Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 14, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- From vitro to vivo: Fully automated design of synthetic RNA circuits in living cells- In world's first, atomic force microscope sees chemical bonds in individual molecules (w/ video)
- Vanadium oxide bronze: A replacement for silicon in microchips?
- CRIME attack is shown to decrypt HTTPS web sessions
- 'Memristors' based on transparent electronics offer technology of the future
- Researchers find retinal rods able to detect photon number distribution
- Researchers identify sterility genes in hybrid rice
- Intel workers have Android Jelly Bean on Atom phones
- First planets found around sun-like stars in a cluster
- Implanted prosthetic device restores, improves impaired decision-making ability in monkeys
- Scientists reverse disorder of neuronal circuits in autism
- Ceria nanoparticles could lessen the damage from ischemic strokes
- Experimental diabetes drug could help fight Alzheimer's disease
- Swivelling solar home stars in Madrid contest
- Discovery of essential genes for drug-resistant bacteria reveals new, high-value drug targets
Space & Earth news
Nicaragua negotiating satellite purchase with China
Nicaragua is in negotiations with China to purchase a $300 million satellite, which the Central American country hopes to launch into orbit by 2016, officials said.
'Seafloor Explorer' website will provide everyone opportunity to identify seafloor life and habitats
The public is invited to help identify objects they see in images of the seafloor through a new interactive website called "Seafloor Explorer." The result of a unique collaboration between oceanographers studying seafloor habitats, Web programmers and social scientists, Seafloor Explorer (www.seafloorexplorer.org) launches September 13.
Incredible images of the Moon from Earth
Think this is an orbital view of the Moon? Guess again. Astrophotographer Thierry Legault took this image from his backyard in the suburbs of Paris, France! He's taken a series of images of the Moon the past few nights that will blow your mind when you consider they were taken from Earth, within the confines of the metropolis of Paris (largest city in France, 5th largest in the EU, 20th largest in the world). Thierry used a Celestron C14 EdgeHD (356mm) and Skynyx2.2 camera. You definitely want to click on these images for the larger versions on Thierry's website, and he suggests using a full-HD screen in subdued surroundings.
Temperature extremes on Mars
"Mars ain't no kind of place to raise your kids; in fact it's cold as hell" sang Elton John in "Rocket Man", and although the song was released in 1972—four years before the first successful landing on Mars—his weather forecast was spot-on. Even though the fantastic images that are being returned from NASA's Curiosity rover show a rocky, ruddy landscape that could easily be mistaken for an arid region of the American Southwest one must remember three things: this is Mars, we're looking around the inside of an impact crater billions of years old, and it's cold out there.
Bioremediation used to alleviate surface water pollution
European research has investigated the possibility of using naturally occurring microbes to bio-decontaminate groundwater, a source of organic solvent pollutants in surface water.
Strong earthquake hits parts of western Indonesia
(AP)—A strong undersea earthquake has hit parts of western Indonesia, but no tsunami warning was issued and there have been no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
Met Office model to better predict extreme winters
Severe UK winters, like the 'big freeze' of 2009/10, can now be better forecast months in advance using the Met Office's latest model, new research suggests.
GRACE mission offers a much needed view of Earth's water supplies
The signature of drought was easy to read in the southern United States in the summer of 2011. It was in the brown, wilted crops and the bare fields. It was in the clouds of dust that rolled across the sky and in the shrinking reservoirs. It was in the fires that raced through crisp grasslands and forests, devouring homes and wilderness. It was in the oppressive heat that returned day after day.
Melting glaciers key to greater reliance on hydroelectric power?
(Phys.org)—The great glaciers of the Alps are melting. Several climate change scenarios, some of which are based on an average temperature increase of +4°C, predict their complete disappearance by the end of this century. As they retreat, the glaciers uncover cavities; these fill with meltwater, becoming lakes.
Sounds of space: New 'chorus' recording by RBSP's EMFISIS instrument
(Phys.org)—Researchers from the Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science (EMFISIS) team at the University of Iowa have released a new recording of an intriguing and well-known phenomenon known as "chorus," made on Sept. 5, 2012. The Waves tri-axial search coil magnetometer and receiver of EMFISIS captured several notable peak radio wave events in the magnetosphere that surrounds the Earth. The radio waves, which are at frequencies that are audible to the human ear, are emitted by the energetic particles in the Earth's magnetosphere.
Offshore dredging severely impacts coral reefs
Research by the Australian Institute of Marine Science has discovered that proposed dredging works along the WA coast could severely impact certain coral species found in local waters.
Just hours after launch, RBSP takes first science steps
(Phys.org)—While the RBSP teams at NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station celebrated a job well done following the 4:05 a.m. EDT launch of the Radiation Belt Storm Probes on Thursday, Aug. 30, another group of RBSP engineers and scientists celebrated at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md. But for many of those at APL's Mission Operations Center (MOC) that morning, their job on the RBSP mission was about to get very busy.
Opportunity rover finds intriguing new spherules at Cape York
One of the most interesting discoveries made so far by the Opportunity rover on Mars has been the small round spherules or "blueberries" as they are commonly referred to, covering the ground at the rover's landing site. Typically only a few millimetres across, some lie loose on the soil while others are imbedded in rock outcrops.
Guatemala volcano eruption draws tourists
(AP)—The eruption of the long-simmering Volcan del Fuego terrified nearby villagers but it has become a major draw for visitors in the nearby colonial city of Antigua.
UN hails 25-year ozone treaty for preventing disaster
The United Nations treaty to protect the ozone layer signed nearly 25 years ago prevented an environmental disaster, a chief UN scientist said Friday, cautioning though that the Earth's radiation shield is still under threat.
Study shows wildfires' positive and negative economic impacts
Despite the disruptions they cause, large wildfires are a mixed economic bag for nearby communities, according to findings from a research project by the University of Oregon's Ecosystem Workforce Program and its collaborators.
NASA examines very dangerous Super Typhoon Sanba
NASA's TRMM satellite examined super soaking Super Typhoon Sanba and powerful hot towering thunderstorms around its center and rain falling at a rate as high as three inches per hour.
TRMM satellite sees Nadine still struggling to become a hurricane
Tropical Storm Nadine's life story during the week of Sept. 11 has been about the storm's continual struggle to become a hurricane. NASA's TRMM satellite captured a look at the rainfall and towering clouds within Nadine as the system continues to deal with wind shear and dry air that are keeping it under hurricane status.
Aqua satellite sees Tropical Storm Kristy weaken, other system developing
The Eastern Pacific Ocean has become "tropically" alive on NASA satellite data today, Sept. 14. NASA's Aqua satellite captured an image of weakening Tropical Storm Kristy and another low pressure area that is developing and has the potential to become a new tropical depression.
'Cool pavement' technologies studied to address hot urban surfaces
(Phys.org)—On those sweltering summer days—when it's too hot to play at the playground, when it seems like you could fry an egg on the pavement, when your car feels like an oven after a couple hours parked at the mall—it's not just the beating sun that's driving up the temperature. It's our very urban environment, in which most of our paved surfaces are dark, absorbing almost all of the sunlight that shines down on them.
First planets found around sun-like stars in a cluster
(Phys.org)—NASA-funded astronomers have, for the first time, spotted planets orbiting sun-like stars in a crowded cluster of stars. The findings offer the best evidence yet planets can sprout up in dense stellar environments. Although the newfound planets are not habitable, their skies would be starrier than what we see from Earth.
Technology news
Huawei: Australia law could exclude China firms
(AP)—An official of Chinese telecoms equipment giant Huawei Technologies said Friday he is concerned that new Australian laws to protect communication networks from cyber-attacks could exclude companies from tendering for work simply because they're Chinese.
'Gamify your PhD': Gaming and research collide
After a two-day games hack in which scientists and games developers came together to create video games from doctoral research, a bacterial shoot-em-up game, 'Dysbiosis', has emerged as the winner of the Wellcome Trust's Gamify Your PhD project.
A wireless future where everything that computes is connected
In his keynote today at the Intel Developer Forum, Intel Chief Technology Officer Justin Rattner said, "In the future, if it computes, it connects. From the simplest embedded sensors to the most advanced cloud datacenters, we're looking at techniques to allow all of them to connect without wires."
New app provides templates for kids to create their own stories
(Phys.org)—Thinking like a five-year-old is helping a team of Simon Fraser University students and grads create an app that allows children to create their own books.
Sony's contactless IC card chip acquires world's first EAL6+ certification of common criteria, standard for IT Security
The RC-SA00 next-generation FeliCa IC chip developed by Sony Corporation is the world's first contactless IC card chip with embedded software to acquire EAL6+ certification of Common Criteria (ISO/IEC 15408), the international standard for evaluation criteria for IT security.
Twitter hands over records in NY Occupy case
(AP)—Twitter has handed over about three months' worth of an Occupy Wall Street protester's tweets to a judge in a criminal trial.
France's Hollande outlines 'green' energy policy
President Francois Hollande Friday pledged to close France's oldest operational nuclear plant in 2016 and rejected seven proposals for shale gas exploration on health and environment concerns.
Facebook, Zynga stocks end week on high note
(AP)—Facebook's beleaguered stock is set to end the week on a high note, pulling Zynga with it.
Facebook makes targeting smartphones top priority
Facebook said it has shaken up its engineering teams to make targeting smartphones a top priority at the world's leading social network.
Alan Turing at 100
It is hard to overstate the importance of Alan Turing, the British mathematician who died in 1954. He was a hero in science, for one. Turing invented the concepts that underlie modern computers and artificial intelligence. And he was a hero in war: He was a vital part of the British cryptographic team at Bletchley Park that cracked the German Enigma code during World War II.
Microstructural improvements enhance material properties
Exquisite buildings like the Eiffel Tower were made possible because of advances in structural engineering design methods. Truss structures, like the Eiffel Tower, are highly efficient; they can carry the same loads as solid structures, but at approximately one tenth of the weight. This weight and strength advantage is also what enabled the dramatic increase in building heights between 1885 and 1930, when buildings went from an average of ten stories to more than 100 stories, as epitomized by the Empire State Building. With its novel structural engineering, construction of the Eiffel Tower ushered in the age of the skyscraper.
Research moves LEDs from the theatre stage to the greenhouse
(Phys.org)—It's a rare event when one technological breakthrough can have far-reaching effects in fields as diverse as stage lighting, horticulture, entomology, energy management, and potentially, space colonization. Penn State researchers from theatre arts and horticulture have collaborated with the Office of Physical Plant (OPP) to fine-tune lighting for improved plant growth and energy conservation in greenhouses.
Japan to phase out nuclear energy by 2040
Japan on Friday said it planned to phase out nuclear power over three decades in an apparent bow to public pressure after last year's Fukushima disaster, the worst atomic accident in a generation.
Radar measurements of highest precision
Scientists of KIT and Ruhr-Universität Bochum have reached a record precision in radar distance measurements. With the help of a new radar system, an accuracy of one micrometer was achieved in joint measurements. The system is characterized by a high precision and low cost. Potential applications lie in production and plant technology.
Kodak postpones bankruptcy auction on patents
(AP)—Kodak is postponing indefinitely an auction of its imaging patent portfolios.
China's nuclear dilemma
An expert assessment of China's nuclear weapons strategy highlights the risk of escalation to nuclear war from a conflict beginning with conventional weapons, due to the unusual structure of the nation's military. The new study, previously only available in Chinese, appears in the latest edition of The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, published by SAGE. The authors believe that this is the first comprehensive non-governmental study on how China's nuclear-war plan was developed.
Britain to use spent nuclear fuel for batteries to power deep space craft
(Phys.org)—To reduce the cost of cleaning up nuclear waste at Britain's Sellafield nuclear reprocessing facility in Cumbria, workers from the British National Nuclear Laboratory have been harvesting americium-241, in hopes of using it as part of nuclear batteries for long range spacecraft built by the European Space Agency (ESA). It's all part of a £1 million pilot program designed to find ways to use existing fissionable materials for use in future space missions.
BMW forced to respond to BBC report showing its cars at easy risk of being stolen
(Phys.org)—In response to a BBC report that proved that BMW cars built between 2006 and 2011 can be easily stolen by thieves using a device that takes advantage of the cars' computer system, BMW has announced that all owners of such vehicles can bring them in for a free fix.
Swivelling solar home stars in Madrid contest
International teams have built 19 sun-powered homes in Spain's capital for a contest that shows off futuristic designs, including one house that swivels 180 degrees.
Apple fends off Samsung challenge in US trade panel
Apple prevailed Friday at a US trade panel in a patent infringement complaint filed by South Korea's Samsung over wireless communication technology for the iPhone and other Apple devices.
CRIME attack is shown to decrypt HTTPS web sessions
(Phys.org)—The fun of acronyms is reflected in coming up with CRIME, which stands for Compression Ratio Info-leak Made Easy. What it translates into, though, is not much fun. Two security researchers have developed the CRIME attack that can successfully decrypt session cookies from HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) connections. This, in theory, would be a serious weakness that would enable the hijacking of a user's session cookie while the user is still authenticated to a website. Encryption protocols are the Internet's fundamental safety cushion, the basic level of trust, in encrypting traffic that flows over open networks. They cryptographically confirm websites are really operated by those sites rather than cyber-criminals and spies.
'Memristors' based on transparent electronics offer technology of the future
(Phys.org)—The transparent electronics that were pioneered at Oregon State University may find one of their newest applications as a next-generation replacement for some uses of non-volatile flash memory, a multi-billion dollar technology nearing its limit of small size and information storage capacity.
Medicine & Health news
Children's intensive care units performing well despite low staffing levels
Standards of care in children's intensive care units come under scrutiny in a new audit report published today by the University of Leeds and the University of Leicester.
Cystic fibrosis patients of low SES are less likely to be accepted for lung transplant
Adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients of low socioeconomic status (SES) have a greater chance of not being accepted for lung transplant after undergoing initial evaluation, according to a new study.
Crack cocaine wreaks havoc in Rio shantytown
Firecrackers and sporadic gunfire greeted the police-escorted social workers as they drove into northern Rio's Jacarezinho shantytown, home to a large population of crack cocaine addicts.
Charges over genital mutilation of girls in Australia
Many cases of female genital mutilation likely go unreported in Australia, a state minister said Friday after four people were charged over the alleged circumcision of two girls aged 6 and 7.
Researchers developing rapid new detection systems for deadly blood infection
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists at the University of Liverpool are a step closer to providing clinicians with a bedside test for the early diagnosis of the fatal blood infection, sepsis.
Study aims to improve diagnosis of adult autism
Developing better tools to diagnose autism in adulthood is among the key aims of a new study by Flinders University PhD candidate Clare Holmes.
New book explains connections between brain chemsitry, human behavior and major life events
Science finally has the answers to questions such as, "Why does love make us do crazy things?"
New light on genetics of autism
The genetics of autism is complex and possibly influenced by mutations with very large effects. EU genomics research has found more candidate genes that increase susceptibility to the condition.
Water quality study shows need for testing at state migrant camps
The drinking water at one-third of migrant farmworker camps in eastern North Carolina failed to meet state quality standards, according to a new study from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
Norway court upholds ban on tobacco store displays
(AP)—A Norwegian court has upheld a ban on the display of tobacco products in stores, handing a defeat Friday to the Philip Morris company.
Dr. Chiaravalloti comments on trends in rehabilitation research in MS
Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD, an expert in cognitive rehabilitation research, authored two commentaries on trends in multiple sclerosis (MS) research. Dr. Chiaravalloti is director of Neuropsychology & Neuroscience Research at Kessler Foundation. She was recently appointed director of Traumatic Brain Injury Research at the Foundation and also is principal investigator of the Northern New Jersey TBI System, a NIDRR-funded model system. Dr. Chiaravalloti is also an associate professor at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School.
Mortality from CVD in Brazil has increased 3.5 times more than in other developing countries
Despite Brazil's successful prevention campaigns which have contributed to a reduction in risk factors such as smoking, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the first cause of death in the country, at 32%. Tobacco consumption and decrease of salt in local diets are some of the risk factors that will be discussed at the 67th Annual Congress of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (1) which takes place in Recife, Brazil from 14 to 17 September 2012. This meeting is the largest cardiology conference in Latin America. The Brazilian Society of Cardiology is an affiliated society of the European Society of Cardiology since 2009 and has around 13,000 members.
US detains imports of Mexican mangoes after scare
(AP)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is detaining mango imports from one Mexican packing house after the company was linked to salmonella illnesses in 16 states.
Sleep researchers study value of preschool naps
Parents may feel it's clear that missing a nap means their young children will be grumpy and out-of-sorts, but scientists who study sleep say almost nothing is known about how daytime sleep affects children's coping skills and learning.
Pinball as a model for dealing with grief
The process of grieving can be compared to the workings of a pinball machine, where mourners' movement between different stages of grief such as shock and depression may be unpredictable, according to authors writing in September's issue of Mental Health Practice journal.
Low cost design makes ultrasound imaging affordable to the world
An ultra-low cost scanner that can be plugged into any computer or laptop to reveal vital information about the unborn child has been developed by engineers at Newcastle University, UK.
Charting the SH2 pool
New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Cell Communication and Signaling describes a large set of interactions (interactome) which maps the range of phosphotyrosine (pTyr)-dependent interactions with SH2 domains underlying insulin (Ins), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling pathways.
Obesity more common among rural residents than urban counterparts, study finds
A new study finds that Americans living in rural areas are more likely to be obese than city dwellers. Published in the National Rural Health Association's Fall 2012 Journal of Rural Health, the study indicates that residential location may play an important role in the obesity epidemic.
Long-term finasteride doesn't impair quality of life
(HealthDay)—Taking finasteride to prevent prostate cancer does not negatively affect the physical function, mental health, or vitality domains of health-related quality of life, according to a study published online Sept. 12 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Cancer survivors prefer to stay with cancer doctors: study
(HealthDay)—Even after cancer patients beat their disease, many still grapple with health issues related to their treatments, including cardiovascular and bone problems. But, survivors often say it's unclear which doctor to turn to for follow-up care.
Many more U.S. households ready for disasters: CDC
(HealthDay)—Many households in the United States are ready should a disaster—such as a hurricane or earthquake—strike, federal officials said Thursday.
Doctors' orders: improve your handwriting
Doctors' handwriting has never been renowned for its elegance, but an Indian medical group is so concerned about sloppy scrawls that it has started an awareness drive to prevent fatal errors.
Yosemite extends hantavirus alert to 230,000
California's Yosemite National Park has said that it has extended its hantavirus warning to 230,000 people after three people died from the rodent-borne disease.
Genes could be powerful predictor of our capacity to deal with stress, study shows
(Medical Xpress)—Work stress, job satisfaction and health problems due to high stress have more to do with genes than you might think, according to research by Timothy Judge, professor of management at the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business.
Study: Post-menopausal women with diabetes at greater risk of breast cancer
(Medical Xpress)—Women with type II diabetes are nearly 30 per cent more likely to get breast cancer, according to results of a comprehensive review published in the British Journal of Cancer today (Friday).
No evidence that black cohosh relieves menopause symptoms
Although many women coping with hot flashes and other distressing symptoms of menopause have turned to black cohosh supplements as a treatment alternative, a new review by the Cochrane Library finds no evidence that the herb is effective.
Evidence to support that 'rooming in' for mother and baby after birth could be beneficial
"Rooming in," keeping mother and her newborn in the same room 24/7 to encourage breastfeeding has been a popular initiative of The WHO/UNICEF Baby Friendly Hospital. A new review from The Cochrane Library finds some evidence that it does support breastfeeding, at least in the short term.
Proven strategies successful in reduction of deadly hospital-acquired infections
(Medical Xpress)—A new study by researchers from the Johns Hopkins University's School of Medicine and the Bloomberg School of Public Health reveals that combining several tested and proven practices for preventing central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) with a program to improve safety, teamwork and communication can dramatically reduce the infection rates. The study was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Interdisciplinary Nursing Quality Research Initiative (INQRI) and published online in Critical Care Medicine.
Visits to the petting zoo require vigilant hand washing to prevent spread of disease, researcher says
(Medical Xpress)—A trip to a petting zoo may bring more than a smile to a child's face—it also could lead to them getting sick. That's one reason why a Kansas State University professor says that interactions between animals and the public need better oversight.
Surgery has a more profound effect than anesthesia on brain pathology and cognition in Alzheimer's animal model
(Medical Xpress)—A syndrome called "post-operative cognitive decline" has been coined to refer to the commonly reported loss of cognitive abilities, usually in older adults, in the days to weeks after surgery. In fact, some patients time the onset of their Alzheimer's disease symptoms from a surgical procedure. Exactly how the trio of anesthesia, surgery, and dementia interact is clinically inconclusive, yet of great concern to patients, their families and physicians.
Research: Link between healthy outlook and healthy lifestyle
(Medical Xpress)—A 'can do' attitude is the key to a healthy lifestyle, University of Melbourne economists have determined.
Emotional intelligence: Fact or fad?
Emotional intelligence is not the cure-all elixir for spotting who will succeed in work and life, but it is more than a useless fad, says Carolyn MacCann.
Gingko biloba does not improve cognition in MS patients, study finds
Many people with multiple sclerosis for years have taken the natural supplement Gingko biloba, believing it helps them with cognitive problems associated with the disease.
Learning faster with neurodegenerative disease
People who bear the genetic mutation for Huntington's disease learn faster than healthy people. The more pronounced the mutation was, the more quickly they learned. This is reported by researchers from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum and from Dortmund in the journal Current Biology. The team has thus demonstrated for the first time that neurodegenerative diseases can go hand in hand with increased learning efficiency.
Scientists show protein linked to hunger also implicated in alcoholism
Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute have found new links between a protein that controls our urge to eat and brain cells involved in the development of alcoholism. The discovery points to new possibilities for designing drugs to treat alcoholism and other addictions.
US official: Yosemite visitor recovered from virus
(AP)—A visitor to Yosemite National Park has recovered after becoming the ninth person diagnosed with a deadly rodent-borne illness blamed for three deaths among those who spent time at the park this summer, officials said.
Whole-genome scan helps select best treatment for childhood cancer
A whole-genome scan to identify large-scale chromosomal damage can help doctors choose the best treatment option for children with neuroblastoma, one of the most common types of childhood cancer, finds an international collaboration jointly led by The Institute of Cancer Research, London.
New test to crack down on sporting drugs-cheat test
Scientists from three UK universities have developed a new test to catch drugs-cheats in sport.
Passive smoking also affects neurodevelopment in babies
A new study shows that newborns that have been exposed to nicotine from both active and passive smoking mothers show poor physiological, sensory, motor and attention responses.
Simple tool may help evaluate risk for violence among patients with mental illness
Mental health professionals, who often are tasked with evaluating and managing the risk of violence by their patients, may benefit from a simple tool to more accurately make a risk assessment, according to a recent study conducted at the University of California, San Francisco.
Symptoms of alcohol abuse, not dependence, may better reflect family risk for alcohol use disorders
Individuals with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) vary widely in their age of onset of use, patterns of drinking, and symptom profiles. AUDs are often 'divided' into two categories: alcohol abuse (AA) and alcohol dependence (AD), with AA perceived as a milder syndrome that might develop into AD over time. A recent study of the clinical features of AUDs, with a focus on family liability, has found that – contrary to expectations – AA symptoms better reflect familial risk for AUDs than AD symptoms.
Maternal drinking during pregnancy can damage the earliest fetal learning
Habituation refers to the ability of an organism to stop responding to repeated stimulation. A new study has examined the impact of maternal drinking on fetal habituation or learning abilities while still residing in the mother's womb. Results showed that those fetuses exposed to heavy binge drinking required significantly more trials to habituate, and also exhibited a greater variability in test performance.
Abstinence from alcohol plus physical exercise can help reclaim bone loss due to alcoholism
Alcoholism is known to cause osteoporosis, or reduced bone mineral density (BMD). New findings indicate that as little as eight weeks of abstinence can initiate correction of an imbalance between bone formation and resorption due to alcohol's toxic effects. Physical activity can also serve as a protective factor against reduced BMD.
Putting your mental health in order
(HealthDay)—Living without stress may seem nearly impossible these days. Technology beckons at all hours for you to read just one more tweet or text. Politics are polarizing. Costs are rising, but salaries not so much.
Objective, subjective post-rhinoplasty breathing evaluated
(HealthDay)—Septorhinoplasty is associated with subjective improvement in nasal patency as well as increases in nasal volume and decreases in nasal resistance, particularly in those with severe obstruction before surgery, according to a study published online Sept. 10 in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery.
Antipsychotic use up among U.S. medicaid-enrolled youth
(HealthDay)—There has been a substantial increase in antipsychotic use among Medicaid-enrolled children in recent years, with the increase partially driven by youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and those with multiple diagnoses, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in Health Services Research.
Pain from sexual assault often untreated, study says
(HealthDay)—Although most victims of sexual assault experience severe pain after their attack, fewer than one-third receive medication to ease their discomfort, according to a new study.
Chronic pain may cost U.S. $635 billion a year
(HealthDay)—Americans spend as much as $635 billion each year on the direct and indirect costs associated with chronic pain, according to a new study.
Getting (drugs) under your skin
Using ultrasound waves, MIT engineers have found a way to enhance the permeability of skin to drugs, making transdermal drug delivery more efficient. This technology could pave the way for noninvasive drug delivery or needle-free vaccinations, according to the researchers.
When it comes to understanding fairness, young children get it
Most parents like to believe that their children are more intelligent and insightful than the average person realizes. When it comes to concepts of fairness, they might be right, according to Harvard researchers.
Study: Common gene mutation affects kids with autism spectrum disorders
(Medical Xpress)—Over the past decade, researchers have made great strides in identifying genes that lead to an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), which result in a continuum of social deficits, communication difficulties and cognitive delays. But it's still critical to determine how exactly these genetic risk factors impact the brain's structure and function so that better treatments and interventions can be developed.
Scientists reverse disorder of neuronal circuits in autism
People with autism suffer from a pervasive developmental disorder of the brain that becomes evident in early childhood. Peter Scheiffele and Kaspar Vogt, Professors at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel, have identified a specific dysfunction in neuronal circuits that is caused by autism. In the respected journal Science, the scientists also report about their success in reversing these neuronal changes. These findings are an important step in drug development for the treatment for autism.
Experimental diabetes drug could help fight Alzheimer's disease
(Medical Xpress)—A drug designed for diabetes sufferers could have the potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, a study by scientists at the University of Ulster has revealed.
Implanted prosthetic device restores, improves impaired decision-making ability in monkeys
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers have taken a key step towards recovering specific brain functions in sufferers of brain disease and injuries by successfully restoring the decision-making processes in monkeys.
Biology news
Cultivation of salt-tolerant crops a goal of 'Silt Farming Project'
The 'Silt Farming Project' was started on Texel, one of the Dutch Wadden islands, in 2010. A project for investigating the chances of cropping on silt soils. Objective of this project is to find salt-resistant crops and to investigate the degree of salt-tolerance of such crops. In this project Wageningen UR Plant Research International (PRI) is studying the effects of silt cropping on the metabolites of crops.
Water-wise biofuel crop study to alter plants metabolic, photosynthesis process
Putting the water-use-efficient and turbo-charged photosynthesis from plants such as agave into woody biomass plants such as poplar can hedge against predicted long-term increases in temperatures and reduced precipitation. It can also provide dedicated energy crops suitable for establishment on marginal land as a source of renewable biomass.
New insights on cell competition
Scientists from the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) describe how natural selection also occurs at the cellular level, and how our body's tissues and organs strive to retain the best cells in their ranks in order to fend off disease processes. These results appear this week in the new issue of Cell Reports. The research, carried out in the CNIO, is led by Eduardo Moreno, who is currently working at the University of Bern in Switzerland.
Oil from algae closer to reality through studies by unique collaboration of scientists
A team of researchers that has been working on getting fuel-grade oil out of algae may be within four years of a near-commercial-scale production level.
Researchers discover a new basic principle of the mitochondria architecture
A team of scientists at the University of Freiburg led by Dr. Martin van der Laan has achieved groundbreaking new insights into the structure of mitochondria. Mitochondria are the microscopic power plants of the cell that harness the energy stored in food, thus enabling central life functions. This conversion of energy takes place in delicately formed cavities of the biological membranes inside mitochondria. Defects in these fine membrane structures can lead to severe diseases of the muscles and the central nervous system. A sophisticated molecular machine of the inner membrane that the Freiburg team already discovered in 2011 is not only responsible for forming the characteristic structures within mitochondria but evidently also plays an important role in assembling the outer membrane enclosing these organelles, as the scientists now report in the renowned journal Molecular Biology of the Cell.
Research: Hopping DNA supercoils
If you take hold of a DNA molecule and twist it, this creates 'supercoils', which are a bit like those annoying loops and twists you get in earphone cables. Research carried out by TU Delft, The Netherlands, has found that in the DNA molecule these coils can make their way surprisingly quickly along the length of the DNA. This newly discovered 'hopping' mechanism - which takes places in a matter of milliseconds - could have important biological implications, because cells use the coils to bring specific pieces of DNA into contact with one another. The researchers from Cees Dekker's group at the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience in Delft will be publishing their results in Science this week.
Plans for giant Antarctic marine sanctuary falter
(AP)—Antarctica's Ross Sea is often described as the most isolated and pristine ocean on Earth, a place where seals and penguins still rule the waves and humans are about as far away as they could be. But even there it has proven difficult, and maybe impossible, for nations to agree on how strongly to protect the environment.
Wild animals on the increase in Switzerland
Wild animals including bears, wolves and jackals are on the increase in Switzerland, a government agency said Friday, as it reported a spike in the figures across the country.
Researchers find our inner reptile hearts
An elaborate system of leads spreads across our hearts. These leads – the heart's electrical system – control our pulse and coordinate contraction of the heart chambers. While the structure of the human heart has been known for a long time, the evolutionary origin of our conduction system has nevertheless remained a mystery. Researchers have finally succeeded in showing that the spongy tissue in reptile hearts is the forerunner of the complex hearts of both birds and mammals. The new knowledge provides a deeper understanding of the complex conductive tissue of the human heart, which is of key importance in many heart conditions.
X-rays reveal the self-defence mechanisms of bacteria
A research group at Aarhus University has gained unique insight into how bacteria control the amount of toxin in their cells. The new findings can eventually lead to the development of novel forms of treatment for bacterial infections.
Canadian homes a kill zone for up to 22 million birds a year
(Edmonton) The thud of a bird hitting a window is something many Canadian home owners experience. Up until now, little research has been done to document the significant these collisions for Canada's bird populations. A University of Alberta biology class project supervised by researcher Erin Bayne suggests that many birds meet their end in run-ins with Canadian homes.
Artificial bat cave built to combat killer disease (Update)
(AP)—Conservationists have built an artificial bat cave deep in the Tennessee woods to see if it can be a blueprint for saving bats who are dying by the millions from a fungus spreading across North America.
Young queens of leafcutter ants change roles if they cannot reproduce
Biologists from the universities of Freiburg and Copenhagen, Denmark, have discovered that queens of the ant genus Acromyrmex are flexible in the event that they cannot found their own colony. The queens of other species die as soon as they can no longer fulfill their life's task. The unsuccessful Acromyrmex queens, on the other hand, change their entire repertoire of behavior and help defend and tend to their mother colony, as the scientists report in the current online issue of the journal Current Biology.
Baboon foraging choices depend on their habitat and social status: study
In a study published today in The American Naturalist, a group of scientists led by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) have used a technique developed to study human consumer choices to investigate what influences a baboon's foraging decisions. The technique, known as discrete choice modelling, has rarely been used before in animal behaviour research. It showed how baboons not only consider many social and non-social factors when making foraging decisions, but also how they change these factors depending on their habitat and their own social traits.
DNA and sonar data used in discovery of four new species of Horseshoe bat
(Phys.org)—A new multidisciplinary study on the enigmatic large Horseshoe bat – found widespread throughout South and East Africa – has revealed that instead of just one species as previously believed, the bat is in fact five different species, four of which have just been classified for the first time following their discovery.
Discovery of essential genes for drug-resistant bacteria reveals new, high-value drug targets
(Phys.org)—Biomedical scientists collaborating on translational research at two Buffalo institutions are reporting the discovery of a novel, and heretofore unrecognized, set of genes essential for the growth of potentially lethal, drug-resistant bacteria. The study not only reveals multiple, new drug targets for this human infection, it also suggests that the typical methods of studying bacteria in rich laboratory media may not be the best way to identify much-needed antimicrobial drug targets.
Researchers identify sterility genes in hybrid rice
(Phys.org)—Hybrids of many plant and animal species and subspecies are sterile, and a group of researchers in China have now identified the genes that operate to make crossbred rice sterile.
From vitro to vivo: Fully automated design of synthetic RNA circuits in living cells
(Phys.org)—Synthetic biology combines science and engineering in the pursuit of two general goals: to design and construct new biological parts, devices, and systems not found in nature; and redesign existing, natural biological systems for useful purposes. For synthetic biologists a key goal is to use RNA to automatically engineer synthetic sequences that encode functional RNA sequences in living cells. While earlier RNA design attempts have mostly been developed in vitro or needed fragments of natural sequences to be viable, scientists at Institut de biologie systémique et synthétique in France have recently developed a fully automated design methodology and experimental validation of synthetic RNA interaction circuits working in a cellular environment. Their results demonstrate that engineering interacting RNAs with allosteric behavior in living cells can be accomplished using a first-principles computation.
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