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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 26, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- London's tweets are mapped to see who speaks what, where- Concerns raised about airline boarding pass barcodes
- Architect makes bricks using cattle blood
- Japanese company builds 9.6-inch 4K x 2K LCD panel
- Scientists use molecular layers to study nanoscale heat transfer
- Chinese cuisine could protect against sepsis
- Fully automated football analysis (w/ Video)
- The most ancient pottery prehistoric figurine of the Iberian Peninsula is found in Begues
- Hermit crabs socialize to evict their neighbors
- Watching the cogwheels of the biological clock in living cells
- Researchers decipher the mecanism of membrane fission
- A Viagra follow-up? Drug used to treat glaucoma actually grows human hair
- Scientists step up hunt for bacterial genes tied to Lyme disease
- New Ultra HD TVs arrive in stores with 5-figure prices
- Paintballs may deflect an incoming asteroid (w/ Video)
Space & Earth news
Australia pumps $1.83 bln into food bowl river
The government on Friday pledged Aus$1.77 billion (US$1.83 billion) to pump more than 450 billion litres of water into the ailing Murray-Darling River and help rejuvenate a crucial system supplying Australia's food bowl.
'First' Pakistan astronaut wants to make peace in space
Once you've been to both poles, skydived over Mount Everest and set up your country's first consulate in Monaco, the question is: what next?
NASA's LADEE spacecraft gets final science instrument installed
Engineers at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., have installed the third and final science instrument that will fly onboard NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE).
Take your chance to scream in space
The first "Alien" movie was promoted with the celebrated tagline, "In space, no one can hear you scream." But a group of students want to find out if this is really true, and they're asking the public for help. Students from the University of Cambridge in the UK will be loading human screams onto a smartphone that will be launched into space in December 2012 on a nanosatellite. The screams will be played at maximum volume while the smartphone is in low Earth orbit, and at the same time as the phone will record the playback to test if it's possible to capture the sound of screaming in space. They want the best screams possible, and so are inviting the public to submit their screams via video. There will also be public voting on the screams to determine which screams will go to space.
The International Council for Science pledges support for scientists in the L'Aquila case
The International Council for Science (ICSU), as representative of the global scientific community, expresses its strong concern regarding the case of the six scientists who have been found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to six year prison terms because of their role in providing scientific advice prior to the earthquake in L'Aquila, Italy, in 2009.
Minimizing mining damage with manure
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research confirms that the time-tested practice of amending crop soils with manure also can help restore soils on damaged post-mining landscapes.
New NASA Online Science Resource Available for Educators and Students
NASA has a new online science resource for teachers and students to help bring Earth, the solar system, and the universe into their schools and homes.
SKorea postpones rocket launch due to gas leak
(AP)—South Korea has been forced to postpone its third attempt to launch a satellite into space from its own soil because of a last-minute technical glitch.
When clouds hang out with pollution: Clean-sky clouds more susceptible to pollution's pressure, research finds
Clouds are influenced by the company they keep. Scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) found that ocean-hugging clouds in clean regions are more affected by pollution than clouds in an already polluted setting. Cloud trails from ships, called "ship tracks," are a small-scale example of this effect. Pollution exhaust from ships forms streaks of clouds that are brighter than neighboring clouds. The researchers learned that the amount of pollution already in a region strongly moderates any effect on cloud characteristics from additional pollution. Their study was published in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.
NASA 3-D imaging radar to analyze, classify oil spills
Researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena have developed a method to use a specialized NASA 3-D imaging radar to characterize the oil in oil spills, such as the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The research can be used to improve response operations during future marine oil spills.
The white widow model: A new scenario for the birth of Type Ia supernovae
J. Craig Wheeler has studied the exploding stars called supernovae for more than four decades. Now he has a new idea on the identity of the "parents" of one of the most important types of supernovae—the Type Ia, those used as "standard candles" in cosmology studies that led to the discovery of dark energy, the mysterious force causing the universe's expansion to speed up.
Paintballs may deflect an incoming asteroid (w/ Video)
In the event that a giant asteroid is headed toward Earth, you'd better hope that it's blindingly white. A pale asteroid would reflect sunlight—and over time, this bouncing of photons off its surface could create enough of a force to push the asteroid off its course.
NASA sees Hurricane Sandy as the "Bride of Frankenstorm" approaching the US East Coast
NASA's TRMM satellite revealed Hurricane Sandy's heavy rainfall and the storm is expected to couple with a powerful cold front and Arctic air to bring that heavy rainfall to the Mid-Atlantic and northeastern U.S. Some forecasters are calling this combination of weather factors "Frankenstorm" because of the close proximity to Halloween. However, because Sandy is a woman's name, the storm could be considered a "bride of Frankenstorm."
Chile's ALMA probes for origins of universe
(AP)—Earth's largest radio telescope is growing more powerful by the day on this remote plateau high above Chile's Atacama desert, where visitors often feel like they're planting the first human footprints on the red crust of Mars.
Architect makes bricks using cattle blood
(Phys.org)—A recent graduate from the University of Westminster in London, architect Jack Munro has developed a process that uses cattle blood as a binding ingredient in making bricks for use in building construction.
Technology news
Toronto pedestrians protected by 'Urban Umbrella' during construction
Forget that traditional post-no-bills plywood scaffolding familiar to pedestrians in every growing city. Great Gulf and Ryerson University are providing safety with grand style at their construction sites. The developer and university are working with New York-based Urban Umbrella to cover sidewalks with gracefully arching steel frames and translucent panels, adding a chic design element to an essential safety function.
Media and content digitization benefits consumers, but revenues lag behind
Digital spending - the acquisition of media products in digital format - tripled from 2006 to 2010 worldwide, with the recording music sector now achieving 30% of its global sales in the digital market. The digital success of the music sector contrasts other media and content industries, which are moving at a slower pace towards digital with distribution. Only 6% of film/video, newspapers, magazines and book sales were digital, according to the Joint Research Centre's (JRC) report on "The media and content industries. A quantitative overview", which represents an important contribution to the Commission's recent initiative to boost growth and jobs in the cultural and creative sectors. Sectoral studies on production, distribution, pricing and consumption in cinema, music, newspapers, videogames, book publishing and broadcasting have contributed to this overview, whose findings will be discussed at a conference today in Brussels.
US futures mixed after US growth report
(AP)—Stock futures were mixed but recovered from sharp declines Friday after the government reported that economic growth during the third quarter was slightly better than expected thanks in part to stronger consumer spending.
Samsung logs record high profit in 3Q
(AP)—Strong sales of Galaxy phones propelled Samsung's quarterly profit to a record high, but its shares dropped Friday on the prospect its growth will slow in an increasingly crowded smartphone market.
Candidates may be better off buying web ads than investing too heavily in TV, researcher says
With the presidential election in the home stretch, voters in battleground states are being subjected to seemingly unending streams of ads. The video barrage is costing the two parties hundreds of millions of dollars—money spent with the expectation that repetition will drive home a winning message.
Politics brings out true depth of Facebook 'friending'
Sean Bergan has witnessed the turbulent confluence of a heated presidential race and the free-wheeling world of social media.
NY man accused of trying to cheat Facebook
(AP)—A New York man has been charged in what authorities call a multibillion-dollar scheme to defraud Facebook Inc. and its chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg.
Designing for the sense of touch: a new frontier for design
(Phys.org)—Camille Moussette explores how interaction designers can leverage and embrace the sense of touch to develop interfaces and experiences that go beyond traditional visual and form-based aesthetics. He will defend his thesis on October 30 at Umeå Institute of Design, Umeå University, Sweden.
Citi fined $2 mn over Facebook IPO leak
US banking giant Citigroup paid a $2 million fine to a state regulator and fired a junior analyst over a probe into leaks of confidential information on Facebook's public offering, officials said Friday.
Microsoft woos mobile users, aims at Apple
Microsoft kicked off sales of its revamped Windows 8 system and Surface tablet Friday amid mixed reviews as the tech giant ramped up efforts to compete in a market shifting rapidly from PCs to mobile devices.
Efforts to mitigate climate change must target energy efficiency
Much more must be done to develop energy efficient cars, buildings and domestic appliances to address climate change – according to new research from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia.
Researchers study what Facebook reveals about our relationships
You know that Facebook friend who's always uploading photos to publicize his perfect romance. Maybe you are that friend.
Footwear forensics: CSI needs to tread carefully
A new computer algorithm can analyze the footwear marks left at a crime scene according to clusters of footwear types, makes and tread patterns even if the imprint recorded by crime scene investigators is distorted or only a partial print.
Smart cities: Bridging physical and digital
One of the challenges we face is how to best design and change cities into smart intelligent and sustainable environments. Researchers will explain how new technology can make our cities more habitable, and help the people who live in them understand them better.
Fully automated football analysis (w/ Video)
(Phys.org)—Using entirely new electronic solutions, soccer (also known as football in many European countries) coaches can provide their players with video analysis as early as half-time or immediately following a match.
Concerns raised about airline boarding pass barcodes
(Phys.org)—Boarding passes for travel on airlines in the US (and many other countries) now include barcodes, but an aviation security researcher has now learned that these barcodes can be read by readily available tools and are unencrypted. The barcodes include information on the level of security check the passenger will be required to satisfy when they pass through pre-boarding checks.
London's tweets are mapped to see who speaks what, where
(Phys.org)—A doctoral student and a lecturer in spatial analysis have collaborated to deliver a London diversity map via Twitter based on 3.3 million tweets in the city over the course of this year's summer months.
Medicine & Health news
'Adoption activity days' can help children find new families
Children's parties or activity days, where prospective adopters meet children awaiting adoption, could be part of the solution to the current adoption crisis, according to research that will be showcased during the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Festival of Social Science.
High-risk carotid artery plaque formation is increased in older COPD patients
Older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at increased risk for carotid artery plaque formation and for the presence of vulnerable plaques with a lipid core, according to a new study from researchers in the Netherlands.
China passes law to curb abuse of mental hospitals
(AP)—China's legislature on Friday passed a long-awaited mental health law that aims to prevent people from being involuntarily held and unnecessarily treated in psychiatric facilities—abuses that have been used against government critics and triggered public outrage.
High occurrence of hereditary osteochondrosis and loose bone fragments in Norwegian standard bred trotters
A PhD research project carried out at The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science has revealed that 50.7% of Norwegian standard bred horses of the same age suffer from loose bone fragments and defects in their joints. Genetic analyses show that osteochondrosis occurring in the hock and Birkeland fractures in the fetlock are caused by complex, hereditary diseases, which must be taken into account in breeding.
Breast cancer survivors helped to lose weight and live longer
A project based at The University of Queensland is helping women who have survived breast cancer to lose weight and live healthier, longer lives.
Report finds social cohesion stable despite changing landscape
The 2012 'Mapping Social Cohesion Report' - Australia's largest survey of social cohesion, immigration and population issues, authored by Monash University's Professor Andrew Markus and produced by the Scanlon Foundation, was released today.
People surprised by costs of out-of-network care, more patient educated needed
Forty percent of people who received health care outside of their insurance network did so out of necessity, finds a new study in Health Services Research. About half of those patients did not know how much they would have to pay for their out-of-network care. Out-of- network care can occur during an emergency medical situation or when the network status of a physician or hospital is unknown or if an in-network doctor is unavailable.
Group of experts recommends NHS should create national autopsy imaging service
The NHS should implement a non-invasive alternative to autopsies, according to a Department of Health-commissioned report by leading UK experts within the field of post-mortem cross-sectional imaging.
Surgery center influences outcomes in spinal surgery
(HealthDay)—Choice of surgery center affects patient outcomes following surgery for lumbar stenosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis, according to research published online Oct. 17 in Spine.
France: Lawmakers pass bill to pay for abortions
(AP)—The lower house of the French parliament has voted to fully reimburse all abortions and to make contraception free for minors.
Streetcar tracks blamed in one-third of Toronto bike accidents
Researchers at St. Michael's Hospital have confirmed what many cyclists in Toronto have long believed – that streetcar tracks are involved in nearly one-third of bicycle accidents.
Study finds drug-eluting stents exhibit some benefits over bare-metal stents in patients over 80, though both demonstrat
Rarely tested in patients over the age of 80, a study found that drug-eluting stents exhibited some benefits over bare-metal stents, though both types of stents demonstrated a clinical benefit. Results of the XIMA trial were presented today at the 24th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), TCT is the world's premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine.
Drug shows promise in animal model of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's with dementia
New research presented in October at the 6th Neurodegenerative Conditions Research and Development Conference in San Francisco demonstrates the role of the investigational compound IRX4204 in alleviating cognitive decline in animal models of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The presentation entitled "Investigation of the RXR-specific agonist IRX4204 as a Disease Modifying Agent of Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathology and Cognitive Impairment" was made by lead researcher Giulio Maria Pasinetti, MD, PhD, of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
Progress in ultrasound-guided surgery may improve breast cancer treatment
When surgeons operate to remove a tumor, determining exactly where to cut can be tricky. Ideally, the entire tumor should be removed while leaving a continuous layer of healthy tissue, but current techniques for locating the tumors during surgery are imprecise. Now a multidisciplinary team from the University of California, San Diego, is developing an alternate means of precisely tagging breast cancer tumors for removal or targeted destruction. They will present the results of their investigations at the AVS 59th International Symposium and Exhibition, held Oct. 28 – Nov. 2 in Tampa, Fla.
Trial finds benefits to using radial versus femoral access for primary angioplasty in heart attack patients
OCTOBER 26, 2012 – A study found several benefits in using the radial artery in the arm as the entry point for angioplasty or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared to the femoral artery in the leg. Results of the STEMI-RADIAL trial were presented today at the 24th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF), TCT is the world's premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine.
Differences in sepsis care identified in europe, U.S.
(HealthDay)—Despite differences in processes of care and raw mortality for patients with severe sepsis and septic shock in the United States and Europe, after adjustment, mortality rates are similar, according to a study published online Oct. 26 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Some face transplant patients may regain sensory, motor function
(HealthDay)—Within a year after having face transplant surgery, some patients regain sensory and motor functions such as the ability to speak, chew food and smile, experts have found.
Med school enrollment on rise in 2012
(HealthDay)—The number and diversity of students applying to and enrolling in medical schools in the United States increased this year, new data shows.
Models developed from the PLCO may help identify at-risk patients for adverse smoking outcomes
Risk prediction models developed from an ancillary study of the Prostate Lung Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial (PLCO) may be useful in the public health sector for identifying individuals who are at risk for adverse smoking outcomes, such as relapse among former smokers and continued smoking among current smokers, and those who may benefit from relapse prevention and smoking cessation interventions according to a study published October 26 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Smoking takes 10 years off life expectancy in Japan, not 4 as previously thought, experts warn
Smoking reduces life expectancy by ten years in Japan, but much of the risk can be avoided by giving up smoking, a paper published on bmj.com today shows.
Researchers develop cocktail of bacteria that eradicates Clostridium difficile infection
In a new study out today, researchers used mice to identify a combination six naturally occurring bacteria that eradicate a highly contagious form of Clostridium difficile, an infectious bacterium associated with many hospital deaths. Three of the six bacteria have not been described before. This work may have significant implications for future control and treatment approaches.
Integrated diabetes management program provides rapid improvements in patient care
In Canada alone, almost 2 million people are known to be living with diabetes. And around a million more have the disease but are not aware of that fact, and have not been given the tools they need to control their blood sugar and safeguard their health. The Heart Institute will be presenting the results of an innovative pilot program on October 29, at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress in Toronto, Canada.
Focus on early intervention: Stuttering test could be used to screen all schoolchildren
A new model developed by Wellcome Trust researchers to predict the persistence of stuttering could be used to screen all children at school age, new research in the Journal of Fluency Disorders suggests.
Scientists investigate genetics of HIV-1 resistance
Investigating the genetic footprint that drug resistance causes in HIV, researchers in Europe have discovered that compensatory polymorphisms enable resistant viruses to survive. Presented in the journal Retrovirology, the study was supported in part by three EU-funded projects: VIROLAB, EURESIST and CHAIN.
Researchers identify factors that deter nonresident fathers from child involvement
Crime, gang activity and other problems of disordered neighborhoods decrease nonresident fathers' involvement with their children, but it doesn't have the effect on fathers who live with their children in two-parent households, a recent study indicates.
Mouse model could help identify viral vectors that may cause tumors
Investigators at Nationwide Children's Hospital have identified a mouse model that could help evaluate the risk that viral vectors used in gene therapy might promote tumor formation as a side-effect. The study appears in Molecular Therapy.
Laser + bipolar resection helpful for large prostates
(HealthDay)—Bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in combination with high-intensity diode laser (DL + b-TURP) is feasible for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in large prostates, according to research published in the November issue of Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
Researchers develop new tools to better treat ADHD patients in early stages
Mayo Clinic researchers are presenting new findings on the early treatment of child and adolescent attention deficit hyperactivity disorder this week at the American Academy of Childhood and Adolescent Psychiatry annual meeting in San Francisco. They include a method to get better input from parents and teachers of children who are being diagnosed with ADHD for the first time—allowing for more effective treatment upon the first consultation. Researchers also showed how a tool can help clinicians better diagnose and treat children who have both ADHD and oppositional defiance disorder.
New HIV test for infants seen as possible breakthrough for sub-Saharan Africa
In HIV-plagued sub-Saharan Africa, it can take up to three months for mothers to learn whether their babies have been infected by the deadly virus, delaying what could be life-sustaining treatment.
Open-source science helps father's genetic quest
One tiny flaw in one gene in one little girl. That explains why Beatrice Rienhoff, 8, is so lean and leggy.
Anesthesia type affects outcomes of bilateral knee replacement surgery
Using regional anesthesia rather than general anesthesia reduces the need for blood transfusions in patients undergoing bilateral total knee replacement, according to a new study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery, in New York City.
Early intervention improves social skills and brain activity in preschoolers with autism, study finds
The Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), a comprehensive behavioral early intervention program that is appropriate for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as young as 12 months, has been found to be effective in improving social skills and brain responses to social cues in a randomized controlled study published online today in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
German doctors remove 28-kilo tumour from woman
Doctors in Germany said Friday they had removed a tumour weighing 28 kilogrammes (62 pounds) from a 60-year-old woman who had previously been diagnosed as obese.
Princess by proxy: When child beauty pageants aren't about the kids
As child reality TV star Honey Boo Boo continues to capture the attention of audiences with her boisterous personality and her own show about life on the child beauty pageant circuit, a new paper published today in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry takes a critical look at the very types of pageants in which she and thousands of other children compete in America every year.
Immune system fighters speak in patterns of proteins, prefer squishy partners
When talking to the key immune system fighters known as T-cells, it helps to speak their language. Now researchers from Columbia University in New York, N.Y., and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia have discovered two new conditions for communication that may help scientists one day harness the power of T-cells to fight diseases such as cancer. The team will present its findings at the AVS 59th International Symposium and Exhibition, held Oct. 28 – Nov. 2 in Tampa, Fla.
New clues to how the brain and body communicate to regulate weight
Maintaining a healthy body weight may be difficult for many people, but it's reassuring to know that our brains and bodies are wired to work together to do just that—in essence, to achieve a phenomenon known as energy balance, a tight matching between the number of calories consumed versus those expended. This careful balance results from a complex interchange of neurobiological crosstalk within regions of the brain's hypothalamus, and when this "conversation" goes awry, obesity or anorexia can result.
Incidence of recurrent anal sphincter rupture is 7.1 percent
(HealthDay)—The incidence of recurrent anal sphincter rupture (ASR) is 7.1 percent, and several risk factors are associated with an increased risk, including excessive birth weight, vacuum extraction, and shoulder dystocia, according to research published online Oct. 19 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Metabolic patterns of propofol, sevoflurane differ in children
(HealthDay)—For children undergoing routine anesthesia for medically indicated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the metabolic signature varies with use of sevoflurane and propofol, according to a study published in the November issue of Anesthesiology.
Insulin sensitivity normally highest after breakfast
(HealthDay)—In healthy people without diabetes, glucose responsiveness tends to be higher after breakfast, which may have implications for the design of closed-loop insulin delivery systems for diabetes patients, according to a study published in the November issue of Diabetes.
High costs for early retirement due to spinal disorders
(HealthDay)—Spinal disorders that trigger early retirement have a significant impact on labor force participation and the gross domestic product (GDP) in Australia, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in The Spine Journal.
Prevalence, risks for sexual dysfunction vary by veteran age
(HealthDay)—For Iraq/Afghanistan veterans, the prevalence and risk factors for sexual dysfunction (SD) vary with age, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Right amount of exercise can boost mental health: study
(HealthDay)—People who exercise 2.5 to 7.5 hours a week have better mental health, but more than that is associated with poorer mental health, a new study suggests.
Synribo approved to treat rare leukemia
(HealthDay)—Synribo (omacetaxine mepesuccinate) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat a rare blood and bone marrow disease called chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).
Swallowing nasal sprays, eye drops can harm kids, FDA warns
(HealthDay)—Over-the-counter eye drops or nasal decongestant sprays can pose a serious health threat to children who swallow them and should be kept out of the reach of kids at all times, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.
Scientists unlock chemical processes behind argyria, silver-related skin condition
Researchers from Brown University have shown for the first time how ingesting too much silver can cause argyria, a rare condition in which patients' skin turns a striking shade of grayish blue.
Tamiflu doesn't offer relief promised, study finds
For the nearly 62 million Americans infected with influenza each year, oeseltamivir, commonly called Tamiflu, promises to offer relief. New research from the University of Georgia finds the medication may not have all of the benefits flu sufferers and doctors are hoping for.
Immune activation in pregnant mice affects offspring, potential implications for neurodevelopmental disorders
A brief kick to the immune system of a pregnant mouse can cause persistent changes in the brains of the offspring, according to new research from the University of California, Davis, Center for Neuroscience.
Study finds diabetes raises levels of proteins linked to Alzheimer's features
Growing evidence suggests that there may be a link between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, but the physiological mechanisms by which diabetes impacts brain function and cognition are not fully understood. In a new study published in Aging Cell, researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies show, for the first time, that diabetes enhances the development of aging features that may underlie early pathological events in Alzheimer's.
Too much dairy, carbs might harm men's sperm
(HealthDay)—Diet can have a notable impact on reproductive health, a group of new studies suggests.
Stimulating brain cells with light
For the time being, this is basic research but the long term objective is to find new ways of treating Parkinson's disease. This increasingly common disease is caused by degeneration of the brain cells producing signal substance dopamine.
Magnetic brain stimulation treats depression independent of sleep effect
While powerful magnetic stimulation of the frontal lobe of the brain can alleviate symptoms of depression, those receiving the treatment did not report effects on sleep or arousal commonly seen with antidepressant medications, researchers say.
Researchers find genetic predictors of fatigue for some prostate cancer patients
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of South Florida have found that men with prostate cancer who receive androgen deprivation therapy may predictably suffer from fatigue if they have single nucleotide polymorphisms in three pro-inflammatory genes. The discovery highlights the importance of personalized medicine, in which therapies are tailored to a patient's genetic profile.
New options for ease and accuracy in extraction of rare cells or separating blood
(Medical Xpress)—Using something called "inertial microfluidics," University of Cincinnati researchers are able to continuously and selectively collect rare cells, such as circulating tumor cells, based on their size vs. other biomarkers. This could reduce analysis time and increase selectivity while reducing reliance on antibody-based testing in clinical tests.
Scientists step up hunt for bacterial genes tied to Lyme disease
Investigators at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) have accelerated the search for the bacterial genes that make the Lyme disease bacterium so invasive and persistent. The discovery could advance the diagnosis and treatment of this disease, which affects an estimated 30,000 Americans each year.
A Viagra follow-up? Drug used to treat glaucoma actually grows human hair
If you're balding and want your hair to grow back, then here is some good news. A new research report appearing online in The FASEB Journal shows how the FDA-approved glaucoma drug, bimatoprost, causes human hair to regrow. It's been commercially available as a way to lengthen eyelashes, but these data are the first to show that it can actually grow human hair from the scalp.
Chinese cuisine could protect against sepsis
Researchers at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have discovered that a bean commonly used in Chinese cuisine protects against the life-threatening condition sepsis. These findings are published in the current issue of Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (eCAM).
Biology news
Neurotransmitters linked to mating behavior are shared by mammals and worms
When it comes to sex, animals of all shapes and sizes tend behave in predictable ways. There may be a chemical reason for that. New research from Rockefeller University has shown that chemicals in the brain—neuropeptides known as vasopressin and oxytocin—play a role in coordinating mating and reproductive behavior in animals ranging from humans to fish to invertebrates.
Strange worm reveals the evolution of digestion
A Swedish–Norwegian research team shows in a new study that the intestines of the peculiar Penis worm develop in the same way as those in humans, fish and starfish. This surprising discovery shows that stomachs of very different species are formed in the same way.
Isolation of Puerto Rico's manatees affects survival odds, research finds
New evidence shows there is no cross-breeding between endangered manatees in Puerto Rico and those in Florida, resulting in less genetic diversity in Puerto Rico's small manatee population and impacting its odds of survival.
Researchers decipher the mecanism of membrane fission
A cell is composed of a nucleus which encloses its genetic information and the cytoplasm which is itself confined by an external membrane separating the cell from the outside world. The impermeability of the membrane and its ability to repair itself protect the cell from its environment. Although this membrane resistance is fundamental to the survival of the cell, the cell also needs to let in particles necessary for its proper functioning. The mechanism by which a small region of the cytoplasmic membrane invaginates to form a bud that will then be sectioned off to let molecules and other particles into the cell is known as endocytosis.
Watching the cogwheels of the biological clock in living cells
Our master circadian clock resides in a small group of about 10'000 neurons in the brain, called the suprachiasmatic nucleus. However, similar clocks are ticking in nearly all cells of the body, as demonstrated by the group of Ueli Schibler, professor at the Department of Molecular Biology of the University of Geneva, Switzerland. The molecular mechanisms of circadian clocks can thus be studied outside of the animals, in cultured cells.
Hermit crabs socialize to evict their neighbors
Social animals usually congregate for protection or mating or to capture bigger prey, but a University of California, Berkeley, biologist has found that the terrestrial hermit crab has a more self-serving social agenda: to kick another crab out of its shell and move into a larger home.
Laser spotlight reveals machine 'climbing' DNA
(Phys.org)—New imaging technology has revealed how the molecular machines that remodel genetic material inside cells 'grab onto' DNA like a rock climber looking for a handhold.
Solving stem cell mysteries
The ability of embryonic stem cells to differentiate into different types of cells with different functions is regulated and maintained by a complex series of chemical interactions, which are not well understood. Learning more about this process could prove useful for stem cell-based therapies down the road. New research from a team led by Carnegie's Yixian Zheng zeroes in on the process by which stem cells maintain their proper undifferentiated state. Their results are published in Cell October 26.
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