Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for December 12, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Quantum waves at the heart of organic solar cells- First noble gas molecules discovered in space
- Pressure transforms a semiconductor into a new state of matter
- Graphene-based nano-antennas may enable networks of tiny machines
- Hubble discovers water vapor venting from Jupiter's moon Europa
- Sniffing out danger: Scientists say fearful memories can trigger heightened sense of smell
- Fast radio bursts might come from nearby stars
- Light and sound fire scientists' imaginations: Researchers lead review of photonic, phononic metamaterials
- Surprise: Duck-billed dinosaurs had fleshy 'cocks comb'
- Smashing science: Scientists discover how explosives respond to shockwaves
- First step of metastasis halted in mice with breast cancer
- Instagram unveils private video, photo messaging (Update)
- Two teams independently find that adding vibration helps couple light to graphene
- With new study, aquatic comb jelly floats into new evolutionary position
- Can we turn unwanted carbon dioxide into electricity?
Astronomy & Space news
Video: The Webb Space Telescope's sunshield
The newest video in the "Behind the Webb" series takes viewers behind the scenes to reveal how the pieces that make up each layer of the James Webb Space Telescope's thin sunshield are bonded together.
Morpheus project lander roars in free flight test
What an otherworldly experience, without having to leave Earth! The Morpheus Project wrapped up a successful free-flight test yesterday. That picture above is just to whet your appetite for the actual video, which you can see (and definitely hear) after the jump below.
NASA suspects bad valve for space station trouble (Update)
The astronauts aboard the International Space Station dimmed the lights, turned off unnecessary equipment and put off science work Thursday as NASA scrambled to figure out what's wrong with a key cooling unit.
Satellite's magnetic mapping mission
A scientist from the University of Liverpool will play a leading role in the European Space Agency's (ESA) satellite mission to study the Earth's geomagnetic field.
Rare magnetar discovered in the vicinity of a supernova remnant
A team of astronomers led by the PhD student Ms. Ping Zhou from the University of Nanjing in China discovered a new transient magnetar. This magnetar, the ninth of its class, was identified during a COSPAR Capacity Building Workshop for young researchers in developing countries. It is likely that the magnetar, an ultra-magnetic neutron star, was part of a binary star system together with an anti-magnetar. The results of this research will be published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Space station cooling breakdown may delay Orbital launch
NASA rushed Thursday to fix a breakdown in the cooling system at the International Space Station that may delay the launch next week of Orbital Sciences' first cargo mission.
NASA: Cooling pump on space station shuts down
NASA said Wednesday it was looking into a problem with a malfunctioning cooling pump on the International Space Station, but there was no immediate danger to the two American astronauts, three Russian cosmonauts, and Japanese astronaut on board.
Molecular clouds in the whirlpool galaxy appear to be embedded in fog
(Phys.org) —A multi-year study of the Whirlpool galaxy (M51) has changed our understanding of giant molecular clouds, in which stars are born. The new study, which mapped 1,500 such clouds, shows that, instead, they are embedded in a kind of molecular fog, which permeates the whole of the galactic disc. Pressure exerted by this fog is crucial in determining whether or not new stars will form within the clouds. The study, led by Eva Schinnerer from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, made extensive use of the millimeter telescopes of IRAM, the Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique.
Chinese flyby of asteroid shows space rock is "rubble"
China's first flyby of an asteroid shows that a gigantic space rock which once triggered a doomsday scare is essentially rubble, scientists reported on Thursday.
Fast radio bursts might come from nearby stars
First discovered in 2007, "fast radio bursts" continue to defy explanation. These cosmic chirps last for only a thousandth of a second. The characteristics of the radio pulses suggested that they came from galaxies billions of light-years away. However, new work points to a much closer origin - flaring stars within our own galaxy.
Cassini spacecraft reveals clues about Saturn moon
(Phys.org) —NASA's Cassini spacecraft is providing scientists with key clues about Saturn's moon Titan, and in particular, its hydrocarbon lakes and seas.
Hubble discovers water vapor venting from Jupiter's moon Europa
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has discovered water vapour erupting from the frigid surface of Jupiter's moon Europa, in one or more localised plumes near its south pole.
First noble gas molecules discovered in space
Noble gas molecules have been detected in space for the first time in the Crab Nebula, a supernova remnant, by astronomers at UCL.
Technology news
Controlling PCs and tablets with hand movements
SINTEF scientists are working to develop interaction between themselves and mobiles/ iPads - which does not require touching the display. They have been able to scroll through pages for some time. Now they are working on selecting and moving objects, or saying stop by raising a hand.
100 gigabits/s connection accelerates Transatlantic research
KIT researchers have established the first international 100 gigabits/s connection for German science. It will be the basis of better cooperation in data-intensive sciences in the future. At the SC13 International Supercomputing Conference in Denver, KIT's Steinbuch Centre for Computing (SCC) successfully demonstrated this technology.
Gov't: 1 in 14 fell prey to identity theft in 2012
The government says 1 in 14 Americans fell prey to identity theft last year.
Illegal download site creators face 3-mn-euro damages claim
French entertainment industry bodies and major US film studios are to seek nearly three million euros in damages at a civil hearing on Friday from two French youths who ran an illegal downloading site.
Ukrainian sent to US prison in cybercrime case
A Ukrainian national who admitted to setting up a huge online marketplace for stolen financial data was sentenced to serve 18 years in a US prison Thursday, officials said.
'Golden Tweet' is Twitter's most echoed note in 2013
Twitter revealed Thursday that a message acknowledging the death of "Glee" television show star Cory Monteith was the most reposted tweet on the globally popular messaging platform this year.
NASA audit finds Google execs saved on jet fuel
An aircraft fleet owned by Google's founders and former CEO received improper discounts on jet fuel that saved the three billionaires up to $5.3 million dating back to depths of the Great Recession in 2009, according to a government report released Wednesday.
Facebook stock added to Dow Jones S&P 500 index
Facebook shares will be added to the Dow Jones S&P 500 Index, a portfolio of stocks considered a barometer of the market and even the overall US economy.
German police build 'Nazi Shazam' to track banned music
German police are touting a new high-tech tool to identify illegal neo-Nazi songs in seconds, dubbed "Nazi Shazam" after popular music identification software.
New WAVE display technology rises at UC San Diego
The next phase in the evolution of high-tech displays is here, and this time, the term 'leading edge' isn't just a catchy slogan, but an evocative description of the technology's look and feel.
Team uses video games to spark kids' interest in coding
(Phys.org) —In grade school classrooms across the country, students have been hard at work this semester trying to figure out how to smash a virtual frog with a virtual truck.
Labor group sees progress at major Apple supplier (Update)
A labor group monitoring three Chinese factories that make iPhones and other Apple products says once-oppressive working conditions have steadily improved in the last 18 months, but more must be done to reduce the amount of overtime that employees work.
India court frees Nokia plant for Microsoft sale
An Indian court Thursday released a major plant owned by Nokia seized over a multi-billion-dollar tax row, paving the way for the Finnish firm to include the factory in the sale of its mobile business to Microsoft.
Ultra-short-pulse laser becomes effective series-production tool
Ultra-short laser pulses provide a fast and precise way of processing a wide range of materials without excessive heat input. Scientists from Bosch, TRUMPF, Jena University and Fraunhofer IOF have turned the ultra-short-pulse laser into an effective series-production tool. For their collective effort they were awarded the German Future Prize 2013 on December 4.
That thing attached to your hand? It might be doomed
The smartphone is dead? Long live the smartphone!
Scientists predict sea states for renewable energy
Tidal and wave technology is finally coming of age and the UK leads the world in the development of this vital renewable energy resource. Bangor University is playing a crucial role in this: as the industry moves towards large-scale commercialisation, experts at the University's School of Ocean Sciences are working to maximise the operational efficiencies of energy-generating devices.
Hidden benefits of computer games
Computer games can be a popular item on many kids' Christmas wish list. But for some parents, gaming has been linked to a range of negative connotations, from time wasting to promoting violence.
Google competitors unhappy at its EU anti-trust remedies
Google competitors said Thursday they were unhappy with the latest offer the US giant has made to satisfy EU complaints it is abusing its dominant market position in the Internet search market.
NASA pilots train for Antarctic flying
Pilots and flight engineers with NASA's Operation IceBridge traveled to Jacksonville, Fla., to prepare for the mission's recently concluded Antarctic campaign. There the flight crews spent time training in a P-3 aircraft simulator at the U.S. Navy base Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
Agencies differ on allowing in-flight phone calls (Update)
Just because it is safe to use cellphones on a plane, it does not mean that passengers should call just to say hello.
YouTube forecast to rake in $5.6 billion from ads
Industry tracker eMarketer forecasts that YouTube will rake in about $5.6 billion from ads this year, pocketing nearly two billion of those dollars as profit.
US cars and trucks hit record gas mileage in 2012
New cars and trucks sold in the U.S. last year got an average of 23.6 miles per gallon (10 liters per 100 kilometers) in combined city and highway driving, a record that came mainly through improvements to engines and transmissions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Yahoo Mail trouble hits fourth day
An outage at Yahoo Mail hit its fourth day on Thursday, prompting thousands of furious users to ratchet up their criticism on social media.
Gift Guide: Strong slate of iPad challengers
Once upon a time, people who craved a tablet computer bought an iPad.
Ford plans 23 new cars, 11,000 new jobs in 2014
Ford Motor Co. says it will hire more than 11,000 people in the U.S. and Asia next year to support an aggressive rollout of new vehicles.
SKorea court says Apple didn't violate Samsung patents
A Seoul court rejected Samsung's claim that iPhone and iPad models violated three of its patents, another setback for the South Korean electronics giant in a global battle with Apple over rights to technologies that power smartphones and tablets.
Bangkok designers draw attention for air-purifying bike idea
(Phys.org) —Some observers are calling it "the photosynthesis bike." The bike of interest is only a concept, not even a prototype yet, from designers in Bangkok. Nonetheless, in concept alone, it has captured a lot if imaginations, press coverage, and even picked up an award in the 2013 Red Dot competition for design concept. Dubbed "Air Purifier Bike," from Bangkok-based Lightfog Creative and Design, the bicycle presents a next-level functionality to bicycles as environmentally sound vehicles—to the point where the rider not only uses a clean mode of transport but also helps to purify the air along with the ride. (The Red Dot Award for design concept is part of a professional design competition for design concepts and prototypes worldwide.)
Engineer designs mug to keep coffee temperature just right
(Phys.org) —Some people think that university researchers are so occupied with their laboratories that they've lost sight of the world outside the ivory tower of academia. I would refer those people to Logan Maxwell, a researcher at NC State who has developed a coffee mug that will keep your coffee hot – but not too hot – for hours at a time. And what could be more practical than that?
Twitter pattern: Those who don't know you well are more likely to retweet
(Phys.org) —Big news can spread like wildfire via Twitter, but did you ever think about why certain people choose to retweet? A new study from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University shows that if someone doesn't know you well, he or she is actually more likely to retweet something significant you say.
3-D printed implants may soon fix complex injuries
In an age where 3-D printers are becoming a more and more common tool to make custom designed objects, some researchers are using the technology to manufacture replacement parts for the most customized and unique object of all—the human body.
Mozilla signs on partners in open mobile system push
Mozilla on Thursday teamed with global partners in a push for open mobile standards as it ramps up its efforts to develop smartphones challenging Google and Apple operating systems.
Instagram unveils private video, photo messaging (Update)
Instagram on Thursday unveiled a new service allowing its 150 million members to send private photo and video messages to friends and loved ones in an increasingly competitive market.
Low-power tunneling transistor for high-performance devices at low voltage
A new type of transistor that could make possible fast and low-power computing devices for energy-constrained applications such as smart sensor networks, implantable medical electronics and ultra-mobile computing is feasible, according to Penn State researchers. Called a near broken-gap tunnel field effect transistor (TFET), the new device uses the quantum mechanical tunneling of electrons through an ultrathin energy barrier to provide high current at low voltage.
Keeping the lights on: Mechanical engineer finds a way to predict cascading power outages
A method of assessing the stability of large-scale power grids in real time could bring the world closer to its goal of producing and utilizing a smart grid. The algorithmic approach, developed by UC Santa Barbara professor Igor Mezic along with Yoshihiko Susuki from Kyoto University, can predict future massive instabilities in the power grid and make power outages a thing of the past.
Programming smart molecules: Machine-learning algorithms could make chemical reactions intelligent
Computer scientists at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University have joined forces to put powerful probabilistic reasoning algorithms in the hands of bioengineers.
Can we turn unwanted carbon dioxide into electricity?
Researchers are developing a new kind of geothermal power plant that will lock away unwanted carbon dioxide (CO2) underground—and use it as a tool to boost electric power generation by at least 10 times compared to existing geothermal energy approaches.
Medicine & Health news
Increase in Hong Kong's over 70s population to cause dramatic rise in hip fractures
A new report issued today by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) shows that broken bones due to osteoporosis pose a major and growing health problem in the Asia-Pacific. With its rapidly ageing population, Hong Kong will be among the areas most affected in the near future.
Study results inform discussions regarding US policy on lung transplantation in children
A new analysis has found no evidence that children aged 6 to 11 years seeking a deceased donor lung transplant are disadvantaged in the current US lung allocation system. The findings, which are published in the American Journal of Transplantation, help inform ongoing discussions regarding potential changes to the nation's lung allocation policy.
Asia Pacific must prepare for catastrophic increase in fragility fractures
A new report launched today by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) shows that osteoporosis is a serious problem throughout the Asia Pacific, with the number of fracture sufferers to rise dramatically in the coming decades. By 2050, more than half of the world's hip fractures will occur in Asia. The press conference kicked off the IOF Regionals 4th Asia-Pacific Osteoporosis Meeting, being held in Hong Kong from December 12.
US health care sign-ups pick up; may not close gap
New sign-up numbers are showing progress for President Barack Obama's health care law, but not enough to guarantee that Americans who need coverage by New Year's will be able to get it. That means more trouble for the White House after months of repairing a dysfunctional enrollment website.
Federal data show health disparities among states
The slow rollout of a new federal health insurance marketplace may be deepening differences in health coverage among Americans.
Woman gets new face in Poland's second transplant
A 26-year-old woman disfigured by a tumor has received a new face in Poland's second such transplant.
'Invisible' homeless women are not accessing the services they need
Homeless women are not accessing the support of social services that they need to progress due to a lack of service coordination and the complex needs of the service users, a recent project has found.
Confidential Inquiry into premature deaths of people with learning disabilities: Response to paper published in The Lanc
The Confidential Inquiry into premature deaths of people with learning disabilities, conducted by researchers at the University of Bristol's Norah Fry Research Centre, highlighted the unacceptable situation in which up to a third of the deaths of people with learning disabilities were from causes of death amenable to good quality healthcare.
Certain advanced breast cancer patients may benefit from surgery before other treatment, study finds
Patients newly diagnosed with advanced breast cancer and a solitary bone metastasis could benefit from surgery prior to other treatment, according to early results from a first-of-its kind clinical trial presented today at the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
New analysis shows that physician scientists are less likely to be engaged in biomedical research than in past
A new analysis published in The FASEB Journal describes the declining participation of physician scientists in biomedical research. The article, "NIH research funding and early career physician scientists: continuing challenges in the 21st century," cites several indicators of this decline. Physician scientist awardees of National Institutes of Health (NIH) postdoctoral training and career development awards are at an all-time low, and those who continue to pursue a research track receive their first major research grant at a later age than in the 1980s.
New drug combination delayed disease progression for subgroup of women with metastatic breast cancer
Adding the drug dasatinib to a standard antihormone therapy, letrozole, doubled the time before disease progressed for women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, according to results of a phase II clinical trial presented here at the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held Dec. 10-14.
PIK3CA gene mutations make HER2- and hormone receptor-positive breast cancers treatment-resistant
Women with breast cancer characterized by high levels of the protein HER2 and hormone receptors gained much less benefit from presurgery treatment with chemotherapy and HER2-targeted therapies if their cancer had one or more mutations in the PIK3CA gene, according to results presented here at the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held Dec. 10-14.
Reconceptualizing the study of population aging
Age is not just the number of years one has lived, argue IIASA population researchers. A new study from the group provides a set of tools for measuring age in all its dimensions.
Report urges new innovation to address global traffic deaths
Stakeholders and decision makers across health and allied sectors must play a key role in developing and implementing innovative solutions to road traffic injuries and trauma care, especially in developing nations, according to recommendations published in a new report developed by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The report was issued as part of an international health summit held in Doha, Qatar on December 10.
'Smart' mannequins breathe life into medical scenarios
"This is the worst pain ever!" screams a woman in the delivery ward, her eyelids fluttering as the baby's skull crowns between her legs."
New iPad-based 'early warning' system for hospital patient monitoring
Handwritten medical observation charts could become a thing of the past in hospitals with the development of a pioneering patient monitoring system developed in Oxford hospitals. An iPad-based early-warning system developed with Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funding is one of the projects funded by the 'Safer Hospitals, Safer Wards' £260 million NHS Technology Fund to improve patient safety. The £1.1 million funding will allow the team of biomedical engineers and clinicians from the University of Oxford and the Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Trust to roll out the system across all adult wards in the Trust's acute hospitals.
Helping blended families blend
With divorce and remarriage "the new normal" in many American families, holidays can be a time for both happiness and struggle for children. Sarah Feuerbacher, director of SMU's Center for Family Counseling, offers ten tips she's learned form counseling blended families to help make the holidays fun – not stressful – for the youngest members of these re-arranged households.
Blood can transmit Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare but fatal disease in humans. For the first time, the presence of infectivity in the blood of patients affected by sporadic and the new variant of CJD was established by scientists from the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) and the French National Veterinary School (ENVT), in collaboration with European partners. Complementary investigations are underway, but the available results support the contention that CJD might be transmitted by blood transfusion and/or the use of blood derived products. These results are published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases on 11 December 2013.
National evidence-based guidelines for preventing healthcare-associated infections in NHS hospitals
The Journal of Hospital Infection (JHI) has just released the awaited epic3 guidelines on infection prevention and control for a range of healthcare professionals. They are freely available online on ScienceDirect and on the journal's website.
Cancer diagnosis more likely to limit careers for patients from rural areas
Compared to their counterparts in cities, cancer patients living in rural areas tend to retire early after being diagnosed, and are less likely to go on paid disability leave while receiving treatment. These are some of the insights drawn from research by Michelle Sowden and colleagues of the University of Vermont in the US to determine if living in a rural or urban area influences the impact of cancer diagnosis on employment. Their study was published in Springer's Journal of Cancer Survivorship.
APA report on gun violence identifies precursors and promising solutions
There is no single personality profile that can reliably predict who will use a gun in a violent act – but individual prediction is not necessary for violence prevention, according to a comprehensive report on gun violence released today by the American Psychological Association.
Is smoking cannabis and driving the new drinking and driving?
Alcohol consumption and smoking among Ontario students in grades 7-12 is at an all-time low; however recreational use of over-the-counter drugs is on the rise. Prescription drug misuse and driving after using drugs also remain elevated according to the 2013 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) released by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The survey of 10,272 students from across Ontario is Canada's longest-running systematic study of alcohol and other drug use among youth, and one of the longest-running surveys in the world.
Plague 'epidemic' kills 39 in Madagascar (Update)
An outbreak of plague even more vicious than the bubonic strain dubbed the black death has killed 39 people in Madagascar, the government said Thursday.
Belgian upper house approves euthanasia for children
Belgium's upper house on Thursday backed plans to extend mercy-killing to terminally-ill children amid an intense public debate.
Bioethics Commission on incidental findings: Anticipate and communicate
Researchers conduct a memory study, scan a participant's brain, and find more than they bargain for: a tumor. What do the researchers owe the participant? What does the participant want to know? This is an increasingly common scenario for practitioners across contexts and for recipients of unexpected results that can be discovered through a variety of procedures and tests. Today the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues (Bioethics Commission) offered analysis and guidance on this issue and released its report Anticipate and Communicate: Ethical Management of Incidental and Secondary Findings in the Clinical, Research, and Direct-to-Consumer Contexts.
CDC: Flu season starting a little more normally
Health officials say the flu season seems to be getting off to more normal start this year.
Civilians trained by American mental health professionals bring healing to traumatized victims of Libya's civil war
Civilians traumatized by Libya's civil war in 2011—which left many homeless, poor and grieving—have virtually no access to mental health professionals, but many have found healing through small groups led by Libyan volunteers who were trained by American professionals, according to a Baylor University study.
CDC: 221 sickened by synthetic pot in Colorado
Synthetic marijuana is believed to have sickened 221 people in Colorado during an outbreak earlier this year.
Physical activity may slow kidney function decline in patients with kidney disease
Increased physical activity may slow kidney function decline in patients with kidney disease, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings suggest that exercise could have a powerful effect on maintaining patients' health.
Deep sequencing of breast cancer tumors to predict clinical outcomes after single dose of therapy
New research from University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center Seidman Cancer Center and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at Case Western Reserve University examined how changes in the genetic composition of breast cancer tumors after brief exposure to either biologic therapy or chemotherapy can predict future clinical outcomes in patients.
Research shows correlation between adult height and underlying heart disease
Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation research cardiologist Dr. Michael Miedema is the lead author of a paper published by Circulation – Cardiovascular Imaging, a journal of the American Heart Association, that suggests a connection between an adult's height and the prevalence of coronary artery calcium (CAC), a direct marker of plaque in the arteries that feed the heart. Coronary artery calcium is a strong predictor of future heart attacks with a nearly 10 fold increase in the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in patients with elevated CAC.
New technique reduces the time needed to wear braces by more than half
A new technique developed at the College of Dentistry by Cristina Teixeira, associate professor and chair of the Department of Orthodontics, and Mani Alikhani, associate professor of orthodontics and director of the Consortium for Translational Orthodontic Research, moves teeth more than twice as fast as conventional orthodontics. As a result, treatment time is reduced by more than half, enabling patients to straighten their teeth while wearing braces for a much shorter time.
Dental researchers examine hidden health impact of electronic cigarettes
The electronic cigarette (e-cig) was introduced in the U.S. in 2007 and offers nicotine-addicted individuals an alternative to smoking tobacco. E-cigs have been marketed as a safe alternative to tobacco smoking and most are similar enough in appearance to be mistaken for conventional cigarettes, so it is not surprising that their popularity is increasing worldwide, especially among young people. To date, however, there has been little research on the impact of e-cigs on public health.
Model neurons have implications for ALS and other afflictions
NYU biologists have created model neurons with greater precision and efficiency than have been achieved in the past. Their breakthrough, which appeared this fall in a pair of papers in the journal Nature Neuroscience, has potential implications for addressing a range of afflictions, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's Disease, and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
Experimental diabetes drug makes comeback
A panel of federal health advisers has backed the benefits of an experimental diabetes drug that uses a new method to reduce blood sugar, setting aside previous concerns about the pill's safety.
UK Biobank study shows dad's influence on birth weight linked to diabetes genes
One of the first studies to use recently released data from the UK Biobank has provided the strongest evidence yet for a link between fathers' diabetes and low birth weight. The research shows that your dad can influence your size at birth and that diabetes genes may explain some of this effect.
New guidelines for severe asthma provide an updated definition of the disease and a new plan to tack
A new guideline has provided an updated definition of severe asthma along with new recommendations for treating the condition.
New diagnostic test can detect chlamydia trachomatis in less than 20 minutes
Researchers have developed a new assay for rapid and sensitive detection of Chlamydia trachomatis, the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in humans. This procedure takes less than 20 minutes and can be easily performed at the point of care (POC) during the patient's visit, reports The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics.
Study sheds light on risk of life-threatening blood clots in hospitalized children
Life-threatening blood clots occur so rarely in children that the condition, known as venous thromboembolism (VTE), is often not on pediatricians' mental radar screens—an absence that can lead to woefully delayed recognition and treatment.
Re-envisioining clinical science training
A group of eminent psychological scientists articulates a cutting-edge model for training in clinical science in a new special series of articles in Clinical Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Enzyme BACE1 may be important in predicting onset of Alzheimer disease
The critical enzyme beta-secretase1 (BACE1) is known to be elevated in brains with sporadic Alzheimer disease (AD). Scientists have now found increased levels of BACE1 in brains with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), suggesting that BACE1 activity is important for conversion of mild cognitive impairment to AD and may be an early indicator of AD. The results are published in the January issue of The American Journal of Pathology.
Indian infant deaths: High but falling steadily
Having previously lost two babies to diarrhoea and dysentery, 25-year-old Suman Chandel lies on a bed in a clinic in remote northern India and smiles with relief.
Chronic lung disease linked to cognitive impairment, memory loss
A recent Mayo Clinic study found that people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are about twice as likely to develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI)—and chances are that it will include memory loss. The study was recently published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Steinhardt's Yoshikawa calls for new early childhood focus in sustainable development goals
More than 200 million of the world's children under age 5 begin life at severe risk, which threatens global aims of poverty eradication, sustainable development, and social stability, according to a new report by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, a research initiative set up at the request of the United Nations secretary-general.
Recent reproductive coercion associated with unintended pregnancy
Birth control sabotage and pressure to become pregnant by male partners, also called "reproductive coercion," in the past three months is associated with recent unintended pregnancy among adolescent and young adult females utilizing reproductive health services, according to a Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC study that will appear today in the online version of Contraception.
How large is the alphabet of DNA?
New sequencing technology is transforming epigenetics research, and could greatly improve understanding of cancer, embryo formation, stem cells and brain function.
'Plan, pick and use portion control,' to prevent holiday weight gain
A University of Cincinnati (UC) nutritional studies professor has three key reminders for those of concerned about healthy eating during the holiday season: "Plan, Pick and Use Portion Control."
Researchers examine media impact in multiple countries
A cross-cultural study, led by Iowa State University researchers, shows prosocial media and video games positively influence behavior regardless of culture. The study, a first-of-its-kind, tested levels of empathy and helpfulness of thousands of children and adolescents in seven countries.
First test to predict acute mountain sickness
The first test to identify acute mountain sickness has been developed by a team of researchers in Italy and France and is presented today at EuroEcho-Imaging 2013. The test could revolutionise trekking and climbing by predicting who will develop the potentially deadly condition so they can avoid high altitudes, ascend more gradually or take preventative medication.
Antihormone therapy anastrozole may provide new option for breast cancer prevention
Breast cancer incidence among postmenopausal women at high risk for developing the disease was significantly reduced by the antihormone therapy anastrozole, indicating that the drug may be an effective new option for breast cancer prevention for this group of women, according to initial results of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial presented here at the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held Dec. 10-14. The study is being simultaneously published in the The Lancet.
Exercise improves drug-associated joint pain in breast cancer survivors
Breast cancer survivors taking aromatase inhibitors (AIs) such as anastrozole, letrozole, and exemestane experienced a reduction in joint pain if they exercised while on treatment, according to results presented here at the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held Dec. 10-14.
Drug cuts breast cancer cases by more than 50 percent in high risk women
Taking the breast cancer drug anastrozole for five years reduced the chances of post-menopausal women at high risk of breast cancer developing the disease by 53% compared with women who took a placebo, according to a study published in the Lancet today.
Peripheral immune system may regulate vulnerability to depression
A new study shows that immune cells outside the brain may regulate propensity to develop depression. The data were presented today at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) Annual Meeting.
Breast cancer treatment selection is improved by genomic tests
Genomic tests that determine the molecular subtype of a woman's breast cancer provide a more precise prognosis and valuable guidance about the best treatment, according to new research led by Massimo Cristofanilli, M.D, Director of the Jefferson Breast Care Center at the Kimmel Cancer Center (KCC) and Thomas Jefferson University and Hospitals.
Study shows families don't understand genetic test results or their implications
A study done by researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center shows that many relatives of patients who undergo testing for a gene linked to breast and ovarian cancers misinterpret the results, and less than half of those who could benefit from genetic testing say they plan to get tested themselves—despite the fact that knowing your genetic status may help catch the disease in its earliest stages. The study results will be presented on Thursday, December 12 at the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
Worms and hot baths: Novel approaches to treating autism
A new study shows that two unusual treatment approaches may have beneficial effects on the symptoms of autism in children and adults with the disorder. Using a hot bath to raise body temperature and thereby mimic the effects of infection, or using worm eggs to stimulate the production of immunoregulatory factors in the gut to diminish inflammatory signals, both attenuated symptoms of autism. These findings support the idea that disruption of systems in the body that control inflammation may contribute to the disorder. The study was presented today at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) Annual Meeting.
High levels of maternal care has life-long impact on vulnerability to stress
A new study shows that high levels of maternal care during the early post-natal period in rodents can reduce the sensitivity of the offspring to stressful events during adulthood. Maternal care is shown to chemically modify and thereby re-program genes that control stress responses making them less likely to be activated. The findings have important implications for understanding early environment influences on stress-related disorders.
Half of psychiatrists reject private and federal insurance, preferring cash
Access to mental health care has become a prominent issue in Congress following mass shootings around the country. But a new study in JAMA Psychiatry, led by researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College, suggests that unless those in need of help have deep pockets, they might have a hard time finding a psychiatrist that will provide the needed services.
Study examines the impact of moral preferences on ethical
Would you let other people's ethical preferences determine whether you act unethically on their behalf? Or would you instead rely on your own set of ethics?
Bacterium infecting cystic fibrosis patients genetically evolves to live in lungs and evade antibiotic treatments
The bacterium that's the most important pathogen in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) has genetically evolved and adapted to survive in CF-infected lungs and evade antibiotic treatments, scientists from the University of Ottawa and the University of Calgary have shown.
3D structure of key protein in fight against Homocystinuria unveiled
Homocystinuria is a disease caused by the deficiency or anomalous function of a protein, with serious consequences such as skeletal deformities, vascular thrombosis and even mental retardation. It is a disease that is classed as "rare" and its incidence varies between 1 in 50,000 and 1 in 200,000 individuals and its mortality rate is 18% by age 30, although some studies reveal higher numbers. The disease is caused by an increased plasma concentration of homocysteine, which is a toxic metabolite.
New study shows link between perfluorinated compounds and diabetes
Perfluorinated compounds are environmental toxins that are found in fire extinguishing foam and water-repellent textiles and, for example. In a new study, a research team led from Uppsala University has seen links between high levels of perfluorinated compounds in the blood and diabetes.
Longer maternity leaves lower women's risk of postpartum depression
The more leave time from work that a woman takes after giving birth—up to six months—the better protected she will be from experiencing post-partum depression, according to a study led by Dr. Rada K. Dagher, assistant professor of health services administration at the University of Maryland School of Public Health.
Researchers explore how mothers' blood sugar levels influence child fat
Researchers from Manchester have begun a new study to determine whether blood sugar levels during pregnancy, lower than the level used to diagnose gestational diabetes, influences later levels of body fat in children and development of diabetes in mothers after giving birth.
What are electronic cigarettes?
As rates of smoking fall in Australia, electronic cigarette manufacturers are moving in. Liberty Flights last week released an (awful) online ad to "create awareness" of electronic or e-cigarettes in the Australian marketplace.
FDA's voluntary antibiotics guidelines fail to protect public health
Experts at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF), say that new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voluntary guidelines on antibiotic use in food animal production are unlikely to reduce the widespread use of the drugs in food animals or address the public health crisis of increasing antibiotic resistance. Decades of scientific research, including studies led by CLF researchers, have linked the misuse of antibiotics in food animals to rising antibiotic resistance in human pathogens.
Performance enhancing legs race toward the track record book
An intriguing, technological watershed is fast approaching for athletics—that defining moment when an athlete with artificial limbs shatters an "able-bodied" world record.
Researchers examine health and well-being of Chinese elderly
Like much of the world, China is graying. In 2000, 90 million adults over age 65 lived there. By 2050, the total is expected to be 300 million, representing 30 percent of the country's population.
South Asians need to exercise for 20 minutes longer per day than Europeans
New research has suggested men of South Asian origin may need to exercise for approximately 20 minutes a day longer than their Europeans counterparts.
Seven ways stress impacts our bodies
WUSTL physicians say chronic stress is linked to a host of health problems, from diabetes to acne to cardiovascular disease.
Kids' health depends on exercise and participation
Physicians, exercise physiologists and healthcare organizations emphasize the importance of regular physical activity for lifelong good health. But data show that youth today are less active than in the past, says Patrick Jachyra.
Suicidality test being brought to market
The new test, based on research carried out at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, should help doctors to decrease the risk of suicidality in patients treated with antidepressants who show certain gene markers. Sundance is completing a new round of funding to extend the initial validation results reported by the Institute. The company plans to launch the test immediately as a laboratory developed test. In addition, clinical studies in support of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration submission for market clearance, CE marking and reimbursement will be initiated. Sundance expects to submit its application to the agencies within 18 months.
Systems medicine paves the way for improved treatment for leukemia patients
A multi-disciplinary team of researchers at the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, FIMM, and the Helsinki University Central Hospital has developed a novel individualized systems medicine (ISM) strategy which enables selection of potentially effective cancer therapies for individual patients. Furthermore, this strategy helps in understanding and predicting drug resistance and may pave a path for individualized optimization of patient therapies in the clinic for various types of cancers.
Research shows that time flies when you're counting down
In a new study, Vicki Morwitz, Harvey Golub Professor of Business Leadership at the NYU Stern School of Business, and alumna Edith Shalev (Stern '10) at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology show that counting down (i.e., 100 to one) while performing a task shortens the perceived duration of the task compared to counting up (i.e., one to 100).
Study: Mild stress can make it difficult to control your emotions
Even mild stress can thwart therapeutic measures to control emotions, a team of NYU neuroscientists has found.
Researchers identify traffic cop mechanism for meiosis
Researchers at NYU and the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research have identified the mechanism that plays "traffic cop" in meiosis—the process of cell division required in reproduction. Their findings, which appear in the journal eLife, shed new light on fertility and may lead to greater understanding of the factors that lead to birth defects.
Research pinpoints biological risk factor in obesity-related cancers
It is estimated that more than a third of the new cancer cases expected to occur in the U.S. in 2013 will be related to obesity, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition. Thanks to the work of one Steinhardt researcher, we may better understand why.
Study: Liberal uniqueness, conservative consensus are both ideological illusions
Liberals tend to underestimate the amount of actual agreement among those who share their ideology, while conservatives tend to overestimate intra-group agreement, researchers in NYU's Department of Psychology have found.
Diabetes drugs affect hearts of men, women differently
(Medical Xpress)—Widely used treatments for type 2 diabetes have different effects on the hearts of men and women, even as the drugs control blood sugar equally well in both sexes, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Salmonella jams signals from bacteria-fighting mast cells
A protein in Salmonella inactivates mast cells—critical players in the body's fight against bacteria and other pathogens—rendering them unable to protect against bacterial spread in the body, according to researchers at Duke Medicine and Duke-National University of Singapore (Duke-NUS).
Neuroscience method of optogenetics as good as electrical stimulation
Neuroscientists are eagerly, but not always successfully, looking for proof that optogenetics – a celebrated technique that uses pulses of visible light to genetically alter brain cells to be excited or silenced – can be as successful in complex and large brains as it has been in rodent models.
Partially blocking blood vessels' energy source may stop cancer growth, blindness, other conditions
Inhibiting the formation of new blood vessels is a common strategy for treating a range of conditions such as cancer, inflammatory diseases, and age-related macular degeneration. Unfortunately, drug inefficiency, resistance, and relapse have limited the success of this approach. Now new research publishing online December 12 in the Cell Press journal Cell Metabolism reveals that targeting the metabolism of blood vessels may be a way around these shortcomings.
Whooping cough vaccine antigen disappearing from bacteria in US
Vaccines for whooping cough contain three to five protective antigens, the presence of which are critical to the vaccine's effectiveness. But one of the antigens, pertactin, which had been present in almost all isolates of Bordetella pertussis in the US as late as 2010, is now absent from more than half of them, according to a paper published ahead of print in Clinical and Vaccine Immunology.
Exercise helps women tolerate breast cancer drugs
Exercise might help women beat breast cancer. Researchers found it can ease the achy joints and muscle pain that lead many patients to quit taking medicines that treat the disease and lower the risk of a recurrence.
For altitude training, a narrow window for success
Researchers and athletes have long known that living at altitude holds the potential to improve athletic performance. Many competitive endurance athletes follow a "Live High – Train Low" training regimen, in which they live at moderate altitudes and do their easiest workouts there, saving their most intense training for altitudes closer to sea level. However, though several studies have shown the promise of this type of training philosophy, it's been unknown what specific living altitude is best for enhancing athletic performance at sea level.
Cancer cases up 11%, breast cancer by a fifth: WHO
The number of new cancer cases around the globe jumped by 11 percent in a five-year period, reaching 14.1 million in 2012, with breast cancer increasing by one-fifth, the UN health agency said Thursday.
Helping cancer researchers make sense of the deluge of genetic data
A newly improved internet research tool is helping cancer researchers and physicians make sense out of a deluge of genetic data from nearly 100,000 patients and more than 50,000 mice.
BMI not linked to pain after exercise rehab for back pain
(HealthDay)—For individuals with chronic low back pain (cLBP), body mass index (BMI) is not significantly associated with self-reported pain and disability, according to a study published in the Dec. 1 issue of Spine.
Model predicts risk of adverse events for ICD implantation
(HealthDay)—A simple model may be used to predict risk for in-hospital adverse events among patients receiving an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), according to research published online Dec. 11 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Study shows symptoms linked to poor quality of life in long-term childhood cancer survivors
Due to improved treatments and technologies, more children than ever are surviving cancer. Unfortunately, about 70 percent of these children experience late effects from their disease and treatment 30 years after their cancer diagnosis, which University of Florida Health researchers say significantly impact their quality of life.
Team finds potential treatment for skin and corneal wound healing in diabetics
Diabetes Mellitus (DM), a metabolic disorder that affects nearly 170 million people worldwide, is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia that disrupts carbohydrate fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both. DM can cause long-term damage, dysfunction and even failure of various organs.
A variant of NKH is uncovered
People from around the country and the world turn to Johan Van Hove, MD, PhD, for advice on a rare metabolic disease known as NKH, which can disrupt the body in devastating and even deadly ways. Now, Van Hove, a University of Colorado medical school professor, has identified a new disease related to NKH, a finding that resolves previously baffling cases including the death of a Colorado girl.
Study links family structure to high blood pressure in African-American men
In a study of African-American men, researchers from the National Institutes of Health found that boys who grew up in two-parent homes were less likely to have high blood pressure as adults compared to those raised by a single parent. Reported in the Dec. 12, 2013, issue of the journal Hypertension, this is the first study of an African-American population to document an association between childhood family living arrangements and blood pressure.
US ranks near bottom among industrialized nations in efficiency of health care spending
A new study by researchers at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and McGill University in Montreal reveals that the United States health care system ranks 22nd out of 27 high-income nations when analyzed for its efficiency of turning dollars spent into extending lives.
Many older Americans rely on people, devices, other strategies to get by
Only about a third of Americans ages 65 and older are fully able to take care of themselves and go about their daily lives completely independently, according to a new study published online in the American Journal of Public Health.
Health spending is more efficient for men than for women
Health care spending is a large – and ever increasing - portion of government budgets. Improving its efficiency has therefore become critically important. In the first-ever study to estimate health spending efficiency by gender across 27 industrialized nations, researchers discovered significant disparities within countries, with stronger gains in life expectancy for men than for women in nearly every nation.
New models of drug-resistant breast cancer point to better treatments
Human breast tumors transplanted into mice are excellent models of metastatic cancer and are providing insights into how to attack breast cancers that no longer respond to the drugs used to treat them, according to research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Diet and physical activity may affect one's risk of developing kidney stones
Even small amounts of physical activity may decrease the risk of developing kidney stones, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The study also found that consuming too many calories may increase risk.
From friend to foe: How benign bacteria evolve to virulent pathogens
Bacteria can evolve rapidly to adapt to environmental change. When the "environment" is the immune response of an infected host, this evolution can turn harmless bacteria into life-threatening pathogens. A study published on December 12 in PLOS Pathogens provides insight into how this happens.
First in-human trial of endoxifen shows promise as breast cancer treatment
A Phase I trial of endoxifen, an active metabolite of the cancer drug tamoxifen, indicates that the experimental drug is safe, with early evidence for anti-tumor activity, a Mayo Clinic study has found. The findings indicate that Z-endoxifen, co-developed by Mayo Clinic Cancer Center and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), may provide a new and better treatment for some women with estrogen positive breast cancer and, in particular, for those women who do not respond to tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors. Results of the first in-human trial were presented today during the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
James Bond's preference for shaken martinis may be due to alcohol-induced tremor, say experts
James Bond's alcohol consumption may explain why he prefers his martinis "shaken, not stirred" say researchers in the Christmas edition of The BMJ this week.
Fox Chase trial tests promising treatment in early breast cancer
Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center are enrolling newly diagnosed breast cancer patients into a clinical trial of the promising drug reparixin, which targets tumors' ability to self-renew. The study, being presented at the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, comes on the heels of research done in a Phase Ib pilot trial in which patients with metastatic disease take reparixin along with the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel (brand name Taxol), designed to assess the safety of dosage.
Researchers discover key to the reduction of forgetting
A team of neuroscientists has found a key to the reduction of forgetting. Their findings, which appeared in the journal Neuron, show that the better the coordination between two regions of the brain, the less likely we are to forget newly obtained information.
Switching learning on
Neurobiologist from the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research show how a network of neurons in hippocampus and cortex switches states to turn on and off learning in the adult. They further show how a stimulating environment promotes this switch, and thus learning. Their findings are published today in the renowned journal Nature and have far reaching implications also for diseases where learning and memory is impaired, such as Alzheimer's or dementia.
Brain structure shows affinity with numbers
The structure of the brain shows the way in which we process numbers. People either do this spatially or non-spatially. A study by Florian Krause from the Donders Institute in Nijmegen shows for the first time that these individual differences have a structural basis in the brain. The Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience published the results in an early access version of the article.
First step of metastasis halted in mice with breast cancer
Cell biologists at Johns Hopkins have identified a unique class of breast cancer cells that lead the process of invasion into surrounding tissues. Because invasion is the first step in the deadly process of cancer metastasis, the researchers say they may have found a weak link in cancer's armor and a possible new target for therapy. A summary of their results will be published online in the journal Cell on Dec. 12.
Using air transportation data to predict pandemics
Computational work conducted at Northwestern University has led to a new mathematical theory for understanding the global spread of epidemics. The resulting insights could not only help identify an outbreak's origin but could also significantly improve the ability to forecast the global pathways through which a disease might spread.
Sniffing out danger: Scientists say fearful memories can trigger heightened sense of smell
Most people – including scientists – assumed we can't just sniff out danger.
Biology news
Variety of genetic risk behind bone cancer in dogs
Bone cancer in dogs is affected by a variety of genetic risk factors. Researchers from Uppsala University, Sweden, and the Broad Institute show this in a new study published in Genome Biology.
Feds joins battle on citrus disease
The federal government is waging war against citrus greening disease, which threatens to devastate Florida's orange crop and could affect the entire nation.
Protecting juniper from a berry uncertain future
Forest Research scientists have collected berries from juniper bushes across Great Britain as part of the UK National Tree Seed Project overseen by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The berries are sent to the Millennium Seed Bank at Kew for conservation and further research. Juniper, one of three conifers native to Britain, is declining due to changes in land use, disease and a long and complicated reproductive cycle.
Better protection for mangroves with models for successful seedling establishment
Seedlings of mangroves do not have an easy time to get established. Many forces of nature work against their anchorage in the soil. Human intervention in coastal areas and climate change also make life difficult for mangrove seedlings. Thorsten Balke studied the conditions that enable mangrove seedlings to be successful. On 18 December he will defend his PhD thesis at Radboud University.
The correlation between acquired immunity and biomarkers for infection
A PhD project carried out at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science has studied immunity to IPN in salmon by using different injected vaccines. The study focused particularly on the identification of biological markers as a measure of immunity to IPN.
Marine monitoring stepped up across WA's coastline
The incidence of marine pests in Albany's King George Sound will be examined for the first time this summer in research by a UWA plant biology and Oceans Institute PhD student.
Puerto Rico warns about dwindling numbers of frogs (Update)
Three species of frogs native to the mountains of Puerto Rico have apparently disappeared from several critical habitats, a sign that a long decline in amphibians on the island shows no signs of letting up.
Brazil adapting wheat production to tropics
Over decades, Brazil revolutionized its agriculture by adapting production of soybean, milk, meat and corn to tropical conditions. Now it aims to do the same with wheat.
Sponges squeezed off oldest branch of animal tree
Sponges are getting squeezed out of a distinctive role in evolution. A new study says they don't represent the oldest branch of the animal family tree after all.
US mulls lifting protected status for grizzly bear
US wildlife managers on Thursday recommended lifting endangered species protection for grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park, which, if approved, could open the way for them to be hunted again.
A penguin's tale: Diet linked to breeding failure
(Phys.org) —A study on a Victorian penguin colony has revealed new insight into the link between seabird diet and breeding success.
Young tropical forests contribute little to biodiversity conservation
A satellite image of a green swath of tropical forest does not tell the whole story. About half the world's tropical forests are relatively young. Unless protected, they are unlikely to last more than a human generation before falling to bulldozers and chainsaws. These ephemeral secondary forests may contribute little to tree-biodiversity conservation, according to a new report by scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama.
Study of rodent family tree puts brakes on commonly held understanding of evolution
Rodents can tell us a lot about the way species evolve after they move into new areas, according to a new and exceptionally broad study conducted in part by Florida State University biological science Professor Scott J. Steppan.
How bats took over the night
Blessed with the power of echolocation—reflected sound—bats rule the night skies. There are more than 1,000 species of these echolocating night creatures, compared with just 80 species of non-echolocating nocturnal birds. And while it seems that echolocation works together with normal vision to give bats an evolutionary edge, nobody knows exactly how.
Fatty acids crucial to embryonic development
One classical question in developmental biology is how different tissue types arise in the correct position of the developing embryo. While one signaling pathway that controls this process has been well described, unexpected findings from a team led by Carnegie's Steven Farber reveal the importance of polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism in this process. It is published online December 12 in Developmental Cell.
Combining mutants results in five-fold lifespan extension in C. elegans
What are the limits to longevity? New research in simple animals suggests that combining mutants can lead to radical lifespan extension. Scientists at the Buck Institute combined mutations in two pathways well-known for lifespan extension and report a synergistic five-fold extension of longevity in the nematode C. elegans. The research, done at the Buck Institute and published online in Cell Reports on December 12, 2013, introduces the possibility of combination therapy for aging and the maladies associated with it.
Scientists studying mitochondrial calcium handling yield new disease targets
When things go wrong, cells turn to built-in safety mechanisms for survival. One of those mechanisms involves calcium uptake by mitochondria, the energy-producing powerhouses of cells. Long a mystery, new research by scientists at the Temple University School of Medicine (TUSM) Center for Translational Research shows exactly how mitochondria handle damaging excess calcium from the intracellular environment, and how problems with calcium regulation can lead to vascular damage.
Environment drives genetics in 'Evolution Canyon'
Interplay between genes and the environment has been pondered at least since the phrase "nature versus nurture" was coined in the mid-1800s. But until the arrival of modern genomic sequencing tools, it was hard to measure the extent that the environment had on a species' genetic makeup.
Molecular snapshot of the plant immune system's signal box
(Phys.org) —Plants rarely get sick in their natural environment. When the threat of infection arises, a quick decision is made about the necessary countermeasures. The course is set by a protein which forms complexes with its partner proteins for this purpose. Jane Parker from the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne and Karsten Niefind from the Institute of Biochemistry at the University of Cologne have, together with colleagues, determined the three-dimensional structure of such a key complex. These molecular close-ups will enable scientists to reach a better understanding of plant immunity in the near future.
Among Tsimane men, successful hunting boosts testosterone and cortisol levels, anthropologists find
While small-scale horticulture is a relatively recent addition to the human repertoire of food provisioning, hunting has deep evolutionary roots. In practically every society, hunting ability correlates with reproductive success—the better the hunter, the more children he is likely to father.
Research sheds light onto the debut of insect life on Earth
(Phys.org) —"Insects dominate our world," according to University of Kansas researcher Michael Engel. Thus, anything scientists can learn about the evolution of insects leads to a better grasp of how biology in general has changed over time.
Stealth maneuver allows nectar bats to target insect prey
A nectar-feeding bat that was thought to eat insects in passing has been discovered to target its moving prey with stealth precision, according to new research by scientists at Queen Mary University of London.
Bees work together to keep cluster cool
Research published today in the Royal Society journal Interface has shed some light on how swarming bees stay warm in the cold and avoid getting too hot.
Scientists discover double meaning in genetic code
Scientists have discovered a second code hiding within DNA. This second code contains information that changes how scientists read the instructions contained in DNA and interpret mutations to make sense of health and disease.
Speeding up gene discovery
Since the completion of the Human Genome Project, which identified nearly 20,000 protein-coding genes, scientists have been trying to decipher the roles of those genes. A new approach developed at MIT, the Broad Institute, and the Whitehead Institute should speed up the process by allowing researchers to study the entire genome at once.
Rapid evolution of novel forms: Environmental change triggers inborn capacity for adaptation
In the classical view of evolution, species experience spontaneous genetic mutations that produce various novel traits—some helpful, some detrimental. Nature then selects for those most beneficial, passing them along to subsequent generations.
With new study, aquatic comb jelly floats into new evolutionary position
In a study that compares the genomes of aquatic life forms, researchers have found evidence to shuffle the branches of the tree of life. For more than a century, scientists thought that complex cell types, like neurons and muscles, evolved only once, after simple animals that lack these cell types branched from the rest of animals on the evolutionary tree. A team of researchers from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the National Institutes of Health, has provided new evidence from the genomic study of a ctenophore species—a comb jelly—that challenges this long-held view.
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