Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for January 16, 2014:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- The symphony of life, revealed: New imaging technique captures vibrations of proteins- Researchers 'detune' a molecule: Experiment shows how to soften atomic bonds in a buckyball
- Black hole that doesn't emit x-rays discovered near massive star
- Academics decry FDA crackdown on genome service companies
- Renewable chemical ready for biofuels scale-up
- A first in silicon photonics research: On-chip soliton compression observed
- Soil production breaks geologic speed record
- New technique allows "nanobiopsies" of living cells
- New form of quantum matter: Natural 3D counterpart to graphene discovered
- Neuroscientists find the brain can identify images seen for as little as 13 milliseconds
- Scientists discover two proteins that control chandelier cell architecture
- Unraveling misfolded molecules using 'reprogrammed' yeast protein
- The life cycle of a jellyfish, and a way to control it
- Understanding collective animal behavior may be in the eye of the computer
- How vision captures sound now somewhat uncertain
Astronomy & Space news
Image: Spitzer's Orion
(Phys.org) —Few cosmic vistas excite the imagination like the Orion Nebula, an immense stellar nursery some 1,500 light-years away.
The most important alarm clock in the Solar System (w/ Video)
At 10:00 GMT on Monday, the most important alarm clock in the Solar System will wake up ESA's sleeping Rosetta spacecraft.
The experts behind Gaia's arrival at nothingness
With a final, modest, thruster burn yesterday afternoon, ESA's billion-star surveyor finalised its entry into orbit around 'L2', a virtual point far out in space. But how do you orbit nothing? And who can show you how to get there, anyway?
NASA invites public to send names on an asteroid mission and beyond
NASA is inviting people around the world to submit their names to be etched on a microchip aboard a spacecraft headed to the asteroid Bennu in 2016.
Japan scientists test tether to clear up space junk
Japanese space scientists are set to trial a tether they hope will help pull junk out of orbit around Earth, clearing up tonnes of planetary clutter, they said Thursday.
Galactic star 'baby boom' ended five billion years ago
Luminous galaxies far brighter than our Sun constantly collide to create new stars, but Oxford University research has now shown that star formation across the Universe dropped dramatically in the last five billion years.
Space station MAXI-mizing our understanding of the universe
Look up at the night sky ... do you see it? The stars of the cosmos bursting in magnificent explosions of death and rebirth! No? Well, then maybe you are not looking through the "eyes" of the Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image (MAXI) investigation, mounted on the exterior of the International Space Station Kibo module. MAXI, along with other sky watching instruments, such as Swift, collect data that help researchers discover, study and understand the physics behind the powerful lifecycle of our universe. MAXI was key in two recent publications sharing results that make strides in advancing astrophysics.
Comet-chasing probe to be roused from sleep
One of the most ambitious missions in the history of space goes into high-risk mode on Monday when Europe rouses a comet-chasing probe from years of hibernation.
Black hole that doesn't emit x-rays discovered near massive star
(Phys.org) —Researchers in Spain have discovered a black hole that doesn't reveal itself through x-ray radiation thrown off by material that is being sucked into it. In their paper published in the journal Nature, team members from several research institutions throughout Spain, report that the black hole appears to exist as a companion (binary) to a massive Be star that spins so fast it's surrounded by a gas disk.
Technology news
US woman fights citation for wearing Google Glass (Update)
A U.S. woman goes to court Thursday to fight what appears to be the first citation for wearing Google Glass, the computer-embedded glasses, while driving.
Cybersecurity chief had qualms over health website
The top cybersecurity officer for the Health and Human Services Department says he was concerned about potential vulnerabilities before the launch of the Obama administration's health care website.
India's Tata Consultancy's profit jumps 31.6 pct (Update)
Leading Indian software exporter Tata Consultancy Services reported a steep increase in quarterly profit on Friday, signaling that global spending on information technology is picking up.
IBM introduces X6 architecture, optimizes X86-based servers for cloud, analytics
IBM today announced the sixth generation of its enterprise X-Architecture for System x and PureSystems servers, providing industry-leading improvements in the performance and economics of x86-based systems for analytics and cloud.
Links to linked open data to increase the usefulness of data
Fujitsu Laboratories today announced the development of technology that can discover and automatically link data representing the same underlying subject among Linked Open Data (LOD) available throughout the world and individual data sets maintained by governments and companies.
Alternative energy patent issued to Kansas State University
Kansas State University was recently granted a U.S. patent for a material that helps convert straw and other grasses into a cleaner substance for alternative energy and fuel.
Carlyle Group makes $4.15B offer for J&J business
Johnson & Johnson said Thursday that it's been offered $4.15 billion by The Carlyle Group for its Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics business, a year after J&J began reviewing strategic options for the blood-testing unit as part of a routine pruning of its extensive family of businesses.
Turkey parliament body backs Internet curbs despite concerns
A Turkish parliamentary committee has given its backing to controversial legislation aimed at imposing strict controls on the Internet, media reports said Thursday.
NBC, Facebook enter content deal
NBC and Facebook will be sharing content on the upcoming Winter Olympics, both hoping to boost interest on what promises to be a big event for social media.
Sprint restores plan for faster phone upgrades
Sprint is restoring the ability for customers to upgrade phones more quickly.
Yahoo chief operating officer out
Yahoo chief operating officer Henrique de Castro is walking away with a stock award of $20 million as the company struggles to boost revenues, regulatory filings showed.
China tested hypersonic missile vehicle
China for the first time has tested a hypersonic missile vehicle designed to travel several times the speed of sound, the Pentagon said Wednesday.
Build it and they will believe, says defiant China tycoon
A Chinese multi-millionaire who built himself an Egyptian pyramid and a replica of Versailles vows to construct the world's tallest building in just six months—despite authorities preventing work amid safety concerns.
US court muddles outlook for 'Open Internet'
With the "Open Internet" rule struck down by a US court, the future of the online landscape is now murkier than ever.
China web users surge to 618 million
The number of web users in China has surged to 618 million, a government agency said Thursday, underscoring the rapid growth of online connectivity in the country with the world's largest Internet population.
Green energy fixes for drafty Downton Abbeys
Bright and early on a frigid winter morning, three-time U of T alumnus Russell Richman pulls his bike up to 31 Sussex Avenue on the University of Toronto's downtown campus.
Texting is bound to decline but it won't die out just yet
Reports this week reveal the number of text messages sent between mobile phones has fallen into decline for the first time since the service was introduced. According to figures from Deloitte, the number of messages sent worldwide fell from 152 billion in 2012 to 145bn in 2013.
Hacker threats rise, with defenders lacking, report says
A Cisco security report released on Thursday showed that hacker threats reached "startling levels" last year and that the world is suffering from a shortage of skilled computer defenders.
Google privacy case can be heard in UK, court rules
Britain's High Court ruled on Thursday that a group of Internet users can sue US tech giant Google over an alleged breach of privacy legislation.
Print book reading tops in US despite rise of tablets
A Pew Research Center study release on Thursday showed that US readers reach for ink-and-paper books despite the rising popularity of tablets and digital works.
Judge chides Apple for blocking e-book monitor
A federal judge Thursday rejected Apple's request for more time to comply with a ruling on e-book price-fixing, while chastising the company for failing to cooperate with a court-appointed monitor.
Judge: $1.17 billion patent verdict for CMU stands
A U.S. judge declined to reduce a $1.17 billion patent infringement verdict that Carnegie Mellon University won against a California technology firm in 2012.
Buildings vulnerable 20 years after LA earthquake
Twenty years after a strong earthquake struck Los Angeles and surrounding communities, engineers say buildings around the region remain vulnerable.
NBA's Kings to accept Bitcoin for tickets
US basketball outfit the Sacramento Kings said Thursday they would begin accepting Bitcoin, the first professional sports team to accept the virtual currency.
Jawbone earpiece makes it easier to love smartphones
Jawbone on Thursday began making it easier to love Siri, Google Now or other virtual assistants in a hint at the future portrayed in the Oscar-nominated film "Her."
China's biggest mobile firm starts selling Apple iPhone
China Mobile, the country's biggest services provider, on Friday begins selling Apple's iPhone to its millions of customers, ending a six-year wait in a crucial market for the US technology giant.
Intel 4Q net income rises 6 pct (Update)
Intel's fourth-quarter net income rose 6 percent, as the company offset flat demand for its personal computer chips with higher sales of other products.
High court could weigh in on cellphone searches
The U.S. Supreme Court decided 40 years ago that police do not need a search warrant to look through anything a person is carrying when arrested. But that was long before smartphones gave people the ability to take with them the equivalent of millions of pages of documents or thousands of photographs.
Google gets in game of Internet age storytelling
The Google lab behind augmented reality game "Ingress" is teaming with HarperCollins Publishers and top author James Frey for an Internet age adventure in storytelling.
Beam+ remote presence system aims for home entry
(Phys.org) —What an idea: remote presence machines that roll around from office to office and on trade show floors, helping professionals save on travel but, even though not with the group, still able to maintain a close-up presence anyway. That was the benefit, allowing technology to give people the closest experience to actually being there, behind Beam for professional use. Now there is a remote presence system that is being promoted as a family-ready product designed to help relatives away from home to keep contact with family members at home. The Beam+ is launching in limited quantity for $995. After the first thousand units are gone, the price will be set to its normal level of $1995.The first-thousand units will start shipping in the summer. The company behind the Beam+ is Palo Alto, California-based Suitable Technologies.
Smart object recognition algorithm doesn't need humans
(Phys.org) —If we've learned anything from post-apocalyptic movies it's that computers eventually become self-aware and try to eliminate humans.
Probing Bitcoins
(Phys.org) —Bitcoin transactions may be anonymous, but they're also completely transparent. This makes stealing easier, but cashing in on the theft without getting caught a lot more difficult. That's one of the findings from "A Fistful of Bitcoins," a computer science paper that takes an in-depth look at how the virtual currency has been used since its introduction back in early 2009. Led by computer science Ph.D. student Sarah Meiklejohn, researchers documented more than 16 million transactions and more than 12 million public keys-the addresses Bitcoin users use for their transactions-as of April 13, 2013.
RF MEMS: New possibilities for smartphones
(Phys.org) —The antennas in most of today's smartphones do not function efficiently in 3G and 4G/LTE wireless environments. This leads to slower download speeds, reduced voice quality, lower energy efficiency and more dropped calls. A technology commonly used in satellite and defense applications-RF MEMS or Radio Frequency Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems-is now poised to improve smartphone performance in the near future by way of higher antenna efficiency.
Facebook adds trending topics to site (Update)
In a move that echoes Twitter, Facebook is adding a feature to its service that lets users know the topics of discussion that are trending among the site's 1.2 billion users, whether it's the death of a world leader or the Oscars.
Human arm sensors make robot smarter (w/ Video)
Using arm sensors that can "read" a person's muscle movements, Georgia Institute of Technology researchers have created a control system that makes robots more intelligent. The sensors send information to the robot, allowing it to anticipate a human's movements and correct its own. The system is intended to improve time, safety and efficiency in manufacturing plants.
NSA scoops up millions of text messages a day, report says (Update)
The US National Security Agency has collected almost 200 million mobile phone text messages a day from around the world, a report said Thursday, in the latest revelations from the Edward Snowden files.
Medicine & Health news
900 pupils hit by suspected food poisoning in Japan
More than 900 pupils at elementary schools in a central Japanese city have fallen ill in a suspected outbreak of mass food poisoning, officials said Thursday.
Monitoring inactive hepatitis B patients is cost-effective strategy for Shanghai
A novel study determined that monitoring inactive chronic hepatitis B (HBV) carriers is a cost-effective strategy for China. However, results published in Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, show that increasing treatment, monitoring and adherence to therapy are necessary to achieve significant health benefits at the population level.
French court rules out euthanasia for quadriplegic
A French court Thursday ruled against ending the life of a 38-year-old quadriplegic who has been in a vegetative state for years and whose family have been divided about his fate.
Patients curious about medical marijuana treatments
Ever since medical marijuana became legal in Illinois on Jan. 1, Loyola University Medical Center neurologist and multiple sclerosis specialist Dr. Matthew McCoyd has been inundated with questions from his patients.
Stem cell therapy following meniscus knee surgery may reduce pain, restore meniscus
A single stem cell injection following meniscus knee surgery may provide pain relief and aid in meniscus regrowth, according to a novel study appearing in the January issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS).
Macrophages target tumor cells following monoclonal antibody therapy
Monoclonal antibodies directed against tumor antigens have proven effective for treating some forms of cancer. Despite the increasing use of monoclonal antibody therapy, it is not clear how these antibodies drive tumor removal.
Chronic intestinal damage raises hip-fracture rate in celiac disease patients
Celiac disease patients who experience chronic damage in the small intestine may be more likely to break a hip than those whose intestinal tissues have begun healing, according to new research accepted for publication in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
House passes bill requiring health care numbers
The House has approved a bill that would require the Obama administration to report weekly on how many Americans have signed up for health care coverage.
Geography plays a major role in access to pediatric kidney transplantation in the US
A new study has revealed large geographic variation in waiting times for children across the United States in need of kidney transplants, with differences due mainly to local supply and demand. The findings, which will appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), suggest that broader geographic sharing of kidneys for children should be considered.
State health insurance marketplaces boost outreach efforts
(HealthDay)—Health insurance exchanges in five states with strong enrollment growth are ramping up efforts to reach even more uninsured Americans before the end of the Affordable Care Act's open enrollment period on March 31.
Experts predict ACA's areas of primary care impact
(HealthDay)—The Affordable Care Act (ACA) will transform primary care, and predictions of this impact center around some common themes, according to an article published Dec. 25 in Medical Economics.
Gene therapy improves eyesight in people born with an incurable form of blindness
A new gene therapy has restored some sight in people born with an inherited, progressive form of blindness. The technique replaces a defective gene in the eye with a normal working copy of the gene using a single injection.
How much does it cost to have a baby in a hospital?
Women giving birth in California can face a huge cost difference in their hospital bills, according to a new UC San Francisco study.
Does taking multiple medicines increase your risk of being admitted to hospital?
Patients with a single illness who take many drugs have an increased risk of being admitted to hospital, but for patients with multiple conditions, taking many medicines is now associated with a near-normal risk of admission. This is the key finding of work published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. Doctors call the situation where people take many drugs 'polypharmacy', a state of affairs that is becoming increasingly common in part because we have more elderly people and also a rising number of people are being diagnosed with multiple health conditions.
Global first: Easing cannabis withdrawal
(Medical Xpress)—A world-first study led by the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre (NCPIC) at UNSW has revealed a breakthrough for dependent cannabis users, employing a cannabis-based medication, Sativex (nabiximols), that has been shown to provide significant relief from withdrawal symptoms.
Bored? Don't worry, it might be the start of something brilliant
A girl called Holly Thompson yawned so hard in a boring school class that she dislocated her jaw and couldn't close it again. The 17-year-old English schoolgirl had to be taken to hospital where the doctor wedged her mouth open to re-engage her jaw.
Smiley like you mean it: How emoticons get in your head
We may not spend a lot of time thinking about the emoticons we insert into our emails and text messages, but it turns out that they reveal something interesting about the way we perceive facial expressions.
Key to Lyme disease's locale may be found in the gut of a tick
The prevalence of Lyme disease varies greatly between different locales throughout the Northeast, even though the deer ticks that transmit Lyme bacterium are common throughout the entire region.
Typhoid Fever: A race against time
The life-threatening disease typhoid fever results from the ongoing battle between the bacterial pathogen Salmonella and the immune cells of the body. Prof. Dirk Bumann's research group at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel has now uncovered how the typhoid pathogen repeatedly manages to evade the host's immune system. Their findings are published in the scientific journal Cell Host & Microbe.
Stem cells overcome damage in other cells by exporting mitochondria
A research team has identified a protein that increases the transfer of mitochondria from mesenchymal stem cells to lung cells. In work published in The EMBO Journal, the researchers reveal that the delivery of mitochondria to human lung cells can rejuvenate damaged cells. The migration of mitochondria from stem cells to epithelial cells also helps to repair tissue damage and inflammation linked to asthma-like symptoms in mice.
New research offers alternative to daily injections for diabetics
(Medical Xpress)—The impact of latest research from our Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology could make frequent insulin injections for sufferers of Type 2 diabetes a thing of the past.
Sweet enough? Separating fact from fiction in the sugar debate
Forget lemon detox diets and soup fasts, sugar-free was the fad diet choice of 2013. But while it's wise to limit the foods and drinks you consume that contain added sugars, this doesn't mean you need to eliminate sugars from your diet altogether.
Findings bolster fiber's role in colon health
Scientists have more reasons for you to eat fiber and not abuse antibiotics.
Unsafe at any level: Very low blood alcohol content associated with causing car crashes
Even "minimally buzzed" drivers are more often to blame for fatal car crashes than the sober drivers they collide with, reports a University of California, San Diego study of accidents in the United States .
Increased mobility thanks to robotic rehab
After a stroke, patients often struggle with persistent paresis. ETH researchers examined whether robot-assisted therapy can help stroke patients. This form of therapy proved successful particularly with the most severely affected persons with arm paresis.
Important discovery for the diagnosis of genetic diseases
A study conducted by Marie Kmita's team at the IRCM, in collaboration with Josée Dostie at McGill University, shows the importance of the chromatin architecture in controlling the activity of genes, especially those required for proper embryonic development. This discovery, recently published in the scientific journal PLOS Genetics, could have a significant impact on the diagnosis of genetic diseases.
Brain on autopilot: How the architecture of the brain shapes its functioning
The structure of the human brain is complex, reminiscent of a circuit diagram with countless connections. But what role does this architecture play in the functioning of the brain? To answer this question, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin, in cooperation with colleagues at the Free University of Berlin and University Hospital Freiburg, have for the first time analysed 1.6 billion connections within the brain simultaneously. They found the highest agreement between structure and information flow in the "default mode network," which is responsible for inward-focused thinking such as daydreaming.
Warning! Warning labels can be dangerous to your health
Many products, like cigarettes and medications, are stamped with warning labels alerting consumers to their risks. Common sense suggests these warnings will encourage safer choices.
Research findings could lead to life-saving treatments to fight tumor metastasis
A team of researchers from the Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve School of Medicine have identified critical complex mechanisms involved in the metastasis of deadly "triple negative" breast cancers (TNBC). These tumors are extremely difficult to treat, frequently return after remission, and are the most aggressive form of breast cancer in women. The discovery of this critical interaction of mechanisms could be used to develop new life saving treatments to kill metastatic tumors in TNBC.
Study finds potential treatment for drug-resistant H7N9 influenza virus
The novel avian H7N9 influenza virus has caused more than 130 human infections with 43 deaths in China. New research, conducted under the supervision of Kansas State University's Juergen Richt, is showing promise in helping to fight this deadly virus.
Altering the community of gut bacteria promotes health and increases lifespan
Scientists at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging have promoted health and increased lifespan in Drosophila by altering the symbiotic, or commensal, relationship between bacteria and the absorptive cells lining the intestine. The research, appearing in the January 16, 2014 edition of Cell, provides a model for studying many of the dysfunctions that are characteristic of the aging gut and gives credence to the growing supposition that having the right balance of gut bacteria may be key to enjoying a long healthy life.
Research sheds new light on heritability of disease
A group of international researchers, led by a research fellow in the Harvard Medical School-affiliated Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife, published a paper today in Cell describing a study aimed at better understanding how inherited genetic differences, or variants, predispose certain individuals to develop diseases such as type 2 diabetes. The study integrated computational methodology with experimentation to address and prove underlying genetic causes of type 2 diabetes. In principle, the new methodology can be applied to any common disease, including osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease and cancer. The hope is that with better understanding of how DNA functions in these individuals, new treatments will follow.
Targeting a cell cycle inhibitor promotes beta cell replication
Researchers replicated human pancreatic beta cells—which produce insulin—in a mouse model in which donor cells were transplanted. The newly replicated cells retained features of mature beta cells and showed a physiological response to glucose. The results of this proof-of-principle experiment have implications for helping both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients.
Scientists reveal steps leading to necrotizing fasciitis
How does Streptococcus pyogenes, or Group A streptococcus (GAS)—a bacterial pathogen that can colonize humans without causing symptoms or can lead to mild infections—also cause life-threatening diseases such as necrotizing fasciitis (commonly known as flesh-eating disease) and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome?
Researchers report new method to detect key indicator of heart diseases
A team that includes Dartmouth College researchers has discovered a new way to detect cardiolipin, a key indicator of heart diseases and some genetic disorders.
Traditional Chinese medicines stall progression of diabetes
Traditional Chinese herbal medicines hold promise for slowing the progression from prediabetes to an official diabetes diagnosis, according to new research accepted for publication in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
Canada agrees to hear appeal in right-to-die case
Canada's highest court said Thursday it will hear an appeal in a case that could grant terminally ill people the right to assisted suicide.
Medicaid expansion improves health care services for prison population
As Medicaid eligibility expands under the Affordable Care Act, prison systems are increasingly supporting prisoners' enrollment in Medicaid as a way to help lower prison system costs and improve prisoners' access to health care upon release. These are the findings of a nationwide survey of state prison administrators that was led by Josiah D. Rich, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights, based at The Miriam Hospital. The study is published online in advance of print in the American Journal of Public Health.
Study reveals the role of sex in spread of deadly disease
Research involving scientists at the University of York has provided important new information about transmission of human leishmaniasis, a group of infectious diseases which kills more than 100,000 people a year.
Large numbers of patients in South Africa with untreatable tuberculosis are discharged into community
Substantial numbers of patients in South Africa with extensively-drug resistant TB and totally resistant TB, who have exhausted available treatment options, are being discharged from hospital, potentially exposing the wider community to infection, according to new research published in The Lancet.
Kids teased in PE class exercise less a year later
A new study found that children who were bullied during P.E. class or other physical activities were less likely to participate in physical activity one year later.
Fetal exposure to nicotine increases long-term risk of obesity
Many women are encouraged to quit smoking when they become pregnant using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) whether as gum, transdermal patches, nasal spray or lozenges. But new research from Western University in London, Canada, has shown that nicotine from either smoking or NRT causes a wide range of long-term adverse reactions for the offspring, including an increased risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome by influencing the liver to produce more triglyceride. The research, led by Daniel Hardy, PhD, of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry is published online in the journal Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology.
Research associates pro-inflammatory molecules with early death in HIV patients
A study led by researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) provides new insight into the impact that pro-inflammatory molecules have on early death in HIV patients who abuse alcohol. The findings, published online in the journal AIDS, pinpoint the inflammatory markers most associated with early death and may help explain why some patients die earlier than others even when all of these patients are on antiretroviral therapy.
Drug abusers at risk for suicidal thoughts, survey finds
(HealthDay)—American adults who use illicit drugs are much more likely to think about suicide than those in the general population, a new federal government survey says.
FDA warns of fires from wart removers
(HealthDay)—Flammable over-the-counter wart removers have started fires, injuring at least 10 people in recent years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.
Funding losses damaging public health infrastructure
(HealthDay)—The effect of funding losses on state public health programs is assessed and described in a study published Nov. 14 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.
Survey results identify drivers of doctor engagement
(HealthDay)—The results of a survey from the Physician Wellness Services and Cejka Search have identified the key aspects of doctor engagement.
NCPA: Access to controlled substances often delayed
(HealthDay)—Most pharmacists report experiencing multiple delays or issues with their controlled substance orders, according to the results of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Controlled Substances Access Survey.
US smoking rates drop to historic lows: CDC
(HealthDay)—Less than 20 percent of Americans still smoke cigarettes—a breakthrough called a "milestone" Thursday by federal health officials.
Survival rates of kids suffering cardiac arrest improve with new training approach
Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford have found a new way to boost the survival of pediatric patients whose hearts stop while they are hospitalized.
Parietal gray matter volume changes may be associated with early Parkinson's disease memory deficits
Research by a team of investigators in Finland suggests that the free recall memory deficits common even in early stages Parkinson's disease (PD) are related to structural changes in the brain, specifically parietal cortical gray matter volume. Their findings are published in the current issue of the Journal of Parkinson's Disease.
Risk factor for life-threatening disease in preemies identified
Many premature infants suffer a life-threatening bowel infection called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).
Prion discovery could help keep deadly brain diseases in check
New research from David Westaway, PhD, of the University of Alberta and Jiri Safar, PhD, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine has uncovered a quality control mechanism in brain cells that may help keep deadly neurological diseases in check for months or years.
Same cell death pathway involved in three forms of blindness
Gene therapies developed by University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine researchers have worked to correct different forms of blindness. While effective, the downside to these approaches to vision rescue is that each disease requires its own form of gene therapy to correct the particular genetic mutation involved, a time consuming and complex process.
Fathers' diet, bodyweight and health at conception may contribute to obesity in offspring
Research involving rats suggests that there is a biological link between paternal diet, bodyweight and health at the time of conception and the health of his offspring. In a new research report published online in The FASEB Journal, scientists show that if male rats ate a high fat diet, had diabetes and were obese, their offspring had altered gene expression in two important metabolic tissues—pancreas and fat (even though they were not yet obese). This altered gene expression may increase the risk of future obesity and premature aging. Other genes that were affected include markers of premature aging, cancer, and chronic degenerative disease.
Higher vitamin D levels associated with better cognition and mood in PD patients
A new study exploring vitamin D levels in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) opens up the possibility of a new avenue of early intervention that may delay or prevent the onset of cognitive impairment and depression. The findings are published in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease.
FDA panel again rejects wider use of J&J's Xarelto
A panel of Food and Drug Administration experts again opposed expanding use of Johnson & Johnson's blood thinner Xarelto to reduce dangerous blood clots in a new group of patients, those with acute coronary artery disease.
Do diet drinks make you eat more?
(HealthDay)—Overweight adults often turn to diet beverages to help them slim down, but this tactic might backfire, new research suggests.
Obesity may shorten lives by almost four years, study says
(HealthDay)—Obese American adults die an average of almost four years earlier than those with normal weight, and middle-aged obese adults face the highest risk of an early death, a new study suggests.
Americans eating a little less, a little better, study finds
Americans are eating a bit less, dining out fewer times and consuming slightly healthier food, the US Department of Agriculture said in a study released Thursday, calling the finding "encouraging."
How metabolism and brain activity are linked
A new study by scientists at McGill University and the University of Zurich shows a direct link between metabolism in brain cells and their ability to signal information. The research may explain why the seizures of many epilepsy patients can be controlled by a specially formulated diet.
Study: How likes, dislikes from sniffing are encoded in the brain
For most animals, the scent of rotting meat is powerfully repulsive. But for others, such as carrion-feeding vultures and insects, it's a scent that can be just as powerfully attractive.
Immune cells may heal an injured heart
The immune system plays an important role in the heart's response to injury. But until recently, confusing data made it difficult to distinguish the immune factors that encourage the heart to heal following a heart attack, for example, from those that lead to further damage.
Study identifies drug that could improve treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder
Nearly 8 million Americans suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition marked by severe anxiety stemming from a traumatic event such as a battle or violent attack.
How vision captures sound now somewhat uncertain
(Medical Xpress)—When listening to someone speak, we also rely on lip-reading and gestures to help us understand what the person is saying.
Scientists discover two proteins that control chandelier cell architecture
Chandelier cells are neurons that use their unique shape to act like master circuit breakers in the brain's cerebral cortex. These cells have dozens, often hundreds, of branching axonal projections – output channels from the cell body of the neuron – that lend the full structure of a chandelier-like appearance. Each of those projections extends to a nearby excitatory neuron. The unique structure allows just one inhibitory chandelier cell to block or modify the output of literally hundreds of other cells at one time.
Neuroscientists find the brain can identify images seen for as little as 13 milliseconds
Imagine seeing a dozen pictures flash by in a fraction of a second. You might think it would be impossible to identify any images you see for such a short time. However, a team of neuroscientists from MIT has found that the human brain can process entire images that the eye sees for as little as 13 milliseconds—the first evidence of such rapid processing speed.
Academics decry FDA crackdown on genome service companies
(Medical Xpress)—Dr. Robert Green, a medical geneticist with Brigham and Women's Hospital and Nita Farahany, professor of genome sciences and policy at Duke University, who also happens to be a lawyer have stepped into the "controversy" surrounding companies that provide genetic testing for anyone who wants it. Together the two have published a COMMET piece in the journal Nature, arguing against a recent order by the FDA, that 23andMe, a genome services company, cease offering services that offer medical advice.
Biology news
Stranded whales to be euthanised in New Zealand
New Zealand conservation officials said Thursday they would have to euthanise eight pilot whales stranded on a remote beach where five others died earlier this week.
Single-cell genome sequencing gets better (w/ Video)
(Phys.org) —Bioengineers at the Jacobs School have created a better way to sequence genomes from individual cells. The breakthrough, which relies on microwells just 12 nanoliters in volume (see image), is one of many recent "omics" innovations from researchers across the Jacobs School and UC San Diego. The single-cell genome sequencing advance from Kun Zhang's lab could help researchers understand what causes Alzheimer's disease. The work could also enable scientists to identify tough-to-culture microbes living in ocean water and within the human body-by probing single cells.
Protecting garden wildlife
Britain's biggest public-led investigation into the health of native wildlife has begun today (16 January), with the launch of the national Garden Wildlife Health project.
WWF: Europe needs to rid itself of illegal wildlife products
WWF and TRAFFIC strongly support today's decision by the Plenary of the European Parliament to adopt an EU Resolution on Illegal Wildlife Crime.
National Park Service and outside experts collaborate to conserve migratory wildlife
A new paper details a collaboration between the National Park Service (NPS) and outside experts, including Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) scientists, in developing recommendations to conserve aerial, marine, and terrestrial populations of migrating wildlife that move in and out of U.S. national parks, often coming from distant regions of the globe.
Endangered turtles face new threat in Indonesia
Green sea turtles remain a rare sight in many parts of the world, but one Indonesian island tasked with protecting them is being overrun by far too many.
'Star Trek' for animals: A wireless medical monitor for your pet
The next time you take Fluffy in for surgery, the veterinarian may be able to monitor her post-op progress from a smartphone.
Study finds a 'molecular scaffolding' that maintains skin structure and organisation
The human body is daily exposed to external assaults such as bacteria, ultraviolet light or chemical agents. Skin, the largest organ of the body, is the first line of defense against these agents. Skin performs this function thanks to the close connections established between its cells (e.g. adherens junctions). The loss of cell adhesion between these cells is related to inflammatory diseases and cancer, hence the special interest in this area of research over the past years.
45 years on: How serotonin makes schistosome parasites move
Schistosoma mansoni and its close relatives are parasitic flatworms that affect millions worldwide and kill an estimated 250,000 people a year. A study published on January 16 in PLOS Pathogens identifies a new part of the molecular pathway that controls parasite movement. And because coordinated movement is essential for the schistosome life cycle in its human host, this protein is a promising new drug target.
Special yeast reduce alcohol, improve wine
A team of Australian researchers has taken a giant step towards controlling a growing problem in the wine community. They have identified special yeast that produce a lower level of alcohol, helping to preserve the flavor. Their research is published ahead of print in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
Illumina announces $1000 whole human genome sequencing machine
(Phys.org) —Genome sequencing-technology company, Illumina, based in San Diego has announced (at the annual JP Morgan Healthcare Conference) that its new machine, called the HiSeq X Ten is able to sequence whole human genomes in assembly line fashion at a pace of $1000 each. If the company's claims pan out, the machine will mark a major milestone in medical research technology.
Soil microbes alter DNA in response to warming
As scientists forecast the impacts of climate change, one missing piece of the puzzle is what will happen to the carbon in the soil and the microbes that control the fate of this carbon as the planet warms.
The life cycle of a jellyfish, and a way to control it
Those free-swimming jellyfish in the sea don't start out in that familiar medusa form, but rather start as sessile and asexual polyps. Now, researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on January 16 have discovered what triggers that transformation in the moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita). The key is a novel metamorphosis hormone that accumulates during the cold winter to induce a synchronized emergence of jellyfish in the spring.
Unraveling misfolded molecules using 'reprogrammed' yeast protein
At the heart of brain diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease is protein misfolding, in which distorted proteins are unable to perform their normal functions. At present, there is no known way to reverse protein misfolding.
Understanding collective animal behavior may be in the eye of the computer
No machine is better at recognizing patterns in nature than the human brain. It takes mere seconds to recognize the order in a flock of birds flying in formation, schooling fish, or an army of a million marching ants. But computer analyses of collective animal behavior are limited by the need for constant tracking and measurement data for each individual; hence, the mechanics of social animal interaction are not fully understood.
Single class of queen pheromones stops worker reproduction in ants, bees and wasps
A new study by a team of KU Leuven and international researchers has found that the chemical structure of queen pheromones in wasps, ants and some bees is strikingly similar, even though these insects are separated by millions of years of evolution and each evolved eusociality independently of the other. The results suggest that queen pheromones used by divergent groups of social insects evolved from conserved signals of a common solitary ancestor.
Team finds receptors that help plants manage environmental change, pests and wounds
ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the main energy source inside a cell and is considered to be the high energy molecule that drives all life processes in animals and humans. Outside the cell, membrane receptors that attract ATP drive muscle control, neurotransmission, inflammation and development. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found the same receptor in plants and believe it to be a vital component in the way plants respond to dangers, including pests, environmental changes and plant wounds. This discovery could lead to herbicides, fertilizers and insect repellants that naturally work with plants to make them stronger.
Genomes of modern dogs and wolves provide new insights on domestication
Dogs and wolves evolved from a common ancestor between 9,000 and 34,000 years ago, before humans transitioned to agricultural societies, according to an analysis of modern dog and wolf genomes from areas of the world thought to be centers of dog domestication.
Renewable chemical ready for biofuels scale-up
Using a plant-derived chemical, University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have developed a process for creating a concentrated stream of sugars that's ripe with possibility for biofuels.
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