Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 11, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- 'Superstructured' solar cells achieve record efficiency of 10.9%- Researchers ID unique geological 'sombrero' uplift in South America
- Researchers create 'nanoflowers' for energy storage, solar cells
- Developmental biologist proposes new theory of early animal evolution, challenges basic assumptions
- Half-century-long quest to observe chemical reactions in quantum realm achieved
- First evidence of dynamo generation on an asteroid found
- Mando's chainless e-bike is headed for Europe in 2013 (w/ Video)
- Mars rock touched by Curiosity has surprises
- 3G protocols come up short in privacy, say researchers
- Moroccan desert meteorite delivers Martian secrets
- US appeals court lifts ban on Samsung-Google phone
- Cell phone data of people movement found effective way to control malaria spread
- Unusual genetic structure confers major disease resistance trait in soybean
- Scientists focus on quorum sensing to better understand bacteria
- New web-based model for sharing research datasets could have huge benefits
Space & Earth news
Nigerian farmers sue Shell in Dutch case with global reach
Four Nigerian farmers take on Shell in a Dutch court, accusing the oil giant of destroying their livelihoods in a case that could set a precedent for global environmental responsibility.
Social and economic well-being of Mediterranean under threat by demand on environment, says new report
The Mediterranean region is using two and a half times more natural resources and ecological services than its ecosystems can provide, eroding the region's economic security and countries' capacities to guarantee the well-being of their citizens, Global Footprint Network reports in a two year study.
Cold wind makes Norwegian Sea warmer
(Phys.org)—The Gulf Stream and the warm waters it brings are one reason the climate is milder along the Norwegian coastline than other places so far north. Researchers now know that the Gulf Stream is not only driven from the south, but also drawn northward by Arctic winds.
Black holes provide us with knowledge of the Earth
Black holes in distant galaxies can provide us with vital knowledge about our planet. Chalmers is currently building two new telescopes which, despite the fact they are directed out into space, will measure and map the Earth.
Mid-Atlantic Sea Grant programs identify key ocean, coastal research needs
A new Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Research Plan pinpoints priority ocean and coastal research needs for the Mid-Atlantic ocean region to advance coordinated research that promotes economic and environmental sustainability in the region.
Accumulating stellar 'stuff' to form galaxies
European researchers studied accumulation of stellar material onto stars and black holes to gain insight into the growth and evolution of galaxies.
Shuttle crossing provides a unique teaching moment
(AP)—When the space shuttle Endeavour hits the streets of Los Angeles, some schools along the 12-mile route are using the historic move as a teaching moment.
EU commissioner seeks to reassure VW on CO2 emissions
EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger has written to German car giant Volkswagen maintaining that proposed EU limits on auto carbon emissions were actually relaxed before they were finalised.
A new cave-dwelling reef coral discovered in the Indo-Pacific
Coral specialist Dr. Bert W. Hoeksema of Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden, The Netherlands, recently published the description of a new coral species that lives on the ceilings of caves in Indo-Pacific coral reefs. It differs from its closest relatives by its small polyp size and by the absence of symbiotic algae, so-called zooxanthellae. Its distribution range overlaps with the Coral Triangle, an area that is famous for its high marine species richness. Marine zoologists of Naturalis visit this area frequently to explore its marine biodiversity.
Austrian daredevil eyes new space jump at weekend
An Austrian daredevil hopes to make a new record-breaking attempt to jump from the edge of space Sunday, after his initial launch bid was aborted due to gusting winds, organizers said.
Arctic summer wind shift could affect sea ice loss and U.S./European weather, study says
(Phys.org)—Changes in summer Arctic wind patterns contribute not only to an unprecedented loss of Arctic sea ice, but could also bring about shifts in North American and European weather, according to a new NOAA-led study published today in Geophysical Research Letters.
Linking typhoon tracks with rainfall patterns and flood timing
Being able to predict the timing and amount of flooding during and following a hurricane or typhoon would improve early warning and mitigation efforts. However, variable typhoon tracks and interaction between typhoons and varied landscapes make flood prediction challenging.
Novel observations of currents and drag generated by a tsunami
Tsunamis cause damage even after they have traveled thousands of kilometers from their sources, and much of the damage is through generation of local strong currents. Even though wave heights of tsunamis that have traveled long distances are no greater than those of local tides or waves, tsunamis modify currents, resulting in unusually strong pulses of mixing, transport, and seiching (standing waves in enclosed water bodies). Seiching is common and is the most destructive hazard, particularly along narrow bays and harbors.
More water stored along major rivers during El Nino years
El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) - the semiperiodic climate event associated with warming sea surface temperatures off the coast of Peru - not only disrupts atmospheric circulations, dramatically altering weather patterns across the globe, but also may be determining the amount of fresh water stored on continents in tropical rainforests, according to a new study.
Model suggests Earth is undergoing true polar wander
At various points throughout Earth's history, the planet's solid exterior has drifted about in relation to the planetary rotation axis. This solid body drift, which is known as "true polar wander," results in a wholesale shift in the orientation of Earth's landmasses and is different from the motion of individual tectonic plates ("tectonic drift") or of the magnetic pole ("apparent polar wander").
High-speed imagery captures new sea spray formation mechanism
When strong winds blow over ocean waves, small droplets of sea spray rise into the air, enhancing the exchange of heat, mass, and energy between the air and the sea. How effective sea spray is at mediating each of these dynamics depends on the rate at which droplets are created and the drop size distribution of the mist. Unfortunately, research has been limited by a dearth of observational evidence that could explain the details of sea spray generation, including understanding the drop size distribution or the effects of different wind speeds. Previous research with high-speed cameras aiming to capture the moment of drop formation was limited by camera resolutions too low to see all but the largest drops.
Focus on space debris: Envisat
(Phys.org)—Space debris came into focus last week at the International Astronautical Congress in Naples, Italy. Envisat, ESA's largest Earth observation satellite, ended its mission last spring and was a subject of major interest in the Space Debris and Legal session.
Las Cumbres Observatory achieves first light with NRES spectrograph
Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope (LCOGT), a private, nonprofit scientific institution conducting time domain astrophysics and education, and a provider of global telescope resources, achieved first light with their prototype Network of Robotic Echelle Spectrograph (NRES) this week. The event took place earlier in the week at LCOGT's Byrne Observatory located at the UC Santa Barbara Sedgwick Reserve.
Satellite sees 16th Atlantic tropical depression born near Bahamas
The 16th tropical depression of the Atlantic Ocean season has formed northeast of the Bahamas and NOAA's GOES-14 satellite captured a visible image of the storm as it tracks to the southwest.
NASA sees Typhoon Prapiroon doing a 'Sit and Spin' in the Philippine Sea
As Typhoon Prapiroon slowed down and became quasi-stationary in the Philippine Sea NASA's Terra satellite passed overhead and captured an image of the storm.
Glaciers cracking in the presence of carbon dioxide
(Phys.org)—The well-documented presence of excessive levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in our atmosphere is causing global temperatures to rise and glaciers and ice caps to melt. New research, published today in the Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, has shown that CO2 molecules may be having a more direct impact on the ice that covers our planet.
Nearby super-Earth likely a diamond planet
(Phys.org)—New research led by Yale University scientists suggests that a rocky planet twice Earth's size orbiting a nearby star is a diamond planet.
Deep ocean sediment gives ancient temperature record
Scientists have created a more accurate history of how Earth's climate has varied over the last 1.5 million years, after developing a new method that lets them draw on natural temperature records that have never before been analysed.
Curiosity Mars rover resumes work with first scooped sample
(Phys.org)—The team operating Curiosity decided on Oct. 9, 2012, to proceed with using the rover's first scoop of Martian material. Plans for Sol 64 (Oct. 10) call for shifting the scoopful of sand and dust into the mechanism for sieving and portioning samples, and vibrating it vigorously to clean internal surfaces of the mechanism. This first scooped sample, and the second one, will be discarded after use, since they are only being used for the cleaning process. Subsequent samples scooped from the same "Rocknest" area will be delivered to analytical instruments.
Geochemist duo offer new explanation for dearth of xenon in Earth's atmosphere
(Phys.org)—The Earth's atmosphere holds far less xenon than chondritic meteorites, and researchers have sought for years to explain why. Now, geochemists Svyatoslav Shcheka and Hans Keppler of Bayerisches Geoinstitut, Universität Bayreuth, have offered a new explanation of this phenomenon in their paper published in the journal Nature. In their article, they suggest that the xenon was lost to space during an early stage of the Earth's development.
Bouncing on Titan: How Huygens landed
(Phys.org)—ESA's Huygens probe bounced, slid and wobbled its way to rest in the 10 seconds after touching down on Saturn's moon, Titan, in January 2005, a new analysis reveals. The findings provide novel insight into the nature of the moon's surface.
Moroccan desert meteorite delivers Martian secrets
A meteorite that landed in the Moroccan desert 14 months ago is providing more information about Mars, the planet where it originated. University of Alberta researcher Chris Herd helped in the study of the Tissint meteorite, in which traces of Mars' unique atmosphere are trapped.
Earth sunblock only needed if planet warms easily
(Phys.org)—An increasing number of scientists are studying ways to temporarily reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the earth to potentially stave off some of the worst effects of climate change. Because these sunlight reduction methods would only temporarily reduce temperatures, do nothing for the health of the oceans and affect different regions unevenly, researchers do not see it as a permanent fix. Most theoretical studies have examined this strategy by itself, in the absence of looking at simultaneous attempts to reduce emissions.
Researchers ID unique geological 'sombrero' uplift in South America
(Phys.org)—Scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego have used 20 years of satellite data to reveal a geological oddity unlike any seen on Earth.
Mars rock touched by Curiosity has surprises
(Phys.org)—The first Martian rock NASA's Curiosity rover has reached out to touch presents a more varied composition than expected from previous missions. The rock also resembles some unusual rocks from Earth's interior.
First evidence of dynamo generation on an asteroid found
About 4.6 billion years ago, the solar system was little more than a tenuous disk of gas and dust. In the span of merely 10 million years, this soup evolved to form today's massive, complex planets. In the intervening period, however, the solar system contained a mixture of intermediary bodies—small chunks of rock, the remnants of which today are known as asteroids.
Technology news
China rejects US solar tariffs as protectionism
(AP)—China demanded Thursday that Washington repeal steep tariffs on solar panels that Chinese producers fear will shut their equipment out of the American market.
Shutterstock shares pop after $76.5 million IPO
(AP)—Shares of Shutterstock are up 30 percent Thursday after the Internet provider of stock photos and videos raised $76.5 million in its initial public stock offering.
Americans move to 'dual screens' to watch debates
More than one in 10 of the Americans who watched last week's presidential debate were "dual screeners"—watching on television while following on a computer or mobile device.
Schwarzenegger hands out green award in Denmark
Former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger handed out a Danish environmental prize to a British company in Copenhagen on Thursday, and praised the city as an inspiration for sustainable energy.
Free message apps 'to cost telecom firms $23 bn this year'
Global telecom operators are expected to have lost $23 billion in SMS revenues by the end of 2012 as smartphone users shift to free messaging applications, an industry report said Thursday.
Indicted Megaupload founder plans site reboot
In a move bound to provoke U.S. prosecutors and entertainment executives, indicted Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom is planning to launch a replacement of his shuttered website and a new online music service by year's end.
US affirms steep tariffs on China solar panels
(AP)—The Obama administration upheld steep tariffs on Chinese solar panels Wednesday, finding that improper trade practices have undermined an American solar industry that the largest U.S. manufacturer says is in the midst of collapse.
UN says world has 6 billion cell phone subscribers
The world now has nearly as many cell phone subscriptions as inhabitants.
Softbank said to be in talks to buy Sprint Nextel
(AP)—Shares of Sprint Nextel climbed more than 18 percent in premarket trading on a report that the company is in advanced talks to be acquired by Japanese cellphone company Softbank Corp. in a transaction valued at more than $12.8 billion.
Despite slow start, ebooks gain ground in Europe
Electronic books, which have sparked excited chatter for several years in the publishing world, are now gaining momentum among European readers, despite a late start compared to the US, industry insiders say.
Third of world's population has Internet: UN
More than a third of the world's population is online while mobile phone uptake increased by more than 600 million in 2011 to around six billion, a UN agency said Thursday.
Friends vie for bragging rights online at TopThat
Brandon Caruana thinks friends are ready to swap online social network niceties for trash talk and competition in a virtual arena that challenges people to "TopThat."
Swedish government to crack down on hackers
The Swedish government said on Thursday it planned to crack down on hackers, at a time when the sex assault allegations against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has made the country a target of repeated cyber attacks.
Software that recognizes behavior patterns developed to improve computer tracking of human activity
(Phys.org)—Contrary to what you might see in police dramas, you don't have to be Jason Bourne to shake off a computer tracking you through a video feed. Cross paths with someone who vaguely resembles you, and the computer is likely to swap your labels.
Women use emoticons more than men in text messaging :-)
(Phys.org)—Women are twice as likely as men to use emoticons in text messages, according to a new study from Rice University.
US appeals court lifts ban on Samsung-Google phone
A US appeals court Thursday lifted a sales ban on Google-branded Samsung smartphones in a patent fight with Apple, saying there was no evidence sales were driven by features copied from the iPhone.
New web-based model for sharing research datasets could have huge benefits
A group of researchers have proposed creating a new web-based data network to help researchers and policymakers worldwide turn existing knowledge into real-world applications and technologies and improve science and innovation policy.
Researchers make Sudoku puzzles less puzzling
For anyone who has ever struggled while attempting to solve a Sudoku puzzle, University of Notre Dame researcher Zoltan Toroczkai and Notre Dame postdoctoral researcher Maria Ercsey-Ravaz are riding to the rescue. They can not only explain why some Sudoku puzzles are harder than others, they have also developed a mathematical algorithm that solves Sudoku puzzles very quickly, without any guessing or backtracking.
Mando's chainless e-bike is headed for Europe in 2013 (w/ Video)
(Phys.org)—Car-choked city streets are inspiring adults to get on a bicycle for local transport. Reasons range from ecology to economy in getting around. Korea-based auto part maker Mando is unleashing the next step up in cycling, a chainless electric bike called Footloose. Sleek minimalist, Apple-evocative design, with technology combined, the Mando is a clear moving target for a mobile, Starbuck-struck generation of twenty-somethings. Mando has been showcasing the bike this year, and its bike is due to hit the marketplace in Europe next year. The company has combined a throttle drive with pedal-assisted technology, This is a chainless bike that trend-watchers are calling the "i-Phone of cycling."
3G protocols come up short in privacy, say researchers
(Phys.org)—Researchers from the UK and Germany have found that 3G telephony systems pose a security weakness that results in threats to user privacy. The weakness makes it possible for stalkers to trace and identify subscribers. Their paper, "New Privacy Issues in Mobile Telephony: Fix and Verification," says that 3G systems come up short in preventing unauthorized parties from tracking the physical location of users "We have shown that the protocols are vulnerable to new privacy threats and that these threats lead to attacks that can be mounted in practice at low cost."
Medicine & Health news
Soldiers claim illness after guarding KBR in Iraq
(AP)—A war contractor knew a critical southern Iraq oilfield plant was riddled with a well-known toxin but ignored the risk to soldiers while hurrying the project along, firing a whistleblower and covering up the presence of the chemical when faced with exposure, the soldiers' attorney said in opening arguments Wednesday in a federal civil suit.
HK woman dies, 3 hospitalized by beauty treatment
(AP)—Hong Kong authorities said one woman has died and three others have been hospitalized after undergoing a beauty treatment involving blood transfusions.
Taking up the fight against 'superbugs'
Career paths can start to take shape in many unexpected ways. For UCLA physician Daniel Uslan, it all started in a class for kids called "It's a Small World." That's when the five-year-old made sourdough bread with his father.
Mechatronic design for a fail-safe catheter guide in blood circulatory system
To prevent the risks in minimally invasive surgery procedures there has been considerable interest in using Master Slave System (MSS), a telesurgical system for catheter guide during interventional radiology. Here the researchers propose using a fail-safe telesurgical system.
Swiss assisted suicide laws do not necessarily promote desire for death, study finds
A study published in Frontiers in Psychology for Clinical Settings shows that while current Swiss law does not necessarily increase the desire for assisted suicide, patients wish to discuss the option with their physician. Ralf Stutzki, researcher at the University of Basel Institut für Bio- und Medizininethik, interviewed 33 Swiss patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) to assess their attitudes towards assisted suicide. 94% (31) of the patients expressed no immediate wish for assisted suicide at the time of the interview, yet over half of the patients would like the option of discussing suicide by means of a prescribed drug with their doctor.
Pilot study suggests that T cells become more responsive in exercising cancer survivors weeks after chemo ends
Researchers may soon be able to add yet another item to the list of exercise's well-documented health benefits: A preliminary study suggests that when cancer survivors exercise for several weeks after they finish chemotherapy, their immune systems remodel themselves to become more effective, potentially fending off future incidences of cancer. The finding may help explain why exercise can significantly reduce the chances of secondary cancers in survivors or reduce the chances of cancer altogether in people who have never had the disease.
Incorporating regular physical activity brings diabetic adults closer to aging rate of healthy adults, study finds
One of life's certainties is that everyone ages. However, it's also certain that not everyone ages at the same rate. According to recent research being presented this week, the cardiovascular system of people with type 2 diabetes shows signs of aging significantly earlier than those without the disease. However, exercise can help to slow down this premature aging, bringing the aging of type 2 diabetes patients' cardiovascular systems closer to that of people without the disease, says researcher Amy Huebschmann of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She will be presenting these findings she developed with colleagues Wendy Kohrt and Judith Regensteiner, both from the same institution.
New report calls for global efforts to prevent fragility fractures due to osteoporosis
Today, the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) released a new report, revealing approximately 80 percent of patients treated in clinics or hospitals following a fracture are not screened for osteoporosis or risk of future falls. Left untreated, these patients are at high risk of suffering secondary fractures and facing a future of pain, disfigurement, long-term disability and even early death.
New report examines potential impact of changes in Texas' Women's Health Program
A new report finds that Texas policies to exclude Planned Parenthood clinics from a state family planning program – the Women's Health Program (WHP) – would result in leaving tens of thousands of women unable to get care.
Belfast to open Ireland's 1st abortion clinic
(AP)—A family planning charity plans to open the first abortion clinic in Ireland, challenging decades of legal confusion over the extremely limited access to pregnancy terminations in both parts of the island.
Ohio ice cream maker recalls some products
(AP)—An Ohio ice cream maker is voluntarily recalling some of its peanut-butter flavored products because of possible salmonella contamination.
France's oldest woman Maria Richard dies aged 111
France's oldest woman Maria Richard has died at the age of 111, the retirement home where she lived said on Thursday.
Single gene variant in donors may affect survival of transplanted kidneys
A single genetic variant in kidney donors' cells may help determine whether their transplanted organs will survive long term, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings provide new information that might be used to improve transplant longevity by revealing that the genetic make-up of kidney transplant donors affects the survival of transplanted organs.
Calls for more US oversight after tainted drug outbreak
A deadly meningitis outbreak in the United States blamed on a tainted drug has triggered outrage and calls for tighter regulation of the loosely controlled pharmaceutical compounding industry.
Diverse forms of distress have distinct impact in diabetes
(HealthDay)—In primary care patients with type 2 diabetes, depressive symptoms (DS) are predictive of future lifestyle-oriented self-management behaviors, while diabetes-related distress (DRD) predicts glycemic control, possibly due to medication adherence, according to research published online Oct. 1 in Diabetes Care.
How food marketers can help consumers eat better while improving their bottom line
Food marketers are masters at getting people to crave and consume the foods that they promote. In this study authors Dr. Brian Wansink, co-director of the Cornell University Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition and Professor of Marketing and Dr. Pierre Chandon, professor of Marketing at the leading French graduate school of business, INSEAD challenge popular assumptions that link food marketing and obesity.
Suit: Firm provided tainted meds in 2002, man died
The compounding pharmacy suspected in a deadly meningitis outbreak settled a lawsuit alleging it produced a tainted shot that caused a man's death in 2004, while a pharmaceutical firm with common owners was accused this summer of failing to separate sterile and non-sterile supplies.
Bioethics panel urges more gene privacy protection
It sounds like a scene from a TV show: Someone sends a discarded coffee cup to a laboratory where the unwitting drinker's DNA is decoded, predicting what diseases lurk in his or her future.
Daily yoga regimen boosts socialization, mind-body connection, and focus among autistic students
Step one: Mats out. Step two: breathe deep. Step three: assume poses. Step four: tense and relax muscles. Step five: sing.
Study reveals prehistoric journey of hepatitis B
(Medical Xpress)—A new study has revealed how the spread of hepatitis B coincides with dates of human migration throughout history, starting around 40 000 years ago. The study could provide a framework for studying the ongoing burden and evolution of the hepatitis B virus.
First digital resource explores 1918 flu epidemic
(Medical Xpress)—The University of Michigan has established the largest digital collection of materials relating to the 1918 influenza epidemic in the United States.
'Original antigenic sin' at the center of researchers' model addressing age-specific influenza immunity
(Medical Xpress)—Mathematicians are helping to build a better picture of how populations develop immunity to flu and which groups are most at risk of getting – and transmitting – infection each year.
The Medical Minute: Fall and winter bring allergy woes, too
It's the time of year seasonal allergy sufferers anticipate relief with the first frost, ridding them of the ragweed currently plaguing their nostrils. Allergy season is almost over.
Superbugs spread through the air in hospital wards
(Medical Xpress)—Hospital superbugs can float on air currents and contaminate surfaces far from infected patients' beds, according to University of Leeds researchers.
Scientists identify 5 genes that determine facial shape
(Medical Xpress)—European researchers have discovered that five genes play a key role in determining human facial shapes. Presented in the journal PLoS Genetics, the genome-wide association study on facial phenotype can help scientists identify more genes for other complex human phenotypes, including height.
Discovery may lead to new drugs to curb obesity, type 2 diabetes
(Medical Xpress)—An international study led by a researcher from The University of Western Australia for the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR) has produced exciting results that may lead to new drugs to treat obesity and reduce the incidence of Type 2 diabetes.
Anti-cancer traits found in Australian faba beans
(Medical Xpress)—Anti-cancer properties have been found in extracts from Australian-grown faba beans, along with effects that may have implications for treating hypertension and maintaining healthy weight.
3-D model for lung cancer mimics the real thing
(Medical Xpress)—A new technique that allows scientists to grow lung cancer cells in three dimensions could accelerate discoveries for a type of cancer that has benefited little from scientific research over the last several decades.
Immune cells can be altered to help fight inflammatory diseases, research finds
(Medical Xpress)—A fundamental mechanism controlling cells of the human immune system could be key to helping fight inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, new research at the University of Dundee has found.
South Asian people like to exercise in social groups, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—A study by Stirling's Dr Ruth Jepson has determined that South Asian people in the UK will be more likely to exercise if it can be done as part of a group and has a social element.
Nerve and muscle activity vary across menstrual cycle: May help explain higher rates of knee injuries in female athletes
Numerous studies have shown that female athletes are more likely to get knee injuries, especially anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and chronic pain, than their male counterparts. While previous research has focused on biomechanical differences as the main source of these problems, a new study suggests another distinction that could play a role: changes across the menstrual cycle in nerves that control muscle activity. The finding may eventually lead to new ways to prevent knee problems in female athletes.
Astrocytes as a novel target in Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease is a severe neurodegenerative disease that affects 45% of people over 85 years of age. The research teams of Prof. Jin-Moo Lee at Washington University in Saint Louis, USA, and Prof. Milos Pekny at Sahlgrenska Academy in Gothenburg, Sweden, have identified astrocytes as a novel target for the development of future treatment strategies. The results have just been published in the FASEB Journal.
Sprint interval training could cut time exercising while controlling weight
Time spent in the drudgery of strenuous exercise is a well-documented turn-off for many people who want to get in better shape. In a new study, researchers show that exercisers can burn as many as 200 extra calories in as little as 2.5 minutes of concentrated effort a day—as long as they intersperse longer periods of easy recovery in a practice known as sprint interval training. The finding could make exercise more manageable for would-be fitness buffs by cramming truly intense efforts into as little as 25 minutes.
Brain scans can predict children's reading ability, researchers say
(Medical Xpress)—New research can identify the neural structures associated with poor reading skills in young children, and could lead to an early warning system for struggling students.
Healthy diets have long-lasting positive effects even with partial weight regain
Mediterranean and low-carbohydrate diets have lasting, healthy effects, even with partial weight regain, according to a follow-up study by researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and Israel's Nuclear Research Center.
Voting in national elections causes stress and emotional arousal, study finds
With Election Day 2012 just weeks away, a recent study provides scientific evidence that voting in national elections is actually a stressful event with measurable hormonal changes.
A gene implicated in schizophrenia risk is also associated with risk for cannabis dependence
A paper by Shizhong Han and colleagues in the current issue of Biological Psychiatry implicates a new gene in the risk for cannabis dependence. This gene, NRG1, codes for the ErbB4 receptor, a protein implicated in synaptic development and function.
All healthcare professionals need training to deal with the sexual needs of patients
Providing healthcare staff with a one-day training course on dealing with the sexual needs of people with an acquired physical disability gave them greater understanding of the issues patients faced and enabled them to address intimate questions more comfortably and proactively.
New tool determines leukemia cells' 'readiness to die,' may guide clinical care
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have developed a novel method for determining how ready acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells are to die, a discovery that may help cancer specialists to choose treatments option more effectively for their patients who have AML. In a study published in the Oct. 12 issue of the journal Cell, the researchers report that their findings may lead to improved tests to predict which patients successfully treated for AML can continue in remission with standard chemotherapy alone, and which patients are likely to relapse despite additional treatment, but might benefit from a bone marrow transplant.
Large international study finds 21 genes tied to cholesterol levels
In the largest-ever genetic study of cholesterol and other blood lipids, an international consortium has identified 21 new gene variants associated with risks of heart disease and metabolic disorders. The findings expand the list of potential targets for drugs and other treatments for lipid-related cardiovascular disease, a leading global cause of death and disability.
Target for obesity drugs comes into focus
Researchers at the University of Michigan have determined how the hormone leptin, an important regulator of metabolism and body weight, interacts with a key receptor in the brain.
Preemies from low-income families at high risk for dangerous brain bleeds
Babies born prematurely to low-income parents have a disproportionately high risk for developing dangerous brain bleeds that require multiple surgeries and extensive follow-up, according to a small Johns Hopkins Children's Center study.
New model to explain the role of dopamine in immune regulation described
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is associated with emotions, movement, and the brain's pleasure and reward system. In the current issue of Advances in Neuroimmune Biology, investigators provide a broad overview of the direct and indirect role of dopamine in modulating the immune system and discuss how recent research has opened up new possibilities for treating diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis or even the autoimmune disorders.
Research gives new insight into coeliac disease
For the first time, scientists have visualised an interaction between gluten and T-cells of the immune system, providing insight into how coeliac disease, which affects approximately 1 in 133 people, is triggered.
Novel mechanisms underlying major childhood neuromuscular disease identified
A study by scientists from the Motor Neuron Center at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) suggests that spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic neuromuscular disease in infants and children, results primarily from motor circuit dysfunction, not motor neuron or muscle cell dysfunction, as is commonly thought. In a second study, the researchers identified the molecular pathway in SMA that leads to problems with motor function. Findings from the studies, conducted in fruit fly, zebrafish and mouse models of SMA, could lead to therapies for this debilitating and often fatal neuromuscular disease. Both studies were published today in the online edition of the journal Cell.
England World Cup wins and losses linked to 30 percent rise in domestic violence
Domestic violence rates rose by an average of 30 percent each time England won or lost their games during the 2010 World Cup, but draws had little impact on the statistics.
Feeding the Schwanns: New technique could bring cell therapy for nerve damage a step closer
A new way to grow cells vital for nerve repair, developed by researchers from the University of Sheffield, could be a vital step for use in patients with severe nerve damage, including spinal injury (1).
Research scores advance in manipulating T-cells
(Medical Xpress)—Until recently, medical researchers had little hope of experimentally manipulating naïve T cells to study their crucial roles in immune function, because they were largely impenetrable, says polymer scientist Gregory Tew: "So far off limits we could not readily get inside to investigate their workings."
Diverse intestinal viruses may play a role in AIDS progression
In monkeys and humans with AIDS, damage to the gastrointestinal tract is common, contributing to activation of the immune system, progressive immune deficiency, and ultimately advanced AIDS. How this gastric damage occurs has remained a mystery, but now researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Cell provide new clues, implicating the presence of potentially pathogenic virus species other than the main virus that causes AIDS. The findings could provide an opportunity to explain and eventually intervene in the processes that lead to AIDS progression.
Stopping the itch—new clues into how to treat eczema
More than 15% of children suffer with eczema, or atopic dermatitis, an inflammatory skin disease that in some cases can be debilitating and disfiguring. Researchers reporting in the October issue of Immunity have discovered a potential new target for the condition, demonstrating that by blocking it, they can lessen the disease in mice.
Alzheimer's sufferers may function better with less visual clutter
Psychologists at the University of Toronto and the Georgia Institute of Technology – commonly known as Georgia Tech – have shown that an individual's inability to recognize once-familiar faces and objects may have as much to do with difficulty perceiving their distinct features as it does with the capacity to recall from memory.
Discovery reveals important clues to cancer metastasis
In recent years investigators have discovered that breast tumors are influenced by more than just the cancer cells within them. A variety of noncancerous cells, which in many cases constitute the majority of the tumor mass, form what is known as the "tumor microenvironment." This sea of noncancerous cells and the products they deposit appear to play key roles in tumor pathogenesis.
Natural playgrounds more beneficial to children, inspire more play
Children who play on playgrounds that incorporate natural elements like logs and flowers tend to be more active than those who play on traditional playgrounds with metal and brightly colored equipment, according to a recent study from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Study finds that closeness with either parent has behavioral, emotional benefits for a child
(Medical Xpress)—Parents: Want to help ensure your children turn out to be happy and socially well adjusted? Bond with them when they are infants.
From gender identity disorder to gender identity creativity
In exercise books, sports line-ups, or in the simple act of going to the bathroom, school children have to answer the seemingly simple question, "are you a boy or a girl?" For Canadian school kids who exhibit cross-gender behaviour or presentation, this question is not only limiting, it's the source of angst.
Antibiotic resistance a growing concern with urinary tract infection
As a result of concerns about antibiotic resistance, doctors in the United States are increasingly prescribing newer, more costly and more powerful antibiotics to treat urinary tract infections, one of the most common illnesses in women.
Inhibiting CaMKII enzyme activity could lead to new therapies for heart disease
University of Iowa researchers have previously shown that an enzyme called CaM kinase II plays a pivotal role in the death of heart cells following a heart attack or other conditions that damage or stress heart muscle. Loss of beating heart cells is generally permanent and leads to heart failure, a serious, debilitating condition that affects 5.8 million people in the United States.
New findings could lead to treatments for epilepsy, behavioral disorders
Three studies conducted as part of Wayne State University's Systems Biology of Epilepsy Project (SBEP) could result in new types of treatment for the disease and, as a bonus, for behavioral disorders as well.
Safety results of intra-arterial stem cell clinical trial for stroke presented
Early results of a Phase II intra-arterial stem cell trial for ischemic stroke showed no adverse events associated with the first 10 patients, allowing investigators to expand the study to a targeted total of 100 patients.
Anti-cancer drug fights immune reaction in some infants with Pompe disease
Adding a third anti-cancer agent to a current drug cocktail appears to have contributed to dramatic improvement in three infants with the most severe form of Pompe disease—a rare, often-fatal genetic disorder characterized by low or no production of an enzyme crucial to survival.
Tainted drug death toll rises to 14 in US
The death toll from a deadly meningitis outbreak in the United States blamed on a tainted drug rose to 14 Thursday as the number of cases jumped to 172 in 11 states, health officials said.
Depression stigma may be fading: survey
(HealthDay)—Most Americans know what depression is and believe there is no shame in seeking treatment for the mental health condition, a new survey shows.
Another meningitis scare emerges, targeting NYC's gay men
(HealthDay)—As a nationwide outbreak of steroid-linked meningitis grabs headlines, health officials in New York City say a separate, unrelated outbreak is hitting gay and bisexual men.
Eye docs must do more to spot unsafe older drivers: study
(HealthDay)—Most eye doctors consider it their responsibility to ask older patients about driving problems, but this hit-or-miss approach may not be nearly enough to clear the roads of unsafe elderly drivers, new research suggests.
Prior alcohol consumption does not impair HCV treatment
(HealthDay)—For patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) treated with pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin (P/R), drinking patterns and the amount of alcohol consumed before treatment do not impact treatment success, according to a study published in the October issue of Hepatology.
Long-term ranibizumab beneficial for macular edema
(HealthDay)—Long-term aggressive treatment of patients with macular edema with ranibizumab during a third year correlates with reduced mean foveal thickness (FTH) and improved best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), according to research published online Oct. 8 in the Archives of Ophthalmology.
The Marshmallow Study revisited: Delaying gratification depends as much on nurture as on nature
For the past four decades, the "marshmallow test" has served as a classic experimental measure of children's self-control: will a preschooler eat one of the fluffy white confections now or hold out for two later?
Prospective Alzheimer's drug builds new brain cell connections
Washington State University researchers have developed a new drug candidate that dramatically improves the cognitive function of rats with Alzheimer's-like mental impairment.
Evidence of biological process that embeds social experience in DNA that affects entire networks of genes
(Medical Xpress)—Early life experience results in a broad change in the way our DNA is "epigenetically" chemically marked in the brain by a coat of small chemicals called methyl groups, according to researchers at McGill University. A group of researchers led by Prof. Moshe Szyf, a professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics in the Faculty of Medicine, and research scientists at the Douglas Institute have discovered a remarkable similarity in the way the DNA in human brains and the DNA in animal brains respond to early life adversity. The finding suggests an evolutionary conserved mechanism of response to early life adversity affecting a large number of genes in the genome.
Burst of fetal neural activity necessary for vision
(Medical Xpress)—A sudden and mysterious burst of activity originating in the retina of a developing fetus spurs brain connections that are essential to development of finely-tuned sight, Yale researchers report in the journal Nature. Interference with this spontaneous wave of activity could play a role in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, the scientists speculate.
Dental surgeon adds music to drill to appease patients
(Medical Xpress)—Doctor Dhanni Gustiana, a dental surgeon in the Indonesian city of Purworejo has devised a unique way to calm patients undergoing dental procedures. He's connected an MP3 player to a dental drill that plays music loud enough to drown out the distinctive whine of the instrument. He spoke with Mail Online recently and said that he discovered that many patients, especially children were not afraid of the dentist; instead, they were afraid of the drill. That, he added, caused him to begin looking into ways to reduce the fear people feel when the drill is turned on.
Researchers generate thyroid tissue using mice stem cells
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers in Brussels, with assistance from U.S. colleagues, have succeeded in generating thyroid tissue using mice embryonic stem cells. A procedure involving grafting new tissue onto a disabled thyroid resulted in restored function for nine out of ten study mice, the team reports in their paper published in the journal Nature.
Nerve signal discovery backs Nobel winner's theory
Scientists have proved a 60-year-old theory about how nerve signals are sent around the body at varying speeds as electrical impulses.
Cell phone data of people movement found effective way to control malaria spread
New research that combines cell phone data from 15 million people in Kenya with detailed information on the regional incidence of malaria has revealed, on the largest scale so far, how human travel patterns contribute to the disease's spread. The findings from researchers at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and seven other institutions indicate that malaria, in large part, emanates from Kenya's Lake Victoria region and spreads east, chiefly toward the capital, Nairobi.
Engineered flies spill secret of seizures
In a newly reported set of experiments that show the value of a particularly precise but difficult genetic engineering technique, researchers at Brown University and the University of California–Irvine have created a Drosophila fruit fly model of epilepsy to discern the mechanism by which temperature-dependent seizures happen.
Nurture trumps nature in study of oral bacteria in human twins
A new long-term study of human twins by University of Colorado Boulder researchers indicates the makeup of the population of bacteria bathing in their saliva is driven more by environmental factors than heritability.
Biology news
Costa Rica tightens ban on shark fins
Costa Rica has banned the import of shark fins, closing a legal loophole and targeting a link in a global production chain stretching to Asian markets, where shark fin soup is seen as a delicacy.
First video footage of unstudied West African seahorse released
Researchers from the University of British Columbia's Project Seahorse today released the first-ever footage of a little-known seahorse species.
Scientists use new method to help reduce piglet mortality
To help increase the survival of newborn piglets, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have developed a new method that predicts animals' mortality and nursing ability.
Fisheries benefit from 400-year-old tradition
A new study by the Wildlife Conservation Society and James Cook University says that coral reefs in Aceh, Indonesia are benefiting from a decidedly low-tech, traditional management system that dates back to the 17th century.
Techniques used to infer pathways of protein evolution found unreliable
A key assumption that biologists have relied on widely over the past quarter-century in studying the evolution of protein molecules is "highly questionable," according to an article published in the November issue of BioScience.
Soft-shelled turtles urinate through mouth
Chinese soft-shelled turtles are exquisitely adapted to their aquatic lifestyle, sitting contentedly on the bottom of brackish muddy swamps or snorkelling at the surface to breath. According to Y. K. Ip from the National University of Singapore, they even immerse their heads in puddles when their swampy homes dry up: which intrigued Ip and his colleagues. Why do these air-breathing turtles submerge their heads when they mainly depend on their lungs to breathe and are unlikely to breathe in water? Given that some fish excrete waste nitrogen as urea – in addition to ammonia – and expel the urea through their gills, the team wondered whether the turtles were plunging their heads into water to excrete waste urea through their mouths, where they have strange gill-like projections. Ip and his colleagues publish their discovery that turtles effectively urinate through the mouth in The Journal of Experimental Biology.
Choreography of submerged whale lunges revealed
Returning briefly to the surface for great lungfuls of air, the underwater lifestyles of whales had been a complete mystery until a small group of pioneers from various global institutions – including Malene Simon, Mark Johnson and Peter Madsen – began attaching data-logging tags to these enigmatic creatures. Knowing that Jeremy Goldbogen and colleagues had successful tagged blue, fin and humpback whales to reveal how they lunge through giant shoals of krill, Simon and her colleagues headed off to Greenland where they tagged five humpback whales to discover how the animals capture and consume their prey: krill and agile capelin. Attaching individual tags behind the dorsal fin on three of the whales – to record their stroke patterns – and nearer the head in the remaining whales – to better measure head movements – the team successfully recorded high resolution depth, acceleration and magnetic orientation data from 479 dives to find out more about the animals' lu! nge tactics. Simon, from the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Madsen, from Aarhus University, Denmark and Johnsen from the University of St. Andrews, UK, report how whales choreograph their foraging lunges at depth in The Journal of Experimental Biology.
Study proposes 'swimways' to help save migratory fish
(Phys.org)—A University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher says states should be looking to the skies in order to save fish.
Big baby walrus coming to NYC aquarium
(AP)—A 234-pound baby walrus is coming to the Wildlife Conservation Society's New York Aquarium in Brooklyn.
Experts puzzled by lone dolphin in Cayman Islands
(AP)—Stinky the dolphin is lonely, and he's getting way too frisky with humans.
US zoo cites liver disease in baby panda's death
Veterinary pathologists on Thursday blamed liver disease brought on by insufficient oxygen for the sudden death of a six-day-old baby panda born at the National Zoo in Washington last month.
Underlying genetic architecture of photoperiodism makes mosquitos more resistant to climate change, study finds
(Phys.org)—A comprehensive study at the University of Oregon, using cutting-edge genetic tools, shows that temperate and polar species of animals may be much more resilient to rapid climate change than previously expected.
DNA confirms genetically distinct lion population for Ethiopia
(Phys.org)—A team of international researchers has provided the first comprehensive DNA evidence that the Addis Ababa lion in Ethiopia is genetically unique and is urging immediate conservation action to preserve this vulnerable lion population.
Scientists focus on quorum sensing to better understand bacteria
The relatively new field in microbiology that focuses on quorum sensing has been making strides in understanding how bacteria communicate and cooperate. Quorum sensing describes the bacterial communication between cells that allows them to recognize and react to the size of their surrounding cell population. While a cell's output of extracellular products, or "public goods," is dependent on the size of its surrounding population, scientists have discovered that quorum sensing, a type of bacterial communication, controls when cells release these public goods into their environments.
Fly eye mystery: Research provides insight into why flies have fastest vision in animal kingdom
Fly eyes have the fastest visual responses in the animal kingdom, but how they achieve this has long been an enigma. A new study shows that their rapid vision may be a result of their photoreceptors - specialised cells found in the retina - physically contracting in response to light. The mechanical force then generates electrical responses that are sent to the brain much faster than, for example, in our own eyes, where responses are generated using traditional chemical messengers. The study was published today, October 12, in the journal Science.
Unusual genetic structure confers major disease resistance trait in soybean
Scientists have identified three neighboring genes that make soybeans resistant to the most damaging disease of soybean. The genes exist side-by-side on a stretch of chromosome, but only give resistance when that stretch is duplicated several times in the plant.
New studies reveal connections between animals' microbial communities and behavior
(Phys.org)—New research is revealing surprising connections between animal microbiomes—the communities of microbes that live inside animals' bodies—and animal behavior, according to a paper by University of Georgia ecologist Vanessa O. Ezenwa and her colleagues. The article, just published in the Perspectives section of the journal Science, reviews recent developments in this emerging research area and offers questions for future investigation.
Developmental biologist proposes new theory of early animal evolution, challenges basic assumptions
A New York Medical College developmental biologist whose life's work has supported the theory of evolution has developed a concept that dramatically alters one of its basic assumptions—that survival is based on a change's functional advantage if it is to persist. Stuart A. Newman, Ph.D., professor of cell biology and anatomy, offers an alternative model in proposing that the origination of the structural motifs of animal form were actually predictable and relatively sudden, with abrupt morphological transformations favored during the early period of animal evolution.
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