Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for November 9, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Galaxies without stars: The problem of the missing hydrogen in the early Universe- Study identifies how zebrafish regrow their brains
- VM researchers post rude awakening about virtualization security
- Chemistry researchers create self-tying knotted molecules in the lab
- New clue to combating fumigant resistance in insects
- New Australian telescope set to find 700,000 new galaxies
- A new way of making glass
- Understanding antibiotic resistance using crystallography and computation
- ADHD medicine affects the brain's reward system
- 'Connected' cars would aim to keep drivers in the loop
- A comparative medicine study identifies new approach to combat viral infections
- Scientists uncover a new pathway that regulates information processing in the brain
- Chevron says hit by Stuxnet virus in 2010
- Researchers suggest some emerging infectious diseases may have been around a long time
- X-48 Blended Wing Body research aircraft makes 100th test flight
Space & Earth news
New Zealand won't sign 'Kyoto 2' climate treaty
(AP)—New Zealand's government said Friday that it would not sign on for a second stage of the Kyoto Protocol climate treaty, a stance that angered environmentalists and political opponents.
Australia to sign up for Kyoto 2 Protocol
Key greenhouse gas emitter Australia on Friday said it will sign up for a second round of the Kyoto Protocol environmental protection treaty, but New Zealand opted out.
New space sensor as a hosted payload to track air pollution across North America
NASA has selected a proposal from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, Mass., to build the first space-based instrument to monitor major air pollutants across the North American continent hourly during daytime. The instrument, to be completed in 2017 at a cost of not more than $90 million, will share a ride on a commercial satellite as a hosted payload to an orbit about 22,000 miles above Earth's equator.
Scientist develops a test method for the measurement of soil microbial diversity
The doctoral dissertation of Milja Vepsäläinen, M.Sc. (microbiology), prepared at the Finnish Environment Institute, involved developing a test pattern designed to measure soil biological diversity. The aim is to measure the activity potential of enzymes produced by soil microbes. Enzymes regulate cycling of elements in soils, and measurement allows assessing the functional diversity of soils. In addition, the results may be used as an ecosystem indicator. Since very little data on the functional diversity of soils is available, there is a clear need for methods that enable the measurement of soil-related variables. The defence will be held on 9 November 2012, at 12 noon at Building of Forest Sciences on the Viikki Campus of the University of Helsinki.
Russian space chiefs shaken by graft probe
Russia's cash-strapped space industry appeared headed for a new shakedown on Friday after a top police official warned about a growing embezzlement probe against its management.
Expert: Forest fertilization can increase production, decrease carbon emissions
Fertilizing one's lawn is considered a necessary practice, as is with most agricultural crops. But how many people know about fertilizing a commercial forest, and how that might affect the environment and their investment?
Water, rest, water, save: Experts advise cycle-soak watering of lawns
A typical landscaped yard consists of lawn area and ornamental plants. If watered properly, homeowners can see the beauty, pocket some green and save some water, according to a Texas A&M University turfgrass professor.
NASA, ESA use experimental interplanetary internet to test robot from international space station
(Phys.org)— NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) successfully have used an experimental version of interplanetary Internet to control an educational rover from the International Space Station. The experiment used NASA's Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN) protocol to transmit messages and demonstrate technology that one day may enable Internet-like communications with space vehicles and support habitats or infrastructure on another planet.
Good news? Greenland is melting, but less quickly than predicted
The melting of the Greenland ice sheet is speeding up and 2012 already seems to be a record year in terms of this thawing. The potential consequences of this melt on the climate and on the rise of sea levels are such that the island of Greenland and its ice sheet have been the subject of close monitoring by researchers for a number of years. One of them, Xavier Fettweis, a climatology researcher at the University of Liège, has developed a mathematical model which studies different possible scenarios. Whilst this model confirms the acceleration of the thawing, it does not yet take into consideration a factor which has just been revealed in the journal Nature by American researchers working in part on the basis of venturing beyond the model designed by Xavier Fettweis.
NASA images reveal how Hurricane Sandy changed coastline in New Jersey
(Phys.org)—On October 29, 2012, lives were changed forever along the shores of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and in the two dozen United States affected by what meteorologists are calling Superstorm Sandy. The landscape of the East Coast was also changed, though no geologist would ever use the word "forever" when referring to the shape of a barrier island.
NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building prepared for multiple rockets
(Phys.org)—The Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida is undergoing renovations to accommodate future launch vehicles. A project of Ground Systems Development and Operations, or GSDO, space shuttle-era work platforms have been removed from the VAB's High Bay 3 and accommodations are being made to support a variety of future spacecraft, including NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) heavy-lift rocket. The changes are part of a centerwide modernization and refurbishment initiative in preparation for the next generation of human spaceflight.
Superstorm Sandy tracked by European Space Agency water mission
(Phys.org)—When millions of people are bracing themselves for the onslaught of extreme weather, as much information as possible is needed to predict the strength of the impending storm. ESA's SMOS mission again showed its versatility by capturing unique measurements of Hurricane Sandy.
Climate-related emissions from feedyards monitored in new study
An accurate estimation of nitrous oxide and methane emissions from beef cattle feedlots is an increasing concern given the current and potential future reporting requirements for greenhouse gas emissions.
Greenland rocks provide evidence of Earth formation process
(Phys.org)—Rocks dating back 3.4 billion years from south-west Greenland's Isua mountain range have yielded valuable information about the structure of the Earth during its earliest stages of development. In these rocks, which witnessed the first billion years of Earth's history, a French-Danish team led by researchers from the 'Magmas and Volcanoes' Laboratory (CNRS) have highlighted a lack of neodymium-142, an essential chemical element for the study of the Earth's formation. This deficit supports the hypothesis that between 100 and 200 million years after its formation, the Earth was made up of an ocean of molten magma, which gradually cooled. The work, which was carried out in collaboration with the Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon (CNRS) and the University of Copenhagen, was published on 1 November 2012, in the journal Nature.
Protecting astronauts from space radiation
(Phys.org)—The complexities of traveling to and working in space present challenges to astronauts that NASA scientists and engineers have been working on since Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first stepped on the moon more than 43 years ago.
New Australian telescope set to find 700,000 new galaxies
(Phys.org)—Australia's newest radio telescope is predicted to find an unprecedented 700,000 new galaxies, say scientists planning for CSIRO's next-generation Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP).
Galaxies without stars: The problem of the missing hydrogen in the early Universe
(Phys.org)—Hydrogen is the most common element in the Universe, making up 75% of all normal matter and the content of stars. Although stars themselves are hot, they can only form out of the coldest gas when a massive cloud of hydrogen can collapse under its own gravity until nuclear fusion starts – the fusing of atoms together which releases the huge amounts of energy we see as starlight.
Technology news
Official wants study of quake risks at nuke plants
(AP)—The new chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission says she supports a push to re-evaluate the earthquake risks at nuclear power plants.
Massive data storage resource to support Big Red II supercomputer
(Phys.org)—Indiana University today announced the successor to its internationally recognized Data Capacitor research data storage platform. The new system, called Data Capacitor II (DCII), is a five petabyte storage resource engineered to provide scientific researchers with high performance access to a robust storage facility. DCII will be used for a range of applications, including management of massive research data sets, high-scale data analysis, genomic sequencing and computational visualization.
Barack Obama, Twitter, and the 'intimization' of politics
2012's been quite a year for tweeters. First we had the Twitter Olympics. Now, Barack Obama's first impulse, on hearing of his re-election as President of the United States, was to tweet out thanks to the American electorate; soon followed with a joyous declaration of "four more years!", together with a photograph of the first couple embracing.
Australia abandons mandatory Internet filter plan
The Australian government has abandoned its 5-year-old pledge to mandate a filter blocking child pornography and other objectionable Internet content.
US video game sales drop 25 percent in October
(AP)—A research firm says U.S. retail sales of new video game hardware, software and accessories fell 25 percent in October.
Effective thermal energy storage system: Concrete layer in tanks will increase safety and production, cut costs
(Phys.org)—Engineering researchers at the University of Arkansas have developed a thermal energy storage system that will work as a viable alternative to current methods used for storing energy collected from solar panels. Incorporating the researchers' design into the operation of a concentrated solar power plant will dramatically increase annual energy production while significantly decreasing production costs.
Researcher develops computational text analysis method made possible regardless of language or domain
The Internet is awash with text. Databases swell larger and larger by the minute. How can the vast amount of textual data be systematically analysed and managed, as the number of languages, domains, styles and dialects is getting countless? The task is too much for the human brain. Traditional methods for textual analysis run short. What we need are statistical methods, data mining and machine learning.
Crowdsourcing feature lets iPhone users determine best time to cross US border
(Phys.org)—Next time you drive into the United States from Mexico or Canada, you may want to open a new iPhone app and provide an eyewitness account of how long you have to wait. That 'crowdsourced' information will then be made instantly available to other motorists and help future border crossers to decide the best time to cross the border by car or truck. This iReport data is meshed with the data on wait times at the border from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to improve the accuracy of the wait times.
Competing to create a more energy-efficient air conditioner
A University of California, Davis, challenge to build more energy efficient air conditioning has spurred a major global manufacturer to build a rooftop air conditioner that is 40 percent more energy-efficient than conventional units.
Stress alarm lets smoke-divers know when their bodies have reached the limit
Smoke-divers are exposed to high temperatures, physical exhaustion and stress, and they can easily exceed the limits of what good health can tolerate. A new method based on measurements made by a wireless sensor system lets them know when the body has had enough.
Review: Windows Phone 8 an upgrade with some failings
Lauded by many critics, but struggling to catch on with consumers, Microsoft's Windows Phone smartphone software has gotten an overhaul.
Expert's report on economic and environmental advantages of High Capacity Vehicles
Award-winning research by a transport and logistics expert at the University of Huddersfield has shown that there would be economic and environmental benefits to individual companies and the country if the UK changed the rules to allow high capacity vehicles (HCVs) on to its roads.
Getting a Qloo on where to find similar tastes
Trolling the Internet is an obsession for millions. Joy of discovery is often the journey's reward. That's the premise of Qloo (pronounced "clue"), a new website and soon-to-be app for iPhone, iPad and Android devices that make recommendations based on your affinities.
New lows for daily deals firm Groupon
Groupon shares plunged to their lowest level since the online deals giant went public a year ago, as analysts offered a harsh response to a disappointing earnings report.
Google service disrupted in China
Google on Friday reported unexplained disruptions to its service in China.
Chevron says hit by Stuxnet virus in 2010
Oil giant Chevron was struck by the Stuxnet virus, a sophisticated cyber attack that tore through Iran's nuclear facilities and is believed to have been launched by the United States and Israel.
X-48 Blended Wing Body research aircraft makes 100th test flight
(Phys.org)—The Boeing X-48 Blended Wing Body subscale research aircraft made its 100th flight in late October at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
'Connected' cars would aim to keep drivers in the loop
While Google's self-driving car is getting heaps of attention, a lesser-known effort that would employ cutting-edge technologies to make regular automobiles safer is fast gaining traction.
VM researchers post rude awakening about virtualization security
(Phys.org)—A virtual machine stealing information from another virtual machine running on the same piece of hardware? That's not supposed to happen. Virtual machines run various tasks on a single computer rather than relying on a separate machine to run each one. The assumption is that one can't eavesdrop or tamper with the other. But now a technique reported in a paper, "Cross-VM Side Channels and Their Use to Extract Private Keys," by Yinqian Zhang of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and computer scientist colleagues from the University of North Carolina, University of Wisconsin, and RSA Laboratories, suggests a different story.
Medicine & Health news
Molecular 'portraits' of tumours match patients with trials in everyday clinical practice
Researchers in France are taking advantage of the progress in genetic and molecular profiling to analyse the make-up of individual cancer patients' tumours and, using this information, assign them to particular treatments and phase I clinical trials—an approach that could become part of everyday clinical practice.
Patient preferences often ignored in treatment decisions, warn experts
Patients' preferences are often misinterpreted or ignored in treatment decisions, leading to a "silent misdiagnosis" that is damaging to both doctors and patients, warn experts on BMJ today.
UK funding for infectious disease research neglects key areas of disease
The research undertaken by researchers at University College, Imperial College, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is the first ever detailed assessment of infectious diseases investments made by funding organisations to UK institutions. The study shows that gastrointestinal infections, antimicrobial resistance, and some neglected tropical diseases such as trachoma, the commonest infectious cause of blindness globally, receive particularly low levels of investment from UK funders, relative to the disability and death that they cause.
Central and southern living might turn you vegetarian
Meat lovers living in the central and southern regions of the country might be opting for a vegetarian lifestyle if meat comes with an unwanted side of a life-threatening allergic reaction. According to a study presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), the lone star tick inhabiting these regions is the primary reason for what's known as a meat induced alpha-gal allergic reaction.
A potentially deadly reason to seek preventive health care
Emergency rooms are more crowded than ever, with more than 136 million people making a trip annually. According to a study presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) 2012 Annual Scientific Meeting, some of these trips may be preventable under the regular care of an allergist. Such care may also save lives.
The Internet becomes next Nostradamus for allergy season
While it's believed that Nostradamus' prophecies predicted many historical events, his digital successor, the Internet, may be foreseeing the height of allergy suffering. According to allergist Leonard Bielory, M.D., American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) board member, Google search volume is shedding light on the most common allergy symptoms, when searches peak and how they pertain to pollen types.
Report aims to prevent medical misdiagnoses and under treatment
With today's modern medicine, misdiagnoses may be unexpected and surprising. But when symptoms of an unknown and uncommon illness mimic a number of other conditions, it can be difficult for medical professionals to properly diagnose and treat patients. That's why four leading allergy/immunology organizations have announced the release of a report to help set a new standard for a commonly misdiagnosed, under-recognized and under treated condition known as angioedema, the rapid swelling of deep layers of skin and tissue.
US city plans to provide transgender surgeries
(AP)—San Francisco is preparing to become the first U.S. city to provide and cover the cost of sex reassignment surgeries for uninsured transgender residents.
Child disease cases up in Vietnam, fatalities down
(AP)—Vietnam has recorded more cases of hand, foot and mouth disease this year than in 2011, but the fatality rate has decreased sharply.
New website will assist people with dementia
Researchers from McMaster and the University of Waterloo have developed a new website to help those living with dementia navigate the journey.
People with natural immunity to HIV may serve as basis for new vaccine
(Medical Xpress)—Despite urgent need and tremendous scientific effort, researchers have yet to discover a vaccine for HIV that adequately protects humans from infection. But some people don't need one. For reasons not completely understood, there are individuals who have developed a natural immunity to the virus without any medical intervention.
UN sounds alarm on South Sudan hepatitis E outbreak
The UN's refugee agency warned Friday that an outbreak of hepatitis E among refugees in South Sudan was worsening and that it did not have the needed funds to contain it.
Italy lifts ban on Novartis flu vaccines
Italian health authorities on Friday lifted a ban on the sale of flu vaccines made by Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis, saying that tests had shown they were not a health risk.
High-quality personal relationships improve survival in women with breast cancer
The quality of a woman's social networks—the personal relationships that surround an individual—appears to be just as important as the size of her networks in predicting breast cancer survival, Kaiser Permanente scientists report in the current issue of Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.
Considerable added benefit of ipilimumab in advanced melanoma
The humanized antibody ipilimumab (trade name Yervoy) has been approved since August 2011 for the treatment of adult patients with advanced melanoma (black skin cancer) who have already been treated. The term "advanced" means that the melanoma can no longer be removed by an operation or that metastases have formed. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has examined the added benefit of the drug pursuant to the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG). According to the findings, the drug offers major advantages with respect to overall survival, but is accompanied by major potential harm in the form of side effects. The overall conclusion is that ipilimumab offers considerable added benefit.
Belatacept after a kidney transplant: Minor added benefit for certain patients
Belatacept (trade name Nulojix) has been approved since June 2011 to prevent a rejection reaction of the body to the donor organ (transplant) in adults who have received a kidney transplant. The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has examined the added benefit of the drug pursuant to the "Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products" (AMNOG).
Vandetanib in thyroid cancer: No proof of added benefit
Vandetanib (trade name Caprelsa) has been approved in Germany since February 2012 for adult patients suffering from a particular form of aggressive thyroid cancer. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has now examined the added benefit of the drug pursuant to the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG). According to the findings, there is no proof of added benefit, because no data on patient-relevant outcomes for those patients for whom the drug is approved were presented by the drug manufacturer in its dossier. In view of these deficiencies, IQWiG considered itself compelled to declare the contents of the dossier as "incomplete".
First trial in humans of 'minicells': A completely new way of delivering anti-cancer drugs
A completely new way of delivering anti-cancer drugs to tumours, using 'minicells' derived from bacteria, has been tested for the first time in humans and found to be safe, well-tolerated and even induced stable disease in patients with advanced, incurable cancers with no treatment options remaining.
Mesothelioma drug slows disease progression in patients with an inactive NF2 gene
Preliminary findings from the first trial of a new drug for patients with mesothelioma show that it has some success in preventing the spread of the deadly disease in patients lacking an active tumour suppressor gene called NF2. The study is presented at the 24th EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Dublin, Ireland, today (Friday).
Clinical trials for bacterial meningitis treatments are not keeping pace with the rise of resistance
New vaccines and drug treatments are urgently needed for bacterial meningitis, a devastating disease which kills or maims around a fifth of people who contract it, according to medical experts writing in a new Series on bacterial meningitis, published in The Lancet.
Pregnancy and birth complications more likely in mothers with bipolar disorder
Babies born to mothers with bipolar disorder are at increased risk of preterm birth (before 37 weeks) a study published today on BMJ website suggests.
Novel type 2 diabetes genetic study involves five major ancestry groups
A consortium of scientists who are taking a novel approach in their research to detect the genetic variations that predispose individuals to type 2 diabetes provided an update of their findings at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 2012 meeting.
Minimally invasive lymph node dissection in breast cancer has advantages over conventional surgery
Axillary lymph node dissection is done in conjunction with lumpectomy or mastectomy to determine if breast cancer has spread to the adjoining lymph nodes. The conventional surgical approach leaves a surgical scar that is unattractive and can restrict range of motion in the shoulder joint. Also, squeezing and pulling the tumor during the breast operation can stimulate tumor cell metastases. A new study in the December issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings reports that an endoscopic technique, mastoscopic axillary lymph node dissection (MALND), can reduce these complications.
The year 2040: Double the pollen, double the allergy suffering?
With this year's unseasonably warm temperatures and extended seasons, many have coined 2012 as being the worst for allergies. But if you thought your symptoms were worse than ever, just wait until the year 2040.
Blackberry vs. iPhone—There is a winner, for your health
The Blackberry vs. iPhone battle has been ongoing since Apple's 2007 phone debut, with no end in sight. That is until today. According to a study being presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), there is a clear winner when it comes to your health.
An egg a day to keep allergies away
Avoiding sweet treats like pumpkin bread and cookies this holiday season might not be necessary for children with egg allergies. New studies presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting found 56 percent of allergic children can tolerate baked hen's egg, while 55 percent outgrow their egg allergy entirely.
Respiratory symptoms vary according to stage of menstrual cycle
Respiratory symptoms vary significantly during different stages of the menstrual cycle, with higher frequencies during the mid-luteal to mid-follicular stages, according to a new study.
Socioeconomic status linked to childhood peanut allergy
Peanut allergies are rising among American children and one reason might be due to economic status. According to a new study presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting, greater rates of peanut allergy are found in families with higher economic status. This supports the "hygiene hypothesis" of many allergists.
Malaria vaccine a letdown for infants (Update)
An experimental malaria vaccine once thought promising is turning out to be a disappointment, with a new study showing it is only about 30 percent effective at protecting infants from the killer disease.
HPV vaccine may benefit HIV-infected women, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—Women with HIV may benefit from a vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV), despite having already been exposed to HPV, a study finds. Although many may have been exposed to less serious forms of HPV, more than 45 percent of sexually active young women who have acquired HIV appear never to have been exposed to the most common high-risk forms of HPV, according to the study from a National Institutes of Health research network.
Robots being used as classroom buddies for children with autism
(Medical Xpress)—Robots are being used as classroom buddies for children with autism in a groundbreaking initiative that aims to improve social interaction and communication.
Research shows binge drinking inhibits brain development
(Medical Xpress)—Teenagers who binge drink risk inhibiting part of their brain's development and many are laying the groundwork for alcoholism down the track a Queensland University of Technology (QUT) researcher has found.
Fat-derived stem cells hold potential for regenerative medicine
(Medical Xpress)—As researchers work on reconfiguring cells to take on new regenerative properties, a new review from Penn Medicine plastic surgeons sheds additional light on the potential power of adipose-derived stem cells - or adult stem cells harvested from fatty tissue - in reconstructive and regenerative medicine.
SMART Arm helps stroke survivors recover faster
(Medical Xpress)—A non-robotic device that helps stroke survivors regain upper limb movement is expected to be commercially available in Australia within the next 12 months.
94-year-old man among first to get implant restoring some vision lost to macular degeneration
(Medical Xpress)—Ask most people to describe a telescope and they might imagine a large device in an observatory training its penetrating gaze into outer space.
Mental fatigue impairs midbrain function in cocaine-addicted individuals, researchers find
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have revealed a new connection between drug addiction and a distinct part of the brain that may govern motivation. The research, published October 23, 2012, in Translational Psychiatry as an Advance Online Publication, shows that individuals addicted to cocaine have abnormal functioning of the midbrain, a brain region responsible for releasing dopamine in the presence of important stimuli, such as food, to make individuals repeat the behaviors that would result in obtaining these stimuli again.
Norovirus disinfection: How much is enough?
A variety of institutions and governments have developed "commonsense-based" disinfection guidelines to control norovirus contamination, but now, for the first time, a Dutch team has come up with science-based guidelines. The research is published in the November 2012 issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
Antibiotics disrupt gut flora in infants: Recovery still incomplete after 8 weeks
Eight weeks after antibiotic treatment of infants, the diversity of gastrointestinal flora remained diminished, although the number of individual bacteria was back to normal, according to a paper in the November 2012 issue of the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. Additionally, the potentially disease-causing Proteobacteria were now the dominant population in the treated infants.
Grape seed extract bollixes norovirus
Norovirus causes more than half of all food-born illnesses in the United States, and is the second greatest source of reported food borne illness outbreaks in the European Union. A recent study found that grape seed extract could reduce the infectivity of Norovirus surrogates (Norovirus surrogates are viruses that share pathological and/or biological features with human norovirus). Now, Dan Li of Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium and collaborators have shown that grape seed extract does so by denaturing the capsid protein, which is the coat of the virus, thereby disabling the virus. The research is published in the November 2012 issue of Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
Dermatitis could be suppressed as it develops
Excessive immune reactions against the body's own skin cells can lead to painful and even chronic dermatitis. An international team of researchers at the MedUni Vienna, the MedUni Graz and the Salk Institute in California, led by Herbert Strobl, has now unencrypted the mechanism that contributes towards this unwanted autoimmune reaction being suppressed. This may in future lead to common conditions such as chronic allergic dermatitis or psoriasis being halted as they develop and treated.
Two heads are better than one: Gene expression reveals molecular mechanisms underlying evolution of cerebral cortex
Dramatic expansion of the human cerebral cortex, over the course of evolution, accommodated new areas for specialized cognitive function, including language. Understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying these changes, however, remains a challenge to neuroscientists.
Rapid Rehab: Smart insole to correct walking abnormalities
(Medical Xpress)—Move over Nike Plus. University of Utah (the U) professor Stacy Bamberg, of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, is developing a shoe insole that can gather comparable data to Nike's popular line of high-tech sneakers and does more than track laps and airtime. The new insole, which Bamberg calls the Rapid Rehab system, will eventually help correct walking problems for people with artificial legs, hip replacements and broken legs.
Vitamin D2 could hold vital key to arresting development of Alzheimer's disease
Scientists at London's Kingston University have uncovered evidence that lack of a particular form of vitamin D is associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Disc disease severity doesn't predict surgical outcomes
(HealthDay)—Increasing severity of degenerative disc disease (DDD) does not impact outcomes in total lumbar disc replacement (TDR), according to a study published in the November issue of the European Spine Journal.
Conical fiber tips best for cutting efficacy in oral surgery
(HealthDay)—For oral surgery, conical shaped fiber tips improve the quality and efficacy of diode laser cutting, according to a study published online Nov. 5 in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
rhC1INH cuts attack frequency in hereditary angioedema
(HealthDay)—For patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE), weekly administration of recombinant C1INH (rhC1INH) is well tolerated and is associated with a reduction in attack frequency, according to a study published online Nov. 5 in Allergy.
Mammogram interpretation agreement varies by finding
(HealthDay)—Agreement between community-based radiologists and an expert radiology panel for interpreting mammograms is high for cancer cases and obvious findings, but is low for subtle and asymmetric lesions, calcifications, asymmetric densities, and architectural distortions, according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.
Another study links 'Sexting' to sexual activity in teens
(HealthDay)—A new study of Dutch teens finds that few of them frequently engage in risky online activity related to sex, such as sending naked photos to strangers and searching for sex partners, but those who do are more prone to have casual sex in real life.
ASHG: 16 additional loci ID'd for coronary artery disease
(HealthDay)—Meta-analyses have identified an additional 16 loci with genome-wide significance for coronary artery disease (CAD), according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, held from Nov. 6 to 10 in San Francisco.
Single vaginal delivery ups later risk of pelvic organ prolapse
(HealthDay)—Twenty years after childbirth, the risk of symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (sPOP) is increased after a single vaginal delivery versus cesarean section, according to a study published online Nov. 2 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Time, cost of plans to improve patient flow in the ER vary
(HealthDay)—Adoption of patient flow improvement strategies designed to reduce emergency department overcrowding involve a variable amount of time and expenditure, with nurses playing a key role in planning and implementing strategies, according to research published in the September issue of the Journal of Emergency Nursing.
How infection can trigger autoimmune disease
Australian scientists have confirmed a 'weak link' in the immune system – identifying the exact conditions under which an infection can trigger an autoantibody response, a process not clearly understood until now.
Hunting neuron killers in Alzheimer's and traumatic brain injury
Levels of the protein appoptosin in the brain skyrocket in Alzheimer's disease and traumatic brain injury. Appoptosin is known for helping the body make heme, the molecule that carries iron in the blood. In a study published Oct. 31 in the Journal of Neuroscience, Huaxi Xu, Ph.D. and his group at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute discovered that excess heme leads to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species and triggers apoptosis, causing neurons to die.
A scientific explanation to why people perform better after receiving a compliment
A team of Japanese scientists have found scientific proof that people doing exercises appear to perform better when another person compliments them.
Link found between child prodigies and autism
(Medical Xpress)—A new study of eight child prodigies suggests a possible link between these children's special skills and autism.
New mechanism of action for PARP inhibitors discovered
New understanding of how drugs called PARP inhibitors, which have already shown promise for the treatment of women with familial breast and ovarian cancers linked to BRCA mutations, exert their anticancer effects has led to the identification of ways in which the patient population that might benefit from PARP inhibitors could be expanded.
Researchers identify novel metabolic programs driving aggressive brain tumors
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have identified metabolic signatures that may pave the way for personalized therapy in glioma, a type of tumor that starts in the brain.
Study questions the relevance of SCIP benchmarks among CABG patients
Cardiothoracic surgeons and endocrinologists from Boston Medical Center (BMC) have found that among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, achieving Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) benchmarks for glycemic control may be irrelevant when perioperative continuous insulin infusion protocols are implemented. These findings appear on-line in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.
Kids need at least 7 minutes a day of 'vigorous' physical activity, but most aren't getting that
Children need a minimum of seven minutes a day of vigorous physical activity, demonstrates recently published findings by University of Alberta medical researchers and their colleagues across Canada.
Painful truths about genital injuries
A comprehensive survey of genital injuries over the last decade involving mishaps with consumer products like clothing, furniture, tools and toys that brought U.S. adults to emergency rooms reveals that such injuries are common and may be preventable, according to doctors at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).
Drinking green tea with starchy food may help lower blood sugar spikes
An ingredient in green tea that helps reduce blood sugar spikes in mice may lead to new diet strategies for people, according to Penn State food scientists.
Researchers find that infants mimic unusual behavior when accompanied by language
(Medical Xpress)—A new Northwestern University study shows the power of language in infants' ability to understand the intentions of others.
The perils of delivering anti-malarial drugs through private sector examined
(Medical Xpress)—Getting high-quality anti-malarial drugs to people in places like Zanzibar and Mozambique is a tricky business.
Extra chromosome 21 removed from Down syndrome cell line
(Medical Xpress)—University of Washington scientists have succeeded in removing the extra copy of chromosome 21 in cell cultures derived from a person with Down syndrome, a condition in which the body's cells contain three copies of chromosome 21 rather than the usual pair.
Researchers suggest some emerging infectious diseases may have been around a long time
(Medical Xpress)—A genetics research team led by Pardis Sabeti of Harvard University has published a paper in the journal Science, suggesting that some infectious diseases that are thought to be relatively new, may in fact have been around for thousands of years. They claim they have genetic evidence that shows that some diseases such as Ebola and Lassa, which some believe first began infecting people in just the past half century, likely have been around for hundreds and in some cases thousands of years.
ADHD medicine affects the brain's reward system
(Medical Xpress)—A group of scientists from the University of Copenhagen has created a model that shows how some types of ADHD medicine influence the brain's reward system. The model makes it possible to understand the effect of the medicine and perhaps in the longer term to improve the development of medicine and dose determination. The new research results have been published in the Journal of Neurophysiology.
A comparative medicine study identifies new approach to combat viral infections
When a virus such as influenza invades our bodies, interferon proteins are among the first immune molecules produced to fight off the attack. Interferon can also play a role in suppressing tumor growth and the effects of autoimmune diseases, and doctors may use an artificial form of interferon to treat patients with certain cancers or multiple sclerosis. But even this approach sometimes fails when patients' bodies reject the foreign interferon or growing resistant to its effects.
Scientists uncover a new pathway that regulates information processing in the brain
Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have identified a new pathway that appears to play a major role in information processing in the brain. Their research also offers insight into how imbalances in this pathway could contribute to cognitive abnormalities in humans.
Study identifies how zebrafish regrow their brains
(Medical Xpress)—An international team of scientists has discovered the mechanism by which zebrafish can re-grow brain neurons after they have suffered traumatic brain injury, and that this mechanism is associated with inflammation.
Biology news
Spraying insecticide? There's an app for that
Applying pesticides is no simple task. With dozens of manufacturers producing dozens of different types of spray technology—each with its own nozzle type, flow rate, and pressure setting range—the equipment can get pretty complicated. Adjusting equipment to the right settings can involve factoring in wind speed, air temperature, flight speed, and humidity.
Identification of gene that promotes differentiation of pluripotential cells through analysis of classical mouse mutant
Researchers at RIKEN BioResource Center and their colleagues identified a gene required for growth and differentiation of pluripotential cells in the mouse embryos. The gene, Vps52, is a mouse homolog of yeast VPS52 that is thought to be involved in the retrograde endocytic trafficking. The research group found that Vps52 promotes differentiation of pluripotential cells including ES cells via cell-cell interactions, revealing hitherto unknown functions of Vps52 in development of a multicellular organism. The findings, which appear in the journal Cell Reports, should provide clues to the interrelations between endocytic machinery and developmental cell signaling in mammalian embryos, and also contribute to development of technologies that facilitates manipulation of pluripotent stem cells such as ES (embryonic stem) cells and iPS (induced pluripotent stem) cells.
DNA analyses may help select the best breeds by predicting how beef will taste once it reaches our palate
Using state-of-the art genomics to predict whether a piece of beef will be tender enough may sound excessive. Until now, the meat industry has been using low-tech methods to assess beef quality, based on carcass weight, hanging method and pattern of muscle fat stripes, also known as marbling. However, traditional approaches may lack competitiveness at an industrial scale. "The meat industry needs more precise and consistent ways to predict the quality of beef before it reaches the shelves," Geraldine Duffy, tells youris.com. She is the Head of food safety at the Teagasc Food Research Centre in Dublin, Ireland, who coordinates the EU-funded project ProsafeBeef.
Study: Colostrum health benefits for dairy calves not affected by cold storage
Fresh, refrigerated or frozen, colostrum still is the best thing dairy owners can feed newborn calves, according to a joint study by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the University of Florida.
Two new emperor penguin colonies in Antarctica
While about 2500 chicks of emperor penguins are raised this year at the colony close to the French Dumont d'Urville Station, two new colonies totalling 6000 chicks have just been observed about 250 km away, near Mertz Glacier by the scientists Dr André Ancel and Dr Yvon Ancel, from the Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien in Strasbourg (CNRS and Université de Strasbourg). Since a pair of emperor penguins may only successfully raise one chick a year, the population of breeding emperor penguins in this area of the Antarctic can therefore be estimated to more than about 8500 pairs, about three fold that previously thought.
Cellular 'tug of war' creates the foundation for the embryonic central nervous system
In developing vertebrates, the brain and spinal cord originate from an embryonic structure known as the neural tube. This initially forms as a flat 'neural plate', which subsequently folds around and closes up to form a tubular structure. By performing an extensive series of experiments in developing chick embryos, Masatoshi Takeichi and his team at the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, has now revealed valuable insights into the mechanism underlying the closure process.
Gannets could be affected by offshore energy developments
Scientists at the University of Liverpool have discovered that proposed offshore renewable energy developments in the English Channel have the potential to affect the foraging behaviour of northern gannets from Alderney in the Channel Islands.
Ash disease 'cannot be eradicated': UK minister
A deadly disease threatening swathes of ash trees in Britain cannot be eradicated, the environment secretary admitted on Friday as he announced plans to stem the growing problem.
New clue to combating fumigant resistance in insects
(Phys.org)—New research, published today in prestigious journal Science, has identified the gene responsible for an insect's resistance to a major fumigant used by Australia's grain industry for insect free grain.
Scientists discover possible building blocks of ancient genetic systems
Scientists believe that prior to the advent of DNA as the earth's primary genetic material, early forms of life used RNA to encode genetic instructions. What sort of genetic molecules did life rely on before RNA?
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