Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for October 18, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Globalized economy more sensitive to recessions: physicists- 10,000 miles: New study proposes giant Pterosaurs were record long-distance fliers
- Flexible LEDs for implanting under the skin
- Geophysicists claim conventional understanding of Earth's deep water cycle needs revision
- Lastest graphene research could lead to improvements in bluetooth headsets and other devices
- Tackling cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease: 1 'STEP' at a time
- Body's bacteria affect atherosclerosis
- Breakthrough in nanocrystals growth
- A new order for CPR, spelled C-A-B
- 100-million-year-old mistake provides snapshot of evolution
- When vertebrae cross dress: How sloths got their long neck (w/ Video)
- Four new psoriasis 'hotspots' identified
- Research team identifies new mechanism with suspected role in cancer
- Optical technique reveals unnexpected complexity in mammalian olfactory coding
- Unexpected magnetism discovered
Space & Earth news
New project manager for long-lived Mars odyssey
The new project manager for the longest-working spacecraft currently active at Mars, NASA's Mars Odyssey, has a long track record himself.
NOAA: Global temperature ties for warmest on record
The first nine months of 2010 tied with the same period in 1998 for the warmest combined land and ocean surface temperature on record. The global average land surface temperature for January-September was the second warmest on record, behind 2007. The global ocean surface temperature for January–September was also the second warmest on record, behind 1998.
Image: Where stars are born
Found among the Small Magellanic Cloud's clusters and nebulae NGC 346 is a star-forming region about 200 light-years across, pictured above by the Hubble Space Telescope.
NASA's Webb telescope's systems engineering evolves
As the James Webb Space Telescope enters its next critical phase of development NASA and Northrop Grumman Corporation have forged an integrated, consolidated and "badgeless" Mission Systems Engineering team.
Scientists lower Gulf health grade
(AP) -- Six months after the rig explosion that led to the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history, damage to the Gulf of Mexico can be measured more in increments than extinctions, say scientists polled by The Associated Press.
'Deepwater Horizon' disaster hit bluefish tuna hard
The Gulf of Mexico oil spill couldn’t have occurred at a worse time for bluefin tuna: they had come to the area – a major spawning ground – to produce offspring. Satellites are helping assess the damage from the disaster on the fish’s spawning habitat.
Space shuttle leaking, NASA working up repair plan
(AP) -- Space shuttle Discovery is leaking on the launch pad.
The next generation of stem cells
Embryonic stem cells behave very differently outside the pull of Earth's gravity, researchers suggest.
NASA spacecraft hurtles toward active comet Hartley 2
NASA's Deep Impact/EPOXI spacecraft is hurtling toward Comet Hartley 2 for a breathtaking 435-mile flyby on Nov. 4th. Mission scientists say all systems are go for a close encounter with one of the smallest yet most active comets they've seen.
Geophysicists claim conventional understanding of Earth's deep water cycle needs revision
A popular view among geophysicists is that large amounts of water are carried from the oceans to the deep mantle in "subduction zones," which are boundaries where the Earth's crustal plates converge, with one plate riding over the other.
Technology news
Facebook founder eyes China, faces death threats in Pakistan
The founder of global social networking giant Facebook is so determined to make his company a success in China he's even learning the language.
Reuters Breakingviews columnist resigns, others being probed
A columnist for Reuters Breakingviews has resigned after violating the Thomson Reuters code of conduct on trading shares and other commentators at the financial news and analysis service are being investigated, the news agency said Monday.
AP to form news group to make money from mobile
The Associated Press is overseeing the creation of an organization to help newspapers and broadcasters make more money as more people get their news from mobile phones and other wireless devices.
German ministers slam Facebook for privacy glitch
German ministers criticised social networking site Facebook on Sunday for failing to respect privacy, following a report of a serious flaw that allowed non-subscribers access to private data.
US office-seekers dip into digital toolkits as vote looms
Facebook page? Check. Twitter feed? Check. YouTube channel? Check.
Pentagon bracing for new WikiLeaks release
The Pentagon scoured through an Iraq war database Monday to prepare for potential fallout from an expected release by WikiLeaks of some 400,000 secret military reports.
Skype forms tie-up with Japan's KDDI
Japan's number two telecom operator KDDI said Monday it had formed a strategic tie-up with Skype to bring Internet-based communication services to its mobile smartphone users.
WikiLeaks to release Iraq war files very soon: spokesman (Update)
Whistleblowing website WikiLeaks will not publish some 400,000 secret reports on the Iraq war on Monday as had been widely rumoured, but they would be available "very soon", a spokesman said.
Britain sinks tidal scheme, names eight future nuclear sites
The British government confirmed on Monday it will drop plans for a multi-billion-pound tidal energy project, as it identified eight sites suitable for building new nuclear power stations.
RIM 'excited' about UAE market after averting BlackBerry ban
The maker of BlackBerry launched from the United Arab Emirates on Monday new smartphone technologies in the Middle East, 10 days after averting a ban on its services in the Gulf state.
Superhighway for wind power proposed for Mid-Atlantic Coast
Investors on Oct. 12 proposed to build an underwater electricity superhighway that would carry wind power generated off the Mid-Atlantic Coast to land.
Airlines go on guard against cyber-fraud
The Internet, a convenience to travelers looking to quickly book a trip, is also a gateway to fraud, costing the airline industry tens of millions of dollars a year.
Plastic monitors itself
A new polymer-metal material that has sensory properties makes it possible to produce plastic component parts that monitor themselves. This material can be combined with various others and used in a variety of different ways. Researchers at Fraunhofer will be unveiling this polymer-metal composite at the ELECTRONICA 2010 fair (Nov. 9-12 in Munich, Germany).
Terror, cyber attacks 'biggest security threats' in Britain
International terrorism and cyber attacks pose the biggest threats to British security, a new government strategy said Monday, just before deep cuts to the defence budget are unveiled.
Spanish agency sues Google over Street View
Spain's data protection authority said Monday it has filed a suit against Google for allegedly capturing data from Internet users when it collected photos for its Street View service.
Bilingual, bicultural 'Roboceptionist' on its way
The computerized "Hala" will be able to translate not just language but nuance when dealing with multicultural visitors.
Stonesoft finds new threat to company computer networks
The Finnish company Stonesoft said Monday it had found new techniques that bypass current security systems which cyber-criminals could use to gain access company productivity applications.
Facebook finds apps giving user ID data to advertisers (Update)
Facebook on Monday confirmed that some popular third-party applications are violating the social network's rules and transmitting identifying information about users to advertising and Internet tracking companies.
Apple 4Q net income soars 70 pct; iPad falls short
(AP) -- Apple Inc. said Monday that net income for the most recent quarter soared 70 percent on strong sales of iPhones, though iPad sales fell short of expectations.
Medicine & Health news
Older women with normal T-scores may not need bone mineral density screening for 10 years
Since 2002, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recommended that women ages 65 and older be routinely screened for osteoporosis and has suggested that a 2-year screening interval might be appropriate. However, what length the screening interval should be is a topic that remains controversial and undecided, with no definitive scientific evidence to provide guidance.
More than half of stroke survivors suffer added burden of little known neurologic condition
A survey released today by National Stroke Association shows that 53 percent of stroke survivor respondents suffer from symptoms of another neurologic condition called pseudobulbar affect (PBA), a condition thought to be caused by structural damage in the brain due to injury or disease. PBA causes involuntary and unpredictable outbursts of laughing or crying, often in socially inappropriate situations. Even though a significant proportion of stroke survivors suffer from PBA, fewer than one in five are familiar with the condition.
Consortium to design human trials of mosaic HIV vaccine
Los Alamos National Laboratory researcher Bette Korber is part of an international team of investigators working to design and implement the first human trial of a mosaic HIV vaccine candidate. The vaccine represents a novel strategy for fighting the virus that causes AIDS by attempting to address one of the most daunting challenges in HIV vaccine design: the virus's extensive genetic diversity.
Allergy drug found to clear condition but not symptoms of throat disease
A group of Mayo Clinic researchers conducted the first controlled trial of swallowed fluticasone nasal spray (also known as Flonase) on people with the allergic esophageal condition called eosinophilic esophagitis. Research showed that the aerosolized swallowed allergy drug helped treat the cause of the throat condition, but symptoms lingered. The researchers' findings were presented today at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology in San Antonio.
Vitamin D deficiency puts IBD patients at greater risk of osteoporosis
Vitamin D deficiency puts patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) at greater risk of osteoporosis, osteopenia and an overall higher rate of abnormal bone density, according to the results of a new study unveiled today at the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 75th Annual Scientific meeting in San Antonio, Texas.
Attack on C. difficile: How can we combat this serious health issue
In five different studies presented at the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 75th Annual Scientific meeting in San Antonio, researchers explored the impact of various factors on increasing rates of Clostridium difficile infection (C. difficile), such as the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and the substantial increase in antibiotic use due to new National Hospital Quality Measures; strategies to combat high rates of C. difficile infections; and cutting‐edge treatments for this potentially deadly—and quite common—infection.
Investment in CRC screening targeting pre-medicare population could cut medicare treatment costs
Investment in screening programs that target the pre-Medicare population, individuals aged between 50 and 64, is needed to reduce the costs of colorectal cancer in the Medicare program, according to the results of a new study, "Cost-Savings to Medicare from Increased Colorectal Cancer Screening in the Pre-Medicare Population," unveiled today at the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 75th Annual Scientific meeting in San Antonio, Texas.
Fructose intolerance common in children with functional abdominal pain
Fructose intolerance, or fructose malabsorption, is common in children with recurrent or functional abdominal pain, but the condition can be effectively managed with a low‐fructose diet, according to the results of a new study unveiled today at the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 75th Annual Scientific meeting in San Antonio, Texas.
New studies highlight obesity's impact on gastrointestinal health
The association between obesity and gastrointestinal-related cancers and coronary artery disease; the link between an overweight or obese body mass index and the severity of Crohn's disease; and whether inflammatory bowel disease is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease, were among the highlights of new research that was presented this week at the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 75th Annual Scientific meeting in San Antonio.
Colonoscopy technique increases polyp detection in far reaches of right colon
Research exploring the progression of colon polyps to colorectal cancer and evaluating techniques to improve polyp detection was among the clinical science presented at the 75th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology in San Antonio today.
Diagnostic techniques help IBD patients avoid ionizing radiation exposure
At the American College of Gastroenterology’s (ACG) 75th Annual Scientific meeting in San Antonio, Texas, several studies of the effectiveness of non‐X‐ray techniques to evaluate Crohn’s disease revealed that diagnostic strategies such as capsule endoscopy (CE) and magnetic resonance enteroscopy (MRE) are useful in managing patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and avoiding ionizing radiation.
Statin use associated with statistically significant reduction in colorectal cancer
A systematic review of the medical literature supports the hypothesis that statins, cholesterol‐lowering drugs used to prevent cardiac problems, are associated with reduced risk of colon and rectal cancers. A comprehensive analysis by investigators at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, included 22 scientific studies with more than 2.5 million combined participants.
Environmental risk assessment of pharmaceuticals inadequate
The strategies used to assess the environmental risks posed by pharmaceuticals are not enough to protect natural microbial communities, reveals a researcher from the University of Gothenburg (Sweden) who is calling for better environmental risk assessments.
Encouraging findings suggest new avenues for treating liver disease in overweight Americans
Estimates of the prevalence of liver disease suggest that one‐third of the United States population has non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is now the most common cause for elevated liver function tests in the United States, a trend related to the obesity epidemic in this country. Non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the progressive form of NAFLD, can lead to cirrhosis and all its complications. Two studies presented at the 75th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology investigated the effectiveness of potential treatments for NASH, one assessing pentoxifylline, a well‐known drug with a well‐established safety profile that inhibits the release of TNFα among other mechanisms; as well as a separate analysis of pioglitazone, an insulin sensitizer, compared to vitamin E.
Acid reflux, functional dyspepsia have significant impact on disordered sleep
The impact of upper GI conditions, like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and functional dyspepsia, on sleep—and treatments aimed at providing relief to heartburn/acid reflux patients who suffer from disordered sleep—were explored in three new studies related to sleep dysfunction presented today at the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 75th Annual Scientific meeting in San Antonio, Texas.
New undertsanding of gut hormones and gut function sheds light on obesity
Research on obesity examining the role of hormones and the autonomic functions of the digestive system was presented at the 75th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American CoIlege of Gastroenterology.
Notable racial disparities in diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of colorectal cancer
The latest colorectal cancer research presented at the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 75th Annual Scientific meeting in San Antonio this week strengthens the growing body of evidence that suggests significant disparity in colorectal cancer (CRC) demographics and outcomes between various races.
Pioneering French oncologist Mathe dies at 88
(AP) -- Oncologist Georges Mathe, who in 1959 performed the world's first bone marrow transplant, has died, the French president's office said Monday. He was 88.
Malaria PSA uses humor to spread disease awareness
(AP) -- A new public service announcement irreverently suggests one way to solve the malaria problem in Africa: Recruit a cadre of sexy mosquitoes called La Femme Mosquita to seduce and kill their disease-carrying counterparts.
Latinas: 'Cancer was just meant to be'
Fatalism may prevent women from Latin American descent – Latinas - from using cancer screening services, according to Karla Espinosa de los Monteros and Dr. Linda Gallo from San Diego State University in the US. Their review shows that women who are pessimistic about preventive health practices and disease outcomes are less likely to have been screened for cervical, breast and colorectal cancer. The research is published online in Springer's International Journal of Behavioral Medicine.
Soy intake associated with lower recurrence of breast cancer in hormone-sensitive cancers
Post-menopausal breast cancer patients with hormone-sensitive cancers who consumed high amounts of soy isoflavones had a lower risk of recurrence, found a research study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Few nurse practitioners, physician assistants pursue careers in pediatric health
Pediatric health care work force planning efforts are increasingly incorporating the roles of nurse practitioners and physician assistants, especially in plans to alleviate the perceived shortage of pediatric subspecialists.
FDA panel backs anemia drugs for kidney disease
(AP) -- Federal health advisers say patients with failing kidneys should continue taking a group of widely used anemia drugs, despite a recent study showing they can increase the risk of stroke.
Questionnaire helps to identify patients at risk for surgical complications
A simple, eight-item pre-operative questionnaire could help identify patients at risk for complications following surgery, according to a report in the October issue of Archives of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Individuals prone to the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome as determined by the questionnaire appear to have an increased risk of heart, lung and other complications following elective surgery.
Genetic predisposition to certain skin cancers may be associated with vitamin D deficiency
Patients with basal cell nevus syndrome, which predisposes them to develop non-melanoma skin cancers, appear to be at increased risk for vitamin D deficiency if they take steps to protect themselves from sunlight, according to a report in the October issue of Archives of Dermatology.
Medicare hospital comparison website may not help patients locate best places for high-risk surgery
Information available on a government Web site designed to help patients choose high-quality hospitals does not appear to help Medicare beneficiaries identify facilities with better outcomes for high-risk surgeries, according to a report in the October issue of Archives of Surgery.
University of Cincinnati neurotrauma team awarded $2.1M to test 'lab on a tube'
The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) a $2.1 million Advanced Technology/Therapeutic Development Award to develop the next generation of brain monitors.
Medicaid reimbursement and childhood flu vaccination rates linked
Increasing the amount that physicians are reimbursed by Medicaid for administering influenza shots may raise vaccination rates among poor children. That is the conclusion of a study published online today in the journal Pediatrics.
Genetic test to predict early menopause
The first research from the Breakthrough Generations Study could lead to a test to predict a woman's reproductive lifespan.
Near-scarless surgery on its way thanks to novel laser technique
Researchers at U of T and the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have developed a novel laser technique that could allow surgeons to cut tissue with more precision than ever before, significantly reducing recovery times and scarring after surgery.
Patients with gum disease benefit from osteoporosis drug
A drug marketed to grow bone in osteoporosis patients also works to heal bone wounds in gum disease patients, a University of Michigan study suggests.
Eczema treatment creams could make it worse
New research at the University of Bath suggests that using emollient creams to relieve the symptoms of eczema could actually make the condition worse.
Removing 2mm around breast cancer tumors prevents residual disease in 98 percent of patients
Removing an extra two millimetres around an area of invasive breast cancer is sufficient to minimise any residual disease in 98 per cent of patients, according to research published in the November issue of IJCP, the International Journal of Clinical Practice.
Prostate cancer patients treated with robotic-assisted surgery can expect low recurrence of cancer
A first-ever, long-term study of patients who underwent robot-assisted surgery to remove their cancerous prostates found that nearly 87 percent of them had no recurrence of the disease after five years.
Why are men more susceptible to alcoholism?
Alcohol is one of the most commonly abused substances, and men are up to twice as likely to develop alcoholism as women. Until now, the underlying biology contributing to this difference in vulnerability has remained unclear.
New study gives hope for new class of Alzheimer's disease drugs
(PhysOrg.com) -- Finding a drug that can cross the blood-brain barrier is the bane of drug development for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders of the brain. A new Penn study, published this week in the Journal of Neuroscience, has found and tested in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease a class of drug that is able to enter the brain, where it stabilizes degenerating neurons and improves memory and learning.
Type 2 diabetes and insulin use are associated with colorectal cancer in men
There is an association between type 2 diabetes mellitus and colorectal cancer (CRC) among men, but not women, according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute.
Egg allergy: Not a reason to avoid flu vaccine after all
Having an egg allergy is not a reason to avoid getting the 2010-2011 flu vaccination.
Intestinal enzyme helps maintain population of beneficial bacteria
An enzyme that keeps intestinal bacteria out of the bloodstream may also play an important role in maintaining the normal microbial population of the gastrointestinal system. Since the loss of beneficial bacteria that usually results from antibiotic therapy can sometimes lead to serious health problems, a treatment that maintains microbial levels could have significant benefits.
Analysis indicates a third H1N1 pandemic wave unlikely in 2010
Analysis of H1N1 antibody levels (seroprotection rates) after the 2009 pandemic suggest that a third wave is unlikely in 2010, although adults over age 50, particularly those with chronic conditions, should be immunized for the fall flu season, states a research paper in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Lessons learned from the H1N1 pandemic
The H1N1 pandemic influenza provided several important lessons that may help in preparing for future influenza outbreaks, write Drs. Donald Low and Allison McGeer in an analysis in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
A researcher answers the weight gain question
We eat too much, and it's making us fat and sick. So why don't we stop?
Vitamin D deficiency linked to lung transplant rejection
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a significant increase in lung transplant rejection, according to research conducted at Loyola University Health System (LUHS). These data were presented Monday at The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research 2010 annual meeting in Toronto, Ontario.
Longer-lasting options to treat drug addiction
(AP) -- New treatments for addiction to heroin or narcotic painkillers promise longer-lasting relief that may remove some day-to-day uncertainty of care: A once-a-month shot is now approved and a six-month implant is in the final testing phase.
Demand for radiation therapy projected to outpace supply of radiation oncologists
Between 2010 and 2020, the demand for radiation therapy will exceed the number of radiation oncologists practicing in the U.S. tenfold, which could profoundly affect the ability to provide patients with sufficient access to treatment, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Study examines factors associated with seeking skin cancer screening
A survey of patients undergoing skin cancer screening shows that women were more likely to seek screening because of a skin lesion, a family history of skin cancer, or concern about sun exposure, whereas men age 50 and older, a group at highest risk for melanoma, may only seek screenings after a previous skin cancer diagnosis, according to a report in the October issue of Archives of Dermatology.
Vitamin B12 may reduce risk of Alzheimer's disease
A new study shows that vitamin B12 may protect against Alzheimer's disease, adding more evidence to the scientific debate about whether the vitamin is effective in reducing the risk of memory loss. The research will be published in the October 19, 2010, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Surgical complications drop at hospitals that share patient safety data
Michigan hospitals reduced surgical complications by nearly 10 percent at a time when the rest of the nation saw no change in complication rates, according to a new study out next week in the Archives of Surgery.
Early evaluation and intervention critical for vaccinated children with hearing loss from meningitis
Despite widespread use of pneumococcal vaccination, some children still develop deafness following pneumococcal meningitis, according to a report in the October issue of Archives of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery. Based on a small case series, early evaluation and simultaneous cochlear implantation in both ears may be a successful treatment strategy.
No standard for the placebo?
Much of medicine is based on what is considered the strongest possible evidence: The placebo-controlled trial. A paper published in the October 19 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine – entitled "What's In Placebos: Who Knows?" calls into question this foundation upon which much of medicine rests, by showing that there is no standard behind the standard – no standard for the placebo.
A new order for CPR, spelled C-A-B
The American Heart Association is re-arranging the ABCs of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in its 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care, published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Researchers identify protein associated with sporadic ALS
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School have uncovered new evidence suggesting that the SOD1 gene, which is implicated in 20 percent of inherited cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease), also plays a part in sporadic forms of the disease. Discovery of this common pathology is described in the October 17 online edition of Nature Neuroscience.
A mystery solved: How genes are selectively silenced
Cells read only those genes which are needed at a given moment, while the others are chemically labeled and, thus, selectively turned off. Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center have now been the first to discover how these labels are placed at exactly the right spot in the genetic material. Important players are regulatory RNA molecules. They form a plait-like triple helix with the DNA serving as a signpost for the labels.
Researchers increase understanding of genetic susceptibility to psoriasis
Genetic variants associated with increased susceptibility to psoriasis are reported in five papers published online this week in Nature Genetics. Psoriasis is a chronic and recurrent skin disease, and one of the most prevalent autoimmune diseases, with a global prevalence of 2-3%.
See no shape, touch no shape, hear a shape?
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists at The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital – The Neuro, McGill University have discovered that our brains have the ability to determine the shape of an object simply by processing specially-coded sounds, without any visual or tactile input. Not only does this new research tell us about the plasticity of the brain and how it perceives the world around us, it also provides important new possibilities for aiding those who are blind or with impaired vision.
Scientists closer to grasping how the brain's 'hearing center' spurs responses to sound
Just as we visually map a room by spatially identifying the objects in it, we map our aural world based on the frequencies of sounds. The neurons within the brain's "hearing center" -- the auditory cortex -- are organized into modules that each respond to sounds within a specific frequency band. But how responses actually emanate from this complex network of neurons is still a mystery.
Researchers discover why cocaine is so addictive
Mount Sinai researchers have discovered how cocaine corrupts the brain and becomes addictive. These findings -- the first to connect activation of specific neurons to alterations in cocaine reward -- were published in Science on October 15. The results may help researchers in developing new ways of treating those addicted to the drug.
Body's bacteria affect atherosclerosis
New findings suggesting that bacteria in the mouth and/or intestine can affect the the outcome pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and lead to new treatment strategies, reveals research from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Tackling cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease: 1 'STEP' at a time
Lowering levels of a key protein involved in regulating learning and memory -- STtriatal-Enriched tyrosine Phosphatase (STEP) -- reversed cognitive deficits in mice with Alzheimer's disease, Yale School of Medicine researchers report in the October 18 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Four new psoriasis 'hotspots' identified
Scientists at the University of Michigan Heath System and their collaborators have found four new DNA "hotspots" that may one day help guide new treatments for psoriasis, one of the most common autoimmune diseases in the country.
Research team identifies new mechanism with suspected role in cancer
If women had no prolactin receptors on cells in their mammary glands, they would not produce milk when they were nursing. Prolactin receptors are also found in other organs including the lung and the colon. The only problem is that these receptors are sort of like cellular wiring, and when the wrong conditions bring them together, the resulting short circuit can produce cancer.
Optical technique reveals unnexpected complexity in mammalian olfactory coding
A team co-led by neuroscientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has shed light -- literally -- on circuitry underlying the olfactory system in mammals, giving us a new view of how that system may pull off some of its most amazing feats.
Biology news
Conservation of the royal warship Vasa evaluated
The conservation of the royal warship Vasa, which sank in Stockholm on her maiden voyage in 1628 and was raised in 1961, has provided a unique insight into how large waterlogged wooden archaeological relics can be preserved for the future, reveals an evaluation of the conservation programme by a researcher at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Call for long-term view on 'dire' funding of biological research databases
A rethink is needed on the 'dire' situation of funding of databases across biology, researchers say.
Can naturally raised beef find its place in the industry?
As consumer demand for naturally raised beef continues to increase, researchers at the University of Illinois have discovered that naturally raised beef can be produced effectively for this niche market as long as a substantial premium is offered to cover additional production and transportation costs.
UN meeting on saving species opens in Japan
(AP) -- Delegates from more than 190 nations kicked off a U.N. conference Monday aimed at ensuring the survival of diverse species and ecosystems threatened by pollution, exploitation and habitat encroachment.
Worst weed the culprit of herbicide resistance
Scientists at the University of Adelaide's Waite Research Institute have discovered new cases of herbicide resistance in annual ryegrass, the most serious and costly weed of Australian cropping.
Pore 'vision' improved
A team led by Naoko Imamoto of the RIKEN Advanced Science Institute in Wako, Japan, has uncovered processes governing the formation of functionally important structures called nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) in dividing human cells.
Lemur play is on solid ground
Unless it leads to sex, adult male primates usually aren't very playful. Except if they’re Silky sifakas.
Scientists perform genome-wide study of human stem cells
A team of scientists from Singapore led by the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), two biomedical research institutes of Singapore's Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), have discovered the most important genes in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), a crucial breakthrough in discovering how human stem cells work. Their research, published in top scientific journal Nature, is the first ever genome-wide study of human stem cells on such a massive scale, and its results are crucial in understanding how stem cells may one day be used to treat debilitating conditions such as Parkinson's disease and traumatic spinal injury.
Bridges built to help Borneo orangutans meet mates
(AP) -- Endangered orangutans on Borneo island are using fire hoses slung across rivers by humans to help them move around isolated forests to potentially meet new mates and boost the species' chances for survival, an environmental group said Monday.
Scientists sequence genomes of lyme disease bacteria
Scientists supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have determined the complete genetic blueprints for 13 different strains of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.
Japanese researchers report on liver transplantation studies using animal and iPS cells
Two research teams from the Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine (Okayama, Japan) have reported breakthrough studies in liver cell transplantation. One team found that the technical breakthrough in creating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) from mouse somatic cells (nonsex cells) in vitro had "implications for overcoming immunological rejection." Whereas a second team using liver cell xenotransplantation - transplanting cells of one species into another (in this case transplanting pig liver cells into mice) - found that transplanted liver cells from widely divergent species can function to correct acute liver failure and prolong survival.
Scientists turn stem cells into cells for cartilage repair
(PhysOrg.com) -- Manchester scientists have turned embryonic stem cells into the cells that produce cartilage, which could be used to repair damaged and diseased joints.
100-million-year-old mistake provides snapshot of evolution
Research by University of Leeds plant scientists has uncovered a snapshot of evolution in progress, by tracing how a gene mutation over 100 million years ago led flowers to make male and female parts in different ways.
When vertebrae cross dress: How sloths got their long neck (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- By examining the development of bones in the vertebral column, limbs, and ribcage, scientists at the University of Cambridge have discovered how sloths evolved their unique neck skeleton.
This email is a free service of PhysOrg.com
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
http://www.physorg.com/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment