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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for November 25, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Physicists add 'quantum Cheshire Cats' to list of quantum paradoxes- Search for habitable planets should be more conservative
- Researchers discover roots of superfluorescent bursts from quantum wells
- Polymer gel, heal thyself: Team proposes new composites that can regenerate when damaged
- How scavenging fungi became a plant's best friend
- Engineers synthesize antibodies with carbon nanotubes
- Locusts reveal how neurons distinguish multiple odors
- Review: HTC, Nokia offer good, giant choices
- Scientists re-imagine how genomes are assembled
- Two-way traffic enable proteins to get where needed, avoid disease
- Breaking the brain clock predisposes nerve cells to neurodegeneration
- Archaeological discoveries confirm early date of Buddha's life
- A step closer to composite-based electronics
- Scientists ID new catalyst for cleanup of nitrites
- Sounding rocket to peek at atmosphere of Venus
Space & Earth news
The long shot of life elsewhere
Recent research suggests that there may be as many as 40 billion habitable planets in our galaxy. A number that large has some scientists speculating that the universe might be teeming with life.
Video: Explaining Earth's magnetic field
An introduction to Earth's magnetic field: what it is, where it comes from and what it's used for.
Fossil supervolcano highlighted in new UNESCO Geopark
Piedmont territory in northwest Italy is designated geopark backed by 80 Alpine communities. Area is an important geological and cultural locale that promotes awareness of earth sciences and sustainable use of resources.
Roaring to the Moon, Lunar Lion pays launch reservation fee
The Lunar Lion, a Moon lander designed and built by the Penn State Lunar Lion team, the only university-led team in the Google Lunar XPRIZE competition, will be sent into space as part of a multiple spacecraft effort coordinated by a new player in the space industry, Team Phoenicia LLC, of Menlo Park, Calif.
NASA catches Tropical Cyclone Lehar over the Andaman Islands
The Andaman Islands received an unwelcome visitor on November 25 in the form of Tropical Cyclone Lehar. NASA's Terra satellite captured a picture of the visitor as it was making its exit from the islands and into the Bay of Bengal.
More gases erupt from rumbling Indonesian volcano
Powerful bursts of hot ash and gravel erupted from a rumbling volcano in western Indonesia early Monday, sending panicked villagers streaming down the sides of the mountain.
Southern Alps glaciers reducing rapidly
Historic records show Franz Josef Glacier retreated three kilometres in the last century and mathematical modeling indicates it is likely to retreat even more this century.
Recycling orbital satellites
No matter how painstakingly we choose the materials to build satellites, once a mission is over they are just so much junk. But what if one day they could be recycled in space for future missions – perhaps as construction material, fuel or even food?
ESA SWARMing Earth's magnetic field
ESA's three-satellite Swarm constellation was lofted into a near-polar orbit by a Russian Rockot launcher this afternoon. For four years, it will monitor Earth's magnetic field, from the depth of our planet's core to the heights of its upper atmosphere.
Image: Space station deploys Cubesats
Three nanosatellites, known as Cubesats, are deployed from a Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (SSOD) attached to the Kibo laboratory's robotic arm at 7:10 a.m. (EST) on Nov. 19, 2013.
First-ever SpaceX payload delivery set for launch
The maiden flight of the next-generation commercial SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the firm's Cape Canaveral launch facility is set to soar to space on Monday afternoon, Nov. 25 on a ground-breaking mission that will be the company's most difficult ever.
Unlocking 'stranded' oil and gas reserves
Engineers at The University of Western Australia are stepping up their efforts to improve the international competitiveness of the local energy and resources industry by undertaking research which could revolutionise the foundations of deep-sea oil and gas pipeline infrastructure.
The reality behind Europe's response to climate change
British cities – unlike their counterparts on the mainland - are taking the lead in making plans to curb and handle the impact of climate change. So says Diana Reckien, of Columbia University in the US, in a study published in Springer's journal Climatic Change that analysed the relevant strategic policies and planning documents of 200 urban areas in eleven European countries. They found that one in every three European cities has no plans on the table to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while seven in every ten urban areas have no formal adaptation plans in place.
Engineers design spacesuit tools, biomedical sensors to keep astronauts healthy
Kansas State University researchers are improving astronauts' outerwear for outer space.
NASA sees Tropical Cyclone Alessia make landfall near Darwin
Tropical Cyclone made landfall near Darwin, Australia on November 24 as a weak tropical storm as NASA's TRMM satellite passed overhead and measured its rainfall.
Increasing cropping frequency offers opportunity to boost food supply
Harvesting existing cropland more frequently could substantially increase global food production without clearing more land for agriculture, according to a new study from the Institute on the Environment (IonE) at the University of Minnesota.
Ready, set, space: NASA's GPM satellite begins journey
For the past three years, the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory has gone from components and assembly drawings to a fully functioning satellite at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. The satellite has now arrived in Japan, where it will lift off in early 2014.
Galactic clusters low on hydrogen
Astronomers at Swinburne University of Technology and their international collaborators have found evidence that galaxies that are located in groups might be running out of gas.
Comet ISON vs. the solar storm
In 2007, astronomers were amazed when a solar storm hit Comet Encke. NASA STEREO spacecraft watched as a CME (coronal mass ejection) struck the comet head on and ripped off its tail.
Could dying planets harbor life?
If life does exist anywhere else in the universe, it may only be fleeting. Now scientists are researching how signs of life might look on dying planets.
When tectonics killed everything
A new paper reveals how the worst extinction in Earth's history may have been tied to the formation of Supercontinent Pangea. The catastrophe wasn't triggered by an impact from above—unlike another well-known extinction—but by a geological process below, deep within Earth's core.
Image: Hubble shoots Bright Quasar 3C 273
(Phys.org) —This image from Hubble's Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) is likely the best of ancient and brilliant quasar 3C 273, which resides in a giant elliptical galaxy in the constellation of Virgo (The Virgin). Its light has taken some 2.5 billion years to reach us. Despite this great distance, it is still one of the closest quasars to our home. It was the first quasar ever to be identified, and was discovered in the early 1960s by astronomer Allan Sandage.
Clues to paleoclimate from tiny fossils
New insights into the growth dynamics of minuscule marine organisms could help put the study of Earth's climate, both present and prehistoric, on a more solid footing.
Oceanic 'dead zones' and Jurassic extinction
Data collected by a scientist now at the University of Liverpool has predicted a dramatic decline in the size of marine animals used as food by humans, due to reduced oxygen levels in the oceans.
Researchers find significant amount of methane escaping East Siberian Arctic Shelf
(Phys.org) —A combined team of U.S. and Russian researchers has found that large amounts of methane are bubbling up from the subsea permafrost along the East Siberian Shelf. In their paper published in the journal Nature Geoscience, the team describes research they've conducted over several years from fishing vessels in the Laptev Sea and other areas along the shelf along with the results of measurements they've made.
US methane emissions far exceed government estimates, study reports
Emissions of methane from fossil fuel extraction and refining activities in the United States are nearly five times higher than previous estimates, according to researchers at Harvard University and seven other institutions. Their study, published this week in PNAS, also suggests that the contribution from livestock operations may be twice as high as previously thought.
Ancient minerals: Which gave rise to life?
Life originated as a result of natural processes that exploited early Earth's raw materials. Scientific models of life's origins almost always look to minerals for such essential tasks as the synthesis of life's molecular building blocks or the supply of metabolic energy. But this assumes that the mineral species found on Earth today are much the same as they were during Earth's first 550 million years—the Hadean Eon—when life emerged. A new analysis of Hadean mineralogy challenges that assumption. It is published in American Journal of Science.
Mach 1000 shock wave lights supernova remnant
When a star explodes as a supernova, it shines brightly for a few weeks or months before fading away. Yet the material blasted outward from the explosion still glows hundreds or thousands of years later, forming a picturesque supernova remnant. What powers such long-lived brilliance?
Sounding rocket to peek at atmosphere of Venus
A week after launching a new orbiter to investigate the upper atmosphere of Mars, NASA is sending a sounding rocket to probe the atmosphere of Venus.
Search for habitable planets should be more conservative
Scientists should take the conservative approach when searching for habitable zones where life-sustaining planets might exist, according to James Kasting, Evan Pugh Professor of Geosciences at Penn State, including when building Terrestrial Planet Finders.
Technology news
New ship's Capt. Kirk is used to 'Star Trek' jokes
Captain Kirk's futuristic-looking vessel sports cutting-edge technology, new propulsion and powerful armaments, but this ship isn't the Starship Enterprise.
NY troopers in big SUVs peer in on texting drivers
New York state troopers are using a new fleet of 32 tall, unmarked SUVs as part of a crackdown on drivers sending text messages.
Testing virtual nuclear stockpiles
In 2010 the Pentagon revealed it had a total of 5,113 warheads in its nuclear stockpile, down from a peak of 31,225 at the height of the Cold War in 1967.
Applying information theory to decentralized systems
For most computer users, information is only valuable when it serves a context-specific purpose, such as providing the GPS coordinates for a new restaurant or a list of search results for a query on airline flights to Fiji.
Image sensors for high performance applications
Imec, the Belgian nanoelectronics research center, will present at this week's 'CMOS Image Sensors for High Performance Applications' workshop in Toulouse (France) a prototype of a high-performance, time-delay-integration (TDI) image sensor. The image sensor is based on imec's proprietary embedded charge-coupled device (CCD) in CMOS technology. Imec developed and fabricated the sensor for the French Space Agency, CNES, which plans to utilize the technology for space-based earth observation.
Nissan's first public road test of autonomous drive
Nissan has carried out the first public road test of Autonomous Drive on a Japanese highway. A Nissan LEAF electric vehicle equipped with the revolutionary technology took to the Sagami Expressway in Kanagawa prefecture, southwest of Tokyo, with the prefecture's Governor, Yuji Kuroiwa, and Nissan Vice Chairman Toshiyuki Shiga, on board. The vehicle operated fully automatically on the highway. Journalists witnessed the tests and later had the opportunity to experience the car on the highway themselves.
Amazon workers on strike in Germany
Hundreds of Amazon.com Inc. workers are staging a strike in Germany and the union says there will be more to come in the run-up to Christmas unless the online retailer raises wages.
Nielsen buying Harris Interactive for about $117M
Consumer research and TV ratings firm Nielsen is buying market research firm Harris Interactive for about $116.6 million.
Apple acquires Israel's PrimeSense, no terms
Apple has acquired Israel-based motion technology company PrimeSense for an undisclosed sum.
Cyber resilience metrics needed to meet increased threats
Cyber threats are rapidly emerging as one of the primary security concerns for the nation and global community as targeted cyber attacks can cause severe consequences to critical infrastructure and sectors of the economy. Recent calls for action, including President Obama's Executive Orders 13636 and Presidential Policy Directive 21, have brought the concept of "resilience" in the face of cyber attacks to the forefront of the nation's consciousness. In a recent special issue of Springer's journal Environment Systems & Decisions, Dr. Igor Linkov and colleagues describe a framework for understanding the concept of cyber resilience, and lay out a systematic method by which to generate resilience metrics for cyber systems.
NBA box scores go high-tech with video links to stats
The NBA unveiled groundbreaking video box scores Monday that will make the league the first in American pro sports to link video highlights to box score statistics on the league website.
New Jersey OKs Internet gambling for six casinos
New Jersey gambling regulators gave six casinos the green light to offer Internet gambling statewide on Monday.
Hooking phishers of men and women
Phishing is a fraudulent attempt seeking to acquire money, confidential information or other gain such as usernames, passwords or credit card details from people by masquerading as a trustworthy entity such as a bank, service provider, social network, email systems or institutions. In order to improve security and reduce the risk that any of us is caught out by a phishing attack there is a need to carry out research so that countermeasures can be designed. Unfortunately, in carrying out such research it is possible for the scientists taking part to come unstuck by laws that are in place to protect users from the very attacks they wish to study.
BlackBerry shakeup continues as COO, CFO depart (Update)
BlackBerry's interim chief executive has shaken up BlackBerry's management team in a move seen as prelude to him taking the top job himself.
Beyond encryption: Stronger security for wireless communications
Physically, wireless communication channels are right out in the open, carried through the air on radio waves. A "wiretapper" can eavesdrop on mobile phone and data traffic without actually tapping a wire or optical fiber. An active wiretapper may also control or disturb a legitimate user's channel, or exploit side information to compromise the security of a message. Thus the last line of defense today is encryption, aimed at making the intercepted message difficult if not impossible for anyone other than the intended recipient to decipher. But cryptographic techniques are being rendered less and less secure by advances in computing.
Qualcomm says China launches antitrust probe
US mobile chipmaker Qualcomm said Monday it has been notified it is the subject of an antitrust investigation by Chinese authorities.
Yahoo pushes further into news with 'global anchor'
Yahoo made a fresh move Monday to expand as a media group, naming a star "global anchor" to be the face of its digital news brand.
Researchers in Singapore develop taste simulator
Researchers are exploring new pathways into digital taste. "Instead of just looking at a cake on your screen, you can taste it." And so begins the conversation in a rather startling video that shows a man licking a cake on his computer screen and tasting the results. "A new digital simulator can reproduce the four main taste components and transmit them to the tip of your tongue. It uses an alternating current to fool your taste receptors along with small changes in temperature." This new digital simulator can reproduce the four main taste components—salt, sweet, sour and bitter—via the use of electrodes. "Tiny electrodes that heat and cool very quickly control the thermal stimulation," according to the video.
Medicine & Health news
Mental trauma haunts Philippines typhoon survivors
Rodico Basilides visits a forlorn cross that stands as a memorial to his family who died in the catastrophic Philippine typhoon, one of countless survivors who are being forced to grieve without professional counselling.
Sanofi looking at 1-2 bn euros of acquisitions per year
French pharmaceutical group Sanofi is looking to make annual acquisitions of up to two billion euros to boost its priority sectors, managing director Chris Viehbacher told Monday's Le Figaro newspaper.
Shares of Indian units of Pfizer, Wyeth jump on merger approval
Shares of the Indian units of US pharmaceutical firms Pfizer and Wyeth soared Monday, after the pair approved a merger plan which would create India's ninth largest drug company.
A new target for diabetes treatment
In her synthetic biology lab, Karmella Haynes focuses much of her effort on developing better ways of exploring how human body cells work – or don't work like they should. She'll be applying her expertise in that area to a major new research endeavor to produce more effective treatments for diabetes.
Heart surgery mortality rates significantly reduced
Fifty years have passed since the first heart operation was carried out with a heart-lung machine at the MedUni Vienna in the Vienna General Hospital. Since then cardiac surgery has developed at an astonishing rate – to the great benefit of patients. "Mortality rates during, or in the first 30 days post-, cardiac surgery now lie at two to three percent even though these are consistently serious cases being operated on; 50 years ago they were still at 10 to as much as 30 percent," says Günther Laufer, head of the Clinical Department of Cardiac Surgery. Many contributing technical achievements were, and are being, co-developed at the MedUni Vienna and taken further. For this reason, the MedUni Vienna is regarded as one of the leading centres in Europe for cardiac surgery.
Severe flu complications for cancer patients
It is often noted that very young people and the elderly are most at-risk for experiencing flu-related complications, and one expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham says people with weakened immune systems due to diseases like cancer are also at an increased risk of severe complications from the virus.
Expert calls for calm as France hit by cancer vaccine scare
One of France's top medical experts appealed for calm Monday as a scare over a widely administered vaccine that prevents cervical cancer gathered momentum.
Researchers describe one mechanism that favors rejection in transplantation of porcine cartilage in humans
Researchers at the Bellvitge Institute of Biomedical Research (IDIBELL) led by Cristina Costa from the New Therapies on Genes and Transplantation group have shown that inhibition of one of the basic components of the complement system protects chondrocytes (cartilage cells) from porcine rejection of xenotransplantation (transplantation between animals of different species).
EORTC Cancer in the Elderly Task Force investigates appropriate treatment for elderly patients
As we age, we experience a progressive decline in many of our bodily functions. This decline can vary greatly from individual to individual. One 75 year old might still be very active and participate in strenuous physical activities, while another might require considerable assistance just to perform simple everyday tasks. Aging is variable. It is a highly individualized process that is influenced by a number of genetic, developmental, and environmental factors.
Clevelanders: Lighting up in a new way
A new data brief released by the Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods at Case Western Reserve University (PRCHN) shows that more than one-in-five African-American young adults in Cleveland, ages 18 to 29, routinely uses little cigars.
More pediatric kidney patients are being treated with minimally invasive surgical techniques
More children, like adults, are undergoing minimally invasive surgery for diseased kidneys, with most of the procedures being performed at teaching hospitals to treat non-cancerous conditions.
Insights into type 2B von Willebrand disease
In response to blood vessel damage, von Willebrand factor (vWF) binds to the exposed extra cellular matrix, recruits platelets to the site of injury, and activates platelets, which promotes thrombis formation. Patients with von Willebrand disease type 2B (vWD-type 2B) produce a vWF protein that has a high binding affinity for platelets; however, these patients exhibit a bleeding tendency that is thought to be due to loss of vWF multimers.
Identification of a genetic mutation associated with steroid-resistant nephritic syndrome
Patients with nephritic syndrome exhibit an array of symptoms that are associated with loss of kidney function, including excess protein in urine, swelling, and albuminuria. Many nephritic syndrome patients respond well to treatment with steroids; however, subsets of patients are resistant to steroid treatment and are at high risk of kidney failure. Recent studies have identified single gene mutations that are associated with development of steroid-resistant nephritic syndrome; however, these mutations account for approximately half of all steroid-resistant cases.
Balancing T cell populations
Depending on the signals received, naïve T cells are able to differentiate into mature T cell populations, which play different roles in the immune system. For example, regulatory T cells (Tregs) are important for tamping down the immune response and preventing development of autoimmune disease, while effector T cells promote inflammation. Maintaining the proper balance between Tregs and effector T cells prevents immune dysfunction.
Identifying targets of autoantibodies
Patients with the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) produce autoantibodies that target can cause damage to multiple organ systems. The host factors that are targeted by autoantibodies produced by SLE patients are not fully understood.
Predicting nasopharyngeal carcinoma patient response to radiation therapy
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) affects cells lining the nasopharynx. The majority of NPC cases can be cured by radiation therapy, however ~20% are resistant to radiation treatment.
One-third of older adults admitted to ICU deemed 'frail'
One-third of older adults admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) were "frail," increasing the risk of death, illness and adverse events, according to a new study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Nurse navigators help cancer patients cope early in care
When Group Health patients received support from a nurse navigator, or advocate, soon after a cancer diagnosis, they had better experiences and fewer problems with their care—particularly in health information, care coordination, and psychological and social care—according to a randomized controlled trial in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Certain symptom clusters experienced after surgery for esophageal cancer predict poor prognosis
A new study has found that several months after surgery for esophageal cancer, different symptoms cluster together in different types of patients. In addition, patients with certain symptom clusters have an increased risk of dying from their disease. The findings are published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.
PCBs still affecting our health decades later
Although PCBs have been banned in the United States since 1979, University of Montreal and CHU Sainte-Justine researcher Maryse Bouchard has found that higher levels of the toxin was associated with lower cognitive performance in seniors. There is a significant association between PCB levels and cognitive abilities among individuals aged 70 to 84 years; the correlation was also detected to a lesser extent among people aged 60-69 years. This analysis also showed that the association differed by sex. Women in the older age group had the largest diminution in cognition in relation to exposure. "While most studies have looked at the impact of PCBs on infant development, our research shows that this toxin might affect us throughout our lives," Bouchard said.
Got the sniffles? Migraines spike with allergies and hay fever
People with migraine who also battle allergies and hay fever (rhinitis) endure a more severe form of headaches than their peers who struggle with migraine, but aren't affected by the seasonal or year-round sniffles, according to researchers from the University of Cincinnati (UC), Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and Vedanta Research.
Meat, egg and dairy nutrient essential for brain development
Asparagine, found in foods such as meat, eggs, and dairy products, was until now considered non-essential because it is produced naturally by the body. Researchers at the University of Montreal and its affiliated CHU Sainte-Justine Hospital found that the amino acid is essential for normal brain development. This is not the case for other organs. "The cells of the body can do without it because they use asparagine provided through diet. Asparagine, however, is not well transported to the brain via the blood-brain barrier," said senior co-author of the study Dr. Jacques Michaud, who found that brain cells depend on the local synthesis of asparagine to function properly. First co-author José-Mario Capo-Chichi and colleague Grant Mitchell also made major contributions to the study.
Study finds honeybee venom triggers immune response
Allergy-like immune reactions could represent a mechanism of the body that protects it against toxins. This surprising conclusion has been reached by scientists at Stanford University, USA, working on a research project co-financed by the FWF. The recently published findings prove that honeybee venom triggers an immune response in mice associated with the formation of IgE antibodies, which are also typical for allergic responses. These IgEs then confer protection against higher amounts of the venom subsequently administered to the mice. Thus, for the first time, IgEs were observed as having a direct protective function against a venom – a finding that substantiates a controversial hypothesis on the emergence of allergies formulated in the 1990s.
Can a vegan diet can be safe for pregnancy?
A popular Instagram contributor has gained particular attention recently because she is vegan, eats predominantly raw food, and is pregnant. Most of her critics focus on the effect of her diet on her unborn child, and most have no scientific basis for their attacks.
Lack of birth control information poses danger for women on common acne drug, study finds
Women taking a widely prescribed treatment for acne, known to cause birth defects, are often not fully aware of their contraceptive choices, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The findings, published today in JAMA Dermatology, underscore the need to provide women with more information about and greater access to the most effective contraceptives.
Research targets parasitic worm disease
The worms can live inside your body for years, decades even. And it's not the worms themselves that will eventually make you sick. Rather, it's the thousands of eggs they lay.
How drug-resistant staph paralyzes immune cells
When golden staph enters our skin it can identify the key immune cells and 'nuke' our body's immune response.
A better pump for pediatric brain cancer
Treating pediatric brain cancer can be a challenge, since the brain has ways to protect itself from drugs taken orally or intravenously. One solution to this frustrating problem: A miniature, implantable infusion pump no bigger than two small cookies stacked together.
Increasing helmet safety with impact-diverting 'patch'
A team of researchers at Simon Fraser University's Surrey campus has developed an impact-diverting "patch" (IDP) aimed at increasing the safety of helmets by mitigating the potential for head injuries. The patent-pending technology is currently completing a preliminary field trial with the assistance of the SFU Clan's football team.
Reducing diabetics' hypoglycaemic events
Insulin pumps that can respond to blood glucose concentration can reduce the rate of severe hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose) in type 1 diabetics, according to the results of a recent trial.
The immune system's role in addiction
How do you know you are sick?
Waistlines are a better measure of obesity than BMI
If your trousers or skirts seem to be getting tighter you are not alone: almost 40% of men and women are now becoming obese in old age.
Supercomputing human immunology
Larry Smarr began his scientific career as an astrophysicist studying billions of stars in far-off galaxies. More recently, he's been studying much larger numbers of units closer to home—his own body.
Dangerous methylmercury levels in sushi
Eating sushi can increase risk of cardiovascular disease. A recent study showed that tuna sashimi contains the highest levels of methylmercury in fish-sushi, based on samples taken from across the USA.
Food allergy death is less likely than being murdered
A person with a food allergy is more likely to be murdered than to die from a severe reaction, according to a new study.
Potential new treatments for acute myeloid leukemia
Two separate studies yield key findings for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML is a group of heterogeneous diseases with considerable diversity in terms of genetic abnormalities. Mutations of CEBPA, a tumour suppressor, are found in about 10 per cent of human AML patients. In two separate studies on CEBPA mutations in AML subtypes, researchers successfully identified and validated a gene known as Sox4 as a potential therapeutic target and a class of anti-cancer drugs, histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, as potential candidates in the treatment of certain AML.
Finding reference values for children's heart rate variability
Measurement of heart rate variability (HRV) is a useful method when assessing the role of the nervous system for heart function. Standard reference values for heart rate variability in adults have existed for a long time already, but similar values have not been available for children until now. Children's HRV reference values have not been determined earlier, because heart rate variability from rest electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings has not been studied in sufficiently large population samples before. The presently published study defined reference values for a large number of HRV parameters in a sample of children living in Kuopio, eastern Finland. The results were published recently in Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging.
Three key literacy skills for primary schools in priority areas
What types of skills do first-year primary school children in education priority areas need most to learn to read? To find out, a team of researchers at CNRS and the universities of Grenoble, Paris Descartes and Aix-Marseille conducted a study of 394 children in e Zones d'Education Prioritaires administered by the Académie de Lyon at the end of their first year of school.
Embolization procedure aids in weight loss
A new study reports that individuals who underwent embolization of the left gastric artery for gastrointestinal bleeding experienced a 7.9 percent decrease in body weight three months after the procedure. Results of the study, which offer a potential new avenue for obesity research, will be presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Number of adolescents with HIV jumps by one-third
The number of adolescents infected by the HIV virus has jumped by one third over the past decade, the UN's health agency said Monday, blaming gaps in care programmes.
Human neural stem cells could meet the clinical problem of critical limb ischemia
New research has shown human neural stem cells could improve blood flow in critical limb ischemia through the growth of new vessels. Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a disease that severely obstructs arteries and reduces the blood flow to legs and feet. CLI remains an unmet clinical problem and with an ageing population and the rise in type II diabetes, the incidence of CLI is expected to increase.
Graphic warning labels on cigarette packs could lead to 8.6 million fewer smokers in US
A research paper published in the scientific journal Tobacco Control, "Cigarette graphic warning labels and smoking prevalence in Canada: a critical examination and reformulation of the FDA regulatory impact analysis", shows that graphic warning labels on cigarette packs led to a decrease in smoking rates in Canada of between 12% and 20% from 2000 to 2009. The authors estimate that if the same model was applied to the United States, the introduction of graphic warnings would potentially lead to a decrease of between 5.3 and 8.6 million smokers.
Coumarins show potency as anti-inflammatory drugs
New methods for the laboratory-scale synthesis of coumarin-based drugs were developed in a recent study completed at the University of Eastern Finland. In his doctoral thesis, Lic. Phil. Juri Timonen also developed new analytical methods for the fast identification of natural and non-natural coumarins. A few of the synthesised coumarins were also found to inhibit some specific reactions generally associated with inflammation.
Breastfeeding provides babies with iodine
Iodine is essential for the human body. This trace element is especially crucial for infants in order to ensure healthy development. Iodine deficiency can disrupt growth and damage the nervous system. In iodine-poor regions, such as Switzerland with its iodine-deficient soils, iodised salt is recommended for use in cooking and the food industry. So newborns generally receive enough of the trace element through breast milk and baby food containing added iodine. However, iodised salt or supplemented baby food are not available everywhere, particularly in remote areas of developing countries, and do not always reach vulnerable segments of the population.
New immuno-therapy for malignant brain tumors
Animal experiments show that it is relatively easy to treat cancer in the early stages. However, it is far more difficult to successfully treat advanced cancer. Treatment of brain tumors is particularly challenging because regulatory T-cells accumulate in brain tumors and suppress an immune attack.
Occupational therapy improves ability to perform everyday tasks in children with autism
In one of the first randomized control trials studying an intervention for sensory problems in children with autism, researchers found that occupational therapy using the principles of sensory integration (OT-SI) provided better outcomes on parent-identified goals than standard care, according to results published November 10th in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
'Rare' gene is common in African descendants and may contribute to risk of heart disease
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have found that a genetic variation that is linked to increased levels of triglycerides—fats in the blood associated with disorders such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and stroke—is far more common than previously believed and disproportionally affects people of African ancestry. Investigators say their discovery, reported in the American Journal of Cardiology, reinforces the need to screen this population for high levels of triglycerides to stave off disease.
One it ten high school students hurt by dating partners
One in 10 high school youth in the U.S. reports having been hit or physically hurt by a dating partner in the past year, according to a new study led by a Boston University School of Public Health researcher.
EPC secreted factors favorably impact on pancreatic islet cell cotransplantation
Pancreatic islet transplantation is a promising therapy for treating type 1 diabetes, but the majority of transplanted cells die soon after they are transplanted. Researchers interested in prolonging the life of these cells co-transplanted endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) along with pancreatic islet cells and found that the EPCs improved the engraftment of pancreatic islet cells in mouse models, thereby favorably impacting on the cure rate and glycemic control of transplanted islets. The study will be published in a future issue of Cell Transplantation but is currently freely available online.
Study shows marijuana's potential for treating autoimmune disorders
A new study from researchers at the University of South Carolina provides evidence that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), a principal ingredient in marijuana, may be beneficial in treating those with autoimmune disorders.
Teens 'eat more, cheat more' after playing violent video games
(Medical Xpress)—Playing violent video games not only increases aggression, it also leads to less self-control and more cheating, a new study finds.
Co-transplanted cells and treadmill training aids rats with spinal cord injury
After Schwann cells (SCs), the principal cells in the peripheral nervous system, and olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs), cells that ensheath the non-myelinated peripheral neurons in the nose, were co-transplanted into laboratory rats with spinal cord injury, researchers in Beijing, China put the rats on a 30 minute per day treadmill training program for ten weeks to determine if the effects of the workouts would benefit aspects of the animals' recovery. The research team, whose results will soon be published in the supplementary International Association of Neurorestoratology (IANR) issue of Cell Transplantation (22(s1)), and are currently freely available online.
A new kind of genetic switch can target the activities of just one type of brain cell
Mysterious brain cells called microglia are starting to reveal their secrets thanks to research conducted at the Weizmann Institute of Science.
Drug regimen may eliminate colonization with superbug CRE
Orally administered, nonabsorbable antibiotics were effective in eradicating carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) colonization, according to a new study published in the December issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, a publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
Obesity associated with higher risk of hearing loss in women
According to the World Health Organization, 360 million people have disabling hearing loss, a condition that is often considered to be an unavoidable side effect of aging. New research from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) published online in The American Journal of Medicine, finds that higher body mass index (BMI) and larger waist circumference are each associated with higher risk of hearing loss, while a higher level of physical activity is associated with lower risk of hearing loss in women.
Killer cocktail fights brain cancer
A novel immune-boosting drug combination eradicates brain cancer in mice, according to a study in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.
Dysfunctional mitochondria may underlie resistance to radiation therapy
The resistance of some cancers to the cell-killing effects of radiation therapy may be due to abnormalities in the mitochondria – the cellular structures responsible for generating energy, according to an international team of researchers. Their findings are published in the Nov. 25 issue of Developmental Cell.
Key guidance document released on transcatheter therapies for mitral regurgitation
Four cardiovascular professional societies today released an overview of transcatheter therapies for mitral regurgitation. Intended to "help frame subsequent discussions" among the field's various stakeholders, the document highlights critical issues that should be considered as the technologies are integrated into clinical practice.
Chickens offer clues to human birth defects
Clemson University researchers found that chicken eggs can provide a better understanding of human birth defects.
Researchers find ear infections down, thanks to vaccine
Otitis media, more commonly known as ear infection, is the leading cause of pediatric health care visits and the most frequent reason children are prescribed antibiotics or undergo surgery. Researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have discovered that, during recent years, several interventions have been introduced aiming to decrease the otitis media burden—and they've been successful.
Cervical cancer screening overused in some groups of women
For the past ten years, clinicians throughout the United States have been performing unnecessary Pap tests for cervical cancer screening in certain groups of women, according to a researcher from Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah. The research results were published online in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine today.
Brain imaging differences in infants at genetic risk for Alzheimer's
Researchers from Brown University and Banner Alzheimer's Institute have found that infants who carry a gene associated with increased risk for Alzheimer's disease tend to have differences in brain development compared to children without the gene. The study, published in JAMA Neurology, demonstrates some of the earliest developmental differences associated with a gene variant called APOE-E4, a common genotype and a known risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's.
Drug interactions causing a significant impact on statin use
A new study has found that many people who stopped taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs were also taking an average of three other drugs that interfered with the normal metabolism of the statins.
Improvement of mood associated with improved brain injury outcomes
Mayo Clinic researchers found that improvement of mood over the course of post-acute brain rehabilitation is associated with increased participation in day-to-day activities, independent living, and ability to work after rehabilitation is complete.
Turning autism upside down: When symptoms are strengths
A novel approach to treating children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder could help them navigate their world by teaching them to turn their symptoms into strengths.
Controlling our circadian rhythms
Most people have experienced the effects of circadian-rhythm disruption, after traveling across time zones or adjusting to a new schedule. To have any hope of modulating our biological "clocks," to combat jet lag or cope with alternating shifts, we need to first understand the physiology at play. A new study in The Journal of General Physiology helps explain some of the biophysical processes underlying regulation of circadian rhythms.
Video game play may provide learning, health, social benefits, review finds
Playing video games, including violent shooter games, may boost children's learning, health and social skills, according to a review of research on the positive effects of video game play to be published by the American Psychological Association.
Team finds potential cause for deadly breast cancer relapse
Researchers at the UNC School of Medicine, working with cell lines in a lab, have discovered why some of the most aggressive and fatal breast cancer cells are resistant to chemotherapy, and UNC scientists are developing ways to overcome such resistance.
Alzheimer's and vascular changes in the neck
Studies on Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia have long focused on what's happening inside the brain. Now an international research team studying Alzheimer's and mild cognitive impairment is reporting potentially significant findings on a vascular abnormality outside the brain.
Researchers create compounds that boost antibiotics' effectiveness
Inhibitor compounds developed by UC Irvine structural biologists and Northwestern University chemists have been shown to bolster the ability of antibiotics to treat deadly bacterial diseases such as MRSA and anthrax.
First large-scale PheWAS study using EMRs provides systematic method to discover new disease association
Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers and co-authors from four other U.S. institutions from the Electronic Medical Records and Genomics (eMERGE) Network are repurposing genetic data and electronic medical records to perform the first large-scale phenome-wide association study (PheWAS), released today in Nature Biotechnology.
Childhood exercise may stave off some bad effects of maternal obesity
Rats whose mothers were fed a high-fat diet during pregnancy and nursing were able to stave off some of the detrimental health effects of obesity by exercising during their adolescence, new Johns Hopkins research shows.
School climate key to preventing bullying
To effectively prevent bullying schools need to understand positive school climate, use reliable measures to evaluate school climate and use effective prevention and intervention programs to improve the climate, a recent paper co-authored by a University of California, Riverside assistant professor found.
ADHD study: Expensive training programs don't help kids' grades, behavior
Many parents spend thousands of dollars on computer-based training programs that claim to help children with ADHD succeed in the classroom and in peer relationships while reducing hyperactivity and inattentiveness. But a University of Central Florida researcher says parents are better off saving their hard-earned cash.
Study examines potential evolutionary role of 'sexual regret' in human survival and reproduction
In the largest, most in-depth study to date on regret surrounding sexual activity, a team of psychology researchers found a stark contrast in remorse between men and women, potentially shedding light on the evolutionary history of human nature.
Repeatedly exposing yourself to a negative event may prevent it from affecting you
Psychology shows that it doesn't take much to put you in a bad mood. Just reading the morning news can do it. And being in a bad mood slows your reaction time, and affects your basic cognitive abilities like speech, writing, and counting. If you read a depressing newspaper headline in the morning, you may perform worse at work throughout the day.
Extrovert and introvert children are not equally influenced by plate size
As dish size increases, so do portion size and the amount of food actually eaten—but could personality traits play a role in how susceptible people are to this plate-size bias? New research by the Cornell Food and Brand Lab indicates that extraverted and introverted children respond differently to environmental cues, such as plate size, when it comes to portion control.
Findings not supportive of women-specific chest pain symptoms in heart attack diagnosis
Using chest pain characteristics (CPCs) specific to women in the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI, heart attack) in the emergency department does not seem to be supported by the findings of a study published by JAMA Internal Medicine.
Study examines barriers to human papillomavirus vaccination among teens
Barriers to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among adolescents in the U.S. range from financial concerns and parental attitudes to social influences and concerns about the vaccination's effect on sexual behavior, according to a review of the available medical literature published by JAMA Pediatrics.
US overturns safety limits on diabetes drug
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is lifting severe safety restrictions on the former blockbuster diabetes pill Avandia, citing recent data suggesting that the much-debated medication does not increase the risk of heart attack.
Whooping cough shot cuts illness, maybe not spread
A government study offers a new theory on why the whooping cough vaccine doesn't seem to be working as well as expected.
Kids hospitalized for flu need antiviral meds right away: study
(HealthDay)—Kids near death because of severe flu infection have a better chance of survival if they are given antiviral medications early in their treatment, researchers say.
Olysio approved as hepatitis C treatment
(HealthDay)—Olysio (simeprevir) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat chronic hepatitis C infection in adults.
Testosterone therapy doesn't worsen urinary symptoms
(HealthDay)—For hypogonadal men, testosterone replacement therapy is associated with a low risk of worsening lower urinary tract symptoms, according to a study published in the November issue of The Journal of Urology.
Nebulizers deliver less than half of prescribed asthma Rx in kids
(HealthDay)—The amount of corticosteroids delivered by nebulizers in children with asthma differs from the prescribed dose, the amount varying with drug formulation, according to research published online Nov. 24 in Respirology.
High abusive head trauma rates with new coding method
(HealthDay)—Use of new coding algorithms show the highest abusive head trauma (AHT) rates in children < 1 year reported to date, but no significant change in national AHT rates, according to a study published online Nov. 25 in Pediatrics.
Experiencing awe increases belief in the supernatural
Awe-inspiring moments—like the sight of the Grand Canyon or the Aurora Borealis—might increase our tendency to believe in God and the supernatural, according to new research.
Study finds astrocyte role in shaping neural circuits
Stanford University School of Medicine neuroscientists have discovered a new role played by a common but mysterious class of brain cells.
Nanotherapeutic that can cross blood-brain barrier
The University of Delaware's Emily Day is a part of a team of researchers that has developed a nanotherapeutic capable of penetrating the blood-brain barrier.
Do aging cells become cancer?
Cancers that occur in later life could be down to the way our cells age, according to a paper published in Nature Cell Biology.
Researchers find glutamate receptor helps suppress cue induced cocaine craving
(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers with members from several universities in the U.S. has found that a glutamate receptor given to test rats addicted to cocaine caused a reduction in cue induced cravings for the drug. In their paper published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, the team explains how they gave the receptor to addicted rats and then noted how they exhibited signs of reduced cravings due to external cues.
US tells 23andMe to halt sales of genetic test
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is ordering genetic test maker 23andMe to halt sales of its personalized DNA test kits, saying the company has failed to show that the technology is backed by science.
Breaking the brain clock predisposes nerve cells to neurodegeneration
As we age, our body rhythms lose time before they finally stop. Breaking the body clock by genetically disrupting a core clock gene, Bmal1, in mice has long been known to accelerate aging , causing arthritis, hair loss, cataracts, and premature death.
Postmenopausal estrogen decline largely unrelated to changes in cognition, mood
A new study led by a Stanford University School of Medicine researcher shows that decreased estrogen levels after menopause are largely unrelated to changes in cognitive ability and mood. It did find, however, a possible link between levels of another hormone—progesterone—and cognition among younger postmenopausal women.
Using microRNA fit to a T (cell): Researchers show B cells can deliver potentially therapeutic bits of modified RNA
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have successfully targeted T lymphocytes – which play a central role in the body's immune response – with another type of white blood cell engineered to synthesize and deliver bits of non-coding RNA or microRNA (miRNA).
Oxytocin leads to monogamy: Hormone stimulates the brain reward system when viewing the partner
How is the bond between people in love maintained? Scientists at the Bonn University Medical Center have discovered a biological mechanism that could explain the attraction between loving couples: If oxytocin is administered to men and if they are shown pictures of their partner, the bonding hormone stimulates the reward center in the brain, increasing the attractiveness of the partner, and strengthening monogamy. The results are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
New method to increase survival in sepsis discovered
Sepsis, the body's response to severe infections, kills more people than breast cancer, prostate cancer and HIV/AIDS combined. On average, 30 percent of those diagnosed with sepsis die.
Locusts reveal how neurons distinguish multiple odors
(Medical Xpress)—Our sense of smell is often the first response to environmental stimuli. Odors trigger neurons in the brain that alert us to take action. However, there is often more than one odor in the environment, such as in coffee shops or grocery stores. How does our brain process multiple odors received simultaneously?
Biology news
Reversing the decline of Texas quails
The Texas A&M University System and Texas A&M AgriLife are on a mission to address the state's dwindling wild quail populations, and a recent $2 million state-funded initiative reflects the importance of quail to the state of Texas.
Battle against bee-blood-eating parasite
Mexico is one of the top five bee producing countries worldwide and the second in exportation. However, the beekeepers can see their production affected by the attack of a parasite, the Varroa acari, which feeds on hemolymph of the bees.
Atlantic tuna quotas unchanged for 2014
Annual fishing quotas for bluefin tuna in the East Atlantic and Mediterranean will remain unchanged in 2014, an international meeting on tuna fishing decided Monday, despite stiff opposition from Japan.
Monitoring endangered species to extinction
Three leading Australian environmental scientists have called for a substantial change to the way the world responds to wildlife that is going extinct.
CSI for invasive species
(Phys.org) —Several Canadian biologists, including two at Simon Fraser University, are breathing a collective sigh of relief after learning that a monstrous fish found in a Burnaby, B.C. pond is not a northern snakehead.
Lazarus frog resurrection in Time's Top 25
A UNSW-led team of Australian researchers who succeeded in growing cloned embryos containing the DNA of an extinct frog has been named in Time magazine's top 25 inventions for 2013.
Plenty of fish in the sea? Seabird breeding highlights impact of commercial fisheries in the North Sea
New research led by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) shows that the UK's internationally important seabird populations are being affected by fishing activities in the North Sea. Levels of seabird breeding failure were higher in years when a greater proportion of the North Sea's sandeels, important prey for seabirds, was commercially fished.
Galapagos cormorant threatened by climate change
The effects of climate change in the Galápagos Islands are posing a severe threat to one of the world's rarest seabirds, a decade-long historical study led by a University of Queensland researcher has revealed.
The evolution of personality
Reintroduction programs are key initiatives for re-establishing or re-stocking animal populations, and while some are successful, many, unfortunately, are not.
Startling genetic similarity in tammar wallabies
A national genome study into island populations of the tammar wallaby has revealed a startling level of genetic similarity between males on Garden Island.
Astonishing diversity of western Australian sponge species uncovered with molecular technology
The immense diversity of sponge species in West Australian waters has been celebrated at the 9th World Sponge Conference earlier this month.
Viruses are as simple as they are "smart"
Viruses are as simple as they are "smart": too elementary to be able to reproduce by themselves, they exploit the reproductive "machinery" of cells, by inserting pieces of their own DNA so that it is transcribed by the host cell. To do this, they first have to inject their own genetic material into the cells they infect. An international team of researchers, including Cristian Micheletti from SISSA (the International School for Advanced Studies in Trieste), has studied how this occurs and how long it takes for this process to be completed.
Fighting invasive giant salvinia with weevils
Texas A&M AgriLife scientists are seeing significant areas of giant salvinia destroyed by salvinia-eating weevils at Caddo Lake on the Texas-Louisiana border as part of a project evaluating management of the invasive plant, according to scientists.
Two new beautiful wasp species of the rare genus Abernessia
Two new beautiful wasp species are added to the rare pompilid genus Abernessia, which now contains a total of only four known species. The two new species A. prima and A. capixaba are believed to be endemic for Brazil alongside the rest of the representatives of the genus. Both wasps are distinguished by the large size (almost 3cm in length) and the beautiful black color with metallic shine typical for the family. The study was published in the open access journal ZooKeys.
Chromosomes show off their shapes
Chromosomes – the 46 tightly-wrapped packages of genetic material in our cells – are iconically depicted as X-shaped formations. However, those neat X's only appear when a cell is about to divide and the entire contents of its genome duplicated. Until now researchers have not been able to get a good picture of the way that our DNA – some two meters of strands all told – is neatly bundled into the nucleus while enabling day-to-day (non-dividing) gene activity. A combination of new techniques for sequencing DNA in individual chromosomes and analyzing data from thousands of measurements has given us a new picture of the 3-D structures of chromosomes. This method, the result of an international collaboration, which was recently reported in Nature, promises to help researchers understand the basic processes by which gene expression is regulated and genome stability maintained.
The collared treerunner is more than a single species
The lowland tropics were once though filled with widespread species, while moderate and higher elevations were thought to contain species with more restricted distributions. That idea is turning out to be partially incorrect. Widespread species now appear to be the exception, instead of the rule. A new study describes four species once considered to be the collared treerunner, a lizard known to the scientific community as Plica plica. The study was published in the open access journal ZooKeys.
A plant which acclimatizes with no exterior influence
Plants have a love-hate relationship with sunlight. While some wavelengths are indispensable to them for performing photosynthesis, others, such as UV-B, are deleterious. Therefore, plants are equipped to detect these highly toxic rays and mount their defences. A team led by Roman Ulm, Professor at the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, has generated a transgenic plant which acclimatises constitutively, regardless of the level of UV-B.
A touch of garlic helps kill contaminants in baby formula
Garlic may be bad for your breath, but it's good for your baby, according to a new study from the University of British Columbia.
WTO backs EU in seal ban battle with Canada and Norway
The WTO on Monday ruled in favour of the European Union in a bitter battle with Canada and Norway over its ban on the import and sale of seal products.
How the early embryo changes shape
(Phys.org) —In research published today in Nature Cell Biology, scientists from the EMBL Australia research team based at Monash University's Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) have revealed new insights into how cells organise and form an early mammalian embryo.
Inner workings of cyanobacteria caught on video
Cyanobacteria, found in just about every ecosystem on Earth, are one of the few bacteria that can create their own energy through photosynthesis and "fix" carbon – from carbon dioxide molecules – and convert it into fuel inside of miniscule compartments called carboxysomes. Using a pioneering visualization method, researchers from the University of California, Berkeley and the Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (DOE JGI) made what are, in effect, movies of this complex and vital cellular machinery being assembled inside living cells. They observed that bacteria build these internal compartments in a way never seen in plant, animal and other eukaryotic cells.
Chinese scientists reveal the genomic enigma of desert poplar
In a collaborative study, researchers from Lanzhou University, BGI and other institutes have succeeded in unraveling the whole genome sequence of desert poplar, Populus euphratica, and the genetic bases underlying poplar to against salt stress. This work provides new insights for understanding the genetic basis of tree adaptation to salt stress and facilitating the genetic breeding of cultivated poplars for saline fields. The research results have been published online in Nature Communications.
Researchers in Spain to attempt to clone extinct mountain goat
(Phys.org) —A team of researchers in Spain, with the Centre for Research and Food Technology of Aragon, has signed an agreement with the Aragon Hunting Federation (which they announced to the press) to begin testing the possibility of cloning a mountain goat that went extinct back in 2000.
Two-way traffic enable proteins to get where needed, avoid disease
It turns out that your messenger RNA may catch more than one ride to get where it's going.
Scientists re-imagine how genomes are assembled
Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) have developed a new method for piecing together the short DNA reads produced by next-generation sequencing technologies that are the basis for building complete genome sequences. Job Dekker, PhD, and colleagues have shown that entire genomes can be assembled faster and more accurately by measuring the frequency of interactions between DNA segments and by using their three-dimensional shape as a guide. Employing this technique, they have been able to place 65 previously unaccounted for DNA fragments in incomplete regions of the human genome.
New tales told by old infections
Retroviruses are important pathogens capable of crossing species barriers to infect new hosts, but knowledge of their evolutionary history is limited. By mapping endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), retroviruses whose genes have become part of the host organism's genome, researchers at Uppsala University, Sweden, can now provide unique insights into the evolutionary relationships of retroviruses and their host species. The findings will be published in a coming issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Researchers find misfolded proteins are capable of forming tree-like aggregates
A method by Rice University researchers to model the way proteins fold – and sometimes misfold – has revealed branching behavior that may have implications for Alzheimer's and other aggregation diseases.
How scavenging fungi became a plant's best friend
Glomeromycota is an ancient lineage of fungi that has a symbiotic relationship with roots that goes back nearly 420 million years to the earliest plants. More than two thirds of the world's plants depend on this soil-dwelling symbiotic fungus to survive, including critical agricultural crops such as wheat, cassava, and rice. The analysis of the Rhizophagus irregularis genome has revealed that this asexual fungus doesn't shuffle its genes the way researchers expected. Moreover, rather than having lost much of its metabolic genes, as observed in many mutualistic organisms, it has expanded its range of cell-to-cell communication genes and phosphorus-capturing genes.
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