Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 25, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Stanford's battery-life research steps into economy class- 'Cool Planet' projects biofuel-production cost of $1.50 per gallon
- Genetic switch shuts down lung cancer tumors in mice
- SplashData's annual list shows people still using easy-to-guess passwords
- New study brings a doubted exoplanet 'back from the dead'
- Traditional fisheries management approach jeopardizes marine ecosystems worldwide
- Researchers at the doorstep of stem cell therapies for MS, other myelin disorders
- A black widow's Tango Mortale in gamma-ray light
- Far from random, evolution follows a predictable genetic pattern, researchers find
- Male competition over females: An evolutionary engine of genital evolution
- Genetic tradeoff: Harmful genes are widespread in yeast but hold hidden benefits
- Study demonstrates impact of adversity on early life development
- Whitehead scientists identify major flaw in standard approach to global gene expression analysis
- Canadian researchers discover fossils of first feathered dinosaurs from North America (w/ Video)
- A 'nanoscale landscape' controls flow of surface electrons on a topological insulator
Space & Earth news
Smithsonian launches marine effort with $10M gift
(AP)—The Smithsonian is launching a new initiative to study coastal waters and create the first global network monitoring climate change and human impacts on ocean life with a $10 million gift.
Researchers show predominant importance of the correlation between climate and demographic growth
We're not used to thinking of ourselves as animals. But as Jason Samson sees it, climate is as important in shaping the distribution and movement of humans as it is in other animals. The McGill-trained ecologist and fellow researchers have been using modeling techniques similar to those used to define the ecological niche for plant and animal species to explore the correlation between climate patterns and population growth in the contiguous United States between 1900-2000. And what they discovered was a pronounced population shift away from areas within the U.S. with cool and seasonal climates, towards those areas that are warmer and drier year-round, and they found that this was the case even when it meant moving further away from agricultural lands.
PEFT: Clever thinking creates cleaner water
Two chemists from the University of Waikato have come up with an innovative method for treating bore water on Waikato farms.
NOAA, National Archives team up with citizen-scientists to reconstruct historical climate of the Arctic
Before there were satellites, weather data transmitters, or computer databases, there were the ship's logs of Arctic sea voyages, where sailors dutifully recording weather observations. Now, a new crowdsourcing effort could soon make of the weather data from these ship logs, some more than 150 years old, available to climate scientists worldwide.
Helicopter flight over 'Galileo valley' guides future satellite navigation systems
A helicopter recently flew over a very special Alpine valley to gather data on how Europe's two satellite navigation systems – EGNOS and Galileo – will work together in future.
Soyuz with astronauts docks with space station
(AP)—A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying three astronauts and a consignment of fish successfully docked Thursday with the International Space Station after a two-day voyage.
Mission: To discover exoplanets
This small satellite of primarily Swiss design was chosen above twenty-five other projects. Named CHEOPS for "CHaracterizing ExOPlanet Satellite," the selection of this device was just announced by the European Space Agency (ESA). This satellite, which will be put in orbit in 2017, is the result of collaboration between the University of Bern and the University of Geneva, EPFL, and ETHZ. It will also receive technical support from institutes in Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, Austria, Sweden, and possibly other European countries that demonstrate interest. In terms of EPFL, the Swiss Space Center will work on the design of the device.
Report highlights eco-friendly brick research
A technique developed at the University of Leeds that makes carbon-negative bricks from waste materials is featured in a new report on the social and economic benefits of academic research.
New material puts pressure on greenhouse gases
(Phys.org)—Researchers at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom recently discovered a novel material that could be used by sophisticated technologies to fight global warming. The study was funded in part by an European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant worth EUR 2.5 million awarded to Professor Martin Schröder for the COORDSPACE project ('Chemistry of coordination space: extraction, storage, activation and catalysis') [under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)]. The results, recently presented in the journal Nature Chemistry, demonstrate that this material, called NOTT-300, could substitute for carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption.
Record space junk cloud could threaten ISS: report
The explosion of a failed Russian rocket upper stage has created a space junk cloud of 500 pieces which could threaten the International Space Station, a report said Thursday.
Hybrid of Sandy, winter storm threatens East Coast
(AP)—Much of the U.S. East Coast has a good chance of getting blasted by gale-force winds, flooding, heavy rain and maybe even snow early next week by an unusual hybrid of hurricane and winter storm, federal and private forecasters say.
Triclosan needs to be monitored
Leipzig. Researchers from Germany and Slovakia have pointed out that the chemical triclosan is one of those particularly harmful substances for the ecological status of rivers that are still not sufficiently monitored. With extensive monitoring conducted in the Elbe river basin that was more comprehensive than standard monitoring procedures, concentrations of the chemical at numerous test sites exceeded the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) for algal communities up to a factor of twelve.
NASA sees power in Hurricane Sandy moving toward Bahamas
NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Hurricane Sandy as it was moving over eastern Cuba early on Oct. 25. The AIRS instrument captured an infrared image of Sandy that showed a large area of very high, cold cloud tops indicating the power within the storm. Sandy is now headed toward the Bahamas and warnings and watches have already been posted for the mainland U.S.
NASA saw Tropical Storm Murjan making landfall on the Horn of Africa
NASA's Aqua satellite watched from space as Somalia in the Horn of Africa experienced a landfalling tropical cyclone on Oct. 25.
For the Milky Way, it's snack time
Using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, researchers have discovered a band, or stream, of stars believed to be the remnant of an ancient star cluster slowly being ingested by the Milky Way, Earth's home galaxy.
Fishing for answers off Fukushima
Japan's "triple disaster," as it has become known, began on March 11, 2011, and remains unprecedented in its scope and complexity. To understand the lingering effects and potential public health implications of that chain of events, scientists are turning to a diverse and widespread sentinel in the world's ocean: fish.
NASA sees warming cloud tops indicating Tropical Storm Tony weakening
In a tropical cyclone, strong uplift of air pushes the tops of thunderstorms high into the troposphere. When that strength wanes, the cloud tops drop and become less cold. That's because the higher you go in the troposphere, the colder it gets. NASA satellite infrared data has revealed that Tropical Storm Tony's cloud top temperatures are warming and the storm is weakening.
NASA sees Tropical Storm Son-tinh moving into South China Sea
Tropical Storm Son-tinh soaked the Philippines and is now moving into the South China Sea. NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible image of the storm as the bulk western half of the storm had already moved over water.
Tokyo prepares for the 'Big One'
Seen from atop the towering Tokyo Sky Tree, the patchwork of narrow alleyways and ramshackle houses that make up Tokyo's Sumida district is a picturesque throwback to the Japan of yesteryear.
Why 'singing' sand dunes hum certain notes
What does Elvis Presley have in common with a sand dune? No, it's not that people sometimes spot both in the vicinity of Las Vegas. Instead, some sand dunes, like The King, can sing. And new research looking for clues to how streams of sand can sing may explain why some dunes croon in more than one pitch at the same time.
Scientists begin effort to stir up a cosmic dynamo in the lab
For scientists trying to understand the subtleties of cosmic dynamos—the magnetic field-inducing phenomena at the hearts of planets, stars and galaxies—the physics, for the most part, must be done at vast distances.
By measuring lithium, researchers study star structure
During its nuclear fusion processes, a burning star does not make the element lithium. Rather, over time, stars consume their lithium supply that was originally created during the Big Bang that gave birth to our universe.
After-effects of Saturn's super storm shine on (w/ Video)
(Phys.org)—The heat-seeking capabilities of the international Cassini spacecraft and two ground-based telescopes have provided the first look at the aftermath of Saturn's 'Great Springtime Storm'. Concealed from the naked eye, a giant oval vortex is persisting long after the visible effects of the storm subsided.
Why astronauts experience low blood pressure after returning to Earth from space
When astronauts return to Earth, their altitude isn't the only thing that drops—their blood pressure does too. This condition, known as orthostatic hypotension, occurs in up to half of those astronauts on short-term missions (two weeks or less) and in nearly all astronauts after long-term missions (four to six months). A new research report published online in The FASEB Journal solves the biological mystery of how this happens by showing that low gravity compromises the ability of arteries and veins to constrict normally, inhibiting the proper flow of blood. Prevention and treatment strategies developed for astronauts may also hold promise for elderly populations on Earth who experience orthostatic hypotension more than any other age group.
A black widow's Tango Mortale in gamma-ray light
Pulsars are the compact remnants from explosions of massive stars. Some of them spin around their own axis hundreds of times per second, emitting beams of radiation into space. Until now, they could only be found through their pulsed radio emissions. Now, scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute/AEI) in Hanover assisted by the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy have discovered a millisecond pulsar solely via its pulsed gamma radiation. A new data analysis method developed by the AEI was crucial for the success. The pulsar is accompanied by an unusual sub-stellar partner, which it is vaporizing, hence the name "black widow".
Small organisms could dramatically impact world's climate
(Phys.org)—In the future, warmer waters could significantly change ocean distribution of populations of phytoplankton, tiny organisms that could have a major effect on climate change.
Monster galaxy may have been stirred up by black-hole mischief
Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have obtained a remarkable new view of a whopper of an elliptical galaxy, with a core bigger than any seen before. There are two intriguing explanations for the puffed up core, both related to the action of one or more black holes, and the researchers have not yet been able to determine which is correct.
New study brings a doubted exoplanet 'back from the dead'
A second look at data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is reanimating the claim that the nearby star Fomalhaut hosts a massive exoplanet. The study suggests that the planet, named Fomalhaut b, is a rare and possibly unique object that is completely shrouded by dust.
Technology news
Soundtrack to history: 1878 Edison audio unveiled
(AP)—Researchers have recovered and digitized what experts say is the oldest playable recording of an American voice and history's first-ever recorded musical performance.
Racial 'hierarchy of bias' drives decision to shoot armed, unarmed suspects, study finds
Police officers and students exhibit an apparent "hierarchy of bias" in making a split-second decision whether to shoot suspects who appear to be wielding a gun or, alternatively, a benign object like a cell phone, research conducted by the University of Colorado Boulder and San Diego State University has found.
WikiLeaks releases new US military documents
Julian Assange's WikiLeaks website on Thursday started publishing more than 100 US Department of Defense documents including the first prisoner treatment manual for Guantanamo Bay.
UN aims to pull plug on plethora of power supplies
(AP)—The days when every piece of home communications equipment comes with its own special power adapter could be numbered.
Chinese rare earths producer suspends output
(AP)—China's biggest rare earths producer has suspended output in an effort to shore up slumping prices of the materials used by makers of mobile phones and other high-tech products.
China's BYD sending electric cabs to London
(AP)—Chinese automaker BYD Co. is sending 50 electric cabs to London in a boost to China's struggling makers of all-electric vehicles.
Microsoft courts mobile lifestyles with Windows 8
Microsoft on Thursday will roll out a new version of its flagship Windows operating system tailored for a world shifting from personal computers to smartphones and tablets.
In emails to UK police, Anonymous seeks solidarity
(AP)—The online movement known as Anonymous has made an unusual appeal to British police: "Stand with us."
Organizing your Web connections: Social media sorted with smart software
CSIRO's social media analysis software is helping organisations make sense of massive volumes of social media traffic, according to a services research specialist speaking at the Big Data Conference in Sydney next week.
Paper waste could be the solution to oil spills
(Phys.org)—Every year approximately 3 billion tonnes of waste are generated in the European Union. But not everything that gets thrown away is necessarily junk; in fact as one European research project is proving, one person's waste could be another's treasure. European researchers from the Technological, Environmental and Logistics Centre (TEC Ltd) in Slovenia have successfully transformed waste from paper mills into a product that can effectively soak up fuel from leaks or oil from spills. The research group was 60 % co-financed by the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) Eco-Innovation Project's Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI), receiving EUR 923,007 in funding to assist them in the 'process of industrialisation and the market uptake' of their technology.
New technology could help take the strain out of daily commute
Volvo Car Corporation has taken another step on the journey towards autonomous driving - self-driving vehicles - by demonstrating a new traffic jam assistance system. The new system, whereby the car automatically follows the vehicle in front in slow-moving queues up to 50 km/h, will be ready for production in 2014.
Markets get earnings cheer ahead of Apple
(AP)—A run of encouraging corporate earnings statements ahead of a report from Apple shored up sentiment in financial markets Thursday.
NY Times sees modest profit, Web subscriptions up
The New York Times Co. on Thursday announced a modest profit in a quarter in which digital subscriptions rose but revenues fell, including from online and print advertising.
Google drawn into S. Korea-Japan island dispute
South Korea on Thursday lashed out at Google for changing the name of an isolated set of islands at the centre of a territorial dispute with Japan on its English-language web mapping service.
Safety glass - cut to any shape
If an object slams into the glass façade of a high-rise building, the glass must not shatter and fall down, because it could harm pedestrians below. In addition, the window panes must hold if a person were to fall against it from the inside. Architects and builders therefore must use something stronger than laminated safety glass on the façades of high rise buildings.
Study reveals impact of public DNS services; researchers develop tool to help
A new study by Northwestern University researchers has revealed that public DNS services could actually slow down users' web-surfing experience. As a result, researchers have developed a solution to help avoid such an impact: a tool called namehelp that could speed web performance by 40 percent.
Now the mobile phone goes emotional
Mobile devices include an increasing number of input and output techniques that are currently not used for communication. Recent research results by Dr Eve Hoggan from HIIT / University of Helsinki, Finland, however, indicate that a synchronous haptic communication system has value as a communication channel in real-world settings with users that express greetings, presence and emotions through presages.
News.me ditched to focus on Digg
News.me applications for helping Twitter users stay in tune with happenings being tracked by friends faded into history on Thursday as their owner shifted resources to reviving social news site Digg.
Netflix tops 30 million users worldwide
Netflix said Thursday it now has more than 30 million subscribers worldwide, including some five million outside the United States as the Internet video service pursues a global expansion.
Mobile phone app developers take on Africa
The scene might pass for a high-tech forum in California, but the young entrepreneurs presenting their products on stage are Africans, keen to show off low-tech applications for the continent.
Yahoo buys mobile-app developer Stamped
(AP)—Yahoo Inc. said Thursday it has purchased mobile app developer Stamped, the first acquisition under new CEO Marissa Mayer.
Sharing space: Proximity breeds collaboration
A new University of Michigan study shows that when researchers share a building, and especially a floor, the likelihood of forming new collaborations and obtaining funding increases dramatically.
Amazon posts 3Q results below expectations
(AP)—Amazon's stock is falling after the world's largest online retailer reported third-quarter results below Wall Street's expectations, including a large loss that was weighed by its stake in online deals service LivingSocial.
25 arrested in 5 states in NY Web gambling probe
(AP)—Twenty five people in five states have been indicted in New York City on charges they operated an illegal sports betting business that took in $50 million in 18 months.
Microsoft goes mobile with Windows 8, new tablet
Microsoft took a big step into mobile Thursday, unveiling a revamped version of its flagship Windows system and a offering a closer look at Surface, its entry into the hot tablet market.
'Cool Planet' projects biofuel-production cost of $1.50 per gallon
(Phys.org)—Cool Planet Energy Systems has announced a projected production cost for its biofuel, made from corn cobs and stover (dried stalks and leaves of cereal crops), of just $1.50 per gallon sans the benefit of government subsidies. Company representatives also said they have completed a successful test trial of a newly developed process for converting feed stock to fuel, and that Google has been field testing the results with fleet vehicles.
SplashData's annual list shows people still using easy-to-guess passwords
(Phys.org)—In what has become an annual tradition, SplashData, a company that makes productivity applications for smartphones, has released a list of passwords it claims are the most commonly used to access online applications. The list is compiled by the company using passwords that hackers have posted on various web sites to illustrate the ease with which online accounts can be cracked. SplashData refers to the top 25 passwords as the "worst passwords of the year."
Stanford's battery-life research steps into economy class
(Phys.org)—Looking for better battery designs and solutions is a priority pursuit for many scientists, and the Batteries for Advanced Transportation Technologies (BATT) Program is always on the lookout for worthy contributions. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and managed by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, BATT is a leader in U.S. research in battery solutions for electric vehicles. They have not missed the fact that Prof. Yi Cui, Associate Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Stanford University, has been leading a team that is coming up with new answers for energy storage.
Medicine & Health news
Experts call for increased neonatal inclusion in pediatric drug trials
Clinical drug trials are a vital part of pharmaceutical manufacturers gaining approval for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A Commentary scheduled for publication in The Journal of Pediatrics assesses the issues surrounding the lack of clinical trials on medications used by children, most notably neonates, and how drug manufacturers and academic researchers could work together to create clinical trials that would benefit this underrepresented population.
Novartis insists its flu vaccines are safe
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis insisted early Thursday that its flu vaccines were safe despite a sales ban by Italy, Switzerland and Austria.
Restricting high-risk individuals from owning guns saves lives
On July 20, a gunman in Aurora, Colorado, used an assault rifle to murder 12 people and wound 58 others. Although this was one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history, all mass shootings account for a small percentage of gun violence that occurs in the U.S. every day. In the past 100 days since the Aurora shooting, an estimated 3,035 Americans have died as a result of gun violence.
Steroid injection linked to increased risk of bone fractures
Patients treated with an epidural steroid injection for back pain relief are at increased risk of bone fractures in the spine, according to a Henry Ford Hospital study.
BMJ and Daily Telegraph's fake hip exposes failing European device regulation
A joint investigation by the BMJ and Daily Telegraph has exposed the major flaws in the current EU system used for regulating medical devices, such as hip replacements and breast implants.
Health care history through humor
Featuring more than 200 examples of the century's best political art, a new history of health care reform provides an entertaining review of 100 years of partisan wrangling – from Theodore Roosevelt's support for protection from the "hazards of sickness" in 1912 to the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act in 2012.
Illness during military deployment linked to mental health problems, study finds
Army personnel who become ill during deployment are just as likely to develop mental health problems on their return to the UK, as personnel who are injured, according to new research from the King's Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) at King's College London, published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Psychiatry.
Peer review option proposed for biodiversity data
Data publishers should have the option of submitting their biodiversity datasets for peer review, according to a discussion paper commissioned by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).
Dysentery epidemic killed many in the 1700s-1800s
In the 1700s-1800s, dysentery was a disease causing many deaths. In fact, in some areas in Sweden 90 percent of all deaths were due to dysentery during the worst outbreaks. A new doctoral thesis in history from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, presents demographic and medical history of the disease.
Gene that's usually bad news loses its punch if you live to your 90s, study finds
A gene linked to the risk of developing Alzheimer's, heart disease and diabetes becomes less important to quality of life once people hit their 90s, a Mayo Clinic study shows. At that point, good friends and a positive attitude have a bigger impact, the researchers say. The findings are published this month in the Journal of American Medical Directors Association.
Illegal medications seized in 16 African countries
An unprecedented crackdown in 16 African countries netted 82 million doses of illegal or counterfeit drugs, including antibiotics, contraceptives and malaria treatments, the World Customs Organisation (WCO) said on Thursday.
NY-Presbyterian Hospital announces participation in trial for hard-to-treat hypertension
Patients with hypertension whose blood pressure cannot be brought down to safe levels despite taking three or more medications may have some relief coming their way. An innovative, first-of-its-kind clinical trial for a device representing a dramatic shift in treatment approaches for the toughest-to-treat patients is currently being conducted at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
Study shows PFO closure may be superior to medical therapy in preventing stroke
Results of a large-scale, randomized clinical trial called RESPECT revealed that patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure may be superior to medical therapy in preventing recurrent stroke, according to a presentation of findings today at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) conference in Miami.
Study confirms that intracoronary and intravenous use of abciximab during angioplasty yield similar results
A study confirmed no differences in various measures of heart damage, according to cardiac magnetic resonance (MRI) imaging, in patients receiving the anti-clotting medication abxicimab directly into the heart (intracoronary) compared to those receiving it intravenously (IV). The results of the AIDA STEMI MRI sub-study were presented today the 24th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation, TCT is the world's premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine.
Low responsiveness to clopidogrel predicts stent thrombosis, heart attack: But is not directly linked to death
Patients who receive a drug-eluting stent (DES) and demonstrate low levels of platelet inhibition are more likely to have blood clots form on the stent and suffer a possible heart attack; conversely, patients with higher levels of platelet inhibition are at greater risk for bleeding complications. One-year results of the ADAPT-DES study were presented today at the 24th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. Sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation, TCT is the world's premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine.
Hydration based on ventricular pressure is effective in reducing kidney damage in patients undergoing cardiac catheteriz
A hydration regimen tailored to the patient's fluid status was effective in reducing damage to kidneys in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization, according to a study presented at the 24th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium, sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation. TCT is the world's premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine.
Insulin glargine's main metabolic effect as metabolite M1
(HealthDay)—For patients with type 2 diabetes, following administration of a subcutaneous injection of a therapeutic dose of insulin glargine, glargine is minimally detectable in blood, and most of the plasma insulin concentration is in the form of its metabolite M1, according to a study published online Oct. 18 in Diabetes Care.
Partisanship guides americans' attitudes on health-care reform law: poll
(HealthDay)—Two years after it was signed into law, Americans' views on the Affordable Care Act continue to track along party lines, even among those who say they've personally been affected by the controversial health-reform legislation, a new Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll finds.
Fungal meningitis deaths rise to 24, CDC reports
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday that a 24th person had died of fungal meningitis after receiving contaminated steroid injections. The latest victim had received an injection to treat back pain in Indiana, according to reports.
First FDA approved subcutaneous implantable defibrillator available for patients
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a condition in which the heart suddenly stops pumping blood. When this occurs, blood stops flowing to the brain and other major organs. Recent estimates show that approximately 850,000 people in the United States are at risk of SCA, and most of the people who have SCA, die from it. But, rapid treatment of SCA by using an implantable defibrillator can be lifesaving.
A new technique to study how myeloids become white blood cells
University of Illinois cell and developmental Biology professor Fei Wang and colleagues have created a new technique to study how myeloids, a type of blood stem cell, become the white blood cells important for immune system defense against infections and tissue damage. This approach offers new insights into the molecular mechanisms at work during myeloid differentiation, and may improve our ability to treat myeloid diseases like leukemia, the researchers report. Their findings appear in the journal Blood.
Electronic nose could be used to detect sleep apnoea
An electronic nose, used to detect the presence of molecules in the breath of a patient, could be used to diagnose obstructive sleep apnoea.
Sleep-deprived bees have difficulty relearning
Everyone feels refreshed after a good night's sleep, but sleep does more than just rejuvenate, it can also consolidate memories. 'The rapid eye movement form of sleep and slow wave sleep are involved in cognitive forms of memory such as learning motor skills and consciously accessible memory', explains Randolf Menzel from the Freie Universtät Berlin, Germany.
US firm loses license as tainted drug toll rises to 24
US officials revoked the license Wednesday of a Massachusetts pharmacy cited for significant sanitary violations as the toll from a meningitis outbreak tied to its tainted drugs rose to 24.
Australia pension fund reviewing tobacco stake
The Australian government's pension fund for public servants said Thursday it was reviewing its investment in tobacco shares following the passage of plain packaging laws in a bid to curb smoking.
Germany orders recall of some Novartis flu shots
(AP)—German authorities ordered a recall Thursday of some batches of Novartis flu vaccine as a precautionary measure after the company reported the appearance of small particles in the manufacturing process.
Study suggests caution and further studies on drugs used to treat macular degeneration
Millions of people with "wet" macular degeneration are prescribed a class of medication known as anti-VEGF drugs. But now scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have found that a drastic reduction of VEGF activity may do more harm than good.
Jailed women have high rates of mental illness
Women in jail have high rates of serious mental illness, post-traumatic stress and substance use disorders, yet most jails are limited in their capacity to provide mental health treatment, according to a national study.
Potential cure for Chagas disease
A Murdoch University international collaborative project has found a potential cure for the deadly Chagas disease.
Genes, depression and life satisfaction
(Medical Xpress)—Vulnerability to major depression is linked with how satisfied we are with our lives. This association is largely due to genes.
Traumatic consequences long after fall of the Berlin Wall
Previously, there had been a lack of reliable data in Germany on the long-term psychological consequences of political imprisonment in the GDR. Professor Andreas Maercker, Head of the Department of Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention at the University of Zurich, and private lecturer Dr. Matthias Schützwohl, Group Leader at the Clinic and Polyclinic of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at Dresden University of Technology, interviewed 146 former political prisoners in the mid-1990s. 15 years later, they studied the majority of those concerned (78 men and 15 women) again.
Researchers develop world's first human heart cell model
Researchers at the National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) have successfully created a human heart cell model of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), an inherited heart muscle disorder which puts one at high risk of developing life-threatening arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. The NHCS research team discovered that key characteristics of the disease, such as abnormal "fatty changes" and altered distribution of proteins involved in cell-cell connections (called desmosomal proteins) are reproduced in the heart cells. This novel cellular model for studying the disease could help to improve understanding on how these mutations lead to arrhythmias and clinical manifestations of ARVC. The study, the first of its kind in the world, was published in the European Heart Journal, a top ranking international peer-reviewed journal, in July 2012.
Protein regulation linked to intellectual disability
Genetics researchers at the University of Adelaide have solved a 40-year mystery for a family beset by a rare intellectual disability – and they've discovered something new about the causes of intellectual disability in the process.
Study finds elevated levels of formaldehyde, other contaminants, in day care centers
A new, comprehensive survey of day care centers by University of California, Berkeley, researchers found that, overall, the environmental quality in child care settings was similar to other indoor environments, but that levels of formaldehyde and several other contaminants exceeded state health guidelines. Cleaning- and sanitizing-related chemicals were also present in the air, and sometimes at higher levels, than in comparable studies on homes.
Short-wavelength light increases beneficial stress hormone response in sleep-restricted adolescents
Adolescents can be chronically sleep deprived because of their inability to fall asleep early in combination with fixed wakeup times on school days. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), almost 70 percent of schoolchildren get insufficient sleep—less than eight hours on school nights. This type of restricted sleep schedule has been linked with depression, behavior problems, poor performance at school, drug use, and automobile accidents. A new study from the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute shows that exposure to morning short-wavelength "blue" light has the potential to help sleep-deprived adolescents prepare for the challenges of the day and deal with stress, more so than dim light.
Mapping the global burden of sickle cell anaemia
The first rigorous study to assess the global burden of sickle cell anaemia in recent times is reported today in the Lancet, giving an up-to-date view of the distribution of the disease. Accurate estimates of the numbers and geographical distribution of those affected are vital for effective prevention and treatment policies to be put in place. The study estimates that in 2010 around 300 000 babies were born with sickle cell anaemia, a serious blood disorder that can be fatal if untreated, and 5.5 million newborns inherited the sickle cell gene. The 5.5 million who only inherit the gene will usually not present any clinical complications, but they could still pass this gene on and give birth to children with sickle cell anaemia.
Unexpected finding: Toddlers more responsive to accents of peers than parents
Infants are more likely to recognise words spoken in the dialect of their local communities than those used by their parents, psychologists have revealed.
Combining imaging and gene analysis could transform breast cancer diagnosis
Combining two approaches - one that digitally scans images of tumour samples and another that analyses genetic information - gives a more accurate prediction of how breast cancer will behave. The research is published today in Science Translational Medicine.
A surprise mechanism uncovered in the development of lupus
In a study with a surprising outcome, scientists at Yale School of Medicine have discovered that an enzyme complex known for promoting natural resistance to bacteria and fungi unexpectedly inhibits the development of lupus. The finding could pave the way for development of therapeutic interventions in this debilitating disease. The study appears online in the Oct. 24 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
Researchers discover new technique for detecting bone loss
Airing for the first time last night on KAET's "ASU Discovers," the work of scientists at ASU including Ariel Anbar, a professor in ASU's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the School of Earth and Space Exploration and NASA's Scott M. Smith, NASA nutritionist was highlighted.
Sam Houston state developing lab test for bath salts
Sam Houston State University is developing a laboratory test to detect the use of bath salts, a new designer drug that was added to the list of illegal substances by the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2011.
Lonely older adults face more health risks
Always look on the bright side of life. Thanks to a new study from Concordia University, this catchy refrain offers a prescription for staying healthy during one's golden years.
Scientists to study the role genes play in treating tuberculosis
The University of Liverpool has been awarded funding to determine whether differences in our genes determine how patients respond to drugs used to treat Tuberculosis (TB) in Sub-Saharan Africa.
New anti-tumor cell therapy strategies are more effective
Targeted T-cells can seek out and destroy tumor cells that carry specific antigen markers. Two novel anti-tumor therapies that take advantage of this T-cell response are described in articles published in Human Gene Therapy, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The articles are available free on the Human Gene Therapy website.
The Biggest Loser a big turnoff
The Biggest Loser might be a TV ratings winner, but its extreme depiction of exercise is more likely to turn people off than get them off the couch, according to new research from the University of Alberta.
Resveratrol falls short in health benefits
Resveratrol, an ingredient in red wine thought to improve insulin sensitivity, reduce risk of heart disease and increase longevity, does not appear to offer these benefits in healthy women, new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates.
Omega-3 intake heightens working memory in healthy young adults
(Medical Xpress)—While Omega-3 essential fatty acids—found in foods like wild fish and grass-fed livestock—are necessary for human body functioning, their effects on the working memory of healthy young adults have not been studied until now.
Researchers identifie gatekeeper protein, new details on cell's power source
Researchers at Temple University's Center for Translational Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania have identified a protein that serves as a gatekeeper for controlling the rush of calcium into the cell's power source, the mitochondria. Without this calcium spigot under control, calcium levels can run amok, contributing to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and neurodegeneration. The findings, reported online October 25, 2012, in the journal Cell, add important new insights into the inner workings of the mitochondria and may eventually help scientists better understand and target certain cellular processes gone awry, leading to new therapies for disease.
Results of the RESPECT trial presented at TCT 2012
A clinical trial indicates that using an investigational medical device to close a PFO, or "hole in the heart," may be superior to medical management alone in the prevention of a repeated stroke. Results of the RESPECT trial were presented 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.
Researchers identify gene mutation linked to old age hearing loss
University of South Florida researchers have identified a genetic biomarker for age-related hearing loss, a major breakthrough in understanding and preventing a condition of aging that affects 30 million Americans and greatly diminishes their quality of life.
Researchers develop new drug delivery system for bladder cancer using nanoparticles
A team of UC Davis scientists has shown in experimental mouse models that a new drug delivery system allows for administration of three times the maximum tolerated dose of a standard drug therapy for advanced bladder cancer, leading to more effective cancer control without increasing toxicity.
New genomics study shows ancestry could help solve disease riddles
October 25, 2012 – Explosive advancement in human genome sequencing opens new possibilities for identifying the genetic roots of certain diseases and finding cures. However, so many variations among individual genomes exist that identifying mutations responsible for a specific disease has in many cases proven an insurmountable challenge. But now a new study by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), Scripps Health, and Scripps Translational Science Institute (STSI) reveals that by comparing the genomes of diseased patients with the genomes of people with sufficiently similar ancestries could dramatically simplify searches for harmful mutations, opening new treatment possibilities.
Anesthesia drugs really do put us to sleep
When patients are put under anesthesia, they are often told they will be "put to sleep," and now it appears that in some ways that's exactly what the drugs do to the brain. New evidence in mice reported online on October 25 in Current Biology, a Cell Press publication, shows that the drugs don't just turn wakefulness "off," they also force important sleep circuits in the brain "on."
New bio-adhesive polymer demonstrated in JoVE
A new video-article in JoVE, Journal of Visualized Experiments, details the use of a new laser-activated bio-adhesive polymer. The chitosan-based polymer, SurgiLux, was developed by scientists at the University of New South Wales. Chitosan is a polymer derived from chitin, which is found in fungal cell walls or in exoskeletons of crustaceans and insects.This molecular component allows SurgiLux to form low energy bonds between the polymer and the desired tissue when it absorbs light. The technology may soon replace traditional sutures in the clinic.
Negative pigment network able to distinguish melanoma
(HealthDay)—Negative pigment network (NPN) can be used to distinguish melanoma from Spitz nevus and other benign lesions, according to a study published online Oct. 11 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Timing of hormone therapy use impacts alzheimer's risk
(HealthDay)—Use of hormone therapy (HT) within five years of menopause is associated with a reduction in the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), according to a study published online Oct. 24 in Neurology.
Link between vitamin D, mortality not impacted by eGFR
(HealthDay)—Adults with low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) have increased mortality, regardless of the presence of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of
Stroke survivors who smoke raise risk of more strokes, heart attack, death
Stroke survivors who smoke put themselves at a greater risk of additional strokes, heart attack or death than those who never smoked, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Stroke.
Unprecedented 'black mold' meningitis a challenge
(AP)—The black mold creeping into the spines of hundreds of Americans who got tainted shots for back pain marks uncharted medical territory.
Scientists deepen genetic understanding of MS
(Medical Xpress)—Five scientists, including two from Simon Fraser University, have discovered that 30 per cent of our likelihood of developing Multiple Sclerosis (MS) can be explained by 475,806 genetic variants in our genome. Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) commonly screen these variants, looking for genetic links to diseases.
Exercise boosts satisfaction with life, researchers find
Had a bad day? Extending your normal exercise routine by a few minutes may be the solution, according to Penn State researchers, who found that people's satisfaction with life was higher on days when they exercised more than usual.
New genes discovered for adult BMI levels
A large international study has identified three new gene variants associated with body mass index (BMI) levels in adults. The scientific consortium, numbering approximately 200 researchers, performed a meta-analysis of 46 studies, covering gene data from nearly 109,000 adults, spanning four ethnic groups.
Moffitt researchers identify unique immune gene signature across thousands of patients' solid tumors
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have discovered a unique immune gene signature that can predict the presence of microscopic lymph node-like structures in metastatic melanoma. The presence of these immune structures, the researchers said, appears to be associated with better survival and may indicate the possibility of selecting patients for immunotherapy based solely on the immune-related makeup of their tumors as an approach to personalized medicine.
When she says, 'It's not you, it's me,' it really might be you, study suggests
Long after women have chosen Mr. Stable over Mr. Sexy, they struggle unconsciously with the decision, according to a new study by UCLA researchers who look at subtle changes in behavior during ovulation.
Unmasking the deadly secrets of pancreatic cancer
(Medical Xpress)—A large-scale study that defines the complexity of underlying mutations responsible for pancreatic cancers in more than 100 patients was published in Nature.
Researchers discover neurological link to loneliness
Researchers from UCL have found that lonely people have less grey matter in a part of the brain associated with decoding eye gaze and other social cues.
New opportunity for rapid treatment of malaria
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers have identified a new means to eradicate malaria infections by rapidly killing the blood-borne Plasmodium parasites that cause the disease.
Scientists create first mouse model of typhoid fever
Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers have created the first true mouse model of typhoid infection. The development promises to advance the study of typhoid and the creation of new vaccines against the infection, which remains a major health threat in developing countries. The paper was published today in the online edition of the journal Cell.
Study reveals rate at which key genetic deletions contribute to male infertility
A large-scale analysis of Y chromosomes from more than 20,000 men finds that two spontaneously recurring deletions along a complex region of the Y chromosome are responsible for approximately 8% of cases of failed sperm production.
Using planarian flatworms to understand organ regeneration
Researchers report in the journal Developmental Cell that they have identified genes that control growth and regeneration of the intestine in the freshwater planarian Schmidtea mediterranea.
Whitehead scientists identify major flaw in standard approach to global gene expression analysis
Whitehead Institute researchers report that common assumptions employed in the generation and interpretation of data from global gene expression analyses can lead to seriously flawed conclusions about gene activity and cell behavior in a wide range of current biological research.
Researchers at the doorstep of stem cell therapies for MS, other myelin disorders
When the era of regenerative medicine dawned more than three decades ago, the potential to replenish populations of cells destroyed by disease was seen by many as the next medical revolution. However, what followed turned out not to be a sprint to the clinic, but rather a long tedious slog carried out in labs across the globe required to master the complexity of stem cells and then pair their capabilities and attributes with specific diseases.
Sensory neurons identified as critical to sense of touch
While studying the sense of touch, scientists at Duke Medicine have pinpointed specific neurons that appear to regulate perception.
Individual gene differences can be tested in zebrafish
The zebrafish is a potential tool for testing one class of unique individual genetic differences found in humans, and may yield information helpful for the emerging field of personalized medicine, according to a team led by Penn State College of Medicine scientists. The differences, or mutations, in question create minor changes in amino acids—the building blocks of DNA—from person to person. Zebrafish can be used as a model to understand what biological effects result from these genetic mutations.
Genetic switch shuts down lung cancer tumors in mice
Yale researchers manipulated a tiny genetic switch and halted growth of aggressive lung cancer tumors in mice and even prevented tumors from forming.
Biology news
Study finds that selective dairy breeding could help prevent lameness, boost productivity
Dairies could increase their efficiency, reduce their carbon footprints and improve the health of their herds if they considered foot warts and other hoof ailments when they develop breeding plans, suggests a new study led by UC Davis researchers.
Adopting a better attitude towards shelter dogs
A new study is shedding light on why many shelter dogs are unable to find new homes in Australia, despite their popularity as companion animals.
Climate change may alter amphibian evolution
Most of the more than 6,000 species of frogs in the world lay their eggs in water. But many tropical frogs lay their eggs out of water. This behavior protects the eggs from aquatic predators, such as fish and tadpoles, but also increases their risk of drying out. Justin Touchon, post-doctoral fellow at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, discovered that climate change in Panama may be altering frogs' course of evolution.
Research aims to extend strawberry growing season in Mid-Atlantic region
Growing strawberry plants in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region beneath canopy-like structures called low tunnels can allow the season to start earlier and continue through the summer and fall, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists.
Deadwood discovery reveals 7 new beetle species
Seven beetle species new to science have been discovered by a young University of Alberta researcher just starting out in her career.
The modern view of nature has religious roots
All over the planet, people are fighting to save animals and plants from extinction – even though many species have no utilitarian value for us. In a new book, University of Copenhagen theologian Jakob Wolf takes up this aspect of the climate debate in the context of a religious ethic that spans cultures and religions.
Borneo orangutan was shot over 100 times with airgun
An endangered orangutan on Borneo island has survived after being shot more than 100 times with an air rifle, Indonesian officials said on Thursday.
Forty whales die in mass stranding on Indian island
About 40 whales died in a mass stranding on the west coast of India's remote North Andaman island in the Bay of Bengal, wildlife officials said on Thursday.
Report: Bushmeat pushes Southern African species to the brink
A recent report says illegal hunting of wildlife in South African Development Community (SADC) states can lead to the eradication of many species across extensive areas and even complete ecological collapse.
Structure discovered for promising tuberculosis drug target
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have figured out the three-dimensional shape of the protein responsible for creating unique bonds within the cell wall of the bacteria that cause tuberculosis. The bonds make the bacteria resistant to currently available drug therapies, contributing to the alarming rise of these super-bacteria throughout the world.
Small fish, big opportunity
Sometimes the environmental challenges facing our oceans seem so large that it's hard to know where to start solving them. Changes in climate, degradation of habitat and rising demand to feed an ever-growing world population are just a few of the daunting ocean-related problems our nation faces.
Genome evolution and carbon dioxide dynamics
Using the size of guard cells in fossil plants to predict how much DNA each cell contained (the genome size), researchers have discovered that variations in genome sizes over geological time correlate with atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
Crows do not plan their clever tricks
New Caledonian crows can spontaneously solve problems without planning their actions, a study published today in Proceedings of the Royal Society B reveals.
DNA's double stranded stretch
(Phys.org)—Theoretical physicists like to play with very unconventional toys. Manoel Manghi from Toulouse University in France and his colleagues have adopted a seemingly playful approach to examining what happens to a double stranded molecule of DNA when it is stretched to the breaking point, in a study about to be published in EPJ E. Instead of using optical tweezers to stretch DNA as previously done in experimental settings, the authors focused on using a theoretical model to account for the structural deformations of DNA and determine how its mechanical characteristics could explain certain biological processes.
Did the changing climate shrink Europe's ancient hippos?
Giant German hippopotamuses wallowing on the banks of the Elbe are not a common sight. Yet 1.8 million years ago hippos were a prominent part of European wildlife, when mega-fauna such as woolly mammoths and giant cave bears bestrode the continent. Now palaeontologists writing in Boreas, believe that the changing climate during the Pleistocene Era may have forced Europe's hippos to shrink to pygmy sizes before driving them to warmer climes.
New snake species found in a museum
Scandinavian scientists have discovered a new species of snake in a Copenhagen museum, which they have called the Mosaic sea snake, a Swedish university said on Thursday.
Male competition over females: An evolutionary engine of genital evolution
When a female mates with several males, these will compete over the fertilization her eggs. This is an important evolutionary force that has led to the evolution of a diversity of male sexual organ morphologies. This is revealed in a study of seed beetles published today in the leading scientific journal Current Biology.
Genetic tradeoff: Harmful genes are widespread in yeast but hold hidden benefits
The genes responsible for inherited diseases are clearly bad for us, so why hasn't evolution, over time, weeded them out and eliminated them from the human genome altogether? Part of the reason seems to be that genes that can harm us at one stage of our lives are necessary and beneficial to us at other points in our development.
Far from random, evolution follows a predictable genetic pattern, researchers find
Evolution, often perceived as a series of random changes, might in fact be driven by a simple and repeated genetic solution to an environmental pressure that a broad range of specieshappen to share, according to new research.
Study demonstrates impact of adversity on early life development
It is time to put the nature versus nurture debate to rest and embrace growing evidence that it is the interaction between biology and environment in early life that influences human development, according to a series of studies recently published in a special edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Traditional fisheries management approach jeopardizes marine ecosystems worldwide
In a Perspectives article, "The Risks of Overfishing," published in the journal Science, Dr. Ellen K. Pikitch, executive director of the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science and professor at Stony Brook University, cautions against continuing traditional fisheries management. According to Dr. Pikitch, current and recent studies demonstrate the need for "a more precautionary approach to fisheries management, in which fishing is restricted to those places and amounts where it can be conducted safely and with minimal risk of jeopardizing the integrity of marine ecosystems."
Researchers develop efficient, protein-based method for creating iPS cells
Coaxing a humble skin cell to become a jack-of-all-trades pluripotent stem cell is feat so remarkable it was honored earlier this month with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Stem cell pioneer Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD, showed that using a virus to add just four genes to the skin cell allowed it to become pluripotent, or able to achieve many different developmental fates. But researchers and clinicians have been cautious about promoting potential therapeutic uses for these cells because the insertion of the genes could render the cells cancerous.
Antibiotics that only partly block protein machinery allow germs to poison themselves
Powerful antibiotics that scientists and physicians thought stop the growth of harmful bacteria by completely blocking their ability to make proteins actually allow the germs to continue producing certain proteins—which may help do them in.
A clearer picture of how assassin bugs evolved
Assassin bugs, so named because these insects lie in ambush for prey that they attack with speed and precision, are found all over the world. Nearly 140 species of these bugs are blood-sucking; because they can bite humans around the mouth, they are also called kissing bugs. All kissing bugs can spread Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease that imposes an economic burden on society.
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