Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for November 7, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Photon-plasmon nanowire laser offers new opportunities in light manipulation- The glial menagerie: From simple beginnings to staggering complexity
- Researchers use inkblots to improve security of online passwords
- Hubble sees asteroid spouting six comet-like tails
- Scientists identify clue to regrowing nerve cells
- Researchers build muscle in diseased mice, create human muscle cells in a dish
- Breakthrough discoveries on cellular regeneration seek to turn back the body's clock
- Tricking algae's biological clock boosts production of drugs, biofuels
- One worm, two mouths: Devious evolutionary path between genetics and environment
- Twitter sets IPO price at $26, will raise $1.8B
- Third fire in Tesla Model S reported
- Scientists say new approach to climate preparedness essential to help people adjust to coming changes
- Researchers answer century old question about 3D structure of mitotic chromosomes
- Plant cell architecture: Growth toward a light source
- Wireless device converts 'lost' energy into electric power
Space & Earth news
Image: 3C 397: An unusual galactic supernova remnant
3C 397 (also known as G41.1-0.3) is a Galactic supernova remnant with an unusual shape.
Indian Mars mission leader criticised over temple visit
The head of India's space agency, basking in plaudits after the launch of the country's first voyage to Mars, was brought down to earth Thursday by criticism of his decision to seek divine blessing for the mission.
The latest Kepler Orrery video
If you've ever wanted to know what 3,538 exoplanets look like spinning around their stars, here you go!
Final flight, first sight
Bert Pasquale's father took him to see a shuttle launch when Bert was a teenager. Now an optical engineer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., and internationally recognized photographer, Pasquale took his then 5-year-old son to see the last shuttle launch hoping to instill in him the same connection with space he had felt as a youth.
Advanced technologies for tracing waste electrical and electronic equipment
Every year, Europe alone produces nine million tonnes of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). In spite of legislation already in place, less than 40 percent of this is treated according to legal and environmental requirements.
DOE awards $84M for 18 carbon-capture projects
The Energy Department has awarded $84 million to 18 projects across the country to help limit carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants.
Sightings of fiery streak across S. Calif. sky
Southern Californians from Santa Barbara to San Diego have reported seeing a fireball that forecasters said was most likely a meteor streaking across the sky.
New video shows arrival of Webb telescope 'Super-eye' at NASA
A new NASA video gives viewers an up close view of the arrival of the James Webb Space Telescope's "Super-eye."
Researchers estimate number of future heat wave related deaths
A study conducted by researchers at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University predicts an average of over 2,000 heat wave related deaths per year in 2057 – 2059.
A testing time for Galileo satellites headed to space
Europe's next pair of Galileo satellites have been the focus of a busy autumn at ESA's technical centre in the Netherlands, continuing a full-scale campaign to ensure their readiness for space.
Chelyabinsk meteor explosion a 'wake-up call', scientists warn
Three studies have revealed details of the meteor that exploded above Russian city, Chelyabinsk, in February this year.
It's like a party in the atmosphere
Ever attend a wild party with flashing lights and loud music that snowballs into a dazzling moment worth remembering? That's something like how scientists describe the chain reactions in our atmosphere that lead to lightning. In September, researchers began using the International Space Station as a platform to study the mysterious cosmic catalyst and consequence of lightning, which may actually have origins more explosive than you might guess.
If a tree falls in Brazil…? Amazon deforestation could mean droughts for western US
In research meant to highlight how the destruction of the Amazon rainforest could affect climate elsewhere, Princeton University-led researchers report that the total deforestation of the Amazon may significantly reduce rain and snowfall in the western United States, resulting in water and food shortages, and a greater risk of forest fires.
NASA satellites see Super-Typhoon Haiyan lashing the Philippines
Super-Typhoon Haiyan was lashing the central and southern Philippines on Nov. 7 bringing maximum sustained winds of a Category 5 hurricane. NASA is providing visible, infrared and microwave satellite data to forecasters and warnings are in effect for the Philippines and Micronesia as Haiyan moves west.
NOAA: No giant floating island of tsunami debris
Federal officials say there is no island of debris from the 2011 Japanese tsunami floating toward the United States.
Researchers suggest plan to address hypoxia in Gulf of Mexico
Despite a 12-year action plan calling for reducing the hypoxia zone in the Gulf of Mexico, little progress has been made, and there is no evidence that nutrient loading to the Gulf has decreased during this period. University of Illinois researchers have identified some of the biophysical and social barriers to progress and propose a way forward.
Olympic torch blasts into space for 1st spacewalk
A Russian rocket soared into the cosmos Thursday carrying the Sochi Olympic torch and three astronauts to the International Space Station ahead of the first-ever spacewalk for the symbol of peace.
Russia launches Sochi Olympic torch into space
Russia on Thursday launched into space a trio of Russian, Japanese and US astronauts carrying an unlit Olympic torch that will for the first time be taken on a spacewalk to mark the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi.
Asteroid Vesta's mysterious olivine
(Phys.org) —Just when scientists thought they had a tidy theory for how the giant asteroid Vesta formed, a new paper from NASA's Dawn mission suggests the history is more complicated.
Black holes don't make a big splash
(Phys.org) —Throughout our universe, tucked inside galaxies far, far away, giant black holes are pairing up and merging. As the massive bodies dance around each other in close embraces, they send out gravitational waves that ripple space and time themselves, even as the waves pass right through our planet Earth.
Rare new microbe found in two distant clean rooms
(Phys.org) —A rare, recently discovered microbe that survives on very little to eat has been found in two places on Earth: spacecraft clean rooms in Florida and South America.
Hubble sees asteroid spouting six comet-like tails
(Phys.org) —Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have identified what they can only describe as a never-before-seen "weird and freakish object" in the asteroid belt that looks like a rotating lawn sprinkler.
Scientists say new approach to climate preparedness essential to help people adjust to coming changes
Changes are already happening to Earth's climate due to the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and large-scale agriculture. As changes get more pronounced, people everywhere will have to adjust. In this week's issue of the journal Science, an international group of researchers urge the development of science needed to manage climate risks and capitalize on unexpected opportunities.
GRAIL mission puts a new face on the moon
(Phys.org) —Scientists using data from the lunar-orbiting twins of NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission are gaining new insight into how the face of the moon received its rugged good looks. A report on the asymmetric distribution of lunar impact basins is published in this week's edition of the journal Science.
Technology news
Twitter appeal wanes in parts of Asia
Too open. Too crowded. Too difficult. That's why some Twitter users in South Korea and Japan say they are spending less time on the site or have quit for other services.
UNL professor says Twitter may soar post-IPO, but many firms don't
As Twitter embarks upon an initial public offering that is projected to raise some $1.7 billion for the social media company, it walks past a veritable graveyard of dead IPO companies.
Athlete tracker takes home grand prize
A small but revolutionary motion sensor worn by athletes has scored a big win in this year's European Satellite Navigation Competition. Proposed by the ESA Business Incubation Centre start-up company Kinexon, it provides accurate, realtime information on an athlete's condition.
Tech Tips: Getting started with Twitter
With Twitter in the news because of a public stock offering, you might be deciding it's finally time to start tweeting.
Fish packaging with built-in nose
From the outside you can't see whether supermarket fish is still fresh. Once you remove the plastic foil it's immediately obvious how fresh it is, but by then it has already reached your kitchen. PhD candidate Jenneke Heising is working on packaging with a built-in nose that tells your smartphone how fresh the fish is, before you buy it.
NTU and Sentosa launch Singapore's first tidal turbine system at Sentosa Boardwalk
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has built Singapore's first tidal turbine system to test the viability of tapping tidal energy to generate electricity here.
Facebook to open office near Harvard campus
Facebook has announced that it plans to open a Boston-area office in suburban Cambridge, a couple of miles from the Harvard University dorm room where it was founded.
Marvel to create new superhero shows for Netflix
Netflix is joining forces with Disney's Marvel to bring several new superhero shows to the streaming Internet TV service, the companies announced Thursday.
Man pleads guilty to playing key drug site role
A Utah man has pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge for his role in an online black market known as the Silk Road that authorities say brokered more than $1 billion in transactions.
Exploring public perceptions of future wearable computing
As scientists develop the next wave of smartwatches and other wearable computing, they might want to continue focusing their attention on the arms and the wrists. According to a recent Georgia Tech study, portable electronic devices placed on the collar, torso, waist or pants may cause awkwardness, embarrassment or strange looks.
Lenovo profit up 36 percent as mobile grows
Lenovo Group, the biggest personal computer maker, said Thursday its latest quarterly profit rose 36 percent as sales of smartphones and tablet computers more than doubled.
Deutsche Telekom adds more US customers
Telephone company Deutsche Telekom said Thursday it made a net profit of 588 million euros ($793 million) in the third quarter as it continued to add customers at T-Mobile USA.
Wastewater technology to assist nuclear clean-up
West Australian researchers have developed an advanced water decontamination process that turns toxic wastewater into near rainwater quality and which they believe could help Japan in its extensive clean-up of nuclear contaminated waters.
Researchers re-create landmark 17th century cathedral, speech in virtual space
(Phys.org) —Researchers at North Carolina State University have combined scholarship and new technologies to re-create the courtyard of St. Paul's Cathedral in London as it stood in 1622, as well as a historic sermon made by poet John Donne in the courtyard. The project, which is a significant research tool for history, literature and religion scholars, is available online and can also be viewed in a state-of-the-art theater that offers a 270-degree view of the courtyard with high-fidelity acoustics.
FBI wants hacker who helped catch cheating lovers (Update)
Catching a cheating lover online using commercial spyware seems to be easier than nabbing the hacker behind it.
The shape of things to come
In his State of the Union address in February, President Obama told the American people that 3-D printing has the "potential to revolutionize the way we make almost everything."
#TwitterIPO a huge hit on Wall Street (Update 3)
Twitter debuted on Wall Street with a bang Thursday as shares in the fast-growing social network soared amid investor frenzy over the most-anticipated listing since Facebook.
Brazil, Germany debut UN Web privacy resolution (Update 2)
Brazil and Germany formally presented a resolution to the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday urging all countries to extend internationally guaranteed rights to privacy to the Internet and other electronic communications.
Fukushima plant readies for delicate fuel rod removal
Nuclear engineers in Japan are preparing to move uranium and plutonium fuel rods at Fukushima, their most difficult and dangerous task since the plant's runaway reactors were brought under control two years ago.
Singapore PM's website hacked by Anonymous
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's official website was hacked Thursday by apparent members of activist group Anonymous after he vowed to hunt down anyone who attacks the city-state's technological network.
Microsoft makes IE 11 browser work for Windows 7
Microsoft Corp. said Thursday that it has made its latest browser, Internet Explorer 11, available to users of Windows 7 machines.
Brazil orders Google to hand over Street View data
Brazilian judges have given US Internet search giant Google until Saturday to turn over private data collected through its Street View program, press reports said Thursday.
Internet Archive asks for donations after fire
The Internet Archive, known for its "Wayback Machine" which keeps websites even after they are shut down, is asking for donations after a fire damaged its scanning center.
Dark Web bazaar Silk Road touts reopening
Silk Road, the online black market bazaar for drugs, hacker tools and other illicit goods, says it is back a month after the FBI took down the website.
Twitter sets IPO price at $26, will raise $1.8B
Twitter has set a price of $26 per share for its initial public offering, which means the company's stock can begin trading Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange in the most highly anticipated IPO since Facebook's 2012 debut.
Researchers use inkblots to improve security of online passwords
Carnegie Mellon University computer scientists have developed a new password system that incorporates inkblots to provide an extra measure of protection when, as so often occurs, lists of passwords get stolen from websites.
Third fire in Tesla Model S reported
A Tesla Model S electric car caught fire this week after hitting road debris on a Tennessee freeway, the third fire in a Model S in the past five weeks.
Neck tattoo patent filing from Motorola targets improved sound
(Phys.org) —Motorola's vision of wearables extends beyond watches and spectacles into new consumer territory that would involve people wearing tattoos on their skin as supportive communication tools with their devices to improve sound. In this instance, according to a patent filing, Motorola is thinking in terms of a tattoo that is worn on the person's throat.
Medicine & Health news
Bisphenol A is affecting us at much lower doses than previously thought
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a known endocrine disruptor that hijacks the normal responses of hormones. Yet, traditional toxicology studies indicate that only very high doses of this chemical affect exposed animals—doses as high as 50 mg/kg/day. For the past decade, scientists have used modern scientific techniques to probe the effects of BPA on numerous endpoints that are not examined in those traditional toxicology studies. Examining these non-traditional endpoints reveal a very different story. Because of increased understanding of the mechanisms by which hormones and chemicals that mimic hormones work, it has recently become clear that endocrine disruptors need to be studied at much lower doses.
New study assesses injuries seen in the emergency department to children of teenage parents
Although the number of children born to teenage parents has decreased since the 1990s, these children continue to be at an increased risk for injury, both accidental and intentional. This may be because many of these teenage parents are poor, uneducated, and lack parental safety and supervision skills. In a new study scheduled for publication in The Journal of Pediatrics, researchers analyzed the types of injuries to children of teenage parents.
Do food blogs serve as a source of nutritionally balanced recipes?
More people are cooking at home, and more people are finding their recipes online via food blogs. The photos of dishes posted on the blogs, however, may attract potential cooks more than the nutritional value of the recipes. In addition, many food companies sponsor these sites, so the recipes become advertisements for their products. This has the potential to change the healthfulness of the recipes.
Better tests needed to improve patient care, public health
Despite advances in diagnostic technology, there is an urgent need for tests that are easy to use, identify the bug causing an infection and provide results faster than current tests, according to a report from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) published today in a special supplement to Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Paralyzed deer hunter chooses to end life support
Tim Bowers got to decide for himself whether he wanted to live or die.
Senators urge Obama to delay parts of health law
Concerned Senate Democrats urged President Barack Obama to extend the enrollment period for his misfiring health care law, during a meeting at the White House on Wednesday.
Fighting prejudice by admitting it
"Every single person in this room is prejudiced," said Gail Price-Wise to the more than 100 people assembled in the Student Organization Center at Hilles. With that provocative opening salvo, Price-Wise spent the next 2½ hours explaining why everyone makes prejudicial judgments, and what to do about it.
Violence in jails and prisons can inflict lasting trauma on victims
Ashley Schappell remembers hearing about the prisoner who was beaten and stomped by a fellow inmate in the cafeteria before his attacker poured a scalding pot of coffee on his head. Other inmates described random fights that culminated in stabbings.
Research tackles liver transplant failure
The re-infection of transplanted livers with hepatitis C virus (HCV) – which can irreparably damage the new organ - could be halted by administering a drug which blocks the virus entering the liver, research from the University of Birmingham being presented at the Liver Meeting demonstrates.
Health care workers trained on Rx drug abuse
(Medical Xpress)—A Colorado health care training course designed to curb prescription drug abuse, reports preliminary data that state-wide chronic pain prescription practices are changing since first offering the training a year ago. The indication that prescription practices are changing is a positive step toward addressing national concern for opioid drug dependency.
Tree nut consumption associated with reduced risk of pancreatic cancer in women
In a large prospective study published online in the British Journal of Cancer, researchers looked at the association between nut consumption and risk of pancreatic cancer among 75,680 women in the Nurses' Health Study, with no previous history of cancer. Consumption of nuts, including tree nuts (such as almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts), was inversely associated with risk of pancreatic cancer, independent of other potential risk factors for pancreatic cancer.
Consuming more vegetable protein may help kidney disease patients live longer
Increased consumption of vegetable protein was linked with prolonged survival among kidney disease patients in a new a study. The findings will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2013 November 5-10 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA.
New approaches to assessing and protecting kidney health
A variety of recent studies highlight new approaches to assessing and protecting kidney health. Below are the findings of some of these studies, which are being presented at ASN Kidney Week 2013 November 5-10 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA.
George Magovern, US heart surgery pioneer, dies
Dr. George Magovern, a Pittsburgh cardiovascular surgeon who pioneered artificial heart valves, has died. He was 89.
Obesity may limit overall function two years after shoulder replacement surgery
Patients with obesity undergo a disproportionately higher number of elective orthopaedic surgeries in the U.S. Obesity has been linked to higher costs, complications, infections and revisions in total knee and total hip replacement surgeries. In a new study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, researchers looked at the impact of obesity on the costs and outcomes of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) surgery.
Vitamin C could ease muscle fatigue in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease—a health problem in which the lungs lose their inherent springiness, making it progressively harder to breathe—can have a dramatic effect on the ability to exercise and even perform simple activities of daily life because of the disease's fallout effects on skeletal muscles. Several factors have been implicated in these muscle problems. These include loss of fitness from inactivity, problems with the part of cells that convert fuel to energy caused by the COPD itself, and oxidative stress, a phenomenon in which cells and tissues become damaged by unstable molecules called free radicals that harm other molecules in domino-like chain reactions. Some research suggests that easing oxidative stress could improve skeletal muscle function.
Online course improves physicians skill level for detecting skin cancer
Primary care physicians who took an online training course about skin cancer detection significantly improved their skill to properly diagnose and manage benign and malignant lesions, according to a national study from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
Pregnant woman with limited English speaking skills find comfort in prenatal support groups
Far away from home and family, pregnant Japanese women who met with each other for prenatal group visits felt less anxious and better prepared for childbirth and motherhood, says a new University of Michigan Health System study.
For obese teen girls, aerobic exercise may trump resistance training in health benefits
Obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the United States in the past 30 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The growing rate of childhood obesity is a major health concern since overweight and obese youth are at increased risk of developing several diseases once considered reserved for adults. These new pediatric diseases include type-2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition in which fat builds up in the liver, potentially impairing its function over time. Although both diet and exercise have been considered as first lines to treat childhood obesity, SoJung Lee of the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and her colleagues recently showed that when obese adolescent boys increased physical activity alone, they improved several markers of health. These include reducing total fat, fat packed around organs in the abdomen (known as visceral fat, a risk factor for diabetes), and liver fat, and improving fitness of their heart and lungs.
Less-invasive option as effective as esophagus removal in early esophageal cancer
Use of a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure to remove superficial, early stage esophageal cancer is as effective as surgery that takes out and rebuilds the esophagus, according to a study by researchers at Mayo Clinic in Florida. The research, published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, examined national outcomes from endoscopic treatment compared to esophagectomy, surgical removal of the esophagus.
Hospitalized patients with acute kidney injury may not be receiving sufficient care after discharge
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is the most common in-hospital diagnosis seen by US nephrologists, but patients with the condition may not be receiving sufficient follow-up care. That's the conclusion of a study that will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2013 November 5-10 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA.
Weight loss surgery effective in kidney disease patients, but side effects are high
Kidney disease patients who undergo weight loss surgery can successfully lose weight, but many experience significant side effects, according to a study that will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2013 November 5-10 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA.
Prevalence of kidney failure treatment is skyrocketing worldwide
The prevalence of dialysis therapy for kidney failure is increasing much faster than population growth in most parts of the world, according to a new study. The findings, which will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2013 November 5-10 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA, highlight the importance of early detection and treatment of kidney disease.
US court rules lesbian egg donor has parent rights
The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that a woman who donated an egg to her lesbian partner has parental rights to the child, and on Thursday it ordered a lower court to determine custody and visitation rights.
Salix Pharma will buy Santarus for $2.12 billion
Salix Pharmaceuticals will buy Santarus for about $2.12 billion to add to its roster of drugs.
Common diabetes drug fails to fulfill promise of improving cardiovascular risk in people without diabetes
Despite high expectations for the commonly used diabetes drug metformin to improve risk factors for heart disease in people without diabetes, few beneficial effects have been found in a randomised trial of patients with established cardiovascular disease, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
Common genetic pathway could be conduit to pediatric tumor treatment
Investigators at Johns Hopkins have found a known genetic pathway to be active in many difficult-to-treat pediatric brain tumors called low-grade gliomas, potentially offering a new target for the treatment of these cancers.
Three 'hands on' nutrition classes: Enough to impact health behaviors in lower income women
The knowledge and skills required to change poor nutrition and health behavior choices are often unavailable to those living with financial limitations. Competing demands on time and resources may pose obstacles to their achieving better diets. However, two researchers at the University of Minnesota recently completed a study that looked at the effects that three educational sessions might have on knowledge and behaviors of 118 low-income women of ethnically diverse backgrounds.
Defining allergy fact from fiction
From gluten allergy and hypoallergenic pets, to avoiding the flu shot because of an egg allergy, there are a lot of common myths and misconceptions about allergies. Many might be shocking due to a great deal of false information in the media and on the Internet. And some of the misconceptions can be damaging to your health if vaccinations are skipped and extreme dietary avoidances are taken.
Living through war leads to in-group solidarity
War experiences have a long-term effect on human psychology, shifting people's motivations toward greater equality for members of their own group, according to research forthcoming in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
IVF conception doesn't seem to raise kids' cancer risk, study finds
(HealthDay)—In a reassuring new finding, there appears to be no extra cancer risk among children born after assisted conception.
Dolutegravir plus abacavir-lamivudine beats combo therapy
(HealthDay)—For patients with HIV-1 infection and HIV-1 RNA of 1,000 copies per mL or more, treatment with dolutegravir plus abacavir-lamivudine (DTG-ABC-3TC) is more effective through 48 weeks than combination therapy with efavirenz-tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (DF)-emtricitabine (EFV-TDF-FTC), according to a study published in the Nov. 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Researcher seeks to help those who can't speak for themselves
When people appear comatose, how can we know their wishes?
UB's anti-bullying expert says bystanders can make a difference
The Miami Dolphins scandal raises questions about the role that bystanders who may witness bullying can play, says Amanda B. Nickerson, PhD, director of the Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention at the University at Buffalo.
Poultry scientists link enzyme level to green muscle disease
(Medical Xpress)—After more than a decade of research into an increasingly common and costly broiler condition known as green muscle disease, a team of poultry scientists at Auburn University has identified a blood enzyme that could give breeders a noninvasive tool to screen birds for susceptibility to the disease.
Zebrafish shown to be useful tool in prostate cancer stem cell research
(Medical Xpress)—Research from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey demonstrates that using zebrafish to identify self-renewing tumor stem cells in prostate cancers may be more beneficial than using traditional experimental models when aiming to predict response to therapy.
Grandiose narcissism reflects U.S. presidents' bright and dark sides
Narcissus, the physically flawless character of Greek mythology who wound up falling in love with his own reflection, hardly seems like a good role model. For those dreaming of becoming president of the United States, however, some narcissistic traits may be worth fostering, suggests an analysis by Emory psychologists.
New procedure to revolutionise blood pressure treatment
Final results of a Monash-led three-year clinical trial assessing a novel procedure to treat blood pressure has been published today in the prestigious journal, The Lancet.
Scientists identify genetic link between language impairment and autism
(Medical Xpress)—In the first molecular genetic study of families with a history of both language impairment and autism, scientists may have uncovered a shared origin for the two conditions, an important step toward explaining why some cases of autism are accompanied by language difficulties and others are not. The study, a collaboration of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital with experts at Rutgers University, indicates that a disorder called specific language impairment—one of the most common developmental delays in children—may be caused by the same genetic variants that lead to language difficulties in some children with autism. The findings are published Oct. 30 in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Researchers develop at-home 3D video game for stroke patients
Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have developed a therapeutic at-home gaming program for stroke patients who experience motor weakness affecting 80 percent of survivors.
Research studies the performance of blood thinners in the elderly
(Medical Xpress)—The line between effective and harmful is a thin one when it comes to the choice of blood thinners in seniors, says new research by Yan Xu, a third year undergraduate medical student at Queen's, Dr. Ana Johnson, a professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences, and Dr. Chris Simpson, Head of the Division of Cardiology in the Department of Medicine.
Study supports need for more control over prescribed drugs for youths
(Medical Xpress)—Teens who are prescribed pain relievers, such as Vicodin and OxyContin, are at "notable risk" for abusing opioid drugs, says a University of Michigan researcher.
Study finds that Americans want doctors' guidance on genetic test results
In an era of commercialized medicine, direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing has been on a steady rise. Consumers can purchase a DNA sample kit, also known as a "spit kit," mail it to a testing company, and wait for an email that reveals their genetic risk for disorders like heart disease and colon cancer. However, a new Yale study reveals that members of the public, as well as physician groups, are concerned about individuals interpreting these risks without the help of a doctor.
US to ban artery-clogging trans fats (Update 2)
The U.S., Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday it will require the food industry to gradually phase out artificial trans fats, saying they are a threat to Americans' health. Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said the move could prevent 20,000 heart attacks and 7,000 deaths each year.
Bath scientists find clues to dementia and Parkinson's
A research team from our Department of Biology and Biochemistry has identified a possible target to reduce the levels of a protein called alpha-synuclein – linked to both Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.
Families on food assistance buying fewer full-fat dairy products
(Medical Xpress)—Efforts to reduce consumption of saturated fat among women and young children receiving food assistance appear to be paying off, according to a study by the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity.
Workplace discrimination compromises health of sexual minorities
As Congress debates a bill that would end employment discrimination based on sexual orientation—perhaps as early as this week—University of Michigan School of Public Health researchers offer further evidence of workplace discrimination and its impact on the health of young sexual minorities.
Lack of protein drives overeating
(Medical Xpress)—Humans' instinctive appetite for protein is so powerful that we are driven to continue eating until we get the right amount of protein, even if it means consuming far more energy than we need, according to new research from the University of Sydney's Charles Perkins Centre.
Cancer drug developed at University of Bath begins trials
Trials are beginning for Irosustat, a drug pioneered here at the University, which could prolong the lives of thousands of women with advanced breast cancer.
Problems continue with inappropriate prescription of antipsychotic drugs
Low-dose, antipsychotic medications are continuing to be widely prescribed, a new analysis suggests, even though it's likely many of the prescriptions are for conditions where there's weak evidence of their effectiveness and serious risks remain.
Effects of segregation negatively impact health
St. Louis remains one of the most segregated cities in the United States, as recently discussed in a BBC documentary highlighting the "Delmar Divide" as an example. It is an issue of pressing concern in a policy brief titled "Segregation: Divided Cities Lead to Differences in Health," explaining how segregation affects access to health-promoting resources and health outcomes such as chronic disease and death.
Research identifies potential link between macrophage response and chronic inflammatory disease
Tiny cells which have the ability to trigger the body's immune responses could be crucial to research into a number of chronic medical conditions, scientists have suggested.
Popular 'Door-in-the-Face' persuasion strategy can sometimes backfire, study shows
(Medical Xpress)—A manipulation strategy often used in marketing and fundraising known as "Door-in-the-Face" could backfire among less concrete thinkers, according to new research from The University of Texas at Austin.
Getting to grips with seizure prediction
A device that could predict when a person with epilepsy might next have a seizure is one step closer to reality thanks to the development of software by researchers in the USA. Details are to be published in a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Data Mining and Bioinformatics.
New associations between genes and metabolic markers
In two comprehensive studies, scientists from the Helmholtz Zentrum München (HMGU), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) and Technische Universität München (TUM) have discovered new associations of two major type 2 diabetes risk genotypes and altered plasma concentrations of metabolic products. The "Virtual Institute Diabetes" (VID) joint research cooperation is thereby making an important contribution towards explaining the genetic and molecular basis of diabetes, a widespread disease. The results have been published in the journals PLOS ONE and Metabolomics.
New recommendations in the fight against heart disease
In the context of rising obesity and heart disease in the first world, the International Atherosclerosis Society (IAS) has released a position paper updating the Global Recommendations for the Management of Dyslipidemia.
Oxygen levels in tumours affect response to treatment
(Medical Xpress)—The genetic make-up of a patient's tumour could be used to personalise their treatment, and help to decide whether they would benefit from receiving additional drugs as part of their radiotherapy programme, according to a recent study involving scientists from the Manchester Cancer Research Centre.
Clotting protein hardens aging hearts: Researchers link von Willebrand factor to heart-valve calcium deposits
Heart valves calcify over time, and Rice University scientists are beginning to understand why.
BPA in dialysis machine components may be toxic to patients' cells
Levels of bisphenol A (BPA) in components of dialysis machines may be toxic to the immune cells circulating in kidney failure patients' blood, according to a study that will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2013 November 5-10 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA.
Robots from space lead to one-stop breast cancer diagnosis treatment
We may not be driving flying cars to work yet, but that doesn't mean we don't have a lot to be excited about from technology advances related to the space age. Instead of zipping past traffic jams, International Space Station-derived robotic capabilities are giving us a fast pass to life-saving surgical techniques with cancer-fighting finesse.
New study shows trustworthy people are perceived to look similar to ourselves
When a person is deemed trustworthy, we perceive that person's face to be more similar to our own, according to a new study published in Psychological Science.
Research shows that the more chocolate you eat, the lower your body fat level is
University of Granada researchers from the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences have scientifically disproven the old belief that eating chocolate is fattening. In an article published this week in the journal Nutrition, the authors have shown that higher consumption of chocolate is associated with lower levels of total fat (fat deposited all over the body) and central fat (abdominal), independently of whether or not the individual participates in regular physical activity and of diet, among other factors.
Calcium and vitamin D improve bone density in patients taking antiepileptic drugs
A recent prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial reports that calcium and vitamin D supplementation improves bone density in a group of male veterans with epilepsy who were treated chronically with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). The results published in Epilepsia, a journal of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), suggest that risedronate, a bisphosphonate, may help to prevent new vertebral fractures when taken with calcium and vitamin D supplementation.
France okays home tests for HIV
Self-testing HIV kits will go on sale in France next year under a strategy aimed at reducing the spread of the virus causing AIDS, Health Minister Marisol Touraine said on Thursday.
Study identifies mechanism that makes ordinary stem cells create tumors
A new study from the Ostrow School of Dentistry published in Cell Stem Cell illustrates how changes in cell signaling can cause ordinary stem cells in the jaw to start forming benign but potentially harmful tumors.
New driver of breast cancer discovered
A team of researchers at UT Southwestern has found that as cholesterol is metabolized, a potent stimulant of breast cancer is created – one that fuels estrogen-receptor positive breast cancers, and that may also defeat a common treatment strategy for those cancers.
Scientists ask, did inefficient cellular machinery evolve to fight viruses and jumping genes?
It might seem obvious that humans are elegant and sophisticated beings in comparison to lowly bacteria, but when it comes to genes, a UC San Francisco scientist wants to turn conventional wisdom about human and bacterial evolution on its head.
Researchers regrow hair, cartilage, bone, soft tissues
Young animals are known to repair their tissues effortlessly, but can this capacity be recaptured in adults? A new study from researchers at the Stem Cell Program at Boston Children's Hospital suggests that it can. By reactivating a dormant gene called Lin28a, which is active in embryonic stem cells, researchers were able to regrow hair and repair cartilage, bone, skin and other soft tissues in a mouse model.
Social symptoms in autistic children may be caused by hyper-connected neurons
The brains of children with autism show more connections than the brains of typically developing children do. What's more, the brains of individuals with the most severe social symptoms are also the most hyper-connected. The findings reported in two independent studies published in the Cell Press journal Cell Reports on November 7th are challenge the prevailing notion in the field that autistic brains are lacking in neural connections.
HPV can damage genes and chromosomes directly, whole-genome sequencing study shows
The virus that causes cervical, head and neck, anal and other cancers can damage chromosomes and genes where it inserts its DNA into human DNA, according to a new study led by researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James).
Alcohol ads reaching too many young people in TV markets across the US
In twenty-five of the largest television markets in the U.S., almost 1 in 4 alcohol advertisements on a sample of national TV programs most popular with youth exceeded the alcohol industry's voluntary standards, according to researchers from the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Female doctors twice as likely to screen low-risk women for cervical cancer with HPV test
For low-risk women, the likelihood that they get tested for the infection that causes cervical cancer (human papillomavirus or HPV) may depend on what clinic they visit, their doctor's status and whether their provider is male or female, a University of Michigan Health System study shows.
No trans fat? Americans won't taste the difference
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration officially banned artificial trans fats this week. But food in America probably won't taste much differently than it does today.
Aspiring doctors are optimistic about the future of medicine
(HealthDay)—Aspiring doctors are optimistic about the future of medicine, according to a report published by the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists.
New method predicts time from Alzheimer's onset to nursing home, death
A Columbia University Medical Center-led research team has clinically validated a new method for predicting time to full-time care, nursing home residence, or death for patients with Alzheimer's disease. The method, which uses data gathered from a single patient visit, is based on a complex model of Alzheimer's disease progression that the researchers developed by consecutively following two sets of Alzheimer's patients for 10 years each. The results were published online ahead of print in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Children born prematurely face up to a 19 times greater risk of retinal detachment later in life
Children born extremely prematurely have up to a 19 times greater risk of retinal detachment later in life than peers born at term, according to a Swedish study published this month in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. In the first large population-based, long-term investigation of the association between preterm birth and later retinal detachment, the research determined that birth before 32 weeks is associated with increased risks of retinal detachment in childhood, adolescence and young adult life. The study's findings indicate the need for ophthalmologic follow-up in children and adults born extremely and very prematurely. The United States has the sixth largest number of premature births, with more than 500,000 premature babies born each year.
Hope builds for a drug that might shut down a variety of cancers
The most frequently mutated gene across all types of cancers is a gene called p53. Unfortunately it has been difficult to directly target this gene with drugs. Now a multi-institutional research team, led by Dr. Lewis Cantley and investigators at Weill Cornell Medical College, has identified a family of enzymes they say is crucial for the growth of cancers that have genetic aberrations in p53. Targeting these enzymes with novel agents might prevent the growth of p53 mutant cancers, thereby benefiting a broad spectrum of cancer patients, including those with breast, ovarian, lung, colorectal and brain tumors.
Potential for added medical benefits uncovered for widely used breast cancer drug
Exemestane, a synthetic steroid drug widely prescribed to fight breast cancers that thrive on estrogens, not only inhibits the production of the hormone, but also appears to protect cells throughout the body against damage induced by UV radiation, inflammation and other assaults, according to results of research by Johns Hopkins scientists.
Anxiety help comes, eventually, via primary care
A new study by Brown University psychiatry researchers found that seven in 10 primary care patients with anxiety disorders eventually received potentially adequate medication or psychotherapy, but for many it took years to happen and it was considerably less likely for minorities.
Intra-articular, systemic steroids beneficial in back pain
(HealthDay)—Intra-articular injection of steroids is slightly better than intramuscular injection for the treatment of facet joint syndrome, although both are effective, according to a study published in the Nov. 1 issue of Spine.
Argument for coverage of cardiac rehab, counseling for stable CHF
(HealthDay)—Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) exercise training and chronic heart failure self-care counseling provide significant clinical benefits to individuals with stable chronic heart failure, according to a review published Oct. 30 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Heart Failure.
Amount of care similar for rural, urban medicare users
(HealthDay)—Although there may be a limited supply of physicians in some rural areas, little difference is found in the amount of health care received by Medicare beneficiaries for rural versus urban areas within the same region, according to research published in the November issue of Health Affairs.
Despite major progress, some childhood cancers are still killers
(HealthDay)—Recent decades have seen huge strides in treating childhood cancer, but certain types of tumors remain difficult to treat and are often deadly.
Peripheral prism glasses help hemianopia patients get around
More than a million Americans suffer from hemianopia, or blindness in one half of the visual field in both eyes as the result of strokes, tumors or trauma. People with hemianopia frequently bump into walls, trip over objects, or walk into people on the side where the visual field is missing.
A genetic study on South Asians helps to understand human skin color variation
Though genetics of skin pigmentation has shown recent advancements in the last decade, studies involving populations of South Asia, one of the major hot spots of pigmentation diversity, is still in its infancy. In a recent study publishing in PloS Genetics; an international team of scientists, led by researchers from the University of Tartu and the University of Cambridge, took skin color measurements from local residents in India to quantify the range and extent of variation in skin pigmentation phenotype and found that one of the important pigmentation genes; SLC24A5, plays a key role in skin pigmentation variation among South Asians. The comprehensive map of the genetic variant associated with light skin further revealed that it is quite wide spread in the subcontinent.
Bacterial toxin sets the course for infection
Braunschweig have now discovered what makes a specific strain of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis—one of the main instigators for these infections–so dangerous: the bacteria produce a molecule called CNFy that facilitates the infection process for them. It changes the host cells in a manner that enables the injection apparatus of Yersinia, which injects toxins into the cells, to work more efficiently. This strengthens the infection and leads to inflammation of the tissue.
Experts warn that Syria polio outbreak may threaten Europe
Two infectious disease experts have written to The Lancet warning that a new outbreak of polio (due to infection with wild-type polio virus 1, WPV1) in Syria, recently confirmed by WHO, might endanger neighbouring regions, including Europe.
Lowering salt intake improves heart and kidney health of chronic kidney disease patients
Reducing salt intake provides clear benefits for the heart and kidney health of patients with chronic kidney disease, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings point to the power of salt restriction in potentially prolonging kidney disease patients' lives.
Climate may play a role in the distribution and prevalence of trachoma
High temperatures and low rainfall are important factors which influence the occurrence and severity of the active stages of trachoma—the most common cause of infectious blindness—according to a new study publishing November 7, 2013 in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Researchers find acute kidney injury predicts poor outcomes for dialysis patients
Two University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers, in collaboration with other investigators, have found that patients who suffered from acute kidney injury (AKI) in the two-year period prior to going on dialysis were 1.5 times as likely to die in their first year of dialysis compared to those patients without AKI.
Study finds novel genetic patterns that make us rethink biology and individuality
Professor of Genetics Scott Williams, PhD, of the Institute for Quantitative Biomedical Sciences (iQBS) at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine, has made two novel discoveries: first, a person can have several DNA mutations in parts of their body, with their original DNA in the rest—resulting in several different genotypes in one individual—and second, some of the same genetic mutations occur in unrelated people. We think of each person's DNA as unique, so if an individual can have more than one genotype, this may alter our very concept of what it means to be a human, and impact how we think about using forensic or criminal DNA analysis, paternity testing, prenatal testing, or genetic screening for breast cancer risk, for example. Williams' surprising results indicate that genetic mutations do not always happen purely at random, as scientists have previously thought. His work, done in collaboration with Professor of Genetics Jason Moore, PhD, and colleagues at Vanderb! ilt University, was published in PLOS Genetics journal on November 7, 2013.1
Peptide derived from cow's milk kills human stomach cancer cells in culture
New research from a team of researchers in Taiwan indicates that a peptide fragment derived from cow's milk, known as lactoferricin B25 (LFcinB25), exhibited potent anticancer capability against human stomach cancer cell cultures. The findings, published in the Journal of Dairy Science, provide support for future use of LFcinB25 as a potential therapeutic agent for gastric cancer.
Psychiatry professor takes new approach to helping compulsive washers
(Medical Xpress)—Stanley Rachman, emeritus professor at the Institute of Psychiatry in London, has published a World View column in the journal Nature, detailing a new strategy for helping people overcome obsessive washing—an OCD affiliated condition that comes about quite often after someone experiences a traumatic event. Rachman's article is part of a series Nature is running in response to a new initiative being undertaken by the European Union and the United States to mimic the human brain in an artificial setting. The point is to highlight how such research might help better understand the real brain and perhaps offer ways to help fix problems in it, when they arise.
Penn study identifies new trigger for breast cancer metastasis
(Medical Xpress)—For years, scientists have observed that tumor cells from certain breast cancer patients with aggressive forms of the disease contained low levels of mitochondrial DNA. But, until recently, no one was able to explain how this characteristic influenced disease progression.
Scientists identify clue to regrowing nerve cells
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a chain reaction that triggers the regrowth of some damaged nerve cell branches, a discovery that one day may help improve treatments for nerve injuries that can cause loss of sensation or paralysis.
Researchers build muscle in diseased mice, create human muscle cells in a dish
Skeletal muscle has proved to be very difficult to grow in patients with muscular dystrophy and other disorders that degrade and weaken muscle. Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital's Stem Cell Program now report boosting muscle mass and reversing disease in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, using a "cocktail" of three compounds identified through a new rapid culture system. Adding the same compounds to stem cells derived from patients' skin cells, they then successfully grew human muscle cells in a dish.
Breakthrough discoveries on cellular regeneration seek to turn back the body's clock
Two groups of scientists at the Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI) have made complementary discoveries that break new ground on efforts to turn back the body's clock on cellular activity, paving the way for a better understanding of stem cells, tissue growth, and regeneration.
Researchers identify how body clock affects inflammation
UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report that disrupting the light-dark cycle of mice increased their susceptibility to inflammatory disease, indicating that the production of a key immune cell is controlled by the body's circadian clock.
The glial menagerie: From simple beginnings to staggering complexity
(Medical Xpress)—In preparation for neuroscience's huge SFN2013 meeting next week in San Diego, many key scientific journals are rolling out their special neuro-focus issues. Generally this is the time for the field to reflect, to dream, and for closed-access only journals, perhaps to cry. The current issue of Neuron has many fascinating reviews written by notable dignitaries in their area of expertise. The title above comes from a subsection of one of these reviews which is unique in that if offers a clear path to understanding something neuroscientists have struggled with to this day—namely, the function of glial cells, and from whence they came. The answer to this conundrum (and for myelinating cells in particular), is written play-by-play, often in freeze-frame, and sometimes even with rewind, in the structures of creatures not normally associated with having a significant myelin endowment. But these creatures, known to us generally as invertebrates, generate a huge variety of glial ensheathing cells. As we shall see, they run the entire gamut from simple shield-like elements, to full-blown spiralling membrane multi-wraps.
Biology news
White-lipped peccary trails lead to archeological discovery in Brazil
While tracking white-lipped peccaries and gathering environmental data in forests that link Brazil's Pantanal and Cerrado biomes, a team of researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society and a local partner NGO, Instituto Quinta do Sol, discovered ancient cave drawings made by hunter-gatherer societies thousands of years ago.
Hundreds of tortoises found in luggage at Thai airport
Thai customs on Thursday said they had discovered over 420 protected tortoises stashed in unclaimed suitcases on a luggage belt in Bangkok's main international airport.
Entomologist uses ScholarSphere repository to preserve rare insect collection
Andy Deans is searching high and low for a 130-year-old insect. He knows it's around here somewhere—but among the nearly 2 million insect specimens in the collection room of Penn State's Frost Entomological Museum—the museum's oldest specimen could be anywhere.
Saddling up against the threat to our National Parks
Research team leader, Associate Professor Catherine Pickering, said the Griffith study looked at the number and types of weed seeds which can be dispersed through horse manure. The findings have been published in the journal Ecological Management and Restoration.
Researchers study beetle-killed trees as a sustainable biofuel
Millions of acres of beetle-killed trees in the Rocky Mountains could possibly be developed into an innovative industry that uses existing technology to convert biomass into high-grade gasoline, according to University of Wyoming members of a multistate research consortium known as the Bioenergy Alliance Network of the Rockies (BANR). It will study the major challenges limiting the production of biofuel using insect-killed trees in the Rocky Mountains.
Researchers study chimpanzee community isotopes to learn about ancient food sources (w/ Video)
UNM Assistant Professor of Anthropology Sherry V. Nelson has a new research paper that examines carbon and oxygen stable isotopes in the tooth enamel of animals from a chimpanzee community to understand the environment of fossil apes and early humans. The paper, "Chimpanzee fauna isotopes provide new interpretations of fossil ape and hominin ecologies," is available here.
Crown of Venezuelan paramos: A new species from the daisy family, Coespeletia palustris
A joint research led by the Smithsonian Institution (US), Saint Louis University (US) and Universidad de Los Andes (Venezuela) resulted in the discovery of an exciting new species from the daisy family. The two expeditions in the paramos high up in the Venezuelan Andes were crowned by the discovery of the beautiful and extraordinary, Coespeletia palustris. The study was published in the open access journal Phytokeys.
Location, location, location: How nature affects the way we make decisions
Research published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B today has revealed that being exposed to natural environments could significantly impact the choices we make, encouraging us to make decisions which value our longer-term futures more.
Grizzly bear management is too risky
(Phys.org) —Six biologists, including four from Simon Fraser University, cast doubt on the scientific soundness of management of British Columbia, Canada's grizzly bear population in a new paper published online in the scientific journal PLOS ONE.
Changes to fisheries legislation have removed habitat protection for most fish species in Canada
Federal government changes to Canada's fisheries legislation "have eviscerated" the ability to protect habitat for most of the country's fish species, scientists at the University of Calgary and Dalhousie University say in a new study.
New test can diagnose emerging strains of canine parvovirus
A new test developed at the Kansas State University Diagnostic Laboratory is leading to earlier detection of a severe —- and potentially fatal—virus that affects dogs, especially puppies.
Study finds role of Cul4 molecule in genome instability and cancer
Mayo Clinic researchers have shown that a molecule called Cul4 helps to deposit DNA-packaging histone proteins onto DNA, an integral step in cramming yards of genetic code into compact coils that can fit into each cell. When DNA isn't packaged correctly, it can lead to the genomic instability characteristic of many forms of cancer.
Why stem cells need to stick with their friends
Scientists at University of Copenhagen and University of Edinburgh have identified a core set of functionally relevant factors which regulates embryonic stem cells' ability for self-renewal. A key aspect is the protein Oct4 and how it makes stem cells stick together. The identification of these factors will be an important tool in devising better and safer ways of making specialised cells for future regenerative cell therapies for treatment of diseases like diabetes and Parkinson's disease. The results have just been published in the scientific journal Current Biology.
Unique change in protein structure guides production of RNA from DNA
One of biology's most fundamental processes is something called transcription. It is just one step of many required to build proteins—and without it life would not exist. However, many aspects of transcription remain shrouded in mystery. But now, scientists at the Gladstone Institutes are shedding light on key aspects of transcription, and in so doing are coming even closer to understanding the importance of this process in the growth and development of cells—as well as what happens when this process goes awry.
The Carolina hammerhead, a new species of shark, debuts
Discovering a new species is, among biologists, akin to hitting a grand slam, and University of South Carolina ichthyologist Joe Quattro led a team that recently cleared the bases. In the journal Zootaxa, they describe a rare shark, the Carolina hammerhead, that had long eluded discovery because it is outwardly indistinguishable from the common scalloped hammerhead. Through its rarity, the new species, Sphyrna gilberti, underscores the fragility of shark diversity in the face of relentless human predation.
Scientists discover that ants, like humans, can change their priorities
All animals have to make decisions every day. Where will they live and what will they eat? How will they protect themselves? They often have to make these decisions as a group, too, turning what may seem like a simple choice into a far more nuanced process. So, how do animals know what's best for their survival?
Hey, bacteria are individuals too
Each person carries 10 times as many bacterial cells as human cells, the former of which have continued to evolve in response to medicine's most potent antibiotics. But microscopic bugs don't just dictate human health—they're also integral to the health of every body of water on the planet. According to Ferdi Hellweger, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Northeastern, microbial pollution represents one of the most significant problems for our lakes, rivers, and estuaries.
Tricking algae's biological clock boosts production of drugs, biofuels
Tricking algae's biological clock to remain in its daytime setting can dramatically boost the amount of valuable compounds that these simple marine plants can produce when they are grown in constant light.
Plant cell architecture: Growth toward a light source
Inside every plant cell, a cytoskeleton provides an interior scaffolding to direct construction of the cell's walls, and thus the growth of the organism as a whole. Environmental and hormonal signals that modulate cell growth cause reorganization of this scaffolding. New research led by Carnegie's David Ehrhardt provides surprising evidence as to how this reorganization process works, with important evidence as to how the direction of a light source influences a plant's growth pattern. It is published by Science Express.
One worm, two mouths: Devious evolutionary path between genetics and environment
Depending on the environment in which the worm grows, the larva of the roundworm Pristionchus pacificus develops into either a wide-mouthed predator or a narrow-mouthed bacteria eater. A team of researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Tübingen, Germany, headed by Ralf J. Sommer have now discovered a developmental biological switch that determines the worm's mouth form. According to this, the scientists are now able to explain how organisms adapt to different surrounding conditions.
Researchers answer century old question about 3D structure of mitotic chromosomes
Using three dimensional modeling techniques, advanced computer simulation and next generation sequencing technology, faculty at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have resolved a long-standing debate that has consumed scientists ever since chromosomes were first observed under the light microscope by Walther Flemming in 1878.
Cost-effective method accurately orders DNA sequencing along entire chromosomes
A new computational method has been shown to quickly assign, order and orient DNA sequencing information along entire chromosomes. The method may help overcome a major obstacle that has delayed progress in designing rapid, low-cost—but still accurate—ways to assemble genomes from scratch. Data gleaned through this new method can also validate certain types of chromosomal abnormalities in cancer, research findings indicate.
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