Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for June 6, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Balancing mitochondrial dynamics in Alzheimer's disease- International team strengthens Big Bang Theory
- Researchers use Raman spectroscopy and STM to allow chemical mapping of molecules to 1nm resolution
- Spooky action put to order: Physicists classify different types of 'entanglement'
- New observations of a 'dust trap' around a young star solve long-standing planet formation mystery
- Borneo stalagmites provide new view of abrupt climate events over 100,000 years
- The swing of architect genes
- Conflict-of-interest restrictions needed to ensure strong FDA review, analysis suggests
- Gannets don't eat off each other's plates, researchers show
- How young genes gain a toehold on becoming indispensable
- New framework from boron and silicon could smooth the way to higher capacities for lithium-ion batteries
- New study sheds light on what causes compulsive behavior, could improve OCD treatments
- Google rolls its own keyboard app for Android 4.0 and up
- By trying it all, predatory sea slug learns what not to eat
- Stars don't obliterate their planets (very often)
Space & Earth news
Amazon deforestation reduced by nearly 84%, Brazil says
Brazil said Wednesday it has reduced Amazon deforestation by nearly 84 percent over the past eight years and is nearing its international target for slowing devastation of the world's largest rainforest.
'Living' biofilters could reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Biofilters containing naturally occurring microscopic organisms that live on methane gas could help reduce hard-to-manage greenhouse gas emissions in the petroleum, forest and agriculture industries.
Study shows current laws don't prevent Sub-Saharan 'land grabbing'
(Phys.org) —Sub-Saharan Africa has foreign investors flocking to buy its fertile land. Sometimes referred to as "land grabbing," the large-scale buying or leasing of large tracts of land in developing countries shifts indigenous, or customary, land rights from chiefs and local communities to investors or national governments, often stripping native people of a source of income.
Higher ed must lead climate change adaptations
Higher Education institutions play a key role and must be leaders in preparing society to adapt to the needs of a changing climate, according to a new report evaluating education, research, campus sustainability and public outreach.
Va. launch provides good data on galaxy creation
Researchers are studying data on galaxy creation collected by an experiment launched from Virginia's Wallops Island Flight Facility.
NASA satellite reveals Tropical Storm Andrea's towering thunderstorms
Towering thunderstorms are a sign of a strong tropical cyclone, and NASA's TRMM satellite spotted thunderstorms reaching heights of almost 9 miles high within Tropical Storm Andrea. NASA's Aqua satellite provided an infrared view that revealed very cold cloud top temperatures that coincided with the towering thunderstorms that TRMM saw.
Peanut butter, pyjamas, parmesan launched into space
A special delivery of peanut butter, pyjamas and parmesan cheese was blasted into the cosmos to bring some Earthly indulgences to the astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS).
European cargo freighter separates from rocket
Europe's heaviest-ever cargo carrier to the International Space Station successfully separated from its rocket launcher an hour after liftoff on Wednesday to start a 10-day journey to the International Space Station (ISS).
Hope for recovery of coral reefs hit by cyclone Yasi
(Phys.org) —Coral reefs on Australia's Great Barrier Reef devastated by cyclone Yasi were replenished by large numbers of coral larvae nine months after the cyclone.
NASA spacecraft sees tornado's destructive swath
(Phys.org) —A new image from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument on NASA's Terra spacecraft shows the extent of destruction from the deadly Newcastle-Moore tornado that ripped through central Oklahoma on May 20, 2013.
Lockheed Martin completes functional testing of first GPS III satellite bus electronic systems
A Lockheed Martin-led industry team has completed successful functional integration tests of the spacecraft bus and network communications equipment on the first satellite of the next generation Global Positioning System, known as GPS III.
NASA-bound graduate solves satellite circuitry
(Phys.org) —An engineering graduate from UNSW who helped develop crucial hardware for a new satellite system has won a scholarship to attend the prestigious NASA Academy.
'Caldas tear' resolves puzzling seismic activity beneath Colombia
Colombia sits atop a complex geological area where three tectonic plates are interacting, producing seismicity patterns that have puzzled seismologists for years. Now seismologists have identified the "Caldas tear," which is a break in a slab that separates two subducting plates and accounts for curious features, including a "nest" of seismic activity beneath east-central Colombia and high grade mineral deposits on the surface.
Spain receives ever more solar radiation
Solar radiation in Spain has increased by 2.3% every decade since the 1980s, according to a study by researchers from the University of Girona and the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich. This increase is linked to the decreased presence of clouds, which has increased the amount of direct radiation reaching us from the Sun.
Alpine lakes reflect climate change
Increases in temperature as a result of climate change are mirrored in lake waters where temperatures are also on the rise. A new study, by Dr. Martin Dokulil, retired researcher from the Institute for Limnology at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, forecasts surface water temperatures in large Austrian lakes for 2050 and discusses the impact on the lakes' structure, function and water quality. The research is published online in Springer's journal Hydrobiologia.
NASA sees heavy rainfall in tropical storm Andrea
NASA's TRMM satellite passed over Tropical Storm Andrea right after it was named, while NASA's Terra satellite captured a visible image of the storm's reach hours beforehand. TRMM measures rainfall from space and saw that rainfall rates in the southern part of the storm was falling at almost 5 inches per hour.
2011 Draconid meteor shower deposited a ton of meteoritic material on Earth
A study led by researchers from the Spanish National Research Council shows that about a ton of material coming from comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner was deposited in the Earth's atmosphere on October 8th and 9th 2011 during one of the most intense showers of shooting starts in the last decade, which registered an activity of more than 400 meteors per hour.
Irish chronicles reveal links between cold weather and volcanic eruptions
Medieval chronicles have given an international group of researchers a glimpse into the past to assess how historical volcanic eruptions affected the weather in Ireland up to 1500 years ago.
Cassini sees precursors to aerosol haze on Titan
(Phys.org) —Scientists working with data from NASA's Cassini mission have confirmed the presence of a population of complex hydrocarbons in the upper atmosphere of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, that later evolve into the components that give the moon a distinctive orange-brown haze. The presence of these complex, ringed hydrocarbons, known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), explains the origin of the aerosol particles found in the lowest haze layer that blankets Titan's surface. Scientists think these PAH compounds aggregate into larger particles as they drift downward.
Major study assesses sea level changes due to ice sheet losses
(Phys.org) —Improved satellite measurements and computer simulations of ice sheets are creating a more accurate picture of the current and future rise in global sea level, according to an international team of climate experts including Slawek Tulaczyk, a professor of Earth and planetary sciences at UC Santa Cruz.
Three billion-year-old microfossils include plankton
Spindle-shaped inclusions in 3 billion-year-old rocks are microfossils of plankton that probably inhabited the oceans around the globe during that time, according to an international team of researchers.
Pollution in Northern Hemisphere helped cause 1980s African drought
Decades of drought in central Africa reached their worst point in the 1980s, causing Lake Chad, a shallow lake used to water crops in neighboring countries, to almost dry out completely.
Astronomers gear up to discover Earth-like planets
If one looks only for the shiniest pennies in the fountain, chances are one misses most of the coins because they shimmer less brightly. This, in a nutshell, is the conundrum astronomers face when searching for Earth-like planets outside our solar system.
Stars don't obliterate their planets (very often)
(Phys.org) —Stars have an alluring pull on planets, especially those in a class called hot Jupiters, which are gas giants that form farther from their stars before migrating inward and heating up.
International team strengthens Big Bang Theory
(Phys.org) —An international team of scientists using the most powerful telescope on Earth has discovered the moments just after the Big Bang happened more like the theory predicts, eliminating a significant discrepancy that troubled physicists for two decades. The discovery will be published in the international journal Astronomy & Astrophysics on June 6.
Borneo stalagmites provide new view of abrupt climate events over 100,000 years
A new set of long-term climate records based on cave stalagmites collected from tropical Borneo shows that the western tropical Pacific responded very differently than other regions of the globe to abrupt climate change events. The 100,000-year climate record adds to data on past climate events, and may help scientists assess models designed to predict how the Earth's climate will respond in the future.
New observations of a 'dust trap' around a young star solve long-standing planet formation mystery
Astronomers using the new Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array have imaged a region around a young star where dust particles can grow by clumping together. This is the first time that such a dust trap has been clearly observed and modeled. It solves a long-standing mystery about how dust particles in discs grow to larger sizes so that they can eventually form comets, planets and other rocky bodies.
Technology news
Web 'blackout' in Singapore to protest new online rules
Singaporean bloggers blacked out their homepages Thursday to protest new licensing rules for news websites they say will muzzle freedom of expression.
N. Korea state TV offers live stream on Facebook
North Korea's state broadcaster has begun providing live streams of selected programming, including news bulletins, on its official Facebook page.
Snapchat could be LA's startup star
There's never a shortage of things to gawk at in Venice Beach: oiled-up bodybuilders, a two-headed turtle, over-the-top street performers.
Researchers integrate origami and engineering
(Phys.org) —The quintessential piece of origami might be a decorative paper crane, but in the hands of an interdisciplinary University of Pennsylvania research team, it could lead to a drug-delivery device, an emergency shelter, or even a space station.
Circuit-characteristics analysis system capable of reflecting lithography patterns
Researchers from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), have developed a circuit-characteristics analysis system that can reflect the detailed shape of a circuit pattern (lithography pattern) transferred to a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI) board.
Two suspected in Danish police data hacking (Update)
The Swedish founder of the file-sharing site The Pirate Bay is suspected along with a Dane of hacking into a company handling sensitive information for the Danish police, officials said Thursday.
Obama pushes plan for fast Internet in US schools
President Barack Obama says he wants 99 percent of American students connected to super-fast Internet within five years. He's directing federal regulators to use an existing program to equip schools with broadband Internet.
Media General, Young to combine TV operations
(AP)—Broadcast companies Media General and New Young Broadcasting say they are combining to create a company that will operate 30 TV stations in 27 markets.
What you should know about NSA phone data program
A leaked document disclosed the monumental scale of the U.S. government's surveillance of America's phone records, part of a massive data collection program aimed at combating terrorism.
AT&T says it's connecting more devices
AT&T says promotions are pulling in a large number of new phone customers, but the cost of subsidizing phones for them will hold back profits this year.
Google terminal in works at Silicon Valley airport
Google jets are getting a home in an $82-million private terminal being built to cater to executives coming and going from Mineta San Jose International Airport in Silicon Valley.
US bill would deny visas, freeze assets of hackers
A group of lawmakers proposed legislation Thursday that would deny US entry and freeze the assets of foreign nationals involved in hacking or cybercrimes targeting the United States.
Microsoft launches new jobs drive for S.Africa
Microsoft launched Thursday a campaign aimed at helping 3,000 graduates find information technology jobs in South Africa, where one in four workers is officially unemployed.
Icahn and Southeastern push against Dell buyout
Activist investor Carl Icahn and Southeastern Asset Management Inc. are formally urging Dell shareholders to reject a buyout offer from the struggling PC maker's founder and investment firm Silver Lake Partners.
Global cybercrime ring targeted by Microsoft and FBI
Microsoft said it teamed with the FBI to disrupt armies of hacked computers used to commit more than a half-billion dollars in financial fraud around the world.
World's first intercontinental 100 Gbps link for research and education demonstrated at TERENA networking conference
Six of the world's leading research and education networks and two commercial partners today demonstrated for the first time a Transatlantic 100 gigabits-per-second (Gbps or one billion bits per second) transmission link for research and education between North America and Europe during the TERENA Networking Conference 2013 (TNC2013), held in Maastricht, The Netherlands. These demonstrations showcased emerging technologies and advanced applications for science, research and education.
New 311mph maglev train in Japan passes initial tests
(Phys.org) —Engineers with Central Japan Railway Co. have put their newest maglev L0 train through initial testing and report the new high-speed train is on course for commercial deployment by 2027. The train will eventually carry up to 1000 passengers at a time in 16 carriages (traveling at speeds up to 311mph / 500kmph) between Tokyo and Nagoya, cutting current travel time from 90 to 40 minutes.
Google rolls its own keyboard app for Android 4.0 and up
(Phys.org) —Google Maps, Google Drive, Google This, Google That….But there is always room for one more new arrival from Google, and now it is in the form of an app called Google Keyboard. Available at the Google Play store, Google Keyboard was announced this week as ready for download for Android users with devices running Android 4.0 and up. Google's Android keyboard release carries gesture typing, which means you can glide through letters to form a word and can lift a finger to create a space. The app will autocorrect and will predict words as well. Tap the microphone to compose messages using Voice Typing. The keyboard comes with dictionaries for 26 languages and keyboard layouts for 12 more."You can get the smart-and-easy Nexus typing experience on your Android phone or tablet, by downloading Google Keyboard on Google Play," said the company announcement.
Medicine & Health news
Reversal cells may tip the balance between bone formation and resorption in health and disease
By analyzing biopsy specimens from patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis and primary hyperparathyroidism, investigators have begun to pay increasing attention to "reversal cells," which prepare for bone formation during bone remodeling. The hope is that these reversal cells will become critical therapeutic targets that may someday prevent osteoporosis and other bone disorders. This study is published in the July 2013 issue of The American Journal of Pathology.
A set of 10 nutrition interventions can save nearly a million children's lives
Nearly 15 percent of all deaths in children under five can be prevented, and at least a fifth of all stunting averted, if 10 key nutrition interventions are scaled up to 90 percent coverage in the 34 countries most affected by malnutrition, according to the second paper in The Lancet Series on maternal and childhood malnutrition.
Global gains in nutrition will require improved nutrition-sensitivity of agriculture, child development
Increasing the coverage of nutrition-specific interventions will not be enough to accelerate reductions in the burden of malnutrition, and the underlying causes of malnutrition—including poverty, food insecurity, poor education and gender inequity—will need to be addressed if progress is to be made, according to the third paper in The Lancet Series on maternal and childhood malnutrition.
More cancer specialist nurses to improve hospital care
Patients battling cancer have a better experience of care at hospitals that employ more cancer specialist nurses.
Argentina to offer IVF for same-sex, straight couples
Argentina on Wednesday approved in-vitro fertilization for same-sex and heterosexual couples in the national health care system, in theory ending problems many had with affording the procedures.
Parents with heavy TV viewing more likely to feed children junk food
If your preschooler thinks a cheeseburger is healthy, you may want to reconsider how you watch TV. A recent study by researchers at the University of Michigan found commercial TV viewing, as opposed to commercial-free digitally recorded TV or other media without food advertising, in the home was related to greater junk food consumption.
New Saudi death from MERS virus
The Saudi health ministry on Thursday announced the death of one of its citizens in the eastern region of Al-Ahsaa after he contracted MERS, a SARS-like virus.
Can't quit smoking? Minimise harm by using nicotine-containing products instead
The University of Stirling's Professor Linda Bauld has been involved in developing new public health guidance for reducing tobacco-related harm when people feel unable to stop smoking in one step.
Added benefit of ingenol mebutate is not proven
The drug ingenol mebutate (trade name: Picato) has been approved in Germany since November 2012 as a gel for the treatment of certain forms of actinic keratosis in adults. In an early benefit assessment pursuant to the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG) the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined whether this new drug offers an added benefit over diclofenac/hyaluronic acid gel. Such an added benefit cannot be derived from the dossier, however, as the drug manufacturer did not submit any relevant data: it did not cite any studies that directly compared ingenol mebutate with diclofenac/hyaluronic acid gel, and the method chosen by the manufacturer for an indirect comparison was unsuitable.
Being well received in care speeds up healing process
A placebo can activate a number of biological mechanisms in the same way that medicine can, which is why we are now beginning to understand why a placebo can heal and alleviate symptoms. Psychosocial factors, such as words or how a person is received, can help to heal or bring relief. These findings are being presented by the Italian researcher Fabrizio Benedetti, who is the keynote speaker at the PNIRS 20th Scientific Meeting in Stockholm on Thursday, June 6.
Call for healthcare staff to beware of discriminating against autistic people
Healthcare staff need to challenge their own assumptions about what is 'normal' if they are to provide non-discriminatory care to autistic people, according to authors writing in the journal Learning Disability Practice.
Added benefit of dapagliflozin is not proven
Dapagliflozin (trade name: Forxiga) has been approved in Germany since November 2012 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In an early benefit assessment pursuant to the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG) the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined whether this new drug offers an added benefit over the current standard therapy. No such added benefit can be derived from the dossier, however, because the drug manufacturer did not present any relevant data for any of the possible therapeutic indications of dapagliflozin.
New screening method quickly identifies mice bred for bone marrow regeneration studies
Immunocompromised mice, created by inactivating the genes that would allow them to recognize and attack donor cells or organs, are critical for studies of bone marrow reconstitution. A more rapid and reliable technique for identifying these mice in breeding colonies is described in an article in BioResearch Open Access, a peer-reviewed open access journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.
Buckle up the right way: Motor vehicle child safety restraints
Supplemental child restraints should be used by all children through age 8. When appropriate child safety restraint systems—based on a child's age and weight—are in use during motor vehicle crashes, the rates of mortality and serious injury significantly decrease. Most parents don't know that their older children—ages 4 to 8—should use additional measures to protect them from serious injury or death in case of a crash.
Steroid injection therapy may increase risk of spinal fracture
Most aging adults will experience back pain or a spinal disorder at some time in their life. In fact, about 25.8 million visits were made to physicians' offices due to primary back problems. Treatment focuses on pain relief and is available in both non-surgical (medication or physical therapy) and surgical forms.
Access to health care among Thailand's poor reduces infant mortality
When health care reform in Thailand increased payments to public hospitals for indigent care, more poor people sought medical treatment and infant mortality was reduced, even though the cost of medical care remained free for the poor, a new study shows.
Researcher recommends stronger antithrombotic drugs in high-risk heart attack patients
The Cardiovascular Research Laboratory of the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) led by the cardiologist of the Bellvitge University Hospital José Luis Ferreiro has conducted a study on the effect of antiplatelet drugs given to high risk patients suffering from acute myocardial infaction (heart attack) in the context of the Infarction Code.
33rd hepatitis C case confirmed in NH outbreak
New Hampshire health officials say the hepatitis C outbreak associated with a former hospital technician has spread beyond his patients to a person who is believed to have had sexual contact with one of them.
HHS: marketplaces open new insurance options for consumers
(HealthDay)—Health Insurance Marketplaces, due to be introduced in October 2013, will increase the coverage options for many consumers, according to a memo released by the U.S. Department of Human & Health Services.
New study shows most youth football player concussions occur during games, not practice
Sports-related concussion has been referred to as an "epidemic" by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Emergency department visits for concussions have increased 62% between 2001 and 2009. Despite the lack of data regarding the rates of concussions in youth football (children aged 8-12 years), concerns have been raised about the sport being dangerous for this age group. In a new study scheduled for publication in The Journal of Pediatrics, researchers analyzed the incidence rates of concussion in youth football players in this age group and found a significantly higher incidence during games compared to practice sessions.
Nutrition during first 1,000 days of life crucial for childhood and economic development
A new Lancet series on maternal and childhood nutrition finds that over 3 million children die every year of malnutrition—accounting for nearly half of all child deaths under 5. Along with state-of-the-art global estimates on the long-term burden of malnutrition, the series presents a new framework for prevention and treatment that considers underlying factors, such as food security, social conditions, resources, and governance. Professor Robert Black, Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, led the consortium of experts who produced this series—a follow-up to the groundbreaking 2008 Lancet Nutrition Series, which revealed how pivotal the first 1,000 days—from the start of pregnancy until the child's second birthday—are to the well-being of both the individual and the society in which he or she lives.
Profitability index checks financial health of practices
(HealthDay)—An overall downward trend in profitability has been identified based on a practice profitability index, developed to assess the financial health of U.S. physician practices, according to a report published by CareCloud.
Weight loss diets improve renal function in obese
(HealthDay)—Low-fat, Mediterranean, and low-carbohydrate diets are similarly effective in improving renal function in moderately obese people with or without type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online May 20 in Diabetes Care.
Few physicians meeting meaningful use in early 2012
(HealthDay)—In early 2012, few physicians met meaningful use criteria, and using electronic health records (EHRs) for patient panel management was difficult, according to research published in the June 5 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Shared-care model improves professional satisfaction
(HealthDay)—Shifting primary care practice toward a shared-care model for work distribution and responsibility can improve professional satisfaction, according to research published in the May/June issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Low-mortality hospitals better with heart surgery complications
(HealthDay)—Hospitals with low mortality rates for adults undergoing cardiac surgery are superior in rescuing patients from postoperative complications, according to research published in the June issue of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Office-based physicians making more patient referrals to ER
(HealthDay)—Emergency departments (EDs) have become an important source of admissions to U.S. hospitals and are increasingly being used to conduct complex work-ups, according to a report published by the RAND Corporation.
nCoV: Pandemic unlikely but possible
(Medical Xpress)—The deadly new coronavirus known as nCoV that recently emerged in the Middle East has a small chance of becoming a pandemic, according to Siouxsie Wiles an infectious diseases specialist from The University of Auckland.
Scratching the surface: why skin allergies make us itch
A Yale-led team of researchers has identified the protein that controls inflammation and the urge to itch in people who suffer from contact dermatitis due to exposure to poison ivy and other allergens. The study appears in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.
Enzyme could be the key to aiding wound healing in diabetic and elderly people
Blocking a crucial enzyme which produces the stress hormone cortisol could lead to improved wound healing. This would be beneficial for patients with diabetes-associated ulcers', elderly patients who have undergone surgery, or those treated for burns, which would help to prevent infection and in some cases amputation, according to new research from the University of Birmingham.
Vest would detect cancers before symptoms arise
(Medical Xpress)—A group of researchers from Case Western Reserve University's electrical engineering department are lining a vest with ultrasound sensors, signal processing electronics and other high-tech gear. Their goal is to provide a portable and inexpensive means for detecting common cancers much earlier than the typical diagnosis based on symptoms, thereby enabling treatment options to be more effective.
'Alcopops' tax fails to cut binge drinking in young people
A study of hospital admissions in one of Australia's favourite holiday destinations has shown no reduction in alcohol-related harm since the tax increase on alcopops.
Blocking a protein could be key to treating spinal cord injuries
(Medical Xpress)—Queensland scientists will begin clinical trials of treatment for spinal cord injuries after discovering dramatic improvements in balance and coordination when blocking a protein.
Two biomarkers predict increased risk for 'silent' strokes
Two biomarkers widely being investigated as predictors of heart and vascular disease appear to indicate risk for "silent" strokes and other causes of mild brain damage that present no symptoms, report researchers from The Methodist Hospital and several other institutions in an upcoming issue of Stroke (now online).
Migrant deaths near peak highs, despite decrease in unauthorized migration
(Medical Xpress)—A report released June 5 by the Binational Migration Institute at the University of Arizona answers key questions about migrant deaths in Southern Arizona since 1990.
A walking revolution helps older adults get and stay active
(Medical Xpress)—It sounds simple: get outside and take a walk. Walking on its own is known to offer numerous health benefits, everything from lower blood pressure to less aches and pains. For some people, though, getting outside and taking that walk can be a challenge. This is especially true for the elderly or those with disabilities. How will I get to my destination? Is it a safe place to walk? Are there street lights? Will sidewalk cracks make it harder for my walker to roll?
Monoclonal antibody effective in treating life-threatening renal disease
(Medical Xpress)—Two clinical studies have shown that the monoclonal antibody eculizumab is effective in treating patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), a life-threatening, chronic, and progressive inflammatory disease.
New cancer drug shows potential in patients with BRCA mutations
(Medical Xpress)—A new cancer drug designed to be effective in tumours with faulty BRCA genes has generated impressive responses in an early-stage clinical trial.
Researchers give a double punch to triple-negative breast cancer
(Medical Xpress)—Breast cancer can be curable if it's caught soon enough—unless it is the "triple negative" type more likely to target young, black or Hispanic women.
Protein linked with tumor growth could be potential target for cancer-fighting drugs
As tumors grow, their centers are squeezed of oxygen. And so tumors must flip specific genetic switches to survive in these hypoxic environments. A series of studies funded to do only basic science and published today in the journal Cell reports the serendipitous discovery of a druggable target necessary for the survival of tumors in these low-oxygen environments.
Brain imaging study eliminates differences in visual function as a cause of dyslexia
A new brain imaging study of dyslexia shows that differences in the visual system do not cause the disorder, but instead are likely a consequence. The findings, published today in the journal Neuron, provide important insights into the cause of this common reading disorder and address a long-standing debate about the role of visual symptoms observed in developmental dyslexia.
Spanish researchers describe the nine hallmarks of aging
For some species, living twice as long in good health depends on no more than a few genes. When this fact was revealed by studies on worms three decades ago, it ushered in a golden age of ageing studies that has delivered numerous results, but also sown some confusion. The journal Cell is now publishing an exhaustive review of the subject that aims to set things straight and "serve as a framework for future studies." All the molecular indicators of ageing in mammals – the nine signatures that mark the advance of time – are set out in its pages. And the authors also indicate which can be acted upon in order to prolong life, while debunking a few myths like the belief that antioxidants can delay aging.
Studies showing how bird flu viruses could adapt to humans offer surveillance and vaccine strategies
Bird flu viruses are potentially highly lethal and pose a global threat, but relatively little is known about why certain strains spread more easily to humans than others. Two studies published today in the journal Cell identify mutations that increase the infectivity of H5N1 and H7N9 viruses through improved binding to receptors in the human respiratory tract. The findings offer much-needed strategies for monitoring the emergence of dangerous bird flu strains capable of infecting humans and for developing more effective vaccines.
Mothers-to-be should be aware of unintentional chemical exposures
Pregnant women should be made aware of the sources and routes of chemical exposure in order to minimise harm to their unborn child, despite current uncertainty surrounding their effects, say experts from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) in a new Scientific Impact Paper.
Autism discovery paves way for early blood test and therapeutic options
Researchers at the JC Self Research Institute of the Greenwood Genetic Center (GGC), along with collaborators from Biolog, Inc. in California, have reported an important discovery in the understanding of autism which was published this week in Molecular Autism.
Vitamin D deficiency may help spread of hepatitis B throughout liver
Researchers from Germany have found that low levels of vitamin D are associated with high levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. Findings published online in Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, suggest seasonal fluctuations in vitamin D and HBV levels point to a link in these variables among patients with chronic HBV.
Readily-available drugs may reduce devastating symptoms of Tay-Sachs disease
A team of researchers has made a significant discovery which may have a dramatic impact on children stricken with Tay-Sachs disease, a degenerative and fatal neurological condition that often strikes in the early months of life.
Surgeons at Duke University Hospital implant bioengineered vein
(Medical Xpress)—In a first-of-its-kind operation in the United States, a team of doctors at Duke University Hospital helped create a bioengineered blood vessel and implanted it into the arm of a patient with end-stage kidney disease.
Study finds one in four patients with newly-diagnosed erectile dysfunction is a young man
In a recent analysis of one outpatient clinic, one in four men seeking medical help for newly-developed erectile dysfunction (ED) was younger than 40 years, and nearly half of young men with the condition had severe ED. While larger population-based studies are needed, the findings, which were published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, suggest that erectile dysfunction in young men may be more prevalent and more serious than previously thought.
Small lifestyle changes may have big impact on reducing stroke risk
Making small lifestyle changes could reduce your risk of having a stroke, according to a new study in the American Heart Association journal Stroke.
Conservatives more likely than liberals to identify mixed-race individuals as Black, study finds
Conservatives are more likely than liberals to identify mixed-race individuals as Black, according to a series of new studies by researchers at New York University. Their findings, which appear in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, suggest that there is a link between political ideology and racial categorization.
Eligibility for aspirin for primary prevention in men increases when cancer mortality benefit added
While aspirin has been shown to be effective in preventing heart attacks in men, it also increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and possibly stroke, even at low doses. As such, national guidelines suggest that aspirin be used for prevention only in men at higher risk for cardiovascular events, so that the benefits of aspirin are greater than its adverse effects.
Herpes virus exploits immune response to bolster infection
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and colleagues report that the herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1), which affects an estimated 50 to 80 percent of all American adults, exploits an immune system receptor to boost its infectivity and ability to cause disease.
Breastfeeding boosts babies' brain growth, study finds
A study using brain images from "quiet" MRI machines adds to the growing body of evidence that breastfeeding improves brain development in infants. Breastfeeding alone produced better brain development than a combination of breastfeeding and formula, which produced better development than formula alone.
Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and autism now can be studied with mature brain cells reprogrammed from skin cells
Difficult-to-study diseases such as Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and autism now can be probed more safely and effectively thanks to an innovative new method for obtaining mature brain cells called neurons from reprogrammed skin cells. According to Gong Chen, the Verne M. Willaman Chair in Life Sciences and professor of biology at Penn State University and the leader of the research team, "the most exciting part of this research is that it offers the promise of direct disease modeling, allowing for the creation, in a Petri dish, of mature human neurons that behave a lot like neurons that grow naturally in the human brain." Chen added that the method could lead to customized treatments for individual patients based on their own genetic and cellular information. The research will be published in the journal Stem Cell Research.
A way of thinking may enable battle but prevent war crimes
Combat troops must minimize the humanness of their enemies in order to kill them. They can't be effective fighters if they're distracted by feelings of empathy for opponents. But indifference to the enemy, rather than loathing, may help prevent war crimes and provide troops with a better path back to healthy civilian lives, researchers at Case Western Reserve University propose.
Butler and Rhode Island hospitals to test 'brain pacemaker' for Alzheimer's disease
Together, Butler Hospital and Rhode Island Hospital are participating in The ADvance Study, a clinical trial investigating the use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a treatment for patients with Alzheimer's disease. The collaborative study between the two hospitals is part of a multisite clinical trial investigating the safety and efficacy of DBS in slowing the loss of memory and cognition in patients with Alzheimer's disease, a disease which currently afflicts more than 5 million people in the US and for which there is no cure.
Team discovers new liver cell for cellular therapy to aid in liver regeneration
Liver transplantation is the mainstay of treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease, the 12th leading cause of death in the United States, but new research from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, published in the online journal Cell Stem Cell today, suggests that it may one day become possible to regenerate a liver using cell therapy in patients with liver disease. Investigators discovered that a human embryonic stem cell can be differentiated into a previously unknown liver progenitor cell, an early offspring of a stem cell, and produce mature and functional liver cells.
Study finds novel gene correction model for epidermolysis bullosa
A research team led by pediatric blood and marrow transplantation experts Mark Osborn, Ph.D. and Jakub Tolar, M.D., Ph.D. from the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, have discovered a remarkable new way to repair genetic defects in the skin cells of patients with the skin disease epidermolysis bullosa.
US panel wants changes to Avandia safety measures (Update)
US government health experts are recommending changes to safety restrictions on former blockbuster diabetes pill Avandia, in light of a new analysis suggesting that the drug may not increase the risk of heart attack as previously believed.
Researchers find diminished balance in those with poor vision
UC Davis Health System Eye Center research has found that visually impaired individuals and those with uncorrected refractive error—those who could benefit from glasses to achieve normal vision but don't wear glasses—have a significantly greater risk of diminished balance with their eyes closed on a compliant, foam surface than individuals with normal vision.
Statins may lower esophageal cancer risk
(HealthDay)—Statins may lower the risk of esophageal cancer, particularly in patients with Barrett's esophagus, according to a review published in the June issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Hundreds die from extreme heat each summer, CDC warns
(HealthDay)—It's only early June, but already soaring temperatures have hit some parts of the United States. So government health officials are reminding the public that while hundreds die from heat exposure each summer, there are way to minimize the risk.
Outcomes-based data drive practice transformation
(HealthDay)—Researchers in North Carolina have developed an enhanced model for the natural history of practice transformation that emphasizes using outcomes-based data to sustain robust long-term improvements and success in primary care settings; the research has been published in the May/June issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Surgical site infections in pediatric scoliosis reviewed
(HealthDay)—Surgical site infections, particularly those caused by gram-negative pathogens, occur more frequently following procedures in patients with non-idiopathic rather than idiopathic scoliosis, according to research published in the May 1 issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Chinese people spend a greater proportion of their lives in good health than people in other G20 countries
However, the incidence of stroke, ischaemic heart disease, road injury, diabetes, and some cancers all increased in incidence during the same period, and poor diet, tobacco use, and high blood pressure all now present substantial health risks in China which will need to be addressed.
Researchers discover normal molecular pathway affected in poor-prognosis childhood leukemia
Through genetic engineering of laboratory models, researchers at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center have uncovered a vulnerability in the way cancer cells diverge from normal regenerating cells that may help treat children with leukemia as reported in the journal PNAS on June 3, 2013. Dartmouth researchers are trying to understand the key pathways that distinguish how a normal blood cell grows and divides compared to the altered growth that occurs in leukemia. In addition to the treatment of leukemia, the work has relevance for expanding umbilical cord blood or bone marrow stem cells for transplantation.
Researchers solve 20-year puzzle of how heart regulates its beat
(Medical Xpress)—A 20-year puzzle as to how the heart regulates contraction appears to have been solved by researchers from the University of Bristol. The findings, published in the journal Biophysics, paves the way to improving our understanding of what goes wrong when the heart fails.
Scientists coax brain to regenerate cells lost in Huntington's disease
Researchers have been able to mobilize the brain's native stem cells to replenish a type of neuron lost in Huntington's disease. In the study, which appears today in the journal Cell Stem Cell, the scientists were able to both trigger the production of new neurons in mice with the disease and show that the new cells successfully integrated into the brain's existing neural networks, dramatically extending the survival of the treated mice.
Tumors disable immune cells by using up sugar
Cancer cells' appetite for sugar may have serious consequences for immune cell function, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have learned.
Nuclear testing from the 1960s helps scientist determine whether adult brains generate new neurons
The birth of new neurons in the adult brain sharpens memory in rodents, but whether the same holds true for humans has long been debated. A study published today in the journal Cell reveals that a significant number of new neurons in the hippocampus—a brain region crucial for memory and learning—are generated in adult humans. The researchers used a unique strategy based on the amount of carbon-14 found in humans as a result of above-ground nuclear testing more than half a century ago. The findings suggest that new neurons are born daily in the human hippocampus, offering the tantalizing possibility that they may support cognitive functions in adulthood.
Study unveils insight into a debilitating brain disease
From the neurons that enable thought to the keratinocytes that make toenails grow–a complex canopy of sugar molecules, commonly known as glycans, envelop every living cell in the human body.
New study sheds light on what causes compulsive behavior, could improve OCD treatments
By activating a brain circuit that controls compulsive behavior, MIT neuroscientists have shown that they can block a compulsive behavior in mice—a result that could help researchers develop new treatments for diseases such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette's syndrome.
Conflict-of-interest restrictions needed to ensure strong FDA review, analysis suggests
A 2012 law that loosened conflict-of-interest restrictions for FDA advisory panels could weaken the agency's review system and could allow more drugs with safety problems to gain market approval, says a new analysis published June 7 in Science by researchers at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS).
Researchers discover how brain circuits can become miswired during development
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have uncovered a mechanism that guides the exquisite wiring of neural circuits in a developing brain—gaining unprecedented insight into the faulty circuits that may lead to brain disorders ranging from autism to mental retardation.
How similar are the gestures of apes and human infants? More than you might suspect
Psychologists who analyzed video of a female chimpanzee, a female bonobo and a female human infant in a study to compare different types of gestures at comparable stages of communicative development found remarkable similarities among the three species.
Balancing mitochondrial dynamics in Alzheimer's disease
(Medical Xpress)—Many diseases are multifactorial and can not be understood by simple molecular associations alone. Alzheimer's disease (AD)is associated with toxic transformations in two classes of protein,amyloid beta and tau, but they do not explain the full underlying pathology. On the cellular scale, much of the real-time morphological changes in neurons can be attributed to their underlying mitochondrial dynamics—namely fission, fusion, and the motions between these events. Last year, researchers from Harvard Medical School made the intriguing discovery that alterations in tau could lead to a doubling in the length of mitochondria. This week, they published a review article in Trends in Neuroscience, in which they seek to explain the primary features of AD in terms of mitochondrial dynamics.
Biology news
Japan Spring whaling haul at record low
Japanese whalers hunting the mammals in the northwestern Pacific caught a record-low 34 minke whales this Spring, the fisheries agency said Thursday, blaming bad weather.
World food output growth to slow: UN/OECD
Growth in global agricultural production is expected to slow in the coming decade, the UN food agency and the OECD said in a joint report Thursday, warning threats to food security remain.
Big game hunting in Spain has increased in the last 30 years
Since ancient times, the pressures of excessive hunting have contributed to the gradual decline of wildlife populations and even the extinction of certain species in many areas.
Patent issued for beneficial animal 'candy'
A U.S. patent has been granted to a Kansas State University-developed "candy" that stimulates the growth, health and reproductive functions of cattle, bulls and other livestock.
Unique information on Belgian ants compiled and published through FORMIDABEL data paper
A new peer reviewed data paper describes a unique database spanning the full range of indigenous and exotic ants occurring in Belgium. The paper, published in the open access journal Zookeys analyses the history, content and use of the FORMIDABEL database, which includes more than 27,000 records.
Study tracks the evolutionary history of a cancer-related gene
How and when evolution generates diversity or gives form to proteins, living beings' functional building blocks, are essential questions that still surround the theory of evolution. In humans, the majority of genes have emerged via genetic duplication, a strategy in which a gene generates two identical copies that can evolve to generate different proteins.
New DNA test on roo poo identifies species
(Phys.org) —University of Adelaide researchers have developed a simple and cost-effective DNA test to identify kangaroo species from their droppings which will boost the ability to manage and conserve kangaroo populations.
Otters show disease could be in our rivers
For the first time scientists have shown that the disease Toxoplasmosis is widespread in animals found in the UK's water systems. If the disease is common in our rivers it could mean that humans are at a high risk of infection.
New research suggests seaweed species may adapt to higher temperatures
(Phys.org) —Breakthrough research has shown a species of marine algae commonly found along Australia's rocky shores may be able to adapt to increasing air and seawater temperatures, providing insight into the impacts of global warming on the future biodiversity of Australia's coastlines.
Migration no longer best strategy for Yellowstone elk, study finds
(Phys.org) —Migratory elk are coming back from Yellowstone National Park with fewer calves due to drought and increased numbers of big predators—two landscape-level changes that are reducing the benefits of migration with broader implications for conservation of migratory animals, according to a new study published in the journal Ecology.
Superb lyrebirds move to the music
When male superb lyrebirds sing, they often move their bodies to the music in a choreographed way, say researchers who report their findings in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on June 6. The findings add to evidence from human cultures around the world that music and dance are deeply intertwined activities.
EU closes shark finning loophole
The European Union on Thursday closed a last loophole in its ban on shark finning, the long-contested practice of fisherman slicing the fins off and then throwing the still live sharks back overboard to die.
Robotic fish offer new avenue for understanding alcohol's effect on brain, behavior
Rats and mice have long been a model for researchers aiming to understand the complex impact of alcohol and other substances of abuse on behavior and the brain's reward systems. But now, a team at the Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU-Poly) has demonstrated a new method for such experiments that promises to yield large amounts of data quickly and consistently, thereby potentially reducing the number of live animals needed in research. The secret? Robotic fish.
Death traps: How carnivorous plants catch their prey
A new species of meat-eating plant was identified in Japan last month – but it is only one of more than 600 species of carnivorous plant around the world.
Historic trees get a second shot at life with cloning efforts
The majestic oak that sits on the corner of Cedar Lane and Palisade Avenue in Teaneck, N.J., is headed for the chopping block, but the historic tree may live on, if experts can manage the tricky feat of cloning it.
Rewinding development: A step forward for stem cell research
Scientists at the Danish Stem Cell Center, DanStem, at the University of Copenhagen have discovered that they can make embryonic stem cells regress to a stage of development where they are able to make placenta cells as well as the other fetal cells. This significant discovery, published in the journal Cell Reports today, has the potential to shed new light on placenta related disorders that can lead to problematic pregnancies and miscarriages.
Living fossils? Actually, sturgeon are evolutionary speedsters
Efforts to restore sturgeon in the Great Lakes region have received a lot of attention in recent years, and many of the news stories note that the prehistoric-looking fish are "living fossils" virtually unchanged for millions of years.
Study is first to pinpoint how corals make their mineral skeletons
Rutgers scientists have described for the first time the biological process of how corals create their skeletons – destined to become limestones – which form massive and ecologically vital coral reefs in the world's oceans.
How birds lost their penises
In animals that reproduce by internal fertilization, as humans do, you'd think a penis would be an organ you couldn't really do without, evolutionarily speaking. Surprisingly, though, most birds do exactly that, and now researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on June 6 have figured out where, developmentally speaking, birds' penises have gone.
Metabolic model of E. coli reveals how bacterial growth responds to temperature change
Bioengineers at the University of California, San Diego have developed a computational model of 1,366 genes in E. coli that includes 3D protein structures and has enabled them to compute the temperature sensitivity of the bacterium's proteins. The study, published June 7 in the journal Science, opens the door for engineers to create heat-tolerant microbial strains for production of commodity chemicals, therapeutic proteins and other industrial applications.
The swing of architect genes
Architect genes are responsible for organizing structures of the body during embryonic development. Some of them, namely the Hox genes, are involved in the formation of forelimbs. They are activated in two successive waves, enabling the formation of the arm, then the hand. A team led by Denis Duboule, a professor at UNIGE and EPFL, Switzerland, and Guillaume Andrey, from the Frontiers in Genetics National Research Center, uncovered the workings of this complex process.
How young genes gain a toehold on becoming indispensable
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center scientists have, for the first time, mapped a young gene's short, dramatic evolutionary journey to becoming essential, or indispensable. In a study published online June 6 in Science, the researchers detail one gene's rapid switch to a new and essential function in the fruit fly, challenging the long-held belief that only ancient genes are important.
Gannets don't eat off each other's plates, researchers show
Colonies of gannets maintain vast exclusive fishing ranges despite doing nothing to defend their territory from rival colonies, scientists have discovered.
Human Argonaute proteins: To slice or not to slice?
What makes one Argonaute a slicer and another one not? Human Argonaute proteins are key players in the gene regulation process known as RNA interference, RNAi. Professor Joshua-Tor's group of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory present the structure of human Argonaute-1 and determine key mutations and other features that distinguish it from human Argonaute-2, which is also known as "slicer" for its unique ability among the human Argonautes to cut messenger RNA.
Unusual antibodies in cows suggest new ways to make therapies for people
Humans have been raising cows for their meat, hides and milk for millennia. Now it appears that the cow immune system also has something to offer. A new study led by scientists from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) focusing on an extraordinary family of cow antibodies points to new ways to make human medicines.
Scientists confirm theory regarding the origins of the sucking disc of remoras
Remora fish, with a sucking disc on top of their heads, have been the stuff of legend. They often attach themselves to the hulls of boats and in ancient times were thought to purposely slow the boat down. While that is a misunderstanding, something else not well understood was the origins of the fish's odd sucking disc. Scientists at the Smithsonian Institution and London's Natural History Museum, however, have solved that mystery proving that the disc is actually a greatly modified dorsal fin.
By trying it all, predatory sea slug learns what not to eat
Researchers have found that a type of predatory sea slug that usually isn't picky when it comes to what it eats has more complex cognitive abilities than previously thought, allowing it to learn the warning cues of dangerous prey and thereby avoid them in the future. The research appears in the Journal of Experimental Biology.
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