Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for January 31, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Repulsive gravity as an alternative to dark energy (Part 1)- Something old, something new: Evolution and the structural divergence of duplicate genes
- IBEX spacecraft measures 'alien' particles from outside solar system
- Panasonic preps for WiGig era of content exchange
- Microscopy reveals 'atomic antenna' behavior in graphene
- Perfect nanotubes shine brightest
- Short-term memory is based on synchronized brain oscillations
- Google defends privacy plan to US lawmakers
- Stimulation of brain hormone action may improve pneumonia survival
- Ultra-fast photodetector and terahertz generator
- Moonlighting enzyme works double shift 24/7
- Study proves plausibility of new pathway to life's chemical building blocks
- Genes linked to cancer could be easier to detect with liquid lasers
- Decoding brain waves to eavesdrop on what we hear
- New 'shieldcroc' species of ancient crocodile discovered
Space & Earth news
Bolivians demand controversial highway be built
More than 2,000 Amazon Indians on Monday called on Bolivian President Evo Morales to approve the building of a highway through a nature reserve, a project scrapped last year after widespread protests.
Moreton Bay ecosystem still at risk
No-fishing zones implemented to protect the Moreton Bay ecosystem have proven their worth in light of last year’s flooding however the coral reefs and seagrass habitats are still at risk.
Construction starts on new marine research vessel
Construction of Australia's new $120 million Marine National Facility research vessel, Investigator has started in Singapore.
Much irrigation water comes from non-sustainable sources
Some of the water used worldwide for irrigation comes from renewable sources such as local precipitation, rivers, lakes, and renewable groundwater. But some comes from nonrenewable groundwater sources.
Brazil's Petrobras reports another oil spill
Brazil's state-run energy giant Petrobras on Tuesday reported that 160 barrels of crude oil may have spilled from a deep-water well off Sao Paulo state but said the situation was under control.
Analysis of generalized linear mixed models
A new and first of its kind book provides a practical guide for the use of modern statistical methods within agricultural and natural resources sciences. Analysis of Generalized Linear Mixed Models in the Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences is being released world-wide at an important time of change in the research community. It demonstrates, through examples, the design and analysis of mixed models for non-normally distributed data and challenges traditional statistical methodology.
Russia blames radiation for space probe failure
The head of Russia's space agency said Tuesday that cosmic radiation was the most likely cause of the failure of a Mars moon probe that crashed to Earth this month, and suggested that a low-quality imported component may have been vulnerable to the radiation.
Russia to postpone next manned space launch
Russia plans to postpone its next manned launch to the International Space Station (ISS) by at least a month, the head of its space agency's manned programmes told the RIA Novosti news agency Tuesday.
Sea cucumbers could be key to preserving coral reefs
(PhysOrg.com) -- Tropical sea cucumbers could play a key role in saving coral reefs from the devastating effects of climate change, say scientists at One Tree Island, the University of Sydney's research station on the Great Barrier Reef.
Students discover millisecond pulsar, help in the search for gravitational waves
A special project to search for pulsars has bagged the first student discovery of a millisecond pulsar – a super-fast spinning star, and this one rotates about 324 times per second. The Pulsar Search Collaboratory (PSC) has students analyzing real data from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s (NRAO) Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) to find pulsars. Astronomers involved with the project said the discovery could help detect elusive ripples in spacetime known as gravitational waves.
How well can astronomers study exoplanet atmospheres?
Exoplanet discoveries are happening at a frenetic pace, and some of the latest newly discovered worlds are sometimes described as “Earth-Like” and “potentially habitable.”
How do you fight fire in space? Experiments provide some answers
Improving fire-fighting techniques in space and getting a better understanding of fuel combustion here on Earth are the focus of a series of experiments on the International Space Station, led by a professor at the Jacobs School of Engineering at the University of California, San Diego. A first round of experiments ran from March 2009 to December 2011. A second round kicked off in January and is set to last a year or more.
Experts say Gingrich moon base dreams not lunacy
(AP) -- Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich wants to create a lunar colony that he says could become a U.S. state. There's his grand research plan to figure out what makes the human brain tick. And he's warned about electromagnetic pulse attacks leaving America without electricity.
Fine, jagged ash increased Eyjafjallajokull volcano's influence
The 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull volcano was not a large event. Over months of volcanic activity the ash plume never pushed above 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), and the mass flows peaked at 1 million kilograms per second (2.2 million pounds per second), feeble amounts compared to some other volcanic eruptions. In total, the volcano spewed out only 270 million cubic meters (353 million cubic yards) of ash-a single day's activity for some eruptions. By any conventional measure, Eyjafjallajökull lacked power. Yet the eruption had a powerful effect on society, leaving tens of thousands of people stranded as air traffic around Western Europe was shut down.
Geological evidence for past earthquakes in Tokyo region
In 1923, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake devastated the Tokyo area, resulting in more than 100,000 deaths. About 200 years earlier, in 1703, a magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck the same region, causing more than 10,000 deaths.
Greenland's pronounced glacier retreat not irreversible
In recent decades, the combined forces of climate warming and short-term variability have forced the massive glaciers that blanket Greenland into retreat, with some scientists worrying that deglaciation could become irreversible. The short history of detailed glacier observations, however, makes pinning the ice loss to either short-term dynamics or long-term change difficult. Research by Young et al. detailing the effects of two bouts of sudden and temporary cooling during an otherwise warm phase in Greenland's climate history could help answer that question by showing just how heavy a hand short-term variability can have in dictating glacier dynamics.
NASA sees strong thunderstorms still surround Cyclone Iggy's center
NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Tropical Cyclone Iggy on January 31 and the AIRS infrared instrument aboard showed that there is a large area of strong thunderstorms still surrounding Iggy's center of circulation.
THEMIS satellite sees a great electron escape
(PhysOrg.com) -- When scientists discovered two great swaths of radiation encircling Earth in the 1950s, it spawned over-the-top fears about "killer electrons" and space radiation effects on Earthlings. The fears were soon quieted: the radiation doesn't reach Earth, though it can affect satellites and humans moving through the belts. Nevertheless, many mysteries about the belts – now known as the Van Allen Radiation belts – remain to this day.
Study finds 'cool' gas may form and strengthen sunspots
Hydrogen molecules may act as a kind of energy sink that strengthens the magnetic grip that causes sunspots, according to scientists from Hawaii and New Mexico using a new infrared instrument on an old telescope.
IBEX spacecraft measures 'alien' particles from outside solar system
Using data from NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) spacecraft, an international team of researchers has measured neutral "alien" particles entering our solar system from interstellar space. A suite of studies published in the Astrophysical Journal provide a first look at the constituents of the interstellar medium, the matter between star systems, and how they interact with our heliosphere.
Technology news
Apple names European exec to head retail ops
(AP) -- Apple Inc. has named Dixons Retail CEO John Browett as its top retail executive, charged with developing the sales strategy for the iPhone and iPad maker as it expands Apple stores around the world.
Important to protect privacy as government seeks to combat crime in the digital era
Fighting cybercrime and infringing on personal privacy need not go hand-in-hand, University of Toronto professor Ron Deibert told the audience at a recent symposium to discuss the implications of proposed federal lawful access legislation.
Little chip, big implications
You might say they “zeroed” in on a groundbreaking idea.
Artguardian: Watchman for artworks
A publicly displayed object of art experiences a lot: Dazzling light, unfavorable temperatures or too much moisture. With 'Artguardian' Fraunhofer researchers have developed a fully automated, intelligent monitoring system helping art lovers to optimally preserve their objects of art. Thanks to sensitive sensors they can be exhibited under the best conditions. The solution will be presented from 6th to 10th March at the CeBIT 2012.
WikiLeaks' Assange to appear on Simpsons
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is to make a guest appearance as himself on the 500th episode of the Simpsons, the irreverent US television show's producers said Tuesday.
Malaysia says to rule soon on rare earths plant
A government ruling on whether Australian miner Lynas would be given the go-ahead for a controversial rare earths processing plant was expected within days, Malaysia's trade minister said Tuesday.
Canon to build laser-printer factory in Philippines
Japanese high-tech giant Canon said Tuesday it would build a laser-printer factory in the Philippines in anticipation of strong growth in global demand.
VC firm Andreessen Horowitz raises $1.5B to invest
(AP) -- A venture capital firm started by Silicon Valley entrepreneur Marc Andreessen has raised an additional $1.5 billion to invest in promising technology startups.
Twitter CEO says blocking policy over-distilled
(AP) -- Twitter CEO Dick Costolo sought to calm the global outrage over the company's new country-by-country censorship policy on Monday, complaining in part that the issue is being treated with the same kind of shorthand that has made Twitter popular.
US using 'latest tools' for cybersecurity: Napolitano
US officials are deploying "the latest tools" to keep cyberspace safe for commerce and protect the US information infrastructure, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said.
Japan's Fujitsu hit by third-quarter loss
Japanese high-tech giant Fujitsu plunged into a net loss for the three months to December, it said Tuesday, as it slashed its full-year sales and profit forecast.
No future without scarce metals
It is not just in laptop computers, mobile telephones and LED screens that scarce metals are to be found but also in solar cells, batteries for mobile technologies and many other similar applications. The rising demand for these metals increases the risk of a bottleneck in supplies.
Online game theft earns real-world conviction
(AP) -- The amulet and mask were a 13-year-old boy's virtual possessions in an online fantasy game. In the real world, he was beaten and threaten with a knife to give them up.
Hackers attack large Brazilian bank
(AP) -- A group of Internet hackers said Tuesday it took down the website of Brazil's second largest private sector bank, one day after it did the same with the country's largest private bank.
iPad chip designer ARM Holdings posts strong profits
ARM Holdings, the British company whose microchip designs are used to help power Apple's iPads, posted strong fourth-quarter profits Tuesday thanks to keen demand for smarter technology.
'Your password is invalid': Improving website password practices
Internet users are increasingly asked to register with a user name and password before being able to access the content of many sites. In their upcoming Ergonomics in Design article, "A Passport to UX – Design of Password Practices," human factors/ergonomics researchers Soolmaz Moshfeghian and Young Sam Ryu identify impediments to efficient password creation and provide design strategies for enhancing the user experience.
Review: Super Bowl online decent, won't replace TV
(AP) -- The television set won't be the only place to watch video of the New York Giants and the New England Patriots this Sunday. For the first time, U.S. football fans will be able to watch the Super Bowl live on a computer or on a phone.
Nokia Siemens Networks in Finland, Germany lay-off talks
Finnish-German telecom equipment maker Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) said Tuesday a previously announced restructuring plan would entail 2,900 job cuts in Germany and 1,200 in Finland.
Sandia tool determines value of solar photovoltaic power systems
Consistent appraisals of homes and businesses outfitted with photovoltaic (PV) installations are a real challenge for the nation’s real estate industry, but a new tool developed by Sandia National Laboratories and Solar Power Electric and licensed by Sandia addresses that issue. Sandia scientists, in partnership with Jamie Johnson of Solar Power Electric, have developed PV ValueTM, an electronic form to standardize appraisals. Funded by the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the tool will provide appraisers, real estate agents and mortgage underwriters with more accurate values for PV systems.
Amazon 4Q results disappoint, stock tumbles
(AP) -- Amazon's fourth-quarter net income dropped sharply, weighed down by higher operating expenses even as its revenue grew. Investors punished the online retailer's stock in after-hours trading, as the company also gave a disappointing forecast for the current period.
EU probes Samsung, Germany blocks its tablets
Samsung took a hit in its battle against arch-rival Apple on Tuesday, when the European Union announced it will investigate whether it is illegally trying to hinder competitors and Germany blocked sales of some of its tablets.
Columbia engineers map energy use in NYC buildings
(PhysOrg.com) -- Cities across the globe are trying to develop plans to cut down their energy consumption and lower their carbon footprint by reducing the associated greenhouse gas emissions. While initial efforts have focused on individual buildings by incorporating more energy efficient lighting, windows, and building systems, deeper reductions will call for changes beyond individual buildings, requiring a rethinking of how future infrastructure and energy policies should evolve.
Google defends privacy plan to US lawmakers
Google, facing pressure from US lawmakers over a new privacy policy, said Tuesday it remains committed to protecting consumer data as it creates a "seamless and easy" Web experience.
Panasonic preps for WiGig era of content exchange
(PhysOrg.com) -- Panasonic is working on applications for the new WiGig-technology. WiGig holds out the promise of a time when mobile devices can communicate with each other—in an exchange of videos, photos, and other information-- at multigigabit speeds using the 60 GHz frequency band. Making the rounds of blogs and news sites this week is a video filmed by DigInfo, which shows the Japan-based company’s concept demo of WiGig in action.
Medicine & Health news
Children with burn injuries covering 60 percent or more are at higher risk of complications and death
New research published Online First by The Lancet shows that children with burn injuries are much more likely to suffer severe complications or die when the burns cover 60% or more of their total body surface area (TBSA). As a result, the authors recommend that all children with this level of injury should immediately be transferred to specialist burns units and treated with increased vigilance and improved therapies. The Article is by Dr Marc Jeschke, Ross Tilley Burn Centre, University of Toronto, Sunnybrook Research Institute, ON, Canada, and Dr David N Herndon, Shriners Hospital for Children and University of Texas Medical Branch, TX, USA colleagues.
Abortion curb restores birth sex ratio in Taiwan
Taiwanese health authorities said Tuesday that tougher checks on illegal gender-selective abortions prevented nearly 1,000 terminations of female foetuses last year.
Researchers visualize the development of Parkinson's cells
In the US alone, at least 500,000 people suffer from Parkinson's disease, a neurological disorder that affects a person's ability to control his or her movement. New technology from the University of Bonn in Germany lets researchers observe the development of the brain cells responsible for the disease.
Body image not always a drag on women's wellbeing
Deakin University psychology researchers have found that body image isn't always a negative experience for women.
New methods enable the early detection of Achilles tendon damage
Two biochemical methods, developed at the Centre of Excellence for High Field Magnetic Resonance at the MedUni Vienna by Vladimir Juras from the University Department of Radiodiagnostics, are enabling Achilles tendon damage to be visualised at an early stage. The processes used are sodium imaging and T2 mapping.
Golden retrievers help scientists track human disease genes
A team of EU-funded researchers has successfully identified a gene that triggers a skin disorder in dogs - and the findings could have implications for humans who also suffer from the condition. Whether it manifests in golden retrievers or in humans, the disease ichthyosis has the same common genetic basis; therefore, any new bounds made in understanding the condition in dogs are applicable to humans too. No molecular cause for ichthyosis has previously been identified.
New agent improves kidney transplant survival in mice, likely to speed replacement of other organs
New research published online in the FASEB Journal details a new antibody, called "OPN-305" that may significantly improve survival outcomes for those receiving donated kidneys and other organs. OPN-305 works by preventing inflammation triggered by oxygen deprivation in the donated organ, allowing for better recovery after transplantation. Specifically, it binds to sensors on transplant tissue, called "toll-like receptors" or "TLR-2," in the circulating blood and turns off signals that provoke inflammation. In addition, the compound is likely to extend the life of a donated organ after it has been transplanted.
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing may predict post-liver transplantation survival
Researchers from the U.K. determined that preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a specific predictor of 90-day survival following liver transplantation. Study results available in the February issue of Liver Transplantation, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, shows that the CPET measurement—the anaerobic threshold or fitness level—significantly predicts mortality in patients post-transplantation.
Zimbabwe rations water to poor after typhoid spell
(AP) -- Zimbabwean authorities say they are making sure poor townships get uninterrupted water supplies after a typhoid outbreak, leaving wealthy areas with reduced supplies.
Bariatric surgery in adolescents improves obesity-related diseases within first 2 years
Today, about one in five children in the United States are obese. That means that in just one generation alone the number of obese kids in this country has quadrupled.
Venezuelans line up to switch PIP breast implants
(AP) -- The office of plastic surgeon Ignacio Sousa is so packed that women are lined up outside the door. College students in their 20s, housewives in their 40s, middle-class office workers: nearly all are fearful that their breast implants may be leaking.
South Africa recalls 1.35 million condoms
(AP) -- Some condoms burst. Others leaked like sieves. South Africa's leading anti-AIDS group said Tuesday that allegedly faulty condoms are among more than 1.35 million handed out at the African National Congress' 100th birthday party.
Scientist helping address international medical education leadership void
Dr. Rebekah Gee, Assistant Professor at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans Schools of Public Health and Medicine, is the lead author of an article published in the January 28, 2012 issue of The Lancet regarding the initial effort to address a void in medical education worldwide – leadership. Dr. Gee is the only physician from the United States to serve on the inaugural Inter Academy Medical Panel (IAMP) Young Physician Leaders (YPL) program held during the third World Health Summit in Berlin, Germany whose charge was to begin to remedy this deficit. The IAMP sent out a global call for nominations for physicians aged 40 years or younger with demonstrated leadership skills in medicine or public health, and 22 participants were chosen, representing 18 countries.
Accidents don't just happen: New Book on trends and takeaways in injury research
Two esteemed researchers in the field of injury research have published the most comprehensive reference book to date on the methods and approaches underpinning the scientific discipline of injury control and prevention.
Quality medical journal news releases can help newspapers do a better job informing public
Medical journal press releases are the most direct way that journals communicate with the news media about new research. According to a study in the British Medical Journal, press release quality appears to have an important effect on the quality of subsequent newspaper stories. With high quality press releases, key information –basic study facts, quantification of results, acknowledgment of limitations – is substantially more likely to appear in newspaper stories. Low quality press releases, those omitting such key information, may actually make newspaper stories worse than if there were no press release at all.
Study finds substantial variability in rate of additional surgery after partial mastectomy
Nearly one in four women who undergo a partial mastectomy for treatment of breast cancer have another surgery to remove additional tissue (reexcision), and there is substantial surgeon and institutional variation in the rate of reexcisions that cannot be explained by patients' clinical characteristics, according to a study in the February 1 issue of JAMA.
Women not following through with recommended breast screening MRI
A study of 64,659 women, recently published in the journal Academic Radiology, found that while 1,246 of these women were at high enough breast cancer risk to recommend additional screening with MRI, only 173 of these women returned to the clinic within a year for the additional screening.
New GSA resources lay foundation for relieving seniors' pain
The pain suffered by older adults is the shared focus of the two newest entries in The Gerontological Society of America's (GSA) From Publication to Practice series. Together they address both pain management and new labeling changes for one of the most popular pain medications, acetaminophen. Both issues aim to provide readers with information on how new advances in pain prevention, treatment, and management may improve care and quality of life for older adults. The From Publication to Practice series was launched last year to promote the translation of research into meaningful health outcomes.
ACCF/AATS/SCAI/STS release consensus document to help guide use of minimally invasive heart therapy
With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recent approval of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for patients with aortic valvular stenosis, the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF), along with the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), today released an expert consensus document to provide important guidance on its use.
People who retire early due to back problems face long-term financial disadvantage
Back problems are a highly prevalent health issue, and people with the condition have a significantly greater chance of retiring early from the workforce, much more so than for any other health condition. A group of Australian researchers reports that not only does early retirement limit the immediate income available to these individuals, but it also reduces their long-term financial capacity, by reducing their ability to accumulate wealth to a significant degree. Their study is published in the January issue of Pain.
Vt. struggles to rebuild mental health system
(AP) -- The remnants of Hurricane Irene did what policymakers hadn't been able to accomplish for more than a decade - close the state's antiquated psychiatric hospital.
Cancer charity halts grants to Planned Parenthood
(AP) -- The nation's leading breast-cancer charity, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, is halting its financial partnerships with numerous Planned Parenthood affiliates.
Commercial electronic prescribing systems can reduce medication errors in hospital patients
A study published in this week's PLoS Medicine shows that commercial electronic prescribing systems (commonly known as e-prescribing, in which prescribers use a computer to order medications for their patients through a system with the help of prompts, aids, and alerts) could substantially reduce prescribing error rates in hospital in-patients.
How health systems factors affect access to psychotropic medicines
In a cross-sectional analysis of WHO-AIMS data published in this week's PLoS Medicine, Ryan McBain of Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA and colleagues investigated the associations between health system components and access to psychotropic drugs in 63 low- and middle- income countries (LAMICs).
PLoS Medicine editors highlight mismatch between global burden of ill-health and published research
Comprehensive work studying the burden of ill-health and death resulting from specific conditions, injuries, and risk factors—the Global Burden of Disease project—has shown that the burden of ill-health around the world is highly inequitable. In this week's PLoS Medicine, the editors review progress towards the journal's goal of reflecting and addressing this inequity. By prioritizing studies in areas that contribute most substantially to the global burden of ill-health and premature mortality, PLoS Medicine, as an open-access journal, can specifically ensure that this important research is disseminated and reused widely.
New collection of articles explores the science, application, and regulation of GM insects
The current issue of PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases presents a new collection of articles on the use of genetically modified (GM) insects for controlling some of the most widespread infectious diseases. Articles from across the PLoS journals describe the technological advances these tools represent, the regulatory framework, and the societal dialogue that is necessary for their wide-scale application for disease control.
Lung transplant system often skips over those most in need
The current system for allocating donated lungs based on proximity and not on need appears to decrease the potential benefits of lung transplantation and increase the number of patients who die waiting, researchers said at an annual meeting of thoracic surgeons in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Overweight mothers who smoke while pregnant can damage baby's heart
Mums-to-be who are both overweight and smoke during their pregnancy risk damaging their baby's developing heart, finds research published online in Heart.
High levels of burnout among UK family doctors, especially in group practice
Levels of burnout in UK general practice are high, suggests a study of general practitioners (GPs) in one area of South East England, published in BMJ Open.
Emigrating together can be harder than going alone
(Medical Xpress) -- Ideally, couples are one heart and one soul but when it comes to deciding whether to emigrate, they are often of two minds.
Study: Stressed kids more likely to become obese
(Medical Xpress) -- The more ongoing stress children are exposed to, the greater the odds they will become obese by adolescence, reports Cornell environmental psychologist Gary Evans in the journal Pediatrics (129:1).
Researchers identify key peptides that could lead to a universal vaccine for influenza
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers at the University of Southampton, University of Oxford and Retroscreeen Virology Ltd have discovered a series of peptides, found on the internal structures of influenza viruses that could lead to the development of a universal vaccine for influenza, one that gives people immunity against all strains of the disease, including seasonal, avian, and swine flu.
The future of health care
The United States spends more per capita on health care than any other developed nation, and has the highest growth rate in health care costs, as well. In 2009, these costs reached $2.5 trillion, making up almost 1 in every 5 dollars – or 17 percent – of our gross domestic product.
Study finds prostate size may help predict cancer severity
(Medical Xpress) -- The size of a man’s prostate gland may help predict the severity of cancer, with a smaller prostate being more likely to harbor serious disease. This finding by a group of Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center researchers was published in the December issue of the Journal of Urology. Fourth-year medical resident Judson Davies, M.D., was first author on the paper.
Sweat, tears lead to breakthrough
Greg Weiss wears a big, old-fashioned watch on his left wrist that no longer marks ordinary time. It belonged to his father, a tumor surgeon who died of cancer himself. In large measure, that loss is what keeps Weiss ticking.
For some medical residents, empathy declines with long-call
In a newly published study, researchers found the majority of medical residents surveyed experienced a decline in empathy over the course of the oft-used "long-call" shift.
Facebook is not such a good thing for those with low self-esteem
(Medical Xpress) -- In theory, the social networking website Facebook could be great for people with low self-esteem. Sharing is important for improving friendships. But in practice, people with low self-esteem seem to behave counterproductively, bombarding their friends with negative tidbits about their lives and making themselves less likeable, according to a new study which will be published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
ALS researcher succumbs to disease he studied
(AP) -- Dr. Richard Olney, an internationally renowned researcher who dedicated his life to finding a cure for Lou Gehrig's disease, has died after his own eight-year battle with the disease. He was 64.
Researchers indentify a cell-permeable peptide that inhibits hepatitis C
Researchers from UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a cell-permeable peptide that inhibits a hepatitis C virus protein and blocks viral replication, which can lead to liver cancer and cirrhosis.
New study finds potential link between daily consumption of diet soft drinks and risk of vascular events
Individuals who drink diet soft drinks on a daily basis may be at increased risk of suffering vascular events such as stroke, heart attack, and vascular death. This is according to a new study by Hannah Gardener and her colleagues from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and at Columbia University Medical Center. However, in contrast, they found that regular soft drink consumption and a more moderate intake of diet soft drinks do not appear to be linked to a higher risk of vascular events. The research appears online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, published by Springer.
University of Leicester researchers lead on new autism study published today
New research on autism in adults has shown that adults with a more severe learning disability have a greater likelihood of having autism.
NSABB and H5N1 redactions: Biosecurity runs up against scientific endeavor
In response to recent actions of the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB), which recommended that two scientific journals withhold crucial details in upcoming reports about experiments with a novel strain of the bird flu virus, H5N1, the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) will publish a special series of commentaries by prominent scientists, including the acting chair of the NSABB, weighing in on whether the recommendations were necessary and what role biosecurity considerations should play in the dissemination of research findings. The commentaries will be published in the Society's online, open-access journal, mBio, on January 31. The commentaries are accompanied by an editorial from Editor-in-Chief Arturo Casadevall and ASM Publications Board Chair Thomas Shenk who introduce the problem as the H5N1 manuscript redaction controversy.
Exposure to common environmental bacteria may be source of some allergic inflammation
Could some cases of asthma actually be caused by an allergic reaction to a common environmental bacteria? New research findings published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology suggests that this idea may not be as far-fetched as it seems. In a research report appearing in the February 2012 print issue, researchers show a link between common environmental bacteria and airway inflammation. Specifically, their research suggests that some strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cause white blood cells to produce very high levels of histamine, which in turn leads to inflammation, a hallmark symptom of asthma.
New target for cancer therapy identified, preclinical study shows
Scientists from the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (LICR) in Brussels identified a new target for cancer therapy, an enzyme which prevents the immune system from recognizing and destroying certain types of tumors. Called tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase or TDO, the enzyme works by depriving immune cells of tryptophan, an amino acid essential to their activity. TDO is produced by a significant number of human tumors. Scientists also show that blocking TDO activity with a novel TDO inhibitor promotes tumor rejection in mice. The study findings were published online today in the January 30 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Gene linked to pancreatic cancer growth, study finds
A mutant protein found in nearly all pancreatic cancers plays a role not only in the cancer's development but in its continued growth, according to a new study from University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers. The finding suggests a possible target for developing new ways to treat this deadly disease.
Emergency departments' quality evaluation requires hospital-wide effort
Time can be important in an emergency department especially in a busy Level 1 Trauma Center like MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, when getting patients appropriate care is essential. However, when the quality of an emergency department is judged by a patient's length of stay, time takes on a new meaning.
Norovirus is the leading cause of infection outbreaks in US hospitals
Norovirus, a pathogen that often causes food poisoning and gastroenteritis, was responsible for 18.2 percent of all infection outbreaks and 65 percent of ward closures in U.S. hospitals during a two-year period, according to a new study published in the February issue of the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), the official publication of APIC - the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.
Drug approved to treat cystic fibrosis' root cause
The first drug that treats the root cause of cystic fibrosis won approval Tuesday, offering a life-changing treatment for a handful of patients with the deadly illness and broader hope for thousands more patients with the inherited disease.
Study defines a new genetic subtype of lung cancer
A report from investigators at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center has defined the role of a recently identified gene abnormality in a deadly form of lung cancer. Tumors driven by rearrangements in the ROS1 gene represent 1 to 2 percent of non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC), the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. The researchers show that ROS1-driven tumors can be treated with crizotinib, which also inhibits the growth of tumors driven by an oncogene called ALK, and describe the remarkable response of one patient to crizotinib treatment.
Flexible sigmoidoscopy shown to increase detection of colorectal cancer
Repeated screening by flexible sigmoidoscopy (FSG) increased the detection of colorectal cancer or advanced adenoma in women by one-fourth and in men by one-third, according to a study published Jan. 31 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Gene mutation is linked to accumulation of fat, other lipids in liver
A team of scientists from the University of Utah and the University of California at San Francisco has discovered that the mutation of a gene encoding a ketone body transporter triggers accumulation of fat and other lipids in the livers of zebrafish. This discovery, published in the Feb. 1, 2012, issue of Genes & Development, reveals that transport of ketone bodies out of the liver is a critical step in energy metabolism during fasting. It also provides a new approach for studying the development of fatty liver disease in humans.
Mexico health sec: Swine flu way up after low year
(AP) -- Mexico's federal health secretary says swine flu cases in January have surpassed the number for all of 2011, a year when the virus barely appeared worldwide.
Twinkle, twinkle kidney stone: With a push you could be gone
Just the mention of kidney stones can cause a person to cringe. They are often painful and sometimes difficult to remove, and 10 percent of the population will suffer from them. In space, the risk of developing kidney stones is exacerbated due to environmental conditions. The health risk is compounded by the fact that resource limitations and distance from Earth could restrict treatment options.
Risks of pregnancy via egg donation similar for women over age 50 as for younger women
Although women over age 50 who become pregnant via egg donation are at an elevated risk for developing obstetrical complications, their complication rates are similar to those of younger recipients, according to a study by Columbia University Medical Center researchers to be published in the February 2012 issue of the American Journal of Perinatology. This is contrary to epidemiological data suggesting that these women are at greater risk of certain complications of pregnancy, including hypertension, gestational diabetes, premature birth, and placenta abnormalities.
Does Borna disease virus cause mental illness? New study may end two decades of suspicion
Over the past 30 years, numerous studies have linked Borna disease virus (BDV) with mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorder and dementia. Genetic fragments and antibodies to this RNA virus, which causes behavior disorders in a range of mammals and birds, have been found to be prevalent in psychiatric patients, but study results have been inconsistent. Now, the first blinded, case-control study to examine this issue finds no association between the virus and psychiatric illness.
Stimulation of brain hormone action may improve pneumonia survival
An international research team may have found a way to block a second wave of death that can result from pneumonia treatment.
A step closer to understanding, averting drug resistance
(Medical Xpress) -- The multidrug transporter EmrE functions as an asymmetric antiparallel dimer (molecule with two subunits). Drug (blue) transport from the inside to the outside of the cell membrane is accomplished by exchange between inward (left) and outward (right) facing conformations in exchange with two protons (green), directly visualized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Got creative block? Get out of your office and go for a walk
(Medical Xpress) -- The next time you're in need of creative inspiration, try thinking outside the box—or cubicle.
Surprise finding redraws 'map' of blood cell production
A study of the cells that respond to crises in the blood system has yielded a few surprises, redrawing the 'map' of how blood cells are made in the body.
Cancer drugs shown to cause mutations in mice offspring
(Medical Xpress) -- For many years, most of the studies done to see what effects cancer treatment has on the offspring of survivors, has involved radiation. This is because radiation is known to cause mutations in cells. Not so well studied have been the generational effects of chemicals used to treat cancer. Now, research by Colin Glen and Yuri Dubrova at the University of Leicester in the UK, shows that male rats given chemotherapy drugs sire pups that have twice as many mutations in a part of their DNA as do their fathers. They have published their results in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Short-term memory is based on synchronized brain oscillations
Scientists have now discovered how different brain regions cooperate during short-term memory.
Gene mutation in autism found to cause hyperconnectivity in brain's hearing center
New research from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) might help explain how a gene mutation found in some autistic individuals leads to difficulties in processing auditory cues and paying spatial attention to sound.
Decoding brain waves to eavesdrop on what we hear
Neuroscientists may one day be able to hear the imagined speech of a patient unable to speak due to stroke or paralysis, according to University of California, Berkeley, researchers.
Biology news
Automated cDNA preparation system accelerates CAGE analysis on a single molecule sequence
Researchers at the RIKEN Omics Science Center (OSC) have developed a robotic workflow for sample preparation on the HeliScope single molecule sequencer which drastically reduces sample preparation time to from 42 days to only 8 days. The workflow uses Cap Analysis of Gene Expression (CAGE), a unique method developed at the OSC for determining transcriptional starting sites in the genome and their expression levels.
Vaccine protects against leptospirosis in cattle
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have found that a commercial vaccine is effective against leptospirosis in cattle.
California native-plant classic gets a 21st-century makeover
Thanks to new molecular-genetic tools and intensive field research, scientists’ understanding of the native flora of the Golden State -- one of the world’s hotspots of botanical diversity -- has grown exponentially in the 18 years since publication of The Jepson Manual, the authoritative reference on California botany. New native plants have been discovered, evolutionary relationships redefined, additional species threatened or endangered by development and climate change — the list goes on.
Spotted under the microscope: How a virus puts on its armor
Scientists from VU University Amsterdam, Scripps Research Institute and the University of Michigan discovered how a virus 'puts on its armor'. This 'armor', consisting of mere proteins, is initially flexible and weak, but subsequently goes through an exceptional strengthening process. Surprisingly, the reinforcement of the virus does not occur in one, but in three, independent ways.
High-resolution mapping of the 3D organization of chromosomes
In collaboration with researchers from the Weizmann Institute in Israel, a team from the Institut de Génétique Humaine (CNRS, France) has, for the first time, revealed the detailed three-dimensional architecture of chromosomes: Giacomo Cavalli and his colleagues have achieved high-resolution mapping of the different contacts that exist within and between chromosomes. They performed this feat using a new very high-throughput technique improved by the Montpellier team. This major research work should shed new light on the impact of 3D chromosome organization on genome expression and on the onset of diseases such as cancer. It is published in the online version of the journal Cell of 19 January 2012.
Satellite study reveals critical habitat and corridors for world's rarest gorilla
Conservationists working in Central Africa to save the world's rarest gorilla have good news: the Cross River gorilla has more suitable habitat than previously thought, including vital corridors that, if protected, can help the great apes move between sites in search of mates, according to the North Carolina Zoo, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and other groups.
Ancient DNA holds clues to climate change adaptation
(PhysOrg.com) -- Thirty-thousand-year-old bison bones discovered in permafrost at a Canadian goldmine are helping scientists unravel the mystery about how animals adapt to rapid environmental change.
Metabolic errors can spell doom for DNA
Many critical cell functions depend on a class of molecules called purines, which form half of the building blocks of DNA and RNA, and are a major component of the chemicals that store a cell’s energy. Cells keep tight control over their purine supply, and any disruption of that pool can have serious consequences.
MtDNA tests trace all modern horses back to single ancestor 140,000 years ago
(PhysOrg.com) -- For many years archeologists and other scientists have debated the origins of the domesticated horse. Nailing down a time frame is important because many historians view the relationship between man and horse as one of the most important in the development of our species. Horses allowed early people to hunt for faster prey, to wander farther than before and to create much bigger farms due to pulling plows. Now, new evidence has come to light suggesting that all modern horses, which are believed to have been domesticated approximately 10,000 years ago, descended from one mare around 140,000 years ago. The new evidence comes from a team made up of international researchers who, as they describe in their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, say that DNA evidence shows that the horse subsequently diverged into 18 different genetic lines, suggesting that domestication occurred independently in many places throughout the world.
Watching the engine of life, in real time, to understand how things go wrong
(PhysOrg.com) -- Ruben Gonzalez views ribosomes—the minute particles in cells that make proteins—as the “machines” of life. Naturally, the associate professor of chemistry is interested in watching these little protein-producing factories in real time, especially when they malfunction and cause disease.
Scientists build working model of life's engine
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers at the University of Southern California have built a theoretical working model of the cellular engine that powers all life.
Moonlighting enzyme works double shift 24/7
A team of researchers led by Michigan State University has discovered an overachieving plant enzyme that works both the day and night shifts.
Something old, something new: Evolution and the structural divergence of duplicate genes
(PhysOrg.com) -- Gene duplications are arguably the driving force of organismal evolution – and if they survive, such duplicate genes will diverge in both regulatory and coding genomic regions. Coding divergences, in turn, can be caused by nucleotide substitutions or exon-intron structural changes. (Exons are DNA bases that are transcribed into mRNA and eventually code for amino acids in proteins. Introns are DNA bases found between exons, but which are not transcribed.) Scientists have had limited knowledge in the latter case until recently, when researchers at the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences investigated structural divergences during the evolution of duplicate and nonduplicate genes. They found that such structural divergences are very common in duplicate gene evolution, and have resulted from three primary causes – exon/intron gain/loss, exonization/pseudoexonization (where an intronic or intergenic sequence becomes exonic, or vice v! ersa), and insertion/deletion – each contributing differently to structural divergence. The scientists concluded that structural divergences play a more important role in the evolution of duplicate genes than nonduplicate genes.
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