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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for August 19, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- First mathematical analysis of gun policy tradeoff emphasizes need for more data- Coastal cities face rising risk of flood losses, study says
- Waking up to a new year: Team discovers an exoplanet that orbits its star in 8.5 hours
- Major study links aging gene to blood cancer
- Native Californians followed the greenery: Environment shaped 12,000 years of ethnic, linguistic diversity
- Researchers find Europe's forests moving toward carbon sink saturation point
- Robot does standup for London audience (w/ Video)
- Fungal-bacterial consortia turn corn stalks and leaves into better biofuel
- 3-D images show flame retardants can mimic estrogens
- No reward for hacking Zuckerberg Facebook page
- Handaxe design reveals distinct Neanderthal cultures
- Far from being harmless, the effects of bullying last long into adulthood
- Large moths need to hear better
- Researchers develop model to help control cascading events
- Galaxy Mega: New 6.3-inch Samsung phone approaches tablet size (Update 2)
Space & Earth news
Erin weakens to a tropical depression over eastern Atlantic
Tropical Storm Erin ran into cooler waters and dry, stable air over the Eastern Atlantic that sapped its strength and weakening the storm to depression status. NOAA's GOES-East satellite showed the storm waning today.
Oil leaks from submerged Philippine ferry
Philippine authorities said Sunday they were unable to stop fuel leaking from a ferry that sank, as oil spread to coastal villages, fishing grounds and mangroves more than five kilometres (three miles) away.
New forest conservation manifesto calls for more power to the people
More power needs to be put in the hands of local communities and decision makers if we are to avoid continued loss and degradation of the world's forests, scientists say.
NASA image: Fires sweep through Madeira
Fires have been burning out of control on the Portuguese island of Madeira. The fire that broke out in the early hours of the morning on August 16, 2013 above the village of Monte became stronger towards noontime as intense heat and the wind made the flames spread.
NASA image: Fires plaguing Idaho
Fires continue to ignite parts of the West. In this image, fires in Idaho and Wyoming can be seen.
NASA image: Wildfires persist in California
Several fires are currently raging in central and northern California. These fires can be seen in this natural-color Terra satellite image taken by the MODIS instrument on August 18, 2013.
NASA sees Tropical Storm Pewa develop in central Pacific
NASA's Aqua satellite passed over two developing low pressure areas in the Central Pacific Ocean, just before one of them strengthened into Tropical Storm Pewa.
Volcanic eruption coats Japanese city with ash
Residents in a southern Japanese city accustomed to frequent eruptions from a nearby volcano were busy washing ash off the streets Monday after the mountain spewed a record-high smoke plume into the sky.
High-speed impacts test tech for future missions (w/ Video)
ESA is always thinking ahead to the next generation of space missions, testing new technology far in advance to make concepts a reality.
Hubble sees stars fleeing a cosmic crash
(Phys.org) —Astronomical pictures sometimes deceive us with tricks of perspective. Right in the center of this image, two spiral galaxies appear to be suffering a spectacular collision, with a host of stars appearing to flee the scene of the crash in a chaotic stampede.
How shale fracking led to an Ohio town's first 100 earthquakes
Since records began in 1776, the people of Youngstown, Ohio had never experienced an earthquake. However, from January 2011, 109 tremors were recorded and new research in Geophysical Research-Solid Earth reveals how this may be the result of shale fracking.
NASA sees Tropical Storm Unala develop and weaken quickly
NASA's Aqua satellite has been busy capturing temperature data from developing tropical cyclones around the world. Aqua captured an image of Tropical Storm Unala in the central Pacific Ocean where it formed early today, Aug. 19. Over several hours, Unala moved into the northwestern Pacific where it quickly weakened to a depression.
NASA satellite sees Pewa become a typhoon
NASA's Aqua satellite passed over the tropical cyclone known as Pewa after it strengthened into a typhoon in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The Aqua satellite image revealed that Pewa had developed a small eye.
NASA catches short-lived northwestern Pacific Ocean Tropical Depression 13W
The thirteenth Tropical Depression of the Northwestern Pacific Ocean season didn't last long. In fact, Tropical Depression 13W lived for less than a day as a depression before fizzled.
NASA sees Tropical Storm Trami U-turning
Tropical Storm Trami appears to be a very large storm in infrared data from NASA's Aqua satellite. In a NASA image, Trami appears to be about two-thirds the size of the Philippines. Satellite data also indicates that the massive storm is now making a U-turn in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, from a southeastern path to a northwestern path.
Jordan to launch 'first phase' of Dead Sea canal
Jordan said on Monday it plans to build parts of a project linking the Red Sea to the shrinking Dead Sea that would supply the parched country with desalinated water.
NASA accepts third generation TDRS into network
NASA has accepted ownership of its newest Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) from Boeing after successfully completing in orbit testing. TDRS-K, will be renamed TDRS-11 upon entry into service.
Old permafrost carbon released
Using indicator molecules, a team of researchers headed by ETH Zurich demonstrates that carbon stored in the Arctic permafrost is being mobilised in Eurasian river basins.
New study reveals that stellar winds scatter star-forming material (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) —A University of Alberta astrophysicist's 3-D computer animation is helping an international research team get an unprecedented look at star-forming gases escaping from a nearby galaxy.
Stunning images of Andromeda demonstrate the world's most powerful astronomical camera
(Phys.org) —Stunning images of the Andromeda Galaxy are among the first to emerge from a new wide-field camera installed on the enormous Subaru Telescope atop the Hawaiian mountain Mauna Kea. The camera, called the Hyper-Suprime Cam (HSC), is the result of an international collaboration between Princeton University astrophysicists and Japanese and Taiwanese scientists.
Free-floating planets may be born free
Tiny, round, cold clouds in space have all the right characteristics to form planets with no parent star. New observations, made with Chalmers University of Technology telescopes, show that not all free-floating planets were thrown out of existing planetary systems. They can also be born free.
Newly discovered ocean plume could be major source of iron
(Phys.org) —Scientists have discovered a vast plume of iron and other micronutrients more than 1,000 km long billowing from hydrothermal vents in the South Atlantic Ocean. The finding, soon to be published in the journal Nature Geoscience, calls past estimates of iron abundances into question, and may challenge researchers' assumptions about iron sources in the world's seas.
Global sea level rise dampened by Australia floods
When enough raindrops fall over land instead of the ocean, they begin to add up. New research led by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) shows that when three atmospheric patterns came together over the Indian and Pacific oceans, they drove so much precipitation over Australia in 2010 and 2011 that the world's ocean levels dropped measurably. Unlike other continents, the soils and topography of Australia prevent almost all of its precipitation from running off into the ocean.
Molten magma can survive in upper crust for hundreds of millennia
Reservoirs of silica-rich magma – the kind that causes the most explosive volcanic eruptions – can persist in Earth's upper crust for hundreds of thousands of years without triggering an eruption, according to new University of Washington modeling research.
Scientists relate urban population to air pollution
(Phys.org) —Live in a large city like New York, London, Beijing or Mumbai, and you are likely exposed to more air pollution than people in smaller cities in surrounding areas. But exactly how a city's pollution relates to the size of its population has never been measured, until now.
Coastal cities face rising risk of flood losses, study says
The world's 136 largest coastal cities could risk combined annual losses of $1 trillion (750 billion euros) from floods by 2050 unless they drastically raise their defences, a study warned Sunday.
Waking up to a new year: Team discovers an exoplanet that orbits its star in 8.5 hours
In the time it takes you to complete a single workday, or get a full night's sleep, a small fireball of a planet 700 light-years away has already completed an entire year.
Researchers find Europe's forests moving toward carbon sink saturation point
(Phys.org) —A team composed of researchers from several European countries has found that, due to aging forests and deforestation, Europe's forests appear headed for a carbon sink saturation point much earlier than anticipated. In their paper published in Nature Climate Change, the team describes that the amount of carbon dioxide being absorbed by forests on the European continent has been slowing since 2005.
Technology news
Ethiopia signs mobile expansion deal with China's ZTE
Ethiopia signed an $800-million (600-million-euro) agreement with Chinese telecom giant ZTE Sunday to expand its telecommunications network, national operator Ethio Telecom said.
Reducing computer viruses in health networks
The hospital IT networks and medical devices that doctors rely on to treat patients are susceptible to their own maladies—computer viruses and other malware.
Equipping construction helmets with sensors can detect onset of carbon monoxide poisoning
Research calling for the use of a wearable computing system installed in a helmet to protect construction workers from carbon monoxide poisoning, a serious lethal threat in this industry, has garnered the Virginia Tech investigators a Best Paper Award from a prestigious scientific and engineering community.
Energy Dept.: Personal data compromised by hackers
The Energy Department says personal information for about 14,000 past and current employees was compromised after the department's computers were hacked. Information such as Social Security numbers and names was disclosed in the attack, which occurred in late July.
Judge won't fast-track Icahn claim against Dell
A Delaware judge has refused to fast-track a trial on billionaire investor Carl Icahn's (EYE'-kahn) claims that Dell Inc. directors have breached their fiduciary duties in scheduling a vote on founder and CEO Michael Dell's bid to take the embattled computer maker private.
BlackBerry chief executive could get almost $55.6M
BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins could receive almost $55.6 million if the company is sold and he is ousted from the top job.
SF Bay Area building demolition fuels quake study (Update)
It took just seconds for a 13-story building overlooking San Francisco Bay to implode, spewing smoke and chunks of concrete as it crumbled into a heap of rubble. But U.S. Geological Survey scientist Rufus Catchings was marveling less at the visual spectacle than what he could feel with his feet.
Toxic puddles at Fukushima nuclear plant: report
Puddles with extremely high radiation levels have been found near water storage tanks at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, Japan's atomic regulator and operator said Monday, according to a report.
German energy giants pull plug on conventional power
German power company RWE is shutting six domestic plants and rival E.ON is threatening to relocate to Turkey as the sector tots up the cost of the government's energy policy turnaround.
Pay-per-gaze? Google patent proposes ad system
(Phys.org) —Advertising models could in the future expand from clicks to pupil dilations. Google's patent for a Gaze Tracking System became public last week. Originally filed in May 2011, the patent presents an idea for wearers of a head mounted device—and in 2013 observers are guessing this may be Google Glass—to have gaze tracked so that the system can pin down exactly what the user is looking at and even the emotional responses via pupil dilation. Information about where the user was gazing when viewing the external scene would be sent over to a server. Then the real work would start. An image recognition algorithm would be executed on the scene images to identify items within the external scenes viewed by the user. A gazing log tracking the identified items viewed by the user would be generated.
Apple's App Store review process missed Georgia Tech Jekyll
(Phys.org) —Georgia Tech researchers figured out a way to bypass Apple's safeguards in allowing new apps on the App Store. Apple adopts review mechanisms to ensure that only approved apps can run on iOS devices and enjoys a good reputation for keeping malware at bay. That good reputation, however, cannot stop curious researchers from testing. They did succeed. They introduced some malware that the Apple Store review process did not catch. Why were they able to sneak past security screening and place a malicious app for sale? The team last week presented their paper which detailed their research, at the Usenix security symposium, which ran from August 14 to 16 in Washington, DC.
Quadcopter piloted by a smartphone
The quadcopter, which was developed at TU Vienna, can negotiate its way through a room completely on its own. It does not need any human interference, and in contrast to other models, it is not assisted by any external computer. All the necessary computing power in on board; the image processing is done by a standard smartphone.
No reward for hacking Zuckerberg Facebook page
A researcher who hacked into Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg's profile to expose a security flaw won't get the customary reward payment from the social network.
Review: 'Disney Infinity' invites you to dream big
In ancient times B.V.G. (Before Video Games), here's how kids played: Take all your toys—dolls, soldiers, cars, blocks, that thing you got from a cereal box—and dump them on the floor. Forget about logic or plot consistency because the most important goal is to create an entertaining adventure. (My neighborhood is still reeling from the sordid G.I. Joe-Barbie affair of 1974.)
New report outlines how network technology must increase efficiency to meet rising energy demands
The collective power consumption of core networks is outpacing technological advancements in energy efficiency, putting a strain on growth in the IT and telecommunications industry—and potentially on global energy resources.
Medicine & Health news
Israel launches nationwide polio booster campaign
Israel is launching a nationwide campaign to give a polio booster to all children under 9 after a rare discovery of the virus.
New contamination scare hits N. Zealand dairy industry
A new contamination scare hit New Zealand's multi-billion dollar dairy industry on Monday after it was revealed a milk product with excessive nitrate levels had been exported to China.
Japan firm says skin stain complaints top 7,000
Japanese cosmetics maker Kanebo said Monday the number of complaints about skin discolouring from using its whitening products has topped 7,000 from customers both at home and abroad.
Estimating the risk of bowel cancer
Polyps in the mucosa of the colon are a common finding during screening colonoscopies. Some sub-groups of polyps are classed as precursors of bowel cancer. Until now, it has not been possible to precisely estimate the risk of these polyps developing into bowel cancer. Thanks to a cooperation project with the University of Heidelberg, the working group led by Peter Birner from the Clinical Institute of Pathology at the MedUni Vienna has now demonstrated that the risk can be assessed very accurately with the help of a new antibody.
Gap between maternity policies revealed
Mothers who exclusively breastfeed their child spend 6.6 hours a week longer milk feeding than mothers who partially breastfeed or formula feed, which has important implications for health policies and programs, including paid parental leave.
Study examines prevalence of indoor tanning use among non-Hispanic white females in US
Indoor tanning appears to be common among non-Hispanic white female high school students and adults ages 18 to 34 years, according to a JAMA Internal Medicine research letter by Gery P. Guy Jr., Ph.D., M.P.H., and colleagues at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, G.A.
Giant 23-kilo tumor removed from woman's abdomen in Bulgaria
Bulgarian surgeons removed a giant tumour that weighed 23 kilogrammes (50.7 pounds) from a woman's abdomen on Monday, likening the curious case to something out of an old medical textbook.
More cases reported in stomach bug outbreak
(HealthDay News) —U.S. health officials are continuing to search for the source of a nationwide stomach bug outbreak as the number of cases has climbed to 586, with illnesses reported in 20 states.
Salmonella outbreak linked to NM poultry hatchery
(AP)—State health officials say a national outbreak of salmonella has been linked to an eastern New Mexico hatchery that sells live baby poultry by mail and supplies them to feed stores.
Uganda confirms at least one case of Crimean-Congo fever
An Ugandan farmer has been hospitalised with a confirmed case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, and a further three people are suspected to have died from the same virus, the health ministry said Friday.
Adult obesity rate in US holds steady, report says
After three decades of increases, adult obesity rates held steady in the past year in virtually all 50 US states, according to an annual report released Friday.
Coffee and tea may contribute to a healthy liver, researchers say
Surprise! Your morning cup of tea or coffee may be doing more than just perking you up before work.
Roche drops India patent for breast-cancer drug (Update)
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche says it is abandoning a patent for top-selling breast cancer drug Herceptin in the Indian market, paving the way for local drugmakers to make a cheaper generic version.
Marathon bombing victims aided by rapid response, imaging of injuries
The Boston Marathon bombing brought international attention back to the devastating effects of terrorism. There were numerous victims with severe injuries that needed immediate attention. A novel study in Arthritis Care & Research, a journal published by Wiley on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), presents cases from Boston-area hospitals where victims were treated, examining the medical response and imaging technologies used to save lives and limbs.
Experts describe ways to eliminate wasteful medical tests and procedures
Medical organizations are participating in a campaign to help clinicians and patients avoid wasteful and sometimes harmful medical interventions. Recently, experts in pediatric and adult health from diverse geographic locations of the United States and from a mix of academic and non- academic settings shared their experiences, consulted their colleagues, and analyzed numerous studies in the medical literature to determine the top recommendations for improving healthcare value. Following these recommendations, which are outlined in a new study published today in the Journal of Hospital Medicine, will lower costs and lead to better care for patients.
Insulin pumps to treat type 1 diabetes in children control blood sugar more effectively than injections
The longest and largest study of the effectiveness of insulin pumps to treat type 1 diabetes in children has shown that the pumps are more effective at controlling blood sugar than insulin injections and cause fewer complications. The research is published in Diabetologia, the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, and is by Associate Professor Elizabeth Davis, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, WA, Australia and colleagues.
Backpack safety tips for back to school
(HealthDay)—As the start of a new school year approaches, parents need to think about the comfort and safety of their children's backpacks, an expert says.
Skin allergies can flare up in summer heat
(HealthDay)—Summer can be a particularly bad time for skin allergies such as eczema and hives, as well as reactions to poison ivy, oak and sumac, an expert says.
Metformin usually adequate for control of gestational diabetes
(HealthDay)—Among women with gestational diabetes mellitus, those receiving metformin achieve lower mean glucose levels compared with those receiving insulin, but some require supplemental insulin therapy, according to research published in the July issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Cambodian boy dies from bird flu, WHO says
A nine-year-old boy has died from bird flu in Cambodia, the 10th victim this year, the World Health Organisation said Monday, warning that the kingdom's deadliest outbreak of the virus could continue.
Young Australians getting fatter, study finds
Young Australians have a reputation for being fit and enjoying a sporty, outdoorsy lifestyle, but research released Monday found they are stacking on more weight than any other age group.
Australian doctors bring woman back from the dead
An Australian woman has lived to tell the tale after being brought back to life from being clinically dead for 42 minutes, doctors said on Monday.
New treatment hope for menopausal depression
A trial involving middle-aged Australian women is investigating the use of a hormone treatment for symptoms of menopausal depression.
Researchers study dynamics of workers at poultry farms and markets to track bird flu
When a new strain of bird flu surfaced in China in February, it was an ominous echo of the 1997 outbreak in Hong Kong. People connected to poultry markets were again falling ill as scientists raced to decipher a novel strain: Who gets sick from it? Who dies of it? How do they catch it?
Less salt, sugar and fat, same pleasure
Researchers strive to drastically reduce the proportion of salt, sugar and fat, considered as factors of health risk in food. But keeping sensory and nutritional properties of foods intact is not so easy.
Study finds beer industry's self-regulation ineffective at preventing advertising code violations
In an evaluation of beer advertising code regulations aimed to encourage responsible advertising practices, new research from the American Journal of Public Health finds that content violations still occur and the current U.S. Beer Institute's self-regulation process may be ineffective.
Different desks offset idle worker behaviour
Office workers are less likely to be inactive if their workplace environment uses sit-stand desks, according to a recent Curtin University study.
Physician continuity after patients leave hospital for heart failure can help survival rates
Patients with heart failure who see a physician in the first month after leaving hospital are more likely to survive than those who do not see a doctor, reports a new study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). The effect is slightly more pronounced in patients who see their regular physician rather than an unfamiliar physician.
Cancer surgery patients have more complications, but less likely to die
While more patients in the U.S. are suffering from complications such as blood clots and infections after major cancer surgery, fewer are dying from their operations.
Therapeutic eye injections may be needed less often
Johns Hopkins biomedical engineers have teamed up with clinicians to create a new drug-delivery strategy for a type of central vision loss caused by blood vessel growth at the back of the eye, where such growth should not occur. In addition to testing a new drug that effectively stops such runaway vessel growth in mice, the team gave the drug a biodegradable coating to keep it in the eye longer. If proven effective in humans, the engineers say, it could mean only two or three needle sticks to the eye per year instead of the monthly injections that are the current standard of care.
Brain cancer survival improved following FDA approval of bevacizumab, study finds
A new population-based study has found that patients with glioblastoma who died in 2010, after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of bevacizumab, had lived significantly longer than patients who died of the disease in 2008, prior to the conditional approval of the drug for the treatment of the deadly brain cancer. Bevacizumab is used to treat patients with certain cancers whose cancer has spread. The study appears in the journal Cancer.
The concussed brain at work: fMRI study documents brain activation during concussion recovery
For the first time, researchers have documented irregular brain activity within the first 24 hours of a concussive injury, as well as an increased level of brain activity weeks later—suggesting that the brain may compensate for the injury during the recovery time.
Child health concerns vary among different races, ethnicities
Adults across the U.S. rate childhood obesity as the top health concern for children in 2013, but priorities vary based on racial and ethnic backgrounds, according to a new University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health.
High-flying pilots at increased risk of brain lesions
A new study suggests that pilots who fly at high altitudes may be at an increased risk for brain lesions. The study is published in the August 20, 2013, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Recurrence risk for autism spectrum disorders examined for full, half siblings
A Danish study of siblings suggests the recurrence risks for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) varied from 4.5 percent to 10.5 percent depending on the birth years, which is higher than the ASD risk of 1.18 percent in the overall Danish population, according to a study published by JAMA Pediatrics.
Brain network decay detected in early Alzheimer's
In patients with early Alzheimer's disease, disruptions in brain networks emerge about the same time as chemical markers of the disease appear in the spinal fluid, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have shown.
New scoring system allows clinicians to predict dementia risk in older people with type 2 diabetes
Researchers have developed a simple scoring system, based on a patient's age, health issues, and education, which accurately predicts the risk of dementia in people aged over 60 with type 2 diabetes. The research, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, will allow doctors to closely monitor those patients with diabetes at the highest risk of dementia, allowing early treatment to be given if needed.
New Lyme disease estimate: 300,000 cases a year
Health officials say Lyme disease is about 10 times more common than previously reported.
Tumor measurements predict survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer
For the two-thirds of lung cancer patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease, tumor size is not used currently to predict overall survival times. A new study, however, led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers has shown that even in advanced stages total tumor size can have a major impact on survival.
Autism may be overlooked in young Latino children
(HealthDay)—Latino children typically are diagnosed with autism more than two years later than white children, and new research suggests that language-appropriate screenings and access to autism specialists are two big factors in that delay.
Onset of puberty is delayed in HIV-infected children
(HealthDay)—Onset of puberty is significantly delayed in perinatally HIV-infected (PHIV) children compared with those who are HIV-exposed but uninfected (HEU), but combination antiretroviral therapy may result in more normal timing of pubertal onset, according to research published in the July 31 issue of AIDS.
Controversy surrounding 'fat letters' discussed
(HealthDay)—Despite the potential stigma surrounding "fat letters," school body mass index (BMI) measurement programs may be beneficial, according to a perspective piece published online Aug. 19 in Pediatrics.
Low-dose desmopressin effective for nocturia
(HealthDay)—Desmopressin orally disintegrating tablets are effective and well-tolerated for nocturia among women and men at doses of 25 and 50 µg per day, respectively, according to two studies published in the September issue of The Journal of Urology.
Post-run ice baths not beneficial for strength, soreness, researchers say
Dunking in a tub of ice water after exercise – a surprisingly popular post-workout regimen used by athletes to reduce inflammation and speed recovery – is time consuming and bone-achingly painful. New research from the University of New Hampshire finds that it may not be effective, either.
Novel Chinese herbal medicine JSK improves spinal cord injury outcomes in rats
A new study published in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience demonstrates that Chinese herbal medicine Ji-Sui-Kang (JSK), given systemically for three weeks after injury in rats, improved locomotor function, reduced tissue damage, and preserved the structure of neural cells compared to control rats. The report also includes data showing that JSK may first act to reduce inflammation and cell apoptosis and death, and boost local oxygen supply while, later on, it appears to restore function and promote tissue regeneration.
Fighting obesity with apps and websites
A pending component of health care reform would require restaurants and vending machines to list calorie information on menus to help fight obesity.
LSD, other psychedelics not linked with mental health problems in new study
The use of LSD, magic mushrooms, or peyote does not increase a person's risk of developing mental health problems, according to an analysis of information from more than 130,000 randomly chosen people, including 22,000 people who had used psychedelics at least once.
US depression treatment proved effective for UK
A US model of treating depression through a network of specialists could effectively be imported into the UK, new research has revealed.
Dialing back treg cell function boosts the body's cancer-fighting immune activity
By carefully adjusting the function of crucial immune cells, scientists may have developed a completely new type of cancer immunotherapy—harnessing the body's immune system to attack tumors. To accomplish this, they had to thread a needle in immune function, shrinking tumors without triggering unwanted autoimmune responses.
New MR analysis technique reveals brain tumor response to anti-angiogenesis therapy
A new way of analyzing data acquired in MR imaging appears to be able to identify whether or not tumors are responding to anti-angiogenesis therapy, information that can help physicians determine the most appropriate treatments and discontinue ones that are ineffective. In their report receiving online publication in Nature Medicine, investigators from the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), describe how their technique, called vessel architectural imaging (VAI), was able to identify changes in brain tumor blood vessels within days of the initiation of anti-angiogenesis therapy.
Giving preschoolers choice increases sharing behavior
Getting kids to share their toys is a never-ending battle, and compelling them to do so never seems to help. New research suggests that allowing children to make a choice to sacrifice their own toys in order to share with someone else makes them share more in the future. The new findings are published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Biologists identify mechanism by which beneficial bacteria reside and thrive in gastrointestinal tract
(Medical Xpress)—The human body is full of tiny microorganisms—hundreds to thousands of species of bacteria collectively called the microbiome, which are believed to contribute to a healthy existence. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract—and the colon in particular—is home to the largest concentration and highest diversity of bacterial species. But how do these organisms persist and thrive in a system that is constantly in flux due to foods and fluids moving through it? A team led by California Institute of Technology (Caltech) biologist Sarkis Mazmanian believes it has found the answer, at least in one common group of bacteria: a set of genes that promotes stable microbial colonization of the gut.
Scientists find way to predict and control gene expression
(Medical Xpress)—EPFL scientists have developed a "guide" that can be used to precisely predict the number of proteins a given gene will produce under varying conditions. This work will help biologists to engineer cells.
New muscle power from the lab
(Medical Xpress)—Unlike the heart muscle, the musculature of the locomotive organs has the capacity to heal itself. What makes this possible are muscle-specific stem cells known as satellite cells. Located on the muscle fibres, these cells can multiply when necessary and replace damaged muscle cells. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research recently succeeded in elucidating the role of an important factor in the regulation of self-healing. One of the ways this knowledge could be used in the future is in engineering optimal conditions for creating replacement stem cells in the lab, thereby producing a potential way of treating degenerative muscle diseases.
Novel technique brings researchers closer to viable organ implants
Researchers at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) have developed a simple method of organizing cells and their microenvironments in hydrogel fibers. Their unique technology provides a feasible template for assembling complex structures, such as liver and fat tissues, as described in their recent publication in Nature Communications.
Far from being harmless, the effects of bullying last long into adulthood
A new study shows that serious illness, struggling to hold down a regular job, and poor social relationships are just some of the adverse outcomes in adulthood faced by those exposed to bullying in childhood.
New models advance the study of deadly human prion diseases
By directly manipulating a portion of the prion protein-coding gene, Whitehead Institute researchers have created mouse models of two neurodegenerative diseases that are fatal in humans. The highly accurate reproduction of disease pathology seen with these models should advance the study of these unusual but deadly diseases.
Plastics chemicals may boost kids' risk for obesity, diabetes
(HealthDay)—Chemicals used in plastic food wraps and containers could be contributing to childhood diabetes and obesity, two new studies claim.
Copper identified as culprit in Alzheimer's disease
Copper appears to be one of the main environmental factors that trigger the onset and enhance the progression of Alzheimer's disease by preventing the clearance and accelerating the accumulation of toxic proteins in the brain. That is the conclusion of a study appearing today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Computer can read letters directly from the brain
By analysing MRI images of the brain with an elegant mathematical model, it is possible to reconstruct thoughts more accurately than ever before. In this way, researchers from Radboud University Nijmegen have succeeded in determining which letter a test subject was looking at. The journal Neuroimage has accepted the article, which will be published soon.
Major study links aging gene to blood cancer
A gene that helps control the ageing process by acting as a cell's internal clock has been linked to cancer by a major new study.
Biology news
40 pythons found in Canadian hotel
Little more than a week after a giant python crushed two young Canadian boys to death, police have recovered 40 of the snakes from a hotel room.
No catch for students in shark tagging research
A group of first generation college-bound students has joined researchers off the Florida Keys in the hopes of catching sharks to be tagged for scientific research.
Spanish fishermen say Gibraltar reef ruins catch
Spanish fishermen say their catch has been ruined by Gibraltar's decision to drop concrete blocks in waters surrounding the tiny British outpost.
Tiny fish make 'eyes' at their killer
Small prey fish can grow a bigger 'eye' on their rear fins as a way of distracting predators and dramatically boosting their chances of survival, new scientific research has found.
Important step forward for gait analysis of horses
Horses who develop a limp are one of the major sources of frustration for horse owners as well as vets. The same applies for Wobblers disease (ataxia) where growth abnormalities or articular process joint osteoarthritis put pressure on the spinal cord causing ataxic gait. At least one in a hundred horses develop Wobblers disease, which often leads to the horse having to be euthanased. Both lameness and Wobblers disease have an effect on a horses gait, and so far veterinarians have only been able to study horse movement in a gait-laboratory, which commonly only allows study of a few steps at a time on a straight line.
Argentina seeks beef production boost with bovine IUD
An Argentinian veterinarian has designed a cheap and simple device that could revolutionize cattle husbandry on the pampas by preventing pregnant cows from reaching the slaughterhouse.
New survey reveals seal numbers in the Thames
An astounding 708 seals have been spotted in the Thames Estuary in the first ever count by air, land and sea, carried out by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
The developmental on-switch
German researchers have demonstrated for the first time why the molecular cocktail responsible for generating stem cells works. Sox2 and Oct4 are proteins whose effect on cells resembles that of an eraser: They remove all of the cell's previous experiences and transform it into a so-called pluripotent stem cell. Like cells in the embryo, this stem cell can then develop into all forms of tissue. The discoverers of this reprogramming technique received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012. However, until now scientists did not understand precisely why these proteins can reprogram cells and what function they have in the embryo.
A protein provides stress relief for cells
German researchers have shown a new mechanism via which cells defend themselves against stress. Dr. Kathrin Thedieck and Birgit Holzwarth from the Institute of Biology III and the Cluster of Excellence BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies of the University of Freiburg have discovered that Astrin, a rarely investigated component of many cells, plays an important part in this process. The scientists demonstrated the stress function of Astrin, which was previously mainly known for its role in cell division, and published their findings in the renowned scientific journal Cell. Astrin maybe an important drug target, as tumor cells avoid cell death due to high Astrin levels.
Altruism or manipulated helping? Altruism may have origins in manipulation
Manipulation is often thought of as morally repugnant, but it might be responsible for the evolutionary origins of some helpful or altruistic behavior, according to a new study.
Tick by tick
When University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston researchers set out to study Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, they faced a daunting challenge.
Large moths need to hear better
Bats orient themselves through echolocation, and they find their prey by emitting calls and then process the echoes reflected back to them from the prey. Small insects reflect small echo signals, and large insects reflect large signals - simply because they are bigger. This makes it easier for bats to discover the large insects.
Fungal-bacterial consortia turn corn stalks and leaves into better biofuel
A fungus and E. coli bacteria have joined forces to turn tough, waste plant material into isobutanol, a biofuel that matches gasoline's properties better than ethanol.
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