How to print 3D models of your designs
Engineers at COMSOL have been using this exciting technology to print 3D prototypes of their multiphysics designs. See the recent blog post for a video demonstration and tutorial of how you can do the same: http://goo.gl/3VFCk
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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for July 3, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- A chimp-pig hybrid origin for humans?- Antifreeze, cheap materials may lead to low-cost solar energy
- Military sonar can alter blue whale behavior
- Princeton researchers create 'bionic ear' (Update)
- First supper is a life changer for lizards
- Evolution's toolkit seen in developing hands and arms
- Researchers challenge long-held assumption of gene expression in embryonic stem cells
- DNA markers in low-IQ autism suggest heredity
- Researchers discover new mechanism for human gene expression
- Identifying the meaning of words with multiple meanings, without using their semantic context
- First comprehensive regulatory map is a blueprint for how to defeat tuberculosis
- Scientists create 'human liver' from stem cells
- Study identifies regions of genome associated with cholera susceptibility in Bangladesh
- Study of mitochondrial DNA ties ancient remains to living descendants
- Animal master-burglars: Cockatoos 'pick' puzzle box locks (w/ Video)
Space & Earth news
Marine scientists explore biodiversity and ecosystems in Irish waters
A team of 14 scientists, led by National University of Ireland Galway's Dr Louise Allcock, recently returned to Galway following a three-week deep sea research survey aboard the Marine Institute's RV Celtic Explorer.
On the global water trail
Water is one of humanity's most pressing issues. Do we have enough of it for drinking, for farming or for industry? Too much, in the shape of flooding? Or too little, in the form of drought? The WATCH project, funded by the EU, was designed to give us better answers to questions of water management. Since its completion in 2011, the data has already been downloaded 94 times from Europe but also to the US, Africa and elsewhere. It has been mainly used by scientists, but also by mapping companies, insurers and meteorological organisations, as well as wildlife and environmental groups.
Red Cross cartoon to demystify Pacific climate change
The Red Cross has launched a light-hearted education campaign aimed at those it describes as most vulnerable to climate change: Pacific islanders living on low-lying atolls threatened by rising seas.
NASA image: Forest fires near James Bay, Quebec
At present the forest fires plaguing the area near James Bay in Quebec are causing air quality problems in the area and as far away as Maine. According to CBC News on July 02, 2013, "A smog warning is in effect for most of southwestern Quebec—from Gatineau to Montreal to Drummondville—and a smog advisory has already been effect for eastern Ontario, which was expanded all the way through Toronto and Hamilton. This current advisory is mostly due to smoke that is blowing into the warning areas from an extensive forest fire near James Bay, which has consumed around 250,000 hectares [~617,000 acres] of land so far."
Ocean satellite dies after 11-year mission
A U.S.-French science satellite that tracked rising sea levels for more than a decade and helped forecasters make better weather predictions worldwide has gone dark.
New book finds Gaia Hypothesis implausible
A new book presents the first detailed and comprehensive analysis of the famous Gaia Hypothesis, and finds it to be inconsistent with modern evidence.
Deserts 'greening' from rising CO2
Increased levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) have helped boost green foliage across the world's arid regions over the past 30 years through a process called CO2 fertilisation, according to CSIRO research.
A tale of two cities
Yifang Zhu, an associate professor in the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, and her colleagues are drawing on lessons from Los Angeles and teaming with Peking University scientists to guide policy makers as Beijing grapples with record levels of air pollution.
How climate-friendly is your cup of coffee?
Coffee drinkers are encouraged to buy environmentally-friendly coffee, whether it be certified, organic or shade coffee (grown under the shade of trees that are important habitat for birds), but how effective are these ways of growing coffee at combating climate change?
Inseparable galactic twins
(Phys.org) —Looking towards the constellation of Triangulum (The Triangle), in the northern sky, lies the galaxy pair MRK 1034. The two very similar galaxies, named PGC 9074 and PGC 9071, are close enough to one another to be bound together by gravity, although no gravitational disturbance can yet be seen in the image. These objects are probably only just beginning to interact gravitationally.
After millennia of mining, copper nowhere near 'peak'
New research shows that existing copper resources can sustain increasing world-wide demand for at least a century, meaning social and environmental concerns could be the most important restrictions on future copper production.
UN says 2001-2010 decade shows faster warming trend
Global warming accelerated since the 1970s and broke more countries' temperature records than ever before in the first decade of the new millennium, U.N. climate experts said Wednesday.
NASA satellite sees Dalila become a hurricane in Eastern Pacific
The tropical storm that has been hugging the southwestern coast of Mexico moved toward open ocean and strengthened into a hurricane on July 2. NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Dalila after moving away from the coast and strengthening into a hurricane. Dalila has become the third hurricane of the Eastern Pacific Ocean hurricane season after Barbara and Cosme. As Dalila starts to weaken, a new tropical low appears to be developing to the southeast.
Astronomers gain new knowledge about early galaxies
The early galaxies of the universe were very different from today's galaxies. Using new detailed studies carried out with the ESO Very Large Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope, researchers, including members from the Niels Bohr Institute, have studied an early galaxy in unprecedented detail and determined a number of important properties such as size, mass, content of elements and have determined how quickly the galaxy forms new stars. The results are published in the scientific journal, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Lunar rovers could be engulfed by dust
(Phys.org) —Space agencies around the world have plans to continue the exploration of the Moon in the next two decades, with ever more sophisticated robots paving the way for astronauts to walk on the lunar surface once again. One major issue for these projects is the dust found on the lunar surface, material that is abrasive, sticky and unhealthy to breathe. Now an Anglo-French team of scientists have modelled how this dust will affect any rover vehicles travelling across the surface. They find a serious risk that rovers that move around sunrise and sunset could be engulfed in dust. Professor Farideh Honary of the University of Lancaster will present the new work at the RAS National Astronomy Meeting in St Andrews on Wednesday 3 July.
Magnetic rocks aid oil exploration
A new study has pinpointed the relationship between oil reservoirs and magnetic rocks, which could lead to more accurate oil exploration.
Mars rover Opportunity passes half-way point to next destination
(Phys.org) —NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has driven more than half of the distance needed to get from a site where it spent 22 months to its next destination.
Technology news
Kim Dotcom debates New Zealand leader over spying (Update)
In America, Kim Dotcom is a racketeering suspect. In New Zealand on Wednesday, he was the prime minister's debate partner.
With some tweaks, cans make comeback in craft beer
Nearly 80 years ago Richmond revolutionized the beer world. For it was in this Southern city in 1935 that canned beer—complete with how-to instructions—was first sold.
Interest in carshare apps surges after BART strike
Just before hundreds of Bay Area Rapid Transit workers went on strike, the online ridesharing network Avego (ah-VAY'-goh) bought a new Web address: bartstrike.com.
Former YSL CEO Paul Deneve joins Apple
Former Yves Saint Laurent CEO Paul Deneve has joined Apple to work on special projects, the US tech giant said Wednesday, amid speculation he could be involved in developing a rumoured smartwatch.
NIST releases draft outline of cybersecurity framework for critical infrastructure
As part of its efforts to develop a voluntary framework to improve cybersecurity in the nation's critical infrastructure, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has posted a draft outline of the document to invite public review and gather comments.
App to trace the impact of texts over time
Tracking the impact of research and the 'reach' of messages in various forms - blogs, news, commentary - across the world could become easier in the future thanks to European funding for an innovative web application to measure and visualise the impact of digital texts over time.
Digital Savant: Hackathons are changing Austin one app at a time
If you've ever been nervous about being the least tech-savvy person in a room full of geeks, you'll know how Randy Rosens felt. On the weekend of June 1, the founder of the grass-roots organization Keep Austin Fed went to a hackathon.
China court hears claim Apple's 'Siri' is a copycat
A case against US technology giant Apple brought by a Chinese firm for alleged patent infringement in its digital personal assistant "Siri" has begun in a Shanghai court, state media said Wednesday.
Investigators stand by TWA Flight 800 explosion theory
US aviation investigators stood by their verdict that a fuel tank explosion brought down TWA Flight 800 in 1996, ahead of a documentary that revives speculation of a missile hit.
German minister: Drop Google, Facebook if you fear US spying
Internet users worried about their personal information being intercepted by U.S. intelligence agencies should stop using websites that send data to the United States, Germany's top security official said Wednesday.
New gasification method turns forest residues to biofuel with less than a euro per litre
According to the new research results of the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, lignocellulosic biomass can be used in the production of high-quality biofuels for the price of less than one euro per litre. A new technology developed in Finland allows the transfer of more than half the energy of wood raw materials to the end-product. The technology is considered ready for the construction of a commercial-scale production plant in Europe.
Bebo founders buy website back for just $1 mn
The British couple who sold social networking site Bebo for $850 million (655 million euros) five years ago have bought back the company for just $1 million and say they will relaunch it.
2.5 million Californians exposed in data breaches
A state report reveals 2.5 million Californians have had Social Security numbers, credit card and bank accounts and other sensitive information exposed in 131 data breaches since 2010.
Britain waives fitness test for cybersoldiers
Flabby keyboard jockeys, stringy coders, and out-of-shape hackers: The British military wants you.
Help-for-hire Internet startups clicking with customers
Dawn McCoy used to have to call a handyman for home repairs, a taxicab for a ride to the airport, a caterer to help out at a dinner party.
Twitter tunes ad targeting system
Twitter on Wednesday said it will begin letting businesses target marketing messages to people who have shown interests in what they have to offer.
Technology improves, but 'smart' cities still a hard sell
On the flat-screen monitor on the wall, a simulated college campus operates in seamless efficiency. Sensors pick up minor changes in temperature or humidity that could signal an air-conditioning unit malfunctioning. Motion sensors act as power switches. Building managers use their iPads to see if the lights were mistakenly left on in a lecture hall.
Game-makers bend energies toward keeping girls interested in STEM
Consider, for a moment, the possibility of a completely addictive electronic game that had a more noble objective than destroying pigs with slingshot-flung birds or traveling through post-apocalyptic wastelands.
When we're all connected, online privacy is tough to achieve
Services that offer secure Web browsing and search have been enjoying a surge in popularity since the revelations about National Security Agency monitoring of domestic phone calls, email and Internet activity.
For apartment building owners, Google Fiber can be a tough sell
Promising superspeed Internet connections might someday be as critical to drawing renters to apartments as off-street parking or on-site laundry machines.
Engelbart, inventor of computer mouse, dies at 88 (Update)
Doug Engelbart, the inventor of the computer mouse and developer of early incarnations of email, word processing programs and the Internet, has died at the age of 88.
US spent $630,000 to 'buy' Facebook fans
The US State Department was Wednesday under fire for spending $630,000 over two years to win millions of "likes" on its Facebook pages at a time of severe government austerity measures.
Player information swiped in hack of Ubisoft system
Videogame titan Ubisoft on Tuesday warned that hackers swiped names, email addresses and other information about users of its online gaming community.
Emails we weave: MIT's Immersion shows big picture
(Phys.org) —Suddenly metadata expands from a marketing buzzword heard years ago at think tank seminars about the next information age to mainstream political headlines in 2013. The NSA firestorm has popularized the term and planted it in most people's minds. MIT's César Hidalgo, professor of media arts and sciences at the MIT Media Lab, has an intense technology focus on that term and is prepared to enlighten people about their own metadata. If knowledge is power, then Hidalgo and his team have a project in mind that may empower people to leverage the chance to see their email information in a different way. The team's underlying question is fetching enough: What if people have control over their own metadata, able to view it, learn from it, and even delete it? For Hidalgo and his colleagues, Daniel Smilknov and Deepak Jagdish, their online project, dubbed Immersion, is about "self-reflection, art, privacy and strategy.".
Students capture the flight of birds on very high-speed video
Stanford mechanical engineering professor David Lentink and his students capture slow-motion video from the fastest wings in the bird world, with an eye toward building flying robots that take design cues from Mother Nature.
Microsoft creates mood sensing software for smartphones
(Phys.org) —Microsoft Research Asia has been working on creating software called MoodScope that notes how a user uses his or her phone, and then uses that information to guess that user's mood. Initial testing of the device has shown it to be 66 percent accurate; when tailored to an individual user, the team reports that the accuracy rate jumped to 93 percent. The research team includes Nicholas Lane and Robert LiKamWa of Rice University, and Lin Zhong and Yunxin Liu from Microsoft Research Asia. They built a prototype and posted their test study results on Microsoft's website.
Computer programs improve fingerprint grading
Subjectivity is problematic when evaluating fingerprints, and quality is in the eye of the examiner. But three computer programs used together can give fingerprint grading unprecedented consistency and objectivity, according to Penn State researchers.
Tweet timing tells bots, people and companies apart
Tweet timing can differentiate individual, corporate and bot-controlled Twitter accounts independent of the language or content of a tweet, according to research published July 3 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Aldo Faisal and Gabriela Tavares from Imperial College London, UK.
Medicine & Health news
Wales votes for 'presumed consent' organ donation
Wales will become the first country in the United Kingdom to adopt an organ and tissue donation scheme based on presumed consent after assembly members voted in favour of a bill on Tuesday.
Britain unveils plans to charge migrants for healthcare (Update)
Britain announced plans on Wednesday to charge migrants hundreds of pounds a year to access its state-run National Health Service (NHS), in a bid to clamp down on so-called health tourism.
Ethicists find UK ban on embryo sex selection 'unjustifiable'
As Europe's leading fertility specialists gather at a conference in London this weekend, a major new publication from leading medical ethicists finds no justification to support the UK's legal ban on sex selection before pregnancy for 'social' reasons.
Women and HIV: A story of racial and ethnic health disparities
The history of women with HIV/AIDS in the United States is really a story of racial and ethnic health disparities.
New study to give insight into the public health risks of antibiotic resistant bacteria
Scientists at Queen Mary, University of London are part of a national study seeking to establish the most significant reservoirs of an antibiotic resistant bacteria known as ESBL-positive E.coli that cause human and animal disease.
Study finds quality interaction eases refugee prejudice
Murdoch University-led research has found that quality interaction, not length of interaction, is the key to reducing anxiety about, and prejudice toward, refugees.
Assisted reproduction for same-sex male couples and single men examined
Elsevier today announced the publication of a recent retrospective study in Reproductive BioMedicine Online to better understand treatment considerations and outcomes for same-sex male couples and single men when using assisted reproduction treatment.
New research demonstrates an increase in NHS productivity
A new study by researchers at the Centre for Health Economics, University of York, reveals the productivity of the NHS in England increased by 3.2 per cent in the first year of the Coalition administration.
Lifesaving HIV treatment could reach millions more people following landmark study
Millions more people could get access to life-saving HIV drug therapy, following a landmark study led by Australian researchers based at the Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales (UNSW).
Hot flashes take heavier toll on women with HIV
Women with HIV are living longer, so more are entering menopause. As they do, they suffer more severe hot flashes than women without HIV, and their hot flashes take a heavier toll on their quality of life and daily functioning, found researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital. Their study was published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society.
Study confirms adding chemotherapy to surgery improves survival in advanced gastric cancer
For patients with advanced gastric cancer, treatment with chemotherapy after surgery can reduce the risk of cancer related death by 34% over five years compared to surgery alone, researchers said at the 15th ESMO World Congress in Gastrointestinal Cancer.
EULAR issues updated rheumatoid arthritis management recommendations
The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) has released updated recommendations for the management of RA. According to this latest guidance, treatment with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) should be initiated as soon as a diagnosis of RA is made, with the aim of reaching a target of remission or low disease activity in every patient.
White House delays key element of health care law
President Barack Obama's health care law, hailed as his most significant legislative achievement, seems to be losing much of its sweep.
Britain bans herbal drug khat
British Home Secretary Theresa May on Wednesday announced a ban on the herbal stimulant khat, going against the advice of her own experts who said such a move was disproportionate.
Justice: Hospitals to pay $34 million settlement
Fifty-five hospitals in 21 states have agreed to pay $34 million to the U.S. government to settle allegations that they used more expensive inpatient procedures rather than outpatient spinal surgeries to get bigger payments from Medicare.
Moms often talk to children about the results of cancer genetic testing
Mothers commonly talk to their children about genetic test results even if they test positive for a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, which sharply increases a woman's risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. That is among the findings of a new study from Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, which also suggests mothers who don't discuss their test results are unsatisfied with that decision.
A good night's sleep increases the cardiovascular benefits of a healthy lifestyle
A good night's sleep can increase the benefit of exercise, healthy diet, moderate alcohol consumption and non-smoking in their protection against cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to results of a large population follow-up study.(1) Results showed that the combination of the four traditional healthy lifestyle habits was associated with a 57% lower risk of cardiovascular disease (fatal and non-fatal) and a 67% lower risk of fatal events. But, when "sufficient sleep" (defined as seven or more hours a night) was added to the other four lifestyle factors, the overall protective benefit was even further increased - and resulted in a 65% lower risk of composite CVD and a 83% lower risk of fatal events.
Single men, smokers at higher risk for oral human papillomavirus infection, study shows
(Medical Xpress)—Smokers and single men are more likely to acquire cancer-causing oral human papillomavirus (HPV), according to new results from the HPV Infection in Men (HIM) Study. Researchers from Moffitt Cancer Center, the National Cancer Institute, Mexico and Brazil also report that newly acquired oral HPV infections in healthy men are rare and when present, usually resolve within one year.
US delays health care law mandate until 2015
President Barack Obama's administration announced Tuesday it will not enforce part of the federal health care law until 2015, delaying penalties on employers who do not provide health insurance for workers.
Progestin Tx reasonably effective for early endometrial cancer
(HealthDay)—Conservative management with oral progestin can be a reasonable treatment option for many patients with stage 1A endometrial cancer, according to research published in the July issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Activists warn trade pact will keep out generics (Update)
A free trade pact being negotiated by the U.S. and 11 Asia-Pacific nations will impose aggressive intellectual property rules that could restrict access to affordable medicines in developing nations, health activists warned Wednesday.
Costa Rica issues health alert over dengue
Costa Rica on Tuesday declared a health alert due to a dengue fever outbreak which has claimed three lives and infected about 12,000 people so far this year, authorities said.
New research boosts search for cure, AIDS meeting told
Fresh data from several small trials presented at an AIDS conference on Wednesday provides encouraging news in the quest for a cure for HIV, scientists said.
New non-invasive test may detect liver disease earlier
Researchers from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Unit in Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham will be showing how new tests can detect liver disease at an earlier stage at this year's Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition which opens to the public officially today.
Researchers find new clue to cause of human narcolepsy
(Medical Xpress)—In 2000, researchers at the UCLA Center for Sleep Research published findings showing that people suffering from narcolepsy, a disorder characterized by uncontrollable periods of deep sleep, had 90 percent fewer neurons containing the neuropeptide hypocretin in their brains than healthy people. The study was the first to show a possible biological cause of the disorder.
Protein called FAIM could help doctors to parse which cancer patients will respond to multiple myeloma therapy
A number of drugs exist that can extend the lifespan of people with multiple myeloma (MM), but none of these medicines are curative. Thus, medical researchers continue to search for targets for new drug therapies as well as new ways to predict which particular patients will be most responsive to existing treatment options.
Virology: Seeking solutions to viral migration
Although seldom fatal, persistent infection by chikungunya virus (CHIKV) afflicts patients with joint pain lasting months or even years. This insect-borne virus has received relatively little scientific attention in the 50 years since its initial description in African patients, but researchers in Singapore have now uncovered a host protein that can keep CHIKV in check.
When injected as a hydrogel rather than in solution, an anticancer protein treats liver tumors more effectively
Proteins and other therapeutic compounds injected directly into the blood stream tend to be broken down rapidly by the immune system. Now, researchers in Singapore have demonstrated in mice that the anticancer protein, interferon-α2a (IFN-α2a), can be delivered more effectively to liver tumors when incorporated into an injectable hydrogel.
Study suggests reducing air-polluting PAHs may lower levels of lung cancer deaths
(Medical Xpress)—High emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can be linked to lung cancer deaths in the United States and countries with a similarly high socioeconomic rank, including Canada, Australia, France, and Germany, according to a study by Oregon State University.
Impulsive adolescents more likely to drink heavily
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists at the University of Liverpool have shown that young people who show impulsive tendencies are more prone to drinking heavily at an early age.
Discovery of pathway for deadly cancer could lead to better diagnosis, treatment
(Medical Xpress)—University of Florida Health researchers have discovered a molecular pathway involved in the deadly spread of the most lethal kind of brain cancer.
Challenging the necessity of anti-psychotic drugs
Trials are currently underway to evaluate how the mental health and behaviour of adults with learning disabilities is affected by the gradual withdrawal of their anti-psychotic medication.
Can we use 3-D printing and stem cells to build a bone?
Pioneering techniques aiming to recreate human bone for replacement and repair will be showcased at the Royal Society's annual Summer Science Exhibition which opens to the public today.
Student analyzes the effects of lead exposure in Chinese children
(Medical Xpress)—The exposure of its citizens to dangerous toxins continues to be a concern in China, a newly industrialized nation with a large population and little environmental regulation, but for University of Pennsylvania senior Richard Liu one health risk has been particularly deserving of attention: lead exposure in young children.
Stress-induced overweight: Mechanism for fat distribution discovered
(Medical Xpress)—When someone is suffering from raised stress levels increased amounts of glucocorticoids are secreted. These play a part in becoming overweight. Up until now it has not been clear why fat tissue is formed primarily in the belly as abdominal or visceral fat. Scientists from the Clinical Institute of Laboratory Medicine at the MedUni Vienna have now decoded a mechanism responsible for the distribution of fat.
Immune-boosting colorectal cancer drug shows promise
New data on an emerging treatment that aims to fight colorectal cancer by stimulating the immune system have been presented at the ESMO 15th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer.
Happily married means a healthier ever after
(Medical Xpress)—New BYU research finds that people in happy marriages live less "in sickness" but enjoy more of life "in health."
Saudi records two new deaths from MERS
A Saudi man and a woman have died from the MERS virus, raising the death toll from the SARS-like infection in the kingdom to 36, the health ministry said on Wednesday.
Psychologists proof positive 'side effects' of studying abroad
Spain, France and Great Britain – these are the favourite countries of young Germans who study abroad under the ERASMUS programme. More and more German students consider one or two terms at a university abroad an essential part of their CVs. As a consequence, the number of students who spent some time at a foreign university has more than doubled over the last few years and it is estimated that about a quarter of all German students have gained some form of international experiences.
Researcher warns banned 'fountain of youth drug' may be making a comeback
Despite it being more than 30 years since the "fountain of youth drug" Gerovital H3 was banned in the United States, it may be making a comeback. In an editorial published in this month's Journal of the American Geriatrics Society BUSM researcher Thomas Perls, MD, points out that a few U.S.-based anti-aging and longevity clinics have begun to advertise Gerovital H3 in pill form and as intravenous infusions despite the fact that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned it in 1982.
Shape-shifting disease proteins may explain variable appearance of neurodegenerative diseases
Neurodegenerative diseases are not all alike. Two individuals suffering from the same disease may experience very different age of onset, symptoms, severity, and constellation of impairments, as well as different rates of disease progression. Researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have shown one disease protein can morph into different strains and promote misfolding of other disease proteins commonly found in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other related neurodegenerative diseases.
New research identifies a microRNA that drives both cancer onset and metastasis
A mere 25 years ago, noncoding RNAs were considered nothing more than "background noise" in the overall genomic landscape. Now, two new studies reveal that one of these tiny noncoding molecules – microRNA-22 – plays an outsized role in two types of cancer.
Scientists identify gene that controls aggressiveness in breast cancer cells
In a discovery that sheds new light on the aggressiveness of certain breast cancers, Whitehead Institute researchers have identified a transcription factor, known as ZEB1, that is capable of converting non-aggressive basal-type cancer cells into highly malignant, tumor-forming cancer stem cells (CSCs). Intriguingly, luminal breast cancer cells, which are associated with a much better clinical prognosis, carry this gene in a state in which it seems to be permanently shut down.
Scientists identify genetic cause of 'spongy' skin condition
Scientists have identified the genetic cause of a rare skin condition that causes the hands and feet to turn white and spongy when exposed to water.
Scientists find a novel research model for the study of auto-immune diseases
A team of researchers at the IRCM, led by Dr. Javier M. Di Noia in the Immunity and Viral Infections research division, discovered a novel research model for the study of auto-immune diseases. The Montréal scientists are the first to find a way to separate two important mechanisms that improve the quality of antibodies. This study was featured in a recent issue of The Journal of Immunology.
Research team improves immunization strategies for dengue fever in Thailand
Using a unique data set spanning 40 years of dengue fever incidence in Thailand, an international team led by biostatistician Nicholas Reich at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has for the first time estimated from data that after an initial dengue infection, a person is protected from infection with other strains for between one and three years.
Gateway for metastases: Activated blood platelets enable cancer cells to penetrate blood vessels
Malignant tumours often spread to remote areas of the body. In the majority of cases, metastases formation develops via the blood vascular system. The blood platelets thereby provide invaluable help to the tumour cells in penetrating new organs. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research in Bad Nauheim have identified the P2Y2 receptor molecule on the cells of the blood platelet wall as the gateway that allows the cancer cells to enter the organs. They now aim to prevent the formation of metastases through the targeted blocking of this key molecule.
Researchers identify molecular switch that kick starts formation of arteries
The ability to form blood vessels is one of evolution's crowning achievements, and something that separates vertebrates (animals with a backbone) from the rest of the animal kingdom. The two types of blood vessels, arteries and veins, are formed from the same precursor cell type—endothelial cells—that become committed to an arterial or venous cell fate during embryonic development. Yet precisely what drives this commitment, which is essential for shaping cardiovascular development, has long eluded researchers. Now, scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have identified the molecular signals that direct this process. In so doing, they illustrate how even the most complex of biological systems can be directed by the most subtle shifts in molecular signaling.
Improved outlook for immune-based therapies: Assay identifies T cells most capable of fighting infections and cancers
The idea of fighting infections and even cancers by inducing protective immune responses may now be a step closer to clinical practice. Researchers have removed a major obstacle to widespread use of so-called adoptive transfer therapy, in which a patient receives "killer" immune cells targeting a disease agent. Existing technologies can easily provide T cells that will recognize a specific antigen, but it has been challenging to identify individual cells most likely to succeed in fighting the disease – until now.
Biomarker predicts heart attack risk based on response to aspirin therapy
Aspirin has been widely used for more than 50 years as a common, inexpensive blood thinner for patients with heart disease and stroke, but doctors have little understanding of how it works and why some people benefit and others don't.
People's diets show a sugar-fat seesaw
Research published today shows why people find it hard to follow Government guidelines to cut their fat and sugars intake at the same time - a phenomenon known as the sugar-fat seesaw.
Does being a bookworm boost your brainpower in old age?
New research suggests that reading books, writing and participating in brain-stimulating activities at any age may preserve memory. The study is published in the July 3, 2013, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Post-breast cancer, metformin has no effect on mortality
(HealthDay)—For older women with diabetes and breast cancer, there is no association between metformin use and all-cause or breast cancer-specific mortality, according to a study published online April 30 in Diabetes Care.
Short-term UV radiation linked to odds of juvenile myositis
(HealthDay)—Short-term ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure may contribute to the development of juvenile myositis, according to a study published in the July issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
More than 40 percent of docs report work dissatisfaction
(HealthDay)—Many physicians are dissatisfied and are unlikely to recommend the medical profession to young people, according to a report published by Jackson Healthcare.
Simple ways to prevent fireworks injuries
(HealthDay)—Many Fourth of July fireworks-related injuries could be prevented with some common sense, according to experts who advise people to avoid using fireworks at home—even if they're legal.
The role of noncoding 5S rRNA in protecting the p53 tumor suppressor gene
Researchers of the Cancer Metabolism group at the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Catalan Oncology Institute (ICO) and the Division of Hematology-Oncology of the University of Cincinnati, led by George Thomas, have discovered a role for ribosomal 5S RNA in the formation of a complex that regulates the stability of p53. Normally, p53 prevents healthy cells from becoming tumorigenic. It is maintained at low levels when cells function properly and increases when there is a cellular damage.
Complications more likely with emergency gallbladder surgery: study
(HealthDay)—Emergency gallbladder surgery carries a higher risk of complications than planned surgery, a new study finds.
Dodging antibiotic side effects
A team of scientists at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University has discovered why long-term treatment with many common antibiotics can cause harmful side effects—and they have uncovered two easy strategies that could help prevent these dangerous responses. They reported the results in the July 3rd issue of Science Translational Medicine.
New breast cancer test will help more women avoid unnecessary chemotherapy
A new genetic test for one of the most common forms of breast cancer will help doctors better identify those women who should be considered for chemotherapy, and those who can avoid it, say researchers.
Urine test can diagnose, predict kidney transplant rejection
Analysis of three biomarkers in the urine of kidney transplant recipients can diagnose—and even predict—transplant rejection, according to results from a clinical trial sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. This test for biomarkers—molecules that indicate the effect or progress of a disease—offers an accurate, noninvasive alternative to the standard kidney biopsy, in which doctors remove a small piece of kidney tissue to look for rejection-associated damage. The findings appear in the July 4 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Clues about autism may come from the gut
Bacterial flora inhabiting the human gut have become one of the hottest topics in biological research. Implicated in a range of important activities including digestion, fine-tuning body weight, regulating immune response, and producing neurotransmitters affect that brain and behavior, these tiny workers form diverse communities. Hundreds of species inhabit the gut, and although most are beneficial, some can be very dangerous.
Cancer-linked FAM190A gene found to regulate cell division
Johns Hopkins cancer scientists have discovered that a little-described gene known as FAM190A plays a subtle but critical role in regulating the normal cell division process known as mitosis, and the scientists' research suggests that mutations in the gene may contribute to commonly found chromosomal instability in cancer.
Johns Hopkins GI doctors use endoscopy to place transpyloric stent
Physicians at Johns Hopkins say they are encouraged by early results in three patients of their new treatment for gastroparesis, a condition marked by the failure of the stomach to properly empty its contents into the small intestine. In an article published online today in the journal Endoscopy, they describe how the placement of a small metal stent in the stomach can improve life for people who suffer from severe bouts of nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting that accompany the condition.
Maintaining immune balance involves an unconventional mechanism of T cell regulation
New findings from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital reveal an unconventional control mechanism involved in the production of specialized T cells that play a critical role in maintaining immune system balance. The research appears in the current online edition of the scientific journal Nature.
Violent video games don't always reduce subsequent helpfulness
Violent or antisocial video games like Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto do not reliably reduce helpful behaviors in players shortly after playing, according to research published July 3 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Morgan Tear and Mark Nielsen from the University of Queensland, Australia.
2 stem cell patients stop HIV drugs, no virus seen (Update)
Two HIV-positive patients in the United States who underwent bone marrow transplants for cancer have stopped anti-retroviral therapy and still show no detectable sign of the HIV virus, researchers said Wednesday.
Epigenetic changes to fat cells following exercise
Exercise, even in small doses, changes the expression of our innate DNA. New research from Lund University in Sweden has described for the first time what happens on an epigenetic level in fat cells when we undertake physical activity.
DNA markers in low-IQ autism suggest heredity
Researchers are striving to understand the different genetic structures that underlie at least a subset of autism spectrum disorders. In cases where the genetic code is in error, did that happen anew in the patient, perhaps through mutation or copying error, or was it inherited? A new study in the American Journal of Human Genetics finds evidence that there may often be a recessive, inherited genetic contribution in autism with significant intellectual disability.
Researchers discover new mechanism for human gene expression
In a study that could change the way scientists view the process of protein production in humans, University of Chicago researchers have found a single gene that encodes two separate proteins from the same sequence of messenger RNA.
Princeton researchers create 'bionic ear' (Update)
With a 3-D printer, a petri dish and some cells from a cow, Princeton University researchers are growing synthetic ears that can receive—and transmit—sound.
First comprehensive regulatory map is a blueprint for how to defeat tuberculosis
Despite decades of research on the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB), scientists have not had a comprehensive understanding of how the bacterium is wired to adapt to changing conditions in the host. Now, researchers at Stanford University, Seattle BioMed, Boston University and the Broad Institute, Max Planck Institute of Biology in Berlin, Germany, Caprion Proteomics Inc. in Montreal, Canada, Brigham and Woman's Hospital (Harvard University), and Colorado State University have taken the first steps toward a complete representation of the regulatory network for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This map of the network of genes that control the TB bacterium will yield unique insights into how the bacteria survive in the host, and how they can be tackled with new drug interventions.
Study identifies regions of genome associated with cholera susceptibility in Bangladesh
An international research team has used a novel approach to identify genetic factors that appear to influence susceptibility to cholera. The findings by investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), the Broad Institute and the International Center for Diarrhœal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) indicate the importance of pathways involved in regulating water loss in intestinal cells and of the innate immune system in the body's response to the bacteria that causes cholera, which affects from 3 to 5 million people each year and causes more than 100,000 deaths.
Scientists create 'human liver' from stem cells
Scientists in Japan said Wednesday they had grown human liver tissue from stem cells in a first that holds promise for alleviating the critical shortage of donor organs.
H7N9 flu peril lies in deep lung infiltration, study reports
The H7N9 bird flu virus is a peril for humans because it replicates deep in the lungs where it can trigger a dangerous response from the immune system, a study said Wednesday.
Exercise reorganizes the brain to be more resilient to stress
Physical activity reorganizes the brain so that its response to stress is reduced and anxiety is less likely to interfere with normal brain function, according to a research team based at Princeton University.
Biology news
More opportunities for bats in forts along the New Dutch Waterline
Climatic conditions such as temperature and humidity have less influence on the presence of bats in the abandoned forts along the New Dutch Waterline than the size of the forts and the availability of hiding places. This is the conclusion of an article published by a research team from Wageningen University, part of Wageningen UR, in the journal Ecological Applications.
South African hunting farms increase social tensions in the rural areas
In South Africa the number and size of commercial game farms where tourists can pay to hunt for large wild animals is increasing. The owners claim that they make a contribution to nature conservation, economic growth and employment opportunities. However, NWO researcher Femke Brandt concludes that the hunting farms lead to tensed relationships in rural areas between white farmers and black farm workers. She defended her PhD thesis on Wednesday 26 June 2013 at the VU University Amsterdam.
Spotlight on sustainable highland aquatic resources
Ensuring sustainable water and secure food resources will help protect the planet as it faces climate change, provide economic benefits for poor communities, and produce more food per unit of agricultural land, according to a report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). But how do we do this? European researchers offer a 'wise' response to this.
South Sudan expands efforts to protect remaining elephants
With expert assistance from the Wildlife Conservation Society and funding from USAID, South Sudan's Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism (MWCT) has ramped up efforts to protect its last elephants by fitting individual animals with GPS collars for remote tracking, a critical practice in the fight against ivory poachers.
Hit by poachers, S. Africa to lobby for rhino horn sale
South Africa said Wednesday it would lobby to relax a ban on international trade in rhino horn to allow a one-off sale of stockpiles to address a poaching bloodbath.
Kenyan officials seize 1.5 tonnes of hidden ivory
Officials in the Kenyan port city of Mombasa seized almost one and a half tonnes of ivory hacked out of poached elephants, they said Wednesday, the latest in a series of seizures by Kenyan authorities.
Surviving fasting in the cold
King penguin chicks survive harsh winters with almost no food by minimising the cost of energy production. A new study, to be presented at the Society for Experimental Biology meeting in Valencia on the 3rd July, shows that the efficiency of the mitochondria, the power house of the cell, is increased in fasted king penguin chicks.
Bat maps: The conservation crusade
Conservation efforts have taken an important step forward, thanks to observations of bats – creatures that make up a quarter of all of the UK's native mammal species.
Study targets biodiversity conservation under-funders
If you take into consideration how much a country is expected to spend on conserving biodiversity, based on its size, wealth and share of biodiversity, a new study uncovers some surprising delinquents.
Leaf cutter ants inspire powerful new anti-cancer drugs
(Phys.org) —Scientists at the University of East Anglia are developing a new class of anti-cancer drugs that are not only powerful but also circumvent a primary cause of resistance to chemotherapy.
Remarkable 32 new wasp species from the distinctive Odontacolus and Cyphacolus genera
The wasp family Platygastridae is a large group of tiny, exclusively parasitoid wasps distributed worldwide. The genera Odontacolus and Cyphacolus, belonging to this family, are among the most distinctive wasps because of the peculiar hump-like formation on the rear part of their bodies. Despite their intriguing body shape, the generic status of these two groups has remained unclear. A new extensive study published in the open access Zookeys presents a morphological phylogenetic analysis including an astonishing 32 new species.
Study reports on declines in ecosystem productivity fueled by nitrogen-induced species loss
Humans have been affecting their environment since the ancestors of Homo sapiens first walked upright, but never has their impact been more detrimental than in the 21st century. "The loss of biodiversity has much greater and more profound ecosystem impacts than had ever been imagined," said David Tilman, professor of ecology, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning at UC Santa Barbara's Bren School of Environmental Science & Management.
Powerful animal tracking system helps research take flight
Call it a bird's eye view of migration. Scientists are taking a fresh look at animal movement with a big data approach that combines GPS tracking data with satellite weather and terrain information.
Evidence suggests Antarctic crabs could be native
A new study has cast doubt on the claim that crabs may have disappeared from Antarctica only to return due to warming seas.
Bacteria communicate to help each other resist antibiotics
New research from Western University unravels a novel means of communication that allows bacteria such as Burkholderia cenocepacia (B. cenocepacia) to resist antibiotic treatment. B. cenocepacia is an environmental bacterium that causes devastating infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) or with compromised immune systems.
Genetic factors shaping salamander tails determine regeneration pace
Salamanders' capacity to regrow lost limbs may seem infinite when compared with that of humans, but even amongst salamanders, some species regenerate body parts very slowly, while others lose this capacity as they age. Now, researchers have found that salamanders' capacity to regrow a cut tail depends on several small regions of DNA in their genome that impact how wide the tail grows.
Fungus covers fragments of its own cell wall to avoid plant defences
Many fungi can make themselves invisible to the immune system of plants. Scientists from Wageningen University have discovered that the tomato fungus Cladosporium manages this by enclosing chunks of chitin originating from its own cell wall in a protein it specifically produces for this purpose. This prevents the tomato plant from sensing that it is being attacked by the fungus, which has free rein to infect the plant.
Why do we gesticulate?
If you rely on hand gestures to get your point across, you can thank fish for that! Scientists have found that the evolution of the control of speech and hand movements can be traced back to the same place in the brain, which could explain why we use hand gestures when we are speaking.
Cane toads 'wiping out' mini crocodiles Down Under
Australia's noxious cane toad is wiping out populations of a unique miniature crocodile, researchers warned Wednesday, with fears the warty, toxic creature could extinguish the rare reptile.
Getting to the root of the matter
(Phys.org) —Working to identify key genes in the root development of poplar trees, three Michigan Technological University scientists have come up with a new model for how genes interact and affect each other's function. They also identified a network of genes that cause poplar roots to grow well in low-nitrogen soil, making them ideal candidates for biofuel tree plantations on marginal lands.
Evolution's toolkit seen in developing hands and arms
Thousands of sequences that control genes are active in the developing human limb and may have driven the evolution of the human hand and foot, a comparative genomics study led by Yale School of Medicine researchers has found
Researchers challenge long-held assumption of gene expression in embryonic stem cells
Whitehead Institute researchers have determined that the transcription factor Nanog, which plays a critical role in the self-renewal of embryonic stem cells, is expressed in a manner similar to other pluripotency markers. This finding contradicts the field's presumptions about this important gene and its role in the differentiation of embryonic stem cells.
First supper is a life changer for lizards
For young lizards born into this unpredictable world, their very first meal can be a major life changer. So say researchers who report evidence on July 3 in Current Biology, a Cell Press publication, that this early detail influences how the lizards disperse from their birthplaces, how they grow, and whether they survive. A quick or slow meal even influences the lizards' reproductive success two years later in a surprising way.
Military sonar can alter blue whale behavior
Some blue whales off the coast of California change their behavior when exposed to the sort of underwater sounds used during U.S. military exercises. The whales may alter diving behavior or temporarily avoid important feeding areas, according to new research.
Great ape genetic diversity catalog frames primate evolution, future conservation
A model of great ape history over the past 15 million years has been fashioned through the study of genetic variation in a large panel of humans, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. The catalog of great ape genetic diversity, the most comprehensive ever, elucidates the evolution and population histories of great apes from Africa and Indonesia. The resource will likely also aid in current and future conservation efforts which strive to preserve natural genetic diversity in populations.
Study of mitochondrial DNA ties ancient remains to living descendants
Researchers report that they have found a direct genetic link between the remains of Native Americans who lived thousands of years ago and their living descendants. The team used mitochondrial DNA, which children inherit only from their mothers, to track three maternal lineages from ancient times to the present.
Study shows hawkmoths use ultrasound to combat bats
For years, pilots flying into combat have jammed enemy radar to get the drop on their opponents. It turns out that moths can do it, too.
Animal master-burglars: Cockatoos 'pick' puzzle box locks (w/ Video)
A species of Indonesian parrot can solve complex mechanical problems that involve undoing a series of locks one after another, revealing new depths to physical intelligence in birds.
A chimp-pig hybrid origin for humans?
(Phys.org) —These days, getting a Ph.D. is probably the last thing you want to do if you are out to revolutionize the world. If, however, what you propose is an idea, rather than a technology, it can still be a valuable asset to have. Dr. Eugene McCarthy is a Ph.D. geneticist who has made a career out of studying hybridization in animals. He now curates a biological information website called Macroevolution.net where he has amassed an impressive body of evidence suggesting that human origins can be best explained by hybridization between pigs and chimpanzees. Extraordinary theories require extraordinary evidence and McCarthy does not disappoint. Rather than relying on genetic sequence comparisons, he instead offers extensive anatomical comparisons, each of which may be individually assailable, but startling when taken together. Why weren't these conclusions arrived at much sooner? McCarthy suggests it is because of an over-dependence on genetic data among biologists. He ! argues that humans are probably the result of multiple generations of backcrossing to chimpanzees, which in nucleotide sequence data comparisons would effectively mask any contribution from pig.
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