Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for January 9, 2014:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Meta-hologram produces dual images and multiple colors (w/ Video)- Surprising new class of 'hypervelocity stars' discovered escaping the galaxy
- Scientists discover extracellular vesicles produced by ocean microbes
- Battery development may extend range of electric cars
- New smartphone app helps blind find their way inside buildings
- Researchers lay out theory for metamaterials that act as an analog computer
- Disordered materials hold promise for better batteries
- Quantum mechanics explains efficiency of photosynthesis
- Researchers invent 'sideways' approach to 2-D hybrid
- Study dispels theories of Y chromosome's demise
- A new pathway for neuron repair is discovered
- Spinal cord findings could help explain origins of limb control
- Single cell analysis captures a genomic phenomenon that fuels the complexity and diversity of living things
- Cargo ship with gifts, ants heads to space station (Update 2)
- Mystery solved: How nerve impulse generators get where they need to go
Astronomy & Space news
Status update: GPM completes spacecraft alignments
After a holiday break, final tests for the GPM Core Observatory resumed on Dec. 30, 2013, with alignment measurements. The spacecraft's instruments and components, such as star trackers and thrusters, are attached to the main body in specific configurations. Spacecraft alignment measurement is analogous to alignment for the wheels of a car. The Core Observatory measurements ensure that no parts have shifted during its transportation from the United States to Japan, so they will work as expected.
Earthly politicians seek roadmap for space exploration (Update)
Seeking to boldly go where few politicians have gone before, more than 30 space-faring nations gathered Thursday to map out ways to pool mankind's efforts to explore the stars.
A galaxy with two hearts
This new Hubble image shows the spiral galaxy Messier 83, otherwise known as the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy. One of the largest and closest barred spirals to us, this galaxy is dramatic and mysterious; it has hosted a large number of supernova explosions, and is thought to have a double nucleus lurking at its core.
Orbital readies first cargo mission to space station
The first regular contract flight of Orbital Sciences' unmanned cargo ship to the International Space Station was expected to launch Thursday, following a 24-hour delay.
With instruments in space and on earth, NJIT solar experts monitor the massive solar storm
The first powerful "X-class" solar flare of 2014, in association with another solar phenomenon, a giant cloud of solar particles known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), erupted from the sun on Tuesday, sending radiation and particles speeding toward Earth and disrupting operations on the ground.
Mars orbiter images rover and tracks in Gale Crater
(Phys.org) —NASA's Curiosity Mars rover and its recent tracks from driving in Gale Crater appear in an image taken by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on Dec. 11, 2013.
A rare crash at the Milky Way's core
(Phys.org) —University of Michigan astronomers could be the first to witness a rare collision expected to happen at the center of the galaxy by spring.
Electronic book for students with visual impairments reaches for the stars
A stunning Hubble Space Telescope image of the colorful 30 Doradus Nebula, a giant star-forming region, is the focal point of an eBook on stellar evolution aimed at children with visual impairments, ages 10 to 12. The book is called "Reach for the Stars: Touch, Look, Listen, Learn." Its developers have issued the first chapter, which is being previewed at the winter meeting of the American Astronomical Society at National Harbor, Md. The ebook will available in Apple's iBook store to download for free on iPads in the near future.
Astronomers discover new planet in Pisces constellation
A team led by SF State astronomer Stephen Kane has discovered a new giant planet located in a star system within the Pisces constellation. The planet, perhaps twice the mass of Jupiter, could help researchers learn more about how extrasolar planets are formed.
Cargo ship with gifts, ants heads to space station (Update 2)
A privately launched supply ship rocketed toward the International Space Station on Thursday following a series of delays ranging from the cold to the sun.
Dead star and distant black holes dazzle in X-rays
(Phys.org) —Two new views from NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, showcase the telescope's talent for spying objects near and far. One image shows the energized remains of a dead star, a structure nicknamed the "Hand of God" after its resemblance to a hand. Another image shows distant black holes buried in blankets of dust.
First detailed look at a normal galaxy in the very early universe
(Phys.org) —University of Hawaii at Manoa astronomer Regina Jorgenson has obtained the first image that shows the structure of a normal galaxy in the early universe. The results were presented at the winter American Astronomical Society meeting being held this week near Washington, DC.
Hubble probes interior of Tarantula Nebula
Like lifting a giant veil, the near-infrared vision of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope uncovers a dazzling new view deep inside the Tarantula Nebula. Hubble reveals a glittering treasure trove of more than 800,000 stars and protostars embedded inside the nebula.
Surprising new class of 'hypervelocity stars' discovered escaping the galaxy
An international team of astronomers has discovered a surprising new class of "hypervelocity stars" – solitary stars moving fast enough to escape the gravitational grasp of the Milky Way galaxy.
Technology news
Obsolete gadgetry can pile up, contributing to pollution
Christmas gifts of yesteryear meet an inglorious end at Absolute Green Electronics Recycling in Lake Forest, Calif. Computers are dismantled, the parts sorted into cardboard bins. One holds nothing but hard drives, another AC adapters. Bins stretch in rows across a mammoth warehouse - a bin for graphic cards, a bin for cooling fans, also cellphones, VHS camcorders, digital cameras, cables, network switches.
Workers building Samsung factory riot in Vietnam
Workers building a massive Samsung factory in northern Vietnam battled police and torched motorbikes on Thursday, in a rare outbreak of labor violence in the tightly controlled country.
WWE set to launch own 24/7 network in February
WWE is moving outside the ring to mesh the best of Hulk Hogan, The Rock and John Cena all in place—its own network.
Fujitsu introduces ultra-compact Bluetooth low-energy modules
With increasing OEM development of compact and low-cost Bluetooth low energy (BLE) devices and accessories, Fujitsu Components America has introduced a new family of ultra-compact, BLE modules based on the Nordic Semiconductor nRF51822 System-on-Chip (SoC). The modules provide an economical means for developers to reduce their time-to-market.
Turkey seeks to curb Internet freedom
The Turkish government has moved to impose strict controls on the Internet by monitoring the activities of online users and blocking certain keywords, a parliamentary source said on Thursday.
French Senate wants ban on free book delivery
If the French Senate gets its way, retail giant Amazon and its online peers won't be able to offer free book deliveries in France anymore.
Israeli govt websites briefly downed by power outage
Israeli government websites were briefly downed on Thursday by a power cut at a server facility, a finance ministry official told AFP.
Orange buys into Japanese mobile gaming company
French telecom operator Orange announced that it had bought a share in Japanese mobile gaming company G-cluster Global as it confirms its push into providing content across several platforms.
Google launches private ferry service for workers
Google workers commuting from San Francisco to the company's Mountain View campus can now make the trip on an 83-foot, Wi-Fi-equipped catamaran.
Snapchat rolls out update after breach, apologizes
Snapchat has released an update to its disappearing-photo app following a security breach last week that exposed the phone numbers of millions of users.
UK police trial vest-mounted cameras after killing
London's police force said Thursday it was rolling out vest-mounted video cameras to some of the capital's 2,300 firearms officers, hoping to help build public confidence after a contentious inquest verdict on a fatal shooting.
App Watch: Query your human network with Jelly
Jelly is an app for when you walk by a tree and want to know what type of tree it is, so you snap a photo of it and ask your Facebook and Twitter friends.
PCs cap worst-ever sales year with another 4Q drop
A new report says personal computer sales slipped even further during the holiday shopping season, capping the worst annual decline in the PC industry's history.
Fiber optic dress changes color on a whim
The techno-chic with a few thousand dollars to spare can sport outfits that can change color on a whim.
Toymakers target 'kidults' at high-tech Hong Kong fair
Never mind girls and boys—adults who refuse to grow up are being increasingly targeted by a toy industry promoting adolescence as a lifestyle choice, say industry watchers.
Japan scientists to create controlled nuclear meltdown
A team of nuclear scientists in Japan said on Thursday they plan to create a controlled reactor meltdown in a bid to learn how to deal with future disasters like that at Fukushima.
Tech worn in your socks... and the rest of the body
There's a sensor in a bra, in your socks, on your wrist, attached to your chest, in the ears: wearable tech is spreading all over the body.
Samsung, Apple CEOs to discuss lawsuit settlement
The chiefs of Samsung Electronics Co. and Apple Inc. will meet to discuss settling a bitter two year legal battle over designs and technologies of smartphones and tablets.
Ford Fiesta back in Japan despite past failure (Update)
Ford's Fiesta compact is back in Japan despite failing a decade ago in a market dominated by Toyota and other powerful local brands that specialize in small cars.
Solar energy to power iconic Vegas welcome sign
Officials in Las Vegas are harnessing the power of the sun to light the city's iconic welcome sign.
Gadget Watch: Case makes iPhone a BlackBerry clone
If you love your iPhone but would prefer a physical keyboard, Typo could be for you.
Safer vehicles brake and steer out of harm's way
Scientists at Chalmers University in Göteborg, Sweden, are working with a team at car manufacturer Volvo to develop a vehicle control system that can take over steering and breaking when it detects an imminent collision. Details of the computer algorithm on which the team is working that can make split-second decisions on behalf of the driver and so reduce the risk of serious road accidents is described in the International Journal of Vehicle Safety.
Grand Theft Troll? Anonymity encourages bad behaviour in online computer games, but group discipline wins the day
Flaming. Trolling. Griefing. Cheating. Most players of massive multi-player online games, such as GTA Online, have been victims of activities like these. New research from the journal Behaviour & Information Technology investigates the drivers and group dynamics of these kind of behaviours.
New regional traffic model to combat urban road congestion
Until now, traffic flow models have been based on individual vehicles or roads. The length of time needed for calculating models for larger areas, such as complete cities, was too great. However, Dr Victor Knoop, assistant professor of traffic flow at TU Delft, has now devised a new traffic model that is capable of calculating the traffic situation for large urban areas. He will be presenting the model on 12 January 2014 in Washington, at the Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, the most important annual scientific conference on traffic.
How to teach Deep Blue to play poker and deliver groceries
Deep Blue gained world-wide attention in 1997 when it defeated the then chess world champion Garry Kasparov. But playing chess was all that Deep Blue could do. Ask it to play another game, even a simpler one, such as checkers, and Deep Blue would not even know how to play at beginner level. The same is also true of many other programs that can beat humans. Computers that can play poker cannot play bridge.
How twitter is being used in the Scottish independence referendum debate
Analysis of traffic on the social media site Twitter which includes #indyref shows the Yes campaign has more followers and a wider network of active tweeters spreading their campaign message than Better Together.
Alstom to build Israeli hydro power storage plant
French engineering group Alstom has won a contract worth 120 million euros ($163 million) to build Israel's first hydroelectric storage facility, the company said on Thursday.
Old meets new in 2014 video game lineup
The usual suspects are back in new video game installments in 2014—Mario, Solid Snake and Master Chief, to name a few— but this year they'll also be joined be some shadowy newcomers with monikers like Aiden Pearce and Delsin Rowe.
Tech review: GPS gadgets let you track your kid, elderly loved one or car
We've all seen news alerts for missing senior citizens. Sometimes those have a happy outcome, and other times they don't.
A few standouts from the Consumer Electronics Show
Here are a few things that have stood out for me from the past several days at the Consumer Electronics Show.
Gadget Watch: Car game leaves Hot Wheels in dust
So long, Hot Wheels. You just got lapped by toy race-car company Anki, which showcased its iPhone-controlled car game at Apple's developers conference in June. At the International CES gadget show in Las Vegas this week, Anki gave onlookers hands-on time with its high-tech game, Anki Drive.
Banking group sees limited future for Bitcoin
The online currency Bitcoin has shown unexpected success but its future as a broadly accepted exchange medium is limited, according to a report by a global banking group Thursday.
Electronic valet parks the car, no tip required
There is no one inside the Range Rover in a Las Vegas parking lot. But it still guides its way to a parking place, after what looks like some hesitation.
3D printing poised to shake up shopping
A 3D printing trend playing out at the Consumer Electronics Show bodes a future in which shoes, eyeglass frames, toys and more are printed at home as easily as documents.
IBM's Watson gets its own business
One of the most famous "Jeopardy!" champs of all time is moving to Manhattan.
Eye-catching electronics: Thin film transistors on parylene membrane
Researchers at ETH are developing electronic components that are thinner and more flexible than before. They can even be wrapped around a single hair without damaging the electronics. This opens up new possibilities for ultra-thin, transparent sensors that are literally easy on the eye.
Three-wheel $6,800 car gears for 2015 US launch
The sleek three-wheeled car looks futuristic, but, as its creator acknowledges, it uses no new technology.
Computer scientists quantify elements of writing style that differentiate successful fiction
(Phys.org) —Imagine the challenge publishers face, pouring over thousands of manuscripts to determine if a book will be a hit. Stony Brook Department of Computer Science Assistant Professor Yejin Choi thinks she has a tool to bring some science to that art, and she is co-author of a paper, Success with Style: Using Writing Style to Predict the Success of Novels, which was unveiled at the conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing (EMNLP) 2013.
Internet eyewear much in view at CES trade fair
While many of the digital glitterati thronging this week's Consumer Electronics Show were wearing Google's new Internet glasses, rival online eyewear products abounded among the trade stands.
New smartphone app helps blind find their way inside buildings
(Phys.org) —A new smartphone app developed by a team at the University of Palermo in Italy helps sightless people navigate inside of buildings where GPS doesn't work. The development effort was paid for by the Andrea Bocelli Foundation and the result is meant as a means of aiding the blind in finding their way around inside of buildings by following a pre-designated path. The app works in conjunction with special tape that is placed on the floor. The user points the smartphone at the floor in a way reminiscent of a cane, swiping it back and forth until it buzzes in their hand, letting them know when to go straight or turn. The team has written a paper describing their app, dubbed ARIANNA, and how it works—it's available on the preprint server arXiv.
Battery development may extend range of electric cars
It's known that electric vehicles could travel longer distances before needing to charge and more renewable energy could be saved for a rainy day if lithium-sulfur batteries can just overcome a few technical hurdles. Now, a novel design for a critical part of the battery has been shown to significantly extend the technology's lifespan, bringing it closer to commercial use.
Medicine & Health news
Bed bugs grow faster in groups
Researchers have previously observed that certain insects—especially crickets, cockroaches and grasshoppers—tend to grow faster when they live in groups. However, no research has ever been done on group living among bed bugs until now.
Does ObamaCare cause psychological distress among US adults?
The Affordable Care Act, dubbed 'ObamaCare', has proven to be one of the most controversial legislative acts of the Obama presidency. New research, published in Stress & Health explores the psychological relationship between patients and health insurance coverage, finding that adults with private or no health insurance coverage experience lower levels of psychological distress than those with public coverage. In contrast, average absolute levels of distress were high among those with no coverage, compared to those with private coverage.
Petition launched to take pregnant Texas woman off ventilator
Abortion rights activists launched a petition Wednesday to take a pregnant American woman declared brain dead off life support in Texas, as requested by her family.
Pharmaceutical giant Teva announces new CEO
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, the world's largest maker of generic drugs, said Thursday it had appointed a new chief executive to replace Jeremy Levin, who left abruptly in October.
Japan files criminal complaint against Novartis arm
Japan's health ministry on Thursday filed a criminal complaint against the local arm of Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis over alleged exaggerated advertising for a popular blood-pressure drug, the company said.
Authorities in US sue Novartis in kickback scheme
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. paid kickbacks to a specialty pharmacy in exchange for recommending refills of a blood transfusion drug it produces, according to an amended complaint filed Wednesday in a civil case brought by state and federal prosecutors in New York.
Japan food probe widens as 1,400 reportedly fall sick
A probe into pesticide-laced frozen food in Japan has widened, with police interviewing factory workers assigned to a packaging room, reports said Thursday, as the number who have fallen sick reportedly topped 1,400.
First cannabis-derived drug authorised for France
France has for the first time approved prescription use of a drug derived from cannabis—a mouth spray used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms, the government said Thursday.
Why do some people develop type 1 diabetes rapidly while others at risk do not?
(Medical Xpress)—The autoimmune process leading to type 1 diabetes can develop quickly in some children and young people but very slowly in others despite the presence of proteins in their blood indicating an on-going autoimmune process in the pancreas. Thanks to combined funding of over $1 million a new study hopes to understand why some people develop type 1 diabetes very early while others who are known to be at risk are protected for decades.
Cancer Genomics Hub adds childhood cancer data
Researchers studying the genetics of childhood cancers now have access to a large and growing set of genomic data through the Cancer Genomics Hub (CGHub) operated by the University of California, Santa Cruz. The data come from a National Cancer Institute (NCI) initiative called TARGET (Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments), which aims to determine the molecular changes that drive the development and progression of five major types of childhood cancer.
Electronic Christmas gifts bear more responsibility for parents and kids
Smartphones, laptops, tablets and video games were happily crossed off the wish lists of many young children and teens this Christmas. But for parents, giving children electronic devices has to be about more than just saving Christmas, it has to be about making sure kids are safe when they start getting online.
Testing whether vitamin D delays onset of diabetes
Northwestern Medicine is looking for volunteers to take part in the first definitive, large-scale clinical trial to investigate if a vitamin D supplement helps to delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes in adults who have prediabetes and are at high risk for type 2. Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the study is taking place at about 20 study sites across the United States.
Researchers discover a tumor suppressor gene in a very aggressive lung cancer
The Genes and Cancer Group at the Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program of the IDIBELL has found that the MAX gene, which encodes a partner of the MYC oncogene, is genetically inactivated in small cell lung cancer. Reconstitution of MAX significantly reduced cell growth in the MAX-deficient cancer cell lines. These findings show that MAX acts as a tumor suppressor gene in one of the more aggressive types of lung cancer.
Funding problems threaten US disaster preparedness
The Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in New York City prompted large increases in government funding to help communities respond and recover after man-made and natural disasters. But, this funding has fallen considerably since the economic crisis in 2008. Furthermore, disaster funding distribution is deeply inefficient: huge cash infusions are disbursed right after a disaster, only to fall abruptly after interest wanes. These issues have exposed significant problems with our nation's preparedness for public health emergencies.
Liberia to vaccinate 100,000 children
Health officials in Liberia have launched a campaign to vaccinate some 100,000 children against pneumonia.
Novel potential approach to prevent infection in patients with liver failure
Findings published in the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases journal, Hepatology, indicate that infection, the commonest cause of mortality in patients with acute liver failure (ALF), may be decreased by inhibiting the activity of a protein found in saliva called SLPI (secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor). New research has found that this protein, produced by the body in response to injury, plays a vital role in patients with ALF.
Engineered anti-toxin antibodies improve efficacy
The effectiveness of toxin-neutralizing antibodies is considered to be mediated through the interaction of the variable region of the antibody and the toxin; however, recent studies suggest that the constant region (Fc) of antibodies also influence efficacy.
Mice exposed to retinoid deficiency in utero exhibit bronchial hyperresponsiveness as adults
Individuals with asthma and COPD are subject to debilitating bronchospasm as a result of airways that are hyperresponsive to stimuli. Factors that lead to the development of airway hyperresponsiveness are not well characterized.
Doctors say cutting food stamps could backfire
Doctors are warning that if Congress cuts food stamps, the federal government could be socked with bigger health bills.
Innovative motion evaluation tool saves patients with back pain X-ray radiation exposure
Those have undergone extensive back surgery and need repeated X-rays to monitor their progress may soon have access to a new technology that skips the X-rays and repeated radiation exposure, opting instead for an innovative, noninvasive, non-X-ray device that evaluates spinal movement. The technology was created and patented by two engineering undergraduate students who recently formed their own company to market the device.
Mood stabilizing drug may help treat acute kidney injury
A mood stabilizer used to treat bipolar affective disorders may also help treat acute kidney injury, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings are significant because there are no effective therapies for AKI.
Targeting certain kidney cells may help treat kidney failure
New research reveals that certain cells contribute to kidney function decline, making them attractive targets for treatments against kidney failure. The findings will appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).
New social enterprise set to lead to significant improvements in stroke rehabilitation
A pioneering programme that empowers stroke survivors to become more involved in their own rehabilitation has been officially launched as a social enterprise. Bridges Self-Management Limited is the culmination of an eight-year project led by rehabilitation expert Dr Fiona Jones from the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education at London's Kingston University and St George's, University of London.
Cardiologists urged to reduce inappropriate radiation exposure
Cardiologists are being urged to reduce patient radiation exposure in a European Society of Cardiology (ESC) position paper which outlines doses and risks of common cardiology examinations for the first time. The paper is published today in the European Heart Journal.
Epidemiologists find bed bug hotspots in Philadelphia, identify seasonal trends
A new study from Penn Medicine epidemiologists that looked at four years of bed bug reports to the city of Philadelphia found that infestations have been increasing and were at their highest in August and lowest in February. The findings, published ahead of print on January 8 in the Journal of Medical Entomology, point to two possible peak times to strike and eliminate the bugs.
New research could expand availability of hand, face transplants
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators have made an important step towards greater availability of hand transplants, face transplants and other transplants involving multiple types of tissue. In their report in the American Journal of Transplantation, the team describes how a procedure developed at the MGH to induce immune tolerance to organ transplants also induces tolerance to a model limb transplant in miniature swine. Transplantation of donor bone marrow – either several months before or simultaneous with the transplant – allowed the animals to accept what are called vascularized composite allografts (VCAs) from immunologically mismatched donors.
Canada reports first H5N1 bird flu death in North America
Canada announced Wednesday the first H5N1 avian flu death in North America, of a patient who had just returned from China, and said it was urgently contacting airline passengers on the victim's flights.
Maternal stress hormones and maternal smoking increase daughter's risk of nicotine dependence
Tobacco smoking by pregnant women has long been viewed as a public health risk because of smoking's adverse effects on the development of a fetus.
Does too much hygiene cause diabetes?
The incidence of auto-immune diseases like type 1 diabetes and allergies has risen dramatically in developed countries over the past fifty years. The reasons for this trend are not fully understood but a theory known as the 'hygiene hypothesis' links it to a rise in hygiene standards. According to this theory, eliminating bacteria in food and the environment of infants may be depriving the immune system of the stimulus it needs to develop adequately, especially during the first critical years of childhood.
Vallo Tillman: The hygiene hypothesis is not yet a theory
A new study in Northern Europe is specifically designed to verify whether children need be in contact with pathogens in their early years to help them develop a strong immune system.
Lifestyle explains ethnic differences in breast cancer rates
(Medical Xpress)—Lower rates of breast cancer in South Asian and black women in England are largely explained by differences in lifestyle and reproductive patterns, such as alcohol consumption, breastfeeding and number of children, Oxford University researchers have found.
Music through sport – jymmin improves your mood
Working out and making music at the same time – scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig retrofitted conventional fitness machines to produce music during a workout. Not only do these "jymmin" machines reduce physical exertion during exercise. The researchers have now proven that they also have a mood-enhancing effect: After strength training with musical feedback, a person's mood improves significantly. It appears that hormones are responsible for this beneficial effect on mood.
Five questions: The recognition of clinical informatics as medical sub-specialty
Clinical informatics, a field at the intersection of clinical medicine and information technology, has reached a new milestone: Physicians can now become board-certified in this medical sub-specialty.
Prefer dry heat to arctic chill? Genetics might be the reason
(Medical Xpress)—While people in the East and Midwest have been suffering through an intense cold system drifting in from the Arctic, those in the Southwest have been enjoying beautiful, warm weather – and rubbing it in to family and friends in cooler climates by boasting about it on social media.
Study: Intensive exercise training program for dementia patients improves care in clinical setting
(Medical Xpress)—A study by researchers at the University of Arizona Department of Surgery, published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, showed that an innovative, customized exercise program applied to clinical practice substantially improved care for dementia patients.
Restarting stalled autophagy a potential approach to treating Niemann-Pick disease
(Medical Xpress)—Whitehead Institute researchers have determined that the lipid storage disorder Niemann-Pick type C1 (NPC1) disease is caused not only by defects in cholesterol processing but also in autophagy—a key cellular degradation pathway that malfunctions in many neurodegenerative diseases. Targeting both the cholesterol accumulation and stalled autophagy found in NPC1 with combination therapy could represent a viable treatment strategy.
New imaging technique signals a breakthrough in the treatment of IBS
Scientists at The University of Nottingham are leading the world in exploiting MRI technology to assist in the treatment and diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a condition that causes serious inconvenience and discomfort to sufferers.
Preclinical study suggests E-cigarettes may promote lung cancer in high-risk individuals
Exposing human lung cells with genetic mutations associated with high risk for lung cancer to the chemicals in electronic-cigarette (e-cigarette) vapor enhanced the cells' cancerous behaviors, according to preliminary results presented here at the AACR-IASLC Joint Conference on the Molecular Origins of Lung Cancer, held Jan. 6–9.
"Sugar is the new tobacco," says expert
Professor Simon Capewell, from the University of Liverpool's Institute of Psychology, Health and Society is part of a campaign, `Action on Sugar', aimed at reducing the amount of added sugar in food and soft drinks to help tackle the obesity epidemic.
Racial blends - easy on the eyes until you categorise
New light has been shed on how our minds judge multi-racial individuals, thanks to a collaborative research project between the University of Otago and the University of California, San Diego.
Anti-inflammatory drugs may improve treatment of abnormal maternal inflammation
New research out of Queen's University has shown that anti-inflammatory drugs could be beneficial in the treatment of abnormal maternal inflammation during pregnancy, a condition that can cause serious diseases like pre-eclampsia and can lead to small babies.
When charitable acts are perceived as 'tainted' by personal gain
(Medical Xpress)—We tend to perceive a person's charitable efforts as less moral if the do-gooder reaps a reward from the effort, according to new research.
Mapping reveals 110 multiple sclerosis risk genes
Norwegian researchers have mapped genetic variations associated with an increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) and myasthenia gravis (MG), bringing science one step closer to understanding these serious autoimmune disorders.
Study of Nepalese pilgrims challenges diagnosis of acute mountain sickness
A study led by University of British Columbia scientists calls into question a widely used method of diagnosing acute mountain sickness.
Discovery leads to patent for novel method of treating traumatic brain injury
A researcher in the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio received a U.S. patent Dec. 31 for his discovery that a class of compounds is protective against traumatic brain injury (TBI). The patent, No. 8,618,074, covers novel methods of preventing or treating neuronal damage, and work is continuing on development of potential therapies for TBI based on this invention.
Kids have skewed view of gender segregation
Children believe the world is far more segregated by gender than it actually is, implies a new study led by a Michigan State University scholar.
Cancer drug protects against diabetes
Very low doses of a drug used to treat certain types of cancer protect the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas and prevent the development of diabetes mellitus type 1 in mice. The medicine works by lowering the level of so-called sterile inflammation. The findings have been made by researchers from the University of Copenhagen, the Technical University of Denmark and the University of Southern Denmark working with researchers in Belgium, Italy, Canada, Netherlands and the USA.
Successful test in humans of a nasal vaccine against pertussis
The CHILD-INNOVAC European research programme, coordinated by Inserm, has enabled the development of an innovative vaccine that can be administered intranasally, to combat pertussis, which has shown a resurgence in developed countries in recent years. The research consortium, headed by Camille Locht, Director of the Centre for Infection and Immunity of Lille (a joint Unit involving Inserm, CNRS, Institut Pasteur de Lille and University of Lille Nord de France), today published promising results from Phase I clinical trials of the vaccine in human subjects in the online journal PLOS ONE.
Unfit, lean people are better protected against heart attacks than fit, obese people
(Medical Xpress)—In a study published in the European Heart Journal, a research team at Umeå University, Sweden, has shown that physical fitness in your teens can reduce the risk of heart attack later in life, while men who are fit and obese in their teens run a higher risk of having a heart attack than unfit, lean men.
Masculinity, sleep deprivation lead to health, safety issues
Economics and culture may have created a dangerously overworked and sleep-deprived segment of the American labor force, according to a Penn State researcher
Many men start testosterone therapy without clear medical need
Although testosterone use has sharply increased among older men in the past decade, many patients appear to have normal testosterone levels and do not meet the clinical guidelines for treatment, according to new research accepted for publication in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Scientists uncover new target for brain cancer treatment
A new study is giving researchers hope that novel targeted therapies can be developed for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common and most aggressive form of brain cancer, after demonstrating for the first time that a gene known as melanoma differentiation associated gene-9/syntenin (mda-9/syntenin) is a driving force behind the disease's aggressive and invasive nature.
Inappropriate antibiotic use in emergency rooms not decreasing in adults
An analysis of emergency room (ER)visits over a 10-year period finds that while inappropriate antibiotic use is decreasing in pediatric settings, it continues to remain a problem in adults, according to an article published ahead of print in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
Remission from depression much slower in adults who were abused in childhood
Remission from depression is delayed in adults who have experienced childhood physical abuse or parental addictions, a new study by University of Toronto researchers has found. The study is published this week in the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.
Newly published survey shows drug shortages still have major impact on patient care
According to newly published results from a survey of pharmacy directors, drug shortages remain a serious problem for patient safety. Nearly half of the responding directors reported adverse events at their facilities due to drug shortages, including patient deaths.
US food companies cut 6.4 trillion calories
Some of the largest U.S. food companies have cut more than 6.4 trillion calories from their products as part of a fight against obesity, according to a new study.
Scientists identify pivotal cellular protein underlying eczema
Researchers from the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology have revealed a critical player in the cellular interactions leading to eczema – a chronic inflammatory skin condition affecting more than 14 million U.S. children and adults.
Researchers discover how vascular disease activates autoimmune disorders
The hardening of the arteries, also called atherosclerosis, that can lead to heart attack or stroke. has also been linked to autoimmune disorders. It has not been clear why these diseases are related, but a study published January 9th by Cell Press in the journal Immunity reveals that a molecule that causes atherosclerosis also activates white blood cells called T cells, causing clinical symptoms of autoimmune disease to worsen in mice. The findings shed light on the tight link between autoimmunity and atherosclerosis, opening new avenues for the treatment of autoimmune disorders.
Researchers find comparable long-term outcomes between diastolic and systolic heart failure patients
A new study by researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and Boston Medical Center (BMC) found comparable long-term outcomes between congestive heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction commonly known as "diastolic heart failure" and congestive heart failure with reduced ejection fraction also known as "systolic heart failure." The findings are published online in The American Journal of Cardiology.
Minorities and poor have more advanced thyroid cancers when diagnosed, study shows
UCLA researchers have found that minority patients and those of lower socioeconomic status are far more likely to have advanced thyroid cancer when they are diagnosed with the disease than white patients and those in higher economic brackets.
Why is type 2 diabetes an increasing problem?
Contrary to a common belief, researchers have shown that genetic regions associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes were unlikely to have been beneficial to people at stages through human evolution.
Red blood cells take on many-sided shape during clotting
Red blood cells are the body's true shape shifters, perhaps the most malleable of all cell types, transforming – among many other forms—into compressed discs capable of going through capillaries with diameters smaller than the blood cell itself. While studying how blood clots contract John W. Weisel, Ph.D., professor of Cell and Developmental Biology at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, and colleagues, discovered a new geometry that red blood cells assume, when compressed during clot formation.
SHY hypothesis explains that sleep is the price we pay for learning
Why do animals ranging from fruit flies to humans all need to sleep? After all, sleep disconnects them from their environment, puts them at risk and keeps them from seeking food or mates for large parts of the day.
Researchers determine hormone linked to improved glucose metabolism activates browning of fat
Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have discovered that a hormone long associated with weight loss and improved glucose metabolism is linked to activation of calorie-burning brown fat. This finding could have implications for production of new medications for type 2 diabetes and obesity. The results are published in the January issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation in a paper titled "Interplay between FGF21 and Insulin Action in the Liver for the Regulation of Metabolism."
Study: Heavy viewers of 'Teen Mom' and '16 and Pregnant' have unrealistic views of teen pregnancy
The creator of MTV's "16 and Pregnant" and "Teen Mom" said the shows have been called "one of the best public service campaigns to prevent teen pregnancy." A new Indiana University research study finds the opposite to be true.
U.S. lung cancer rates continue to drop: CDC
(HealthDay)—As fewer Americans smoke, the number of people who develop lung cancer continues to drop, U.S. health officials report.
FDA warns against misuse of laxatives
(HealthDay)—If you are constipated and need to use a laxative, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration wants you to know that some products can be dangerous if you don't follow the dosing instructions or you have certain medical conditions.
New drug combo might help older, sicker patients with leukemia
(HealthDay)—A new combination of drugs might prolong life in certain older leukemia patients, a new study suggests.
Ease up on workouts to aid flu recovery, expert says
(HealthDay)—Exercising when you have a cold or the flu can cause more harm than good in some cases, an expert warns.
Death rate after hip, knee replacements has dropped sharply, study finds
(HealthDay)—The risk of death from hip- or knee-replacement surgery has dropped substantially in recent years, a large new study finds.
Occupational therapy aids kids with autism, sensory issues
(HealthDay)—Occupational therapy focused on sensory integration strategies helps children with autism spectrum disorder and sensory issues improve their ability to perform everyday tasks, according to a study published online Nov. 10 in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
Cognitive behavioral therapy best for cancer patients with insomnia
(HealthDay)—Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the preferred choice over mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for nonpharmacologic management of insomnia in patients with cancer, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Lowering WBC criteria lowers negative appendectomy rate
(HealthDay)—Reducing the threshold of leukocytosis as a criterion for appendicitis to 8,000 to 9,000 white blood cells (WBCs) per µL reduces the rates of negative appendectomy, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in Pediatrics.
Conventional versus intensive T1DM tx not tied to menopause
(HealthDay)—For women with type 1 diabetes, intensive versus conventional treatment is not associated with menopause risk, although greater insulin dose is associated with lower natural menopause risk, according to research published in Diabetes Care.
Study reveals structure of master regulator and new drug target for autism, cervical cancer
A team of scientists at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans has discovered the structure of the active form of E6-associated protein (E6AP), an enzyme that acts as a master regulator in the body. They report, for the first time, that the active form of E6AP is composed of three distinct protein molecules. E6AP controls functions as diverse as the ability of nerve cells to "rewire" themselves in response to external stimuli and the mechanism by which certain viruses, like human papillomaviruses or HPV, hijack normal cellular processes in order to replicate – a process that can ultimately lead to cancer. The research will be published in the January 10, 2014, issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
New study shows promise for preventing therapy resistance in tumor cells
A new study led by University of Kentucky researchers suggests that activating the tumor suppressor p53 in normal cells causes them to secrete Par-4, another potent tumor suppressor protein that induces cell death in cancer cells. This finding may help researchers decipher how to inhibit the growth of tumors that have become resistant to other treatments.
Report answers questions about the human microbiome and its role in health, obesity
The human microbiome, the collection of trillions of microbes living in and on the human body, is not random, and scientists believe that it plays a role in many basic life processes. As science continues to explore and better understand the role of the human microbiome. A new report from the American Academy of Microbiology addresses some of the most common questions about this growing area of research.
First clinical study of new gene therapy shows promise for reducing motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease
A new triple gene therapy called ProSavin might safely improve motor function in Parkinson's patients by reprogramming brain cells to produce dopamine—a chemical essential for the proper control of movement—according to a phase 1/2 trial published in The Lancet.
Target canine 'superspreaders' to halt killer disease and cull fewer dogs, study suggests
A new way to test for the parasite which causes the fatal disease leishmaniasis could help control its spread to humans and stop dogs being needlessly killed in parts of South America.
Discovery may aid vaccine design for common form of malaria
A form of malaria common in India, Southeast Asia and South America attacks human red blood cells by clamping down on the cells with a pair of proteins, new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has revealed.
Moderate coffee consumption does not lead to dehydration
New research, published today in the PLOS ONE, has found no evidence for a link between moderate coffee consumption and dehydration. The research, conducted by researchers at the University of Birmingham School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, UK, found that drinking moderate amounts of coffee does not result in dehydration and contributes to daily fluid requirements in regular coffee drinkers just as other fluids do.
Antipsychotic drug exhibits cancer-fighting properties
In a prime example of finding new uses for older drugs, studies in zebrafish show that a 50-year-old antipsychotic medication called perphenazine can actively combat the cells of a difficult-to-treat form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The drug works by turning on a cancer-suppressing enzyme called PP2A and causing malignant tumor cells to self-destruct.
Novel biomarker approach suggests new avenues to improve schizophrenia disease management
Environmental effects of events such as oxygen deprivation and infections may be preserved as markers in blood that are associated to schizophrenia, according to an international study led by the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy's Center for Biomarker Research and Personalized Medicine.
Are you listening? Kids' ear infections cost health care system nearly $3 billion a year
Acute otitis media, or ear infection, is the most common ailment among kids of preschool age and younger in the U.S., primarily because these children have immature middle-ear drainage systems, higher exposure to respiratory illnesses and undeveloped immune systems.
Stem cells injected into nerve guide tubes repair injured peripheral nerve
Using skin-derived stem cells (SDSCs) and a previously developed collagen tube designed to successfully bridge gaps in injured nerves in rat models, the research team in Milan, Italy that established and tested the procedure has successfully rescued peripheral nerves in the upper arms of a patient suffering peripheral nerve damage who would have otherwise had to undergo amputations.
Dietary supplements can't treat or cure concussions, FDA says
(HealthDay)—Concussions can't be prevented, treated or cured with dietary supplements, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Researchers find rare genetic cause of Tourette syndrome
A rare genetic mutation that disrupts production of histamine in the brain is a cause of the tics and other abnormalities of Tourette syndrome, according to new findings by Yale School of Medicine researchers.
Spinal nerve connections develop using simple rules
(Medical Xpress)—Repairing spinal injuries with stem cells may be a step closer thanks to scientists at the Universities of Bristol and Plymouth. A new study, published today in the Journal of Neuroscience, employed novel techniques to show that spinal nerve cell networks may develop using much simpler rules than expected.
Myotonic dystrophy disrupts normal control of gene expression in the heart
Disruption of a transcription network controlled by MEF2 in heart tissue of people with myotonic dystrophy type 1 – an inherited form of muscular dystrophy with symptoms starting in early adulthood – affects activity of the minute bits of genetic material called microRNAs responsible for fine-tuning expression of proteins, said researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in a report that appears online in the journal Cell Reports.
A new pathway for neuron repair is discovered
Penn State University molecular biologists have discovered a brand-new pathway for repairing nerve cells that could have implications for faster and improved healing. The researchers describe their findings in a paper titled "Dendrite injury triggers DLK-independent regeneration," which will be published in the 30 January 2014 issue of the journal Cell Reports. These findings demonstrate that dendrites, the component of nerve cells that receive information from the brain, have the capacity to regrow after an injury.
Mystery solved: How nerve impulse generators get where they need to go
Scientists have solved a longstanding mystery of the central nervous system, showing how a key protein gets to the right spot to launch electrical impulses that enable communication of nerve signals to and from the brain.
Spinal cord findings could help explain origins of limb control
We might have more in common with a lamprey than we think, according to a new Northwestern University study on locomotion. At its core, the study of transparent zebrafish addresses a fundamental evolution issue: How did we get here?
Study demonstrates 'guided missile' strategy to kill hidden HIV
Researchers at the UNC School of Medicine have deployed a potential new weapon against HIV – a combination therapy that targets HIV-infected cells that standard therapies cannot kill.
Biology news
Ol Pejeta Conservancy extends breeding plan for the northern white rhinoceros
As the last two fertile male northern white rhinos in the world, Suni and Sudan have a lot of pressure on their broad shoulders.
Researchers study stem-cell therapy for feline kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease in older cats is the focus of a fifth clinical trial under way at Colorado State University's James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, where veterinarians are exploring novel stem-cell therapy that could, for the first time, hold promise for treating one of the most perplexing feline diseases.
India tiger kills four people in 12 days
A wild tiger is believed to have killed four villagers in northern India in 12 days, prompting searches for the big cat and protests from villagers, an official said Thursday.
The reptile database
Experts predict that 2014 will be a big year for reptiles. Reptiles, which include snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodiles, tuataras and amphisbaenians, are projected to become the most diverse vertebrate group in the world. As it stands now, there are approximately 10,000 bird species – the most of any vertebrates – but reptiles are forecast to reach and surpass that milestone in 2014.
Rethink needed on turtle conservation
(Phys.org) —Green turtle populations have expanded so much in Indonesia's east coast islands marine protected areas that they are adopting new feeding habits, degrading the ecosystem and threatening their own conservation.
Sexual selection may result in bigger-billed male birds
(Phys.org) —To female coastal plain swamp sparrows, male bill size matters.
Review highlights ecosystem's lack of immunity
A review which found dwindling numbers of small foraging mammals in Australian bush who could have a hand in ecosystem decline has raised more questions than answers for the researchers involved.
Drought and downing equal vulture supermarkets
African vultures are famous for quickly finding carcasses; so much so that they are considered clairvoyants in parts of Africa. But just how do vultures know where to find food across vast regions in the first place? In a paper appearing in the January 8th edition of the journal PLoS ONE, Dr. Corinne Kendall of Columbia University and African Vulture Technical Advisor with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and colleagues have discovered that vultures, rather than aggregating where animals are most abundant as previously thought, instead focus on areas and conditions where animals are most likely to die.
Lions are critically endangered in West Africa
A report published today concludes that the African lion is facing extinction across the entire West African region. The West African lion once ranged continuously from Senegal to Nigeria, but the new paper reveals there are now only an estimated 250 adult lions restricted to four isolated and severely imperiled populations. Only one of those populations contains more than 50 lions.
Big data: A method for obtaining large, phylogenomic data sets
Traditional molecular systematic studies have progressed by sequencing genes one by one, a time- and cost-intensive task that has limited the amount of data a researcher could feasibly obtain. With the continual improvement of next-generation sequencing technologies, however, obtaining large molecular data sets is becoming much easier, and much cheaper. This increase in data means, in many cases, increased accuracy in reconstructing the evolutionary history of organisms.
Genetic testing to produce more offspring
A small anomaly with massive consequences: Researchers have discovered a genetic defect that makes breeding bulls infertile. To verify the mutation, researchers from Technische Universität München used the very latest gene sequencing techniques. Tests can now determine whether an animal is suitable for breeding or not.
Minimalistic raiding parties of a slave-hunting ant crack castles
A group of scientists from the University of Mainz and the Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Goerlitz, headed by Susanne Foitzik and Bernhard Seifert, recently described a new slave-making ant species from the eastern USA. They baptized the new ant Temnothorax pilagens – from pilere (Latin): to pluck, plunder or pillage. The paper was published in the open access journal ZooKeys.
Budapest team studies how humans interpret dog barks
(Phys.org) —People interpret their dogs' sounds by how long or short is the bark and also by how high or low the pitch. Moreover, humans rely on the same rules to assess emotional valence and intensity in conspecific and dog vocalizations. These are the findings of six researchers from Eotvos Lorand University, and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Budapest. Tamás Faragó, Attila Andics, Viktor Devecseri, Anna Kis, Márta Gácsi and Ádám Miklósi said shorter barks sound more positive and high-pitched noises seem more intense to humans. If those measures sound familiar, that is because people use the same rules to work out how their dog is feeling as they do to determine the emotional state of other humans. "Our findings demonstrate that humans rate conspecific emotional vocalizations along basic acoustic rules, and that they apply similar rules when processing dog vocal expressions."
Plants use 'unusual' microbial-like pathway to make essential amino acid
(Phys.org)—Purdue University researchers have discovered a microbial-like pathway in plants that produces phenylalanine, an amino acid that is a vital component of proteins in all living organisms.
Life scientists differentiate microbial good and evil
(Phys.org) —To safely use bacteria in agriculture to help fertilize crops, it is vital to understand the difference between harmful and healthy strains. The bacterial genus Burkholderia, for example, includes dangerous disease-causing pathogens—one species has even been listed as a potential bioterrorist agent—but also many species that are safe and important for plant development.
Microalgae and aquatic plants can help to decrease radiopollution in the Fukushima area
After a huge earthquake caused severe damage to the Fukushima 1 Nuclear Power Plant in 2011, Japanese plant scientists have been working to determine the impact of radioactive contamination on wild and cultivated plants. In a special issue of Springer's Journal of Plant Research, these experts examine the potential adverse effects of radioactivity on nature and society.
Rewiring stem cells
A fast and comprehensive method for determining the function of genes could greatly improve our understanding of a wide range of diseases and conditions, such as heart disease, liver disease and cancer.
Loss of large carnivores poses global conservation problem
In ecosystems around the world, the decline of large predators such as lions, dingoes, wolves, otters, and bears is changing the face of landscapes from the tropics to the Arctic – but an analysis of 31 carnivore species published today in the journal Science shows for the first time how threats such as habitat loss, persecution by humans and loss of prey combine to create global hotspots of carnivore decline.
Marine tubeworms need nudge to transition from larvae state
A common problem at Pearl Harbor, biofouling affects harbors around the world. It's the process by which barnacles, muscles, oysters, and tubeworms accumulate on the bottom of boats and other surfaces. Now researchers at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa's Kewalo Marine Laboratory have discovered a biological trigger behind the buildup.
New clues to how bacteria evade antibiotics
Scientists have made an important advance in understanding how a subset of bacterial cells escape being killed by many antibiotics.
Single cell analysis captures a genomic phenomenon that fuels the complexity and diversity of living things
A Ludwig Cancer Research study has uncovered a phenomenon that alters prevailing views of how the genome is expressed to make and sustain the life of mammals. Published in the journal Science, the paper helps explain why genetically identical animals are sometimes so different in their biology and appearance, and why some inherited disorders caused by a shared set of aberrant genes can be of such variable severity in different people.
War elephant myths debunked by DNA
Through DNA analysis, Illinois researchers have disproved years of rumors and hearsay surrounding the ancient Battle of Raphia, the only known battle between Asian and African elephants.
Some motor proteins cooperate better than others
Rice University researchers have engineered cells to characterize how sensitively altering the cooperative functions of motor proteins can regulate the transport of organelles.
Live 'it up or long' to prosper? Ecologists probe plant lifestyles
Consider the dandelion and the bristlecone pine, says Utah State University ecologist Peter Adler.
Scientists discover extracellular vesicles produced by ocean microbes
Marine cyanobacteria—tiny ocean plants that produce oxygen and make organic carbon using sunlight and CO2—are primary engines of Earth's biogeochemical and nutrient cycles. They nourish other organisms through the provision of oxygen and with their own body mass, which forms the base of the ocean food chain.
Study dispels theories of Y chromosome's demise
A comparison of Y chromosomes in eight African and eight European men dispels the common notion that the Y's genes are mostly unimportant and that the chromosome is destined to dwindle and disappear.
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