Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for February 2, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- New super-earth detected within the habitable zone of a nearby star- Airborne robot swarms are making complex moves (w/ video)
- Researchers move graphene electronics into 3D
- GRAIL returns first video from moon's far side
- Sex-specific behaviors traced to hormone-controlled genes in the brain
- New study uncovers probable mechanism underlying resveratrol activity
- Gene regulator in brain's executive hub tracked across lifespan
- Identical twins reveal mechanisms behind aging
- Untangling the mysteries of Alzheimer's
- Studying butterfly flight to help build bug-size flying robots
- Facebook stocks up for Google fight
- Castaway lizards provide insight into elusive evolutionary process
- Stellar astrophysics explains the behavior of fast rotating neutron stars in binary systems
- SpaceX flight to ISS could be late March: NASA
- Scientists coax shy microorganisms to stand out in a crowd
Space & Earth news
Asteroids: The new 'It mission' for space exploration
The Japanese are heading back into space on a second attempt to collect samples from a nearby asteroid.
Colorful solar instrument treks east for a new career
(PhysOrg.com) -- One of the world's most colorful solar instruments is moving across country for a new life dissecting the chemistry of comets and stars.
Green potential of our industrial past
Manipulating the soil in urban and industrial areas in order to capture more carbon from the atmosphere is the “best resource we have to begin to mitigate human CO2 emissions”, experts claim.
Tool is new weapon in fight against climate change
A new service, developed by experts at The University of Manchester and The Mersey Forest, will provide vital information to help urban neighborhoods avoid the potentially dangerous effects of climate change.
Filmmaker sounds alarm over ocean of plastic
On Midway atoll in the North Pacific, dozens of young albatross lie dead on the sand, their stomachs filled with cigarette lighters, toy soldiers and other small plastic objects their parents have mistaken for food.
India's air the worst, says annual study
India has the worst air quality in the world, poorer even than its neighbour China, according to an annual survey based at Yale and Columbia universities in the United States.
'First light' taken by NASA's newest CERES instrument
(PhysOrg.com) -- The doors are open on NASA's Suomi NPP satellite and the newest version of the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) instrument is scanning Earth for the first time, helping to assure continued availability of measurements of the energy leaving the Earth-atmosphere system.
Discovery questions current bushfire mitigation approach
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new form of bushfire behavior, which can have a potentially catastrophic effect on the development of fires burning in rugged terrain, has been identified by a team of researchers from UNSW Canberra, the ACT Emergency Services Agency and ACT Territory and Municipal Services.
Russia will begin hunt for extrasolar planets
Located just south of Saint Petersburg on Pulkovo Heights, one of the greatest Russian Observatories of all times – the Pulkovo Observatory – is about to embark on a very noble study. According to the head of the Institute for Space Research, Lev Zelyony, the Soviet telescopes are about to turn their eyes towards deep skies in search of extrasolar planets. “Scientists from the Pulkovo Observatory are planning to use ground-based instruments to study the transit of planets around their parent stars,” Zelyony said at a roundtable meeting at RIA Novosti headquarters in Moscow.
2012 BX34: Behind the scenes in the discovery of a near Earth asteroid
Several blockbuster movies, television shows and commercials have depicted the discovery of an asteroid heading towards Earth and usually, somehow, impending doom is averted. But how do the discoveries of Near Earth Objects really happen? Asteroid 2012 BX34 buzzed by Earth last week, and even though this small asteroid was never considered a threat to Earth, its discovery still piqued the interest of the public. It was discovered by Alex Gibbs, an astronomer and software engineer from the Catalina Sky Survey. Universe Today asked Gibbs to share his experiences of being an asteroid hunter and what it was like to find this latest NEO that made the Top-20 list of closest approaches to Earth.
STAR TRAK for February 2012
As evening twilight fades during February, the two brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, will highlight the sky as they come into view in the southwest.
Heat and cold damage corals in their own ways, study shows
Around the world coral reefs are facing threats brought by climate change and dramatic shifts in sea temperatures. While ocean warming has been the primary focus for scientists and ocean policy managers, cold events can also cause large-scale coral bleaching events. A new study by scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego compared damage to corals exposed to heat as well as cold stress. The results reveal that cool temperatures can inflict more damage in the short term, but heat is more destructive in the long run.
Coalition releases study on cutting off Asian carp from Lake Michigan
Asian carp should be permanently cut off from Lake Michigan by sheet pile or impermeable land bridges, effectively re-reversing the flow of the Chicago River, according to a study set to be released Tuesday by a coalition of Great Lakes states and cities.
Cactus may give farmers a cure for poisoned crop land
The prickly pear cactus may not sound like a trendy cash crop, but it could become a phenomenon among farmers on the arid west side of California's San Joaquin Valley.
Next manned ISS mission to launch May 15: Russia
Russia said Thursday that its delayed next manned mission to the International Space Station (ISS) would blast off May 15, 45 days later than its scheduled date, after a problem was found in testing.
EU signs orders for eight new Galileo space satellites
The EU on Thursday signed contracts with German and French engineering firms to build and launch another eight satellites for its Galileo geopositioning system.
Google Earth ocean terrain receives major update
Internet information giant Google updated ocean data in its Google Earth application this week, reflecting new bathymetry data assembled by Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, NOAA researchers and many other ocean mapping groups from around the world.
NASA satellites see wind shear battering Tropical Depression Iggy
NASA satellites have watched as wind shear has torn Cyclone Iggy apart over the last day. NASA infrared satellite imagery showed that Iggy's strongest thunderstorms have been pushed away from the storm's center and visible imagery shows the storm is being stretched out. Iggy is weakening and heading for a landfall between Geraldton and Perth.
GRAIL returns first video from moon's far side
(PhysOrg.com) -- A camera aboard one of NASA's twin Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) lunar spacecraft has returned its first unique view of the far side of the moon. MoonKAM, or Moon Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students, will be used by students nationwide to select lunar images for study.
Remnant of an explosion with a powerful kick?
(PhysOrg.com) -- Vital clues about the devastating ends to the lives of massive stars can be found by studying the aftermath of their explosions. In its more than twelve years of science operations, NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has studied many of these supernova remnants sprinkled across the Galaxy.
Elements of ExoPlanets
By looking at the wavelengths of light from nearby stars, researchers have determined the abundance of certain elements for more than a hundred stars. Trace elements in such stars may influence their habitable zones, where planets with life might dwell.
Northern forests may be losing their ability to trap carbon
The northern forests of western Canada are likely absorbing less carbon dioxide because of climate change, and the decline may be making a bad situation worse, researchers from Quebec and China have concluded.
Stellar astrophysics explains the behavior of fast rotating neutron stars in binary systems
Pulsars are among the most exotic celestial bodies known. They have diameters of about 20 kilometres, but at the same time roughly the mass of our sun. A sugar-cube sized piece of its ultra-compact matter on the Earth would weigh hundreds of millions of tons. A sub-class of them, known as millisecond pulsars, spin up to several hundred times per second around their own axes. Previous studies reached the paradoxical conclusion that some millisecond pulsars are older than the universe itself.
SpaceX flight to ISS could be late March: NASA
The first test flight of a commercial spacecraft to the International Space Station could happen in late March, NASA said on Thursday.
Hubble zooms in on a magnified galaxy
(PhysOrg.com) -- Thanks to the presence of a natural "zoom lens" in space, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope got a uniquely close-up look at the brightest "magnified" galaxy yet discovered.
New super-earth detected within the habitable zone of a nearby star
(PhysOrg.com) -- An international team of scientists has discovered a potentially habitable super-Earth orbiting a nearby star. With an orbital period of about 28 days and a minimum mass 4.5 times that of the Earth, the planet orbits within the star’s “habitable zone,” where temperatures are neither too hot nor too cold for liquid water to exist on the planet’s surface. The researchers found evidence of at least one and possibly two or three additional planets orbiting the star, which is about 22 light-years from Earth.
Technology news
Facebook's new stock ticker: Why not LIKE or POKE?
(AP) -- FB? That's the best they could do? The company that changed how politicians raise money, dissidents start revolutions and parents keep tabs on their kids announced its stock ticker symbol Wednesday.
Microsoft cuts about 200 marketing employees
(AP) -- Microsoft Corp. said it laid off some of its marketing staff on Wednesday as part of an effort to restructure its operations.
Clouds gather over Spain's renewables sector as aid cut
Spain's push to become a world leader in renewable energy risks collapsing after the government slammed the brakes on generous subsidies as part of an austerity drive.
SK Telecom Q4 net profit falls on higher spending
South Korea's largest mobile carrier SK Telecom said Thursday its fourth-quarter net profit fell 61 percent year-on-year due to higher spending on next-generation network technology and lower fees.
Silicon Valley braces for Facebook millionaires
As Facebook goes public, Silicon Valley is buzzing in anticipation of the "instant millionaires" that may soon be looking for ways to spend their newfound wealth.
Mozambique signs 20-year Internet deal
Mozambique has signed a 20-year contract with Internet cable operator SEACOM to provide broadband access to government institutions and schools, science ministry official Rufino Gujamo said Thursday.
NY Times net profit declines in fourth quarter
The New York Times Co. said Thursday that a print advertising revenue slide and weaker results at advice website About.com dragged down net profit in the fourth quarter.
AOL's Huff Post to launch live streaming network
(AP) -- AOL's Huffington Post Media Group announced Thursday that it will launch the Huffington Post Streaming Network this summer.
'Like' Facebook stock? Experts weigh in on IPO
(AP) -- Facebook's much-hyped initial public offering promises to be an exciting spectacle when the social media giant goes public this spring. But should you update your status to "shareholder"?
Money managers, analysts comment on Facebook IPO
Facebook is finally going public. For investors lucky enough to get in on the IPO, the question is simple: Is this going to be the mother lode that puts their kids through college? Or an over-hyped dud?
Zuckerberg describes 'The Hacker Way' at Facebook
In Facebook's regulatory filing for an initial public offering of stock, CEO Mark Zuckerberg included a letter to potential investors about the company's thinking. He described it as a social mission to make the world more open and connected. He also discussed Facebook's approach to culture and management in Wednesday's letter:
Hit by yen, Thai floods, Sony sees wider net loss
(AP) -- Battered by weak TV sales, a strong yen and production disruptions from flooding in Thailand, Sony Corp. on Thursday reported a net loss of 159 billion yen ($2.1 billion) for the October-December quarter and projected it would lose even more money for the full fiscal year than it had expected three months ago.
US nuclear reactor turned off after radiation leak
A reactor at the San Onofre nuclear power plant near San Diego has been shut down after a radiation leak which was not big enough to cause public harm, the US atomic safety agency said Wednesday.
S. Korea's Hynix swings to red in Q4 on poor demand
South Korea's Hynix Semiconductor, the world's second-largest maker of memory chips, said Thursday it swung into the red in the fourth quarter as chip prices fell on weak demand for personal computers.
Megaupload boss to appeal for bail in New Zealand
Megaupload boss Kim Dotcom will appeal Friday against a ruling that kept him behind bars in New Zealand while US officials seek his extradition for alleged copyright piracy, his lawyers said.
Samsung says Germany rejects Apple's sales ban bid
South Korea's Samsung Electronics said Thursday a German court rejected Apple's bid to ban sales of its tablet computers and new smartphones, the latest chapter in a global legal battle between the rivals.
Top Facebook executives surpassed Zuckerberg in pay
Facebook's chief operating officer made more than $30.5 million last year, more than 20 times what founder Mark Zuckerberg earned as the CEO of the social networking giant, company IPO filings Wednesday showed.
British police 'inadvertently' share emails of crime victims
Britain's biggest police force apologised on Thursday to more than 1,100 victims of crime after admitting it had "inadvertently" shared their email addresses with other victims.
EU prizewinning researchers decongest the internet
The Internet has become part of our everyday lives, in ways we would never have imagined 30 years ago, but how often do we pause and think about the how and why of getting online? A team of EU-funded Spanish researchers are doing exactly that.
Artificial intelligence: Getting better at the age guessing game
Scientists are developing artificial intelligence solutions for image processing, which have applications in many areas including advertising, entertainment, education and healthcare. They have, for example, developed computer algorithms for facial age classification — the automated assignment of individuals to predefined age groups based on their facial features as seen on video captures or still images.
Viacom 1Q earnings shredded by 'Rock Band'
(AP) -- Viacom Inc., the owner of Paramount Pictures, MTV and Comedy Central, on Thursday posted a 65 percent drop in net income for the latest quarter, as it took a charge related to the "Rock Band" series of video games.
User privacy key as Facebook goes public
Respect for privacy and the personal data of of its hundreds of millions of users is going to be an even greater concern for Facebook as the booming social network prepares to list on Wall Street.
Amazon makes India debut with Junglee.com
(AP) -- Amazon.com is coming to India, with the Thursday launch of Junglee.com, a watered-down version of its global shopping portal.
Chunk of Facebook profit tied to game company Zynga
Facebook Inc., whose initial public offering is slated to be one of the biggest debuts in U.S. stock market history, has disclosed its heavy reliance on a single customer - Zynga Inc.
For many Indonesians, 'Fesbuk' is the only Internet
Indonesia, a developing Muslim nation which claims the world's third-largest community of Facebook users, has become a showcase for the social networking site's global power and reach.
Feds in NY shut down 16 sports streaming websites
(AP) -- With the Super Bowl days away, federal authorities announced a crackdown Thursday on websites that stream unauthorized broadcasts of sports events just hours after New England quarterback Tom Brady told reporters gathered in Indianapolis that he watched last year's game on an illegal site.
Facebook surrenders its privacy in IPO documents
Facebook is baring its business soul.The unveiling came late Wednesday when the company that depends on people to share their lives online filed its plans to raise $5 billion in an initial public offering of stock. It's a revelatory moment that prospective investors, curious competitors and nosy reporters have been awaiting for two years. During that time, Facebook established itself as a communications hub and emerged as a threat to the Internet's most powerful company, Google Inc.
What Google knows about you
Google knows about you. It knows what you've looked for on its search engine. It knows who you're e-mailing most regularly via Gmail. It knows from Google Calendar what you have going on today. And now, all those pieces of information, once kept inside the walls of individual services, will be shared among Google's many products.
UT biosolar breakthrough promises cheap, easy green electricity
Barry D. Bruce, professor of biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is turning the term "power plant" on its head. The biochemist and a team of researchers have developed a system that taps into photosynthetic processes to produce efficient and inexpensive energy.
Facebook stocks up for Google fight
As Facebook and Google jockey for dominance of the Web, the social networking titan's $5 billion stock offering will give it a hefty warchest for the ongoing fight, analysts said.
Medicine & Health news
Websites advertising cholesterol-lowering drugs of poor quality
A new study published in the journal Pharmacoepidemiology & Drug Safety reveals that internet sites selling prescription statins directly to consumers are widespread, and that most websites advertising statins for sale to the general public contain very poor levels of information relevant to safe use of the medicine and side effects.
Fed judge considers if pharmacies must sell Plan B
(AP) -- A federal judge is considering whether Washington state can require pharmacies to stock and sell Plan B or other emergency contraceptives, even in the face of religious objections by druggists who believe they destroy human life.
Valentine's day is the worst time to kiss, says disease expert
(Medical Xpress) -- Say “I love you” with flowers, chocolates or a greeting card, but be careful when you kiss this Valentine’s Day.
Plant food supplements in the spotlight
Natural food does not always mean safe food. EU-funded researchers have discovered that the compounds found in some botanicals and botanical preparations, such as plant food supplements, may be detrimental to one's health. The study is presented in the journal Food and Nutrition Sciences.
Emotional grief could lead to heart attack
In the past, suffering from a broken heart was simply a way to describe the emotional pain one felt when dealing with a personal misfortune—a breakup or even the death of a loved one.
Anemia may more than triple your risk of dying after a stroke
Being anemic could more than triple your risk of dying within a year after having a stroke, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2012.
Sickle cell anemia stroke prevention efforts may have decreased racial disparities
The disparity in stroke-related deaths among black and white children dramatically narrowed after prevention strategies changed to include ultrasound screening and chronic blood transfusions for children with sickle cell anemia, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2012.
Erratic heart rhythm may account for some unexplained strokes
Occasional erratic heart rhythms appear to cause about one-fifth of strokes for which a cause is not readily established, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2012.
Professor documents cancer battle in online videos
(AP) -- At first, David Oliver ignored the bump on his neck that he noticed while shaving. The medical school professor assumed it was calcified scar tissue from a previous surgery.
Coffee consumption reduces fibrosis risk in those with fatty liver disease
Caffeine consumption has long been associated with decreased risk of liver disease and reduced fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease. Now, newly published research confirms that coffee caffeine consumption reduces the risk of advanced fibrosis in those with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Findings published in the February issue of Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, show that increased coffee intake, specifically among patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), decreases risk of hepatic fibrosis.
Rituximab possible treatment option for patients with primary biliary cirrhosis
An open-label study of rituximab, a monoclonal antibody for human CD20, was shown to be safe in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) who had an incomplete response to the standard ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) therapy, also known as Ursodiol. Study details available in the February issue of Hepatology, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, report that rituximab was successful in reducing the level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP)—a protein used to measure liver injury.
Lecture or listen: When patients waver on meds
Take your medicine, Doctor's orders. It's a simple idea that may seem especially obvious when the pills are the antiretroviral (ARV) drugs that add decades to the lives of HIV-positive patients. But despite the reality that keeping up with drug regimens is not easy for many patients, a new analysis of hundreds of recorded doctor's office visits finds that physicians and nurse practitioners often still rely on lecturing, ordering, and scolding rather than listening and problem solving with their patients.
Balancing oxaliplatin dose with neurological side effects in metastatic colon cancer
The drug oxaliplatin is a major reason the prognosis for metastatic colon cancer has gone from an expected survival of several months to a couple years. Unfortunately, the drug can also carry with it debilitating neurological side effects, which generally start as the sensation of pins and needles in fingers and toes and can leave patients unable to walk or dress independently.
Penn State team's QR code wins REACH Challenge
"Real-Time Care Experience Feedback Using QR Codes," a Penn State project that allows hospital patients to inform hospital personnel of their experiences -- good or bad -- in real time, is the winner of the 2012 REACH Developer Challenge, sponsored by AcademyHealth and part of the Health 2.0 Developer Challenge.
Snapshot of dialysis: Who's getting treated at home?
Home-based dialysis treatments are on the rise in both the developing and developed worlds, but developed countries appear to be turning to them less often, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The findings, which provide a global snapshot of dialysis use among patients with kidney failure, may impact future business and research innovations.
Paper calls for more to be done to help young people with depression
Depression is one of the most common mental health problems in young people worldwide, but it often goes unrecognised and untreated. Left untreated, adolescent depression increases the risk of suicide, substance abuse, and obesity, leads to serious social and educational problems, and can result in lifelong health problems. Although effective treatments are available, the lack of interventions and resources directed to tackling and preventing depression in non-specialist settings (eg, schools, communities, health-care settings) in many countries is a serious concern, concludes a review of the evidence published Online First in The Lancet.
Better NHS services reduce suicide rates
Researchers at The University of Manchester have for the first time shown a positive link between improvements in mental health services and a reduction in suicide rates.
Young children exposed to anesthesia multiple times show elevated rates of ADHD
Mayo Clinic researchers have found that multiple exposures to anesthesia at a young age are associated with higher rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Study flags over-reliance on computer tests in return-to-plan decisions after concussion
A new study by researchers at Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus and Pace University is critical of the widespread use of computerized neuropsychological tests (CNT) in decisions regarding when athletes can return to play after suffering a concussion.
New European pill works against uterine fibroids
New research offers hope for the first pill to treat a common problem in young women: fibroids in the uterus. The growths can cause pain, heavy bleeding and fertility problems, and they are the leading cause of hysterectomies.
Vietnam reports 2nd bird flu death in a month
(AP) -- A Vietnamese official on Thursday confirmed the country's second human death from bird flu in less than a month, after it went nearly two years with no reported fatalities.
Colo. lawmakers consider trans-fat ban in schools
(AP) -- The nation's leanest state is taking aim at junk food in school cafeterias as it considers the nation's toughest school trans-fat ban.
Mental gyms reap younger minds
(Medical Xpress) -- A daily mental ‘work-out' has given a group of over 50s the brain performance of people several years younger, a Swinburne University of Technology clinical trial has shown.
Tackling Alzheimer's
(Medical Xpress) -- Specific genes known to be one of the causes of a rare type of Alzheimer’s, which runs in families, are unlikely to contribute to the more common form of the disease, University scientists have uncovered.
Old drug shows new promise to treat leishmaniasis
(Medical Xpress) -- A study published yesterday shows that a drug called fexinidazole could potentially be used to treat visceral leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease that kills 50 000 to 60 000 people a year in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Blueberry wine has more antioxidants than many grape-based wines: study
(Medical Xpress) -- Blueberry wine can provide more potentially healthy compounds than white wines and many red wines, according to a new University of Florida study.
The Medical Minute: Writing your way to better health
When I have spoken about writing and depression, many people respond that they can understand the relationship -- whenever they have to write, they get depressed. That might have been the situation when they were in school, diagramming sentences and writing with many guidelines and restrictions. But what I’m referring to is how writing can help ease depression. Writing can help improve a number of emotional and even physical illnesses.
Heart failure linked to thinner bones and fractures
Heart failure is associated with a 30 percent increase in major fractures and also identifies a high-risk population that may benefit from increased screening and treatment for osteoporosis, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
Intermittent exercise improves blood glucose control for diabetics
Intermittent exercise with and without low oxygen concentrations (or hypoxia) can improve insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetics, however exercise while under hypoxic conditions provides greater improvements in glycemic control than intermittent exercise alone, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
Goals for blood pressure in kidney disease patients may be unrealistic
(Medical Xpress) -- An upward revision of the blood pressure numbers used to identify risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) might actually help doctors provide better care for their patients, said the authors of a study in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Tomato nutrient may intercept cancer growth
(Medical Xpress) -- A nutrient in cooked tomatoes has been shown in laboratory studies to slow the growth of or even kill prostate cancer cells.
Patients' brains may adapt to ADHD medication
(Medical Xpress) -- New research reveals how the brain appears to adapt to compensate for the effects of long-term ADHD medication, suggesting why ADHD medication is more effective short-term than it is long-term. The study, from the Institute of Psychiatry (IoP) at King’s College London is published today in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Better than a needle in the eye: New medical device offers hope and relief for patients
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers at McMaster have developed a new system for delivering drugs to the back of the eye - one that could offer more effective treatment while sparing patients with vision-related diseases the excruciating routine of having drugs injected into their eyes by syringe every six to eight weeks.
Scientist warns of new MRSA threat
(Medical Xpress) -- An MRSA expert from the University’s Department of Biology & Biochemistry has warned that a new, more toxic strain of the disease poses a serious threat to people in Britain as it migrates from the United States.
Saint Louis University doctors aim to dispel myths about vaccines
Two Saint Louis University pediatricians are leading a Missouri State Medical Association statewide effort to change the way doctors respond to parents' fears of vaccines, and to raise awareness about the importance of getting children vaccinated.
Rivaroxaban has less risk of brain bleeding in patients at high risk for stroke
For patients with a type of irregular heart beat called atrial fibrillation (AF), a new anti-clotting drug might be better at preventing clot-related strokes while minimizing the risk of causing a bleeding stroke. The research was presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2012.
A silver bullet to beat cancer?
The internet is awash with stories of how silver can be used to treat cancer. Now, lab tests have shown that it is as effective as the leading chemotherapy drug - and may have fewer side-effects.
NIAID scientists consider 200 years of infectious diseases
Unpredictable, ever-changing and with potentially far-reaching effects on the fates of nations, infectious diseases are compelling actors in the drama of human history, note scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. In an essay marking 200 years of publication of the New England Journal of Medicine, NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., and coauthor David M. Morens, M.D., trace key advances in understanding and combatting infectious diseases and outline ways in which the contest between microbes and man might play out in decades to come.
Human immune cells react sensitively to 'stress'
Scientists working with Professor Bernd Kaina of the Institute of Toxicology at the Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have demonstrated for the first time that certain cells circulating in human blood – so-called monocytes – are extremely sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Sales of oxycodone by doctors fall in Florida
The number of oxycodone pills sold by Florida doctors dropped dramatically in 2011, following a series of high-profile arrests and a legislative crackdown on the storefront "pill mills" that made South Florida the hub of a nationwide black market in prescription painkillers.
The effect of occasional binge drinking on heart disease and mortality among moderate drinkers
Most studies have found that binge drinking is associated with a loss of alcohol's protective effect against ischemic heart disease (IHD) and most studies have found an increase of coronary risk among binge drinkers.
'Goldilocks' gene could determine best treatment for tuberculosis patients
Tuberculosis patients may receive treatments in the future according to what version they have of a single 'Goldilocks' gene, says an international research team from Oxford University, King's College London, Vietnam and the USA.
Scientists find molecular switch that allows melanoma to resist therapy
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates that as many as one in 51 men and women will be diagnosed with melanoma—the deadliest form of skin cancer—at some point during their lifetimes. A research team led by Ze'ev Ronai, Ph.D. at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) is working to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and progression of this disease in hopes of improving prevention and treatment strategies. To do this, Ronai's laboratory has been studying a protein named Activating Transcription Factor 2 (ATF2), which is associated with poor prognosis in melanoma.
Elevated glucose associated with undetected heart damage
A new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggests that hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) injures the heart, even in patients without a history of heart disease or diabetes. Researchers found that elevated levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), a marker for chronic hyperglycemia and diabetes, were associated with minute levels of the protein troponin T (cTnT), a blood marker for heart damage. The high-sensitivity test they used detected levels of cTnT tenfold lower than those found in patients diagnosed with a heart attack. The findings, which are published in the latest issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, suggest that hyperglycemia may be related to cardiac damage independent of atherosclerosis.
A new screening method for prostate cancer
A new study by NYU Langone Medical Center and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine shows novel PSA velocity (PSAV) risk count testing may provide a more effective way for physicians to screen men for clinically significant prostate cancer. The new study, published online by the British Journal of Urology International on February 1, 2012, shows the benefits of tracking a man's PSA levels over time to help doctors more accurately assess his risk of life-threatening prostate cancer.
Measles cases rise after decade of decline
Measles outbreaks in parts of Europe and Africa led to some 60,000 more cases worldwide in 2010 over the previous year, after nearly a decade of declines, US health authorities said on Thursday.
Investigational urine test can predict high-risk prostate cancer in men who chose 'watchful waiting'
Initial results of a multicenter study coordinated by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center indicates that two investigational urine-based biomarkers are associated with prostate cancers that are likely to be aggressive and potentially life-threatening among men who take a "watchful waiting," or active-surveillance approach to manage their disease. Ultimately, these markers may lead to the development of a urine test that could complement prostate biopsy for predicting disease aggressiveness and progression.
New research shows early bone growth linked to bone density in later life
Researchers from the University of Southampton, in collaboration with a research group in Delhi, India, have shown that growth in early childhood can affect bone density in adult life, which could lead to an increased risk of developing bone diseases like osteoporosis.
DNA test that identifies Down syndrome in pregnancy can also detect trisomy 18 and trisomy 13
A newly available DNA-based prenatal blood test that can identify a pregnancy with Down syndrome can also identify two additional chromosome abnormalities: trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome) and trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome). The test for all three defects can be offered as early as 10 weeks of pregnancy to women who have been identified as being at high risk for these abnormalities.
Combination drug therapy urged to battle lung cancer
Combination drug therapy may be needed to combat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to a study by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Van Andel Research Institute (VARI).
High triglyceride levels found to predict stroke in older women
In a surprising finding with significant implications for older women, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and NYU School of Medicine have found that high levels of triglycerides (blood fats) are the strongest risk factor for the most common type of stroke in older women – more of a risk factor than elevated levels of total cholesterol or of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (known as "bad" cholesterol). The study appears online today in Stroke.
New research confirms need for lung cancer testing
Different kinds of lung cancer behave in different ways, suggesting they are fundamentally different diseases. According to a University of Colorado Cancer Center study published in Cancer, the official journal of the American Cancer Society, different subgroups of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) show distinct patterns of spread in the body.
Mass hysteria rare, but usually seen in girls
(AP) -- Fifteen teenage girls report a mysterious outbreak of spasms, tics and seizures in upstate New York. But tests find nothing physically wrong.
Diabetes rates vary widely in developing countries, 1 in 10 cases untreated
Rates of diabetes vary widely across developing countries worldwide, according to a new analysis led by Dr. Longjian Liu of Drexel University's School of Public Health.
Football findings suggest concussions caused by series of hits
A two-year study of high school football players suggests that concussions are likely caused by many hits over time and not from a single blow to the head, as commonly believed.
The complex relationship between memory and silence
(Medical Xpress) -- People who suffer a traumatic experience often don’t talk about it, and many forget it over time. But not talking about something doesn’t always mean you’ll forget it; if you try to force yourself not to think about white bears, soon you’ll be imagining polar bears doing the polka. A group of psychological scientists explore the relationship between silence and memories in a new paper published in Perspectives on Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Could brain size determine whether you are good at maintaining friendships?
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers are suggesting that there is a link between the number of friends you have and the size of the region of the brain – known as the orbital prefrontal cortex – that is found just above the eyes.
Engineer builds robot based on crab to remove stomach cancers
(PhysOrg.com) -- In a bit of science that has a genuine wow factor, doctors and a mechanical engineer from Singapore's National University Hospital and Nanyang Technological Institute have teamed together to build a small remotely controlled robot that can be fed down a patient’s throat and into the gut to remove cancerous tumors. Enterologist Lawrence Ho and engineer Louis Phee designed and built the robot after having lunch with renowned surgeon Sydney Chung (he was on the front lines of the SARS epidemic) who suggested that perhaps such a robot could be made that would mimic the crab they were eating, allowing surgeons to remove tumors from cancer patients without having to resort to cutting them open.
Identical twins reveal mechanisms behind aging
In a recent study led by Uppsala University, the researchers compared the DNA of identical (monozygotic) twins of different age. They could show that structural modifications of the DNA, where large or small DNA segments change direction, are duplicated or completely lost are more common in older people. The results may in part explain why the immune system is impaired with age.
New study uncovers probable mechanism underlying resveratrol activity
National Institutes of Health researchers and their colleagues have identified how resveratrol, a naturally occurring chemical found in red wine and other plant products, may confer its health benefits. The authors present evidence that resveratrol does not directly activate sirtuin 1, a protein associated with aging. Rather, the authors found that resveratrol inhibits certain types of proteins known as phosphodiesterases (PDEs), enzymes that help regulate cell energy.
Gene regulator in brain's executive hub tracked across lifespan
For the first time, scientists have tracked the activity, across the lifespan, of an environmentally responsive regulatory mechanism that turns genes on and off in the brain's executive hub. Among key findings of the study by National Institutes of Health scientists: genes implicated in schizophrenia and autism turn out to be members of a select club of genes in which regulatory activity peaks during an environmentally-sensitive critical period in development. The mechanism, called DNA methylation, abruptly switches from off to on within the human brain's prefrontal cortex during this pivotal transition from fetal to postnatal life. As methylation increases, gene expression slows down after birth.
Untangling the mysteries of Alzheimer's
One of the most distinctive signs of the development of Alzheimer's disease is a change in the behavior of a protein that neuroscientists call tau. In normal brains, tau is present in individual units essential to neuron health. In the cells of Alzheimer's brains, by contrast, tau proteins aggregate into twisted structures known as "neurofibrillary tangles." These tangles are considered a hallmark of the disease, but their precise role in Alzheimer's pathology has long been a point of contention among researchers.
Brains of addicts are inherently abnormal: study
Drug addicts have inherited abnormalities in some parts of the brain which interfere with impulse control, said a British study published on Thursday.
Biology news
Four US swans die from bird flu virus
Four swans found dead in Massachusetts had the bird flu virus, authorities said Wednesday, stressing that the strain was not dangerous to humans.
Best management practices for invasive crane flies in northeastern United States sod production
A new study recently published in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management (JIPM) explains the best management practices for consideration and adoption by sod producers in the northeastern U.S.
New website shares information about deadly tree pathogens
Sudden oak death, Port-Orford-cedar root disease and other deadly tree diseases caused by Phytophthora species (pronounced fy-TOF-ther-uhs) are threatening forest ecosystems worldwide. These microorganisms, which are related to algae and diatoms, spend part of their life cycle in soil or water but once they infect trees, they can kill them. A new web site, developed jointly by the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station and Oregon State University, hopes to put knowledge and resources in the hands of scientists and land managers as they look for ways to fight these deadly diseases.
New RNA-based therapeutic strategies for controlling gene expression
Small RNA-based nucleic acid drugs represent a promising new class of therapeutic agents for silencing abnormal or overactive disease-causing genes, and researchers have discovered new mechanisms by which RNA drugs can control gene activity. A comprehensive review article in Nucleic Acid Therapeutics, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., details these advances.
Research into possible Woodchester wild cat finds no cat DNA on deer
Extensive DNA tests by experts at the University of Warwick on two deer carcasses found in Gloucestershire have not found any indication of a big cat presence.
Rare Sumatran rhino pregnancy offers hope to species
A Sumatran rhino which is 10-months pregnant is receiving special medical care after suffering two miscarriages, a conservationist said Thursday, fuelling hope for the critically-endangered species.
Looks like we're still looking for earthly life forms on other planets
In late 2010, NASA set the Internet buzzing when it called a press conference to discuss an astrobiological finding that would impact the search for extraterrestrial life. Many speculated that some primitive life had been found on Mars or one of Saturn’s moons. But the evidence was found on Earth; a strain of bacteria in California’s Lake Mono that had arsenic in its genetic structure. The discovery implied that life could thrive without the elements NASA typically looks for, mainly carbon and phosphorous. But now, a new study challenges the existence of arsenic-based life forms.
Corn gene helps fight Multiple Leaf Diseases
(PhysOrg.com) -- A specific gene in corn seems to confer resistance to three important leaf diseases, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists and their university colleagues.
Half of species found by 'great plant hunters'
(PhysOrg.com) -- With an estimated 15-30% of the world’s flowering plants yet to be discovered, finding and recording new plant species is vital to our understanding of global biodiversity.
Understanding how bacteria come back from the dead
Salmonella remains a serious cause of food poisoning in the UK and throughout the EU, in part due to its ability to thrive and quickly adapt to the different environments in which it can grow. New research involving a team of IFR scientists, funded by BBSRC, has taken the first detailed look at what Salmonella does when it enters a new environment, which could provide clues to finding new ways of reducing transmission through the food chain and preventing human illness.
Treasure trove of wildlife found in Peru park
The Wildlife Conservation Society's (WCS) Peru program announced today the discovery of 365 species previously undocumented in Bahuaja Sonene National Park (BSNP) in southeastern Peru.
Compromises between quantity and quality common in animals: do the same holds for plants, flowers?
Most creatures face compromises when they reproduce — the more energy they devote to having lots of babies, the less they can invest in each one. But do the same tradeoffs hold true for plants? Biologists have long assumed that plants with bigger, showier flowers can make fewer of them per plant. But the data don't always hold up, scientists say. A new study by researchers at the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center may help explain why.
Predicting system crashes in nature and society
The world can deliver sudden and nasty shocks. Economies can crash, fisheries can collapse, and climates can pass tipping points. Providing early warning of such changes currently requires the collection of enormous and often prohibitive amounts of data. A new method developed by Steven Lade from the Max-Planck-Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems in Germany and Thilo Gross from the University of Bristol in the UK could change this. In a paper published in the open-access journal PLoS Computational Biology on February 2, the researchers present a mathematical methodology that uses easily obtainable information to greater effect and can therefore reduce the amount of additional data that needs to be collected.
Male spiders of one species lose their genitals after sex to increase sperm count in females
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers have known for some time that the male sex organ, called a palp, in orb-web spiders is often broken off during copulation with females; what hasn’t been so clear is why. Now, new research by Daiqin Li of the National University of Singapore and colleagues have found, as they describe in their paper published in Biology Letters, that by breaking off their palp, the male spiders ensure that more of their sperm enters the female after he runs away or is eaten by his partner.
Using plants to silence insect genes in a high-throughput manner
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Germany, are now using a procedure which brings forward ecological research on insects: They study gene functions in moth larvae by manipulating genes using the RNA interference technology (RNAi). RNAi is induced by feeding larvae with plants that have been treated with viral vectors. This method called "plant virus based dsRNA producing system" increases sample throughput compared to the use of genetically transformed plants.
Sex-specific behaviors traced to hormone-controlled genes in the brain
Hormones shape our bodies, make us fertile, excite our most basic urges, and as scientists have known for years, they govern the behaviors that separate men from women. But how?
Rearranging the cell's skeleton: Small molecules at the cell's membrane enable cell movement
Cell biologists at Johns Hopkins have identified key steps in how certain molecules alter a cell's skeletal shape and drive the cell's movement.
Castaway lizards provide insight into elusive evolutionary process
A University of Rhode Island biologist who released lizards on tiny uninhabited islands in the Bahamas has shed light on the interaction between evolutionary processes that are seldom observed.
Scientists coax shy microorganisms to stand out in a crowd
The communities of marine microorganisms that make up half the biomass in the oceans and are responsible for half the photosynthesis the world over, mostly remain enigmatic. A few abundant groups have had their genomes described, but the natures and functions of the rest remain mysterious.
This email is a free service of PhysOrg.com
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
http://www.physorg.com/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment