from Catch Me If You Can and Alex from A Clockwork Orange, are typically depicted as charming, intriguing, dishonest, guiltless, and in some cases, downright terrifying. But scientific research suggests that psychopathy is a personality disorder that is widely misunderstood.
When prophecy fails: How to better predict success in HIV prevention clinical trials
New research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill schools of medicine and pharmacy may help explain the failure of some recent clinical trials of prevention of HIV infection, compared to the success of others that used the same drugs.
Report: We control many breast cancer risk factors
Women concerned about breast cancer should worry less about cellphones and hair dyes and worry more about weighing or drinking too much, exercising too little, using menopause hormones and getting too much radiation from medical tests. So says a new report on environmental risks by a respected panel of science advisers.
Many chemicals unproven to raise breast cancer risk
Women who want to reduce their risk of breast cancer may have heard they should avoid exposure to industrial chemicals but scientific evidence has so far not proven a direct link, said a US group Wednesday.
Novel drug wipes out deadliest malaria parasite through starvation
An antimalarial agent developed by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University proved effective at clearing infections caused by the malaria parasite most lethal to humans – by literally starving the parasites to death. The novel research, carried out on a small number of non-human primates, could bolster efforts to develop more potent therapies against one of the world's leading killers. The study, published in the November 11, 2011 issue of PLoS ONE, was led by senior author Vern Schramm, Ph.D., professor and Ruth Merns Chair in Biochemistry at Einstein.
Stress reduction and mindful eating curb weight gain among overweight women
Many dread gaining weight during the holiday season, but there may be hope for those who find that stress causes them to reach for yet another helping of holiday goodies.
Institute presses for greater use of gene sequencing in medicine
Almost a year after researchers in Wisconsin published a groundbreaking paper describing their use of genetic sequencing to diagnose and treat a 4-year-old boy, a national health agency is shifting its focus to put $416 million into making the secrets of our genetic script part of standard medical practice.
Researchers develop safe way to repair sickle cell disease genes
Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have developed a way to use patients' own cells to potentially cure sickle cell disease and many other disorders caused by mutations in a gene that helps produce blood hemoglobin.
Scientists identify strategies to conquer lifestyle and genetic factors related to chronic diseases
A dramatic increase in the incidence of chronic inflammatory diseases such as asthma, allergy, and irritable bowel syndrome, has led to concern about how modern lifestyles may trigger physiological defense mechanisms. Now, in the context of a foresight study under the auspices of the European Science Foundation (ESF), a group of scientists has examined the challenges associated with chronic inflammatory diseases, and described 10 key areas with the highest priority for research. Their recommendations are published in a supplement to The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI), the official journal of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).
Why aren't we smarter already? Evolutionary limits on cognition
(Medical Xpress) -- We put a lot of energy into improving our memory, intelligence, and attention. There are even drugs that make us sharper, such as Ritalin and caffeine. But maybe smarter isn’t really all that better. A new paper published in Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, warns that there are limits on how smart humans can get, and any increases in thinking ability are likely to come with problems.
Researchers suggest unconventional approach to control HIV epidemics
(Medical Xpress) -- A new weapon has emerged to prevent HIV infection. Called pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, it is a strategy of providing medications to at-risk people before they are exposed to the virus. Having shown great promise in recent phase 3 clinical trials, PrEP may soon be rolled out for public use.
How to stop the flu: Researchers identify proven strategies to prevent influenza from spreading
(Medical Xpress) -- Between 1918 and 1920, an influenza epidemic swept across the globe, infecting more than a quarter of the world’s population and killing 50 to 100 million people.
Men have a stronger reaction to seeing other men's emotions compared with women's
(Medical Xpress) -- Men have a stronger response to seeing other men show emotion than when women show emotion, according to new research from Queen Mary, University of London.
Optical illusion reveals reflexes in the brain
New research by psychologists at Queen Mary, University of London has revealed that the way we see the world might depend on reflexes in the brain.
New insights into how the brain reconstructs the third dimension
A new visual illusion has shed light on a long-standing mystery about how the brain works out the 3-D shapes of objects.
Nipping metastases in the bud: A novel strategy for fighting cancer targets secondary tumors
The proliferation of metastases is often the main cause of complications and death from cancer. For the first time, researchers are looking very closely at the development of these metastases themselves, instead of focusing on the "primary" cancers from which they originated. In doing so, a team from the Swiss Center for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), at EPFL, was able to isolate a protein that plays a major role in metastasis development, and showed that the formation of secondary cancers could be prevented by blocking this protein.
Study could lead to drug therapies for preventing atherosclerosis
By changing the behavior of certain cells within human blood vessels, Cornell University researchers have discovered important clues as to the underlying causes of atherosclerosis – a discovery researchers hope can lead to more targeted drug therapies for the prevention of the disease.
Gene expression in mouse neural retina sequenced
The population of Eric Morrow's seminar "Neurogenetics and Disease" comprises mainly undergraduates who were skipping down the halls of their elementary schools when the first drafts of human genome sequences were published. When Morrow, assistant professor of biology, recently asked the class how to find the mutation behind a disease, a hand shot up in the back of the class to signal the answer: "Sequence the patient's genome."
Biology news
New study puts eco-labels to the test
A new report released today by the University of Victoria ranks eco-labels intended to distinguish seafood produced with less damage to the environment. It is the first study to evaluate how eco-labels for farmed marine fish compare to unlabeled options in the marketplace.
Scientist-novelist back with second book at cell biology meeting
It's about living in two worlds times two, says Steve Caplan, the Israeli-born but American-now, scientist-novelist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Caplan who has just published his second novel. "Welcome Home, Sir," about the divisions that science and national identity create in his scientist-novelist, Israeli-American hero.
Clinton warns of bioweapon threat from gene tech
(AP) -- New gene assembly technology that offers great benefits for scientific research could also be used by terrorists to create biological weapons, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned Wednesday.
Ocean cacophony a torment for sea mammals
With the constant churn of freighter propellers, the percussive thump of oil and gas exploration and the underwater din of military testing, ocean noise levels have become unbearable for some sea mammals.
Palm planters blamed for decline of Borneo monkey
Expanding palm-oil plantations in Malaysian Borneo are rapidly eating into the habitat of the rare proboscis monkey and causing its numbers to decline sharply, officials warned Wednesday.
Cellular automaton model predicts how hair follicle stem cells regenerate
Your hair -- or lack of hair -- is the result of a lifelong tug-of-war between activators that wake up, and inhibitors that calm, stem cells in every hair follicle on your body, according to Cheng-Ming Chuong, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Southern California (USC).
New fluorescent imaging sorts microbiome in human mouth
New fluorescent labeling technology that distinguishes in a single image the population size and spatial distribution of 15 different taxa has uncovered new taxon pairings that indicate unsuspected cooperation -- and standoffishness -- between members of the microbe biofilm that covers teeth, according to a presentation on Dec. 7, at the American Society for Cell Biology's Annual Meeting in Denver.
Research: Bedbugs can thrive despite inbreeding
Bedbugs aren't just sleeping with you. They're sleeping with each other. Researchers now say that the creepy bugs have a special genetic gift: withstanding incest.
Satellite data shows that Kirtland's warblers prefer forests after fire
(PhysOrg.com) -- Kirtland's warblers are an endangered species of lightweight little birds with bright yellow-bellies that summer in North America and winter in the Bahamas. But be it their winter or their summer home, a new study using data from NASA-built Landsat satellites shows that these warblers like to live in young forests and often forests that have been on fire.
Females choose sexier friends to avoid harassment
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists have observed a strategy for females to avoid unwanted male attention: choosing more attractive friends. Published today (7 December) in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the study is the first to show females spending time with those more sexually attractive than themselves to reduce harassment from males.
'Alien' eggs benefit mockingbirds
(PhysOrg.com) -- Mockingbirds rarely remove the ‘alien’ eggs parasitic cowbirds lay in their nests because keeping them dilutes the risk of their own eggs being attacked.
Triton resource helps 'track' how kinesin molecules move
Researchers at UC San Diego’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, in collaboration with several universities in the U.S., United Kingdom, and Poland, have developed a new picture of how kinesin molecules move along microtubules, or tiny biological train tracks – and how they sometimes come to a halt, causing diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
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