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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for May 11, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Sumatra earthquake mysteries examined- As population exploded, more rare genes entered human genome
- In metallic glasses, researchers find a few new atomic structures
- Digital 'wallets' proliferate at cellphone show
- Psychologist: Achievement goals can be shaped by environment
- New screening technique yields elusive compounds to block immune-regulating enzyme
- New bacterium forms intracellular minerals
- Penn astrophysicists zero in on gravity theory
- Transformer Pad TF300 a weak replacement for laptop
- First satellite tag study for manta rays reveals habits and hidden journeys of ocean giants
- Internet allows virtual Giza tour in 3D
- Gene therapy for hearing loss: Potential and limitations
- Researchers discover novel approach to stimulate immune cells
- How nature shapes the birth of stars
- Feathers show their true colors
Space & Earth news
Laos says building of controversial dam on hold
Laos has postponed construction of a controversial dam on the Mekong, an official said Thursday, dismissing fears that the work was going ahead despite growing regional opposition.
Image: Saturn's brightly reflective moon Enceladus
(Phys.org) -- A brightly reflective Enceladus appears before Saturn's rings, while the planet's larger moon Titan looms in the distance.
Hunting for bomb-eating bugs
University of Arizona researchers are studying the environmental effects of insensitive munitions compounds, or IMCs, which are new, more stable explosives that won't detonate in response to heat or shock.
Parts of Mt Fuji 'could collapse' if fault shifts
Parts of Japan's Mount Fuji, a national symbol and key tourist attraction, could collapse if a newly-discovered faultline under the mountain shifts, a government-commissioned report has warned.
Nasa's new carbon-counting instrument leaves the nest
(Phys.org) -- Its construction now complete, the science instrument that is the heart of NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) spacecraft - NASA's first mission dedicated to studying atmospheric carbon dioxide - has left its nest at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., and has arrived at its integration and test site in Gilbert, Ariz.
Meteorite discovery spurs hunt for more pieces
(Phys.org) -- Meteorite fragments were recently scattered around Sutter’s Mill in California, the same region where the first nugget of gold was found that sparked the Gold Rush in 1848. Scientists believe the meteorites may hold answers to unsolved mysteries about our solar system and the origins of molecules necessary for life. When the Gold Rush began, people headed to California seeking their fortune. Now, with this meteorite hunt, people once again have flocked to this area to search for scientific treasures.
Juno spacecraft images 'Big Dipper'
(Phys.org) -- In England it is known as the "Plough," in Germany the "Great Cart," and in Malaysia the "Seven Ploughs." Since humanity first turned its eyes skyward, the seven northern hemisphere stars that compose the "Big Dipper" have been a welcome and familiar introduction to the heavens.
NASA conducts tests on Orion service module
(Phys.org) -- Engineers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center are testing parts of the Orion service module to ensure the spacecraft can withstand the harsh realities of deep space missions.
The Sun's crowning glory
(Phys.org) -- Those who experience a total solar eclipse are overwhelmed as they look at the circle of light that surrounds our Sun. Laypeople may find it enchanting, but researchers have been racking their brains over it for decades. Why, they wonder, does this gaseous layer – the corona – have a temperature of several million degrees? Sami K. Solanki, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Katlenburg-Lindau, and his team are tackling the problem with ingenious observation methods and computer simulations.
North Atlantic storm patterns throw light on 1987 gale
The cyclone that brought about the devastating winds that battered the UK in the great storm of October 1987 was exceptional in both its strength and path across the south of the country.
OD and SH - two new molecules in space
(Phys.org) -- The discovery of two new molecules and a detailed analysis of various phases of star formation – this is what the observatory SOFIA can report after completing its first series of science flights. The scientific results are now being published in a special issue of the European Journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. The GREAT instrument has been developed by a consortium of German research institutes led by Rolf Güsten from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy.
How nature shapes the birth of stars
(Phys.org) -- Using state of the art computer simulations, a team of astronomers from the University of Bonn in Germany have found the first evidence that the way in which stars form depends on their birth environment. The team, based at the University of Bonn in Germany, publish their results in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Penn astrophysicists zero in on gravity theory
(Phys.org) -- Most people take gravity for granted. But for University of Pennsylvania astrophysicist Bhuvnesh Jain, the nature of gravity is the question of a lifetime. As scientists have been able to see farther and deeper into the universe, the laws of gravity have been revealed to be under the influence of an unexplained force.
Sumatra earthquake mysteries examined
(Phys.org) -- An earthquake in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia on 11th April was unusually powerful, at magnitude 8.6, for a “strike-slip” type of quake, and a new analysis of the earthquake and its 8.2 magnitude after-shock has proposed that some of the assumptions made about earthquakes may need re-thinking.
Technology news
Green growth is not just for rich nations: World Bank
The World Bank urged global governments Thursday to heed the environment when pursuing prosperity, rejecting what it called a myth that green growth is a luxury most countries cannot afford.
Dark assassin videogame 'Dishonored' unveiled
Bethesda Softworks on Thursday announced that its "Dishonored" videogame featuring a betrayed bodyguard turned supernatural assassin will hit in October.
Engineering students using such design tools as SMART boards are more successful at completing projects: study
(Phys.org) -- Classrooms have become smarter, thanks to the use of digital devices such as computers, SMART boards, and other handheld devices. But are these technological advancements birthing a new and smarter generation of engineers? According to a University of Pittsburgh study, yes: Students using such tools are more successful than those who don’t because the technologies promote better working memory and more flexible and transitional thinking.
Exploding the myths of manufacturing
The manufacturing sector, its advocates note, is burdened by negative stereotypes. Outsiders often mistakenly think that manufacturing consists of jobs that are “dumb, dirty and dull,” as MIT President Susan Hockfield said at a conference on the subject this week.
Power storage buffers fluctuating solar power
Siemens has developed an energy-storage system that can act as a buffer in electrical power grids. The aim is to provide a buffer against short-term fluctuations in output from renewable energy sources. Such fluctuations can last for seconds or several minutes long. The modular designed Siestorage battery is based on lithium-ion rechargeable battery technology and fits into a normal shipping container. In its big layout it stores 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity. That's about the average daily power consumption of 50 households. The Italian power company Enel recently switched on the first Siestorage installation, which has a capacity of one megawatt. Enel is using the installation, which is connected to its primary distribution network, to study how voltage can be stabilized.
Fighting ecological invaders efficiently
Siemens is using a special water-treatment technique to make ship traffic more environmentally friendly. By disinfecting the ballast water in ships, a system named Sicure protects marine environments from damage due to the introduction of alien plant and animal species. In addition, Sicure can also process cooling water. This combination of features is unique worldwide. Siemens has now received full certification for Sicure from the International Maritime Organization (IMO). A new IMO guideline will require that all ocean-going ships be equipped with certified disinfecting equipment for sterilizing their ballast water. This regulation will mean that over 50,000 ships worldwide will have to be retrofitted in the near future.
Canada's Globe and Mail to erect online paywall
Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper has announced plans for an online paywall to generate extra revenue and has also asked staff to take unpaid leave amid an ongoing slide in advertising income.
Facebook co-founder Saverin gives up US citizenship
One of Facebook's co-founders, Eduardo Saverin, who stands to make a bundle in the social network's share offering has renounced his US citizenship, records showed.
Facebook in your mutual fund? It could be soon
(AP) -- Facebook can be a terrific way to connect with friends and family, a colossal drain on your time and productivity, or a little of both. Soon, another facet will emerge: investment opportunity.
Online scams cost $485 mn in US in 2011: survey
Online scams including identity theft schemes, "advance fee" and "romance fraud" cost Americans some $485 million in 2011, a report prepared for the FBI said Thursday.
Source: Yahoo CEO says he didn't mislead company
(AP) -- Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson is assuring his colleagues that he didn't supply the incorrect information that led the troubled Internet company to list a bogus college degree in his official biography, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Cloudy with a chance of pirates
Imagine being tasked with finding a nondescript gray car being driven somewhere in the United States. And imagine that your primary tools for finding that car are a few aircraft and a handful of vehicles of your own.
Panasonic loss balloons for record red ink
(AP) -- Panasonic's January-March losses ballooned 10-fold to 438 billion yen ($5 billion), completing a year of record red ink at the Japanese electronics maker battered by natural disasters and an ailing TV business.
Facebook buy of Instagram 'probed by US regulators'
Facebook's billion-dollar deal to buy the startup behind photo-sharing smartphone application Instagram has evidently caught the eye of US regulators.
Facebook spawns ecosystem of startups
To get the true measure of what's often called "The Facebook Effect," look beyond the company. Generally ignored in the klieg lights focused on Facebook's IPO is a growing ecosystem of other startups that are using the social network's 900 million users to launch their own businesses.
Fears of spying hinder China Mobile license
Concerned about possible cyber-spying, U.S. national security officials are debating whether to take the unprecedented step of recommending that a Chinese government-owned mobile phone giant be denied a license to offer international service to American customers.
Foxconn shows off changes at factory campus
The global controversy surrounding the treatment of assembly-line workers who manufacture iPhones and iPads - and just about every other consumer device - is triggering an unprecedented effort by Apple Inc. and its chief supplier, Foxconn, to lift the veil of secrecy that normally surrounds their operations in China and highlight how they have improved conditions for those employees.
Facebook takes small step into cloud storage
Facebook is slowly moving into the cloud.
Facebook updates data use policy to give more info
(AP) -- Facebook is updating its data use policy in an attempt to give users more clarity on how the information they share is used by the company. The move comes a week ahead of its expected initial public offering of stock.
For smartphone users: location, location, location
More smartphones means more Americans are using the devices to get location information or to share their whereabouts with friends, a study showed Friday.
US spy agency can keep mum on Google ties: court
The top-secret US National Security Agency is not required to reveal any deal it may have with Google to help protect against cyber attacks, an appeals court ruled Friday.
Rovio to launch new game after 'Angry Birds' success
Finnish entertainment media company Rovio, creator of the global hit game "Angry Birds", said Friday it will launch successor "Amazing Alex", a remake of an existing idea, this year.
Digital 'wallets' proliferate at cellphone show
Cash, coins and credit cards are so Twentieth Century. At least, that's the opinion of the electronics manufacturers, phone companies, banks and credit card issuers that expect cellphones to be the main way consumers pay for purchases in the not-so-distant future.
Volkswagen Passat sets world record for longest distance on one tank of clean diesel fuel
The world's most fuel-efficient couple has done it again. John and Helen Taylor were determined to break the record for the farthest distance traveled on a single tank of fuel. They decided to attempt the record in the U.S. with a stock 2012 Volkswagen Passat SE TDI Clean Diesel vehicle equipped with a six-speed manual transmission. The previous record for the most miles covered on a single tank of diesel was 1526.6 miles, achieved with a VW Passat 1.6 BlueMotion diesel in Europe.
University research team creates augmented reality sandbox (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) -- Most children at some point in their schooling are taught about the water table and many wind up being tasked with creating a model of some sort to represent how it all works. Some use clay, but many more likely use sand, as it’s far easier and faster than most anything else. Now researchers at UC Davis have taken that model to new extremes by building a sandbox system that is capable of automatically adding augmented reality real-time coloring to the sand to indicate altitude and moving water as changes are made to the terrain with a hand or small tool.
Several antennas in one: A major innovation for mobile communications
(Phys.org) -- Scientists at EPFL have developed a single antenna that is capable of transmitting the same data as a two-antenna system. This achievement will be more than useful for future communication systems.
Internet safe spot planned at ".secure" domain
Internet security specialists have applied for a ".secure" domain that they plan to turn into an online safe zone where bad guys aren't allowed.
Medicine & Health news
Inducing labor can reduce birth complications without increasing Cesareans
Induction of labour beyond 37 weeks of pregnancy can reduce perinatal mortality (death before, during or shortly after birth) without increasing caesarean section rates, finds a study published on BMJ today.
Preventable infectious diseases caused almost two-thirds of global child under-5 deaths in 2010
In 2010, preventable infectious diseases were responsible for almost two-thirds of the 7.6 million deaths of children under five worldwide, according to new estimates published Online First in The Lancet. Although child deaths have declined by 26% (2 million) since 2000, and despite major reductions in some of the leading causes of death (diarrhoea, pneumonia, and measles), few countries are going to achieve international targets for improving child survival with less than 3 years before the 2015 deadline for Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4*. Indeed, only tetanus, measles, and HIV/AIDS have declined sufficiently to meet MDG4, yet they account for just a small fraction of global under 5 mortality.
Genetic predictor of breast cancer response to chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a major first line defense against breast cancer. However a patient's response is often variable and unpredictable. A study published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Medical Genomics shows that 'gene expression signatures' for TOP2A and β-tubulin can be used to predict the outcome of chemotherapy.
Researchers discover that obesity hinders kidney donation
Researchers at the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine and Feinstein Institute for Medical Research conducted a retrospective analysis which found that morbid obesity impedes kidney donation. In fact, in the analysis of 104 potential living kidney donors, 23 (22 percent) donors were classified as morbidly obese, only three (13 percent) of whom were able to successfully lose weight and donate their kidney. This data will be presented at the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) 2012 Spring Clinical Meetings, to be held from May 9-13 in Washington, DC.
Researchers discover how to overcome poor response to radiotherapy caused by low haemoglobin levels
Barcelona, Spain: Patients with head and neck cancer and a low haemoglobin (Hb) level do not respond well to radiotherapy and therefore both control of their tumour and disease-free survival are compromised. Now researchers from The Netherlands have found that the problems caused by low Hb in these patients can be overcome by the use of a treatment known as ARCON therapy, in which accelerated radiotherapy is combined with carbogen (a mixture of carbon dioxide and oxygen) and the water-soluble vitamin nicotinamide [1].
Alternative approach to medical education may increase interest in and meet demand for careers in geriatric health
(Medical Xpress) -- Medical education that focuses on attitude-based learning may increase interest in geriatric health careers, according to a new study from researchers at Rice University, the University of Pittsburgh and the University of California – San Diego.
Improving body satisfaction can help prevent eating disorders and obesity
(Medical Xpress) -- In a study that examined the relationship between body dissatisfaction, body mass index (BMI) and binge eating in overweight and obese adolescent girls, Kendrin R. Sonneville, ScD, RD, researcher at Boston Children’s Hospital, discovered that the less satisfied a girl is with her body, the more unhealthy weight she is likely to gain and the more likely she is to develop a pattern of binge eating.
A solution to a life-threatening allergy
For around one in 100 Australians who have food allergy, simply ingesting a small amount of pasta containing shellfish can be life-threatening.
Cancer in the elderly: Research fails to keep up with demographic change
Barcelona, Spain: New research showing that almost half of 13,000 patients with head and neck cancers had other health-related problems at the same time is one of the presentations in a special session at the 31st conference of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO 31) [1] today (Friday). The session will highlight the effect of the demographic time bomb caused by an increasingly ageing population.
Hospital readmission rates linked to availability of care, socioeconomics
Differences in regional hospital readmission rates for heart failure are more closely tied to the availability of care and socioeconomics than to hospital performance or patients' degree of illness, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Quality of Care & Outcomes Research Scientific Sessions 2012.
Highly targeted irradiation as good as whole breast radiotherapy in early stage cancer
Barcelona, Spain: Using a concentrated, highly targeted dose of radiation to the breast has equally good results as irradiating the whole area, with no adverse effects on survival and a much better cosmetic outcome, Hungarian researchers have found. Reporting the ten-year results of a randomised trial, Professor Csaba Polgár, MD, Director of the Centre for Radiotherapy, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, will tell the World Congress of Brachytherapy [1 & 2] today (Friday) that he believes that accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) could be offered to many more breast cancer patients, resulting in fewer side effects and major cost savings to healthcare systems.
Indian expert panel to probe drugs regulator
India's Health Ministry said Friday it had set up an expert panel to review the operations of its drug regulatory agency, accused of colluding with pharmaceutical firms to approve drugs without trials.
Vitamin K2: New hope for Parkinson's patients?
Neuroscientist Patrik Verstreken, associated with VIB and KU Leuven, succeeded in undoing the effect of one of the genetic defects that leads to Parkinson's using vitamin K2. His discovery gives hope to Parkinson's patients. This research was done in collaboration with colleagues from Northern Illinois University (US) and will be published this evening on the website of the authorative journal Science.
High-fat diet lowered blood sugar and improved blood lipids in diabetics
People with Type 2 diabetes are usually advised to keep a low-fat diet. Now, a study at Linköping University shows that food with a lot of fat and few carbohydrates could have a better effect on blood sugar levels and blood lipids.
Revenue-driven surgery drives patients home too early
Revenue-driven surgery and poor planning drive some surgical patients home too early, concludes a pair of logistical studies conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business.
Scripps doctors study novel new device to diagnose irregular heartbeat
A study conducted at Scripps Health has found that a novel new heart monitoring device helped emergency room patients avoid unnecessary follow-up care. Scripps Health electrophysiologist Steven Higgins, MD, presented findings of the study titled, "Prevalence of Arrhythmias in Emergency Department Patients Discharged Using a Novel Ambulatory Cardiac Monitor", today at the Heart Rhythm Society's 33rd Annual Scientific Sessions in Boston.
2 molecular biologists get $500K medical prize
(AP) -- Two molecular biologists have been awarded the annual Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research.
Electronic medical record tool cuts down on unnecessary CT scans in ER patients with abdominal pain
A new electronic medical record tool that tallies patients' previous radiation exposure from CT scans helps reduce potentially unnecessary use of the tests among emergency room patients with abdominal pain, according to a study from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania that will be presented today at the annual meeting of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. The new study shows that when the tool is in use, patients are 10 percent less likely to undergo a CT scan, without increasing the number of patients who are admitted to the hospital.
Georgia woman, 24, battles flesh-eating disease
(AP) -- Whether she was hiking in the woods, growing organic vegetables or working on her master's degree in psychology, Aimee Copeland embraced her passions with determination and a constant smile that made friends wonder if she ever had bad days.
FDA advisers recommend approving weight loss drug
(AP) -- Advisers to government health regulators on Thursday recommended that that they approve sales of what would be the first new prescription weight-loss drug in the U.S. in more than a decade, despite concerns over cardiac risks.
Many women still smoke during pregnancy
(HealthDay) -- Too many American women still smoke during their pregnancies, a new report finds, and rates of such smoking vary widely depending on race.
Study adds to evidence on clot risks of non-oral contraceptives
A study published on BMJ website today adds to the evidence that certain non-oral hormonal contraceptives (e.g. skin patches, implants and vaginal rings) carry a higher risk of serious blood clots (known as venous thromboembolism) than others.
Don't lose sleep over weight, scientists say
A lack of sleep could make you fat, scientists said on Thursday.
FDA panel backs first pill to block HIV infection
The first drug shown to prevent HIV infection won the endorsement of a panel of federal advisers Thursday, clearing the way for a landmark approval in the 30-year fight against the virus that causes AIDS.
Maternal gluten sensitivity linked to schizophrenia risk in children
(Medical Xpress) -- Babies born to women with sensitivity to gluten appear to be at increased risk of developing schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders later in life, according to new findings from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and Johns Hopkins University, United States.
Research reveals link between red hair gene and rare birthmarks
(Medical Xpress) -- New research, using data from Children of the 90s (ALSPAC) at the University of Bristol, has identified that the gene causing red hair (MC1R) is more common in children with Congenital Melanocytic Naevi (CMN), a rare form of birthmark.
Meditation linked to better wellbeing and health, including mental health
(Medical Xpress) -- The experience of 'mental silence' is linked with better health outcomes and greater wellbeing according to a University of Sydney study.
Scientists discover 'switch' to boost anti-viral response to fight infectious diseases
Singapore scientists from Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI) under the Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) have for the first time, identified the molecular ‘switch’ that directly triggers the body’s first line of defence against pathogens, more accurately known as the body’s “innate immunity”. The scientists found that this ‘switch’ called Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) when turned on, activates the production of interferons - a potent class of virus killers that enables the body to fight harmful pathogens such as dengue and influenza viruses.
Mild traumatic brain injury may alter brain's neuronal circuit excitability and contribute to brain network dysfunction
Even mild head injuries can cause significant abnormalities in brain function that last for several days, which may explain the neurological symptoms experienced by some individuals who have experienced a head injury associated with sports, accidents or combat, according to a study by Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine researchers.
Advocates: HIV prevention pill could save lives
(AP) -- A pill to prevent HIV infection is already being given to some healthy people, but without government approval, it remains out of reach and too costly for many who need it.
Is combining hysterectomy and a tummy tuck safe?
(HealthDay) -- New research suggests that combining two very different surgeries -- a hysterectomy and a tummy tuck -- is relatively safe, with no major complications seen in 65 women who had both procedures at the same time.
Stem cell study shows promising results against heart failure
(HealthDay) -- A new treatment that involves spinning bone marrow stem cells to enhance their healing potential may help people with advanced heart failure feel and function better, a small study suggests.
Smell tests don't predict Alzheimer's, study finds
(HealthDay) -- Smell tests should not be used to predict Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, according to a new study.
Only half of meds taken by kids have 'adequate' safety info: study
(HealthDay) -- About half of medications used in children have little or no label information about drug effectiveness, safety or dosing in children, new research finds.
Early diagnosis of autism can lead to better treatment
(Medical Xpress) -- Autism awareness month has come and gone for 2012, but the need for awareness has not. The struggles for families affected by the disorder remain, and the number of those affected continues to rise.
Confirmation of repeated patterns of neurons indicates stereotypical organization throughout brain's cerebral cortex
Neurons are arranged in periodic patterns that repeat over large distances in two areas of the cerebral cortex, suggesting that the entire cerebral cortex has a stereotyped organization, reports a team of researchers led by Toshihiko Hosoya of the RIKEN Brain Science Institute. The entire cortex has a stereotypical layered structure with the same cell types arranged in the same way, but how neurons are organized in the other orientation—parallel to the brain’s surface—is poorly understood.
Study shows how immune cells rally defenses against infection while keeping harmful inflammatory reactions in check
T cells represent a significant component of the ‘muscle’ in the immune system, promoting aggressive action against perceived threats or restraining fellow immune cells from launching an unhealthy autoimmune response (Fig. 1). Dendritic cells (DCs) help to manage these cells, presenting bits of antigen to T cells in a context that allows them to react appropriately.
Astrocytes found to bridge gap between global brain activity and localized circuits
Global network activity in the brain modulates local neural circuitry via calcium signaling in non-neuronal cells called astrocytes (Fig. 1), according to research led by Hajime Hirase of the RIKEN Brain Science Institute. The finding clarifies the link between two important processes in the brain.
Study raises questions about use of anti-epilepsy drugs in newborns
A brain study in infant rats demonstrates that the anti-epilepsy drug phenobarbital stunts neuronal growth, which could prompt new questions about using the first-line drug to treat epilepsy in human newborns.
Scientists find differences in naked mole rat's protein disposers
The naked mole rat, a curiously strange, hairless rodent, lives many years longer than any other mouse or rat. Scientists at The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio's Barshop Institute of Longevity and Aging Studies continue to explore this mystery.
Molecular subtypes and genetic alterations may determine response to lung cancer therapy
Cancer therapies targeting specific molecular subtypes of the disease allow physicians to tailor treatment to a patient's individual molecular profile. But scientists are finding that in many types of cancer the molecular subtypes are more varied than previously thought and contain further genetic alterations that can affect a patient's response to therapy.
Study shows benefit of new maintenance therapy for multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma is a form of cancer where the plasma cells in the bone marrow grow out of control, causing damage to bones as well as predisposing patients to anemia, infection and kidney failure. A medical procedure called autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, commonly known as a stem cell transplant, is frequently an important treatment option for many patients.
FDA reviews first rapid, take-home test for HIV
The Food and Drug Administration is considering approval of the first over-the-counter HIV test that would allow consumers to quickly test themselves for the virus at home, without medical supervision.
DNA methylation level is marker of breast cancer risk
(HealthDay) -- Women with high levels of white blood cell (WBC) DNA methylation at the ATM loci have a significantly increased risk of breast cancer, regardless of family history or menopausal status, according a study published in the May 1 issue of Cancer Research.
Older people with dementia cared for mostly at home
(HealthDay) -- Many elderly people with dementia live and die at home rather than in nursing homes, a new study has found.
AIDS fight enters new phase with prevention pill
(AP) -- Condoms and other safe-sex practices have accomplished only so much. Now the 30-year battle against AIDS is on the verge of a radical new phase, with the government expected to endorse a once-a-day pill to prevent infection with the virus.
One-two punch knocks out aggressive breast cancer cells
Doctors have long known that treating patients with multiple cancer drugs often produces better results than treatment with just a single drug. Now, a study from MIT shows that the order and timing of drug administration can have a dramatic effect.
Psychologist: Achievement goals can be shaped by environment
A new study by Stanford psychologist Paul O'Keefe suggests that the culture of our learning and working environments can have long-term effects on our goals and motivation.
Gene therapy for hearing loss: Potential and limitations
Regenerating sensory hair cells, which produce electrical signals in response to vibrations within the inner ear, could form the basis for treating age- or trauma-related hearing loss. One way to do this could be with gene therapy that drives new sensory hair cells to grow.
As population exploded, more rare genes entered human genome
(Medical Xpress) -- As the Earth's human population has skyrocketed since the rise of agriculture some 10,000 years ago -- to 7 billion people from a few million -- so, too, has the number of rare genetic variants.
Biology news
Collaborative research team identifies safe upper level for vitamin A consumption for puppies
A collaborative team of researchers, working on behalf of the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF), has identified a safe upper level for vitamin A consumption for puppies. The research marks a significant step forward in the development of science-based recommendations for vitamin A levels for puppies and sheds new light on their distinct nutritional needs.
Encyclopedia of Life reaches historic 'one million species pages' milestone
The Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) has surged past one million pages of content with the addition of hundreds of thousands of new images and specimen data from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). Launched in 2007 with the support of leading scientific organizations around the world, the Encyclopedia of Life provides global access to knowledge about life on Earth by building a web page for each of the 1.9 million recognized species.
Kenyan ranches relocating rhinos in fear of poachers
Claus Mortensen is a private Kenyan rancher with a passion -- endangered rhinos -- and now a mission: to save his herd from slaughter by ruthless poachers who sell their horns to Asia, where they are prized as a miracle drug.
Navy study: Sonar, blasts might hurt more sea life
(AP) -- The U.S. Navy may hurt more dolphins and whales by using sonar and explosives in Hawaii and California under a more thorough analysis that reflects new research and covers naval activities in a wider area than previous studies.
Living longer -- variability in infection-fighting genes can be a boon for male survival
Females of mammals (including humans) tend to outlive males, a circumstance that is usually attributed to males´ more aggressive and hence energy-depleting behaviour, especially when they compete for females. This might also explain why males of many species usually show a higher parasite burden than females. Therefore, high variability of immune genes, supposed to reduce susceptibility to pathogens, may be more important for males.
Barley takes a leaf out of reindeer's book in the land of the midnight sun
Barley grown in Scandinavian countries is adapted in a similar way to reindeer to cope with the extremes of day length at high latitudes. Researchers have found a genetic mutation in some Scandinavian barley varieties that disrupts the circadian clock that barley from southern regions use to time their growing season. Just as reindeer have dropped the clock in adapting to extremely long days, so has Scandinavian barley to grow successfully in that region's short growing season. This new knowledge may be useful in efforts to adapt crops for regions where the growing season is short.
The absence of elephants and rhinoceroses reduces biodiversity in tropical forests
The progressive disappearance of seed-dispersing animals like elephants and rhinoceroses puts the structural integrity and biodiversity of the tropical forest of South-East Asia at risk. With the help of Spanish researchers, an international team of experts has confirmed that not even herbivores like tapirs can replace them.
Increasing predator-friendly land can help farmers reduce costs
Having natural habitat in farming areas that supports ladybugs could help increase their abundance in crops where they control pests and help farmers reduce their costs, says a Michigan State University study.
Genetic packing: Successful stem cell differentiation requires DNA compaction, study finds
(Phys.org) -- New research findings show that embryonic stem cells unable to fully compact the DNA inside them cannot complete their primary task: differentiation into specific cell types that give rise to the various types of tissues and structures in the body.
Japanese researchers using particle accelerator to breed salt resistant rice
(Phys.org) -- Japanese researchers at the Riken Nishina Centre for Accelerator-Based Science have been using their particle accelerator to cause mutations in rice for over two decades with the aim of breeding rice that is more resistant to saltwater. Up to now their results have been limited; just one new salt resistant rice variety has been created and it faced mixed reactions regarding taste. But now, because of the tsunami in that country last year that contaminated a lot of farmland with seawater, efforts there have picked up and researchers are reportedly coming close to developing a whole host of new saltwater resistant strains.
Queen of spades key to new evolutionary hypothesis
(Phys.org) -- Sleight of hand is a trait that belongs mainly to humans. Or so scientists thought. Studies of common, microscopic ocean plankton named Prochlorococcus show that humans aren't the only ones who can play a mean game of cards.
New bacterium forms intracellular minerals
A new species of photosynthetic bacterium has come to light: it is able to control the formation of minerals (calcium, magnesium, barium and strontium carbonates) within its own organism. Published in Science on April 27, 2012, a study by French researchers reveals the existence of this new type of biomineralization, whose mechanism is still unknown. This finding has important implications for the interpretation of the ancient fossil record.
First satellite tag study for manta rays reveals habits and hidden journeys of ocean giants
Using the latest satellite tracking technology, conservationists from the Wildlife Conservation Society, the University of Exeter (UK), and the Government of Mexico have completed a ground-breaking study on a mysterious ocean giant: the manta ray.
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