Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 30, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Wagon-wheel pasta shape for better LED: 'Rotelle' molecules depolarize light more efficiently than 'spaghetti'- Researchers devise a way to mimic gravitational lensing in a way that can be seen
- Engineers invent programming language to build synthetic DNA
- Engineers develop new metabolic pathway to more efficiently convert sugars into biofuels
- Physicists use blind quantum computing to verify results of quantum computer
- Better protein creation may be secret of longevity for the world's longest-living rodent
- Cassini spacecraft finds plastic ingredient on Saturn's moon Titan
- Navatar Glass app may help blind individuals navigate indoor environments
- Biochar quiets microbes, including some plant pathogens
- New map of insulin pathway could lead to better diabetes drugs
- Centipede venom could lead to new class of pain drug
- Scientists crank up the voltage, create better dark-matter search
- Climate change: Fast out of the gate, slow to the finish the gate
- Fique fibers from Andes Mountains part of miracle solution for dye pollution, find scientists
- Researchers ferret out function of autism gene
Space & Earth news
Thousands of Romanians protest Canadian mine plans
Thousands of people marched Sunday against a Canadian company's plans to open Europe's largest gold mine at Rosia Montana, in what has become one of the longest-running protests in post-communist Romania.
Astronaut Scott Carpenter recovering from stroke
Astronaut Scott Carpenter, the second American to orbit Earth, is recovering from a stroke.
NASA image: Glow with the flow
Researchers at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., use all sorts of tools and techniques to learn more during the development of aircraft and spacecraft designs.
Newly released climate change report reinforces need for action
The release last week of Assessment Report 5, a new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), bolsters the conclusions of its 2007 report that humans are responsible for global warming, and it highlights the need for immediate action to reduce carbon emissions.
Building on mud: When can we start?
A Queensland engineer can now predict how long it takes for reclaimed land to become suitable for development, potentially saving millions of dollars in building costs.
Climate scientists see better climate models, warmer future
(Phys.org) —Over the next century, most of the continents are on track to become considerably warmer, with more hot extremes and fewer cold extremes. Precipitation will increase in some parts of the world but will decrease in other parts. These are some of the conclusions reached by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) scientist Michael Wehner and his co-authors on the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Making manure work for agriculture
Livestock manure represents a valuable resource in the agriculture sector. As fertilizer it is a source of nitrogen, phosphorous and organic matter, all crucial for the sustainability of European farming.
NASA image: NIRSpec's clean room move
Engineers hoisted NASA's Webb telescope's Near Infrared Spectrograph or NIRSpec from its shipping container to a dolly in the clean room at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
Wind and weather disrupt satellite signals at high latitudes
Researchers will spend the next two years gathering meteorological data from Svalbard in the north to Nittedal in the south. The aim is to find out how much satellite signals are adversely affected by rain, atmospheric pressure and other meteorological conditions.
NASA image sees eye in deadly Typhoon Wutip on landfall approach
NASA's Terra satellite passed over Typhoon Wutip on its approach to a landfall in Vietnam and a visible image revealed its 10-mile-wide eye, and large extent. Wutip was making landfall near Dong Hoi Vietnam around 0900 UTC/5 a.m. EDT.
Sustainable seaweed production in the North Sea realistic
Moving sustainable production offshore can solve global environmental issues. Seaweed has the potential to deliver new biomass flows for animal feed, food, and non-food products. For instance, sugars and proteins from seaweed can form an alternative to soya and fishmeal. The use of seaweed for the production of chemicals and biofuels is a climate-friendly alternative to fossil raw materials. This is demonstrated in the report 'A Triple P review of the feasibility of sustainable offshore seaweed production in the North Sea' by Wageningen UR. This report examines the feasibility of seaweed production in the North Sea within the framework of people, planet and profit.
New report updates New Zealand's exposure to tsunami
A new report on New Zealand's tsunami hazards shows some parts of the New Zealand coast are exposed to greater tsunami hazard than previously thought, while the hazard in other coastal regions is the same or even less.
Dogonauts and Persian cats: Why send animals into space?
If you believe news reports last week, Iran plans to launch a Persian cat into space in the next six months or so.
Infrared NASA imagery shows some strength in Tropical Depression Sepat
Tropical Depression Sepat formed in the northwestern Pacific Ocean and NASA's Aqua satellite captured infrared data on the storm, revealing some strong thunderstorms.
Indonesia, EU pact to stop illegal timber exports
Indonesia, Asia's leading exporter of timber to Europe, on Monday signed a long-awaited pact with the European Union to fight the trade in illegal timber, a driver of environmentally damaging deforestation.
Climate panel forecast: Higher seas, temperatures
Top scientists have a better idea of how global warming will shape the 21st century: In a new report, they predict sea levels will be much higher than previously thought and pinpoint how dangerously hot it's likely to get.
Russia launches rocket three months after crash
Russia on Monday successfully launched a Proton-M rocket with a European communication satellite on board, marking a return of its most important unmanned space vehicle three months after one exploded on takeoff.
NASA wants investigations for a Mars 2020 rover
(Phys.org) —NASA has released its announcement of an open competition for the planetary community to submit proposals for the science and exploration technology instruments that would be carried aboard the agency's next Mars rover, scheduled for launch in July/August of 2020.
Curiosity uses X-rays to examine samples on the Red Planet – a first for a Mars mission
(Phys.org) —During the nearly 14 months that it has spent on the red planet, Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, has revealed a great deal about Mars' composition and history. Analysis of observations and measurements by the rover's science instruments during the first four months after the August 2012 landing are detailed in a series of five papers in last week's edition of the journal Science.
Satellite flood maps reach crisis teams via Internet
Building on its use of satellites for responding to disasters, ESA has helped to create a service that makes flood maps available simply via the Internet.
Arctic gas hydrate: Vast energy resource or climate threat?
Arctic gas hydrate is a fossil resource mainly consisting of methane. It may represent a larger energy supply than all other oil and gas resources put together. But what is the potential impact of gas hydrate on climate change and the marine environment? A new Norwegian Centre of Excellence will supply valuable answers.
Hubble views a scattering of spiral and elliptical galaxies
This image shows the massive galaxy cluster MACS J0152.5-2852, captured in detail by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field Camera 3.
Urban planning: Growing cities underground
The Deep City Method helps urban planners decide how to best exploit their underground resources.
Eilat's corals stand better chance of resilience than other sites
Israel's southern Red Sea resort of Eilat, one of whose prime attractions is its colorful and multi-shaped underwater coral reefs, may have a clear advantage in the future over rival coral-viewing sites around the world, scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Bar-Ilan University have found.
Do black holes have hair? A new hypothesis on the nature of these celestial bodies
Black holes may be less simple and "clean" than how the most authoritative theoretical model describes them. This is what a group of researchers based at the International School of Advanced Studies, Trieste, and IST, Lisbon, claims in a new article appeared in Physical Review Letters. According to the scientists' calculations, these celestial bodies may actually have "hair".
Traces of immense prehistoric ice sheets
Geologists and geophysicists of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), discovered traces of large ice sheets from the Pleistocene on a seamount off the north-eastern coast of Russia. These marks confirm for the first time that within the past 800,000 years in the course of ice ages, ice sheets more than a kilometre thick also formed in the Arctic Ocean. The climate history for this part of the Arctic now needs to be rewritten, report the AWI scientists jointly with their South Korean colleagues in the title story of the current issue of the scientific journal Nature Geoscience.
NASA's TRMM satellite examines Atlantic's Tropical Storm Jerry
Tropical Depression 11 formed in the central Atlantic Ocean and NASA's TRMM satellite passed overhead and gathered information and identified a "hot tower" that indicated it would strengthen. The depression became Tropical Storm Jerry on Sept. 30 at 10:30 a.m. EDT.
Comet ISON goes green
As NASA and the European Space Agency prepare their remote photojournalists – Mars Express, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Curiosity and Opportunity rovers – to capture photos of Comet ISON's flyby of Mars early next week, amateur astronomers continue to monitor and photograph the comet from backyard observatories across the blue Earth. Several recent color photos show ISON's bright head or nucleus at the center of a puffy, green coma. Green's a good omen – a sign the comet's getting more active as it enters the realm of the inner solar system and sun's embrace.
NASA sees tropical depression 22W taking a northern route in northwestern Pacific
The twenty-first and twenty-second tropical depressions of the northwestern Pacific Ocean formed on Sept. 30 and while one is headed to the northeast, the other is headed to the northwest.
'Balancing' the one-year mission risks
If you've ever stumbled out of bed in the middle of the night, fallen out of a yoga pose or had trouble "finding your legs" after hopping off a rollercoaster or a boat, then you know getting your balance can be challenging. This is even truer for astronauts who have just returned from extended spaceflight in microgravity.
Drugs, caffeine, chemicals found in Great Lakes worry researchers
Pharmaceuticals, caffeine and items such as toothpaste additives have been found farther out in the Great Lakes than ever before, according to a new study that also raises concerns about their levels.
Student experiments take flight on Cygnus cargo craft
Dreaming big may not literally make the world go round, but it can power student curiosities to circle the globe as orbiting science investigations aboard the International Space Station. On Wednesday, Sept. 18, the private commercial space company, Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles, Va., launched its test flight Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the space station on a demonstration mission, taking the students' cargo with it.
New commercial supply ship reaches space station (Update)
NASA's newest delivery service made its first-ever shipment to the International Space Station on Sunday, another triumph for the booming commercial space arena that has its sights set on launching astronauts.
NASA preparing to launch 3-D printer into space (Update)
NASA is preparing to launch a 3-D printer into space next year, a toaster-sized game changer that greatly reduces the need for astronauts to load up with every tool, spare part or supply they might ever need.
SpaceX launches Canadian satellite from California (Update 2)
A SpaceX rocket carrying a Canadian satellite intended to track space weather launched from the California coast Sunday in what was billed as a test flight.
Astronauts practice launching in NASA's new Orion spacecraft
(Phys.org) —For the first time, NASA astronauts are practicing a launch into space aboard the agency's Orion spacecraft, and provided feedback on the new capsule's cockpit design.
Dawn reality-checks telescope studies of asteroids
(Phys.org) —Tantalized by images from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based data, scientists thought the giant asteroid Vesta deserved a closer look. They got a chance to do that in 2011 and 2012, when NASA's Dawn spacecraft orbited the giant asteroid, and they were able to check earlier conclusions. A new study involving Dawn's observations during that time period demonstrates how this relationship works with Hubble and ground-based telescopes to clarify our understanding of a solar system object.
The intergalactic medium in the young universe
(Phys.org) —In its earliest years, the universe was so hot that electrons and protons could not bind together in neutral atoms: all of the gas in the cosmos was ionized. Then, after 380,000 years of expansion, the universe cooled enough for hydrogen atoms and some helium (about 25%) to form. Much later in cosmic history—the precise dating is an active area of current research but perhaps after a few hundred million years—the first generation of stars emerged from the vast expanses of atomic gas, and these stars emitted enough strong ultraviolet light to re-ionize the neutral hydrogen in their vicinity. As the universe continued to expand and evolve, newer generations of stars continued to re-ionize the hydrogen until at some time most gas between galaxies (the intergalactic medium) was ionized once again. The epoch of re-ionization is an important diagnostic tool because it traces when the first generations of stars were being made, and it provides crucial details ab! out the early evolution of the universe.
Super-earth or mini-Neptune? Telling habitable worlds apart from lifeless gas giants
Perhaps the most intriguing exoplanets found so far are those bigger than our rocky, oceanic Earth but smaller than cold, gas-shrouded Uranus and Neptune. This mysterious class of in-between planets—alternatively dubbed super-Earths or mini-Neptunes—confounds scientists because nothing like them exists as a basis for comparison in our solar system.
Climate change: Fast out of the gate, slow to the finish the gate
A great deal of research has focused on the amount of global warming resulting from increased greenhouse gas concentrations. But there has been relatively little study of the pace of the change following these increases. A new study by Carnegie's Ken Caldeira and Nathan Myhrvold of Intellectual Ventures concludes that about half of the warming occurs within the first 10 years after an instantaneous step increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration, but about one-quarter of the warming occurs more than a century after the step increase. Their work is published in Environmental Research Letters.
Cold, salty and promiscuous: Gene-shuffling microbes dominate Antarctica's Deep Lake
Sequestered in Antarctica's Vestfold Hills, Deep Lake became isolated from the ocean 3,500 years ago by the Antarctic continent rising, resulting in a saltwater ecosystem that remains liquid in extreme cold, and providing researchers a unique niche for studying the evolution of the microbes that now thrive under such conditions. Deep Lake's microscopic inhabitants are dominated by haloarchaea, microbes that require high salt concentrations to grow and are naturally adapted to conditions – at minus 20C – that would prove lethally cold to other organisms. In a detailed analysis published online the week of September 30, 2013 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), researchers have, for the first time, been able to get a complete ecological picture of the Deep Lake microbial community.
Study finds tungsten in aquifer groundwater controlled by pH, oxygen
Two Kansas geologists are helping shed new light on how tungsten metal is leached from the sediment surrounding aquifers into the groundwater. The findings may have implications for human health.
Cassini spacecraft finds plastic ingredient on Saturn's moon Titan
(Phys.org) —NASA's Cassini spacecraft has detected propylene, a chemical used to make food-storage containers, car bumpers and other consumer products, on Saturn's moon Titan.
Technology news
Tackling threats to transport and other key infrastructure
Effective and efficient transportation plays a crucial role not only in the everyday lives of citizens, but also in ensuring the on-going economic wellbeing of communities and countries. People are able to get to work on time, goods are transported in a cost-effective manner and energy is used as efficiently as possible.
Energy saving project wins international competition
A pioneering project by the University of Southampton, which aims to improve energy efficiency in the home, has won the British Gas Connecting Homes Startup Competition.
Rice poll finds Harris County voters would support ban on texting while driving
Eighty-eight percent of Harris County likely voters would support a Texas state law to ban texting while driving, according to a new poll conducted by Rice University's Center for Civic Leadership.
Computer program lets users learn keyboard shortcuts with minimal effort
A computer scientist from Saarbrucken has developed a software which assists users in identifying and learning shortcuts so that they can become as fast as expert users. This new interface mechanism is easy to integrate in programs using a toolbar, a menu or ribbons as a graphical user interface.
First gasoline produced by bioliq pilot plant
For the first time, gasoline is produced by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The synthesis stage of the bioliq pilot plant successfully started operation. Hence, KIT, in cooperation with Chemieanlagenbau Chemnitz GmbH, has progressed further in the production of environmentally compatible fuels from residual biomass. Now, all stages of the bioliq process, i.e. flash pyrolysis, high-pressure entrained-flow gasification, and synthesis, have been realized. The project will now be completed by testing the entire process chain and optimizing it for the large industrial scale.
Bitumen roofing can be recycled… but isn't
Bitumen, the sticky, gooey black stuff you sometimes see oozing out of hot road surfaces, is a valuable binding agent. Not only in road building. But also in construction and in the production of roofing materials. What is more, it is of fossil origin—being petroleum based—and therefore a candidate for recycling. Over the past five years, Icopal, a company in the Dutch city of Groningen has developed a method of recycling bitumen called BiELSo. In order to introduce the process to other European countries, the EU supported the ECOPROTECTION programme. Yet, until now, a Dutch demonstration plant is the only one of its kind. Richard Zandvoort, the R&D manager of Icopal, tells youris.com why.
Supercomputers improve solar power forecasts
To improve the accuracy of solar power forecasting, research meteorologist Edwin Campos and his colleagues at DOE's Argonne National Laboratory have partnered with IBM to build a forecasting technology based on IBM's Watson supercomputer, made famous by its 2011 victory over human champions on the television quiz show Jeopardy!.
AOL founder looks to invest outside Silicon Valley
AOL co-founder Steve Case is looking to finance entrepreneurs who are trying to build technology companies outside Silicon Valley, just like he once did.
EPA urged to update rules on secret email accounts
Senior officials at the Environmental Protection Agency have said they did not intend to circumvent federal records laws by using private and secret government email accounts to conduct government business. A new report from the agency's inspector general accepts their explanation but says without better controls there is a risk that government records could be lost.
Ubisoft moves online gaming to Montreal
Videogame maker Ubisoft announced Monday the expansion of its Montreal operations with a $373 million investment in online gaming and motion capture technologies, expected to create 500 new jobs.
Line, WeChat: Asian social networks move to conquer Europe
Move aside Facebook and Skype. Asian social networks, already hugely popular on their continent, have set their sights on Europe where they could prove stiff competition for their US rivals.
Plastic pad clogs Fukushima water cleaning system
A piece of plastic padding which clogged up a drain is thought to have caused the breakdown of a decontamination system at Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, the operator said Sunday.
Japan 'takes issue with Google maps' over islands
Japan has asked local authorities and state-run universities not to post Google maps on their websites because some of them use non-Japanese names for disputed islands, reports said Sunday.
UK plans new cyber force to boost strike ability
Britain's defense secretary says it is recruiting hundreds of experts for a new cyber force designed to protect the nation's vital data—and stage cyberattacks if necessary.
Tracking devices explore concussions on the playing field
Kody Campbell admits to having his bell rung a few times. As a Mustangs football player for five years (2007-11), Campbell never sustained a concussion himself, but knows of many others who did. He is well aware the hard hits which deliver those head injuries are not leaving the game anytime soon.
Twitter app stops you Breaking Bad news to good people
WARNING: This article contains a spoiler. Don't worry though, it's not what happens in the final episode of Breaking Bad. Even academics don't get early access.
Opinion: Popular Science is wrong to get rid of online comments
Popular Science has announced that it will be closing online comments on its news stories. Uncivil commenters have an overly negative effect on readers, it claims, with a small number of negative commenters poisoning the way readers perceive the stories. A New York Times article is used to back up the claims.
Yahoo! settles Singapore Press Holdings lawsuit
US Internet giant Yahoo! has settled a two-year lawsuit filed by Asian media group Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) over the reproduction of its news content without permission, both firms confirmed Monday.
Apple unseats Coca-Cola as world's 'best brand'
Coca-Cola has lost its crown as the world's best brand, a closely watched survey said on Monday, unseated by the iconic iPhone and iPad maker Apple.
PV production grows despite a crisis-driven decline in investment
Global production of photovoltaic (PV) cells grew by 10% in 2012 in comparison to 2011 despite a 9% decline in solar energy investments according to the annual "PV Status Report" released by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre. Europe remained a leader in newly installed capacities accounting for 51.7% (16.8 GW) of the 30 GW installed worldwide.
Optical sensors improve railway safety
A string of fiber-optic sensors running along a 36-km stretch of high-speed commuter railroad lines connecting Hong Kong to mainland China has taken more than 10 million measurements over the past few years in a demonstration that the system can help safeguard commuter trains and freight cars against accidents. Attuned to the contact between trains and tracks, the sensors can detect potential problems like excessive vibrations, mechanical defects or speed and temperature anomalies. The system is wired to warn train operators immediately of such problems so that they can avoid derailments or other accidents, said Hwa-yaw Tam of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, who will describe the technology and its test run next week at The Optical Society's (OSA) Annual Meeting, Frontiers in Optics (FiO) 2013, being held Oct. 6-10 in Orlando, Fla.
Imec, Meco present high efficiency and cost-effective copper technology for i-PERC-type Silicon Solar Cells
At this week's European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EUPVSEC in Paris), imec, a nanoelectronics research center based in Belgium, and Meco, a supplier of plating equipment for semiconductor and solar industry, present large area (156x156 mm2) i-PERC-type silicon solar cells with industry-applicable Nickel/Copper (Ni/Cu) plating for the front contacts. Together, the companies achieved an excellent average efficiency of 20.5% on more than 100 cells, and a maximum efficiency of 20.7% (confirmed by ISE callab).
BISON enables complex nuclear fuel modeling, simulation
It's rare that a chipped nuclear fuel pellet makes its way into a reactor. But if one of the millions of pencil-sized pellets does have a small defect, it can affect the fuel's performance. How exactly these effects evolve is just one of the situations BISON can simulate in an effort to help engineers enhance nuclear fuel safety margins.
Students game the system, train computer to play Angry Birds
Angry Birds sounds simple: Just slingshot a digital bird at a pile of evil pigs. You could teach a child to play. But could you teach a computer?
Entering a new dimension: 4-D printing
Imagine an automobile coating that changes its structure to adapt to a humid environment or a salt-covered road, better protecting the car from corrosion. Or consider a soldier's uniform that could alter its camouflage or more effectively protect against poison gas or shrapnel upon contact.
Toyota chairman calls for more hybrids in US
Toyota chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada challenged automakers Monday to step up sales of hybrids in the United States, calling them "a long bridge" into future vehicles.
New York spreading wireless access across city
Free Internet access will be given to more neighborhoods across New York as the Big Apple aims to build a "wireless corridor" designed to boost business, officials announced Monday.
Facebook, Google go head-to-head in mobile, video ad wars
Facebook Inc. and Google Inc. are poised to dominate a growing online advertising arena that's increasingly being defined by the rise of mobile computing and video.
Facebook expands 'Graph Search' within social network
Facebook said Monday it was expanding the capabilities of its "Graph Search" function to help users navigate and find information within postings on the world's biggest social network.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class stability system uses sensors, stereo camera (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) —This week German automaker Mercedes-Benz put the world on alert to its latest ride control technology in an entertainment-focused ad effort starring chickens, not luxury sedans. The result is that many bloggers are talking a lot about the chickens. The ad promoting the new 2014 S-class cars breaks the auto industry advertising mold, in a move to a viral ad-inducing stare at an animal curiosity. In this instance, the chickens are intended as metaphor for the feature called Magic Ride Control. This involves a stabilized ride that has been compared to a magic carpet ride. The ad, though, had no signs of royal carriages on wheels racing on empty highways or pulling up to opera houses.
Fake online reviews get reality check
Fake online products reviews have been around for years, fueled by unscrupulous marketers seeking to boost sales.
Tiny sensor used in smart phones could create urban seismic network
A tiny chip used in smart phones to adjust the orientation of the screen could serve to create a real-time urban seismic network, easily increasing the amount of strong motion data collected during a large earthquake, according to a new study published in the October issue of the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (BSSA).
Building disaster-relief phone apps on the fly
Researchers at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and the Qatar Computing Research Institute have developed new tools that allow people with minimal programming skill to rapidly build cellphone applications that can help with disaster relief.
Researchers tackle new challenge in pursuit of the next generation of lithium batteries
The creation of the next generation of batteries depends on finding materials that provide greater storage capacity. One variety, known as lithium-air (Li-air) batteries, are particularly appealing to researchers because they have a significantly higher theoretical capacity than conventional lithium-ion batteries.
Japan glasses translate menu as you read
Augmented reality glasses that can translate a menu in real time were unveiled at a Japanese gadget fair Monday, with promises they could be ready for visitors to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Harnessing the power of lightning to charge a mobile phone
Scientists from the University of Southampton have collaborated with Nokia on ground-breaking, proof-of-concept research into harnessing the power of lightning for personal use, an industry first that could potentially see consumers tap one of nature's significant energy sources to charge their devices in a sustainable manner.
Windows Phone gains in Europe, Apple up in US, survey finds
Windows-based smartphones are making significant inroads in Europe, while Apple's iPhone is strengthening its position in the United States, a survey showed Monday.
Navatar Glass app may help blind individuals navigate indoor environments
Navatar, a technology developed at the University of Nevada, Reno to help the blind navigate indoor environments, may become more usable, accurate and non-obtrusive using the popular wearable computing technology called Google Glass.
Medicine & Health news
Longest follow-up of melanoma patients treated with ipilimumab shows some survive up to 10 years
Patients with advanced melanoma, who have been treated with the monoclonal antibody, ipilimumab, can survive for up to ten years, according to the largest analysis of overall survival for these patients, presented at the 2013 European Cancer Congress (ECC2013) [1] today (Saturday).
Children's Ombudsman calls for circumcision ban in Sweden
The Ombudsman for Children in Sweden called Saturday for the country to ban circumcision, a practice he said contravened the basic rights of boys.
Three of four are aware of ACA individual mandate; only four of ten aware of marketplaces, subsidies
As the key components of the Affordable Care Act roll out this week, more than three-quarters (76%) of U.S. adults are aware of the law's individual mandate, while only four of 10 are aware of the new health insurance marketplaces opening on October 1, or the financial assistance that is available to help people with low or moderate incomes pay their health insurance premiums, according to a new Commonwealth Fund survey. It also finds broad support for expanding Medicaid in all states, with 68 percent of adults saying they are somewhat or strongly in favor of making Medicaid available to more residents in their state.
The hidden burden of heart disease
Pockets of Australia's population have among the highest rates of rheumatic heart disease in the world, with a reported incidence approaching that of sub-Saharan Africa, yet researchers say there is little public awareness about the condition and its risks especially for pregnant women.
Time for a break?
Feeling irritable, anxious, angry, frustrated and mentally and physically exhausted? Maybe you need some time off.
Cyclist visibility in the spotlight
Cyclists could be putting themselves at greater risk of being hit by a car by not being adequately visible to motorists, especially in low-light conditions, a QUT optometry researcher has found.
Combating threats to women's and children's health
Each year, some 7 million children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) die before the age of five, and close to 300 000 women lose their lives in connection with pregnancy or childbirth. The new Centre for Intervention Science in Maternal and Child Health (CISMAC) in Bergen is seeking to find ways to effectively increase survival and enhance maternal and child health in these countries.
Promising results for new antibody drug in non-small cell lung cancer patients: Smokers respond well
New results from a trial of an antibody that helps the immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells have shown particularly encouraging responses in patients who are smokers or former smokers.
Organized screening for prostate cancer does more harm than good
Prostate cancer screening using the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is widely used in France despite a lack of evidence showing that it reduces cancer deaths. Now, researchers have shown that men experience more harm than good from routine PSA screening, according to research to be presented on Monday by Professor Mathieu Boniol, at the 2013 European Cancer Congress (ECC2013) [1].
New approaches to testing cancer drugs needed
Research institutes, regulators and the pharmaceutical industry are urged to cooperate to develop new approaches to testing cancer drugs, in order to bring the revolution in personalised medicine to patients across Europe, says the European Society for Medical Oncology.
Identifying the disease-causing mechanisms in cancers with unknown primary site improves treatment
Identifying the molecular profile of a tumour where the primary site is unknown is crucial to the choice of treatment, the 2013 European Cancer Congress (ECC2013) [1], will hear on Monday. In up to five percent of all cancers, the site of the primary tumour is unknown and the disease is not diagnosed until it is at an advanced stage, when the cancer has metastasised (spread to other parts of the body). Until recently, the choice of treatment has been based on efforts to find biomarkers that could indicate the site of origin, but now a team of researchers has succeeded in identifying the particular molecular profiles of the metastatic tumours in a large group of patients. This is a major step on the road to being able to offer effective treatment to these patients, researchers say.
Better care for the elderly with just one click
A large touch-screen installed in a respite care unit in Bærum municipality in Norway is the engine driving a new information system that facilitates information flow and reduces wasted time. This is benefiting the municipality's staff and its elderly residents.
Olympians say poor oral health is impairing performance
Many of the elite sportsmen and women who competed at the London 2012 Olympic Games had poor levels of oral health similar to those experienced by the most disadvantaged populations. 18 per cent of athletes surveyed said their oral health was having a negative impact on their performance.
Biological therapy with cediranib improves survival in women with recurrent ovarian cancer
Women with ovarian cancer that has recurred after chemotherapy have survived for longer after treatment with a biological therapy called cediranib, according to new results to be presented today (Monday) at the 2013 European Cancer Congress (ECC2013) [1].
New research shows how aspirin may act on blood platelets to improve survival in colon cancer patients
Researchers believe they have discovered how aspirin improves survival in patients diagnosed with colon cancer, the 2013 European Cancer Congress (ECC2013) [1] heard today (Monday).
First estimate of amount of radiotherapy dose wasted in compensating for tumour growth between treatments
For the first time, researchers have estimated the daily dose of radiotherapy that could be wasted in compensating for cancer cell growth that occurs overnight and during weekends in patients with early breast cancer.
Trial combining anti-cancer drug and radiotherapy may lead to treatment for brain tumor
Results from a clinical trial of a new treatment for glioblastoma suggest that researchers may have found a new approach to treating this most aggressive of brain tumours, as well as a potential new biological marker than can predict the tumour's response to treatment.
How does divorce affect a man's health?
Divorced men have higher rates of mortality, substance abuse, depression, and lack of social support, according to a new article in Journal of Men's Health, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article provides assessment and treatment recommendations for care providers and is available free on the Journal of Men's Health website.
GSK says sells thrombosis brands, French site
British drugs firm GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) said Monday that it has sold two thrombosis brands and a French plant to South African peer Aspen for £700 million ($1.13 billion, 834 million euros).
Massachusetts primary care malpractice claims related to alleged misdiagnoses
Most of the primary care malpractice claims filed in Massachusetts are related to alleged misdiagnoses, according to study in JAMA Internal Medicine by Gordon D. Schiff, M.D., of the Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, and colleagues.
Cancer biggest killer of Hispanic Texans
More Hispanic Texans die from cancer than any other cause, according to a new report by the Comparative Effectiveness Research on Cancer in Texas research group.
Microbial restoration of the inflamed gut
A team led by gastroenterologists Sieglinde Angelberger and Walter Reinisch (Medical University Vienna) and microbiologists David Berry and Alexander Loy (University of Vienna) explored how a treatment called "fecal microbiota transplantation" can be used to support microbial recolonization of the gut of patients with chronic intestinal inflammation (ulcerative colitis). In this unusual alternative therapy the gut microbiota of healthy donors is transmitted to patients. The results of this pilot clinical study appear in the scientific journal American Journal of Gastroenterology.
JAMA article teaches doctors about learning disabilities
Lisa Rossignol's daughter Lily had a stroke before she was even born. Afterward, the child suffered some 300 epileptic seizures per day. Ultimately, doctors determined that the best way to eliminate her seizure problem was to perform a hemispherectomy, or remove the right half of her brain. Today, Lily is an active six-year-old with some learning disabilities. Her mother is active in educating the medical establishment about how to communicate with children who have learning disabilities so that their health care needs are understood and met.
Is travel to high altitudes more risky for people with diabetes?
Many factors can affect blood sugar control at high altitudes, and people considering a mountain journey need to understand the potential risks of the environmental extremes, extensive exercise, and dietary changes they may experience. Insulin needs may increase or decrease and individuals with poorly controlled diabetes are especially at risk for hypothermia, frostbite, and dehydration, for example. These and other dangers are described by two doctors who have diabetes and are avid mountaineers in an article published in High Altitude Medicine & Biology.
National screening strategy for hepatitis C urged for Canada
Canada should begin screening 'Baby Boomers' for the hepatitis C virus infection, since this age group is likely the largest group to have the illness, and most don't know they have it, say a group of liver specialists in the Toronto Western Hospital Francis Family Liver Clinic. Unlike many other chronic viral infections, early treatment makes hepatitis C curable.
FDA adds most severe warning to Pfizer's Tygacil
Regulators are putting their harshest warning on Pfizer's antibiotic Tygacil, saying the drug is associated with an increased risk of death.
Study evaluates population-wide testing, early treatment for HIV prevention
A study in South Africa and Zambia will assess whether house-to-house voluntary HIV testing and prompt treatment of HIV infection, along with other proven HIV prevention measures, can substantially reduce the number of new HIV infections across communities.
Under fire, 'Obamacare' going live _ with glitches
The core part of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul takes hold Tuesday, putting the embattled plan to a new test as tens of millions of Americans who don't have insurance can start signing up for coverage.
Treating heart failure with exercise: How much is enough?
More than 14 million Europeans suffer from heart failure, roughly half of which is caused by diastolic heart failure, known by doctors as HFPEF. OptimEx, a new 3.5-year study funded by the European Union and coordinated by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), will look at whether exercise could be used both to prevent and treat HFPEF.
Study examines adverse neonatal outcomes associated with early-term birth
Early-term births (37 to 38 weeks gestation) are associated with higher neonatal morbidity (illness) and with more neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or neonatology service admissions than term births (39 to 41 weeks gestation), according to a study by Shaon Sengupta, M.D., M.P.H., now of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and formerly of the University at Buffalo, N.Y., and colleagues.
Doctors: US execution plan jeopardizing hospitals
Hundreds of anesthesiologists urged the state of Missouri on Monday not to use propofol in an upcoming execution, saying the fallout could jeopardize the availability of the anesthetic relied on by thousands of U.S. hospitals and clinics.
Medicare, medicaid would keep running if US government shuts down
(HealthDay)—Medicare and Medicaid recipients and veterans will continue to receive health-care benefits if the federal government shuts down on Tuesday, U.S. officials said Monday.
Homework involved to apply for health insurance
Getting covered under President Barack Obama's health care law feels like a cross between doing your taxes and making an important purchase that requires research.
New study shows blood test detected cancer metastasis
Researchers from the University Göttingen Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Chronix Biomedical have published a new study exploring the genetic hallmarks of canine mammary cancer. Appearing in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE, the paper identifies important similarities and differences between human and canine breast tumors, providing a strong platform for future research using the canine model system.
Combining Chinese and Western medicine could lead to new cancer treatments
Combining traditional forms of Chinese and Western medicine could offer new hope for developing new treatments for liver, lung, colorectal cancers and osteosarcoma of the bones.
Researchers unveil findings on two new weapons against thyroid cancer
For many years, patients with advanced thyroid cancer faced bleak prospects and no viable treatment options. But now, building on recent discoveries about the genetics and cell signaling pathways of thyroid tumors, researchers are developing exciting new weapons against the disease, using kinase inhibitors that target tumor cell division and blood vessels. Two recent clinical trials led by a researcher from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania showcase the great promise of these new approaches. The work will be presented at the European Cancer Congress (ECCO 17 - ESMO 38 - ESTRO 32) in Amsterdam today.
Chinese doctor builds new nose on man's forehead
A surgeon in China says he has constructed an extra nose out of a man's rib cartilage and implanted it under the skin of his forehead to prepare for a transplant in probably the first operation of its kind.
Obama's health plan set for launch, ready or not
Starting on Tuesday, an estimated 50 million Americans who don't have health insurance can start signing up for coverage as the core of President Barack Obama's overhaul takes hold. Subsidies will be available to help those with lower-incomes pay for insurance. And on Jan. 1, people will no longer be denied coverage because of previous illnesses.
Avahan AIDS initiative may have prevented 600,000 HIV infections in India over 10 years
A programme funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation may have saved around 600,000 people in India from becoming infected with HIV over the course of a decade, according to a new report.
Psychotropic medication use, including stimulants, in young children leveling off
The use of psychotropic prescription medications to treat ADHD, mood disorders, anxiety and other mental health disorders in very young children appears to have leveled off.
Emergency room visits for kids with concussions skyrocketing
Researchers report a skyrocketing increase in the number of visits to the emergency department for kids with sports-related traumatic brain injuries (TBI), such as concussions.
Study examines impact of texting on students' emotional well-being
Sleep deprivation has long been considered a significant problem for college freshmen during their transition to campus life. Now, a new study by a Washington and Lee University psychology professor identifies another culprit when it comes to students and sleep problems: texting.
Sleep education helps families of autistic children
Parent sleep education is beneficial in improving sleep and aspects of daytime behavior and family functioning in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), according to a Vanderbilt study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
Practical tips offered for medical employee satisfaction
(HealthDay)—Managing staff is a learned skill, and one for which physicians are often ill-equipped. An article published Sept. 25 in Medical Economics lays out some practical tips and advice for motivating staff to excel.
Sutures not superior to staples for closure in GI surgery
(HealthDay)—Compared with standard procedure using staples, skin closure with subcuticular sutures does not reduce the incidence of wound complications after open gastrointestinal (GI) surgery, according to research published in the Sept. 28 issue of The Lancet, a theme issue on surgery.
Obesity gene testing offers psychological benefit
(HealthDay)—Results from genetic testing for weight gain-related genes may offer psychological benefits beyond their limited clinical utility, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of Genetic Counseling.
Health worker roles impacted when 'undervalued' by patients
(HealthDay)—Job satisfaction among nurse practitioners and other professionals can suffer when clientele lack a clear understanding of what they do, according to research published in the Aug. 1 issue of the Academy of Management Journal.
Big step—or stumble—for US health care law Tuesday
Millions of uninsured and low-income Americans will sign on to subsidized health coverage beginning Tuesday in a revolutionary system that is still working out technical kinks—and confronting heaps of political pushback.
Nearly 9 in 10 kids in China know cigarette logos, study finds (Update)
Nearly nine in 10 children in China can identify a cigarette logo, according to a US study out Monday that measured tobacco recognition among five- and six-year-olds in various countries.
Flu's coming, but which kind?
The beginning of autumn brings not just the start of another school year, but also the prospect of another flu season. Last spring, Chinese authorities announced the discovery of a strain of flu, H7N9, that passed from birds to humans, and that has limited transmission among humans.
A new chapter in acute lymphoblastic leukemia research
There is no final chapter in the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia. Like many resources and tools in biomedicine, researchers are rewriting and expanding this metaphorical book. The encyclopedia has grown well beyond genomes and now contains many different pieces of information on 1,000 cell lines representing more than 20 different kinds of cancer.
Body image impacts on weight gain during pregnancy
(Medical Xpress)—How women perceive their bodies during pregnancy and how that impacts on their weight gain has been the subject of a new study by University of Adelaide researchers.
Millions treated for asthma may be misdiagnosed
(Medical Xpress)—It's estimated that more than 26 million Americans have been diagnosed with asthma, but there is growing concern that many are being misdiagnosed or under-diagnosed and may be suffering from untreated conditions.
Armed and attentive: The face is the focus for a person wielding a gun, new study shows
(Medical Xpress)—A person wielding a gun focuses more intently on the face of an opponent with a gun, presumably to try to determine that person's likelihood of pulling the trigger, according to a new study that builds on gun-in-hand research from the University of Notre Dame.
Study links 'food addiction' to obesity
(Medical Xpress)—University of Queensland researchers have found most Australians and Americans believe food is addictive and comparable to drug addiction.
Scientists turn data into disease detective to predict dengue fever and malaria outbreaks
Scientists from IBM are collaborating with Johns Hopkins University and University of California, San Francisco to combat illness and infectious diseases in real-time with smarter data tools for public health. The focus is to help contain global outbreaks of dengue fever and malaria by applying the latest analytic models, computing technology and mathematical skills on an open-source framework.
How to help a friend: Suicide prevention
My name is Mifa Kim. I'm a senior studying psychology and a peer educator at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). I am spreading the word about the How to Help a Friend campaign, an online resource with information and advice on how CU community members can help friends or other people in their lives who may be encountering various challenges.
Cystic fibrosis: New compounds display strong therapeutic potential
Cystic fibrosis is a lethal genetic disorder that in France affects one child per 4,500 births. An international team led by scientists at the Institut Fédératif de Recherche Necker-Enfants Malades (CNRS/Inserm/Université Paris Descartes), led by Aleksander Edelman, has recently discovered two new compounds that could be used to treat patients carrying the most common mutation. By means of virtual screening and experiments on mice and human cells in culture, the scientists were able to screen 200,000 compounds and selected two that allowed the causal mutated protein to express itself and fulfill its function.
New research shows children need protection from smoking in cars
(Medical Xpress)—New research published in a leading international journal shows young people's exposure to secondhand smoke in cars in New Zealand remains high, particularly among Māori and Pacific people, low socio-economic groups and those whose parents smoke.
Beyond the little blue pill: Scientists develop compound that may treat priapism
It's not the little blue pill famous for helping men get big results, but for those who need it, the outcome might be even more significant. A new research report published online in The FASEB Journal, offers hope to men who experience priapism. This condition, which is often seen in men with sickle cell disease, causes erections lasting so long that they cause permanent damage to the penis. Specifically, a compound, called "C6'" offered mice—with and without sickle cell disease—relief by normalizing nitric oxide levels in penile blood. In addition to helping men with priapism, this action of this compound also provides insight for future research related to vascular and circulatory disorders such as hypertension.
The Janus-like nature of JAM-A
A new study by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich researchers led by Christian Weber sheds light on the role of the adhesion molecule JAM-A in the recruitment of immune cells to the inner layer of arteries – which promotes the development of atherosclerosis.
Alcohol leaving the UK charts with a hangover
Are we allowing alcohol marketing to children and teens via the music they love? As many as one in five songs in the UK top ten today include references to alcohol—a figure rising partly due to US-imported songs. What impact is this having on the youth of today? Experts warn that fresh evidence demonstrates that public health messages on alcohol may no longer be audible over the louder message from some sections of the music industry.
Global study: World not ready for aging population
The world is aging so fast that most countries are not prepared to support their swelling numbers of elderly people, according to a global study going out Tuesday by the United Nations and an elder rights group.
Cocaine use may increase HIV vulnerability
Cocaine use may increase one's vulnerability to HIV infection, according to a new research report published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology. In the report, scientists show that cocaine alters immune cells, called "quiescent CD4 T cells," to render them more susceptible to the virus, and at the same time, to allow for increased proliferation of the virus.
The immune system benefits from life in the countryside
Adults who move to farming areas where they experience a wider range of environmental exposures than in cities may reduce the symptoms of their hypersensitivities and allergies considerably. This is the result of new research from Aarhus University.
What works for women doesn't work for men
Flushed face, sweating, a sudden rush of heat. The hot flash, the bane of menopausal women, also can affect men who are undergoing hormone therapy for prostate cancer.
Baby bed-sharing on the rise, but healthcare providers can help reverse trend
The number of infants sharing a bed with their caregivers increased between 1993 and 2010, especially among black and Hispanic families, but this unhealthy trend could be reversed with education from healthcare providers, according to Yale School of Medicine researchers. Their findings are published in the Sept. 30 issue of JAMA Pediatrics.
Leisure-time exercise could lower your risk of high blood pressure
Physical activity in your leisure time could help keep your blood pressure at a healthy level, new research in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension suggests.
Study compares two commonly used estrogen drugs and cardiovascular safety
The oral hormone therapy conjugated equine estrogens (CEEs), which is used by women to relieve menopause symptoms, appears to be associated with increased risk for venous thrombosis (VT, blood clots) and possibly myocardial infarction (heart attack), but not ischemic stroke risk, when compared with the hormone therapy oral estradiol, according to a study published by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Testosterone promotes reciprocity in the absence of competition
Boosting testosterone can promote generosity, but only when there is no threat of competition, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The findings show that testosterone is implicated in behaviors that help to foster and maintain social relationships, indicating that its effects are more nuanced than previously thought.
Small brain biopsies can be used to grow large numbers of patient's own brain cells
A group of really brainy scientists have moved closer to growing "therapeutic" brain cells in the laboratory that can be re-integrated back into patients' brains to treat a wide range of neurological conditions. According to new research published online in The FASEB Journal, brain cells from a small biopsy can be used to grow large numbers of new personalized cells that are not only "healthy," but also possess powerful attributes to preserve and protect the brain from future injury, toxins and diseases. Scientists are hopeful that ultimately these cells could be transformed in the laboratory to yield specific cell types needed for a particular treatment, or to cross the "blood-brain barrier" by expressing specific therapeutic agents that are released directly into the brain.
Strain, pain associated with low coordination kids
Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) experience greater stress and strain on their bodies while running according to research by sports scientists.
Depression and mental health services usage
More than half the people in Ontario who reported they had major depression did not use physician-based mental health services in the following year, a new study has found.
FDA approves first pre-surgical breast cancer drug
Federal health officials say they have approved a biotech drug from Roche as the first medicine labeled for the treatment of breast cancer before surgery.
Many Americans worry about cost of long-term care: poll
(HealthDay)—Worried about how you'll pay for long-term care in old age? You're not alone.
Whooping cough outbreaks tied to parents shunning vaccines
(HealthDay)—New research confirms what experts have suspected: The decision not to vaccinate children for nonmedical reasons can have far-reaching effects, including raising the risk of infections for other children and their families.
Modifiable factors ID'd for reducing surgical site infections
(HealthDay)—Specific modifiable preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors can be optimized to reduce the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs) for patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery, according to research published in the September issue of The Spine Journal.
Short-term hearing loss can cause long-term problem
Short-term hearing loss during childhood may lead to persistent hearing deficits, long after basic auditory sensitivity has returned to normal. The processing of sound in the brain is shaped by early experience. New research from Massachusetts Eye and Ear has identified two critical periods occurring shortly after hearing onset that regulate how sounds from each ear are fused into a coherent representation in the brain. Their research is described in Nature Communications.
When ICUs get busy, doctors triage patients more efficiently, study finds
A new study by Penn Medicine researchers published Oct. 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that busy intensive care units (ICUs) discharge patients more quickly than they otherwise would and do so without adversely affecting patient outcomes – suggesting that low-value extensions of ICU stays are minimized during times of increased ICU capacity strain.
Medicare plans understate risky prescribing rates
A new study reveals widespread inaccuracy in a quality measure that is self-reported by Medicare Advantage health plans. Researchers found that the vast majority in a sample of 172 such insurers significantly understated their rate of high-risk medication prescriptions.
International 'war' on illegal drugs is failing to curb supply
The international war on illegal drugs is failing to curb supply, despite the increasing amounts of resource being ploughed into law enforcement activities, finds research published in the online journal BMJ Open.
Time to get a flu shot, CDC says
More than half of the children in the United States were vaccinated against influenza during the 2012-13 flu season, along with more than 4 in 10 adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Overall, 45 percent of Americans over the age of 6 months got some sort of flu vaccine.
Sequencing studies help pinpoint gene in Prader-Willi syndrome
As so many genome studies do, this study published online in the journal Nature Genetics began with a single patient and his parents who were in search of a diagnosis.
Picking up mistakes
(Medical Xpress)—Musicians have sharper minds are able to pick up mistakes and fix them quicker than the rest of us, according to new research.
Deconstructing motor skills: Separate aspects of development highlighted in study
Hitting the perfect tennis serve requires hours and hours of practice, but for scientists who study complex motor behaviors, there always has been a large unanswered question—what is the brain learning from those hours spent on the court? Is it simply the timing required to hit the perfect serve, or is it the precise path along which to move the hand?
Researchers uncover 48 new genetic variants associated with multiple sclerosis
Scientists of the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium (IMSGC) have identified an additional 48 genetic variants influencing the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. This work nearly doubles the number of known genetic risk factors and thereby provides additional key insights into the biology of this debilitating neurological condition. The genes implicated by the newly identified associations underline the central role played by the immune system in the development of multiple sclerosis and show substantial overlap with genes known to be involved in other autoimmune diseases.
Leukemia cells are addicted to a healthy gene
What keeps leukemia cells alive almost forever, able to continue dividing endlessly and aggressively? New research at the Weizmann Institute suggests that, in around a quarter of all leukemias, the cancer cells rely on an internal "balance of terror" to keep going. When one version of a certain gene is mutated, it becomes a cancer-promoting gene – an oncogene. But the new findings show that the second, normal version of the gene, which functions alongside the mutation, is what keeps the cells both cancerous and alive, able to continue forging their destructive pathway in the body. This research appeared last week in Cell Reports.
Researchers ferret out function of autism gene
Researchers say it's clear that some cases of autism are hereditary, but have struggled to draw direct links between the condition and particular genes. Now a team at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology has devised a process for connecting a suspect gene to its function in autism.
Finding the place where the brain creates illusory shapes and surfaces
The logo of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics includes red, white and blue stars, but the white star is not really there: It is an illusion. Similarly, the "S" in the USA Network logo is wholly illusory.
New technique induces egg growth in infertile women, and one gives birth
Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a way to induce the ovaries of some infertile women to produce eggs.
With increased age comes decreased risk-taking in decision-making
When faced with uncertain situations, people are less able to make decisions as they age, according to a new study by researchers at Yale School of Medicine. Published in the Sept. 30 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study also found that older people are more risk-averse than their midlife counterparts when choosing between possible gains, but more risk-seeking when choosing between losses.
Skin receptors convey sensation of texture through vibrations
New research shows that humans distinguish the difference between fine textures, such as silk or satin, through vibrations, which are picked up by two separate sets of nerve receptors in the skin and relayed to the brain.
Researchers discover a biological link between diabetes and heart disease
UC Davis Health System researchers have identified for the first time a biological pathway that is activated when blood sugar levels are abnormally high and causes irregular heartbeats, a condition known as cardiac arrhythmia that is linked with heart failure and sudden cardiac death.
New insights into DNA repair process may spur better cancer therapies
By detailing a process required for repairing DNA breakage, scientists at the Duke Cancer Institute have gained a better understanding of how cells deal with the barrage of damage that can contribute to cancer and other diseases.
New map of insulin pathway could lead to better diabetes drugs
A team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has created the first comprehensive roadmap of the protein interactions that enable cells in the pancreas to produce, store and secrete the hormone insulin. The finding makes possible a deeper scientific understanding of the insulin secretion process—and how it fails in insulin disorders such as type 2 diabetes.
Centipede venom could lead to new class of pain drug
A protein found in centipede venom could be developed into a drug to treat chronic pain that is as effective as morphine but without the side effects, researchers say.
Biology news
Georgia Aquarium exhibits preserved sea creatures
The Georgia Aquarium is giving visitors the chance to peer inside the bodies of giant sea creatures.
National Aquarium to close in DC after 128 years
An aquarium that opened its doors to visitors in 1885 is closing its doors in the nation's capital.
Scottish heather honey is best for beating bacteria
Honey has long been known for its anti-bacterial properties: it was prized by the ancient Egyptians and is widely used today in veterinary medicine as a wound dressing.
Cornell research orchard seeks the perfect apple
Trees at Cornell University's research orchard this fall are heavy with waxy apples, deep-red, round apples, oblong apples and aromatic apples that smell like autumn.
Researchers release new biological agent to fight invasive weed
University of Rhode Island entomologists reached a milestone in their efforts to control the invasive weed swallow-wort this month with the first release of a biological agent to fight the pest.
Protecting the unprotected
(Phys.org) —Scientists at the University of St Andrews have warned that global efforts to protect marine mammals are likely to leave the most endangered species entirely unprotected.
Pigeon wingman rules
Travelling in flocks may make individual birds feel secure but it raises the question of who decides which route the group should take.
UW researcher studies chemical neutering as means to control coyotes
Marjorie MacGregor wants to manage coyotes through better chemistry. For the past four years, MacGregor, a University of Wyoming doctoral candidate in the Department of Zoology and Physiology, has headed a chemical castration or neutering research program using captive male coyotes. The hope is that the program can eventually be used in the wild to control coyote numbers and reduce depredation while, at the same time, not alter the animal's natural behavior.
And in the beginning was histone 1
A zygote is the first cell of a new individual that comes about as the result of the fusion of an ovule with a spermatozoid. The DNA of the zygote holds all the information required to generate an adult organism. However, in the first stages of life, during the so-called embryogenesis, the genome of this zygote is repressed and does not exert any activity.
New technique helps biologists save the world's threatened seagrass meadows
Danish and Australian biologists have developed a technique to determine if seagrass contain sulfur. If the seagrass contains sulfur, it is an indication that the seabed is stressed and that the water environment is threatened. The technique will help biologists all over the world in their effort to save the world's seagrass meadows.
Biofuel from human urine
Micro-algae can grow on undiluted human urine. This offers opportunities for new water purification methods and perhaps even for converting urine into usable chemical substances and biofuels.
Vacuum dust: A previously unknown disease vector
The aerosolized dust created by vacuums contain bacteria and mold that "could lead to adverse effects in allergic people, infants, and people with compromised immunity," according to researchers at the University of Queensland and Laval University. Their findings are published ahead of print in Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
Researchers developing sustainable ways to manage locust outbreaks worldwide
Locust swarms may seem like a distant chapter from history, but these devastating insects still present a major threat in today's world. They jeopardize food security throughout the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Australia. Locusts, particularly desert locusts, ravage crops and impact livestock—costing countries billions of dollars in lost harvests and eradication efforts.
Hunt is on for tegu lizards in South Florida
The Argentine tegu lizard doesn't grow nearly as big as a Burmese python but it may be a greater threat to South Florida's native animals.
Study finds new moves in protein's evolution
Highlighting an important but unexplored area of evolution, scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have found evidence that, over hundreds of millions of years, an essential protein has evolved chiefly by changing how it moves, rather than by changing its basic molecular structure.
Largest, most accurate list of RNA editing sites
A research team centered at Brown University has compiled the largest and most stringently validated list of RNA editing sites in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, a stalwart of biological research. Their research, which yielded several insights into the model organism's fundamental biology, appears Sept. 29 in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology.
Erratic proteins: New insights into a transport mechanism
The outer membrane of bacteria contains many proteins that form tiny pores. They are important for absorbing nutrients and transmitting signals into the cell. The research group of Sebastian Hiller, Professor of Structural Biology at the Biozentrum, University of Basel, has now shown for the first time at atomic resolution, that these pore proteins are transported in an unstructured, constantly changing state to the outer bacterial membrane. This landmark study was recently published in the scientific journal Nature Structural and Molecular Biology.
New research links individual animal behavior with social spacing
Certain animal species are capable of coordinating their spatial behavior to cover terrain by maintaining areas of exclusive use while sharing other regions of space with their neighbors, new research has found.
Biochar quiets microbes, including some plant pathogens
In the first study of its kind, Rice University scientists have used synthetic biology to study how a popular soil amendment called "biochar" can interfere with the chemical signals that some microbes use to communicate. The class of compounds studied includes those used by some plant pathogens to coordinate their attacks.
When cells 'eat' their own power plants: Scientists solve mystery of cellular process
A mix of serendipity and dogged laboratory work allowed a diverse team of University of Pittsburgh scientists to report in the Oct. 1 issue of Nature Cell Biology that they had solved the mystery of a basic biological function essential to cellular health.
Better protein creation may be secret of longevity for the world's longest-living rodent
Naked mole rats have what any animal would want. They live long lives—about 30 years—and stay healthy until the very end. Now biologists at the University of Rochester have new insights into the animal's longevity—better-constructed proteins.
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