Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for September 15, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Home's electrical wiring acts as antenna to receive low-power sensor data- Electron switch between molecules points way to new high-powered organic batteries
- New supercomputer 'sees' well enough to drive a car someday (w/ Video)
- Putting a spin on light and atoms: How to build a better magnetometer
- The friendly way to catch the flu: 'Friendship paradox' may help predict spread of infectious disease
- Archer fish can see like mammals (w/ Video)
- Sunspots could soon disappear for decades: study
- Glaciers help high-latitude mountains grow taller
- Discovery highlights promise of new immune system-based therapies
- Gene therapy success for anaemia patient
- Scientists find genes related to body mass
- Scientists pave way for improved teamwork on collaborative research efforts
- Luxottica to launch world's first 3D glasses
- Neutrons helping researchers unlock secrets to cheaper ethanol
- Blood test accurately predicts death from prostate cancer up to 25 years in advance
Space & Earth news
Crew assigned on final NASA shuttle launch
NASA announced the four astronauts who will make up the crew of STS-335, the rescue mission that would fly only if needed to bring home the members of space shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission, currently the final scheduled shuttle flight.
A new understanding of 31 years of Chesapeake Bay nutrient trends
Reducing the delivery of nutrients to the Chesapeake Bay is one of the most important components of restoration efforts to achieve a healthy Bay ecosystem. The USGS has developed a new method for tracking the progress toward reducing nitrogen and phosphorus delivery from the watershed to the Bay.
US may file civil complaint against BP over Gulf spill
The US government has said in a Louisiana court it is considering filing a civil complaint against BP under the Clean Water Act to claim 1,100 dollars for each barrel of oil spilled in the Gulf of Mexico.
Quick-intensifying Tropical Storm Karl landfalling in Mexico
NASA's Aqua satellite captured the birth of Tropical Storm Karl on Sept. 14 as it passed overhead at 3:05 p.m. EDT in the Caribbean. This morning, Karl made landfall in the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.
3 NASA satellites seek clues to Hurricane Julia's rapid intensification
Hurricane Julia intensified rapidly overnight and is now a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale and NASA's Aqua, Terra and TRMM satellites captured clues as they passed over her from space.
Climate change: Can geoengineering satisfy everyone?
Reflecting sunlight from the Earth by geoengineering would undoubtedly cool the climate, but would different countries agree on how much to reflect? Research by climate scientists at the University of Bristol shows that the impact of geoengineering would be felt in very different ways across the world.
105 days in isolation -- and counting -- for 400 more
Sailing now in interplanetary space on their simulated mission towards the 'Red Planet', the Mars500 crew has entered in a new phase of their isolation. The previous mission endured 105 days in 2009 and from now on, everything in this experiment is new.
Arctic sea ice shrinks to third lowest area on record (Update)
Arctic sea ice melted over the summer to cover the third smallest area on record, US researchers said Wednesday, warning global warming could leave the region ice free in the month of September 2030.
NASA satellite measures monstrous Hurricane Igor as a '10 hour drive'
Hurricane Igor is a monster hurricane in terms of strength and size. To get a perspective on its size, it is the same distance from one end of the storm to the other as it is from Boston, Mass. to Richmond, Va., some 550 miles. That's a 10-hour drive from one end to the other, and NASA satellites captured that entire distance in one image.
Arctic storms to decrease with global warming: study
Brief but vicious Arctic storms known as polar lows are likely to become much less frequent as global warming intensifies, scientists in Britain determined on Wednesday.
Sunspots could soon disappear for decades: study
(PhysOrg.com) -- Sunspot formation is triggered by a magnetic field, which scientists say is steadily declining. They predict that by 2016 there may be no remaining sunspots, and the sun may stay spotless for several decades. The last time the sunspots disappeared altogether was in the 17th and 18th century, and coincided with a lengthy cool period on the planet known as the Little Ice Age.
Glaciers help high-latitude mountains grow taller
Glaciers can help actively growing mountains become higher by protecting them from erosion, according to a University of Arizona-led research team.
Technology news
Research of synthetic fuels hopes to cut oil dependence
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a facility aimed at learning precisely how coal and biomass are broken down in reactors called gasifiers as part of a project to strengthen the scientific foundations of the synthetic fuel economy.
Conference showcases Fujitsu PalmSecure Biometric Authentication technology
Fujitsu Frontech North America will showcase the Fujitsu PalmSecure palm vein biometric authentication solution during Biometric Consortium Conference 2010. PalmSecure authentication technology was recently integrated with the M2SYS Bio-Plugin platform, delivering a cost-effective, easy-to-deploy biometric access management solution. The PalmSecure/Bio-Plugin joint solution, as well as the PalmSecure patient registration system, PalmSecure for single sign-on and PalmSecure physical access control, will be on display at the Biometric Consortium Conference 2010 takes place September 21-23 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida.
Nano research creates new products to market
Two new Arkansas start up companies have announced exclusive license agreements with UALR to bring to market patent-pending technology developed by the University's Nanotechnology Center Research to provide anti-counterfeiting solutions for manufacturers.
Successful integration of biofuels and combustion engines vital for biofuel success, says report
Transportation experts are proposing that the research and development of next-generation biofuels must be done in conjunction with the development of advanced combustion engines if those biofuels are to become a reality and long-term success in the U.S. transportation sector, according to a new report issued by Sandia National Laboratories.
NIST data: Enabling the technical-basis for evacuation planning of high-rise buildings
Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are stepping up the pace for designing safer building evacuations by releasing large, numerical data sets that track the movement of people on stairs during high-rise building evacuation drills. The data sets will ensure that architects, engineers, emergency planners and others involved in building design have a strong technical basis for safer, more cost-effective building evacuations.
NIST finalizes initial set of smart grid cyber security guidelines
The National Institute of Standards and Technology has issued its first Guidelines for Smart Grid Cyber Security, which includes high-level security requirements, a framework for assessing risks, an evaluation of privacy issues at personal residences, and additional information for businesses and organizations to use as they craft strategies to protect the modernizing power grid from attacks, malicious code, cascading errors and other threats.
Amazon goes after Apple's iPad in new Kindle ad
(AP) -- Amazon.com Inc. is rolling up its sleeves in its fight to convince consumers that its Kindle electronic reader is better than competing devices such as Apple's iPad, unveiling more aggressive advertising that is accentuating a growing rivalry.
Twitter tweaks website to show more photos, video
(AP) -- Twitter is turning its text-messaging website into a multimedia showcase by adding a new pane that will make it easier for its 160 million users to check out photos and video.
Facebook-fed Aussie plant killed by kindness
An Australian plant fed via Facebook has given proof to the adage "killing with kindness", with its fans on the site literally loving it to death, researchers said.
Google fires engineer for violating privacy policies
Google said that it had dismissed an engineer for violating the Internet giant's privacy policies.
S.Korea has more mobile phones than people: agency
Gadget-mad South Korea now has more mobile phones than people, with a growing number of users carrying multiple handsets for business purposes, telecoms authorities said Wednesday.
Facial recognition techniques studied by BBS team
Rapid improvements in facial-recognition software mean airport security workers might one day know with near certainty whether they're looking at a stressed-out tourist or staring a terrorist in the eye.
Fuzzy thinking could spot heart disease risk
A new approach to evaluating a person's risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, or heart failure is reported this month in the International Journal of Data Mining, Modelling and Management. The technique uses fuzzy logic to teach a neural network computer program to analyze patient data and spot correlations that can be translated into a risk factor for an individual.
Commercial-scale test of new technology to recover coal from sludge successful
A new technology for removing water from ultrafine coal slurry has been successfully tested at the commercial scale at an operating coal cleaning plant. The technology offers the possibility of reducing the coal slurry impoundment problem from the source. A peer-reviewed paper on this new technology was presented Sept. 15 at the 13th Australian Coal Preparation Society Conference, Cairns, Queensland.
US urges NATO to build 'cyber shield'
NATO must build a "cyber shield" to protect the transatlantic alliance from any Internet threats to its military and economic infrastructures, a top US defence official said Wednesday.
Mind-reading phones? The tech's evolving there
(AP) -- How smart do you want your smart phone to actually be? Do you want it to read your mind, even a little bit?
Slew of 3-D TV movies for the home? Not so fast
(AP) -- If you're thinking of buying a 3-D television set this year based on the belief that you'll be able to purchase a lot of the 3-D movies that have hit theaters in the past few years, think again.
Toshiba builds Yahoo! into more Internet-linked televisions
Toshiba on Wednesday unveiled new high-definition televisions featuring Yahoo! software that lets viewers watch content streamed from the Internet.
Indian handset makers emerge as hyper-competitive force
During this year's IPL cricket tournament in India, mobile phone manufacturers used the hugely popular extravaganza to blitz viewers with an array of sponsorship deals and advertising.
Internet Explorer 9 puts spotlight on website features
Microsoft on Wednesday released a lean, muscular new Internet Explorer crafted to spotlight slick websites and beat back competition from Firefox and Google in the Web browser arena.
Luxottica to launch world's first 3D glasses
Italian eyewear giant Luxottica said on Wednesday it would launch the world's first range of glasses for watching 3D films with prescription lenses through its US brand Oakley later this year.
Tiny micro air vehicles may someday explore and detect environmental hazards
Dr. Robert Wood of Harvard University is leading the way in what could become the next phase of high-performance micro air vehicles for the Air Force.
Home's electrical wiring acts as antenna to receive low-power sensor data
If these walls had ears, they might tell a homeowner some interesting things. Like when water is dripping into an attic crawl space, or where an open window is letting hot air escape during winter.
New supercomputer 'sees' well enough to drive a car someday (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Navigating our way down the street is something most of us take for granted; we seem to recognize cars, other people, trees and lampposts instantaneously and without much thought. In fact, visually interpreting our environment as quickly as we do is an astonishing feat requiring an enormous number of computations-which is just one reason that coming up with a computer-driven system that can mimic the human brain in visually recognizing objects has proven so difficult.
Medicine & Health news
Urgent need for prostate cancer screening amongst Dutch men
A recent TNS NIPO survey, on behalf of the Dutch Association of Urology (NVU) and the European Association of Urology (EAU), showed that almost four out of 10 Dutch men of 50 years and older suffer, or have suffered, from urinary complaints. The same number of men also said in the same survey they are worried that they may have prostate cancer.
High-quality child care for low-income children: Long-term benefits
More than 12 million U.S. children under age 6 attend child care or preschool programs. A new longitudinal study of low-income children has found that children in high-quality preschool settings had fewer behavior problems in middle childhood, and that such settings were particularly important for boys and African American children.
New test traces allergens quickly
Institute of Food Safety and the chair group Physical Chemistry and Colloid Sciences, both of which are part of Wageningen University in the Netherlands, have together developed an allergen test. This test quickly, efficiently, and simultaneously measures twelve different allergens in food products. This is explained in a doctoral thesis by Sabine Rebe Raz.
Eating broccoli could guard against arthritis
Scientists at the University of East Anglia (UEA) are launching a groundbreaking new project to investigate the benefits of broccoli in the fight against osteoarthritis.
Interfering with a double-edged sword: Novel anti-inflammatory functions for interferons
One of the body's first protective reactions to infection is inflammation, typically stimulated by the factor IL-1beta. Unfortunately, inflammation frequently occurs when it is not desired and so must be treated, e.g. by blocking IL-1beta production or activity. The picture is complicated by the fact that many other factors are involved in the process. A precise understanding of the regulatory networks is important for the development of anti-inflammatory treatments.
Study into the booby traps of breastfeeding in the UK
Australian researchers are embarking on a study of mums in the United Kingdom to discover if "guilt-tripping women" into breastfeeding is effective in persuading them to opt for breast over bottle.
Wearable sensor technology to measure physical activity
Researchers from Michigan State University's departments of Electrical Engineering and Kinesiology are teaming up to create a new wearable sensor network to assess a person's physical activity and overall well-being.
WHO cuts global estimate for maternal deaths
(AP) -- The World Health Organization said Wednesday that fewer women die each year from complications during pregnancy and childbirth than previously estimated, but efforts to sharply cut maternal mortality by 2015 are still off track.
Expert says doctors not taking eating disorders seriously
A mental health expert from the University of Western Sydney says it is disappointing that, despite the increased knowledge and awareness of eating disorders, some health professionals in Australia are not taking patients seriously unless their weight has reached a dangerous level.
Death at home less distressing for cancer patients and families
Cancer patients who die in the hospital or an intensive care unit have worse quality of life at the end-of-life, compared to patients who die at home with hospice services, and their caregivers are at higher risk for developing psychiatric illnesses during bereavement, according to a study by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Nature publishes results of gene therapy treatment in phase 1/2 beta-thalassemia study
bluebird bio (formerly Genetix Pharmaceuticals Inc.) today announced publication in the journal Nature of its promising Phase 1/2 data highlighting positive results of LentiGlobin gene therapy treatment in a young adult with severe beta-thalassemia, a blood disorder that is one of the most frequent inherited diseases.
Does your insurance company know who the good doctors/surgeons are?
Several health plans have introduced physician rating systems to offer consumers more information when choosing their doctors. However, a recent study presented in the September issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS) reveals that physician-tiering guidelines and results are not consistent across insurance companies, do not fully define quality; and could confuse consumers.
Home canning on the rise again, but do it safely, expert warns
Sometimes old ideas are the best ideas, and certainly home canning is one of those. But despite generations of practice, many don't do it properly, warns a food-safety expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.
Coming to terms with the increase in caesarian sections
(PhysOrg.com) -- Caesarian sections are becoming more and more common in the United States. Does this increase matter to the mother? Her baby? Neonatologist Dr. Lucky Jain, says it does indeed matter.
What can health-care facilities do to help patients better understand medical information
Studies show that nearly half of all Americans have difficulty understanding health information. Confusing medical directions, such as dosage and timing of prescription medicine, can lead to serious consequences including health setbacks, inappropriate hospital admissions and, sometimes, death. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri School of Health Professions are examining what health care facilities can do to increase patient understanding and positive outcomes.
Study: Mental illness stigma entrenched in American culture; new strategies needed
A joint study by Indiana University and Columbia University researchers found no change in prejudice and discrimination toward people with serious mental illness or substance abuse problems despite a greater embrace by the public of neurobiological explanations for these illnesses.
Children under 4 and children with autism don't yawn contagiously
If someone near you yawns, do you yawn, too? About half of adults yawn after someone else does in a phenomenon called contagious yawning. Now a new study has found that most children aren't susceptible to contagious yawning until they're about 4 years old—and that children with autism are less likely to yawn contagiously than others.
Radiation exposure poses similar risk of first and second cancers in atomic bomb survivors
It is well known that exposure to radiation has multiple harmful effects - including causing cancer - but until now, it has been unclear to what extent such exposure increases a person's risk of developing more than one cancer.
Cognitive skills in children with autism vary and improve, study finds
People with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are thought to have a specific profile of cognitive strengths and weaknesses—difficulties appreciating others' thoughts and feelings, problems regulating and controlling their behavior, and an enhanced ability to perceive details—but few studies have tracked children's cognitive skills over time. Now new longitudinal research provides clues that can inform our understanding of ASD.
Successful periodontal therapy may reduce the risk of preterm birth: dental study
A collaboration led by a periodontal researcher from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine has found a possible link between the success of gum-disease treatment and the likelihood of giving birth prematurely, according to a study published in the journal BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
No support for routine prostate screening, but one-off test at 60 may be beneficial
Existing evidence from randomised controlled trials does not support routine population screening for prostate cancer, concludes a study published in the British Medical Journal today.
Medical groups urge flu shots for pregnant women
(AP) -- Flu season may not sound as scary for pregnant women this year as last - but they're still at high risk and need that shot, says a letter being mailed to thousands of health providers this week from some leading medical societies.
Superbug genetics key to fight staph infections: experts
Infectious disease experts need to decode the genetic skeleton of multi-drug resistant bacteria MRSA to unlock the secrets of the superbug that is behind a growing wave of staph infections.
Study reveals promising techniques for extending the life of an organ transplant
Experts from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Transplantation at King's College London, based at Guy's Hospital, have revealed exciting new scientific developments for people with an organ transplant, intended to help prevent rejection of the new organ and extend its life.
Puberty in girls delayed with alcohol, tobacco use
The list of possible health effects from an early introduction to alcohol and tobacco use has just gotten longer. A new study suggests that early drinking and smoking might delay onset of puberty in girls — but the operative word is "might."
Single incision in multi-vessel cardiac bypass reduces pain, recovery time
Surgeons at the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center perform multiple cardiac vessel bypasses through a single, small incision in the patient's side, reducing pain, recovery time and risk for infection.
Robotic catheter could improve treatment of heart condition
Atrial fibrillation is a heart disorder that affects more than two million Americans, and is considered a key contributor to blood clots and stroke. Now researchers from North Carolina State University are developing a new computerized catheter that could make the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation faster, cheaper and more effective - while significantly decreasing radiation exposure related to the treatment.
A proven tool for losing weight: Reading food labels
Diet and exercise have long been the top two elements of effective weight loss. Now add a third: reading the labels on packaged foods.
Gene network reveals link between fats and heart disease signs
A gene network behind hardening of the arteries and coronary heart disease has been identified by a team of scientists from Australia, Europe and the United Kingdom. Their findings expose potential targets for the treatment of heart disease.
Researchers develop database to help accelerate drug discovery
Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have developed a new computational method that will help streamline the analysis of gene expression experiments and provide scientists with a better mechanistic understanding of the differences between diseased and normal cells. The new database and software, called ChIP Enrichment Analysis (ChEA), will revolutionize how researchers identify drug targets and biomarkers.
Scientists find gene for high cholesterol in blood
Scientists at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research (SFBR) in San Antonio have found a gene that causes high levels of bad cholesterol to accumulate in the blood as a result of a high-cholesterol diet.
Overprotective parents may impact heart anxiety in adults with congenital heart conditions
Adults with congenital heart disease are more likely to suffer heart-focused anxiety - a fear of heart-related symptoms and sensations - if their parents were overprotective during their childhood and adolescence. Dr. Lephuong Ong from Orion Health Services in Vancouver, and colleagues from University Health Network and York University in Toronto, Canada, suggest that health care professionals could encourage greater independence for adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease to improve their psychosocial adjustment. Dr. Ong's work is published online in Springer's International Journal of Behavioral Medicine.
Urgent steps needed to tackle inadequate support for women with secondary breast cancer
The support provided for women with secondary breast cancer is inadequate and urgent steps are needed to provide better services for patients with this progressive incurable disease, which kills half a million women worldwide every year. Those are the key recommendations to emerge from a trio of papers in the September issue of the European Journal of Cancer Care.
Aerobic exercise relieves insomnia
The millions of middle-aged and older adults who suffer from insomnia have a new drug-free prescription for a more restful night's sleep. Regular aerobic exercise improves the quality of sleep, mood and vitality, according to a small but significant new study from Northwestern Medicine.
New investigational compound targets pancreatic cancer cells
A new investigational drug designed to penetrate and attack pancreatic cancer cells has been administered to a patient for the first time ever at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare.
Higher altitudes hide deadly problem: Increased suicide risk
The Intermountain West is renowned for the beauty of its towering mountains and high deserts, but according to new research from an investigator with the University of Utah Brain Institute the region's lofty altitudes significantly influence a deadly problem: the high prevalence of suicides in this part of the country.
Women: Hope to marry young? Head to Alaska, steer clear of Alabama
When men outnumber women, females marry younger and the age gap between spouses grows, a University of Michigan study shows.
Genetic finding identifies male-linked mutation associated with autism spectrum disorders
Autism Speaks, the world's largest autism science and advocacy organization, and an international consortium of researchers, along with participating families, joined together to announce additional new autism genetic discoveries. The results were published today in Science Translational Medicine.
Alcohol consumption after breast cancer diagnosis may increase recurrence risk
In the Life After Cancer Epidemiology (LACE) study, 1,897 participants diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer between 1997 and 2000 and recruited on average 2 years post-breast cancer diagnosis were evaluated for the association between alcohol intake and breast cancer recurrence and death.
CDC: One-third of sex ed omits birth control
(AP) -- Almost all U.S. teens have had formal sex education, but only about two-thirds have been taught about birth control methods, according to a new government report released Wednesday.
New study finds milk drinkers may have a healthy weight advantage
Now there's a new reason to grab a glass of milk when you're on diet, suggests a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In a 2-year weight loss study, milk drinkers had an advantage over those who skipped the milk. Israeli researchers found that adults who drank the most milk (nearly 2 glasses per day) and had the highest vitamin D levels at 6 months, lost more weight after 2 years than those who had little or no milk or milk products -- nearly 12 pounds weight loss, on average.
JAK inhibitor provides rapid, durable relief for myelofibrosis patients
An oral medication produces significant and lasting relief for patients with myelofibrosis, a debilitating and lethal bone marrow disorder, researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center report in the Sept. 16 New England Journal of Medicine.
Chronic diseases a global problem requiring global solutions, researchers say
Policymakers should increase their sense of urgency to stop the global spread of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes that threaten the health and economies of industrialized and developing nations alike, Emory University global health researchers say.
Blood test accurately predicts death from prostate cancer up to 25 years in advance
A blood test at the age of 60 can accurately predict the risk that a man will die from prostate cancer within the next 25 years, according to researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, in New York, and Lund University, in Sweden. The findings, published today online in the British Medical Journal, could have important implications for determining which men should be screened after the age of 60 and which may not benefit substantially from continued prostate cancer screening.
New test gives one-hour TB diagnosis: scientists
Scientists have developed a new test which can diagnose tuberculosis in one hour, potentially helping to curb the spread of the disease, a British health agency said in a study Wednesday.
Two or three is all we see
The human brain can see only up to three moving objects at a given instant, new research has found.
Fountain of youth in bile? Longevity molecule identified
The human quest for longer life may be one step closer, thanks to research from Concordia University. Published in the journal Aging, a new study is the first to identify the role of a bile acid, called lithocholic acid (LCA), in extending the lifespan of normally aging yeast. The findings may have significant implications for human longevity and health, as yeast share some common elements with people.
Perception of emotion is culture-specific
Want to know how a Japanese person is feeling? Pay attention to the tone of his voice, not his face. That's what other Japanese people would do, anyway. A new study examines how Dutch and Japanese people assess others' emotions and finds that Dutch people pay attention to the facial expression more than Japanese people do.
Gene therapy success for anaemia patient
In a rare success for the much-headlined vision of gene therapy, scientists said on Wednesday they had corrected flawed DNA in an 18-year-old man suffering from a debilitating form of anaemia.
Scientists find genes related to body mass
Johns Hopkins scientists who specialize in unconventional hunts for genetic information outside nuclear DNA sequences have bagged a weighty quarry — 13 genes linked to human body mass. The experiments screened the so-called epigenome for key information that cells remember other than the DNA code itself and may have serious implications for preventing and treating obesity, the investigators say.
Molecule involved in heart failure now implicated in heart attack damage
A molecule known to be involved in progressive heart failure has now been shown to also lead to permanent damage after a heart attack, according to researchers at Thomas Jefferson University.
Nerve cells use internal amplifiers to compensate for discrepancies in optic input
(PhysOrg.com) -- Generally speaking, animals and humans maintain their sense of balance in their three-dimensional environment without difficulty. In addition to the vestibular system, their navigation is often aided by the eyes. Every movement causes the environment to move past the eyes in a characteristic way. On the basis of this "optic flow", the nerve cells then calculate the organism's self-motion. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology have now shown how nerve cells succeed in calculating self-motion while confronted with differing backgrounds. So far, none of the established models for optical processing were able to cope with this requirement. (Neuron, 26 August 2010).
Mild memory loss is not a part of normal aging
Simply getting older is not the cause of mild memory lapses often called senior moments, according to a new study by researchers at the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center. The study, published in the September 15, 2010, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, found that even the very early mild changes in memory that are much more common in old age than dementia are caused by the same brain lesions associated with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
Children's brain development is linked to physical fitness
Researchers have found an association between physical fitness and the brain in 9- and 10-year-old children: Those who are more fit tend to have a bigger hippocampus and perform better on a test of memory than their less-fit peers.
Discovery highlights promise of new immune system-based therapies
A new focus on the immune system's ability to both unleash and restrain its attack on disease has led Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists to identify cells in mice that prevent the immune system from attacking the animals' own cells, protecting them from autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and lupus.
Biology news
Third-generation DNA sequencing technologies to be developed by ASU
Stuart Lindsay, a researcher at ASU's Biodesign Institute, has been awarded a new three-year $860,000 grant to continue his team's innovative efforts to develop low-cost DNA sequencing aimed at becoming a routine part of medical care.
First purification of cancer gene, BRCA2, studied by UNC scientists
Scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill were among co-authors of a study that described the first isolation and purification of the BRCA2 protein which is produced by a gene whose loss greatly increases the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers.
Chocolate farmers could benefit from newly sequenced cacao genome
A first draft of the cacao genome is complete, a consortium of academic, governmental, and industry scientists announced today. Indiana University Bloomington scientists performed much of the sequencing work, which is described and detailed at http://www.cacaogenomedb.org/, the official website of the Cacao Genome Database project.
Protein clamps tight to telomeres to help prevent aging... and support cancer
The number of times our cells can divide is dictated by telomeres, stretches of DNA at the tips of our chromosomes. Understanding how telomeres keep our chromosomes - and by extension, our genomes - intact is an area of intense scientific focus in the fields of both aging and cancer. Now, scientists at The Wistar Institute have published the first detailed report on the structure and function of a crucial domain in the protein known as Cdc13, which sustains telomeres by clamping to DNA and recruiting replicating enzymes to the area.
Discovery of the secrets that enable plants near Chernobyl to shrug off radiation
Scientists are reporting discovery of the biological secrets that enable plants growing near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant to adapt and flourish in highly radioactive soil -- legacy of the 1986 nuclear disaster in the Ukraine. Their study, which helps solve a long-standing mystery, appears in ACS' Environmental Science & Technology.
Learning to live on land: How some early plants overcame an evolutionary hurdle
Diversity of life would be impossible if the ancestors of modern plants had stayed in the water with their green algal cousins. Moving onto dry land required major changes to adapt to this new "hostile" environment, and helped change global climate and atmospheric conditions. By absorbing carbon while making food, and releasing oxygen, early plants shaped ecosystems into a more hospitable environment. New research suggests reasons for incorporating evolutionary/paleontological information into global carbon cycling models.
Nature study shows how molecules escape from the nucleus
By constructing a microscope apparatus that achieves resolution never before possible in living cells, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have illuminated the molecular interactions that occur during one of the most important "trips" in all of biology: the journey of individual messenger Ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules from the nucleus into the cytoplasm (the area between the nucleus and cell membrane) so that proteins can be made. The results, published in the September 15 online edition of Nature, mark a major advance in the use of microscopes for scientific investigation (microscopy). The findings could lead to treatments for disorders such as myotonic dystrophy in which messenger RNA gets stuck inside the nucleus of cells.
New study examines how bacteria acquire immunity
In a new study this week, Rice University scientists bring the latest tools of computational biology to bear in examining how the processes of natural selection and evolution influence the way bacteria acquire immunity from disease.
Archer fish can see like mammals (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- The ability to see objects oriented differently to the background, which is known as orientation-based saliency, has long been thought to be confined to mammals, but a new study has found that archer fish have this ability, despite having no visual cortex in their brains.
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