Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for July 19, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Researchers devise a way to a create graphene transistor- In the insect brain, dopamine-releasing nerve cells are crucial to the formation of both punished, rewarded memories
- Experimental evidence for the mantle plume hypothesis: X-rays used to illuminate the origin of volcanic hotspots
- Innovation promises to cut massive power use at big data companies in a flash
- Scientists use X-ray imaging to observe running batteries in action
- Earliest spiral galaxy ever seen: a shocking discovery
- Raspberry Pi gets customized OS called Raspbian
- Researchers provide highest-resolution observations yet of the complex 2012 Sumatra earthquake
- Study finds heat is source of 'Pioneer anomaly'
- By decoding brain activity, scientists read monkeys' inner thoughts
- Eye implants make vision-restoring progress
- Life science businessmen predict genetically enhanced athletes will soon compete in the Olympics
- Child's behavior linked to father-infant interactions, study shows
- New ultracapacitor delivers a jolt of energy at a constant voltage
- Gannet foraging sharpens thinking about marine conservation
Space & Earth news
Image: The Apollo-Soyuz test project: An orbital partnership is born
(Phys.org) -- On July 17, 1975, something momentous happened: two Cold War-rivals met in space. When their respective spacecraft rendezvoused and docked, a new era of cooperative ventures in space began.
Profiteers of climate change in the Arctic
Climate change has made it easier to gain access to the Arctic for the extraction of fossil fuels. It is also opening up shipping routes that were once mostly covered by ice. As an analysis by ETH Zurich’s 'Center for Security Studies' (CSS) now shows, the main winner from these new realities in the Arctic is Russia.
NRL brings inertia of space to robotics research
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Spacecraft Engineering Department's space robotics research facility recently took possession of a one-of-a-kind 75,000 pound Gravity Offset Table (GOT) made from a single slab of solid granite.
NASA sees Tropical Storm Khanun weakening for South Korea landfall
Infrared imagery of Tropical Storm Khanun shows that the storm is weakening as it heads toward a landfall in the Chungcheongnam-do province of western South Korea. Khanun is already bringing rainfall and stirring up seas around southwestern South Korea.
US study backs NY Plum Island sale
(AP) — A report due out later this week recommends the U.S. government proceed with the sale of New York's Plum Island, home to America's only laboratory that studies infectious animal diseases that could affect the livestock industry.
S. Korea plans fresh rocket launch in October
South Korea will make a third attempt this October at a rocket launch aimed at placing a satellite into orbit, its science ministry said Thursday.
Global CO2 emissions continue to increase: report
Global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) increased by 3% last year, reaching an all-time high of 34 billion tonnes in 2011.
Lowering the national ozone standard would significantly reduce mortality and morbidity
Establishing a more stringent ozone standard in the U.S. would significantly reduce ozone-related premature mortality and morbidity, according to a new study published online July 18 in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
NASA hypersonic inflatable tech test set for Virginia launch July 21
(Phys.org) -- NASA Space Technology Program researchers will launch and deploy a large inflatable heat shield aboard a rocket travelling at hypersonic speeds this weekend during a technology demonstration test from the agency's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Va.
NASA Conducts Mission Simulations in Hawaii
(Phys.org) -- NASA is conducting a nine-day field test starting Tuesday outside Hilo, Hawaii, to evaluate new exploration techniques for the surface of the moon. These mission simulations, known as analog missions, are performed at extreme and often remote Earth locations to prepare for robotic and human missions to extraterrestrial destinations.
Generation X is surprisingly unconcerned about climate change
(Phys.org) -- As the nation suffers through a summer of record-shattering heat, a University of Michigan report finds that Generation X is lukewarm about climate change—uninformed about the causes and unconcerned about the potential dangers.
CU-Boulder student investigates biochar for water treatment in developing countries
(Phys.org) -- A variety of public health issues plague the refugees from Burma living on the Thai border, not the least of which is drinking water contaminated by bacteria and pesticides. Yet few low-cost, sustainable and appropriate treatment technologies are available to people in rural and developing communities to ensure water safety.
Lake algae: What you don't see can really hurt you
(Phys.org) -- The strikingly blue algae that afflicted the Madison lakes last week hardly needs a danger sign to warn of its toxicity.
Barnstorming the Moon's Giordano Bruno Crater
At the 2012 Lunar Science Forum going on this week at the NASA Lunar Science Institute, scientist Mark Robinson presented some new stunning images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter’s cameras (LROC), including this oblique view Giordano Bruno crater, and a wonderful video (below) that allows viewers to “barnstorm” over the crater to witness the stark beauty of this impact basin.
Replacing coal with natural gas would reduce warming: study
A debate has raged in the past couple of years as to whether natural gas is better or worse overall than coal and oil from a global warming perspective. The back- and-forth findings have been due to the timelines taken into consideration, the details of natural gas extraction, and the electricity-generating efficiency of various fuels. An analysis by Cathles, which focuses exclusively on potential warming and ignores secondary considerations, such as economic, political, or other environmental concerns, finds that natural gas is better for electricity generation than coal and oil under all realistic circumstances.
New findings expand Apollo observations of lunar atmosphere
In December 1972 the astronauts of Apollo 17-the last manned mission to the moon-deployed the Lunar Atmospheric Composition Experiment (LACE), a spectrometer designed to measure and characterize the thin lunar atmosphere. Forty years later, Stern et al. built upon those initial measurements, providing the first remotely-sensed measurement of the Moon's gaseous environment from lunar orbit. Using the Lyman Alpha Mapping Project's (LAMP's) far ultraviolet spectrograph aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, the authors determined the atmospheric concentration of helium.
No evidence of polar warming during penultimate interglacial
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), driven by temperature and salinity gradients, is an important component of the climate system; it transfers an enormous amount of heat via ocean currents and atmospheric circulation to high northern latitudes and hence has bearing on climate in the region.
Gas from pollutants, forest fires at potentially toxic levels
Forest fires and emission of air pollutants, which include fumes from vehicles running on diesel and slow burning of coal and charcoal, release isocyanic acid in the troposphere. In 2011, scientists first detected isocyanic acid in the ambient atmosphere at levels that are toxic to human populations; at concentrations exceeding 1 parts-per-billion by volume (ppbv), human beings could experience tissue decay when exposed to the toxin.
Asteroid strikes cause the Moon's surface to smooth
The lunar surface is marred by impact craters, remnants of the collisions that have occurred over the past 4.5 billion years. The Orientale basin, the Moon's most recently formed sizeable crater, stands out from the rest. The crater, which lies along the southwestern boundary between the near and far sides of the moon, appears as a dark spot ringed by concentric circles of ejecta that reach more than 900 kilometers (560 miles) from the impact location.
Scientists develop new carbon accounting method to reduce farmers' use of nitrogen fertilizer
It's summer. For many of us, summer is a time synonymous with fresh corn, one of the major field crops produced in the United States.
Leaf litter and soil protect acorns from prescribed fire
U.S. Forest Service scientists have found that prescribed fires with the heat insulation of leaf litter and soil can help restore oak ecosystems.
Green plants reduce city street pollution up to eight times more than previously believed
Trees, bushes and other greenery growing in the concrete-and-glass canyons of cities can reduce levels of two of the most worrisome air pollutants by eight times more than previously believed, a new study has found. A report on the research appears in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology.
NASA sees withering post-tropical storm Fabio moving toward coast
Infrared satellite data from NASA's Aqua satellite showed a very small area of strong thunderstorms north of the center of what is now post-tropical storm Fabio as it moves toward the southern California coast.
Space shuttle Enterprise set to open to public
(AP) — The last time some New Yorkers saw the space shuttle Enterprise, it was zipping around the city, riding piggyback on top of a modified jumbo jet past the Statue of Liberty and other local landmarks.
More ice breaks off of Petermann Glacier
(Phys.org) -- The Petermann Glacier grinds and slides toward the sea along the northwestern coast of Greenland, terminating in a giant floating ice tongue. Like other glaciers that end in the ocean, Petermann periodically calves icebergs. A massive iceberg, or ice island, broke off of the Petermann Glacier in 2010. Nearly two years later, another chunk of ice has broken free.
Large Synoptic Survey Telescope approved to advance to final design stage
(Phys.org) -- The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) just received another boost. The National Science Foundation announced that it has received the go-ahead from the National Science Board to advance the giant telescope to the final design stage.
NASA completes another successful Orion parachute test
(Phys.org) -- NASA completed another successful test Wednesday of the Orion crew vehicle's parachutes high above the Arizona desert in preparation for the spacecraft’s orbital flight test in 2014. Orion will carry astronauts deeper into space than ever before, provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and ensure a safe re-entry and landing.
Biodiesel can cut greenhouse gas emissions
Researchers in Spain have discovered that greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced through the use of biodiesel. The group from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) in Spain investigated the benefits of using biodiesel by analyzing and quantifying primary and fossil energy consumption on urban buses, as well as by analyzing greenhouse gas emissions. The findings, said the researchers, could help decision makers introduce policies on environmental matters related to road transport.
Study finds 'caffeinated' Oregon coast waters
(Phys.org) -- A new study finds elevated levels of caffeine at several sites in Pacific Ocean waters off the coast of Oregon—though not necessarily where researchers expected.
Study points to causes of high dolphin deaths in Gulf of Mexico
The largest oil spill on open water to date and other environmental factors led to the historically high number of dolphin deaths in the Gulf of Mexico, concludes a two-year scientific study released today.
Researchers pioneer game-changing approach for drought monitoring
Droughts are more than simply climate phenomena. They can have profound social, environmental, and economic impacts and can also be a major threat to food security throughout the world. Though much progress has been made in monitoring droughts and understanding their causes, there is still a strong need for better precision in both the monitoring and forecasting of droughts. A team lead by Arizona State University researchers seeks to enable the move from a reactive to a more proactive approach to droughts by developing new capabilities to conduct global drought monitoring using satellite detection of water stress and hydrologic models applied at regional scales.
NASA sees Sun send out mid-level solar flare
The sun emitted a mid-level solar flare on July 19, 2012, beginning at 1:13 AM EDT and peaking at 1:58 AM. Solar flares are gigantic bursts of radiation that cannot pass through Earth's atmosphere to harm humans on the ground, however, when strong enough, they can disrupt the atmosphere and degrade GPS and communications signals.
US forecast: Hot, dry weather to linger
(AP) — U.S. government weather forecasters predict the unusually hot dry weather that has gripped much of the nation will linger into autumn, especially for the parched Midwest heartland.
APEX telescope takes part in sharpest observation ever
(Phys.org) -- An international team of astronomers has observed the heart of a distant quasar with unprecedented sharpness, two million times finer than human vision. The observations, made by connecting the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX) telescope to two others on different continents for the first time, is a crucial step towards the dramatic scientific goal of the “Event Horizon Telescope” project: imaging the supermassive black holes at the centre of our own galaxy and others.
Understanding the global carbon cycle: Researchers publish results of an iron fertilization experiment
An international research team has published the results of an ocean iron fertilization experiment (EIFEX) carried out in 2004 in the current issue of the scientific journal Nature. Unlike the LOHAFEX experiment carried out in 2009, EIFEX has shown that a substantial proportion of carbon from the induced algal bloom sank to the deep sea floor. These results, which were thoroughly analyzed before being published now, provide a valuable contribution to our better understanding of the global carbon cycle.
Astronomers discover exoplanet neighbor smaller than Earth
The University of Central Florida has detected what could be its first planet, only two-thirds the size of Earth and located right around the corner, cosmically speaking, at a mere 33light- years away.
China produces as much CO2 per person as Europe: report
China's carbon dioxide (CO2) levels soared in 2011, putting its per capita emissions on a par for the first time with those of Europe, while global levels of the greenhouse gas hit another all-time high, a report released Wednesday said.
Cassini spots daytime lightning on Saturn
(Phys.org) -- Saturn was playing the lightning storm blues. NASA's Cassini spacecraft has captured images of last year's storm on Saturn, the largest storm seen up-close at the planet, with bluish spots in the middle of swirling clouds. Those bluish spots indicate flashes of lightning and mark the first time scientists have detected lightning in visible wavelengths on the side of Saturn illuminated by the sun.
'Deflector Shields' protect the Lunar Surface
(Phys.org) -- Scientists from RAL Space at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory have solved a lunar mystery and their results might lead the way to determining if the same mechanism could be artificially manipulated to create safe havens for future space explorers. Their work focussed on the origin of the enigmatic "lunar swirls" - swirling patches of relatively pale lunar soil, some measuring several tens of km across, which have been an unresolved mystery - until now.
Opportunity runs the first martian marathon
With all the fanfare about Mars rover Curiosity landing on the Red Planet in August 2012, it’s easy to forget that there’s already a rover on Mars—an older, smaller cousin set to accomplish a feat unprecedented in the history of Solar System exploration.
Could volcanic eruptions in the south-west Pacific save the Great Barrier Reef?
(Phys.org) -- Could the pumice that surges into the ocean once a volcano erupts in Tonga or elsewhere in the south-west Pacific save the Great Barrier Reef?
New model for intermediate black hole formation parallels growth of giant planets
A new model shows how an elusive type of black hole can be formed in the gas surrounding their supermassive counterparts. In research published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, scientists from the American Museum of Natural History, the City University of New York, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the California Institute of Technology, and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics propose that intermediate-mass black holes—light-swallowing celestial objects with masses ranging from hundreds to many thousands of times the mass of the Sun—can grow in the gas disks around supermassive black holes in the centers of galaxies. The physical mechanism parallels the model astrophysicists use to describe the growth of giant planets in the gas disks surrounding stars.
Researchers connect seawater chemistry with climate change, evolution
Humans get most of the blame for climate change, with little attention paid to the contribution of other natural forces. Now, scientists from the University of Toronto and the University of California Santa Cruz are shedding light on one potential cause of the cooling trend of the past 45 million years that has everything to do with the chemistry of the world's oceans.
Study finds heat is source of 'Pioneer anomaly'
(Phys.org) -- The unexpected slowing of NASA’s Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft – the so-called “Pioneer Anomaly” – turns out to be due to the slight, but detectable effect of heat pushing back on the spacecraft, according to a recent paper. The heat emanates from electrical current flowing through instruments and the thermoelectric power supply. The results were published on June 12 in the journal Physical Review Letters.
Experimental evidence for the mantle plume hypothesis: X-rays used to illuminate the origin of volcanic hotspots
Scientists have recreated the extreme conditions at the boundary between Earth's core and its mantle, 2,900 km beneath the surface. Using the world's most brilliant beam of X-rays, they probed speck-sized samples of rock at very high temperature and pressure to show for the first time that partially molten rock under these conditions is buoyant and should segregate towards the Earth's surface. This observation is a strong evidence for the theory that volcanic hotspots like the Hawaiian Islands originate from mantle plumes generated at the Earth's core-mantle boundary.
Earliest spiral galaxy ever seen: a shocking discovery
(Phys.org) -- Astronomers have witnessed for the first time a spiral galaxy in the early universe, billions of years before many other spiral galaxies formed. In findings reported July 19 in the journal Nature, the astronomers said they discovered it while using the Hubble Space Telescope to take pictures of about 300 very distant galaxies in the early universe and to study their properties. This distant spiral galaxy is being observed as it existed roughly three billion years after the Big Bang, and light from this part of the universe has been traveling to Earth for about 10.7 billion years.
Researchers provide highest-resolution observations yet of the complex 2012 Sumatra earthquake
The powerful magnitude-8.6 earthquake that shook Sumatra on April 11, 2012, was a seismic standout for many reasons, not the least of which is that it was larger than scientists thought an earthquake of its type could ever be. Now, researchers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) report on their findings from the first high-resolution observations of the underwater temblor, they point out that the earthquake was also unusually complex—rupturing along multiple faults that lie at nearly right angles to one another, as though racing through a maze.
Technology news
Endangered languages get a Google protection plan
Google unveiled an online information exchange platform to try to give some extra lasting power to more than 3,000 endangered languages.
A look at recent tech-industry earnings
Yahoo turned in another lackluster performance in the second quarter, while Intel says the weak global economy is slowing its growth. Earlier, Microsoft warned of a non-cash charge because of disappointing performance in its online ad business. AMD lowered its revenue forecast.
Dancing the Time Warp in the quantum world
Imagine dancing in a nightclub – and it’s your movements that are controlling not only the sound but also a range of stunning, bright visual effects surrounding you.
US state 1st with voter registration on Facebook
(AP) — The state of Washington has become the first in the U.S. to offer voter registration on Facebook, as states update their approaches for younger, more connected residents who've come to expect many services online.
TandemLaunch licenses new 3-D technology
Max Planck Innovation, the technology transfer organization of the Max Planck Society has licensed a new method for processing digital stereo image content to TandemLaunch Technologies, a Canada based company, which develops multimedia inventions into consumer technologies. The new "backward-compatible stereo 3-D" technology makes it possible to watch movies in 3-D, when wearing glasses, and 2-D without glasses at the same time.
UK police close 'Climategate' investigation
(AP) — British police have closed their three-year investigation into the theft of hundreds of climate science emails published to the Web, saying Wednesday there was no hope of finding any suspects behind the breach.
Google adds more Antarctica imagery to Street View
(AP) — Google's online mapping service is incorporating additional images from Antarctica.
Designer buggies: boy's toys for the 21st-century dad
Suspension: check. Steering: check. A man picking a new car? Almost. Baby buggies, reinvented as sleek, high-tech designer objects, have become boy's toys for a young generation of hands-on dads.
ETH Zurich, IBM and Paul Scherrer Institute researchers receive 2012 PRACE Award
Today at the International Supercomputing Conference (ISC '12), researchers from the renowned Swiss University of Science and Technology (ETH Zurich), IBM Research - Zurich and The Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Switzerland's largest research center for natural and engineering sciences, received the 2012 PRACE Award.
Hyperion thrives where other solar race cars fail; races back to second place
Nearly 200 miles in stifling heat wasn’t a problem for Iowa State University’s solar race car on Wednesday.
Searching for 1,000 times the capacity of 4G wireless
Researchers at Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU-Poly) have assembled a powerful consortium of government and business support to advance beyond today's fourth generation (4G) wireless technologies toward 5G cellular networks that could potentially increase cell phone capacity by more than 1,000 times.
Flight cancellation insurance must be sold as 'opt-in': EU
Sellers of online air tickets must indicate the final price as well as surcharges and fees but cannot include flight cancellation insurance by default, the European Court of Justice ruled Thursday.
Mexican minister suggests mobile app to fight crime
Mexico's interior minister suggested Wednesday that a mobile software app could help crack down on the country's crippling drug-related crime.
Interpol unveils fake goods scanning app with Google
Global policing body Interpol announced a pioneering initiative to crack down on trade in fake goods, using an app developed with the help of search giant Google.
PayPal folds startup into its smartphone wallet
Online financial transactions titan PayPal announced that it has bought a San Francisco startup focused on using smartphone cameras to take credit card payments.
Chipmaker ASML sees Q2 profit drop on sales fall
(AP) — ASML Holding NV, the largest supplier of manufacturing equipment to computer chip makers, says its net profit fell to €292 million ($359 million) in the second quarter from €432 million in the same period a year ago.
Profits plunge in Q2 for Sweden's Ericsson
(AP) — Swedish wireless equipment maker LM Ericsson saw its second-quarter profits slashed to almost a third as sales of network infrastructure slowed in China and Russia and the company focused on the more stable — but less profitable — business of offering support services to operators.
Britons spend less time talking on mobiles: study
The amount of time that Britons spend talking on their mobile phones has dropped for the first time -- by one billion minutes, a new Ofcom report revealed on Wednesday.
Cleantech investment down sharply in 2nd quarter
In another sign of the turbulence affecting cleantech, global clean technology venture investment dropped to $1.6 billion in the second quarter, down 14 percent from the previous quarter and 25 percent from the $2.1 billion invested a year ago, according to the San Francisco-based Cleantech Group.
Hacking victims' lawyer: significant email emerges
(AP) — A British lawyer representing victims of phone hacking by Rupert Murdoch's News International says a significant new email has just emerged in litigation.
WikiLeaks 'back open for donations' after banking blockade
Whistleblowing website WikiLeaks said Wednesday that it had found a way to get around the banking blockade that has dramatically cut its donations over the last 18 months.
Google takes aim at Mexico's drug cartels
(AP) — Google, so far, has won the search engine wars. Now it wants to target international crime, including Mexico's powerful drug cartels.
IBM sustains earnings streak despite weak economy (Update)
(AP) — IBM sustained its nearly decade-long streak of earnings growth as it shook off the economic jitters that have undercut several other technology companies.
EBay more than doubles 2Q earnings, revenue up (Update)
(AP) — EBay Inc. more than doubled its second-quarter net income thanks to higher revenue from its PayPal online payments business and its e-commerce websites.
Microsoft to release Windows 8 on October 26
Microsoft on Wednesday announced that its next-generation operating system tailored for a world shifting from personal computers to smartphones and tablets will be available on October 26.
US court sentences Estonian hacker to prison
An Estonian national was sentenced Wednesday to seven years in prison for hacking schemes involving the theft or sale of more than 240,000 credit card numbers, officials said.
Pregnant new CEO for Yahoo! stirs US debate on working moms
No sooner was Marissa Mayer named chief executive of Yahoo! than she announced she's pregnant. In doing so, she ramped up a lively ongoing debate in the United States about working moms.
World's biggest online population: 538M Chinese
(AP) — China's population of Internet users, already the world's biggest, has risen to 538 million, driven by rapid growth in wireless Web surfing, an industry group said Thursday.
2.4 million Ontario voter records missing
(AP) — A privacy breach involving as many as 2.4 million voters after memory sticks containing their personal information vanished from an elections warehouse is "deeply disturbing" and could lead to identity theft on a massive scale, Ontario's privacy commissioner said Wednesday.
Taiwan's HTC files patent suit against Apple
Taiwan's leading smartphone maker HTC said Thursday it was suing technology giant Apple in the United States, claiming it has infringed on its patents.
Ebook sales skyrocketed in 2011: industry
Sales of ebooks more than doubled in 2011 to bring in some $2.07 billion for the US publishing industry, a survey showed Wednesday.
Olympics: Team Geek to keep Games running
It's the hidden face of the London Olympics: while the athletes compete, thousands of technicians will run the most connected Games in history while dealing with the threat of cyber attacks.
TSMC reports 16 percent rise in 2Q profit
(AP) — Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world's largest contract chip maker, says its second quarter profit rose 16 percent year-on-year and predicted continuing strong growth in the third quarter.
Nokia loss widens on slumping smartphone sales
(AP) — Nokia's net loss nearly quadrupled in the second quarter on sagging sales of smartphones, a market in which the company is struggling to regain ground lost to rivals including Apple and Samsung.
Lausanne's statues - in 3D
During a semester, a class of EPFL Master’s students took photographs of Lausanne’s statues and then modeled them in three dimensions to create a virtual museum.
Mobile phones trump computers among online Chinese
Mobile phones have overtaken computers as the most popular device for getting online in China, the government said Thursday, as it announced the number of web users had hit 538 million.
Too many cyber attacks hushed up, US panel says
US cybersecurity efforts are hampered by attacks that go unreported by victims unwilling to divulge confidential information, a research panel said Thursday.
Review: Tesla's Model S is fast and fun
I am now a member of a select club: I'm one of the very few who has driven Tesla's new all-electric Model S luxury sedan.
Extending range of electric vehicles by 10 percent with GPS-like device
Researchers at the University of California, Riverside believe they can extend the range of electric vehicles by at least 10 percent by taking into account real-time traffic information, road type and grade and passenger and cargo weight.
YouTube lets people blur faces in videos
YouTube on Wednesday began letting people blur faces in videos they upload to the website, which has become a major platform for sharing clips of dramatic news events.
US hearing warns FBI, Facebook on facial recognition
A US Senate hearing Wednesday highlighted concern over the growing use of facial recognition technologies, both for law enforcement use and in big social networks like Facebook.
Google Glass theft-protector is granted patent
(Phys.org) -- Google has been granted a patent for a crime-busting technique that would lock down and sound the alarm if anyone stole a Google Glass customer’s $1500 headset. The patent application suggested that its proposed mechanism could “beneficially provide security measures” for the wearable computer. As for the headset this patent idea seeks to protect, the wearable device is anticipated to ship in 2013, opening a new chapter in wearable computing. Relatively ordinary looking glasses with display will become a smartphone for the eyes. Google as of Tuesday is now the recipient of a patent for a mechanism that can help make customers of the $1500 device feel safer. The patent describes what Google would like to do to ensure wearer’s protection against theft.
The long, winding road to advanced batteries for electric cars
(Phys.org) -- Batteries have come a long way since Alessandro Volta first discovered in 1800 that two unlike metals, when separated by an acidic solution, could produce an electric current. In their evolution, batteries have taken on various forms, ranging from lead-acid, to nickel-metal hydride, to current-day lithium-ion.
Researchers zap huge global spam 'botnet'
A huge global 'botnet' responsible for sending out millions of spam messages each day has been shut down by a collaborative effort from security experts in the US, Britain and Russia, researchers said.
Crossing the gap: Civil engineers develop improved method for detecting, measuring bridge damage
A ratings system developed by a group of Kansas State University researchers could keep bridges safer and help prevent catastrophic collapses.
Innovation promises to cut massive power use at big data companies in a flash
Big data needs big power. The server farms that undergird the Internet run on a vast tide of electricity. Even companies that have invested in upgrades to minimize their eco-footprint use tremendous amounts: The New York Times estimates that Google, for example, uses enough electricity in its data centers to power about 200,000 homes.
Medicine & Health news
Access to clinical trials drives dramatic increases in survival from childhood cancer
More children are surviving cancer in Britain than ever before according to new research published in the cancer journal Annals of Oncology [1] today (Wednesday). The improvement in survival has been driven by the increasing numbers taking part in clinical trials since 1977 when the UK Children's Cancer Study Group (UKCCSG) [2] was established.
Hepatitis C may increase deaths from both liver-related and other diseases
[EMBARGOED FOR JULY 18, 2012] In a long-term study of people infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), researchers found increased deaths from both liver-related and non-liver related diseases in patients with active infections who had not cleared their infection.
Australian wins millions in Thalidomide lawsuit
(AP) — An Australian woman born without arms and legs after her pregnant mother took the anti-morning sickness drug Thalidomide has reached a multimillion dollar settlement with the medicine's British distributor, her lawyer told a court Wednesday. The German maker of the drug refused to settle.
US abortion clinic may be on way to closing
(AP) — Health officials have inspected Mississippi's only abortion clinic, the first step in a process that could lead to its closure if a new state law survives a legal challenge.
Mental health service users complete country's first peer broker training course
A group of 15 mental health service users have completed the country's first 'peer brokerage' training designed and led by mental health service users.
Trio of studies examine obesity in American families
Three separate Brigham Young University studies appear in a special issue of the journal Economics and Human Biology that focuses on obesity and the family.
Study of psychosis risk and brain to track effects of Omega-3 pills
The first major study on the biological effects of omega-3 fatty acids on the human brain is focusing on the role that this natural substance, primarily found in fish oil, may play in fighting psychosis.
Pre-Olympic call for global action on physical inactivity
(Medical Xpress) -- The global issue of physical inactivity should be recognised as pandemic, according to a research paper published today in the prestigious Lancet medical journal and launched in a special pre-Olympics event in London.
LIKE: Smart phones for smart health - Gen Y the target
Queensland researchers are calling on Gen Y hipsters to take part in a new research project to promote better health via text messaging.
Taking control of Type 2 diabetes earlier
One in four Type 2 diabetics say they still need help to feel in control of their condition and for some it can take up to 18 years if little support is available.
George Michael 'woke from coma with different accent'
British singer George Michael has revealed that he woke from his three-week coma talking in the broad West Country accent spoken in western England.
Cambodia shuts all schools to fight virus spread
(AP) — Cambodia is closing all kindergarten and primary schools two weeks before a regular vacation to try to stop the spread of a virus that has killed hundreds of young children around Asia.
AAN: New guideline on how to best treat involuntary movements in Huntington's disease
A new guideline released by the American Academy of Neurology recommends several treatments for people with Huntington's disease who experience chorea—jerky, random, uncontrollable movements that can make everyday activities challenging. The guideline is published in the July 18, 2012, online issue of Neurology.
HIV drugs reach 8 million in needy countries
More than eight million people -- a record number in low- and middle-income countries -- are now taking antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV, according to data released Wednesday by UNAIDS.
Facts about HIV/AIDS worldwide in 2011
Here are some key facts and figures on HIV/AIDS in 2011, released by UNAIDS on Wednesday ahead of the International AIDS Conference set to take place in Washington on July 22-27.
Internists express support for new payment and delivery models as basis for replacing SGR
"We know that the current Medicare payment system is not serving the needs of patients, physicians or taxpayers," David L. Bronson, MD, FACP, president of the American College of Physicians (ACP), today told the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health. "Congress needs to do its part by repealing the SGR, once and for all. But the medical profession needs to do its part by leading the adoption of innovative models to align payment policies with the value of care provided to patients."
Efficacy of herbal remedies for managing insomnia
Approximately 1 in 3 Americans suffers from chronic sleep deprivation and another 10-15% of the population has chronic insomnia. Sleep disorders can profoundly affect a person's whole life and have been linked to a range of diseases, including obesity, depression, anxiety, and inflammatory disorders. Over-the-counter herbal remedies are often used to treat insomnia, but surprisingly, very little research has been done to study their efficacy, according to an article in Alternative and Complementary Therapies.
New study: Elderly Medicare beneficiaries most satisfied with their health insurance
Elderly beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare plans are more satisfied with their health insurance, have better access to care, and are less likely to have problems paying medical bills than people who get insurance through employers or those who purchase coverage on their own, according to a new Commonwealth Fund study published today in Health Affairs. The study also found that beneficiaries enrolled in private Medicare Advantage plans are less satisfied with their insurance than those with a traditional Medicare plan, and more likely to experience access problems.
Helping Alzheimer's patients stay independent
Family members or professional caregivers who do everything for older adults with Alzheimer's disease may just be wanting to help, but one University of Alberta researcher says that creating excess dependency may rob the patients of their independence and self-worth.
S.Leone cholera outbreak kills 62 in less than a month
Sierra Leone's health ministry on Wednesday said an outbreak of cholera in the west African country has killed 62 people in less than a month.
UNAIDS report shows critical gaps in world response
Deaths from HIV/AIDS are rising in parts of Asia and central Europe and the global response must accelerate, experts said Wednesday after the release of a major report on the world AIDS epidemic.
New drugs shore up Novartis in Q2
(AP) — Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis AG reported a net profit of $2.73 billion during the second quarter, as new drugs and acquisitions offset patent expirations, lower sales of generic medicines and the strengthening dollar.
NZ company recalls meats after listeria kills 2
(AP) — A New Zealand meat company has recalled several of its products after tests showed a possible link to a listeria outbreak that left two patients dead at a hospital in the island nation.
UN reports progress against HIV in poor countries
(AP) — A push to get more AIDS treatment to the world's poorest, hardest-hit countries is paying off as deaths inch down — and new infections are dropping a bit, too, the United Nations reported Wednesday.
Safety net health centers fill in urban gaps
Urban areas that are segregated by race, ethnicity or income have more Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), which provide primary care services for disadvantaged populations, despite an adequate supply of private sector physicians, according to new findings published in Health Services Research.
Belgian scientists develop way to detect superparasites
Belgian scientists of the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Antwerp, Belgium made a breakthrough in bridging high tech molecular biology research on microbial pathogens and the needs of the poorest of the poor. After sequencing the complete genome of Leishmania donovani (a parasite causing one of the most important tropical diseases after malaria) in hundreds of clinical isolates, they identified a series of mutations specific of 'superparasites' and developed a simple assay that should allow tracking them anywhere. This EU-funded research was done in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in UK and clinical partners of the Banaras Hindu University (India) and the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (Nepal); it is published in the last issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
New study announced that will use genetics to test for Alzheimer's risk
In a new Alzheimer's disease risk assessment study unveiled this week during the Alzheimer's Association International Conference, researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) are offering genetic testing and Alzheimer's risk estimates for people who are experiencing mild cognitive impairment.
South Africa reports new success in saving newborns from HIV
About 117,000 babies were saved from HIV infection last year under South Africa's scheme to prevent mothers from passing on the disease during childbirth, health official said Thursday.
HIV scare at Danish hospital after washing machine flaw
A Danish hospital said Thursday it had offered HIV and hepatitis tests to 719 patients after discovering a flaw in a special washing machine that could entail exposure to the viruses.
Moderate alcohol intake is associated with a lower risk of kidney cancer
A majority of previous epidemiologic studies have shown that moderate drinking is associated with a lower risk of kidney cancer, which may affect about 1% of the general population. In published prospective cohort studies, the risk for such cancer among moderate drinkers is usually about 25% less than the risk seen among non-drinkers.
Despite clear benefits, heart failure clinics are rarely utilized
Outpatient heart failure (HF) clinics that provide patient education on ways to manage heart failure and risk factors, prescribe home-based exercises, and monitor therapy compliance have been shown to reduce morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. A new study published in the current issue of the Canadian Journal of Cardiology finds that despite guidelines that encourage physicians to recommend heart failure clinics, very few patients recently hospitalized with HF receive referrals or use one.
Menu labeling requirements lead to healthier options at chain restaurants
The recent Supreme Court decision on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has cleared the way for national requirements about posting nutritional information at chain restaurants. Listing calories, fat content, and sodium levels of menu items at the point of purchase has been promoted as a way to address the obesity epidemic. Increased awareness may lead to healthier consumer choices, and may encourage restaurants to adapt their menus to meet demand. A new study has evaluated the real-life impact of menu labeling in King County, Washington, after new regulations were implemented, and has found some improvement, although most entrées continue to exceed recommended nutritional guidelines. The study is available online in advance of publication in the August issue of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Experts: Africa countries lose out on AIDS funding
(AP) — African nations are not receiving adequate international funding to fight HIV/AIDS, leaving them to face catastrophic consequences without enough medication, an independent, global medical and humanitarian organization said Thursday.
Scientists urge fresh push for AIDS cure
International scientists announced Thursday a new push for a cure to AIDS, citing promising research and a three-decade epidemic that is outpacing medications to curb it.
Vitamin B12 supplements may help treat hepatitis C
Adding vitamin B12 to standard hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment significantly boosts the body's ability to keep the virus at bay, indicates a pilot study published online in the journal Gut.
Workplace exposure to organic solvents linked to heart defects at birth
Workplace exposure to organic solvents is linked to several types of heart defects at birth, indicates research published online in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Certain jobs dads do linked to higher risk of birth defects
Several types of job carried out by future fathers may be linked to an increased risk of birth defects in their babies, suggests research published online in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Sugar-sweetened drinks are not replacing milk in kid's diets
National data indicate that milk consumption has declined among children while consumption of sweetened beverages of low nutritional quality has more than doubled. Although this suggests that sugar-sweetened beverages may have replaced more nutritious drinks in children's diets, a new study suggests that in fact changes in children's milk consumption are not significantly related to changes in their consumption of sodas and flavored fruit drinks over time. The results are published online today in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Doctors and rheumatoid arthritis patients differ on perception of disease activity
Researchers from Austria have determined that patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their doctors differ on perception of RA disease activity. The study now available in Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and published by Wiley, reports that RA patients cite joint pain as the reason for their perception of a change in their disease activity. Rheumatologists, however, stressed joint swelling as the major determinant for their perception of change in RA disease activity.
Binge drinking increases the risk of cognitive decline in older adults
Researchers from the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (PCMD), University of Exeter, will present the findings of a new study suggesting a link between binge drinking in older adults and the risk of developing dementia.
Actions don't always speak louder than words -- At least, not when it comes to forgiveness
People are more likely to show forgiving behavior if they receive restitution, but they are more prone to report they have forgiven if they get an apology, according to Baylor University research published in the Journal of Positive Psychology.
FDA approves highly anticipated weight-loss pill
(AP) — The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved a new weight loss drug from Vivus Inc. that many doctors consider the most effective therapy in a new generation of anti-obesity pills designed to help patients safely shed pounds.
End of AIDS pandemic in sight: US expert
Three decades into the AIDS pandemic an end to new infections is in sight, according to Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Physical inactivity kills 5 million a year: report
A third of the world's adults are physically inactive, and the couch potato lifestyle kills about five million people every year, experts said in the medical journal The Lancet on Wednesday.
Cancer and injuries more likely in people with serious mental illness
(Medical Xpress) -- People with serious mental illness —schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and disabling depression — are 2.6 times more likely to develop cancer than the general population, new Johns Hopkins research suggests.
Race, education affect mothers' perceptions of raising a child with autism spectrum disorder
(Medical Xpress) -- As children with autism spectrum disorder transition into adolescence, how mothers perceive the impact of their child on their lives is influenced by ethnicity and education levels, a new University of Michigan study found.
Empathetic GPs may reduce depression and suicidal thoughts
(Medical Xpress) -- Between five and 10 per cent of people over 60 suffer from depression - a common and disabling disorder. It is predicted that depression will be the second leading cause of disability worldwide within the next 10 years, making it a major public health problem.
Link found between environmental toxins and stroke
(Medical Xpress) -- Individuals with elevated levels of PCBs and DDT in their blood run a greater risk of having a stroke. This is shown in a study from Uppsala University that is being published today in the scientific journal Environmental International.
Evolutionary information improves discovery of mutations associated with diseases
A book containing misprints may cause annoyance for the reader, but typos in an individual’s genetic blueprint (DNA) can mean serious disease or even death. The search for genetic correlates for the wide range of diseases plaguing humankind has inspired a wealth of research falling under the heading of genome-wide association studies (GWAS).
Genetic test may reduce need for repeat biopsy for prostate cancer
Karim Kader, MD, PhD, associate clinical professor at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, together with a team of researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine, have developed a genetic test to predict a man’s risk for prostate cancer. Use of the test could reduce the need for repeat biopsies in men who have had a negative biopsy. Results of the multicenter study were recently published online in the journal of European Urology.
Regular physical activity may help ward off dementia years later
Older adults who engage in vigorous physical activity three or more times a week are less likely to be diagnosed with dementia later compared to adults who don’t, according to a new longitudinal study in American Journal of Health Promotion.
Sunlight and vitamin D findings may help understanding of autoimmune diseases
(Medical Xpress) -- Aberdeen scientists have demonstrated for the first time a clear link between sunlight, vitamin D and an impact on regulatory cells in the immune system in findings that might provide new insights into diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS).
Micronutrient powder effective in combating anaemia: study
(Medical Xpress) -- Mixing micronutrient powder into infants’ complementary food reduces rates of anaemia beyond what nutrition education alone can achieve, according to University of Otago-led research involving more than 3000 Cambodian under two year olds.
Celiac disease linked to low bone density in kids
(Medical Xpress) -- Children living with celiac disease in Alberta may be at a higher risk for low bone-mineral density because of a lack of sun exposure and essential vitamins, new research reveals.
Study shows ultrasound triggers bone cell mobility
Research led by Yi-Xian Qin, PhD, Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Director of the Orthopaedic Bioengineering Research Laboratory at Stony Brook University, demonstrated that the use of medium-intensity focused ultrasound on osteoblasts, known as bone-forming cells, stimulates the mobility of the cells and triggers calcium release, a process that promotes growth.
Will bugs bite at the London Olympics?
(Medical Xpress) -- Travelling to the London Olympics? What do you expect to bring back? Some amazing sporting memories? A medal? How about some bed bug bites, or, worse still, a few bugs to kick off an infestation at home?
Investigation of Chikungunya virus yields two new antigens for vaccine development
Chikungunya virus has caused epidemics in Africa, Asia and recently Europe. It is transmitted to humans by Aedes (see image), a genus of mosquitoes that also transmit dengue fever. Symptoms of a Chikungunya viral infection include acute fever followed by joint pain that can last for days, weeks, or even years. The disease may be fatal for newborns and the elderly; what’s worse is that there are no vaccines or treatments currently available for the disease.
Alcohol problems account for a quarter of Scottish intensive care unit admissions
A quarter of patients admitted to Scottish intensive care units have alcohol problems and the majority of those have chronic alcohol disease, with particular problems among men and younger people.
Black gay men are more affected by AIDS than any population in the developed world
Today, the Black AIDS Institute released its latest report, Back of the Line: The State of AIDS Among Black Gay Men in America. The landmark report highlights alarming data that show disproportionately high rates of HIV infections and deaths from AIDS among Black MSM, why the disparities persist and are growing worse, and the urgent need for local and national leadership to immediately address the devastating health crisis.
Spanish study shows that men and women have the same sexual fantasies
A study conducted at the University of Granada have demonstrated that there are not significant differences between men's and women's sexual fantasies. The fact is that both sexes have intimate and romantic sexual fantaies involving their partner or loved one.
Are cardiac risk factors linked to less blood flow to the brain?
Metabolic syndrome, a term used to describe a combination of risk factors that often lead to heart disease and type 2 diabetes, seems to be linked to lower blood flow to the brain, according to research by the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
New biomarker in the blood may help predict Alzheimer's disease
Higher levels of a certain fat in the blood called ceramides may increase a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published in the July 18, 2012, online issue of Neurology.
HIV drug resistance creeps higher: WHO
Drug resistance to HIV medicines has been creeping higher in parts of Africa and Asia but is not steep enough to cause alarm, said a survey released by the World Health Organization on Wednesday.
Spouses of severe-sepsis patients at high risk of depression, study shows
Severe sepsis, a body's dangerous defensive response against an infection, not only diminishes the quality of life for patients – it puts their spouses at a greater risk of depression, a joint University of Michigan Health System and University of Washington School of Medicine study shows.
Alcohol may not be kind to the aging brain
(HealthDay) -- Past research has suggested that a glass or two of wine -- or another form of alcohol -- each evening may lower your risk of dementia in old age. But two new studies challenge that theory by suggesting that you might actually harm your brain by changing your drinking habits in later life -- or drinking heavily.
Hookah smoking increasingly common among first-year college women
Nearly a quarter of college women try smoking tobacco with a hookah, or water pipe, for the first time during their freshman year, according to new research from The Miriam Hospital's Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine.
Researchers find potential key to new treatment for mantle cell lymphoma
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center and colleagues have demonstrated that the inhibition of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in mouse models of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), an aggressive and incurable subtype of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that becomes resistant to treatment, can harness the immune system to eradicate residual malignant cells responsible for disease relapse.
Police need sleep for health, performance
Forget bad guys and gunfire: Being a police officer can be hazardous to your health in other ways.
Fighting obesity with thermal imaging
Scientists at The University of Nottingham believe they've found a way of fighting obesity — with a pioneering technique which uses thermal imaging. This heat-seeking technology is being used to trace our reserves of brown fat — the body's 'good fat' — which plays a key role in how quickly our body can burn calories as energy.
Parental consent for HPV vaccine should not be waived, poll says
Most U.S. adults support laws that allow teens to get medical care for sexually transmitted infections without parental consent. But when asked about the vaccine against the human papillomavirus (HPV), most adults want parents to have the final say on whether their teen or pre-teen gets the shots.
First Polypill trial in people selected on age alone (50 and over) shows substantial health benefit
Results of a randomised trial carried out by academics at Queen Mary, University of London and published today in PLoS One [1] show that a four-component Polypill given to people aged 50 and over to reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke, the most common causes of death worldwide, achieved large reductions in blood cholesterol and blood pressure, the main causes of these two diseases.
Sleep deprivation may reduce risk of PTSD, according to new research
Sleep deprivation in the first few hours after exposure to a significantly stressful threat actually reduces the risk of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), according to a study by researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and Tel Aviv University.
A stronger doctor-patient relationship for the costliest patients
Patients who are frequently hospitalized account for a disproportionate amount of health care spending in the United States. Working with a $6.1 million grant, a new University of Chicago Medicine program will test whether an updated version of the traditional general practitioner can reduce spending while also improving care for these patients.
All-they-can-eat diet for lab mice and rats may foster inaccurate test results
The widespread practice of allowing laboratory rats and mice to eat as much as they want may be affecting the outcome of experiments in which scientists use these "test-tubes-on-four-feet" to test new drugs and other substances for toxicity and other effects. That's the conclusion of a new analysis published in ACS' journal Chemical Research in Toxicology.
Social identification, not obedience, might motivate unspeakable acts
What makes soldiers abuse prisoners? How could Nazi officials condemn thousands of Jews to gas chamber deaths? What's going on when underlings help cover up a financial swindle? For years, researchers have tried to identify the factors that drive people to commit cruel and brutal acts and perhaps no one has contributed more to this knowledge than psychological scientist Stanley Milgram.
Botanical compound could prove crucial to healing influenza
Building on previous work with the botanical abscisic acida, researchers in the Nutritional Immunology and Molecular Medicine Laboratory (NIMML) have discovered that abscisic acid has anti-inflammatory effects in the lungs as well as in the gut. The results will be published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.
Frequent antenatal screening dramatically reduces maternal mortality on Thai-Myanmar border
Frequent antenatal screening has allowed doctors to detect and treat malaria in its early stages on the border of Thailand and Myanmar, dramatically reducing the number of deaths amongst pregnant women.
Free online tool to provide deeper analysis of microarray data
Imagine listening to a child plinking out a rudimentary tune on the piano. He uses only one octave and one hand — notes he can't reach are skipped. You can pick out the basic melody, but just barely. But you have an inkling of what the full piece could sound like.
New metric for obesity strongly correlated to premature death
Researchers have developed a new metric to measure obesity, called A Body Shape Index, or ABSI, that combines the existing metrics of Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference and shows a better correlation with death rate than do either of these individual measures. The full results are reported July 18 in the open access journal PLoS ONE, and the work was led by Nir Krakauer of City College of New York.
What did we learn from the 2010 California whooping cough epidemic?
Because whooping cough (pertussis) is almost as contagious as measles (affecting ~12-17 individuals with each case), clinicians are required to report cases of this bacterial respiratory tract infection to the state's department of public health. In 2010, California had the highest number of cases of whooping cough in 60 years. A new study scheduled for publication in The Journal of Pediatrics describes the 2010 whooping cough epidemic and details strategies to decrease the incidence of this infection.
New targeting technology improves outcomes for patients with atrial fibrillation
In a landmark study of atrial fibrillation, researchers from UCLA, UC San Diego and Indiana University report having found for the first time that these irregular heart rhythms are caused by small electrical sources within the heart, in the form of electrical spinning tops ("rotors") or focal beats.
OHSU discovery may lead to new treatment for ALS
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry have discovered that TDP-43, a protein strongly linked to ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and other neurodegenerative diseases, appears to activate a variety of different molecular pathways when genetically manipulated. The findings have implications for understanding and possibly treating ALS and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Lungs respond to hospital ventilator as if it were an infection
When hospital patients need assistance breathing and are placed on a mechanical ventilator for days at a time, their lungs react to the pressure generated by the ventilator with an out-of-control immune response that can lead to excessive inflammation, new research suggests.
Obesity linked to economic status in developing countries
(HealthDay) -- In low- and middle-income developing countries, socioeconomic status (SES) plays an important role in the development of obesity, particularly in women, according to research published online July 5 in Obesity Reviews.
Certain heart meds may give chemo a boost
(HealthDay) -- When common heart drugs such as digitalis and digoxin are combined with some chemotherapy drugs, the effect appears to be an increase in the death of cancer cells, according to French researchers.
Alzheimer's drug shows promise in early trial
(HealthDay News) -- Researchers say an investigational drug helped improve memory, language, attention and other mental skills in people with early Alzheimer's disease.
Home-based care teams offer help for those with dementia
(HealthDay) -- A new system of caring for people with dementia in their homes could keep them from having to move into nursing homes and improve their quality of life, new research suggests.
Cost keeps many Americans from good dental care: report
(HealthDay) -- Although most Americans say their teeth are in relatively good shape, a newly published survey reveals that many are not getting routine dental checkups, with cost cited as the most common obstacle.
Many men with prostate cancer can avoid early surgery
(Medical Xpress) -- New research suggests that many men with prostate cancer do not need immediate treatment, especially if they have low PSA scores or low-risk tumors that are unlikely to grow and spread.
New study links social anxiety and dating aggression
(Medical Xpress) -- Study finds social anxiety a predictor of dating aggression in young men.
Short-term intestinal parasite infection triggers specific cytokines that can prevent the development of type 1 diabetes
(Medical Xpress) -- Short-term infection with intestinal worms may provide long-term protection against type I diabetes (TID), suggests a study conducted by William Gause, PhD, and colleagues at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School. The research has been published in the journal Mucosal Immunology.
Research identifies link between Alzheimer's disease and diabetes
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), collaborating with scientists from Northwestern University in Illinois, have provided direct experimental evidence that diabetes is linked to the onset of Alzheimer's disease. The study, published online this week in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, used an experimental model that shows potential as an important new tool for investigations of Alzheimer’s disease and of drugs being developed to treat Alzheimer’s.
Blood condition is highly predictive of graft failure in pediatric kidney transplant
For children receiving kidney transplants, a potentially correctable blood condition present in about one in four recipients is associated with a moderately increased risk of the graft's later failure, suggesting that clinicians should weigh whether transplant is advisable when the condition is present, according to UC Davis research presented today at the 24th International Congress of the Transplantation Society in Berlin.
Study gives first evidence that adult human lungs can regrow
(HealthDay) -- Researchers have uncovered the first evidence that the adult human lung is capable of growing back -- at least in part -- after being surgically removed.
HIV-2 infection inhibits HIV-1 disease progression
(HealthDay) -- While many people don't know it, there's more than one kind of AIDS virus. Besides the HIV-1 strain that's common throughout the world, a type known as HIV-2 is found in some parts of Africa. Now, a new study finds that people infected with HIV-2 and later with HIV-1 appear to be better equipped to fight off the virus.
Radical prostatectomy doesn't cut mortality versus observation
(HealthDay) -- For men with clinically localized prostate cancer, radical prostatectomy does not significantly reduce all-cause or prostate-cancer mortality compared with observation through 12 years of follow-up, according to a study published in the July 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Team finds new type of severe asthma, can be treated with drugs that suppress the immune system
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have identified a subset of severe asthma that improves with drug regimens that suppress the immune system. In the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, they dubbed the condition “asthmatic granulomatosis” after the characteristic small areas of focal inflammation that can be found in the lungs of those who have it.
Study reveals harmful effects of compact fluorescent light bulbs to skin
(Medical Xpress) -- Inspired by a European study, a team of Stony Brook University researchers looked into the potential impact of healthy human skin tissue (in vitro) being exposed to ultraviolet rays emitted from compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. The results, “The Effects of UV Emission from CFL Exposure on Human Dermal Fibroblasts and Keratinocytes in Vitro,” were published in the June issue of the journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology.
Exposure to light could help Alzheimer's patients sleep better
(Medical Xpress) -- Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) often sleep during the day and are awake at night. The situation can turn life-threatening if they leave their homes and wander around outside. This irregular sleep schedule and night wandering, and the consequent burden on their caretakers, is a primary reason individuals with ADRD are placed in more controlled environments such as nursing homes. A new study from the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute lays the foundation for the importance of tailored light exposures as a viable treatment option for the reduction of sleep disturbances in older adults and those with ADRD.
Research shows nerve stimulation can reorganize brain
(Medical Xpress) -- UT Dallas researchers recently demonstrated how nerve stimulation paired with specific experiences, such as movements or sounds, can reorganize the brain. This technology could lead to new treatments for stroke, tinnitus, autism and other disorders.
New light on iron deficiency in young children
(Medical Xpress) -- Research from The University of Auckland and Starship Children’s Hospital has given a new understanding of the risk factors for iron deficiency in young children. This knowledge will allow children at risk to be identified more easily and will help in preventing this serious condition.
Stimulating the brain through touch
(Medical Xpress) -- When learning to master complex movements such as those required in surgery, is being physically guided by an expert more effective than learning through trial and error?
Scientists pinpoint key ingredient in fighting pneumonia
(Medical Xpress) -- A mysterious protein produced by a wide spectrum of living things is crucial in regulating the immune response to the most common form of pneumonia, a new Yale School of Medicine study shows. The study appears online in Cell Host & Microbe and in the July 19 print issue.
'5-second rule' has plenty of bugs, says infectious disease expert
(Medical Xpress) -- The hot dog that rolls off the plate, the baby’s cookie that falls on the floor, the candy bar that slides across the table – conventional wisdom has that you have five seconds to pick it up before it is contaminated. Fact or folklore?
Cancer biomarkers re-evaluated
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers from ETH Zurich have developed a procedure to test the clinical benefits of cancer biomarkers. The method could radically shorten the path from the lab to their application.
Predicting toxicity in the drug development pipeline
University College Dublin researchers have reported in Molecular & Cellular Proteomics on a proof-of-principle study that may benefit the pharmaceutical industry in the future by providing a roadmap for large scale pre-clinical toxicology biomarker verification studies.
Elevated mercury, cadmium block in-vitro pregnancy
(Medical Xpress) -- A new University at Albany study finds background exposure to levels of mercury and cadmium commonly found in the environment may significantly interfere with early pregnancy through in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
What would Batman eat? Priming children to make healthier fast food choices
Popeye inspired a generation of growing Baby Boomers to eat its spinach. Today, role models such as Batman can prompt children to develop their own healthy eating habits, a recent Cornell University study finds.
Using neuroeconomics to study psychiatry
Neuroeconomics experts and guest editors of the Biological Psychiatry special issue Carla Sharp, John Monterosso, and P. Read Montague in an introductory paper define neuroeconomics as "an interdisciplinary field that brings together psychology, economics, neuroscience, and computational science to investigate how people make decisions."
New research questions how fat influences flavor perception
A joint study carried out by The University of Nottingham and the multinational food company Unilever has found for the first time that fat in food can reduce activity in several areas of the brain which are responsible for processing taste, aroma and reward.
Preclinical data support ongoing clinical trials testing IDO inhibitors as a treatment for cancer
Inhibitors of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) are being assessed in clinical trials as a potential treatment for recurrent or refractory solid tumors. Clear genetic rationale for these trials, together with evidence that primary and metastatic lung tumors might be particularly susceptible to the drugs, is now reported in a preclinical study published in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
A good night's sleep could keep you out of a nursing home
Tired? Scientists have discovered another possible benefit of a night of restful and uninterrupted sleep. According to a new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health fragmented or interrupted sleep could predict future placement in a nursing home or assisted living facility. The study is featured in the July 2012 issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society and outlines the association between objectively measured sleep and subsequent institutionalization among older women.
Study implements community-based approach to treat HIV-infection in rural Uganda
New research from the University of Alberta's School of Public Health has demonstrated that community-based resources in rural Uganda can successfully provide HIV treatments to patients, where economic and geographical barriers would typically prevent access to care.
Reorganizing brain could lead to new stroke, tinnitus treatments
UT Dallas researchers recently demonstrated how nerve stimulation paired with specific experiences, such as movements or sounds, can reorganize the brain. This technology could lead to new treatments for stroke, tinnitus, autism and other disorders.
Inflammatory pathway spurs cancer stem cells to resist HER2-targeted breast cancer treatment
Breast cancer treatments such as Herceptin that target a marker called HER2 have dramatically improved outcomes for women with this type of cancer. But nearly half of these cancers are resistant to Herceptin from the start and almost all of them will eventually become resistant.
HPV improves survival for African-Americans with throat cancer
Even though the human papillomavirus (HPV) is a risk factor for certain head and neck cancers, its presence could make all the difference in terms of survival, especially for African Americans with throat cancer, say Henry Ford Hospital researchers.
Anti-tau drug improves cognition, decreases tau tangles in Alzheimer's disease models
While clinical trial results are being released regarding drugs intended to decrease amyloid production - thought to contribute to decline in Alzheimer's disease - clinical trials of drugs targeting other disease proteins, such as tau, are in their initial phases.
In utero exposure to diesel exhaust a possible risk factor for obesity
Pregnant mice exposed to high levels of air pollution gave birth to offspring with a significantly higher rate of obesity and insulin resistance in adulthood than those that were not exposed to air pollution. This effect seemed especially prevalent in male mice, which were heavier regardless of diet. These findings, published online in the FASEB Journal, suggests a link between diesel exhaust exposure in utero and bulging waistlines in adulthood.
Scientists discover melanoma-driving genetic changes caused by sun damage
It's been a burning question in melanoma research: Tumor cells are full of ultraviolet (UV)-induced genetic damage caused by sunlight exposure, but which mutations drive this cancer?
Scientists show potent new compound virtually eliminates HIV in cell culture
A new study by scientists on the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute shows, in cell culture, a natural compound can virtually eliminate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in infected cells. The compound defines a novel class of HIV anti-viral drugs endowed with the capacity to repress viral replication in acutely and chronically infected cells.
Noted authority says women now have higher IQ than men
(Medical Xpress) -- Psychologist James Flynn, who resides in New Zealand and is considered one of the foremost experts on intelligence testing, has aroused people’s attention around the world by proclaiming that women are now smarter than men, at least according to a standardized IQ test. He’s been making the rounds, speaking to various reporters in hopes of spurring sales of a new book he’s written.
Long-term ADHD drug use appears safe, brain development not affected
Drugs used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) do not appear to have long-term effects on the brain, according to new animal research from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
Animal model replicates human immune response against HIV, could revolutionize HIV vaccine research
One of the challenges to HIV vaccine development has been the lack of an animal model that accurately reflects the human immune response to the virus and how the virus evolves to evade that response. In the July 18 issue of Science Translational Medicine, researchers from the Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), MIT and Harvard report that a model created by transplanting elements of the human immune system into an immunodeficient mouse addresses these key issues and has the potential to reduce significantly the time and costs required to test candidate vaccines.
Discovery of new heart failure trigger could change the way cardiovascular drugs are made
In their quest to treat cardiovascular disease, researchers and pharmaceutical companies have long been interested in developing new medicines that activate a heart protein called APJ. But researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) and the Stanford University School of Medicine have now uncovered a second, previously unknown, function for APJ—it senses mechanical changes when the heart is in danger and sets the body on a course toward heart failure. This means that activating APJ could actually be harmful in some cases—potentially eye-opening information for some heart drug makers. The study appears July 18 in Nature.
Genomic study shows colon and rectal tumors constitute a single type of cancer
The pattern of genomic alterations in colon and rectal tissues is the same regardless of anatomic location or origin within the colon or the rectum, leading researchers to conclude that these two cancer types can be grouped as one, according to The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project's large-scale study of colon and rectal cancer tissue specimens.
Protein build-up leads to neurons misfiring
Using a two-photon microscope capable of peering deep within living tissue, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have found new evidence that alpha-synuclein protein build-up inside neurons causes them to not only become "leaky," but also to misfire due to calcium fluxes.
Oral immunotherapy shows promise as treatment for children with egg allergy
A team of researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine and four other institutions have found that young children with egg allergies can benefit from treatment with oral immunotherapy.
Higher job strain associated with increased cardiovascular risk for women
Women with high job strain are 67% more likely to experience a heart attack and 38% more likely to have a cardiovascular event than their counterparts in low strain jobs, according to a study published July 18 in the open access journal PLoS ONE. The researchers, led by Dr. Michelle A. Albert of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, did not find any correlation between job insecurity and long-term cardiovascular disease risk.
Child's behavior linked to father-infant interactions, study shows
Children whose fathers are more positively engaged with them at age three months have fewer behavioural problems at age twelve months, according to new research funded by the Wellcome Trust. The study suggests that interventions aimed at improving parent-child interaction in the early post-natal period may be beneficial to the child's behaviour later on in life.
Life science businessmen predict genetically enhanced athletes will soon compete in the Olympics
(Medical Xpress) -- The journal Nature has begun publishing a series of commentary piece articles related to the sciences as they apply to the Olympics.
The hippocampus as a decision-maker
(Medical Xpress) -- Synapses are modified through learning. Up until now, scientists believed that a particular form of synaptic plasticity in the brain’s hippocampus was responsible for learning spatial relations. This was based on a receptor type for the neurotransmitter glutamate: the NMDA receptor. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg and Oxford University have now observed that mice develop a spatial memory, even when the NMDA receptor-transmitted plasticity is switched off in parts of their hippocampus. However, if these mice have to resolve a conflict while getting their bearings, they are not successful in resolving it; the hippocampal NMDA receptors are clearly needed to detect or resolve the conflict. This has led the researchers involved in this experiment to refute a central tenet of neuroscience regarding the function of hippocampal NMDA receptor-transmitted plasticity in spatial learning.
Hundreds of random mutations in leukemia linked to aging, not cancer
Hundreds of mutations exist in leukemia cells at the time of diagnosis, but nearly all occur randomly as a part of normal aging and are not related to cancer, new research shows.
Does presence of oxidants early in life help determine life span?
Why do we age, and what makes some of us live longer than others? For decades, researchers have been trying to answer these questions by elucidating the molecular causes of aging.
Study first to determine entire genetic sequence of individual human sperm
The entire genomes of 91 human sperm from one man have been sequenced by Stanford University researchers. The results provide a fascinating glimpse into naturally occurring genetic variation in one individual, and are the first to report the whole-genome sequence of a human gamete — the only cells that become a child and through which parents pass on physical traits.
Eye implants make vision-restoring progress
(Medical Xpress) -- "I was blind once but now I can see.” The words are no longer the sole property of religious testimony and literature. Medical progress is being made in the restoration of vision as evidenced by Second Sight’s Argus II, a retinal prosthesis already on the market in Europe, and Bio-Retina from NanoRetina, which is to start clinical trials next year. Second Sight is a California company with a European office in Lausanne. Its Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System was developed to provide electrical stimulation of the retina to induce visual perception. The Argus II is an eye implant system that includes antenna, electronics case and electrode array. The $115,000 procedure entrails a four hour operation under full anesthesia.
In the insect brain, dopamine-releasing nerve cells are crucial to the formation of both punished, rewarded memories
Children quickly learn to avoid negative situations and seek positive ones. But humans are not the only species capable of remembering positive and negative events; even the small brain of a fruit fly has this capacity. Dopamine-containing nerve cells connected with the mushroom body of the fly brain play a role here. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried have identified four different types of such nerve cells. Three of the nerve cell types assume various functions in mediating negative stimuli, while the fourth enables the fly to form positive memories.
By decoding brain activity, scientists read monkeys' inner thoughts
Anyone who has looked at the jagged recording of the electrical activity of a single neuron in the brain must have wondered how any useful information could be extracted from such a frazzled signal.
Biology news
Developing policy on moving threatened species called 'a grand challenge for conservation'
the act of purposely relocating a threatened species, population, or genotype to an area that is foreign to its natural history—is a controversial response to the threat of extinction resulting from climate change. An article in the August 2012 issue of BioScience by Mark W. Schwartz and his colleagues reports on the findings of the Managed Relocation Working Group, an interdisciplinary group of scientists, researchers, and policymakers whose goals were to examine the conditions that might justify the use of managed relocation and to assess the research being conducted on the topic. The authors note that although traditional management strategies are not likely to address the effects of climate change adequately, guidelines and protocols for managed relocation are poorly developed. "Developing a functional policy framework for managed relocation is a grand challenge for conservation," they assert.
50,000 wild birds smuggled through Solomons: group
More than 54,000 wild birds, including critically endangered species, were laundered through the Solomon islands into the global wildlife trade between 2000 and 2010, a wildlife group said Tuesday.
IU partnership results in faster Trinity RNA sequencing software
Key software used to study gene expression now runs four times faster, thanks to performance improvements put in place by a team from the Indiana University Pervasive Technology Institute (PTI), the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and Technische Universität Dresden.
No reason to be sheepish about paternity
A new, low-cost DNA test to verify sheep parentage could soon help breeders worldwide to record accurate pedigrees and maximise the genetic potential of their flock.
Gauging the forces between cells
Cell-cell junctions are important for communication, transport, signalling, waste evacuation and water homeostasis. An European project has investigated how biophysical forces can influence the fulfilment of this vast range of functions.
What we know and don't know about Earth's missing biodiversity
Most of the world's species are still unknown to science although many researchers grappled to address the question of how many species there are on Earth over the recent decades. Estimates of non-microbial diversity on Earth provided by researchers range from 2 million to over 50 million species, with great uncertainties in numbers of insects, fungi, nematodes, and deep-sea organisms.
Think pink! Success of pink bacteria in oceans of the world
Marine bacteria of the Roseobacter clade are found to be spread widely throughout the oceans of this planet from the tropics to as far as Antarctica. They live freely in the water, in sediments and as symbiotic partners of algae. Special photosynthetic pigments are responsible for their pink colour. Marine bacteria distinguish themselves through an unusually diverse metabolism, which opens interesting opportunities for biotechnological applications. A reconstruction of their evolutionary development will provide a key for scientists to understand the secret for their ecological success.
Leopard in dramatic photo traced to 2004 camera trap
A dramatic photo of a male leopard dragging a massive gaur (or Indian bison) calf in Karnataka's Bandipur Tiger Reserve turned out to be the same animal photographed by a WCS camera trap nearly eight years ago.
Scientists identify characteristics of successful malaria parasites in New Zealand bird populations
Scientists from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) are the first to document the characteristics of invading parasites, using malaria in New Zealand bird species.
Beating the fuel prices: Using yeast for economic production of bioethanol
Finding renewable and economic sources of energy are one of the most important concerns for the continuation of the human species. New research, published in BioMed Central's open access journal Biotechnology for Biofuels, has produced a novel strain of yeast with improved xylose tolerance and metabolism, and consequently improved ethanol production.
Dairy researchers identify bacterial spoilers in milk
Our days of crying over spoiled milk could be over, thanks to Cornell food scientists.
New study provides mechanistic insights into how gene transcription is regulated in mammalian cells
Mammalian cells pack their genome into a highly organized three-dimensional structure, in which the thread-like DNA is wrapped tightly around spool-like proteins. This structure, known as chromatin, plays an important role in the regulation of gene activity. An international team of researchers led by Yijun Ruan at the A*STAR Genome Institute of Singapore have now revealed a key mechanism by which the chromatin regulates gene activity.
Hidden secrets in the world's most northerly rainforests
The word rainforest usually conjures up visions of brightly coloured birds and hyperactive monkeys swooping through a thick green canopy of leaves, vines and flowers. But rainforests are also found closer to the poles, in the northern or boreal region where temperatures are far cooler. And while there are no monkeys swinging through the trees here, these forests are every bit as endangered as their southern cousins, and highly diverse – if you know where to look.
The future of biomaterial manufacturing: Spider silk production from bacteria
A new video article in JoVE, the Journal of Visualized Experiments, demonstrates procedures to harvest and process synthetic spider silk from bacteria.
Primate behavior: Chimps select smart tools, monkeys intentionally beg
Chimpanzees use weight to pick the best tool, and monkeys beg more when they're paid attention to, as reported in two independent research reports published July 18 in the open access journal PLoS ONE.
Single-cell parasites co-opt 'ready-made' genes from host: study
Two species of single-cell parasites have co-opted "ready-made" genes from their hosts that in turn help them exploit their hosts, according to a new study by University of British Columbia and University of Ottawa researchers.
Like a transformer? Protein unfolds and refolds for new function
New research has shown that a protein does something that scientists once thought impossible: It unfolds itself and refolds into a completely new shape.
The Yin and Yang of stem cell quiescence and proliferation
Not all adult stem cells are created equal. Some are busy regenerating worn out or damaged tissues, while their quieter brethren serve as a strategic back-up crew that only steps in when demand shoots up. Now, researchers at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research have identified an important molecular cue that keeps quiescent mouse hematopoietic (or blood-forming) stem cells from proliferating when their services are not needed.
Locating muscle proteins: Scientists bring the basis of muscle movement into sharper focus
Muscle contraction and many other movement processes are controlled by the interplay between myosin and actin filaments. Two further proteins, tropomyosin and troponin, regulate how myosin binds to actin. While theoretical models have in fact described exactly how these muscle proteins interact, this interaction has never previously been observed in detail. Stefan Raunser and Elmar Behrmann from the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology in Dortmund have now managed to image the actin-myosin-tropomyosin complex with an unprecedented accuracy of 0.8 nanometres, which amounts to a resolution of less than one-millionth of a millimetre. This has, for the first time, made it possible to correctly identify the location of proteins within the complex and to analyse the processes involved in muscle contraction. These findings could help determine the impact of genetically determined modifications to the actin-myosin-tropomyosin complex in certain types of hereditary heart di! sease.
Virus discovered in Cultus Lake sport fish
A Simon Fraser University fish-population statistician, working in collaboration with non-government organization scientists, has uncovered evidence of a potentially deadly virus in a freshwater sport fish in B.C.
Scientists solve structure of important protein in energy storage of cells
(Phys.org) -- Scientists at Trinity College Dublin, using a highly specialised crystallography technique have solved a large protein structure that will increase our understanding of energy generation and storage in cells. The findings have been recently published in the online publication of Nature.
Promiscuous squid fatigued after mating: study
(Phys.org) -- In order to pass on their genes, southern dumpling squid engage in up to three hours of mating with each partner, but University of Melbourne researchers have found that this results in a reduced ability to swim for up to 30 minutes afterwards.
Researchers find animals with bigger brains less prone to extinction
(Phys.org) -- Biological scientist Eric Abelson of Stanford University has been studying the link between survivability of a species over time and brain size relative to body mass, and has found that as a general rule, it appears that small mammals that have relatively large brains tend to be more likely to survive over long periods of time than those with smaller brains. He has presented his findings to a recent meeting of conservation scientists. Meanwhile, in an unrelated study, Joshua J. Amiel, Reid Tingley and Richard Shine of the University of Sydney, have found that amphibians, birds and reptiles with larger brains relative to body size released into a new environment tend to fare better than do those with smaller brains. They have had their paper on the topic published in the journal PLoS One.
Researchers identify mechanisms that allow embryonic stem cells to become any cell in the human body
(Phys.org) -- New research at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem sheds light on pluripotency—the ability of embryonic stem cells to renew themselves indefinitely and to differentiate into all types of mature cells. Solving this problem, which is a major challenge in modern biology, could expedite the use of embryonic stem cells in cell therapy and regenerative medicine. If scientists can replicate the mechanisms that make pluripotency possible, they could create cells in the laboratory which could be implanted in humans to cure diseases characterized by cell death, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes and other degenerative diseases.
Do dolphins use nonlinear mathematics?
Research from the University of Southampton, which examines how dolphins might process their sonar signals, could provide a new system for man-made sonar to detect targets, such as sea mines, in bubbly water.
Environmental concerns increasing infectious disease in amphibians, other animals
Climate change, habitat destruction, pollution and invasive species are all involved in the global crisis of amphibian declines and extinctions, researchers suggest in a new analysis, but increasingly these forces are causing actual mortality in the form of infectious disease.
Friends with benefits: Study finds insects aid in moss sex
(Phys.org) -- Researchers at Portland State University have discovered how mosses can use chemical cues to recruit small creatures to help with fertilization, via a process similar to pollination in flowering plants.
As mushrooms evolve to live symbiotically with trees, they give up parts of their DNA: study
Harvard researchers are unlocking the evolutionary secrets of one of the world's most recognizable groups of mushrooms, and to do it, they're using one of the most comprehensive fungal "family trees" ever created.
Researchers discover how western corn rootworm resists crop rotation
A new study answers a question that has baffled researchers for more than 15 years: How does the western corn rootworm – an insect that thrives on corn but dies on soybeans – persist in fields that alternate between corn and soybeans? The answer, researchers say, has to do with enzyme production in the rootworm gut.
Gannet foraging sharpens thinking about marine conservation
New research into seabirds highlights the need for marine conservation to consider the different behaviours of males and females in the species it aims to protect.
Research pair uncover secret of hummingbirds' ability to fly in the rain (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) -- Hummingbirds are an interesting species. They dart around and fly like insects yet because they are warm blooded and cute, they inspire smiles in most who watch them. What’s not so cute is watching an Anna hummingbird (Calypte anna) try to feed on the nectar in a flower during a heavy rain. Because the birds are so small, big rain drops, typical in the South American rain forest in the eastern Andes where they live, tend to look like liquid boulders dropping from the sky. Worse still is the additional weight the birds must carry as the raindrops make them wet. Still, the birds manage to work it out due to necessity.
Viruses' copying mechanism demystified, opening the door to new vaccine strategies
Certain kinds of viruses such as those that cause the common cold, SARS, hepatitis, and encephalitis, copy themselves using a unique mechanism, according to a team of Penn State University scientists that includes David Boehr, an assistant professor of chemistry and a co-leader of the research team. The discovery sheds light on a previously identified, but never-before-understood region of an enzyme associated with the process of replicating genetic material. The research is an important step toward the improvement of existing vaccines, as well as toward the design of vaccines against viruses that have eluded vaccination strategies in the past. The research will be published in the print issue of the journal Structure on 5 September 2012.
New technique reveals cross-talk between two essential cellular processes
Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have simultaneously mapped two of the most important types of protein-modification in cells, revealing their extensive cooperation during an essential cellular process.
Debate ends: Team reconciles puzzling findings relating to centromere structure
Scientists at the Stowers Institute of Medical Research have developed an innovative method to count the number of fluorescent molecules in a cluster and then applied the novel approach to settle a debate rampant among cell biologists—namely, how DNA twists into a unique chromosomal structure called the centromere. Knowing this helps explain how cells navigate the hazards of division and avoid the disastrous consequences of ending up with the wrong number of chromosomes.
What 10,000 fruit flies have to tell us about differences between the sexes
What do you get when you dissect 10 000 fruit-fly larvae? A team of researchers led by the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in the UK and the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics (MPI) in Germany has discovered a way in which cells can adjust the activity of many different genes at once. Their findings, published in the journal Science, overturn commonly held views and reveal an important mechanism behind gender differences.
This email is a free service of Phys.org
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://phys.org/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment