Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for March 25, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Study shows how easy it is to determine someone's identity with cell phone data- Scientists uncover the nuclear life of actin
- Scientists discover that DNA damage occurs as part of normal brain activity
- Endangered lemurs' complete genomes sequenced, analyzed for conservation efforts
- New solar-cell design based on dots and wires
- Vesicle-attached ATP generator, not mitochondria, powers axonal transport
- Measuring the magnetism of antimatter: Researchers measure antiprotons more accurately than ever before
- Hybrid ribbons a gift for powerful batteries: Vanadium oxide - graphene material works well for lithium-ion storage
- Observing electrons in real-time could lead to faster computing
- Paint-on plastic electronics: Aligning polymers for high performance
- Google patent suggests Google-Glass-ish control of appliances
- Team discovers new strategy to effectively treat, prevent osteoarthritis
- Nouns before verbs? New research agenda could help shed light on early language, cognitive development
- Study finds brain origins of variation in pathological anxiety
- Mathematical butterflies provide insight into how insects fly
Space & Earth news
Losing wetlands to grow crops
Getting enough to eat is a basic human need – but at what cost to the environment? Research published in BioMed Central's journal Agriculture & Food Security demonstrates that as their crops on higher ground fail due to unreliable rainfall, people in countries like Uganda are increasingly relocating to wetland areas. Unless the needs of these people are addressed in a more sustainable way, overuse of wetland resources through farming, fishing, and hunting will continue.
Climate models are not good enough, researcher says
Only a few climate models were able to reproduce the observed changes in extreme precipitation in China over the last 50 years. This is the finding of a doctoral thesis from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Dead ducks in Chinese river as swine flow eases
At least 1000 dead ducks were found floating in a Chinese river, state media reported Monday, after Shanghai said it had almost finished recovering thousands of deceased pigs from its main waterway.
Tool for seafood contamination
Since the horse meat saga began in 2012, some of us have decided to eat more fish and seafood - after all, we have been told they are better for our health. Well, that may not be quite true today. While EU law allows consumers shopping at supermarkets to learn where their seafood comes from, most restaurants are under no obligation to reveal how far their seafood has travelled to get to a diner's plate.
Indian drought risk, as Himalayan glaciers retreat
Studying the retreat of glaciers in the Himalayas and its effect on monsoon, may lead to scientific recommendations. But the cultural barrier to change may be too high for local people to adopt them.
Surprises in the South polar vortex in Venus' atmosphere
Spanish astronomers with the UPV/EHU's Planetary Science Group have published, online in the journal Nature Geoscience, a study of the atmospheric vortex of the south pole of Venus, a huge whirlwind the size of Europe. In the atmosphere there are two main cloud layers separated by a distance of 20km. The UPV/EHU astronomers have been closely monitoring the movement of the vortex on both levels, and have been able to confirm the erratic nature of this movement.
Heads up, space fans! Angry Birds roosting at NASA
(AP)—Angry Birds have a new space coop. At NASA's invitation, the online game birds are roosting at Kennedy Space Center for the next 1½ years in an effort to lure youngsters to the cosmic wonders of math and science.
The long winter ahead
Secluded from civilisation and living in a white desert, the crew at the Concordia research base in Antarctica have settled in to their home and are ready for the cold, long winter ahead.
Superfast model brain to predict flooding during heavy rain
(Phys.org) —Heavy rain has one again resulted in widespread flooding across the country. With climate change likely to cause further severe weather events in the coming years, methods of quickly predicting flooding will become increasingly important.
A tiny grain helps reveal the history of a rock
Researchers can use the mineral rutile to learn about rock types and their history. Two articles published in the highly respected journal Geology now present a new application of a method for more easily tracing the mineral rutile. The co-authors of the articles are researchers at the University of Gothenburg.
This is what can happen when a CME hits Earth
This video taken by Göran Strand from Östersund, Sweden shows what happened on March 17, 2013 when a Coronal Mass Ejection hit Earth's magnetic field. Two days earlier, sunspot AR1692 had produced a M1-class solar flare that resulted in the CME that hit Earth.
Curiosity is back! Snapping fresh Martian vistas
Curiosity is back! After a multi week hiatus forced by a computer memory glitch, NASA's mega rover is back to full operation.
Researchers issue forecast for 'moderate' New England red tide in 2013
New England is expected to experience a "moderate" red tide this spring and summer, report NOAA-funded scientists studying the toxic algae that cause blooms in the Gulf of Maine. The "red tide" is caused by an alga Alexandrium fundyense, which produces a toxin that can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). Red tide typically occurs annually along some portions of the Gulf of Maine coast. This year's outlook is similar to the 2012 red tide which was also classified as "moderate."
Mars rover back in action after computer problems
The Mars rover Curiosity is humming again after being stopped by back-to-back computer problems.
Project seeks to harvest fog for irrigation
Fog has been billowing inside a small greenhouse on the University of Washington campus for the past month, but it doesn't arrive on little cat feet. It comes hissing out of high-pressure nozzles.
NASA: Flash reports consistent with single meteor
(AP)—Reports of a flash of light that streaked across the sky over the U.S. East Coast appeared to be a "single meteor event," the U.S. space agency said. Residents from New York City to Washington and beyond lit up social media with surprise.
World landmarks go dark for Earth Hour
The Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower and the Kremlin—along with a slew of other landmarks around the world—went dark to draw attention to climate change.
Researchers suggest comet most likely cause of Chicxulub crater
(Phys.org) —Researchers from Dartmouth College in the U.S. as part of their presentation at the 44th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference this past week, have given evidence that suggests it was a comet that struck the Earth approximately 65 million years ago creating the Chicxulub crater—an event most scientists agree was likely the cause behind the demise of land dwelling dinosaurs. Up till now most in the field have believed that it was likely an asteroid that caused the crater and disruption that followed.
Climate 'brings opportunities and threats to the Pacific'
(Phys.org) —Climate change will bring both big opportunities and threats to the fish-dependent nations of the Pacific, international scientists say.
Hubble digs up galactic glow worm
(Phys.org) —This charming and bright galaxy, known as IRAS 23436+5257, was captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. It is located in the northern constellation of Cassiopeia, which is named after an arrogant, vain, and yet beautiful mythical queen.
Dead forests release less carbon into atmosphere than expected
(Phys.org) —Billions of trees killed in the wake of mountain pine beetle infestations, ranging from Mexico to Alaska, have not resulted in a large spike in carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, contrary to predictions, a UA-led study has found.
Predictions of climate impacts on fisheries can be a mirage: New mathematical tool helps avoid misleading conclusions
In the early 1940s, California fishermen hauled in a historic bounty of sardine at a time that set the backdrop for John Steinbeck's "Cannery Row" novel. But by the end of the decade the nets came up empty and the fishery collapsed. Where did they all go? According to a new study led by scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, the forces behind the sardine mystery are a dynamic and interconnected moving target.
Decreased water flow may be trade-off for more productive forest
Bubbling brooks and streams are a scenic and much loved feature of forest ecosystems, but long-term data at the U.S. Forest Service's Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest suggests that more productive forests might carry considerably less water, according to a study published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Scientists find Moon, asteroids share history
(Phys.org) —NASA and international researchers have discovered that Earth's moon has more in common than previously thought with large asteroids roaming our solar system.
Technology news
Rail production that is fast and energy efficient
A new hardening technology used in the production of heavy duty rails saves energy and increases productivity. The Siemens' IdRHa+technology will now be used commercially for the first time in a production line operated by the Chinese steel manufacturer Baotou at its plant in Inner Mongolia. The IdRHa+ (Injector Dual-phase Rail Hardening) system for hardening the rail head makes it possible to produce train rails that can tolerate higher compressive stress and are more fatigue and wear resistant. Siemens developed the technology in cooperation with the Italian Technical CenterCentro Sviluppo Materiali S.p.A.
The network of the future, beyond theory
Nearly a decade ago, as the internet began to morph from a web of information into a web of connected people and things, European researchers saw not only theoretical possibilities but a chance to reinvent the network of the future. The results of this 'big thinking' can now be seen, as European designs and ideas are shaping networking environments, making them more efficient, robust and dare it be said … 'future proof'.
US clears Nasdaq payout in Facebook IPO debacle (Update)
The Nasdaq on Monday had the backing of US regulators who approved the stock exchange's latest plan to compensate investors for the botched debut of Facebook shares last year.
T-Mobile gets rid of contracts for cellphones
(AP)—T-Mobile USA, the struggling No. 4 cellphone company, is ditching plans centered on familiar two-year contracts in favor of selling phones on installment plans.
Tearing down the technological 'Tower of Babel' along international borders
On the morning of December 6, 1917, in the port of Halifax, Nova Scotia, near the U.S. border in Maine, a French ship, the Mont Blanc, filled with military explosives collided with another vessel. Twenty minutes later, a fire set off the Mont Blanc's volatile cargo and caused a catastrophic explosion—killing thousands and destroying an entire section of the city. Rescue efforts were dispatched immediately from the Canadian mainland as well as the United States, but confusion and lack of immediate information delayed some of the rescue efforts for hours.
Saudi threatens to ban WhatsApp, Viber and Skype: sources
Internet messenger applications such as Skype, Viber and WhatsApp face being banned in Saudi Arabia if operators fail to allow authorities in the kingdom to censor them, industry sources said on Monday.
Senate shows support for Internet sales taxes
(AP)—Advocates of a move to help states collect sales taxes on Internet transactions have won a Senate victory.
Report: Dell likely to receive more takeover bids
Michael Dell may face some competition in his effort to take over the computer maker he founded.
Experts: NKorea training teams of 'cyber warriors'
(AP)—Investigators have yet to pinpoint the culprit behind a synchronized cyberattack in South Korea last week. But in Seoul, the focus is fixed on North Korea, which South Korean security experts say has been training a team of computer-savvy "cyber warriors" as cyberspace becomes a fertile battleground in the nations' rivalry.
Saudi Arabia's top cleric criticizes Twitter users
(AP)—Saudi Arabia's top religious cleric has criticized the social media website Twitter, calling it "a council for jokesters" and a place for unjust, incorrect messages.
West Africans turn to technology to tame the traffic beast
If you own a mobile phone and spend sunup to sundown watching the traffic pass in Ghana's capital, then Iddrisu Mohammed wants you to be his spy.
Papers link top China university to army 'hacking' unit
Researchers at one of China's top universities collaborated with a Chinese army unit accused of carrying out hacking attacks on the United States, academic papers published online show.
Dell drama takes a twist with two new buyout bids (Update 3)
The two new suitors pursuing Dell have a message for Wall Street: Don't allow Michael Dell to hoard potential gains from the expansion of the world's third largest PC maker into more profitable technology products and services.
Ash from refuse could become hydrogen gas
Every year, millions of tons of environmentally harmful ash is produced worldwide, and is mostly dumped in landfill sites or, in some countries, used as construction material. The ash is what is left when rubbish has been burnt in thermal power stations. A researcher from Lund University in Sweden has now developed a technique to use the ash to produce hydrogen gas. The method is presented in a new thesis.
Ultra-precision positioning
A novel rotary actuator provides greater torque, accuracy, and speed.
Yahoo! buys app from British teen
Yahoo! announced plans Monday to buy mobile news reader app Summly from the London teenager who invented it, likely transforming him into one of the world's youngest self-made multimillionaires.
Apple buys WiFi-location startup
Apple has bought WiFiSLAM, a startup that has been developing a way to use WiFi hotspots to help smartphones navigate large indoor spaces, like stores, airports and conference centers.
Cooled integrated circuit amplifies with lowest noise so far
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have demonstrated an integrated amplifier with the lowest noise performance so far. The amplifier offers new possibilities for detecting the faintest electromagnetic radiation, for example from distant galaxies.
New smartphone platforms eye inroads in hot market
A handful of new smartphone platforms are expected to become available this year, challenging the stranglehold of the two market leaders, Google's Android and Apple's iOS.
US Treasury presents guidelines to virtual money transmitters
(Phys.org) —Money launderers thinking virtual currency provides an easy way to towel-off have had a rude awakening this month with the U.S. Treasury announcing that virtual currencies, like real currencies, must abide by the same rules regarding what's legal and illegal.
Improving the flow of the fibre optic freeway
Monash University researchers have played a pivotal role in the invention of an energy-efficient method of increasing the data capacity of optical networks to the point where all of the world's internet traffic could travel on a single fiber.
Using fluctuating wind power
Incorporating wind power into existing power grids is challenging because fluctuating wind speed and direction means turbines generate power inconsistently. Coupled with customers' varying power demand, many wind-farm managers end up wasting power-generation capacity and limiting the service life of turbines through active control – including fully stopping turbines – in order to avoid any possible damage to the power grid from spikes in supply.
Google patent suggests Google-Glass-ish control of appliances
(Phys.org)—Perceptions, design concepts, and expectations of Google Glass roll on, with yet another patent filing by Google. This time the call is for a Google Glass-like wearable computer to be the ultimate solution for remote controls. So far, the popular image of a Google Glass wearer is the enlightened, connected person on an enlightened urban avenue, smartly maneuvering data from the eyeglass device.
Study shows how easy it is to determine someone's identity with cell phone data
(Phys.org) —While most people know that using a cell phone means that the phone's location is being recorded, a new study has revealed just how little information is required to determine an individual's personal identity. By analyzing 15 months of cell phone mobility data from 1.5 million people, researchers have found that only four spatio-temporal points (an individual's approximate whereabouts at the approximate time when they're using their cell phone) are all that's needed to uniquely identify 95% of the individuals. The study has implications for modifying privacy law in order to keep pace with technological advances.
Medicine & Health news
Multiple ACL surgery techniques effective in helping athletes return to play
Orthopaedic surgeons have debated the effectiveness of the single versus double-bundle method of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair for years. However new data shows both techniques lead to similarly effective outcomes for patients, according to a study presented at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Specialty Day in Chicago, IL.
Newer SLAP tear surgery gives military personnel hope for return to active duty
Research presented at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Specialty Day in Chicago, IL shows that biceps tenodesis surgery is safe and effective for individuals who suffer a SLAP (superior labral anterior posterior) tear of the shoulder. Patients examined had previously undergone unsuccessful arthroscopic repair for their injuries.
Return to active duty not likely after allograft treatment for knee defect
Treatment of large cartilage knee defects with an allograft osteoarticular transplant (OATS) may not allow some military personnel to return to full active duty status, say researchers presenting their work at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Specialty Day in Chicago, IL.
Physical activity during youth may help reduce fracture risk in old age
Get out there and regularly kick that soccer ball around with your kids, you may be helping them prevent a broken hip when they are older, say researchers presenting their work at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Specialty Day in Chicago, IL.
Hip surgery complication rate higher than previously reported
Outcomes after surgery have always been difficult to determine. Now a new case study on more than 500 hip procedures highlights that complication rates may be even higher than previous reports, say researchers presenting at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Specialty Day in Chicago, IL.
Charges thrown out against US right-to-die leader
(AP)—A judge dismissed charges against the former leader of a U.S. right-to-die group accused in the death of a Minnesota woman, ruling that the state law against advising suicide is unconstitutionally overbroad.
Implantable telescope lens to treat macular degeneration
(Medical Xpress)—Retired entrepreneur Willis "James" Hindman, 77, always enjoyed raising and watching thoroughbred race horses run on his farm in Westminster, Md. "There is nothing more beautiful than seeing a horse in motion and at full speed. It's something very special to me," says Hindman.
Study confirms rapid rise in antipsychotic treatment of medicaid-insured children
(Medical Xpress)—A new study from the University of Maryland (UM) found that use of antipsychotic drugs from 1997 to 2006 increased 7- to 12-fold in a Medicaid population of about 500,000 children ages two to 17.
Indonesia denies mutilation in circumcision traditions
Thrashing wildly, five-year-old Reta wails as she is hoisted onto a bed during a circumcision ceremony in a school-hall-turned-clinic on Indonesia's island of Java.
AstraZeneca settles legal dispute with Watson (Update)
(AP)—Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has settled a patent dispute with Watson Laboratories, Inc., removing a threat against its top-selling cholesterol-control drug, Crestor.
Managing diabetes with data and ingenuity
An EU-funded project has developed a device which can predict sugar highs and lows for people with diabetes and provide them with advice on how to manage their glucose levels.
Is Obama's plan to map the human brain this generation's equivalent to landing a man on the moon?
President John F. Kennedy's mission in 1960 was to land a man on the moon. President Bill Clinton made cracking the human genome one of his top priorities. Now, President Barack Obama says a detailed map of the human brain is necessary to understand how it works and what needs to be done when it's not working properly. The president is expected to unveil his plans for an estimated $3 billion, decade-long commitment to the Brain Activity Map project next month in his 2014 budget proposal.
Ultrasound to combat liver tumours
Liver tumours are either benign or malignant; if malignant then they can be primary or secondary. In Europe, a solitary lesion in the liver is more likely to be a metastatic carcinoma than a primary liver tumour. The major risk factors for liver cancer are infection with hepatitis B or C and heavy alcohol consumption, all of which can cause cirrhosis. Smokers and diabetics are also at increased risk, while consumption of foods contaminated with aflatoxin is a cause of liver cancer in many developing countries. Frequently, liver cancer often does not show symptoms until its later stages, so it is seldom diagnosed early.
Study questions efficacy and unintentional effects of patient/physician shared decision-making
Shared decision-making between patients and physicians about health care decisions has previously been presented as superior to an approach that emphasizes physicians taking a leading role in directing key aspects of a patient's care. But now, a new study by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, calls into question the efficacy of shared decision-making as a tool for eliciting a patient's genuine preference for care. The results of the study will be presented this week at the 2013 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting in Chicago.
Wyss Institute awarded DARPA contract to further advance sepsis therapeutic device
The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University announced today that it was awarded a $9.25 million contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to further advance a blood-cleansing technology developed at the Institute with prior DARPA support, and help accelerate its translation to humans as a new type of sepsis therapy.
New treatment option for brain metastases associated with lung cancer
Lung cancer is the world's most common cause of death from cancer. In Austria, around 4,000 people develop this type of cancer every year. One particular problem is the development of brain metastases in association with the lung tumour. Until now – other than surgery or radiotherapy – there have not been any treatment options available. Now, however, researchers at the MedUni Vienna have identified a possible new approach for treatment.
Hand surgery enhances life quality for those with spinal cord injuries
Reconstructive hand surgery can dramatically enhance the life quality and independence of those paralysed by a cervical spinal cord injury. Despite this, the operation is not frequently performed, either in Sweden or elsewhere. Researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden are now hoping to change that.
46 gene sequencing test for cancer patients on the NHS
The first multi-gene DNA sequencing test that can help predict cancer patients' responses to treatment has been launched in the National Health Service (NHS), thanks to a partnership between scientists at the University of Oxford and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Committee on Publication Ethics launches ethical guidelines for peer reviewers
Scholarly journals need to ensure that their peer reviewers act constructively, respect confidentiality and avoid conflicts of interests, according to new guidelines launched by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
Mass. pharmacy recalling some compounded products
(AP)—A Massachusetts pharmacy has issued a voluntary recall of some sterile compounding products.
Lymphatic vasculature: A cholesterol removal system
Reverse cholesterol transport is a process in which accumulated cholesterol is removed from tissues, including the artery wall, and transported back to the liver for excretion. Little is known about how cholesterol is removed from peripheral tissues, but a better understanding of these mechanisms could help in the development of therapies that treat atherosclerosis and other cholesterol-related disorders.
Exploring the cause of sudden unexplained death in epilepsy
Dravet syndrome (DS) is a form of infantile-onset, treatment-resistant epilepsy that is caused by a mutation in the gene encoding a voltage-gated sodium channel, SCN1A. DS patients have a 30-fold increased risk of dying from sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP) compared to patients with other forms of pediatric-onset epilepsy.
New study suggests that same-sex parents are judged more harshly than heterosexual parents
Is there a double standard for gay parents? A new study published this month by a Binghamton University research team suggests that gay parents are being judged more harshly than straight parents.
Kidney sparing surgery underutilized for patients who need it most
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have released study results that show national treatment trends in the surgical management of patients with kidney disease. The study found that partial and complete kidney removal (total nephrectomy) and energy-based techniques to destroy tumors are all on the rise. Surprisingly, the patients most in need of kidney-sparing surgery are still more likely to undergo total nephrectomy. The findings recently published online in BJU International.
J&J recalls all OneTouch Verio blood sugar meters
Health products giant Johnson & Johnson on Monday issued yet another product recall, this one for OneTouch VerioIQ blood glucose meters sold in the U.S. and other countries.
Michigan hospitals national leaders in preventing common and costly urinary tract infections
Patients at Michigan hospitals are less likely to experience a urinary tract infection caused by a catheter than at other hospitals in the country, according to a new study by the University of Michigan.
Inhaler approved for cystic fibrosis patients
(HealthDay)—The TOBI Podhaler (tobramycin inhalation powder) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat cystic fibrosis patients infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium that can damage the lungs.
Parent induces guilt, child shows distress
The use of guilt-inducing parenting in daily parent-child interaction causes children distress still evident on the next day, emerges from the study Parents, teachers, and children's learning (LIGHT) carried out by Kaisa Aunola, Asko Tolvanenen, Jaana Viljaranta and Jari-Erik Nurmi at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. According to the study, the use of guilt-inducing parenting varied from one day to another. When parents used higher levels of guilt-inducing parenting on certain days, this was evident as atypically high levels of distress and anger among children still on the next day.
Cigarette relighting tied to tough economy
In what is believed to be a first of its kind study, a research member at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey and colleagues have found that an accelerating trend of smokers relighting cigarettes is related to economic factors, and the practice has implications for tobacco dependence treatment and policy. Results were given at a poster presentation during the 19th Annual Meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco held this past week in Boston. The Cancer Institute of New Jersey is a Center of Excellence of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
Mexican forensic expert bathes bodies to solve crimes
Mexican forensic expert Alejandro Hernandez dips dry, yellowish cadavers in a see-through bath, hoping his technique to rehydrate mummified bodies will solve murders in crime-infested Ciudad Juarez.
Experts warn of untreatable TB risk
Disease experts called Sunday for decisive leadership and more research funding to fend off the "very real" risk of an untreatable strain of tuberculosis (TB) emerging as more and more people develop resistance to existing drugs.
Heart repair breakthroughs replace surgeon's knife
(AP)—Have a heart problem? If it's fixable, there's a good chance it can be done without surgery, using tiny tools and devices that are pushed through tubes into blood vessels.
Violence, vaccine fears keep polio from disappearing
Sixty years after the first successful polio vaccine trial, the disease has been wiped out in much of the world, but violence, conspiracy theories and lack of cash keep it from disappearing.
Court: Can drug companies pay to delay generics?
(AP)—Federal regulators are pressing the Supreme Court to stop big pharmaceutical corporations from paying generic drug competitors to delay releasing their cheaper versions of brand-name drugs. They argue these deals deny American consumers, usually for years, steep price declines that can top 90 percent.
Toenail clippings to measure toxic exposure in NJ
(AP)—Some residents of a New Jersey town will soon be asked to turn over their toenails.
Amniotic fluid stem cells repair gut damage
Stem cells taken from amniotic fluid were used to restore gut structure and function following intestinal damage in rodents, in new research published in the journal Gut. The findings pave the way for a new form of cell therapy to reverse serious damage from inflammation in the intestines of babies.
Genetic alterations linked with bladder cancer risk, recurrence, progression, and patient survival
A new analysis has found that genetic alterations in a particular cellular pathway are linked with bladder cancer risk, recurrence, disease progression, and patient survival. Published early online in Cancer, a peer- reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings could help improve bladder cancer screening and treatment.
New urgency in battle against 'bound legs' disease
a disease overshadowed by the war and drought it tends to accompany – goes beyond its devastating physical effects to impair children's memory, problem solving and other cognitive functions.
Sexually abused or neglected adolescent girls at risk of becoming moms while still teenagers
Abused or neglected teenage girls become teen mothers at nearly five times the national rate of teen motherhood.
Research reveals protective properties of influenza vaccines
(Medical Xpress)—Collaborating scientists from Nationwide Children's Hospital, Baylor Institute for Immunology Research, and Mount Sinai School of Medicine have identified an important mechanism for stimulating protective immune responses following seasonal influenza vaccinations. The study was published in Science Translational Medicine, a journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Youth with diabetes at greater risk following transition from pediatric to adult care
(Medical Xpress)—Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the body does not produce insulin and cannot convert sugar, starches and other food into energy. Generally diagnosed during childhood or adolescence, the disease requires lifelong access to medical care and intensive daily self-management.
Teenage and young adult cancer deaths almost halved in last 30 years but success masks lack of access to clinical trials
The number of teenagers and young adults dying from cancer in Britain has fallen from around 580 per year in the mid-70s (1975-77) to around 300 today (2008-2010), according to a new Cancer Research UK report.
A 'micro-tap' for treating glaucoma
A tiny, EPFL-designed implantable device that can be positioned within the eye and controlled remotely may well revolutionize the treatment of glaucoma. The device should be through testing this year and on its way to the market in 2014 via Rheon Medical, an EPFL spin-off.
Rise in temperatures and carbon dioxide levels are boosting pollen, extending allergy seasons
There may be different opinions about the causes of climate change, but experts say there is no denying its existence—and the effects are nothing to sneeze at. Researchers say global warming is leading to larger plants, earlier and more robust pollination and, as a result, worsening allergies.
Pre-op triage of total hip replacement patients improves outcomes
(Medical Xpress)—According to a new study by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, pre-operatively identifying patients with certain comorbid risk factors that may increase their chance of being admitted to the ICU following total hip replacement surgery results in fewer deaths, post-surgery complications, and unplanned ICU admissions. The full results of the study will be presented at the 2013 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting this week in Chicago.
Reversing blood and freshening it up
The blood of young and old people differs. In an article published recently in the scientific journal Blood, a research group at Lund University in Sweden explain how they have succeeded in rejuvenating the blood of mice by reversing, or re-programming, the stem cells that produce blood.
Sequencing tracks animal-to-human transmission of bacterial pathogens
Researchers have used whole genome sequencing to reveal if drug-resistant bacteria are transmitted from animals to humans in two disease outbreaks that occurred on different farms in Denmark. The results, which are published today in EMBO Molecular Medicine, confirm animal-to-human transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a disease-causing bacterium that carries the recently described mecC gene. The mecC gene is responsible for resistance to the penicillin-like antibiotic methicillin.
Women over 40 still need effective contraception, research says
Women reaching the age of 40 tend to be less vigilant about birth control because they think the risk of pregnancy is low – or that birth control can cause health problems - but a review of the evidence by a team that includes a Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island physician recently underscored the need to be vigilant about contraception even in perimenopause.
Detecting circulating tumor cells
A proof-of-concept device is nearly perfect in separating breast cancer cells from blood.
Relieving chronic pain
A new, implantable device for treating chronic pain passes an important safety test.
New lung cancer study takes page from Google's playbook
A new study shows that the same sort of mathematical model that Google uses to predict which websites people want to visit may help researchers predict how lung cancer spreads through the human body.
US investigation highlights risks in bioterror research labs
US labs that research bioterror germs such as anthrax are at risk for accidents because they do not have uniform building and operation standards, a Congressional investigative group said on Monday.
Too much choice leads to riskier decisions, new study finds
The more choices people have, the riskier the decisions they make, according to a new study which sheds light on how we behave when faced with large amounts of information.
Laparoscopic incisional hernia repair is effective choice
(HealthDay)—Laparoscopic incisional hernia repair has recurrence rates comparable with open repair, according to a study published in the March issue of JAMA Surgery.
Field stories can shape public policy for obesity prevention
(HealthDay)—Stories from the field can help highlight policy, systems, and environmental approaches effective in obesity prevention, according to a study published online Feb. 14 in Preventing Chronic Disease.
No overall survival benefit tied to bilateral oophorectomy
(HealthDay)—At no age is there an overall survival benefit associated with bilateral oophorectomy compared with ovarian conservation at the time of hysterectomy for benign disease, according to a study published online March 6 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Mobility impaired may have difficulty accessing docs
(HealthDay)—Many U.S. subspecialty practices cannot accommodate patients with mobility impairment, according to a study published in the March 19 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Review examines winning elements in spine fellowships
(HealthDay)—Although, ultimately, job choice is multifactorial, when evaluating spine fellowship applicants, there are objective factors in an applicant's application that are associated with a significantly higher likelihood of the individual choosing to pursue an academic position after fellowship completion, according to research published in the March 1 issue of Spine.
Better long-term outcomes with low hep C viral load
(HealthDay)—In patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), low HCV viral load predicts better long-term surgical outcomes, regardless of the serologic eradication of HCV, according to research published in the Feb. 20 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Four in 10 babies given solid foods too early, study finds
(HealthDay)—Child development experts advise parents not to introduce solid foods, such as baby cereal, into an infant's diet until the infant is at least 4 to 6 months old. However, new research suggests that about 40 percent of parents aren't heeding this advice and are giving their babies solid food much sooner.
Stress during pregnancy may raise heart defect risk for baby
(HealthDay)—Stress in mothers before and during pregnancy may boost the risk of congenital heart defects in their children, more new evidence suggests. But the findings aren't conclusive, and the effect—if it exists—appears to be small.
Higher mortality rate seen in middle-aged diabetes patients
(HealthDay)—Middle-aged people with type 2 diabetes, particularly women and those under the age of 55, have a two to three times higher risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality than people without diabetes, according to research published online Feb. 22 in Diabetes Care.
Sports concussion management recommendations updated
(HealthDay)—Recommendations for sports concussion and its management have been updated, according to a consensus statement published in the April issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Smokefree workplaces linked to smokefree homes in India
Adults in India are substantially more likely to abstain from smoking at home if they are prohibited from smoking at work, a new study has found.
Storming the gates: Study probes how pancreatic cancers metastasize
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have discovered that a protein found in the cells surrounding pancreatic cancers play a role in the spread of the disease to other parts of the body.
Other stomach microbiota modulate resistance to H. pylori-driven ulcers
Mice with different naturally occurring stomach bacteria have distinct susceptibilities to disease caused by Helicobacter pylori, the well-known cause of ulcers in humans, according to a study published online ahead of print in the journal Infection and Immunity. This is the first study to document (in mice) that the presence of certain bacteria in the stomach microbiota can prevent pathology from H. pylori.
Higher soy intake prior to lung cancer diagnosis linked to longer survival in women
New results from a large observational follow-up study conducted in Shanghai, China, indicate that women with lung cancer who consumed more soy food prior to their cancer diagnosis lived longer than those who consumed less soy. The study, published March 25 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, provides the first scientific evidence that soy intake has a favorable effect on lung cancer survival.
Reducing work hours for medical interns increases patient 'handoff' risks
Limiting the number of continuous hours worked by medical trainees failed to increase the amount of sleep each intern got per week, but dramatically increased the number of potentially dangerous handoffs of patients from one trainee to another, new research from Johns Hopkins suggests. The reductions in work hours also decreased training time, the researchers found.
Could that cold sore increase your risk of memory problems?
The virus that causes cold sores, along with other viral or bacterial infections, may be associated with cognitive problems, according to a new study published in the March 26, 2013, print issue of Neurology.
Arguments in the home linked with babies' brain functioning
Being exposed to arguments between parents is associated with the way babies' brains process emotional tone of voice, according to a new study to be published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Office workers carry biomarker of potentially harmful flame retardant, study finds
A flame retardant removed from children's pajamas 30 years ago but now used in polyurethane foam is prevalent in office environments, especially in older buildings, where urine testing of workers turned up widespread evidence of its biomarker, a new study led by Boston University School of Public Health researchers has found.
High court weighs drug companies' generics policy
(AP)—The Supreme Court is struggling with whether it should stop pharmaceutical corporations from paying generic drug competitors to delay releasing their cheaper versions of brand-name drugs.
Antiplatelet drugs don't up ICH risk in new study
(HealthDay)—Pre-existing antiplatelet use does not seem to be associated with an increased risk of ischemic hemorrhage (ICH), according to an observational study published in the February issue of Academic Emergency Medicine.
Study finds data on experience-related outcomes limited in children's surgery
A review of the available medical literature suggests that data on experience-related outcomes in children's surgery are limited and vary widely in methodologic quality, according to a report published Online First by JAMA Pediatrics
Mild cognitive impairment at Parkinson's disease diagnosis linked with higher risk for early dementia
Mild cognitive impairment at the time of Parkinson disease (PD) diagnosis appears to be associated with an increased risk for early dementia in a Norwegian study, according to a report published Online First by JAMA Neurology.
Requests for lower-back MRIs often unnecessary, research shows
More than half of lower-back MRIs ordered at two Canadian hospitals were either inappropriate or of questionable value for patients. And family doctors were more apt to order these unnecessary tests compared to other specialists, demonstrates newly published medical research from Alberta and Ontario teams. The findings are important because in some parts of the country, MRI tests for the lower back account for about one-third of all MRI requests. Across the country, wait times for MRIs are long and patient access is limited.
Ghanaian pregnant women who sleep on back at increased risk of stillbirth
Pregnant women in Ghana who slept on their back (supine sleep) were at an increased risk of stillbirth compared to women who did not sleep on their back, according to new research led by a University of Michigan researcher.
Study reveals new approach for stopping herpes infections
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have discovered a novel strategy for preventing infections due to the highly common herpes simplex viruses, the microbes responsible for causing genital herpes (herpes simplex virus 2) and cold sores (herpes simplex virus 1). The finding, published online by The FASEB Journal, could lead to new drugs for treating or suppressing herpes virus infections.
New model predicts hospital readmission risk
Hospital readmissions are a costly problem for patients and for the United States health care system with studies showing nearly 20 percent of Medicare patients are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge at an annual cost of $17 billion. Preventing avoidable readmissions could result in improved patient care and significant cost savings. In a new model developed at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), researchers help clinicians identify which medical patients are at the greatest risk for potentially avoidable hospital readmissions so extra steps can be taken to keep those patients healthy and out of the hospital. The model is published in the March 25, 2013 online edition of JAMA Internal Medicine.
Isolation, loneliness may raise death risk for elderly
(HealthDay)—Elderly people who are socially isolated and lonely may be at greater risk of early death, British researchers report.
Simple breath test might diagnose heart failure
(HealthDay)—An experimental breath test, designed to quickly identify patients suffering from heart failure simply by analyzing the contents of a single exhaled breath, has demonstrated promise in early trials, a team of researchers says.
Working while pregnant won't harm the baby, study finds
(HealthDay)—Working during pregnancy does not increase a woman's risk of having a preterm or low birth-weight baby, a new study found.
High mortality, morbidity with early-onset scoliosis surgery
(HealthDay)—Surgery for patients with early-onset scoliosis is associated with an 18 percent mortality rate and an 84 percent complication rate, according to research published in the Feb. 15 issue of Spine.
Study finds molecular 'signature' for rapidly increasing form of esophageal cancer
During the past 30 years, the number of patients with cancers that originate near the junction of the esophagus and stomach has increased approximately 600 percent in the United States. The first extensive probe of the DNA of these esophageal adenocarcinomas (EACs) has revealed that many share a distinctive mix-up of letters of the genetic code, and found more than 20 mutated genes that had not previously been linked to the disease.
Parkinsons' drug helps older people to make decisions
A drug widely used to treat Parkinson's Disease can help to reverse age-related impairments in decision making in some older people, a study from researchers at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging has shown.
Researchers unravel molecular roots of Down syndrome
Sanford-Burnham researchers discover that the extra chromosome inherited in Down syndrome impairs learning and memory because it leads to low levels of SNX27 protein in the brain.
Researchers getting closer to growing a human heart
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers in Spain, led by doctor Francisco Fernandez-Aviles, are blazing a trail in bioengineering that could result, the Wall Street Journal reports, in human hearts, or parts of them, being grown in a lab and transplanted into live patients, within the next decade. It's all due to advances in technology that have seen organs such as bladders and windpipes grown and implanted into patients, replacing those that have been damaged due to disease.
Engineer invents bionic eye to help the blind
(Medical Xpress)—For UCLA bioengineering professor Wentai Liu, more than two decades of visionary research burst into the headlines last month when the FDA approved what it called "the first bionic eye for the blind."
Nerve regeneration research and therapy may get boost from new discovery
A new mechanism for guiding the growth of nerves that involves cell-death machinery has been found by scientists at the University of Nevada, Reno that may bring advances in neurological medicine and research. The team obtained the evidence in studies of fruit flies and reported their discovery in an article published in the prestigious science publication Cell Reports.
Cleverly designed vaccine blocks H5 avian influenza in models
Until now most experimental vaccines against the highly lethal H5N1 avian influenza virus have lacked effectiveness. But a new vaccine has proven highly effective against the virus when tested in both mice and ferrets. It is also effective against the H9 subtype of avian influenza. The research is published online ahead of print in the Journal of Virology.
T-cell therapy eradicates an aggressive leukemia in two children
Two children with an aggressive form of childhood leukemia had a complete remission of their disease-showing no evidence of cancer cells in their bodies-after treatment with a novel cell therapy that reprogrammed their immune cells to rapidly multiply and destroy leukemia cells. A research team from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania published the case report of two pediatric patients Online First today in The New England Journal of Medicine. It will appear in the April 18 print issue.
New mechanism for long-term memory formation discovered
UC Irvine neurobiologists have found a novel molecular mechanism that helps trigger the formation of long-term memory. The researchers believe the discovery of this mechanism adds another piece to the puzzle in the ongoing effort to uncover the mysteries of memory and, potentially, certain intellectual disabilities.
Monoclonal antibody targets, kills leukemia cells
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego Moores Cancer Center have identified a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets and directly kills chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells.
New technology measures oxygen in individual red blood cells in real time
In an engineering breakthrough, a Washington University in St. Louis biomedical researcher has discovered a way to use light and color to measure oxygen in individual red blood cells in real time.
Team discovers new strategy to effectively treat, prevent osteoarthritis
Think new discoveries are the bee's knees? This one is even better—this research out of Rhode Island Hospital is the mice's knees. Researchers have found that adding lubricin, a protein that our bodies naturally produce, to the fluid in our joints may reduce the risk of or even prevent osteoarthritis (OA).
Hunger-spiking neurons could help control autoimmune diseases
Neurons that control hunger in the central nervous system also regulate immune cell functions, implicating eating behavior as a defense against infections and autoimmune disease development, Yale School of Medicine researchers have found in a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Researchers decode biology of blood and iron disorders mapping out novel future therapies
Two studies led by investigators at Weill Cornell Medical College shed light on the molecular biology of three blood disorders, leading to novel strategies to treat these diseases.
Developing our sense of smell: Biologists pinpoint the origin of olfactory nerve cells
When our noses pick up a scent, whether the aroma of a sweet rose or the sweat of a stranger at the gym, two types of sensory neurons are at work in sensing that odor or pheromone. These sensory neurons are particularly interesting because they are the only neurons in our bodies that regenerate throughout adult life—as some of our olfactory neurons die, they are soon replaced by newborns. Just where those neurons come from in the first place has long perplexed developmental biologists.
Nouns before verbs? New research agenda could help shed light on early language, cognitive development
Researchers are digging deeper into whether infants' ability to learn new words is shaped by the particular language being acquired.
Study finds brain origins of variation in pathological anxiety
New findings from nonhuman primates suggest that an overactive core circuit in the brain, and its interaction with other specialized circuits, accounts for the variability in symptoms shown by patients with severe anxiety. In a brain-imaging study to be published online today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), researchers from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health describe work that for the first time provides an understanding of the root causes of clinical variability in anxiety disorders.
Scientists discover that DNA damage occurs as part of normal brain activity
Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have discovered that a certain type of DNA damage long thought to be particularly detrimental to brain cells can actually be part of a regular, non-harmful process. The team further found that disruptions to this process occur in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease—and identified two therapeutic strategies that reduce these disruptions.
Vesicle-attached ATP generator, not mitochondria, powers axonal transport
(Medical Xpress)—Neurons have developed elaborate mechanisms for transporting critical components, like transmitter-laden vesicles, down their axons to the synaptic terminations. An axon in a blue whale may be several meters long while those in M.mymaripenne, a wasp smaller than a paramecium, may be just microns long. Yet regardless of scale, these axons all seem to use similar molecular motors working on similar microtubule tracks to deliver vesicular cargo. In a paper recently published in Cell, researchers at INSERM, in France, have shown that the principle source of energy for these motors may not be the mitochondria as has been traditional assumed. Instead the ATP to power these motors appears to from vesicle-attached glycoloytic machinery, namely the enzyme GADPH (Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase).
Biology news
EU fish discard ban poses many questions
The sight of valuable fish being thrown back into the sea, mostly to die, has been a public relations headache for the fishing industry and driven calls for a discard ban by celebrity chefs and environmentalists.
Poachers kill rare rhinos in India's northeast
A gang of poachers killed a rare one-horned rhino at a wildlife park in northeast India, taking to 15 the number of such beasts slaughtered this year, an official said on Sunday.
Germination of alpines: Climate change could shift the timing of seed germination in alpine plants
Millennium Seed Bank Partnership scientists at the Lombardy Seed Bank (University of Pavia, Italy) and Wakehurst Place (RBG Kew) are engaged in studies to understand better the impact of climate warming on the reproductive success of alpine plants.
3Qs: The ethics of species 'de-extinction'
Scientists are closing in on the capacity to clone extinct species using biotechnology and DNA samples from the ancient past, a process that is called "de-extinction." The prospect of bringing back extinct species was discussed last week at a conference hosted by National Geographic and TEDx, in which many conservationists, geneticists, and biotechnologists supported the idea. We asked Ronald Sandler, a professor of philosophy at Northeastern and author of the new book The Ethics of Species, to share his take on what has been described as the "mind-blowing idea of the year."
Chinese pandas get warm welcome in Toronto
Canada welcomed two cute and furry ambassadors on Monday—giant pandas on loan from China for 10 years to mark a warming of Sino-Canadian ties.
For the first time Iberian lynx embryos are collected and preserved
(Phys.org) —In February two Iberian lynx females who belong to the Iberian lynx Conservation Breeding Program (ILCBPS) were castrated in order to guarantee a better quality of life and prevent possible health problems.
Seven pilot whales die in mass stranding on S.Africa beach
Nineteen pilot whales washed up on a Cape Town beach in South Africa Sunday and seven of them died, sea rescue officials said, prompting a frenzy to save the remaining giant mammals.
Coral atoll where giant tortoises outnumber man 10,000:1
It is perhaps not surprising that there are only a handful of humans on one of the most remote islands on Earth, coral atolls far out in the turquoise seas of the Indian Ocean.
Under the hood of the ribosome
(Phys.org) —We all know—generally speaking—how a car works: The gas pedal makes it go, the break pedal makes it stop, and the steering wheel determines its course. But pop open the hood and you'll find there's a lot more nuance to those maneuvers.
DNA technology set to speed up species discovery
Scientists from CSIRO and the University of Western Australia have teamed up with Kimberley Traditional Owners to test a new molecular technique that has the potential to revolutionise the discovery of new species, particularly those living in remote and poorly studied parts of the world.
The genomes of peregrine and saker falcons throw lights on evolution of a predatory lifestyle
In a collaborative study published online in Nature Genetics, researchers from Cardiff University, BGI, International Wildlife Consultants, Ltd., and Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, have completed the genome sequencing and analysis of two iconic falcons, the peregrine (Falco peregrinus) and saker (Falco cherrug). The work provides an invaluable resource for the deep understanding of the adaptive evolution in raptors and the genetic basis of their wide distribution.
An animal to feed your eco-car
Researchers at the University of Bergen and Uni Research have found that a certain type of tunicate - ascidiacea - can be used as a renewable source of biofuel and fish food. This is particularly good news for the growing aquaculture industry, which for years has struggled to find enough quality feed for its fish. There also is the prospect of reducing emissions from traffic.
Peculiar parasitoid wasp found on rare sawfly developing in ferns
A mysterious parasitoid wasp was found in the Böhmerwald (Northeast Austria) and reared in the garden of the amateur entomologist Ewald Altenhofer of Gross Gerungs municipality, Austria. The parasitoid was identified by Kees van Achterberg, senior researcher at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden, the Netherlands, as the rare Seleucus cuneiformis. It is the first time that a tip of its biology was discovered. The study was published in the open access journal Journal of Hymenoptera Research.
New study analyzes the risk to endangered whales from ships in southern California
Researchers have identified areas off southern California with high numbers of whales and assessed their risk from potentially deadly collisions with commercial ship traffic in a study published in the scientific journal Conservation Biology.
Homeowner associations can support native species in suburban neighborhoods
(Phys.org) —Although it's known that construction of homes in suburban areas can have negative impacts on native plants and animals, a recent study led by University of Massachusetts Amherst ecologist Susannah Lerman suggests that well- managed residential development such as provided by homeowners associations (HOA) can in fact support native wildlife.
Researchers use DNA to quickly unravel relationship between plants and insects
It can take years of direct observation for a researcher to fully understand the diets of a community of herbivorous insects in a tropical rain forest. Now, five Smithsonian scientists are paving a fast track using the DNA found inside the insects' stomachs, potentially turning years of research into months. This method will help scientists understand the ecology and evolution of plant-herbivore interactions more efficiently.
Ants rise with temperature
(Phys.org) —Warm nights might be more important than hot days in determining how species respond to climate change. "Rising minimum temperatures may be the best way to predict how climate change will affect an ecosystem," said Robert Warren, assistant professor of biology. "Cold extremes that once limited warm-adapted species will disappear in a warming global climate."
Researchers identify genetic sequence that helps to coordinate synthesis of DNA-packaging proteins
Every time a cell divides it makes a carbon copy of crucial ingredients, including the histone proteins that are responsible for spooling yards of DNA into tight little coils. When these spool-like proteins aren't made correctly, it can result in the genomic instability characteristic of most birth defects and cancers.
Peach genome offers insights into breeding strategies for biofuels crops
Rapidly growing trees like poplars and willows are candidate "biofuel crops" from which it is expected that cellulosic ethanol and higher energy content fuels can be efficiently extracted. Domesticating these as crops requires a deep understanding of the physiology and genetics of trees, and scientists are turning to long-domesticated fruit trees for hints. The relationship between a peach and a poplar may not be obvious at first glance, but to botanists both trees are part of the rosid superfamily, which includes not only fruit crops like apples, strawberries, cherries, and almonds, but many other plants as well, including rose that gives the superfamily its name.
Swedes mystified by seal pup found in forest
A seal pup was found in a forest in eastern Sweden on Sunday almost six kilometres (four miles) from the closest body of open water, raising questions as to how it got there, Swedish media reported.
Nature versus nurture—better looking birds have healthier babies
A female great tits' (Parus major) appearance is shown to signal healthy attributes in offspring in a paper in BioMed Central's open access journal Frontiers in Zoology. The black stripe across her breast and white patches on her cheeks correlate to a chick's weight at two weeks and immune strength respectively – though the former seems to signal a genetic benefit and the latter can affect an 'adopted' chick's health, suggesting nurture is involved.
New skin-eating amphibian discovered
Scientists have discovered a new species of caecilian - a worm-like amphibian - whose young peel off and eat their mother's skin.
Genome of Texas Longhorn, related breeds tells global history of human, cattle migration
Texas Longhorn cattle have a hybrid global ancestry, according to a study by University of Texas at Austin researchers published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Catastrophic mass extinction of birds in Pacific Islands followed arrival of first people, research shows
Research carried out by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and collaborators reveals that the last region on earth to be colonised by humans was home to more than 1,000 species of birds that went extinct soon after people reached their island homes.
New study sheds light on achieving conservation's holy grail
Solutions that meet the broad, varied, and often competing priorities of conservation are difficult to come by. Research published in the March 28 edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences takes a hard look at why, in an effort to find ways to resolve the issue.
Scientists confirm first two-headed bull shark
(Phys.org) —Scientists have confirmed the discovery of the first-ever, two-headed bull shark.
Scientists uncover the nuclear life of actin
A key building block of life, actin is one of the most abundant and highly conserved proteins in eukaryotic cells.
Endangered lemurs' complete genomes sequenced, analyzed for conservation efforts
For the first time, the complete genomes of three separate populations of aye-ayes—a type of lemur—have been sequenced and analyzed in an effort to help guide conservation efforts. The results of the genome-sequence analyses will be published in an early edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences online during the week of 25 March 2013. The team of scientists is led by George H. Perry, an assistant professor of anthropology and biology at Penn State University; Webb Miller, a professor of biology and of computer science and engineering at Penn State; and Edward Louis, Director of Conservation Genetics at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium and Director of the Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership, NGO.
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