Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for November 15, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Anti-mirror optical illusion could increase LED luminosity and laser power- Microsensors offer first look at whether cell mass affects growth rate (w/ Video)
- Sugar cube size supercomputers
- Maxwell's demon demonstration turns information into energy
- Youngest nearby black hole found (w/ Video)
- Shortest-pulse X-ray beams could illuminate atomic, molecular interactions
- T. rex's big tail was its key to speed and hunting prowess
- Scientists find new squid in Indian Ocean depths
- Scientists reveal criminal virus spreaders using evolutionary forensics
- Tiny RNA molecules control labor, may be key to blocking premature birth
- Biochemistry of how plants resist insect attack determined
- Analysis of teeth suggests modern humans mature more slowly than Neanderthals did
- Change in temperature uncovers genetic cross talk in plant immunity
- Origin of cells associated with nerve repair discovered
- New test can screen all deafness genes simultaneously
Space & Earth news
China's ecological footprint continues to grow
The spread of consumerism among China's burgeoning middle class is behind the rapid growth of the Asian giant's environmental footprint, a conservation group said Monday.
Cosmic births revealed by disks of dust
By carving 'gaps' in the disks of dust that create and enshroud them, newborn planets are giving astronomers clues to locating possible new worlds.
Reconstructing an ancient climate with algae
Variations in atmosphere carbon dioxide around 40 million years ago were tightly coupled to changes in global temperature, according to new findings published in the journal Science. The study was led by scientists at Utrecht University, working with colleagues at the NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and the University of Southampton.
Earth's dust tail points to alien planets
Did you know that the Earth has a dust tail? The Spitzer Space Telescope sailed right through it a few months ago, giving researchers a clear idea of what it looks like. That could be a big help to planet hunters trying to track down alien worlds.
New research changes understanding of C4 plant evolution
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new analysis of fossilized grass-pollen grains deposited on ancient European lake and sea bottoms 16-35 million years ago reveals that C4 grasses evolved earlier than previously thought. This new evidence casts doubt on the widely-held belief that the rise of this incredibly productive group of plants was driven by a large drop in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations during the Oligocene epoch.
NASA finds 4th crack on space shuttle fuel tank
(AP) -- NASA has found a fourth crack in the fuel tank for space shuttle Discovery.
Novel ocean-crust mechanism could affect world's carbon budget
The Earth is constantly manufacturing new crust, spewing molten magma up along undersea ridges at the boundaries of tectonic plates. The process is critical to the planet's metabolism, including the cycle of underwater life and the delicate balance of carbon in the ocean and atmosphere.
Youngest nearby black hole found (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- Astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have found evidence of the youngest black hole known to exist in our cosmic neighborhood. The 30-year-old black hole provides a unique opportunity to watch this type of object develop from infancy.
Technology news
3 Questions: John Hansman on the Qantas A380 engine blowout
Last week, a Qantas Airbus 380 superjumbo jetliner made an emergency landing in Singapore following the mid-flight explosion of one of its engines that is manufactured by Rolls-Royce. All flights of Qantas’s A380 aircraft, which is the world’s newest and largest airliner, remain suspended as investigators pinpoint the cause of the explosion.
Europe to knock down barriers for disabled
The one in six Europeans with a disability should be able to cross EU borders carrying a single card offering bloc-wide entitlements from next year, the European Commission said Monday.
In Greece's fallow fields, solar energy stirs
The son and grandson of farmers, Spyros Papathanassiou spends most of the day overseeing his family olive press and winery in the outskirts of Asopia, a village northeast of Athens.
Australia hits back at OECD over broadband network
Australia Monday defended plans for a national broadband network after the OECD raised questions over its cost-effectiveness and said it might stifle innovation.
Save the world from climate change -- by computer
Computer gamers who like a challenge can now take on one of the toughest around: saving the entire planet, this time from climate change.
Taiwan NSB gets half million cyber attacks a month
Taiwan's top security unit said Monday it received nearly half a million cyber attacks a month, only a minority from China and around 60 percent from the island itself.
New tech to help protect bridges, other infrastructure from scour
Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a sensor that allows engineers to assess the scour potential of soils at various depths and on-site for the first time – a technology that will help evaluate the safety of civil infrastructure before and after storm events. Scour, or erosion of soil around structures due to water flow, is responsible for a wide range of critical infrastructure failures – from unstable bridges to the levees that gave way in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
From ex-Facebooker, a new 'Path' to sharing
(AP) -- A new service aims to help you share the hundreds of photos you take with your camera phone with the people you trust the most - be it of moments as forgettable as a late-night McRib sandwich or as memorable as a new engagement ring.
Feds propose shifting airwaves to broadband
(AP) -- Federal officials looking for more airwaves to deliver wireless broadband services are recommending that the government reallocate a sizeable chunk of radio spectrum currently used for weather satellites and naval radar systems.
Apple to make iTunes announcement on Tuesday
Apple plans to make an iTunes-related announcement on Tuesday.
India's Mahindra Satyam shows fiscal year quarterly profit
India's outsourcing firm Mahindra Satyam, recovering from the country's biggest-ever corporate fraud, on Monday reported its first profits since the scandal erupted.
EMC buying Isilon for $2.25 billion
(AP) -- The data storage company EMC Corp. has reached a deal to buy Isilon Systems Inc. for $2.25 billion in cash, betting on a surge in demand for space to put huge amounts of digital information.
Yahoo! to open sites to outside contributors
Internet giant Yahoo! began opening up its properties to outside writers, photographers and videographers on Monday with the launch of the "Yahoo! Contributor Network."
Rensselaer team shows how to analyze raw government data
Who is the White House’s most frequent visitor? Which White House staffer has the most visitors? How do smoking quit rates, state by state, relate to unemployment, taxes, and violent crimes? How do politics influence U.S. Supreme Court decisions? How many earthquakes occurred worldwide recently? Where and how strong were they? Which states have the cleanest air and water?
'Data geek' brings algorithms to online charity auctions
Jon Carson, chief executive of charity auction site BiddingForGood, describes himself as a "data geek with a social bent."
New standard proposed for supercomputing
A new supercomputer rating system will be released by an international team led by Sandia National Laboratories at the Supercomputing Conference 2010 in New Orleans on Nov. 17.
E-mail secondary as Facebook revamps messaging (Update)
(AP) -- Facebook unveiled a new messaging platform Monday that takes aim at one of the Internet's first applications, e-mail. Though CEO Mark Zuckerberg didn't go as far as declaring e-mail dead, he sees the four-decade-old technology as secondary to more seamless, faster ways of communicating such as text messages and chats. In other words, Facebook is betting that today's high school students are on to something.
Sugar cube size supercomputers
(PhysOrg.com) -- IBM labs in Zurich may very well shrink a supercomputer processor down to the size of a sugar cube making it almost 50% more energy-efficient than the world's leading supercomputers.
Medicine & Health news
Discovering the source of long-term motor memory
The motor memory we use everyday-for sport, playing a musical instrument and even typing-is acquired through repeated practice and stored in the brain. New motor skills can be learned through practice, but often those skills can be all but lost by the following day. This loss of motor skills can be attributed to the storage of newly learned motor skills in short-term memory. By repeating the exercises on a daily basis, however, these skills become stored in long-term memory.
Heart surgeries can trigger a multitude of complications
Strokes, seizures and other neurological complications related to heart surgery account for "considerable morbidity and mortality," Loyola University Health System neurologists report in the November issue of the journal Hospital Practice.
Studies expand oxytocin's role beyond 'cuddle hormone'
New human research suggests the chemical oxytocin — dubbed the "cuddle hormone" because of its importance in bonding between romantic partners and mothers and children — also influences feelings of well-being and sensitivity to advertising. Additional animal research shows that oxytocin may relieve stress and anxiety in social settings and may be more rewarding than cocaine to new mothers. The findings were presented at Neuroscience 2010, the Society for Neuroscience's annual meeting and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
Common for patients to undergo multiple cardiac imaging tests, with high cumulative radiation dose
Multiple testing with the cardiac diagnostic imaging technique of myocardial perfusion imaging is common, and in many patients is associated with a high cumulative estimated radiation dose, according to a study in the November 17 issue of JAMA. The study is being released early online because it is being presented at the American Heart Association's annual meeting.
Symptoms of obese heart failure patients improved after bariatric surgery
A small Mayo Clinic study has found that morbidly obese heart failure patients who undergo bariatric surgery gain long-lasting and meaningful improvements in disease symptoms and quality of life. The results were presented today at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2010 in Chicago.
Missed opportunities: Most heart attack patients are not taking preventive medications
Despite a high frequency of cardiac risk factors, patients without known coronary artery disease (CAD) presenting with acute heart attacks, or ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI), are rarely on primary prevention medications, according to study findings to be presented Nov. 15 at the 2010 annual American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions in Chicago.
Virtual reality helps researchers track how brain responds to surroundings
New tools inspired by video games are revealing how the brain senses and responds to its surroundings, finds new human and animal research. Taking advantage of state-of-the art technologies to track and mimic real-life environments, these studies show with new detail how the brain navigates, identifies, and remembers a setting. In additional human research, scientists apply these same technological advances to help people who have experienced strokes regain skills.
New technology allows medical workers to better assess brain injuries
A Queen's University neuroscientist is launching a medical tool at the world's largest neuroscience conference in San Diego on Monday, Nov. 15.
New animal research shows effects of prenatal drug exposure and early life infections on the brain
New findings released today help identify the long-term impact of the prenatal environment and early parental care on the brain. Using animals as models, researchers help explain why early inflammation and a mother's exposure to drugs such as nicotine and high doses of pain killers have lasting consequences for children — and even future generations.
Use of AEDs in hospitals for cardiac arrest not linked with improved survival
While automated external defibrillators improve survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, an analysis of data indicates their use for cardiac arrest in a hospital does not result in an improved rate of survival, according to a study in the November 17 issue of JAMA. The study is being released early online because it will be presented at the American Heart Association's annual meeting.
Palliative care for patients with dementia more available but still not adequate
A new national survey conducted by researchers from Indiana University and the Regenstrief Institute has found that while palliative care may be available for those with dementia, there are significant barriers to providing or receiving services to relieve the pain, eating difficulties and other symptoms associated with dementia.
Homeopathy consultations can benefit arthritis patients, say scientists
New evidence that homeopathic consultations can reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis has been revealed by scientists from the University of Southampton.
'At-TRIB(1)-uting' a gene a new function in the liver
Specific, relatively uncommon variations at a region of human chromosome 8 have recently been linked to fat (lipid) levels in the blood that decrease an individual's risk of atherosclerosis (a disease of the major arterial blood vessels that is a main cause of heart attack and stroke). The only currently described gene in this region of chromosome 8 is TRIB1, but it has not been previously linked in any way to regulation of lipid levels.
Hemostatic drug less effective than originally predicted
The use of recombinant activated factor 7 (rFVIIa) – a drug used to treat bleeding in hemophiliacs – in patients without hemophilia is not recommended because of the potential for adverse events, found a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Study: New blood thinner works as well as Coumadin
(AP) -- A study finds that a new and easier-to-use blood thinner prevents strokes in people with a common heart rhythm problem as well as Coumadin does, and without an increase in bleeding or side effects.
University launches iPhone app to access HIV drug expertise
The University of Liverpool has launched an i-phone application, HIV iChart,that provides healthcare professionals and HIV patients with instant and easy access to information about drug interactions.
Haitians protest UN base over cholera claim
(AP) -- Protesters who hold Nepalese U.N. peacekeepers responsible for a deadly outbreak of cholera that has killed 1,000 in three weeks threw stones and threatened to set fire to a base in the country's second-largest city Monday, Haitian radio and eyewitnesses reported.
New treatment for lung cancer shows promise
A new inhalable dry powder treatment for lung cancer shows a significant increase in survival rates and is far less invasive than current treatment options, which frequently include radiation and surgery. This research is being presented at the 2010 International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Pharmaceutical Sciences World Congress (PSWC) in association with the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Annual Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans, La., Nov. 14-18.
Study suggests alternative to using preservatives in nasal spray
A preservative-free alternative to standard nasal sprays -- which routinely use preservatives that can cause unwanted side effects, such as allergies or damage to the mucosal lining of the nose -- was found to be both safe and well-tolerated, in a short-term study from the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Researchers 'grow Rett syndrome' in a Petri dish
A groundbreaking study published Friday in the leading scientific journal, Cell, revealed that a team of investigators had successfully generated nerve cells using skin cells from four individuals with Rett syndrome. The study was led by Dr. Alysson Muotri at the University of California, San Diego -- a leading researcher in the stem cell field.
Patients find computer imaging before rhinoplasty moderately accurate, useful
Computer imaging to predict how patients will look following plastic surgery involving the nose appears to be moderately accurate, and patients value its inclusion in the preoperative consultation, according to a report in the November/December issue of Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Study identifies risk factors for foreign bodies left in children after surgery, outcomes
Few children leave surgery with a foreign body left inside them, but such events appear most likely to occur during gynecologic operations, according to a report in the November issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. This surgical error was associated with longer hospital stays and increased costs, but not with an increased risk of death.
Surgical instruments left in children rarely fatal, but dangerous
Surgical items, such as sponges and small instruments, left in the bodies of children who undergo surgery are quite uncommon and rarely fatal but decidedly dangerous and expensive mistakes, according to a Johns Hopkins Children's Center study to be published in the November issue of JAMA-Archives of Surgery.
Robotic-assisted surgery appears safe for complicated pancreatic procedures
A study involving 30 patients suggests that robotic-assisted surgery involving complex pancreatic procedures can be performed safely in a high-volume facility, according to a report posted online today that will be published in the March print issue of Archives of Surgery.
Active management of the third stage of labor reduces risk of bleeding
Active management of the third stage of labour means that women lose less blood than with a more expectant approach, reveals a thesis from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, in conjunction with Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
Strengthening health systems research to achieve health-related Millennium Development Goals
A major obstacle to achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals is the weakness of the health systems in many low and middle income countries, and their struggle to effectively provide health care to populations in need. Research into health systems aims to improve health care delivery; however, multiple definitions of this type of research exist and this lack of clarity is negatively affecting the credibility, and hence progress, of this research.
Bat brains offer clues as to how we focus on some sounds and not others
How do you know what to listen to? In the middle of a noisy party, how does a mother suddenly focus on a child's cry, even if it isn't her own?
China has world's highest number of diabetics: report
China has the highest number of diabetics in the world with 92.4 million with the condition, but 61 percent of them do not know they have the disease, state media reported Monday.
A better way to target tumors
In the past 40 years, scientists have learned a great deal about how cells become cancerous. Some of that knowledge has translated to new treatments, but most of the time doctors are forced to rely on standard chemotherapy and radiation, which can do nearly as much damage to the patients as they do to the tumors. This series looks at targeted treatments that are on the horizon, and what needs to be done to make them a reality.
High rates of acute rheumatic fever may be caused by household crowding
New Zealand has one of the highest reported rates of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) amongst children and teenagers in the developed world; an infectious disease which can cause chronic rheumatic heart disease through damaged heart valves, and results in over 120 deaths a year.
Fern's hunger-busting properties supported by research
Professor Roger Lentle, from the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health at the Massey University, led a team that studied how an extract of the mamaku fern influenced stomach activity. Maori traditionally used mamaku to treat diarrhoea and other stomach complaints, but how it works has not been fully studied.
New treatment to overpower drug resistance in ovarian cancer
Drug resistance is a major obstacle in curing ovarian cancer but new research from the Centenary Institute has discovered a treatment that kills ovarian cancer cells in a new way that can break the resistance mechanism. Published today in Autophagy, the researchers found the drug (FTY720) had a potent effect in human ovarian cancer cells, even in those resistant to cisplatin, the most commonly used chemotherapeutic drug currently available for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
Light technology to combat hospital infections
A pioneering lighting system that can kill hospital superbugs – including MRSA and C.diff – has been developed by researchers at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland.
Biomarker may be able to help predict risk of heart failure, cardiovascular death
Certain measures of the blood biomarker cardiac troponin T (cTnT), a cardiac-specific protein, using a highly sensitive test, are associated with the development of heart failure or cardiovascular death in older adults, according to a study that will appear in the December 8 issue of JAMA. The study is being released early online because it will be presented at the American Heart Association's annual meeting.
Regular exercise reduces large number of health risks including dementia and some cancers
People who take regular exercise could reduce their risk of developing around two dozen physical and mental health conditions - including some cancers and dementia - and slow down how quickly their body deteriorates as they age.
Use of omega-3 does not appear to reduce recurrence of atrial fibrillation
Although some data have suggested that omega-3 fatty acid supplements, such as from fish oil, may improve treatment of atrial fibrillation, a randomized trial with more than 600 patients finds that treatment with high-dose prescription omega-3 did not reduce the recurrence of atrial fibrillation over six months, according to a study that will appear in the December 1 issue of JAMA. The study is being released early online because it will be presented at the American Heart Association's annual meeting.
How does the color of a pill affect its efficacy?
According to recent research the color, shape, taste and even name of a tablet or pill can have an effect on how patients feel about their medication. Choose an appropriate combination and the placebo effect gives the pill a boost, improves outcomes and might even reduce side effects. Now, researchers at the University of Bombay, New Mumbai, India, have surveyed users of over-the-counter (OTC) medication to find out just how much the color of a tablet influences patient choice.
New research reveals danger of combining warfarin with herbal and dietary supplements
Herbal and dietary supplements are popular. People claim they make their joints feel better, their bones stronger, and their hearts healthier. But a recent study by researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Salt Lake City shows that many of these people may not realize their favorite supplement, mixed with prescription medications, may be putting their lives in danger, especially if they are taking warfarin – a blood-thinning medication commonly prescribed to patients living with atrial fibrillation to lower their risk of stroke.
New way of predicting dominant seasonal flu strain
Rice University scientists have found a way to predict rapidly whether a new strain of the influenza virus should be included in the annual seasonal flu vaccine. While it sometimes takes new flu strains up to three years to become dominant worldwide, the new method can predict whether they will become dominant as little as two weeks after the sequence first appears in the GenBank database, the National Institutes of Health's collection of all publicly available DNA sequences.
When video games get problematic so do smoking, drug use and aggression
A new study on gaming and health in adolescents, conducted by researchers at Yale School of Medicine, found some significant gender differences linked to gaming as well as important health risks associated with problematic gaming. Published today in the journal Pediatrics, the study is among the first and largest to examine possible health links to gaming and problematic gaming in a community sample of adolescents.
Child/teen sexual and physical abuse linked to fibroids in premenopausal women
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have found that both physical and sexual abuse history were positively associated with a higher incidence of uterine fibroids later in life. These findings currently appear on-line in the journal Epidemiology.
What makes brains of business leaders tick
Ground-breaking research will scan the brains of influential people to explore how they make decisions, using often complex and conflicting information.
Where did you get those eyes and that brain?
A family history of Alzheimer's disease significantly increases the risk for developing this disorder, but a new study in Biological Psychiatry suggests that which of your parents has the disease is very important.
Prostate cancer treatment linked to higher rate of colon cancer, study finds
Men treated with hormone-based therapy for prostate cancer faced a 30 percent to 40 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer, compared to patients who did not receive this treatment, according to a new study.
Gene therapy success in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
A pediatric immunologist at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia collaborated with European gene therapy researchers who achieved marked clinical improvements in two young children with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, a very rare but often severe immunodeficiency disorder.
Robo-op marks new world first for heart procedure
The world's first remote heart procedure, using a robotic arm alongside 3-D mapping, is due to take place at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester.
Targeted therapy reactivates 'guardian of the genome' in resistant cancer
A study demonstrating pharmacological rescue of a key tumor suppressor may lead to new therapeutic strategies for human cancer and significantly broaden the types of tumors that respond to targeted therapy, including those that have been resistant to current treatments. The research, published by Cell Press in the Nov. 16 issue of the journal Cancer Cell, focuses on cancers exhibiting inhibition of p53, a protein that is critical for initiating cell death pathways in abnormal cells.
Binge-drinking teens may be risking future depression
Binge-drinking teenagers may be putting themselves at higher risk in adulthood for mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, Loyola University Health System researchers report.
Natural compound shows promise against Huntington's disease
Fisetin, a naturally occurring compound found in strawberries and other fruits and vegetables, slows the onset of motor problems and delays death in three models of Huntington's disease, according to researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. The study, published in the online edition of Human Molecular Genetics, sets the stage for further investigations into fisetin's neuroprotective properties in Huntington's and other neurodegenerative conditions.
Is heart disease genetic destiny or lifestyle?
Is cardiovascular health in middle age and beyond a gift from your genes or is it earned by a healthy lifestyle and within your control?
Adding pharmacists to docs' offices helps patient outcomes, study shows
Adding pharmacists to the primary care team right in doctors' offices may help patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes better manage associated risks, a new University of Alberta study had found.
Epizyme identifies novel opportunity for treatment of genetically defined human B-cell lymphomas
Epizyme, Inc., a company leading the discovery and development of first-in-class, targeted cancer therapeutics against epigenetic targets, today announced the publication of breakthrough new research in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA). The discovery, centered on the epigenetic enzyme EZH2, illuminates a clear path for the translation of basic science into targeted therapies for the safe and effective treatment of specific forms of human lymphomas. EZH2 is a histone methyltransferase (HMT), a class of enzymes that play an important role in regulating the activity of particular groups of genes that are involved in serious diseases, including cancer.
New study affirms handwriting problems affect children with autism into the teenage years
The handwriting problems that affect children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are likely to continue into their teenage years, according to a study from the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Md. The research is published in the November 16, 2010 issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Study examines relationship between autoimmune skin disease and neurologic disorders
Individuals with the autoimmune skin disease bullous pemphigoid appear more likely to have a diagnosis of neurologic disease, such as dementia and cerebrovascular disease, according to a report in the November issue of Archives of Dermatology.
Study examines surgeons' stress related to surgery and night duty
A small study of Japanese surgeons suggests that duration of surgery and the amount of blood loss are associated with increased stress scores, and that night duty is associated with reduced stress arousal scores, according to a report posted online today that will be published in the March print issue of Archives of Surgery.
Iron in coronary artery plaque is a marker of heart attack risk
Plaque in a heart artery looks threatening, but cardiologists know that many of these buildups will not erupt, dislodge and block a vessel, causing a heart attack that can be fatal. Some will, however, and the challenge is to figure out atherosclerotic plaque that is dangerous and treat or remove it.
Erythropoietin counteracts breast cancer treatment with herceptin
Red-blood-cell-boosting drugs used to treat anemia may undermine breast cancer treatment with Herceptin, a targeted therapy that blocks the cancer-promoting HER2 protein, researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center report in the Nov. 16 edition of Cancer Cell.
Internal body clock controls fat metabolism, study shows
UC Irvine researchers have discovered that circadian rhythms – the internal body clock – regulate fat metabolism. This helps explain why people burn fat more efficiently at certain times of day and could lead to new pharmaceuticals for obesity, diabetes and energy-related illnesses.
Stem cell patch may result in improved function following heart attack
University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers have found that applying a stem cell-infused patch together with overexpression of a specific cell instruction molecule promoted cell migration to damaged cardiac tissue following heart attack and resulted in improved function in animal models.
Season, time of day appear to predict higher UV levels, need for sun safety measures among skiers
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation levels may remain high during winter months, and conditions can change rapidly, suggesting that adults participating in outdoor sports should rely on the season and time of day when judging the need for protective clothing and sunscreen, according to a report in the November issue of Archives of Dermatology.
Brain scans detect autism's signature
An autism study by Yale School of Medicine researchers using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has identified a pattern of brain activity that may characterize the genetic vulnerability to developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Published today in the early edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study could eventually lead to earlier and more accurate autism diagnosis.
Change in drug payment rule may trigger headaches
(AP) -- A headache awaits people who use those tax-free health spending accounts to pay for over-the-counter allergy relievers, heartburn blockers and other drugstore remedies. Starting next year, you'll need a prescription for the drugs to qualify.
Mental introspection increases as brain areas begin to act in sync
Neuroscientists at Georgetown University Medical Center can now show, using functional MRI images, why it is that behavior in children and young adolescents veers toward the egocentric rather than the introspective.
Overactive FTO gene does cause overeating and obesity
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists have gained strong confirmation of the direct connection between the FTO gene and obesity, obtaining the first direct evidence that overactivity of the gene leads to overeating and obesity in mice.
Spleen might be source of damaging cells at spinal cord injury site
The spleen, an organ that helps the body fight infections, might also be a source of the cells that end up doing more harm than good at the site of a spinal cord injury, new research suggests.
How do neural stem cells decide what to be -- and when?
Researchers at Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School in Singapore have uncovered a novel feedback mechanism that controls the delicate balance of brain stem cells.
Scientists reveal criminal virus spreaders using evolutionary forensics
The source of HIV infection in two separate criminal cases in which men were convicted of intentionally infecting their female sexual partners was confirmed by scientists from The University of Texas at Austin and Baylor College of Medicine using evolutionary forensics.
Tiny RNA molecules control labor, may be key to blocking premature birth
Nov. 15, 2010 – Tiny molecules called microRNAs act together with hormones to control the onset of labor, raising the prospect that RNA-based drugs might be able to prevent premature labor, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered in a preclinical study.
Origin of cells associated with nerve repair discovered
Scientists have discovered the origin of a unique type of cell known for its ability to support regeneration in the central nervous system. Their findings, published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (PNAS), raise the possibility of obtaining a more reliable source of these cells for use in cell transplantation therapy for spinal cord injuries.
New test can screen all deafness genes simultaneously
Pinpointing the exact genetic cause of inherited deafness has always involved sequencing one gene at a time, a process that can take up to a year and cost roughly $1,000 per gene. It would cost around $75,000 to test all known deafness causing genes using this approach.
Biology news
A Herd's Eye View: How cattle view danger
(PhysOrg.com) -- Terms like "giving the evil eye" and "right hand man" have been commonplace since the ancient Greeks realised that humans perceive their world very differently on the left and right sides of their body. Now we know that the same can be said for cattle.
Genes and athletic performance in Thoroughbred horses
Equinome, a leading equine genomics company, has announced the publication of four scientific papers by Equinome and University College Dublin researchers which describe significant advances in the understanding of the genes that contribute to athletic performance in Thoroughbred horses.
Brain size and a trip to Disneyland: How parental concerns could increase the size of our creative brains
Evidence from Disneyland suggests that human creativity may have evolved not in response to sexual selection as some scientists believe but as a way to help parents bond with their children and to pass on traditions and cultural knowledge, a new study published in the inaugural issue of the International Journal of Tourism Anthropology suggests.
Battling rice blast disease with underground microbes
Rice is the most important grain consumed by humans, providing more than one-fifth of the calories sustaining the world's population. By some estimates, however, global production of rice could feed an additional 60 million people, if it weren't for rice blast disease, caused by the fungus Magnaporthe grisea.
Tiny molecules protect from the dangers of sex
Pathogenic fungi have been found to protect themselves against unwanted genetic mutations during sexual reproduction, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center. A gene-silencing pathway protects the fungal genome from mutations imposed by a partner during mating.
Mastermind steroid found in plants
Scientists have known for some time how important plant steroids called brassinosteroids are for regulating plant growth and development. But until now, they did not know how extensive their reach is. Now researchers, including Yu Sun and Zhi-Yong Wang at Carnegie's Department of Plant Biology, have identified about a thousand brassinosteroid target genes, which reveal molecular links between the steroid and numerous cellular functions and other hormonal and light-activated chain reactions. The study, published in the November 16, 2010, issue of Developmental Cell, provides the first comprehensive action map for a plant hormone. The research will help accelerate basic plant science and crop research.
Scientists find new squid in Indian Ocean depths
Scientists have uncovered a new large species of squid among 70 types gathered during an exploration of the depths of the Indian Ocean, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature said on Monday.
Biochemistry of how plants resist insect attack determined
Many plants, including crops, release volatiles in response to insect attack. The chemical compounds can be a defense or can be an aromatic call for help to attract enemies of the attacking insect. Researchers from Virginia Tech, Michigan State University, and Georg-August-University Gottingen have discovered how plants produce the defensive compounds.
Change in temperature uncovers genetic cross talk in plant immunity
Like us, plants rely on an immune system to fight off disease. Proteins that scout out malicious bacterial invaders in the cell and communicate their presence to the nucleus are important weapons in the plant's disease resistance strategy. Researchers at the University of Missouri recently "tapped" into two proteins' communications with the nucleus and discovered a previously unknown level of cross talk. The discovery adds important new information about how plant proteins mediate resistance to bacteria that cause disease and may ultimately lead to novel strategies for boosting a plant's immune system.
Microsensors offer first look at whether cell mass affects growth rate (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- University of Illinois researchers are using a new kind of microsensor to answer one of the weightiest questions in biology – the relationship between cell mass and growth rate.
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