Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 4, 2014:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Color pixels made of nanowires offer new paradigm for digital cameras- Nanostructures half a DNA strand-wide show promise for efficient LEDs
- Scientists smash barrier to growing organs from stem cells
- Algorithm for determining orientation of objects could aid robots in navigation, scene understanding
- No 'permanent El Nino,' scientists say—and the tropics may get even hotter
- Researchers use optogenetics to repair damaged nerve in a mouse
- Inspired by moth eyeballs, chemists develop gold coating that dims glare
- Hummingbird evolution soared after they invaded South America 22 million years ago
- Bacteria get new badge as planet's detoxifier
- Chemists' work with small peptide chains may revolutionize study of enzymes and diseases
- Some long non-coding RNAs are conventional after all
- Scientist developing materials, electronics that dissolve when triggered
- Math modeling integral to synthetic biology research
- Honda to test driving support system that utilizes traffic signal information
- Nest Labs disables feature on smoke alarms
Astronomy & Space news
Scientists begin Mars exploration in a deep mine
This week, twenty European scientists will gather at Boulby mine in the UK to begin testing technologies for the exploration of Mars and hunting for deep subsurface life that will aid scientists in their search for extraterrestrial life.
ESA successfully launches new monitoring satellite
Europe on Thursday launched the first in a constellation of hi-tech satellites designed to monitor Earth for climate change and environmental damage and help disaster relief operations.
Sentinel-1 opens its large radar antenna and solar wings
Following its launch yesterday, Sentinel-1A has performed a carefully choreographed 10-hour dance routine to open its large radar antenna and solar wings.
Video: Norwegian skydiver almost gets hit by falling meteor
It sounds like a remarkable story, almost unbelievable: Anders Helstrup went skydiving nearly two years ago near Hedmark, Norway and while he didn't realize it at the time, when he reviewed the footage taken by two cameras fixed to his helmet during the dive, he saw a rock plummet past him. He took it to experts and they realized he had captured a meteorite falling during its "dark flight"—when it has been slowed by atmospheric braking, and has cooled and is no longer luminous.
Image: Mars rover Curiosity scoping out next study area
(Phys.org) —On Wednesday, NASA's Curiosity Mars rover drove the last 98 feet feet (30 meters) needed to arrive at a site planned since early 2013 as a destination for studying rock clues about ancient environments that may have been favorable for life.
NYC space auction includes lunar-dust covered item
Space history buffs will have a chance to bid on artifacts from spacesuits to a lunar dust-covered shoulder strap from the Apollo 12 mission.
Gas cloud's fate could reveal information on growth of supermassive black holes
(Phys.org) —Right now a doomed gas cloud is edging ever closer to the supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy. These black holes feed on gas and dust all the time, but astronomers rarely get to see mealtime in action.
ISOLDE sheds light on dying stars
What happens inside a dying star? A recent experiment at CERN's REX accelerator offers clues that could help astrophysicists to recalculate the ages of some of the largest explosions in the universe.
Technology news
Alibaba founder Jack Ma buys into Chinese software firm
Jack Ma, the billionaire founder of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, is to pay $531 million for a stake in a domestic software developer for the financial industry, a statement said.
New avatars capable of laughing
Today's computer-based avatars lack one of our most deeply rooted human characteristics: laughter. Computer scientists have now teamed up with psychologists to give avatars the ability to laugh.
Precision for huge transportation loads
A new, robust control system from Siemens allows huge loads to get to their destinations better. The gigantic loads (bridge components, drilling platforms, and booster rockets for satellites) often weigh thousands of tons and are transported on multi-axle platforms that are arranged in tandem or side by side. When traveling, hundreds of wheels have to accelerate, brake, or turn at the same time and with deviations of no more than a few millimeters. The hydraulics of each individual axle are operated by a remote control system. The new K24 model series from Kamag Transporttechnik accomplishes this using industrial system controls from Siemens, because they meet the high reliability and maintenance requirements and are available worldwide.
Energy management in the cloud
Siemens is enabling smaller municipal utility companies to market energy from renewable sources through the cloud. The solution's main element is a cloud-based energy management system that combines distributed electricity producers into a virtual power plant. It allows small-scale producers to participate in the electricity market just like big power stations. As a result, distributed producers can trade electricity on energy exchanges or offer lucrative controlling power for increased earnings. In most cases, it doesn't pay off for small and medium-size municipal utilities and energy suppliers to invest in their own energy management systems. Siemens has solved this problem with a Web-based service that is derived from a compact version of its Decentralized Energy Management System (DEMS). The new system is currently being tested at RWE and will be offered beginning in the early summer of 2014.
Rights groups: Stop selling spyware to dictators
A coalition of human rights groups is launching a campaign to curb the international trade in surveillance software, saying exports of sophisticated espionage programs are chilling free speech across the globe.
Suspected NKorean drones crude, reflect new threat
South Korean experts say two small drones believed to have been flown across the border by the North were crude and decidedly low-tech—equipped with cameras available on the Internet for hundreds of dollars—but underscore a potential new threat that must be taken seriously.
DOE SuperTruck utilizes exhaust technology to boost fuel economy
The Department of Energy's SuperTruck, recently hailed by President Obama as the energy efficient truck of the future, uses technology from DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory that leads to improved fuel economy.
Gas mileage at all-time high
(Phys.org) —Fuel economy of new vehicles sold in the U.S. is now at its best mark ever, say researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.
Technology changing lives for visually impaired people in developing countries
(Phys.org) —He was planning to be a lawyer because he didn't think visually impaired people like him could do high-tech jobs in India. But after discovering special technology that allows him to use computers, he changed his mind and now wants to be a software engineer.
India 'seeks to avert summons for Samsung boss': reports
India's government is scrambling to prevent the boss of South Korea's Samsung Electronics from being forced to appear in an Indian court on criminal charges over a $1.4-million payment dispute, reports said Friday.
Tiny wireless sensing device alerts users to telltale vapors remotely
(Phys.org) —A research team at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) has developed a small electronic sensing device that can alert users wirelessly to the presence of chemical vapors in the atmosphere. The technology, which could be manufactured using familiar aerosol-jet printing techniques, is aimed at myriad applications in military, commercial, environmental, healthcare and other areas.
Europe votes for a 'neutral net' ... but what does that mean?
Yesterday the European Parliament had an historic vote on the issue of "net neutrality", and became the largest bloc in the world to affirm this open internet principle.
Western Australian company perfecting biochar for farms
A local bio energy company are refining their prototype for turning farming waste products into high value biochar and electricity generation.
Germany investigates large-scale password theft
German authorities are investigating the suspected theft of passwords for some 18 million email addresses.
Norway wants to turn its huge oil fund greener
Oil-rich Norway moved Friday to target its huge sovereign wealth fund's investments more closely at boosting green businesses, but environmentalists said the proposals were not strong enough.
Review: Ups and downs with Google Glass apps
Google Glass is like a fickle friend. Surprises await, such as the time it took a photo of my ceiling while I was making carrot and ginger soup.
Computer scientists learn to predict which photos will go viral
(Phys.org) —It's hard to predict which of the many millions of photos on Facebook will spring from obscurity and go viral. But Stanford researchers have found some hints by studying "cascades," the term used to describe photos or videos being shared multiple times.
Nest Labs disables feature on smoke alarms
The high-tech home monitoring device company Nest Labs is disabling a feature on its smoke alarms due to the risk that owners could unintentionally turn off the device with the wave of a hand.
Honda to test driving support system that utilizes traffic signal information
(Phys.org) —Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has announced that it plans to begin testing a driving support system the company has developed starting this month. The onboard support system will use information from infra-red beacons placed next to roadways to offer drivers suggestions regarding how best to handle traffic lights. The idea is to reduce sudden acceleration and decelerations to reduce gas consumption and CO2 emissions, to reduce accidents and hopefully to improve driving conditions for all drivers on the road.
Video shows Find My iPhone kill effort without password
Could a thief bypass protections from the Find My iPhone system? YouTube user Miguel Alvarado this week posted a video "Delete iCloud Account from iPhone without Password iOS 7.1" showing what he did with an iPhone, indicating an iOS7 glitch. The video showed what could be a bonus for thieves, and that is being able to turn off Find My iPhone without a password by hitting some buttons at the same time. He was able to disable the Find My iPhone security feature, which was designed to serve phone owners with the ability to locate their devices if lost or stolen.
Algorithm for determining orientation of objects could aid robots in navigation, scene understanding
Suppose you're trying to navigate an unfamiliar section of a big city, and you're using a particular cluster of skyscrapers as a reference point. Traffic and one-way streets force you to take some odd turns, and for a while you lose sight of your landmarks. When they reappear, in order to use them for navigation, you have to be able to identify them as the same buildings you were tracking before—as well as your orientation relative to them.
Medicine & Health news
Mali reports three suspected Ebola cases (Update)
Mali said Thursday it had detected three suspected victims of Ebola, the deadly disease that has killed 84 people in Guinea.
Ovarian cancer survivor backs study to improve screening
A woman from Manchester has warned other women of the need to be aware of ovarian cancer, especially if you have a family history of the disease, as part of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
Food defense begins with food intelligence
Consumers have largely lost an understanding of the traditional sources of food (such as farms, fields, ranches and orchards) and now tend to think of food's origin as the grocery store or the fast-food restaurant. America has moved so far away from its agrarian past that most people cannot produce for themselves even the most simply grown foods.
Research observes doctors' consideration of patients' spiritual needs
Research from Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, the official journal of the Association of Professional Chaplains and a publication from Routledge, aims to better understand doctors' attentiveness to patients'/families' spiritual concerns as well as doctors' attitudes towards referrals to chaplains.
Is the "body positive" movement a consumerist revolution?
The body positive movement seeks to defy media projected bodily stereotypes, celebrate diversity and encourage bodily self-appreciation, warts and all! Does the body positive movement bring deliverance from uniformity or further fuel the consumer-led obsession with self-image? This article in Feminist Media Studies uses body positive websites: Lady Gaga's 'Body Revolution', 'My Body Gallery' and 'Stop Hating Your Body' to investigate further.
Calculating the best time to compete after altitude training
Altitude training is a popular practice used by elite athletes to improve endurance in competitions, such as marathons and cycling races, that take place at sea level. Training at in a lower-oxygen environment (at elevations between 2,000–3,000 meters) jumpstarts the body's production of red blood cells. More red blood cells supply the muscles with more oxygen and increase endurance. Even after returning to sea level, the performance-enhancing physiological changes remain for days and weeks, providing athletes with an extra competitive edge during races.
West Africa gears up to fight Ebola, killer fevers
Several west African countries geared up on Friday to tackle killer haemorrhagic fevers including Ebola, which has claimed more than 80 lives in Guinea and just seen suspect cases emerge in Mali, after Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Panel issues exercise recommendations for people with osteoporosis and spine fractures
Today, experts from the Too Fit to Fracture Initiative presented the results of an international consensus process to establish exercise recommendations for people with osteoporosis, with or without spine fractures. The results were presented at the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases in Seville, Spain.
Indoor tanning by teens linked to unhealthy weight control methods
High school students who use indoor tanning also have higher rates of unhealthy weight control behaviors—such as taking diet pills or vomiting to lose weight, reports a study in the April Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, the official journal of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
Dwindling visibility of tobacco in prime time US TV linked to fall in smoking rates
The dwindling visibility of tobacco products in prime time US TV drama programs may be linked to a fall in smoking prevalence of up to two packs of cigarettes per adult a year, suggests research published online in the journal Tobacco Control.
Intense treatment no better than advice and exercise at reducing pain from chronic whiplash
Results of a new trial of treatments for chronic whiplash pain, published in The Lancet, suggest that expensive, intense physiotherapy sessions do not show any additional benefit over a single physiotherapy session of education and advice with phone follow-up.
Panic in the kitchen: UK digests new fruit and veg advice
It was with a heavy heart, and some panic, that Britons digested new advice this week that their struggle to eat enough fruit and vegetables had just got harder.
Swedish researchers show impact of long-term vitamin D insufficiency on fracture risk
A study presented today at the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases shows that long-term low levels of vitamin D intake are associated with higher 10-year fracture risk in elderly women.
Cutting phosphate in diet reduces deaths, heart problems related to kidney disease
(Medical Xpress)—Millions of Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease, a condition that rarely causes symptoms until its later stages. But long before kidneys fail and dialysis becomes a way of life, the body experiences collateral damage.
Exploring ways to improve outcomes for urban teens with asthma
(Medical Xpress)—An article published in February's Journal of Asthma, and authored by School of Nursing associate professor of clinical nursing Susan Blaakman, Ph.D., A.P.R.N.,has identified some potential ways to improve the outcomes of city teens with asthma by taking a novel approach—asking the teens themselves.
Coronary calcium scores may help predict risk of death in patients without family history of heart disease
(Medical Xpress)—A new Emory University study shows that coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring, a type of low-dose CT scan, accurately predicts the risk of dying over the next 15 years in patients with and without a family history of early heart disease. The findings were presented this week at the American College of Cardiology meeting in Washington, D.C.
Higher social class linked to fewer bone fractures among non-white women
(Medical Xpress)—If you are a middle-aged African-American or Asian woman, your social class may play a significant role in how likely you are to suffer bone fracutres, a UCLA-led study suggests.
Fathers can lower their children's risk of going hungry by staying involved
(Medical Xpress)—Fathers who don't live with their children can actually lower their son's or daughter's risk of not having enough food by just maintaining involvement in the child's life. And if the father provides support beyond money, such as gifts, groceries and other offerings, the child's risk of food insecurity may be further reduced.
Adding antioxidants to a sun protection plan
With winter finally in the rearview mirror, many people are making plans for fun outdoors. But don't stop at sunscreen and a hat for sun protection: a UC Health skin care specialist recommends adding another item to your daily routine.
Toward a clearer diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome
Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, in collaboration with Osaka City University and Kansai University of Welfare Sciences, have used functional PET imaging to show that levels of neuroinflammation, or inflammation of the nervous system, are higher in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome than in healthy people.
Online survey reveals new epidemic of sleeplessness
New online research, conducted to coincide with the publication of Professor Richard Wiseman's latest book Night School, suggests that nearly six in ten (59%) of adults in Britain - over 28 million people - are now sleep deprived and getting seven hours or less sleep each night. This is a significant increase on the 2013 figure of thirty-nine per cent taken from a previous study.*
In vitro tests show that clinically tested drug overcomes resistance to potential new cancer therapy
Results from laboratory experiments carried out by a team of molecular biologists at Saarland University have identified a strategy for overcoming resistance to a new therapeutic opportunity for prostate cancer patients and for potentially suppressing the migration of cancer cells. The new therapeutic approach, which is currently being studied by numerous research groups, aims to destroy cancer cells by influencing cellular calcium distribution. However, the research team, supervised by Professor Richard Zimmermann and Dr Markus Greiner, found that in about half of the patients examined, a cellular mechanism was present that could impede the efficacy of the new therapy. The molecular biologists discovered that this resistance was caused by an increased concentration of the protein Sec62 in the tumour cells. Results from their laboratory cell line experiments indicate that a pharmaceutically active agent previously used in the treatment of psychotic disorders can counteract! the observed cellular resistance as well as supress cell migration. The research team has published its findings in the medical journal BMC Cancer.
Experts cast worried eye on Ebola spread
Virologists say they are deeply worried by the unprecedented Ebola epidemic in West Africa which has claimed more than 90 lives and may now also have struck north into the Sahel.
Study reveals new causes of mouth and throat cancer
Poor oral health and failure to have regular dental checks could increase the risk of mouth and throat cancer, according to a pan-European study.
Melanoma's sugar addiction offers hope for new treatment
Melanoma cells are dependent on glucose to grow and spread, Melbourne researchers have found, paving the way for therapies that can halt cancer growth by blocking its fuel source.
Disease-free survival estimates for ovarian cancer improve over time
The probability of staying disease-free improves dramatically for ovarian cancer patients who already have been disease-free for a period of time, and time elapsed since remission should be taken into account when making follow-up care decisions, according to a study led by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), a partner with UPMC CancerCenter.
Supplement trend provides little benefit for young children
A healthy diet is far more effective in supporting the growth and development of pre-school children than dietary supplements, according to research which suggests supplements aren't being absorbed by children under five-years-old.
Genetic testing beneficial in melanoma treatment
(Medical Xpress)—Genetic screening of cancer can help doctors customize treatments so that patients with melanoma have the best chance of beating it, according to the results of a clinical trial by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), a partner with UPMC CancerCenter.
Screening reveals additional link between endometriosis and ovarian cancer
(Medical Xpress)—Some women with endometriosis, a chronic inflammatory disease, are predisposed to ovarian cancer, and a genetic screening might someday help reveal which women are most at risk, according to a University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) study, in partnership with Magee-Womens Research Institute (MWRI).
Combining cell replication blocker with common cancer drug kills resistant tumor cells
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), a partner with UPMC CancerCenter, have found that an agent that inhibits mitochondrial division can overcome tumor cell resistance to a commonly used cancer drug, and that the combination of the two induces rapid and synergistic cell death. Separately, neither had an effect. These findings will be presented Monday at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2014.
Women seeking emergency contraception more likely to use IUDs if offered counseling and 'same-day service'
(Medical Xpress)—Health care clinics should routinely offer same-day placement of intrauterine devices (IUDs) to women seeking emergency contraception, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The study findings, published online in the journal Contraception, demonstrate that providing patient education along with same-day placement service increases both knowledge and use of IUDs three months and a year after women seek emergency contraception.
Researchers pursue treatments based on the delicate balance of bacteria that staves off oral disease
We are not alone. Thousands of species of bacteria—millions of individual critters in all—have colonized almost every space on (and in) the human body.
Ancient viruses sound scary, but there's no need to panic
You may have seen recently that scientists recovered and "revived" a giant virus from Siberian permafrost (frozen soil) that dates back 30,000 years.
Phone attachment linked with mental health stress
Thinking about your mobile when you're not using it, worrying about whether people can reach you and interrupting what you're doing when you're contacted on your phone are linked to increased depression and stress, according to a study involving an ECU researcher.
Fear might interfere with breast cancer messages, communication researcher finds
When it comes to encouraging African American women to seek breast-cancer screening, the fear factor might be getting in the way, according to an award-winning study by a University of Missouri–St. Louis faculty member.
Discovery of a mechanism that makes tumor cells sugar addicted
For almost a hundred years ago is known that cancer cells feel a special appetite for a type of sugar called glucose. The tumor uses this molecule is like the gasoline which depends a sports car to burn faster and grows and multiplies rapidly. It is a little cash process from the energy point of view but allows a superaccelerated cancer cell division. It is what is known as the Warburg effect, which was described in 1927.
Recurrent head and neck tumors have gene mutations that could be vulnerable to cancer drug
An examination of the genetic landscape of head and neck cancers indicates that while metastatic and primary tumor cells share similar mutations, recurrent disease is associated with gene alterations that could be exquisitely sensitive to an existing cancer drug. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) and Yale University School of Medicine will share their findings during a mini-symposium Sunday at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2014.
Common breast cancer subtype may benefit from personalized treatment approach
The second-most common type of breast cancer is a very different disease than the most common and appears to be a good candidate for a personalized approach to treatment, according to a multidisciplinary team led by scientists at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), a partner with UPMC CancerCenter.
Plant-derived anti-cancer compounds explained at national conference
Compounds derived from plant-based sources—including garlic, broccoli and medicine plants—confer protective effects against breast cancer, explain researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), partner with the UPMC CancerCenter.
Depression increases heart failure risk by 40 percent
Moderate to severe depression increases the risk of heart failure by 40%, a study of nearly 63 000 Norwegians has shown. The findings were presented for the first time today at EuroHeartCare 2014.
International consortium discovers two genes that modulate risk of breast and ovarian cancer
Today we know that women carrying BCRA1 and BCRA2 gene mutations have a 43% to 88% risk of developing from breast cancer before the age of 70. Taking critical decisions such as opting for preventive surgery when the risk bracket is so wide is not easy. Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) researchers are conducting a study that will contribute towards giving every woman far more precise data about her personal risk of suffering from cancer.
Grandparents may worsen some moms' baby blues
Does living with grandparents ease or worsen a mothers' baby blues? The answer may depend on the mother's marital status, a new study from Duke University suggests.
Key genetic mutations could be new hope for adrenocortical tumor patients
Chinese researchers from Rui-Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, BGI, and other institutions have discovered that the activating hotspot L205R mutation in PRKACA gene was closely associated with adrenocortical tumors (ACTs), and the relationship of recurrently mutated DOT1L and CLASP2 with ACTs' other subtypes. The latest study published online in Science opens a new insight into diagnosis and treatment of Adrenal Cushing's syndrome.
States revolt against powerful new painkiller
State officials fighting a well-publicized battle against heroin and prescription drug abuse are revolting against a powerful new painkiller that law enforcement and public health officials fear could worsen an already acute drug problem.
Your mentally stimulating job may help keep you sharp in retirement
(HealthDay)—Jobs that make good use of your intellect might have another benefit down the line—a sharper mind long after retirement.
Patient safety not affected by resident hour reforms
(HealthDay)—In the year following 2011 work-hour reforms for residents there were no changes in patient safety outcomes when comparing patients treated by residents to those treated by hospitalists, according to a study published online Feb. 22 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Antioxidants can protect against omega 6 damage—or promote it
Given omega 6 fatty acid's reputation for promoting cancer—at least in animal studies—researchers are examining the role that antioxidants play in blocking the harmful effects of this culprit, found in many cooking oils. After all, antioxidants are supposed to prevent DNA damage. But employing antioxidants could backfire, say researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Does too much time at the computer lead to lower bone mineral density in adolescents?
Results of a study presented today at the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases, showed that in boys, higher screen time was adversely associated to bone mineral density (BMD) at all sites even when adjusted for specific lifestyle factors.
Flipping the switch on scleroderma
Scleroderma is a rare and often fatal disease, causing the thickening of tissue, that currently lacks a cure and any effective treatments. A group of researchers, including a Michigan State University professor, is looking to change that.
In mice, obese dads produce heavier daughters with epigenetically altered breast tissue
Obese male mice and normal weight female mice produce female pups that are overweight at birth and in childhood, and have increased number of "terminal end buds" in their breast tissue—the site where cancer often develops in rodents.
Bacterial gut biome may guide colon cancer progression
Colorectal cancer develops in what is probably the most complex environment in the human body, a place where human cells cohabitate with a colony of approximately 10 trillion bacteria, most of which are unknown. At the 2014 American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting in San Diego, researchers from The Wistar Institute will present findings that suggest the colon "microbiome" of gut bacteria can change the tumor microenvironment in a way that promotes the growth and spread of tumors.
Driving ability may falter with age in HIV-positive adults
(HealthDay)—Middle-aged and elderly people with HIV may have deficits in their mental skills that affect their ability to drive, according to a small new study.
Pending malpractice litigation may bias parents' reports
(HealthDay)—Following neonatal brachial plexus palsy, medical malpractice litigation is associated with worse parent reports of their child's function and pain, according to a study published in the March 5 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Breath-actuated, handheld nebulizers yield similar results
(HealthDay)—There are no significant clinical differences between the use of a breath-actuated nebulizer (BAN) and a handheld nebulizer (HHN) for the treatment of wheezing or dyspnea among adults seen in the emergency department, according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of Emergency Nursing.
More elderly Americans completing advance directives
(HealthDay)—Over the past decade there has been a significant increase in the rate of completion of advance directives (ADs) among elderly Americans, according to research published online April 2 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Maternal insulin sensitivity linked to fetal brain activity
(HealthDay)—Maternal insulin sensitivity is associated with fetal brain responses, according to a study published in the online March 25 in Diabetologia.
A brain area responsible for grasping
(Medical Xpress)—The research group led by Silvia Arber at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research and the Biozentrum of the University of Basel has shown that limb motor control is regulated by a selective synaptic connectivity matrix between the brainstem and the spinal cord. In particular, the researchers have pinpointed a brainstem area responsible for the control of grasping. This is the first time it has been possible to link defined neuronal circuit elements unequivocally to a specific phase of movement. The findings were published in Nature.
Researchers explore the relationship between self-compassion and health
(Medical Xpress)—We all have stress in our lives, whether it's a daily commute, workplace pressures or relationship troubles. But how we deal with that stress could impact our health and longevity.
Researchers use optogenetics to repair damaged nerve in a mouse
(Medical Xpress)—A combined team of neuroscientists and optogenics researchers in the U.K. has developed a technique for using light to restore function to muscles made useless by damaged nerves. In their paper published in the journal Science, the team describes their technique and how it might prove useful in humans sometime in the future. Shrivats Iyer and Scott Delp provide more insight into the work done by the researchers in a Perspective piece in the same journal issue.
Biology news
Combatting malaria using natural mosquito repellents
Repellents derived from Greek herb extracts show potent effects, as spatial repellents, against malaria carrying mosquitoes, and possibly others.
A closer look into the TSLP cytokine structure
The PROXIMA 2 beamline at Synchrotron SOLEIL recently celebrated its first birthday. It's an occasion to reflect back upon a year of the collaborative work accomplished and its high scientific impact. In particular, a recent experiment performed on PROXIMA 2 at SOLEIL gives a new paradigm in the fight against asthma, which currently affects 235 million persons in the world (WHO estimate). As a laboratory - or "beamline" in synchrotron jargon - PROXIMA 2 can help academics to understand biological macromolecules and the pharmaceutical industry to make new, more potent and tailor-made drugs.
Study highlights situational complexities of picking up dog waste
There are 8 million dogs in the UK, which adds up to a lot of daily walks and potential for a lot of dog faeces to be left behind. Most dog walkers are happy and even proud to bag and bin their dog's waste, some might leave waste if they are off the beaten track or in more rural locations, while a small proportion of dog walkers are totally disengaged from the idea that picking up their dog waste is the "right thing to do". A new study in the International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, discusses the environmental, health and safety issues.
Extinctions reduces speciation
The same factors that increase the risk of species extinctions also reduce the chance that new species are formed. This is concluded by two biologists at Umeå University. Their findings are published in the April issue of the scientific journal Evolution.
Researcher tracks Hawksbill turtles off Brazilian coast
A study of DNA from the critically endangered Hawksbill turtle in Brazilian waters has emphasised the importance of international conservation strategies for their recovery.
Tracking sperm whales' ecology through stomach contents
In the largest regional study of its type to date, marine ecologist Michelle Staudinger and colleagues offer better understanding of the feeding ecologies of two very rare sperm whale species in waters off the southeast U.S. coast, adding baseline data they say are important as climate change, fishing and pollution alters the animals' environment and food sources.
A new species of horseshoe worm discovered in Japan after a 62 year gap
The horseshoe worm is a worm-like marine invertebrate inhabiting both hard and soft substrates such as rock, bivalve shells, and sandy bottom. The name "horseshoe" refers to the U-shaped crown of tentacles which is called "lophophore." Horseshoe worms comprise a small phylum Phoronida, which contains only ten species decorating the bottom of the oceans.
Rockies gray wolf numbers steady despite hunting
A new population tally of gray wolves in the U.S. Northern Rockies shows their continued resilience despite increased hunting, trapping and government-sponsored pack removals.
Sharks sense prey in surprising ways during pioneering study
(Phys.org) —A team of scientists have unmasked the intricacies of how sharks hunt prey—from the first whiff to the final chomp —in a new study about shark senses that was supported by the National Science Foundation and published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE.
Researchers find nematode incites defense response in plants that benefits itself
(Phys.org) —A team of researchers at the University of Bonn has discovered that a certain species of nematode actually does better when exposed to defensive chemicals made by plants. In their paper published in the journal Science Signaling, the team describes how they found that disabling the production of a defensive chemical in a flowering plant caused nematodes that invade it to fare less well. Baomin Feng and Libo Shan offer a Perspective Piece on the work done by the team in the same issue.
Some long non-coding RNAs are conventional after all
Not so long ago researchers thought that RNAs came in two types: coding RNAs that make proteins and non-coding RNAs that have structural roles. Then came the discovery of small RNAs that opened up whole new areas of research. Now researchers have come full circle and predicted that some long non-coding RNAs can give rise to small proteins that have biological functions. A recent study in The EMBO Journal describes how researchers have used ribosome profiling to identify several hundred long non-coding RNAs that may give rise to small peptides.
Hummingbird evolution soared after they invaded South America 22 million years ago
A newly constructed family tree of the hummingbirds, published today in the journal Current Biology, tells a story of a unique group of birds that originated in Europe, passed through Asia and North America, and ultimately found its Garden of Eden in South America 22 million years ago.
Math modeling integral to synthetic biology research
A long-standing challenge in synthetic biology has been to create gene circuits that behave in predictable and robust ways. Mathematical modeling experts from the University of Houston (UH) collaborated with experimental biologists at Rice University to create a synthetic genetic clock that keeps accurate time across a range of temperatures. The findings were published in a recent issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Scientists smash barrier to growing organs from stem cells
(Phys.org) —Scientists at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have overcome one of the greatest challenges in biology and taken a major step toward being able to grow whole organs and tissues from stem cells. By manipulating the appropriate signaling, the U.Va. researchers have turned embryonic stem cells into a fish embryo, essentially controlling embryonic development.
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