Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for August 23, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Physicists demonstrate first time reversal of water waves- Malware can take ugly leap forward to virtual machines
- One-molecule-thick material has big advantages: Researchers produce complex circuits from molybdenum disulfide
- Panasonic hands control of home appliances to Android phones
- Superconductor 'flaws' could be key to its abilities
- Primate of the opera: What soprano singing apes on helium reveal about the human voice
- Supernovae of the same brightness, cut from vastly different cosmic cloth
- Engineers achieve longstanding goal of stable nanocrystalline metals
- Origami inspires research into materials that self-assemble when exposed to light (w/ Video)
- Novel technique to synthesize nanocrystals that harvest solar energy
- How does body temperature reset the biological clock?
- Why don't insect wings break?
- Video-gaming fish play out the advantages of groups (w/ Video)
- Research on wood formation sheds light on plant biology
- Chemists determine one way tumors meet their growing need
Space & Earth news
No-till could help maintain crop yields despite climate change
Reducing tillage for some Central Great Plains crops could help conserve water and reduce losses caused by climate change, according to studies at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
California declares state of emergency amid fires
Authorities declared a state of emergency in northern California, ravaged by fires at a time when several other western US states are also fighting flames.
Research and Technology Studies (RATS) on an Asteroid
This week, NASA's Research And Technology Studies (RATS) team will convene at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) to begin their 15th mission. In the past, RATS missions have been conducted in remote desert locations and dubbed "Desert RATS," but RATS 2012 will be conducted in JSC's Building 9, the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility.
University of Minnesota-led experiment to fly on NASA mission to Earth's radiation belts
A University of Minnesota-led experiment is set for launch Friday, Aug. 24 aboard NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) mission, a probe of the forces that govern radiation in the Van Allen Radiation Belts. These two concentric, doughnut-shaped regions of space girdle the Earth and pose radiation danger to astronauts and spacecraft.
Study tracks relationship between storms, cities
(Phys.org)â€"On the Great Plains, storm clouds are visible from quite a distance. And, sometimes, those storms seem to veer off course for no apparent reason. A group of scientists is studying weather patterns to determine if city size or shape has any influence on a storm's track.  "We're trying to quantify something that has had anecdotal evidence through the years but has not been approached in a systematic way," said Geoff Henebry, a professor and senior scientist at the Geographic Information Science Center of Excellence at South Dakota State University.
Curiosity's sundial carries a message of hope
While Curiosity is definitely loaded up with some of the most high-tech instruments ever made to investigate the surface of Mars, it also carries a very low-tech instrument: a sundial, which can be used to determine the position of the Sun in the sky and the season on Mars just like they do here on Earth. Curiosity's sundial also has additional color calibration tools for the rover's Mastcam, which captured the image above on August 19â€"the 13th "Sol" of the mission.
Take a look through Curiosity's ChemCam
While Curiosity has been getting a good look around its landing spot on Mars, taking in the sights and sending back some impressive views of distant hills and Gale Crater's enormous central peak, it's also been peering very closely at some tiny targets just meters awayâ€"with its head-mounted, laser-powered and much-touted ChemCam.
Cloud control could tame hurricanes, study shows
They are one of the most destructive forces of nature on Earth, but now environmental scientists are working to tame the hurricane. In a paper, published in Atmospheric Science Letters, the authors propose using cloud seeding to decrease sea surface temperatures where hurricanes form. Theoretically, the team claims the technique could reduce hurricane intensity by a category.
NASA sees Tropical Storm Isaac bring heavy rains to Eastern Caribbean (w/ Video)
NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite captured rainfall data from Tropical Storm Isaac as it continues moving through the Caribbean Sea.
NASA sees newborn Tropical Storm Joyce in the Central Atlantic
Tropical Depression 10 appeared more organized on NOAA's GOES-13 satellite imagery early on Aug. 23 (Eastern Daylight Time) and it was renamed Tropical Storm Joyce by the National Hurricane Center by 11 a.m. EDT
New NASA video captures drama of Mars landing
(AP)â€"Viewers can now relive the drama of the Curiosity rover's landing on Mars with a new NASA video detailing the final moments of touchdown.
New survey of ocean floor finds juvenile scallops are abundant in Mid-Atlantic
NOAA researchers are getting a comprehensive view of the ocean floor using a new instrument, and have confirmed that there are high numbers of young sea scallops off of Delaware Bay.
Spacetime: A smoother brew than we knew
(Phys.org)â€"Spacetime may be less like beer and more like sipping whisky.
The Milky Way now has a twin (or two)
(Phys.org)â€"Research presented today at the International Astronomical Union General Assembly in Beijing has found the first group of galaxies that is just like ours, a rare sight in the local Universe.
Life's first taste of phosphorus
Despite its impressive biological resume, phosphorus is relatively inaccessible as elements go. To understand how phosphorus obtained its prominent role, scientists are modeling the early geochemical environment on Earth and in space.
Supernovae of the same brightness, cut from vastly different cosmic cloth
Exploding stars called Type 1a supernova are ideal for measuring cosmic distance because they are bright enough to spot across the Universe and have relatively the same luminosity everywhere. Although astronomers have many theories about the kinds of star systems involved in these explosions (or progenitor systems), no one has ever directly observed oneâ€"until now.
Past tropical climate change linked to ocean circulation
A new record of past temperature change in the tropical Atlantic Ocean's subsurface provides clues as to why the Earth's climate is so sensitive to ocean circulation patterns, according to climate scientists at Texas A&M University.
Link found between cold European winters and solar activity
Scientists have long suspected that the Sun's 11-year cycle influences climate of certain regions on Earth. Yet records of average, seasonal temperatures do not date back far enough to confirm any patterns. Now, armed with a unique proxy, an international team of researchers show that unusually cold winters in Central Europe are related to low solar activity â€" when sunspot numbers are minimal. The freezing of Germany's largest river, the Rhine, is the key.
A new way of thinking about ocean currents
Kevin Speer has a "new paradigm" for describing how the world's oceans circulateâ€"and with it he may help reshape science's understanding of the processes by which wind, water, sunlight and other factors interact and influence the planet's climate.
Technology news
India warns Twitter over ethnic violence rumours
India has threatened to take action against micro-blogging website Twitter over content alleged to have inflamed ethnic tensions against migrants from the northeast, reports said Thursday.
US testing surveillance balloons on Mexico border
(AP) — Floating 2,500-feet (762-meters) above scrub-covered U.S. ranchland near the Mexico border, the payload of high-tech cameras onboard a balloon being used by the Border Patrol can easily see a cluster of reporters and the make, model and color of their vehicles a couple of miles away.
Fight over Mexican telecom frequencies turns ugly
(AP) — A dispute over control of hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of wireless frequencies has erupted into an ugly, personal feud between Mexico's government and one of its most influential media companies.
Infrastructure problems disrupt Internet to Syria
(AP)â€"Turkey's telecommunications company says its Internet services to neighboring Syria have come to a halt due to infrastructure problems in the war-torn country.
Australia buys US Growler air warfare technology
(AP)â€"Officials say Australia has become the first country other than the United States to buy Boeing EA-18G Growler advanced electronic warfare technology.
Fujitsu releases 24 new wide voltage 8-bit microcontrollers featuring LCD control functionality
Fujitsu Semiconductor today announced the addition of new products to its "New 8FX" family of high-performance 8-bit microcontrollers, including 12 products from the 64-pin MB95770 Series and 12 products from the 80-pin MB95710 Series, both of which feature LCD control functionality and support a wide voltage operation range from 1.8V to 5.5V. Sample quantities of these new products will begin shipping today.
Internet architecture is at odds with its use
The largest manmade structure is now used much differently than was originally intended by its designers. Of all Internet communication, only a fraction of traffic is intended to be exchanged between specific network elements anymore. Instead, the network should find the content desired by end users.
Blind student presents 3-D tactile images to national microscopy conference
(Phys.org)â€"While Ashleigh Gonzales is a typical, 20-year old ASU senior, she is not your average student. Unlike other undergraduates studying life sciences, her decision to major in molecular biosciences and biotechnology created an unusual challenge â€" one few others are willing to tackle.
Is this real or just fantasy? ONR Augmented-Reality Initiative progresses
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is demonstrating the next phase of an augmented-reality project Aug. 23 in Princeton, N.J., that will change the way warfighters view operational environmentsâ€"literally.
Jurors begin deliberations in Apple patent case
(AP) — Jurors began deliberating Wednesday in a multibillion dollar patent infringement case pitting Apple against Samsung over the design of iPhones and iPads — but few experts were expecting a quick verdict.
US clears Facebook deal for Instagram
US regulators said Wednesday they closed an investigation into Facebook's billion-dollar deal to buy the startup behind photo-sharing smartphone application Instagram, taking no action.
Google online maps embark on Arctic adventure
Google set out Wednesday to take users of its free online mapping service on an Arctic adventure with help from an Inuit community in the Canadian tundra.
SKorean court ends law requiring real names online
(AP)â€"A South Korean court ended a law requiring Internet contributors to use their real names to leave comments, ruling unanimously Thursday that the policy undermined free speech.
Mini-camera with maxi-brainpower
Torrential rapids, plunging mud holes and soaring hurdles: in the outdoor competitions at the Olympic Games, athletes pushed themselves to the limit. But it's hard to depict this in pictures alone. This is why researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS created an intelligent camera that instantly delivers additional metadata, such as acceleration, temperature or heart rate. The new INCA can be seen at the IBC trade show in Amsterdam from September 7 - 11 (Hall 8, Booth B80).
New standard HEVC encodes films more efficiently
Television resolution is constantly improving â€" and this must go hand-in-hand with transmitting the data more efficiently. Reputable manufacturers of televisions, computers and mobile telephones, working jointly with Fraunhofer researchers, are developing a new standard for data transmission: "High Efficiency Video Coding", or HEVC for short. This video codec will be unveiled in Amsterdam at the IBC trade show, from September 7 - 11, 2012 (Hall 8, Booth B80).
Scientists put spotlight on marine power
A team of researchers from Israel and the United Kingdom has discovered that energy produced from the planet's oceans can increase twofold when novel methods for predicting wave power are used. Presented in the journal Renewable Energy, the results could help scientists drive and make marine renewable energy research an optimal source of power. The study was funded in part by the WAVEPORT ('Demonstration and deployment of a commercial scale wave energy converter with an innovative real time wave by wave tuning system') project, which has received more than EUR 4.5 million under the Energy Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).
Twitter 'agrees to block fake Indian PM accounts'
Twitter has agreed to remove six fake accounts which purport to be Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's following a request from the Indian government, the premier's spokesman said on Thursday.
Microsoft revamps logo ahead of major launches
Microsoft on Thursday unveiled a new corporate logo for the first time in 25 years as the US tech giant geared up for a series of big product launches.
Global tablet sales to top 100 million in 2012: survey
The global market for tablet computers is extending its sizzling growth and will likely top 100 million in 2012, a research firm said Thursday.
Man arrested in UK over alleged computer hacking
(AP)â€"British police say a 44-year-old man has been arrested in an inquiry into allegations of computer hacking and privacy offenses.
Facebook updates iPhone app to speed it up
(AP)â€"What was the biggest complaint about Facebook's iPhone app? Users called it slow.
Academic social network Mendeley generates 100 million API calls a month
(Phys.org)â€"Publishing scientific papers is big business, so is connecting the dots between papers that are published and offering reports to those looking for reliable information about them. To fill the first need, scientific journals have evolved from paper only publications to online portals that offer researchers a very public platform for showcasing their work, even if most of those that wish to read the papers must go through a pay-wall. To satisfy the second need, two types of establishments have come about. The first is where companies charge people to access information about published papers and the second is where they offer it for free to anyone who wishes access under a Creative Commons agreement. At this point, it appears the second approach is winning.
How to feed data-hungry mobile devices? Use more antennas (w/ Video)
Researchers from Rice University unveiled a new multi-antenna technology that could help wireless providers keep pace with the voracious demands of data-hungry smartphones and tablets. The technology aims to dramatically increase network capacity by allowing cell towers to simultaneously beam signals to more than a dozen customers on the same frequency.
Malware can take ugly leap forward to virtual machines
(Phys.org) -- A piece of malware categorized as a malicious rootkit can spread via an installer disguised as an Adobe Flash Player installer and is capable of spreading to four different platform environments, including Windows, Mac OSX, VMware virtual machines, and Windows Mobile devices. The news this week is that the malware, dubbed Crisis, not only affects Macs, as originally assumed, but these other systems as well. The discovery is an example of expert security companies building on each other’s efforts.
Panasonic hands control of home appliances to Android phones
(Phys.org)â€"In a cloud-service announcement this week, Panasonic is placing the smartphone into the center of devices for cooking and washing in the home, to be used in conjunction with Panasonic compatible home appliances. The consumer electronics company has launched its own Panasonic Smart App to go to work in Japan. To use the software, it is necessary to become a member of the "Club Panasonic." The Panasonic Smart App will allow Android smartphone owners hooking up the club to control their smart home appliances just by downloading the free app to their smartphones.
Medicine & Health news
Radiotherapy results in higher diabetes risk for some childhood cancer survivors
The study – which analysed more than 2500 patient questionnaires and medical records from French and British people who had cancer in childhood but survived for at least 20 years after undergoing treatment – is the first to link diabetes and radiation.
Prostate cancer survival rates improved since introduction of PSA testing
The routine use of prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing for screening and monitoring prostate cancer has led to early and more sensitive detection of the disease. A new study published in The Journal of Urology reports that in the "PSA era," survival has improved for patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer that has spread to the bones or other parts of the body and the disparity between African American and Caucasian men has been resolved.
Syphilis scare prompts call to halt US porn shoots
Reports of several cases of syphilis among porn actors in California has prompted a trade group to call for a temporary halt to shooting in the lucrative US adult film industry.
The language of neural cells
Imagine if we could underÂstand the lanÂguage two neuÂrons use to comÂmuÂniÂcate. We might learn someÂthing about how thoughts and conÂsciousÂness are formed. At the very least, our improved underÂstanding of neuron comÂmuÂniÂcaÂtion would help biolÂoÂgists study the brain with more preÂciÂsion than ever before.
US risks losing out to Asia in medical research
Medical research saves lives, suffering and dollars â€" while also creating jobs and economic activity. The United States has long led the world, with hundreds of thousands of jobs and marketable discoveries generated by government research funding every year. Top students from around the world come here for trainingâ€"and often stay to help fuel medical innovation.
Judge OKs stem cell cure for 2-year-old girl
(AP)â€"Doctors are preparing an emergency one-off stem cell treatment for 2-year-old Venetian girl suffering a severe muscular disease after a judge revoked an order blocking the cure.
S. Korea court upholds abortion punishment
South Korea's top court Thursday struck down a challenge calling for an end to tough legal punishments for midwives and others administering illegal abortions.
German ethics committee tackles circumcision row
A senior member of Germany's ethics committee Thursday called for a compromise in a heated debate over religious circumcision after a court ruled the practice was tantamount to grievous bodily harm.
Dartmouth medical research closes in on new tuberculosis vaccine
Tuberculosis (TB) is second only to HIV/AIDS as the greatest killer worldwide attributable to a single infectious agent, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). With 8.8 million cases in 2010 and 95 percent of TB deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries, the disease continues to be a major public health problem in the developing world. In a July address to the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Dartmouth's C. Fordham (Ford) von Reyn shared news of a promising vaccine in the works.
New insights into salt transport in the kidney
Sodium chloride, better known as salt, is vital for the organism, and the kidneys play a crucial role in the regulation of sodium balance. However, the underlying mechanisms of sodium balance are not yet completely understood. Researchers of the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch, Charité â€" Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the University of Kiel have now deciphered the function of a gene in the kidney and have thus gained new insights into this complex regulation process.
Canadian researcher works to make paralympic games safer
In an effort to gain a competitive edge, some athletes at the Paralympic Games have taken to a risky and banned form of performance enhancement.
New imaging test aids Alzheimer's diagnosis
In research studies, scientists regularly use positron emission tomography (PET) scans to detect signs of Alzheimer's disease. Now, Washington University physicians at Barnes-Jewish Hospital are the first in Missouri to offer a new type of PET scan for patients with memory disorders and other forms of cognitive impairment who are not involved in research studies.
Study reveals racial disparities in prostate cancer care
A study led by investigators from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC), Nashville, Tenn., finds that black men with prostate cancer receive lower quality surgical care than white men. The racial differences persist even when controlling for factors such as the year of surgery, age, comorbidities and insurance status.
Cancer survival in Germany after the fall of the Iron Curtain
Data from the 1970s and 1980s show that people affected by cancer survived significantly longer in West Germany than cancer patients behind the Iron Curtain. Looking at a diagnosis period from 1984 to 1985 in the former German Democratic Republic, 28 percent of colorectal cancer patients, 46 percent of prostate cancer patients, and 52 percent of breast cancer patients survived the first five years after diagnosis. By contrast, 5-year survival rates for people in West Germany affected by these types of cancer were 44 percent, 68 percent, and 68 percent in the years from 1979 to 1983 already.
Sierra Leone cholera death toll rises to 217
(AP)â€"Humanitarian officials say the death toll from a cholera outbreak in Sierra Leone has risen to 217 people.
Woman who fought flesh-eating illness goes home
(AP)â€"A 24-year-old Georgia woman who survived a rare, flesh-eating disease is back home after more than three months in the hospital and a rehabilitation clinic.
Study helps pancreatic cancer patients make hard choices
Every year, nearly 45,000 Americans are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The odds against those stricken by the disease are truly dismal; pancreatic cancer almost always kills within two years after diagnosis, no matter how it is treated. Even aggressive intervention with chemotherapy, radiation or surgery rarely yields more than an extra month to a year of survival, depending on the stage of the disease.
NCAA football exploits players in 'invisible labor market'
College football exploits players in an "invisible labor market," and the only plausible way for student-athletes to address their interests is the credible threat of unionization, according to research from a University of Illinois expert in labor relations and collective bargaining in athletics.
New decision aid for treatment of herniated disc beneficial
(HealthDay)â€"A new patient decision instrument meets the criteria of acceptability, reliability, and validity, and improves the quality of patient decision-making for treatment of a herniated disc, according to a study published in the Aug. 15 issue of Spine.
At-home diode laser effective for permanent hair reduction
(HealthDay) -- Eight treatments with a home-use diode laser provide effective and safe permanent hair reduction one year after the last treatment, according to research published in the September issue of Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
Low HDL cholesterol ups risk of diabetic nephropathy
(HealthDay) -- High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is an independent risk factor for the development of diabetic nephropathy, but not retinopathy, in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to research published online Aug. 13 in Diabetes Care.
Global 'epidemic' of gullet cancer seems to have started in UK in 1950s
The global "epidemic" of one type of gullet cancer (adenocarcinoma) seems to have started in the UK during the 1950s, sparked by some as yet unknown, but common, factor, suggests research published online in Gut.
Wide circle of friends key to mid-life wellbeing for both sexes
The midlife wellbeing of both men and women seems to depend on having a wide circle of friends whom they see regularly, finds research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Changing epidemiology of rare disease links sinus irrigation with contaminated tap water, two deaths
When water containing the Naegleria fowleri ameba, a single-celled organism, enters the nose, the organisms may migrate to the brain, causing primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a very rare—but usually fatal—disease. A new study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases describes the first reported cases in the United States implicating nasal irrigation using disinfected tap water in these infections. Now available online, the study highlights the changing epidemiology of this uncommon disease, as well as the importance of using appropriately treated water for nasal irrigation.
First UK operation to tackle heart failure with novel nerve-stimulating implant
Researchers at the University of Leicester have announced that the UK's first operation to tackle heart failure (HF) with a novel nerve-stimulating device will be performed today (Thursday August 23) at Glenfield Hospital.
Once again with feeling: Australian science tugs heart-strings
Do humans really wear their hearts on their sleeve? An ambitious Australian neuroscience project aiming to translate emotional impulses directly into music is hoping to find out.
DNA sequencing confirms HIV transmission through surrogate breastfeeding
(Medical Xpress)â€"DNA sequencing has provided evidence of HIV-1 transmission from an infected woman breastfeeding her niece in South Africa, drawing attention to infant feeding practices and the need for HIV testing of all breastfeeding surrogates as well as mothers.
What motivates rejection of (climate) science?
(Medical Xpress)â€"Researchers from The University of Western Australia have examined what motivates people who are greatly involved in the climate debate to reject scientific evidence.
Study reveals new link to asthma
(Medical Xpress)â€"Researchers at King's have established a significant link between asthma and an immune response called 'Th17', previously only attributed to inflammatory conditions such as multiple sclerosis.
Are the eyes the key to a new test for Alzheimer's disease?
(Medical Xpress)â€"​A simple eye tracking test could hold the key to earlier Alzheimer's diagnosis, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Aging Association.
DNA detectives track down nerve disorder cause
Better diagnosis and treatment of a crippling inherited nerve disorder may be just around the corner thanks to an international team that spanned Asia, Europe and the United States. The team had been hunting DNA strands for the cause of the inherited nerve disorder known as spinocerebellar ataxia, or SCA. The disease causes progressive loss of balance, muscle control and ability to walk. Thanks to their diligence and detective work they have discovered the disease gene in a region of chromosome 1 where another group from the Netherlands had previously shown linkage with a form of SCA called SCA19, and the Taiwanese group on the new paper had shown similar linkage in a family for a form of the disease that was then called SCA22. The international team, from France, Japan, Taiwan and the USA have published their discovery in the Annals of Neurology. The Dutch group has also published results in the same issue of the journal.
Therapeutic avenues for Parkinson's investigated at UH
Scientists at the University of Houston (UH) have discovered what may possibly be a key ingredient in the fight against Parkinson's disease.
Study reveals human drive for fair play
People will reject an offer of water, even when they are severely thirsty, if they perceive the offer to be unfair, according to a new study funded by the Wellcome Trust. The findings have important implications for understanding how humans make decisions that must balance fairness and self-interest.
Tattoo ink found to be source of M. chelonae outbreak
(HealthDay)â€"Premixed tattoo ink has been found to be the source of an outbreak of Mycobacterium chelonae in 19 patients in Rochester, N.Y., according to a study published online Aug. 22 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Many obese americans struggle with stigma, discrimination, poll finds
(HealthDay)â€"As if the physical woes that accompany obesity aren't bad enough, many obese Americans say they face discrimination and stigma because of their weight, a new Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll found.
Gene 'switch' may explain DiGeorge syndrome severity
The discovery of a 'switch' that modifies a gene known to be essential for normal heart development could explain variations in the severity of birth defects in children with DiGeorge syndrome.
New insights into why humans are more susceptible to cancer and other diseases
Chimpanzees rarely get cancer, or a variety of other diseases that commonly arise in humans, but their genomic DNA sequence is nearly identical to ours. So, what's their secret? Researchers reporting in the September issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics, have found that differences in certain DNA modifications, called methylation, might play a role.
Largest multistate study for autism launching second phase
The Centers for Disease Control has launched its second phase of a multistate study on autism and JFK Partners at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, the Colorado School of Public Health and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment are collaborating at the Colorado site for the study.
FDA names Ind. farm tied to salmonella in melons
(AP)â€"A farmer whose cantaloupes have been linked to a deadly salmonella outbreak says he voluntarily ceased production and has had no other problems at his southern Indiana farm since it began operating in 1982.
Field guide to the Epstein-Barr virus charts viral paths toward cancer
Researchers from The Wistar Institute and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) have teamed to publish the first annotated atlas of the Epstein-Barr virus genome, creating the most comprehensive study of how the viral genome interacts with its human host during a latent infection. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which is thought to be responsible for one percent of all human cancers, establishes a latent infection in nearly 100 percent of infected adult humans.
For mitochondria, bigger may not be better
Goldilocks was on to something when she preferred everything "just right." Harvard Medical School researchers have found that when it comes to the length of mitochondria, the power-producing organelles, applying the fairy tale's mantra is crucial to the health of a cell. More specifically, abnormalities in mitochondrial length promote the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.
Scientists discover one of the ways the influenza virus disarms host cells
(Medical Xpress)â€"When you are hit with the flu, you know it immediatelyâ€"fever, chills, sore throat, aching muscles, fatigue. This is your body mounting an immune response to the invading virus. But less is known about what is happening on the molecular level.
US finds lead poisoning from Ayurvedic medicines
US health researchers said Thursday that they have documented lead poisoning risks among pregnant women who took Ayurvedic medicine and issued a new warning on the safety of traditional pills.
Reporting of dietary intake methods in obesity trials poor
(HealthDay)â€"More care needs to be taken in reporting dietary intake methods in childhood and adolescent obesity intervention trials in order to be able to better evaluate and replicate study methods, according to the results of a systematic review published online Aug. 15 in Obesity Reviews.
Study identifies human melanoma stem cells
(Medical Xpress)â€"Cancer stem cells are defined by three abilities: differentiation, self-renewal and their ability to seed a tumor. These stem cells resist chemotherapy and many researchers posit their role in relapse. A University of Colorado Cancer Center study recently published in the journal Stem Cells, shows that melanoma cells with these abilities are marked by the enzyme ALDH, and imagines new therapies to target high-ALDH cells, potentially weeding the body of these most dangerous cancer creators.
'Smart catheters' for the major problem of catheter-related infections
A new "smart catheter" that senses the start of an infection, and automatically releases an anti-bacterial substance, is being developed to combat the problem of catheter-related blood and urinary tract infections, scientists reported here today at the 244th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society.
Pre-op eltrombopag reduces need for platelet transfusions
(HealthDay)â€"For patients with chronic liver disease who require an invasive procedure as part of their routine care, the oral thrombopoietin-receptor agonist eltrombopag reduces the need for platelet transfusions, but also results in an increased incidence of portal-vein thrombosis, according to a study published in the Aug. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Metastatic melanoma responds to first-line interleukin-21
(HealthDay)â€"In the first-line treatment of metastatic melanoma, interleukin-21 (IL-21) shows an overall response rate (ORR) of 22.5 percent and warrants further study, according to research published online Aug. 20 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Kindergarten vaccines close to target levels: CDC
(HealthDay)â€"Most kindergarten children in the United States are up to date on their vaccinations, a new government report finds.
Researchers say it's time to stop blaming cats for brain cancer in people
(Medical Xpress)â€"Two groups of researchers have published articles in the journal Biology Letters, suggesting that it's time we stop blaming cats for making people crazy or for a certain type of brain cancer that other researchers have linked to a parasite in cat feces. The first group, with the Tour du Valat research center, say that after looking at all the current research findings they can find no evidence linking cats and brain cancer in people. The second team from Oxford University's Cancer Epidemiology Unit, after conducting what they call the "Million Woman Survey" have found among many other things, that there was no more incidence of brain cancer in women who owned cats than in those who did not.
Novel microscopy method offers sharper view of brain's neural network
Shortly after the Hubble Space Telescope went into orbit in 1990 it was discovered that the craft had blurred vision. Fortunately, Space Shuttle astronauts were able to remedy the problem a few years later with supplemental optics. Now, a team of Italian researchers has performed a similar sight-correcting feat for a microscope imaging technique designed to explore a universe seemingly as vast as Hubble's but at the opposite end of the size spectrumâ€"the neural pathways of the brain.
Human airways' 'Brush' mechanism gives clues to lung diseases
(HealthDay)â€"A new study that helps explain how human airways rid the lungs of mucus could give insights into asthma, cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), researchers say.
Chemists determine one way tumors meet their growing need
Behaving something like ravenous monsters, tumors need plentiful supplies of cellular building blocks such as amino acids and nucleotides in order to keep growing at a rapid pace and survive under harsh conditions. How such tumors meet these burgeoning demands has not been fully understood. Now chemists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have shown for the first time that a specific sugar, known as GlcNAc ("glick-nack"), plays a key role in keeping the cancerous monsters "fed." The finding suggests new potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
Biology news
Taiwan develops soft rice for the elderly
Taiwanese researchers said Thursday they have developed a strain of rice that cooks particularly soft for elderly people to meet the needs of a rapidly greying society.
Breakthrough boosts bacterial understanding
Having healthy gut bacteria could have as much to do with a strategy that insurance companies use to uncover risk as with eating the right foods, according to researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA).
New plant databases and models could lead to more nutritious foods
(Phys.org)â€"Creating virtual plants could solve real problems, such as reducing vitamin deficiencies in humans, according to University of Florida researchers.
DESY X-ray source reveals decoy protein of a herpes virus at work
With the help of DESY's X-ray source DORIS III, an international team of scientists decoded an important weapon used by a widespread human herpes virus. The study reveals at the molecular level how the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) deactivates the alert system of the body's immune defence by using a molecular decoy. The analysis has implications on the development of new therapies and drug compounds, as the team led by Savvas Savvides from Ghent University (Belgium) and colleagues from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Grenoble (France) and Hamburg (Germany), report in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology.
Why some species are 'successful' invaders
(Phys.org)â€"Researchers at the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB), an organized research unit within the University of Hawai'i at MÄnoa's School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, have made a remarkable new discovery.
'Naked Darth Vader' approach could tame antibiotic resistant superbugs
Rather than trying to kill bacteria outright with drugs, Université de Montréal researchers have discovered a way to disarm bacteria that may allow the body's own defense mechanisms to destroy them.
Primate of the opera: What soprano singing apes on helium reveal about the human voice
Have you ever heard an opera singing ape? Researchers in Japan have discovered that singing gibbons use the same vocal techniques as professional soprano singers. The study, published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, explains how recording gibbons singing under the influence of helium gas reveals a physiological similarity to human voices.
Researchers seek to explain why there are so few land dwelling bioluminescent species
(Phys.org)â€"Visitors to the world's oceans are likely to find a wide variety of bioluminescent creatures, especially as they descend to depths where sunlight can't reach. The ability to glow has evolved in underwater organisms for a variety of reasons, from attracting prey to helping find a mate. On land however, things are very different. Other than 13 known species of insects, which of course include the firefly, very few other creatures have evolved the ability to glow and now, new research suggests that virtually all of them evolved much more recently than did marine dwellers. Peter VrÅ¡anský and colleagues from the Slovak Academy of Sciences have found after studying the collective history of all known bioluminescent species that land dwellers apparently evolved from a single source some sixty five million years ago, whereas their marine counterparts first came about closer to four hundred million years ago. Their paper describing their findings has been published i! n the journal Naturwissenschaften.
Rat that doesn't gnaw discovered in Indonesia
A unique species of near-toothless rat that lives off earthworms and doesn't chew or gnaw has been seen in Indonesia.
Histone-modifying proteins, not histones, remain associated with DNA through replication
It's widely accepted that molecular mechanisms mediating epigenetics include DNA methylation and histone modifications, but a team from Thomas Jefferson University has evidence to the contrary regarding the role of histone modifications.
How does body temperature reset the biological clock?
Numerous processes in our body fluctuate in a regular pattern during the day. These circadian (or daily) variations can be driven by local oscillators present within our cells or by systemic signals controlled by the master pacemaker, located in the brain. Ueli Schibler, profes- sor at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, unveils a mo- lecular mechanism by which body temperature rhythms influence the expression of 'clock genes' and synchronize local oscillators. This study, made in collaboration with a team at the Ecole polytechnique fédérale of Lausanne (EPFL), also demonstrates how the production of DBP, a protein involved in detoxification and drug metabolism, is modulated by daily variations of temperature. This research has been published in Science magazine.
Why don't insect wings break?
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin have shown that the wings of insects are not as fragile as they might look. A study just published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE now shows that the characteristic network of veins found in the wings of grasshoppers helps to capture cracks, similar to watertight compartments in a ship.
Video-gaming fish play out the advantages of groups (w/ Video)
(Phys.org)â€"A video game designed for predatory fish might have unraveled some lingering evolutionary questions about group formation and movement in animals, according to new research that took a unique approach to observing interactions between real and simulated animals.
Research on wood formation sheds light on plant biology
(Phys.org)â€"Scientists at North Carolina State University have discovered a phenomenon never seen before in plants while studying molecular changes inside tree cells as wood is formed.
Circadian clock research may enable designer plants, and cancer and diabetes treatments
How does a plant know when to sprout a leaf, fold its petals or bloom? Why do humans experience jet lag after a trip abroad?
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