Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for December 7, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- New understanding of how we see colors- Study finds protein in platelets fight malaria but only for some people
- New Indiegogo project KUBI turns tablets into telepresence devices
- Smartphones as seismometers intrigue Berkeley researchers
- What happens to plant growth when you remove gravity?
- X-ray resonance scattering can reveal the magnetic properties of transition metal oxides made out of heavy elements
- Future grim for 'biggest and most magnificent' trees
- X-ray vision can reveal the moment of birth of violent supernovae
- Black boxes in cars raise privacy concerns
- A 'regular hexagonal pattern' was found in a plant-parasitic nematode worm
- What howler monkeys can tell us about the role of interbreeding in human evolution
- Greenland ice sheet carries evidence of increased atmospheric acidity
- Massive crevasses and bendable ice affect stability of Antarctic ice shelf, research team finds
- Echidna insight into evolution of embryo growth
- Caltech engineers invent light-focusing device
Space & Earth news
SPECT maps 3-D changes in soil samples, may shed light on bioremediation
The same medical imaging technology that doctors use to noninvasively image the heart and brain is now giving scientists a close-up view of the subsurface world. Berkeley Lab scientists are developing a way to use Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography, or SPECT, to map 3-D changes in sediment samples without disturbing them.
Post-Sandy, hurricanes and hospitality examined
As Hurricane Sandy battered the East Coast in late October, members of the hotel community reevaluated trends the tourism industry can expect in the upcoming months.
UN climate talks go into overtime in Qatar (Update)
(AP)—Nearly 200 countries haggling over how to stop climate change—and how to pay for it—failed to reach a deal on schedule Friday, setting the stage for the wrangling to continue late into the night.
Antibiotic-eating bug unearthed in soil
It's well known how bacteria exposed to antibiotics for long periods will find ways to resist the drugs—by quickly pumping them out of their cells, for instance, or modifying the compounds so they're no longer toxic.
AP Exclusive: Japan scientists took utility money
(AP)—Influential scientists who help set Japan's radiation exposure limits have for years had trips paid for by the country's nuclear plant operators to attend overseas meetings of the world's top academic group on radiation safety.
Next for Mars rover: Mountain mapping
All of planet Earth seemed to follow the rover Curiosity's harrowing descent to the surface of Mars. Curiosity's early discoveries showed that liquid water once flowed on the Martian surface, but the big discoveries still lie ahead, including Mount Sharp, three miles high. Ralph Milliken, a participating scientist on the Curiosity mission, has returned to Brown and talked with Kevin Stacey about what lies ahead for Curiosity. The Curiosity rover has been a near constant presence in the news since it arrived on the surface of the Red Planet in August. But even with everything Curiosity has done already, its most exciting days lie ahead, says Brown University geologist Ralph Milliken.
New Earth at night images reveal global light pollution problem
NASA's new 'Black Marble' images of the nighttime Earth aren't so black. They reveal that our globe is heavily littered with excessive and wasteful lighting that produces light pollution – a bright glow over our cities that not only masks the stars but wastes vast amounts of energy. Fixing the problem would cut greenhouse gas emissions, save money, lessen our impact on the natural world, and improve visibility on the ground.
Toxic cloud in Buenos Aires under control
A toxic cloud that formed Thursday triggered a public scare that forced the evacuation of offices in Buenos Aires and the suspension of metro and train services in a tourist area.
Haymeadows are good for the environment, researchers say
(Phys.org)—Traditional haymeadows are much better at supporting biodiversity and preventing water pollution than intensively farmed fields according to research from Lancaster University.
NASA casts infrared eye on Southern Indian Ocean's Tropical Cyclone Claudia
The third tropical cyclone in the Southern Indian Ocean has been renamed Tropical Cyclone Claudia as NASA's Aqua satellite passed overhead.The AIRS instrument on Aqua captured infrared imagery of Claudia over two days that showed the western quadrant is most powerful part of the cyclone.
NASA infrared data shows Typhoon Bopha re-strengthened in South China Sea
The deadly typhoon that caused almost 300 deaths in the southern Philippines is making a loop in the South China Sea, and infrared NASA satellite data indicated that Bopha re-intensified.
Future grim for 'biggest and most magnificent' trees
Across the world, big old trees face a dire future globally from agriculture, logging, habitat fragmentation, exotic invaders, and the effects of climate change, warn leading scientists in an article published this week in Science magazine.
X-ray vision can reveal the moment of birth of violent supernovae
A team of astronomers led by the University of Leicester has uncovered new evidence that suggests that X-ray detectors in space could be the first to witness new supernovae that signal the death of massive stars.
Greenland ice sheet carries evidence of increased atmospheric acidity
(Phys.org)—Research has shown a decrease in levels of the isotope nitrogen-15 in core samples from Greenland ice starting around the time of the Industrial Revolution. The decrease has been attributed to a corresponding increase in nitrates associated with the burning of fossil fuels.
Massive crevasses and bendable ice affect stability of Antarctic ice shelf, research team finds
Gaping crevasses that penetrate upward from the bottom of the largest remaining ice shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula make it more susceptible to collapse, according to University of Colorado Boulder researchers who spent the last four Southern Hemisphere summers studying the massive floating sheet of ice that covers an area twice the size of Massachusetts.
Smartphones as seismometers intrigue Berkeley researchers
(Phys.org)—Researchers at the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory want to table smartphones as pocket-sized seismometers. The phones used as warning systems could make a life or death difference in the seconds one might have before meeting up with the next event. "We are trying to set up a whole new network of smartphones so we can use the accelerometers in the smartphones to detect earthquakes," a team spokesman told BBC News. With so many devices in circulation, detailed information could be known on who felt what, where.
Technology news
What an unmanned aerial vehicle can do with depth perception
When a person reaches out to place an object in just the right place, their mind makes a series of judgments requiring vision, stability and careful movement. Trying to do the same thing robotically from a hovering unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) requires several technology advances. A DARPA-funded technology demonstration recently finished a successful testing of vision-driven robotic-arm payload emplacement using MLB Company's (Santa Clara, California) tail-sitter UAV, V-Bat. This UAV is capable of both hover and wing-borne flight, making the delivery and precision emplacement of a payload possible. A special robotic arm was designed with the capability of carrying up to 1 pound.
Growth in Internet complicated privacy: Leveson
Justice Brian Leveson, who led the inquiry into Britain's phone-hacking scandal, said Friday the Internet's growth had complicated debate about mass media privacy, with no easy solution.
A driverless electric shuttle makes its way through the EPFL campus
Created by the French society Induct, Navia shuttles are designed to transport people over the "first and last miles" of a journey. EPFL's Innovation Square hosts a Research and Development team for Induct and will use its first vehicle for education and experiment, before setting up a real transportation service on the campus.
Judge mulls reduced award in Samsung-Apple case
A US judge on Thursday pressed Apple to convince her why the billion dollars a jury ordered Samsung to pay for patent infringement weren't excessive.
Kenyan reserve to fly drones to tackle rhino poachers
One of Kenya's best known private game reserves in Kenya announced Friday a plan to fly unmanned surveillance drones to monitor and protect critically endangered rhinos from rampant poaching.
Parents want more online protections for children, privacy groups say
Parents object to the collecting of personal information from children under 13 when they are online and using mobile devices, according to a new survey conducted by two privacy groups ahead of a vote from federal regulators on whether to strengthen privacy rules that protect children.
Cisco grabs for 'No. 1 IT company' crown
(AP)—Cisco Systems Inc. isn't content to be the world's largest maker of computer networking gear. It says it wants to become the "No. 1" supplier of information technology to big businesses by broadening its offerings of services and software.
Italian tax police raid Facebook offices
Italian police on Friday raided the Milan offices of US social media giant Facebook over possible violations of tax laws, Italian media reported.
Italy raids target mafia moves on wind, solar farms
Italian police on Friday arrested six people in an operation to combat the penetration of mafia families in the renewable energy sector in Sicily.
Taiwan's Formosa wins appeal on plant conditions
Taiwan's leading conglomerate Formosa Plastics said Friday it won an appeal against strict environmental conditions the government imposed on the building of a $180 million petrochemical plant.
Netflix faces US penalty for CEO Facebook comments
Online video giant Netflix said Thursday it faces a possible penalty from US regulators for comments made by its top executive on his Facebook account about subscriber activity.
FCC plans to make 911 texts available by May 2014
(AP)—The Federal Communications Commission says the nation's four largest wireless carriers have agreed to make emergency 911 texts available nationwide by May 2014.
US video game sales drop 11 pct in November
(AP)—U.S. retail sales of new video-game hardware, software and accessories fell 11 percent in November.
Why is Wall Street losing its appetite for Apple?
(AP)—This holiday season is shaping up to be a record-breaking period for Apple as shoppers snap up iPhones and iPads. So, why is the world's most valuable company losing its luster with investors?
Study of social network 'check-ins' shows that geographic proximity is still the strongest predictor of friendship
(Phys.org)—The closer you live to another person, the more likely you are to be friends with them despite the growing use and impact of social media, according to a study that drew on data from the location-based social network provider Gowalla. The study, by researchers within the Social Cognitive Network Academic Research Center (SCNARC) at Rensselaer, also showed that people tend to move in groups of friends, and that two people chosen at random at a specific event (like a concert or at a particular store) are unlikely to be friends.
Black boxes in cars raise privacy concerns
(AP)—Many motorists do not know it, but it is likely that every time they get behind the wheel, there's a snitch along for the ride.
Medicine & Health news
CBT proves effective at reducing depression in people who have not responded to antidepressants
"Until now, there was little evidence to help clinicians choose the best next step treatment for those patients whose symptoms do not respond to standard drug treatments", says Nicola Wiles from the University of Bristol who led the research.
New IDSA guidelines aim to reduce death, disability, and cost of prosthetic joint infections
Of the one million people each year who get hips and knees replaced, as many as 20,000 will get an infection in the new joint, a number that is expected to skyrocket in the next 20 years. Multispecialty physician teams need to work together to reduce disability, death and costs associated with the ever-growing number of these prosthetic joint infections, note the first guidelines on the topic being released by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).
New predictive method can greatly reduce complications in hemodialysis of kidney patients
(Medical Xpress)—Approximately two million people around the world regularly undergo hemodialysis – blood purification outside the body – as a result of kidney failure. This usually involves creating a dialysis fistula – a connection between an artery and a vein – in the patient's arm. However this causes complications in as many as 50% of patients, primarily related to changes in blood flow. Researcher Maarten Merkx of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) has developed a system that automatically images the blood vessels in the arm and calculates the expected blood flow through the dialysis fistula. This makes it easy for physicians to find the best surgical strategy to insert the dialysis fistula with minimal chance of complications. Merkx gained his PhD on Monday 3 December for this research.
Existing drugs may help more breast cancer patients
More patients can benefit from highly effective breast cancer drugs that are already available, according to DNA sequencing studies by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and other institutions.
Study confirms fewer, bigger doses of radiotherapy benefit breast cancer patients
A lower total dose of radiotherapy, delivered in fewer, larger treatments, is as safe and effective at treating early breast cancer as the international standard dose, according to the 10-year follow-up results of a major Cancer Research UK trial presented at the 2012 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium today (Thursday).
Hypofractionated radiotherapy was safe, effective for early breast cancer treatment at 10-year follow-up
Appropriately dosed hypofractionated radiotherapy was gentle on healthy tissues and effective in controlling local-regional early breast cancer, according to 10-year follow-up results from the U.K. Standardization of Breast Radiotherapy Trials (START), presented at the 2012 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
Telephone talks with nurse can reduce hospital re-admissions, study finds
Weekly telephone contact with a nurse substantially reduced hospital re-admissions for high-risk patients, according to results of a University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health study.
The effect of treating institution on outcomes in head and neck cancer
Patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiation treatment at an academic center have a higher survival rate than those receiving treatment at a community center, according to a study in the December 2012 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.
Study compares standard against newer treatment in women whose breast cancer has spread
Results from a phase III clinical trial comparing a newer chemotherapy agent called eribulin mesylate with capecitabine, a standard drug used for chemotherapy today in women with previously treated metastatic breast cancer, showed that eribulin demonstrated a trend toward improved overall survival. This study was presented today by Peter A. Kaufman, M.D., during the 2012 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
Obesity and overeating during menopause together promote breast tumor growth and progression
Obese women might be able to eliminate their increased risk for postmenopausal breast cancer by taking measures during perimenopause to prevent weight gain and to therapeutically control the metabolic effects of their obesity, according to the results of a preclinical study published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Socioeconomic status affects cancer trial referrals
(HealthDay)—Patients of lower socioeconomic status are less likely to be referred to participate in early-phase cancer trials compared with patients of higher socioeconomic status, according to research published online Dec. 3 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Shift length affects nurse well-being, patient satisfaction
(HealthDay)—For nurses, working extended hours is associated with increased job dissatisfaction and burnout, and with patient dissatisfaction, according to a study published in the November issue of Health Affairs.
'Chemo brain' may occur before treatment even starts
(HealthDay)—So-called "chemo brain"—problems with thinking, concentrating and remembering that are associated with receiving chemotherapy—may actually start to occur before the treatment is initiated, a small new study suggests.
Deadly pancreatic cancer on the rise
Almost always deadly and steadily on the rise, pancreatic cancer is on track to become the second-leading cause of cancer death in the nation within the next two years, according to a recent report.
Anticompetitive market power common in managed care plans
(HealthDay)—For each of the three most popular types of managed care plans in the United States (point-of-service plan [POS], health maintenance organization [HMO], and preferred provider organization [PPO]), anticompetitive market power is widespread, according to a Nov. 28 news release from the American Medical Association (AMA).
Health care law boosts savings on meds for medicare recipients
(HealthDay)—Savings on prescription drugs related to the Affordable Care Act have reached $5.1 billion, according to a Dec. 3 news release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
SABCS: no benefit in extending trastuzumab in HER2 breast CA
(HealthDay)—For patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive early-stage breast cancer, one year of adjuvant trastuzumab should remain the standard of care, according to a study presented at the annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held from Dec. 4 to 8.
Liver transplant outcomes no worse with echo abnormalities
(HealthDay)—Intracardiac shunts (ICSs), diagnosed using an echocardiogram, or mild or moderate pulmonary hypertension (PH), do not affect short- or long-term mortality in liver transplant candidates, according to research published online in the Dec. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
New genetic disorder of balance and cognition discovered
The family of disorders known as ataxia can impair speech, balance and coordination, and have varying levels of severity. Scientists from the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh have identified a new member of this group of conditions which is connected to 'Lincoln ataxia', so called because it was first found in the relatives of US President Abraham Lincoln. The results are published in the journal PLOS Genetics.
Lenalidomide offers an effective alternative treatment for cutaneus lupus erythematosus
Although rare there are several treatments available for cutaneus lupus erythematosus (CLE). However other options are needed for people who do not respond to medication or relapse. A new study into the thalidomide derivative lenalidomide, published today in BioMed Central's open access journal Arthritis Research & Therapy, shows that treatment with lenalidomide is safe, with patients seeing an improvement in as little as two weeks.
Paradox of aging: The older we get, the better we feel?
Presently, there are about 40 million Americans over the age of 65, with the fastest-growing segment of the population over 80 years old. Traditionally, aging has been viewed as a period of progressive decline in physical, cognitive and psychosocial functioning, and aging is viewed by many as the "number one public health problem" facing Americans today.
Fasting may benefit patients with epilepsy, study suggests
Children with persistent and drug-resistant seizures treated with the high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet may get an added therapeutic benefit from periodic fasting, according to a small Johns Hopkins Children's Center study.
Protein tied to cancer drug resistance in mice
Blocking a specific protein renders tumors more vulnerable to treatment in mice, suggesting new therapies could eventually achieve the same in humans, according to new research from Fox Chase Cancer Center to be presented at the 2012 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on Friday, December 7, 2012.
Feeling unwell? Your mobile could be your best defence against infection
Reporting disease using mobiles and online systems is the next weapon against emerging infectious diseases, a new study suggests.
Diverse genetic alterations found in triple-negative breast cancers after neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Many different genetic alterations were detected in tumor cells left behind after patients with triple-negative breast cancer were treated with chemotherapy prior to surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy), according to data presented at the 2012 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. The investigators hope this knowledge will help move toward early personalized treatment to combat this aggressive subtype of breast cancer.
Attitudes to organic labels depend on consumers' values
Labeling food as "organic" may not always lead to a positive impression, according to a recent Cornell study.
Scientists test new toxicant detection tool, links to abnormal fetal development
For more than 40 years, Bisphenol A, more commonly known as BPA, was used in everything from plastic baby bottles and the lining of metal food containers to dental sealants. When scientists began seeing a connection between BPA and abnormal sperm and egg development, it set off worldwide public health concerns.
Social support has buffering role on poor diet behaviors, study shows
Older African Americans who are dissatisfied with their lives tend to choose diets high in fat and low in fruits and vegetables. They can improve their health-and eating habits-through social support, according to new research from the University of Georgia.
Tipsy? Expert's tips for reining in holiday drinking
It can hardly be the holiday season without a nip in the air and a nip of 'nog. A family gathering goes down a little easier with a glass, or three, of wine. And we might go to a festive work party thinking "I'll just have a ginger ale," only to end up reasoning "On the other hand, one cocktail can't hurt."
Babies get a better chance to escape a dangerous health cycle, study highlights
A promising step forward in stopping an intergenerational cycle of birth complications, diabetes and obesity associated with gestational diabetes has been made by researchers at the University of Sydney.
UCLA doctors remove man's heart, replace it with total artificial heart
Imagine living without a heart. It is possible—if you have a new artificial heart pumping blood through your body. You can even go to the supermarket, watch your kid's soccer game or go on a hike.
Less harmful constituents when heating a cigarette at lower temperature
Many of the harmful constituents found in the smoke from a conventional cigarette result from the burning of tobacco. Lowering the temperature at which the "smoke" is generated means that nicotine and some aroma compounds are still released, but the user may no longer be exposed to many of the combustion products that are generated by the burning of tobacco and which may contribute to the risk of smoking-related diseases.
Chemical exposure at work is putting Scottish plastic workers at risk of breast cancer
A new study published in the journal New Solutions presents strong evidence that women employed in the plastics industry are exposed to workplace chemicals that can increase their risk of breast cancer and reproductive abnormalities.
The skills that make us a good partner make us a good parent
Being a good partner may make you a better parent, according to a new study. The same set of skills that we tap to be caring toward our partners is what we use to nurture our children, researchers found.
Putting electronic cigarettes to the test
Electronic cigarettes are experiencing somewhat of a boom at the moment. An estimated two million people in Germany have already turned to the vapor cigarette, which many view as a healthy alternative to conventional smoking. However, a number of voices, primarily from the political sphere, are warning of possible health risks, claiming that the long-term consequences cannot yet be foreseen. Studies to date have come to mixed conclusions. There is a general lack of substantiated facts, fuelling an ongoing battle between supporters and opponents. By carrying out a new, independent study, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research WKI in Braunschweig hope to introduce a degree of objectivity into this emotional topic of debate. The scientists' goal was to find out whether e-cigarettes pollute the surrounding air, thus affecting bystanders of an e-cigarette user.
Czech lower house approves medical marijuana
(AP)—The lower house of Parliament has approved legislation that makes it legal in the Czech Republic to use marijuana for medical treatment.
Ostrich arteries bring bypass hope: Japan scientists
Scientists in Japan have used ostrich blood vessels to create a viable bypass in pigs, raising hopes of easier and more effective artery transplants for heart patients.
Low testosterone levels affect total lipid oxidation
(HealthDay)—Very low testosterone levels impact total lipid oxidation but have no effect on the production of very-low-density lipoprotein-triglycerides (VLDL-TGs), according to a study published online Nov. 27 in Diabetes.
Emerging risk factors ID'd for postpartum depression
(HealthDay)—Emerging risk factors for postpartum depression include the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) genotype and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) status, both of which may interact to affect risk, according to a review published in the November issue of The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry.
Avastin won't extend breast cancer survival: study
(HealthDay)—The drug Avastin (bevacizumab), when added to chemotherapy, does not improve disease-free survival in patients with triple-negative breast cancer any better than chemo alone, new research finds.
Group interaction among elderly is the key to significant health outcomes
The health benefits of 'water clubs' in care homes for the elderly, where residents gather together regularly to drink water , owe as least as much to the social nature of the activity as to the value of drinking water itself, an investigation by psychologists has shown.
Scientists discovered genetic cause for rare disorder of motor neurones
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists have identified an underlying genetic cause for a rare disorder of motor neurones, and believe this may help find causes of other related diseases.
Positive early results in clinical trial of leukaemia vaccine
Early results of a trial to treat leukaemia with a WT1 DNA vaccine, has shown robust vaccine-specific antibody responses in all vaccinated patients evaluated to date.
Abuse during childhood linked to adult-onset asthma in African-American women
According to a new study from the Slone Epidemiology Center (SEC) at Boston University, African-American women who reported suffering abuse before age 11 had a greater likelihood of adult-onset asthma compared to women whose childhood and adolescence were free of abuse.
New MRI technology to provide even better images of the inside of the human body
Over the past 30 years, magnetic resonance imaging has evolved into one of the most important imaging procedures in medical diagnostics. With a new approach based on the use of polarized gases and dissolved substances, it will in future be possible to produce even better quality images of the inside of the human body. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) will be providing EUR 1.3 million over the next three years to enable researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research to make the new procedure ready for the market.
High hormone levels put young black males at risk for cardiovascular disease
Increased levels of the hormone aldosterone in young black males correlate with an unhealthy chain of events that starts with retaining too much salt and results in an enlarged heart muscle, researchers say.
New blood pressure treatment tries fooling brain
While dozens of medical device makers are racing to treat medication-resistant hypertension by burning nerves inside arteries in the kidneys, Minneapolis firm CVRx is coming at the problem from a different direction.
Research suggests a new strategy to prevent or halt periodontal disease
Periodontitis, a form of chronic gum disease that affects nearly half of the U.S. adult population, results when the bacterial community in the mouth becomes unbalanced, leading to inflammation and eventually bone loss. In its most severe form, which affects 8.5 percent of U.S. adults, periodontitis can impact systemic health.
Gene therapy as a new option for bone defects
(Medical Xpress)—Gene therapy involving modified stem cells obtained from fatty tissue and bone marrow could represent a new option for the treatment of severe orthopaedic injuries to the extremities. This treatment has been developed by Martina Hauser-Schinhan from the University Department of Orthopaedics at the MedUni Vienna during a research fellowship at the Center for Advanced Orthopedic Studies at the Harvard Medical School. The treatment could in future prevent threatened amputations or massive shortenings of bones.
Congress investigating compounding trade group
(AP)—House lawmakers are investigating whether the industry group for compounding pharmacies coached the company responsible for a deadly outbreak of meningitis in dealing with regulators.
Another muscular dystrophy mystery solved; MU scientists inch closer to a therapy for patients
Approximately 250,000 people in the United States suffer from muscular dystrophy, which occurs when damaged muscle tissue is replaced with fibrous, bony or fatty tissue and loses function. Three years ago, University of Missouri scientists found a molecular compound that is vital to curing the disease, but they didn't know how to make the compound bind to the muscle cells. In a new study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science, MU School of Medicine scientists Yi Lai and Dongsheng Duan have discovered the missing pieces to this puzzle that could ultimately lead to a therapy and, potentially, a longer lifespan for patients suffering from the disease.
Drug fights hard-to-treat depression by targeting brain receptors in a new way
A first-of-its-kind antidepressant drug discovered by a Northwestern University professor and now tested on adults who have failed other antidepressant therapies has been shown to alleviate symptoms within hours, have good safety and produce positive effects that last for about seven days from a single dose.
New understanding of how we see colors
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists have until now not fully understood how animals see in color, since visual pigments in eyes contain exactly the same chromophore (light absorbing segment of the molecule) and yet can absorb different wavelengths of light.
Study finds protein in platelets fight malaria but only for some people
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers in Australia have found that a protein in platelets found naturally in blood has a protective effect against malaria. In their paper published in the journal Science, the team describes how they found that a certain protein present in platelets binds to infected red blood cells and kills the parasite responsible for the disease, but only if the red blood cell has a certain kind of receptor.
Biology news
Field tests seek new control methods for resistant ragweed in cotton crops
Giant ragweed lives up to its name, towering over crops and choking out surrounding plant species. Just one ragweed plant per square meter has been shown to reduce crop yields 45 to 77 percent. Now giant ragweed has evolved resistance to the herbicide glyphosate, which had been effective at controlling the weed.
Volunteer bird watchers can take influence conservation efforts, study shows
A new scientific study by the University of Queensland and BirdLife Australia has shown that volunteer bird watchers have the opportunity to affect better policy to protect threatened birds and their habitats.
Report: California stem cell agency needs overhaul
(AP)—California has transformed into a major player in stem cell research, but the taxpayer-funded institute responsible has "significant deficiencies" in how research dollars are distributed, experts said Thursday.
137 new species described by California Academy of Sciences in 2012
In 2012, researchers at the California Academy of Sciences added 137 new relatives to our family tree, enriching our understanding of the complex web of life on Earth and strengthening our ability to make informed conservation decisions. The new species include 83 arthropods, 41 fishes, seven plants, four sea slugs, one reptile, and one amphibian. Specimens ranged from Eviota goby fishes housed in museum collections for more than 30 years (reported in the October 12 issue of Zootaxa), to Trogloraptor cave spiders collected just two years ago (reported in the August 17 issue of ZooKeys). The new species were described by more than a dozen Academy scientists along with several dozen international collaborators.
French move boosts shark sanctuaries
Green campaigners on Friday hailed a decision by France that they said would create the world's biggest shark sanctuary.
What happens to plant growth when you remove gravity?
It is well known that plant growth patterns are influenced by a variety of stimuli, gravity being one amongst many. On Earth plant roots exhibit characteristic behaviours called 'waving' and 'skewing', which were thought to be gravity-dependent events. However, Arabidopsis plants grown on the International Space Station (ISS) have proved this theory wrong, according to a study published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Plant Biology: root 'waving' and 'skewing' occur in spaceflight plants independently of gravity.
Biologist treks across southwestern China to answer the "killer mushroom" question
McMaster University biologist Jianping Xu trekked over 30 kilometers a day through mountainous terrain and inclement weather in southwestern China to discover that a wild mushroom wasn't at the root of 400 unexplained deaths.
Hatching order influences birds' behaviour
The hatching order of birds influences how they behave in adult life according to research from the Lancaster Environment Centre.
Echidna insight into evolution of embryo growth
An international team including University of Adelaide scientists has discovered the molecular change in echidnas enabling both parents to influence the growth of the embryo during pregnancy in mammals.
What howler monkeys can tell us about the role of interbreeding in human evolution
Did different species of early humans interbreed and produce offspring of mixed ancestry?
A 'regular hexagonal pattern' was found in a plant-parasitic nematode worm
A new plant-parasitic nematode worm (Meloidoderita salina) was found in a tidal salt marsh at Mont Saint Michel Bay (MSMB) in France, where its abbey is a world-famous historical heritage. The species name 'salina' refers to salty soil and is derived from the Latin word 'sal' or 'salis' meaning 'salt'. The study was published in the peer-reviewed, open source scientific journal ZooKeys.
Long-distance solute transport in trees improved by intercellular pathways in living woody tissues
As large organisms, trees face some remarkable challenges, particularly regarding long-distance transport and communication. In addition to moving water and nutrients from their roots to their leaves, they must also integrate cell-to-cell communication over large areas. Furthermore, in order to function as a single, cohesive organism they must be able to effectively and efficiently send vital substances—such as DNA regulating signals—long distances along a network of cells, sieve-tubes, and vessels.
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