Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for August 15, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Computing in the net of possibilities- Good vibrations: Researchers record first direct observations of quantum effects in an optomechanical system
- New nanoparticles that shut off cancer genes shrink tumors in mice
- MASER power comes out of the cold: Researchers demo solid-state MASER capable of operating at room temperatures
- Walking iPads to move into telepresence robot market (w/ Video)
- MPEG hammers out codec that halves bit rate
- Phoenix cluster sets record pace at forming stars
- DNA deletions promote cancer, collateral damage makes it vulnerable
- Stickleback fish show initiative, personality and leadership
- 'Ocean Health Index': Global ocean health gets passing grade
- Review: Samsung tablet takes aim at iPad with pen
- Two gene clues for resistance to malaria
- Researchers fashion swan egg into sensor to monitor hatching process
- New simulations reveal behaviors of the tiniest water droplets
- Greenland melting breaks record four weeks before season's end
Space & Earth news
Improving the view -- a new program for processing Hubble images
An EPFL student has focused his work on an image of the farthest reaches of the visible universe. An improved image processing program made the photograph clearer, allowing more information to be obtained from it.
NOAA provides easy access to historical hurricane tracks
Seeing where hurricanes have hit and how often is one of the best ways to bring home a powerful hurricane preparedness message. A NOAA website, Historical Hurricane Tracks, lets users insert their zip code and see a map that contains more than 150 years of Atlantic hurricane tracking data. The site also contains global hurricane data from as far back as 1842.
New report presents research program for solar and space physics over the next decade
A new report from the National Research Council presents a prioritized program of basic and applied research for 2013-2022 that will advance scientific understanding of the sun, sun-Earth connections and the origins of "space weather," and the sun's interactions with other bodies in the solar system. This second decadal survey in solar and space physics -- the product of a 18-month effort by more than 85 solar and space physicists and space system engineers -- lays out four scientific goals for the next 10 years along with guiding principles and recommended actions.
Climate change effects, potential mitigation in Northeast forests subject of Forest Service Report
A new report by U.S. and Canadian scientists analyzes decades of research and concludes that the climate of the Northeast has changed and is likely to change more. The report outlines the effects of climate change on multiple aspects of forests in the northeastern corner of the United States and eastern Canada and concludes with recommendations on adaptive and mitigating strategies for dealing with future effects.
Orbiter views Curiosity Mars rover in color
(Phys.org) -- The first color image taken from orbit showing NASA's rover Curiosity on Mars includes details of the layered bedrock on the floor of Gale Crater that the rover is beginning to investigate.
India to launch Mars mission: PM (Update)
India plans to launch a space probe that will orbit Mars, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh confirmed on Wednesday after press reports that the mission was scheduled to begin late next year.
Incentives slow rainforest destruction, researcher says
(Phys.org) -- Tropical rainforests are the biggest defense against global warming, absorbing 50 percent more carbon than other kinds of forests. Yet they are disappearing at a rate of about 11 million hectares a year.
A 360-degree 'street view' from Mars
After seeing all the amazing imagery so far from NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity, I know everyone wants to go there and take in the visual treats of Gale Crater. With the help of a 360-degree panorama you can virtually explore Curiosity’s landing site; sort of like a Martian version of Google’s Street View.
Two 'b''s in the Beehive
As astronomers near the 800 mark for confirmed extra solar planets, it seems that notable milestones are becoming fewer and further between. Multi-planet systems aren’t even worth mentioning. Planets less massive than Earth? Already heard about it. Detecting atmospheres? Old news.
Same-day delivery to space station succeeds
(Phys.org) -- The journey of a set of devices from Rice University to the International Space Station (ISS) earlier this month gave new meaning to the concept of “fast chips.”
MSU prof helps devise method of removing phosphorous from wastewater
(Phys.org) -- A professor at Michigan State University is part of a team developing a new method of removing phosphorous from our wastewater – a problem seriously affecting lakes and streams across the country.
Antimicrobials from personal care products found in statewide survey of Minnesota's rivers and lakes
In our zest for cleanliness, have we permanently muddied our nation's waters?
Asia 'megacities' face disaster timebomb
Asian nations must act quickly to protect their cities from flooding and other natural disasters as rapid urbanisation raises environmental risks, the Asian Development Bank said Wednesday.
Georgia Tech advances potential commercial space flight system
(Phys.org) -- Last spring private industry successfully sent a spacecraft carrying cargo to the International Space Station. Now the race is on to see which company will be the first to make commercial human spaceflight a reality.
NASA sees large Tropical Storm Kai-tak headed for a landfall near Hong Kong
Warnings are still in effect in the northern Philippines and now in Hong Kong, as Tropical Storm Kai-tak continues to drop heavy rainfall and move toward a landfall in China. NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared data that shows a large area of strong thunderstorms that make up Kai-tak.
GOES-15 satellite sees fading Tropical Storm Hector and TD7's remnants
Two tropical cyclones were spotted from NOAA's GOES-15 satellite today, August 15.
'This is not a pipe': Curious dark nebula seen as never before
(Phys.org) -- Just as René Magritte wrote “This is not a pipe” on his famous painting, this is also not a pipe. It is however a picture of part of a vast dark cloud of interstellar dust called the Pipe Nebula. This new and very detailed image of what is also known as Barnard 59 was captured by the Wide Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at ESO’s La Silla Observatory. By coincidence this image is appearing on the 45th anniversary of the painter’s death.
Recreating a slice of the universe
(Phys.org) -- Scientists at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) and their colleagues at the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS) have invented a new computational approach that can accurately follow the birth and evolution of thousands of galaxies over billions of years. For the first time it is now possible to build a universe from scratch that brims with galaxies like we observe around us.
Greenland melting breaks record four weeks before season's end
Melting over the Greenland ice sheet shattered the seasonal record on August 8 – a full four weeks before the close of the melting season, reports Marco Tedesco, assistant professor of Earth and atmospheric sciences at The City College of New York.
'Ocean Health Index': Global ocean health gets passing grade
Using a new comprehensive index designed to assess the benefits to people of healthy oceans, scientists have evaluated the ecological, social, economic, and political conditions for every coastal country in the world. Their findings, published today in the journal Nature, show that the global ocean scores 60 out of 100 overall on the Ocean Health Index. Individual country scores range widely, from 36 to 86. The highest-scoring locations included densely populated, highly developed nations such as Germany, as well as uninhabited islands, such as Jarvis Island in the Pacific.
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spectrometer detects helium in Moon's atmosphere
(Phys.org) -- Scientists using the Lyman Alpha Mapping Project (LAMP) aboard NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter have made the first spectroscopic observations of the noble gas helium in the tenuous atmosphere surrounding the Moon. These remote-sensing observations complement in-situ measurements taken in 1972 by the Lunar Atmosphere Composition Experiment (LACE) deployed by Apollo 17.
Phoenix cluster sets record pace at forming stars
(Phys.org) -- Astronomers have found an extraordinary galaxy cluster -- one of the largest objects in the Universe -- that is breaking several important cosmic records. Observations of this cluster, known as the Phoenix Cluster, with NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, the NSF’s South Pole Telescope and eight other world-class observatories, may force astronomers to rethink how these colossal structures, and the galaxies that inhabit them, evolve.
Technology news
Obama outpacing Republicans in Internet race
US President Barack Obama's campaign team is proving again in 2012 to be more conscious than rival Republicans are of the power of the Internet, particularly Twitter, a study released Wednesday said.
China's Tencent posts Q2 profit surge
Chinese Internet giant Tencent posted a second-quarter net profit increase of 32 percent on Wednesday, despite a decelerating domestic economy.
Digital processors limited by power; what's the upside?
Today’s Defense missions rely on a massive amount of sensor data collected by intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms. Not only has the volume of sensor data increased exponentially, there has also been a dramatic increase in the complexity of analysis required for applications such as target identification and tracking. The digital processors used for ISR data analysis are limited by power requirements, potentially limiting the speed and type of data analysis that can be done. A new, ultra-low power processing method may enable faster, mission critical analysis of ISR data.
Be whoever you want to be: Single sign-on systems can be improved
Web shops, Cloud Computing, Online CRM systems: Each day many IT systems require the user to identify himself. Single Sign-On (SSO) systems were introduced to circumvent this problem, and to establish structured Identity Management (IDM) systems in industry: Here the user only has to identify once, all subsequent authentications are done automatically. However, SSO systems based on the industry standard SAML have huge vulnerabilities: Roughly 80 percent of these systems could be broken by the researchers from Ruhr-Universität Bochum.
Reuters blog platform hacked for 2nd time
(AP) — The Reuters news agency says hackers have broken into one of its websites for the second time in two weeks and posted a false story saying Saudi Arabia's foreign minister had died.
Zweifach named News Corp chief compliance officer
(AP) — News Corp. said Wednesday that its general counsel, Gerson Zweifach, has been designated the company's chief compliance officer, in charge of a review of its anti-corruption controls.
Cisco's 4Q earnings rise 56 pct, raises dividend
(AP) — Cisco's earnings jumped 56 percent in the latest quarter compared with last year, when it was in the throes of a restructuring program.
New Zealand mulls new cyber-bullying law
New Zealand said it was considering making cyber-bullying a criminal offence, amid concerns that existing laws offer inadequate protection from online harassment.
Megaupload boss plans music venture, hints at relaunch
Megaupload boss Kim Dotcom has revived plans to launch a new online music venture this year and hinted at the return of the file-sharing site that led him to face online piracy charges.
Netflix to expand service in 4 Nordic countries (Update)
(AP) — Netflix's Internet video service will debut in four Nordic countries before the end of the year, the latest step in an international expansion that has been crimping the company's financial results and stock price.
US retailers to launch mobile app for payments
A bevy of big-name retailers including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Best-Buy Co. and Target Corp., are teaming up to create a company that will give U.S. customers another way to make purchases: with their cellphones.
UN body opens debate on Internet future to public
(AP) — The U.N. telecoms agency has invited the world's more than 2 billion Internet users to join a debate about the future of the Internet.
German official: Facebook must delete faces (Update)
(AP) — A German data protection official called Wednesday for social networking site Facebook to delete biometric profiles of people stored without their explicit consent, saying they breach European privacy rules.
Judge asks Samsung-Apple chiefs to resolve patent spat
A US judge on Wednesday urged the chiefs of Apple and Samsung to negotiate a truce in their high-profile patent trial here, saying it was "time for peace."
Unmanned US military hypersonic craft failed
An unmanned experimental U.S. aircraft failed during an attempt to fly at six times the speed of sound in the latest setback for hypersonic flight.
Twitter co-founders create online publishing site
A website launched by Twitter co-founders as a publishing platform for stories, memories and news was open Wednesday to members of the hit one-to-many text messaging service.
Viddy aims to build a fan base as the Twitter for videos
During a recent appearance on the "Today" show, Justin Bieber was helping co-host Matt Lauer get up to date on the latest technology. "All you need to get is a Viddy account," the teen pop sensation said.
Google upgrades Android maps as Apple battle looms (Update)
Google's mapping service for mobile devices is getting an upgrade as the Internet search leader braces for new competition from iPhone maker Apple.
MPEG hammers out codec that halves bit rate
(Phys.org) -- A new international standard for a video compression format was announced today. The draft was issued by the influential Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) which met in Stockholm in July. MPEG, formed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), drew 450 participants at the meeting, from 26 countries, representing telecoms, computer, TV and consumer electronics industries. MPEG discussions and standards affect these industries. In other words, the standard is a big deal.
Medicine & Health news
Certain medical students more likely to work as doctors in their own countries
Certain medical students may be more likely to stay in their own countries or work in rural areas of their own countries when they qualify as doctors, suggests a study published in the British Medical Journal today.
Urology-owned radiation oncology self-referral can increase patients' travel distance for treatment
Men with prostate cancer in Texas may be driving more than three times farther than needed to obtain radiation oncology treatments for their cancer when treated at a urology-owned radiation oncology practice versus other facilities, according to a study to be published online August 15, 2012, and in the September 1, 2012, print issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics (Red Journal), the official scientific journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).
In epileptic seizures, researchers see the neurology of consciousness
(Medical Xpress) -- Yale researchers studying epileptic seizures have shed new light on the neurological origins of consciousness.
Green light for next stage of stem cell stroke trial
The world’s first clinical safety trial of a human neural stem cell therapy for stroke patients has been given the go-ahead to progress to its next stage.
Major breakthrough in hepatitis C vaccine development
Researchers at the Burnet Institute have solved a hepatitis C vaccine mystery which, once developed could be the first ever preventative vaccine for the virus.
Concussion treatment in rugby league may mislead public
Media representation of concussion management in rugby league could affect public understanding of appropriate medical care, according to a new study.
WHO hails Australia tobacco packaging ban
The World Health Organization on Wednesday welcomed the decision by Australia's High Court to dismiss a legal challenge against plain cigarette packaging and hoped it would have a "domino effect" in other countries.
Mugabe says census will reveal AIDS toll on Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe launched the national census Wednesday, saying he hoped the once-a-decade count would measure the extent to which AIDS was affecting the population.
Novel technique demonstrates interactions between malaria parasite and HIV
The World Health Organization estimates that in 2011 there were 216 million cases of malaria and 34.2 million people living with HIV. These diseases particularly afflict sub-Saharan Africa, where large incidence of co-infection result in high mortality rates. Yet, in spite of this global pandemic, interactions between the parasite that causes malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, and HIV-1 are poorly understood. However, a new video article in JoVE, the Journal of Visualized Experiments, that describes a novel technique to study the interactions between HIV-1 and P. falciparum in cultured human cells, will allow scientists to explore different parameters of co-infection by the two microbes.
UK recession may be to blame for over 1,000 suicides in England
A paper published in the British Medical Journal today suggests that over 1000 people have committed suicide due to the 2008-2010 economic recession in the UK (846 men and 155 women).
Pay for performance schemes 'can undermine motivation and worsen performance'
Financial incentives (pay for performance) schemes for health professionals "can undermine motivation and worsen performance" warn US experts in an editorial published in the British Medical Journal today. They also say that gaming of the system is rife.
Nurses as effective as doctors in treatment of HIV patients
Nurse-centred care of HIV patients can be just as safe and effective as care delivered by doctors and has a number of specific health benefits, according to a new study led by the University of East Anglia (UEA) and the University of Cape Town (UCT).
Mechanisms of acquired chemoresistance in ovarian cancer identified
The presence of multiple ovarian cancer genomes in an individual patient and the absence or downregulation of the gene LRP1B are associated with the development of chemoresistance in women with the high-grade serous cancer subtype of ovarian cancer whose disease recurs after primary treatment. These study results are published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Children's physical activity levels are not enough to counteract sedentary lifestyles
Children who spend more than three-quarters of their time engaging in sedentary behaviour, such as watching TV and sitting at computers, have up to nine times poorer motor coordination than their more active peers, reveals a study published in the American Journal of Human Biology.
Even minor physical activity may benefit bone health in premenopausal women
A study to be published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM) suggests that physical activity for premenopausal women is very effective in reducing sclerostin—a known inhibitor of bone formation. In addition, physical training enhances IGF-1levels, which have a very positive effect on bone formation.
Mediterranean diet enriched with olive oil may protect bone
A study to be published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM) shows consumption of a Mediterranean diet enriched with olive oil for two years is associated with increased serum osteocalcin concentrations, suggesting a protective effect on bone.
Online obesity treatment programs show promise
Computer and web-based weight management programmes may provide a cost effective way of addressing the growing problem of obesity, according to a team of seven researchers who undertook a Cochrane systematic review. The researchers, from Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, USA, found that delivering weight loss or weight maintenance programmes online or by computer helped overweight and obese patients lose and/or maintain weight.
Cocoa compounds may reduce blood pressure
Compounds in cocoa may help to reduce blood pressure, according to a new systematic review in The Cochrane Library. The researchers reviewed evidence from short-term trials in which participants were given dark chocolate or cocoa powder daily and found that their blood pressure dropped slightly compared to a control group.
Exercise may improve quality of life during and after cancer
Exercise may improve quality of life for people with cancer, according to Cochrane researchers. In two separate Cochrane systematic reviews, the authors gathered together evidence showing that activities such as walking and cycling can benefit those who are undergoing or have completed treatment for cancer.
Pregnancy ups bleed risk from abnormal brain blood vessels
(HealthDay) -- Pregnant women are at higher risk of bleeding in the brain from vessel abnormalities known as arteriovenous malformations, a new study indicates.
Tissue platinum concentrations linked to response in NSCLC
(HealthDay) -- For patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who undergo neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy, tissue platinum concentrations correlate positively with improved outcome, according to a study published online Aug. 13 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Benefits unclear for 1st versus 2nd generation antipsychotics
(HealthDay) -- Newer, more expensive schizophrenia medications are not noticeably better than their older, cheaper counterparts, a new review suggests.
Australian court OKs logo ban on cigarette packs
(AP) — Australia's highest court on Wednesday upheld the world's toughest law on cigarette promotion, meaning tobacco companies will be prohibited from displaying their logos on cigarette packs that will instead feature images of cancer-riddled mouths, blinded eyeballs and sickly children.
Pre-test genetic counseling increases cancer knowledge for BRCA patients
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have found that when breast cancer patients are offered pre-test genetic counseling before definitive breast cancer surgery, patients exhibited decreases in distress. Those offered pre-test genetic counseling after surgery improved their informed decision-making. Patients in both groups showed increases in their cancer knowledge with pre-test genetic counseling.
A 'game-changer': By studying animal health, researchers find improved ways for developing, testing cancer therapies
(Medical Xpress) -- A group of Kansas State University researchers has made valuable findings in the search for cancer's cure.
Medications greatly improve smokers' chances of quitting, study finds
(Medical Xpress) -- Smokers who try to quit have a better chance of succeeding when they use FDA-approved stop-smoking medications rather than going it alone, according to a new study by researchers at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) published online today in the British journal Addiction.
Engineered pancreatic tissues could lead to better transplants for diabetics
Technion researchers have built pancreatic tissue with insulin-secreting cells, surrounded by a three-dimensional network of blood vessels. The engineered tissue could pave the way for improved tissue transplants to treat diabetes.
Depression in young adults linked to higher risk of early death
Depression in young adulthood can have long-lasting effects, potentially leading to a higher risk of death even decades later, suggests a new study in the Annals of Epidemiology. These findings highlight the importance of identifying and treating depression early.
Common treatment for mild hypertension challenged
Doctors often prescribe drugs for people with mild high blood pressure with the hope of preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, a new review from The Cochrane Library has found that this treatment does not reduce death rates, heart attacks or strokes.
A single enzyme plays a critical role in helping the body effectively fight viral infection
The body’s initial response to invading bacteria or viruses is mediated by the innate immune system, wherein cells secrete signaling factors called cytokines that promote inflammation and stimulate a generalized counterattack against targets perceived as ‘foreign’. The protein Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), for instance, helps initiate the innate immune response against viruses.
New study shows 'helicopter parenting' makes for anxious children
(Medical Xpress) -- In a recently published study, researchers have shown that mothers who are overinvolved or overprotective during the early stages of a child’s development – often referred to as helicopter parents – can increase the risk for anxiety later in life.
Fit over-fifties are lowering heart disease odds
(Medical Xpress) -- Even a moderate increase in exercise when you are in your fifties can help your heart health according to a study published today by researchers from UCL Epidemiology and Public Health.
The myth of natural talent
Once again, the myth of natural talent rears its ugly head. This pernicious myth suggests that Black athletes are better at sport that White athletes, and also that White athletes have to be cleverer and more hard-working than Black athletes to succeed in sport.
Researchers reveal new mechanism behind more male autism
(Medical Xpress) -- New University of Otago research into two sex hormones released by the testes of male fetuses and boys may help solve the enduring mystery of why autism is much more common in boys than girls.
Cleanliness is next to... conservatism?
(Medical Xpress) -- In every election cycle, politicians on both sides of the aisle are accused of practicing ‘dirty politics.’ Neither side is immune from these charges but research from psychological science suggests that we may subconsciously associate our notions of ‘clean’ and ‘dirty’ with specific political ideologies.
Acute stress alters control of gene activity
Acute stress alters the methylation of the DNA and thus the activity of certain genes. This is reported by researchers at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum together with colleagues from Basel, Trier and London for the first time in the journal Translational Psychiatry.
Doing the math to fight childhood obesity
Dieters often use online calorie calculators to stay true to their weight-loss plan. Translating the concept to the population health arena, researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health created the Caloric Calculator to help policymakers, school district administrators, and others assess the potential impact of health policy choices on childhood obesity.
Potential new treatment target identified for melanoma skin cancer
New research from Western University, Canada, has identified a potential new target for the treatment of melanoma, the deadliest of all skin cancers. Silvia Penuela and Dale Laird discovered a new channel-forming protein called Pannexin (Panx1) that is expressed in normal levels on the surface of healthy skin cells. But they found, in melanoma, Panx1 is over-produced to a pathological level. The researchers also discovered that if you reduce it or knock it down, the cell becomes more normal. The research is published in the August 17th issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
High potency and synthetic marijuana pose real dangers in first weeks of pregnancy
Marijuana is up to 20 times more potent than it was 40 years ago and most pregnant women who use the drug are totally unaware that it could harm their unborn child before they even know they are pregnant.
Long-term methadone treatment can affect nerve cells in brain
Long-term methadone treatment can cause changes in the brain, according to recent studies from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. The results show that treatment may affect the nerve cells in the brain. The studies follow on from previous studies where methadone was seen to affect cognitive functioning, such as learning and memory.
Study: Vaccine targets malignant brain cancer antigens, significantly lengthens survival
An experimental immune-based therapy more than doubled median survival of patients diagnosed with the most aggressive malignant brain tumor, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center researchers reported in Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy, published online Aug. 3.
Tripping the switches on brain growth to treat depression
Depression takes a substantial toll on brain health. Brain imaging and post-mortem studies provide evidence that the wealth of connections in the brain are reduced in individuals with depression, with the result of impaired functional connections between key brain centers involved in mood regulation. Glial cells are one of the cell types that appear to be particularly reduced when analyzing post-mortem brain tissue from people who had depression. Glial cells support the growth and function of nerve cells and their connections.
J&J removing harsh chemicals from products by 2015
(AP) — Johnson & Johnson plans to remove trace amounts of potentially cancer-causing and other dangerous chemicals from nearly all its adult toiletries and cosmetic products worldwide in less than four years.
Breastfeeding may protect infants from HIV transmission
An international team of researchers has found that certain bioactive components found in human milk are associated with a reduced risk of HIV transmission from an HIV infected mother to her breast-fed infant. Their study will be published in the August 15 online edition of American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
West Nile virus kills 17 in Texas, sickens hundreds
The US state of Texas is battling an outbreak of the West Nile virus, with 17 deaths being blamed on the mosquito-borne disease, authorities said Wednesday.
Study suggests potential hurdle to universal flu vaccine development may be overcome
In the quest for a universal influenza vaccine—one that elicits broadly neutralizing antibodies that can protect against most or all strains of flu virus—scientists have faced a sobering question: Does pre-existing immunity generated by prior exposure to influenza virus or vaccine hamper production of broadly neutralizing antibodies? If so, then a universal flu vaccine might work best (and perhaps only) in very young children who have had limited exposure to influenza viruses or vaccines.
Therapy combining exercise and neuroprotective agent shows promise for stroke victims
In a study published in the current issue of Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience scientists report that a therapy combining exercise with the neurovascular protective agent S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) improved recovery from stroke in a rat model. GSNO is a compound found naturally in the body and it has no known side effects or toxicity.
'CYCLOPS' genes may serve as an Achilles' heel in tumor cells
BOSTON--The genomic tumult within tumor cells has provided scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard with clues to an entirely new class of genes that may serve as an Achilles' heel for many forms of cancer.
Team uncovers link between hormone levels and risk for metabolic disease
Working with a national team of researchers, a scientist from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute has shown for the first time a link between low levels of a specific hormone and increased risk of metabolic disease in humans.
Contact lens sensor measures 24-hour intraocular pressure
(HealthDay) -- A contact lens sensor (CLS) provides safe and tolerable 24-hour monitoring of intraocular pressure (IOP) patterns in patients with or suspected of having glaucoma, according to research published online Aug. 13 in the Archives of Ophthalmology.
Long-term type 2 diabetes ups pancreatic cancer mortality
(HealthDay) -- Among patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC), those with pre-existing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) for longer than five years have an increased mortality risk, according to a study published online Aug. 1 in Cancer.
Drinking in pregnancy shows up in child's growth: study
(HealthDay) -- Children who had significant prenatal exposure to alcohol may have delayed weight gain during infancy and alcohol-related growth restriction from early infancy until 9 years of age, researchers report.
More delays in brain growth seen with ADHD
(HealthDay) -- Researchers have uncovered more evidence that certain types of delays in brain development seem to be related to a heightened risk for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
A pack of walnuts a day keeps the fertility specialist away?
A paper published 15 August 2012 in Biology of Reproduction's Papers-in-Press reveals that eating 75 grams of walnuts a day improves the vitality, motility, and morphology of sperm in healthy men aged 21 to 35.
Exploring the two-way linkages between binge drinking and unemployment
Many studies have found that problem drinking is related to subsequent unemployment; however, the reverse association is unclear. Some studies have found that unemployment can increase total drinking, alcohol disorders, and/or problem drinking while others have found that unemployment can decrease drinking or have no effect at all. An analysis of binge drinking as either a predictor or outcome of unemployment has found that binge drinking among women seems to have a significant association with long-term unemployment.
Examining alcohol + energy drink consumption among the Australian public
Not only have energy drinks become increasingly popular among adolescents and young adults in recent years, so too has mixing and drinking them with alcohol. However, research on the subjective psychological, physiological, and behavioral risk-taking outcomes of alcohol/energy drinks has had mixed results. A first-of-its-kind study compares the outcomes of alcohol/energy drinks with alcohol-only drinks among members of the Australian public.
Both early alcohol use and early intoxication can herald trouble for college students
An early age at first drink (AFD) has been linked to later alcohol-related problems, which is one of the reasons behind the legal drinking age of 21 in the U.S. It is unclear, however, if increased risk is primarily due to initiation of any drinking, or initiation of heavier drinking. A comparison of the influence of these potential risk factors among college undergraduates found that both an early AFD as well as a quick progression from the first drink to drinking to intoxication independently predicted later problems.
Resistance to dementia may run in the family
People who are free of dementia and have high levels of a protein that indicates the presence of inflammation have relatives who are more likely to avoid the disease as well, according to a new study published in the August 15, 2012, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Golden age of prostate cancer treatment hailed as fourth drug in two years extends life
The head of one of the UK's leading cancer research organisations has hailed a golden age in prostate cancer drug discovery as for the fourth time in two years results are published finding a new drug can significantly extend life.
US warns about use of codeine in children
(AP) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned physicians and caregivers on Wednesday about the risks of giving the pain reliever codeine to children who have just had surgery to treat obstructive sleep apnea.
Study finds one treatment stands above others for adults with Langerhans cell histiocytosis
A study by a Baylor College of Medicine physician-researcher has shed light on the most effective treatment for adults with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) in bones. LCH is a disease that can affect the skin, mouth, ears, bones, brain, gastrointestinal system, liver, spleen, or bone marrow.
Study identifies potential new class of drug for treating ulcerative colitis
An investigational drug currently under FDA review for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has now shown positive results in patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis, according to researchers at the University of California San Diego, School of Medicine. The study will appear in the August 16, 2012 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).
BPA link to narrowing of the arteries
A research team from the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (PCMD), University of Exeter, and University of Cambridge has for the first time established a link between high levels of urinary Bisphenol-A (BPA) and severe coronary artery stenosis (narrowing of the arteries).
Continuous oral contraceptive pills offer women earlier pain relief
(Medical Xpress) -- Taking oral contraceptives continuously, rather than as traditionally prescribed for each cycle, provides earlier relief for moderate to severe menstrual cramps -- dysmenorrhea -- according to researchers at Penn State College of Medicine.
Pioneering heart disease treatment
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers at King's College London have developed the first artificial functioning blood vessel outside of the body, made from reprogrammed stem cells from human skin. The team also saw the cells develop into a blood vessel inside the body for the first time.
Brain scans reveal clues to black belt punching power
(Medical Xpress) -- Brain scans have revealed distinctive features in the brain structure of karate experts that are associated with how well they performed in a test of punching ability. It’s thought the findings could explain how black belts are able to punch powerfully from close range.
Gene deletion drives more than a quarter of breast cancers
A new study shows that the lack of a certain gene occurs in almost 28 percent of human breast cancers, playing a role in some 60,000 breast cancer cases in the United States and 383,000 worldwide this year.
Where chromosomes agree, researchers find signatures of human migrations and marriage practices
(Medical Xpress) -- Your genome is a window onto your heritage – or, more precisely, several windows. There are the marks left by human evolution, the traces of ancient human migrations out of Africa and, scattered throughout, clues to your immediate ancestors' marriage habits.
Unlocking a major secret of the brain: Researchers uncover crucial link between hippocampus and prefrontal cortex
(Medical Xpress) -- A clue to understanding certain cognitive and mental disorders may involve two parts of the brain which were previously thought to have independent functions, according to a McGill University team of researchers led by Prof. Yogita Chudasama, of the Laboratory of Brain and Behavior, Department of Psychology. The McGill team discovered a critical interaction between two prominent brain areas: the hippocampus, a well-known memory structure made famous by Dr. Brenda Milner’s patient H.M., and the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in decision-making and inhibiting inappropriate behaviours.
Danger in the blood: Scientists show how antibiotic-resisting bacterial infections may form
New research may help explain why hundreds of thousands of Americans a year get sick – and tens of thousands die – after bacteria get into their blood. It also suggests why some of those bloodstream infections resist treatment with even the most powerful antibiotics.
Babies may not have a 'moral compass' after all: New research casts doubt on landmark 2007 study
New research from New Zealand's University of Otago is casting doubt on a landmark US study that suggested infants as young as six months old possess an innate moral compass that allows them to evaluate individuals as 'good' or 'bad'.
Team discovers genetic material in blood cells that may affect malaria parasites
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center may finally have discovered why people with sickle cell disease get milder cases of malaria than individuals who have normal red blood cells.
DNA deletions promote cancer, collateral damage makes it vulnerable
Genomic deletions promote cancer by carving up or eliminating tumor-suppressor genes, but now scientists report in the journal Nature that the collateral damage they inflict on neighboring genes exposes cancer cells to vulnerabilities and new avenues for attack.
Blocking destruction of defective proteins unexpectedly delays neurodegeneration in mice
One might expect that ridding a brain cell of damaged proteins would be a universally good thing, and that impairing the cell's ability to do this would allow the faulty proteins to accumulate within the cell, possibly to toxic levels. So a lot of scientific effort has gone into looking for ways to enhance the process by which cells dispose of banged-up proteins.
Scientists discover previously unknown cleaning system in brain
A previously unrecognized system that drains waste from the brain at a rapid clip has been discovered by neuroscientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center. The findings were published online August 15 in Science Translational Medicine.
Two gene clues for resistance to malaria
Scientists in Germany and Africa on Wednesday said they had found two variants of genes that help to explain why some lucky individuals do not develop severe malaria.
Researchers identify gut bacteria linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome
Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have identified 26 species of bacteria in the human gut microbiota that appear to be linked to obesity and related metabolic complications. These include insulin resistance, high blood sugar levels, increased blood pressure and high cholesterol, known collectively as "the metabolic syndrome," which significantly increases an individual's risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke.
New nanoparticles that shut off cancer genes shrink tumors in mice
By sequencing cancer-cell genomes, scientists have discovered vast numbers of genes that are mutated, deleted or copied in cancer cells. This treasure trove is a boon for researchers seeking new drug targets, but it is nearly impossible to test them all in a timely fashion.
Biology news
Biggest Asian wildlife traffickers are untouchable
(AP) — Squealing tiger cubs stuffed into carry-on bags. Luggage packed with hundreds of squirming tortoises, elephant tusks, even water dragons and American paddlefish. Officials at Thailand's gateway airport proudly tick off the illegally trafficked wildlife they have seized over the past two years.
Chimp sanctuary in US announces: It's a girl!
(AP) — A 42-year-old chimpanzee whose unexpected pregnancy was discovered in February has given birth to a healthy girl.
The tangled web around spiders
An Indian biologist with a passion for spiders took a Harvard Museum of Natural History audience on a tour of arachnids large and small Monday, delivering a colorful peek at their diversity along with a plea for their conservation.
Researchers say tropical protected areas are struggling to sustain their biodiversity
(Phys.org) -- Stirling researcher Katharine Abernethy is one of over 200 scientists involved in a study which concludes that many of the world’s tropical protected areas are struggling to sustain their biodiversity.
Algal bloom species with two deadly toxins could disrupt marine food web
(Phys.org) -- When tiny aquatic organisms reproduce in large amounts, algal blooms occur that take over portions of open water up to hundreds of miles in area.
Scientists identify previously unknown Whimbrel migration pathway over open Atlantic Ocean
(Phys.org) -- Scientists at the College of William & Mary/Virginia Commonwealth University Center for Conservation Biology (CCB) at the VCU Rice Center have tracked three whimbrels off the east coast of Canada to the northern shore of South America via a previously unknown migration pathway over the open Atlantic Ocean. The route passed through the center of the vast Atlantic at one point passing 1,000 miles closer to Africa than to North America and within 700 miles of the Cape Verde Islands. The bird with the longest flight flew nonstop for 145 hours (six days), covering a distance of 7,000 kilometers (4,355 miles).
Underwater noise decreases whale communications in Stellwagen Bank sanctuary
According to a NOAA-led paper published today in the journal Conservation Biology, high levels of background noise, mainly due to ships, have reduced the ability of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales to communicate with each other by about two-thirds.
Cayman's imperiled blue iguanas on the rebound
(AP) — The blue iguana has lived on the rocky shores of Grand Cayman for at least a couple of million years, preening like a miniature turquoise dragon as it soaked in the sun or sheltered inside crevices. Yet having survived everything from tropical hurricanes to ice ages, it was driven to near-extinction by dogs, cats and cars.
Mexico's monarch butterfly reserve stops logging (Update)
(AP) — Illegal logging has practically been eliminated in the western Mexico wintering grounds of the monarch butterfly, according to a research report released Wednesday, and Mexican officials now hope to use the successful program of anti-logging patrols and payments to rural residents to solve other forestry conflicts throughout the country.
Detection dogs spot northern spotted owls, even those alarmed by barred owls
A series of forest searches by dogs specially trained to sniff out northern spotted owl pellets – the undigested bones, fur and other bits regurgitated by owls – improved the probability of finding the owls by nearly 30 percent over a series of traditional vocalization surveys.
Beetle mating requires strong grip as defensive behavior
Sexual selection in the Forked Fungus Beetle favors larger body and horn size, and a new study investigates the relationship between these traits and the beetles' grip strength, which is crucial for the male to hold on to the female and shield her from other males in an elaborate courtship ritual. The full results are reported on Aug. 15 in the open access journal PLoS ONE.
Researchers probe asymmetric warfare between earwigs
Symmetrical looks are highly prized in the animal kingdom, but according to a new report by San Francisco State University biologists on an insect called the maritime earwig, asymmetry might come with its own perks.
Study proves that one extinction leads to another
When a carnivore becomes extinct, other predatory species could soon follow, according to new research. Scientists have previously put forward this theory, but a University of Exeter team has now carried out the first experiment to prove it.
New genetic data shows humans and great apes diverged earlier than thought
(Phys.org) -- In trying to figure out when humans and apes diverged, researchers have had to rely on fossil evidence and the rates of mutations that occur when both groups propagated their species. The problem is, up till now, most of that data can from the analysis of human genetic evidence which was then applied to both humans and apes, which could of course have led to errors as it’s based on guessing that mutation rates in apes are the same as humans. Now, to get around that problem, a team of researchers has gathered genetic data from both chimpanzees and gorillas and has found, as they describe in their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, that it appears that the two diverged some time earlier than has been thought.
Stickleback fish show initiative, personality and leadership
Researchers have shed light on the distinct, complex personalities displayed by stickleback fish.
When it comes to food, chimps only think of themselves
A sense of fairness is an important part of human behaviour, yet a research team involving Queen Mary, University of London (UK) found it did not evolve from our closest living relatives.
British researchers find geese alter course to avoid wind farm
(Phys.org) -- Researchers in Britain have found that migrating pink-footed geese have altered the path they take when returning to the UK to winter after flying southeast from Iceland, due to the construction of a wind farm. The study, conducted by Pawel Plonczkier and Ian Simms of Britain's Food and Environment Research Agency was held over a four year period using radar following the final construction of an offshore wind farm near Lincolnshire. They found, as they note in their paper published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, that as the finishing touches were applied to the wind generators, the geese began taking an alternate route when looking to overwinter in the UK.
Researchers fashion swan egg into sensor to monitor hatching process
(Phys.org) -- Researchers in Britain are confused by the mute swans of Abbotsbury Swannery. They lay four to ten eggs during a laying cycle which lasts generally a couple of days. During that time, they sometimes sit on the eggs laid up to that point, but not long enough to cause the eggs to begin incubation; that doesn’t start until all of the eggs have been laid. So why do they bother at all beforehand? It seems like a waste of energy, which birds as a general rule, tend to avoid. That’s what this new research aims to find out. The group have taken a real egg, sawed off one end and fitted it inside with electronics embedded in rubbery silicon.
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