Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for March 8, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Oldest organism with skeleton discovered in Australia- Origami-inspired paper sensor could test for malaria and HIV for less than 10 cents
- Metamaterials may advance with new femtosecond laser technique
- Benefits of single atoms acting as catalysts in hydrogen-related reactions
- Researchers suggest magnetic anomalies on the Moon are the result of asteroid collision
- Honey bees study finds that insects have personality too
- Four-winged dinosaur's feathers were black with iridescent sheen
- Exotic material shows promise as flexible, transparent electrode
- Researchers prove Landauer was right in saying heat is dissipated when memory is erased
- First results from Daya Bay find new kind of neutrino transformation
- UB team's software is set to eyeball liars
- Multiple species of seacows once coexisted: study
- The dance of the chaperones: Scientists identify key player of protein folding
- Ultrafast sonograms shed new light on rapid phase transitions
- Full Titanic site mapped for 1st time
Space & Earth news
Hong Kong begins monitoring fine particle pollution
The Hong Kong government on Thursday began releasing hourly readings of the smallest, most dangerous pollution particles, as it bowed to public pressure for greater transparency about air quality.
Prairie restoration also helps restore water quality
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists are studying the overall improvement in water quality when native prairie vegetation is restored to fields once cropped with corn and soybeans. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Ames, Iowa, were part of a team that examined changes in groundwater during prairie establishment at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge near Prairie City, Iowa. ARS is USDA's chief intramural scientific research agency.
NASA studies March 3 severe weather outbreak with infrared, microwave vision
A NASA satellite used infrared and microwave "vision" to analyze the storm system that created the March 3 severe weather outbreak in the U.S.
James Cameron to explore Earth's deepest ocean trench
"Titanic" director James Cameron will try in the coming weeks to dive to the deepest place on Earth, further than any other human has on a solo mission, to return with specimens and images.
Scientists survey seabed fractured by Japan quake
Scientists on Thursday launched a mission to the seabed off Japan where a massive quake triggered last year's devastating tsunami, to get their first proper look at the buckled ocean floor.
Reproductive problems, death in animals exposed to fracking
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new report has found dozens of cases of illness, death and reproductive issues in cows, horses, goats, llamas, chickens, dogs, cats, fish and other wildlife, and humans. It says these conditions could be the result of exposure to gas drilling operations.
Big solar storm reaches Earth; no trouble reported
One of the strongest solar storms in years engulfed Earth early Thursday, but scientists say the planet may have lucked out.
MSG-3 satellite ready to continue weather-monitoring service
(PhysOrg.com) -- International partners are looking ahead to the newest member in a series of weather satellites that deliver images to European forecasters: MSG-3 is set for launch this summer.
Lunar lander firing up for touchdown
Europe’s ambition of touching down at the Moon’s south pole by 2018 has been boosted by recent test firings of the craft’s thrusters. The robot lander will prove new techniques for sending humans to the Moon and assess lunar hazards.
Firestorm of star birth in Galaxy Centaurus A
(PhysOrg.com) -- Resembling looming rain clouds on a stormy day, dark lanes of dust crisscross the giant elliptical galaxy Centaurus A.
Earth's magnetic field provides vital protection
(PhysOrg.com) -- A chance alignment of planets during a passing gust of the solar wind has allowed scientists to compare the protective effects of Earth’s magnetic field with that of Mars’ naked atmosphere. The result is clear: Earth’s magnetic field is vital for keeping our atmosphere in place.
Capsule and skydiver ready for record-setting freefall
Part science experiment, part publicity stunt, part life-long ambition, the Red Bull Stratos mission will feature skydiver Felix Baumgartner attempting to break the speed of sound with his body in a record-setting freefall from the edge of space. The team has been working for over 5 years to build the high-tech capsule that will bring Baumgartner to 36,500 meters (120,000 feet) above Earth, via a stratospheric balloon, and Red Bull Stratos has now released a few images of the capsule. The craft weighs 2,900 pounds fully loaded and it will act as Baumgartner’s life support system during his nearly three-hour ascent. Here’s the outside of the capsule, with Baumgarter standing by, along with the current record holder for such a jump, Joe Kittinger, who jumped from 31,333 meters (102,800 feet) in 1960.
Scientists detect seismic signals from tornado
An Indiana University geophysical experiment detected unusual seismic signals associated with tornadoes that struck regions across the Midwest last week -- information that may have value for meteorologists studying the atmospheric activity that precedes tornado disasters.
Angry Birds catapult into space with NASA boost
Rovio's Angry Birds are taking their battle against the egg-stealing pigs into space and NASA is giving them a boost.
Mars orbiter catches twister in action
(PhysOrg.com) -- An afternoon whirlwind on Mars lofts a twisting column of dust more than half a mile (800 meters) high in an image from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Apollo 11: 'A stark beauty all its own'
(PhysOrg.com) -- This image of the Apollo 11 landing site captured from just 24 km (15 miles) above the surface provides LRO's best look yet at humanity’s first venture to another world. When Neil Armstrong took his famous first steps onto the lunar surface, he kicked around the soil. “Yes, the surface is fine and powdery.” Gazing at the flat horizon, he took in the view. “Isn’t that something! Magnificent sight out here.” After collecting a contingency sample Neil looked around and observed, "it has a stark beauty all its own. It's like much of the high desert of the United States. It's different, but it's very pretty out here." A few minutes later Buzz Aldrin descended the ladder and joined Neil on the surface of the Moon!
Full Titanic site mapped for 1st time
Researchers have pieced together what's believed to be the first comprehensive map of the entire 3-by-5-mile Titanic debris field and hope it will provide new clues about what exactly happened the night 100 years ago when the superliner hit an iceberg, plunged to the bottom of the North Atlantic and became a legend.
Gravitational lens reveals details of distant, ancient galaxy
Thanks to the presence of a natural "zoom lens" in space, University of Chicago scientists working with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have obtained a uniquely close-up look at the brightest gravitationally magnified galaxy yet discovered.
Researchers suggest magnetic anomalies on the Moon are the result of asteroid collision
In the nearly five decades since the first lunar surveys were conducted as part of NASA's Apollo program, scientists have advanced a number of increasingly complex theories to explain the vast swaths of highly magnetic material that had been found in the some parts of the Moon's crust.
Technology news
Wanted: Censor for Pakistan's Internet
(AP) -- Pakistan is advertising for companies to install an Internet filtering system that could block up to 50 million Web addresses, alarming free speech activists who fear current censorship could become much more widespread.
Stanford experts say Silicon Valley is poised to play a key role as Japan restructures its power industry
As cities and towns rebuild after last year's devastating tsunami and earthquake in northeastern Japan, there is a potentially huge demand for the green technology and new information technology now being created in labs at Stanford and start-ups across Silicon Valley.
Review: A stellar finish to 'Mass Effect' trilogy
(AP) -- Science fiction fans love their galactic empires. From the novels of Isaac Asimov and Frank Herbert to the multimedia epics created by George Lucas and Gene Roddenberry, the planet-hopping space opera has enthralled starry-eyed dreamers since well before the Apollo program.
China cyber warfare skills a risk to US military: report
China's cyber warfare capabilities would pose a danger to US military forces in the event of a conflict over Taiwan, according to a report by a US congressional advisory panel released Thursday.
Ten arrests in global child porn network
Ten people have been arrested in France, Italy, Portugal and the United States in an Italian-led inquiry into an online child porn network operating in 28 countries, investigators said Thursday.
"Skyrim" and "Portal" stars at game conference
Sweeping medieval fantasy game "Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" and addictive puzzle play in "Portal 2" won accolades at the world's largest gathering of game makers that wraps up Friday in San Francisco.
'Portal 2,' 'Skyrim' win at Game Developers Choice
(AP) -- "Portal 2" leapt over the competition to win the most trophies at the Game Developers Choice Awards.
Facebook secures $8 bn ahead of public offer
Facebook has secured $8 billion ahead of the social network's eagerly-anticipated initial public offering (IPO), according to documents provided to US regulators.
Apple, book publishers facing potential US suit: WSJ
The Justice Department is threatening to sue Apple and five major US publishers for allegedly colluding to raise the price of digital books, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.
'SimCity' game rebuilt for age of climate change
Climate change is coming to SimCity. A new version of the city-building computer game that factors in real-world consequences of energy choices has won endorsements from Twitter co-founder Biz Stone and the director of the Academy Award-winning documentary "An Inconvenient Truth."
'Heavy Rain' game creator debuts high-tech 'Kara'
(AP) -- The future of performance-capture technology is right around the corner, and its name just might be "Kara."
Discord unites elite hackers charged in NY, IL
At the large public housing project in New York City where he lived, outsiders knew him as a quiet family man. But federal prosecutors say Hector Xavier Monsegur was an Internet saboteur known as Sabu.
Court ruling forces FBI to deactivate GPS to track suspects
A recent US Supreme Court decision is hurting the ability of federal law enforcement agencies to monitor criminal suspects with global positioning satellites (GPS), according to FBI Director Robert Mueller.
Weak growth seen in PC shipments this year: Gartner
Personal computer shipments are expected to remain weak this year amid growing competition from tablets and even high-powered smartphones, research company Gartner said Thursday.
Hacker arrested in NYC cooperated from Day 1
(AP) -- An elite computer hacker who stunned fellow Internet saboteurs by becoming an FBI informant didn't put up any resistance when agents first knocked on his door.
German Internet community cries foul over Google news law
Germany's Internet community, gathered at the world's biggest high-tech fair, was up in arms Thursday at a draft law forcing Google and other similar sites to pay media firms for content.
Sometimes the quickest path is not a straight line
Sometimes the fastest pathway from point A to point B is not a straight line: for example, if you’re underwater and contending with strong and shifting currents. But figuring out the best route in such settings is a monumentally complex problem — especially if you’re trying to do it not just for one underwater vehicle, but for a swarm of them moving all at once toward separate destinations.
Engineers propose method to eliminate wasted energy in computer processors
In today's computer processors, much of the power put into running the processor is being wasted.
Fukushima lesson: Prepare for unanticipated nuclear accidents
A year after the crisis at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, scientists and engineers remain largely in the dark when it comes to fundamental knowledge about how nuclear fuels behave under extreme conditions, according to a University of Michigan nuclear waste expert and his colleagues.
UB team's software is set to eyeball liars
(PhysOrg.com) -- A study team at the University of Buffalo, State University of New York, is working on video analysis software to analyze eye movements to spot liars. So far, they say their results show that their software can spot liars with a promising level of accuracy. Their claim is based on their study using 40 people. Their system correctly identified who was telling the truth and who was lying 82.5 percent of the time.
Medicine & Health news
Any UK law on cycle helmets should apply only to kids
Any law to make the wearing of cycle helmets mandatory in the UK should apply only to children, because the evidence that cycle helmets significantly protect adults against serious head injury is equivocal, conclude researchers in the Journal of Medical Ethics.
Misoprostol substantially reduces serious complications in early termination of pregnancy
Cervical preparation with misoprostol reduces major complications of early surgical abortion by almost a third compared with placebo, according to new research published Online First in The Lancet.
Excessive cured meat consumption increases risk of hospital readmissions for COPD patients
An excessive intake of cured meats, such as salami, chorizo and bacon, can increase readmission to hospital for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a study by Spanish researchers from the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL) in Barcelona.
Irradiation and stem cells used in new treatment to enable kidney recipients to forego immunosuppressant drugs
With a novel approach that creates a more-accepting immune system, Stanford School of Medicine physicians have pioneered a technique that frees kidney-transplant recipients from a life on anti-rejection drugs.
Cartilage repair gel gives injuries a sporting chance
A cartilage gel being developed by tissue engineers and biochemists at the University of Sydney could bring increased mobility to people living with debilitating sports injuries.
New research could significantly reduce the need for clinical animal testing
University of Southampton researchers are investigating innovative methods of testing drugs that will reduce the need for involving animals.
Monitoring the population's food and supplement intakes
Collecting data on what the U.S. population actually consumes is a key nutrition monitoring step. Nutritionists then translate "foods eaten" into "nutrients consumed." This snapshot of the population's food-nutrient intakes provides an overview of the nation's nutritional health status and health outcomes. Now, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers are providing data on dietary supplement intakes also collected during the annual national government survey.
Kidney-transplant patients celebrate unprecedented freedom from immunosuppressant drugs
(Medical Xpress) -- In the year 2000, just as Daniel Bitner was starting dental school at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, he got a kick in the teeth. A routine physical turned up elevated blood pressure and creatinine levels, which taken together can mean kidney malfunction. He soon learned that his kidneys were beginning to fail, a complication of multi-surgical interventions during childhood to correct structural problems within his urinary tract.
The stealth sodium revolution
Researchers with the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services have teamed up for HHS's sodium surveillance efforts.
Change your clocks, change your sleep habits
(Medical Xpress) -- Daylight saving time is a good reminder of something most of us already know but are unwilling to admit: We need more sleep.
Chicken liver pate is a potential source of food poisoning
University of Aberdeen scientists bought raw chicken livers from a typical range of supermarkets and butchers over a two-year period and, after testing in the lab, discovered the bug Campylobacter in 81% of them.
Stem cell innovation jump-starts circulation
A stem cell breakthrough at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology could ultimately benefit human patients struggling to recover from cardiovascular disease, or serious circulatory damage from conditions such as diabetes. Programming both embryonic and adult stem cells, researchers at the Technion’s Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Rambam Medical Center Campus are the first to produce and multiply cells called pericytes, crucial to the formation of healthy blood vessels.
Why we don't become immune to colds
A team of researchers at the MedUni Vienna has discovered why we never become immune to colds, and why we are able to keep catching them: the MedUni Vienna study, published in The FASEB Journal in the USA by Katarzyna Niespodziana from the Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, shows that the human immune response to the rhinovirus is misdirected.
Raw chicken bacteria on the rise in Europe: study
A type of bacteria mostly found in raw chicken meat that can cause diarrhoea and fever is on the rise in the European Union, according to a report from European food safety agencies published on Thursday.
Perceptions of conception
For many women, the decision to get pregnant can take on a life of its own. In fact, according to a survey conducted for SpermCheck Fertility, 42% of those who conceived say they became obsessed with getting pregnant once they started trying. Yet just 10% say their partner shared this obsession.
A TRP that makes our cells feel hyper
A large change in the volume of a cell, from its basal level, is detrimental to its health. Therefore, our cells are equipped with mechanisms to maintain their constant volume. When a cell detects an environmental change that will alter its volume, due to changes in the osmotic pressure, it will adjust its internal water content to counter these influences. This is done through the movement of ions into, and out of, the cell through specialised ion channels. However, the identity of the molecules responsible for this phenomenon remain largely unknown. Professor Yasunobu OKADA, the Director-General of The National Institute for Physiological Sciences and the Vice-President of the National Institutes of Natural Sciences, and his research team, have identified the key molecule preventing the shrinking and eventual death (apoptosis) of cells when they are subjected to a condition of hyperosmolarity.
A new method for more accurate assessment of osteoporosis
Laser-based measurements are proving to be a promising method for the assessment of osteoporosis. The team led by Professor Jussi Timonen has developed an ultrasound technique that use laser beams for a rapid and accurate assessment of osteoporosis.
Implant to replace defective venous valve
If heart valves don't close properly, they are replaced. Conventional treatment of venous valve failure, however, has up to now always and exclusively been via medication. In future, an implant will assume the function of damaged valves -- and a new dispensing tool means these prostheses can be made using an automated process.
Collaboration needed to facilitate rapid response to health-care-associated infections, survey says
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) estimates that about one in every 20 patients develops an infection each year related to their hospital care. The key to preventing an outbreak of potentially deadly healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) -- such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or C. difficile -- is identifying them before affected individuals can pose a transmission risk.
Sobered up using LSD
Forty years ago, LSD was used in the treatment of alcoholics - with good results. Perhaps it's time to look at it again?
BGI achieves next-gen sequencing analysis of FFPE DNA as low as 200 ng
BGI, the world's largest genomics organization, reported that it can use next-generation sequencing to analyze DNA as low as 200 ng from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples. This advancement enables researchers to easily identify the genetic details and pathology mechanism of FFPE disease samples, especially for some rare tumors, with higher accuracy and reliability than existing techniques.
1,000 women a day die in childbirth, says MSF
About 1000 women die each day in childbirth or from preventable complications related to pregnancy, humanitarian group Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) said Thursday.
Reports on impact of poverty and social class on myocardial infarction outcomes
The Canadian Journal of Cardiology has published a paper on the effect of socioeconomic factors on myocardial infarction outcomes.
Caregivers of veterans with chronic illnesses often stressed, yet satisfied: study
Veterans are almost twice as likely as the general public to have chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and heart failure. Therefore, veterans may require more assistance from informal caregivers, especially as outpatient treatment becomes more common. A University of Missouri researcher evaluated strain and satisfaction among informal caregivers of veterans with chronic illnesses. The findings show that more than one third of veterans' caregivers report high levels of strain as a result of taking care of their relatives; yet, on average, caregivers also report being satisfied with their caregiving responsibilities.
Nintendo Wii game controllers help diagnose vision disorder
Wii remotes are not all about fun and games. Scientists can use them to assess and diagnose children with an abnormal head position caused by eye diseases. As described in a recent Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science article, researchers developed a low-cost digital head posture measuring device with Nintendo Wiimotes to help diagnose this condition, medically called ocular torticollis.
Radiation oncologists are discussing infertility risks with young cancer patients
More than 80 percent of radiation oncologists discuss the impact of cancer treatments on fertility with their patients of childbearing age, which can lead to improved quality of life for young cancer patients who are living much longer after their original diagnosis thanks to modern treatment options, according to a study in Practical Radiation Oncology (PRO), the official clinical practice journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).
Alzheimer's, dementia care to cost U.S. $200 billion this year
(HealthDay) -- Caring for people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia will cost the United States about $200 billion this year, a total that includes $140 billion paid by Medicare and Medicaid, new statistics released Thursday show.
Lung adenocarcinoma architecture predicts survival
(HealthDay) -- A new method of classifying invasive pulmonary adenocarcinomas, based on the predominant architecture developed by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC)/American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS), is a stage-independent predictor of survival, according to research published online March 5 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Installing gun cabinets in homes improves safe firearm storage
Installing a gun cabinet dramatically reduces unlocked guns and ammunition in the home, according to a study in rural Alaska villages where the residents are primarily Alaska Native people. Group Health Research Institute Senior Investigator David Grossman, MD, MPH, led the research, which the American Journal of Public Health e-published on March 8. Dr. Grossman is also a pediatrician and medical director for preventive care at Group Health and University of Washington (UW) professor of health services.
Chronic kidney disease a recipe for kidney failure? Not necessarily
Not all patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are destined for kidney failure, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The findings provide hope that the kidney health of some CKD patients can improve.
Drug coverage of Medicare beneficiaries with kidney failure -- some surprising findings
The majority of Medicare beneficiaries with kidney failure participate in Medicare's Part D prescription drug coverage program, and most of these receive a low-income subsidy from the program, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The study presents the most comprehensive description of drug coverage to date among Medicare beneficiaries with kidney failure.
First findings released from Swaziland HIV incidence measurement survey announced at CROI 2012
The first findings from a nationally representative HIV survey were presented today at the 19th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2012) in Seattle, WA. The Swaziland HIV Incidence Measurement Survey (SHIMS) found that overall HIV prevalence, or percentage of the population living with HIV infection, is 31% among adults ages 18-49. This figure matches the 2006 Demographic Health Survey findings for the same age group, indicating that the HIV epidemic in Swaziland has stabilized over the past five years.
HIV infection rates lower in high treatment areas: study
A new study shows that people living in areas where uptake of HIV treatment is high are less likely to acquire the virus than in places where few are given care, UNAIDS said Thursday.
Belief that flu jab really works boosts uptake among health-care workers
A belief that the seasonal flu jab really works is far more likely to sway healthcare professionals to get vaccinated than the potential to protect at risk patients from infection, finds research published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
US Army suicides rose 80 percent between 2004 and 2008
Suicides among US army personnel rose 80 per cent between 2004 and 2008, finds research by US Army Public Health Command and published online in Injury Prevention.
Older men's hidden health concerns
Do men harbour concerns about aging in good health? Do they confide these concerns to their physicians? Are men's concerns the same as women's? The answers to these questions can be found in a large cross-sectional survey of 2325 Canadian men, aged 55 to 97 years old, led by Dr. Cara Tannenbaum, Geriatrician and the Michel Saucier Endowed Chair in Geriatric Pharmacology, Health and Aging at the Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (IUGM) which is affiliated with the Université de Montréal. The results of a parallel survey querying the health concerns of older Canadian women was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in 2005.
Scientists map new mechanism in brain's barrier tissue
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have documented a previously unknown biological mechanism in the brain's most important line of defence: the blood-brain barrier. Scientists now know that the barrier helps maintain a delicate balance of glutamate, a vital signal compound in the brain. The research results have just been published in the scientific journal GLIA.
Risk of death from heart failure is lower in women than in men
Women with chronic heart failure survive longer than their male counterparts, according to a large analysis of studies comprising data on more than 40,000 subjects. The analysis represents the largest assessment of gender and mortality risk in heart failure - and provides evidence which many randomised trials have failed to do because they have been dominated by male patients.
FDA weighs over-the-counter switch for key drugs
Some of the most widely used prescription drugs, including those to treat cholesterol and high blood pressure, could be available over the counter under a new proposal being weighed by government regulators.
US: More work needed to stop youth tobacco use
(AP) -- More work needs to be done to keep young Americans from using tobacco, including creating smoking bans and increasing taxes on tobacco products, the U.S. Surgeon General's office said in a report released Thursday.
Aricept helps moderate to severe Alzheimer's too
Alzheimer's disease patients who are taking a commonly prescribed drug can still benefit from it after they progress to moderate-to-severe illness, when it can be tough to tell whether it's doing any good, a new study says.
Intratumor heterogeneity seen in renal carcinomas
(HealthDay) -- Extensive intratumor heterogeneity, seen in samples obtained from renal carcinomas, may lead to underestimation of the tumor genomics based on single tumor-biopsy samples, according to a study published in the March 8 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Kids' penicillin allergy may not signal other drug reactions
(HealthDay) -- Children who are allergic to penicillin are not more likely than other kids to develop additional drug allergies, new research suggests.
Where there is smoke, there may be developmental problems for kids
(Medical Xpress) -- The dangers of cigarette smoking are common knowledge. And when it comes to smoking while pregnant, life-threatening health hazards extend to the fetus and newborn.
Teaching fat cells to burn calories
(Medical Xpress) -- In the war against obesity, one’s own fat cells may seem an unlikely ally, but new research from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) suggests ordinary fat cells can be reengineered to burn calories.
Cannabinoid 2 receptors regulate impulsive behavior
A new study lead by the Neuroscience Institute of Alicante reveals how manipulating the endocannabinoid system can modulate high levels of impulsivity. This is the main problem in psychiatric illnesses such a schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and substance abuse.
New way to image bleeding in arteries of the brain
New research from the University of Calgary's Hotchkiss Brain Institute shows that by using a CT scan (computerized tomography), doctors can predict which patients are at risk of continued bleeding in the brain after a stroke. This vital information will allow doctors to utilize the most powerful blood clotting medications for those with the highest risk.
Discovery of brain's natural resistance to drugs may offer clues to treating addition
A single injection of cocaine or methamphetamine in mice caused their brains to put the brakes on neurons that generate sensations of pleasure, and these cellular changes lasted for at least a week, according to research by scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
Aging, overweight people stay happy, says new study
Growing older and being overweight are not necessarily associated with a decrease in mental well-being, according to a cross-cultural study looking at quality of life and health status in the US and the UK.
Does moderate wine consumption improve lung function?
A research team from the Netherlands assessed the impact of wine and resveratrol (a natural polyphenol found in high quantities in red wine) on lung function. It also looked at genetic factors and mechanisms by which resveratrol might be absorbed by the body and its possible effect on longevity of life. The authors report that pure resveratrol intake was associated with higher lung volumes and that white wine intake (but not red wine intake) and was associated with lower risk of airway obstruction. They report that the genetic factors studied did not relate to the associations found.
Mom's voice may improve the health of premature babies
When babies are born prematurely, they are thrust into a hospital environment that while highly successful at saving their lives, is not exactly the same as the mother's womb where ideal development occurs. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is equipped with highly skilled care givers and incubators that regulate temperature and humidity, but Amir Lahav, ScD, PhD, director of the Neonatal Research Lab at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) thought that something was missing - simulation of the maternal sounds that a baby would hear in the womb. Now, new research conducted by Lahav and colleagues links exposure to an audio recording of mom's heartbeat and her voice to lower incidence of cardiorespiratory events in preterm infants. This research is published online in The Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine.
Healthy aging begins in the womb: Scientists investigate stress in pregnancy on brain aging
Ageing is a complex process involving physical, psychological, and environmental factors. Scientists believe that ageing can be programmed in the womb. One example of stress during pregnancy is the administration of glucocorticoids, i. e. synthetic stress hormones to accelerate fetal lung maturation in premature labor to allow breathing after birth. Could exposure to these stress hormones have an effect on health later in life?
FDA links once-promising pain drugs to bone decay
Some of the world's largest drugmakers will face an uphill battle next week in their bid to revive a class of experimental arthritis drugs that have been sidelined by safety concerns for nearly two years.
Maternal obesity may influence brain development of premature infants
Maternal obesity may contribute to cognitive impairment in extremely premature babies, according to a new study by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
Want to limit aggression? Practice self-control
Feeling angry and annoyed with others is a daily part of life, but most people don't act on these impulses. What keeps us from punching line-cutters or murdering conniving co-workers? Self-control. A new review article in Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, examines the psychological research and finds that it's possible to deplete self-control—or to strengthen it by practice.
Team gains understanding of white matter in infants receiving heart surgery
A collaborative team of researchers at Children's National Medical Center are making progress in understanding how to protect infants needing cardiac surgery from white matter injury, which impacts the nervous system. The synergistic team from the Children's National Heart Institute and Center for Neuroscience Research at Children's National Medical Center was led by Nobuyuki Ishibashi, MD, Joseph Scafidi, DO, Richard Jonas, MD, and Vittorio Gallo, PhD. The study, published online in the January edition of Circulation, identifies the stages of white matter development, as well as the areas and cells of the brain that are impacted by the amount of oxygen and any inflammation in infants with complex cardiac issues that affect brain oxygenation and cause swelling.
Vaccination strategy may hold key to ridding HIV infection from immune system
Using human immune system cells in the lab, AIDS experts at Johns Hopkins have figured out a way to kill off latent forms of HIV that hide in infected T cells long after antiretroviral therapy has successfully stalled viral replication to undetectable levels in blood tests.
Could a NOSH-aspirin-a-day keep cancer away?
The humble aspirin may soon have a new role. Scientists from The City College of New York have developed a new aspirin compound that has great promise to be, not only an extremely potent cancer-fighter, but even safer than the classic medicine cabinet staple.
Researchers crack degeneration process that leads to Alzheimer's
A research group led by Dr. A. Claudio Cuello of McGill University's Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, has uncovered a critical process in understanding the degeneration of brain cells sensitive to Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study, published in the February issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, suggests that this discovery could help develop alternative AD therapies.
Poll: Health overhaul unpopular, but not as feared
(AP) -- Nearly two years after President Barack Obama signed landmark legislation to cover the uninsured, a new poll finds his health care overhaul is neither better liked nor better understood.
New pig model may lead to progress in treating debilitating eye disease
A newly developed, genetically modified pig may hold the keys to the development of improved treatments and possibly even a cure for retinitis pigmentosa (RP), the most common inherited retinal disease in the United States. The pig model was developed by researchers in the University of Louisville Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences and at the National Swine Resource and Research Center at the University of Missouri.
Study pinpoints effects of different doses of an ADHD drug, finds higher doses may harm learning
New research with monkeys sheds light on how the drug methylphenidate may affect learning and memory in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Hisss and hers: When women are best at spotting snakes
Women who have just finished ovulating are better at detecting snakes than at other times of their menstrual cycle, according to an unusual study that sheds light on in-built reflexes for survival.
Hormone-disrupting chemicals found in many household products: study
(HealthDay) -- Tests of more than 200 common household products found that the products contain chemicals that research suggests may be linked to asthma and hormone disruption, researchers report.
Losing hour over weekend may put heart at risk Monday
(HealthDay) -- Not only do you lose an hour of sleep after the clocks move ahead to daylight saving time this weekend, you may also be at increased risk for a heart attack, an expert warns.
Use of stem cells, conditioning induces immune tolerance
(HealthDay) -- A novel approach using a bioengineered mobilized cellular product enriched with hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and tolerogenic graft facilitating cells (FCs) in combination with nonmyeloablative conditioning is safe and practical for inducing immune tolerance after transplantation, according to a study published in the March 7 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
Let's raise a glass to, well, what's in the glass: The benefits of alcohol in stroke risk
According to new research from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), light-to-moderate alcohol consumption was associated with a lower risk of stroke in women.
Drug helps purge hidden HIV virus, study shows
A team of researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have successfully flushed latent HIV infection from hiding, with a drug used to treat certain types of lymphoma.
Researchers find 5 risk biomarkers for Crohn's disease in Jews of Eastern European descent
In the largest study of its kind, researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have discovered five new genetic mutations associated with Crohn's disease in Jews of Eastern European descent, also known as Ashkenazi Jews. The findings, which appear in the March 8 online edition of PLoS Genetics, are the first step in an attempt to explain why the prevalence of Crohn's disease is nearly four times higher in Ashkenazi Jews than in other populations.
Mathematical model describes the collaboration of individual neurons
How do neurons in the brain communicate with each other? One common theory suggests that individual cells do not exchange signals among each other, but rather that exchange takes place between groups of cells. Researchers from Japan, the United States and Germany have now developed a mathematical model that can be used to test this assumption. Their results have been published in the current issue of the journal PLoS Computational Biology.
Scientists discover effects of PD-1 blockade on ART therapy in SIV-infected monkeys
Scientists have discovered that blocking PD-1 (programmed death-1), an immune molecule that inhibits the immune response to viral infections, can have a significant effect on HIV-like illness in nonhuman primates.
Men respond more aggressively than women to stress and it's all down to a single gene
The pulse quickens, the heart pounds and adrenalin courses through the veins, but in stressful situations is our reaction controlled by our genes, and does it differ between the sexes? Australian scientists, writing in BioEssays, believe the SRY gene, which directs male development, may promote aggression and other traditionally male behavioural traits resulting in the fight-or-flight reaction to stress.
Cancer genes differ in different parts of a tumour
(Medical Xpress) -- Taking a sample from just one part of a tumour may not give a full picture of its ‘genetic landscape’, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Do you hear what I hear?
(Medical Xpress) -- In both animals and humans, vocal signals used for communication contain a wide array of different sounds that are determined by the vibrational frequencies of vocal cords. For example, the pitch of someone's voice, and how it changes as they are speaking, depends on a complex series of varying frequencies. Knowing how the brain sorts out these different frequencies—which are called frequency-modulated (FM) sweeps—is believed to be essential to understanding many hearing-related behaviors, like speech. Now, a pair of biologists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has identified how and where the brain processes this type of sound signal.
New throat cancer gene uncovered
Researchers at King's College London and Hiroshima University, Japan, have identified a specific gene linked to throat cancer following a genetic study of a family with 10 members who have developed the condition.
Clot-busting enzyme plays 'peek-a-boo' with blood clots
By discovering how a blood clot-busting enzyme is switched on, researchers have unlocked a century-old atomic riddle that could lead to new treatments for clotting and bleeding disorders, and some cancers.
New powerful tool measures metabolites in living cells
By engineering cells to express a modified RNA called "Spinach," researchers have imaged small-molecule metabolites in living cells and observed how their levels change over time. Metabolites are the products of individual cell metabolism. The ability to measure their rate of production could be used to recognize a cell gone metabolically awry, as in cancer, or identify the drug that can restore the cell's metabolites to normal.
SIV's natural hosts reveal how humans might better manage HIV infection
Some monkeys can survive infection by SIV, a relative of HIV, and not develop AIDS. Their immune systems appear to display a pattern of "peaceful coexistence" rather than the all-out conflict provoked by HIV when it infects humans.
Bias in decision-making leads to poor choices and possibly depression
When faced with making a complicated decision, our automatic instinct to avoid misfortune can result in missing out on rewards, and could even contribute to depression, according to new research.
Deeper view of HIV reveals impact of early mutations
Mutations in HIV that develop during the first few weeks of infection may play a critical role in undermining a successful early immune response, a finding that reveals the importance of vaccines targeting regions of the virus that are less likely to mutate. A new study in the journal PLoS Pathogens, led by researchers at the Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, MIT and Harvard and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, applied the same next-generation technologies that have revolutionized sequencing of the human genome to study how HIV adapts within the first few weeks after infection.
Discovery of hair-cell roots suggests the brain modulates sound sensitivity
The hair cells of the inner ear have a previously unknown "root" extension that may allow them to communicate with nerve cells and the brain to regulate sensitivity to sound vibrations and head position, researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine have discovered. Their finding is reported online in advance of print in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Biology news
Under-ice habitat important for Antarctic krill
The importance of the under-ice habitat for Antarctic krill was probably under-estimated in the past and emphasise the susceptibility of this ecological key species to changes in the sea ice habitat induced by climate warming. This was the main conclusion of Antarctic research of IMARES, part of Wageningen UR, published on 23rd February 2012 in the online journal PLoS ONE.
Barking up the wrong tree
Besides attacking North America’s lodgepole pines, a combination of climate change and the mountain pine beetle are threatening to wipe out the remaining population of Alberta’s whitebark pine—a tree endangered across North America.
Herbs Made Easy gives new twist on homegrown spices
Herbs can be fun to buy and easy to grow, but how to use them sometimes puzzles home gardeners, Texas AgriLife Extension Service specialists note.
Wash your mouth out with silver
Yeasts which cause hard-to-treat mouth infections are killed using silver nanoparticles in the laboratory, scientists have found. These yeast infections, caused by Candida albicans and Candida glabrata target the young, old and immuno-compromised. Professor Mariana Henriques, University of Minho, and her colleagues hope to test silver nanoparticles in mouthwash and dentures as a potential preventative measure against these infections.
Sick Alaska seal shows possible spread of disease
(AP) -- Federal scientists said Wednesday that a nearly bald, lethargic seal recovered from the southeast Alaska coast showed the same symptoms of a disease that sickened ringed seals and Pacific walrus on the state's north coast last year.
Better understanding of triangular hormonal relationship between crop, fungus and parasite
Parasitic plants ruin crops and threaten the food production for some three hundred million people not only in Africa, but also elsewhere in the world. Developing crops are increasingly falling prey to these plants, which literally suck the life out of them. Researchers from Wageningen UR (University & Research centre) have joined forces with colleagues from Switzerland to try to get to the bottom of this problem. In this week’s Nature, they report on the regulating effect of a new protein that may make crops less vulnerable to these parasites.
First aid for winemakers
Whether or not a wine turns out to be as outstanding as the winemaker hopes depends on the quality of the yeasts; they control the fermentation process and create the distinctive flavor. A new sensor allows winemakers to establish whether the grape must contains the right sort of microorganisms before fermentation has even begun.
Fly research gives insight into human stem cell development and cancer
Stem cells provide a recurring topic among the scientific presentations at the Genetics Society of America's 53rd Annual Drosophila Research Conference, March 7-11 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers. Specifically, researchers are trying to determine how, within organs, cells specialize while stem cells maintain tissues and enable them to repair damage and respond to stress or aging. Four talks, one on Thursday morning and three on Sunday morning, present variations on this theme.
Insect DNA offers tiny clues about animals' changing habitats
The long-term impact of climate change on natural communities of wild animals could be better understood thanks to a new study.
Clock gene helps plants prepare for spring flowering, study shows
Scientists have made fresh discoveries about the processes that govern plants' internal body clocks and help them adjust to changing seasons, triggering the arrival of flowers in spring.
Brucellosis pathogen persists in Botswana buffalo
The term "bush meat" conjures up images of exotic animals hunted by men in traditional dress using handmade weapons. But in reality, bush meat is a lot closer to our North American venison, quail, and pheasant — game hunted legally using modern weapons.
Sexual reproduction can increase genetic variation but reduce species diversity
The role of sex in driving genetic variation and generating higher biodiversity has been debated for over a century. Speeding up evolution may increase genetic variation, but surprisingly it can reduce species diversity, according to a study led by Carlos J. Melian from Eawag – Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Switzerland.
'Chum cam' underwater video survey shows that reef sharks thrive in marine reserves
A team of scientists, led by the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at Stony Brook University, used video cameras to count Caribbean reef sharks (Carcharhinus perezi) inside and outside marine reserves on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef in the Caribbean Sea. Using survey data collected from 200 baited remote underwater video (BRUV) cameras, nicknamed "chum cams," the scientists compared the relative abundance of these reef sharks in two marine reserves with those in two areas where fishing is allowed, and demonstrated that the sharks were more abundant in the reserves.
The Darwin-Wallace mystery solved
Thanks to a generous gift, National University of Singapore study traced historical shipping records and vindicated Darwin from accusations of deceit.
Why do plant roots grow down and not up?
(PhysOrg.com) -- It is essential for roots to grow down so they can explore the soil and maximise their water uptake. But how they know that is a question that has fascinated scientists since Darwin. Now scientists led by The University of Nottingham have found the answer.
Scientists discover how a bacterial pathogen breaks down barriers to enter and infect cells
Scientists from the Schepens Eye Research Institute, a subsidiary of Mass. Eye and Ear and affiliate of Harvard Medical School, have found for the first time that a bacterial pathogen can literally mow down protective molecules, known as mucins, on mucus membranes to enter and infect a part of the body. Their landmark study, published in the March 7, 2012 PLoS ONE, describes how they discovered that an "epidemic" strain of the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, which causes conjunctivitis, secretes an enzyme to damage mucins and breach the mucosal membrane to infect and inflame the eye.
Genetic tests show Central Australian palm trees diverged from Northern trees more recently than thought
(PhysOrg.com) -- For years, tourists visiting central Australia’s famous Alice Springs have been told that the palm trees in the area are relics left over from the days millions of years ago when Australia’s interior was a tropical zone. Unfortunately, evidence has shown that the old story just isn’t true. Instead, the red cabbage palm, as it’s known locally, came via seeds somehow carried south nearly 1000 kilometers from palms that grow in the north. Now new evidence from a group of Australian and Japanese researchers shows that the red cabbage palm has been diverging from its northern parents for just 15,000 to 30,000 years. They have published their findings in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
The dance of the chaperones: Scientists identify key player of protein folding
Proteins are the molecular building blocks and machinery of cells and involved in practically all biological processes. To fulfil their tasks, they need to be folded into a complicated three-dimensional structure. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB) in Martinsried near Munich, Germany, have now analysed one of the key players of this folding process: the molecular chaperone DnaK. "The understanding of these mechanisms is of great interest in the light of the many diseases in which folding goes awry, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's," says Ulrich Hartl, MPIB director. The work of the researchers has now been published in Cell Reports.
Honey bees study finds that insects have personality too
A new study in Science suggests that thrill-seeking is not limited to humans and other vertebrates. Some honey bees, too, are more likely than others to seek adventure. The brains of these novelty-seeking bees exhibit distinct patterns of gene activity in molecular pathways known to be associated with thrill-seeking in humans, researchers report.
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