Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 4, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Human hearing beats the Fourier uncertainty principle- Force-feedback for smartphones tilts game-playing field (w/ video)
- New study suggests Neanderthals died out earlier, did not coexist with modern humans
- Researchers use DNA to make crystals that can switch configurations
- Grooming helps insects keep their senses sharpened
- Plant geneticists demonstrate new means of boosting maize yields
- Brain's vision secrets unraveled
- Experts find remains of England's King Richard III (Update 4)
- Turning toxic by-product into biofuel booster: Engineered enzyme increases output of alkanes
- Improved quantum-dot performance: Could enable more efficient computer displays, enhanced biomedical testing
- Microsoft / Technion effort mines old news for predictions
- Researchers design mouse with more human-like immune response
- Climate change clues from tiny marine algae—ancient and modern
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Study pioneers treatment for viral infection common in children
- Antibody hinders growth of Gleevec-resistant gastrointestinal tumors in lab tests
Space & Earth news
Iranian space official: Photo shows wrong monkey
One of two official packages of photos of Iran's famed simian space traveler depicted the wrong monkey, but a primate really did fly into space and return safely to Earth, a senior Iranian space official confirmed Saturday.
Mozambique saved from floods due to early warning
Engulfed by a raging torrent of water last week, the town of Chokwe in southern Mozambique was all but destroyed for the second time in 13 years, but it emerged with a hugely lower death toll.
Ahmadinejad says ready to be Iran's first spaceman (Update)
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday he is ready "to be the first man in space" under Iran's ambitious programme which aims to send a human being into orbit by 2020.
Osaka Basin map: Identifies high-rise buildings at risk from quakes
The Osaka Basin, Japan is home to many high-rise buildings that sit atop its thick soft sediments, vulnerable to long-period strong ground motions that last minutes. A new map created by Japanese researchers is intended to guide engineers and city planners in new construction and identifies existing buildings with the potential of resonance vibration.
Hoodoos—key to earthquakes?
In the absence of long-term instrumental data, fragile rock formations, called hoodoos, may be key to understanding seismic hazard risk. In this study, researchers consider two hoodoos in Red Rock Canyon region to put limits on expected intensity of ground motion from earthquakes along the Garlock fault.
Monkey business? US unsure of Iran's space claims (Update)
(AP)—The United States expressed doubt on Monday about Iran's claim that it safely returned a monkey from space, saying it is questionable that the monkey survived—or if the flight happened at all.
NASA sees the falling of Cyclone Felleng
Cyclone Felleng traveled through the Mozambique Channel during the week of Jan. 28, 2013 and emerged south into the Southern Indian Ocean where it transitioned into a cold core low pressure area. NASA's TRMM satellite captured a look at the rainfall rates occurring in Felleng as it was making that transition on Feb. 1.
NOAA adds red tide alerts to Beach Hazards Statements
NOAA has added a new service to alert the public when red tides threaten human health at Tampa Bay area beaches. The new alert is timely since many of southwest Florida's beaches are experiencing or are under threat of red tide.
NASA Goddard astrophysicist wins prize for pulsar work
To say that Alice Harding, an astrophysicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., has a passion for pulsars is a bit of an understatement. On Jan. 24, she was named a winner of the 2013 Bruno Rossi prize together with Roger Romani of Stanford University. The award recognizes their work in establishing a theoretical framework for understanding how pulsars emit gamma rays, the most powerful form of light.
January hottest month on record in Australia
Australia experienced its hottest month on record in January, despite floods and storms that devastated parts of the country's east, officials said.
Amazon freshwater ecosystems found vulnerable to degradation
A study published in Conservation Letters this week found that freshwater ecosystems in the Amazon are highly vulnerable to environmental degradation. River, lake and wetland ecosystems—encompassing approximately one-fifth of the Amazon basin area—are being increasingly degraded by deforestation, pollution, construction of dams and waterways, and over-harvesting of plant and animal species.
China's thick smog arrives in Japan
The suffocating smog that blanketed swathes of China is now hitting parts of Japan, sparking warnings Monday of health risks for the young and the sick.
A sensitive, affordable sensor to detect tiny amounts of CO2
Researchers at the Universities of Toronto and St. Francis Xavier are developing an affordable, energy efficient and ultra-sensitive nano-sensor that has the potential to detect even one molecule of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Is this meteorite a piece of Mercury?
Pieces of the Moon and Mars have been found on Earth before, as well as chunks of Vesta and other asteroids, but what about the innermost planet, Mercury? That's where some researchers think this greenish meteorite may have originated, based on its curious composition and the most recent data from NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft.
20 NASA balloons studying the radiation belts
In the bright, constant sun of the Antarctic summer, a NASA-funded team is launching balloons. There are twenty of these big, white balloons, each of which sets off on a different day for a leisurely float around the South Pole to collect information about something far more speedy: the rain of particles that can precipitate out of two gigantic donuts around Earth known as the radiation belts.
Energy industry develops nontoxic fracking fluids
The oil and gas industry is trying to ease environmental concerns by developing nontoxic fluids for the drilling process known as fracking, but it's not clear whether the new product will be widely embraced by drilling companies.
Solving a mystery of the Sun's corona
(Phys.org)—The corona of the sun is the hot (over a million kelvin), gaseous outer region of its atmosphere. The corona is threaded by intense magnetic fields that extend upwards from the surface in braids that are twisted and sheared by the convective stirrings of the underlying dense atmosphere. Understanding the corona and its physical processes is essential to the development of a long-range space weather prediction capability.
Are super-Earths actually mini-Neptunes?
(Phys.org)—In the last two decades astronomers have found hundreds of planets in orbit around other stars. One type of these so-called 'exoplanets' is the super-Earths that are thought to have a high proportion of rock but at the same time are significantly bigger than our own world. Now a new study led by Helmut Lammer of the Space Research Institute (IWF) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences suggests that these planets are actually surrounded by extended hydrogen-rich envelopes and that they are unlikely to ever become Earth-like. Rather than being super-Earths, these worlds are more like mini-Neptunes. The scientists publish their work in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
New research brings light to star mystery
(Phys.org)—Scientists at Northumbria University have begun to unlock the mystery of why the outer edge of the Sun is much hotter than its surface for the first time.
Climate change clues from tiny marine algae—ancient and modern
Microscopic ocean algae called coccolithophores are providing clues about the impact of climate change both now and many millions of years ago. The study found that their response to environmental change varies between species, in terms of how quickly they grow.
Central America tropical rainfall patterns varied through time
Historic lake sediment dug up by University of Pittsburgh researchers reveals that oceanic influences on rainfall in Central America have varied over the last 2,000 years, highlighting the fluctuating influence the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans have on precipitation.
Gases work with particles to promote cloud formation, study finds
Researchers at Columbia Engineering and Georgia Institute of Technology have published a study in the online Early Edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) showing—for the first time—that certain volatile organic gases can promote cloud formation in a way never considered before by atmospheric scientists. The study will be published the week of February 4, 2013.
Supersonic skydiver reached 844 mph in record jump (Update)
Supersonic Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner was faster than he or anyone else thought during his record-setting jump last October from 24 miles (38 kilometers) up.
Technology news
Ahmadinejad unveils Iran's newest fighter jet (Update)
Iran on Saturday unveiled its newest combat jet, a domestically manufactured fighter-bomber that military officials claim can evade radar.
Nuclear safety chief quizzed over Fukushima
Japanese police have questioned a former head of the nuclear safety body regarding possible criminal charges over the Fukushima nuclear crisis, news reports said Sunday.
Oh the drama! Super Ads go epic
(AP)—Super Bowl ads this year morphed into mini soap operas.
Israeli cellphone provider says it was not hacked
Major Israeli cellphone provider Pelephone has ruled out a cyberattack as the cause for its service disruption.
Chinese portal Sohu says profit down, revenue up
Sohu.com Inc., which operates a popular Chinese Internet portal, said Monday its quarterly profit fell 9 percent as rising expenses offset strong revenue growth for online games.
China Communist paper rejects hacking allegations
The official mouthpiece of China's ruling Communist Party on Monday roundly rejected claims of hacking attacks from China by American media outlets, hinting instead at ulterior motives by the US.
BrailleWise aircraft toilet: Making air travel easier for visually impaired people
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has designed a new aircraft lavatory called BrailleWise, giving visially impaired people greater independence and comfort when using toilets on airplanes.
Foxconn to widen scope of union elections
Taiwan-owned Foxconn Technology Group, a leading maker of Apple's iPhones and gadgets for other global brands, is widening the scope of union elections at its sprawling facilities in China.
Corrosive behavior? There's an app for that
It may not be as popular as Angry Birds, but the Corrosion iPhone app developed by Engineering student Jason Tam is finding a grateful audience among professional engineers and engineering students.
Fukushima operator TEPCO triples net loss forecast
Fukushima nuclear plant operator TEPCO on Monday slashed its outlook for the fiscal year to March, warning it expected to lose about $1.29 billion or almost three times an earlier estimate.
Awakening the dormant potential of e-government
E-government holds the promise of gains in efficiency and satisfaction for case workers. In Denmark, seven government ministries have already undergone a full digital changeover. Now researchers have adapted the model for German government agencies.
System uses video surveillance cameras to alert security agents of dangerous situations
Researchers at Universidad Carlos III of Madrid and the firms Abertis and Solusoft have developed an intelligent system that analyzes video surveillance camera images in real time, detects anomalous situations and alerts the nearest security agents in urgent situations, such as the presence of a vehicle moving in the wrong direction.
Live action: Twitter grabs Super Bowl spotlight
Beyonce's splashy show, a freak power outage, and —oh, yeah— a captivating game of football combined to generate a record 24.1 million posts on Twitter during Sunday night's Super Bowl.
Newsweek company renames as 'NewsBeast'
The operator of the erstwhile news magazine Newsweek, which became a solely digital publication last year after 80 years in print, officially became "NewsBeast" on Friday, its parent company said.
Crazy Talk gives voice to pictures
There was Crazy Talk at Macworld on Friday.
Schmidt book labels China online menace
The Wall Street Journal reported that in his coming book, Google chairman Eric Schmidt brands China an Internet menace that sanctions cyber crime for economic and political gain.
Hacking incidents ignite fears over China
A series of brazen cyberattacks on America's most high-profile media outlets has revived concerns over Chinese hackers, who analysts say are likely linked to the secretive Beijing government.
Hacking case puts Dutch man in US prison
A Dutch man was sentenced to 12 years in a US prison on Friday for being an online "broker" for credit card numbers stolen in a computer hacking conspiracy.
Washington Post joins list of hacked US media
The Washington Post disclosed Saturday that it had suffered a cyberattack and suspects Chinese hackers were behind it, joining Twitter and major US media outlets that have endured intrusions.
Twitter, Washington Post targeted by hackers
Social media giant Twitter is among the latest U.S. companies to report that it is among a growing list of victims of Internet security attacks, saying that hackers may have gained access to information on 250,000 of its more than 200 million active users. And now, The Washington Post is joining the chorus, revealing the discovery of a sophisticated cyberattack in 2011.
FTC offers privacy guidelines for mobile industry
The Federal Trade Commission is offering recommendations for companies in the expanding mobile industry like Amazon.com and Apple Inc. on how to protect users' privacy.
Ride-hailing apps offer new way to get around town
Fed up with traditional taxis, more city dwellers are tapping their smartphones to hitch rides across town using mobile apps that allow connect riders and drivers.
Doctoral student designs microphones that monitor road traffic
An EPFL doctoral student has designed a microphone-based system that functions as an automatic road traffic sensor. The technology can determine not just how much traffic there is, but also how fast vehicles are going and even their size. It has already sparked an interest in the Swiss towns of Sion and Martigny.
UK sends hand-held helicopter drones to war zone (Update)
British soldiers in Afghanistan have been issued with surveillance drones so small they can fit in the palm of a man's hand.
New Fukushima pictures show wreckage of plant
The shattered remains of a reactor building loom against a lowering sky, smoke or steam pouring from a gaping roof in the days after a huge tsunami smashed into Japan, crushing a nuclear power plant.
Oracle to buy Acme Packet for about $2.1B
Oracle is buying the network gear company Acme Packet for about $2.1 billion.
The armchair as a fitness trainer
Each of us would like to pursue our personal hobbies and interests into old age. However, this depends on us staying fit and healthy. Researchers are now presenting an armchair that brings the gym right into your living room at the push of a button.
Samsung to pump $1 bn into research, venture fund
Samsung announced Monday it was pumping more than $1 billion into research and venture capital funding efforts that will be led by a new hub for the South Korean giant in Silicon Valley.
Jamaica breaks ground on rare-earth project
Jamaican and Japanese officials on Monday launched a pilot project designed to investigate whether rare-earth elements can be commercially extracted from the island's bauxite waste.
Twitter says hackers compromise 250K accounts
Twitter confirmed Friday that it had become the latest victim in a number of high-profile cyber-attacks against media companies, saying that hackers may have gained access to information on 250,000 of its more than 200 million active users.
Wickr app aims to safeguard online privacy
Wickr co-founder Nico Sell is working toward "geek utopia," a world where people hold the power when it comes to who sees what they share on the Internet or from their phones.
Apple patent dangles link between cash borrowers and lenders
(Phys.org)—Apple filed a patent, dated July 2011, and made public recently, in which Apple proposes a way, beyond the ATM, for people to get cash payments. Apple suggests an Ad-Hoc Cash Dispensing Network, as the patent is titled. People who sign up for the application could borrow and lend cash to one another. The lender would be paid back from an account which would deduct that money plus a service fee from the account of the person borrowing the cash.
TLS security protocol for online banking, Facebook has 'serious weaknesses,' researchers say
The protocol that provides security for online banking, credit card data and Facebook has major weaknesses, according to researchers at Royal Holloway University.
Wikipedia targets one billion users by 2015
Wikipedia is aiming to use mobile phones to reach a billion people by 2015, a senior executive has said, doubling the present number.
Online search ads expose racial bias, study finds
Ads pegged to Google search results can be racially biased because of how certain names are associated with blacks or whites, according to a new study.
Microsoft / Technion effort mines old news for predictions
(Phys.org)—Microsoft Research and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have been working on software that can predict events. The pursuit could lead to a tool that can provide better information that goes beyond conclusions and forecasts drawn from human expertise, educated guesses, and intuition. The software might help mine data toward the goal of knowing when outbreaks of disease or outbreaks of violence could occur, among other kinds of information. The software collaboration has involved testing with over 20 years' worth of New York Times articles, taken from an archive from 1986 to 2007, along with various Web data sources, to establish better ways of seeing what leads to major events such as disease and violence.
Force-feedback for smartphones tilts game-playing field (w/ video)
(Medical Xpress)—A team from the Hasso Plattner Institute in Germany is doing work in force-feedback technology targeted for mobile devices such as smartphones. Their work is an easy fit into the lives of smartphone gamers. No motors here. Their work is presenting a new day for gamers, in that there are no motors, no roadblocks to miniaturization as add ons for smartphones or other mobile devices, and no risk of draining a battery quickly as their device uses less power than vibrating motors.
Medicine & Health news
Chili peppers spark discovery: WSU effort to fix injured brains with new nerve cells funded
As research efforts go, this one is high risk. Which is to say, it could easily fail.
India's changing appetite throws up meaty issues
With German sausages, French duck breasts and homegrown chicken, Francis Menezes is cashing in on the growing appetite for meat among Indians—even in one of Mumbai's most strictly vegetarian areas.
Icon to buy division of Cross Country Healthcare
Icon PLC plans to buy the clinical trial services division of Cross Country Healthcare Inc. in a deal potentially worth more than $55 million, as the Irish company seeks to grow globally and improve its drug safety consulting.
Cuts blamed as stillbirth tragedy shocks France
France has launched an investigation into a stillbirth that occurred after a full-term pregnant woman was sent home from an overrun maternity unit in a case that has raised concerns over the impact of EU-driven austerity on the country's renowned health system.
Crash data shows cyclists with no helmets more likely to ride drunk
Cyclists who ride without helmets are more likely to take risks while riding, like disobeying traffic controls or cycling while drunk, a new study of road accident data has found.
Hitting malaria from all sides: Experts explore how business can help fight disease
Death rates from malaria have fallen significantly over the last decade, but plenty of work remains, with hundreds of thousands of children still dying from the disease every year, experts said Wednesday in a discussion at Harvard Kennedy School.
High risk of cardiovascular diseases amongst Swedish-born and immigrant MS patients
A new study from Karolinska Institutet shows that patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) run a high risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure, regardless of migration background. According to principal investigator Tahereh Moradi, the study is the first in the world to examine the risk of cardiovascular diseases in male and female MS patients with both non-immigrant and immigrant backgrounds.
Parental misconceptions about antibiotics linked to poor health literacy levels in Latino population
In the first study of its kind, researchers at the Columbia University School of Nursing have established that poor health literacy among Latino parents is associated with a poor understanding of the proper use antibiotics, particularly for upper respiratory infections (URIs), which can lead to an increase in antimicrobial resistance.
Study finds health departments hindered in addressing health concerns from animal production sites
State and local health departments face significant barriers and usually do not get involved when confronted with public health concerns resulting from food animal production sites, according to a new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future at the Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Tuberculosis in Nunavut can be controlled
A combined strategy is needed to combat tuberculosis in Nunavut where the rate is 66 times higher than in the general Canadian population, states a commentary in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Physicians' roles on the front line of climate change
Physicians can and should help mitigate the negative health effects of climate change because they will be at the forefront of responding to the effects of global warming, argues an editorial in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Study finds incentive price for reducing HIV risk in Mexico
Studies have found that conditional cash transfer programs, in which governments pay citizens if they consistently practice societally beneficial behaviors, have improved pediatric health care and education in Mexico, increased HIV testing in Malawi, and reduced sexually transmitted infections in Tanzania. Public health researchers therefore investigated whether the idea could be applied to HIV risk behaviors among gay men and male sex workers in Mexico City. A new study reports not only that some members of those populations would change behavior for conditional cash payments, but the exact prices they would accept.
Amyloid imaging shows promise for detecting cardiac amyloidosis
While amyloid imaging may now be most associated with detecting plaques in the brain, it has the potential to change the way cardiac amyloidosis is diagnosed. According to first-of-its-kind research published in the February issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, positron emission tomography (PET) with 11C-PIB can positively visualize amyloid deposits in the heart. Currently there is no noninvasive test available for specific diagnosis.
In combat vets and others, high rate of vision problems after traumatic brain injury
Visual symptoms and abnormalities occur at high rates in people with traumatic brain injury (TBI)—including Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans with blast-related TBI, reports a study, "Abnormal Fixation in Individuals with AMD when Viewing an Image of a Face", in the February issue of Optometry and Vision Science, official journal of the American Academy of Optometry.
New criteria for automated preschool vision screening
The Vision Screening Committee of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, the professional organization for pediatric eye care, has revised its guidelines for automated preschool vision screening based on new evidence. The new guidelines are published in the February issue of the Journal of AAPOS.
Early breast cancer diagnosis, survival rates low in rural India
Women in developed countries survive roughly 10 years longer after a breast cancer diagnosis compared to women in poor-to-middle-income countries, a new University of Michigan study suggests.
APNewsBreak: Catholic hospital acknowledges error
(AP)—A Catholic hospital on Monday acknowledged it was "morally wrong" for its attorneys to argue in court that a fetus is not a human being under Colorado law.
Hearings to start in Uruguay anti-smoking suit
Uruguay faces its first hearings in the French capital this week in a lawsuit filed by US tobacco giant Philip Morris International against its anti-smoking laws, an official said Monday.
Army seeks better mental health coordination
(AP)—Army leadership is looking to improve coordination between its mental health programs and other soldier-resilience efforts.
New rules aim to get rid of junk foods in schools
Almost all candy, high-calorie drinks and greasy meals could soon be on a food blacklist in the nation's schools.
Prescription overdose rate reaches epidemic levels in NYC
The rate of drug overdose from prescription opioids increased seven-fold in New York City over a 16-year period and was concentrated especially among white residents of the city, according to latest research at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. The study is one of the earliest and most comprehensive analyses of how the opioid epidemic has affected an urban area.
Geographic factors can cause allergies, asthma
Those living near the equator may find themselves sneezing and wheezing more than usual. And the reason may not be due to increasing pollen counts. According to a new study released today, in the February issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), living in locations closest to the equator can put you at increased risk of developing allergy and asthma.
Poor mental health leads to unhealthy behaviors among low-income adults
Poor mental health leads to unhealthy behaviors in low-income adults – not the other way around, according to a new study¹ by Dr. Jennifer Walsh and colleagues from the Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine at The Miriam Hospital in the US. In this study, stress and anxiety predicted subsequent health-compromising behaviors, such as smoking, binge drinking, illegal drug use, unprotected sex and unhealthy diets. One possible explanation for these findings is that health compromising behaviors may be used as coping mechanisms to manage the effects of stress and anxiety. The study is published online in the Springer journal, Translational Behavioral Medicine², and is part of an issue focusing on multiple health behavior change.
Researchers reveal mechanism to halt cancer cell growth, discover potential therapy
University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) researchers have uncovered a technique to halt the growth of cancer cells, a discovery that led them to a potential new anti-cancer therapy.
Flu still widespread but easing in some states, CDC says
(HealthDay)—Continuing a trend that emerged late last month, flu activity remains high across the United States but there are reports that the number of infections may be leveling off in some regions of the country, federal health officials reported Friday.
Chips, sodas out, healthier fare in with new school snack rules
(HealthDay)—The days when U.S. children can get themselves a sugary soda or a chocolate bar from a school vending machine may be numbered, if newly proposed government rules take effect.
Grape polyphenols counteract fructose-induced effects
(HealthDay)—Grape polyphenol (PP) supplementation prevents fructose-induced oxidative stress and insulin resistance in healthy volunteers with high metabolic risk, according to research published online Dec. 28 in Diabetes Care.
Study reviews risk factors for chronic disease in Vietnam
(HealthDay)—Risk factors for chronic disease seem to be common in Vietnam, and include high blood pressure, increasing overweight and obesity, tobacco and alcohol use, and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, according to a study published online Jan. 10 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.
Low complication rate for nipple-sparing mastectomy
(HealthDay)—Nipple-sparing mastectomy with microsurgical breast reconstruction can be safely performed for select patients, according to a study published in the February issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Cheap, safe and radiation-free: Now possible to detect cancer by measuring the elasticity of tumours
As one of the first countries in the world, Norway will be testing a completely new method for detecting cancer. This is done by measuring the elasticity of tumours. The method is called elastography. You may as well learn this new word right away; in a few years, elastography may be as common as X-rays.
New mechanism regulating insulin secretion may explain genetic susceptibility to diabetes
New Zealand research revealing a new mechanism for how glucose stimulates insulin secretion may provide a new explanation for how a gene that makes people more susceptible to diabetes – called TCF7L2 – actually contributes to the disease.
A five-point plan to reduce heart attack deaths in Australia
Out of the 10,021 Australian who died of a heart attack in 2010, 5305 were experiencing their second such event. Systematic national reforms are needed to reduce the alarming number of people having a second heart attack and ensure the health-care system isn't failing those who survive the first time.
Molecule key to sustaining brain communication
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists have discovered the powerful role the molecule Myosin VI plays in communication between nerve cells in the brain.
Disturbed body image after CNS cancer
(Medical Xpress)—Survivors of cancer of the central nervous system (CNS) in childhood are at heightened risk for disturbance in body image and self-image in relation to sports or other physical activities, according to a nationwide study from Karolinska Institutet published in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology.
Scientists investigate inherited causes of autism
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are among the most heritable of all neuropsychiatric conditions. Yet, most genetic links to ASD found in recent years have involved de novo mutations, which are not passed from parent to child, but instead arise spontaneously. While these mutations help explain how ASD develops in a fraction of cases, they don't help us understand why autism so often runs in families.
Exercise, calcium and sunlight: All three needed to reduce osteoporosis risks
Osteoporosis experts have urged the public to ensure they get adequate calcium, weight-bearing exercise and vitamin D to prevent bone problems, warning that children who swap milk drinks for soft drink may be at greater risk of fractures later in life.
Study recommends new tools to improve global mapping of infectious disease
Since the mid-nineteenth century, maps have helped elucidate the deadly mysteries of diseases like cholera and yellow fever. Yet today's global mapping of infectious diseases is considerably unreliable and may do little to inform the control of potential outbreaks, according to a new systematic mapping review of all clinically important infectious diseases known to humans.
Awareness still lacking of seriousness of heart disease in women, cardiologist warns
Although heart disease remains the No. 1 killer nationally for women-—responsible for one out of every three deaths—-many of today's women still underestimate the seriousness of the disease and their risks, says Liliana Cohen, MD, a board-certified cardiologist with The Robert Wood Johnson Medical Group.
University-developed omega-3-rich ground beef available soon
Thanks to Kansas State University research, part of a healthy diet can include a hamburger rich with omega-3 fatty acids.
Stress symptoms in midlife predict old-age disability, study finds
Nearly 30% of adult workers suffer from work-related stress, and it is commonly acknowledged that stress has damaging effects on individual's health. Recently published prospective cohort study by Dr. Jenni Kulmala and co-workers from the Gerontology Research Center (GEREC) at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, provides strong evidence that perceived work-related stress in midlife predicts functional limitations and disability later in old age.
Your history may define your future: Tell your doctor
Your family history is important, not just because it shaped you into who you are today, but it also impacts your risk for developing cancer and other chronic diseases. For example, if one of your family members had cancer, your primary care doctor needs to know. Being able to identify individuals at increased risk can help reduce mortality. In a study published this week in the online version of the Journal of General Internal Medicine, researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) found that patients who use a web-based risk appraisal tool are more likely to have important family history documented.
Mistaken infection 'on the prairie'?
(HealthDay)—Fans of the pioneer tales known as "Little House on the Prairie" are familiar with the ravages of scarlet fever. That's because Mary Ingalls—sister of the autobiographical series' author, Laura Ingalls Wilder—went blind, supposedly because of complications from the illness. But medical experts today think it's time that explanation went the way of the wagon wheel.
For most bullied gay kids, things do 'get better,' study finds
(HealthDay)—Many gay and bisexual teenagers are bullied in school, but the problem does ease substantially as they get older, a new study out of England suggests.
AB blood type strong risk factor for venous blood clots
The non-O ABO blood type is the most important risk factor for venous thromboembolism (blood clots in veins), making up 20% of attributable risk for the condition, according to a new study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Taking insulin for type 2 diabetes could expose patients to greater risk of health complications
Examining the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) - data that characterises about 10% of the UK population - a team of researchers from Cardiff University's School of Medicine looked at the risk of death for patients taking insulin compared with other treatments designed to lower blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
High-dose Vorinostat effective at treating relapsed lymphomas
Patients whose aggressive lymphomas have relapsed or failed to respond to the current front-line chemotherapy regimen now have an effective second line of attack against their disease. Reporting the results of a first-of-its-kind phase 1 clinical trial to test the effectiveness of a new class of drugs to augment standard chemotherapy, a team led by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center scientists found that giving patients high doses of Vorinostat (suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid) in combination with another round of commonly used second-line drugs resulted in a 70 percent response rate, including several patients whose lymphoma cells disappeared entirely.
Beef Up: Middle-aged men may need more to maintain muscle mass
People tend to lose muscle mass as they age; researchers are investigating ways to delay or counteract age-related muscle loss. A study conducted by the Exercise Metabolism Research Group at McMaster University suggests that current guidelines for meat consumption are based on the protein needed to prevent deficiency without consideration for preservation of muscle mass, particularly for older individuals who are looking to maintain their muscle as they age. This research was published in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism.
Shame about past alcoholism predicts relapse and declining health in recovering alcoholics
Feeling shame about past instances of problem drinking may increase the likelihood of relapse and other health problems, according to a new study in Clinical Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Vitamin C supplements linked to kidney stones
New research from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden shows that men who take vitamin C supplements regularly run a higher risk of developing kidney stones. The study, which is published in the scientific periodical JAMA Internal Medicine, did not however observe an increased risk between kidney stones and multivitamins – which contain lower concentrations of vitamin C.
Study highlights important role that patients play in determining outcomes
When it comes to health care, patients with the motivation, knowledge, skills and confidence to manage their own health have better health outcomes and incur fewer health care costs.
A 'nudge' can be the ethical choice
As patients and physicians share decision-making in choices among treatment options, decision aids such as videos, websites, pamphlets or books are coming to play an important role. However, in some cases, it may be ethical for the decision aids to provide a "nudge" toward a particular option, said researchers from Baylor College of Medicine, the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in a report that appears in the journal Health Affairs.
Study suggests glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists related to adolescent weight loss
Preliminary evidence from a clinical trial suggests that treatment with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists was associated with reduced body mass index and body weight in adolescents with severe obesity, according to a report published Online First by JAMA Pediatrics.
High supplemental calcium intake may increase risk of cardiovascular disease death in men
A high intake of supplemental calcium appears to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) death in men but not in women in a study of more 388,000 participants between the ages of 50 and 71 years, according to a report published Online First by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Body language can predict outcomes for recovering alcoholics
To predict whether a problem drinker will hit the bottle again, ignore what they say and watch their body language for displays of shame, a University of British Columbia study finds.
'Default' options influence patient choices in advance care directives, study shows
Advance care directives allow patients to provide instructions about their preferences for the care they would like to receive if they develop an illness or a life-threatening injury and lose the capacity to make decisions for themselves. While many people may assume that patients have strong preferences for the type and aggressiveness of care they wish to receive near life's end, a new study by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania suggests that for many patients, preferences for end-of-life care are constructed on the spot and heavily influenced by the ways in which the options are presented. Specifically, the investigators found that even when it comes to such seemingly personal decisions as end-of-life care, people tend to accept options that are presented as the default, much as they accept the default in choosing automobile insurance or whether to contribute to 401(k) programs.
Immune system can use melanoma's own proteins to kill off cancer cells
Though a small group of proteins, the family called Ras controls a large number of cellular functions, including cell growth, differentiation, and survival. And because the protein has a hand in cellular division, mutated Ras, which can be detected in one-third of all tumors, contributes to many human cancers by allowing for the rapid growth of diseased cells.
In a fight to the finish, research aims knockout punch at hepatitis B
In research published in the Jan. 24 edition of PLOS Pathogens, Saint Louis University investigators together with collaborators from the University of Missouri and the University of Pittsburgh report a breakthrough in the pursuit of new hepatitis B drugs that could help cure the virus. Researchers were able to measure and then block a previously unstudied enzyme to stop the virus from replicating, taking advantage of known similarities with another major pathogen, HIV.
Researchers develop Rx for deafness, impaired balance in mouse model of Usher syndrome
Jennifer Lentz, PhD, Assistant Professor of Otorhinolaryngology & Biocommunications and a member of the Neuroscience Center of Excellence at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, is the lead author of a paper reporting that hearing and balance can be rescued by a new therapy in a mouse model of Usher syndrome (Usher) that contains the mutation responsible for type 1C Usher. The results provide the first evidence that congenital deafness can be effectively overcome by treatment early in development to correct gene expression. The paper, Rescue of hearing and vestibular function in a mouse model of human deafness, is published online February 4, 2013 in Nature Medicine.
CDC: Flu activity still up in U.S. in fourth week of 2013
(HealthDay)—In the fourth week of 2013, influenza activity remained elevated in the United States, with the proportion of pneumonia and influenza-linked deaths above the epidemic threshold, according to FluView, a weekly influenza surveillance report prepared by the Influenza Division of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More complications for inpatient lumbar discectomy
(HealthDay)—Patients undergoing inpatient lumbar discectomy have significantly higher overall complication rates than those treated as outpatients, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of Spine.
FSMB: Approaches explored for expediting multi-state licenses
(HealthDay)—New approaches are being explored for streamlining physician multi-state licensure to accommodate the use of telemedicine in the delivery of health care, according to a report from a meeting held from Jan. 16 to 17 by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB).
IT improves pediatric obesity screening and treatment
(HealthDay)—Health information technology (IT) can improve pediatric obesity screening rates and treatment, but the effect on weight loss and other outcomes is less clear, according to a study published online Feb. 4 in Pediatrics.
ER referral ups specialist access for publicly insured
(HealthDay)—Specialists are more willing to see publicly insured children if they are referred from an emergency department, according to research published online Jan. 10 in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
Predictors of higher diabetes health care costs identified
(HealthDay)—The average five-year cost of caring for patients with diabetes is higher for those with abnormal kidney function, suboptimal glycemic control, and presence of proteinuria, according to research published online Dec. 13 in Diabetes Care.
Stopping aspirin therapy after GI bleed ups cardiovascular risk
(HealthDay)—Patients with cardiovascular disease who discontinue low-dose aspirin therapy after peptic ulcer bleeding have a seven-fold higher risk of death or acute cardiovascular event, according to research published in the January issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Beware fake flu treatments, FDA warns
(HealthDay)—With the height of flu season here, the U.S Food and Drug Administration warns consumers to avoid fraudulent products that claim to prevent, treat or cure the flu.
New effort to find why replacement hips and knees go bad
A Case Western Reserve University chemistry professor has begun imbedding magnetic nanoparticles in the toughest of plastics to understand why more than 40,000 Americans must replace their knee and hip replacements annually.
Finding the way to memory: Guidance proteins regulate brain plasticity
Our ability to learn and form new memories is fully dependent on the brain's ability to be plastic – that is to change and adapt according to new experiences and environments. A new study from the Montreal Neurological Institute – The Neuro, McGill University, reveals that DCC, the receptor for a crucial protein in the nervous system known as netrin, plays a key role in regulating the plasticity of nerve cell connections in the brain. The absence of DCC leads to the type of memory loss experienced by Dr. Brenda Milner's famous subject HM. Although HM's memory loss resulted from the removal of an entire brain structure, this study shows that just removing DCC causes the same type of memory deficit. The finding published in this week's issue of Cell Reports, extends Dr. Milner's seminal finding to another level, revealing a key part of the molecular basis for learning and memory.
Epigenetic marker 5hmC opens door to studying its role in developmental disorders and disease
Nearly every cell in the human body carries a copy of the full human genome. So how is it that the cells that detect light in the human eye are so different from those of, say, the beating heart or the spleen?
New study finds water tubing-related injuries up 250 percent
Water tubing, a recreational activity in which participants ride an inner tube which is pulled behind a boat by a tow rope, has grown in popularity in recent years. Unfortunately, the number of injuries related to this activity has also increased.
Gene variants found to affect human lifespan
By broadly comparing the DNA of children to that of elderly people, gene researchers have identified gene variants that influence lifespan, either by raising disease risk or by providing protection from disease.
Children with autism at significant risk for feeding problems and nutritional deficits
Healthy eating not only promotes growth and development, but also provides important opportunities for children to socialize during meals. A new, comprehensive analysis of feeding behavior in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) indicates that these children are five times more likely to have a feeding problem, including extreme tantrums during meals, severe food selectivity and ritualistic mealtime behaviors.
First generic version of cancer drug Doxil approved
(HealthDay)—The first generic version of the cancer drug Doxil (doxorubicin hydrochloride liposome injection) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which says the action should help relieve shortages of the brand-name medication.
With benefits unproven, why do millions of Americans take multivitamins?
(HealthDay)—Millions of Americans take multivitamins and other supplements, but convincing scientific evidence of any true health benefit is lacking, experts say. Now a new study explores why people continue to consume nutritional supplements.
Boomers' health fails to measure up to parents'
(HealthDay)—The baby boom is turning out to be a health bust. Despite growing up at a time of great innovation in health care, the 78 million people born in the United States between 1946 and 1964 aren't looking all that healthy today, according to a new study.
Hoping to ease shortage, FDA fast-tracks generic form of cancer drug
(HealthDay)—Seeking to ease potentially dangerous shortages of a key cancer drug, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday announced it had fast-tracked the approval of the first generic form of one such medication, Doxil (doxorubicin).
Low vitamin D levels may increase risk of Type 1 diabetes
Having adequate levels of vitamin D during young adulthood may reduce the risk of adult-onset type 1 diabetes by as much as 50%, according to researchers at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH). The findings, if confirmed in future studies, could lead to a role for vitamin D supplementation in preventing this serious autoimmune disease in adults. The study was published online February 3, 2013 and will appear in the March 1 print edition of the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Mothers' behavior during playtime linked to young children's engagement with them, researcher says
Researchers long have evaluated the roles parents play in children's development. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that mothers' directiveness, the extent to which they try to control the content and pace of young children's play, varies based on the children's ages and the mothers' ethnicities. In addition, the study found that the more directive the mothers were during play, the less engaged children were with them and the more negative emotion the children displayed toward their mothers.
Study finds it actually is better (and healthier) to give than to receive
A five-year study by researchers at three universities has established that providing tangible assistance to others protects our health and lengthens our lives.
Scientists find key element of lupus, suggesting better drug targets
A team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has identified specific cellular events that appear key to lupus, a debilitating autoimmune disease that afflicts tens of millions of people worldwide. The findings suggest that blocking this pathway in lupus-triggering cells could be a potent weapon against the disease.
Study finds mutations linked to relapse of childhood leukemia
After an intensive three-year hunt through the genome, medical researchers have pinpointed mutations that leads to drug resistance and relapse in the most common type of childhood cancer—the first time anyone has linked the disease's reemergence to specific genetic anomalies.
Epidermal growth factor aids stem cell regeneration after radiation damage
Epidermal growth factor has been found to speed the recovery of blood-making stem cells after exposure to radiation, according to Duke Medicine researchers. The finding could open new options for treating cancer patients and victims of dirty bombs or nuclear disasters.
Immune cell 'survival' gene key to better myeloma treatments
Scientists have identified the gene essential for survival of antibody-producing cells, a finding that could lead to better treatments for diseases where these cells are out of control, such as myeloma and chronic immune disorders.
Researchers identify elusive taste stem cells
Scientists at the Monell Center have identified the location and certain genetic characteristics of taste stem cells on the tongue. The findings will facilitate techniques to grow and manipulate new functional taste cells for both clinical and research purposes.
Researchers find amygdala not always necessary for fear
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at the University of Iowa have found that three volunteer women with defective amygdalas were able to experience internal fear. In their paper published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, the team describes how they were able to induce fear in the volunteers despite all three suffering from a degenerative disease that made them immune to fear in the "normal" sense.
New tuberculosis vaccine doesn't protect infants, study finds
The world's most advanced tuberculosis vaccine failed to protect babies against the infectious disease, according to a new study in South Africa.
Men are from ... Earth, women are from ... Earth, study says
For decades, popular writers have entertained readers with the premise that men and women are so psychologically dissimilar they could hail from entirely different planets. But a new study shows that it's time for the Mars/Venus theories about the sexes to come back to Earth.
Antibody hinders growth of Gleevec-resistant gastrointestinal tumors in lab tests
An antibody that binds to a molecule on the surface of a rare but deadly tumor of the gastrointestinal tract inhibits the growth of the cancer cells in mice, according to researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Researchers design mouse with more human-like immune response
Medical scientists at the University of Southern California (USC) have bred a first-of-its-kind mouse model that possesses an immune response system more like a human's. The discovery makes way for quicker and more cost-effective development of next-generation drugs to treat human diseases like cancer, diabetes and tuberculosis.
Cells predict onset of graft-versus-host disease in men receiving BMTs from female donors
Stanford University School of Medicine investigators have identified a clutch of cells that—if seen in a male patient's blood after receiving a brand-new immune system in the form of a bone-marrow transplant from a female donor—herald the onset of chronic graft-versus-host disease, or cGVHD. In this devastating syndrome, the patient's tissues come under a vicious and enduring assault by the transplanted cells.
Experimental molecular therapy crosses blood-brain barrier to treat neurological disease
Researchers have overcome a major challenge to treating brain diseases by engineering an experimental molecular therapy that crosses the blood-brain barrier to reverse neurological lysosomal storage disease in mice.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Study pioneers treatment for viral infection common in children
Researchers at Imperial College London have discovered a new way in which a very common childhood disease could be treated. In the first year of life, 65 per cent of babies get infected by Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). This causes bronchiolitis, and is thought to kill nearly 200,000 children every year worldwide.
Damaged blood vessels loaded with amyloid worsen cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease
A team of researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College has discovered that amyloid peptides are harmful to the blood vessels that supply the brain with blood in Alzheimer's disease—thus accelerating cognitive decline by limiting oxygen-rich blood and nutrients. In their animal studies, the investigators reveal how amyloid-β accumulates in blood vessels and how such accumulation and damage might be ultimately prevented.
Study confirms no transmission of Alzheimer's proteins between humans
A new study found no evidence to support concerns that abnormal neurodegenerative disease proteins are "infectious" or transmitted from animals to humans or from one person to another.
TV viewing, exercise habits may significantly affect sperm count
Men's sperm quality may be significantly affected by their levels of physical activity, according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH). They found that healthy young men who were sedentary, as measured by hours of TV viewing, had lower sperm counts than those who were the most physically active.
Injection-free vaccination technique could address global vaccine challenge for HIV, malaria
Scientists at King's College London have demonstrated the ability to deliver a dried live vaccine to the skin without a traditional needle, and shown for the first time that this technique is powerful enough to enable specialised immune cells in the skin to kick-start the immunising properties of the vaccine.
Some cancer mutations slow tumor growth
A typical cancer cell has thousands of mutations scattered throughout its genome and hundreds of mutated genes. However, only a handful of those genes, known as drivers, are responsible for cancerous traits such as uncontrolled growth. Cancer biologists have largely ignored the other mutations, believing they had little or no impact on cancer progression.
Chemical reaction keeps stroke-damaged brain from repairing itself
Nitric oxide, a gaseous molecule produced in the brain, can damage neurons. When the brain produces too much nitric oxide, it contributes to the severity and progression of stroke and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. Researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute recently discovered that nitric oxide not only damages neurons, it also shuts down the brain's repair mechanisms. Their study was published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences the week of February 4.
Brain's vision secrets unraveled
A new study led by scientists at the Universities of York and Bradford has identified the two areas of the brain responsible for our perception of orientation and shape.
Biology news
Sandy's wake leaves shore birds in dire straits
Beach and habitat losses attributable to Superstorm Sandy have wildlife groups scrambling to repair the damage by the time spring birds arrive.
Does the functionality of your small finger determine your ability to master the violin?
Assessment of the presence of independent flexor digitorum superficialis function in the small fingers of professional string players: Is this an example of natural selection?
Mix-and-match cover cropping can optimize organic production
Farmers can fine-tune their use of cover crops to help manage costs and maximize benefits in commercial organic production systems, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists.
Young dolphin lures pod to safety in Australia
A young dolphin has been used to lure a pod of 100 to 150 others to safety after they were in danger of stranding themselves, Australian officials said Sunday.
Research shows slight decline in big game antler, horn size
(Phys.org)—A team of scientists led by a University of Wyoming researcher recently reported that the size of trophy horns and antlers of most species of North American big game has declined slightly over the past century, most likely as a result of intensive harvest of males.
A macromolecular shredder for RNA: Researchers unravel the structure of the machinery for RNA disposal
Much in the same way as we use shredders to destroy documents that are no longer useful or that contain potentially damaging information, cells use molecular machines to degrade unwanted or defective macromolecules. Scientists of the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried near Munich, Germany, have now decoded the structure and the operating mechanism of the Exosome, a macromolecular machine responsible for degradation of ribonucleic acids (RNAs) in eukaryotes. RNAs are ubiquitous and abundant molecules with multiple functions in the cell. One of their functions is, for example, to permit translation of the genomic information into proteins.
Defying the laws of Mendelian inheritance
Two articles published in F1000Research support controversial claims that could redefine what we know about Mendelian inheritance in single Arabidopsis thaliana plants.
Survival of the fittest: Predator wasps breed at the expense of spider juveniles
Two wasp species, Calymmochilus dispar and Gelis apterus, have been recorded as parasitoids on ant-eating spiders in a study published in the open access journal ZooKeys. The host spider, Zodarion styliferum, belongs to the largest genus of predominantly ant-eating spiders. Their distribution area includes Europe, Asia and North Africa, significantly with at least 35 species reported for the Iberian Peninsula only, marking a record in numbers in Portugal, where this study was conducted.
Biodiversity exploration in the 3-D era
Taxonomy – the discipline that defines and names groups of organisms – is a field of science that still employs many of the methods used during the beginnings of the discipline in the 18th century. Despite the increasing use of molecular information to delineate new species, the study of the morphology of specimens remains one of the major tasks of taxonomists. These studies often require first-hand examination of the reference specimens (so-called type material) deposited at museum collections around the globe - a time-consuming and laborious task.
Tortugas marine reserve yields more, larger fish
A new NOAA research report finds that both fish populations and commercial and recreational anglers have benefited from "no-take" protections in the Tortugas Ecological Reserve in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Polar bear researchers urge governments to act now and save the species
(Edmonton) A University of Alberta polar bear researcher along with eleven international co-authors are urging governments to start planning for rapid Arctic ecosystem change to deal with a climate change catastrophe for the animals.
Bioengineers recreate natural complex gene regulation
By reproducing in the laboratory the complex interactions that cause human genes to turn on inside cells, Duke University bioengineers have created a system they believe can benefit gene therapy research and the burgeoning field of synthetic biology.
Changes to DNA on-off switches affect cells' ability to repair breaks, respond to chemotherapy
Double-strand breaks in DNA happen every time a cell divides and replicates. Depending on the type of cell, that can be pretty often. Many proteins are involved in everyday DNA repair, but if they are mutated, the repair system breaks down and cancer can occur. Cells have two complicated ways to repair these breaks, which can affect the stability of the entire genome.
Caught in the act: Researchers capture key moments in cell death
Scientists at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have for the first time visualised the molecular changes in a critical cell death protein that force cells to die.
DNA reveals mating patterns of critically endangered sea turtle
New University of East Anglia research into the mating habits of a critically endangered sea turtle will help conservationists understand more about its mating patterns.
Scientists notch a win in war against antibiotic-resistant bacteria
A team of scientists just won a battle in the war against antibiotic-resistant "superbugs"—and only time will tell if their feat is akin to the bacterial "Battle of Gettysburg" that turns the tide toward victory.
The impressive aerial maneuvers of the pea aphid
You might not think much about pea aphids, but it turns out they've got skills enough to get aerospace engineers excited. A report in the February 4th issue of Current Biology shows that the insects can free fall from the plants they feed on and—within a fraction of a second—land on their feet every time. Oftentimes, the falling aphids manage to cling to a lower part of the plant by their sticky feet on the way down, avoiding the dangerous ground altogether.
Study shows monogamous birds can read partner's food desires
New research shows that male Eurasian Jays in committed relationships are able to share food with their female partner according to her current desire.
Paired genes in stem cells shed new light on gene organization and regulation
Whitehead Institute researchers have determined that DNA transcription, the process that produces messenger RNA (mRNA) templates used in protein production, also runs in the opposite direction along the DNA to create corresponding long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). Moreover, the mRNAs and lncRNAs are transcribed coordinately as stem cells differentiate into other cell types. This surprising finding could redefine our understanding of gene organization and its regulation.
How plants sense gravity: A new look at the roles of genetics and the cytoskeleton
Gravity affects the ecology and evolution of every living organism. In plants, the general response to gravity is well known: their roots respond positively, growing down, into the soil, and their stems respond negatively, growing upward, to reach the sunlight. But how do plants sense gravity and how do they direct or signal their cells to grow in response to it? Although botanists understand a great deal about how this works, a recent article in the recent issue of the American Journal of Botany reviews what we know so far, from mechanical to genetic approaches; it reveals that there are still substantial gaps in our knowledge of the molecular details and highlights new ideas for potential regulating mechanisms.
Plant geneticists demonstrate new means of boosting maize yields
A team of plant geneticists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has successfully demonstrated what it describes as a "simple hypothesis" for making significant increases in yields for the maize plant.
Grooming helps insects keep their senses sharpened
Like a self-absorbed teenager, insects spend a lot of time grooming.
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