Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for October 25, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Researchers find a stable way to store the sun's heat- How memories are born
- Huge amber deposit discovered in India
- Study gives clues about carbon dioxide patterns at end of Ice Age
- Complex mathematical problem solved by bees
- Modern humans emerged far earlier than previously thought
- Balloon filled with ground coffee makes ideal robotic gripper (w/ Video)
- Gold nanoparticles that make leaves glow in the dark
- New VECSEL could mean a step forward for spectroscopy
- As Arctic warms, increased shipping likely to accelerate climate change
- Decoding the disease that perplexes: Scientists discover new target for MS
- Planet warming will affect storms differently in Northern and Southern hemispheres
- World's largest, most complex marine virus is major player in ocean ecosystems: research
- Marathons damage the hearts of less fit runners for up to 3 months
- MicroRNAs dictate the Epstein-Barr virus' elaborate waiting game, cancer formation
Space & Earth news
UA's SkyCenter now offers Arizona's largest public-only telescope
Featuring a primary mirror 32 inches in diameter, the new Schulman telescope forms the centerpiece of the SkyCenter's successful public outreach programs drawing visitors from all over the country to the clear skies atop Mt. Lemmon.
Wildlife health reporting tools may help prevent human illness
Two new tools that enable the public to report sick or dead wild animals could also lead to the detection and containment of wildlife disease outbreaks that may pose a health risk to people.
Changes in energy R&D needed to combat climate change
A new assessment of future scenarios that limit the extent of global warming cautions that unless current imbalances in R&D portfolios for the development of new, efficient, and clean energy technologies are redressed, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets are unlikely to be met, or met only at considerable costs.
Indonesia orders evacuations as volcano threatens
Indonesia raised its alert for Mount Merapi to its highest level on Monday and ordered people living near the rumbling volcano to move immediately to safer ground.
Study indicates changing climate in the Australian South-East
Despite recent rainfall in parts of eastern Australia, a recently released scientific report indicates an increasing risk of below-average rainfall and runoff into streams, and drier conditions into the future in south-eastern Australia.
The reassuring science behind middle-of-continent earthquakes
When people in the Midwest say they fear a big earthquake is going to hit their hometown soon, Northwestern University geologist Seth Stein, the author of the new book "Disaster Deferred: How New Science Is Changing Our View of Earthquake Hazards in the Midwest,” tries to reassure them.
NASA tests hardware for space by simulating the sun's power
In the hostile environment of space, satellites could get burned by the ultra-hot sun in front of them and chilled by the frigid cold conditions of space behind them.
ARTEMIS spacecraft believed stuck by object
Flight Dynamics data from THEMIS-B (one of the two ARTEMIS spacecraft) indicated that one of the EFI (electric field instrument)spherical tip masses may have been struck by a meteoroid at 0605 UT on October 14. All science instruments continue to collect data. The probe and science instruments aboard the spacecraft continue to operate nominally. The upcoming insertion into Lissajous orbit will not be interrupted.
NASA airborne science campaign begins antarctic sequel
Scientists returned this week to the Southern Hemisphere where NASA's Operation IceBridge mission is set to begin its second year of airborne surveys over Antarctica. The mission monitors the region's changing sea ice, ice sheets and glaciers.
Leak fixed, shuttle good for next Monday launch
(AP) -- Space shuttle Discovery has new seals and is no longer leaking.
Indonesia warns volcano could erupt at any time
(AP) -- Indonesia warned Monday that its most volatile volcano could erupt at any time and started evacuating some of the thousands of villagers living on the mountain's slope.
Planets in 'habitable zone' may provide answers
The Gliese 581 system has been making headlines recently for the most newly announced planet that may lie in the habitable zone. Hopes were somewhat dashed when we were reminded that the certainty level of its discovery was only 3 sigma (95%, whereas most astronomical discoveries are at or above the 99% confidence level before major announcements), but the Gliese 581 system may yet have more surprises.
Microbes and molecules get a space-stress test
Astrobiologists searching for life beyond Earth need to know how well life and its building blocks fare in space. To find out, NASA will monitor a miniature "crew" of organic molecules and microbes orbiting Earth for 6 months.
7.7-magnitude quake hits off Indonesian island
(AP) -- A powerful earthquake hit off western Indonesia late Monday, briefly triggering a tsunami warning that sent thousands of panicked residents fleeing to high ground. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
As Arctic warms, increased shipping likely to accelerate climate change
As the ice-capped Arctic Ocean warms, ship traffic will increase at the top of the world. And if the sea ice continues to decline, a new route connecting international trading partners may emerge -- but not without significant repercussions to climate, according to a U.S. and Canadian research team that includes a University of Delaware scientist.
Planet warming will affect storms differently in Northern and Southern hemispheres
Weather systems in the Southern and Northern hemispheres will respond differently to global warming, according to an MIT atmospheric scientist's analysis that suggests the warming of the planet will affect the availability of energy to fuel extratropical storms, or large-scale weather systems that occur at Earth's middle latitudes. The resulting changes will depend on the hemisphere and season, the study found.
Purdue-led research team finds Haiti quake caused by unknown fault
Researchers found a previously unmapped fault was responsible for the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti and that the originally blamed fault remains ready to produce a large earthquake.
'Hydraulic fracturing' mobilizes uranium in marcellus shale
Scientific and political disputes over drilling Marcellus shale for natural gas have focused primarily on the environmental effects of pumping millions of gallons of water and chemicals deep underground to blast through rocks to release the natural gas.
Study: Mountain vegetation impacted by climate change
(PhysOrg.com) -- Climate change has had a significant effect on mountain vegetation at low elevations in the past 60 years, according to a study done by the University of California at Davis, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and U.S. Geological Survey.
Study gives clues about carbon dioxide patterns at end of Ice Age
(PhysOrg.com) -- New University of Florida research puts to rest the mystery of where old carbon was stored during the last glacial period. It turns out it ended up in the icy waters of the Southern Ocean near Antarctica.
Technology news
Mass vehicle recall problems could be solved by Midlands Company
Last week Toyota announced a recall of more than 1.5 million cars worldwide over brake and fuel pump defects but a small new Midlands company Warwick Analytics, which has spun out of the University of Warwick, could solve, and even prevent, these massive recalls in future.
Improving U.S. missile defense
Researchers at Purdue University are working with the U.S. Department of Defense's Missile Defense Agency to develop software that would improve the ability to manage the large volume of incoming data during an enemy attack.
Tourism bureaus use social sites to promote sights
(AP) -- Dog sledding without snow? Karen Tolin knew the concept was a little hard to understand, but she believed a Facebook promotion for her White Mountains dog-sledding business through the state tourism division would help clear it up - and draw some customers during the off season.
Research on avoiding fraud in biometric identification
Spanish scientists from Carlos III University of Madrid are analyzing possible attempts at fraud in various biometric identification systems in order to improve the security of facial, iris, fingerprint or vascular recognition, among other types.
Online TV spats mean fewer free shows on Web
(AP) -- Broadcasters took a big step toward eliminating free TV shows on the Web after they blocked access to their programming online this month to enforce their demands to be paid.
Wayward winds - Predicting the output of wind parks
For the first time, scientists are comparing methods for predicting the power output of wind parks in Austria. The project, supported by the Austrian Science Fund FWF, thus creates a basis for optimised forecasts of wind park outputs - forecasts that can be used to make better decisions about which measures to take to ensure the need for power is met. The project focuses on forecasts for periods from six hours up to ten days. In addition to reliability, the temporal and spatial resolution of the different methods is analysed. The scientists also evaluate to what extent these methods are able to calculate the probability that these forecasts come true.
TeliaSonera says outlook good on smart phones, Asia
Nordic telecoms giant TeliaSonera said on Monday that sales of smart phones, coupled with growth in eastern Europe and Asia, was boosting profits and the outlook for results this year.
Italy slaps restrictions on Google's Street View
Italy's privacy regulator on Monday announced restrictions on Google's Street View mapping service, echoing privacy concerns aired elsewhere in Europe.
Amazon says e-book sales of best-sellers double print
Amazon customers are buying Kindle digital versions of the top 10 best-selling books more than twice as often as print copies, the online retail giant said Monday.
Once hot Digg slashes staff by over one-third
Digg, the news-sharing site once one of the hottest destinations on the Web, announced Monday it was cutting over one-third of its staff in a bid to try to be profitable next year.
GM partners with Envision Solar for Chevy Volt recharging
"Every electric vehicle is the equivalent of one or two single-family residences in terms of impact on the electric grid," said Desmond Wheatley, president of Envision Solar in San Diego.
TI 3Q earnings up 60 pct, sees slowdown in 4Q
(AP) -- Chip-maker Texas Instruments Inc. said Monday that third-quarter income soared 60 percent as it continued to satisfy pent-up demand after the recession, but the company expects things to cool down for the rest of the year, as consumer demand is tepid.
Let me hear your heart beat
(PhysOrg.com) -- What if monitoring your heart rate were as easy as listening to music while you jog? Thanks to advances in space technology, an iPhone will soon be able to do double duty: keep you in tune with your favourite artists and your vital signs.
German auto sector voices concern over rare-earth spat
German industrialists are concerned over supplies of rare earth minerals needed for a wide variety of products after companies said access to the raw materials was restricted by China.
Hydrogen-generating technology might power boats, store energy from wind, solar sources
Researchers have developed a method that uses aluminum and a liquid alloy to extract hydrogen from seawater to run engines in boats and ships, representing a potential replacement for gasoline and diesel fuel in marine applications.
US newspaper circulation drops five percent
Average daily US newspaper circulation fell 4.99 percent during the six months ending on September 30 compared with the same period a year ago, the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) said.
Tesla upbeat on Japan business, opens showroom
Tesla, the U.S. maker of electric sportscars, opened its first Asian showroom Monday in a fashionable Tokyo neighborhood, hoping to woo rich buyers before eventually widening its appeal with cheaper models.
UA engineer designs better error-correction code
(PhysOrg.com) -- One company already has licensed the technology from the UA, and patents are pending to meet growing computer industry demand for the error-correction algorithm developed by Bane Vasic.
Balloon filled with ground coffee makes ideal robotic gripper (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- The human hand is an amazing machine that can pick up, move and place objects easily, but for a robot, this "gripping" mechanism is a vexing challenge. Opting for simple elegance, researchers from Cornell University, University of Chicago and iRobot have bypassed traditional designs based around the human hand and fingers, and created a versatile gripper using everyday ground coffee and a latex party balloon.
Medicine & Health news
Kryptonite superglue improving the quality of life in heart patients recovering from surgery
New research shows that a surgical procedure using a cutting-edge super glue pioneered a year ago by Calgary researchers can improve the recovery of heart patients recovering from open-chest surgery, Dr. Paul Fedak today told the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2010, co-hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.
In Haiti, cholera could heighten earthquake misery
(AP) -- A cholera outbreak that already has left 250 people dead and more than 3,000 sickened is at the doorstep of an enormous potential breeding ground: the squalid camps in Port-au-Prince where 1.3 million earthquake survivors live. Health authorities and aid workers are scrambling to keep the tragedies from merging and the deaths from multiplying.
Many women missing out on the benefits of cardiac rehab
Cardiac rehabilitation is considered the pillar of preventing a second cardiac event yet those who stand to benefit the most – women and the elderly − are often missing out, Dr. Billie Jean Martin told the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2010, co-hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.
Colorectal cancer screening can be expanded by offering it during mammography visits
Offering colorectal cancer screening to poor minority women during mammography visits can effectively expand screening in this otherwise underserved population, although lack of medical insurance remains a significant barrier. That is the conclusion of a new study published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The results highlight the need to find alternative funding sources for colorectal cancer screening from the government or private institutions.
Contraband cigarettes main source of supply for Ontario youth
October 25, 2010 – (Toronto) –A new study from The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) found that contraband tobacco accounts for 43% of all cigarettes consumed by Ontario high school daily smokers in grades 9 to 12.
Study suggests sensitivity to bodily symptoms of anxiety may make a difference in treatment
Levels of anxiety sensitivity may be important in choosing medical treatment for patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation (AF), Montreal Heart Institute researchers today told the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2010, co-hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.
Breast milk study published by professor
Ask an expert to list the substances in breast milk that make it the ideal food for newborns and you may hear about proteins that guard against infection, fats that aid in the development of the nervous system and carbohydrates that promote the growth of healthy bacteria.
Sleep disturbances show clear association with work disability
Sleep disturbances increase the risk of work disability and may slow the return to work process. This is especially true in cases where work disability is due to mental disorders or musculoskeletal diseases. These results come from a recent study conducted by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in collaboration with the universities of Turku and London.
Nurse filmed accidentally switching off Briton's ventilator
A nurse was secretly filmed accidentally switching off a tetraplegic British man's life-support machine, leaving him with brain damage, the BBC reported Monday as it showed the footage.
Pregnancy outcome affected by immune system genes
A team of researchers, led by Ashley Moffett, at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, has shed new light on genetic factors that increase susceptibility to and provide protection from common disorders of pregnancy, specifically recurrent miscarriage, preeclampsia, and fetal growth restriction.
High erythropoietin levels indicate increased risk of death
High erythropoietin levels in people over age 85 indicate a higher risk of death, according to a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Stop the bleeding: New way to restore numbers of key blood-clotting cells
Platelets are cells in the blood that have a key role in stopping bleeding. Thrombocytopenia is the medical term used to describe the presence of abnormally low numbers of platelets in the blood. Platelet transfusion is used to treat several causes of thrombocytopenia, but there is a shortage of donors. Mortimer Poncz and colleagues, at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, working with mice, have now identified a potential new approach to platelet replacement therapy that circumvents the problem of donor shortage.
Chemotherapy plus radiation prevents bladder cancer recurrences
Adding chemotherapy to radiation therapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer allows 67 percent of people to be free of disease in their bladders two years after treatment. This compares to 54 percent of people who receive radiation alone, according to the largest randomized study of its kind presented at the plenary session, November 1, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).
Radiation before surgery keeps colorectal cancer from returning
Patients with cancer found at the end of the large intestine called the rectum who receive one week of radiation therapy before surgery have a 50 percent reduction in chance that their cancer will return after 10 years, according to a large, randomized study presented at the plenary session, November 1, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).
Adding radiation to hormone therapy for prostate cancer treatment will increase survival chances
Prostate cancer patients who are treated with a combination of hormone therapy and radiation have a substantially improved chance of survival compared to patients who do not receive radiation, according to interim results of the largest randomized study of its kind presented at the plenary session, November 1, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).
Aspirin use associated with lower risk of cancer death for men with prostate cancer
Men with prostate cancer who take anticoagulants like aspirin in addition to radiation therapy or surgery may be able to cut their risk of dying of the disease by more than half, according to a large study presented on November 3, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in San Diego. The study involved more than 5,000 men with localized cancer whose disease had not spread beyond the prostate gland.
Radiation therapy improves painful condition associated with multiple sclerosis
Stereotactic radiation is an effective, long-term treatment for trigeminal neuralgia: a painful condition that occurs with increased frequency in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Radiation is noninvasive and has less negative side effects than other treatments, according to the longest follow-up in a study of its kind presented October 31, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).
Prostate cancer screening improves quality of life by catching disease before it spreads
Men treated for prostate cancer who were diagnosed after the start of routine screening had a significantly reduced risk of the disease spreading to other parts of the body (metastases) within 10 years of treatment, compared to men who were treated prior to the use of routine screening, according to the first study-of-its-kind presented November 1, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).
Highly targeted radiation technique minimizes side effects of prostate cancer treatment
Men with prostate cancer treated with a specialized type of radiation called intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) have fewer gastrointestinal complications compared to patients treated with conventional three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), according to a study presented November 1, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).
Heart disease prevention program saves lives and reduces costs, study finds
A new study from Kaiser Permanente Colorado is one of the first to show that an intensive population management program that matches heart disease patients to personal nurses and clinical pharmacy specialists not only reduces the risk of death but reduces health care costs as well.
Newer, more intense chemotherapy with less radiation not more effective against Hodgkin's lymphoma
A lower dose of radiation used to reduce side effects is not as effective as the regular dose when given with the standard chemotherapy in the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma patients with early, intermediate-stage disease, according to a first-of-its-kind randomized study presented at the plenary session, November 1, 2010, at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).
Complications after endoscopies may be underestimated using standard reporting procedures
Hospital visits following outpatient gastrointestinal endoscopies may be more common than previously estimated, according to a report in the October 25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Primary care physicians may earn lowest hourly wages
Clinician's wages appear to vary significantly across physician specialties and are lowest for those in primary care, according to a report in the October 25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Study reveals risky sex behavior among NYC teens
(AP) -- Nearly one-tenth of sexually active New York City high school students say they have had at least one same-sex partner, and teens who say they've had sexual contact with both sexes report higher-than-average rates of dating violence, forced sex and risky sexual behavior, a new study says.
Obese children have signs of heart disease typically seen in middle-aged adults
The blood vessels of obese children have stiffness normally seen in much older adults with cardiovascular disease, Dr. Kevin Harris today told the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2010, co-hosted by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The clock is ticking and the shape of the 13 year-old-heart is changing – for the worse.
Kids' docs urged to screen new moms for depression
(AP) -- An influential medical group says pediatricians should routinely screen new mothers for depression. Depression isn't just bad for moms: It can also harm their babies.
Allergies and wheezing illnesses in childhood may be determined in the womb
A child's chances of developing allergies or wheezing is related to how he or she grew at vital stages in the womb, according to scientists from the University of Southampton.
Daily vibration may help aging bones stay healthy
A daily dose of whole body vibration may help reduce the usual bone density loss that occurs with age, Medical College of Georgia researchers report.
What can country of birth tell us about childhood asthma?
Researchers from Tufts University pooled data from five previous epidemiological studies to investigate the prevalence of asthma in children in the Boston neighborhoods of Chinatown and Dorchester. Among children born in the United States, low socioeconomic status (SES) and exposure to pests (mice and cockroaches) were both associated with having asthma. Neither association was present in children born outside of the United States. The study was published online in advance of print in the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health.
Peace of mind closes health gap for less-educated
Psychological well-being is powerful enough to counteract the pull of socioeconomic status on the long-term health of the disadvantaged, according to a study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Researchers find pathway that drives spread of pediatric bone cancer in preclinical studies
Researchers have identified an important signaling pathway that, when blocked, significantly decreases the spread of pediatric bone cancer.
Common anxiety disorders make it tougher to quit cigarettes
Researchers may have pinpointed a reason many smokers struggle to quit. According to new research published in the journal Addiction, smokers with a history of anxiety disorders are less likely to quit smoking. The study, conducted by the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention (UW-CTRI), offered free coaching and medications to smokers in Madison and Milwaukee.
Haiti official: Cholera outbreak is easing
(AP) -- A cholera outbreak showed signs of easing Monday after killing more than 250 people in a sweep through rural Haiti, but experts warned that the earthquake-devastated country's first bout with the disease in decades is far from over.
Improved outcomes for HPV-positive head and neck cancer with cetuximab and IMRT
Studies have shown higher survival rates for people with head and neck cancers that test positive for HPV when they are treated with systemic chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Now a new study suggests outcomes are also better when radiation therapy is combined with cetuximab, a targeted therapy. The data will be presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology, October 31st through November 4th in San Diego.
Heat acclimation benefits athletic performance
Turning up the heat might be the best thing for athletes competing in cool weather, according to a new study by human physiology researchers at the University of Oregon.
Push for better ways to share e-health records
(AP) -- Think you entered the digital health age when your doctor switched from paper charts to computerized medical records? Think again: An e-chart stored in one doctor's computer too often can't be read by another's across town.
Substantial consumption of fluoride increases chance of mild fluorosis
Young children who consume substantial amounts of fluoride through infant formula and other beverages mixed with fluoridated water or by swallowing fluoride toothpaste have an increased chance of developing mild enamel fluorosis, according to research published in the October issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association and supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Children can continue using fluoridated water and fluoride toothpaste because fluoride has been proven to prevent tooth decay, and mild fluorosis does not negatively affect dental health or quality of life.
Debate rages over health effects of marijuana
The marijuana cigarette, with its pungent smell, became a symbol of the 1960s. Bill Clinton tried it, but he didn't inhale. Comedians joked about burned-out dopers with brains altered by a variety of drugs, including pot. College students and young professionals passed around joints at parties and wondered: Why all the fuss?
Anti-cholesterol drugs could help stave off seizures: research
Statins, the family of drugs used to lower cholesterol, might also reduce the risk of epileptic seizures in people with cardiovascular disease, according to a new statistical study by a drug safety expert at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. The findings could provide the basis for randomized, controlled clinical trials to test the efficacy of the drugs as anti-epileptic medication.
Risk of cancer due to radiation exposure in middle age may be higher than previously estimated
Contrary to common assumptions, the risk of cancer associated with radiation exposure in middle age may not be lower than the risk associated with exposure at younger ages, according to a study published online October 25 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Blood pressure checks performed by barbers improve hypertension control in African-American men
Neighborhood barbers, by conducting a monitoring, education and physician-referral program, can help their African-American customers better control high blood pressure problems that pose special health risks for them, a new study from the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute shows.
Physicians agree Medicare reimbursement is flawed, disagree on how to reform it
A national survey finds most physicians believe Medicare reimbursement is inequitable, but there appears to be little consensus regarding proposed reforms, according to a report in the October 25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Heavy smoking in midlife may be associated with dementia in later years
Heavy smoking in middle age appears to be associated with more than double the risk for Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia two decades later, according to a report posted online today that will be published in the February 28 print issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Active ingredient levels vary among red yeast rice supplements
Different formulations of red yeast rice, a supplement marketed as a way to improve cholesterol levels, appear widely inconsistent in the amounts of active ingredients they contain, according to a report in the October 25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. In addition, one in three of 12 products studied had detectable levels of a potentially toxic compound.
Study finds race, ethnicity impact access to care for children with frequent ear infections
(PhysOrg.com) -- Ear infections are one of the most common health problems for children, with most kids experiencing at least one by their third birthday. Annual costs in the United States alone are in the billions of dollars.
Knowledge gaps, fears common among parents of children with drug-resistant bacteria
Knowledge gaps and fear -- some of it unjustified -- are common among the caregivers of children with a drug-resistant staph bacterium known as MRSA, according to the results of a small study from the Johns Hopkins Children Center. These caregivers thirst for timely, detailed and simple information, the researchers add.
Improving mothers' literacy skills may be best way to boost children's achievement
Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health concluded that programs to boost the academic achievement of children from low income neighborhoods might be more successful if they also provided adult literacy education to parents.
Marathons damage the hearts of less fit runners for up to 3 months
Is running a marathon good for you or can it damage the heart? A team of researchers and runners from the Heart and Stroke Foundation have come up with a practical way of answering the question. They used data from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to find out what is really going on in the marathoner's heart as the kilometers pile up.
Mouse brain seen in sharpest detail ever
The most detailed magnetic resonance images ever obtained of a mammalian brain are now available to researchers in a free, online atlas of an ultra-high-resolution mouse brain, thanks to work at the Duke Center for In Vivo Microscopy.
Discovery opens new window on development, and maybe potential, of human egg cells
Fertility procedures such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) require a couple and the doctor to place the risky bet that the multiple eggs they choose to fertilize will produce an embryo that will thrive in the uterus. Researchers cannot biopsy eggs directly because that would destroy them, but a new discovery by professors at Brown University and Women & Infants Hospital could lead to new insights about how eggs develop and ultimately inform judgments about how the embryos they produce will fare. The idea is to examine the genetic material the egg cells discarded when they were first forming, to see which genes they were expressing.
Study investigates variability in men's recall of sexual cues
Even if a woman is perfectly clear in expressing sexual interest or rejection, young men vary in their ability to remember the cues, a new University of Iowa study shows.
Unexpected findings of lead exposure may lead to treating blindness
Some unexpected effects of lead exposure that may one day help prevent and reverse blindness have been uncovered by a University of Houston (UH) professor and his team.
Decoding the disease that perplexes: Scientists discover new target for MS
Scientists are closer to solving one of the many mysteries of multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases, thanks to a recent study conducted at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. The research revealed a previously unknown connection between two ion channels, which, when misaligned, can cause the many bizarre symptoms that characterize the condition.
Listeria clever at finding its way into bloodstream, causing sickness
Pathogenic listeria tricks intestinal cells into helping it pass through those cells to make people ill, and, if that doesn't work, the bacteria simply goes around the cells, according to a Purdue University study.
Why does lack of sleep affect us differently? Study hints it may be in our genes
Ever wonder why some people breeze along on four hours of sleep when others can barely function? It may be in our genes, according to new research and an accompanying editorial published in the October 26, 2010, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
How memories are born
(PhysOrg.com) -- When we experience something new, or wish to remember something important, groups of cells deep inside the center of our brains fire in unison as a new memory is born.
Biology news
Golden eagles studied by satellite
Large-scale wind farm establishment may have a negative effect on Sweden's golden eagles. In a unique project in northern Sweden, scientists at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) are trapping adult golden eagles and fitting them with satellite transmitters.
Growing crops in the city
A case study published in the 2010 Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education by professors at Washington State University studies the challenges one organization faced in maintaining an urban market garden. The journal is published by the American Society of Agronomy.
Quakes don't completely shake China's environmental gains, thanks to conservation programs
The impact of China's devastating 2008 earthquake was substantially lessened by environmental conservation programs for some of the country's most fragile habitats, according to research published in a journal of the Royal Swedish Academy of Science this week.
Flamingos add natural color to their feathers to look good and attract mates: study
Flamingos apply natural make-up to their feathers to stand out and attract mates, according to a new study by Juan Amat, from the Estación Biológica de Doňana in Seville, Spain, and colleagues. Their research is the first to demonstrate that birds transfer the color pigments (carotenoids) from the secretions of their uropygial gland for cosmetic reasons. The uropygial or preen gland is found in the majority of birds and is situated near the base of the tail. The study is published online in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, a Springer journal.
Odor coding in mammals is more complex than previously thought
A new study in the Journal of General Physiology (JGP) shows that the contribution of odorant receptors (ORs) to olfactory response in mammals is much more complex than previously thought, with important consequences for odorant encoding and information transfer about odorants to the brain. The study appears online on October 25.
Immune cells deploy traps to catch and kill pathogens
A new study reveals that two enzymes help immune cells deploy pathogen-killing traps by unraveling and using the chromatin (DNA and its associated proteins) contained in the cells' nuclei to form defensive webs. The study appears online on October 25 in The Journal of Cell Biology.
Rice hulls a sustainable drainage option for greenhouse growers
Greenhouse plant growers can substitute rice hulls for perlite in their media without the need for an increase in growth regulators, according to a Purdue University study.
Identifying molecular guardian of cell's RNA
When most genes are transcribed, the nascent RNAs they produce are not quite ready to be translated into proteins - they have to be processed first. One of those processes is called splicing, a mechanism by which non-coding gene sequences are removed and the remaining protein-coding sequences are joined together to form a final, mature messenger RNA (mRNA), which contains the recipe for making a protein.
Fight against cancer gets help from salmonella bacteria
Scientists have uncovered a novel mechanism by which Salmonella bacteria infect humans and say the discovery could potentially be exploited to kill cancerous cells.
Scientists reveal the sex wars of the truffle grounds
They are one of the most highly prized delicacies in the culinary world, but now scientists have discovered that black truffles are locked in a gender war for reproduction. The research, published in New Phytologist as the truffle season begins, represents a breakthrough in the understanding of truffle cultivation and distribution.
Plant stem cells could be fruitful source of low-cost cancer drug
A popular cancer drug could be produced cheaply and sustainably using stem cells derived from trees, a study suggests.
Genetic markers offer new clues about how malaria mosquitoes evade eradication (w/ Video)
The development and first use of a high-density SNP array for the malaria vector mosquito have established 400,000 genetic markers capable of revealing new insights into how the insect adapts to outsmart insecticides and other preventive measures, according to findings published in the current edition of the journal Science. The SNP array's snapshot of the Anopheles gambiae genome can be used by scientists worldwide to advance public health efforts to contain and eliminate the deadly disease, according to Boston College biologist and senior author Marc A.T. Muskavitch.
World's largest, most complex marine virus is major player in ocean ecosystems: research
UBC researchers have identified the world's largest marine virus--an unusually complex 'mimi-like virus' that infects an ecologically important and widespread planktonic predator.
Complex mathematical problem solved by bees
(PhysOrg.com) -- Bumblebees can find the solution to a complex mathematical problem which keeps computers busy for days.
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